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Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Happy Haloween (War Is Over)


So this is Haloween, and what have you done...
But what should I do for Haloween? Any suggestions may begin with the prefix "Sexy",Like "Sexy Pirate" or "Sexy Land Surveyer" or "Justin Timberlake" since everything is sexy now. Even though I demand suggestions, I will probably just be working in front of the computer tonight eating a bag of Kit Kats and a bottle of wine.

Bonfires burning bright
Pumpkin faces in the night
I remember Halloween
Dead cats hanging from poles
Little dead are out in droves
I remember Halloween!

misfits

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Comic Books with a chewy nugget center


The word on the street is that Local #7 and American Virgin #8 are in stores on Wednesday, November 1. After you peel off the beer and Almond Joy stained costume that morning, have a cup of coffee and come down to the comicbook store. I want your money. In the meantime, feast your eyes on some black and white artwork.


American Virgin created by Seagle and Cloonan
Local created by Wood and Kelly

Friday, October 27, 2006

Death in The Rain



This is a painting of Death, the popular character from the Sandman series, I did for the MNCBA Fallcon.

I sell 11X17 glossy inkjet prints of this piece. $20 includes shipping. Email me, If interested in purchasing.
I take Paypal or cash in the mail.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Sergeant Slaughter


Bill Hillsman picked my painting, intitled Seargent Slaughter, for his online art collection for MNArtists.org. The collection, simply titled "mash up", features a varied group of work that addresses political topics and the all work is pulled from Minnesota artists' web pages on the site.

MNArtists.org is an online database of artists and organizations from all disciplines. It's a hub for the local art scene. It's free to all artists (and musicians) and a very open and public place on the web. It's "Myspace" for local Minnesota artists.

Hillsman, an ad artist, is famous for his ad campaigns for Ralph Nader, Paul Wellstone and Jesse Ventura. He's also worked for Ariana Huffington's campaign and currently Ned Lamont.

"It seems everything is tinged with politics these days. And why shouldn’t it be? As a politically aware rock group once sung, “these are strange days, indeed.” Art can be about beauty. It can be about provocation. It can be about edification. And these days, to be edified means to be provoked" -Bill Hillsman

See the complete art collectionHERE

Monday, October 23, 2006

"The Stakes"


image©Ryan Kelly

"The US Republican Party has launched a controversial terror-linked TV advertisement to bolster support ahead of mid-term elections next month...Both Osama Bin Laden and his second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, are shown in the commercial, which is entitled "The Stakes".Attributed quotes such as "Kill the Americans" and "What is yet to come will be even greater" are flashed across the screen.Gun-bearing militants in training camps are also shown, followed by the stark message: "These are the stakes. Vote November 7th."

"The Stakes"

The infamous 1964 political ad for Lyndon Johnson suggesting the nuclear annihilation of a little girl pulling flower petals uses the term "The Stakes".

"...The advertisement begins with a little girl standing in a meadow with chirping birds, picking the petals of a daisy while counting each petal slowly. Her sweet innocence and several mistakes in her counting endear her to the viewer. When she reaches "9", an ominous-sounding male voice is then heard counting down a missile launch, and as the girl's eyes turn toward something she sees in the sky, the camera zooms in until her pupil fills the screen, blacking it out. When the countdown reaches zero, the blackness is replaced by the flash and mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion. The contrast between her sweet innocence and the harsh reality of nuclear war is very disturbing for many viewers.

As the firestorm rages, a voiceover from Johnson states, "These are the stakes! To make a world in which all of God's children can live, or to go into the dark. We must either love each other, or we must die." Another voiceover then says, "Vote for President Johnson on November 3. The stakes are too high for you to stay home."
- from Wikipedia

"Daisy Girl"

Keep in mind that GOP enablers are no longer allowed to use the term "Stay The Course".

Republicans are truelly scared that they're going to have their beloved tax cuts taken away from them. Indeed, The stakes are high.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Republicans Run The Government Part 1

Friday, October 20, 2006

Keep Moving


There are wholly complete days that I do not leave the house and I’ll make it to 10:00pm and look down across my weathered frame of a body and realize I have been wearing my pajamas and robe for 3 days.

I didn’t allow myself to walk outside, reestablish the existence of the sun, hear the laughter of children and use my legs to day. This is why I am solely an artist and not a writer at the moment.

I’m terribly busy, so I apologize, now and forever, to anyone not work-related that have their emails and phone calls go unreturned by me. I’m a filthy bastard and I feel terrible all the time. I’ll get better at that.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Local in TimeOut New York


Feature on Local in the current TimeOut New York magazine. Neato. Online version is here.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

He Hates Megan


"I wondered where Local was, and an issue appears! Okay, it’s not quite Hatcher-like powers, but still.

I suppose it’s a measure of Wood’s ability that I hate Megan so much. I just hate her. And I hate her friends - not because they tell her she’s nuts, but because they don’t smack her over the head because she’s so nuts. I hate Megan. Good job, Mr. Wood!

That doesn’t mean she’s not compelling. I hope for her redemption. I hope she grows the fuck up. I don’t hate the comic, just the main character, and that’s mostly because she does inexplicably horrible things and realizes it, but keeps fucking doing them! Why? It’s part of her weird pathology, and it makes the comic something quite unique. I am, however, looking forward to getting away from Megan for an issue, because the last two issues have made me hate her so much.

The thing about Megan and this comic that bothers me, and I hope it will be addressed, is her constant moving. She is fleeing something, and we’ve only had bits and pieces of it throughout the series. I like how it hasn’t been completely defined, but as we head into the second half of the series, I hope that Wood begins to resolve it somewhat. This isn’t real life, after all, which has no resolution except death. This is a story, and if Megan is going to redeem herself, she’s going to have to confront these issues and deal with them “on-screen,” so to speak. Because, if you think about it, the last two issues haven’t really been much, narrative-wise. They have explored Megan’s character, and revealed that she’s a bitch. Not terribly stunning, even though they were well-crafted stories. We haven’t had the one-and-done kind of slice-of-life stuff with Megan simply showing up on the sidelines or being only tangentially involved since issue #4, the one in Montana. Megan’s story needs resolution, and that means explaining why she can’t stick in one place very long. Or at least I think that’s what it means. It feels crucial to her character. Maybe it’s because she’s a bitch and pisses everyone off eventually. But that’s kind of lame.

So we’re slowly (that word again!) moving forward, and maybe Megan will learn something from this latest round of bitchery. Next issue takes place in Tempe. I’ll let you know if it’s accurately portrayed!

(I suppose I didn’t really talk about the issue, did I? Megan gets a roommate who wants privacy. Since she’s a bitch, Megan can’t respect that. She gets worse and worse about invading Gloria’s privacy. Who gives a flying fuck if Gloria is obsessive-compulsive, Megan? That’s a lot better than lying about who you are and talking shit about people behind their back. See? I hate Megan so much!)"
Greg Burgas, Comics Should Be Good
Local #6 review

Friday, October 06, 2006

Star Tribune 10/6-Ryan Kelly in 8 Acts



Today, local Star Tribune readers are waking up only to find themselves assaulted by this monstrosity of a comic by me in their front page Source/To Do section. Yes, that is what I look like.
See it here in all of its non-newsprint glory.

It's accompanied by a feature on local comics and the MCBA Fall Convention that starts tomorrow. Article HERE

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

The Art Of American Virgin #7


American Virgin #7 Page 12
One of the best single pages I've ever been associated with. So, here it is in black and white and how it looks in the book with amazing colors by Brian Miller. Becky Cloonan never stops amazing me with these pencils.








Series artist Becky Cloonan is joined by inker Ryan Kelly, and it’s an excellent fit. It comes as little surprise, as each was tapped by writer Brian Wood for two acclaimed series: Cloonan on Demo on AiT/PlanetLar and Kelly on Local, now being published by Oni Press. I love the emotional energy the artists pour into each character. Adam’s confusion, depression and drive really shine through in Cloonan’s manga-inspired style. I must also make mention of Brian Miller’s colors. It’s his work that brings the rave-like atmosphere of the second half of the issue come to life. The constantly shifting Day-Glo colors in which the characters are immersed convey that loud, surreal setting perfectly.
-Don Mcpherson, Eye On Comics

Eye On Comics full review

American Virgin #7 release



Oops, American Virgin #7 is in stores as of last week, September 27. Look for this killer cover by Josh Middleton. It's an incredible looking issue all around.

Amended Solicit info:
Written by Steven T. Seagle; Pencils by Becky Cloonan; Inks by Ryan Kelly; Cover by Joshua Middleton.

Part 3 of the 4-part "Going Down" Adam Chamberlain has been delivered into a carnal world he never expected. But it's Adam's step-sister Cyndi who realizes he isn't interested in getting himself out of the mess he's making of his professional life. Is Adam tightening the noose on a Batu Balan assassin, or just getting in touch with his kinky side?
Vertigo 32pg. Color $2.99 US Mature Readers

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

FallCon is ON!



Minnesota's premier comic book convention is upon us. It is this weekend. Fear it.

As usual, I will be an attendance at my artist table. I will be selling copies of my books, graphic novels, original art and prints. I will also be doing sketches for a resonable rate, either black and white or color.

Here's what's happening....
FALLCON COMIC BOOK CONVENTION
OCTOBER 7 & 8, 2006
MN State Fairgrounds - Education Building
1372 Cosgrove Ave - St. Paul, MN. 55108
10AM to 5PM Both Days - Tickets Available at the Door

Candy of the Month- October



Never touched a Snickers as a kid. but with such a gourmet, high-brow addition
like almonds, you can't go wrong. Congrats, Snickers-Almonds, I will be eating you this month.