I don’t have much of an update today, but I have two bang-up articles for next week in the queue, including a new Off-Topic Monday, that will be pretty geektastic.

However, I would like to leave you with an article published on July 4th in the The Star-Ledger that discusses the history and cultural impact of Blaxploitation, entitled, “Looking back at ‘blaxploitation’ films.”  I was impressed by author Stephen Whitty’s serious, and thoughtful discussion of the subject, and I dropped him a quick e-mail to tell him so.  I thought I’d share the article with my fine readers here at WORLDOFHURTONLINE.COM.  (Incidentally, the photo they used of Shaft is the very image I use as my wallpaper.)

Thanks for coming by, and I’ll see you next week!

- JEP

Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving, also known as “Black Friday.”  I really like the sound of that.  Kinda rolls off the tongue, don’t it?

Anyway, here at the WORLDOFHURTONLINE headquarters, we’re still bloated on turkey, dressing, sweet potato pie and tripping off tryptophans, so I’m admittedly phoning it in today via the time-honored tradition of link-blogging!

• This week, on his Omnium Gatherum column at ComicsWaitingRoom.com, Vince Moore wrote a really nice review of WORLD OF HURT, and I encourage you to give it a read.  My favorite line is his reference to Pastor as “…larger than life and down-home all at the same time.”  That’s a fantastic summary of the character that really encapsulates what I want Pastor to be, and I’m glad that comes across.  Thanks, Vince, especially for giving me billing over Twilight in your column   and for including me with author Steven Barnes.  I am a huge fan of his work, particularly the novels Lion’s Blood and The Kundalini Equation.

• WORLD OF HURT also received a shout-out on Chris Sims and Eugene Ahn’s podcast juggernaut, WAR ROCKET AJAX, this week.  Before I started this webcomic, I was originally going to work with Chris and the equally talented Chad Bowers on a book called The Hard Ones.  The fault lies entirely with me that that particular team-up didn’t work out, but Chad and Chris were always extremely supportive and understanding.  Besides, they found a fantastic (and fast) artist in Rusty Shackles to bring The Hard Ones to life.  With that triumvirate of talent and madcap ideas, I’d put good money on you seeing the book in stores very soon.

• Finally, speaking of podcasts, this week, I was the special guest of Dwight and Swain on their incredible podcast SiDEBAR – Four Color Conversations On Comics, Art & Pop Culture.  I had the distinct pleasure of meeting them both last year at HeroesCon.  When I checked out their site, I was floored by the level of talent they had on the show and the easy rapport they were able to establish with them.  I love listening to their podcasts while I’m inking.  Therefore, I was honored that they would chose to have me on the show.  I had a great time talking with them.  Although my episode hasn’t been posted yet, I would encourage you to listen to the great interviews Dwight and Swain have in their archives, because they’re chock full of audio gold, and, to quote Bill Cosby in Fat Albert, “If you’re not careful, you might learn a thing or two.”

As always, thanks for dropping by.  I look forward to seeing you again next week.  Have a great, and safe, weekend!

- JEP

In response to Jessica’s comments about this week’s episode, I mentioned the character, Golgo 13, who was another influence of mine.  Golgo 13 was created as a manga series by Takao Saito in 1969, but I was first introduced to him as a kid via the Viz Comics reprint, The Impossible Hit, and the Nintendo video game, Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode.  Golgo 13 is cut from the same “ruthless man of action” template that I always gravitated toward.  When Pastor showed up at the Belmont mansion with the white suit and black shirt, it was Golgo 13’s signature look which I had in mind:

Golgo 13 is the codename for Duke Togo, a cold and highly efficient assassin with a unique code of honor.  Duke’s past, and even his nationality, are a mystery.  He’s a man of few words who prefers to let his actions speak for themselves.   Unlike Marvel Entertainment’s Wolverine, a popular loner badass from Western comics, Golgo 13’s stories have minimal soap opera drama about his life, history, or old friends from his past.  Golgo 13’s adventures are strictly about about his mission.  Despite the minimal backstory, the formula works, because Golgo 13 remains one of Japan’s longest-running adult manga series.

Some of you might have seen this on my Facebook page, but in lieu of a more extensive post, for now I bring you the coolest action figure I think I’ve ever seen.

Next week, I’ll have some longer posts, including a review of Black Dynamite and an Off-Topic Monday.  Stay tuned!

- JEP

RELATED LINKS:

Golgo 13 at the Viz Media site