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zacksoto · 1 year

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Back in 2011, I was asked "So, what old DC comic would YOU like to reboot, and what's the angle, and can you draw a cover for this theoretical comic relaunch?" I was not asked this by a professional editor at DC, but by my friend Jon who was doing a themed blog thingie. Look, it was before the world we live in now—we had time to imagine a better world and fool around! Anyway, I am reposting the "pitch" I wrote, as well as the illo I did back in 2011 (below), just to have it here. Above is a more recent posca drawing/painting of Dart (as you will see if you read the wall of text below, she's my favorite 😂)

ATARI FORCE #1 (of 12)

2063: A.T.A.R.I. (Advanced Technology And Research Institute) combs an infinite number of realities in order to find a suitable new world for the population of a dying Earth. In their travels through the Multiverse, one of the expeditionary forces does battle with and ultimately kills the ultimate evil - a lovecraftian devourer of dimensions they dub the DARK DESTROYER. In the course of this battle, they find a perfect, empty world in a universe teeming with advanced civilizations. After some false starts both the recolonization of New Earth and the socialization of the New Earthlings with the rest of their new neighbors is a success.

2088: THE ATARI FOUNDATION, now the de facto governing party of New Earth, has ushered in a new era of utopian prosperity. After the Old Earth was brought to the brink of destruction by gross negligence and mismanagement, the people of New Earth are only too happy to put themselves in the guiding hands of ATARI. All live in relative prosperity and happiness..

Except for MARTIN CHAMPION, brilliant Multiversal scientist and the leader of the original expedition that battled the Destroyer. Martin is haunted by the death of his wife in childbirth, and is convinced that the Dark Destroyer somehow caused it. Instead of going about his life and picking up the pieces, Martin sits in his lab sending probes out in to the Multiverse, in hopes of finding proof of the existence of the Dark Destroyer. Martin has, over the years, become a laughingstock of ATARI, as well as driven his now adult son out of his life, due to misplaced anger about the death of his wife. All he has left is his obsession..

Until one of his probes goes missing after sending back readings of energy very similar to the kind the Destroyer radiates. Worried that he's given the Dark Destroyer a direct route back to New Earth in the lost probe, Martin hijacks his now antique Multiversal scout ship

SCANNER ONE and heads out to stop the Destroyer once and for all. To help him on this mission, he enlists:

ERIN BIA O'ROURKE-SINGH, aka DART - A telepathic mercenary, as well as his goddaughter. She's one of the deadliest, sexiest beings in the universe, and she has a precognitive "second sight" that comes in handy.

MORPHEA - An alien empath, forced on Champion by the ATARI FOUNDATION to serve as his psychiatrist. Ostensibly she's there to help him with his "delusions", but her connection to Martin's deepest convictions gives her reason to think he's actually right about the danger facing the Multiverse.

CHRIS CHAMPION, aka TEMPEST - Martin's estranged son. A professional fighting champion who's anger management issues and freakish teleportation abilities have made him a star in the Mega-Brawl circuit.

Wanted by the government of New Earth, and pursued by the ATARI Security Squad, Champion has to outwit them all and defeat the ultimate expression of evil all over again. Luckily this time he has the new, improved, ATARI FORCE!

Over the course of their adventure, their rag tag team grows in size as they pick up new members:

BABE - The hulking, freakishly strong infant from a world of rock-like creatures.

TUKLA OLY, aka PAKRAT - An impish, self-absorbed master thief who goes into berserker rages when cornered.

TAZ - A master soldier, last of her race, who carries deep anger and sadness within her.

MOSES FISK, aka BLACKJAK - Dart's lover, a roguish mercenary once thought dead, secretly brainwashed to do the Dark Destroyer's bidding. --- I loved AF as a kid, so when Jon asked me what book I'd reboot if I got the chance, it was one of a handful of titles I considered. I especially loved Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez' designs and storytelling, and Gerry Conway did a really good job weaving all these plot threads together in an exciting way.

My reboot of the book would reprise it as a 12 issue mini series (or maxi series, as it would have been called back then), and really play up some of the hard sci fi elements at the fringes of the concept, as well as inject a sort of European sense of storytelling to the character bits, while still remaining true to the general arc of the original.

The only character I would really change that much is Chris, who in the original is pretty lame/bland/whiney and was quickly overshadowed by Dart. I thought giving him the MMA-style fighting league to be a part of would be something interesting for him to use to try and cope with being crapped on by his dad all his life, as well as ground him more than in the original series, where he's really sort of a cypher-brat.

Another wrinkle I would explore is the sexual tension between him and his "sister", Dart. It's hinted at in the original series, but I think that I'd have it bloom fully in my version on these long weeks and months stuck on Scanner One - Chris always having had a thing for Dart since they were kids, and Dart being rather depressed and lovesick because of Blackjak's apparent death early in the series. Things would, of course get rather sticky when Blackjak reappears.

Needless to say, the ATARI FORCE gang eventually wins out against the new iteration of the Dark Destroyer, but not without some serious losses, and they limp off still wanted by the ATARI FOUNDATION and use the failing Multiversal drive on Scanner One to take them into unknown space..

Atari Force was created by Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas. (Read more)

#atari force #zack soto #comics #illustration #drawing #poscapaintmarkers #dc comics #fanart #gerry conway #jose luis garcia lopez

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zacksoto · 1 year

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Hey all! I haven't posted here in so long that one of my most recent entries is announcing Process Party, the podcast I did with Mike Dawson for a few years (aaaand which has been more or less done/hibernating for a year or two now😂) so I thought I'd actually post about my current podcast, as I migrate hosts (and archive Process Party for the ages) in this holiday season.

The new one is called In This Issue… It's a podcast about what I'm calling "formative comics reading experiences," with a focus on the single issue format. Every episode I'm talking to a special guest from the world of comics, doing a close reading of a comic book (IE not a graphic novel! 22-64 pages is the range we're working with here) and have a lively chat about it. TBH I haven't actually posted a new ITI in a couple months either, but I just have to get the will to edit the ones I have banked. Look, the holidays are hard! Anyway, there's been 9 episodes so far and they're all great in their own special way! I'm excited to talk to more dorks about the comics that made them go "WHUH!?" in the coming year. Check the place where you normally find your podcasts for these and the next ones, whenever I get around to posting them!

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zacksoto · 5 years

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New Dr. Galapagos commission. 8x10” painting with posca markers and India ink.

Get a painting of (almost?) anything you want at zacksoto.storenvy.com !

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zacksoto · 5 years

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HI! I'm (a) selling a limited run of painted in copies of Secret Voice v1 AND (b) my commissions are open.

You can find out more at zacksoto.storenvy.com

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zacksoto · 8 years

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We’ve been neglecting our tumblr like whoa. Haven’t even posted about the new podcast! Yes, that’s right!

Study Group Comics has a podcast! Join hosts Zack Soto (Secret Voice, Power Button) & Mike Dawson (Rules For Dating My Daughter, Troop 142) as they discuss their own creative processes, comic art, family life, and a ton of other stuff. Each episode finds a new guest from the world of comics joining Mike & Zack for an in depth conversation, and occasional guest segments from their pals around the world.

Episodes So Far:

Episode 01 – Vanessa Davis – Your hosts break the ice, cartoonist Shanna Matuszak talks this week’s comics, and guest Vanessa Davis talks about two Formative Works: 100 Demons by Lynda Barry & Charlotte: Life or Theater by Charlotte Salomon.

Episode 02 – Elijah Brubaker – Mike tells us all about his experiences cosplaying at the New York Comic Con. Zack chats with Shanna Matuszak about this week’s new releases. Then Elijah Brubaker (Reich, Jezebel) joins us on the party floor to talk about his process and also, Nth Man!

Episode 03 – Derf – Derf joins us to talk about his career from the heyday of the alternative weekly newspaper, to finding a new creative lease on life as a graphic novelist. Shanna Matuzak talks this week’s comics, and Mike & Zack discuss cartoonists and literary agents: threat or menace?

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zacksoto · 8 years

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Hitting stores 6/8/2016! All 3 issues to date of The Secret Voice!

BRAND NEW: Secret Voice #3 by Zack Soto. 48 full color pages in the patented oversized SG Golden Age Floppy format.

Includes: Secret Voice Chapter 4 (currently being serialized online), an SV backup story drawn by the amazing Jason Fischer and part two of Maps of the Unknown World. It will take you longer than 5 minutes to read.

Additionally, this week sees the reprint of issue #1 with a snazzy new cover and an amazing Simon Roy pin up on the back cover. Issue 2 is also shipping again with the other two so all 3 issues will be in better stores. If you can’t find them in a local shop, they’ll be up in the SG Shop soon! (note: seems like some stores will be getting their copies on 6/15, so make sure to ask if you don’t see them)

(via Secret Voice 1, 2 & 3 out in stores now! | Study Group Comic Books)

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zacksoto · 8 years

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Seriously though, Secret Voice #3 is a thing that exists, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Diamond will have it in stores very soon and I’ll post a link to buy online if your store didn’t order it too. but first: LINEWORK!!!

It’s #LineworkNW weekend and we have 5 debut books coming out!

- Levon Jihanian’s DANGER COUNTRY: The Role Playing Game Quick Start Guide. It’s real! It works! It’s awesome!

- Zack Soto’s SECRET VOICE #3 (all brand new!!!!! Still serializing on the web but in print NOW) and a reprint of SECRET VOICE #1 with a new cover and a SIMON ROY pin up back cover.

- Tyler Landry’s VILE #1 - a brand new one man anthology title focusing on horror and suspense! This double sized debut issue has its West Coast debut after dropping at TCAF last week.

Francois Vigneault’s TITAN #3. This is the SEXIEST comic about labor relations in space that you’ve ever seen! West Coast debut.

Come see us on Sunday at the Norse Hall in Portland, at the Press Gang table #6! It’s Free!

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zacksoto · 8 years

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**Study Group Comics at ECCC!**

As usual, we’ll be tabling as part of PRESS GANG with Floating World & StudioJFISH, at the same spot we’ve had for 3 years running:

Tables M-16 & m-15! (easy to remember that, no?)

NEW OR RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE TABLE:

RECENT RELEASE: POWER BUTTON #0 by Zack Soto

SHOW DEBUT - The first release from PRESS GANG as a proper publisher: SUN BAKERY #1 by Corey Lewis

SHOW DEBUT - Brand new LIMITED EDITION IWAH SLIPCASE containing all 3 issues of Farel Dalrymple’s amazing IT WILL ALL HURT with a signed print and bonus sticker! Limited to 100 numbered pieces. If you already have all 3 issues and just want the slipcase (sans print & sticker), we have a limited amount of those for sale as well. We’re taking most of these to the show but a small number have been set aside for the web. If you want it and yr not going to ECCC, head over to the shop and snatch one up.

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zacksoto · 8 years

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UK PEOPLES! WEST COAST FREAKERS! Power Button by Zack Soto #0 is out in stores tomorrow! check it out! Quoth Jog Mack at tcj.com: “. It’s the 32-page start of a new all-ages series, with space battles and creatures and such. Your Genuine Alternative Comic Book of the week, published by Study Group and distributed by Alternative Comics.”

(via Preview: Power Button #0 | Study Group Comic Books)

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zacksoto · 8 years

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New Secret Voice page up here: http://studygroupcomics.com/main/the-secret-voice-part-6-by-zack-soto We finally meet our “Big Bad” - The Smog Emperor Wux Heng!

#secret voice #Zack Soto #webcomics #comics #inking #Illustration #coloring

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zacksoto · 8 years

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The Secret Voice part 6 begins today!

If you’re new to the whole thing, it’s all still up on Study Group to read for free, or you can buy print copies at the SG shop, and this new stuff is IN DIAMOND RIGHT NOW, code FEB161066 - give that code to your local comic shop and let them know you want Secret Voice on their racks in April!

#webcomics #the secret voice #Study Group #Zack Soto

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zacksoto · 8 years

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I’ve posted a preview of my new science fiction comic Power Button #0! I’m really proud of this and excited about the series (which will be running concurrently with Secret Voice). The “zero issue” works the way they should: it’s a done-in-one story that sets the scene for the upcoming stories. Read a big chunk at the link!

Ask your retailer to order Diamond code JAN161029

(via Preview: Power Button #0 | Study Group Comic Books)

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zacksoto · 8 years

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**Just a few days left to get your apps in! **

Illustrators, cartoonists, and designers of the world! Don’t forget to send in your application to Linework NW! This is one of the most fun, most unique illustration and comics shows in the nation, bar none. Applications are NOW OPEN! The deadline to apply is January 15th!

You can apply right here!

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zacksoto · 8 years

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I've started scanning in the pages for the new issue of The Secret Voice (and therefore the first new update for the website). As of today, I'll be posting the uncolored pages on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/zacksoto well before they get colored & posted, as they are scanned.

If you are interested in supporting me in a small (but highly appreciated) way, you can do so on Patreon AND get exclusive art ahead of the webcomics crowd that I won't be posting elsewhere in this form.

Anyway, here's Secret Voice #3, page 01! Our first look at Ama Arza, the mountainous home of the mysterious Red College. More pages to come, very soon. If you want to see them in glorious black & white, consider signing up to the Patreon!

#The Secret Voice #Zack Soto #Study Group #comics #webcomics #patreon #inking #fantasy

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zacksoto · 8 years

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The beginning of a brand new science fiction adventure series by Zack Soto (The Secret Voice). In this issue, we meet Adatra, one of the illustrious Omega Knights, and learn of her life-long battle with the Galactic Horde Empire! This issue sets the stage for a truly epic and fun series to come.

Aliens! Apocalypse! Mega Battles! Monsters! Pathos! Cool Armor!

32 pages, 2 colors, offset on tasty hi-brite newsprint. 5" x 8" with Color covers. Get it in the SG store now.

*order with SATAN MOON Enamel Pin and save $2 for a limited time! Just choose that option in the dropdown menu to the right on the order page*

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zacksoto · 9 years

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I drew that monster, yo.

HALLOWEEN HAUNTING 3 IS UPON US! Click here for all the spooky info!

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zacksoto · 9 years

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**HI THERE** Please be advised, Study Group Comic Books is having a SUMMER SLAMMIN SALE! http://studygroupcomics.storenvy.com/

Help us pay for some looming printing costs, clear out some backstock, and get 20% off most everything!

François Vigneault’s TITAN #2 is also available for pre-order, as are the swanky new Study Group shirts designed by Zack Soto!

Thanks! Spread the word if you can.

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