#alex kosakowski

[oosteven-universe]

Cookie and the Kid #2

Cookie and the Kid #2 Antarctic Press 2019 By Alex Kosakowski     Bombs away! Cookie the elf and his best friend, Mutt, are supposed help Sylva, another young elf, put the finishing touches on her trebuchet so maybe it can catapult the human child out of the faerie world before the Hill King finds her. Unfortunately, Cookie’s more interested in lunch than launch, so things don’t go as planned…     There are some books that you find that you instantly fall in love with and for me this is one of them. Cookie and Mutt are one of the greatest comedic duo's out there. It is like the Odd Couple, Fred and Barney or Oliver and Hardy they just play off one another spectacularly well and it's a pure joy that we get to see this happen. While we cannot understand what our human friend is saying since this is the land of the faerie and neither can Cookie or Mutt so that compliments matters for now.     I love the way that this is being told. Alex has this way of being able to make it seem that writing is the easiest thing in the world. Like breathing or some such nonsense. The story & plot development along with the character development and how they work with and off each other to create the kind of atmosphere that delights us. Speaking of delights this really truly is an all-ages book and while the younger ones will just enjoy the banter, the creativity and imagination in the characters. Teens and upward will like the complexity of the story, how they all have either issues with each other or tease each other depending on the persons viewpoint. Plus if I am not mistaken Cookie and Sylva have that playground style crush going on as well.     This poor little girl is lost, crying and just wants her dog Cookie. So it's kind of like that old Who's on First routine because with the dog and the elf having the same name well it is causing all kinds of distress and wrong assumptions among Mutt and Cookie. Though to be honest it's funny that that's the only word they can understand. I do have to say that it's nice to finally meet more characters in this world. Sylva was a natural as she and Cookie have a history but then to see those two new beastie-catchers. I have no idea why they are catching them but it was mentioned last issue by Cookie so that we see them is wonderfully done.     The interiors are are beautiful. There are a few backgrounds that are more empty than I would like but considering Alex does this everything here we can forgive that. I adore the way the elves look like monkey's they've got these large ears and yet the hairy bodies and the hands resemble simian features. There is something incredibly unique and delightful about Alex's rendition here. I love the linework that we see here and how the varying weights are utilised in creating such dynamic attention to detail. The animals, creatures, characters and this world they live in with the trees and rocks in the landscape is just gorgeous. ​     With hi-jinx, laughter and with sadness and a little squabbling this is every bit as fun and creative as anything from Where the Wild Are, Who, Said Sue, Said Whoo? Or even Shel Silverstein. Perfect every member of the family and a great way to have supper table conversation over something that isn't on telly or mobile phones. Positivity and joy rule the day here and I can't get enough of it.

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 8/21

Another week, another smorgasbord of tasty comics!

Bad Reception #1 - Juan Doe

It's the celebrity wedding of the century, set in an undisclosed, remote location, with no access to wifi, cell phone reception or the outside world. But the dream wedding becomes a nightmare when, one by one, the guests are brutally slaugh-tered by a serial killer who brands his victims with a hashtag. A searing horror story that doubles as a topical, satirical critique on society's obsession with technology, social media and the cult of celebrity.

Strayed #1 (of 5) - Carlos Giffoni and Juan Doe

In the far future, a military-industrial complex reigns over all humanity and actively destroys distant alien worlds. The galaxy's only hope can be found through an unlikely pair: an astral-projecting cat named Lou and his loving owner Kiara. Trading nine lives for the well-being of billions, their revolt is a battle for love, friendship, compassion, and the soul of humanity.

Cookie And The Kid #1 - Alex Kosakowski

Presenting the first issue of a delightful (and delicious) all-ages adventure! In a hidden faerie kingdom, Cookie, a young misfit elf, is facing big worries for a wee folk: He just wants to eat his favorite food-cookies from the human world-in peace, but other critters are stealing them, after HE stole them fair and square!  And now this lost human child and her dog have stumbled into his life, sparking an unexpected journey for them both!

Absolute Carnage Vs Deadpool #1 (of 3) - Matthew Rosenberg and Marcelo Ferreira

At long last, Deadpool is ready to get his head straight and checks himself into Ravencroft Institute. Unfortunately, there's another new arrival: CARNAGE! But we don't think he's here for a group therapy session...

Ghost-Spider #1 - Seanan McGuire and Takeshi Miyazawa

With a cloud of infamy hanging over her head on Earth-65, GWEN STACY now travels to Earth-616 for super hero action...and school?! The newest student at ESU is about to get a crash course in multiversity as she splits her time between the world she loves and the world she's just getting to know! But what devious villain has eyes on Gwen's travels? Is Gwen ready for what comes next?

Marvel Action: Captain Marvel #1 (of 3) - Sam Maggs and Sweeney Boo

Go higher, further, and faster with Captain Marvel in this brand-new, all-ages adventure! Carol Danvers' quiet night with BFF Jessica Drew (a.k.a. Spider-Woman) takes a cat-astrophic turn when Manhattan's bodegas are suddenly overrun by a host of angry felines! And not just any felines-Flerkens, the most terrifying, pocket-dimension-holding, tentacle-devouring kitty-look-alikes in the entire universe! Carol's paw-sitive she can handle the situation on her own, but questions remain: can she overcome the fur-midible foes before it's too late? How well does the "Find My Phone" function actually work? And will there be more cat puns?! It's a Flerken invasion in the latest addition to the mighty Marvel Action banner!

Whatcha grabbin’ this week, Fantomites? 

[noblebeastbooks]

Character Art by Alex Kosakowski

[erinkeyserhorn]

This is artwork from the dystopian Peter Pan I'll get to write if the Noble Beast Classics Kickstarter is successful! Alex Kosakowski is the artist, and I'm the author of this classic-turned-sci-fi enhanced ebook (incorporating art, story, music, interactive maps, and more).

Synopsis: On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Wendy is visited by a rogue lad named Peter Pan and told she must escape with him into Neverland—the untamed wilds around London—or be brainwashed at the government's hands. Will they face the perils awaiting them in Neverland, or will they choose to fight Hook and the corrupt government?

Noble Beast has 15 enhanced ebooks to choose from, in several different editions/formats. By pledging just $8, you'll get a classic ebook at half-price AND the Steampunk Holmes enhanced ebook for free! Please check out the Kickstarter for all the details: http://goo.gl/dumLdQ

[hugefangs]

Alex Kosakowski

[theartofanimation]

Alex Kosakowski

[oosteven-universe]

Cookie and the Kid #1

Cookie and the Kid #1 Antarctic Press 2019 By Alex Kosakowski     In a hidden faerie kingdom, Cookie, a young misfit elf, is facing big worries for a wee folk: He just wants to eat his favourite food—cookies from the human world—in peace, but other critters are stealing them, after HE stole them fair and square! And now this lost human child and her dog have stumbled into his life, sparking an unexpected journey for them both!     I loved this book! There is something about it that just captures your imagination and makes you smile and giggle while reading it. This feels familiar and yet there's nothing here that you can compare it to and that's such an amazing thing to see, read and feel. Right now I would place this at an all-ages book because it this wondrous innocent feel to it and what we see in the faerie world isn't scary or creepy it just paints them in a different light. So you could completely share this with whomever is in your household regardless of age or gender.     The way that this is being told is sensational. The opening is great in that it piques your curiosity and makes you want to continue to see what's going to happen. The story & plot development along with the character development are intricately tied together and the way that the pacing of the story moves everything forward is a joy to see. We don't learn her name, this human girl, as there is no one present to actually speak it. In this odd way that is kind of charming as we can get caught up in what is happening to her so that we don't know what to call her isn't an issue.     I love the characterisation here. Cookie, the elf not the dog, is funny and his personality is that of a classic slacker. No ambition aside from travelling to the human world to steal cookies. He has no desire to work and let alone with the elf that he was assigned to help. His ramblings and his demeanour are just so amazing to see as they really flesh out his character and personality. Even the inadvertent characterisation that is done on the surrounding critters who also desperately want to steal cookies from Cookie are done in this utterly charming way. The way that we are introduced to the characters is incredibly nice to see.     The interior artwork here is stupendous. The linework is utterly gorgeous and how he is able to manipulate and utilise the varying weights to bring us this quality and level of attention to detail. This really should be in black and white and shades of grey as it really makes everything stand out beautifully. The creativity and imagination that is on display here rocks my world as does the way we see the composition in the panels in how foregrounds and backgrounds are utilised. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stupendous eye for storytelling. Just the look of the elves here makes me laugh and smile. ​     This is how you start off a new series. Even if this is nothing more than a few issue arc at a time it something that screams out for your attention. The story is too cute for words and the characters are well thought out and fleshed out and the interiors are absolutely stunning. This is some of the most charming storytelling through and through that I have seen in comics.  ​

[oosteven-universe]

Cookie and the Kid Vol.2 #2

Cookie and the Kid Vol.2 #2 Antarctic Press 2021 By Alex Kosakowski    Cookie and his friends are captured by the deceitful elf Hube.  Now they're trapped in the spiders' den, tangled in webs, frightened and lost, with no hope for escape.  It's dinnertime, and Cookie and the Kid are the main course!    I am completely and utterly enamoured with this series. Hume has visions of grandeur as he wants to be the new Hill King and he’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that this happens including feeding Cookie and his friends to the Spiders.  I almost thought all that was over last issue but I like the fact that we’re still with the spider and they are still wondering who or what they are having for dinner.  The story that leads us through multiple issues are those I tend to enjoy more because while new avenues open up that are followed we are still within the main story that just keeps going kind of along the lines of real life.  While being an elf that is travelling with a human and a dog isn’t normal, at least for me it's not, but you get the first of what I’m saying.  In the process true friendships form and suddenly life isn’t what you always thought it would be and that's a huge part of the charm and charisma of this series.      I’m in love with the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well.  The character development, which is phenomenal by the way, that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter continues to showcase their personalities as they grow and evolve.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story the more I want to see because honestly so much happens and there’s so much retribution, it’s a good word, I want to see enacted.    I greatly appreciate how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I also think how we see the layers open up new avenues to be explored and how this adds so much great depth, dimension and complexity to the story is extremely well handled.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is exceptionally well achieved.    The interiors here really truly are bloody mindbogglingly brilliant to see.  The linework is exquisite and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level & quality in the detail within the work is astonishing.  Black & white is the hardest to do because it will show every mistake or flaw but honestly I think Alex masters this form of illustration and he’s able to utilise backgrounds and the creativity and imagination that he has is on display magnificently well.  How we see the backgrounds enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is marvellous.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling.  I wish I had interiors to run with this review so you can see what I see, but trust me it's absolutely stunning work. ​    This really is a phenomenal all-ages book.  Kids can love and enjoy the friendship aspects of what we see as well as how the elves and different species are rendered.  Adults can look at this and see a version of Poison Elves, which if you’ve never read I urge you to find it and read it, with the overtones and undertones that add all kinds of intrigue and such.  Everyone of every age and gender will find aspects of this book to relate to, empathise with and just simply enjoy.  Me I think this is one of the most underrated series being made today and it needs to be on everyone’s MUST READ list.

[oosteven-universe]

Cookie and the Kid Vol.2 #1

Cookie and the Kid Vol. 2 #1 Antarctic Press 2021 By Alex Kosakowski    Deep down in the underground, Cookie and his friends search for the missing human child and uncover more than they bargained for: scary spiders, sticky webs, and the conniving Hube's dastardly plan.    I am so enamoured with this series.  When I read the first issue I knew right then and there that this was something special and that more folks needed to know this book existed.  With volume two starting I am falling in love with these characters all over again.  When last we left them the human child was missing and the group had gone off in search of her.  I like that this is where we pick things up.  These characters are incredible and it is easy to fall in love with them all over again and they are just so endearing and caring of their new friend.      I am loving the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does absolute wonders in bringing their personalities to life.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more we want to see and there simply aren’t enough pages for the reader.    I absolutely love how we see the group interact with not only a new species but with an old frenemy.  The way that we see these events play out are all-ages creepy and cute all at the same time, it’s like Aragog (Harry Potter) but in a cuter manner.  I think it's amazing that Alex manages to bring the cute and the creepy in one single image and then maintain that throughout the encounter.      I’m a huge fan of the way we see this being structured and how the layers within the story begin to emerge and grow.  The layers within the story open up these avenues to explore and while what we see is somewhat limited it still manages to add this great humour, depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably rendered.      I’m such a huge fan of the black and white interiors here and the fact that Alex can utilise this and now show any flaws and just do some absolutely beautiful work is stunning.  The linework is exquisite and how the varying weights and techniques are being utilised to create the level & quality of detail within the work that we see is stunning.  While personally I’d like to see more backgrounds in use, what we see does expand and enhance the moments while also working within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. ​    This is an absolutely delightful issue that picks up right where we left off and it continues to bring this story to life.  The elves here and the creatures they encounter within their realm reminds me of an all-ages version of Poison Elves and while this may seem odd it isn’t really because they are both amazingly well illustrated stories featuring unique elves and their adventures.  I am blown away by the level and quality of the storytelling and how it easily works as an all-ages book that adults will see in its entirety while kids see one aspect and teens can see bits of both depending on where they are in life.  The writing here is exceptional and the characterisation is superb and these interiors are sublime.  This is a series that you need to be reading if not you’re doing yourself a disservice.  

[noblebeastbooks]

Alex Kosakowski will be doing the art for Noble Beast Classic, Never Safe in Neverland: A Dystopian Peter Pan. His artwork is just amazing! Check out the amazing character and landscape art he has on his site!

http://goo.gl/BzNmyi

[hugefangs]

Alex Kosakowski

[hugefangs]

Alex Kosakowski