Zack Smith: Writer

SDCC ’07: MANY FACES OF THE GN PANEL

“Graphic Novel.” The phrase has been bandied about by countless critics, journalists and fans, becoming a term that’s sometimes seen as distinct from “comic books.”

But what truly constitutes a graphic novel, and what are the realities of creating one?

At the “Many Faces of the Graphic Novel” panel held at the San Diego Comic-Con International on Thursday, six of today’s most acclaimed creators tried to answer that question.

Full story here.

SDCC ’07: FLETCHER HANKS PANEL

For years, the work of Golden Age comic book creator Fletcher Hanks lingered in obscurity. That recently changed with the release of Fantagraphics’ I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets: The Comics of Fletcher Hanks by Paul Karasik, which has introduced such surreal, vengeful characters as Stardust and Fantomah to an all-new generation.

In the panel “Fletcher Hanks: The Ed Wood of Comics?”, held at the San Diego Comic-Con International on Thursday, Karasik showed a packed house the history of Hanks’ work, and argued why comparisons to “the worst director of all time” might not be warranted.

Full story here.

SDCC ’07: WARNER BROS. PANEL

Whiteout and Watchmen, two of the most-anticipated film adaptations of comics…well, ever, were previewed at San Diego Comic-Con International on Friday. Hall H, the largest exhibition room at the convention center, was packed wall to wall with thousands of fans waiting to hear some of the first news about the upcoming films in Warner Brothers’ presentation.

Here are the highlights…

JULY 25, 2007
Building Blount Street Commons
Linking one of Raleigh’s oldest districts to the new downtown

BY ZACK SMITH

540 N. Blount St. in downtown Raleigh has seen better days. A thin layer of black dirt covers the outside, and if you want an invitation inside, you probably shouldn’t touch the broken plastic button that was once a doorbell.

The inside boasts some ugly blue carpeting, fluorescent lights and a water fountain from the days when the state government used it as a headquarters for investigating white-collar crimes.

“There were guys with nightsticks and 9 mms on their hips wandering around,” muses Doug Redford, a senior project manager with LNR Property Corp.’s commercial property group. “Why did you need a 9 mm to investigate white-collar crime, anyway?”

One of the grand old dwellings of the Blount Street district in Raleigh Photo by James Preiss

The North Blount Street historic district contains some of Raleigh’s oldest and most historically important homes—most of which have been turned into state offices. Now, a redevelopment plan called Blount Street Commons could turn them back into homes and help transform the district into one of downtown’s most upscale neighborhoods.

Full Story Here!

JULY 25, 2007
Empty warehouses, no trains
What to do with TTA’s empty buildings in downtown Raleigh?

BY ZACK SMITH

The seven red-brick buildings adjacent to the large Dillon Supply building off of West Martin Street in downtown Raleigh are a melancholy sight. They’ve remained empty since late 2005, when they were bought out by the Triangle Transit Authority as part of the TTA’s plans for a 28-mile rail line.

Problem: The rail line’s still in limbo, and so are the buildings.

A view of the Dillon Supply building off West Martin Street in Raleigh Photo by James Preiss

Aly Khalifa and Isaac Panzarella are two members of DesignBox, a creative collective that opened an office near the old Dillon buildings in March. They’ve proposed a solution—why not repurpose the buildings as live/work spaces for artists?

 Full story here: http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A157584

Did a chat session with my friend, film critic Craig Lindsey, which ran on the Raleigh News and Observer’s web site….along with that photo of me with Rosario Dawson. 

Lindsey’s observations on the chat:

“But this convo is perhaps the most significant for me because Smith helped me deal with something that was tearing me up inside, something that no mature adult should have to deal with: my increasing hatred for ‘Transformers.’ I’ll forever be indebted to him for being there for me. You’re a true friend, playa!”

 Aw!  Right back at you, Craig!

 You can read our chat here.

JONATHAN LETHEM ON OMEGA THE UNKNOWN

ENIGMA THE FIRST: the lone survivor of an alien world, a nameless man of somber, impassive visage, garbed utterly inappropriately in garish blue-and-red. ENIGMA THE SECOND: James-Michael Starling, age twelve raised in near-isolation by parents who (he discovered on the day they “died”) were robots. ENIGMA THE THIRD: the link between the man and the boy, penetrating to the depths of the mind and body, causing each to question his very reality of self.

In-depth interview with the MacArthur “genius” grant recepient about his upcoming series at Marvel Comics. 

Read the Full Story here.