Alan Robert

Last updated

Alan Robert
AlanRobert.jpg
Background information
Born1971 (age 5253)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genres Alternative metal
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar
Labels Roadrunner, Epic

Alan Robert (born 1971) is an American musician and comic book creator, known as the bassist for the alternative metal band Life of Agony, his work on his graphic novels Wire Hangers, Crawl to Me and Killogy, as well as his horror-themed adult coloring book series The Beauty of Horror .

Contents

Career

Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York's School of Visual Arts, where he studied cartooning under teacher Walter Simonson.

Music

Robert is credited as being one of the original members of the Brooklyn, NY-based band, Life of Agony, in 1989, [1] and is the band's primary songwriter.

In 2006, Robert announced the creation of a punk rock band Spoiler NYC, which he formed with long-time friend, "Junkyard" Silletti and Tommy Clayton. The band released the full-length record Greasefire in Hell's Kitchen in 2008 and toured Europe with Life of Agony. Best known for their high-energy live shows which regularly feature dedications to their merchandise coordinator, Guy Bannister, Spoiler NYC released two songs in 2009.

In 2016, Robert and the other original members of Life of Agony announced they would be releasing their first new album in over eleven years, "A Place Where There's No More Pain" on Napalm Records. The album (the fifth release by Life of Agony) was released worldwide on April 28, 2017. The album debuted at No. 24 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart, and received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Kerrang, Revolver, and several other high-profile music reviewers. Alan, along with the rest of the band, announced several concerts in the United States and Europe to support the album.

Robert's band announced the release, in October 2019, of its sixth studio album The Sound of Scars on Napalm Records, which acts as "Chapter Two" to their classic debut River Runs Red. The concept album, hailed by Loudwire as one of the year's "Most Anticipated Hard Rock & Metal Albums", [2] was produced & mixed by Grammy Award-winning producer Sylvia Massy and co-produced by Joey Z. Howie Weinberg handled mastering duties.

On August 9, 2019, the hit single "Scars" premiered on Billboard [3] the song went to the number 1 spot on Music Choice with 2.44 million listeners.

Comics work

Robert is currently active in the comic book industry, having first created a four-part horror/conspiracy miniseries, Wire Hangers, which he also wrote and illustrated. The series was published in 2010 by IDW Publishing. [4]

The first issue of the comic series won ComicMonsters.com's 2010 Best Cover Award. [5]

On March 29, 2011, Alan Robert announced a live action feature film version of the Wire Hangers graphic novel, which to be produced by Robert's production company, Wasted Talent Entertainment" in connection with Zam Entertainment. [6] [7]

Robert announced the four-issue miniseries, Crawl To Me, which was published by IDW Publishing, whose story follows a young family who are confronted with a series of disturbing events in their rural home. [8] The first issue was released in July 2011.

The series won the Mini-Series of the Year from ComicMonsters.com and TheSickHouse.net's 2011 Golden Gore Award for Best Graphic Novel. [9]

The first printing of Crawl To Me sold out within a week of its publication and a second printing was quickly announced. A hardcover version, titled Crawl to Me: Evil Edgar Edition was later released in various formats. At the same time, Robert announced that a full-length movie based on the graphic novel was in the works. Screenwriters T.J. Cimfel and David White signed on shortly afterwards to adapt a screenplay based on the property. [10] In December 2012, IDW Limited released two limited-run hardcover versions of the comic series in a black and red label options, featuring original artwork by Alan Robert included within each package.

On December 29, 2011, Robert appeared on second series premiere of the TLC television show, NY Ink , in the episode "Kings of NY", in which he received a tattoo based on the cover art from the first issue of Crawl To Me.

In "Wolf and Cub", the February 9, 2012, episode of the CBS show Person of Interest , several IDW Publishing books and posters are featured on the set, including Alan's Crawl to Me, Wire Hangers and Killogy. A Crawl to Me poster painted by artist Menton3 was featured in a pivotal scene inside a comic book shop near the end of the episode. [11] The graphic novel will be adapted in a full-length film produced by Robert and screenplay will re-written by David White and T.J. Cimfel. [12]

On May 10, 2012, Robert announced he was teaming with IDW Publishing again for his next comic series, Killogy, a four-issue series depicting the stories of three murderers who share a prison cell who are depicted with the likenesses of Frank Vincent, Marky Ramone and Brea Grant. The first issue was released in October 2012. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Upon its Halloween 2012 release, Killogy became a hit series and received rave reviews from respected horror and comic book critics. Fangoria hailed it, saying, "Killogy is an INSTANT CLASSIC... it finds its way into your head and stays there!" while Giant Fire Breathing Robot praised "With Killogy, Alan Robert has not only earned his place amongst the big names in comics, but he can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best horror creators in any form. [17]

Killogy won a Horror Comics Award from ComicMonsters.com for "Best Scene of 2013" and was nominated for Best Mini-Series by The Ghastly Awards, a prestigious honor as nominees are chosen by horror comic book professionals. [18] [19] Additionally, Bloody Disgusting named Killogy in its Top 5 Best Mini-Series of 2013. [20]

In July 2013, Robert teamed up with IDW again to produce his next comic series, The Shunned One, which focuses on an Angel of Death who goes rogue after being ordered to take several innocent lives. [21] The release date for the comic series is listed as early 2015.

In May 2014, Robert announced he was teaming up with ex-Misfits guitarist, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, for a special Halloween 2014 Killogy issue which centers on a character based on Doyle. Robert said that this was a continuation of the original Killogy series but that he did not expect any of the characters from the previous IDW published series to appear in this issue. At the same time, Robert teamed with award-winning writer and producer Rodney Barnes to develop an animated television series based on the Killogy comic series. [22]

Animated series

Alan Robert's hit Killogy comic series (IDW Publishing) is currently being adapted into an animated television series by Robert's production company Wasted Talent Entertainment in association with Canadian-based Squeeze Studio Animation. Award-winning Executive Producer Rodney Barnes of The Boondocks fame is attached as Show-runner. A six-minute animated teaser featuring the likenesses and voices of celebrities Frank Vincent Marky Ramone, Brea Grant, and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, who all appeared as characters in the original comic series, launched on Rolling Stone magazine's website. [23]

Movies

On July 19, 2013, it was announced that Robert had signed a movie deal with the Spanish film production company, Rodar Y Rodar, to produce a full-length feature film based on the Crawl To Me comic book series. It was also announced that Robert would be co-producing the movie along with Jeff Mazzola and Chris White. The director of the film will be Victor Garcia. [24] While no release date was provided, it was said that studio work will be filmed in Spain and exteriors in Canada.

On July 9, 2014, Alan announced that his upcoming Shunned One comic was being adapted for a movie. The film adaption is being scripted by writer Jack Reher, and being co-produced by Robert's Wasted Talent Entertainment firm along with The Coalition Group. At the time of the announcement, no scheduled release date for the movie had been listed. [25]

Coloring books

In May 2016, Robert continued his relationship with IDW Publishing when they jointly announced that IDW would be releasing Robert's The Beauty Of Horror: A GOREgeous Coloring Book on October 11, 2016. In an interview with Metal Insider, Robert got the inspiration for a horror/gore-themed coloring book while watching family members enjoying the recent resurgence of coloring books. [26]

On May 11, 2017, Nerdist Industries announced, via their Twitter feed and website, the release of a promotional video for the second book in the series, The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana's Creepatorium – Another GOREgeous Coloring Book. [27] The book is scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2017 and is promised to continue to theme of the well-received first book.

Personal

Robert is Jewish. He got his bar mitzvah at the Temple Emanu-El Hebrew School in Brooklyn where the father of Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard) father was the principal. [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marky Ramone</span> American drummer (born 1952)

Marc Steven Bell is an American drummer. He began playing in hard rock bands in the New York City area, notably Dust and Estus. He was asked to drum for punk rock band Richard Hell and the Voidoids. He replaced drummer Tommy Ramone in the Ramones in 1978, and went by the stage name Marky Ramone from then on. He has also played drums for other punk rock and heavy metal bands, including his own band Marky Ramone and the Intruders. He continues to keep the Ramones legacy alive around the world with his band Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IDW Publishing</span> American comic book publishing company

IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW) and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic book publisher in the United States, behind Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics, ahead of other comic book publishers such as Archie, Boom!, Dynamite, Valiant, and Oni Press. The company is known for its licensed comic book adaptations of films, television shows, video games, and cartoons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Vincent</span> American actor (1937–2017)

Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr. was an American actor and musician. Known for often portraying violent mobsters and criminals, he was a frequent collaborator of filmmaker Martin Scorsese, appearing as Salvy in Raging Bull (1980), Billy Batts in Goodfellas (1990), and Frank Marino in Casino (1995). On television, he played Phil Leotardo on the fifth and sixth seasons of the HBO crime drama The Sopranos (2004–2007). Vincent also voiced Salvatore Leone in the Grand Theft Auto video game series from 2001 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life of Agony</span> American metal band

Life of Agony is an American alternative metal band from Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 1989 by singer Mina Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. The band has released six studio albums to date, most notably their 1993 debut River Runs Red, named by Rolling Stone as one of the Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Stevens</span> American illustrator (1955–2008)

Dave Lee Stevens was an American illustrator and comics artist. He was most famous for creating The Rocketeer comic book and film character, and for his pin-up style "glamour art" illustrations, especially of model Bettie Page. He was the first to win Comic-Con International's Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award in 1982, and received both an Inkpot Award and the Kirby Award for Best Graphic Album in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Niles</span> American comic book author and novelist (born 1965)

Steve Niles is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery, Simon Dark, Mystery Society, Batman: Gotham County Line, Kick-Ass – The New Girl, and Kick-Ass vs Hit-Girl.

<i>Weird Tales of the Ramones</i> 2005 compilation album by The Ramones

Weird Tales of the Ramones is a box set compilation by American punk band the Ramones. It was released on August 16, 2005. There are 85 songs on 3 CDs, plus a DVD containing the feature "Lifestyles of the Ramones", a documentary featuring several of their music videos up to 1990 interspersed by interview clips with the band and figures in pop culture, plus the music videos released by the band after the release of the main feature on the DVD. The set was compiled by Johnny Ramone and released by Rhino Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Templesmith</span> Australian comic book artist and author

Ben Templesmith is an Australian comic book artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry, most notably the Image Comics series Fell, with writer Warren Ellis, and IDW's 30 Days of Night with writer Steve Niles, which was adapted into a motion picture of the same name. He has also created book covers, movie posters, trading cards, and concept work for film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein</span> American guitarist

Paul Caiafa, known professionally as Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, is an American guitarist best known for his material with the horror punk band the Misfits and his own band eponymously named Doyle.

<i>Masters of Horror</i> Anthology television series

Masters of Horror is an anthology television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifford Meth</span> American writer, editor, and publisher

Clifford Meth is an American writer, editor, and publisher best known for his dark fiction, as well as his publishing imprint Aardwolf Publishing. He has said that his work is often "self consciously Jewish."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Calero</span> American artist and illustrator

Dennis Calero is an American comic book artist and illustrator, known for his work on titles such as X-Men Noir, Spider-Man Noir, X Factor, Legion of Superheroes, and Kolchak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Little</span>

Troy Little is a Canadian cartoonist working in comic books and animation. He began self publishing with Chiaroscuro, a graphic novel that was developed between 2000 and 2005 under his Meanwhile Studios imprint. After winning two grants and being praised by Dave Sim, Chiaroscuro vol. 1 was released in 2007 by IDW Publishing.

Sam Shearon, also known under the pseudonym and credited / published also as Mister Sam Shearon is a British dark artist born in Liverpool, England. Specialising in horror and science-fiction, his work often includes elements inspired by vintage tales of monsters and madmen, dark futures, post apocalyptic genres including cyberpunk and industrial wastelands and classic literature including H.P.Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and the modern classics Clive Barker's Hellraiser and the Books of Blood all of which he has fully illustrated.

<i>Dungeons & Dragons</i> (IDW Publishing) Comic book series by IDW Publishing

Dungeons & Dragons is a series of comic books published by IDW Publishing, under the license from Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, based on the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. Since 2010, IDW Publishing has released two Dungeons & Dragons ongoing series, twelve Dungeons & Dragons limited series, three crossover series and an annual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Mullaney</span> American editor, publisher, and designer (born 1954)

Dean Mullaney is an American editor, publisher, and designer whose Eclipse Enterprises, founded in 1977, was one of the earliest independent comic-book companies. Eclipse published some of the first graphic novels and was one of the first comics publishers to champion creators' rights. In the 2000s, he established the imprint The Library of American Comics of IDW Publishing to publish hardcover collections of comic strips. Mullaney and his work have received seven Eisner Awards.

<i>Crawl To Me</i>

Crawl To Me is a comic book miniseries that was written and illustrated by Life of Agony bassist Alan Robert. The series was published through IDW Publishing from June 2011 through October 2011 and comprised four issues. The collected issues were released in a trade paperback on 17 January 2012 and a special "Evil Edgar Edition" was released on 14 August 2012 with additional artwork, an introduction by Walter Simonson, and cover artwork by Menton3. A limited "Red Label" deluxe edition was released in 2013 and featured a slipcase, signature page, and hand-drawn artwork along with the material included in the "Evil Edgar Edition".

<i>The Beauty of Horror</i> Adult coloring book series

The Beauty of Horror is a horror-themed adult coloring book series created by Life of Agony bassist Alan Robert and published by IDW Publishing. and distributed by Penguin Random House. Volume one of the series was released in September 2016 and Nerdist called it "The World's Creepiest Adult Coloring Book". There are currently six books in the series with titles including The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana's Creepatorium, The Beauty of Horror 3: Haunted Playgrounds, The Beauty of Horror 4: Creature Feature, The Beauty of Horror: Ghosts of Christmas, The Beauty of Horror: Tricks And Treats, and The Beauty of Horror: Haunt This Journal.

References

  1. Life of Agony – Music Biography, Credits and Discography. AllMusic. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  2. DiVita, Joe (October 2, 2018). "2019's Most Anticipated Hard Rock + Metal Albums". Loudwire.com.
  3. "Life of Agony's 'Scars' Video: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. August 9, 2019.
  4. "IDW Presents Wire Hangers". wirehangerscomic.com. September 28, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  5. "Cover of the Year 2010" Archived December 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . ComicMonsters.com. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  6. Wasted Talent Entertainment. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  7. Alan Roberts' Wire Hangers Official Movie Website. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  8. Alan Robert's Crawl To Me – Comic Book Series (IDW Publishing). crawltomecomic.com. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  9. The 2011 Golden Gore Awards Archived February 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . The Sick House. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  10. Life of Agony Bassist Alan Robert's Hit Graphic Novel Lands Screenwriters (Noisecreep).
  11. Person of Interest . Season 1. Episode 14. February 9, 2012. CBS.
  12. "Life of Agony Bassist Alan Robert's Crawl to Me Adaptation Finds Writers". Dread Central. April 24, 2012
  13. Marshall, Rick (July 3, 2012). "Alan Robert's "Killogy" comic casts famous faces from stage and screen in dark horror story". IFC.
  14. "Alan Robert's "Killogy" Coming Halloween 2012 From IDW". Comic Book Resources. July 15, 2012.
  15. "Alan Roberts' Killogy – A New Comic Series From the Creator of 'Crawl to Me' and 'Wire Hangers'". killogycomic.com. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  16. "Goodfella's Frank Vincent, Legendary Drummer Marky Ramone & Heroes' Brea Grant Team Up In Alan Robert's Killogy Comic Series (IDW)". killogycomic.com. May 10, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  17. "Alan Roberts' Killogy – A New Comic Series From the Creator of 'Crawl to Me' and 'Wire Hangers'". killogycomic.com.
  18. "Horror Comic Book News - Comic Monsters - 2013 Horror Comic Award Winners Announced". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  19. Nadler, Lonnie (January 6, 2014). "The 2013 Ghastly Award Nominees Announced!". Bloody-disgusting.com.
  20. Nadler, Lonnie (December 26, 2013). "[BEST & WORST '13] Jorge Solis' List of the Best Comics Mini-Series Of 2013!". Bloody-disgusting.com.
  21. IDW announces new Alan Robert series, "THE SHUNNED ONE" Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . fangoria.com.
  22. DOYLE WOLFGANG VON FRANKENSTEIN To Star In 'Killogy' Comic Book; Animated Series In Development. Blabbermouth.net
  23. Geist, Brandon (May 6, 2015). "Watch Marky Ramone, Frank Vincent Fight Flying Zombie Heads in Animated Clip". Rolling Stone .
  24. "Rodar, Alan Robert Team On "Crawl To Me". Variety .
  25. "IDW Comic 'The Shunned One' Getting Big-Screen Adaptation From 'Grizzly' Writer Jack Reher (Exclusive)". TheWrap.com.
  26. "Interview: Life of Agony's Alan Robert", Metal Insider. Retrieved November 21, 2016
  27. " Archived 2017-05-11 at the Wayback Machine ", Nerdist Website
  28. Paltrowitz, Darren (October 21, 2019). "Life Of Agony's Alan Robert on Making 'The Sound Of Scars,' Hebrew School and More". Jewish Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2024.