Michael Joseph is back with what I believe to be his best work ever: Rocky Balboa vs Muhammad Ali! – Craig
Sam Hiti’s Rambo Art
Longtime SZoners probably remember when I first linked to Sami Hiti’s Rambo drawings. Two of them, along with some of Sam’s other drawings, are now available on e-bay. Click HERE to see what’s available!
Sam Hiti is the Xeric Award-Winning creator of the critically acclaimed Tiempos Finales graphic novel (optioned as a film by Universal Studios/Focus Films). Sam is currently hard at work finishing up his next book Death-Day. Sam has also illustrated the Official Comic Book Adaptation for A Series of Unfortunate Events Movie from Nickelodeon, a Nike comic project, worked with and created illustrations for the New York Times, Disney Magazine and his creator owned work, Gallows Noose, Phenoms, and Long Dark Train! His latest work Ghoulash, shows some of his best sketches to date!
Hopefully a lucky SZoner will end up with one of them! Below is my piece by Sam! – Craig
Another SZoner Meets Sly
This was a photo taken on 12/06/06 in Boston. Sly was in town promoting “Rocky Balboa” and took time out for a photo with Carol Lanigan who is has been a huge Stallone fan for over 30 years!
Thanks to Carol for sharing! – Craig
POW: “Death Race 2000”
Our POW [Picture of the Week] is a shot of Sly from “Death Race 2000.” It comes to us from SZoner,
Dede Richard Boyd’s personal collection.
– Craig
“Rocky Balboa” Trading Cards and Early Showing Info
I first met Miguel Insignares a few years ago at a comic book convention. He was promoting work that he’d done for the “Dawn of the Dead“ remake. Miguel was very approachable and cool. So when I found out that Miguel was behind the “Rocky” limited edition card set, I was thrilled. I knew they’d picked the right guy for the job. I just received an e-mail from Miguel and SZoners are going to love this… especially if they live within driving distance of Tampa.
Hello Craig,
Hope all is well. We are very excited about our upcoming Rocky Balboa trading cards and to celebrate we want to invite you and fellow StalloneZoners to a FREE Rocky Balboa Sneak Preview Wednesday, Dec. 13th at 7:30PM in Tampa!! They MUST call our satellite office 813-832-1717 to reserve their free passes! (This is a limited time offer and available while they last, one two-person ticket per call.) Tickets will be available for pick-up beginning Monday, December 11th at 9 AM.
In addition, we will have a look-alike contest!! — Come dressed up as ANY Rocky character from any of the movies and you will be eligible for cool prizes!!
Check out our website www.mig.biz, register for our newsletter, and call for more info!
Hope to see you all there!
-Miguel A. Insignares
MIG.BIZ,LLC
Click on the photo above for easier reading! Thanks to Miguel for the update! I can’t wait to see the cards! – Craig
As Real As It Gets
Rocky [SYLVESTER STALLONE] takes a hard shot from Mason Dixon [ANTONIO TARVER] when the final round of the Academy Award-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres on December 20, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE. Sly and former light heavyweight champ, Antonio Tarver traded real blows in an effort to make Rocky’s last fight his most realistic.
-Craig Zablo
Photo by: John Bramley
2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC
And now as an added bonus, an interview question and answer from Sly!
QUESTION: What motivated you to bring back Rocky for a final chapter?
SYLVESTER STALLONE: I just didn’t like the way the last one ended. Truthfully I thought the last one it, it just wasn’t over, you know, you think it’s over, and you really go back and you rehash it in your own mind like an athlete. You go, “God, you know, maybe I just retired too soon. Maybe Rocky just retired too soon.” And yeah, someone told him he had problems. He had health problems. He, he had a little brain damage, but he never even had a second opinion. He just automatically assumed it. We do have our ups and downs, and it was a down side of his life. But I think that the real affirmation of life is what comes after that? Do you come out of that valley or not, you know?
Sly fans will also want to check out the great questions and answers that Sly is delivering each day at AIN’T IT COOL NEWS! Click HERE to get there!
-Craig Zablo
Sly Donates “Rocky” Props to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History!
Sly was joined by his wife, Jennifer Flavin, at the ceremony to donate boxing gloves, trunks and other props used in the Rocky movies to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006.
Sly At the Carolina Panthers vs Philadelphia Eagles Monday Night Football Game!
Sylvester Stallone was in attendance at the Carolina Panthers vs Philadelphia Eagles football game Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, in Philadelphia. Sly was recognized on the field prior to the start of the game.
Rocky: The Ultimate Guide
Hi Craig,
My name is Bess Braswell, and I work in marketing at DK Publishing. I recently noticed that you have Rocky: The Ultimate Guide up on Stallonezone.com, which is fantastic! Thank you very much! We’ve changed the cover from the version on your site, so I’ve attached the final cover.
Thanks again for showing the book – you have a fantastic site!
Best wishes,
Bess
DK Publishing
Rocky: The Ultimate Guide. Jam-packed with over 1,000 stills and digitally remastered photos bringing together moments from the original “Rocky” through the first five films as well as details on the final installment, “Rocky Balboa.”
Honoring the thirtieth anniversary of the original Rocky film, as well as the Winter 2006 release of Rocky Balboa, a definitive reference to all six films in the blockbuster series features more than one thousand stills and digitally re-mastered pictures, as well as plot information, cast and character profiles, accounts of Rocky’s most famous fights, and more. (An MGM/Sony Pictures film, written & directed by Sylvester Stallone, releasing Winter 2006, starring Sylvester Stallone)
To Pre-Order the Hardback click HERE
Paperback Orders can click HERE
– Craig
“Rocky Balboa” Soundtrack
Available December 26, 2006, the soundtrack for “Rocky Balboa” will consist of the following tracks:
1. Gonna Fly Now- Bill Conti
2. Eye Of The Tiger- Survivor
3. Going The Distance- Bill Conti
4. Living In America- James Brown
5. Redemption- Bill Conti
6. Conquest- Bill Conti
7. Burning Heart- Survivor
8. Alone In the Ring- Bill Conti
9. Overture- Bill Conti
10. Mickey- Bill Conti
11. Hearts On Fire- John Cafferty
12. Rocky’s Reward- Bill Conti
13. Adrian- Bill Conti
14. No Easy Way Out- John Tepper
15. Fanfare For Rocky- Bill Conti
16. It’s A Fight- Three 6 Mafia
17. Gonna Fly Now (Remix)- Bill Conti (remix by John X)
Pre-orders are available HERE. We greatly appreciate those SZoners who order through StalloneZone links! – Craig