I’m not sure I can do much of a “best of” list for last year since it seems to be the year I parsed my comics into un-buy piles and a few completist projects I swore I wouldn’t do again. So I’ll try to make this list a bit different than the other ones you’ve no doubt read by now. And just in case you don't know where I'm coming from, I mostly just read a few superhero comics so there's no encylopedic knowledge base here.
My best of 2006 in no particular order:
Solo #11 - Sergio Argones
This comic returned me to my childhood and I quite simply had fun reading it. That's all it takes for me to like your comic too - I need to simply enjoy reading it. The last issue was also interesting but kind of freaked me out so it gets an honourable mention for pushing the limits of what mainstream superhero comic book buyers will read.
Batman Year 100
This is what comic book mini-series should be – good. What else can be said about Batman? Apparently Paul Pope figured out that the legend of Batman would make a good story and by simply showing us a world that is equally recognizable and foreign he proved that mainstream superhero comic book fans are capable of stretching their horizons and are, in fact, hungry for new stories.
All-Star Superman
Sure it came out randomly but whenever it came out it made me happy. It’s that holy grail of comics where whenever the comic isn’t perfect those imperfections don’t feel like glaring errors that make me want to give up comics forever in frustration. It is simple, fun and beautiful.
The Spirit
Like All-Star Superman last year, this gets a “best of” nod on the strength of one issue. That one issue was better than a lot of what else is out there. And it’s not even an original property, which I’ll admit had me worried. I approached this comic with trepidation but discovered not just a good take on The Spirit, but a really good comic, full stop.
Pride of Baghdad
This OGN has been trumpeted elsewhere and with good reason. It is a fantastic tale with interesting characters and visuals. Add to that there is some great commentary on the current catastrophuck in the Iraq. So with all the serious tone and wonderfully dark storytelling there is also Brian K. Vaughn’s answer to that age old question “Who would win in a fight between a grizzly bear and a lion?”
Fun Home
Again, another book I wasn’t expecting to live up to the hype and was completely captivated by the entire thing. This creation as a whole was a true eye-opener for me as I tend to like most indy-type comics only in theory.
Detective Comics
One year and a bit later we have Paul Dini taking over and repeating his success first shown on Batman: The Animated Series. With his current output Dini is proving that you can tell genre fiction fantastically well and that there is an audience for any book as long as the stories are simply told well. Again, there isn’t much more to say about Batman, but Dini shows that with the right writer there is always the potential for good stories.
52
Yes it does have problems but I still find it entertaining week in and week out which I respect.
The Ottawa Public Library
2006 is also the year that I discovered what a great resource the Ottawa Public Library is for comics. They have a fantastic Bandes Designes selection as well as manga, independent and main stream comic collections. It lets me save a lot of cash and lets me read a lot of stuff I’d never pick up for the ridiculous prices they sell for up here. It is totally free and I can order the books I want from home. Darn near perfect.
The Dubious List
As I started to reflect back onto 2006 I notice that it was the year I dropped a lot of undeserving books and skipped a lot of books I should have been reading. I mean, curiosity got the better of me and I bought Civil War #1 but it was like when Morgan Spurlock ate that double quarter-pounder with cheese super-sized meal. I didn’t mind it to start out with but I was just ill and disgusted with myself by the end of it. I never bought it again.
Books I should have bought but for some reason didn’t
Nextwave: Agents of HATE
This is top of the list. I read the first issue and the humour just felt laboured to me so I never went back to it this past year. And yet, everyone who is anyone in the comic blogtagon seems to love it with unabashed love. I have to say it looks like a lot of fun from the outside but for some reason I still don’t think I would enjoy it without an encyclopedic comic knowledge. I know I dismissed the series based on one issue as comic book navel-gazing and now I feel sort of ashamed to jump back into it – I may pick up another issue at some point.
Local
Again, another book I dismissed after one issue. This one I feel really guilty about since I want to encourage more comic book creators to approach comics with a unique sensibility and push the limits of the medium. I also want to support more comics outside the big two superhero publishers but I fail on both accounts here. I guess it’s like jazz and electronic music – I can appreciate why it is good and why people love it but I don’t crave it for myself.
The Thing
Another book that looked to be comic book gold with a Marvel character I like and an approach to him I can appreciate. The thing that killed me picking this book up was the pleading of the creator and his claims I was responsible for killing comics. All I can say is “mission accomplished.”
The All-New Atom
This is the biggest guilt trip I can possibly lay on myself. Gail Simone stopped by this very blog and I promised myself I’d give it a try. I didn’t because I suck and my brain for comics has shrunken to the limits of Ray Choi is himself capable of shrinking. Okay that sounds betters aloud than written online.
Wasteland
Another book I promised the creator I would buy after Antony commented here. I had trouble finding the first three issues so I’m now officially waiting for the trade. I was really hyped about this one too.
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters
I actually enjoyed Battle for Bludhaven and this is meant to be better. The boobs killed this one for me. Yes, that is probably somehow sexist since I think Phantom Lady is an otherwise strong character.
Superman/Action Comics
Yes, I actually wanted to read Up, Up and Away but just didn’t for some reason. I think it was financial and I had mistakenly chosen to read Face the Face which I liked but I think in the end this was the better relaunch. I’ll find out someday.
Daredevil
Yes, I get it everyone. It’s good but I still have that Ben Affleck disaster imprinted on my psyche and like Pavlov’s dog I am trained to avoid Daredevil. I’ll probably read it once the library gets it though.
The Punisher’s War Journal
Another good book I’m told but I was never a fan of The Punisher. This is only on issue #2 so I could jump on.
X-Factor
I was an X-fan in my youth and while I’m interested here, it’ll take a lot to get over that hump.
Comics I dropped for no good reason
The Secret Six
I was enjoying this book but missed it one week and just didn’t feel compelled to buy it again. I honestly can’t explain it.
Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis
Another book I missed and just didn’t feel compelled to buy again even though I generally liked the whole thing. I probably would have enjoyed this as an Elseworlds graphic novel. That probably would have been a better way to test the waters so to say. The thing is, I always enjoyed this whenever I read it.
DMZ
A comic I actually liked a lot but just sort of didn’t need to read anymore. It happens. I just want to have the financial freedom to try something else. See other people. I know you’re a good comic DMZ but there are just so many other good comics out there I haven’t met yet.
The Incredible Hulk.
I was enjoying Planet Hulk and while I like the idea I just didn’t like it enough to buy this comic until he returns to earth to raise a little hell. Okay, maybe that was a good reason and this should be in another category.
Fear Agent
I just couldn’t find this after issue 5 or 6. I wouldn’t have dropped it otherwise. I’ve since seen the last few issues but don’t want to read them unless I can fill in the gaps. Really, I think it was the crappy schedule that made me drop this one, which brings me to the next category.
Comics that dropped me
The Ultimates 2
I’ll still get this if it comes out, I mean Cpt. America in a lightsabre fight is enough to keep me happy for a while. Stick with that instead of the whole Hawkeye ripping off his own fingernails.
Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk
This was going along swell then just decided not to call anymore. I wonder if it got arrested?
Comics that brought me aboard
Manhunter
Yes, it is as good as everyone says and with the new trade coming out I’ll be able to fill in a bit more of the backstory. I’m proof that you can join a title late and actually enjoy it.
Agents of Atlas
I was ready to just simply not buy Marvel Comics again then Jeff Parker came out with this doozy of a miniseries. It is fun, it is continuity laden, it is a miniseries – all reasons it should fail, but it hasn’t and I’m actually enjoying a Marvel comic.
Penny Arcade
This is like the perfect comic strip for me as I was a game geek before I was a comic geek. Heck I even learned how to 3-D animate (poorly) to try and get a video game type job. Plus, it's free and online. It's wonderfully mean, honest and loving in one fell swoop.
Clusterfuck of the Year
Basically, Marvel Comics. What the hell happened there? They have good creators, good artists, good writers and editors. They are a group of really talented people with great ideas and vision but for some reason the whole enterprise just doesn’t seem to be working all that well. I hate to pick on any one person but the EiC is probably the one to blame here. I know what it’s like to work with a boss who has a hard-on for the spotlight and runs off at the mouth to simply keep himself in the spotlight and damn the consequences, and I think that’s what is happening here. The whole, mature readers only for gay characters catastrophe to Civil War proving the age old adage that war is hell just has me at a loss for words for the company apparently leading the industry.
Biggest Disappointment
DC One Year Later. It started out strong but has since whimpered into the same old mold of yore. Yes some things were cleaned up and there were some changes that have allowed for some creators to actually tell classic feeling stories once again but for the most part it wasn’t the streamlining and updating I was hoping for. I wasn’t expecting anything from Civil War so it didn’t let me down.
Biggest Rut I Fell Into
Not broadening my comic buying horizons. I still don’t buy enough creator owned comics or buy anything all that diverse on a regular basis. I hope to improve on this and break some bad habits, like gravitating towards DC comics and continuing to buy mediocre comics instead of widening my horizons and trying books other people like. I’d also like to try and avoid talking about how much I hate my job and letting the day job interfere with the rest of my life to the point where I don’t want to blog anymore. I actually enjoy this, even if I sometimes don’t have a very informative or unique post to put up here.
Biggest Thing I’m Looking Forward to in 2007
Jeff Smith’s Cpt. Marvel miniseries. I hope it doesn’t get arrested like Hulk and Wolverine. Otherwise I’m looking to update my back catalogue by catching up on more Hellboy and Y: The Last Man. I want to finally read Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing and start reading Fables at some point. The year is long and if there is nothing new to read, I still have a lot of catching up to do.
Wow, that was a lot longer than anticipated. Hope your bladder isn't hurting.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Promethea – Form(ulaic) writing
For my holidays I managed to snag all four volumes of Alan Moore and J.H. Williams III’s Promethea from the library. I’m on a bit of an Alan Moore kick these days since finding out I can get most of his oeuvre from the library which means I won’t cast off into financial dire straits trying to read his work. Also I missed a lot of his work the first time around as I probably wasn’t reading or buying comics then.
So what did I think?
Well, when it comes to Alan Moore I tend to be more patient and forgiving than I am with most other current comic creators. I don’t particularly know why but I am, whether that’s fair to anyone or not. I guess it’s because I trust him as a writer and I know that even if I’m not totally sold on the concept there will be something I like in the story or collection of stories. But on the flip side I also read his stories waiting for the porn story to appear. It’s inevitable, there will be some sort of sexual storyline in his work, especially his created universes like Promethea and Top 10.
What struck me the most with this series wasn’t so much the writing as the art this time around. Promethea, the comic, seems to be more of an exploration of what is possible within the medium itself with the writing, dialogue, and plot being secondary. They could have been talking about anything for most of the book and it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference to me. Yes, the dialogue and plotlines where Promethea is exploring the coloured and tarot-magic worlds is reflective and supportive of the images but it seems to, ultimately, take a back seat to what we’re seeing. For a man who is known for his writing, Moore seems to have played a bit of the devil with this creation in making the book itself be about everything BUT the reading experience. I mean most of the dialogue is explaining a whole bunch of facts and trivia about the history of magic as well as a few tenuous pop culture references taken out of context and hammered with unintended meaning. But really, who cares? It’s about creating meaning by the interrelation between images, language, and knowledge.
It isn’t just about art though but the medium of comic books itself. The layouts of every page reflect the yin and yang dual nature of Promethea’s real world and immateria existence. We’re given challenging layouts, weaving text and dialogue as well as plotlines from strait up superheroics to whimsical cartoon strips to kid’s book illustrations to cuniform. I think somewhere in there is the idea that the beginnings of recording language were actual word images and that comics are essentially a hybrid of words and images combined into yet another form that is meant to relay meaning to the reader.
In the end Promethea had a lot of ups and downs for me as I loved parts but felt other parts simply dragged on too long and felt like a formal exercise. But what an exercise it turns out to be. As someone who had to read a bit too much literary theory and bad examples of people trying to deconstruct their medium this was a much welcome treat. This really is an prime example of a deconstructed textual representation. It examines itself while creating something new. Brilliant, but does fall into the ever present trap of deconstructionist dryness and distance from the reader and subject simultaneously. All the while looking beautiful and willing to push the limits of what a reader can experience.
So what did I think?
Well, when it comes to Alan Moore I tend to be more patient and forgiving than I am with most other current comic creators. I don’t particularly know why but I am, whether that’s fair to anyone or not. I guess it’s because I trust him as a writer and I know that even if I’m not totally sold on the concept there will be something I like in the story or collection of stories. But on the flip side I also read his stories waiting for the porn story to appear. It’s inevitable, there will be some sort of sexual storyline in his work, especially his created universes like Promethea and Top 10.
What struck me the most with this series wasn’t so much the writing as the art this time around. Promethea, the comic, seems to be more of an exploration of what is possible within the medium itself with the writing, dialogue, and plot being secondary. They could have been talking about anything for most of the book and it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference to me. Yes, the dialogue and plotlines where Promethea is exploring the coloured and tarot-magic worlds is reflective and supportive of the images but it seems to, ultimately, take a back seat to what we’re seeing. For a man who is known for his writing, Moore seems to have played a bit of the devil with this creation in making the book itself be about everything BUT the reading experience. I mean most of the dialogue is explaining a whole bunch of facts and trivia about the history of magic as well as a few tenuous pop culture references taken out of context and hammered with unintended meaning. But really, who cares? It’s about creating meaning by the interrelation between images, language, and knowledge.
It isn’t just about art though but the medium of comic books itself. The layouts of every page reflect the yin and yang dual nature of Promethea’s real world and immateria existence. We’re given challenging layouts, weaving text and dialogue as well as plotlines from strait up superheroics to whimsical cartoon strips to kid’s book illustrations to cuniform. I think somewhere in there is the idea that the beginnings of recording language were actual word images and that comics are essentially a hybrid of words and images combined into yet another form that is meant to relay meaning to the reader.
In the end Promethea had a lot of ups and downs for me as I loved parts but felt other parts simply dragged on too long and felt like a formal exercise. But what an exercise it turns out to be. As someone who had to read a bit too much literary theory and bad examples of people trying to deconstruct their medium this was a much welcome treat. This really is an prime example of a deconstructed textual representation. It examines itself while creating something new. Brilliant, but does fall into the ever present trap of deconstructionist dryness and distance from the reader and subject simultaneously. All the while looking beautiful and willing to push the limits of what a reader can experience.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Thursday's Loot - 04 January 2006
52 Week 35
More 52 delivered on time and it continues directly where the last issue left off. Heroes falling to the left and right with a fantastic Luthor character moment involving the death of everyman. 52 has sort of turned the throw away joke into its reason for being and the whole “null gravity, null gravity, null IT’S NOT WORKING!” bit had me laughing. Then back to space where we’re given a Trojan horse plot and Buddy Baker being loveable again.
I rate this comic: Feeling short this week without the backup.
Manhunter #27
I guess a lot of people’s childhood got unraped by the last page of Manhunter. I don’t care how it turns out I’m intrigued. Okay, I still don’t know who all the characters are but the whole Shangri-La Knights of Dumas thing looks like it’ll be impressive as does the whole Justice Experience plot. The writing in this book is simply top notch from courtroom drama, to explaining LA paparazzi, to the main hero being out of costume for the entire affair. But when you get past the engaging dialogue, plot and characters you find the little attentions to detail are particularly charming. From the Checkmate symbol being found not only on their company laptops but their plasma TV-sets as well. I can just imagine this entire government black ops department developing home entertainment capabilities to sell on the public market a few years after it’s obsolete in the field as a means to fund their research. No? Just me? Well there’s a great World According to Garp joke that had to be made obvious for those who never read it and a little girl kicking Dr. Trapp in, well, the trap.
I rate this comic: Splendid.
All-Star Superman #6
Whenever this book comes out I’m simply amazed at how unbelievably good it is. It has an easy charm and swagger about it that makes reading it feel like I’m doing myself a favour. The ease at which the ideas flow even when coming at you at hypervelocity is simply staggeringly impressive. With each page I fall in love with Superman all over again and with each new idea presented I’m reminded why it is I like superhero comics so much. The Supermen, the time travel, the connection to issue #2, the joy and the sadness each feel and read genuine. The muted yet bright colours are simply warm and inviting giving young Clark the charm he is meant to have as the prototypical modern American. He’s goofy and he’s a huge guy but he’s still kind and charming in his innate honesty and pure desire to do good in the world. Each way you try to describe the characters of Clark Kent and Superman can just as easily be transferred onto this comic itself. It is just a joy to read.
I rate this comic: Still one of the best comics – when it comes out.
More 52 delivered on time and it continues directly where the last issue left off. Heroes falling to the left and right with a fantastic Luthor character moment involving the death of everyman. 52 has sort of turned the throw away joke into its reason for being and the whole “null gravity, null gravity, null IT’S NOT WORKING!” bit had me laughing. Then back to space where we’re given a Trojan horse plot and Buddy Baker being loveable again.
I rate this comic: Feeling short this week without the backup.
Manhunter #27
I guess a lot of people’s childhood got unraped by the last page of Manhunter. I don’t care how it turns out I’m intrigued. Okay, I still don’t know who all the characters are but the whole Shangri-La Knights of Dumas thing looks like it’ll be impressive as does the whole Justice Experience plot. The writing in this book is simply top notch from courtroom drama, to explaining LA paparazzi, to the main hero being out of costume for the entire affair. But when you get past the engaging dialogue, plot and characters you find the little attentions to detail are particularly charming. From the Checkmate symbol being found not only on their company laptops but their plasma TV-sets as well. I can just imagine this entire government black ops department developing home entertainment capabilities to sell on the public market a few years after it’s obsolete in the field as a means to fund their research. No? Just me? Well there’s a great World According to Garp joke that had to be made obvious for those who never read it and a little girl kicking Dr. Trapp in, well, the trap.
I rate this comic: Splendid.
All-Star Superman #6
Whenever this book comes out I’m simply amazed at how unbelievably good it is. It has an easy charm and swagger about it that makes reading it feel like I’m doing myself a favour. The ease at which the ideas flow even when coming at you at hypervelocity is simply staggeringly impressive. With each page I fall in love with Superman all over again and with each new idea presented I’m reminded why it is I like superhero comics so much. The Supermen, the time travel, the connection to issue #2, the joy and the sadness each feel and read genuine. The muted yet bright colours are simply warm and inviting giving young Clark the charm he is meant to have as the prototypical modern American. He’s goofy and he’s a huge guy but he’s still kind and charming in his innate honesty and pure desire to do good in the world. Each way you try to describe the characters of Clark Kent and Superman can just as easily be transferred onto this comic itself. It is just a joy to read.
I rate this comic: Still one of the best comics – when it comes out.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Everyone's Book of the Year it Seems - Fun Home
So the break from work was great and it was very nice to get out of Ottawa for a while and stay with the in-laws with my parent visiting us for Christmas and New Years Eve. The flight home on the first was okay, but the service at the Halifax Airport was by far the worst I have ever experienced in my life and I was in Ottawa two years ago during a major snowstorm that cancelled almost all the flights. I have written a letter of complaint to Air Canada about the people they had working at their counter and how utterly rude and disorganized they were to a massive group of stressed out people who were delayed because of the staff incompetence. This has nothing to do with comics but I’ll get to the point soon. You see, I finally got Fun Home from the library but forgot it at my home for the holidays. It was due back on January 2nd and I couldn’t renew it. How would I possibly have time to read it, thought I.
Turns out I had a lot of free time at work yesterday since only four of us bothered to show up. It was a nice way to spend the day; reading the critically acclaimed and mainstream media breaking Fun Home.
A lot has already been said about this text and mounds of praise have been heaped upon it so I’ll try to focus on something I haven’t personally come across in what I’ve managed to read about the book. Basically, I’m wondering if Fun Home will be the next holy grail of comics, along the lines of Maus? I think the Pulitzer was an obvious boost in Maus’s favour but I also think Fun Home has a couple of things working in its favour as well. Essentially, I think it breaks ground for most readers on two fronts.
I think Fun Home can be a modern example of queer text. Not just in the subject matter but in the actual form of it. It’s not just words on paper but words and pictures. To most people “comics” is a bad word, much like the reclaimed “queer.” I think the form and context go hand in hand. The subject matter is about coming to terms with being gay while being presented in an outside the mainstream format. However, even when you start to examine the book against other comics it still maintains its status as queer. For me this is because there is a lot of artwork that is the graphic reproduction of text or photographs.
The comic itself is artistic representation of other representations of life or layers upon layers of interpretation. The experiences presented are filtered through other filters of reality. We are given the artist/writer’s artistic representation of typewritten letters, handwritten journals and family photos. What stands out for me is the graphic interpretation of text. This is a twisting of one of the fundamental assumptions about comics. Comics are meant to be words and art. So is it still comics if what we’re given is words and words? That’s where I see the queer themes reinforcing one another. There is an assumption of principle and an assumed “deviation” from the norm. It truly is a fantastic tour de force of comics that, for me at least, helped push the limits of what I think comics are and can be.
This wasn’t fiction, it wasn’t words with pictures yet it was still narrative and still art. For me it helped me make some connections to determine just what it was I thought I knew about comics. It helped me define my own take on the medium all the while being a captivating story. I never thought I’d be a fan of dramatic naval gazing into the life of a comic book creator and yet I couldn’t put this book down – never mind the fact it was due back at the library, I was simply captivated by the life on an “other” presented to me.
There are so many reasons this book shouldn’t be successful and yet it is despite those reasons. It’s a comic but people in the mainstream reading culture don’t like comics plus it’s about coming to terms with being gay but there are enough people out there who think anything gay is dangerous to the fabric of society. I think Fun Home will be a groundbreaking book for a lot of people on two fronts. It will get them reading a comic and a queer text while letting them not be freaked out by either.
Turns out I had a lot of free time at work yesterday since only four of us bothered to show up. It was a nice way to spend the day; reading the critically acclaimed and mainstream media breaking Fun Home.
A lot has already been said about this text and mounds of praise have been heaped upon it so I’ll try to focus on something I haven’t personally come across in what I’ve managed to read about the book. Basically, I’m wondering if Fun Home will be the next holy grail of comics, along the lines of Maus? I think the Pulitzer was an obvious boost in Maus’s favour but I also think Fun Home has a couple of things working in its favour as well. Essentially, I think it breaks ground for most readers on two fronts.
I think Fun Home can be a modern example of queer text. Not just in the subject matter but in the actual form of it. It’s not just words on paper but words and pictures. To most people “comics” is a bad word, much like the reclaimed “queer.” I think the form and context go hand in hand. The subject matter is about coming to terms with being gay while being presented in an outside the mainstream format. However, even when you start to examine the book against other comics it still maintains its status as queer. For me this is because there is a lot of artwork that is the graphic reproduction of text or photographs.
The comic itself is artistic representation of other representations of life or layers upon layers of interpretation. The experiences presented are filtered through other filters of reality. We are given the artist/writer’s artistic representation of typewritten letters, handwritten journals and family photos. What stands out for me is the graphic interpretation of text. This is a twisting of one of the fundamental assumptions about comics. Comics are meant to be words and art. So is it still comics if what we’re given is words and words? That’s where I see the queer themes reinforcing one another. There is an assumption of principle and an assumed “deviation” from the norm. It truly is a fantastic tour de force of comics that, for me at least, helped push the limits of what I think comics are and can be.
This wasn’t fiction, it wasn’t words with pictures yet it was still narrative and still art. For me it helped me make some connections to determine just what it was I thought I knew about comics. It helped me define my own take on the medium all the while being a captivating story. I never thought I’d be a fan of dramatic naval gazing into the life of a comic book creator and yet I couldn’t put this book down – never mind the fact it was due back at the library, I was simply captivated by the life on an “other” presented to me.
There are so many reasons this book shouldn’t be successful and yet it is despite those reasons. It’s a comic but people in the mainstream reading culture don’t like comics plus it’s about coming to terms with being gay but there are enough people out there who think anything gay is dangerous to the fabric of society. I think Fun Home will be a groundbreaking book for a lot of people on two fronts. It will get them reading a comic and a queer text while letting them not be freaked out by either.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Oh yeah...
... I'm going to channel the id or super-ego of Chris Sims for a moment with the suggestion that the movie Nick of Time has one of the best "kicks to the head" ever put on film. Starring Johnny Depp as the business traveller whose daughter is kidnapped and he's forced into a devil's bargain with Christopher Walken. Kill the governor or we kill your daughter. Anyway, it's a bit forced but there are some really tense moments and it feels like a precursor to 24 in the whole sort of realtime filming.
Anyway, after Johnny Depp manages to save the governor Christopher Walken's partner is still going to kill JD's daughter. Thankfully, the shoeshine man Huey, played by Charles S. Dutton, saves the day by dragging Christopher Walken's partner out of the van. She shoots the Huey in the leg (established to be a wooden leg) but he tackles her down then grabs his own leg and punches her with it - essentially, kicking her in the head and punching her unconscious in one fell swoop. Badass.
Anyway, after Johnny Depp manages to save the governor Christopher Walken's partner is still going to kill JD's daughter. Thankfully, the shoeshine man Huey, played by Charles S. Dutton, saves the day by dragging Christopher Walken's partner out of the van. She shoots the Huey in the leg (established to be a wooden leg) but he tackles her down then grabs his own leg and punches her with it - essentially, kicking her in the head and punching her unconscious in one fell swoop. Badass.
Last Week's Loot - 2 January 2007
Hello fellow bloggers and netizens. I've only got a quick post for the moment on last week's books that I read on my flight home.
52 Week 34
Some touching moments and a focus on the diabolical scheme of Lex Luthor. I liked the play on the Everyman Heroes, the traditional heroes and Lex Luthor trying to be a hero but failing so trying to make a real hero appear to be a failure. It reflected the way the Suicide Squad was messing with the Black Marvel Family. That whole Suicide Squad - Black Marvel Family sequence reminded me of the Bill Hicks comedy bit where he compares American foreign policy to Jack Palance in Shane.
I rate this comic: A very enjoyable issue of 52 that was exceptionally pleasing to read.
Detective Comics #827
God bless Paul Dini.
I rate this comic: Awesome.
Justice #9
A focus on Cpt. Marvel and the whole Shazam group of characters. I did like how someone, Black Adam I believe, called him the Big Cheese at one point. Otherwise this is the over melodramatic mirror image of Detective Comics. Yet I still enjoy it. I like this take on the characters and the artwork - except the armour. There was a time when I used to love characters getting out their random armoured wardrobes to fight aliens or whatever but for some reason I didn't like it here (except Batman's). I guess it just reminded me too much of Kingdom Come which I didn't enjoy at all. I do actually like this take on the Superfriends and from what I'm reading on the blogs I'm glad I stuck with this instead of picking up the new JLA, sorry Justice League of America book.
I rate this comic: Decent if you can get over the jarred action sequences.
52 Week 34
Some touching moments and a focus on the diabolical scheme of Lex Luthor. I liked the play on the Everyman Heroes, the traditional heroes and Lex Luthor trying to be a hero but failing so trying to make a real hero appear to be a failure. It reflected the way the Suicide Squad was messing with the Black Marvel Family. That whole Suicide Squad - Black Marvel Family sequence reminded me of the Bill Hicks comedy bit where he compares American foreign policy to Jack Palance in Shane.
I rate this comic: A very enjoyable issue of 52 that was exceptionally pleasing to read.
Detective Comics #827
God bless Paul Dini.
I rate this comic: Awesome.
Justice #9
A focus on Cpt. Marvel and the whole Shazam group of characters. I did like how someone, Black Adam I believe, called him the Big Cheese at one point. Otherwise this is the over melodramatic mirror image of Detective Comics. Yet I still enjoy it. I like this take on the characters and the artwork - except the armour. There was a time when I used to love characters getting out their random armoured wardrobes to fight aliens or whatever but for some reason I didn't like it here (except Batman's). I guess it just reminded me too much of Kingdom Come which I didn't enjoy at all. I do actually like this take on the Superfriends and from what I'm reading on the blogs I'm glad I stuck with this instead of picking up the new JLA, sorry Justice League of America book.
I rate this comic: Decent if you can get over the jarred action sequences.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Four Days Until the Fat Man Arrives
If for some reason you haven't purchased all the Christmas Cheer you are required to satiate the ravenous desires of your familial unit, or a friend surprised you with homemade cookies or a bottle of chianti, then this post is for you. Yes, folks, it's my "Very Last Minute Gift Guide of Gifts You Can Buy at a Comic Book and/or Game Shop." You'll notice a lot of these images are from the Chapters website. Sorry copyright laws, I was rushed.
Instead of listing games that cost a foolish amount and re-enact the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy or WWII I'll suggest a game called Nexus Ops. It has day-glow aliens and spacemen that are trying to own a bunch of mines on a new planet. It has a modular board and really great bits and pieces. Plus the victory points elements means that games won't last the entire holiday season. Great for getting a bit of conflict out of the way.
The Stocking Stuffers
There are quite a few really cheap card games that are available for all ages. For the younger crowd there's games like Loot, about pirates, No Thanks, Coloretto, or Turn the Tide about a sinking island with poor unfortunate sheep.
For the slightly more mature there are games like For Sale where you want to become a real estate baron selling anything from a cardboard box to a space station. Or Fairy Tale where you try to disrupt other people's fantastic tales although it isn't exactly literary. And Guillotine where you try to collect the most popular heads of French nobles during the revolution. But probably the cheapest game that will get everyone around the table having fun is Bang! There's one sheriff, one Renegade and everone else is a
deputy or outlaw. You collect better guns and ammo to shoot the people next to you or further down the line. You drink beer to get better and try to avoid the idiot with the TnT.
Let's Begin:
For Comic Book Fans of All Ages
I don't think you can go wrong with Don Rossa's The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck or the new collections of Carl Barks Greatest Duck Tales Volumes 1 and 2. If this person should already own The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, then the Companion should go along nicely with the original.
For the New Reader
Have a niece, nephew or a friend with a child at the age where reading is new
and a great adventure? Then I don't think anyone can ever go wrong with having some Tintin to read. Honestly, any of them are great. The series true start is Tintin in the Land of the Soviets but it's not all that relevant to today's kids and if you want to avoid some paternalistic racial stereotyping then I think The Cigars of the Pharoah is where you should begin, although there's probably some evil bedouins or something. If anyone is Scottish then Tintin and The Black Island is a must.
For the Person Getting Back Into Comics but Doesn't Know What to Buy Other Than X-men or Star Wars Comics
I think there's really two ways to go here, you can either
pick up the first Essential X-men volume - uncanny or original recipe or help open their horizon. If I can assume people buying comics are anything like me then they will be creatures of habit and are suspicious of change or the unfamiliar. That means helping them get over this fear. Once a new door is opened then the healing and learning process begins. That being said, I finally purchased Manhunter and it is a truly amazing comic. I think if you're looking for a hidden gem of a comic to pass along then the first trade is the way to go.
The Comic Book Stocking Stuffer
Otherwise known as the all purpose gift. Not sure what to get someone that is quick and easy and sure to please? Pick up Issue #1 of Darwyn Cooke's The
Spirit. It's a great comic that just came out so should be easy to find on the shelves. Add it to a few other single issues and you've got the gift people want to trade for at the office party.
Perfect For the Bookshelf but Won't Bankrupt You
I think these books could work for anyone, not just comic book folk. And if money isn't an issue then get the new Absolute DC: The New Frontier. Otherwise, I thinkWill Eisner's Contract With God Trilogy or New York (especially if you or they are from New York) are beautiful books that will entertain anyone. Same goes for David B's Epileptic.
For the Family Sick of Playing Monopoly
Okay, you don't hate it totally but you're tired of landing on Park Place while you don't own any of your own monopolies. Then pick up The Settlers of Catan. Yes, it's a German boardgame but it was like they took Monopoly and reduced it to the best elements. You need to wheel and deal every single turn or there is simply no way you will win. The rules are simple and the board is set up different every single time. Plus there are great little wooden bits that will remind the older men about marathon Risk sessions. This one has less killing and more jokes about having wood for sheep.
If you like the wheeling and dealing but want something a bit cheaper than Settlers, you can always pick up Bohnanza. Yes, it's about planting bean farms and it has cartoony cards but it can become extremely cutthroat if that's how your family rolls. Again, you need to trade every single turn or you can't maximize the profit of your bean farms. And who doesn't like trying to get a monopoly on Cocoa beans during Christmas? If you can get over the cutsy theme and remind everyone that they can't rearrange their cards in their hand, this is a heck of a fun game for up to 7 people.
For the Family Sick of Playing Trivial Pursuit
You can't go wrong with Wits & Wagers. In this game you can win without ever answering a trivia question correctly. That's because you bet on the other answers (they're all numerical answers) like The Price is Right - whoever is closest without going over. So all you need to know is the group playing and hedge your bets on things like "who is the most likely to know the length from nose to tail of the longest whale on record?"
For the Family Sick of Playing Scattergories
Apples to Apples is the way to go. You can get as many people as you want engaged in this game, as well as people of almost any age. One person puts down a green adjective card like "hot" and everyone plays one of the red noun cards in their hand anonymously, like Cocoa, Black Lingerie, Alfred Hitchcock, or Fried Chicken. The cards are collected and whichever one the adjective player thinks is best wins the round. And it goes around the table. There are over 1000 cards so you are unlikely to ever get the same answers or combinations. There is also a junior version for the younger people.
For the Couple
Looking for a simple distraction for two people? Then Phoenix is the way to go. It's beautiful to look at and simple to pick up but most importantly it's a heck of a lot of fun to play. You randomly draw coloured squares out of a bag and place them in a line. Then both players draw out their pawns randomly. The object of the game is to use the cards in your hand to arrange your pawns into the same order as the colour spectrum in the middle. Me and the wife have been playing this almost too much recently. We threw the scoring method out the window and just keep track of who arranged their pawns first and start the next round. Three rounds can be done in about half an hour. And the pieces are actually a treat to hold and look at.
For the Young One
I picked this one up for a five year old and he loved it. Heck me and my wife are tempted to get a copy for ourselves. It's called Tier auf Tier (Animal upon Animal) and it's sort of like Jenga in reverse. You roll a die to see how many wooden animals you stack on top of the alligator. One or two, do you choose the animal for one of your opponents or do they choose one for you? And the animals are the strangest combination I've ever encountered from the alligator base to sheep, penguins, running lizards, snakes, hedgehogs, and monkeys. The best part - once the kid goes to bed it doubles as a drinking game.
For the Risk Fan
For Comic Book Fans of All Ages
I don't think you can go wrong with Don Rossa's The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck or the new collections of Carl Barks Greatest Duck Tales Volumes 1 and 2. If this person should already own The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, then the Companion should go along nicely with the original.
For the New Reader
Have a niece, nephew or a friend with a child at the age where reading is new
and a great adventure? Then I don't think anyone can ever go wrong with having some Tintin to read. Honestly, any of them are great. The series true start is Tintin in the Land of the Soviets but it's not all that relevant to today's kids and if you want to avoid some paternalistic racial stereotyping then I think The Cigars of the Pharoah is where you should begin, although there's probably some evil bedouins or something. If anyone is Scottish then Tintin and The Black Island is a must.For the Person Getting Back Into Comics but Doesn't Know What to Buy Other Than X-men or Star Wars Comics
I think there's really two ways to go here, you can either
pick up the first Essential X-men volume - uncanny or original recipe or help open their horizon. If I can assume people buying comics are anything like me then they will be creatures of habit and are suspicious of change or the unfamiliar. That means helping them get over this fear. Once a new door is opened then the healing and learning process begins. That being said, I finally purchased Manhunter and it is a truly amazing comic. I think if you're looking for a hidden gem of a comic to pass along then the first trade is the way to go.The Comic Book Stocking Stuffer
Otherwise known as the all purpose gift. Not sure what to get someone that is quick and easy and sure to please? Pick up Issue #1 of Darwyn Cooke's The
Spirit. It's a great comic that just came out so should be easy to find on the shelves. Add it to a few other single issues and you've got the gift people want to trade for at the office party.Perfect For the Bookshelf but Won't Bankrupt You
I think these books could work for anyone, not just comic book folk. And if money isn't an issue then get the new Absolute DC: The New Frontier. Otherwise, I thinkWill Eisner's Contract With God Trilogy or New York (especially if you or they are from New York) are beautiful books that will entertain anyone. Same goes for David B's Epileptic.
For the Family Sick of Playing Monopoly
Okay, you don't hate it totally but you're tired of landing on Park Place while you don't own any of your own monopolies. Then pick up The Settlers of Catan. Yes, it's a German boardgame but it was like they took Monopoly and reduced it to the best elements. You need to wheel and deal every single turn or there is simply no way you will win. The rules are simple and the board is set up different every single time. Plus there are great little wooden bits that will remind the older men about marathon Risk sessions. This one has less killing and more jokes about having wood for sheep.
If you like the wheeling and dealing but want something a bit cheaper than Settlers, you can always pick up Bohnanza. Yes, it's about planting bean farms and it has cartoony cards but it can become extremely cutthroat if that's how your family rolls. Again, you need to trade every single turn or you can't maximize the profit of your bean farms. And who doesn't like trying to get a monopoly on Cocoa beans during Christmas? If you can get over the cutsy theme and remind everyone that they can't rearrange their cards in their hand, this is a heck of a fun game for up to 7 people.
For the Family Sick of Playing Trivial Pursuit
You can't go wrong with Wits & Wagers. In this game you can win without ever answering a trivia question correctly. That's because you bet on the other answers (they're all numerical answers) like The Price is Right - whoever is closest without going over. So all you need to know is the group playing and hedge your bets on things like "who is the most likely to know the length from nose to tail of the longest whale on record?"
For the Family Sick of Playing Scattergories
Apples to Apples is the way to go. You can get as many people as you want engaged in this game, as well as people of almost any age. One person puts down a green adjective card like "hot" and everyone plays one of the red noun cards in their hand anonymously, like Cocoa, Black Lingerie, Alfred Hitchcock, or Fried Chicken. The cards are collected and whichever one the adjective player thinks is best wins the round. And it goes around the table. There are over 1000 cards so you are unlikely to ever get the same answers or combinations. There is also a junior version for the younger people.
For the Couple
Looking for a simple distraction for two people? Then Phoenix is the way to go. It's beautiful to look at and simple to pick up but most importantly it's a heck of a lot of fun to play. You randomly draw coloured squares out of a bag and place them in a line. Then both players draw out their pawns randomly. The object of the game is to use the cards in your hand to arrange your pawns into the same order as the colour spectrum in the middle. Me and the wife have been playing this almost too much recently. We threw the scoring method out the window and just keep track of who arranged their pawns first and start the next round. Three rounds can be done in about half an hour. And the pieces are actually a treat to hold and look at.
For the Young One
I picked this one up for a five year old and he loved it. Heck me and my wife are tempted to get a copy for ourselves. It's called Tier auf Tier (Animal upon Animal) and it's sort of like Jenga in reverse. You roll a die to see how many wooden animals you stack on top of the alligator. One or two, do you choose the animal for one of your opponents or do they choose one for you? And the animals are the strangest combination I've ever encountered from the alligator base to sheep, penguins, running lizards, snakes, hedgehogs, and monkeys. The best part - once the kid goes to bed it doubles as a drinking game.
For the Risk Fan
Instead of listing games that cost a foolish amount and re-enact the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy or WWII I'll suggest a game called Nexus Ops. It has day-glow aliens and spacemen that are trying to own a bunch of mines on a new planet. It has a modular board and really great bits and pieces. Plus the victory points elements means that games won't last the entire holiday season. Great for getting a bit of conflict out of the way.
The Stocking Stuffers
There are quite a few really cheap card games that are available for all ages. For the younger crowd there's games like Loot, about pirates, No Thanks, Coloretto, or Turn the Tide about a sinking island with poor unfortunate sheep.
For the slightly more mature there are games like For Sale where you want to become a real estate baron selling anything from a cardboard box to a space station. Or Fairy Tale where you try to disrupt other people's fantastic tales although it isn't exactly literary. And Guillotine where you try to collect the most popular heads of French nobles during the revolution. But probably the cheapest game that will get everyone around the table having fun is Bang! There's one sheriff, one Renegade and everone else is a
deputy or outlaw. You collect better guns and ammo to shoot the people next to you or further down the line. You drink beer to get better and try to avoid the idiot with the TnT.Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Wednesday's Loot - 20 December 2006
52 Week 33
Apparently in the DCU Hannuka only has 6 days and nights instead of 8. Oh well, as long as you know what a menorah is and what it more or less looks like I suppose. This isn't reality, I mean they have a crocodile dressed as Run or DMC. Otherwise I liked this issue. It was fun, what with the gifts and the return of the Suicide Squad which people seem to like. There were a few characters I couldn't identify in both the gift giving sequence and who were in the Suicide Squad. I'll troll some other blogs to find out I guess. The letter to Santa for the credits was a good touch.
I rate this comic: Another decent issue of 52.
Apparently in the DCU Hannuka only has 6 days and nights instead of 8. Oh well, as long as you know what a menorah is and what it more or less looks like I suppose. This isn't reality, I mean they have a crocodile dressed as Run or DMC. Otherwise I liked this issue. It was fun, what with the gifts and the return of the Suicide Squad which people seem to like. There were a few characters I couldn't identify in both the gift giving sequence and who were in the Suicide Squad. I'll troll some other blogs to find out I guess. The letter to Santa for the credits was a good touch.
I rate this comic: Another decent issue of 52.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Eisner for Everyone
Yesterday I read Will Eisner's New York. If there's one thing any reader can take from that book it is the understanding of why so many people gravitate towards big cities. It is the greatest and most dramatic stage for the theatre of humanity. This book is Eisner's record of all the different parts of his city. And it really is his city in many ways. Having spent the majority of his life there the stories in this collection, even the harsh and sad ones, are all presented with both a touch of pride and love. These stories feel like a man in awe and appreciation of his city in the same way a child feels about a parent.
The stories here are, in many ways, a catalogue of all the different sets and players involved in the life theatre of the city. The drama of the buildings, the windows and subway grates are all repeated motifs and backdrops. The denizens of this city are all warm yet somewhat deceitful although in a charming and almost honest manner, ironically. People drop off dates in expensive cars that turn out to be rented then we see the date leave the expensive apartment building for the subway ride home. We see countless people fall through the cracks but still with enough life force to continue to survive and a setting that allows them to exist.
As per most of the Eisner material I've read the characters seem to exist outside of time. I feel like Eisner's element was the forties and a lot of the characters seem dressed to fit that era. Not all, mind you, and there's nothing wrong with it in the least. I feel it gives the stories a more timeless quality. They could be from any time since then and to know that a lot of these stories come from the end of Eisner's career and life is simply amazing. That someone advanced in age was creating some of the most lively, energetic, beautiful and simply youthful comic books is a testament in itself to the quality of Eisner's love for the medium and his city.
If you're looking for a holiday gift for the comic lover, budding artist, art collector or person who likes neat gifts, then I highly suggest you pick this up as it will not disappoint.
The stories here are, in many ways, a catalogue of all the different sets and players involved in the life theatre of the city. The drama of the buildings, the windows and subway grates are all repeated motifs and backdrops. The denizens of this city are all warm yet somewhat deceitful although in a charming and almost honest manner, ironically. People drop off dates in expensive cars that turn out to be rented then we see the date leave the expensive apartment building for the subway ride home. We see countless people fall through the cracks but still with enough life force to continue to survive and a setting that allows them to exist.
As per most of the Eisner material I've read the characters seem to exist outside of time. I feel like Eisner's element was the forties and a lot of the characters seem dressed to fit that era. Not all, mind you, and there's nothing wrong with it in the least. I feel it gives the stories a more timeless quality. They could be from any time since then and to know that a lot of these stories come from the end of Eisner's career and life is simply amazing. That someone advanced in age was creating some of the most lively, energetic, beautiful and simply youthful comic books is a testament in itself to the quality of Eisner's love for the medium and his city.
If you're looking for a holiday gift for the comic lover, budding artist, art collector or person who likes neat gifts, then I highly suggest you pick this up as it will not disappoint.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Almost 13 pages
So I got a bit distracted today with actually being useful and helping with a holiday mailout. And it's only 3:30 but I'm heading out early because my wife is off early. They had their Christmas Party today and rewarded with closing early. So I'm off and I'll leave you with almost 13 pages of my Marvel Family story - Grundy Night - which I said I'd write for cheap.
It's a really rough draft at the moment so be kind with the spelling mistake pointing out and whatnot. I should finish it either this weekend or on Monday. Happy Holidays.
-----
PAGE ONE
P1
Open with a silhouette city skyline panel.
Caption
Gotham. October 31st.
P2
City is giving way to swamps surrounding it. This panel is a bit more zoomed in and slightly larger than first panel.
Caption
The children of Gotham go forth to reap their sugary reward.
P3
Shadowy figure draped in flowing robes is skulking through the knotted trees and vines of the swampy area. This panel will be even larger than first two and close enough to show a full body shot of the “Shadowy figure.”
Caption
While in the swampy surroundings of Gotham someone with less savory designs goes forth to reap a reward all together different.
PAGE TWO
Title and splash page
The shadowy figure is revealed to be Felix Faust as he stands in the open reading from a scroll. A bunch of pale white hands are bursting through the earth all around, unearthing the title with them.
Title: The Marvel Family in Grundy Night
Caption
Tonight, Felix Faust, will remind Gotham of its past.
Faust
Prognatus primoris dies!
PAGE 3
P1
A kid’s hand is knocking on a door
Caption
Fawcett City
P2
Looking through the now opened door we see three kids on the door step with huge smiles and holding out loot bags. Billy, Mary and Freddy are all there in costume as their superhero alter egos.
All Three Kids
Trick or Treat!
P3
Side view of a woman tossing candy into their loot bags. Mary is politely smiling at the woman, Billy is looking into his loot bag and Freddy is sort of smirking and looking into his loot bag as well.
Woman
Oh my, what a handsome bunch of Shazams.
Beat
Woman
Here you go. For being so heroic.
P4
Close up of Mary with a hand on her hip, pointing at the woman. Billy and Freddy are behind her and are either proud or embarrassed. It’s hard to tell.
Mary
We’re the Marvel Family. I’m Mary Marvel, that’s Cpt. Marvel and that’s Cpt. Marvel Jr.
Beat
Mary
Shazam is the wizard who gave us our superpowers.
P5
The kids walking towards Uncle Dudley who is waiting at the sidewalk. Mary is in a bit of a huff and the boys are on her heals.
Billy
Nice going Mary.
Mary
Adults. They’re so stupid.
Freddy
Ah, who cares? As long as they keep giving good loot they can call me Shazam until the cows come home.
P6
Mary turning on Freddy. Freddy looking sheepish and regrets incurring her wrath.
Mary
Freddy Freeman, you might not care but I want my public to know who I am.
P7
Billy looking confused and Mary now glaring at him.
Billy
Your public?
Mary
Quiet you!
P8
Uncle Dudley gathering up the kids to go on to the next house.
Dudley
Alrighty kids, are you still up for more candy?
Freddy
Oh yeah. But can we avoid those houses giving out lame fruit bars?
Billy
This neighbourhood sucks. Nobody’s giving out chips or cheesies.
Dudley
Hey, be nice.
P9
The Marvels are walking towards the reader in the panel. Uncle Dudley has his eyes closed as he reminisces but the kids are watching a girl about their age running passed them with her arms in the air screaming and crying.
Dudley
Yep, back in my day we didn’t have this sugarless candy malarkey.
Little girl screaming
NOOOOooooooooo!
PAGE FOUR
P1
Billy passing his loot bag to Freddy.
Billy
Hang on to this for me Freddy. And don’t eat my chips.
P2
Billy raising his fist in the air yelling
Billy
SHAZAM!
P3
Lightning hitting Cpt. Marvel who is floating a bit above the ground. Uncle Dudley is sitting on the ground and the rest of them are all sort of shocked.
Dudley
You should really warn a man when you’re about to do that.
P4
Cpt. Marvel holding out his hand to the crying little girl.
Cpt. Marvel
It’s okay miss. I’m here to help.
Girl
*sob* they…they…
Cpt. Marvel
Yes?
P5
Girl standing up and pointing behind Cap.
Girl
Those little demons took my candy and chased me away.
P6
Cap looking over his shoulder angry.
Cpt. Marvel
Demon scum, they’ll pay for this.
PAGE FIVE
P1
Cpt. Marvel’s feet are hovering above the ground as we see four young boys in costume digging through a loot bag. One is the devil, one is a goblin, one a werewolf and the last a vampire. Two kids are digging through the bag. One kid is chomping on his fingers in fear and the other is gob-smacked while dropping an egg to the ground.
Kid 1 digging through bag
I should get more cause it was my idea
Kid 2 digging through bag
No flipping way it’s straight four-way split.
Kid chewing fingers
Eep.
Kid dropping egg
Uh-oh.
Cpt. Marvel - Off panel
Well what do we have here?
P2
Devil kid looking up in anger as the others are scared and backing off.
Devil kid
Back off you big bull- AAARGH! Shazam!
Werewolf kid
Run Away!
P3
Cpt. Marvel cracking his knuckles looking down at the kids in tears now, as the werewolf kid has beat it into the distance with his arms over his head.
Cpt. Marvel
Looks like I’ll have to teach you demons a lesson in respect.
Devil kid
We was just checking for razorblades in the apples, Mr. Shazam, sir. Honest.
Vampire kid
Please don’t break my face.
P4
Kids all running towards the reader but away from Cpt. Marvel and in tears. Mary is yelling at the fleeing kids while she stands beside Cpt. Marvel. The Cap looks smug.
Mary
And it’s Captain Marvel, not Shazam you schmucks!
P5
Cap picking up the loot bag, looking at Mary
Cpt. Marvel
Schmucks?
Mary
Well that’s what they are, the bunch of bullies.
P6
Cap handing the loot bag back to the little girl as she’s reaching up with one hand and wiping away a tear with the other.
Cpt. Marvel
Here you go ma’am. Your sweeties are safe and sound.
Girl
*sob* Thanks sir.
PAGE SIX
P1
A much more urban setting where a bunch of demons and goblins are ripping a kid’s bags, spilling candy all over or jumping on their backs and riding them like horses.
Caption
Gotham.
SFX
Kids screaming
P2
Robin ripping a troll off a kid’s back. The troll should be elongated in a way that is simply inhuman and way too elasticy.
Robin
Every year it’s the same thing with you isn’t it?
P3
Robin throwing the troll into a demon looking kid ripping into a loot bag. The two creatures are mixing together.
Robin
You’re reduced to actually stealing candy from children.
P4
All the demons and goblins stop and look at the mess or their mixing compatriots or angrily at Robin.
Robin
I mean really Clayface, couldn’t you at least plan a jewel heist or something? Rob a bank maybe? Heck, burgle a senior’s home for a change of pace.
P5
Clayface coming together and towering over Robin.
Clayface
I happen to like free candy bird-boy.
P6
Clayface starts to shoot that clay-arm spray at Robin but is hit by some type of freezing bomb.
Robin
Predictable chump.
P7
Robin calling the police on his Robin-cycle. There’s a big nasty shadow looming behind him.
Robin
This is, uhm, an anonymous civilian tip. Robin just single handedly captured Clayface and froze him in place on Timm Street.
Radio
Can we have your name and address please sir?
Robin
Trust me. Just send someone before he’s pliable.
P8
Robin getting his clock cleaned by a white fist in a tattered sleeve.
Off panel
Grundy punch.
PAGE SEVEN
P1
Dark apartment that is chalk full of random doodads and mystic looking whatchamahoozits. There is a knock at the door.
Caption
Elsewhere in Gotham
P2
Door smashing open to reveal Solomon Grundy.
P3
Solomon picking up a hand mirror. Seeing Faust being reflected.
Solomon Grundy
Purdy.
P4
Shop that has the lights on but the shades drawn. The shop has a huge sign over top that simply states MAGIC. There should be a sign in the window that says: Closed for ‘The Gathering.’ Solomon Grundy is slumping into the frame. This one looks a bit thinner than the one who picked up the mirror.
P5
Inside the shop we see various mystic looking people sitting around a table. There is a blonde, slightly frumpy looking Zatanna costume, a fat man dressed as the Phantom Stranger, a guy in a suit and jeweled turban, and another woman in a crushed velvet dress. They should all be holding hands around a glowing ball or candle.
Woman in dress
Oh great Nero, in your night of nights we beseech that you send to us a messenger…
P6
Same panel only this time a newspaper dispenser is smashing through the window and everyone is fleeing in utter panic.
P7
We see the shop from outside as if we were walking down the sidewalk towards it. The door is being kicked open by Grundy.
P8
Grundy walking out carrying a wooden box that looks like a cross between a treasure chest and jewelry box. The woman in the dress is shaking her fist at him as she leans out the window or door.
Woman
You didn’t have to break the window and the door you big jerk!
P9
Cut back to the other people at the séance. Turbaned guy is pasted against the wall in a frozen death scream, the fat phantom stranger is passing out, the zatanna knock off is is cowering with one leg raised and both arms up in a classic “running in fear from the villain” pose.
PAGE EIGHT
P1
Cpt. Marvel back amongst his group and looking proud.
Caption
Fawcett City
Freddy
I guess you didn’t need any backup this time, huh?
Cpt. Marvel
No, chum, I had those devils right where I wanted them.
Off Panel
Marvel Family, your presence is required in my lair.
P2
Same shot but only Uncle Dudley remains. He looks shocked.
P3
Uncle Dudley looks a bit put out.
Dudley
Typical.
P4
Dudley walking away with the loot bags thrown over his shoulder.
Dudley
Ah well, I should at least make sure the candy stays safe.
PAGE NINE
P1
The wizard Shazam sits atop an imposing throne carved out of the rock walls of his own cave. The cave is lined with torches and the statues of the seven deadly sins. The Marvels are now all in superhero mode looking up towards the wiz.
Caption
The Rock of Eternity. Outside of the realms of human knowledge and the lair of the Wizard Shazam.
Shazam
Welcome to my eternal lair Marvel family. I, Shazam, have a request to make of you all.
P2
Over the wizard’s shoulder we see the Marvel’s looking at us.
Cpt. Marvel Jr.
You know us wiz. Whatever you want, you got it.
PAGE TEN
P1
Wizard now down off his throne and talking to Cpt. Marvel directly. A hand on his shoulder.
Shazam
I am troubled by developments in the city of Gotham. I am sure you are aware of the local legend there called Grundy’s Night?
Cpt. Marvel
Sure. It’s a kid’s rhyme isn’t it? Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday.
P2
Still in discussion
Shazam
This is no nursery rhyme my friend. I fear that someone has been dabbling in powers they do not understand and cannot control.
Mary Marvel
What do you mean by “no nursery rhyme?”
P3
Shazam looking on Mary with a bit of pride.
Shazam
Ah, always so incisive and wise my rose between two thorns. You are right to ask. Tonight someone has tried to perform the rituals that allow Solomon Grundy to rise out of Gotham Swamp. Both Grundy’s eternal prison and eternal womb.
Mary
But it didn’t work?
P4
Showing the wizard.
Shazam
Oh the spell worked to rise Grundy from the swamps, but not as the caster expected.
PAGE ELEVEN
P1
Robin clenching his jaw as Grundy looms over him.
Robin
Ouch.
P2
Robin rising and shooting his bat grappling hook at Grundy.
Robin
Welcome back Grundy. Long time no see.
P3
Solomon Grundy is bound with his arms straight to his sides and Robin kicking him in the gut.
Robin thinking
There is no way this is going to turn out well.
P4
Grundy laying on the ground. Robin is standing over him. In the distance a pudgier Solomon Grundy is looming closer with what looks like an old branch.
Robin thinking
This is REALLY not going to turn out well.
P5
Grundy is behind Robin about to smash down on him with both hands.
Robin
Uh oh, bad breath.
P6
Robin jumping over his Robin cycle that Grundy is now smashing instead of Robin
Robin
Son of a…
PAGE TWELVE
P1
Cpt. Marvel looking a bit confused.
Cpt. Marvel
An army of Grundies?
P2
Shazam reproaching him as if he were a misbehaving child.
Shazam
Not quite as many as an actual army corps, but essentially – yes.
Cpt. Marvel
Have they hurt anyone yet?
Shazam
They are trying but are so far unsuccessful.
P3
Mary Marvel looking like she’s figuring something out.
Mary
Wait a minute. Who did you say was in charge of the Grundies?
Shazam
I have not said my dear because this man wishes to remain anonymous. He has shielded his identity from me as best he can.
P4
Shazam conjuring up some glowing blue Solomon Grundies each carrying an item. The one with the mirror, the box and the stick are also there. Add more if you like with random mystical objects.
Shazam
Each of these creatures carries an item with a very specific property in common. Each one of these items has the ability to bind with the soul of its owner.
Beat
Shazam continues
I can only think of one man with the desire to hide away parts of his everlasting soul and to hide his existence from me…
P5
Close up of Shazam’s glowing conjuring ball thing that is in the shape of Felix Faust’s head.
Shazam
…Felix Faust!
P6
Marvel family posing again
Cpt. Marvel
Well Marvel Family. It looks like we’re going to Gotham.
PAGE THIRTEEN
P1
Robin standing over the ruins of his bike with his back against the wall, looking a bit worried at two approaching Grundies, covering their ears to the crack of thunder. There is a bolt of lightning overhead.
Grundy 1
Loud!
P2
The Marvels are looking at the Grundies who are no longer looking at Robin. Cpt. Marvel Jr. is cracking his knuckles.
Cpt. Marvel Jr.
Let’s bust some dead-heads.
It's a really rough draft at the moment so be kind with the spelling mistake pointing out and whatnot. I should finish it either this weekend or on Monday. Happy Holidays.
-----
PAGE ONE
P1
Open with a silhouette city skyline panel.
Caption
Gotham. October 31st.
P2
City is giving way to swamps surrounding it. This panel is a bit more zoomed in and slightly larger than first panel.
Caption
The children of Gotham go forth to reap their sugary reward.
P3
Shadowy figure draped in flowing robes is skulking through the knotted trees and vines of the swampy area. This panel will be even larger than first two and close enough to show a full body shot of the “Shadowy figure.”
Caption
While in the swampy surroundings of Gotham someone with less savory designs goes forth to reap a reward all together different.
PAGE TWO
Title and splash page
The shadowy figure is revealed to be Felix Faust as he stands in the open reading from a scroll. A bunch of pale white hands are bursting through the earth all around, unearthing the title with them.
Title: The Marvel Family in Grundy Night
Caption
Tonight, Felix Faust, will remind Gotham of its past.
Faust
Prognatus primoris dies!
PAGE 3
P1
A kid’s hand is knocking on a door
Caption
Fawcett City
P2
Looking through the now opened door we see three kids on the door step with huge smiles and holding out loot bags. Billy, Mary and Freddy are all there in costume as their superhero alter egos.
All Three Kids
Trick or Treat!
P3
Side view of a woman tossing candy into their loot bags. Mary is politely smiling at the woman, Billy is looking into his loot bag and Freddy is sort of smirking and looking into his loot bag as well.
Woman
Oh my, what a handsome bunch of Shazams.
Beat
Woman
Here you go. For being so heroic.
P4
Close up of Mary with a hand on her hip, pointing at the woman. Billy and Freddy are behind her and are either proud or embarrassed. It’s hard to tell.
Mary
We’re the Marvel Family. I’m Mary Marvel, that’s Cpt. Marvel and that’s Cpt. Marvel Jr.
Beat
Mary
Shazam is the wizard who gave us our superpowers.
P5
The kids walking towards Uncle Dudley who is waiting at the sidewalk. Mary is in a bit of a huff and the boys are on her heals.
Billy
Nice going Mary.
Mary
Adults. They’re so stupid.
Freddy
Ah, who cares? As long as they keep giving good loot they can call me Shazam until the cows come home.
P6
Mary turning on Freddy. Freddy looking sheepish and regrets incurring her wrath.
Mary
Freddy Freeman, you might not care but I want my public to know who I am.
P7
Billy looking confused and Mary now glaring at him.
Billy
Your public?
Mary
Quiet you!
P8
Uncle Dudley gathering up the kids to go on to the next house.
Dudley
Alrighty kids, are you still up for more candy?
Freddy
Oh yeah. But can we avoid those houses giving out lame fruit bars?
Billy
This neighbourhood sucks. Nobody’s giving out chips or cheesies.
Dudley
Hey, be nice.
P9
The Marvels are walking towards the reader in the panel. Uncle Dudley has his eyes closed as he reminisces but the kids are watching a girl about their age running passed them with her arms in the air screaming and crying.
Dudley
Yep, back in my day we didn’t have this sugarless candy malarkey.
Little girl screaming
NOOOOooooooooo!
PAGE FOUR
P1
Billy passing his loot bag to Freddy.
Billy
Hang on to this for me Freddy. And don’t eat my chips.
P2
Billy raising his fist in the air yelling
Billy
SHAZAM!
P3
Lightning hitting Cpt. Marvel who is floating a bit above the ground. Uncle Dudley is sitting on the ground and the rest of them are all sort of shocked.
Dudley
You should really warn a man when you’re about to do that.
P4
Cpt. Marvel holding out his hand to the crying little girl.
Cpt. Marvel
It’s okay miss. I’m here to help.
Girl
*sob* they…they…
Cpt. Marvel
Yes?
P5
Girl standing up and pointing behind Cap.
Girl
Those little demons took my candy and chased me away.
P6
Cap looking over his shoulder angry.
Cpt. Marvel
Demon scum, they’ll pay for this.
PAGE FIVE
P1
Cpt. Marvel’s feet are hovering above the ground as we see four young boys in costume digging through a loot bag. One is the devil, one is a goblin, one a werewolf and the last a vampire. Two kids are digging through the bag. One kid is chomping on his fingers in fear and the other is gob-smacked while dropping an egg to the ground.
Kid 1 digging through bag
I should get more cause it was my idea
Kid 2 digging through bag
No flipping way it’s straight four-way split.
Kid chewing fingers
Eep.
Kid dropping egg
Uh-oh.
Cpt. Marvel - Off panel
Well what do we have here?
P2
Devil kid looking up in anger as the others are scared and backing off.
Devil kid
Back off you big bull- AAARGH! Shazam!
Werewolf kid
Run Away!
P3
Cpt. Marvel cracking his knuckles looking down at the kids in tears now, as the werewolf kid has beat it into the distance with his arms over his head.
Cpt. Marvel
Looks like I’ll have to teach you demons a lesson in respect.
Devil kid
We was just checking for razorblades in the apples, Mr. Shazam, sir. Honest.
Vampire kid
Please don’t break my face.
P4
Kids all running towards the reader but away from Cpt. Marvel and in tears. Mary is yelling at the fleeing kids while she stands beside Cpt. Marvel. The Cap looks smug.
Mary
And it’s Captain Marvel, not Shazam you schmucks!
P5
Cap picking up the loot bag, looking at Mary
Cpt. Marvel
Schmucks?
Mary
Well that’s what they are, the bunch of bullies.
P6
Cap handing the loot bag back to the little girl as she’s reaching up with one hand and wiping away a tear with the other.
Cpt. Marvel
Here you go ma’am. Your sweeties are safe and sound.
Girl
*sob* Thanks sir.
PAGE SIX
P1
A much more urban setting where a bunch of demons and goblins are ripping a kid’s bags, spilling candy all over or jumping on their backs and riding them like horses.
Caption
Gotham.
SFX
Kids screaming
P2
Robin ripping a troll off a kid’s back. The troll should be elongated in a way that is simply inhuman and way too elasticy.
Robin
Every year it’s the same thing with you isn’t it?
P3
Robin throwing the troll into a demon looking kid ripping into a loot bag. The two creatures are mixing together.
Robin
You’re reduced to actually stealing candy from children.
P4
All the demons and goblins stop and look at the mess or their mixing compatriots or angrily at Robin.
Robin
I mean really Clayface, couldn’t you at least plan a jewel heist or something? Rob a bank maybe? Heck, burgle a senior’s home for a change of pace.
P5
Clayface coming together and towering over Robin.
Clayface
I happen to like free candy bird-boy.
P6
Clayface starts to shoot that clay-arm spray at Robin but is hit by some type of freezing bomb.
Robin
Predictable chump.
P7
Robin calling the police on his Robin-cycle. There’s a big nasty shadow looming behind him.
Robin
This is, uhm, an anonymous civilian tip. Robin just single handedly captured Clayface and froze him in place on Timm Street.
Radio
Can we have your name and address please sir?
Robin
Trust me. Just send someone before he’s pliable.
P8
Robin getting his clock cleaned by a white fist in a tattered sleeve.
Off panel
Grundy punch.
PAGE SEVEN
P1
Dark apartment that is chalk full of random doodads and mystic looking whatchamahoozits. There is a knock at the door.
Caption
Elsewhere in Gotham
P2
Door smashing open to reveal Solomon Grundy.
P3
Solomon picking up a hand mirror. Seeing Faust being reflected.
Solomon Grundy
Purdy.
P4
Shop that has the lights on but the shades drawn. The shop has a huge sign over top that simply states MAGIC. There should be a sign in the window that says: Closed for ‘The Gathering.’ Solomon Grundy is slumping into the frame. This one looks a bit thinner than the one who picked up the mirror.
P5
Inside the shop we see various mystic looking people sitting around a table. There is a blonde, slightly frumpy looking Zatanna costume, a fat man dressed as the Phantom Stranger, a guy in a suit and jeweled turban, and another woman in a crushed velvet dress. They should all be holding hands around a glowing ball or candle.
Woman in dress
Oh great Nero, in your night of nights we beseech that you send to us a messenger…
P6
Same panel only this time a newspaper dispenser is smashing through the window and everyone is fleeing in utter panic.
P7
We see the shop from outside as if we were walking down the sidewalk towards it. The door is being kicked open by Grundy.
P8
Grundy walking out carrying a wooden box that looks like a cross between a treasure chest and jewelry box. The woman in the dress is shaking her fist at him as she leans out the window or door.
Woman
You didn’t have to break the window and the door you big jerk!
P9
Cut back to the other people at the séance. Turbaned guy is pasted against the wall in a frozen death scream, the fat phantom stranger is passing out, the zatanna knock off is is cowering with one leg raised and both arms up in a classic “running in fear from the villain” pose.
PAGE EIGHT
P1
Cpt. Marvel back amongst his group and looking proud.
Caption
Fawcett City
Freddy
I guess you didn’t need any backup this time, huh?
Cpt. Marvel
No, chum, I had those devils right where I wanted them.
Off Panel
Marvel Family, your presence is required in my lair.
P2
Same shot but only Uncle Dudley remains. He looks shocked.
P3
Uncle Dudley looks a bit put out.
Dudley
Typical.
P4
Dudley walking away with the loot bags thrown over his shoulder.
Dudley
Ah well, I should at least make sure the candy stays safe.
PAGE NINE
P1
The wizard Shazam sits atop an imposing throne carved out of the rock walls of his own cave. The cave is lined with torches and the statues of the seven deadly sins. The Marvels are now all in superhero mode looking up towards the wiz.
Caption
The Rock of Eternity. Outside of the realms of human knowledge and the lair of the Wizard Shazam.
Shazam
Welcome to my eternal lair Marvel family. I, Shazam, have a request to make of you all.
P2
Over the wizard’s shoulder we see the Marvel’s looking at us.
Cpt. Marvel Jr.
You know us wiz. Whatever you want, you got it.
PAGE TEN
P1
Wizard now down off his throne and talking to Cpt. Marvel directly. A hand on his shoulder.
Shazam
I am troubled by developments in the city of Gotham. I am sure you are aware of the local legend there called Grundy’s Night?
Cpt. Marvel
Sure. It’s a kid’s rhyme isn’t it? Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday.
P2
Still in discussion
Shazam
This is no nursery rhyme my friend. I fear that someone has been dabbling in powers they do not understand and cannot control.
Mary Marvel
What do you mean by “no nursery rhyme?”
P3
Shazam looking on Mary with a bit of pride.
Shazam
Ah, always so incisive and wise my rose between two thorns. You are right to ask. Tonight someone has tried to perform the rituals that allow Solomon Grundy to rise out of Gotham Swamp. Both Grundy’s eternal prison and eternal womb.
Mary
But it didn’t work?
P4
Showing the wizard.
Shazam
Oh the spell worked to rise Grundy from the swamps, but not as the caster expected.
PAGE ELEVEN
P1
Robin clenching his jaw as Grundy looms over him.
Robin
Ouch.
P2
Robin rising and shooting his bat grappling hook at Grundy.
Robin
Welcome back Grundy. Long time no see.
P3
Solomon Grundy is bound with his arms straight to his sides and Robin kicking him in the gut.
Robin thinking
There is no way this is going to turn out well.
P4
Grundy laying on the ground. Robin is standing over him. In the distance a pudgier Solomon Grundy is looming closer with what looks like an old branch.
Robin thinking
This is REALLY not going to turn out well.
P5
Grundy is behind Robin about to smash down on him with both hands.
Robin
Uh oh, bad breath.
P6
Robin jumping over his Robin cycle that Grundy is now smashing instead of Robin
Robin
Son of a…
PAGE TWELVE
P1
Cpt. Marvel looking a bit confused.
Cpt. Marvel
An army of Grundies?
P2
Shazam reproaching him as if he were a misbehaving child.
Shazam
Not quite as many as an actual army corps, but essentially – yes.
Cpt. Marvel
Have they hurt anyone yet?
Shazam
They are trying but are so far unsuccessful.
P3
Mary Marvel looking like she’s figuring something out.
Mary
Wait a minute. Who did you say was in charge of the Grundies?
Shazam
I have not said my dear because this man wishes to remain anonymous. He has shielded his identity from me as best he can.
P4
Shazam conjuring up some glowing blue Solomon Grundies each carrying an item. The one with the mirror, the box and the stick are also there. Add more if you like with random mystical objects.
Shazam
Each of these creatures carries an item with a very specific property in common. Each one of these items has the ability to bind with the soul of its owner.
Beat
Shazam continues
I can only think of one man with the desire to hide away parts of his everlasting soul and to hide his existence from me…
P5
Close up of Shazam’s glowing conjuring ball thing that is in the shape of Felix Faust’s head.
Shazam
…Felix Faust!
P6
Marvel family posing again
Cpt. Marvel
Well Marvel Family. It looks like we’re going to Gotham.
PAGE THIRTEEN
P1
Robin standing over the ruins of his bike with his back against the wall, looking a bit worried at two approaching Grundies, covering their ears to the crack of thunder. There is a bolt of lightning overhead.
Grundy 1
Loud!
P2
The Marvels are looking at the Grundies who are no longer looking at Robin. Cpt. Marvel Jr. is cracking his knuckles.
Cpt. Marvel Jr.
Let’s bust some dead-heads.
The Couriers + A Challenge for the Unknown
Couriers Vol. 1
Read Brian Wood and Rob G's The Couriers last night. Damn that was good comics. It was a mixture of comic book goodness, crazy ass action, insane story, kinetic energy and teen movie. So, yes, I liked it and wonder why I haven't read it before now.
Challenge for the Unknown
Since it's my last day in the office before my holiday vacation - yep, I'm taking a week to myself next week before going to Halifax where I may run in to Canada's cutest comic book couple Brian Lee O'Malley and Hope Larson or maybe Darwyn Cooke - I've decided to spend my time for the betterment of humanity. That's right I'm going to try and write a 22 page comic book story instead of doing any work. I guess it'll be my first foray into the realms of Fan Fic. And since my job basically sucks like a leech and nobody knows what I should be doing or what I can do I've decided to swing my career into Fanfic high-gear. It's ten minutes to nine right now, so if some poor soul is reading this with their morning coffee leave a comment on who I should take on. I'm willing to try any character that will result in some minor copyright violation or maybe I'll go my own route instead of being such a fanboy... only time will tell.
Read Brian Wood and Rob G's The Couriers last night. Damn that was good comics. It was a mixture of comic book goodness, crazy ass action, insane story, kinetic energy and teen movie. So, yes, I liked it and wonder why I haven't read it before now.
Challenge for the Unknown
Since it's my last day in the office before my holiday vacation - yep, I'm taking a week to myself next week before going to Halifax where I may run in to Canada's cutest comic book couple Brian Lee O'Malley and Hope Larson or maybe Darwyn Cooke - I've decided to spend my time for the betterment of humanity. That's right I'm going to try and write a 22 page comic book story instead of doing any work. I guess it'll be my first foray into the realms of Fan Fic. And since my job basically sucks like a leech and nobody knows what I should be doing or what I can do I've decided to swing my career into Fanfic high-gear. It's ten minutes to nine right now, so if some poor soul is reading this with their morning coffee leave a comment on who I should take on. I'm willing to try any character that will result in some minor copyright violation or maybe I'll go my own route instead of being such a fanboy... only time will tell.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Curse of Dracula
So I read Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan's 1998 Curse of Dracula the other night. I wanted to like it more. The whole double cross political thriller controlling the power behind the power aspect was a great idea. The rest was a bit confusing. The team had a lot of potential but were ultimately a bunch of cliches. The woman was raped, the men are fighting for the memory of lost loved ones. I do love the loose pencils but I tended to lose track of who was who and what was happening as much as I knew what was actually taking place. Sadly this just felt totally mediocre to me.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Wednesday's Loot - 13 December 2006
52 Week 32
The space heroes decide to take a heroic stance and the Titans have a membership drive. While both fun moments they also take the back seat to Ralph Dibny's journey further into himself and the meaning of life and death while interluding to fight a yeti. All in all I liked this issue more than the last few. It had a fun little story and advanced the plots shown in fun little ways.
I rate this comic: A bit of a return to form for 52 after a few duller weeks.
The Spirit #1
I was a bit hesitant to pick this up. I mean the original is just so damned good why would I need a remake? In the end it was the Darwyn Cooke drawing and writing that won me over and made me glad I picked this up. I like my comics to be different from the other media I buy and enjoy and that's where this comic delivers in spades. It is beautiful with fast action and strong characters and story. I like how The Spirit is essentially blurred or out of the picture for his initial sneaking sequences. Cooke knows when and what to show the reader and uses the comic frame to reinforce pretty much anything that's happening. When The Spirit is sneaking, we don't see him. When the chief is all over the place doing a million things at once he's in a panel multiple times. This is really a great update for a modern audience that doesn't ignore or disrespect the original material (from what I can tell). Then again I don't have reams of old Spirit material kicking around. I feel this is the comic book version of The Spirit that the Batman the Animated series was to the Batman franchise. It updated the character by using classic stories and structures to simply entertain rather than overtly homage the originals. These are new stories that are aware of a modern audience although based on classic material. And while fun to read this comic looks stunning.
I rate this comic: One of this year's best.
The space heroes decide to take a heroic stance and the Titans have a membership drive. While both fun moments they also take the back seat to Ralph Dibny's journey further into himself and the meaning of life and death while interluding to fight a yeti. All in all I liked this issue more than the last few. It had a fun little story and advanced the plots shown in fun little ways.
I rate this comic: A bit of a return to form for 52 after a few duller weeks.
The Spirit #1
I was a bit hesitant to pick this up. I mean the original is just so damned good why would I need a remake? In the end it was the Darwyn Cooke drawing and writing that won me over and made me glad I picked this up. I like my comics to be different from the other media I buy and enjoy and that's where this comic delivers in spades. It is beautiful with fast action and strong characters and story. I like how The Spirit is essentially blurred or out of the picture for his initial sneaking sequences. Cooke knows when and what to show the reader and uses the comic frame to reinforce pretty much anything that's happening. When The Spirit is sneaking, we don't see him. When the chief is all over the place doing a million things at once he's in a panel multiple times. This is really a great update for a modern audience that doesn't ignore or disrespect the original material (from what I can tell). Then again I don't have reams of old Spirit material kicking around. I feel this is the comic book version of The Spirit that the Batman the Animated series was to the Batman franchise. It updated the character by using classic stories and structures to simply entertain rather than overtly homage the originals. These are new stories that are aware of a modern audience although based on classic material. And while fun to read this comic looks stunning.
I rate this comic: One of this year's best.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Reviews off the Starboard Bow!
Okay these reviews have absolutely nothing to do with sailing or the navy, or even pirates for that matter. Still, strap in as I briefly talk about Charles Burns’ Black Hole, The Man With the Screaming Brain and Hellblazer: Papa Midnite.
Black Hole
Reading Black Hole is a bit like reading someone’s life story or life’s work. In a lot of ways, I suppose that’s what it is having taken Charles Burns about a decade to complete the work or so I’ve read on the internet. While I generally don’t trust internet content that doesn’t make me laugh I’m fairly certain this is true because I trust the sources. Once this decade long fact is known it’s I found it difficult to approach this book without that fact lingering in the back of my mind. I found myself going out of my way to look for improvements to the artwork and refinement or contradictions in the story and characters. I have to say I didn’t notice anything remarkably different from beginning to end in terms of character presentation.
The story and the presentation are both simple and effective while not being simplistic or derivative. The plot of a sexually transmitted disease that manifests itself in horrible mutations on the infected could easily be the plot of any schlock horror movie and while there are elements of that in the story there is also a real heart to the story as well. The characters presented act and read like real teenagers stuck in a confusing time of their lives made all the more confusing by the possibility of horrible mutation by giving in to the desires of the flesh. This is a time when they are coming to terms with themselves, their place in the world and their own bodies which in and of itself is a confusing process. Add to the mix a horrible disease and you have yourselves a great story there folks.
These characters are charming because they feel genuine. Yes there is some melodrama but what high-school aged life didn’t have some melodrama in it? The melodrama in itself feels genuine for the age group and situation. The characters screw up and suffer their way through the curveballs life throws at them, just as they should be doing at that age. They want more and fumble in their attempts to get more out of what life has given them. They essentially, as the Queen song explicitly states, want to break free, and they do it through sex, drugs, booze and attempts at art. Only with the bug around they aren’t given much leeway to actually screw up without major consequences. This explores the same sort of themes and ideas as X-men claims to, only without the tights and the crime fighting. It takes an identifiable group that is already socially awkward and uses their “affliction” to explore ideas generally relegated to feminist, gender, queer or race politics and writing. Is it better to pass as “normal,” insulate your group or try to find an option outside of the obvious dichotomy. Sort of Archie with tentacles really.
As for the actual art of the book I love it. Then again I like most artwork that looks a bit like woodcuts. The panel layout of flashbacks and dream sequences are both obvious and subtle enough to indicate exactly what they are to you as the reader. I was a bit confused in trying to identify some of the characters in the beginning but that’s a general problem I have and could be me simply not paying enough attention as I read. Eventually one of the male leads gets a haircut and identification gets easier from there.
Not being a fan of stream of consciousness storytelling I was glad it was kept to a minimum in this book. It was a few moments of thematic and symbolic fancy that didn’t distract too much from the rest of the plot for me. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
So, all in all, the accolades you’ve read are well founded. This is a great book exploring how people try to fit into the world. But with sideshow freaks.
The Man with the Screaming Brain
This is the comic book version of a Bruce Campbell B-movie and it delivers exactly that. The tough guys are extra tough, every woman is a sexy bombshell, plus robots and evil scientists transplanting brains with a riff on the possessed hand from Evil Dead 2. Definitely worth a quick read.
Hellblazer: Papa Midnite
I enjoyed this as a back story to a character I haven’t read a lot about. I know he’s part of the Constantine mythos and all that but I’ve only really read a lot of the more recent stuff in trade available at the library. Which I find rather awesome that my tax dollars are buying comics about black magic and demons. This felt this comic was a bit like a pilot episode for a TV spinoff. It’s rare that they work out but if they find their own feet they can work and grow into something unique. I do like the nature of the curse on Papa Midnite but I fear if this became a series there would be too many gangstas for me to stick with it for very long.
Black Hole
Reading Black Hole is a bit like reading someone’s life story or life’s work. In a lot of ways, I suppose that’s what it is having taken Charles Burns about a decade to complete the work or so I’ve read on the internet. While I generally don’t trust internet content that doesn’t make me laugh I’m fairly certain this is true because I trust the sources. Once this decade long fact is known it’s I found it difficult to approach this book without that fact lingering in the back of my mind. I found myself going out of my way to look for improvements to the artwork and refinement or contradictions in the story and characters. I have to say I didn’t notice anything remarkably different from beginning to end in terms of character presentation.
The story and the presentation are both simple and effective while not being simplistic or derivative. The plot of a sexually transmitted disease that manifests itself in horrible mutations on the infected could easily be the plot of any schlock horror movie and while there are elements of that in the story there is also a real heart to the story as well. The characters presented act and read like real teenagers stuck in a confusing time of their lives made all the more confusing by the possibility of horrible mutation by giving in to the desires of the flesh. This is a time when they are coming to terms with themselves, their place in the world and their own bodies which in and of itself is a confusing process. Add to the mix a horrible disease and you have yourselves a great story there folks.
These characters are charming because they feel genuine. Yes there is some melodrama but what high-school aged life didn’t have some melodrama in it? The melodrama in itself feels genuine for the age group and situation. The characters screw up and suffer their way through the curveballs life throws at them, just as they should be doing at that age. They want more and fumble in their attempts to get more out of what life has given them. They essentially, as the Queen song explicitly states, want to break free, and they do it through sex, drugs, booze and attempts at art. Only with the bug around they aren’t given much leeway to actually screw up without major consequences. This explores the same sort of themes and ideas as X-men claims to, only without the tights and the crime fighting. It takes an identifiable group that is already socially awkward and uses their “affliction” to explore ideas generally relegated to feminist, gender, queer or race politics and writing. Is it better to pass as “normal,” insulate your group or try to find an option outside of the obvious dichotomy. Sort of Archie with tentacles really.
As for the actual art of the book I love it. Then again I like most artwork that looks a bit like woodcuts. The panel layout of flashbacks and dream sequences are both obvious and subtle enough to indicate exactly what they are to you as the reader. I was a bit confused in trying to identify some of the characters in the beginning but that’s a general problem I have and could be me simply not paying enough attention as I read. Eventually one of the male leads gets a haircut and identification gets easier from there.
Not being a fan of stream of consciousness storytelling I was glad it was kept to a minimum in this book. It was a few moments of thematic and symbolic fancy that didn’t distract too much from the rest of the plot for me. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
So, all in all, the accolades you’ve read are well founded. This is a great book exploring how people try to fit into the world. But with sideshow freaks.
The Man with the Screaming Brain
This is the comic book version of a Bruce Campbell B-movie and it delivers exactly that. The tough guys are extra tough, every woman is a sexy bombshell, plus robots and evil scientists transplanting brains with a riff on the possessed hand from Evil Dead 2. Definitely worth a quick read.
Hellblazer: Papa Midnite
I enjoyed this as a back story to a character I haven’t read a lot about. I know he’s part of the Constantine mythos and all that but I’ve only really read a lot of the more recent stuff in trade available at the library. Which I find rather awesome that my tax dollars are buying comics about black magic and demons. This felt this comic was a bit like a pilot episode for a TV spinoff. It’s rare that they work out but if they find their own feet they can work and grow into something unique. I do like the nature of the curse on Papa Midnite but I fear if this became a series there would be too many gangstas for me to stick with it for very long.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Holiday Balls
Hello everyone. Since Marvel released their version of cut-out Christmas tree baubles I figured it was time to make our own. Let's see if you can predict what will happen in Civil War and the fall out in cut out circular form. Please make your own Christmas-tree bauble that predicts something that will happen in the Marvel Universe and I'll compile a list of links. I'd offer to post an image but I tend to have trouble getting images posted here on the best of days.
I predict two things: The Punisher will kick Spider-man so hard he'll change the spelling of his name to Spiderman since it'll be easier than correcting the internet usage.
I also predict a Hercules and Ghost Rider team up, perhaps as The Champions.
That kick was lifted from Chris's ISB who does a better job of finding kicks to the general head-facial area in comics, than I could ever dream possible. The second one I'm not too sure where I found it but let me know and I'll link you.
I predict two things: The Punisher will kick Spider-man so hard he'll change the spelling of his name to Spiderman since it'll be easier than correcting the internet usage.
I also predict a Hercules and Ghost Rider team up, perhaps as The Champions.
That kick was lifted from Chris's ISB who does a better job of finding kicks to the general head-facial area in comics, than I could ever dream possible. The second one I'm not too sure where I found it but let me know and I'll link you.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
So comics are my thing
I was at a Festivus Party last night and we all discovered that comics are my thing. There were people claiming to be things like Semilliers, or movie afficianados, chronic shoe buyers, my wife is a bag lady - um that isn't right. She likes purses. I told my wife if I ever use afficianado in an unironic way she could punch me as hard as she can. I said I'm a bit of a comic book afficianado to make fun of the movie afficianado.
Turns out being a movie afficianado means you like really boring movies.
Me, I just like the punching and the kicking and whatnot.
Turns out being a movie afficianado means you like really boring movies.
Me, I just like the punching and the kicking and whatnot.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Wednesday's Loot - 06 December 2006
Well the end of the year is rapidly approaching and I'm apparently buying more comics.
52 Week 31
Okay Cpt. Comet? Ew. Just ew. I'm pretty sure people are right about Booster Gold and Supernova. And I did enjoy Ralph's part of the story this week. I'm a sucker for detective stories with mystical helmet sidekicks I guess. Plus, I'm telling you people - repeatedly - Ralph and helmet are the parallel to Booster and Skeets. Why do you think it was him talking to Supernova? Otherwise the entire space battle as a setup for the next installment of the space bound heroes was quite clever in my book. I guess they've teamed up with Akron's head now. I do like that their story went from castaways to one big-bad head chasing them while relying on an outsider to being faced with gruesomely powerful almost insurmountable odds. And the bug-dude Green Lantern earring = brilliant flourish.
I rate this comic: A decent Sci-fi battle and other creepiness/setups.
Agents of Atlas #5
Another fun issue of a really great team based book. This is the issue where the team throws the smackdown on each other then makes up. I like this team a lot, Parker has a great sense of character dialogue and interaction. If you haven't been buying these get the trade when it's out or better yet, seek the back issues. It'll be a great read for your flight home to spend time with the family. And it'll show you that talking gorillas, aliens and robots wouldn't make your family gatherings more fun they would just add explosions which are deadly in real life.
I rate this comic: Still fantastic, if not getting better.
Manhunter #26
I'm glad I managed to get this after getting #25 so long ago. I thought I may have missed an issue or two but "yay!" Again, why the fuck wasn't I reading this before? This really is the series for me. Clever dialogue that is self aware, separate and distinct characters that act and sound like individuals with interesting plots. Tell me you didn't snicker when Kate asks why the courts waited over a year to get to this point? The relationship with Wonder Woman is something I like as well. She should be a tutor. Makes sense that she should help a sister out. I do wish I had read more than just this issue and the last issue because I don't really know anything about any of the characters (other than the fact they're well written). I'm on for the long haul here folks. And that preview should cause some general pants defiling for the fans of that guy.
I rate this comic: Exactly the type of comic I like.
Detective Comics #826
Some dodgy art aside this was the best issue of Robin I've ever read! What? This was... ah, damn. Okay, best issue of Detective that focusses on Robin I've read in a long time. I think Dini should put on classes about writing Joker stories. The Joker is unbelievably disturbing in this issue but his antics hit the evil funny bone for me at least. And that punch to the teeth was just nasty of Robin. Damn, that kid got cold. I do think "going Batman on his ass" should be used more often but with the whole gay subtext and generally homophobic jokes at their expense, having Robin deliver the line is kind of unfortunate, or brilliant. I can't decide. Still, this was a great Holiday story even if I couldn't tell that was Dick Grayson or Bruce Wayne.
I rate this comic: My surprising Holiday Special.
52 Week 31
Okay Cpt. Comet? Ew. Just ew. I'm pretty sure people are right about Booster Gold and Supernova. And I did enjoy Ralph's part of the story this week. I'm a sucker for detective stories with mystical helmet sidekicks I guess. Plus, I'm telling you people - repeatedly - Ralph and helmet are the parallel to Booster and Skeets. Why do you think it was him talking to Supernova? Otherwise the entire space battle as a setup for the next installment of the space bound heroes was quite clever in my book. I guess they've teamed up with Akron's head now. I do like that their story went from castaways to one big-bad head chasing them while relying on an outsider to being faced with gruesomely powerful almost insurmountable odds. And the bug-dude Green Lantern earring = brilliant flourish.
I rate this comic: A decent Sci-fi battle and other creepiness/setups.
Agents of Atlas #5
Another fun issue of a really great team based book. This is the issue where the team throws the smackdown on each other then makes up. I like this team a lot, Parker has a great sense of character dialogue and interaction. If you haven't been buying these get the trade when it's out or better yet, seek the back issues. It'll be a great read for your flight home to spend time with the family. And it'll show you that talking gorillas, aliens and robots wouldn't make your family gatherings more fun they would just add explosions which are deadly in real life.
I rate this comic: Still fantastic, if not getting better.
Manhunter #26
I'm glad I managed to get this after getting #25 so long ago. I thought I may have missed an issue or two but "yay!" Again, why the fuck wasn't I reading this before? This really is the series for me. Clever dialogue that is self aware, separate and distinct characters that act and sound like individuals with interesting plots. Tell me you didn't snicker when Kate asks why the courts waited over a year to get to this point? The relationship with Wonder Woman is something I like as well. She should be a tutor. Makes sense that she should help a sister out. I do wish I had read more than just this issue and the last issue because I don't really know anything about any of the characters (other than the fact they're well written). I'm on for the long haul here folks. And that preview should cause some general pants defiling for the fans of that guy.
I rate this comic: Exactly the type of comic I like.
Detective Comics #826
Some dodgy art aside this was the best issue of Robin I've ever read! What? This was... ah, damn. Okay, best issue of Detective that focusses on Robin I've read in a long time. I think Dini should put on classes about writing Joker stories. The Joker is unbelievably disturbing in this issue but his antics hit the evil funny bone for me at least. And that punch to the teeth was just nasty of Robin. Damn, that kid got cold. I do think "going Batman on his ass" should be used more often but with the whole gay subtext and generally homophobic jokes at their expense, having Robin deliver the line is kind of unfortunate, or brilliant. I can't decide. Still, this was a great Holiday story even if I couldn't tell that was Dick Grayson or Bruce Wayne.
I rate this comic: My surprising Holiday Special.
hypnoray: Phase Beta Commences
I've been working on a post about media convergence since Monday but work and life have gotten in the way again. It seems that not blogging is the new black these days on the internerd. It will go up at some point between grumbling about having the work Christmas Party cancelled and other holiday merryment. I've also just caved and hit the "yes I want to use Blogger Beta" button because I got tired of being asked about it every time I logged in.
Pride of Baghdad
This is a fantastic book that is all around engaging and has Brian K. Vaughn's answer to the age old question of who would win - Grizzly Bear or Lion? The answer was a bit of a cop-out but still pretty bloody as you'd expect with a touch of melodrama. But honestly, I don't need the lion rape.
Pride of Baghdad
This is a fantastic book that is all around engaging and has Brian K. Vaughn's answer to the age old question of who would win - Grizzly Bear or Lion? The answer was a bit of a cop-out but still pretty bloody as you'd expect with a touch of melodrama. But honestly, I don't need the lion rape.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Gray and Greyer
I haven’t posted some reviews of comic trades you’ve probably already read a long time ago, in a while. So here goes.
Today you get Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things and The Incredible Hulk: Ground Zero. Now, I also read two Hellblazer trades – Staring at the Wall and Stations of the Cross – but by now you probably know that I’m enjoying his dark arts a bit too much. All I’ll say is that I was happy to read a couple of story arcs in context and I like how the apocalypse isn’t really avoided with any consequences. Good stuff, just hide it from the kids or your Christian friends who point out evil things. Unless you like fingers stuffed in your face, then whatever.
I wasn’t too sure I should have been requesting Courtney Crumrin books from the library but I figured I could tell them it was for my kid or something if anyone asked. Thankfully nobody seems to be taking out the comics but the kids so, really I shouldn’t mention what a great, free, source of comics the Ottawa Public Library is so I can keep it to myself. But I had heard good things about the series and I was looking for something that was an easy escape from my generally cynical existence these days.
Yeah, if you’ve read this comic you’ll see the irony of that last statement. Wow, this is not a happy lovely kids book. It’s a brilliantly insightful collection of stories about the pain and agony of growing into a world that is essentially a shell of everything you were told it was. Your parents are fake, unthinking gobs of humanity trying to sound important and appear impressive without actually working to do anything important or impressive. And the people they are trying to impress have themselves not actually done anything except have their parents die and leave them money. So this isn’t exactly the tween or teenage version of Baby Einstein videos.
What it is, is fucking brilliant. This is the kind of comic I’ll be giving my kids, especially if I have a daughter who likes to read. It is the perfect mix of fantasy and reality that really just treats its intended audience as someone who wants a good story instead of a fragile mind waiting to be molded into banality. This is the goth cousin of the frantic Muppet Show that actually gave my generation a sense of humour and sense of adventure and play. Yes I know we’re talking two different mediums for two different age groups. If I was forced to compare this comic to other comics I’d say its closest relation would be the Scott Pilgrim books. One writer artist in black and white that focus around a charming lead character in an interesting world that goes off into wild directions – only one has video games and the other has witchcraft.
The Hulky Stuff
So is this meant to be good or bad Peter David? I can’t remember which story arcs people liked him writing because I’m not the biggest Hulk fan in the world. I gave up on Planet Hulk even though I was basically enjoying it. Then again I was enjoying Aquaman as well and gave up. Really for no particular reason either. They just weren’t doing something for me.
Anyway there were a couple of things I couldn’t get over in this. The first was the horrible typo on the back cover. It’s “an end” Marvel, not “and end.” I know you’re the “art” focused group but c’mon. And the other was that every white male character seemed to have the same haircut. They all looked like that zombie skeleton from The Cramps album cover of Bad Music for Bad People. I know both of these aren’t Peter David’s fault – most likely an editor and Todd McFarlin, but I had a hard time getting over it.
As for the actual story it’s really great superhero action. The Hulk is like a vampire that’s in his grey and smart phase and is trying to go with the help of Rick Jones and some rogue SHIELD agent to get rid of the US government’s stockpile of gamma bombs. What ensues is something you don’t see anymore in comics. A story arc that is connected and works together as a larger story but each separate issue can be read on its own. If nothing else, this showed me that comics haven’t really evolved because they have eliminated the need for craft. When you don’t need to force a story to fit a format then what’s the point of the format?
I don’t want to get into the writing for the trade thing again but honestly, I really like this type of storytelling. A plot is furthered but each stop on the journey is separate and unique. It was used well in television series like Alias, Angel and Buffy and in comics of the past but really hasn’t been seen that much lately. Or maybe just not in what I read and I don’t read that much anymore.
This is a great timepiece that has visual flaws – dated artwork (not a big deal really), but when it’s one uber-glossy paper you wonder why they didn’t redo the colouring? But the structure, pacing and plot are simply fantastic and show what skills have really been lost in the evolution of comics. Yes, I am missing the old days because they were actually better in this particular case.
Today you get Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things and The Incredible Hulk: Ground Zero. Now, I also read two Hellblazer trades – Staring at the Wall and Stations of the Cross – but by now you probably know that I’m enjoying his dark arts a bit too much. All I’ll say is that I was happy to read a couple of story arcs in context and I like how the apocalypse isn’t really avoided with any consequences. Good stuff, just hide it from the kids or your Christian friends who point out evil things. Unless you like fingers stuffed in your face, then whatever.
I wasn’t too sure I should have been requesting Courtney Crumrin books from the library but I figured I could tell them it was for my kid or something if anyone asked. Thankfully nobody seems to be taking out the comics but the kids so, really I shouldn’t mention what a great, free, source of comics the Ottawa Public Library is so I can keep it to myself. But I had heard good things about the series and I was looking for something that was an easy escape from my generally cynical existence these days.
Yeah, if you’ve read this comic you’ll see the irony of that last statement. Wow, this is not a happy lovely kids book. It’s a brilliantly insightful collection of stories about the pain and agony of growing into a world that is essentially a shell of everything you were told it was. Your parents are fake, unthinking gobs of humanity trying to sound important and appear impressive without actually working to do anything important or impressive. And the people they are trying to impress have themselves not actually done anything except have their parents die and leave them money. So this isn’t exactly the tween or teenage version of Baby Einstein videos.
What it is, is fucking brilliant. This is the kind of comic I’ll be giving my kids, especially if I have a daughter who likes to read. It is the perfect mix of fantasy and reality that really just treats its intended audience as someone who wants a good story instead of a fragile mind waiting to be molded into banality. This is the goth cousin of the frantic Muppet Show that actually gave my generation a sense of humour and sense of adventure and play. Yes I know we’re talking two different mediums for two different age groups. If I was forced to compare this comic to other comics I’d say its closest relation would be the Scott Pilgrim books. One writer artist in black and white that focus around a charming lead character in an interesting world that goes off into wild directions – only one has video games and the other has witchcraft.
The Hulky Stuff
So is this meant to be good or bad Peter David? I can’t remember which story arcs people liked him writing because I’m not the biggest Hulk fan in the world. I gave up on Planet Hulk even though I was basically enjoying it. Then again I was enjoying Aquaman as well and gave up. Really for no particular reason either. They just weren’t doing something for me.
Anyway there were a couple of things I couldn’t get over in this. The first was the horrible typo on the back cover. It’s “an end” Marvel, not “and end.” I know you’re the “art” focused group but c’mon. And the other was that every white male character seemed to have the same haircut. They all looked like that zombie skeleton from The Cramps album cover of Bad Music for Bad People. I know both of these aren’t Peter David’s fault – most likely an editor and Todd McFarlin, but I had a hard time getting over it.
As for the actual story it’s really great superhero action. The Hulk is like a vampire that’s in his grey and smart phase and is trying to go with the help of Rick Jones and some rogue SHIELD agent to get rid of the US government’s stockpile of gamma bombs. What ensues is something you don’t see anymore in comics. A story arc that is connected and works together as a larger story but each separate issue can be read on its own. If nothing else, this showed me that comics haven’t really evolved because they have eliminated the need for craft. When you don’t need to force a story to fit a format then what’s the point of the format?
I don’t want to get into the writing for the trade thing again but honestly, I really like this type of storytelling. A plot is furthered but each stop on the journey is separate and unique. It was used well in television series like Alias, Angel and Buffy and in comics of the past but really hasn’t been seen that much lately. Or maybe just not in what I read and I don’t read that much anymore.
This is a great timepiece that has visual flaws – dated artwork (not a big deal really), but when it’s one uber-glossy paper you wonder why they didn’t redo the colouring? But the structure, pacing and plot are simply fantastic and show what skills have really been lost in the evolution of comics. Yes, I am missing the old days because they were actually better in this particular case.
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