Notable Links for 02/17/04
This is pretty much the definition of a slow-news day - and don't think I'm not thankful.
For the foreseeable future, I have put the weekly "Music Releases" feature on hiatus - and I doubt anyone's going to notice me not making snarky comments about this week's new CDs.
* The Crossgen implosion continues to get weirder and weirder. If you want to hear how the industry's most legendary recluse, Mr. Steve Ditko, almost had a project published by the company's Code Six imprint, read here, , courtesy of Mr. Drew Geraci.
* "The board of directors of The Walt Disney Company on Monday unanimously rejected a takeover bid from cable television giant Comcast Corp. as too low, but said it would consider a higher offer." Courtesy of Yahoo! News, read more here.
* "A retrospective of the work of Post-Intelligencer editorial cartoonist David Horsey, whose political cartoons won him Pulitzer Prizes in 1999 and 2003, is on display at the Frye Art Museum (Seattle) through May 23." Courtesy of the Seattle PI, read more here.
* "Valda the Mystery Girl, who appeared in the comic Mandy from 1969 to 1982, was a human transformed by magic. More than 200 years old, Valda possessed the secret of eternal youth. Brought up by gypsies, she could also talk to animals in the manner of Dr Dolittle and leap like Wonder Woman. This year Valda has made a reappearance. Not in the near- obsolete girl-comic format, but in the work of Frances Hegarty, the Irish artist." Courtesy of the Times, read more here.
* The Orlando City Beat has a review of "Lovecraft", a new Vertigo graphic novel adapted by Keith Giffen from a script by Hans Rodinoff and illustrated by Enrique Breccia. Read it here.
* Courtesy of SIlver Bullet Comics - John Byrne is the latest in a frankly awe-inspiring cavalcade of mainstream and indie professionals across the industry to rally to Dave cockrum's aid in the form of a contribution to The Uncanny Dave Cockrum Tribute. Read about it here.
* Also courtesy of Silver Bullet Comics - an interview with Top Shelf cartoonist Nicolas Mahler. Read it here.
Monday, February 16, 2004
Notable Links for 02/16/04
* "Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and the state’s 83 county prosecutors have agreed not to enforce a controversial section of a new state law that bars bookstores from displaying some sexually explicit titles until a federal judge rules on a challenge to the law.
Last month, five Michigan booksellers, along with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Association of American Publishers and four other groups filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking to block the law passed last year." Read more here.
* "Can you teach a physics class with only comic books to illustrate the principles? University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios has been doing it since 1995, when he explained the principle of conservation of momentum by calculating the force of Spider-Man's web when it snagged the superhero's girlfriend as she plummeted from a great height." Read more here.
* "Some in the [video game] industry, however, are not so sure that games will ever mature. They fear games could be a dead end like comic books - valuable as a social phenomenon, but outside a select few titles like Art Spiegelman's "Maus," not worth a great deal of individual study." Read more here.
* "One new face who seems destined to go the distance . . . is the author of "Belly Button Comix," a 32-page booklet published last month by Fantagraphics Books in Seattle. Identified only as Sophie on the cover, she is in fact Sophie Crumb, the 22-year-old daughter of the legendary counterculture cartoonist Robert Crumb and his cartoonist-turned-artist wife, Aline Kominsky-Crumb." Read more here.
* "Stuart Levy jokes that he spends about a third of his time in planes traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and Tokyo. As CEO and CCO of TOKYOPOP (www.TOKYOPOP.com), Levy is currently riding the crest of a wave of a hot product on both sides of the Pacific — manga." Read more here.
* "Ever since "the Man of Steel" first took to the skies in 1938, comics have been consigned to the bottom shelf. Superman may be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but he and his pals cannot seem to get out of the kids' section and into the hallowed halls for art. Arnold T. Blumberg says he wants to see that change." Read more here.
* "It doesn't take superhuman strength to do well in school, but it doesn't hurt to have some superhero inspiration. That is what Amigoman, the Latin Avenger, gave students at Rolling Ridge Elementary this week when he stopped in to talk about setting goals and working hard in school." Read more here.
* "The Justice Department has quietly installed an outspoken anti-pornography advocate in a senior position in its criminal division, as part of an effort to jump-start obscenity prosecutions." Read more here.
* "Painter Baiju Parthan is known for his evocative images but he is also a botanist, cartoonist and an academician who has delved deep into Comparative Mythology. Acutely aware of the fast-transforming world around him, Baiju Parthan intellectualises the issue and comments on the male gaze." Read more here.
* "As readers of this morning's comics pages know, the star of "Cathy" said "yes" to longtime boyfriend Irving's marriage proposal. And there is more than a single reason why Cathy will no longer be single." Read more here.
* "Half a century after unleashing the Bash Street Kids on their beleaguered teacher and the world, their creator was toasting the 50th "birfday" of Smiffy and friends yesterday. The comic strip that spawned Fatty, Plug, Smiffy and co was first published in the Beano in 1954 - and they are still causing mayhem in class 2B at Bash Street School." Read more here.
* "John Sherffius, the editorial cartoonist of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, recently resigned after a series of disagreements with the newspaper's editor over his criticism of President George W. Bush and the Republican Party." Read more here.
* "Formerly a cartoonist with The Chronicle, John Whittaker made his name with his full-colour topical cartoons, which featured in weekly publications, calendars and greetings cards. He worked under the pen name John Witt." Read more here.
* "Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and the state’s 83 county prosecutors have agreed not to enforce a controversial section of a new state law that bars bookstores from displaying some sexually explicit titles until a federal judge rules on a challenge to the law.
Last month, five Michigan booksellers, along with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Association of American Publishers and four other groups filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking to block the law passed last year." Read more here.
* "Can you teach a physics class with only comic books to illustrate the principles? University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios has been doing it since 1995, when he explained the principle of conservation of momentum by calculating the force of Spider-Man's web when it snagged the superhero's girlfriend as she plummeted from a great height." Read more here.
* "Some in the [video game] industry, however, are not so sure that games will ever mature. They fear games could be a dead end like comic books - valuable as a social phenomenon, but outside a select few titles like Art Spiegelman's "Maus," not worth a great deal of individual study." Read more here.
* "One new face who seems destined to go the distance . . . is the author of "Belly Button Comix," a 32-page booklet published last month by Fantagraphics Books in Seattle. Identified only as Sophie on the cover, she is in fact Sophie Crumb, the 22-year-old daughter of the legendary counterculture cartoonist Robert Crumb and his cartoonist-turned-artist wife, Aline Kominsky-Crumb." Read more here.
* "Stuart Levy jokes that he spends about a third of his time in planes traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and Tokyo. As CEO and CCO of TOKYOPOP (www.TOKYOPOP.com), Levy is currently riding the crest of a wave of a hot product on both sides of the Pacific — manga." Read more here.
* "Ever since "the Man of Steel" first took to the skies in 1938, comics have been consigned to the bottom shelf. Superman may be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but he and his pals cannot seem to get out of the kids' section and into the hallowed halls for art. Arnold T. Blumberg says he wants to see that change." Read more here.
* "It doesn't take superhuman strength to do well in school, but it doesn't hurt to have some superhero inspiration. That is what Amigoman, the Latin Avenger, gave students at Rolling Ridge Elementary this week when he stopped in to talk about setting goals and working hard in school." Read more here.
* "The Justice Department has quietly installed an outspoken anti-pornography advocate in a senior position in its criminal division, as part of an effort to jump-start obscenity prosecutions." Read more here.
* "Painter Baiju Parthan is known for his evocative images but he is also a botanist, cartoonist and an academician who has delved deep into Comparative Mythology. Acutely aware of the fast-transforming world around him, Baiju Parthan intellectualises the issue and comments on the male gaze." Read more here.
* "As readers of this morning's comics pages know, the star of "Cathy" said "yes" to longtime boyfriend Irving's marriage proposal. And there is more than a single reason why Cathy will no longer be single." Read more here.
* "Half a century after unleashing the Bash Street Kids on their beleaguered teacher and the world, their creator was toasting the 50th "birfday" of Smiffy and friends yesterday. The comic strip that spawned Fatty, Plug, Smiffy and co was first published in the Beano in 1954 - and they are still causing mayhem in class 2B at Bash Street School." Read more here.
* "John Sherffius, the editorial cartoonist of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, recently resigned after a series of disagreements with the newspaper's editor over his criticism of President George W. Bush and the Republican Party." Read more here.
* "Formerly a cartoonist with The Chronicle, John Whittaker made his name with his full-colour topical cartoons, which featured in weekly publications, calendars and greetings cards. He worked under the pen name John Witt." Read more here.
Friday, February 13, 2004
The First Day Of The Rest Of Our Blogs
Well, by now the news has reverberated throughout the hallowed halls of fandom... the "Old Order Changeth" , to use a really geeky reference.
This hit me hard. Dirk's 'Journalista!' has become the focal point for so much of what is good in this here comics blogosphere . . . Hell, I think it goes without saying that if it weren't for him I wouldn't even be writing this now. I don't think I ever missed a day of 'Journalista!' from the very beginning. He wasn't the first member of our blogosphere but I'll be damned if I can think of anyone who was more important in kindling the sense of community, or more influential in terms of spreading the idea of our blogosphere's particular responsibilities.
I think the rise of 'Journalista!' mirrored a similar change of perception among the world of internet blogs in general. Somehow a critical mass was reached, the realization that these little words on our computer screens mattered in some strange way. It became more than just debating the merits of the Hulk over Thor, it became in a lot of ways a true extension, at least through 'Journalista!'s prism, of what the Journal is really about (or, at least, what I've always believed it to be about).
Its about a responsibility to the art form, to the medium; to the people who practice it and to ethical business practices in general. Its about the universality of cartooning across cultures and across continents - I know there are a lot of people who just glazed over Deppey's international links, but I think that was perhaps the most important service 'Journalista!' offered. It gave us all a little bit of context. Its about our history and our community - and not in some dippy "Team Comics!" way, but in the real sense that this is an important and vital art form we're all truly blessed to be a part of, for better or for worse.
I hope Dirk returns soon. Unfortunately, given the realities of publishing, and particularly the realities of publishing an unwieldly beast like the Journal - I remain skeptical that this will happen anytime soon. Its not all sad, though, as I am really excited about the prospect of the Journal under Dirk. If he brings the same attitude and breadth of interest to his Journal, we are in for a rare treat indeed.
Milo George will be missed. As many have pointed out, his Journal was simply wonderful, perhaps a definitive run. Mr. George sat at the helm for some truly phenomenal issues. I am upset that Anne Elizabeth Moore's run as editor is clearly underrated - she oversaw some excellent issues as well. On a more personal note, I should add that Mr. George was never anything less than an absolute prince of a fellow in my dealings with him. I only had a handful of articles printed under his stewardship, but it was a joy to work for him. It seems he was hated and derided across the land for his internet persona, and that's a shame - because the Milo who posted on tcj.com and the Milo who edited the Journal don't seem like they could possibly have been more dissimilar.
In any event, from now on I'm going to strive every day to use this meager podium to build on the high standard 'Journalista!' has already established.
I think we all should feel a great responsibility now. I know I do. Thank you, Dirk, for the example you have shown me, and thank you for the work yet to be done.
Well, by now the news has reverberated throughout the hallowed halls of fandom... the "Old Order Changeth" , to use a really geeky reference.
This hit me hard. Dirk's 'Journalista!' has become the focal point for so much of what is good in this here comics blogosphere . . . Hell, I think it goes without saying that if it weren't for him I wouldn't even be writing this now. I don't think I ever missed a day of 'Journalista!' from the very beginning. He wasn't the first member of our blogosphere but I'll be damned if I can think of anyone who was more important in kindling the sense of community, or more influential in terms of spreading the idea of our blogosphere's particular responsibilities.
I think the rise of 'Journalista!' mirrored a similar change of perception among the world of internet blogs in general. Somehow a critical mass was reached, the realization that these little words on our computer screens mattered in some strange way. It became more than just debating the merits of the Hulk over Thor, it became in a lot of ways a true extension, at least through 'Journalista!'s prism, of what the Journal is really about (or, at least, what I've always believed it to be about).
Its about a responsibility to the art form, to the medium; to the people who practice it and to ethical business practices in general. Its about the universality of cartooning across cultures and across continents - I know there are a lot of people who just glazed over Deppey's international links, but I think that was perhaps the most important service 'Journalista!' offered. It gave us all a little bit of context. Its about our history and our community - and not in some dippy "Team Comics!" way, but in the real sense that this is an important and vital art form we're all truly blessed to be a part of, for better or for worse.
I hope Dirk returns soon. Unfortunately, given the realities of publishing, and particularly the realities of publishing an unwieldly beast like the Journal - I remain skeptical that this will happen anytime soon. Its not all sad, though, as I am really excited about the prospect of the Journal under Dirk. If he brings the same attitude and breadth of interest to his Journal, we are in for a rare treat indeed.
Milo George will be missed. As many have pointed out, his Journal was simply wonderful, perhaps a definitive run. Mr. George sat at the helm for some truly phenomenal issues. I am upset that Anne Elizabeth Moore's run as editor is clearly underrated - she oversaw some excellent issues as well. On a more personal note, I should add that Mr. George was never anything less than an absolute prince of a fellow in my dealings with him. I only had a handful of articles printed under his stewardship, but it was a joy to work for him. It seems he was hated and derided across the land for his internet persona, and that's a shame - because the Milo who posted on tcj.com and the Milo who edited the Journal don't seem like they could possibly have been more dissimilar.
In any event, from now on I'm going to strive every day to use this meager podium to build on the high standard 'Journalista!' has already established.
I think we all should feel a great responsibility now. I know I do. Thank you, Dirk, for the example you have shown me, and thank you for the work yet to be done.
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Back In The Saddle
So, as you may or may not know, its been a long stretch without any comics. For various (money-related) reasons, I've head to go without comics for the longest sustained period since I was probably five or six years old .
That said, after a prolonged absence things seem to be returning to some semblance of normalcy - meaning, I can buy comics again. At least a few - there's still a bunch of stuff I missed these past few months and will be slow to catch up on - but the process of reacclimating myself has begun.
First, I think I should say that having been without comics for so long, I return to the scene with a renewed vigor. I mean, seriously, its hard to stay excited about these things when comics become a weekly slog - more a chore than a joy. Its something I think we can all relate to in one way or another, those of us who have stayed with the medium for as long as we have.
Second, now that we're actually back to reading comics, I can get back to the business of this here comics blogosphere and start talking about comics. Herewith, I shall commence a new semi-regular feature for your gratification and edification:
X-Statix #13-18
I have never seen a once-great series "jump the shark" so succinctly and with such seeming finality.
I can remember way back - or, at least, it seems like a long time ago now - when the powers-that-be (or, were) at Marvel announced a bold new direction for one of Marvel's mainstay sub-franchises, "X-Force". Normally, like many, I wouldn't have been caught dead near something like "X-Force", but the new direction promised by the creative team of Milligan & Allred was impossibly enticing. Sure enough, I bit the hook and I was glad I did. The "All-New, All-Different" X-Force was one of the best mainstream books of the last decade, somehow managing the impossible, and using the tired superhero formula to say something, something if not new then at least interesting, about the world around us (and not just in the time-tested, ham-fisted "Your Sidekick's A Junky!" fashion).
I was excited about each new issue of "X-Force" as I hadn't been for a mainstream comic in many moons. It was damn good. I even ponied up the dough to get the inevitable hardcover collection, even though I already had everything in it - because I liked the series that much and wanted to see it in the deluxe format.
But when it made the shift to "X-Statix", something was lost. Perhaps the initial shock of the new had worn out. Perhaps the series premise was such that it couldn't really stand up to prolonged scrutiny. I don't know. For whatever reason, things just started to get "wacky", and usually when you're talking about once-good properties, "wacky" is the kiss of death.
Sure enough, that brings us to the "Back From The Dead" storyline, which I just read in one sitting.
I know all the backstory, and quite honestly I am left wondering if their original plans for the story would have made it any better. Certainly, the fact that the main thrust of the story was basically gutted before it ever saw the light of day didn't help - but if you look at the shape of the story that did see print, you don't see a lot of real room for improvement. Its sloppy, its episodic, and its cliched. It seems to actually be two or three different storylines in the place of one, with different things happening for no real reason and with no real explanation.
Suddenly, Henrietta is the Secretary of Homeland Defense. Suddenly, we discover that longstanding team members have been selling arms to Saddam Hussein. Suddenly, the story's plausibility is shredded.
It commits some of the most unpardonable sins you can possibly imagine an action comic book committing. There are whole issue that pass with the main characters sitting around debating what to do without, you know, actually doing anything. These debates serve no purpose other than to illustrate horrendously opaque plot-points. The characters, almost to a man, all break character egregiously at one or more points throughout the story - reinforcing the fact that the story was badly shoehorned and needed to be seriously rethought. Multiple characters die for no real reason other than shock value . . . which I do realize is a staple of "X-Statix" (hell, the first issue of the new "X-Force" had the whole team killed), but here it comes off as forced and desperate. There's even a Spider-Man cameo - and its so perfunctory that Spidey just sort of disappears halfway through a battle, undoubtedly confused or bored, or both. I know he he feels.
So, I think if I can say anything with any degree of certainty, its that they should have scrapped the whole idea once they figured they couldn't use Diana. I mean, seriously, this one misstep seems to have destroyed every last bit of momentum this book had. I realize that whole issues were already produced - but hey, half the books already look horrible because Allred obviously had to rush through and redraw certain passages. The fact is, this storyline is a shambling undead mess, and should serve as a cautionary message to creators everywhere: sometimes its best just to walk away, rather than putting your name on crap.
But if you squint real hard, you can at least see small glimpses of what they were going for. In particular, the last scene of the arc, featuring an undead Henrietta (Diana) confronting the president of her unnamed European country, the president who ordered her death. Its easy to substitute, in your own mind, the real intended participants - a shuffling zombie Diana confronting a cowering Queen Elizabeth. Its a powerful image, even if it doesn't exist anywhere but the readers' minds.
I didn't think the original premise of "Back From The Dead" was all that great an idea in the first place - it smacked of flop-sweat, to be honest. I was never really that upset when the inevitable announcement came that the higher-ups had quashed Diana's appearance in the story because I thought, and will continue to think, that it was a lame idea. It seemed to be transgressive merely for the sake of being transgressive, jejune instead of honestly provacative. Of course, when all is said and done, it will probably be said that this one idea was enough to kill the series.
They're supposed to be going to the Marvel Knigths imprint but will that ultimately accomplish anything? The damage is done. Momentum is destroyed and the creators have lost their bearings. Perhaps it would be best to have the concept go the way of the original Doom Patrol - ie, kill everyone. At least that would be in character.
So, as you may or may not know, its been a long stretch without any comics. For various (money-related) reasons, I've head to go without comics for the longest sustained period since I was probably five or six years old .
That said, after a prolonged absence things seem to be returning to some semblance of normalcy - meaning, I can buy comics again. At least a few - there's still a bunch of stuff I missed these past few months and will be slow to catch up on - but the process of reacclimating myself has begun.
First, I think I should say that having been without comics for so long, I return to the scene with a renewed vigor. I mean, seriously, its hard to stay excited about these things when comics become a weekly slog - more a chore than a joy. Its something I think we can all relate to in one way or another, those of us who have stayed with the medium for as long as we have.
Second, now that we're actually back to reading comics, I can get back to the business of this here comics blogosphere and start talking about comics. Herewith, I shall commence a new semi-regular feature for your gratification and edification:
X-Statix #13-18
I have never seen a once-great series "jump the shark" so succinctly and with such seeming finality.
I can remember way back - or, at least, it seems like a long time ago now - when the powers-that-be (or, were) at Marvel announced a bold new direction for one of Marvel's mainstay sub-franchises, "X-Force". Normally, like many, I wouldn't have been caught dead near something like "X-Force", but the new direction promised by the creative team of Milligan & Allred was impossibly enticing. Sure enough, I bit the hook and I was glad I did. The "All-New, All-Different" X-Force was one of the best mainstream books of the last decade, somehow managing the impossible, and using the tired superhero formula to say something, something if not new then at least interesting, about the world around us (and not just in the time-tested, ham-fisted "Your Sidekick's A Junky!" fashion).
I was excited about each new issue of "X-Force" as I hadn't been for a mainstream comic in many moons. It was damn good. I even ponied up the dough to get the inevitable hardcover collection, even though I already had everything in it - because I liked the series that much and wanted to see it in the deluxe format.
But when it made the shift to "X-Statix", something was lost. Perhaps the initial shock of the new had worn out. Perhaps the series premise was such that it couldn't really stand up to prolonged scrutiny. I don't know. For whatever reason, things just started to get "wacky", and usually when you're talking about once-good properties, "wacky" is the kiss of death.
Sure enough, that brings us to the "Back From The Dead" storyline, which I just read in one sitting.
I know all the backstory, and quite honestly I am left wondering if their original plans for the story would have made it any better. Certainly, the fact that the main thrust of the story was basically gutted before it ever saw the light of day didn't help - but if you look at the shape of the story that did see print, you don't see a lot of real room for improvement. Its sloppy, its episodic, and its cliched. It seems to actually be two or three different storylines in the place of one, with different things happening for no real reason and with no real explanation.
Suddenly, Henrietta is the Secretary of Homeland Defense. Suddenly, we discover that longstanding team members have been selling arms to Saddam Hussein. Suddenly, the story's plausibility is shredded.
It commits some of the most unpardonable sins you can possibly imagine an action comic book committing. There are whole issue that pass with the main characters sitting around debating what to do without, you know, actually doing anything. These debates serve no purpose other than to illustrate horrendously opaque plot-points. The characters, almost to a man, all break character egregiously at one or more points throughout the story - reinforcing the fact that the story was badly shoehorned and needed to be seriously rethought. Multiple characters die for no real reason other than shock value . . . which I do realize is a staple of "X-Statix" (hell, the first issue of the new "X-Force" had the whole team killed), but here it comes off as forced and desperate. There's even a Spider-Man cameo - and its so perfunctory that Spidey just sort of disappears halfway through a battle, undoubtedly confused or bored, or both. I know he he feels.
So, I think if I can say anything with any degree of certainty, its that they should have scrapped the whole idea once they figured they couldn't use Diana. I mean, seriously, this one misstep seems to have destroyed every last bit of momentum this book had. I realize that whole issues were already produced - but hey, half the books already look horrible because Allred obviously had to rush through and redraw certain passages. The fact is, this storyline is a shambling undead mess, and should serve as a cautionary message to creators everywhere: sometimes its best just to walk away, rather than putting your name on crap.
But if you squint real hard, you can at least see small glimpses of what they were going for. In particular, the last scene of the arc, featuring an undead Henrietta (Diana) confronting the president of her unnamed European country, the president who ordered her death. Its easy to substitute, in your own mind, the real intended participants - a shuffling zombie Diana confronting a cowering Queen Elizabeth. Its a powerful image, even if it doesn't exist anywhere but the readers' minds.
I didn't think the original premise of "Back From The Dead" was all that great an idea in the first place - it smacked of flop-sweat, to be honest. I was never really that upset when the inevitable announcement came that the higher-ups had quashed Diana's appearance in the story because I thought, and will continue to think, that it was a lame idea. It seemed to be transgressive merely for the sake of being transgressive, jejune instead of honestly provacative. Of course, when all is said and done, it will probably be said that this one idea was enough to kill the series.
They're supposed to be going to the Marvel Knigths imprint but will that ultimately accomplish anything? The damage is done. Momentum is destroyed and the creators have lost their bearings. Perhaps it would be best to have the concept go the way of the original Doom Patrol - ie, kill everyone. At least that would be in character.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
New Reviews
Another new review up, courtesy of our friends at the Poopsheet - this time for a British adventure story called "The Rainbow Orchid". I thought I was pretty harsh on it, too, but we got a polite letter of thanks from the creator in question right after Rick posted it, so go figure. A class act.
Another new review up, courtesy of our friends at the Poopsheet - this time for a British adventure story called "The Rainbow Orchid". I thought I was pretty harsh on it, too, but we got a polite letter of thanks from the creator in question right after Rick posted it, so go figure. A class act.
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