Monthly Archive: August 2007

Women Spotted at Comics Convention

  • Uncategorized
  • August 18, 2007

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Comics Links

Comic Book Resources investigates the existence of women – often attractive women, some of whom actually read comics – at comics conventions. Astonishing! (Illustration: one of those elusive “real women.”)

A long 1977 New York Times article about Harvey Kurtzman and Mad magazine has been posted by Mike Lynch. [via Mark Evanier, who had some comments on it]

The Times (of London) checks in with Cam Kennedy and lan Grant about their in-the-works graphic novel adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

Mark Trail likes squirrels. [via the Comics Curmudgeon]

Kleefeld on Comics posts scans from the mid-70s Mighty Marvel Comics Strength and Fitness Book. [via everyone else blogging about comics, basically]

Comics Reviews

Bookgasm reviews the second trade paperback collecting the DC series 52.

Richard of Forbidden Planet International reviews The Other Side.

Eddie Campbell reviews Robert C. Harvey’s biography of Milton Caniff.

Dana of Comics Fodder reviews this week’s Marvel comics.

Greg Burgas of Comics Should Be Good does that one better – reviewing a pile of this week’s comics regardless of their publisher.

(more…)

MARTHA THOMASES: Death Trip

  • Uncategorized
  • August 18, 2007

martha100-4373992At the recent Wizard World convention in Chicago, Jim Starlin was part of the DC Nation panel. Starlin created the brilliant graphic novel, The Death of Captain Marvel, which was so well done that it made me cry like a little girl even though I wasn’t that familiar with the character. A running gag throughout the hour was that, in the upcoming Final Crisis, Starlin was going to let loose and kill a bunch more characters in the DC Universe.

It’s bugged me for a few years that, in comics and sometimes in other media, death is the gag. Death is the only meaningful drama. The recent hype about the last Harry Potter book was whether or not Harry would die, and who else might join him. This misses the point.

Now, I realize that I made a lot of my reputation in this industry from the 1992 Death of Superman (and not just my extraordinary good looks and keen wit). Isn’t that what started this whole death-cult in comics?

Yes and no. I used to joke that DC had to kill Superman every seven years, whether or not he needed it. What made the 1992 event different? Some might think sold so much because the release coincided with the collector craze, but I’ve always thought it was more than that, and started even earlier. I thought it started in the fall of 1990, when Clark and Lois got engaged. The media went crazy, with stories on television news and national newspapers like USA Today. A few months later, it happened again when Clark revealed his secret identity to his beloved.

People felt like they knew the Superman family. A lot of them expected an invitation to the wedding. When they found out Doomsday was going to kill Superman, they felt like they lost a friend.

Marvel was able to evoke similarly honest feelings when Captain America died. Again, they had done their homework with the general public, explaining the central political conflict in the Marvel Universe. In this case, the increasing discontent with the Iraqi war may have also contributed to the emotional response. It’s a perfect storm of entertainment and real life.

(more…)

Happy 25th birthday, compact discs!

  • News
  • August 18, 2007

compact_disc200-6883338One hundred and thirty years ago this past Wednesday, Thomas Edison made the first ever audio recording, which consisted of him reciting "Mary Had A Little Lamb". It entered the charts at #1.

But twenty-five years ago today, the world’s first compact disc was produced at a Philips factory in Germany, ushering in a new world of audio and laying the groundwork for digital copying, MP3s, Napster… well, at least we got rid of all the hisses and pops, right?

Sigh. Edison hate future.

Jim Shooter returning to Legion of Super-Heroes?

  • News
  • August 17, 2007

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There are those who thought this wouldn’t happen until we actually reached the 30th century, yet a pretty strong case is made for it actually happening at the Legion Omnicom, starting with #37.

The All-New 1982 Show

  • Uncategorized
  • August 17, 2007

evanier-2752483Comics Links

The Beat has a few choice photos from the 1982 San Diego Comic-Con – sure, it was smaller and easier to get around, but look at the clothes they had to wear! (This photo of Mark Evanier, and the others at this link are by Alan Light.)

Todd Allen is not entirely positive in this Comics Should Be Good report on Wizard World Chicago.

Grumpy Old Fan (at Newsarama) pokes at the current legal issues around Superboy’s ownership.

The Beat has posted the official, lawyer-approved settlement agreement between Fantagraphics and Harlan Ellison.

Comics Reviews

Charleston City Paper reviews a few comics collections, including Flight, Vol. 4 and Linda Medley’s Castle Waiting.

Blogcritics reviews the first issues of Black Adam and Metal Men.

The A.V. Club has a comics review column this week, starting off with Fletcher Hanks’s I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets and covering over a dozen other compilations or original GNs.

Comics Reporter reviews Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened.

Comics Reporter reviews Gilbert Hernandez’s Chance in Hell.

Brian Cronin at Comics Should Be Good reviews Good As Lily, the new Minx comic.

The Savage Critics usually has a couple of reviews every day (and I’m too lazy to link to every single one of them); here’s Graeme McMillan writing about a bunch of comics that came out last week.

Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing reviews Death Valley.

(more…)

Marvel movies made messy by mortgage meltdown?

  • News
  • August 17, 2007

marvelsuits-7625009My spidey-cents are tingling, and I don’t know that I like what I’m thinking.

First we have a piece from the Financial Times (via Salon) that says MGM may have delays in raising funding for a number of upcoming blockbuster movies, including the next installments in the James Bond and Terminator franchises due to the global credit crunch that is causing chaos in financial markets. Then we have a piece in Variety that shows that the bill for Endemol, the European production giant famous for "Big Brother" and "Deal or No Deal," has become a bit pricier thanks to the same credit crunch, and that it’s also put a hold on the planned sales of Virgin Media, the U.K. cable outfit.

So now I’m thinking about the $525 million in financing that Merrill Lynch has lined up for Marvel to produce its slate of films, which is really little more than a credit line — and I’m wondering how stable it really is. Does anybody how secure Marvel’s financing really is at this moment?

MICHAEL DAVIS: It’s a real mad mad mad world part 1

  • News
  • August 17, 2007

michael-davis100-4885353What is up with heroes today? I just got back from Wizard World Chicago and as I was walking around the con I took notice of the posters, billboards and other comic company signage. What I observed with little exception is the look on the heroes faces… they all looked mad. I mean they looked pissed.

I ask again, what is up with heroes today?

Do all the comic companies have a template for posters? Stop me if you’re seen this: the hero or heroes are standing with a smoke filled background or battlefield usually the background is an orange or red hue. They stand with this look of utter anger. They all look like the first words they would say to you upon meeting you at a funeral is I will kick your ass!

I remember when Superman would… smile. Wow, what a concept a hero who stands for truth, justice and the American way smiling once in a while. I remember when Superman was a role model and he would stand there with his hands on his hips legs firmly planted on the ground looking out at the reader with a HUGE smile on his face.

Heck, I remember when Bat-Man would smile from time to time. I saw a poster at the DC booth with Wonder Woman looking out at the viewer with that “mad look.” From what she looked like on that poster I am now sure that even comic book characters suffer from PMS.

Hey, I’m sure that there are posters and characters out there that smile or project a more positive attitude. I just don’t see them. Now Marvel and DC know their audience but there seems to me to be an effort out there to make everybody “hard,” as the rappers say. This look is not new to the comic world. In fact it’s ripped off completely from Hip-Hop.

When’s the last time anybody ever saw a rapper smile on an album cover? The “Hard” look is everywhere. Look at high fashion models and that stupid look… football players… baseball players… heck, now opera singers stare out from their posters looking like Biggie Smalls.

As I said before Marvel and DC know their audience and they are the market leaders, so this is what the public must want.

But (as you knew there would be) …

(more…)

Ellison, Fantagraphics settle

  • News
  • August 17, 2007

The world is a bit nicer today, as the acrimonious lawsuit between Harlan Ellison and Fantagraphics has not only been settled,but the terms of the settlement have been released.  Both parties agreed that "ad hominem, personal attacks" will cease as long as each is alive (or, in the case of Fantagraphics, in business). 

In addition, Fantagraphics agreed to remove Harlan’s name from the cover of future editions of Comics Journal Library 6: The Writers, as well as his interview, and to remove passages from the book Comics as Art: We Told You So, as well as removing those paragraphs from its website.  At the same time, Ellison’s website will remove allegations that Groth embezzled funds, anad which "likened him to a child molester."  A rebuttal statement will be on his site for at least 30 days.

Fantagraphics may not solicit any further donations of art for its Defense Fund, but may market those pieces which have already been donated.

Ellison will receive two copies of all Fantagraphics publications or any of its imprints which contain material he wrote.

Each party is responsible for its own legal fees.

 

Can you ReBoot?

  • News
  • August 16, 2007

reboot-8996452As part of a promotion for the ReBoot TV series (which Rainbow Entertainment is trying to revive), Zeroes 2 Heroes is going to publish a new ReBoot comic.  They’re looking for an art team with a contest online. 

Here’s what you do:  Pick a ReBoot character and sketch it.  Fans will vote and you’ll be notified in August and start work in September.

  1. The ReBoot pitches are found here; you need to be logged in.
  2. Launch the Flash viewer by clicking on any of the pitch thumbnails.
  3. Browse through the pitches and pick the character or world you think is the most interesting.
  4. Upload a sketch using the "Upload" button.

Then tell ComicMix how it goes.

Mike Wieringo update

  • News
  • August 16, 2007

wieringocharlielost-9712452To begin, the funeral arrangements from Mike’s brother Matt, reprinted in its entirety:

First, let me thank everyone who has expressed their condolences online and over the phone. We have been, frankly, overwhelmed by all the good will from all over the world. I don’t think our parents fully understood (nor did Mike) just how much he was loved and admired. To get us through this, my wife and I have spent a couple of sleepless nights reading the postings here and at Newsarama (thank you, Matt Brady) and the John Byrne Forum and it’s helped a great deal. Most touching of all was Cully Hamner’s heartfelt eulogy at Newsarama. Thank you so much, Cully. You are a beautiful man.

Now to the hard part. Mike will have two funeral services.

First, there will be a public viewing this Friday (August 17th) from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service at 1113 West Main Street in Durham, NC, followed by a chapel service at 2:00. This will be open to any of Mike’s friends and colleagues who’d like to attend. Please come prepared to share a Mike story. I plan on putting you on the spot. It would really help our Mom and Dad through this.

Second, at a time to be determined, there will be a private service for Mike’s family in Lynchburg, where we grew up.

As mentioned before, in lieu of flowers, if you’d like please send donations to the A.S.P.C.A. (aspca.org) or to the Hero Initiative (heroinitiative.org). I had previously mentioned the CBLDF but, having time to think about it, I realized that the Hero Initiative was more Mike’s style. Those wishing to contribute to the CBLDF anyway, please feel free as it’s a worthwhile cause as well.

Finally, some of you have expressed concern over what would become of Mike’s little buddy and constant companion, his cat Charlie. Well, breathe easy. Charlie is coming to live with us in Richmond with our other cat Toonces. I’m not sure how Toonces is going to take to living with the little dynamo that is Charlie, but family is family. Charlie is doing well but obviously misses Mike. He’s been sleeping on Mike’s bed and under his drawing table but he’s active and friendly.

Take care, everyone and, on behalf of our parents, my wife and me, thanks for everything. –Matt (more…)

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