tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62810018920668040552024-03-12T22:46:43.198-04:00Write Club!Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.comBlogger279125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-71597026222607792932011-03-18T09:59:00.002-04:002012-11-19T18:40:12.743-05:00This Space Closed - Moved to TumblrHello all.<br />Welcome to Write Club. This blog was the home to Write Club in the first two years that we set up the podcast to talk about writing, art, comics and all that jazz.<br /><br />Now we're transitioning into a new direction and focus, and with that comes a new home. Check out <a href="http://wearewriteclub.tumblr.com/" target="blank">Write Club on Tumblr</a>.<br /><br />But as long as you're here, why don't you check out our <a href="http://writeclubpodcast.blogspot.com/search/label/podcast" target="blank">previous podcasts</a> and our <a href="http://writeclubpodcast.blogspot.com/2010/01/articles.html" target="blank">articles</a>.<br /><br />Expect new interviews and podcasts discussing art and writing with a focus on Brooklyn and NYC events over on our Tumblr. And if you'd like to get involved or have something you'd like help promoting please just <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Write_Club" target="blank">let us know</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for checking us out and giving us a listen.Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-69485021379162231532011-02-02T06:56:00.003-05:002011-02-02T07:09:04.840-05:00"We're Back!" V. 3, Ep. 7<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So, it took a while. It took some planning and some soul searching. It took some realization that doing this podcast was something that we enjoyed doing, as long as we were doing it the way we wanted to do it. So, we're back. Perhaps a bit leaner and meaner, but back nonetheless.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This podcast covers the <a href="http://www.comicsandgraphicsfest.com/">Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival</a> that took place back in December, specifically the LYNDA BARRY AND CHARLES BURNS IN CONVERSATION program.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://flash-mp3-player.net/medias/player_mp3_maxi.swf" width="200" height="20"><div> <param name="movie" value="http://flash-mp3-player.net/medias/player_mp3_maxi.swf"></div><div> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"></div><div> <param name="FlashVars" value="mp3=http%3A//www.archive.org/download/wereBackV.3Ep.7/WC_Vol3_ep007_finalmix.mp3"></div><div></div></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Kurt and I are planning on doing at least 3 podcasts a month, more if time allows, and we're pretty psyched with some of the things we have planned.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Enjoy the recording, and as always comments are welcome via email here: <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Write.Club1@gmail.com</span></span>, Twitter here @Write_Club, or in the comments section on this post.</span></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-2925931889363528782011-01-02T13:14:00.013-05:002011-01-13T07:18:10.271-05:00Comic Reviews -- Week of Dec. 29DC:<br />Batman: The Dark Knight #1:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDGDxi59_I/AAAAAAAAABg/7BjK_DnQfE4/s1600/1587484-prev_img_1_super-300x461.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDGDxi59_I/AAAAAAAAABg/7BjK_DnQfE4/s320/1587484-prev_img_1_super-300x461.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557659708316841970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is Bruce Wayne doing what he does best -- being a detective. Much of this issue seems to be character filler. There's a heart-to-heart with Alfred, Batman kicking the crap out of Killer Croc, and a surprise ending. This seems to be all exposition, leading in to the bigger plot which will be doled out in small pieces. It's not bad, it's not great. It's a strong Batman comic, and it leaves readers curious as to where it's going. I liked a lot of this issue -- particularly Batman's cleverness and resourcefulness. I'd like to see Batman kick more ass in future issues, but I don't think that's something we have to worry about. David Finch has a good handle on how to write Batman, and I'm sure the series will only get better from here.<br /><br />Misc:<br />Nemesis #4 (Icon -- Millar & McNiven):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDGePR-NgI/AAAAAAAAABo/S91vxW1emXM/s1600/nemesis4.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDGePR-NgI/AAAAAAAAABo/S91vxW1emXM/s320/nemesis4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557660162975479298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The first page of this issue is possibly the best thing about the entire series. When Blake Morrow reveals whom he believes Nemesis to be, I thought, for a moment, Millar had pulled a fast one over us. But this is Mark Millar writing, and instead we get a <span style="font-style: italic;">deus ex machina</span> moment where Millar somewhat reveals the true identity behind Nemesis. And boy is it stupid. The story makes no sense once you find out who the villain actually is. The simplistic explanation of how a random person could possibly know so much about one man is so contrived that it seemed as if Millar got to this moment in the book, and then ran out of ideas so he had to invent an answer for the problem. What was more saddening was that there's a teaser for Volume 2 of Nemesis. This is a textbook example of "How Not to Write Comics." Pick it up for your reference shelf.<br /><br />Echoes #1 (Minotaur -- Fialkov & Ekedal):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDGvJztWTI/AAAAAAAAABw/lBNRaghzHRM/s1600/Echoes-1-665x1024.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDGvJztWTI/AAAAAAAAABw/lBNRaghzHRM/s320/Echoes-1-665x1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557660453564143922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wasn't sure what to expect from this. I flipped through it before buying it, so unfortunately I saw the last page before I read the story. Even knowing that, I was gripped by Echoes from beginning to end. Echoes is the story of a man who's father is dying while his wife is close to giving birth. On his deathbed, Brian's father tells him to go back to their old house and look in the basement for a box. When he does this (while he's dealing with psychotic delusions simultaneously), Brian discovers a horrifying secret, and one that I won't ruin here. Rashan Ekedal's art -- just black and white pencils -- work superbly here. I can't imagine the atmosphere being captured as well had this been done in color. There are enough plot elements, and character quirks to keep readers hooked. I have my own thoughts on how the title of the story relates to what will eventually happen, and I'm immediately drawn to Brian as a character, so I hope things work out for him. I'm not holding up much hope of that, however, because Joshua Fialkov has woven such a moody story that I can't see this ending up happily. And I think I'd be okay with that.<br /><br />Bannen's Book of the Week<br />Detective Comics #872:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDHAYMc4MI/AAAAAAAAAB4/EzSpdVaIeCg/s1600/prv7351_cov-600x922.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__GHFh0_fRU0/TSDHAYMc4MI/AAAAAAAAAB4/EzSpdVaIeCg/s320/prv7351_cov-600x922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557660749483794626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was about halfway through this book before I remember that Scott Snyder was writing about Dick Grayson and not Bruce Wayne. This isn't a bad thing -- in fact, I think it speaks to the earnestness with which Scott Snyder is writing Detective Comics. He seems to understand the tonal differences between Bruce, Dick, Tim, and even Damien (although he's not present yet -- but I pray Snyder gets the opportunity to write him in). This issue is much like a train going downhill without brakes. Once it gets going, there's an urgency to the writing, and one that really captures the mania of the situation in which Dick finds himself. Jock needs to be commended for his art in this issue, particularly the last three pages where Dick is trapped in an horrific auction run by a psychotic auctioneer. Snyder must feel like the proverbial kid in the candy store, handed the keys to one of the greatest kingdoms in the DC Universe. So far, he's doing a great job. He's playing it cool now, developing character and story rather than going full on with the toys he's just inherited. I spoke highly of Snyder's American Vampire series, but seeing as that was an original idea, I didn't know what to expect. So far, I'm beyond impressed. This is a great series, utilizing the cornerstones laid by Grant Morrison. The story moves along quickly, gives us some nice character moments (particularly between Dick and Barbara), and ends with a great cliff-hanger. If you're looking for a time to get into Batman, it is now.Brian Bannenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11075615904930286038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-47970158479321078782010-12-06T23:26:00.000-05:002010-12-06T23:26:07.943-05:00Rick Lacy: Back to School!<a href="http://ricklacy.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-to-school.html?spref=bl">Rick Lacy: Back to School!</a>: "Class will be in session starting January 2011! Hey everyone, my private character design class at Bergen Street Comics www.bergenstreetc..."Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-3568214387987019382010-11-29T17:18:00.005-05:002010-11-30T09:14:44.455-05:00KGB Bar - Live Comics ReadingOn Sunday Night I dropped by <a href="http://www.kgbbar.com/calendar/" target="blank">KGB Bar</a> in the East Village to check out the vaguely listed <span style="font-weight: bold;">Comix and Graphic Novelists.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">About the Series: KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction. The KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction showcases the finest in contemporary fiction from new and emerging writers. </span><br /><br />I knew Emily Wernet had done a turn back around when I reviewed her comic <a href="http://writeclubpodcast.blogspot.com/2010/05/moonlighting-by-emily-wernet.html" target="blank">'Moonlighting'</a>, but other than that I hadn't heard of it or where I could get info. Afterwards I stumbled across <a href="http://hutchowen.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Tom Hart's blog</a>, the <a href="http://www.tomhart.net/" target="blank">organizer and teacher of cartooning</a>, which provided me with the names of the night's artists and their spots on the web.<br /><br />Just as an aside, I have one of Tom Hart's <a href="http://www.serializer.net/comics/hutchowen.php?view=toc" target="blank">'Hutch Owen'</a> books and I really dug it, one of my first indie cartoonist books I ever bought.<br /><br />So I stumbled in with my girlfriend <a href="http://whoislauralee.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Laura Lee</a> (on our third anniversary, and yes, that's months thank you), grabbed a <a href="http://eng.baltika.ru/i/mediakit_preview/5552.jpg" target="blank">Baltika</a>, a huge Russian beer that is, and we tried not to stand in the way. I had no idea who was going to come out, but I recognized <a href="http://www.comicbookalex.com/" target="blank">Alex Robinson</a> in the corner, so I knew this would be good.<br /><br />(I love Box Office Poison and have a sketch inside my copy, hell yeah.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lb7pj7wJGW1qzkdgl.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 386px;" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lb7pj7wJGW1qzkdgl.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />First up came <a href="http://lisahanawalt.com/" target="blank">Lisa Hanawalt</a>, who you can meet tonight at <a href="http://www.desertislandbrooklyn.com/" target="blank">Desert Island Comics</a> in Williamsburg as she signs at her launch party for I Want You #2 and her window display at Desert Island.<br /><br />She warmed up the crowd with her twisted lists from Bad Pets, to Awesome Hats, and How To Tell Martha Stewart's Drunk. Her art style is a wonderfully chaotic balance of fine line illustration and madcap absurdity, bordering on the grotesque at times, though always able to provoke, often into laughter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next up was <a href="http://www.mikedawsoncomics.com/" target="blank">Mike Dawson</a> who was sitting over by Alex Robinson, and I guess that makes sense as they have very similar sensibilities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mikedawsoncomics.com/troop142/images/TROOP142_022-23.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 618px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.mikedawsoncomics.com/troop142/images/TROOP142_022-23.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />He read a selection from his comic <a href="http://www.mikedawsoncomics.com/troop142/index.html/" target="blank">Troop 142</a> which is about as accurate a portrayal of young male life in America as I've seen. It's juvenile and possibly even nonsensical, but absolutely genuine and pure in its delivery of innocence as it lingers for those last few years before being a teenager truly kicks in.<br /><br />Then there was a brief intermission so we could grab more beers. After we were settled in, then came the closer...<a href="http://www.harkavagrant.com/" target="blank">Kate Beaton</a> ladies and gentlemen!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.harkavagrant.com/history/hipsters1sm.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 441px;" src="http://www.harkavagrant.com/history/hipsters1sm.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I mean, if there's a cartoonist out there that has more buzz on them besides Kate Beaton, well then point them out dammit! From her Aquaman which has made the rounds on Tumblr, the Gatsby's, the Mystery Solving Teens...I mean, just go to her site and prepare to lose at least an hour as you take it all in. It's consistently funny, in the art style, and delivery of every punchline. You know what's even better than that though? Having Kate herself deliver the lines. Her voice, perfectly gravelly and deadpan as she hits every beat, knowing her strips through and through.<br /><br />This was definitely a great event that I'd like to see more often than just every three months. Let me see what I can do, maybe wrestle up a venue, certainly know enough artists that'll show their work. Hmmmm...<br /><br />In the meantime, check out these artists, as all are very top notch indie creators, and come swing by Desert Island tonight and say hello.<br /><br />K<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Twitter<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://twitter.com/#%21/lisadraws" target="blank">Lisa Hanawalt</a><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mike_daws" target="blank">Mike Dawson</a><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/beatonna" target="blank">Kate Beaton</a>Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-54564496126223393152010-11-11T15:15:00.002-05:002010-11-11T15:34:04.059-05:00CASANOVA Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PKNWstRCO-tEpXzRgSfJ7DVicogXTKgaHEKryok9sd2BiIPBY_H-_Cys2SINwYJRAmZ3uCoNOWzYAfKKuOj_RBrrCwP_4ZGI8Oezaoow0BYw8sgH6g"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 627px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PKNWstRCO-tEpXzRgSfJ7DVicogXTKgaHEKryok9sd2BiIPBY_H-_Cys2SINwYJRAmZ3uCoNOWzYAfKKuOj_RBrrCwP_4ZGI8Oezaoow0BYw8sgH6g" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />CASANOVA<br />by Matt Fraction and Gabriel Ba<br /><br />What the FUCK did I just read? It's like old Marvel 'Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD' comics thrown in a blender with Grant Morrison's 'Invisibles' then trying to repaint Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius books. Granted it's all done with Matt Fraction's indelible wit and chock full of chunky ideas and action packed segments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlcNG09eJ_TlF-5AmacEWl3M9R4ZZlaqRJFd95r0Y90qP0hhI&t=1&usg=__sZ9eVAg_AQzf3M2A0R969P4cmqk="><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 193px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlcNG09eJ_TlF-5AmacEWl3M9R4ZZlaqRJFd95r0Y90qP0hhI&t=1&usg=__sZ9eVAg_AQzf3M2A0R969P4cmqk=" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It's an attractive hardcover, with a 60's-70's vibe plastered all over it, from the trippy color palate and stark design, to the moody Paul Pope/Nick Cave-ish face of Casanova himself. It's quite unlike any other book out there in packaging, if not concept, but it comes with a hefty price tag of $24.99. Is it worth that?<br /><br /><br />Not really. The gags and action are quite awesome, and the general concept of a time swapped thief turned superspy caught between various warring factions, well that's just all kinds of awesome, tossing in all the things I love. But it really tries to be too clever. The plot is all over the place and I find myself trying to work out what happened and it really is nearly incomprehensible. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2010/07/casanova-fraction-preview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 501px; height: 410px;" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2010/07/casanova-fraction-preview.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And I'm a well trained comic book reader here folks, with twenty years of experience, so I know what I'm talking about. The story has its moments, and the clever ideas are indeed quite clever, and mostly well executed, but the rest inbetween, that little thing we call the plot, it's about as flimsy as it comes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Mantooth.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 459px;" src="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Mantooth.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It reminds me a lot of Fraction's earliest comic, 'Rex Mantooth' from Planet Lar/AIT, which featured a giant talking gorilla supersecretagent in a tuxedo that was illustrated by the lovely Andy Kuhn, and was also chock full of fun (especially the annotated Mantooth which has a running commentary beside each page). But where that was goofy and played it, I feel like Casanova wanted to be taken a bit more seriously, and it falls short.<br /><br />Granted it does play with the spy tropes and throws in a lot of comic book idioms, but really it's just a big mess of a story with tasty bits. Now, the artwork is quite stunning, and even though the single color shading throughout took some getting used to, it was cool to see something new and when it worked, it worked well. I never was lost to what was happening visually. Just I didn't quite follow the leaps in logic and story structure.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/136861903_10958668ff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 364px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/136861903_10958668ff.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Now, similar critiques could be made about Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius stories, which I love more in theory than practice, but at least he was out there doing it first. Instead this story feels like a cross between a failed pulp novel and an old SHIELD pitch for Marvel with a few hip ideas swiped from today's more polished and esoteric writers. <br /><br />This isn't a Fraction bash-fest mind you. When the man is on, he's on. His work on Iron Man started rough but rose to brilliant levels, and the previously mentioned 'Rex Mantooth' was thoroughly enjoyable. Maybe I just had high expectations from the concept for the story (sexy superspy sci-fi pulp) and the reviews of it from friends who've read it.<br /><br />All in all, it wasn't NOT worth reading, and it does set things up in the end (the rather blunt and abrupt ending that wraps up NOTHING) that could potentially make for a really cool second attempt at telling this type of story, but this arc I would consider a failure, and as all spies know, failure will not be tolerated.<br /><br />I give you all license to kill this book from your reading list.<br /><br />KKurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-7249541259317363822010-11-04T12:57:00.002-04:002010-11-04T13:30:24.607-04:00Warren Ellis' "On What Comics Can Do"<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Warren Ellis has long been a champion of the power of the comic format, and has often delved into the--sometimes very technical-- act of creating a story using words and pictures. His <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Global-Frequency-Vol-Planet-Ablaze/dp/1401202748">GLOBAL FREQUENCY</a> series was somewhat of an exercise in matching specific types of stories with specific artists, and a well done exercise at that. In fact, Ellis goes to great lengths to match all of his projects with artists that he feels maximize the storytelling.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Explaining why comics are important to people who have only a passing knowledge can sometimes be frustrating, but Ellis is in the process of breaking down the distinctions between comics, prose and film. He posted this bit on his site <a href="http://www.warrenellis.com/">Warrenellis.com</a>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 20px; "><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; "><tt style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 10px !important; ">For the last three months or so, I've been working piecemeal in spare time on a short booklet about writing comics. Here's one small piece of it, the beginning of a section:</tt></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">In what ways are comics not like film, you ask (in my head)?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">Illustration creates a suspension of disbelief.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">If Art Spiegelman’s MAUS had been filmed first, it would have had an audience of maybe three people at Sundance. Because the moment everyone trooped on wearing their mouse masks, any larger audience would have lost it and left giggling. Only in the space of cartooning could that conceit work. Not least because we’re already aware, when we come to cartooning, that we’re looking at someone’s processed and hermetic perception of the world. The great success of MAUS is that the mouse faces make us let our guard down, and so we’re hit by the horrible truth of that book from an unprotected angle.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">There’s a page I often cite in these conversations, from the 1974 comic MANHUNTER by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson. It’s an entire Jason Bourne sequence in a single page. In a Marrakesh alleyway, Damon Nostrand is in a car attempting to run down Paul Kirk and Christine StClair. Kirk pushes StClair to cover, rolls under the speeding car, draws a knife, tears it through the car’s petrol tank as it passes over him, gets clear, lights a match, touches it to the trail of petrol the car leaves, the petrol blazes down the alley to the car, the car explodes, and <em>then</em> they do three or four lines of dialogue while watching Nostrand burn to death about how it’s horrible but really he was a bit of a git and completely deserved it. One page. Employing “camera angles” and compositions that even now the likes of Paul Greengrass would go blind trying to replicate.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">Also: a curling, snarling Peter Kuper piece can sear the page with its anger in a way that no photorealistic artist will ever be able to communicate. A room drawn by Eddie Campbell will be more real than any snapshot, because his line is almost like handwriting, and has human breath upon it. Dash Shaw’s work may look rough on first look, but stay with it, look at how he conveys the essence of an idea in every panel, and you’ll realise how hard he sometimes works to evoke an entire world with so few elements.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">All of which is to say you’re not necessarily hemmed in by realism, or naturalism of any kind. This is a field that combines, on the one hand, the novel and the poem and the slogan and the news story, and on the other hand every stop from pointillism to cave painting. Understand comics as the marriage of word and picture, as simple as that, and you’ll get a sense of how broad the medium’s reach really is.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">I’m currently driving my FREAKANGELS artist Paul Duffield mad by making him draw a sequence partly inspired by the main titles of Gaspar Noe’s ENTER THE VOID. Which is all typography and signwork.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; ">Comics are not film. Film can do some things we can’t. But we have a far larger toolbox.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; "></p><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><blockquote><br /></blockquote></span><p></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 22px; "></p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What do you think? How are comics different than film? How are they different from prose? Let us know in the comments.</span></span><div><br /></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-60425590711998527562010-11-02T23:02:00.017-04:002010-11-03T07:14:22.846-04:00Write Club! "Piethos!" V. 3, Ep. 6<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Write Club can't <b>always</b> be about comics, right? Right! So in this episode Tim & Kurt take the podcast out into the streets of Brooklyn to cover a <a href="http://www.slicemagazine.org/">Slice Magazine</a> reading event.</span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The event, coordinated by Slice's resident blog czar and online editor, C.A.B Fredricks was your basic head-to-head reading competition featuring the best and the brightest up & comers of the indie publishing world!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUzY99azI/AAAAAAAADMI/vBAR95HYyJw/s400/73014_1396351159049_1540321973_30825560_3765073_n.jpg" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.amysly.com/">Amy Sly</a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PIETHOS! A Reading, works like this: Five independent literary organizations were chosen, each selected a champion, and presented a challenge for an opposing organization. Each reader had about one week to compose a story in answer of their challenge. The prize? A FRESH BAKED APPLE PIE!</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The event was held at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/legion-brooklyn">LEGION bar</a> in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Listen to the event here:</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><object width="640" height="26" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep006_piethos_.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/WriteClubpiethosV.3Ep.6/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="26" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep006_piethos_.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/WriteClubpiethosV.3Ep.6/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"></embed> </object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And now, THE READERS, with visual aids and in order of appearance:</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Liz Matthews (<a href="http://slicemagazine.org/blog/">Slice Magazine</a>)</span></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUx31empI/AAAAAAAADMA/vvMgdywsem4/s400/74143_1396351399055_1540321973_30825561_7303084_n.jpg" /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; ">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.amysly.com/">Amy Sly</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Liz's story involved some visual aids. To get the whole experience, click on each link as she prompts the picture in her story.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUtMX75pI/AAAAAAAADLw/7KVFhyG40k4/s800/IMG_6807.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUvEDbt9I/AAAAAAAADL0/zdx3y-Dd2wg/s800/IMG_6807%283%29.jpg" target="_blank">Window</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUtMX75pI/AAAAAAAADLw/7KVFhyG40k4/s800/IMG_6807.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUw4M_--I/AAAAAAAADL4/133vRpvtekE/s800/IMG_6807%282%29.jpg" target="_blank">Breakfast</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUtMX75pI/AAAAAAAADLw/7KVFhyG40k4/s800/IMG_6807.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUtMX75pI/AAAAAAAADLw/7KVFhyG40k4/s800/IMG_6807.jpg" target="_blank">Leaves</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Corey Eastwood (<a href="http://www.bookthugnation.com/">Book Thug Nation</a>)</span></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDU1u6zM-I/AAAAAAAADMY/5AYbunbl0yQ/s400/66615_1396352159074_1540321973_30825567_3213463_n.jpg" /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; ">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.amysly.com/">Amy Sly</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kate Axelrod (<a href="http://www.featherproof.com/Mambo/">Featherproof Books</a>)</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDU1G3gofI/AAAAAAAADMU/Aki8d5FwlwY/s400/67617_1396352359079_1540321973_30825569_5379855_n.jpg" /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; ">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.amysly.com/">Amy Sly</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Martha Raoli (<a href="http://www.canteenmag.com/">Canteen Magazine</a>)</span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDU0D-BmPI/AAAAAAAADMM/TAfr1UAkn6I/s400/72556_1396352639086_1540321973_30825571_4903612_n.jpg" /></span></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; ">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.amysly.com/">Amy Sly</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Prize:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TNDUxR0EpnI/AAAAAAAADL8/nNCKNLtfHmQ/s400/74517_1396353999120_1540321973_30825579_1051122_n.jpg" /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.amysly.com/">Amy Sly</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now Dear Write Clubbers, after listening to the event, who would YOU have chosen to win the nommy pie?</span></span></span></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-48764530538740846242010-10-24T13:26:00.006-04:002010-10-25T09:19:34.783-04:00Comic Reviews<b>MARVEL:</b><div><b><br />Amazing Spider-Man #645</b>:</div><div><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TMWDCy5iyKI/AAAAAAAADKM/g_2spzkypq4/s400/Spider2.jpg" /> </div><div>This issue of Amazing Spider-Man is noteworthy in that Spidey spends almost the entire issue kicking the crap out of his rogues. Most of his attacks are contrived situations -- his villains happen to be in the right places at the wrong times. But still, Mark Waid knows how to write a cool story. My two favorite moments: Spider-Man tears down a dockside warehouse by pulling the beams apart underwater; Spider-Man chases the Chameleon through a mansion, only to pull him through a wall. All of this is because Peter thinks Norman Osborne and Lilly Hollister's baby is dead, and he thinks he's responsible. The truth will out, obviously, but where others have found this series to be growing stale, I still see it as a continuous solid outing.<br /><br /><b>DC:</b></div><div><br /><b>Superman #703</b>:</div><div><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TMWDC5DxXcI/AAAAAAAADKQ/MiRKMI4-07E/s400/superman703.jpg" /></div><div> I'm still enjoying Superman's trek across America. This story is a bit more cliched than others, however, and the moral is shoved down readers' throats. But, It's still more interesting than watching Superman try to battle some alien menace in Metropolis while at the same time dealing with his "marital issues." I think what Straczynski really wants to do is retcon Superman's previous fifteen years. Since that's damn near impossible, this is the next best thing.<br /><br /><b>VERTIGO:</b></div><div><br /><b>American Vampire #6</b>: Stephen King has stepped aside after completing his five issue run so now Scott Snyder is the primary creative force behind American Vampire. How'd he do? Check below for a further review.<br /><br /><b>ICON:</b></div><div><b><br />Nemesis #3</b>:</div><div><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TMWDCiDpiqI/AAAAAAAADKI/rkgFzKSwJWk/s400/NEMESIS003_DC11_LR-1.jpg" /></div><div> I can't even clearly review this piece of shit. Here are some "highlights:" Nemesis kidnaps Blake Morrow's son and daughter, makes Morrow admit that his son is gay, then he uses Morrow's son's sperm to impregnate Morrow's daughter. Oh, and he "rigged [the daughter's] womb to completely collapse" if they attempt to abort the child. Seriously -- RIGGED A WOMB TO BLOW?!? This is the shittiest piece of shitty shit to ever get shit out.<br /><br /><b>Superior #1</b>:</div><div><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TMWDCY91LzI/AAAAAAAADKA/StTR6v0KU3c/s400/112_SUPERIOR_1.jpg" /> </div><div>Now, while Nemesis may be a steaming pile, I actually enjoyed Superior. Superior is the story of Simon Pooni, a boy with Multiple Sclerosis who is granted a wish by a space monkey. Again, I can't make this shit up. But the difference here is that where Nemesis is all about flash over substance, Superior has heart. There's a lot to like here -- Millar is writing a story that most people can relate to. How many comic book fans wished, at some point, for super powers? Imagine if they were granted, but not to any douchebag on the street. Instead, they're given to a boy who has every reason to own them. What will he do with them? We'll have to wait and see. But Millar admits that Superior is more "family-friendly," despite the book being littered with four letter words. This is a vast improvement from the work he's been doing in his other comics, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Simon does with his abilities. And by the by, Simon Pooni is the name of a guy who won an eBay auction, the proceeds of which went to buy a bus for a school with special needs students. So Millar isn't a complete asshole -- just a guy who shouldn't be given too much "ego space."<br /><br /><br /><b>Bannen's Book of the Week</b>: </div><div><br /><div><b>American Vampire #6</b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TMWDCpbDaqI/AAAAAAAADKE/0qoYlM5PnoE/s800/american_vampire_6.jpg" /></span><br /></b>My pick this week is Scott Snyder's Vampire/Western/History of America book. We still have the continuous issue of the barons of industry fighting the simple folks of the frontier. This time, we're pushed to 1930's in the middle of the depression, and we're introduced to another character: Cashel McCogan. He's the new chief of police, replacing his father who was killed two months prior. The morals have shifted slightly -- there are undercurrents of the evils of drinking, gambling, prostitution, and much of the issue is devoted to the frustrations small towns faced when big businesses came in and built large structures like dams, bridges, or factories. Snyder writes Cashel as part rancher and part bad ass. He uses bucolic phrases like "You and yours," but still maintains an air of control. The story feels big, and I imagine that Snyder must feel like he can sprawl a bit more, now that he's got a full twenty-two pages to play with. This is a great beginning -- Snyder still uses Skinner Sweet (who is easily one of the coolest comic creations), and Rafael Albuquerque still provides the beautiful images to go with Snyder's story. Where readers may have been interested to see if the story loses any of its "oomph" with the departure of Stephen King, I can assure it doesn't. It still has just as much bite as before.<br /><br /></div></div>Brian Bannenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11075615904930286038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-22684444136250319522010-10-20T16:12:00.003-04:002010-10-20T16:23:59.504-04:00Book Club Review: One Hit Wonder by Charlie Carillo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n68/n344916.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 467px;" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n68/n344916.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>In our celebrity saturated society even those thought long forgotten, idols from our youth who glimmered for just a summer, leaving us with a singular hit song that resonated in the public sending ripples through the pop culture pool, even they become relevant and interesting once more.<br /><br />In Charlie Carillo's new book One Hit Wonder, we follow Mickey DeFalco, a Queens native who hit it big with his sappy yet melancholy ballad 'Sweet Days' as he returns home an utter failure and total has-been. In his shoes we feel what it's like to be loved and adored for that one contribution to people's lives.<br /><br />An aging fan hooking up with her teenage fantasy. Bitter former classmates still toiling at menial jobs at home. The girl that was loved and lost, inspiring those epic refrains. These are the people around Mickey that marvel at his achievement and fall from grace. They hold him at a distance, as something other than themselves.<br /><br />Through flashbacks we're shown even more moments of awkward celebrity. From playing a cruise ship to kids birthday parties, no indignity is spared, and Mickey just casually walks his way through each of them, only passionate and excitable when clinging to his last shreds of dignity.<br /><br />There's something to Mickey's boy-like demeanor and passive aggressive nature that really shines in the prose. This feels like a real person who could neatly slide into our pop song past. His parents are peppered with sentimental details that make them so true to life. You can see their past as Mickey grew up in their home.<br /><br />The whole book is littered with truths. About life, love, family. Just lines tossed out here and there that feel like universal truths, spit out by a wiseass Queens kid in a 38 year old's body. The concept of hitting bottom and trying to resurface, flailing about in inconsistency of actions, taking the easy route when available, this is how people behave.<br /><br />And then there's lost love. Idyllic in memory, which taints all reality about him, making it all a joke, another tragedy heaped upon the pile. How do you react when all you want is the girl, but instead are given fame and fortune? You self-destruct of course. Spiral to the bottom and find yourself again.<br /><br />The book is very well written and consistent in its tone, with more than a few twists and turns that feel like the randomness of life, rather than the structure of plot. Not to give spoilers, but there is a happy ending there, but it may not exactly come as you'd think it would.<br /><br />I have yet to read Carillo's other novels, but from this book I imagine he's got more than just this one song to offer.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.charliecarillo.com/" target="blank">Charlie Carillo's website</a> or his other book <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=BdY11P9K2kcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Charlie+Carillo+Raising+Jake&source=bl&ots=GPYqCy4Hwm&sig=NfHtx7R7HF4Y3MsACKHYlgQggzs&hl=en&ei=tk6_TKyeL4O0lQeJv4DgBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="blank">RAISING JAKE</a>.Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-34574363024247768322010-10-16T17:59:00.002-04:002010-10-16T19:32:13.299-04:00Free Comic of the Week: Vision Machine by Greg Pak<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2010/10/visionmachineroyalties.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 584px; height: 184px;" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2010/10/visionmachineroyalties.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A new feature I'll be having up here on the blog is to present the best of free comic books available online.<br /><br />First up is Vision Machine by Greg Pak. You can read the comic on <a href="https://comics.comixology.com/#/view/4633/Vision-Machine-1" target="blank">Comixology</a> or download the <a href="http://gregpak.com/uploads/Vision_Machine_01.pdf" target="blank">PDF</a>. <br /><br />Greg Pak has an exclusive interview up on <a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/15/greg-pak-vision-machine-free/" target="blank">Comics Alliance</a> where he mentions that not only are you able to download/read the comic for free online, but eventually there will be a free print version available as well. <br /><br />Which is really interesting, having a book put together by money from the <a href="http://www.fordfoundation.org/" target="blank">Ford Foundation</a> and put out under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/" target="blank">Creative Commons</a> license which means anyone can expand on the universe created within the pages or is able to remix or mashup the story however they see fit as long as the original source is credited. Truly free creative information. The article also has a lot of interesting points about digital comics and creator royalties.<br /><br />Which leads me over to another article discussing <a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/07/digital-comics-sales/" target="blank">ICv2's number crunching of digital sales</a> which is ultimately summed up as: <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"While the news for print was less than positive, with manga sales facing an estimated 20% drop in 2010, the news for digital comics was very good indeed, with Griepp projecting that digital comics sales would see a more than ten-fold increase this year over last."</span><br /><br />And:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"But while manga and graphic novels decline, the real energy and growth has been in digital, which has expanded from a $500,000 market in 2009 to an estimated $6 to 8 million dollars in 2010, a more than ten-fold increase. Quite simply, digital comics are "the fastest-growing part of the comics business," said Griepp."</span><br /><br />It's interesting seeing this comic going out into the public, with its theme of free creative information with a donation based payment setup and the Orwellian Big Brother aspect of controlled information. I'm eager to find out which direction both the story within the comic and the story of the growing digital distribution and the role that this free comic plays in that.<br /><br />KKurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-12815874761807420882010-10-12T09:17:00.000-04:002010-10-12T09:24:28.367-04:00New York Comic Con Mini-Cast: Day 1<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Day 1:</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">This is a short one folks! Kurt, Tim and later Phil, take a walk through the con and are struck with a volley of emotions. The British are killed, and Tim & Kurt ask "<a href="http://writeclubpodcast.blogspot.com/2010/10/dark-night-of-soul-new-york-comiccon.html">What's it all about?</a>"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Luckily they're saved by a girl named Gabby.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><object width="640" height="26" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep005_day1.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/NewYorkComicConMini-castDay1/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="26" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep005_day1.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/NewYorkComicConMini-castDay1/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"></embed> </object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Intro: "Four Colored Universe" Metasciences</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Outro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre</span></span></span></span></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-66554929189698886812010-10-12T09:16:00.000-04:002010-10-12T09:24:00.642-04:00New York Comic Con Mini-Cast: Day 2Day 2:<div><br /><div><object width="640" height="26" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep005_day2.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/NewYorkComicConMini-castDay2/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="26" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep005_day2.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/NewYorkComicConMini-castDay2/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"></embed> </object></div><div><br /></div><div>Tim is joined by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/LeTep">Pete Lenz</a>, who is having fun. Then Tim tries to find the screaming women, and when that doesn't pan out Pete, Tim and Phil head down to the basement to check out Anime Fest. Apples are eaten, smiles are shared, and perhaps the oddest interview I've ever done takes place.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seeing as how this is a <u>major</u> comic event, I thought I'd check out Marvel's Cup O' Joe panel. That kicks in at about 7 minutes, and therein you'll hear about some of Marvel Comics upcoming plans. This, of course, was a slide show, so you will not be able to see what they're talking about. Here are some bullet points:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Marvel to publish at least two CrossGen titles. From the images it looks like they'll be SIGIL and RUSE (penned by Mark Waid).</li></ul></div><div><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TLPaU5JBrLI/AAAAAAAADJQ/njILDJ9S_no/s400/1286715524.jpg" /> <img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TLPaVPbFSiI/AAAAAAAADJU/jrXBCbQS9h8/s400/1286715526.jpg" /></div><div><ul><li>Brian Bendis and Michael Oeming will be putting out a creator owned, all-ages book named TAKIO.</li></ul></div><div><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TLPaUv-YgjI/AAAAAAAADJM/ogVoR3d7e-s/s400/1286570123.jpg" /></div><div><ul><li>Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev team up to reinvent MOON KNIGHT.</li><li>Marvel + ESPN? I don't know either.</li><li>A teaser of a web-series about Marvel editor Steve Wacker auditioning for the Broadway play based on SPIDER-MAN. I think it's called <i>SPIDER-MAN: WTF am I doing on Broadway</i>? (JOKES!)</li></ul></div><div><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TLPaVYcqr8I/AAAAAAAADJY/ibgauhDQXVw/s400/spiderman_turnoffthedark_screen_640.jpg" /><br /><br />Intro: "Kingdom Come" Jay-Z<br /><br />Outro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre</div></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-80410970371648769232010-10-12T09:15:00.001-04:002010-10-12T09:23:11.492-04:00New York Comic Con Mini-Cast: Day 3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Day 3:</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><object width="640" height="26" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep005_day3.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/NewYorkComicConMini-castDay3/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="26" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'WC_Vol3_ep005_day3.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/NewYorkComicConMini-castDay3/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"></embed> </object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >LAST DAY OF COMIC CON NY 2010! We start this off with </span></span><a href="http://www.onipress.com/creator/151"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Phil Gelatt</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >, and you can tell that the con has taken its toll on this strong, strong man. We then chat with </span></span><a href="http://nikki-cook.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Nikki Cook</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > about her upcoming book, MEMOIR, written by </span></span><a href="http://therealbenmccool.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Ben McCool</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >After that we catch up with </span></span><a href="http://reillybrown.deviantart.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Reilly Brown</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > to discuss his con sketches and his new ALPHA FLIGHT project. And, finally, </span></span><a href="http://ricklacy.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Rick Lacy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > appears on the scene to detail his plans to take his life down to zero, and then build it back up to 11.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you understand the plan, please let me know.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >We end with a haunting scene at the AnimeFest. In my mind, I'm still there.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Intro: "I Am the Law" Anthrax</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Outro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre</span></span></span></div></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-72193936220549552472010-10-11T20:35:00.004-04:002010-10-12T00:47:15.400-04:00Comics: the Con<span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >written Sunday night at 7pm.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><br />At Botanica, drinking Happy Hour drinks, the con weekend over before it ever began. Boston is probably back in Massachusetts by now, Reilly on his way back to Hoboken, Doug'll be back in Utah by tomorrow, and Khoi (with Heather & baby Gideon) are probably driving back to Pennsylvania at this moment.<br /><br />I spent all day at the Comicon on Friday which just wore me out. I spent Saturday napping, then went out to the MTV party, after drinking in the New Yorker with Boston, mocking TV shows and spitballing ideas. The MTV party was surreal watching as comic celebs all drunkenly danced to hip hop.<br /><br />I left with Boston and his friend to hit up the East Village where we fit in some dancing time at Beauty Bar before being denied entry into Lit and winding up at Remedy Diner. I was well and sober by the time we came downtown so the grumpiness took over.<br /><br />I had talked it over with Tim for a bit before, about how we're these mid-level professionals who have done some comic work but not anyone with any pull or weight. And we're far from fan boys who're blowing money on show exclusive books and statues and toys, waiting on line for an autograph from so and so. Whatever happened to the fun of comics?<br /><br />I imagine I would only enjoy a con again if I had a small child that I could walk around in costume. For now, I'm making face time with some cool people who are friendly aquaintances but not quite friends. Just biding my time until my books come out and can really join the gang of creators that I know.<br /><br />My girlfriend's galley copy of her book came out today and she signed free copies. What must that be like for her? After being the sole creator on an epic 192 page graphic novel and having it put out by Abrams, one of the more legit publishers out there, here it was, her first comic come to life. I'm so proud to be with her.<br /><br />I tried not to let my melancholy affect her, but it came out. It just frustrated me to not be able to soak up all the con had to offer and feel invigorated. To be able to acknowledge that the industry is growing and so every show gets bigger and bigger. Why can't I look into that crowd and see anything positive?<br /><br />All I see is sadness, loneliness. Imagination packaged as product and slapped with a price tag. Looking to my future I see long weekends hocking my wares to an inclusive audience jaded by an oversaturated market. Please buy what I helped create. Give me money so you can distract yourself for a moment. Live someone else's adventure for a snippet of time.<br /><br />Why can't I look at it as enjoyment of entertainment? Maybe because I don't enjoy it anymore. Every comic I read is research. I've dissected the medium to the point where I see all the behind the scenes movements, and so I never let myself be absorbed by the story.<br /><br />That just sucks. I've loved comics to the point where it became my identity, then I assumed it needed to be my career, because what else would I do? After crafting a graphic novel I know fully what goes into creating every single comic page. Something someone will pass over in a minute or less.<br /><br />But hopefully the sum of the parts will be more long lasting. I can really only believe that the total story will move someone, inspire someone, at the very least entertain someone. I don't know though, is that enough? Is that what I want? To spend so much time creating something that people will consume like a snack?<br /><br />I want to make a bigger impression upon the world. To write something of substance that makes a difference. I know that through story and characters you can make a bigger impact rather than straightforwared dry instructional text. But when it comes to making a living, getting paid for your work, you need to think of the market, the audience's money, and giving them what they want.<br /><br />The fine line between honest artistic expression and formulaic fluff entertainment, that's what I have a problem with. I just can barely afford to feed myself, let alone spend money on something that I'll read once, so any story put out there needs to be epic. Though new stories need to be created all the time to feed the pop culture machine as it reaps the dreams of people, nuturing the dreams of others.<br /><br />Maybe I'm overthinking it. Okay, I'm definitely overthinking it. But I'm a writer and can not help it. I'm spending so much time crafting ideas into words and putting them down, let alone convincing artists to illustrate those ideas to get them out there. I need to question motives and reasons.<br /><br />Then comes the idea of validation. Would readers, building an audience, give me something I'm missing? I know you're supposed to just focus on creating and not worry about how it'll be received, but would knowing that people read this make me feel any different?<br /><br />It actually does. I have heard some mentioning that people have read my blog and it kind of makes me feel like I'm not wasting my time. What's the correlation between needing to express myself and needing it to be read? Where does that leave me? Either as a repressed overthinker or an emotional exhibitionist.<br /><br />I don't know. I guess I just want my ego to be stroked because my self-esteem as a creator is drastically low. Well, I should explain. I love my work. I think my writing is genius and among the best work I've read. The fact that people rarely proclaim anything about my writing to me makes me doubt that.<br /><br />But I try and bleed honesty on these pages, tapping out truths with every keystroke. I strive to understand something so fundamental it can only be summed up as "Why?". Why create? Why write? Why put something else out there when so many people are trying so hard to as well? What do I have to offer that's unique?<br /><br />Do I have anything to offer that's unique?<br /><br />I guess that's every artist's question at some point. For awhile you do what you do without thinking too much about it, then at some point you want a career and then wonder, how can I get paid for this, should I be paid for this?<br /><br />I would like to be paid for writing stories.<br /><br />K</span>Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-36610291533781144282010-10-11T12:14:00.002-04:002010-10-11T12:29:27.300-04:00Comic Con: The Purchases<div class="posterous_autopost"><p><a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/qyhDGoGoGBIjEitFcClzyJpxxHakmwgdgyhvhkFnjociEvBHAdqkEcggtcnj/C360_2010-10-10_21-10-14.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/qyhDGoGoGBIjEitFcClzyJpxxHakmwgdgyhvhkFnjociEvBHAdqkEcggtcnj/C360_2010-10-10_21-10-14.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="336" /></a> </p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: rgb(119, 119, 119); font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; ">The stuff from Left to Right:</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; ">Red Dead Redemption deck of playing cards, Dungeons & Dragons comic (which I actually kind of enjoyed, also it was free), The first two Nikolai Dante books (SIGNED!), Mike Zagari's HUMAN ON THE INSIDE (issues 1 & 2 Signed! I NEED issue 3, hurry Mike!), Issues 2 - 5 of DOGEM LOGIC, Eddie Campbell's ALEC omnibus, PAGE BY PAIGE by Laura Lee Gulledge (SIGNED!), MEGAGOGO mini-comic by Hunter Mahan.</p><p></p></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-37912013109979495892010-10-11T11:53:00.001-04:002010-10-11T11:53:28.505-04:00New York ComicCon 2010: PHOTOS!<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/CfacstHavFDtBcIupDidhgthxGiryEhiprqCdgyhEaEesduxJJAFatAneAae/IMG_8408.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/CfacstHavFDtBcIupDidhgthxGiryEhiprqCdgyhEaEesduxJJAFatAneAae/IMG_8408.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="628"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/zBgEdfoizBpiadClbnoqHHmsdiHjDJkxCoqDnapDDyknocyhrleFvxrrEcgH/C360_2010-10-08_13-41-45.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/zBgEdfoizBpiadClbnoqHHmsdiHjDJkxCoqDnapDDyknocyhrleFvxrrEcgH/C360_2010-10-08_13-41-45.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="860"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/DeuygkAziazGxlfyssqEwGnqnqqrllHfovClyzEtkFvxBzlohfDwGkbghHex/C360_2010-10-08_13-52-23.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/DeuygkAziazGxlfyssqEwGnqnqqrllHfovClyzEtkFvxBzlohfDwGkbghHex/C360_2010-10-08_13-52-23.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="501"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/sCCnuFfsoqxvsEtIsEffxjduetHwvmeIzEptvwjjkyjwHabnsDuxywzdHxHG/C360_2010-10-08_14-25-22.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/sCCnuFfsoqxvsEtIsEffxjduetHwvmeIzEptvwjjkyjwHabnsDuxywzdHxHG/C360_2010-10-08_14-25-22.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="376"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/vGywlBzymbEemEnmraqGrouJlpJkhmyggghbgCtfahlIgxqkadartsrxECrD/C360_2010-10-08_15-58-10.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/vGywlBzymbEemEnmraqGrouJlpJkhmyggghbgCtfahlIgxqkadartsrxECrD/C360_2010-10-08_15-58-10.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="382"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/trCFzBrFbzyiiAvgIfIzacayAwgDxJzzfwrhwfHucnwtzzwBEgligilhFerd/C360_2010-10-08_16-14-54.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/trCFzBrFbzyiiAvgIfIzacayAwgDxJzzfwrhwfHucnwtzzwBEgligilhFerd/C360_2010-10-08_16-14-54.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/bcbwjqcAzeunDwIvoAlIkxHABeEnJfbklifyEcHEvFHDIjlxxtCqEEIDHzwx/C360_2010-10-08_16-12-52.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/bcbwjqcAzeunDwIvoAlIkxHABeEnJfbklifyEcHEvFHDIjlxxtCqEEIDHzwx/C360_2010-10-08_16-12-52.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="600"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/DcBfzBveomdnDGphbbmdGCkCtdzFmjEDudvxvItvovjyheFDmvsqDgHmjrdd/C360_2010-10-08_16-18-00.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/DcBfzBveomdnDGphbbmdGCkCtdzFmjEDudvxvItvovjyheFDmvsqDgHmjrdd/C360_2010-10-08_16-18-00.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="508"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/fkwzlcwcetuvqiGzyhugtFwizEvasgJfFEkgyuubwGolAvhisEbbHroByfxk/C360_2010-10-08_16-19-27.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/fkwzlcwcetuvqiGzyhugtFwizEvasgJfFEkgyuubwGolAvhisEbbHroByfxk/C360_2010-10-08_16-19-27.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="667"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/lIvDGhmdrldGrlaroaswGnEnkwaFHBdIkutpqIsIuhAxippAsCpxHHglpcdB/C360_2010-10-08_16-36-29.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/lIvDGhmdrldGrlaroaswGnEnkwaFHBdIkutpqIsIuhAxippAsCpxHHglpcdB/C360_2010-10-08_16-36-29.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="667"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/rnhJtpGpEGydpBljjDmzJEwmcmgnleiCmErkuEjCpkCGGxGJHEGnAmFmppln/C360_2010-10-08_16-40-04.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/rnhJtpGpEGydpBljjDmzJEwmcmgnleiCmErkuEjCpkCGGxGJHEGnAmFmppln/C360_2010-10-08_16-40-04.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="538"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/pxoFjBGxagipnyvysiyaoededkwzsnvAgedJhDHjExgFlhxfdcEjptpIasqa/C360_2010-10-10_14-10-41.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/pxoFjBGxagipnyvysiyaoededkwzsnvAgedJhDHjExgFlhxfdcEjptpIasqa/C360_2010-10-10_14-10-41.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/adlhqcIAAqCGIrCeHilqdjwlfGpzmivAomFmABgkGnJnEcrupuIswuwaHdoI/IMG_8376.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/adlhqcIAAqCGIrCeHilqdjwlfGpzmivAomFmABgkGnJnEcrupuIswuwaHdoI/IMG_8376.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="562"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/FFngoJvlBjwFjlHvxfndphJDbasHidveIppvHqxzzHdlGoFEvygthBwfGjcz/IMG_8404.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/FFngoJvlBjwFjlHvxfndphJDbasHidveIppvHqxzzHdlGoFEvygthBwfGjcz/IMG_8404.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="349"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/irkfmvmIwtwDewdBzjJsvJGmuyzGArJCitaejnHexgBkAmalpGGmtyxolwvr/IMG_8385.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/irkfmvmIwtwDewdBzjJsvJGmuyzGArJCitaejnHexgBkAmalpGGmtyxolwvr/IMG_8385.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="380"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/bIHpHeamqJjbDHCiyDvGFpjbgfqayJwoJtdlHJluFEvHvxBJfoyGkJBqnFeB/IMG_8416.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/bIHpHeamqJjbDHCiyDvGFpjbgfqayJwoJtdlHJluFEvHvxBJfoyGkJBqnFeB/IMG_8416.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="527"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/kgxJwpsDzfcFssamAAbqvsHcovIshpIgtEkAgFBCavrufIvAsEmytdeBEqGH/IMG_8413.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/kgxJwpsDzfcFssamAAbqvsHcovIshpIgtEkAgFBCavrufIvAsEmytdeBEqGH/IMG_8413.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="459"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/wsuvpyIvdkrIwxtHCbssnzGEBxoktbtyalBxHvfiuvvcnmpkFwgkvoEuvlun/IMG_8417.JPG.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-11/wsuvpyIvdkrIwxtHCbssnzGEBxoktbtyalBxHvfiuvvcnmpkFwgkvoEuvlun/IMG_8417.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </p></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-33271954817295594562010-10-11T11:25:00.002-04:002010-10-11T11:30:15.458-04:00Dark Night of the Soul: New York ComicCon 2010 Edition!<span class="Apple-style-span" >This year’s New York Comic Con was a time of rough re-evaluation of our lives as creators. Those of us who straddle the line between full blown “made it” comickers and sideline, plugging-your-goods in every conversation aspirants, seem to have hit upon existential hard times at this most recent nerd-fest. While the convention hall was packed, seemingly despite the current recession, many of the writers and artists that I’m acquainted with didn’t sell as many books or sketches as they had hoped they would. Many shared booth space at two or three different booths, and everyone I spoke with—showing good common sense—waited until the last day, day of deals, to purchase anything.<br /><br />Kurt and I, while wandering the hall at the very start of the con, felt a certain air of un-fulfillment with the rampant flood of imagination and commercialism that flowed around us. We’re two writers who have had mini-successes with doing that thing that we love to do: He with writing and self-publishing his almost finished original graphic novel<a href="http://www.tentonstudios.com/webcomics/liquidfury/"> THE LEGEND OF LIQUID FURY</a> and his upcoming Comixology web-series; and me with the work I’ve done for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clone-Wars-Adventures-Vol-Star/dp/1593073070/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238040189&sr=8-6">Dark Horse comics</a>, and Sterling’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Action-Classics-No-3-Odyssey/dp/1402731558/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238040189&sr=8-4">ALL-ACTION CLASSICS</a> series, and while we’re both extremely proud of our work, we can’t help but feel a certain sense of longing for more exposure. <br /><br />That longing is a large part of the reason that this website, and the<a href="http://writeclubpodcast.blogspot.com/search/label/podcast"> Write Club Podcast</a> was born. So that we would have a forum with which to discuss our works and our opinions on work currently out there. The comic industry is so small that all one needs to do is to attend a handful of meet-up events, in-store signing, or drinks nights and chances are you’ve been in the presence of a majority of up-and-comers and likely two or three mainstream professionals, not to mention a slew of editors and other behind-the-scenes people, but just having face time isn’t enough. One must be producing work in order to really meet on common ground. One will, more than likely, be producing work just to appease oneself, because the comic industry, as previously mentioned, is a small one. In other words, you may labor for years on a project that is as much a part of you as your own heart, but still never gain mainstream recognition. The two big companies (Marvel & DC) are pretty much the only game in town, and they tend to hire from within, and further, hedge their bets by employing only known and published talent. Therefore, the best way to get published is to already be published, and while this may seem inherently unfair and counter intuitive, it is a system that works for them, and works well. Consider how many years a writer stays loyal to the company of their choice. It stands to reason that if you’re a good writer, and you’re offered the chance to write for the Big 2, and you continue to be a good writer, you’ve got a job for life.<br /><br />Anyway, this is what weighed on our particular minds. You may be feeling the same, or you may be feeling the opposite or something in-between, but chances are this recent NYCC left an impression on you that previous cons have not. If it did, or did not, I’d love to hear how your con experience played out.</span>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-4199820259577368462010-10-05T21:48:00.016-04:002010-10-11T15:04:21.167-04:00Write Club! "MOOREatorium" V. 3, Ep. 4<div>The big brains behind Write Club tackle the life, work, and reputation of outspoken and ofttimes problematic comic legend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore">Alan Moore</a>. If you haven't listened to the previous episode, where <a href="http://writeclubpodcast.blogspot.com/2010/09/write-club-alan-moore-v-3-ep-2.html">Tim Mucci interviews Moore</a>, you may want to do so; it does come up and you <i>will </i>be tested.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kurt Christenson, Phil Gelatt, and Tim Mucci discuss Alan Moore.</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="640" height="26" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'wc_vol3_ep004.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/WriteClubmooreatoriumV.3Ep.4/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="26" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'wc_vol3_ep004.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/WriteClubmooreatoriumV.3Ep.4/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"></embed> </object></div><div><div></div></div><div><div><div><div></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Intro: "Oh Somba!" Electrelane<br />Outro: "Write Club Theme" Scott St. Pierre<div><br /></div><div>What do <b>you </b>think of Moore? Let us know in the comments!</div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-8752577806437513892010-09-15T06:43:00.015-04:002010-09-15T12:48:25.012-04:00Write Club! "Alan Moore!" V. 3, Ep. 3<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is what happens when the theme of the next issue of Slice Magazine is Villains: You get a crazy idea in your head that just won't leave. At the last </span></span><a href="http://www.slicemagazine.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Slice Magazine</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> editorial meeting I was asked if I wanted to contribute an interview for their upcoming Villains issue, issue 7. I'm pretty sure they asked me because A) I'm into comics B) I'm into comics C) Most, if not all of my friends are either into comics also, or work in the comic industry.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As soon as they announced the theme I immediately knew who I wanted to interview. I wanted to talk with Alan Moore. I tried to get such a crazy idea out of my head, I mean...Alan Moore? Me? How could that happen?? Suffice it to say, I </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">couldn't </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">get the idea out of my head. I had a great spin on the interview, I'm a tremendous fan of Moore's work, and here was the perfect reason to try and contact him. So I set to work. Moore doesn't have an agent, he doesn't have any official representation, so I just sent out an email to pretty much every publisher he'd ever worked with. Blanketed the field, and heard nothing back.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Until. Until some nice folks at </span></span><a href="http://www.avatarpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Avatar </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">emailed me and told me that they'd forwarded my request to </span></span><a href="http://www.topshelfcomix.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Top Shelf</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> comics, which is his main publisher here in the US. Not long after, Chris Staros over at Top Shelf emailed me back to let me know that he'd contacted Alan with my request, and that I should be hearing something soon. Let me pause for a moment here to say how awesome Chris Staros is, because he is. In all of my communications with him he's been nothing but friendly, and professional. A true gentleman. Eventually I was contacted by Mr. Moore's assistant editor at his magazine </span></span><a href="http://www.dodgemlogic.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dodgem Logic</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, Joe Brown, and Mr. Brown said that Alan would love to speak with me. He gave me a time and a date. I threw up. Well, almost, because I had about a week to prep.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Background: One of the first comics I can remember reading (and understanding) was </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Swamp Thing</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> #40, which was about this woman who was a werewolf. The central idea was that werewolves and women both cycle with the moon, and it was horrifying, and sad, and human, and amazing. And written by Alan Moore. Alan Moore is pretty much responsible for my comic book obsession.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, I had a week to prep to talk to one of the most influential figures in my life.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here is the result. Write Club and Slice Magazine presents </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alan Moore</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div> <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://flash-mp3-player.net/medias/player_mp3_maxi.swf" width="200" height="20"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://flash-mp3-player.net/medias/player_mp3_maxi.swf"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="#528bc5"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="mp3=http://www.archive.org/download/WriteClubalanMooreV.3Ep.2/Write_Club_Alan_Moore.mp3&showstop=1&showvolume=1&loadingcolor=ff1c0f&bgcolor=528bc5&bgcolor1=528bc5&bgcolor2=336699&sliderovercolor=ff240a&buttonovercolor=ff240a"><br /></object><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TJDM1fTTAhI/AAAAAAAADGs/VAW6GsikvrQ/s400/moore_author.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-62341308109529297032010-09-04T07:46:00.010-04:002010-10-05T21:31:35.755-04:00Alan Moore: The Architect of the Blackest Night<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Recently, DC's Chief Creative Officer, Geoff Johns, wrote an eight part epic entitled "Blackest Night." The story referred to the Green Lantern oath which states "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight." Johns took the second part of the sentence, and made a literal Blackest Night, imagining what would be the most horrific thing the Green Lantern Corps would have to deal with. The genesis of this idea came from Alan Moore's short story "Tygers" first published in Green Lantern Corps Annual No. 2 in 1986. But that's not the only thing Green Lantern owes to Alan Moore. In the same story, he mentioned/created a character named Sodam Yat who was said to be the most powerful Green Lantern in the universe due to his Daxamite abilities. Geoff Johns took these two ideas and wrote first, "The Sinestro Corps War," and then "Blackest Night." Both of these ideas, their ripple effects, and their genesis owe themselves to the creative genius of Alan Moore. If not for his work on Green Lantern, the current crew of space police in sector 2814 Could very well have been much different characters.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TKvPwHZEG-I/AAAAAAAADI4/VRCgpEGN5sQ/s400/mogoDoesntSocialize1.jpg" /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Alan Moore's influence on the Green Lantern universe begins when he started writing for Green Lantern Corps in the 1980's. Two stories in particular, "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" and "Tygers" played a major role in the development of the current writing on Green Lantern. "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" is a story about Bolphunga, a brute alien who traveled from planet to planet seeking out the greatest warriors so that he could best them in a duel. In this story, he seeks out the Green Lantern Mogo, who is said to be the most feared and mysterious lantern. The reason for this is that Mogo is the universes' first planet sized Green Lantern. In more recent years, Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, and Peter J. Tomasi have expanded Mogo's role. It is his duty to control the rings of deceased Lanterns so that they may find new owners. Indeed, he is now the soul of the Green Lantern Corps. Without him, the rings are flightless and the corps would never regenerate. All lanterns travel to Mogo in order to face their greatest fears as he can alter his landscape to challenge anyone. His power, therefore is infinite.<br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TKvPn1YF65I/AAAAAAAADIo/I4kyUqtqNpc/s400/tygers6.jpg" /><br />"Tygers," another Green Lantern Corps story, is about Abin Sur, the lantern whom Hal Jordan replaced. When Abin Sur's ship crashed in Showcase #22, published in 1959, he said it was the sun's yellow light which blinded him, and caused his ship to fail. The color yellow became a major hindrance to the green ring, and later became the color of Sinestro's ring and corps. But in Moore's story, "Tygers," it's revealed that it was not the color yellow so much as a deeper-seeded impurity: fear. In the issue, Abin Sur travels to the mysterious planet of Ysmault. There, he meets a world of horrors; disproportionate monsters with no defined features, mangled bodies, and distorted limbs. It's a visual horror (and Kevin O'Neill should be celebrated for making such visuals come to life). Once there, Abin learns of the "Empire of Tears," a place where demons, disembodied monsters, and dangerous minds remained imprisoned by the guardians of Oa. But it is a place where Abin must travel to find a downed spaceship, and save the alien child that survived the crash. Here he meets Quill of the Five Inversions, a humanoid being who speaks the closest to truth on the entire planet. After helping Abin find the baby, he tells him of a prophecy, a "final catastrophe" where the enemies of the Green Lantern corps will rise against them and destroy them. Quill tells him, "Sodam Yat, a Daxamite hailed as the ultimate green lantern, will perish battling the lobe-spawn. The planet-form Green Lantern named Mogo will be the last to fall, as Ranx explodes a blink-bomb in his core. And after that, there will only be the demons, dancing in the ruins of Oa to the rhythm of drums bound with taut blue skin." The images are horrific and concrete. They also serve as the basis for Geoff Johns' "Blackest Night" series. Abin eventually leaves the planet but not until Quill has poisoned him with a lantern's biggest weaknesses: fear and doubt.<br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TKvPnqloolI/AAAAAAAADIk/INLYGhAWKPg/s400/Tygers-09.jpg" /><br />It is these two themes that serve as the basis for "Sinestro Corps War" and "Blackest Night." "The Sinestro Corps War" is Geoff Johns' second act in what he called his "Green Lantern Trilogy," the first part being "Green Lantern: Rebirth" where he reversed the ills of the past, saving Hal Jordan from a life as The Spectre. The reason for his fall was an impurity known as Parallax, a fear construct which found its way into the green battery. Once Hal vanquished Parallax from the battery, he returned to his normal safe and became, once again, the universe's greatest Green Lantern. "Sinestro Corps War" follows a few plot threads introduced in the regular Green Lantern series. Specifically, Sinestro uses fear to create his own group of followers, all of whom sport yellow power rings. It is fear that allows them to create constructs and kill Green Lanterns. Fear and doubt play key roles here because the lanterns fear death, and doubt their ability to overcome fear. At one point, Hal and Kyle Rayner both become hosts for the Parallax entity because they allow fear into their hearts. By working together, the Green Lanterns save the Earth from a fear invasion.<br /><br />But "Blackest Night" continues Alan Moore's prophethetical vision in "Tygers." The prophecy Quill mentioned comes true, and the Blackest Night comes upon the Green Lanterns. Here, the key themes are inevitability and death. In "Tygers," Moore explores the idea of fate as a weakness because if one hears that ones fate is not pleasant, a seed of fear is planted. This seed is a weakness of the Green Lanterns, and leads them to destruction. Death is also an inevitability, and this is really where "Blackest Night" takes form. Any character who has experienced death is at risk of fear, and if they weaken, the black lanterns win. It is only through celebrating life that the Earth is able to defeat the lanterns of death. Since the rings are based on willpower, it is up to the lanterns to rely solely on them. It was this moment of weakness that caused Abin Sur's demise, and it is what saves Hal Jordan. He strength and resilience are what save him, and help him destroy Nekron, the leader of the Black Lantern Corps. But where Abin failed, Hal survives.<br /><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TKvPpo-nq9I/AAAAAAAADI0/99urg-YtyeQ/s400/green_lantern_3.jpg" /><br />No one can say with any certainty that without Alan Moore, the Green Lantern universe would be completely different, because that would be a logical fallacy. But, I think any fan can say, with a strong degree of certainty, that Alan Moore's scope, his depth regarding mythology and characterization has indeed played a role in how Geoff Johns crafted his Green Lantern trilogy. The one thing that Green Lantern has on its side is its world of infinite possibility. In a never ending universe, the number of characters and the number of possible situations grows exponentially. And therefore, one must look beyond what is accepted and expected. A writer must be willing to move his characters into possible uncomfortable situations in order for them to grow. Moore made Abin Sur more than just a footnote in Green Lantern history. He created two of the greatest characters in Green Lantern history: Mogo and Sodam Yat. Lastly, he broadened the horizon for any other writer of Green Lantern. Much like Hal Jordan, Alan Moore is a man without fear. As Abin Sur says in Showcase #22, the first appearance of Hal Jordan as a Green Lantern, "It is our duty . . . when disaster strikes . . . to pass on the battery of power . . . to another who is <span style="font-weight: bold;">fearless</span> . . . and <span style="font-weight: bold;">honest</span>!" John Broome wrote these words in 1959, twenty-seven years before Alan Moore would craft "Tygers." Little did he know he was speaking of one of Green Lantern, and even comics' greatest writers.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TKvPomqJzzI/AAAAAAAADIs/dNEB2y1Yi5w/s400/showcase22oct1960.gif" /></span></span></div>Brian Bannenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11075615904930286038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-19602334449988322842010-08-19T05:42:00.006-04:002010-10-05T21:07:57.488-04:00Comic Reviews: Weeks of July 28, Aug 4 & 11<b>DC:</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Superman: The Last Family of Krypton #1</b>: Why does DC feel the need to include Ma and Pa Kent in almost every story about an alternate world of Superman? This time, the entire El family is survives the trip to Earth, and they go on to become a rich and powerful family -- but they need to send their son to live with humans? And DC seems intent on daddy issues because this book is chock full of 'em. You can see where this is going because the story always ends the same way, with Superman becoming the Superman we know: a good person with a good heart and good morals. Yawn. This is why Superman is struggling to keep readers interested. DC never tries anything new (although Straczynski and Cornell are trying -- and doing well if you ask me). If you folks want to read what I think is the best Superman Elseworlds story, pick up "Superman: Speeding Bullets." THAT, my friends, is a good Elseworlds. This is canned and predictable and disappointing.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Action Comics #891:</b> Paul Cornell's Superman story (starring Lex Luthor) is a surprisingly well written tale. Read below for a greater description on what is easily one of the best things to come out of the Superman in the past few years.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Batman: The Widening Gyre #6:</b> Whereas I enjoyed the mystery revealed in Grant Morrison's Batman story (where the Joker was posing as the British detective Sexton), the final page of Kevin Smith's Batman story made me angry. Batman is the world's greatest detective and he couldn't figure out this mystery? I don't buy it, and neither should you.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #1:</b> There's a lot going on with Guy Gardner, and for fans of the character, Emerald Warriors is the comic for you. Guy is front and center, and the rest of the corps takes a supporting role. There's a bigger mystery here, but if you're not familiar with what's happen in the GL Universe in the past two years, this story wouldn't make sense. Tomasi is taking tips from Geoff Johns in terms of creating rather than answering questions and this series may get frustrating after a while. But Peter J. Tomasi is easily one the best writers on staff at DC, so I would keep an eye on Emerald Warriors. Green Lantern has the most interesting band of supporting characters, and the story will make good use of them.<br /><br /><b>Marvel:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Ultimate Spider-Man #13:</b> Painful to read, frustrating to watch, and incredibly written. This is the best story to come out of Vol. 2 of Ultimate Spider-Man. Plus, Mark Millar needs to see how a cliff hanger is done. The final page of this issue gave me goosebumps. It must get boring to read continuously positive reveiws, but Bendis keeps continuously writing incredible stories.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Ultimate Avengers 2 #6:</b> It's great that this series wraps up just as Ultimate Avengers 3 begins because it's like seeing one piece of shit connected to another. Ultimate Avengers 2 was just an awful story. Millar wants to take the badasses of the Ultimate Universe and show what happens when you make them heroes. They play by their own rules. They do what they want. And they get the job done. (Cue AC/DC and shots of things exploding.) I enjoyed The Ultimates 1 and 2, so it's painful to see how far Millar has fallen. I asked my comic shop guy about this. He seems to think that when Millar is under pressure to turn in a story on time, he turns in mediocrity. So, we should give him no deadline? I don't think so. Millar wants to be a loose cannon, and right now he's soaring on his ego. But Ultimate Avengers 2 doesn't do anything to add to what was once an impressive resume. And if you thought this series was bad . . .<br /><br /><b>Ultimate Avengers 3 #1: </b>. . . pick up Ultimate Avengers 3 #1. Mark Millar's idea of an Ultimate Avengers comic is to create an "ultimate" take on a 616 character, then have them create a NEW team to fight a new problem. The issue here, however, is that the problem has already been introduced in X-Men #1. Vampires. (Pause for crickets.) Plus, Steve Dillon's pencils are nowhere near as engaging as Leinil Yu's. The one positive is that we can look forward to another train wreck over the next six months. If they're not good, at least they're entertaining in their awfulness.<br /><br /><b>Misc:</b></div><div><b><br />Murderland #1</b> (Image -- Scott & Hahn): Violent, and hella entertaining, Murderland surprised me. First, David Hahn's art is incredibly clean and really off sets the violence. Stephen Scott's story is deep, introduces a new type of superhero, and creates a brand new mythos. What impressed me most about Murderland is that I had no idea what it was about (and still don't fully). It seemd like a spy story until the last six pages. Then, it became something completely different and that was when I became hooked. If every issue is this impressive, I'll continue to follow the series. I'm curious to see where this goes, so I know I'll be picking up issue #2 of Murderland.<br /><br /><br /><b>Driver for the Dead #1 </b>(Radical Comics -- Heffernan & Manco): at $4.99, Driver for the Dead is pricey, but is both story and art. The main concept is this: Alabaster Graves drives a special hearse, and his purpose is to bury bodies that have been cursed, infected, or vampiricized. And it introduces one of the coolest villains: Fallow. Fallow is a cowboy-zombie-demon. 'Nuff said. I was pleasantly surprised by Driver for the Dead. I recommend spending the $4.99 on this. It's worth the price.<br /><br /><b>Bannen's Book of the Weeks:</b></div><div><br /><b>Action Comics #891:</b> The thing that makes Action Comics so good is that for once, a writer has tried to do something different with Superman. This time, he's been removed completely from the comic. It's now "Lex Luthor's Action Comics" and I couldn't be happier. It's not so much Luthor pining about killing Superman. It's more about Luthor's quest for the ultimate weapon -- the black lantern -- and the lengths he'll go to get it. This is far more entertaining than any Superman story, and seeing as how in 9 issues, Action Comics will reach #900, I think this is all part of some big plan. I hope the end result of this story is as entertaining as its beginnings. Thank You, Paul Cornell, for injecting life into this stale universe.<br /></div>Brian Bannenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11075615904930286038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-83531826542694757522010-08-12T17:28:00.007-04:002010-08-13T06:42:04.629-04:00Scott Pilgrim vs. Hollywood: a Scott Pilgrim Experience Review<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KIR2XYGDxCo&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KIR2XYGDxCo&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Scott Pilgrim Trailer redone using comic panels.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />I absolutely loved Bryan Lee O'Malley's '</span></span><a href="http://www.onipress.com/titles/h/77" target="blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lost At Sea</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">', from the teenager angst to the simply beautiful, solemn and quirky artwork, but when his next series, 'Scott Pilgrim' came out I thought it seemed to silly or something, and it never really caught my attention.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l70g76rGmj1qapz3uo1_500.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l70g76rGmj1qapz3uo1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Until one day my good friend Reilly Brown said that I HAD to read it. There were just too many similarities between Scott's life and my own. Granted I wasn't an early 20's bassist in Canada, but I was a slacker with a young ex with a penchant for blades, and relationship drama mixed with oblivious comedy sounded about right.<br /><br />The comic melted my brain. It was an indie book, with characters that just hung out, went to parties, and meandered through their lives. It was a battle book where suddenly a duel would take place with superpowered kung fu. Scott was clueless and yet you couldn't keep him down for long. It was rock'n'roll mixed with subtle video game moments. What was this?<br /><br />The comic makes you love the characters, from the bitchy Julie Powers, to snarky Kim Pine, to vulnerable Knives Chau. Stephen Stills cowboy shirts, Young Neil's haircuts, and Wallace Wells dry wit, these were all iconic people in Scott Pilgrim's universe, well rounded and each given their moments, their personalities developed organically through the volumes.<br /><br />Now, I must say, I love Edgar Wright. I've seen his BBC series Spaced at least three times through, and. Shaun of the Dead was brilliant in its skirting of the fine line between horror and comedy. Hot Fuzz was a sophmore dip, but it had tons of fun moments. This was an amazing storyteller of a director with a ton of geeky influences and a plethora of visual tricks.<br /><br />So when I heard that he was directing Scott Pilgrim vs the World, it was like nothing I've experienced as a fanboy. My favorite superheroes have yet to make it to the big screen, and the closest I got to having one of my all-time favorite graphic novels translated to film well was V For Vendetta, which I quite liked. But this was different.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6nievcW5V1qbhrino1_500.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6nievcW5V1qbhrino1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Here we had excellent source material with loveable characters, fun violent action, and a director that seemed to be perfectly suited for the lighthearted tone this adaptation would need. It features a bunch of actors I really enjoy, and with the teaser images Wright posted on his </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgarwright/" target="blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Flickr</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> all last year while filming, it appeared it was devoutly faithful. Would it live up to the trailer that gave me chills when I first saw it?<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6q4m8zzFf1qbj2ylo1_500.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 475px;" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6q4m8zzFf1qbj2ylo1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Yes. Yes, it did. But do I feel some sort of deflated feeling after following the internet media push that was almost as entertaining as the comic itself? Yes, it's done, out into the ether to be consumed by the masses. In a few weeks it'll be half-remembered, perhaps quoted, inspiring new fans to track down the books, sport Plumtree t-shirts, and maybe start their own bands (like me).<br /><br />Around Christmas we'll get the DVD release, maybe some rad extra features, behind the scenes, video game samples, etc. I'll pick up the special edition collection of all six volumes, complete with unreleased material as soon as it comes out. And there it'll sit for future enjoyment at a whim.<br /><br />This time will never be captured again. Like seeing that epic band performance at the coliseum where you got the tour shirt that'll be expensive vintage for futuristic hipsters who were never there in the moment. But there's something about films that makes them timeless, just as we can enjoy classics from the past on Blu-Ray.<br /><br />Now, as for the movie itself, (I had to explain all the emotions and thoughts involved to properly process my feelings) the first half is perfection. This is Scott Pilgrim's comic/video game universe come to life. The fantastic camera movements, the interactive narration and title cards introducing our main characters, the true performances that sell them as their graphic novel counterparts, it's all there.<br /><br />The first half is almost shot for shot the introduction, I remembered the exact angle and background when Scott first sees Ramona at the library. I got giddy. Then suddenly new elements pop up, or small bits skipped over (which is flawlessly handled by Wright as he cuts a sharp turn from scene to scene), and then you realize that this is a movie of Scott Pilgrim.<br /><br />I tried to not be that elitist fanboy that makes mental notes about what's missing and lines that were different, but it popped up now and again. And I told myself that O'Malley hadn't even completed volume six until months after filming had wrapped, so of course it would be different. There wasn't time for Julie & Stephen's drama, or Scott & Ramona to move in together.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6ifebgg5J1qzl89so1_500.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 349px;" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6ifebgg5J1qzl89so1_500.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />And though I had slight problems with the end of volume six, it felt complete, satisfying. So the movie would have to do the same. And logically, I feel it satisfying me, but emotionally, something wasn't there. The fights came fast and frantic in the second half, never really letting Scott & Ramona to settle into being a couple. Those scenes were Scott gets a job or has birthday were what makes them the couple I know them as.<br /><br />But yes, it's a two hour film so, I try and take it as a complete story, and it works. There's conflict and resolution and we're given an identical ending to the comic really, if not slightly stripped down and amped up for a more one on one style fight. What matters is the spirit is there. Scott earns the power of love and levels up, Sex-Bob-Omb rocks out, and Evil Exs are defeated.<br /><br />I'd call that a flawless victory.<br /><br />Ps- you can stream the </span></span><a href="http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/1" target="blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">soundtrack and the score</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, and my takes on those are that between them both is a solid album, if only the kickass Sex-Bob-Omb songs were on the score. My particular favorite is 'Summertime' which has been stuck in my head for days.<br /><br />Now, who wants to start a band with me?<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6wfyiuDIs1qael43o1_500.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 335px;" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6wfyiuDIs1qael43o1_500.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6q4m8zzFf1qbj2ylo1_500.jpg"></a><br /><br />To find out how I even got into the screening and reflections on what it must feel like to create something that becomes comsumed by pop culture, </span></span><a href="http://agentfenris.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">check out my personal blog.</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />You can also see all things Scott Pilgrim (including the video game pitch trailer, the remix videos, interviews and more) over at </span></span><a href="http://writeclubpodcast.tumblr.com/tagged/Scott_Pilgrim"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Write Club's Tumblr</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span>Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-54600231251463133032010-08-03T07:30:00.007-04:002010-08-04T09:06:30.713-04:00THOR: Marvel's Return to Greatness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jIOJPyU05po/TFjJarEvFqI/AAAAAAAAAP0/yqbVB6ZEHFU/s1600/THOR_06_METAL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jIOJPyU05po/TFjJarEvFqI/AAAAAAAAAP0/yqbVB6ZEHFU/s320/THOR_06_METAL.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501368404909430434" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />I have just read the first 12 issues of Thor and the finale, as well as Thor 600 & 601 (going along with Marvel's return to original numbering, the flipside to the constant new issue #1s). This run by J. Michael Straczynski, drawn by Olivier Coipel & Marko Djurdjevic, chronicles the return of Thor and all of Asgard from the post-Ragnarok void that the God's rested in when I guess Marvel didn't know what to do with the character (along with the Avengers) and killed them all off.<br /><br />JMS does an amazing job resetting continuity while moving the series forward story-wise. Thor is called forth to protect Midgard (Earth) and is once again bonded to Dr. Donald Blake (who are two seperate conscious beings). He's got the gnarled walking staff which he uses to transform into the God of Thunder. And he's brought back into Man's world to re-create Asgard on Earth to reconnect with humanity.<br /><br />Heimdall, Balder, Loki, the Warriors Three, they're all back (although Loki in female form which works to unsettle and regain trust with the Asgardians just enough to manipulate them all, and later is revealed as a plot to keep Lady Sif from Thor). Everyone is back except Odin.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jIOJPyU05po/TFjJmcvO28I/AAAAAAAAAP8/duCPkQ8EHug/s1600/THOR_03_IRONMAN.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jIOJPyU05po/TFjJmcvO28I/AAAAAAAAAP8/duCPkQ8EHug/s320/THOR_03_IRONMAN.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501368607219571650" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Though it appears Thor is purposefully not bringing back his father, he tells himself it is so the kingdom may not repeat the cycle of Ragnarok once more. It will be a fresh start for the Asgardians. But perhaps it is because Thor truly wishes to lead, to come into his own, to surpass his father.<br /><br />To that end Thor journeys via Odinsleep, into the realm that now houses Odin and Surtur, who are locked in eternally repetitious cycles of violence against each other. Here we are told a tale of Bor, Odin's father, and how in defiance of him Odin created man, who his father plagued with monsters and beasts to punish his son and his creation. Odin understands the need for the cycle to begin anew with new leadership.<br /><br />This tale of Bor also sets up an interesting twist on the origin of Loki and how he came to be adopted son of Odin, the guilty poison let into the kingdom. I won't spoil it past that as it is truly one of the most clever bits in this run. It also sets up the return of Bor who is brought to NYC dis at the hands of Loki, and then beset by Thor, who ends up killing his own grandfather.<br /><br />A move that allows Loki to place Balder as King (after slyly revealing the truth that Balder is half-brother to Thor), and to have Thor exiled. This brings the Asgardians into Latveria, and Doom experiments on them, and there's a big fight with Doom's own version of the Destroyer suit. It's pure comic book here.<br /><br />But it also has nice moments of the Gods interacting with humans, and even sets up a heroic death for Bill Jr. (aka William the Third) who fell in love with a female winter goddess. It's pretty well done and you really do root for the character and his death is handled exceptionally well if not blunt. But these are gods here. Depowered a bit on Earth, but gods among mortals.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jIOJPyU05po/TFjJx3ZtUwI/AAAAAAAAAQE/8HlMqLfxaaE/s1600/THOR_11_CAP.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jIOJPyU05po/TFjJx3ZtUwI/AAAAAAAAAQE/8HlMqLfxaaE/s320/THOR_11_CAP.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501368803355611906" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />There's even a bit at the end which makes it so Dr. Donald Blake once again is wounded and left with a limp so he needs the cane. It's all very neatly tied up with a bow, leaving us with a well developed story, an entertaining and engaging return of the great characters from this part of Marvel, and prepares us for Siege.<br /><br />A small plot hole I found was, what was Loki's plan for Sif, it almost seemed as if he were just using her to distract Thor, or perhaps just using her mortal form to regain trust? I'm not sure, but it wasn't to remove her from him forever. Ahh wait, maybe it was in hope that Thor would use all of Odin's power to drain him somehow? For on his way to save her, Mjolnir damaged from the fight with Bor, he must go to Dr. Strange to repair the hammer by removing the Odinpower from himself and imbue it into his hammer, thereby linking him to his hammer as never before. Hmmm.<br /><br />Either way, it's great to have Thor back, and the scene where Thor gives Iron Man what's coming to him for the Civil War/Thor clone debacle, and the Captain America memorial, well this really helps build up the need for a return of the Avengers.</span></span>Kurt Christensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917529183717066057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281001892066804055.post-75038700635039138312010-08-02T09:00:00.000-04:002010-08-02T09:18:08.425-04:00Write Club Music Monday<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Central Park Summerstage:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, Basia Bulat</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br />I’m not a huge music lover. I don’t have a favorite band. I don’t have an artist that I grew up with, was embarrassed of, or saw grow into a full fledged musical genius. I don’t have a band who I followed, went to tiny clubs to see, bought obscure t-shirts of, and watched sell-out to a giant record company and then become less relevant to my personal taste. I’m not a huge music lover. I do, however, listen to music. I’ve always listened to music. At first whatever the parents had on the radio; usually pop, disco, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Yes, Meatloaf…whatever. My dad worked in a record store when I was a kid, so he had a lot of albums. Albums that I never listened to. As I got older I started listening to my brother’s music; REM, The Cure, Morrissey, 10000 Maniacs…whatever was on WDRE (on the radio), or </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">120 Minutes</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> & </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alternative Nation</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (on MTV).<br /><br />I can’t say that I ever really </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">got </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">music, though. That is until Tom Waits. That’s a story for another time. Point is, now I’m very interested in music, though I’m still not all that interested in rock shows. I’ve been to them. I go to them, but few and far between. I did happen to go to a show this weekend at Central Park’s free Summerstage series. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYuQgZaLsI/AAAAAAAADEM/E4dArHZztu4/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2014-28-13.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I accompanied </span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/artsparrow"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ArtSparrow</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, who is way more into music than I am, and the musical line-up was diverse and worthy of exploration.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.basiabulat.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Basia Bulat</span></span></a></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYuQtRDlKI/AAAAAAAADEQ/aV0IAfaKfMg/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2015-12-30.jpg" /></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you had told me that there was a woman/group named Basia Bulat out there, and that I was going to see her perform, I would probably call you a liar to your face. Yet, there I was, at Summerstage, watching a young woman from Canada, a young woman of Polish descent, a young woman named Basia Bulat and her band performing right in front of me. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYuQyVZP3I/AAAAAAAADEU/7wU6Y4BUYqQ/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2015-26-55.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bulat’s music is heavily inspired by Americana and Roots music, with almost militaristic drums, melancholy violin, and melodic string instruments like mandolins and auto-harps; I could almost see a lonely and grim cowboy galloping over the plains. It’s American Roots music channeled through a very grateful Canadian, and it turned out to be a great set. But some of these songs, particularly a cover song titled “I’m So Depressed” (written by Abner Jay) fit Bulat like a suit that’s too big. Some of these songs are clothing she needs to grow into, but add a few world-weary years to her vocal chords and she’ll be downright amazing. An accomplished musician for a woman so young, Bulat ran from guitar, to ukulele, to autoharp, to hammered dulcimer, to piano all without skipping a beat. Definitely one to watch!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><b><a href="http://tune-yards.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tUnE-yArDs</span></span></a></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://tune-yards.com/"></a><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYuQ4o8NiI/AAAAAAAADEY/oQ3iLvMk6E0/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2016-15-09.jpg" /><br /></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While it was probably St. Vincent that everyone else was there to see, ArtSparrow and I came to see Merrill Garbus’ sound experiment tUnE-yArDs. It’s hard to explain Garbus’ music; it’s almost as if Ella Fitzgerald was raised by Riot Grrls and then trained by African Wizard-Shamans. She’s an amazing talent, and I’ve never been to a show where a virtually unknown performer held such sway over both the crowd and her own band. Coming to the stage in blue warpaint, and wearing what looked like her grandmother’s party dress, Garbus created full background percussion and vocals using samples and loops done right there on the spot. She conjured up noises, sound, and melody, all with an infectious grin on her face. Then she brought out the band: A three-piece horn section, a three-piece drum section, and a guitarist. I’ve never seen a band so enamored of their lead until now, they seemed hinged on her every move, taking her cues with ease, adding layers to her layers and creating something simply unique. They also wore warpaint. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYuRJP-ciI/AAAAAAAADEc/8KGZBbIxtq8/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2016-59-26.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I can’t recommend tUnE-yArDs highly enough, and while the album is excellent, I think that one needs to see her perform in person to get the full experience. If even just to see that energy in action.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.4ad.com/st-vincent/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">St. Vincent</span></span></a></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.4ad.com/st-vincent/"></a><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYujs923xI/AAAAAAAADEk/LXqn1TJaToo/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2018-07-20.jpg" /><br /></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If tUnE-yArDs is a band that you need to see live, then St. Vincent is a group that you can safely sit at home and enjoy. I’m almost tempted to say that the allure of St. Vincent seems to begin and end with front woman Annie Clark’s beauty. I suppose I just did say it, and while I’m sure she has a some fans based solely on her looks, she’s definitely got fans based on her musical talents as well; because she’s got those in spades. I just don’t feel like she’s pushing herself enough. Each time it seemed as if she got to the point of full-on rock out explosion she pulled back into the safety of her signature sound; an almost Disney-ish guitar rock. The whole first portion of her set sounded like one long song and the most interesting thing about it was that she was having some trouble with her guitar levels and it was producing a high wine of feedback. Repetitive music, played by distracted musicians. It was about when she brought out a string section, which I can only assume she did to really cement that Disney quality, that ArtSparrow and I left the main field and hit the bleachers to grab some beer and pizza.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HhsPj9Ddt0Q/TFYujv2mm1I/AAAAAAAADEg/TDEGkwhhICs/s400/C360_2010-08-01%2018-07-00.jpg" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A few more songs in the set got better, a bit darker and a little less constrained, as Clark and crew worked out the technical problems. A good performance, but not a great one, and definitely not a headlining performance in my opinon.</span></span><br /></div></div>Tim Muccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302772860271992330noreply@blogger.com2