Saturday, November 22, 2008
Post obituary for Belgian former cartoonist and caricaturist
"Guy Peellaert; Belgian Painter Of Surreal Art, Album Covers," By Joe Holley and Adam Bernstein, Washington Post Staff Writers, Saturday, November 22, 2008; B04.
Zadzooks and Bennett's best
ZADZOOKS: Black Canary, General Obi-Wan Kenobi on shelves
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Bennett's Best for the week of November 9
By Greg Bennett
Zadzooks Blog
POSTED November 17 2008
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Bennett's Best for the week of November 9
By Greg Bennett
Zadzooks Blog
POSTED November 17 2008
Advertisements using comics motifs
These would more properly go on my friend The Ephemerist's blog, but I'll stick them up here. A request for advertisements showing comics influences to use in teaching went up on the comix-scholars list recently. I tend to have a lot of clippings files on comics, and this was one that I could help with. Here's what I scanned for the request - a lot of these date from the 1990s because I was much better about getting things filed when I had no children and wasn't writing about comics.
Watson Wyatt superhero motif ad, Washington Flyer magazine, May 1998.
1st National Bank of Maryland's Superchecking ad was obviously influenced by the Superman logo. Washington Post, September 29, 1996.
Paramus Honda ran a series of ads with a continuing comic strip in the Bergen [County, NJ] Record. This one is from November 29, 1996.
Norton Utilities compared themselves to superheroes in this ad from Government Computer News, September 4, 1995.
AOL's cd mailer went for the superhero ad motif.
The "Commander in Chief" tv show ran several gag cartoon ads in both the Washington Post and the New York Times. This one is from the Times, September 14, 2005.
"Superhero Action Figures - They Really Exist" from Inova Hospital for Children, Washington Post, October 26, 1996.
Neal Adams' Continuity Associates Studio undoubtedly did this series of ads for the Mercury Tracer car that ran in magazines in 1996. This one is from Entertainment Weekly, September 6, 1996.
The 1st Tennessee Bank used a superhero comic strip ad, Cookeville Herald-Citizen, September 11, 1994.
Paramount's Kings Dominion amusement park and MTV teamed up in this ad, Washington Post, June 25, 1995.
An ad, probably done inhouse by an amateur cartoonist, for Fitzgerald Auto Malls, Washington Post January 17, 1997.
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, February 6, 2006. These panels were from a longer storyline.
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 6, 2006.
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 30, 2006.
Balvenie whiskey ad, Washington Post March 28, 2006. These ran longer in the NY Times than the Post, and an earlier series is available on their website. A lot of these were about holidays.
Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times May 13, 2006.
Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times October 6, 2006.
Watson Wyatt superhero motif ad, Washington Flyer magazine, May 1998.
1st National Bank of Maryland's Superchecking ad was obviously influenced by the Superman logo. Washington Post, September 29, 1996.
Paramus Honda ran a series of ads with a continuing comic strip in the Bergen [County, NJ] Record. This one is from November 29, 1996.
Norton Utilities compared themselves to superheroes in this ad from Government Computer News, September 4, 1995.
AOL's cd mailer went for the superhero ad motif.
The "Commander in Chief" tv show ran several gag cartoon ads in both the Washington Post and the New York Times. This one is from the Times, September 14, 2005.
"Superhero Action Figures - They Really Exist" from Inova Hospital for Children, Washington Post, October 26, 1996.
Neal Adams' Continuity Associates Studio undoubtedly did this series of ads for the Mercury Tracer car that ran in magazines in 1996. This one is from Entertainment Weekly, September 6, 1996.
The 1st Tennessee Bank used a superhero comic strip ad, Cookeville Herald-Citizen, September 11, 1994.
Paramount's Kings Dominion amusement park and MTV teamed up in this ad, Washington Post, June 25, 1995.
An ad, probably done inhouse by an amateur cartoonist, for Fitzgerald Auto Malls, Washington Post January 17, 1997.
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, February 6, 2006. These panels were from a longer storyline.
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 6, 2006.
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 30, 2006.
Balvenie whiskey ad, Washington Post March 28, 2006. These ran longer in the NY Times than the Post, and an earlier series is available on their website. A lot of these were about holidays.
Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times May 13, 2006.
Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times October 6, 2006.
Beeler's High School willing to claim him, now that he's a success
See Editorial cartooning: Bexley graduate national honoree, Columbus Dispatch Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Dave Gibbons on Comic Riffs
Like everyone else who wasn't busy interviewing Art Spiegelman on his book tour, Comic Riffs interviewed Dave Gibbons on his book tour - Betancourt, David. 2008. The Interview: "Watchmen's" Dave Gibbons. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (November 20).
Unfortunately for all of you, I believe I bought Big Planet's last copy of Watching the Watchmen yesterday.
Unfortunately for all of you, I believe I bought Big Planet's last copy of Watching the Watchmen yesterday.
Local News and Reviews
A couple of local Bolt reviews, a surprise Wall-e review and a look at a Japanese cartoonist are in our local papers today:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003758.html
Disney's 'Bolt,' Picking Up Pixar's Trail
By Dan Kois
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 21, 2008; C01
http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Bolt_a_cute_tale_designed_for_younger_audiences_11_21.html
'Bolt' a cute tale designed for younger audiences
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner Movie Critic 11/21/08
One Lovable 'WALLE,' Four Fantastic DVD Sets
By Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Washington Post Friday, November 21, 2008; WE32
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003659.html
Kafka of the Cubicle
Japanese Cartoonist Chronicles the Indignities Endured by Young, Dutiful, Sad Office Drones
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 21, 2008; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003758.html
Disney's 'Bolt,' Picking Up Pixar's Trail
By Dan Kois
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 21, 2008; C01
http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Bolt_a_cute_tale_designed_for_younger_audiences_11_21.html
'Bolt' a cute tale designed for younger audiences
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner Movie Critic 11/21/08
One Lovable 'WALLE,' Four Fantastic DVD Sets
By Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Washington Post Friday, November 21, 2008; WE32
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003659.html
Kafka of the Cubicle
Japanese Cartoonist Chronicles the Indignities Endured by Young, Dutiful, Sad Office Drones
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 21, 2008; A01
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Nov 23: David Rees at Busboys and Poets reminder
This Sunday! I'm planning on being there at the moment.
David Rees, creator of the infamous Get Your War On cartoon, will be making people laugh at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC) on Sunday, November 23, at 6pm.
Here's a recent audio interview -
Champion, Edward. 2008.
David Rees (BSS #248).
Bat Segundo Show (November 4):
http://www.edrants.com/segundo/david-rees/
David Rees, creator of the infamous Get Your War On cartoon, will be making people laugh at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC) on Sunday, November 23, at 6pm.
Here's a recent audio interview -
Champion, Edward. 2008.
David Rees (BSS #248).
Bat Segundo Show (November 4):
http://www.edrants.com/segundo/david-rees/
Richard Thompson on his White House reporting
Richard's got part 1 of his covering a White House ceremony on his blog - it's hilarious.
Bolt review in City Paper
"Bolt and JCVD: Star Stuck: Two films take a smirking glimpse into the limitations of fame," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper November 19, 2008. If my daughter has any say in the matter, I'll be seeing this one.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Dec 3: Kramer's Ergot 7 tour kicks off in Baltimore
Colin Solan, Senior Editor at www.comicartfans.com and www.comicbookconventions.com wrote in to point out that the extremely large anthology, Kramers Ergot 7 will be signed by some of the cartoonists in Baltimore. Sammy Harkham is the founder and editor of the anthology and I'm sure he'd appreciate people stopping in to buy the large, large book.
Kramers Ergot Book Tour Itinerary
Wednesday, December 3rd
7pm
Atomic Books
3620 Falls Rd
Baltimore, MD.
Sammy Harkham, Kevin Huizenga, John Pham, Ron Rege Jr.
Comic Riffs gets comments on Lee's medal
See "Plaudits Still Pour In for "Spider-Man's" Stan Lee," By Michael Cavna, November 19, 2008 for comments by Marvel writers Matt Fraction and Jeph Loeb. Reggie Hudlin, writer of the Black Panther chimed in yesterday.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Big Planet Comics comics Delayed!
Joel Pollack from Big Planet Comics e-mailed us to say (and our guess is that this will affect other local stores):
Subject: Heads-up - NEW COMICS DELAYED!
There was a hazmat incident at the Laurel UPS center early Tuesday morning, which kept us from receiving our books on Tuesday.
That means, at the very least, we will not have new comics on our racks until 3 PM on Wednesday, and that's a best-case scenario.
If you are a Wednesday regular, please feel free to call us before dropping in.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
--
BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856
Also affiliated with:
BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961
BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412
BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498
Subject: Heads-up - NEW COMICS DELAYED!
There was a hazmat incident at the Laurel UPS center early Tuesday morning, which kept us from receiving our books on Tuesday.
That means, at the very least, we will not have new comics on our racks until 3 PM on Wednesday, and that's a best-case scenario.
If you are a Wednesday regular, please feel free to call us before dropping in.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
--
BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856
Also affiliated with:
BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961
BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412
BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498
Stan Lee hits DC for award.
He was here over the weekend - see "Arts, Humanities Medals Awarded; Bush Awardees Include Stan Lee, Olivia de Havilland," By Joel Garreau, Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 18, 2008; C02.
Most of us missed him, but not one sharp-eyed lad - "Hey, Isn't That...?" Washington Post (November 18): C3.
And here's the official press release.
For those who'd like something tangible of Stan's, the charity Hero Initiative has copies of the new Stan Lee's Soapbox collection signed by both Lee and John Romita.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008; C02.
Most of us missed him, but not one sharp-eyed lad - "Hey, Isn't That...?" Washington Post (November 18): C3.
And here's the official press release.
For those who'd like something tangible of Stan's, the charity Hero Initiative has copies of the new Stan Lee's Soapbox collection signed by both Lee and John Romita.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Pekar and Bechdel strip on Daily Cross Hatch
Brian Heater's site, Daily Cross Hatch, has a nice piece by Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel about a reading tour (probably the one they did in North Carolina). Brian mentioned Harvey Pekar: Conversations, but neglected to note that an interview he did is reprinted in the book. By the way, Bechdel illustrated one of Harvey's strips back in the '80s... Josh Neufeld's got a list.
Dec 8: Swann fellow speaks on Civil War prints
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199
November 17, 2008
Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov
MAZIE HARRIS TO DISCUSS CIVIL WAR ERA CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS BY HENRY LOUIS STEPHENS AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, DEC. 8
Swann Foundation grantee Mazie Harris, in a lecture at the Library of Congress, will discuss the Civil War Era chromolithographs by Henry Louis Stephens, the primary illustrator for the satirical New York journal Vanity Fair.
Harris will present the lecture, “A Colorful Union: The Development of Union Patriotism in Henry Louis Stephens’ 1863 Chromolithographs,” at noon on Monday, Dec. 8, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.
In her illustrated talk, Harris will describe her research on the work of Stephens (1824-1882), a caricaturist as well as illustrator. She will draw on examples of his imagery from works held in the Library’s Marian S. Carson Collection and other source material in the Prints and Photographs Division.
The Emancipation Proclamation compelled Stephens to reconsider his previously virulently anti-abolitionist propaganda, according to Harris. In her talk, she will contend that after Abraham Lincoln’s groundbreaking executive orders in 1862 and 1863, Stephens deployed color printing and caricature in an attempt to reformulate views of race relations in the North and mobilize military enlistment.
Harris will analyze Stephens’ visual narratives by considering hand-written directions to the printer that the illustrator scrawled on the margins of each sketch for the series. These technical notes on color, which could be regarded simply as artistic instructions, when carefully examined and assessed, make explicit the particular political ideology of the prints.
Harris is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. She completed an M.A. in art history from Boston University, and became interested in the work of Henry Louis Stephens while working as a curatorial assistant in the Agnes Mongan Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings and Photographs in Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum.
This presentation is part of continuing activities of the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The foundation is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members.
The foundation strives to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. For 2008-2009, because of an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation’s advisory board chose to support five applicants with smaller awards instead of selecting a single recipient of the fellowship.
Applications for the academic year 2009-2010 are due Feb. 13, 2009. For more information about the fellowship, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome/ or email swann@loc.gov.
# # #
PR08-216
11/17/08
ISSN: 0731-3527
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199
November 17, 2008
Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov
MAZIE HARRIS TO DISCUSS CIVIL WAR ERA CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS BY HENRY LOUIS STEPHENS AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, DEC. 8
Swann Foundation grantee Mazie Harris, in a lecture at the Library of Congress, will discuss the Civil War Era chromolithographs by Henry Louis Stephens, the primary illustrator for the satirical New York journal Vanity Fair.
Harris will present the lecture, “A Colorful Union: The Development of Union Patriotism in Henry Louis Stephens’ 1863 Chromolithographs,” at noon on Monday, Dec. 8, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.
In her illustrated talk, Harris will describe her research on the work of Stephens (1824-1882), a caricaturist as well as illustrator. She will draw on examples of his imagery from works held in the Library’s Marian S. Carson Collection and other source material in the Prints and Photographs Division.
The Emancipation Proclamation compelled Stephens to reconsider his previously virulently anti-abolitionist propaganda, according to Harris. In her talk, she will contend that after Abraham Lincoln’s groundbreaking executive orders in 1862 and 1863, Stephens deployed color printing and caricature in an attempt to reformulate views of race relations in the North and mobilize military enlistment.
Harris will analyze Stephens’ visual narratives by considering hand-written directions to the printer that the illustrator scrawled on the margins of each sketch for the series. These technical notes on color, which could be regarded simply as artistic instructions, when carefully examined and assessed, make explicit the particular political ideology of the prints.
Harris is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. She completed an M.A. in art history from Boston University, and became interested in the work of Henry Louis Stephens while working as a curatorial assistant in the Agnes Mongan Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings and Photographs in Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum.
This presentation is part of continuing activities of the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The foundation is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members.
The foundation strives to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. For 2008-2009, because of an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation’s advisory board chose to support five applicants with smaller awards instead of selecting a single recipient of the fellowship.
Applications for the academic year 2009-2010 are due Feb. 13, 2009. For more information about the fellowship, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome/ or email swann@loc.gov.
# # #
PR08-216
11/17/08
ISSN: 0731-3527
Comic Riffs interviews latest fired editorial cartoonist
Unfortunately this seems to have been the year when many papers who had editorial cartoonists decided they could probably do without one. Michael Cavna interviews the latest victim in "The Interview: Steve Greenberg: Life as a Pink-Slipped Political Cartoonist" on the Comic Riffs blog.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Nate Beeler's Berryman award featured in Sunday's Examiner
This is a bit late, but you can probably still find copies in your neighbor's driveway. This article "Examiner editorial cartoonist wins prominent national award," By Bill Myers, Examiner Staff Writer 11/14/08, appears in print today along with a gallery of five of Nate's cartoons that allegedly precipitated the winning of the Berryman award. Nate's regular cartoon, still reduced to barely legible at 3x4 inches, also appeared today, along with the large caricature on the front of the tabloid. Nate's now drawing 3 Sunday caricatures for the DC, Baltimore and a California, possibly LA, issues.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Mr. IS, the realtor advertisement webcomic, continues
Episode 4: "Restoration" continues the free entertainment by the Washington-based MRIS.
Nov 19: Free educator tour at Geppi's Entertainment Museum
Arnold Blumberg's column has the information including, "We’re inviting teachers and educators to join us at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, for an evening of pop culture, refreshments, and an exclusive introduction to our Educational Tour Program. Join us here at GEM from 4:00 to 6:30 PM and meet me as well as our Educational and Special Programming Associate, Bailey Ball, and Director of Sales and Marketing, Julie Meddows. We’ll be taking everyone on a private tour of the museum’s collection and providing educator’s kits containing information on our education program, related teacher resources, and more."
I love this Museum and recommend this if you qualify to go.
I love this Museum and recommend this if you qualify to go.
Friday, November 14, 2008
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-19-08
From the US Virgin Islands! Enjoy!
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-19-08
By John Judy
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #578 by Mark Waid and Marcos Martin. The start of a two-part adventure featuring one of President-Elect Obama’s two favorite heroes! That’s right! “That One” is a comics geek! “One of us! One of us!” Also Waid and Martin are swell. Recommended.
AVENGERS/INVADERS #6 of 12 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Steve Sadowski. At the half-way mark as Toro learns he’s dead and the Torch decides to liberate his Life-Model Decoy brethren from… GAH! I mean, robots and androids, Ross! How can you be a comics professional and not know the difference? GAH!
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #5 by Timothy Truman, Tomas Giorello and Richard Corben.. Another thrilling adventure from President-Elect Obama’s other favorite hero! Featuring tough chicks with swords! Yes!
EX MACHINA #39 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Wrapping up the “Dirty Tricks” storyline with a call-back to issue #1. Yeah, that BK Vaughan knows how to pay it off. Recommended!
FANTASTIC FOUR #561 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The Invisible Woman dies. Oops! I mean, “Spoiler Alert!” (Come on, the story’s called “The Death of the Invisible Woman” so just save your hate-mail for when Millar gets to write the next Superman movie.)
GHOST RIDER #29 by Jason Aaron and Tan Eng Huat. Johnny Blaze vs. Danny Ketch is a Ghost Rider/Ghost Rider smack-down. I kinda want this to wrap up quick so Aaron can get out of having to make sense of the hopelessly insane Ghost Rider continuity and just start telling stories like “Zombie Highway.” Still, Big Fight! My money’s on the guy they made the movie about.
GOON #30 written and drawn by Eric Powell. The gorgeous cartoon noir fun continues. “The only reason you ain’t dead is that he’d never forgive me.” Highly recommended.
GREATEST HITS #3 of 6 by David Tischman, Glenn Fabry and Gary Erskine. A great-looking riff on the super-hero as Rock Star, guaranteed to pluck the heartstrings of any Beatlemaniac comics fans out there. You know who you are…
HELLBLAZER #249 by Andy Diggle and Leonardo Manco. Wrapping up Diggle’s run as Constantine returns to Ravenscar Mental Hospital for the big showdown.
JACK KIRBY’S THE DEMON OMNIBUS HC written and drawn by Da King. Even though DC seems to be killing off every one of its Kirby characters lately, they took the time to collect all 16 issues of the last survivor of Camelot, the demon Etrigan and his mortal host Jason Blood. Bizarre seventies horror adventure for them that likes it!
JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL MAGOG #1 by Peter J. Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin. The latest doings with resurrected Marine and Franklin Roosevelt descendant David Reid and the being he has become. Can Magog be a hero in spite of the creepy name and awkward headgear? Here’s all the stuff that won’t fit into the regular JSA book!
PUNISHER MAX #64 by Gregg Hurwitz and Laurence Campbell. Frank’s still pretty annoyed by those drug dealers making him think he killed a little girl so this one’s bound to be a little bumpy. Not cool, drug-dealers. Not for kids.
SCALPED #23 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. “The Gravel in Your Guts” continues in this stark, hypnotic crime comic that just happens to be set on an Indian reservation. Can the murderous Chief Lincoln Red Crow ever redeem himself? Will Dino Poor Bear follow the same dead end path? This is the comic you should read first then hide from your family. Highly recommended.
STAN’S SOAPBOX: THE COLLECTION SC by Da Man. Collecting every one of Smilin’ Stan Lee’s interstitial manifestos from 1967 to 1980. These were the monthly asides that made a generation of fans feel like Stan Lee was standing right behind us, whispering in our ears even when he usually wasn’t. A true geek “Must-Have!”
SUPERGIRL #35 by Sterling gates and Jamal Igle. For you “New Krypton” completists who can’t wait for the trade.
THUNDERBOLTS #126 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre. A new creative team asks the musical question “What happens when a team of criminal nut-jobs who hate each other are left unsupervised by the criminal nut-job who’s supposed to be in charge of them?” It’s kind of like that time Dick Cheney got locked in the bathroom and the economy collapsed…
UNCANNY X-MEN #504 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. A new creative team is clearly chomping at the bit to get started with FOUR distinct storylines starting in one issue! Which ones will be resolved and which ones will trail off into Claremontian nothingness? Place yer bets, bub!
X-MEN LEGACY #218 by Mike Carey and Scot Eaton. Professor X tries to help Wolver-Boy, y’know the one whose healing factor can’t quite manage to take care of his tattoos and stupid haircut. Definitely NOT one of President-Elect Obama’s favorite heroes! Nuff said!
www.johnjudy.net
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-19-08
By John Judy
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #578 by Mark Waid and Marcos Martin. The start of a two-part adventure featuring one of President-Elect Obama’s two favorite heroes! That’s right! “That One” is a comics geek! “One of us! One of us!” Also Waid and Martin are swell. Recommended.
AVENGERS/INVADERS #6 of 12 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Steve Sadowski. At the half-way mark as Toro learns he’s dead and the Torch decides to liberate his Life-Model Decoy brethren from… GAH! I mean, robots and androids, Ross! How can you be a comics professional and not know the difference? GAH!
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #5 by Timothy Truman, Tomas Giorello and Richard Corben.. Another thrilling adventure from President-Elect Obama’s other favorite hero! Featuring tough chicks with swords! Yes!
EX MACHINA #39 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Wrapping up the “Dirty Tricks” storyline with a call-back to issue #1. Yeah, that BK Vaughan knows how to pay it off. Recommended!
FANTASTIC FOUR #561 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The Invisible Woman dies. Oops! I mean, “Spoiler Alert!” (Come on, the story’s called “The Death of the Invisible Woman” so just save your hate-mail for when Millar gets to write the next Superman movie.)
GHOST RIDER #29 by Jason Aaron and Tan Eng Huat. Johnny Blaze vs. Danny Ketch is a Ghost Rider/Ghost Rider smack-down. I kinda want this to wrap up quick so Aaron can get out of having to make sense of the hopelessly insane Ghost Rider continuity and just start telling stories like “Zombie Highway.” Still, Big Fight! My money’s on the guy they made the movie about.
GOON #30 written and drawn by Eric Powell. The gorgeous cartoon noir fun continues. “The only reason you ain’t dead is that he’d never forgive me.” Highly recommended.
GREATEST HITS #3 of 6 by David Tischman, Glenn Fabry and Gary Erskine. A great-looking riff on the super-hero as Rock Star, guaranteed to pluck the heartstrings of any Beatlemaniac comics fans out there. You know who you are…
HELLBLAZER #249 by Andy Diggle and Leonardo Manco. Wrapping up Diggle’s run as Constantine returns to Ravenscar Mental Hospital for the big showdown.
JACK KIRBY’S THE DEMON OMNIBUS HC written and drawn by Da King. Even though DC seems to be killing off every one of its Kirby characters lately, they took the time to collect all 16 issues of the last survivor of Camelot, the demon Etrigan and his mortal host Jason Blood. Bizarre seventies horror adventure for them that likes it!
JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL MAGOG #1 by Peter J. Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin. The latest doings with resurrected Marine and Franklin Roosevelt descendant David Reid and the being he has become. Can Magog be a hero in spite of the creepy name and awkward headgear? Here’s all the stuff that won’t fit into the regular JSA book!
PUNISHER MAX #64 by Gregg Hurwitz and Laurence Campbell. Frank’s still pretty annoyed by those drug dealers making him think he killed a little girl so this one’s bound to be a little bumpy. Not cool, drug-dealers. Not for kids.
SCALPED #23 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. “The Gravel in Your Guts” continues in this stark, hypnotic crime comic that just happens to be set on an Indian reservation. Can the murderous Chief Lincoln Red Crow ever redeem himself? Will Dino Poor Bear follow the same dead end path? This is the comic you should read first then hide from your family. Highly recommended.
STAN’S SOAPBOX: THE COLLECTION SC by Da Man. Collecting every one of Smilin’ Stan Lee’s interstitial manifestos from 1967 to 1980. These were the monthly asides that made a generation of fans feel like Stan Lee was standing right behind us, whispering in our ears even when he usually wasn’t. A true geek “Must-Have!”
SUPERGIRL #35 by Sterling gates and Jamal Igle. For you “New Krypton” completists who can’t wait for the trade.
THUNDERBOLTS #126 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre. A new creative team asks the musical question “What happens when a team of criminal nut-jobs who hate each other are left unsupervised by the criminal nut-job who’s supposed to be in charge of them?” It’s kind of like that time Dick Cheney got locked in the bathroom and the economy collapsed…
UNCANNY X-MEN #504 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. A new creative team is clearly chomping at the bit to get started with FOUR distinct storylines starting in one issue! Which ones will be resolved and which ones will trail off into Claremontian nothingness? Place yer bets, bub!
X-MEN LEGACY #218 by Mike Carey and Scot Eaton. Professor X tries to help Wolver-Boy, y’know the one whose healing factor can’t quite manage to take care of his tattoos and stupid haircut. Definitely NOT one of President-Elect Obama’s favorite heroes! Nuff said!
www.johnjudy.net
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