Congrats to ADDTF for one solid year of reading comics naked.

Also, welcome back ADD and In Sequence.

Did I miss anyone?

 
Ye Olde Comic Book Shoppe

I tend to read my comics through the library, used book stores, the internet and other means. When I do buy comics, it's usually directly from the artist at conventions, or in one big purchase at The Beguiling. The meagre finances of the student plays only a small part in this. Another reason is that for the last 5 years I have been interested in digging up the huge resources of the past, especially comic strips and single panel cartoons, most of which you won't find in your typical comic book shop (with the exception of the aforementioned Beguiling, and Dragon Lady Comics, in Ontario, at least).

Though I'm glad that I don't have a weekly comic ritual, and have never had a shop pull comics for me, sometimes I feel a little guilty, like I'm not giving back to the industry that has brought me so much entertainment. So today I hit the shop. I wanted to sample a few different things, and I was under the impression that the shop I was visiting had a good selection. Apparently, they only carry the most current issue on the shelf of any given title, and the back issues don't hit the bins until months after. There's this kind of grey zone where a customer isn't allowed to get former issues. Weird. I think it's pretty telling of the mindset of many comics fans that within a month of an issue's release, it is packed away in the back to make space for the new product. One month and a comic is "old".

Apparently, they don't carry a whole bunch of the titles I was looking for. I know this is a common complaint by many, but when there's no Beguilingesque store in your area, where's a man supposed to get his fix of the Independent stuff? Anyone with leads on good Ottawa or Montreal stores, drop me a line. Possibly the most insulting thig was being told that a title that I was looking for had been discontinued, when in fact I had seen preview art for the next few covers. If you don't know the answer, son, don't make stuff up.

At last, comics!

I found only one comic that I was specifically looking for. Catwoman #12, the first regular issue by Cameron Stewart. I've already praised his work before. I'll try not to make a habit of it. Thought the "Robbins Liquor" sign was a nice touch, though.

I picked up a few other things, but they aren't worth mentioning. Sorry, I'm an accentuate the positive kind of guy. They also slipped me a copy of the Comic Shop News. Now that's entertainment! There's a huge feature on the tenth anniversary of Superman's death, with a return to the event by Dan Jurgens. The article was so large I couldn't finish it. Supposedly, it's meant to reflect the sensibilities of our post-9/11 culture. Frightening. There was all sorts of other interesting news, but my eyes couldn't stay focussed long enough to learn about all the interesting developments of my favourite Marvel and DC heroes and their various crossover events. My favourite part was the section on all the issues that were coming out with a #1. I feel like I've been huffing glue.

Happily, though I could not replace my lost brain cells, I did stem the flow with the annual Cartoon Issue of the New Yorker. Is it me, or is it getting shoddier as the years go on? I seem to recall seeing more cartoons on cartooning, more cartoons in general, more ads with cartoon motifs (my favourite part of the annual), and more articles on cartooning. Or maybe I'm losing it. Even the non-cartooning articles seemed a little off. Usually I enjoy the New Yorker on its own merits. I was about to lose hope, when I hit the last third of the mag, which has a piece on New Yorker surrealist cartoonist Jack Ziegler, sophisticate Helen Hokinson (whom I've never heard of before, but find very appealing), and pages upon pages of cartoons, including the New Yorker's take on superheroes and a four pager by Chris Ware, author of Jimmy Corrigan. Their website has a Q & A with Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor for the New Yorker.

Submissions for review

Found this article on submitting comics for review to e-zines (and, potentially regular print magazines) at Sequential Tart via Bugpowder. It reminded me to bring up that I’m shamelessly soliciting any and all comics, mini-comics and comic related material for the blog, especially as I don’t make it down to the shop all that often. Blogging should have it’s perks. Email me at giant_ants@hotmail.com if interested.



posted by Steven at 11:08 PM

 
Complaints Dept.

Hand-coded? Hell, I hardly even know how to turn on my computer.

Scooped!

I first heard the news about Stan Lee and Joe Simon over on Journalista, but you can get both stories on most comic news sites, including the ones in my links in the sidebar.

Considering many of my non-comics reading friends read this blog, I'll introduce the players. Stan Lee is probably the most recognized man in superhero comics. He's been in the business since the Golden Age, and was one of the main people responsible for the dominance of the superhero genre today, with the co-creation of Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, The Hulk, the X-Men, etc. He's a master of self-promotion and up until recently was featured in every Marvel comic by the words "Stan Lee presents", though he was only really a figurehead by that point. He's also been at the centre of the debate as to who contributed what to the creation of the Marvel superheroes, since the artists involved are rarely mentioned by the press or Marvel itself, and received almost nothing in royalties or respect while Lee made off with all of the above.

Hot on the heels of being asked by 60 Minutes II if he was bitter about not receiving enough money for his part in creating various superhero properties that have been on the silver screen, Stan Lee is suing Marvel Comics. Or he will if they don't pony up 10% of their profits from said movies and tv shows. Stan already receives a one million dollar salary from Marvel. This is coming as big news only because to many people who don't know better, Stan Lee is Marvel. While the spectre of the other character's creators has come up (Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby), it has been pointed out that Stan Lee's contract has nothing to do with ownership. The contract clearly states that Stan Lee gets the 10%, just for being the figurehead, apparently. However, it should be noted that Ditko and Kirby were never given a chance to sign such a contract. I can't feel a whole lot of pity for the world's highest paid work-for-hire comic creator if he isn't going to push for it to be spread around. It's also been pointed out that support for creator's rights should extend to all creators, including Stan Lee. While I wish Mr. Lee the best of luck, and feel that he does deserve a big chunk of change, I can't help but feel that there are still other creators that haven't had the amount of financial gartuities that Stan Lee has received, and maybe they would be a better place to start.

Joe Simon is right up there with Stan Lee in the field of superhero comics. He created (or, again, co-created) one of the only Marvel characters that Lee didn't have a hand in, Captain America. While not as sensational, his story his probably even more important than the above. Simon has won his appeal in the decision against him for control of Captain America. No word yet on if this is finished, or what will happen to the character when it's over, but in a worst-case scenerio (or best-case, if you're me), Simon will wrest one of Marvel's primary characters right out of their hands. Chaos ensues!

Pretty Men

For some odd reason I was thinking of Ramona Fradon, artist on Aquaman and Metamorpho, yesterday. I think it was because I wanted to mention a female cartoonist or two, and she seemed like a scrappy kinda gal. Then, surprisingly, I find an interview with her at Comicon's Pulse. Before I get a chance to mention it here, Journalista beats me to it, again. The interview is to support the announcement of the first Aquaman Archive edition, which will collect classic stories drawn by Nick Cardy and Ramona Fradon. You can find another interview with Fradon, fellow Silver Age artist Marie Severin, and historian Trina Robbins at Comic Book Artist. Another reason Fradon was on my mind is because she draws such pretty men. I'm always reminded of Tom of Finland, for some reason. I wonder if anyone has ever written Aquaman slash...


posted by Steven at 12:30 AM

 
Links!

I felt bad about yesterday's self-indulgence, so here's a whole load of links for those of you who are bored at work. OK? OK!!!

Sax and Lentil have completed and presented the second Shifter story, My Bloody Valentine. A sweet little out of season tale that shows off the Shifter's powers without being flashy. All this Shifter activity has prompted my brother, naive cartoonist genius, to come out of retirement and present his own short story. I'll keep you posted.

An interview with J. Torres over on Newsrama concerning his new graphic novel Days Like These, which is about a fictitious all-girl group from back in the day, ala the Supremes. Looks intriguing. I know a few people who would be interested in this.

I've always liked J. Torres, ever since I picked up my first mini of Copybook Tales. It must be the Phoebe Cates thing. He's teamed up with another GTA comic fiend from my past, namely artist Takeshi Miyazawa on the comic Sidekicks : The Sub. For a sample of their work on Sidekicks, check out their Oni Sunday Comics, here and here. I was collecting Miyazawa's minis MIB and Shift at around the same time and place as Torre's early work. Funny ol' world. Always wondered what had happened to him and his loose, kinetic manga stylings. Looks like I'll finally have to head to the comic store. Haven't been in months.

It's party time for Canadian Cartoonists on Shane Glines. Looks like a few other Toronto area pros are busy debating the pros and cons of The Ultimates. Of interest only to me, I imagine. Ah, I love the internet.

Via the ever wonderful EGON, it seems that Evan Dorkin, cartoonist of the hilarious Dork, among other things, has joined Sarah Dyer of Action Girl fame in the blogging fad. Evan's Big Mouth Strikes Again and Sarah's Dear Diary.

Also courtesy of EGON, it seems that Peter Bagge, Stephen De Stephano and Bill Wray are concocting a new monthly called Sweatshop for DC. It's set to take a satirical look at the comics industry. I'm not usually that big on Bagge, but De Stephano and Wray's work is so easy on the eyes. And I love that title!

Popped by Kyle Baker's site to see if he had updated it since his nearly year old Michael Eisner joke, and it looks like they've flooded the place. All sorts of goodies, including news on his Superman novel, his directorial stint on the new Warner Bros. cartoons, the upcoming Captain America : Truth, and the sequel to the Cowboy Wally Show. The big surprise was the samples of Baker's Plastic Man. Nobody can replace Jack Cole, but at least these aren't the usual Plas abominations.

The Curmudgeon Strikes Back! Alex Toth is contributing fresh, handwritten columns to his fansite. The essays Let's Face It!, Now Then, and Who Cares? I Do! are all available. For those not familiar with the most cantankerous man in comics, you can get a sampling of his work on the very same site, where they showcase entire stories by Toth a Panel a Day. Toth mixes a modern design sense with the romantic sensibilities of the Golden Age of adventure comic strips, like Terry and the Pirates and Johnny Hazard. He's one of the biggest influences on my own work, and is known as an artist's artist. Enjoy!

Well, that was fun.



posted by Steven at 1:40 AM

 
I had to give a presentation in class today on a book of my choice. I chose Hey, Wait... by Jason. Further examples of his art can be found here and at the Beguiling. Hey, Wait... is one of the most beautiful comics I have ever read. Others have talked it up better than I ever could, so I'll just tell you about my experience in class.

After nervously delivering what is probably the last oral presentation of my student career, I handed the book over to my fellow students to pass around, as it seemed customary to do so. Pretty much everyone in my class either really loves ultra-realistic representations of super-heroes or manga. Nothing wrong with that, and I've been known to indulge in the same, but not a steady, somewhat obsessive diet of the stuff. I had no idea how the book was going to be received.

It took quite a while getting around the room, as it seems that my slightly water-damaged copy was actually being read cover-to-cover by about half the class (it's a short book). When it finally got back to me, a few of the students thanked me for showing it to them, and started asking questions about the author, the publisher, and similar books to that one. They asked me if this was the sort of comics I read regularly. One student said that the simplified art style reminded him of a book he heard of called "Maus" and asked me if I had heard of it. I'm lending the first book of Maus to him tomorrow.

This ties into something I've been meaning to discuss. I've spent the last week mulling over how to describe why I'm even doing this blog, since my original intent as stated in my first post doesn't quite hit the mark. Back in the day, people would private message me asking for advice on comics. They wanted to read up on stuff they had heard of, but the comics community intimidated them. These intelligent and curious people wanted to climb aboard, but had faced hostility from geek sentries who thought you needed to know the difference between Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis to join the club.

Basically, I just started this up so that a few good friends could get a firm grasp of the wide range of comics available to them without worrying about meeting the dubious standards of a group of foolish fanboys. Not to slight the many wonderful sites and blogs I have listed and visit regularly, but their content is often directed at people who have at least a basic knowledge of the history and business of comics. Most of the friends I speak of don't know, don't care, and may never care about who Bill Jemas is. On the other hand, someday they might. For now, this blog is a means for me to provide the person who is interested but isn't ready to jump right in, due to a lack of knowledge of the selection available or a lack of cash. It may also be of interest to someone who's burnt out on regularly hitting the shops on new comics day, and forgets the wide variety of comicky entertainment available to them, both around the world and through history.

But, in general it was meant for just a few friends. Apologies if you came here expecting something pro. I'm not an expert or a scholar. I'm just someone who wants people who want comics to get what they ask for and not walk away disappointed.
posted by Steven at 12:19 AM