Archive for May, 2004
Variant Covers
Outspoken comics retailer Brian Hibbs knows the score when it comes to those ridiculous variant covers that seem to be making a comeback.
To whit: “Variants only have one real goal � don�t fool yourself into thinking this is some wonderful paean to �consumer choice� � publishers want you to buy more than one copy of their comic.
This is, of course, their right. Some might even say, in a capitalistic society, it is their duty. Indeed, the main defense publishers give to variants is �They uniformly sell more copies�, and so they do. But I guess I�m of Hippocratic thought on this: �First thing, do no harm�
Variants harm. They skew retailer�s cycle sheets and increase risk on later issues. They send the wrong messages to readers. Each and every one of them runs the risk of being �the straw� that causes a collector to quit the hobby, forever. I�ve been selling comic books my entire adult life, and I can assure you that there is lasting and long-term harm in promoting �collectibility� over content.”
Comics Spotted at Non-Comics Store!
Hey, these days that’s a big deal. I saw a whole rack of those new Marvel Age comics (the “remixed” classic Spidey and FF stories done by Sean McKeever and other new talent) at Target the other day. Any exposure to the mainstream is a plus in my book. Way to go Marvel! (There’s something you won’t hear me say too often)
Vanity Project of the Week: Courtney Loves Does Manga
According to this Newsarama article, Courtney Love (you know, lead singer of Hole, widow of Kurt Cobain) is “writing” a manga series called Princess Ai, to be published stateside by Tokyopop. I say “writing” because from what I can tell from the article, basically she just came up with an idea and did some clothing sketches. To whit:
�Princess Ai is a very unusual project in many ways, including its production cycle. This project was conceived here in the U.S., but then the plot was sent to Misaho Kujiradou in Japan. Working with editor Akane Ishii at the monthly Wings magazine – published by Shinshokan, Kujiradou wrote and drew the comic based on the plot by D.J. Milky. ”
Um, ok.
McSweeney’s
Yesterday in the mail, I received the goodness that is McSweeney’s Quarterly 13, a special all-cartoonist issue edited by Chris Ware. This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve seen in a long time. I’m not sure how they were able to design it and print it so lovingly and sell it for under $25. All your favorites are here: Ware, Tomine, Los Bros. Hernandez, Clowes, Crumb, Matt, Brown, Seth, Schultz, Panter, Sacco, Deitch and more, plus mini-comics hidden in the dust cover by Porcellino and Rege. The dustcover itself folds out to an amazing Ware print.
You should be checking out the McSweeney’s Web site on a regular basis anyway. There is great writing posted on a daily basis and everyone loves the Daily Reason to Dispatch Bush.
Does anyone know of a bookstore around here (Columbus) that sells McSweeney’s publications?
A Hilariously Bad Comic
This site has all 16 pages of a really crappy comic based on the Doom computer game, along with a funny review of said masterpiece. The only name I recognize from the credits of the story is that of artist Tom ‘Gallows’ Grindberg. I never did like Grindberg’s art. He always seemed to change his style to imitate the flavor of the month, which back in the 90′s was decidedly not a good thing.
Anyway, here’s a snippet from the review: “One of my most favorite parts in the comic is when the marine inadvertently falls into some radioactive sludge and suddenly, in the middle of a massive killing spree, starts to preach about how humans are ruining the environment and how we’ll be leaving a destroyed planet to our children and our children’s children. The whole panel is such a random segment from the rest of the comic, which provides wholesome family fun (in the form of killing shit) and then goes off on a tangential environmental crusade, albeit a pretty half-assed one.”
Some of my favorite lines of “dialogue”:
“I’ve got a handful of vertebrae and a headful of mad!”
“Wow! Now I’m in a completely different place!”
“Hoy, hoy, I’m the boy…”
Finally, a comics-related post
Wanna see a bad web comic that’s essentially a glorified ad to sell a fantasy book?
“Equal parts Robin Hood and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, R. A. Salvatore creates an unforgettable character with THE HIGHWAYMAN.
Even Google Knows
Go to Google
Type in: weapons of mass destruction
Click the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button
Enjoy the ironic sense of humor
These Weapons of Mass Destruction cannot be displayed
The weapons you are looking for are currently unavailable. The country might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your weapons inspectors mandate.
——————————————————————————–
Please try the following:
Click the Regime change button, or try again later.
If you are George Bush and typed the country’s name in the address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly. (IRAQ).
To check your weapons inspector settings, click the UN menu, and then click Weapons Inspector Options. On the Security Council tab, click Consensus. The settings should match those provided by your government or NATO.
If the Security Council has enabled it, The United States of America can examine your country and automatically discover Weapons of Mass Destruction.
If you would like to use the CIA to try and discover them,
click Detect weapons
Some countries require 128 thousand troops to liberate them. Click the Panic menu and then click About US foreign policy to determine what regime they will install.
If you are an Old European Country trying to protect your interests, make sure your options are left wide open as long as possible. Click the Tools menu, and then click on League of Nations. On the Advanced tab, scroll to the Head in the Sand section and check settings for your exports to Iraq.
Click the Bomb button if you are Donald Rumsfeld.
Cannot find weapons or CIA Error
Iraqi Explorer
Bush went to Iraq to look for Weapons of Mass Destruction and all he found was this lousy T-shirt.
CrossGen Madness
If you’re interested in some insider discussion on what went wrong with CrossGen (and also what was good about it, but mostly the former), check out this message board thread. Lots of ex-CrossGen pros like Ron Marz, Scott Eaton. Tony Bedard, Drew Geracci, Andrea DiVitto, etc. contribute their thoughts (and rants). Interesting reading.
Japan Lawmakers Scolded for Reading Comics
From a Yahoo article: “TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi scolded rookie lawmakers Thursday for reading comic books and talking on their cell phones during legislative sessions, according to a newspaper report.”
US Army…Priorities
From a Wired.com article: “LOS ANGELES — There’s no doubt that the E3 video-game show is the loudest, most garish trade show on Earth.
Need proof? To promote its video game America’s Army, the U.S. Army staged a mini assault on the Los Angeles Convention Center. Real soldiers rappelled down from a Black Hawk helicopter and rushed toward the entrance with real assault rifles, scaring the daylights out of attendees not aware of the promotion.”
Time.Comix
Time’s online comics reviewer takes a look at Kolchalka, Jeffery Brown and Allison Cole. The sub-headline talked about DIY comics, so I was thinking more small press (these comics are published by Top Shelf and Alternative Comics; definitely alternative press, but not small press), but he is actually looking at the aesthetic that these artists go for. Check it out: TIME – Andrew Arnold – Small Comix in the Big Leagues
