Archive for December, 2005
Coffin vs. Sleeper
So I read the Coffin and Deep Sleeper back to back. Unintentionally, it just happened that way. In doing so I found huge similarities in the plot line. With slight variences, they’re the same story. Both protagonists (in Coffin & Sleeper) families are threatened in some way, both fall into some secret world where they have to save the day. Both protagonists are fathers that are too sucked into their own world to see they’re ignoring their families. Both stories carry a mild religious overtone. The art in both is killer. The techno-babble in the Coffin is grading while the dialogue in Deep Sleeper didn’t start hitting the mark till almost two issues in. After reading both I’d say Deep Sleeper was the stronger work. Possibly a subconscious second-go at the first work. Heh, I said subconscious. Here’s hoping the next time these two collaborate it’s not so formulatic. There were some really strong moments and Huddleson’s line get’s better as the years go on.
Lobo: The Animated Series
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Somebody must have been smoking crack. Ah well. Via Comic Book Resources, here’s a look at artist Steven E. Gordon’s character designs for a Lobo cartoon pitch.
A tale of a new POD venture
So when Comixpress burst on the scene, offering indy comics publishers a cheap Print On Demand option, their business skyrocketed so much they had to go on hiatus and stop accepting new jobs until they could print all the ones they had.
Well, there will soon be a new player in the comic book POD filed: Ka-Blam. And if you’ve ever wanted to know the trials and tribulations of setting up a new business venture, drop by the above link and read their diary of one disaster after another.
By the way, Ka-Blam is brought to you by the fine folks who run 01comics.com, another purveyor of free, professional caliber webcomics. Home to former print titles such as Dreamwalker, and new stuff by the likes of artist Mitch Byrd. Most are action/adventure type strips, but there are other genres as well. Worth a look.
Least Essential Albums of 2005
It’s that time of year again. Time for everyone and their brother to present “best of” and “worst of” lists of 2005. And why should The Onion buck the trend? So here it is, folks, The Onion’s A.V. Club presents The Least Essential Albums of 2005. My favorites include the category “Least Essential 2Pacsploitation: The Rose Vol. 2: Music Inspired By Tupac’s Poetry” and this little gem:
“Least Essential Best-of Album: Hilary Duff, Most WantedThe CD booklet to this greatest-hits-style collection features a page dedicated to the “Hilary Duff Catalog,” which lines up five albums. That’s enough for a hits collection, surely. But take a closer look: Those five include Duff’s two proper albums (Metamorphosis and Hilary Duff) next to A Cinderella Story’s soundtrack (represented on Most Wanted by two tracks), Santa Claus Lane (not represented) and something called Hilary Duff: Artist Karaoke Series (also not represented). (Insert your own joke about that last one being Duff’s best effort.) Most Wanted does contain some new tracks, as well as a handful of 2005 remixes. Because those tracks from 2004 badly needed to be brought up to date.”
Shorts
Dara’s post on an iTunes Body Bags podcast jogged my memory: Amazon is now offering pamphlets for download.
According to this article in Slate.com, Amazon.com is offering short pamphlets for 49 cents a pop. They’re available in HTML, pdf or plain-text e-mail. See the list of best-sellers here.
So between iTunes and Amazon, I’m gradually losing my skepticism of electronic comics. Call me a tool of the man, but I feel better about a product when it’s being offered by a big company. The ability to reach larger amounts of people — with readily accessible formats and trusted payment mechanisms — is valuable to me.
I’m still not sure about electronic comics as a replacement for printed comics, though. So far, most electronic comics are either reprints or artists working on spec. In other words, the business model for electronic comics relies on not paying the talent.
Secondly, electronic comics also cut out the comic book shop, or at least lessen its importance. I value the comic book shop as a gatekeeper and guide, helping me find good reads. A lot of the fun of belonging to the club is going to the clubhouse.
Thirdly, I’m still a sucker for the tactile feel. Even if you do print out your online comics, I doubt you can reach the production values of a printed comic. That’s doubly bad for an outfit like Panel — unless we also include a pdf of the band that goes around the comic.
But as I say, I’m less skeptical now. We should look into electronic comics in the new year.
Odds and Ends
Over at Newsarama, Andy Marchant does a retrospective on Marvel’s Strikeforce: Morituri series, published back in ’86. One of my favorite series at the time (heck, even now) with a high concept way ahead of its time (for Marvel, anyway) and a great writer – Peter B. Gillis – who disappeared from the world of comics soon thereafter.
Also over at Newsarama, saw the article on 12 Gauge Comic’s foray into the world of digital comics, with a twist. They’ve made Jason Pearson’s Body Bags: Father’s Day #1 available for free via a podcast of sorts, which they’re calling a “Comicast”. It’s basically a Flash animated reworking of the comic, complete with (marginal) voice acting that you can download and watch through iTunes. I’m not a fan of Person’s work, but hey, free is free and going through iTunes means wide exposure to a whole new audience, so more power to them. If you have iTunes and want to go directly to the download, click here.
And finally, if you’re running low on holiday cheer and cute things to ooh and aah at, try Cute Overload. You’ve been warned.
Monday Morning “Guess the Artist”
Another pin-up this time. Good luck.
(click images to phase through walls)
(previous weeks: 9/12/2005, 9/19/2005, 9/26/2005, 10/3/2005, 10/10/2005, 10/17/2005, 10/24/2005, 10/31/2005, 11/1/2005, 11/2/2005, 11/3/2005, 11/4/2005, 11/5/2005, 11/6/2005, 11/7/2005, 11/14/2005, 11/21/2005, 11/28/2005, 12/5/2005, 12/12/2005, 12/19/2005)
AA Weekend Covers Holiday Covers
In lieu of the usual “Awesome and Ass” cover feature, I’m just going to share some covers from random holiday specials. Enjoy! (click to enlarge)
And just to be blasphemous, a couple that are just wrong:
And finally, who could forget the classic:
(previous weeks: 12/3/2005, 12/11/2005, 12/17/2005)
Scrapbooking was so 2005…
Screw that scrapbooking kit for a holiday gift, get yer wife that Comic Creator for Christmas. Yessss, a software company has now made making comics a snap. Choose from a variety of layouts. Make your bubbles. Oh joy, now my dull lifeless marriage is washed away in Comic Creator and a bottle of scotch. Get out of that monotone life and let that creative spirit soar. Hooray!!
More fun with comic cover remixes
I thought this one was appropriate, in light of recent newsworthy events…
Bill Willingham’s work ethic
I’m always fascinated to find out how slow/fast different creators work. In seems that recently, finding an artist who can draw a book on a monthly schedule is almost the exception, rather than the rule. With that in mind, I read this portion of a Bill Willingham interview with interest:
“BW: My ongoing commitments are writing “Fables,” co-writing the new “Jack of Fables,” in collaboration with the remarkable Matt Sturges, and both writing and drawing “Shadowpact.” In addition to that will be the odd extra miniseries of something, or special project. For example, right now I’m still in the middle of writing the new “Space Ghost” miniseries and still putting a few finishing touches on next year’s “Fables” hardback Original Graphic Novel.CBR: What is your daily schedule like? Do you feel this is the maximum you can take on? Or are you just hitting your stride?
BW: After years of inactivity on the art front, I’m still getting back in the swing of things art-wise. However, with that as a caveat, this is more or less how my schedule goes: Every day – Monday through Friday – I get up and immediately hit the drawing table to produce one page of “Shadowpact” art. Then I take a break and then spend the rest of the afternoon working on whatever script is next in line on the deadline schedule DC provides to me every month. On weekends, I’m free to goof off or catch up on something that didn’t get done, or work on a novel I’ve foolishly agreed to do for a book publisher (not DC).”
So not only is he saying he’ll be writing two monthly books, but he’s also drawing a monthly book, and doing all that in just a Monday-Friday work week? No offense to Mr. Willingham, but I find it hard to believe that he could possibly keep up that schedule. Granted, he’s not inking the new book, but still. A page a day of art, plus two monthly books to script, plus special issues, plus a novel? Hmmm. More power to him if he can actually do it.