Archive for April, 2006
Somebody Owes Me a Page of Story, Too
Picking up on the feature that Craig started, I wanted to post a page that I feel totally rips off me and the rest of the comic buying public. This is from Manhunter #19:
An entire page devoted to a conversation that could have taken place in less than half a page? A whole page made up of only 3 panels of very static action?
I call bullshit on that.
There’s absolutely no reason why that scene should take up an entire page. Either expand the scene and add more panels of conversation and character insights, or just cap it at half a page and devote the other half to more story. Writer Marc Andreyko has created a very interesting character in the new Manhunter, and overall I like the series. But decompressed crap like this is a regular occurrence in the book, and it’s getting bad enough that I’m considering dropping the book despite an otherwise enjoyable story.
Lost in Star Trek
“Young Kirk. Young Spock. Mr. Lost.Those are the components Paramount Pictures has assembled to revive its sputtering Star Trek franchise.
A new big-screen movie, apparently featuring the early adventures of Trek forefathers James T. Kirk and Spock, and boasting the handiwork of Lost creator J.J. Abrams, is being primed for a 2008 release”
From an article talking about Alias and Lost creator J.J. Abrams being hired by Paramount to produce, direct and cowrite the next Trek movie.
I have nothing to comment on, as my interest in Trek faded about a dozen years ago…
Somebody Owes Me a Page of Story
The cost of today’s comics has reduced my former armload of new magazines on shopping trips to a mere handful, and for this reason I expect the creators to deliver enough satisfying story to justify the ridiculous expenditure. Most often, however, I take home heavily padded segments of story designed to flesh out a trade paperback a few months down the road—which readers seem to accept, despite the fact that this means trade paperback readers are getting stiffed six times over.
Because I resent decompression and its frequent use by writers and artists to rob me of my story-seeking, comic buying dollar, I continue this series of posts showcasing instances wherein I feel creators have ripped me off so blatantly they actually owe me a page or more of actual story to justify their publisher taking the money which I have shelled out.
Let it be known: I’m not saying decompression itself is not a useful storytelling tool, but I think that nine times out of ten it isn’t used for that lofty purpose, but rather to screw readers out of a more satisfying reading experience. For example:
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko gave us the origin of Doctor Strange in about 12-15 pages, way back in the day. What do you do if you’re J.M. Straczynski, Sara Barnes, and Brandon Peterson and you’ve been asked to stretch that simple, well-known tale over six entire issues? You do things like stretch a car crash scene over three friggin’ pages! From the “Marvel Knights” Strange #1:
There’s just too much to say about this one. Most of these panels can be eliminated and the same feeling and content would still be conveyed. And is that panel of the crash itself so well drawn that it needs to occupy so much of the page? Hardly.
J.M.S., Barnes, and Peterson, you owe me about two pages of story!
Non-comics link of the day
I’m taking the day off to spend with Hanna (she’s on spring break.) Later on today we’ll be setting up a lemonade stand. We may also offer some other beverages, like fruit punch. But I’ll tell you what we won’t be selling.
Gatorade.
That’s right. I was shocked, shocked I say, to find out about the Gatorade conspiracy.
See what I mean? Filthy!
(via Tom Peyer)
From comic book to real life: chess boxing
So this morning on NPR I heard about this bizarre sport gaining populairty in Germany: Chess Boxing. Contestants play a 4 minute round of chess, followed by a 2 minute boxing match, then back to chess, etc. This goes on for 11 rounds, or until someone scores a KO or a checkmate.
The guy who organized the first event is a performance artist who saw the concept in a French comic book. He thought it was a great idea, and decided to try it in real life. It’s now gained enough popularity that he organizes international matches.
Comics. Is there nothing they can’t do?
Secret Wars Re-Enactment Society
It’s been linked to a million times, and who are we to buck the trend? Presented for your geeky entertainment: Secret Wars Re-Enactment Society.
It’s actually quite funny, if you’re a comic fan and understand the in jokes.
(I now hang my head in nerd shame.)
Addictive game
No time to blog, so instead, here’s an addictive online game for you.
(note: the art links at the bottom probably aren’t work safe.)
Hospitalized? Eeeep.
Bob Burden (creator of the Flaming Carrot) is in the hospital recovering from surgery. A stomach virus?
Send the dude a card at:
Desperado Studios
c/o Bob Burden get well wishes
51 South
Peachtree Drive
Suite 8
Norcross, GA 30071
Also Alex Toth is in the hospital. No word on the why. But he’s been in the hospital for several weeks apparently.
Send the dude a card at:
Alex TOTH, room 407
c/o Belmont Village of Burbank
455 E. Angeleno Ave.
Burbank, CA
91501-3083
This may sound a little cold but I didn’t know he was still alive.
A couple of online venues for print-on-demand and low runs I ran across. Thanks to the Journal boards.
Booksurge. Offers some package deals including getting an ISBN, proofreading, etc. for various fees. Some of them are kind of pricey $$$ in my opinion.
Dream Weaver Press. Something more along the lines of what I was thinking about. They specialize in perfect binding (trade paperback for the layman) in low print runs. When I say low, I mean 25 sets! You can even generate one copy for $25. This is a full color cover (gloss) with bw guts. 30 lb weight stock. About a 100 sets is where prices get down to sellable to bookstores without losing your shirt on the run.
There’s also Lulu. A print on demand place I’ve mentioned before. Quite a few webcomiker’s use them. They do throw their cheesy logo on the spine. Probably the only drawback.
Son of GOG
Panel, in conjunction with Back Porch Comics, Angry Dog Comics, Dimestore Productions and Aardvark-Vanaheim, is presenting this year’s SPACE pre-show party.
Kern’s Cafe
* 363. E. Town St. in downtown Columbus
* Click http://www.kernscafe.com for directions.
* There’s street parking and more parking at the Franklin University lot around back.
* 7 p.m. – ???, May 12
* Appetizers will be provided, and they’ll have a cash bar and a full menu. The sponsors do plan to chip in for a round or two.
Monday Morning “Guess the Artist”
Have at it:
(click image to gridify)
(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, 12/26/2005, 1/2/2006, 1/9/2006, 1/16/2006, 1/23/2006, 1/30/2006, 2/06/2006, 2/13/2006, 2/20/2006, 2/27/2006, 3/6/2006, 3/13/2006, 3/20/2006, 3/27/2006, 4/3/2006, 4/4/2006, 4/5/2006, 4/6/2006, 4/7/2006, 4/8/2006, 4/9/2006, 4/10/2006)
Master painters as kids
Worth1000 is a Photoshop gallery/contest site. In the past they’ve had topics like “Photoshop your favorite superhero in their day job,” which featured Aquaman as a pool cleaner. Here’s one of their new contests which is very cool: “In this contest your task is to depict the masterpieces of the renassiance masters (or other time periods) as they were drawn when the masters were children.”
You can check out all the entries here.
Desert Island Comics – the collected edition
Panel member and The Ineffables creator Craig Bogart lists the ten comics from his collection that he would want to have with him if he were stranded on a desert island:
“I’ve found myself lately going through my twenty-odd long boxes and picking out favorite old runs of different series. Most nights I’ll curl up with two or three issues in a bubble bath (just wanted you guys to have the visual) and revisit some old stories that I found particularly memorable.”
Craig’s walk down memory lane is both humorous and heartfelt. Presented below are his picks, in a handy dandy reference list.
- Desert Island Comics, number 10 – Spectacular Spider-Man #142
- Desert Island Comics, number 9 – Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #141
- Desert Island Comics, number 8 – Fantastic Four #241
- Desert Island Comics, number 7 – The Punisher Meets Archie
- Desert Island Comics, number 6 – Howard the Duck #14
- Desert Island Comics, number 5 – Godzilla #24
- Desert Island Comics, number 4 – Flash #54
- Desert Island Comics, number 3 – Preacher Special – Cassidy: Blood & Whiskey
- Desert Island Comics, number 2 – Flaming Carrot Comics #11
- Desert Island Comics, number 1 – Fantastic Four #62
By the way, be sure to click on the comments section of each post. Even though the counter may indicate zero comments, most do feature feedback and other thoughts.