Speculative Friction

2008-04-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

While you were out…

I know, gone waaay too long. What was originally supposed to be a short break to catch my breath late last year turned into a five month sabbatical from this blog. But trust me when I say that I wasn’t just lying around and doing nothing. I’ve actually been quite busy, working on a number of projects, both large and small, a few of which I can finally talk about now.

But first, I’d like to let everyone interested know that I will be attending the New York Comic Con – http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/ – later this month, the 17th through the 20th of April, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, New York. As usual, I’ll be wandering around the floor of the Javitts, but you can buy copies of my books from my good friend and book designer of choice, Paul Michael Kane, at the PMK’s Imagination booth throughout the show. I’ll be periodically checking in with Paul and company, so if you need to contact me during the show, just leave a message and business card with him and I’ll do my best to meet you there.

I’m really excited about attending this con, as it’s been both a fun and worthwhile show to attend since it was first established two years ago. Aside from the fact that New York is one of my favorite cities to visit and explore, it also gives me a chance to meet and greet a ton of the industry’s best and brightest, and my numerous friends and allies in the biz, meet with my editors, make new contacts, etc.

However, I am a bit sad to note that this is the only show I plan to attend in 2008. As will become evident a little farther down in this entry, I’m going to be very, very busy writing and working on projects this year, and something had to give. And, since I don’t plan on abandoning any of the great projects I’ve got lined up, staying in the office was the obvious solution. Hopefully next year will allow for more conventions.

Second, for those who might have missed it, Nexus # 100, which contains my “A Short History of Nexus” article detailing the long and winding publishing road that the nigh-legendary sci-fi comic series has followed over the past few decades, came out at the end of February, 2008, after some extended delays. Aside from being happy to see that issue hit the stands after such an [unexpected and] extended absence after it resumed publishing under the Rude Dude imprint, it was also a landmark that both Mike Barron and Steve “Dude” Rude can be justly proud of reaching. And to say that I’m still beaming and aglow from being asked to be part of that celebration would be more than a small understatement.

If you’ve not gotten a copy of this fine book yet, please consider checking with your local comic shop or head on over to the publisher’s website – http://www.rudedudeproductions.com/ – and grab yourself a copy of this massive special edition. It’s one for the ages, fer sure.

And one of the most fun, and personally important, projects I’ve been involved with came out late last year. Dondi volume 1 was released by Classic Comics Press in November, and featured not only my interview with one of that waif’s co-creators, “Irwin Hasen: The Making of An American Icon,” but also an introduction by none other than Jules Feiffer! If you’ve never had the chance to enjoy this truly great comic strip, head on over to http://www.classiccomicspress.com/ and grab a copy now.

Seriously, this is one of the finest family friendly comic strips ever produced, and I’m incredibly honored to have been able to be part of this project by talking on the record with Irwin. However you consider it, he’s truly one of the giants of the field.

[And for those who might be wondering, sure, you can consider that a small pun. But it’s also the Lord’s own truth, regardless of Irwin’s physical stature.]

Also, I’ve decided to offer a few signed sets of the Talking with Graphic Novelists interview books published late last year by Rosen Publishing. These are beautiful hardcover editions volumes which feature my extended, in depth conversations with Neil Gaiman, Mike Oeming, George Perez and Alan Moore. Save for the Moore book, which reprints the basically sold-out Alan Moore Spells It Out, these are the first appearance of these interviews in book format.

If you’re interested in picking up a set of these, head over to http://www.pmkane.com/moore for the details. They cost $ 100.00 per set, which might seem high until you consider that each volume will set you back $ 30.00, so this represents a savings of $20.00 off list price. [And just in case you were wondering, no, I won’t be offering single volumes for sale separately. Sorry about that.]

And don’t forget, you can still get a signed set of the two books featuring my interviews with Alan Moore in soft cover at http://www.pmkane.com/moore/moore.htm.

On the “still to come” front, I completed and submitted another short article, “The Essential Sequential Steampunk,” for inclusion in the Steampunk anthology of [duh!] Steampunk science fiction tales by a who’s who of the field. I’m particularly excited about being part of this project because, unlike a majority of my recent journalistic and other work, this article’s part of a prose anthology and intended for sale in a market I’ve had no previous exposure to, namely, the book store market. I’m still a bit flabbergasted that I was asked to contribute to this collection by the collection’s editors, Jeff and Ann VanderMeer, and am quite indebted to them for that kindness.

Steampunk will be published by Tachyon – http://www.tachyonpress.com/ – sometime in the next few months. You can learn more about the collection by visiting http://www.tachyonpublications.com/book/Steampunk.html?Session_ID=new&Reference_Page=/booksComingsoon.html. I’ll surely announce that release when the time comes.

I’d hoped I could also talk about a rather big and important project that I’ve been asked to write, but recent developments make that difficult at this time. Yes, it’s something I’ve been dying to do for several years now. Yes, it has been officially announced by the publisher, although most news sites seem to have completely overlooked it. And, finally, and yes, it will still happen. I just can’t talk about it right now, but rest assured that, as soon as everything’s finalized and set in stone, I will talk about here.

And last of all for today, I’d like to announce that I’m officially going into the publishing end of the business. The company’s called Bill Baker Presents Press, LLC, or BBP Press for short, and was created primarily to publish the series of interview books begun with the Alan Moore Spells It Out and Alan Moore’s Exit Interviews volumes. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility that I’ll begin issuing graphic novels or collections of comics, etc. in the future.

Diamond has already examined and approved the first book, and it will be in their Previews catalogue later this summer. Look for an official announcement on that front here and elsewhere soon. And while the imprint has no official website yet, there will be one set up and running soon. Look for those details here in the future, as well.

Anyone interested in talking with me about the new publishing venture, any of the other projects I’ve mentioned above, or even about possible future projects, just drop me an email. I’ll be more than happy to hear from you, and talk about anything I’ve got going.

And that’s it, for now. There are a lot of other things that are still developing, but nothing solid enough to talk about at this juncture. But check back here in the near future for updates. I’ll be back here again in a week or so, serving up another pile of news and announcements. Except for the occasional short delay [which might occur while I’m traveling to and from the NYC Con later this month], I expect to be doing a lot more frequent updates here from here on out.

But, in the meantime, I’d say it’s long past due for the latest installment of…

What’s Bill Been Reading? [for the period of 3-1-08 to3-31-08]

Flight Explorer volume 1
Matthew Armstrong, Steve Hamaker, Kazu Kibuishi, Jake Parker, Kean Soo, and others; edited by Kazu Kibuishi
Villiard Books
http://www.atrandom.com/

This all ages spin-off from the incredibly popular Flight anthologies offers readers ten slices of full color comics genius. Whether you’re new to the worlds of these storytellers, or solid fans of Fish N Chips, Copper, Jellaby, or the other characters presented here, you’ll find a wealth of great comics entertainment between the covers of this book. Perfect for those looking to discover the joys of the medium of any age, and highly recommended to those who would like to sharpen their own skills, this is a volume which will reward your first, or twenty-first, reading.

Sam and Max: Surfin’ the Highway
Steve Purcell
Telltale Games
http://www.telltalegames.com/

For the past twenty years, Purcell’s off-kilter heroes--a naked, decidedly deranged rabbit and hound dog draped in a trench coat and hat--have ravaged reader’s funny bones while ransacking the odder corners of our collective cultural memories. And we’re all the better, and our culture’s all the richer, for it.

This collection contains all of the comics, shorts, strips, pin ups and a Brand! New! Tale! And it’s overflowing with enough humor, gooey goodness and sheer lunacy that you’ll find yourself not only going back for seconds and thirds, but also quoting some of your favorite bits to bemused and befuddled friends, colleagues and total strangers.

But don’t let the hilarity distract you from the plain truth presented in black and white and even glorious color before you: Steve Purcell is a master craftsman, who makes silliness and even surrealism look simple and easy to pull off. And if you can dry the tears of joy from your eyes long enough, you’ll also see that there’s ample visual evidence that he’s one of the most under rated draftsmen putting pen and ink to page these days, as well as an accomplished cartoonist of the highest caliber.

If there’s one book on this entire list you buy, make it this one. Sam and Max: Surfin’the Highway is a masterpiece of the medium. It should be on every reader’s shelf, and studied long and hard by everyone who wants to make their own comics, regardless of the genre they wish to work in. And that ain’t no joke or overstatement, folks.

It’s the simple truth.

The Virgin Project: Real People Share Real Stories
K.D. Boze and Stasia Kato
Girlie Press
http://www.artofkdboze.com/

It’s quite likely you’ve not heard of this collection of true-to-life tales of “losin’ it” yet. But you will, sooner or later. That’s because, while this self-published volume hasn’t been offered by many comic shops, or even appeared in Diamond’s Previews catalogue, this anthology with a twist will surely begin to be noticed on a wide scale soon.

The concept behind its simple: Real people share their personal stories of how they lost their virginity. Sounds like it’d make a great “stroke” book, right? Well, perhaps. But, as with so much else we find in what’s been called “The Human Comedy,” appearances and first impressions can be deceiving.

The truth of the matter is that sex, like life itself, is much more complex, strange, terrifying and wonderful. And so are the stories in this book.

Rendered in a sure-handed, cartoony style by Boze and Kato, these confessions come to life in a totally natural way on the page. Sure, there’s a fair share of over the top escapades related here—from sex in your parent’s car with a twist, to a different view of familial love. But there are also tales that will break warm or tear at your heart, as well as a few which might make you see sex—and perhaps even life—in a new light. And there’s at least one story which will freeze your blood with its implications, offering as it does the depth of a parent’s love and the lengths they might go to in an effort to make things right for their child.

Like the subject matter itself, this is a book which shouldn’t be approached with our eyes [much less your mind] closed, or with preconceptions. And like that transformational moment, it has the power to change you in ways small and large, if you allow it.

The Virgin Project is something worth reading, especially if you’re interested in exploring what real sex is, and can be.

Shooting War
Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman
Grand Central
http://www.hatchetbookgroupusa.com/

Shooting War is one part scathing media satire, one part sci-fi socio-political thriller, and a wholly engrossing read. Set in a near future where the War on Terror has lead to an increasingly unstable and chaotic situation in Iraq, and economic and social malaise on American shores, a young amateur journalist named Jimmy Burns is practicing his own brand of anti-establishment guerilla live online reporting when the war hits home with a vengeance. In seconds, Burns is catapulted onto the center ring of the media circus and becomes world famous for his coverage of a suicide bombers attack on a Starbucks. In short order he finds himself hired by one of the very corporate interests he was denouncing, and dropped into the modern heart of darkness that is post 9-11 Baghdad. What follows is by turns thrilling, heartbreaking, and hilarious, as Burns tries to get the real story, but finds himself increasingly the very target of that truth through circumstance and the machinations of forces beyond his control. Throughout, Lappe’s script and gift for dialogue creates a believable, if sometimes over cynical and studied, sense of otherworldly realism akin to Apocalypse Now, while Goldman’s art helps ground the proceedings as it simultaneously drives the characters and reader through the increasingly surreal situations and encounters.

Well paced, overflowing with smart yet believable dialogue and shot through with a humor as black as the center of a neutron star, Shooting War is a warning of what might come to pass if we as a nation continue on our current path, politically, socially and, perhaps most importantly, personally.

Billy Clikk: Rogmasher Rampage
Mark Crilley
Delacorte Press
www.RandomHouse.com/kids

What do you do after writing and providing spot illustrations for a series of successful Young Adult books featuring your own character? Well, in Crilley’s case, he created an entirely new series featuring the adventures of a ‘Tween who has recently begun training in the family business of monster hunting. This, the second book in the Billy Clikk tales, features the titular character’s first semi-solo mission, one which takes him and a female counterpart to China to investigate a series of unusual Rogmasher incursions into human territory. Filled with Crilley’s typical spot-on characterizations, humor and silly-sounding-but-dangerous creatures, Rogmasher Rampage will likely appeal to fans of his previous work [both the graphic and prose novel-versions of Akiko] as well as his newer Miki Falls manga.

Showcase Presents: The War that Time Forgot
Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, with Joe Kubert, Gene Colan, Russ Heath and others
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

In case it’s not obvious by now, I’m a huge fan of Silver Age comics in general, and particularly of the various modern collections which represent them in various formats. I am especially fond of the still relatively new big, thick black and white Showcase Presents “phone book” format that DC has adopted in recent years. Yeah, I really love [and will miss terribly] their full color, high end hard cover Archives books, but I’m also quite happy to see their more affordable cousins gracing the racks of comic shops and book stores across the country. This allows hard-core Silver Age junkies like me easy access to series that, while we might consider buying them in more upscale versions, will snap up these cheaper representations of that same material in an instant.

And this one’s a great case. Yeah, I enjoyed these tales as a kid, but I’m not a die-hard fan who has to have these fine, but extremely strange [and, yeah, often formulaic] tales in full color, much less represented between hard covers. But offer me over 500 pages of beautifully reproduced GI Joes versus dinosaurs for under twenty bucks, and I’m on it in an instant. Really fun stuff, and basically intended for all ages, these tales require the reader to suspend his belief in extremis, but it’s really worth it for the sheer fun and B-movie style thrills offered. And, for those students of the medium who might be looking to study masters of the art at work and so improve their own visual storytelling, well, there’s plenty of fodder herein.

Cairo
G. Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

This seems to be part of a new effort from Vertigo to release a series of original graphic novels in black and white, an initiative that includes Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece’s very fine Incognegro. Cairo, like Incognegro, straddles several genres, and seems to be complete unto itself. Unlike its stable mate, Cairo, embraces not just another culture, but also the supernatural.

Wilson’s tale, which mixes an insider’s street view of daily life in the titular city with the complexities of Arab-Israeli interactions, politics and a seemingly haphazard struggle to secure the services of a powerful Jinn whose current home is a hookah, provides an entertaining ride. Perker proves to be a solid pen and ink artist, and capable of capturing some of the more subtle emotions of the characters through both their body language and faces. The result is a quick read, and a nice diversion, but one which offers but a few glimpses of the richer possibilities inherent to the material and subject.

Marvel Masterworks volume 91: Tales to Astonish [volume 2 regular edition]
Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Dick Ayers, Don Heck, Carl Burgos, Bob Powell, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvelcomics.com/

Another collection of Silver Age material, this time from the House of Ideas, in their high end full color Masterworks series of hard covers. These tales, gathered from issues 53 through 69 of Tales to Astonish, represent the final phase of the early career of Henry “Hank” Pym, scientist turned superhero. Whether he was operating as Ant-Man or his larger counterpart, Giant-Man, Pym was one of those characters who never really seemed to find his footing or ideal arena, which perhaps helps to explain why the character struggles so often with his own sense of worth, and to prove himself worthy of the title “Hero.” As a theme, it’s obvious fodder for much of the early Marvel tales which featured so many misfits, heroic and otherwise. But here it’s almost endemic, and that deep-seated lack of self-worth eventually became part and parcel, or even the calling card, of this bedeviled character in later years.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s a real sense of audacity, and of adventure, of striving to do the best with one’s life at the root of all these tales. And although this character has never really grown out of his second [or perhaps even third] tier status in many ways, and was saddled with some of the more strange villains in the Marvel universe, this volume offers some real old-fashioned entertainment to those seeking such rarities today.

Marvel Masterworks volume 90: The X-Men and The Uncanny X-Men [volume 6 regular edition]
Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Dave Cockrum, Terry Austin, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvelcomics.com/

One of my early reintroductions to comics came while I was pursuing my Masters Degree at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, during the early 80s. A few of the guys I met in class and used to hang out with kept talking about the then “brand new” series called The X-Men. Of course, having encountered those worthies in my own youth, and having been a hard-core fan of Marvel’s Merry Mutants, I asked them to tell me more. Well, in a move that might sound truly strange in these days of slabbing comics, they did me one better: They simply brought over a stack of their well-read, but loving treated, issues so I could discover this new delight for myself.

Among those books were almost all of the issues leading up to, as well as the very same stories reprinted in this hard cover collection. I’ve got to say, while I wasn’t hooked, I was duly impressed with what I saw the medium becoming. And, although I didn’t really begin to actively pursue renewing my steady comics habit, this experience certainly set the hook.

Some of my favorite issues from this important, and now seminal, era of the X-Men are in this volume, which gathers #s 141 to 150 together in one glorious collection. Perhaps the crown jewel in this particular batch is the “Days of Future Past” two-parter, which has become the jumping off point for so many stories for so many creative teams of the X-books since that it’s almost a cliché today. However, the original still proves to be both an engrossing and powerful, if sometimes stiff, read. And that’s not to pay short shrift to the other tales represented in these pages by any stretch.

For sheer entertainment, you really can’t go wrong with this or the earlier volumes of the series. And if you want to know the how and why superhero comics have become what they are today, and what lead to the fusion of the soap opera and super powered team concepts in the minds of so many aficionados, editors and culture vultures, this series will provide you with some of the best examples of the refinement of that approach.

Two-Handed Engine: The Selected Stories of Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore
Centipede Press
http://www.sfbc.com/

This nearly-900 page collection represents some of the most endearing, enduring and—dare I say it?—Fun Science Fiction tales written by the husband-wife team who all but dominated the short story market during the 40s and 50s. Woefully forgotten and long out of print, here you’ll find some of the most important tales from two masterful storytellers whose influence, albeit often subliminal and unrecognized, can still be felt today.

Whether it’s the heart breaking triumph of “No Woman Born,” the sheer lunacy of “The Proud Robot,” or the terrifying sense of alienation and loss powering the tales “Absalom” or “Mimsy Were the Borogoves,” these are stories which, save for certain word choices, could have been written last week. Or even next.

Apparently only available via the Science Fiction Book Club at present, this is a collection that deserves to be on the shelf of anyone with even a passing interest in science fiction, and should be read and reread by those looking to master both the genre and their own craft as authors.

The Anubis Tapestry volume 1: Between Twilights
Bruce Zick
Actionopolis and Komikwerks, LLC
http://www.actionopolis.com/

This is the first in a projected series of Young Adult prose books written, and featuring spot illustrations, by Bruce Zick featuring teen Chance Henry. Chance is the son of an Egyptologist and museum curator who is the victim of an unfortunate body theft perpetrated by Sehti, a mummy driven mad and bad by the intervening centuries between his internment and his release into the modern world. Having lost his father to this creature now inhabiting his father’s flesh, Chance is given an opportunity to save his father’s Ka [soul essence] from an eternity in the Underworld through the intervention of another mummy, one who teaches the boy the arcane magic of ancient Egypt.

Zick is a fine writer, able to tell an engaging tale that provides enough character and environmental details without slowing the action. And, as fans of his comics work as well as the spot illustrations he’s provided for this book will attest, he’s a truly gifted artist with an original, appealing sense of design and style. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, this is the only volume of the series which was ever released before the publisher, Actionopolis, disappeared. Hopefully Zick will one day get the opportunity to tell the rest of this tale, either in prose or a graphic novel. It’d make a great addition to the burgeoning YA comics scene.

[What follows is a fairly complete listing of what I’ve read since my last entry, posted in early November 2007. I’ll be going back and writing short reviews of many, if not all, of these books in the future, and include them at the end of that post’s reading list.]

What’s Bill Been Reading? [for the period of 1-1-08 to2-29-08]

JANUARY ‘08

Tales from the Crypt #1: Ghouls Gone Wild!
Rob Vollmar, Neil Kleid, Don McGregor, Sho Murase, Rick Parker, and others
Papercutz
http://www.papercutz.com/

The Guin Saga Manga volumes 2 and 3: The Seven Magi
Kaoru Kurimoto and Kazuaki Yanagisawa
Vertical, Inc.
http://www.vertical-inc.com/

Essex County volume 1: Tales From the Farm
Jeff Lemire
Top Shelf
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/

Michael Moorcock’s Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer
Michael Moorcock, Walt Simonson, Steve Oliff, et. al.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

DC Comics Rarities Archives volume 1
Various creators
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152
David Petersen
Archaia Studios Press
http://www.aspcomics.com/

Marvel Masterworks volume 87: Rawhide Kid [or volume 2 regular edition]
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jack Davis, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

This volume collects Rawhide Kid #s 26 to 35 in their entirety. And while there aren’t as many Kirby-drawn tales herein as one might want, it does have some of his best Western work committed to paper from this period of his career.

Marvel Masterworks volume 85: The Amazing Spider-Man [or volume 9 regular edition]
Stan Lee, John Romita, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

This volume reprints issues 78 through 87 of Amazing Spider-Man, simply some of the best superhero tales of that period…and possibly any other era.

Popgun volume one
Featuring various creators, edited by Mark Andrew Smith and Joe Keatinge
Image Comics
http://www.imagecomics.com/

The Museum Vaults: Excerpts from the Journal of an Expert
Marc-Antoine Mathieu
NBM/ComicsLit
http://www.nbmpublishing.com/

Schulz’s Youth
Charles M. Schulz
About Comics
http://www.aboutcomics.com/

Appleseed: Hypernotes
Shirow Masamune
Dark Horse Manga
http://www.darkhorse.com/

The Wind in the Willows
Kenneth Grahame, Michel Plessix
Papercutz
http://www.papercutz.com/

Incognegro
Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

Scalped volume 2: Casino Boogie
Jason Aaron, R.M. Guera, et. al.
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

Marvel Masterworks Golden Age volume 89: Daring Mystery Comics [or volume 1 regular edition]
Joe Simon, Maurice, Gutwirth, Larry Antonette, Jack Binder, and various
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Reprinting Daring Marvel Mystery Comics numbers 1 through 4 in all their stunted glory

The Golden Age Doctor Fate Archives volume 1
Gardner Fox, Howard Sherman, Stan Aschmeier, Jon Chester Kozlak, et. al.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

This big, thick volume reprints all of the solo stories featuring the two versions of Doctor Fate from the Golden Age mainstay, More Fun Comics #s 55 through 98.

Maakies with the Wrinkled Knees
Tony Millionaire
Fantagraphics Books
http://www.fantagraphics.com/

Absolute Batman: Hush
Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, et. al.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross
Chip Kidd with Geoff Spear
Pantheon Books
http://www.pantheonbooks.com/

What’s Bill Been Reading? [for the period of 11-6-07 through 12-31-07]

NOVEMBER 2007:

The Lost Colony
Book 1: The Snodgrass Conspiracy
By Grady Klein
First Second
http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/

House of Clay
Naomi Nowak
NBM/ComicsLit
http://www.nbmpublishing.com/

Tom Strong Book Five
Mark Schultz, Pascal Ferry, Steve Aylett, Shawn McManus, Brian K. Vaughan, Peter Snejbjerg, Ed Brubaker, Duncan Fegredo, et. Al.
America’s Best Comics
http://www.wildstorm.com/

Iron West
Doug TenNapel
Image
http://www.imagecomics.com/ and http://www.tennapel.com/

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion
Don Rosa
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.gemstonepub.com/

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright
Bryan Talbot
Dark Horse Comics
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Scarlet Traces
Ian Edginton and D’Israeli
Dark Horse Comics
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Scarlet Traces: The Great Game
Ian Edginton and D’Israeli
Dark Horse Comics
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Will Eisner’s The Spirit Book One
Darwyn Cooke with J. Bone and Dave Stewart
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Night Work
Steve Hamilton
Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Minotaur
http://www.minotaurbooks.com/

The Five Fists of Science
Matt Fraction and Steven Sanders
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect
Peter David, George Perez, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

The Spirit Archives volume 18
Will Eisner et. al.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

covering 1/49 to 6/49

Godland: Celestial Edition One
Joe Casey, Tom Scioli, et. al.
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

Little Lulu volume 16: A Handy Kid
John Stanley and Irving Tripp
Dark Horse Comics
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Amazing Fantasy Omnibus
Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Collects Amazing Adventures/Amazing Adult Fantasy/Amazing Fantasy #s 1 through 15, including the first appearance of some long-forgotten character called Spider-Man.

Heroes volume one
By various
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus volume three
Jack Kirby, Mike Royer, et. al.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Marvel Masterworks volume 84: The Avengers [or volume 7, regular edition]
Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Gene Colan, Barry Windsor-Smith, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

collecting issue #s 59 through 68

Marvel Masterworks volume 83: Strange Tales featuring Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. [or volume 1, regular edition]
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Jim Steranko and others
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

collects Strange Tales #s 135 to 153

EC Archives: The Vault of Horror volume one
Al Feldstein, William Gaines, Johnny Craig, Wally Wood, Graham Ingels, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kamen, Jack Davis, et. al.
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.gemstonepub.com/

collecting the first six issues of this seminal magazine

The Comics of Fletcher Hanks: I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!
By Fletcher Hanks, et. al., edited by Paul Karasik
Fantagrahics Books
http://www.fantagraphics.com/

DECEMBER 2007

Alan Moore: Wild Worlds
Alan Moore with Jim Bailie, Travis Charest, Scott Clark, Al Rio, et. al.
WildStorm Productions
http://www.wildstorm.com/

Collects the Spawn/ WildC.A.T.S.: Devil’s Day, Deathblow by Blow, and VooDoo: Dancing in the Dark mini-series with the Majestic: The Big Chill story from WildStorm Spotlight # 1 and the short tale, “Reincarnation,” from WildC.A.T.S. # 50

Alan moore’s Complete WildC.A.T.S.
Alan Moore, Travis Charest, et. al.
WildStorm Productions
http://www.wildstorm.com/

collects WildC.A.T.S. #s 21 through 34, and a short tale from issue # 50 of that same series.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier
Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, et. al.
America’s Best Comics
http://www.wildstorm.com/

Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil
Jeff Smith with Steve Hamaker
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Marvel Masterworks volume 85: Atlas Era Strange Tales [or volume 1 of regular edition]
Joe Maneely, John Romita, Gene Colan, Joe Sinnott, Bill Everett, Russ Heath, Dick Ayers, Bernie Krigstein, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

collecting the first ten issues of the “Atomic Age” Strange Tales series

the Spirit Archives volume 19
Will Eisner, et. al.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

representing the run from 7/49 through 12/49 of Eisner’s seminal strip

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. volumes 1 & 2
Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

The entire twelve issue run of Ellis and Immonen’s truly sick and twisted series collected as two slim but beautifully designed hardcovers as part of Marvel’s “Premiere Edition” series of books.

Ultimate Fantastic Four volume 4
Mike Carey with Mark Brooks, Pasqual Ferry, Stuart Immonen, Frazier Irving and Leinil Yu, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Collects issues 33-41 and the second annual of the Ultimate Fantastic Four, along with the Ultimate Fantastic Four/X-Men and Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four miniseries.

Cry Yourself to Sleep
Jeremy Tinder
Top Shelf Productions
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/

Tinder’s debut

Black Ghost Apple Factory
Jeremy Tinder
Top Shelf Productions
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/

The Bakers: Babies and Kittens
Kyle Baker
Image Comics
http://www.imagecomics.com/

The Guin Saga Manga volume 1: The Seven Magi
Kaoru Kurimoto and Kazuaki Yanagishawa
Vertical, Inc.
http://www.vertical-inc.com/

Impact Parameter and Other Quantum Realities
Geoffrey A. Landis
Golden Gryphon
[no website?]

Little Lulu volume 17: The Valentine
John Stanley and Irving Tripp
Dark Horse Comics
http://www.darkhorse.com/

The Art of Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot
NBM
http://www.nbmpublishing.com/

Skull Kill Krew
Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Steve Yeowell, et. al.
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

collects the five issue Skull Kill Krew miniseries

Rocketo: Journey to the Hidden Sea
Frank Espinosa with Marie Taylor
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

The second volume concludes the first epic adventure featuring the Rocketo Garrison and his companions.

Earthboy Jacobus
Doug TenNapel
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

Batman: Detective
Paul Dini with Royal McGraw, Don Kramer, J.H. Williams, Joe Benitez, Marcos Marz and others
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Flink
Doug TenNapel
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/ and http://www.tennapel.com/

2007-11-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

History in the Making

Well, it's official. If you check out this month's edition of Diamond Comic Distributor's Previews catalogue, you'll find the solicitation for the 100th issue of Steve Rude and Mike Baron's Nexus on page 310. This is the very issue which contains, to quote the solicitation copy, "a brand new 12-page feature, 'The History of Nexus by Bill Baker." And, yep, that's me. According the full page ad on the preceding page, this article presents, "How it All Began! Early, Previously Unseen Nexus Art! The Crew From All 3 Nexus Publishers Tell All!" And what's really cool about all that hyperbole is the simple fact that it's completely true.

It's both exciting and, well, a touch weird for me to be part of an event like this, if truth be told. Not that I'm ungrateful for this opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, to the living legend that is Nexus. I just never saw this coming, nor did I ever expected anything like it to happen. I suppose this slightly discombobulated feeling could also be attributed to the fact that, as I've explained in the Comic Book Novice radio interview earlier this year, and believe I touched upon during the Supernot podcast a couple months back, I have only recently come to the conclusion that I needed to begin the process of "Branding myself" and my work as a full time professional journalist, writer and author of books. Still, after spending ten years as a generally invisible presence--something akin to an invisible prompter prodding established and rising star creators to share their impressions, thoughts and processes with the readers of the various websites and magazines I've worked for in the past--it's a bit of an odd feeling to see "my name in lights" as it were.

Anyway, regarding Nexus # 100, please order early and often. This is a series that deserves to be read far and wide by a large readership, whether or not I have something to do with it. The stories of both Baron and Rude are always worth checking out, be they working together or separately.

And, finally, for those of you who want to check out that interview I did for Supernot [supernotpodcast.podshow.com]. It's episode # 27, which was posted on 9-20-07, and you can download it via http://www.podshow.com/shows/?mode=current&show_id=6681&set=1&page=1

And that's it for the moment. Which means that's it time for yet another mammoth installment of...

What's Bill been reading for the past month+? [for the period of 9-13 to 10-14-07]

Little Lulu: The Explorers [volume 15]
by John Stanley and Irving Tripp
Dark Horse Books
http://www.darkhorse.com/

The more I read of this truly classic all ages material, the more I understand of the reasons why this series continues to regarded with such high regard by so many creators. The work of John Stanley and Irving Tripp is seamless, sturdy and wholly accessible, with very little signs of the wear and tear of time which cripples so many other strips and comics of even more recent vintage. And while many of the tales contained in this edition echo those from earlier volumes, there's still an incredible freshness to them. This is a series which is well worth reading for the lessons it offers in constructing stories that work effortlessly, and worth rereading for sheer joy of it. Highly recommended, as are all the previous volumes in this reprint series, to all and sundry. Oh, and these would make great holiday gifts, providing not only hours of reading enjoyment, but also fine coloring book material.

The Homecoming
by Ray Bradbury, with illustrations by Dave McKean
Collins Design
http://www.harpercollins.com/

This beautifully designed small hardcover presents Ray Bradbury's classic short tale of a normal boy's struggles to fit into his fantastic and oddly gifted family with a series of simply brilliant illustrations by Dave McKean. Quite simply, this is a magical, moving and utterly brilliant presentation and well worth tracking down if only to experience anew, with the sepia-soaked and occasionally bloodshot fresh eyes provided by McKean's art. Another perfect gift for the guy, gal or ghoul who has [or think they have] everything by these two luminaries.

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere
by Mike Carey and Glenn Fabry
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

This adaptation of Gaiman's breakout urban fantasy prose novel is well crafted, and worth reading in its own right. Carey has obviously approached this project with the right balance of appreciation for the source material and a comic writer's craft, making what might otherwise have become an overly verbose retelling into a story which is familiar, yet offers surprises of its own. And I mean that in the best way possible. And to say that it's a real joy to see Fabry doing extended interiors, applying his often overlooked or even forgotten sublime skills to telling a story sequentially is a huge understatement. All in all, a truly enjoyable and well done comic book version of the Gaiman novel, worth checking out for its entertainment as well as the lessons concerning the art of adapting something from one medium to another that it can teach those interested in such work.

Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus volume 2
Jack Kirby with Vinnie Colletta and Mike Royer
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

This collection contains the stories where Kirby really kicked his "Fourth World" concepts into high gear, and contain some of the single most striking concepts and images from his later, if not entire, career. Containing various issues of Jimmy Olsen, Forever People, Mister Miracle and New Gods, this volume, along with those that preceded and follow it, are absolutely essential reading for those who wish to fully understand not just why comics have the shape and form they do today, but also what unexplored possibilities the medium still offers to its practitioners. For fans of the King and great comics, it rarely gets better than this. For those of us who want to see the medium truly blossom, this is one of the books which sets the standards by which all other work is to be judged. Either way, if you're not reading this and the other collections of this seminal work, you're simply missing out. Period.

Two-Fisted Tales volume 2
by Harvey Kurtzman with Wally Wood, John Severin, Jack Davis, Will Elder and Dave Berg
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.gemstonepub.com/

I'd never had a chance to read these tales before now, stories which I've heard referred to as being "Legendary" and "Classics of the medium" over the course of literally decades. And I'm more than pleased to state that they more than live up to all that hype. But I'd like to add that these aren't just classics of the comics medium; in point of fact, these are modern classics of war literature, told with a rare grace and compassion that is too often lacking in the literary, much less actual, world.

Whatever your political orientation, your feelings about the "necessity" of war or peace, or even if you just don't care about all that "nonsense," these are tales which will capture your imagination, as well as your heart and soul. While all of the EC reprints in this series have proven to be worthy additions to anyone's shelf, this volume and its predecessor are particularly important and noteworthy, and are absolutely essential to the comic scholar and creator's library. Ignore these, and you risk hobbling your understanding of the medium and your full grasp of the craft of making comics.

The Intruders
by Michael Marshall
William Morrow
http://www.harpercollins.com/

A mother and her son are brutally murdered in their home, and the basement laboratory of the missing father is destroyed. A young girl, spending time with her mother at their family's cottage on the ocean disappears without a trace. And the wife of Jack Whalen, an ex-cop turned writer, goes missing...and then inexplicably turns up, safe and without any solid explanation, back at home. Three seemingly unconnected events which suddenly begin to merge together to form a pattern once Whalen begins to suspect that there's something...wrong about his wife's behavior. And who, exactly, is the well dressed man in black whose appearances ties them all together? The more Whalen learns about the facts which connect these strange occurrences, the more fantastic the truth seems. All these diverse threads come together in a double climax which could mean the end of not just his marriage, but of his life itself.

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of thrillers of any stripe. However, I found The Intruders to be riveting reading, both well written and well worth the time invested. Anyone who likes a good mystery, with solid logic and procedurals, and just a touch of supernatural based in some solid reasoning, will enjoy this finely crafted book.

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles: The Nixie's Song Book 1 of 3
by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
http://www.simonsays.com/ and http://www.spiderwick.com/

The creators behind the Spiderwick Chronicles return to the strange yet strangely-familiar world they created a few years back, and which is the basis for a forthcoming film and a wide variety of movie tie-in products. This time out, they're focusing on a different territory and cast of characters, with an unlikely pair of step brother and step sister discovering the odd assortment of creatures surrounding their newly-minted mixed family's Florida home.

Yeah, the two brothers who costarred in the previous Spiderwick books do make an appearance, as do both the author and illustrator, in this new volume, but the real treat here is in seeing how and what previously-unseen magical inhabitants are revealed to the new main characters. Their interactions, and the budding familial care and worry they exhibit for each other, are often as interesting as the various creatures and oddball humans they encounter along the way.

And, while this new aspect of the Spiderwick world might not be quite as fresh as the first series, DiTerlizzi and Black's efforts are, if anything, more accomplished here--quite a feat, considering how well they acquitted themselves art- and story-wise, respectively, the first time. Not for everyone, and perhaps not even for all readers of the inaugural Spiderwick Chronicles, this is still a great deal of fun and solid entertainment for all fans of modern tales featuring fairies and other fantastic creatures.

And that's more than enough for now. I'll be back soon, with more reviews and maybe even some thoughtful ideas on comics. Until then, take care, have some fun, and go read something good and fun!

2007-10-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

A Quick One [while he's awake]

Lots going on here, including a back spasm that laid me up for a few days and tightened up some deadlines even more, which goes a ways toward explaining why I haven't been updating for the past two weeks or so. But I have finished the work on the brand new, and rather revealing, interview with Irwin Hasen for the Dondi collection that Classic Comics Press will be releasing in the next month or so. Everyone concerned, from Irwin to the publisher, seem quite happy with the results. Truth be told, so am I, but then, I'm far from unbiased about this particular piece.

In large part, that's because it's been a really enjoyable experience, particularly getting a chance to talk with Irwin for at extended period of time. We haven't talked as much as I would have liked over the past few years; and it's beenr about 8 years since we last talked on the record, so it was long overdue.

[And, for those of you who know him and were wondering how Irwin is doing after the stroke he experienced earlier this year, he's doing incredibly well. Which means he has only the energy of a thirty-year-old these days, as opposed to the indefatigable amount of a young twenty-something.]

However, there's a number of other projects--including one that's a truly huge, daunting and ultimately thrilling super-secret gig which you'll surely become aware of when the time's right--that I'm continuing to work on. Add in the fact that I've got a number of sets of "Baker's Dozen" questions to prep for a variety of folks, and you've got one busy freelance writer on this end. So, today's installment concerning my work and metal ramblings is going to be rather short.

In fact, it's now finished, almost as soon as it's begun.

Which means that it's time for ...

What's Bill been reading for the past month+ [for the period of 7-16 to 9-12-07] part C

Templar, Arizona: The Great Outdoors
by Spike
Iron Circus Comics
http://www.ironcircus.com/

This is the first collection of the online strip created by a young woman whose work is increasingly popular--and deservedly so. Spike's line work is fluid, even relaxed, and her storytelling flows effortlessly from panel to panel, and page to page. Yet there's real grit and strength of purpose underlying every pen stroke, along with information about the characters, their relationships and their environs which is sometimes only apparent on subsequent rereadings. And, despite the fact that about all that's accomplished in this volume is to introduce the main and supporting characters, and briefly explore the world they inhabit, each of those rereadings proved to be as enjoyable as the first. Much of this pleasure can be attributed to Spike's command of language, both physical and verbal, and a breezy delivery which masks her complete control of the plot, and of the medium itself.

This is quite possibly the best single new work that I've encountered this year, and this has been an outstanding year for debuts. [See the review for Korgi, below, for another one in the running for that particular distinction, and you'll get an idea of just how good Spike's work really is.] Templar, AZ marks the debut of a creator possessing real promise not just for the future, but the present as well. If you haven't checked out Spike's work, whether on the printed page or online at http://www.templaraz.com/, you're missing out on some very, very fine comics. As such, Spike and her work get my highest recommendation to anyone interested in reading or making good comics.

Korgi book 1
Christian Slade
Top Shelf Productions
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/

Here's another example of an opening volume which presents a seemingly simple tale, but which reveals rich and varied delights on each repeated reading. Essentially the adventures of a young waif, Ivy, and her companion, a pooch named Sprout, and what they encounter after they leave the safe confines of their village, this is an all ages silent tale which touches the heart while also engaging the reader's sense of wonder in an almost visceral manner.

Yeah, you could almost grind up Slade's drawings and use them as a sugar substitute, but the beautiful line work, fully realized enviroment and spot-on acting that this ex-Disney animator turned freelance illustrator has put on the page has a life of its own that can't be denied. This is fantasy world building of a type that's rarely seen in "kids books" these days--appropriately fun and full of heart, balanced by a sense of danger and the darker aspects of the world portrayed. In more ways than one, Slade's Korgi is tapping into the very same traits that make the great Looney Tunes cartoons such perennial favorites with viewers of all ages.

Korgi receives my highest recommendations for those looking to read something different, and should be studied by both artists and writers concerned with making good comics of any stripe. And it'd make for a great gift for just about any child, or for the childlike adult in your life.

Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery volume 2
various writers and artists
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

I love the Showcase Presents series of black and white reprints. While I don't necessarily grab a copy of all of them, preferring to have my JLA and certain other titles in their more upscale and full color Archives versions, so far there hasn't been a title in this line that I wouldn't heartily recommend to those interested in reliving or rediscovering what made DC's Silver Age comics so popular and noteworthy. And that doesn't look to change anytime soon, as the reader will encounter any number of great tales in this second 500+ page book featuring work by Jack Kirby, Michael Kaluta, Alex Toth, Bernie Wrightson and a host other creators of note. Sure, a few of these might be a little creaky or, to today's media-saturated reader, obvious. Still, the work herein is top notch, with some truly twisted and chilling stories alongside other yarns which might be, at worst, highly enjoyable or even outright fun. And, surely, fun and enjoyment are both qualities which we all could use more of in our lives these days.

True, this isn't for everyone. There are no capes or superheroes here, for one thing. But if you're interested in learning how to craft a serviceable or even well-told tale, visually and verbally, you could do far worse than study this book or its predecessor. And if you're looking for hours of darkly humorous or horrifying reading, you'll find that Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery volume 2 delivers that in [or perhaps I should say, with] spades.

And that's it for today. Look for more reviews, including my thoughts on two recently released thriller prose novels, Night Work by Steve Hamilton and The Intruders by Michael Marshall, in the next entry.

2007-09-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

Celebration Day, part 2

Well, today presents me with yet another big reason for celebration. I've just learned that Alan Moore on His Work and Career, the fourth volume of my interview books which launch the new "Talking with Graphic Novelists" line of books from Rosen Publishing, is hitting the shelves of comic shops across the country. [And, for those of you who might have missed this caveat previously, please be aware that this book reprints the Alan Moore Spells It Out edition from Airwave Publishing which was released early in 2006, and sold out within 7 months.]

Again, to say that I'm excited about this release would be a real understatement. Not only does this mark the return to the comics market of my first book, but it also clearly marks the point of entry of my work into the mainstream market represented by online booksellers of various stripes, including the all-important Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites, but also and more importantly libraries and other "institutional markets" across these United States. Even cooler, this and other volumes have already begun to turn up in the online catalogues of various libraries here. So, these books are actually making into the spaces that I and Rosen hoped they would...and will, eventually and ideally, into the hands of readers who might otherwise have missed them for any number of reasons.

As those of you that have followed my career for the past decade or so have probably gleaned from the general tenor of my work, this idea is not just important, but central to what I've been trying to accomplish over the years. Quite simply, I've been trying to not just have good and interesting conversations with various creators of comics, but to also delve into the reasons why they create the kind of work that they do, why they approach that work in the manner that they do, and what influences have had a direct or glancing impact upon that process over the course of their careers. Yeah, in a very real way, I'm just a fanboy at heart, but this idea of exploring the general phenomenon known as the creative process by investigating various individual's experience of, and approach to their art is central to just about everything I do as a journalist, and as a writer.

Another, secondary concern of my work has been capturing their experience of the business side of the work. As much as we'd all like to act or believe that the mundane daily aspects of plying one's trade in this industry we all love and, sometimes, hate are inconsequential or easily dismissed, the fact of the matter is that, in many cases, those factors have a direct and large impact upon what creators are allowed to do with their craft. As such, to ignore this side of the modern creators' careers will only result in investigations that are subtly flawed at best, if you're incredibly lucky.

Anyway, it's another good day to be me, marking the release of my sixth book--even if it is, essentially, a reprint. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, after all. For those of you who need it, here's the Diamond reorder number and other basic info on this book:

JUL073786 Alan Moore on His Work and Career HC $ 30.50

But that's not the only reason for the general glow of satisfaction hereabouts. I can now also talk about one of the projects I've been working quite hard at for the past few months, since it's now been officially announced by the publisher. Specifically, that I've been asked by none other than Steve "Dude" Rude to write up a brief history of Nexus for that book's 100th issue. In fact, I've already interviewed a fair number of folks who helped shepherd this seminal Sci-Fi series from conception to completion month after month [including both Dud and Mike Baron, as well as Milton Griepp, Alex Wald, and Anina Bennett], finished writing it and turned in the piece. Steve seems quite happy with the results, and already begun work on the layout, etc for inclusion in that historic issue, which will be hitting the stands in January of '08. And you can bet that you'll be hearing more about this project in the near future, from both Rude Dude and myself.

And there's more going on, some of which I'll be able to talk about soon, I hope. A couple of them are similar to the Nexus gig, but targeted at the mainstream market rather than solely the comic shops. Also, as I believe I've hinted in an earlier entry, one of these is a pretty high profile gig. No, even bigger than that...really big. And incredibly cool, to boot. It's really hard not to blather on about it right now, but I can't. I'll just leave that subject by noting that you will be hearing about it, and not just here. Honest.

Finally, as if all the above wasn't exciting enough, I've actually been the subject of two interviews in the past month or so. The first was for the Comic Book Novice radio show hosted by Mark Torres, Peter Palmiotti and friends. That took place during the same period that the San Diego show was going on, but you can check it out for yourself thanks to the wonder of downloading via Mark's webpage http://testsite.pixeltao.com/download.html. It's the July 28th, 2007 edition of the show. The direct link to download that installment of Comic Book Novice is http://testsite.pixeltao.com/audio/thecomicbooknoviceJul26.zip. I had a great time talking about my career, my approach to doing my work and, of course, comics generally.

I also talked with the good folks behind the Supernaut podcasts, Rob Schneider and Mike [sorry, I don't have his last name handy]. Again, a great time talking about the Rosen series and my other books, my career and what I've been reading, as well as all the other burning topics you all want to know. Unfortunately, I haven't received the links from Rob yet, but as soon as I have that info I'll be sure to post it here.

And that should do it for now, I think. Except for this week's installment of...

What's Bill been reading for the past month+? [for the period of 7-16 to 9-12-07] part B

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows
by JK Rowling
Scholastic Books
http://www.scholastic.com/

I know that by now everyone who wanted to read this book, or a review of it, probably has done so. And those who aren't interested, or are adamant about resisting this modern publishing miracle, will continue to avoid the entire series and any critique of same with a passion. I'd just like to note that I have generally enjoyed this and the other installments of Harry's seven years of trials, tribulations, terrors and, ultimately, triumph. Rowling has proven to be a pretty good writer on the whole, and one who actually learned and advanced her craft in discernable steps over the course of creating these books. As always, there's plenty of action, stifled dreams and yearnings finally allowed to blossom, and more than one surprise and turns of events which can prove heartbreaking. Even if you hate these books or what they represent, ya gotta admit that, in this day and age of highly addictive games, webprogramming and other high tech indulgences, the ability to get anybody to willing read a series of seven rather expansive books is something magical in and of itself.

In the end, while it's quite obvious that this and the other Potter books are not for everyone, they are essential reading for anyone with an interest in writing books that kids and teens will not just read, but devour again and again.

Devil Dinosaur
by Jack Kirby with Mike Royer and Petra Goldberg
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

This omnibus edition collects the entirety of Kirby's beautifully odd late 70s series detailing the prehistoric adventures of that original comic book odd couple, Devil Dinosaur and his companion, Moon-Boy. Again, this is one of the King's more maligned books, often seen as crude and silly. And, yeah, at times it's silly, and perhaps even seemingly crude. However, if you approach it without any preconceptions other than a sincere longing for some wildly entertaining, weirdly compelling comics, I suspect that you'll be pleasantly surprised by this collection. Sure, the plots might have some big holes in them if you think about the proceedings too much, just as some of the characters' motivations and utterances can be troubling if you're looking for realistic scripting. Too which I can only say, "Get over yerself!"

Aside from the fact that most comics from that same era now are quite dated at this point, there's a lot to be said for this attempt to do something a bit different from the typical superheroic tale. This is Kirby completely unfettered by any but his own conventions, at play in the field of the four color lord we all worship. And the results are pure, unadulterated comics goodness for all ages. Just think of it as that TV show that inexplicably bombed, despite being completely, madly entertaining. Not essential reading for most, but for anyone who is interested in what Kirby wanted to try to do with the comics medium--or who is just looking for some purely fun reading--this is worth checking out.

Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel volume 2
by Arnold Drake, Gary Friedrich and Roy Thomas, with Don Heck, Dick Ayers, Gil Kane and others
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

This second hardcover collection reprints Captain Marvel #s 10 through 21, and represents a major turning point in the story of Marvel's star-crossed spaceman. After lapsing into cleverly disguised superheroics for a number of issues, the titular hero is reconfigured and completely reborn, this time literally grafted onto one of the House of Idea's enduring sidekick characters, Rick Jones. And while some of the concerns of the book do seem a tad dated, there's still some real fire and invention happening here. Again, certainly not everyone's cup o' poison, so to speak, but something of real interest to those who lived these issues back in the day, and anyone who is interested in seeing how one pair of Protean creators named Thomas and Kane could work real magic when re-imagining the very nature and purpose of a character.

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor volume 6
by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, with Vinnie Colletta
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

If you haven't started checking out these tales, perhaps the single greatest group of tales that the titanic twosome of Lee and Kirby every penned, you're missing out on some of the most important and entertaining comics published in the past century. Period. And, yeah, that even includes their seminal, highly entertaining run and even historic run on Fantastic Four. These stories present some of the best spectacles Kirby ever rendered, fully supported and brought to life by what might be some of Stan's best scripting, bar none. And what's even more staggering is the simple fact that the tales contained in this volume are, in reality, only ramping up the title for one of the most brilliant series of stories these two guys ever did ["The search for Galactus" arc]. Sounds like I'm overstating things? Well, I'm not.

If you've ever worried what all the excitement surrounding this character and his cohorts was about, this [or even the preceding volume] is the start of it all. Essential reading for anyone hoping to fully understand the work of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, and required reading for anyone hoping to create mind-bending scenarios and scenery, or to capture the pure kinetic energy of a battle of truly epic scope. If you're not reading this particular series in reprints, you're missing out on some great fun, my friends.

Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner volume 2
by Stan Lee and Roy Thomas, with Bill Everett, Gene Colan and others
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

I've got to admit, while I loved Gene Colan's work, for some reason I never got into Prince Namor while growing up. Sure, I'd check out the occasional issue of Tales to Astonish or his eponymous series now and then, lured in by Colan's brilliant designs and layouts, but I never really got into the character. Nowadays, I have an even greater appreciation for what Colan, and Namor's original creator, Bill Everett, accomplished with this character and his story. It's good, fun reading, and the art work is often breathtaking. Worth checking out if you're into the character, or great Gene Colan and modern Everett art. And the scripts, while not necessarily sublime, are worth the time invested, too.

And I think that's enough for now. Next time, the finally installment of these long overdue reviews of this period will be joined with those of books read more recently. Until then, take care, try to get outside to enjoy this glorious fall season we're currently inhabiting, and make sure to have some fun!

2007-09-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

Celebration Day, part one

Well, that day that I've worked so long over the past year finally arrived, and it's been a good one, all in all.

Today, three of the four interview books I created for the launch of Rosen Publishing's new line hit the shelves of comic shops across the U.S. And, unless I'm completely out of the loop, or there's some kind of delay in the shipping process, they should be available at shops in the U.K. later this same week.

To say that I'm both excited and pleased with this long awaited event would be a real understatement. And while some might interpret the experience as somewhat tainted by the fact that one of the books isn't coming out with the rest, I think of it as something which allows me to enjoy this process not once, but twice. A bit like having a limited premiere, followed by general release, in a sense. Double the pleasure, and, ideally, double the fun.

As far as details are concerned, the three books which hit today, along with their Diamond reorder numbers, are:

Neil Gaiman on His Work and Career HC $22.95 [Diamond reorder # JUL073789]

Mike Oeming on His Work and Career HC $22.95 [Diamond reorder # JUL073788]

George Pérez on His Work and Career HC $22.95 [Diamond reorder # JUL073787]

As noted above, the fourth book in the series, Alan Moore on His Work and Career, will be joining these volumes very soon. Seems that there was small production problem with the cover, if memory serves, which meant that it arrived at various distributors after the others. However, I've seen, held and even paged through copies of all four books, and am mightily pleased with the production and printing values of each and every volume.

And it's my sincere hope and belief that, if you pick up any of these books, you'll find more than a few things to enjoy about them. I'm already looking forward to hearing what folks within the comics community have to say about them, and am truly curious to hear what people outside of this small world [and especially librarians and teachers who might encounter them] think of the results.

And that's about all I've got to say today, other than to note that I expect to be posting regularly again from this point on for some time. In fact, I'm hoping to make up a bit for the "lost time" or missed weekly postings with multiple posts in some weeks. So, with that in mind, I'll leave you today with a first installment of what will be a multi-part version of...

What's Bill been reading for the past month+? [for the period of 7-16 to 9-10-07] part A

Jack Kirby's Silver Star
Jack Kirby with Mike Royer and D. Bruce Berry
Image Comics
www.Image.com

I was out of comics completely when the issues of this, one of the few creator owned series bearing Kirby's name, first appeared, chasing my own dreams amidst the ivory towers of academia. I managed to find a few of these issues over the years since that particular dream turned nightmarishly sour, but never did complete the set and so have a chance to experience the King's earthbound Cosmic tale in the manner he meant. So it was with some real excitement that I read this beautifully reproduced and remastered edition. Now, while this might not be for everyone, I enjoyed it thoroughly, warts and all. No, it isn't the best material Jack produced, but it really hasn't deserved some of the dismissive criticism that I've heard thrown at it over the years, either. In fact, in more ways than I'd care to note, it really does read like an early attempt to capture the widescreen action-adventure "Movie on Paper" feeling that so many modern creators have, over the past few years, mined in their own works. Sure, there's some stiff dialogue--well, OK, quite a bit--and a few fairly large plot holes which could easily have been patched or completely avoided; still, it's one of the more enjoyable, and possibly the single most crazed, of Kirby's later works. In the end, I can only say that I really did love spending some time in this world, and will surely return to it again in the future for the sheer joy and madness of it all. And, for someone who, like myself, really enjoys seeing how creators adapt and change their work over the course of its creation to fit within differing molds, comparing the original film treatment [which is how Kirby originally envisioned presenting this tale] with the final graphic novel is not just interesting--it borders on the revelatory. A must for anyone truly interested in Kirby and his work, and of some real interest and use to those looking to learn about adapting their work for various mediums.

Ultimate Galactus Trilogy
Warren Ellis and Mark Millar, with Trevor Hairsine, Steve Epting, Steve McNiven, Tom Rainey, John Romita Jr. and Brandon Peterson
Marvel Entertainment
www.Marvel.com

This big, thick compilation presents Warren Ellis' remarkable reworking of one of the classic tropes from the House of Ideas--the appearance of a literally world-shattering force which seems impossible to resist, much less stop--via a combination of his wild reworking of pulpish sci-fi and widescreen sensibilities. Throughout, he's ably supported by whatever artist is insane enough to accept the challenge of depicting the impossible, the improbable and the outright insane demands Ellis always places upon his collaborators. And the results are, for the most part, wonderful and wonder-filled, with more ideas shed per page than just about any other writer in the mainstream medium at present, save the likes of Grant Morrison and Mark Millar. Even better, Warren's not lost his wicked and supremely sick, telling sense of humor, nor, despite what surface appearances might seem, his belief in the future of mankind.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys really strong superhero tales, and those who want to see how one of the best writers today makes old concepts and characters do things they were never meant to do. In fact, it's worth it just for the reimagined Silver Surfer, and his attempt to bite the Ultimate Captain Marvel's head off.

And that's all for now. Expect more soon.

2007-07-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Where in the World is BB?

For those folks who might be curious, no, I won't be attending this week's rendition of the increasingly popular Comic Con International--San Diego show. There are a number of reasons for my continued absence from that venue, the main one being that I have work to do here at the BFD Studios. It's the second year I've given it a miss, and, truth be told, I'm only a little bit saddened by this. And much of that regret has to do with the fact that San Diego typically provides the sole opportunity to see and speak with any number of people whose company I've always enjoyed. Beyond that...

Well, I don't really miss a lot of things associated with that particular con. Especially the overwhelming crowds of fans, which often made my work simply impossible to do during the show. Which meant that most of my evenings, which had been devoted to hanging out with friends old and new, had increasingly become devoted to still more work. And the simple fact is that there's some real wisdom in that old saw, "All work and no play makes [fill in the blank] a dull man." Or dullard, depending on your viewpoint.

Anyway, I won't be at San Diego this year. Maybe next year...if there's time and real reason for it.

However, I will be attending the Wizard World-Chicago early next month. It's much easier to deal with, logistically, and yet still allows me to do the things I need and want to do at shows: talk with my fellow professionals, do a bit of business, and hang out with any number of friends and good acquaintances. As is typical, I won't have a table, nor will any of the publishers I currently work with, so look for me wandering the floor if you'd like to talk, or just would like to say hello. That's why I'll be there, and I'm always interested in meeting new people and hearing what they have to say about any number of topics.

Beyond that, not a lot to talk about of substance this week, except for a few reviews of books I've actually had the time to read over the past seven days or so. Been working quite a bit on that unnamed project, which I hope to be able to reveal in the near future-maybe even next week. But that also means that my schedule's not allowed as much time for reading as I might wish. Still there's some very good items in this week's edition of...

What's Bill been reading lately? [covering the period 7-16-07 to 7-23-07]

Doug Tennapel's Black Cherry
by Doug Tennapel
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

Eddie Paretti's a down-on-his-luck Mafioso takes on a job he shouldn't just to get out of debt--his assignment from a rival gang is to double cross his own boss by stealing a body the Don's got, quite literally, on ice. However, when Eddie succeeds in lifting "the package," he quickly discovers that all is not as it seems when the stiff proves to be alive...and very, very alien. Things then go from weird to utterly strange, as a Priest who shares a past with Eddie and a woman who might or might not have known our antihero in a former life step in to save both the otherworldly being and our entire world. And that's when Tennapel kicks everything into overdrive, by throwing liberal doses of the supernatural, theology and more earthly concerns into the mix.

You could call it The Godfather meets Repo Man, I suppose, but there's really no way to define or explain this book without ruining it for you. But rest assured that this tale somehow manages to discover the sacred in the profane, to alternate between scenes of sheer horror and sublime revelation, all the while ratcheting up the tension only to relieve it just a little with moments of real humor to produce a reading experience unlike anything else out there at the moment.

Still, given the amount of often extremely harsh language, along with the unavoidable religious message this tale delivers, this graphic novel certainly isn't for everyone. However, for those with an open mind, and those readers just looking for a helluva adventure, Black Cherry has my highest recommendation.

Batman: Harley and Ivy
Paul Dini and Judd Winick with Joe Chiodo, Bruce Timm and Ronnie Del Carmen
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

This collection gathers together a series of group of animated style tales featuring the Joker's ex-sidekick and love interest, the delightfully daffy and incredibly deadly Harley Quinn, and the original dark eco warrior, Pamela Isley, AKA Poison Ivy. And it's a real corker of a collection, with some truly fine work by everyone involved. But don't let the seemingly simple storylines and art fool you; yeah, these are tales that work for readers of almost all ages, but there's a good deal of smarts displayed in the writing, some real vigor in the visuals...and more than a little heat generated in the sometimes barely repressed sexuality which underscores the proceedings. These might be cartoony women, but they are, without a doubt, women who are in charge and quite at ease with every aspect of themselves, including the physical. A really fun, often engrossing read starring a couple of dames of criminal repute, I'd recommend this to most readers, especially those looking to spend some time living just a little dangerously.

EC Archives: Tales from the Crypt volume 2
by Al Feldstein and Bill Gaines with Jack Davis, Graham Ingles, Joe Orlando, Wally Wood, et. al.
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.gemstonepub.com/

This second volume of the justly-revered Tales from the Crypt reprints issues # 6 through 10, and features some more of that nasty goodness that made these comics so popular when they first appeared, and which has fueled interest in the entire EC line. And little wonder, when you consider some of the luminaries who contributed to these and other books published under the Entertaining Comics imprint. There's nary a clunker herein, and more than a few tales that were instant classics. This volume features the same loving, even slavish devotion to high end values in both production and printing, with newly recolored reproductions that capture the look and feel of the originals in a lavish oversized hardcover.

However, I have noticed one specific problem with this particular volume regarding the lettering: there's obviously a few missing words and even substitutions of incorrect words for the originals scattered throughout the text, something that I haven't seen [or perhaps noticed] in the earlier EC Archives collections. Hopefully, this is but an aberration, and not a sign of things to come. Granted, it's not enough to totally ruin this book, being more of an annoyance, but this could easily avoided with a little more careful proofing. Still, this volume comes with the same high recommendations as the earlier releases in this historically important series of long overdue reprints.

And that's it for the moment. Now go have some fun. And if you're heading out to San Diego, travel well, be safe, and enjoy!

2007-07-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

Sitting at the Big Table

I don't know what your holidays with family were like when you were younger, but while I was growing up there was an unwritten rule, strictly enforced, that all the children were expected to sit together at their own table, segregated from the adults. The reason for this was really quite simple, as even the kindest "person of a certain age" would explain to those rebellious youths who thought of themselves as being "a big boy/girl now"...

They wanted to be able to eat in peace and relative quiet, apart from the inevitable [and ultimately childish] squabbles which would break out during those meals.

Whether these arguments were based upon real or perceived slights, territorial imperatives or other, now-long-forgotten reasons, the adults simply didn't want any part of it. They wanted to be able to relax and enjoy their feast, at least symbolically separated from all the whining and jealousies and other conflicts of their offspring. And, if truth be told, as I've aged and sat at various familial, work and other tables celebrating whatever holiday or occasion we're all supposed to be celebrating, I've understood the wisdom of that hard and fast rule more and more.

So, what does that particular trip down memory lane have to do with comics? Well, in a real sense, my recent move towards having my work published by more mainstream publishers like Rosen is, in its own way, an outgrowth of that tradition. Not to denigrate the market which has, for the past ten years, provided me with so much enjoyment, real and lasting friendships and good acquaintances--not to mention my current profession and various jobs--but it became clear to me a little over three years ago that it was time to establish myself in the "real world" bookstore, online bookseller and library/academic markets, and that it was time to work towards making that my primary source of work and income.

Quite simply, I realized that it was time to stop fighting with others over a "piece of the pie" of the woefully small comic book market, and time to move towards establishing my place within the larger, better supported mainstream market. Or, to lapse back into the opening analogy, it was time to sit at the big folks' table and have a meal first--availing myself of the meat-and-potatoes with all the trimmings, and then enjoy my slice of the comic market.

Again, I mean this in no way as an insult to comics aficionados, and certainly not those good people who have in the past and present day supported me and my work. Nor am I abandoning either the market or those same people for a quick buck. However, you can only live so long on a restricted diet, particularly one which is so often lacking in enough nutrition to sustain any long term growth...much less a life. In more than one sense, it became glaringly obvious to me that it was time to step up, to enter that larger, more complex and challenging world in the hope of not just making a go of it, but with the real possibility of creating some kind of sustainable niche for myself in that world.

So, what's the comic market's place in this new scheme of things? Well, only a willfully ignorant person would suggest that I've left it entirely. If you look at the body of my work, both past and present, it becomes quite clear that I continue to ply my trade in that sphere, and to do my best to serve both the audience and the medium itself through my professional efforts. It's just that, rather than restrict myself to trying to become the biggest fish in that particular pond, I've decided to become more of an amphibian, capable of moving and thriving in those and other environments.

In other words, it's evolve or die, my friends. And the same rules and forces that apply to individuals also can be seen operating within and upon entire societies and their various organs--including, of course, the comic market.

Again, this isn't a sign of fear, weakness or defeat. Rather, it's the outcome of what I hope will be a very smart and natural evolution/revolution that's taking place within my own life...and within the comics world itself.

Increasingly, in both art and life, it's time to evolve or die. The choice is to create a new world for ourselves and this wonderful medium or...well, perhaps not die, but instead refuse to learn, to change, to grow, to remain the same; to remain satisfied with what we had, have always had, and refuse any new possibilities. Which, in my opinion, is a state that's fate that's far worse than death. I'd rather be a dead fossil than a living one, I suppose.

So it's time to sit at the Big Table, and enjoy that moveable feast and the good conversation which arises from that experience. All of which will make that slice of pie taste all sweeter, I think.

Well, that's more than enough pontificatin' on my part, I'm sure. Just one more bit of bizness to deal with today...

If you haven't had the chance yet, don't forget to check out the four books featuring my interviews with Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Mike Oeming and George Pérez. You'll find them all on page 334 of the current [July 2007] issue of the Previews catalogue.

And that's it, for now. Which means it's time for...

What's Bill been reading lately? [covering the period 7-2-07 to 7-15-07]

Batman: Ego and Other Tails
Darwyn Cooke with Paul Grist, Bill Wray, Tim Sale and others
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

This surprisingly slim book collects much of Cooke's major work for DC which features the Dark Knight Detective and his extended "family" of characters, including the Batman: Ego one shot and the Catwoman: Selina's Big Score, along with various shorter tales, covers and a pinup from Batman: Gotham Nights and Solo series. Taken together with Cooke's The Absolute New Frontier, which I've reviewed with no small praise a while back, the reader will be presented with a very good idea of the truly fine and even outstanding arc of his comic career. That Cooke is one of a small number of artists gifted with the rare ability to instill a few lines with life on the page is obvious; less apparent is that he began as a creator possessed of a Protean talent for spinning an exceptional yarn which he's honed to an incredible degree--or perhaps I should say eminently credible, given how he's able to breath full-blooded life into characters with but a few lines of dialogue.

If you want to see how to make very, very good comics that are both entertaining and thoughtful, revealing yet playful, this is a perfect place to start. And for readers, this is The Good Stuff--even if, as Cooke notes in his introduction, his earlier work does have a few structural flaws. Highly recommended to all and sundry.

Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus volume 1
Jack Kirby, with Vince Colletta, et.al.
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

This big, thick volume reprints the opening installments in Jack Kirby's single greatest solo work, including issues # 133 through 139 of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, and with the first three issues of The Forever People, New Gods, and Mister Miracle in one volume, on glare-free paper in hardcover, for the first time. And it's an honor that is long overdue.

These books have been savaged by critics and fans alike as "lesser Kirby," often simply because they apparently didn't sell enough to justify their continued publication. Careful reading of these tales, each one overflowing with more original and startling ideas per page than many other creators introduce over the course of their entire careers, puts the lie to that specious assertion. Quite simply, in more ways than I can name in this space, these comics, along with those scheduled to follow in the next three volumes of this series, represent Kirby's masterwork. Unfinished it may be, but it's impossible to deny the sheer strength and unadulterated genius captured upon these pages.

My only real complaint with this book is the choice to use incredibly tiny type for Grant Morrison's extremely fine introduction [which is almost worth the price of admission alone--it really is that good and lucid] and Mark Evanier's Afterword. And even with that caveat, I am compelled to give this the very highest recommendation to all readers.

This is the stuff of legends, folks, and it holds up better than 95% of the work which preceded it, was concurrently published in the same period, as well as that which has followed it. If you have any inclination to learn how to make comics of real weight and worth, to create stories which still have the ability to inspire awe while they entertain the reader, you must not only own this book--you should study it like it's a holy text. As for the rest of you, if you love the good in comics, you should own and read this unfinished epic. Jack Kirby's Fourth World saga really is that essential to a full understanding and enjoyment of the medium, and its history. Period.

The Plain Janes
Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
Minx
www.MinxBooks.net

This isn't just the first book in the highly-anticipated Minx line from DC Comics by way of Vertigo editrix Shelley Bonds, but it's also the first graphic novel from the award-winning YA author Castellucci, and the "major league" debut of Jim "Street Angel" Rugg. And what a fine read it is. Yeah, this and the rest of the line seems to be mainly aimed at capturing the attention and money of what I've referred to as "the manga girls" crowd--that burgeoning group of young ladies who devour whole entire runs of shojo and other genres published in translation by Viz, TokyoPop and other importers of Japanese comic goodness--but it's also an entirely enjoyable and very engaging story even if you happen to be, like myself, male and far beyond your teens. Castellucci's created believable characters who interact in realistic manners within their well-wrought environs, and the character and plot arcs are compelling. Rugg's open, freely flowing line work and command of visual story telling not only serve the script's needs, he adds subtle touches and nuances in a perfectly balanced manner.

The Plain Janes is a real joy to read, and a tale which likely will reward rereading with further insight into both the characters and themes being explored. A real breath of fresh, invigorating air that's got its own, distinctive flavor. Even better, it's a book with heart, and a message of real hope that avoids unwarranted sentimentality, shallow thinking and easy answers in a world increasingly demanding that we all must get along by all being the same...and never, ever asking even the most obvious of questions. Highest recommendations for just about all but the youngest of readers, and something that most aspiring creators should study for lessons in how to tell good stories featuring real people, be they in costumes, or a high school clique.

Satsuma Gishiden: The Legend of the Satsuma Samurai volume 2
Hiroshi Hirata
Dark Horse
www.DarkHorse.com

This second volume of Hirata's stirring and evocative retelling of historical events builds upon the strengths of the first as it expands its canvas to encompass shogunate politics, strategies and the dynamics of inter- and intra-clan relations, revealing much about the Japanese character and human nature. By turns complex socio-political drama and ribald, gossipy tragicomedy, Satsuma Gishiden provides some real entertainment value along with real wisdom about those aspects of shared humanity can contribute to our mutual greater good...and those which will not only undermine, but eventual doom even our greatest of efforts and dreams. All that, and some truly stunning art--a mix of realism tinged with just the right amount of cartoony exaggeration--sets this series apart, and marks it as one of the better samurai tales on the English market today. Highly recommended for those looking for something heroically different, and particularly for those wondering how they might restore some vibrancy, or even inject a sense of full blooded life to seemingly "dead" history in their own work.

Postcards: True Stories that Never Happened
edited by Jason Rodriguez; written by Harvey Pekar, Phillip Hester, Stuart Moore, A. David Lewis, Tom Beland, Robert Tinnell, and others, with art by Michael Gaydos, the Fraim Brothers, Danielle Corsetto, Rob G, et. al.
Villard Books
www.Villard.com

Inspired by a group of old postcards whose messages and artwork captured editor Rodriguez's eye, the various new short stories found in this collection are as wide ranging in approach, theme and nature as its varied contributors. And, like most anthologies, some tales succeed more than others; however, the tally in either column will vary from individual to individual, entirely dependent on their personal mindset and taste. Personally, I found almost every one of these tales to be at worst very good and interesting, with more than half providing some kind of real entertainment value and food for thought long after the covers were closed. There were a number of standout stories, including the incredibly moving first two tales ["Blue" written by Chris Stevens and illustrated by Gia-Bao Tran, and "Time" by Tom Beland] which sets everything up nicely.

Ironically, the one tale I found rather disappointing is the piece contributed by perhaps the highest-profile creators included in the book: Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner's "The History of a Marriage," told via their own correspondences over the years, seemed more than a little sketchy and even slight. However, this impression might be more due to the fact that the tale, and the snapshot-like presentations of the incidents depicted, requires some real in-depth knowledge of their lives to have any real impact or meaning on the reader, rather than any deficiency on the creators' part. Still, it's a decent tale, and any misgivings about one piece shouldn't prevent anyone from picking up this very fine collection.

And that's all for the moment folks. I'll be back here next week, if not earlier, with some more thoughts on comics, work and other topics of interest. In the meantime, why not grab a good book and go outside, sit in a tree or on a park bench, and enjoy this beautiful summer? I think I will, even if for only half an hour.

2007-07-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

Where it's at...

2007-07-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

Talking with... or a word from our sponsor

I'm in the midst of working on something very, very cool I should be able to tell you all about later this month, but in the meantime there's a number of things happening that I wanted to let you know about.

First, the four books I'm doing with Rosen Publishing featuring interviews with Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Mike Oeming and George Perez are being solicited this month. You'll find those on page 334 of the July, 2007 cover dated Previews catalogue for items shipping in September, '07. These are the titles Rosen chose to launch their new line of "Talking with Graphic Novelists" books, and Diamond is really getting behind them. In fact, two of them were granted their much-coveted "Spotlight" status.

If you're interested in picking these books up, now's the time to order them or let your local comic shop know you want them. Or, if there's no comic shop near you, you can preorder them via Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and a wide variety of other online booksellers. Finally, they'll also be available via the publisher's website at http://www.rosenpublishing.com/ in late August or early September, '07.

Also, the books have garnered a bit of notice from a few websites and newsletters, including Publishers Weekly's comic newsletter and Milton Griep's http://www.icv2.com/. Here's the links to those pieces:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6457055.html?nid=2789

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/10816.html

To say that I'm excited about the impending release of these books would be a real understatement. And I'm incredibly grateful for the coverage given them by Publishers Weekly [particularly Wil Moss and Calvin Reid] and ICV2 [Milton G, again], as well as Tom Spurgeon over at the excellent Comics Reporter for helping bring some more attention to those pieces and my work. Thanks, guys, for that kindness. I honestly can't thank you enough for your interest and support.

Finally, just in case it isn't obvious, my thanks to all of you reading this who might choose to check these books out. As I note in my "The author would like to thank..." section in each of the books, without you good folks, all my efforts would mean a whole lot less. After all, it's readers who will be bringing these and my other conversations with creators to life.
And that's it for now. Which means it's time for...

What's Bill been reading lately? [covering the period 6-25 to 7-1-07]

Lunching with the Antichrist
Michael Moorcock
Mark V. Ziesing Books
www.ziesingbooks.com/

Originally released in 1994 under the Ziesing imprint, a small press out of California, this collection of short stories and one novella featuring various incarnation of Moorcock's universe-hopping, indefatigable von Bek family is fairly hard to find at any price. I've been seeking it out at an affordable price for nearly a decade now, with little luck. So imagine my surprise and real joy when I ran across it on my recent trip to BookExpo '07 in NYC...and at $7.50 in hardcover, no less! More than worth the wait for someone like myself, a real and true fan of Moorcock's work in all its variegated glory. [And, for those in the know who were wondering, yes, it was distantly akin to finding my own version of the Grail.]

Comic Cavalcade Archives volume 1
Ted Udall, William Marston, Gardner Fox, Bill Finger, MC Gaines and other writers with Frank Harry, Harry G. Peter, Howard Purcell, Irwin Hasen, Sheldon Moldoff, et. al
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Reprinting the extremely rare 100 page Comic Cavalcade issues 1 through 3, which originally hit the stands between December, 1942 and Summer, 1943, this collection is bursting at the seams with Golden Age four color goodness. Yeah, a lot of the work is fairly crude and lacking some of the finesse and polish of more modern comics, but there's a lot to be said for the energy and innocent joy of these stories. And while the covers and longer tales focus on some of the more familiar super heroes of the day, such as Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern, there's a wealth of other features worth checking out including Wildcat; Mutt and Jeff; Red, White and Blue; Sargon the Sorcerer; and the Black Pirate. Perhaps this isn't essential reading for all but the historians and others interested in learning more about this vital, and vitally important period of sequential storytelling, but it sure is a load of beautifully presented, varied fun reading.

Walking Dead volume 2 hardcover
Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

The latest hardcover collection of this well written and wonderfully rendered black and white series about what happens to a small group of survivors in a Zombie-infested world continues to be one of the best horror comics published today. The terror level keeps increasing, as we learn the limits of these people, and just how monstrous they can be when pushed beyond their limits. Truly riveting and terrifying, this series is a must read for anyone looking for something truly outstanding, as well as for those who wish to learn how to make good comics. Comes with my highest recommendations.

And that's it for now. Thanks for your kind attention. Now go and have some fun!

2007-06-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Weapons of Choice

So, BookExpo America '07 was a really, really good convention. But entirely exhausting. Look no further than the simple fact that it's taken me until now, nearly a month after I left to attend that show, to make a new entry on this blog as proof. Still, it's a good kind of exhaustion, one arising from a lot of hard work--and even more walking, walking and walking those aisles of publishers, distributors and sundry other product/service providers--and is entirely offset by some new possibilities that these efforts revealed, and those reborn or reconstituted as the situation presented itself.

Here's hoping that at least one or two of the really big, or at least interesting, opportunities I ran down actually yields something of worth. One lives and works in the hope...

Now, I could give you a run down of all the folks I met and all the great books I saw and such, but I'll be honest--it seems a bit late for that, and I really have no interest in talking about that right now. Although I do reserve the right to come back and revisit a conversation later, and you will certainly be seeing reviews of some of the recently released and forthcoming books I nabbed there. Rather, I'd like to just say that this is the one show that I really do consider essential and important to the future of what I want to do professionally. Which means that, against my better judgment, I'll probably be attending the show next year, when it's scheduled to happen in LA. [I don't look forward to the logistical nightmare that an event like this in a place like that presupposes.]

So, what do I want to talk about? How about music.

On the Thursday night before the BEA opened, the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club hit the Big Apple for a show at Webster's Hall, and Joel Meadows, David Michael Beck and I decided that we had to see this show. Joel, who's seen these youngsters tearing it up back on their native soil in England had told us it would likely be a good, if not great show.

Unfortunately, he was wrong--it was a phenomenal show.

And just how good was it? Well, I'd rank it probably in the top 20 shows I've had the pleasure of seeing. And this is coming from someone who stopped counting at 200+ concerts attended 25+ years ago, and has seen hundreds more since, including excellent shows by The Clash, The Jam, Talking Heads, Lou Reed, REM, Neil Young, Tom Waits and Peter Gabriel. The lads really tore it up, playing just about every one of their "essential" tunes, past and present, with real passion, committment and verve. Better yet, they really cared if they were connecting with their audience, something that was evident throughout the show until the end, when one of them handed out his bass to one of their more ardently dancing fans at the front. If you have a chance to see these blokes, do so. It'll be a rare show if you come away unsatisfied in any way or form, and don't consider yourself a fan of this band.

And that'll do it for now, except for the ever-present listing of...

What's Bill been reading lately? [covering the period 6-11 to 6-24-07]

Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk volume 4 [or 78 in variant edition]

Stan Lee and Gary Friedrich, with Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe
Marvel
http://www.marvel.com/

This hardcover collecting Incredible Hulk issues # 103 to 110, along with Annual # 1 would be notable for its inclusion of the first work by Herb Trimpe on old jade jaws, the start of one of the longer run of issues by a single artist on a title in modern comics. However, there's numerous reasons for folks to check this compilation out, from Marie Severin's penciling and storytelling on the majority of the tales to the now-iconic Steranko image of the Hulk straining under the weight of his own moniker from the cover of that title's first annual.

EC Archives: Shock Suspense Stories volume 2

Al Feldstein and Bill Gaines, with Wally Wood, Reed Crandall, Jack Kamen, Joe Orlando, Al Williamson, et. al.
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.gemstonepub.com/

The second volume collecting issues # 7 through 12 of this justly-revered series continues to provide ample proof of the many reasons that this title--and the entire line of EC books--was so popular in its day...as well as why these largely unseen tales continue to exert an immense and important amount of influence upon our modern culture. Even better, there are a number of tales, including "...So Shall Ye Reap" and "In Gratitude...," which are alone worth the price of admission for their subtle, yet scathing social commentary, all of it delivered with real grace and aplomb.

Filled with stories of murder, revenge, weird coincidences and ironic, telling twists of fate, this full color hardcover is essential reading for anyone who loves good comics, for anyone who wishes to make good comics, and for those who wish to understand fully the history of comics...and our modern society. Obviously, this book comes with my highest recommendations.

Ultimate Fantastic Four volume 1
Ultimate Fantastic Four volume 2

Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar and Warren Ellis, with Adam Kubert and Stuart Immonen. Warren Ellis, Mike Carey and Mark Millar, with Adam Kubert and Jae Lee
Marvel
http://www.marvel.com/

Volume one compiles issues 1 through 12 of Ultimate Fantastic Four, Marvel's updated version of their revered "World's Greatest Comics Magazine," while the second volume collects issues # 13 through 20, as well as Annual # 1, of the same title. Bendis and Millar, the main architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" universe, get things going with aplomb and a rather clever bang, establishing the new origin story of the Fantastic Four and their greatest nemesis while also laying the groundwork for clever and entertaining tales by Warren Ellis and Mike Carey. The art, whether provided by Adam Kubert, Stuart Immomen or Jae Lee, is finely wrought and even beautiful, supporting the scripts while serving to further their action with exciting and exacting visual storytelling. All in all, this is more than just another [highly] successful attempt at reinventing a legendary comic; it's also a vital, entertaining and worthy addition to the House of Ideas' roster. Comes with my highest recommendations.

Eternals

Neil Gaiman and John Romita, Jr.

Marvel

http://www.marvel.com/

This big blast of Kirby-inspired craziness, filtered through the sensibilities of two of the more popular creators of modern comics, makes for a great, fun read. While perhaps not as inspired in some ways as Marvel 1602, Gaiman's earlier crack at the characters inhabiting the House that Jack and Stan built, it is entertaining and full of exciting, well-rendered scene of daring and wonder. While I can't say for certain, I suspect that the only thing holding this project down and keeping it from ascending to the heights claimed by 1602 and other, similar works might be the fact that this book is definitely tied down [via constant references, but little else] by Marvel's current continuity and the whole "Civil War" storyline. Still, highly enjoyable and more than worth the time and money invested.

And that's it for now. More next week

2007-05-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Another too-long absence, I know. Again, there are very good reasons for that state of affairs, as I've mentioned before. However, I can now freely talk about why I've been missing from this venue so much for the past four-plus months.

On Monday, the 21st of May, 2007, I signed a contract with Rosen Publishing. This deal covers a series of interview books collecting my past conversations with four comic creators--Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, George Pérez and Mike Oeming--and represent the first volumes in Rosen newly christened Talking with Graphic Novelists series. All of these books are already prepped and fully approved by both myself and the subjects. Even better, some of them are already on their way to the printer. Which means that they should be readily available for their scheduled August, 2007 release dates.

[And for those wondering, yes, the Alan Moore volume is a spruced-up version of the long-sold out Alan Moore Spells It Out volume originally published under the Airwave imprint. All the other interviews, which were previously published in a variety of magazines or on long-defunct websites, are appearing in book format for the first time.]

To say that it's been a very long, and often hard road from conception to birth of these babies would be a bit of understatement. Still, I am convinced that they've been worth all of the sweat and toil, and have already been hearing from both the publisher and others that others seem to agree with that assessment.

And, perhaps best of all, while these books will be offered to comic shops via Diamond Comics' Previews, the primary customers for these books are the library and institutional [i.e. schools] markets. So these books will be available to one of those groups that I really am passionate about reaching: the present and future "civilian" readers scattered across North America.

But that's not to say that the general book reader will be shut out from buying these books if they so wish. In fact, Rosen has already begun the process of offering these puppies via Amazon.com and other online channels. For proof, simply click on any one of the following links:

Neil Gaiman http://www.amazon.com/Gaiman-Career-Talking-Graphic-Novelists/dp/1404210784/ref=sr_1_1/102-7769374-2978540?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177608868&sr=1-1

Alan Moore http://www.amazon.com/Moore-Career-Talking-Graphic-Novelists/dp/1404210776/ref=sr_1_1/102-7769374-2978540?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177608916&sr=1-1

George Pérez http://www.amazon.com/George-Perez-His-Work-Career/dp/1404211381/ref=sr_1_68/103-2673820-2003021?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177218994&sr=1-68

Mike Oeming http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Oeming-Talking-Graphic-Novelists/dp/140421075X/ref=sr_1_1/102-7769374-2978540?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177609046&sr=1-1

So that's what I've been doing for so long and was unable to talk about. Not exactly dealing with "State Secrets" and covert actions, but still pretty exciting in itself.

Nor should that give you the idea that I'll now be living a life of leisure. Quite the contrary, as there's even more books and other projects in the works, all of which will keep me busy through the rest of '07, and none of which I can really talk about yet.

But I will, sooner than later, tell you all about these other things as I'm able to. Until then, I'll be attending BookExpo America in New York City over the first weekend of June, and doing my best to get back to blogging more regularly hereabouts, and getting my interview column for WorldFamousComics.com, Baker's Dozen, back on a regular schedule.

Which signals that it's time for...

What's Bill been reading lately?

[Covering the period between May 1st through the 27th, 2007]

Miki Falls: Spring
Mark Crilley
Harper Teen
www.HaperTeen.com

This first volume of a new trilogy by the creator of Akiko is a sheer joy to read. Essentially a shojo [or girl's manga] about the titular character's growing fascination--some might say obsession--with a handsome but stand-offish teen boy who appears in Miki's senior year, it combines the best of that genre's characteristics with Crilley's strengths at visual and verbal storytelling to create an engaging, easily read tale with some hidden depths and truly surprising secrets. A really impressive and gorgeous book, with my highest recommendations for those who dig manga, and particularly for those who are interested in marrying the best of Eastern and Western sensibilities in their own comics.

The Wonder Clock
Howard Pyle with verses by Katherine Pyle
Starscape
www.Starscapebooks.com

When I was growing up, Howard Pyle's illustrations entranced me in any number of childhood favorite illustrated books. Easily understandable, especially when one realizes how visceral and real the worlds become with the aid of his lovely line- and lush brushwork. But Pyle was equally adept at creating arresting and entrancing verbiage, with his seemingly-simple tales achieving the same kind of "realness" as his graphite and ink endeavors. The Wonder Clock, then, is a real treat, combing as it does his visual and verbal capabilities in a series of twenty-four tales [one for each of the day's hours] that mix classic fairy tale tropes with his own ideas, resulting in stories which are simultaneously familiar and freshly-minted, and newly reborn. If you're looking for an example of how to rediscover and represent the wonders which have seem to have grown stale in the constant retelling, you need look no further than this volume.

The Green Lantern Archives volume 3
John Broome, Gil Kane, Murphy Anderson and Joe Geilla
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Reprinting issues # 14 through 21 of the venerable Silver Age cosmic cop series, this archive is another prime example of what makes DC's Emerald Warrior so very special to so many readers. Yeah, some of the "science" veers towards the fantastic, if not directly into the realm of fantasy, but it's easy to forgive and forget all that and simply bask in the glorious visual and verbal storytelling this book re-presents.

Agents of Atlas
Jeff Parker and Leonard Kirk
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

This big and satisfying hardcover reprints not only the entire Agents of Atlas miniseries, but also the original appearances of the titular characters first appearances in various Atlas [Marvel's original company name] from the halcyon days of the mid-50s Atomic Age of comics. Jeff Parker and Leonard Kirk have done their very best to present a story that is entertaining, exciting and a true mystery, all the while having a blast themselves. I honestly had a blast while reading this collection, and look forward to rereading it sometime in the future for the sheer joy of it. Recommended for just about anyone who enjoys a good, rip-roaring yarn--and particularly to those who have wondered where all the good, old fashioned superheroes comics have gone. Those good folks need look no further than this book for a good example of just that.

Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch volume 1
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber and Dick Ayers
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

This volume reprints the wonderfully goofy Human Torch solo stories from issues # 101 to 117, along with Annual # 2 the Silver Age era Strange Tales magazine that Johnny Storm shared with Dr. Strange for a time. Perhaps not the best examples of the inherent greatness that the Lee-Kirby team was capable of, but these are some extremely fun, and even funny, comics.

Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man volume 4
Stan Lee and Gene Colan
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

This hefty volume re-presents ol' Shellhead's adventures from Tales of Suspense # 84 through 99, the transitional Iron Man and Sub-mariner # 1 one-shot special, and Iron Man # 1 in all their glory. Stan and Gene had really hit their stride in the tales reprinted in the preceding volume, and they only continue to build on that momentum in this collection. Some real classic stories are contained herein, tales that others have drawn upon to create their own tales featuring old Shellhead. A wild ride that's as invigorating and interesting as when these tales were first released forty-odd years ago.

All-Star Superman volume 1
Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly, with Jaime Grant
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Collecting the first six issues of a brilliant re-imagining of the Man of Steel, one which builds upon the foundations of a legend even as it adds its own flourishes, as editor Bob Schreck notes in his intro, this book contains pure and magical comics storytelling. Quite simply, a must read book for everyone interested in the medium, and particularly for those who have any interest in the superhero genre or the Man of Tomorrow.

The EC Archives: Weird Science volume 2
Al Feldstein, Wally Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Joe Orlando
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.eccrypt.com/

Collecting issues 7 through 12 of this beloved SF series, this is where it all really comes together. As Feldstein's editorial and writing workload increased with the addition of more titles to the EC publishing slate, the call went out for new artists to join the fold, and for those who were already engaged to step up and increase their own output and involvement. This resulted in the flowering of Wally Wood, and the introduction of Joe Orlando as a solo artist, among many other crucial developments. And everyone, particularly the reader, won. Brilliant, chilling and thoughtful fun comics which are essential to the understanding of how the medium, and the culture surrounding it, became what it is today. If you buy only one book from this list, it probably should be this one.

And that's it for now, I think. But, as time and energy present themselves, I'll be adding short reviews of the books I read over the "silent" months of March and April, 2007, listed below.

What's Bill been reading?

[during the months of March and April, 2007]

The Action Heroes Captain Atom Archives volume 1
Joe Gill and Steve Ditko, with Rocke Mastroserio and Dave Kaler
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Reprinting the first two runs of Charlton Comics' Captain Atom from Space Adventures # 33 through40 and 42, along with Captain Atom # 78 to 82, these tales are alternately powered by the miracles of radioactivity and driven by the horrific spectre of nuclear annihilation presented by cold war politics and atomic era one-up-manship. While this might not necessarily be a "must buy" book, it certainly is a fine example of later mid-career Ditko.

The Man Who was Thursday
G. K. Chesterton
Dover

Whispers of the Dead
Peter Tremayne
St. Martins Minotaur
www.MinotaurBooks.com

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press
www.Scholastic.com

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
Richard Matneson
Tor
www.Tor.com

Stories of Your Life and Others
Ted Chiang
Orb
www.Tor.com

Vacuum Diagrams
Stephen Baxter
HarperPrism
www.HarperPrism.com

Two-Fisted Tales volume 1
Harvey Kurtzman and others
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.eccrypt.com/

Tales from the Crypt volume 2
Al Feldstein and others
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.eccrypt.com/

Glacial Period
Nicolas De Crecy
NBM Comics Lit
http://www.nbmpub.com/

Alias the Cat!
Kim Deitch
Pantheon Books
www.PantheonBooks.com

Doug TenNapel's Gear
Doug TenNapel
Image
www.ImageComics.com

Little Lulu: April Fools volume 11
Little Lulu: Leave It to Lulu volume 12
Little Lulu: Too Much Fun volume 13
Little Lulu: Queen Lulu volume 14
John Stanley and Irving Tripp
Dark Horse
www.DarkHorse.com

Wally Wood's M.A.R.S. Patrol/Total War
Wally Wood
Dark Horse
www.DarkHorse.com

The Exterminators
Simon Oliver and Tony Moore
Vertigo
www.VertigoComics.com

Abraxas and the Earthman
Rich Veitch
King Hell Press

The Acme Novelty Library volume 16
The Acme Novelty Library volume 17
Chris Ware
Farrar, Strauss and Giroux/Drawn and Quarterly distributors.

Marvel Zombies
Robert Kirkman, Sean Phillips and Arthur Suydam
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange volume 3
Roy Thomas and Gene Colan
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil volume 4
Stan Lee and Gene Colan
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

Marvel Masterworks: Tales to Astonish featuring Ant-Man and Giant-Man volume 1
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck and Larry Lieber
Marvel
www.Marvel.com

The Metal Men Archives volume 1
Robert Kanigher with Ross Andru and Mike Esposito
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

The Plastic Man Archives volume 8
Jack Cole
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

The Seven Soldiers of Victory Archives volume 1
Mort Weisinger, Bill Finger and Jerry Siegel, with George Papp, Hal Sherman, Mort Meskin, Creig Flessel, Jack Lehti, Fred Ray and Ed Dobrotka
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

2007-05-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Selling an Englishman by the Pound

Yeah, yet another break which lasted too long. Again, not due to me being lazy or a wish to abandon this forum for my thoughts. Rather, the time has been really flying by as I completed work on a total of four [4!] books which--if all goes according to my and other good people's plans--will be released later this year.

However, there is another reason why I haven't updated this blog for such a long time. Simply put, the deal itself [read "contract"], while all but a certaintainty, is not set in stone. Meaning that nothing's signed yet, and there's what would appear to one final round of negotiations to endure before everything's finalized before I can finally, with good and clear conscience, announce it here and elsewhere. And with that in mind I've been waiting for this happy event to occur before I wrote what I planned to be my next entry. A bit foolish in hindsight, of course. Especially since I have been not only doing a lot of thinking about Ur-plots and other lit-crit business, but also have been reading up a storm. Bottom line: I'm waaaaaay behind on not only blogging, but also on reviewing what I've read.

So, I've decided to just jump back into these waters and write about what I've read in the past month and a half, so that I won't be facing a small mountain of books to talk about here. Because, as past experience in this area has shown, it simply becomes nigh impossible to do it all, and even more difficult to do those books I do manage to discuss real justice. All of which means that I'll be trying to do several posts a week for the foreseeable future, playing catch up and trying to perhaps even get a bit ahead of myself, so that I can spend some time talking about why "old ideas" aren't necessarily a bad thing if used imaginatively in a new context, among many other topics.

But first, a bit of self promotion and marketing business.

I've recently finalized my plans to attend the Book Expo America 2007, which will be taking over the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City the first weekend of next month, from Friday the 1st through Sunday, the 3rd of June. This will be only the second convention I've attended this year, which is a phenomenally small number for yours truly, and I am more than a little excited about attending it for a number of reasons.

Chief among those reasons is the fact that this show, unlike most comic-centric conventions, is mainly geared towards the professionals who work in the various fields and genres in the larger publishing world, and I'll be there trying to get some new projects placed with the proper publishers. And, no, I can't really talk about those new projects for a variety of reasons, but rest assured that I will happily and prominently announce them asap here. Add in the fact that I'll be hanging out with good people like Joel "Tripwire" Meadows, John "Last Kiss" Lustig, and the "God of Art" himself, David Michael Beck, among many others, and you've got a pretty good picture of why I'm looking forward to this event.

So if you're planning on being at the Book Expo, or in the NYC area during that period, don't hesitate to let me know that fact. It'd be great to see a bunch of people I've missed over the past two or three years, ever since I decided to refocus my energies and attention, and stopped attending twelve to fifteen shows a year. [And, no, that's not a typo; I really did attend a minimum of 12, and often 15 or more cons a year--every year--for the better part of a decade.]

Also, and perhaps just as important, a small cache of the long sold out Airwave edition of Alan Moore Spells It Out has recently resurfaced, leading to my decision to offer fifty of them as part of a special package with my latest book, Alan Moore's Exit Interview. I've signed fifty [50] copies of each volume, and they're being sold on a first come, first served basis via http://www.pmkane.com/moore/moore.htm. That set will set you back $25.00 American, plus shipping and handling. Unsigned copies of Exit Interview are also available, separately and at the cover price of $10.00 plus s/h, via that same link.

And that's enough shilling for one day. Now it's time for a quick look at...

What's Bill been reading over the past month-plus...

[Between 3-19-07 to 4-30-07]

Farewell Summer
Ray Bradbury.

Dandelion Wine, Bradbury's fictionalized autobiography of his boyhood, has always had a special place in my heart. Aside from being a compendium of wonderful tales, vignettes and remembrances which culminate in a truly magical manner, it's always been, for me, the quintessential Bradbury novel. Now, after fifty years of plying his craft in a variety of genres, mediums and media, the Master of Midwestern Magical Realism returns to Green Town to chart the final course of Douglas Spaulding's coming of age. The resulting book is, by turns, funny, frightening, touching, and always pure and true. And just like summers of yore, too quickly lived and gone. At least in this case, as with its predecessor and the rest of Ray's backlist, we can always relive it by taking down off the shelf and rereading it.

Not only does Farewell Summer serve as a worthy successor to an acknowledged masterpiece, it could easily serve as a fitting capstone to this beloved National Book Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author's distinguished and justly-acclaimed career. This is required reading, particularly for those who fail to see the wonder which imbues the world around us...as well as any/everyone who harbors their own dream of becoming a good writer of any form of literature, including comics.

Farewell Summer
Ray Bradbury
William Morrow
www.harpercollins.com

And that's it for today. Expect to see more very, very soon.

Now go play in the sun. That's what I plan to do right now, myself.

2007-03-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

Felt Like I was Falling Off the Face of the Earth

It's been far too long since I added a new entry to this blog, but it's certainly not because I've been lazy. Quite the opposite, actually.

Since that last entry, I've prepped two full books for publication as part of a deal which I will, hopefully, soon be able to announce. I've also begun preparations on two addition books which are related to those two books already fully prepared, as well as traveled to this year's edition of the New York Comic-Con which, if all goes well over the next few days, I will be talking about both here and in the pages of a magazine I've not yet contributed to. I've done all that, and quite a bit more.

However, and more importantly for the purpose of this venue, it's all vapor at this point. Stuff I can't talk about yet, or even material that would be boring or nonsensical to discuss here.

So, with all that in mind, I'll turn to a partial list of what I've read since the last post. The books below represent things I read between then and the end of February, 2007, when I was just returning from the NYC-Con, so there'll be another fairly long listing of short reviews which should follow in the next few days or next week...

So, what's Bill been reading?

[covering the period of 2-4-07 to 2-28-07]

Eden: It's an Endless World volumes 1 and 2
Hiroki Endo
Dark Horse manga
www.darkhorse.com

In the near future a virus ravages the world, turning most of the population into crumbling statues. The survivors, predominately made up of young children and teens, are more often preyed upon than protected by their elders who remain. Still, life seeks life, and wants to beget life. So as they age and begin to reach puberty, those youthful survivors begin to search for others like them with whom they can live, love and--hopefully--mate and establish families. However, living is always accompanied by death and killing, one of the many paradoxes that lie at the heart of this series which artfully mixes breakneck action with moments of thoughtful, even sublime consideration of the human condition. An extremely fine post-apocalyptic series brimming with rich characterization, intriguing concepts, and a lust for life rarely found in any world--fictional or otherwise. Highly recommended, especially for those who are often at a loss concerning what manga has to offer readers that much of the American mainstream, and especially superheroes, doesn't these days.

Satsuma Gishiden The Legend of the Satsuma Samurai volume 1
Hiroshi Hirata
Dark Horse manga
www.darkhorse.com

Dark Horse has been recommending this series to fans of Lone Wolf and Cub and other violent samurai action, and with good reason. Set in an era of peace, when the samurai class has no real purpose or outlet for their passions and sense of duty, this series opens with an example of one of the brutal sports which these worthies "played" using living humans as objects to be fought over, maimed and killed in grotesque fashion. As an attention grabber, it's fairly hard to top, but it also serves as a vehicle to reveal the boiling rage and frustration which the warrior class must have felt at finding themselves suddenly useless. The question of how a human machine of death might achieve and maintain his honor in a peaceful, fairly stable society has never been quite like this. Nor have scenes of extreme violence been rendered with quite as much beauty, either. I'm more than a little intrigued, and look forward to seeing where this series goes in future volumes.

Showcase Presents The Elongated Man
John Broome and Gardner Fox with Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams, Murphy Anderson and Gil Kane
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

I love the entire Showcase Presents line of books, as both a concept and a reality. Putting out reprints of some of the greatest, and oddest, series of the Silver Age in easily affordable, richly rewarding formats is probably one of the best things to have happened in mainstream American comics in nearly a decade. And this volume, featuring the storied adventures of Ralph Dibny, the stretchable detective, with his wife, Sue, as they travel the United States and the larger world in search of mystery, intrigue and great shopping bargains is one of my favorites so far. This is a great, and greatly enjoyable, book which I can't recommend highly enough to those seeking some fun all ages entertainment which rarely, if ever, insults your intelligence. Also, it makes a good coloring book for the kids!

Little Lulu volumes 4 to 10:
Sunday Afternoon
Lulu in the Doghouse
Letters to Santa
Lulu's Umbrella Service
Late for School
Lucky Lulu
All Dressed Up
John Stanley and Irving Trip
Dark Horse Books
www.darkhorse.com

I've raved about these truly fun and easily afforded reprints of the classic Little Lulu comics, which ran from 1945 to 1984, before. After making through these volumes, I can only continue to add heaps of praise and giggles of joy to my previous observations that this reprint series is currently one of the highlights of the entire industry. Whether its a tale about Lulu trying to enter the boys only club, making a few pennies for candy or a gift, finding out who is truly responsible for some slight which resulted in an unfair spanking, or quieting that annoying Alvin with another wild tale of life seen through the eyes of an imaginative child, these tales are all endlessly entertaining and inventive. These aren't just great books for kids, or the adults who believe in feeding their inner child, but also prime examples of what superb storytelling really is. Not only highly recommended for everyone looking for a fine and fun read, these are required reading for anyone who wants to know how to make better comics. Period.

Robotika
Alex Sheikman
Archaia Studios Press
www.ASPcomics.com

Another series I've raved about before [hey, I'm even quoted on the dust jacket!], and one which remains one of the most enigmatic, enticing and ultimately rewarding new reads I've encountered since I began writing reviews of graphic novels. And, considering how many of these things I read, that's a real compliment. Sheikman manages to create, through line and color and dialogue and, perhaps most important of all, suggestion, a wholly alien world peopled by characters who are recognizably human and strange at once. And when read as a whole, much of what was lost in the time between reading the single issues is retained, consciously and otherwise, leading to an accretion of not just characterization and detail and information, but perhaps more importantly, of ethos and atmosphere, leading to a richer and more meaningful reading experience. Even more telling, this is a title which truly merits and rewards rereading. While this book is likely not for everyone, those looking for a challenging and decidedly different series which more than delivers on its promise should certainly check Robotika out.

Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers volume 6
Roy Thomas, John Buscema and others
Marvel Comics
www.marvel.com

This is one of the main Masterworks that I've been waiting for since they first began this important reprint project over a decade ago. Not only does this volume reprint the introduction of The Vision, one of the touchstone characters of my youth, but it also contains some of the singular best work done on the series--ever. Now that might seem like hyperbole, but it really isn't if you look at the tales contained herein. This is where the Thomas-Buscema team really hit their stride and began working together in an almost seamless unity, resulting in some of the most exciting and engrossing comics of the day. Yeah, some of these stories might creak a bit after all the intervening years, but they've still got some real power and punch left to them. Plus, this is some of Buscema's best storytelling, bar none. All in all, a great package and more than worth the price of admission if you can't find or afford the individual issues.

Marvel Masterworks: Warlock volume 1
Roy Thomas and Mike Friedrich, Gil Kane and Bob Brown
Marvel Comics
www.marvel.com

This collection presents the earliest adventures of the creature originally known simply as Him, before his transformation into a messianic super powered antihero called Warlock. Yeah, many of these tales show their age in various ways, whether its the often naive dichotomy of "the kids versus the establishment" plot points, the use of "hip" language, clothing and hair styles, among many other aspects, but they're still entertaining and sometimes even thought provoking despite these distractions. And when Gil Kane is fully committed to the book, as he seems to have been for a good part of his run on the title, the visual storytelling is sheer dynamite, complimenting and supplementing the verbal narrative in still revolutionary ways. While this is perhaps not the most vital--and certainly not the most necessary--of the Masterworks volumes released to date, this is still a fine example of what comics were back in the day and what they strove for...even if they missed the mark.

Supergirl Archives volume 2
Jerry Siegel, Jim Mooney and others
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

This second collection of Supergirl stories is filled with everything that made this back up series so memorable: The female powerhouse serving as the "secret weapon" of her male cousin, choosing to meekly serve in secret at Superman's behest. But it also offers the maid of might's most significant moment of apotheosis, the result of a strangely convoluted extended storyline which clocks in at over a hundred pages and puts the heroine through her paces, experiencing some of the deepest depressions and most exhilarating highs of the series, culminating with a well-deserved reward when she's finally "allowed" to go public. As such, it's filled with innumerable items which make any enlightened modern reader wince, and enough material to fuel a whole wing of feminist criticism, but it's all delivered with an open hearted sincerity and wholesomeness which marks all but the most outré of DC tales of this era.

Isaac Newton
James Gleick
Pantheon Books
www.pantheonbooks.com

This biography of the man who arguably stood astride the ages of Reason and Superstition is, as all books by Gleick, both excellent and enticing. Excellent because Gleick is a writer who has a passion for not just science, but making even the most esoteric and difficult of concepts readily accessible to the average reader, and enticing because of his command of both subject and language. Add in the fact that Newton proves to be as complex, multilayered and startling a subject as the scientific discoveries he made over the course of his lifetime. Highly recommended, particularly for those who love fine investigative writing.

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
Eoin Colfer
Hyperion Books for Children
www.ArtemisFowl.com

The man-child who would be the greatest unknown thief in two worlds meets his match in the form of one of the nastiest villains I've run across in modern teen lit in this, the fourth installment of Colfer's series essaying the interactions between the worlds of mundane folk and fairy. And the stakes have rarely been this high, with the lives of not just Artemis and his compatriots, but the fate of all supernatural and humanity in the balance. As noted in this volume, there's been some real growth in the titular character between the first book and this one, all of it both logical and believable. However, by the end of this adventure all of that hard-won maturity, among a great many other things, is placed in a perilous position by some well-intentioned actions. An easy read that also offers some real food for thought.

The Supernaturalist
Eoin Colfer
Hyperion Books for Children
www.eoincolfer.com
www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com

Another wild ride intended for teen readers, which supplies some thought-provoking grist for the mill while providing some real thrills. In a desolate and often desperate future, orphaned children who are wards of the state serve as test subjects for corporations' various concoctions and drugs, resulting in a hellish system which offers little comfort and less hope for its charges. Escape is nearly impossible, and ultimately foolhardy. This is the only life that Cosmo Hill knows until a freak accident frees him from the system while also making him aware of strange creatures who seem to thrive upon the immense pain and suffering generated by this horrific dystopia. Saved by a small group of mismatched outcasts who have gained similar abilities, Cosmo becomes a Supernaturalist, a hunter and killer of those ephemeral creatures who thrive on human suffering. However, all is not as it seems in this world, and soon the Supernaturalists find themselves unwitting tools and pawns of the megacorporation which rules their world, fulfilling their original purpose but with an ominous, even apocalyptic twist. This is a very different kind of teen lit, dark and edgy and rarely "safe," but immensely satisfying in its own way.

And that about covers it for now. Expect another rather large batch of reviews in the next week or so. Until then, take care and make sure to have some fun!

2007-02-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

Face Value

Yeah, almost two weeks since the last post. However, I've been quite busy with a number of projects, including one which will prominently feature this exclusive new image--a portrait of Alan Moore created by Melinda Gebbie over the course of the first weekend of February, '07.

And I've got to say, not only is it becoming increasingly difficult to not talk about this particular book, and the entire project of which it's part, but I've discovered that I now harbor a whole new level of respect for Ms. Gebbie and her art. And, considering how much I've admired and enjoyed her work over the past 16 or so years [essentially ever since my first exposure to it in the first issue of Lost Girls original incarnation], that is saying quite a bit.

Of course, the fact that this delicately rendered illo of modern comics own Renaissance Man echoes a rather famous [self?] portrait of the original Renaissance Man--the awe-inspiring Leonardo Da Vinci--only makes it all the more special for me.

Seriously beautiful work. And all my thanks to Melinda, and Alan, for this wonderful piece of art.

Look for another entry, featuring the usual short reviews and, ideally, some thoughts on why a certain horrific meme remains so vital and central to our culture, later today or tomorrow.

2007-01-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday Moanin' Comin' Down

This past week has been more than a little hectic, and while I've got some good news and there have been more than a few interesting developments professionally, I think I'll hold off talking about it all until everything's worked out and rock solid. Which means I don't really have a whole helluvalot to talk about right now. Not that I haven't been doing some serious thinking, both critically and otherwise, it's just better to wait for the right time to speak about some things.

However, aside from noting that I'm already sick of Winter, below freezing cold, and even a hint of snow, I can make one announcement...

I'll be attending next month's New York Comic-Con at the Javits Center in, of course, New York City.

The show runs from Friday, the 23rd of February, through Sunday, the 25th. And, like last year's inaugural edition, this conference is shaping up to be an incredibly interesting event. You can find out more about the show, the other professionals who'll be attending, and loads of other important and tantalizing information by visiting www.NYComicCon.com.

And, if all goes as currently planned, my latest book, Alan Moore's Exit Interview, will premiere at that con. Look for more details on this and other, related topics in a future Speculative Friction post.

Enough pimping. Let's move on to...

What's Bill been reading the past two weeks? [1-1-07 to 1-14-07]

Fragile Things
by Neil Gaiman
published by William Morrow
www.HarperCollins.com

Filled with tales and poems both subtly sweet and delightfully sour, deeply chilling and unabashedly sentimental, this book is both thought-provoking and reverie-inducing. As such, Gaiman's newest collection of shorter fiction only serves to further cement his standing as one of the foremost fantasist writing today--or in any era. As with the lion's share of his work, this comes with my highest recommendations.

Marvel Masterworks: Captain America volume 3
by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko
published by Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

This is probably one of the more highly-anticipated volumes in the Masterworks series reprinting the legendary tales from Marvel's Silver Age. Not only does it complete Stan "The Man" Lee and Jack "The King" Kirby's incredible run on this title, it also presents Jim Steranko's revolutionary work of this period. True, it's typically Steranko's issues of Nick Fury, Agent of Shield that gets mentioned by folks as being his most noteworthy work during this period, but it would be a real injustice to simply ignore his efforts on this book. Yeah, some of it does not age as well as the rest of his work from these halcyon days, but this volume is jammed packed with historically important--not to mention flat out fun and highly entertaining--comics. Recommended for those who wonder what all the fuss was about, and simply a "Must Read" for all creators, and anyone who wishes to be a well-read student of the medium.

Batman: The World's Finest Comics Archives volumes 1 and 2
by Bob Kane, Jack Burnley, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson and various
published by DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

These two volumes actually came out a few years back, but I somehow missed adding them to my collection until I recently ran across used copies while visiting Dennis Barger's excellent Wonder World Comics shop [www.WonderWorldComics.com] in Taylor, a suburb of Detroit. While there were any number of other items tempting me, I'm truly glad that I decided to pick these two entries in DC's excellent Archives reprint series. Sure, at the start, some of the art and even stories are a touch clunky, but they're nonetheless chock full of real entertainment value. However, that awkwardness is quickly replaced with some really fine and even highly accomplished work, both verbal and visual. By the end of the first volume, and throughout the entirety of the second, all the creators know their subjects and tools intimately, and the result is a series of tales that are highly satisfying, even if the majority don't pit the Dark Knight against his high-profile Rogues Gallery. Still, you've got a good selection of Joker appearances, as well as the introduction of the Scarecrow, housed between these covers, as well as the forgotten origin of the Giant Penny which became such a prominent feature of the Bat Cave's trophy room.

Batman Archives volume 5
by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, Win Mortimer, Charles Paris and various
published by DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Another incredible volume of tales from Batman and Robin's Golden Age, and another great find discovered at Barger's Wonder World Comics store. This volume features some of the truly fun tales from Detective Comics, and showcases some stellar work by all involved--and by Win Mortimer, in particular. I've always known that Mortimer was quite gifted, but his contributions in this volume really helped me appreciate how truly good he was as a Batman artist. A solid, entertaining and worthwhile addition to anyone's library.

And that's it for now. I'll be back in but a day or two. Until then, take care and good reading!

2007-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Pleasures, Simple and Otherwise

Not a lot to talk about at this juncture. But a lot going on behind the scenes. Including prepping for the New York Comic-Con next month, which takes a surprising amount of time and energy to do it right. I'll talk more about that upcoming show, where you might find me during that con and what you can expect to see from me there, in a future installment.

Also, I'm hoping I'll be able to make that kinda major announcement I've hinted at in the near future. Some things take time, and considerable effort, to set up correctly. Yeah, it's fairly time-consuming and often frustrating for all involved, but if there's one truth I've learned over the years in this business, some things are more than worth the wait...and the work that no one hears about, much less should care about.

Regardless, I will talk about all kinds of very good and cool and exciting things to come as soon as I'm able [i.e. when certain individuals have signed off on certain projects, and the ink has dried on certain documents]. Until then, I'll do my best to keep you entertained and updated on things I can openly talk about. Things like...

What's Bill been reading the past few months? 9-20-06 to 12-31-06 [part two]

Unholy Kinship
by Naomi Nowak
NBM Comics Lit
www.NBMpublishing.com

Nowak is a young European painter whose love of comics has given rise to this, her first graphic novel. The result is a tale of two sisters, testing the boundaries of love and what we will do for those who we cannot live without. Enigmatic without being purposefully obscure, filled with realistic emotion and believable actions which lead into surreal visions of what might lie behind and beyond this world, this is a book which rewards repeated readings with newfound insights. A truly impressive debut by an artist who has only begun to explore the possibilities inherent to both the medium and her own abilities. Plus, the painted art--an elegant and evocative mixture of European and Asian sensibilities--is simply, utterly gorgeous.

Showcase Presents: House of Mystery
by various
DC Comics.
www.DCcomics.com

House of Mystery was one of the great horror anthologies of its day, and this volume serves up 500+ pages of prime material in black and white. At worst, this is decent comics, often with incredibly lush and evocative art by the likes of Alex Toth and a young Bernie Wrightson. An incredible entertainment bargain, and well worth the time and money spent on it.

Dynamic Duo Archives volume 1
by Carmine Infantino and various
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Yeah, sharp-eyed readers of this blog will realize that I read the second volume in this series long before cracking the cover on this, the first collection of the "New Look" Batman. While it might not be obvious, these tales marked a fairly sharp departure from the previous, incredibly campy approach to the Dark Knight and his family. If you thought that the "grim and gritty" take on a character didn't appear until Frank Miller or Alan Moore arrived on the scene in the 80s, here's some proof that it existed, albeit in a much tamer version, much earlier. And this vision of Bats is also responsible, for good or ill, for inspiring the television series starring Adam West and company.

Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man volume 8
by Stan Lee, John Romita, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

Having assimilated his predecessor's style, transmuting Steve Ditko's angular expressionism and incorporating Kirby's explosive storytelling into a sinewy and muscular style all his own, Romita proves the perfect foil for Lee's romantic adventure tales. This is where the team transcends their limitations, turning out one incredibly vital tale after another...often without any idea of where they were taking Spidey and his legion of fans. These stories are justifiably revered, and deliver on their promise even today, decades after they were conceived and committed to paper. In case you haven't guessed it yet, this is highly recommended reading for anyone interested in how to do superhero comics.

Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Tales of Suspense volume 1
by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and various
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

OK, this volume might not have some of the best stuff Lee wrote, but I really don't care. It might not be some of the best art that Kirby, Ditko, and other stalwarts who would eventually be inducted into the House of Ideas' fabled Bullpen. Again, it's a moot point. What this book provide the reader with, aside from bold, audacious and absolute fun, is a glimpse into the darker realms of America's psyche and inner demons, manifested in a variety of monstrous forms. And did I mention that this is a complete blast of fun?

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor volume 5
by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

The Lee-Kirby team really hit their stride on this series, throwing aside more earthly concerns [along with the long-running frustrated love affair between the titular character and his alter ego's nurse, Jane Foster] in preparation of launching the Thunder God into previously unexplored regions of space and new realms of wonder. Talk about Shock and Awe...highly recommended.

Silver on the Tree [book 5 of The Dark is Rising sequence]
by Susan Cooper

Cooper wraps up this award winning and highly acclaimed fantasy series with equal dashes of aplomb, bravura and subtle twists of fate, trying together her re-imagined Arthurian saga in a wholly satisfying manner. Filled with memorable characters, intriguing situations and glimpses of several lost cultures spanning the centuries, this one has it all, and offers something worthwhile to any who enter its world. I honestly can't recommend this entire series highly enough. It is truly a modern classic, and one which should entertain generations to come.

The End [Book the Thirteenth in A Series of Unfortunate Events]
by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist
Harper Collins Publishers
www.lemonysnicket.com

The insanely popular, incredibly droll epic adventures of the Baudelaire children ends here, in precisely the way it had to end--on a down note. There's death, danger, more death, more danger, still more death and--surprisingly--a new beginning which are witnessed herein. And while there is some, albeit small, hope contained in this volume, we are given only a glimpse of what's to come before, like Moses leading his flock to the Promised Land's doorstep, everything draws to a close.

Little Lulu: Lulu Goes Shopping volume 1

Little Lulu: Lulu Takes a Trip volume 2

Little Lulu: My Dinner with Lulu volume 3

Little Lulu: Color Special
by John Stanley and Irving Tripp
Dark Horse Comics
www.DarkHorse.com

Like too many young fellas, I avoided this and similar "girly" comics while growing up...and for far too long afterwards. After all, what could a series about the daily adventures of Lulu, her buddy Tubby and their circle of friends around their town offer me? Well, how about laughter? Not enough? Then, how about real and truthful insight into not just human society, but the human condition itself? What's really noteworthy about these tales is how well they work, despite all of the changes, large and small, that time has wrought upon not just society as a whole, but the nature of childhood itself. This series of reprints should be on the shelves of every comic shop and in the library of every student of the medium, period. Absolutely essential reading. [And if the fact that the main series of reprint volumes are "only" in black and white, you can always grab the color special, which contains some of the best tales from throughout Lulu's incredibly long run.]

2007-01-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

[Say you want a] Resolution

Well, let's not do that again.

No, I didn't plan on being absent from this forum for such an extended period. Very far from it, if truth be told. However, my best intentions proved to have little influence over events of the past few months, much less any real restorative powers of healing. The back problems I talked about in my last entry [posted at the end of October, '06?!] indicated, physically, things had really deteriorated to the point where I found myself unable to sit at the desk for any real extended period.

In fact, it was only after the fact and well into a time when things had begun to ease, pain-wise, that I realized that I had been lucky to be able to work for a total of an hour and half a day for several months on end. This lead to a situation where I had to be very careful about what I spent that time doing, and the obvious choice was to expend it towards getting paying work done. All else, including this blog and my Baker's Dozen column for Justin over at WorldFamousComics.com, had to give way to those paying projects I had already begun and needed to complete. Obviously, this wasn't a good place to find myself in, and I needed to get myself back on a more regular schedule as soon as possible. As a side note, one of the things that made this whole situation even more unbearable for me is the simple fact that I prefer, even like, long work periods. So not being able to just sit down and work for a straight six to twelve hours as I've been accustomed to left me feeling incredibly frustrated.

The bad news is that it took several months for things to heal and stabilize enough for me to get back to the keyboard for anything resembling a regular work day. I'm still hampered a bit by the occasional muscle spasm or stabbing pain, but find that I can actually work for longer and longer periods. The good news is that it looks like that trend is holding, and the various exercises and such I've been doing have begun to have a real and positive effect, and I'm now able to contemplate spending some of this valuable time on this blog and the column again.

And, since this happened to coincide with a season given to making prognostications and promises, I've decided to make one Resolution for this little enterprise: I will do at least one entry a week, however small or inconsequential, come hell or high water for the foreseeable future. Now, this might mean that there could be a week or ten days between entries, due to being on the road and such, but I'm hoping and planning to add something new each calendar week of '07.

So, unless something major prevents me from getting access to the Internet or this blog, you'll be seeing at least 52 new Speculative Frictions this year. And if I have my way, you'll be seeing a lot more than that minimal number over the course of this newly-minted year.

Still, the question remains of what I did during this enforced "vacation." Well, a surprising amount of work, actually. Some things, like the woefully late Alan Moore's Exit Interview book, I can and will talk about very soon. And, of course, I'll be sharing what I read over the past three months with you in a moment. But a whole lot of what I've been working on during this prolonged "silence" I still can't talk about, aside from saying that I've been in some very interesting and, ideally, extremely fruitful negotiations which I can't talk about at this point. Not trying to be a tease, but it's a fairly big deal and I've probably already said too much about it already. As soon as I'm able, you'll be among the first to hear about it here.

In the meantime, I suppose it's time for...

What's Bill been reading the past few months?

9-20-06 to 12-31-06 [part one]

EC Archives: Weird Science volume 1
EC Archives: Shock Suspense Stories volume 1
by Al Feldstein and various
Gemstone Publishing
http://www.eccrypt.com/

I could talk for days about how good, and even important, the work contained in these two beautifully designed and produced oversized hardcovers, but for now I'll leave it to this single observation: If you've never read these stories before, and particularly those contained in Shock Suspense, and you think you're a well-read scholar of the medium, you're lying to yourself. No, really.

In fact, I've begun to wonder if it wasn't the truth-telling tales inhabiting that title which prompted the eventual suppression of this entire line.

The Deadman Collection
by Arnold Drake, Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams, et. al.
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Deadman was one of those characters who has, if you'll excuse the obvious pun, haunted me since I first encountered the disembodied spirit of Boston Brand as a kid, way back when. Aside from the incredible art which graced the pages of this feature, it was the character's understandable sense of isolation and alienation which drew me in and hooked me--along with a whole generation of readers.

Absolute New Frontier
by Darwyn Cooke, with Dave Stewart and J. Bone
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

I skipped this in its first two incarnations, both as a mini-series and a pair of paperback collections, not because I didn't want to read it [I love Cooke's work, as well as that of his two compatriots on this project] but more out of a hidden knowledge that, sooner or later, DC would give this incredible and vital tale the presentation it deserved. It was worth the wait--hell, the extra section at the back of the book is worth the price of admission--and this volume is now on my list of "Must Read" books. Permanently. One of the single best hardcover collections I've ever had the joy to read.

Thanks, Darwyn and co., for giving me a few more precious moments in the company of the heroes I once knew.

Essential Luke Cage volume 2
by various
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

I read this in a red heat, over 500 pages, in a red heat over a few days. It might not be high art, but it is entertaining, fun and often funny [both intentionally and otherwise]. We all need something light to read or fall back upon, when needing to recharge our batteries or get away from the more serious things of life. This is like being immersed in an extended B movie, with all that implies.

Essential Godzilla
by various
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

See the final line of the review directly above, then multiply it by some ridiculously huge number. A number of folks have expressed surprise that I not only bought this volume, but enjoyed it more than a little. All I can say is that anyone who can't raise a smile while contemplating the concept of mixing the schlockier aspects of the House of Ideas with one of the icons of Japanese Sci-Fi probably should avoid this collection...and many other, simply fun entertainments.

Captain America and the Falcon: The Swine
by Jack Kirby and various
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

There's a surprising amount of Marvel material in this listing, true, but none more anticipated or enjoyed. This third and final volume collecting King Kirby's later work on the character he co-created with Joe Simon in those halcyon days of yore delivers more pure and unadulterated entertainment than books which are twice as long. It's really too bad that this period of Jack's work has been so long denied the light of day, and that, once the initial printing of this and the other volumes are sold, it will be too long until its seen by another generation of readers and creators. There's a lot to be learned from Kirby's later work, particularly how he balanced some fairly gritty subject matter with his unembarrassed zest for life and sheer joy in bravura storytelling, qualities which are too often lacking in today's comics.

The Invincible Iron Man: Extremis
by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

I've been a fan of Warren's work since I first encountered a short story in the back of the final issue of the color Akira reprints done under the Epic sub imprint, over a decade ago now. His work has only improved, generally, since then. This is good Warren, and fits nicely alongside some of his other superhero work. And Granov has done some solid, even splendid, work here.

Squadron Supreme: The Prewar Years
by J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

As with Warren Ellis, I've generally enjoyed "Joe" Straczynski's comic work, sometimes even more than I've enjoyed his television work, including his justly-revered Babylon 5 show. And his work reimagining the Squadron Supreme, essentially Marvel's version of DC's JLA, has been very, very good at its worst.

My only complaint with this book is that I found it disconcerting to discover that I had missed a large part of the story leading up to the events depicted in these pages because Marvel hadn't yet released that collection [i.e. the recently published Supreme Powers volume 2 hardcover]. That unfortunate state of affairs drained some of the events and interactions in this volume of their emotional power and resonance for me, but didn't keep me from generally enjoying what Joe, Gary and the rest of the crew did in these pages. I suspect that, if I read the story in its proper sequence, this would be no problem and I'd be raving about this book as much as I have the Supreme Powers issues I've been acquainted with in the past. Bear this in mind when you seek this title out.

And I think that's enough for now. I'll be back in the next few days to finish up this listing, and let you know what else has been on my mind and on the reading pile. Until then, take care and enjoy!

2006-10-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

THEM BONES

"I don't wannt a be krippled kracked
shoulders wrists knees and back
ground to dust and ash
crawling on all fours."

[The first stanza of "bones" as written and performed by Radiohead, from their EMI CD, the bends]

Over a month since the last entry. Much too much time between posts, I know. But there are some real reasons for that overlong silence, both good and, unfortunately, many not so good. And while I don't typically care to discuss my personal problems publicly, I realize that I do owe both an apology and some kind of explanation for the long delay.

So. "What happened, and what's been going on?"

Well, the major and overriding reason can be traced to some pretty terrible back problems. I've had various problems with my spine for over 20 years now, all arising from a major accident in my senior year of high school caused by a passed-out drunken driver who hit my vehicle head on at about sixty miles an hour. Really put a crimp in my day and, more importantly to present purposes, my back. Nothing major at that point, mainly a hip and a few other joints slightly out of place. Kind of trivial problems, given that I should have died, yet somehow emerged from the wreckage with those hidden injuries, along with a bone-deep cut bisecting my right eyebrow and a broken right hand. However, while the last two, more obvious, injuries were promptly dealt with, the seemingly insignificant fact that my hip was knocked out of alignment was overlooked, along with any long-term consequences arising from that "unimportant" condition.

Flash forward just over a decade, to when I was beginning my PhD studies [in Theatre, with a concentration in performance theory and criticism] at Florida State University. That's when the first real signs of trouble manifested themselves as a piercing pain in my lower left shoulder blade; the closest I've ever come to describing this pain is comparing that discomfort to the results of sticking an ice pick deep into someone's back muscles, before rapidly rotating and wildly twisting it so that all the meat under the skin surface would be torn asunder.

Yeah, it kinda hurt. Constantly, and without interruption except in intensity.All of which made reading the heavy and high-minded theory and criticism necessary to my pursuing that my degree rather difficult at best. Often, it was simply impossible to keep focused upon the page, much less the meaning it might convey.

So I went to the health center, where an X ray revealed that I had developed a 30% scoliosis of the spine. Which explained the sharp and dull pains alike, as well as why I "naturally" held my head at a 15 degree angle to the side most of the time, although I was convinced that it was level with the horizon.

I won't bore you with further details of finding my way through the "cures" offered by traditional medicine at that time, aside from noting that it mainly consisted of offers for life-long prescriptions to some truly powerful--and stupor-inducing--painkillers, combined with having my spine "welded" straight and kept in that position by a steel rod which would run from the base of my skull to the middle of my back, thus making turning my head [among many other normal activities] literally impossible. Nor will I wax poetic over my discovery of chiropractic care, which, along with therapeutic massage, has been the only method that seemed to alleviate and even correct the damage. All I've got to say on that front is that, at present, I have no curvature of the spine and generally am able to hold my head level with little problem, thank you very much. Still, no matter how good the chiro might be, and I've been treated by some truly amazing and capable healers working in that field, some permanent and rather serious damage had been done to my body's framework.

Now flash forward once more to a period about two years past, when I again began experiencing some of those same, terrible pains which alerted me to the problem in the first place, decades ago. Naturally, I went to my chiropractor to deal with it, and to find out what had caused the old problems to reappear.

And that's when I discovered that my back had deteriorated to the point where I was unable to lift more than 25 pounds without injuring myself in some really horrible and painful ways. Worse, it seems that it's a permanent condition. And stress and working too hard and/or long will cause further pain and [you guessed it!] further damage to my ailing back.

Which all means, of course, that I had to completely alter the manner and length of how I work, and how I live my life. Much of it amounts to good time and health management, such as making myself take a 15 minute break every hour from desk work, and exercising more regularly and carefully. For the most part, these are minor changes. But the margin for error is extraordinarily slim in my particular case, and a simple oversight or overworking even a little bit can have some fairly major, and immediately painful, consequences.

Still, life and work don't always allow for such luxuries as a quarter hour break every hour at work. And then there's the fact that a lot of what I do for a living, such as working on a computer or reading the massive trade editions I tend to favor, aren't exactly what the doctor ordered. By now, I'm sure that you're beginning to get an idea of what I deal with on a daily basis, so I won't belabor this point. And, again, I ask that you remember that I'm honestly not looking for sympathy or trying to excuse my long absence from this blog; I'd just like to give you a fair idea of why I haven't been here for a bit.

Well, as it turns out, really detailed editorial work--what most folks refer to as "line editing," where you go through a text quite literally word by word by punctuation mark by word, making corrections and suggestions--is one of the worst things for my back. That, and transcription.

And guess what the past few months have been overflowing with? Yep, metric tons of both line editing and transcription.

All of which left me not only exhausted, physically and mentally, but also in extreme pain. Which, in turn, made even the thought of sitting down to write anything I didn't have to, well, more than a little daunting.

Things have, thankfully, eased up considerably of late, but the recent stress and long hours have taken a bit of a toll. I honestly didn't realize how large a toll until I began contemplating writing this entry, and gathering together the what I'd read over the past month to consider reviewing them. That's when I realized that I'd read only one book, the first Little Lulu trade from Dark Horse, over the course of about three weeks. By way of contrast, in the past week I've read two more Lulu collections, the latest Captain America Masterworks and a novel--still a bit slow, but more typical for me. A good sign, that, and one which bodes well for my return to regularly posting updates here.

Anyway, that's the story behind my extended leave from these pages. I plan on adding to this blog on a steady basis for the rest of this year, and for the foreseeable future. There will be an occasional break, for travel and other purposes, but I'm hoping that those quiet spots will be short lived and pass quickly. Also, I'll do my best to keep you updated regarding those periods as they arise, and how long they're expected to last, in the future. If things work out half as well as I'm hoping, most regular readers of this blog won't even necessarily be aware of them.

In closing, I'd like to thank for your understanding, and continued support of my endeavors. Look for another update within the next few days, when I'll return to my usual comics-related criticism, commentary, and reviews of what I've been reading. In the meantime, take care of yourselves.

2006-09-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Pleased to Meet You: Frank Miles and The Living Chronicles of Psychi-Man

I've decided to throw still more caution to the wind and add a new column to Speculative Friction. "Please to Meet You..." will be an occasional feature designed to provide a quick introduction to previously unknown, overlooked or criminally neglected artists, writers and various other creators of comics and pop culture that I've met over the years.

Yeah, in a real sense, it's an adjunct to my "Baker's Dozen" interview column on the World Famous Comics website, and in some sense will ideally accomplish many of the same goals as its predecessor. However, "Pleased to Meet You..." will tend to be more a short feature or spotlight article. Which means, while not ruling it out, you won't find many "Q & A" style conversations here. Mainly, it'll be me holding forth on the work of someone I've met, or encountered some other way, why I think more folks should know about them, and directions on how to learn more yourself via a website.

And I honestly can't think of a more appropriate choice to inaugurate this column that Frank Miles and his creation, The Living Chronicles of Psychi-Man.

Now, if you haven't previously heard of Frank or his comics, well, it's not really that big of a surprise, really. That's because the comic itself hasn't been officially published yet, and his first website was just unveiled this week. About the only way you could have encountered Frank or his fictional psychonaut would be to have met him previously, or, as I did, discover him amongst the joyously overcrowded labyrinth of booths during the New York Comic-Con in February of this year.

As it was, I actually didn't see Frank or Psychi-Man until, quite literally, the last hour of the show. I was walking back to the Airwave Publishing booth, past a row consisting of small press publishers and indy creators, when I caught a glimpse of Frank, sitting quietly in his booth, watching folks walking by his spot. Realizing I had no recollection of him or his work, I stopped briefly and glanced at the back wall of his booth where he'd posted the entire first issue of The Living Chronicles of Psychi-Man. Even from the distance of 10-plus feet, I could tell that there was something...different, and maybe even special...about his work. So I decided to get a closer look, and that was it--I was hooked.

Frank's striking character, panel and page designs, coupled with his native understanding of the mechanics of visual storytelling and his explosively expressionistic sensibilities just blew me away. As I examined the pages before me more closely, and read a bit of it, I realized that here was a real and true attempt to do something completely different than the norm with the medium. Even better, this choice was fully reflected in the work's subject matter, as well as its visual and verbal narratives.

If I was going to make comparisons, I'd say that Frank is part Robert Crumb, part Harvey Pekar by way of Hunter S. Thompson, all alloyed with a wholly individual and compassionate understanding of the human comedy. By turns deeply moving and touching, sensual and raunchy, absolutely original and strangely familiar, Psychi-Man is also wise and laugh-out-loud funny--sometimes simultaneously. And while it's not for everyone--and is certainly not intended for kids, as its subtitle, "An Adult Karmic Book," clearly indicates--Frank Miles' The Living Chronicles of Psychi-Man is well worth a serious look.

You'll find the entire first issue of Psychi-Man, along with Frank's biographical and contact information, at http://www.frankmilesart.com/. There's a simple and clean elegance to the site, one which beautifully, if paradoxically, compliments the artist's ethos. Best of all, Frank's promised that there's a lot more to come. When he called the other day to let me know that the website [which was designed by Paul Michael Kane, the webmaster of Blood in the Gutters, but completed by John Schwarberg and the good folks at Integrated Web Solutions -- www.IWSGroupInc.com] was up and running, Frank also noted that he'd recently completed issue # 2, and that the entire issue will be posted in a week or three.

And it's all free.

Enough from me. Go meet Frank Miles and read The Living Chronicles of Psychi-Man for yourself. I suspect it'll be unlike anything else you've ever read--or experienced--before.

2006-09-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

What I did on my Summer "vacation"

Well, quite a lot, actually, when I think about it...

-Interviewed Alan Moore for the new book, and set up the volume on George Pérez which will follow that as part of the "Bill Baker Presents..." series from Airwave Publishing.

-Attended both the Motor City and Wizard World-Chicago conventions, and ended up getting incredibly ill after both experiences. [I gave Book Expo and San Diego a pass this year. Too draining and expensive on several levels. I'll be at Book Expo in '07, when it's back in NYC. No decision on San Diego '07 yet.]

-Worked on a number of projects which either haven't been published yet, or are still in the development or negotiation stages.

-Found myself with a little time off while watching a friend's house in a rural area outside of Marquette, Michigan.

-Worked up and prepped the next book for publication.

-Started this blog, and continued doing periodic interviews for Baker's Dozen, and reviews here and elsewhere. Updated blog, built the links section [still under construction, and likely to be longer still] and continued to tweak things there and elsewhere. And, finally...

-I even managed to read a few books, a small mountain of graphic novels, and even somehow worked in a viewing of a recently re-released anime classic.

Unfortunately, I only took notes for my reviews of these volumes...so I'll begin doing short reviews of one or two of them and posting those here in the next few weeks, along with any newer material I might add to this list:

"What's Bill seen lately?"

DVD

Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro
a film by Hayao Miyazaki
Anchor Bay Entertainment & Manga Video
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
www.manga.com

"What's BB been reading lately?"

[covering the dates 7-12-06 through 9-20-06]

The Dark is Rising sequence, volumes 1 through 4 [of 5]
by Susan Cooper
Simon & Schuster
http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=4&pid=504538 [US]

Over Sea, Under Stone

The Dark is Rising

Green Witch

The Grey King

Badger's Moon
by Peter Tremayne
Signet Mystery
www.penguin.com

The Gist Hunter and other stories
by Matthew Hughes
Nightshade Books
www.NightshadeBooks.com

Superman/Batman: Vengeance [or vol. 4]
by Jeph Loeb and ...
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Essential Defenders vol. 1
Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Sal Buscema, Gene Colan, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

Octopus Girl vol. 2
by Toru Yamazaki
Dark Horse Manga
www.Darkhorse.com

Green Lantern/Green Arrow
by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Sloth
by Gilbert Hernandez
Vertigo
www.DCcomics.com/Vertigo

The Batman: Dynamic Duo Archives vol. 2
by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, et. al.
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Plastic Man Archives vol. 7
by Jack Cole
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks
by Alan Moore and various
Rebellion
www.2000ADonline.com

Walking Dead vol. 1 hardcover
by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard
Image Comics
www.Image.com

Jordi Bernet's Clara
by Jordi Bernet, et. al.
Auad Publishing/Big Wow
www.AuadPublishing.com

Innocence and Seduction: The Art of Dan DeCarlo
by Bill Morrison
Fantagraphics
www.Fantagraphics.com

Marvel Masterworks: Rawhide Kid vol. 1
by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

Night Trippers
by Mark Ricketts and Micah Farritor
Image Comics
www.Image.com

Sight Unseen
by Robert Tinnell and Bo Hampton
Image Comics
www.Image.com

The Living and the Dead
by Todd Livingston, Robert Tinnell and Micah Farritor
Speakeasy
www.BlackForest.net

Tales of Woodsman Pete with Full Particulars
by Lilli Carré
Top Shelf Productions
www.TopShelfcomix.com

Absolute Kingdom Come
by Mark Waid, Alex Ross, et. al.
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Golden Age Hawkman Archives vol. 1
by Bill Finger, Shelly Moldoff, et. al.
DC Comics
www.DCcomics.com

Marvel Masterworks: Invincible Iron Man vol. 3
by Stan Lee, Don Heck & Gene Colan, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

Nick Fury, Agent of Shield
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jim Steranko, et. al.
Marvel Comics
www.Marvel.com

Look for reviews of all of these titles to start appearing here in days to come. And more links, along with some other small tweaks, too.

Now it's time to go outside and marvel at the Fall colors. Enjoy!

2006-09-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

London's Burning: Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie talk about Lost Girls

[Just got this from Chris Staros, who notes that he will be in attendance. More info at www.topshelfcomix.com and http://www.ica.org.uk/. BB]

*ALAN MOORE & MELINDA GEBBIE SCHEDULED FOR EXCLUSIVE LONDON LOST GIRLS EVENT ON OCTOBER 12TH*

To celebrate the release of Lost Girls, London England's Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and the Blackwell chain of bookstores are presenting an exclusive Lost Girls event with Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie on October 12th. Alan and Melinda will be in conversation with comedian, broadcaster and comic fan Stewart Lee. Details are as follows:

-- Thursday, 12 October @ 7pm

-- Venue: Logan Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL, England

-- Tickets: Â£8, Concessions: Â£6

-- To book tickets call 0845 456 9876 (from the US: 011-44-845-456-9876)
(lines are open Monday - Friday, 9:30am to 6:00pm London Time)

or visit Blackwell, 100 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OJG, England

(Nearest tube: Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road)

Please note that even though we will be unable to sell copies of Lost Girls at this event (due to the UK/EU distribution issues...), this will still be a very rare opportunity to see Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie in person, and hear what they have to say about the creation of Lost Girls.

[You'll find links to most of the major media coverage of Lost Girls at http://www.topshelfcomix.com/news.php?article=147. Chris Staros will be there. Sadly, I won't. BB]

2006-09-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

Newsbyte: Thomas Yeates, King Arthur and Excalibur

I found the following note from Tom Yeates in my inbox this morning:

"Hey Bill,

"Here's some news for you.

"For the last year and a half I've been illustrating a series of graphic novels for the kid's book publisher Lerner. The first set in the series is now out, and I believe you can order them on Amazon. King Arthur: Excalibur Unsheathed illustrated by me, and Thor and Loki: In the Land of Giants, illustrated by Ron Randall, are in the first set, I'm not sure what else they've released. These are color, hardback, forty pagers, and Lerner distributes them to schools and Libraries. I've also finished three others and have two in the works.

"Thomas"

Both Tom and Ron are not just two of the better illustrators in the biz, they're also great folks and their work deserves every bit of notice and filthy lucre you might want to give them. And to add a bit of additional coolness, Jeff Limke, who's done some fine work for Arrow Comics and other indy publishers, wrote both volumes.

You'll find King Arthur: Excalibur Unsheathed on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthur-Excalibur-Unsheathed-Graphic/dp/082253083X/sr=8-1/qid=1158326790/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8013921-7539840?ie=UTF8&s=books

While Thor and Loki: In the Land of Giants is at: http://www.amazon.com/Thor-Loki-Giants-Graphic-Legends/dp/0822530872/sr=1-6/qid=1158327065/ref=sr_1_6/103-8013921-7539840?ie=UTF8&s=books

Go. Buy. Read.

Enjoy.

BB

2006-09-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

Blast from an Unknown Past, pt. 3

[Here's yet another entry that I'd prepped for the old blog, but which never quite made it online before now. Bill Baker, 9-12-06]

7-12-06

"sing your life "

I caught the premiere on PBS of the excellent bio pic Tintin and I a few nights ago. I've got to say I was mightily impressed.

I'm certainly no expert on Hergé as he's generally known, much less his perennially popular creation, but I feel that I got some essential insights into the personal and professional life of the man, while also gaining some real perspective on where he and his work fit into the larger social, political and artistic scheme of things. Even more telling, I really felt for the man, his trials and triumphs both large and negligible. And while it is a very easy film to watch, creatively shot but with nary an unnecessary frame seen. Better still, this is a film which I firmly believe will reward repeated viewings.

In sum, Tintin and I isn't just a good comic book biography, it's a great film about an artist...who just happened to have made comics for a living. This one's worth watching and buying, people.

But enough about what I've been watching and raving about on TV, because it's time for...

What's Bill been reading this week?

7-5-06 to 7-11-06

Showcase Presents: The Haunted Tank volume 1

For some reason--quite likely the incredible talents of Robert Kanigher, Russ Heath, Joe Kubert, and company--this WW II strip was always one of my favorites when I was younger. Which is actually a little bit odd, as I wasn't a really big fan of war comics, per se. However, I vividly remember reading and rereading a number of the installments reprinted in this first volume featuring the adventures of tank commander Jeb Stuart and his crew, to the point where every panel was burned into my memory. These are comics that, despite adhering to the Comic Code, still pack a real emotional punch while delivering an important message about the cost of conflict in believable, human and even humane terms. OK, so I might be a bit biased when I state that this is required reading for anyone wanting to understand How to Do Comics Right, and should also be on the shelf of anyone with even a passing interest in the combat genre. So sue me. But don't let that stop you from at least cracking the cover of this well-wrought war tales and giving these comics the fair reading they deserve.

And, just in case I haven't said it here before, I have to say that I am incredibly happy that DC has decided to start releasing the Showcase Presents line of clearly printed, extremely thick--500 pages plus per volume is typical--black and white omnibus compilations featuring both iconic and cult characters from their Silver Age roster. Even if you're not familiar or a huge fan of that particular era, a particular character or even genre, every one of these books is a joy to read. And with each volume boasting of 500+ pages for well under $20, these collections are incredible bargain, and one which delivers hours of quality, all ages entertainment.

My only real problem, and it is minor, is the tendency for the graphics on these editions to run too far into the binding; this makes clear viewing of an entire page difficult, and sometimes even dialogue and art is lost in the depths of the central gutter/spine. A very, very small thing, it's true, and one which shouldn't stop anyone from buying any of these reprints. Moving the each image perhaps an eight of an inch outwards, towards the outer edge of either page and away from the spine, just might alleviate this irritant.

Regardless, Showcase Presents: The Haunted Tank volume 1--in fact, this entire line of affordable and satisfying reprints--has my highest recommendations Great "beach reading" and perfect for the kids. [And they make great coloring books, folks.]

First volume of reprinting the stories featuring the wartime adventures of The Haunted Tank
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Ravenous

Dawn Brown is a set designer for Hollywood by day who, having been inspired by meeting with Bob Kane while working on one of the Batman films, began to do comics in her spare time. Her first efforts resulted in a pair of fun and smart miniseries featuring the adventures of Chane, otherwise known as Little Red Hot, who just happens to be the ex-wife of the Devil. And, yeah, the execution more than lived up to the book's premise. Ravenous is her first original graphic novel, and it's another supernatural-tinged thriller, this time focusing on the efforts of a group of detectives trying to stop a decidedly deadly serial killer. The conceptual twist here arises from the fact that the tale was inspired by the work of Edgar Allen Poe, with several of that worth's stories and poems having a particularly strong influence on the shape and themes and settings of Ravenous. And I've got to say that I really enjoy the results. This is, despite its being rooted in well-known ground, a largely original and quite engrossing rollercoaster of a read. Even better, both the obvious and oblique Poe references actually strengthen or add a new flavor to Brown's work. And her art style serves as the perfect compliment to her baroque narrative, a pleasing mix of expressive yet relaxed cartoony rendering set against backgrounds with just the right amount of detail and visual information. There's a whole lot of fun, thrills and chills between these pages--and that's before you even get to the five Poe tales reprinted at the back of the book. Really fine work, well worth checking out.

An original graphic novel by Dawn Brown inspired by the works of Poe
Rumble City Graphics
http://www.dawnbrown.net/

Marvel Omnibus: The Eternals

I missed the original run of this series when it first hit the stands thirty years ago, so I was really looking forward to reading it in its entirety. I would have been thrilled with this even if it appeared in the cheaper Essential, black and white format. Luckily, Marvel chose to release it in their oversized full color hardcover format. This is a size which serves creator Jack "The King" Kirby's energetic, wide-screen approach to comics. This is an epic tale, one with so much energy, high drama, overblown conflict and page-busting visual power that it's easy to just speed through the proceedings, carried on the incredible wave of creativity captured on these pages. But slower, careful reading is also rewarded, visually if nothing else. I know that a lot of critics dismiss this work, claiming that it's flaws cancel out anything good in it, classifying it as "second rate Kirby" and other demeaning terms. Very little of which I agree with after reading this collection. The tale holds together far better than most give it credit for, and aside from a few bits of slang and continuity gaffs, reads very well. In fact, in some ways, this might hold up and have more resonance in today's world than some other work done in Kirby's later years.

I did have one small problem, though. And, yep, it's the same one as with Showcase Presents: The Haunted Tank collection noted above--story pages running into the gutter. Again, this is more of an irritant, and a simple shifting of the story page images about an eight or so of an inch away from central gutter would have take care of this problem. Certainly not a fatal flaw, just a noticeable one.

Regardless, I found this book to be entertaining, illuminating and an utter blast. And while its high price [$75 US] might make some pause, for hard core Kirby fans and Silver Age junkies, it's probably worth every penny.

Oversized archival quality hardcover collecting the entire original run of the series by Jack Kirby
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

And now, as if that wasn't enough, here's the final installment of What's Bill been reading... for the period between:

6-28-06 to 7-11-06

Anansi Boys

I can't believe it's taken this long for me to get to this book, being such a fan and sorta-scholar of all things Neil Gaiman. Guess it goes to show just how crazed this year's been so far. All of which actually helped me appreciate the basic premise and ensuing action of this exemplary novel. I really don't want to give much away, but let me say that the title of this entire entry really does sum it up nicely. A rollicking, wild and deeply, darkly funny novel about the centrality of family, how traditions have lives of their own, and the importance of expressing and living dreams no matter how impossible they might seem. Neil's turned into a truly fine novelist, one who is fully capable of weaving a wonderfully entertaining frolic about unknown mythical brothers and absent father-gods that rests upon the very bedrock it sends up. I really can't recommend this bighearted and wicked and wise book highly enough, particularly to those who want to become writers or those who love first rate fiction.

The latest novel by New York Times bestselling author and comics writer Neil Gaiman
William Morrow
http://www.harpercollins.com/

Can't Get No

I did a fairly involved review of Rick Veitch's disturbingly brilliant 9-11 OGN for my most recent gutterslut review over at http://www.bookslut.com/. So if you need to know more that this is probably the best book about the effect that terrible day has had on US as humans, or that this combines a visual narrative concerning a postmodern Everyman's Pilgrim's Progress through the socially and psychically shattered territories in the NYC in the days following 9-11 to great effect and stunning purpose, or that this is probably the first book I've run across this year that I think might be necessary reading, well, I guess you need to go read what I say over there.

Otherwise, just vow to buy this sadly beautiful masterpiece now.

Rick Veitch's original graphic novel dealing with the emotional fallout resulting from the terrorist attacks of 9-11-01
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

Sin City box set volume 2

I could rave about how nearly, impossibly perfect each and ever one of Frank Miller's hardnosed noir tales are here--hell, I could dissect just about any page or panel via well-deserved accolades--but I won't waste my time with that here. Others have extolled the virtues or lack thereof of these books elsewhere, to good and bad results. But I do have a this to say...

In my opinion, if you don't like violence, sex, drugs, hard language and harder choices in your entertainment, you probably shouldn't even crack the covers of any of these well crafted, and often simply brilliant examples of the medium. I'll mourn your loss, though, for what it's worth. I mean, either you get what Frank's doing in these tales of shattered people living their fractured lives against the backdrop of a city which celebrates and eagerly embraces humanity's darkness and depravity--or you don't. Either you understand that there's more to these tough-minded odes concerning the cost of survival in a world without a moral compass or ready hope--or you don't. Which is fine.

However, if you are a serious fan of Frank Miller, his art or the Sin City series of books, this is a reading experience that at times approaches the revelatory, particularly if you are familiar with the works beforehand. These oversized volumes captures and clearly, cleanly presents Miller's superb line work and storytelling, as well as an eye for detail that was obscured or even lost in the trade editions. Yeah, both this and the first box set presenting the initial graphic novels in the series, cost a bundle. But every penny is right there, on the page and in the presentation. Worth it for some, however few, but probably out of the price range of most folks, even with the addition of an expanded version of the Sin City art book.

Second box set collecting all of Frank Miller's existing Sin City stories in oversized hardcovers
Dark Horse
http://www.darkhorse.com/

And that's it for this week. Hey, I know what we should do--let's go outside and get some sun! And have fun, dammit!

2006-09-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

In the name of freedom: Pride of Baghdad
by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon

Shortly after I received an advanced copy of this book from the good folks at Vertigo, I had the opportunity to crack its cover. I found myself so taken with the art and intrigued by its premise that I immediately sat down to give Pride of Baghdad a quick read. Immediately afterwards, I found myself mightily impressed with it as a critic, and completely won over as a reader. I soon came to the conclusion that, all things being equal, this is the book which would finally put Brian K. Vaughan's name in the minds of that wider audience he's deserved for some time now. And the fact that it would also go a long way towards cementing Niko Henrichon's reputation as a gifted storyteller and illustrator proved to only sweeten that thought. I then came to the conclusion that it was also the single best new original graphic novel published by a mainstream imprint that I’d read so far in ‘06.

Now, after my third--no, wait, it's actually the fourth--reading of this fully painted beauty, I can honestly say that I believe in my original assessment all the more. Pride of Baghdad is not just exceptional, it is just about perfectly balanced in tone and delivery, and nearly perfect in execution and presentation. There's not a wasted word, brush stroke, nor even the shadow of a seemingly untrue or "off" moment in evidence. The story ebbs and flows according to its own internal logic and cosmology, quite effectively creating its own universe which allows the reader to not just accept, but fully believe in the lives and dreams of a cast consisting almost entirely of talking animals. And that’s only a quick sketch of a few of the attributes which make Pride of Baghdad such an exceptional read.

As noted at tale’s end, Pride is loosely based on events which took place in the early days of the US invasion of Iraq. Specifically, "In April of 2003, four lions escaped the Baghdad Zoo during the bombing of Iraq." The text goes on to providing a terse summary of how things concluded, but anyone save an abject sentimentalist or starry-eyed individual would have to know that these beasts' gaining an unexpected freedom would likely end in tears. Of course, other fluids will be spilled, too. The only real question is whether those effusions would be accompanied by wails of human or animal origin, and in what proportions.

Still, and despite an underlying tone of the inescapable nature of fate which lends the proceedings an almost palpable tragic weight, there are more than enough ironic moments and doses of situational humor, as well as insight into and illumination of the [in]human condition, to help alleviate any undue sense of despair or bleakness of tone or the almost palpable weight generated by the inescapable nature of the lead characters’ collective fate. Vaughan and Henrichon have done this bare bones scenario--and the comics medium--proud, not by concentrating on the darkness and doom of the situation, but instead by looking to life, and hope--even the fleeting hope provided the characters by the slim chance that each of them will somehow achieve their own, individual impossibly bright futures. All of these divergent strands intersect at the novel’s end in a manner which ultimately makes for an incredibly touching, effective and affective read, and a book that succeeds on several levels simultaneously.

And these are but a few of the more important aspects of Pride of Baghdad which mark it as a graphic novel. It’s entertaining and even exciting, but it’s not all laughter and eye candy, and it’s certainly not a simple children’s story. It doesn't just lightly touch on disturbing subjects or opposing perspectives; instead, they are explored with range, rigor and subtlety in a believable manner through the actions, interactions and arising conflicts of the book's characters, and via the impact that the twists and turns of plot have upon their hearts, minds and fortunes. Best of all, in the tradition of truly great tales, it doesn't necessarily tell the reader what to think or even feel. Not that the reader will be immune to either phenomenon. Rather, this is a novel which challenges the reader to both interpret and think these events through in their own manner, and one which is quite capable of provoking deep thought and surprising feelings long after the actual reading experience has finished.

And that’s but one attribute which marks a piece of effective and memorable and perhaps even important art in my estimation. It’s something that has real and lasting impact upon the viewer yesterday, today and probably in the future. Pride of Baghdad, which begins its explorations at the point where most other “war stories” end, with the simple truth that innocence is but the first casualty of war, surely will continue to inspire thought while entertaining its readers today and in the days to come.

And you can’t ask for much more than that from a comic, if you think about it.

Pride of Baghdad
by Brian K. Vaughn and Niko Henrichon published by Vertigo Comics http://www.dccomics.com/vertigo/

2006-09-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Public Service Announcement

For those of you who follow my work as a critic/reviewer at http://www.bookslut.com/, I've got some news--both bad and good. The bad?

I just sent out the follow email:

"Jessa,

"After giving the matter some serious thought, I've decided it's time for me to move on, effective immediately. The August, 2005 column marks my last contribution to http://www.bookslut.com/. Use or discard the gutterslut column name as you wish.

"Good luck to you, and the rest of the good folks at Bookslut.com, now and in the future.

"Best,

"Bill Baker"

There's any number of reasons for this move, but the primary one has to be time. I can only do so much, so fast, and like everyone else these days, I need to really concentrate on my paying gigs, nonfiction and otherwise. Something had to give, and while it has a really good pedigree and viewer base, and while I really appreciate the opportunity to contribute reviews to that site for over a year, I ultimately have come to the conclusion that the fit just isn't right anymore.

Sad, that, but I honestly believe that this is what's best for the future of both my career and bookslut that I move on.

Which brings us to the good news...

All of my extended reviews will be appearing as part of this blog, starting Friday. Even better, I will now be able to simply post these critical ramblings as I finish them, so hopefully there will be a real immediacy to the work. Finally, I will also be reposting all of my old reviews, including the pieces that I did for my gutterslut column.

And all of that material will be in addition to my usual entries and reviews of works read.

Look for all that and more, starting...well, today. Now.

So, a bittersweet announcement. But definitely more sweet than bitter, which suits the season and my temperament just fine.

2006-09-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

Blast from an Unknown Past, pt. 2

Submitted for your pleasure, here's the second of two completed Speculative Friction entries which didn't quite get posted at Speculative Friction's first home, www.bloodinthegutters.com:

7-5-06

"summertime rolls"

This has been another jam-packed week, despite my purposefully making July 4th a basically "down" day. Ended up checking my email in the morning and, after doing a cursory surf to see if anything of note had occurred, shut down the computer until this morning. And, again purposefully, I didn't read or even sort any comics. Instead, I started reading The Gist Hunter, a really fun and fine short story collection by Matthew Hughes, published by Night Shade Books -- http://www.nightshadebooks.com/. But more about that next week, once I've finished it.

But, really, this was a day of forced nothingness. I just spent some time outside, enjoying quite a bit more than the maybe a half hour of sunshine I've been allowing myself so far this year. And it was just about a perfect day, really, both weather- and activity-wise. And that's in what is proving to be an exceptional season for perfect and beautiful summer days.

Sure, it too a little bit to get back to into the flow Wednesday, but it was more of a well-rested lethargy than a "hauling your exhausted carcass to the office" kind o' thing. Which is good.

However, after an otherwise hectic and over full week, capped by a day of purposefully not considering anything even remotely linked to comics, I find that I've very little of any real import or complexity to say at this point, other than to share the following:

Sometimes, a day filled with creative loafing, and a good deal of creative playfulness, is exactly what you need to get the job done right. It's just not gonna be done until tomorrow.

All of which, of course, begs the question...

What's Bill been reading this week?

5-17-06 to 6-27-06 [part 2]

Phoenix: Nostalgia volume 6

Phoenix is considered to be Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece. An extended story, encompassing numerous volumes and seemingly-unrelated stories, this is the first time that it's been collected in English in its entirety. This particular volume, as it title suggests, seemingly deals with humanity's longing for roots, for family and, most of all, for a home of one's own. Of course, this being Tezuka, all of that's just part of what really happens in this book, which really concerns itself with the lengths that humanity will go to preserve its lineage and survive against all odds. Filled with radical solutions to seemingly-insoluble life-threatening problems, Phoenix: Nostalgia is a powerful and moving book. And while it's rendered with Tezuka's patented cartoony style, wit and brio which has made him so popular with fans of all ages, please note that this is a fairly mature tale.

This volume, and in fact the entire series, should be required reading for anyone wanting to understand not just manga and comics, but the human condition. As such, it's got my highest recommendations.

The 6th installment of the Godfather of Manga's magnum opus
Viz Media
http://www.viz.com/

Ju-On: Video Side

Takashi Shimizu's chilling story of angry and vengeful ghosts wreaking havoc in strangers' lives is effectively and evocatively rendered in manga by Miki Rinno. If you're a fan of The Ring, The Grudge and other classic tales of spiritual angst and possession, you'll be happily scared to death by the brutal, yet subtle horror found in this volume.

Manga adaptation of a modern classic of Japanese horror
Dark Horse
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Reiko the Zombie Shop volume 1

Reiko is a young necromancer with a singular job: To raise and interact with the dead at the request of the living, sometimes to heal the wounds caused by the terrible things done to or by them, sometimes for "closure", and other times for less obvious or benign reasons. Regardless, this heroine will allow nothing to stop her from finishing her work. And I mean nothing stops her. A really different and thought provoking manga series, well rendered and written by Rei Mikamoto, Reiko the Zombie Shop is well worth checking out.

First volume of a series of collections featuring the adventures of a teenage necromancer in Japan
Dark Horse
http://www.darkhorse.com/

School Zone volume 1

Kanako Inuki takes the increasing and multiplying pressures all children face in today's world and distills it all down into a series about the horrors visited upon essentially innocent and normal school kids. By turns darkly disturbing and blackly humorous, this book uses the anxieties we all felt as kids and might now feel as parents to power its story of the supernatural intruding upon the prosaic world of childhood and learning.

First volume of a series of collections featuring the travails of a group of kids under supernatural assault at their school
Dark Horse
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Octopus Girl volume 1

This is a brutal, disturbing, and often disgusting series which has the strange power to make you look at things you really don't want to witness, and then laugh at the absurdity of it all, even as the reality of the situation presented weighs upon your conscience. Really effective and affective verbal and visual storytelling, combined with a totally nihilistic yet chipper positive outlook, I can safely say that this is unlike just about anything else I've ever read. Toru Yamazaki is sometimes referred to as a master of modern media in his native Japan, and this book provides ample evidence how he first began to get that reputation. Highly recommended.

First volume of a series featuring the horribly transformed titular heroine and her surreal adventures
Dark Horse
http://www.darkhorse.com/

Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams volume 3

I typically avoid books like this, collections which gather the work of a single artist without regard to continuity of the serial tales included within, but happily decided to make an exception for this series of high quality hardcovers. Deny it as much as you will, but just as Curt Swan remains the definitive Superman artist today, so, too, can Neal Adams lay claim to a similar crown when it comes to the look of the Batman. But that's not the only, nor even the main, reason for buying this book. Rather, its for the storytelling and craftsmanship displayed in Adams' work generally, and in these tales particularly, that I bought it. Anyone who wants to understand where much of the visual vocabulary of modern comics first found its expression would do well to buy, beg or borrow this volume so they may learn from a true modern master of the art.

Final volume of a series reprinting all of the Batman tales by Neal Adams
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Marvel Masterworks: Sgt. Fury volume 1

In his introduction to this long-awaited archival collection of these seminal war stories featuring Marvel's Howling Commandoes and their leader, Stan Lee notes that these are probably the tales that he and Jack "The King" Kirby produced of which he is most proud. And I gotta say, after reading these tales, that Stan's got good reason for that feeling. Quite simply, this is some of the better Kirby of the era--and, yes, I realize what that means and how much ground such a statement covers. And I'm as surprised as anyone by it. In the past, I've always preferred the superheroic side of the House of Ideas, but now have a new and growing appreciation for all of the other genres these two giants and their compatriots plied. Oh, and I'd like to go on the record to say that Dick Ayers, who took over from Kirby when his other duties drew him elsewhere, does a fantastic job on the book, as well. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of the medium, as well as those looking to learn how to better tell their own tales.

First volume collecting the celebrated war comic into archival quality hardcovers
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Uzumaki volumes 1-3

I went on a bit of a Manga binge this last month or so, starting with this modern horror classic. Junji Ito effectively captures the atmosphere of accumulating dread, punctuated by incomprehensible and often terrible acts of violence, which makes the work of H. P. Lovecraft still so popular today. Ito's amazing rendering skills were really put to the test in this series, where the unnatural erupts from the natural world in a manner that seems real, and substantial. And especially harrowing. Simply one of the best examples of modern horror comics, and gets my highest recommendations for the prospective practitioner, along with the hard core fan and casual reader.

Three volumes reprinting the entire "Spiral into Horror" story
Viz
http://www.viz.com/

Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming volume 1

This collects the first six issues of the new, tough as rusty nails western created by Brian Azzarello and Marcello Frusin for Vertigo. Wes Cutter returns home from his stint on the losing side of the Civil War to discover that, well, he has wife and no home. His land's been seized by the new rulers of the south, part of that notorious group of folks referred to as "carpetbaggers", who will brook no interference from anyone, much less a dirt farmer. However, there's a lot more to Wes than meets the eye, and there's more than a few surprises in store for anyone venturing into this bleak, lawless and unforgiving landscape. As 100 Bullets was and remains unlike any other crime or suspense book around, Azzarello's put his iconoclastic stamp on the Western with Loveless. And its worth the cover price just to drool over Frusin's gorgeous art. I'm looking forward to seeing where this one's going now, and in the far term. Highly recommended.

First collection of the ongoing Loveless monthly comic
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

DMZ: On the Ground volume 1

In a future where a second Civil War has effectively divided the nation, a young inexperienced news reporting intern gets marooned in the modern "no man's land" we know as New York City. As he struggles to survive and do his job of reporting what life is really like in this war zone, he comes to understand some of the grimmer realities of modern existence. Mixing the sublime and the ridiculous, the deeply personal and largely polemical, Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli has wrought a really interesting and different kind of comic, one that maintains its humanity while dealing with violence, which is only one of the aspects that makes it well worth checking out.

First collection of the ongoing DMZ monthly comic series
Vertigo
http://www.vertigocomics.com/

Arsenic Lullaby: The Donut Cometh

The latest collection of Doug Paszkiewicz's very sick, decidedly twisted and defiantly anti-PC comic series is here, and there's real reason for celebration among those of us who love zombie fetuses, cursed voodoo masks and urban vengeance run amok. There is nothing else like this book out there, and probably never will be. And all I can say is "Thank the elder gods for Arsenic Lullaby." Oh, and thanks, too, for Douglas Paszkiewicz, amen.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy their laughs on the dark side.

The latest collection of the Arsenic Lullaby series
Arsenic Lullaby Publishing/AAA Milwaukee Press
http://www.arseniclullabies.com/

Beneath the Moors and Darker Places

This is the second collection of Brian Lumley's Lovecraftian fiction, much of it long out of print, which was released by Tor a while back. If you've never read Lumley, and you enjoy well written, atmospheric and evocative horror tales that slowly build to mind shattering climaxes through the slow accretion of detail and impression, do yourself a huge favor and seek this and its companion volume out posthaste. And even if you're not a fan of that particular brand of terror, and are particularly interested in how writers who are celebrated and admired by their peers do the work, you will find these yarns to be well constructed and effective entertainment.

A collection of short stories and one short novel featuring Lumley's take on The Cthullu Mythos
Tor
http://www.tor.com/

Firesong: Book Three of the Wind on Fire Trilogy

I am stunned that the work of William Nicholson hasn't found a bigger audience in the US, or worldwide. This final volume of this too-short series [and that's something I rarely say!] realizes and manifests all wonder and loss that the first installments promised. A work of epic scope that, paradoxically, seems to be an intimate and ultimately humane tale of survival and transcendence in the face of overwhelming odds. I could write for hours about how good this "kid's" book is, and still never approach the simple eloquence and magic and wisdom contained in this volume. Highly recommended, along with the first two books, for everyone.

The third and final part of the award-winning "The Wind on Fire" trilogy of books
Hyperion
http://www.hyperionteens.com/

The Well of Lost Plots

Jasper Fforde's third novel featuring his metaliterary heroine Thursday Next continues in the vein of the first two--it's brilliant sci-fi satire masquerading as a chick lit mystery thriller. Filled with conundrums and paradoxes, peopled by unforgettable characters both original and nicked from other books, and following its own idiosyncratic path and rhythms, there's any number of reasons for this author's continued popularity and success directly on display here. If you've not had the sheer joy of encountering Thursday or her alternate timeline, you're cheating yourself of a great and entertaining read. Don't believe me? Just go to http://www.thursdaynext.com/ for a sampling of the inspired chaos Fforde has wrought.

The third of four novels featuring the adventures of Thursday Next, literary cop
Viking
http://www.penguin.com/

And that's it for now. Next week, more reviews and thoughts on comics and literature. Until then, take care and go read something good!

2006-09-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

Blast from an Unknown Past, pt. 1

For your enjoyment, here's one of two completed Speculative Friction entries which didn't get posted at Speculative Friction's former home, www.bloodinthegutters.com:

6-28-06

"building the perfect beast"

Yeah, it's been over a month this time. I know, I know.

However, there's more than a little truth to that bon mot which observes that "real life" interferes with the best laid plans of man and beast and all that. I knew that I'd lose at least a week, possibly two, what with the travel time and requisite recuperation from attending the very well attended and extremely fun Spring 2006 Motor City convention last month. What I didn't count on was catching one of the worst cases of "con cold with a cough" I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. Another two weeks-plus lost to just lying about the house, trying just to breath freely and without coughing up something that's supposed to stay inside of my body. And then there was the two weeks-plus lost to something I can only refer to as "stupid family tricks" and other "real life" necessities which demanded all of my still-drained energies and attention.

All of which brings us to the end of June. Halfway through the year already, a full week into the official Summer of '06, and I'm still kinda wondering where Spring went.

Still, rather than throw up my hands, I'll be doing my best to start posting at least every other week, if not every week, starting this week for the foreseeable future. However, because I am so far behind on the short reviews I've been doing of everything I've been reading, there's a chance that some books won't get much of a review herein; I apologize in advance for that, but I can only do so much this far after the fact.

Not bad news, per se, but not great news, either. But I do have something of note to share this time out...

A behind the scenes glimpse of how the cover for my next book, Alan Moore's Exit Interview was created.

It all started with José Villarrubia's wonderful photo of Alan, which he had electronically tinted before sending it my way.

José's one of the two photographers that Alan recommends using when searching for an author pic to go with an article about him or his work. I think if you spend even a little time examining this example of his work, you'll soon see why Jose is so well-respected by both Alan and so many others in the field. It's a portrait, true, and one which a lot of folks could have tried to duplicate. However, I don't know of a whole lot of them who can capture, so effectively and subtly, the inner essence of their subjects in quite the same way as José. There's a sense of life in his pics that you just don't see that often anymore, and the same can be said of his prodigious coloring and other graphic skills.

And that's a good part of the battle won, right there. Start with a dynamite and dynamic cover photograph, and the rest is [seemingly] easy.

Next, Paul spent a few hours playing with it. Sadly, since he's half a continent away, I can't give you all the nitty gritty and details on the different approaches he might have tried before coming up with this:

To be honest, we almost could have gone with this version. It's eye catching use of color and graphics, combined with an immaculate layout offer a lot of info and visual excitement with but a glancing contact. However, I do believe that the subject of the book needs to be foremost and easily identified for sale purposes, so I suggest that he pump up the font size of Alan's name. The only other alteration I suggested at that point--and yeah, I'm fully aware it's just a niggling and minor a change, which is one of the ways I know that Paul's work is extremely solid--was to make the capital "I" on "Interview" more similar to the lower case "i" within the word.

Within a half hour I got this from PMK:

Which was just about perfect. My final note was that I'd like it if Paul could reduce the gap between the letters "e'" and "s" in Alan's last name.

Yeah, OK. That's when I got really picky. Paul happily took care of the kerning [i.e. a term which refers to the spacing between letters], and delivered this final version of the cover within minutes:

From the time I sent out the original pics and cover text, to this final version took a total of about three hours. However, when I asked Paul how long it actually took him to create the original piece and do the tweaks on his end, he reminded me that he was actually doing this on the side, in between his other daily graphic design assignments which are constantly called in from his main employer.

Yeah, you read that correctly: This was all done between his "real" work, over the course of three hours. His estimate for total time spent on the piece was between an hour and a half and two hours.

For that kind of work.

Paul's just amazing, in my opinion, and anyone looking for a book or graphics designer would be doing themselves a huge favor by talking with this young lion about helping them out. Seriously good work at a fair price, all done in a reasonable amount of time and to order. Plus, he gets it, a sadly rare commodity at the best of times.

You'll find his contact info via the link to his website, which you'll find at the bottom of this and every page of Blood in the Gutters. And don't hesitate to let him know that I sent ya his way.

And that's it for this time out. Next week, back to the critical insights and full reviews of everything I'll be reading this week. Speaking of which, it's now time for...

What's Bill been reading this week?

5-17-06 to 6-27-06 [part 1]

War Fix

Why would anyone who doesn't have to go to a war zone willing travel there with the intention of placing ones self into danger to report on it? What drives a war journalist to do what s/he does? And, perhaps more importantly, what does the job cost for those folks who do such work...and what's the cost to those who love them? Hard questions for a hard time, true, but this book tackles them and others with some real effect. This OGN is smart without being snide or cynical, humane without being sentimental or overly self-absorbed, and delivers a killer punch. Yet another example of a good book to hand those people who insist that "comics is just for kids stuff." Bravo and kudos are due writer David Axe, Illustrator Steven Olexa and NBM for this fine book. Recommended without reservation.

An original graphic novel about the life of a war correspondent reporting on today's conflict in the Mideast
NBM Comics Lit
http://www.nbmpub.com/

Lost in Space: Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul

At long last, the epic tale begun by Bill Mumy [the original Will Robinson] and artist Michal Dutkiewicz last decade has been completed and compiled in a nice, think full color trade paperback by Bubblehead Publishing, and the result is quite impressive, indeed. If you're looking for campy, silly sci-fi, you'd be best served to look elsewhere. That's because, while there are plenty of real laughs provided at key moments, this series takes its cue from the early episodes of that prime time television series, seeking to tell a more serious and meaningful story with these characters. This is an adventure that doesn't just ape that popular show, but rather tests the limits of Irwin Allen's original concept and attendant characters, and finds them worthy vehicles for thoughtful and entertaining science fiction that explores what it means to be human. Which is the whole point of the genre, really.

A collection which compiles and completes the previously unfinished series originally published by Innovation
Bubblehead Publishing, Inc.
http://www.lisvoyage.com/

Rocketo

This first collection of Frank Espinosa's superb post apocalypse science fiction fantasy series somehow manages to contain all sorts of objects of wonder, awe inspiring feats of heroism and downright strange occurrences, all of which ultimately serve to create not just a strange new world, but an entire universe that is breathtaking in its scope and originality. I could rant and rave for pages about how good this collection, and the bimonthly issues, really are. Just go out and buy it, then sit down and devour the entire book, preferably in one sitting as I did. And prepare to be amazed and delighted and all kinds of other good things. Seriously, just go buy it now!

The first collection of an ongoing highly original science fiction series
Image Comics
http://www.image.com/

Dr. Gorpon: Monsters Beware

I just dig Mark Hansen's work, be it on Ralph Snart or one of his own creations such as this. Completely unhinged and over-the-top weird superhero adventures as conceived by Big Daddy Roth on the best acid, ever, it makes me laugh, very hard and out loud, every time--a truly rare feat for a comic. Marc Hansen is one of the unrecognized geniuses of the medium, and its my hope that we get to see some new work from him sooner than later.

Trade paperback collection of the miniseries
Now Comics
http://www.nowcomics.com/

The Lone and Level Sands

This is a retelling of the book of Exodus achieves the nearly impossible feat of presenting a well known tale of epic proportions which remains, to the end, a very human tale of two brothers and their fates. A really amazing book, really, and one which holds lessons of all sorts for those willing to seek them out, this is an exceptional example of the modern graphic novel. It's won a number of awards, and deserved each of them, and probably a few others it didn't manage to snag. Highly recommended, if only to enjoy the interplay between A. David Lewis's fine script, mp Mann's solid storytelling and line work, and the subtle but telling coloring of Jennifer Rogers.

An original graphic novel recounting the freeing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt
Archaia Studios Press
http://www.aspcomics.com/

Wonder Woman archives volume 4

This fourth volume of the Golden Age adventures of William Moulton's amazing Amazon princess builds upon the strong foundation laid out in the previous installments. Even better, I swear that the art, which was already nice and befitting the strip, just keeps getting stronger. Really wonderful stuff, and it's fitting that DC continues this reprinting of the early escapades of one of their three lynch pin icons.

The latest hardcover book recaptures the Golden Age of this vital character.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Robin archives volume 1

I've heard for years about how good these solo adventures of Batman's sidekick were, and I'm happy to say that these tales are very very good, indeed. If anything, the reports of the quality of storytelling, both verbal and visual, have been understating the case. Quite simply, some of the best art and stories in any of the Golden Age reprints that DC's been issuing under the archives program. Highly recommended.

The first hardcover collection of Robin solo tales from Star Spangled Comics.
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Flash archives volume 4

The reprint series of the title that instigated the whole Silver Age continues, presenting some of the seminal battles between Barry "Flash" Allen and his ever-expanding Rogues Gallery, hits some of the high notes of that early run. Inspired concepts married to impeccable draughtsmanship resulted in some of the best stories of those halcyon days. Worth the price of admission just for Carmine Infantino's covers and art alone, this entire series of reprints is highly recommended.

Fourth of the ongoing hardcover reprinting of the Scarlet Speedster's early stories
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Golden Age Flash archives volume 2

This strip captures all the sheer energy and lunacy of the 1940s superhero and directs it all into some of the most fantastic, fun and funny tales ever committed to paper. And the fact that Jay Garrick can at times seem like the Godfather of the stereotypical sarcastic slackers of today only adds some real spice to the proceedings, while his prickly relationship with his paramour adds some heat. Perfect reading for the hot days of Summer.

The second hardcover reprinting the 1940s adventures of DC's original speedster
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Doom Patrol archives volume 3

The original terribly gifted hard luck heroes argue and fight among themselves almost as much as they do battle with their absolutely surreal foes. Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani created some of the most singular comics of their--or any other--day. I honestly can't praise this excellent series enough; by turns snide and cynical before veering into compassion and almost transgressional exploration of the effects being different might have on regular folks, this comic told us more about its characters [and by extension, ourselves] in 2 pages than most books are able to accomplish in 20. And it did it all with a decidedly mature-minded approach, forcing the characters to grow and change and evolve despite their and the genre's inclination, a feat largely unheard of before then. This and all the companion books in this series have my highest recommendations, and they are absolutely essential reading for anyone who has any real interest in understanding the superhero genre and its history.

The third collection of reprints featuring the original "superheroes are freaks" title
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Supergirl archives volume 1

Despite being hemmed in by the editorial restrictions of the character--Supergirl was, like her cousin, an orphan from Krypton and graced with powers beyond human...but promised to remain hidden, a secret weapon for good--this series has a freshness and sense of adventure that remains intact to this day. Which is kinda surprising, especially considering the barely [or perhaps I should say "rarely"] hidden chauvinist subtext, but this character and her creators found countless ways to circumvent these shackles to not just solve the problem at hand, but also provide the reader with some solid and entertaining tales. Lots of fun, and a time capsule of sorts into the mindset of Cold War-era America.

The first hardcover collection of the Maid of Steel's introduction and early adventures
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Marvel Masterworks: X-Men volume 6

This volume collects the final issues of the original run of the House of Idea's merry mutants. A lot has been made of Neil Adam's contributions to this era of the strip, and with good reason. But the solid and versatile work of Don Heck on the final issues of the series also deserve some attention, as do the scripts of Arnold Drake and Roy Thomas. Even better, this volume contains probably the second-best Sentinels storyline [their introduction early on this series being the best]. I cannot recommend this particular volume highly enough. And, actually, it's probably worth the price of admission to check out the Neil Adams pencils included at the back of the book. Gorgeous and exciting work all the way around.

The sixth hardcover collection of the original adventures of the X-Men
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel volume 1

This strip was one of my favorite when growing up. I was really intrigued by the basic concept of the character [basically, a nonhuman spy masquerading as a hero...who slowly becomes the hero he portrays publicly], and just blown away by Gene Colan's lush and evocative pencils. Classic Marvel comics at their best.

The first hardcover collection of the House of Idea's extraterrestrial antihero
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four volume 10

There's real reason to celebrate the release of this latest collection of Marvel's self-proclaimed "Best Comic in the World!" And while Kirby was on this book, that claim might just have been absolutely true. Herein you'll find all but the very final issues of this team book that Jack "The King" Kirby created with his long-time partner, Stan Lee. In fact, this is some of Kirby's last work for Marvel at that time, and it's almost heartbreaking to realize that, in a very real sense, these two had really just hit their stride on the series. While that might be one of the great "might have been" tragedies of comics, it does nothing to negate the sheer genius and madness contained in this package. If you're going to claim to know comics, and you've never read these stories or their predecessors, you're just pretending or fooling yourself, folks. Absolutely essential stuff for anyone and everyone, whether in this format or the more easily afforded Essential black and white reprints. Better yet, these tales are still wildly entertaining and a joy to read. Get it now.

The tenth hardcover reprinting the entire early run of this seminal superhero team book
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/

Superman archives volume 7

The art and the stories in this latest reprint collection of the Man of Steel's adventures in his eponymous book contains some of the best art and stories in the series yet. Having missed much of this material--hey, I ain't that old!--I'm really enjoying the chance to get to know this early version of the Man of Tomorrow. And I look forward to learning more when the next volume of the reprint series is issued. Classic material that deserves a place in any serious collector's library.

Seventh hardcover reprinting of the original superhero's early adventures
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Catwoman: When in Rome

This exceedingly fine book collects the mini-series by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, and dovetails quite nicely with their earlier work featuring the Dark Knight [Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory] which detail the early years of Gotham City's caped crusader. However, even with the tie-in being apparent, this tale works on its own. Filled with great dramatic moments, twists and turns, as well as some exceptional images and visual sequences, this is a worthy addition to any collection.

Compilation of the mini-series of the same name
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/

Ice Run

I don't like a whole lot of mysteries, although I do like Steve Hamilton's Edgar Award-winning series, which is set in my home environs of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But it's really more about the characters, both main and supporting, as well as the intricately plotted twists and turns, than solving the crime for me. There's a pace and voice here that is recognizable, yet utterly distinctive and charming. This and the other books in Hamilton's series featuring Alex McKnight are highly recommended, although it really might be best to read them in order of publication starting with the initial installment, Cold Day in Paradise.

The latest installment of a mystery series set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Thomas Dunne Books
http://www.minotaurbooks.com/

Fear Itself

Walter Mosley is one of the foremost stylist writing today, in just about any genre, IMHO. And this installment in his Fearless Jones series of books provides ample examples for that claim. This is prose that is beguiling and personal, and capable of tearing the reader's heart out with a simple turn of phrase. And the mystery at the center of it all is truly intriguing and original, one that remains both logical and human. Another tour de force, and recommended for those looking to see how clean, clear and yet evocative one of the best in the business can be.

The most recent mystery featuring Mosely's Fearless Jones
Little, Brown
http://www.twbooks.com/

Ray Bradbury Speaks: Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars

This collection of essays, considering everything from his childhood influences and involvement with city and amusement park planning, by an acknowledge master storyteller might not be essential reading, but it sure does provide some deep and interesting insights into Bradbury's mind and proclivities. And for those of us who are real fans, if nothing else there is that rich, sour-sweet Midwestern voice that makes one believe that Ray could do his version of the phone book and make it sing.

A collection of essays by the modern master of whimsical and fantastic fiction
William Morrow
http://www.harpercollins.com/

And that's probably enough for now. This listing, along with reviews of more recently-read books, will follow next week. Until then, take care and enjoy!

2006-08-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new home of Speculative Friction, an occasional blog of literary and comic book criticism and theory by Bill Baker.

During the short time that Spec Fric was housed at www.bloodinthegutters.com, which serves as my professional home on the web, I was mainly concerned with talking about what I'd read that previous week. Occasionally this lead to more in-depth and searching thoughts, but often it just became an exercise in doing some decent short reviews of the generally great books, graphic novels and single issues or short runs of monthly titles that I'd encountered the previous seven days. Useful and illuminating enough, I suppose, as blogs go, but it sometimes left me feeling that I wanted to say a bit more, or perhaps dig a little deeper than I had in a particular piece. Sadly, the commitment to doing a new, increasingly larger column stuffed with telling reviews of what I'd just finished often became the focus of that work, pushing the more theoretical and wild-eyed musings to languish until a more appropriate time presented itself...or to be simply unused and unuttered. It's not that the review or other work I was producing was unsatisfatory or even unsatisfying in its own way; rather, it's more of a case that I wanted to make the blog do more for me, and my potential reader, intellectually and emotionally, even if it was only a momentary thrill or small insight.

I'm hoping that the switch to this open-ended format, which allows me to post almost at whim, will open that process of blogging up for me, leading to more posts with more real theoretical and critical meat on the bone, so to speak. Not that I plan on ditching the reviews. I'll still be doing those regularly, perhaps not in bunches once a week as before, and I might not even discuss most of the single comic book issues I read, but I'm hoping that these reviews will now act as springboards and excusses for thoughtful exploration of theme, style, approach and other artistic concerns, and as catalysts for new insights into the creative process, as much as they serve as selling tools.

Well, enough babbling for the moment. Thanks for checking out Speculative Friction, and I hope you like what you see here enough to return to the site...or even to some of the ideas...in the future.

Best,
Bill Baker
journalist and author