BRAIN DRAIN

Kaare Andrews’ Spider-Man: Reign draws plenty of comparisons to Frank Miller’s iconic Batman story, The Dark Knight Returns. In the same way that DKR features a future Gotham City and an aged Bruce Wayne who decides to don the cowl once more, Reign revolves around a future New York City and a much older Peter Parker who is compelled to overcome his personal demons and again become Spider-Man. That Andrews acknowledges Miller’s influence on the book, giving subtle nods to DKR throughout, further fuels the flames of fandom.

With the bar set so high, how does Reign compare? Well enough, it turns out, for a much shorter and different superhero story.

In a sense, Andrews manages to do more with less in Reign than Miller accomplished with DKR. Both are “complete” tales steeped in their respective characters’ mythos, and both are entirely believable “what ifs” of their possible futures. Yet Reign is the shorter of the two, with much the same grit, polish and fan service. In this respect, at least, Reign truly is the Spider-Man equivalent of DKR, bringing to mind that saying about the sincerest form of flattery.

This is not to say that Reign is the better story, for indeed there are many things missing in Kaare Andrews finished product that keep it from matching or exceeding DKR, if such a thing were possible. For instance, Reign’s setting tends to overpower the character development, and there is one significant deus ex machina moment — explained as precisely that within the story — used to drive the plot along that doesn’t quite fit. Yet taken for what it is, it’s hard to miss the fact that Andrews has gotten the most important thing about Reign right: it is undeniably a very good Spider-Man story, one with a keen appreciation of the character and his supporting cast. In this, the emotional exchanges between Peter and Mary Jane, either imagined or in flashback (she’s already passed away at the time of the story) really shine and couldn’t have been written any better.

It’s almost unfair that any comic even remotely resembling Frank Miller’s DKR simply invites comparison. And so it is with Reign, which manages to hold up to such scrutiny both as an homage to the original and an excellent Spider-Man story on its own right.

Last of Three Parts: The Souvenir

This is the story of the one souvenir I got for myself from the 2008 NY Comic Con. But first, a picture:

That right there is as close as I got to meeting Geoff Johns and asking for his autograph. When I found his table in the center of the show floor’s “Artist Alley”, he was already beseiged by a large number of fans, shaking hands, making conversation and patiently signing some of their comics. And boy was I jealous! See, I didn’t have anything on me for him to sign — I’ve already transferred most of my comics back home — and the one title of his I recently bought — the Infinite Crisis trade — was lying peacefully on my apartment shelf.

I began to wonder whether I should bother buying a comic — any comic — just to score an autograph. That brought about another idea: why don’t I first look up who else was around, so I know whom to line up for. Yet one more thought: if I were to get someone’s autograph, whose would I really, really want? Jim Lee was supposed to be there. I heard that Neil Gaiman and Mike Mignola were, too, though I was willing to bet the lines for them would be absurdly long. Yet as much as I love these guys, there was really just one name at the top of the list:

Darwyn Cooke.

Of all the comics I’ve picked up in the past three years, DC: The New Frontier is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. It’s just a fantastic piece of storytelling and artwork, and to my mind exemplifies everything I look for in a comic. As a consequence, I am convinced that Darwyn Cooke is absolutely brilliant.

So I looked him up and found his table.

He wasn’t there.

Disappointing to be sure, but it’s not like I had anything for him to sign, either. My copies of the New Frontier trades were in Manila, and the animated adaptation I’d purchased the week before was likewise on my shelf beside that copy of Infinite Crisis. “Oh well,” I thought to myself on my way to continue my rounds about the exhibition floor.

Yet I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. What better souvenir than a signed comic book? The artists were around, and the retailers in attendance were offering discounts like nobody’s business. Hence, I began scouring the shelves looking for something I wouldn’t mind adding to my collection and worth getting autographed. This wasn’t as easy as it sounded: there were simply too many titles to choose from, each being measured against the yardstick of whether I was willing to spend for it.

Pressed for time, I made the following decision: I’d spend for a hardcover version of Darwyn Cooke’s Batman: Ego and Other Tales on the off chance he’d still be in the building for signings. If he was, well and good. If not, at least I end up with this collection of his Batman stories that I didn’t have before.

I pulled it off one of the store’s shelves and paid for it, then made my way back to the Artist Alley to try my luck.

He was there, a line of fans quickly forming in front of his table. Practically every one of them brought their prized copies of New Frontier for him to sign, making me momentarily the only person in line with a different comic in tow. To some degree, this made me sad because I would have also wanted to have my New Frontier books signed, too. But we play with the cards we’re dealt, and before I knew it I was next in line.

He was a real pro. He took my copy, flipped it open to the first page and pulled out a silver tipped pen in order to write on the dark colored paper. He scribbled his trademark signature then began to draw on the page, adding a little doodle of the Dark Knight just for good measure. “Here you go!” he said as he handed the now autographed book back to me, a friendly smile on his face. I was beside myself with delight and excitement that it was all I could do to say thank you, which he acknowledged with a gracious nod.

Thus, I was probably the happiest person to leave the Javits Center that Saturday.

And that’s how an autographed Darwyn Cooke comic became my souvenir from the 2008 NY Comic Con.

(Previously: Impressions and Random Pictures)

Second of Three Parts: Random Pictures

Alas, I didn’t have a right and proper camera with me at the Comic Con — not that I’m any good as a photographer — so I had to settle for using the one built into my celphone. As a result, the pictures below tend to be a bit dodgy (I had a few more, but they weren’t much better) but they’re good enough for a meager post by way of photoblogging.

Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Center is a pretty big place, so the Comic Con had multiple entrances, all of which were decked out as above. I couldn’t find a vantage point from which I could take a shot of the show floor for some perspective, but the lights in this picture should give some indication of the size of the exhibition area.

Even before entering the show floor there were comic book paraphernalia around. Naturally, these were popular for the token souvenir photo, especially the life-size superhero statues such as Batman’s (see below; there was also one of the Man of Steel, but it wasn’t nearly as awesome).

One thing I did expect to see were people dressed up as Jedi or Stormtroopers or any number of Star Wars characters (I’m pretty sure there was a Wookie or two in attendance as well). So none of that surprised me. But I was quite impressed by these detailed statues of Yoda and Princess Leia.

Sure, they might not look like anything special (especially that blurry photo), but I happen to like mock-ups of cartoon characters, especially when they’re done this well.

Previously, I mentioned that there were a few video game companies present in full force. Naturally, this created many opportunities for cross-promotion, such as the way that Konami was drumming up publicity for their new Hellboy game, The Science of Evil. Others, were there just to sell video-game related paraphernalia, such as Square-Enix.

While I’m aware that the above are probably the worst photos in the history of bad photos, there was no way to get a shot of the entire Konami booth without a wide-angle lens. As for the Squeenix booth, this is what their booth looked like from the side. The decor was very minimal, and their display of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts figurines (among others) ended up buried behind throngs of onlooking fans. All the same, I’m sure my brother would’ve loved to have been there to check out the Squeenix offerings for himself.

Speaking of things my brother missed out on, there was a significant amount of anime and manga at the convention. Indeed, if there was one booth he would’ve wanted to browse through had he been around, I’m guessing it would have been Tokyopop’s.

It should be noted that Viz Media was also around, but I didn’t have the time to check out their manga lounge.

Still, there was no denying that mainstream Western comics took center stage at the convention, especially because it offered the opportunity for fans to meet some of their favorite artists and writers . Going once around the show floor I managed to see quite a few, such as…

…Mark Texiera, whom I remember for his work on Ghost Rider…

…Inker Scott Hanna…

…John Romita Sr. and Jr, here pictured during a signing event at the Marvel booth (the line for which was impossibly long!)…

…Tom Raney (at least I think this is Tom Raney)…

…Steve Epting…

…and Mark Buckingham, although this is as close as I ever came to meeting the guy. In fact, for a brief moment I contemplated swiping the handwritten note on the premise that he had written it…but that wouldn’t be right, would it?

And yes, because the NY Comic Con is a big deal among fan circles, it enjoyed extensive coverage from the usual industry news outfits.

Of course, collectors of all persuasions had much to look forward to in the form of comics, comics and more comics!

Naturally, there were huge discounts to be had all over. What’s more, some bargain stalls were selling really old comics for dimes, by far the cheapest deals in town.

Sure, some of the merchandise available for purchase had very little to do with comics (Webkinz?), but at least it ensured that even kids not entirely sold on comics could look forward to something. As for older patrons, there was no shortage of things to vie for their attention. Take for instance the exhibition staff: interestingly, a lot of those working the show floors for the organizers were actually volunteers, many of whom traipsed about dressed in some costume or other. This brings me to the final photo of this post, and the tongue-in-cheek remark I can’t resist to make:

Princess Leia’s slave girl outfit. Teasing adolescent fantasies since 1983.

‘Nuff said.

(Previously: Impressions. Next: The Souvenir)

First of Three Parts: Impressions

This past April 18-20, 2008, the Jacob Javits Center hosted the 2008 New York Comic Con, one of the largest comic book conventions in the United States. For once, I found myself without any excuse not to go, so I jumped at the chance to check it out. It certainly lived up to my expectations — then exceeded them.

Upon arriving at the convention center I already knew it was going to be quite the spectacle. Comic book enthusiasts were there in droves, some literally dressed for the occasion as their favorite character, most bubbling with excitement at what “schwag” and freebies lay ahead of them. This was just at the entrance, with long lines of eager attendees waiting patiently and politely to pick up their tickets. Fortunately, I decided to purchase my ticket (good for all of Saturday) beforehand at Midtown Comics, and thus made my way through to the exhibition floor without a care in the world.

It goes without saying that the sight before me was everything a comic book aficionado could hope for, whether casual collector or die-hard fan. Rows upon rows upon columns upon aisles of booths, all of which showcased something — anything! — related to comics. Marvel and DC were there, side by side with independent and smaller publishers. Retailers in attendance displayed signs prominently advertising huge discounts on their wares. There were “boutique stalls” selling rare comics from the Golden and Silver Ages that nostalgic completists may be willing to die for, not to mention merchandisers peddling figurines, t-shirts and all manner of paraphernalia so fans could go home awash in nifty souvenirs. And yes, there were a couple of video game studios and collectible card game companies in attendance, too, showcasing their latest offerings and giving passersby free reign to try them out.

There was no shortage of things to do either, and I’m not talking about the requisite shopping involved or the organized group photo opportunity for all Jedi in attendance (for real). Throughout each day there were any number of film showings, panel discussions or promotional appearances going on, certainly enough to whet any fan’s appetite. More importantly, there were chances aplenty to meet the legends and rising stars of the industry. In the three-odd hours I was there I couldn’t believe the personalities I espied in attendance. Mark Buckingham. Darwin Cooke. Geoff Johns. John Romita (both father and son). Jim Steranko. Gail Simone. Steve Epting. The list goes on and on.

I think what I will always remember from this experience is how it made me feel like I did when I discovered comic books for the first time. Sure, I’ve never gone out on a limb to attend a convention before (the opportunity hardly ever presenting itself back home), but something really was in the air that captured the excitement I remember from when I started getting interested in comics, losing myself in the colored panels and letting my imagination take off. In this I was just another face in the crowd, but one in which I felt quite at home, lightsabers, capes and cowls notwithstanding. In retrospect this is perhaps what such conventions are truly about: giving people a chance to celebrate their shared interest — if only for a day or two — and experience the joy of discovering those colored panels for the very first time, again and again.

(Next: Random Pictures)

This one’s been making the rounds on the interweb for quite some time now, so I might as well jump on the bandwagon (albeit belatedly):

Garfield Minus Garfield is a novel if not unusual take on Jim Davis’ trademark feline. The premise: the real star of the comic strip is not Garfield but his owner John. And how to make this point? By taking your usual Garfield comic and editing out the titular fat cat.

This is perhaps best articulated by the site’s unnamed author:

Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.

Having grown up reading Garfield, I must say that this does cast the comic in an entirely new light, albeit in a bizarrely twisted and occasionally sad sort of way. While some of the resulting comic strips are hit-or-miss in the humor department, they are nonetheless worth checking out.

If you collected Marvel comics back in the late nineties, you may recall a series of lighthearted comic strips appearing in each installment of Bullpen Bulletins. These “Bullpen Bits” featured pint-sized (kiddified) versions of Marvel’s pantheon of superheroes in various gags or humorous situations. Akin to Spider-Ham before them, these Mini Marvels were a lot of fun, especially for the die-hard Marvel Zombie.

Amazingly, it turns out that the Mini Marvel strips are already accessible online! Chris Giarrusso, the series writer and artist, has all sixty-two strips, the full “Animated Hawkeye Trilogy”, and the complete Giant-Size Mini Marvels comic book available on his website, ChrisGComics.com. With plenty of other great stuff there as well, the site is well worth a look-see and proves once again that sometimes taking a humorous dig at characters we all know and love can be just as entertaining as the real thing.

I vaguely recall hearing about Jeff Smith’s Bone when I was heavily interested in comics back in the ’90s. If memory serves, I knew of it but could never quite muster the interest to see what all the fuss was about. Looking at the art, it’s easy to see why: it’s of the cartoony sort clearly meant for younger audiences (or so I thought at the time). In spite of this, however, both Bone and its author have consistently garnered acclaim from fans and luminaries in the comics industry alike, a sure reminder of that adage not to judge a book by its cover.

And rightly so: as simple (that is to say, childish) as Bone might seem, it turns out that Jeff Smith’s series is a finely crafted work of fantasy.

In broad strokes, the premise is simple: three Bone cousins — Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone — are run out of Boneville, finding themselves lost and separated in an unfamiliar valley. Stranded because of a long winter, it’s not long before they eventually find one another with the assistance of the many new friends that they make along the way. Yet all is not well in the valley: there is a mysterious dragon running about, as well as “rat creatures” wreaking havoc amongst the local townspeople after years of leaving them well alone. The plot thickens, however, as the secret history of the valley unfolds. Soon enough the battle lines are drawn between townspeople and rat creatures, with the dragons ever in the background, culminating in a clash for the valley’s very survival.

Fans of the series are quick to point out parallels between Bone and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. While might seem a tad generous, in truth it is a very appropriate comparison to make. Both tales progress in a similar fashion, from innocent beginnings that quickly snowball into a story of epic proportions, and have plenty of the shared iconography — kingdoms, creatures, characters — practically native to the fantasy genre. Yet this is not to say that Bone is simply derivative of Tolkien’s work in the same way that Christopher Paolini’s Eldest series is outright derivative of George Lucas’s Star Wars (as some critics have been wont to say). Rather, Bone achieves that unique blend of offering something familiar together with something unique, paying homage to the great works that have clearly built up the genre while at the same time presenting a mythology that is ingeniously its own.

The credit for this, naturally, must go to Jeff Smith. Bone is truly Smith’s magnum opus, an uncompromising series spanning thirteen years of his professional life and — a rarity in the comics industry — one where he gets to tell the tale he wants from start to finish. For this reason, reading Bone is as much about seeing the story unfold as it is having a front-row seat to Smith’s maturing as a storyteller, from the rather aimless first few chapters that introduce readers to the the series (not to mention the occasional panel whose contents are less than clear) to its climactic moments and poignant scenes, which at their best are truly a wonder to behold.

Bone was originally printed in black and white, and readers can have access to this original presentation in the complete collected one-volume edition (also known as “the brick”), without a doubt the most cost-efficient way to experience the series firsthand. More recently, Scholastic has begun the process of re-releasing Bone in full-color format across several shorter volumes, certainly a more expensive alternative for the curious but well worth the vibrant hues to accompany the experience.

Ultimately, Bone is not only that kind of series that parents would want to read together with their children, but also the sort that even seasoned comic book collectors will find entertaining. The reason for this is simple: it is fundamentally a story well told that manages (thankfully) not to take itself too seriously. At the end of the day, isn’t that really what comics should be about?

For those who haven’t heard, DC Comics is giving its Johnny DC imprint for younger readers a much needed shot in the arm with a bunch of new titles. Of these, readers can look forward to a true jolt of electricity as Mike Kunkel takes the helm of the upcoming Captain Marvel series, Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!

The famed animator has already won critics over with his charming “Superman-meets-Santa-Clause”-esque Herobear and the Kid, so fans are sure to be in for a treat as Kunkel offers his take on the World’s Mightiest Mortal. The initial sketches (see above and click to enlarge) already go to show that the book promises to be downright fun for kids and adults alike: the entire Fawcett city cast look so utterly…awesome!

Kunkel’s already been interviewed by Newsarama regarding the upcoming work, and more information on the series will (sporadically) become available on the blog he’s set up for it.

The internet is rife with comic strips about every subject imaginable, from the trials and travails of life in graduate school to quirky re-imaginings of 1980’s cartoons. It turns out that blogging and bloggers now also have a comic they can call their own: bLaugh.com proclaims itself the (un)official comic of the blogosphere, and the few strips they have so far go to show that their sensibilities are spot on. To wit:

Ah, yes, every blogger’s dilemma.

We can only hope that the site has more in store in the future and doesn’t go the way of the many blogs that haven’t been heard from in a very long time.

What better way to mark the beginning of another semester in graduate school than with the following comic from Jorge Cham and the wonderful folks over at PhD Comics:

Just another healthy reminder that I need to get cracking on my dissertation. As in yesterday!