Graphic Novels? Not Really. by Sean Stoltey

Graphic Novels.  I am getting so sick of this term.  Not because it is invalid, but because it has become misused and abused.  It all started with Hollywood, of course.  Some suit somewhere decided that the general public looks down on comic books, but graphic novels are acceptable.  So suddenly you hear every actor and director working on comic book adaptations referring to the “graphic novels”.  Sounds very tony, much more high class than the oh so pulpy “comic books”.  Unfortunately, it also sounds like bullshit because it doesn’t fit.  Graphic Novels are actually a very specific thing within the realm of Comic Books.

In the 1970’s the medium of comic books had been around for over thirty years.  The artists working within it were starting to feel constrained by it.  They wanted to experiment and really do things that were different.  Some of them wanted to do much more serious work.  Thus, the “Graphic Novel” was born.  Will Eisner’s A Contract With God is considered by many to be the first of them.  It had four short stories that all took place within a 1930’s Bronx tenement and it was inspired by Eisner’s own life experiences.  It was a finite work, designed to exist as one lone piece on the shelf.  It was not serialized.  One book, one statement.  Like a novel, but…you know…graphic.  Marvel started a line of graphic novels.  Two of their most notable, The Death of Captain Marvel and X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, did feature characters from their serialized comic books but were finite stories published in single volumes.  Dc did Which is the perfect description of a Graphic Novel: finite stories published as a single volume.

Comic books are serialized fiction.  They are published (generally speaking) on a monthly basis and while issues can stand alone, they are all part of one giant ongoing story.  That obviously says nothing about the quality of their content.  Nor does the finiteness of Graphic Novels say anything about their quality.  Somehow along the way, the term Graphic Novel became accepted as something more serious.  Something of consequence.  Which is all fine.  Most creators who set out to do a proper Graphic Novel are usually trying to say something a little more important.  Whether they are using original creations or pre-existing characters they are trying to set themselves apart from the rest of the books by creating a large story that can be read in one volume.  Because of the import of some past Graphic Novels, it is a an announcement of serious intent and a proclamation of quality or importance.

Quite a while back publishers started collecting their regular comic books into paperback collections.  Usually it was special, popular or “important” storylines.  These are referred to as Trade Paperbacks.  The practice has become so prevalent though, it is basically every book published these days.  When the book is special or important they might do a Hardcover Collection.  Although they are starting to do that more and more as well, and in the process are diluting the inherent importance brought by a hardcover.  Unfortunately, strapping a bunch of comic books together in one volume DOES NOT make them Graphic Novels.  If it was not originally published as a Graphic Novel, it is a comic book.  So what’s wrong with that?  Absolutely nothing.

In the day and age of “Let your Geek Flag fly.” and people who are constantly proclaiming that “Geeks rule the Earth.”  There is nothing wrong with saying that you love comic books.  At least there shouldn’t be.  So when I see comic book shop owners saying “Come in for the latest Graphic Novels!” it’s quite a bit disheartening.  You sell comic books, own that.  Be proud of it.  Comic books are one of the great American institutions.  They were invented here, they were perfected here.  Unlike Rock and Roll, we still do it, and always have done it, best.  So comic book fans and comic book sellers unite and embrace that thing which we love:  COMIC BOOKS!  Oh, and their fancy cousin, the Graphic Novel.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Finally, another pile by Sean Stoltey

I once again apologize for an absence.  Kids, kids in school, sick kids and then sick me.  It’s been a cornucopia of awesomeness.  So let’s just jump back into reviews, shall we?

HAPPY! #1 by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson-  A new off-beat creation from Grant Morrison?  I figured I can finally get in on the ground floor of something Morrison did outside of the Superhero mainstream.  Yeah, I’m one of those.  I was aware of Morrison, but I didn’t really give him much of a shot before his run on JLA.  After that, I have mostly just read his mainstream stuff.  (Yes, I plan on reading The Invisibles and The Filth.  Give me time!)  For me, Morrison is either firing on all cylinders(Batman, New X-Men, All-Star Superman), or being incoherent in the name of being fresh and different(Final Crisis).  There really is no middle ground.  After reading the entire first issue of HAPPY!, I’m not entirely sure which Grant we’re getting, but I am enjoying him so far. 

The story starts out as a gangster movie/TV Show pastiche.  We seem to be getting gore and sexual situations just because it’s an IMAGE publication, and therefore we can.  Bullets, blood, begging for life, crooked cops, reference to an account with untold riches…then just when you think you've had enough, a cute blue cartoon winged horse shows up.  The ridiculous juxtaposition somehow works.  

Since this is just the first issue, and what seems to be the point of the story has only just appeared, I still don’t quite know which Grant we’re getting.  The situation created has major potential for humor and craziness.  I honestly can’t wait to see where Morrison goes with this.  I actually laughed out loud at one moment while reading, and that was before the horse showed up.  For someone known for craziness, Morrison is actually a very funny guy in person so I’d love to see his humor come through full force. 

Robertson’s art is at an all time high.  I’ve never hated his art, I’ve just never been all that impressed by it before.  He shows more detail than I’ve noticed before, and his characters are a bit more distinctive than I felt they were in the past.  The pages flow great, and for someone who’s known for gritty, dark artwork he knocks the cartoon horse right out of the park.  So, overall I found it really enjoyable, definitely going to be keeping up with this one.  Come on Grant, keep it up.  As usual, I am rooting for you.

A FINE & PRIVATE PLACE #1 by Peter Gillis and Eduardo Francisco (based on Peter S. Beagle’s story)-  I’ve never read the story this was based on, so I don’t know if it would enhance or diminish my appreciation of this adaptation.  It was somewhat confusing at first.  A crow that can carry two pounds of bologna…okay.  Then the crow speaks to an older man in a graveyard.  His name is Rebeck and he lives in a mausoleum at a graveyard.  He speaks to the crow, he speaks to a dead man, and then a lady comes to visit her husband’s grave and he speaks to her.  They seem to hit it off, despite the previously mentioned dead man interfering in the conversation.  Then Rebeck tries to leave with her and something happens.  Maybe.  See Rebeck makes an excuse not to leave with her and she goes without him.  It’s hard to tell if Rebeck can’t leave or won’t leave.  Is he unable to mentally/emotionally, or is something truly trapping him within the walls of this graveyard? The scene isn't clearly played in either direction, so I can’t begin to predict.  It just suddenly ends there with no explanation. 

It almost felt (once again) as if they were writing a graphic novel and decided to cut it into individual issues, without any concern for where it cuts off.  It’s an interesting enough start to a story, it in no way stands on its own though.  Maybe there was supposed to be something played through the emotions of Rebeck’s face in the final scene?  If so, it was not conveyed by the art, which was pretty good by the way, somewhere between Sal LaRocca and Brett Booth.  Maybe the penciller botched that scene, but I doubt it.  If it was intended as an intriguing cliffhanger to draw you in for the next issue, that didn’t work so well either.  If I read further it will be because of everything else in the book besides the ending.  I was enjoying a nice, quiet ghost story and then it just stopped for no discernable reason other than page count.  It's irritating because the story was really feeling like it had something to say, but we are obviously not near the point yet.  This story is so obviously served better by consuming it as a whole, why not publish it that way?  Maybe I will wait for the collected edition and read it at a book store.  

Well there you have it.  Two completely new books, off the beaten path and quite enjoyable in two completely different ways.  Let me know what you think if you read them.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Editorially driven... by Sean E.Stoltey

Sooooo, Rob Liefeld's at it again.  Being controversial and stuff.  Does anyone really believe his shtick anymore (and I'm wondering, as well, if he even does)?  Complaining about editorial interference in his work at DC.  This made me run off on an interesting (at least to me) train of thought.  When you go to work for a big comic book publisher on one of their many pre-existing, ongoing properties; do you really expect them to let you do what ever the ---- you want?  

Now, in the case of Rob Liefeld, a very "special" case if there ever was one, the obvious issue is the ego of the creator involved.  By many accounts, Rob is pretty sure he is the best thing to happen to comics since Jack Kirby.  So of course he bristled at an editor telling him what he should do on a comic book.  "Don't you know who I am?  I created Youngblood!!"  "Who's that, Rob?"  "Hmm.  Oh yeah!  Don't you know who I am?  I co-created Cable!"  "Whatever you say Rob.  We're here to talk about your handling of these DC characters who've all been around a lot longer than Cable."  But seriously, I didn't come here to talk about Rob Liefeld.  It's the concept of editorially driven that I find interesting.

It seems to me that the books can go one of two ways, with many varying shades in between of course.  On the one hand, you have a story or even a full fledged book that originates with a writer or artist or both, or one person doing both.  That's where most creator owned and independent work lies.  Which is of course implied in the term "creator owned", duh.  In this case, the writer and artist are in complete control of their creation and, presumably, the editors role is mostly to keep everybody on course and hitting their deadlines.  They might take creative input from their editor, but when it comes to the creative content, the creators are the final word.  In the case of a company owned book, a Marvel or DC character or something like that, it would be a bit different.  If the editor chooses, they can allow the talent to steer the ship.  However, the editor still has final say on what can and cannot be done on the book.  They would be much more of a collaborator (if they wanted) and they can veto creative decisions.  In this situation, they are responsible to the company they work for on all decisions made on their books.  When the s--- hits the fan, they are the ones that take the heat.  Which is probably why a lot of them might choose to go the other way.

In a truly editorially driven book, the creative direction of the book is mandated by editorial.  In some cases it comes from above them on the company food chain.  They basically tell the writers what they want and where the book needs to go.  Some people have complained that the editor basically wants a typist.  That could be oversimplifying it, but I could definitely see how frustrating it could be for a writer.  You have decided to create for a living and now someone is telling you what to create and how to create it.  Unless you're Grant Morrison apparently; but then he presumably makes that part of his contract, and the powers that be feel his sales warrant that situation.  My opinion?  I think the better editors find some sort of happy medium.  Especially when you are working in an established, company owned universe.  First off, there are rules you have to follow.  These are company assets, you can't do whatever you want.  Many say though, that having rules imposed makes you work harder (and often better) to find a way to work around the rules.

Quite often filmmakers speak about how they had to come up with alternatives because of budget constraints and their alternate choices made the film better.  Hell, the main reason you don't see the shark through most of Jaws is because it didn't work.  That choice to work around the shark made it much more terrifying.  Many musicians do their best work when others are producing.  When they are given the reins a lot of them never quite match the quality of their earlier output.  Some do, don't get me wrong.  I think the challenges imposed on some writers have created a lot of great work.

So to move back to comics, an editor that knows he can trust his writer will let his writer loose.  Within reason.  Also, as long as the people above you are trusting you to do your job, you are more likely to trust the people below you.  Just as having constraints put upon you can make you work harder and more creatively, knowing you are being entrusted to care for these iconic and (to the company) important properties might just motivate you to put your best foot forward.  A lot of these "editorial" complaints from the folks working for DC seem to indicate the real mess is above editorials pay grade.  It's unfortunate.  I always felt that if I was paying someone to do a job, I should let them do it.

So which way is the better way?  Whichever one produces the best story, honestly.  Some classic comics have come from both styles, and every shade in between.  Remember, Alan Moore made Watchmen at a big company with an editor who was in charge.  He also made League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with little to no editorial input, and that turned out pretty damn well too.  However, I really do think that the best editors int he business have always found a balance.  A way to serve both sides of the equation.  You can have happy bosses and happy creatives.  It is possible.  I would never fault anyone for the style of management they choose, as long as it was a job well done.  Sometimes I think it's best if those of us outside the system don't hear about it.  Hey, you don't want to know how hot dogs are made.  You may never eat one again.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

What's a fan/reviewer to do with this Pile? by Sean Stoltey

So, I've been absent from the page for a bit.  I was on a family vacation right after my last post, and then my sons started school right after I got back.  However, I've come to realize that that is not really the reason.  I've been trying to get up the gumption to write an article or a review for a few days, and it just wasn't happening.  There hasn't been any book that jumped out and said "Review me!"  So much of the Marvel I keep up with is wrapped up in Avengers vs. X-Men, that it doesn't seem right or fair to review yet.  Over at DC, well I've made my thoughts clear a few times, and I didn't want to feel like I was constantly trying to rain on their parade.  So do some indie reviews, right?  Well, nothing there was jumping out either.  It may not seem this way if you have read some of my reviews, but I'd really prefer not to write negative ones.  I want to celebrate the medium.  I would like to convince people who haven't, to jump in and give it a try.  So I dove into some stuff from IDW and here's what happened:

Infected #1 by Scott Sigler and Chad Minshew - Once again there is no beginning, middle or end.  However, this one has been put together so well and the cliffhanger ending had me wanting the next issue pretty quick.  Apparently based on a novel by Sigler, this is the story of a mysterious infection working it's way through America.  Like most medical emergency dramas, we are shown the violent end of a victim and then introduced to numerous characters at varying levels of government.  We can't really be sure yet who the main charcter is, but my money is on the veteran CIA officer who is in charge of the field investigation.  It seems a bit obvious, but that's not always a bad thing.  It's a very familiar trope, but despite that I still found myself getting pulled into the story.  

The art is a big part of it, it's very well done.  The style is quite reminiscent of Salvador LaRocca.  Detailed and stylistic all at the same time.  The pages flowed well.  The story does use a lot of captioning that is describing what we are seeing in minute detail.  Normally this would be problematic, but since this is adapted from a novel it actually works quite well.  Novels can get very detailed and here they have married the detail of prose with great art and I quite enjoyed it.  Some of the action is quite graphic, so be prepared.  I wouldn't say that it is gratuitous considering the story, but it could be shocking for some.

All in all, I have to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and can't wait to see the rest.  It is a familiar story, but the details and characters are interesting enough to keep me reading.  I think it might have been better served (like a lot of modern comics) being presented as a graphic novel, but they so far are making the end worth coming back next month.  We'll see how it goes from here.

Love and Capes: What to Expect #1 by Thom Zahler - I had never heard of Love and Capes, so I didn't realize this wasn't a brand new thing.  But that doesn't matter, because the author has used archetypes that don't require a lot of explaining.  Also, he has used a story that is so universal, that it doesn't require a lot of explaining either.  If someone tells you a comic, television show or movie is about a couple who just found out they are expecting their first child, you kind of know what you are in for.  As with the book reviewed above, it's all in the details when the plot is something you've seen before.  Zahler takes the excitement, fear, joy and so much more of becoming a parent and drops it in the middle of a superhero universe.  

Mark and Abby are your average young married couple.  Mark just happens to also be The Crusader, protector of Deco City.  They have the same fears about not wanting to tell people too soon about their happy news, but when your best friend is the equivalent of Batman you can guess how that goes.  

The art style is very classic animated/cartoony.  That does not detract at all from the story or characters.  It makes it easier to accept I guess.  Such an average story in such a fantastic world, and with fun poppy art.  Bonus points to Zahler for using alternate dimensions in an interesting AND funny way.  The first doctor's visit was easily my favorite part of the book.  Definitely worth a read, eager to see where they go from here.

So there you go.  I was really not jazzed about anything non-AvX this week and I ended up enjoying the heck out of two books.  Just goes to show you, if you're not sure about something: give it a try.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Don't step in this week's pile of Reads! by Sean Stoltey

Debris #1 by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Riley Rossmo - Okay, so like Star Wars, this is a fantasy story wrapped in the trappings of Sci-Fi.  I'm not saying it's like Star Wars, it's not, I'm just trying to point out that machine monsters and big guns do not make something Sci-Fi.  Not much is really explained in the issue.  We are introduced to Maya, a young warrior, and her mentor Calista.  It's hard to tell if she is supposed to have special powers or if everyone can jump around and fight  like Maya.  Calista is the Protector of their village.  I guess it's supposed to be the far future, or is it another planet?  Honestly, that doesn't really seem to matter to the story.  I just expected a bit more back story to be filled in because this is not the first  issue of an ongoing book, it's a four issue mini-series.  So I guess it will all be filled in along the way?  Who knows.  They are protecting their village from some robotic (I'm guessing) beasties.  Apparently water has to be manufactured and this is the last of the human strongholds or some such.  This is a story that's been told many many times.  Which wouldn't be a problem if they were bringing something new to the table.  So far, that doesn't seem to be the case.  At the end of the issue our heroine sets off on a quest alone for some fabled thing that also isn't really explained.  Some of the dialogue is pretty clunky.  The art however is pretty good.  It looked great and I liked the coloring.  Some of the pages could have flowed better, but the line work was pretty good.  I can't really recommend it, but I think this is another book that might have been better served being produced as a graphic novel rather than a comic book.  Unfortunately as a stand alone chapter, this issue simply doesn't work.

Insufferable Week 12 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause - This week's installment was the quickest read of the bunch due to some action that ate up a few pages right at the start.  Even with that, this is still one of the more satisfying reads in comics.  Waid and Krause are building an ongoing story that is full of drama, thrills, humor and is changing the way comics can be produced and read.  The way the panels open up and shift and are revealed is perfect.  No more turning the page and having the reveal at the end of the page spoiled.  What you need to see is what you see.  You can scroll or click back and forth all you want, you are still in control of your reading, bu the creators now have very precise control over how it comes at you.  Marvel has been using the same techniques for their Infinite Comics issues of Avenger vs. X-Men and they are equally as impressive.  Now back to the review!  More reveals this week building up the animosity between Father and Son former super team Nocturnus and Gallahad.  Their interactions are always priceless, and this story is building towards something steadily and progressively week in and week out.  Waid has always been one of the best comic book writers in the business.  Now he is one of the best and leading everyone into the true potential of the digital comics frontier.  Pay attention, someday everyone's going to look back and say it started here.  Oh and by the way, it's free.  Every week at thrillbent.com.  And all the previous weeks are archived right there for you to read on the website.  You can download it, or just view it there on the site...for free.

So, I saw The Dark Knight Rises this week.  I can't say it was the amazing piece of perfection I was hoping for.  Maybe the bar was just set too high with The Dark Knight.  Maybe it's just the nature of trilogies.  Godfather: great.  Godfather II: amazing.  Godfather III: had some great stuff in it that was surrounded by some problematic bits.  And so goes DKR.  

There was a lot I did love. There's bit of a twist near the end for one character that pretty much made the movie for me. Anne Hathaway was great as Selina Kyle. Bane, one of my least favorite characters from the comics, I quite enjoyed and (no surprise) Tom Hardy was fantastic. The story tied very tightly into the first and second movies, which was great. It really creates a nice payoff for both stories. I also was having fun spotting all the people that I knew from various TV series. Huge movies like this usually get the best selection of actors even for the smaller roles. So I did a lot of: "Oh there's Owen from Torchwood! Hey, it's Franco from Rescue Me! Look! Quinn from Dexter!" However, the middle of the movie drags so much I wanted to check the credits to make sure the movie had been made by the same people as before (it had). There were also some bits of pretty ham-fisted dialogue that felt offensive in the context of the previous movies. Therein lies the problem of following up one of the greatest comic book adaptations of all time. You can't help but pale in comparison.

Again, there was a lot of stuff to like, but when I'm rolling my eyes while watching a Christopher Nolan movie there's something wrong. For a series that was so steeped in realism, despite being about a superhero, this just got very overblown and larger than life to a fairly ridiculous point. I wanted to love it, and at best I liked it. Maybe it will grow on me with repeat viewing, who knows. For now, it wasn't bad; and that's just not good enough.  A lot of people took issue with the ending, and honestly that didn't bother me all that much. It's not the choice I'd have made, and it doesn't jive with the Batman I've been reading for the last 30+ years, but I just told myself that this is movie Batman and let it go. If you are going to see it and there is an IMAX theater near you, that is definitely the way to go. They shot quite a bit of the movie in IMAX, much more than they did with The Dark Knight. It's worth the slightly higher ticket price for the visuals.

So, that's it for this week.  I'm thinking of doing reviews of past storylines.  Ones that are widely liked, or perhaps notorious for something that might be worth taking a look at.  In general I would try to do it with things I haven't read yet.  Thoughts?  Ideas? Suggestions?  Let me know.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

This Week's Stack by Sean Stoltey

Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who Assimilation2 #3 - Scott & David Tipton w/Tony Lee, J.K. Woodward and the Sharp Brothers - What can I tell you about this series that I haven't brought up before?  If you watched Doctor Who in the 70's and 80's and were also a big fan of the the Original Series Star Trek, you are going to love this issue.  

Keeping with the subplot of the Doctor remembering things about the Trek universe while realizing that he didn't know them before, we are treated to an adventure with the original Trek cast along with the Tom Baker version of the Doctor.  Man oh man, was that cool.  The art is handled by a different team for this sequence and it really sets it apart from the rest of the book.  It definitely feels like a flashback of some kind.

There are not a lot of solutions found in this issue, mostly more questions raised.  It was kind of like watching an episode of LOST.  So, of course there is moment at the end of the "episode" that makes you really want to see the next issue.  Kudos, once again, to the whole team for doing a crossover that is actually entertaining AND in character.

Captain Marvel #1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy - So Ms. Marvel is taking on the Captain Marvel name.  The irony being that when she left the Air Force, the character was a full Colonel.  This is a book that I really want to like, and I almost succeed.  I want to like it, because I agree with some folks out there that there are not enough female-driven comics in the mainstream.  I honestly don't blame the companies though.  As Spider-Man writer Dan Slott pointed out, it's a business and fans have to vote with their wallets.  The companies keep trying to push female solo books, they try to embrace diversity; but if the fans aren't buying it then they can't afford to publish it.  All that aside, it was an alright book.  There's some fun to be had here.  I hope that DeConnick plans to keep the fun tone going forward as that was the best part of the book.  It opens with Carol Danvers (Capt. Marvel) taking on the Absorbing Man with Captain America.  They make fairly short work of him, but the scene is used to highlight the fact that Cap sees Carol as an equal.  He is, in fact, the one that tells her she should stop being Ms. Marvel and become Captain Marvel.  

For a comic book that wasn't written by Robert Kirkman, there is a lot of inner-monologueing in the book.  Because of that, it is odd that we learn more about Carol through her interactions with other characters than we do in her inner monologue.  To be more accurate, there isn't much in  her monologue we couldn't have learned from some more action and dialogue.  I'm old school, I don't mind the inner monologue, but this one just didn't sit too well.  I just wanted her to stop talking to herself and hit more things.  Maybe the shortcoming is mine, I don't know.  Some new history and supporting cast are introduced.  At least it was mostly new to me as I hadn't read the Ms. Marvel series.  I've always liked the character, just haven't tried her solo yet.  

The art on the inside is not at all like the poppy colorful fun art on the cover.  Not to say Soy is all that bad, his style just doesn't immediately seem like a fit for this particular book.  There is one moment, a transition between pages where I almost felt like he had decided to redesign the costume one day and didn't feel like going back and fixing the other pages.  Mostly, though, I just felt like his darker, almost painterly style just didn't set well with the character or the story.  I think it could have popped a little more with a lighter, peppier tone to the art.  The issue sets up enough and shows enough promise for me to try a few issues, but it's going to have to set that hook pretty soon.

Revival #1 by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton - Closest I can come to a description is that Fargo, The Walking Dead and the X-Files had a baby.  It seems on a recent Christmas in the area of Rothschild, Wisconsin that a lot of dead people came back to life.  They aren't really zombies.  At least not in the "classical" sense.  The area has been quarantined and life is attempting to return to normal while the government figures out what exactly is going on.  There's a bit of behind the scenes at the police station, family drama, something spotted in the woods and then some good old fashioned violent mayhem and mystery.  Also, some pretty gross stuff involving teeth.  This one has some interesting characters, an intriguing plot and some good horror elements all thrown into the pot.  Our main character is Officer Dana Cypress, daughter of the police Chief and seemingly connected to every plot and subplot in the book.  She is a single mother and older sister and despite who her dad is, those two relationships seem like they are going to have the most connection to any answers that will be found.  As with a lot of my reviews, I don't want to delve to deep into this.  I want you to enjoy the discovery and the surprises.  This one is definitely worth picking up.  I will be doing so for the foreseeable future.

I'll try to be back for more this week.  Let me know what you guys are reading out there.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Oh my god...Not..something new!! an opinion by Sean Stoltey

"Look, it's Jean Grey!"

Hey woofers!  So as the Marvel event Avengers Versus X-Men strides into it's second half, we are starting to see a glimpse of what's to come afterward.  And again

, some very vocal folks are freaking out.  Last year DC Comics decided to do a complete wipe and reload on their continuity.  They felt the best way to entice new readers was to junk their old stories (this is nothing new for DC, to be fair) and start over with new "kewl" costume designs and total revamps...sorta.  I could go on at length about what went wrong with DCNu in my opinion, but that's not what today is about.  Nor am I trying to Monday Morning Quarterback Marvel's current and future creative decisions.  No, I am once again watching fandom's reaction and shaking my head.  

People have been screaming bloody murder and throwing text tantrums at Marvel over the return of Jean Grey.  "You better bring her back, we demand it!"  She's dead says Marvel, and for the foreseeable future she is staying that way.  So then the Phoenix-centric AvX comes around and now they want her back and Marvel is a bunch of hateful sadists because they have a new redhead that is not Jean in the middle of the story.  "You hate us, we are so maligned, we want our Jean back."  This is actually a toned down version of the sad, pathetic display I have seen playing out on the internet.  When I have tried to point out that these people are screaming and wailing and calling people names over a FICTIONAL DEAD PERSON, apparently I'm the asshole.  Go figure.  

So now this brings us up to the Marvel NOW! announcement.  Comic book solicitations having to hit three months ahead of publication, we are getting a glimpse of the post-AvX Marvel universe.  They are bringing Jean Grey back to comics.  Sure she's the teenage Jean Grey from the original X-Men comics, but it's Jean Grey alive and active in the current Marvel Universe.  You've been asking for Jean Grey back?  Here she is...do you think those folks were happy?  Of course not.  To be fair, some were just happy to have Jean back in any capacity.  Unfortunately, there is still a lot of "That's not what we wanted!  Give us OUR Jean back!"  

"How much do you love our awesome high collars?"
Said everyone but Wonder Woman.

Look, I am a passionate fan of comic books.  I get being upset because the books aren't going the way you'd like them too.  Actually I'm okay with them not going where I want them to, as long as the story is good.  When it's not, I stop reading the book.  Revolutionary, right?  If you don't like what's happening, stop reading it.  Stop buying the book.  If enough people stop buying the book, it will go away or get retooled.  Maybe even in a way you like.  Just to show that I practice what I preach, I was very upset about the idea of the DCNu.  I told the people around me that I thought it was a bad idea, BUT!  I also said I would give it a try and see if maybe I was wrong.  With a couple of exceptions, I feel like I was not wrong.  People who scream bloody murder over a creative decision make all of us fans look bad.  If there was a reasoned opinion expressed it might all be understandable.  Unfortunately, the internet isn't a place for reasoned opinion.  It doesn't get enough hits I guess.  There's a lot of vitriol out there, and it is almost always when a major change is coming.  Generally speaking, comic fans complain when the books just give us the same ol', same ol'.  They also complain when you try something new and different.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

So, here comes some major change over at Marvel.  Not even expressing my own opinion on the announcements so far, there is one thing about it that sticks out to me.  It feels very much as if it is a natural progression from the story that is currently being told.  They seem to be of the mind that if they are going to hype an event (like AvX) as being a (fictional) world changing story, well maybe the (fictional) world ought to have actually been changed by that story.  The complaint I had about DCNu, is that it felt like a marketing ploy.  Yes, they wrote a story to explain why everything was suddenly new.  However, it seemed like the change necessitated the story rather than the other way around.  Everything should serve the story, not the other way around.  In fact, I think I would have been much more accepting of it if they had just said "You know what?  Everything is ending in August and we're starting something new in September and we're not going to fleece you with an expensive mini-series and it's 327 tie-ins first.  We're just gonna sack up and do this."  It would have felt more honest.  Marvel isn't re-booting, but they are embracing the power of a #1 issue in this day and age.  I have to say, that's the part I like least about this Marvel NOW! launch.  I really hate that they are relaunching some books with new #1 issues that have been relaunched three or four times in the last 10-15 years.  I accept that it is the best way to market this change and get people interested, and you don't want to scare off the people who are curious after seeing the Avengers movie by making them feel that they missed something.  I just am a fan of legacy.  That's one of the things I liked best about DC before they threw out their history.  The idea that there was going to be an Action Comics #1,000 or an Avengers #600 was very appealing to me.  That we probably won't get either of those now is sad to me, but I certainly am not going to tell Dan DiDio or Tom Brevoort that they are sadists who are torturing me with their decisions.  I guess after over thrity years of reading my precious comics, I've gotten used to the fact that I'm not always going to like the next step in their evolution.  But I'll always give it a try.

So, what do you guys think of the stuff going on at DC and Marvel?  It really has helped me explore and embrace independent comics to lose some of my big two devotion over the years.  Lots of good stuff out there.  I'd love to hear some recommendations of non mainstream books to read and review.  Let me know!

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

DISCOVER THE FUNNY SIDE OF FRANK FRAZETTA!

A wealth of rarely-seen material by the late master returns this week!

Frank Frazetta has been called “The Grand Master of Fantasy Art,” but did you know he did a glorious omnibus’ worth of funny sexy and funny cute stories in the Golden Age of comic books?! That’s right, hillbilly babes to hoppy bunnies were drawn with the Frazetta magic. And Eisner-winning editor Craig Yoe captures that magic in the new FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF large format, full-color, 256-page hardcover collection from Yoe Books. FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF debuts at the MoCCA Fest in New York City this weekend and will be in comic book shops this week.

Yoe says, "Besides the amazing art itself, Frazetta fans will be stoked by the sheer quantity in this big thick book. There are 27 comic book stories, well over 200 of The Master's delightful text illustrations, and tons of rare and unpublished original art, illustrations and photos carefully reproduced in the introduction."

Frazetta’s "Fire and Ice" collaborator Ralph Bakshi provides a compelling freeform, stream of consciousness introduction that you have to read to believe. Dig the beatnik beats of this hep cat sharing his story of working with THE MAN. Only Craig Yoe can conjure up such wild and unexpected material!

 

 

“The team at Yoe Books put countless hours in restoring these charming strips to ensure a proper vintage reading experience,” said IDW Senior Book Editor, Justin Eisinger. “Like each and every Yoe Book, FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF is a lovingly created artifact that itself is a piece of art.”

 

But don’t just take our word for the glory of this vintage Frazetta. Here’s what some fine, respectable folks have to say about the man and his funny work.

 

“Frank Frazetta... his comic book output was unforgettable!” —Harvey Kurtzman

“You don’t have a full picture of Frank Frazetta until you’ve seen his funny stuff. It was his own favorite work, as it captured an important aspect of Frank that his sword and sorcery paintings did not—his warm sense of humor.” —William Stout

Why stop there?! Even the great talent himself was known to claim that the funny side was the real Frazetta.
“I do reveal that dark side in some of my work. I am known for my violent stuff. But the funny stuff is the real me.” —Frank Frazetta

 

Pappy's Golden Age Blogzine says that FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF is “a long overdue compilation! The book is beautifully produced. I love the over-sized pages, and especially the enlarged spot illustrations. As always, Craig's books are impeccably designed and printed. Permanent binding, thick quality paper to ensure the best reproduction possible. You will never go wrong buying a book with the Yoe Books imprint.”

Keep an eye out for the limited edition as well. A hot ticket item at 100 copies, it features a bookplate signed by Yoe as well as a variant cover featuring a rare drawing of one of Frazetta’s much-lauded sexy gals!

 

 

Craig Yoe is available for convention appearances and interviews with the press in regards to this and his other books.

Yoe Books' website is http://yoebooks.com

FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF ($49.99, 256 pages, hard cover, full color) will be available Wednesday, April 25, 2012. ISBN 978-1-61377-167-9.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. IDW can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/idwpublishing and http://tumblr.idwpublishing.com/ and on Twitter at @idwpublishing.

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