eh, the vibe for me is peter bagge plotting with dan clowes dryness. i like it a lot.
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Thursday, 6 April 2017 01:22 (seven years ago) link
has anyone on here read East of West? is it any good?
― Moodles, Sunday, 9 April 2017 16:27 (seven years ago) link
Well, I guess there's nowhere to go but up with Hanna Barbera characters, so good on DC, I guess.
― Break the meat into the pineapples and pat them (Old Lunch), Sunday, 9 April 2017 16:36 (seven years ago) link
I thought east of west was garbage
― i believe that (s)he is sincere (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 9 April 2017 17:13 (seven years ago) link
(And the most recent issue of the flintstones is the weakest unfortunately)
― i believe that (s)he is sincere (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 9 April 2017 17:14 (seven years ago) link
Much like Manhattan Projects, East of West is beautiful to look at, but gets wearyingly cynical after a few issues. Hickman is a lot like Geoff Johns sometimes - he likes pulling legs off flies and laughing about it. (He's a better writer than Johns, obviously.) And the 3000-part-storytelling gets a bit boring when he doesn't have iconic Marvel characters to hang his shtick off.
― Chuck_Tatum, Sunday, 9 April 2017 18:43 (seven years ago) link
Which is to say, I think he's very smart but his sense of humour sucks.
― Chuck_Tatum, Sunday, 9 April 2017 18:44 (seven years ago) link
Aside from that - just read By The Numbers, which collects a bunch of ligne-claire stories from the 90s, very much in Yves Chaland's "Tintin but ethically challenged" mode. Recommended library borrow, probably not worth paying for. The art looks better on the page than it does in JPG form below.
Also read Arkham Asylum for the first time - boy, everyone was right about it not being very good, but I guess you have to admire the fact that it was published at all. My favourite moment moment comes in GM's liner notes at the end, when he admits that the "subtextual material might have been lost on the casual reader". The 15th anniversary edition also includes GM's thumbnail panel sketches, with everything panelled out like a trad Jim Aparo comic. I think I might have preferred that comic.
https://cdn.bleedingcool.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/By-the-Numbers-lite-21.jpg
― Chuck_Tatum, Sunday, 9 April 2017 19:02 (seven years ago) link
arkham asylum felt super important when if first came out and unfortunately it was
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Sunday, 9 April 2017 22:20 (seven years ago) link
i can recommend Koren Shadmi's 'The Abaddon' as a worthwhile take on No Exit; nice art, well laid out storyhttps://www.amazon.com/Abaddon-Koren-Shadmi/dp/1940878055http://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/e04ba324653975.5604a8fe7b641.jpg
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Sunday, 9 April 2017 22:22 (seven years ago) link
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Sunday, April 9, 2017 5:20 PM (forty-seven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I think more than any other lesson, living more than a couple decades has given me the insight that art that seems poignant or edgy in its time will be recycled into mainstream culture that makes you shrug or die a little years later. The comics to movie/television arc that's come to fruition of the last few years is both enlightening and soul destroying.
― a landlocked exclave (mh 😏), Sunday, 9 April 2017 23:11 (seven years ago) link
There's Dave McKean stuff going on in the tv/films?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 9 April 2017 23:48 (seven years ago) link
The art's still dated better than the writing, I think
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 April 2017 00:17 (seven years ago) link
Arkham Asylum's not the best Batman story, obviously, but yeah - feel like Batman creators has been rebelling for decades (and continue to do so to this day!) against the effects of the '60s TV series and comics of the time. Easier to look back and appreciate both sides for what they are.
― Nhex, Monday, 10 April 2017 02:45 (seven years ago) link
McKean thought Arkham was overblown and embarrassing at the time iirc
― (±\ PLO;;;;;;; Style (sic), Monday, 10 April 2017 03:33 (seven years ago) link
if you read it as a parody of sandman starring batman it makes sense
― a landlocked exclave (mh 😏), Monday, 10 April 2017 04:18 (seven years ago) link
insert sic comment taking me literally and explaining their publication dates were close enough together that it couldn't be the case
― a landlocked exclave (mh 😏), Monday, 10 April 2017 04:33 (seven years ago) link
All those Hanna Barbera DC titles seem to be trying a bit too hard to me. I do read Future Quest because I needed some brainless superhero crossover stuff and having been introduced to a lot of those characters by Adult Swim it's never not hilarious to me when Space Ghost or Brak show up and the other characters take them seriously.
I gave up on East Of West and Manhattan Projects both because I was reading them in floppies and keeping track of what was happening seemed as difficult as it is with any superhero continuity wank. MP at least reads better in trade.
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 10 April 2017 11:58 (seven years ago) link
Fred and Barney go to a porno theater is def some "1989... unofficial b&w photostatted piece of shit" steez no thx― Οὖτις, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Late to correct this, but they aren't. They're going to see their version of Steel Magnolias and later persuade other Elks to go and see... I want to say it's Fried Green Tomatoes but I can't remember. It's women baring their souls they're talking about.
The Flintstones is the only one of the first wave Hanna Barbera books that's really been worthwhile but it's been wonderful and is without a doubt the bets thing DC are publishing just now. It's true this issue was maybe weaker than the rest but the end of the Vacuum Cleaner plot was unexpected and emotional.
Of the second wave, they all look promising except DiDio's Top Cat (some would say unsurprisingly). The crossover annuals pretty much stunk although I suppose the Flintstones/Booster Gold was at least engaging.
East of West started well then turned into a rambling, confusing mess. The Manhattan Projects was great for the first 10 issues or so but then I totally lost interest and I can't remember the last issue I read of the reboot.
― Mud... Jam... Failure... (aldo), Monday, 10 April 2017 14:35 (seven years ago) link
the vacuum cleaner and crew rescuing bowling ball from the recycled pet food factory was kinda amazing
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Monday, 10 April 2017 15:00 (seven years ago) link
Loved bowling bowl learning an actual joke in #10 after the conversation in #9.
― Mud... Jam... Failure... (aldo), Monday, 10 April 2017 15:03 (seven years ago) link
The positive discussion of the Hanna Barbera books feels a little like a very elaborate practical joke.
― Break the meat into the pineapples and pat them (Old Lunch), Monday, 10 April 2017 15:12 (seven years ago) link
tbf, the book does too
― Bobson Dugnutt (ulysses), Monday, 10 April 2017 15:16 (seven years ago) link
East of West reminds me a bit of Grendel because of the scope and the artist's style reminds me quite a bit of 80s Matt Wagner. I've read it as the issues come out and it is a comic that might be a better read when it is all done. There are a bunch of characters and it took really 18-20 issues until you have really seen all of 'the world' and background. I'd say it's probably at the 3/4 mark in the total story, although I got a feeling at some point there are going to be some flashbacks to how this world came to be this way. I'm in for the duration to see how it plays out.
― earlnash, Monday, 10 April 2017 23:17 (seven years ago) link
Faith Erin Hicks' The Nameless City Vol. 1 was fun, Avatar-style Chinese mythological adventure, though more grounded (no magic, lots of politics). Looking forward to Vol. 2 this year.
― Nhex, Sunday, 16 April 2017 01:43 (seven years ago) link
Reading IDW's first volume of Dan DeCarlo Archie comics. Caught myself wondering if some comic artists just become legendary through nostalgia and fans growing up - these comics aren't bad really, but they are frequently quite crudely drawn afaict. Is DeCarlo seen as a master of the medium or somesuch? The fact that the collection's named after him and not the scripter makes me think it might be the case. Anyway, still reading on because it's mostly Betty and Veronica stuff and the strips kinda give a wild look into what it was like to live under the patriarchy circa 1957 - Jughead gets straight up called out as a misogynist once!
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 09:16 (seven years ago) link
I haven't seen that particular volume, but DeCarlo is definitely considered the 'definitive' Archie artist (I dunno about 'master of the medium'). 1957 would be fairly early into his career - by the 60s and, especially, 70s (when he co-created Josie and the Pussycats, for example) his work was slick, sexy and extremely accomplished in terms of clear storytelling; he pretty much single-handedly defined a more modern look for the Archie characters that was clearly copied by other, often less expert Archie artists. The fact that, as with so many other creators toiling on characters they didn't own, he was under-rewarded and under-recognised throughout his career may also have contributed to the rise in his posthumous reputation.
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 19 April 2017 09:49 (seven years ago) link
Good point in that the quality of his work improves immensely over the decades
― Nhex, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 14:44 (seven years ago) link
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/extinction-a-graphic-novel-project-comics#/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 18:16 (seven years ago) link
The first season of the live-action Korean adaptation of Kaiji Kawaguchi's excellent manga "Eagle" (called "President" in English) is now available on US Netflix. Haven't seen but am curious based on an affinity for the source materialhttps://www.netflix.com/title/80154638http://geekandsundry.com/if-you-like-house-of-cards-youll-love-the-manga-eagle/
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Friday, 28 April 2017 17:08 (seven years ago) link
Oh wow, I remember that series. Crazy!Just read a decent bio, Glenn Gould: A Life Off Tempo by Sandrine Revel
― Nhex, Friday, 28 April 2017 18:51 (seven years ago) link
The cartoonist Mark Newgarden recently re-shared this on his Facebook page, and I've been obsessed by it ever since. The only known comic strip by Eugene Teal, originally printed by R. Crumb in the first issue of Weirdo:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O2DWDvN4DUU/SiRmI0Pgx0I/AAAAAAAAAqg/JleXFm4IsyM/s400/img019.jpg
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 15:33 (seven years ago) link
This youtube version clears things up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW2SZgROuMs&list=LLWwmSqUluMWZ5qidhsGaTzA
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 15:34 (seven years ago) link
Doh, one more try
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 15:35 (seven years ago) link
FFS
Oh man I think about that comic all the time even now, IIRC Jim woodring and I discussed our love of it once
― gimmesomehawnz (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 15:54 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW2SZgROuMs
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 17:10 (seven years ago) link
that thing is pure woodring alright
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 17:17 (seven years ago) link
Thanks ulysses - and Jon, I can see why it's relevant to yr interests :-)
― Bernie Lugg (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 17:54 (seven years ago) link
Reading some Aquaman archives. The story where one of Aquaman's foes decides to attack the surface world and one of Green Arrow's goes underwater, so instead of switching villains GA and Speedy don diving suits and Aquaman walks around a city with a fucking tank full of fish - it still makes me as angry as it did the first time I read it.
On a different note, anyone read Peter Bagge's Zora Neale Houston bio?
― Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 11 May 2017 09:59 (seven years ago) link
I thought his sanger bio was a lot of fun, would like to read the hurston... what an odd late career direction for him!
― i believe that (s)he is sincere (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 11 May 2017 12:55 (seven years ago) link
Loved the Sanger bio, yes. He was always one of the most reasonable libertarians I was aware of (damning with faint praise?), his wokening has been a pleasant surprise.
― Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 11 May 2017 15:03 (seven years ago) link
I haven't read either of the bios yet but I love pete bagge fiercely and will always love him
"Hippy House" is a perfect comic
― fish louse (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 11 May 2017 15:07 (seven years ago) link
Anya Davidson's Banned For Life. Pretty good.
― Nhex, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 03:51 (seven years ago) link
Bagge's Sanger bio is the best thing he's done since the end of HATE proper. For his first book intended as a single graphic novel, it's also more tightly compressed than anything else he's done: pretty much each page is completely self-contained as an anecdote or study, as if he had serialised it piecemeal like his Founding Fathers Funnies.
(I told Mr Bagge how great I thought the book was, and what a shame it hadn't received any real attention or reviews, and he barkingly laughed that it had sold better than anything else he'd done for years. An excellently libertarian response, I thought.)
― (±\ PLO;;;;;;; Style (sic), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 04:35 (seven years ago) link
I only discovered the existence of his Hurston bio when I was searching her name on Amazon recently. I was...surprised.
― Download this Man With Hamburder And Mug (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 04:39 (seven years ago) link
hey i have a question for you comics fans. our kid is about to turn 6 and is ridiculously psyched to see Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. My guess is for a six year old that'll be a "no", even though i don't know the rating yet. i'm thinking PG-13 seems to be a safe bet.
but i've considered picking up the Valerian collection that's coming out this summer, right after his bday. what's the age level w/r/t disturbing material, violence, etc? Is it pretty dense and adult or is it pitched at a younger audience? he's really into sci-fi, or at least the notion of it. he's into the visuals and the invention of it all.
thanks!
― nomar, Thursday, 18 May 2017 23:25 (seven years ago) link
What books does the collection include? The first two ("Bad Dreams" and "City of Shifting Waters") are very clearly oriented for kids, and the series kinda gradually shifts from "all ages" to "adult" throughout the years, so the more recent the book, the less kid-friendly it is.
The violence is never that bad, it's pretty much on Star Wars level throughout the series. But sexual themes start getting into the books later on. The first one of to deal with sex is "Heroes of the Equinox", where baby-making is a big part of the plot. But it's done in a rather cute and humorous way, it's all implied and nothing is shown on page. I remember finding it funny when I first read the book, I think I was around 9 years old. So if your kid knows where babies come from, it shouldn't be disturbing at all.
However, "On the Frontiers" includes a rather graphic rape scene, which bothered me a lot as a kid, and still bothers me as an adult. So definitely don't let your kid read that one! And "Birds of the Master" has some disturbing imagery of people being made into the slaves of the villain via technological devices implanted on them, kinda similar as in The Tripods. It didn't bother me as a child 'cause I'd seen worse in horror movies, but if your kid is sensitive to that sort of stuff, you should skip that book.
Another thing is that the writer also starts adding more political and social satire into the series as it goes on. This is already happening in "Heroes of the Equinox" (which satirizes socialism, fascism, and the 1970s green movement), but that one can still be read as a fun adventure story even if you don't get the allegory. However, the political commentary starts getting heavier around "The Ghosts of Inverloch"/"The Wrath of Hypsis" two-parter. When I read those as a kid, I simply found them boring.
So, I would say that the run of books from "Bad Dreams" to "Brooklyn Station, Terminus Cosmos" is fair game for kids, with the aforementioned caveats for "Heroes of the Equinox" and "Birds of the Master". That's pretty much the classic run of the series anyway, the quality starts noticeably dropping around "The Wrath of Hypsis", and it never really recovers.
― Tuomas, Friday, 19 May 2017 11:20 (seven years ago) link
There's also a separate bestiary for the series, which depicts the various alien races and creatures Valérian & Laureline have met throughout their journeys, with beautiful painted illustrations by Mézières. Since I was a big fan of bestiaries with real animals too as a kid, I enjoyed that one immensely. Dunno if it's been translated to English tho?
― Tuomas, Friday, 19 May 2017 11:23 (seven years ago) link
And "Birds of the Master" has some disturbing imagery of people being made into the slaves of the villain via technological devices implanted on them, kinda similar as in The Tripods. It didn't bother me as a child 'cause I'd seen worse in horror movies
― Wes Brodicus, Friday, 19 May 2017 11:55 (seven years ago) link