---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 213 5/07/99 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Rambling's `99 ........................ Rich Johnston [6] Stranger in a Strange Land ............ Jennifer Contino [7] Comic Abstracts ....................... John Barker [8] Too Old For Comic Books?!? ............ Johnny Gonzales [9] And Let Me Tell You Why ............... David Coulter [10] Random Thoughts in a Less Than Random World ........ Gary Sassaman [11] Some Pages, A Cover, and A Few Staples. Marlan Harris [12] Had Your Phil? ........................ Phil White [13] Venting My Spleen ..................... David Groenewegen [14] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [15] My View:Red Planet Pioneer ............ David LeBlanc [16] Top 100 Comics - April ................ Diamond Comics Dist. [17] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [18] HYPE! Section ......................... Various [A] Submission, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights, BBS Info ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring the exclusive comic strip: HEROES RERUN by Johnny Gonzales & a week's worth of the strip: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, please address a message to: ComicBkNet@aol.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT to be placed on the FREE subscription list. To drop it use UNSUBSCRIBE as a SUBJECT. See section [A] for the address to mail material to be reviewed. ______________________________________________________________________ All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 1999 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from the individual authors to reproduce, retransmit, or publish any part of this magazine. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc Late edition this week due to the annual ritual of packing up all the worldly goods of #1 son and bringing him home for the summer. Therefore, I will be brief. I just want to point out a new featured column that starts this week. A couple issues back, in my interview, I expressed a desire for a female to join our group of contributors to give us yet another perspective on the hobby we love. Well, no sooner was that interview run than the vast minions of the CBEM faithful fanned out and I was contacted by someone who had all the credentials you could ask for to write a column here (though none are required!). She comes to us from the AOL DC chat areas, a life long comic fan and budding professional herself. Everybody please welcome Jen to our fold and check out her column of comment in the top slot after Ramblings `99. Also check out some of these fine comics . . . DARK HORSE COMICS Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace #1 (Of 4), 2.95 DC COMICS Gen 13 #40, 2.50 Martian Manhunter #8, 1.99 Preacher #51, 2.50 Vext #5, 2.50 Young Justice #10, 2.50 HURRICANE COMICS Chassis #0, 2.95 IMAGE COMICS Savage Dragon #60, 2.50 NUMBSKULL PRESS Gutwallow #7, 2.95 <-------------Pick of the Week! Naturally, because I announced the beginning of the collected Astounding Space Thrills on our HTML Online edition at Digital Webbing, there was a glitch and it was not available last week. It should be up this week and therafter will be a regular feature of the online edition. If you read the Emag from the Emailed edition or from the file on the AOL web site you should take a look at the online edition for things you won't see anywhere else! Visit us there at: http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: Letters of comment may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ Subj: CBEM review From: planetlar@earthlink.net (Larry Young) To: ComicBkNet@aol.com David: Thanks for taking the time to write up a review of AiT #2. I'm sure you'll like #4 a little better, when Charlie (The X-Files) Adlard joins the crew for the rest of the story. >>The back up story is drawn by Steve Weissman and is quite a contrast in style, the characters being the cartoony kids his fans may be used to, but frankly is not necessary for the book. I'd rather have more of the main story. I agree with you, believe it or not! It's just the two-pagers pay homage to the series' mini-comics roots, wherein we had little poignant tales under the umbrella title of astronauts being in trouble. It hasn't hurt sales that we have Brian (Channel Zero) Wood, Steve (Yikes!) Weissman, Kieron (Superman: The Dark Side) and Darick (Transmetropolitan) on the back-ups. I guess it's just my way of trying to satisfy everyone. I'll be sure to send you off issue #3 when it comes in on May 12th, 28 days after the second issue. Lots of folks are surprised that an indie book from an unknown writer can keep a monthly schedule, but Hey! that's what it's all about, eh? Thanks again for the press, Larry Young +++++ From: WingnutIBH@aol.com BEHEMOTH BOOKS blasts off with first project: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MONSTER PALS. A little history, then I'll tell you what's in the future, including a contest where you can win a free copy of our newest release, THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MONSTER PALS. My name is Brian Clopper and I'm a 5th grade school teacher by day and cartoonist by night. I love drawing monsters and aliens, and deliver stories that are wry and sincere. I self-published 5 issues of an anthology project entitled BOMBASTIC that garnered me much creator accolades, but very minimal interest from retailers. I coordinated and contributed to RAMPAGE and SON OF RAMPAGE for the past two years. Both volumes are huge page count books that features tons of new work by the indy's best. I coordinated and contributed to MONSTROSITY, last year's Halloween anthology that was the hit of the SPX. I have had stories in NEGATIVE BURN, LOVE IN TIGHTS and both volumes of the SPX anthology. Now let's talk about the future. Behemoth Books is my imprint for squarebound, high page count books. The first release is shipping from the printer this week and will appeal to fans of Pokemon and Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials. It's an 80 page romp called THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MONSTER PALS and is available through Diamond. The sequel, MONDO MONSTERS, is being planned for next year. Behemoth Books fall project will not be carried by Diamond and will be available only through mail order or at shows. It is part of a Cartoonists in the Classroom outreach program that I am coordinating with a nationwide selection of talented cartoonists. The book is called BRAINBOMB and will feature new stories from a gaggle of the industry's finest. I'll give you more info as the publication date draws near. I am also in contractual talks for a prominent publisher to print MARSHALL: GODLING OF WAR this fall. In addition, I've written a story for LOVE IN TIGHTS #5 that Ted Tucker will be illustrating. I'n also helping to coordinate this year's SPX book and will have a 6-page story in that anthology. Further down the road, MONSTERS IN BOXERS, my 300-page children's book with gobs of illustrations will see the light of day either through Behemoth Books or a big time book publisher. I'm 250 pages into the story and have one of my students reading it to see how well it appeals to her. She's really into it so far. As you can see, I have a lot coming out in the next two years and hope you'll be motivated enough to ask your retailer to order my work. Barring that, you can also contact me directly for special mail order bargains on any of my projects. Now for the free stuff. I'll give away two copies of THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MONSTER PALS to the first two e-mailers who describe in icky detail what their ultimate monster looks like. I'll also send them a sketch of their creepy crawlie to sweeten the pot. Send e-mail with your address so I can contact you very quickly. This contest expires May 30th.. Brian Clopper +++++ From: Silhouet9@aol.com Date: Sat, 1 May 1999 06:12:35 EDT Subject: Fwd: Blue Moon Comics needs Artists & Writers! Can anyone assist Theresa Haino? She is a very talented writer who has sent in a script to Blue Moon Comics and her proposal was accepted. She is in need of an artist. Her email address is: haino@erols.com See her message below. Thanks. Paul Dale Roberts. From: "haino" To: Subject: Re: Blue Moon Comics needs Artists & Writers! Hi! I submitted a DEUCE proposal and Mr. Lloyd Smith loved it:) He'd like to go ahead and run about 10-12 pages per issue. I'm going to have to change the script some, therefore the art will have to be done new. My artist isn't sure he can commit all that time, so I am looking for an artist who can stick with the project, even though there is no income involved. If you could spread the word among any artists you know, I'd really appreciate it. They can contact me and I'll give them more details. Thanks!!!!! --Teresa +++++ From: Brisbane Region Environment Council [webink@pasdex.com.au] Subject: Re: CBEM 211.1a For those CBEM readers following the recent discussion about service in comic stores and regular discounts, you might want to consider the following: Here in Australia, newsstand copies of American comics are shipped over by sea and typically go on sale 1-2 months after their US release. The comic shops on the other hand bring comics in by air and consequently have them on sale within a week of US release. Because of the additional cost involved comic shops charge around 10-20% more than local newsstands. In other words, Australian fans pay a premium for the superior service provided by comic shops. I might also add that bagging and boarding comics is done by some Australian shops but is not general industry practice. So the next time you complain about not getting your (bagged and boarded) comics at 20% off normal retail you might want to be thankful you don't live in Australia. And to those who think bagging and boarding is a minor courtesy maybe you should offer your local comics retailer the following deal: You will provide several hundred bags and boards (at your cost) every week and spend several hours at minimum wage (in credit) bagging his new comics. Trust me - he'll jump at the offer and you'll be getting a great deal. Because bagging and boarding new comics is no big deal - right?. Ian Gould Ace Comics & Games Brisbane, Australia +++++ Subj: Fred Hembeck From: astro@game-master.com (Librairie Astro) Hi. I somewhat doubt that this would ever see print in CBG, but I do want to mouth off about it, so you guys are the natural choice. That doesn't mean your standards are lower than CBG, of course. It actually means that you are the natural choice for free and open discussion. I'm sending it to CBG as well, but with little hope of publication. As I understand it, Hembeck's page in CBG is supposed to be a comic strip about the comic world. As is to be expected, every once in a while Fred will insert a plug for a store or comic he likes. Everyone does it, it's a pretty much accepted bit of grift. In CBG #1330 however, his whole page was devoted to praising Bill Cole Enterprises on the occasion of their 1300th consecutive ad in CBG. It's understandable that CBG heaps praise upon Cole. After all, he's spent an awful lot of money at Krause over the years. However Hembeck's page features Cal Ripken Jr., the "Iron Man" of baseball, in a scenario that shows Ripken as a subscriber to CBG, and as an admirer of Bill Cole on the basis that Ripken's consecutive game accomplishment pales in comparison to Cole's 1300 issues. Hembeck has Ripken saying (I paraphrase) that Ripken doesn't use archival products, but if he did, his choice would be Bill Cole. It wold be interesting to know if Ripken gave his permission for this product endorsement. It seems a little odd that he would endorse something that has no relation to his life. It seems even more bizarre considering who Ripken works for. Ripken plays for the Baltimore Orioles. Apparently Steve Geppi owns a piece of the team, and this is possibly one reason why Ripken memorabelia is often featured in Previews, the catalogue of one of Geppi's other companies, Diamond. The weird thing is that Diamond has also featured Ernie Gerber's products over the years, in fact Gerber's Photo-Journal Guides are often described in The Gemstone (Diamond) section of the Previews (Diamond) catalogue, Diamond having acquired Gerber Publishing some time ago. Now Diamond has announced that they have purchased Gerber's Archival Products Division. Gerber is a direct competitor (and former associate) of Bill Cole. There is no love lost between Gerber and Cole. A year or so ago they were taking out ads sniping at each other, quite blatantly denouncing each other's products. Now we have Hembeck picturing a Geppi employee (Ripken) endorsing the product of a Geppi competitor (Cole). Of course Ripken is not Geppi's serf. (Comic Retailers are Geppi's serfs.) Ripken can endorse whatever he wants. Still, it would be interesting to find out if he actually did give his permission, especially if he did so knowing that he was endorsing one of his (sort of) employers' competitors. On the other hand, it could be Hembeck just being his usual smarmy/cute self, presuming that he can use a public figure's name and "likeness" without permission as long as he declares that Ripken is copyright Ripken. If that's the way it went, Hembeck (and Krause, and possibly Cole) could just be about to find out (presumably from Ripken's lawyers) that there's a world of difference between caricature and blatant unauthorized use of trademark for commercial purposes. I love these stupid McGuffins. Fun to watch. Let's hope something develops. Rgds, Paul Stock +++++ Subj: Lady Pendragon Update 5/3 From: mjhawkins@earthlink.net (Matt Hawkins) Greetings, Lady Pendragon Dragon Blade #1 has been on the stands for a few weeks now, so I hope everyone has had a chance to pick it up and give it a read. I'm always interested in feedback and will be running a letters page, so feel free to send your comments if you haven't done so already. The second issue should be on the stands on May 26th. It was originally slated for May 19th, but that's the week the Lady Pendragon/More Than Mortal cross-over will be shipping and I didn't want to put out both books in the same week. I want to thank all of you for the tremendous amount of support you've given the book online. I've gotten a lot of emails from people who said they were turned on to the book by recommendation--thanks again! Many of you have asked me when the Glow in the dark Jae Lee cover will be available and I don't have a definite answer yet. The process takes about 4-6 extra weeks, so it should be available in another couple of weeks. Sorry for the delay, but I think it'll be well worth the wait. I don't know if you've had a chance to take a look at the new Previews yet, but there is an ad for my new project Alley Cat. I'm writing it in tandem with Bob Napton (Avengelyne and Deity) and it's being illustrated by John Bosco, a new artist that I've discovered! There will be an exclusive 5 page Alley Cat story in the back of Lady Pendragon #3, so you'll have a chance to see his artwork for yourself. Lastly, I don't know how many of you realize how poorly comics sell in the United States in relation to their sales in foreign countries. The average comic book in the US sells around 40,000 copies a month. The average comic book in Germany sells five times that and in Japan it's almost fifteen times that. When you compare the populations of those countries with that of the US, it is even more amazing. I'm not telling you this to bum you out or to scare you that the comic book industry will go out of business--that's not going to happen. I'm only saying it because I find it sad. "Comic books" are the only art/literature form actually created by Americans. Most Americans don't even know where to buy comics, let alone anything about the field. I'm not trying to get up on my high horse and preach to everyone, but I would ask that you consider how you might get some of your friends/relatives into the reading of the only true American art form. I loan people my trade paperbacks to read all the time. I loan my Bone/Strangers in Paradise trades/Sandman trade paperbacks to women and other stuff to men, depending on who they are and what I think they might like. I've even left comics in doctor's offices for people to peruse while they wait for their appointment. Often, especially to kids, I will give away comics to try to entice people into reading comics. I am proud to work in this field and work very hard to craft well-drawn, competent stories on a monthly basis. Reading for enjoyment is what it is all about, so I guess my point is that I think we should all try to share the wealth with those closest to us. Carpe Diem, Matt Hawkins http://www.ladypendragon.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet/emag.htm QUESTION OF THE WEEK (Prizes donated by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Worcester, MA) (DC COMICS & DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS, INC.) +Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you can stump+ +the readers! You MUST submit the correct answer with your question.+ LAST ISSUE'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who did Jim Warren model VAMPIRELLA after? Alan Rosenberg was the first to know that Jim Warren's Vampirella is based upon his teenage girlfriend, and now his wife, Gloria Goldberg. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: How did Angelo Furlan's "BRUISER" gain his powers? IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Messages with more than one guess will be disqualified. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry Superheroes Show the Super Powers of Milk With New Milk Mustache; Marvel Comics Characters Teach Kids How To Build Super Strong Bones WASHINGTON--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 4, 1999--Marvel Comics' Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk have uncovered a huge crime - more than half of American children ages 4-18 are not getting the recommended calcium they need to build strong bones. Now they are on a mission. With a new milk mustache ad, they're showing kids that even superheroes drink milk for strong bones. Both Spidey and The Incredible Hulk will star in milk mustache ads created by famed Marvel illustrators Adam and Andy Kubert to show kids that drinking milk is a fun and cool thing to do. Spidey, who first appears in milk mustache ads on April 29, believes that milk is important for both strength and as a post-fight refresher: "After a long day of crime-fighting, there's nothing I like better than relaxing with a tall glass of milk." Copy for the Spidey ad reads: Spider-senses tingling! Why? Because not getting enough calcium can be dangerous! That's why I drink 3 glasses of milk a day for strong bones. Hey, when you're trading punches with Doc Ock, calcium is your best friend. The Hulk's ad copy reads: HULK SAYS: DRINK MILK! Milk is good. Milk has vitamins and minerals. More than puny sports drinks! And milk has protein for muscles. So drink milk or Hulk will get ANGRY. And you won't like Hulk when Hulk gets angry. A Strong Message For Strong Kids According to the National Academy of Sciences, kids ages 4-8 need 800 mg of calcium daily, the equivalent of drinking at least three 8-ounce glasses of milk each day. Kids 9-18 need even more than that - 1,300 milligrams per day, which is equivalent to at least four glasses a day. The frightening fact is that significantly less than half of all kids in the United States are getting these recommended amounts of calcium each day. "It is crucial to reach young kids since most bone development occurs during the growing years," said Kurt Graetzer, CEO of the Milk Processor Education Program. "The message is often difficult to convey to children, which is why we have chosen to partner with Marvel Comics. We hope by having strong role models talk about milk, we can convince children to choose milk for a lifetime." Eric Ellenbogen of Marvel Enterprises agrees: "If milk is good for superheroes like Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, then kids will know that drinking milk is a cool thing for them, too." A Super Cool Promotion With Milk The new Marvel Comics milk mustache ads will appear in the July, August and September issues of Marvel Comics. Each ad will come with two free collector's trading cards and, each month, a third, limited edition, "rare" collector's card will be available free by purchasing two gallons of milk and logging onto the new "Milk" section of the Marvel Comics Web site at www.marvel.com/milk. The Web site will contain instructions for the mail-in offer. A visit to the Marvel Web site will also automatically enter kids in a sweepstakes where they have a chance to win cool prizes including a trip to Los Angeles to dine at the Marvel Mania Restaurant. The `got milk?(R)' Milk Mustache marketing campaign is jointly funded by the nation's fluid milk processors and America's dairy farmers. The multi-faceted campaign was initiated to educate consumers and correct misconceptions about milk. A series of educational brochures for consumers is available by visiting the milk Web site at www.whymilk.com. Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies with operations in the licensing, comic book publishing and toy businesses. Through its ownership of over 3,500 proprietary characters, the Company has published comic books for over 60 years in the United States and numerous foreign countries. The Company licenses the right to use its characters in a wide range of products such as apparel, snack foods, video games and collectibles, as well as for television series and feature films. For additional company information, visit the Company's corporate Web site at www.marvel.com. got milk?(R)' is licensed by Dairy Management Inc.(tm) (DMI). DMI and state, regional and international organizations manage the American Dairy Association(R), the National Dairy Council(R) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council(R). The MilkPEP program was developed under the guidance of the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, an organization funded by U.S. milk processors. +++++ Shipping July 1999 from ALTERNATIVE COMICS: Peanutbutter & Jeremy Peanutbutter & Jeremy Peanutbutter & Jeremy is double Harvey award nominee James Kochalka's first all ages comic book. Peanutbutter is an office cat, hard at work on the Flumdummer account. Afraid of being fired after ruining his paperwork, he runs away, meets an obnoxious crow named Jeremy, and together they dig for buried treasure. On the surface the story is silly and fun for kids, but for adults it's a clever critique of modern society. Absolutely adorable! (by James Kochalka) B&W, full color covers, 24 pages, $2.95 US. [The cover art by James Kochalka is available on-line at: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/pbj.tif in .tif format or http://www.indyworld.com/pics/pbj.gif in .gif format] The official James Kochalka Web site is: http://www.indyworld.com/kochalka Sincerely, Jeff Mason - Publisher Alternative Comics - http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics 611 NW 34th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607-2429 Phone 352-372-6336 +++++ From the SPLASH Page of www.comicon.com COMIC BOOK MUSEUM CLOSING DOORS! WORDS & PICTURES CAN'T MAKE IT IN THE REAL WORLD! May 6: Bad news for lovers of comics art: The WORDS & PICTURES museum in Northampton Massachusetts will close its doors later this year. In a surprise press release, Kevin Eastman, who founded the museum as a non-profit organization in 1990, said, "After long consideration, discussion and calculation, the key members of the staff and myself have decided to close the building and invest our funds into a Virtual Museum." Such a Virtual Museum, which Eastman sees as "an enormous expansion of our current website" would be intended to continue fulfilling the mission of the original museum, offering exhibits, archives and programming on the web. According to the press release, the decision to close the Northampton location was connected to the sale of the building at 140 Main Street in Northampton, although it appears a general downsizing of the sprawling Eastman empire has played a role as well. In recent days, Northampton newspapers had reported on the sale of another Eastman holding, the Cutlery Building, which once housed the original Mirage Studios, Tundra Publishing and Kitchen Sink and rumors that HEAVY METAL magazine was being offered for sale have been rampant in the comics community for weeks. In addition, during the last six months, large portions of Eastman's personal collection of original comic art, accumulated during the go-go years of the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES phenomena, have found their way back into the hands of dealers. Eastman was not available for interviews. While it comes as no surprise that the Museum was strapped for cash, since they had mounted a large and increasingly desperate campaign for contributions during the last two years, it is still a blow to lovers of the form to lose such a high profile and well developed institution devoted solely to comics art. The museum, curated by the tireless efforts of Fiona Russel and Maryann Meeks, mounted over a hundred shows and exhibits in its nine year history and had become a community fixture and tourist destination in the process. *** PLATINUM STUDIOS EXPANDS INTO COMICS! PLATINUM WANTS TO BE HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION FOR COMICS! May 5: Platinum Studios, the Beverly Hills production company headed by Scott Rosenberg and Ervin Rustemagik, has established a new comic book development office based in Stamford, Connecticut and is now accepting submissions. The venture will be focused on financing and developing comic book properties, with an eye to bringing new and interesting concepts to Hollywood. In a press release, Platinum said the office will review "Previously published comics, both older and newer titles, suitable for adaptation into film and television projects." Platinum is also interested in, "Upcoming titles for review and option prior to their publication by other publishers, and comic proposals not yet attached to a publisher, or projects requiring Platinum to finance." The press release went on to say Platinum would offer deals that "will provide 100% financing for the development and production of the material, handle all editorial responsibilities and negotiate publishing and distribution arrangements with comic publishers appropriate for each title. Through its significant relationships with major Hollywood studios and independents, Platinum will develop the property for comic book-to-film adaptation." Lee Nordling, who served as project supervisor at Walt Disney Publishing and a group editor at DC Comics, has been appointed Executive Editor of the office. The press release said, "Creators are encouraged to contact Platinum's new development office via mail, email or fax to request a submission kit. (Kits will be forwarded to creators only to land mail addresses). Creators will then be required to review and sign the submission paperwork prior to submitting Platinum's for Platinum's consideration." Requests for submission kits should be sent to:Lee Nording at: lee@platinumstudios.com +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail SeanJordan@aol.com and say SUBSCRIBE. This Saturday morning, AQUAMAN makes his debut appearance on KIDS WB!'s NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. The aquatic superhero appears on the SUPERMAN episode, minus his long hair and hook for a hand. The new BATMAN BEYOND episode "Disappearing Inque" premieres later that morning. +++++ COMICS 2 FILM at Website: http://www.comics2film.com Madman ------ Comics 2 Film spoke with Madman creator Mike Allred about the recent bomb-shell that Robert Rodriguez (The Faculty, Desperado) would be directing the long-awaited Madman movie. With the actual production still off in the future (Rodriguez has another movie to complete before Madman), the pair had intended to make only a small announcement in Madman Comics #14. Allred credits the resourcefulness of Harry Knowles of Ain't it Cool News fame with breaking the story early. Rodriguez had teased Knowles with hints about the project, but neither creator really expected him to uncover the truth so quickly. Allred corrected us on the supposition that Rodriguez was merely directing: he's actually purchased the option himself, is producing and writing as well. Allred told us the movie is "first and foremost a Robert Rodriguez film," and he couldn't be more excited about the project. Both Allred and Rodriguez are pleased that they'll have plenty of time to develop the project so that it capitalizes both on Rodriguez's strengths as a director and the concepts and stories of the comics. Allred explained that due to various studio pressures, many of today's movies are made with "very little craft. We have plenty of time to make sure it's great." The artist and director have known each other for about three years and are collaborating on a new script for the film. The pair are starting over from scratch on the screenplay, abandoning the early drafts written by Allred and reworked by Dean Lorey. They've already met and developed an outline. Allred plans to travel to Austin, TX in the near future to continue the work. "Because [Rodriguez] wants my involvement, my comfort level is so high," Allred told us. From the start Allred and producer Ben Myron (The Mod Squad) have been adamant that the movie Madman be true to the comics. With Rodriguez's involvement Allred said, "I can't imagine a more faithful adaptation." Allred intends to keep, not only the storyline intact, but the look of the comic as well. Fortunately, the character has always been depicted in a somewhat realistic manner, including a costume that shows its wrinkles and a plausible physique for the title character. The mask could have been difficult to translate, but Allred told us that he and Rodriguez have already worked it out. They plan to use prosthetics to simulate Frank Einstein's white mask. The actor's face, in makeup, will be exposed as will his hair. The prosthetics will be seamlessly integrated around the rest of his head to give the illusion of a mask. Allred likened the technique to the one used on the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Obviously, the project is far from the casting stages, but Allred hopes to cast the film with actors who will closely resemble their comic book counterparts. Allred has other concepts in the early stages of development. His ambitious multi-media mini-series Red Rocket 7 is currently at Manifest Films. Allred informs us that actor George Clooney's production company Maysville Pictures has recently closed a deal with producers Michael Shuken, Evan Charnov and Dean Hollander to develop The Everyman as a TV series. Also Mattress and Crept characters (who appeared with an early Frank Einstein in Grafik Musik) had been optioned by Sawmill Entertainment Corporation. Unfortunately, it appears that his G-Men from hell are languishing in development hell. Mattress and Crept fans will be happy to learn that the pair will be making a comeback soon and we should see the resolution to their story in upcoming issues of Madman Comics. Although he's obviously enthusiastic about working on the movie, Allred told us that he's increasing his focus on comics. He assured us we'll be seeing a steady stream of his comics in the next year or so, starting with the recently released Madman Comics #12. His latest efforts call for a Madman spin-off called The Atomics. This features the exploits of the mutant street-beatniks as they embark on their career as super-heroes. There looks to be exciting times ahead for Mike Allred fans! Thanks to Joe Hendren for the assist. Gunsmith Cats ------------- Kenichi Sonoda's Gunsmith Cats will be heading for the big screen sometime soon. Producer Ben Myron (The Mod Squad) told Comics 2 Film that he's hired writer/director Kari Skogland to develop a movie based on the adventures of Sonoda's gun-toting manga heroines. Skogland attracted Myron's attention for her directing turn on 1997's indie-fave Men With Guns (not to be confused with John Sayles' Spanish-language Hombres Armados which was released in the same year, with the same English title). Skogland has also directed episodes of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, La Femme Nikita and RoboCop: The Series. Gunsmith Cats is one of many comic-inspired movies that Myron is producing. Among his projects are Archie which is to be written and directed by Tommy O'Haver (Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), Flash Gordon and Mike Allred's Madman. The Crow: Salvation ------------------- FROM THE DETROIT NEWS COMIC BOOK CONTINUUM: Images for the upcoming Pressman Films release The Crow: Salvation can be seen on the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum website. The images from the $17 million production were shot in March at Steele Properties in Salt Lake City. Director Bharat Nalluri commented on the joys of action filmmaking, "It's really fantastic when you turn your cameras over and helicopters are flying overhead, buildings are exploding and people are diving out of windows. It's like the world's biggest train set." http://detnews.com/comicbooks/ X-Men ----- FROM CORONA COMING ATTRACTIONS: Corona Coming Attractions came up with some interesting bits of information on the X-Men movie. CCA has verified its information with reliable sources. The first item is the production dates. CCA has confirmed that the movie will be filming in Toronto, Canada starting July 19th and continuing on through November 16. Moving on, CCA reports that the following production positions have been filled: Director of Photography for will be Tom Sigel (The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil); veteran producer Ralph Winter (Star Trek II through VI); unit production manager Whitney Brown; and production coordinator Vair MacPhee. Finally, CCA reports that Tom DeSanto is credited for the latest rewrite of the X-Men screenplay. http://www.corona.bc.ca +++++ From the DCOnline newsletter; http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html To subscribe, or for questions or comments about the DC newsletter, please email DCWebSite@aol.com. SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH AUCTION, LITHOGRAPH TO BENEFIT UNICEF The Warner Bros. Studio Store Gallery joins Alex Ross on the occasion of Sotheby's auction of original Superman art from SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH in support of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF. To commemorate the event, the Warner Bros. Studio Store Gallery will release a special lithograph from the DC Comics graphic novel. Created by Alex Ross and Paul Dini, SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH tells the story of Superman's efforts to alleviate world hunger. The unforgettable origin and amazing powers of Superman are recounted in this spectacular new limited edition lithograph, taken from the first pages of the graphic novel. Each lithograph in the edition is hand signed by Alex Ross and Paul Dini and comes with a softcover edition of SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH. The SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH lithograph is available at all Warner Bros. Studio Store Galleries at a price of $425. The edition size is 350. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of this lithograph will be donated to UNICEF. Alex Ross and Paul Dini will be on hand at the Warner Bros. Studio Store at 1 East 57th Street in New York City on June 10, 1999 for the debut of the lithograph. Anyone wishing to attend must RSVP to the toll-free number 1-877- BUGS-BUNNY. Selected works of original art from the book will be displayed at the same New York Warner Bros. Studio Store from June 6-12. These works will be auctioned on June 28 by Sotheby's on behalf of the artist Alex Ross, who will donate all proceeds to the U.S. Committee for UNICEF. *********** TIM SALE AND TONY HARRIS SIGN EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS WITH DC DC Comics is pleased to announce that it has signed two more of comics' brightest talents to exclusive contracts. Artists Tim Sale and Tony Harris, celebrated by fans and critics alike for their work on titles like SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS, BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, and STARMAN, have both signed on to join the growing list of the industry's best artists and writers already working exclusively with DC. And along with these new additions, artist Peter Gross has renewed his exclusive through the next year. Tim Sale first brought his distinctive linework and graceful graphic storytelling ability to DC with three popular Batman Halloween specials (written by Jeph Loeb and collected in the trade paperback BATMAN: HAUNTED KNIGHT). Growing more ambitious, the team followed them with the acclaimed 13-issue maxi-series BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, and then, most recently, the beautifully accomplished SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS. Now that he's gone exclusive with DC, Sale shows no sign of slowing down -- he and Loeb are already hard at work on the sequel to THE LONG HALLOWEEN, another 13-issue maxi-series entitled BATMAN: DARK VICTORY. According to DARK VICTORY's editor Mark Chiarello, "Tim brings an atmosphere and mood to Batman that is somehow both completely new and unique and yet completely integral to the character's history. His draftsmanship, design and storytelling abilities have all helped make BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN and SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS two of the outstanding comics stories of recent years. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the same high level of work in DARK VICTORY." Tony Harris has gained both a rabid fan following and the accolades of critics for his four years of work on the Eisner Award-winning series STARMAN. With his new contract, Harris will be moving into new territory at DC, first with a two-issue Prestige format miniseries tentatively entitled JSA: THE LIBERTY FILES (an Elseworlds story set in North Africa during World War II), and then in two more miniseries -- OBERGEIST and LAZARUS FIVE. "Tony's work on STARMAN was amazing," says editor Peter Tomasi, "but I think that the sheer amount of talent that he displayed in his long run on the title made us all itch to see what else he can do with new characters and stories. And now we'll definitely be getting that chance -- I'm especially excited about THE LIBERTY FILES, where he'll really be able to indulge his love of history." ********** BATMAN BEYOND PROMOTIONAL COMIC UPDATE Due to a production error at DC, the BATMAN BEYOND PROMOTIONAL COMIC has been delayed. We now expect to have copies available to arrive in-store on May 19. ANIMATION EPISODE SCHEDULE THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES airs weekdays and Saturdays on the WB Network, and BATMAN BEYOND airs Saturdays. Times given are Eastern and Pacific. This schedule is subject to change. 5/10/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Harlequinade" (Batman) 5/10/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Solar Power " (Superman) 5/11/98 (4:00 pm) -- "Monkey Fun" (Superman) 5/11/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Heart of Ice" (Batman) 5/12/99 (4:00 pm) -- "The Hand of Fate" (Superman) 5/12/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Cold Comfort" (Batman) 5/13/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Beware the Grey Ghost" (Batman) 5/13/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Livewire" (Superman) 5/14/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Feeding Time" (Superman) 5/14/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Growing Pains" (Batman) 5/15/99 (8:00 am) -- "Mad Love" (Batman) 5/15/99 (8:30 am) -- "Unity" (Superman -- NEW) 5/15/99 (9:30 am) -- "A Touch of Curare" (Batman Beyond -- NEW) ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Ramblings 99 Rich Johnston twisting@hotmail.com [Renamed for the new year, Ramblings 99 continues to spread confirmed and unconfirmed news and rumours. It welcomes comment, especially comment that clarifies, refutes and corrects information already disseminated. Rich Johnston is an advertising copywriter, co-self publisher of Twist And Shout Comics, BBC comedy writer and comics columnist. He currently lives in South London, England. His column can be found online at: http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com All Ramblings e-mail received will be considered public domain and may be quoted.] This column is RUMOUR. Do not take anything here seriously. These RUMOURS are presented here as GOSSIP for their ENTERTAINMENT value. Dateline: 05 May 1999 Dead Dog, Prime Mate. We have a name. We have a name for this writer/creator-owned imprint that may or may not be associated with Mark Waid and/or/nand/nor Kurt Busiek. We have a name from a source who should know. The name is not Bulldog. The name is: GORILLA. And we all know that gorillas sell, hmmm? Again, still all rumour, but at least this one makes some kind of sense. This source mentioned Kurt Busiek, Mark Waid and George Perez as being involved. Note for the idiots: We have not attempted to confirm these rumours with the people involved, because these are rumours. They are not the source for this info. Do not believe anything until you read it in Newsarama. Hey, you know, that last line might just have to make it's way into the Rumour Warning... A Word From The Author. Right then. First of all, a message to my readers. I own you and I can treat you as I like. After a series of e-mails which will probably be released after I've died, I have this message for you all. YOU ARE IDIOTS! Not all of you, naturally. Not those who enjoy reading Ramblings '99 for what it is, a collection of rumours, gathered from frankly dubious sources, never fabricated simply reporting what's circling the industry, clearly labelled as such. But those of you who hold industry positions, whether as editors, publishers, lawyers, reporters, etc, who decide to ignore the Rumour Warning and decide that Ramblings '99 is a factual column based on the occasional snippet we get right... dear me. The purpose of this column is to entertain, to hold up industry rumours for consideration, confirmation or denial, to campaign that great comic books get the credit they deserve, to play around with other people's marketing and to basically talk a load of entertaining nonsense that a lot of people seem to enjoy. We are not Newsarama, and we don't want to be. Yeah, sometimes we get things right. We talked about League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the fall of the non-line at Image, the circumstances of the Batman sackings, the acquisition of bits of Top Cow by Eidos, the strains at Superman, the on-again-off-again status of Deadpool, advance looks at DC's Previews solicitations, the cancellation of Stormwatch and the emergence of The Authority, Chris Bachalo at Cliffhanger and at Vertigo, the problems at Marvel Tech, etc etc, before anyone else. It's mostly stuff that I give a toss about. We also talked a lot of old nonsense in the process. Surely you can But anyone, I mean anyone, who makes decisions based on this column (except for which comic to buy and which to not) is a moron. You want the news? Go to Newsarama or BBC World. You want fun, stick around, we've got plenty of that. And those who have been inconvenienced and annoyed by these idiots as a result of this column, my apologies. You have my permission to refer these loons to this article, fax it round the offices and generally act like a smug but bitter individual. And now it's time for my regular readers to come back. Sorry about the harsh language. If anyone has any thoughts how to deal with this situation without closing down the column or changing it fundamentally, I'd like to hear it. Something to make the column idiot proof (apart from the one who's writing it)? E-mail them to ramblings99@hotmail.com and the winning chosen entry will see his or her suggestion implemented and receive a free X-Flies: Bug Hunt 1-4 in the post (whether you like it or not). Back To The Dungeon Right, now before I get myself a drink, let's have some fun with some marketing. Dominatrix Mary, you there? Certainly am, darling. Now, none of that. I'm a married man now, I can't be seen to dally with the likes of you. Thanks for that, you're a right ugly bastard. True enough. So who's in your press release dungeon today? Some twit called Matt Hawthorne. Oy Matt, this is Abuse night, so what have you got to say for yourself, you snivelling piece of sunbaked placenta? What would happen if in the near future America broke out into a civil war and the only safe haven was a small Caribbean island plagued with terrorism? You'd have the beginnings of the comic book HYSTERIA! You'd also have a very improbably hypothesis too. There's loads of other countries and continents people could flee too. Why not go to Portugal, they're not terrorist infested like this fictional Caribbean island you're talking about. Start making sense soon! Thinktank Comics' first book, HYSTERIA, takes place on the fictional Caribbean island of Port Asteria. Ah, so that's why it's the only safe haven, because you didn't want to do any Portugal research did you? Lazy! A second civil war was fought in America, dividing it's people by race and class. Asteria, after disassociating it self from the main land, has become a safe haven for people who refused to choose sides in the war. This philosophy of peace has made the island a popular target for political and racial terrorists. But why? What do they hope to gain? I'm a racial terrorist involved in the American civil war... I know, instead of bombing the other side or trying to seize power, I'll devote my financial, strategic and manpower resources to attacking a peaceful island instead, leaving me open to attack from my many enemies. To protect the island from the constant threat of terrorism a mercenary anti terrorism unit was formed. But if they're all peaceful in Port Asteria, it'll be a pretty shoddy fighting force. Hitting each other with bunny rabbits maybe? Or will it be filled with expert fighters who moan a lot about the morality of it all? You decide. HYSTERIA follows the lives of this unit. It consists of: Joshua Mucaro; the would be leader of the team, CC; Joshua's pet chupa cabra (goat sucker), Otis Redding; a genetically engineered ex-American soldier, Pitchfork Congo; a freelance spy and undercover operative, and Toledo Santiago; a detective for the Port Asteria police force. What, no one in a wheelchair? Why not, dammit? If you're going to be cliched, be consistent. "I believe an independently published, action genre, comic book doesn't have to be an oxymoron", says creator Mike Hawthorn, True, Previews is cluttered with them. Mind you, congrats for not putting 'Force' in the title. "Spain proved this with his work on 'Trashman Lives'. I just want to reinvigorate the genre with a book that is kinetic, exciting, thought provoking, and above all entertaining!" And not the kind of comic that doesn't stop within five issues, clog up some back issue bin and leaves the creator thousands of dollars in debt? It's novel, certainly. HYSTERIA will be published monthly starting in June from Thinktank Comics and creator Mike Hawthorne. Go see a free preview for HYSTERIA at http://thinktankcomics.com. Yeah, yeah, you've had your link. Now lick my boots. Thank you Mary. Back to usual business now, methinks. The Campaign Begins Marketing aside, it's time for one of the greatest and criminally underrated Sleaze Castle to have a new issue solicited... and those very clever chaps at Gratuitous Bunny Comix have managed to get around Sleaze Castle 8 being the last solicited comic from Diamond, by making it a flipbook with a new title, Petra Etcetera. It's in the new Previews, under 'G'. I got a copy at Comics 99 and it's brill. Here's why. Sleaze Castle, the main feature is the story of Jocasta and Panda. Both at university together, they had very different lives that collided together nicely. We've learnt that Jocasta came from a very strange anti-establishment (or maybe even the *actual* establishment) school and is studying media studies. Panda is a ruler from another dimension (with similarities to our own) who gets trapped. When she finally goes home, Jocasta is none the wiser. Then Panda returns and brings Jocasta with her into a whole new life of new worlds, strange scientific experiments, Valhalla pizza deliveries, multiple dimensions and zombies, executed in a very intelligent, multi-layered but surprisingly light and enjoyable manner. Beautiful artwork, heavily detailed writing, it's the finest comic to be published in Britain since the days of Near Myths and maybe Warrior. Petra is Jocasta's younger sister. And Petra Etcetera is her story, far away from any fantasy elements, it's a slice of life comedy about friends and relationships. Indeed the cover may look vaguely familiar... Add this to your comic order you trolls. This is a beautiful comic book and you deserve it, you owe it yourself to treat yourself with this beautiful piece of comic book work. I'll be going on about this in the next column. You might even get some art, you lucky people. Statue Esque Loads of spinoff stuff from DC coming up, some of it quite bizarre indeed. A Crisis statue (that no doubt will have to be recalled after someone spots that Supes has one too many fingers). Sculpted by Tim Bruckner based on artwork by George Perez, featuring the death of Supergirl, held by Superman. It's that Crisis issue 7 scene brought to life... or death! Out in October for only $125.00 Then there's a Darkseid statue sculpted by William Paquet based on designs by Steve Rude for December. He's got the whole world in his hand... and a mother box in the other, as he stands on screaming faces. Lovely. Yours for $195.00 Shazam! from Kingdom Come is sculpted and designed by Kingdom Hater Alex Ross. Only $250.00. Does Mark get a cut? Who do voodoo? Tim Bruckner do voodoo! Well, the Wildstorm Voodoo statue anyway, for $139.95. Prop Up Fancy a holiday? Can I suggest Hell? As reported months back by Ramblings, The Key To Hell from Sandman gets propped. Plus you can try using it on that window that won't open in the cellar. A cool $99.95 Adult Figures Sandman, Spider Jerusalem and Starman for November! Woo! And a PVC set of Preacher figures including Jesse, Tulip, Cassidy, Starr, the Saint of Killers, Gran'ma, and, of course, Arseface all ready for Christmas. Speed Roaster Just as we promised, Speed Racer gets August solicited, from yon Wildstorm fellas. And it's a Year One treatment for the familiar fellows... oh, this is tedious. Apparently this is big news to those Stateside but I've never seen it. And it's in a US/manga style. Sigh. WelshC.A.T.S. As I recall, a fair few years ago, a Welsh writer submitted a WildCATS story to Wildstorm, it got made into WildCATS Trilogy, he made piles of cash, wrote a letter to Comics International about it all, and vanished. Well, hopefully the reprint cheques will find him as WildC.A.T.S. Trilogy moved from the 50 cent bins to the 10c bins as a TPB comes out in August. I mean, it's not like they're hard to find... anyway, Jae Lee drew it in his '8 pages a day' mode. Legionnaires Disease Another August DC TPB collects something probably not too hard to come by as well, the in-canon origins of The Legion of Super-Heroes as Legion: The Beginning Of Tomorrow. With a writing talent base of Mark Waid, Tom McCraw and Tom Peyer with art including Lee Moder, Ron Boyd, Stuart Immonen, Jeffrey Moy, Philip Moy, W.C. Carani, Yancey Labat, Brian Apthorp, Scott Benefiel and Tom Simmons. This is all post-Zero Hour stuff from Legion Of Super-Heroes #0, #62-65 and Legionnaires #0, #19-22. Speeding Preacher How fast is this reprint? I've just read Preacher 50 and already they're collecting it in a TPB! Preacher 41-50 gets the treatment as Salvation in August. WIll they start collecting issues before they're published soon? Preacher 54 reunites Tulip and Jesse. And we learn some nasty stuff about Cassidy. Shelly's Heroes We all know about Yeah!, by Bagge and Hernandez in August... but my favourite piece from DC's solicitation is "YEAH! is an ongoing HOMAGE COMICS series, edited by Shelly Roeberg." The first cross-Vertigo/Wildstorm editorial job? Tom And Jerry Tom Strong 5 has an added treat in August, an 8 pager by Jerry Ordway. Tomorrow Stories leads with four new series in its anthology, reducing to three in every subsequent issue. Top Ten looks to be having fun with the 'ordinary day in the office' scenario. BTW, more and more of Moore's art partners are being recruited by Scott Dunbier to work on the line. How long until we get to Eddie Campbell or Todd McFarlane? Vertigal Pieces And Congo Bill. Congo Bill. Goodness. It's by Scott Cunningham and Danijel Zezelj who have done their traineeship on the Vertigo anthologies and now get a series of their own in August. Aaah. Paul Pope's Heavy Liquid comes out in August too. Buy it. In August, Flinch 5 treats us with some new Wheatley/Hempel work and solicits loads of Gregory stuff too. Something to read while we're waiting for the next Tug 'n' Buster. Hellblazer 142 by Warren Ellis has a rare event in August, Tim Bradstreet on art duties. But what's more amusing is the solicitation line "A bent cop who has been on fire for three years, unable to be extinguished." Presumably he'll be standing against walls a lot, smoking. Nyeaaa... What's Up Supes? Wow. Talk about high profile... Superman & Bugs Bunny, a four issue mini-series by Mark Evanier, Joe Staton, Tom Palmer and Mike DeCarlo starts in August. And it's all down to Mr Mxyzptlk and the Gremlin. Expect to see loads of DC characters mixing it up with Warner Brothers characters... literally! Double Take. Goodness me, what's this doing here? Body Doubles, the spin-off series from the cancelled Resurrection Man, that was itself postponed pops up again in August, by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Joe Phillips and Jasen Rodriguez. DC Bits Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave & The Bold is a new six issue from Mark Waid, Tom Peyer and Barry Kitson, set just after Barry Allen and Hal Jordan established the JLA.... cue loads of reissuing of Flash archive stuff in August too. Fresh from being in ape bodies, the JLA find themselves in each other's bodies. Not the plot of a superhero porn comic sadly, but of JLA: Foreign Bodies by Len Kaminski, Val Semeiks and Prentis Rollins. It's brain switching time! The Batbooks get the Larry Hama and Bronwyn Carlton writing treatment in August. And in Martian Manhunter 11, he goes back to the 853rd Century to find the final fate of Martian Manhunter! Da da! Sci-Find Okay, this is just drop dead gorgeous. Thank you DC, thank you. It's Pulp Fiction Library: Mystery In Space TPB, collecting loads of short sci-fi comics written the likes of Edmond Hamilton, Gardner Fox, Len Wein, Paul Levitz, Gerry Conway, Bruce Jones, and Manley Wade Wellman and drawn by the likes of Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Joe Kubert, Alex Toth, Virgil Finlay, Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson, Brian Bolland, Rick Veitch, Tom Yeates, and Dan Spiegle. Get to see Adam Strange, the Atomic Knights, Space Cabby, Tommy Tomorrow, Kris KL-99, Captain Comet, and the infamous Ultra, the Multi-Alien, all taken from books like Mystery In Space, Strange Adventures, My Greatest Adventure and Time Warp. Joy in August! Happy Days Rumours from days gone by... we love this sort of thing. Makes us nostalgic for when comics sold well. Anyway, did you know that the young Neil Gaiman originally approached Bissette and Totleben to illustrate his first sample script for DC, a ten-pager featuring the Medieval Swamp Thing, Jack-In-The-Green? Well, you do now... Cause And FX An ex-SFX freelancer calls to tell me that SFX magazine are no longer using freelancers for articles... SFX has been a steady source of income and work for many of Britain's cult sci-fi heads. Now for some pure speculation, it's not uncommon for magazines to stop freelance work in times of poor cashflow... we at Ramblings like SFX, and we hope this is not a sign of things to come. And what about Dan Abnett? Bulldog Bullshit Well, it definitely seems like the name Bulldog was a red herring... but hopefully we'll have a new name to tease you with shortly! Nostalgia With A Prince Albert The trends of comic book superheroes are again turning. With sweeping generalizations, we've seen the fear of the fifties turning into the innocence of the sixties, the troubled conscience of the seventies, the grim and grittiness of the eighties and the nostalgia of the nineties. There's no definite cutoff point to these eras and they often exist side by side. So what's after nostalgia? Well how about a return to irony? Certainly seen in the eighties to a degree, books like The Authority and Planetary, ABC, Deadpool and Black Panther seem to forging new waves in not only how comics look and work structurally, but how they regard themselves as an art form. Based in the knowing nostalgia of the nineties, an attitude seen in some of the Giffen/DeMatties JLA is growing in steam. Certainly if I was a big publisher looking to launch or revamp a book, I'd pay close attention to intelligent, knowing subtley self aware (nothing like She-Hulk) humour as a way to get critical excitement (and hope it transfers to the sales). But I'm not a big publisher (maybe there's a reason for that). But a message to those books that deal primarily in nostalgia? Time to shape up... yours is the easiest jump to make to the next stage. Next trend prediction? Comics about squirrels. If you enjoy, or just barely tolerate this column and would like to be updated when it updates, why not join Friends Of Ramblings by e-mailing ramblings99@hotmail.com today? ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Stranger in a Strange Land Jennifer M. Contino Jencomx3@aol.com [Jennifer M. Contino is 26 and a life-long lover of comics books and super heroes! While most girls were playing with Barbies and watching cute little shows, she was playing with Mego's and watching the Superfriends and any other super hero show she could find on the television! NOW almost 19 years later she owns over 26000 comics, has written some interviews for SEQUENTIAL TART--the online e-zine, is a frequently published letter of comment writer and is the official HOST of the DC COMICS chats on AOL! She is pursuing work in the comics field at DC and is trying to start her own independent comics company!] "Hello, my name is Jen and I'm a comic-aholic!" That's what I used to feel like, being a female comics fan. It's like my love of comics was some kind of habit that I should seek help or counseling for--at least that is what my family and the people around me made me feel. I was ostracized by my dad's side of the family, who would make snide comments about my having to be a lesbian, because I loved comic books! Then there were the kids in Jr. and sr high school who just wanted nothing to do with me. The boys who collected comics didn't talk to me because I was "invading their turf!" Because, heaven help us, NOT only could I talk about comics---I knew more than they did! Then there were the girls who were just generally disgusted by my liking comics, having comics in my book bag, and drawing comic book pages in art class---I was as far from their ideals as Barbie would be at a Hole concert! I lived in a small town and up until ninth grade the only place I could get comic books was at the Newsstand or the local 7-11 store! Each store carried ten comics total six DC--Batman, Detective, Superman, Action, The New Titans, and the Justice League of America--and four Marvel comics--Amazing Spiderman, Uncanny X-Men, Spectacular Spider-Man, and Marvel Team-up! NOT a wide selection to choose from, but enough to make me happy! I bought The NEW Teen Titans at first because I saw Robin on the cover and in my closed mind mentality I believed that any comic that had Robin on the cover had to have BATMAN in the story too! (BOY was I wrong, but I immediately fell in love with the comic and characters so it was 50 cents well spent:D and today the TITANS are my favorite team of all time!) ANYWAY in 9th grade was when something magical happened! An actual COMIC BOOK STORE opened up in my small hometown! I can remember walking through the doors for the first time and seeing the rows of boxes and the shelves of "new" issues! I WAS IN Heaven and COULD NOT BELIEVE my eyes! IT was like that old story of the men who are kept in the cave all of their lives and work all day then slept all night in the darkness then one of them escaped and saw what the world really was like! THIS is how going to a comic book store for the first time was to someone who had to only rely on what the local newsstand decided was worthy to order! ANYWAY in that store I was introduced to some of the BEST characters around like the NEW MUTANTS, ALL STAR SQUADRON, ALPHA FLIGHT, MS. MARVEL, etc., I was about to BUY old comic books--Heh I remember the first books I bought were Teen Titans issue 44-46, JLofA 93-95, and ten fifty cent books from the sixties that included a bunch of old Batman and Robins (he he this was about 1987!) OF course there were some down sides to this comic book store! I had never seen a price guide in my life and when I brought in some of my older comics to sell, I had no idea what they were worth! SO when the nice boy (yes boy a 16 year old was the one who started the first comic book store in my hometown!) offered me five dollars for my comics, I thought I was rich! (*of course these were books worth like about ten times that amount if not more!*) Heh..it didn't take too long before I figured out not to accept the first offer for older books! ANYWAY, why am I telling you all of this? I'm telling you this so you WOMEN WHO READ comics now can appreciate how hard us "old timers" had it in the "good old days," when a female comic book fan was one in about a thousand! I am glad that today our numbers are increasing and we are not forced to feel like outcasts or evil or anything like that just because we love comics! I APPLAUD Barbara Kesel, Amanda Conner, Sharon Scott, Devin Grayson, Weezie SImonson, and all the other women who entered this field and had the courage to do what made them happy--no matter what society thought or didn't think! Ladies, we have arrived and no longer have to feel like "strangers in a strange land!" ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Comic Abstracts John Barker jbarker@inch.com [John Barker is a guy who lives in Brooklyn, NY. John does the biweekly so-called "off-beat" Comic Abstracts for reasons known only to him. Check http://www.inch.com/~jbarker/comic for additional material.] INTERVIEW WITH "BOX OFFICE POISON" CREATOR ALEX ROBINSON My first experience with Antarctic Press' "Box Office Poison" was when the titles' creator Alex Robinson did a signing at Jim Hanley's World in Manhattan. I knew nothing about the title. And as much as I felt for Alex, who wasn't being mobbed by a throng of fans, I didn't approach him and ask him anything about his book. A while before that, since I was making some sort of huge salary, I had decided to try out smaller titles from independent companies. Suffice it to say that since I instituted that policy, my appreciation of the medium has grown quite a bit. So it was a matter of time until I made my way around to Alex Robinson's "Box Office Poison" last year. I e-mailed Alex and apologized for not talking to him when I had the chance. The man understood, thankfully, and agreed to do an interview. And as the writer of this column, there would be no point for me to gush over titles I wouldn't read myself. "Box Office Poison" is a great book, and Alex Robinson never ceases to impress. - - - - - - - - - - - John Barker: In a nutshell, how would you describe Box Office Poison? Alex Robinson: BOP details the lives and loves of several young-ish New Yorkers; their horrible jobs, their terrific relationships and vice-versa. You could say it's a hip "Archie" or a nerdy "Love & Rockets." It has some (hopefully) fun parts and some sad parts as well. If you read one issue you'll probably like it and if you read four in a row you will be hooked. JB: How did Antarctic Press end up publishing 'Box Office Poison'? AR: When I was doing BOP as a mini-comic I would send it to various publishers hoping they would publish me. I put out 11 issues on a more or less quarterly basis until Antarctic realized what fools they'd been for passing up a golden opportunity like me. I've been pretty happy with them. They've stuck by the book when sales were in the basement (well, the sub-basement, actually, because I think the book is only now reaching official "basement" status). Plus, they're coming out with the BOP Kolor Karnival (a full color one-shot) this month (May) in an effort to attract more mainstream readers. I don't know if it will work, but it will be interesting to see the normally black and white BOP gang in color. JB: I enjoy that the characters aren't copies of "Friends" but are unique, intelligent, and imperfect (and I mean that in the best possible way) individuals. Where do you draw inspiration for these characters? AR: I can't really pinpoint it. After working with them for five years, it's much more of an unconscious process. I "know" the characters inside and out so I don't have to think about it much. Also, as other writers have testified over the years, after a while it's the characters who are controlling you. When I wrote "Her House" in #8 I had no idea that Jane would be the one who wanted the landlady back. I was surprised when she went in that direction! It sounds silly because I wrote the story but it's true. Writing them isn't so much like working with marionettes as walking a very large great dane--you can basically guide it along, but sometimes the dog will lead you to places you didn't anticipate. JB: Ed adds quite a bit to the roster of title characters. His family has definitely added depth to BOP (especially the GREAT B.O.P.#9). Outside Jane's family, we don't see much of the other character's families. AR: There have been bits and pieces of other family members around--Dorothy's dad in #11, Sherman's mom in #10 & #13. I've just finished #15 in which Sherman's long missing dad turns up. JB: I enjoyed the story of Sherman's mom. Was there an inspiration to that "What's the worst thing you've ever done" concept? AR: The "Worst thing I've ever done idea was stolen from Ted Rall, who has a great comic called "The Worst Thing I've ever done" (published by NBM). Some of the stories in there put Sherman and co's tales to shame. I recommend it highly. JB: Dorothy is a tragic figure. Can you drop any clues as to how Sherman's relationship with Dorothy develops? AR: There's sort of a big development in #14, but I don't want to give anything away. It's interesting that you think of her as tragic, since most people just see her as the villain. She seems like the Joan Collins of the book--a wicked woman you love to hate. I don't know if this is my fault--am I not showing the depth I believe she has clearly?--or the reader's. I don't see her as a "bad guy". JB: Have sales picked up steadily throughout the run of BOP? Somewhat. After the first issue came out, the sales dropped...and dropped and dropped. I think they hit their lowest around #4 or 5. I thought for sure the book would be cancelled. I think I did the wrap around cover for #6 thinking this could be my last chance for a big group shot. It was around then that Wizard did an article on the book and that helped. Sales continued to climb but I think they've sort of hit a plateau. Hopefully, the Kolor Karnival will give things another boost. It's a rough time for comics. Obviously I'm not the only one worried about circulation! JB: Do you have a perceived length of Box Office Poison (it's not going to end any time soon, right?!) AR: The current storyline ends around issue #20 or so. At the end, some of the characters will be changed forever, so if I do continue, it won't be with the whole cast. I might start with a whole new batch of characters with one or two of the current cast in supporting roles. I'm tempted to start a whole new title, in order to attract new readers. But nothing's definite yet. JB: From the first issue up to the present: did you expect certain characters to be the most popular, or did audience reaction dictate who you concentrated on? AR: I ran a popularity contest last year and Jane was, by far, voted the most popular. But that hasn't made me focus on her more than I had planned (Maybe I should!). She doesn't really have much to do with the two main storylines--Ed's and Sherman's--so she's really relegated to supporting character status. As far as myself, I find myself liking Ed more and more. He started out as sort of a goofy sidekick but I think he's really grown over the series. JB: What is your soundtrack while working on BOP? AR: I usually have the TV on in the background while I work--except when I'm writing and laying out the page. So the soundtrack includes "Judge Judy", "Eight is Enough", "The Simpsons" etc. Or I'll put a movie on. While working on #15 I watched "Schindler's List", "Raising Arizona", "King of Comedy" and "The Hudsucker Proxy." This might subconsciously affect the story because there are at least three Coen brothers references in this issue...and the obligatory "Star Wars" reference as well. JB: While Rob Fingerman seemingly uses a blonde version of himself in "Minimum Wage", do you put yourself in BOP? AR: People think I'm Sherman because I used to work in a bookstore, but I'm also a cartoonist like Ed (and Irving Flavor, and Jane), a history buff like Stephen and so on. I thought Fingerman denies being Rob, incidentally JB: Where did the title "Box Office Poison" come from. And do the initials B.O.P. have anything to do with your Boppo the clown? AR: Uh...I'm not sure what you mean. In my mini-comics days I did a clown character called "Bloppo." Is that what you mean? In any case, no. I picked up the phrase "Box Office Poison" from the classic film "Mommie Dearest." (Louis B. Mayer calls Joan box office poison and she, uncharacteristically, flips out). It also reflects the sales of the book. JB: (Note to self- be certain to get all the correct info on creator's past projects before asking them about it). AR: It's okay--frankly I'm shocked you even knew about the clown at all JB: I really like the title of the book. Do you continue the title because you enjoy producing comics and sequential art or do you produce the title specifically to tell a story? AR: I certainly would not keep doing the book if I wasn't enjoying it. I'm certainly not in it for the money! There have been times where I've been tripped up, taking what the readers may want into consideration, but that's a trap. The most I can do is do the book I'd like to read and hope that the readers like it as well. I'd like to think that if I started pandering to the audience--BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!--they'd pick up on the phoniness. JB: I love the Irving Flavor storyline about the archetypical large comic book company screwing creators out of money for characters they'd signed away a long time ago. What was the specific inspiration for this storyline? AR: Most of the teachers I had at art school were bitter old timers, former superhero artists who hadn't worked for a long time. Just talking to them, you could sense how angry they were, that they were 75 years old training a bunch of snot nosed punks who would take what little work they got away from them. Flavor is an amalgam of those teachers. When I first came up with the story it was much shorter, just an issue or two, where Ed works for an old cartoonist and learns how bad the comics industry is. The more I thought about it I thought it would be interesting to explore the history of mainstream comics and how it's treated it's founding fathers. It was especially fun doing the two issue story telling Flavor's life story (#5-6), getting to draw in different genre's and such. JB: You draw all that art school experience together brilliantly. I've always enjoyed Dan Clowes treatment of that subject, through Dan Pussey and Infinity Comics (as well as the classic "Art School Confidential"). Zoom comics with its various archetypes (J.C., Paulie, the apathetic receptionist) is brilliantly written as a "big comic book company". Do you draw on personal experience while writing those episodes? And (this is a stretch) do you have a message you're trying to convey about the major companies? AR: The only experience I've had with any of the big companies was when I got a rejection letter for my "Official Marvel Comics Try-Out Book" entry when I was around 15. I'm sure they're kicking themselves in the head now!! I'm not really trying to send a message to the big companies, since I doubt any of them have even heard of my book and probably wouldn't care. I obviously think it's a crime that Jack Kirby and Siegel and Shuster and the rest never got the benefits they should have. Look at Eastman and Laird: TMNT was a huge fad for a few years and they obviously became very wealthy off of it. Can you imagine if Steve Ditko was allowed half of the money Spider-man has earned over the past 35 years? And I know that the companies are legally in the right. But you have to feel that if this was a movie, Jimmy Stewart would be playing Jack Kirby, not a lawyer at Marvel Entertainment. (Is that a screwy analogy?!) JB: BOP's Sherman: Coke or Pepsi? AR: Root beer. JB: What are the main influences in the way you approach BOP and write the characters? AR: I guess the only approach I use is to try and create a comic I would like to read myself. My favorite comics are (relatively) realistic ones that are usually character driven. I think Dave Sim said that the best types of stories are usually two people in a room talking and I usually agree with that. JB: What are the future plans of Alex Robinson in the comic book world? Do you plan to continue as a writer/artist? Or do you see yourself branching out to write other series for other companies? Any Nightstalker graphic novels on the way? AR: I'm not applying for any jobs in the mainstream, but if any of them want to come to me, great. I think it would be fun to write a superhero book, especially one I read as kid. I'll take Spider-man. I don't think I could make a steady diet of it and I'm sure the novelty would wear off, but I'd love to give it a try. I pretty much have my hands full of BOP right now (yecch!) but once this story done I've thought about trying other types of stories, like sci-fi or humor or biography. I can only hope that the comics industry survives long enough for me to finish this story, let alone the hundreds of others I'd like to do! - - - - - - - - - - - I want to thank the incredibly talented Alex Robinson for taking time for this interview. If you see him at a signing or a convention, drop everything and stop and talk to him. All I have left to say on the matter is to try the title out for yourself. For an independent title, there are several one-shots, a TPB, and thirteen regular issues still on the stands. Antarctic is releasing "Box Office Poison Kolor Karnival" this month, and I'm definitely looking forward to more issues down the road. Rare is the indie title that is well written, well drawn, and comes out on a regular basis. -John Barker http://www.inch.com/~jbarker ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] TOO OLD FOR COMIC BOOKS?!? Johnny Gonzales gonzalesj@ltsgate1.lts.aetc.af.mil [When Johnny Gonzales graduated high school, he took off to follow his dream. When the adult film industry turned him away, he decided to enlist in the Air Force and purse cartooning on the side. He's sold cartoons to AJA Blue magazine and draws caricatures at local events and parties. He has been reading and buying comics ever since grade school. Johnny use to live in Texas until a misunderstanding with local law enforcement forced him to relocate to parts unknown.] This past weekend, my wife, Judy, and I had a big disagreement over a piece of furniture I had acquired for the bathroom. It all started early Saturday morning, we had finished going to various garage sales (my wife calls herself the "Garage Sale Queen) when we pulled up to Circle K to get two cups of cappuccino. While I was getting ready to pay for our purchase I noticed that the comic rack that is normally near the ice cream case had been moved by the manager's office and was EMPTY! I asked the employee at the checkout counter, why that was and he mentioned that the store was going to start putting the comics with the regular magazines and thereby would not need the stand any longer. I asked what they had planned to do with the rack and the employee said that they were just going to set it out back next to the dumpster to get rid of it. I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. As I shuffled back to our van carrying my newly procured comic rack, my wife shot me a quick look, took the sunglasses off of her face, and started to shake her head as if she was suffering from a migraine. After I loaded my new prized possession into our vehicle, Judy asked me, "What in the world do you plan to do with that?" I replied, "Well, I kind of thought that it would go quite nicely in our bathroom." She quickly shot back with, "Not no, BUT HELL NO!" Now I could understand if I was bringing home some neon furry covered couch or a beanbag with duct tape covering a tear, but I wasn't. This comic rack was the missing link that would make my life complete. After all, the only place I have left in which I can peacefully read a comic is the bathroom. And because I'm getting up there in age, sometimes the urge to purge hits me hard when I least expect it. Allow me to better illustrate, imagine it's early Saturday morning, you've had a bran muffin and drank a couple of cups of coffee and are now watching an excellent program like WWF wrestling. All of a sudden, your stomach starts to churn and as your sphincter muscles begin to strain against the pressure, you realize that you'd better get to the bathroom quick Well, depending on how much anal control you have, you don't want to waste time running to whatever room your wife makes you keep your comic collection (for me that would entail going upstairs)just to grab the latest issue of "Vinnie Bagadonuts" to ensure that you have some quality entertainment for your pooping pleasure. Having a comic rack already filled with various funny books would take out this unneeded step and thereby alleviate my poor rectum of any unnecessary strain. Unfortunately, my wife does not share my use of quality management. The ability to think "outside the loop." She's satisfied with having me run upstairs and shout, "I gotta go to the bathroom...quick, give me a comic!" That's the way it's always been done, and it seems that that's the way it will always be. So that newly acquired comic rack is now sitting in the alley next to our dumpster. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] And let me tell you why .... David Coulter DneColt@aol.com [David - who declared himself "America's Weirdly Cool Columnist" in a misguided tribute to The Firesign Theatre -- lives with his family in Kansas City and pays the bills as Marketing Director for a computer consulting group. He's heard the old saying that the best comics ever published were the ones that came out when you were ten ... and he's not buying it. He knows there are good comics out there, he can hear them breathing.] Other Than That, Mrs. Lincoln, How Was The Play? My column on the Comic Buyers Bill Of Rights Generated a flurry of mail, as I guessed it might. For every retailer who bit my head off, I got two hearty "right ons" from a buyer. This leads me to two conclusions: Either I'm on to something here, or most of the retailers who read this mag are working too hard to bother flaming a pinheaded e-columnist. The one thing I'd most like to clear up is this: Every e-mail I've gotten from a retailer has been from a retailer (who claims, at any rate) to run a decent shop -- by their own definition a shop that treats customers like people and stocks a wide range of material. Well, maybe it seems redundant of me to point this out, but this DOESN'T represent a majority of the shops out there. The biggest point of contention is discounting, and the retailer's perception that I'm expecting something for nothing (i.e. I expect them to slit their throats -- economically speaking -- in order to satisfy my fickle whims). Nothing could be further from the case. I'm willing to pay full price for the privilege of shopping at a good store. Hell, I'd pay THEM for the privilege of just browsing again. But that's not the case. I defy you to find more than a few shops who actually ordered ten copies of Bastard Tales. I can tell you there are no stores like that around here. I want to see a book like that, I have to order it from Previews, or I don't see it. And even if I DO order it, sometimes, I STILL don't. Bottom line here is, most of the comic shops around here aren't giving me a reason to shop there: They only order 75 of the top 100 titles, and if they order anything more (like Dark Horse Presents), they only order 1, maybe 2 copies and if you don't get there by lunch on Wednesday your SOL. If that's the way they want to do business, it's fine with me -- all I'm asking is they give me a reason to shop there. If I have the choice to give my business to good shop -- a real comic book shop that sells comic books and related merchandise, that has back issues, and that prides itself on carrying a wide variety of material in addition to the top 100 comics -- then I'm willing to pay full price and then some. But if the ONLY choice I have is a beanie-baby-pushing huckster who also happens to sell a few comics, where I have to look over the guy's shoulder while he fills out his orders to make sure he gets my copy of Bastard Tales or Dark Horse Presents, then no, I don't mind being a jerk and asking for a special deal. Part of selling comics is risk -- how many copies of Snot-Man do I order? If I order 600 can I sell them? Having a customer order books on a regular basis eliminates a portion of that risk, because you only have to order as many as you need. Sure, there's the risk that he'll stiff you. But there's also the risk that your shop will burn down, too, yet that doesn't stop you from filling it up with highly inflammable paper products every week. It's part of doing business. All I'm saying is that if I help a retailer cut corners running his business, I want to see a piece of the action, too -- even if it's only a small one: Bags and boards are fine. And the argument that my $400 a month is insignificant after overhead is factored in is a stupid one. Regardless of what your net is at the end of the month on what I spend, I'm a stable source of income in a shaky market, you should be trying to get me to stick around. Seems to me a lot of retailers would be well-served by cultivating a few "insignificant" regular customers. I'm also stunned I didn't get any crap about the smoking thing. It's nice to know I can be on the right track once in a while. Anyway..... In Case You Missed It -- -- and you probably did, the April 19th issuue of The New Yorker had a brilliant cover feature on Plastic Man Creator Jack Cole by Art Spiegalman (who also supplied the cover). I'm sorry I'm just getting around to mentioning it, but I only just found the issue in a the stack of mail that piled up over the last couple of weeks while were dealing with our new addition (I also found a couple of bills that should have been sent out a few days back ... oops.) I think the chances of you getting your hands on a copy are pretty slim, since The New Yorker is a weekly, so I guess if you're really into it and want to spring for copying and postage, I'll copy mine for you. Who's Got Time To Read? Not me. But I managed to catch up a little on my growing stack of unread books while I had a few quiet hours over the weekend (my other option was mow the lawn -- which would you choose?), and thought I'd point out a few highlights ... and lowlights. FF/Superman. First up, proving that size really doesn't matter, was the execrable Fantastic Four/Superman teamup: This book would have been a waste of money at $1.99, let alone $10. About once every six months I buy something that I just want to slap myself for, and this was it. Black Panther. Next on the hit list, Marvel's Black Panther. It's funny, it's compelling, and it's one of the best takes one the character in his 30-year history. What are you waiting for/ Buy this book, dammit! 3 Geeks. Rich Koslowski's Geeks are taking over the world! Anyone notice their cameo in Thunderbolts #26? Look closely kids! And with 3 Geeks #10, Koslowski steps up to the plate and socks another homer. We're treated to the awesome and horrifying spectacle of Alan's birthday party -- and if you know the Geeks you know exactly how horrifying that can be. Every issue of 3 Geeks sets the bar a little higher for the next issue, and every time Koslowski delivers. If you're not laughing at the end of this books, you've got a serious problem (or you don't know your Marvel trivia very well). Dylan Dog, Martin Mystery, Dylan Dog Dark Horse's Bonelli books are a lot of fun. The writing isn't great (I don't know if it's the translations, or what), and the art's very yoemanlike with a few flashes of inspiration, but on the whole I've found the books a good read. At five bucks a pop, you might be looking for a little more than just a "good read," and I wouldn't blame you. But if you're looking for something a little different, it's worth it. I find Martin Mystery particularly entertaining: Hearkening back, as it does, to the "gentleman-playboy-adventurer" school of comics that produced Bruce Wayne, Lamont Cranston, Reed Richards and the Star Rovers. Mystery is a "Mystery Archaeologist" whose a little bit Indiana Jones and little bit Erik Von Danniken, specializing as he does in subjects like Atlantis, Excalibur (the sword), and the lost libraries of Alexandria. He's got a manservant named Java who seems to be an unfrozen Neanderthal, and hot girlfriend/secretary who seems to be locked in perpetual fiancee status (but that doesn't stop him from hanging out with some pretty choice babes as he gallivants around the globe). Comments? Criticisms? Flames? E-mail them to DneColt@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] RANDOM THOUGHTS IN A LESS THAN RANDOM WORLD Gary Sassaman GSassaman@AOL.COM [Gary Sassaman is the Writer/Artist of INNOCENT BYSTANDER, you know...the "nice little comic (now titled "GEEKSVILLE") you can take home to mom."] Like the title says...RANDOM THOUGHTS. I was remiss in not mentioning Howard Bender as one of the founding fathers of the Pittsburgh Comix Club in last week's column. Howard was the first person to pipe up about doing a fanzine, right after Ben Pondexter said "And we're NOT going to do a fanzine..."(or words to that effect). Howard went on to a career with Marvel, DC, Harvey and his own book "Mr. Fix-it." He currently lives in Toms River, NJ with his lovely wife, Joni and their children. Howard also contributes the comic strip "Billy and Pop" to CBG. Okay...I've been reading the Batman/No Man's Land books and quite frankly, I'm surprised at how much I enjoy them. But the latest issue ("Claim Jumping" Part 1 in Legends of the Dark Knight 119) stumbles badly with the artwork. Mike Deodata? Please...look at page 17. So when did Batman become the size of King Kong? Did I miss that issue? Deodato's lay-outs are okay, but man, his pencilling....thank God Greg Rucka wrote it and there's a beautiful Bolland cover to disguise how awful the art is inside. I picked up a copy of Wolverine and Punisher this week and immediately put it back down. The book is so over-colored it's distracting. Why bother with art? I'm 99% certain I wouldn't have bought it anyway...I don't like the Punisher and Wolverine doesn't exactly top my list, either, but...is it me or has the entire Marvel Knights thing failed? Black Widow was beautifully drawn but the script was...eh. Dr. Strange suffered from Tony Harris leaving mid-stream. Daredevil is interesting and Smith's writing has gotten better with each issue, but in the early ones, I felt he was writing with a specific voice for each character in his head and it just wasn't translating well to paper. It's like watching a great movie and then reading the script. Or worse, reading the script FIRST, then seeing the movie, like we all can now do with... THE PHANTOM MENACE! Yeah, let's see...there's an illustrated screenplay, a comic book adaptation (DiMaggio and Williamson...so why does it look so awful? Did they have 3 weeks to draw it? Is that the price we pay for having Dark Horse release both issue #1 of a 4 issue mini-series AND the collected TPB on the same day?). There's a hardbound novelization with 6 (count `em 6) different covers...there's numerous kiddie books...there's a cross-section book, an audio book, a scrapbook, a paper doll book. Stop me! Okay, we waited 16 years. And yes, I want to see it. But all this greed, all at once, is unbecoming of Lucas, and I'm afraid there's going to be a major backlash. It's obscene. Ye Editor mentioned an interview with Jim Warren in a mag called HORRORBIZ last week. I had never seen it (or heard of it) until this week when a local shop got it in. In addition to that Warren interview, there's a fine issue-length examination of Warren Publishing in the latest issue of Comic Book Artist, including an interview with Warren and interviews with Al Williamson, Berni Wrightson, Bruce Jones and Louise Jones Simonson, among others. It's a very fine issue, and I hope to God Jon Cooke and John Morrow win an Eisner this year, because they certainly deserve it, but... BUT... And this is a big but, so sit down. The entire issue is marred by the flip-side of the magazine, Alter Ego Vol. 2, No. 4. Alter Ego is a title that inspires a big sigh of nostalgic bliss from me. I can remember being 7 years old and my brother sending off for issue #4, the one with the Alley Award on it. While I couldn't read a lot of the articles, I loved looking at the fanzine and for a while my brother, so inspired by it, locked himself up in our playroom late at night, and tried to publish his own fanzine. So when the history of Alter Ego was showcased in Bill Schelly and Roy Thomas' fine book, and then Comic Book Artist came out with Alter Ego as part of its contents, I was in hog heaven. And I wished that Alter Ego would spin off into its own publication... But be careful what you wish for. After reading this edition of AE, I'm convinced I'll never buy an issue of it in it's own publication. Why? Roy Thomas. I think Roy Thomas' place in comics history is very secure and warranted. Roy took over as Marvel Editor-in-Chief from Stan Lee. Roy brought Conan and Star Wars to comics. Roy wrote some of the best issues of the Avengers and X-Men. The list is pretty much, well, BIG, if not endless. But the fact that Roy devotes 21 of the 30 pages of AE #4 to his side of the story when it comes to how he worked with Neal Adams, is just amazing to me. Is this what AE is going to be: The Gospel according to Roy Thomas? I'll pass, thanks. Comics history is a series of "I did this" and "He didn't." It's a story of many people working together to create a giant mosaic of characters and images. There's always going to be disputes about who did what. Just lately we've been treated to Chuck Guidera saying he created Blackhawk and Will Eisner didn't. Okay...there's history and there's memory. Which came first? And who knows who is right, Roy or Neal (or Chuck or Will)? I guess I should just accept the fact that they each have their own side of the story. As Roy says in AE4, "What people choose to believe is their business. Setting down my own account of events is mine." And the unfortunate part of it is, Roy is saying his side second, as rebuttal and that immediately makes it seem kind of petty, through no fault of Roy's. It just makes it another case of "He said, He said." But as for me, I'll pass on Alter Ego in the future. I accept the fact that Roy has his "own account." i just don't like the tone of it. One other note...the ongoing debate in the letter column of CBEM about comics retailers offering a discount or not. Well, naturally we all want something for free, me included. I was spoiled back in Pittsburgh, with 2 shops offering me substantial discounts, but because of loyalty, I did the bulk of my shopping at the shop which offered me the lower (substantially lower) discount, because it was (and is) run by people I regard as friends. (The other shop had nice people, too, don't get me wrong...it just didn't have the history I had with the lower discount shop.) We're surrounded by discount offers these days in our non-comics shopping world. If I take my car back to Jiffy Lube, I get $5.00 off, and if I go there 3 more times this year, I get a free oil change. If I buy 8 sandwiches at Bruegger's Bagels, the 9th one is free. I use my Ralph's card every time I go grocery shopping and I save on select items, sometimes as much as 20-25% (cat litter and orange juice each over $1.50 off!). Now I realize all these examples involve huge chains and we're talking about comics shops, which, many times, are the modern day equivalent of the mom-and-pop grocery store when it comes to ownership. They're solely owned and operated. But, in the ever-diminishing world of comics buying, a faithful customer is worth his or her weight in gold. You can debate all you want about how much $2,500 worth of merchandise is ACTUALLY worth, that person walking through the door each and every week, is money in the bank. I don't think shops should offer ridiculous discounts, but I think there should be incentives to get me to buy there. A 10-15% discount would be nice. A frequent buyer plan works, too. One shop I visited in Pittsburgh offered a Dollero, a coupon for each $10.00 of merchandise you bought, good for $1.00 off your next back issue purchase. The Dollero was nicely designed (it had a pic of Kirby in the center, just like a one dollar bill) and it paid off for them. It kept their back issue sales moving briskly, an area that is dead or non-existent in some of the shops I visit in the San Diego area. This very successful gimmick was in addition to offering a 15% discount to people that had subscription (or pull) lists. Look, the point of this is not to tell anyone how to run their business. I'm no businessman. If I was, INNOCENT BYSTANDER would be far more successful that it is. But there are ways to give customers added value and keep them coming back for more. I think that's incredibly important in this day and age. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] SOME PAGES, A COVER, AND A FEW STAPLES Marlan Harris mar93@aol.com [Marlan Harris lives and works in Burbank, CA.] MARVEL REMIX: FANTASTIC FOUR: FIREWORKS (Marvel), THE CROW (Image) The premise: retell a classic story from Marvel's past from the point of view of a different character in the story. The updated version actually isn't as bad as it sounds. The story, the Fantastic Four's first encounter with the Inhumans (capitalizing on the Inhumans' current popularity, due to their excellent, excellent new series), weaves in and out of the original tale told by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby many years ago. Perhaps the strength of this latest story comes from the effectiveness and stamina of the original story, illustrating how those old stories still stand up to anything published today. Writer Gerard Jones tends to over-write most everything he works on, but with this story he tries to match Stan Lee's scripts of old and succeeds well enough. Jeff Johnson may not be the best artist around, but here, along with inks by Mark Pennington, his work serves the story. Also to Marvel's credit is a feature in the back of the issues showing panels of the original story and depicting how the new story links to the old one. With able creators, this could be the first in a line of series of capable, partial retellings of old Marvel stories. But maybe it's better that this series doesn't become super-popular — it wouldn't be long before Marvel goes back and monkeys with its characters' and universe's history, more than it already has. As far as already-established stories retold from different perspectives, Image's new THE CROW series is one that just doesn't work. The original CROW story, either O'Barr's comic or the movie, is one that doesn't need to be retold. There's only one main character, the Crow, and you might even argue that the story told from the girl's point of view might be an interesting interpretation, though that isn't what this comic chose to do. Most of the first two issues are just overwritten retreads of the comic/movie and Jon J. Muth's writing adds nothing new. The last third of the story, roughly issue #3, takes a slightly different turn, with a much less climactic fight with the big bad guy and a more important role of the police detective who is after the Crow, which I would guess is where the rest of this ongoing series will go. The coloring is too heavy, rolling right over Jamie Tolagson's nervous and very interesting art, and Muth's dialogue is so overdone that half-way through the issue you'll be skipping over all the words anyway. The Kent Williams covers are good, though. STRAY BULLETS (El Capitan) I made a few what-might-be-construed-as disparaging words a few columns ago about Dave Lapham's STRAY BULLETS in conjunction with my review of JOHNNY DOUBLE, another crime-fiction book. And maybe I wasn't completely incorrect in what I said about STRAY BULLETS. It's been so long since I've read an issue, I actually forgot what the book was like. But now it's returned and everything is back on track, just as Lapham meant it. And it's as good, if not better, as it always was. Lapham was painting himself into a corner with a drawn-out, multi-part, linear story in the early teens, which was fair, but not the grit that we'd come to expect from the early issues. But that story's over and with issues 15, 16, and 17, we're back to self-contained but distantly interconnected stories that are perfect for new readers, or readers that have come back after the book was gone for so long. It's not fair to compare STRAY BULLETS with JOHNNY DOUBLE — just buy, and enjoy, them both. WIZARD'S ALEX ROSS: MILLENNIUM EDITION SPECIAL (Wizard Press) This is a brilliant book, an ultra-detailed look into the work and life of Alex Ross, perhaps the best and most popular artist working in comics today. Of course, it's more brilliant if you're a fan -- if you aren't a fan of Ross's, and I'm sure there's a person or two who aren't, then this volume will not interest you in the least. Wizard is capitalizing on Ross's popularity after the success of his recent projects, the newest being EARTH X. I recall Wizard doing a similar volume recently on Jim Lee, also a wildly popular artist. I'm wondering who they'll feature next: Travis Charest? Frank Miller? Neil Gaiman? Rob Liefeld? John Byrne? Scott Lobdell? The web site of the week for you to check out is http://web3.foxinternet.net/greymalk/cliffsketches.html A staggeringly brilliant collection of art. Go now! mar93@aol.com Http://members.aol.com/mar93/BoneMachine.html ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [12] HAD YOUR PHIL? PHIL WHITE ogre4@earthlink.net It's time for some Spring Cleaning here in the "Had Your Phil?" sector of the CBEM Universe. Let's start with your correspondence followed by some personal announcements. Several weeks (okay months) ago, I wrote a tribute to my all time favorite comic book cover and called for others to share their choice for most beloved cover art. I was seeking a consensus. And the winner is AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50. Actually, that's because only one reader responded: "My vote for best cover would have to be AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 by John Romita Sr. It sent a powerful message, even without the word balloons. And it's so powerful, it has been copied, parodied and swiped many time. My second place vote would have to go to ACTION COMICS #1, for most of the same reasons." -- Ivan A. Martin. I started reading AMAZING SPIDER-MAN a couple issues later, after the Kingpin showed up, so I didn't see the cover of #50 until a year or so later. It was very different from other covers of its time and yes, it is often copied. (Some day we should address the differences between homage, or tribute covers and swiped or copied art.) While it may not be the greatest cover ever, FANTASTIC FOUR #1 might hold a close second to ACTION #1 as far number of tributes. In a more recent column I described certain titles that I vaguely remembered from my earliest foray into comics, back in the fifties. I described an issue of LOIS LANE that might have been the inspiration for the new character, Tomorrow Woman, in JLA. I received a jpeg file and a note: "Could this be the (comic) you're thinking of... LOIS LANE #28? I happened to have repurchased it recently and it was sitting here waiting to be filed. The cover is by Curt Swan (and I suppose Stan Kaye). I glanced at the story while scanning the cover. I'm pretty sure it was by John Forte and not Schaffenberger" -- Jon Ingersoll, New Haven CT. It certainly seemed so, especially given the copy on the cover. Still, I could have sworn that the green costume I was remembering sported a short skirt, not shorts. (Eleven-year-old-boys notice things like that!) So, I headed for the back bins in search of this issue to check out the interior. At Geoffrey's Comics on Crenshaw in Torrance, CA, I found, not issue #28, but issue #21, where Lois is fighting Lana Lang in mid air as a stunned Superman observes. Lois is wearing that green costume, this time with a mini skirt and knee high boots (like JLA's Tomorrow Woman) with yellow belt and cape accessories. Lana, by the way, is wearing a yellow costume with shorts, with purple belt and cape accessories. Both ladies sport double L logos on their, er, chests. The cover proclaims, "Super-Lois vs. Super-Lana." Geoffrey's wanted $30 for the comic, which had oil or grease stains on the back. It's still for sale. One more caveat... this story is reprinted in 80 PAGE GIANT LOIS LANE #3. Okay. Right costume, wrong name. Then this from message arrived: "Hey Phil! In the March, 1961 issue of ACTION COMICS (#274), Lois lane appears on the cover in a green costume with a miniskirt (as mini as skirts got in 1961, anyway) and a triangular symbol on her chest. I'll try to get a scan of it for you, but things are kind of nuts right now..." David Coulter. As readers of David's column know, when he says things are hectic he is referring to the imminent arrival of the stork at Stately Coulter Manor. Certain that he is still a bit busy playing diaper patrol, I didn't wait for the scan. Instead I headed back to Geoffrey's to find that issue of ACTION #274. The costume looks just like the one I remembered. I flipped through the issue. The story, where Superman uses a helmet to transfer his powers to Lois, seemed familiar. The Jim Mooney Supergirl story that backed it up also seemed to stir memories. (Mainly that I never did like the way Mooney draws eyes.) Geoffrey's wants $12 for this comic, which I'm considering. Decisions. Decisions. It does cause one to ponder how many times Lois donned a green, super heroine costume. (Care to tackle that one, anyone?) Meanwhile, moving past the Lois Lane quest, I received this nice message regarding the other comics I was trying to identify in that column: "...all my comics are buried in a storage locker (so) I can't id them for you; but I can cite this: the Brownies sounds like the first non-Kelly issue with red on the cover and art by Mel Crawford (or is that Dan Gormley)? The Batman issue is indeed a BATMAN ANNUAL, probably "Around the World with Batman & Robin." The LITTLE ARCHIE you want is, indeed, a giant issue, written and drawn by Bob Bolling. The Little Lulu is MARGE'S LITTLE LULU. Witch Hazel didn't start until #39 (so it's probably after that number)." -- Steve Rowe, who read all those stories above and still has all but the Batman! Wow, does Steve have a great memory or what? Makes me sorry I did all that LDS in the sixties. My search is narrowing, thanks to your leads! My column on trade reprints, and whether to buy the original or wait for the trade, hit this cord: "Hello, there. I just wanted to drop you a note about your article in CBEM (on) Trades. You must have been reading my mind this past week. I just spoke to the owner of my local comic store about this same thing on Thursday. I've been collecting for about 30 years now and I'm about three or four years behind in reading some books. But, I do try to read the ones that are limited series books. And in doing so, I've found the Trade is out within just a month or two of the time I read the comics. So, here I am thinking that maybe it's time to just get the trades. But, then there goes my collection. So, I'm thinking I'll just keep getting the comics. Guess that's why I need to stay a computer consultant! -- Jon Feidl Seems a shame we have to work to earn money to buy comics, Jon. To paraphrase the Fabulous Fury Freak Brothers, "Comics will get you through time of no money better than money will get you through times of no comics." Following that column I wrote about Marvel's reprints in the sixties. "Hi Phil. After reading your set I was impressed by how much love you have for the traditional comics that have faded away. I can remember those many giant size comics from Marvel, because I own most of them in my collection. And you were right that Marvel seemed to have much more on the ball in the sixties than DC did. It is good to see that you are still keeping your fingers in the comic scene. Good luck and I hope you stop by at Frank & Sons later so we can say "Hi" to each other." -- John Flores, spanapp@yahoomail.com John was a manager, and then co-owner of Adventureland, a shop on Harbor Boulevard, in Fullerton, California. several years ago. It was a popular hangout for up-and-coming creators, such as Rob Liefeld and Jim Valentino, as well as one writer who ended up putting his day job ahead of a comics career, named Phil White. Today, John, along with his red-bearded partner, Robert Quinn, run Ace Comics, which sells those classic comics at shows like Frank & Son's twice-weekly card, comic and toy fair in Walnut, California. You can find them at the San Diego Con and they are setting up a web site to sell comics as well. After 17 or so straight weeks of contributing columns to CBEM, it looks like I'll be skipping a few. Here's what's going on. In the next five weeks I'm traveling to three out-of-state trade shows for my company, to a family reunion and to my son's college graduation. In between these journeys, I'm scheduled for MOS surgery, a dental appointment and a physical. Add to this the fact that escrow closes on my current house in Fullerton and the new home I'm buying in Carson City, Nevada in four weeks, and you begin to see that I may have some distractions. My wife, cat and I are doing the packing ourselves. The movers insisted that I tape shut my comic storage boxes. Rather than damage the white paper finish on each box with tape, I wrapped them with shipping paper before taping them shut. That took about six hours alone. We're both third generation Southern Californians and expect to experience some culture shock. From my office in Torrance, for example, I can reach five different comic shops during my lunch break. Do they even have a comic shop in Carson City, where the population is around 50,000? Will I have to drive to Reno to buy comics? Is Red Beard's Book Den at Lake Tahoe a reasonable distance? How will living where seasons actually change, like snow in the winter, influence by my comic book hobby? I'll start learning the answers to these and other comics related conundrums next month. PW PS. I'm forwarding the image Jon Ingersoll sent me to the web edition of CBEM where it might appear with this column. I say "might" because I don't know what the policy is regarding posting it, especially in light of recent legal actions taken by DC regarding fan sites. I'm sure our editor, David LeBlanc, will let us know. If it appears, remember that LOIS LANE is Registered, Copyright and a Trademark, 1999 of DC Comics. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [13] VENTING MY SPLEEN David Groenewegen david.groenewegen@lib.monash.edu.au [David Groenewegen is 30, a librarian and sadly addicted to comics. He has been reading them since before he could read, and plans to keep on doing so. His first trip out of the house with his infant son was to a comic shop. Can't start 'em too young. ] I didn't read a lot of American superhero comics when I was younger. They were mostly too expensive, hard to get, and they had storylines that didn't finish in the issue. They were too much trouble. What I did read were a lot of British comics, most of which seem to have disappeared from the shelves altogether these days. There were three main types of British comics: girls comics, humour comics and action/adventure comics. I read loads of all of them at different points, and having been overcome by a fit of nostalgia, and a desire to educate Americans about what they missed, I'm going to do a quick rundown on them all. But a few general points first - most of these comics were pretty formulaic. They all tended to deal in stereotypes and were often rooted in a strangely timeless world. The art was always competent, and often very good. The production values weren't great - only a few pages of colour, printed on newsprint, but they were cheap. They were a bit like pre-Marvel silver age comics in some ways. The girls comics were my least favourite of them all, although at one point in the mid 70s I read hundreds of them because a neighbour lent them to me. They were filled with stories about plucky orphan girls struggling against the odds, plucky girls struggling to win pony competitions, plucky heiresses struggling against evil stepmothers or other folk trying to steal their fortune, plucky girls solving crimes, plucky... well, you get the picture. The comics all had names like JUDY and BUNTY and CINDY. They were pretty unchallenging reads, but fun, and very rarely did the storylines carry on forever. Sooner or later it would all be resolved (for instance the plucky orphan would be adopted by a nice family, or even better, it would turn out that her parents had survived the horrific plane crash in the Amazon, and had been slowly nursed back to health by the natives) and there would be a new story the next week. The humour comics were the most surreal of the lot. They had names like WHIZZER AND CHIPS, COR!!, CHEEKY, JACKPOT, BEEZER, BEANO and DANDY. They were full of mischievous kids who liked to be rewarded with bangers and mash and who went to schools where the teachers were called "Masters" and who wore mortar boards. They were forever destroying things (half the house, the school, the greenhouse next door), but there were never any repercussions beyond a ass whipping with a slipper. Some of the weirder stories involved kids who had gotten hold of objects with mysterious powers. I remember one where there was a kid who had a magic pocket calculator (this being in the days when the calculator was an expensive and nearly mystical object). The calculator could talk, and it would tell him to do something weird, which would then turn out to be incredibly useful or relevant to something later on. The stupid kid would question this at the beginning of each story, but at the end would be grateful that he had taken a duck to school, or walked around all day carrying a bucket of manure or whatever. The calculator would then say in a smug way "As calculated". The action/adventure comics are probably best known to American audiences, mainly because one of them spawned the entire Vertigo line, among other things. I speak, of course, of 2000AD. It started life as boys version of the girls comics, but got real good, and much flashier. When I was reading it, they still used the cheap newsprint and the minimal colour. They also had much more old-fashioned art, none of that painted Bisley style stuff. But 2000AD had brethren - STARLORD, EAGLE, TIGER, SPEED (no, not that kind of speed), ROY OF THE ROVERS, BATTLE. ROY OTR was my fave of them. It was all stories about soccer players, who were mostly cliches and stereotypes, able to score the winning goal at the just the right moment, but there were a couple of great stories. "Hot Shot Hamish", about a Scottish player who could kick the ball so hard he could knock the goalie over, and Roy himself. Roy started with Melchester Rovers in the 50s, was still playing in the 80s and in-between carted the rise of longhaired players, shirt sponsorship, the whole thing. It was a great strip. Now, sadly, all the titles I've listed here, with the exception of 2000AD, are gone. I wonder if anyone collects those issues. I treated mine like shit and gave most of them away a couple of years ago. I had hundreds, if not thousands of them. They were disposable, but by God they were fun. David Groenewegen davidhar@lib.monash.edu.au ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [14] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts silhouet9@aol.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter. Its website is at Jazma Comic Book Newsletter Productions at http://www.twmgrafix.com/jazma He is also a prominent letter hack, as anyone who reads comic letter pages would know. He is in production of his own self-published comic book called The Legendary Dark Silhouette and has copyrighted over 600 characters for his Jazma Universe.] MOE Sidenote: New on the racks at A1 Comics are: Shadowman Presents Deadside #1 by Acclaim, The World Below #2 by Dark Horse Comics, Aces High #3 by EC Comics, Impact #3 by EC Comics, MegaDragon and Tiger #1 by Image Comics and Flinch #1 by Vertigo/DC. For more information, you can contact Brian Peets, owner of A1 Comics at: A1Comics@quiknet.com Name: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen #3 Publisher: America's Best Comics Written by: Alan Moore Drawn by: Kevin O'Neill Price: $2.95 Comments: If Campion Bond & Mr. M, (who I know have connections to James Bond), Invisible Man, Allan Quatermain, Wilhelmina Murray (connected to Dracula), Mycroft Holmes (connected to Sherlock Holmes), characters from Poe's Rue Morgue, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Verne's Capt. Nemo are in this story, then could H.G. Well's Time Traveler, Doc Savage and The Avenger be far behind as this mini-series continues? Could even a Victorian age real life character like Jack the Ripper appear in this comic? As this mini-series continues, I am left in awe. This reminds me when I read Jose Farmer's 'Doc Savage and his Apocalyptic Life' in which Mr. Farmer laid out a family connection showing that Fu Man Chu, The Spider, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Mr. Moto, Tarzan, The Avenger and many others were all related! I was completely taken away with this story as I followed the characters to Shanghai Charlie and their visit to Quong Lee's shop to get information on the doctor. Who is the doctor? Not telling, pick up this series and find out. In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen #3, Dr. Jekyll shows himself to be the weak link of these men. Why? Because, he is constantly worried that he will change over uncontrollably into Mr. Hyde. This could lead to problems. Our heroes go into this one opium den in which they witness the horrors of seeing Ho Ling being tortured and they barely make it out alive. Triads are involved in this story and find out about the cavorite, which is the key to anti-gravity. Highly enjoyed the Victorian age ads in this issue too, it brings the atmosphere of this period into focus! If you love characters from the Victorian age and would like to see some of these characters working close together, then you MUST pick this comic book up and look for the back issues! Absolutely outstanding! Name: Blade of the Immortal 4 of 5 Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Written and Drawn by: Hiroaki Samura Price: $2.95 Comments: Stunning, absolutely stunning! Talking about the cover to Blade of the Immortal 4 of 5! The interactions between Magatsu and Anotsu was so realistic, I felt like I was watching a well made movie. Hiroaki Samura lays out the story smoothly with strong overtones of drama, that keeps the reader enthusiastically wanting more. The anger of Anotsu was felt in this story and Akagi Magatsu knows how to confront her frustration. The future is uncertain as it is mentioned of quitting the Itto-Ryu and not considering Yukimachi Yojimbo full time body guard position in a whorehouse. Morals come to play and decisions are pending. Beautifully laid out story with grandiose artwork. Name: Aria #2 Publisher: Image Comics Written by: Brian Holguin Drawn by: Jay Anacleto & Roy A. Martinez Price: $2.50 Comments: I haven't been enchanted with a story, like I was with Aria #2, since the first time when I was a kid and picked up JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. I love the way Brian Holguin gives the reader a briefing of the story behind the cover. Anyone jumping on for the first time will be able to pick up on the story easily. Interesting concept as mystical creatures like Lady Kildare, a fairy princess is living right in the realms of modern New York City. As it was depicted in John Carpenter's Dusk to Dawn, there was a bar that vampires hung out in and I see in Greenwich Village there is a gathering for mystical beings. Makes complete sense to me. In our own reality we have bars for gays, bikers, punk rockers, nostalgic disco people, etc. It makes sense that mystical beings would want to be with their own kind. The story caught me like a big fish. Hook, line and sinker as the fairy Gwynnion is running in stark terror from something unknown and mysterious. Episodes of the unreal haunt Gwynnion in her life, bringing her to the brink of a nervous breakdown. It was also very fascinating on how she went from Gwynnion the Bright to becoming Mad Ginny. Find out how werewolves were part of her madness. Strange character named Pug who is friends with Mad Ginny and Lady Kildare, has a strange sense of humor as he brings in a grotesque monster head. He tells the fairies that the monster was stalking him and he severed the head. Another strange character that is introduced is The Sphinx. I believe that the Sphinx has godly connections and is quite universally knowledgeable. Lady Kildare and Pug are lucky to have someone like the Sphinx on their side. They will always be able to go to the Sphinx for needed answers, like they do in this episode. Another character is Childe Roland, who is elf. Find out ,what part he takes in this incredible wondrous story. Pug discovers inside the monster head a scroll that has spellbinding properties and the scroll reads: 'tragedy may soon befall a friend". Mysteries galore in this story of enchantment from a) will Mad Ginny be ok, or will she have a nervous breakdown? b) What is that monster head? What manner of creature is that? c) What is that scroll of magical unknown properties? d) Who is killing off the fairies? If you want to know the answers, then you better jump aboard this fast moving roller coaster of a story, because it's going to be one wild ride!! About Avatar, Part III By Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher Jazma Universe Online! http://www.twmgrafix.com/jazma I am going to go through some Avatar titles briefly, to give you a quick overview of these mega-terrific titles that they publish. Some of these titles will astonish you. At the end I will tell you how to order them or get more information. Ok, let's move on them: Name: Dream Walker - / Carousel #1 Price: $3.00 Written and Drawn by: Jenni Gregory Comments: Jenni has a subtle approach to her artwork. It's clean, in focus and done with a pleasant touch. Her artwork is pleasing to the eye. The cover is one that you sit back a bit and try to figure out what is going on, as you see the character Brinson sitting on a carousel with a somewhat confused look on her face playing with butterflies. Jenni's covers even tell a story, which is highly unusual. The beginning of the story focuses on Brinson and Cori casually strolling through the park and having a heart to heart talk about the places where they work at. Brinson is very descriptive of the tight security of the collection agency she works at and making calls on bounced checks. Cori describes the art museum she works at and both women are talking in terms that seem only too realistic. I felt like I was walking next to them and doing a bit of eavesdropping. Cori has a way of delivering sexual connotations when interpreting what her friend Brinson is relating. This is a real turn off for Brinson, when Cori does this. Cori tries to convince Brinson to go back to the clinic and Brinson relates her fears and describes the dreamwalking state. Jenni has a way of making you feel like your part of the storyline. Jenni delivers the story with realistic clarity and keeps the plot fine tuned. I place a check mark on this comic book for excellence! For more information, contact Jenni directly at: jengregory@aol.com or check out her website at: http://members.aol.com/jengregory Name: Threshold #1 Price: $4.50 A Whole Slew of Talent: Matt Martin, Bill Maus, Matthew Clark, Barry Gregory, Billy Patton, Jenni Gregory, Barry Gregory. Comments: Geesh, how many pages does this comic book have? About 64 or more? Thick, very thick! 4 big stories in one comic book. You have 'Snowman by Matt Martin', 'Tales of the Cyberangels by Bill Maus' - everyone remember Nira the Cyberangel? Weell, get further with the story with this exciting tale! 'Fuzzy Dice by Matthew Clark' and 'Wrath of the Furies by Barry Gregory, Billy Patton and Jenni Gregory'! You will find terror with the icy monster known as the Snowman. This story is not f