---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 296 1999 EAGLE AWARD NOMINEE 12/22/2000 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] Submissions, mailing address, web page [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] Interview: Peter J. King .............. Paul Dale Roberts [6] Interview: Brendt Anderson ............ Tim O'Shea [7] Rant & Rave ........................... Vernon Wiley [8] E-Dispatches From The Great White North! ....... Jonathan A. Gilbert [9] Sound And Fury ........................ Craig R. Lemon [10] Comics Culture Shrapnel ............... Kris Naudus [11] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [12] My View:FELIX THE CAT.................. David LeBlanc [13] Top 100 comics for December ........... Diamond Distribution [14] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [15] HYPE! Section ......................... Various ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by Egroups: http://www.egroups.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring a week's worth of the online strips: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS AND DR. CYBORG by Alan Gross & Mike Oeming ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, FREE, please send a message FROM that account TO: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@egroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send a message FROM the account to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@egroups.com 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 2000 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. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The ComicBook Network. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Back Issues, Web Page SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc. to our Emag, simply Email it to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com You must include your REAL name and a valid Email address in order to be published in this Emag. Sorry, we do not accept anonymous columns. Reviews of mainstream books are welcome and we encourage reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If you write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of anything it will almost always be printed so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. PLEASE, no material on Gaming, role playing, collectible card games or other hobbies or collectibles other than comic books. That does not include plugs for web pages UNLESS they are concerned with print comic books. We do not promote web comics as we do not consider them to be comic books. SEND US YOUR WORK ----------------- We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but anything sent to us *will* be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 Material is generally reviewed in the order received and be advised that we work a few weeks in advance so your review may not be in the magazine immediately. Advanced copies are therefore encouraged so the review will occur prior to your product hitting the stores. THE Comic Book Net WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as all back issues and an annotated index. You'll also find important information and other neat features like links to the HTML version of the current issue of this magazine at DIGITAL WEBBING, [http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem], some of the comic companies and creators' web pages and many other Comic Book related links! You can also find some back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: COMICS, then choose the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. These are non-zipped text files. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc First things first - Congratulations and best wishes to old friend and fellow CBEMer Chris Oarr. He did such a fine job at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund that DC snatched him for their own. See the Network Buzz for details Second, next week is a Monday Holiday week so new comics will be delayed a day in most places. Look for them on THURSDAY. This week you can find these on the racks . . . ABSTRACT STUDIOS Strangers In Paradise Vol III #37, 2.95 CARTOON BOOKS Bone #40, 2.95 Castle Waiting Vol 2 #3, 2.95 DC COMICS JLA #49, 2.25 JSA #19, 2.50 Planetary #13, 2.50 Tom Strong #11, 2.95 Understanding Comics HC, 29.95 DIAMOND PUBLICATIONS Previews Vol XI #1, AR FELIX COMICS, INC. Felix The Cat True Crime Stories #1, 2.50 IMAGE COMICS Rising Stars #12, 2.50 <---------------------- Pick of the Week! MARVEL COMICS Cap A Universe X Special, 3.99 Fantastic Four The Worlds Greatest Comic Magazine #1 (Of 12), 2.99 Ultimate X-Men #1, 2.99 TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS Billy Dogma Experience #1 Boy In My Pocket, 2.95 Next week we wrap up with the last issue of the year, the decade century and yes, the Millennium. For those of you who actually forgot after all the Y2K hype last year, the new Millennium starts at the end of THIS month. Here's hoping this finds you at home with those you love to enjoy one of the best times of the year. From all of us in the CBEM empire to all of you around the world our best wishes for a Happy Hanukkah, Kool Kwanza, Bitchin' Boxing Day, Super Solstice, Snappy Saturnalia and best of any other holiday you may celebrate at this time of year. And to our Christian friends - Rejoice, He is coming! Merry Christmas everyone. 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: Letter to the Editor From: tim_jen@mindspring.com (Jennifer Fuller) Dear David: Lest you go two weeks in a row with no letters, I want to take this occasion to thank you for all your hard work and dedication to CBEM. Also thanks for giving others like myself a chance to express themselves in a forum where an eclectic array of comic book genres is appreciated. And happy holidays too. Oh and had to share this Reuters news story I ran across: "Monday December 18 10:45 AM ET The Best and the Brightest: Donald Duck HELSINKI (Reuters) - In its quest to hire the best and brightest, Finnish mobile phone software maker Wapit Ltd turned to Donald Duck. The company has taken out an ad in the weekly comic featuring the web- footed Walt Disney Co. cartoon star. ``We've found that many of the best IT people read Donald Duck,'' Wapit marketing director and founder Mato Valtonen, the former singer in the spoof rockabilly band Leningrad Cowboys, said. ``A lot of our own employees read it and they say their friends and colleagues are huge fans,'' he told Reuters. A spokeswoman at the comic book's publisher in Finland, Helsinki Media, said that some 27,000 Finns read the comic every year, the majority between the ages of seven and 45." Me again. Of course with a name like Wapit, you would have thought they would have favored Elmer Fudd. Sorry, had to go for the bad joke. Take care, Tim O'Shea http://www.thecomicreader.com/ [Thanks for the kind words Tim and your welcome contributions to our success. - D.L.] +++++ Subj: Storage boxes for CGC Books Date: 12/19/00 7:11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time From: bcemylar@cwbusiness.com (BILL COLE ENTERPRISES, INC.) Bill Cole Enterprises is just about ready to produce a storage container expressly designed to hold approximately 30 of the CGC slabbed comic books. Before we commit to spending several thousand dollars in start up costs, we're looking for information as to how much interest there is in this kind of storage box. There is no commitment on your part. Only your comments if it is or is not needed. If there is enough positive comments we can be up in running within two to three weeks. Let's hear from you. Thanking you in advance. Bill Cole Enterprises, Inc. PO Box 60 Randolph, MA 02368-0060 1-781-986-2653 FAX 1-781-986-2656 web site: bcemylar.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 QUESTION OF THE WEEK Prizes donated by Discount Comic Book Service at www.dcbservice.com where you can order most DC, Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse comics, statues and retail products for 35% off. +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: What comic, in 1993, modeled the eight major characters on real people chosen by a contest? Jim Shooter's DEFIANT line held a contest to pick eight kids to model their GOOD GUYS after in 1993. Only a few knew this and Randy Salter got it first. Randy wins the FROM HELL trade paperback generously donated by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT of Worcester, MA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Steven Grant wrote a JFK conspiracy comic published by Dark Horse. What company originally published the first issue? 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 Stan Lee Media Halts Production, Fires Staff as Cash Runs Short Encino, California, Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Even the Incredible Hulk can't stop the meltdown in Internet stocks. Stan Lee Media Inc., a developer of online programming whose namesake created epic comic-book heroes including the Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man, said it's running out of cash. Late yesterday, the Encino, California-based company issued a statement over Business Wire, saying it suspended production and fired almost all its staff. The company said it decided to take those steps after its shares fell below $1 earlier this month, making it unable to claim $2.2 million in expected bridge financing. The stock has tumbled 97 percent from a high reached in February, when the company announced plans to develop a Web cartoon and comic books with teen heartthrobs the Backstreet Boys. The shares, which had peaked at more than $28, rose 9 cents Friday to 81 cents. Stan Lee Media was closely held until August 1999, when it merged into a shell company. The stock rose 41 percent to $9 in its first day of trading. Stan Lee Media is the latest Web-oriented company to run into financial trouble as shareholders pull the plug on investments following the burst of the Internet bubble. In its statement, Stan Lee Media said Chief Executive Ken Williams and other key executives will remain to pursue all available financing options. Lee had hoped to develop a generation of new characters that would bring the company profits in the form of licensing royalties for years to come. ``The Internet is so much bigger and more vital than comic books have ever been,'' Lee said in an interview in February. ``I've been given the chance to start at the ground here.'' Some of those characters, with names like ``Slyme'' and ``Whipsaw,'' appeared in an online comic series called ``The 7th Portal.'' It was Lee's first creation outside of Marvel Entertainment, the comic-book company he helped make famous. The Stan Lee Media Web site features ``webisodes,'' or three- to five-minute animated series, along with a trivia section, fan pages and a store selling merchandise based on the new programming as well as old stars like Spider-Man. Dec/16/2000 20:02 ET (C) Copyright 2000 Bloomberg L.P. +++++ From the SPLASH PAGE of Comicon.com at: http://www.comicon.com/splash/ CONTROVERSY ERUPTS OVER COLLAPSE OF STAN LEE MEDIA! WHO BLEW IT FOR STAN? December 19: With the dot com wreckage of Stan Lee Media still smoldering, the question of who is to blame for last week's brutal meltdown is generating controversy across the Internet. The finger-pointing is aimed at either Stan himself,or at the co-founder of the ruined company, Peter Paul. Criticism of Lee appears to be based on the fact that he has been the very public face of the company; his position as comic book elder statesman expertly leveraged to get him into almost every media outlet in the country, extolling the future of the Internet and even suggesting that he might be able to but out his ex-employer, Marvel Comics, with profits from his company's stock market capitalization. Many long time comics fans associate him with the controversial treatment of Jack Kirby under Lee's stewardship of Marvel, and lingering resentment appears to play into their assessment of the current situation. In fact, as Chief Creative Officer, Lee was not involved in the day to day financial operations of Stan Lee Media. Most critics and ex-employees are focusing on the management style and decisions of Peter Paul. Most damning is a report on IGN Film Force, quoting anonymous SLM employees saying that the company was: "Broken up into two competing camps". One camp led by Paul and Executive VP Jamie Wilkenson,"saw the company's involvement in the internet as an end," while the other camp, led by Ken Williams and John Cassell saw the company's future in the diversification into other media. IGN says: "Peter Paul has bordered on controversial before. A WASHINGTON POST article on August 13, 2000, outed him as a twice convicted felon who served time for both cocaine possession and embezzlement. Whether his history reflects on his management capabilities is undeterminable, but it is a history that contrasts starkly with Stan Lee's heroic image and squeeky clean past." While it is unclear if Paul has left his position with the company, some news reports indicate that that is indeed the case. IGN reports that: "His operational influence was widely cited by employees as the cause of out-of-control spending." Similarly, Wilkinson's credentials, as having designed web sites for Disney, NBC and the Olympics, were questioned by employees who said the Executive VP's close relationship to Paul "was a topic of bitter discourse among the production staff." The IGN article paints Cassell as a hero, with employees describing him as close to Stan and Williams and "pressing hard for budgetary controls." Cassell, Williams, Stan and CFO Bob Schultz remain with the company, hoping to fend of bankruptcy by finding an investor ready to back the creative accomplishments of the company. Cassell told the AP: "The market put us in a very vulnerable position. What would have been routine financing was affected by these strange market conditions. The key is that Stan Lee is the creative backbone of this company and regardless of the challenges that have come upon us, he remains as a viable force."Cassell told AP the market may have painted his company "with a broad dot-combrush, punishing it because part of its operations were on the Internet.The company began initially using the Internet as a launching point. There may have been some latent stigma that affected our stock price, even though we are not remotely a dot-com company. The actual revenue model revolved around licensing and merchandising. No one here was trying to monetize the Net." The Nasdaq Stock Market stopped trading in Stan Lee Media Monday after panicked sellers pushed the price as low as 9 cents a share. Nasdaq said, in a press release, the stock would remain halted until its request for additional information from the company is fully satisfied. Before the halt, shares inched back to 13 cents,down 84.6%, on Nasdaq volume of 797,900. Average daily volume is 167,357. The stock traded as high as 28 dollars a share earlier in the year. The collapse comes two days after beleaguered STAN LEE MEDIA announced that, "based upon the continued volatility of its stock and the drop of its stock price to below $1, it is unable to complete the balance of its recently announced bridge financing. In light of this fact, Stan Lee Media has suspended its production operations and laid off substantially all of its staff. Key executives will remain at the company to explore new financing options." "We still believe in the fundamentals of our business plan and are proud of the work we have accomplished to date," Ken Williams, President and CEO said in a press release. "In the coming weeks, we will be focusing on exploring the full range of strategic alternatives available to us in order to maximize shareholder value." Inside.com said: "The collapse of the company could well leave a number of its deals outstanding. Stan Lee Media has a deal with producer Mark Canton to turn its 7th Portal Webisodic series into a feature film, and a deal with Warner to produce a new Conan the Barbarian feature film, the rights to which it acquired in September. The company also has a promotional deal with the Backstreet Boys,a clothing line in the works with singer Mary J. Blige, and a sponsorship and promotional deal for the Hollywood Christmas Parade. In late October, the company ended a first-look deal with Shockwave over what were understood to be concerns about the revenue being generated for Stan Lee by the deal. Shockwave chairman Rob Burgess left Stan Lee's board as a result of that deal ending, though he is still a substantial shareholder. (The most recent statement of shareholders by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicated that he held more than five percent of the company's stock.)" Inside.com said: "A number of insiders in the company have sold shares in recent weeks, some as the result of margin calls when the stock price began its decline. While Lee himself has not sold any shares that have been reported, his co-founder (and second-largest shareholder) Peter Paul has sold 229,500 in two transactions over the last three weeks. Former interim CEO Devendra Mishra also recently sold shares." The crash and burn of Stan Lee Media comes on the heels of a third quarter earnings report that revealed a $6.2 million loss in the three months leading up to September 30, and that the company had only $215,440 cash on hand. Investors apparently chose to ignore the bridge financing the company announced as "Up to $2.2 million, pursuant to which it had sold $1 million in convertible debentures, and that it had reached an agreement in principle with Alborz Select Opportunities Fund with respect to an equity line of up to $40 million, subject to certain conditions." Instead it appears the lack of fundamentals, especially after the dissolution of an exclusive agreement with Macromedia, forced investors to dump the stock. TODD TO DEZ: CEASE AND DESIST! December 20:According to a post on the Comics International Mailing List by Phil Hall,Todd McFarlane Productions has filed a complaint with Diamond Comics, convincing them not to distribute an upcoming issue of the British comics zine. Dez Skinn, the publisher of Comics International, had not cleared the rights to use McFarlane's artwork on the magazine's cover. In his post to the mailing list, Hall said: "Hello everybody! You know the Todd McFarlane Miracleman/Spawn pic that we've been toting as the cover of the next CI (#128 out on Friday!). Well...On the last day of our deadline, we got a 10.15 am courtesy call from Diamond UK, it was to mention something they assumed we already knew. That Todd McFarlane Productions' Larry Marder had put a cease and desist order on Diamond handling our next issue." Hall went on to say: "Reason? We didn't seek their approval to run Todd's artwork. This is odd as we've never had (or needed) approval in any of the previous #127 issues plus two specials (DC got a bit antsy over the Lois& Clark last minute Christmas cover by Alex Ross from their X-Mas card,but their legal department politely asked us not to do it again and said that they valued and appreciated our coverage of their books). Larry Marder:cease and desist. There goes any chance of a Beanworld cover then, eh Laz,old chap!" The illustration in dispute was done by McFarlane and Ashley Wood for a limited edition print solicited as an exclusive promotional item with Diamond for shipment in December. Skinn, who admitted he didn't have approval to use the piece, was able to substitute another illustration at the last minute. Still, Hall complained: "The outrageous thing is CI was talking to TMP's left hand for several weeks about input into the MM issue, but nobody contacted the magazine to say they didn't want us to run the cover. Diamond US assumed we'd been told direct, so God Bless Chuck Parker for suggesting Pat Sullivan at Diamond UK might want to check that CI knew what was going on. Bless 'em! Half a day later and we would have ended up in court!" The SPLASH was not able to confirm Hall's version of events. Speculation immediately arose over the possibility that the ongoing battle over the rights to MIRACLEMAN might somehow play into this dispute. The character, created as MARVELMAN by Mick Anglo as a substitute for CAPTAIN MARVEL after DC won a copyright infringement suit against Fawcett in the 1940's, was ultimately recreated by Alan Moore and Alan Davis in the early 1980's for Dez Skinn's previous publication, WARRIOR, then renamed MIRACLEMAN when it was relaunched in America by Eclipse Comics. Moore passed his share of the property on to Neil Gaimen who followed him as writer of the series. After Eclipse folded, McFarlane picked up their part of the rights at a bankruptcy auction, and the legal mess surrounding MIRACLEMAN has been a tangled and messy affair. It is unknown if Skinn currently has any claim to the property. Larry Marder did not respond to a request for comment. Thanks to Glenn Barbis +++++ J.K. Simmons Joins the Cast of Columbia Pictures/Marvel Entertainment's ''Spider-Man'' CULVER CITY, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2000--J.K. Simmons will star opposite Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man in the live-action feature film about the comic book icon, Columbia Pictures announced today. Simmons will play Jonah Jameson, the publisher of the "Daily Bugle" and Peter Parker's gruff but kind-hearted boss. Simmons will next be seen in "The Mexican" opposite Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. He is also a regular on HBO's "Oz." His other credits include Sam Raimi's forthcoming "The Gift," "Autumn in New York," Raimi's "For Love of the Game," "The Jackal" and "Extreme Measures." Simmons can also be seen on the hit TV series "Law & Order" as Dr. Emil Skoda. "Spider-Man" is being readied for a May 3, 2002 release. +++++ Oscar Winner Cliff Robertson Joins the Cast of Columbia Pictures/Marvel Entertainment's ``Spider-Man'' CULVER CITY, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2000--Academy Award(R) winner and veteran film star Cliff Robertson has joined the cast of the live-action feature "Spider-Man" as Peter Parker's (Tobey Maguire) beloved Uncle Ben, Columbia Pictures announced today. "Spider-Man," slated to begin principal photography in January, is helmed by Sam Raimi ("The Gift," "For Love of the Game," "A Simple Plan"), a self-confessed fanatic of the web-slinging superhero. Laura Ziskin ("As Good As it Gets," "To Die For," "Pretty Woman") and Oscar(R) nominee Ian Bryce ("Almost Famous," "Saving Private Ryan," "Twister") produce. Avi Arad ("X-Men," "Blade") serves as executive producer. The film centers on student Parker who, after being bitten by a mutant spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. After Uncle Ben's tragic death, he vows to dedicate his life to fighting crime. It is Ben's immortal words, "With great power comes great responsibility," that guide Peter as he lives his double life as Spider-Man. The film also stars Willem Dafoe as the villainous Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, James Franco as Harry Osborn, J.K. Simmons as Jonah Jameson and Rosemary Harris as Aunt May. Robertson has appeared in over 50 feature films in a career that spans over 60 years. In 1969, he won an Academy Award(R) for his portrayal of the title character in the film "Charly," based on the short story "Flowers for Algernon." Robertson has also appeared in such classics as "Gidget," opposite Sandra Dee; "Picnic," also starring William Holden and Kim Novak; and "Three Days of the Condor," opposite Faye Dunaway and Robert Redford; as well as such new classics as "Escape from L.A.," opposite Kurt Russell; and "Renaissance Man," opposite Danny DeVito. Robertson's many notable TV appearances include the original "Batman" TV series, "The Twilight Zone" and such telefilms as 1958's "Days of Wine and Roses" and 1990's "Dead Reckoning." The screenplay for "Spider-Man" was written by David Koepp ("Stir of Echoes," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," "Jurassic Park"). The creative team includes Oscar(R)-nominated director of photography Don Burgess ("Cast Away," "What Lies Beneath," "Forrest Gump"), production designer Neil Spisak ("The Gift," "For Love of the Game," "Heat") and costume designer James Acheson, who has won Academy Awards(R) for "Restoration," "Dangerous Liaisons" and "The Last Emperor." +++++ Big changes at BLUE MOON for 2001 BLUE MOON publisher Lloyd Smith has announced that BLUE MOON COMICS will be undergoing a huge change in format and pricing in an effort to make his company's comics more accessible to the public. "Comics fans want to try new things, but as we all know, money's tight. While I love our huge magazine format, I realize that it's far too pricey for the average fan--even one who is interested in giving new/small companies a shot. The solution is this: change formats, lower the price. And that's what we're going to do." The new format will be 32 page "digest size" comics with cardstock color covers for $1.75 (+twenty five cents postage). Each title will contain at least 23 pages of comics, plus news, ads, and other surprises. "Fans will definitely get their money's worth--and then some," Smith promises. The first wave of new BLUE MOON titles will start the second week of January: BLUE MOON SPOTLIGHT (featuring Wasteworld) #1-a done-in-one premiere for a possible ongoing science fantasy series by publisher Smith and artist Jamie Laurie, with a "Silver Age" homage back-up, ALEX MIRACLE by Smith and "Renegades of Justice" artist Ernest Edwards; POWER CORPS #1-a new team of superheroes, again by the team of publisher Smith and New Zealander Jamie Laurie; and VAULT OF SHADOWS #1 -a mystery/horror/fantasy anthology starringg KRAGOR by Smith and "Violent Lifestyle" artist JP Dupras, "Champion of Light/Champion of Darkness" (a horror/mystery story featuring wrestlers!) by BIG BANG contributor Ed Quinby, along with Finnish artist Juha Vourma's "The Bird" and another short feature. In February, BLUE MOON will release INFINITE TALES, Vol. 2, #1 with regular features ULTIMUS (by Smith and Dupras) and CONTROL ZERO by Shotgun Press's Troy Brownfield and Digital Dragon creator Bryan Heyboer (along with back-ups that include work by pros like Dick Ayers and Dave A. Law); BLUE MOON SUPERHEROES starring MERCURY by Smith, Sherlock Holmes artist Seppo Makinen and award-winning inker Steve Addlesee, along with Addlesee's own creation: wrestler-turned-superhero INCARCERATOR #2, with pencils by Diego Jourdan Studios, and other short features; and a third title--an adventure anthology that will feature pirates, western, war, and other high-adventure strips. BLUE MOON will be offering "across-the-line" ads in their titles at affordable rates ranging from $25 to $35 dollars for full page ads. For advertising information, write the publisher: Lloyd Smith/HC 66 Box 1448/Barbourville, KY 40906. All of BLUE MOON's titles will be bi-monthly at $1.75 (+25 cents for postage)each from BLUE MOON COMICS/HC 66 Box 1448/Barbourville, KY 40906. Blue Moon's titles can be also be ordered through their website at: http://bluemooncomics.tsx.org. Publisher Smith added, "We at BLUE MOON have an undyling love for comics, and it shows in every page we produce. We hope fandom will give us a look. We're sure to please!" +++++ From Comic Book Resources at: http://www.comicbookresources.com/ Usagi Yojimbo : Demon Mask collection and limited hardcover in March Posted by Beau Yarbrough - 16:10 PST Official company press release Eisner Award-winning writer/artist creator Stan Sakai has crafted a truly original and exciting comic series with Usagi Yojimbo, the tightly written, impeccably crafted samurai epic about a ronin rabbit in 16th century Japan who chooses the way of the warrior pilgrim and wanders the land fighting injustice while seeking enlightenment. Dark Horse's latest collection of Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo stories is a diverse assortment of adapted Japanese folktales, compelling mystery shorts, and white-knuckle adventure stories. Usagi Yojimbo: The Demon Mask contains eight short stories, each written and drawn by Sakai, that capture the honorable spirit of his anthropomorphized warrior and pay respectable homage to the fascinating culture of feudal Japan. Sakai's black-and-white artwork models the Japanese standard of manga, which stresses thoughtful storytelling and succinct visuals over showy coloring and special graphic effects. Usagi Yojimbo: The Demon Mask will be available in two formats beginning in March. On March 14, look for the softcover 224-page trade paperback collection for the retail price of $16.95. More serious Usagi fans and book collectors will seek out the limited hardcover collection of The Demon Mask, which comes packaged with a removable dust jacket and features an individually signed and numbered tip-in plate. The limited edition hardcover will be on sale beginning March 28 for a suggested retail price of $56.95. Source: Dark Horse Comics +++++ From Rich Johnston's ALL THE RAGE Gossip Column at: http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com. What About The Workers? Colour Me Curious The word is that Marvel's latest cost-cutting scheme has been "encouraging an internal free market in the spirit of excellence and efficiency". Or rather making their colourists and colour studios bid against each other to get work. Apparently there was some deal going where the colourists were banding together on price and conditions,but I've heard that Haberlin Studios (the new name for Avalon) ducked out of this and put in an extra-low bid. Look out for colourist chaos and a bunch of Haberlin credits on your favourite Marvels. This Has A Rumour Value Of 5 Out Of 10 Kung Fu Fighting We reported on Ninja Boy coming to Wildstorm in a recent All The Rage, amid speculation it might be a Cliffhanger title. Well, Matt Hilton on the Crawlspace Message Boards writes about something called "Raiden". "It's coming. It's Wildstorm's newest imprint (people seem to love making new imprints these days - it's like the variant craze of the 90's!) It's the equivalent of WS's action, anime-ish, HK flick style books." "Apparently Ale Garza's Ninja Boy will be the flagship title of imprint. Story details are unknown right now... Interesting point: It'll be colored pencils - no inks here." "Not much is known of the other titles coming from the imprint. There are a few rumors going around: Tommy Yune (Speed Racer) is supposed to be writing a few books." Could this be a mutated version of the 'Pacific Rim' imprint that Eric deSantis was setting up before he left? This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out Of 10 Rumour Killed! A nasty little rumour began circulating earlier this week, that the person responsible for the recent Marvel art theft was ex-editor Jason Liebig. Since then the rumour has surfaced in a number of places, so here's a chance to kill it dead. Liebig writes "When I heard that artwork had been stolen after my dismissal I was as upset as everyone else. I find this kind of thing absolutely disgusting. From what I understand, though, an arrest has been made on this matter and much of the stolen artwork has been recovered. And no, I won't comment on who is being charged with the theft." "My own office had been the victim of art theft while I was an editor, and I consider that the lowest-of-the-low.As an editor, I found it somewhat unethical to even accept gifts of artwork from artists, as it can create a conflict-of-interests. But yeah, I've accepted a gift once or twice when I was fairly certain no hard feelings could come up later." "But for pity's sake, let's be clear: I was let go from Marvel, but I've done nothing in retaliation for that. Stealing artwork from artists doesn't hurt Marvel anyway, it only hurts the artists. These days,if a theft or loss occurs, Marvel does NOT reimburse the freelancer in anyway.They simply wash their hands of the matter. And that leaves an artist empty-handed,which ain't cool for them." Joe Quesada also confirmed that Liebig wasn't the individual fingered, he said "No, Jason had nothing to do with this theft and I take great offense at anyone insinuating that he or any of our employees are responsible without any basis in fact. Rich, this is someone just trying to kick Jason when he's down, he's not a thief." As previously reported, there does seem to be some effort by some comics individuals to brief against Jason in a number of ways & hell this may be one of them. However, Joe Quesada's carefully-worded statement doesn't contradict another rumour that the robbery was an "inside" job someone not on staff but with easy access to the Marvel offices. This Has A Rumour Value Of 0 Out Of 10 DC Departures There have been some more recent "departures" at DC Comics, not in the limelight of the direct market comic books but in the Promotions department - otherwise known as the place that makes the money. Account manager Paula Doyle and Assistant manager Debra Sills have both left the Promotions department at DC. These are the guys who do stuff like the Burger King deals, Superman postage stamps that kind of thing. This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out Of 10 +++++ From the Comics Continuum at http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: TOMB RAIDER MOVIE COMIC? Will Top Cow, which publishes the Tomb Raider comic book, adapt the upcoming movie in comic form? Maybe, said Top Cow's Matt Hawkins. "We are talking to Paramount and Viacom about it right now," Hawkins told The Continuum. "There are some likeness rights issues with Angelina Jolie that may preclude any adaptation from happening." Jolie stars as Lara Croft in the movie, which will reach theaters in June. Top Cow has published a monthly Tomb Raider comic for nearly a year and will also be publishing a Tomb Raider magazine. SIMONSON: BYRNE TO DRAW ORION Orion writer Walter Simonson told The Continuum that John Byrne will be contributing to two issues of the DC Comics title. "The lead story for Orion #13 and 14 will be penciled by John and inked by Terry Austin," Simonson said. "The backup stories in those two issues will be penciled by me and inked by Bob Wiacek. I'm writing both issues in their entirety. "The stories will be part of the ongoing continuity, not a separate fill-in story." Simonson didn't want to give too much about the stories away, but allowed The Continuum a bit of information. "A short version (extremely short!) of the lead story John is doing is that Orion has returned to Earth; a few other DC heroes appear in the issue," Simonson said. "The climax of the two issues is a confrontation between the New Gods of New Genesis and Apokolips. On Earth. Or 'above' Earth might be more accurate. There's also a Promethean Giant involved for those who know who the Promethean Giants are. For those who don't know, they are really really BIG giants!" In the past, Simonson has had guest artists on the backup stories for Orion, so he's switching roles for these two issues. Simonson said the backup story for Orion #13 is "The Arming of Apokolips" and the backup story for Orion #14 is "The Legacy of Frankenstein." Orion #13 should be in stores in April, with #14 in May. RAY PARK AS IRON FIST? Ray Park could be cast in the lead role in an Iron Fist movie within a month, sources told The Continuum on Tuesday. Park, who played Toad in X-Men and Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, could not be reached for comment, but has been linked to the role since October. Park's web site, which is currently under reconstruction, had confirmed he was interested in the role in October. Iron Fist is one of the characters involved in the Marvel/Artisan Entertainment package announced last May. Representatives of Marvel and Artisan Entertainment could not confirm Park's Iron Fist casting. Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige said that a Marvel/Artisan movie could reach theaters in 2001. "2001 should be a very busy year in terms or production and we could have one or two movies in theaters," Feige said, noting that a lot depends on the pending actors' strike. LEGION WORLDS ARTISTS Relative Heroes artist Yvel Guichet will be penciling the first issue of Legion Worlds, the follow-up to Legion Lost which begins this spring from DC Comics. Guichet will be inked by Dexter Vines. Legion Worlds, formerly known as Legion Quest, will be six issues, with a 30-page lead story and an eight-page backup in each issue. BRIEFLY X-Men was the sixth-most-rented DVD of the year, according to a list released by Blockbuster on Tuesday. +++++ From Comics2Film at http://www.comics2film.com F5 -- Paramount Pictures has made a deal to bring the Tony Daniel comic F5 to the big screen. Daniel will be a consultant on the project. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ FROM HELL --------- The Upcoming Movies website states that From Hell is tentatively scheduled for a Fall 2001 release date. http://www.upcomingmovies.com/ +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.fandomshop.com/buzz/ Top Cow Signs New Movie Deal Comics company Top Cow is becoming something of a mover-and-shaker in Hollywood. Not only is it developing a Rising Stars feature film with MGM and a Fathom project at Fox Animation and, of course, TNT's Witchblade TV series, Top Cow has just sold a "high-concept action thriller" called The Cleaner to MGM. The Cleaner script, which Nick Falacci and Cheryl Heuton are writing for Top Cow and Lion Rock Productions, concerns a high-level government operative. Top Cow also plans to develop The Cleaner into a comic book series. --The Hollywood Reporter Dynamic Forces Celebrates Marvelous X-mas This Saturday, Dynamic Forces is celebrating Christmas a little early, with a comic book collectibles sale on the Home Shopping Network. Airing 4 AM ET on Dec. 23, the program offers for sale such special products as X-Men comics autographed by Stan Lee and Wolverine and Spider-Man head sketches by Jae Lee. The cable special will also feature the debut of a Marvel Millennium Moments lithograph painted by John Estes and featuring over 20 Marvel characters. --Dynamic Forces Prime No doubt due to the success of Fox's X-Men, Universal Studios has renewed the feature film option rights on the long moribund Prime, based on the Malibu/Marvel comic book character. Prime, which was created by Len Strazewski and Gerald Jones, tells the story of a teenage boy who has the ability to generate a superpowered covering defined by his own imagination, usually a musclebound hero named Prime. Unfortunately, the covering eventually disintegrates into a puddle of green ooze until the kid is rested enough to regenerate another one. At this point, Toy Story 2 scribes Doug Chamberlain and Chris Webb are developing the screenplay. Chuck Gordon will produce. --Comics 2 Film, Cinescape Shi Film Still Alive Billy Tucci renewed his development agreement with Franchise Pictures for a Shi feature length movie. Tia Carrere and Mira Sorvino have been talked as the lead character but neither are attached. Campbell In Spider-Man Popular genre star Bruce (Evil Dead) Campbell will play a ring announcer in Sam Raimi's upcoming Spider-Man feature film. --The Hollywood Reporter +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.Fandom.com/comics/ WINNER OF THE 1997 & 1998 INTERNET "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE WORD ON THE STREET Some Marvel X-readers were caught by surprise when the quarterly series X-Men Unlimited was spared cancellation axe in the recent reevaluation of the line, especially considering regular writer Joe Pruett and regular artist Brett Booth had announced their respective exits from the series. But armed with a new editor – Lysa Hawkins – the series is getting a new creative direction along with it's new lease on life. "I`m still working out the kinks of what I envision the title becoming, but it will be closer to an anthology book rather than a book based on continuity," explained Hawkins. "It will feature stories from some of the best and brightest in the industry. For instance, the next issue (#30) will include a Jim Mahfood story and a nice Rogue tale brought to you by John Ostrander. Mostly, the stories will be vignettes dealing with the `day of the life' of one of the X-characters. Not just the obvious choices, but some of the more wackier players too. For instance, I have a Jill Thompson Behind the Music, starring Dazzler slated for next year." "Is That Your Final Hester?" Before he makes his next convention appearance, Phil Hester, writer of Oni's The Coffin, and artist on DC`s upcoming Green Arrow relaunch has a scheduled appearance that may prove more lucrative. What's on his calendar? It`s not a comic shop signing, a con, or even a pitch meeting with a Hollywood bigwig_Hester`s scheduled to have a go on ABC`s Who Wants to be a Millionaire next week. "Like more than a few of us, Hester`s stint on the show started with that damn phone number and the oh-so-frustrating, I-should-know-this-but-I-just-can`t-remember questions. Hester won his initial quiz, got the call from ABC on Tuesday to take the second quiz, and then, an hour after he took that quiz, got the call inviting him to New York City, and a date with a guy named Regis. And yes, the nerves have set in for Hester - most of all, he doesn`t want to blow it on a low-dollar question. "I`d rather be the fool that just sits there, waves, and you never see again, rather than be known as the guy who missed the $1000 question." GEORGE PEREZ EXCLUSIVE TO CROSSGEN CrossGen has announced the addition of one of the comic industry`s most respected veterans to its growing roster of talent. Penciler George Perez has agreed to join CrossGen on a permanent, exclusive basis. Beginning immediately, Perez will join CrossGen and finish his upcoming four-issue run on CrossGen Chronicles. After the completion of these four issues, the title will then become a bi-monthly series drawn exclusively by Perez. Said Perez on joining CrossGen, "CrossGen offers me a chance to do something other than the superhero stories I`ve worked on during my one quarter century in comics. After reading all the CrossGen books, I saw the unified universe and liked what I saw. Then, when I spoke to Mark Alessi, I liked his attitude and philosophy. Mark has a great vision and a means to pull it off. I can`t see myself moving anywhere else. I`m here for the duration." According to CrossGen, Perez will continue to work from his home in nearby Orlando, making regularly scheduled stops into the CrossGen offices to meet with other members of his creative team. Because of his recently publicized health problems, CrossGen is relaxing its in-house policy for this unique situation. "It`s been quite a while since I`ve felt this wanted by a publisher," Perez said. "CrossGen has gone out of its way to support my unique needs. I`ve never felt this much a part of an organization." CrossGen`s flexibility regarding Perez was the "right thing to do" according to CrossGen Publisher Mark Alessi. "When one of comics greatest all-time stars wants to join your company on a permanent, exclusive basis, you do whatever is reasonable to accommodate them," Alessi said. "In this case, George`s health became the paramount and overriding issue. There was no way we were going to turn him down because he couldn`t come here daily to work. This is a health related exception that only very few could garner. George is definitely one of those few." The publishers also noted the only possible exception to Perez`s exclusivity to CrossGen is the long-anticipated JLA/Avengers crossover. In the event (described by CrossGen as "unlikely") that Marvel and DC can ever come to terms on the publication of such a project, CrossGen will allow Perez a temporary release from his exclusive agreement to illustrate it. "There`s been talk of this project for 18 years," Perez said. "The prospect of this crossover is the reason I`ve been reluctant to sign an exclusive agreement. I`m very grateful that CrossGen as comics fans, are allowing me the leave of absence I`ll need should this finally come to fruition. If it never happens, I`ll be perfectly content right here with CrossGen. I really enjoy the fantasy genre and feel it suits my style." Again, Alessi believes allowing Perez a temporary release for the JLA/Avengers crossover is the right thing to do. "This project is just too historic not to happen," Alessi said. "The fans want it, the retailers want it, heck, all of us here at CrossGen want it! So if it actually comes to be, we`d be more than happy to allow George the opportunity to do it. For comics` sake, let`s just hope it happens." The first George Perez penciled CrossGen issue is CrossGen Chronicles #2, on sale February 21, 2001. George Perez will be joining the CrossGen staff at this year`s convention appearances. Look for them at MegaCon, Comic-Con International: San Diego and Wizard World Chicago. +++++ 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. CHRIS OARR APPOINTED MANAGER -- EVENTS & RETAILER SERVICES DC Comics is happy to announce that Chris Oarr has joined the Direct Sales department as its new Manager -- Events & Retailer Services, effective December 18. As such, Oarr is responsible for DC's presence at conventions, trade shows and distributor events. Chris also acts as administrator of DC's retailer focus group -- the Retailer Representative Program. In addition, he supervises various retailer services such as co-op advertising and in-store promotions. "The addition of Chris makes a strong team even stronger," said Bob Wayne, DC's Vice President -- Direct Sales. "I've attended many of the same events as Chris over the past few years and he has displayed a contagious enthusiasm for comics both as an industry and an artform." Oarr comes to DC after three years as Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. During his tenure, the CBLDF has increased both its profile and financing with such innovative fundraising events as the Guardian Angels Tours and the CBLDF cruise. Oarr also was Executive Director of the Small Press Expo and served on its Board of Directors and was on the Harvey Awards Committee in 2000. "I value the friends I've made within the comics' community," said Oarr, "and I look forward to working with them in my new capacity. DC's Direct Sales department is the strongest in comics. I'm thrilled to be a part of this team." BATMAN BEYOND/STATIC SHOCK! EPISODE SCHEDULE Warner Bros. Animation has supplied DC with the following air schedule for the animated Batman Beyond and Static Shock! on the WB Network, airing Saturday mornings and on weekday afternoons. All times are Eastern and Pacific: 12/23/00 (8:00 am) -- "The Call-Part 1" (Batman Beyond) 12/23/00 (11:00 am) -- "Grounded" (Static Shock!) Be advised that this schedule is subject to change. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Interview Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com Interview with Peter J. King, Publisher of Quest Comics Interviewed by: Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher, Jazma Universe Online! Question: Before we get this interview started, can you tell us something personal about yourself? Your family life, where you were born and raised, what schools you attended? I was born in Yonkers, NY, lived there until I was 3 and moved to Brewster, NY. A quiet little town about an hour north of NYC. There's where I started reading comics at the age of 3. My mom would bring them home and read them to me, I got hooked on Superman, Batman, The Hulk, Spider-Man and especially Capt. America. Me and my friend Jean St. Jean(who's now the Head Sculpture at Mcfarlane Toys)use to swap comics, collect Mego action figures......even went as far as to sew together our own costumes! I went to Brewster High School. Was in several bands, Rampage, Sentinel, Keeper as bassist/vocalist. One of my friends was Mike Imperioli who plays Christopher on the HBO series The Sopranos. We had a blast in high school! I had some poetry published a few years after graduation and went to show my English teacher, Mrs. German....after that I taught a couple classes on poetry there. Right now I'm married to Michelle and we have a great son, Andrew who's 3 and I have a daughter Anastasia who's 14. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? Not sure....had to be Batman or Superman. My mother brought home books that she was familiar with. Then as time went on I asked about other characters and she started bringing home different titles. Remember...this was when books were 15 cents! Soon after they went to 20 cents but you'd still get 5 books for a dollar. Question: For people unfamiliar with Quest Comics, can you please tell us something about it? Quest Comics started in 1992. With an idea created by Michelle, Jean St. Jean and I. It was kind of sci-fi based actually. The story revolved around 4 titles, Mindstorm, Bird of Prey, Wingspan and Talon. There was a revolution in the future....an ancient talisman was sent back to someone in the past to give them the power to stop the catalyst at the beginning of the war...the end of the world, before it began. The talisman(a bird)was shattered into 4 different pieces. 4 characters got a piece of it in 4 different time eras. It's something that I'll do in a couple years, once Quest gets up and running. I did some mini-comics featuring my characters Creed(Soldier Of God), Guardian, Gabriel and Dreamer, and a bunch more. Sold them to Christian book stores. Did this for a couple years until I was picked up by Boneyard Press in '97 with my title Soldier Of God. It's a Christian character and although strange for Hart Fisher to publish it, he felt that SOG was the "greatest comic character ever created since Superman."(his words) So one issue came out through Boneyard and I quit soon after due to problems with Hart Fisher and the way he treated me and SOG. He still owes me money! So I published SOG #2 this year with special guest Robert Sweet(of Stryper)with art by Eric Kent(Logan & The Bunny Squadron). Then Chronicles #1 featuring the first appearance of AngelFyre and guest starring Tourniquet(a very popular Christian metal band- www.tourniquet.net). I still have ongoing contracts with about 20 top name Christian acts to put them in Chronicles. I'll probably be continuing that title next year as well. Check out the SOG stuff at www.freelinks.com/soldierofgod. Question: What's going on with AngelFyre? What can we expect from this comic book? AngelFyre....she's my baby. :-) I actually created 6 characters for that universe. There's AngelFyre(portrayed by Rebecca Hunt), Tempest(portrayed by Christina Smith), Aqua(portrayed by Kaitlin Wohlfahrt), StoneAngel(portrayed by Cori Cauchi), DarkLyght and WildLyfe. I have models for 4 characters and 2 more characters that I'm looking for models for to complete the group that's to be called The Forces Of Nature. I feel that the models give it a sense of reality. Which is why I ask celebrities to make guest appearances in the book. So far Mr. Big(Atlantic Records rock band)will be in AF #2(with art by Marty Oakley). Graham Bonnet(he was the vocalist on Rainbow's hit album Down To Earth)will be appearing soon too. He also sang for MSG, Impelliteri and his own band Alcatrazz. The rock band Angel(www.grndzero.com/anghome.htm)has also signed on for an appearance. Plus I'm in talks with Christina Aguilera, Bruce Campbell(Evil Dead Trilogy, etc.), Sebastian Bach(former Skid Row vocalist), Great White, Judas Priest, Nazareth, Boston, Cynthia Rothrock, Shannon Elizabeth(American Pie, Scary Movie), Mark Dacascos(the TV Crow), Marillion and a few others. The book'll tackle a lot of social issues ranging from child abuse to alcoholism to homelessness. I want people to learn from this book as well as get some good action and a lot of fun. It's an all ages book but some of the issues might not be. The point of having celebs in the book is to raise awareness of these issues and profits of the books will go to certain charities for prevention of these problems. AF has been likened to Buffy, Darkchylde and DemonSlayer rolled into one. We'll also be doing action figures based on our characters by next summer/fall. Question: Do you have a website? If you do what is the URL address? Can we find AngelFyre on your website? www.freelinks.com/angelfyre. It's in the beginning stages but it's got the basics...story synopsis, pix, ordering info, etc. Question: How can somebody contact you? E-mail-XQuestCmxX@aol.com or Quest Comics, 29 Stuart Ave. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Question: Can you tell us something about Virgin? Are you doing this with Bill Maus? I've been friends with Bill for a couple years now. He's a great artist as well as a great friend. If I need some art done, he's the man! He's 100% pro and goes the extra mile to help you out. When I was putting together the "new" Quest Comics Bill was a natural choice to work with. He's got great ideas and deserves more recognition than what he gets. It's a supernatural type thriller. If you've any questions Bill can be contacted at BillMausArt@aol.com Question: What is your working relationship with Jim Shooter, Norm Breyfogle and Howard Porter? Can you please elaborate on this? I've always loved Jim's work. I mean who hasn't...? I contacted him online. We came up with a few basic ideas for a contract and he'll be doing a creator owned book with us next year. I've spoken to Howard Porter a few times. The only way he'd come back into comics is if he could do his own book, his way. Which is what Quest is all about. As long as it's nothing perverted, sick or satanic...I'll go with it! So we're in the talking stages right now. Same with Norm Breyfogle. He wants to do his own thing with no strings attached. This man's a legend in the comic book world and contributed a lot of material and attitude to the Batman legend. How could I say no to that...? Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? 1) The Genie from Aladdin. :-) For obvious reasons...endless wishes! 2)My family 3)My music collection....if I don't get my daily dose of UFO, Nazareth, Journey, Boston, MSG, Marillion...you get the picture...I'd go crazy! Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? It's been better. I look through The Previews and say...WHY!? There's a lot of great stuff in there, don't get me wrong. But there's a lot of crap too. It's not like it was 10 years ago. I was running a comic shop when the industry was HUGE and it was fun. There was magic, there were so many great books out...now, sorry to say things have changed. I don't see the magic anymore. What ever happened to Valiant? Those were great books...I believe their downfall was getting rid of Jim Shooter. Just my opinion but.... The closest thing I see to that today is CrossGen. Amazing stuff! Great art, great stories. How could you not pick this stuff up? I think Endless Horizon's going to be big too. There's no originality anymore. Someone'll draw a character that looks like Batman, has Superman's powers and acts like Spider-Man and expects it to sell....? Wake up! It's been done before! The art thing in comics bothers me too. If you don't draw like Jim Lee you're a nobody. I love Jim's work, I'm not chomping on him but there's too many guys out there who are stealing his style. I look for different styles....I'm working with one guy now who I know will be the next big thing. His name's Drew Moss, watch out for his debut in AF. He's a cross between Bill Maus, Trent Keniuga and Ed McGuiness, kinda manga looking but very stylish. Question: Your 3 favorite fictional heroes and why? 1)Capt. America - He's the ultimate hero. He gets the job done. Sometimes with his fists, sometimes without. A mark of a true hero is being able to know when to use force and when not to. 2)Sherlock Holmes - The ultimate detective! How can you argue with brilliance..? 3 Harry Potter - A young kid learning to utilize his powers for good, while the ultimate evil is always lurking in the background. Gotta love it! Question: Your 3 real life heroes and why? 1)Jesus Christ - Without His sacrifice....well, need I say more...? 2)Dr.Martin Luther King - A great man who was destroyed for trying to make the world a better place. Shows how sad we are as a people.... 3)Dr. Suess- What he did for kids (and adults!) was amazing! He won a Pulitzer, Emmy's, Academy Awards...a great man with great vision. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? Movies- Anything Tim Burton does is gold! I love his stuff and with Danny Elfman doing his scores...pure genius! Anything Robin Williams does. Obviously anything comic related. Cartoons- I've been watching Batman Beyond, Static Shock, X- Men:Evolution, Scooby-Doo, Blue's Clues(I love the animation styles!)..... TV-Dark Angel is the show! Buffy of course. Farscape is great. The Sopranos is incredible! And of course and TV special Britney Spears appears in. :-) Question: What books do you read? Right now I'm reading The Mark (#8 in the Left Behind series) by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, anything by Max Lucado, Bill Myers or Frank Peretti. I read a lot of children's books. My favorites are Dr. Suess, Roald Dahl (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, etc.), Chris Van Allsburg(The Polar Express, Jumanji, etc.) and Jon Scieszka (Stinky Cheese Man, Time Warp Trio, etc...). Also anything Lane Smith draws. Check out Jon and Lane's site-www.chucklebait.com I read all 4 Harry Potter books over the summer. Great stuff! I couldn't put these books down. It was amazing! Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? Reading, spending time with my son. I like putting together models. Writing....poetry and short stories. I've written several children's stories and have an agent. We go to a lot of museums. We enjoy learning and seeing anything historical. Living near Hyde Park(the home of FDR)gives us a good place to learn from. There's quite a few mansions up here, Vanderbilt Mansion is close by as is Mills Mansion. We use these places as backgrounds for our photo shoots. Question: What comic books do you read now? Bone, Poe, Scary Godmother, JLA, JSA, SoulWatcher, Stark Raven, DarkChylde, Rising Stars, Astro City, anything by Acclaim, anything by CrossGen. A few more.....The new Defenders book looks good. Question: Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? Alive! :-) As long as I'm with my family and doing well, I don't care where I am. Sure it's be nice to be running Quest Comics, making some money and making differences in peoples lives but more importantly I'd like to have a great life with my wife and kids. Question: What are some of your other projects? As in Quest Comics stuff....I might be publishing a book by a very talented young artist by the name of Jason Rice. He self-publishes a book called Silverware Man. Very funny with great art. E-mail him at silverwareman@yahoo.com for ordering info. I also might be working with a talented writer by the name of Jennifer Contino on a creator owned project. We'll wait and see what happens on these. As for me, I'm concentrating on AngelFyre and The Forces Of Nature. I'll be putting out an SOG TPB next year with every SOG story ever written, every pin-up I could find. It'll be around 160 pages. Question: When can we expect AngelFyre the Movie? Who will play the character parts? Shannon Elizabeth! Great actress and very sexy. :-) Maybe Jennifer Love Hewitt or Kirsten Dunst..... But who knows, maybe Rebecca Hunt(the AF model)will play her. As for Michael(the angel)someone big like...Dolph Lundgren or Taylor Mane. Question: When is the next issue coming out? Actually you should be asking when the 1st issue will be coming out! :-) It's done, I have copies, I've been going around doing shows and appearances in shops but Diamond hasn't committed yet. Hopefully I'll get the OK soon and AF #1 will(officially) be out by next spring. I've been getting some great reviews and been interviewed by several newspapers and magazines. But we are working on #2, with art by Brian Proctor, Marty Oakley and Terral Lawrence(who worked for Lightning Comics on every title they did!, he did The Strangers at Malibu and worked for Brainstorm). Terral's the best artist in the biz, no one can come close to his pencil work. #2 will have a guest appearance by Chris Yambar's Mr. Beat. Question: Well, I guess that winds up the interview. Thank you. Is there anything else you would like to say before closing? Yeah....order AngelFyre! Haha....actually....support the little guy! Read something different. Pick up a title you've never read before. You might end up liking it. I feel very strongly that the comics industry can make an upswing. But there's got to be some people who will take chances. Take that chance and help out the small press! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Interview Tim O'Shea tim_jen@mindspring.com [Tim O'Shea is a 32-year old desktop publisher who lives in Atlanta with his wife and son. Tim, who has been reading comic books on a weekly basis since 1977, thinks he's the only rabid comic book fan who intends never to attend a convention.] Originally posted to: http://www.thecomicreader.com/newsmain.htm Copyright 2000 - The Comic Reader, used with permission Considering the Human Condition: An E-Interview with Brent Anderson Last week I realized that I had knew very little about Brent Anderson, an artist I've enjoyed since his 1982 X- Men Graphic Novel (with Chris Claremont) GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS and more recently with ASTRO CITY. Well, thanks to Kurt Busiek (New Year's Resolution for 2001: STOP PESTERING POOR KURT) who put me in touch with Brent, I was able to gain some genuine insight into what makes his art so effective and-in some instances-so personal. Enjoy. -Tim O'Shea, TCR Senior Online News Editor O'SHEA: How great is it to be drawing ASTRO CITY again (after the unavoidable and understandable delay due to Kurt Busiek's ongoing health concerns)? ANDERSON: I haven't actually started drawing issue #23, yet, but I am looking forward to it, as it's another fun ASTRO CITY story. It's just that I have a UNIVERSE X Special called "Iron Men" to pencil first. O'SHEA: Would you say that ASTRO CITY is your best project of your career or would that title belong to another of your many works? ANDERSON: After being more or less out of the industry for a couple of years prior, ASTRO CITY was a terrific shot-in-the-arm to my career, let alone being the longest running, most consistently well-written series I'd ever worked on. Kurt's enthusiasm for the series was infectious and I caught the bug directly when I was asked to work on it. From day one the series has been a constant source of joy, laughter, sorrow, frustration, accomplishment and growth. No other project to date has been so completely fulfilling or more obvious by its absence. My involvement in the series has left an indelible mark on my personal as well as professional life. Even though I have several non- Astro City projects in the works, I will draw any and all AC stories Kurt throws my way. O'SHEA: Of the myriad ASTRO CITY residents, which is (are) your favorite(s) (if there is one)? ANDERSON: Nope. No favorites. Each character is rich with possibilities (or the promise of possibility) and I've enjoyed realizing to their fullest potential each character we've developed in each story. O'SHEA: You recently rendered Batman in one of the issues from the TURNING POINT limited series. This was not the first time you'd drawn him, as you did an issue of LEGEND OF THE DARK KNIGHT with James Hudnall (Issue 31 [1991]). Would you ever consider a regular stint on one of the Bat books, or would your current schedule not allow for this? If not Bats, is there any DC or Marvel character that you haven't done before that you'd like a stab at? ANDERSON: As with any character, Batman is an enjoyable character to draw if the story is innovative and inspiring. Batman has been done so wonderfully over the years, I feel hard-pressed to add anything more than my own art style to his lexicon. The story would have to inspire me to move Batman's "look" in a possible fresh direction, or else the result is simply my "take" on what has already been done by others. The work on Turning Points, although enjoyable and, I hope, effective in depicting Batman properly, wasn't all that innovative in it's visual approach. I've seen Batman depicted over the years in a myriad of interesting ways, from the Golden Age Batman, through the "pop-art" Batman of the 60s, Neal Adams' "return to his roots" depiction, Frank Miller's Dark Knight, and more recently, the simplified BATMAN ADVENTURES style and Tim Sale's darker "cartoon" approach. I had reservations about doing things too differently, because my segment was Part 4 of a five-part story arc. I didn't want mine to stand outside of the continuity too drastically, and without seeing the work as handled by the other artists hired to do their segments, I drew a basic "meat and potatoes" Batman style (a little Neal Adams, a little Irv Novick, a little Jim Aparo, and a lot of Brent Anderson!) It probably didn't fit in, anyway, so what am I pontificating about? I have yet to read the entire series now that I have it, so the jury is still out as to how it all fits together for me, but stay in touch and I'll tell you what I think. O'SHEA: You've been in the industry a number of years (since 1976 in fact). As anyone with such a vast history of work, there's bound to be one or two projects that you felt really was top-notch, but that for whatever reason was overlooked or as not well received as you had hoped. For back issue bin divers like myself, what under appreciated work of yours would you recommend people seek out? ANDERSON: I'd look for STRIKEFORCE: MORITURI. I recently re-read the 20-issue run I and Peter Gillis did (where are you, Peter? E-mail me!) and it holds together as a graphic novel very well. I've tried to interest Marvel in reprinting the entire run, at least as an "Essential" black and white book, or granting me the one-time rights to publish it myself, but no luck so far. Hey, if you guys out there want to see this happen, e-mail Quesada right now! I'd also check out Spin World from Slave Labor, a four-issue mini- series telling three stories more or less connected through a space station city floating in orbit around the earth and the moon. There are more man-hours on the art in this series than I care to recount! O'SHEA: How did your 10-page contribution (THE HERO) to STREETWISE (TwoMorrows Publishing's Collection of Autobiographical Stories from Comic Book Professionals) come about? ANDERSON: When I was living in San Diego in the late 80s, a weekly meeting group was organized called T.A.G. (The Tuesday Art Group.) Just before I moved to Northern California, plans were afoot to publish our own in-house publication called TAG RAG, where we would showcase more personal stories done in our copious spare time. I did "The Hero" for TAG RAG. The magazine never materialized, but I had this story in my files when Jon Cooke called asking about submissions. It was an amazing thing to have happen. In reassessing the story 10 years later for publication, many feelings around my father resurfaced, which has led me right into therapy. In writing, and subsequently re-writing, the story, I came to a milestone in my life, an opportunity for personal growth. O'SHEA: How hard was it to create such a personal piece of work. Would you ever consider doing additional personal work like that-delving into your relationship (or lack of one) with your father? ANDERSON: It wasn't all that emotionally difficult to do back in 1989. At the time, the story was just the telling of a secret I had kept and felt ashamed of. The "father" part of it didn't surface until I re-wrote it for STREETWISE. There weren't many, but the minor changes I made drastically altered the focus of the subtext, which I think makes it a far more powerful narrative. (Hey! I'm even talking like a writer!) And, yes, revisiting these feelings around my father has opened up the possibility for many more like stories. They'll probably appear under the imprint rubric of Therapeutic Catharsis Comics! O'SHEA: Another story I'd like to see you portray artistically is that (much like ASTRO CITY co-hort, Kurt Busiek) as a child you weren't allowed to read comic books at first, but you were able to convince your mother to let you read comic books (as detailed in a bio of you listed at one Astro City fan page [http://kbac.orcon.net.nz/astro1.html]). ANDERSON: There is such a story in the offing. Y'know, if I could make a living with these personal story comics, I could produce them much faster! O'SHEA: If you can't tell I really liked THE HERO, and would encourage you to do more work like this if you could find the venue or the time! ANDERSON: Thanks. I'll do my best. O'SHEA: In a 1996 Westfield Comics interview (http://westfieldcompany.com/wow/frm_int_009.html) you mentioned that your wife serves as a sounding board for some of your work. Can you point to a recent occasion of where she helped make a story better? Have you two ever considered doing a comic book project together, or does she have no interest in becoming THAT involved? ANDERSON: Who's prompting you to ask these pinpoint pertinent questions? My wife, Shirley, and I are working on a graphic novel together. It's about an anachronistic superhero in the classic Batman/Flash Gordon mode rediscovering relevancy in a future world dominated by nano-technology and virtual reality. Shirley wrote the story based on a rough plot and 10-years' worth of world-building notes I had amassed in a file drawer. She's created some truly wonderful characters. Shirley didn't read comics until after she met me, and she's been educating herself by reading the best of the "classics" as well as the more literate new comics. We met at a bi- weekly writer's workshop called Spellbinders here in Sonoma County. At that time, Shirley was reading around 300 books a year! She's down to about 50 to 80 since our son arrived, but all this literacy impresses the hell out of me! She's also a pretty good writer. O'SHEA: In this same Westfield interview, you discussed that you enjoy working on stories that "deal with the human condition." What other creators or books currently in the industry successfully address the human condition? ANDERSON: Stories "dealing with the human condition" is an extremely vague and personal definition. I like stories, whether prose, film, or comics, which touch me in a personal way; make me laugh and/or cry, or just view the world from a viewpoint I hadn't considered before. These kinds of stories are not easy to write, but when done properly, they make me want to be involved with them, either as a creator and/or a reader. Alan Moore writes such stories, as does Neil Gaiman, J. Michael Straczynski, Brian Michael Bendis, Kurt Busiek, Los Bros. Hernandez, and many more too numerous to mention. My advice to anyone is search out and read the stories which touch you personally. Don't settle for reading exclusively escapist entertainment. Feed your head. O'SHEA: In the same informal bio I previously mentioned, it says that you were "raised on traditional children's literature." Any particular artist or writer from that period of your life that influences you even today? ANDERSON: Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, Robin Hood, etc. I also read the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Cleary's Henry Huggins series, No Children, No Pets, The Boxcar Children, and innumerable Scholastic Bookclub offerings through school. All this stuff continues to influence me in one way or another. O'SHEA: Would you ever consider writing and drawing a book on a monthly basis or would it be too grueling a pace to do both? ANDERSON: I would certainly consider it! The trick is having someone interested enough to pay me a living wage to do it. O'SHEA: As much of as a diversified and busy industry veteran as you are, are there still some creators out there that you've not had a chance to work with, but you'd like to? If so, who? ANDERSON: Alan Moore. I came very close a couple of years ago, but we have yet to connect on a project. I'll be working with J. Michael Straczynski this coming year, as well as Joe Kelly. I'd like to work with Kurt Busiek - I hear he's good. O'SHEA: What's on the creative horizon for you, other than ASTRO CITY, of course? ANDERSON: I'm currently penciling [the aforementioned] UNIVERSE X Special called "Iron Men." After that, I start a Green Lantern book with Joe Kelly, then jump over to ASTRO CITY #23 for a month, then back to GL. There's a project with Straczynski for Top Cow also in the wings. Add to this schedule my many personal projects and I'll be a busy boy in 2001. O'SHEA: Is there anything you'd like to discuss that I may have not asked you about? ANDERSON: Well, since getting a computer and an Internet account, I've become increasingly interested in the possible future for comics' transition from the paper medium to an electronic one. The super-hero graphic novel my wife and I are working on addresses some of this from a fictional stand, but I've really been enjoying Scott McCloud's on-going explorations at his website (www.scottmccloud.com). Just what changes need take place to embrace the new medium, yet don't negate the vital element which makes comics comics? The question is intriguing and the possibilities, I believe in my unbridled ignorance, are endless. And so it goes. Thanks for the interest in my work. O'SHEA: Thank YOU for your time and thoughts. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Rant & Rave Vernon Wiley comixgallery@earthlink.net Let dispense with the amenities and cut to the chase, kiddies- 25 COMICS YOU SHOULD BE READING! Yes, I know, this is purely a subjective list from yours truly, vulnerable to all sorts of subjective influences such as physical eye contact, a sometimes romantic, fan-boy geekish appreciation for leotarded man childs, and what I believe to be a thorough, experienced, appreciation for the sequential arts. But it is what it is... In no particular order- BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL- Hiroaki Samura's updated samurai epic is true tonic for what ails ya- His mastery of drawing subtle expressions of the face to blood curdling exposes of martial arts violence combined with an agenda within the writing to produce one of the most realistic and convincing comics on the globe. His two protagonists, Mangi and Rin, their quest for inner resolution and and those whose goals oppose them make for truly noteworthy comics. Samura's technique visually for telling this tale is no slouch, either. With a varied type of approaches to the drawing, he creates a world at balance with the demands of the story, as well as an aesthetic that satisfies the visual treat. One of the most successful pieces of Japanese comics, in my opinion. BIRDS OF PREY- In a time of industry shrinking, we can thank the powers that be that at least the very standard of producing mainstream comics has at least risen to a level that we can respect. Chuck Dixon creates a fast paced, realistic scenario for the exploits of two fem fatales of the DC universe, Oracle and Black Canary, to whip in and out of, creating a fashionable mix of adventure comics and likable heroines. Greg Land started the series in respectable mode, but the successor Butch Guice has taken it up a notch, giving the series a personality that is rare in superhero books. NIGHTWING- Although I will surely miss the artistic talents of Greg Land, his and Chuck Dixon's runs on the book gave it a boost that the art of Scott McDaniel didn't quite achieve. Nightwing is obviously a clone of the Bat, but registers differently in this genuine, almost seedy universe that Dick Grayson calls his own. Wild, whimsical bouts coupled realistic action adventure and characters you could actually imagine existing in a somewhat cool Batman universe. Granted, this book would tend toward the fanboy instinctometer, but what a great ride it is. The recent crossover with Birds of Prey definitely deserves a trade paperback reprint if DC has any sense at all. HITMAN- This magnum opus from the minds of Garth Ennis and John McCrea is quite possibly the book that Preacher wasn't for me. Even though I constantly rooted for Jesse and Co. in their hardcore battles, it was Hitman that I really adored. Tommy Monaghan is truly the Peter Parker of this generation. I sympathized with the adventures of Tommy and his partner Natt, and on many occasions, wished I could be a part of them. Not many comics could make me wish I was a foul mouthed, womanizing hitman with a conscience, but this was one I'll take to the grave with me. Inker Garry Leach deserves credit for his truly professional attitude towards MeCrea's sometimes fantastic proportions and giving Hitman the final touches towards artistic respectability it demands. Truly one mainstream comic that stretched the borders of what could be done. Ennis remains one of the greatest storytellers in the medium. History has been made. JLA- I can't say I've ever been a great fan of Mark Waid's tales, but his stint here with artists Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary has me actually interested in what's going on with the JLA lately. The totally fantastic rendering skill of the artists lends itself well to the equally outrageous situations and villains Waid had envisioned for them. All though not particularly deep, the sheer villainy and proportions Waid has given Hitch and Neary to work with has generated a book that really has an emotional power that was absent before. I'll wait til I see a run of stories from this creative team, but in the meantime I'm amazed enough to be looking for the next issue to rear it's head. This chemistry makes it a must read on the superhero geek-o-rama chart. THE AUTHORITY- Sometimes I wonder how this book can top itself from this tale to an even more outrageous one, I'll admit so far I've continued to be very entertained. Mark Millar and artist Frank Quitely continue in the reins of original masters Warren Ellis with Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary to give this not quite mainstream title the pedigree it has. Combining real life situations with the utterly fantastic adventures of the Authority has set the fitness bar to which super team books must be relevant in this day and age. Hell, who cares about the Avengers when the Authority whupped their butts in a two issue slugfest a while back? If there's any faults to be seen in this new direction for super teams, it's the perception that once we go there, we really can't ever go back. Is that really a bad thing? WILDCATS- The super team book that continues to amaze with it's chameleon like adaptability, the new Wildcats takes a turn for the better in it's current skin under the leadership of writer Joe Casey and artist Sean Philips. The best thing going for the Wildcats is that since they aren't quite the licensing potential they seemed to be, you can still have fun with the characters and play with them to form lots of new and interesting shapes. It's current incarnation has them in an almost worldish view, with Hadian, leader of the Wildcats, taking on a more humanistic role as the head of a world class corporation that can make a difference and enjoy the presence of a team of super beings, with all their flaws worn on their sleeves. The fascinating whodunnit aspects of the latest story involving a super powered serial killer, and the frustrating pain the group goes thru in their run ins with him so far make for damn good reading. Sean Phillips is delineating all this chaos into a moody, comprehensive style that perfectly compliments the story. DEADENDERS- Unfortunately, this wonderful title just got the axe at DC as I was writing this, and it is truly a shame. The wild story about a young man discovering unusual powers within himself set among a future semi post apocalyptic country had a lot of ground covered in it's first ten issues. The background served well in presenting tales of class struggle, teen alienation, human relationships, and a great cast of real characters. Ed Brubaker, the creator, was really writing to his strengths as compared to his somewhat uneasy Batman tales, and this was a book that captured my interest every issue. Warren Pleece and Cameron Stewart also held up their end nicely, giving an atmospheric edge that gave the book a convincing feel. This baby shipped on time, every month, too. If you're looking for a good read, stake out your local dealer and ask for a price break if you pick up a copy each of whatever back issues they have. Also, DC put out a trade of the first four issues that is still available. At this point, I'm willing to ask Vertigo for some type of anthology for all those great books they do that don't quite find an audience of their own, what do you say, guys? PROMETHEA- Although the ABC line of DC Comics often read as Alan Moore Lite, Promethea and it's sister title, Top Ten, still do amaze us with new and surprising events every issue. The story of college student Sophie Bangs and her discovery and renewal of the power of the mythological Promethea sets solid standards for an entertaining read every issue. Moore's slow and steady rhythm of exploring the facets of Promethea and her connection to humankind, as well as her conflict with other forms of myth and fantasy have given Moore plenty of fodder for stories, giving this book more of a feeling of discovery and playfulness I find especially appeal ling. There is no conflict between Sophie and her alter ego, just more roads to follow and learn from. Not to be missed either are the visuals by J H Williams & Mick Gray. These two have been partners in crime for most of what I can tell is their careers in comics so far, and it shows. They seem to work together as one, combining a superb and complex design sense for the page along with great rendering and a bag of visual tricks that are FAR superior to just about anyone in comics today. The recent issue (#10), where Sophie has to learn more about her magical abilities from from an aged, decrepit old wizard who now runs a porno shop was one of the most exciting and rewarding reads in a single issue, it's purple prose and ingenuous non-graphic sexual visuals a treat for the eyes and the mind. TOP TEN- The other book from Moore which I recommend has an entirely different feel to it, and is able to explore just as many ideas and many more characters in this TV feel like cop show scenario. Many diverse personalities and motives are explored within the daily routine(?) of a precinct of super powered cops existing in a world where everyone seems to have a power, big and small. The intertwining storylines are challenging to the reader, not just on a passive state, but forcing you to help make decisions on how you feel towards the ambiguities and puzzles the officers face during their cases. The many different and varied types of officers and situations found in their precinct gives artists Gene Ha and Zander Cannon plenty to do and play with, giving the artists just as much creativity as the writer does, and play with their toys they do. In a single issue you'll find almost as many background and visual puns as an old MAD comic drawn by Bill Elder. Probably more than the average comic fan can pick up on. Now if they can only gat the book out on a regular basis, I'd be in heaven. HELLBLAZER- This title has had it's ups and downs over the years, but the current creative team of Brian Azzarello and Marcelo Frusin have given it a nasty, mysterious edge that makes it a read I want to go back to month after month. The writing, while feeding plots a little at a time over a series of issues can get a little tough to bear, makes up for it with many interesting characters and themes. Not to mention the sheer depravity in some of the situations Constantine gets himself into give this book a really gritty, nasty quality that peaks my curiosity. Be forewarned, this book is not for everybody. The recent Hard Time trade paperback (with art by Rich Corben) that collects the marvelous story of John incarcerated, is probably the most realistic "Men in Prison" story you'll ever read. Like wise, artist Frusin concocts a beautifully dark atmosphere which also shows off an excellent grasp of panel to panel continuity as well as good use of images to convey the aura of evil and hopelessness the stories require. Not for the faint of heart, but you know who you are. 100 BULLETS- I have been praising this book since it's inception, and almost 20 issues later, am still thrilled and caught up with it's momentum and great execution. Writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso create a world level conspiracy with Agent Graves and his agenda that draws several different types of characters within it's grasp. The individual episodes that make up each issue stand on their own beautifully while also contributing to a larger scheme. Each agent(?) approached and recruited by Graves has an interesting, tragic life that is convincingly portrayed and brought to some type of conclusion, yet still has a chapter in the bigger picture yet to come. Realistically drawn by Risso, who gives an issue by issue lesson on how great comics are executed. Masterful use of positive and negative space, great page and panel composition, and excellent grasp of human anatomy and individual facial expressions make you forget you're reading a comic book. You're just along for the ride, and that's what makes this book so damned special. DC has a decently priced first trade available with a second due in january, so grab issues #15 and up while they're still available from your shop. TRANSMETROPOLITAN- Although I'm more a fan of the single issues stories than the longer story arcs, writer Warren Ellis has an agenda here that is perfectly being laid out. Nothing less than the waking up and salvaging of mankind, and I believe he is successful at it. The stories of future journalist Spider Jerusalem seem devoted to ripping up the underbelly that is the bane of humanity, and exposing it to the world, warts and all. I've yet to see a comic that tackles real issues pertinent to us in such a convincing manner. Although this book takes place in the future, the concepts within are straight out of real life as we know it. Spider himself is not a model of ideal humankind, just someone who's sick of all the bullshit and refuses to let it hide and prosper. His journalism is the vehicle where he can vent and present it to us in huge, unforgiving gulps. Artists Derick Robertson and Rodney Ramos provide many visual layers to give reality to the screwed up world Spider and we inhabit. Their consistent quality of work and the sheer inventiveness that appears each and every issue is testament to the fervor of the cause they depict. Few artists could keep this up over this amount of time with such success. This book is required reading even if you're turned off by what lies within. SAM AND TWITCH- While Brian Bendis has made his name as a writer of realistic crime stories, this title remains the most accessible and complete of the lot. New York detectives Sam & Twitch inhabit a crazy, unforgiving world of sickos, criminals, and death...and find humor as well as pieces to a puzzle to continue onward thru it all. Grimy, hyper violent criminals challenge the world of our heroes, beat them down over and over again, but they still get through it in the end regardless of the personnel sacrifices made that would leave most of us with the choice only to quit. The balance between these nasty stories and the unforgiving humor is in the dialogue and interplay of the characters. This is Bendis' strong suit. He can relate a conversation that is more realistic and convincing that just about anybody in the business, except maybe Brian Azzarello. The art on the various story arcs may change, but the high quality start by Angel Medina and later by Alex Malleev gives this series an almost surreal, expressionist feel that compliments the stories rough and ragged momentum. While Bendis' run on the title ends at issue #19, these are nineteen really great comics that belong in any comic readers collection with a strong stomach and an yen for the unusual. POWERS- The sister title to Bendis take on crime comics, with a couple of odd twists. First, detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim don't just investigate any old homicides, their specialty is those involving suspects with powers, super powers that is. While this may lose a couple of points with me due to the fantastic nature of the cases shown, I do enjoy this series due to the stories that wrap around the cases themselves. These for me make the strong point of why I read it month after month. Artist Mike Avon Oeming provides a really contradicting style that combines moody, expressive scenes that seem real in execution, that I can only describe as resembling an animated cartoon. His subtle nuances with pacing and depicting Bendis' dialogue are right on, too. Together they provide a weird combination of story and art that seems opposite, yet works very smoothly. Kudos also to colorist Pat Garrahy for providing an even greater elevation of mood and giving the art that extra boost towards the real and the imagined. A bizarre, yet compelling read. MURDER ME DEAD- David Lapham's film noirish entry into the inner motives of humanity shows signs of growth from his previous comic, Stray Bullets. Instead of glimpses into sordid lives of our hapless protagonists, Murder Me Dead focuses on a particular story, giving us one a piece at a time of a murder mystery as well as a complete story in each issue. Where as Stray Bullets was a random exercise delving into the lives of the characters, Murder is an in depth examination of said characters and their reasons as to why they so what they do. The eight issue finite length also gives Lapham a start and finish point that forces him to discipline himself to storytelling at a economical and precise direction- a direction that gives this mystery an urgency to tell a story that seems to be bringing out the best in him, at least as far as I can tell after two issues. The artwork as well seems to be tighter and more solidly constructed, giving the entire package a more more mature grace than his earlier work. Fans of whodunit and black and white movies will find Murder Me Dead a read that fulfills on several levels. BARRY WEEN- While at once both amateur and skittish, I find quite a bit of charm in this series of exercises by Judd Winnick. The single issue format gives Winnick an excuse to use his boy genius Barry in a variety of parodies and situations, while still conveying a sense of sympathy for our pre pubescent hero. Each issue is complete with an agenda for mocking and tearing up conventional comic book situations, yet also progressing a smart ass character from a one joke comedian to one we are sympathetic toward. Judd's primitive, stark cartooning skills blend well with the world he depicts- one where childlike attitudes collide with a mature sense of humor to form a totality that is both hilarious and thought provoking. Although a bit more successful than the mini epics Pedro & Me and Road Trip, Barry Ween still feels as a stop on the journey towards what Winnick could accomplish as a satirist. Skip the Green Lantern stuff. This is definitely where the heart is. THE MARQUIS- Guy Davis' journey to the heart of darkness as depicted from the viewpoint of a religious zealot on guard against the encroachment of evil in a Victorian setting is perhaps the most ambitious and heartfelt work I've seen from the creator yet. Best known for his solid work as artist of Vertigo's Sandman Mystery Theater, Davis takes a definitive step up on this drama whose character's lifelong devotion to his cause is contradicted by the result of his actions-leaving his sanity in question while hunted and persecuted by those he is pledged to save. The sheer intensity and vitality of the black and white art is enough for most comic fans, yet the entry of the protagonist as a hero while slowly but ambiguously wondering whether our sympathies are misplaced as time goes on gives the series an energy that might question our allegiances as well. Good stuff that somehow Oni Press was lucky enough to pick up on while the mainstream was unfortunate to miss out on. CASTLE WAITING- Linda Medley's whimsical, yet serious tales involving Middle Age fairy tale settings are in the process of becoming a complete mature body of work in this series from Cartoon Books, home of the infamous Bone comics by Jeff Smith. I mention them because they basically outshine and give a more complete reading experience than most books involving fantasy themes have a tendency to do, Bone included. The first story arc, involving a circus sideshow bearded lady goes from a light hearted tale to a treatise about the difference and persecution of those outside of the norm is truly a feast for comic lovers. Not to mention that the book encompasses sympathy and respect from a wide demographic of readers including male and female, young and old, make this one of the most successful comics published, period. Not to be missed also is a visual palette of deft drawing skill, a complete grasp of the demands of sequential storytelling, and a wonderful eye pleasing style as well. A book that I constantly push, one that rewards both visually and conceptually. A masterpiece. LOVE & ROCKETS- Although technically not out yet-volume two, number one will hit the stands sometime in January, the return of the Hernandez brothers to this shared anthology is not a book to be missed. Over twenty years of fables and convincing characters have not slowed Jaime and Gilberto from their appointed mission- to share and display their love of comics with stories about what are perhaps the best explored and executed characters our country has to offer. Jaime's wild takes on urban existence and shared fantasies have been endlessly praised many times over, and brother Beto's love for the family he has detailed over the years gives me a love of reading few comics can rival, let alone match. Both challenging on a pure, basic level as well as on more complicated aesthetic grounds, Love & Rockets sets high standards as to what is truly possible in regards to comics literature. Miss them at your own ignorance. CAPTAIN MARVEL- Yes, I know that I'm running a risk here of fan boy geekishness, but month after month, there are a couple of Marvel books that I'm not ashamed to admit I enjoy, and Cappy is one of them. From the tongue in cheek sense of humor that Peter David enjoys in instilling within this series to the gorgeous, graphic rendering skills of artist Chris Cross displays panel after panel, this is one read of the mainstream I can safely say that delivers the pause that refreshes. While many superhero books these days threaten to collapse from the weight of their own contrived conventions, Captain Marvel is a title that successfully balances the long underwear genre with a light hearted, self depreciating tone that at once both respects and makes fun of those very same conventions. A superhero comic for people who hate superhero comics. Nuff said. THUNDERBOLTS- Probably the greatest superhero soap opera going on in mainstream books. Started by Kurt Busiek and carried on by Fabian Nicieza T-Bolts feeds the fanboy fix in a way that stiff titles like FF and the Avengers never will. The premise of a superhero group made up of ex-super villains gives this title a set of characters that are both fallible and expendable, so topics of sex and death are slipped in and handled with a glee unavailable with Reed and Sue Richards or the Vision and Wanda. Add to the mix one of the most under appreciated workhorses in the media, Mark Bagley, and you have a recipe for satisfying comics. Bagley's work on this book is both highly detailed and dynamic, a pleasure and feast for the eyes. Much, much better and more ambitious than your standard mainstream read. BLACK PANTHER- Yet another that has slipped through the cracks of appreciation for the genre, Christopher Priest's take on the superhero genre is both greatly detailed and hilarious, but still respectful of the form. His cadre of characters show both strength and respect for the idiom that is comics, and the gusto and bravado of it's delivery are both challenging and entertaining simultaneously. It's one weakness can be it's tough accessibility for the new reader, but once you're in, there's no denying the pleasure that's depicted within. While going through an army of illustrators initially, the steadfast art team of Sal Velluto and Bob Almond manage to convey all the minute details and characters writer Priest throws at them, and do it with an uncanny discipline that keeps the narrative focused and straightforward. Yet another comic for those that demand more from their superhero comics. Also rans- ZERO GIRL- While the jury is still out after just one issue for review, the return of Sam Kieth to the comics fold can't be ignored. His take on the super powered, outcast, teenage geek story gives us a likable female lead, as well as a cast that yearns to be explored further. Not to be missed also is the superb unorthodox page designs and panel arrangements, and an artistic skill far above and beyond his fellow Image school graduates. The verdicts still out, but five issues seems reasonable after being forced to look at hundreds of the X-Men's. PLANETARY- Yes, it's mysterious, and elegantly crafted. Yes, it's ambiguous and yet familiar. Warren Ellis and John Cassady's take on superhero mythology is at once both satisfying and maddening. Why? Because I'm forced to wait at least 2-3 months between issues, and that's no way to keep momentum and interest on a title that really relies on the reader being able to recall and piece together stories that I can't remember what happened last time out- As nifty and cool as a concept that it is, it somehow fails to satisfy simply because I can't reasonably connect what happened this issue with what occurred last time months ago. Much better appreciated in trade form than the skimpy installments they give us to read, Planetary is both fun and frustrating to read and digest. And there you have it. I limited my selection mainly to books that are published on a fairly frequent basis- it's difficult to recommend titles that have a sketchy at best publishing schedule, as I'm trying to gather interest and enthusiasm for comics as an art. Yes, there are many more comics out there that satisfy on more levels than some of those mentioned above, but I wanted to concentrate on more or less a regular reading experience. If you are disappointed or tired of some of the books you are currently collecting, please give some of these a shot. They are worthwhile of your time, and even if they don't prove to be your flavor, I ensure you won't waste your time and dollars checking out an issue or two. A comic reader's budget is sorely tested these days with the waste of trees we are faced with when perusing our local shop- with the twenty five listed above, I guarantee a full load of quality reading and enjoyment. I welcome any and all responses. Sincerely, Vernon of The Comix Gallery comixgallery@earthlink.net ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] E-DISPATCHES FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH! Jonathan A. Gilbert SeajayVentures@netscape.net [Jonathan A. Gilbert is a freelance writer and columnist. His internet work can be found at www.jazmaonline.com, www.madreview.com, in CBEM and other places. His print work can be found in MAD SCIENTIST; THE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE GONE AWRY, THE PEOPLE'S COMIC BOOK NEWSLETTER .] Volume One Number Ten JGilbert@jazmaonline.com Back in the days when I was young and foolish-as opposed to my now being middle aged and foolish-there existed a rather unique type of magazine and comics publication called a fanzine. There were not the professional looking fan publications that we have today but rather were comics and magazines printed in limited numbers on hectographs, mimeographs and other devices, hand stapled and then either handed out to their creators' friends or sold through the mail. While fanzines-at least those related to the comics industry-are fewer in number than they were back in the 50s, 60s and 70s they still can be found and are just as innovative and exciting as they were back in their heyday. One such publication is DONAR; GOD OF WAR #1 published by StarVerse Comics in Wroxton, Saskatchewan, Canada. Produced by Ryan Crouse, DONAR: GOD OF WAR is a mythological tale of action, adventure and magic featuring the Germanic version of the Norse god Thor. Unlike the Thor of MARVEL fame StarVerse's Donar is a fairly blood thirsty warrior and has no qualms about slaughtering his opponents. Also unlike Thor, Donar is much closer to the true vision of the Teutonic god of thunder meaning he's not exactly the sort of guy you would want to have over for dinner. Ryan Crouse has a great deal of love for the Teutonic myths and it shows in the work he put into this comic. While a bit steep at $3.00 U.S. ($3.50 Canadian)-which includes shipping and handling-if you have the same love I do for fanzines and myths it is still worth every penny. If you'd like to order a copy of DONAR: GOD OF WAR #1 you can find out how by visiting the StarVerse Comics website at www.geocities.com/star_verse or by emailing Ryan at Star_Verse@hotmail.com. I should mention too that Ryan Crouse has recently been interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts and the interview can be found in the interview section of www.jazmaonline.com. Still on the subject of fanzines and the like a couple of months ago Yul Tolbert of OUT OF ORBIT sent me a free catalogue called 'The Timelike Ad Sheet' which is crammed full of ads and promos for fanzines and small press publications. Some of the mags that are mentioned include Mad Scientist magazine (which I happen to write a column for), The Gravity Tower System (the annual publication for the OUT OF ORBIT Space 1999 fan club) and The Jesse Thomas Sketchbook. 'The Timelike Ad Sheet' is a bi-monthly free catalogue and can be ordered from Yul Tolbert via email at yul_tolberts@hotmail.com. You might also want to visit Yul's website which has all sorts of neat stuff there. The URL is http://33gxsl.homestead.com/YUL.htm. Speaking of websites here are a couple more you might want to drop in on over the Holidays. Panther Comics: www.panthercomics.com. Star Cross Studios: www.starcrossstudio.com. That about wraps things up for this installment of E-Dispatches. I'll be offline from December 24th to January 2nd working on various projects-including the PCBN ARCHIE COMICS SUPERHERO SPECIAL-so if you have any comments, questions, etc. you want to send me please wait until the new year. Happy Holidays, folks. Next time out I'll be reviewing Hope-7 and Custom Comics' Race Warrior series. Jonathan A. Gilbert is a freelance writer and columnist whose work can be found all over the place. He's going to be off line for a couple of weeks but you can email him in the new year at JGilbert@jazmaonline.com. He can also still be reached at SeajayVentures@netscape.net. It all goes to the same place regardless thanx to the wonder of the JUO webmaster, TW Montgomery. Have a good one, folks. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] Sound And Fury Craig R. Lemon craiglemon@aol.com [Reading comics for 20 years, and reviewing them for five; now reviews editor at http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/ Craig just loves feedback - what should he be looking at, that he may have missed?] Excalibur #1 Writer: Ben Raab Artists: Pablo Raimondi (p), Waldon Wong (i) Publisher: Marvel Plot: Re-introducing Captain Britain and Excaliber to the Marvel Universe, and the threat of...Dark Roma. At this stage in the proceedings this might as well have been called "Captain Britain #1", as the story is centred around him (in his human guise of Brian Braddock) and his past. Captain Britain has never really been a lone hero, he's always had other superpowered beings or aliens or weirdos in some way, shape or form, around him, and often their stories have taken centre stage over Braddock's own. Of course, plastering Captain Britain #1 all over the cover would probably be commercial suicide for Marvel, so the resurrection of Excalibur it is. I have to declare a slight conflict of interest, in that I'm British, and remember reading the Alan Moore originals as they came out, in black and white, in the eighties. To live up to that would take a talented writer indeed, and unfortunately Raab doesn't make the home run. He gets to second base, though; the storyline is actually reasonably promising: it all starts off with Braddock having a nightmare where he's accused by the other Captain Britain's of parallel Earths of deserting them in their hour of need. Follow this up with a premonition of an evil looking Roma (Merlin's daughter, ruler of Otherworld) and you know the proverbial is about to hit the fan. We quickly wheel on the rest of the team - Meggan, Braddock's wife. Betsy (aka Psylocke), his sister. Dane Whitman (aka Black Knight), a long time friend. No Nightcrawler or Shadowcat, presumably they've been banned from re-joining due to taking part in the imminent X- Revolution. So, the gang's all here - cue a not-so-quick four page recap of the major events in Braddock's life so far for new readers (ho hum for older readers), an attack which mysteriously ends just as the villains are getting the upper hand, and a glorious venture into the unknown. The real problem is, this just feels like writing by numbers. "Right, it's a number one issue, we need: some origin story? Check. Foreboding of a terrible future? Check. Which brings the team together? Check. Quick fight with some baddies? Check. Revelation of a bigger baddie behind it all? Check. Suspicion that there's an even bigger baddie behind this one that we'll find out about at the end of issue #2? Watch this space." The other problem is, the characters and situations involved require a knowledge of Cap Britain's history to truly appreciate, but if you have that knowledge then almost half the issue is wasted introductory time and space, so the story tends to fall between two stools. Having said that, there's promise for future issues in this mini-series - why is Roma so evil now? And please let it not be the mad Jim Jaspers again, or some mind-controlling force - let's have a logical reason for it. And some nice dialogue too - Braddock is essentially a boy scientist at heart, and can't help but reveal in minute technical details, which Betsy deflates with a neat "my brother is such a geek". Oh, and people don't say "Crikey" any more. Magik #3 Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning Artist: Liam McCormack Sharp Publisher: Marvel Plot: It's a Gathering Of Evil, as the new Magik rounds up everyone not on Santa Claus's list and they prepare for a final stand. Oh, I wish this wasn't called "X-Men: Magik". There's just no need for it. It can, and should, stand on its own two feet as plain-and-simple "Magik". Maybe "Amanda Sefton: Magik". Or "The New Magik". Or "The Uncanny Magik". But not "X-Men: Magik" - it reeks too much of a blatant tie-in, it prejudices you about what to expect, and it may turn off non-X-fans without them even considering it for its merits. Which are many. Not least of them is the art. It seems that Sharp has been allowed to do whatever the hell (pun intended) he likes with the art, and Abnett and Lanning have agreed to just fit the words on top of it and try and make the comic make sense. Sharp mixes splash pages with computer-generated vistas designed to drive your mind round the bend, off the cliff, and into the rocks below. Never have hell, limbo, hades, and all the rest of the so-called splinter worlds looked so attractive. Abnett and Lanning try gamely to keep up with the art - the plot is huge; there's this "abominable, unnamed force of destruction" that is destroying the splinter worlds - basically, abodes of hideous evil - one by one, and really whipping the asses of guys like Dormammu and Mephisto. These big baddies look to the new Magik for advice (Magik being Amanda Sefton, witch and former long-time lover of Kurt Wagner, Nightcrawler - he also pops up in this issue); all she caan come up with is to put on a skimpy outfit (I don't really see why revealing most of her breasts and her other rude bits when she walks (that flap will easily flop aside) is relevant to her being ruler of Limbo, but each to their own I suppose), and gather all the evil rulers of these domains together, have a mass bonding (not bondage, Alan, bond-ING) session, and reunite the Splinter Worlds into one. Whoops, bad move (maybe), as Nightcrawler catches a spy in their midst and the ultimate evil (maybe) is finally revealed - looks like an H.R. Giger creation...I bet Sharp had fun designing and painting this. Bang goes one theory that the most logical candidate for destroying the evil Splinter worlds would be one manifestation of God. Which is a shame, I was looking forward to seeing the big G come into view at the end of this issue booming "you've all been very, very naughty - now eat this, suckers" as he blows them all away. Never mind. Worth getting even if you haven't bothered with #1 or #2 - you jump straight into a calamity and it never stops from thereon in. Get it, and enjoy the maddest and most beautiful (in a warped sort of way) Marvel comic of the year. Judge Dredd Megazine #73 Creators/Plots: Various Publisher: Rebellion Forget what you know, or think you know about Judge Dredd. Forget the film. Forget the fascist tendencies. Forget the violence. In fact, forget the strip entirely - just imagine that his name is only on the cover of the Megazine, and not involved in the stories inside at all. Leave your prejudices at the door: JD is not why you should hunt this gem down and buy it. The fact that it comes polybagged with a free copy of #72 is not the reason either. Although it goes a long way to making this one of the bargains of the century - don't let your retailer sell you #73 without a free copy of #72, by the way. The free copy has come about due a printer error in the original version of #72, swapping around the central 16 pages, rendering two of three stories unreadable. No, the reason you want this issue (or these issues, if you're being pernickety), is for the strip Button Man. Quite possibly the best feature from the pages of 2000AD over the last five years, and due to begin a whole new run in prog 2001 (coming soon), this strip, by John Wagner and Arthur Ranson, tells us how Harry Exton became a hired killer (a "Button Man"), and what happens in his first couple of assignments. Not just any old killer type, too - these guys hunt each other down as part of "The Game", played by rich men with far too much free time on their hands; the sort of guys who would love to kill, but are too scared to do so themselves. So they hire people to kill each other in a modern-day Gladiatorial contest. Issues #72 and #73 feature the first six parts of the story - at 7 pages per episode, that's 42 pages of Button Man for your money - well written, beautifully drawn, a gripping, thrilling, and exciting read. What else do you get in #73, then? Well, a nonsensical story about a gay vampire and occultist, Devlin Waugh, finding the Fountain of Life to cure his friend of a hideous sexual disease. Not very attractive, in more ways than one. And the obligatory Judge Dredd (damn, spoke his name) story, which owes everything to the conclusion of Grant Morrison's run of Animal Man, issue #26 to be exact; here, JD meets his writer, but it's all a dream...or is it? A nice twist with JD taking charge at the end; not surprising, given he is so much more of a strong-willed character than Buddy Baker, that he's almost taken on a life of his own despite (or perhaps due to) the vast number of writers he has had over time. Entertaining if you haven't read (well, heard about) Morrison's story, but disappointing if you have. But forget that. Button Man. 42 pages. œ2.50 (so I guess $3.50 or thereabouts). Buy it, enjoy it, place an order for the rest of story (which will run until issue #75). Sam And Twitch #17 Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Alex Maleev Publisher: Image TMP Plot: Jinx captures Bilal, but... Start off with the good points - excellent art. Good plot. Intertwining story threads, good use of flashbacks to the end of issue #16, explaining what is going on from the other side. Realistically handled mis-understanding between characters throwing the whole show into doubt. Actually can be used as a jumping-on point, despite it being part three of five. Well structured. Now onto the bad bits. Jinx. Bendis's bounty hunter creation still has no place in the S&T world, and feels forced into the story. S&T are participants by a stretch of coincidence, and it gets more and more unlikely the further they move from the hospital where Twitch's lover is recovering (maybe) from being shot by Bilal. Nothing this issue about her fate, which is a little annoying thanks to the cliff-hanger last issue concerning her flat-lining - not even a one panel cut across to her, nothing. Maybe this is to build the suspense, but that would've been better served by a couple of pages of docs and nurses fighting to bring her back and failing...at least for this issue. As it is, it just looks forgotten about. No recap on what has gone before on the inside front cover. No Bendis on the letters page - as sure an indication as any that he's gone from this title, never to return. Whether his absence is self-imposed or whether TPTB at TMP refused him opportunity to answer them any more, may never be known. But his absence leaves a gaping void at the back of the book, makes it somehow far more impersonal - and although the storyline was complete before his departure, it lends the whole issue an air of working out a contractual obligation, and thereby leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I never realised how important Bendis's contributions to the back of the book were before - I guess you never do until it stops. Which bodes ill for the TPB of issues #1 to #8 - you'd be much better off tracking these down as individual issues, and enjoying the Bendis comments as well as the story - they help the complete package. A good comic, in its way, but if only, if only. Craig Lemon - Reviews Editor craig@silverbulletcomicbooks.com http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/ ICQ: 23814818 ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] Comics Culture Shrapnel Kris Naudus Krissy80@aol.com [Kris Naudus is a full-time student at New York University, founder of the Justice League of Stuyvesant, part-time Amazonian warrior and distinguished scholar of geek studies. Her previous roles have included "pathetic Star Wars fan #6" outside the Zeigfield Theatre last May, as well as "bored cashier #4" at Barnes and Noble. ] Odd and Ends of Goodwill So, we're down to the stretch. Winter is officially here. Chanukah has begun. Two days to Christmas, three until Kwanzaa. And for me, finals are over. Now comes a month of goofing off until college calls me back. More time to play video games, watch movies, and of course, read comics. We are approaching the last week of the year, and depending on who you talk to, the millennium. This is the time when critics make their best of year lists. I am not a critic, nor have I read enough to even make any distinctions. It's also a time for everyone to make resolutions, I've made a few. Nothing too big, just little things in my sleep and study habits. And I've promised to be nicer to people. No, not you. I need to be mean to someone. But I promise I'll hold off on all nastiness until next year. This is the spirit of giving. So finish your shopping, bake your scrumptious treats, sing carols, light your candles, pray to your gods. And wish people happy holidays. It's not all about gift-giving and consumerism (despite what this week's South Park says). Sure it's nice to get stuff... and giving stuff is pretty cool. I've bought almost all the gifts I was planning to get, just need to wrap them up. But giving pretty boxes isn't all I've done this season, I seem to be in a general good and productive mood. This Friday I will go back to my high school to hang out with some old friends. I'll bring my video camera too, memorializing the moment. We're going to the movies to see "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." I'm so sure I'll like this movie I pre-recommend it. Recommendations are totally within the holiday spirit, so feel free to do so this week. Share something you really like - and this is where the comics come in here (finally). Lend stuff out to people, maybe just for the twelve days of Christmas. Or Kwanzaa. Chanukah too. Granted, this isn't true gift-giving, but for those reluctant to share their cherished comics collections, it's a big step. Like I've said before, there's gotta be a reason you read comics, let people know about it. Also extend good will out to your local comic shop. If they give you good service, show them how much you appreciate it. Buy something small for the owner, tip the cashier. It's your call. This year my store is getting burned copies of Ookla the Mok CD's because I know the clerks there will appreciate them. For those unfamiliar with Ookla, they're a filk-rock band who happens to sing a lot of songs about superheroes. They're quite good, and they have a new album coming out soon. You can check out their website at http://www.otmfan.com. True, burned copies of the CD's aren't as nice as the real thing, but one of the CD's is out of print anyway. I also hope that having the store play the songs will help promote the band (and maybe even bring their first album back into print). Anyone who's on vacation may find this is a good time to either take up a hobby or do some mid-winter cleaning. And both could be applied toward the spirit of giving within the comics community. Consider yourself a big fan of a particular title? Know about something in it that others don't? Start a web page, join a mailing list or newsgroup. Share your opinions with fellow fans, and share your knowledge with everyone. Information and promotion are two things we always seem to crave in this industry. The cleaning applies to your collection. Get rid of stuff. I'm sure there are titles you don't read, or already own the trades for. Give them to other people. Friends, family. Kids in the hospital. In many cases, if it was good enough for you to buy, it's good enough to provide someone else with a small measure of entertainment. And if it doesn't - it's just that bad, then recycle the damn thing. Let it do something useful for the environment at least, hopefully that bad story will be reincarnated as a newspaper, or stationary, or dear god, toilet paper. Just put those unread comics to work. The holiday season is meant to be a time when people are active. So go do something with yourself. And make it count. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.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.jazmaonline.com/ 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.] WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COLUMN MAY REVEAL SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF PLOTS OR ENTIRE PLOT DEVELOPMENTS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Name: Resident Evil #2 of 4 Publisher: Wildstorm Comics Written by: Kris Oprisko & Ted Adams Drawn by: Lee Bermejo & Shawn Crystal/pencils John Nyberg/inks Price: $2.50 Comments: I don't know where to start in talking about Resident Evil #2 of 4. Well, maybe I should just start from the beginning. There is Rosa Cardenas and her crew on snow mobiles in Alaska and the way this started was just like a James Bond movie. The action was high paced and I didn't know what to expect. Little did I know that they would encounter an assortment of were creatures high up in these snowy mountains. While one part of Charlie Company is dealing with these creatures and the snow, the other half is in the warm climate of Mexico dealing with the Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration in which the partygoers are actually dead! Kris Oprisko & Ted Adams write the story with a pure sense of adventure. I'm unable to categorize this as strictly horror, it's adventure, intense drama, along with possible romance between Quan and Rosa? Just like Samuel L. Jackson in the movie "Rules of Engagement" things got very heated as Falcon yells out the command: "Fire at will!" All I can say, it's a good thing I don't have high blood pressure, or the sheer energy of this story would have put my blood level ov