Halloween Grab Bag

By: KURT AMACKER
Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2006

I’ve devoted this week’s COMICSCAPE to a few topics that hardly merit an entire column. Or, if they do, the inspiration has failed to strike me for more than a few paltry lines. Call it stream of consciousness, call it laziness, or call it the last minute business as usual, but, as always, it’s free. One thing before we dive in: one of my e-mail addresses has changed. You can no longer e-mail me at comicscape@cinescape.com. My personal e-mail account, kurtamacker@yahoo.com, still works, but you can also get me at comicscape@mania.com. And, as before, it comes straight to me and not through the editorial department or anything. Happy Halloween, everyone, and, as always, thank you reading.

RENAISSANCE AND THE FUTURE OF FILM ADAPTATIONS

I finally saw Christian Volckman’s film, RENAISSANCE, at the Landmark at Canal Place a few nights ago. For those unaware, the film presents a science fiction noir tale set in Paris in 2054. It uses motion capture technology to create a world ripped from the pages of a black and white comic book. It pays clear homage to both BLADERUNNER and SIN CITY, and the strong visuals almost overwhelm the story. The film was originally released in French, but Miramax has dubbed it in English for the American release. Daniel Craig, of recent James Bond fame, provides the voice for Detective Barthélémy Karas, who has been tasked with finding a kidnapped female scientist. As usual, all is more than it seems. Though not based on an actual comic book, the influence couldn’t show more clearly.

The film struck me because every single frame looks like a piece of hand-drawn comic art. I know I rant about computer-produced art in comics and films like the Unabomber sometimes, but I can’t help but wonder what a film like RENAISSANCE portends for future comic adaptations. The film presents comic art in motion far more seamlessly than any hand-drawn animation before it. The aesthetic considerations nearly overwhelm my admittedly somewhat “Chicken Little” rants about the end of printed comics and hand-drawn art and animation. Granted, it took six years to make RENAISSANCE, so you shouldn’t expect a glut of similar films any time soon. But, I can’t help but imagine something like THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS rendered in a style that flawlessly imitates Frank Miller’s artwork. But, I’d still like to see more cel animation in theaters. Those fun-for-the-whole-family Dreamworks and Disney CGI romps rarely appeal to me. But, by all means, see RENAISSANCE if it’s playing in your city.

LICENSED COMICS DON’T HAVE TO SUCK

Speaking of movies, I’ve wanted to rant about licensed comics for a while. By licensed, I mean comics based on movies, video games, literature, or any other medium. Truthfully, most licensed material rarely justifies killing the trees used to print the comics. I recognize some exceptions. Trusted sources assure me that Dark Horse has published some fine STAR WARS comics over the years, though I haven’t read any since I was a kid. And, for purely nostalgic purposes, I’ve still got a stack of ALIENS and PREDATOR back issues to get through in a short box by my bed. To be fair, they’re not as good as I remember, either, but I have to reclaim my childhood somehow. But, the handful of times I’ve read one of the many 1980s cartoon adaptations populating the shelves or anything based on video games, I’ve found myself sorely disappointed. I’m sure you know of a few exceptions and will probably want to tell me about the – so I’ve heard – great work done on G.I. JOE these days, which I can’t read because, given my unexciting stint in the Marines, I spend the entire time nitpicking the mistakes. And, if you enjoy something, read it, by all means. But, it seems that the creative restraints likely placed on writers by licensees suck any hope of a compelling story out of the latest game-turned-comic. I wanted a CASTLEVANIA comic for years, and I bought the one from IDW even after I quit playing video games. While the art was surprisingly good, it suffered from the usual lackluster story I expect from these sorts of things.

It doesn’t have to be this way. I realize that it has to be much harder to write a solid, literate story within the confines of a license than it is with an original idea or even an established comic character. However, the licensees ought to see past the few extra bucks they’ll make on a VAN HELSING comic (which, to my surprise, was far better than the film) and focus on quality storytelling. Everyone went to English class in high school and college, so we should have some idea of what qualifies. If you don’t, head to the library and ask for help. Readers will buy licensed material based on the property alone. I only gave up ARMY OF DARKNESS a few months ago after sticking it out for a couple of years. I really wanted to like it. But, not only will they still buy them if they have better stories, but they’ll buy more. Hell, I might buy even buy them. For right now, though, I’ve pretty much given up on anything based on a movie or a video game.

REBOOT AND RELAUNCH FOR A SPIKE IN SALES

Comic publishers love a good reboot. If fan interest wanes, sales drop, or a movie adaptation comes out, you can always cancel a long-running series and start over with a newer, better, all-different-first-issue-spectacular for a quick spike in sales. Or, you can release a second series to give new fans a chance to get in on the fun. Even though the series may continue the same story from the last run, fans never fail to grab a first issue. I admit that I’ve avoided older series for wanting to read the complete run, yet happily picked up the first issue of the relaunch. Only by sheer force of will did I add BATMAN to my folder 608 issues in, when Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb started on the title. Granted, few readers have a complete run of any series that old, but comic buying logic rarely applies to the real world. Yes, I’m guilty of the very thing I’m ranting about. Feel free to flame.

When Robert Kirkman’s INVINCIBLE started garnering both critical praise and impressive sales last year, he mentioned in his Comic Book Resources column that it had been suggested that he reboot the book. He declined and the book continues to impress the hell out of everyone, despite its uninterrupted enumeration. But, in the same column, he mused that fans just feel more comfortable buying a series from issue one. They feel like they’ve missed something if they jump on in the middle of the series. But, as he also mentioned, the new series would still retain the history of the old one.

I can’t disagree, as both an editorialist and a fan. As I mentioned in my ridiculous BATMAN example, I avoided certain long-running titles for years and only bought titles from the first issue. If I started buying in the middle of the series’s run, I caught up with the trade paperbacks. But, few readers – including me – would ever bother to read a 60-old-series from the beginning, and BATMAN sells just fine. But, the industry accommodates the fans’ preference for first issues wholeheartedly. From brazen cancel-and-restart jobs like WOLVERINE or HEROES REBORN to new continuities like Marvel’s Ultimate or DC’s All-Star imprint, comic publishers love a good first issue and the attendant sales spike.

I understand restarting with the Ultimate and All-Star imprints. Even though Marvel and DC market both lines toward the same completism and fan fear of starting in the middle, those lines begin entirely new stories that will build their own histories. To market a continuing parallel universe, the publisher has little choice but to launch a new series. Of course, you could just try to keep all of those parallel universes in continuity with each other and repeatedly rewrite characters’ histories as DC has following both CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS and INFINITE CRISIS. In some cases, starting over might be a good idea.

I’ve already talked about the folly of publishing multiple series per character in past columns. I won’t rehash that tirade beyond restating that it appeals to completist and collector sensibilities more than anything. It floods the market, and fans ultimately throw up their hands and abandon the character – or comics – altogether when they can’t afford 17 titles for one hero. Marvel has pulled this with the X-Men for years, though DC is almost as guilty with Batman and Superman. I say two titles per character, maximum.

While I admit to having waited for relaunches to buy a new series, I realize the sheer illogic of it. It certainly feels nice to have a full run and everything. But, with an ongoing series – particularly an older one – sometimes you should just start with the next story arc and keep reading. If you really love it, buy the trades and catch up. And, given the relative low cost of back issues and trade paperbacks on E-Bay, it’s a lot easier to start a title a few issues in than it used to be. Try something new, and don’t give up just because it’s on the fourth issue.

That’s it for this week, guys. Have a happy and safe Halloween. Try the new e-mail address, if you’re feeling frisky.

The Spinner Rack
By Al Brown and Kurt Amacker

Al: This week in comics: Seven Soldiers #1 finally drops! New issue of Planetary! And five books featuring the undead.
Kurt: Braaaaaaaaains!

DARK HORSE COMICS

Conan & The Songs Of The Dead #4 (of 5) $2.99
Al: Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been.
Kurt: I’ve been saving this one for a single sitting, but the first issue was really striking for its phallic imagery.

Disney Princess Gem Figure Gacha Capsule PI
Al: ...also what a strange gacha capsule it's been.
Kurt: Dude, they made Gem a princess? Is she still a sensation? Are the Misfits still better?

Perhapanauts Second Chances #1 (of 4) $2.99

Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic #9 $2.99

Star Wars Omnibus X-Wing Rogue Squadron Vol 2 TP $24.95

DC COMICS

52 Week #25 $2.50

Action Comics #844 $2.99
Al: Co-written by Richard Donner. Yeah, that guy.
Kurt: In honor of Halloween: “Damiaaaaaaaaaan!”

Action Comics Var ED #844 $2.99

American Virgin Head TP (MR) $9.99
Al: You know, I really don't like this book.
Kurt: AMERICAN VIRGIN called while you were out. It doesn’t like you either. You’d better watch yourself. It’s wanted. It’s got the death sentence on 12 systems.

Boys #4 (MR) $2.99
Al: The Boys kill a teen super-team. I know there's no redeeming value to this series, but I don't care.
Kurt: This feels like eating the tastiest burger you’ve ever had out of a trashcan.

Cartoon Network Block Party #26 $2.25
Al: The Powerpuff Girls face a cereal crisis.
Kurt: It’d be way funnier if they faced a serial killer.

Deathblow #1 (MR) $2.99
Al: As part of Worldstorm, Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets) and Carlos D'Anda (Outsiders) bring back Deathblow, the...y'know, the dead guy.
Kurt: Speaking of reboots, there you go.

Deathblow Var Edition A #1 (MR) $2.99

Deathblow Var Edition B #1 (MR) $2.99

Fountain SC (MR) $19.99
Al: Softcover version of last year's book based on Darren Aronofsky's upcoming movie of the same name, which has been in development for ages. This movie is the reason Brad Pitt was sporting a crazy beard a couple years back; when it got shelved, Pitt shaved and Aronofsky took the whole shebang to Vertigo to be drawn by the mighty Kent Williams (responsible for loads of things, but I remember him for Havok/Wolverine: Meltdown, which totally blew my mind like fifteen years ago). The movie has since been revived with a smaller budget and scale, and with Hugh Jackman in the lead; if you want Aronofsky's original vision, this is the only way to get it. And his original vision is a bit clunky and pretentious, but worth checking out.

Hawkgirl #57 $2.99

Ion #7 (of 12) $2.99

Jack Of Fables #4 (MR) $2.99
Al: Jack attempts a prison break. But will Teabag make him grab his pocket?

JSA Classified #18 $2.99

Justice #8 (of 12) $3.50
Kurt: I will probably have kids by the time this series finishes, which means never.

Justice League Of America 2nd Ptg #1 $3.99

Kikaider Code 02 Vol 5 (MR) $9.99

Legion Of Super Heroes Vol 3 Supergirl $14.99

Loveless #12 (MR) $2.99

Planetary #26 $2.99
Al: The solit says "If there was an issue of Planetary you shouldn't miss, this is it!" But there aren't any issues that you should miss, so I don't get it. This is the dopest comic I know.
Kurt: I know it’s great, but I was pretty lost the first time I read it through. I’m still buying it and I’m going to read it all in one sitting sometime.

Secret Six #5 (of 6) $2.99

Seven Soldiers #1 (RES) $3.99
Al: Yes, it's true: here it finally is. I feel like this book should arrive at the comic shop with a marching band.
Kurt: Or a letter of apology.

Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger Vol 1 TP $16.99

Supergirl And The Legion Of Super Heroes #23 $2.99

Supergirl The Legion Of Super Heroes Var ED #23 $2.99

Superman Batman Annual #1 $3.99

Swan Vol 8 $9.99
Kurt: Sadly lacking in both Michael Gira and experimental noise. See if you caught that reference.

Teen Titans Go #36 $2.25

Trials Of Shazam #3 (of 12) $2.99

Uncle Sam And The Freedom Fighters #4 (of 8) $2.99
Al: Know what'd be cool? If Jon Stewart were on this team. And, like, Tony Snow could be the bad guy. I'd buy that book.
Kurt: Are you trying to get people to send me hate mail? I already got ripped for failing to present the “conservative Republican perspective” over the library thing, and there you go.

Vs (versus) Vol 3 $9.99

Warlord #9 $2.99

Wetworks #2 $2.99

Wetworks Var ED #2 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

Battle Pope Vol 2 Mayhem TP (MR) $12.99

Common Foe #4 (of 4) $3.50

Godland #13 $2.99
Al: New arc! Get onboard!
Kurt: Indeed, and in the middle of the series!

Hawaiian Dick Vol 2 Last Resort TP $14.99

Impaler #1 (of 4) (MR) $2.99
Kurt: Featuring my main man, Vlad Dracula.

Liberty Meadows Cover Girl HC $24.99

Marc Silvestri Sketchbook $2.99
Kurt: Let’s see who can count all of the detail lines.

Negative Burn #5 $5.99

Phonogram #1 2nd Ptg (PP #735) $3.50

Phonogram #2 2nd Ptg (PP #735) $3.50

Spawn #161 $2.95
Al: Apparently this is it: Armageddon. Just like Def Lepard says. I haven't actually checked in on Spawn for, oh, about 150 months now...I always felt like since they gave the guy a countdown, the series should've been finite. Should've ended around 60 or 70, like Y plans to. Anyone wanna weigh in and tell me how it's been, though?

Spawn Godslayer One Shot $6.99

Spawn Manga Collection TP $17.99

MARVEL COMICS

All New Off Handbook Marvel Universe A To Z #10 $3.99
Al: Ooh...Shatterstar. Hallelujah.
Kurt: Come on, Al! You’re an X-Force fan from way back! Man, even when I was a kid, I knew that book sucked.

Black Panther #21 $2.99
Al: I actually liked this series before the dude got married. Back when it was all crazy team-ups with Brother Voodoo and whatnot. Now it just irritates me.

Black Panther Bride TP $14.99

Captain America #23 Cw $2.99

Civil War Choosing Sides (PP #733) $3.99
Kurt: If you ever wanted to know which side Howard the Duck chooses in CIVIL WAR, here’s your chance.

Daredevil #90 $2.99

Daredevil Devil Inside And Out Vol 1 TP $14.99
Al: First trade of Brubaker's run!

Exiles #87 $2.99
Al: Guest-starring Silver Surfer.

Heroes For Hire #3 Cw $2.99
Al: Last issue, in a wholly likable story, the group (along with Cap America and Luke Cage) was betrayed by Paladin. This issue: well, I assume everyone gets really mad about it. Anyway, this book is pretty fun.

Heroes Reborn Fantastic Four TP $29.99

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man Vol 1 HC $19.99

Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Tales Suspense Vol 1 New ED HC $49.99
Al: Hey, do you like Martian death rays and guys named Monstro? Me too.

Marvel Masterworks Atlas Tales Suspense Vol 1 HC Var ED 69 $54.99

Marvel Select Flip Magazine #18 $4.99

Marvel Spotlight Heroes Reborn Onslaught Reborn $2.99
Al: Do you like being reminded of the worst era in modern comics? Me neither.
Kurt: Do you know what I like? Cold beer.

Marvel Tales Flip Magazine #17 $4.99

New Avengers #24 Cw $2.99

New Excalibur #12 $2.99

Nextwave Agents Of Hate #9 $2.99
Kurt: So, it turns out that NEXTWAVE was supposed to be an ongoing, and not a 12-issue-miniseries, as we originally believed. But now, it’s going to end at #12 anyway. Way to kick everyone in the nuts.

Ptolus City By The Spire 2nd Ptg Var #1 (of 12) $2.99

Runaways Vol 6 Parental Guidance Digest TP $7.99

Sensational Spider-Man #31 $2.99

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #11 $2.99

Stan Lee Meets Thing $3.99
Al: Yeah, I bet he does.
Kurt: Do they argue about who created him?

Ultimate Spider-Man #101 $2.99

X-Men #192 $2.99

Young Avengers Vol 2 Family Matters Premiere HC $22.99

Zombie #2 (of 4) (MR) $3.99
Al: Somebody told me that sweetbreads are actually brains, so I totally ate some last week. Turns out they're just thymus glands though, which are a gland under the brain. Tasty anyway, but it woulda been cooler if they'd been brains.
Kurt: This was way better than I expected.

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@mania.com.