Blankets by Craig Thompson
© Craig Thompson
Nothing in Particular
By: Kurt AmackerDate: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Greeting, Maniacs, and welcome to another heart-stopping, villain-crushing edition of Comicscape. This week, I feel woefully short of ideas. I also failed to schedule an interview or garner enough mail to create a column. In lieu of a scathing editorial over the latest months-long delays, the flood of event books from Marvel and DC, or the misuse of certain beloved characters, I’ve decided to write one of those annoying stream-of-consciousness observational columns. Several things have interested me, but none of them really merit an entire column. Some of these things happened a few weeks ago, so no one remind me that I’m late as usual. Before we dive in and for what it’s worth, I’d like to express my condolences to the victims’ families and survivors of the massacre at Virginia Tech that happened on Monday. Based on his writings and erratic behavior, we can surmise that Cho Seung-Hui, the young man responsible, was clearly not well. That doesn’t alleviate his responsibility, but I only wish that someone had noticed sooner and worked to get him the help he needed – even if that meant having him committed or incarcerated. Part of me wants to think that this could’ve been prevented. And as a gun owner, I’m always dismayed when someone uses firearms to needlessly take lives instead of protecting innocent ones. But, the lesson here is that if you know someone that needs professional help, say something. Talk to them or someone in authority and do your best to direct them to a counselor or mental health professional. Don’t just laugh about “the crazy guy” when he leaves the room. Seung-Hui was referred to the school’s counseling service, so I realize not every tragedy can be prevented. But, we can at least try.
On a lighter note, most of you probably saw the early picture of Iron Man’s armor from the upcoming film adaptation directed by Jon Favreau. Coincidentally, Favreau played Franklin “Foggy” Nelson in Daredevil, so this constitutes his second work on a Marvel film. The picture looked pretty amazing, though it’s clearly an older version of the armor that will likely appear early in the film. Of course, the fanboys over at Ain’t He Huge News started complaining bitterly, but I expected nothing less. Based on the teaser poster already we released, we know the red and gold armor will be the focus of the film. It never ceases to amaze me how quick the knees jerk. Regardless, a few other pictures of Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark leaked a while ago and, as far as I can tell, they captured his appearance well. Several years ago, Tom Cruise expressed interest in playing Stark. That might’ve worked then, but I would just lead to scads of jokes now. Iron Man has never topped my list of favorite Marvel heroes, but I’ll definitely see the film and write about it.
Last fall, I wrote about a public library in Marshall, Missouri, where a citizen petitioned the library to remove two graphic novels – Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel, and Blankets, by Craig Thompson. The citizen suggested the library remove them or keep them behind the counter in reserve for adults based on some depictions of nudity and sexual situations. The library board responded by temporarily removing the books while it formed a committee to create a materials selection policy to further regulate incoming titles. In other words, the board yanked the books while it indulged in a little good old fashioned bureaucratic red tape. But on Wednesday, March 14th (again, I’m late) the board passed the materials selection policy and returned Blankets and Fun Home to the shelves. The board voted to move Blankets from the young adult shelf to the adult section, where it will join Fun Home and remain available for anyone with a library card to check out – including “the children.” Free speech prevails over mob rule, for once.
I complain about Marvel a lot. Hell, I complain about everything a lot. Editorial columns need teeth. You can’t spend always write about what you like. No one wants to read 2,000 words of praise every week. Fans enjoy whining about comics as much as they enjoy reading them. A lot of people read this column because they like to get mad – at publishers, at variant covers, at speculators, at Iron Man, and, sometimes, at me. But, I want to give Marvel due credit for diversifying its output beyond its main universe and even beyond superheroes. Besides more experimental approaches to heroes like newuniversal and Squadron Supreme, Marvel has also tapped Dabel Brothers Productions for adaptations of popular fiction. The publisher also has its creator-owned Icon imprint, which, with proper attention, could become its answer to Vertigo. Marvel Illustrated adapts some of the best works of adventure fiction ever written, sitting them next to their modern counterparts on the comic shop shelf. Then, there’s the still-underused MAX imprint for adults. While I wish it encompassed more titles, it hasn’t died like so many of Marvel’s older imprints. I complain that the market concentrates too heavily on superheroes all the time. To its credit, Marvel has introduced a glut of new genres and ideas to its repertoire. Now, buy some of this stuff so the market doesn’t crash. I don’t want to live through another “everything old is new again” kind of thing where Marvel cancels all of its titles and brings all of its heroes back to the Silver Age status quo.
Speaking of the market crashing, it occurred to me how the sale of individual comics is partially driven by their very short time in print. Sometimes, it feels like passing on an issue or waiting for the trade means risking a worthwhile investment – either by missing a great story or an issue that ends up on E-Bay for $100. I really hate speculation and I don’t buy comics in hopes that they’ll accrue in value. But, seeing an issue you passed on sell out and quickly shoot up in value makes one feel a bit left out. Hence, monthly titles issues sometimes feel like a lottery ticket. They shouldn’t, though – you shouldn’t buy books to sell, and you shouldn’t shell out a mint on E-Bay for a hot issue. But, I think the industry has successfully fostered that insecurity in us – we just have to buy first prints, rare variants, and other collectibles, even if we never intend to sell them. Granted, some of us have shaken those habits. I prefer to own first prints and original issues, but that’s where I draw the line. As consumers, trade paperbacks make more sense for us than individual issues. They’re more durable, they stay in print, and you can read through the story in a single sitting with no advertisements. But, several comic professionals and publishers have reminded us that trades are predicated by successful monthly sales. If the publisher cancels a series because of poor sales, trades go down with it. But, while some readers really want their monthly installment of a story, several (including me) just save up arcs and miniseries until the entire story has passed. This almost feels akin to waiting for the trade, but individual issue sales keep titles in prin. And, I like having all of the covers. And hey – those issues can only go up in value, right?
Speaking of individual issues, I can’t help but stare at the growing wall of comics on the floor next to my bed. It started out as a stack of stuff I intended to read, but that has grown to three-and-a-half stacks. Granted, they’ve only reached the one-foot mark thus far. But at this rate, I think I’m going to have a fort around my bed in a few months. This only bothers me because it reminds me of the exorbitant amount of money I spend on comics, coupled with the fact that I will likely never catch up on my backlog of unread issues. I will literally die before I’ve read through all of the stuff I’ve bought over the years and filed to eventually read. Comics have become this insidious combination of an impulse buy and a long-term commitment. I pick up a title because I like the writer or someone I trust recommends the series. Or, I have to editorialize about it here, so I’m forced to read crap like House of M. But, that single-issue purchase turns into an entry on my pull list. That entry turns into a six month commitment as I save up the first arc, or at least take that long to realize that I don’t like the series. Then, I have to debate whether I really want to drop the title or wait for a few more issues. If I drop it, I put the run on E-Bay to try to make some of my money back. This is not the same as speculating, because I don’t buy “hot” books to immediately sell them. Most of the money I make doesn’t even match the cover price. Comics don’t usually accrue value – they lose it. Reading comics will bleed you dry in the end. But, I’m hooked, just as you probably are.
That’s it for this week, guys. Thanks for reading. Hopefully, I’ll be back next week with something more cohesive.
Spinner Rack
Ben: This week WWIII is finally upon. No one saw you coming France and Canada, you sly devils.
Kurt: I always knew there was a reason to blame Canada.
DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan #39 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: What is best in life? This book.
Ghost in The Shell 1.5 Human Error Processor #7 (of 8) $2.99
Oh My Goddess Vol 26 TP $10.95
DC COMICS
52 Week #50 $2.50
Ben: As much as there have been highpoints that I have really enjoyed, I can’t help but feel that the entire WWIII saga could have taken place in this book over several weeks.
Kurt: Decompression means more issues sold. Not only that, but sand doesn’t taste good.
Aquaman Sword of Atlantis #51 $2.99
Army @ Love #2 (MR) $2.99
Batman and the Mad Monk TP $14.99
Ben: If you give him ice cream he’ll get over it.
Kurt: So wait – the Mad Monk’s a chick? All right, I’m going to hell for that.
Birds of Prey #105 $2.99
Brave and the Bold #3 $2.99
Ben: If you’re into escapist retro this is for you.
Kurt: Meh.
Canon Vol 1 $9.99
DMZ #18 (MR) $2.99
Ex Machina #27 (MR) $2.99
Flash the Fastest Man Alive #11 $2.99
Ben: But don’t expect Asafa Powell to be impressed.
Kurt: I actually had to look his name up on Wikipedia to get the joke. So, here you go: AHAHAHAHAHA!
Hellblazer #231 (MR) $2.99
Hellblazer Reasons to be Cheerful TP (MR) $14.99
Kurt: A pack of Silk Cuts and a pint?
Justice League of America #8 $2.99
Justice League of America VAR Ed #8 $2.99
Legion of Super Heroes In The 31st Century #1 $2.25
Kurt: I think this is an adaptation of the cartoon, or at least it’s done in the same style.
Manhunter #30 $2.99
Nightwing Annual #2 $3.99
Ben: I realize he is a busy guy but only doing this once a year seems counterproductive. Talk about being backed up.
Kurt: I don’t know whether to laugh or fire you.
Recipe For Gertrude Vol 4 $9.99
Betty Crocker: Place Gertrude in blender. Bring 3/4 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and espresso powder to simmer in medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour over chocolate. Cover tightly; blend 5 seconds (use a loud blender to cover screams) and serve.
Kurt: Why does this make me think of the Thanksgiving trailer from Grindhouse?
Robin #161 $2.99
Scooby Doo #119 $2.25
Shadowpact #12 $2.99
Showcase Presents Superman Vol 3 TP $16.99
Spirit #5 $2.99
Superman Batman #34 $2.99
Testament #17 (MR) $2.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre #6 (MR) $2.99
Wonder Woman The Greatest Stories Ever Told TP $19.99
Ben: I hope they include some of the old bondage stuff. I can’t believe how often she ended up being tied up in her own rope.
World War III Part Four United We Stand $2.50
World War III Part One A Call To Arms $2.50
World War III Part Three Hell Is For Heroes $2.50
World War III Part Two The Valiant $2.50
Kurt: I should really get caught up on 52 so that I can figure out what the hell’s going on and write a column about it.
IMAGE COMICS
Blood Nation #3 (of 4) $2.99
Kurt: I really wanted to read this, but it looks like I’m going to have to hit Mile High Comics or wait for the trade.
Drain #3 (MR) $2.99
Girls #24 (MR) $2.99
Ben: Naked women, violent sex, castration, the brutal deaths of women and gay men, and giant sperm terrorism. We’ll miss you, Girls.
Hero By Night #2 (of 4) $2.99
Ben: This is one of those moderately low quality presentation books that the wannabe comic writer/artist in all of us must root for.
Invincible #40 $2.99
Kurt: I probably should have picked this up from the beginning, but it looks like it’s hardcovers from here on out.
Negative Burn #10 (MR) $5.99
Rocketo Vol 2 TP Journey To The Hidden Sea $19.99
MARVEL COMICS
Anita Blake VH Guilty Pleasures #6 (of 12) $2.99
Ben: Leading up to Anita Blake Volume 2: VD Guilty Pleasures
Kurt: I’d probably accept a little VD if it meant indulging in some guilty pleasures with Anita Blake.
Annihilation Book 2 HC $29.99
Ben: If you didn’t read this the first time then 1) You suck 2) Buy this and read it now.
Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes II #8 (of 8) $3.99
Cable Deadpool #39 $2.99
Civil War Amazing Spider-Man TP $17.99
Civil War Front Line Book 1 TP $14.99
Ben: This right here really pisses me off. It was an eleven issue limited series. Why the hell can’t the whole thing be collected in one volume?
Kurt: Because paying $14.99 twice seems like less than paying $29.99 once to some people.
Civil War The Confession 2nd PTG Maleev VAR $2.99
Ulysses S. Grant: I was drunk through the whole thing.
Civil War Thunderbolts TP $13.99
Daredevil Devil Inside & Out Vol 2 TP $14.99
Marvel Adventures Avengers #12 $2.99
Marvel Adventures Flip Magazine #24 $4.99
Marvel Heroes Flip Magazine #24 $4.99
Kurt: Does anyone buy these things?
Marvel Spotlight Spider-Man $2.99
Mighty Avengers #2 CWI $2.99
Ben: The countdown to the landmark issue #100 begins here. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Kurt: I guess that makes sense. Yeah.
Mighty Avengers 2nd PTG Cho VAR #1 (PP #759) $3.99
Kurt: Welcome to algebra class.
Moon Knight #9 CW $2.99
Orson Scott Cards Wyrms #3 (of 6) $2.99
Prey Origin of The Species TP $10.99
Punisher Max Vol 7 Man of Stone TP (MR) $15.99
Sensational Spider-Man #37 $2.99
Squadron Supreme Hyperion Vs Nighthawk #4 (of 4) $2.99
Ben: Did this ever recover after it switched from the Max imprint?
Kurt: I recently dropped it like a crying baby.
Ultimate Spider-Man #108 $2.99
Ultimate X-Men #81 $2.99
X-23 Target X #5 (of 6) $2.99
Ben: I really like this comic.
X-Factor #18 $2.99
X-Men #198 $2.99
Young Avengers Vol 2 Family Matters TP $17.99
Kurt: Enjoy this. Savor it. Buy it and read it twice, for this is the last you will see of the Young Avengers for months – years, even!
And yay for that library doing the right thing. So little of that happening in the USA lately. . . been a bad decade so far.