Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name.
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject: Superheroes or otherwise?
Still thinking about Crossgen...
If we read a lot of comics, we don't have a lot of choice: we read about superheroes. I happen to like superheroes and think they're culturally important, but still...
Are we content with the range of subject matter available in comics? Would we like to see more, and if we would, what would it be? Crossgen had a go at pirates, fantasy, martial arts, comedy-horror and spies, in Britain we can still pick up war comics if we want to, but historical? SF, like Star Wars (what went wrong with Helix?)? If we could choose, what kind of comics would we be reading alongside the superheroes?
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: Superheroes or otherwise?
Anything really ... Well, I am not into romance comics but basically anything that is a genre in television, movies or books can work in comics. I am not going to pick up most westerns but there is one that I am waiting for currently. I just like good art and good stories.
As I've said before, I loved the mystery style, though that seems to be well out of vogue in this day and age. I guess it stems from the sort of TV I grew up with.
I think I'd probably like detective comics, especially noir types. I once picked up a stray copy of Black Kiss and, although rather shockingly adult, it had a great sleazy, gritty feel to it. I know there have been more of this type of thing in the past but somehow I missed them. I'd like to find more of them.
Black Kiss was nasty, but awesomely designed. The covers were stunning. As for Westerns, I love Giraud's Blueberry. We need more European stuff translated: Humanoids seems to be focussing on SF.
I keep thinking of ordering the Western graphic novel Joe Kubert did recently - can't remember what it was called - but never quite bite the bullet.
Anyone here familiar with Don Lawrence and Martin Ludewyk's (not at all sure of the spelling) Storm?
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
I haven't looked at the new X-Factor; perhaps I will.
Storm is a European graphic novel series set in a fantasy far future, with painted art by Don Lawrence who did The Trigan Empire, probably completely unknown in the US. There are some expensive translations available from Holland: I've only got, I think, one old British reprint and an episode printed in Heavy Metal. Your mini probably isn't it.
Of course, POWERS is detectives and superheroes. Anyone looked at that?
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
I haven't looked at the new X-Factor; perhaps I will.
Storm is a European graphic novel series set in a fantasy far future, with painted art by Don Lawrence who did The Trigan Empire, probably completely unknown in the US. There are some expensive translations available from Holland: I've only got, I think, one old British reprint and an episode printed in Heavy Metal. Your mini probably isn't it.
Of course, POWERS is detectives and superheroes. Anyone looked at that?
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Superheroes or otherwise?
It is written by Peter David with art by Ryan Sook (though not for long) and it is pretty good.
And nope .. That Storm isn't something I have seen. It sounds much more interesting than the mini series I had. Mine had decent art though.
I like Powers. The art sometimes works but the stories are pretty cool. The art seems like a Bruce Timm kind of thing but not done quite as well and it doesn't always fit. But it does sometimes, which is odd to me.
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Superheroes or otherwise?
As an addendum to other subjects I ike in comics, I forgot to include that I like Modesty Blaise quite a lot, so I suppose that kind of thing really appeals to me.
I suppose I also like Horror as a subject, provided it's done well- by that, I mean that I don't think gore works particularly well in the comics medium, but I think psychological horror and the literary devices work well. I think gore only really translates effectively in film; I bought the first issue of Faust many moons ago and although it's heavily gore laden it doesn't really come over too well.
I also occasionally like stories that are more rooted in reality from time to time. I have a copy of Wordsmith which I really like and it's totally true to life. Steampunk I find to be interesting as a genre, too, and I think most of these genres can be also be mixed up pretty effectively In short, there probably isn't any genre in comics that doesn't already exist in other media formats that I don't enjoy. Oh, I suppose I don't go a bundle on fantasy (as in LOTR type settings, or Barbarian stuff) but then it's not a genre I'm a big fan of in any medium.
Don't think I know Wordsmith. I think Steampunk can be good if you can justify it with with some backstory: His Dark Materials is great, although not really for kids.
I've never sought out anything by Peter David because I didn't enjoy his Hulk, which puts him in the category of creators I'll give a try if I've walked to the LCS and he's reduced and I can't find anything else.
I enjoy POWERS, more than any other Bendis, and yes, the art is sometimes so stylised it's a weakness, but often attractive.
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
I don't think many people have heard of Wordsmith and I've only got one copy. It was published by Renegade Press and my copy's from 1987. It was written by Dave Darrigo and drawn by RG Taylor, if tha means anything. It was about a writer living in New York in the 30's and though I can't speak for the series as a whole, the story I've got is lovely. Although it's perfectly true to life with everyday characters and concerns, it's beautifully written and drawn. It's gentle, but deals with some thought-provoking topics.
In those days I used to scour the bargain bins at my LCS and try the odd copy of anything new I found, so I bought some very eclectic things and had the occasional pleasant surprise. Problem was, being in the bargain bins there usually weren't any more issues, which was a shame.
Taylor rings a bell: Sandman Mystery Theatre, a lovely comic, also '30s-set, not mentioned in this, his profile at Caliber:
R.G. Taylor is best known for his work on Wordsmith which originally came out from Renegade Press. Caliber, after selling out of the trade paperbacks that collected Wordsmith, released them as individual issues. For Caliber, Taylor also did many short stories for Caliber Presents, the Silencers mini-series, and a variety of pin-up books showcasing his great artistic talents.
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Superheroes or otherwise?
Thanks, I've learned something there.
Another one-issue I picked up back then was called Wild Think, which was some time-experiment sci-fi thing. I always wondered about the rest of the series but recently found out (by Googling) that the first issue was the only one they produced. And as for something called The Protectors, which was about the worst comic I ever saw (and bought), I know nothing at all, except that even when it was in the bargain bin it had a shop sticker on it saying "Be warned, this is a REALLY bad comic."
What can I say? I always was a sucker for the underdog.
I did pick up something back in those days called The Wandering Stars, though. That was another short runner I think, but the art was by Sam Kieth who I know went on to better things.
On the question of POWERS art, I've wondered a few times how far you could go with Poser in that direction of extreme simplification and reduction to geometric shapes.
IMP. _________________ RIVER: skin on the outside. First chapter FREE from www.ianmpalmer.com
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Profile
Search
Memberlist
Log in to check your private messages
Usergroups
FAQ & TOS
Log in
