Comic Book Resources

I thought "Marvel" was the name of Noh-var's ship and that's why it was called "Marvel Boy."

And I'm not sure you can fault Marvel divas for having four characters with no history together when that's the basis for almost every team-book out there.

"Random Thought! I like The Dark Knight Strikes Again and All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder more than The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. Insane Frank Miller is the Frank Miller for me."

Um. No.

Sorry.

He's not Marvel Boy? Next you'll want me to believe there's no one named "Doctor Who"...

Insane Miller, eh? How'd you feel about The Spirit?

"If Ed Brubaker wants to bring Steve Rogers back, then I say let Ed Brubaker bring Steve Rogers back. Anyone who’s been reading Captain America and doesn’t trust Brubaker obviously hasn’t been reading Captain America properly."

Wow. Never thought of it that way. Well said.

"Um. No. Sorry."

DUHHHHRRRRRR, MY OPINIONS IS GOODER THAN YOUR OPINIONS !!!!!!!!!!

DUHHHHHHH UM NO EPIC FAIL

Bill--It's flawed and all, but I kinda dug it. Insane and garish and pure Miller without any compromise. I'm glad I saw it in theatres and will definitely pick up the DVD.

"Random Thought! Crank: High Voltage is the standard by which all movies in 2009 will be measured. Brilliant movie."

It's actually the best movie ever.

Maybe the first and second movies spliced together is actually the best movie ever though.

"Anyone who’s been reading Captain America and doesn’t trust Brubaker obviously hasn’t been reading Captain America properly."

That's pretty good logic. There's definitely no reason to not trust the guy. He's given everyone something like 50 issues of good, I don't think he going to screw it up that easily.

"I like The Dark Knight Strikes Again and All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder more than The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. Insane Frank Miller is the Frank Miller for me."

That actually makes a lot of sense... almost. I think people fail to realize that old Frank Miller was fucking crazy too. DKR is insane in it's own right. Most of his work is. I'd say that Frank Miller hasn't changed, readers and their perception of his work has.

Where you're crazy, though, is thinking that there's really anything better than Year One. That's a pretty great book that stands on its own, regardless of Miller (or even Batman).

"Insane Miller, eh? How’d you feel about The Spirit?"

Obligatory "The Spirit ruled and anyone that didn't like it is silly and dumb" post:

The Spirit ruled and anyone that didn't like it is silly and dumb.

I enjoy ASBAR as much as I enjoy DRK, although in different ways. Year One is better than all of them, and I've never enjoyed DKSA at all (though I'd rather read it again than watch the Spirit again).

Screw pdf. Cdisplay is where its at. Helps to have a tablet.

You can get a much better edition of the Nikopol Trilogy for "just" 100 dollars here:
http://www.amazon.com/Nikopol-Trilogy-Enki-Bilal/dp/0967240123/

Not much of an improvement, I know. Well, the first two books (the better ones, don't worry they are pretty much self-contained) may also be found for less.

Gods in Chaos for 10 bucks:
http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Chaos-Graphic-Enki-Bilal/dp/0874160499/

Woman Trap for 15:
http://www.amazon.com/WOMAN-TRAP-Translated-Tom-Leighton/dp/B000N77JW2/

Anyway, why do you think Action Comics #1 is worth so much? Because it's in demand and RARE! Those Bilal books are in demand and rare also (albeit in a different order of magnitude), so they are worth money.

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

I would kill to read Pinball, 1973, but I wouldn't pay more than 20 bucks for the pleasure.

i completely agree with you on the subject of digital comics...they suck. i haven't the slightest idea why people keep talking about this being the next step in the evolution of comics. if that does happen i'll be a trader reader only...

The Dane -

You're welcome.

I think Born Again is Miller's best work as a writer, so I guess I like Corporately-Constrained and Handcuffed by Continuity and Constricted by the Monthly Format Miller best of all.

Who knew?

Having just watched the Spirit last night, I can safely say it is mind-numbingly terrible and would have killed a lesser man.

But I really really ree-hee-hee-heeeeally want to see Crank 2.

Crank: High Voltage is at the top of my "Must Watch" list for the year. I really need to go see that.

There's a lot not to like about Marvel Divas, but hiring Tonci Zonjic to do the interiors and then getting J. Scott Campbell to do the covers takes the mind-boggling cake for me. Zonjic's art has an inky, sketchy, European thing happening, and Campbell's is all bubbly, gratuitous T&A shit. Their styles -- and the tones of their styles -- couldn't clash harder.

I'm pretty sure I've never read an issue of Hellblazer, and I don't know why.

Since Didio H-A-T-E-D 52 so much it makes me wonder if that's why he spoiled the ending(s) to 52 in the DC Nation columns.

One of the best works to take advantage of the medium its produced in that I’ve come across in a while.

The technology maybe, but the medium?

Sorry man, that one point - on the money with the others- just jibes.
Sounds like you justifying like a film you know is trashy... which is fine,but some whacky angles and quick editing does not a masterpiece make.

Hey Nortorious, how did Didio spoil the ending to 52? i didn't read the comic, but i really like DC, so what thing did Didio say that spoilt it? Thanks!

"Random Thought! While there are many things that are obviously dumb about Marvel Divas, the one that immediately jumped out at me is the choice of the four women to star in the book: Black Cat, Hell Cat, Firestar, and Photon. Have these four characters ever appeared in a comic book together?"

Books like these used to get made to protect the rights to the characters. That isn't necessary today, as Bendis usually uses one of them every 3 months or so as that month's ignorant slut/helpless victim in need of rescuing by the strong, brave hero.

"i completely agree with you on the subject of digital comics…they suck. i haven’t the slightest idea why people keep talking about this being the next step in the evolution of comics. if that does happen i’ll be a trader reader only…"

Digital comics are important for many reasons. Here are two:

Distribution--there is no obstruction between creator and audience. One could create and distribute a comic for literally no cost. None! That means that there will be more creators, more experimentation, and more content, all of which provide the opportunity for great advances in comics.

Format--comic creators have been constrained by format in a very large way. The panel, strip, and page have been the units of comics artists for a long time. Online comics are not obligated to follow any single format over time, and creators may use any format as a means of making the best comic possible.

Chad doesn't, as you contend, say that digital comics suck. He says that the particular use of pdf files in comics he has read have not provided a good use of the format. This is a problem to be solved, not just something to be derided.

The internet is an incredibly powerful tool, and it can serve to make comics better in any capacity. Digital comics aren't a way to degrade or diminish comics of the past; they are a way to improve comics in the future.

"One could create and distribute a comic for literally no cost. None! "

Except the cost of drawing materials, a scanner, Internet service, and web hosting. At minimum.

People who use PDFs to make and view comics digitally don't know how to make and view comics digitally. There, I said it.

I would submit it's mostly Adobe Acrobat that sucks. Comics PDFs are better on FoxIt or Sumatra. Still not perfect, but better.

You like DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN and ASS-BAT, but you WON'T be seeing X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE?

You're a complicated man, Nevett.

danjack

Without the source material available to me at the moment, the best that I can remember was that in one DC Nation column that Black Adam would be responsible for World War 3 in retaliation for the murder of his family before any of those events even happened.

The other thing he spoiled in DC Nation was the coded message hidden in a paragraph of the column, essentially challenging us to decode it. The Message stated that the multiverse still exists, which wasn't officially revealed until issue 52.

If you look up the exit interviews Newsarama conducted with 52's writer's you can tell they weren't too impressed.

You guys are really that big on Crank 2? I thought the first one was terrible and definitely worse than the Wolverine workprint. But I guess if you like crazy Miller you could find entertainment in the movie series.

Crank was the smartest dumb movie I've ever seen. It gave the viewer 30 seconds of exposition and then relentless action for the rest of the flick, with some neat little techniques thrown in (like the reversed subtitle), and was absolutely hilarious. I only hope Crank 2 is as ridiculous.

I'm not really a fan of the high speed action/thriller genre in film, but... man, Crank and Crank 2 are brilliant--with Crank 2 being one of those rare sequels that is far better than the original.

In regards to Frank Miller:
Year One, Man Without Fear, and Born Again were brilliant. All Star is so bad it's good. It's honestly a comic that as you read it you can't believe it's as bad as it is, but that you're having such a good time anyway. As for DKR- I respect it for what it is and what it did for comics, but I've never been as huge a fan as most.

In regards to digital comics:
I only buy trades. IMO, Trades are just far a more efficient, easy to read, easy to store way to read comics. Not to mention you arguably get more for your money since the cost of a trade is generally cheaper than the cost of buying all the single issues and sometimes comes with additional content. That said, I would enjoy keeping up with storylines through the digital format, and for a small fee I'd pay to read them that way monthly then buy my trade when it hits the shelves. It can also be an easy and cheap way for new readers to try out a comic. I've lost track of how many times I and my friends checked out an issue or two of a comic online then ended up going out and buying all the trades. It's a resource/business model that has tons of potential and that most of the big companies have yet to really utilize efficiently, mostly, it seems, out of fear. Let's face it, most people, especially fans, won't be content to read comics online alone. Most will want to have a "real" copy in hand.

"Except the cost of drawing materials, a scanner, Internet service, and web hosting. At minimum."

Here you go.

I made this with a default program, on a free internet connection, on a public computer. It's not good, but it exists!

P. S.--I published it free, too!

Wouldn't your Marvel Divas complaint - that these four characters have never appeared in a book together before - have applied to the first appearances of, say, The Avengers and The Justice League? What am I missing here?

In regards to overpriced used books, I've seen that a lot lately on eBay and Amazon's sellers pages. There are several OOP or hard to find books, CD's, and DVD's I search for periodically. I'll find them on Amazon for a RIDICULOUS amount of money. I come back weeks later and the same listing is still there. Hmmm...I WONDER WHY?!?!

I understand wanting to make a profit off something, but you've got to know you're marketplace and customers. Even in a good economy, few if nay people are going to pay $200 for a book, or $100+ for a CD. Otherwise, the seller is just left holding on to the merchandise instead of, you know, actually SELLING it...

Rohan Williams--The idea that these four characters are FRIENDS despite never appearing together at all. That's a lot different than a group of pre-existing characters brought together by a common threat and forming a team as a result.

Evidence supporting the opinion ( which I share with Chad ) that Brubaker can be trusted with Steve Rogers' return is available in his first two years on Captain America, in which he wrote the character fantastically. In no small part because Brubaker portrayed Steve as a very human character, capable of anger and sadness.

Bryan Hitch drawing it I'm not so sure about, not only because of the potential delays, but the fact that the quality of his art has fallen off quite substantially in recent years ( he can still do pretty set pieces, but his human figures look static and unexpressive ).

I truly believe the Crank films to be incredibly inventive masterpieces. They are getting a cult following and I can see in the future being as influential and acclaimed as now-respected B movies such as Noirs like Detour and Russ Meyer films

Divas, this problem would have been easly solved, with removing Blackcat, and subing with, Jen walters, tigra, flamebird, sliverclaw, or any other Female avenger with out a book.

But then you could not have the cover gust apperance of Spiderman in issue 3 or 4 to try and push the sales.

Divas, this problem would easily be solved if the WWE would just sue Marvel to prevent its release.

Regarding the insane pricing on some out-of-print used books, you'd think comic book fans would understand the concept of high prices on collectors items.

Andrew Collins, how long has that copy of Giant Sized X-Men #1 been on the wall behind the register at your local comic book store (or pick another rare book that lingers on display but out of reach for years)? Just like with comics there's books, movies, CDs that have an awful lot of demand but not a whole lot of copies and when you price for that then it can take time to find a buyer.

As a book collector I've had to pay seventy or eighty dollars for a volume in order to complete a set. A copy of Pinbal, 1973 is just like that copy of Amazing Spider-Man #1 in that regard.

Gee, I thought I was a fan of Haruki Murakami, but I hadn't heard of either of those: any they any good, would be my first question, before I try to dig them up.

"Crank: High Voltage is the standard by which all movies in 2009 will be measured. Brilliant movie. One of the best works to take advantage of the medium its produced in that I’ve come across in a while."

Hmm. I saw it yesterday and I enjoyed it but I'm not sure about this. What it does, and does well, is take the flashy editing,irritating jumpcuts and swooshy sound effect which (for me) are the most irritating things about a lot of modern B-movies and, by amplifying it all to a ridiculous degree, show how these things can actually be a force for good if they're integrated into the style and story of the film rather than being used to get away without properly planning and executing real action stunt sequences. Add in all the daft genre pastiche skits and you end up with something which is the smartest kind of dumb you're ever likely to see, but that's all.

"Book Prices"

I honestly think a lot of this comes down to ignorance on the part of the dealers over how much some things, particularly more obscure works, are really worth. Presumably it starts with someone trying to profiteer somewhere, but there's such a close corelation between Amazon and EBay prices that it seems that small dealers are using these as their initial price guide. Hilariously, Amazon Marketplace has copies of Pete Milligan and Brenda[sic] McCarthy's "Rogan Josh" priced from £44 - £140, while a copy on eBay recently failed to attract a single bid despite a starting price of 99p.

RE: Didio/52

I think what they're referring to is Didio slipping a secret message into one of his DC Nation columns that said something to the effect of "The Multiverse is coming back." I forget what it is exactly, but I think it was in a column that was out about the same time the solicitations for the final issues came out, so it was well ahead of conclusion of the series.

Andrew Collins, how long has that copy of Giant Sized X-Men #1 been on the wall behind the register at your local comic book store (or pick another rare book that lingers on display but out of reach for years)? Just like with comics there’s books, movies, CDs that have an awful lot of demand but not a whole lot of copies and when you price for that then it can take time to find a buyer.

But in that example, there's a certain amount of prestige for the store to be able to display said book. It brings attention to itself, and the store probably figures that if someone actually buys it at whatever huge asking price they want, then fine, but if not, then fine also. But when we're talking about online sellers, I find it very hard to see the reasoning for asking $300 for a CD (which I've seen on Amazon Sellers). I'm a collector myself, so I'm not discounting mark-ups on older items. I've paid huge prices myself for certain things I wanted. But if an item listing on eBay or Amazon just sits there and sits there and sits there, I'm calling into question the pricing logic. Isn't the idea to sell the item(s)? I'm just saying their shooting themselves in the foot by marking things up TOO high in certain cases...

Insane Miller is fine as long as he's working with his own characters, but should keep his hands off the icons!

Regarding the Divas lacking any connection...haven't Black Cat and Firestar each been side-kicked to Spider-Man at one time or another?

They are getting a cult following and I can see in the future being as influential and acclaimed as now-respected B movies such as Noirs like Detour and Russ Meyer films

Ha.

There's a big difference in the respect given to Detour and that of any Russ Meyer films.

Meyer is often so bad it's good, or so bad it's great, but he never gets away from bad - even though some of his films have moments of true comic genius, they still never stop being tit movies.
Detour however was a B-movie in the sense that it was the lower budgeted second feature - the true meaning of b-movie - not what we use the term for now.
It was an exception in the terms of those films in that it's a very good, and very influential piece of cinema.

Russ Meyer is respected? I mean, I watched Up! at a party, and for a movie that opens with Hitler getting fucked up the ass and then having his penis eaten by a piranha and then moving onto a shitload of scenes of chicks with big boobs topless it was pretty entertaining, but holy shit, I cannot imagine him having a respected reputation beyond the lowest level of exploitation cinema fanatics.

(I fully qualify as a lowest level exploitation fanatic by the way, especially when it comes to 70's and 80's Italian and contemporary Japanese splatter flicks.)

Try 'Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!' or 'Supervixens' or 'Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls'.

Trash for sure, but there are some very good scenes amongst it all - still tacky and bad, but some show true style, beyond the lowbrow intentions of the film.
Like how some of Corman's films are held up.

Oh, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls was pretty awesome, even though I only saw the last hour of it, but it still, it was by the same creative team as Up!

I can definitely see some level of craft in what little of Meyer's work I've seen, but honestly I'd still say Uwe Boll shows far more of a grasp of the cinematic language than Meyer has in any of the films I've watched.

This might be based off the fact that I've watched much a larger portion of Uwe's cinematic cannon compared to Meyer, but the fact remains that Boll's evolution as a director in the 5 years between Blackwoods and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale is quite significant as compared to the 6 years between Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and Up!

You've got to be picky with Meyer's catalog to be sure - some days he just wanted to make a perv film, some days a comedy, often both - but some time he lifted his game and showed that he had some skills.

Think of it this way: Monica Rambeau has as much or more in common with Firestar, Black Cat and Hellcat as she did with Boom Boom, Elsa Bloodstone, Aaron Stack and the Captain, and that book worked out pretty well. I know the problem is that they're not a team, they're friends, but if memory serves, Nextwave never bothered to explain how these people became a team, why does Divas need to explain why they became freinds? Aren't friends usually just, you know, people you met at one point? Firestar's definitely met all the others; maybe not at the same time, but she teamed up with Black Cat in Maximum Carnage and met Monica when she and Justice first joined the Avengers (almost all the former Avengers were hanging around at the time) and, well, the only specific time I can remember her meeting Hellcat, Patsy was undead and teased her about being the new girl, but I have at least two friendships based on less than zombie teasing, so whatever (possibly Patsy tracked her down to apoligize after returning to life).

Anyway, for all we know, the first issue actually explains why they're all hanging out together (yeah, I doubt it too but you never know) but frankly, it's inspired by a sitcom, and there have been plenty of sitcoms about groups of friends that either never explain how these people actually know each other or wait until several seasons in before addressing it.

For that matter, they're all superheroes who lived in New York at the same time as each other at one point - I much prefer the idea that all superheroes working in the same city at least know each other than those comics where, say, Spider-Man and Rogue meet up and act like they've never met each other before even though you can list a half-dozen times they have off the top of your head.

and there have been plenty of sitcoms about groups of friends that either never explain how these people actually know each other or wait until several seasons in before addressing it.

Not usually featuring characters from other sitcoms though...

I understand wanting to make a profit off something, but you’ve got to know you’re marketplace and customers. Even in a good economy, few if nay people are going to pay $200 for a book, or $100+ for a CD. Otherwise, the seller is just left holding on to the merchandise instead of, you know, actually SELLING it…

I don't know. I've got books that I've got no interest in selling really, but would sell for the ridiculous prices they're up for on Amazon. I've considered listing them at a price that just undercuts the lowest price and then either I keep my books or I make a silly profit. Either way I'm happy.