DC News & Views 01.10.04

Archive

Wha?! But We Never Cover Brubaker

Ed Brubaker doesn’t hold back. Whether it’s arm wrestling fans to help promote his recent releases, writing about the pain and heartaches of growing up in his autobiographical indie hit Lowlife, or guaranteeing reader satisfaction with his books by offering to personally refund their money, Brubaker is a creator who lays it all on the line–every time, every project. Such intensity has brought him both critical praise and a growing, loyal fanbase who eat up his work on such noir hits as Catwoman and Sleeper. Recently announced (unofficially-press release forthcoming with details) as the new writer on The Authority, Brubaker takes on his first ever team book. Think he’s scared of the challenge?-HA!

Read an all too rare piece on the highly reclusive Brubaker at Newsarama

At the risk of sounding like a groupie (which I so obviously am) does this guy right anything badly? Just look at the resume: Gotham Central, Sleeper, some excellent Batman stuff, Catwoman, Lowlife, and now The Authority. Now granted, it is possible that his work on Authority could just be the worst thing ever, but it seems pretty damn unlikely, doesn’t it?

The honorable Jim Lee does raise an interesting issue that I hope will prove not to be an issue: Brubaker is an American writing a book that has been, heretofore, unsullied by a grubby, arrogant United Stateser (yes, yes, not a real word, I know). I definitely do not think it matters in the least, but the first time Constantine was ever written by an American (I want to say it was Vaughan, but I could be the world’s most inaccurate writer on that score) there was considerable outrage. The stories turned out to be good, however, and the shouting for blood trailed off. Now, there will be a movie starring Keanu Reeves who is very, very American. Way to go Vaughan (or someone else whom I owe many apologies) you were a true trailblazer.

Back to the discussion in progress. I do not expect that an American writing Authority will result in very much of an outcry. While The Authority may have been helmed by a string of English writers, the characters are not expressly English, as was part of the reason for the outcry with Constantine. While Authority may own its considerable popularity to Millar and Ellis and be forever associated with them, it does not hold any sort of strong ties to the Isles, as near as I am aware. In other words, no one thinks, “Ahh, Authority…that British comic rocks.”

Besides, did I mention that the American in question is Brubaker?


“Come Kitson, Everybody Else is Doing it. Join DC.”

DC has announced that artist Barry Kitson has signed a three-year exclusive with the publisher. First up for the artist under the deal – a JSA miniseries written by Kevin Anderson tentatively titled Lord Dynamo.

See how many ways the same release can be presented at the following sites:
Newsrama
The Pulse
CBR
ComiXtreme
Comics Continuum

Good call, DC, good call. Now bring on Empire II. Seriously. Now.


Lee and DiDio Rap About DC…and Spidey?

Dan DiDio is a person in the industry who doesn’t need an introduction…unless of course, you have had your head in the ground for the bulk of last year. In fact, in less than a year, he has steered the good ship USS DC around, busting into the top 25 with a number of DC projects and turning heads with his passionate determination to make DC number one. I had a chance to talk Dan at about life, comics, and Gorilla suits.

Newsarama

Hey, DiDio mentioned “decompressed storytelling”! Yeah! Of course, that means the phrase is now all establishment so us cool folks can’t use it. Alas, another bites the dust.

I am actually quite thrilled with this interview. You see, three or four months ago, Wizard interviewed him about the rash of creators he had successfully signed to exclusive contracts and I was very interested in what he had to say. Unfortunately, a lot of his comments went the way of “Well, so and so just bought a house and I threw him enough money so he could keep it so, there you go.” Now, he was obviously being flip and humble, which is cool and rare, but I really did want to know what persuasive techniques he used, because I pray it wasn’t just cash. This interview has him much more serious, while still witty and urbane, and I learned a whole lot more. I can safely say I dig DiDio now and I feel good about that.

But “decompressed storytelling”? Did he need to go to that well?


Will Dennis is one of the sharpest editors working the business today. He has to be when he has to work with some of the most creative minds this business has to offer: writers as unique and authorial as Brian Azzarello and Brain Vaughn and artists as diverse as Eduardo Risso and Joe Kubert. He also happens to edit some of the most critically acclaimed titles this industry as to offer–gems like 100 Bullets, Y the Last Man, Hellblazer, The Losers, and the recent Sgt. Rock hardcover.

This past year, he has added more mainstream fare to his plate with the addition of the Azzarello/Risso Broken City arc on the monthly Batman book and Azzarello’s upcoming run on Superman drawn by some guy.

Newsarama

I feel I should know this Dennis better just given the range of the titles he has edited. Alas, I do not. However, after reading the interview, I suspect it is only a matter of time before this guy goes the way of Alonso and becomes a household name. At the very least, that is my hope. Although, with the gigs he has now, toiling unnoticed may be pretty good, too.


QUESTION OF THE WEEK Reminder

Worst wrap up to a great arc or series?

Write in today to parallaz2@juno.com. And check out www.brendanloy.com for more of me then you ever knew you wanted. But you do…you definitely do.