Man, there sure is a lot of newsy goodness this weekend. And Saturday is Valentine’s Day, (for my skewed perspective on Valentine’s Day, check out my new column Complaint of the Week, available elsewhere. And yeah, I just did a plug. Whatever), so you just know this weekend is gonna rock. Before you share your love with another, however, sit down, read this, and indulge your love of comics.
DC Goes Asian
In a brief report in the current Time magazine (also available online), the magazine’s Andrew Arnold wrote that DC is planning on launching a manga imprint entitled CMX later this year. When asked by Newsarama, DC would neither confirm nor deny the claim by Arnold, but the fact that DC has acquired the domain name cmxmanga.com lends a certain amount of credence to the idea. Additionally, Newsarama has learned from other sources that the line will indeed be a reality later this year.
More at Newsarama
Ahh, the rub of manga here in the states. Easily the most popular format of comic book related periodicals in the world, they equal large revenues… in every where but America. I believe (although I could be very wrong) that bookstores sales wise, manga outsells “American†comic collections, but overall in the U.S., American superhero comics are king and manga is a far more niche industry.
For the diversity of the industry, it is a great thing. However, in the past, mainstream American company produced manga has not caught on, as recently demonstrated by the Tsunami line in which half the titles have already bitten the dust. As for the other half, well, they are certainly not out of the woods. If it is, as some of the talkback boards were guessing, a mix of both new material and reprints of Japanese materials, it could still prove profitable and maybe given the original series a chance to catch on. What exact form (or at all) this imprint takes remains to be seen.
DiDio, Wayne Talk, Talk, Talk
Dan DiDio’s rise to prominence at DC may have seemed phenomenal to outsiders; DiDio signed on as co-writer with his old friend Jimmy Palmiotti on the largely-overlooked (and subsequently cancelled-in part by DiDio himself!) Superboy series, and a few months later, he took an executive position as DC’s Vice-President-Editorial.
Just over a year ago, Dan talked to Cliff Biggers of CSN about his background, his job, and his plans for the future. At the end of 2003, Dan and DC’s Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Bob Wayne, made the time to talk to CSN again, following up on last year’s conversation, evaluating what has happened in the twelve months since then, and looking ahead in a broad sense to what 2004 has in store for DC.
More at Newsarama
Wow, a nice in-depth review of the past year and what is on the horizon. Very, very thorough. Still, I wonder DiDio feels about recently been rewarded the title of DC’s Jemas and “trying to turn DC into NuMarvel. It’s time to send him packing.†That might have been something of interest to him. Just a thought.
Overall, it seems as though there is an optimism about the future at DC that is very nice to see and the projects they single out for discussion all hold at least something level of promise. A good time to be into comics, I tell you what.
Superman, Lee Team Up to Destroy All Expectations
With Batman under his belt, Superman about to begin, artist Jim Lee is slowly working his way through the DC icons. His 12-part storyline with writer Brian Azzarello begins in April with a 40-page Superman #204. Although Lee didn’t want to spoil the storyline we were able to get some details about this, his work on Batman, SuperStorm, and his Psychology degree. He’s also given us a look at con sketches and pages from Superman, Question, and some other surprises with over 10 pieces of art for the second part of this interview.
More at The Pulse
Hey, I have a degree in Psychology and am pursuing a Masters. Lee has a degree in Psychology. Lee is a great artist and…well, I have this column. So…I guess we don’t have all that much in common after all. That is kind of…sad. (But you do those charming Fish Head cartoons, Tim. –Ben)
I acknowledge that it is kind of missing the point of an article about Jim Lee, but the Superman stuff that I am most excited about is not the stuff he is drawing. All three of the Superstorm books are shaping up to be very interesting reads. Obviously, a Lee drawn Superman will destroy all comers, but these are the books that I am a-watching and awaiting for.
Which just goes to show you…I am just a touch weird.
Stone Cold and Grey
Justin Gray is not your average creator. Before teaming up with Jimmy Palmiotti as a writing duo for several forms of media, including comics, his life had taken him several different places. Consider the following bio excerpts from the Paper Films website: “Chef, Fossil Hunter, micro photographer of 20 million year old insects and plants trapped in amber, seminars and exhibitions on the cleaning, mining and identification of said prehistoric insects for the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and the Smithsonian. Mined amber in the Dominican Republic. Along with eccentric inventor Roy Larimer, I delivered previously undiscovered species of insects to the curator of entomology at AMNH…In the summer of 1997 I traveled into the Wyoming badlands to help unearth the remains of a triceratops…I have also worked as a victim advocate for Victims Assistance of Westchester New York, a not-for-profit organization that helps victims of crime.†Gray and Palmiotti are also the new writing team for Hawkman, but he’s not quite ready to talk about that…yet (don’t worry, SBC will interview him about that when the time is right. More importantly, however, we got a chance to discuss the new DC ongoing series, Monolith, written by Gray and Palmiotti with art by Phil Winslade–a book that premiered to much critical fanfare last week. Before launching into the interview, here’s the official word from DC on the new series: “In the time of the Great Depression, a creature of clay was created to protect the lower East Side from the incursion of the underworld’s forces. It’s been long sealed away, but now the time has come once again for this monstrous beast to defend the denizens of New York!â€
More at SBC
Batman is going to stop by? No way! That is almost as uncommon as a Batman related title featuring Joker as a villain in the first 2 years or a Punisher crossover in the 90’s!
Ahh, but I kid. At least The Monolith are both Urban Vigilantes/Myths, so they have something in common.
To state again, I cannot recommend this book enough. A great start in the first issue, Winslade’s art is pitch perfect for the subject matter. Unique protagonists, a revival of an ancient fairy tale in modern times, and that aforementioned Batman appearance in the future add up to a title that is only going to get better in the issues to come. Get on board now, you will not be sorry.
Milligan Raises Kid Amazo
Sure, mantles are passed from heroes all the time, but what about the other side? The small fraternity of second-generation DCU villains (or…well, almost villains) grows by one in April with the hardcover JLA: Kid Amazo by Peter Milligan and Rob Haynes.
Yeah, that Peter Milligan writing the JLA, set in the DC Universe – without any kind of Vertigo caveat.
More at Newsarama
I have kind of given up on JLA in the short term due to the rotating creators, preferring instead to simply revisit my Morrison and Waid issues. I just can’t have my heart broken every six months by losing another set of creators just when I get used to them. I am just too fragile.
Anyway, despite that, I found myself drawn to this title. Haynes has a very unique style, last seen on Daredevil and Daredevil: Ninja (perhaps Bendis’s only mistake), and while I can understand those who dislike it, it works for me. Milligan has more than proven himself on Human Target and X-Statix with some smart, introspective work on that former and some “big†event, celebrity study on the latter. And since it is a miniseries, there is no long term commitment. I know it is a one off, so no fear of ending up heartbroken again.
Although the series does raise a question for me. With JLA having been recreated as essentially a series of miniseries, why is it that we are having another JLA miniseries? Why can’t this fit into the main title’s schedule? Just something to ponder.
In any case, Milligan, Haynes, and a new Amazo? Sign me up. (Ditto. I thought this would be just another throwaway JLA spin off, but this interview really intrigued me. I’ve never really read a Peter Milligan project, but I’ve always looked at his stuff with great interest, just waiting for something to suck me in. I’m a big fan of the concept of Amazo and this interview won me over as far as Milligan’s vision of the JLA I love. –Ben)
Scott to Take Over Robin, Takes Him Out
Damion Scott, whose dynamic 3-year run on Batgirl won him critical praise, takes over as interior and cover artist on Robin this May with issue #126. Scott, fresh off of drawing The Spectacular Spider-Man, joins writer Bill Willingham (Fables) with an issue that’s a perfect jumping-on point for new readers.
“I’m definitely excited about this,” said Scott. “Working on Robin is going to be fun. I always wanted to draw Robin, so I’m glad to have the chance. And I never liked pencilling for another inker as much as I like doing the whole art job myself.”
More at Newsarama
Scott draws some great action. Just check out the first year or so of Batgirl to see him handle the Bat family with a visual aplomb. I can’t remember the last time Robin had an artist who’s work I was excited for. This is great news.
On another note, no more Tim Drake Robin? Wha?! I mean, I know that Tim’s idea was always that he would hang up the fighting cogs and just move on, but the way time moves in DC-ville, I wasn’t expecting it this soon. I figured it would at least have to wait until I was in my thirties or something. I hope he returns soon, because I am just not sure I am ready to let the Robin of my generation depart. And really, it is all about what I am ready for. Right? (Just keep in mind a few things: 1) Tim Drake is part of the highly marketable Teen Titans cartoon, 2)Tim Drake is part of the highly marketable Teen Titans comic & 3)This is all happening around the same time as Identity Crisis. This is probably just the tip of a very tasty iceberg…now that is a metaphor. –Ben)
A Fake News Source Has A Real Ross Interview
Alex Ross first achieved fame by performing an unusual task with unusual artistry: painting superheroes who look real enough to touch. Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1970, Ross attended the American Academy Of Art in Chicago. Later, while working for an ad agency, he found his way into comic books, which had been a lifetime obsession. After cutting his teeth on a Terminator project, he teamed with writer Kurt Busiek for Marvels, the 1993 miniseries that made Ross’ name by presenting the Marvel universe from the perspective of a humble, and often helpless, photojournalist. Ross and writer Mark Waid then visited a possible future DC Universe for the wildly popular, unrelentingly apocalyptic, and oddly hopeful Kingdom Come in 1996. The politically charged, left-leaning Uncle Sam, written by Steve Darnall, followed the next year. While overseeing the Earth X series for Marvel (with which he has since acrimoniously parted ways), and turning out countless comic-book and magazine covers, images for collectibles, and other works, Ross and writer Paul Dini have spent the last six years producing oversized graphic novels in which DC icons take on real-world problems. Superman: Peace On Earth began the series in 1998, while later installments focused on Batman, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel, leading up to the recent JLA: Liberty And Justice. Though only in his mid-30s, Ross was also recently the subject of a career retrospective of sorts—Mythology: The DC Comics Art Of Alex Ross. A thick volume designed by Ross’ friend Chip Kidd, the collection details the painstaking process behind Ross’ work, which sometimes requires his friends and loved ones to dress in superhero costumes in the name of art. From his home in suburban Chicago, Ross recently spoke to The Onion A.V. Club about why he paints superheroes, the occasionally ugly business of comics, and how Superman can help make the real world a better place.
Check it out at The Onion A.V. Club
Well, I feel like I have discussed Alex Ross enough in this column so just read the interview and enjoy.
Wow, look at me being brief…impressive. (Don’t worry, Tim, I’ll cover for you. I got JLA: Liberty & Justice for my birthday and it was awesome. Buy it now, folks. Know what Tim got me for my birthday? A twenty dollar gift certificate to our local comic shop and an $11,000 debt on the newspaper I inherited from him. Thanks, Tim! –Ben)
Godwheel is All-Powerful…Sales Wise
DC Comics has sent ACTION COMICS #812 and ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #625 back to press for second printings. These issues feature the first two chapters of the highly anticipated “Godfall” storyline, co-written by Michael Turner & Joe Kelly, with art by Talent Caldwell & Jason Gorder and covers by Turner & Gorder.
More at The Pulse
Hey, we haven’t had one of these in awhile. A DC comic going back to print…to think, there was a time I couldn’t put out a column without some mention of Superman/Batman or Teen Titans hitting their fifteenth printing. Well congrats, Supes, with Lee coming on, this could be the norm for you. Hope you dig it. It certainly beats Superman Blue/Superman Red. I mean, come on DC, that was just awful.
DC, Others Eulogize Schwartz
This afternoon, DC Comics, the home of Julie Schwartz for the past 60 years released a eulogy for the legendary editor.
More at http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9007
The comic industry lost a friend, a goodwill ambassador and a tireless crusader last week with the passing of Julius Schwartz.
He was a good guy who always made time to talk to anyone who sought him out.
He will be missed.
I heard about Julie’s death from Bob Burden, of Mystery Man and Flaming Carrot fame. He and writer-editor-entrepreneur Jim Shooter sent in some words
Still more at Newsarama
I came late to the party. I was a Marvel reader as a boy, and didn’t know anything outside of that universe until years later. I hadn’t grown up on DC Comics and was far from expert on their history, but it didn’t make a difference. Julie Schwartz and I talked about jazz. Or about science fiction. Or the pulps during the Great Depression. He was a man of many worlds, not just science fiction and comics, and he could chat about anything. With this young upstart, he enjoyed talking about the legends he’d known. He was one of them, a legend, and he liked it. There was no arrogance there—just a man happy with the friends he’d made and the path he’d chosen. The path he’d blazed.
This one at SBC
Enjoy the weekend everybody and I shall do the same. Then, we’ll meet back here Tuesday for some more comics. WHEE!!!
This is Un Gajje’s place. And when Un Gajje’s speaks, ain’t nobody that goes home unhappy.
