- Posted by Johanna on July 8, 2012 at 8:03 pm
- Category: Graphic Novel News
Comment now »
Monday, July 9, 2012
More Books Should Have Comic Press Releases
Max & Lily Return!
- Posted by Johanna on July 8, 2012 at 5:25 pm
- Category: Digital and Webcomics
I'm absolutely thrilled to see the return of Max & Lily, an outstanding comic strip by Kris Dresen first published in minicomics beginning in 1996. Now Dresen is reposting the series as a weekly webcomic. Plus, as she says, 'I could add my commentary for each strip and post all of the covers and out-of-continuity comics and sketches and drawings and, and, and.'
Remember, if you haven't seen it before, it's new to you, and this is one really great comic. Reading Dresen's observations add in plenty of new material for old fans. I would love to have friends like these, so insightful and witty. Look, aren't they cute together?
Comment now »
Usagi Yojimbo: Traitors of the Earth
Although I enjoy each new Usagi Yojimbo volume just for the stories, I was particularly attracted to this latest collection due to the introduction. It's by comic grand master Walter Simonson.
As I would expect from such an insightful contributor, Simonson sums up beautifully the appeal of Sakai's series:
I have read this comic book, since its beginning, for all the right reasons. Regularly, like clockwork, it brings me the unalloyed joy of reading a well-told, well-drawn story, about characters I have come to care about. For me, that's the highest praise I can give any comic book.
That's why Usagi Yojimbo has continued for so long with such well-deserved recognition, and also why it's so hard to talk about. How do you find new ways to recommend a series whose greatest strength is its consistency in excellence? 'It's still good' doesn't draw attention or raise sales ' which is why so many other, shorter-running series resort to stunts or creative changes, and they still don't satisfy as much as Usagi does. Perhaps I should follow Walt's lead and talk more about how classic and accomplished Sakai's storytelling is 'fashioned with craft, care, devotion'. (Only I don't have nearly the reputation to stand behind it.)
Traitors of the Earth collects Usagi Yojimbo #117'#123 with stories from Dark Horse Maverick 2001 and MySpace Dark Horse Presents #35. The book opens with a flashback to young Usagi in training, where a demon story teaches an unexpected lesson. The following tale shows a grown-up Usagi continuing the tradition, educating another youngster. Those are just introductions to the much longer story, involving a stolen mystical trinket. It turns out to have the power to create an undead army in a beautifully illustrated tale. There's magic, death, battle, and someone called Sasuke the Demon Hunter to help rescue Usagi's possessed friend.
The friend is a thief, and the next chapter involves caring for her after her experience. Since this is an adventure comic, though, there's also a mystery about who's trying to kill a local merchant. Usagi additionally gets taken to a bandit gang's secret hideout and brings trouble on a poor family for their hospitality. The book ends with a reprint of issue #123, 'The Death of Lord Hikiji', which was nominated for a 2010 Eisner Award for Best Single Issue. It's about the futility of never-ending quests for vengeance.
There are also a few cultural story notes, a one-page 'Usagi vs. Groo' crossover, and a gallery of cover art. (The publisher provided a digital review copy.)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Does a Mashup of Media References a Cartoon Make?
- Posted by Johanna on July 7, 2012 at 3:14 pm
- Category: LinkBlogging
The local free weekly runs a comic panel called The HR Department by Ed Harrington. (I don't know if it's syndicated or not ' the problem with calling your comic something so generic means it's darn near impossible to google for information.) Here's the latest example:
While it tickled me, before I stopped to think about it, I also found myself wondering if this comic made any sense at all to someone who doesn't recognize the Mythbusters cast members. Aquaman's more well-known, I guess, but then there's the combination of the two. Is it funny? Or just self-satisfying when the reader recognizes all the references?
(And in the 'killing the joke' category ' Aquaman spends all his time in water. Where his hand is shouldn't matter.)
Similar Posts: Super Friends Video Clip § Mythbusters Marathon and Sweepstakes § How to Make Superhero Comics Interesting Again § Tiny Titans #33 § How to Make Your Free Sample Digital Comic Useful2 Comments »
Before Watchmen: Nite Owl Gives Some Odd Advice
- Posted by Johanna on July 7, 2012 at 5:28 pm
- Category: Superhero Reviews
I'm not sure I should be taking advice from superhero comics, let alone a line that screams 'we are totally out of ideas so we are strip-mining the most important graphic novel in our library'. The below is from Before Watchmen: Nite Owl, J. Michael Straczynski, writer, Andy and Joe Kubert, art.
I'm not going to comment on the rest of the book ' although Brian Hibbs lives up to the 'Savage Critic' name on it, and I can't argue with his points ' but this particular exchange struck me. Both for what it might say about how comic creators are viewing franchise superhero work these days, and how it echoed thoughts I've been having about my own 20-year career talking about comics online.
Like much of its genre, on further reflection, this piece of advice strikes me as rather immature. Adults don't do things solely because they're meaningful ' they also do them for income, to build a career, to take care of their family, because you don't throw over your life on a whim or a bad day. There's also obligation, living up to your word if other people are depending on you continuing what you said you would do. However, adults also don't put on costumes to punch people, so perhaps this is as starry-eyed misguided as what that type of story has become. As an argument against self-reflection, though, I reject JMS's 'advice'.
Similar Posts: Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre #1 § Love and Capes: Wake Up Where You Are ' Best of 2011 § Superhero Comic Sexism ' A Futile Fight? § Excellent Blogging Advice From Ed and Brigid § I'm Not One of the Gang2 Comments »
Avengers Home Video Trailer, Second Screen App Available Now
Here's a trailer for Marvel's The Avengers on Blu-ray, due out September 25.
Although 'The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App' is a special feature for the Blu-ray, Marvel has released it now. You can't follow along with the movie yet, obviously, but they're rolling out 'exclusive content' every other week during July and August, weekly in September until the Blu-ray comes out.
Right now, you can access S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel files for Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff, with other characters coming later (including Jasper Sitwell!). Here's an example, with most of the items being touch-clickable for bigger images and galleries (if you remember that you can swipe to scroll):
You can also play along with with the Item 47 Comic-Con experience ' the first activity is a map puzzle of San Diego ' or view three 'visual effects showcases', which show the different layers involved in those movie sequences. Not yet unlocked are folders labeled 'Comic Book Origins', 'Sync' (presumably with the movie), or 'Avengers Initiative Timeline'. These match up with the promise of the ability to 'view the major events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ' Phase 1 on the definitive timeline of all 6 movies' and 'seamlessly link the characters, stories, and scenes of the movie back to their comic book origins through the interactive Marvel digital reader.'
The app is available for your iPad or iPhone (first time for second screen on that platform).
Similar Posts: Disney Publishing Releases Marvel Avengers iPad Story Apps § Avengers DVD Dates Announced § New Avengers Poster, Trailer Released § More Thoughts on the Avengers Movie, Particularly Money § Marvel Announces Captain America Sequel for 2014
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Everything You Like About Netflix? Analysts Think That's a Bad Idea
It doesn't surprise me to see more evidence that, in today's connected world, the interests of consumers and entertainment providers continue to diverge greatly. It's just rare to see it expressed so blatantly. Techdirt wrote up a recent analyst's report on kids' programming on Netflix in which the conclusions were reached that
- parents and kids like being able to watch what they want when they want
- especially since there are no commercials
- and this is a bad thing for kids' programming providers like Viacom and Disney
- so they should try to restrict this viewing in favor of their own channels
The first two points are not at all surprising to anyone who's tried any kind of DVR or Netflix programming. The last two may not be news, either ' many observers have seen that providers hate viewers having more choice and control over what they consume, especially when it comes at lower flat rates instead of paying per movie or TV show. I'm not sure exactly how they're supposed to restrict that behavior, though, since today's digital world is all about providing more control to consumers, less to the traditional media giants.
What's not realized in the advocation of this strategy for the giants is that some viewers are more loyal to the method than the content. That is, they're more likely to stick with Netflix, watching what is available there, than follow Disney back to their walled gardens.
Similar Posts: Rental Calendars Have Different Release Dates § Don't Like UltraViolet Digital Movies? You Can't Sell the Codes § Warner Thinks Waiting to Netflix DVDs Will Help Sales § Shock! Price Matters ' At Least in Music § Viz Anime Streaming on Netflix Adds Death Note
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)