Comic Book Goodness

"Charles Xavier now has some competition in the "famous bald educators from Marvel Comics" department. As previously mentioned on on his Twitter feed, Brian Michael Bendis will be teaching a class at Portland State University, and now he's revealed the details. On his message board, the Siege writer describes the course, "WR 399: The Graphic Novel," as "a class that I wish I had when I was in college." What looks like the official course-catalog description reads as follows: The graphic novel features the unique marriage of words and pictures that has seeped into every facet of popular culture. This course will focus on all the storytelling elements that create the written word of this unique visual medium. Students will study the form and its influences, discover and create original works for both print and digital platforms, and be put through a classroom version of the editorial process. Throughout the term, there will also be a smattering of comic book professional guest lecturers." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"The syllabus includes Robert McKee's Story, Stephen King's On Writing, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, and Will Eisner's Comics & Sequential Art and Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative. Bendis says he was inspired to take on the teaching gig by Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz, who featured him as a guest lecturer in her own PSU classes, as well as by the countless other... more... - RAPatton

"Last week Bleeding Cool pointed out that the three bestselling books in France were all comics, Asterix & Obelix, Naruto Vol 44 and Happy Sex. This week those books maintain their places fopr a second week. But they’ve been joined at number 6 by XIII Mystery Vol 2: Irana, a spinoff of the popular XIII series by Eric Corbeyran and Philippe Berthet. And at number 8 by Les forêts d’Opale, t. 6 : Le sortilège du pontife (The Opal Forests: The Pontiff’s Curse) by Christophe Arleston, Philippe Pellet. Arleston is considered the most likely candidate to take over writing the Asterix books. And before the end of the month, the new volume of monster hit Blake & Mortimer is published, second only in sales to Asterix and Titeuf. As a result of this best selling comics glut, some publishers are pulling out of December, usually a best-selling month, including the manga branch of Glénat. And on the Asterix front, Casemate magazine published an interview with Albert Uderzo that states that he has... more... - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"More than a month after two Kentucky public-library employees were fired after refusing to allow a child to check out The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier, details surrounding their dismissal finally are emerging. In a lengthy article in the Lexington Herald-Leader, we learn the story didn't begin on Sept. 22, when Jessamine County Library circulation-desk attendants Beth Bovaire and Sharon Cook decided the graphic novel was inappropriate for the 11-year-old girl who had reserved it. Instead, events date back almost a year, when the 57-year-old Cook, appalled that children had access to the Alan Moore-Kevin O'Neill book, challenged its inclusion in the graphic-novel section, which apparently is tantalizingly close to Young Adult Fiction. When that didn't work, she checked the book out of the library -- and kept renewing it, effectively removing it from circulation, until Sept. 21. That's when Cook tried to renew Black Dossier again, only to discover the computer... more... - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

Katy - so noted. I've edited my comments and am wearing my hat of shame. :( - Bill Sodeman

Trailer November 22nd, Film Release Date April 16th - RAPatton

The protagonist decides he wants to be a Superhero; after a failure where he ends up in the hosptial brutally beaten, he tries again and ends up on youtube where he is christened "Kick Ass" which is a perfect wannabe name - RAPatton

"If Carol Tilley had her way, comic book favourites like Superman, Archie and Veronica would be welcomed in libraries and elementary school classrooms. “I’m encouraging librarians to look at comics as something more complex, requiring more cognitive effort than a lot of people tend to assume they require,” said Tilley, a professor of library and information science at the University of Illinois. “I’ve provided them with a rationale for using them in schools and libraries.” Tilley makes the case for acknowledging comic books alongside novels and picture books as sophisticated learning tools for children in the most recent issue of the magazine School Library Monthly. Contrary to what critics might say, comics aren’t an oversimplified version of books, Tilley said. Instead, they are as complex as any other work of literature, given the way the pictures and words blend together to tell a story, she said. “They support children’s readings development,” Tilley said." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

She's reading Asterix in that photo - a good example that includes history and language. I read a lot of Asterix when I was taking Latin in high school - but it wasn't part of the class. - Bill Sodeman

"There's a new street fighter on your window sill The weapon is peace, the word is... chill. ... Our hero is lithe, and as thin as a rake He's as sharp as a scythe with the muscles of a snake He can run, he can crawl, he can grapple in the air Watch him wrap it all up without turning a hair The amazing Spiderman! ... Now the city's sleeping Spy-D do his creeping Creeping, he is creeping We'll be weeping, weeping, weeping, woo! To the wall he's clinging A spider's web he's spinning A better life he's bringing For all the stranded pretty, pretty women!" - RAPatton

dreadful - RAPatton

[facepalm] - Bill Sodeman

"We called it one of the five comics you should be reading on Saturday, and here's another chance to get started; Locke & Key's third series begins this week, and here's an exclusive preview of the first issue. IDW's official PR for Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez' 32 page first issue goes a little something like this: Sam Lesser may be dead and gone, but Dodge still has uses for him, and in the first chill days of October, will make contact with him again. The dead know things the living may not, and Sam's restless spirit has had time to discover the thing Dodge wants to know most of all... where to find the key to the black door. The third storyline in the Eisner-nominated series begins here!" - RAPatton

I've enjoyed the first volume a great deal and the second was good, but not great. They are written by Joe Hill, Steven King's kid - RAPatton

"Dex is the proprietor of Stumptown Investigations, and a fairly talented P.I. Unfortunately, she’s less adept at throwing dice than solving cases. Her recent streak has left her beyond broke—she’s into the Confederated Tribes of the Wind Coast for 18 large. But maybe Dex’s luck is about to change. Sue-Lynne, head of the Wind Coast’s casino operation, will clear Dex’ debt if she can locate Sue-Lynne’s missing granddaughter. But is this job Dex’s way out of the hole or a shove down one much much deeper? At it’s simplest and most reductive, Stumptown is to the PI genre what Queen and Country is to the spy genre. Rucka is an ardent fan, student of the genre (he wrote a thesis paper in school on the American PI), and longtime creator of PI stories. Plus, he does wonderful things when he’s at Oni Press. The result here is that Stumptown is off to an auspicious start, and if it continues on the trajectory started here, then it could become one of the better crime comic books on the market.... more... - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

I liked it, a bit of an Alias vibe, but definitely Rucka - RAPatton

"You're not new to comics, but you've read all the big names and you're not sure where to go next. Luckily, we're here with five suggestions to make your November bookshelf that little bit heavier." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

Air, Resurrection, Locke & Key, Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka and King City - RAPatton

I read Air and Locke & Key - RAPatton

"Are there any [comic book movies] you've seen floating around in Hollywood that you'd like to see made? Yeah, I can, there was one or two that I heard of that sounded really cool. One of them was about, I think... it's a vampire and a killer, and they're on the road, and it's this really strange story. I thought that sounded pretty cool. Also some of the obscure ones, I don't know if there are any more superheroes left. That sounds a little bit like Preacher? I think it might have been Preacher. You should get involved with that! I'm trying to. I heard about that one, I like that." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

Preacher film , YES! Plez dont ruin it by casting the wrong person in the lead. (Matrix- still great, Daredevil....etc.) - echostreamer

"No, really, it’s true. Look at Marvel’s moves after he left the book. The very first thing they did was launch X-Men: Reload, a branding and soft-relaunch initiative that saw Chris Claremont put on Uncanny X-Men, Chuck Austen placed on the last two issues of New X-Men (where he cleaned up plots that were already perfectly clean), and Joss Whedon hired to write what turned out to be one long love letter to the glory days of Claremont/Byrne Uncanny X-Men." - Derek Coward from Bookmarklet

Is it just me or does the author spend the entire time contradicting his headline? - Eoghann Irving

I think he was trying to be a little too sensational. he should have called it 'Grant Morrison ruined the x-men by being too awesome' but that wouldn't have gotten as many people to check out what he was saying. - Derek Coward from fftogo

"Not long ago, it was announced that "Batman Begins" and "Super Max" screenwriter David Goyer would be navigating the demonic motorcycle for "Ghost Rider 2," based on a screenplay Goyer wrote several years ago. Many have wondered whether the screenplay—which is toning down its hard-R nature for a PG-13 rating—would reboot the "Ghost Rider" franchise. MTV News put that very question to Goyer, who said that while the continuity won't necessarily get an overhaul, the tone is certainly shifting. "It's not exactly a reboot," said Goyer, who's currently hard at work on his "FlashForward" television series. "I hate to say it's more realistic, because he's got a flaming skull for a head, but it's a bit more stripped down and darker. It's definitely changing tone. What 'Casino Royale' was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to 'Ghost Rider.'" The "Ghost Rider" sequel is planned to "roll before cameras next year," according to Goyer, who also said that Nicolas Cage is currently still attached to the lead role of Johnny Blaze." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

First movie was awful. - David Rothman (☤)

"So the movie itself. I'm a huge fan of the Mark Millar/John Romita jr comic anyway, so to see the film so early felt like a massive coup, and I'm happy to tell you that this is the Kick-Ass film that Kick-Ass fans will want to see. It opens like the first comic virtually verbatim (I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read them), but the film itself varies only slightly from the source comic, but the changes made by director Matthew Vaughan and screenwriter Jane Goldman ring true to the spirit of the comic, and never feel strange, in fact the changes made make the film seem logical and help some bring some of the wilder concepts down to earth. The comic sets out as a modern deconstruction of the superhero concept, with knowing nods to geekdom surrounding comics, and the film takes that idea and runs with. Littered with references to other superhero films from Batman, Superman and Spiderman (even the Spirit movie gets a hilarious nod), this feels like it is happening in our world,... more... - RAPatton

well, it looks like this might be my next special occasion costume. - Kittyburgers from IM

"- In the world of Kick-Ass, superheroes only exist in comic books. That is, until high-school student Dave Lizewski puts on a costume and takes to patrolling the streets at night to right the wrongs that no one else can. So it is in Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s hugely popular comic series, which will soon be a Lionsgate film starring Nicolas Cage, Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and directed by Layer Cake's Matthew Vaughn." - RAPatton

If I told you why, you'd get why his a safe choice for Big Daddy - RAPatton from iPhone

"Based on the just-published graphic novel, it will star Blur/Gorillaz’s Damon Albarn, Kevin Spacey, Mos Def and Ian Brown. Buskers is the story of a successful banker brought low, under criminal investigation and a suicide attempt under his belt, who falls in with London’s busking scene. A more literal Neverwhere, perhaps. Created by Gorillaz staffer Jeymes Samuel and Sean Michael Wilson, the film is being produced by Pilar Savone, associate producer on Inglorious Basterds, with music from London-based musical collective The BulliTTs, the production blog can be found here." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"I'll admit, over two decades of reading comic book weddings had me expecting all my greatest foes to converge on my own nuptials and I was all set to team with my friends and turn them back, but the closest we really came was having to deal with a weird limo driver telling us stories about Thai hookers and some dude from a wedding at the next reception place over wandering in by accident for a few minutes. Nonetheless, comics have actually given me some decent templates for successful unions (as well as plenty to steer clear of, like making sure I'm not married to a clone...which I'm not), so I figured I'd share my personal favorites. Before I get to the list proper, let me give Honorable Mention shout-outs to Donna Troy and Terry Long as well as Cyclops and Jean Grey; I didn't particularly dig either couple's actual marriages, but they had awesome wedding issues, with Marv Wolfman impressively delivering a ceremony that was plenty fun without any super villain attacks and George... more... - RAPatton

"1. Wally West & Linda Park 2. Mr. Fantastic & The Invisible Woman 3. Bigby Wolf & Snow White 4. Superman & Lois Lane 5. The Vision & The Scarlet Witch" - RAPatton

"THE FLAMINGO. This guy has death and danger written all over him. He rides a motorcycle and rips people’s faces off for fun. Oh yeah, and to top it all off, he’s dressed head-to-toe in pink. What’s not to be afraid of? If Batman & Robin thought they had their hands full with Red Hood & Scarlet, well, they haven’t seen anything yet. Check out the Flamingo in all of his pink and face-ripping glory in BATMAN & ROBIN #6." - RAPatton

I tailed off after Quitely left the book. Nothing wrong with the current artist (Mahn is it?) but Morrisson and Quitely just crackle IMHO. I'll prolly pick up the second arc in trade paperback. Edit: I find that sometimes Morrisson's single issues don't make sense otherwise. I "grok" him better in trade format. I have all but the last arc of The Invisibles in trade format (reminds self that it's time for the annual re-read). - MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS

Love :) - Lindsey is Fierce!

mmmmmmm Pretty, Mongo Like - SCS Watching the Sun from fftogo

"Just over twenty years ago, one of Alan Moore’s seminal works finally concluded, starting off in relative obscurity and — aided by the runaway success of Watchmen, completed three years earlier in 1986 — made Moore into a legend. It was subversive. It was brutal. It was a love letter to truth, justice, and the Anarchist way — it was violent and vicarious, volatile and visionary." - Eoghann Irving from Bookmarklet

"Over the course of seventeen years and seventy-five issues, writer Neil Gaiman partnered with a host of artists and a fledging comic book imprint to create one of the most popular comic series of the late 20th Century." - Eoghann Irving from Bookmarklet

"I won’t spoil the ending of the movie as it is one of the greatest and most ridiculous sequences concocted for the big screen within the last ten years. As it is a movie and needs to appeal to a wider audience there is more comedy and romance but it fits in beautifully. It is almost Superbad in places but without the gross out bits. The action sequences feel right. It was a little unnerving at first to see an 11 year old girl create so much carnage, but it is down right OTT enough not to have the censors screaming. The common sense of absurdity prevails and a lot of people die in this movie, but this isn’t like watching Black Hawk Down. You can watch Kick Ass more than once. The audience was completely into the movie. There was a lot of clapping and cheering. I took a non-comic book friend from work and he can’t wait to take his wife to see it once it comes in April. People will go see it two or three times when it comes out! Kudos to Vaughn and Millar. One of the most fun and entertaining movies I have ever seen. More importantly than that – it is a victory for the geeks! I can’t wait for a sequel!" - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

Another really good review, but this one details all the changes, and boy I am surprised that they love it with so many changes. They give away a lot early on. - RAPatton

"Hey Oscar Wilde! It's Clobberin' Time!, the blog that posts portraits of authors by comic creators, recently posted one of Haruki Murakami by Jeffery Brown. You can see the back story on it, also by Brown, over at Kevin Church's blog." - RAPatton

"It's comics like that this that are the exact reason I started this column. I love treasure hunter stories. That probably started with Raiders of the Lost Ark, or maybe Treasure Island long before that, but ever since I was a kid I've loved stories about people trying to find hidden treasure. Whether it's a chest of gold, a lost artifact, or a hidden city doesn't really matter. It's just the whole spirit of adventure; striking out on little information to try and discover something that may or may not exist. My biggest fear when starting a new treasure hunter story is that it's not going to live up to its concept. Maybe I won't like the main character. Maybe the clues will be too easy to figure out. Maybe the villains will be unoriginal. Maybe the banter will be more annoying than witty. Maybe it just won't have the sense of wonder that it should. There are dozens of things that can go wrong and often do. I'm so happy that none of that's the case with the first issue Hunter's Fortune." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet