Tuesday 26 June 2012

It's not a review. It's just my opinion! #4 - THE WALKING DEAD

I read a lot of graphic novels, more so than floppies. So I have decided to tell you all what I am reading and what I thought about those particular books. I want to stress though that I am not looking to review these books in the style of a critic, or to give them a rating, only to express my opinions as a fan of what I personally thought of what I have read. Please do not let my opinion sway you in any way, as I have always lived by the credo that I will make my own mind up about something and so should you. Plus, they say that critics are people that can't actually create themselves and that aint me.
Finally, this is my actual reading pile. All the books I have bought myself for the purpose of my enjoyment and as I am not tieing myself down to any kind of formulated structure, you may notice that I read whatever takes my fancy, rather than switching characters or publishers etc...

Anyhoo... THE WALKING DEAD!!!


With issue #100 out next week and my copy of  volume 16 of the trade paperback arriving in the post, I decided to go back a few volumes and recap on the last couple years worth of story lines. Though I must say, with the flowing structure of this particular ongoing title, I want to talk about it on whole as an entire piece of work so far, rather than just the few trades I have recently read.



When I first read volume one of The Walking Dead, I absolutely hated it. I had picked it up because a few of my friends were insisting that I read it, but after finishing the first six issues, I didn't understand what all the fuss was about. I wasn't overly enamoured by Tony Moore's artwork. It was ok, but almost every panel of Rick had him aghast and it all seemed a little repetitive. The opening of the book with Rick waking up in hospital was very similar to the opening of 28 Days later, which had been released a year before issue one hit the stands. But the thing that bugged me most about that opening volume is that the story is so rushed. Rick wakes up, his family is gone, he assumes they've gone to Atlanta, they just so happen to still be alive, he finds them straight away, Shane gets mad, Carl shoots him. Done! There is no pacing or suspense in those first six issues, which looking back now is strange as the tempo of the book now is nothing but pacing and suspense.
I dropped the book and didn't bother with volume two onwards. People started looking at me funny when they asked my opinion of the book and I gave it to the straight. As the years moved on and the book became a phenomenon, I seemed to be the only person amongst my peers who hadn't taken a liking to the book and it wasn't just that I thought it was bad and they thought it was good, most of these people were raving like this was the best thing since sliced bread and I was legitimately crazy for not jumping on the bandwagon.



Now, I am a stubborn son of a bitch, anyone that knows me well will attest to that. But I like to think that I can admit when I am wrong and apologise for it, so it was time for me to give The Walking Dead a second chance and see once more what all the fuss was about. Again, I started at the beginning with volume one. Perhaps this time I would see it in a different light. I didn't. It still sucked. But this time I pushed forward with volume two and beyond. With issue #7, the first chapter of volume two, Charlie Adlard replaced Tony Moore on art duties. Now, I'm not trying to say that Adlard is the better artist, as Moore's work is great, but he seemed to bring a freshness with his style and a hint of realism behind the characters eyes that was and is more engaging than Moore's version. Also from volume two onward, the pacing began to slow down. Maybe when Kirkman was writing the first arc he was treating it like a TV pilot, establishing the world, characters, threats and dangers of the story in the limited space that he had in a hope of hooking in a readership quickly. I don't know, but I did begin to immediately enjoy what I was reading far more than I was before.


As soon as the guidelines for the story were established, the character development went into overdrive. It became a soap opera story about the lives of the people who were following Rick, hopefully to a promised land of some sort where they could settle down and just live a relatively normal existence without the worry of being eaten alive by the living dead. The zombies were just background noise, the setting for the world in which this particular group, who normally wouldn't find themselves together as friends, lovers etc, are indeed forced to live side by side. Sure they are a threat. As the issues move forward there have been plenty of the cast that have been devoured by these ghouls, but as soon as they hole themselves up in whatever safe haven they stumble across, the danger seems to come less from the dead and more from the living. You see, in this post apocalyptic world, everyone is fighting for survival and sometimes that means screwing other survivors over to get what they have. Money doesn't equate to power in this new environment and now, with it being 'Survival of the Fittest', the people with the most bullets have the most power and this is emphasised with the arrival of a character called 'The Governor', who is a dictator and madman who has found himself as leader of a tribe of blood sport obsessed survivors. I found myself horrified as a witness to the brutal acts that the Governor inflicts upon Rick and his group, especially Michonne, and it was at this point that I was truly hooked. I cared about the characters. Their lives and stories were rich and detailed and I followed along with glee. I too had finally been sucked into this world of survivors and found myself  walking with them.

Kirkman has found a way to make the mundane, entertaining. By accentuating the tension of the world around them, you start to empathise with their plight. New relationships are built from scratch as people join the group along the way. Favourite characters die, sometimes in very unmerciful circumstances that have you gasping with surprise. Real emotions are explored like love, hate, fear, relief, envy, bitterness, compassion and spite. Real human traits that whether you like it or not, you can recognise it within your own life from people around you. 
And now we are in the thick of it, wondering where the story will lead to. Does Kirkman have an end in sight? Maybe this book will continue for as long as Kirkman is around. There isn't a traditional method to the way the story is told. There isn't a particular villain or threat every six issues that is wrapped up in each arc. The story is very linear, always moving forward with the lives and deaths of the characters, so to be fair, this story could continue forever, or at least whilst there are still people alive within the cast.


Don't get me wrong though, this book isn't perfect. It is very dialogue heavy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of the time the characters repeat themselves, especially as they all like to talk so much. The conversations don't feel natural a lot of the times and I find myself wondering why they have to go into so much depth about the tiniest little thing. And they never have a laugh and a joke. I know that they are living in a tough and dangerous world, but I can't remember ever seeing a scene with a few of the boys sitting around, shooting the shit about the good old days and the dialogue making me laugh. It is always so tense and serious all of the time!
But the one thing about this book that bugs me more than anything is; "We could make a life here!" This particular sentence is repeated over and over throughout the run of the series by several different characters. They never switch it up and say: "This could be a good place to settle." or "Maybe we could build a community here.", no, it is ALWAYS - "We could make a life here!"!!!

Small gripes aside, I can finally see how important this book really is and I don't want to understate that fact. My generation looks back at 'The Dark Knight Returns', 'Watchmen' and 'Sandman' as the most important game changing books of the past thirty years, but in twenty years time, they will be saying thing about this book.


Issue #100 is out next week. A new danger has arrived on the scene by the name of Negan. The community is expanding and an Army led by Rick is on the horizon. Something tells me that this first hundred issues is only the beginning.

M X

Monday 25 June 2012

Hero Talk Episode 9

Episode 9 of HERO TALK is up and available to download and listen to. This week, myself and James talk about the future of the comic book industry in all of its forms, both print and digital. And in Comics of Future Past, James discusses Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Winter Soldier and Before Watchmen.

- Subscribe via iTunes entering the following: http://www.heroesandidols.com/htalkpodcast.xml
- Download the mp3 via: www.heroesandidols.com/podcasts/htalkep9.mp3

Friday 22 June 2012

Book of the Month Club - June 2012 - SANDMAN vol 1 - PRELUDES & NOCTURNES!

Since March of 2009, myself and a group of like minded comic enthusiasts have been meeting each month to discuss a book that has been picked by a member of the club to be read that month. We have read and discussed a variety of titles including; Watchmen, Preacher, Daredevil - Guardian Devil, Superman - Red Son, Judge Death - Boyhood of a Superfiend, Bakuman, A Right to be Hostile, GI Joe vol 1 and Neverwhere.
I would like to invite you all to join us, either physically each month if you live in the Kettering area and can attend the meetings, or virtually via this blog by reading the chosen book and voicing your opinions in our comments section. Each month I will post our thoughts on the pick as well as posting the name of the next months book.

This months pick...



SANDMAN vol 1 - PRELUDES & NOCTURNES - (w) Neil Gaiman (a) Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III

An intricate tale of the lord of Dream, Sandman volume 1 tells the story of Morpheus, trapped for decades by an occult group trying to capture Death instead. Once escaping their clutches, a powerless Morpheus must repair his decaying dreamworld by regaining his missing tools; his helm, his dream stone and his pouch of sand. Along the way he encounters John Constantine, Dr Destiny and his sister; Death.
All is not what it seems in a tale that may seem simplistic from this brief write up, is in fact the beginning of a ten volume saga that is considered by many to be a comic book masterpiece.

Our thoughts on the book...

Mario - I love this book and the remaining nine volumes that follow. It is a beautifully crafted piece in both the words that Gaiman manipulates like a master potter playing with clay, as well as the art from Kieth, Dringenberg and Jones, which is a mixture of dark gothic tones and psychedelic bursts of bright colour.
The characters and their individual mannerisms are constructed with flawless details and the individual stories within each tome are gripping and thrilling. This book genuinely has had me in laugh out loud moments and then swiftly followed by heart felt tears.
The two part Dr Destiny story in this particular volume is a twisted macabre tale of horror that gives relevance back to a character that may have previously been looked at as hokey.
This is one of the few books that I can easily read over and over, discovering something new each time and will probably still be reading regularly until the day that Dreams sister comes for me. 10/10

Alex - Really liked the book as a whole (and Gaiman in general as an author) and I enjoyed the mythological/gothic tone of the book. There were bits of it that I found unpleasant to read (Dr Destiny in the Cafe), but they were unpleasant because they were well written and were genuinely disturbing.
Only minor things I can hold against it are- I am not sure the Justice League quite works in the context (though I did like the inclusion of Etrigan, Sandman and Constantine as they suited the tone and feel of the book). The only other thing against it is its not quite my favourite of Gaiman's works, that being reserved for American Gods, but Sandman is still superb in itself. 9/10

Megan - Always have and always will love anything that Neil Gaiman comes up with: so it is a given that I love Sandman. I love that it hasn't really aged in the way that some other comics from the same time have, and the way that Gaiman's writing can transform concepts (like Dream and Death) into multifaceted characters that we feel attached to. Major love for this series. 10/10

Stephen - I read this twenty years ago when it first came out and was one of the pioneering titles of the Vertigo movement. It is well written and the great art compliments the text well. It is a great introduction to the character as well as an introduction to comics for more mature readers. As a mainstream comics reader I was impressed in the balance between mainstream and independent sensibilities. 9/10 

Martin - I dove into Sandman with high expectations, seeing as this is one of Neil Gaiman's works (previously read Marvel 1602, which is also awesome). From the get go I was spellbound. The story to me was instantly captivating and just got so much better as I got further into the book.
Many story arcs were touching and quite sweet, such as Constantine’s story and Morpheus’s reunion with his sister. Others were difficult to read, making me feel disturbed and uncomfortable. The notable arc in question is Doctor Destiny’s stop at a small cafĂ©. However, this is only credit to Gaiman's writing; being able to create such a dark, twisted scenario whilst making it captivating and engrossing.
The artwork was also brilliant. I felt it really suited the story that was being told. It's both equally beautiful and messy, incorporating that sort of dream-like state.
Overall, I found this to be one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. An enjoyable and engaging read from page one. 9/10 

James - Sandman is a decent book done by a great writer and a good artist. My kind of work, magic, slightly dark but with a sense of humour, on the edge of the DC universe so you can see repercussions but you won't see Supes running in any time soon. Definitely gonna get the rest when I have some coin. 8/10 

Frankie - I love sandman, Neil Gaiman is a genius. Volume 1 is dark, elusive, intriguing and funny. Death is my favourite character ever, full stop. Its aged really well too, doesn't feel dated. 10/10 


Lee - There is not much to say about Sandman. It's a simple story with a large impact on the reader. The art is colourful and invokes the feeling of what a dream is like, shapelessness with form. Cameo appearances from John Constantine, Martian Manhunter and Doctor Destiny make great use of the DC universe.
Best line "I have a secret stash of oreos of which you are welcome to partake." 8/10 

Louise - I picked Sandman as I love Neil Gaiman's work especially his ability to blur the lines between myth, reality and religion whilst keeping the audience engaged.
The artwork fits the story which is as relevant now as when it was written.
I love this book and would recommend it as one of my favourites. Very solid 9/10

So there you have it. This is what our club members thought of Sandman volume 1. Please leave your comments in the box below to give us your two cents or if you live in the Kettering area, why not pop along to our next meeting on the 23rd of July (message me for more details). Next months book is The Immortal Iron Fist vol 1: The Last Iron Fist Story!

M X

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Hero Talk Episode 8

Check out Episode 8 of HERO TALK with me, James Lundy and Mat Guy. In this weeks episode we discuss the state of DC Comics almost a year on from the New 52 launch, the Marvel Comics talent shake up and the new season of Falling Skies. In Comics of Future Past, Mat talks G.I. Joe: Real American Hero, Uncanny X-Force and DC's upcoming Masters of the Universe mini-series.


- Subscribe via iTunes entering the following: http://www.heroesandidols.com/htalkpodcast.xml
- Download the mp3 via: www.heroesandidols.com/podcasts/htalkep8.mp3

Monday 18 June 2012

It's not a review. It's just my opinion! #3 - BATMAN

I read a lot of graphic novels, more so than floppies. So I have decided to tell you all what I am reading and what I thought about those particular books. I want to stress though that I am not looking to review these books in the style of a critic, or to give them a rating, only to express my opinions as a fan of what I personally thought of what I have read. Please do not let my opinion sway you in any way, as I have always lived by the credo that I will make my own mind up about something and so should you. Plus, they say that critics are people that can't actually create themselves and that aint me.
Finally, this is my actual reading pile. All the books I have bought myself for the purpose of my enjoyment and as I am not tieing myself down to any kind of formulated structure, you may notice that I read whatever takes my fancy, rather than switching characters or publishers etc...

Anyhoo... BATMAN!!!



In the entire medium, Batman is the arguably the best character for non readers to segue into comics from other forms of media like movies and cartoons. I remember my childhood Friday afternoons vividly, after finishing school I would go food shopping with my Mum and upon returning home would sit in front of the TV whilst she put the groceries away and watch episodes of the 60's Adam West Batman show. Batman Forever was one of only three films that I remember seeing with my Dad at the cinema and believe it or not, it was Batman & Robin that made me want to read comics. I will speak about this in more detail in a future post, but for now...


The Black Mirror - (w) Scott Snyder (a) Jock & Francesco Francavilla

The design of Batman is cool. He just looks cool. Draped in black, the ears like horns, a shadow in the night. That's just super cool. As a character he has been blessed with some incredible artists over the years and as a general rule, he always looks great on the page. The thing about Batman though is he is such a popular character that he always seems to have a multitude of titles on the shelf each month, which means that probably more than any other character in comics, Batman has a tonne of truly classic story arcs and graphic novels available. The flip side of this though is not all of those books can be truly great or written well, and once again because of his popularity, more than any other character in comics, everybody thinks that they can write a good Batman story without necessarily having the skills to back it up.
This Batman story deserves to be listed amongst the classics and yet the focus of this book is not so much on the caped crusader, but on his longtime ally, Commissioner Gordon.
I had stopped reading Batman at the point in which this book initially came out in floppies. I disliked the direction that Grant Morrison had taken the books in with cosmic bullets and time travel, so I stopped reading. People were telling me to pick up and read Detective Comics, the book that this story ran in, but by that time I had missed the first few issues and I just didn't bother. Then the hardcover collected edition was released with a tonne of hype behind it, so I finally picked up the book to see what the fuss was all about.
This story has everything that makes the Dark Knight great. A thrilling detective story with who-dunnit elements, gritty family drama and amazing characterisations.
At this point in the continuity, Dick Grayson, the original Robin, is the man under the cape and cowl and his nuances as the new Batman are explored subtly, yet to a degree that lends great depth to the role. The differences between him and Bruce Wayne are obvious, but so is his conviction in getting the job done.
The focus on the Gordon family and the relationships that interweave between the various members is like a gritty soap opera, filled with drama and grief. In a world of super heroes, where titans fly above us like Gods amongst men, sometimes it is easy to forget the relationships of the little people that these supermen are saving the world for. Scott Snyder deconstructs the Gordon family tree and magnifies the rot beneath the bark for us all to see. The trauma begins when James Gordon Jr returns to Gotham claiming that he is on new medication that is keeping his psychopathic tendencies at bay. Commissioner Gordon, torn between the love for his Son and the doubt in his heart, doesn't know whether to believe in him or not. Plus, as always, strange things are happening in Gotham and could James Jr be connected to it?
I don't want to give away too much of the plot as I really believe that most Batman fans will really enjoy this book, so no spoilers, but rest assured that Scott Snyder has really crafted a beautifully intricate tale that is thoroughly gripping and the art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla, who rotate art duties, make the Batman look cool!



Gotham by Gaslight - (w) Brian Augustyn (a) Mike Mignola

Originally published in 1989, mere months before the release of Tim Burton's first Batman movie, Gotham by Gaslight was the first Elseworlds book to be released by DC Comics. The Elseworlds comics were a series of original stories that took the characters out of the confines of the DCU continuity and placed them in unique and different situations. Sometimes, very much like Marvel's 'What If?' series, the story would change one element of continuity and show the fallout that followed. A good example of this would be Alan Davis' and Mark Farmer's 'The Nail', in which the question is posed; What if Ma and Pa Kent got a flat tire on the day of baby Kal-El's arrival to Earth? Other times though, as is the case with Gotham by Gaslight, the key character is placed in a completely unique surrounding and we are given an insight in what their lives would be like outside of their comfort zone.
Set in 1889, Gotham by Gaslight tells the story of Bruce Wayne returning home to Gotham city from his ten year stint in Europe, studying detective skills in London and psychology from Sigmund Freud in Austria. His training has been to prepare himself to take up the mantle of the Batman and, as in regular continuity, seek out justice after the slaying of his Mother and Father.
At the same time, Jack the Ripper, escaping from the ever growing reach of the long arm of the law, decides to leave London and to continue his mission of murder in America and of course picks Gotham.
So, as the Batman begins stalking the night, thwarting crime and striking fear into the hearts of thugs with his grim visage, Jack the Ripper slashes his way through Gotham's street walkers, leaving the people of the city convinced that there is a connection between the two. Maybe Batman can catch the Ripper in time, but Bruce Wayne is framed for the murders and now has to race for an answer before the day of his hanging.
This story is a tense thriller with incredible artwork that compliments the story magnificently. Looking at some of Mignola's panels, it seems pretty obvious of his influence to artist Eduardo Risso as some of the scenes look as if they have been plucked from a page in 100 Bullets. The way he uses shapes and lines coming out of the blackness makes this an incredibly atmospheric volume. The story is fun and easy to read, but my only two gripes would be that the ending is a little obvious and the book is a bit short. The idea of this story is so good, that in my opinion it deserved a mini-series and a full sized graphic novel than just the 52 pages that it is. Still, great read though, if only a quick one.



Tales of the Multiverse: Batman - Vampire (w) Doug Moench (a) Kelley Jones

The second Elseworlds book in this column, this volume is a collection of three graphic novels that focus on what would happen if Batman was turned into a vampire. In the first volume of the book; Batman & Dracula - Red Rain, Dracula comes to Gotham, sucking blood and transforming people into creatures of the night like himself. Of course, Batman attempts to save the day, but in the melee is bitten and infected only to rise as a vampire himself. Aided by a Tanya, a vampire herself on a mission to kill Dracula, Batman learns that not all vamps are evil and that he can sate his thirst by drinking a synthetic blood formula.
The rest of the story over the remaining volumes is the story of Batman gradually sinking into darkness until he himself becomes a monster, hell bent on draining the blood from the criminal element of Gotham.
In volume 2; Bloodstorm, The Joker takes command over Dracula's straggling forces and attempts to intertwine them into the criminal underworld. Batman is joined by Selina Kyle, who is changed into a Were-Cat and is seeking vengeance on the creature that turned her.
In volume 3; Crimson Mist, Batman has sunk so deep into the monstrous depths of madness that his two trusted cohorts, Alfred and Commissioner Gordon, have no choice but to ally themselves with Two Face and Killer Croc in an attempt to thwart him for good.
I really enjoyed the underlying theme of Batman's gradual decent into evil, but other than that this story lacked originality. Sure, it's most definitely a fun read, but there was a lack of suspense building and the plots were extremely derivative of cliché laden vampire movies. That is not to say that the script isn't well written though, as Batman's inner monologues really capture a sense of a man being torn apart by his downfall.
Kelley Jones artwork is wonderfully Gothic at times, as we are taken down the streets of Gotham that at times look more like a European town than an American city. Yet at other times the book screams of splatter horror or Video Nasty gore, as a hellish looking caped crusader tears the throats out of Gotham's evil doers. The colour pallet used in the first two volumes is also incredible and sets an eerie mood. This sadly isn't the case in volume three though.
When I was young and used to frequent the local library often, I remember seeing these books in the graphic novel section, right next to the three Knightfall trades. For some bizarre reason, even though I was a massive horror fan, I never picked them up for a read until now, and I am glad that I did. It isn't the most original of Batman stories, but it is most certainly a fun book to read.



Batman: Venom - (w) Dennis O'Neil (a) Trevor Von Eeden, Russell Braun & José Luis García-López

This story is a precursor to the massive Knightfall story arc and is the origin of the Venom drug that gives Batman's nemesis Bane his incredible strength.
Written by Dennis O'Neil, it is no surprise that this story is a rich character dissection as well as an emotional rollercoaster. O'Neil, who also famously wrote the classic run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow as well as the emotionally charged Batman story; A Death in the Family, starts this book with the Dark Knight failing to rescue a kidnapped little girl who drowns and perishes in the sewers of Gotham. Bruce blames himself for not having the strength to save her and becomes obsessed with his failure. The girls father, Randolph Porter, a scientist who is experimenting with creating designer drugs with possible military applications, offers Batman his latest drug which will increase his strength exponentially. At first he resists, but eventually Batman gives in and starts on a course of the drugs. They work with frightening effect as Bruce becomes a veritable behemoth, hellbent on eliminating crime the old fashioned way. What he doesn't realise is that he has become an addict and is being played by Porter who is feeding Batman information on his rival drug dealers as well as the Venom capsules.
Eventually it all comes to a head when Batman is given the ultimatum of kill Jim Gordon or be cut off from his supply of Venom. Using all of his willpower to resist, Batman warns Gordon of the impending danger before locking himself in the Batcave for a month to go cold turkey. Emerging thirty one days later, The Caped Crusader sets out on a mission to stop Porter for good.
This book is a brilliant example of just how good a classic Batman tale can be. It soaked with emotional drama, but still has all of the detective work and action sequences of a good old super hero romp. I should also mention that this book is set in the early years of Batman's career, before Robin arrives on the scene, and effectively shows his inexperience and frustration with it. I love Dennis O'Neils writing and am glad that I bought this book. The artwork is lovely and captures the essence of how I picture the Batman in my mind.


Haunted Knight - (w) Jeph Loeb (a) Tim Sale

Often mistaken for the third part of a trilogy that includes The Long Halloween and Dark Victory, Haunted Knight is in fact a collection of three Legends of the Dark Knight one-shot Halloween specials that ran annually from 1993-1995 and just like the aforementioned Batman graphic novels, features the work of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale on creative duties.
The stories appear on first glance to be typical superhero adventures as our hero battles The Scarecrow, The Mad Hatter and The Penguin in each of the three tales, but these confrontations, however integral they may be to the make up of the Batman character, are just backdrops for the deeper stories that lay beneath the surface of the fable.
In the first chapter; Fears, whilst the Scarecrow stalks the streets of Gotham after breaking free from Arkham Asylum, Batman's alter ego; Bruce Wayne, has a supposed chance meeting with a beautiful woman by the name of Jillian Maxwell. A relationship begins to form between the two and Bruce starts to wonder whether or not he would find happiness with Jillian instead of as Batman. All the while Alfred suspects that something is troubling about this mysterious young lady and decides to do some digging. Set in the early years of his adventures (as was the way with the Legends of the Dark Knight title), this story does well to show the weakness of Bruce at the start of being the Bat as he struggles with his convictions.
The second chapter; Madness, is a look into the early relationship between Jim Gordon and his adopted daughter Barbara. Becoming a member of this Gothamite family unit as a teenager from Ohio, Barbara's adolescent naivete has her run away from home and smack bang into the clutches of The Mad Hatter, who is hosting a tea party for a few unwilling, underage guests. This story really shines a spotlight on the developing relationship of Jim and Babs, but also in a stroke of genius by Loeb, subtly mirrors the Alice in Wonderland tale as Barbara, in the role of Alice, runs away and falls into a hole of Madness. Not only is this my favourite chapter of this book, but also one of my favourite stand alone issues of any Batman comic.
The third and final chapter, entitled Ghosts, is a play on Charles Dickens classic tale 'A Christmas Carol', with Bruce in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge being waned by the three ghosts and his Father in the role of Jacob Marley to not become consumed by the mantle of the Bat. I wasn't overly enamoured by this story as it seemed a little rushed or just suffered by lack of page count. It, like it's predecessors, also has a nice piece of character development, this time between Bruce Wayne and Lucious Fox, but it isn't as fully formed as the other chapters. It is a nice quick and easy read and Tim Sale's artwork is glorious as always, but I could take it or leave it.
All in all though, a bloody good read and I most certainly recommend this book to all Bat-fans!

M X

Monday 11 June 2012

Don't Fear The Reaper: Jail Bird

I was eighteen years old when the first X-Men movie was released. Love it or hate it, it was the first major super hero movie outside of the Superman and Batman franchises and the first super hero movie that could really take advantage of CG special effects in all of their glory, so when Wolverine popped his claws for the first time on the big screen I had a genuine geek-gasm. I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing. Now CG is so evolved that nothing surprises me any more and I feel a bit jaded, but at eighteen years old it was the greatest thing I had ever seen.
By the third time that I went to see the movie, I had to go on my own. My Girlfriend had recently dumped me (the day after my eighteenth birthday - harsh) and my friends weren't nerdish enough to want to see it more than once. Never the less, I once again made my way to the Odeon to watch Wolverine pop those claws once more as I gushed like a twelve year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert.



After the credits rolled I made my way to Frankie and Benny's for a drink. It was a regular haunt for myself and my aforementioned ex-girlfriend and it was also the only place in town that served Hennessy cognac, and as I fancied myself as a bit of a hip-hop suburban gangsta at the time, that was my tipple of choice. I made my way to the bar, pulled up a stool and the barman came over and asked me what I wanted to drink. I remembered this particular barman previously serving me as a waiter and being a particularly funny guy, so I ordered my drink, he poured it and we got chatting. All it took was for me to tell him that I had just been to see X-Men for us to bond as geek brothers. He introduced himself to me as 'Hal' and from behind the bar he produced a sketch pad and flipped to a page with a drawing of Wolverine atop the statue of liberty from the climax of the film that he had drawn and proudly showed it to me. I was impressed. It was a little rough and by no means perfect, but I couldn't, and still can't draw for shit and as far as random coincidences go, this was pretty cool. Hal told me that he was an artist and that he would one day like to work in comics. I had just started dreaming about owning a comic shop, so we had plenty to talk about. So the brandy and the conversation continued to flow as we continued to have a good laugh.






Fast forward eight years and two more X-Men films and I had just started my business. I was working from home at the time, selling comics over the internet by mail order and travelling around the country to all of the major shows and conventions. Frankie and Benny's was no longer a regular eatery of mine and as such, I had lost touch with Hal quite a few years previous.
A show was coming up in Birmingham called BICS and we had booked several tables to attend as dealers. The show was more of a traditional comic book convention than one of the pop culture autograph events that had become increasingly popular the previous few years. Big names from Marvel and DC would converge upon the same building as smaller upstart creators in a melting pot of talent. This was my first exposure to a proper comic book show and I fell head over heels in love with it. The show was doubly great with the fact that we made an absolute killing that weekend too.
Myself and Don used to take turns to wander the halls looking for bargains and enjoing the show as best you can when you have the responsibility of a stall. It was during my wander that I stumbled across Hal, who had also booked a table at the show in the small press area. In the years that we had lost touch, Hal had been vigilantly working on creating his own comics and publishing company which he had dubbed 'REAPER COMICS'. He had written and produced the art for a six issue mini-series called 'B.Ex', and two one shots called 'The Elementals' and 'Diba & Rock' and paid to have them professionally printed to Marvel and DC standards. His table was equally as professionally laid out and presented and he was really making an effort to push the Reaper brand. I had told Hal of my blossoming comic shop and how I had spent the last few years building it and our mutual respect for one another went into overdrive. We had taken different paths in our respective journeys from alomost the same starting point and our lives had converged in this spot in Birmingham. We both had doubters, detractors and nay-sayers and we had both proved them wrong. We were kindred spirits, fighting for what we wanted out of life, not content to just roll over and not take what we wanted.



Since then, Hal has continued to work on creating original comics and graphic novels in his own unique style. He continued his B.Ex series with a sequel entitled 'Remnants of Life', written by my good friend Mark Walker and this year put out an ogn called 'TROJAN', written by Baden James Mellonie. He also attends as many conventions and shows as he is able, usually with his brother Rauf in tow, pushing the Reaper brand as best he can. Whether his work is your cup of tea or not, his enthusiasm and desire to succeed is something that warrants merit and is something that I respect to no end.
I had always wanted to write comics myself, but my work in the shop was all consuming, but from time to time I would find myself talking to Hal in the shop about story ideas and plot points, knowing that one day we would collaborate on a project.

And then the shop closed...





Hal was one of those few friends that stayed in touch after the shop shut and I don't just mean with the occasional Facebook message or text, but would pop in for a cup of coffee and a chin wag after finishing work. I had no more shop and nothing to offer him to help push Reaper anymore, but that wasn't important to Hal, that wasn't the motivation behind our relationship. I've lost touch with several people since the shop closed, people who I thought were friends but then skedaddle as soon as there wasn't a cool place for them to hang out. But Hal, a genuinely decent human being, remained my friend because he wanted to, not for any ulterior motive.
I began writing scripts almost immediately. In a strange round abouts way, this was a good opportunity to put some effort into becoming a storyteller and I didn't want to waste that time by procrastinating. Hal saw something in me and the work that I was doing and we started to discuss working together on a project. He had an idea for a comic that he wanted to illustrate called 'Chat Noir', which is French for Black Cat. The basic idea was for a woman, who is a professional thief, to be roped into a dangerous game show running through Paris with hunters trying to kill her. I hated it. I hated everything about it. The name was derivative of Black Cat of Spider-Man comics, who in turn was derivative of Catwoman from Batman lore. The idea just screamed Running Man. I began to despair. I wanted to work with Hal, but not on this book, or at least, not in this way. I also didn't want to hurt Hal's feelings by dissing his idea, but I knew if I wrote this the way he wanted it, as the writer it would be me that would be slated for the work. We had a frank and honest conversation and decided to take the book in a different direction. The challenge was to keep the main character a professional thief, but not a Catwoman style cat burglar and to keep the dramatic chase scenario of a woman on the run, but not in the Running Man game show style. Finally, we decided to change the name of the book to 'JAIL BIRD'.



With a new plot outline in mind, I went away and wrote the first scene. A twelve page character piece that introduced the two main players in the story in a dialogue heavy jailbreak scene. Hal was delighted with it. I was delighted with his delight! Everyone was happy and I am now knee deep in the story. I am currently working on issue #4 as we speak.
Whatever happens with this book, however it is received, however successful it is or isn't, I am just extremely grateful to be able to work with someone who I have such a deep respect for, both professionally and personally and who has respect for me too.

Please keep a look out for Reaper Comics, Hal Laren and the upcoming comic - JAIL BIRD!

M X


Friday 8 June 2012

Hero Talk Episode 7

Check out Episode 7 of HERO TALK with me, James Lundy and Mat Guy. This week we discuss Game of Thrones, as well as the state of movies and TV shows today. We also discuss comic book characters in cartoons and in Comics of Future Past, we talk about The Bash Street Kids, Captain Britain and IDW's upcoming Judge Dredd books!

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Ponderings on existence

SHELPAK. I remember my science teacher, Mr Goodman, telling me about energy in its different forms and abbreviating it SHELPAK - Sound, Heat, Electricity, Light, Potential, Atomic and Kinetic. I also remember him telling us that energy in all of its forms cannot be destroyed, only converted into different forms, ie; the electricity used to power a TV is turned into light and sound.

I don't claim to be a scientific expert and my knowledge of this is limited to my memory of a science class fifteen years ago, but thinking about SHELPAK makes me think about my mortality.

I am Agnostic. That means that I believe in something higher than us, call it God if you will, but I don't believe in an organised religion or what they tell us God is. I think about death all the time. Grim, I know, but there is something in my brain that keeps me up at night thinking about the conflicting ideas of those with faith and those without. Those with faith will have you believe that there is a Heaven for those that have lived a good life once it has ended. Sounds good to me, though I am sceptical about where this assumption originates from, which then makes me think of the Atheist point of view which is; when you are dead, you are dead. End of. Lights out. Non-existence. And this scares me. Complete oblivion for the rest of time, not conscious of anything. A never ending sleep of dreamless darkness. Maybe it isn't such a bad thing. Not only would I feel no pain, but I would be completely unaware of the pain of others. But I don't mind a little bit of pain, it reminds you that you are alive and that is what it is all about really. Not wanting to let go of life. Living life for all it is worth, because if it really is as short as the atheists will have us believe, then surely we should grab it by the scruff of the neck and fucking well live it!

Another thing that bothers me, if the Atheists have it right at least, is that it isn't fair. I'm going to sound like a whiny little bitch here or a hippy, but it just doesn't seem right to me that a child can be born into pain and misery and live a short, agonising life because of the country that he or she is born in, whilst on the other side of the world a child is born into wealth and will never have to work a day in their pampered life. It doesn't seem right. Surely there should be some balance.

On the other hand, if there is a God, who am I to question the grand plan, if there really is one. Just because God created us, does he have a hand in all that we do, all that we are, how we live, everything? Maybe the length of our lives or the amount of suffering we go through determines how big our house is on the other side?

I don't know what to think, or what to believe!

So then I go back to SHELPAK and being told that energy, in all of its forms, cannot be destroyed. And what are we if not big old sacks of biological energy. We have Electric impulses that work our brains, we are warm blooded, we create sound, we use Kinetic energy every second of our lives, surely when we die that energy goes somewhere? Maybe the Potential energy is stored in our cells, but when we break down does our energy disperse into the Earth? I like that idea, becoming one with the planet, a billion souls converging into the centre of the Earth and erupting out of its volcanoes, rolling into the sea, evaporating into the clouds and being rained down onto the ground. Maybe I won't be aware of it. Maybe I won't be sentient, but if I have my way when I die someone will plant a Horse Chestnut Tree on top of my grave and perhaps I will help some kid to win in a Conker fight.

Anyway, I've got to go. I've got a life to go live.

M X


Saturday 2 June 2012

It's not a review. It's just my opinion! #2 - SPIDER-MAN

I read a lot of graphic novels, more so than floppies. So I have decided to tell you all what I am reading and what I thought about those particular books. I want to stress though that I am not looking to review these books in the style of a critic, or to give them a rating, only to express my opinions as a fan of what I personally thought of what I have read. Please do not let my opinion sway you in any way, as I have always lived by the credo that I will make my own mind up about something and so should you. Plus, they say that critics are people that can't actually create themselves and that aint me.
Finally, this is my actual reading pile. All the books I have bought myself for the purpose of my enjoyment and as I am not tieing myself down to any kind of formulated structure, you may notice that I read whatever takes my fancy, rather than switching characters or publishers etc...

Anyhoo... SPIDER-MAN!!!


This won't be the last time I read and write about everybodies favourite webslinger. As my all time favourite comic book character, I have a passion for his adventures and intend on owning and devouring every graphic novel that he stars in. At some point soon I will write a blog that goes in depth on my discovery and subsequent falling head-over-heels for the guy in the red and blue webbed pyjamas, but for now I am just going to tell you about the few Spider-Man graphic novels I have read this week.

The Death of Jean DeWolff - (w) Peter David (a) Rich Buckler & Sal Buscema

This book contains Spectacular Spider-Man issues #107-110 and #134-136. These are the Death of Jean DeWolff and the Death of the Sin Eater story arcs.
In the first story, we open with the shocking death of NYPD Captain Jean DeWolff. She has been shot point blank in the chest with a shotgun, by persons unknown. This sends shock waves through the NYPD who assign Detective Stan Carter, a former agent of SHIELD, to coordinate the investigation. Spidey, on hearing the news of DeWolff's death, offers Detective Carter his assistance if needed, but doesn't actively join the hunt for the killer until a second victim, Judge Horace Rosenthal, is murdered and the killer reveals himself as the masked Sin Eater. The comic quickly becomes a whodunit, as Police and Spider-Man race to discover the true identity of the Sin Eater before he takes another victim.
Daredevil also co-stars in this saga, which is a pleasant surprise as he doesn't appear on the covers of the individual issues until the final chapter, something that would be unheard of today where crossovers are always exploited for increased sales. His role is as Devils Advocate as Spidey, incensed by the killing, decides to take the law into his own hands by coercing information from the criminal underworld and taking out the Sin Eater before he murders again. In a sub-plot featuring Aunt May's new boarding house tenant, Ernie Popchick, who has been mugged by a gang of young thugs, Peter David shows us the difference between what society deems as fair against what the individual would by using Matt Murdock as the voice of reason and guiding Spider-Man through the story as his personal Jimminy Cricket.
After the shocking revelation of the Sin Eaters true identity, we are given witness to the reactions of the people across New York, from the Cops, the Robbers, the Super-Heroes and the almost victims of the Sin Eater, in an incredibly sobering way. Peter David is a master story teller and this tale is a prime example of why and is brilliantly complimented by Rich Bucklers beautiful artwork. This chapter in Spidey's life is a must read for anyone calling themselves a true Spider-Man fan.
One final note, this is also the story in which Matt Murdock realises that Peter and Spidey are one and the same and reveals himself as Daredevil to him. On a personal note, we also see Peter wearing a New York Jets sweater, which is a relief to me, as it would break my heart to find out that Spider-Man is a Giants fan.



The Death of the Sin Eater, which is the second arc in this book, was one of the first Spider-Man stories I had the pleasure of reading as a kid. It was also my introduction to the incredible art of Sal Buscema, who to this day is one of my all time favourite Spider-Man artists.
The story begins with the Sin Eater (I'll keep his identity secret to save from spoiling the previous story) being released from prison after doctors diagnose him as mentally ill. An enraged Spidey confronts Sin Eater only to find that he is a crippled wreck after Spider-Man battered him in their last fight. Guilt ridden, Spidey runs into a battle with an escaped Electro and holds back from fighting too hard for fear of repeating his mistake and injuring him too. Electro takes advantage and embarrasses Spider-Man. The rest of the story is a brilliant character piece that sees Spider-Man struggling with a crisis of conscience, Electro becoming a confident nemesis and Sin Eater fighting his inner demons. The thing that blows me away about this story is that Peter David writes Spider-Man, a character that is twenty five years old at this point, in a way that is able to show you new sides to his personality previously unexplored. I admit that there is an air of nostalgia when I read this particular arc, but I genuinely recommend this book to any and all Spider-Man fans.


Spider-Man Fairy Tales - (w) C.B. Cebulski & Mindy Owens (a) Ricardo Tercio, Niko Henrichon, Kei Kobayashi, Nick Dragotta & Mike Allred

This book is a collection of four separate stories that blend the mythos of Spider-Man and mix it in with legend and fairy tale. It offers us Marvel Universe interpretations of Little Red Riding Hood, Anansi the Spider, Tsuchigumo the Japanese Spider Spirit and Cinderella.
A fun graphic novel for a sunny Sunday afternoon, this book doesn't offer anything revelatory or insightful into the 616 Spider-Man that we all know and love, but is an intelligent mix of styles that mesh in a flawless way. Cebulski's writing is clever and funny and I never felt as if the book was dragging or lolling in pace. But what really sets this book apart is the beautiful artwork. Four different styles that compliment each tale wonderfully. My personal favourite of the four is the tale of Anansi, a fable that I have loved since childhood and this one in particular has the least Spidey influence of the bunch.
If you are a Spidey fan that is looking for something a bit different, or just a fan of fables and fairy tales, then check out this book.


Spider-Man/Dr Strange: Fever - by Brendan McCarthy

In a glorious homage to the Steve Ditko Spidey and Doc Strange comics of the sixties, Fever is a brilliant three issue mini-series that took me, as a Spidey fan, out of my comfort zone for an hour of abstract weirdness.
The story begins when Dr Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, receives a book in the post that is booby trapped with a mystical web that links New York City to another dimension. Meanwhile, after being dazed in battle with The Vulture, our Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man finds himself convalescing in Doc Strange's bathroom, where he is promptly attacked by a Spider-Demon member of The Arachnix race. Before Strange can help his comrade in arms, the Arachnix steals Spider-Man's soul and carries it back to its dimension to sate the hunger of its king. But the soul of Spidey seems almost arachnid in nature and so is sent on a quest to capture a Sorror-Fly to prove that he is not human and to avoid being devourered. And whilst on this quest, Dr Strange is on an adventure of his own trying to find and rescue his Web Headed friend.

In a mark of great story telling, I fell into this adventure with ease and found the tale taking me off to this kooky dimension inhabited by insects and canine humanoids in the most delightful way. The dialogue is fresh and flows freely and is sometimes poetic in nature. At one point, Spider-Man is reminded of the fateful night that he let the criminal, who would later be responsible for the murder of his Uncle, escape without lifting a finger and the death of Ben is now reflected in the point of view of Aunt May. This is some of the most beautiful writing I have ever read, as we have been exposed to the death of Uncle Ben from Spidey's POV so often, that we take for granted how it affected Aunt May that very night and what went on between the two of them as they said "goodbye" to each other for the last time.
I am not usually a fan of abstract or weird adventures, but I am also not afraid to try new things and hope to be proven wrong, and this book has done just that. I thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover and would recommend it to my fellow Spidey fans.






Identity Wars - (w) John Layman (a) Lee Garbett, Juan Doe & Al Barrionuevo

This Marvel Team-Up, featuring Spider-Man, Hulk and Deadpool, is a dimension hoping affair that is almost a tale of these three 616 characters visiting a "What If?" universe.
Originally published in the three title characters respective Annuals from 2010, Identity Wars begins in Horizon Labs where Peter Parker and Bruce Banner are both hard at work. Enter Deadpool, who has been hired to break in with a team of criminals who are using him as a tool to cross over into another dimension and raid it for its riches. Chaos ensues as Spidey and the Hulk join the fray and the three costumed adventurers find themselves sucked into an alternate reality, face to face with their counterparts. Each counterpart is different from the heroes that we are so familiar with and as the story progresses we discover which point in their lives caused a divergence in their destinies.

This story is a fun yarn, especially if you are a fan of the three title heroes or if you enjoy the What If? and Marvel-Team Up books of the past, as it hearkens back to these very well. Each chapter has a different penciller, but the tone of the book flows nicely across the issues and all look very impressive. It doesn't affect the main continuity of the main books and there isn't anything new or different about this book that allowed me to learn from it, but it wasn't a chore to read either and killed an hour nicely. I would recommend this more to old school fans for its old school feel.


Spider-Man: Season One - (w) Cullen Bunn (a) Neil Edwards

Finally there is Spider-Man Season One, of Marvels new Season One initiative that showcases it's hero's origins for a contemporary audience, all in a lovely hardback tome.
It is hard to believe that the origin of Spider-Man, a tale that is deeply ingrained in my consciousness, was only eleven pages of content in his Amazing Fantasy #15 debut. So much story in so few pages. Well now the story is expanded upon in a full size original graphic novel all its own.
Writer, Cullen Bunn, is one of the next big writers on the scene at Marvel and certainly one to look out for in the future. He seems to have a decent grasp on the Spidey Origin and tells the story with good pace and excellent dialogue. The story never seems to drag and even though this is a tale that we have read or seen a million and one times before, Bunn adds enough new material to keep the story fresh and appealing.
Neil Edwards art is a visual joy. I wasn't familiar with his work up to this point, but his art is beautiful and has an air of familiar when it comes to Spidey. His work to me is reminiscent of Pat Olliffe's, which is most certainly not a bad thing.

There isn't a whole lot I can say about the story itself as it stays pretty loyal to the origin, but I do have one complaint. To me, the entire Spider-Man mythos is built upon the mantra of "With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility". Spider-Man's failure to capture the crook that ultimately killed his Uncle Ben is the reason he does what he does. He is paying a penance on his soul, trying to right the one wrong that will curse him till the day he dies. But in this interpretation of his beginnings, there isn't a whole lot of emphasis put onto the Power and Responsibility. After Ben passes, Peter is going to quit being Spidey. He only dons the costume to take pictures of the Vulture to sell to J. Jonah Jameson so that he can help Aunt May with the bills. Him becoming Spider-Man as a full time hero is almost an afterthought and his motives seem as though they stem from the rush he got defeating the Vulture.
This book is indeed a fun read and it does look gorgeous, both within the pages and on the shelf, I just worry about the up and coming Spidey fans that grow up reading this or watching Spider-Man 3 (shudder) and not realising the gravitas of the fact that With Great Power, There Must Also Come Great Responsibility.

M X