So throw your hands in the air!
And wave 'em like you just don't care!
Now somebody! Anybody! Everybody! Scream!
The roof! The roof! The roof in on fire!
Friday, February 13, 2009
BATMAN'S DEF JAM!
So throw your hands in the air!
And wave 'em like you just don't care!
Now somebody! Anybody! Everybody! Scream!
The roof! The roof! The roof in on fire!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Showcase Showdown
I just received a box from the lovely Sara Denny, and among its contents are quite a few DC "Showcase" books that I purchased from the Mesa, AZ branch of Atomic Comics. I was pretty happy to score so many there, especially since I am apparently an authority on the darn things.
Oh, perhaps you hadn't heard? The reason I'll probably never delete the comics blog is because of this. That entry is quite possibly the most linked thing I've ever done on the Internet. Ultimately, the reason is because I had the foresight to quote Bob Greenberger from a thread on the Collected Editions Discussion Forums. It was where he explained the reasons for excluding certain material from the Showcase Presents line at its inception.
So how do things stand now? Well, DC has reprinted comics from after the stated "1955-1975" window in that format, but this has either involved a) re-negotiating reprint fees with the talent or b) material from deceased creators. There seems to have been a bit of a snafu involving those reprint fees after Bob's forced departure from DC editorial, which led to several books being solicited and then cancelled prior to publication. As of this writing, none of those affected books has seen the light of day.
I tend to run hot and cold on Showcase Presents. I sometimes miss the color, and it can be intimidating to try to wade through the sheer volume of an average one. But I'm glad to know those books are out there, because the majority of them have been devoted to some of my favorite comics of all time.
I just wish I had given that blog entry a better title.
Oh, perhaps you hadn't heard? The reason I'll probably never delete the comics blog is because of this. That entry is quite possibly the most linked thing I've ever done on the Internet. Ultimately, the reason is because I had the foresight to quote Bob Greenberger from a thread on the Collected Editions Discussion Forums. It was where he explained the reasons for excluding certain material from the Showcase Presents line at its inception.
DC pays a royalty based on a percentage of the cover price to writers, pencillers,and inkers to all material published prior to 1976 and after 1997. For the period in between, the vouchers that were in use called for a set reprint fee to be paid. In some cases, the amount of contractually obligated reprint fees makes the budget for a proposed collection unprofitable. In those cases, DC will either scrap the project or ask the talent involved to waive the reprint fee in lieu of the standard royalty arrangement. If the parties agree, then everyone benefits.
So how do things stand now? Well, DC has reprinted comics from after the stated "1955-1975" window in that format, but this has either involved a) re-negotiating reprint fees with the talent or b) material from deceased creators. There seems to have been a bit of a snafu involving those reprint fees after Bob's forced departure from DC editorial, which led to several books being solicited and then cancelled prior to publication. As of this writing, none of those affected books has seen the light of day.
I tend to run hot and cold on Showcase Presents. I sometimes miss the color, and it can be intimidating to try to wade through the sheer volume of an average one. But I'm glad to know those books are out there, because the majority of them have been devoted to some of my favorite comics of all time.
I just wish I had given that blog entry a better title.
Monday, February 9, 2009
OGON BATTO!
It has always puzzled me that OGON BATTO ("The Golden Bat") never merited even a token release in the United States. It's a fun sci-fi/superhero romp, and seems like a natural for American TV at the very least. I can only guess that it being in B&W in the year 1967 killed its chances for that avenue. Color was becoming more and more important by then, and perhaps the feeling was that a new film lacking it just wouldn't fly. Of course, that's pure speculation on my part.
OGON BATTO did get released theatrically in Italy, and if Toei practiced the standard procedure of the day, that means the Italian version was dubbed from an English language version. I don't think that dub has ever been available to the public, and it seems unlikely that it ever will be. Still, it doesn't hurt to dream.
And hey, check out "the incredible Sonny Chiba" back in the days before that was a big deal!
BUY IT?
@ CDJapan
@ Amazon Japan
Saturday, February 7, 2009
State Of The Blog Address
Well, it's been a month today since I started this blog. What do you think?
Me, I rather like it. I've been using it as a place to refine some of my better material, and I've also been reclaiming stuff from dormant blogs that I think deserves a wider audience. I've already pulled stuff from my retired comics blog and even from Yahoo 360 (dead since 2005). This blog has also served its original purpose, as I was able to post an update here that was originally intended for my journal. That sort of thing will probably always be crossposted, but I had expected the reposting would be occurring here.
In the future, I am planning on showcasing some of my art, too. Warning - I am not a great artist. I'm not even a good one, honestly. My art is exceedingly simple, sometimes childlike. I've chosen to embrace its weaknesses and use them to my advantage. So you don't have to tell me that my art sucks. I know. That's part of the point.
The other part of my point in posting my art is that it will give me the opportunity to include the material I have written for my original characters. I like my colorful cast of crazies, though I really don't have any grand plans for their adventures. I just like setting up things, and then letting my imagination run wild.
I had always wanted to take OWARI and apply what made it work as a fanzine on the internet. This blog may finally give me the chance to do that right.
Me, I rather like it. I've been using it as a place to refine some of my better material, and I've also been reclaiming stuff from dormant blogs that I think deserves a wider audience. I've already pulled stuff from my retired comics blog and even from Yahoo 360 (dead since 2005). This blog has also served its original purpose, as I was able to post an update here that was originally intended for my journal. That sort of thing will probably always be crossposted, but I had expected the reposting would be occurring here.
In the future, I am planning on showcasing some of my art, too. Warning - I am not a great artist. I'm not even a good one, honestly. My art is exceedingly simple, sometimes childlike. I've chosen to embrace its weaknesses and use them to my advantage. So you don't have to tell me that my art sucks. I know. That's part of the point.
The other part of my point in posting my art is that it will give me the opportunity to include the material I have written for my original characters. I like my colorful cast of crazies, though I really don't have any grand plans for their adventures. I just like setting up things, and then letting my imagination run wild.
I had always wanted to take OWARI and apply what made it work as a fanzine on the internet. This blog may finally give me the chance to do that right.
Friday, February 6, 2009
He's Not Much Of A Moose By The Light Of Day
You can visit Terry Beatty, the genius responsible for this travesty, online at http://www.terrybeatty.com!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Bob Haney Mystique
I was a Bob Haney fan when it wasn't cool.
There's been something of a Haney renaissance over the last few years, as many fan writers have rediscovered his plot-driven but often completely delirious comics. In fact, my friend Lewis Smith once opined that all of the Haney praise might be something of a "geek chic" - that is, people jumping on a bandwagon because they perceive it to be trendy or something. Maybe. If it is, it would be a wonderful irony.
You see, Bob Haney suffered from a shockingly poor reputation among hardcore comic fans in his time. They didn't appreciate his no-holds-barred, "anything goes" stories that sometimes flew in the face of The Sacred Continuity. There was also the perception that he was a dinosaur - a writer hopelessly out of touch with the times. Instead of getting guidance, he seems to have been left to his own devices before getting squeezed out entirely in the early 1980s.
Now, I had no idea who Bob Haney was for the longest time. I was but a wee lad in the mid-1970s when The Brave and The Bold #125 was one of the earliest superhero comics to end up in my hands. It sure doesn't seem like the kind of book that would appeal to a 3 year old, but that book (with Batman, Flash, an Asian dictator, and an Amelia Earhart stand-in!) is one of the foundations of my comic book fan psyche.
More issues of B & B followed, until the fateful day when Bob was relieved of his duties as writer of the title. It didn't mean anything to me at the time - not really - but the plain truth is the book usually wasn't as interesting after his departure. There was just something about his stories that were more enjoyable than many of the tales by more "fanboy friendly" writers.
What is it about Bob Haney's work that I find so appealing? I think it's the fact that Haney is always trying to tell a STORY. Oh, he can deal out fight scenes and characterization with the best of them. Yet, there was never any doubt that the story was the thing in a Bob Haney comic. You knew when you plunked down your change that you were going to get your money's worth as far as content, if not necessarily quality.
Oh yes, Bob wrote some bad comics in his day. I'll be the first to admit it. But when a Bob Haney comic failed, it failed spectacularly. There was a mad genius to even a bad Haney comic that made it enjoyable. Bob's numerous writing idiosyncracies are one of his hallmarks, and sometimes they worked and sometimes they...didn't.
Sadly, Bob Haney passed away in 2004. However, he did get to see at least some of the newfound respect that has begun to develop for his work. With every passing year, Bob Haney's reputation gets a little more rehabilitation. Most of his B & B run has been reprinted by now, and his work on such books as Teen Titans, World's Finest Comics, and Metamorpho has also been a staple of collected editions. It's a great time to be a fan of Bob Haney's unique comics.
How much do I love Bob Haney's work? I love it so much that I once traded a copy of this comic for a copy of The Brave and the Bold #115. I still think I got the better end of that deal.
There's been something of a Haney renaissance over the last few years, as many fan writers have rediscovered his plot-driven but often completely delirious comics. In fact, my friend Lewis Smith once opined that all of the Haney praise might be something of a "geek chic" - that is, people jumping on a bandwagon because they perceive it to be trendy or something. Maybe. If it is, it would be a wonderful irony.
You see, Bob Haney suffered from a shockingly poor reputation among hardcore comic fans in his time. They didn't appreciate his no-holds-barred, "anything goes" stories that sometimes flew in the face of The Sacred Continuity. There was also the perception that he was a dinosaur - a writer hopelessly out of touch with the times. Instead of getting guidance, he seems to have been left to his own devices before getting squeezed out entirely in the early 1980s.
Now, I had no idea who Bob Haney was for the longest time. I was but a wee lad in the mid-1970s when The Brave and The Bold #125 was one of the earliest superhero comics to end up in my hands. It sure doesn't seem like the kind of book that would appeal to a 3 year old, but that book (with Batman, Flash, an Asian dictator, and an Amelia Earhart stand-in!) is one of the foundations of my comic book fan psyche.
More issues of B & B followed, until the fateful day when Bob was relieved of his duties as writer of the title. It didn't mean anything to me at the time - not really - but the plain truth is the book usually wasn't as interesting after his departure. There was just something about his stories that were more enjoyable than many of the tales by more "fanboy friendly" writers.
What is it about Bob Haney's work that I find so appealing? I think it's the fact that Haney is always trying to tell a STORY. Oh, he can deal out fight scenes and characterization with the best of them. Yet, there was never any doubt that the story was the thing in a Bob Haney comic. You knew when you plunked down your change that you were going to get your money's worth as far as content, if not necessarily quality.
Oh yes, Bob wrote some bad comics in his day. I'll be the first to admit it. But when a Bob Haney comic failed, it failed spectacularly. There was a mad genius to even a bad Haney comic that made it enjoyable. Bob's numerous writing idiosyncracies are one of his hallmarks, and sometimes they worked and sometimes they...didn't.
Sadly, Bob Haney passed away in 2004. However, he did get to see at least some of the newfound respect that has begun to develop for his work. With every passing year, Bob Haney's reputation gets a little more rehabilitation. Most of his B & B run has been reprinted by now, and his work on such books as Teen Titans, World's Finest Comics, and Metamorpho has also been a staple of collected editions. It's a great time to be a fan of Bob Haney's unique comics.
How much do I love Bob Haney's work? I love it so much that I once traded a copy of this comic for a copy of The Brave and the Bold #115. I still think I got the better end of that deal.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Return of Jetman Update Alert
Hilariously, after I spent most of my daily computer time piecing together an update to my site, I discover that LJ is down for the count, and thus unable to post an entry alerting folks to this update. Therefore, there will instead be an entry on my Blogspot, which will be reposted to my journal when (if?) it returns.
ANYWAY...
Return of Jetman is my very own internet pet project, for anyone coming in late. Rather than explain it, I'll just urge you to click the link if the name piques your interest. For Feb. 3, 2009, I posted a large albeit minor update. This mostly involved a few cosmetic changes that are likely only of importance to me. However, I did make more significant alterations to my DX and Links sections.
The DX update covers both pages of the section. On Page 1, each artist's name is now a link to their online gallery (where available). This is something I've been considering for awhile, so we'll see how the experiment with it goes. On Page 2, I've added a new gallery spotlighting more vintage (1995! 1998!) artwork from my good friend and collaborator Lewis Smith. I do this even though he probably wants to break my kneecaps because he has to look at such old stuff again.
The Links page has been pared down to the bone. I'm rather tired of checking out a mound of links all the time, especially when it usually involves sites that I never visit otherwise. With my Blogspot taking up some random linking slack, I've elected to only retain those links which I feel pertain to the site and are owned by my friends.
There are other links scattered all over the site, besides those on the Links page. As mentioned earlier, some are on DX Page 1. I've also incorporated more into the FAQ, and there are even links lurking on seemingly random pages. Hopefully, all of the links are placed where they make the most sense, and will drive the most traffic to those sites.
As I concluded my Update Log message - Next time : New artwork! New story! Lots more exclamation points!
ANYWAY...
Return of Jetman is my very own internet pet project, for anyone coming in late. Rather than explain it, I'll just urge you to click the link if the name piques your interest. For Feb. 3, 2009, I posted a large albeit minor update. This mostly involved a few cosmetic changes that are likely only of importance to me. However, I did make more significant alterations to my DX and Links sections.
The DX update covers both pages of the section. On Page 1, each artist's name is now a link to their online gallery (where available). This is something I've been considering for awhile, so we'll see how the experiment with it goes. On Page 2, I've added a new gallery spotlighting more vintage (1995! 1998!) artwork from my good friend and collaborator Lewis Smith. I do this even though he probably wants to break my kneecaps because he has to look at such old stuff again.
The Links page has been pared down to the bone. I'm rather tired of checking out a mound of links all the time, especially when it usually involves sites that I never visit otherwise. With my Blogspot taking up some random linking slack, I've elected to only retain those links which I feel pertain to the site and are owned by my friends.
There are other links scattered all over the site, besides those on the Links page. As mentioned earlier, some are on DX Page 1. I've also incorporated more into the FAQ, and there are even links lurking on seemingly random pages. Hopefully, all of the links are placed where they make the most sense, and will drive the most traffic to those sites.
As I concluded my Update Log message - Next time : New artwork! New story! Lots more exclamation points!
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