Todd Klein's Blog, page 143

And Then I Read: THE FLASH #47

Image © DC Entertainment. Written by Joshua Williamson, art by Howard Porter, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by Steve Wands.

As “Flash War” begins, the war seems to be between Barry Allen and Wally West, as seen above. This is the older Wally, member of Teen Titans and not in this title’s continuity much. A younger Wally is also here, also powered, but in the care of Iris West. If you’re confused, you’re not the only one!

These arguments are put aside by the arrival of The Renegades, also known as the 25th Century Reverse Flash Task Force, a group of future Rogues who have been sent to apprehend Iris West for the murder of Eobard Thawne, the original Reverse Flash (I think). One of them, Golden Guardian, is also a Yellow Lantern. Barry wants to talk, but older Wally runs off with Iris, the Task Force on their tail. Much fighting ensues, and at the end, a new menace is revealed.

I find this somewhat entertaining, if confusing, and will stick with it a while longer. This title could use a character synopsis at the front end, though.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: ASTRO CITY #52

Image © Juke Box Productions.

Mike Tenicek seems like an ordinary citizen of Astro City, but like many others, super powers have changed his life. Miranda, his wife and true love, was erased from reality in a superhero event, so now only Mike remembers her. And he can’t forget her. She haunts his memories and dreams. Over time he comes to recognize that there are others out there with similar problems that are not being helped, and he forms a support group called Miranda’s Friends for citizens who have been mentally or emotionally scarred by contact with powered beings. Even those beings realize Mike has found a way to help they can’t provide, and they support him. Then he’s offered a choice: have his memories of Miranda wiped clean so he can heal, or keep things as they are. It’s not an easy decision.

This final issue of the current ASTRO CITY series sticks to the original premise: the fallout, the consequences, the unseen harm (and sometimes the good things) that happen to ordinary people living among the powered people. It’s a poignant and heartfelt conclusion. ASTRO CITY is not over, though, it will return in a series of graphic novels. I look forward to that. This is probably my favorite series I’m not working on.

Highly recommended.

Pulled From My Files #88: DISNEY LOGOS

Images © Disney.

In 1990, Disney was publishing comics for the first time after decades of licensing that area to other publishers. Editor Len Wein asked me to design logos for some seasonal anthologies. They already had AUTUMN ADVENTURES, above, logo design by Mike Royer I believe, and wanted the second word of each to match the style of his ADVENTURES.

Here are pencil sketches I did for two of them. The second sketch for SUMMER is very close to Royer’s AUTUMN design, the rest are just my ideas following a similar casual, fun, bouncy look. The third sketch for SUMMER was the one they wanted, but a note (probably from Len) says “wider.”

I don’t have a copy of the final logo, but here it is printed. One way I made it wider was to change the shape of the S. I also made all the letters thicker.

For SPRING, the first sketch was chosen, with the editorial note “heavier.”

Here’s the way the final logo looked in print. I think this one has a Walt Kelly feel.

I don’t have any sketches for the last seasonal one, HOLIDAY PARADE, but I chose a style that suggests Old English, one often used for Christmas-themed logos by me and others. These were fun to do.

In 1991 I was asked by Disney Comics editor David Seidman to design some character logos for Little Mermaid backup stories. SCUTTLE was one of them, he’s the gull who collects dry land gadgets for the Little Mermaid’s collection. I thought pieces of packing crate nailed together into the letters was a good idea, but as the note says, this one was a bit hard to read.Here’s a second version that reads better not only because the letters are spread out a bit, but because of the drop shadow adding depth and volume to the shapes.

That version was approved, and heres a photocopy of the final logo. It follows the sketch closely. I don’t know if it was ever used in a comic, the only LITTLE MERMAID Disney Comics that are indexed in the Grand Comics Database don’t show any backup stories with supporting characters, but it may have appeared in an issue that’s not indexed.

More of these when I have time.

Incoming: SANDMAN OVERTURE ABSOLUTE EDITION

Images © DC Entertainment.

I didn’t know they were producing this, but it makes sense. Matches the other Absolute Editions.

The slipcase is 8.5 by 13 inches, the book cover is 8.375 by 12.5 inches, the pages are just a little smaller, printing and paper are top quality.

Unlike the other volumes, this one is not numbered, so you can put it in front of the others or at the end, your choice. It’s a prequel, so first would make sense, though it was produced last, so last would also work.

Here’s the other side of the slipcase and a spread from the book.

The double gatefold from issue 1. That’s an 18-inch ruler below.

The DC website has an on-sale date of June 27, so it should be in shops now. U.S. price is $125. Yes, very expensive, but I can’t think of another recent book that deserves this treatment more.

And Then I Read: WONDER WOMAN #47

Image © DC Entertainment. Written by James Robinson, art by Stephen Segovia and Rick Leonardi, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr., letters by Saida Temofonte.

This issue opens with a lengthy fight between Diana and Supergirl, who is possessed by the Dark Gods that have been threatening to arrive since last issue. Then Diana’s brother Jason (is this the Jason of the Argonauts? I don’t know, and it’s not apparent) has a conversation with The Fates over drinks about the armor he’s found that gives him the powers of the Greek gods, but only one at a time. When Jason does finally arrive to help Diana, not only do the Dark Gods finally make an appearance, Diana is wooshed away to a different story at the same time.

The plot is in charge, though there are interesting moments. I loved the different aspects of The Fates, for example. But I have yet to feel any real impact from these Dark Gods on the main players, and other character development seems to be on hold. Hoping there’s more meat in the next issue, which will focus on Jason, apparently.

Mildly recommended.

11th Anniversary!

Today is the 11th anniversary of this blog and my website, begun July 3rd, 2007. As of today there are 3,342 posts containing 3,319,104 words. I haven’t been posting as often in the past year due to other priorities, but I still enjoy having this blog and plan to continue it. Most of my readers find me through Facebook, where I link to the blog on my own personal page and my “Todd Klein, artist” page. If you’re one of those, or if you’re bookmarking it or finding it elsewhere, welcome. Tomorrow, being the 4th of July, everyone in the U.S. gets to celebrate, often with fireworks. If you’re going to, have fun, and be careful.

And Then I Read: HAL JORDAN & THE GL CORPS #44

Image © DC Entertainment. Written by Robert Venditti, art by Brandon Peterson, colors by Ivan Plascencia, letters by Dave Sharpe.

It’s Green Lanterns Vs. Darkstars, led by Hal’s former friend Tomar-Tu. He first takes revenge on the killer of his father, then heads off to cause more trouble, no doubt. On Earth, Hal is sharing his troubles with Barry Allen. Meanwhile, Guy Gardner is off meeting with the ever dangerous Arkillo,  Kyle Rayner has called for a Space Taxi, now powered up as never before, and John Stewart is in the House of Zod. I’m not a big fan of these epic battle stories, but I do like the scope and variety of players that writer Venditti is assembling. I will see how things go, but this issue is recommended.

And Then I Read: A CHOICE OF GODS by Clifford D. Simak

If there is such a thing as pastoral science fiction, Simak takes the lead in it. His work is calm, thoughtful, introspective, clever. It often takes place in rural or wilderness settings in his home state of Wisconsin. It’s seldom violent, and sometimes, as here, tackles religious subject matter among other things. It makes for relaxing and enjoyable reading.

This book takes place in a future Earth where nearly all of humanity has vanished. Remaining are two elderly people, Jason and Martha Whitney, last dwellers in the Whitney home. The rest of their extended family have discovered mental space travel, and have spread out to distant planets, though they come home occasionally. There are other small groups. We meet members of a native American tribe led by Red Cloud. They have recaptured the ancient ways of their people, living off the land, migrating regularly along the river valley near the Whitney home. Then there are the robots. Some are family servants of the Whitneys, some have occupied a former church and monastery, and are investigating the holy scriptures they found there, and doing their best to understand and worship God. Further away is a large colony of robots who shun humans, and have build a giant machine that they live in and tend to, the purpose of which is revealed in the book.

The rest of humanity was spirited away by forces unknown to a distant unknown place, but one of the Whitney family has found them, and returned to tell the remaining Earthlings that those long-missing humans have rediscovered Earth and are sending an exploratory space ship to it to find out if Earth can be returned to and reclaimed.

This is not good news to any of those who remain on Earth. They fear the return of masses of people will once more destroy Earth’s environment (which has largely recovered to a pristine state) and destroy all their ways of life.

A fine book with an unexpected ending. Recommended.

The Old Songs Folk Festival, 2018

Last weekend Ellen and I made our third trip up to Altamont NY, near Albany, for the annual Old Songs Folk Festival. My long-time friend Tim and his son Gabe were also there, Tim goes every year. We’re on about an every third year schedule. The predominant music style is folk, closely followed by blues and celtic music, with a smattering of other styles and genres. About two dozen headline acts are there, and we always enjoy them. During the day (starting at 3 PM Friday) there are seven venues of varying sizes holding all kinds of workshops, performances and jams. On Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon there is a multi-act concert on the main stage lasting about three hours. Tim and Gabe camped there, we stayed in a motel about 10 miles away that turned out to be hard to find late at night when we were tired, but we got there eventually.

This year I only have photos of the performers, I never got around to taking any of the rest of the event or ourselves. I did also take video of performances, and I will link to a sampler of that at the end of the article. The first act up on Friday evening was 3 Ravens: Max Cohen, Lui Collins and Donna Hébert. A few years ago they teamed with fantasy writer Jane Yolen on a concert project. Unfortunately I didn’t get any video of them, but they were good, all fine instrumentalists and singers.

Next was Stu Fuchs and his wife (didn’t get her name, and it’s not in the program). He played ukulele and guitar brilliantly, she accompanied on stand-up bass. Stu is a teacher in his day job, which came across a bit too much at times, but he does know a lot about music.

Chris Newman and Máire Chathasaigh played both traditional and contemporary Irish and other music on guitar and harp. Both were amazing players. Máire’s harp was quite interesting, it has a device above each string to make it a half step higher, adding sharps and flats, which a regular harp does not. Getting those switches flipped at the right time and continuing to play is the challenge.

Low Lily is a band with strong folk roots that plays mainly their own songs, and my favorite new find of the event. I bought their latest CD, “10,000 Days Like These,” and I recommend it.

Choc’late and the Gaslight Tinkers are a band combining the music of Jamaica with folk and blues and a bit of swing. They were full of energy and lots of fun to watch and listen to. Unfortunately my video clip does not include Choc’late’s singing, which I liked.

Joel Mabus played Ukelele and Guitar, and his gravelly voice and humorous delivery worked well on both traditional blues tunes and his own songs like the crowd favorite, “Ukelele Schmookelele.” I failed to catch that on video, but it’s hilarious.

Alderson, Foley and Murray played traditional Irish jigs and reels expertly, but we all felt each number went on too long. I think it’s a type of music that’s more fun to play than to listen to, at least for me. But, one nice thing about this event is, it’s full of variety.

Friday had been rain free, but windy as a front began moving through. Saturday it rained off and on. Ellen and I managed to be inside for the heavy stuff, though Tim got soaked. At least the rain ended before the evening concert, where the audience sits outside, but it turned that area into a sea of mud, which was not fun. Otherwise, the atmosphere was positive, everyone seemed happy. The audience covers a wide range from little kids (who have their own workshops) to doddering oldsters that we’ll be soon, no doubt. Many families and couples, lots of friends greeting friends. The food is varied and quite good. We sampled Greek, Jamaican and Thai, for instance. There are vendors from instrument sellers to clothing and jewelry, and an area run by the festival that sells used instruments as a fundraiser, as well as an instrument raffle. CDs by performers are for sale.

The four of us each followed our own program schedule during the day, but all four of us were at the Jim Kweskin solo performance on Saturday morning in the Dutch Barn, an intimate setting where Ellen and I were about ten feet from him. Kweskin and his Jug Band were a favorite group of mine in the 1960s, and he was a joy to see and sing with, as he performed songs from then, and other fun songs. He sounds exactly the same today at age 78 as he did then in his twenties. While we listened, torrential rain outside made background music on the roof.

Ellen and I also attended “True Stories Set to Music” with Christine Lavin, Bob Franke and Anne Hills. Lavin was very funny at all the performances we saw her do, and Anne Hill’s voice and music were appealing too.

In the afternoon, Ellen and I attended “The Ways Women Find Strength,” enjoying Choc’late, Ellis, Anne Hills and Christine Lavin. again. Lavin’s song about leaving instructions for your own funeral was quite funny.

The “Strung Out” program featured mostly guitar players, though Max Cohen did a number with a hammer-dulcimer player, whose name I did not get. I love that sound.

We also went to an acoustic blues program with Joel Mabus, Jerron Paxton, Happy Traum and Jim Kweskin. Somehow the more casual daytime performances, where everyone seemed relaxed, added to our enjoyment. The wooden benches were hard, though. Hope I remember to bring a cushion next time. At least at the evening performances we had our own folding chairs.

The Saturday evening concert began with Elizabeth Laprelle and the Family Band, an old-time Appalachian music group from Virginia. They sounded like something you might have heard a hundred years ago in those remote hills.

Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton did some fine blues singing and playing on banjo and guitar. Despite the nickname, he did not seem to have vision problems to us, so it’s probably meant to be ironic, and a reference to some of the old folk and blues performers who were actually blind.

Bob Franke played and sang some original songs, some from decades ago. I didn’t care for his work as much as most of the others.

Happy Traum and Jim Kweskin, on the other hand, were terrific. Happy performed for decades with his brother Artie, who died in 2008. Now he and Kweskin perform together at some events like this. They did traditional blues songs and a few jug band tunes as well.

Ellis is a singer/songwriter whose enthusiasm is infectious, but whose songs are often sad. She performed with Peter Mayer (though each took turns), another singer/songwriter whose work I liked and would like to hear more of.

Christine Lavin finished out the Saturday program, and just after I got this photo, my camera battery ran out, so I was not able to get her on video. The audience loved her “Password” song, and other funny, biographical work, some of which you can find on YouTube.

Sunday morning was damp, but not too bad. We attended more fine programs, but I did not capture any of them. The extra camera battery I’d brought turned out to be dead as well. I particularly enjoyed Traum and Kweskin’s workshop on three-finger guitar picking, and a guitar chord workshop by Chris Newman.

After lunch, we headed home, and it’s a long drive about six hours. I’m not sure when we might go back, but we sure enjoyed this year’s festival. Below is a link to a video sampler I put together that I hope will give you an idea of the many fine performances we saw.

See you in Baltimore!

I’m honored to be a nominee for the ‘Ringo Award again this year, given at the Baltimore Comic-Con, and I have again been invited as a Con Guest. I will be there from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon (probably about 2 PM), and will have my prints and other items for sale at my table. The con is Friday Sept. 28 to Sunday Sept. 30, the ‘Ringo Awards are given Saturday evening. My excellent table assistant Andrea Bergner has agreed to help out again this year, yay! She’s great. Hope to see you there!