Todd Klein's Blog, page 183

Watching DOCTOR STRANGE

I’ve been looking forward to this one, and I was not disappointed, even though they did NOT use the odd variation of my Doctor Strange logo that appeared with a lot of the publicity images in the actual film, but went instead with the ever boring Trajan font with a gold metallic Photoshop effect. It’s the one on many of the newest movie images. Sigh.

When I first discovered Marvel comics in the early 1960s, I loved the original Doctor Strange stories by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. I was already a fan of magic and fantasy, and this was the biggest use of it in comics at the time. Ditko’s visuals were mind-bending and wonderful in every way. Lee’s dialogue was corny, with some silly made-up magic words and names, but heartfelt all the same.

The movie, in my view, takes the best of the original ideas and builds on them in many ways, with respect, intelligence and even some humor. It puts the characters in a believable present without taking away what I liked about them in the comics. Yes, there are some obvious changes that some have found troubling—The Ancient One, Strange’s teacher being played by Tilda Swinton rather than an Asian actor being the main one I’ve heard about—but I thought she did an excellent job. Benedict Cumberbatch was superb in the title role. All the actors were great. The only role I found predictable and kind of one-note was that of the main villain Kaecilius, a former student of The Ancient One who has rebelled and stolen a spell to bring the Dreaded Dormammu and his dark world to Earth, or rather, Earth to it.

The effects and visual look of this movie are truly mind-boggling. Many had a sort of mad clockwork approach that I first remember seeing in some of the Harry Potter films, but taking that idea to artist M.C. Escher impossibilities and beyond. Even the little things like makeup that mimics very real scars was impressive.

Some of the Marvel films I’ve seen, like the first Avengers one, were too much all-out action and fighting. I thought this was a better balance of story and action, character moments and violence. Many times in the film I had feelings of “yes, that was done right.” Never did I feel bored. You can’t ask for more than that in a film of this type, I think.

Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH #3

Image © DC Comics.

Writer Joshua Williamson has found an interesting way to change things up for this title. The bolt of lightning that somehow gave Barry Allen his powers is now hitting lots of people in Central City creating dozens of possible speedsters. Thing is, they don’t know how to handle the Speed Force which gives them power, or some of those who figure it out decide to use it for things like robbery. In a book where now almost anyone might have super-speed, Barry still stands out because he’s experienced and knows what he’s doing. Barry decides he likes the idea of teaching speed newbies, and begins working on that at S.T.A.R. labs, but of course complications develop. Good story and nice art by Carmine Di Giandomenico.

Recommended.

Pulled From My Files #46: ELEKTRA

Images © Marvel.

Some time in 1994 or 1995 I was asked by Marvel to submit logo designs for a new Elektra series. I think I was originally asked by editor Matt Idelson, and by the time I sent sketches in they were going to Ralph Macchio. I’m not positive on the year or timing, but as a new Elektra series came out in 1996, it seems likely the work was intended for that. Possibly it was an earlier series attempt that didn’t get published. My first sketch, above, was very pointy and dangerous, as Marvel usually wanted at the time.

Version 2 is mostly the same letters except, as noted, for a different A.

Version 3 remained pointy but went a different way. I think this is the most interesting of the three, though a little harder to read. I picked up the diamonds from the earlier logo below.

When the series began in 1996 it used a variation of the logo seen previously on the ELEKTRA ASSASSIN eight-issue series from 1986-87, a decision that made marketing sense. I have no other records or versions in my files, so I assume I was paid a kill fee and moved on to other things.

And Then I Read: FUTURE QUEST #5

Image © DC Comics and Hanna-Barbera.

I’ve never been a big fan of Hanna-Barbera TV shows, and while I did watch some of the early ones like The Flintstones and The Jetsons, I never watched any of their action-adventure Saturday morning shows containing characters in this series. I’m reading it because it seemed like a nice change of pace and a fun idea, and mostly I’ve liked it. The lead story in this issue is very plot-driven, and the plot seems contrived to arrange for more characters to come together. That’s one of the points of the series, I guess, but it makes for less interesting reading in my view than stories that are character-driven. There are some nice action moments like a dinosaur stampede and a striking new origin, but in general this didn’t work for me. The second story started off the same way, but grew more interesting when we see that the three characters called The Impossibles are actually people playing that role on a TV show…and are also really characters with the powers they exhibit in the show. By adding this layer to the story it made it more interesting, even if the characters themselves were generally predictable. The addition of a new super to the scene and the group was kind of fun, too, and it looks like this story will continue next issue. I’ll keep reading.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: SURVIVORS’ CLUB #9

This is the climactic gore-filled finale of the horror movie, with all the characters gathered together in the haunted house attacking or being attacked by each other. I have to confess I lost track of the larger story around issue 6, and this didn’t do much for me. I’m not a gore fan, and though there’s lots of blood, I didn’t feel close enough to the characters to feel their pain. I suspect the ending was rushed by the decision to end the series. I love the cover by Bill Sienkiewicz, it’s haunting and creepy. That’s how I prefer horror. I’m more impressed by the suggested and the unknown than flashing blades. Your tastes might differ.

Not recommended.

And Then I Read: ASTRO CITY 39

Imagine if you will that this were a series about Superman’s Metropolis, but one that occasionally pulled away from the heroes and heroic deeds to focus on more ordinary lives and less frenetic battles. That’s one of the things Kurt Busiek does so well in ASTRO CITY. Here we begin with a 15th century hanging that creates a weird hero, The Hanged Man, and soon turns to present day Astro City suburb of Shadow Hill, home of many with supernatural abilities. One, Marta Dobrescu, has the ability to raise and speak with the dead. This comes in handy at times in her career as a lawyer. For instance, we see her dealing with two heirs disputing a will  who suddenly change their tune when their deceased father enters the scene. It also can be a problem, as with the ghost of her own mother who continues to nag her. Events are about to bring changes to Marta, and she’s not sure what kind, or that she wants them, but the Hanged Man’s attention means trouble ahead.

Great work by Kurt, as always, with nice guest art by Carmen Carnero. Recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERNS 2

Image © DC Comics.

This issue has a cover with a scene that does not appear in the book, though the symbolism of it is appropriate. The Red Lanterns of Atrocitus are about to stage a massive and deadly event on Earth, as we see in a prologue. Most of the issue focuses on the two current Earth Green Lanterns, Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. Jessica is still trying to figure out how to develop and use her powers, with advice from her power ring. Simon is already on the job facing a plague of Rage spawned by the Red Lanterns. He ropes in Jessica to help, but she has other ideas, such as saving her rage-filled sister.

The Red Lanterns turn me off, but writer Sam Humphries writes Jessica and Simon so well that I find I do want to read more. The art by Robson Rocha and Jay Liesten is quite good.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: WONDER WOMAN #5

Image © DC Comics.

Odd numbered issue means present day story, where Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor are both on missions in the same area of Africa, but not together. Yet. Despite that cover image. Steve and his team are prisoners of a local warlord with designs to bring powerful magic to life to help him conquer the area. Wonder Woman is with her old foe, Cheetah (in this revamp even more of a human/cheetah hybrid) trying to figure some things out for both of them. Of course their paths lead to each other, and it happens by the end of the issue, with a few surprises along the way.

I’m enjoying this story, but I don’t find it as interesting as the Year One retelling of Wonder Woman’s origin in the even-numbered issues. I’m sure the two stories will resonate with each other more as time goes on, and both are good.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: UNFOLLOW #11

Image © DC Comics.

This book has what I think of as a runaway train plot. It starts out rolling along smoothly, then gradually the speed and jostling of events increases and characters struggle more and more to keep their feet. You know there’s going to be a big crash down the line. Here we follow several main threads: a group of Unfollowers in Akira’s compound in Japan, where cult leader Akira himself seems to be struggling to keep his sanity, and the compound has become more of a prison than a refuge, at least according to Unfollower Courtney. Then there’s another group on an island in the Caspian Sea. They were supposed to be under the protection of a Russian Mafia group there, but now are in the middle of a firefight between two Mafia groups. Meanwhile, The Mask Not Rubinstein seems to be watching and controlling events from a safe location, and making plans to kill lots more of the Unfollowers, with the aim of getting more of the inherited billions of dollars for himself. Nice work by writer Rob Williams and artist Mike Dowling, with big things promised for next issue, perhaps that train wreck?

Recommended.

And Then I Read: A BOY AND HIS BEAR by Harriet Graham

Cover illustration © Jean Cassels.

Dickon, a boy in Elizabethan London, has fallen on hard times. He was a promising student until his father died and his family found little money left after debts were paid. Dickon’s mother remarried, but her new husband did not want the boy around and apprenticed him to a tannery, work which he hates. When his master sends him on an errand to London’s notorious Bear Pit, where wild bears are brought to be abused and tortured for the amusement of paying patrons, the boy’s life is changed when a bear cub, newly arrived, turns to Dickon for help. The bear handlers are amazed by the boy’s ability to calm the wild beast, and the two quickly bond. The owner of the Bear Pit strikes a bargain with Dickon: he can return any time he likes if he will train the bear cub to perform tricks. Dickon accepts even though it will put his apprenticeship in jeopardy. Soon enough Dickon’s troubles grow when he is accused of witchcraft by a jealous bear handler, and he and the cub are forced to flee London with the help of friends. Before long they have joined a troupe of traveling gypsy jugglers and acrobats, who bring the boy and the bear home with them to the mountains of France. Dickon can find a new life with them if he can train the bear, but old enemies soon turn up and threaten his new life.

At first I found the cruelty to animals in this book hard to take, but as the story went on I became so invested in the characters that I couldn’t put it down. Excellent storytelling, interesting history, and the author fills out the injustices of the time with insights into the bear’s own mind through brief passages of his thoughts.

Recommended.