Todd Klein's Blog, page 227

And Then I Read: SWAMP THING 37

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

When we first met Lady Weeds in The Green, she was a retired avatar who tested and eventually helped Alec Holland. Alec repaid her by bringing her back with him to our world, and he’s been regretting it ever since. Here she becomes the avatar of machines, happy to gain power in any way possible. Soon she’s recruiting allies to take down Swamp Thing. Meanwhile, Alec is having an interesting chat with John Constantine, who’s as cheeky as ever. The many avatars are making this book reminiscent of the Green Lantern books’ many colors of rings, but so far it’s well written by Charles Soule, and well drawn by Jesus Saiz, and holding my interest. Adding colorist Matt Hollingsworth to the mix makes things all the better.

Recommended.

Ray Alma and the DC Production Dept., 1986

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Recently on Facebook this group caricature surfaced. It’s from DC RELEASES, a promotional flyer put out by the company, the August 1986 issue, and the caricature is by Ray Alma. I’m in there at the far right, though I had completely forgotten about the image. Artist Ray Alma was contacted, and he kindly gave me more information about this picture and others he did for the flyer. Ray wrote,

“Joe Orlando was my teacher at the School of Visual Arts and initially set me up with this (my very first professional gig). I was still in SVA, only in my third year, and it went a long way toward infusing me with confidence to keep at it and pursue my dream. I did illustrations for maybe ten or so of these DC RELEASES.

“In regard to getting the gig, Joe had set up a meeting to show Dick Giordano and Linda Robak my portfolio so they could make the final call on using me or not. So Joe tells me to bring my portfolio (to the DC offices) at 666 5th Avenue and we’ll all have lunch and discuss it. I was still a student, had never had an interview before, so I assumed that I was supposed to buy lunch for everyone. My plan was to take us to a nearby diner. It was all I could afford

“I get there, and Joe says he’s made reservations for us at the “Top of the Sixes,” (the posh restaurant at the building’s top floor). I almost fainted! I was a mess all through lunch. I had the cheapest thing on the menu. It wasn’t until Joe took out his corporate credit card at the end of the meal that I could relax. And then I was like, ‘Damn — I could’a had a GREAT meal if I’d known!’ I loved Joe, he was such a great teacher.

“For my caricature reference, I remember everyone being really nice as I came in to take polaroids. I tried looking for my polaroid reference shots from that time, but I don’t think I have them anymore.”

Thanks for the insight and great stories, Ray! Ray Alma has gone on to a long and successful career as an artist. You can read about him and see lots of his work on his website.

Back to that Production group shot, here it is hand colored by Production man Bob LeRose, a copy he gave to Production Manager Bob Rozakis. A larger version is HERE.

From left to right are John Holiwski, Steven Bové, Bob LeRose, Muffy Greenough (right below Bob), Shelley Eiber, Al Aiola, Bob Rozakis large in front, Helen Vesik, Julia Schick, Albert DeGuzman, Kathy (not sure of her last name), Helen Ramirez and myself, the staff present on the day Ray Alma came to photograph us. I have to admit, I don’t remember that or meeting him, but it’s a fine drawing that brings back lots of good memories. Thanks to Bob Rozakis for sharing his colored copy, and to Ray for his memories! Here’s the article from that issue of DC RELEASES about the Production Department written by Rozakis, a little hard to read perhaps, but the best I can do here. Both DC RELEASES images are courtesy of Ray Alma.

 

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS 36

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Continuing the crossover battle between the New Gods, and the Lanterns, Kyle Rayner, the White Lantern, and apparent possessor of the Life Equation that Highfather of the New Gods has been searching for since Kirby created him in the 1970s, has come to New Genesis, having been persuaded to submit the Life Equation to Highfather’s control for the good of all. Of course, it doesn’t go that way. The relationship between Kyle and Carol Ferris, his Star Sapphire sidekick, has been entertaining, and she does well here, but in general it’s the usual power-mad dictator story, with Kyle and Carol being tossed to the ground, literally, when Highfather is through with them. I didn’t love the art this time, but the story kept me reading.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: BLACKSAD AMARILLO

Image © Juan Días Canales and Juanjo Guarnido.

I don’t have a handle on the quality of graphic stories being produced in Europe, but I’d bet BLACKSAD is one of the best. It’s certainly one of the best series I’ve read from anywhere. I love the previous stories that took place in Europe, this time the cool cat detective John Blacksad is in America, and in a sun-drenched Texas and parts west that somehow remains filled with film noir characters and sensibility, now overlaid with the sordid feel of Orson Welles’ “Touch of Evil.” Yes, everyone in the story has the head and characteristics of a variety of animal species, but they’re all very human, flaws included. Blacksad is trying to hide out from trouble, but of course is soon in the thick of it, and every move he makes to try to help himself or those around him gets him in deeper. Wonderfully told, brilliantly drawn and painted, this is choice reading.

Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 36

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The art on this title by Bernard Chang is excellent. Not only does it serve the story and characters well, it’s full of graphic delights like the background in the cover above. The story is kind of unimpressive, in a middle-of-a-crossover way. There are some nice character moments, but it all feels like treading water, waiting for the real conflict to go on elsewhere. It’s very colorful and there’s plenty of action, but looking at the book a few weeks after reading it, nothing stands out now except the art.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: THE LAST OF PROFESSOR CHALLENGER

I’ve read the final two Professor Challenger stories by A. Conan Doyle, and I’m happy to report that one of them is the second-best Challenger tale, in my opinion, right after “The Lost World.” The story, probably of novella length, though it’s hard to tell as I read it on my phone, is, as above, “When the World Screamed.” It features a pretty unbelievable premise of Challenger’s: that the Earth (and other planets) are living beings, and our world is alive deep below the surface world we know, but Doyle makes that premise great fun to explore, as he did with the surviving prehistoric animals of “The Lost World.” Professor Challenger himself is back in top form: immensely bombastic, curmudgeonly and rude to everyone, especially the press once they’ve gotten word of his research. That research is a tunnel extending several miles deep into the ground from the English countryside, and Challenger’s plan is to reach the body of the living planet and “sting” it to see what happens. The experiment is conducted with all the pomp and regalia: invited guests, press, and lookers-on, and we the readers are taken into the tunnel by the men prepared to set the explosive charge to gain the potential creature’s attention. Reporter Edward Malone is once more on hand, though not narrating this time, but Challenger himself is in full theatrical mode, lecturing to the crowd in an entertaining way about his theories and experiment. And what happens next? Well worth reading to find out.

The other final short story, “The Disintegration Machine” is much less interestingly told, and reads more like an average bad SF pulp short story than the work of Doyle. But, if you’ve read only “The Lost World,” and would like a second, if shorter, helping of the same, “When the World Screamed” is right up your alley.

And Then I Read: THE AUTUMNLANDS 2

Image © Kurt Busiek & Benjamin Dewey.

The title of this series is transitioning from TOOTH & CLAW to THE AUTUMNLANDS, after a trademark conflict surfaced. I like both titles.

Inside, a huge floating magical city of wizards and common folk, all with anthropomorphic animal attributes of various species, has crashed to the ground, and the surviving inhabitants are finding no welcome from the creatures who live there that once held them in awe and reverence. As seen on the cover, the Buffalo-species is particularly pissed off, and out to kill some of the magicians and their kin. A magic spell is underway to retrieve a legendary Champion from the dim past, but when he arrives, he seems confused and unable to speak their language. Oh, and he’s human. The plot thickens, and the battle with the buffalo folk is soon underway! Entertaining writing from Kurt Busiek, lovely art from Benjamin Dewey.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: ABE SAPIEN Vol. 4

Image © Mike Mignola.

This series has become something of a mix of “The Fugitive,” and the usual B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth madness. Abe Sapien has morphed into something more alien than his original appearance, and has fled from the B.P.R.D., his home and employer until now, and they’re trying to find him. Meanwhile, he’s wandering across the western U.S. amid the devastation of hellish eruptions from beneath the earth, creatures great and small out to kill and destroy humanity and anything they come across. There are pockets of people trying their best to keep their lives together amid this, and in two story arcs, Abe gets involved with some of them. Because of his monstrous look, he’s met with hostility and suspicion, though some also recognize him as one of the good guys. And there are evil humans out there too, with agendas and deals of their own. Abe seems to be sleepwalking at times, until some horrific event brings out the fight in him, but overall it’s a bleak world he’s in, and he doesn’t seem to know how he fits into it. The writing is compelling, though I wasn’t a huge fan of the art this time. Still, worth reading.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE SECRET BOX by Whitaker Ringwald

Cover art © Erwin Madrid.

The puzzle mystery has entered the computer age in this entertaining book for younger readers. Jax Malone has just turned twelve, and a mysterious box has arrived from her great-aunt Juniper, but Jax’s mother doesn’t want her to have it, or to have anything to do with her rarely seen relative. With the help of best friend Ethan, Jax manages to get her hands on the box and finds it has an LED screen with cryptic clues that leads them on a wild chase to find out not only what’s inside the box, but many other unusual things her great-aunt has been involved in, from ancient curses to legendary goddesses. Before long Jax and Ethan have recruited Ethan’s older brother Tyler, a hard-core computer game wiz, and are headed off to Washington, DC, but along the way the box is stolen by a pair of clever thieves who seem to know more about it than they do, and who may also know where to find Jax’s missing relative.

This is a fun adventure story with well-written characters and lots of action, suspense and mystery. It’s told alternately by Jax and Ethan, each with a memorable point of view and entertaining insights, and the book manages to tell a believable, realistic story with modern themes as well as some fantasy elements, not an easy thing to pull off. I had a good time with it.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE COMPLETE PEANUTS 1993-94

Images © Peanuts Worldwide LLC.

There isn’t much I can say about this series I haven’t said many times before. It makes me smile, and sometimes laugh, which is not something most comic strips do for me these days. The lines are gradually getting shakier, but on this strip it’s a minor distraction, and the writing is as sharp as ever.

Here’s a single page with three gems. They’re not all gems, but there are enough to make it well worth your time.

Highly recommended.