Todd Klein's Blog, page 229

And Then I Read: SUPERMAN 36

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

This book is really working for me by cutting down on complications and clutter and telling a dramatic (okay melodramatic, but this is comics) story about people, two of whom happen to be super. In addition to the title character, there’s Ulysses, with powers equal to Superman, who as a child was sent to another dimension by his scientist parents, is now back on Earth, and is offering to help his natal planet by taking six million Earth residents with him to a better place. There’s lots of giant alien ships right out of “Close Encounters” crossed with “Jack Kirby,” and all the moral dilemmas of people trying to decide if they should go. There’s confrontation with the alien pilots of the craft, and there’s a much bigger conflict between Superman and Ulysses when the former begins to suspect something else is really going on behind the seemingly benevolent Earth Exodus. The art is atmospheric, linear, moody, electrifying, and despite all the lines, much simpler than a lot of overly detailed comics art today. I love it. Love the writing, too. This comic rocks.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN 36

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Aquaman is exploring the history of Atlantis, delving into forgotten places and unearthing forbidden lore. He’s getting help from the Martian Manhunter, perhaps a little too much help, as J’onn gets taken over by powerful spirits from the past, and of course battles ensue. I am enjoying this storyline, though, nicely written by Jeff Parker, fine art by Pelletier and Parsons.

Recommended.

My 2014, Favorite Images and Stories

Here are some of the highlights of my blog and year over the past twelve months. Beginning in January I published a five part remembrance of my grade school in Bedminster New Jersey, seen above in the 1950s. It starts HERE.January 20th, a Snowy Owl, one of many in New Jersey, entertained us in Cape May.

Late in January I wrote about this mysterious painting of Superman by DC artist Stanley Kaye, beginning HERE.

In February I wrote about a 1941 magazine article on the creators of Superman HERE.

Later in February we had snow, which our cats Tigger and Leo found surprising.

Spring officially arrived on March 15th when our lone crocus bloomed.

In April artist and friend J.H. Williams III and his wife Wendy visited us, and then we all attended the Asbury Park Comicon. Story HERE.

Later in April, our annual Easter Egg Coloring contest results.

May 11 Ellen and I participated in the World Series of Birding, where we spotted this Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. Story HERE.

In April and May I designed logos for the Electricomics project headed by Leah and Alan Moore, among others, my favorite logo design of recent memory. Story HERE.

In June I wrote about this heavily autographed SUPERMAN cover, and my part in creating it. Story HERE.

In late June we saw some amazing sand sculptures in Atlantic City. Story begins HERE.

Tigger and Leo sunbathing, early July.

In mid July Ellen and I attended a small reunion of classmates from my Bedminster grade school, most of whom I hadn’t seen in about 50 years. Had a wonderful time. Story HERE.

A small commission, August.

August 19th was Ellen and my 25th wedding anniversary.

A favorite hardcover project saw print this year, I got my copies in early September.

With the FABLES gang at the last FABLES panel, Baltimore Comicon. Story begins HERE.

With the “Lettering Posse” at the New York Comicon in October, including my lettering inspiration, Gaspar Saladino, in the red shirt, who I hadn’t seen in about 30 years! Story HERE.

Monarch butterflies newly emerged, and some in chrysalis at the Cape May Bird Observatory, October.

A dramatic shot of the Cape May Lighthouse during the CMBO Fall Weekend event. Story HERE.

Later in October Ellen sang “Puff the Magic Dragon” with song writer and Peter, Paul and Mary alumni Peter Yarrow. Story HERE.

An article I wrote about current trends in Marvel movie logos on Oct. 29th was probably the most visited of the year. Story HERE.

In November, after months of research, I published a seven-part article on the Rise of Digital Lettering, documenting the changeover from hand lettering in detail, something I’m proud to have done. It begins HERE.

Thanksgiving in way north Jersey with a good deal of snow! Zack and I built a snowman.

In December we lost our 18-year-old cat Katie.

It just isn’t Christmas in our family without lots of homemade cookies.

It’s hard to fathom, but a series of comics I worked on just got reprinted in a deluxe oversized edition reproducing many of the pages from the original art at the art size. It was like revisiting old friends to see them.

That’s it for my year, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

 

 

And Then I Read: G.I. ZOMBIE 4

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Here’s a book that continues to surprise and entertain me. I’ve always hated zombie stories, but this one works because the main character is a smart zombie, in fact a military operative who’s in the middle of a town of the usual stupid zombies trying to figure out how to deal with them. The odds are against him, but his cleverness helps, and eventually government reinforcements arrive. Meanwhile, his female non-zombie partner is working the case from the inside, but far from the action, and she’s having wartime flashbacks, which are filling in some of her own story, but not helping her nerves. The art by Scott Hampton is terrific, especially where he’s doing painted backgrounds, but it’s all great, and the writing by Gray and Palmiotti is also very smart and clever, but down to earth at the same time, not playing up the horror angle too much. I admire that, makes it all the more creepy at times. This is fine comics.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: DARK HORSE PRESENTS 35

Image © Dean Motter and Dark Horse Comics.

Can I get away with just saying I liked everything in this issue? Not always for the same reasons, some it was the entire package, some it was the art, some the story, some the coloring, some a combination of things. I think this is the first issue of the book where there wasn’t a single story I didn’t like! My favorite entry was “The Artist” by Stan Sakai, a new adventure of Usagi Yojimbo. But right behind were Mr. Monster by Michael T. Gilbert and Mister X by Dean Motter. In all, a fine issue of this anthology, which has now been restarted with new numbering and a shorter length.

Recommended.

Incoming: KELLEY JONES BATMAN GALLERY EDITION

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

I’m delighted to have received my copy of this from Bob Chapman at Graphitti Designs. It’s so cool to revisit the pages I lettered for BATMAN 515-525 at original art size, and most scanned from that art, so it’s just like having the pages in hand, with every tiny detail (and error) perfectly reproduced. This is the format that Scott Dunbier pioneered at IDW with his Artist Editions, but Chapman has produced an excellent companion in this book, and I hope many more. The art by Kelley Jones and John Beatty is so cool, much more interesting to look at in black and white than a lot of comics art, and where originals couldn’t be found, Gregory Wright’s original color guides are scanned instead, also fun to see.

If you’re at all interested in seeing my hand lettering work at its prime, this book is full of it, from story titles and credits, to regular dialogue balloons and captions…

…and lots of sound effects and display lettering of all kinds. There are a few bits done on computer, but most of it is pen and ink. The book is not cheap at $125, but I feel it’s a great package and well worth it. Perhaps your library might be persuaded to order it for you if you can’t buy it yourself, hope so.

Holiday Visits

We’re at Ellen’s sister Ann’s house for the holidays again. This year my friend Tim joined us on Christmas Eve day, where we had some fine meals and played lots of music: Christmas and otherwise. Zack (on left) has become quite a good guitarist, Dave (back center) plays keyboards, Tim and I play guitars also, though this year I was playing auto-harp some of the time, which is easier on my fingers. Everyone sings. It’s great fun.

Ann and Ellen entertained us on their “Music Maker” lap harps, which Tim told us is a form of the ancient Russian instrument, “gusli,” he has one too. One follows the note pattern printed on interchangeable paper diagrams that slide in below the strings, and I wrote a harmony for “Silent Night,” that they were able to do together quite successfully, one following the printed melody, the other the harmony. A link to their performance is HERE.

Cookies are always present at Christmas, Ellen makes some, Ann and Ina make some, and Ann and Dave’s friends give them some. Here’s the cookie tray for Christmas Eve day, with plenty more for the rest of the holiday.

Christmas morning I was the first one down and turned on the tree lights, but the others were soon rounded up by Ina for our gift openings.

Many fine gifts were enjoyed by all, then we had a fine breakfast with baked apple french toast and egg and cheese casserole.

In the afternoon we visited my brother Doug and his family, where a large group always gathers. I never seem able to get many good pictures there because it’s rather a madhouse, but here are all the kids present in a planned group photo, including my niece Haley and nephews Charlie and Dylan.

Nephew Charlie is starting to learn to play the French Horn, and had no problem bringing it out to play a few notes for everyone. He’s not shy. We had another fine dinner there with my Mom, and lots of other members of Doug and Lena’s extended family and friends.

Soon we’ll be heading home to south Jersey, where our cats are being well cared for in our absence, here they are showing what they feel is the best use for a Christmas present: sitting on it. Hope your holidays are merry!

 

And Then I Read: TOOTH & CLAW 1

Image © Kurt Busiek and Benjamin Dewey.

There seems to be a rise in comics featuring animals that are somewhat human lately: BLACKSAD, GRANDVILLE and now TOOTH & CLAW all representing the genre well. As with the other two, this book stars animals that are most animal-like at the upper end, with bodies that are generally human. It’s actually an interesting visual idea that conveys information about the characters intuitively, as we react to them as we might to the animals they’re based on, but soon come to see them as human in speech, actions and thought. A visual shortcut not unlike super-hero costumes in some ways.

Writer Kurt Busiek tells an epic fantasy tale focused on a city in the sky where magic keeps everything aloft, from the economy to the actual city itself. As we learn, magic is waning in this world, though, and dealings with other characters who inhabit the surface of the world are getting tricky and dangerous. A powerful magic working by a gathering of top wizards provides more insight into the personalities and power struggles at work among them, but as the populace gathers to witness the magic, things begin to go wrong.

The writing is quite good, the art by Benjamin Dewey is excellent, and the colors and letters by Bellaire and Comicraft are impressive, though I have to say I found the balloon style sometimes hard to interpret, as it got lost in the paler art.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: GRANDVILLE NOEL

Image © Bryan Talbot.

The Fourth Inspector LeBrock graphic novel is finally in my hands, and I can report it’s just as terrific as the others. This time the story deals in part with the lowest social class in this alternate version of Paris, people like us, who the many intelligent animal-headed species call “doughfaces.” It’s a nice turnabout that allows Talbot to make effective social commentary, and when he teams up with a doughface from America, also a detective, it leads to some funny moments. They’re both after a shady religious cult and it’s leader, a very rare unicorn, as seen on the cover, who has unusual powers of persuasion and is planning to use them to bring about a change of government, and a purge of doughfaces. LeBrock has a personal assignment to rescue a follower of Apollo, the cult leader, but soon finds himself drawn into a larger mission, and with help from his lady love and the American Chance Lucas, hatches a plan to infiltrate the cult and capture its leader.

There are plenty of other complications along the way, and the entire story plays out against a brilliantly thought-out society and world like our own in some ways, but with elements of steam-punk, Victoriana and just a touch of magic. It’s a wonderful combination, and the characters and plot are both top-notch. There’s a little Christmas in the opening and closing of the tale, but mostly it’s a mix of science fiction, fantasy, mystery and thriller that will keep you engaged.

Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN 36

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

In the continuing struggle between the GL Corps and the New Gods, this issue takes time out for planning and strategy on both sides. The Corps is on Korugar, Sinestro’s home base, and he and Hal Jordan eventually put aside their animosity to work together, which usually makes for entertaining reading, as here. Then Hal is off to recruit a most unlikely entity to help his cause, while on New Genesis, Orion and Highfather have harsh words about their end of things. Not a bad issue.

Recommended.