Todd Klein's Blog, page 249

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 29

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

There are stories of possession and obsession going on in this comic. A vengeful spirit is possessing innocent people, obsessed with destroying the bloodline of a founding family of Key City that led to his own death, and Barry Allen is obsessed with finding the true murderer of his own mother, sure that his father, in jail for the crime, is not guilty. Meanwhile, Deadman is trying to help him, if he can just keep up, possessing people along the way to gain information. I find the cover deceptive, as Allen’s mother is long dead already, but otherwise this is a good issue with fine writing by Brian Buccellato and excellent art by Agustin Padilla.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN 29

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

There are lots of clues as to who the big guy is on the cover. The story title might also help, “Olympian.” I guess I wasn’t really trying too hard, I didn’t figure it out until the last page.

Arthur Curry has lost his trident, and the person who has it is going to use it to unlock a long-barred gateway and unleash horrible creatures. They are pretty horrible, actually, good job there on the art and writing. While Aquaman tries to sort that out, Mera is attempting to deal with politics in Atlantis, and meeting lots of resentment. Most of the issue focuses on Aquaman fighting monsters, though, not a bad place to focus. Nice job by everyone involved.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN 29

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

While these are desperate times for the Green Lantern Corps, this issue does not feel panicked. Instead we get a breather from some of the impending action for some calmer stories. Hal Jordan visits Earth, then back on Mogo forms a privy council of fellow Corps members, having finally realized he needs help leading the group. Walker debates with Mogo, a secret stash is found,  and finally action is accomplished in an unexpected attack by Hal and company on an enemy world. Nicely written by Robert Venditti. The art is by two pencillers, Billy Tan and Martin Coccolo. Tan’s work looks good, the other not so much, with some rather ugly faces and poses. One has to begin somewhere, I suppose. Overall, not a bad issue.

Recommended.

Rereading: THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

I’m rereading all the Holmes stories on my phone when I have the odd moment, and have completed the four novels and now this first short story collection. Having read them more than 25 years ago, there are many stories that I remember only parts of and some I don’t recall at all, which makes for fun reading.

The collection begins with “A Scandal in Bohemia,” where Holmes’ opponent is Irene Adler, the one woman who seems as clever as the master detective himself. Holmes expresses much admiration for Adler, but there is no romantic interest suggested at all, despite that being an often-used plot idea for Holmes on the screen. We do see Holmes being a good sport about being bested, which tells us of his character.

“The Adventure of the Red-headed League” is a story of an elaborate swindle that is well told. One I remembered pretty well.

“A Case of Identity” uses an idea often used since, and the mystery is not hard to guess.

“The Boscombe Valley Mystery” shares some elements with two of the Holmes novels, and is notable for allowing the criminal to go unreported by Holmes and Watson, for reasons the story explains.

“The Five Orange Pips” uses as a source of villainy an organization that must have been strange and exotic, and mostly unknown at the time in England: the Ku Klux Klan. Today they are widely known, so some of the mystery is removed, but it’s still a good story.

“The Man with the Twisted Lip” is the kind of turnabout that Doyle did so well. Clearly he saw role-playing as a useful story device. Can’t say much more without spoiling it, but it’s clever indeed.

“The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” is entertaining but full of odd coincidences without which the plot would not work. Far fetched ones.

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band” is one I remembered pretty well, though the build-up to the near-fatal encounter with the murderous device is very well done.

“The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb” is another far-fetched criminal scheme with an innocent drawn into it. I didn’t remember it at all, so enjoyed reading this one a lot.

“The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor” is, like “A Case of Identity” a social mystery that seems very Victorian and old-fashioned today, and is not too hard to guess.

“The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet” is a complex mystery that I enjoyed reading. Holmes is really on his game. One of several stories in this collection where the criminal is not caught.

“The Adventure of the Copper Beeches” has been well filmed, but I still found lots in the story I didn’t remember. This one is full of action, suspense and mystery, almost a mini-novel.

Of course this and all the Holmes stories are highly recommended.

Asbury Park Comic Con with Friends

Images © Todd Klein.

About a year ago Asbury Park Comic Con organizer Cliff Galbraith invited me to be a guest at this year’s con, which I was happy to agree to, as I’d attended the 2013 con and enjoyed it. Cliff asked if there were any other pros I might want to invite. I suggested John Workman and Dave Hunt, who had also attended in 2013, and then I thought of J.H. Williams III and his wife Wendy. Jim, Wendy and I have been friends and workmates since the late 1990s. I talk often to Jim on the phone, but we’ve only met in person at the San Diego Comicon, where we enjoyed each other’s company. I floated the idea to Jim and Wendy that they might consider coming to the Asbury Park con and visit Ellen and I on the same trip, thinking they probably wouldn’t have time, but to my surprise they agreed.  Last Tuesday evening I picked them up at the Philadelphia airport, and we spent several days together at our house, and doing short trips, like one to the beach in Sea Isle City, where Wendy collected some shells.

We also visited historic Victorian Cape May, where Jim took some pictures, as Ellen and Wendy look on.

This was at the Emlen Physick Estate (1879), one of the premiere Victorian mansions in Cape May. We walked around to see other houses, and drove over to see the lighthouse in Cape May Point. We also looked for Cape May Diamonds on Sunset Beach. It was a fun few days with lots of good talk and good meals. Jim and Wendy were besmitten by our cats Tigger, Leo and Katie too, they’re big cat lovers, as Ellen and I are.

Friday afternoon we all drove to Asbury Park in my car for the Con. Asbury Park is still hurting from Hurricane Sandy, and the boardwalk Convention Hall where last year’s con was held is under reconstruction.

Instead it was held at the Berkeley Hotel nearby, which is also under renovation. We stayed here, and there were some issues with the hotel, but we enjoyed the con all the same. For instance, their wifi service was a joke, and I was unable to blog from the con or even get online except through my phone. Work to be done there. But con organizers Cliff Galbraith and Robert Bruce were gracious and helpful, and Robert’s wife supplied us with good food. We also enjoyed some meals out in the area.

When the con opened Saturday morning I was sitting between J.H. and Wendy on one side and old friends John and Cathy Workman and Dave and Phyllis Hunt on the other. This early view from my table shows the aisle with just a few folks, but it quickly filled up and was pretty packed much of the weekend.

John Workman and I had a panel on lettering Saturday morning, which seemed to go well. We have lots of stories, and enjoy sharing them.

Back on the con floor, J.H. was doing one of three commissions he was able to squeeze in during the show between meeting fans and signing books. Jim doesn’t like to do quick sketches, so he only takes a very low number of commissions, and those are more finished figures.

Outside, in addition to a variety of food trucks, there was a collection of comics-related vehicles on display. We’d seen some of them last year, like the 1960s Batmobile in the back here, but the Bat-cycle and sidecar were new. Also from the Batman TV show, the sidecar contains a very small go-cart that Robin could drive off in himself. It was tiny and comical, not to mention uncomfortable-looking.

At the CO2 Comics booth I met Bill Cuccinotta and Gerry Giovinco, both involved in the early independent company Comico. I’ve corresponded with them, but not met them before. Both have designed some logos, Bill has also done some for DC Comics.

Here I am with John Workman and Dave Hunt at their table. They made some sales and enjoyed talking to fans, as I did.

One fan had this Captain America shield he’d just had signed by Jim Steranko, another con guest. I love Jim’s signature, and had to get a photo.

Former DC editor and writer Jack C. Harris came by for some talk and good memories. I also saw Howard Bender, making it four people I worked on staff with at DC Comics in my time there from 1977-1987 that were at the show.

Jim’s panel interview with Hannah Means-Shannon rounded off the program schedule Sunday afternoon. Then he and Wendy finally took some time to walk around the show and meet other pros, which they’d been too busy to do earlier. Around 5 PM we headed back to our home in Cape May County, and today I’ll take them to the airport for their return trip to California. It’s been a good week and lots of fun spending time with old friends both here and at the con.

 

And Then I Read: SWAMP THING 29

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

What a nice surprise for Alec Holland when The Sureen show up. They’re a cult that worships the avatar of The Green, and they present themselves as ready to help him in any way they can, including allowing him to occupy one of their human bodies for a time, something that appeals to Alec. But if something sounds too good to be true…  Meanwhile the other former avatars that he’s brought back from The Green with him are out making plans of their own that may or may not be in Swamp Thing’s best interests. Writer Charles Soule continues to entertain me on this book, and the art by Jesus Saiz is excellent.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN 28

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Kind of nice to see Aquaman coming back to human level and dealing with sharks rather than immense monsters. As usual, he’s misunderstood by those he’s trying to help. And where might his trident be after he’s done here? A question that proves important in the issue. Meanwhile, Arthur Curry and Mera, back in the lighthouse on land, are invited to and attend his high school class reunion. Somewhat predictable (fish out of water), but fun. The reveal at issue’s end is going in an interesting direction. In all, I’m warming to the writing by Jeff Parker on this title, and the art by Pelletier and Parsons continues to be quite good.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 28

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Writer Brian Buccellato is telling a story of ghosts and possession, and who better to guest-star than Deadman? But couldn’t they have used a better logo for the guy on the cover?

Used to be Deadman could only talk to living people when he was possessing one. That made conversation a little tricky at times. Seems no longer to be the case, as we have a long conversation between Flash and Deadman about the current serial murderer case Barry Allen is pursuing. Deadman gives him some good insights into what’s behind the murders, but not good enough to stop some very close to home. The art by Patrick Zircher is excellent.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: JUSTICE LEAGUE 28

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

In a welcome relief from back stories of brutal criminals, this issue Geoff Johns gives us a new Metal Men. I’ve always enjoyed the characters, being a reader of their adventures since they began in SHOWCASE, and this version isn’t bad. One thing they’re missing is obedience to Doc Magnus, something he doesn’t like at all, but when the new Cyborg comes to Magnus looking for help with the villain problem, they seem like a possible solution. Of course a new version of Chemo, the Metal Men’s most interesting opponent is here, too. Fun stuff on this book for a change. The art is excellent, as usual.

Recommended.

Greetings, Asbury Park!

I’ll be a guest at this fine convention next Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 AM each day. I’ll be sitting at space C-318 between good friends J.H. Williams III and John Workman. John and I will be doing a panel on “The Art of Lettering” at 11 AM Saturday, which I think should be fun for both of us. J.H. has a panel Sunday afternoon. Lots of other great pros will be there, too. I’ll have my signed prints for sale, and of course will be happy to sign anything I’ve worked on, which is a lot. Don’t bring it all! Hope to see you there, if you’re going.