Todd Klein's Blog, page 263

Phil Normand on the Ben Day Men

Before comics and Sunday newspaper strips were colored using computers, there were a variety of other methods, some using photography, some not. I’ve talked about the process used at DC Comics when I started there in the late 1970s HERE and HERE, but the very first was the Ben Day method, invented before 1900. It was a difficult and time-consuming enterprise that took years to learn, and was probably only done well by a few elite craftsmen like Jack Adler, before his DC days. On his blog, Phil Normand has written a superb ESSAY ON THE BEN DAY PROCESS, which I recommend highly!

 

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS 23

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The latest menace in the Green Lantern books is a Galactus-like giant of immense power called Relic. He’s not eating worlds, though, he’s after lantern-charging power batteries, the huge ones that are a resource for each color of lantern. Kyle Rayner and his comrades, including the newest Guardians, keep trying to stop him, but aren’t getting any traction. Still, they have to keep trying. That about sums up this issue.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: ASTRO CITY 3

Image © Juke Box Productions.

This issue finishes up the first storyline in the relaunched ASTRO CITY, and an excellent one it is. Marella, on the support staff for the super group Honor Guard, has made a mistake. She could have averted an attack by villains in South America if she had made the right connection in the phone call for help she handled. Now there’s a war going on there, and Marella is miserable, sure she’s to blame. So sure that she decides to use Honor Guard’s teleportation system to go there and try to help the family whose call she had misread. This is a very dangerous plan, and soon Marella is in over her head, involved with criminal gangs and soon kidnapped herself. What can one ordinary person do in a super-powered battle? Why did she think she could solve problems herself that Honor Guard was struggling with?

Great story by Kurt Busiek, terrific art by Brent Anderson and Alex Ross on the cover. This is good comics.

Highly recommended.

Grade School Art, Lettering, Writing and Memories

Images © Todd Klein

My friend Tim Walker was visiting this weekend and today we got to reminiscing about the brief years we spent together in the Bedminster Township School in Bedminster, NJ (Kindergarten to 8th grade). I arrived at the school in the spring of 1960, entering the 3rd grade near the end of the school year, Tim joined my class in 4th grade, and left at the end of 6th grade to attend a private school. Another good friend, Tom Burden, joined my class I think in 7th grade, and we graduated together and continued to the same high school. Tim and I remained friends, visiting each other often, and Tom was soon included. The three of us played music together for fun, calling ourselves “The Three T’s.”

While at the Bedminster School, my abilities as an artist were noticed, and I was soon working for English teacher Mrs. Thompson on the school’s literary magazine, “The Bedpost.” By 7th grade I was the Art Editor, drawing the covers and lots of interior story titles and illustrations. The cover above was a favorite of those I did. The entire magazine was printed using a mimeograph machine, a very clumsy and difficult way to print things, but relatively cheap, and often used by schools, as well as early fanzine publishers. Text was typed onto a letter-size mimeograph stencil, and any artwork had to be drawn on the remaining areas of the stencil with a stylus. This was very tricky, as too much pressure would rip a hole in the stencil, while too little made the lines very light or nonexistent. Getting just the right pressure was something you had to learn by trial and error. It was also not easy to see exactly what you had already drawn. My art skills were not that good, really, but considering the medium, not so bad either. The insides were printed on cheap recycled paper, but the covers were printed on higher quality white paper, as above, and each one was hand-painted with poster paints. I know I did a lot of that myself, but probably had help. How many of these were needed for each issue I don’t recall, but I’m guessing at least 100.

This issue I went all out, and also did a painted cover on the back. Hey, I was a kid, I was enthusiastic! And note my early lettering skills on both covers.

 

Here’s something that was written by the editor of this issue, Ed Hughes, and probably originally drawn by him, but copied onto the stencil by me, I think. Sort of presages the kind of tricks with letterforms I’d be doing later in comics.

I also wrote stories for the magazine. Much of the contents of “The Bedpost” came from class assignments, but Mrs. Thompson encourage any students who enjoyed writing to submit stories and poems for extra credit, and she often used them in the magazine. This 1963 three-page fantasy was popular enough that it got reprinted a few years later in a “best-of” edition. I was twelve when I wrote it.

Tim and I looked through my copies of the magazine, and enjoyed reading our own works there, and the works of classmates. Tim had this poem in the same issue as my story. “I’m surprised how dark it is,” he commented. Other poems by him were, too. He decided he was reacting against the general happy tone of most contributions, trying for something different.

By the late fall of 1964 Tim had left the school, and Tom had joined it. He must have impressed Mrs. Thompson with his writing skills, because he became the Editor of the magazine that year. Above is his first editorial, illustrated by me. Not sure why there’s a blank space below, something was supposed to go in there, but was apparently left out. Oh, editor…?

One lesson I learned doing title lettering for the magazine was the importance of proofreading your work. This was pretty embarrassing…! The lettering throughout is nothing great, but I was young and the tools were not helping me any.

Between us, Tim and I recalled many things about those times at Bedminster Township School, and while we shared some memories, we each had gaps the other could fill. My favorite teacher was the English teacher and advisor for “The Bedpost,” Mrs. Thompson, who Tim didn’t remember much about. Probably my best friend on the staff was the librarian, Dorothy Grady. Not surprising, since I was a constant reader and in the library often. Mrs. Grady introduced me to books such as “The Hobbit” by Tolkien, still one of my all time favorites, and also lent me books from her personal collection to read. On the other hand, the 6th grade homeroom teacher Tim and I had, Mr. Kean, I don’t recall at all, though Tim remembers him well.

Just for fun, here’s my 8th grade class graduation picture. I don’t remember all the names, but on the top row are Stephen Jackson, not sure, Brent Franklin and Roxie Blazure. Second row are Judy Maresca, Susan Gary, not sure, and Janet Szabo. Front row are Cathy Downey, Alfred Herzog, Ralph Johnson and myself.

I’ve broken the picture into three parts so you can see it better. In this middle section are, top row: Roxie Blazure, Edward Ketrow, not sure, not sure, and Frank Robertson. Middle row: Susan Van Arsdale, not sure, not sure, Maxine Dixon, and bottom row: me, Harlan (Butch) Frost, Ken Benner, Owen Jackson and Dave Hunt.

Here in the top row are: Frank Robertson, John Ricciardi, Tom Monsees and Craig Allen. Second row: Maxine Dixon, Donna Timpson, Julie Cimosz and Valerie Chukinko. Bottom row: Dave Hunt, Robert Schork, Tom Burden and Linda Philbrook. This was 1965, I was 14. We were all off to high school next, most of us going to Bernards High School in Bernardsville, NJ.

I was not the best student, but I did pretty well. Somehow I was in the advanced math class for grades 5-8, with Miss Goss, who Tim calls “the best teacher I ever had.” She was really good. In high school, without her help, I couldn’t handle advanced math, and went back to the regular math class. I did continue to enjoy art, though I always thought I had a better chance of getting somewhere with writing. Didn’t work out that way, but I’m very happy with the path my career took, and grateful to still have friends and contacts from this early time, about 50 years ago.

Friends and Fall Colors

Images © Todd Klein.

My good friend Tim (since grade school) is visiting this weekend, and today as the skies cleared and the rain of last night evaporated, we went for a walk to enjoy the fall colors and comfortable temperature of the day. Here’s Ellen and Tim walking down Jake’s Landing Road.

Lots of great color all around at Jake’s.

As we walked out into the marsh toward the road’s end, this small red cedar tree was abundantly full of new berries, which some birds will eat and enjoy.

The road ends at a channel where one can launch a small boat, and the sky was lovely.

Walking back toward the forest from the marsh.

The trees closest to the marsh were very colorful.

Next we drove a short distance to Belleplain State Forest where we walked a trail along the edge of Lake Nummy, among other spots.

I love oak leaves like this where the veins are highlighted by different colors.

But if you want real foliage drama, it’s hard to beat a maple tree in a sunny location, like this one.

Orange, anyone?

We’re having a great time with Tim here and the weather and scenery only enhance that.

Rereading: THE SIGN OF FOUR by A. Conan Doyle

 

Photo found online, original novel publication, 1890.

Continuing my revisit to the Sherlock Holmes complete works via a free iBook, The second Holmes story, also the second novel, brings some new elements to the lives of Holmes and his roommate and companion Dr. Watson. In Holmes’ case we get a frank look at his drug use, and a wider view of the network of informants and confederates he has supplying him information. In Watson’s case we get romance!

Holmes and Watson are in their study having a long discussion of Holmes’ methods when a lady, Miss Mary Morstan, calls with a case for the detective. It involves the disappearance of her father some ten years earlier. Captain Morstan had served in India, then as a guard at a prison in the Andaman Islands, off the coast of India. The Captain had been hoping to meet an old friend and fellow officer when he disappeared, a Major Sholto, but the Major professed to know nothing about the matter. A few years later, Miss Morstan began receiving packages from an unknown source containing very valuable pearls, one each year.

What brings the woman to Holmes at this point is a letter she’s received asking her to meet someone who will explain the pearls, and perhaps more, but she must not tell the police. Holmes is intrigued, and insists that he and Watson go with her. They agree to meet later. Watson admits after she leaves that he finds Miss Morstan very attractive, and their shy courtship plays out through the rest of the book. Was this, perhaps, to resolve any questions about two middle-aged adult men living together, I wonder?

When the three are on their way to the meeting, Mary shows them an odd paper found among her father’s effects. It appears to be a map, and is labeled below, “The Sign of the Four” with four names, one English, the others Indian. At the rendezvous, they are met by a cab which brings them to a fancy apartment, and finally face-to-face with the man who has arranged all this, Mr. Thaddeus Sholto, son of the Major Sholto that was a friend of Mary’s father. He tells them a tale of wartime treasure tied up with a murder and eventually with the betrayal of the group by Major Sholto, who stole the treasure from them. Soon the three men and a lady are on to a large country manor, the Sholto estate, where Thaddeus’ brother lives, the former home of the Major. Thaddeus says Mary deserves a share of this treasure that was due her father, and wants to confront his brother about providing it.

When they arrive, they find the brother murdered, very recently, and in a quite unusual way, involving a poison dart. A hole in the ceiling of the brother’s bedroom on the top floor reveals a secret that will figure large in the mystery Sherlock Holmes must unravel. A chase is soon on for the suspected killer that puts Holmes and Watson in considerable danger.

I enjoyed reading this again, though I found the implied racism of the English control of India and its people, as if they were children to be guided by the wise Englishmen, rather depressing. Other racist attitudes emerge relating to the actual murderer as well. Still, it’s a product of its time, and has to be read in that light. Overall, there’s plenty of intrigue and action in this novel, including a fine chase scene and a satisfying conclusion.

Recommended.

 

 

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 23

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The storyline running through all the GL books continues here, and it can be summed up as: everything is falling apart. From their power source — rings and lanterns — to the Corps itself, nothing seems to be stable. John Stewart and his new recruits are struggling against Khunds, Star Sapphire Fatality is dealing with deadly Durlans. On Oa, no one seems to have any answers, just more problems. Writers Van Jensen and Robert Venditti do a good job managing the emotional arc that continues in a roller-coaster ride heading ultimately downward. The art by Bernard Chang is excellent.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: HALF MOON INVESTIGATIONS by Eoin Colfer

Image © Eoin Colfer, cover art © Mark Riedy.

I read the first of the “Artemis Fowl” books by this author. I liked it pretty well, but not enough to want more. This title caught my eye at a book sale, and the back cover copy intrigued me enough to make the sale.

The story takes place in contemporary Ireland, though there are not a lot of clues to the location, my first impression was that the locale was somewhere in the US. It’s a high-school setting, where Fletcher Moon is a misfit kid whose passion is detective work, something most of the other kids make fun of, though he has had some small jobs come his way. Fletcher’s prize possession is the official detective badge earned through an online correspondence school, making him the youngest to get that iconic piece of metal. When a classmate hires him to locate a missing item, evidence points toward the notorious Sharkey family, several members of which go to Fletcher’s school. Confronting the Sharkeys is dangerous, but Fletcher manages to get information from Red Sharkey that actually points to a much bigger crime conspiracy than even the Sharkeys seem capable of. Before long Red and Fletcher are uneasy partners trying to find out what’s really going on in their small town.

I found this an excellent mystery for younger readers. No murders, but plenty of excitement and danger, and a very clever plot. Fine characters, with insights into human nature vital to any good detective story, and enough surprises to keep everything rolling along nicely. It seems ripe for a series, but this is the only one out so far. A TV series based on the book came out in Great Britain.

Recommended.

Pulled From My Files #13: INFINITY INC.

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

When I was on my game designing logos in the 1980s, I would sometimes hit a design I liked on the first sketch. INFINITY INC. of 1983 was one of those. I don’t think I did any other sketches, I just brought this one in and they gave the nod to go ahead. I was trying to work in an infinity symbol, the large one on the left was tried, then covered with white paint, but the marker has since bled through. The small one on the right would have worked okay, but was apparently rejected.

Here’s the finished logo drawn in ink on Denril plastic vellum with technical drawing pens. As in the sketch, I added some light blue pencil to show where the shading should go, as the logo was a little unclear without that. Some of the perspective lines were adjusted, and in fact faked a little to give each vertical stroke at least some shading. The original idea was to have the centers of the letters be open, allowing art to show through.

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In practice, this was very hard to read, and only tried a few times, not very successfully.

Instead a solid color usually filled the open letters, as here. Worked fine, and was much easier to read. Colorists often got the shading wrong on the INC, though, as here. The section inside the C and below the diagonal of the N should be the shade color, in this case blue. Not a big deal, and probably noticed only by me.

Whodini and Friend

Two more pictures from the NJ Audubon Autumn Birding Festival in Cape May this weekend. At Convention Hall were vendors and exhibitors, including Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, an animal rehabilitation center in Medford, NJ. They brought several birds that were not able to be released back into the wild because of injuries, and that now serve as ambassadors to the natural world at shows like this. Here is Whodini, a Great Horned Owl, so named because when they first got him he kept getting out of his cage.

I didn’t get the name of this much smaller Eastern Screech Owl, who was totally adorable. He kept very still except for his head, which swiveled constantly to take in the sight of his admiring crowd.