Todd Klein's Blog, page 283

Incoming: HOUSE OF SECRETS OMNIBUS

Just arrived today, and getting the interest of Leo, this very thick and heavy volume collecting all the HOUSE OF SECRETS material: 25 regular issues, two extra-long painted issues, a short story, and lots of extras. I had fun lettering this from 1996 to 2001 (with a large gap in there), Steven Seagle, Teddy Kristiansen and editor Shelly Bond were great to work with. Lots of special lettering styles were called for, and many were done by hand, though I did use commercial fonts (some altered) for the voices of the spirits. At the time DC was not set up for digital pasteups, so I generally printed out those bits and pasted them onto the artwork, or sometimes vellum overlays. I can’t say this is really a favorite series as far as the characters goes, they didn’t appeal to me that much, but it was innovative and probably ahead of its time story-wise, and well worth a look.

And Then I Read: WILDWOOD by Colin Meloy

© Colin Meloy, illustration © Carson Ellis.

There’s nothing better than a thick book when it’s a good read, and this is one. A few chapters in you’re enjoying the world the writer has created, and you look at all the pages still to come with satisfaction. At least I do. Better yet when the book has maps and many illustrations, as this one does.

Prue McKeel lives in Portland, Oregon with her parents and baby brother Mac. Her Saturday begins in an ordinary way, with the parents off to a craft fair and Prue on her bike with Mac in his Radio Flyer wagon attached behind, riding around the neighborhood running errands, going to the park where Mac can crawl around. Ordinary until a huge flock of crows descends on them and carries Mac off across the Willamette River to an area of unknown woods called The Impassable Wilderness! Prue knows she has to go after Mac, even though no one she knows has ever ventured into that thick forest. She fools her parents into thinking Mac is asleep in his room, and sneaks out at dawn intent on finding the baby and bringing him back. Her friend Curtis is at first an annoyance. Curtis knows something is up and wants to come along. Prue tries to discourage him, but in the end reluctantly agrees, and the two of them cross the railroad bridge (narrowly missing being hit by a train) and into the forest.

Inside there’s a whole world unknown to mundane Portland, protected by powerful magic spells. In the center is The Wildwood, a dangerous place full of talking Coyote soldiers led by a mad human Queen, and bandits led by their King, both at war with each other. Then there’s the Avian Principality, kingdom of birds, and at either end are two areas settled by humans and talking animals both, civilized South Wood and rural North Wood. Prue and Curtis are soon separated and each has adventures full of danger and excitement trying to find and rescue the stolen baby. The Wildwood Queen has a desperate plan for the child, and it will mean death everyone in the entire place if she succeeds.

I had a great time reading this, the characters are well developed and appealing, the ideas clever and creative. The illustrations by Carson Ellis are full of fun details, stylized in a way that reminds me of artists like Charles Wysocki and Charley Harper. Attractive, though they do fall a bit short on emotional content that might help draw us into the story. She also was the illustrator of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” by Trenton Lee Stewart, another book I liked, and she’s the wife of the author.

Recommended, and I’ll be getting book two of the series one of these days. Note that this one is complete and self-contained, with plenty of satisfying resolution but room left for sequels, and “Under Wildwood” is the first of those.

And Then I Read: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 17, GREEN LANTERN 17

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Levitz and Giffen have a long history together on this title, with some very successful storylines in the early 1980s. I remember enjoying those. That said, Giffen’s art style is jarring on this title now, being quite different from the art styles seen lately. They’ve kept Scott Koblish as inker, which I think is a good idea. Giffen has several styles, and here he’s going very Jack Kirby. That’s good for the action scenes and the sense of wonder, but not so good for some of the character depictions. The women, in particular, don’t emerge from his pencil as well as readers are used to, in my opinion. Even the male characters look pretty different in most cases.

ADDED: blog reader Martin Miller has pointed out I’ve confused Scott Kolins, previous series artist, with Scott Koblish, the inker of this issue. My mistake, sorry.

So, how is the story? It begins in the middle of some new things, with Levitz catching us up a bit here and there in the dialogue. Some of the new things include a crash-landing that has a very bad result for the Legionnaires involved. There are impressive aliens and giants, and it looks like one of the previous plotlines is going to move front and center shortly. Not bad, but we’ll see where things go. Certainly there’s lots of action in this book.

As the Green Lantern books move without pause or resolution from one crossover to another, we revisit that ancient scene of Krona viewing the origins of life in the universe, with some new twists. Longtime readers might say, “Oh, that again,” while newer ones perhaps will wonder what the fuss is about. In the present, the First Lantern is loose and causing major trouble for the Guardians and the Corps. That’s not unexpected. More interesting is where new GL Simon Baz has ended up: facing Black Hand. And where are Hal Jordan and Sinestro? We’re about to find out.

The art by Doug Mahnke and several inkers on the main storyline is as good as always, and it’s nice to see Dan Jurgens and Phil Jimenez doing the prologue pages.

Both books are recommended, but mildly.

Pulled At Random From My Files #3

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Letter columns are something that most comics had when I was a kid, and while on staff at DC from 1977-87 they were still doing them. That meant each new title needed a letter column header, including lettering for a title—usually some kind of play on words involving the book’s name or main character—and a small bit of art to put next to it. Here’s the lettering by me and art by Keith Giffen for AMBUSH BUG, probably for the 1985 four-issue series, and perhaps also used on the SON OF AMBUSH BUG six-issue series that followed it. I’m not sure why I still have the art, it should have been returned to Giffen long ago, but it got stuck in my files instead. I doubt Keith misses it. The lettering is in the style of the logo I designed for the title.

Here’s another, just the lettering I did for the VIGILANTE letter column heading. The art must have been done, as I’ve made a loose placement sketch of it in blue pencil. The block lettering style is similar to one used by Gaspar Saladino, but notice where the indented point is on the right side of the R, about halfway down the central horizontal stroke. Gaspar would have put it at the bottom of the horizontal stroke, one easy way to tell my block lettering from his, other than, you know, his being a lot better!

And Then I Read: WONDER WOMAN 16, WORLDS’ FINEST 9

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

When I started reading comics in the 1960s, continuity between titles was not something DC Comics paid much attention to. The super-heroes in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA looked like the ones in their own books, but acted and sounded rather different. We’re there again with Wonder Woman, the one in JUSTICE LEAGUE is completely different from the one in this book. I’m not knocking it, I kind of like it. Brian Azzarello’s Diana seems younger, more innocent, perhaps even a bit naive, willing to trust people she’s never met and always ready to do the right thing if she can discern it, no matter the cost. A charming approach, really. Too so bad many of the characters around her are untrustworthy, rude and manipulative. Diana’s quest for her lost brethren continues, with Orion of the New Gods thrown into the mix. Meanwhile, in Antarctica, another child of Zeus is fighting ice giants, giving the book some action. The art by Cliff Chiang is great, as always.

Writer Paul Levitz is telling good stories in this book, too. In the present day, a recuperating Huntress has to tackle invaders with powerful weapons on Power Girl’s private island. And in a flashback, we see more of the team’s early days, including shopping for costumes and weapons. The art is by three pencillers and several inkers, but holds together well, with George Perez’s contribution getting highest marks in my estimation.

Both books are recommended.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 16, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 16

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato continue to wow me with innovative writing and art on this title. What might, in many comics, be a super-speed slugfest between The Flash and Grodd the now speedy gorilla is much more interesting. First, they play with time, slicing the story back and forth between past events and current ones. Then, they have this thing called the Speed Force which is both the power that Grodd and Barry Allen are using as well as a very odd place where Iris and others are trapped. When Barry decides he needs to give himself up to Grodd and is meekly taken into custody by the gorillas, it seems like a suicide play, but certainly a novel one. Things get even better after that. I love this title, great writing, great ideas, charming and creative art. Perfect.

The annual “choose a new leader” issue is always a chance for entertaining character interaction, and Paul Levitz gives us plenty of it. Kind of funny to be reading this while in Rome a Pope was being elected, but that’s neither here nor there. Politics can be boring on a large scale, but in a small group of workmates, it’s kind of fun. The characters that want to be in charge but don’t like to say so, the ones that hate the idea but might be elected anyway, and everything in between. Meanwhile, on the prison planet of Takron-Galtos, some of the Legion are checking on one of their maddest and most powerful enemies, Validus. Is he as well-imprisoned as it seems? Enjoyable issue, and I still quite like the open art style by Scott Koblish.

Both issues are recommended, FLASH highly so.

 

 

And Then I Read: JUSTICE LEAGUE 16, AQUAMAN 16

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Aquaman is in a tough spot. Atlantis is attacking cities on the U.S. east coast, led by his brother. The Justice League, his team, is trying to stop them. Aquaman wants to prevent the horrific battle he sees ahead, but neither side fully trusts him, and he himself is torn between the two sides. Geoff Johns has set up a corker of a moral dilemma for the character, and while most of this issue is posturing, talk and preliminary tests of strength, it’s pretty good stuff! The art by Ivan Reis, with help on inks from Joe Prado is excellent. In the Shazam backup, Billy Batson may have the power, but he doesn’t really know how to use it, and is no match for Black Adam. Another good setup by Johns with fine art by Gary Frank.

The battle with Atlantis continues in this title, with some new members called quickly in to help the Justice League, who are having a rough time keeping their heads above water. Aquaman is on a solo mission to retrieve Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman from captivity behind enemy lines and deep in the ocean, while in the JLA satellite some revealing talk comes from two of Aquaman’s former teachers. The art by Paul Pelletier and Art Thibert is fine, though not quite as convincing on the JLA as Reis. Unlike some of the crossovers I’ve read in the recent past, this one feels like it’s having real impact on the characters and their fictional but convincing Earth.

Both titles are recommended.

And Then I Read: THE CATS OF TANGLEWOOD FOREST by Charles de Lint and Charles Vess

Images © Charles de Lint & Charles Vess.

de Lint and Vess have had a long and successful partnership as writer and illustrator, and their latest collaboration may be the best one yet. This story began as a much shorter illustrated book for younger readers in 2003 called “A Circle of Cats” which I bought from Mr. Vess then:

Somewhat larger in dimensions, it has pictures on nearly every page. For the new book, some of those illustrations are reused (not all of them), and many new ones are included. The story has the same beginning and end, but is greatly expanded in the middle, adding characters, settings and events, expanding on the life of the heroine, young Lillian, the strange predicament she gets into, and the many ways she tries to escape it.

Lillian lives with her Aunt in the forested foothills of of the southern Virginia Appalachian mountains on a small farm, just the two of them and occasional help from men of the Creek Indians living nearby. Lillian loves the woods and its animals, both native wildlife and the feral cats that have made homes there. She’s kind to the cats, giving them milk often. While out in the woods one day, Lillian is bitten by a poisonous snake and is dying when the cats find her. They work forbidden magic on the girl that turns Lillian into a kitten. This saves her life, but creates great worry for her Aunt, and Lillian desperately wants to be human again. One good thing about being a kitten, though, is she can speak to and understand all the other animals. A friendly fox tells her about a possum witch who may be able to help get her human form back. That leads to all kinds of difficulties and complications, and before long Lillian is making another forest trek to visit first the Creek Indian village, then the mysterious Bear Folk deep in the forest, who don’t like people at all.

A fine story in every respect, and the illustrations are wonderful. Highly recommended!

Spring Signs

This is the post I write every year at this time, the first warm day in March when spring seems just around the corner, and I go out looking for signs of it. In fact, last year’s was also on March 10th, and included a picture of our lone Crocus, the only survivor of a dozen or more we planted soon after we moved here in 1989. Quite large and full of promise! Hope the squirrels don’t eat it this year, but they well might…

As for native flowers, this is one of the earliest, or perhaps THE earliest to emerge in our neighborhood. Looking very exotic, and only found in very wet areas, it’s Skunk Cabbage, a fascinating plant which you can read more about in the link. I just discovered that it creates its own heat, allowing it to emerge even through snow and ice. Yes, it does smell skunky especially if you should break the flowers or leaves, but I find it pretty all the same.

This one is emerging in the middle of a small stream, the leaves are well up, but will spread out quite a bit more. Obviously doesn’t mind being immersed!

The resident birds are singing, blackbirds are flocking and raiding our feeders. Woodpeckers are tapping on a hollow tree, declaring their territory. I heard a few chorus frogs last week, I bet they were singing today, though I didn’t go to their pond. Spring is definitely on the way!

And Then I Read: THE STOLEN LAKE by Joan Aiken

© Joan Aiken, cover art © Edward Gorey.

I’ve read quite a few of Joan Aiken’s books for younger readers, and I particularly enjoy her series about Dido Twite, the feisty young heroine in a series of alternate history stories having a somewhat Victorian steam punk flavor. I’m not sure why it took me so long to get to this one, but it’s every bit as good as the others.

Dido is supposed to be traveling back to her home in England aboard an British naval ship when they are diverted to South America by a call for help from the queen of New Cumbria, one of several countries that Aiken imagines were settled by emigrants from Celtic Britain when that land was invaded by the Saxons (one of the historical alternatives she posits in her series). Dido is always ready for an adventure, and this proves to be quite a dangerous and involved one. There are so many characters and plot twists that the story gets pretty complicated, but Aiken’s writing is strong enough to make it work, with interesting characters and a wealth of ideas throughout. So, we have South American flora and fauna, British Empire influences including a cog railway, Celtic influences including elements from the King Arthur legends, black magic, unusual steam-driven technology like a rotating castle, a ship captain who is also an inventor of flying machines, giant birds that sound more like Pterodactyls, ancient native cities, a tame leopard, deep mines and underground railways…I could go on, but let’s just say there’s plenty of cool stuff in this book. And the plot comes to a crashing resolution with earthquakes and volcanoes that is sure to provide exciting reading. I had a great time!

Recommended.