Todd Klein's Blog, page 306

My First (and only) Movie Logo

In grade school my friend Tom Burden had an inexpensive 8mm movie camera, and he and I had some fun with it, making silly silent comedy short films. None have survived, as far as I know, but when clearing some old stuff out of our storage room today I came across this title logo I did for one of them. My only excuse is that I was about twelve years old at the time! As you can see, I was already influenced by the kind of telescoping seen on many comics logos, and some epic movie logos of the period as well.

Here’s what’s on the back, the end title. There might have been another one with our names on it, I don’t recall. The lettering does not speak well for a future career in the field, but then again, I was pretty young…!

Taking the Fifth

This blog celebrates its fifth birthday today, and begins its sixth year tomorrow. That includes 690,960 words (not counting these) and about a gazillion pictures. Still having fun with it, though I’ve missed posting about one day a week on average the past few months (two days some weeks), so perhaps I am getting a little tired of the relentless nature of such things. I have to admit that doing the briefer entries for “Logo of the Day” on Facebook are more appealing now and, of course, much easier. But I will be sticking with the blog, never fear. I appreciate all of you who visit, thanks for making it worth doing. On to year six!

And Then I Read: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 9

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

The Dominators have finally made their first attack move, kidnapping Brainiac 5 and Dream Girl, as you can see above. As you might expect, they put up a good fight against the alien creatures sent to grab them, but in the end are carted off to a Dominator homeworld. The rest of the Legion is caught off-guard (clearly they haven’t been reading the last few issues), and arguments develop over what to do next, with some wanting to wait for more info, others ready to rush out for a rescue.

The art by Francis Portela looks great, as does the cover by Steve Lightle. I’m not fond of space wars, but I’m confident Paul Levitz will present an entertaining one, and I’m ready to read more.

Recommended.

Summer Days

Summer is here, and intense critter watching has given way to more lazy heat-bath sleeping on the porch for Tigger and Leo. Summer has begun with two heat waves already, allowing us to enjoy two Saturday afternoons at the beach much earlier than usual. Both last week and yesterday the water was as warm as we usually only have it in August, the water was clear with no seaweed or jellyfish, and the beach was lovely. Perhaps this year we’ll be telling our summer beach visitors, “you should have been here in June!”

We had a battalion of strong thunderstorms and high winds that blew through Friday night causing lots of power outages and fallen trees in the area, but fortunately we dodged that, finding only some downed branches and lots of leaves on the ground Saturday morning.

The heat outside makes it easier to stay inside and get things done, and that’s what I’ve been doing. The run-up to the San Diego Comic-Con means editors are pushing to get work done before everyone heads out there, and I’ve had plenty to do. This past week wasn’t too bad, but the week before I lettered over 100 pages, which is a lot for one week. I have some to work on this weekend, and expect more next week. Meanwhile, I’m also trying to get more logos from my files scanned for my “Logo of the Day” feature on Facebook, gradually going through all the DC logos I copied when I went to the offices in 2009. There are a lot, and I’ll have more of my own logos to scan as well, but there are plenty of others out there I still need good copies of, mainly from companies other than DC.

This afternoon we’re attending a performance of “Man of La Mancha” at a local playhouse for Ellen’s birthday, then having dinner out, so that should be fun. Summer is here, and we need to find our fun when we can!

And Then I Read: HELLBOY, THE STORM AND THE FURY

Images © Mike Mignola.

This is the twelfth collection of Hellboy stories, and it encompasses the big climactic battle that the series has been building to for several years. Does it live up to that? You bet!

Hellboy is in England accompanied by a woman named Alice who he once saved. The ancient warriors of Britain are rising, and Hellboy may have the sword they will all rally around, in the massive battle that’s coming against the army of demons raised by Nimue against them. When Merlin shows up, you know things are getting serious! But Hellboy is not convinced he’s on the right path, and eventually heads out to face Nimue alone. Lots of other plotlines are interwoven through this volume, some from far back in the story, and it gives the tale a great deal of depth and resonance for long-time readers, even those like myself who can’t always remember the previous storylines…

When the battle comes, it is indeed epic and Mignola’s text is almost lyrical against the massive pounding Hellboy is both giving and taking. The resolution was certainly predictable in many ways, but I still felt a bit shocked when it came.

Duncan Fegredo has been doing a wonderful job with the art on this series, capturing Mignola’s approach and some of his style, while preserving enough of his own to make it a good collaboration. If anything, Fegredo adds a layer of detail that enhances the storytelling without cluttering Mignola’s layouts.

If ever you decide to start the Hellboy saga, rest assured you’ll find this climax satisfying. And it’s by no means the end of the story, either. After all, Hellboy is essentially a demon himself, and that will lead things further. If you’ve been reading the series all along, this one will impress and move you.

Very highly recommended.

And Then I Read: WONDER WOMAN 9

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Writer Brian Azzarello is doing some things I like in this title, and some I don’t. On the don’t side are the personifications he’s created for several of the Greek gods. At the top of my “don’t like” list is Hades, shown above. Traditionally the god of the underworld and overlord of the dead is seen as a menacing, cold-hearted figure. Brian’s vision is a child with a head topped by burning candles, and melting wax over his eyes. I find this silly rather than menacing. And while the character is clearly cold-hearted, when he says or does something that’s meant to seem cruel or evil, it comes across to me as kind of funny, like a child’s tantrum. And who wouldn’t be cranky with all that wax in your eyes? His vision for Mars, the god of War is almost as baffling. I can understand wanting to go your own way, but there has to be some resonance. Gods are personifications of broad ideas, ones we all have some common knowledge of, and when you go too far from that, it becomes parody rather than drama, in my view.

The storyline is also kind of hard to fathom in this issue. Hades wants to marry Diana, and has tricked her into agreeing to it. No one in the story seems to believe she’s really going to end up as the Queen of Hell, though, as far as I can tell. It’s more like she’s humoring him. Just doesn’t seem convincing to me.

The art by Tony Akins is not bad, but I once again find myself missing Cliff Chiang. I understand he can’t keep up a monthly schedule, and I’m willing to wait for his art, but the issues where he’s missing are much less fun to read for me.

Can’t really recommend this one.

And Then I Read: NIGHT FORCE 3 & 4

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Writer Marv Wolfman knows how to tell a complicated horror story, gradually revealing details in each issue while keeping things moving, and adding enough surprises and even shocks along the way to create a rich atmosphere. In these issues we find out a lot more about the women who have been unsuspectingly used as breeding stock for a strange yet well-organized group of shadowy beings, and we learn some frightful things about those beings as well, though not yet what their plans will lead to. Baron Winter’s activities are almost a side plot for a while, but come back to center stage at the end of issue 4. Like a good horror novel, I want to know more, yet am afraid of what I’ll learn next!

The art by Tom Mandrake keeps getting better with each issue, as if he’s flexing his artistic muscles, taking more chances, and getting inspired by the story to reach for new horrors as well as fine character moments. (Unfortunately I can’t use the most impressive pages here without giving things away.) I’m liking this series a lot!

Highly recommended.

 

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS 8

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Kyle Rayner and his group of multi-colored Lanterns have been busy dealing with Invictus and his Orrery. They’re finally away from that and checking up on what’s been happening elsewhere. A lot, it seems, especially for Arkillo the Yellow Lantern. While he was out of touch, his entire Corps has been shut down. Arkillo isn’t happy about that, and heads back to Korugar to see what’s up. There he has a chance to rescue The Weaponer of Qward from justice, and the two unlikely allies go underground, trying to figure out a way through this. The fact that the Weaponer is the one who originally created the Yellow Lantern and its rings might help. Meanwhile, other Corps are also in disarray or dispute, and the rainbow group seems to be splitting up and going their own ways. Where next for Kyle? We’ll see in future issues, I guess.

The art by Tyler Kirkham and Batt continues to be well done, aided by lots of tricky color effects from Nei Ruffino. Fine lettering by Dave Sharpe, too.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: JUSTICE LEAGUE 8

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Green Arrow wants to join the team. Argumentative and disfunctional a group as they are, they seem united on one thing: he’s not wanted. As a Justice League fan since the group’s beginning in the early 1960s, it’s hard not to contrast this issue with the introduction of GA to the original JLA in issue 4 of that series. Here, instead of camaraderie and helping each other, all the team members are mean and dismissive to GA, even as he tries to help them. Eventually he gets the message and moves on. Meanwhile, we get snippets of past adventures which seem more interesting than the one we’re actually reading here, like the team’s encounter with the Martian Manhunter. We drop into ongoing missions without much explanation, and get booted out of them again as the team leaves GA and us behind, going on about their business. In a way it’s kind of like we, the readers, are being dissed, too. As you can see, I wasn’t fond of this storyline.

I liked the Shazam backup better, though it’s also full of people being mean to each other. Somehow this twist on the innocent, sometimes too-sweet do-gooders of the original Captain Marvel adventures works for me, though it’s taking time to develop. Nothing super going on here yet.

The art by Carlos D’anda, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, filling in for regular artist Jim Lee worked fine for me on the main story. They all have a Jim Lee approach, at least here, and it’s not bad. The art by Gary Frank on Shazam is also quite good. Sure are a lot of frowning, angry and sarcastic expressions in this book, though.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: THE RAVENMASTER’S SECRET

© Elvira Woodruff, cover illustration not credited.

Another Scholastic novel aimed at younger readers, this one a historical thriller. Eleven-year-old Forrest Harper lives with his family inside the Tower of London in the year 1735. The tower is mainly a prison for the King’s enemies, who are guarded by the Tower Warders, including Forrest’s father Hugh. The two of them have an added duty: caring for the small group of ravens that are kept on the grounds for good luck and by tradition, their wings clipped when young so they can’t fly away. Forrest also has made a pet of a wild raven, Tuck, who goes nearly everywhere with him. Forrest’s best friend is the rat-catcher’s apprentice known simply as Rat, and the two of them share imaginary adventures. Forrest dreams of someday getting out into the city of London and the world. So far he’s only seen the inside of the Tower and its grounds.

Forrest helps his father with the old priest prisoner they’re in charge of, but everything changes when some new prisoners arrive from Scotland, members of the Stewart clan who are rebelling against the King. One of them is a young girl, Maddy, and she becomes the charge of Forrest and his father. At first ready to hate this enemy, Forrest soon realizes she’s an innocent caught up in a deadly struggle, and they become friends. When plans are made to free the Scots, Forrest must decide if his friendship for Maddy is worth risking his own life and reputation. Danger lurks on every side in this tense story, and when the escape attempt comes, Rat and Forrest are in the thick of it.

I enjoyed this book, it has a well-researched setting and believable and sympathetic characters. The one area where it didn’t work too well for me is in the situation Forrest finds himself in. He’s practically given full charge of a young female prisoner, able to talk to her with little supervision on many occasions, a very unlikely scenario, though of course the story wouldn’t have developed as well without it. And as the storyline evolves  there are plenty of lucky accidents and narrow escapes that seem  too convenient. Author Woodruff does keep things moving along at a brisk pace, and that helps make this an enjoyable read. Recommended.