Todd Klein's Blog, page 313

And Then I Read: MEMORIAL 3 & 4

Images © Monkeybrain, Inc., Richard Ellis & IDW.

This comic is developing nicely. Most of these issues take place in various parts of the fantasy realms devised by Chris Roberson including an immense library of sorts in the Tower of Babel and a lost section of London that was spirited away to The Everlands. As you might expect, things are not all hearts and flowers in this realm. A large part of it has been taken over by an apparently ruthless entity called Moment, who is making life miserable for many creatures great and small. The young woman at the center of the story, Em, is once more a desired pawn being sought after by several groups of mercenaries and/or agents of Moment. Meanwhile, Shrodinger the talking cat helps give readers an overview to the realms in question that’s enlightening.

The art by Rich Ellis is growing on me. I particularly like the shadowy characters done in negative like the one above, though I expect their unusual look is created by the colorist Grace Allison. Still, Ellis has to draw and ink them in a way that allows this to work. In all, MEMORIAL is a comic I’m growing to enjoy more with each issue.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE COMPLETE PEANUTS 1975-76

Images © United Features Syndicate.

I missed this volume somehow, and recently acquired and read it. As always, it’s wonderfully entertaining and funny. Nothing makes me laugh quite as often as these collections. Herein Schulz introduces Snoopy’s brother Spike, and a sister named Belle (briefly). But all the main characters are back for lots of fine moments, especially Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty and Marcie. Snoopy breaks his foot and spends weeks in a cast, the baseball team hits new lows, Sally continues to confound her school and teacher, Patty has some revealing conversations with Charlie Brown, and lots more. Perhaps my favorite strip in the book is this one:

What a wonderful piece of writing! They’re not all this good, but you’ll have a fine time all the same. Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: MEMORIAL 1 & 2

Images © Monkeybrain, Inc, Richard Ellis and IDW.

I ordered this series knowing only two things about it: it's written by Chris Roberson, who I've enjoyed working with, and the covers are by Michael Kaluta, a long-time friend and favorite artist. I was quite delighted to find out it's a fantasy series with a young girl protagonist and a well-developed fantasy world background. There are some familiar elements to the story. First, the girl, known as Em, begins the story with amnesia, remembering nothing of her past, but we know she must be someone important because dangerous folks are after her. Second, she wanders into an antique shop of sorts that just appears one day. It's a magical shop full of magical-looking things, and one in particular catches Em's eye. The kindly owner gives it to her. It's a key. Third, there's a scarcastic talking cat.

Those are all story tropes that are time-worn almost to the point of cliche. But Roberson does a good job of working with them, and adding other less-familiar things, to create a story that holds my interest. The fantasy elements are a sometimes odd mix of things. For instance, the two of the baddies after Em are a ventriloquist's dummy come to life and a man with many parts of his body replaced with metal. So, kind of an evil Pinocchio and an evil Tin Man. The door of the shop, as one might expect, doesn't always take one to where one came in. And the key Em has? It fits the door. Some of the places it takes Em are interesting, and all the while forces from different parts of the fantasy world are getting involved on both sides of the hunt for her.

The art by Rich Ellis is good, though it has a somewhat generic look to me, there isn't anything that stands out as a personal style. Parts of it remind me of several other artists. The figures and facial expressions are somewhat stiff, the sign of an artist still finding his way. The storytelling is fine, and there are some nice action scenes along the way. I'm certainly willing to give Ellis's work time to grow on me. And of course the Kaluta covers are wonderful.

This is, in general, my kind of story, and I'll be reading more. In fact, I'll have another two issues to review shortly. Recommended.

And Then I Read: CHASE Trade Paperback

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Despite the fact that I lettered the first appearance of Cameron Chase in BATMAN 550, I hadn't read most of her adventures, including her own title. Not sure why, I loved the art of J.H. Williams III even then. I find that when I try to read older comics now, they're often disappointing. Not so with this collection, whose stories saw print from 1998 to 2002. The writing is as good as the art. Chase, the character, is a skilled government agent who takes a job with an outfit designed to oversee the activities of superheroes (and villains, where possible). She's quite conflicted about this: she likes the work, but hates the clientele. The reasons for this slowly unfold in the telling. Cameron's friends and workmates are also well written, and among the super types she must deal with, Batman soon emerges as her major foil and irritant. The two stubborn characters butt heads repeatedly in entertaining fashion. Chase is currently appearing in BATWOMAN, which I also letter, and if you enjoy that title, I recommend this book to you. It will give you a deeper understanding of Cameron Chase that adds much to her story there.

Though a bit tentative at first, artist J.H. Williams soon steps up his game in page after page of the innovative layouts and great action sequences his work is known for. Some stories here by other artists sadly pale by comparison, to the point where I found them hard to read, and I must admit skimming through or skipping some of them, especially the short ones at the end, after the demise of the monthly series. There are many many pages of great reading and amazing art here to enjoy, all the same.

Highly recommended!

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 6

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

It's war on the planet Urak for Guy Gardner, John Stewart, and their band of fellow Green Lanterns. Rings aren't effective against the immensely powerful enemy, so guns are Guy's answer. This is a war movie, essentially, even including some seasoned war vets out of "The Dirty Dozen," and as such not terribly interesting to me. The outcome isn't in much doubt, and there's lots of dirty fighting to get there. If that appeals to you, here it is. Yes, the enemy certainly had it coming, but not really my kind of story.

The art by Fernando Pasarin and Scott Hanna is quite good, and the coloring by Gabe Eltaeb adds a lot, as does the lettering by Dave Sharpe. Good work by all.

Mildly recommended.

Easter Egg Coloring 2012

We did our Easter Egg coloring at Ellen's sister Ann's as usual this year, and I took pictures, but forgot to bring the cable that allows me to put them on my laptop, so they're a little late.

This year Ann, Ellen, Cristina, Dave and myself did the coloring using our usual range of techniques, and one new one: colored crayons. In the front row are some made with Magic Tape and rubber bands, in the back are mostly crayoned ones (white wax and colored), and at upper right is one of Ann's tie-dyed eggs.

Here are some of mine at the back using tape, rubber bands and crayons, and of course layers of color dipping.

Colored crayons, rubber bands and tape on these.

After a while it's hard to be sure exactly who did what and how…

…but that starkly contrasting egg at the center was another experiment by Cristina using oil and dye mixed. We had lots of fun coloring them, and Zach picked about a dozen winners in many categories from "Most Elegant" to "Most Primitive." I didn't get a picture of the winners this year, as we were busy getting dessert, but they're all winners really. And delicious, eventually.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

From a post on Facebook by editor Jack C. Harris, story idea by him and writer Michael Uslan. Cover art by Luis Dominguez, cover lettering by Gaspar Saladino.

And Then I Read: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 6

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

This issue begins in an area of 31st century Japan which has clearly been devastated by war or natural disasters or both. We see cities under protective domes surrounded by what looks like seas of molten lava. Not all sweetness and light in this future. The fire-loving Legionnaires on a mission here have their work cut out for them. Meanwhile, Dragonwing, a Japanese heroine who breathes green fire (which must make for tricky dates), is looking for her sister, and when she finds her, things don't go well. Other plotlines involve Dream Girl and Star Boy (who, with his beard, should be Star Man by now), Mon-El and Brainiac 5, and The Dominators hatching more trouble. Not a bad issue with some interesting moments.

The art by Francis Portela is good, though his faces and body language don't always work for me, some figures are a bit stiff and doll-like. But overall he does a fine job.

Recommended.

Incoming: LOCUS 615, Artist Issue

Image © Locus Publications and Brom

If you're a fan of science fiction and fantasy art you might want to have a look at this. In addition to longer interviews with artists Brom and Picacio, there's a lengthy section comprised of shorter interviews with all the other artists listed here with a few examples of their work, plus two artist obituaries. A few names familiar to comics fans like Vess and Moebius, some long-time artists like Whelan, and quite a few whose names I didn't know. The short interviews are as interesting as the long ones, and many give opinions on digital versus traditional art, with those opinions varying greatly. You can also purchase a digital edition on their WEBSITE.

Mystery DC Letterer Identified

And not by me this time. Brian Hayes has a fine piece of lettering detective work up on HIS BLOG which seems to solve a long-standing mystery about the identity of a letterer who worked on quite a few DC comics in the 1940s and 1950s. It's a great story, and the reveal is bound to surprise you, as it did me. Great work, Brian!

One note: Brian links to a site which has a list of largely uncredited DC letterers and examples of their work. I think at least one of these is incorrect (the sample shown for Ira Schnapp does not look like his lettering to me), but its a useful starting point, and includes some names I don't know, so I thank him for that pointer as well.