Todd Klein's Blog, page 315

Superman SMASHED!

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

In 1991 I was asked by DC cover editor Curtis King to design taglines for several Superman titles, which would run below the SUPERMAN logo redesigned by Milton Glaser in the 1980s. That included this new title, SUPERMAN, MAN OF STEEL. I think I overdid the shading lines, but the idea was to suggest metal as well as to mimic the shading on the S of SUPERMAN. This was drawn by hand in pencil, then inked on Denril plastic vellum I think, though I don't have the original logo to be sure.

The two separate pieces were combined, probably by Curtis, to create the finished logo. I would have provided a position marker to show exactly where the tagline should go. Similar but different styles were used on the other titles in the line.

Here it is on issue 3 of the series.

About a year later I was asked to revisit the logo for a special one-time SMASHED version that would appear on issue 19. I agreed to do that, and was sent photostats of the two separate logo sections to work with.

I made several photocopies on my own copier, cut them up with a scissors, and pasted the pieces onto another piece of paper to make up a broken, jumbled version of the logo. I copied this collection again to have a smooth working surface, then I inked in connecting pieces and lines and added lots of cracks.

Here's a detail showing some of the work added in darker black to the grayer black of the photocopy. You can also see some of the places where cut edges show faintly. This was the only way to create the smashed effect without redrawing the entire thing, which would have taken much longer.

Here it is on the printed cover from 1992. Smashed logos were fairly popular at the time, I also did one for LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, and the trend was begun in 1968 by Jim Steranko with his famous smashed Hulk logo for one of the Hulk Annuals, which I wrote about HERE. At least I THOUGHT that was the beginning of it until someone commented there to say Carmine Infantino did it first on the cover of BATMAN #194 in 1967!  In today's world, many logos are already scarred and distressed and look pretty beat up, but I still see truly smashed ones now and then. I guess everyone likes to smash things occasionally.

Lots more about logos can be found on my LOGO LINKS page.

 

And Then I Read: WONDER WOMAN 6

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Until this issue I found writer Brian Azzarello's versions of the Greek gods entertaining, but somehow they're beginning to lose credibility for me. I mean, it's a fun idea revamping the Greek pantheon, but the forms and personas chosen are in some cases so far from what we all know about these gods and goddesses that I cease accepting them. Poseidon as a huge sea monster was a stretch, but at least he's in the aquatic ballpark. But Hades as a boy in armor with flaming candles on his head, and his eyes covered in wax? What's that supposed to represent? Playing against expectations is great once in a while. Neil Gaiman's take on Death is a good example. But the rest of The Endless are much closer to what you might expect from what their essence represents. Here, every Greek god and goddess we've met, with the possible exception of Hera, is completely contrary to expectations. It's a deal breaker for me, I can no longer take the storyline seriously.

The art by Tony Akins and Dan Green is fine, but I miss Cliff Chiang's unique take on Wonder Woman. This is close, but not as good. There are some nice action sequences, all the same.

I'll give this book a few more issues, but if things continue in this direction, I'll be dropping it. And I can't really recommend this issue.

And Then I Read: NIGHT FORCE 1

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

I was a fan of the original series of 1982, and also lettered some of them, so I decided to give this a try. Writer Marv Wolfman has done a good job of setting up a number of mysteries and characters with big troubles that are drawn into the web of housemaster Baron Winter, the one character I recognize here, other than his pet leopard. Winter is as manipulative and cranky as ever, and his house seems even weirder than I remember it, in this issue full of shadowy menaces that even a cop with a gun doesn't have any effect on. Then there's the serial killer who ends up in the house, dead, and the supposed FBI agents after him. The storyline is a bit confusing at times, but I'll certainly give Marv some room to make more of it evident.

Artist Tom Mandrake is a great choice for this book. His style reminds me of co-creator Gene Colan at times, though Mandrake is a little more focused and also more willing to go for the blood and horror. Some of his faces seem a bit off here and there, but the atmosphere is appropriately chilling and moody with great lighting and rendering. The coloring by Wes Hartman is also good; not too dark but plenty of mist and mood. I'm looking forward to more.

Recommended.

By the way, this is the first book I've seen with the new DC logo. I must say it doesn't work for me. I don't read the D at all.

And Then I Read: SUPERMAN 6

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

This issue wraps up the storyline by George Perez of the false, angry Superman, who vents all over poor Supergirl in this issue, even while she's speaking to him in Kryptonian. You'd think that would get her on his nice side, but no. In fact, the origin of this impostor is more complex than that, and it takes several pages of exposition to get it all explained. That slows things down between the big battle, and the return of the real Superman, but everything gets worked out, and there's time for some nice character bits with Metropolis friends at the end. Not a bad story, if perhaps too complex at times.

The art this time seems to be entirely by Nicola and Trevor Scott, and it looks fine to me. The final page introduces a new storyline by a new creative team. Not sure if I'll stick with this book, but issues 1-6 are recommended.

New Facebook feature: Logo of the Day

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

For those of you who read my blog but not my "Todd Klein, artist" page on Facebook, if you like logos, you might want to reconsider the latter. Beginning today I plan to post a "Logo of the Day" on that page from my files. I'm sure there won't be a new one EVERY day, but I hope there will be most days. No analysis, just nice images and basic information like who designed it, when, and where it was first used. You can find the page quite easily by clicking on the link in the left column of this blog, down a bit.

And Then I Read: THE FLASH 6

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

There's a lot going on in this issue. Up front is Flash battling his old foe Captain Cold, with stronger powers. The freeze blasts come right out of his hands now, he doesn't need the cold guns. Their face-0ff in the quick-frozen harbor makes for some stunning visuals.

Meanwhile, Barry seems to have a new romance going with Patty, another crime lab worker. And scientist Dr. Elias has come up with a new tool for The Flash to monitor his use of The Speed Force. It's intended to prevent Flash from using too much and creating time disturbances. How long do you think that will work? Captain Cold is also the focus of a sub-plot involving his terminally ill sister, and reporter Iris West gets into the mix as well.

I like the way the story is told, beginning with the action, cutting in the sub-plots, and finishing with more action. There should never be a "formula" for a particular book, but this one works well here. Writers Buccellato and Manapul are doing a nice job.

And Francis Manapul continues to delight me with his stylish art, so very different from the general run of superhero art, and therefore all the more refreshing. Lots of creative layouts, clever storytelling, and lovely gray-wash enhanced drawing and inking. Great stuff.

Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN 6

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

This issue focuses on Mera, Aquaman's partner. First we see her in a small grocery store in a town near their lighthouse home trying to buy some dog food for the animal that has adopted them, and vice versa. Unwelcome attention from the store owner brings him trouble, and the police are called. Mera is about to defy them, but hears on their radio of a crime situation she thinks she can help with, and so they lock her in the back of the police car and rush to the crime scene. Needless to say, Mera doesn't stay in the car. Amid these present day adventures are a few flashback moments of Mera and her father. Finally, a new friend shows up at the end, as does Aquaman. Nice story by Geoff Johns.

The art didn't seem quite right to me, though, and checking the credits I realized that, while regular artist Ivan Reis did "breakdowns" (a loose term that can mean anything from simplified pencils to stick-figure layouts), the main artist is Joe Prado. Nothing against Joe, but he doesn't come close to Ivan's work on this title. It shows particularly in the faces, which are inconsistent and sometimes close to unattractive. Hope to see Ivan back as regular artist next issue.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: GREGOR AND THE CURSE OF THE WARMBLOODS

© Suzanne Collins, cover art © August Hall.

While the world is waiting for the opening of the film "The Hunger Games" based on a book by this author, I'm working my way gradually through her "Gregor" series. This is a fantasy about an underground world far beneath New York City with a population of humans (from the surface hundreds of years ago) as well as giant rats, giant bats, giant cockroaches, and other large creatures you might find underground, and some you might not. In this third adventure, New York City teenager Gregor and his family have once more been talked into descending the chimney-like entrance to this world that begins in their laundry room to help the people of The Underland with a prophecy they seem to be written into.

I like the series in general, and think Collins' writing on it is quite good. There are a few problems, though. One is that The Underland is not a very appealing place to be for Gregor, and this time his baby sister Boots and his mother. The human city is not a bad place, but outside of it there are all kinds of dangers and dreary landscapes (for the most part). This is no Oz, where we'd all like to go. Another problem is these prophecies. It seems a contrived plot device to have to drag Gregor and his family back this third time to help decipher them, and to find a cure for a plague that has been ravaging the rats and is now beginning to spread to bats and people. Gregor has friends in The Underland, including a giant bat he rides and is bonded to, but continually putting his life, and the lives of his family, at risk for these people seems a lot to ask.

I did enjoy the story and characters, including some new ones, and Collins has good insight into human nature, and the effects of hardship on it that make many of the characters worth caring about. And some of the new territory explored in this book, a jungle of sorts full of dangerous plants and insects, keeps the pages turning. In all, I think I can recommend the book and the series, and will probably read the fourth and fifth books at some point, but not for a while, as I'm a little tired of The Underland.

Mildly recommended.

Warming Trends

Uncredited photo from the Pine Woods Audubon Society site.

On my walk around the neighborhood this afternoon I heard two Pine Warblers singing. They're one of the first spring migrants that nest locally to arrive, but I don't recall ever hearing or seeing them this early in the year. The first week of April is more usual. Of course, we have had a very mild winter, and birds take advantage of any opportunity. Other bird migration trends seem equally early. We generally have lots of wintering waterfowl in the area through the end of April, but many of them have already headed north to their nesting grounds. Spring pollen is already here, as my itchy eyes can attest, and this week I spent time working in the yard, where all the plants are putting out new growth, including a healthy crop of weeds in the flower beds. An article in the paper this morning mentioned that rising ocean levels could start having an effect on the New Jersey coast in the next two decades, meaning storm flooding will increase and storm tides become more dangerous. Nature will adapt to these trends, but will we? Only time will tell.

And Then I Read: BATMAN, GATES OF GOTHAM

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

There have been a few stories like this over the years, involving the history and development of Gotham City, though I can't put my finger on any of them. Possibly some were Elseworlds stories, and not in continuity. Of course, it's now harder than ever to say what might or might not be included in current DC continuity, as the waters are muddied by the recent revamps.

Writer Scott Snyder has put together a solid story here, intercutting between historical sequences of Gotham under construction and a current threat facing a group of Bats: Dick Grayson as Batman, Red Robin, Robin, and a female Bat, all part of Batman, Incorporated, apparently. Someone is blowing up Gotham landmarks, including bridges. In the past, we learn much about how these were built, and by whom. There are "first families" involved, including the Waynes, and also the Cobblepots, ancestors of The Penguin. Various mysteries unfold gradually amid lots of suspense and action.

The art is mainly by Trevor McCarthy, and is highly stylized and designed. I liked the design elements, though I wasn't crazy about his handling of some of the human characters. The one that bothered me the most was the very odd depiction of The Penguin, as seen briefly above. For the most part I was carried along by the story well enough that the book worked okay for me. The other thing I didn't quite buy was the reason given for the behavior of the main villain. Can't say too much about that, but it was rather unscientific at least, if not completely bogus.

Despite those caveats, this was a pretty good read, and more interesting to me than the usual slugfests we see in Batman books these days. Recommended.