Todd Klein's Blog, page 328
November 1, 2011
And Then I Read: THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET
Images © Brian Selznick.
This has been out for a few years, and I keep looking at it in the bookstore, and liking it, but hadn't bought it until recently. It's an unusual mix of storytelling media. About half the book is text, telling the story in that way, the other half is wordless full-page pencil illustrations that also tell their part of the story sequentially, much like the old Lynd Ward woodcut novels, or of course, comics (in wordless sequences). I wasn't sure if the two would make for a good partnership in telling a single story, but in fact they work quite well. Here's an example:
Hugo's life is strange but quite interesting from the start. He lives in a huge train station in Paris, literally inside the walls, where his daily task is to maintain all the many large clocks on the station walls, which are accessed from passageways Hugo travels through. He also has a hidden room of his own where he sleeps and works on his invention: actually something he found in the ruins of a museum destroyed by fire. It's an automaton, a robot-like figure seated at a table made of very complex clockwork. It's broken, but Hugo is gradually working to fix it, anxious to see what it will write or draw when he's finished. To this end he's been stealing mechanical toys from a toy shop in the train station, until one day he's caught by the shop owner. Thus begins a strange love/hate relationship between the two, and the shop owner's grand-daughter is soon involved as well.
If this were not enough fodder for a good story, there's another level to it that I won't spoil, but suffice it to say it involves one of the pioneers of early motion pictures, the first to understand that films could picture our dreams and fantasies as well as real things.
There's plenty of action in this story as well, including several chases through the train station and its secret passageways, but the human story of the orphan boy Hugo, how he came to his strange life, and Hugo's relationship with the girl, her friends, and the old man who runs the toy shop are the heart of this charming and well-written story.
As you can see on the cover, it's soon to be a motion picture itself, directed by Martin Scorsese with a stellar cast, and I'll be sure to see it. Meanwhile, the book is highly recommended!
October 31, 2011
More scary stuff?
All images © Todd Klein.
Not many people remember this obscure pulp mixing the genres of horror and western stories, perhaps because the publishers were too cheap to commission color paintings for their covers. Inside, a rare collaboration between H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard.
First and only performance of the Lovecraft tribute band, "Fun Guys from Yuggoth," on stage in Red Hook, NY, Halloween of 1979. Unfortunately their moist attire caused massive electrical short-circuits resulting in several deaths.
Rarely seen is this rejected first version of the Shakespeare portrait engraving in that author's First Folio. Artist Martin Droeshout was known to have a troubled maritime past, having been shipwrecked on an unknown mid-Atlantic island shore for several months.
Chef Robespierre Pickman of the Old Courte Hotel in Providence, RI would never reveal the secret ingredients in his tantalizing goulash and gourmet gumbo, and after his unexpected disappearance on Oct. 31st of 1932 the hotel's restaurant was never the same.
It was Lovecraft's acolyte Herbert Warfield Hedge who discovered the true horror of the enormous appetites of his elder gods, and their throngs of beady-eyed minions that have infiltrated our human landscape, plotting even to invade our very homes!
Deep in the sub-basements of Miskatonic University a project is underway that will rock the very foundation of the internet: scanning the Necromonicon! When these images hit the web and begin to invade the minds and machines of humanity, only one thing can save you, Facebook users…quick clicking on the "Hide Story" option! Wait but a moment too long, and you're lost…
Here's a secret about what truly scares those of us in the sooty world of periodical production, as we labor incessantly, hunched over our drawing boards or keyboards. No ghost, goblin or gremlin, no unnamed thing from the outer darkness can ever be as frightening or menacing or relentless as…DEADLINES!
Happy Halloween, everyone! Don't bother me with your tricky-entreating, I'm on a deadline…
Oh, and to read the real story behind these pictures, have a look at THIS page on my website.
October 30, 2011
My Halloween offering
Here's something I wrote, lettered and drew in 1974. Have a happy Halloween everyone, and watch out for those graveyards!
October 29, 2011
Walk in sunshine, walk in rain
The New Jersey Audubon Fall Weekend event is on now, and at the moment we're in the midst of a nor'easter storm with heavy rain and strong winds. Not the best time to be out enjoying nature! Yesterday was much better, though quite cold. I was scheduled to help out leading two walks at the Rea Farm in Cape May, also known as "The Beanery" because it was once a lima bean farm. NJAS licenses the birding rights to this 70-acre property, and it's often a great place for birds. As I arrived for the first walk around 7:15 AM the sun was just rising, the temperature around 35 degrees, after a cold front had moved through the night before. Our warm October had come to a crashing end.
Folks began arriving, and as sometimes happens there were nearly as many leaders as participants, which meant I probably wouldn't be saying much. Especially with the main leader being Michael O'Brien (third from left) here giving the introductory shpiel. He's a world-class birder and I always learn things when I'm out with him.
The fields and woods here were full of birds, after a good-sized migration the night before. We had good looks at about six warbler species, like these two Palm Warblers, about 10 sparrow species, about 10 raptors, and quite a few other birds.
Before long the sun was out, warming us and the birds, and in sunny corners sheltered from the wind like this one we enjoyed lots of great birding. Blackpoll Warblers were common, as were Swamp Sparrows, two birds that gather here in the fall.
While bird pics are tough with my camera, especially small birds, insects are easier. Here's the large caterpillar of some kind of Sphinx moth that someone found.
We walked the trails around the fields for about two hours, enjoying lots of birds, and after a half-hour break, we went out again with a different group of participants and did it again, seeing many of the same things as well as some different birds.
While many of the leaves are still green here, some fall color is showing up in places, and a fine time was had by all on these walks Friday.
Saturday was a completely different story, a wet and windy one. No pictures, it was too wet for my camera. Ellen and I were scheduled for morning walks at Higbee Beach, and we'd been hoping the storm would hold off until the afternoon, but when we woke early Saturday it was already pouring and blowing like mad. We were committed to show up at Higbee, so we donned all our rain gear and headed down there. The field marshal of these walks was Pete Bacinski, who I've known and birded with for over 20 years, and I knew Pete to be a sensible person. I hoped he'd try to talk any participants out of these walks, and into some of the fine indoor programs that are always scheduled for just such occasions. And he tried. There were about 10 participants there ready to walk out into the wind and rain, and Pete told them they wouldn't see much or see anything well in this weather, but the younger leaders were ready to go anyway, and so off we went. Pete was absolutely right, as I knew he would be. Yes, we saw birds flying, and had brief looks at sparrows and warblers hiding in the shrubs and trees, but in terrible light, with rain-smeared binoculars it was not a good birding experience. Pete had wisely opted not to walk at all. Ellen and I hung with the group for about an hour and a half, and then we called it quits and headed home. And that's where we'll stay the rest of the day, warm and dry. And at least we're just getting rain here, it's supposed to turn to snow north and west of us. What an October!
October 27, 2011
And Then I Read: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 15 & 16
Images © DC Comics, Inc.
In past eras titles like this went on and on without end, despite creative changes, and never really came to a major resolution. That's different in the last two decades when LSH has ended several times and been relaunched. This time the relaunched has been long known and well planned, and writer Paul Levitz makes good use of the coda to bring all his storylines to a crescendo and conclusion, or at least as much of one as you can with properties like this. Just about every active Legionnaire has a part to play (another thing Paul is good at), and one of them does not make it through, as the above cover suggests. Is it exciting and eventful? Yes. Does it bring out the best and worst of heroes and villains? Certainly. Is it emotionally satisfying? I thought so. In fact, I thought Paul's final captions on the last page were not only very wise but moving. Well done!
The art by Cinar and Glapion on 15 and Hdr and Deering on 16 all looks great to me. This series goes out (briefly) on a high note that everyone can be proud of, and we'll see where Paul takes the Legion next in the new 52. Recommended.
October 26, 2011
And Then I Read: ADVENTURE COMICS 527-529
Images © DC Comics, Inc.
With these issues one of DC's oldest titles goes off the shelves once again, to make way for the new 52. Paul Levitz has been telling tales of the Legion Academy in this book, and in issue 527 we get something of a break from that with the strange origin of Comet Queen, a character I've never warmed to. I might call her an airhead, except that comets are mostly water…flaming water head? Her speech pattern is kind of mesmerizing, and before I knew it I was enjoying her origin story after all, and liking her more.
Issues 528-9 get back to the Legion Academy, but more, get this group involved with the events in the main Legion title, where Saturn Queen's band of villains are creating all kinds of havoc. It begins with graduation day for several Academy seniors, but when Cosmic King invades and takes over Legion headquarters, only the Academy members and instuctors are around to tackle him, and so they have at it. What we see then is some of the weaker Legionnaires and untried students battling a vicious and clever villain with powers that are hard to combat: he can change any inert object into any other element. It's an epic battle with lots of surprises, and true heroics.
The art on these has pencils by Geraldo Borges, additional pencils by Ransome Getty and Marlo Alquiza doing most of the inks. It all looks good to me. Some of the character faces here and there are a bit wooden, but mostly it works fine.
Levitz will be back in one new Legion title among the 52, as will some of these characters. Recommended.
October 25, 2011
And Then I Read: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 13 & 14
Images © DC Comics, Inc.
The many storylines that Paul Levitz has been spinning since returning to the Legion are now converging and coming to a head. In these issues, the some of the band of villains headed by Saturn Queen is facing off against some of the Legion on Colu, while others are following her trail to a previously unseen world, home to immortal wise men. One calls it Utopia. Saturn Queen means to destroy this world with the help of an entity known as the Blue Flame, born in the original sin of Krona at the beginning of all things. That's where the final stand-off will take place in the final two issues of this run, comining up. Some of the story threads gathered in here include Earth-Man, the former opponent of the Legion, now an uneasy ally, and the mysterious Professor Li, formerly of the Time Institute, among others. Paul keeps it all in the air and full of action and excitement, and those handy little character labels (great idea) keep the characters straight for readers as they're introduced.
The art by Cinar and Glapion on 13 and Dagnino and Fernandez on 14 is all quite good. Wherever they're getting all these new artists with spanish- or latin-sounding names, it's working for them! No complaints here. The one thing I found annoying was the "Subway" advertising comics inserts, but they help pay the bills, I suppose.
Recommended.
October 24, 2011
And Then I Read: GREGOR and the PROPHECY OF BANE
© Suzanne Collins, illustration by August Hall.
This is the second book in the Underland series by popular writer Suzanne Collins. The first one seemed to me the work of a new writer. She wanted to create a fantasy world and chose to place it deep underground beneath New York City, and populate it with animals and insects one might find in the cellars and sewers of the city: rats, cockroaches, bats, spiders, fish and so on, but all grown to immense size. There are people there as well, descended from humans who once lived on the surface but retreated to this underground landscape of caves and oceans and rivers and rocks (but little plant life). It's the perfect fantasy setting for a novice writer: anything can be in her underground world that she wants, but there are enough familiar elements for readers to easily relate to.
The main protagonists are a New York boy, Gregor, and his baby sister Boots. Their long lost father fell into the underground world in the first book. Gregor's quest and mission there was to find his father and bring him home, and that was accomplished, but now that they're all back on the surface, life is still difficult. Dad is chronically ill from his ordeals below, and perhaps mentally unstable. Mom works hard to keep the family going, but their resources are stretched thin.
So, when Boots is suddenly stolen back to the Underworld, Gregor knows he has to go back. Fortunately he made some friends and allies the first time, especially with a giant bat, Ares, which Gregor rides, the two of them bonded into a battle team. Then there's the royal family of the city of Regalia, friends from before, and others Gregor knows well. When he gets to the Underworld city, he finds Boots already there, and soon a new mission is laid out for him, one that he can't refuse. It's all written in prophecy, just like the last mission. Only problem is, the prophecy is cryptic and unclear. Despite that, Gregor and a team set out into the land of the Rats to find a special white rat that may be the key to continued survival for the people in the underground world.
I found Collins' writing to be even better in this second book. The characters are strong and believable, but flawed as well, and Gregor has to do lots of negotiating to get everyone in the disparate quest group to do the right things. Gregor's own abilities are changing, and he doesn't understand that, either. The quest is exciting and at times deadly. The stakes are high, and the book has few dull moments. A good read with a good resolution, but one with some dangling questions that clearly will lead to more books. In fact, there are three more out already. I'll be reading them one day.
Recommended.
October 23, 2011
Go Freelance BIGGER!
Image © Shawn McManus and Todd Klein.
Yesterday I sent an email to Scott McCloud about this print, hoping he might mention it on his blog, and in reply he wrote, "Is there a large image of the whole board? Would love to link to that on Twitter and G+. (Just guessing, but there's probably a better chance of a purchase or two from my guys if they can see it all first.)"
I hadn't put one up on the theory that if people could read the whole thing online they'd be less likely to buy one, the "HEY KID, THIS AIN'T NO LIBRARY" school of thought. But, sales have slowed to a trickle, so I'm willing to give Scott's way a try. I've added links to a larger, readable image on my previous posts and BUY STUFF page. It's still not print quality, but you can read all or most of the lettering. That image is HERE.
So, if you were on the fence about getting one because you weren't sure if it was as good as all my hype suggested, you can now read it for yourself and decide. Of course Shawn and I would be really pleased if you do order one! Thanks, end of plug.
October 22, 2011
Incoming: LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN OMNIBUS EDITION
Images © Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill.
I had a call from Kevin O'Neill this week asking if I'd seen the new Omnibus Edition of LOEG, and that was the first I'd heard of it. My copies arrived Friday. It reprints the first two volumes of the series in the slightly oversize deluxe format on nice paper, and it's now under the Vertigo imprint. I think it's safe to say that the America's Best Comics imprint, once under WildStorm, is now officially dead, though the name and logo still appear inside on the original covers of the individual issues.
So, what else is different about this printing? Kevin seemed to think some of the supplemental material used the Absolute Edition files, and I agree, it looks that way to me. Maybe the entire book uses those files, but I no longer remember if any minor changes were made in the story pages. Missing is most of the cover art created for the previous collected editions: the hardcover/softcover and the Absolute Edition, as well as all the endpaper art on both hardcovers, and of course the supplementary scripts books from the Absolutes. A few of the art files in the supplementary material have been changed to bring out more contrast and make the art easier to see, which I think was a good idea.
Two pages have something missing. Here's the credits/indicia page for the second volume as previously printed.
The Omnibus has only the credits, down to original editor Scott Dunbier. Removing the indicia makes sense, as it's covered earlier in the book on the first volume credits page, but I'm not sure why they removed the art. Probably just a design decision. Not sure why Lee and Nee were removed, but they're not on the other credits page either.
The other missing art is more puzzling. Here's the faux inside cover of "The New Traveller's Almanac" in the original hardcover edition. Looks the same in the Absolute and trade paperbacks I have.
Here's the same page in the Omnibus. As you can see, the bookplate black line art is missing, leaving just an odd blank piece of pasted-on paper. Was this a production error? Or a legal decision? Could be either, there's no way for me to tell. The image does have some nudity, but there's plenty of other places with naughty bits in the collection, so I doubt that could be the issue. I don't know the answer, but I'll be interested to see if this art returns in any later printings.
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