Speculative Friction:
a blog of comics and literary criticism written by Bill Baker

3-8-06

"back to the country"


Back home again, finally feeling somewhat rested and refreshed. Definitely relaxed, as I don't think that I could maintain the physical tension needed for any other state.

And I'm feeling pretty good about the NY Comic-Con, overall. Some very, very good things happened there, generally, and it was an outstanding show, professionally, as well. Details on the pro front as they develop into solid projects worth announcing will be forthcoming, but let me say upfront that this was a show I'm happy I attended, despite any difficulties encountered. Quite simply, the con runners didn't expect the show to be that well attended for a number of reasons, and those low expectations had an adverse effect upon their planning. From all I've seen and heard, they won't make that mistake again.

And I'll be there next year, when it will probably be recognized as a twin to the San Diego con.

But all that travel does take a toll, both physical and mental, and so today's a real short installment. Just a glimpse of the first page of "a minor incident of no real import" featuring some sweet [finished!] art by the Fraim brothers, the usual short reviews of the books I've read over the past week or so, and a solid promise that next week I'll be back with something a little more substantial.

Honest.

So, without further ado, here's the first page of the short story I wrote for inclusion in Wicked West 2 as realized by Los Fraim Bros.:

And now, here's...


What's Bill been reading this week?

3-1-06 to 3-7-06

Owly: Flying Lessons
Andy Runton's third wordless graphic novel retains all of the wonderful things from his earlier work--a child-like sense of wonder spiked with with an impish sense of humor--while providing the perfect vehicle for the artist's superb cartooning and storytelling. This is yet another example of why this is the real Golden Age of comics, folks. Miss this book or any of its siblings, and you risk missing out on some of the best all ages comics being done today. Period.

[And, yeah, that's a really high recommendation, just in case I wasn't clear on that point.\

The third OGN featuring Runton's Owly
published by Chris and Brent and the
good people at Top Shelf Productions
www.TopShelfComix.com


Justice League of America archives volume 8
I missed this collection when DC first offered it, somehow. Strange, that oversight, especially considering that not only was I a huge fan of the JLA when growing up, but that this particular volume includes some of the more dog eared books from that long-lost childhood collection of comics. This beautiful hardcover volume introduces characters like the "robotic" Red Tornado and the writing of Denny O'Neill while bearing witness to the end of an incredible run of tales provided by scribe Gardner Fox. And the intro by O'Neill is simply outstanding, serving as a historical survey of both the title and the superhero genre while also giving readers real insight into the essential difference of philosophy between the House of Ideas and its Distinguished Competition. Another high recommendation, particularly for those interested in the superheroic genre and how it's developed over the years.

The eighth volume collecting the early adventures of the Justice League of America
www.DCComics.com


The Shazam! archives volume 4
Another of DC's archives reprints which I missed when it first was released a few years back, this gathers together some of Captain Marvel's earliest and most important adventures. Over the course of 200+ pages the reader gets to experience one of the earliest examples of a cross-over story, and is introduced to both Captain Marvel, Jr. and one of Fawcett's flagship character's most reviled adversaries, Captain Nazi. An essential and historically important book for the student of the medium, and a great all ages read, to boot.



The fourth volume collecting the early adventures of the Big Red Cheese from the 1940s
www.DCComics.com


JSA # 83
The original superhero team gets the "one year later" treatment, as part of the DC Universe's ongoing makeover which is currently being chronicled in the pages of various miniseries, one shots and almost every other ongoing series currently being published under the DC imprint. As might be expected, coming in on things having "missed" a year in the lives of these characters [the central conceit of the current DCU relaunch being that all titles will begin one year after the Infinity Crisis' climax, creating an easy point of entry for new readers while shaking things up for long time readers] is a bit disconcerting and occasionally confusing, but that is part of the charm, really. And when you've got a team lead by the likes of Paul Levitz and Rags Morales creating the tale, you're guaranteed an interesting and fun ride. Perhaps not completely satisfying in all respects, true, but then, the journey's just begun...again.

The 83rd issue of an ongoing monthly series delineating the new adventures of the Justice Society of America
www.DCComics.com