1-25-06

"what's it all about"

I suppose it's time to do the statement of purpose and intent thing, and deal with other administrative kindsa stuff. So, drum roll please...

"When ever the arts and ideas meet informed criticism and an enquiring mind, you'll soon find Speculative Friction."

Hello. I'm journalist and writer Bill Baker, and I'd like to welcome to Speculative Friction, my weekly blog of literary criticism.

While you'll occasionally find short and informative articles like this here, along with mention of my upcoming con appearances and other, real world events, mainly you will find this to be a literary blog that is mainly concerned with the medium generally known as "comics" in both theory and practice. So what's that really mean?

Critical reviews of graphic novels which look below the surface, striving to investigate the devices and conventions that underlie the gleaming two- and four-color surface. Or me thinking aloud, if you like, about how graphic novels do what they do, and how different creators are using them to entertain and enlighten us. Along with the occasional ramble into other artistic territories I'm exploring for fun or profit, or cool thing that I'll happen to stumble upon that I'd like to think about "aloud" here, or in conjunction with something comic-related.

OK, so it's the virtual junk drawer of my mind, truth be told. It might be a bit messy, but I'm hoping you'll find that it's fun to dig around in there.

Now I'll be honest, I'm still new to this blogging routine and format, and we're shifting from what we'd thought was going to be a daily or every-other-day schedule, so I'm still getting warmed up here. But I figure that, by the middle of March, I should have really gotten my feel for this particular forum and be able to offer up some longer, more detailed and wide-ranging looks at what I've been reading, and what thoughts and insights might have arisen in my mind as a result. I believe that you'll also be getting some reportage, likely after the fact, on the NY Comic-Con that I'll be attending next month. Maybe I'll even throw in a few *gasp!* pictures of the event, provided I can remember to take the shots, this time.

Hey, I never claimed to be Jimmy Olson. Or Lois Lane.

Regardless, that's the basic outline for this blog. In all likelihood, of course, Speculative Friction with morph into something altogether different. But that's as it should be. Change or die. Or become a virtual fossil, until they pull the plug.

And that's about it, aside from introducing a new ongoing feature, "What's Bill been reading this week?" This gives me a chance to talk, even if only for a short moment, about some of the books I've encountered over the past seven days or so. Sometimes I'll write a little, sometimes a lot. Time, clarity and inspiration will be playing bigger are the main controlling factors, here. Think of these as the critic's version of the quick sketch; a great technique to tweak your ability to capture your critical thoughts and impressions while simultaneously honing those one line/blurb writing skills.


What's Bill been reading this week:

1-17-06 to 1-24-06



JLA: Crisis of Conscience tpb [or JLA volume 18]

As part of the DC Universe-changing event currently rewriting the DNA of the Superman-Batman-Wonder Woman mythos, and this trade documents the disastrous effects that the terrible and tragic events detailed in the Identity Crisis collections have upon on the current incarnation of the Justice League. However, even if you skip all of the guides at DC's editors have provided at the front of the book, it's easy to pick up exactly what's going on and, for the most part, why in this collection. Even better, it's written, drawn and colored with an eye to please fans as well as those readers who haven't visited for a while, and as much of a wild ride from start to finish as the Rann-Thanagar War trade proved to be. And like that collection, JLA: Crisis of Conscience delivered a satisfying read, despite it's open ended nature.

A full color trade collection of JLA issues # 115-119
www.DCcomics.com

All Star Superman # 2

Grant Morrison, Frank Quietly & co. continue to present their refashioning of the Man of Steel's entire mythos. Familiar yet surprising, often eerily and superhumanly sublime, this mini-series is worth any wait between issues. This and # 1 are highly recommended.

Second of 6 bimonthly issue mini-series
www.DCcomics.com

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Notebook for Fantastical Observations

One of the books that nowadays inevitable spin off every even semi-successful series, but done quite well, actually. Looking like an artifact from the fictional world created by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, this is a really fun item. It basically combines the best aspects of a good kids activity book with a dictionary of the supernatural beings inhabiting the Spiderwick universe. The inclusion of a series of short diary-like entries by kids who have had their own encounters with these various beasties, to both hook the reader and encourage them to fill in their own "encounters" with these and other species of monsters, is a brilliant choice. Illustrated with real skill and flair by DiTerlizzi, and well designed with real care and attention pad to details that count, this seemingly sparsely inhabited volume is well worth the price of admission. Especially if it gets even one child to start filling a single copy up with their own tales of wonder and fun.


Single volume spin off of The Spiderwick Chronicles series
Simon & Schuster
www.SimonSaysKids.com


The Moth vol 1 tpb [read 1-22-06]

This paean to all that was good in the work of every great Silver Age comic satisfies all of the requirements every die-hard fanboy and -girl has imprinted on their DNA, while delivering a real sense of its own identity and uniqueness. Steve Rude, Gary Martin & co. have created something that has real legs, and I hope we get to see more soon. This is a series that could easily entertain its readership for years.

Trade paperback collection of all existing Moth tales
Rocket Comics
www.darkhorse.com

Cryptozoo Crew vol 1 tpb [read 1-22-06]

I can not believe that some Hollywood production house hasn't just snatched up this excellent comic written by the ever-surprising Allan Gross and the easygoing caffeinated madman known as Jerry Carr. This series, which chronicles the light-hearted but very weird adventures of a husband and wife as they track down various types of "mythical" creatures, ranging from Yetis to Cave Monkeys and beyond. This is just great stuff that's suitable for the entire family. Better still, like those classic Bugs Bunny cartoons, every age group is provided with plenty of good reasons to return to this book. This one's a keeper.

Trade paperback collection of all existing Cryptozoo Crew tales
NBM
www.NBMpublishing.com


The Algebraist [finished 1-21-06]

Actually, I finished this book this week, but began it earlier this month. Not that it's overly long at a bit over 400 pages, although it is complicated, and perhaps even excessively and delightfully so. Rather, I wanted to really soak in what Iain M. Banks was doing both with his prose and plot in this exhilarating galaxy-spanning travelogue. Ostensibly the tale of one human's quest for the two remaining sections of a document -- well, actually, what is more probably a mere footnote to that text -- that turns out to be, ironically but fittingly and typically enough in this novel, an epic detailing a decidedly ancient and unimaginably long voyage undergone by a member of an alien species called the Dwellers. Unfortunately, there's a star system crushing horde which is also on the hunt for the very same, probably nonexistent but reality-altering prize as the hero. And that's not even mentioning the numerous, well-designed and truly alien creatures and cultures populating this book, or the flowing prose alternating with fairly realistic, often recognizably "street", exchanges between characters, or that, bottom line, this book presents a future coming to grips with the questions surrounding perhaps the most fundamental of Universal Truths in a way that is thoughtful, compassionate and, ultimately, triumphant. One of the best novels I've read in years, overflowing with ideas and adventures, scenes and speeches that will haunt me for years. Wow.

Science Fiction novel
Night Shade Books
www.NightShadeBooks.com


Testament # 2 [1-18-06]

The second issue of this ongoing title continues the visual and narrative magic wrought by Douglas Rushkoff, Liam Sharp & co. Using Rushkoff's thesis that the Bible should be an open source vessel of wisdom and warnings, rather than a closed-off system of punishment and rewards ruled over by a system of hierarchies [among other things], this book travels and dances where very few have dared -- much less tried -- to explore via the medium of comics. I suspect that this and ever issue is intended to be, quite literally intended to be mind blowing, and it succeeds far more than it fails. And that gorgeous art and storytelling by Liam and co.!

Honestly, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Just go buy it and the first issue already!


Second issue of the ongoing Testament series
Vertigo
www.DCcomics.com