JD's Comic Book Thread

[Kai "the spy"]

Is Loki his son or his pet?

Loki was Lee's dog, and his only Social Media activity was posting pictures of him on Instagram. I'm sorry, I forgot to point that out in the previous post.

Either way it is a truly horrible experience. King hopefully feels like crap right now and will learn from this experience. Not sure how either of them moves forward from here though.

Agreed. And consider that King used to be an operative in a CIA counterterrorism unit. You'd think he'd learned not to jump the gun. Or he learned the opposite, depending on your view of the CIA.


Edit: Realized that last remark may be a bit surprising for somebody who calls himself "the spy", but I think I've established my general lefty-ness in previous posts and threads in the past. And we all know how the CIA feels about lefties, and how lefties return those feelings.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Gail Simone has joined the talent boycott of Dynamite, but she appears to hope for a better solution. Nick Barrucci appears to be an actual friend of hers, and she hopes for him and the company to make amends and come out of this stronger.

I can absolutely see where she's coming from. People in hate groups like Comicsgate aren't horrible to everybody, and if you aren't part of the group of people targeted, but you're friends with somebody in the hate group doing the targeting, it might be all too easy and seductive to just conclude it to be a matter of personal politics that shouldn't play into business, and they're really not such bad people anyway, and other such rationalizations. And, if Simone is right about Barrucci, that seems to be what he's been doing concerning Ethan Van Sciver. So, I tend to agree with Simone, there has to be a way out of this for Barrucci and Dynamite. If they do learn their lesson, if they do make amends (however those would look like, certainly more than pulling one cover collaboration), the boycott should end.

 

[theenglish]

It is a common tactic of these groups to hide their agenda in the guise of something positive--and people can have hurtful opinions or take actions against groups of people without really grasping their impact or effect.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Of course, it's hard to tell who's been doing the rationalizing. Nick Barrucci about Ethan Van Sciver and Comicsgate, or Gail Simone about Barrucci and his work with Van Sciver.

Meanwhile, Tom King has finally issued a public apology to Jae Lee.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Dynamite has issued a statement:


Statement from Dynamite
July 29, Mt. Laurel, NJ:

"Dynamite Entertainment is a partner in the fight for equality and inclusion. Our company was founded on these core values more than 15 years ago and they are essential to the creative process – the work of visionary artists and entrepreneurs – that we are passionate about. Intolerance has no place in our company or our industry. The impulse behind this brief association was that of helping a friend of many decades and his family, and not how that assistance could potentially affect our valued colleagues, partners, and friends. That association is behind us and this time has strengthened our resolve to continue working with the most diverse talent in creating the best comics possible."

Well, I guess that's that. They didn't call out Comicsgate, they avoided naming Van Sciver, but "that association is behind us" is still something. Whether it's enough, well, I guess we'll each have to decide that on our own. And watch their actions in future.

 

[JD]

I guess it's better than nothing, it's all a bit vague though, with no clear references to Van Sciver or Comicsgate.

Meanwhile, Tom King has finally issued a public apology to Jae Lee.

At least he seems to be trying.

 

[theenglish]

The statement from Dynamite says "we made a mistake" without acknowledging that it was a mistake. The idea of "helping out a friend" though sounds like nepotism, or at least a poor reason for doing business--regardless if you could lose your public reputation or not.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

The Hollywood Reporter has a good article about the sexual misconduct scandals in the comics industry in recent months.

While it doesn't offer anything new to those of us who followed this when the reports came out in June, it's still good that the article reminds people of this problem, and that it isn't solved by just ending the careers of those accused.
Kelly Sue DeConnick gets to re-issue her call for the industry to start requiring agents for their new talent, and to end the environment of "gatekeepers".

 

[theenglish]

The Hollywood Reporter has a good article about the sexual misconduct scandals in the comics industry in recent months.

While it doesn't offer anything new to those of us who followed this when the reports came out in June, it's still good that the article reminds people of this problem, and that it isn't solved by just ending the careers of those accused.
Kelly Sue DeConnick gets to re-issue her call for the industry to start requiring agents for their new talent, and to end the environment of "gatekeepers".

I didn't read the article yet, but the points you mention are important. Also, when possible, it is better to educate than condemn. You can't just condemn and dismiss everyone involved in poor conduct and bad behavior. Many people just don't think of the other person, or they behave inappropriately because it is the norm. In many ways it is like teaching people to wear seatbelts or to not light up a cigarette in public places. To prevent misconduct requires education and awareness building--(in no way am I condoning such acts in this statement, nor am I referring to criminal offences).

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Coming back to actual comics for a change, I thought this trailer looked pretty dope.

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That's one far out high concept.

Sidenote: It still feels weird, but kinda awesome, that there are trailers for comics now.

 

[JD]

Marvel and DC do a lot of trailers for their big comics too.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

^Yeah, but it still feels weird. Change of the times, I guess.
I remember in the early 00s, J. Scott Campbell tried to launch a new superhero comic book titles WildSiderz (which actually had a visually interesting concept), which didn't go for more than two issues or so, but they did a #0 preview book that had interviews and behind-the-scenes material, and at the end of it, they did something which I thought was very clever; they used panels and dialogue and edited it together so that it became a true comic book trailer, complete with the modern (or modern-back-then) dramatic composition of a movie trailer. It's really too bad the comic didn't work out.

Anyway, yesterday I got my monthly package from the comic shop - which was HUGE this time - , and among the books was Fantastic Four Unlimited #2. I had ordered it on impulse, it appeared to be a stand-alone story, written by Roy Thomas and with art by Herb Trimpe, and it was cheap. I remembered Trimpe from some Marvel books from the Bronze Age, especially the Godzilla series. So, color me surprised when I open the book and find that traditional Marvel artist Herb Trimpe did a spot-on Rob Liefeld imitation, complete with the ridiculous anatomy, overblown muscles, pointy fingers and very small feet.

 

[Mike Farley]

Imitating Liefeld was the only way Trimpe could get work at the time. Damn shame that a classic, talented artist like Herb Trimpe was reduced to that to make a living.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I don't know. Since he got Liefeld spot-on, I think he probably could have done something in the vein of better artists of the time, like Marc Silvestri or Todd McFarlane, and that would have sold. I'd imagine Trimpe was told to draw like the young stars, and he deliberately chose the worst of them to imitate as a sort of 'Fuck you' to the editor. I mean, even if he imitated Liefeld, he could have done so without the obvious flaws of Liefeld, but he worked them in so well, it does feel quite deliberate.

I do agree, though, that it's a shame he was told to change his style at all. Considering the 90s was a time with all kinds of art styles in comics, with artists like John Romita Jr., Dan Jurgens or Mike Wieringo.

 

[JD]

I started the first collection of the New 52 Detective Comics, Faces of Death, earlier this week. I've gotten through the first issue so far, and I liked it. Tony Daniel's writing and art are pretty good, and there were some nice little twists and turns with the Joker. I was a little surprised that getting his face cut off was actually part of the Joker's plan.
The main reason I borrowed this from Hoopla was because I wanted to see how the Joker got his face cut off before he showed up in Death of the Family, which is where I am in the no subtitle Batman series.
It also looks like it plays a role in the New 52 Suicide Squad series, which I own the first collection of.

 

[Relayer1]

I've burned out and failed very early into my attempt to get into DC - before my target of the Bendis Superman run.

Couldn't actually face trying to read any comics at all for a couple of weeks but the news that Iron Man's got a new writer's piqued my curiosity. I quite liked Slott's Spider-Man but his run on Iron Man has been some of the worst comics I've read in the last few years.

 

[JD]

I finished reading Fantasic Four: The Master of Doom yesterday.
It was really good.
The story with the family vacation in Scotland was a fun little isolated adventure.
I really liked Thing and Debbie's relationship, so I was disappointed when they made it all the way to the wedding, but then didn't go through with it.
Marquis of Death was a pretty good bad guy, and I liked the whole twist of the FF using a younger version of him, who had not gone bad yet, to defeat him. The build up his appearance did a pretty good job of setting him up, and he did not disappoint once the FF finally encountered him. My only complaint with that storyline is that I wish we had gotten to spend at least a little more time in the fake future where the heroic Doom was married to Sue.

 

[kirk55555]

I don't know anywhere else to put this.

Every Black Panther solo title, along with Shuri and Killmonger's solo series and a few one shots, are completely free on Comixology. Only the single issues, not the collections, so you'll have to add all the single issues individually. This wasn't announced, but the comic selections show that it wasn't an accident (his first appearance and a two issue X-Men crossover are also free, but not random appearances in Avengers, etc). Some links to the free stuff:

1977 - 1979: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-1977-1979/comics-series/64172

1988: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-1988/comics-series/128401

1998 to 2003: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-1998-2003/comics-series/9901

2005 to 2008: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-2005-2008/comics-series/839

2008 to 2010: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-2008-2010/comics-series/8999

2010 to 2012: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-The-Man-Without-Fear-2010-2012/comics-series/6245

2016 to 2018: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-2016-2018/comics-series/69142

2018 to now: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-2018/comics-series/115301

Agents of Wakanda (2019 - ): https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-And-The-Agents-Of-Wakanda-2019/comics-series/133561

Flags of our father mini: https://www.comixology.com/Captain-...-Flags-Of-Our-Fathers-2010/comics-series/4076

Vs Deadpool (2018): https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-vs-Deadpool-2018-2019/comics-series/122024

Long Live the King (2017 - 2018): https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-Long-Live-The-King-2017-2018/comics-series/107606

Sound and Fury one shot (2018): https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-The-Sound-And-The-Fury-2018/comics-series/111031

And the Crew (2017): https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-And-The-Crew-2017/comics-series/89688

World of Wakanda (2016-2017): https://www.comixology.com/Black-Panther-World-of-Wakanda-2016-2017/comics-series/81070

Rise of (2018): https://www.comixology.com/Rise-of-the-Black-Panther-2018/comics-series/109611

Shuri: https://www.comixology.com/Shuri-20...V4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC9zZXJpZXNTbGlkZXI

Klaws of the Panther: https://www.comixology.com/Klaws-of...XNrdG9wL2xpc3Qvc2VyaWVzU2VhcmNoRGV0YWlsTGlzdA

Doomwar: https://www.comixology.com/Doomwar-...lc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC90b3BSZXN1bHRzU2xpZGVy

Marvel tales Black Panther: https://www.comixology.com/Marvel-Tales-Black-Panther-2019-1/digital-comic/786463

Marvel Action Black Panther: https://www.comixology.com/search/items?search=marvel+action+black+panther&subType=SINGLE_ISSUES

Marvel's Black Panther Prelude: https://www.comixology.com/Marvels-...XNrdG9wL2xpc3Qvc2VyaWVzU2VhcmNoRGV0YWlsTGlzdA

Black Panther 2099: https://www.comixology.com/Black-Pa...XNrdG9wL2xpc3Qvc2VyaWVzU2VhcmNoRGV0YWlsTGlzdA

Killmonger: https://www.comixology.com/Killmong...V4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC9zZXJpZXNTbGlkZXI

X-Men (2004-2007) Issues #174-175 (look under single issues): https://www.comixology.com/X-Men-2004-2007/comics-series/33412?Issues_pg=2

Wakanda Forever One-Shots:
https://www.comixology.com/X-Men-Wakanda-Forever-2018-1/digital-comic/673080

https://www.comixology.com/Amazing-Spider-Man-Wakanda-Forever-2018-1/digital-comic/664428

https://www.comixology.com/Avengers-Wakanda-Forever-2018-1/digital-comic/686981

Fantastic Four #52 (His debut, although the second part of the story isn't free): https://www.comixology.com/Fantastic-Four-1961-1998-52/digital-comic/197091

That's all the free stuff thats been found, unfortunately his solo stuff in Jungle Action isn't available because its not on Comixology in single issues, but this is every other solo thing (and some related stuff) until now, from his first solo series, to Chris Priest's legendary run, to the Doomwar event and even the latest issues of the current run and Black Panther & The Agents of Wakanda. Last time Comixology did something like this you kept everything you got forever, so even if you don't have an account I'd definitely recommend making one (its free) and picking all these up, especially since this is certainly just a limited time offer (I kind of expect it to end by Monday, but thats just a guess).

I've noticed that the store can be a little glitchy (at least on mobile), probably because of all the people trying to get this, but its definitely worth the trouble for (according to people who have counted) around 288 issues of comics.

 

[JD]

I was really tempted by this, but I already have way to much to read and I swore I wasn't going by anything more for a while. The only thing I was going to break my rule for was finishing up Ta-Nehisi Coates first series, but it turns out the two omnibus editions I have are the whole thing, so there was nothing left for me to get.

 

[theenglish]

That Black Panther news brought back a memory. The first time a learned about Black Panther was the first time I learned about Apartheid in South Africa. There was a story in a reprint collection of Fantastic Four comics that my mom bought me at a Zellers (kind of like Walgreens). The story was when T'Challa called himself Black Leopard (FF119).