Comics
Crossgen Entertainment is officially finished.
I read online last night that Disney of all people bought the publishing rights to all of Crossgen’s characters, including all of their characters that are in development for movie treatments.
Crossgen busted out of the gates five years ago with a fresh approach, a slew of books, and a solid base of creators looking to take on the big guns. They expanded quickly over the coming years and attracted more and more talent. But the books were fantasy in nature all based around this “sigil” symbol that gave it’s wearers unique powers. You know, swords and swashbuckling types of books, which really isn’t what I was into so I probably didn’t help their cause much. I did read Sojurn for awhile, which is where Greg Land really blossomed into the hot talent he is today.
But about a year ago the publisher quietly stop putting out books and we started to see their creators pop up back at DC and Marvel. Word later was that they had run out of money and were bankrupt.
So, farewell to them. Another sad story on the war ridden roads of the comic industry. Maybe someday we’ll see another publisher make it for an extended period of time, but for now I would say, probably not.
Identity Crisis 6 escalates to the seventh and final issue.
The story continues. I give this issue a 3.5 of 5 stars. The art still isn’t all that great, minus the Michael Turner covers, but the thing with great stories is that the art can sometimes take a back seat for necessity. You would prefer the stories to come out on a regular monthly basis then to be delayed for a long time because of great art. Those long pauses can kill a good story.
So we start off seeing some iconic imagery with Robin kneeling over his dead father which carries over to visions of Bruce Wayne over his dead father. Then more discoveries are made about the murders. Flash keeps pressing Green Arrow for answers about who else he and the other JLA members had brainwashed with the help of Zatanna. During the fight in the last issue with Deathstroke, Flash had seen visions from Dr. Light of the members that were present when they had during the brainwashing.
Green Arrow had only mentioned seven, but in the vision Batman was there. He is reluctant to tell Flash what happened but when he threatens to go off and talk to Batman, GA tells him that there was a second vote that night on what to do. The crap hits the fan. The other member had voted to take Batman’s memories too.
He had taken care of Sue Dibney but he came back in the middle of the brainwashing and went byserko, obviously, it’s Batman. They voted to take his memory of the event, knowing it was the only solution from breaking up the league permanently.
At the end, we are left with a cliffhanger. During Sue Dibney’s autopsy, it was found that she was already dead before she was burned horribly on one side of her body. Well, as they look closer it seems she died of a blockage of blood to her brain. That is why none of the league members could figure out how someone broke the defenses, the intruder was but the size of a molecule. And that man was small enough to stand on Sue’s brain and block the bloodstream.
That man is Captain Atom, and we have to wait until next month to find out what happens.
The Mid Ohio Comic Con is quickly approaching!
I ordered my tickets on Friday and am all set to go to the Mid Ohio Con for a second year to see if I can get a sketch from one of my favorite artists, Adam Hughes.
My plan of attack right now is twofold, to save money, but to get there early enough to be very close to the beginning of the line. Those who order advance tickets online get in a half hour earlier then the rest of the attendees, so that is a nice benefit. But I was naive last year in thinking that that would be enough. I was only a handful of people back from the front of the line, but still I was over 20th down his sketch list which anything over 12 is usually not going to get one.
So I will be traveling probably at about 2 am over to Columbus Ohio to try to get in line at about 5-6 am. Then I should be there early enough to get a great spot in line and a chance at a sketch.
I am also pumped because I have found someone down here that is also into comics just about as much as me, and she really wanted to go. Christine Mulligan will be my partner in our day of what will most likely be adventure and strung out fanboys. But it will be cool to finally have someone to talk to about this as we walk around.
Identity Crisis is a must read!
Identity Crisis, a new event involving the DC characters by writer Brad Metzler is a book that I had thought about picking up, but really looked like most of the other dribble that comes out in the comic world. But Christine had the first five books that are out so far, and she let me borrow them. There is never any harm in giving it a try then. (The cover to issue 6 picture here on the left, with Batman holding his hands.
It blew me away, and has hooked me. I can’t say that anyone who doesn’t read comics this would necessarily be a great pickup point, but I have seen articles in main stream press on how big of a deal this seven part mini series has become.
I ignored the hype, and the enticing Michael Turner covers, who is usually a touch overrated, and opened the first book on Saturday. The story starts out with a bang, a great mystery. A DC character that I had heard of in passing, Elongated man, is the main character. Brad Metzler does this great job of getting you introduced to this character quickly, and then all of a sudden, the tragedy drops.
You get a sense that this Elongated Man loves his wife very dearly, so when she is murdered, burned beyond recognition, you begin to ask yourself, what would you do?
People think that comic books are all a bunch of super heroes flying around saying stupid crap. When in fact today’s comics are based in reality, with real emotions and decisions under some exaggerated circumstances of course, but a relatable human emotion none the same.
Things snowball from there. A dark secret is told as the supposed identity of the killer is revealed to be Dr. Light. It seems that Dr. Light found Sue Digby, Elongated Man’s wife, many years ago unprotected. Well, he didn’t kill her, instead he did something worse. We see a very delicately treated scene where you connect the pictures that he rape’s her!
Well, the Justice League doesn’t know what to do. They know this evil man will come after her later, having found her once, to kill her. She won’t ever be safe. The moral dilemma. They decide to wipe his mind, which spawns lying among the team, hatred, and many other problems that come with evil.
As the story escalates, another wife of a super hero barely lives through a hanging. Superman is nervous, and so is Batman, who is always so calculating and composed that it seems like no one is safe. Lois Lane then receives an anonymous note that they know who she is and that she is next. Also, as issue five leaves it, Tim Drake’s (Robin) dad has been attacked and apparently killed. So not only is it shocking, it is affecting some major characters, not just those that we could care less about.
That is where the books have left off. No one knows who is doing it, and there are no clues. They can’t figure out how this killer is getting past the defense systems that are alien in nature. No normal man could get through them.
Only time will tell. Keep posted here as I review issue six which is due out the middle of November.
Upcoming Comic Based Movies for 2004
I was checking online today on one of my favorite sites for comic news, comicscontinuum.com and came across some photos for the Fantastic Four movie that is supposed to be coming out next July.
Now, even though I am a comic freak, I am a purest, and do believe in making good movies, not movies just because the characters are well known to make a buck. Doing that damages the public perception of the characters and comics in general as a visual storytelling medium.
That is why, giving credit to Sam Raimi’s amazing treatment of Spiderman I have to say that most comic directors could learn so much from Bryan Singer, who has directed the X-Men films. He is a true director. He seems things from a real perspective, has such a attention to detail, and makes these characters relatable and believable, which you cannot put a price on.
I won’t pass judgment on the Fantastic Four movie, but I must say looking at the costumes and looking at the talent, it looks like a “bang for the buck” kind of movie. Jessica Alba is Sue Storm, who is hot, but if that is all the movie has, then sad is hardly the appropriate word.
I recently saw the trailer for Sin City that aired at the San Diego comic con. Oy!
I am an artist, and am all for staying true to the work, but like I say to all you book lovers out there, suck it up or shut up! A book is a different medium than a movie. Although I don’t prefer books, I don’t say, “oh, the book just wasn’t as good as the movie.” The different tools you have for each medium do not translate back and forth.
Frank Miller is working closely to develop Sin City which looks like a damn comic book. It’s overly stylized, and I believe, judging by the precise replica of the scenes in the comic that this movie will flop, only appealing to fan boys.
An artist gets too close to his work, and can’t see that it is a life of it’s own and can be shaped into any number of things. So, enough about this rant. I hope both of those movies are good, because we are getting to a point of obnoxiousness.
It was about this time ten years ago when Super Hero films were more prevalent, but there was no heed of quality vs. quantity, and then Batman and Robin came out. I love Batman, and will give most films a break. But Joel Shumacher, he must live is life in one fruity little shoe. Signaling the downfall of public opinion, we are just now getting good stores back.
Beware, all of you Catwoman’s and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, don’t hurt us all for a quick fix to your money addiction.
Steve McNiven and Warren Ellis on Ultimate Universe
I read the other day that one of my new favorite artists, Steve McNiven, would be teaming up with a Warren Ellis and getting to play in the Marvel Ultimate Universe with a book entitled "Ultimate Nightmare".
(Steve McNiven started out about 4 years ago at the promising Crossgen Comics which recently has gone into bankruptcy.)
Also, I continue to look forward to November and the Mid Ohio-Con to see if I can get a sketch from Adam Hughes, famous cheesecake pinups cover artist of books like Wonder Woman and Tomb Raider. I am part of a yahoo group dedicated to him and it seems as if many others are unfortunately thinking the same thing. Last year was the first year that he was invited to be a part of that con, and it was the first one I had been to.
I think that my chances were better then, because there were less that knew about his attendance. I think that I will have to get up at just after 5 in Columbus to get into the line far enough to have a chance to get on his sketch list.
