E-MAIL RYALL | E-MAIL TIPTON | ARCHIVES
MAIL SHOOT
October 17, 2005
Kevin C. writes: Love the column, long-time reader, etc. ad infinitum. Still, it does
bear repeating: LOVE the column. Aside from allowing me to rediscover
the love of the medium, your column is easily the most literate and
insightful comics writing available on the web by somebody not
blood-related to Warren Ellis or Mark Evanier. But (yeah, there's always
a but, right?) come on now: in one-hundred-twenty-five-plus columns, how
many of 'em have been about NON-superhero comics? Granted, Pogo is
awesome, but even what little non-supe stuff here is sorta
halfway-almost-super, like Miller's Sin City and Moore's V for Vendetta,
for example.
Sure, it's been said a million times, but that's only 'cos it's true:
there's more to comics than capes 'n' tights. Surely the body of work of
Daniel "Eightball" Clowes, Chris "ACME Novelty Library" Ware, Harvey
"American Splendour" Pekar, Bill "Zippy" Griffith, Chester "Louis Riel"
Brown, Seth "It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken"
Whatever-The-Hell-Seth's-Last-Name-Is, Peter "Hate" Bagge or, hey,
y'know, ROBERT &$^%#(!!! CRUMB might be worth a look, sandwiched
in-between the 42nd and 43rd JLA column? (I kid, because I love.) I
mean, didn't that pesky Dave Sim finish that Cerebus last year? Aren't
the Los Bros Hernandez collected volumes of Palomar and Locas stories a
perfect excuse to wax rhapsodic? Didn't Craig Thompson's "Blankets" make
you cry? Actually, scratch that last part.
Anyway, I'm coming across more strident than I'd like, because as I say
the column really is great. More than that, this column is obviously a
labour of love and, as such, is much appreciated by us literati who like
the funny picture books. I'm just asking for a little black 'n' white
bone, here, a little under-alternaground lovin', if you know what I mean
and I think you do.
Did I mention how great the column is? 'Cos it's, like, really great.
Tipton: Guilty as charged. But with mitigating circumstances.
The thing is, since I started the column, I've gotten a lot busier with other, paying jobs, and I'm always, always pressed for time. At the same time, I've never missed a deadline in the nearly 3 years I've been doing the column, and I refuse to start now. So more often than not, to cut down on research time, I fall back on column topics that I'm more familiar with, which tend to be the mainstream Marvel and DC stuff. I plan to cover non-super stuff like BONE, CEREBUS, UNCLE SCROOGE, LOVE AND ROCKETS and others, I just haven't had the time to devote the proper thought and research to 'em.
The other fact is that, as much as I admire and respect some of the other names you listed, I just don't have as great a personal affection for their work, and I think the reader will better appreciate me writing about books I love than struggling through columns about books that I know are important but I just don't personally enjoy as much.
Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for reading!
###
Steven G. writes: Besides being more than a little insensitive to the alien’s right to exist, it’s odd that Green Arrow would be so seemingly surprised that the JLA would have an “Alien” member, given he was standing next to Superman and Hawkman at the time. Between this and his “tokenism”, did you ever wonder if the rest of the JLA used to sit around and complain about what a hypocrite GA was?
Tipton: At the very least, you can see why Hawkman was arguing with him so much...
###
David writes: What do you have against John Buscema? I read Marvel comics from the late 60's through to the early eighties and I've always thought that John Buscema's artwork was the very best in comics. From his work on the Fantastic Four through to Conan and the Silver Surfer,his work was faultless. However, I have read many of your Marvel reviews and you seem to skip over the Buscema era of any of the titles as not being worthy of mention. For instance, you skipped from Kirby to Simonsen in you
Thor essay when surely JB's art - inked by Vince Colletta particularly - was
among the best in any Marvel title. Why the oversight?
Tipton: John Buscema was without question a first-rate artist and one of Marvel's best, as well as being a genuinely nice guy on a personal level. Any failure to mention Big John has been strictly an oversight.
Mostly, it's been pure coincidence. Also, a lot of the time, the Buscema period of a given book might not correspond with the creative high point of the series regarding the story (such as the Thor run, for example) so it doesn't leap to my mind when I'm writing.
Similarly with his FF work -- while it looks great, most people don't think of it in the same breath as the Lee/Kirby or the Byrne.
I did mention Buscema quite positively in my Surfer piece, and included plenty of art:
http://moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/27.html
And when I get to Conan: rest assured there'll be plenty of Buscema discussion there, as that was the book he enjoyed doing most, much more than any of the cape-and-tights books.
###
Jason L. writes: As always you blow me away with your great articles chronicling the history of comic books. I'm especially enjoying the JLA columns and I hope you give a good accounting of the the JLA that was led by Aquaman after the Martian Invasion back in '84 because believe it or not I religiously collected every issue of that run. Sick I know but a breakdancing superhero back in the day had me hooked.
Anyway, my question has to do with Alan Moore's masterpiece, The Watchmen. Do you think DC Comics led by Dick Giordano messed up by not letting Moore use the existing characters from Charlton Comics when Moore pitched the idea for the comic? I like the characters that Moore created for the series but I think the arc would have had more impact, if that's possible, had established heroes been used instead of ones created from whole cloth. The Charlton heroes like Blue Beetle, the Question, and Captain Atom were relatively obscure back in the mid-80's when compared to the DC and Marvel stables but I think using them would have had even more of an impact and might have hastened the crossover appeal of the series, ie the Watchmen movie that is now finally getting off the ground.
Gimme some feedback on this one and let me know if you're going to do a write-up of Constantine for your ravenous fans of which I'm proud to be counted as one.
Tipton: My column on the JL Detroit years has come and gone. Hope you're not too big a fan, because, well, I wasn’t kind to it...
I tend to think not using the Charlton characters in WATCHMEN was a good call. The characters aren't well known enough to have reallyhelped the series any,and the freedom to create brand-new characters really let Moore expore the various superhero archetypes in ways he couldn't have with Blue Beetle and the Question, especially since there would always be the nagging obligation not to monkey with another man's creation overmuch.
To put it another way, if he'd used the Question, we'd never have met Rorschach, which would've been a tragedy.
Nope, no Constantine write-up. Wasn't feelin' it.
Jason replies: Thanks for taking the time to drop me some lines about my question. I'm in disagreement with you about Watchmen and the Charlton characters though because most of the appeal of DC's Elseworlds is how the creators do get the chance to make drastic changes to established characters. The reader gets to see what a tick here and tweak there would have done to someone like Superman or Batman if the original creators had chosen another tack. The characters Moore and Gibbons populated their story with are closing in on legend status but I'm of the opinion that substituting the Charlton characters would have led to the same awesome results. Just picking nits on this one though because DC has gotten mileage out of both franchises for almost twenty years now.
I guess this is just a letter to let you know I disagree with you about all matters comic today. I did like the Detroit JLA because it was a team of misfits trying to do the best they could. It was an intriguing concept when it started but it tailed off with the Homo Magi/Zatanna storyline. It was also a good idea because it focused on long time JLA members like Aquaman, Elongated Man, and the Martian Manhunter who were usually overshadowed by the Big Three. Like I said an interesting concept that could have been executed better.
Constantine was a strong film taken on it's own terms when not compared to comic series. Check it out if you get the time because I took your recommendation with The Incredibles. Wouldn't steer you wrong.
Tipton: I just wonder if Moore would have been able to create such a well-rounded character as Rorschach if he would have had the constarints of Steve Ditko's version of the Question framing it as he was writing. Similarly, Dr. Manhattan is a more interesting idea than Captain Atom ever was, and that might not have been the case if he'd been filtering his ideas through the Ditko Captain Atom.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you say that it turned out for the best because it created two extremely successful franchises instead of only one.
Have you gone back and re-read the JL Detroit comics lately? If you haven't, you should. I just did, and I was surprised at how bad they were. They actually made me angry in places, at how badly written, drawn and edited they were. I was hoping to go in and be pleasantly surprised, that maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought. You'll even see the week before, as I wrote about preparing to discuss the run, that I thought maybe they might have something to offer. Then I read the partial run that I have, and discovered that they didn't. I'm curious if you've read them lately and are seeing things I missed, or are recalling them fondly.
Definitely planning on seeing Constantine if I get a chance.
###
James writes: Dear proffessor dude, is it just me or would cap look freakin' awesome if he used an american flag for a cape.
P.S. seriously dude what is sin city?
Tipton: I don't know, man. A cape doesn't really work too well on the battlefield, which is where Cap was intended to operate. Gotta say no.
SIN CITY is an absolutely amazing series of hard-boiled crime comics written and drawn by Frank Miller. I think it's Miller's best work, and the upcoming movie adaptation by Miller and Robert Rodriguez should be the most faithful translation of any comic book ever.
###
Dave F. writes: I'm enjoying the JLA pieces (C-101 never disappoints!), but I was
wondering about the conspicuous absence of the Phantom Stranger from
the ranks of those who preferred not to heed the "callup"... I always
thought that was a pretty fun ongoing subplot during the Wein years...
"hey he helped us again--but now he's movin' on!" (sort of like the
"Littlest Hobo"--don't know if you've ever seen that show, but it's a
Canadian "classic"...well, the dog was great anyway!)
Tipton: I included the Phantom Stranger in the regular membership columns, because he never turned it down, and did show up from time to time, and even referred to himself as a member at least once. Didn't quite fit in the "no thanks" category like Metamorpho and Black Lightning, at least to my mind...
###
Cameron B. writes: How many people actually know Batman's secret
identity? It seems like quite a few people do.
Tipton: Quite a few do, yeah. Once you factor in his various apprentices, the Justice League, the Outsiders, the original Titans, and 2 or three villains, the list gets pretty long.
###
Michael A. writes: How well is Joss Whedon doing with his run of Astonishing X-Men?
And, is it too late to start?
Tipton: Joss' X-Men is awesome, the best it's been in years. He just signed on for a second year, so it's not at all too late. Just pick up the first trade paperback and the most recent issues and you're all set.
###
Stefan R. writes: Just finished the quiz. Even looking stuff up was tough.
Anyway, I realized that with April Fools in a couple months and Robot
Chicken (created by Seth Green and some of the Twisted Toyfare Theatre
writers) airing on the Cartoon Network that you might want to take a look at
Twisted Toyfare Theatre. If you haven't read it (and I can't believe you
haven't), it is a monthly segment in Wizard's sister publication Toyfare.
Basically it parodies both toys and comics in a photocomic that uses toys.
Extremely funny stuff.
Also, are you ever going to do more foreign comics? You did V for Vendetta,
but what about some important European classics like Tin Tin. Also perhaps
a few Japanese manga, such as Lone Wolf and Cub. IO'd also recommend
Dragonball, a series which actually started out a very clever and funny
action adventure but unfortunately turned into pointless fighting and
posturing halfway though. Still, the first half of the series was good.
Well, your probably drowning in E-mails, so caio!
Tipton: I love Twisted Toyfare Theatre, but there's not really a lot there for me to talk about. Spidey's a smartass, Iron Man vomits in his helmet a lot, and the Hulk is always taking a dump. That about covers it.
Robot Chicken was good, but I'm surprised there aren't legal issues that come with using the characters -- I guess the parody laws protect them.
Never been much of a Tintin fan, but i should really give it another look.
###
Alfred R. writes: I was watching the [1989 BATMAN] movie the other day, and i had heard tim curry was supposed to play the joker. do you know why he wasn't able to? he would have been perfect.
Tipton: I think that was a popular rumor, but never really official. And when the possibility of landing Nicholson came along, I'm sure all thoughts of Curry went out the window. Curry did have the part of the Joker on the animated series, but the producers weren't happy with his take on the character, and instead replaced him with Mark Hamill, whose Joker is considered by most everyone to be definitive.
###
Andrew L. writes: I'm really enjoying the rundown on the JLA you've done so far. I
liked the inclusion of the panel from Swamp Thing #24 to describe the
League. Any plans to do an article on Alan Moore's classic run on ol'
Swampy?
Also, any hope for the Young Avengers after the Avengers Dis-Assembled debacle?
Tipton: Definitely plan on covering the Moore Swamp Thing. Just haven't gotten to it. Yet.
The first issue of YOUNG AVENGERS didn't knock me out, but it’s growing on me.
Robert S. writes: I definitely like this week's format better than last weeks. I like that you have longer to talk about the shows you're recommending (or dissing), although not including all the highlights and lowlights for the week means that I'm going to have to check elsewhere to see what else I should Tivo for the week.
Maybe if you did something like this week, but also added a list of anything else you'd recommend or not recommend at the end of each section?
Ryall: So... you want me to do longer pieces like this week... AND shorter mentions like other weeks. In other words, you're trying to kill me. I'm onto you, man! You want to exhaust me and bump me off and then take my place. I knew it. Everyone's out to get me! That's why I no longer leave my house and only urinate in glass jars and let me fingernails grow (obviously, you can see that next time THE AVIATOR's on, I'll be recommending that one)...
Robert replies: Damn. I thought I was being subtle and could slip my murderous intentions right by you, but, no, once again you clever French fellows have outwitted us English pig-dogs...
Actually, when I said list, I just meant the name and time of other shows you would recommend, without comments (unless you really felt moved to add them).
Ryall: I’m physically incapable of mentioning shows and not making some inane comment about them…
# # #
Eddie C. writes: Is Saturday's recommendation a joke? I know you lime zombie movies, but the reason I ask is I know you joke that Saturday sucks for TV (which it does) and it seemed you were being sarcastic. Not that I would watch those movies anyway (I'd just as soon put on a Romero DVD for some good zombie action), just curious.
Ryall: Was my mention of those shows a joke? Well, yes and no. I mean, I fully expect those movies to be lame, but lame in a good, goofy sort of way. I think those Sci Fi movies are pretty dumb fun--cue my MANSQUITO joke again. So on a night of bad TV, I think you could do worse than watch those goofy movies.
Anyway, I have a non-recommendation myself . . . "Criminal Minds" on Thursdays. I can't believe Mandy Patinkin has to be reduced to a formulaic crime drama after the much-missed "Dead Like Me." Rube was one of my favorite TV characters and he'll sorely be missed. Especially with a typical TV cop to take his place. I know the show's already been on a couple of weeks (and I actually haven't seen it since the first episode) but I just had to get that off my chest.
Ryall: Well, MINDS just recently got picked up for an entire season, so that should help ease the sting of losing DEAD LIKE ME a bit.
# # #
Grant C. writes: First of all, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is one on my favorite shows. So I definitely
appreciate the man-love it gets from you guys.
That said, I can't quite figure out what the producers were thinking
regarding the direction of this season. The show barely got renewed,
for God's sake. And yet, each and every episode requires you to have
seen every other episode in order to get all the jokes. Seventy-five
percent of everything funny is a reference to a prior gag, situation, or
character development from an earlier episode or season.
If you've seen all those episodes, then the show is masterfully crafted.
If you haven't... what would make you want to stick around? People that
are trying to jump on board this show have to feel like they're coming
into a party in mid-conversation... and everybody suddenly stopped
talking to gawk at you.
AD is the only show I know that requires research in order to fully
enjoy it - and I think that is both its greatest strength and its fatal
flaw. I still can't figure out how the producers of the show expect to
attract new viewers this way, so I'm fully prepared to see the last of
the Bluth family by the end of this season. Sure, I'd hate to see the
show's formula get dumbed-down just to make it more user-friendly and
safe for new audiences. But the ratings are going to kill it unless
something happens soon.
Ryall: Seems to me they kind of know it's, if not doomed, then at least doomed to small ratings and a select audience. So they decided that rather than try to make it mainstream and accessible—and how would they do that, anyway, add Cousin Oliver Bluth?—which is obviously never going to happen, thay they're just going to push things as much as they can and reward the faithful audience. At this point, I don't really blame 'em. And as a fan, I love it that much more. This season’s off to an outstanding start.
THE DAILY SHOW
Marc A. writes: Love the site, been reading since day 1.
But, there's an error in tonight's story about the
White Stripes. They are not the first musical guest
on the series. They Might Be Giants performed on the
show a few years back after composing the them music
for the program. They did a couple of numbers.
It was the millenium show (which I think was after J. Stewart got there), and they did this great song, “I can Hear You,” with the old Thomas Edison wax cylinder thing.
Hope I'm not the only person to remember that and
write in.
# # #
“Evil” Mike C. writes: Tenacious D was on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart a few years back. They talked and perfomed a song.
Ryall: Well, that story came right from Variety. I guess it's harder to hype the Stripes if they had to say "the SECOND or THIRD band ever to appear and perform!"
David G. writes: My congratulations on your upcoming adaptation of one of my favorite Clive Barker novels, I’m very much looking forward to it! You are absolutely correct in that this novel does sort of defy adaptation, I’ve read it 3 times and I’m not completely sure what it’s really about. It will be great to read a column about your development of this, which for me is a true genre masterpiece.
It’s kind of like trying to make Tom Robbin’s Skinny Legs and All into a comic book, or worse, a movie.
Plus, it’s a great prelude to a Weaveworld ongoing series…
I wish you all the best and I can’t wait to read the finished product.
Ryall: It’s certainly the most daunting, and thus exhilarating, project I’ve worked on in my time at IDW, I’ll say that about it. Should be fun.
Sandy U. and Elinor G. write to Scott Bowden:
Scott,
We found your article on Kentucky Fried Rasslin and we are so glad that the department's scholarship money paid off.
Sandy U. and Elinor G’s titles?
Assistant Chair, Department of Journalism
Co-editor, Newspaper Research Journal
Department of Journalism
University of Memphis
The Stoner Chronicles
“Tcsk8hard” writes: why dont u have a shooting range like the old/movie site
Ryall: Because then we’d hear from people like you on a regular basis.
The Hot Spot
Eric R. writes: You've just been waiting for an excuse to use that pic, haven't you?
Thanks for a little perk-up at work. I've loved the site since its inception; I don't think I've ever gone so much as a week without checking in, except when I was on vacation (Then it was more like 8 days). Keep up the great work!
Ryall: I’d never run a gratuitous picture just for the sake of it. But for those interested in which image Eric’s referring to, it’s this one:
Photos of the Week
E-MAIL RYALL | E-MAIL TIPTON | ARCHIVES
| 
