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January 16, 2006

COMICS 101 is in Session

Jordan N. writes: thank you...

That's it... just a quick note to say thank you. I've read your column every week for the last couple of years or so, and your opinions on what's going on in the world of comics seem very close to my own. i've never been a superhero comic fan, until recently. but i obsessively read dcs's "who's who" and marvel's "official handbook" as a kid, so i know who most everybody is.

i've followed writers more than series, for the most part... moore and morrison, mostly (i've got sleeves tattooed of stuff from grant's "invisibles") but all of your writing on how great james robinson's "starman" is made me curious. even though you have yet to do a (series, i assume) column on it, i got the point.

so i picked up the trades and read them all... six or seven times. and i wept with sadness at the end of vol. 9, "grand guignol". (the absolute best story arc of any ongoing series, EVER).

and i wept with joy at the end of vol. 10, "sons of the father." now i'm playing missionary and trying to make every comic reader i know read this series... even if they don't like the men in tights stuff. it really is that good.

so thank you for talking it up to the point that i read it.

Tipton: That's awesome, man. Makes me glad I haven't done a column yet, since you got to enjoy the series the same way I did, without anything being spoiled.

Jeff N. writes: Another trip down memory lane. My first look at Star Wars came from the Marvel comics, but only the first three issues. In fact, if I remember correctly, they released issues 1-3 before the movie came out, and the remaining three afterwards. It was a long time before I saw the rest of the comic story (I had read the novel and seen the movie by that point). Chaykin was the perfect choice, having previously created his own space opera with Ironwolf and Cody Starbuck. As Michael Moorcock said, in the intro to the first American Flagg collection, "I always felt Han Solo owed a great debt to Cody Starbuck, even down to his taste in shirts."

I loved the follow up stories and must be in the minority; I never saw anything wrong with Jax. It was no sillier than some of the aliens in the Cantina; and I kind of liked the whole Don-wan Kehotay. I mean, there's a character called Commander Cody in the new film (as in Commando Cody, the serial hero).

My personal favorites of the Marvel stories involved the cyborg, Hunter. He was one of the more rounded characters and was always a welcome guest. Baron Tagge was another great character, leading the Empire's second assault on the Yavin base, as well as battles against both Luke and Vader.

Although I liked the dynamic nature of Carmine Infantino's art, I preferred Chaykin and Al Williamson. I thought they had the right combination of Flash Gordon and modern styling. Infantino could get a bit too angular for my tastes. Also, his ships were less awe inspiring. Walt Simonson's limited foray into Star Wars was fantastic.

On the Biggs-Luke note, I think greater confusion came from the Star Wars Storybook. It featured at least one still photo of Luke and Biggs talking, on Tatooine. That visual reference is probably clearer in many people's minds, or maybe combination of the various adaptations.

Another great column. How about a future one about other movie adaptations; such as Logan's Run, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Blade Runner, etc. Many were quite good, although they could also demonstrate the problem of working from the script and not the finished film. I still remember the dialogue balloons for Gaff (Blade Runner) being in English, but Deckard couldn't understand him. It never made sense until I saw the movie.

Tipton: I've got plans for a Star Trek column pretty soon, but I need to get more of the DC stuff. Maybe by the summer...

Matt B. writes: Concerning the Biggs Darklighter scene, I know I've seen the footage before, but I can't remember where. A fan made collection of deleted scenes was recently made called "Deleted Magic". The project's home page is http://www.starwarz.com/deletedmagic/ . The video clips are currently offline, but an ISO image of the DVD (around 4 GB) was posted in the Usenet group alt.binaries.starwars on 5/11. The Biggs scene is included, and the dialogue pretty much matches what's in the comic.

In the movie, Uncle Owen says "there'll be hell to pay" if Luke doesn't have the condensers working when he goes after R2-D2.

One interesting thing I noticed on the page with the X-Wings approaching the Death Star was the line "approaching target at 1.3 parsecs." I've read that Han's use of parsecs has been retconned to make sense as a unit of distance. But it seems to be used as a measure of speed there. I have to wonder if that's from a script or from the comic writers.

Tipton: I know Owen says the line in the movie, but in the film he just kinda mutters it under his breath, and in the comic he's screaming it to the rafters.

The "parsec" reference smells like Roy Thomas to me, but that's just a hunch.

Steven writes: i had the stormtrooper rifle, as well as the han solo pistol, but my favorite star wars toy (aside from all the action figures) was my 'lightsaber'. it was a flashlight with an inflatable yellow tube attached to the end of it. no sounds, no telescoping segments, but you could whack the heck out of your little brother with it!

thanks for the article. i never bought the comics, because even to my 8 year old eyes the art was unbelievably bad, so it was neat to read your rundown!

Tipton: That inflatable lightsaber was cool for the first hour or so, than the slow leak would start and your lightsaber would look less and less formidable...

Nene S. writes: I've been enjoying your review of the history of the Justice League, particurally the International era. I notice you said you we're going to be jumping to the Morrison era next, though. I might just be missing something, but this mean you're going to be skipping the train wreck that was Justice League of America, Justice League Task Force and *shudder* Extreme Justice?

Anyways, I was just curious, and wished to thank you for the work that obviously went into all this.

Tipton: Make sure to check back in on Wednesday.

Ian T. writes: Now that Green Lantern: Rebirth is done and the much loved Hal is back in place, what are your thoughts on Rebirth and returning Hal to his former position, resolving him of all his sins along the way also??? Was this storyline the right way of bringing him back and was the handling of Kyle done correctly??

What's the Tipton thought?

Tipton: I think it couldn't have been done any better, to be honest. The story restored Hal to the character he was always intended to be, but it didn't undo any of the stories that came before, and explained everything away while still making sense and telling an exciting story. What more can you ask for?

And Kyle, who's earned his place in the DC Universe, didn't get needlessly slaughtered or sacrificed. Bring back all the Hal fans while keeping the newer Kyle fans. Everybody wins.

Frederick C. writes: Long time reader first time caller wondering about something that happened at the end of Astonishing X-men issue 10.

After the Danger Room contacts Xavier, he is seen wheeling though some desolate landscape, which somebody in the letters page points out as being Genosha.

As I haven't had much contact with recent continuity of the X-men series (have only gotten back into comics recently after Whedon lured me back in) could you please explain to me what/where Genosha is and why Xavier is there?

Tipton: Genosha was an island populated almost entirely by mutants, where Magneto reigned as king. The island and nearly everyone on it was nuked by Sentinels during the Grant Morrison run, and Xavier was there for some time afterwards attempting to help the survivors recover.

Michael M. writes: It seems from some of your recent columns that you're becoming frustrated with the big 2 lately, particularly in regards to the way things are getting darker. I can understand many of your issues as a long time fan, seeing some of your favorite characters get done dirty. On the other hand, as a fan of the medium in general, I can't help but enjoy many of the stories being spun in this way, and those that are generated by so much unpleasantness. For example, Graduation Day, featuring two tragic deaths and berated by fans for it, has spawned two excellent series that are often at the top of my "Must Read" pile every month. Killing, and changing characters like Max and Ted in Countdown may be offensive to old time fans, but it seems, at least at the shop I work in, to be doing wonders for DC's readership. Maybe there's a better way to achieve that end, but I for one am enjoying the stories. Further, as bad as Disassembled was, and I fully agree, it! was a poor way to do what Bendis wanted done (I have no problem with him shaking up Avengers membership, or even killing a few classic characters (and btw, I got the impression that Hawkeye was mortally wounded by the blast to the back, not that he bizarrely committed suicide launching himself at the space ship) to do it, but it should have been done better), the stories that have followed, in both New Avengers, and the amazingly fun Young Avengers make it worthwhile for me. If you're not reading Young Avengers, and I've not seen any mention that you are, you should give it a look, classic Avengers style, Captain America and Iron Man acting like, well, themselves, excellent incorporation of the (sadly deceased) Vision, great respect for the legacy of the team, and the art is just great...this is all without even mentioning the young heroes themselves, who are as compelling as any characters in mainstream comics today. Anyway...it's the only in continuity book on the shelves where! you can see the (literal and metaphorical) decendants of Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Ant-Man in action.

Here's hoping things get better for our heroes...and if they don't that the stories are at least well done...

Tipton: I'll most definitely agree that YOUNG AVENGERS is a fun, promising series, much better than I'd expected.

Brad writes: I'm sure others, more anxious to show off their devotion to the Star Wars universe, have already pointed this out to you, but I wanted to make sure and add my 2 cents.

The missing scene of Biggs Darklighter not only appeared in the comic book adaption, but also in the original novelization of the Star Wars movie, which really wasn't called A new Hope, it was called Star Wars, from the adventures of Luke Skywalker. And it was written by George Lucas himself. In it we get a totally different feeling story of the Star Wars universe than the one that he just completed.

First I just, about an hour ago, got back from Revenge of the Sith and thought that it was the greatest movie EVER! Best of the saga! There isn't a single movie in the series that I don't like. And I think that the inconsistencies only make it more entertaining.

But…

The stories of Lucas knowing what was going to happen are total crap. The proof is in the original novel, The Emperor was a weak willed nobody, a puppet of the beaureaucrats. The stormtroopers were members of the Imperial Academy and the clone Wars went a whole lot different than the war that we saw. Lucas is still a genius, but i wonder about the original version of things. What would The Empire Strikes back have been like if he hadn't changed things, and the prequels what would they have been like. I think that we wouldn't be on the internet talking about them today. Great Work George!

Now I've been talking to friends about some missing stuff from the "legend" of the Star Wars universe and I've a couple of questions, if you can recall.

I was told that the original theatrical release didn't say Episode 4, a new hope, that that came when Empire was released and Star Wars was shown on Television. Is this true?

I remember a scene, from where I have no idea where Vader and the Emperor ask Luke who completed his training, Luke won't answer and the Emperor mocks Luke in a Yoda like manner and then laughs. do you know where this scene came from, or did I just imagine it? I thought that maybe it was in the Jedi novel, but I have yet to locate it. Although, I did read Timithoy Zahn's trilogy about the same time, was it in there maybe?

Tipton: True, the Biggs scene was in the novel, although the book was actually ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster, I believe, despite Lucas' name on the cover.

Yeah, I loved Episode III as well.

The "A NEW HOPE" subtitle was definitely not there when the film first came out -- it was added with the 1981 re-release of STAR WARS following the release of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

I think the scene you describe was from the novel, but I'm not certain.

Oliver R. writes: You said that adamantium can still withstand Cyke’s beams. But I remember in AOA that Wolverine only had one hand and it was cut off by Cyclops's optic beams. You may not be counting this because it happened in an alternate relaity, but it still happened.

Tipton: Hm. Good point.

Ciaran writes: That Star Wars piece brought back a sense of my childhood more than anything else comics-related I can think of. I remember getting those comics at the time with that Biggs scene near photographically recorded somewhere in the deeper recesses of my brain! I think it got that extra weight and I remembered it so well simply because it didn't feature in the movie. Other scenes tended to get remembered differently as the film's actual scenes surplanted the comic interpretations. The Chaykin realisation of Ben's 'death' – wow, did that bring it back – and even the follow-on storylines with Jax, Don-Wan Kihotay, Effie et al. reminded me of a comic I simply loved as a kid. I don't have them any more, mainly thanks to my Mum thinking that burning all my comics was rightful punishment for me constantly leaving them scattered around my room. I still don't let her forget it! Anyway, reckon I'm going to have to make some spaces on my bookshelves and go out and pick up, at least, the earlier Dark Horse editions. Thanks!

Cameron B. writes: You know I really like Batman. In fact I would say he's my favorite character, but what's the deal with the guy lately? I mean it's like he's turned into this horrible psychopath because somebody forgot to mention that DKR wasn't a canon book. He set up a bunch traps that nearly got his JLA buddies killed, he's pretty much responsible for Beetle getting whacked and he created a security system that spies on all of his friends. It doesn't make sense that any other superhero would trust Batman after all this bullshit so is this DC's way of kicking Batman out of the JLA so he can just be an asshole in his own books? (I think it was Dwayne McDuffie who ridiculed those who thought Batman's being in the Justice League made the character less realistic by saying: "He's a billionaire who dresses up like a Bat, has teen sidekicks, and his rogue's gallery includes a clown, a plant woman, and a clay monster. Yeah, that's realistic.") I'm not saying that you shouldn't have characters with faults but personally I think a major reboot is in order for the character because he sucks right now. Either that or start up the Batman Animated Adventures comics again.

Tipton: I think the intention of all the IDENTITY CRISIS/COUNTDOWN stuff is to explain why Batman's become such a suspicious unlikable asshole, due to his knowledge of what they did to him. Not that I like it, but at least it might lead to a change.

TV RECOMMENDATIONS

Matt M. writes:
"Eddie C. writes:
FAMILY GUY -- 9 PM, Fox Here's how lame this show is--they settled for a voicework cameo from Frank Sinatra Jr. Just not cool enough to get his dad, eh?
I can see we can expect another year of "Family Guy" disses, but, uh, can I just point out that Frank Sinatra's been dead for some time now, making this joke kinda senseless.

Ryall: So, here we are. I suppose, with 35-45 comments and shows mentioned each week, not every joke is going to hit. But this one worked in my head, anyway.

See, I was trying for a little comment on the fact that I don't ever give this show any credit for anything, to the point where I even hassle them for their inability to get an obviously dead and ungettable guest-star.

Explaining jokes always brings the yuks, doesn't it?"

Hey, I got some good news for you. Robbie Williams was able to make Sinatra gueststar on his "swing" album and somehow Sinatra was dead. Also, did Sky Captain and the World of Who Cares? have some dead guy - Laurence Olivier or something like that? Anyway, there's a joke-defense for you. I enjoyed it (the joke I mean)

Also, congrats on the kid. When does she get her own FamilyGuy-dissing column?

Damn, you're right! And what about when Fred Astaire danced with that vaccuum in the commercial? Or when the old guy in GLADIATOR died and they digitally brought him back? Or the mom in THE SOPRANOS? THE CROW? Not to mention the fact that FG is an animated show, so they can have any guest-star ever. Which leads me back to my old point, that FAMILY GUY is very lame.

Chris P. writes: What kind of a sorry excuse does 'Arrested Development' have for hiring Liza Minelli? Couldn't they afford Judy Garland? I may not be a fan of 'Family Guy', but I really don't think those people are capable of defending it themselves.

What an odd complaint at this time, seeing as how she hasn't been on the show in a year. What next, complaints that CHEERS never should have allowed Tip O'Neill to do a guest-spot?

I'll admit I'm not a Minelli fan in anything else she does (other than her work in ARTHUR), but I quite liked her on AD. Which is the sign of a good show, having the ability to write a likeable part for a person who's not always likeable (see also: Clay Aiken on SCRUBS). Although I get the joke, playing off my "Frank Sinatra Jr." dig at FAMILY GUY, it doesn't quite work. Try again, please.

Jason B. writes: This makes me sad.

Quote from the producers of the new "Aquaman" show:

"In the comic, Aquaman's the lost king of Atlantis, but in our version, he is Arthur Curry, this twentysomething who owns a dive shop."

Well, let's not be too hasty--look at how well CATWOMAN worked as a movie when they changed some character details around. Plus, with as many times as the character said "dude" in his SMALLVILLE appearance, a dive shop seems a natural.

In other words, oy.

And speaking of oy...

Photos of the Week

...I think I'd rather see Spidey back in the old FF uniform with the paper bag over his head than this new outfit:

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