Drink and Draw September
Our next D&D event is Thursday, September 12th. Same Bat-time (8:00pm) and Same Bat-place (Good Sons on Beaver.) The people at Good Sons have been great to us and last month one of the regular waitresses who is usually there on our night happened to have the night off, but was still there. She remarked how nice we are and how nice it is when we show up.
Remember, you don’t have to be an artist to come, but that is the general design. Get a drink, grab a seat and sketch, doodle or draw. We allow non-artists too and we range in discussions from the greatness of Longshot’s hair to recent political events. Only one requirement, that you have a good time.
Beaverdale Fall Festival
A note about this coming weekend. It is Beaverdale Fall Fest on Friday night and all day Saturday. This means two things, extra hours (open late on Friday till 9:30 or 10:00 and open early at 8:30 and late till business dies down on Saturday), but also crazy land for parking. If you don’t want to deal with any of that, I suggest you come some other time in the week or if dealing with that sounds awesome, while you are in you should stop by the festival. Here is a link for more info.
Note on picking up books
I understand that September is a rough and busy time and many of you find it difficult to get in and pick up your books during this month. If you have not been in, in a couple weeks and know this, I advise shooting me an e-mail and letting me know you are still alive.
I am also willing to make arrangements to get you your books. If you want them, we can figure out ways – be they mailing or hand delivery – to get you your comics… and get us paid. Both of us got to feed the monkey, right?
Warning – 3D Covers can become truly 3D if left in your hot car
So, those DC villain month covers are not resistant to high temperatures. Word was sneaking out Wednesday and Thursday about what happens if you leave them in cars and such. My friends over at the Outhousers.com took the challenge and destroyed one for your amusement. I highly recommend you check the article out. It is hilarious.
Seriously, how frigg’n stupid is DC?
If you have not yet heard, co-writer W. Haden Blackman and artist/co-writer JH Williams are leaving Batwoman. It was announced late Wednesday night and it is due to… editorial meddling and creative differences. Yes, what nearly every one of the throngs of creators who have left the company in the last two years has said, “can’t deal with the late changes.” In this specific case it was described as 11th hour changes, but, with this case it is even worse.
As much as it is being downplayed, the departure comes as the creators were told No Marriage for the lead characters in the book. These characters just so happen to be gay. Last year Kate Kane, Batwoman, asked her partner to marry her. This also won the creators (and the company) awards from gay advocacy groups as well. The proposal was an event that the creators had plotted out for years and, quite obviously, was moving towards an ultimate event of, yes, marriage.
Now, it is important to point out that fences are trying to be somewhat mended in the sense that everyone is going out of their way to say it is NOT because of GAY marriage that the problems exist and the creators left. One thought floated is that it is marriage – NOT gay marriage – that is the over ridding problem with DC, and not just Kate Kane but for any character. But if a story is plotted out, with a quite obvious end result, don’t you think you should have these discussions with the creators just a tad sooner than AFTER you do the deed of proposing?
DC has, over its more recent history (read as last decade or two), shown to be somewhat progressive company – editorially and creatively – when it comes to homosexual issues and characters. How do you judge such things? Well, you look at who the advocacy groups are honoring. DC has multiple times been honored and advanced homosexual characters storylines and actions while pushing boundaries not seen in comics before.
The question is why not now; why not move to the inevitable next step? Is it because you were beaten by Marvel when Northstar was married to his partner Kyle last year and therefore without the ability to slap “First comic with a gay marriage” in it banner on top of it, well, they just didn’t want to do it anymore? I think it needs to be noted that this comes only a few months after an admitted homophobe and bigot was hired to write one of comic’s most beloved characters and then after much public outcry against the hiring he was quietly moved away from the book. These are two black eyes for a once proudly progressive company. …but this is NOT the issue, so we are told.
What the issue boils down to is that DC is an unacceptable place to work right now. If you can win an Eisner with your work at the – and for the – company, it matters not, you will be treated – editorially – like dirt no matter who you are and due to the fact that either A. the editors (and Editor in Chief) at the company are incompetent and no longer able to do their jobs or B. the hierarchy of the company is incompetent and therefore a systemic and cascading downward spiral of problems exists because of upper managements in ability to understand how to do their jobs. (The correct answer is both, by the way!)
I think one of the obvious problems at DC is lack of lead time, but if you plot your book out for years in advance and STILL you are plagued with last minute editorial changes, there is bigger problems at work here. I know several artists in the industry and I know how the game works. When you look at the regular complaints of editorial medaling, forced rewrites and even redrawing of work it points to the fact that the many hands do not know what the other hands are doing or want to do. There is NO plan and the company is being run by the proverbial seat of their pants.
If you look at the chaotic nature of the stories, changes to the stories and overall storytelling since the New 52 was started, it is pretty plain as day this is the case. Now, with so many name worthy creators leaving the company for greener – and less chaotic – pastures, this is only made worse.
It was also announced that there is a talent search on for artists to work on Harley Quinn. This was released the day the departures from Batwoman made the news. I can’t see why a major company would need to do a talent search, but it might point at a problem in finding talent, don’t you think? Has it become so prevalent “you do not want to work for DC” in the industry that the company is actually having a tough time finding artists? I can’t believe that, but it is possible.
So, what does this mean for retailers and more importantly consumers of DC? Well, with even more talk of “I’m boycotting DC” or “I’m done with them forever until regime change happens,” well, it makes me nervous. I, for one, have stated as a comic reader, I don’t read DC. I’m done, I’ve been done for some time and I can’t see how anyone reads their books. I, however, feel everyone needs to make up their own mind.
If your favorite character is Flash or Batman or even Superman, then read them. I was NOT a fan of the Jemas/Quesada era at Marvel, but I have always loved Captain America, The Avengers, Hulk and the Fantastic Four. During that era I started reading Daredevil and can now say he is one of my all time favorite characters. I picked and choose what I felt was worth reading and what was not. You should do the same.
Make your money speak, but do so with respect to your retailer. It is NOT our fault that the powers that be at DC are idiots that couldn’t edit their way out of a wet paper bag. Drop the books with enough time for the retailers to adjust them on their orders (usually one month is fair-enough warning.) Then consider new, independent titles. ASK!!! One of a retailer or employee of a shop’s jobs it to understand the product they are selling. If you ask the question, “what is good” or “what do think I should give a try since I’m not going to be reading [insert book where fan favorite award winning creators just left]” they had better be able to help. If they can’t, find a new shop.
I pride myself on being able to lead anyone to a good book they will enjoy. Yes, I am regularly called a crack dealer. That, to me, is a compliment. Yes, in many ways, I do deal in paper drugs. Comics can – OH, I have very much seen it – become highly addictive. Hopefully, I can at the very least help move people to what they will enjoy… even if it is books that I personally do not or would not read or enjoy.
For further reading on this subject I point you to my favorite comic news and satire site The Outhousers.com. I know many people who have in the past become very discouraged by other comic sites forums and comments. I can tell you that The Outhousers have the best interaction on these and I can speak from experience saying they are relatively polite and fair too. A good group of people.
For further reading on this topic though here are a couple specific links. For more on the actually event of the creators leaving check this out and for the terrible reaction from DC executive Dan Didio you MUST check out this link. I think it probably says a lot about what happens behind the scenes in how he responds to criticism.
So, in closing… what is to be done? I have called for the firing of Editor in Chief Bob Harras on numerous occasions, now it is time for a complete overhaul of the DC chain of command. You need to make your voices heard. You need to take to public comic book forums, post your voice on the comments section of news and direct specific notes to DC directly via the many ways you can contact them. Call for a serious review of those that are in control of editorial at DC to either be fired or at the very least shook up. I assure you, they do listen. Corporations listen when it comes to money and, when it is load enough, they listen to public outcry. Remember Orson Scott Card and how long it took for him to be removed from Adventures of Superman number one, right about two weeks. It is way past time for change at DC, tell them so.
As your Emperor, it is time to stop spoiling what is going to happen in comics!!
I imagine myself in a throne, not unlike King Conan, bored and wanting to lob someone’s head off. This week I wanted to cleave through the whole lot of DC and Marvel after they pretty much ruined storylines before they even hit stands.
I’m going to give DC more of a pass on this since surprisingly few knew about what happens in Forever Evil, though how I knew and many readers didn’t I do not know, but still the reveals in the book where several weeks old. It is Marvel that really needs to be taken to task though.
Marvel revealed the big outcome of Infinity (though some knew this several months ago) in teasers for their next big book launch, Inhumanity. I won’t tell you what it is and you can find it here, but the irritating part is that the event that causes the next big thing at Marvel HASN’T EVEN HAPPENED IN INFINITY YET!!
Issue two leads up to the big blast in three and fallout happens in subsequent issues of Infinity, Avengers and New Avengers. I’m sure next week they put out their previews of October solicited books, but there has to be a better way to communicate than this.
Much of the blame is the comic’s media and a competitive fight for information. I understand that this exists, but has it totally been lost on the companies and the media that the “reveal” in comics is part of the draw of this medium. The serial is supposed to have a nice cliffhanger to bring you back for the next installment, so, why in hell do you keep giving away the reveal sometimes months before the start of the story has even been released?
If I was not a retailer, I would not read comic news sites (well, maybe the outhousers, because they are so damned funny.) I don’t think I would look in Previews. I like being surprised by events in comics – when I’m actually reading them, not trying to sell them.
But as a retailer, NOTHING pisses me off more than being surprised by an event, a cliffhanger or change in story. Now, to me, this is an easy fix, right? You tell the retailer about the upcoming events and we keep our damn mouths shut.
Two weeks ago, the Joker’s Daughter (I don’t know and please don’t ask me how this is even possible – seriously, I do not even in the slightest care) was revealed on the final page of Catwoman #23. Had I known, I would have had more copies on the shelf than I did. AH, but here is the real problem.
If there is a true secret, many retailers can’t be trusted to keep their mouths shut and hence all retailers are treated like children when it comes to a secret; we aren’t told.
I don’t know how to fix this problem, but it is driving people away from superhero comics (maybe that is a bonus, not a problem.) No one wants to have a story, movie or comic’s ending spoiled, but on the other hand retailers do need to know about events and stories before they ship so we can have extra on the shelf for demand.
If this isn’t a double edged sword, I don’t know what is.
Like I said, I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe some form of nondisclosure agreement or having someone take Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool’s computer away from him; I don’t know. But if this doesn’t stop Marvel, seriously, I feel like I need to cleave some heads. Or, maybe I just need to start with my own and be done with this silly industry once and for all.
Kyle’s Retro Review #4 JLA Earth One
By now I’m sure every one of you has seen the conclusion to DC’s Trinity War event which introduced the stars of their next gimmick/event (which started one week later) Forever Evil, the Crime Syndicate of America (Amerika). The Crime Syndicate has been fan favorites for decades; ever since their creation by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky in Justice League of America volume 1 #29 in 1964.
Since the famous “Flash of Two Worlds” issue (Flash #123) that saw Barry Allen crossover with the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick of Earth Two, fans have clamored for more of these Multiple Earth storylines. Such a hit was this issue that DC would begin what would be an annual summer event that would continue for over 2 decades. Each year a couple issue long story would chronicle both the Justice League and their Golden Age Justice Society counterparts teaming up and working together to stop a common threat. The first such summer shin-dig ran through Justice League of America #21 and #22 in August and September of 1963, with the issues being appropriately titled “Crisis on Earth-One,” and “Crisis on Earth-Two.”
How would you follow up this well received fan favorite story? How about with a story featuring issues titled “Crisis on Earth-Three,” and “The Most Dangerous Earth of All?” It ran through JLA #29 and 30 the following year and in this two issue thriller we first meet 
the Crime Syndicate of America from Earth 3.
The five super villains, Ultra Man, Owl Man, Superwoman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick, all had super powers and abilities similar (with some twists) to those of their Earth One Justice League Counterparts. On this earth, History was reversed. Columbus discovered Europe instead of the Americas (and probably committed Genocide there too, but I digress.) Britain won its independence from America, and actor Abe Lincoln assassinated President John Wilkes Booth. Everything was upside down, flipped or a mirror image of Earth One. On a world were good was evil, The Crime Syndicate appropriately stood against everything the Justice League stood for.
The Crime Syndicate was naturally a fan favorite, and would go on to appear in a few more of the Crisis on Multiple Earth issues over the years, as well as have some appearances in All-Star Squadron.
Flash forward 21 years to the greatest comic event of all time, Crisis on Infinite Earths issue #1, where we see the Crime Syndicate once again, but this would be for the last time, as they fight for their lives and for their world against the Anti-Monitor’s nothingness. It would take 15 years before Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely would weave a gem in JLA Earth 2, the subject of this week’s review.
JLA Earth 2 is a bit of an anomaly. Few books stand out in my memory having so much initial opposition when originally announced, but have such universal appeal after landing on shelves. Revisiting it again this past week for the umpteenth time, it still holds up in every way, from Morrison’s incredible attention to detail and love for these characters, to some of the best art the incredibly talented Frank Quitely has ever done. Morrison adds whole new layers of depth to the five members of the Crime Syndicate such as showing how truly evil and sinister Ultra Man is in his moments of rage or the not so secret love affair between the unfaithful Super Woman and conniving Owl Man or the drug addiction of the super speedy Johnny Quick or the demented Power Ring. All reign through terror over the twisted alternate world of Earth Two.
The story starts with Alexander (Lex) Luthor – leader of the resistance against the Crime Syndicate – breaking through the barrier between the two earths in his attempts to contact the Justice League and enlist their aid in his campaign to stop their evil doppelgangers. While Luthor, along with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash travel through the barrier to bring justice to a world ruled by evil, the Crime Syndicate switch places and invade Earth One. We then get to see both teams move like a hurricane through the mirror worlds; the Justice League trying to spread truth and justice in a world of corruption, and the Crime Syndicate wreaking havoc and destruction in a world of (relative) order.
The attention to detail in each panel and page that Quitely and Morrison pack in, is just astounding. From the nods to the original incarnation of the CSA to making everything on Earth Two the polar opposite of Earth One. This is some of their finest work.
If you haven’t ever read this graphic novel and the Crime Syndicate interests you at all, you really need to check it out and while you’re at it, I’d recommend giving the follow up series that featured a team-up between the JLA and CSA in the pages of JLA #107-114 from 2004. Written by Kurt Busiek and accompanied with gorgeous artwork by Ron Garney it is a fine return of the evil doers of Earth 2.
You can pick up the 5th Printing of JLA Earth Two trade paperback for a very affordable $14.99, with a new hardcover coming soon. The Busiek story is collected in JLA Vol. 15 entitled Syndicate Rules and you can pick up the original appearance of the CSA in volume 1 of the must read Crisis on Multiple Earths TPB series for those original appearances of the Crime Syndicate from the 60’s Justice League series.