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Actually, it’s sort of been Low Content Mode Week, since I’ve been under the weather a bit. But I wanted to note a couple of things today:
1. Mark Shainblum, editor of the Orion fanzine I featured two days ago, popped by the comments to say “hello!” and add a little info to my brief overview of the ‘zine. So, please, check that out.
2. Also in the comments, Troy Wilson points to the Panels for Primates strip Shainblum contributed.
3. “Batroc Ze Leapair” (possibly an assumed name) asks in yesterday’s comments if I’m going to be doing Question Time again, where I hit you folks up for questions, and then I spend about two or three months’ worth of posts answering them. …Not just yet, I’m afraid. It’s been a while since the last time I put out the open call for questions, I realize, but I don’t really have the time or energy for that sort of thing at the moment. But as soon as I do — and I’m stuck for site content! — I’ll let you all know.
Thanks for reading, gang, and hopefully I’ll be back to business as usual in short order.
This is a 16-page fanzine with a wraparound color cover (front cover image by George Erling), with a specific focus on underground comix. Featured is an interview with comix publisher/creator
Larry Todd, who is also represented with a handful of colorful portraits on the back cover:
Other items of note include a preview for the then-forthcoming
Mondo Snarfo from Kitchen Sink Press, a comix review column by
Bill Sherman, a column of short news bits (such as the forthcoming reprint of
Nard n’ Pat on improved paper stock!), and letters from such notable comix folk as Jay Kinney, Richard Bruning, and Denis Kitchen.
It’s a neat little item from the latter days of the undergrounds, and every time I come across a ‘zine like this, containing interviews and remarks from industry folks, I wonder just how much comics history and criticism still remains overlooked, or essentially lost.
“The Canadian Magazine of Time and Space” was a comics and sci-fi centric ‘zine by Mark Shainblum (who would later run
Matrix Comics and publish
one of my all-time favorite comic book series).
As you can see by the cover, there was a specific focus in this issue on Captain Canuck and his creator, Richard Comely. And, in what is probably one of the more unfortunate pieces of bad timing in comics history (but not nearly as bad as this, it should be noted) the publisher of the then-current Captain Canuck series went out of business as this ‘zine was going to press, necessitating the inclusion of this letter, folded and inserted between the pages:
I can imagine how much of a drag that was to find that out as this mag was going to press. And the resigned sigh that must have resulted after deciding “well, better print up an explanatory letter and throw it into each copy.”
There were a few more recent installments of Orion that you can read in PDF format here, and you can see more of Mr. Shainblum’s writing here. And what the heck, here’s the official Captain Canuck page.
So I was going through this collection when I spotted this paperback cover and I said to myself “that’s certainly a head drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith.”
This isn’t a paperback collection of comics, but rather one of a series of prose adventure novels with, as one might guess, a kung-fu theme. As I’ve not read any of these, I am unqualified to comment on the quality of the writing, but a random flip through the book reveals the lines
“Behind Kak he saw the albino and The Moor whirling to the death.”
and
“His fist flopped through the folds of K’ing’s pants.”
…so there you go.
For more details about this series, including scans of all the covers (plus the British editions), here is a message board discussion on the topic.
At one point in that discussion, someone suggests that the author of this series, Marshall Macao, is Ron Goulart writing under a pseudonym, but Goulart himself says this is not the case.
The back cover:
There’s really nothing quite like Windsor-Smith’s drawing of a face from that angle, is there? (Well, aside from Dave Sim drawing a face at that angle.)
Also, seeing the “Barry Smith” credit reminds me of this story (about a third of the way down the page) that I told you all, long ago.
Recently acquired in a collection, a somewhat rough copy of Vaughn Bodé’s Bodé’s Cartoon Concert:
Reprints, in black and white, strips from the adult magazine
Cavalier (but different
Cavalier strips from the ones reprinted in the
Purple Pictography one-shot from Fantagraphics/Eros Comix, as far as I can tell).
The back cover:
And yes, it’s very naughty. The stories are short, presented one panel per page, kind of like some of the
Mad Magazine paperbacks, only with more nipples. Kind of amusing to think this paperback was published under the same company name that once was emblazoned on every Disney and Warner Brothers cartoon comic book.
When this book was published, I was only four years old, and my interest in underground comix was still at least, oh, two or three years away from coming into full bloom. So, I don’t know how this was marketed, or displayed, or what. I presume this was an attempt by an established publisher to capitalize on the underground comix movement (much like Marvel’s Comix Book), but I have a hard time seeing this racked along with popular fiction in supermarket bookracks. I’m supposing it was targeted at bookstores near colleges, or maybe just shelved in whatever “adult interests” category your larger bookstores had.
Then again, this was the early seventies, and maybe people just weren’t so, you know, uptight, maaaaan. Basically, I’m picturing that the streets were filled with naked people, flowers in their hair, smoking dope, and freely sharing their underground comix with their whole families. …Please don’t tell me if I’m wrong.
SIR, I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW
THE CRACKPOT PARTY IS WELL-RESPECTED AND HAS GOOD IDEAS
from Sandman #6 (Dec/Jan 1975-1976) by Michael Fleisher, Jack Kirby & Wally Wood
(updated 8/2017)
My blogging comrade Johanna mentioned to me that yesterday’s post didn’t pop up in her Google blog reader, and I’ve had one or two other people note similar issues. And, as I think about it, I think I noticed at least one post not making it through to my own feed reader.
Looking at my RSS feeds, this link (the one found via the “syndicate” button in the upper right hand corner of the site) gives me a feed where the posts are timed and dated with the actual times I’ve finalized them, while this link (which happens to be the feed I use in my own reader) gives me my posts with the times I put on them (usually 12:01 AM). Other than that, is there any real difference between the two RSS feeds I’m not aware of?
Anyway, I’m sure that’s all very interesting. Perhaps it’s just a glitch in the system, but if you don’t see a new post from me in the feed reader when you expect there to be one, just come straight here to progressiveruin.com. There’ll probably be something goin’ on.
Well, except today, since I got in late Thursday night, and I’m too tired to do anything but do some linky-linky:
- Pals Dorian and Ken present their monthly trailer reviews, which is always one of my favorite things to read on the internettings.
- Quite possibly the best thing to come out of this whole Fear Itself crossover nonsense.
- A little late linking to this, but pal Andrew presents a Nobody’s Favorite entry with a character I remember seeing on covers and such way back when, but I don’t think I ever read an actual comic involving her (aside from a brief appearance in 52, I guess). I honestly had no idea what her deal was all these years ’til reading Andrew’s post.
- And I hope Johanna got a laugh out of the title to today’s post!
Hey gang! I’ve come to a bipartisan agreement, with myself, to raise the entertainment ceiling and bring you a bunch of swell items from the latest Diamond Previews…so dig out your copy (the August 2011 edition, to be precise) and let’s see what the future has in store for us:
p. 34 – Star Wars Episode I Adventures:
Wishing they were in a better movie, I’d imagine. Well, except maybe Jar Jar.
p. 275 – Stan Lee’s How to Write Comics:
1. Face front. 2. Alliterate. 3. Take all the credit. 4. Grow a sweet mustache.
p. 361 – Star Wars: The Complete Vader:
Only complete if it includes a soundchip with this:
Also, I will never, ever get tired of that sound clip.
p. 390 – Green Lantern Movie Master Wave 5 Action Figures:
I was going to say something along the lines of “why are they still hiding ‘spoiler’ images for the figures when the movie’s been out for a while” until I remembered that, all things considered, the movie’s contents still remain pretty much unknown.
p. 390 – All-City Breakers Mini-Figures:
This is what my set of army men figures needed…more of these guys, fewer of the dudes with the metal detectors.
p. 396 – Jeff Dunham 18-Inch Talking Dolls:
WELCOME TO HELL:
p. 404 – Friday the 13th Part IV Jason’s Mask Replica:
Suitable for wall-hanging, or ideally over the faces of appropriately-sized old family portraits. Liven up that 70-year-old painting of some great-aunt whose name you don’t even remember with the mask of a fictional serial killer!
p. 406 – Iron Man Space Armor Mini-Bust:
So long as we’re doing statues of Iron Man’s various armors, I’m putting in my request for the
nose mask version.
p. 406 – Iron Man Hydro Armor Mini-Bust:
No one has ever demanded this.
p. 430 – Think Greek Annoy-A-Tron 2.0:
Geek-themed noisemaker. Never, ever bring this with you on a trip that involves, at some point, having to get onto an airplane.
p. 432 – DC Heroes Can Coolers:
If you’re having to depend on Robin to help you hook up, well, I don’t know what to tell you, man.
p. 432 – DC Heroes Aprons:
For all the hoohar going on recently regarding Wonder Woman’s costume status re: pants/no pants, be aware that there could have been a horrible third option.
p. 432 – DC Comics EFX Wristband:
So the embedded hologram will let me fly or form green energy constructs, right? That’s how the whole “magical hologram” thing is supposed to work, if I understand correctly.
p. 435 – Zombie Plush Slippers:
Please enjoy that one time you wear these around the house before the significant other tells you to put those things away.
p. 437 – Pop! Movies Gizmo Vinyl Figure:
WARNING: DO NOT GET WET…unless it gets a little dusty, in which case wipe off with a damp washcloth and a bit of soap.
p. 442 – Watchmen Magnets:
I was beginning to miss my regular infusions of fantastic Watchmen merchandise. “These magnets feature the memorable characters of Zack Snyder’s visionary film
Watchmen, based on the best-selling graphic novel,” sez the solicitation. You don’t say.
I think Ozymandias is my favorite, here.
p. 448 – Star Fluxx Card Game:
Oh, there
is an “L.”
Marvel Previews p. 12-13 – John Carter: A Princess of Mars & John Carter of Mars: World of Mars #1:
I’m betting Dynamite Comics is thrilled about this.
Marvel Previews p. 19 – Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3 -:
Who, indeed? Man, imagine if it were, like, a non-white character! That would be pretty awesome. And I’m sure no one would say anything remarkably stupid or racist-sounding about it. Honestly, this
is the 21st century – what are the chances of
that happening?
Marvel Previews #52 – X-Men #1 20th Anniversary Edition:
In case that seven million copy print run of the original wasn’t enough, here comes another, oh, 15,000 or so.
Marvel Previews p. 55 – Wolverine & the X-Men #1:
You see, Marvel’s actually doing us a favor by starting up yet another X-Men series. They’re cancelling
Uncanny X-Men this month, but should the number of X-titles fall below a certain critical level, the natural balance of things would be lost, and the Earth itself could lose all orbital stability and spiral right into the sun. Thank you, Marvel, for saving us all from total destruction!
Marvel Previews p. 113 – Marvel posters:
Hey, you know what’s gonna keep us from ordering any posters for the store?
Go on…
guess.
…presumably with the optional middle finger, since that part of the hand is conveniently off-panel:
I will pay one American dollar for this scene to be in the next Green Lantern movie. Should another one get made within the next few decades, of course.
from Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #6 (September 1991) by Kieth Giffen, Gerard Jones, M.D. Bright & Romeo Tanghal
So I asked on the Twitter late last night for a couple of topics that I could write about today in brief, and this is what I was given:
From Celamowari:
…Did you like any of DC’s RetroActive books?
It seems that I’m liking them more in concept than I do in actual execution. And that might just be me. I’ve been told the 1970s-style Flash one-shot has some clever stuff in it. But it’s been a real…”you can’t go home again” kind of thing, I guess. I did pick up the 1970s-style Superman book, but I’ve only read about a third of it so far and haven’t gone back to it. I just might not be in the mood for it or something…it’s hard to say.
I am looking forward to the Justice League retro special illustrated by Kevin Maguire.
Nscottg supplied a few topics here:
“the Absence of Wally West”
Actually, as far as I’m concerned there’s an absence of the Flash, period, since I gave up on the Flash books a while back. I stuck through Flash: Rebirth, but the relaunched series with Barry Allen under the cowl just felt like a step backwards. And it didn’t help that the new series was just kinda bland.
As for the larger implications of the absence of former Kid Flash/former regular Flash Wally West…just one of those casualties, I suppose, of DC’s attempt to revitalize a moribund property critically damaged by too many restarts and retoolings in too short a time. Bringing back Barry seemed like a last resort, since Wally’s sales didn’t seem like they’d be going back up any time soon, and since Flash sales are up (or rather, were up, since they’re relaunched the series again as part of DC’s September Flood and who knows how it’ll do after that) I’m guessing Wally’s either out of the picture or reduced to a supporting role for the time being.
“something random about G’nort”
I liked Bad-Ass G’nort in that Howard Chaykin Guy Gardner mini. But I don’t think we’ll ever see G’nort as a regular player in the Green Lantern books. Unless he’s a Blue Lantern now…the “hope” thing would really fit him.
what Marvel Characters would make awesome Black Lanterns
Uncle Ben, natch. Imagine the head games a Black Lantern Uncle Ben would pull on Spider-Man.
Also, Black Lantern H.E.R.B.I.E. Yeah, I know he’s a robot. Still want to see it.
Comic miniseries that refuse to die (see: Secret Six, Suicide Squad, Agents of Atlas, etc, etc)
I know it’s a way to artificially bump sales with a new #1 every year, but it gets to be kind of a drag to follow, you know? If they’re going to do a series, just do a series, instead of giving readers nice jumping-off points after six months and hoping they’ll come back with the next series.
On the other hand, it is nice that the mini-series format gives certain sales-challenged but critically-acclaimed properties like Agents of Atlas multiple chances to find a more extensive audience. Not that it did, but at least they tried.
And then there’s the mini-series that should probably be given a rest. The first Marvel Zombies mini? Like printing money. The recent Marvel Zombies Supreme mini? Like printing Shadowhawk. Time to let that property sit on a shelf for a while, guys.
Marvel’s ratio of female creators?
Well, I didn’t check every book Marvel is currently publishing, but it looks like there’s at least two comics coming out this week with female writers (X-23 by Marjorie Liu, Mystic by G. Willow Wilson). So there’s two!
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