Mikester

I was listening to a handful of my George Carlin recordings on Monday as I was working around the house, and I noticed something in one of the CDs that I had forgotten about. The CD booklet and tray card for his 1999 release You Are All Diseased feature video stills of Carlin, with various quotes from folks like G.K. Chesterson and Nietzsche superimposed over them. And one quote, the one on the tray card, the one that you see through the clear plastic of the case when you pull up the CD, is this one:

In other news:

• Marvel is putting out a royal ass-load of comics this week, including every major Avengers title they publish, both Uncanny X-Men and X-Men, both their First Class titles, a good number of their mainline superhero titles (Daredevil, Captain America, Fantastic Four)…about thirty something in total.

  Our Man in Canada, Chris Butcher, wonders if Marvel is trying to push everyone else off the stands, particularly DC (whose second installment of their major event title Final Crisis is due for release this week). This concern regarding Marvel’s market-flooding has popped up in the past, once or twice. I have here Comics Journal #86 (Nov ’83), with the article “The Comics Glut of 1983.” Where it says “Comics” in that title, read “Marvel” because they’re almost exclusively speaking about what Marvel had been doing to the direct market. There are complaints from other publishers regarding what they see as Marvel’s attempts to control the retailer and distributor dollar, particularly with the several high-end, Baxter paper reprints they were producing at the time. The article features a quote from then-Captial Comics editor Rich Bruning, who says:

  “Marvel, in particular, has decided if they dump enough material every week, the average comic buyer would spend all their money on them, and forego the ‘competition.'”

  Like Dirk says, the current round of Marvel’s overloading of their shipping weeks may simply be poor planning…how often have I complained about Marvel putting every Avengers title out in the same week, or every Wolverine title? But the large number of variant cover reprints they are pumping out, whether or not they’re necessary…that only furthers the impression that Marvel is simply pushing books out the door to take away rack space from everyone else. For example…was there really a need for a third printing of Secret Invasion? I didn’t think a second printing was really required.

  ‘Course, Marvel can run its business any way it likes. It’s in business to make money, and if one of their strategies is to crank out so many books that they dominate retail resources to the detriment of other companies…hey, that’s competition for you. But in an industry as relatively tiny and fragile as the periodical comics business, where your primary method of getting your product into the hands of consumers are little independently-owned niche shops with limited cash flow…well, hopefully there will be some rethinking of the “get every book we publish out this week” strategy. If it’s even a strategy.

  So, just sayin’ that the perception that Marvel is purposefully flooding the market with mostly unnecessary product to crowd out other books is nothing new, whether they’re doing it purposefully or not. If you think that’s what they’re doing, best way to stop that is to, as they say, vote with your dollars. We passed up a couple of Marvel’s recent reprints because they were so entirely unneeded we had a hard time justifying buying even a handful for the shelf. (I can use that money to order more reprints of, say, Fell, which is a constant seller.) And as time, and “second printing variants,” go on, we find that even the folks that seek out the variant covers are beginning to pass on the reprints.

  In conclusion: sometimes it sucks to be a retailer. But you probably knew that.

• Related: in the previous issue of the Comics Journal, #85, Gary Groth discusses Marvel’s exploitation of the marketplace and how it was even making the distributors testy. He notes that one distributor, in his order advisory column, starts off his paragraph about Marvel’s Generic Comic #1 with the sentence “We are really tired of Marvel pulling this crap on us.” Hard to imagine Diamond Comics doing something like that now.
• I saw this New York Times article about the San Diego Con via Johanna, and it sorta confirms what I half-suspected about San Diego’s attitude towards the convention…that it’s more endured than appreciated. I’m sure not everyone feels that way, but given the mayor’s comment (for which he apologized later), I suspect the feeling is more widespread than people would like to admit.
• Okay, just so I’m not Mr. Depressing-Pants, here are some fun HeroesCon 2008 reports from the mighty and powerful crimefighting team of Chris “The Hammer” Sims and Dr. “The Anvil” K. They did…things…there. Horrible things. Unspeakable. So enjoy!

But this is the RARE! VARIANT! L@@K! HOT! black and white edition of Darker Image, my friends, stripping the interior stories of color and sporting a snazzy embossed foil logo (which comes out a bit dark in the scan). I don’t remember what hoops we had to jump through to be gifted with one of these, but, well, we apparently did.

And apparently we’ve been stuck with it ever since, which doesn’t wholly surprise me. Darker Image tanked when it came out, and given this was the early ’90s, love ‘n’ comics speculation were in the air, and the investors, smelling “turkey” all over this book, avoided buying even the RARE! HOT! limited edition variant. Then the market crash came, and any hope of selling Darker Image went away.

As the years passed, however, a market did sort of appear for this particular title, as one of the stories featured within was The Maxx. For whatever reason…strength of the title itself, or pushed along by the short-lived MTV animated series…The Maxx still has an audience to this very day. The trades sell, the back issues still sell…and if you point out that Darker Image has the Maxx in it (or just drop a copy or two into The Maxx bin), they’ll move.

Certainly no one is picking it up for Jim Lee’s Deathblow story, and I doubt there are any Lobo…er, Bloodwulf completists out there seeking out this hard-to-find appearance:

So, anyway…Darker Image #1. The cover’s paper stock is much nicer on the variant versus the regular edition, and this version didn’t come polybagged with a Bloodwulf trading card, thankfully.

Something else I found digging around the store:

I never get asked for wrestling comics, by the way…but I enjoy the sheer goofiness of these Valiant ones.

So long, George.

Here’s George talking about his famous Seven Words list. Not Safe for Wo…ah, screw it, even if you’re at work, PLAY IT LOUD:

Yes, a complete set. Of Impact Comics. …What can I tell you?

…and found the world’s most terrifying goalie mask:

Also discovered this item: “New Era Flash Supreme HUF Iron Man Hulk DC Comic 7 1/2.” This has the kind of thing I just love seeing in eBay auctions…”Iron Man” and “Hulk” have jack-all to do with this, but are in the title anyway just to grab the searches. (Given that there are nearly 6,000 eBay hits on “iron man,” and 7,500 for “hulk,” I don’t know how much of an advantage this really brings.) BONUS: Also identifies the Flash superhero logo as being from “Flash Gordon,” but that’s a fairly common mistake by the uninitiated. (Much like Hawkman is always “Birdman,” and Green Lantern is always “Green Hornet.”)

Oh, and dude:

HULK UNDERWEAR.

A couple of items following up on yesterday’s Incredible Hulk review:

First, I can’t believe I forgot to mention this, since it kept grabbing my attention throughout the entire film. Both Banner and Ross had these semi-circular scars on their cheeks on the left side of their faces. Every time they had a close-up on screen, my eyes would go right to those scars. I kept thinking “that can’t be a coincidence…is this a plot point? Is there some hidden meaning? Is it a reminder that Banner and Ross are two sides of the same coin, two halves of the same circle, that Banner hides his rage on the inside, Ross keeps his on the outside?” Yeah, I know that sounds like crazy talk. But I kept looking…at…those…darned…scars…AARGH.

Second, I knew I wasn’t the only person to draw the connection between the scene where Hulk rages at the storm with that Kochalka story…James Kochalka himself is collecting comparisons between the two.

Third, a surprising number of you agreed with me that the previous film by Ang Lee wasn’t as bad as all that…and some thought it was, which, you know, is okay too.

But even more surprising was the number of people who misread “MIKE’S SEXIST MOMENT” as “MIKE’S SEXIEST,” which of course means the demand is there! Coming soon: Mike Sterling’s Progressively Sexy Ruin — because you demanded it! That video of myself reenacting Uhura’s fan dance from Star Trek V will be the new YouTube sensation!

In other news (assuming you’re still reading, that is):

• Trinity continues to sell like a thing that sells very well, necessitating yet another round of reorders.

  And one of Marvel’s best superhero books, Incredible Hercules, has another installment out this week…and it surprises me to no end that I’m saying this about, of all things, Incredible Hercules. Caleb really nails it about why this comic is so much fun, so I send you in his direction. I will note that after a somewhat lackluster beginning, sales on Incredible Hercules are growing stronger, leading even to sell-outs on more recent issues (partially attributable to its tangential Secret Invasion tie-in, but sales were improving even prior to this).

  And one of pal Ian‘s first comics from Boom! Studios featuring his editing credit is out this week: Blood Bowl #1! (And Warhammer: Condemned by Fire #2, as well.)

  Hey, Ian, a suggestion: Snotling comics. Think about it, won’t you?

• This week was also the arrival of the first batch of Hellboy graphic novels as part of Dark Horse Comics “Hellboy Day” promotional push tying into the imminent Hellboy 2 movie. (“Hellboy Day” being July 2nd, a week before the film’s opening, by the way.) It’s a special deal where retailers can order a certain number of Hellboy books and receive free promo materials such as posters and bookmarks and a new edition of the Free Comic Book Day Hellboy comic to give away. Drop by your store on July 2nd, get some free Hellboy stuff. Not the trade paperbacks, natch, but feel free to buy some of those, too.

  Of course, the real reason for this promotion was to make sure retailers will actually have copies of Dark Horse trade paperbacks that tie into a film at the same time said film is actually in theatres, unlike pretty much every other Dark Horse film event ever. This may be a case of too little, too late…I haven’t had any extra demand for Hellboy yet, aside from the usual demand for the newest Hellboy trade from the regular clientele. But Hellboy is a consistent seller, so even if movie-inspired demand never materializes, it doesn’t hurt to have a solid stock of these trades.

• Why I love my internet pal Dave: Thrown Down A Well Comics.
• Because some of you are Mystery Science Theatre 3000 fans, I wish to remind you that MST3K creator Joel Hodgson’s new project, Cinematic Titanic, has a new release out in DVD and downloadable formats. I spoke about the first release a few months back, and it’s a fine collection of “riffing” in the MST tradition. Also, after what I’m assuming was a boatload of complaints, the physical DVD format will be delivered in real DVD packaging this time.
• And now, more completely unprofessional behavior at our store…Employee Aaron modeling his Speed Racer helmet:
  
  That helmet makes sounds, by the way. It’s like having Pops and the gang inside your brain all the time. “Get out of my head, Chim-Chim, get out!!!”

  And no, the employees don’t get paid extra for this. Getting to appear on the site is a perk, my friends.

I’m one of the apparently five people on Earth who liked Ang Lee’s Hulk film from a few years ago…I liked the “comic book panel” presentation, I liked the slow, moody build-up, and the focus on the psychological aspects of the Hulk’s transformation, I especially liked Hulk versus the Army in the desert…watching that fight was like watching a Herb Trimpe-drawn Hulk comic come to life. The climactic battle was, admittedly, a bit on the jumbled side, but I watched that Hulk film on TV a few months ago…and it holds together a lot better than people seem to remember. Not saying it’s perfect, but I don’t think it’s a bad film, by any means.

And I thought this new Hulk film was pretty good, too. It’s hard to say it’s a better film, as it’s certainly a different film, more in common with the Bill Bixby TV show than with its cinematic predecessor. If pressed, I’d say this new film feels more Hulk-ish, more like what we’d expect from a Hulk film. It meets expectations rather than surpassing them, whereas the previous Hulk film’s grasp may have just slightly exceeded its reach, trying to present a Hulk story in a way a potential audience for a Hulk film wasn’t willing to accept. A failed experiment, if you will…much like the film origins of the Hulk himself.

God, that was pretentious. Sorry about that.

Anyway, I’m sure you’re all going to give me a ration of crap for defending the Ang Lee film, so let’s get right down to business and start my SPOILER-iffic obvervations of this new film. The SPOILERS start with the pic of the Hulk leaping down at you, and end when you see the Hulk right up in your face.

• I liked the extreme shorthand retelling of the Hulk’s origin at the beginning of the film. It’s mildly different from the origin presented in the previous film…but aside from that, this film can function as a direct sequel to the previous movie, I think, kinda sorta, if that sort of thing worries you. The last film ended in South America, where this film begins, which helps ease the transition. Aside from the origin’s details, there aren’t any HUGE contradictions between the two films.
• And if you were put off by the looooong set-up in the Ang Lee flick, you’ll be glad to know this new film jumps right into the action and only lets up enough to set up the next bit of action and get all the characters in place. A very fast-paced film…it’s just shy of two hours, but doesn’t feel it. And the acting is fine…Norton is tormented as Banner, Liv Tyler is the faithful girlfriend, William Hurt is sufficiently gruff as General Ross, Tim Roth chews the scenery only slightly as Blonsky…no one’s winning an Oscar, but the melodrama is serviced well.
• Your gratuitous Stan Lee cameo: Stan accidentally imbibing some of Banner’s blood (long story…you saw the movie, you know how). I was hoping for a brief scene of Stan Hulking out, even slightly, but alas, it was not to be. (Stan doesn’t manage it here, either.)
• They really try to evoke memories of the ’70s Hulk TV show, via cameos from Lou Ferrigno and the late Bill Bixby (via a TV broadcasting another show of his, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father), the use of the signature “movin’ along to another town” theme music, having Lou himself provide the voice of the Hulk, some paraphrasing of the show’s most famous line (“You wouldn’t like me…” etc.), and so on.

  Speaking of which, when I heard Ferrigno was providing the voice, I…well, I’m not sure what I was expecting. I wasn’t expecting the Hulk to be giving soliloquies or anything, but I pictured more dialogue than I got. But, really, what the film gave us was enough…less is more, in this case. In fact, his bits of dialogue really sum up what the Hulk character is about: “LEAVE ME ALONE,” “HULK SMASH,” and “BETTY.” There you go…that’s the Hulk. Well, the Hulk most people know, anyway.

• Another TV show reference pops up, paired with a reference to the comics: two witnesses to a Hulk battle are named Jack McGee (the reporter from the TV show…the character in this movie is also a reporter) and Jim Wilson (one of the Hulk’s sidekicks from the comic).
• I did enjoy how they sort of gloss over just how, exactly, a poor, shoeless, begging Banner in Guatemala somehow, within a period of just over two weeks, managed to make it to Virginia, and pick up a pair of shoes along the way. I think we can assume that Banner 1) has had some practice at this sort of thing, and 2) is a SUPER-GENIUS and is able to do things like this with a little bit of effort and brainpower.
• MIKE’S SEXIST MOMENT (Johanna, avert your eyes!): I spent the first part of the film thinking, “huh, Liv Tyler looks weird” — until the hotel room scene where she’s in the flannel shirt with the wet hair. At that point, I thought “Oh, I get it now,” and rescinded my previous “looks weird” observation.

  …What?

• A couple of things borrowed from the comics, one obvious, one sorta extrapolated:

  1. The whole “Mr. Green/Mr. Blue” thing from the Bruce Jones run on the title…worked nicely in the film, with a solid payoff introducing a future Hulk villain (more on that later).

  2. That bit at the very end, where it implies, I think, that Bruce is learning to exert some control over his alter ego: it reminded me a bit of the end of Peter David’s initial run on the comic, where we see a very in-control Bruce Banner flashing his gamma-green eyes over his sunglasses, and the threat that implies.

  I don’t expect to see “The Adventures of Smart Hulk” in the next film or anything, but, if there is a next film, some more movement in that direction would be interesting to see.

• FREEZE FRAME FUN: I’m certain there are in-jokes in that bit of business in the film where we see e-mails and such whiz by us on the screen like a cheap screensaver. When I rent the DVD, I’m totally going through that frame by frame.
• I’ve mentioned in the past where one of my favorite parts of the Ang Lee film was the Hulk making his huge leaps through the desert landscape, finding his own moment of peace. It was a quiet and affecting moment.

  There’s a moment sort of like this in the new film, where Betty and the Hulk just sit, side by side, looking at the thunderstorm from a small cave in a cliffside.

  Earlier in that scene, however, I’m sure we were all reminded of Mr. Kochalka’s Hulk story.

• Like Iron Man, the climactic battle features our hero in a life-or-death struggle against an evil and more powerful version of himself. I know this is nothing new in adventure stories…particularly Hollywood-made adventure stories, where everything ends with either “How can I defeat…myself?” or something big owned by the bad guy blowing up. Hopefully there’ll be a little more variety in future Marvel films. It’s not a big hope, but still.

  Not saying I didn’t like the battle, mind you. It was supremely satisfying to see the Hulk just open up and beat the crap out of a monster. I know it was one computer-generated cartoon beating up another computer-generated cartoon, but it was still effectively violent, the characters just real enough to sell the action.

  And it was a nice change to see an ending where the hero is encouraged not to kill the bad guy.

• Setting up for follow-ups: though it seems unlikely Ed Norton will pop up in sequels (unless he’s contractually obligated…I have no idea), we get a brief glimpse of Samuel Stearnes beginning his metamorphosis into longtime Hulk baddie the Leader (and how he clearly Just Doesn’t Get It when it comes to the Hulk’s potential for destruction vs. salvation), and we get a name-dropping (and usage!) of the Super-Soldier serum, which is, of course, what powered Captain America.

  And of course there’s the cameo at the end, which I thought everyone knew about by now but still was an apparently welcome surprise for folks at our viewing. Just down the aisle from us were a couple young kids who were terribly excited that Iron Man just showed up in their Hulk movie. There’s your potential audience for that Avengers film, should it happen.

So, what did you all think? And if you posted reviews on your own site, please drop them in the comments section.

LATER….

from Condorman #1 (November 1981) – art by Frank Bolle

* Alternate post title: “How to drive all my readers away with yet another mention of Condorman.”