Mikester

That Comic Reader cover I posted yesterday wasn’t what I was planning on posting. I had scanned a page out of an old British Marvel hardcover annual a couple weeks back, and now I can’t find the scan. And I can’t rescan the page, because I’ve since sold the book on the eBay, and it’s currently winging its way to the wild jungles of Canada. Well, rats.

Here’s a conversation I have entirely too often at the shop:

Customer: “Hey, I have a Spawn #1. What do you sell it for?” (i.e. tell me how much my copy is worth so I don’t have to buy a price guide to find out)

Me: “Well, I have a copy here in near mint for $15.00.”

Customer: “That’s it? When did the price drop?”

Me: “Well, I think we had copies at $18.00 for a brief period of time a while back, but for the most part it’s been around $15.00.”*

The customer will then proceed to tell me that he either thought it was worth a lot more or that he paid much more for a copy. It seems to be a common perception that Spawn #1 has to be a valuable comic, since it’s a #1 (and we all know #1s always go up in value, he said sarcastically), it’s an early Image comic, it’s a comic with some visibility in the general public (thanks to the movie, cartoons, toys, etc.), and it’s by Todd McFarlane (a distant second to Stan Lee in the realm of “comic creators non-comic fans may actually have heard of”).

And though Spawn new issue sales are only a fraction of what they were (at least at our shop), back issue sales are still fairly brisk. Spawn #1 itself is not rare by any means, but it still has enough demand to keep its price range at that level. In fact, around here the only “rare” issues are the ones in the 40 to 70 range.

We’ve sort of been through the “I can’t believe it’s that cheap” thing before, with Superman #75 (the black-bagged “Death of Superman” issue). I can sort of see why people would be surprised at the pricing of this item (coincidentally, also between $15 and $18…at least until a recent slight jump in price), given that at the time of its release there was a lot of “panic” pricing. The most extreme price I heard was $200(!), and I’m sure there were even more outrageous examples than that. I’ve shocked plenty of people when I told them that we never sold it for more than $18 at our shop…and that wasn’t until years after its release.

Did someone say Wildcat? Yes indeedy, someone‘s favorite superhero turned up on Justice League Unlimited last night for a surprisingly brutal half-hour. Then again, the episode was focused around an underground fighting arena, so the violence should be expected, but it was still tough going. TV Tome, as usual, has a fairly comprehensive overview of the episode.

* I know some people have way overpaid for graded ‘n’ slabbed copies of #1, but that’s more the exception than the rule, I think.

Ever make a post on your weblog just so that your next graphics-intensive post will push the previous graphics-intensive post off the main page, since you’ve already used about 1/5 of your free bandwidth allotment for the month and it’s only the 4th?

Yeah, me neither.

Well, since pal Dorian outed me as a Star Trek fan, I thought I’d say a word or two about the demise of Enterprise, and the possible demise of Trek in its entirety. (With no mention of comic books…sorry about that!)

Now, do I think Trek is gone for good? No, of course not. Paramount has made a lot of money on the franchise over the years, but with diminishing returns and an inability to attract any kind of sizable new audience, I’m not going to hold my breath for any more TV series or movies for the foreseeable future. We’ll probably see the book lines continue, and I’m sure we’ll still see other merchandise, but it will all be bought by the same folks who’ve always bought Trek stuff. (Warren Ellis said it best, in an essay I can’t seem to find online anymore, but Neilalien thankfully quoted from.)

Dorian once said about a particular musician (I’m not going to say who…I don’t need to start that here) that you can tell the end is near for his career, as instead of producing new material, all that’s been happening is that his older material is being continually repackaged in more and more gimmicky fashions. This isn’t designed to grab new fans, it’s simply there to get more money out of the old fans this musician has left. I’m talking about things like “collectors box sets” of CD-singles, designed to look like 45s, complete with individual sleeves. It’s material the fans already have, but they don’t have it in this format, so they gotta get it!

The Trek books are kind of like that. The books are either part of a series (Worlds of Deep Space Nine Part 3, Starfleet Corps of Engineers) or they’re “written” by William Shatner. The books can’t stand on their own…they need to be shored up by some kind of gimmick. Enterprise, too, is playing solely to the fans, giving backstories to various elements of the Trek universe. The series was at its best when it left behind all the continuity-laden baggage and entered a year-long storyline away from familiar space for its third season (though Mr. Ellis again has thoughts worth considering on this very turn of events). However, with the end of that story, we’re back with stories about Vulcan civil wars, or Eugenics Wars, or Next Generation‘s Data’s grandpappy, or (forthcoming) an explanation of why “modern” Klingons have head-ridges and why “classic” Klingons didn’t…it’s all about why things are the way they are in other Trek stories. Using past continuity as a springboard for stories is one thing…Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is probably the best example…but devoting your stories to minutiae that only your hardcore fans care about gives the appearance of insularity. It repels new viewers.

I’m not saying I haven’t enjoyed Enterprise. I’m a lifelong Trek fan, so the series is very clearly aimed at me, and I think the series has shown a marked improvement over the last couple years, even despite my criticisms. (I’m probably also the one person on the planet who didn’t completely hate the theme song.) But, I believe, it’s about time to give it a rest. Like Ellis has said, and like Dorian has also noted, there just isn’t enough fan support for a Trek show any more. I would rather see Paramount pull the plug for the time being, rather than just put less and less money into a TV show they’re only keeping on the air for the few fans left who are watching it.

I’m sure we’ll see it back in live action sooner or later, hopefully with different people in charge so we can get a fresh take instead of yet another variation on the original ’60s series. A take that, hopefully, can grab new viewers instead of just catering to those of us who have watched Star Trek for so long. I like Trek…I want it to continue, but I realize that it won’t be able to without reaching out to people who otherwise wouldn’t watch the show.

(As an aside…please don’t protest the series’ cancellation at anybody’s offices…that’s just embarrassing.)

1. I’ve mentioned before that it seems like someone on the internet rediscovers Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane #106 (“I Am Curious (Black)”) every few months, and holds the comic up for discussion, or at least ridicule. However, there’s life in the old girl yet, as Scott from Polite Dissent gives it a go from his unique medical perspective. Well played, sir, well played.

2. Thor, Thor, Thor, Thor, Thor, and Thor. (Okay, that last one has nothing to do with the Marvel Comics Thor, but it still rules.)

Spotted at This Is Pop – a pic of Thor from the forthcoming Visa commercial that’s going to air during the Super Bowl. Oh dear.

For another look at a live action Thor, here’s a review of his guest-appearance in the TV movie The Incredible Hulk Returns.

I hate these “meme” things, I really do. You know, those quizzes (“Which Teen Titans Character Are You?“)* or endless lists of “favorites/least favorites” that you see on every weblog ever. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. I swear to God, I’ve seen more than a few weblogs that are just quiz results.

At any rate, that guy Beaucoup Kevin totally called me out on this whole music questionnaire thingie. Because I like Kevin, and enjoy his weblog, I will, this once, go ahead and answer these questions. But I refuse to enjoy it, so there.

1. Total amount of music files on your computer:

20 gigabytes. Every single one legally acquired, thank you. (A lot of those are archived radio shows in high quality MP3 format, thus inflating the size a little.)

2. The last CD you bought was:

Second & Eighteen by Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives. Buy a copy today…tell ’em Mike sent you.

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?

“Vertigogo” by Combustible Edison (from the Four Rooms soundtrack).

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.

“How Much About Last Night Do You Remember” by the Young Fresh Fellows

“Johnny Q” by the Crazy 8s

“All of The Cool Girls” by Honest Bob

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by Negativland

“Better Luck Next Time” by Oingo Boingo

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to? (3 persons) and why?

No one at all. Stop the madness!

* And that is all the comic book related content in this post. Sorry, folks. Oh, and I’m “Raven,” by the way.

Yeah, it’s this again. SPOILERS ahead:

Superman: Strength (2nd issue out yesterday) is turning into quite the interesting series. I know some people are turned off by the art, but like I said last time, it really does grow on you, and the series’ theme of a young Clark Kent learning to deal with moral ambiguity is compelling.

On the other hand, Superman #213 is one of those comics that I’m buying just to keep the run complete, I think. I know, I know, that’s the worst reason in the world to buy a comic. However, I’ve been a consistent reader of Superman comics longer than this guy‘s been alive, and I’m loathe to have a hole in my collection. Sad, isn’t it? Oh well, I’ve enjoyed 99% of my Superman comics, I can tough out the occasional rough spot.

Daisy Kutter: The Last Train is out in convenient paperback form, which is good since I gave up my copy of the first issue to a customer and I was never able to get any reorders in. Plus, the book is about four bucks cheaper than buying the series, and there are lots of extra sketches and pin-ups inside, so it’s quite a bargain.

I was going to say that the new issue of Concrete: The Human Dilemma (#2) takes the Concrete saga in an unexpectedly adult direction…and by “adult,” I mean “sexual,” but upon reconsideration, Concrete has always been an adult series, in every sense of the term. It takes the comics cliche of a man trapped in a monstrous body and applies a real sense of loss, alienation, melancholy, and plain ol’ sexual frustration that’s only crudely approached by the prime example of this character type, the Fantastic Four’s Thing. Even the Concrete series’ one concession to fantasy (aside from Concrete himself, of course), the origin story involving the aliens, is layered with such dread and feelings of violation that it could be read as an allegory for sexual assault (something explicitly stated at least once in the text of those stories, as I recall). Anyway, the more explicitly sexual content of this issue isn’t completely out of left field, as it does appear to be playing into this mini-series’ larger themes regarding overpopulation.

Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnite #1 – I know they’re just doing this to tie into the movie (had it been Marvel, the series would have been finished and out in paperback by now), but it’s still weird to see a character in his own series that 1) hasn’t been in Hellblazer in quite a while and 2) pretty definitively dead, I believe. Still well done, as we get a look at Midnite’s formative years.

Grimjack: Killer Instinct #1 – argh, that $3.99 price point! That’s okay, though, as it’s a pleasure and a half to finally get Grimjack back on the stands again. While I’m anxious to see the story pick up from where it left off at the end of the First Comics’ run all those years ago, I realize that’s probably not the best place to start up a new GJ series. However, this “prequel” series is a lot of fun, and beautifully drawn by Tim Truman.

Bizarro World hardcover – I enjoyed the first volume of this series, seemingly produced only to have some kind of “appropriate” outlet for the Kyle Baker’s “Letitia Lerner – Superman’s Babysitter” story that DC had to be shamed into printing. There was a lot of good work in that volume, though too many pages were devoted to that Bizarro vs. Mxyzptlk framing sequence that I think I still haven’t finished reading. Thankfully, there’s no such albatross in this book, leaving more space for offbeat renditions of classic and not-so-classic DC heroes. I haven’t had a chance to read the whole thing yet, but what I have read has been a hoot. Rick Altergott drawing the Legion of Super-Heroes? The Peter Bagge/Gilbert Hernandez Red Bee story? Snake ‘n’ Bacon‘s Michael Kupperman drawing the Justice League? That fabulous Jaime Hernandez cover? Oh my.

Other new releases:

There’s an ad for the Constantine movie on the back of Super Manga Blast #49. I don’t know why that amuses me.

The first volume reprinting Evan Dorkin’s Bill ‘n’ Ted’s Most Excellent Adventures is out, including a fairly frank and amusing intro by Dorkin about his initial hesitance toward the project. This was a very enjoyable series, and I’m glad it’s available again…though I’m glad I have it in the original color comics, since the greytones don’t really do it justice. Still looks good, though, don’t get me wrong.

Shanna the She-Devil #1 – I know others have commented on it before, but it’s still amusing to look through the book and see all the different ways Shanna’s nudity has been covered up for final publication. Bubbles here, blankets there….

Daredevil Redemption #1 – why do we have yet another Daredevil mini-series when there are at least two other unfinished DD mini-series still not being published?

BMW Films: The Hire #2 – for all you people who didn’t buy the first issue, here’s another chance to not buy another one! Well, I guess quarter box comics have to come from somewhere….

Legend of Grimjack Vol. 1 – we already sold out of it. Battle of the Planets: Princess #4 – also sold out.

We also received a ton of manga books that apparently comic shops in other parts of the country already received…at least, the comic shops that bothered to order them did, anyway.

And yes, there’s a new issue of Swamp Thing, but I cheated and read the preview copy we received last week. The Arcane story is wrapped up, for now, with the final piece of explanation we’re likely to get regarding his fall from “forgiven” status at the end of the Millar run.

In other news:

Scott Saavedra reveals what the old comic ads meant when they promised “life sized monsters” and “monster masks,” complete with shocking photos!

Someone’s Green Lantern computer case.

From a brief discussion regarding superhero movies at the store today:

Kid Chris: “I’d like to see a Kingdom Come movie. Alex Ross can play all the parts!”

Me: “Well, he’s got the costumes.”

This stemmed from old pal Corey and I shooting the breeze about the forthcoming Superman movie, on the likelihood of any established Super-villains other than Luthor being featured in Supes’ big-screen adventures. Mr. Mxyzptlk is probably too out-there, Terra Man is…well, it’s Terra Man, Parasite may not be flashy enough, and Metallo is probably too Terminator-y, (On the other hand, I didn’t think Doctor Octopus could possibly translate to film either, but Doc Ock worked out quite well in Spider-Man 2.) We figure Brainiac may be a possibility (one I think had been brought up at some point with some past Superman film treatment). When “Death of Superman”-mania was going around a decade or so ago, I think Doomsday may have popped up in a proposed film adaptation.

It’s probably a moot point, anyway…any new Superman film franchise will begin with a focus on Supes’ relationship with Luthor. Then, maybe down the road, they’ll get around to other villains, but the franchise will eventually peter out, lay dormant, then start up the cycle again with a new Superman vs. Luthor story. Ah, well, it’s just the nature of the thing, I guess.

We also wondered why no one at Cartoon Network has tried to get a Legion of Super-Heroes cartoon going yet. Like pal Dorian said, it’s at least 50 new action figure designs that CN and DC Comics could sell. Plus, it’s lots of super-heroes, lots of super-villains, lots of aliens and spaceships…if any DC property seems tailor-made for a cartoon, it’s this one. Additionally, a LSH cartoon may be the only way to rebuild interest in a LSH comic at this point.

Other stuff:

Chris Karath displays all the ad pages for Flash #218. Like Chris, I don’t have anything to really say about it…but it is strangely fascinating.

Favorite store moment of the day: longtime customer Deon’s cell phone starts to ring…and his very loud customized ring tone is the opening bit from Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.” Beautiful.