THAT COMIC SMELL: George Perez & Neal Adams Tribute

The latest episode is available now here: 

https://soundcloud.com/thatcomicsmell/that-comic-smell-episode-102-george-perez-neal-adams-tribute

Information from the website:

"Please enjoy our discussion on two of comics greatest heroes.

Neal Adams - June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022
George Pérez - June 9, 1954 - May 6, 2022

This and all the usual comics chat on…
That Comic Smell!

Thanks again for listening and supporting the podcast

Jurassic Park (Topps Comics) (Gil Kane, George Pérez, Walt Simonson)
The Infinity Gauntlet (George Pérez, Ron Lim)
The Marvel Art of George Perez (Marvel)
Batman Odyssey (Neal Adams)
Batman vs Ras Al Gul (Neal Adams)
Batman: Birth of the Demon (Neal Adams)
Batman #232 (Neal Adams, Dennis O'Niel)
Superman vs Muhammad Ali (Neal Adams)
Star Trek (George Pérez, Tom Sutton, Mike W Barr)
Wonder Woman (Cyndi Martin, George Pérez)
War of the Gods (Cynthia Martin, George Pérez)
Deathlok (Rich Buckler)
Wonder Woman #58 (Gorge Pérez, Jill Thomson)
Wonder Woman #49 (George Pérez, Colleen Doran)
Batman: The House that Haunted Batman (Neal Adams, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein)
X-men Collectors Edition (Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, Tom Palmer)
War of the Worlds (Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams)
Captain VIctory: Backup Ms Mystic (Neal Adams)
The Comics Journal #72 (Neal Adams Cover and Interview)
The Silent Night of the Batman (Neal Adams)
Deadman (Neal Adams)
X-Men King-Size Annual #3 (Chris claremont, George Pérez, Terry Austin)
Birth of the Titans (Marv Wolfman, George Pérez)
Wonder Woman (George Pérez, Greg Potter, Len Wein)
Savage Sword of Conan #14 (Neal Adams, Roy Thomas)
Superman Returns to Action Comics (George Pérez, Brett Breeding)
The Avengers (Roy Thomas, Tom Palmer, Neal Adams)
Blacksad (Neal Adams [Translation])
Heroes against Hunger (Neal Adams Cover, George Pérez)
Green Lantern and Green Arrow: Hard Travelling Heroes (Deninis O'Neil, Neal Adams)
Batman Black and White:Pin up (Neal Adams)
Fantastic Four #167 (George Pérez, Roy Thomas)
Logans Run (George Pérez)
Guardians of the Galaxy (George Pérez, Arnold Drake, David Michelinie, Chirs Claremont)
Justice League of america #200 (George Pérez, Gerry Conway)
JLA/Avengers (Kurt Busiek, George Pérez)
Brave and Bold (Mark Waid, George Pérez)
Criminal (Ed Brubaker, sean Philips)
Jonah Hex (Various DC)
Preacher (Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon)
Captain Condor (Brian Lewis, Frank S. Pepper)
Mechaboys (James Kochalka)
The Grateful Dead Origins (Chris Miskiewicz, Noah Van Sciver)
Suicide Squad (Various DC)"

THAT COMIC SMELL: SCOTLAND IN COMICS

 

The latest episode is online now. A discussion of Scotland's depiction in comics.

From the webiste:

"OCH AYE THE NOOO!

We are starting off this New Year and celebrating the upcoming Burns night by talking “Scotland in Comics” We talk about how we thought me may struggle on this topic despite being from the topic in question. We have a surprise new blog to follow along with when it comes to this topic specifically. Find out how many superheroes have hit our shores over the years and so much more. This and us haverin awa fir oors, as usual on…

That Comic Smell Podcast

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and most places you find podcasts.

Highlands Travel Diary (Katriona Chapman)
Wild Lives (Claire Hubbard)
The Beginner's Guide to Being Outside (Gill Hatcher)
Holly (Steven Ingram)
Vampires Everywhere (George Lennox, James Devlin, Thomas Creilly)
Saltire (John Ferguson)
Batman: Scottish Connection (Alan Grant, Frank Quitely)
Lobo #51 (Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle)
2000AD Prog #833 (Garth Ennis, Anthony Williams)
2000AD Prog #1034 (Pat Mills, Nick Percival)
Scotland for Beginners (Jeff Fallow)
Scotland in comics (Fred Egg Comics Blog)
Iron Man #164 (Dennis O'Neil, Luke McDonnell)
The Bogie Man (Alan Grant, John Wagner, Robin Smith)
The Bogie Man: Chinatoon (Alan Grant, John Wagner, Robin Smith, Cam Kennedy)
The Bogie Man: The Manhattan Project (Alan Grant, John Wagner, Robin Smith)
X-men in Edinburgh (Chris Claremont, Marc Silvestri)
Batman: Lord of Batmanor 1953 (WIn Mortimer)
The Jocks and the Geordies (DC Thomson)
Hulk #192 (Len Wein, Herb Trimpe)
Thriller Picture Library #113 (Amalgamated Press)
Scotty Comics [Star Trek] (Gold Key Comics)
American Splendor (Harvey Pekar, Gary Dumm)
Scrooge McDuck (Disney Comics)
TinTin and the Black Isle (Hergé)
X-men (Chris Claremont, John Byrne)
Asterix and the Pechts [Scots Version] (René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo)
Kidnapped (Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy)
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr.Hyde (Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy)
Wahur's Oor Wullie? (DC Thomson)
The Broons (DC Thomson)"

THAT NEW X-MEN MOVIE: 20 YEARS ON

It's twenty years ago today since the first X-Men movie premiered.

Here's a little treat; an insight into how comic fans viewed the oncoming movie at the time. This is a discussion verbatim from the tcj.com bulletin board in the lead up to the film's release.

Topic: that new x-men movie

Matt Silvie Member posted May 01, 2000 05:15 PM

I justed want to announce to the comic book journal message board forum that I have downloaded the new x-men trailer, both versions, about ten times. sure, it looks stagey and sucky: the leather, the club scene look and soundtrack, etc, typical comic adaptation bullshit. But the 13 year old pot head inside of me is pretty damned psyched. that subject matter is too pro-wrestling to be suited for the comics medium anyway and I'm happy to finally see this stuff where it belongs. I know I'm just psyching myself up for a big let down, but at least it'll be sort of fun, two hours of garbage for six bucks is better than a 15 minute read badly drawn for the same amount. so fuck you.

Timothy J Miller Member posted May 01, 2000 09:57 PM

...and suddenly the Comix 2000 hate thread becomes MUCH clearer to me...

DSR Member posted May 02, 2000 07:48 AM

I always suspected Wolverine's hairdo would look ridiculous on screen but it actually looks alright.

KThor Jensen Junior Member posted May 02, 2000 09:14 AM

A significant portion of my new job entails voraciously sucking the dick of this movie, so I don't know whether this is a sign of too much sperm in my brain or just the general weakening of my critical faculties that comes with age, but I'm actually gonna step out and say that from everything I've seen it'll be a competent to good action/thriller, probably spawning a sequel or two. Junk, sure, but "entertaining junk." Now I'm waiting for the Comix 2000 movie.

eric hess Member posted May 02, 2000 09:38 AM

quote: I always suspected Wolverine's hairdo would look ridiculous on screen but it actually looks alright.

yes, surprisingly, the hair looks fine.

the guy wearing it, however...

aw, i'm just kiddin' around. have to admit, it looks like it's going to have its moments.

Matthewwave Member posted May 02, 2000 03:47 PM

KThor,

Do you happen to know the film's budget? From the previews I've seen, it looks pretty cheap, all in all, to me. I wonder if that will reflect in the film and keep it from becoming popular enough to warrant sequels.

I can't get too excited about the film, even as throwaway entertainment. Since 91 I've been bound by a contract with myself to not give my money to Marvel -- excepting the out of The Joe Kubert Clause -- and except for eight individual issues that fall under that clause, I've kept to it. And I plan to continue doing so. Thus I didn't even see Blade, which apparently was a decent, fun junkfood movie. Plus I like Snipes, Kristofferson and Dorff.

But Kubert they ain't, and so...

Oh, and I've seen Hugh (Wolverine) Jackman in non-X Men photos -- he's quite fine.

Matthew

Austin English Member posted May 02, 2000 03:54 PM

The real question: will it be better then Spawn?

Nick Mullins Member posted May 02, 2000 04:07 PM

That was a joke, right?

Matt Silvie Member posted May 02, 2000 06:00 PM

Timothy J Miller raves: "...and suddenly the Comix 2000 hate thread becomes MUCH clearer to me..."

yeah, I hated it cause it didnt have wolverine in it, you stupid prick. you got me

Matthewwave groans: "Since 91 I've been bound by a contract with myself to not give my money to Marvel."

Aw, shit man, you didnt quit till you were 91 fucking years old?! I was 15 when I quit reading that shit. sucks to be you.

KThor Jensen shares: "This will be the greatest movie ever made."

I dont know about that, KThor. It does look cheap and stagey, as noted by old man Matthewwave. It looks like the whole thing was shot in one dark as shit studio. The sets look cheaper than the shit they got on tv. I'm 100percent sure this thing will suck hard, the question is, will it be cool and nostalgic to see those old comic book characters up on the screen, or will it be as dismaying as last years star wars, or the batman movies. I'm guessing the latter. but I'll still see it.

Austin English Member posted May 02, 2000 08:27 PM

Nick: Of course! Although, I must admit, I did see Spawn, and it had a few guilty pleasures in it. John Legquizamo (sp?) was funny as The Clown.

Matt Silvie Member posted May 02, 2000 10:09 PM

I couldnt stand spawn. the directing was such a mess I had no idea what was going on, it had no sense of linear narrative. it was like just these jerky shots of random scenes strung together randomly. it gave me a headache.

DSR Member posted May 03, 2000 08:46 AM

I was about to write that I've never watched Spawn, but I realised I've never read a Spawn comic either.

I've never liked McFarlane's artwork. It's just not to my taste. It looks messy to me.

Nick Mullins Member posted May 03, 2000 10:12 AM

Austin: I saw Spawn also. I liked the compuyer graphics in the cape. But the devil was so bad I laughed in the theatre. Also, all the other spawns in hell were just the same CGI put into a perpetual loop. It looked like Jazzercise in hell.

And yes, the directing was horrible. The fight scenes made absolutely no sense.

I can't remember why I saw the move, because I've never read the comic.

KThor Jensen Junior Member posted May 03, 2000 11:54 AM

Matt Silvie drooled: "I suck dick in rest stop bathrooms for quarters."

Don't put words in my mouth, shitstain. We just finished up the summer movie preview bullshit here and after sitting through hours of crapola it's looking more and more like it's going to be this year's one big summer blockbuster, akin to Independance Day or what have you, only Bryan Singer isn't quite an Emmerich-level hack. And you fucking started this thread so what the holy hell are you complaining about? As for the budget, it is cheap (comparatively) at $75 million - a drop in the bucket compared with, say, uber-shitheel Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor." As for "stagey," I will agree that the locations are not great, and that will probably work against it, but I can't see the leather costumes or the fuckshit soundtrack causing any problems. As above: entertaining junk. "Cecil B. Demented," the new John Waters flick, however, looks mighty fine.

Austin English Member posted May 03, 2000 04:25 PM

Well, I hope this film fails miserably.

j. todd dockery Member posted May 04, 2000 01:23 AM

didn't singer direct "usual suspects"? I mean, it wasn't a bad film so...

however, more leather clad bunk does not excite me.

we are living in a post "matrix" world and unfortunately I am not a post "matrix" gal.

t edward bak Member posted May 06, 2000 03:02 PM

What the hell is an "X-Man" anyhow? I don't read read those books. They're like "super champions", right? Isn't there supposed to be a "Superman" movie with Tim Burton?

Jesus, I'm sorry I have to do this, but remember when Mr. Rogers used to take everybody off to Never-Never Fairy Land or whatever the fuck it was off in the Trolley and there were those weird puppets in that castle? And there was that one old hag puppet. Remember that? Well, the guy sitting at the computer a couple down from me sounds just like that character. He keeps talking to his computer and snickering.

I'd like to break something over his head BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE ANGRY ANYMORE, DAMN IT!!

DSR Member posted May 08, 2000 09:40 AM

Remember years ago when they were first talking about making this movie and Wolverine was going to be the crazy guy from "Hill Street Blues"?

krisstacks Junior Member posted May 09, 2000 02:26 PM

nope

Matt Silvie Member posted June 08, 2000 05:19 PM

word up, bitches

I cant believe how unpopular this thread was. it was my baby and now I have resurrected it.

anyway, there's yet another version of the x-men trailer up now, at the link below. someone tell Pete Bagge

http://web.archive.org/web/20010106061000/http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/x-men/480_trailer3.html

Jon Zajdel Member posted June 08, 2000 10:38 PM

I see. So there is an evil force that threatens the world and these "X-men" are some sort of heroic group of "go-getters" who are going to intervene on behalf of humanity. Sounds interesting. I hope they win.

Matt Silvie Member posted June 10, 2000 12:57 PM

So do I, Jon. But who can say? In the preview there is a cryptic moment where Wolverine questions the legitimacy of fighting the evil mutants instead of the racist humans. So I guess the story could go ANYWHERE

does anyone think Halle Berry's miscast as Storm (Ororro? Oreo?)? I aint bitchin that I'm gonna have to ogle her hot ass for two hours, but in the comic isnt Storm alot older and wiser? Halle Berry's a feisty little sex kitten with big titties. On second thought, I guess she's the perfect comic book bitch. nevermind. my bad.

Matt Silvie Member posted June 21, 2000 10:48 PM

yo. so I've been watching this x-men preview about two or three times a day and I'm kinda diggin that little chick from that movie, The Piano, that Anna Pauquin (sp?), she's the little chick with wolverine and shes got that hood on and shit. but I dont know what character she's supposed to be. I'm guessing Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat. but who knows? does anyone know? do YOU? also this friend of mine says the bitch that plays Rogue is all that, but I dont remember seeing anyone looking Rogue-ish in any of the three previews. who here on the comic book message board forum will help me?

Matthewwave Member posted June 21, 2000 11:13 PM

I believe Panquin plays Rogue.

Matthew

Sean Medlock Member posted June 22, 2000 09:44 AM

If you ask me, Angela Bassett would be perfect for Storm. But then, nobody asked me.

I just hope they spin off a whole series of Wolverine movies so I can relive my 7th grade revenge fantasies.

cian Member posted June 23, 2000 04:30 AM

Need. Alcohol. Now.

Eli Bishop Member posted June 29, 2000 08:17 AM

Cian- for God's sake, get off the computer and go to a liquor store before it's too late! We can't help you here!

Sean- I agree, but she's too classy for this thing and anyway she has pupils in her eyes.

Silvie- if there's a 13-year-old pothead inside you, better keep it to yourself- statutory rape laws don't make allowances for who's on top. Though "the 13-year-old pothead inside of me is pretty damned psyched" might make a good blurb for the movie ads...

All- I must admit that I read the silly promotional material on the "mutantwatch.com" site and I'm wondering who the ghostwriter was for some of this stuff. Some of it is kind of funny, but not much compared to some of Alan Moore's throwaway bits in Top Ten. In one of those, Mayor Genovese complains: "I mean, some kid who lives on your block gets hit by some weird meteorite, next thing you know he's flying, he shoots death-rays out of his ass, whatever"-- which latter detail made me hope against hope that they got Moore's permission to borrow that character for the movie; Hollywood logic requires that Logan go up against Sabretooth, but who will represent the dark side of Cyclops, if not that kid down the block? With today's special effects, it can finally be done!

Matt Silvie Member posted June 29, 2000 12:42 PM

Oh, Eli, you ol whip. You know that I didnt mean that I had a 13 year old pot head's dick inside my asshole. I meant that I still have that spirit of youthful vigor, anticipation and propensity for fantasy. But thanks for asking, as your post allowed me the opportunity to clarify for others who might have been confused.

As for who the writers for this masterpiece are, I have attached a list of the geniuses needed to craft this fine work:

Christopher McQuarrie

Ed Solomon

Laeta Kalogridis

Blanche McDermaid

Joss Whedon

David Hayt

Yes, Eli, THAT Joss Whedon, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame.

[This message has been edited by Matt Silvie (edited June 29, 2000).]

Ludwig Member posted June 29, 2000 04:41 PM

That would be Joss Whedon.

[This message has been edited by Ludwig (edited June 29, 2000).]

Well, now you've fixed it, so this post makes no sense. I hate this edit-the-message-after-the-fact thing...

[This message has been edited by Ludwig (edited June 30, 2000).]

Matthewwave Member posted June 30, 2000 01:40 AM

Bassett is reported to have actively campaigned for the role of Storm.

And I read once in The National Inquirer that she actually *doesn't" have pupils.

Matthew

Sean Medlock Member posted June 30, 2000 06:15 AM

How could she have pupils? She's not a teacher, is she? Ha ha ha!

Speaking of dorks like me, I was reading somewhere that Whedon has publicly bitched out the producers of the movie for not using his ideas. Oh, and John Byrne is disappointed that they're not using Wolverine's "real" costume.

Tim Lockwood posted June 30, 2000 12:02 PM

That comment by Byrne,if accurate,is par for the course for that guy.I think that the odds are in favor of the X-men movie being as crappy as the Batman movies were and using the comic book costumes would just be another negative point. I always thought that the costumes/uniforms thatsuperheroes wear was one of the genres' worst traits and continues to this day.

Matt Silvie Member posted June 30, 2000 12:40 PM

I was at Target the other day and saw the x-men toys. the Wolverine toy isnt called Wolverine, he's called Logan.

Matt Silvie Member posted July 05, 2000 03:08 PM

speaking of wolverine, what is his origin? I seem to recall this really murky Barry windsor-smith issue of Marvel Comics Presents, that lame assed anthology thing, that had wolverine in a lab with millions of tubes sticking out of him, and he kills all the scientists and runs out in to the snow. but that's all I remember. does anyone know the truth?

Eli Bishop Member posted July 05, 2000 05:13 PM

Matt- Well, maybe someone does, but you won't know unless you read this. Aren't you sorry you asked?

THAT COMIC SMELL 21: Love

The new episode of That Comic Smell is now online.
Have a listen at iTunes, Soundcloud and YouTube.
From the website:
"Welcome! to a brand new episode of That Comic Smell. You're gonna LOVE this one... I'm sorry.
In this episode the folks here dive head first into the real heart of comics. They discuss different kinds of love in comics, what some of their favourite picks are with love as a theme and even some in the title and really pump through some amazing books (ok, the puns are done. Hand on heart, I promise)
We then wrap things up by having a little talk on some books we were very kindly sent by Centrala publishing. Have a little listen and pick out a good one to grab for yourself http://centrala.org.uk/
All of this and much much more on the only podcast that comes to you in 4D!! (Not guaranteed to actually come in 4D)
That Comic Smell!!
Here are the titles we discussed:
Le Scorpion (Stephen Desberg, Enrico Marini)
Raptors (Jean Dufaux, Enrico Marini)
The Far Side (Gary Larson)
Modern Slorance [Torts and Tinder] (Neil Slorance)
Blue is the Warmest Colour (Julie Maroh)
Love & Rockets (Los Bros Hernandez)
The Sculptor (Scott McCloud)
The Story of Sex [From Apes to Robots] (Laetitia Coryn, Philippe Brenot)
Ethel & Ernest (Raymond Briggs)
The Lovely Horrible Stuff (Eddie Campbell)
Weird Love (Various)
Boy in my Pocket [Billy Dogma] (Dean Haspiel)
X-men [Scott and Jean] (John Byrne)
Spider-man Annual
Drawn Together (Aline & R.Crumb)
Batman [Mad Love] (Paul Dini, Bruce Timm)
Samurai Executioner (Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima)
Silver Surfer [Rebirth of Thanos] (Jim Starlin)
Slaine [The King] (Pat Mills, Glenn Fabry)
The Mighty Thor (Walt Simonson)
Hellblazer (Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette)
Liberty Meadows (Frank Cho)
Blankets (Craig Thompson)
Saga (Brian K Vaughan)
Archie
Calvin & Hobbes (Bill Watterson)
Moscow (Øystein Runde, Ida Neverdahl)
Erik the Red (Søren Mosdal)
Comics Cookbook (Various)
Staring from the Hill (Norbert Rybarczyk)
Chernobyl [The Zone] (Francisco Sánchez, Natacha Bustos)
Forest Beekeeper and the Treasure of Pushcha (Tomasz Samojlik)
The Awesome Comics Anthology Volume 1 (Vince Hunt, Dan Butcher, Tony Esmond, Daniel Marchant, Nick Prolix)
Comichaus [App] (https://www.comichaus.com/)"

SUPER-HEROES TALK PPT

An enjoyable job I decided to do recently was give a talk to a book group of 8-11 year olds on the subject of super-heroes. I like to use the wider interest in the movies to lead them back to the comics.

I thought I'd post the powerpoint I used. It might be helpful to anyone out there wanting to do a similar thing.

They're in alphabetical order. The text was also cut back to bullet words when I gave the talk.

Fortuitously, the first one up - Ant-Man - was also the most recent. The kids were on board right away. The format is comic image on the left; movie image on the right.

The Avengers covered a lot of the Marvel heroes they had heard of. Another thing I wanted to get across to them was how old these characters are. Between 50 - 80 odd years. Long enough for adults; an unthinkable eternity for these youngsters.

Why 'Batman: Year One'? The comics images were chosen by the criteria that they were titles that were available to loan in the library.

The movie images were chosen in the main to be the most recent iteration of the characters. I told the group I hadn't seen the most recent Fantastic Four movie. 'It's not good' opined one kid. Oh dear.

I like the similarity between the Flash comic and TV show images here. And I couldn't resist putting that groan-worthy comment at the end.

I made sure to point out the distinction of The Incredibles not being from a comic.
One of the children at this point put his hand up to tell me that he had a DVD of The Incredibles and the first disc was very good but the second was boring. It just has people talking on it. I enjoyed that interjection.

During discussion of Spider-Man, the laptop shut down altogether for an update. Thank you, Microsoft.
It allowed me to steal more time with the group and answer their questions though.

Always got to reference the mountains of cash a few comics like the first Superman appearance sell for. It gets an 'oo' and an 'ah' from the adults too.

The photo above (chosen for its dramatic qualities) caused some immediate intrigue, and the question 'Wait, has Wonder Woman been in a movie?'
I mentioned the possible connection between the lie detector machine and Wonder Woman's lasso of truth.

X-Men were the last characters chosen by me, then I wanted to give the kids a chance to mention their favourites with this:

Many suggestions followed, including Firestorm, Doctor Who and Jedi Knights. Some lateral thinking there. Why not? They have super-powers.

An enjoyable talk for me, and the group were very engaged and appeared to like it.

COURTING CONTROVERSY – COMIC CREATORS AND ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY

This is the seventh in a series of guest posts I'm running over the summer. I asked folk to write on any topic at any length - as long as it's comics related. Next up is Gary Smith...

  

I imagine that most comic fans will have an opinion about John Byrne, but the nature of this view will probably be heavily influenced by when readers were first exposed to his work. For fans who were first exposed to his work in the 1970s, he will perhaps be  best remembered as the young hot shot artist who cut his teeth on Iron Fist and helped take the X-Men to new heights of popularity. For fans who began reading in the 80s he may be forever linked with the Fantastic Four or his revamp of the Superman franchise. For fans in the 1990s it will perhaps be his run on She-Hulk or the launch of his Next Men title. Despite this huge catalogue of well received work in the comics industry, it's likely that fans introduced to John Byrne after the year 2000 will associate him less with his creative output and more with the forthright views he expresses through his website and forum, regularly giving his honest opinion on characters, creators and developments within the world of comics. From the controversy that surrounded his comments on Jessica Alba's casting as Sue Storm to the coining of the term Byrne-stealing (essentially arguing that reading a book and putting it back on the stands without purchasing it amounted to theft), in recent years there have been no shortage of newsworthy quotes arising from Byrne's use of social media.

My thoughts drifted to John Byrne after reading the recent Marvel title, All New X-Factor issue 7. In it, two characters have a discussion about whether a creator should be separated from their work, and whether it is justifiable to read a book - and therefore implicitly support - an author that may have questionable views. The character of Quicksilver is outraged that his team-mate, Danger, is reading a novel by Scott Dakei, a prominent anti mutant campaigner. Danger, for her part, argues that the content of the novel have nothing to do with this issue, and that the author's personal politics do not factor into the novel at all. This debate struck a chord with me because while John Byrne is perhaps the most prominent example, comic fans now enjoy a level of unprecedented access to creators, engaging with them in a way that would have been unthinkable even ten years ago.

1960s Marvel was built on the illusion that it was one big, happy community. Creators were given nicknames, letters pages were answered in a more informal manner; even caption boxes and editors' notes were written in a jocular style. Yet for all this informality, fans at the time were unlikely to know where the creators stood on popular issues (aside from generic representations of the national mood, such as the fear of communism). As the new wave of Marvel writers emerged in the 1970s, including Steve Gerber and Steve Englehart, it was apparent that many of them were politically to the left of their older colleagues, but unless a reader ventured into the world of the fan press it is unlikely that they would have been able to definitively pinpoint their views. 

In the modern comic community, with the majority of creators having a presence on Facebook and Twitter, as well as their own Blogs or web sites, it's relatively easy for fans to work out just where their favourite creators stand on certain issues. Countless creators are only too keen to tweet their thoughts on every conceivable subject, from the serious to the mundane. The question is whether any thoughts so expressed should have an impact on the way that their work is perceived.

In a perfect world the answer would be no. As long as the offensive opinions aren't reflected in their work then there should be no reason not to buy it, and readers should be able to enjoy the work on its own merits. In practice, though, this can sometimes be harder to do. Personally, I have been somewhat surprised by the number of people I have recently seen on Facebook vowing to remove from their friend list anyone that they know to have voted for UKIP in the recent elections. To many people, casting a vote in this way, despite being people exercising their democratic right to vote for a party of their choosing, appears to be so horrific that it outweighs every favourable quality those individuals may possess.

Alongside John Byrne, Dave Sim is another creator who became as famous for his outspoken views as he was for his creative output - perhaps even more so. His essays in each issue of Cerebus highlighted his views on a variety of subjects, with many relating to his views on woman. Courting much controversy, Cerebus, and much of Sim's work, is viewed by many as a platform for him to express his worldview. That raises an interesting point. Sim is undoubtedly a talented creator, yet many readers left Cerebus before the end of its run, growing weary of the increasingly specific direction that Sim's views were taking the title down. Let's imagine that Sim stuns the comic world by agreeing to work on a mainstream superhero - say, Green Arrow. Should it matter that he has strong opinions that may be objectionable to some? If someone admires him as a creator but despises his politics, is there any reason for them to boycott a run that is unlikely to feature as distinct an authorial voice?

There are no easy answers to this topic and I can fully understand why some readers may be so put off by a creator's behaviour that they may boycott their work, but what advantage is gained in doing so? If the creator hasn't advocated anything illegal or morally dubious, is this still enough to transform the way their work is perceived?

For me, much of it comes down to admiration. I want the creators that I admire to also be people that I can admire, ones that share my views and act in a way that I think is appropriate. Sadly, this isn't always the case, but as I grow older I'm increasingly accepting of the fact that life is made up of all sorts of people, with a huge variety of views. If a creator produces fantastic work then perhaps that is enough. If they're also what I would consider a 'decent' person, then that's even better. Or if I really want to preserve my enjoyment of my favourite creators perhaps I should refrain from social media and recapture some of that mystique that creators had to earlier generations of fans. Sometimes, it must be said, ignorance really is bliss.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's 2013!

Further to this previous post, the above is from X-Men: Days of Future Past, the time travel story published in 1980 that the next movie will be based on. In the comic, the far-flung future is 2013, and the present is 1980. The upcoming movie will feature the prequel cast (set in the 1960s) and some of the cast from the 2000-2006 movies. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

ANOTHER X-MEN MOVIE

I’ve just read what’s going on with the next X-Men movie and I am impressed. I like the first two movies, but not the third, and I haven’t even watched the prequel as that seemed like a way to make another X-Men movie and not pay the established cast to be in it. But here’s what I understand is going on: 1. Director Bryan Singer is back. This is good. He’s the reason the first two movies worked. 2. It’s an adaptation of Chris Claremont and John Byrne's Days of Future Past from 1981 – probably the second most popular X-Men storyline (after Dark Phoenix, which X-Men 2 set the stage for and X-Men 3 screwed up).

3. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are back in some capacity. Days of Future Past is a time travel story, so they’ll probably get younger actors to play them in the flashback stuff. 4. They are! They’re using the actors from that prequel they did last year to be the young versions. That’s pretty neat and tidy, and as far as I can make out, it wasn’t the original plan. Matthew Vaughn who made the prequel wanted to do a second prequel set in the 70s. This tying up of the two X-Men series (three I suppose, if you count the Wolverine movies) would seem to be Singer’s idea. So I thought I was finished with X-Men movies, but there is hope.

TODD McFARLANE

In the early 1990s, Todd McFarlane was the hottest artist working at Marvel Comics. He worked on the long-running Amazing Spider-Man title, catapulting it to massive success. After a while, a new Spider-Man title was created and sold on McFarlane’s name (and new status as writer/artist). That first issue sold somewhere around 2-3 million copies. Which seems ridiculous, especially by today’s standards, where the most successful Marvel Comics sell about 100k. But apparently that is the amount the title sold.

After that, he left Marvel altogether, taking 5 or 6 other “hot” artists with him to create a new company – Image Comics. Would readers go with the superstar writer/artists on new characters, or stick with the characters Spider-Man, The Hulk and X-Men at Marvel?

Well, for a time, Image was a sales phenomenon. McFarlane’s own Spawn was another million-seller, the other books were big hits too, and the DC / Marvel domination of the US industry was substantially cracked.

Personally, I never liked McFarlane’s style. Before he did Spider-Man, he drew The Hulk, and I didn’t like him on there. His rise to comics superstardom was a mystery to me.

So, why am I devoting time to the guy?

This is all a mere preamble to an interview I’d recommend you give a listen. In 1992, at the height of McFarlane’s success, Gary Groth spoke with him. They are living in different worlds, and it’s a fabulous meeting of minds.

Check it out here.

SCOTLAND IN COMICS 6

In 1987, a few of my comics reading friends and I grew tired with the dilapidated selection of US comics available in our provincial newsagents. We decided it was time to head off to Edinburgh for a visit to a real life comic shop.

I cobbled together a few weeks' pocket money. One of my mates got a lot more than me on a weekly basis, and then had the temerity to find a tenner in a taxi the day before our trip.

After a couple of hours on the bus and a seemingly endless trek, we finally found our objective: Science Fiction Bookshop, West Cross Causeway.

Entering that shop was unbelievable. It was the first wall of comics I'd ever seen, and I think I just stood and stared for a long time before making any kind of move towards it.

We spent all afternoon there, chatting with one of the young employees. He was very friendly, and went digging in the back shop, looking for items we asked about.

Later that year, in a follow up to the X-Men story I wrote about here, Colossus visited Edinburgh. And guess where he was pictured...




















































































I guess X-Men writer Chris Claremont had visited the shop on a signing tour and promised to feature it. It was great to see these iconic characters in Edinburgh. And so soon after the excitement of discovering my first comic shop, here it was in X-Men, one of the hottest comics around at the time.

The story has many tropes of a foreign portrayal of Scotland. Dodgy accents and all. It also has a rudimentary understanding of the Scottish political mindset. One of the kids shouts as an insult: "Yuir Dad voted for Thatcher" - not a popular political figure in Scotland, despite being the UK's prime minister in 1987.

Good times. Science Fiction Bookshop was bought over by Forbidden Planet a few years later. I still miss that shop I walked into in 1987, but it's a great memory.

Here's to you, Neil, Steve and Chris. We had a blast.

SCOTLAND IN COMICS 4

In 1987, Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri brought the X-Men to Edinburgh. Dazzler, Rogue, Psylocke and Longshot had a big fight with Juggernaut on Princes Street...


































At the time, I liked Silvestri's art. There was a certain lack of weight to everything and it all looked dashed off, but it was different. In retrospect, it was the first of the "Image" style of art I'd come across.

I like the cheeky Doctor Who reference on this next page. Also the mention of Captain Britain, at this time a Marvel UK character that the US comics ignored almost completely. Claremont was already writing towards his later Excalibur series, which featured Captain Britain prominently.

















Next, we have some locals having a chat after the X-Men have sorted out Juggernaut.


















Just for the hell of it, here is the cover. It's a goodie.

















It was good to see Art Adams draw Longshot again - I liked the original series drawn by him.

A few months after this X-Men issue, Colossus visited Edinburgh. This story had a nice personal touch for me. More anon...

STRANGE TALES

Today I picked up Marvel Comics’ Strange Tales anthology. This comic is the same vein as DC’s Bizarro books, and Dark Horse’s Star Wars Tales. Contributions come from Peter Bagge, Nick Bertozzi, Jason, James Kochalka, Junko Mizuno, Perry Bible Fellowship, Paul Pope and more. A stellar line up for sure, taking time out to do a super-hero story.

Here is An X-Men one-pager by the Perry Bible Fellowship:

I haven't read X-Men in over 20 years, but that's gotta be the best mutant story they've published in a long time!

Get down to a comics shop and buy this one quickly. A co-worker of mine has read Bizarro and asked me to get him a copy of this new title. But my comics retailer had no copies left. I’d got mine because I asked for it in advance, but other than that, he had under-ordered it. He said quite a few people had asked for it and were disappointed...