I Love This Book

Why Comics Are More Than Comics

Strange title for a blog post but I'll get there, I know.  I'm a strange guy with strange views. Don't want government in our lives (stay out of gay marriage, let companies fall where they may), but I don't believe not helping my fellow man.  Just fly some planes when the bad guys come around, and stay out of my paycheck.

I'm a Social Moderate and a Fiscal Conservative.  A Classical Liberal.
Anyway, besides the fucking point totally.

A book came out called "Epic Kill" Raffaele Ienco. The guy did everything from lettering to scripting to layouts to pencils to covers to inks to writing a nice page in the back about his love for this new series.  When a writer shows his love for a series, it always comes through.

Most of these guys mail it in until the big boss says, "Hey, let's make a huge crossover and milk our base!" <cough>Brian Bendis<cough> or mail in their art until said epic, world changing crossover comes along <cough> John Romita Jr.<cough>.  They don't love their books.

Creators owned books like Epic Kill and Raffaele's previous work "Devoid Of Life" (which I need to buy ASAP after reading Epic Kill.


  

When these books comes out, I get to sit back and escape for a bit.

 

Raffaele Ienco wrote, drew, penciled, lettered, drew the cover for, sweat all over, and basically put all his effort into it and that is to be commended.  There isn't a single contributor to this book other than Raffaele Ienco.

 

I'm glad and thankful for Image Comics giving these artists a platform to produce their work. Image is on the top right now...ask any LCS.

It's because of their attitude towards guys like Raffaele Ienco and their attitude towards creativity.

Thank you Raffele.

My Pull List for March 28, 2012

Grade: A


Grade: C- Big drop from first issue. Listless, hard to follow, nudity for nudity's sake. Will give it another issue.


Grade C- OMG A MARVEL/BENDIS EVENT! I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THESE IN YEARS!! I'm sure they'll keep it self contained...pfft.


Haven't read this finale yet. But the entire series has been an A+, I doubt the ending will be any different.


Grade: B+


Grade: A+ What a cover!


Grade: A Marvel: If you kill this title you lose me.


Grade: A++ One of the best titles on the stands. Image is on top right now.


Grade: B


Grade: B Well, Robert "I Pad For Trade, Fuck Tony Moore, It's All Mine!" Kirkman finally did something...what's it been? 15 issues since he shot Carl's eye off? But still, notice you always have to wait until the last page for that thing to actually happen?

@RobertKirkman of #TheWalkingDead Fame Needs To #PayTonyMoore

That's right.  #PayTonyMoore

Glenn Hauman over at comicmix.com does a great job breaking down the fundamentals of what people need to be paying attention to concerning The Walking Dead.  Here is his article in its entirety...and the final two points sum it up perfectly.

All this does it make me think of Gary Friedrich and how Marvel screwed the living shit out of him over Ghost Rider.  And that was "just business".  Tony Moore and Robert Kirkman supposed to be lifelong friends from the schoolyard.

I guess the fat kid is getting his revenge.

With The Walking Dead returning to AMC tonight, there could be an even bigger threat to the series as we know it: Original artist Tony Moore, co-creator with Robert Kirkman on the first six issues of the series, has filed suit against his onetime partner accusing him of promissory fraud, breach of written contract and other charges.

Moore claims that Kirkman persuaded him to assign his rights on Walking Dead and other properties to a limited liability corporation controlled by Kirkman, who allegedly hasn’t shared any royalty or other payments for Walking Dead or any of the other works.

Moore asserts that in September 2005 he and Kirkman entered into the agreement which assigned Moore 60% of comic publishing net proceeds for The Walking Dead and another title Brit, 20% of all motion picture net proceeds for Walking Dead and Brit and 50% of all motion picture net proceeds in connection with another title Battle Pope. Moore says in the suit he was reluctant to enter into the agreement. But he claims Kirkman informed him that if he didn’t assign his rights as specified it would kill the “large television deal on the table” and no one would receive any money. Kirkman allegedly promised to pay Moore royalties and provide regular, accurate accountings. Moore claims that Kirkman has never paid any royalties or provided an accounting of profit or loss.

Moore seeks damages in association with his purported share of any money Kirkman has already received plus his any share of any money outstanding. He’s asking for a court order for Kirkman to provide complete and timely accounting as well as payment of accrued interest and court costs. You can read the lawsuit here.

Let’s unpack this a bit:

1. If, as a comic creator, you ever felt screwed over by an Image Comics deal before, you now have yet another reason to feel so. If you ever considered bringing your comic to Image, you now have to wonder if you can trust the partners to give you a fair accounting.

2. If Moore is correct that no monies have been paid under the contract, then the entire contract can be declared null and void, which means that Moore would then have a claim on both the comic series and, more crucially, the television series– and since the TV series would then have been made without his permission, he can extract a tremendous amount of money from the production company.

And remember– just like zombies, it takes a lot to kill a lawsuit.

What have you got as a man in this world if you don't have your word? What have you got as a man in this world if to a lifelong friend your word mean shit? Nothing but a bunch of paper you can't take with ya.

Let's just say...I'll be treating Kirkman's intellectual property with the same kind of respect he's treating his supposed friend's intellectual property.

Pirate.

Robert Kirkman Appears To Be An Asshole

#PayTonyMoore

Firstly, Robert Kirkman, along with artist Tony Moore, created The Walking Dead. A wildly successful comic book that is approaching it's 100th issue...a milestone in comics - especially a "creator owned" comic published by Image Comics as opposed to a Marvel or DC title.  Image used to have a bit of a reputation for not getting books on shelves in a timely manner...but I think they've improved and I love their books.

I digress...

For someone that has many times espoused his support for the Occupy Wall Street camping trips, Robert Kirkman sure doesn't walk the walk.

Secondly, the comic became so popular you've probably seen:

• The Walking Dead TV Show
• The Walking Dead T-Shirts
• The Walking Dead Halloween Costume
• The Walking Dead Deluxe Step-by-Step Make Up Kit
• The Walking Dead Official Companion Book
• The Walking Dead Pint Glass Set
• The Walking Dead Posters
• The Walking Dead Etched Glass Stein
• The Walking Dead Action Figures
• The Walking Dead Bookmark
• The WalkingDeadBusts
• The Walking Dead Book
• The Walking Dead Special Edition Book
• The Walking Dead Kindle Book
• The Walking Dead Trading Cards
• The Walking Dead Buttons
• The Walking Dead Zombie Cubee
• The Walking Dead Cast Signed Photos
• The Walking Dead Sticker
• The Walking Dead Postcard
• The Walking Dead MP3s
• The Walking Dead Calendar
• The Walking Dead Board Game
• Another Walking Dead Board Game
• The Walking Dead Lunchbox
• More Action Figures
• The Walking Dead Lighter 

The first item on that list, the television show, is what's upsetting me.  It's extremely popular - and rightly so.  It's fast paced and the characters from the comic book are very nicely represented by fine actors.

When the comic book initially started, an artist named Tony Moore was drawing for the book.  Moore is Kirkman's childhood friend with whom he went to grade school and just so happens to be an incredible artist:

Tony Moore drew the first 6 issues of The Walking Dead.  That may not seem like much, but considering a large majority of new comics get canceled somewhere between issues 5 and 10, he basically laid the foundation and created these characters.

After Moore, came along Charlie Adlard:

 

Personally, I can't draw a straight line with a ruler.  I can't even trace something from one piece of paper to the next.  So this is all just my opinion.

The Walking Dead is absolutely rolling in the dough right now, and good for them. Make that buck in this world and go do you.  But don't do it while your friends are underneath your steam-roller.

However, Tony Moore is suing Kirkman over royalties he claims were never paid to him.  According to The Hollywood Reporter Moore believes he is due 60% of The Walking Dead's "comic publishing net proceeds" along with 20% of the "motion picture net proceeds".  Sounds 'bout right to me.

Kirkman's now infamous quote about how the tactics he uses to reel artists in for his work: "Trickery and deceit" may come back to bite him.  It is my opinion Moore created these characters.  Proverbially the writer tosses a ball in the air and the artist hits it with his pencil.

Kirkman ain't starving.

Given that we know comics hardly make it to ten issues, never mind 100 (The Walking Dead is currently at issue #93 and shows no signs of slowing down...(well, other than what some people [myself included] perceive to be major decompression at play because the book now sells better at the Trade Paperback level than it does at the single issue level).

Is it fair to think that Kirkman used a kickass artist like Moore to get people hooked on the comic?  Knowing full well most fans don't pick up black and white books, he'd obviously want someone that could make fans look past that, and look at the awesome, gory details of each scene and character and then swap them out so he can start cranking out the fluff?

By the way, the first issue of The Walking Dead sold out instantly...the first 20 issues or so are impossible to find and issue 1 could put your kid through college.

So, Kirkman establishes this great book, "Hey look how amazing the art is! Look how well written the story is!"...people buy it up and he makes a fortune.  Then, to speed things up a bit, Kirkman could go ahead and hire someone like Adlard who, in my opinion, is not nearly as good as Moore in this title.  The detail is lacking, there are two colors: black and white (where Moore used shades of black, grey, white and was wonderful with lighting and shadowing).

Look at the backgrounds of the Moore pictures above...the environment is rich with background settings and extra details.  Adlard seems to draw everything in a white room.  Please goggle the two artists for more comparisons.

Moore's "Rick" on the left, Adlard's on the right.

Another that people began to notice as soon as Adlard took over...Kirkman started having characters address each other by name because, some folks think, they all look, well, indistinguishable.

Again, this is no knock on Adlard...though I'm sure it's coming out that way.

This is more of a fuck you to Kirkman, who is going to be counter-suing Moore for $17,000 is lawyer fees.  Says Kirkman's lawyer:

...Mr. Moore’s contract has an attorneys’ fees clause in it so we will be going after him to collect attorneys’ fees.

Are you kidding me?  Like I said at the onset, it seems Mr. Occupy Wall Street  doesn't like it in his backyard.  He's also the first to preach about intellectual property, how stealing comic books is wrong (he's right by the way)...but it goes both ways Kirkman...those character designs are Mr. Moore's intellectual property.

So, with all that being said: If Robert Kirkman counter-sues Tony Moore for anything, specifically his lawyer fees (nevermind actually paying Mr. Moore for what he's owed),  The Walking Dead (and any other Kirkman book) will not see my money.  Another telling bit of info about all of this, maybe it's just me overanalyzing but: you know the old saying about a how the guilty prisoner falls asleep in the jail cell, while the innocent guy is climbing up the walls in panic?  Well, listen to all the noise and vitriol coming from the Kirkman camp...and compare that to what's coming from Moore and his lawyers: calm silence.  Kirkman and his lawyers have called Mr. Moore and this lawsuit every name in the book..."frivolous", "ridiculous", "absurd" etc.  Gee, Robby, trying to sway public opinion much?

I believe in certain principles and I live by them, I don't simply preach them.

Apparently, Mr. Kirkman just preaches them.

In the meantime, go read the new Batman title drawn by Tony Moore, it's incredible.

My Pull List for January 25, 2012

Wow. Short week for me.  I'll have to do some browsing.

Any recommendations?

My Pull List for January 11, 2012

 

My Pull List for January 04, 2012

This and Swamp Thing finally paid off in their 4th issues. This is getting real good!

Your Pull List for December 21, 2011

My pull list went from about $20-$30 a week to somewhere around $50.  I had to make some hard decisions to drop a few titles...but I managed.  I'm not going to name which titles I dropped, because I want them to succeed, and hopefully come out in trade format...but here's what I'm still getting.

If this book splits off into 16 different titles, Alpha, Omega, Potato, Potahto...I'm dropping it like a bad habit, which is EXACTLY what this type of behavior from Marvel is.

My Pull List for December 14, 2011

Uhm, yes please. With more awesome. And some badass on the side please. More. Thank you. More. Christos Gage is a genius.  There hasn't been a single bad issue in his entire run.  In fact, I have never, ever read anything by Gage that wasn't good.

I don't give a shit what you say. I am so happy Cable's back. The device by which they use to bring him back is irrelevant. Cable is a badass and his most recent series was incredible.

Uh, OK...I guess. Might as well, right? Whatever. Hurry up and finish (and payoff) so I can stop feeling like a sucker.

My LCS claims I'm like 1 of the 3 people buying this book. Too bad, I don't take myself so seriously that I can't enjoy some gore and Baysplosions every now and then...and I don't need to read Crossed to get it.  I'm all set with women eating their own fetuses out of their stomachs...sorry fanboys, I'm not as cultured as you.

This book is a fuggin hoot!

Chugga chugga chugga chugga CHOO CHOO

You hate comics if you're not reading Ben McCool's book:

The first comic, and I'm talking issue number 1, to literally give me chills.

Whatever, I probably should have dropped this and picked up Carnage. But I like a book that doesn't make US military look like assholes like most comic book writers out there tend to do, since most want to be in Hollywood with the rest of the kooks.  So I'll support it.  Don't get me wrong, it's a good story, just not breathtaking.

The second incredible arc of this incredible book comes to its incredible close. This book is incredibly incredible.

The further adventures of Ramblin' Rick and One Eye.

My Pull List for December 07, 2011

Yesterday was a huge day, lots of awesome comics on the shelves.

My Pull List for November 02, 2011

I really hope the art improves in Animal Man. The story is great but the art is flat as a pancake.



Probably the only Avengers title selling right now. Brian Michael Bendis destroyed the Avengers. Thanks for that.



The only thing Bendis good at anymore.



Maybe it's just me, but the art needs to improve here as well. Half the time I can't even tell wtf is going on. Enough with the fancy bleedouts and frames, please. Otherwise, great book.

Quit Bitching And Read Your Comics, Or Don't Buy 'Em

Bitch. Bitch. Bitch.  Lighten up Francis...

Spoilers:

It seems that's all comic "fans" are able to do lately. Marvel has an event: bitch. DC reboots: bitch. Image is late with a title: bitch. Joe Q. eats a burrito: bitch.

The latest round of repining I've seen on Twitter and message boards alike is that Marvel dared make a seven issue run called "Fear Itself". Every grievance you can imagine from "It started off good but ended badly" (No, that was you being excited at first and realizing you had to get on the "I don't like this event" bandwagon) to "There's too may tie-ins" (Yeah, as if too many choices of books is a bad thing).

So I'll examine Fear Itself. It was a great story, had great art, some cool looking characters and some pretty dramatic results in the end. But all anyone could do was cry about the "deplorable state of comics" and "how dare they make another event". I'll agree partially with the too many events thing, it makes me feel like I have to read it.  But I know I don't...and it's my choice to plop them on the counter and pay for them.

With Fear Itself I'm glad I did, as I am with Shadowland. Granted 'possession' wasn't the most creative way to handle it -- but look at the latest Daredevil volume! It's awesome! But back to Fear Itself. The art throughout was impressive, I'd say it was some of Immonen's best stuff. The action was fast and brutal...the Hulk getting smashed through a building by Thor was a tasty nugget. Cap's shield getting broken by a single hand of the Serpent.  Thor defying his father and siding with humankind. The Thing! Infused with godlike powers! Rampaging up and down Yancy Street! Rambling in hellspeak and basically tearing shit apart!  Yes please, more of that!

But the icing on the cake was page 15 of Book 7.  I'll say that it was one of the best moments in Marvel's recent history. There was Steve Rogers holding Mjölnir over his head, with a cast of regular people from the town of Broxton around him and he shouts, "Avengers Assemble!!". I stared at that page for a good 2 minutes. It was reminiscent of Captain America screaming "Do you think the A on this helmet stands for France?!"  I thought it was that good.

So, obviously I enjoyed it.  But why couldn't the fanbois?  I don't mean to infer that if I like something, everyone should...people have different tastes - but if all you're doing is complaining about something why on earth are you friggin buying it?  Let's examine the most popular complaints:

"That isn't cannon. In FF #9, Reed never used the word "continuum". I know this because I downloaded the entire FF history through a torrent site."

1. Too many so-called events:
This is the singular most infuriating argument I ever hear. Yes, Marvel's doing it to make a buck and have us buy more books.  They're in the business of selling comic books to people that walk into comic book shops. Just because there's a banner on top of the book that says "EVENT!!" doesn't mean anything different.  It still contains the same characters, writers and art you buy the books to read about anyway.  So if Fear Itself was just, say, Avengers 11-17, or Thor 309-315, would you complain about the story line? Nope, you wouldn't.  You'd call it a "great run".

Have they changed the game a bit by making the "events" separate books unto themselves instead of having runs happen organically within a title, bringing in supporting cast members to said title? Yes.  But who cares?  Pretend Frank Miller's first issues on Daredevil that started with DD #158 was instead called "Kidnapped!" and numbered 1-5 would it make that run any less exciting?  No, and you know it.


2. It never changes anything:
Oh please. Of course it changes things. Shadowland we have a new, awesome series.

Go buy this series, it's really, really good.

Black Panther is running Hell's Kitchen for crying out loud!  What a separation from a blind white guy to a broken down Black king running around on the streets taking names whilst kicking ass. 

I don't care for Liss as a writer, but uhhh...that's a major change people. Yes, Murdock will be back in Hell's Kitchen but we have an awesome new series examining an entire new side of him.  What's going through his mind during this new series? What will become of Black Panther once Matt comes back to his turf?  What changes will Matt make?  How will he behave differently?  Will he still live by the "Batman code"?  Fellow Daredevil fans, let's see and find out.  And if you hate Daredevil, what were you reading Shadowland for?  The tie-ins you hate so much?  Make sense or STFU please.

 Oh, and Thor's dead. Bucky's dead. Cap broke his shield. I can hear you all now saying, "Oh, they'll be back. Marvel never kills a major character, pfft." No shit Sherlock. Hey, let's kill James Bond in the second film because that would be more realistic. It's the same old song and dance from the fanboi crowd every time something happens. "OMG if that was another clone or LMD I am done with comics forever. I will refuse, on my amazing principle, to ever pay a single red cent again for this drivel they throw at us and expect us to just buy. WAAAAAHHH!"

So what do you want?  Do you want Marvel to never do anything and just write issue after issue of self-contained stories? Maybe a two parter! Or do you want them to kill these characters off forever, never to be seen again and start making some new characters?

I see it like this: If you're willing to make the leap of faith to read stories about guys that fly, shoot lasers out of their eyes (I know, they're not lasers!), speak to each other telepathically, teleport through space and time, meeting themselves in the past, or future, meeting people that have been dead -- so on and so forth, you can't make the leap that there's a way in that magical fairy tale world to bring people back from the dead?  You know what that's called?  Bitching for the sake of bitching. 

With all that said. My main two points are: If you don't like "events" don't buy them.  Don't post in threads about the event to tell everyone how horrid it is.  (1. Why are you wasting your money on it if it's so horrid pirate 2.) Don't read it.  Buy what you like.  Events are nothing but a way to keep a story contained in a slot, while continuing the other stories that focus on the characters.  Would I prefer they take these events and just have "good runs" in a title every now and then?  Doesn't bother me, I like comics and I like reading them. If I have a lot of choice, I'm a happy comic buyer.

Oh, and thank you to DC for the New 52.  I'm getting into some titles I was always too scared to jump into, thinking I had to know their entire history in order to jump in.  But you've made me a fan of some great new characters and I can't wait to get home and read Red Hood And The Outlaws #2.

Thoughts?