Highly Recommended: The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard

There will not be a more inventive or funnier comic book released in calendar year 2008 than The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard by Eddie Campbell and Dan Best, published by First Second. And by "calendar year 2008," of course, I mean, "The 21st Century."
Holy hell, Eddie Campbell still has the ability to surprise me, and does so on almost every page here, defying my expectations for this work and making me laugh out loud quite a few times.

Monsieur Leotard is a fraud, first and foremost, but a most sincere and earnest one, who is bade farewell by his dying uncle's last, unfinished wish, "May nothing occur -- " which fails to come true again and again in the most astonishing, breathtaking manner over the book's 128 pages. Campbell, who writes and draws, and Best, who wrote some too, demonstrate that a deep literacy and love of language and history can stand side by side on the page with a boundless sense of humour, willing to make any joke, no matter how silly or profane, as long as it is funny. Take, for example, the saga of the bearded pirate, which winds its way through the story and ultimately -- well, that would spoil it for you. Instead, contemplate the brilliant cameo appearance from one of Campbell's most noted co-creations, as Monsieur Leotard crosses over Crisis-style with -- no, dammit, I won't spoil that either.

If you love great comics of almost any genre -- and The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard sits comfortably within most of them -- you will love this book. You will love rediscovering the joy of a wild adventure comic that you can't stop reading. You will love laughing at each inevitable change of fortune that makes Leotard's life so amazing, so remarkable. If you've ever loved any Eddie Campbell work, from the Alec stories to From Hell and everything else he's done, you will love once again letting Eddie (and Dan Best) take hold of your consciousness and imagination and turn them inside out and upside down on the wildest ride you'll find in comics this year, and very probably this century.



by alandaviddoane

Waiting for the Trade

The cartoonist Frank Santoro -- whose Cold Heat comic book series suspended publication after four issues due to low sales, and will see completion as a full-length graphic novel incorporating the four issues plus the rest of the material that would have seen print in future issues -- says the fact that people are "waiting for the trade" to experience Gilbert Hernandez's Speak of the Devil is "the bummer of this post-comics pamphlet era for alt and art comics," and indicates he may have more to say on the matter.
I've already asked my retailer to order a copy of the collected Speak of the Devil, eschewing its single-issue format, because I know that works by Los Bros Hernandez work best for me in collected form; but that's not to say Santoro is wrong, at all. I can, and do, totally dig his description of the thrill of the new, single-issue release of a series you love, which is why I am linking to his comments. And a few years ago, I would have been waiting for the single issues right along with him. In fact, I was doing just that with Cold Heat, the unfinished four issues of which sit in the "Santoro" section of my comics shortboxes like an open wound. Damn you, comics marketplace. Damn you, more attractive and durable collected graphic novel format. Damn you!

I kid; Santoro is not wrong. But neither am I for waiting for the trade on Speak of the Devil. I don't want to buy it twice, and a collected version was never in doubt. But in the market as it exists now, publishers should not commit to the single-issue format if they do not already have the resources and wherewithal to see through the single issue-run to its completion whether the single issues sell or not. I'm looking forward to the graphic novel version of Cold Heat, but those four orphans in my collection are an indicator of a real problem that needs to be solved by publishers. They, too, need to decide if the single-issue format is viable for them before ever releasing a single issue, or if it's in their best interest to "wait for the trade."

In the case of Cold Heat, the truth speaks for itself, sadly. The series read very, very well to me in single issues, once I read a few and got a feel for what creators BJ and Santoro were up to; but publisher Picturebox needed to be prepared for the indifferent reaction the series got from the marketplace (both readers and retailers), and needed to be prepared to ride that out and take the hit once they'd committed to single issues; clearly they were unprepared for the reality of the current market. How is Dark Horse and Speak of the Devil different? Clearly it is, although I expect to love Speak of the Devil as much as I love any other Gilbert Hernandez work (and I do love most of them), or as much as I loved the four issues of Cold Heat. It's a fascinating, and utterly unresolved dilemma.

But ultimately, starting a series in single issues is like opening a restaurant; you have a responsibility as a professional to be prepared to take massive losses until word of mouth reaches critical mass and you can expect to start, eventually, turning a profit. In the case of Dark Horse, I'd guess -- and it's just a guess -- that they have the capital shored up to withstand a financial loss on the single issues, and they believe in Gilbert Hernanderz's saleability enough in the collected, graphic novel format to be willing to wait to make most of their money on Speak of the Devil once it is all under one cover and being sold to bookstores and libraries.

And people like me, waiting for the trade. On Speak of the Devil willingly and consciously, and on Cold Heat, against my will and entirely due to the realities of the marketplace and Picturebox's failure to properly gauge the sales potential of single issues of the series. As I have often said, one of the stark realities of any commercial enterprise -- and artcomix are that, oftentimes, and obviously in the case of Cold Heat -- just because you build it, they will not come. There's more you have to do, if you expect to sell your non-superhero single issues through Diamond's almost-entirely superhero-obsessed network of stores. You must be patient. You must have capital shored up to protect against market indifference. You must be prepared to see your project through. Dark Horse was; Picturebox was not. As a critic, and as a reader, I have more at stake in the totality of Picturebox's line of books than I do Dark Horse's; Cold Heat represents the average, excellent Picturebox title; Speak of the Devil is something of an anomaly among Dark Horse's line of middlebrow, licensed titles with a somewhat built-in expectation of financial success (being that Dark Horse has a favoured position in Diamond's Previews catalog that Picturebox is unlikely to share in any universe that I can conceive of).

I was willing to support Cold Heat in single issues, because it's the format it obviously was built for from the very beginning. I preferred to wait for the trade on Speak of the Devil because I knew Dark Horse would collect it as a graphic novel. I would still have ordered the eventual Cold Heat collected edition, no question. But that's down to the fact that Santoro as an artist resides in a higher plane for me as a reader and a critic than Gilbert Hernandez does; I crave his work in all its iterations in which I can find it. I loved the hardcover Storeyville but would buy the newspaper-format edition from a decade ago in a heartbeat if I came across it in a comic book store. Hell, I would likely buy multiple copies. And yet I passed up Speak of the Devil every time I saw it on the stands in a comic book store. And, be aware, I do hold Gilbert Hernandez's work in high, high regard as an entity unto itself; I possess many of his stories three or four times over ("Poison River" being one example).

I have no conclusion here, and I apologize if it seemed I was leading up to one. Santoro's comments fascinated me and I urge you to click through to the link above and read what he has to say. I hope he finishes his thoughts on "waiting for the trade," because as a consumer of comics I am imperfect in my philosophy toward this issue, and I know it. I need more information. I need more good comic book stores that support projects I want without me having to advocate for them to the owner every single time. And I need more good comics like Cold Heat and Speak of the Devil.

by alandaviddoane

Femme Noir: Great Crime Comics

I was about 2/3rds of the way through Femme Noir: The Dark City Diaries #1 when I realized I was having the same kind of fun I have when I read a new issue of Brubaker and Phillips's Criminal. That's entirely because of the creative team. Writer Christopher Mills, whose Gravedigger a few years back also grabbed me with its hard-boiled noir stylings, is here paired with Joe Staton, who is at the very top of his game in depicting the Eisnerian rain-soaked streets of Port Nocturne, home to the mysterious and vengeful Femme Noir.
This first issue involves the question of who, exactly, the blond crimefighter actually is, and if I again invoke Eisner and The Spirit, it's only in the very best sense. Femme Noir herself could be any one of three suspects, each one given a powerful origin story while moving the plot along nicely. Like Eisner, Mills and Staton create a completely believable environment as a backdrop for their sometimes dark, sometimes pulpy morality plays. The rain is a brutal, oppressive force of nature that hammers down on the guilty and the innocent alike, never playing favourites, soaking the city in a palpably wet and unforgiving atmosphere.

Joe Staton has been a favourite artist of mine since I first saw his work in E-Man in the mid-1970s. If you only know him from work for DC like Scooby Doo, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the dramatic staging and level of detail he brings to Femme Noir, with help from inker Horacio Ottolini. From the inner chambers of a gangster's mansion to a filthy warehouse populated by card-playing hoods, Staton brings Mills's story vividly to life, and colourist Melissa Kaercher gets the muted palette just exactly right -- not the murky browns and grays so much comic art is swallowed whole by these days, but a sensitive and thoughtful application of downbeat colours that are effectively offset by highlights in the rain, or the eerie green glow of a lunatic scientist's "super-science invention right out of a dime pulp magazine." I knew Staton had this sort of work in him -- parts of E-Man were incredibly dark for the time and the intended audience, but it's great to see him working in this style again. He hasn't lost a thing, and in fact his style seems more bold and confident than ever, the very opposite of photo-realistic, but altogether thrilling to immerse yourself in as a reader.

I can't tell you how many comics I've read in the past ten years that have tried and failed to achieve the sort of storytelling and atmosphere that Femme Noir gets just right. It's about as good as crime comics get these days, fine competition for my other favourite crime comic Criminal, with the added bonus that its tone and style are completely different. The Spirit may provide a bit of the inspiration for this series, but Mills and Staton take that inspiration and make something both new and familiar, something gorgeous to look at and wildly entertaining to read.

---

More information is available at the Femme Noir website.

by alandaviddoane

The Dark Nihilist: The Brilliance of Heath Ledger and The Failure of The Dark Knight

The Dark Nihilist -- The new Batman movie The Dark Knight works on a number of levels -- as a superhero movie, it makes almost all that came before, from Superman to X-Men and everything else, including its own predecessor, Batman Begins, seem hopelessly juvenile. As filmed adventure/fantasy fiction, it is as compelling and ambitious as some of the better superhero(y) movies of the past few decades, including The Matrix and Dark City.
Unlike most cape-based films, it works as a movie, with an epic scope and fantastic sequences firmly, even boldlybelievableThe Silence of the Lambs or Dexter on Dexter, or Vic Mackey on The Shield. They're mad, they're murderous, they're the life of the party with lampshade-on-head and razor blade in hand. grounded by its attention to character and genuinely first-rate acting by Morgan Freeman, Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart and especially, the very heart of the movie, Heath Ledger as the first, full-on Joker, a thing never before seen on film, and rarely seen in the comics. You want to spend time with this Joker the way you wanted to spend time with Hannibal in

And because of Ledger's fully-committed, fearless willingness to explore the both the depths of nihilism and the heights of anarchy, the movie works as a nuanced and powerful commentary on the state of our world right now. Make no mistake about it, Ledger's Joker is both living terror and living terrorism, the manic, horrific spirit of the 9/11 bombers skull-fucking Hannibal Lecter in hell after their 72 virgins failed to show up as expected. The Dark Knight's Joker may very well have infected Ledger's soul and driven him to an early end; as "The War on Terror" has shown America the gaping hole at the center of its vapid, self-destructive militaristic-consumerist ideals, so too does Ledger's cheap, terrible and unknowable clown drive his enemies -- Batman and all of Gotham's would-be knights, from Jim Gordon and the tragic Harvey Dent to the very everyman on the street (in a marvelously constructed sequence involving game theory set on two boats, one filled with "good people," the other filled with hardcore criminals) to the very edge of their own personal ethics and beyond. "Any Gotham resident who sacrifices freedom for personal safety," it might be said "deserves The Joker."

Yes, more than anything, The Dark Knight speaks directly, violently to our post-9/11 world of paranoia and sacrificed liberties. Morgan Freeman's Lucius Fox is every compromised American as he lets Bruce Wayne convince him to invade the privacy of literally every citizen in Gotham in his fevered zeal to bring down his enemy. Sure, Bruce Wayne means well when he abuses and misuses the technology at his disposal to battle the terror that is waging war against him; the Bush administration claims it means well, too, when it engages in illegal wiretaps and surveillance of a compliant and complicit populace. Batman means well when he tortures The Joker for information; he's trying to save the love of his life, freedom and the safety of us all. See also Jack Bauer. See also, America. What's left of it.

Heath Ledger goes dark like Chris Carter's Millennium or Trent Reznor's The Downward Spiral went dark. Down deep, shuffling and giggling and picking scabs and demanding all in his quest for nothing, for nihilism, for lost hope and bad jokes and shaggy dog stories by way of Dog Day Afternoon; call it Shaggy Dog Day Afternoon and there you have The Dark Knight. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.

The movie is about heroism like Bush's war is about righteousness; the fact is, both are about arrogance and mindless violence pretending to be about greed and torture and terror. Ultimately The Dark Knight is only about the black, empty hole inside Heath Ledger's Joker like The War on Terror is only about the black, empty hole inside George W. Bush and his fellow war criminals. And that is why the movie, and the war, fail on an epic level.

Both are filled with murder and mayhem and good guys and bad guys and supposed good guys who act bad and very, very bad guys who suppose they are good. The failure of Bush's war is obvious and needs no explanation; it has literally destroyed the US and Iraq and thus is a perfect storm of nihilism disguised as imperialistic idealism. The movie's failure is less distinct and comes, actually, very late in the proceedings. At the exact moment Batman leaves The Joker hanging instead of cutting his throat and letting him die, the movie betrays itself and its own dedication to exploring the darkest holes we all contain. The Silence of the Lambs was an artistic success because Hannibal not only got away at the end, but got away and obviously was going to eat his own nemesis, Dr. Chilton, for dinner. Think back to the glee you took as the camera pulled back to show Chilton being followed into a crowd by Hannibal, breezy and as determined as a lion stalking his prey, his bloody, frenzied victory never in doubt.

No wonder Ledger couldn't live with what he had created; obviously neither could Warner Bros., Christopher Nolan or the people who go to see this movie. The truth of it is too much to live with, and so Batman lets the Joker live and it all falls apart. It's a marvelous, invigorating ride to the very end, but in failing to succumb to the fact that all we've seen leads only to one, dead-end conclusion and yet does not, the movie ultimately falls flat and fails to embrace its own themes and fails to answer truthfully the questions it asks. The prisoners on one boat and the innocent on the other prove the value of humanity in their final choices, and the end of The Dark Knight by all rights and very obviously should have proved and justified the death wish of Ledger's Joker by allowing Batman to take his revenge and murder the clown; it would have been fitting revenge for the death of Rachel Dawes; it would have guaranteed a safer Gotham City; it would have shown Batman his true face and his true purpose. The Joker would have found it the funniest joke of all, but because Nolan and Batman screw up the punchline, The Dark Knight fails to be the pinnacle of art being true to itself and its own inner logic.

It's a wild and imminently watchable ride. I just wish it had the courage of its convictions.


by alandaviddoane

Thunderbolts by Warren Ellis Vol. 1: Faith in Monsters

I wonder if Marvel was thinking of Warren Ellis's Stormwatch when they chose him to write this particular incarnation of Thunderbolts? The set-up of a group of somewhat unhinged loners trying to cohere together as a team reminds me of Ellis's work on that title for Wildstorm, back when it was still part of Image Comics. Of course, the idiosyncratic members of Stormwatch were mostly well-intentioned, while the new Thunderbolts, formed in the wake of the Civil War, are mostly serial killers and lunatics.
One of the prime movers that contributed to my Fan-Fiction Age of Superhero Comics Theory was the revival of Norman Osborn; he was brought back, believe it or not, as a fix to Spider-Man continuity and as an end to the Spider-Man Clone Saga, a story that threatened to consume the entirety of the 1990s. You see, I saw Norman Osborn die, and to me he'll always be dead, like Uncle Ben and Batman's parents are dead -- but I have to admit that Ellis's Osborn, given a second chance by America's alcoholic war-criminal President (perfect!) and drawn by Mike Deodato to look exactly like Tommy Lee Jones, is something of a guilty pleasure, and probably the most entertaining thing overall about this volume.

The least entertaining is the amount of previous continuity you need to fully understand what's happening. If you haven't read any previous Thunderbolts series, or Civil War, you may feel a little lost. Ellis wastes not a lot of time with the whys and wherefores, but rather just drops us right into Osborn putting his team together and sending them out to wreak havoc. A lot.

The nihilism inherent in characters like Venom, Bullseye and Penance (formerly Speedball) is offset to a degree by the humanity Ellis infuses in the unregistered, rogue superheroes the Thunderbolts are assigned to hunt down. Third-rate also-rans like Jack Flag, The Steel Spider and American Eagle are given enough time and and space to lend a real sense of the injustice, inhumanity and obscenity that is Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts unleashed. I don't know if any or all of the superheroes Ellis and Deodato call up to fight off the Thunderbolts ever even appeared in print before; they have the same patina of believability you'd find in the iconic characters created by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson in Astro City, and that's vital in making these stories more than just an excuse for Venom and Bullseye to murder and maul people.

Actual Thunderbolts like Songbird, who was on the team pre-Osborn (and pre-Ellis), try to temper the damage wrought by her new and horrific teammates, and the effort comes off as noble, but the issues reprinted in this collection (#110-115, plus a bunch of crap at the end that you can skip, which Marvel acknowledges by shoving it all in the back of the book even though it takes place before and during the events of #110-115) represent only the first part of Ellis and Deodato's run on the series, so no one will be surprised to learn that by the end of the book (the good part of the book, that is to say -- the stuff from #110-115) much remains up in the air and Songbird's efforts remain, so far, mostly ineffectual.

I was entertained enough by Faith in Monsters (again, excepting the naff filler after Ellis and Deodato's stories, which the book would be far stronger without) that I will read the rest of Ellis and Deodato's run as it's released in collected form; since Ellis's last issue is #121, I assume that means Vol. 2, to be released later this year, will wrap up the run, collecting #116-121.

Thunderbolts is far from Ellis's very best work, but he clearly takes joy in letting his version of Norman Osborn out to play, the result being something like if Stormwatch's Henry Bendix had always obviously been off his rocker, and it is fun to read.

Deodato brings little to the proceedings other than a workmanlike professionalism, a photo-realistic style that evokes what you might get from a disinterested Alex Ross working in ink instead of paint. He tells the story and doesn't get in the way at all, but there's little of interest for readers who like some art with personality and spark in their superhero comic books. Towards the end of the issues reprinted here, Deodato seems to introduce a bit of an impressionistic Gene Colan approach, which adds some energy, but the real appeal of this volume is watching Warren Ellis play with a group of, as noted above, mostly serial killers and lunatics, with the oppressed humanity of the hunted heroes adding nuance and interest. One of them even gets the book's best line, almost certainly Ellis's reflection on the real-life condition of Los Estados Unidos circa 2008 CE: "Just get me out of this country. There's nothing here I want."

by alandaviddoane

Rediscovering "Happiness is a Warm Puppy"

However many hundreds or thousands of books Charles Schulz was responsible for in one way or another, the inside front cover flap of Happiness is a Warm Puppy informs me that this was his first. Dating from 1962, it's a collection of minimalist aphorisms on the left-side pages and a full-page illustration of each concept on the right.
I remember having a copy of this book when I was a very young child, but like the majority of books I've owned in my life, I'd be damned if I could tell you whatever happened to the original copy. Most likely I outgrew it and some other child, my younger brother or a friend, maybe, ended up with it. I first spotted this reissue, from Cider Mill Press, on the shelves at Borders many months ago. Every time I would look at the section it was in, the one with Calvin and Hobbes collections and books by comedians like Lewis Black, I would pick it up and flip through it. Finally, a week or two back, I decided I should own it once again, now three decades or so on since the last time I had a copy.

It's a slight book -- in fact, its cover price of $5.95 is at least part of the reason I bought it. If I could not stop thinking about it and reflecting on whether I needed to own it or not, six bucks is a cheap price to stop that slight buzzing it was creating in the base of my skull. There are perhaps 40 or so concepts visited by Schulz over the course of its orange, pink, red and brown pages, and of course the reader will agree with some and wonder at others. "Happiness is sleeping in your own bed," is one that rings solidly true for me, and the illustration of a content and smiling Linus lost in the comfort of the deep slumber one can only achieve in the peace of one's bed strikes me as both simple and profoundly true.

"Happiness is some black, orange, yellow, white and pink jelly beans, but no green ones," seems bizarre to me. I'd take the green and gladly ditch the pink or black ones. Was Schulz telling us his own preference? Was it a random assortment of colours? Either way, he knew what he was doing when he drew the picture, which shows both Charlie Brown digging into the bag of candy, and Linus patiently waiting his turn. Friendship and shared pleasure are shown only through the picture, not the words, and I'm struck by Schulz's ability to introduce nuance even in a book seemingly meant for children, seemingly universal to anyone who might read it.

I suppose it's possible that the pictures in this book were harvested from existing strips, but I don't think so. They seem bold and purposeful, Schulz working his magic during the very best decade of his cartooning career to create illustrations filled with charm, loving portraits of our longtime companions at their very best. Even Lucy manages to control her crabbiness throughout, playing nice with her brother at home as she helps him remove a sliver, and with Patty and Violet in the sandbox. It's nice to see Violet and Patty here, although I note with sadness that Shermy wasn't invited to take part anywhere. I'm always sad when Shermy is absent. He had such potential...

"Happiness is one thing to one person and another thing to another person," Schulz finishes up with, showing Linus and Lucy each enjoying their own, separate, things. Filled with gentility, tolerance and wisdom, Happiness is a Warm Puppy is something that will bring happiness to anyone who opens themselves to its simple messages and lovely cartooning. I like this little book a lot, which is funny, because I really don't care much for puppies, warm or otherwise. Allergies, you see.

by alandaviddoane

"Trains are...Mint" Reinvents the Graphic Novel

For all those who dismiss autobiographical comics as trite, facile, samey, whatever the complaint -- here's the high concept of Trains are...Mint. The author, Oliver East, goes for walks from train station to train station near his home in Manchester, England. He sketches what he sees. The end.
For anyone with a little more sophisticated understanding of what is possible within the artform of comics, East's debut graphic novel is a modest, monumental achievement, a kind of British version of Jiro Taniguchi's The Walking Man.

The immediate appeal of East's book is the watercolour and pen and ink artwork with which he depicts his environment. The simplicity of his line favourably recalls John Porcellino's King-Cat Comics (as does his overall narrative tone, it should be mentioned), but every once in a while he astounds with a sharply observed brick wall or the perspective he conveys in his drawing of a fence, or a row of townhouses. His watercolour technique is subtle and lovely, with the same quiet brick-to-the-head revelatory power Frank Santoro brought to Storeyville.

Like Santoro, East experiments with the way his words interact with the images on his page. A frequent technique here is the conveyance of information through what at first appears to be a sign, or graffiti, or a poster on a wall. It's an arresting stylistic choice, one that really forces attention to what East is doing, and what he is saying. There's an almost inexplicable effect that arises from the way he utilizes this technique, something that makes an unnameable third element out of the cobination of words and pictures.



Alan Moore believes his hometown of Northampton is the center of the universe, and his belief likely stems from the fact that A) He is a keen observer and B) He turns his observations on his own surroundings. Oliver East does the same thing in Trains are...Mint, delivering a microcosm of the graffiti and detritus that infuse these train stations and their environs, unpacking his observations into a universal map of the land we all make our way through every day of our lives.
Trains are...Mint is the first release from UK publisher Blank Slate Books, which is run by a couple of the owners of the legendary Forbidden Planet chain of comic book stores. As you might expect with that pedigree, the book is a thing of beauty not only in what it contains but in how it is produced. It's a compact, strikingly-well-reproduced hardcover that is a tactile joy to experience. And a perfect delivery system for Oliver East's comics.

East's style evokes Porcellino, as I mentioned above. It also recalls for me a little Kevin Huizenga here, a little Lynda Barry there, and a whole lot of Eddie Cambell Alec-sized whimsy and wonder. I have no idea if he actually is influenced by any of these folks, though -- his style feels sui generis in large part, and Trains are...Mint feels fresh and new, a shot across the bow to anyone thinking whatever can be done in comics form already has been done. This is something new, something you can lose yourself in, something you'll want more of.

---

Trains are...Mint is published by Blank Slate Books.
by alandaviddoane

Gødland: The Best Superhero Book You're Not Reading

I recently caught up with Joe Casey and Tom Scioli's Gødland, having read the first three trade paperbacks a few months ago. It was a blast reading through #19-23 in one sitting. It's to Casey and Scioli's credit that I could pick the story up easily (three metacosmic weirdos are destroying Las Vegas while Archer and Crashman are trapped inside the Infinity Tower by General Brigg and the government).
Scioli mentioned in a recent interview with Tom Spurgeon that he's been evolving his style, and that is wildly apparent in this run of issues; the Kirby stylings are all but gone (as even the unnamed letters-page author admits), and I missed them, but I gazed in wide wonder, to quote a phrase, at the wild leaps and bounds his visual style has made. The brutal and bizarre battle of Archer and Maxim the cosmic dog versus the three oddballs -- Ed, Supra and some joke on the word "ego" or another -- is a fantastic blend of Scioli's pop art fundamentals with what looks to me like mid-period Frank Miller Moebius pastiche, right down to what I think is an homage to a scene from Ronin. An homage that shows just how far this title has come in a visual sense.

Casey's writing continues to be a pleasing mix of comic book basics with tossed-off bits evoking Moore/Morrison detours into strange dimensions; an editor really is needed to catch the minor typos here and there, from the misuse of the apostrophe-d version of "its" to small, niggling errors that momentarily took me out of the altogether psychedelic (if not psychoactive) goings-on. But the plot and the dialogue are sterling examples of just how damned good Casey can be at his best, and the most recent issue concludes with a deliciously traditional sci-fi take on the cosmic reset button and the nagging sense that things ain't quite what they used to be.

Don't deny yourself the vast world of comics pleasure that is Gødland; you can probably enjoy any single issue about as much as any other, but taken altogether, to date the series is 23 issues of the most spectacular 21st century (if not 22nd) superhero comics storytelling you can possibly imagine. With a Journey gag that just won't quit in one issue, to boot. "Escape," indeed.

---

Gødland is published by Image Comics and is available in most comic book stores.

by alandaviddoane

In the Spotlight: Gil Kane

Gil Kane was probably one of the first comic book artists whose style I recognized as unique when I was a kid. He was such a huge figure in comics in my first years reading them, that it's hard to believe he's been gone for so long. Gil Kane died in Florida January 31st, 2000 at the age of 74.

His amazingly fluid, dynamic figure work stood out brilliantly from other artists of the 70s, when I began reading comics. Later, of course, I would easily distinguish Curt Swan as being different from, say, Ross Andru -- but Kane's style was so singular, so -- visionary -- that it's hard to imagine a comics reader of any age wouldn't be able to pick up on him pretty quickly.

Kane's work on Spider-Man and Daredevil for Marvel Comics was what first caught my attention. His depictions of these characters was perfect -- not a line was wasted. That was true of most of Kane's work.

Later I sought out his earlier work, the work I was born too late to buy off the racks. Green Lantern, The Atom, the extraordinary His Name Is Savage -- Kane always had it, it seemed -- that ability to illustrate the human form at a state of perfection. And then to cast those perfect superbeings into the chaos of violence.

Unlike many of the greatest artists of the artform, a company in which Kane certainly belongs, he was recognized as a master. I don't know if he received the financial reward his work deserved (probably not, I'd guess; few comics artists born before the mid-'60s ever got what they deserved from the companies that profited off them) -- but he received many accolades over the years, and one hopes he knew how much his work was loved.

A great example of that is the story Alan Moore wrote for him that was published as Judgment Day: Aftermath, originally published by Rob Liefeld's Awesome Comics and later reprinted in trade paperback form by Checker Books. Moore created a story that celebrated Kane's imagination and skill, and best of all we got to see the story drawn by Kane himself. If you haven't read this story, seek it out; it's a treat for the eyes and Moore's ending is touching.

It's ironic that Rob Liefeld's Awesome published that story, because I've often said I'd give my left arm if I could draw like Kane. I've also said I'd gladly give both arms to not be able to "draw" like Liefeld. It seems even the rightly-ridiculed, talentless Liefeld recognized what a great comics artist Kane was.

Kane's talent was best served when he inked himself, as he usually did in the latter part of his career. I still remember the crushing disappointment I felt after discovering Danny Bulanadi had been hired to embellish Kane on Marvel's Micronauts series. I never much cared for the stories in that comic, but the artwork was nothing short of amazing when the title was introduced with penciler Michael Golden. When Kane took over, I was thrilled at the news, but Bulanadi's heavy-handed inking was wholly inappropriate to the task at hand, and Kane reportedly preferred his own inking in most cases anyway.

Kane completed a two-part Atom/Green Lantern story for the DC anthology series Legends of the DC Universe, which was released soon after his passing. Kane's pencil work was inked by Klaus Janson, always one of Kane's better collaborators, and wrioter Steven Grant tailored the story to Kane's storytelling strengths. It was a fine story to go out on, and one worth looking for.

Another wonderful example of Kane's powerful, latter-day work is The Last Heroes, a hardcover collection of Kane's 1990s series (also with writer Steven Grant). You won't find a more visually powerful superhero story.

A lot of Kane's best work remains in print, but one thing I would like to see is a collection of his 1970s Marvel covers. Kane was Marvel's main cover illustrator for quite a stretch in the '70s. A hardcover collection of the best of those covers would look great on any collector's bookshelf, and if any penciled versions of those covers could be included for comparison, the book would truly be a valuable historical document of the artform.

Kane did some wonderful, Pre-Crisis Superman work, which I would love to see collected in a hardcover with perhaps some of the production sketches he did for the 1980s Superman cartoon.

There is a generally recognized elite of comics artists of the 20th Century: Kirby, Kurtzman, and Kane are now gone, but their work lives on. Make sure, as you explore the wonders of the comics artform, that you take the time to see why they are so well respected long after their passing. You won't regret it a bit.

---

Click here to see a list of comics and graphic novels I have available for sale.

Have a comics-related question for Alan? Send it to alandaviddoane AT gmail.com and he will answer it in a future post.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

ADD's Comics in Reviewc

Summer's nearly here, and with it the opportunity (for most of us, anyway) to relax with a good book or two. If you're including comics and graphic novels in your reading plans (and if you aren't, why not?), here's a look at some recent titles that might catch your eye.

2 Guns -- This Steven Grant-written crime comic (published by Boom Studios) involves two criminals who are each not quite what the other thinks; there's plenty of double-dealing, reversals of fortune and, toward the end, moments of revelation that were solidly planted in earlier chapters. The art is somewhat problematical -- there's a good design sense throughout, but a lack of backgrounds and an unfortunate tendency toward xeroxed panels. Grant's story is solid enough that you're drawn through to the end despite these flaws. Grant's Damned with artist Mike Zeck came out a few years back, and is an even better bet if you're looking for an excellent crime comic. You also can't go wrong with Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, published by Marvel/Icon.

MOME Vol. 11 -- Summer, 2008 sees the release of the 11th volume of the excellent Fantagraphics anthology of new and established cartoonists. This time out we get excellent offerings from Tom Kaczynski (a truly riveting tale about corporate immersion, one of his best stories yet, and he's always interesting), Dash Shaw (an outstanding story about art and jealousy and fakery and self-deception), and an amazing text piece (illustrated, yes, but mostly text) by Paul Hornschemeier. Hornschemeier also contributes another chapter of his ongoing "Life with Mr. Dangerous" serial (actually the most intriguing outing yet), but the text piece, "The Guest Speaker," is a real stretch, a prose exploration of a single character that feels like Hornschemeier's creative voice, exploring new boundaries of his storytelling. Also in this volume, Gary Groth interviews lettertype cartoonist Ray Fenwick (coinciding with the release of Fenwick's new Fantagraphics release Hall of Best Knowledge, and the result is a fascinating look at his process and creativity. Cartoonist Al Columbia is in here with four pages of mood and colour that are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

Kirby: King of Comics -- Author Mark Evanier delivers a generously illustrated biography (published by Abrams) of the man born Jacob Kurtzburg, better known as Jack Kirby. Evanier was friends with Kirby from the time he was a teenager, and gives us the scoop on both the humiliations and the triumphs the greatest superhero artist of all time experienced. Kirby's vision and contribution to the comics artform so transcend normal boundaries of accomplishment that it's impossible to overstate his importance and place in history. Kirby: King of Comics is a treasure, a celebration of one of only five or so true geniuses of the comics artform entire.

Lifelike -- Dara Naraghi's been writing small press comics for about as long as I have been writing about comics, and he finally gets a chance in the spotlight with the beautiful hardcover collection Lifelike, published by IDW. Naraghi writes all the stories in this anthology, with a strong collection of up-and-coming artists illustrating his vision. Some, like Steve Black and Tom Williams, are welcome, familiar names; others, like Jerry Lange and Tim McClurg, are new to me. But they all bring their best work to Naraghi's scripts, resulting in a book that is visually diverse but beautiful to look at, and held together by the strength of Naraghi's writing. The stories in Lifelike span a variety of genres, from autobiography to EC-style suspense (the excellent "Double-Cross at the Double Down" with artist MP Mann). But virtually everything here has the spark of genuine creativity and the power to entertain. It's twenty bucks you won't regret spending in the least, and if you're new to Naraghi's writing, a very good entry into his world.

That Salty Air -- Tim Sievert's first graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions, is a parable of frustration, rage and grief, with a strong and confident use of black ink that defines the ocean that creates the "salty air" that the protagonist, Hugh, professes to love. The blackness of the ocean hides depths of despair and resentment, in addition to the wondrous creatures of the deep that seem to hover around the edge of Hugh's consciousness. Sievert's story becomes stranger the more it unfolds, and the unknowable oddness of the deepest undersea life is a fine metaphor for the ways in which we are unable to process the most profound and unwelcome moments of our life. That Salty Air concerns itself with Hugh's choices and his ultimate decision, and is a very good first graphic novel from a very promising young talent.

Yearbook Stories 1976-1978 -- Top Shelf co-publisher Chris Staros writes the two tales in this comic book, one longer one illustrated by Bo Hampton in lush black and white, and a shorter one drawn by Rich Tommaso. "The Willful Death of a Stereotype," the Hampton-drawn story, is about Staros attempting to reinvent himself by running for 6th grade class president. Of such stuff are Afterschool Specials made of, but thanks to Hampton's brilliant artwork and Staros's forward-driven narrative, "Willful Death" becomes something special. Great, truthful little moments and a genuinely reflective conclusion leave the reader with real insight into Staros's personality -- hell, even into his inclusive vision of comics. Good autobio comics tell you something about their creator while they entertain you, and "Willful Death" does both. "The Worst Gig I Ever Had" is the pleasant after-dinner mint of the book, a short story about the weird things that can happen to high-schoolers who form a band. Tomasso illustrates the story in an inky sort of Paul-Grist-Meets-Kevin-Huizenga groove, and it ends on an amusing note that would shock and awe the Staros found in the previous story. Top Shelf has priced Yearbook Stories at a hugely reasonable $4.00. It's a nicely-formatted slightly-larger-than-digest-sized pamphlet that will please anyone who's into comics.

---

Have a comics-related question for Alan? Send him an email to alandaviddoane AT gmail.com and he will answer it in a future blog post.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Censorship’s Impact on Comic Book Value

By Jamie

I found this really interesting clip about censorship of comic books in the 1940s and 1950s. Apparently, Dr. Fredric Wertham along with two senators attacked the comic book industry with hearings and a huge smear campaign.

Wertham, who worked with juvenile delinquents, found that one common tie between them was that they all read comic books. Of course, at that time comic books were widely popular with most young people, but Dr. Wertham failed to make this important realization.

Just like today’s hearings about music and video games, the comic book hearings resulted in a rating system. The comic book publishers banded together and decided what to publish based on strict censorship rules. The Comics Code Authority approval had to be granted before any comic was to be published.

Comics were heavily shaped by this code. Super heros like Superman, Bat-man and Wonder Woman all changed their behavior to make people more comfortable. Check out the video for yourself.



I can’t even begin to imagine how huge of an impact this must have had on the comic books we read today. Imagine where the natural evolution of the books would be today if it hadn’t been interrupted. What a shame that so many people who might have enjoyed reading comics, have never even picked on up because the readership levels were cut so sharply, years ago. It is so strange to see that our culture has a way of repeating itself even though the past has proven against it.

I suppose there are some good things that came from this terrible situation. Today’s comics prices might have been higher if demand for them was greatly increased and the worth of comics from before the Comics Code Authority must be astronomical. Collectors are probably foaming at the mouth to get comic books in a more pure form. I’m not sure how long the approval system was in place but comics with the seals of approval might even show up for high dollar amounts in a comic price guide if they are hard to find. I’d be shocked if these comics appraisals weren’t effected by this at all. All comics appraisers know that a collectibles value is often shaped by historical events.

Register with iTaggit to Find the Value of Your Comics and Collectibles Today

Blogged with the Flock Browser

More Iron Man News

Rumor has it, the new Iron Man game is going to feature multiple Iron Man suites, including both new and classic suits. Apparently, the game will feature seven suits, all of which will be playable and unlockable. Both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 will have an additional platform specific suit. So unless you own both of those systems I’m afraid you won’t get to play with all nine. We don’t have long to wait to see if this rumor is true. The new Iron Man game debuts on May 2, 2008.

The Iron man game has been under development for a long time and they’ve worked extra hard on making a game and controls that can handle all of Iron Man’s abilities. If that sounds exciting to you and you can’t wait to hear more, you are in luck. I’ve found a cool video all about the making of the game. Check it out!



The game featuring multiple suits is likely to have an effect on Iron Man collectibles value. Figurines of all the different suits are sure to follow the release of this game. There will be more Iron Man memorabilia available now than ever before.

Once the movie and game release don’t forget to reevaluate your comics prices. Considering the success of the movie and the game, prices are likely to change. Comics appraisals might be in order. Keep an eye on your favorite comic price guide to be sure.

By Jamie.

Marvel Comics Brings Us Behind the Scenes Footage of Incredible Hulk

By Jamie Gilliam

With the release of the new Incredible Hulk movie only 65 days away, Marvel Comics is making sure we’re ready. Today the top story on their official site was the release of some behind the scenes footage. Check it out!



Personally, I love behind the scenes footage, and that clip didn’t disappoint. Seeing the producer’s and director’s comments was really interesting and I’m even more excited about seeing the movie now.

If that wasn’t enough Hulk for you, don’t worry there is plenty more where that came from. On Marvel’s site you can check out the Hulk’s bio and get photos, videos and wallpaper for your computer. If that still isn’t enough, you can also find more info about the Incredible Hulk video game due out this June.

I think it is really cool that they are making this movie. The Hulk has starred in lots of movies and shows and I think it is time that they finally do it right. For a character who has been around since the time when comics prices were well under a dollar. It amazes me that his story is still so relevant and interesting today. As I’ve said before, I’m really excited to see what this movie does to the worth of comics featuring the Incredible Hulk. I hope the comics appraisers are ready!

.

List of Comics Prices for Feb 2008 Now Available

If you are asking yourself “how do I value comics?” Diamond Comics Distributors may be able to help. They recently released their list of sales estimates for Feb 2008. The list only covers Diamond’s direct market, news stands and overseas markets are not included.



The information they have complied could be really useful in helping you track the worth of comics, it includes comics prices, top comics by company, top comics by title and even the top traded comics companies. Last month, Marvel Comics barely beat out DC Comics in the Top Comics Breakdown. While DC beat out Marvel in the Top Trades Breakdown. Marvel and DC are really battling right now to be the top of the trade. It will be exciting to see who comes out ahead in the charts for March, but don’t forget to watch for the other two big publishers Dark Horse and Image Comics. Who knows when they might start to climb.



Marvel cleaned up on the Top Comics list, they had nine of the top ten spots, including “X Force” in the number one slot. DC had only one comic in the top ten with “All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder” in the number six slot. Other notable changes included “Hulk” and “Fantastic Four.” “Hulk” was in the number two slot in January, and fell to the number seven slot in February, dropping 32%. “Fantastic Four” was in the number thirty-eight slot in January and managed to climb all the way up to the number eight slot in February nearly doubling in sales.



I’m sure that comics appraisers use information like this to help them value comics, but these lists are available to every comic fan. If you are interested in the market fluctuations or need some insight to finding the worth of your comics just check out the information here.



By Jamie.

Celebrated Writer Leaves Marvel Comics

Comic book collectors who attended San Francisco’s WonderCon may have already heard the news that writer, J. Michael Straczynski is leaving Marvel Comics and heading over to DC Comics. JMS’s announcement is the biggest news to come from the convention season so far.

Straczynski is known for his work on “Amazing Spider-Man” when some of the most controversial events took place in Peter’s life, including Aunt Mary learning his secret identity once and for all. Straczynski also worked on several other graphic novels for Marvel including, “Babylon 5,” “Fantastic Four,” and “Supreme Power,” but it is yet to be announced what he will be working on at DC. All we know is that his first title with them will be released in the fall of 2008.

This isn’t the first shake-up for Marvel this year, if you remember from my previous blog, veteran artist, Mark Bagley, left a few months ago to work with DC Comics. Surely with these two industry giants on their side the worth of comics at DC are likely to go up. I imagine they are pretty excited about all of this. Hopefully Marvel can maintain their level of success even though they are losing people to competitors. It is pretty interesting that they are having such a hard time holding on to people who have been with them for so long. DC could be making offers these writers and artists can’t refuse or maybe they are looking for new blood at Marvel. Only the industry insiders really know that for sure.

Like I said before, if you have any Mark Bagley or JMS comics, now would be the time to look into comic book appraisals, your comics prices may have changed.

By Jamie.

Marvel Comics Releases Hulk Teaser Trailer

Hey comic book collectors, if the Incredible Hulk is on your list of favorites now is the time to head over to Marvel Comics official site for the new teaser trailer. The movie’s June 13th release is a long way off, but trailers like this one will tide us over until then. I snagged it from youtube for your viewing pleasure. Take a look!



I have to say that I’m pretty excited about this movie. The funny thing is that I’m not really a big Hulk fan. I remember my brother watching the TV show when I was a child and I hear the TV show strayed heavily from the graphic novels. Though it isn’t my favorite story, this movie just looks so good. The fact that I love Edward Norton and Liv Tyler might have something to do with that.

The Hulk has been around now for forty-six years. When he first appeared he wasn’t even green, he was grey. I imagine that finding a book with a grey Hulk is pretty hard. If anything is going to affect the worth of comics, it would be a major art change like that. The movie is likely to cause a change in these comics prices as well. We’ll all have to watch and see what happens over the next several months.

I’m glad I saw this trailer, because it has really raised my interest in the Incredible Hulk. Before researching the story, I never new that Dr. Bruce Banner was such a complex character with such interesting story lines. I’m not sure how much of the story will be covered in the upcoming movie, but I’m excited to find out. If you love the Hulk let me know!

By Jamie.

Veteran Artist Bids Farewell to Marvel Comics

According to Marvel Comic's official site, Mark Bagley is moving on.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Bagley, he is one of the most well respected artists in the business. He started his career with Marvel Comics, when he won a try-out contest and has done extensive work for them since then. He is not only a Marvel Icon, but truly a legendary artist when it comes to graphic novels. Bagley has worked on titles like The Amazing Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, New Warriors and Ultimate Spider-Man. I'm sure after 20 years of penciling, that everyone reading this has seen at least some of his work.

Now that his time with Marvel is up, Bagley is heading over to DC Comics. I can't wait to see what he'll do next! I'm no expert, but I bet that this shake up might affect the worth of comics that Bagley has worked on. Especially his final project at Marvel,  Mighty Avengers #11. I know a few comic book collectors who are going to want to get their hands on that book no matter what the cost. If you have an extensive collection of Bagley comics it may be time to go visit some comics appraisers. Let me know how it turns out!

Marvel Comics Collectibles

I was browsing the web today and I found a website that sells movie props. I had never really thought about it before, but these items would perfectly compliment comic book collections. A few of the most interesting items I saw were from Spider-Man. If you collect Marvel comics Spider-Man comic books then you might be interested in a swatch of the Green Goblin’s costume. At $400.00 that might be a little out of reach, but there are less expensive options like a World Unity Festival cup and button for under $100.00. Check out this video of both the Green Goblin costume and the cup in action.

I'm sure the worth of comics , like Spiderman, have increased since Hollywood decided to make movies about classic comic book action heroes. I’m sure comics appraisers must take this into account right? I would think so, then again, maybe lesser known, harder to find comics might be worth more. Can anyone shed some light on the subject?

By Jamie.

WonderCon is On!

Today marks the beginning of the long anticipated WonderCon 2008 at Moscone Center South in San Francisco. I’m sure if you are reading this then you wish you could go as much as I do. San Francisco is a little too far for me to travel with school and work, but luckily there are events like this all over the country.

Some of the awesome events scheduled for tonight include, Q&A sessions with Bill Willingham and Becky Cloonan. Bill has been well known since he started writing for DC Comics in the early 2000s. His work on Proposition Player was great and who doesn’t love Vertigo’s Fables? He’s just amazing! Becky is awesome too. Her work on East Coast Rising is really good. There are just too many great events to list.

One con that is almost close enough for me to attend is Wizard World Dallas. It is coming up in November. I wonder if they are going to offer a Q&A on comic book appraisals. There are so many people out there asking themselves “how do I value comics?” I had no idea how to handle it before I found iTaggit. If you were lucky enough to attend WonderCon comment and let me know how it was!

By Jamie

Spanish Language Comics

Comics appraisers are all talking about the hottest thing on the market these days; Spanish Language Comics. People started to really take notice of the profit possibility when Marvel Comics released both an English version and a Spanish version of Fantastic Four: Isla de la Muerta. After seeing how quickly the book sold out, I’m sure this was the first of many to be published.

The comic book tells the tale of The Fantastic four’s struggle with Chupacabras. Most of us have heard of Chupacabra, but for those of you who haven’t, the term means goat sucker in English. It refers to an animal that attacks, and drinks the blood of goats and other livestock. Of course, the existence of Chupacabra has yet to be proven.

Comic book collectors should take note, the worth of comics that have historical relevance like this one can grow to astronomical levels. I certainly wish I had a copy.

I think it is wonderful that mainstream American publishers are making their comics more available in other languages. This is a global economy and we all have to adapt to survive. Hopefully after two years of Spanish in high-school and four semesters more in college, I am fluent enough to read one. I can’t wait to give it a try!

By Jamie

Valentine's Day Gift Panic?

If you haven't found that perfect Valentine's Day gift for your sweetie, don't worry there is still time! I know we've all gotten a gift that looks like the person picked it up on the way home. It is the thought that counts but sometimes you just
can't imagine what they were thinking. Waiting until the last minute doesn't have to mean a bad gift. If you don't know where to begin, try thinking outside the box this year, instead of candy, flowers or dinner check out the ideas I've compiled for you.
For Him:

• If your man is messy why not hire someone to clean his apartment? Coming home to a fresh clean home will be just what he needs to focus on a romantic evening for the two of you. If he is pretty clean on his own maybe he just needs someone to organize collections that he hasn't had time to focus on. I know my fiance has a collection of baseball cards that really needs to be organized and displayed properly. He'd love it if I took care of that for him.
• Maybe your guy's passion is comic books. If he already has an extensive collection of graphic novels, you can look into finding out the worthof comics he owns through comic book appraisals. If he doesn't have a collection, find out which books or characters he loved the most growing up, and start one for him. Check the Marvel Comics website for popular titles.
• If your boyfriend loves working with his hands, look in to getting him a tool set. It is the perfect gift to help him complete all of his projects. If you can't fit an entire set into your budget, get him a single high quality tool and get it engraved with his initials. For future holidays, you can buy him additional tools and eventually he'll have a high quality personalized set. This one works out for you too since he might become Mr. Handyman.
• For the sports nut in your life, why not try sports card memorabilia? Every sport has a set of cards these days, so it won't be hard to find something he'll love. Budget won't be a problem on this gift, you can easily find baseball cards worth hundreds, or if that is too pricey you can find cards for less than a dollar. Maybe your boyfriend doesn't really value baseball cards, don't worry! There are tons of other kinds of sports memorabilia out there. An autographed jersey or maybe even just a shirt with his favorite team's logo would make him happy and sports stuff is just so easy to find.

For Her:

• If your girlfriend is the sentimental type, why not find out what her favorite childhood toy was and buy it for her. A vintage toy is a sweet way to show her how well you know her. They are easy to find in antique stores and on the web. When I was a little girl, I had a my little pony named Ember. It would melt my heart if a guy bought that for me.
• If you are on a tight budget a sweet and inexpensive gift is a photo collage of the two of you. You can print the photos yourself and put them in a discount frame, or if you have the means, you can have it put together at a frame shop or by a local artist. Either way, your lady will be impressed by your thoughtful gift!
• Jewelry is usually a safe bet for Valentine's day, but it doesn't have to be brand new or cost two months salary for your girl to love it. Interesting and beautiful jewelry can be found easily in antique stores. Don't be afraid that the antiques prices will be too high, jewelry from several eras can be found at inexpensive prices. Some of the most fashionable periods right now are Edwardian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
• A gift that would be perfect for any lady in your life is an outing with you. Personalize the trip to her interests. If she likes drama, buy two tickets to a play. If music is her thing, why not a concert? If she loves animals take her to the zoo, just get creative and think of a place where the two of you can spend time together doing something fun and interesting. There is no greater gift than time with someone you love!

Hopefully this list has given you some ideas for treating your loved one this holiday. You don't have to roam the aisles full of candy boxes and singing stuffed animals, find something he or she can really treasure forever! They'll never know you waited until the last minute if you put real thought into your gift.

That is my take on great Valentine's day gifts, but I could be wrong about all of this. Maybe diamonds really are a girls best friend. Maybe a giant teddy bear balloon is what you were dreaming of. Let me know if I'm a genius, or if my ideas are crazy. I'd also love to hear the best and worst gifts given to you by your sweetie.

Limited Variant Scud Cover Available Only at WonderCon

Hey comic book collectors, if you love Scud: the Disposable Assassin, then I’ve got good news for you! Scud creator, Rob Schrab has announced that he is currently producing the final chapter of the comic book to be released in a book that includes all of the Scud issues.


As you may know, Rob Schrab starting writing and producing the comic in the late 1990s. It ran for only 20 issues before Rob left the property to focus more on his career in television and film. Now only four more issues remain, which include Scud #21 “Return of the Over-Used Muse,” Scud #22 “Challenge of the Over-Used Muse,” Scud #23 “Retaliation of the Over-Used Muse” and Scud #24 “Death of the Over-Used Muse.”

Covers of the remaining four graphic novels covers were supposed to be done by guest artists, including Ashley Wood, Jim Mahfood, David Hartman, and Doug Tennapel, but recently Scrab announced that he will be doing a variant cover for Scud #21 that will only be available at this years’ WonderCon.
The other covers won’t disappoint though with the star-studded cast of artists working on them. Ashley Wood is a well known Austrailan comic book artist who has worked on Metal Gear Solid Comics and Automatic Kafka. Jim Mahfood has done work for Marvel Comics and has his own comic book series Grrrl Scouts. Doug Tennapel is best known for creating Earthworm Jim but has worked as an animator and artist on several projects.

There is no need to check your comics price guide, the 32 page black and white comic Scud #21 will be available this month for $3.50. Remember, the worth of comics with variant covers can sometimes climb to astronomical numbers so if you are a collector, be sure and grab the Rob Schrab cover of Scud #21 at Wondercon at the Image Comics booth (#509).

Appraising Comic Books with iTaggit

If you find yourself wondering “How Do I Value Comics?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Lots of Collectors today want to know exactly how much their investment is worth. If you ever want to sell the titles individually or if you want to auction off your entire collection some day, you’ll need to know the fair market value. Luckily, the answer is simple. The only way to find the real worth of comics you own is to have them appraised.

Getting an appraisal is easier than ever. Upload your collection on to iTaggit.com, fill in the fields and upload some pictures. Click on the comic you’d like to value, hit the “Item Actions” button and then select “Appraise This Item” at the bottom of the list. Make your selection and follow the remaining steps. Before you know it, you’ll know the worth of your comic from real comics appraisers.

Special Image Cover Coming Soon!

If you love graphic novels from Image, this is your lucky day! Erik Larsen is teaming up with Ryan Ottley for a Walking Dead #50 super hero variant cover that will only be available as one for every twenty-five copies ordered.

The cover was originally supposed to be much more rare, only one for every one hundred copies ordered, but the level of demand was so high that Image decided to make it more accessible.

Erik Larsen, best known for his work on Savage Dragon with Image Comics, has done extensive work with Marvel Comics and DC. Some of the most notable titles he’s worked on include Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, The Outsider and Nova. Ryan Ottley is known for his penciling skills. His use of realism and caricature are amazing to say the least. The combination of these two master’s styles is as exciting as can be.

No need to check your comics price guide, you can get the black and white comic for $2.99 at the end of April. If you can’t live without the special edition cover, check the web. You should expect the comics prices to be significantly higher than the regular edition.

WonderCon 2008 Coming Soon!

Hey comic book collectors, it is almost that time of year again! Our favorite heros, villains and other characters come together for a four day extravaganza. For those of you who aren’t quite sure what I’m talking about, WonderCon is coming!

WonderCon is a comic, sci-fi and movie convention held in San Francisco every year. The Con was started in 1987 by John Barrett and was originally held in the Oakland Convention Center. After the 2000 convention, WonderCon became part of the Comic

Con International family of conventions and has since been known for early screenings of comic book related movies. WonderCon 2008 will be held February 22-24 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

If you can’t make it out to all the cons this year, don’t worry. There are plenty of commentators ready to give you the stories. One in particular has earned himself quite a fan base, his name is Bob Stencil. Search the web to see Comic-Con through Bob’s eyes. It is quite a treat!

If you can, you should really try to attend at least one comic convention this year, if not for the fun, then at least for all the back issues of comics for sale! Once you’ve added all those new comics to your collection, don’t forget to let iTaggit help you find comic book appraisals.

New DVD Features Super Hero Fans

People who are familiar with LA’s historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, or people who watch MTV’s Rob and Big, know all about the super hero fans who dress as their favorite comic book character and pose with tourists.

Now you can learn even more about them by watching “Confessions of a Super Hero.” The movie, which was just released on DVD, chronicles the lives of these super fans. Superman, The Hulk, Batman and Wonderwoman are all featured.

If you are a fan of a certain super hero, surely you have all of his or her comic books. If you find yourself wondering “How do I value comics?” don’t worry, iTaggit.com can be your comic price guide.

Death Dealer and The Sword Sell Out

If you love Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer #5 and The Sword #4, don’t bother checking your comic price guide because they’ve both sold out. The comic’s popularity is unquestionable, as they’ve now sold out a whopping five times!

Thanks to the continued success, an oversized deluxe hardcover edition will soon be available. Fans who want to get in on this series can find the books ranging from $2.99 to $3.99, but you better hurry because these comics prices are sure to rise.

New Patricia Briggs Adaptation

The Dabel Brothers who have brought us many great comic book adaptations of paranormal thriller novels are at it again. They’ve added another title to the Mercedes Thompson series that began in 2006.

Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson is a paranormal shapeshifter/mechanic who has all kinds of supernatural adventures. Patricia Briggs, the author of Moon Called, the first book in the series is writing a new original story exclusively for comic release.

The original story will consist of a four-part comic book miniseries and will be released sometime after June 2008. This series is sure to become a collectible so grab them as soon as you can!



If you often find yourself wondering “How do I value comics?” just head on over to iTaggit.com for all the help you’ll need finding comic prices.

My Last Day At iTaggit

Dear iTaggit Users,

I would like to thank you for your patronage to my blogs, as I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for you over the past eight months. Today is sadly my last day at iTaggit, but I could not be handing over the reigns to a cooler blogger. You may have seen me mention ummjamiesha and her collections in past blogs, and Ms. Jamie is indeed my successor. I look forward to taking part in iTaggit as strictly a user now, and will enjoy reading Jamie's contributions to the site. Thank you again for all of your comments and encouragements in the past. They certainly helped me develop my skill.

Keep on collecting!

-Kristen

Phoenix Comicon

Geeks unite Jan. 25-27 at Phoenix Comicon, a convention bringing together comics collectors, actors, comic book artists, anime voice actors and authors. Convention director Matt Solberg said 'comicon' is a catchall term to the comic book community. This year's comicon features a zombie beauty pageant, Jedi light saber training for kids, a fashion show of Japan's extreme street wear, an art auction, a costume contest and anime dodge ball. Attendees also can meet their favorite authors, actors and artists, participate in how-to sessions with professors from Collins College and the Art Institute of Phoenix, sit in on question-and-answer panels and compete in gaming and art tournaments.
The favorite attractions vary among fans, Solberg said, but generally, meeting the film and TV stars of programs such as Star Wars and Star Trek is the most popular. It's really about "being able to hang out with friends and others who share similar interests," he said.
The first comicon Solberg put together was in June 2002. It was a one-day event that lasted about six hours, a far cry from the three-day event held now. Last year, 3,200 comics enthusiasts showed up for the convention.
Lou Ferrigno of TV's Incredible Hulk will meet with fans and talk about the upcoming Hulk movie, in which he makes an appearance. "Greeting the fans is something I really enjoy doing," he said. "The fans helped make me who I am today." Ferrigno, 56, has been active in conventions for years and will attend one in Arizona for the first time. He's been to the state before but only for a short time. "I'm looking forward to coming to the show, spending time in Phoenix and meeting my fans," he said.
For more of the original article, as well as convention information and prices, click here.

Super Bowl XLII

It's official. Super Bowl XLII will host Eli Manning and the New York Giants as well as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. This is quite surprising considering where these two teams began the season: an 0-2 start that had the fanbase questioning the QB as a franchise disappointment and an organization wrapped in a cheating scandal of which they were found guilty. But lo and behold, these two phoenix-like teams have risen above the ashes and landed themselves in the big game; which is appropriately being held in the suburbs of Phoenix.
Last night, Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress froze the Packers dreams of returning to the Super Bowl. Burress played beyond his average greatness, catching 11 passes for 154 yards, and forcing two defensive penalties out of Packer Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris during his 60-minute workout.
Earlier in the day, it seemed that the Patriots were faltering from their usual level of play, led by Tom Brady's carelessness in his passing game. The Chargers defense, who led the NFL in interceptions and takeaways, picked off Brady three times (including his first red zone interception in two years).Then the second half began and the Patriots became wise to using the small-ball approach; a shift that would turn the game around for them and allow them to control the ball for a staggering 21:38. Tailbacks Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk combined for 221 yards and 35 touches from scrimmage.
Needless to say, Sunday February 3^rd won't come quietly, as these two set up for a great rematch. For sports cards collectors, this is the golden ticket for authentic sports memorabilia. Manning vs. Brady. Burress vs. Moss. The match ups at each position are star-studded and fully aligned for an exciting clash. The autographed memorabilia from this meeting should be something worth holding on to.

Nine Reasons To Look Forward To Baseball Season

I found this great article on MSNBS about the 2008 baseball season, and I thought I would share. It was rather long, so I trimmed out some parts, although it doesn't appear that way, so click here if you would like to read it in its entirety.

We come to you today from the performance enhancing drug-free zone, with zero tolerance for grandstanding, blame-gaming and WADA references. Instead, in the spirit of moving forward, we bring you nine reasons for delicious anticipation of a new season that is about to unfold:

1. The Boston Red Sox, and this century’s first shot at a mini-dynasty. They have won two World Series in the last four seasons, and are the odds-on favorite to win another as they return virtually intact from a sweep of the Colorado Rockies, and have emerging young talents such as Dustin Pedroia, Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester to cushion the effects of age on a roster that includes 40-somethings Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin, and a mostly-mid-30s lineup.

2. The Johan Santana question. Has a pitcher of this magnitude ever been stuck in this must-be-dealt situation? And where he goes — Red Sox, Yankees, Mets or surprise late-bidder — will alter the balance of power in either league. The Twins are trying their best to maximize their return, but in reality, they are up against it here. You can only ask for so much young talent for a pitcher who will be signing an extension in the $150-million range, and both the Red Sox and Yankees wisely aren’t willing to go any higher than they’ve already gone. The Mets might be willing to, but don’t really have as much to offer.

3. Joba Chamberlain, Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. We pretty much know what to expect from the rest of the Yankees’ roster . What we don’t know is just how good Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy will be, and how soon they will get there. And so these three young pitchers who will make about $1 million between them could be the key to the Yankees’ fortunes in 2008 — an interesting twist from the franchise that brought you the first $200-million payroll.

4. The Detroit Tigers’ lineup. Any way Jim Leyland decides to go — and knowing him, he will go in many different directions — this is a potential 950-run monster. Here is one possible combination: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen, Jacque Jones, Edgar Renteria, Ivan Rodriguez. With this group in place and healthy, there’s little reason to worry about Dontrelle Willis’ adjustment to the American League.

5. The National League West race. Good luck winning it, as the division that gave us the 2007 NLCS matchup is poised once again. The Dodgers have added Joe Torre, Andruw Jones and Hiroki Kuroda in hopes of erasing the memory of their late-September meltdown. Meanwhile, the comebacks of Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal, Hong-Chi Kuo and Yhency Brazoban are on schedule. The Diamondbacks pulled the winter’s biggest coup by landing Dan Haren for a bunch of prospects they can do without, giving them their best 1-2 rotation combination since their 2001 World Series title season. And you have to figure that young core players Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Chris Young will get better. The Rockies lost more than they added this winter, but there is little debating the fact that they were the best team in the National League during the entire second half, not just their late-September run. And they should get full seasons from No. 2 and No. 3 starters Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, which they didn’t get in 2007.

6. The Milwaukee Brewers. While Commissioner Bud Selig finds himself embroiled in a mess that won’t go away, his former team is doing its best to fight the fight of the small-to-mid-market franchise. Look no further for a team poised to improve in 2008 behind emerging stars Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Yovani Gallardo, Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun.

7. The Chicago Cubs. They needed a corner outfielder and some left-handed power to balance their lineup, and got both in Kosuke Fukudome. He could hit second, or he could hit fifth, and his power should translate to Wrigley Field, adding another threat to the combination of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. There are plenty of quality late-inning bullpen options in Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Jose Ascanio, rotation depth has been added with Jon Lieber and Ryan Dempster, and it says here Carlos Zambrano is poised for his first 20-win season in a bounce-back year of sorts. Felix Pie and Geovanny Soto will have to do what Ryan Theriot was able to do last season in establishing himself as a regular, but things are pointing to a return trip to the post-season.

8. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, Curt Schilling, Jamie Moyer, Kenny Rogers: We’re running out of time to appreciate this stellar group of 40-somethings that could include up to five future Hall of Famers. And in fact, it could be our last chances to watch Maddux and Glavine, two 300-game winners who did it in the biggest offensive era in the game’s history.

9. Ken Griffey Jr.’s 600^th homer (he’s seven away); Maddux’s 350^th win (three away); Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield’s 500^th homers (10 and 20 away, respectively); the 2,600^th hit for the game’s new active career leader — surprise! Omar Vizquel (two away); and maybe — just maybe — Johnson’s 300^th win (he’s 16 away).

Don't forget to value your baseball cards and manage your collection with us!

Final Harry Potter Movie To Be Split In Two

According to this article, Harry Potter fans are set to get a double treat in the film of the final story – and movie makers are set to double their money.

Crew working on the sixth Potter film, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, have been told J.K. Rowling's seventh novel, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, will be released in two halves.

For film-makers Warner Bros, whose first five Potter films have made £2.5billion in box office receipts – more than any other movie series – it could mean a £500million bonus in ticket sales. But sources insist the reason behind the two-movie plan is artistic rather than financial.

The books got progressively longer – the first, the Philosopher's Stone, had 223 pages while Deathly Hallows has 776 – and fans have complained chunks of later novels have been left out of films. A film source said: “There's so much to fit that the view is the last movie should be in two halves. There is a huge battle when Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, takes on Voldemort that needs to be done really well.”

And Ms. Rowling points out on her website: “It is simply impossible to incorporate every storyline into a film under four hours long.”

At Warner Bros, who are rumored to be thinking of Oscars and a big-name director such as Steven Spielberg for the final film, a spokesman said: “People are discussing all possibilities.”

Sounds to me like its good news for all Harry Potter collectors and enthusiasts! Check out ummmjamiesha's collection of Harry Potter memorabilia and be sure to manage your collectibles from the Harry Potter series in our gallery as well!