ComicBitsOnline.com

Yes,I am still here.  So where have all the postings been?  Ahh,loooong story.

Basically,my broadband is with Virgin Media and I’ve been getting problems for months.  I suggested that the modem might be responsible.  An engineer called [well,he told me he was an engineer]. Rather than plug in the new modem he had with him he arranged the earliest possible re-laying of cables -between 1-6pm,7th June.

Apparently that was “the earliest we can do,mate”.  That was on May 24th!!

8.55am,7th June -an engineer calls [4 hours early!]. The modem works but then stops -”it’s the modem” I said.  “I’ll call out our network boys to check the cable junctyion”.  Modem works again.  Stops.  Works again…fingers crossed.

And,yes,a couple weeks ago lightning struck the phone junction box some 50 feet away from me.  Why is someone trying to kill me with lightning?!

Anyhow,I’ll be going through allthe backlog to see what is still relevant.

Expect postings from Monday onward.

Thanks for sticking with CBO!

Terry

..That’s Two In One Week!!

I have to say that,having now read The Twelve #5 ,from Marvel Comics,and Project Superpowers # 3,from Dynamite,I really don’t care about either that much anymore.

The Twelve has become a typical J. Michael Straczynski comic. You can read each issue in around a minute and when you put it down you think “What was the point of that?”  In such great TV series as Babylon 5,Straczynski’s style worked well -dialogue and action being well paced [and I still say it was far superior to Star Trek:The Next Generation].  However,each issue of The Twelve seems almost repetitive as though the writer has lost his way or realised that his original concept really isn’t going to go 12 issues naturally.

We were told that a mystery killer was killing off the time-lost heroes.  We saw the Blue Blade dead at the end of #1 but that’s it. 

Where’s the mystery killer and the dead heroes?

The series has good artwork but it is being affected by the sheer repetitiveness of what has to be shown.

I don’t really care whether these characters all die or not.  If they do then I’m sure that secret Nazi clones of them,or another cosmic universe-shattering event will take place and they’ll be back.

It is sad to say that many years after Roy Thomas wrote The Invaders,Liberty Legion and more involving Golden Age characters,whether Marvel or DC,it has come down to this mess.

I really,really looked forward to The Twelve but I just think that buying food would have been better than buying these.

As for Project Superpowers,I have to say that this really is the most disappointing comic around.  The Alex Ross sketches within the comic look great. The covers aren’t that bad -but nothing to write home about. “Plot and art direction” are down to Ross and I have to say that I wish Ross had actually written and drawn this!

The story seems almost all over the place and the art is fair-to-middling at best and the colouring technique used is really a turn-off.

As with The Twelve I think that Straczynski and Ross might just as well have made up Golden Age characters.  These are,after all,not the real Golden Age characters but twisted and distorted versions.  You almost have to ask whether those working on the comics actually know or have read the original comics featuring ,what they term themselves,these “beloved characters”?

Of course,with Project Superpowers Synamite has the joy of Public Domain characters -something a lot of people now seem to want to jump on the band wagon with.  But if The Twelve and Project Superpowers are how GA characters are going to get treated I’ll stick with the original comics.

The Avengers-Invaders #1 comic was one I thought might be good because the art looked great but how soon hopes are shattered.

The first thing I noticed was that I had to read through the comic 3-4 times to sort out what was going on -Marvel lack of   continuity being what it is.  The art seemed very cluttered and at points I had trouble identifying characters because of the clutter.

In fact,it all read very much like The Twelve and Project Superpowers!  I thought it was me but then I noticed on a couple of comic group sites others noted their confusion when reading #1.

I’m going to see what #2 is like but…

Oh,it was nice seeing the WW II Steve Rogers Captain America after the modern one was killed but ib the latest issue of Captain America the WW II Steve Rogers is unfrozen.

Whether my Monday migraine was due to trying to make sense of all this I don’t know.  Didn’t help,though.

The one thing I find lacking on comic store shelves these days are those titles that made going to these shops fun. The Independents such as the late lamented Strangers In Paradise or Love & Rockets.

It’s all the same bland,dark and samey thing -The Umbrella Academy being the last really good short series.  Companies such as Ape Entertainment,Image,Archaia Studio,Orang Utan,Markosia,Dr Master,etc., should -should- be on the shelves next to Marvel and DC.

But,Diamond is the UKs only comic store distributor and it’s big money-spinner is Marvel and DC and they ensure stores know it and follow their lead.  “It’s difficult to get these independent books” my ass.

Turnaround offer many of the books from Dr Master and others that “are not available in the UK”.  However,the stores I’ve phoned this week tell me that they can only order from the distributor “head office” goes with..Diamond!

A monopoly adding to the staleness of comic stores and selections.  Eleventh Hour vol.1 “we can’t get hold of” -I have to stop referring to my ass.  There is absolutely no reason why your local store cannot get this british book which deserves to be on shelves.  No reason other than a closed monopoly.

If there is anyone out there willing to finance an Independent comic store -get in touch!

Wizard of the West Comics

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Mike Western died late on Tuesday, 13 May,2008  at the age of 83.

Known as “The guv’nor” by his contemporaries,Mike was a legend in British comics drawing strips such as “The Wild Wonders”,”Captain Phantom”,”The Avenger”,”HMS Dreadnaught” and “D-Day Dawson”.  There are,of course,many,many other strips that old British comic fans will remember and have fond memories of.

I have,for a while now,been up-dating the John Cooper - Mike Western site and I’m hoping I can add much more to it over the next few weeks.  I’d already added The Leopard From Lime Street pencilled page I’d inked. Mike’s pencils were sheer perfection.

I interviewed Mike twice for Comic Bits magazine and he was kind enough to draw the “Darkie’s Mob” illo below.  

We have,over the last couple of years,lost Massimo Belardinelli,Jack Edward Oliver [JEO] and now Mike. A sad time for fans but we have the happy memories of his work.

My condolences go to his family.

It is a fact that Bristol is one of the largest citys in the UK.  It has a huge student population and one of the best mixes of ‘ethnic’ populations you can find.

Indian,Bangladeshi,Pakistanese,Bhutanese,Malayan,Sri Lankan,Korean,Chinese,Japanese,Russian,Italian,Czech, French,Turkish,Polish -and the list goes on.

There is a large enough population of 16-50 year olds which is targetted by businesses.  This age group encompasses the core of comic book buyers.

In the 1970s-1980s Bristol had Quicksilver Comics,three Forever People stores and a couple of Independent stores.

Going back about 3 years we had Forbidden Planet,Area 51,Kathy’s Comics and Travelling Man. 

Comic prices were evening out.

All stores were in great locations but Kathy’s Comics closed despite being in the prime City business location of The Galleries.  It seemed almost impossible to believe that a store in such a location could fail.  The problem seemed bad management and,like other stores,Standing Orders meant little [you might/might not get your order] and it seemed getting enough copies of new titles was a problem.

The same is true of Travelling Man.  great staff but Standing Orders were hit or miss and at one point it was in a far better geographical location than Forbidden Planet.  Most of us know the problems but the result was closure.

Area 51 has a huge chunk of the city to itself,however,it is primarily interested in gaming and comics seems an add-on. Now that is how the owner wants it and,therefore,cannot be criticised for not running a comic shop.

So,we are left with Forbidden Planet which is not my favourite any more.  Standing Orders?  I’ve missed so many issues and heard excuses that I just don’t care any more. From a good store with a competent man keeping an eye on stock and orders it’s sunk low.

So why is it that no one comes along with a long term plan to set up a store and make it work?  It isn’t that difficult and,to be honest,if I had the money I’d set one up myself.

The monopoly of Forbidden Planet is rather like the monopoly Diamond Distributors have in the UK,it makes things very stale and it’s a case of “take this deal or **** off!” The loser is the comic fan/buyer.

I’ve noted how,like others,I’ve been told “We can’t get hold of Dr Master” or how it’s “Difficult to get Cinebook or Classical Comics” -sheer and utter bull!  I think that,having seen the Turnaround Catalogue,offering Manhua,Cinebook and more,that there is a deliberate stranglehold on what we as customers are being allowed to see/buy.

Look at what Cinebook have published -and yet,in Bristol,you’ll only find 3-4 titles tucked away on a dark shelf because “there is no interest”.  No interest probably because no one can see them -Cinebook did very well at the Comic Expo and I noted a lot of those going to the table were from Bristol!

What is needed is a well positioned store which does not just pander to Marvel or DC [though you cannot ignore them] but that also stocks a range of up-to-date Independent Comics,Undergrounds,Cinebook,Classical Comics and even Small Press titles.

Will it ever happen?

I can dream.  We just seem to have lost the common sense to understand that customers read all sorts of books and if you supply and promote you can’t really lose.

Now,where’s my copy of Northern Lightz?

I know that I keep saying Dr Master and other Independent books seldom,if ever,get onto our shop shelves.  So imagine my surprise when I visited the Cinebook table at the Expo and Olivier,between selling books,introduced me to Claire Thompson of Turnaround Publishing Services Ltd..

There,on their table,was Wing Shing Ma’s “Chinese Hero”,the King Of Fighters book and even Four Constables.  And the prices were very reasonable.

Who are Turnaround?  According to their site:

“Since 1984 Turnaround Publisher Services has provided a sales and distribution service for a variety of British, European and North American publishers to the

The April-September 2008 New Titles Catalogue is a 112pp eye-opener and it just proved my point that comic shops can get Independent titles if they want to!

If you are an Independent comic shop then contact Turnaround;if you keep getting told by your local retailer that they cannot get the books you want –tell them to try Turnaround!

Still no luck –contact Turnaround to see if there is a retailer they supply with the books you want in your area.

Their site is:

www.turnaround-uk.com

Incidentally,despite what Forbidden Planet [

Now,sadly,with very few microphones around I must admit that I sadly missed the names of all those on the Manga Euro Style panel with the exception of author and Manga officianado,Fredrik Stromberg.  So my apologies to all those nice people from the Yokaj Studio.

I think that there were a few very good points made by the Yokaj team and Stromberg that wannabe Manga creators should note.

The Japanese and Chinese guests all had one thing in common:they worked late into the night and pointed out that the everyday things need to be done before getting to their Manga drawing -work!shopping,washing up,cooking.  It isn’t as most of us would really like it to be -get up 7.00 a.m. and work til 12 noon.  Restart work til 9.00 p.m. and so on.

Of course,if you are a “mummy’s boy” and your parents are supporting you til you make the big time you are probably calling out every half hour “Mama -tea!”,”Mama -sandwiches!” and so on.  Not everyone can lounge around doing no work all day..unless you are Paul Brown!

A set routine helps but how often can you stick to a set routine?

There were a few laughs,intentional and unintentional,which is far better than a rigid.set-piece Q&A.

Stromberg,and the Yokaj folk made a very valid point which I think worth noting here.

It does not matter if you are in the UK or Sweden,but if you want to draw comics or create comics in a Manga style then do so but base those stories on your own experiences or on things that happen in your own country.  Don’t try copying Manga based in countries you don’t know about -make it so that comic fans from your country can point to something and say “that’s so true!”

Talking to Fredrik later I found out that he really was a very nice man and passionate about his subject.

And to be honest,if we can attract more of this type of guest over in future it’ll be great!

As I have said more than once before,Gene “The Dean” Colan is one of my comic book heroes.  The Sub-mariner,Daredevil –you name it and the great man drew it.  So,I was sad to receive the following from John Freeman. 

American writer Clifford Meth has put out an urgent plea to help raise money for the family of one of

Gene’s one of the greats, whose work at Marvel included Silver Surfer, Iron Man, Sub-Mariner, Captain America and Doctor Strange. Especially notable were his long runs on Tomb of Dracula (with Marv Wolfman) and Daredevil — and his incredible collaboration with Steve Gerber on Howard the Duck. He’s worked in just about every genre comics have ever touched on: romance, war, crime/detective, western, sci-fi, horror, humour, and of course superheroes.

This regularly updated post on Clifford’s blog will give you up to the minute details of the fund raising, but already, numerous artists and writers will be contributing drawings and/or signed books to help Gene and Adrienne Colan with their mounting medical costs. Items will be auctioned by ComicLink.com.

Cliff’s blogspot:

http://thecliffordmethod.blogspot.com/2008/05/lets-help-gene-colan.html

This list will be updated regularly. So far, it includes (in alpha-order) : Neal Adams, Norm Breyfogle, Randy Bowen, Ed Brubaker, Adam-Troy Castro, Paty Cockrum, Peter David, Tom DeFalco, J.M. deMatteis, Pat DiNizio, Harlan Ellison, Mark Evanier, Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, Joe Kubert, Erik Larsen, Bob Layton, Jim Lee, Stan Lee, Leah Moore, Albert Moy, Michael Netzer, Josh Olsen, Tom Palmer, Mike Pascale, Jim Salicrup, Bob Shreck, Dave Simmons, Gail Simone, Walter and Louise Simonson, Jim Starlin, Juan Torres, Marv Wolfman and Ash Wood.

NY ComicCon, Harris Publishing, IDW Publishing, PaperCutz, and Aardwolf Publishing have also stepped up. Will Marvel, who hired Gene for so many years to work on Daredevil and so much more be joining them?

I’m hoping any creators or collectors reading this will want to contribute, be it a piece of art for the auction, a signed script, or book.

• Even if you aren’t a creator, you can help right this minute: Order Meth, Colan & Other Theologians — the full proceeds will go directly and immediately to Gene. For details.

http://thecliffordmethod.blogspot.com/2008/05/meth-colan-other-theologians.html

• Clifford, pictured above with Gene, is also overseeing the sale of artist Dave Cockrum’s collection and file copies for his Estate. Sales directly benefit Dave’s widow. Interested? 

http://thecliffordmethod.blogspot.com/2007/12/own-dave-cockrums-comics.html

If you can contribute in any way please do.Terry

above [right] Andrew Winters writer of Blood Psi,Septic Isle and publisher of Moonface Press refuses to open his eyes at the Comic Expo -”You will steal my soul! Sssss!” might have been the response.  It would have been funny.  So I pretended it was.

I have completely forgotten the name of the artist sat next to Jason.  I apologise but my memory and names is awful!  Sorry!*

Watch for the review of Shriek tomorrow.

Below:Glenn Fabry’s cover for the up-coming Brit Force.  You can learn more at:

www.britforce.com

and

www.moonfacepress.com

*idiot that I am -I originally called Andrew “Jason” and he’s corrected me and told me the artist is none other than Mick Trimble! 

Thanks,steve,Mike,Colin? Andrew!

This year,as pointed out,I intended to go to the Comic Expo and just enjoy myself rather than run around like an idiot. So,on the Saturday at 2.00 p.m.,I went to the Dave Gibbons Spotlight.

Lee “Budgie” Barnett[above Left] held the microphone while Dave Gibbons took us on a long ride looking at his life as a Mod,as a super hero -the Big E- and his visit to the set of The Watchmen movie:I’ll give no spoilers here but it seems that David really enjoyed himself and how the film was going.

I have to admit that Gibbons is always a fun speaker -and the Hypotheticals panel at 5.00 p.m. with the gathered Barnett,Gibbons,Walter & Louise Simonson,Karen Berger and Emma Vieceli was hilarious!  Watch Emma dig herself into a very funny hole!

above:Emma Vieceli

For someone allegedly taking it easy this year,Ms Vieceli seemed to be everywhere:the Self Made Hero table,The Hypotheticals and Manga To Mainstream and Vice Versa!

But did you know Emma was also a great singer?  Check out her My Space site -and YouTube.

above:Bob and Laronzo at the Blink Twice table.  Two very busy fellas selling their Malcolm Magic complete book and sketching and talking and not talking about that very,very,very secret Random House comic that Random House won’t even tell..anyone about!

Two very nice lads and deserving of the success they are getting.

above:Tim Pilcher,Helen McCarthy,John Aggs,Akiko Shimojima and Sean Michael Wilson on the panel discussing the phenomenal Manga genius Osamu Tezuka.  Very enjoyable.

above:Brian M. Clarke wearing a shirt to match the weather -though it did blur my vision for several hours after! The latest issue of British comic tribute magazine Crikey! was available -No.5 [last one I saw was no.3!].  Seems the mag is doing really well which was good to hear.

above:the international jet-setter Sonia Leong back from her trip to Paris [France] to see her favourite pop group. In case you are wondering,Sonia put those nails on while travelling on a train to the Expo –style and skill!

Sonia was,as you’ll see [below],was on the “Manga To Mainstream..” panel with [L] David Hine,Emma Vieceli and Ilya.  Another fun Manga panel.

below:Sean Michael Wilson was the host “Manga Alternatives” in which Yishan Li [seated] and Akiko Shimojima talk about their way of creating Manga.

It’s interesting that most of the Japanese creators do not use computers to tone their artwork but use the commercially available Letraset-type tones.  The reason being that it would take too much time to learn the techniques using computers and it was quicker to do the work by hand.

Akiko,polite and shy,was stumped when,after mentioning that she has an assistant to help her,was asked by Sean to “explain ‘Assistant’ as most artists in the West do all the work and don’t use assistants”.  Akiko:”Okay. He is my assistant and assists me” -seems fair enough!

Those were some of my highlights and people I met.  My apologies for some of the photographic hitches [quality] as it seems traditional that every year whichever camera I use it gets the heeby-jeebees!

..BUT NO COFFEE!

 above [L to R]:Karen Wemborn & Jo Wheeler

 Obviously I had to get to the Classical Comics table.  After all,I was on a promise of three cups of coffee.  Do I take coffee too seriously?  Heck no -it is a very important matter. And not being petty I won’t mention I never got the promised coffees..it’s now up to 4 cups with interest!

erm.

Anyhow,it was great to meet the team and Karen Wemborn and Jo Wheeler showed me some of the preview items -A Christmas Carol looks incredible!  But there were also samples of the educational packs available to schools.

I think that,like Cinebook,the success of Classical Comics over this last weekend is down to the sheer quality of their books.  The table was busy and the teams enthusiasm was near -but not quite- as high as Olivier Cadic’s!

I think that those who have not seen the great Henry V and MacBeth books are missing out.  And if you miss Frankenstein and Christmas Carol or any of this Summers releases then you are insane.  Nuts.  crackers. Two bananas short of a bunch.  An ice cube in a bath a…get the point?

You can check out the site at:

http://www.classicalcomics.com/

It was nice to talk to Nigel Dobbyn briefly about his 1980s Small Press work,Billy The Cat and his Classical Comics works.

It was even nicer to talk to Jon Haward,probably one of the most under-rated UK comic artists.  Why Marvel UK publish his work but not Marvel US is a mystery to me as his style would fit the Marvel Adventures titles perfectly.

Jon’s portfolio was full of incredible art and I came away with a signed poster,sketch and original page of art -they are going on my wall.  Luckily,Classical Comics spot talent!

And Frankenstein artist Declan Shalvey was also on hand.

 below[L to R]:Declan Shalvey,Nigel Dobbyn & Jon Haward

Hopefully,the team might get a panel at the 2009 Expo? In the meantime check out their web site and try to catch up with them at the BICS event later this Summer.

British comics are back!