Some Educational Videos on the Golden Age of Comics

Provided to help educate you - enjoy!

Obligatory Educational Content For the Blog

Big Hint About Upcoming Personal News.....

Don't These Presidents Deserve A Day?

Since today is President's Day, I thought I would focus on three of the lesser-known presidents (or at least, three presidents who deserve some attention). Please note - one clip is very NSFW:

Review: CHASED BY DINOSAURS

Photo Credit: © BBC

(Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary DVD for review).

I'll be honest - I was really impressed by a series of documentaries that the BBC had released years ago focusing on prehistoric life. Walking With Dinosaurs, Walking With Monsters and Walking With Prehistoic Beasts mixed animatronics puppetry and CGI to recreate prehistoric life. So when the opportunity came to view Chased By Dinosaurs - a real-life naturist "interacting" with prehistoric life - I took it. Unfortunately, the series itself is a mixed bag.

It's not that the episodes themselves are bad....but there's a bit of a misnomer. Only two of the episodes feature naturalist (insert name here) interacting with dinosaurs, solving the mystery of a giant-clawed dinosaur and hunting down another. The disc also includes a Walking With Dinosaurs "special" featuring the life of an Allosaurus. All of the episodes work - the mix of CGI and animatronics work seamlessly to provide a view of nature outside of our immediate experience. But....to be honest, I wish there were more episodes with Nigel Marvin - there's real enthusiasm, even if the dinosaurs themselves are (to him) imaginary that really sell the episodes.

Photo Credit: © BBC

Another problematic issue - and this is more of a production matter - is that the episodes are only half a hour in length. Granted, budget constraints and attention spans may have warranted such a harsh cut in timing, but the episodes tend to build narrative steam and then end rather abruptly. It's an engaging view, but there's a lingering feeling that Chased By Dinosaurs would have been served better if each episode were longer.

I admit that I'm a sucker for a good documentary, and enjoyed Chased by Dinosaurs a lot....but now I wish to watch the Walking With... Trilogy once more. It's a much stronger view, and Chased is best viewed as a follow up, rather than on its own.

Review: COMIC BOOK BABLYON

When Clifford Meth offered me a complimentary review copy of his new book Comic Book Babylon, I leapt at the chance. His work for Aardwolf Publishing - including his Dave Cockrum and Gene Colan tribute books - were thoroughly enjoyable, and I've always thought highly of Mr. Meth. So I approached Comic Book Babylon in the spirit of being a series of portraits and reminisces about writing and publishing.

But it's so much more than that...and has easily  become of my favorite comic-related reads of 2014.

Beginning with his efforts to help his friend gain recognition and royalties from a major comic company, Comic Book Babylon is more than just a great book about the history of comics - it's also a great how-to manual in ethical behavior in the comics industry. This book doesn't just deserve your attention - it demands it.

Bookended by his efforts to aid both Dave Cockrum and Gene Colan during tough times, Comic Book Bablyon contains some really great portraits of comics professionals and other writers.This is mandatory reading for anyone wishing to learn the history of comics, especially portraying the more down-to-earth, grounded mentality of past masters versus the current scene's more showy, exaggerated mindset. (Michael Netzer's illustrations are simply gorgeous) 

But various other writings - from a slightly heartbreaking (in retrospect) interview with Christopher Reeve to a talk with Alan Moore as his works became adapted for movies - provide a wider scope to Meth's writing. There's never a feeling of self-importance or being an "insider", nor does it ever engage in simply watching and writing. Comic Book Babylon is an extremely powerful read, and quite simply, you won't be able to put it down. Writings were culled from a variety of sources, including Silver Bullet Comic Books (now called Comics Bulletin), and his own blog, as well as various other sites with some unpublished pieces. Overall, Comic Book Bablyon balances a very casual tone with great humility and very biting humor. Just a few sample quotes to give you a sense of Meth's writing:

Of course, I believed him right away. Joe can't even spell coup détat, let alone pull one.

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Speech may be protected by the First Amendment, but that doesn't give you the right to yell Poker game! in the middle of a crowded firehouse.

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I prefer helping people. It hurts me to look at the 990s of even well-deserving charities and see executives taking $400K salaries plus $80K in 'expenses.' So I help people directly.

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...I'm wrestling with a metaphysical (conundrum). I'm wondering how anyone in our industry can walk by this situation and not pay it heed. The petitions from fans are nice, the messages on the forums are encouraging, but there's too much rubber necking and not enough action; too many cameras and not enough food. And the blame game just ain't gonna work this time.

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The women he draws make you want to throw away your family and job and take up the needle again

(The only way I could do Meth's book justice would be to copy and paste it in its entirety into this blog post, but one of Mr. Meth's best friends is Harlan Ellison. Something tells me Mr. Meth nor Mr. Ellison would take too kindly to that action, no matter how well-intentioned...and let me just add that some of my fellow non-profit/social good peers would also do well to read this book)

As I write this post, there's been much talk in Chicago over ethical issues in relating to fandom (pal Michi provides a better, more thorough job in describing it than I ever could). Perhaps now is the time for all good comics fans to consider reading Comic Book Babylon, an outline of how one fan can live a pretty decent, very ethical life.
Seriously - buy and read this book. Now.

Revisiting History: Spielberg's LINCOLN

Let's face it - there's no way you can make a truly honest movie about Abraham Lincoln. He is a figure whose myth far exceeds the truth....but last year's Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg, comes close - it feels authentic, and quite frankly, is an astonishingly good movie.

Based (in part) on Team of Rivals, the film never tries to be a comprehensive overview of Lincoln's life. In fact, it focuses on one particular moment in his Presidency - the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment - and manages to illuminate, focusing as much on Lincoln's political acumen as it does on the various thorny issues surrounding the ending of slavery.

Much of the film centers around Daniel Day Lewis' performance, which is as much informed by myth as historical fact. There's nothing overtly cagey or astute about Lincoln, yet you never quite avoid the belief that Lincoln is playing his cards close to the vest. This is about as close as you will come to 19th century "machine" style politics as possible - it's as much about the down-and-dirty games as it is about higher ideas.

(Plus, Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens....well, Spielberg should make a sequel focusing on Thaddeus Stevens and have Jones reprise his role. It's a no-brainer!)

In our current political climate, when we see high ideas brought down by cynicism and infighting, Lincoln is both an inspirational and down-to-earth story.

See this. Now.

Your Monday Motivational Moment From Theodore Roosevelt

One of the many advantages I have as a blogger is a large network of contacts, most notably via Linked In. After doing some checking and asking, I have a very special message of motivation from former president Theodore Roosevelt. Enjoy!


(Trust me - this will make sense one year from now)

Alternative History: Looking at BBC Home Video's THE WILD WEST

(Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary DVD for review. My opinions are my own)

(Courtesy BBC Home Entertainment)

Sometimes, you find an all-too-brief documentary series that you wish had been produced further - not only does it provide great insight, but it also enjoyable to watch.

The Wild West, a joint BBC/Discovery Channel co-production from 2011, is such a show. The DVD is very bare-bones, but the content - three episodes focusing on figures from American history - is fascinating.

The series focuses one episode apiece on three major Wild West figures - George Armstrong Custer, Billy the Kid, and Wyatt Earp. Part dramatization and part exploration, these three episodes reveal some of the truth behind the myth...and which is extremely fascinating. From the The Wild West provides some exceptional examples of how history can be explored without relying solely on either auctions or a purely "docudrama" approach.

(Courtesy BBC Home Entertainment)

factors that cost Custer Little Big Horn to rumors of Billy the Kid's "pardon" to the trial of Wyatt Earp,

And for those concerned about scenes being "dramatized", these are more to provide a context than to proclaim true historical accuracy....although for the segment on the shootout at the OK Corrall, actual trial transcripts were used).

It may not be a high profile release, but The Wild West is a pretty solid watch, and quite honestly, fans of Westerns and history will really enjoy this. It is available via a

(Courtesy BBC Home Entertainment)

variety of outlets, including BBC America's Online Store. It may only be three one-hour episodes, but this is definitely a "hidden treasure" for anyone interested in watching some great Westerns, looking at American history....or just some casual viewing which is both educational and enjoyable)

Very highly recommended.

Public Domain Drive-In: THE STRANGER

Sure, I could tell you this Orson Welles film was the first to integrate footage of the Holocaust....or that it's a great noir example....but let me just say this: it's a pretty good watch. Enjoy!

Why Today Matters

A Sense of History: THE LOXLEYS & THE WAR OF 1812

(Full Disclosure: a complimentary electronic copy was provided for purposes of review. My opinions are my own)
 
History is a very tricky subject to handle in graphic form - photos and pictures can provide moments of high emotion, but with little context; and the complexities of politics, situations, and events interacting can often be oversimplified and turned into dull storylines.

Thankfully, on the bicentennial of The War of 1812 (and this post has been the object of frequent procrastination by yours truly), we have a fine graphic novel that manages to take a little-known conflict in American history and manages to not only provide a human face to it, but also manages to educate and inform the reader as well.

Alan Grant's The Loxleys and the War of 1812 (available through Renegade Arts Entertainment) is a definite must-read not just by students of history, but also of anyone who enjoys strong graphic storytelling. Focusing on the War of 1812's impact on a family in Canada, the novel drives home that sense of impact - although told mostly as a flashback, there's a palpable sense of "you are there" emotionally. Grant's script really places the war in context. (There's also an essay after the novel that describes the greater historical situation - essentially, the War of 1812 was dealing with the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, but that would be spoiling, wouldn't it?)

But it's Claude St. Laubin's art and Loverin Kindzierski's colors that add to the book's effectiveness - there isn't a false step in every panel. Instead of making this a more old-fashioned, yes-we-know-this-is-history style, the art and colors really drive home the overall impact of the story, almost as if this were being drawn "from life". It's a really strong graphic novel, and my only regret is that I did not blog about this earlier.

The Loxleys and the War of 1812 may not be for everyone - not everyone wants to read educational comics. (For those of you that do, why not support the efforts of Reading With Pictures?) But this is one of the better graphic novels that was released this year, and is a very pleasant surprise.

At the very least, consider making this your kick-off must-read of 2013.

Jack Klugman: An Appreciation

It was a little disheartening to hear this past holiday that Jack Klugman had passed away. I realize this sounds rather flip (after all, I was briefly affiliated with a church dedicated to his honor), but I really was affected by Mr. Klugman's passing.

Part of it is that, let's face it - he was one of the last of a breed of actors who was able to play, well, regular people.

If you just limited him to The Odd Couple, you would have a pretty damn good reason to miss him. For some, it's Quincy, ME, one of the last of the great 1970s/1980s crime dramas.

But go back further, and Klugman was one of the architects of the "Golden Age of Television", appearing in many early live television plays. (He's also tied with Burgess Meredith for the most appearances on The Twilight Zone, and all of Klugman's appearances are top notch). In his later life, he became an aggressive activist for tobacco prevention after dealing with a serious bout of throat cancer. In every aspect of his life, he was scrappy, abrupt, and argumentative....and we need more actors like him - people willing to take on the image of a scrapper.

For me, I'll celebrate his life by digging out my DVD copy of one of my favorite Klugman films. I read the play in high school, saw the original in college (managed to avoid the remake), but quite honestly, it's one of my favorite Klugman performances. Here's the trailer:

Take Me Where I Cannot Stand: A Review of THE KILLER ANGELS

It's the book that inspired Joss Whedon to create Firefly, and in many ways, Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels shares a similar tone with the show in many ways....but first and foremost, it's one of the best reads not just in the historical fiction genre, but as a solid, literary read in its own rite.

Most of the action takes place during the Battle of Gettysburg, which was a great turning point in the war. However, the novel's perspective is with the generals of the South in the days before the major battle. Shaara provides us with near-insider's view of the Southern leaders, providing multiple insights into just exactly what principles the South was fighting for and about. Interestingly, there are one or two unique takes on states' rights, but ultimately, the novel seems to suggest two major philosophical approaches around respecting past history versus the perception of abandoning the "old ways."

Ultimately, it's the idea not just about being on the "losing side" of history - but of respecting the past versus embracing a "new way - that underlies much of Firefly/Serenity. It is easy to see why this novel was so influential on Whedon's writing - the dialogue is very literate and intelligent, reflecting refinement amongst the "common people." Much of Whedon's skill in crafting characters who are sympathetic despite being on the "wrong side" easily reveal similarities with Shaara's skill in portraying soldiers of the south. When the end comes, even though we "know" it was inevitable, there is a palpable sense of tragedy, with the feeling that these characters deserved much better than they received.

It would be easy to claim that The Killer Angels had as much of an influence on Firefly/Serenity as, say, H.G. Welles' The Time Machine had on Doctor Who. But it's much more than that - it's not just a great novel for fans of Whedon's show.

It's a great novel, period.

Read it. Now.

RIP Neil Armstrong

Photo acquired via Flickr

Probably the most I can say I've already said on Facebook:

RIP Neil Armstrong - when I was a child, I used to dream of being an astronaut. (Even had a toy Apollo rocket). It's disheartening that, nowadays, our dreams aren't about reaching for the moon, but to share fame with someone named "Snooki". So let's not sell ourselves short - if we could send Armstrong to the moon, we can pretty much not limit ourselves in terms of our ambitions. And that's the end of tonight's lecture. :)

A Thrilling Conclusion: YI SOON SHIN # 4

Hard to believe that it has been a year and a half since the whole Yi Soon Shin series began. Yes, I know the creator semi-well (we've been at events together); yes, I've blogged about this series before. So now that we've reached the conclusion, I only have one complaint:

I don't want this series to end. I want more.

No, it's not a narrative complaint - after three issues of set-up, this is the big battle issue. It's not bad - in fact, it's "big screen" approach to medieval history works well, since the naval battles are staged extremely well. It also helps that Giovanni Timpano's art and Adriana De Los Santos' coloring really bring out the best in Onrie Kompan's and David Anthony Kraft's writing - this is as much a visual treat as it is a literary one. In short, this is as much a great book to look at for the art as well as a pretty strong read.

In addition, there are some pretty strong reveals (which I won't mention in detail, simply to avoid spoiling the issue) - these are strong moments dramatically, and thankfully, never descend into drama for its own sake. Although there might be one or two story beats that may seem familiar, it is more to make this story more familiar to contemporary readers than, say, setting up a sequel.

And yes, there is a trade to be released in 2012, but I would suggest picking up this book....as well as the three issues proceeding it. Each issue is a strong, self-contained read, but together, they flow relatively well.

But you definitely don't want to wait for the trade. Comics that are this good deserve to be read sooner, rather than later.

Happy Fourth of July!

For those of you who actually would like to experience the documents that helped form our ideals, here are a few resources from Librivox:

The Declaration of Independence (and United States Constitution)

The Bill of Rights to the US Constitution

The Federalist Papers

History lesson over - have a happy 4th!

A Modern Take on Medieval Times

One of  great things about my escapades at C2E2 was getting to play catchup with Onrie Konpan, who writes Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender. Although I had already bought issue # 3 (which was conveniently gathering dust in the to-be-read pile), I purchased another (which he graciously signed), and promised to write a review once I read it.

And quite frankly, like the previous two issues, it's a well-written, quite enjoyable read.
The centerpiece of issue #3 is a naval battle, and quite frankly, it's one of the better, more action-filled issues that I've read in awhile. (Are you reading this, Mr. Chris Sims? You should be). To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any other comics dealing with a 13th century Korean general fighting off Japanese invaders. And to make a relatively esoteric subject not only come alive, but be rather riveting and impatient for the next issue? Credit goes to Konpan's scripting - yes, it can be a little jarring to read contemporary dialogue in a medieval setting, but after three issues, it becomes much easier to take.

And as always, Giovanni Timpano's art and Adrianna De Los Santos' coloring make this book one of the most pleasant to look at as well. It straddles the line between being overly reverential towards the period and being too modern to break the spell. Kompan's use of actual journal entries from the period actually gets accented by the art - in short, this is one comic that is really worth hunting down and finding.

I also have to say that I want to take back my comments wishing that an independent would pick this up - mostly because, given the franchise-driven nature of modern comics, a tale as unique as this would get watered down. (I can only imagine Dynamite Entertainment thinking this would make some really unusual time travel mashup crossover with the Green Hornet. And I hate myself for typing that last sentence).

By going the strictly indie route, this unique book has a chance to breathe. There's no gimmick, no multiversal crossover, no big events....save for those that have already happened. It's the kind of book that makes me glad I'm a comics fan, and also has me the first in line to buy the trade to see how the story hangs together.

Do whatever you have to in order to buy and read this book. You will definitely thank me for the privilege.

Comic Soon (Hopefully) To A Publisher Near You

(Full disclosure - a review copy was provided for this blog post).

>A few months back, I gave a glowing review of Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender # 1. I enjoyed it very much, hoping that it would find a publisher, and more importantly - encouraging people to purchase and read it.: black

After reading issue # 2....not only does my initial recommendation stand, I'll go so far as to state that I really think this book deserves to be read by a wider audience.

Although I thought the more modernistic dialogue seemed out of place in issue #1, I can see that Omrie Kompan's writing is essentially casting a historical melodrama in a more traditional action/adventure context. Trying to replicate 16th century vernacular would not make this story work; even though it jars to my ears a bit, I understand why characters are speaking in modern grammar - to help make the story much more accessible to modern readers.

I also cannot say enough about the art by Giovanni Timpano and coloring by Adrianna De Los Santos - if this is a "big screen comic", the art makes it stand it even more. There's a great sense of anatomy, a very fine sense of detail, and it really serves the story. No false notes are stuck, nothing seems out of place - this is, simply, a comic to be experienced.

I've always considered it a slight honor when an indie comic/publisher asks me to blog about them - it makes me feel like I'm giving whatever "clout" I have to a deserving source. (And in all honesty, I'm just a guy with a blog - nothing more, nothing less). Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender deserves a wider audience, and hopefully, one day we'll see it next to X-Men.< And if we're really lucky, it will hit X-Men-sized sales numbers.

Beware the Ides of March

(But seriously, some people need to beware the Ides of March)