by Patrick
Here we are, ready for our tenth issue of ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER, and DC issues a recall because you can read they didn't do a good enough job blacking out all the swears that Frank Miller wrote. So why we wait for the long awaited issue to be pulped and reprinted, it seems like a good moment to sit back, look back at the first nine issues, and ask ourselves, "what the hell was Frank Miller and Jim Lee thinking?!" So, now the Bad Genious would like to present the wildest, wackiest, craziest moments that made fandom put their funny books down, look at each other, and say "what the F*@%?"
#1: Talking with Green Lantern Batman finds a way to deal with Hal Jordan. You have to think why didn't Sonar or Black Hand ever use this method.
I love that he's drinking lemonade. It pushes the gag that much farther. And you'll now how Batman refers to himself, which brings us to bullet point #2...
#2: THE GODDAMN BATMAN: No one noticed when Vicky Vale called him by his newest trademarked name (Granted, we were paying more attention to her underwear parade when she rolled out the name).
Clark Kent is way too proper of a young man to say the whole thing out loud, but we all know he is thinking it.
Black Canary seems to think it's his first name.
But everyone takes notice when our favorite playboy millionaire start referring to himself as "The Goddamn Batman!"
#3: Batman Rolls Over Some Cops. So Batman, you've just saved your future sidekick from corupt police officers. Now what are you going to do?
"I'm going to run them over like roadkill!"
All Star Batman- Bringing you the pure Batman you grew up with!
#4: The Introduction of Wonder Woman: We start out with Wonder Woman walking to a meeting with the Justice League. And she just feels like sharing her view of men as she walks along: Sperm-Banks!
Then we have the Amazon's view on what to do with the "Batman Problem."
And then she reacts as only woman on TV or in Frank Miller comics act. Namely "I Hate you! You make me sick! Yet, you turn me on and must have my way with you."
Somehow, I don't think this is what Adam Huges had in mind when he signed up to produce ALL-STAR WONDER WOMAN.
#5: THE VICKI VALE FASHION SHOW
And our final moment...
#6: Batman hooks up with Black Canary
Black Canary. In the DCU, she's a strong willed, strong female. Leader of the Justice League. And not someone who you would want to mess with.
All-Star Black Canary, not quite the strong female role model we see in her own book. Hence her jumping Batman's bones the second she see him.
That's all for today. Until Batgirl beats up gang members while shouting profanities, make mine All-Star Batman!
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9.10.2008
Another Godd@*# Batman List: The Most Insane Moments from All Star Batman (so-far)
9.09.2008
Raiders of the Last Shipment: Puppy Chow
by Liana
There was no Fables in this month's shipment. Total suck. At least there was a healthy dose of controversy, what with Wendy and Marvin biting the big one (or is that the Big One biting Wendy and Marvin?). Speaking of biting, Scott and Emma are up to all kinds of suck in their book and all those people involved with Red Skull are up to all kinds of no good in Bucky's book. Gee, I'm one disgruntled fangirl this month. I hate when that happens. 
Captain America #41
Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting
When I read this title, I find it excellent. The art (when Epting is on) is gorgeous and the writing is intelligent, well-paced and intriguing. But when I think about the title, I get frustrated. I’ve felt like we’re just treading water--cool, interesting water, but water nonetheless--since Steve Rogers was killed and everything is just slowly building to his eventual return. Don’t we all expect him to be back by the end of Secret Invasion? Of course we do. But what really frustrates me is that no matter much I enjoyed reading an issue, I can barely remember what happened once I’m done. Even now, as I sit here flipping through to refresh my memory, not much is coming back. Dr. Faustus is double-crossing the Red Skull. Okay. Sharon Carter may or may not have actually been pregnant but whatever. She isn’t now so she’s free to fight her way out of captivity. Black Widow has a neat-o flying car. Am I missing anything? Yes, but also no, and that’s the problem. Bucky is a really cool character, but despite the last page proclamation, he really is not Captain America and this title is kind of pointless until Steve Rogers returns. Grade: B+
Uncanny X-Men #501
Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Greg Land
Wow. I hated this. I mean really, really hated it. Let me start by saying that it seems obvious to me the Brubaker didn’t write a word of this. (See how I didn’t open with a rant about how much I detest Greg Land’s art?) The characters’ voices are all wrong. What the hell was that conversation between Scott and Emma? I mean besides vomit-inducing? He called her “babe.” And “baby.” Then he rambled like a mental patient when Emma caught him attempting to build a crib. And who cares if the pink-haired chick got beaten up? Who the hell is she? Oh, Beast’s got his dexterity back. That’s not totally, ridiculously random. If you want to phase out CatBeast, you can’t just do it as an aside. It should be a story in its own right. I’d guess Brubaker’s involvement comes in with the Red Queen plotline. My money’s on her somehow being Madelyn Pryor and working some kind of mind control not only over her little group, but over the X-Men as well to make them act all weird. But I’m not hanging around to find out. That’s right. I’m dropping Uncanny X-Men until Dan tells me something’s happened that worth coming back for. Hopefully by then, Greg Land will have moved on to a new project. Grade: D
Teen Titans #62
Sean McKeever, Eddy Barrows
After reading all the Internet hoopla about this issue, I had to check it out. Would I be slapped in the face? Would my childhood be raped? I thought “probably not,” but you never know. Two things you should know: I don’t read Teen Titans and Sean McKeever is one of my favorite people in the world. My page one impression was that this Wendy and Marvin don’t look anything like MY Super Friends Wendy and Marvin. Slap-in-the-face #1, courtesy of Eddy Barrows. My page three impression was that this Wendy and Marvin are super annoying—slap-in-the-face #2, courtesy of Sean McKeever—and they NEED to die, which we’ll go ahead and call slap-in-the-face #3. With all this face-slapping, how could McKeever possibly find the time to also rape my childhood? Well, I’m sorry to say he didn’t. In fact, by page six, I took back the face-slapping and started thanking the creative team for what’s to come. I hate these characters. I don’t know what they’ve done in this title previously (having only read three issues ever), but nothing in this issue leads me to believe they’re an important part of the team. In fact, I got the impression that they’re really a detriment. They welcomed this mysterious, stray dog with no investigation. They reconstructed Cyborg, but I get the feeling this guy isn’t exactly on the up-and-up. And they whine incessantly. I mean, non-stop. So by the time Wonderdog rips apart Marvin’s neck, I was cheering. And ten year old me would have thought that was coolest thing ever. Not because I would have hated Wendy and Marvin, but because it was unexpected and freaking holy shit cool. Now, to address some legitimate complaints. Apparently, the same thing happened with a dog in 52 or something? Okay, well, that’s clearly alluded to with a copy of 52 lying on Marvin’s bloody floor, so I’d suspect that there’s a reason for the copycat attack. The team was stupid to accept the dog no questions asked. I’d say that was to demonstrate that everyone’s too distracted by their own problems to handle things properly. Miss Martian left and she’s the bestest character. Do we know that where she’s going and what she’s dealing with aren’t going to be covered in this book and tie into everything? For me, the only thing I really found wrong with this is that it doesn’t read like the Sean McKeever I love. His writing seems stilted and not natural. Definitely not up to the same standards as his Marvel and Indy work. I could speculate why that is, but there’s little point in it. Oh, I didn’t like the art at all, though I thought Barrows did a wonderful job conveying the tension and fear as Wendy ran for her life. Grade: B
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9.05.2008
The Return: From Top to Bottom #18: The 90's!
by Matt
Last time, I admitted that I like gimmick covers and that I was one of those fans that helped make it a problem by buying a ton of them. I still stand by saying that some of them were cool and I looked at the Top and Bottom of Gimmick Covers. After reading more of Brandon's great Casualties of the 90's columns I decided it would be fun to look back at the 90's as well. With this special extended 18th edition, I will be looking at my favorite projects that came out in the 90's. While the 90's were not looked at as one of the greatest eras in comics, it was certainly important and is probably my favorite era. 
October 1992. Marc Silvestri is one of my favorite artists and I could not wait until this series came out. Like all early Image books this did have problems with lateness but it was worth waiting. The first miniseries had 5 issues (#0-4) and the second series lasted only 35 issues. What I liked about this series is that Cyberforce's main enemy was destroyed in the 25th issue and then it had to change direction. That new direction introduced a more supernatural edge to it that became Top Cow's main staple.
August 1994. I am a sucker team books and Ultraforce featured all of Malibu's top guns. Another big draw was the return of George Perez to a monthly book. Sadly, this series only lasted 10 issues before Marvel destroyed the line. But the 2nd volume that came out a year later was still pretty entertaining, it featured early work from Warren Ellis. This series and the original Prime title were fantastic.
September 1991. The only Valiant title that I have a full run (except for that pesky #60) of. Those early issues was absolutely terrific. Solar was not an ordinary super hero, and I recognized that quickly when he lost control of his powers and destroyed the whole Earth. The split personalities and alternative universes were more than plot devices, they were clever ways for the reader to learn how god-like and how human Solar really was.
March 1995. I discovered this book a lot later than when it initially came out and I wish I had picked it up then. Back when I first collected comics, I rarely went beyond Marvel and DC and I was more into superhero stuff. This book would have changed my comic buying habits for the better. This book is still going although sadly it is on hiatus. Reading Stray Bullets makes me feel better about the life that I have, there are moments when I read it that I feel sick to my stomach. I feel that way because I feel like I know these characters and the terrible decisions that they make and it is hard to watch what happens. 
March 1995. I couldn't believe it when I heard that Marvel was cancelling all of its X-titles (I heard this in the comic shop, way before the Internet was used) and I couldn't believe what these "new" X-titles looked like. Probably one of the greatest events of the 90's. While I knew that the normal Marvel Universe would return, it was so much fun to see how characters were changed and how they fought. It really felt important and would affect the X-titles for years after. Hey Marvel! This is how you kill off Banshee!
March 1994. I always like Mignola's moody art when it was on Alpha Flight and I remember flipping through this issue at Woodhaven Comics in New York and thinking that this could be something special. This was pure Mignola art, not like I saw when he was on Alpha Flight. It wasn't until Wake the Devil that I knew for sure that this was special. I never imagined that this series would still continue today and that there would have been a few movies as well.
July 1996. When Stormwatch first came out I collected and loved the early issues, Backlash turned out to be a personal favorite of mine and I followed him through the Kindred and then to his own Backlash series. But the reason I listed Stormwatch on this list was when Warren Ellis took over the book and turned it around. Ellis gave me a superhero book that was not just about capes and supervillians. He gave us a book about how those who have abilities can change the world. His work grew more ambitious and led the way to the 2nd volume of Stormwatch and then naturally turned into the Authority. His run changed comics forever. 
July 1991. My first real independent book that I picked up. I heard a ton of good reviews about it and I saw #15 on the shelves and decided to pick it up. At first glance I thought I was picking up a kids book, the Bone characters looked silly. But as I read the issue and laughed out loud, I knew I was wrong. The black and white art really stood out and the pacing seemed a lot slower than other comics (this was before decompression was really used) and it fit. Those first 25 issues of the that series (it was completed with #55) were classic!
October 1994. By now I am sure everyone knows that I a MAJOR Alan Davis fan. I loved his run on Excalibur and was intrigued by this new mysterious series that featured all new characters. What I loved about this book were the relationships between the characters, they felt like a family to me. They argued like a family does, they treat each other like family members do, good or bad. During this time, comics were more grim and gritty. It seemed like every team book had a guy with claws and a guy with large guns. This book hearkened back to the older days, where characters had code names like Crimson Crusader and they wore a cape. This was a refreshing look back at the classic feel of the old days. Sadly, Alan left the book with the 8th issue and returned for a 2 issue miniseries with the X-Men and it would take almost 15 years for them to return.
July 1992. At first I really disliked Erik Larsen and now I love the guy. His book has never failed to entertain me. This book literally has everything. I never know what to expect when I read it, it is full of shocks, twists, violence, sex and a whole lot more! The best part is that Erik Larsen will always be on the book until he dies and I will be along for the ride the whole time. How can you go wrong with a character like BrainApe? Yes, he is a huge gorilla with the brain of Adolf Hitler. Erik is not afraid to change anything, NOTHING is sacred, even the Dragon himself!
See? I love the 90's! I could have easily added Preacher, Starman, Alan Moore's Supreme to this list! Now there are books that came out that were not so great either. I will not bore you with a huge list of what was ridiculous but I will give you my Bottom 3 projects of the 90's.
September 1993. This crossover featured 2 of the hottest comic companies in Image and Valiant and this series was one of the things that caused the downfall of comics in the 90's. Image was extremely late in the project, so late that retailers could not return any unsold comics back to the publisher. There was thousands of Deathmate Red and Black left unsold in comic shops. The project was hastily put together and it should be noted that Todd McFarland and Erik Larsen wanted nothing to do with the project. Its only bright spot was that it did introduce Gen13 to comic fans.
November 1996. You'd think that with Liefeld and Jim Lee returning to Marvel would be the greatest thing but it wasn't. None of the creators could even stay on the books the whole time, which was extremely disappointing. The only good thing about it was it gave more exposure to the Avengers and Fantastic Four titles and made them just as important as the X and Spider-titles. 
October 1994. I never thought it would come to a time when I didn't collect a Spider-Man book. It has only happened twice, with Brand New Day and back in the 90's with the Clone Saga. Comic book companies in the 90's found a formula of success by overhauling characters completely, they killed Superman, broke Batman's back, made Hal Jordan go crazy, kill Daredevil off and replace him with an 'armor' version, make Colossus go bad, suck the metal out of Wolverine, kill off Green Arrow... ...geez, the list is endless. The biggest disaster was the Clone Saga. The Spider-Man we all knew was just a clone! The Clone Saga was only supposed to last a year or so but it sold well (like all the comics in the 90's) and so Marvel extended it and it went on and on and on. Now there are some good stories within that craptacular event, Amazing Spider-Man #400 being the best, we ended up with a new Spider-Man. The costume was cool, but Ben Reily was not. Thankfully they ended it by killing Ben, who was revealed to be the actual clone but it also brought back Norman Osborn. Ugh.
Sure the 90's had some terrible moments but there were some great gems that came out of the same era!
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Panelology – Cataloging My Addiction
by Brandon
Heroes Con in Charlotte is always one of my yearly fanboy highs. What’s not to love about it? It blends a wonderful comic book friendly environment with good, solid deals. When I go to Heroes Con, I always feel this elation that is hard to describe and even harder to calculate. I’m not necessarily one of those fans who thinks things through well when I show up at a convention, or even normal shopping for that matter. I never bring lists. Does that make me less of a fan? Probably. But I'm okay with that.
There was a guy sifting through a trade paperback bin next me early on Friday during this year’s con. He had a notebook with pages upon pages of titles he needed to pick up. This wasn’t a floppy, flimsy notebook either. We’re talking about a solid 1 1/2 – 2 inch thick three-ring binder. This man was serious. As he found what he was looking for, he highlighted each selection and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. I thought that this type of anal-retentive comic book accounting was a bit silly. Who has the time or patience to catalogue what you currently have, let alone what you need? Moron. Go read a book to children or the elderly. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Clean your house. Just do something besides sweating out the details of your collection.
That is what I thought until I had a major Mr. Magoo moment.
I would like to think I have a good memory for useless or esoteric things like comic books, and I do. But going through a long box of back issues there on the con floor, my brain went dead. I was looking at some issues of the second volume of Ghost Rider, a favorite of mine back in the '90s because I thought I wanted to a biker. It’s true. The allure of the open road, tattoos, and leather jackets was pretty strong. It wasn’t until later that I developed a fear of motorcycles, an aversion to wearing leather, and some serious inhibitions about living into my sixties with a tattoo of a rebel flag on my arm. But still, I have a soft spot for Ghost Rider. I live my biker dreams vicariously through the exploits of the Spirit of Vengeance. 
As I looked through the box, I couldn’t remember what issues I had in my collection. I remembered buying some issues a few months before, but had I bought the first ten issues or the first thirty? I couldn’t remember. Somewhere in the halls of fairness, the aforementioned moron with his big thick notebook was laughing at me as he highlighted yet another priceless find to make his comic book collection just that much more awesome.
I left without buying a single issue of Ghost Rider. I’m so cheap that I will literally let an issue fall back into the dark abyss of the dollar box than buy duplicates of an issue. That really pisses me off.
I got home and had to reason with myself. It was time to catalogue my comics even though I still thought it was kind of silly. I have said here before that I don’t consider myself a collector, but more of a reader. I mean, seriously, collectors are kind of odd people and I’m not odd people. I’m perfectly normal. Why would I want to catalog my precious belongings? I read them, have my fun, and I throw them in a box to be pulled out and read again somewhere down the road. So, no, I’m not a collector.
As my fiancé likes to point out, the thousands of comics that currently reside in my second bedroom tell a whole other story.
I’m a closet collector. There. I admitted it. Full disclosure; I feel a little dirty admitting it, but it is true. I enjoy reading comics, but I hate organizing and counting things. I would make a terrible librarian. I could read all day at the library and be perfectly content to pick up my paycheck on Fridays, but the second someone tells me to go shelve a book in order, I’d be inclined them where the can stick their Dewey Decimal System. Order isn’t my thing. Being OCD is one thing, whereas being neat is something else entirely.
Somewhere around the middle of July, I found the right program to use, Comic Book Database. It was free and it was online. My wallet was cool with that. I know some folks use Excel or Word, but I’m too lazy to organize those in any reasonable fashion. Comic Book DB is pretty user friendly. Now, if only we could get the user to finish the job. Almost two months, and I still have about six long boxes to go.
And guess what? Typing all of that stuff into the computer sucks. It’s just as mundane and excruciating as I had originally imagined. Not only is the manual labor monotonous, but the gasps of horror over some things I have found in my collection were frequent and shocking. But it’s necessary. 
And the cataloging process isn’t a total bummer. It is fun going back and looking at all of those comics. I love remembering not only the craft of the stories, but where I was at in that particular point in my life. It’s kind of neat in a cheesy Hallmark sort of way.
The fact that members can edit the content is very Web 2.0. I feel geeky in the "I edit Wikipedia for fun" kind of way when I do, but the feeling passes rather quickly. From a collector’s standpoint, I can also clearly see the huge gaping holes in my collection. I guess if I weren’t so cheap I could fill those gaps in quickly. That is, if I actually stay on top of this.
I know there are probably a million ways one could go about the cataloging of comics, but this one seems to be the least painful for someone as lazy as I am. Maybe my fine readers have a better way. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you’re like me, stuck in the miasma of fanboy lethargy. Let’s hope not, because I now feel like this is a worthy exercise for any collector. Yes, you too can catalog your collection like that overzealous three-ring binder guy and me. If I can do it, you can do it. No pain, no gain. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Yeah!
Can I stop the inspirational Vince Lombardi speech now?
You can look at what I have documented thus far by clicking here. Warts and all.
That’s all for now. Next week, I’ll offer up some suggestions for essential books that every comic collector should own. I promise I won’t put Dark Knight or Watchmen in the list. I promise, really.
Until then…
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9.03.2008
Raiding Top Shelf's $3 Sale
by Brandon
There are so many reasons to love reading comics published by Top Shelf Productions. They are probably the most consistent indie publishers out there, producing some of the best fiction and nonfiction on the shelf at your fine local comic shop. They also have a slew of prime talent behind their books like James Kochalka, Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell, Liz Prince, Craig Thompson, Andy Runton, Alex Robinson,and many, many more. So, honestly, who needs another reason to love these guys?
Well... How about a huge $3 Sale? Yeah, that will do.
If you read my normal column Panelology or have spent more than five minutes hanging around me, you know I'm a cheapskate. It's not that I don't like spending money, it's just that I don't have much. You can't really be a "high rolla" on a teacher's salary. Every cent has to count for something. When I saw this sale go live last night at their website, my wallet leaps at the chance to finally roam freely through fields of e-commerce.
So what did I end up getting? I got some very cool stuff. Here are some of the highlights! 
The Surrogates #'s 1-5 by Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele:
I've heard nothing but positive buzz about this comic. I've read several reviews online, but I haven't really seen it anywhere. The local shops around here pretty much pander to (a) DC whores, (b) Marvel zombies, or (c) Pokemon prostitutes. It's too bad because this futuristic book looks like it blends action and science fiction well. I'm a sucker for great Sci-Fi, so this book promises to be a must-read once it arrives. It's definitely going to be tough competition for the first read, but I think this book has a lock on that first spot. 
Sketchbook Diaries vol. 1-4 by James Kochalka
Kochalka is the funniest man operating on this side of the funny book pages today. Period. If you have a better choice, stuff it because you're wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! I love his work on nearly everything he's done, but Super F*ckers, Johnny Boo, and Monkey vs. Robot stand out as his best. Or do they? Many people say that his Sketchbook Diaries are a lot of fun, but I've never really check them out. I hope these volumes surprise me just as much as his other work has. 
Will You Still Love Me if I Wet the Bed? by Liz Prince
I literally held this book in my hand this past weekend. I had done so probably on at least five or six occasions before then. I never picked it up. I am a real big jerk. However, redemption comes in many forms, and this time it comes in the shape of three wrinkly George Washingtons. I know you're not supposed to judge a book but its cover, but to hell with conventional reasoning. This is serious, damnit! The title is just stellar and the art looks fantastic. Battling the Surrogates for the top reading spot will be this little title of relationship vignettes. Not only am I a sucker for good Sci-Fi, I love reading about relationship comic books. Not in a 90210 sort of way, just the type of comics that look at the real side of life and love. This looks like it will fit the bill nicely. 
Bacchus Vol. 1 by Eddie Campbell
Eddie Campbell is one of my favorite artists, but I have neglected to pick up any of his Bacchus comics or trades. I feel real reformed-Southern Baptist guilt over this. Catholic guilt can't even hold a candle to that type of guilt! The story of Greek Gods surviving into the modern era is a compelling framework for the series. And for $3, how could I pass this opportunity up?
There's more to my massive order, but I won't go into details just yet about those other purchases. Why? Well, I figure I can squeeze another article of them. Plus, I want you to stop reading this, get off your ass (at least your digital ass) and head over to Top Shelf right now to buy some great comics! I promise you will be satisfied. That is unless you have no soul, in which case, it's probably tough convincing you of anything.
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Patrick's Hat Trick: Why aren't these collections still in print?
by Patrick
Robocop Vs. Terminator: The rebels of the Terminators future have found out there was a human mind that was attached to Skynet to give it sentience. And that mind was Alex Murphy's AKA Robocop. So the rebels sent a person back to kill Robocop, and she succeeds. In order to stop that Terminators sent back a unit to stop her. And it does. Then Murphy starts to figure things out. More Terminators show up. And lot and lots of things blow up. Written by the guy who wrote Robocop 2 and 3. A guy who had a little bit of a comic background named Frank Miller. And drawn by a Walt Simonson who was at the top of his game. This book needs to be back in print. Not only that, but the original trade is very weird. It was published by Diamond and what they did was take the comics themselves and bound them together. The covers are on cover stock. The adds and letter pages are still in there. As are the cardboard cutouts that were in every issue. It would be nice to have an addition that read more like a trade without adds and such. 
Marvel Monster Masterworks: You might think that with Marvel doing well with both it's various Jack Kirby Collections (Essentials and Omnibus, as well as trades of things like a his runs on Cap) and it's various Marvel monsters (things like old Dracula, werewolf, and newer things like Marvel Zombies) a collection of the best pre-marvel Kirby monster stories would be a no-brainer to have in print. Yet this collection from 1989 has been out of print for a long long time. Divided into sections such as Alien Invaders, Man Made Monsters, and Ancient Menaces. and packed with great creatures such as The Glop, X The Thing That Lived, and that most revered of Marvel monsters, Fin Fang Foom. I do believe the day has come for this collection to be back in print. 
Scott McCloud's Zot! Book One: One of the many tragedies is that we never got the final collection of Scott "Understanding Comics" McCloud's Zot!. We, that wrong was finally righted with Harper Collins publishing Zot!: The Complete Black and White Collection: 1987-1991 a few weeks ago, we got finally got those issues we missed the first time around. And while it is great to have any of this great strip back in print, I think it's a crime that these first ten remain out of print. They are filled with charm, wit, and great characters. And he's all over the internet this week with his Google browser comic, I love my new Black and White collection, but it's only the 2nd half of the Zot! Story. We finnaly got the final issues in a collected format, now bring back the first!So, do I think they will they ever bring these books back in print?
Well, until they do, I'll treasure the copies I have and hope that others will get to join me in my appreciation of these fine volumes someday.
So, any treasures on your bookshelf that you think should be back in print? Share your thoughts in the comments and we'll see you next time.
9.01.2008
Fangirl in a Foreign Land
Cape Town as viewed from Table Mountain
The Fangirl Initiative
by Cindy Cooper
If you ever have the opportunity to go to South Africa, go. Just pack your clothes, get your shots and go. You will be glad you did. I was presented with such an opportunity this summer, when I was asked to be part of Pratt Institute’s Summer in South Africa program, and against all sanity, I went. I’ve been trying to write this article since I got back. The experience was so overwhelming that it has been difficult to distill it into one blog article. Those of you who read my travel blog, Fangirl in a Foreign Land will understand. There were days that were so full that I couldn’t believe they were just twenty four hours. But, I’ll start at the beginning and do my best. 
Sunset in Port Elizabeth and no Photoshop was necessary.
The plan was one week of travel along South Africa’s Garden Route to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth and back. The last four weeks we spent teaching art to kids, in Port Elizabeth. My own personal plan was to teach these kids some art basics and then dovetail into the fine art of visual storytelling aka comic books.
Now, part of me sort of doubted I’d get away with my geek laden lesson plans. Surely, I’d get an email from my teacher, Sandy, telling me how ridiculous the whole things was. After all, I’ve never taught before. What did I know? However, miraculously, I was paired with Alyssa, a fellow Fangirl as teaching partner and roommate. Alyssa just happens to be writing a graphic novel as well. Coincidentally, she also had comic books in her lesson plans. This isn’t something we knew when we chose each other as partners. We were green lit for what I like to call The Fangirl Initiative.
There were times during that first week of travel that I’d find myself in complete awe of the stunning beauty of South Africa. Sandy would comment, “Yes it is beautiful, but you’ll come back for the kids.” We hadn’t met the kids, yet. So we all just sort of snorted, “Yeah, right.” Was she seeing what we were seeing? Then the first week of teaching began and we met the kids.
Siphokazi and Alyssa talk art.
What can I tell you about these kids? I could tell you about their trembling hands the first day of class and how focused and earnest they were. According to their principal, failure is not accepted in their culture. They would rather not try at all than fail, but they also have a great respect for teachers. So they will do whatever a teacher asks. Speaking to them you realize their education is everything to them. For them it’s not about having a job where they can make a lot of money. It’s about creating a better future for their country. It’s about making the townships a better place to live. They made it easy to teach them.
I could tell you that most of them live in townships where some are some so desperate that they have to steal copper wire to put electricity in their shacks. And, yet they come to school sharp in burgundy uniforms, full of hope and ready to learn. This isn’t a country of victims, as our media and movies would have us believe. This is a country of people dedicated to the future of their country. These are all things you should understand about the kids I was teaching. This way maybe you can understand how I could be so moved and become so attached in such a short period of time. As a mother of a 12 year old boy, raised in the land of Xbox 360 and American Girl I was blown away by the self –awareness and poise of kids who had nothing by American standards. My eyes were opened.
By the end, we’d finally learned names that were difficult for our American tongues. For their part, they were doing some pretty amazing art work. Their comic books were imaginative, funny and sometimes touching. There was a group of three boys we called The Architects due to their love of doing precise artwork with their rulers. They surprised Alyssa and me by turning in comic books about first dates and relationships with girls. The Head Boy, Lungako, created a comic book that told us of his struggle to come to school from the Homelands and how he’d had to live alone and struggle to excel in his studies. One girl, Siphokazi, told a story of a girl who had to battle monsters in her nightmares. End of the day, these kids proved to have a knack for visual storytelling. 
Awesome cover art!
We learned from one student, Gcobani, that the comics they usually have available are about sports and relationships. “But, we don’t have cool action comics like these,” he sighed in awe as he flipped through my Ultimates trade. They also enjoyed the Nelson Mandela biographic comic I brought in for them. “This is about Madiba!” One boy exclaimed reverently. They call Nelson Mandela by his clan name, Madiba. They speak of him as if he’s a beloved uncle. I’ve decided to gather all the gently used back issues I can and send them to the kids. Also, I’m going to arrange for Umlando Wezithombe, the South African comic book company that released the Nelson Mandela comic to send the school a copy of his graphic biography for their library.
The last day of class, the kids finished up their comic books and then there was an art show. As they finished up their books and we started them on quick wire sculptures, it occurred to me that we’d have to say good bye that day. Suddenly, we were exchanging tearful hugs and addresses. “In case I never see you again, I want you to know that you’ve had a big impact on my life,” said Siphokazi with tears spilling from her eyes. It hit me in the gut. Just a few minutes before this another boy, Leon, had called me to his desk to give me his initiation stick. I’d find out later that this is a huge honor. The whole evening would be full of moments like this for all of us. We spent the last three days of our trip saying good bye to new friends and were on the edge of tears the whole time. 
Me, Alyssa and the kids
Everyday had a purpose there, a purpose outside my own survival. The feeling proved to be addictive. I need more of it. That’s why I’ll be going back. That’s why there will be another round of The Fangirl Initiative. This time the program will be an intensive visual storytelling program, which will be more focused on producing an actual comic book from beginning to end. The idea being that kids everywhere have powerful stories to tell, if given the tools and it’s important for them to be heard. Umlando Wezithombe said they would love to be involved and I already have people volunteering to teach. It just comes down to getting some grants and other financial backing. I’d like to be able to have the program in the US as well.
So who knows, maybe The Fangirl Initiative could be coming to a school near you.
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Beyond the Big 2: Aug 2008
by Matt
I love it when comic companies put out a cheap preview issue of a new series to generate interest. I'll usually try out any comic when it is around a buck, I have picked up a bunch of great series because of this with Black Summer and Drafted certainly coming to mind. This month, 3 out of my picks are cheap preview issues!
By Larry Hama (W) • Robert Atkins (A)
Published by IDW Publishing
99 cents!
Product Code AUG084120
G.I. Joe has a new base of operations! IDW Publishing is proud to present an all-new era for the legendary Joe team. This specially priced introductory issue re-introduces the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA conflict for today's world, as presided over by G.I. JOE commanding officer, writer Larry Hama. Joining Hama on art chores is artist Robert Atkins. Together, the two tell their first tale-during a routine mission, the Joe team comes under attack by a mysterious outfit with terrifying goals. Featuring a special cover by painter Dave Dorman, as well as a wraparound incentive cover by the inimitable Ben Templesmith, this 24-page comic features a 16-page story, plus character sketches, interviews. All that and more for less than a buck!
I am a child of the 80's and I fondly remember Marvel's GI Joe series. I bought the Image reboot and almost every incarnation since and eventually dropped them because they just didn't capture what I was looking for. Remember GI Joe: Reborn? Ugh. I am hoping that this reboot will recapture that early magic and for a buck I am definitely willing to give it a try!
By Hugh Jackman & Marc Guggenheim (W) Paul Gulacy (A)
Published by Virgin Comics
$1.00
Product Code AUG084355
Its 500 years in the future and an oppressive government monitors everything- including your mind. It's the Patriot Act gone haywire. Everyone on earth has been infected with a virus that allows a central computer to tap into and analyze their thoughts. But a group of rebels have engineered the ultimate weapon: a genetically altered child, born immune to the virus. With the ability to act undetected, he's the only one on the planet that can bring some semblance of privacy and individuality back to the world. It is his destiny. He is the Nowhere Man.
The storyline sounds intriguing but the biggest draw is Paul Gulacy. When I was younger I never liked his art but I have grown to love it. What could have been my first Virgin book now looks like it may never be published. But I am going to order it anyway. 
By Joshua Hale Fialkov (W) Rick Mays (A)
Published by Top Cow Comics
$2.99
Product Code AUG082277A
The “season premiere” of one of last year’s Pilot Season winners! You voted for it, you got it! From the pages of Marc Silvestri’s Cyberforce comes a solo series for Cyblade! Dominique Thiebaut has been leading a double life. By day she’s an awkward teenager, but, at night, a chip in her brain changes her into the deadly master assassin Cyblade. Now she’s broken free from Cyberdata’s control. She must find a way to escape from their clutches, while trying to discover who she really is beneath.
I thought Cyblade was the worst of last year's Pilot Season but I am willing to give this series a try. I am a huge Cyberforce fan and I am hoping that the series will be better that the pilot. I almost didn't order the series because of the lame T&A cover but mailordercomics offered it for 75% off so I will try it again.
By Joe Casey (W) Joe Abraham (A)
Published by Devil's Due
99 cents!
Product Code AUG083930
The comic book legend returns! DDP is proud to present the beginning of the new Zen legend! Trained as a master of the Om martial arts, Zen becomes the galaxy`s deadliest mercenary-for-hire, but at what cost to his soul?
I heard of Zen back in the 90's but I never picked up the book and I have no idea what it is all about. But with Joe Casey writing and it only costing a buck, I will take a peek at this series as well.
I get all my comics, trades and hard covers through Mailordercomics.com. Click on the banner below and you visit their site and you can order these books (and anything else from the August Previews) at huge discounts.
I'll see you next month with some more picks. Make sure you check out my other new column Beyond the Big 2: Preview Review where I will be reviewing picks that I made in earlier columns. Earlier I reviewed Freddie & Me: Coming of Age, Charlatan Ball #1 and Fluffy. This week, I will review No Hero #0 and Modern Masters Vol 18: John Romita Jr and the first X Omnibus!
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