The comic blogosphere seems to grow larger every day and just like comics, sometimes it’s pretty easy to get a little lost. “Meanwhile…” will act as your map pointing out what interesting discussions are happening out there while you’re reading Blog@Newsarama.
And we’re back. We’re a little late, but we’re back. This week we have some reactions to Joe Quesada’s remarks, A Brief History on Arisia, Harvey Pekar, Marvel Models, The 1980′s X-men movie, Wonder Woman’s catchphrase, a couple of Doctors, the fourth wall, Audio comics, and The Second Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans.
Harvey Pekar and Postcards
Jason Rodriguez is an excellent storyteller, he’s proven that on his blog, The Moose In The Closet. This week he turned his storytelling props to his Postcards production blog and told the story of how Harvey Pekar became involved with the project.
I often get asked how I managed to put the Postcards team together. I’m going to start doing a weekly feature that tells the story behind building Postcards, one creator at a time.
Harvey Pekar was on my “dream-list”. I needed someone who sold well in bookstores, had a recognizable name to people who don’t read many comics (or any comics, really), and who was capable of producing a story of Postcards’ caliber.
Marv(el) Hates Women… Again
Johanna is back and still waiting for Joe Quesada to really answer the question about women posed in last week’s New Joe Fridays.
I only read it because it promised to follow up Quesada’s much-berated comment about how Marvel doesn’t have any women at their summits because they don’t have any women writers working for them. Which it does, after eight other questions and answers about such pressing topics as Joe’s vacation and Marvel’s San Diego booth plans.
Quesada’s not out to win any friends with the beginning of his response:
I saw that somewhere on the ‘net there had seemed to be some sort of controversy about this. It was a simple question and I answered it very matter of fact, but I guess some folks need elaborating.
Implying that those who take you to task or disagree with you aren’t smart enough to understand why you’re right is an old tactic, but one that he’s not above descending to. People weren’t objecting to the fact, Joey, they were objecting to the blatant sexism displayed by the numbers and that neither you nor Newsarama seemed to think that this was any sort of problem or deserved any kind of followup.
Second Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans
I mentioned the first Carnival in my quick hits so it might have been overlooked. It really shouldn’t be as it’s really quite good. This week reveals the Second Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans hosted by Kalinara. Make sure you check it out.
Superhero Radio Shows
It looks like Harvey Jerkwater might be looking into putting together some radio shows like they used to do way back when with the Shadow and Green Hornet.
I haven’t abandoned my Audio Comic Book idea. Part of my slowdown of blog posting is due to a shifting of free time away from Filing Cabinet towards Radio Comics. (Also, I haven’t had much to say about comics lately. Dang.)
The initial project is Green Lantern, a four or five episode arc about the switch from Hal to Kyle. Rather than hew to the comics, I’m doing an “animated series” approach, mucking with the story as necessary for good drama. Figuring out what to leave in, what to strip away, what to change completely, and how to adapt all of it to audio has been both a hoot and a holler. Writing, she is fun. Kilowog was born for radio, I tell ya.
This “animated series” approach means that I don’t fit with Pendant Production’s schemes, so I’ll have to host the sucker on my own website. (Or find someone else who wants ‘em.) I do understand why: their three superhero shows are interlocked and pride themselves on close linkages to existing comic continuity. Ah, well. They inspired me to do this, so I owe ‘em a little.
With luck, Green Lantern will be gripping space opera with wit, drama, excitement, charm, and Hal getting hit in the head. Without luck, it’ll be a disjointed fanboy wankfest with wooden dialogue and Hal getting hit in the head. Thus far, it feels promising, so there’s that.
Here’s to hoping that my fruit-fly-esque attention span won’t give out. Fortunately, I’ve got a few people working with me already. Peer pressure makes me do things. Maybe this time it’ll make me do a good thing. For once.
The Fourth Wall
Scipio discusses once upon a time when comics weren’t ashamed to use the fourth wall.
Violation of the Fourth Wall, the literary barrier between an audience and the entertainment they are viewing, has a long and distinguished history. When did the Fourth Wall become a sacred taboo in comic books? Probably when publishers realized their audience wasn’t children any more… .
Once upon a time, comics treated the Fourth Wall as a feature of the medium, not an obstacle. If it was a wall, it at least had a window you could occasionally open or wave through.
During the Golden Age, when kids were watching the Superman cartoons and serials at the cinema, the comic book versions of Clark and Lois go to the movies where one is playing. Suddenly Clark realizes that the cartoon will reveal his secret identity to Lois, so he has to engage in all sorts of super-shenanigans to distract her from what’s on the screen. Madness.
Quick Hits!
When Fangirls Attack! Now with more links than ever!
Claudia Schiffer & Wolverine! Elle Macpherson with the X-Men! Kate Moss and The Hulk! Bridget Hall and Iron Man! Naomi Campbell and Ghost Rider! How come the women characters didn’t get any male models?
Wonder Woman and San Fransisco!
Why are there so few amphibian-themed superheroes?
Jog Celebrates Two Years Blogging!
Progressive Ruin casts the 1980′s X-men Movie!
A Brief History of Arisia and a Possible Retcon? (spoilers beware)
Illustration Site of The Week
This week’s illustration site is once again brought to you by the fine folks at Drawn! John was kind enough to show everyone IllustrationClass.com. A site full of tutorials on illustration and design issues.
July 19th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
I just responded to Johanna’s post- I think I did a good response…
January 17th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
This Blog is going places, the people, the layout, amazing to see such dedication and focus.