Double Feature!

If somehow, you didn’t see, the SPIDER-WOMAN motic came out on the 19th. It snuck up on me, but I have been looking forward to this for some time (actually, since I started writing this column way back when). There were early assertions that this would be the first motic that was made to be a comic and a motic at the same time, that it would be more than just “wiggling”. After giving episode 1 a few viewings, I’m confident in declaring SPIDER-WOMAN a success. I’m sure the proceeding episodes will be even better, as all parties involved became more adept at this relatively new media form.

On the surface, it may not really look too much different than other motics, like WATCHMEN. I think this is mostly because of all the exposition. But look closely at the environment, when you watch it a second time through. Because all elements in the shot were drawn separately, they could lens-blur out the background to achieve a more convincing sense of depth (sad, though, that all at Maleev art is getting blurred, but he has to draw it anyway.) The bus windows effect was a cool touch. Also, the sea on approach to (Spoilerburg) was really nice looking. What really surprised me was the lack of the “paper doll” movement by letting the mind fill in the motion more like a comic would. Thanks for giving the audience credit.

The best advances in this new story form that I noticed was the action at the end. The punches looked really great! And so did the power blast effects. It all goes by so quickly, but it really impressed me.

I look forward to comparing the comic version, seeing if the product stands up as in that media as well. At Chicago Comic Con, I attended a panel in which Maleev said something about if the comic doesn’t look indistinguishable from his other comics, that he didn’t do his job well. Hearing him talk about other aspects of the production of this material instills me with a trust for the quality of all products still to come through this brand. Motics may not be comics, but I still likes ‘em!

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December Deadline ‘09

It has been released that Diamond isn’t shipping any comics at all for the week of December 30th. It’s not just a delay of a day or two, the whole week. No new comics. Fine, I say. It’s a five week month anyway, no huge crisis. But I see opportunity here! What if that week, grass-roots independent, local creators flooded the stores with original material? Think about it, a week where the racks were filled with comics nobody had seen before. No competition with WOLVERINE or BATMAN. It’s like a late Christmas gift, people!

So, I’m telling you now: get writing, get drawing, and get comics done for Dec 30th. You don’t have a better chance than this. The “whole week skip” hasn’t happened in the decade I’ve been reading comics, maybe ever. You may never get a chance like this again! Send your stuff off to the printers and put them up for order on your websites in advance so your issues can be on the shelves in time for Dec 30th. Come on folks, it’s go time!

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