Tuesday, April 4, 2017

ANNIVERSARY PARTIES

At the end of this month, I'll be appearing at the East Coast Comic Con where, along with signing comics and meeting fans, I'll be taking part in two very special panels.  

For the first—celebrating 30 years of Justice League International—I'll be joined by those Kings of Comedy, those Monarchs of Mirth, Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire. 


For the second, celebrating the 30th birthday of Kraven's Last Hunt (my, how our little boy has grown), I'll be joined by one of the greatest superhero artists in the history of comics, Mike Zeck, inker extraordinaire Bob McLeod and editor, and all-around swell guy, Jim Salicrup.



It's going to be a great weekend and I hope to see some of you there.  

29 comments:

  1. 30 years?! Gulp!

    To say I love those two comics is a major understatement - so very different yet both were and are astonishing and ground-breaking.

    You guys did things with JL/I/A and Kraven's Last Hunt that you simply weren't supposed to do! But you did them, and comics really did change, and for the better.

    And boy, what a line-up of legends! Have an amazing time, Mr D!


    Karlos

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  2. Yep, I bought 4 tickets already. My three daughters and I will be in attendance. They each have something to get signed from you...and so do I. We're very excited. We've never been to this show before, so I'm hoping it's family friendly like Baltimore!

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    1. I've never been there before either, George, so we'll discover it together.
      Looking forward to meeting you and your daughters!

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  3. After all those years,it is still the only Justice League era I really love. Not like, or respect, but certainly the only one I really LOVE.

    And feel free to use the quote you alleged to like about the era. about how I liked it so much I intentionally don't own every issue, so that I can buy an issue when I'm having a bad time. Of course, as time goes by the day that no longer makes since comes faster and faster. So, use it soon.

    It is also the 30th anniversary of Pete and MJ's Marriage. Well, technically speaking, it is June 21, and it happened in two universes (proof: http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=558996).

    You probably don't remember that time at all. I don't think you wrote any Spider-Man stories at that time. At least not of note.

    That really was the best relationship in comics. I know you were no fan of it, but maybe as the date closes in you'll write a post about it.

    I'll expect it around the time that last year's Silver Surfer appreciation and the commentary on violence in comics you have mentioned doing since 1832. Shall we say, 2071? Mid August? Not a day later, or I won't read it.

    The JLI is 30 years old. I'd say I feel old, but if I did and then told you how old I was when it came out you would probably grab all your Beatle records, play them at full blast in a locked room, as you read you Len Wein Swamp Things, and fingerd your well worn peace necklace (in bell bottoms, a furry, vest and no shirt of course) and kept repeating "I'm still young, I'm still with it, I'm hip, I matter" over and over again for a week. So.'. I won't I need you to finish that issue of Scoobs Apocs.


    Jack


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    1. I never wore furry vests with no shirts. I did wear bell bottoms the first day of 8th grade—this was before they became mainstream—and was nearly laughed out of school.

      I assume you were reading JLI in your crib—or at least looking at the pictures.

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    2. I believe I first heard about it on Sesame Street's 20th anniversary KLH retrospective. The homage they did where Oscar stuffs Super-Grover in his trash can for a week is a classic.

      --David

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    3. "Oscar's Last Hunt" has gone on to be a children's classic.

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    4. Do you know what kind of person says they didn't own a furry vest they wore with no shirt? Someone who did but wants to hide it.

      Yeah, trust me, you don't want the age I was.

      However, the marriage was on June 21, 1987. I hope you will comment on it, writing a long form essay on it. I assume it will will be clever, smart, emotional, and so sweet that I'll need a root canal afterwards.

      I don understand though that life has ways of wandering.

      Jack

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    5. So another random thought about KLH. It rightly gets a lot of love for selling 'psychological realism' to mainstream comics readers, but the way it uses language to accomplish its goals is often overlooked. There is a certain cadence, a rhythm, a poetry to the way Kraven expresses his thoughts that's unlike anything that came before.

      --David

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    6. Thanks, David. Those elements you mention relating to the use of language are very important to me. How you tell your story is as important as what the story is and the tone, the rhythm, the richness of the language are all vitally important.

      I talk in my writing workshops about the connection between music and writing comics: the rhythm, the beat, the melody, all of these are expressed through the writing, through the use of captions and how they're placed. Every element adds to the reading experience.

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    7. June 21st is only a couple of days after my own wedding anniversary, Jack, so I might have to do that post. (But don't hold me to it!)

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    8. I'll call my dentist, just let me know 24 hours in advance.


      JAck

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    9. You know it may sound like a neat idea to write about it so close to your anniversary.

      But you'll get mopey that you have been married all this time, but you can't crawl on walls. That prompts your lady to bring up the fact that you can write abut a romantic web-swiing through the city, but she never got one.

      You try to explain that you don't have that ability. That doesn't work, this is an argument in a committed relationship... logic has no place here.

      Next thing you know your sleeping on the couch writing angry letters "from Odin" demanding she changes her ways lest he smite her for all her tresspasses(at this point every fight ever between you two is part of this one), meanwhile she's learning the bagpipes just to annoy you and trying get Stan Lee to say on national TV you aren't hip.

      That obviously escalates more and more. How does it end? Divorce? Nope, too simple. You both make a pact with a demon to become the physical embodiment of the others worst fears. Before you kno it your doing work for a mystically powered Irish mob boss. I've seen it a million times, Hell we all have.

      Forget Beauty and the BEast, that's the tale as old as time.

      Point is, be careful when you write it.

      JAck

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    10. I'm not worried, Jack. I have the best wife in the world.

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    11. Also, I've decided to omit those lengthy, interesting posts about the current state of Marvel. They got into territory that I think would be great in a blog of your own, doesn't quite fit here at Creation Point.

      But I enjoyed reading them.

      And, yes, I've once again suggested a Jack Blog. I think it would be great.

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    12. I'm glad that you enjoyed reading the posts. I hope they were at least done well enough to add context to the whole diversity issue, and how the aggression at it isn't quite as basic or simple as some one not in a comic shop every week might see it.

      I hope I didn't come off as to much of a doom and gloom sky-is-falling-type.

      To be honest, I was hoping for a "yeas, it probably isn't good to antagonize/ignore your readers." But, I can understand why you wouldn't weigh in on even that level.

      Of course, this could be your way to antagonize ME.

      To me fair to Marvel, there are two books I really enjoy from them right now.

      1) Daredevil. The current run started a little stilted and stiff, but it has since become a great interpretation of the character. It is actually been very rewarding to see a writer have the exact moment it clicks for him. Or I guess her, but here him.

      2) and best of All, Spider-man: Renew Your Vows. I loved the first issue so much that I sat down after reading it to write a letter. It appears in issue #3. All of my views have remained valid, even my very few criticisms.

      However, I also realized this issue, that it has a bit of a JLI feel to it. Which is very refreshing to me, because so many comics (And it is across all boards Marvel, DC, and indie) seem to be so self-aware they are afraid to really go for depth. They are called fun, but are fluff.

      This comic is fun, but also has great character moments. The sixth issue came out today. Do yourself a favor one day, and pick them up. Individual issue not trade... how else could you read my letter.


      Also, Chilling Tales of Sabrina, Kill or be Killed, Invisible Republic, God Country, Action Comics, Mother Panic, Ragnarok and Astro City. Those aren't Marvel though. I just like them.

      See, I can be positive about comics.

      Jack

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    13. So then I toss out this question to anyone reading this: What are your favorite current comics? Don't tell me the ones you hate, this isn't the forum for that. Tell me the comics you really love.

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    14. Glitterbomb. Its about an actress from not-Star Trek the Next Generation, who has become middle aged and been chewed p by Hollywood. Now a monster of some sort has possessed her and she takes her revenge on the industry that destroyed her.

      sCOOBY aPOCALYPSE- yOU POBABLY HAVE AT LEAST BASIC IDEA WHAT THIS is ABOUT.

      Baltimore- Which is on its last story arc, but is in my opinion, Mignola's best work. An alternate reality where WWI was called by a case of Vampires. A plague rises up, and ll sorts of Monsters take root in Europe. AN Lord Baltimore seeks revenge and to somehow end it.


      Jack

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    15. They all sound good, Jack, especially that SCOOBY book! : )

      But, seriously, Mignola is fantastic and GLITTERBOMB sounds like something I would enjoy.

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    16. The problem with Glitterbomb is, well first it is on hiatus so I can't read new issues until the fall, but also the name. I think that it failed to draw in its core fan base. There loss I suppose.

      As for my previous recommendations...

      Chilling Tales of Sabrina - A horror comic set in the early 60s, and based on the fun Archie comic. Except time she is an actual Witch, who worships Satan(they even conjure him in the woods. And her Fathers ex-flame rose up from Hell to get revenge on her since she is the product of a witch-mortal birth. And her mother was driven insane by magic to keep her fro,m blabbing about witches. It is really good. Only complaint: It SHOULD be monthly, but is scheduled for quarterly, but comes out a bit less regularly than that. It has been almost a year since the last issue was solicited

      Kill or be Killed - Another feather in Brubaker's Image Cap. This time a more supernatural crime story. A man who attempts suicide is saved by a demon, in return has to kill a person every month. he tries to make it work by seeking those who deserve it.

      Sounds like it has been done? Well, it has, but like Always, Brubaker uses plots we've seen before (or at least the basic gist) and uses his undeniable talent for character to make it shiny and new.

      God Country- A man in East Texas is suffering from Alzheimer, with his family at the end of their rope, until a sword from a Kirby-esque god of war lands. He picks it up and his mind is made clear again. Problem: The god wants it back.

      INvisible Republic- a dictator on n Earth Colony is overthrown. The world is happy, but in a bit of disarray. A journalist finds an old diary that talks about a cousin to the dictator no one knew about. And the secret history of teh regime takes place.

      It is like JFK meets Citizen Kane in a PKD world... minus the mind powers.

      Ragnarok- Simonson's return to Norse Mythology. This time based on the idea that the evil forces won during Ragnarok, because Thor was absent. Now a zombie Thor must act as protector to the serf class that is humanity. And banish the evil. Very sword and sorcery.

      Astro City- If you don't know about Astro City, you don't know about comics in the past 20+ years.

      Action COmics- I never thought I would be this excited for a Superman book, But I legitimately love each issue and look forward to it. The relationship between Clark, Lois and Jon, is the heart of... maybe the DC Universe.

      Mother PAnic- Of DC's Young Animal, it takes place in Gotham City, but has the premise (in my mind anyway) of what if when they wanted to bring back Batwoman, they made her BAtman's polar opposite instead of a lesbian?

      She's more than a little crazy. Not a good detective, had some weird stuff happen happen at a boarding school as a kid... which she was sent to because she may have killed her father. Though that is both a question mark, and perhaps justifiable if true.

      It is the closes we have to Vertigo since Berger left DC.

      I am also liking Detective Comics, and Hellblazer is back to a solid quality, but I feel less passionately about both. Especially Hellblazer. I feel that DC is giving more and more slack to the writer as time goes by. The writer clearly wants to write a Vertigo like tale, but is held back by DC editorial. My guess however, once he has free reign it will be great.

      Then here is SPider-MAn Renew Your Vows. I know I already mentioned it, but it is good and you should catch up. Especially, if you are going t be Conway's successor when he moves on in a few years. Plus... you know... my letter.

      I am also optimistic about Peter David on Scarlet Spider.

      And you know, Rene your Vows.





      Jack

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    17. Seems like someone has a trip to make to the comic store. ANd you should probably go to. There are some really good books out.

      Especially since there is one called Rene your vows apparently. I know Renew, but Rene? I have to find out who this Rene person is.

      Also, here is a strange view on a book. I dropped Blue Beetle, mostly due to the lack of Ted Kord. But if you are a fan of or interested in Jamie Reyes, the book (or at least the issues I read) were pretty well done.

      Yep. I am recommending a book I dropped to people. Between that and the praise I just dished out in the above posts, I'm going to have to turn in my Comic Reader Membership Card. We aren't supposed to be this positive about our hobby. I failed the whole industry today.

      Jack

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    18. I'm assuming you don't know I'll be joining Keith G and Scott Kolins on BLUE BEETLE with issue #8...? I mean, you wouldn't have dropped it if you knew that, right? : )

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    19. Is that true? The DC website does not have you listed as a writer. Are you inking?

      Jack

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    20. Yes, it's true and no, I'm not inking. I think the solicitations were done before I came onboard.

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    21. I know you probably don't want to give to much away, but what is your plan for Ted Kord? Not plot (I know that has to be top secret), rather how much of a role will he play? I dropped it last time because there was too much teen not enough of the DCU's true hero...TED! If Ted has a more prominent role, I'll pick it up you or no you. Of course you is probably better.


      Jack

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    22. Ted will be an important part of the story. The relationship between Ted and Jaime is the core of the book (for me, anyway).

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    23. Then I may pick it up again

      In all honesty, a big problem was that Jaime was TOO authentically adolescent.

      Seriously, DC (and you two) will one day realize that what fans crave, not want, CRAVE, is a Blue Beetle and Booster Gold book.

      Tell, you what, I'll pick up #8, and if there isn't enough Ted Kord, I'll complain about it here? Sound good? NO!? Fine.

      Jack

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    24. As long as you complain politely.

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