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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
The After-Poll Report (04/30/02)

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for me to announce the results of last week's TONY POLLS questions, complete with comments from me and thee. We begin...

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This year's Eisner Awards nominees are in and we continued our unofficial polling of same. Of the nominees listed here, what was your choice for BEST CONTINUING SERIES?

Ruse by Mark Waid, Butch Guice, and Michael Perkins (CrossGen) ...35 votes (32.71%)

Planetary by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday (Wildstorm/DC) .....33 (30.84%)

Queen & Country by Greg Rucka and Steve Rolston (Oni).....16 (14.95%)

100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso (Vertigo/DC) ....15 (14.02%)

Finder by Carla Speed McNeil (Lightspeed).....8 (7.48%)

Voters vote for all sorts of reasons and most have a very flexible mind when it comes to justifying their choices. I am no different. Of the nominees which I had even read one issue of, I voted for PLANETARY, despite my not having read an issue in over a year. I should really do something about that. Otherwise, Ellis will think I don't love him anymore.

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BEST LIMITED SERIES?

Enemy Ace: War in Heaven by Garth Ennis, Chris Weston, Christian Alamy, and Russ Heath (DC).....40 votes (37.04%)

Rose by Jeff Smith and Charles Vess (Cartoon Books).....28 (25.93%)

Hellboy: Conqueror Worm by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse Maverick) ....25 (23.15%)

Hopeless Savages by Jen Van Meter, Christine Norrie, and Chynna Clugston-Major (Oni).....8 (7.41%)

Scary Godmother: Ghouls Out for Summer by Jill Thompson (Sirius).....7 (6.48%)

Alert the media. I've actually read issues of four out of five of these nominees. It came down to a choice between Enemy Ace and Rose. It was a tough call; I went with ROSE.

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BEST NEW SERIES?

Ruse by Mark Waid, Butch Guice, and Michael Perkins (CrossGen) .....47 votes (52.81%)

Queen & Country by Greg Rucka and Steve Rolston (Oni)...28 (31.46%)

True Story, Swear to God by Tom Beland (Clib''s Boy Comics) .....8 (8.99%)

The Sandwalk Adventures by Jay Hosler (Active Synapse)....5 (5.62%)

Private Beach by David Hahn (Slave Labor).....1 (1.12%)

I had read issues of three of these nominees. I voted for THE SANDWALK ADVENTURES because Jay Hosler is a creator worthy of wider recognition. It's not that the other creators represented in this category aren't worthy of wider recognition. I just believe Hosler is the most worthy.

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BEST TITLE FOR A YOUNGER AUDIENCE?

The Return of Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone (Oni).....22 votes (26.83%)

Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (HarperCollins).....21 (25.61%)

Herobear and the Kid by Mike Kunkel (Astonish).....18 (21.95%)

Patty Cake & Friends by Scott Roberts (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor) ....16 (19.51%)

Courageous Princess: The Quest for Home by Rod Espinosa (Antarctic).....5 (6.10%)

My decision here was between the two titles I had read: The Return of Allison Dare and PATTY CAKE & FRIENDS. Remember what I said about being worthy of wider recognition? If I had to make a list of only ten such creators, Scott Roberts would be on it. He has been creating outstanding work for a long time now and comicdom is the better for it...even if it doesn't know it.

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The clash of creators continued with Marvel editor Joe Quesada calling out both Peter David and Bill Jemas to see which of them can sell the most comics. Who are you rooting for?

Peter David.....118 votes (92.19%)

Joe Quesada.....7 (5.47%)

Bill Jemas.....3 (2.34%)

Did you ever doubt I would vote for PETER DAVID? I mean, I like Joe Quesada a lot and I'd probably like Bill Jemas if I met him. Okay, I'd probably give him a swirlie first, but, once we had broken the ice that way, I'm sure we'd get along famously. But, if it's freelancer versus management, 99 times out of 100, I'm siding with the freelancer.

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Writer Steven Grant has likewise issued his challenge to the Marvel brass, though they haven't taken him up on it as of this writing. Which other comics creators would you most like to see get into this sequential art smackdown?

John Byrne.....17 votes (15.89%)

Stan Lee.....12 (11.21%)

Sergio Aragones.....11 (10.28%)

Jim Shooter.....10 (9.35%)

Alan Moore.....8 (7.48%)

Paul Levitz.....7 (6.54%)

Mark Waid.....6 (5.61%)

Warren Ellis.....5 (4.67%)

Rumiko Takahashi.....5 (4.67%)

Neil Gaiman.....4 (3.74%)

Kevin Smith.....4 (3.74%)

Dave Sim.....3 (3.80%)

Brian Michael Bendis.....2 (1.87%)

Todd McFarlane.....2 (1.87%)

Grant Morrison.....2 (1.87%)

Garth Ennis.....1 (.93%)

Erik Larsen.....1 (.93%)

Frank Miller.....1 (.93%)

Alex Ross.....1 (.93%)

Other.....5 (4.67%)

I almost voted for Paul Levitz because I'd really like to see him do more writing, but I chose RUMIKO TAKAHASHI because the

Marvel Universe needs more gender-bending hilarity and unrequited sexual hijinks.


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There are several comics-related movies coming to the theaters this summer. Do you plan to see SPIDER-MAN?

Yes.....131 votes (92.25%)

No.....11 (7.75%)

Do you plan to see SCOOBY-DOO?

Yes.....35 votes (25.55%)

No.....102 (74.45%)

Do you plan to see MEN IN BLACK II?

Yes.....77 votes (56.30%)

No.....60 (43.80%)

Do you plan to see ROAD TO PERDITION?

Yes.....76 votes (57.14%)

No.....57 (42.86%)

I'm planning to see all of these. I'm probably most pumped to see SPIDER-MAN, but that's because the character is one of the main reasons I became a comics fan and then a comics professional.

Only three more days to go.

Max Allan Collins is one of my favorite writers, comic books and mysteries. His ROAD TO PERDITION graphic novel ranks among his finest work and, with the big-time Hollywood talent that's bringing it to the big screen, it's number two on my list.

MEN IN BLACK II and SCOOBY-DOO both look like fun. I won't be rearranging my schedule to see them the day they open, but my kids and I will definitely see them.


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TONY'S MAILBOX

One thing that became clear early on was that many voters were either bored or embarrassed with the David/Jemas/Quesada smackdown.

Here's what MARC MASON had to say

On the subject of whom else we would like to see in the "who can sell more comics smackdown" I would vote NONE OF THE ABOVE. The whole affair has been an embarrassment of stupid behavior, and I would just as soon see it stop and a return to common sense and courtesy reign. Yeah, I know, fat chance of that happening, but I can dream. In a really happy world, I would have found an artist to work with, and *I* would out sell them all.

JULIO DIAZ concurred

I'm voting write-in on the "Which other comics creators would you most like to see get into this sequential art smackdown?" question. My vote is for NONE OF THE ABOVE.

This was interesting at first, and got me to start picking up CAPTAIN MARVEL again, but it's gotten really old really fast, and I'd rather not see any other creator dragged down to that level. (I feel Peter David was put in that position somewhat against his will). So while I'm sure all the writers on your list--and more-- could easily out-write Jemas and Ron Zimmerman, a joke of a writer who Quesada will only be editing in this whole "challenge," I would rather let it all lie.

JASON TIPPITT wrote

I'd absolutely love to see Harlan Ellison come swinging in out of nowhere and throw his hat into the middle of the Jemas-David- Quesada free-for-all. Ellison writing, either Moebius or Ladronn illustrating. If Harlan was feeling particularly feisty, it would probably have to be a MAX book.

Finally, on the movie question, we have this comment from LUC DeCHANCENOTTE

I voted NO to all the movie questions, not because I don't plan to see any of these movies, but because I don't plan to see them in theaters this summer. I've given up on going to theaters. I'll just wait for the DVDs.

This week's TONY POLLS questions concern Marvel's new PREVIEWS solicitation policy, some more EISNER AWARDS categories, and some of your personal habits. No, not *that* personal. Just a trio of questions I thought we could have fun with. There should be a link around here somewhere which will whisk you to your very own online voting booth.

See you tomorrow and Friday at the PERPETUAL COMICS website, the thrice-weekly home of TONY'S ONLINE TIPS. I'll be back here on Saturday with a special edition of TONY'S TIPS, and on Sunday with a new batch of TONY POLLS questions.

Verily, there be no end to my madness!

Tony Isabella

<< 04/27/2002 | 04/30/2002 | 05/04/2002 >>

Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.

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THE "TONY" SCALE

Zero Tonys
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.

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ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.

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TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?

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THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.

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FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?

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FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.



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