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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Sunday, April 3, 2005
"I-I'm an outcast! No one dares come close to me while I'm cursed with this strange power!"
You think that hanging booger is embarrassing? That's nothing compared to the chagrin experienced by "The Human Dragon" in HOUSE OF MYSTERY #65 [August, 1957]. I'm not exactly awe-stricken by the fire-exhaling protagonist on this Jack Kirby cover, but, those two guys running away from him and towards the viewer sure look scared. They're the most effective element on the cover.
In addition to the Kirby-pencilled cover story - the terrific Grand Comics Database [www.comics.org] tentatively identifies it as being inked by George Roussos - this issue featured:
"The Magic Lantern" (drawn by Bill Ely);
"The Road To Nowhere" (drawn by Bernard Baily); and,
"Three Fearful Wishes" (drawn by Jim McArdle). I'm not at all familiar with McArdle's work. He drew some syndicated comic strips work in the early 1950s, including a Davy Crockett strip, and some war stories for DC around the same time as he would have done this HOUSE OF MYSTERY story.
I have a handful of Kirby mystery covers to go in this series, so look for them spread out over the next week or so.
Let's see what else I have for you today.
******
COMICS IN THE COMICS
I should have called this SEAN KELLY'S COMICS IN THE COMICS on account of it was my pal Sean who sent me all of today's examples. First up is Mark Tatulli's HEART OF THE CITY for March 30. Heart, the strip's "precocious but endearing" young heroine, lives in the great city of Philadelphia with her single mom. The current story revolves around a Hollywood memorabilia auction and can be enjoyed at the uCOMICS website:
www.ucomics.com/heartofthecity
"My spider-sense is tingling" has clearly become an American catch-phrase in the past decade. While it was first used by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, I think its popularity as a gag owes much to Sarah Michelle Geller saying it in an episode of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, much to the confusion of her watcher Giles. Then and now, though, I had to wonder...was this something she picked up from avowed comic-book reader Xander Harris or could it be that the fetching Miss Summers was herself a closet comics fan? Talk about a fanboy fantasy!
I had never seen BREVITY before Sean sent me the above panel. The COMICS.COM site says the feature is about a farmer and his cow, but I'm thinking the description is a joke. Of Guy Endore-Kaiser and Rodd Perry, the strip's creators, the site says:
If you've ever been to a movie, you've probably already seen the work of Guy and Rodd. As producers at The Ant Farm, one of Hollywood's largest motion picture advertising agencies, they've overseen trailers and television commercials for such diverse campaigns as THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, KILL BILL: VOL. 2, SIN CITY, BAD BOYS 2 and GIGLI 1.
You can read BREVITY online at:
www.comics.com/comics/brevity
Finally, the based-on-the-comic-book movie CONSTANTINE gets a nod in Matt Janz's OUT OF THE GENE POOL strip for April 1. You can find the strip online here:
www.comics.com/wash/genepool
Sooner or later, you know I'll have more COMICS IN THE COMICS for you. Just keeping watching this space.
******
ARCHIE DIVERSITY
Way back in mid-June of 2004, I wrote this as part of a review of an Archie digest:
"I'm a fan of Archie Comics. My readers recognize this. But, increasingly, I find Archie's home town too conservative and too "white" for my liking. When I think how much good Archie could do by diversifying their cast of characters to include more persons of color, students of different faiths (Jews and Muslims), handicapped kids, and, yes, even gays, I must conclude the company is, to some extent, failing its young readers. Those readers live in a world far more diversified than the one in Archie comics. Why not meet them halfway?"
Reader GLEN DAVIS took exception to this:
Concerning your recent review, I feel a need to defend Archie comics somewhat. While most comic books could benefit from some diversity, I think that Archie does better than most in this issue. It's been a good many years since I've read an Archie comic, but I remember Chuck, his girlfriend, (whose name escapes me) and Carlos. I recall an Hispanic couple (Frankie?) and that one of Jughead's lady friends and some of Betty and Veronica's friends were somewhat diverse. Comics should be more diverse, but I think Archie Comics is more diverse than many, if not most comics, and their characters are largely free of stereotypes. They come closer to reaching your goals than just about any other company.
I don't disagree with you in general - Archie does treat these characters in a non-stereotypical manner - but, excepting Chuck, we don't see any of them on more than an extremely occasional basis. Some of them haven't appeared in many years and Chuck's appearances almost always focus on his cartooning.
When writers are dealing with an ensemble cast, it's difficult to reach beyond the main players - in this case, Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie - to focus on others players. Especially when you have a strong second tier of Dilton, the teachers and the parents. Even Chuck, Big Ethel, Midge, Moose, and Pop (of Chok'lit Shop fame) are barely more than recurring players. Factor in the characters you mentioned and relatively recent arrivals like Trula Twyst in JUGHEAD and you suddenly have dozens of players fighting for "screen" time.
I perceive a problem and recognize the difficulties inherent in addressing the problem. But I also see a solution. The Archie comics have three or four new stories per issue; the Archie digests have two new stories per issue. Why can't the writers and editors use one of those stories per issue to revisit characters we don't see every issue and introduce new ones into the mix?
In an era when political campaigns are waged on platforms of exclusion and even bigotry, I think we could all use a lot more of that good old Riverdale benevolence.
******
MORE MAILBOX
TOT readers have never been shy about expressing their likes and dislikes, both on the official Tony Isabella Message Board and in e-mails like this late February note from WILLIAM VAUGHN:
I enjoyed your last batch of columns and glad to see Werner Roth get some recognition. He may not have been an innovative genius on the level of Jack Kirby or Neal Adams who bracketed him on X-Men, but he offered solid, reliable craftsmanship that always appealed to the eye and told the story efficiently and effectively. He also improved as he went along. His last pages for Lois Lane are much better than his first for X-Men. In fact, his Superman and Lois Lane are drawn so attractively I wonder if he ever drew any romance comics. He would have been a natural.
I was also glad to see a nod to the Roy Thomas/Dick Giordano Dracula adaptation. I hope you will review it when it is finished. Giordano's art is breathtakingly moody and atmospheric. Thomas remains the best adapter of classic literature into comic book form that the medium has ever seen. Someone should hire him to write and edit a new version of Classics Illustrated. He could use a different artist for each adaptation. Imagine he and Steve Epting adapting Treasure Island. Or a Gene Colan Hamlet.
I also hope you'll review Chuck Dixon and Enrique Villagran's WYATT EARP: DODGE CITY. Their version of Earp falls between the historical facts and alternate earth versions from television and the movies which present him as an honest, upstanding, clean living protector of the helpless and innocent. Historically accurate or not, Dixon and Villagran have crafted an entertainingly gritty (in a good sense), fast moving, and atmospheric western.
I was wondering if, in your web browsing, you have visited THE SERIAL SQUADRON [www.serialsquadron.com], a great site dedicated to movie, radio, and TV serials. Its message boards are tremendously entertaining and informative; the group of fans who contribute to the site truly appreciate the vigor, panache and sense of fun that makes these serials so entertaining to watch.
Many of these serials were derived from classic comic books and comic strips; Dick Tracy and its sequels and Captain America come to mind. I was lucky enough to watch a number of serials as a kid on weekday afternoons whenever the local PBS station had a pledge drive and have loved the format ever since. What are your favorite serials?
I hope everything is well with you and I look forward to hearing about your new comic book writing in your column. I hope you are able to find a publisher for your new work and talented collaborators to illustrate it.
To answer your questions:
Yes, Werner Roth did drew lovely romance comics. He drew them for both DC and Marvel...that I know of.
I do plan to read and review the Thomas/Giordano DRACULA. As for the Dixon/Villagran WYATT EARP, which sounds cool, that depends on whether someone sends me review copies. Sadly, I rarely get to a comics shop these days, much less one likely to stock a western title of any kind.
Serials? I love them, but I don't have the time at present to watch them. If I had to choose a favorite, it'd probably be G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON.
Thanks for writing, William.
******
SIN CITY
I haven't seen Frank Miller's SIN CITY yet, but my pal GERRY SHAMRAY has. He's a movie and DVD review for the Sun newspapers in this neck of the woods. He's also a comics artist and writer whose work appeared in Harvey Pekar's AMERICAN SPLENDOR and Tom Batiuk's JOHN DARLING comic strip.
After seeing SIN CITY, Shamray decided to go a different route in reviewing here. You can see the results here:
www.sunnews.com/entertain/movies2005/movies033105.htm
I don't know how long the Sun keeps this sort of stuff on the website, so check it out as soon as possible.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back soon with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 04/02/2005 | 04/03/2005 | 04/04/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Tony's Online Tips
840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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