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December 12, 2005

COMICS 101 is in Session

Gino E. writes: I just thought you should take a look at another item to add to your Christmas Gift Guide...

Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe by Michael Mallory is a Barnes And Noble exclusive that is an oversized 288 page leatherbound book that covers Marvel's characters, cartoons, movies, influence on the media and on comics in general. I recently picked one up for a friend from my local B&N for only 25 bucks and it's also selling online for the same price. I think any Marvel fan would love to have this.

Keep up the good work (Oh, and props for suggesting the TNA DVDs, I just picked up the Best of the X Division and it's amazing.)

Tipton: Indeed, that's a great book.

Chris G. writes: Man, I love your column. Although I'm at least ten years younger than you, I feel your pain when it comes to assembling the Avengers. Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor you say? Hm, the height of my figure collecting was in the mid-90's, so I had the Iron Man, War Machine, and Hawkeye figures from the Iron Man cartoon line. I also had Captain America (with this launcher that would fire his shield) and US Agent (a repainted Captain America...the star on his chest was still there!). Oh how I longed for a Thor figure.

I was pretty excited when The Avengers First Appearance figures came out. I got Thor AND Giant Man, that was pretty cool. I think around that time that Avengers line was out, but I only got Scarlet Witch (wasn't there Heroes Reborn Thor and Iron Man figures in that line? I never saw them in any stores). I threw in a Quicksilver from an X-Men series, and to round those out, I got some more Avengers (Ant Man, Wasp, Falcon, Wonder Man, and Vision) from the poor toy line based on The Avengers cartoon of the '90's (God that Falcon was horrible). I eventually picked up a Captain America from the Marvel vs. Capcom line (his shield wouldn't fit on his wrist, though).

Although I don't have a lot of money right now, those Marvel Legends figures look great. Hopefully I'll get Black Panther for Christmas (he and She-Hulk are the two Avengers I always regretted not having in any form). Iron Man and War Machine look great. I am curious, though, was that Hawkeye expensive (I haven't seen him anywhere). Where do you pick your figures up?

Tipton: That toy line from the Avengers cartoon was frustrating, because the designs were terrible, but the figures themselves were great. The Wonder Man and Vision were excellent.

The Hawkeye was available at Toys R Us or Walmart for $7.99.

Mike D. writes: I'm sure you've heard this 1 000 times already, but after reading your "Gift Guide For The Holidays" and seeing how much you love AJ Styles, I felt it neccessary to recommend Ring of Honor. Currently the top indy wrestling promotion in America, Ring of Honor has had some of the best wrestling matches of the past decade (1/2 of this decade's ***** matches are from ROH according Dave Meltzer) and has started to craft some really good storylines in the past year since that became important. AJ was a founding father of the company, but TNA forced him to take a sabbatical, from which he returned this year. He is far from the best worker in the company though as Samoa Joe (a recent TNA fixture), Austin Aries (a jobber in TNA who is horribly under-used) and champion Bryan Danielson simply blow him out of the water workrate-wise. Jimmy Rave is one the best promo guys in the business today too. Chances are you already know about ROH considering how much knowledge you have of all things pop culture, but JUST IN CASE, I wanted to e-mail you. His work in PWG is pretty solid too.

Tipton: Only recently started checking out ROH, thanks to the loan of some discs from fellow Poop Shoot columnist Josh Jabcuga. I like what I've seen so far. Samoa Joe vs. C.M. Punk was excellent.

Mike W. writes: Enjoyed your new Xmas list which had good entries. I would point out that Batman and Robin is worth checking out as Schumacher's audio commentary reveals he's finally accepted his fault in the train wreck, admitting he went too far making it kid-friendly and at one point, flat out apologizes for the entire movie.

Also, quite suprised and pleased to see you putting TNA on the list, which deserves it. I've become a huge fan of Styles especially and they just released their first six 3-hour pay-per-view shows on DVD, all with great matches and extras and their "Best of Christopher Daniels" disc is coming out in January which will be awesome. Didn't know if you knew this but apparatntly, WWE has made several offers to Styles but he's turned them down, preferring to show his stuff in TNA. Good to see you giving it props. The only bad thing that's holding them from really breaking out is Jeff Jarrett making HHH look like the picture of restraint and modesty as champ.

Thanks for those action figure looks, gotta check those out.

Tipton: Yeah, if they could just convince Jarrett to move down to the midcard, TNA would be in great shape.

Styles, Daniels and Joe are better than most of the WWE roster, that's for sure.

I. M. Master writes: I was reading your fine article on Mark Gruenwald and I must first say thank you...

Thank you

... because it brought back fond memories of that time in comics. The fun that one imagined the Bullpen was having while laying out on a summer day and reading the latest issue of Captain America or the Avengers. As your brought up, Mr. Tipton, there is still a love of comics nowadays, but it's not a Love of comics if you get my drift; or perhaps better said: It seems at the time of the Da Gru it was more COMIC BOOK Business, whereas now it seems to be more comic book BUSINESS!!!

But I digress, would it be possible for you, Mr. Tipton, to point me in the direction of where I could find a copy of Da Gru's 200 life lessons. It sounds intriguing and I would very much enjoy reading it after reading my recently purchased copy of "Squadron Supreme" that I lucked upon in the bargain bin of my local comic shop.

Thank you for your time, Mr. Tipton, and most of all thanks for your wonderful words that for a brief moment transported me to a very happy time.

Tipton: I don't think Mark would mind if I posted ‘em. From Marvel’s 1980s MARVEL AGE magazine:

Evan L. writes: Is the Steel in DC comics based off of the legend of John Henry?

Tipton: The John Henry Irons version, with the armor and the hammer? Absolutely. Darwin Cooke did a great (but heartbreaking) new version of the character in DC: THE NEW FRONTIER as well.

Dan B. writes: On the "DC Mega Events" - I read your coverage of Zero Hour & Crisis; what I was thinking of more was - you have such a broad knowledge of comics- I'd love to read your opinions with kind of a broad survey, the best and worst mega events, what makes for good ones, what doesn't.

Two questions, if you've got time? Given that my budget would probably start groaning if I bought more than one DC Archive a month- which would you recommend starting with? I've got Shazam vol. 1 coming right now because I know it will be awesome; but which of the DC Golden Agers would you recomend starting with? I'm so torn between GL, Flash, All-stars, etc. . . but I also know some of those stories are probably groaners.

And second, do you play City of Heroes?

Tipton: The first few ALL-STAR COMICS are great archives, because of the team format. Each story was usually broken up into solo chapters of the various JSA members, usually drawn by each character's primary artist. So you really get a sense of what all the books published by National and All-American at the time looked like.

No, never got into City of Heroes. I have little enough free time as it is. That game would totally take over my life.

Paul writes: I want to say thanks a whole bunch for your great work. I've just today stumbled across it via Google, and have been entertained and educated left and right. The stuff on JLI has been really interesting. I have a pal for whom the whole Countdown thing will piss him off big time, but for me, I never really read any of the JLI books until I came across a tpb of the first six issues.

So whilst I like the concept (and the recent sequels) a whole lot, maybe I'm less bummed because I didn't have enough core exposure to the material in earlier years. And comics companies pull these stunts every so often, in response to what they might see as a consolidation of market identification or whatever the hell the marketing gurus reckon they need. Wheel turns, ya know how it goes...

That said, I'm secretly hoping that the outcome of the Infinite Crisis (I wonder if it'll be done in 24 style, true to Didio's "worst day in the DCU" claim?) actually puts to bed this whole grim gritty conspiratorial malarkey and makes for more funnier comics. I think the recent limited runs have been successful, and there's only so much you can do with the new "reds under the beds" or "terrorists who look like us" concepts in ongoing terms, even if you are G. Morrison.

Speaking of the latter, I am now totally sold on Animal Man and Doom Patrol. I've missed these books entirely, love the works of Stanislaw Lem who touches on some similar concepts a bit, and am hopeful of great mind-expanding, beautiful reads. I understand that the whole run of GM's work on these titles isn't in tpb form, so I might be resigned to diving the back ish bins or more likely mail-order, to fill the gaps. Same with JLI, which seems more enjoyable the more I read of it. (And I keep hearing about Zot! in glowing terms, but don't know anything much about it.) Damn I've missed some great comics -- but thanks for so helpfully bringing these ones to my attention! :-) Keep up the good work!

Tipton: Naturally, having not read the originals, I wouldn't expect that the Max Lord/Beetle business would have the same impact for you.

It would be nice if this all led to a general lightening of the DCU, but I'm not counting on it.

You're correct about Morrison's DP, but all of his ANIMAL MAN is available in trade.

Shawn C. writes: Ok where to start, well I'm usually an avid marvel reader. My favorite titles right now(I'm low on cash because I just bought a new car) are New Avengers, which I'm aware isn't for everyone and I can see why people are upset but I enjoy it. Also I'm enjoying Young Avengers to and I think its the best thing to come out of Avengers Disassembled. Anyways I read the occasional DC books but always was more of a marvel guy. I read ID Crisis and loved it so I figured hey countdown its only a buck why not. I should have bought 4 packs of gum. I'm 21 years old and have been reading comics since I was about five. Never In my life did a panel make me sick to my stomach more then the last panel of countdown. I never really read the old Justice League books(I'll get to that in a second) and I really never knew much about Beetle until recently, but he deserved better then an on panel execution style death. The same effect could have been done off panel and I think Beetles death was a waste and could have been done so much better. I have to say Hawkeyes death pissed me off less because at least they didnt show his body land on the ground burning up and stuck with sharpnel.Plus no death out of Avengers Dissasembled is really unfixable but Beetles death and the forthcoming deaths seem more of DCS big plan to make themselves cool. Anyways I went to my local store this week with some nice fat sold some school books back money(40 dollars woooo!) I was deciding to maybe give DCs new direction another chance and pre order The OMAC Project and Villans united or buy something else that caught my eyes. The trade of the first seven issues of the Justice League by Giffen and Dematties that you recomendded. Now I've never been let down by a recomendation from you so I figured Ok. So I bought it and also Formerly Known as The Justice League. I read about half of the new beginning trade paper back and all I have to say is f**k DC. This is what they want to undo with countdown? This stuff is great its really how comic books should be. I'll pass on OMAC and whatever else DC puts out (depending on fan reaction maybe I'll check out Infinite crisis) but DC can have its dark and brooding. It can kill Beetle and turn Max Lord into a super evil genius who made the league a joke on purpose. Me I'll take New Beginning and Formerly. Sorry I got a little long winded here but now onto my 2 questions

1. Is the current I can't Beleive its not Justice League running in JLA classified as good as these storys are? If so the money I was going to spend on OMAC and DCs pointless revival of a ceartin dead batman character will go to that instead.

2. Also a favorite character of mine was Steel(the John Henry Irons one) What happend to him? Did DC kill him off and why did I see a heroclix figure in my comic store of a female Steel???

Tipton: Glad you liked the JL trade. If you can track down the rest of the back issues, they're well worth it.

1. The I CAN’T BELIEVE... Justice League story in Classified is great stuff.

2. Steel was critically injured after a battle on Apokolips, and is now unable to return to the superhero life. He lives in retirement as an engineer and inventor, and serves as an advisor to Superman, and his niece Natasha has taken up the Steel armor.

Joe R. writes: Hey Prof: Was going to weigh in on some stuff about COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS, but it seems to have been pretty well covered now. I see where you're coming from p.o.v.-wise, but I still am interested to check out the ride.

As far as some of the things being said about DC comics in general, I'd like to point out that there are still some good books currently being put out by them, that I think folks should be reading. My "without a doubt, # 1 fave" DC book (or any, for that matter) has got to be JSA. Artwork, storywise, (...etc, etc) - it's been the most consistent title they've got on the market. Everything I've always loved about DC is in this book - and at least that hasn't changed...yet. FLASH has also been a decent read for years, and remains so. And as far as some of the revamped titles, I've found GL:REBIRTH, HAWKMAN, TEEN TITANS, OUTSIDERS and GREEN ARROW to all be mostly excellent reads. But what's the deal with poor Roy Harper (Arsenal) getting his ass handed to him in most of the books he's appeared in lately - most notably, the last issues of OUTSIDERS and GREEN ARROW? I'm almost surprised he wasn't the one to end up being taken out - instead of Blue Beetle- in COUNTDOWN. I'm also interested to see how his character will play out in these events, especially as he was a member of Checkmate at one time. (Something else I haven't seen anyone bring up yet concerning COUNTDOWN).

Anyway, just some random stuff I wanted to throw out for folks to chew on.

Tipton: Oh, no question. I agree with every one of your picks, plus plenty more you didn't mention. I never said that the company wasn’t putting out some great comics, or recommended that people stop reading. Some of the folks who wrote in did, but I'd never suggest that. The only way to get the kind of comics you want to read is to buy what you like.

And yeah, Roy Harper was taking some powerful asskickings for a while there.

TV RECOMMENDATIONS

"Kmullens" writes: You sound very down and sarcastic on most viewings. Maybe it's time for you to stop watching tv all together and definitely consider dropping your reviews web page.

Take up knitting.

Ryall: You new around here?

"Sparkslan" writes: When will surface be aired again. We followed it every week and you left us hanging. I will be waiting for a response.

Ryall: Um, we don't make the show here. But this e-mail is very in keeping with the week's fare thus far.

SURFACE will be back in January.

Sean B. writes re: last week's ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: “It’s the accent & the plastic surgery she’s been able to afford. This wouldn’t have happened if he saw her last year.”

Hilarious! Nice to see the hiatus & cancellation didn’t effect the quality of the eps.

I know even Bob Loblaw can’t save them now, but I’m going to enjoy watching them go out in style.

Ryall: Damn my DVR. It recorded the first minute of the show then cut off. That should be a punishable offense...

James E. writes: First, let me commend and thank you for your continued support of Arrested Development. I really appreciate your flying the flag of quality TV and championing gems like that one.

As such, what gives with no plug for The Office this week, or My Name is Earl for that matter? Granted, The Office is a better show, and you said last week that you'd mention it every week now that AD is gone.

Ryall: Some weeks, I just decide I don't want to beat people over the head with the same references over and over. But this is a good time for me to mention that you can get Seasons 1 and 2 of THE OFFICE on iTunes right now. And for more on THE OFFICE:

Greg T. writes:
Your November 21 comments…

MY NAME IS EARL -- 9 PM, NBC
With AD being unjustly cancelled by Fox, this is easily the start of the best comedic hour on TV. Jason Lee, as good as he was in Kevin's movies, has found the role of his career here, and Jamie Pressley is equally as good here. Beau Bridges shows as Earl's dad tonight, too. This show is the second-best thing on Tuesdays, beaten only by...

THE OFFICE -- 9:30 PM, NBC
Dwight Schrute continues to get my vote for best character on TV right now (you're close, Crabman, but no one beats the beet-farming, lazer-tag-playing karate student/assistant to Michael, Dwight), and this show continues to earn its spot as the year's best comedy, too. Expect to see me transfer my weekly love of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT here now.

--dude, I couldn’t agree more..the office is cripplingly funny of late…the look on Jims face when he realized Dwight thought it was Friday…priceless….

Ryall: How great is Dwight? Dwight's easily my favorite character since Bill Haverchuck. Or at least GOB and Buster Bluth...

Ad Out

Charles L. III writes: You ever get the feeling the reason attendance at movie-houses is down (which is not nearly as bad as the media portrays) is because cinema-owners--for some inconceivable reason--don't want audiences to come ? I realise that's outta left field and all, but that's the sorta thing that comes straight to my mind when I see shit like this: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2005-12-06-cinema-ads_x.htm. I mean for Chrissakes--Why ?

Me, I live next to a Century multiplex so I'm not privvy to this problem as often (although they do run those damn Fandango ads), but goddamn.

I wrote a letter to AMC (yes, a letter, they don't have a customer service e-mail) complaining about this very thing and they responded by saying that their research shows people enjoy the ads. COME ON ! Maybe it's just the fact that people just complain to each other rather than sending actual correspondence to the cinema chains.

Y'know, I love going to a cinema and sharing this one-of-very-few-remaining-communal-experiences. But if they wanna improve attendance, they can start by getting rid of shit like this. And they need to stop kow-towing to studios. Hell, the studios get 90% of profits that first weekend while the multiplex only gets money the longer a movie stays. HELLO--why not do 50-50 for the whole run ?

Look, I honestly doubt that the movie-going experience will just up and die (movies have been around for 100+ plus years, but it hasn't stopped people from going to see live theatre). But there are so many places that they could greatly improve that it's a damn shame to see them be so easily disregarded.

Well, I'm done rantin'. Keep up the great work. Later.

Ryall: I totally agree. Honestly, as much as I want to see the movie, I'm not sure I want to sit through King Kong in theaters. Three hours, plus a good 20-30 of inane pre-show ads, plus waiting in line and everything else means a good four hours of the day is spent on one movie.

There're theaters in LA that charge $14 per movie but show them ad-free. If every theater did that, offered one "luxury" room with nicer seats and no ads to help supplement the loss of ad revenue, I'd think they'd still make out okay.

At the very least, like Regal does, at least work ads into "behind the scenes" content, not just the same commercials we see over and over. Or show 20 minutes of trailers and throw an ad in between each one. I'd definitely show up early to see more trailers.

So, yeah, I'm with you.

GAME ON!

George C. writes: I think even if the X-360 weren't priced $400 for the DECENT version, I don't think I could see myself buying it.

The X-Box just seems to be the destination for a bunch of PC fps-ports and exclusives that I just don't care enough about. X-360 looks like more of the same.

On the other hand, the games being released for GameCube and PS2 DO interest me.

Frankly, out of the 3 next-gen systems, PS3 appeals to me the most even if it does sound like Nintendo could win the hardware sales next year with the rumored low price for Revolution.

But again, it depends on the software and what kinds of games people want to play.

For me, there just really isn't a lot on the X-Box that I care for. The third party I can get on PS2 or GameCube.

Ian Bonds writes: I'll be the first to admit, the launch titles for the 360 don't impress in the least. Sure, some a fairly pretty, but otherwise, the majority of them are just updated ports...ie: everything released by EA.

As much as i hate to admit it, the only reason i'm even getting the 360 is for my column. Sure, there's a few titles down the road that pique my interest (Gears of War, Dead Rising) but something tells me PS3 will win my heart...

As for the Revolution...Nintendo's upcoming system may be cheap, but it also probably WON'T be "next gen" the way Xbox 360 and PS3 will. No HiDef, and the processor may only be about two times faster than the current Gamecube...which would place it roughly in the area of the FIRST Xbox, not the 360. Sure, they have a wacky controller, but that would severlly limit third party crossovers. Not that Nintendo would mind. I'm fairly certain they're not trying to compete with the big boys anymore, and are strcikly in it for themseleves and the hardcore gamers out there. Which, of course, means they're definately getting MY money...

Poll, My Finger

Joseph D. writes: There's another poll on IMDB and with someones dislike of Greasy Reese Witherspoon it gives us an opportunity to say how much we don't like her work.

Ryall: Actually, I liked Reese quite a lot in WALK THE LINE.

Photos of the Week

Ryall: KOOOOOONG!:

Ryall: And, uh...

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