Episode 5 of the Bagged And Bored Cast is now up on iTunes! Join us as we have a few to drink and discuss:
The Week In Geek - Our quick hits of nerd news from the past week, where we talk about XBox Live's release of the arcade game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time, new Lost Webisodes, the demo for Madden '10, more DLC for Left 4 Dead
The List - The comics we're looking forward to the most next Wednesday.
Main Topic - Gateway Comics. Every comic fan (but especially us) has certain books that they like to pass off to friends to get them into the sequential art medium, here's where we discuss some of our favorites to hand to people.
Movie Fix - We break into the latest DC Animated feature Green Lantern: First Flight.
So make sure you subsribe and review us on iTunes today, and make sure you follow us over at http://twitter.com/BaggedandBored for all of our latest updates.
Showing posts with label gateway comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gateway comics. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Gateway Comics - Part 2
What makes a good story?
I'm sorry, I realize that is such a loaded question, because there's no one thing that you can throw out there that can answer it. Now, I liken a good story to a salad. I know that that's kind of a weird analogy but stick with me on this...
When you're making a salad you need good, fresh ingredients. You don't want wilted lettuce or mealy tomatoes, because everything you put into that salad needs to stand well enough on it's own. While at the same time, it needs to work well with everything else that it's being mixed with. Otherwise it's going to negatively affect the whole pallet and bring down everything else with it.
But for a more concise and to the point answer to that question I could just say, read Y: The Last Man.
What makes Y: The Last Man a good story? Well, I could say at it's heart, Y is the perennial coming of age story. I could also say Y is the typical heroes quest tale. However both of those answers are too broad for a book like The Last Man. So instead I present you with this, Y: The Last Man is a story about a boy and his monkey who just happen to be the last two males left alive on the planet.
When Y opens, we're introduced to Yorick Brown, a down on his luck 20-something escape artist living in New York City and his adopted helper monkey, Ampersand. As we should with all good comic books, we learn something new as Yorick talks on the phone with his transcontinental girlfriend, Beth:
Elvis had a twin brother.
Their following conversation segues into a discussion about destiny and ultimately, an event that kills every living creature with a Y-chromosome. Except of course Yorick and Ampersand.
For the next 59 issues writer Brian K. Vaughan weaves a fantastic yarn as Yorick attempts to trot the globe to reach Beth in Australia. Vaughan deftly handles drama with bits of dark comedy intermittent throughout, as the extremely likable and sadly relatable Yorick stumbles his way through a world where half the population died in an instant. I say sadly relatable of course, because any nerd worth his weight in carbonite will see flashes of themselves in the books main protagonist.
Vaughan, who really broke into the mainstream with this book after runs on DC/Vertigo's Swamp Thing and Marvel's The Hood, creates a wealth of characters who never get overshadowed by the unbelievable events that surround them. Which is no small feat, when considering that 95% of the books cast is female in a medium dominated by male creators, characters and readers.
But it's often said that behind every strong man is a stronger woman, and Yorick isn't alone on his trek across the world. He's joined by Agent 355, his bodyguard and member of the Culper Ring (a secretive US Government agency) and Dr. Allison Mann a world-renowned geneticist searching for the cause of the plague and how Yorick and Ampersand survived. Also following Yorick on his quest are his sister Hero, who has joined the Daughters of the Amazon (a dangerous group bent on eradicating every remnant of the patriarchal society that once was, including Yorick), and leader of an Israeli commando unit, Alter who is also attempting to capture Yorick. Also along the way, is a cast of memorable supporting characters, each one very different in their interactions with Yorick than the last was.
But much like Yorick being guided 355 and Allison, is Vaughan's creative partner on the book, Pia Guerra, focusing BKV on the path ahead. Juggling a huge cast of characters is no small task, and Guerra manages to give each one a distinctive look and personality while at the same time pulling off something rarely seen in comics: having the characters age. Although subtle, going back and forth through issues reveals that overtime 'Rick and crew do become more weathered for the journey, and this effect is done surprisingly well.
Together Vaughan and Guerra tell a tale that can be funny and uplifting and at other times dramatic and heart-breaking. But more importantly they tell a story that has something to draw in everybody, and that each reader can connect to differently. It's the book that reads like a salad.
And at the very least you're presented with a fun question to ask people, did you know Elvis had a twin brother?
I'm sorry, I realize that is such a loaded question, because there's no one thing that you can throw out there that can answer it. Now, I liken a good story to a salad. I know that that's kind of a weird analogy but stick with me on this...
When you're making a salad you need good, fresh ingredients. You don't want wilted lettuce or mealy tomatoes, because everything you put into that salad needs to stand well enough on it's own. While at the same time, it needs to work well with everything else that it's being mixed with. Otherwise it's going to negatively affect the whole pallet and bring down everything else with it.
But for a more concise and to the point answer to that question I could just say, read Y: The Last Man.
What makes Y: The Last Man a good story? Well, I could say at it's heart, Y is the perennial coming of age story. I could also say Y is the typical heroes quest tale. However both of those answers are too broad for a book like The Last Man. So instead I present you with this, Y: The Last Man is a story about a boy and his monkey who just happen to be the last two males left alive on the planet.
When Y opens, we're introduced to Yorick Brown, a down on his luck 20-something escape artist living in New York City and his adopted helper monkey, Ampersand. As we should with all good comic books, we learn something new as Yorick talks on the phone with his transcontinental girlfriend, Beth:
Elvis had a twin brother.
Their following conversation segues into a discussion about destiny and ultimately, an event that kills every living creature with a Y-chromosome. Except of course Yorick and Ampersand.
For the next 59 issues writer Brian K. Vaughan weaves a fantastic yarn as Yorick attempts to trot the globe to reach Beth in Australia. Vaughan deftly handles drama with bits of dark comedy intermittent throughout, as the extremely likable and sadly relatable Yorick stumbles his way through a world where half the population died in an instant. I say sadly relatable of course, because any nerd worth his weight in carbonite will see flashes of themselves in the books main protagonist.
Vaughan, who really broke into the mainstream with this book after runs on DC/Vertigo's Swamp Thing and Marvel's The Hood, creates a wealth of characters who never get overshadowed by the unbelievable events that surround them. Which is no small feat, when considering that 95% of the books cast is female in a medium dominated by male creators, characters and readers.
But it's often said that behind every strong man is a stronger woman, and Yorick isn't alone on his trek across the world. He's joined by Agent 355, his bodyguard and member of the Culper Ring (a secretive US Government agency) and Dr. Allison Mann a world-renowned geneticist searching for the cause of the plague and how Yorick and Ampersand survived. Also following Yorick on his quest are his sister Hero, who has joined the Daughters of the Amazon (a dangerous group bent on eradicating every remnant of the patriarchal society that once was, including Yorick), and leader of an Israeli commando unit, Alter who is also attempting to capture Yorick. Also along the way, is a cast of memorable supporting characters, each one very different in their interactions with Yorick than the last was.
But much like Yorick being guided 355 and Allison, is Vaughan's creative partner on the book, Pia Guerra, focusing BKV on the path ahead. Juggling a huge cast of characters is no small task, and Guerra manages to give each one a distinctive look and personality while at the same time pulling off something rarely seen in comics: having the characters age. Although subtle, going back and forth through issues reveals that overtime 'Rick and crew do become more weathered for the journey, and this effect is done surprisingly well.
Together Vaughan and Guerra tell a tale that can be funny and uplifting and at other times dramatic and heart-breaking. But more importantly they tell a story that has something to draw in everybody, and that each reader can connect to differently. It's the book that reads like a salad.
And at the very least you're presented with a fun question to ask people, did you know Elvis had a twin brother?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Not Just Capes
The major misconception we comic-book fans face is, that there is only room for superheroes in the medium. An easily understood misconception since the capes and cowls dominate the sales charts and honestly my pull list. Though on rare occasion an indy book will end up in my stack. It must have been 4 or 5 years ago that one such occasion had happened when "Blankets" made its way into my stack. That day I brought it home and quickly devoured every page. Since then, I have been recommending the book to all the people that roll their eyes at the thought at reading comics.
"Blankets" is writer and artist Craig Thompson second comics work, but his use of the page to pace the reader is masterful. In "Blankets" Craig Thompson recounts his life growing up with his younger brother in a small Wisconsin town and the first time he fell into and out of love. This book is gripping in its honest emotion, some stories are so personal and perhaps embarrassing that reading them drew me in all the more. The art style is simple but complete with each line importance is felt and emotion is carried on each face.
Each person I have lent this book to, comments on how relatable the story is, and how quick a read. With close to 600 pages I'd always assumed getting it back would take a week or two, but as it goes no one has been able to put it down once its in their hands. The only down side is that Craig Thompson's work comes out sparingly and getting a new reading completely addicted to the medium takes more then this emotional one night stand. But, even for fans of the comics medium "Blankets" is a great recommendation for a first taste into indy comics.
"Blankets" is writer and artist Craig Thompson second comics work, but his use of the page to pace the reader is masterful. In "Blankets" Craig Thompson recounts his life growing up with his younger brother in a small Wisconsin town and the first time he fell into and out of love. This book is gripping in its honest emotion, some stories are so personal and perhaps embarrassing that reading them drew me in all the more. The art style is simple but complete with each line importance is felt and emotion is carried on each face.
Each person I have lent this book to, comments on how relatable the story is, and how quick a read. With close to 600 pages I'd always assumed getting it back would take a week or two, but as it goes no one has been able to put it down once its in their hands. The only down side is that Craig Thompson's work comes out sparingly and getting a new reading completely addicted to the medium takes more then this emotional one night stand. But, even for fans of the comics medium "Blankets" is a great recommendation for a first taste into indy comics.
Gateway Comics - Part 1
Those of us well versed in the medium of comics have a secret agenda. Maybe not so secret after the events of the past couple years, but still: We want your attention.
We've infiltrated your pop-culture lexicon with our movies, our tv shows, our video games, our shaped macaroni and cheese dinners. But there's a much more sinister way we get into your system: Gateway Comics.
Chances are that if you know a nerd, at least once a book has been slid your way with the phrase; "I know it's a comic book but it's pretty decent. You should check it out", following what for all intents and purposes is a paperbacked Trojan Horse.
We know what we're doing. We've spent countless hours pouring through volumes both hardcovered and vast, through issues single and creased with wear. We know the ins and out of the stories and we know which ones to use and tailor to hook you. One of my weapons of choice: Fables.
You know their stories: Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood. But what happens after that? After the proverbial "Happily Ever After"? "Happily Ever After" can only last so long, before new challenges arise.
After their Homelands are attacked by a new threat known only as the Adversary, the Fables escape to a new world, the Mundane World. Our world. Now characters like Snow White, Cinderella, and Bigby Wolf live right in a small hamlet of New York City. Only now Snow is single (after catching Prince Charming knocking boots with her sister, Rose Red), Bigby Wolf has put aside his Grandmother eating tendencies and acts as Sheriff, and Jack (of "and the Beanstalk" fame) is a shady shiester always looking for the next shill to cash in on.
The characters all live and interact with each other, and the tales that come out are as varied as the characters living them. Murder mysteries, political unrest, spy tales, romance, war stories, comedy and drama. Fables succeeds in what a lot of books strive to do, in that it delivers and balances a massive cast of characters, but it nevers stumbles along the way during this due to the fact that these are all characters you know all about. Fables has it all, and consistently delivers excellent storytelling on a monthly basis by a creative team that knows what it's doing.
Writer Bill Willingham knows his way around the fantasy genre. He has worked on TSR's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Comico's Elementals series, and most notably his work on expanding the universe of DC/Vertigo's Sandman with titles; The Dreaming, The Sandman Presents: Thessaly Witch For Hire, and The Sandman: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Dreams... But Were Afraid To Ask. Willingham has been working on Fables for over 7 years now with no end in sight, as Willingham has the ability to tap into other folklore and tales from around the world to further expand his cast.
Artist Mark Buckingham transcends the usual fantasy comic book art style and creates likable and noticeably distinct characters. Each and every character has their own particular look and style, leaving no two characters looking the same. Buckingham excels at showing these instantly recognizable characters often at various points throughout their history with no confusion of who you are looking at, which is helpful in a book with such a huge cast.
Rounding out the art team, I would be remiss to not include Fables cover artist James Jean. Jean has an incredible painted style that is can only be described as beautiful, haunting as well as thought provoking. Jean has rightfully won 5 Eisner Awards for his work on the series and marking himself as one of the top painters in the medium today. Jean has worked on every covers for the monthly Fables series from issue 1 all the way through 81. Which is no small task for someone whose main art medium is oil painting (he does digitally paint some pieces at times though). Not only has JJ made Fables leap off of the shelf monthly with his incredible work, he has also contributed to the covers to the trade dress for volumes 1 through 11 of the collected versions, the cover to the 2006 original graphic novel: 1,001 Nights of Snowfall, as well as a story within the OGN as well. I'm not even going to mention the oversized collected volume of all of his Fables covers and concept sketches.
Unfortunately, Jean has left the title with issue #81, and as of issue #83 the ongoing cover artist has been Joao Ruas, who has so far proven to be a worthy sucessor in stepping into such a lauded position.
Fables continues to truck along delivering it's special brand of fantasy-drama, helped by it's spin off book Jack of Fables, which follows the titular Jack of the Fables after he left the main title at #50. Fables has also been supported the previously mentioned 1,001 Nights of Snowfall, which deepened the back stories of some characters while shedding some light on what happened to the Fables before escaping the Homelands to the Mundane World. Willingham also is set to deliver an upcoming prose novel entitled Peter & Max about the Pied Piper of Hamelin, as well as an upcoming comic miniseries starring Cinderella titled From Fabletown With Love.
Fables has proven to be one of my favorite titles, and always finds it's way to the top of my must read pile the weeks it comes out. It also holds the distinction of being one of three titles that I purchase in two formats: single monthly issues and trade paperback.
Want to know more about it?
I knew you would...
We've infiltrated your pop-culture lexicon with our movies, our tv shows, our video games, our shaped macaroni and cheese dinners. But there's a much more sinister way we get into your system: Gateway Comics.
Chances are that if you know a nerd, at least once a book has been slid your way with the phrase; "I know it's a comic book but it's pretty decent. You should check it out", following what for all intents and purposes is a paperbacked Trojan Horse.
We know what we're doing. We've spent countless hours pouring through volumes both hardcovered and vast, through issues single and creased with wear. We know the ins and out of the stories and we know which ones to use and tailor to hook you. One of my weapons of choice: Fables.
You know their stories: Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood. But what happens after that? After the proverbial "Happily Ever After"? "Happily Ever After" can only last so long, before new challenges arise.
After their Homelands are attacked by a new threat known only as the Adversary, the Fables escape to a new world, the Mundane World. Our world. Now characters like Snow White, Cinderella, and Bigby Wolf live right in a small hamlet of New York City. Only now Snow is single (after catching Prince Charming knocking boots with her sister, Rose Red), Bigby Wolf has put aside his Grandmother eating tendencies and acts as Sheriff, and Jack (of "and the Beanstalk" fame) is a shady shiester always looking for the next shill to cash in on.
The characters all live and interact with each other, and the tales that come out are as varied as the characters living them. Murder mysteries, political unrest, spy tales, romance, war stories, comedy and drama. Fables succeeds in what a lot of books strive to do, in that it delivers and balances a massive cast of characters, but it nevers stumbles along the way during this due to the fact that these are all characters you know all about. Fables has it all, and consistently delivers excellent storytelling on a monthly basis by a creative team that knows what it's doing.
Writer Bill Willingham knows his way around the fantasy genre. He has worked on TSR's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Comico's Elementals series, and most notably his work on expanding the universe of DC/Vertigo's Sandman with titles; The Dreaming, The Sandman Presents: Thessaly Witch For Hire, and The Sandman: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Dreams... But Were Afraid To Ask. Willingham has been working on Fables for over 7 years now with no end in sight, as Willingham has the ability to tap into other folklore and tales from around the world to further expand his cast.
Artist Mark Buckingham transcends the usual fantasy comic book art style and creates likable and noticeably distinct characters. Each and every character has their own particular look and style, leaving no two characters looking the same. Buckingham excels at showing these instantly recognizable characters often at various points throughout their history with no confusion of who you are looking at, which is helpful in a book with such a huge cast.
Rounding out the art team, I would be remiss to not include Fables cover artist James Jean. Jean has an incredible painted style that is can only be described as beautiful, haunting as well as thought provoking. Jean has rightfully won 5 Eisner Awards for his work on the series and marking himself as one of the top painters in the medium today. Jean has worked on every covers for the monthly Fables series from issue 1 all the way through 81. Which is no small task for someone whose main art medium is oil painting (he does digitally paint some pieces at times though). Not only has JJ made Fables leap off of the shelf monthly with his incredible work, he has also contributed to the covers to the trade dress for volumes 1 through 11 of the collected versions, the cover to the 2006 original graphic novel: 1,001 Nights of Snowfall, as well as a story within the OGN as well. I'm not even going to mention the oversized collected volume of all of his Fables covers and concept sketches.
Unfortunately, Jean has left the title with issue #81, and as of issue #83 the ongoing cover artist has been Joao Ruas, who has so far proven to be a worthy sucessor in stepping into such a lauded position.
Fables continues to truck along delivering it's special brand of fantasy-drama, helped by it's spin off book Jack of Fables, which follows the titular Jack of the Fables after he left the main title at #50. Fables has also been supported the previously mentioned 1,001 Nights of Snowfall, which deepened the back stories of some characters while shedding some light on what happened to the Fables before escaping the Homelands to the Mundane World. Willingham also is set to deliver an upcoming prose novel entitled Peter & Max about the Pied Piper of Hamelin, as well as an upcoming comic miniseries starring Cinderella titled From Fabletown With Love.
Fables has proven to be one of my favorite titles, and always finds it's way to the top of my must read pile the weeks it comes out. It also holds the distinction of being one of three titles that I purchase in two formats: single monthly issues and trade paperback.
Want to know more about it?
I knew you would...
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