Posts Tagged ‘ frank miller ’

Sunday Review – Daredevil: The Man Without Fear

February 20, 2011
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It seems as though I’m on a Daredevil roll this week. Last Sunday I reviewed Born Again and Wednesday I posted an interview with John Romita Jr. Combine the two and we come to Daredevil The Man Without Fear, the 5-issue mini series from 1993; it has been collected as part of of Marvel Premiere Classic Editions (Variant Volume 18).

This is a retelling of Matt Murdock’s origin inspired by Daredevil #1, from Stan Lee and Bill Everett, as told by Frank Miller. Miller, of course, wrote another origin story, Batman: Year One, that is considered one of the best Batman stories of all time.

Miller and Romita Jr. take what we know from that first issue and expands it in a number of ways including giving the reader greater depth between Matt and his father, “Battling” Jack Murdock, Matt’s purpose of becoming a lawyer and his desire to fight crime as a masked superhero. It’s also updated for the times giving it a more gritty and street level feel that we have come to know from the Daredevil comics throughout the years. Miller also gives us an origin of Elektra, the deadly assassin and Matt’s lover. Actually, I should say that Romita Jr. gives us Elektra. After all it’s his lines and curves that make her come alive. They do not disrespect the original run in any way, and if you have a copy of Daredevil #1 it’s a wonderful way to see how they compliment each other.

That said, this story is what it is – an origin. So there is a lot of background and I’m not giving anything away when we see Matt in tights at the end of the book. One pre-Daredevil costume that did catch me off guard (and gave me a chuckle) was when Matt donned a black ninja look. I can’t help but think that it was inspired by the Rex Smith outfit that was worn in The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk TV movie just a few years before this series was published.

As with Miller’s previous work on DD there is murder, despair and heartbreak. But we should come to expect this. This is a life of animosity, villainy, and overcoming the odds – at any cost. Miller knows this all too well and to an extent so does Romita Jr. Both have had to work hard to achieve greatness. They take no shortcuts and have become masters of their craft. Overall it’s a good mini and any fan of DD, Miller or Romita Jr. should visit it. As a whole you’ll get your money’s worth.

The extras in the Premiere Classic Hardcover starts off with an introduction from Marvel editor Ralph Macchio from the 1994 trade paperback edition. The back of the book is abundant material including an early script of Blind Justice, from Miller. This draft would later become The Man Without Fear. We also get pinups, several pencil pages and even unused covers and interior pages from Romita Jr. There is also the addition of Marvel Age #127, which is a a four pages prose piece written by Miller that fleshes out even more background on the development of the series. Finally there is cover art to previous collected editions.

Now then, if you want a bit more of DD’s origin, pick up Daredevil: Yellow by Tim Sale and Jeph Loeb. This four issue series reinterprets (almost verbatim) the first seven issues of the classic Stan Lee run; right up until #7 when Matt changes it up with the full red costume that was created by Wally Wood. There is a bit of Man Without Fear in Yellow #1 and the biggest difference I can see is at what age was Matt when his father was murdered? But if you can look past that discrepancy, you’ll be alright. As for the bonus material in this book, there is a n 8-page sketchbook with commentary from Loeb and Sale.

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear Premiere Classic Hardcover (Variant Vol. 18)
Written by Frank Miller
Art by John Romita Jr.
$24.99, 224 pages, Marvel Comics

Daredevil: Yellow Hardcover
Written by Jeph Loeb
Art by Tim Sale
$29.99, 160 pages, Marvel Comics

Also recommended:
Daredevil Omnibuses by Frank Miller, Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker
Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil Volumes 1-5
Daredevil: Born Again Marvel Premiere Classic (Variant Volume 19)

The Art of the Introduction

July 5, 2010
By

Introductions have become a staple in just about every collected edition published these days. They are designed to give the reader insight into what to expect, what to look for and why the following is important. It sets the stage as to what’s to come and to give you an overview of why the book is appealing and worthy of your time.

I tend to read the introduction (or forward or commentary) not only as the first thing but also as a follow up after the book is finished. For me, it make it more complete. Some introductions have stuck with me over time and it makes me want to read the book over and over again. People like Alan Moore can do this. He did so inside the pages of The Complete Frank Miller Batman. Moore is a master himself and him commenting on Frank Miller’s work elevates it. Not only is the story a masterpiece but somehow, but it somehow exemplifies it and makes it more important.

Speaking of Moore, I’m currently reading, for the first time ever, his run on Swamp Thing with DC’s Deluxe Editions. Volume Two has a wonderful intro by Neil Gaiman, who offers up not only his friendship with Moore but he’s one of the few people who can get inside and understand just what Moore is conveying to the reader. Gaiman had me primed and ready by the time I turned the page to Swamp Thing Annual #2 which featured Deadman, Phantom Stranger, The Spectre and Etrigan, The Demon – all of whom are favorites of mine. Also, I would have been completely lost if Gaiman was not there to explain Saga of Swamp Thing #32 which was an homage to Walt Kelly’s Pogo. Moore’s use language alone is baffling, unorthodox, and incomprehensible all the while being beautiful and full of meaning. I had no idea that after Moore was done writing the story he had a hard time going back and writing in plain old English!

You wouldn’t get that from reading the monthly periodical.

What are some of you favorite introductions?

CCL Podcast #248 – Asterios Polyp HC by David Mazzucchelli (Pantheon)

December 9, 2009
By

Collected Comics Library Podcast #248
27,901Kb; 29m 29s

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Every year more and more Graphic Novels are being published. One glance at any of the “Best Of” or “Holiday Shopping” lists for Comic Books of 2009 will prove that point. One book, in particular, that has popped up time and time again is Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli (Pantheon).

This book goes beyond being well told and well crafted – it’s inherently designed that way. Mazzucchelli, artist for such seminal runs on Daredevil (Marvel) and Batman: Year One (DC Comics) both with writer Frank Miller, has crafted a meticulous tale that is full or rigid line work as well as luscious curves all the while giving us a rich thought provoking story that will stay with you for some time to come.

The protagonist is Asteios Polyp (strange name, indeed), he is a middle aged professor and also an award winning architectural expert, although none of his designs have ever been built. One fateful day his New York apartment is struck by lightning and goes up in flames. Left with only three items and some cash, he relocates to the, aptly named, small, Midwestern town of Apogee. We are narrated by his twin brother, who died at birth, and are given the rise and fall and rise again of one of the most interesting and self absorbed characters from any work of fiction. Back and forth we go from Asteios’ young and troubled life, his love affairs and the meeting of his wife, Hana, and subsequent divorce to his present life in rural America and his new found appreciation for the world around him.

But this book is more then just story; it’s the actual way it is presented to us on paper – literally. Asteios’ life in the past is offered to us in tones of grays, blues and reds; while his new life is a brighter yellow. Also, each character we meet has their own type of word balloon and font. For example, Asteios’ speech is surrounded by 90 degree angled word balloons and is in all capital letters. That’s not to say that he is shouting all the time. It’s just how he is portrayed – always right, direct and to the point. On the other hand, Hana’s balloons are curved with softer lines and a more feminine font. This typography continues throughout the book as other characters are introduced. It is so poignant that the voices and inflections come of the page and into your head. But the real saga is Asterios and Hana, themselves. They are Ying and Yang. That’s even how they view each other. He, as a mechanical robot and she, as an ever flowing ghost. Yes, they love each other but almost more importantly they need each other.

As for the book, itself it comes with a dust jacket in the aforementioned colors of gray, blue and red that is more like a large cover band and the stamping on the front and back cover is of Asteios in both past and present attire. There is no afterword or sketch page of any kind, which is a bit disappointing considering the massive amount of detail that went into the book. It would have been nice if Mazzucchelli explained how this project came to be and his work process. Even an introduction by colleague, such as Frank Miller or Denny O’Neil would have been welcome. No matter, however, because this book is sure to be dissected by critics, book clubs, blogs and podcasts for years to come. It’s a wonderful look into relationships, tragedy, accomplishment and above all craftsmanship.

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli
Pantheon Graphic Novels, 2009 (a division of Random House)
344 pages, 10.4″ x 7.9″, $29.95

My thanks to Pantheon for supplying me a copy of the book.

Also on the show, I talk about the newly announced Batman and Superman – Earth One graphic novels and the NCAA Football Bowl Contest.

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

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Will Eisner and his Spirit

December 25, 2008
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Today is the day that many of us Golden Age comic book fans have been waiting for, because today is the day that Will Eisner’s The Spirit comes to a theater near you. For those of you who may think that The Spirit is just another superhero, think again. There is much more to him than a blue suit, a red tie and beautiful women – both good and evil.

The Spirit was a 7 page Sunday newspaper insert created by 22-year-old Will Eisner that first ran in the Register and Tribune Syndicate on June 2, 1940, shortly after Superman and Batman debuted in comic books. The Spirit, in reality, was Denny Colt, a Central City police officer, who was beaten up and left for dead lying in a puddle of chemicals by the villain Dr. Cobra. Colt was pronounced by the coroner and was buried in Wildwood Cemetery. Unknown to everyone he was merely in a state of hibernation and broke out of his grave and continued his crime fighting crusade as The Spirit. Only police commissioner Dolan knows his true identity.

The strip itself was ahead of it’s time focusing its attention on a more adult male audience by incorporating crime noir, sex (via the many femme fatales), humor, a touch of science fiction and fantasy, and violence (including murder and blood). But mostly it was known for its use of sequential artwork by using angles, darkness and vibrant colors. Eisner stated in the past that a person could completely understand an entire strip without having one single word balloon; each panel would explain itself. That’s not to say that the language was not included, quite the contrary. For such a young man, Eisner’s usage of English catered to a more mature and well educated reader, even though some would say that his characterization of African-Americans at the time was unfounded.

The Sunday strip continued through October 5, 1952 and the character of The Spirit has been revived a number of times including a current run in DC Comics, which is on issue #24. For those of you want to learn more about The Spirit, DC is just finishing up its massive 26 Volume Hardcover Archive set, collecting everything The Spirit has ever appeared in. Interestingly enough, the series was first to only be 15 volumes collecting only the strips that Eisner worked on, not the strips that were done posthumously by Wally Wood (Tales From The Crypt), Jack Cole (Plastic Man) and others while Eisner served in World War II (Eisner was, however, the editorial director). DC wisely added these extra books making for a total of 24. Then as the last few were being planned outs the editorial staff at DC made the decision to add in a 25th Volume collecting the very rare and never-before reprinted Spirit Daily strip in it’s entirety that originally ran from October 1941 to March 1944. But that’s not all; DC has kept on going and on December 31, 2008 will release a 26th Volume that will collect all The Spirit material that was published by many other companies including Harvey Comics, Warren Publishing and Kitchen Sink Press, from the 1950’s to the 1980’s, thus ending DC’s monumental undertaking.

But there’s even more! In 1998, Dark Horse Comics published their own Spirit series that ran for 10 issues and was done by such prolific creators like Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) and Neil Gaiman (Sandman). This April 2009 Dark Horse is going to collect the run in their own Archive Edition and it will match the DC line; even tagging the spine of the dustjacket as Volume 27. Kudos to both DC and Dark Horse for combining their editorial efforts.

It should be pointed out that Volume 3 (softcover edition) of DC’s current run will collect issues #14-20 and be out in comic books stores on January 28, 2009. There is no word yet from DC if these stores will be reformatted into Volume 28 of the Archive Series.

So enjoy the movie in all of it’s Sin City-esque glory then go out and read up on why a movie was to be made in the first place – because when it comes to Golden Age superheroes The Spirit ranks right up there with – and beyond – them.

CCL Podcast #200 – Frank Miller’s Daredevil Omnibus 1 and 2

December 17, 2008
By

Collected Comics Library Podcast #200
30,715Kb; 32m 30s

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Well here we are – 200 podcasts! I never thought it would be possible. My sincere thanks go out to everyone who has ever downloaded or even visited this blog going back to 1999.

This episode is special in so many ways, not only is it #200, but I get to focus my attention on one of the great runs in comic book history and a run that got me started in comics in the first place – Frank Miller’s Daredevil. Back in 2007 Marvel published two Omnibuses showcasing Miller’s work and today we celebrate those books by looking at all of the bonus features at accompany it.

As for the rest of the show, there isn’t a whole lot of news, as expected this time of year, but IDW has some very big plans for 2009, including enlarging the dimensions of there Dick Tracy Daily reprints from the size that you see in stores now to matching the oversized Terry and the Pirates books starting with Volume 7. IDW will also be publishing Alex Raymond’s Rip Kirby in a 5 volume set and Neal Adams’ Ben Casey in a 2 Volume set.

Chris

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