Posts Tagged ‘ golden age ’

Adopt a Character for 2011

January 12, 2011
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It’s that time of year again; time to pick a character or creator, to immerse yourself in for 2011.

I started this for my own personal reason back in 2007, when I wanted to learn more about Thor. I remember growing up with the reruns of the The Marvel Super Heroes mini-cartoons and getting more familiar with him in The Avengers and Secret Wars comics of the 1980′s. But it wasn’t until he was seemingly killed off in the Disassembled storyline that I wanted to know more about him, Odin and Asgard. I reread the Masterworks and picked up inexpensive but essential comics from back issue bins.

In 2008, I chose to focus on Luke Cage and Iron Fist, reading all the Essentials that were published up to that point. In 2009, I went ahead with the daunting task of reading all 27 Volumes of The Spirit Archives. That works out to be one book every two weeks. Couple that with all the other reading I do for this blog not to mention spending time with my family and non-comics book activities and that’s a whole lot of reading to get done in one calendar year. Not only did I have a much better understanding for The Spirit, but also for his creator Will Eisner. That impacted me on my decision to switch things up in 2010 and instead of a superhero, I chose Steve Ditko. Not only did I reread everything I owned by him including my Spider-Man and Dr. Strange Masterworks (Marvel), but I bought Strange Suspense The Steve Ditko Archives (Fantagraphics), Strange & Stranger World Of Steve Ditko (Fantagraphics), The Creeper By Steve Ditko (DC), The Art Of Steve Ditko (IDW), his Atlas-Era Marvel comics and current independent work with Robin Snyder. I even recorded a five-part podcast series covering his entire body of work.

Now it’s 2011 and I’m going back to where it all began – The Golden Age Superman. In general GA comics are not the easiest comics to read. Most of the time super heroes fought petty criminals and mad scientists. You almost had to wonder why a God among men would bother with such lowlifes. But that’s the charm. It is a simpler time with simple writing and a country trying to get by while the men were away fighting WWI. I’m fortunate to own all the Archives: Superman in Action Comics Vols. 1-5, Superman Vols. 1-8, and Superman: World’s Finest Comics Vols. 1-2. I also have The Complete Diamond Anniversary Edition Superman Collection (Bosko edition) that wonderfully collects all of the 1941-1943 Superman cartoons from Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios. There are a few different DVDs of these cartoons, but from all accounts the Bosko disc is still the one to buy.

I hope you, too, pick a character(s) or creator(s) to learn more about and to let me know who it is.

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CCL Podcast #277 – You’re A Wonder, Wonder Woman!

July 8, 2010
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Collected Comics Library Podcast #277
27,727Kb; 23m 04s

Wonder Woman #600 came out last week and the comic community, the internet and even ABC News is all a buzz about her new costume change. I think it’s a good move not only for the character, but to get people talking about comics in general. I’m sure the debate will go right into Comic Con. I do have a feeling that Diana Price will return to her original one piece outfit someday because we have seen it before back in 1968 when Diana and all of the Amazons lost their magic and became for the most part – mortal. Diana wore a Mod-type outfit and learned Kung-Fu in the process. It actually made her a stronger and more interesting character. But that only lasted 30 odd issues before she went back to the red, blue and gold bustier that we all know her for. I’m sure that’s what DC is doing again – rehashing what came before – new outfit, new attitude and old numbering system.

Today’s show is no different. I covered the Wonder Woman Archives way back for Podcast #4. You can listen to it if you want but I warn you that the audio is suspect. In this updated installment I talk about not only the Archives but also, the Showcase Presents volumes, the aforementioned Diana Prince trade paperbacks and two books that you may not be aware of The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Volume 2: Wonder Woman by Michael L. Fleisher (MacMillan, 1976) and Wonder Woman (Bonanza, 1972) which is a Greatest Golden Age Wonder Woman collected edition of sorts and it even has an introduction by Gloria Steinem. The contents of that book can be found at The Wonder Woman Pages.

Also on the show I go over Dave McKean’s new printing of Cages (Dark Horse, September 2010), Siegel and Shuster’s Funnyman: The First Jewish Superhero, from the Creators of Superman, The Linked Photographers’ Guide to Online Marketing and Social Media by Rosh Sillars and The Last Airbender movie which Patrick and I saw this past Sunday. and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

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Collected Edition Blog browsing on Wednesday afternoon

January 27, 2010
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Just doing some catching up. Here are some linky-links for you – with comments.

Collected Edition Blog browsing on Tuesday morning

August 25, 2009
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Well I’m back from vacation and ready to go. It’s good to take some time off and step away from your passion now and then to get a new perspective on things. But it looks like I missed a lot, so let’s get to it:

CCL Podcast #231 – Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater

August 5, 2009
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Since starting this blog back in 1998 and recording the podcast (2004) I’ve read several Collected Editions. Most have been America Comic Books or Comic Strips. I’ve only ventured outside the boundaries to read some Franco-Belgian comics, Marvel UK or some Italian or German interpreted material. All of those are fairly easy to find on Amazon.com or some other book market site, but when it comes to the Far East that’s another story altogether. I’m not talking about Manga. No, just about everyone, including me, has picked up Naruto or Bleach or has watched some sort of Anime at one time or another. No, I wanted to dig deeper, but looking for collected editions of pre-Manga Japanese or Indian, Chinese or Taiwanese comics is a far greater challenge.

But I have found what I was looking for with Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater by Eric P. Nash (Abrams ComicArts). When I came across this book, I didn’t have much of an initial reaction, but upon opening up the cover I was struck by the classic artwork from a Japan that for the most past no longer exists – truly a Golden Age. Kamishibai is what Manga was before there was Manga. They are story board paintings set in sequence and one by one they are turned and narrated by storytellers. It was a very simple street theater and adored by thousand and thousands of children all over Japan throughout its rich history.

Mr. Nash does an excellent job going through this history and even citing example of where some of our modern day superhero creators like Bob Kane or Steve Ditko may have gotten ideas for certain characters. Also included are several stories starring the Golden Bat, Jungle Boy and Prince of Gamma, in which Nash has done written narration and history of the characters.

But like so many visual mediums, transformation occurs and when World War II began. The street theater became propaganda. Nash covers this period in detail and includes several examples of Anti-American and political Kamishibai. Some of which caught me off guard, the government was targeting children and teenagers after all.

Even the period after the war ended bought on new style Kamishibai, not so much a return to heroes and villains but slice of life stories such as the heartfelt Prayers For Peace, in which a girl struggles in a post-atomic bomb and war ravaged part of the city. The imagery is stunning and you can’t help but to think of her very existence and how, or if, it will go on.

Nash also goes into the birth of what we know as Manga and even a bit of Anime. With the rise of television and well placed American influences, Kamishibai took a back set to emerging technologies and even 1960’s Adam West Batman.

Any fan of Manga or Japanese and WWII history, for that matter, will welcome this book to their shelf. Along with rare artwork on every page, Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater also includes a glossary of terms and the dust jacket folds out to a brilliant, giant poster. Due in stores on September 1, 2009, 304 pages, Hardcover, 9.2 x 8.6 x 1 inches, $35.00 US; $45.50 CAN; £19.99 UK

For more comments on this book and the latest Collected Edition news on Dean Mullaney’s Library of American Comics (IDW), Ed Brubaker’s Criminal Deluxe Edition (Marvel Icon) and Savage Dragon Ultimate Collection 1 HC (Image) listen to the Podcast.
Collected Comics Library Podcast #231
32,846Kb; 27m 48s

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

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