11 O'Clock Comics Episode 12

[Wood]

Another great episode, guys.

I enjoyed the EC conversation. DCBS was kind enough to send me a EC Comic Sampler from FCBD in a shipment and I enjoyed the hell out of it. I had no idea that comics from the 50's could be so good! My favorite story from the sampler was Dying City which featured art from Alex Toth & Harvey Kurtzman. Man, was it good. I guess it could even fall under the War comics conversation because the story is about a Korean family torn apart by war.

I would like to get an EC Archive sometime in the future.

Thank you for the episode, guys, and I did not mean to offend anyone by the podcast comparison bit in my voicemail. Please do not take offense. I guess by the size of CGS's forum compared to the others was the BIG influence in my reason. I do not mean to rake anyone in a certain list. That was just my mind at work.

Alec

Alec, no one was offended, no worries!

I just wanted to clarify and give credit where credit is due. Chris is way too modest to bring up Around Comics' success in response and the iFanboy guys aren't around the forums (yet!) either. It's not at all that you're wrong about CGS (they are an elephant obviously), it's just that it's a 3-horse lead pack and the rest of us are just trying to dig out little niche!

[David]

•  David, please show respect to your drink and call it by it's proper name... a Greyhound.  

Thank you, Tim!

I generally hit a couple websites prior to showtime, but this week I only went to one.  The only recipe they had with vodka and grapefruit juice was a Salty Dog and that wasn't something I was in the mood for.

From now on, I will call it a Greyhound!

[David]

First I admit that I'm new around these parts.  I'm introduced to David A Price from Marvel Noise, and then you other fine gentlemen from this 'cast right here (but from Ep 1!).

We're glad you're here, Alan.

So in saying that--
DAVID, YOU AND IAN WERE CO-HOSTS ONCE?!?!?
What and where and when?!!

Yes indeedy, good buddy.  Comic Timing is the name of the podcast.  Back in 2006 Tobey Cook and Ian asked me to take part in the show.  Unfortunately for them I said yes.  Episode 1 premiered in May of that year.  I was part of the show until August, leaving with episode 14.  A month later, Bullpen Bulletins debuted.

I enjoyed this one.  And hey, I'm thinking if Chris can have the adoration of VinceB, then I'm stepping up unashamedly as David A Price's #1 supporter.  He's my brother from another mother.  When he does a walk down memory lane, it's like he's using my memories.  Kinship, I tell you!! 

 

Therefore, I heartily support the Stroman love because I was all up, in, out, around, and through X-Factor with the original Stromanism.

I knew you were good people.

[Jay Tomio]

Jay, if you ever get your ass over here from Italy, I'm going to enjoy throwing a few back with you and shooting the shizzle!

We may have something to peddle at next year's SDCC. We get invited to these things (as I think everybody does!) and it would be a write-off anyway os I have to get my ass over there at some point. Maybe the NYCC but that may be a bit too soon.

I'm going, going, back, back to Cali, Cali

[AZN_FIST]

I guess you missed azn's post where you and I tag off and it's my turn to keep Wood company.

First off, I didn't notice till now...dunno why, but Karma has been passed to you.

SECOND...WHA? I didn't say for two people to leave! 5 "popular" podcasts, 5 days a week, and I need em! lol.

[Dave Wyndorf]

Another great show, gentlemen! Love hearing the EC talk. Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein really did push the diversity of art styles as a selling point in the EC line. That WAS the "house style" for EC.
Hey Chris, I was surprised that you think comics history would have turned out the same if the 1950s senate investigations never happened.
 Wertham's book really fueled their fire and in my opinion, the self imposed comics code set the graphics storytelling medium back at least 20- 30 years. As a result of the comics code, comic books were dumped into the playpen.
 Comics were originally targeted at teens and young adults but after the Senate scare and the collapse or near collapse of almost every single comics publisher they fell into "safe land". The new target was moms and dads buying books for 8-10 year olds.
The plans that Gaines had for EC before the crash were very ambitious. Reprints in book form and OGNs. ACG had similar plans.
Paperback publishers Dell and Bantam had just begun to publish OGNs using comics talents such as Arnold Drake and Matt Baker among others but when the hearings started, publishing plans were scrapped.
Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane and many more creators are all on record stating to the effect that the combination of extremely high profits and a growing (and maturing) comics readership was heading smoothly towards the "graphic novel" being a staple of American pop literature. Sadly, these hopes were crushed by the scare.
Interesting note, the rest of the world went whole hog into graphic novels and they've been selling like crazy ever since.
Oh well, without the crash I doubt that we would have the Silver Age super hero revival that pretty much defines the major comics market today.(Ooo, but that's bit of a stigma as well) Stan, Jack and Steve would have had no reason to innovate within the confines of the comics code. So that's one good thing. I'm rambling.....

[Jay Tomio]

Paperback publishers Dell and Bantam had just begun to publish OGNs using comics talents such as Arnold Drake and Matt Baker among others but when the hearings started, publishing plans were scrapped.

Damn, if it were for that bastard I'd be a Don now when it came to comics! 

[Dave Wyndorf]

Oh, yeah. Kurztman rules. And "Wall of Flesh" is a GREAT story! Bob Powell!! And, and Glansman could draw the shit out of any gun,tank, ship, half-track, cannon ALL that cool stuff!  And, and how come no one ever mentions Basil Wolverton, huh? "Brain Bats of Venus", baby! Or Robert Crumb, eh? or, or how great is Jordi Bernet?
Hey Wood! Give us some Druna love huh? And what about Tower comics? And Eerie publications?
Wally Wood's Cannon! My girlfriend is watching me---later!

[VinceB]

Oh, yeah. Kurztman rules. And "Wall of Flesh" is a GREAT story! Bob Powell!! And, and Glansman could draw the shit out of any gun,tank, ship, half-track, cannon ALL that cool stuff!  And, and how come no one ever mentions Basil Wolverton, huh? "Brain Bats of Venus", baby! Or Robert Crumb, eh? or, or how great is Jordi Bernet?
Hey Wood! Give us some Druna love huh? And what about Tower comics? And Eerie publications?
Wally Wood's Cannon! My girlfriend is watching me---later!

I'm glad Dave's back. 

[David]

Oooooo, Druna.

[Jefferson]

I'm rambling.....

Ramble on, Brother Dave!

[David]

First off, I didn't notice till now...dunno why, but Karma has been passed to you.

SECOND...WHA? I didn't say for two people to leave! 5 "popular" podcasts, 5 days a week, and I need em! lol.

No worries, buddy, it's all good.

And karma backatcha!

[laseraw]

CRAZY KARMA to Alec on the contribution!
 I can see how you might have the perception but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. I wouldn't argue that 11 O'Clock is one of the small press publishers (not sure if we're Heavy Metal or Top Cow though ), BUT I think you are selling Around Comics short.

In my eyes, there are three extremely popular comics podcasts...Around Comics, iFanboy and CGS. Those three are all, frankly, a lot more popular than the rest of us, and deservedly so. The rest of us vary from "popular" to "completely off the map" and I think for the most part we're all OK with that.

i agree, but would add Fanboy Radio to the list.
as for the BIG2 comparison i dont like it as much since the attitude of CGS is astoundingly open and extremely welcoming to all other casts (just see the forums)
the same goes pretty much for AC, WordBalloon, Indie Spinner Rack, comic book page, Crankcast, bullpen bulletins, pop cult online etc...
this people are open to comment and recommend other shows as enthusiastically as they do their own... an attitude i dont see on the BIG2 very often...

.

the point that i really found interesting on Alec's message was the one referring to the branding of the BIG2 and their characters as "better" by being from the main companies.
particularly among the younger readers that are more vulnerable to advertising and merchandising campaigns and less aware of the many values of the medium.
to me, there's an undeniable value in comics, in terms of its communicational potential and as an art form or medium, among several others. some of this values are not always in the forefront interest of many of the comics published.

... so ...

is liking comics (the medium) merely because of the characters starring on them, like liking "classical" painting just because of the naked ladies portrayed on them?

do general readers see "value" on comics beyond that of the presence of the character on the book, and do readers look for that "value" at all?

*by "value" here i'm not refereeing at all to any speculative market value.

[zack kruse]

Hey dudes! Another fun listen.

Thanks for talking about First Light, the more people that know about it and get involved with it, the better. There are A LOT of great indy books out there that deserve as much attention as they can get.

I know Brian Defferding through the Bendis board, and that guy puts out a really great book. It's a bummer that he's had as much trouble as he has. He's telling a really interesting story

[phh]

What ever happened to the Indie Challange thread for 11'O Clock forum, I was planing to try some new skit but no thread = no expanding the mind.

Oh, great show guys!

[David]

What ever happened to the Indie Challange thread for 11'O Clock forum, I was planing to try some new skit but no thread = no expanding the mind.

You mean this thread?

[phh]

You mean this thread?

I messed up.
 
the 11:th episode broke my brain.
Karma to David

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Thank you, Tim!

I generally hit a couple websites prior to showtime, but this week I only went to one.  The only recipe they had with vodka and grapefruit juice was a Salty Dog and that wasn't something I was in the mood for.

From now on, I will call it a Greyhound!

Yes, David, the might Greyhound is a Salty Dog sans salted rim on the glass. Good choice. Those are what my brother and I have with breakfast before going to a college football game.
Have you had a Presbyterian? One of my favorite summer drinks: http://www.whiskymag.com/cocktails/presbyterian.html

Good show, guys. Don't be so hard on yrselves. Thanks for the EC talk. I fell in love in the early '90s when they reprinted double issues. I loves me some Craig.

[WetRats]

"Are they still riffing on the registration thing? Bah!"

I Heart Vince!

[i_am_scifi]

Just listened, and I do hope my fellow Jew Mr. Price dost not think less of me for not digging Larry's art.  It peeved me a bit that Multiple Man's dupes did not all look exactly the same when created, and I need to try and get used to the occasional giraffe neck and the like.  It might just be the generation I'm from or my general appreciation for Pablo Raimondi, previous X-Factor artist, that is clouding my judgment, but going from a stylized, hyper-real art style to a Strohman type takes some getting used to.  And to reiterate, I actually enjoyed a bunch of the stuff he did back on the original X-Factor title in the 90's; I'm just not sold that the current X-Factor is the right place for him.  Hope David and I can still sit down to a Passover cedar and eat some matzah balls in peace after this, of course.   

And Vince, was the show you were tyring to think of that was paranormal like X-Files "Eerie, Indiana?"