11 O'Clock Comics Episode 119

[GLewis]

I don't really like the look of the Green Lantern costume either. I'm hoping they change it, seeing as how it's digitally rendered they can tweak it up to the last minute. Superhero movies never seem to get it right when they do costumes with one exception, Spider-Man. That movie proved that a classic costume can work.

The Thor stuff looks a little Flash Gordon, but after watching the trailer, I think it works.

I disagree about Shadowland. The first couple issues have been fun and I can't wait to see where it goes.

[David]

Superhero movies never seem to get it right when they do costumes with one two exceptions, Spider-Man and Christopher Reeve's Superman.

That's better.

[Dotanuki]

That's better.

 

[GLewis]

That's better.

Thank you for the correction! Karma. The first two Superman movies, with Christopher Reeve, are as much a part of my childhood as comics and Star Wars.

[Fray]

Vince... Is this more to your taste or no?  (Found at: http://www.blog.inspiretech.com/entertainment/first-pic-of-ryan-reynolds-as-the-green-lantern/ )

[VinceB]

Vince... Is this more to your taste or no? 

 

Ugh.

[Shawn P.]

King DAP: "If I have a problem with EVS as a person it has nothing to do with his art."

Wood aka Matt Trakker: "Preach."

Yet another reason why I love this show. King DAP read my mind on that one.

Note: Had no idea Wood is a Charles Barkley fan. WORD!

[big jim]

I'm with Sal on the Clayton Crain DVD cover rip-off comment, especially when you have a look at his promo piece for the upcoming Carnage mini series. Compare it with the original poster for the movie Species. Similar? A coincidence? YOU DECIDE!

[jonny the homicidal drummer]

Note: Had no idea Wood is a Charles Barkley fan. WORD!

THAT'S NOT TURRIBLE

[Adam O. Pruett]

On Wood's brief scoffing at the "new idea" that you have to think of All-Star Batman & Robin as a comedy in order to enjoy it -- I can't imagine thinking of it any other way. The book is absolutely ridiculous, and I always thought that was sort of the point. The issue where they meet with Hal Jordan while covered in yellow paint was particularly funny, I thought -- and a lot of the humor came from the characters so overtly exploiting one of the sillier tropes of superhero mythology (namely that an all-powerful being would be vulnerable to a COLOR).

Anyway, I really don't mean to get into a debate on the merits of ASBAR -- it's just always struck me as odd that some readers have found the humor in the book to be something "new" in Miller's storytelling. Miller has almost ALWAYS incorporated a huge amount of comedy into his work. Despite the fact that DKR is regarded as being very grim & gritty, it's also extremely funny. One look at his renditions of Reagan and Letterman (both pitch-perfect parodies) or throwaway characters with names like Byron Brassballs confirms this.

I dunno. I think the only real difference with the stuff in ASBAR is that it's done with far less subtlety than Miller has used in the past. But again, that seems like the point of the book -- it's ridiculous. As they say -- about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

[deadpool]

I gotta say listening, you guys helped reinforce the idea that we should not be getting teased with these movie images so far out.

I have done a abit of film and TV work in my time and sat on a few casting couches, a thing you learn is Good comedic actors are brillint for casting in Dramatic roles, these casting of Evans and Reynolds actually give me more faith that they know what there doing, more then if they cast say brad pitt.

 

[mguy1977]

Don't forget Helen Slater's Supergirl costume.  That costume was fine!!!  

If you hate Smallville just leave your comic baggage at the door & watch it.  It is better than 90% of what is of what is on today during that timeslot.  

Matthew

[judekill]

On Wood's brief scoffing at the "new idea" that you have to think of All-Star Batman & Robin as a comedy in order to enjoy it -- I can't imagine thinking of it any other way. The book is absolutely ridiculous, and I always thought that was sort of the point. The issue where they meet with Hal Jordan while covered in yellow paint was particularly funny, I thought

Another thread that has been going on has me thinking about writers and artists and how they both contribute to tell a story. I don't feel that Miller and Lee are a good team to do an in your face humour book about Batman. If Miller had been drawing it himself or even say a Paul Pope the ability for the series to showcase comedy would have been much greater. When I think of Lee's art "funny" is not something that comes to mind. Whether it falls on the shoulders of Miller for not accepting he had one of the premier dynamic hero artisits in the industry and not writing to his strengths, or Jim Lee's shoulders for taking on a project he was incapable of making work, I'm not sure, but I do know that the yellow room scene despite the absurdity of it was about as funny as John Stamos on "Full House."
I am really curious about the Fantagraphics' reprinting of classic Floyd Gottfredson Mickey Mouse. Apparently Gary Groth somehow convinced the Disney people to leave in the strips that are now currently deemed racist. Say what you will about Groth but the man has integrity. http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/07/26/sd10-fbi-and-disney-team-for-mickey-mouse-reprints/

[Adam O. Pruett]

When I think of Lee's art "funny" is not something that comes to mind.

That was exactly my initial reaction to the title, but as time went on, that disconnect seemed more and more conscious and purposeful. It's like they were thinking, "Who's the LAST person people would guess would be drawing something with this kind of tone?" It reinforces how ludicrous it all is.

but I do know that the yellow room scene despite the absurdity of it was about as funny as John Stamos on "Full House."

Well, okay, different strokes for different folks -- but again, I wasn't really trying to argue in favor of it; I was singling out that issue as one that the creators clearly played for laughs -- at least more obviously so than the rest of the run (or what I've read of it). My point wasn't "I think this issue was funny" -- it was "the idea that this title is a comedy is not a new idea, and here's an issue where that's incredibly obvious."

I am really curious about the Fantagraphics' reprinting of classic Floyd Gottfredson Mickey Mouse. Apparently Gary Groth somehow convinced the Disney people to leave in the strips that are now currently deemed racist. Say what you will about Groth but the man has integrity.

Very well said. I'm looking forward to that as well, and I'm quite happy that they aren't leaving anything out.

[Parker]

As a huge fan of Oz i have to agree with Sal thats its a bit dated now, but I'd say only season one. The way some of the racism and themes are handled don't seem to work as well as the stuff in seasons 2 - 5.

Sal I'd suggest rewatching seasons 4 and 5 they hold up the best.

[whirlwindx]

It's very easy to integrate the Crossgen universe in the Marvel Universe. Most of those titles took place on different worlds so they can just be different world in outer space and have the silver surfer or some alien race show up and see them.
Now integrating them onto Earth or NYC would be much more difficult and probably stupid in some cases. I don't really want Victorian Detectives running around solving mysteries in the present. It's like Vertigo I don't want Scalped or Y: The Last Man or whatever to show links the DC universe. Mavel's going to tweak some of the books anyways before they come out and some of those book have to be pretty much tweaked depending where they ended.

I'd rather Marvel expand beyond 95% superheroes and do some genre books to expand their variety like the real mainstream.

That Captain America Waid story seems so much like that What if? that came out before and you can tell that story every 10-20 years with a whole updating to present with the whole What if he woke up in Modern Times? riff.

One of my favourite episodes is the one with Sal and Vince battling back and forth about Batman RIP in episode 33.

Now to listen to the rest of the show 

[Parker]

I saw the first season of Oz for the first time a few months ago. I thought the acting was solid and all, but was totally underwhelmed (and it did feel dated, yes). The show was well made, but considering that TV went on to give us Sopranos, Deadwood, The Wire, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad over the next 10 years, well, the show seemed innovative but ultimately uninteresting held up against what it paved the way for.

It improves over the course of the series, and its not common for some shows to have what appears to be a dated and or mediocre first season. But if the cliffhanger in season one didn't hook you, dont bother.

I will say Oz has an ending thats more satisfying than the Sopranos.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

Oz is a great groundbreaking show that paved the way for shows like the Sopranos and the Wire.  That said it didn't have the polish of the shows that followed it and also had some problems that ended up being ironed out with the future shows as well.

I don't know if dated is the word I'd use, but it definitely looks "less than" in contrast to the shows that came after it.  Still brilliant television and absolutely worth watching.

[Parker]

Tori Black. Drool. That is all

[Dave Faust]

For me, I thought Oz was a good show right up until they brought in the aging drugs thing. Then it went to shit and never recovered.