Posts
Pete Wisdom IMix and Oscar Bets
Issue three of my Marvel Comics mini-series Wisdom will be in the comic shops on Thursday (or Wednesday if you’re in the States). I’m very pleased with it, new regular artist Manuel Garcia being well up to the challenge of an issue that pits guest star Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, against a bunch of Welsh gangsters and your actual Dragon, all set in Cardiff. (My first splash page description began ‘it’s the most Welsh pub you’ve ever seen’, and this great artist, who lives in Spain, provided just that.) The story is called ‘Enter With Dragon’. Which fans of The Goodies may recognise. It also features what I think may well be Marvel’s first page- long sequence of… how can I put this?... Pete displaying skills which might lead you to believe he could make balloon animals with his tongue. Full advantage is taken of the Mature Readers imprint. And of Maureen. Ahem.
In search of added value as always, I've placed 'soundtrack' captions throughout the issue, referencing nine songs, all by Welsh artists (John Cale in the case of The Velvet Underground), the idea being that the music complements the action in the issue. I've created an IMix of all the songs, and it's available on ITunes here:
The IMix, it should be pointed out, is as Mature Readers as the comic is. By which I mean that Goldie Lookin’ Chain swear a lot. I hope you enjoy it, especially if you get to play it while reading.
I’ve just finished writing the concluding issue of Wisdom, for which Marvel were kind enough to offer me a couple of extra pages, and I can honestly say I’ve rarely felt so satisfied with an end product, and so pleased at the attention to detail of an editorial team. Having a conversation with editor Nick Lowe about the placing of an individual comma: that’s working with people who give a damn.
I popped into my new local comic shop for the first time today, the last one in Oxford having closed down (isn’t that incredible?) The new one is called, erm, Swin City. Because it’s in Swindon. But otherwise it’s the very model of a modern comic shop, clean and well laid-out, with a friendly chap behind the counter gently welcoming me and asking me what my tastes were. They’re about to open a coffee lounge for their customers, and the chap immediately knew the status of every title I asked about.
http://www.swincitycomics.co.uk/
I think I'll be popping back on a regular basis. While I was there I put in an order for the lovely Javier Grillo-Marxuach’s Middleman:
http://community.livejournal.com/panel600/727.html
Javier is doing well for himself in comics. His old school Battlestar Galactica miniseries, Cylon Apocalypse, just got a very good review in SFX Magazine, and Annihilation, for Marvel, was one of their most popular titles in a huge year for them. And it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Even if he did chicken out of playing Just A Minute against Colin Baker.
Now, I am a betting man when it comes to three things: cricket; politics and the Oscars. And while I have a pretty good record with the first two, when it comes to the statuettes I’m always vastly wrong. So with that in mind, I thought I’d share with you the only two Oscar wagers I’ve made this year. (Because I think the favourites, Mirren, Scorcese, etc., are mostly going to win at terrible odds.) I think Forest Whitaker deserves the award for his startling performance as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. It’s the man in full, a real person, but the part doesn’t shrink from his also being a monster. But I think the Academy, perverse as they can be, are actually going to give it to Peter O’Toole, who’s never won Best Actor. So that’s who I’ve bet on. I also think that in a wide open Best Supporting Actress market, someone whose odds are far too long is Rinko Kikuchi, who silently played the deaf mute teenager in Babel. Twelve to one against the sort of obvious subtlety that the Academy adores.
Oh, and New Zealand for the Cricket World Cup and Al Gore, thanks for asking. Anyhow, I have wasted too much of your time today, and must get back to wasting my own. Until next time, Cheerio.
In search of added value as always, I've placed 'soundtrack' captions throughout the issue, referencing nine songs, all by Welsh artists (John Cale in the case of The Velvet Underground), the idea being that the music complements the action in the issue. I've created an IMix of all the songs, and it's available on ITunes here:
The IMix, it should be pointed out, is as Mature Readers as the comic is. By which I mean that Goldie Lookin’ Chain swear a lot. I hope you enjoy it, especially if you get to play it while reading.
I’ve just finished writing the concluding issue of Wisdom, for which Marvel were kind enough to offer me a couple of extra pages, and I can honestly say I’ve rarely felt so satisfied with an end product, and so pleased at the attention to detail of an editorial team. Having a conversation with editor Nick Lowe about the placing of an individual comma: that’s working with people who give a damn.
I popped into my new local comic shop for the first time today, the last one in Oxford having closed down (isn’t that incredible?) The new one is called, erm, Swin City. Because it’s in Swindon. But otherwise it’s the very model of a modern comic shop, clean and well laid-out, with a friendly chap behind the counter gently welcoming me and asking me what my tastes were. They’re about to open a coffee lounge for their customers, and the chap immediately knew the status of every title I asked about.
http://www.swincitycomics.co.uk/
I think I'll be popping back on a regular basis. While I was there I put in an order for the lovely Javier Grillo-Marxuach’s Middleman:
http://community.livejournal.com/panel600/727.html
Javier is doing well for himself in comics. His old school Battlestar Galactica miniseries, Cylon Apocalypse, just got a very good review in SFX Magazine, and Annihilation, for Marvel, was one of their most popular titles in a huge year for them. And it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Even if he did chicken out of playing Just A Minute against Colin Baker.
Now, I am a betting man when it comes to three things: cricket; politics and the Oscars. And while I have a pretty good record with the first two, when it comes to the statuettes I’m always vastly wrong. So with that in mind, I thought I’d share with you the only two Oscar wagers I’ve made this year. (Because I think the favourites, Mirren, Scorcese, etc., are mostly going to win at terrible odds.) I think Forest Whitaker deserves the award for his startling performance as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. It’s the man in full, a real person, but the part doesn’t shrink from his also being a monster. But I think the Academy, perverse as they can be, are actually going to give it to Peter O’Toole, who’s never won Best Actor. So that’s who I’ve bet on. I also think that in a wide open Best Supporting Actress market, someone whose odds are far too long is Rinko Kikuchi, who silently played the deaf mute teenager in Babel. Twelve to one against the sort of obvious subtlety that the Academy adores.
Oh, and New Zealand for the Cricket World Cup and Al Gore, thanks for asking. Anyhow, I have wasted too much of your time today, and must get back to wasting my own. Until next time, Cheerio.
Labels:
Comics,
Cricket,
Marvel,
Middleman,
Oscars,
Wisdom
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Good shout on the Kiwis for the CWC - they've come into a heck of a run of form at just the right time. Genuine question for you though - what do you reckon to Scotland's chances, given their group? Could they make the Super-8?
I think that since the two big teams in their group are Australia and South Africa, although the South Africans aren't as all-powerful as they've recently been described, and Aussie are wobbling, they really are outsiders to clear the group.
and after watching mr. baker smoke everyone (english and american alike!) in the "just a minute" competition with his rich baritone and gift for circuitous gab, i don't regret chickening out a bit!
thank you so much for the plug on "the middleman," i hope you enjoy it.
ja
vi
Aw, you'd have taken him. I'd have asked you something about Skrulls, and off you'd have gone. I love the retro look of Middleman, and it will form part of my slightly more healthy new diet of Comics That Are Slightly Cooler Than Superheroes (Ex Machina, Strangers in Paradise, Queen and Country, etc). Because I feel the need to go there now. Ta for a lovely night, that was really good fun. We must find another convention to be at. And hey, The Wraith!
I guess it's lose on me the popularirty of Soccer over there.
Matthew
TheTardis2005
BTW, I have you linked on my blog
That's as may be, but it is the Cricket World Cup to which I refer. The USA have done quite well in that on occasion.
Ooh, great to see you're a Strangers in Paradise fan, Paul. That's a fab comic, though I'm a few trades behind these days.
I'm just getting into it. Cheers.
Keep reading SiP Paul, it's a great comic to get away from the men in tights sort of comics.
And the women are drawn better, well more realistic!
I thought Strangers in Paradise started brilliantly, but should have finished when the story did instead of dragging on and on.
I liked Paradise Too though.
I'm a bit behind on it now, so I can't comment on if it's gone downhill or not. It does, however, finish for good in a couple of months and I'm looking forward to filling the gaps in my collection and reading it through, beginning to end.
Not a fan of Paradise Too, meself.
I loved SiP (I think I read the first 4 trades)! And Terry Moore is a lovely lovely man who deserves better than he gets by far. Francine is the only comics character I can cosplay :) Especially back when I had the loooooong dark hair.
* < Jaw drops > *
So long have I desired a comics shop with a coffee lounge/cafe attached that I occasionally dream of such a magical store. Shame Swindon is a bit out of the way for me, and I could never betray my beloved Gosh!
Enjoying both Wisdom and the Middleman, also.
Mark
See, you forecast it, and went against your better judgement Paul... Forest Whitaker would have finally won you some money. Good call regardless though.
Simon
I've only just started Strangers, and will blog about it one day, when I've got my head round it. If you're ever in Swindon, Mark, you should give it a go. And yeah, my terrible Oscar bet record continues. Although I was glad to see Forest get it.
Hi Paul,
Very much enjoyed reading Wisdom #3, today. And the IMix is a great idea, for accompaniment.
One question - and having spent three years at University in Aberysytwyth, but never learning the language properly, I'm almost embarrased to ask it - what does the conversation between Pete Wisdom and Dai Thomas, outside the pub, translate as, in English.
Cheers
Mark Roberts
Thanks very much. Tell you what, since it's a public service, I'll provide a translation in the new blog over the weekend. Better than having it tucked away back here.