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The 12 Blogs of Christmas: Seven. Five More Comics for Hugo Voters.
We went to see Avatar yesterday. I was underwhelmed. It's a stunning visual experience, the technology of film making has indeed been advanced, and the narrative holds together: this is a finished, complete, thought-out movie. Sam Worthington is a brilliant lead, and Sigourney Weaver is entertaining as always. The SFnal world-building is also impressive. But the story, of noble savages and one-dimensional villains, Ursula Le Guin as told by The Comic Strip Presents, left me bored at the cliches, and I was quite unhappily surprised that James Cameron has kept space marines as his vision for the future instead of constructing something new. The 'noble savage' has been with us for a couple of centuries now, alongside the fantasy of the westerner being understood by them, forgiven by them, and ultimately worshipped by them, becoming their king having married the chief's daughter. (Avatar tries to have its cake and eat it by having our hero become assistant king, and then having the king die.) When your actual westerners encounter your actual indigenous people, the fact that they're not noble savages with a spiritual connection to nature, the literal (in Avatar) vessel for western dreams, but mundane, compromised human beings is one small factor in the mindset that allows their exploitation. The natives of Avatar needed, more than their western hero finding his place in nature, a good team of civil rights lawyers and a PR firm. They'd establish not that we could all learn from their mystical one-ness with the universe, but that as people much like us, they have mineral rights.
Written by: Ian Rankin.
Written by: Bryan Talbot.
Phew, that's the most liberal I've felt in ages! It's nice to go back. Okay, having got that rant out of the way, here's our first treat of the day, too late to fit in to the music edition a couple of days ago. This is my favourite new band, Quadrophobe, whose website can be found here. They've been kind enough to record for us a Christmassy version of their signature track, 'Super Badger':
They're appearing at the Crown in Faringdon on Christmas Eve, with their ska-flavoured energy, and will doubtless be playing their brilliant cover of 'Bad Guys' from Bugsy Malone. I really hope 2010 is a big year for a band who could do big things.
And this afternoon, at 2.30pm on Radio 4, the director of my radio adaptation of Iain Banks' The State of the Art, Nadia Molinari, has her production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz broadcast. Do tune in, or catch it later on the IPlayer.
So, let's allow Laurie Pink to introduce today's theme:
A few months ago, motivated by what I think is an urgent need, now the Hugo Awards have a category for Best Graphic Story, to introduce the SF community to the best SF and fantasy comics, I did this: a blog post listing Thirty Comics of interest to Hugo Voters. I seek above all to establish that original, printed comics, the heartland of the industry, should feature heavily (though not exclusively) in the nominations, which run the risk of being dominated by the webcomics and book and television spinoffs that tend to come more easily to the attention of prose SF readers. Afterwards, I had some more such comics pointed out to me, and others have been published in the months since, all of which, being completed in 2009 (according to the rather weird rules of the category) are eligible for next year's Hugo. And soon the nomination process will begin. Please take a look at the original thirty if you haven't seen them before. Here we go with five more...
Dark Entries
Written by: Ian Rankin.
Art by: Werther Dell'Edera.
Published by: Vertigo.
Originally available as: published in August 2009.
Preview Pages: here.
Occult detective (and star of Hellblazer) John Constantine ventures into Haunted Mansion, a reality TV show that becomes initially a classic locked-room mystery, and then something much more scary. Bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin makes a well-judged venture into comics.
Occult detective (and star of Hellblazer) John Constantine ventures into Haunted Mansion, a reality TV show that becomes initially a classic locked-room mystery, and then something much more scary. Bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin makes a well-judged venture into comics.
Elephantmen: Damaged Goods
Written by: Richard Starkings.
Art by: Marian Churchland.
Published by: Comiccraft.
Originally available as: Elephantmen #18-20, ending in June 2009.
Preview Pages: here.
The 'unhumans' were created as weapons of mass destruction, but were rehabilitated, and now live amongst normal folk. But these enormous, tusked beasts face prejudice and fear in the 23rd century. This collection of the vignette-based ongoing looks at the lives of the female leads in Starkings' detailed future environment.
Grandville
Written by: Bryan Talbot.
Art by: Bryan Talbot.
Published by: Jonathan Cape (UK)/Dark Horse (US)
Originally available as: published in October 2009.
Steampunk in a universe of talking animals, as Inspector Le Brock of a Britain that was conquered by France long ago investigates a murder trail that leads him to Paris. Full of deeply British irony and a sense of fun alongside the lovely, sometimes bloodthirsty graphics. A modern master of the form at play.
North 40
Written by: Aaron Williams.
Art by: Fiona Staples.
Published by: Wildstorm.
Originally available as: North 40 #1-6, ending in December 2009.
Preview Pages: here.
Conover County is a place where magical evil was let loose on Earth. And the inhabitants can't leave. So they've adapted. This is a fast moving fantasy adventure series, with a dollop of horror, characterised by Fiona Staples' wiry, expressive art.
Conover County is a place where magical evil was let loose on Earth. And the inhabitants can't leave. So they've adapted. This is a fast moving fantasy adventure series, with a dollop of horror, characterised by Fiona Staples' wiry, expressive art.
The Sword: Earth
Written by: Jonathan and Joshua Luna.
Art by: Jonathan and Joshua Luna.
Published by: Image.
Originally available as: The Sword #13-18, ending in May 2009.
A modern day fantasy about Dora Brighton, a paraplegic college student whose life is shattered when three strangers with unique abilities arrive at her home seeking a sword. Her family dead, she finds the sword and seeks vengeance, aided by its strange powers.
I would also mention Joe Hill's Locke and Key, Sweet Tooth and Mouse Guard, but none have presented a complete story in 2009. When it comes to Hugo nomination time, please bear in mind that, as the Short Form Drama category has evolved into a genuine contest between the best that television and the other media involved have to offer, this category can too. But only if all forms are represented equally, and the true greats (like Fables and Scott Pilgrim) are given their due.
Tomorrow, join us for a very special Christmas special, featuring a cottage in the snow, a hearty fire, some cheesy songs and the folk of Clockwork Storybook. Until then, Cheerio!
Labels:
Avatar,
Bryan Talbot,
Comics,
Dark Entries,
Elephantmen,
Grandville,
Ian Rankin,
North 40,
Quadrophobe,
The Sword
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I agree about Sword. I have been getting it monthly. Excellent series.
Thanks.
The only one of those have read is Grandville, and have not been the same since reading it because I see giant kick ass badgers everywhere.
It was a fun read and by all rights should win something because its a beautiful book.
Paul, are you familiar with the novel Monument by Lloyd Biggle Jr.? It's very much what you propose as an alternate path for an Avatar-like story.
(Beware the Wikipedia entry for this book, as it contains serious spoilage.)
Also, I can't help thinking of Kinda in connection with this...
Gov: glad we featured a favourite. Ian: I think Grandville could well be among the nominations. Rab: I'm not, but that sounds great. And yes, it's what Kim Newman said to me about Avatar: 'Kinda with a bigger budget'.
I'm so, so, SO happy you've mentioned North 40. I've been loving that series since issue #1.
It's so funny, because it totally adds to my arsenal whenever I get into "arguments" w/friends about The Big City vs. Podunk, USA. I'm a native New Yorker, and most of my friends are transplants from out of state. So many of them are Overwhelmed by New York - it's so loud, and so fast...and a lot of their relatives were anti them moving here because it would be "dangerous." And I always want to say to them "No. New York City isn't dangerous. I've lived here for 30 years and *knock wood* I've never been mugged, or violently attacked in any way. And when New Yorkers kill each other, it's rarely random. If someone is going to kill you, it's because you stole their stuff or slept with their spouse. You know where the random, senseless shootings happen? East Bumblefuck, that's where. The Unibomber didn't live in the Big City, he lived in the freaking woods. Every horror movie where you see crazed serial killers with hook hands and leather faces? The woods. And usually at some kinda summer camp!" North 40 makes so much sense to me, because if Lovecraftian supernatural craziness were going to happen, it would happen in Podunk, Middle Of Nowhere, and not anywhere near ME! :)
Yeah, I've lived in New York City for over thirty years and I have almost never been killed here. Once or twice at most.
I'm glad you two are bigging up NYC. I'd really like to live there one day. I kind of share your feeling about it as feeling safe.
OMG, YOU AND THE MISSUS MUST COME LIVE HERE AT ONCE! I'm already starting on the basket of Welcome Muffins...
I'm afraid we're pegged to this continent for the forseeable, but muffins are always welcome.
Hmmm. Well, I guess you'll just have to wait until NYCC in October... I'm not sending them in the post. I've received "Royal Mail" from friends in the UK, and the only thing "Royal" about it is that it looks like its taken a royal beating. Packages from England always get to me looking as though they've been pounced on by a mountain lion after having been picked at by vultures. I don't want that happening to my muffins!
Indeed, nobody wants that!
One thing I thought interesting in Avatar (and I've just got my MA in Eng Lit, so excuse me for overthinking *everything*) was that scientific/mystical, rape/interface between the Na'vi and the animals of the world, including those dragon-things. For one moment there, I thought Cameron was going to introduce some interesting grey areas, and suggest that the Na'vi do not, in fact, live in harmony with their world, instead dominating their environment in the same way that the imperialist humans do. But then the moment passed...
That would have been good, but indeed...
Really? Dark Entries? It was dreadful.
Here's one you missed:
Jan's Atomic Heart by Simon Roy (New Reliable Press)
Simon Roy's near-future thriller of robotics and terrorism ushers in a major new talent. Following an accident, the mind of Jan, a computer analyst, is downloaded into an outmoded Lunar robot. In this reality, the Earth holds a very tentative peace after a war with the Lunar colonies. Jan discovers that similar Lunar models have committed acts of terrorism. Roy populates his red herring-laced plot with multi-faceted, realistic personae. Top all that off with his magnificent Tardi-influenced art and the unheralded Jan's Atomic Heart emerged as one the year's biggest and most pleasant surprises.
And a few others: Jeff Smith's RASL, The Umbrella Academy Volume Two: Dallas, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Universe, and how could you forgot Robert Crumb's The Book Of Genesis?
I must admit, Rick, I'd never heard of that. I wonder if any other readers have? I'd included entries on all else you mention in my first blog post on the subject. Except the Crumb, which is indeed, deserving.
oops.. created my list before reading your full list. So please ignore my mentions of the ones you already posted.
Paul,
Here's the skinny on Jan's Atomic Heart.
A few other selections occurred to me as well: The Joe R. Lansdale updating of Pigeons From Hell and The Surrogates, Vol. 2: Flesh & Bone
Thanks for adding. The more interest and range of choice we can add to this category, the better.