Neal Adams / The Sketch Book

Recently I purchased   "Neal Adams/The Sketchbook" on line.  I received my copy just a few days ago by mail. I was very much impressed as a whole and greatly enjoyed it! The book's editor and designer Arlan Shumer asked me to write a review of his book to post at his " Neal Adams Almanac" page on Facebook after finding out I had written one for Amazon.  Here’s that brief review:

"Neal Adams/The Sketchbook"

Previously unpublished originals by the great Neal Adams are seen here publicly, many for the first time. Adam’s powerful, emotional and heroic works are vivid reminders of his phenomenal talents. The untouched works by the artist's hand, heart and mind are enhanced by the distinctive editing of historian Arlen Schumer. Schumer uses Neal’s words from private interviews they shared while leaving out his questions. This makes for a most unique, insightful and flowing literary experience. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, while always informative. The text often has the feel of an informal, relaxed seminar of sorts on Neal’s favorite subjects; comic books and creativity.

Neal Adams for most considered himself a story teller rather than an artist. That being the case; story telling is a grand tradition and he is among the most “artful” of the form. While at the same time; this volume exists and can also be enjoyed as a look at the portfolio of the master draftsman he was, one of the best of the creative geniuses of our times.

You might be interested in viewing and possibly joining "Neal Adams Almanac." 

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Kevin Conroy: BATMAN Forever

                                                                                                                                                         

                              

     

 From the very first words you spoke; we knew you were Batman. It was the sound, the tone, the heart of the character; we hadn’t realized it but we had heard the voice collectively in our minds forever. We celebrate your life, your many accomplishments, we mourn your passing.

Kevin explains the importance of Batman to the multi-generational fans of the character.

Mayan God Camazotz: The First Batman

There is a link between religion, faith and the fantastic; the heroic. Among my first bedtime stories both read and told to me were the mythologies of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.  These were no less equal to the biblical tales and exploits of Samson, David and Noah among others I was introduced to early on. Each in their own way amazing and all miraculous. Would Jesus be as effective had he not walked on water, cured and fed multitudes and eventually raised from the grave himself? Questions…                                 

 There are abundant similarities in ancient mythologies, texts and carvings and associations with our modern mass communications.  One deity and theme that seems to be timeless and multi-cultural is the man-bat or in our popular culture “Batman.” The Mayan’s worshiped what seemed the first bat demi-god in their own Camazotz.  He was half man, half bat, full of mystery and vengeance. He dates back culturally as far as 200 yrs. B. C. and he is still being researched today. The Mesoamericans viewed their bat deity as terrifying and like ever good bat lusting for blood. There were thousands of sacrifices made to him. He would; as to legend emerge from his bat cave nightly and was even connected to the creation of mankind. His visage, persona and legend were equally terrifying. His totems were used for protection and to ward off evils.  This principle element was again not unlike our own, much beloved and lauded Batman.

              

The Mayan Man-Bat creature aroused from his cave in a chronicled tale of a once vengeful murder of the Mayan hero Hunahpu. The blood lust associated with Camazotz was tremendous and legend says he killed his victim by decapitation. The similarities here are much closer to Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” Camazotz is linked to both nocturnal characters (Batman and Dracula.) This attests to the richness of the ancient culture’s imagination in multiplicitous forms including writings, stone and stories.

There is no shortage of interpretations; but the idea of the “Batman” abounds, especially for our southern Mesoamerican neighbors and ourselves.  In the end it is all about the idea. The myths live on across space and time, across cultures. They are as envisioned in and through “The Batman” whether intended or unintended and in their magnificence; eternal.

“I shall become a Bat!”

“…and thus is born this weird figure of the dark…this avenger of evil...The BATMAN”

 

                              

The art featured on this page range from the minds and hands of Bob Kane, Neal Adams and original Mayan drawings to the spectacular “Camazotz Armour”

 from the phenomenal designer Kimbal.

The Batman and Mr. Finch

                               
David finch has been a fixture and a mainstay within the comic book industry for more than a few years now. He is too with some certain consensus one of the most popular, prolific and persuasive talents to grace the covers and pages of said books dating from the mediums inception to this; the modern day. Publishers including Marvel, DC and independents have all benefited from Finch’s output of phenomenal product and material. Take a pinch of Jim lee, a dash of Brian Bolland mixed with David’s own originality and edginess and you have what is a treat to all aficionados of the form.

Just a few years ago the cover of the September 2010 issue of Wizard magazine would announce a new beginning for Batman. It was graced by what is possibly the single most compelling rendering of Bob Kane’s creation since Detective Comics #27 many years previous, “way back” in May 1939. The five chapter single issue inaugural run “Batman: the Dark Knight” would prove to be some of Finch’s most remarkable and collected works. Finch would take on the writing credits along with penciling on the landmark title. 

Highlights of the featured novel “Golden Dawn” would include appearances by Bat-villains; The Penguin and Killer Croc along with guest–star Jack Kirby’s creation The Demon.  The books would be the last published by DC linked to the original line of comic books. This was achieved before the complete revamping of the entire collective DC titles dubbed by the company “The New 52.” Without losing a step Finch would relaunch his title this time solely as penciller with Paul Jenkins writing a truly bizarre Scare Crow tale both sweeping and entertainly disturbing. The very thing we expect a Scare Crow story arc should be.  

David Finch’s tenure as Bat-Artist/Writer would produce a number of iconic covers; panels and chapters. The graphic story-telling form is much enriched by Mr. Finch and his talents; particularly his artistry. He has moved on from the Batman and is currently developing; along with his wife Meredith, what promises to become a classic version of Wonder Woman. A husband wife team of co-creators is a first for the field and is deservedly and eagerly anticipated.  

Frank Miller: 300, Sin City & Moore

Frank Miller was writing and penciling Daredevil when I started reading him. It was a cross-over issue featuring the appearance of The Incredible Hulk. I had heard a lot of good things about this Miller guy and the appearance of the Hulk would guarantee a higher price later on the collector’s market if the book was actually a dud.

Miller was rumored and heralded to be a writer of a rare skill and talent. It was said his writing was gritty, dark and misanthropic. Miller’s perception of society was one of disheveled anarchy. He was constantly opening doors previously unknown; taking the risky dark alley to get to that undiscovered yet coveted pay off. He was an original but he loved and respected the medium as he expanded the mythology. He was neither a deconstructionist nor post-modernist. Miller; as it turned out was indeed the “Real Deal.” The rumors were darkly; gloriously true.

Frank Miller is responsible for expanding the world of the super hero and that of the graphic novel as well. Great pieces including hits and classics that remain current: The Dark Knight Returns, Electra Assassin, Daredevil: Love and Money, Ronin, Sin City and 300 are part of the Miller canon.  Miller has changed along with a few other extraordinary talents; including and especially writers Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman  evolved the comic book into it’s contemporary form while expanded the readership beyond all previous boundaries. Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, and Alan Moore’s Watch Men were mini-series released within the same year and were powerful and intricate enough to become best sellers and are currently required reading in literature classes.  Neil Gaiman’s  Sandman released a few years later would be equally transformative.    

The Dark Knight Returns tells the story of a dystopian future in which a retired and embittered Batman returns to battle evil. 

The future dark world the Batman re-enters has grown increasingly violent and devoid of humanity as Batman has grown older, physically weaker and aggressively slower. This sadder, older hero with his skills much in decline possesses a deeper sense of revenge and purpose along with an enhanced arsenal of Bat-Tools. Miller takes many risks with his writing as he questions a world that would accept a costumed vigilante, governmental miss-use of powers and the psychology of mad men both good and evil.

300 is another of Miller’s best known pieces. Well written and concise it is best known for the film adaptation by director Zack Snyder that Miller producer himself.

Miller was inspired to create his 300 from an earlier film 300 Spartans released in the nineteen sixties. The graphic novel is most memorable for the illustrations created by Miller with his then wife Lynn Varley doing a remarkable water-color embellishment. The over-size hard-cover version is a lush pleasure to be studied, relished and absorbed. Democracy, nationalism and the notion of personal sacrifice for the greater good prevail in this work. 

Sin City

Sin City is a series of seven books that Miller wrote and illustrated. The drawings are almost exclusively black and white which add to the drama and starkness of the works.  It exists in a strangely isolated purely imagined city inhabited exclusively by thugs, cops, hookers, serial killers, corrupt authorities and assorted losers. It is probably the darkest of Miller’s works, his most ambitious, original and successful. Miller was definitely influenced by film noir and the pulps but it is film noir on some kind of hyper-drug. Sin City is Frank Miller!

The  Sin City series is another example of  Miller’s work translated to film. Movie makers including Alfred Hitchcock and Ridley Scott have long used story boards as preliminary studies and aids for their photographic telling of stories and as a plotting device. When Robert Rodriguez decided to film Sin City he shot directly from the books images and dialogue. Why do new story boards the books already existed as such? Rodriguez using few re-writes successfully and faithfully recreated Millers graphic masterpiece into a seminal work. The film was extraordinarily faithful to the original piece; a thing to awe. Miller was along as co-director and even appeared in a cameo.

Frank Miller

The sequel to Sin City is scheduled for released in a few months and it looks to be very good. Miller continues to create as he continues to expand his reputation, to entertain and to thrill!

The Wholly Original & Brilliantly Unique Jae Lee

           

        

 

 

 

His work is decorative, minimal intricate, detailed and refined. The work in many ways is a genre unto itself. Artist/Illustrator Jae lee is the elegance among the utilitarian, the poetry among the mundane. lee is best known for his still bourgeoning career as a graphic story-teller for Marvel and DC comics. His assignments consist of the “special” and the “heavy-weight” projects. Marvel’s adaptation of the Stephen King series “The Dark Tower” went to lee and it is to date is his most powerful achievement. The panels are rich with substance, alluring and visceral to an extreme. The ‘Tower” books; scripted by Peter David with King himself serving as creative and executive director are treasures.

 

 

                   

 

 

Lee is easily placing himself among the greats both in and outside of the comic medium with past and contemporary artists. Visionaries from Maxfield Parrish to Chris Van Allsburg are rivaled and complimented by lee. The master sculpture Michelangelo can even be referenced by the work of lee. The “Pieta” seems to be an inspiration for Lee who is quickly becoming a master of his craft and as an artist surpassing all norms.

                    

 

                                                                                                    

 

“The Illustrated Dracula” by Bram Stoker illustrated by Jae lee is one of the handsomest volumes of any modern publication. The book fits perfectly into the hand. It is precisely weighted and just plain feels good to hold. In another time this wouldn’t be so much a consideration but in this increasingly print less society it is a committed endorsement of the ancient process of book making. The paperback edition in design gives the illusion of worn leather and it is  tompe-l’oeil used to spectacular effect. I am reminded of a church hymnal in that it is very equal in look and size. The illustrations are not intrusive or distractions but give the edition an intended welcoming illumination. The enhanced drawings are again minimal, gothic and beautiful.

 

 

 

Jae lee’s new work remains anticipated by his followers and he seldom fails to deliver certain greatness into a pretentious, while ordinary world of massive mediocrity. His involvement with DC Comic’s reboot “Batman/Superman” series gives a marked importance to what might otherwise be a failed project. Lee’s efforts are always interesting, always pushing a little farther than the pack. The folks at DC have fallen behind their chief competition Marvel. They have been vastly outdistanced and hope to revamp and capitalize in publishing and especially in the film industry. Marvel has captured a large portion of the film world with “The Avengers” and their other film franchises like “Thor, Iron-Man and Captain America.” The popularity, quality and fascination Lee brings to his projects are intrinsically valuable especially at this critical time for the industry. DC Comics sees a successful “Batman/Superman” book as essential to their efforts and a prelude to a “Justice League” film franchise.

 

Jae Lee is an artist of the highest standards; someone to count on to deliver and to thrill. Look for him in a book store near you. The Graphic Novel section would be the place to begin; then on to the classics of literature and beyond.

 

 

Superman "Man of Steel"

 

 

The “Man of Steel” has been around for many, many extravagant, entertaining and extraordinary years certainly longer than you or I. He was originally conceived by teen agers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938. Within his unique history he has been envisioned in every possible medium since his comic book birth; radio, theatre, novels, games, toys, music, television and film. He is certainly the stuff of legend both as a character and as a production icon of society. Ask anyone if they remember being introduced to Superman and overwhelmingly people will answer that they can’t recall “The Man of Steel” as a new concept. We learn about Superman as we learn of language itself. With so much history and saturation into the American psyche and hearts it is next to impossible to change or revamp the temperament and tone of the character for our contemporary times. Batman his partner, foil and diametric opposite is much more flexible for rewrites and reworks. Spiderman, Dare Devil, Iron Man and even Hell Boy are crafted for our dystopian modern existence. Superman; the “Grand-Daddy” of them all is in most ways just that; the “Grand-Dadd

                                               

                                          

                       

                                                                  

As Superman is known there are some definite things that he can do such as to leap a tall building in a single bound (it would take the rest of us at least three or four bounds.) He is faster than a speeding bullet (there are benefits to this ability; ask just about anyone.) He is more powerful than a locomotive (this refers to a train; something most Americans under the age of thirty probably have never heard of.)  Now; there are also some things that he cannot do. He cannot and has no right to doubt himself. When you can fly purely as a result of your own will power, bend steel in your bare hands, see through walls etc. you do not have any time or reason for petty insecurities. When using said powers you cannot do anything wrong. This means any selfish thing or anything that hurts anyone else (even the bad guy or gal.) You’re the opposite of the baddie and that‘s what makes you the hero; not your powers.   

 

“Man of Steel” opened this weekend in theatres across the country and world-wide. The reviews are mixed; the consensus at this point is “Man of Steel” is at best a descent effort but nothing special. This is the fourth big screen incarnation for Superman. Christopher Reeves set an impossibly high bar for anyone to reach in the Donner films. They will never be surpassed. Reeves personified Superman on screen and he proved to have an amazing amount of courage and resilience in real life. Reeves was an inspiration. This new film comes to us over blown, dark and repetitive. These days the source materials for the super hero “Block-Busters” are known as Graphic Novels. Originally the book’s genre was classified and considered Comic or Funny Books. There has to be a sense of humor; a joyfulness in the equation for anything relating to a comic book creation like Superman, again he is the original. Superman doesn’t need to imitate the kids. He only needs to be himself.      

                                                 All Images of Superman by the Stellar Alex Ross

The Dark Knight

The character was born into a time of heroes and villains; of adventure and deeds. Virtue, nobility and honor were central to this man/character who would attempt to give meaning to the senseless death of his parents to somehow make a world better by the protection of the innocent and bringing a form of justice to the predators. His plan; to strike fear into the hearts and psyche of those who would commit crimes as he stopped their individual acts of violence. His methods could be questioned as they certainly would be in a real life situation but he is a character of fiction. He is created to be and became a symbol of the best that we can be. He was created in the spirit of the greatest fiction and entertainment. He is the creation of writer illustrator Bob Kane…he is Batman.

“Criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot. So my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts.”                     Bruce Wayne speaks from “The Legend of the Batman”

Bob Kane drew on many sources when developing his “Bat-Man.” His influences range from the notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci to Chester Gould’s newspaper strip “Dick Tracy.” The Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro were wealthy socialites that hid their identities as they used their resources to “right wrongs.” They were among the source influences. Pulp fiction and movies all went into his work and perhaps that is a reason for the characters longevity. Batman has been Interpreted and reinterpreted over the years in every medium; novels, radio, animation, comic strips and film.

It is in film today that Batman has reached his greatest audiences and his most recent brilliant incarnation. The award winning films of Christopher Nolan have given us a timely and reflective view of Batman’s Gotham City. Like all great works of art it speaks to us and our times. Sadly life imitates art in a twisted demented way when cycled through the mind and heartless soul of a socio-path. This past Friday night at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” the final installment of Nolan’s trilogy innocents were visited by a dealer in death and mayhem. It was the greatest cowardice; a cowardice that is all too often repeated in the world, the society of today.

Why was it the Batman film debut? We may never know with any certainty. Probably just in the unfortunate timing of the release; a terrible misfortune. A movie is released; a psychotic plots mass murder weeks or month before. He chooses the venue of the highest visibility.  He dyes his hair and calls himself “The Joker” (the previous film’s antagonist) and gargs himself like the villain “Bane” from this latest movie. Nolan’s version of Batman is the darkest to date. Remember the sixties version starring Adam West. Video/ role playing games, movies and the comic books of the day are all increasing and disturbingly violent. Who’s at fault? The makers, marketers or are we all unwitting accomplices in our own demise. When will the trends reverse?  When will the pendulum swing back? Where do we go from here?

In this time of mourning our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We will attempt to give them as much understand and comfort as we can. Our nation has experienced the loss of too many magnificent, loving souls. We search and pray for answers.   

A character of fiction…a terrible tragedy…the nation mourns.