KC Column: The Never-Ending Story Part 1
by KC Carlson
Though we may be inundated by it in current superhero comic books, long-form serialized storytelling is nothing new.
The idea of telling a long-form storyline as a series of chapters originally dates back to somewhere between the mid-8th and the mid-13th century. The work in question? One Thousand and One Nights, more colloquially known in English as the Arabian Nights. They are actually a series of independent stories gathered together with a framing device, but as originally told, each story was shared over a period of nights, including some kind of “cliffhanger” ending, which would be resolved the following night. Some of the more famous of the stories include “Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp”, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”, and “The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor”, all of which are probably much better known to several generations of American children as the basis for three very memorable (and historically important) Popeye the Sailor cartoons.
Too Much Cool Stuff – Not Enough $$$ – April ’10
by KC Carlson
Trinity Anniversary
DC somehow finagled their publishing schedule so that their Big 3 characters all have Anniversary Issues the same month – so look for Superman #700, Batman #700, and Wonder Woman #600. All of these are 56-page comics with several creators pitching in, and all three promise major changes in creative direction as well. Both Superman and Wonder Woman feature the first work on the characters by recently new-to-DC superstar writer J. Michael Straczynski.
Markley’s Fevered Brain: A Blast From the Past Comes to the Present!
by Wayne Markley
DC Comics has a far-reaching and broad library of old comics and stories dating back to the 1930s. Over the years, outside of the major characters (Superman, Batman, etc.), they have not done a great deal with a host of great little known characters. Recently that has changed and, this time, I thought we would take a look at some of the upcoming releases of these blasts from the past.
Fifth Degree: Previews #257
by Josh Crawley
This week we’re starting from the back of Previews; I’m so sneaky! Remember, use the handy, dandy links provided for pertinent information!
Too Much Cool Stuff – Not Enough $$$ – February ’10
by KC Carlson
This month, the big news from Marvel and DC is, respectively, The Heroic Age and Brightest Day. Most details on The Heroic Age are still CLASSIFIED, other than the fact that it will launch in May with the publication of a new Avengers #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita Jr. (No word yet on when the numbering will revert to the long-standing Avengers numbering, as most Marvel titles eventually do, but at this point, with several more-or-less interconnecting Avengers titles over the past few years, it might be just too difficult – or controversial – to calculate.)
Classic events: JLA & JSA
by Wayne Markley
First of all, let me thank Westfield Comics for this opportunity to write for their blog. It is a great honor and something I look forward to doing for a long time to come. I have loved comics for over 40 years and have worked professionally in the field for over 25 years. I have managed comic book stores, I wrote Advance Comics and Internal Correspondence (For Capital City Distribution), I worked for DC Comics, (in Creative Services), I ran my own Distribution Company for 10 years (FM International), and I have, and still do, work for Westfield Comics. What all of these various jobs have in common is they all involve comic books and they all have been a blast. I love the format of the comics, both books and strips. I love the art, the business of comics, the inner workings of comics, and most of all, I love a good story.
KC’s Bookshelf: DC Comics Classic Library: The Batman Annuals Volume One
by KC Carlson
Collecting Batman Annuals #1-3 (1961-1962). DC Senior VP and Creative Director Richard Bruning calls the early DC Annuals, in his informative Afterword, “the first DC collected editions.” So this is actually a collection of collected editions. Dude, you just totally blew my mind!