[UA] Books of Magic

[Tim Toner]

----- Original Message -----
From: Tucker <jazzfish at softhome.net>
To: <ua at lists.uchicago.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: [UA] Books of Magic


> >1- What's the exact name in the US? Do you use "comics" or "comic" or
...?
>
> "Sandman is a comic by Neil Gaiman" would (I think) be a correct phrasing.
> (Actually, I guess the term is 'graphic novel' since it's now available as
> a bunch of bound books, but whatever.)

Generally, a graphic novel is meant to describe a book that was originally
released in that format.  Thus, Watchmen is not, since it came out as twelve
seperate issues, while The Killing Joke is, since it was a one-shot.  The
term 'collected' is used to describe books that were released in serial
format, and later published as one book.  Of course, there are those people
who use the word graphic novel to avoid having to admit that he reads comic
books.  Transmetropolitan sells fairly well as comic series goes, but the
collected trades sell astronomically more.  It's believed in the DC offices
that there's a market out there who either can't wait month by month, or
wouldn't be caught dead in a comic books store (trades are sold in book
store chains).

>
> >3- Which comics for UA?
>
> Hellblazer, like you mentioned earlier in your post.  Mage: The Hero
> Discovered and Mage: The Hero Defined.  I'd argue against the _Books of
> Magic_ series-- what I read seemed a little too light.  (The series by
John
> Ney Rieber that spun off the Gaiman miniseries, that is-- the Gaiman
rocks,
> and has all sorts of application.  Plus an intro by Roger Zelazny.)

AAIIIEEEE!  AAIIIEEE!

"A little too light?"  The man followed up this beautiful tale of young love
between Tim and Molly, by projecting a future where Tim Hunter becomes
Studboy MagicGuy, and has cloned an army of Mollys, trying to make just the
right one who isn't too subservient or docile, or too ornery.  And when one
doesn't make the grade, she's wormfood?

His father loses an arm, a popular character gets turned into chocolate and
eaten, and there's a steampowered shop stewart right out of Dickens living
below London.  Don't get me wrong--there's a lot of fantasy in there, but
John Ney Reiber knew when to twist that knife.

Oh, and don't get me started about the succubus living next door...

  As a
> recovering goth-boy I feel obligated to speak up for J. O'barr's _The
Crow_.

A brilliant work.  Anyone who THINKS they know The Crow based on the movie
ought to get this book.  "My feet are cold..."  Ick.

Hrm.  Anything by Alan Moore, really.  He has this way of turning genre on
its ear, as he does in Top 10, a Hill Street NYPD Blues meets superheroes.
One of the more likable characters worships Satan (I think).  Promethea is
great, if only for the lectures on mystic symbolism interwoven in our
culture.  The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen fits perfectly within the
mold of UA in other eras, and V for Vendetta rocks the house.  The scene
with the vicar was a kick in the balls for all us good little Catholic boys
out there.

Transmetropolitan's neat as well.

The Jonah Hex books by Joe R. Lansdale and Timothy Truman are another piece
of work.  After reading them, I _cheered_ in a crowd of strangers when I
lganced up at a comicon, and noticed Hex had made it into an episode of
Batman:  the Animated Series.  It's not the right time period, but it's
totally the right attitude.

Oh, yes, and practically anything by Brian Michael Bendis.  His Jinx graphic
novel, about a female bounty hunter and the grifter she falls for, has a
scene in a mall that borders on the sublime.  In that same vein, there's Sam
and Twitch, of Spawn fame, which is as hard boiled as comics get.  Sadly,
Bendis is leaving Sam and Twitch, so get it while you can.  There's a neat
little one-shot he does between his first story arc (called Udaku) and the
current arc which tells the simple but sad story of domestic violence at its
worst.  The husbad is dead, the wife, still clutching the smoking gun,
stands mute, with bits of drying egg on her head.  You, like the detectives
wonder what the hell happened here?  The comic ends, the Letter Page rolls,
and then, on the next page, is the other side of the story.  Great use of
storytelling technique.

Oh, yes, and one more:  ANY THING BY WILL EISNER!!!  If you want to
understand how a neighborhood could 'go bad,' read The Building.  Great
stuff.


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