Suspended Animation Review - Comic Book Literacy

As a 35-year comics fan, it’s always satisfying to me when I find the medium of comic books examined in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to happen enough by way of video documentary. However, for fans of comic books, there is a new light on the horizon…

The documentary, Comic Book Literacy, by Todd Kent, is an engrossing piece containing interviews with the likes of Art Spiegelman, Joe Quesada, Paul Dini, Scott McCloud, and many more professional comics producers. Using a bit of the medium’s history to kick things off, the doc is, for the most part, concerned with comics as meaningful literature. To that end, there is some concentration on various organizations which work to get comics into libraries, schools, and even into the hands of our troops overseas.

There is also contained within the documentary, a well-defined explanation of why the comic book medium can be so instrumental to the development of the ability to read in children; to wit, it’s ability to use narration in pictures, and word balloons, to pique a child’s curiosity as to what characters are saying. When compared to the more traditional storybook, or chapter book, it’s easy to see why this is true. And, of course, it’s something that many comics fans have known for quite some time. Viewers of the documentary will even discover the usefulness of comics as part of the process of learning and teaching a second language.

Comic Book Literacy is much more than a video cheerleader for those who are already fans. It is a serious look at the value of the medium, and a must-see for parents, librarians, and education professionals.

Especially satisfying to me are the appearances of Michael Vance, John Suter PhD, and R.A. Jones, all Suspended Animation alumni.

Comic Book Literacy is currently being submitted to film festivals, and enjoying public screenings at various comic book conventions. Hopefully, a distribution deal will be worked out for 2011. It is highly recommended for those mentioned above, as well as fans of pop culture itself.

Learn more about the documentary at www.comicbookliteracy.com.

News on Michael Vance's Weird Horror Tales, Volume 2

Picture this: a man’s head explodes into leaves thrown up and away into a hoary midnight.

 

That is the cover of the second of a trilogy of novels from author Michael Vance, “Weird Horror Tales: The Feasting”. Like the first novel in the series, this second braided novel of fifteen interrelated horror, SF, and fantasy stories was written in the style and tradition of pulp magazines in the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, and will be released in the fall of 2010.

 

The cover was done by France’s Christophe Dessaigne, a journalist, scenarist for role playing games, and photographer. Mainly influenced by the science fiction, horror, and fantastic genres, his atmospheric, surreal creations combine digital photography and manipulation in a dark and post-apocalyptic future. Dessaigne’s creations are fantastic surrealist photomontages. His work is desolate, vast and dream-like featuring huge structures and visions. His work has appeared in cover art books, on music CD covers, and in magazines including Advanced Creations and PSD Photoshop.

 

“I was immediately drawn to his outré work which I originally found on Flickr, a shared community on-line for images,” said the author. “His dark, subtle visions capture the heart and atmosphere of my own stories which try to capture the something other in an otherwise normal world instead of a slavish use of graphic horror.”

 

The interior illustrations are by artist Earl Geier, best known for his horror, fantasy and science fiction artwork.

 

"The response to volume one in this series by the pulp-horror community has been tremendous," commented Ron Fortier, Managing Editor of the series for Airship 27 Productions. "We know there is strong anticipation for this follow up book and I'm here to say Michael's fans will not be disappointed.  This is a truly marvelous collection."

 

“My stories are founded on the premise that there is something larger than our narrow view of reality,” said Vance. “Each interconnected story is set in Light’s End, a creepy little burg of the coast of Maine.” These stories about the fictional town have been favorably compared to the work of H. P. Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury.

 

Vance has written for national and international magazines, and as a syndicated columnist and cartoonist in over 500 newspapers. His history book, “Forbidden Adventures”, has been called a "benchmark in comics history”.

 

The publisher of “The Feasting” and “Weird Horror Tales”, Cornerstone Book Publishers also publishes Masonic and esoteric books, selected pulp fiction, art literature, limited children's books, and poetry collections. The braided novel, “Weird Horror Tales, is available on-line, at book stores, and from Cornerstone. For more information about Cornerstone, go to www.cornerstonepublishers.com.

 

Airship 27 packages and publishes anthologies and novels in the pulp magazine tradition.

In the past, Airship 27 has released “Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective”, a series of “Captain Hazzard” pulp thrillers, more pulp fiction in “The Green Lama” and “Secret Agent X”.  For more information on Airship 27, go to www.airship27.com.

Not Comics Related, But Entertaining Nonetheless.

Can't beat Tommy on guitar.

Stan Lee Bubbling Over as Comic-Con Gets Underway

Like Stan, not a year goes by that I don't want to be there. But, knowing that I couldn't have my young children there, due to some of the "sights" is a disappointment.

Another Video Dealing With The Okie Cartoonists Exhibit - From News 9 in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Cartoonists News

I'm finally catching up on the Oklahoma Cartoonists exhibit which took place last month at the Oklahoma History Center in OKC.  Apologies to Michael Vance, who is always good enough to send the information along; it took me too long to get this stuff up.

Go here to view a video on the Tulsa World site.  It's a great look at the "goings on" of the exhibit.

Also, you can check out some pics of the event at Vance's Flickr site.

And here's a somewhat related article by Michael Easterling, about a minor setback for the Oklahoma Pop Museum, which would house the work of Oklahoma Cartoonists.

Finally, there's this:

I think it's safe to say that the work of Oklahoma Cartoonists will not be forgotten any time soon.

Superman: Menace! Part 2

More "Evil Superman" covers, largely from the first World's Finest series. A few feature Batman as his partner in wrong-doing. Some wonderful covers, if an over-used theme. Enjoy!

Right Out of The Comics - Morphing Tech

 It seems the Pentagon has designs on tech which would be instrumental in morphing cars, planes, boats, and even soldiers' uniforms and gear.  What comics/sf fan worth his/her salt could stem the tide of Transformer images which immediately assault the senses upon such a revelation?

While still in the early stages, this is a very interesting development, and bears watching.  Click here to read more, and to watch a video that demonstrates the actual technology.