Heartless Dark: The Blog

Now, Marky Mark has had a long, diverse career (from hip hop underwear model to M. Night hack Actor to loving animals on SNL), but nothing touches my heart like anisipid“inspired by real life events kinda sorta – what the hell, this is a Disney movie, so who cares,” cliched sports movie. Oh boy, does my heart swell when local boys, down on their luck, in dire straits, with loveable kids, take a chance (take a chance, take a chance (what’s that reference?)) on themselves and learn to find that inner strength that proves them a winner. God bless Rudy, er, Denzel, er, Mark Whalberg in Invincible.

Wait – what? This isn’t about that stupidfootball movie? Oh thank goodness – there’s nothing I really could care less for than “Inspirational” sports movies. Gack… Stab me in the eye.

I guess I’ll talk about Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley’s Invincible.

I grabbed the first 6 trades off the ebay the other week, a) wanting to check this series out (I’ve heard good things for years) and b) familiarize myself with Ryan Ottley’s work (I might, might, get to meet him soon – so I didn’t want to be ig’nint to his stuff). Man, am I glad that I did.

Invincible brings me back to the great world of Superhero comics. And I’m not talking about the dark, deconstructionist, post-80s Alan Moore style of Superhero comics. I’m talking about the fantastic comics from the youth that made you excited to love comics – that made you wish you had powers – when you cared about the characters and the world around them – back when you weren’t jaded.

And the best part of this comic (as I believe Ed Brubaker said in one of the intros) is that is has this sense to it while still being an excellent comics – as opposed to most childhood comics that when re-read, don’t maintain their nostalgic quality (and you remember that, hell, you were five when you read this – so you didn’t exactly have refined tastes).

Real brief overview (we’ll call that RBO from now on):

Mark Grayson is a teenager with typical problems. Grades, girls, a job, etc – but, in addition, his dad’s Superman (basically). And he knows this. Heck, he’s been waiting for his powers to manifest since he was seven years old. And, at 17, they finally do. Mark is stoked – he relishes his ability to now be a hero, flying around, stopping bank robbers. He’s welcomed by the other superheroes of the world (versions of the Teen Titans and blatant JLA ripoffs). Then the JLA is brutally murdered. Then things, like real life, start to get complicated – and the black and white of right and wrong begin to blur to a moral grey…

Invinciblereminds me why I still buy and love Ultimate Spiderman. The characters are young and fresh and funny. They experience real life and aren’t so darn weighed down by their issues. The series tackles some heavy subject material (I won’t spoil it, but trust me), but never lets it bog down the characters or momentum.

In addition to the main characters and their great dynamics and relationships, this series LOVES subplots. In every trade there is at least 5 new subplots. You’d think that would get old or implode on itself – so far, not as of yet. Kirkman managers to payoff the plots here and there, while building new ones all the time. It makes for a wicked-fun read – knowing that at any point, one of the 80 plots could come to a head.

Invincible constantly surprises. If you buy this series (and you will after this glowing recommendation), make sure to buy the first three trades – covering the first 13 issues. The comic doesn’t rush into anything, taking its time to establish its world – but once it does, hold on and be ready – it blows the top off real quick.

Kirkman is a great writer when he’s writing his own stuff (see: The Walking Dead also). His writing is worth picking this up alone. But, let’s look at Ryan Ottley for a moment…

Ottley came onto the title with issue 8 (if I’m not mistaken), picking up for co-creator Cory Walker, who was having trouble keeping on schedule. Cory has a great style and sense of design, and it was no easy feat to take over for him (Ottley was relatively unknown at the time). But, boy, Ryan knocked it out of the park. His style was close enough to Cory’s when he took over that there wasn’t a jarring change up. And he took the look Invinciblehad and has evolved it into an amazing, detailed, fluid style that is just incredible to look at. From great page designs, heart-pounding action, and incredible character detail (from expressions, to body language, to individuality) – Ottley does it all.

I’ve quickly become a HUGE fan of his stuff. Check out his blog here.

Invincible also brings up another important issue – how do we, as creators and fans, bring in kids and teenagers into comics without losing the adult readers that make up most of the market? Let’s save that for another post (very soon) and just leave with a final word on Invincible.

It’s fun. It’s creative. It’s an addictive read. It has great art. I’m dying to get caught up in the series, but as far as the first 6 trades go, my grade is a solid A.

thecreator Comic Review, Comics I Love

Okay, so before we get into all sorts of random talkback, I figured that I’d start out with a few comic-related posts -cause new traffic will be coming from the comic – and we don’t want to throw them off too much with random stuff.

I’m going to compile a list of comics you must read before you die – but I thought I’d start out with just talking about my favorite comic of all time:Midnight Nation by J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank.

Midnight Nation is a morality play – above all else. Yes, it is a comic book - but, no, it doesn’t have costumes, super powers, or big breasts. This is an evolution in comics. This is a story about people. Flawed, hurt, tragic, funny, and human people.

Note: you should stop here and just read the darn thing. I’m going to give a spoiler-free synopsis and then rave about it – but you’re better off to just pick it up and start reading.

Midnight Nation follows David Grey – an LAPD detective – who is lost (metaphorically) in life. After investigating a horrific string of murders, he loses his soul (quite literally) and becomes on of those “in-between.” Stuck between living and dead, David must embark on a journey across the barren underbelly (and I’m not talking the “hookers and drug dealers” underbelly that Hollywood sells – I’m talking the reality of people who’ve been brushed aside and forgotten) of the country in a last-ditch effort to reclaim his soul. Accompanied by his guide, Laurel, they set out on foot.

The journey is the destination in this story. I won’t spoil anything – cause I’d rather you come across it like I did years back.

Everyone says “Watchmen” is the best Graphic Novel of all time, and while I admit that it may be – it isn’t my favorite. Where Midnight Nation succeeds is its human portrayal of every single character in the story. The story moves you emotionally in a way that no comic before or since has ever moved me. I still am touched and get chills every time I read the epilogue.

I had a chance to speak to the writer about the story a few years ago (some of my most prized posessions are the individual issues of the series, signed by Mr. Straczynski himself), and he told me that it was his personal favorite of anything he’s ever written – and it even moved him while reading it. Before you judge that statement – read the book, and you’ll understand.

You’ll most likely get the trade paperback (which I own, as well) which has an afterword written by the author which lets you know how personal and real the story was to him. A story that took him 20 years to write. The afterword makes it all the more powerful.

This is the comic I place in the hands of people who say comics are lame or for kids – and I’ve yet to have anyone say it wasn’t amazing. Everyone I’ve known has been surprised, if not blown away, by how good the comic is.

If you read it and love it like I do – pick up the individual issues. As far as story goes, there’s nothing more they add – but in most issues, at the end, there were letters from the readers. At first, they started out as merely “Wow this is really good, I can’t wait to see what happens next” letters – but very quickly got to personal stories of how people’s lives had been affected by the story. People talked of lives of abuse, tragic deaths, and many more personal stories – and how the story was helping them come to terms with those events – or how the story mirrored their lives. Very quickly, the personal letters elevated the status of the comic from a good story to a powerful message of hope and love.

I’ll stop now – because if you’re reading this and haven’t read the story – you’re wasting time you could be spending reading it.

One more note – the art: Gary Frank is incredible. I’ve followed his work for years – and this is the pinnacle of his career. Amazingly detailed and powerful art. Frank chose to forgo typical “muscles and boobs” style comic drawing, and really drew people – with real expressions and emotions. Real-looking people that helped convey the reality of the story. This comic could not and would not achieved what it did without his amazing art. It’s no surprise that the writer and artist have worked together several times since Midnight Nation.

Short and sweet – buy it.

And let me know what you think.

Oh, and when you buy it – don’t peek ahead – let it unfold as you go along.

– the creator

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