John Byrne opines on the raging "late artists" debate that many so-called professional comics today are "no more than fanzines":
"Do these guys have to break every five minutes so their nannies can massage their aching hands?"You know, if this was a episode of "Gunsmoke," there would be a barroom brawl afterwards. Bryan Hitch would be throwing someone through a pre-broken bannister. It'd be awesome.
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Marvel Editor Tom Breevort puts the question to the fans:
"So what could we be doing better? What frustrates you about Marvel Comics right now?"My favorite of the responses:
"Better give Penance his own ongoing series after issue 5. Hugely under developed character as Speedball. Make up for it with his new persona. Lets face it... not many people can hand Wolvie his own a** and simply walk away."Or handing Doctor Doom his own a**.
At any rate, Breevort is using on his blog (consciously or unconsciously) the recommended PR technique called Proactive Transparency (trademark 2007 Valerie D'Orazio), in which you ask for and address any gripes from the public right off the bat rather than pretending everything is always fine and the fans are just stupid. By using Proactive Transparency you ultimately get to control the flow of your PR before other pundits get their grubby hands on it, and promote good will by demonstrating that you are 1) Reasonable, 2) Personable, 3) A Regular Person Just Like Them, and 4) Caring Of What The Others (who purchase your products) Think.
Kudos to Mr. Breevort.
Things To Use Your Han Solo In Carbonite For
Epiphany
Hey, call me crazy, but...
I know the "Slave Leia" has been the butt (pun) of constant criticism for its depiction of a strong female character in what is essentially a bondage outfit. But the Han Solo in Carbonite image has been used almost as much as Slave Leia in popular culture...and is essentially the image of a male in a bondage-type situation with a pained expression on his face. As such, are both examples simply evidence of George Lucas's love of the heroes-in-perilous-situations gimmick from the movie serials and comics of his youth, regardless of gender?
(ducks)
VIDEO: Three-Year-Old Girl Explains The Plot To Star Wars: Episode IV
You guys BAFFLE me with this Penance thing. I mean, totally dumbstruck. It is a nice slice of proof that what I want from comics & what someone else wants is often TOTALLY DIFFERENT. I guess that is why things like All-Star Supes make me happy; everyone likes that, right?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Penance? I. Don't. Get. It.
As for Leia. It is a trickier wicket than it as first appears. It ISN'T reductive of her character, I don't think. She's all chokin' fools & blowing up skiffs & stuff. I mean, yes, there is the ACTUAL meta-critque that Lucas dresses the only female character up thus, but the TEXT of the script shows her as NOT being lowered by the situation, DESPITE Jabba attempting to do so. I don't want to excuse stuff-- you know, that trap is too easy-- but the point you make about Han is a good one too. Yes, the slave outfit DOES sexualize Leia, & the OVERT context is bondage, but I think she comes out the better for it.
I could be over-thinking it. I've got a bit of bias...you see, shocking confession: I think Star Wars is pretty sweet.
*tries to address the Han thing without venturing into R-rated territory or worse. Fails*
ReplyDeleteUmm… for it to be equivalent, you’d have to partially defrost him.
That’s all I have to say on this issue.
I also have to agree with the link about the Darth/Cobra picture – the Cobra minion in the back is cute.
I never realized that there was a problem with slave Leia within the context of the movies. It's th hordes of girls dressing up like slave Leia that baffles me.
ReplyDeleteJohn Byrne is right... gah
ReplyDeleteI can explain Penance!
ReplyDeleteSpeedball was awesome! He suffered from never being definitely defined as a character and instead was made to fit whatever chliched buddy role he was a cipher for in a given story. Penance forces a character on him - dark, remorseful, and masochistic. Plus, Paul Jenkins is a great writer, so more of him is always a good thing!
But...I have gloomy, emo, remorseful comics! I want to avoid the bad parts of the 90s!
ReplyDeleteNo John Byrne isn't right. P;eople are taking isolated cases and turning it into bible fact. And the only thing that makes it worse is Howard mackie playing Yes man to this bullshit like it's bible truth.
ReplyDeleteI haven't missed a single deadline in 15 years, I work hard on everything I do and for john to equate the work on artist working in a professional arean to fanzine work is insulting.
ReplyDeleteI'd use Han-in-carbonite as a coffee table. The hands are perfect for holding an ashtray or bowl of peanuts.
ReplyDelete