Tim Lasiuta's Blog
Posted by Tim Lasiuta
Imagine this, Archie Andrews as a thug. Jug, as a lazy, smoking teen who is more gangster than eater. Well, back in Pep Comics #21, that's what they were. Today, of course, they are different. But deep back in 1940, MLJ Comics was born, and was home to a few hero books, but Pep was their humor book, and in the back, Bob Montana created the gang at Riverdale. Sure, they've changed over the years, but the central characters have not changed. Storywise, relationship wise, any tale today could easily appear in the 50's and visa versa. That's why we have the digests. If you think Marvel and DC are the king of reprints, think again, Archie did that over 40 years ago!
So, over the years, many great artists have run through the company. Dan DeCarlo, Bob Montana, Mr Moore, Stan Goldberg, Bob Smith, Jim Amash, Al Milgrom, Gene Colan, Fernando Ruiz, Tania Del Rio, and many others have illustrated bits and pieces of our teen hood.
Got kids? Celelbrate 65 with the gang. Reggie, Veronica, Dilton, Jughead, Archie, Betty, Big Moose, Big Ethel, and the Veronicas are waiting!
Check them out on the web at www.archiecomics.com.
Posted by Tim Lasiuta
The comic book and animation industries lost one of their brightest talents Saturday, May 27, when Alex Toth passed away. Mr. Toth leaves behind a stellar legacy that will continue to entertain readers and viewers, and inspire and inform generations of comic book artists, animators, designers, illustrators, and writers.
Alex Toth launched his comic book career in 1943 while still attending Manhattan's High School of Industrial Arts. The ambitious high school student was soon tutored on the job by another brilliant comic book cartoonist, Sheldon Mayer. Mr. Toth found early direction and inspiration from the savvy, uncompromising approaches of comic strip artists Noel Sickles, Milton Caniff, and Frank Robbins; comic book artists Jerry Robinson and Mort Meskin; and illustrators Harold Von Schmidt, Albert Dorne, and Robert Fawcett.
Alex Toth once remarked that he approached his pen-and-ink characters as "silent actors and actresses who speak lines, express, emote, feel, react, and give life to dialogue, scenes, and plots." His preternatural drawing ability allowed him to do just that.
By the 1950s, Mr. Toth's elegant design and film-like storytelling had revolutionized and revamped the romance, crime, Western, and mystery comic book genres. His bold art style became the template for the "house style" at Standard Comics.
In the late fifties, Alex Toth traveled west to California and broke into the animation business. His "model sheets" and character designs for Hanna-Barbera Productions set a new standard for animated television action-adventure shows. Among the many fondly remembered programs he contributed to were "Jonny Quest," "The Fantastic Four," "The Herculoids," and "Space Ghost."
A tireless innovator and seldom-satisfied perfectionist, Mr. Toth enthusiastically continued to break new ground in storytelling techniques throughout the sixties and seventies with his ever-evolving comic book work for Dell, Warren Publishing, and DC. The eighties found him at the peak of his powers.
By 1983, Mr. Toth's career in comics was winding down. For the most part, he was finished with long continuities. By then, he had started a final, far more personal phase of his career -- that of unparalleled educator, perceptive commentator, and hard-spoken critic of the fields that he loved so dearly. His running correspondences with a host of fans and his articles for such pro-zines as "Robin Snyder's The Comics" and Roy Thomas '"Alter Ego," titled "Before I Forget..." will be studied and re-read for years to come. Also not to be missed are the three fine career retrospectives published by Mr. Manuel Auad. Mr. Toth was elected to the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990 and to the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 1991.
I started a correspondence with Mr. Toth in the seventies, and count some of his other devoted fans as my closest friends. Like them, I mourn this loss, and will not soon forget Mr. Alex Toth or his wonderful works. Godspeed Alex.
Posted by Tim Lasiuta
The 'Great' Graphic Novel that Isn't!
The cover blurbs say it so plainly.
"Simply stated, American Splendor is the most superb literary endeavor to come off the streets of Cleveland in decades."
"Pekar lets all of life flood into his panels: the humdrum and the heroic, the gritty and the grand."
Well, let me say this, "Ego and Hubris, the Michael Malice Story" is none of the above. This is no masterpiece. Even though Harvey Pekar is probably the best known creator of mass media graphic novels next to Neil Gaman, who is a master, this novel holds no great interest. There are no grand themes. There is no great conflict. There is no real moral content. This is almost comic book self endearment at its' worst.
The art of the graphic novel is much more than this. If you have read my previous piece on "Stagger Lee", the power of the Graphic Novel is amazing. Michael Malice, in this book, grows up from a young child into an adult of no particular talent or consequence, and Pekar has created a series of images around this. He takes no stand. He makes no impact.
If you liked American Splendor, you should like this. Otherwise, ignore it.
I remain,
A fan of the genre
Tim Lasiuta
Posted by Tim Lasiuta
Have you read Conan lately? What about the Grimjack reprints? Or have plans to read the Scout series due out from Dynamic in the near future?
Tim and I had a conversation last year that revealed the soul of a true creator. Not only was he a talented young artist who was present at the birth of the independant movement with Grimjack and Scout, but he also took Hawkman to new levels too at DC Comics. His Spider graphic novel was 3 parts of artistic excellence. With JOe Lansdale, he drew the Lone Ranger, and many horror tales just a notch off normal.
To Conan. DH roped him in, teased him, and said Write, Draw, and be merry. But make the Barbarian dangerous. So he did. With Cary Nord, Dave Stewart, and Joe Lansdale on the title, her has made it a must read.
Truman also teaches. Truman is a musician. He is a gentleman, a scholar, and philosopher. I have been proud to call him my compadre.
Posted by Tim Lasiuta
Comic Book price guides are a mystery. Their function is simple, list titles, conditions, and prices. An added bonus is background information, and photos. The extras are where the trouble comes in. The main contenders for 'Best' Comic book price guide are the Overstreet Guide, Comic Book Values, and the Comic Book Price Guide from Krause. Which one scores the best?
Let's talk about it.
Firstly, these books contain price 'guides', not price 'gospels'. The values represented are only approximate, and totally up to the market.
Secondly, the world of comic book academia is evolving, and creator credits are being added all the time. Space usually not permit full listings of all known contributors.
Thirdly, New issues are being released all the time, and reprints are now the rage. X Men #1, once available only as an original, can now be purchased in various formats.
Fourthly, Just how much information do we really need? That's why we have mags like Comic Book Artist, Comic Book Journal, Wizard, Comic Buyers Guide, Comic Book Marketplace and so-on.
Okay. The most simple one is Comic Book Values by Rob Molloy. Book, average price, publishing information, good starter book. Photos. Short essays on related topics.
The Krause Price Guide is a little more complex. It still contains publishing information, prices (in more than one grade) and CGC prices realized, and is organized in a checkmark system. It does list each issue separately and runs a massive 1500 plus pages because of it. It does benefit from more detailed issue/story information than Comic Book Values and Overstreet.
Overstreet has been the standard for 36 years now. With interesting cover galleries, interviews (Jim Lee this time), histories, and an a fanatical listing of all known titles, it was the first. Problem is, some of the listings do not reflect current creator credits. It does not use CGC pricing (that is the Comic Book Update). Full runs are represented in less than adequate detail for most titles.
So, which one do I like?
Depends on my mood....right now, it's Overstreet. But first, let me correct those Lone Ranger listings.
Tim Lasiuta
