By Steve Sneyd, Published By Hilltop Press
This 40 page booklet is subtitled An Introduction To Graphic Poems, and, as the advert says, it does what it says on the tin. This is a look at comic interpretations of poetry and, along the way, pushes the boundaries of that definition in every direction.
In researching the history, Steve includes Elizabethan pattern poems, the work of an 18th century Khan of the Crimea, and Futurists from the 1920s and '30s.
The examples included range from the last frames of the Max And Moritz strip of 1865 by Wilhelm Busch (a cross between Shockheaded Peter and Rupert the Bear with its cautionary tale of young scallywags getting their come-uppance); to the Ballad of Johnny Tumbleweed from 1995 by Noel K. Hannan and Derek Gray; as well as a dozen others. A favourite amongst these is Symbiosis for Space-Dwellers Explained, words by Steve Sneyd and art from a name that should be familiar to all members of the BFS : Dallas Goffin.
The Bibliography admits to being only a preliminary listing and I'm sure that we can all make suggestions of titles missed. Somewhere, I know, I've got a copy of Classics Illustrated's The Raven.
Okay, this treatise isn't going to appeal to many comics' fans, but, if you have an interest in the underground end of the media, this should make an essential addition to your reference library!
Reprinted from Prism 25.4, July/August 2001
For some reviews by Steve Sneyd, just look at the Review Supplemental index - found by clicking the button above.
Written by X and illustrated by diverse hands, Published by Marvel Comics. www.marvel.com
What I know of the Marvel Universe is based on memories from the '80s, and the dilution of criticism I've read. The last regular comic I read was Kevin Smith's Daredevil; before the insanity of Skull Kill Crew. As I understand it, there is a seething backstory of humanity's fear/misunderstanding of the mutants. Previous looks at the non-heroic (as opposed to the villainous) mutants were glimpses of the Morlock Society. In this new comic, the focus is on a terrorist/freedom fighter group, The Brotherhood, headed by the mysterious X. They regard the X-Men as potentially dangerous to the mutant cause as fear-mongering media pundit Dr Ludlum.
The Brotherhood engages in acts of violence to further their aims, blowing up a Moscow nightclub and attacking American vigilantes. So, while it might be a problem that the characters are so morally ambiguous - at one point, after killing some youths who were preparing a school massacre, Mari says, "Put the right uniform on me, and they'd be calling me a hero." - I fear that after September 11th in New York, Marvel will pull the plug on this brave attempt.
The Bill Sienkowicz cover on issue 1 proclaimed Revolution, Not Evolution. I wonder if this series will prove either. Events beyond the editors' and publishers' control have cursed this title...
Reprinted from Prism, Autum 2002.
By George Khoury, Twomorrow's Publishing www.twomorrows.com
Warrior comic in the early '80s - happy memories as a reader. I'd never been a 2000AD buyer, just wasn't. However, with V For Vendetta, Marvelman and the rest, Warrior was for me.
Now, almost twenty years on, with Miracleman about to appear in Image Comics, we have this wonderful collection of interviews and exclusive art that details the tangled history of a character that eventually lead to The Watchmen and a whole slew of realistic superheroes (if you'll excuse that oxymoron).
So, with almost twenty years of backstabbing, name-calling and threats of litigation between writers, publishers and fans, we finally get a chance for almost everyone to have their say. I say almost, as Todd McFarlane isn't here - but, everyone else is : Mick Angelo on the '50s original; Alan Moore, Dez Skinn, etc, from Warrior; Neil Gaiman, Cat Yronwode, etc, from the Eclipse era. plus, a previously unseen strip from Moore and Jon Totleben, and the Mark Buckingham artwork from an unpublished Gaiman issue of Miracleman.
This isn't just a nostalgia fest - this is an important document every fan of superhero comics should own. Though, as Dave in my local comics shop (House on the Borderland) said, we'll need another volume allowing everyone a chance to reply to the accusations contained within.
Reprinted from Prism, Autumn 2002.