The Toronto Comics Arts Festival 2011

On May 7 me and my lady went to TCAF. Great event. Went to two panels: The first had Paul Pope, Sam Hiti and Brandon Graham discussing their ideas on story creation, fav artists, and independent work vs studio work. The second one we attended starred Darwyn Cooke, Ray Fawkes, Kathyrn Immonen, Stuart Immonen, and Jillian Tamaki. The topic was regarding their ideas on a Canadian voice in mainstream comics. As ever, the panel was fun due to the fact of Darwyn just being Darwyn.

Overall I loved TCAF. My personal highlight was meeting James O'Barr. He signed my Crow comic, which is awesome, but more importantly, we caught him outside the event, and we got a chance to shoot the shit with him. I couldn't help but smile when he started playfully razing Paul Pope. I didn't know it, but I guess when Pope started out in the biz, he went and saw James and Dave Sim to show off his work and get advice. Pope draws on these huge art boards, and James joked that Paul should start drawing on 11 by 17's instead of bed sheets. It was neat to hear one of my favourite creators jokingly pick on another of my favourite comic creators.

Also slightly offended Chester Brown. That was amusing. He asked me why I didn't want to buy his new book, so I told him I'm not attuned to autobio comics. The real reason is I didn't want to buy his new book because I was tapped. I eventually told him that, but the sting was there. Also I laughed when I read his new books title aloud, "Confessions of Being a John". I just thought it was a funny title.

Here's some photos of TCAF.

Fan Expo 2010 - The Man with the Getaway Face

Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: IDW
Published: July 2010
Adapted from Richard Stark's Parker: The Man with the Getaway Face

This past weekend was the second time I met Darwyn Cooke. He was at Toronto's Fan Expo where he had a booth setup along fellow comic book artists; he also hosted a one hour discussion on comic book layout and construction. As ever I was beside myself when I talked to the guy. It's hard not to let my fan boy-ness out, but overall I think I did well, even considering the fact I was sporting a Frank Miller Dark Knight t-shirt.

During my meeting with him he was as nice as ever. He spoke a little about his long term plans with his Parker series of graphic novels. He would like to finish them up just in time for his 50th birthday, and then after he was done with them he would take a break - *boo-urns* - but then again, it is a much deserved break.

As I mentioned I also went to his page composition layout discussion. I love these type of events. Not only do you get some tips and ideas on how he works, but you get a chance to actually hear his opinion on a wide range of subjects. One thing that stood out in my mind was his comment that he was limited in 'really conversing' with us fans due to the times...ie. everything is recorded, videotaped, and posted...which he's completely right about considering here I am writing about his discussion. The only difference is I have enough tact to not go into everything...I'm just not interested in stirring the pot as it were. He also mentioned he was a big fan of Dan Clowes, and especially of his book Ice Haven. This surprised me at first, but upon reflection, makes perfect sense. They're both awesome comic creators.

Overall Cooke strikes me as a humble guy, but also a guy who has definite opinions and interesting thoughts. My only wish is that we lived in a society where he could really share his more "controversial" thoughts without it coming back on him due to some fan boy posting it to youtube. I just know he has a unique perspective on the comic industry and it would be great to hear some of those thoughts in more detail.

One detail he mentioned that was quite exciting is that in his next book, The Outfit, Cooke has homaged/parodied the old Hanna Barbara cartoons to visually represent one of the many heists. This alone has me excited for The Outfit.


The Man with the Getaway Face was originally intended to Cooke's second adapted work by Richard Stark's series of Parker novels. Cooke opted to reduce it to a prelude for the Outfit (dropping Oct.5.2010), because it was his least favorite of books and he didn't want to spend a year of his life working on a book he doesn't really care for. I see his point. It's essentially an armored truck robbery, and as Darwyn put it - it gets a bit boring see a bunch of crooks talking about how they're going to pull off the heist - they're are only so many angles you can depict of guys sitting at a table.

However, that being said, don't let this comic pass you by. Although story-wise, it may be Cooke's least favorite of the series, what makes it stand out is it's printed about 95% the size of the original artwork. Most artists work looks better reduced to standard comic size, but in my opinion, Cooke's work looks better at original size. Even though he says you can see the rough passes and 'mistakes' when it's kept close to original size, I think it actually makes his work look better. Each brush stroke or color pass is magnified, and it's just charming as hell...

Here's the final page from the comic, and a Jonah Hex print I bought from Darwyn while at the Expo.




****Note: Over the next week or so, I'll be posting comics of the different artists I visited with, as well as sharing info on our conversations****


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izombie # 1 (Plus Variant Thoughts)

Writer: Chris Roberson
Artists: Michael Allred
Colors: Laura Allred
Publisher: Vertigo
Published: May 2010

This is an intriguing story. Gwen is a zombie. By day she works as a grave digger. By night she solves mysteries with her ghost gal pal Ellie. Oh, and the these mysteries are instigated by Gwens meals, namely, newly dead folks brains. Umm!

The art is great, and the premise is promising...it'll be interesting to see where this one goes.

Also check the variant cover by one of my favourite artists, Darwyn Cooke.

I really don't like the whole variant cover thing going these days. Usually the art is pretty fantastic, but still...

Take for instance, the variant for this particular issue (see just below). It's fantastic. Probably one of Cookes finest, but what I'm not a fan of is the cover price. This issue was priced at $1, which is an introductory price for the first issue. Great. However, at the comic shop I go to, the Cooke variant cover was marked up to $10! That's a 1000% markup! As much as I love Cooke's work, I can't justify spending $10 for a 30 page comic. There are some some shops in Toronto that mark up all variant covers to $20, which is even crazier!

I wonder if retailers actually sell any of these variants. They must, considering how many are being produced these days. While I'm not 100% familiar with the economics of comics, I have a few ideas as to why variants are so pricey.

1) They're considered 'rare' as retailers have to purchase a certain amount of comics before they can receive a variant.
2) They usually have stellar artwork for the cover. Usually.
3) They have to be pricey so retailers can make up costs for the extra issues they had to purchase just to get the variant.
4) Hardcore fans and collectors will buy them.

Whatever the reason, I just can't get behind buying a variant cover with a cover price of $10 to $20 bucks. That's just too much. It would be better if variants were treated like rewards instead of priced up comic books. The loyal fans who really want a variant would make sure they were the first in line on new release Wednesdays. It's a win-win. The store gets customers in regularly, and fans pay regular price for a variant cover. Anyway, here are some variant covers that are awesome, and I'll never own.

Bad Girls # 4

Writer: Steve Vance
Artist: Christine Norrie
Cover : Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: DC
Published: January 2004

I have no idea what this series is about, and starting at issue # 4 of 5 is not the best way to get what it is all about. I only picked it up because it was $1 and the cover was by Darwyn Cooke. Here's a link to a review of issue # 1.

Tek Jansen # 3

Writer: John Layman & Tom Peyer, Jim Massey
Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
Cover: Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: Oni Press
Published: September 2008

Issue # 3 has Tek Jansen (Stephen Colbert's Sci-Fi alter ego) furthering his war against the sinister Opticlons! This is about the only series that has consistently made me chuckle aloud.

Think he saw that one coming?

Batman: Ego

Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: DC
Published: 2000

This is one of the best one-shot stories issued on Batman in the last decade. The story has Bruce Wayne forced to face the monster he's created: The Batman. The issue opens with Batman attempting to interrogate a criminal for info on the Joker. The criminal is so scared of both of Joker and the Joker's wrath against him and his family, he ends up taking his own life in front of Batman.

This act starts Bruce's journey into his own mind and questioning if his choice to create Batman was a correct one. At this point, the embodiment of Batman appears, and begins terrorizes Bruce. He tries to force Bruce to let him take control, and that only true justice and inner peace can be achieved if they kill the Joker. Bruce is tempted, but in the end decides that killing is what separates them from the criminals, and the two form a mutual alliance.
If after this quick summary and you're not starting to think Batman Begins or The Dark Knight, then you my friend are no Batman fan, man. These themes are the same themes that Bale and Nolan's sourced to create the Batman of the 00's. Of course, I would be amiss to cite Cooke as the sole originator of these ideas, but I like Cooke's work so much that I'm inclined to think this.

The Spirit # 13: Holiday Special

Writers: Glen David Gold, Dennis O'Neil, Gail Simone
Artists: Eduardo Risso, Ty Templeton, Phil Hester & Ande Parks
Cover: Darwyn Cooke & Jay Bone
Publisher: DC
Published: February 2008

So of my holiday reviews I've come across a bunch of A Christmas Carol inspired stories, so it only seemed natural to review The Spirit. For all you comic newbies, the Spirit is Will Eisner's signature crime fighter who basically is thought to be dead, wears a suit and a mask, and lives in a cemetery hideout. Cooke took on the awesome responsibility of resurrecting the Spirit, and he didn't disappoint.

The holiday special is composed of 3 tales. The first one by Gold and Risso is about a jewel heist that goes wrong when the Spirit gets involve. The jewels end up flung next to a rare tiger, and a special femme fatale is called in to retrieve the jewels, but the only thing is will she give back the jewels or take them for herself, and what does she consider to be the real jewel? The second tale by O'Neil and Templeton has the Spirit being a nice guy and helping out a old lady get her dead uncles treasure, only to have his act of kindness be rewarded with snobbery. Finally the last tale is wordless and involves the Spirit being roughed up and tossed into a frozen river. Don't worry folks though, he ends up all right.

I was a late comer to the Spirit, but I find I really dig the character. He's a nice guy caught up in a world of crime and women. I'm excited for the movie coming out on Christmas, but I'm not excited that it was called "Will Eisner's The Spirit" because this movie is going to be far from what I imagine Will Eisner would envision of his character. That being said, it isn't necassirily a bad thing that Miller is going to trample his Millerisms all over Eisner's work, but like my buddy said, its that the general public is going to see a Miller movie and start to confuse Miller's vision with Eisner's vision of what the Spirit was all about. Oh, and I am a bit disappointed that Miller is not going to stick to the original concept that the villain, The Octopus, is forever a unseen character. Oh well, I just hope it'll have an awesome opening where the title, "The Spirit" is spelled out in the background, like so:
Merry Christmas from the Not-The-Brightest-Bulb-On-The-TreeYou'll shoot your eye out kid.

Spider-Man's Tangled Web #21: 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas

Writers/Artists: Darwyn Cooke, Jay Bone
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Marvel
Published: February 2003

Today's issue is probably one of the best Christmas comics from Marvel I've read yet. Cooke and Bone are firing on all cylinders in this issue. Peter Parker is shopping for J. Jonah Jameson's wife (cause Jameson is an a-hole) and Mary Jane, trying to get them the perfects gifts. Meanwhile, Sue from the FF, is also shopping with Crystal. Little do they all know that a diabolical crook is planning on robbing the store they are all in. Oh, and Medusa appears and starts to go haywire on everyone, while Flash Thompson is posing as Spider-Man for a mall attraction. So in a nutcracker's nutshell, we gots the makin's of one helluva issue, but don't take my word for it....instead take a look at the scans!

Solo # 1: Tim Sale

Writers: Tim Sale, Darwyn Cooke, Diana Schutz, Jeph Loeb, Brian Azzarello
Artist: Tim Sale
Publisher: DC
Published: December 2004

This is the first issue that started this magnificent series. Sale is teamed up with a pantheon of great writers, which is a testament to his level of artistic skill. I've read that Tim Sale is color blind. This isn't too surprising considering his work is highly stylistic, his brushwork is crisp, and his art looks fantastic when viewed in black and white.

Tim Sale's Solo issue has 6 short tales. The first one concerns a non-typical date between Catwoman and Batman. The second story is about debts owed, and the third tale is a 50's style romance with an extremely sad ending about Supergirl and Dick Wilson. The fourth tale is about Superman's prom date, and the fifth tale is a pitch perfect crime noir. Finally the last tale concerns a single kiss and a tear.

This issue of Solo is absolutely fantastic. I had read some of Sales work, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Daredevil Yellow, and I found his artwork was breathtaking, seductive, moody, and stylized. With this issue, a sad romantic Sale emerges forth. Each story is about a relationship of some kind, be it crazy love, enduring love, first loves, bitter love, to old love. Each story is quite touching, and that combined with his artwork, Sale creates a romance comic of the highest order. Certainly one of the bests I've ever read.








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