Comics, the most maligned form of literature after erotica novels is entering a new decade. The 80’s was the time when comics got REAL (The overrated Dark Knight Returns and less overrated Watchmen), the 90’s were a time of ADULT comics (The justifiably amazing Preacher and Sandman), the noughties was a time of transition with comics becoming lamentably like film storyboards if you listen to Alan Moore, or just a time of expansion in the industry if you listen to anyone else. We have yet to see what this new decade gives us comics wise but at as I type this there has been a reawakening in one particular comic subgenre: the Celebrity Writer.
This underused niche of the industry began back in 1998 when Kevin Smith, director of cult films such as Dogma, Chasing Amy and Clerks decided to write an arc on Daredevil, one of Marvels then B-list heroes. While the arc was mediocre and self-indulgent (Still worth reading, mind you) it boosted sales on that particular title and started the ball rolling on celebrities writing their favourite heroes. And now we come to the point of my article: there are three new celebrities with comics out in recent months: Stephen King, Jonathon Ross and most interestingly Samuel L. Jackson.
First to Stephen King’s comic American Vampire. This is actually a co written title with Scott Snyder and is two stories in one comic. The King one is about a convict who is turned into a vampire, and the other is about an actress who is also turned into a vampire and as the comic goes on the stories become interweaved more and more.. This collaboration came into passing when Snyder sent off the actress story to King to get a recommendation for the cover. King liked the comic so much he decided to contribute to it. Having read it, I can quite see why King would add his name to it. It’s fresh, intelligent and surprisingly funny. Kings half of the comic is also excellent but the Snyder story stands out. The art in both stories is beautiful, both stories drawn by Rafael Alberquerque. I highly recommend this.
Samuel L. Jackson’s Cold Space is an interesting achievement. Since the main character Mulberry is Sam L himself in a space suit I found myself doing his voice as I read, as I also did with every line of Jonathon Ross’ Turf but more on slightly geeky revelation later. Samuel L. Jackson and his co writer have shoved the more cultfigureish elements of Jackson’s characters into one space bandit who finds himself stranded on a corrupt planet. Whether or not this works is down to the reader liking Samuel L. Jackson but since the number not liking him is akin to the number people who watched Uma Thurman in Motherhood (Wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t know it even existed…) there is a high chance you will like this. Entertaining and breezy with enough charisma to keep it afloat. Ironically the best translation of Samuel L. Jackson’s face into comics was Bryan Hitch using his likeness for Nick Fury in Mark Millar’s “The Ultimates” (If you haven’t read it, do so its one of the best things you can read from the last decade) and not artist Jeremy Rock using his face to play himself in Cold Space… Go figure as the New Yorkers say.
Finally we come to Jonathon Ross’ new job: comic writing. The ex BBC presenter has since his debut on television in 1987 been a self professed comic fan and finally he has finally sat down to write one, the prohibition set Turf. Detailing a turf war between New York mobsters, a family of vampire gangsters and a stranded alien race, the concept of which sounds nerdgasmic (a real word I think). And credit were credit is due the comic is fantastic. Ross has done extensive research into his setting, the dialect of the time and general background. The only thing to be said is that it’s VERY wordy. Mark Millar, the pillar of good comic writing says in his Afterword that Ross comes from the comic writing school of Alan Moore and Don McGregor however Alan Moore, widely recognised as comics greatest writer has spent years building his craft into the great series’ we know and love (Watchmen, V For Vendetta), whereas Ross is still cutting his teeth at comic writing. While I appreciate the value for my money, the amount of writing verges on Chris Claremont territory (a writer theorised to have been paid by how many words he managed to fit into a panel). But this is a minor quibble in a comic that oozes the stuff great comics are made of. And the art… Tommy Lee Edwards’s panels are just beautiful. His style fits the comic very well and like his Marvel 1985 work, you could just look at the pictures and ignore the words, though you’d be missing out on Jonathon Ross’ great story and snappy dialogue.
This new wave of Personality writers is very welcome but as usually happens when someone stumbles upon a good idea this could lead to another Gladiator imitator situation (Alexander anyone?). The big question for me is when Brian Cowen retires will he start writing a run on the X men or perhaps some of the ex- Big Brother housemates would have a stab at a new storyline for Sandman? These are extremes but there will be imitators… Also it is perhaps worth mentioning that Kevin Smith, cultivator of this particular avenue in comics hasn’t written much else other than comics… and they’re not great, judging from Batman: Cacophony released last year. He did of course reboot Green Arrow with two excellent arcs on the Emerald Archer but perhaps he has outstayed his welcome. Another thing being that up till now celebrity writers have been hit and miss: Spiderman: The Short Halloween by Bill Hader and other SNL veterans was entertaining and interesting to see a comedy writer doing superheroes but for every Joss Whedon there’s a well, Kevin Smith.
So which comic to buy? American Vampire on its second arc without Stephen King at the moment but the first arc has been published in a beautiful hardback with a great introduction from King himself lamenting the Twilight era of defanged and borderline Bieberesque vampires, Turf is being published on its own but also in Mark Millar’s anthology comic CLINT which you should be reading in my opinion… Its also got a strip from Frankie Boyle for any of you Mock the Week fans, though sadly its not as funny as it should be… Cold Space had a limited four issue run which has just finished but it will be out n Graphic Novel format soon methinks. However for those recession busting readers out there if you were to pick one my bet is American Vampire, though the other two come close second. Where this decade will go comics wise no one can tell but I’m certainly pleased to see an underdeveloped subgenre getting good use this year.
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