Hello, Everyone:
Item: I hope those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a good holiday!
Item: Last night I watched the Ultimate Director’s Cut of “Watchmen.” I believe there were some good point and not so good points to report. First, while there were no new scenes, many of the existing scenes were more fleshed out and nuanced; it would have been a shame to leave all this material on the cutting room floor, and it didn’t slow down the movie at all. On the flip side of the equation, I think the inclusion of the “Black Freighter” animated portions of the film were unnecessary, and they did nothing to advance the movie watching experience. Yes, it is true that in the graphic novel that the “Black Freighter” story mirrored Adrian Veidt’s journey, but in the movie not so much. Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach deserves recognition for his outstanding performance.
Item: I just read “Captain America: Road to Reborn,” and while I don’t consider it Ed Brubaker’s best volume in his incredible, historic run, it wasn’t bad. What threw me were the extra stories, and the varying art styles. Having said this, there is a fantastic World War II story drawn by Gene Colan. At 82 years of age, he is drawing at his full strength. So often artists loose their edge, their drawings weaken, but not Gene Colan. My admiration for this artist is still growing in leaps and bounds.
Item: I just finished reading Dynamites “Black Terror” trade-paperback, and I enjoyed it. From what I can tell, the art was taken directly from pencil to color, and it could have used an inker. Still, Mike Lilly, the penciler, is pretty darn good, there is no denying it. In the back of the book, in the section where they put the extra content, there were alternate covers by John Romita Sr. and George Tuska, and these were a pleasant surprise! With every year that passes, the artists who drew the comics that I read as a kid look better and better too me.
Item: Mike Mignola is an exception to my Silver-Age first rule, because he’s a modern master and I think his art is outrageously cool. I’m about to begin reading the “Hellboy” Volume 1, the Library Edition. Hard covered, over-sized, and including a large Mignola sketchbook, I have a strong inkling that this will become one of the favorite books in my collection.
Scott.
