Favorite Characters

I've made it no secret on this blog before, I am a die-hard DC Comics fan. So it should come a no surprise that an article about my favorite characters will be very DC-centric. I have always enjoyed DC's characters, costumes and creators more than any other publisher. There are some Marvel and even some independent characters on this list but they are few and far between. Once again they are in no particular order, except the first three.

Batman- Without a doubt, hands down, my all-time favorite character. There is the costume of course, a classic in every sense of the word. As with most superhero costumes, it probably wouldn't work in the real world but we're not talking about the real world are we? Bill Finger knew what he was doing he helped Bob Kane's rough ideas take shape into what would become Batman. The character of Bruce Wayne is compelling as well. That someone was so traumatized by personal tragedy that they would train themselves to the pinnacle of human perfection just so no one else would have to suffer the same fate is inspirational. I've always had a problems with writers who felt compelled to explain that Batman/Bruce must be borderline psycho/ sociopath and mentally unstable to do what he does. I've just always felt that he was an incredibly driven individual who would have been the best at whatever he tried to accomplish. Fate made him what he is. I lost my Mother when I was forty-one and not to violent crime but to natural causes. There is an ache and an absence that can't be filled even four years later. I can understand not wanting others to feel the loss and pain he's felt all these years. it is that loss and pain that drives him.

Superman- Not only does he have  the ultimate in superpowers, he also uses them to do the right thing for no other reason than it's the right thing to do. Like Siegel and Shuster, I am originally from Ohio so that doesn't hurt either. It would be so easy to think only of oneself and one's wants and desires if one had Superman's powers. It would be so easy to get what you wanted when you wanted it. Who could stop you? Instead, Superman does whats right, unselfishly and for the betterment of mankind. He was, as they say, "raised right". Back in 1986 when John Byrne and crew revamped the Man of Steel I just knew I was going to hate it. I always liked Byrne's art but didn't see the sense in changing what had worked for fifty plus years or so. I couldn't have been more wrong. I loved that the Kent's were still alive and able to interact with their son. It showed where he got his ideas of truth, justice and the American way. I was also glad that the hand wringing and lamenting over Krypton was gone. I was so sick and tired over his wanting Krypton back =choke=. The one thing I didn't like was that Superman and Batman were dismissive and antagonistic towards each other. I prefer for the two to be staunch friends. The Superman/ Batman comic of recent years shows how their relationship can be realistically and satisfactorily written.

Dick Grayson-  I've always liked Batman and Robin but it wasn't until The New Teen Titans that I developed a man crush on Dick Grayson. If everyone is done snickering now, can we move on? The way Wolfman and Perez portrayed Grayson made him a character to be looked up to and not just a sidekick. No one made Robin look better in that costume than George Perez. He made short pants look intimidating. I was less than thrilled when Grayson gave up being Robin to become Nightwing (I'm not much for change). But Wolfman and Perez handled it well and continued their great characterization of Grayson. He has now become an integral and well loved part of the DC universe.

Captain America- Another character that does the right thing just because it's the right thing to do. Cap represents the best of what America stands for, at least he did when America actually stood for something. That may be one reason why I've never cared for the Ultimates version of Cap. He was just a self-glorifying bully who represents the worst of what America stands for. Give me the 616 version of Cap over that "Ultimate" asshole any day ( I assume that's what his "A" stands for).

Hawkeye- My second favorite Marvel character. I don't really know what it is about him that I like so well but I just enjoy watching him try to prove himself to everyone else when he has nothing to prove. He so badly wants to be equal to Cap that he doesn't realize he already is. Mark Gruenwald's mini-series was one of the first Marvel stories I bought so that may be why Hawkeye holds such a special place for me.

The Avengers- Marvel's ultimate team. Just like the JLA- they've had highs and lows, strong rosters and incredibly lame ones, but when done right few teams are better (Cough--JLA--Cough). The Marvel Essential series is a must read for Avengers fans and I'm eagerly awaiting number eight this year.

The JLA- The superhero team supreme...period. From the big seven to the satellite years- pound for pound the greatest heroes on earth- any earth(Detroit didn't happen on Earth-Tobi).  The greatest collection of heroes the world has ever seen. The Showcase Presents series needs to kick back in gear so I can recollect all the comics I've sold over the years.

The Legion Of Super-Heroes- My second favorite team. This is another series DC needs to get in gear with the Showcase Presents reprints. Such a rich history and legacy. Great characters, great creators, great story-lines.

JSA/ All-Star Squadron- The original super team. From Paul Levitz's seventies revival to Roy Thomas' eighties series to Geoff John's resurgence, this classic team stands the test of time. Whether in their prime or training the next generation of heroes, few do it better than these "golden-oldies".

Madman- The MIke Allred original has been one of my favorites since I first saw him all these many years ago. Allred's quirky art and hipster hero stands out from the pack and brings a breath of fresh air to the comics medium. I always look forward to what's next for Frank Einstein.

Green Arrow- I am not a knee-jerk liberal like Oliver QueenNor am I a dirty old man like he's been portrayed in later years, but there is just something about this character I like. I loved his re-design by Neal Adams. His costume and interactions with other heroes just works for me.

Green Lantern- Hal Jordan, the cool assertive space-cop is the one I know and love. The desperate, alcoholic, mass murdering loser you can keep. Why we have to give all our heroes feet of clay to portray them "realistically" is beyond me. Fearless, cocky and a bit arrogant is the way to portray Hal Jordan.

Starman/Jack Knight- Without a doubt my favorite "new" character. James Robinson had a true magnum opus with this series and this character. There was not a moment I didn't thoroughly enjoy this series. I really was saddened when it was over and still wish Jack Knight would come swooping back in the comic stores.

The Spirit-  Is it Denny Colt or Will Eisner that makes me love this character so much? Maybe its equal parts of both. All I know is that Eisner wrote and drew stories that still resonate many, many years later.  From such a simple ides came such mastery and uniqueness that it boggles the mind. A true original of the form.

Fables- No one character plays a larger or more important role than the next. A true ensemble book. Familiar and comfortable characters brought to life in new and exciting ways. I've enjoyed and eagerly awaited each new trade as it comes out. Willingham and his artists(Mark Buckingham et al) are true geniuses.

Well, I believe I need to bring this to a close. Oh there are many other characters, teams and books I like that I could go on and on and on and on and on( you get the idea). I could write about Iron Man, Thor, The Fantastic Four, The New Teen Titans, The eighties Uncanny X-Men, Preacher, Firestorm, Red Tornado, J'onn J'onzz, Wolverine, Spiderman, The Flash, Aquaman, Ambush Bug and many, many more.

Suffice it to say that I love comics. I love Superhero comics. And, mainly, I love DC Comics.

Check out my other blogs here and some editorials I've written at www.comicbooked.com.

Favorite Writers?

As I sit here, freshly showered and drinking a cup of coffee, I am thinking of what I said my third blog would be about: my favorite comics writers. I have thought about this since my last posting and have come to an astonishing conclusion: I don't have any favorite comics writers. This is astonishing to me because I have read and enjoyed comics for almost forty years and there are certainly writers whose work I've enjoyed, and we'll get to those momentarily. There just isn't any writer that comes to mind that I would buy any and all of their work. There are characters I always go for and artists whose work I always follow but not writers. I've been "burned" several times following artists onto books that the only thing going for it is the art. I've since quit doing that. Man, the 90's were hard, weren't they?

Before this degenerates into just a list of writers whose work I enjoy, let me take a moment to try and figure this out. I think it stems from the fact that if a writer goes on a book and I don't care about the characters, I wouldn't get it no matter how brilliant he or she may be. The same holds true if the artist on said book is one whose work I don't care for. Bad art can sink great writing like Tom Cruise can his own career (not to be glib or anything). Plus there is not one writer I can think of whose work I've uniformly enjoyed. I realize everyone can have an off day, or issue if you will, but some have seemed to actively go out of their way to be bad.

Writing to a monthly deadline has to be one of the toughest jobs to do so I completely understand a bad issue now and then. It's when a writer doesn't seem to have a grasp on the character or characters they're writing that I can't stand. I'm all for updating and keeping characters fresh, but there's a reason so many of them have been around for decades. Don't lose sight of what makes them who they are. I also am not crazy about a writer trying to put his or her personal agenda on the character. Make up your own and self-publish if you want a soapbox.

 One of the problems, as I see it as an outsider, is that the editor these days seems to think they are the driving force behind a book. There seems to be a lot of editorial interference when the writer's vision doesn't mesh with the editor's. If that's the case, then why hire them to write the book in the first place? I always liked the stories about Archie Goodwin and Dick Giordano and how they would put together a good team and then get out of their way to let them create, only stepping in if they went off track somewhere. If the editor's vision is the one to be followed, why isn't he writing the book?

Well, I've gotten a little off topic but some of these issues have been bugging me for a while and I apparently had to get them out. So without further ado (there's always too much ado around), I'll go over some of my favorite writers and why. Again, there is no order and I may miss some.

Paul Levitz: I love his Legion work. I grew up reading his and Giffen's stories.

Marv Wolfman: His Titans work with Perez is still a favorite.

Denny O'neil: Mainly his early Batman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow work. Although I see now that GA was too much of a knee jerk liberal(soapbox, Denny?). Also, if I was GL and the old man asked me why I didn't do anything for the black skins, I'd tell him if he knew so much about me to know that I did considerable for purple skins and orange skins then he should know that I saved the world plenty of times including his wrinkly skin. I accepted this as a kid but it really burns me up now. Also I don't agree with is Batman is crazy BS. Batman does what he does to save others from having to go through what he did and does it the only way he can. Kind of makes one wonder how Denny made on this list, huh?

James Robinson: The Golden Age was wonderful and his Starman is still my favorite read. I have all the omnibuses and re-read them at least once a year. Jack Knight is a great character and I miss him.

Jeph Loeb: His Superman/ Batman work is outstanding. Batman:Hush was great too.

Geoff Johns: Great writer but too many hits and misses. Supes: yes, Legion: yes, Brightest day: meh.

Gerry Conway: Love his JLA Satellite  years work with Dillin.

Jeff Smith: Fellow Buckeye. Bone was amazing. He lived near a bookstore I used to work in and came in a lot. I never worked up the nerve to talk to him though. Wish I had.

Kurt Busiek: Now he would come close. I can't think of one story of his that I've read that I haven't liked. Astro City is one of my favorites and his Avengers was great! "And the crowd goes wild."

Grant Morrison: Good stuff most of the time, at least when I "get" it. Sometimes he is on a whole 'nother plane than I am.

Peter David: Love his stuff. The little details and minutiae he puts in his stories are wonderful. Plus he's funny as all get out.

Garth Ennis: His Preacher and Punisher stuff was great. I'll stop there.

Bill Willingham: Fables is a definite favorite and gets better and better.

Mark Waid: I feel like he really gets the DC characters and really cares about them.

Will Eisner: The Master. I think I may have left him out of my favorite artist blog. If I did, that was a huge oversight. The Spirit is one of my all-time favorite characters and his artwork and writing is the best of an era.

Well, I think I'll retire this blog for today and get ready for work. I know there are many, many more writers I need to list but time is a cruel mistress. I will have to revisit this and the artists again as I have many more that I want to recognize. My next blog should be coming soon and will concern my favorite characters. That one will be DC heavy so be prepared. If you've taken time to read this, let me know what you think.

Favorite Artists

Finally got some time to get on here and write a second column. I thought long and hard about what to write and finally settled on my favorite comics artists. My next one will be favorite comics writers. Then I will probably do my favorite comics characters. After that I'm not sure. We'll just have to wait and see. This will in no way be in order or anything. I don't write these out beforehand and retype them for posting. I just write as it comes to me. I may even forget a few and have to add on to this later.

1. George Perez:
This should come as no surprise to anyone that read my first blog as I stated he is my favorite artist of all time. There is simply nothing this man can't draw and make look fantastic. One thing I didn't spend enough time on though was his inking. When he inks himself he is wonderful, when he inks someone else's work he is phenomenal. His inking of Curt Swan in Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?  was stunning. Swan has always been one of my favorites but what Perez did for his pencils clearly showed Swan's draftsmanship. Both Perez and Kurt Schaffenberger's inks brought Swan's pencils to life in a way I had never seen before. Perez's inks are lush and slick and amazing.

2. Curt Swan:
 Since I was just talking about him above, I guess I should continue. Some would say that Swan was not dynamic enough but I say he did what he did better than most. What he did was deliver solid drawings month after month after month. He was definitely substance over flashiness. All one has to do is look at his pencils to see how great an artist he truly was. Unfortunately he was never given an inker that brought that out. The best his published art ever looked, to me, was in the aforementioned Superman story.  There are many stellar examples of his pencils in Eddie Zeno's Curt Swan: A Life In Comics. If you can look at that book and not appreciate Swan's art, you are blind.

3. Dick Dillin:
Here is another under-appreciated artist that delivered at month after month after month. His run on Justice League was amazing. The only thing that stopped him was his death. Quite simply, he was the JLA to me. The first comic I ever picked up was a Dillin JLA. His Green Lantern and Batman were particular favorites of mine, but I loved how he drew every character in the JLA. I never passed up a chance to pick up a Dillin drawn comic.

4. Jim Aparo:
Quite simply he is the Batman Artist. When I was a kid I read where he said that because of all that Batman does physically, he would have to have big, strong hands and that was the way her drew them. There was no mistaking that Batman could do what he did the way Aparo Drew him.

5. Don Newton:
The other Batman artist. Newton was so classical and almost poetic in his approach to anatomy. He drew the most graceful superheroes ever. His style was so much his own you could tell it was him a mile off. Another artist taken way too soon.

6. John Byrne:
Byrne flat out knocked me out when I got into his work. I'm sure the first work of his I saw was in The X-Men but it was when he wrote and drew The Fantastic Four that really got an appreciation for him. He made Reed Richards look less like the typical muscular Superhero and more like the stretchy scientist he is. I also loved the way he drew The Thing's face as his brow line made much more since to me. When Byrne took over Superman I was over the moon. He draws sturdy and strong  heroes who look like they could really do the things they do.

7. Alan Davis:
He reminds me of Don Newton in a way. You can definitely tell when Davis is drawing a book and his characters have a grace to them that is almost dance-like. Another one who never disappoints.

8. Mike Allred:
No one draws like Allred and that's a good thing as he is too unique to copy. I love his Madman and really love it when he draws the DC Heroes. His SOLO issue was Heaven.

9. Alex Ross:
There just aren't words to describe the depth of respect I have for Ross' abilities. He is quite simply, to me, the most talented painter in comics today or ever. His work for DC has been superlative in every aspect of the word. His vision is how I've always seen the heroes in my mind's eye even before I saw his work. I'm not into Dynamite Comics but even bought that book to get his art. He is just too good to exist.

10. Jim Lee:
To be honest I never cared for Lee's Marvel work. His X-Men left me cold. It was too busy, too much like Silvestri and Liefeld's. Then he formed Image and I still didn't care for his art. Then he did Heroes Reborn and had a drawing of Namor on his throne and that kind of intrigued me. I thought that was pretty good. Then he did Batman: Black and White and I thought, "Geez he can't draw Batman for crap." So, I didn't think much about him for a while. Then Batman: Hush came out and I was knocked for a loop. Was this the same guy? His Batman ranked up there with Aparo and Newton or Rogers and Adams. The only DC hero work of his I don't have is All-Star Batman and Robin and that because Miller can't write Batman to save his life.

Since I'm running out of room I will list some more favorites and a brief reason why.
Gary Frank: Superman, Christopher Reeve. Need I say more?
Kevin Maguire: JLI: great run
Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez: Classic artist, face of DC merchandising
Jerry Ordway: All-Star Squadron
Kevin Nowlan: Great style
Brian Bolland: Mind-blowing art
Tony Harris: Starman
Keith Giffen: Legion of Superheroes
Neal Adams: Batman and the rest of DC universe
Dick Giordano: Classic Penciller and Inker
Ed McGuinness: Unique style great art
Dave Gibbons: Sturdy great art
Steve Rude: Classic Style
Ethan Van Sciver: Detail crazy, great ink line
Phil Jimenez: Perez Jr.
Nick Cardy: Classic
Carmine Infantino: Batman, best with Anderson inking
Steve Dillon: great quirky style

Well that'll do it for this time. Again, I'm sure I left somebody out and if so I'll just have to add on later. Thanks for reading, if you did.