Comicbook Heroes unmasked

[GL2814]

I was watching the History channel last night and this show was on. It had everything you need to know about how cimics have evolved over the years. If you saw it what did you think? If you missed it you can buy it at the the History channels's web site. I taped it if you don't want to pay $30 for it. It was a really cool show and it explained a few stories that have been questioned for years.

[Jesse321]

Since the History channel is like most other cable channels .. I'm sure it will likely play again.

[GL2814]

Actually it was a rerun last night. The first time it ran was when Daredevil was released in theaters. btw Stan Lee made a point on the show that could end all the Levin bashing on this web site. He mentioned that every studio and network head is looking for comicbook characters to turn into live action characters. I figure if anyone would know it would be him.

[Lady Ribena]

i heard of that, darn i hope they show it on the UK history channel i will have to check, thanks for reminding me

[GL2814]

You're welcome. btw Jesse, I'm sure you remember the Batman arguement we had. This show mentions the guy who started that rumor. He was trying to bring down the indistry by playing on everybodys fears. He intervewed several mental patients who read comics and came up with outlandish ideas about superheroes. He came up with the Superman comlpex and a Wonderwoman bondage thing. The Superman thing was the funniest. It was suposed to be when people feel that they can't be hurt and enjoy watching others be punished and hurt themselves. This guy was really reaching for stuff. I couldn't beleve people went along with it, especially since it was the same people who grew up reading those same books.

[Jesse321]

In the immortal words of P.T. Barnum ... "there is a sucker born every minute" .... and if you ever need proof of that just look at the mess the American "justice system" is in today.

[GL2814]

Not just the justice system. lol!

[Jesse321]

Good point.

[GL2814]

I hate to do this but, I think we need to get more people to read this thread before the mods acuse us of chatting on the boards. btw If you want, I can send you a copy.

[Jesse321]

Thanks GL .. I would really like that ... I've looked around my cable guide but can't find anything on it.

The book section has always been manned by a select few people ... but there are new ones joining in every now and then and ther are still alot of lurkers around too ... I've noticed a few Book related questions popping up in No Man's Land ... maybe we can talk to SGH or Lisa to get them to post a heads up on the Book Discussion section on the main page.

[GL2814]

PM me with an address to send it to and I'll send it ASAP. You can e-mail it to me too, that way I know I can keep track of it. I'm at gl2813@yahoo.com and 2814gl@excite.com

[Impulse]

i was gonna watch it. it was on tonight. but i missed it.

[GL2814]

It has reaired a few times. I'll keep an eye out for the next time and tell you guys when it is. That way we can actually discuss this topic.

[VOXMAN41]

I've seen it at least 5 times. It's a cool program. Was alot of info that I wasn't aware of till I saw it. Wouldn't mind a more in depth mini series on this subject. What do ya think about that?

[Jesse321]

I finally got to see the copy that GL sent me this weekend ... THANKS GL ... the show was great ... I wouldn't mind SEVERAL in depth examinations on the subject.

[VOXMAN41]

Yeah. Break it down into several catagories. Like individual hero stories etc. Maybe we should let the history channel know how we feel.

[Jesse321]

Thats a good idea ... they could focus on specific super teams like the X-Men, the JSA, the JLA, the Avengers ... and really do some in depth analysis of them and their effect on the mainstream comicc industry.

[VOXMAN41]

The Justice Society would be killer. Not enough material about them as far as I'm concerned.

[Jesse321]

Are you reading the new JSA book ... its the BEST incarnation of the JSA EVER !!!

[GL2814]

First off, you're welcome Jesse. Second, is it really that good? I haven't really had a chance to read anything since Free Comic Book Day three months ago. The really sad part about it is that a new comic store just opened up about three blocks from my house. Come to think of it, the last thing I bought was the KISS paperback from Dark Horse. Speaking of KISS, Gene Simmons would be the perfect host for this show if it does get picked up as a mini or maxi series. Think of it, he's a hard core comic fan and he's a comic book charactar. He's been part of Marvel, Image and Dark Horse and he was part of the biggest comic book publicity stunt ever when he and the rest of his band put their own blood in the red ink of their first comic with Marvel. That would be one topic for the show right there. I love your idea VOXMAN, we should try to get that show picked up. We should try sending e-mails to the History chanels' web site and if that plan works it might also be a step toward bringing back BoP. There are somany topics this show could have. Everything from team-ups to TV shows. I'd really like to find out what prompted the Superman vs. Spider-man comic in 1975. They left out stuff like that in the show and that's one of the biggest things the industy has ever done.

[Jesse321]

GL .. yeah its a REALLY REALLY well done book ... I'm actually enjoying JSA just as much as BOP and Legion which really says ALOT for the book.

They are starting a new storyarc soon called Black Regin which from what I here basically puts Black Atom in charge of everything and everyone.

[VOXMAN41]

I've been out of touch with comics since Nightwing #50. My entire collection of comics(trust me I've had a lot)were stolen from my storage shed 2 years ago. I had every Star Trek comic by DC, all first editions of the Dark Knight Returns(the 4 seperate issuses), the entire run of superman starting with the revamped Man Of Steel mini series, up to the Reign of Supermen, all the comics of The Green Hornet series that was out a few years ago(the one with Kato's daughter) and so on. God just listing some of these here is making me depressed all over again. The thefts were never solved. I had so much $$$$$ invested in my collection. Stuff that would cost me $$$$$$double to replace. Been trying to work up the courage to visit a comics store again. But I think I'll check out this JSA series when I get paid on Friday.

[Jesse321]

Vox .. pick up a couple of the Graphic Novel collections rather than trying to get the books outright especially the Obssedian Age (I know I spelled his name wrong) which jsut finished.

[GL2814]

I'll have to check it out. Back to the show though, we've really got to let the history channel know how we feel about it. There was so much stuff left out of the show that they'd have to go back and tell about it. Cross over, super heroes meet real people, team ups and so much more. They could go into detale about each company or just on Jack Kerby. I'm telling you, this show needs to be on every week.

[VOXMAN41]

Great thinking GL. This could be a killer series. Stuff that wasn't covered, more details on the stuff that was. Maybe certin episodes could have a theme. Like Marvel night, DC night, etc. And to go off subject for a sec, thanks for the info Jesse. I'll check that idea out this Friday and let you know how my trip to the comics store went.

[Jesse321]

I don't know that there would be enough material for a contiuning series ... thought if they did other features like artist interviews, how to segments featuring people in the industry I could definately see it lasting a lot longer

[GL2814]

You might be right but, with all the companies and story line they could be able to do it. It's a constantly changing industry wich can open many doors.

[Jesse321]

Exactly ... don't just talk about the charactors and storyline ... but also include the people who created and in some cases recreated them. Include some segments on how to break into the various branches of the industry like writing, penciling, inking, coloring etc. and you have th potencial format for a series.

[GL2814]

Inking, you mean like a tracer?
Sorry, I've seen chasing Amy and Jay and Siolent Bob stirke back too many times.

[Jesse321]

LOL .. sometimes inker do enhance artists pencils .. the names Terry Austin and Klause Janson come to mind.

[GL2814]

You're right, I like the work Derek Fridolfs did on the Dark Horse version of the KISS comics. Stuff like that would be a decent topic for the show though. I'd really like to see the story behind how certain team ups came about though, like the ones I've mentioned before.

[Jesse321]

Another one that would be a good topic for a whole show is the upcoming JLA / Avenger Team Up book which has been 15 year + in the making !! Now there is a story to be told !!

[GL2814]

That's finally coming out? The last I heard was that is would never be released because neither company wanted to go back and try to put it together.

[Jesse321]

No George is allready putting the finishing touches on it the first issue comes out next month .. its been ALL over the Wizard and the Previews the past few months.

GP even wrote it into his contract with Crossgen that if this projects does get off the ground he could take an extended leave from Solus to do it.

[GL2814]

That's cool. Now I have to hassle the comic shop that just opened in my neghborhood.

[Jesse321]

From what I'm seeing its giong to be a must read ... I would think most if not ALL comicbooks stores would carry this book as its been in the making for nearly 20 years now.

[GL2814]

Actually, I checked this place out and the guy only sells what he likes. The worst part is, he charges more than other stores in town for back issues. He also has just an old 7 eleven type of rack for new issues and when he runs out of room there he just stack them on the counter. Plus, I cant aford to spend ten bucks each on back issues of BoP. I was lucky to get JLA at the cover price.

[Jesse321]

He won't be in business for too long at that rate. I'm lucky I have 5 comic shops all within 2 to 3 miles of where I live .. so what I can't get at one I can get at another.

PS ... with maybe the exception of the 1st issue there isn't a back issue of BOP thats worth 10 bucks. Check out Ebay you can get back issues for about a buck a piece most days.

[GL2814]

I'll try that. Here's another one to ponder. I went down to San Diego and found a shop there. They had alot of stuff but, two things about it pissed me off. The first thing was that the BoP back issues were ten bucks there too. The second was that they had no Green Lantern books, action figures or anything else involving GL. That includes Justice League merchandise. I asked the guy at the counter if they had anything and he didn't even know who I was talking about. Here's the catch, they've been around for ten years.

[Jesse321]

Chirst ... what the hell is going on in CA ???

GL man, I'm sorry I don't know what to say ... I would go uber Postal.

[GL2814]

I'm not far away from it myself. Then again San Diego is a surfing town and not many of the people I ran into had very many working brain cells. Fresno's in the middle of a valley that's in the middle of a desert, so we just have the heat to blame for bone heads like that. Infact our mayor was elected because he played Buba on 'In the heat of the night' the TV show so stuff like comic books are too intelectual for alot of the people here. I also think that the Save the Birds campain has something to do with the ten dollar back issues. The shop owners might think if you want it bad enough you'll pay anything.

[Red Mask]

Oy! I've got relatives in San Diego! :fume:

I don't know what's wrong with that comic store. The clerk sounds like this jerk I knew who opened his own comic store in Philly. He doesn't order or buy back issues. Most of his sales comes from the related merchandise he orders.

Going to the Perez's contract, that was like a last minute save. He told DC and Marvel that he had to get the contract before he finished moving out of his old house. Otherwise he would just dedicate his following months on the Crossgen work. And God bless, on the last day of moving, in comes the FedEx truck!:angel: