Floppy Talk - is a new feature I’m adding to the site. Periodically I’m going to write about what’s on the top ‘o my stack of comic reading goodness. This week I thought I’d talk a bit about League of Extraordinary Gentlemen a lame movie and really fun graphic novel by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill. I’ve had the misfortune of seeing the movie before reading the book. In fact I’ve only now just started reading it and I’m really enjoying it. (Note: For my young readers this is not a book for kids because of the adult humor and situations.)

It’s heretical to say but, I have no special affinity or interest in Alan Moore. Sometimes I like his books and sometimes I don’t. This one seems to fire on all cylinders because of its beautiful marriage of text and art. O’Neill’s illustration style seems perfectly suited for the story. It’s a mixture of traditional pen and ink with a cartoonists flare that hits just the right note. It evokes a Victorian style while at the same time being entertaining to modern readers. In terms of the writing I’m a big fan of finding new ways to tell or retell traditional stories so it’s great to see how Moore included all of the different genres into this Victorian spy novel. I even like the tips of the hat it makes to James Bond.

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume 1 - Thumbs Up

Like many “True Believers” out there I’m really enjoying Siege. I just finished reading the second issue by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel. Great stuff, and definitely not for the squeamish (poor, poor Ares). New Avengers and Captain America are what got me reading comics after a 15 year hiatus. Not long after that came Civil War and the the new Thor series where I discovered Coipel. Thus far these issue represent what I love about comics. They are the perfect marriage of art and story. Both working together to create a really fun ride.

Ask yourself this question. When you pick up a comic book are you looking at it for the art or the writer? Of put another way, can you appreciate a good story even though the art is bad? Also, can you enjoy a bad story when the art is good? For me the answer is always art first. No matter how good the writing is I usually can’t make it through an issue if I don’t like the artwork. Also, if the story is bad I just stop reading and enjoy the pretty pictures. That’s probably why I didn’t like Secret Invasion very much, I’ve never warmed to Leinil Francis Yu’s art style.

For me Coipel is one of my favorite Marvel artists. I love how he renders anatomy and facial expressions. He is also a master of movement and action, his characters never feel posed or stiff. I’d love to learn more about his process. I wonder if he uses models or if he’s able to render these figures out of his mind. He’s got an incredible talent if he’s able to do that.

Make Mine Marvel. Nuff Said.

This week I wanted to give a shout-out to Dan Slott and his Mighty Avengers. I had very low expectations for this book. I originally started reading Mighty Avengers because of Bendis’s writing and Frank Cho’s art. When things changed after Secret Invasion I figured I’d lose interest. I was very wrong. This really surprises me because I also had very little interest in the new line up of heroes as well. I attribute my change of heart to Slott’s entertaining writing and to good consistent art. Mighty Avengers #33 has many good examples of both.

In general Slott strikes the perfect balance between adventure and fun. Also, every character is given the opportunity to shine in each issue and their personalities come through. In issue #33 for example, there is a fun exchange between Hercules and Vision. Herc decides to hurl Vision at Adsorbing man. Vision tells him that he’ll compensate for his throw and perfect his aim. Herc replies “Do that and I’ll never forgive you.” A small moment for sure but in a 24 page comic, I’m glad to see these little bits of personality and humor. Another thing Slott does well is use the Avengers as a team. Problems are usually solved and enemies defeated as they use their strengths in concert with one another. I’ve grown tired of the “disassembled” nature of the Avengers and if this is a taste of things to come in the “Heroic Age” count me in.