Bad news for Comic Books!

Carl Icahn, whose attempts at buying and then shattering Marvel almost destroyed one of the "big two", is attempting to buy Warner Brothers. According to ICV2:

he reportedly wants to sell all or part of its cable TV and publishing operations.

DC Comics is a part of the Time Warner family, so if his bid is successful he may end up destroying the comics legend. Can you imagine a world without Superman?



Icahn certainly can. Having read the book Comic Book Wars (an article about it is here, I hope that someone like ToyBiz is willing to buy DC if divestiture comes. But mostly I hope that Icahn...can't.

Watching another "Big Boy" fall.

A commonly occuring theme on this blog is the ever shrinking comic book market, but while that market is indeed shrinking it seems to have redefined its role as a loss-leader for movies. As a loss-leader, I imagine that comic books will be able to subsist at current levels for some time. The same cannot be said of the Roleplaying/Collectible Card Game market.

Roleplaying Games (RPGs) and Collectible Card Games (CCGs) are both media which can tie themselves to any given intellectual property, but with rare exception RPGs/CCGs are not the "origin" of the intellectual property. For example, the Dungeons and Dragons RPG is the oldest and most successful Roleplaying Game ever made. Yet, when New Line Cinema, and Joel Silver, decided to make a D&D movie it was a huge disappointment. Why? Frankly because D&D is a product made to "simulate" a type of intellectual property that pre-existed the game, chiefly "heroic fantasy" and "epic fantasy." Pick a fantasy story, from Tolkein to Jordan, and I can use that as the basis for a great D&D campaign (or series of games). But to take a "genre simulator" and try to make a film based on it is a daunting task, in fact I would argue it is too general to be successful. A much better idea would have been to base a movie on a narrative created for the D&D game, like Dragonlance or the Assault on the Slavers modules (Slave Pits of the Undercity, Secrets of the Slavers Stockade, Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords, and In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords), or one could have based the movie on one of an abundance of novels.

In a brief restatement, RPGs and CCGs are dependant on other media for inspiration/market appeal because they are simulations of that media. A great example of this phenomenon are the recent troubles at Decipher. Decipher makes RPGs and CCGs based on a number of intellectual properties. Chiefly their games are (and have been) based on The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Three huge intellectual properties with large fan bases, fan bases with a great deal of crossover appeal into the RPG/CCG world. For some time this lead to great success, but as this article points out that success may be short lived.

In the case of RPGs, as opposed to comic books, the alternate intellectual property is the market lead in. As interest in the Lord of the Rings movies tapers, so tapers interest in products related to it. This is essentially what has happened to Decipher, who went from good sized company to a company on the verge of collapse. The rapid growth/retraction of products based on specific IPs is a danger that Decipher didn't seem to properly take into account, and now they will probably cease to exist.

Dungeons and Dragons, on the other hand, simulates a genre and its fans will keep buying the game and other products from the genre even if the D&D movie was among the worst films ever made. Surprisingly, a sequel to the D&D film awaits. Tragically, like with Deuce Bigelow, some unseen cosmic force will pull me into the theater. Even though I know only doom awaits.

Anniversary of Hiroshima

About a month or so ago, on the syndicated Chris Matthews Show, a discussion was brought up as to whether dropping the bomb on Hiroshima was correct. By now we have heard all the arguments as to why it was needed -- namely to prevent an invasion that would cost two-hundred thousand lives. Also now we have heard the revisionist platform that argues that those numbers are inflated, that Japan was ready to surrender, etc. This, by the way, is the prevailing paradigm that is taught at UCLA.

Baby boomer Matthews reminded us though, that his dad who was stationed at the Pacific during the war, that there was a good chance he would never have been born if the Americans invaded. It was that statement that showed, I think, that Truman made the right decision in dropping the bomb. If Americans really think about it, Truman really did not have much of a choice: lose 250 thousand American lives or drop the bomb.

I think it's best summed up by Truman's biographer* David McCullough: "How could a president, or the others charged with responsibility for the decision, answer to the American people if... after the bloodbath of an invasion of Japan, it became known that a weapon sufficient to end the war had been available by midsummer and was not used?"


Now here's a question for this blog: assuming that bombing Hiroshima was neccessary, what about Nagasaki?

*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4724793.stm

Confessions of a Twenty-something College Student

The purpose of having a blog (or sharing one) is that there will be entries by the contributor(s). Without question, I have not fulfilled my blogging duties by only posting so sparingly. I've decided to change that and consider this the start of many more posts, hopefully.

Next question is what will I be posting about. Now obviously we have a myriad of represented pop-culturists, from Number One's knowledge of comics to Fritz's database of random street pictures. However, I represent a totally different demographic, that of a college student. So I've decided my posts will be about my niche.

Such confessions may include the going-ons of UCLA, heavily concentrated on the throes of student government activities. I am also deeply involved in local city politics, especially ever since my city council voted to build a Wal Mart Supercenter. So expect my posts to gear towards that direction too. Finally, being a son of immigrant parents, I love to discuss that rich and unique experience that many consider to be the foundation of the American dream.

So expect this to be the first of many confessions of a twenty-something college student.

Quick Thought

Hey, something Number One said on Pererro made me think. Something about Pokemon being pro-slavery.

That really bugs me about some talking animals movies... wouldn't it actually be really horrible if animals were sentient and had feelings? How horrifying would poaching be, or just the Circle of Life(Insert Elton John Music)? Anyway, expect a review on Sky High soon... Need some time to work on it.

Death of a Legend

Sometimes we let news pass us by. Sometimes, in pre-emptively mourning the loss of a great like Jerry Robinson (who is very much alive if ignored -- see Comic Con report below), we miss news of the passing of another figure who loomed larger than life in our past.

From the time I first read The Untold Origin of the Justice Society I have been a big fan of three things. The first was the Spectre, the dangerous manifestation of G-d's wrath in the DC Universe. The second was the Justice Society itself. But the third was something, or rather someone, real. That person was Jim Aparo (a great interview with Aparo discussing his early days with Charlton can be read here)famous for his work on the Spectre and on the Batman character. It was my interest in the Spectre that led me to be a fan of Aparo's, as he didn't actually do the art in "Untold Origin."



You can see from this Adventure Comics cover one of the reasons I so loved the Spectre character. He combined the "horror" element of the old EC books, but made even more explicit the moral lessons against crime. One thing Wertham forgot to mention in his critique of "Crime Stories" was that EC comics, and everyone else, usually ended with a twist where the "baddie" always got what he deserved. And in Spectre comics that sometimes meant getting gutted with giant scissors or melting like wax.

While many people, rightly, focus on the importance of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams in the reinterpretation of Batman as the "Darknight Detective" in the early 70's. The reinterpretation that is considered the only "real" way to look at the Batman by most modern readers. Frank Miller's work, among others, was heavily influenced by the O'Neil/Adams work. Some overlook Jim Aparo's role during this era. He was a large part of the bullpen of young talent that was a part of this dynamic revolution of the Batman away from the campy/sci-fi version of the late Silver Age. Aparo, unlike Adams, continued to work on Bat-stories well into the "Modern Age." He drew the famous story where Batman seals the KGBeast in a wall in the sewers of Gotham, leaving him to drown and die (echos of Poe). And when DC Comics decided to kill the second Robin (Jason Todd), it was Aparo whose pencil did the deed.



So here I sit...saying goodbye to another great one.

JIM APARO PASSES AWAY
From Spencer Beck



The Aparo Family has asked me to send this information out to all parties. It is with the deepest regret I have to inform you of the passing of the legendary Jim Aparo early Tuesday Morning, July 19, 2005. Mr. Aparo, who was 72, died from complications relating to a recent illness. All Funeral arrangements will be a private ceremony for Family and Friends of Jim.

Aparo, born in 1932, was primarily self-trained as an artist. After years of working in commercial fashion design in Connecticut, his first break in the comics field was with a comic strip called "Stern Wheeler," written by Ralph Kanna, which was published in 1963 in a Hartford, Connecticut newspaper for less than a year. In 1966, editor Dick Giordano at Charlton Comics hired him as a comic book artist, where his first assignment was a humorous character called "Miss Bikini Luv" in "Go-Go Comics." Over the next few years at Charlton, Aparo drew stories in many genres--Westerns, science fiction, romance, horror, mystery, and suspense.

Aparo was notable for being one of the relatively few artists in mainstream comics at that time to serve as penciler, inker, and letterer for all of his work. These tasks were typically divided between two or more artists.

In the late 1960s, Aparo moved on to National Publications/DC Comics, which is where he came to fame in the Comics Community. Originally starting at DC on the Aquaman title, he then moved on to also work on the Phantom Stranger and DC's horror titles.

In 1971, Aparo worked on his first Issue of Brave & The Bold. Issue 98 featured the Phantom Stranger teaming up with Batman. Beginning with Issue 102 Jim was then the regular artist on the series and provided pencils & inks on almost every issue from 102 until the end of the series with Issue 200. Jim's work on Brave and the Bold was his favorite work of his time at DC as he truly considered the series his "baby." Also during this period Jim did one of the seminal runs on The Spectre, where his realistic style made the Ghostly character truly come to life.

After the end of Brave and the Bold, Aparo was co-creator for Batman & The Outsiders and also worked on the regular Batman and Detective Comics Series throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. most notably doing the Pencils on the "Death in The Family" storyline, which featured a phone-in vote deciding the fate of Robin II, Jason Todd.

Following a run on the regular Green Arrow Series, Aparo moved into semiretirement, contributing an occasional special or cover and doing a few private commissions before he eventually decided to move into full retirement.

He is survived by his wife Julie, his 3 children, his 4 Grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

The Aparo family has asked that in lieu of Flowers or gifts, anyone wishing to honor Jim's legacy make a contribution to any worthy charity, as Jim believed that all charities were worth donating to.

For those wishing to send along their condolences and best wishes to the family, a P.O. Box has been set up for the family to receive cards. The address is:THE APARO FAMILY
P.O. BOX 28
NORWALK, CONNECTICUT 06852 - 0028

Thanks to all who have loved Jim's work and have supported his career.

Spencer R. Beck
THE ARTIST'S CHOICE
http://www.theartistschoice.com

Penguins and Politics?! I don't get it either.

My wife and I went to see, among other movies, March of the Penguins this weekend. The film was a magical documentary about the mating cycle of the emperor penguin and how amazing it is that any are born at all given the harsh Antarctic environment they are conceived in. It was a wonderful movie, but during the film I heard two of the most ridiculous things ever. Not the two most, but two of the most.

First, during a scene in which a Leopard Seal is about to eat a penguin a woman in the audience actually gasped and mumbled that she thought seals were herbivorous. As my wife said, "Seals are the puppies of the sea. What does she think they eat?" I quickly answered, "Kibbles and Bits." The all grain vegan version naturally.

Second, and even more bizarre (from the same woman even) I heard a truly non-sequitur analysis of the film. Maybe the dumbest thing I have heard since Conservative Christian's worried about Teletubbies advancing the "gay agenda." What follows below is a direct quote...emphasis is mine.

An OLDER WOMAN is exiting a dimly lit movie theater after watching a recently released documentary.

OLDER WOMAN
Wow! That really puts things in perspective! You know, I have this friend "x" who has been having trouble with her landlord recently and might have to move soon. I think I will have to send her to watch this movie...NO WONDER REPUBLICANS KEEP WINNING ELECTIONS.

WHAT?! Penguins have an awe inspiringly difficult and dangerous reproductive process and "x" has problems with her landlord and that is why Republicans keep winning elections?

Huh?

Or does she mean that compared to penguins our problems are minor and that is why Americans vote for Republicans?

Or because we don't understand the plight of the penguin that is why Americans vote Republican?

Or is it because we could learn more collective behavior from the penguins and that would get more Americans to vote Democrat? (The collective behavior was really impressive)

Is everything a political allegory for this woman? Hmm...the Red Sox won last year, guess that means a Republican victory!

I just don't get it.

Go see March of the Penguins you will have an enjoyable time and maybe you can tell me what Penguins have to do with Politics.