Art of Homage # 43: X-Men # 101/50 (1st Phoenix, 1st Polaris)

(Uncanny) X-Men # 101 is usually the

homaged cover in question that most people

attribute to like images.

And, it is a classic, purely cool

Dave Cockrum cover spotlighting

the introduction of Phoenix.

But I say that image itself is owing in

at least part of its inspiration to the above

work by Jim Steranko, from X-Men # 50

from many years prior!

The composition is varied slightly,

but it's still the prominent debut of a

powerful (X) woman which has the other

characters beneath them in lesser positions!

"That's one HUGE cast you're sporting, there, buddy!"

A smattering of favorite issues and story lines

that had outrageously over sized casts...yet

still managed to handle the story well!

Wonder Woman (3rd series?) # 173-175,

"The Witch and the Warrior"

Phil Jimenez magic with Andy Lanning

and (pictured) Adam Hughes cover.

The JLA/Titans mini-series, "The Technis Imperative"

by Devin Grayson and Phil Jimenez

Young Justice #s 50 and 51,

by Peter David, Todd Nauck.

Avengers # 181

(and the ensuing buildup issues,

# 167, 168, 170-177, "The Korvac Saga" by

David Micheline, Jim Shooter, Bill Mantlo,

George Perez, Sal Buscema, and more!)

"JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice"

original graphic novel by

David S. Goyer, Geoff Johns, Carlos Pacheco

A beautiful rendering of the classic team-up

with characterization and interaction

depicting the teams' personalities and histories.

Guy Gardner, Warrior # 29,

with the grand opening of Warriors bar, featuring

cameos by nearly every DCU member at the time!

Featuring both the gatefold specialty cover

(opening to a Jimenez crowd scene) or

the regular edition featuring the homage cover.

"Project: Super Powers" from Dynamite Comics and Alex Ross

doing a splendid revitalization of a host of Golden Age

characters, including Daredevil and Black Terror.

The beloved "Defenders for a Day" storyline from

the 1970s, from "Defenders" #s 63-65, featuring

a slew of B and C characters of the day!

JSA: OUR WORLDS AT WAR Special # 1, featuring

nearly every legacy character of the time!

Great for Golden Age fans!

Hanna Barbera's "Laff-a-Lympics" featuring

the entire cartoon universe of Hanna-Barbera.

Published by Marvel Comics, Charlton, and more.

"Crisis on Infinite Earths," the standard-bearer and first

kitchen-sink-cast comic of this magnitude. Hated

the end result, but the cameos and art was stupendous.

James Robinson and Paul Smith's splendid

"The Golden Age" mini-series with a great

smaller human interest story, but with a

bunch of Easter eggs and a final scene that

delivers for 'big fight scene' fans.

Waid and Kitson's Silver-Age revamp with the

early days of the retconned Justice League,

featuring all the heroes of the age.

(Albeit conveniently deus-ex-machina'ed

into second banana status for the purpose

of this story.)

The original super-team-up at DC Comics

with a really cool story combining all the characters

previously featured in SHOWCASE!

Story by  Paul Kupperberg and Paul Levitz,

 and art by Joe Staton!

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Good Reads: "Calamity Jack" and "Rapunzel's Revenge"

"Calamity Jack," the original over-sized graphic

novel from  Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale, is

actually the follow-up to "Rapunzel's Revenge"

(same creative team, also recommended.)

It's nice to see the graphic novel format

being used so well, and with stories that

don't talk down to younger readers.

Hopefully, this will foster interest in

 traditional comic books, too.

These books are all-ages desirable,

not merely 'appropriate.'

The books give a unique take on

updating old tales, with a lot of fun

takes and twists on some classic characters.

It's not merely a culturally diverse spin,

but a rich and textured back-story.

Independent Lens: Wonder Women

I guess this special (documentary) was supposed to highlight the impact

of the positive female role model of "Wonder Woman" on real life women

through the ages.

I don't know, since my local PBS affiliate preempted it for a spotlight on

tarpon fishing. Yay.

Anyway, check it out at the link below, which should show you the complete

episode in full! (Link valid through June 14th, 2013!)

Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines

Good Reads: THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan

As is often the case, I found a true

gem while cruising the 'Juvenile' section of the

library (minds out of the gutter, pervs!)

searching for mislabeled and hidden graphic novels

that are all-ages accessible.

Shaun Tan's masterpiece "The Arrival"

is a brilliant work, a groundbreaking piece

of art and story that took 4 years to research

and produce the richly detailed and shaded art.

The best way to approach this work, I believe,

is to know NOTHING about it!

Don't read previews, don't read the synopsis,

don't read the reviews on the back cover.

Just pick this phenomenal book up raw,

and delve into it like the beautiful and

poignant adventure that it is.

This is a life story told with 'nothing' but pictures,

and it's more fluid and involved than most

text-heavy tales could ever hope.

Interpreting, determining, dissecting the imagery

and experiencing the detail for one's self is

a big part of what makes it work. Afterwords,

you can read the inspiration for the work, and then

re-read it with a new level of appreciation.

Like a fine wine, it's best savored and enjoyed

over time.

***

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013

"GET READY...CUZ HERE I COME!"

 

Possibly the greatest idea EVAH!

Check it out and find out what's

hopping in your area!

 

(And if you can't go or don't have shops nearby,

check out deals on e-bay/etc. afterwards to get

the entire array of offered comics!)

Official Website of FCBD 2013: Stores, Info, & more!

 

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