Still on the Shelf #14 – Bargain Bin Love Part 2
One great thing about the Bargain Bin is the opportunity to check out great creators and popular comics from the past. Just because someone who is now a big name in the industry’s name is attached to a title from the past does not necessarily mean that the book will be worth anything. Everyone starts somewhere, and there is no reason that the stories or art in these “worthless” books are any worse than the valuable stories.
Same goes for series in general. Many “failed” books have a devoted following, and whether you agree or not with those fans’ assessment, there must be something about those books that attracted such loyal fans. Again, books like Slingers are a perfect example. There is quite a fanbase for Slingers who frequent Comixtreme. If you come across some copies of Slingers in the Bargain Bin, why not drop some change and see what the big deal is?
PITT #1-4 – Image, 1993 $.25 each
I have come across a couple of PITT fans in the last ten years. I never personally picked up any of PITT, and I have to admit that I had no real interest in picking up the title. I am always a little suspicious when something is liked so well by a relatively small group of fans, and I hear next to nothing at all negative from the rest of the general fanbase. The Bargain Bin, in this case, was a blessing, allowing me to see what the deal was at almost no cost.
Issues 1-4 contained a nice self-contained story arc. I will not go into any detail about the story, but it was certainly not bad. I can understand PITT’s draw, as unstoppable, vicious monsters are often easy to like. The story got a little cheesy in my opinion once or twice, but on the whole it was a decent read. For $1, I cannot really complain.
Spider-man 15-16 – Marvel, 1991 – $.25 each
Issue 15, by Erik Larsen, guest stars Beast, who Spider-man seeks out for a little heart-to-heart and professional advice. Peter and Mary Jane are contemplating having a baby, and the issue of their future child being a mutant, or having serious complications due to Peter’s condition weighs heavily on his mind. A neat little story, with a couple of fights thrown in to break up the serious tone. Peter and MJ, of course, decide against having a baby at this time. After reading this issue, I can definitly say that I like JMS’s portrayal of MJ, but that is a minor gripe.
Issue 16, written by Tom McFarlane, is the first of a two-part story that concludes in X-Force #4. X-Force and Spider-man take on the Juggernaut in a pretty destructive fight around the World Trade Center in New York. The issue ends mid-fight with Juggy completely leveling one of the towers. I am sure it would make a lot more sense with the surrounding X-Force issues to flush out the story, but this issue was a good slugfest. The image of X-Force pushing a temporarily blinded Juggernaut over a crouched down Spider-man was good for a chuckle.
In all, not a bad pair of reads by a pair of now-Image luminaries for only $.50.
Bottom Line
The Bargain Bin is a great resource for comic fans. Whether you are looking for a good laugh from some of the more ridiculous titles to come out in the past, or if you want quality stories and great examples of past works from some of today’s finest, the Bargain Bin has something for you.
All of us enjoy comics- that is why we are here. Often times, it is really easy to become jaded, and focus just a bit too much on the potential value of an issue and every possible flaw in the art and the story. Bargain Bin comics allow all of us the chance to take a step back from that, and enjoy a book for no other reason than the love of comics, and not worry about denting the spine.
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June 17, 2003
Still on the Shelf #13 – Bargain Bin Love Part 1
In every comic store, there is a long box, or a bin, where comics are stuffed. Hell, they may not even be granted the courtesy of a box in some of the seedier stores- they could be strewn across the floor, used as a door-stop, or scattered on a table. You would be lucky to find them in bags and boards. But from anywhere between 2 bits and a half-dollar a piece, these unloved books can be yours. Welcome to the Bargain Bin.
Mind you, whether you think your local comic-shop owner is a swarmy retard, or if you think highly of him; they all know their trade. You know you are not going to come across a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 accidentally marked at $.25. Nor are you going to stumble upon anything that has the potential to be valuable. Even if the title is completely worthless, if your comic merchant feels that he can convince some sorry sap that it will be worth something, it will not be in that lonely box. No, books in the bargain bins are the untouchables of the comic hierarchy.
So why give them a look? Quite frankly, it is entertaining. In a cruel way, these stories, which some writer thought was great, and some publisher thought highly enough to print, are nothing more than hysterical. Not in a highly scientific way, of course, but in that completely unintentional way that is often times even more satisfying.
The bargain bin is the ultimate in “Still on the Shelf.” These books are very much priced to move, and still they often stay right there. So I took it as my duty to pillage a few of these lonely boxes and let you know all about some of the gems I found.
Ebony Warrior #1 – Ania Press, 1993 $.50
As near as I can tell, Ania’s mission statement was to bring Malcolm X’s philosophy to comics. This book had me rolling from the very beginning, where we are treated to a conversation between two affluent black women having a conversation almost completely in ghetto Ebonics. I guess Ania’s philosophy was that if you are a highly successful black person and you STILL speak ghetto-slang, then you have it all.
Ebony Warrior #1 made very little sense story-wise, and seemed to me to be nothing more than a lecture about how blacks who get an education and leave the “hood” are nothing but sell-outs. Our hero here is a highly accomplished engineering graduate (From Tuskegee University, of course) who turned down several lucrative offers from various Fortune 500 companies to go and work with his father in a bookstore back in “the old neighborhood.” Where, of course, he decides to fight the menace of “black on black” crime as the “Ebony Warrior.” I’ll bet none of you can guess what race the “head crime-boss” is in this book!
Call me crazy, but I think there are better ways to include a more fair representation of black heroes in comics. The comic audience in general thought so too, and this book ended with issue #2.
Batman: Gotham Nights #1 (of 4) – DC, 1992 – $.59
Nothing of any major “historical” importance comes of this mini (to my knowledge), but it apparently was good enough to merit a sequel a few years later. I think it is safe to say that this title is not marked to increase in value anytime soon, though I did find one website with the gall to charge $6.00 per issue. Here is a title I can honestly say if you run across it, buy it. It is a very enjoyable read.
Avengers Spotlight #23 – Marvel, 1989 – $.25
The next short story is a little ditty about Vision (I had no idea Vision was ever white, but then again, I never followed the Avengers all that closely) who encounters a trio of bank robbers who call themselves Smog Alert. See, they are covered entirely by protective gear, and they have these guns that spew out smog. Get it? Smog Alert?
Apparently this is one of the first issues with a newly constructed Vision, as no one else recognizes him “white” either. Vision makes a little jaunt over to the Tonight Show studios after his encounter with Smog Alert, to reintroduce himself to the people. Vision drops in on Johnny Carson, and his guests Charo and Pee Wee Herman to tell the world he is back. He even tells Johnny that he will forgo dropping in on Arsenio, if it will “facilitate the prompt airing of this program.” Ah, Vision, you kidder you.
This issue hams it up with some of the cheesiest villains around, and a Vision who is more like an early “Data” from Star Trek: The Next Generation than I think they would care to admit. Not much in the way of quality storytelling, but definitely good for a chuckle. Ah, how far Marvel has come in 14 years…
Bottom Line
The Bargain Bin is hit or miss, or course, but for that price, who is complaining? For a mere $1.34, I got the first part of a great story, a corny chuckler, and a stink bomb so bad it was funny. And that is money well spent.
If anything, it is a good insight into comic history. It does take more than a great story to stand the test of time, and things as they are today, it is more than likely that copies of Slingers, Mutant X, and a good chunk of the Marvel Icons- minis will turn up in the Bargain Bins 10 years from now. Along with many other books we think are cutting edge today.
As many of you know by now, I am big on good comics with little or no value as collectibles. Bargain Bin books may not all be classics, but there are a great deal that are worth the read to be found in there. And you can eat a big greasy cheeseburger while reading them too. And that is happiness.
So what about all of you. Any “Bargain Bin” stories?
Check back next week for a few more Bargain Bin gems, and back in 2 weeks for a return to a more “regular” Still on the Shelf.
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June 10, 2003
Still on the Shelf #12 – Strangers in Paradise
I face a problem that many men who like comic books in this day and age face- and that is a girlfriend who utterly detests them. Oh she looks at it as nothing more than an idiosyncrasy of mine, but she never misses an opportunity to tell me just how much time and money I waste on them.
Imagine my surprise to hear her admit that she has, indeed, read and enjoyed a comic book in the past- Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise. I had heard of the title, but knew next to nothing about it. However, I, like any deeply in love comic book geek would do, immediately went out and added Strangers in Paradise to my monthly pull list for her to read. In the process, I grew to enjoy it for myself.
The Story So Far
Strangers in Paradise is essentially a love story revolving around two women, Katina “Katchoo” Choovanski, and Francine Peters. Katchoo and Francine are two very close friends who have an obvious love for one another. However, as close as they have come time and time again to breaking that intimacy barrier, it always seems to fall apart and cause more strain on their friendship than it is worth.
The core relationship story in Strangers in Paradise is highly complex. Francine can best be described as “frumpy,” your average woman. She battles an on-again-off-again weight problem and a real insecurity problem not only with her self, but also in her relationships. She is predominantly straight- which is one of the main obstacles preventing her from growing any closer to Katchoo. Whenever she reached a point where she is willing to cast all doubt to the wind with regard to Katchoo, something happens to gum up the works, and send her spiraling right back into the abyss of uncertainty.
Katchoo, on the other hand, is very much the opposite. Her sexuality is ambiguous to say the least, but it is clear that she has a real preference for women, and an almost brutal hatred of men. One of the ways Moore manifests this is through her intermittent relationship with David Qin. David is a shy, but persistent man who became fascinated with Katchoo in the very first issue, and has done everything possible to insinuate himself in her life. He remained stubborn long enough to win a grudging admiration and possibly love from the bitter Katchoo. He has since moved on, but that lingering relationship resurfaces from time to time in Strangers to add a little tension to the ongoing story.
Katchoo has something of a shady past, which adds a bit of spice to what must seem to be a drawn-out love story. She at one time worked for one Darcy Parker, one of the leaders of a powerful crime syndicate. Katchoo was one of “Parker’s Girls,” who were one part high-priced prostitute, one part brutal assassin. She has since left that world, and now struggles as an artist. As you might imagine, such a life is difficult to abandon, and quite frequently it comes back to haunt her, in the form of detectives in ongoing investigations, assassins out to target her, or old comrades attempting to bring her back into the fold.
Thoughts
Moore does an excellent job blending the outlandish nature of Katchoo’s past into an all too realistic story about the trials of everyday love. One might wonder why a comic centered on such a mundane and potentially sappy subject could last for ten years. Reading a few issues for yourself explains everything. In some way, you can relate.
Unlike your run-of-the-mill Hollywood romance stories, there is hardly ever a happy ending. Moore quite effectively portrays such a wide range of romantic disasters that it is impossible for you to avoid coming across something that you can relate to. Just as in real life, cheating spouses, fear of commitment, jealousy, nervousness around someone you are attracted to, denial of love, aching memories of loves past, self-doubt, and the constant interference of your own life in your love-affairs: these, and many more are common themes in Strangers in Paradise. At least once you will swear he was writing about something that happened to you.
Terry Moore also draws this comic, and his style fits perfectly with the story. The art is in black and white, and while it is not the hyper-detailed work you find in most mainstream comics of today, there can be no denying his talent. Even without all of the bells and whistles, his attention to specific and important details are impossible to miss. Emotions are conveyed clearly, with a very subtle touch. The characters also evolve naturally, be it Francine’s weight-gain (or loss, depending on the issue), or periods of stress or frustration that take their toll on the characters, they always look as they should for what they are going through. Moreover, it is not distracting. The art is simply a part of the story, so much so that when it is not needed, it is not there. Moore shows no hesitancy in switching to prose when the story demands it, and it is not uncommon to turn the page and find several text-only pages following. I admire the fact that Moore recognizes that some things are better left told than drawn.
Bottom Line
Strangers in Paradise is the kind of book that those of us who grew up reading comics should read. It has attained by nature the very level of storytelling maturity and seriousness that many mainstream comics can only pretend. While it is admirable that many of today’s comics are trying to incorporate some serious stories, instead of good guys vs. bad guys action, Strangers is the real deal. Anyone who reads this book can tell you just how far off the mainstream is from this goal. Pick your favorite X-men couple, and recall their story. There, you are told they are in love. In Strangers in Paradise, not only are you told Francine and Katchoo are in love, you feel it. And that difference is what makes this comic such an incredible read.
There are some resources out there to familiarize yourself with the Strangers in Paradise world (the official website is interesting), but I really recommend staying away from them at first. Strangers is the sort of story you just have to dive into, and seek answers to your questions by simply reading more.
One of the best things about Strangers in Paradise is that each and every issue is made available in trade paperback form as soon as it makes sense to release a new one. Issue 58 is due out in stores soon, and already Issue 54 is available in the 12th Strangers in Paradise trade. All of them are often readily available at your local comic store, and are relatively easy to order online through the Strangers in Paradise website. It is best to start from the beginning by picking up the first Strangers in Paradise trade, and reading up from there. They also make great gifts for those “comic hating girlfriends.” I promise you, get the first trade paperback for your girlfriend and she will be hooked. She may not go ga-ga over Batman, but she will at least gain a little respect for comics in general.
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June 3, 2003
Still on the Shelf #11 – Harley Quinn
Overview
As many of you know, Harley Quinn got her start in the Warner Brothers Batman Animated Series. There she became popular enough to be introduced into the normal comic continuum (with some minor changes) in the 1999 Batman:Harley Quinn one-shot. From there she launched into her own series, where she soon split with the Joker, and struck out on her own.
The Story So Far
Fast-forward to issue #26, to where A.J. Lieberman took up the writer’s mantle. The series took a decidedly darker and more serious turn here. Lieberman’s work on Harley Quinn has earned him much acclaim, including issue #30 being named Wizard’s Book of the Month.
Harley has taken up the alter ego of Jessica Seaborn, and actually resumed practice as a psychiatrist, only moonlighting as Harley Quinn. She takes “freelance” work as a professional criminal (a decidedly different turn for Quinn), and even ponders quitting the “game” and returning to normal life. Lieberman even flirts with a potential romance between Harley and a police detective by the name of Bishop, who ironically is interested in Jessica Seaborn, while he has sworn vengeance against Harley, who he believes killed his partner. Added to the mix is a resurfaced Joker, who has decided to once again involve himself in Harley’s life.
Issue #32 begins a new arc in the series, The Year of the Rat. Harley decides to finally go on a date with Bishop, but the Joker horns in. Befuddled as to why Harley would seriously entertain dating a cop, he makes it his business to figure out what angle Harley is running with Bishop. With Bishop in a restaurant, and Joker setting up his own “date” on the roof, Harley bounces back and forth, in an effort to keep Joker from ruining a potential love interest outside of the “cape and cowl” world. Or so we think.
The issue ends with the Joker coming to the conclusion that Harley is not interested in the cop at all, rather, she is interested in the 80 million dollars that were recovered in a drug bust lead by Bishop (as reported at the beginning of the issue).
Thoughts
First off, it is a decent story. While I found Lieberman’s first arc, Vengeance Unlimited, to be overly cumbersome and way too complex (a flashback towards the beginning of issue 26 takes four issues to resolve! Talk about confusing!), this current arc has the makings of an interesting drama. Knowing Harley’s predisposition for forgiving the Joker’s every sin, her seeming dismissal of Bishop’s advances in earlier issues, and the timing of the drug bust does make you wonder if she is indeed only interested in a big score.
However, while the story is decent, the characters are all wrong. Lieberman’s portrayal of the Joker and Harley are very much skewed- to put it bluntly, they are completely sane. Long gone is the bouncy Harley who is unconcerned with crime for cash, who had a penchant for “unusual” matchmaking and a flair for the dramatic. Gone are the pet Hyenas and the gag weapons, and with them the humor. This Harley is stealthy and calculating, and all too cerebral for my tastes. Lieberman’s portrayal of the Joker is similar, instead of a maniacal lunatic with a thirst for a good laugh at the expense of the innocent; we get a crime boss who likes to dress up like a clown. Among the core components of both of these characters is their utter insanity, and Lieberman has completely obliterated any trace of that. This Harley uttering “Hey Puddin’,” in any sense, to this Joker just seems wrong.
Lieberman’s carefree tampering with Harley’s character does not stop there. Her gag-weapons have been replaced by throwing knives. She also now must take regular doses of the potion Poison Ivy gave her to enhance herself or she dies (making her a virtual drug addict). She has also gained some new powers, including a seriously heightened ability to heal (and here I thought only her immune system was enhanced), and the all-to convenient talent of breathing underwater. Also, quite liberally, he has virtually re-written Harley’s origin at Arkham, making me wonder if he had even read the one-shot issue where she made her debut.
The art since Lieberman has taken over has been great- dark and gritty. While this, too, is very different fare for Harley Quinn, it definitely fits well with Lieberman’s stories. Beyond that, I believe that “dark and gritty” fits perfectly well in a story where the villain is the main character. So no matter which Harley I am reading about, the art in these recent issues has given me nothing to complain about. Mike Huddleston and Troy Nixey, who handled the art for the first four issues of Lieberman’s run, are set to return with issue #33. While I had no problems with the work of Fox and Yeowell, who filled in on the two following issues respectively, I think it will be good for the title to have what is amounting to the “regular” art team back on the title. We all like our comic characters drawn consistently, after all!
Bottom Line
Personally, I liked the old Harley better. Lieberman took a very unique character and turned her into a cliché female mercenary. I miss her irrational thought processes and seemingly random schemes that had become such am intricate part of this title. Somehow, I cannot see this version of Harley Quinn developing a romantic (though sadistic to be sure) interest in Jimmy Olsen. Sadly, it was just that sort of zaniness that was so appealing about Harley Quinn before Lieberman took over.
I am completely on the fence regarding Harley Quinn. On one hand, I have read each issue of Harley Quinn, and have developed a loyalty towards the title. On the other hand, I find the changes to be very unsettling. While Lieberman has demonstrated that he can write a compelling story, his mishandling of Harley’s character has lead me several times to questioning if I should continue picking up this book. At this point, only time will tell.
Issue #33 is due out tomorrow, June 4th. If you are a new reader to Harley Quinn, and would like to give it a chance, I recommend picking up a copy of issue #32 at the very least. As tight as it is on the wallet, going all the way back to issue #26 might not be a bad idea either. Many of the plot points in the current arc are holdovers from the Vengeance Unlimited arc, and reading that should get you up to speed on those, as well as allowing you to follow the introduction of Doc and Bishop, who have become integral characters in this title.
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