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Still on the Shelf #43 - The Generic Comic Book Originally published January 26th, 2004 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade. Comic book fans are a spoiled lot, I have to say. For some reason, a vast majority of comic fans snub their noses at the indie rack. And if that book is not in COLOR? Forget about it.Sad thing is, this attitude makes them miss out on real gems. Strangers in Paradise, Usagi Yojimbo, Pete, the P.O.ed Postal Worker… all great comics that a core group of comic fans will not even look at because the interior pages have no color, or the publisher is unfamiliar. Have you ever looked into self-publishing? I have, a few times. The cost to produce a full-color comic is tremendous on a small scale, so much so that in order to break even, you would have to have an outrageously expensive cover price. I am by no means rich, and I don’t think there is anyone out there willing to lose that much money printing a comic book just to get it out there. The same must hold true for a smaller publisher. Today, with my limited capital, I would be forced to go the black and white route, just to protect my bottom line. Does that mean my story would be any less good than a comic published by Marvel? Not likely. Marvel is pretty narrow-minded when it comes to what they elect to publish. And if a story comes along that fits the parameters of the sort of thing that might sell, they will print it in a second, no matter how horrid it is. As those of you who are Marvel-ites know, they have a vast audience that will read their books simply because of the publisher on the cover, and give a wide berth to any title that feel just isn’t “big league.” The thing is that all of these smaller press publishers are not just putting out books for the heck of it. There is a great deal of good material out there that the big boys ignore, and that is where the Independent Press market comes in. So what if they can’t afford full-color, glossy books with cardstock covers each issue? The product on the inside is what matters, not its flashy packaging. So why doesn’t your average “Fan Boy” sample books from the small press more often? I, myself, was guilty of this at one point. When I first started reading comics, it was Marvel or bust. Then I started branching out, and reading more DC and Image stuff, and it was just as good if not better. When I started this column near on a year ago, my original intent was to focus on titles from Marvel and DC and the like who did not fare as well as their top sellers. Mostly this was in response to the cancellation of the last Deadpool title, which I was still seething about. Quite naturally, I quickly ran out of titles that I was intimately familiar with, and started branching out to the small press. I felt like I hit a virtual gold mine. One thing that really spoke to me about this week’s title, The Generic Comic Book, was a deathtrap the villains had the hero trapped in. Generic Man was dangling over a pool filled with explosive piranhas, being held up by a large comic shop owner with a big pile of Independent Press books (which he refused to order for his shop) on the other side. The Comic Shop owner was forced to read these titles, and as he tossed them aside in disgust, our hero would drop dangerously closer to his death. Much to the surprise of the villains, the Comic Shop owner actually liked the titles, and began to make a neat pile right next to him of all of the titles he would then order for his shop. The deathtrap failed, and our hero was able to escape. In writing this column over the last several months, I feel just like that hapless shop owner. The more I see what gems are out there outside the mainstream, the more I am willing to sample a title from a lesser-known publisher. By extension, the more motivated I am to bring these titles to your attention through this column. I know there are a great many of you who would prefer read about a Marvel title you are somewhat familiar with, and I will of course continue to do this from time to time, but what is the fun in talking about what you already know about anyway? The Generic Comic Book was a pleasure to read- it was quite witty, and filled with humor that only us comic geeks could hope to understand. So what is it all about? Cast of Characters Generic Man did not come by his name until very late in this title’s run, but you could tell from issue #1 that he couldn’t be called anything else. The main character has what could be described as a fairly successful job at a newspaper’s accounting department, yet he still lives at home with his mother. Though he sends his entire salary to her each month, she gives him a meager $5 per week allowance, which he accepts with all of the criticism that an 8 year old might. Very much a generic version of Superman, Generic Man changes into his symbol-less costume in a phone booth when the need arises to save the universe from the maniacal plans of the villain du jour. Granted, Generic Man does not actually have powers of any kind, yet he still manages to save the day in his own bumbling way. Generic Man’s Mother does little to discourage his homebodiness, though she does disapprove of his desire to be a super hero. She has, however, become even more feared by Generic Man’s rogue’s gallery than our hero himself, Mother has handed out vicious beatings to several villains for crimes no more heinous than disrespect. It could be said that Generic Man would not be the man he is today without the influence of his Mother, and that really is not saying much. Thoughts I would go into greater detail about the characters in this title, but it would really do the book a disservice. Most of the antagonists and supporting cast in this title are part of a joke that would be ruined if I explained them in too much detail. They are pretty easy to understand, however, as they are clearly “generic” portrayals of other well known comic icons and concepts. Thankfully this title is a great deal more than its “generic” gimmick. Sure at first, that is a riot in of itself. The cover is patterned after the generic look that younger readers might not get (the first thing that popped into my head was an old white label can of generic beer), a solid color cover with the words “Comic Book” proudly leaping off the cover is but the first bit of generic humor you will find inside the pages. To Generic Man’s generic hero costume, to the names of places (“The City”), everything is carefully crafted in a manner that would make branding impossible. If that was all there was to this title, it would get boring fast. Thankfully, that is not the case. The real draw of this title is the humor. The Generic Comic Book can be very biting in its approach to some of the more ridiculous aspects of the culture of comic collecting. But it is good-natured in its barbs- so much so that you will be laughing even if it just slammed something that you find yourself doing. In a world where most comics are trying to beef up their readership by targeting new potential comic fans, this book goes after the current crop of comic readers with humor that only they would understand and appreciate. Bottom Line The first run of thirteen issues of The Generic Comic Book has sadly come to an end. So why tell you about it? Frankly, the book is a laugh riot uniquely tailored to the comic fan. It is pretty easy to order, either through your comic shop or online at comicsconspiracy.com, and to top it off (in the true spirit of a generic product), its cover price of $1.95 is just plain impossible to beat. The icing on the cake for me was a guest appearance by my favorite indie comic character, Pete, the P.O.ed Postal Worker in issue #6, but that is a bit of personal bias. There are plans in the works for a new Generic Comic Book mini series sometime this year. Who knows, a spike in sales for this title might accelerate those plans! When it is all said and done, The Generic Comic Book was a real breath of fresh air that I appreciated. Sometimes the comic industry has the feel of taking itself far too seriously, and this title was a welcome break from that. Sure, it may not be an example of literary brilliance, but it is a fine work of comedic gold, something that continues to be sparse in this market. You may have to work a bit to find a copy of this, but it is really easy on the pocketbook, and well worth the effort. Credit where credit is due- The Generic Comic Book is Written by Doug Miers, Penciled by Amilton Santos, Inked by Rob Lean, and Lettered by Michael Thomas. --- Please be on the lookout in upcoming weeks for a major announcement regarding my special "Issue #50 celebration" and contest! |
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