Pilgrim (by Sebastien Baczkiewicz)

As anyone who reads this blog (yes, thats all two of you) will have noticed, I have a predeliction for graphic novels, and you’d be right in thinking that this blog concerns them, but sometimes something comes along that forces itself into your conciousness enough that you have to give it free reign, and let others know of it’s wonderousness.  Such is PILGRIM.

PILGRIM is the story of one William Palmer, who whilst on the road to Canterbury in 1185, was cursed to walk the Earth from that day to this after unintentionally insulting the King of the Grey Folk, or Faerie himself, by denying the existance of “the Other World”.  He now walks between the worlds of Magic and men, acting as a sort of troubleshooter where the worlds collide.

The Grey Folk are not the tiny, pretty little folk of child lore – oh no.  These are the magical folk of Pan’s kin – proud, haughty, michevious, ruthless and highly magical, who refer to us as “hotbloods” – almost a sub species, whos existance is tolerated, and whom they regard as no more than “sport”.  They value politeness and courtesy above all else – woe betide any who are rude to them – and they have their own drives and ambitions, and it’s when these clash with the world of men that the man they call PILGRIM intervenes – sometimes with great success, sometimes at great cost.  Sort of like a John Constantine for the Fairy world. 

So why am I writing this?  Simply because this show not only needs a wider audience, but it’s one that absolutely craves a TV/Comic adaptation.  The stories are sharp, witty, engrossing and horryfying at the same time.  Palmer is a man, tortured by being unable to die, trying to make sense of it all by making sure that the same fate that befell him doesn’t happen to anyone else, but he is only able to because the curse that he endures has given him much knowledge of the Other World through the centuries.  He longs for death, but knows that if he should die, many more will suffer through the whims and fancies of the Grey Folk.

As these are radio plays, much of the spirit of PLIGRIM comes via wonderful acting – in particular Paul Hilton as Pilgrim, Kate Fleetwood as Mrs. Pleasence, Jamie Foreman as Puck(who listeners may remember from the radio adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), and Anna Wing (Lou Beale from EastEnders no less).  There are of course, many well known actors here, but the forementioned are those who I feel stand out from an excellent cast list.

By the way, yes this program has an essentially British feel – and so it should.  Much is made of the fact that Palmer has been around for almost 900 years – that’s not something that could really translate to another location (such as the reletively young USA).  Also Britain’s mythology is the primary source for the back story, so come on BBC, if you can make excellent shows like Doctor Who, you should be able to do this – you did after all, make Merlin…

PILGRIM is a series of radio plays produced by the BBC (4 * 1 hour long episodes per series, 7 series in all) available on CD and at www.audible.co.uk.  It was on Audible that I listened to Series 1-4, and it’s at the point where I’m starting series 5 that I write this.

Alan Moore’s Necronomicon - Alan Moore,Jacen Burrows and William Christensen

Another Alan Moore book I hear you say?  Can’t you review anything else?

Well, I could, but then I’d miss out on another masterful piece of Lovecraftian madness that just begs to be read.  I do read other authors than Alan Moore (look at some of my other posts like Marshall Law or Planetary), but what can I say?  I’m a huge Lovecraft fan, and so is Moore – therefore, I will read more of Moore…

NECRONOMICON is of course, named after the dreaded tome featured in much of Lovecraft’s own writing, and this book takes much inspiration from these tails, but takes an entirely different spin on things.  The story seems simple – two FBI agents investigate a series of grisly occult murders – but that is misleading, as Moore and Christensen take us down a path that which although it seems familiar by association, ends in an outcome which truly suprises us, yet remains faithfull to the spirit of the Cthulhu Mythos.  As the body count starts to rise, we’re thrown a series of twists and turns that may confuse those unfamiliar Lovecraft’s work,but true fans however, will delight in the misdirected references, clever plot points and the overall feel that the two writers have worked hard to create.

Praise too for artist Jacen Burrows – not many people can pull off Mythos work, but Jacen does a superb job.  Starfish shaped entrails anyone? 

All in all, this is a must have for Lovecraftian scholars.  It won’t be for everyone’s taste, and like much of Moore’s work, it’s PG18 – but it’s a cracking read.

Marshal Law: The Deluxe Edition HC

I owe Kevin O’Neill & Patt Mills an apology.  A long time ago, I quickly glanced over the first issue of “MARSHALL LAW” ,thought it was just a cheap, “JUDGE DREDD” rip off and didn’t give it another look – until today.  With hindsight I can see why I had that opinion, but with older eyes, more worldy experience and patience, comes a new persepctive, so lets re-address the issue…

Imagine a world where a Vietnam-like war was fought not by regular soldiers, but by superhero soldiers, created in the image of that world’s equivilent of Superman.  Once the war is won, what happens to the soldiers?  They can’t go back to regular life, so they come home, become unlawful gangs and go to war with each other.  Add into this mix a city destroying quake and you have murder, mayhem and madness.  Only one man can stop them, and he HATES superheroes – whilst being one himself.  Welcome to the wonderful world of “MARSHALL LAW” …

This limited series debuted in the Eighties, and has a wonderful “punk” feel to it.  At first glance, it’s like a grown up “JUDGE DREDD” but in reality, nothing is further from the truth.  Mills & O’Neill became the first to parody the Supehero genre to the point where the  publishing giants themselves actually took offence!  Others would come along and mess with the superhero norm (such as Planetary), but “MARSHALL LAW” was the most vicious.  In this world, heroes are twisted psychotics, murderers, mentally disturbed or worse.  The parody hits close to home on certain characters, especially DC regulars such as Batman & Superman.  Marvel characters get a complete story to themselves – in a mental institution!  I just love this weird, wacky take on the whole genre, and of course, it was a good preparation for the LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN where O’Neill was concerned…

On a seperate note, I have to say that this work shows off just how much we owe to O’Neill for the world of LOEG.  Alan Moore is renowned for creating detailed worlds, but it’s Kevin O’Neill that gives us it’s visual representation.  With MARSHALL LAW, O’Neill gives the same kind of detail and in-jokes that we see in LOGR, just in a more raw and primitive form.  The colouring can be a bit inconsistant across the stories, but bear in mind most of it is hand coloured using markers, and not digital – when you think of it like that, you have to take your hat off and acknowledge the artistry…

It’s expensive, but it’s a hardback, and printed on top quality paper.  As with most of the books I review here, it’s not for children – it contains VERY adult themes and lots of blood.  i can’t say too much else without giving away the story, but I certainly recommend this to anyone who likes parody – or general bloodbaths and mayhem!

The Planetary Omnibus – Warren Ellis, John Cassaday

It might be me, but I have a strange like for ideas turned upside down on their heads. I especially like it when authors take well known literary characters and ideas and turn them into something that feels fresh, new and exciting. It’s therefore no surprise that many of my favourite graphic novels do just that. We all know that Alan Moore is the master of this (right Dan?), but it doesn’t mean he’s the only one who can weave such a story. There is another, and his name is Warren Ellis. Ellis is probably best known in the comic book world for “Transmetropoliton”, “The Authority” and “Red”, and in 1999 with John Cassaday as artist and Laura DePuy (nee Martin) as colourist he created the “Planetary” series.

“Planetary” gives us the tale of the Planetary Organization, a group intent on discovering the world’s secret history (which mirrors many elements from our own literary, comic and pop culture genres). Planetary’ s primary investigative field team comprises of 3 meta-humans: Jakita Wagner (strong, fast and almost invulnerable), The Drummer (who can detect and manipulate any information stream) and the recently recruited Elijah Snow (who can extract heat / create intense cold). This field team travel the world investigating strange phenomena, such as monsters, aliens and other super humans.

What Ellis does with this premise is give us a world where recognized fictional characters are turned on their heads. Superman as a child molesting genetic mutant? Doc Savage, The Shadow, Tarzan and Fu-Manchu as members of the world’s first justice league? A Marilyn Monroe clone as a radioactive woman with a 50 year half-life? A psycho killer from a fictional universe who comes back from a Quatermass style mission? It’s all here… All these wonderful elements and more are held together by a tight story arc across 27 issues, taking characters from the worlds of DC, Marvel, the silver screen and classic literary fiction. It’s a marvellous tour-de-force of modern storytelling, and John Cassaday’ s art is more than up to the task, giving us characters that are at once individual to this fictional world, yet instantly recognizable as their “our-world” counterparts. Not just characters, but even props get this treatment – I dare you not to recognize Mjolnir for instance! I will also mention Laura DuPey’s mighty colouring skills here – they are exceptional!

“Planetary” was the first comic series that I HAD to own. I came into it at volume 2, proceeded to get volumes 1 and 3, and then built up volume 4 comic by comic as it was published. This is the omnibus edition, which contains the complete “Planetary” saga. I cannot recommend this enough – only Moore’s “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” series is better in my opinion, and this is different enough to stand out on its own.

You’re a muppet if don’t treat yourself to it… J

The Dark Knight Strikes Again: Frank Miller

 

Let’s be honest, Frank Miller is one of the comic book greats. “Batman: Year One”, the “Sin City” series and “The Dark Knight Returns” all prove his mastery of art and storytelling that so personifies his work. So everything that he does is great – right?

Erm….

Well frankly (no pun intended), no. There is the odd clunker in his work, and I’m afraid that I now have to review one of them, and just to add insult to injury it follows probably his best. I refer of course to the sequel to his seminal Batman classic “The Dark Knight Returns”, called “The Dark Knight Strikes Again”, or “DK2”.

I read this straight after I read DK1, an obvious move that had the unfortunate effect of highlighting all of the problems this book displays. Miller’s story is OK, but it lacks depth, and sometimes feels like it began life as a convoluted script device to bring as many DC characters into it as possible. In DK1 there is a sense of the future decaying, and we feel empathy with Bruce Wayne as he sees his city brought low by crime and events, but in DK2 there is no sense of this, or anything else for that matter. In truth the story seems a bit chaotic, probably because of the sheer number of characters that have to be managed by the unwieldy events that ensue. It’s entertaining, but it doesn’t grab you in the same way DK1 does.

That would be forgivable, if the artwork made up for it, but it doesn’t. I usually love Miller’s graphic art style, but here it seems lost and out of place. I think primarily the problem is Lyn Varley’s colouring – as I’ve said before Miller has a very “graphic” kind of style which suits flat colours, but Varley’s 3d gradient style just doesn’t mesh well with it, creating a pseudo psychedelic mush which grates on the visual cortex. I really believe that DC should give this book another colour job – it would improve it no end.

The end result then is an OK story, encased in a multi-coloured garish soup. Sadly, ultimately unsatisfying.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Frank Miller & Klaus Janson.

In the world of graphic novels and comics, there are stories that for their respective characters, don’t just become canon, but completely change how that character is perceived and portrayed by both comic book creators and the general public. Such was the impact of Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns”.
Before this series was published in 1986, DC’s “Batman” was in deep trouble. Despite sterling efforts from the DC creative team at the time, sales were dropping, and talks of cancellation were being circulated. Like many of the DC characters of the time, Batman needed re-energizing and quickly, before the character vanished forever. Frank Miller’s vision of Batman not only gave the character the necessary impetus to survive, but secured Batman’s future, and arguably the future of the entire DC universe for the following decades to come.
Without “The Dark Knights Returns” there would be no Batman films, possibly no DC films or TV at all – yes, it’s THAT important. Frank Miller’s wonderful storytelling is complemented by Klaus Janson’s impressive artwork, which was so good that almost all the modern versions of Batman take something from it.
Miller’s story starts 10 years after Batman’s retirement from crime fighting, and follows Bruce Wayne as he takes up the mantle of the Bat once again to save his city once more from the doom that threatens it. I won’t say any more, as I wouldn’t want to spoil the story for you, but I’ll just say this - there are 3 Batman books that every fan should read. “The Dark Knight Returns” is the first of them.
Do yourself a favour and get a copy. Then sit back, and wallow in its gloriousness.

The Stainless Steel Rat

When i was a teenager, I discovered science fiction. I knew that I liked shows about space like star trek and Doctor Who, but I also liked The Tomorrow People. I thought Star Wars was fantastic, but I'd started watching films like 2001 as well. Without realising it, Science Fiction was worming its way into my life.

In 1978 we were friendly with a young family a few doors down from us. Steve (the father) was a true science fiction fan, and we often had chats about the subject. One day, Steve gave me a suitcase filled with science fiction paperbacks. I'd never really thought about actually reading science fiction, but I thought "why not"? Several books later, and I was hooked. Since then, my tastes have changed a bit, but my love of reading continues, and for that, I have Steve to thank.

One of the books in the case was by a British author called Harry Harrison and concerned a certain crook/con man of the far future who went by the name of "Slippery" Jim diGriz - also known as the Stainless Steel Rat. At the time, there were 4 books in the series, with a 5th on the horizon. I devoured them all, liking Harrison's humorous style.

Not long after I started reading the series, 2000AD had started to serialise the Stainless Steel Rat in comic book form, and this review concerns the collected run of the Stainless Steel Rat from that illustrious publication. Now, serialisations can fall into various traps, the most problematic are the artist's visualisations of characters that until now you've just imagined not meeting your expectations, the other is the distilling of the story into a form suitable for graphic illustration and the butchery that accompanies it. So how you ask, did Gosnell & Ezquerra do?

The answer I'm pleased to say, is that the pair did a very good job indeed of bringing Slippery Jim to life. Firstly, Gosnell's script doesn't stray from Harrison's originals, and the necessary pairing he had to do to bring the stories to the comic format is such that the essential flavour is kept, whilst trimming the stories to a more acceptable length. The star of the show however, is artist and 2000AD stalwort Carlos Ezquerra. The creator of the famous look of Judge Dredd gives us a Stainless Steel Rat whos appearence is based on the inspired choice of actor James Coburn ("Our Man Flint"/"In like Flint", as well as "The Great Escape") and you can almost hear his gutturally charming voice oozing from the pages. Add to this Ezquerra's energetic drawing style and the combination is just marvellous. I have to say that his work on Stainless Steel Rat is probably my favourite, even though he's more normally known for Strontium Dog or Dredd, this really is wonderful stuff.

If there's a downside, it's that two of my favourite Rat stories were never serialised. "The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You" & "The Stainless Steel Rat Saves The World (Again)" both include the Grey Men, bad guys who want to take over the Universe using mind control and who torture their captives (something that couldn't be done in a kids comic). You do get however, "The Stainless Steel Rat", "The Stainless Steel Rat saves the world" and "The Stainless Steel Rat For President", all of which are excellent.

I have to recommend this. If you've never read Harrision before this will get you interested, and if you like Slippery Jim, you won't be disappointed, So waddya waiting for?

DC showcase presents Green Lantern TP vol 5

 

Green Lantern is one of my all time favourite characters - there, I've said it. I don't mind saying it. With the Flash and Batman, GL was one of the characters I grew up with before the British comic book was "Tharged" in the late seventies. I can still remember a comic my Dad bought me. It had Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Black Canary in space with some old guy...

Fast forward to 2016, and whilst perusing Amazon, I came across this title. I guessed very quickly that the comic I remembered from my childhood was part of this collection, so I went and bought it. This collection contains the much recognised partnership between Green Lantern and Green Arrow from the 1970s, brought to us by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams, and which caused such controversy at the time. The politically sensitive nature of the stories, created at a time when superhero stories were notably flagging, were a revelation to an American public that were not used to dealing with the issues raised (such as racism and drugs) directly.

OK, let's be truthful. 1970s American comics are pretty much the same. The stories can be quite pedestrian compared to what the modern reader is used to, and perhaps a touch condescending and politically incorrect. This particular collection is no different. The stories range from OK to poor, but are saved by the artwork, which is always at a high standard. Like the Marvel essentials collection, these are in black and white which really shows of the quality of the artwork, especially the inking.

I don't know if I would recommend these to modern readers. If you expect modern, intricate storylines and lots of character building then you're going to be disappointed, but if this collection has a certain quaint charm. It's not Shakespeare, but then again, it's not Chuckle Brothers either - it sits in between, sort of like old Uncle Wilbur at you sister’s wedding - slightly dotty, reminiscing about the good old days, and still trying to shake his tail feather on the dance floor. It's cringe-worthy in places, but with some little gems tucked away. It's certainly more for fans of GA/GL than non-fans.

Captain Britain: crooked world

As I mentioned in a previous review, in 1976 Marvel attempted to break into the UK market by creating a British character, loosely based on Captain America/Daredevil, and called Captain Britain - who perhaps undeservedly faded into comic book obscurity.  One of the reasons Cap failed to make it in the British market was a brand new sci-fi comic that took Britain by storm - that comic was "2000 AD", and not only did it showcase British talent, but it accurately reflected the mood of Britain at the time (just before the Punk era).  Strips like "Judge Dredd", "Flesh" and "Harlem Heroes" made the American strips look tired, dated and lifeless. 

One of Marvel's responses was to rethink their approach to the British market, so they decided to revisit Captain Britain once more, relaunching him in 1981 using British talent. Out went the "Daredevil" inspired red uniform and Star Scepter, and in came a new look by artist Alan Davis which took a more militaristic approach. David Thorpe was brought in on writing duties, but left just 10 issues in.  Marvel needed a new writer, so they approached a freelance writer known for his work in “2000 AD” - that writer was none other than Alan Moore, destined to be later recognized as one of the most influential graphic novel writers of our age.  "Captain Britain" would be Moore's one and only work with Marvel - no pressure then...  :).  Could it work?

The answer is an emphatic "YES"!  THIS is how Captain Britain should have been from day one.  A quintessentially British comic, full of dark pythonesque humor, pathos, magic and mystery.  Moore's take on the character makes him a darker, slightly flawed but more human hero than before, a man who has known bitter tragedy and despite his enormous power continues to do so - in short, Brian Braddock has grown up.  Alan Davis's artwork contributes a very British feel to the piece, and for some reason, reminds me of some of Terry Gilliam's work.  Sometimes he loses his way but the pace of Moore's writing is such that you never really notice.  When the story was first published the pair only had eight pages per issue to progress the story, something that both were used to from the British industry where this was the norm, rather than the exception.  The result is a story that's very condensed, but moves along quickly.

"Crooked World" is then one of Marvel's masterpieces.  Because of it, Cap went on to bigger and better things (namely "Excalibur", "Knights of Pendragon" and "The Avengers") and other British Marvel characters such as Union Jack and Psylocke got their chance.  It's historically important, it's written by a comic book legend, and it's a bloody good read.  I thoroughly recommend it.

Captain Britain Vol1. Birth Of A Legend

1976 – 11 years old.  I’d just started senior school, and it was a time when “growing up” was all the rage, as well as the Bay City Rollers, French lessons and tennis shoes.  It would not be long before my life would be taken over by the British Comic Movement, but at the time Marvel & DC were the only game in town for a young adolescent.

In the US, Marvel had decided to expand to the UK, and had recently created the Marvel UK publishing house.  As part of the remit, it was decided to create a new superhero just for the British market.  The title would be written and drawn in America, but published in the UK – an almost certain recipe for disaster but one that Marvel US was sure would work.  Sometime later, on the British newsstands appeared the “Young Lion” himself – Captain Britain!

Cap was essentially “Captain America” for the British audience.  Instead of being created by science, CB was created by magic from the hands of the mighty sorcerer Merlin and his daughter Roma.  In true Arthurian style, a young hard-on-his-luck aristocrat called Brian Braddock is given a choice – pull the sword out of the stone, or take an amulet from a second stone.  Brian takes the amulet, transforming him into the superhuman Captain Britain, ready to fight for truth, justice and the American British way!

CB really should have worked, as it had all the right ingredients, but the very nature of its execution damned it from the beginning.    Being drawn by American artists itself was not a problem – hell, even John Buscema drew CB, but being written in America it had the same “feel” as many of Marvel’s publications of the period. Cap had a few of his own good villains to start with, but eventually Marvel US incorporated more of their own characters into the title, including Nick Fury, Captain America and the Red Skull.  Add to that the “Cor Guvner strike a light” school of American pretend British that was prevalent at the time and you can guess the rest.

The thing is it’s not all bad.  The artwork is true 1970’s Marvel (which is not terrible), but the colour work is let down because of poor reproduction – not by the producers of the book, but by the UK printing process of the 1970’s that couldn’t do proper colour registration for love or money (many UK comics suffered from this, 2000 AD being one of the most significant).  Luckily, CB went black And white half way through the initial run.

This volume collects the first half of the American written run of Captain Britain, and it’s a quality book, hard backed, on good quality paper.  The RRP is £25, but if you shop around, you can find it cheaper – I got mine from eBay! 

All in all, it's OK.  It's not Shakespear, but it's OK.  That being said, Captain Britain deserved better, and he eventually got it, when a young writer called Alan Moore showed us how he should have been written – but that as they say, is another story…

By the way, what is with Stan Lee and first/last names that start with the same letter?  And Brian?  Monty Python showed us how that would turn out…  :)

 Captain Britain Vol1.  Birth Of A Legend on Amazon

Welcome!

Welcome to Grandad’s Weird Tales!

What on earth is this blog about?  Well I’ve always loved comics, from the Dandy, The Beano and Whizzer & Chips when I was a nipper to my teenagers love of Marvel, DC and 2000AD.  Whilst brining up my children, I put comics aside as I just didn’t have the time, but as my children got older, I rediscovered my love of comics through them - just as I had followed Green Lantern, so did they…

Cut to the present day.  I have a day job, but by night I’m a cartoonist, and as such, I have a new appreciation for comics, so much so that I’ve started collecting graphic novels.  It’s took me 40 years, but I think that finally I can fully appreciate the fine writing, artwork and energy that make comics a true “art form” – and I’d like to share that, not only with my children and grandchildren, but with you, true believer!

So, every so often, I’m going to write an honest review of a graphic novel / comic book collection that I’ve read.  Each one will be one I’ve paid for with my own hard earned cash – no freebies here!  Many of these will be a joy to write – others may be extremely painful, but please come with me on this journey.  If nothing else, you may find a hidden gem you’ve forgotten about, and would like to rediscover – I certainly have!

Excelsior!