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!