Comic-Conned!

It's funny... I lived in San Diego for a short time, so I understand how appealing its climate and geography might be. What has surprised me is how popular its yearly Comic-Con has become, making the Southern California city a yearly destination for more than just its beautiful coastline. 

Yikes! I'm back in the "comics game?" With "friend" at
The Albany Comic Con, October 2012. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe.

The San Diego Comic-Con was founded in 1970 (same year I was born). When I lived in the city (early 90s), I don't remember as big a fuss being made about it as there is now. How times have changed... this past week the media has been bombarded with coverage about the Con, including a cover story in Entertainment Weekly which included details about the upcoming Spider-Man film (more on that in a bit). Over 125,000 fans were expected to descend on the convention this weekend--a number that apparently keeps growing each year. 

I remember a time when it was somewhat embarrassing to admit you liked comic books. Now it seems there is no end to the movies and media being influenced by them. The San Diego Comic-Con celebrates that... in all its geeky glory. Granted, SDCC is more than just comics, with equal attention being paid to science fiction movies and other fantasy-type genres... but as artist Alex Ross told me last fall during my video interview with him, there is something vindicating about the fact that this overall medium has finally gained mainstream respect.

I've come around as well. Can you blame me? I told a friend recently that I think comics were my first entry into art appreciation. The visual storytelling definitely had an influence (even more than film), and I sometimes think about revisiting my old comic book creating days (cheaper than film, no doubt).

The fact is that there is some really smart work being published right now. Here are some of the things that have been turning my head:

Hawkeye 

From the infamous "Pizza Dog" issue
of Hawkeye #11. Beautiful artwork
by the Eisner Award-winning David Aja.
© David Aja for Marvel and Subs.

Hot on the heels of last year's Avengers film, Marvel Comics kicked off a new series focusing on the off-duty events of the team's resident archer, Hawkeye. I don't think this character ever really got a lot of respect, but I always dug him (especially in the 1980s). With this book, writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja have consistently produced a very different kind of superhero comic, both thematically and graphically... and it has been noticed by the public. I take pleasure in knowing that I have been along from the beginning of this series, and have first printings of each of the books. Really, they are that special... Aja's artwork is just so stunning. He worked as an illustrator and comes from a Spanish background--maybe that is the difference. I find myself so excited when I see his work, and the team has done some very creative stories, including a book where Hawkeye's dog is the main character. Great graphic design... a lot of humor... and refreshing that you don't need to follow the rest of the Marvel books to understand the plot. I hope they keep at it, because this book is a "bullseye" success.

Optic Nerve

For much the same reason I love Aja's art, I also dig cartoonist Adrian Tomine. I initially discovered his work through The New Yorker (his November 8, 2004 cover, "Missed Connections," has long been a favorite).

Photo of Adrian Tomine at WCMA. ©Jeremy Clowe.
The classic "Missed Connections" by Adrian Tomine.
©Adrian Tomine for The New Yorker. All rights reserved.

I have only recently started looking at his graphic novel work, including the long-running Optic Nerve, which contains very personal, off-beat, tales... no superheroes, mainly outsiders trying to find their way in the world. It's an introverted style, and the artwork has a sharp, design-like quality that fits perfectly. This past spring Tomine gave a talk at Williamstown College Museum of Art, and I had the chance to drive out and meet the artist. He produced a recent book called Tales of an Impending Marriage which I found amusing (his wife is also named Sarah).

FF / Batman '66

Cover of FF #5, artwork by Mike Allred.
©Mike Allred for Marvel and Subs. 

Another Marvel comic I have been getting into is FF. This is another book by writer Matt Fraction, and features a similar laid-back jokey kind of style. The book follows the exploits of a team of superheroes chosen to fill in for The Fantastic Four while they were on an intergalactic mission. Ant-Man, Ms. Thing, Medusa, and She-Hulk are called on to look after The Future Foundation, a group of kids with superpowers. Trust me, it's better than it sounds... and the artwork is by a comic book creator, whose work I have enjoyed for a long time. MIke Allred was the creator of a book called Mad Man, one of the few comics I enjoyed picking up in the 90s; he has a sort of retro style that is a lot of fun to look at... very graphic (sense a trend?). In the FF, there are many references to Jack Kirby, one of the most influential comic artists ever... and co-creator of The Fantastic Four. I think what I enjoy about these books is that bring back some of that good-spirited, colorful wonder that initially attracted me to comics in the first place... comics had gotten so grim and homogenized in recent years, that it is refreshing to take some inspiration from the old school.

Interior art from Batman 66 #1. Artwork by
Jonathan Case. ©Jonathan Case for DC Comics.

Speaking of which, there is a really fun DC Comic that was just released this past week called Batman '66 (with cover by Mike Allred!). The book is written and illustrated in the style of the old Batman TV show from the 1960s. I love the concept, and so far the art and story is a lot of fun... artist Jonathan Case draws the characters to look exactly like Adam West, Frank Gorshin, et al... and I love his very dynamic compositions. Writer Jeff Parker has written dialogue that you feel could have been plucked from that old series, yet it somehow manages to avoid some of the "campiness" of the TV show... not in a "nod and wink" sort of way, but in just presenting the material very straight-forward. You know the universe, and it just seems to exist in a natural way here. Fun so far...

Batwoman

Cover art for Batwoman #20 by
J.H. Williams. ©J.H. Williams
for DC Comics.

Holy Bat-a-rang! Another book I recently discovered is Batwoman by DC Comics. Ok, forget all I have said about my tastes up to this point... this comic book has a painterly, surreal quality to it, with story and art themes bordering on the mystery and horror genres. Credit must go to J.H. Williams, who writes and illustrates, telling the story of Katherine Kane, a wealthy heiress who was inspired by Batman to fight crime. The character has apparently been around for some time, but this book reads like a completely new creation. 

Rachel Rising

Sarah has really been getting into artist Terry Moore's work-- he has a new book called Rachel Rising, which I haven't read, but is apparently another horror-based book. The artwork looks great (detailed pen and ink, graphic), and I have been familiar with Moore's work in the past... accessible characters and art. He used to create a series called Strangers in Paradise, followed by Echo, and I actually interviewed him back in 2007 during the time of Norman Rockwell Museum's LitGraphic exhibition, which he was featured in. I need to post some of that interview, and finally read his new books...

Rachel Rising print by Terry Moore. ©Terry Moore Art.

Spidey?...

Interior art from Avenging Spider-Man #22.
Artwork by David Lopez.
©David Lopez for Marvel and Subs.

Eh, what have I gotten myself into with this blog... I need to pack it up for tonight. But I wanted to express a little of my newfound excitement about comic books lately. 

But what about Spider-Man? Yeah, he's always been my favorite. I'm not sure I have time to get into the movie that I alluded to at the beginning (interesting story there), but I'll do so in a future blog.

Regarding the comics, I'm not sure what they're doing with the character right now... Peter Parker is "dead," replaced in mind by his old foe Doctor Octopus who took over his body (long story). That feels sacrilege, but certainly offbeat. This past week I picked up one of the Spidey books (Avenging Spider-Man #22), because the artwork looked interesting. David Lopez has a nice, clean, dynamic style... similar to what I have been talking about before. Incidentally, like David Aja he is Spanish born... maybe there is something to this. The artists I find myself drawn to seem to be more international than I have previously experienced in the comic book world. Anyway, writer Christopher Yost kept an interesting story, that finds a more "aggressive" Spidey than we are used to. I'm not sure I have the patience to continue with the books and current story line, but there is another book due from Lopez, so I'll probably check that out. Would be interested to see his future work on the webslinger...

Ok, that's enough for tonight. But as you can see, my sense sense (or inspiration) is tingling... stay tuned.

Sharing The Treasure Chest

I have been busy at work preparing for a new exhibition that is opening up next Saturday, June 9, at Norman Rockwell Museum. Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered looks at the work of an artist who is frequently referred to as the "grandfather of American illustration." Howard Pyle (1853-1911) was one of the most popular artists of his day, creating widely circulated images of pirates, knights, historical figures and fairy tales for popular American publications. His work was admired by such creative types as Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Twain, and Norman Rockwell, and has had a lasting impact on our visual culture (Pirates of the Caribbean, anyone?).

I think this exhibition, curated by the Delaware Art Museum, is going to be a good one--sort of a summer blockbuster, if you will--the artwork looks stunning:

"An Attack on a Galleon," Howard Pyle,
1905. Oil on canvas, 29 1/2" x 19 1/2"
Delaware Art Museum,
Museum Purchase, 1912

"The Mermaid," Howard Pyle, 1910.
Oil on canvas, 57 7/8" x 40 1/8"
Gift of the children of Howard Pyle
in memory of their mother, Anne Poole Pyle, 1940

"The Buccaneer Was a Picturesque Fellow,"
Howard Pyle, 1905. Oil on canvas, 30 1/2" x
19 1/2". Delaware Art Museum,
Museum Purchase, 1912.

Eat your heart out, Captain Jack Sparrow... Pyle also served as a teacher for many talented illustrators whose careers took off during the early 20th century. N.C. Wyeth, Jessie Willcox Smith, and one of my favorites, Maxfield Parrish (I can see the influence in Parrish's highly dramatic and detailed paintings). 

So I'm in the process of setting up press interviews and trying to spread the word about the exhibition. If that weren't enough, the Museum will be holding a special pirate-themed dance party during the opening, as well as a Thursday night lecture series during the summer, that looks at the artist's influence. So I'm busy trying to come up with catchy slogans... "Set your sights on adventure this summer..." "Shake Your Pirate Booty"... not sure if "Pirate Bootylicious exhibition" is going too far... but this should be a good one.

Related Links:

Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered

It's The Word, Love

It was a gorgeous spring day out today... but I was stuck inside by my computer. That can mean only one thing: yup... I have been busy creating visuals for The Spoken Word Almanac Project again. 

Actually, I have budgeted my time fairly well this go-round. I have visuals for a good number of poems already gathered, so it should be an easy transition and completion in time for the New York City-based mid-year show next month. So yeah, while the sun was shining, and birds were chirping, I was busy watching footage of Rush Limbaugh insulting a college student, and Mitt Romney declaring his indifference to poor people... to make poetry out of these dissonant topics will be no small feat. 

Google is my best friend when I am working on these shows. Basically I brainstorm possible visual ideas by combing through the Google Images database, and video elements through YouTube... it is hilarious what I have come up with at times (try it, any topic)! Other times I stumble upon something that is quite moving, thought-provoking or artistically done, like this video clip that was created to support the recent student protests over tuition hikes in Montreal, Quebec, and proposed law enforcement required before they take place:




Now that's what I call an effective protest.


After I have collected a number of suitable images for SWAP, I usually edit the works together in Final Cut, and then convert each individual clip into .mov files that we add a playlist that is run during the live show. I have been trying to get more abstract with my visuals, but for this show I am under a bit of a time constraint... so it is mostly straightforward visual representation. That doesn't mean that I am any less thoughtful in my construction of the clips, and still utilize my artistic insight in terms of the rhythm of the sequenced images, and effective storytelling structure that hopefully complements the spoken word.

For the Romney poem, I thought I had the killer ending visual... I had seen it going around: a photo of the Republican Presidential candidate seemingly staging a group of kids in t-shirts to spell out his name, but they mixed up the letters to read M-O-N-E-Y! 

However after trying to find the source of the actual image, I now realize it was actually Photoshopped. It's still funny, but I think I'll hold off on using it... there are enough strange but true photos out there that are funny enough. Speaking of the real Mitt, I once "met" the former Governor of Massachusetts when he did a whirlwind tour of the Museum. It was strange... felt almost like a choreographed dance routine in and out the door... I think it was all over in about ten minutes.

By this evening, I was ready to dance myself. After a day of staring at the computer screen, I was happy to get out into the open air of the Hudson Valley countryside. Everything smells so fresh and looks so lush... a great time of year. From there, Sarah and I drove on to the Berkshires to take in a performance by the dance group Noche Flamenca. It was a dramatic performance, with live Spanish guitar and often spirited tap/flamenco dance routines. I only wish they had more colorful costuming to match the mood outdoors... 

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and we have quite a bit to do. One thing to add to our list: I would like to look into practicing some swing and/or ballroom dance again... it has been awhile, but it would be great to brush up on our moves in time for the wedding. Last night we went over some of the songs we are thinking about for the reception. Like everything, it takes some time... but I know a few "must-have" Blue-eyed Soul selections that should be there.


Related Links:


"Montreal Pots And Pans Video Of Protest Against Bill 78 Goes Viral," Huffington Post, May 26, 2012

Gettin’ My Comic On

With Black Widow at Earthworld Comics
(if only my 14-year-old self could see
me now). Photo ©Jeremy Clowe.
All rights reserved.

Yesterday was a busy day… lots of invitations to different  kinds of Cinco de Mayo celebrations: birthdays, baby showers, house warmings, and a craft show by Sarah’s talented sister and cousin. Sandwiched in between all this, it was also Free Comic Book Day—so while Sarah joined the baby shower, I decided to venture out to Earthworld Comics in Albany, New York, and join in the colorful celebration.

Still giddy from The Avengers movie, I was quite startled when I was greeted by “Black Widow” upon entering the shop. She offered me a pin and a lollipop—it was useless to resist her charms. Katie, the girl in the costume, did a great job of portraying the Avenger played by actress Scarlett Johannson in the film; also on hand was Ms. Marvel... they certainly were appealing to the stereotypical fanboy, I’d say!

It was absolutely packed in the store—I had never seen such a crowd in a comic shop. They had a few of those old-school spinning racks filled with free comics, and we were allowed to take five books each. The crowd was actually pretty diverse: lots of guys, but also girls, families, and young kids, some dressed up as their favorite hero. I saw one father pointing out his favorite books to his kids, which made me smile...

I have my own fond memories of heading out to the comic stores with my father when I was in middle school/early high school. It was something of a monthly ritual: he would drive me out across town to Empire Comics, the premiere shop in Rochester, where I would select literally dozens of books (talk about feeling like a "kid in a candy store!"). Dad wasn’t really a comic book fan, but he always came through with these trips, which meant a lot to me. I looked forward to not only picking up my favorite titles, but also spending some time my father… I'll always cherish that memory.

Comic geeks unite! Free Comic Book Day at Earthworld Comics,
Cinco de Mayo, 2012. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

During yesterday’s trip, I had a clear objective: find early and recent issues of The Avengers. I succeeded in finding a reprint of the first two issues of the Marvel comic, which originally came out in 1963; the movie was loosely based on that origin story, which included Iron Man, Thor, and The Hulk, and bad guy Loki (Thor’s brother). Also added to the film were Captain America, thawed out from the 1940s (originally appearing in Avengers #4), as well as Black Widow and Hawkeye, who joined the team in later issues as well.


It’s funny to read these early issues—hardly sophisticated by today’s standards, but the imagination displayed at the very beginning by Marvel founders Stan Lee and Jack Kirby is certainly on display.

My "Avengers" collection (just one of several boxes worth!).
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

One thing I always loved about The Marvel Universe, which they are now starting to implement in their movies, is the connectivity between the characters and stories in the books. This made The Avengers, in particular, a fun book to read. There were constant changes to the lineup, so you never knew what new hero would be heeding the call to "assemble." I especially got hooked around issue #222, where the team included Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, She-Hulk(!) and the Wasp (pretty close, I realize, to what the movie team looks like). I went on to read and collect the book faithfully (never missing an issue) for five years—possibly longer than any other comic I collected (even Spider-Man)!

So what was it about The Avengers (and comic books in general) that captivated my young mind? Well, first and foremost, it must have been the artwork. Just like my Dad got introduced to art through the work of illustrator Norman Rockwell on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post, I had a lively window each month to a fascinating universe of interesting looking scenes and characters—I actually loved the costumes, and wonder if that pointed to my designer sensibility? I would try my hand at drawing these characters as well, or even creating my own comic books, which my father would copy at his job at Xerox, and I would distribute to my devoted classmates.

It’s odd to go back to a comic book store these days—I can’t say I find the artwork all that enticing in most of the standard, monthly books. Things looked a lot “cleaner” back in my day, and I do see that mirrored in certain books like Mike Allred’s Madman (almost a retro-style). 


Far more interesting to me now are the graphic novels, which stray from the typical superhero format and art style. Terry Moore, the artist/creator of Strangers in Paradise, is a good example—his books are quite a hit with female audiences… something that seemed rather foreign back in the 1980s. I had the chance to meet and conduct an interview with Moore back in 2007 during Norman Rockwell Museum’s LitGraphic exhibition—it took place after I completed the exhibition video, so he is not included... but I should post the interview online at some point, for a look at his modern sensibility to comic book storytelling. 

The Marvel Universe: filled with
movies waiting to happen!

In truth, I think one reason I liked the old Marvel Comics books so much was that they included complex, personal stories about people trying to do good—in some ways it was more interesting to follow the personal relationships between these larger-than-life characters than all the wham-bam action scenes. Around the time I was collecting, The Avengers’ Yellowjacket character suffered a nervous breakdown and turned on his teammates… it was riveting... intriguing storytelling about how the group had to deal with this issue. The characters also dealt with romantic relationships, suffered from insecurities… Iron Man even battled alcoholism. Many of the 1980s Avengers books were penned by writer Roger Stern, who also went on to create The West Coast Avengers, another book I collected (feeding into my fascination with California!). I was pretty interested in the long-time Avenger, Hawkeye, who formed the group. 

Hawkeye is a bit of a loser in the comics world… sort of matching Spider-Man in terms of never catching a break in his personal life. I guess I root for the underdog, and found myself drawn (no pun intended) to these characters who keep on trying, in particular. I was a little nervous at how they were going to portray Hawkeye in the Avengers movie−the trailers I had seen didn’t look like I pictured him. But it worked just fine in the film, with Jeremy Renner doing just fine with his portrayal (even though the character is controlled by the evil Loki throughout much of the film). I have some thing for archery, and I think the character’s costume and action potential looks good… we’ll see about the personal problems.

Director Joss Whedon seems to get the appeal of the books—the way the characters each have their own style of doing things, and struggle to work together as a team. Some of the best moments in the film are when the characters are bickering or fighting with each other. I was thrilled to see Thor fight Iron Man and then the Hulk… Whedon did a good job of bringing the original tone of the comics to the movie; he also seems to have his own style and sense of humor that must be why he has been such a successful director on projects like Buffy The Vampire Slayer (one of Sarah’s favorites).

The actors were all great—I liked Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal as Bruce Banner, in particular—as a kid, I loved the old Hulk TV show with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno… teared up when they would play that closing theme when David Banner walked on after losing control to his monstrous alter-ego. Ruffalo does a good job of showing the conflict of the scientist, trying hard to control his temper. The Hulk in the movie was fantastic—other reviewers have pointed out they way he used sparingly, which might just be a good thing. Also, the CGI looks a lot better now… generally, all the effects looked believable, and fun to watch in 3D.

Of course Robert Downey, Jr. really is Iron Man. His wisecracks throughout the film are good fun, and he has a good chemistry with all of the other actors. I think Chris Hemsworth was better as Thor in his own movie (which we saw after The Avengers), but still quite good here—it might have something to do with the different style of the films' directors. Samuel L. Jackson is also a great presence as Nick Fury, head of the secret military law-enforcement agency S.H.I.E.L.D., that is responsible for bringing The Avengers together. I think Jackson is great in any movie he is in… frequently playing a variation on the same bad-ass character. I also really liked Tom Hiddleston as the villain, Loki. He has sort of a goth-like menace about him, as he tries to control Earth and the heroes—I think he’s even better here than he was in Thor.

In a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, the movie's actors mention that the defining thing about their characters is that they are “desperately lonely.” Such characters as Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow obviously have great potential in this regard. On its own, I think the Avengers does seem a little incomplete in terms of character development, but works better when you have seen the other films. So yes, while it's not on quite the same level of cinematic success as Batman: The Dark Knight, I loved The Avengers; I'm already looking forward to the next film, and wouldn’t mind if they kept that same creative team in place for a while….

Sorry ladies, I'm taken. But we can still be 
superfriends. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Back in the comic store, I’m sensing that things have changed a bit since my youth. There doesn’t seem to be as much of a stigma to collecting comic books anymore. For one thing, popular culture has caught up and realized the potential of great fantasy storytelling (so welcome in these troubled times). Marvel Comics has such a great catalogue of fun characters and storytelling to work from, even if they have a troubled history of their own in terms of treating the creative talent. Artist John Hebert was on-hand at yesterday’s event, and did not hide his frustrations with the comic book company he had worked with for several years. Even Avengers co-creator/artist Jack Kirby had issues with Marvel in terms of being recognized and compensated for characters he created (apparently there was a boycott of the movie by many dedicated fans). It’s a bit of a shame, because so much great art and storytelling have come out of the House of Ideas…. I guess now that the comic book industry has become such a big business, it too can fall prey to corporate greed and bad management—I think even Captain America would have a hard time sorting out that one.

For me, it’s great to see the continued love for visual storytelling. I know that comics fueled my imagination as a kid, so it was nice to see all of the kids on hand at Free Comic Book Day, excited about reading. All the movies and merchandising are great, but the true satisfaction of losing yourself in the wild stories and artwork of printed comic books seems to be stronger than ever.

Girls just wanna have fun--yup, comics aren't 
just for us boys anymore. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe.
All rights reserved.


Links:
Free Comic Book Day
The Avengers
Earthworld Comics

Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Ok, we loved The Avengers−it had just the right mix of action, personal drama, and cool costumes. My "inner fanboy" was revived at the sight of Thor doing battle with The Hulk, and I could feel the grin on my face forming when Captain America met Iron Man for the first time. A proper review will have to wait, while I catch my breath...

Exhausted after a long day at work, I asked Sarah if she wanted to watch Thor, which we hadn't seen yet−she agreed... said she was wished we could have had a Marvel movie marathon instead of work today (yeah, she's a keeper!).

Thor wasn't one of the comic books I really read as a kid, but the movie actually stacks up as one of the better superhero movies I have seen! Great art direction and cinematography, and I loved the Ice Giants. I think the character Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, was even better here than in The Avengers... interesting to see how the director's hand influences things (here by Kenneth Branagh, and in The Avengers: Joss Whedon).  

My spider-sense was always tingling.
Photo ©The J.Clowe Experience archives.

For someone who grew up during a time when it wasn't cool to admit you liked comic books, the recent movie adaptation craze is like a sweet reversal of fortune! I always knew there was some great storytelling and creativity here... nice to see more people catching on. Here's a quick top-ten list of my favorite superhero movies:

1. Batman: The Dark Knight (2008): great direction, acting, everything... Proof that you could make a "realistic" superhero movie that exists outside the genre.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004): always my favorite superhero growing up. Tobey Maguire was a brilliant Peter Parker... I'm not sure I can deal with this new series about to be released. This second movie in director Sam Raimi's series was quite a ride... I can forgive some of the fake CGI. 

3. X-Men (2000): Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier... Hugh Jackman as Wolverine... YES.

4. The Avengers (2012)

5. Batman Returns (1992): I was a big Tim Burton fan, and in this sequel to his take on the character, the director is really able to showcase his own creativity. Enjoyed Michael Keaton as Batman, Danny DeVito as The Penguin, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman was purrrfect. Great costuming, art direction... but maybe a little too "dark and adult" for kids, eh?

5. Thor (2011)

6. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): we caught this at the drive-in... great popcorn movie! Again: great actors, story, cinematography, art direction. Love the 1940s period setting.

7. Superman II (1980): Christopher Reeve will always be "The Man of Steel."

8. Batman Begins (2005): start of great series (so far) by director Christopher Nolan.

9. Spider-Man (2002): As I said above, I loved Tobey Maguire as Spidey... and Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin... Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane... just wish the CGI was more consistent... I would have rated this higher. I was absolutely thrilled when this was released (caught it opening day in NYC).

10. Iron Man (2008): Cool suit and action... Robert Downey Jr. is a great Iron Man... hope they tackle the alcoholism thread from the comics at some point. Great kick off to the modern Marvel movie era−shows they knew what they were doing... like in the old days!

Keep 'em coming!...

Lit Graphics

Ok, I admit it. I'm more than a little excited about the opening of the movie The Avengers this May. What does that say about me? Yeah. Deep down I'm still a comic book fanboy at heart. 

I would go on to say that reading comics faithfully as a kid through young adult taught me some great lessons about visual storytelling and design. Hell, I still pick them up from time to time and there's some great new works that expand on some of the traditional conventions--it has become a real art form.

I'm glad that Norman Rockwell Museum realized this as well, and decided to mount the 2007 exhibition LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel. I had the chance to work on a video for the exhibit, and it was a great thrill. If you missed it at the Rockwell, the show is now touring and will open at the Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute in Utica, New York, this Sunday. In addition to my video, check out the amazing Lynd Ward's Gods' Man, a beautiful series of wood engravings that were used to illustrate a wordless picture book... back in 1929! 

I might try and attend tomorrow's opening, and will see about blogging more about the subject. In the meantime, here's a clip with two of the exhibited artists, whose work I was very pleased to learn more about: Mark Kalesniko (Alex, Mail Order Bride) and Marc Hempel (Sandman, Breathtaker, MAD Magazine). I used music in the video from Marc's band, as well as from his colleague Mark Wheatley. Zap! Biff! POW!