Down with comics...

POSTED BY: jewelstaitefan
UPDATED: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 09:09
VIEWED: 5672
PAGE 1 of 3

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:23 AM

I should first point out that I enjoyed comics as a kid, particularly the Batman from the 70's.
I also enjoy getting updates, info on the FF storyline, background, etc. Comics seem to be the only repeatedly new form of Joss output regarding the verse.

However, the format is severely lacking in the stuff I want from Joss and Firefly.
The camera angles, nuances of performances, multiple character reactions in each shot/angle/scene. Just not happening in comics. There is far too much going on in Joss-created works, comics just cannot present the whole shebang. It would be possible to tediously show everything the camera would show, but each frame would practically be a syllable of a word, and end up being cost prohibited.

I can rewatch the DVDs over and over, seeing new things each time, recalling the nuances, and be jazzed each time I finish an ep or BDM. But the comics mostly leave me frustrated, empty of the saturation of input i expect from a Joss work.

I want more Firefly/Serenity, in motion picture format. Even a cartoon video would be better, but the actor expressions would suffer.

I do want to support the franchise, but the comics format leaves me wanting. The things comics cannot provide are exactly the things that made Firefly a great show.

Let them do Survivor in comics form. Or the Bachelor - nothing happens there.

WYTCHCROFT

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:46 AM

having trawled the net some - i know there are folks who'll agree with you...

but not me - i thought Better Days was just fine. Sure it could have been longer and ok, the atmosphere is more a progression from Serenity than Firefly - but those are not things to worry me.

I thought Better Days - was actually quite subtle in the way it revealed characters.

I agree Buffy took a while to pick up steam - it was a little overwritten but it found a groove frm episode 3 onward and some issues are flat out fantastic. e.g. issue 10.

As for comics as a whole, well - everyone has their personal faves but the very diversity of those held in esteem disputes (i'm not saying you're wrong like it's a fact or soemthing) your comment.

Off the top of my head i would recommend anything by Alan Moore (and if you like Batman then try his The Killing Joke). The Leeague of Extraordinary Gentlemen is very filmic and V for Vendetta is genius noir. Promethea, my favourite, is insanely visual in its treatment.

Neil Gaiman - Sandman (a very complex interwoven narrative and contender for best comic series ever) - A Doll's House (no kidding!)and A Game of You are probably my choices from the run as a whole.
His 1602 is again very filmic.

on a different track - check out Love and Rockets by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez and GhostWorld by Daniel Clowes. Very funny, great earthy characters and likeable art. Also, no bloody superheroes for a change.

Brian Talbot's staggering Alice in Sunderland destroys all notions of what constitutes a comic forever.

RALLEM

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:29 AM

It is possible that the current comics do not meet the level needed with a Firefly story, but that does not mean the genre is incapable of doing the job. I remember a new young artist who had started with Marvel Comics by redoing the Daredevil comics and turning them from a ho-hum money losing comic into a real page turner best seller. (Frank Miller posed his wife for many of the Electra Stories in that series) After that Frank went to DC Comics and worked his magic with Batman by making him into the venerable Dark Knight. Frank Miller then went onto the movie Industry where he worked with movie titles such as Robo-Cop, and then became the maker of Sin City and 300. Perhaps we could talk Mr. Miller into penciling a few issues of Firefly?

http://swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

WYTCHCROFT

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:08 AM

have you read martha washington??

Quote:
Originally posted by rallem:

Perhaps we could talk Mr. Miller into penciling a few issues of Firefly?

i think he already has! (apologies to dave gibbons)
http://www.moebiusgraphics.com/comics/mwstrandedspace.php
gibbons of course is linked to dr who - so, martha ta da!

Quote:
Frank Miller posed his wife for many of the Electra Stories in that series

funny how comic writers/artists need a muse too!
yay for Cinnamon!:)

Dream "Sandman is over - i'm... UNEMPLOYED!"
Death "Well, i'm just Peachy!
I got a role in the last Bufy comic arc, got to wear my bowler hat and everything!"
Dream "Exhibitionist. And i like your top hat better."

why hasn't anyone flash animated the Serenity comics yet????

SPACEANJL

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:54 AM

I might have known you'd know Martha Washington!

But try out Ennis/Dillon's 'Preacher' for a slice of deeply weird American Gothic. (Those guys would fit right into writing a FF comic.)

Alan Moore/Eddie Campbell 'From Hell' A really literate and interesting look at the Ripper myth. (Ignore the film.)

And Neil Gaiman's stuff is packed with myth, folklore, allegory and brilliance. (Don't you just know that the Corinthian sounds like Spike?)

THATWEIRDGIRL

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 1:40 PM

I gotta disagree....The Killing Joke is not for everyone and shouldn't be recommended for those just getting familiar with the medium. It's still debated on message boards and even the writer admits he may have made some heat-of-the-moment choices that he regrets. It's saving grace is the writers that came after to clean up the mess.

I like it, but go into it knowing it's outside the normal realm.

---
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
-- Charlie Brown
www.thatcostumegirl.com
www.thatweirdgirl.com

BROWNCOAT1

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:28 PM

I agree that the comics may not be preferable to tv or movie installments from Joss of our beloved 'verse, but they certainly beat nothing, which seems to be the only other alternative at this juncture.

I have liked both of the mini (very mini!) series so far, but I agree that they seemed lacking in some way. I miss the camera angles and other methods Joss used to tell the story for us thus far, but I think that comics can still tell the story. Look at all the praise that Buffy Season 8 is getting right now. I am reading it and each comic is like a tv episode. You can just hear the banter that Joss if famous for, there are the twists and gut punches that he is famous for, and it is some gorram fine storytelling. If they could make Serenity in a monthly like they are doing with Buffy I believe it would do the story justice.

You hearin' me Joss?

__________________________________________
Holding the line since December '02!

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

Color Officer / X.O. Echo Company

http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html

PENTHOS

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
I should first point out that I enjoyed comics as a kid, particularly the Batman from the 70's.
I also enjoy getting updates, info on the FF storyline, background, etc. Comics seem to be the only repeatedly new form of Joss output regarding the verse.

However, the format is severely lacking in the stuff I want from Joss and Firefly.
The camera angles, nuances of performances, multiple character reactions in each shot/angle/scene. Just not happening in comics. There is far too much going on in Joss-created works, comics just cannot present the whole shebang. It would be possible to tediously show everything the camera would show, but each frame would practically be a syllable of a word, and end up being cost prohibited.

I can rewatch the DVDs over and over, seeing new things each time, recalling the nuances, and be jazzed each time I finish an ep or BDM. But the comics mostly leave me frustrated, empty of the saturation of input i expect from a Joss work.

I want more Firefly/Serenity, in motion picture format. Even a cartoon video would be better, but the actor expressions would suffer.

I do want to support the franchise, but the comics format leaves me wanting. The things comics cannot provide are exactly the things that made Firefly a great show.

Let them do Survivor in comics form. Or the Bachelor - nothing happens there.

I agree that the satisfaction and immersion level of the comics doesn't come anywhere near close to what the show provided. To me the comics are little more than story board. I will still buy and read every single one that comes out but the comics don't contain any amazing acting or character subtleties that helped make Firefly so special. Yeah, you can say the artwork was done buy "this guy" or "that guy" but no matter who does it, the comic book format just can't do the show justice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe: Don't think its a good spot sir, she still has the advantage over us.
Mal: Everyone always does; that's what makes us special.

SPACEVIKING

Friday, June 27, 2008 2:57 PM

ok i dont really care what you think about the firefly comics but to say down with comics is just ignorant and stupid. the comic industry is filled with many great new age comics that delve deep into the problems of socity and tell great stories. not to mention all of the great artwork out there.

EMBERS

Friday, June 27, 2008 5:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

I do want to support the franchise, but the comics format leaves me wanting. The things comics cannot provide are exactly the things that made Firefly a great show.

about a year and a half ago I heard Joss giving a radio interview where he was saying he didn't want to do more Firefly/Serenity comics... he REALLY wanted to tell his stories with the actors who were the living embodiment of the characters he created and loved.

He wasn't really wanting to get Buffy or Angel back up on the screen, and he was really happy to tell more stories about those characters in comic book form, where he could have Giant Dawn fighting MechaDawn, and where Groo can swoop into the scene on a flying horse (not to mention Angel himself on a Dragon!!)....

But a lot of time has gone by, and saying 'movies or nothing' is kind of cutting his nose off to spite his face.... He is filled to the brim with stories he is DYING to tell! He wants to tell us these stories!

Now you can go ahead and you can say 'movies or nothing' but personally I wouldn't give up the comics for anything.... I want to hear all of Joss' stories, and I am thrilled to hear them in whatever medium he is telling them.

New Firefly fans should check this out: http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE