Tagged: Rich Johnston

MIKE GOLD: For Whom The Bell Tolls

There are few songwriters – few writers – I respect more than Pete Townshend. Were this a music column I’d go into detail why I hold this belief, but today in this venue he’s a means to an end.

Last week, Pete (okay, we’re not on a first name basis; the only time we were within 10 feet was when he bashed my boss in the back of his head with his guitar) accused Apple’s iTunes online retail store of being a “digital vampire.” His analysis was fraught with mistakes and revealed a genuine lack of knowledge of the situation. He was defending a system that treated him and his band, The Who, very, very well – a system that no longer exists as a creative outlet for newcomers going back at least a full generation. He also mistook iTunes for a label and not what it actually is: a retail outlet. A very successful one, but then again Pete’s net worth is in the neighborhood of $75,000,000 – a true one-percenter – so success isn’t the issue here.

What does this have to do with the wonderful world of comics? Hang on. I’ll get there.

Pete also said “It would be better if music lovers treated music like food, and paid for every helping, rather than only when it suited them … Why can’t music lovers just pay for music rather than steal it?” That’s the heart of my diatribe today: people who sort of steal artists’ works instead of paying for it.

Bootlegging is a serious issue, but more a moral one than financial. Sure, Disney and Warners will bitch about all the milions they’re losing but that’s because they see every bootlegged item as a lost sale. Few are.

When it comes to comics, sometimes it’s a matter of convenience. Some people boot stuff they’ve already purchased because they prefer reading on a tablet. After all, we’re in our third generation of comics fans who go bugfuck whenever somebody folds the cover back in order to read the damn thing. Still others are sampling new wares: with literally over 300 new comics released each month and maybe a third of them brand-new titles or “reboots” (a word with unintended irony) a reader can’t afford to sample even a fraction of the new stuff.

And then there are the idiots. Stupid people who live the life of Wile E. Coyote until they finally look down.

Our buddy Rich Johnston at Bleeding Cool reports of a guy named Stephen Chandler out in Glasgow, Scotland who is offering every comic book published each month by the “major” publishers (DC, Marvel, IDW, Image, Dark Horse, Dynamite, and perhaps others) in electronic form for the low price of about $27.00 a month – 20 Euros, so the price fluctuates.

His is a for-profit operation. No matter what you think of readers downloading comics illegally, this guy is taking money out of publishers’ pockets. Most publishers can’t afford that; even the big guys are responsible for delivering an acceptable bottom line to their masters.

Steve, pal… look. Maybe your heart is in the right place. Most comics readers pay more than $27 a month for a fraction of the content you’re delivering on disc. And you’re entitled to a reasonable profit for your work. But that’s only in the sense that Al Capone was entitled to a reasonable profit for his work.

Eventually, Wile E. Coyote looked down. So will you, Steve. You work and perhaps live near the All-Saints Secondary School. You might dine at the Delhi Darber. Maybe you drink at the Aushinairn Tavern and shop at Asda Robroyston. Or perhaps you go to the Food Cooperative off of Wallacewell Road.

In other words, Steve, you’re an idiot.

THURSDAY: Dennis O’Neil

Watchmen 2: Watch Harder

Oh No: “Watchmen 2” is Quickening

Watchmen 2: Watch HarderThe rumors have been kicking around for a while, and we’ve even made jokes about it in the past, but now Rich Johnston reports that there’s a possibility that there may be more stories set in the Watchmen universe.

I was told before New York Comic Con that it might be back on and that DC were drawing up a wishlist of creators for a series of Watchmen prequel comics.. Well, I’ve now heard a lot more. Darwyn Cooke’s name is at the very top, linked to drawing two mini-series and writing another, followed by the likes of JMS, JG Jones, Andy Kubert and Brian Azzarello. Whether or not they have been approached, I don’t know, and no one’s talking, but it gives you an idea of the scale. I would also expect Dave Gibbons and John Higgins to be involved in some way.

via The Return Of Watchmen 2 Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movies and TV News and Rumors.

In the end? Nothing ends, Adrian. Nothing ever ends…

Swipe File: Rep. Paul Ryan and Gary “Smiler” Callahan

Swipe File is normally Rich Johnston’s beat, but since he’s not into American politics, he might not catch this one.

On the left is Gary Callahan, a.k.a. The Smiler, from Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson’s Transmetropolitan. On the right is U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Budget Committee and who we should note is not Paul Ryan, the comics artist for Fantastic Four, D.P. 7, Quasar, and The Phantom.

One of these individuals has good looks and a certain amount of charisma, but has no empathy for the lower classes of society. He has designs on the presidency, and will cut odious political deals to make that happen, all while being fawned over by right wing pundits and a segment of the voters who are convince that he will save us from “the Beast”.

The other, of course, is a character out of the comic books.

For further comparison, consider this page from Transmetropolitan #41, and remember that this came out over 10 years ago. Sounds like something Ryan could have said last week, when he tried to shut down the U.S. federal government.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Become Comic Book Couple

It’s Valentine’s Day, so let’s give you a story about a good old fashioned romance comic, complete with a beautiful woman and a dashing young prince.

Cashing in on the royal wedding hoopla of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the comic Kate and William: A Very Public Love Story has been written by Bleeding Cool‘s Rich Johnston for Markosia and tells the story of the couple’s past in two parts.

The first half is told from Kate’s perspective, with a fictional diary and illustrations in the style of a 1970s girls’ comic by Mike Collins (artist on Thunderbolt and painter of the covers to my Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers stories). The second half is by the Gary Erskine and follows William from the rugby pitches of Eton to army officer training at Sandhurst before his RAF service, told by newspaper headlines and mission briefings.

Publisher Markosia calls it a “dramatic biography” with two separate stories that “come together in the middle, a fictional look at the wedding day itself, with a kiss. How could it end any other way?”

Kate and William: A Very Public Love Story is set to go on sale in stores and online on April 2 (yes, a Saturday). The wedding is planned for April 29.

One hopes it goes better for Kate in the comics than it has for Princess Diana…

Michael Moorcock To Be Defeated

Considering he’s about to lose a leg, author Michael Moorcock certainly is in good spirits.

The creator of Elric, Hawkmoon, Count Brass, and Jerry Cornelius, the author of such award-winning books as Behold The Man and Gloriana, singer/songwriter for Hawkwind and the Heavy Metal movie, former editor of the British Tarzan comics, screenwriter of The Land That Time Forgot, and, by the way, author of the latest Doctor Who novel, Michael Moorcock is facing the amputation of a leg. As he stated on his blog: I apologize for being a bad correspondent with many over the last couple of months. All efforts to save my wounded foot without resort to surgery have been made and now, somewhat inconveniently, I’m seeing a surgeon tomorrow (Monday) re. amputation. Shouldn’t be too serious, though, as I said somewhere, I feel a bit fed up with constantly supplying Mrs Lovett for tidbits for her bloody pies… I AM a little nervous but it’s mostly to do with more things going wrong (caused by medical staff) than anything else.”

As our pal Rich Johnston notes at his Bleeding Cool site: “Michael seems to be taking this, as much as everything in his life, with good humour, if a touch on the gallows’ side. All at Bleeding Cool wish him well tomorrow and in the days to come.” We’ll toss in the staff and friends of ComicMix as well, Rich.

As a Moorcock fan of 40 years standing, I’m not the least bit surprised about his attitude. The man virtually invented steampunk, the man who virtually invented the “grim and gritty” hero (Elric; and I should know, having coined the term for GrimJack), the British Jew who moved to Texas and espoused radical thought, and cosmic rocker extraordinaire, the 70 year-old writer is expected to make a complete recovers… except for one of those legs of his.

Hey, look. At least it’s not one of his arms. Take care, Michael.

‘Watchmen 2: The Smell Of Fear’ (and other potential titles)

‘Watchmen 2: The Smell Of Fear’ (and other potential titles)

Watchmen 2All right, let’s get them all out of the way…

  • ALAN AND DAVE’S BOGUS JOURNEY
  • WATCHMEN 2: THE QUICKENING
  • BLUE HARVEST
  • WATCHMEN: THE SALLY JUPITER CHRONICLES
  • BRIDE OF NITE-OWL
  • WATCHMEN 2: THE LEGEND OF CURLY’S GOLD
  • COMEDIAN’S LITTLE DIVIDEND
  • WATCHMEN 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
  • ERNEST SAVES WATCHMEN
  • WATCHMEN 2: THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES
  • FROM RORSCHACH WITH LOVE
  • THE WATCHMEN ALWAYS RING TWICE
  • I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU WATCHED LAST SUMMER
  • WATCHMEN 2: WATCH HARDER
  • NIGHT OWL AND SILK SPECTRE ESCAPE GUANTANAMO BAY
  • WATCHMEN 2: BIGGER, BLUER, AND STILL UNCUT
  • OZYMANDIAS AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
  • WATCHMEN VS. GHIDRA
  • SON OF WATCHMEN
  • THE CHARLTON MENACE
  • WATCHMEN 2: THE AZURE ARMY
  • THE ROAD TO KARNAK
  • WATCHMEN 28 WEEKS LATER
  • THE WATCHMEN STRIKE BACK
  • WATCHMEN 2: THE SECRET OF THE OZY
  • A VERY WATCHMEN CHRISTMAS
  • WATCHMEN, TOO!
  • THE WATCHMEN SUPREMACY
  • TO DAN DREIBERG, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, SALLY JUPITER
  • DIAL W FOR WATCHMEN
  • And finally, WATCHMEN: WE DID BLUE CGI PEOPLE FIRST, WHERE’S OUR OSCAR NOMINATION?

In case you haven’t heard, Rich Johnston is talking about the disturbing possibility that there will be Watchmen spinoffs now that Paul Levitz is gone. And in case you want to know how bad this could get, let’s give you a reminder:

Special thanks to Marc Alan Fishman for the art and @miss_sarah_s for extra titles. And if we missed any titles, please add them in the comments.

ComicMix Quick Picks – April 6, 2009

ComicMix Quick Picks – April 6, 2009

A round-up of items from the last few days…

Anything else? Consider this an open thread.

And the next Doctor Who really is…

And the next Doctor Who really is…

…Matt Smith?

Yes, apparently. Putting an end to all the rampant speculation, the 26 year old will be taking over the role of the Doctor in 2010.

A relative newcome to the scene, Smith already has experience working opposite companions to the Doctor, having played opposite Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) in TV adaptations of Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart novels The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow of the North as Jim Taylor, and again in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

Now let the ritualized mocking of Rich Johnston commence.

Oddsmakers Stop Betting on Paterson Joseph

Oddsmakers Stop Betting on Paterson Joseph

The Outpost Gallifrey notes that since Rich Johnston’s report Monday that Paterson Joseph will be named the next Doctor Who, the odds on him have fallen dramatically. Bookmakers are said to be no longer accepting bets on Joseph.

Joseph has told BBC News: "I’m afraid I can’t make any comment on it. I’m not a gambler. And I don’t approve of gambling unless it’s for the Grand National."

As previously reported, there’s speculation a hunt or announcement may be made during the Children in Need charity special.

While the British press has filled many column inches and web pages with speculation the odds now look like this:

ODDS ON WHO MIGHT BE THE NEXT DOCTOR, FROM BETFAIR (26th Nov 2008):

7/17 Patterson Joseph
9/1 Robert Carlyle
19/2 David Morrisey
21/2 Rhys Ifans
11/1 Anthony Head
15/1 Chiwetel Ejiofor, James Nesbitt
24/1 Colin Salmon
29/1 Sean Pertwee, Russell Tovey
31/1 Richard Coyle, Richard E Grant
39/1 Jennifer Saunders, Catherine Tate, John Simm
49/1 Billie Piper
59/1 Alan Davies, Jack Davenport, Stephen Fry
64/1 James McAvoy
99/1 Aidan Gillen, Paul McGann, Ben Wishaw, Bill Nighy, Harry Lloyd, Jason Statham, John Barrowman, Dexter Fletcher, Julian Walsh, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Broadbent, Tom Ellis, Nigel Harman, Daniel Radcliffe

‘DC Universe Online’ Needs Senior Artist

‘DC Universe Online’ Needs Senior Artist

Comic book and videogame fans’ cyberspace dreams were crushed when Microsoft confirmed that the Marvel Universe Online videogame was canceled last year. The superhero-themed massively multiplayer online game, playable between computers and Xbox 360 consoles, could’ve been a serious contender to World of Warcraft. However, the developer is carrying on with that effort, sans Marvel license.

But don’t give up hope yet, fanboys. Evidence shows that Sony is still going forward with their planned DC Comics Universe Online MMO. This week, Rich Johnston noticed in his Lying in the Gutters column a Craigslist ad from Sony Online Entertainment looking for Senior Levels Artists to work on the game. Before you start assembling your resume so that you can work with game consultant Jim Lee, be aware that the position has some steep requirements:

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent development experience.
• 5+ years experience in game development using Maya and the Unreal Engine.
• Must have shipped at least two titles with heavy 3D content as a senior Artist with management responsibilities.

DC Comics Universe Online has been long in development with very few details released. It was announced for computers and the PlayStation 3 but it’s unknown if cross-platform play will be allowed. It’s not likely to come out any time soon, either, since no mention of the game was made at Sony’s recent 2008 media event in London last week.