No industry has ever confused me as much as the comic book industry. Every year I get more baffled.
Comics, why are you still here? Why are we gearing up for yet another San Diego "Comicon"?
Don't get my wrong. I love comics. They're my favorite type of storytelling. I'm not dissing the art form. But the industry is dead.
Isn't it? Does anyone even know where to find a comic store at this point? Outside of movie deals, do comics exist? I know a ton of young people from various internet gaming hubs. In the last five years, I've met ONE new person who reads two comics. He has them mailed directly to his house by subscription.
I am genuinely confounded by the whole subject. Why are we still having comic conventions? To promote manga, anime, and tv shows like Battlestar Galactica? So cosplayers can be ogled effectively and in person? Honestly, I'm lost here. You can't tell me that sad little rack of disorganized graphic novels at Borders warrants a convention.
If there is a viable comic industry hiding someplace, I'd like it pointed out to me. I feel like there's something I'm not getting.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Glory to the Hypnotoad
Last Futurama movie. Moment of silence.
Then a tip of my metronome hat. My own imagineering skills are formidible. I have heartfelt respect for the work that's been done on this show.
Of all the people I've seen tackle television sci-fi, which is most of them, the Futurama writers have the highest per capita of excellent new ideas. Silly as their presentation may be, they've been many years ahead of the curve in conceptual architecture. Raw imagination is no small part of science fiction.
They've done some killer work with aliens. The episode where they invade the planet of bouncing orbs should be required viewing for any writer considering the subject of other lifeforms. It's probably the fastest and cleanest primer on non-human perspective anyone has ever penned.
"The elders tell of a young ball much like you. He bounced three metres in the air. Then he bounced one-point-eight metres in the air. Then he bounced four metres in the air. Do I make myself clear?"
Quite possibly the five greatest sentences of alien dialog ever conceived. I was, and remain, humbled.
Last, and most important, Futurama connected. Loveable, sympathetic, interesting characters are not one of science fiction's strongest suits. Very few people have ever bridged this chasm as well the Futurama crew. Virtually all their characters are steeped in fantastic organic moments by the time the series ends. The story of Fry's lost clover is a landmark for our genre on par with Picard's imagined family in The Inner Light.
I sincerely hope that Wild Green Yonder wasn't the end of Futurama.
If it was the end, then congratulations on a job well done.
Then a tip of my metronome hat. My own imagineering skills are formidible. I have heartfelt respect for the work that's been done on this show.
Of all the people I've seen tackle television sci-fi, which is most of them, the Futurama writers have the highest per capita of excellent new ideas. Silly as their presentation may be, they've been many years ahead of the curve in conceptual architecture. Raw imagination is no small part of science fiction.
They've done some killer work with aliens. The episode where they invade the planet of bouncing orbs should be required viewing for any writer considering the subject of other lifeforms. It's probably the fastest and cleanest primer on non-human perspective anyone has ever penned.
"The elders tell of a young ball much like you. He bounced three metres in the air. Then he bounced one-point-eight metres in the air. Then he bounced four metres in the air. Do I make myself clear?"
Quite possibly the five greatest sentences of alien dialog ever conceived. I was, and remain, humbled.
Last, and most important, Futurama connected. Loveable, sympathetic, interesting characters are not one of science fiction's strongest suits. Very few people have ever bridged this chasm as well the Futurama crew. Virtually all their characters are steeped in fantastic organic moments by the time the series ends. The story of Fry's lost clover is a landmark for our genre on par with Picard's imagined family in The Inner Light.
I sincerely hope that Wild Green Yonder wasn't the end of Futurama.
If it was the end, then congratulations on a job well done.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Get Doogie Hauser on the phone.
I'm not a huge Joss Whedon fan. Firefly was cool. Most of his other stuff leaves me cringing. Nevertheless, I learned something this week watching his new show - Dollhouse.
I learned that I'm incredibly glad I quit writing television scripts. Joss Whedon has single handedly convinced me that was a brilliant move.
Why? Well, look at the whole scene around Dollhouse. Look at Herr Whedon.
He's arguably the most famous television writer. Ever. And what does it get him?
Nothing. Just nothing.
Dollhouse premiered twelve hours ago and already the cancellation buzz has started up. Apparently the show is on Fridays because any other day would have meant "three strikes and you're out". Without fantastic ratings, it was likely to be axed after three or so episodes. So they put it on Friday, where there is less pressure to perform. Still the talk of doom is pervasive.
If I'd written and created as many shows as Joss has, and had that little professional clout, I'd be shopping for a new medium.
I learned that I'm incredibly glad I quit writing television scripts. Joss Whedon has single handedly convinced me that was a brilliant move.
Why? Well, look at the whole scene around Dollhouse. Look at Herr Whedon.
He's arguably the most famous television writer. Ever. And what does it get him?
Nothing. Just nothing.
Dollhouse premiered twelve hours ago and already the cancellation buzz has started up. Apparently the show is on Fridays because any other day would have meant "three strikes and you're out". Without fantastic ratings, it was likely to be axed after three or so episodes. So they put it on Friday, where there is less pressure to perform. Still the talk of doom is pervasive.
If I'd written and created as many shows as Joss has, and had that little professional clout, I'd be shopping for a new medium.
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