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BREAKFAST & COMIC BOOKS |
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INDEX
What’s
the breakfast bit about?
Well,
it’s supposed to be the most important meal of the day and I’m
aiming for this to be the equivalent in comic book comment.
So
come and get your all day breakfast.
And
comic books!
Sitting
here with the Eurovision Song Contest (2004) playing in the background
and I’m thinking.
Here I am in the heart of Europe with a heavy bias for US produced
comic books.
Why
is it that the superhero concept, born in America, spandex and all
has been exported successfully to Great Britain but we haven’t
established a similar trade off?
What I mean is, British creators producing long lasting, popular
superhero icons.
Only
2000AD’s Judge Dredd meets that criterion.
Alan
Moore wrote one of the few exceptions writing Captain Britain for
Marvel UK and Miracle Man (previously Marvel Man). |
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I
still haven’t read this so, Gaiman and McFarlane (the current owners),
sort it out for the fans, eh?
We’re
not going to live forever.
Gerry
Anderson is the only person, in my opinion who has come close to Stan
Lee's creative output. Learn more about him and his work here.
He
is the creator of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Space 1999, Stingray,
Joe 90, Fireball XL5 and Terrahawks to name a few.
These
started off as TV series and branched into other media.
Also,
Paul Grist’s Jack Staff, which is now published by Image Comics
deserves a mention.
Over
here in the UK, instead of the big two we have the big one.
Publisher
2000AD, which mainly does science fiction orientated stories and
is flying the flag for progressive comic books.
Only
recently, a new publisher, ComX, has started up and shows much promise
with its product more closely aligned to the superhero mould.
I
highly recommend their Classwar title, which is beautifully written
by Robbie Morrison. |
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I
think more publishers like ComX are needed in Britain to nurture home
grown talent.
Producing quality superhero material and competing with the big boys on
a global scale.
I
say that because that is what the majority of the fans want.
When
I’m at Forbidden Planet, London for my weekly fix, the buying
patterns of the customers speak for themselves.
US
produced superhero comic books.
I
should know because I’m one of them!
I
can’t get enough of the stuff! The reason is because they
are at the top of their game.
Setting
the standards and forging new ones.
In
a word, inspirational.
There’s
a large market for superheroes that can be tapped and sustained
by clever advertising.
Of
course financing is the major issue and that calls for greater innovation.
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The
more competition there is out there, the better for all.
We
clearly have the talent as we see and read their work increasingly from
the big American publishers.
I’m
speaking to a few people who are moving along this path so change could
be afoot.
And
the Eurovision Song Contest?
Ukraine
won it.
With
a catchy tune and a singer who looked like Xena, Warrior Princess.
Breakfast
is served!
Superhero
Spandex and Stuff>
<Crossgen
and Stuff
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