LOVED the mention of CrossGen in this video. I'm from Tampa Bay, and I remember taking classes on making comics at the Dunedin Fine Art Center taught by all these amazing artists because they needed the extra work when the dude wasn't paying them. My super annoying ass got one on one lessons from some of the biggest names in the league. Fast forward like 20 years and I was just on TV talking about my own comics. NEVER GIVE UP!
Ron garney's eun on Silver Surfer has some of his best work. He had spoken how he was trying to channel Moebius through and it made for a lot of neat panels and splash pages. The stories were by J.M. DeMatteis, I think.
The Shadows of the Empire Novel was the source material. It’s a great read. If Disney wanted to make Big Star Wars money they would make it cannon again and make it a movie!
Transmetropolitan started at Helix and lasted for many issues, it continued at Vertigo after Helix ended. Bloody Mary was reprinted later by Image. The Gerber book set in a prison was called Hard Times, but it wasn’t part of Helix, it came out years later as part of the DC Focus imprint. Vertigo, Helix, Minx, Humanoids, Zuda, DC Focus, Piranha Press, Paradox Press… DC certainly was willing to try different things during the Kahn/Levitz regime.
I was managing a comic shop when CrossGen was created. It was the store that Mark Alessi shopped at. Got to see the concept books, visit the bullpen and chat with the cartoonists, writers and inkers on a weekly basis. The idea of having a full bullpen like the old Marvel days was cool. I don't have a lot of behind the scenes dirt but can tell you that money buys you the staff you want. Alessi also was an art guy, when it came to comics. Bought all the Pulido, Turner, Silvester, Linsner and Land stuff he could find.
Hey Jim, Ian Churchill penciled The Coven series with script by Jeph Loeb. Published by Awesome comics, I still have those issues in a short box, good 90's comic :)
We played at that museum in Northampton. It's administered through the nearby college. If it's a different location, it still has much of the relevant stuff. Gotta find the name of it
If you guys want the full CrossGen story talk to Mark Waid, I saw him at a few cons in the past and he's more than happy to dish all the dirt on that whole story from start to bust.
Transmetropolitan started in 97 so it wouldn’t have been mentioned yet of course. Steve McNiven was at CrossGen. Maybe he would have some inside scoop?
Regarding the Helix imprint, you guys should definitely check out Bloody Mary by Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra. There were two 4-issue mini series produced between 96-97 when between this, Preacher and Hitman, Ennis was trying to push the boundaries of what he could get away with in DC comics. The art is absolutely fantastic, and the story is so up your alleys. Mary is a former military special ops type who disguises herself as a nun, and gets back together with her old British squad to take down a crazy as fuck villain who injects himself with a serum that makes him huge and insane and virtually unkillable. It’s so bonkers and violent and truly one of the most overlooked series from this obscure period of comics. Definitely falls into the outlaw adjacent camp!!
Let me correct myself. I just remembered it’s not a serum, it’s a huge nasty worm-like alien that the dude has to eat in order to get the indestructible power. Seriously bat-shit crazy stuff ensues and the characters on Mary’s team are super well crafted and memorable.
Crossgen lasted about as long as valiant comics 2.0, just goes to show there really isn't the audience for an interconnected genre comics universe if it's not marvel or DC (at least one made by journeymen mainstream guys).
I’m not 100% sure, but I’d imagine Burns did the illustration of Crumb to accompany an article on the Terry Zwigoff documentary may be because Crumb was outspokenly against the way he was portrayed when the film was initially released. Over time, that may have changed. I just read that there was a rift between Crumb and Zwigoff after the release. Anyone else weigh in?
You skipped past an ad for Terminal City (Vertigo) - it was good
LOVED the mention of CrossGen in this video. I'm from Tampa Bay, and I remember taking classes on making comics at the Dunedin Fine Art Center taught by all these amazing artists because they needed the extra work when the dude wasn't paying them. My super annoying ass got one on one lessons from some of the biggest names in the league. Fast forward like 20 years and I was just on TV talking about my own comics. NEVER GIVE UP!
Ron garney's eun on Silver Surfer has some of his best work. He had spoken how he was trying to channel Moebius through and it made for a lot of neat panels and splash pages. The stories were by J.M. DeMatteis, I think.
The Shadows of the Empire Novel was the source material. It’s a great read. If Disney wanted to make Big Star Wars money they would make it cannon again and make it a movie!
Transmetropolitan started at Helix and lasted for many issues, it continued at Vertigo after Helix ended. Bloody Mary was reprinted later by Image.
The Gerber book set in a prison was called Hard Times, but it wasn’t part of Helix, it came out years later as part of the DC Focus imprint.
Vertigo, Helix, Minx, Humanoids, Zuda, DC Focus, Piranha Press, Paradox Press… DC certainly was willing to try different things during the Kahn/Levitz regime.
I was managing a comic shop when CrossGen was created. It was the store that Mark Alessi shopped at. Got to see the concept books, visit the bullpen and chat with the cartoonists, writers and inkers on a weekly basis. The idea of having a full bullpen like the old Marvel days was cool. I don't have a lot of behind the scenes dirt but can tell you that money buys you the staff you want.
Alessi also was an art guy, when it came to comics. Bought all the Pulido, Turner, Silvester, Linsner and Land stuff he could find.
Would love to see you guys cover Liam Sharp’s Green Lantern (with Grant Morrison). The artwork is stunning.
I would love to see some Astro City videos! Absolutely adore Astro City
Hey Jim, Ian Churchill penciled The Coven series with script by Jeph Loeb. Published by Awesome comics, I still have those issues in a short box, good 90's comic :)
Would love to see another flip-through of a non-comics based old magazine like Nintendo Power with Ed and Tom again.
For the Amalgam comics recs: Amazon by Byrne/Austin, Spider-boy by Wieringo, Doctor Strangefate by Garcia-Lopez/Nolan & Spider-boy Team Up by Ladronn
Transmetropolitan was the only survivor of the Helix imprint, 60 issues, 2 graphic novels. It became a Vertigo title when Helix ended.
Jim, get the Scud collection. Early on, the story might seem weird in spots, but it ties in together by the end. Definitely get a copy.
We played at that museum in Northampton. It's administered through the nearby college. If it's a different location, it still has much of the relevant stuff. Gotta find the name of it
Transmetropolitan started as a Helix comic
One of the best comics ever.
Great Wizard video, Ed & Jim. Could you please do a 90's Nomad run through, especially the art and short career of Samuel Clarke Hawbaker?
Dig the Astro City talk... I hope CK can cover the #1st or #2nd issue of that original series at some point...
If you guys want the full CrossGen story talk to Mark Waid, I saw him at a few cons in the past and he's more than happy to dish all the dirt on that whole story from start to bust.
VERY INTERESTING
Have you thought about a video centering around all the Wizard 1/2 issues? I have a ton of them trying to see what their market value are.
Transmetropolitan started in 97 so it wouldn’t have been mentioned yet of course. Steve McNiven was at CrossGen. Maybe he would have some inside scoop?
PS - I know I mentioned this before, but what are the odds of you fellas covering Wizard Edge magazine (speaking of indie comics)?
Rob really needs to get a decent reprint of Supreme out onto the shelves.
Does he still own Supreme? I know he no longer owns Youngblood
Green Arrow issue 17 from the Grell run (1989 I believe) is one of the best-colored issues of the 80's. It's definitely worth a vid.
Looking forward to the next episode of wizard because it was the first issue I bought and I picked my first tattoo from one of the double page spreads
I really enjoyed Helix - Dead Corps - zombie cops in the future, and Transmetropolitan was a Helix book.
I love these wizard reviews......but my main takeaway is the phrase "A biscuit above a bootleg" which will now be in my vernacular.
I thought Simonson’s New Gods-related book was “Orion.” Did he do a more “general coverage” New Gods book?
Chuck Dixon has talked extensively about his time at Crossgen in more than one occasion.
Regarding the Helix imprint, you guys should definitely check out Bloody Mary by Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra. There were two 4-issue mini series produced between 96-97 when between this, Preacher and Hitman, Ennis was trying to push the boundaries of what he could get away with in DC comics. The art is absolutely fantastic, and the story is so up your alleys. Mary is a former military special ops type who disguises herself as a nun, and gets back together with her old British squad to take down a crazy as fuck villain who injects himself with a serum that makes him huge and insane and virtually unkillable. It’s so bonkers and violent and truly one of the most overlooked series from this obscure period of comics. Definitely falls into the outlaw adjacent camp!!
Let me correct myself. I just remembered it’s not a serum, it’s a huge nasty worm-like alien that the dude has to eat in order to get the indestructible power. Seriously bat-shit crazy stuff ensues and the characters on Mary’s team are super well crafted and memorable.
Crossgen lasted about as long as valiant comics 2.0, just goes to show there really isn't the audience for an interconnected genre comics universe if it's not marvel or DC (at least one made by journeymen mainstream guys).
Where can I buy the B&W and 1986 zines? Or are they not available quite yet?
I’m not 100% sure, but I’d imagine Burns did the illustration of Crumb to accompany an article on the Terry Zwigoff documentary may be because Crumb was outspokenly against the way he was portrayed when the film was initially released. Over time, that may have changed. I just read that there was a rift between Crumb and Zwigoff after the release. Anyone else weigh in?
Vermillion isn't a comic I'd say you need to read but it's really special and beautiful comic in a deeply uneven way.
Good video. I'd be very interested to here your opinions on the manga Bakuman. It gives a lot of information on Japanese cartooning.