Stuff I've been reading lately:
--Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, by Daniel Ellsberg. A very detailed account by Ellsberg of his years working for the State and Defense departments, leading to his disenchantment over the Vietnam War and his leaking of top-secret documents detailing the history of the United States' political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1971.
--His Excellency, by Joseph J. Ellis. A biography of George Washington. When Washington put aside talk inside the army of him becoming king, and resigned his commission and turned his army over to the legislature at the end of the Revolutionary War, King George III of England was said to reply, "If he does that, he truly is the greatest man alive." What's fascinating about Washington is that, even when you consider his faults, he really was just about as impressive as his sizeable reputation.
Houdini, The Handcuff King, by Jason Lutes & Nick Bertozzi. Nice little book about a particular day in the life of Houdini. Lutes remains one of the very best layout men in modern comics, and Bertozzi adds an energetic, loose quality to the work. I like the historical notes at the end.
--Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1. You may have gotten the impression from my previous post that I love this book. Let me add to that: I really, reeeaaaallly love this book. I've been waiting/hoping for a quality collection of Kirby's Fourth World comics for a long time, and this is just about perfect. The paper stock, reproduction, and color quality are all top-notch. In fact, the only blemish in the whole thing are all those unfortunate Al Plastino/Murphy Anderson Superman heads (DC had artists redraw all of Kirby's Clark Kent/Superman/Jimmy Olsen heads--as well as some figure work--because they wanted Superman and Jimmy to retain a certain established in-house look).
But a giant green Jimmy Olsen clone and a guest appearance by Don Rickles goes a long way to make up for all those heads.
Houdini, The Handcuff King, by Jason Lutes & Nick Bertozzi. Nice little book about a particular day in the life of Houdini. Lutes remains one of the very best layout men in modern comics, and Bertozzi adds an energetic, loose quality to the work. I like the historical notes at the end.
--Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1. You may have gotten the impression from my previous post that I love this book. Let me add to that: I really, reeeaaaallly love this book. I've been waiting/hoping for a quality collection of Kirby's Fourth World comics for a long time, and this is just about perfect. The paper stock, reproduction, and color quality are all top-notch. In fact, the only blemish in the whole thing are all those unfortunate Al Plastino/Murphy Anderson Superman heads (DC had artists redraw all of Kirby's Clark Kent/Superman/Jimmy Olsen heads--as well as some figure work--because they wanted Superman and Jimmy to retain a certain established in-house look).
Example:
But a giant green Jimmy Olsen clone and a guest appearance by Don Rickles goes a long way to make up for all those heads.
4 comments:
Huh. I didn't actually know that Supes had his head redrawn. Was this done in all DC comics, or just Kirby ones (since his style is more distinct?)?
--jpw
They did it most notably with Kirby (his run on Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, as well as an appearance by Supes in an issue of Forever People), but also with other artists--for example, an Alex Toth Superfriends poster had the Toth Supes head replaced for the same reason.
Also, Perry White's head was redrawn when he appeared in Kirby stuff, too.
But, does 'His Excellency' mention anything to confirm or deny the rumors that Washington could throw a knife up to Heaven, or that he rode a crystal horse, or could bite a deer in half?
-Crust it
He really did have a crystal horse, but the knife-throwing and deer-biting stuff is just as untrue as the story about him chopping down a cherry tree.
He actually burned the tree down with his mind.
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