DC Vertigo

ComicsJim

CMPodcast 297 – Top 10 (1999 comic miniseries) Part 1 of 2

I start the podcast by letting everyone know that Jon Babcock, co-founder of the Comics Misremembered Podcast, has passed away on Monday January 25th 2021. He succumbed to his 4 month battle with cancer and he will be missed.

Here is a picture of Jon with Daisy, the comics misremembered dog.

I wanted to give everyone a brief history of what happened to Jon. His sudden death was a shock to everyone especially me. He helped me created the Comics Misremembered Podcast and his presence will be missed on the show but I plan on continuing the podcast for the foreseeable future.

This week is the beginning of a 2 part podcast on the comic miniseries Top 10. It is a police procedural comic where everyone one in the comic has superpowers of some kind. It was written by Alan Moore with art by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon. It was published in September 1999 by Image Comics under Alan Moore’s imprint America’s Best Comics (ABC).

I talk about the history of how DC now owns part of the rights to this comic and how that must piss Alan Moore off and may be the reason he no longer works in the comic industry.

I compare this comic to a popular 1980s Police Procedural TV show called Hill Street Blues and why you may want to check that show out. The early 2000s were also a popular time for comics that featured superheroes working as cops and I give a few examples.

We then get into talking about the story and how Robyn Slinger AKA Toybox (girl featured in the center of the above image) starts her new career as rookie on the Top 10 police force. She meets her new partner, Smax (left in above image) and gets her first case. This comic mixes crime drama with the humor of everyday life and features the fine detailed art of Gene Ha with help by Zander Cannon.

Here is an example of Gene Ha’s art work. This is just one panel on one page and it is filled with detail and hidden references which is part of the fun of reading this comic.

I only just get started in talking about the other police officers we meet in the series and the first big case of Robyn Slinger. I will continue this exploration of Top 10 in next week’s CM Podcast.

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 297

ComicsJim

CM Podcast 265 – Sweet Tooth (comic 2009)

We are getting close to the end of our Dystopian Future comics. This week we are talking about Sweet Tooth written and drawn by Jeff Lemire.

You know Jeff Lemire as the writer of great comics like Black Hammer, Gideon Falls, Hawkeye and many more. He started his career as an independent writer/artist and was able to get more mainstream attention thanks to Sweet Tooth which was published through DC’s now defunct alternative, mature imprint Vertigo back in 2009.

Sweet Tooth is an tale of a young boy who sees his mother and father die due to a pandemic that is impacting most of the people on the planet. The young boy named Gus (who looks like a deer) is able to survive the oppressive environment thanks to the help of a human named Mr. Jepperd. He has sworn to protect Gus and take him to a safe place where all the “hybrid” children live called “Sanctuary”.

left to right = cover to Sweet Tooth #1, Cover to #4 – Mr. Jepperd in the background and the opening scene to issue #4 that we talk about in the podcast.

***SPOILER WARNING***

Jon and I review the first story arc that covers meeting Gus and Mr. Jepperd and their journey to Sanctuary. We go over the art style, characters, motivation of those characters and what happens at sanctuary.

We were very interested to talk about this series. I feel it is not well know but people will find out about it due to the Netflix series that will be coming out soon. We want you to go out and read all the issue of Sweet Tooth. It is a great story about humanity in the post-apocalypse. It is a quick read too – only 40 issues.

Thanks for listening,

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 265

ComicsJim

CM Podcast 257 – V for Vendetta (1982 comic) Pt. 2

Welcome back to the second and final part of our discussion of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta comic miniseries. The 10 issue miniseries was published by DC back in 1982.

In part one of our discussion we covered: the uniqueness of Lloyd’s original black and white art and the problems with coloring it with DC. There are several literal influences in V for Vendetta but the political climate of the UK in the 1980s may have been the biggest influence on this comic.

We started to talk about the comic but we ran out of time. We picked up that discussion with Part 2. We go over who exactly Guy Fawkes is and why his mask is relevant to the comic. we get through the story and what we like (and dislike) about it but we feel it is still a very relevant comic that still need to be read.

we recently, watch the V for Vendetta movie and compare it to the comic. Jon and I have very different views about the movie and if it is faithful to the comic. Listen to the podcast to see who’s side you will take.

Overall, V for Vendetta is a good read with great art. It is not as ground breaking to comics as Watchmen but you’ll enjoy the ride.

Stay safe,

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 257

ComicsJim

CM Podcast 201 – New Comic Review

We haven’t done a new comic review in a while and some great comics have come out recently so we wanted to go over 4 that we think you should be reading.

The review rundown is like this:

Review #1 – by Jon

The Wonder Twins #1 and #2

Written by Mark Russell

Art by Stephen Byrne

Published by DC under the Wonder Comics Imprint.

Review # 2 – By Jim

Dial H for Hero #1

Written by Sam Humphries

Art by Joe Quinones

Published by DC under the Wonder Comics Imprint

Review # 3 – By Jon

The Dreaming #1 – 4

Written by Simon Spurrier

Art by Bilquis Evely

Published by DC under the Vertigo Imprint

Review # 4 – by Jim

Little Bird #1

Written by Darcy Van Poelgeest

Art by Ian Beltram

Published by Image Comics

We highly recommend that you purchase all 4 of these titles. Listen to the podcast for details as to why they are worth adding to your pull list.

Your comics pal,

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 201


ComicsJim

CM Podcast 150 – The Watchmen

It’s our 150th podcast so let’s celebrate by talking about a comic that is over 30 years old!

It’s a special milestone podcast so I wanted to talk about a special comic mini-series that was influential and had an impact on the comics industry as well as Jon and myself.  That series is… The Watchmen.

Originally published by DC between 1986 – 1987, this seminal series was written by Alan Moore with art by Dave Gibbons.

Watchmen_HC

We were so excited about this series that John and I both flub our opening lines (it’s in the podcast – I barely ever edit anything).  This is what I was trying to read:

“How did a min-series about a superhero team comprised of a psychopath, a sociopath, a meglomaniacal  narcissistic egomaniac, an impotent self-doubting fanboy, a daughter trying to live up to a legacy’s expectations and an uncaring, indifferent god become one of the most awarded, beloved and reverent comics of all time?”

This is the question we ask and we do a pretty good job trying to answer it.  We enjoyed the comic and hope you enjoy the podcast.

Your comics pal,

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 150

ComicsJim

CM Podcast 130 – The Unknown Soldier

It was Veteran’s Day last week so we celebrate it a week later with a war comic.  War comics were all the rage back in the 50s, 60s and 70s.  There were many great characters that came out of that genre like Nick Fury and Sgt Rock but one of the lesser known heroes was The Unknown Soldier.

UnknowSoldier_03
Whoa! Hitler is pissed.

DC introduced him on the pages of Sgt. Rock and he became so popular that he eventually received his own monthly title in the 70s that ran until 1982.

After that, the Unknown Soldier faded back into DC obscurity until a 1988 12 issue miniseries tried to resurrect him but that did not work.

Then in 1997, Garth Ennis (who likes the old DC war characters) pitched a 4 issue miniseries for but with a more mature storyline so DC picked it up and published it under the Vertigo imprint.

The series continued where World War II left off and put the Unknown Soldier in every clandestine meeting and leading every wet works operation from the 40s up until the present and it was a fun read.  It had fantastic interior art by Kilian Plunkett and the covers were done by the incomparable Timothy Bradstreet.

I read the original miniseries when it came out and recently bought the trade.  Jon had the opportunity to read it so we decided to give it a glowing review and explain why it’s a great comic for war historians and those that want to take a closer look at the US’s foreign policy since WWII.

Your Comics Pal,

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 130

ComicsJim

CM Podcast 110 – Preacher TV series

Welcome back.

I usually put the podcast link at the top of the page but going forward, I will put it at the bottom of the post.  The reason being is that we are back on iTunes!  If you want to subscribe to the podcast, here is the direct link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/comics-misremembered-podcast/id1253595643

Okay.  On with the post.

This week we are going to talk about the Preacher TV show that is now in it’s second season on AMC.

preacher_TV_01

Jon and I both watched the first season but never got around to giving a review of it.  We felt now is the perfect time to talk about the show and how we felt the material was handled on screen.  Jon and I are both fans of the comic and were very interested in it’s interpretation to the small screen.

After we talk about the show, we make some predictions on how the rest of the second season will play out based on the comic.  We try make this part as spoiler free as possible.  He do warn everyone that we will be talking about future story arcs.  We both predict that Herr Starr will make his entrance during this season.  Here is a page from the comic that will show you why Herr Starr is going to me the “Starr” of the show. *wry smile*

herr_starr_01

Thanks again for supporting and listing to the podcast.

Your comics pal,

Jim

Comics Misremembered Podcast 110

ComicsJim

CM Podcast 95 – “Missed The Bus” Comics

Comics Misremembered Podcast 95

What does the title “Missed The Bus” comics mean?  It means great comic series that have been published but for what ever reason Jon and/or myself have never read.  The alternative title I have for this podcast is “Whats The Matter With You Dummies!?”

Hard to believe that there are some comics that exist out there that Jon or myself have not read.  This is a true fact!  There are some many comics that exist that we cannot get to all of them so some of the gems get left in the mine.  Today, we talk about 3 of those series which are:

  • DMZ – Vertigo/DC
  • A Distant Soil – Image Comics
  • 100 Bullets – Vertigo/DC

We talk about why we missed reading them when they were first released, why we want to read them now and is it even possible to read comics that are no longer being published?

Just so you know, I have read DMZ and 100 Bullets.  It is only A Distant Soil that we both have not read.

Enjoy the podcast.

You comics pal,

Jim