Robert’s Ramblings: Something Positive to talk about!

WE’RE BACK!! 

As the title states this will be a totally positive post.  The positivity of which I speak is the Lehigh Valley Comic Con.  The convention is held three times a year at the Schnecksville Fire Company.  I have been going to the convention since 2008 and I have to say that the convention held on March 19^th was the best one yet.  The featured guests were Jim Calafiore and Greg LaRocque.  Along with two other members of Thread Drift, we made our way last Saturday to Schnecksville for the convention.  Priority one for me was to get Jim and Greg to start my sketchbooks off on the right foot.  I wanted to have Jim start my Dick Grayson and Black Canary sketchbook and I wanted Greg to start my Legion of Super-Heroes sketchbook.  Both obliged gracefully and produced some completely fantastic work.  John on the other hand (who also went and is the proud writer of Conlon’s Cavalcade found right here at the Thread Drift blog) decided to go in a different route with his sketches.  He chose to get a Dawnstar from Greg and a Winter Soldier (Bucky for those who don’t know) from Jim.  Both of his sketches turned out fantastic. 

John and I had a wonderful conversation with Greg.  We talked about the Legion of Super-Heroes and he told us about various things that happened to him while working on the book (out of courtesy, I will not go into details).  Greg is such a gentleman and a pleasure to be around.  We also got a chance to talk to Jim and he is also a wonderful person to talk to.  We talked about his Exiles run and the two issues that he wrote (Nocturnes origin in issues 41 and 42), the debacle that was Countdown, and he regaled us with convention stories that were wonderfully funny.  I was already a huge fan of Jim’s work, and after meeting him at this convention, I have become completely in awe of his talent and have gained a true appreciation for his artwork.  With Greg, I have become a fan of his artwork and now look forward to getting more from both men as I go to other conventions that they are at.

I can’t say enough good things about the Lehigh Valley Comic Con, as well as Jim Calafiore and Greg LaRocque.  I can definitely advise people who live in the area to go to the next Lehigh Valley Comic Con.  Check them out at www.lehighvalleycomiccon.com.  Also, check out Jim Calafiore’s website at www.jimcalafiore.com/index2.asp, and Greg LaRocque’s website at www.greglarocque.weebly.com.

Until next time,

Robert

 

Conlon's Cavalcade: A Tragic Milestone

This one hurts.

As almost every comic, and animation fan knows, Dwayne McDuffie died after complications from surgery. For some reason, I can't get over the shock. Other creators, including legends (Kirby, Aparo for me in particular), have passed away- but it never felt this unreal before. I keep expecting some site to have an update, stating that they got the story all wrong. He was so much in his prime. How much? Well, I heard the news as I was halfway through his animated adaptation of All Star Superman...which came out TODAY!

If you ever enjoyed Justice League Unlimited, chances are it was because of Dwayne. The multi-part Cadmus saga, that made up the spine of the shows second season, was all scripted by the Maestro (as he was known on his message board). He could do comedy (the episode where the Flash and Luthor switched minds), romance (the conclusion to John Stewart and Hawkgirl's relationship in Starcrossed), and rousing action (the final episode battle between Superman and Darkseid). He also wrote my single favorite episode, Epilogue (where we learn that Bruce Wayne is Terry's father). He continued scripting the League in the excellent Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DVD movie, and he had more DC movies in the pipeline. Oh, and if you liked Ben 10, or Static Shock...yep, that was Dwayne too.

Speaking of Static, Dwayne was the chief creative force behind Milestone Media. His creations were special. Icon, was an honest portrayal of a black conservative hero. Hardware, was not a black Iron Man (or War Machine, or Steel). Hardware was the one and only, Hardware! When DC said they were bringing the Milestone characters in, I was the only one of my group who was excited. Because I knew that these were not retreads, but truly unique individuals that would add depth to the DC Universe. But, then the company dropped the ball- big time!

There's an old joke about dancing legend Ginger Rogers. They say, that she had to do everything her partner Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. Sadly, this reminds me of Dwayne's recent comics career. After Brad Meltzer's carte blanche run on the Justice League comic, Dwayne was hired to be the new writer. However, editorial interference ran absolutely amok during his stint. Characters were taken away, and added to the line-up without his say so. He tried to make do, penning constant rewrites. The series also became less about the team, and used more as a launching point for failed mini series (Tangent:Superman's Reign, Salvation Run). As he attempted to stay above water, and using a League that had more than just one token black character, fans accused him of "having an agenda". The only agenda he ever had, was telling good stories. When he defended his run, by pointing out the ways in which the editors were killing those stories, he was fired. Over at Marvel (where he had once created the amusing Damage Control), he was hired to do a short run on the Fantastic Four. His assignment was to fill in between the stints of "bigger name" talents, JMS and Mark Millar. And, oh yeah, Reed and Sue weren't allowed  on the team. In the end, most fans agree his brief time outshone Millar and Straczynski's by a lightyear.

Goodbye, Dwayne. But, I plan on revisiting your work time and again.

John!

Conlon's Cavalcade: Forget Me Not

Hey gang (there is a gang of you reading this, right?), don't think I've been slacking off. I'm not a prima donna comic artist- I make my deadlines. However, my computer went down for a few days. But, fear not, I'll be catching you up with my usual calendar nonsense. Over the next day (or two) we'll be up to speed.

John!

Conlon's Cavalcade: This Day In DC History- February 14

On this Valentine's Day, the calendar skips over birthdays. For the first time, but not the last, it mentions an important event that transpired on that date. In this case, it is...The Wedding Anniversary of the Siver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Katar Hol and Shayera Thal were already married by the time readers first met them. A few stories after their introduction, we got the backstory behind the love birds' first encounter. Katar was a veteran police officer on the planet Thanagar, and Shayera was a rookie. Together, they were partnered to stop the crimes of the Rainbow Robbers. The crooks were using a waterfall, known as the Veil of Valmoora, as a hideout. Shayera wound up (somewhat accidentally) saving Katar from the bad guys. And, a short time later he fell in love with her. Being the big softy, he proposed to her in front of the falls. The two got hitched, and the bride wore her new "marriage earrings" (an editor's note informs us, that on Thanagar, couples don't wear wedding rings).

That's it for this one. I'm not going to go into the whole Hawkman history (I'm sure his birthday is lurking somewhere in these calendar pages). It's Valentine's Day, and I have too much love for my own sanity, to even attempt to sort it out now.

Tommorow, a real quick take, on a real life HEROINE...

Conlon's Cavalcade: Kneel Before Neal- More Quotes From A Master

It's been awhile, so some quick thoughts from Neal Adams himself (about himself)...

Neal On His Comics Being Studied In Universities: "I would assume it's the correct thing to do. I'm not surprised: actually I'd be more surprised if it's not".

Neal On Inking: "As far as an inker is concerned, oh, I prefer Neal Adams. I think I'm one of the best inkers around. I know that sounds egotistical".

Next time, his views on his work being reprinted.

John!

Conlon's Cavalcade: This Day In DC History- February 12

Over a century before Captain America and Iron Man found themselves embroiled in a Civil War, one man would bring a fractured nation together...Abraham Lincoln. Yep, the DC calendar acknowledges the birthdate of our 16th president. He was born in 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky, the son of Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. After that he, well if you don't know, you should be cracking open books other than comics. That said, Honest Abe would indeed appear in dozens, upon dozens of comics. Honest.

At DC, he has shown up on covers as diverse as The Unexpected (where he's wearing a spacesuit, while sitting in the remains of the Lincoln Memorial), and Weird Western Tales (depicting him in an arm wrestling bout with Scalphunter). In a Silver Age tale, Superboy went back in time to prevent his assassination. He failed, due to a meddling Lex Luthor. However, he would succeed in the Elseword story, Superman: A Nation Divided. Not to be outdone, Batman got in on the Elseworld action, and went on a mission for Lincoln, in Batman: The Blue, The Grey, and the Bat. On the parallel world of Earth 3, John Wilkes Booth was the president, and Lincoln assassinated him.

Without a doubt the strangest "Lincoln" story in DC lore, was The Flash #210. Barry Allen finds himself in the future during a global civil war. The entire planet has been divided between Earth East, and Earth West. Only one "man" can bring about peace- a robot Abraham Lincoln. That is, if the Flash can protect it from a robot John Wilkes Booth.

On the 14th, a Valentine's Day nod to two love BIRDS...

Conlon's Cavalcade: This Day In DC History- February 11

A thousand years from now, one man will be brave enough to wear a variety of pink costumes...Rokk Krinn, Cosmic Boy. Cosmic Boy first popped into the 20th century in Adventure Comics #247, by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. The tale introduced the concept of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Rokk is an appropriate first name for Cos (that's his nickname, kinda like Bill Cosby), because he is the rock, and foundation of the team. In addition to being a founder, he has served as a leader in every incarnation of the group. Under his initial term, the Legion grew from 3 to 18 members. Even when he's not in the big chair, the others look to him for guidance.

The one thing he didn't have, at first, was fashion sense. Although his costumes would get increasingly better since the 80's, he would've made Joan River's face melt off with some of his first uniforms. The greatest faux pas came when he traded in one of his pink suits for (what could only be described as) a male bustier. Still, he had no trouble attracting Night Girl (the beehive hairstyled, former Substitute Legionnaire). In fact, attracting is what he's all about. He hails from Brall, a planet full of people with magnetic powers. Think of him as a reputable version of Magneto.

Rokk hasn't always had it easy. His mother was killed by terrorists. And, his younger brother, Pol (fellow Legionnaire, Magnetic Kid) died on a mission. In other revamps of the Legion, Krinn was married to Night Girl (together they would have a son, named for his brother), but he was rendered powerless after a terrible war. He would eventually be revealed as that reality's Time Trapper. In the current series, he has recently stepped down from his most recent term as leader. But, it's only a matter of time, before he's elected again.

Tomorrow, a REAL LIFE leader...