Welcome to the future - the new DC universe

So the comic book world was turned on it’s head this week as DC, the second biggest comics publisher in the world released the first title in the huge re-boot of their entire main line of monthly books. Or was it? Maybe not quite as dramatically as expected.

Releasing only 2 titles this week was a definite statement of intent, and I think it was successful in generating more and more interest in the flood of new titles which follow in September – 52 new titles in total, 52 new number 1’s. To a comic book geek that is very exciting. Or infuriating, depending on your perspective. I do think it is somewhat sad that a title like Action Comics, which had been one of the longest running comic books in history, is stopped on issue 904 and has to start again as part of this renumbering exercise. But, I also think it is a bold, brave move on DC’s part to have the conviction to include all their titles in the renumbering and not be scared to make changes to sacred texts. Anyway I’m not too precious about the whole thing and I’m damn excited. Bring on the new titles.

                                                                              

So what about the 2 books DC released this week?

First up was Flashpoint #5 written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Andy Kubert. Johns, DC’s star writer has been tasked with concluding the old continuity in one comic book. Now that’s gonna be tough. But if anyone can do it, Johns can. And he does, if not entirely successfully or satisfactorily. But he gives it a damn good try, and he has produced an entertaining comic book in the process. We basically ended up with a time-travel gone wrong scenario. There was a little too much going on in this last issue of Flashpoint and I think it suffered for that. However it was great fun to see a whole host of DC characters, both major and minor, brilliantly drawn by Kubert. The inks of Sandra Hope and Jesse Delperdano, and the rich colours of Alex Sinclair makes the pages really jump out and hit you between the eyes. The best bit of the issue for me was contained in the last few pages, after all the action has died down, and things have returned to “normal”. The Flash gives Batman a letter from his father which he gave to The Flash in the alternate timeline. The four panels that show Bruce, having removed his cowl, reading the letter, while The Flash stands beside him in respectful silence are masterful. The tension and emotion in the scene is palpable on the page, even before we see Bruce’s tears. This final coda to the book is a suitably emotional end and farewell to the current DC universe and it is clear that Johns is very aware of the significance of this book.

And so to the start of the new DC universe (DCNU). Our first introduction to this brave new world is Justice League #1. The biggest comic book release of the year? I ain’t gonna argue. Also written by Geoff Johns (busy man), and illustrated by Jim Lee, with colours by Scott Williams, this first look at the biggest shake-up in comics history is not as bombastic and earth-shattering as one might have expected. It focuses mainly on Batman and Green Lantern, with a four-page sequence introducing Vic Stone A.K.A Cyborg, and a great entrance from Superman. But no Wonder Woman, no Aquaman, no Flash!

Some people have argued that this first issue was too slow, not enough action, not enough characters introduced. Whilst I was expecting more characters to appear each time I turned the page, on reflection I think this slow-burn approach works well. In this age of immediacy it is a brave move to leave out three members of the Justice League entirely, only briefly introduce two others and focus most of the book on Batman and Green Lantern. What this enables Johns to do is concentrate on introducing and developing the characters over a longer period, thereby creating a greater connection with the reader. I particularly like the interplay between Batman (typically dry, refreshingly sardonic) and Green Lantern (brash, cocky and sarcastic). As a long-time fan of Batman I am very excited to see how his character will develop in this title as well as all the other ones he is going to be appearing in.

As far as the art in this book (of course acknowledging that Johns’ writing is an art) goes – Wow. Jim Lee is on fire. I’ve been a big fan of Lee since I first saw his work on Wildcats in the early 90’s. And this is surely some of the finest work he’s ever done.

Overall I really enjoyed Justice League #1. As an introduction to the new DCNU it worked very well. It was never going to be possible to encapsulate an entire new world in one book. That’s what the other 51 titles are for. And I can’t wait.

The Chicago Code

To hear the TV announcer say "the last EVER episode" when introducing episode 13 of the first series of The Chicago Code was stunning. Not in a good way. By the time the episode aired in the U.K the news had already been announced that the show would be cancelled, and much discussion had taken place on the internet about that decision, much of it between fans and the show's creator Shawn Ryan on Twitter. But it was still shocking to hear those words. While disappointing for fans of the show, and I'm sure for Shawn Ryan as well, it seems it was sadly inevitable and a decision that appears to be purely financial.

We can at least be thankful that the first season was made, because in those 13 episodes Shawn Ryan has created one of the best cop shows on T.V ever. One that will go down as a classic of the genre. No doubt.

There is so much going on in each episode; stand-alone stories each week, overlapping with the main storyline of Superintendent Teresa Colvin, superbly portrayed by Jennifer Beals, and Detective Jarek Wysocki, a fully-rounded character from the first minute he is on screen, wholly inhabited by the excellent Jason Clarke, and their campaign to rid Chicago of corruption, their main target being the wickedly crooked Alderman Ronin Gibbons, another superb acting master class from Delroy Lindo. Each episode packs in thrilling car chases, excellent pitch-perfect dialogue, brilliant characterisation, moral dilemmas, family drama, and of course the eternal battle between copper and criminal.

I won't go into the plot too much here but I will say that the road to the final scenes of the show is littered with death, sex, violence, love, heartbreak, sadness, joy, laughter and tears (both the characters and this viewer’s).

As mentioned above the acting on the show is astounding. Jason Clarke as Jarek Wysocki is a tortured whirlwind of a cop, carrying the murder of his brother around with him like a second badge. This is beautifully crystallised in the final episode when Jarek watches a video-tape of his brother confessing to taking kick-backs from criminal gangs while working as an undercover cop. The look on Jarek's face makes me feel his frustration, confusion and anger. He looks like he wants to dive into the TV and save his brother from the deadly situation he couldn’t find a way out of.

Jennifer Beals as Superintendent Colvin has an amazing chemistry with Jason Clarke, the two characters linked by a history as partners on the streets of Chicago, before Colvin began her fast rise to the top of the police department. They both have an unwavering respect for each other's motivations, if not always agreeing with their methods. Colvin is a strong woman in a traditionally male world, and the barriers she faces are tackled head on by a combination of intelligence, skilful political manoeuvring and a potentially destructive conviction to doing what she feels is the right thing, no matter what collateral damage is caused on the way. The pain caused by some of the decisions she makes is etched in Beal’s face, a magnificent portrayal of one of Shawn Ryan’s most memorable characters.

Delroy Lindo as Alderman Gibbons appears to be on a different plane entirely. A self-deluded, malevolent force of a man, corrupted by power, with his sights ruthlessly set on the Mayors office. He hands out orders to kill as easily as handing out bottled water to his power cut constituents in a super-hot Chicago summer. The beauty of the portrayal is that even though we know Gibbons is a bad motherfucker, Lindo makes us like the character, drawn in by his deadly charm, just as the many people who vote for him are done.

This series moved so damn fast it felt like Shawn Ryan knew only had one chance to tell his story, just as the cops in the show had only one shot to bring down their main target Gibbons. The tension this created made the show a pure pleasure to watch (after my heart had stopped beating a thousand times a minute that is).

I can't recommend this show enough. Watch it. It will make your life better.

Why I Love Bristol

I always knew Bristol was a cool city. Even before I first went there. I mean, just listen to the music. I grew up listening to Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, Roni Size, DJ Krust and many others. Pioneering musicians and artists all of them.

Of course, Bristol was also renowned for it's street art.

For a small-town Northern boy Bristol was vibrant and exciting - a place I was desperate to go to, to sample what it had to offer. I've been in the South west for over three years now, working in Bristol for over two years. The city really did live up to my expectations. It is vibrant. It is exciting. There is just so much going on all the time.

See No Evil encapsulates everything that is great about Bristol. A massively ambitous urban art project featuring graffiti/street art from some of the best artists in the world. It is supported by the City Council and other organisations and it is simply stunning to behold. I walked around the area on my lunch break today and was overwhelmed by the art that has been created by these amazingly talented people. The scale of the art is amazing - as can be seen by the photos below.

It was a unique experience to see crowds of people wandering around, stopping to stare up at high-rise buildings, and smiling at the sight of the art which has transformed these buildings into some of the most vibrant artworks I have ever seen.

Congratulations to everyone involved - the organisers, the sponsors, but most of all the artists. Inspiring.

You can see all the photos I took today on my Flickr page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7561209@N08/sets/72157627503121674/

Here is a sample -

1st Post

So I thought I'd start a blog. Yet another activity to distract me from writing a novel. Way I figure it, this is writing so I'm essentially practicing. Any writing is good writing. Right? Well, good as in the act of writing is good, not necessarily the end product is good.

This blog will hopefully become a place for me to discuss writing as well as sharing my thoughts on what's good in books, comics, movies, TV and music, and anything else I'm feeling passionate about at any given moment. 

I'm sure my entries will be sporadic. But I hope entertaining. If anybody reads them that is. Oh well, life is full of risks. I think I can handle the risk of people not reading my blog. Christ, it's not exactly life threatening! 

I promise my next blog will be more entertainig than this one. 

In the meantime check this astoundingly useful blog entry from Jason Arnopp. I loved it and have adopted his philosophy wholeheartedly. http://jasonarnopp.blogspot.com/2011/08/magic-of-draft-zero.html?m=1