The Drink Tank’s 2010 Comics Spectacular Editorial by Special Issues Editor James Bacon I love comics. the right thing, that should raise a red flag. Anyone who knows me knows this. I buy In fairness, Vince Docherty the current Hugo them, go to the conventions, meet the creators, and Admin was invited to address some other questions hang the artwork on my walls. So a Hugo for comics from me on this matter, and unfortunatley, a real life is awesome. But then in an attempt to please every- issue interveened, reminding me of course that this is one all of the time, have we as science fiction fans just a hobby and for the fun of it, but even so, I am created an award that actually shows a distinct lack of sure his answears would have made good reading and understanding for the media, and also create confu- added clarity on this matter, as he frequently does. sion for fans, who actually read comics. I would also like to say, as I type, that some- Conventions and fandom seems to becom- times I find that we as SF fans seem to have lost the ing populated with more people who want to ‘run fun and adventurous spirit. It feels like the amateur or organise’ than sit and enjoy. I experienced this at account analysts have taken over and are fearful that NASFiC, where panels were empty, devoid of fans, yet their budget sheets and predcitions are not followed the con was good, and there was an adequate amount as they should be, and this is stifling and drowning of people along, but they were more interested in the in procrastination, wonderful exciting, ingenious and other stuff. creative ideas, from less stoic folks, who want to do Thats cool, so am I, but I am also interested in risky and new things. SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS AND COMICS. I want I am not suggesting fans should gamble, but to have panels not only for the masses, but also that take educated risks that are outside their comfort I will enjoy. I find it patronising when fans scoff at the zone, in the search for improvement, and betterment thought of going to programming, isnt that what go- overall. Cons are being refined down to boring recip- ing to a con is about? ies, that must be followed, and if done correctly are A comic reader, like myself, can only hold their marked as succesful, but are they, as the blandness of head in their hands with the level of confusion that boring mediocrity fails to attract new blood? the current Hugo for Best Graphic Story category I ran a number of conventions which lost seems to possess. Granted, the current administra- money, which I paid for myself, or other fans helped tor, has a level of common sense and pragmatism that rally round, you would never know, as they are al- probably ensures that it actually all works out pretty ways remembered for the crazy fun and entertaining damn fine, but its confusing. events What exactly is a graphic story? they were. Are we worried about the wrong measure And if me and my best mate want to vote of success? for a graphic story, and we vote for two versions of We need more fans, more people who haven’t what essentiually is the same title - do we cancel one yet engaged, and we need them now. A succesful con another out? will see that, and consider what is resnoble to charge I know running anything is a hard job, but a young person into their convntion, and should see there neds to be more openess and discussion about real success for what it is, not just a tick box exercise this. I saw the unhappi- in effiency and plan- ness in Montreal when ning. Captain Britain should James or shouldn’t (Was there an official state- ment? Does anyone know what happened?) have been on the bal- lot. Sorry, that is not acceptable, and as SF fans, who like to do things right, and also do 2010 Comic Book Movies by Jason Wiener and Chris Garcia Jason Watches Kick-Ass from deceased characters. A semi-clever film And I’ll refrain from using the title as my geek joke, but the problem is there would be no review. That’s just lazy. But I will say I liked it quite a reason to point that out if they hadn’t overused lot. The story was engaging, the hero (a dweeb who voice-over in the first place. And pointing out decides to try to become a super-hero) is likable, the movies that used voice-over narration well (i.e., violence was insanely over the top, and Hit Girl is sparingly) just underlines how annoying it was. just awesome (and in a way I was more impressed by But other than that, it was awesome Nicolas Cage as her daddy, Big Daddy). There’s an odd Running Time: 117 Minutes mix of cartoonishness with ultra-violence that...I liked. It might surprise or shock some people (odd that more controversy has been ginned up from the few Chris Watches The Losers times Hit Girl swears than all the violence). I like the Some films are good, others are bad. way that super-heroing totally doesn’t suit him. And I That’s typical of all things, but what happens when liked the subversive way they handled the “message” something isn’t easily considered as either? That’s of the movie. The idea that people are so insulated and the conundrum I found myself in as I walked out of callous that they ignore the crimes happening around The Losers, a film based on the Vertigo comic book. them--that it takes a crazy idealistic kid to do...anything It rode the line between the two so perfectly that I about it. When his crime-fighting goes horribly awry, can’t figure out which direction I’m leaning. rather than calling for help people watch him online, The Losers is a comic I never read. There are or accidentally run over him and then drive away fast. a lot of those, and after watching it I wasn’t driven In fact, as it turns out, he doesn’t even follow his own to go out and find it. The story is a group of tough moralizing. Without giving too much away, as soon as guys are sent into Central America to stomp out he has something better to do, he stops being Kick- a drug lord…or so it seems. The plan might have Ass. And that’s cynical, twisted, and true. And I loved it. been to eliminate the crew of Military specialists. Now for the one bit I didn’t like. Same problem This leads the guys to go into hiding and then they I had with the similarly spirited ZOMBIELAND, decide it’s time for REVENGE!!! The problem is, this and something I’m afraid is becoming too typical is a paranoid version of The A-Team, and it feels like a of action-comedies. I’m talking about gratuitous retread the entire way through it. overuse of voice-over narration. It’s lazy, it insults But the thing is, it’s all pretty well-done. The the audience’s intelligence, and it’s just annoying. acting, led by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is solid. The folks There’s even a moment in it where he calls extra didn’t have much to work from with the complete attention to it by pointing out you shouldn’t assume toothlessness of the script, but they made the he survives just because he’s talking to you, and he most of it. Even the usually awful Zoe Saldana was points out SUNSET BOULEVARD and AMERICAN decent enough in it, despite moments of complete BEAUTY as movies that use voice-over narration blandness. A weak script is hard to overcome, but this perfect as Tony Stark/Iron Man, and really hams it up time, I don’t think the original script was that weak. well. Mickey Rourke equally so as the villain (and son The failure of Watchmen to bring in the big dollars of a Russian physicist who believes Stark’s father stole that Warners expected was blamed squarely on the the ARC idea from him, hence a really overdeveloped shoulders of it being rated R. I loved Watchmen, grudge). Sam Rockwell is excellent as always conniving thought it was a great piece of cinema and one of business rival. Gwyneth Paltrow is still fine as Pepper the few examples of Alternate History on film that Potts, and Don Cheadle is also great as Rhodey (and really worked. The problem was a number of things one of the few characters aside from Stark who’s colliding. Poor reviews from early viewers who actually given an arc to follow). Gary Shandling thought that the film wasn’t enough like Alan Moore’s makes a great turn as a Senator, Samuel L. Jackson graphic novel. Reviews by critics who thought it is just keeping us warmed up for THE AVENGERS stayed too close to Alan Moore’s graphic novel. Alan movie, and Scarlett Johansson isn’t given enough to Moore’s vitriol for the project and a three hour run- do. For that matter, neither is Samuel L. Jackson, and time limiting the number of screenings a day. Plus, it they sort of make the movie feel a little over-stuffed, didn’t help that it came out in the Dead Sea for Film but no matter.