Batgirl: truly superb comic storytelling

Well, this is quite nice:

Way back when, after Gotham City was devastated in a massive earthquake (see Batman: Cataclysm and Batman: No Man’s Land in 2000) it was written off and abandoned by the US government in a spookily prescient foretaste of what would happen to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. Amidst the rubble, a number of heroes struggled to protect the innocent. One of these was a brand-new incarnation of Batgirl. 

As the crisis ended and a semblance of normality returned to the battered metropolis, the new heroine got her own series and a mentor in the form of Babs Gordon, the wheelchair-bound crime-fighter called Oracle, who was also the first Batgirl. 

The new operative is an enigmatic problem. Raised in utter isolation as an experiment by martial arts super-assassin David Cain, she cannot communicate. Part of the process creating Cassandra Cain was depriving and overriding her language centres in an effort to make combat her only communication tool. An apparent runaway, she was briefly adopted by the Batman as another weapon in his never-ending battle, before the more humane Oracle becomes her guardian and teacher. 

In this first paperback/digital volume – spanning April 2000-March 2001 by collecting #1-12 of the monthly series and first Annual – the new Batgirl is trying to find her way, bereft even of the ability to learn, whilst revelling in the role of defender of the helpless, but her development as a human being threatens to diminish her capacity as a weapon, and the mystery of her past would indicate that she is possibly a two-edged sword in Batman’s arsenal… 

In a bold experiment, initiating writers Scott Peterson and Kelly Puckett eschewed the standard format of individually titled stories to craft a continuous string of high action, deeply moving episodes which saw the neophyte street warrior battle the dregs of Gotham City while attempting to adapt to a life where not every person was her enemy. Fast, furious, frenetic, visually expressive incidents (illustrated by Damion Scott with inkers Robert Campanella & Coy Turnbull) are interspersed with flashbacks to her lethal and cruel formative years with Cain pitting her against assassins and worse, while keeping a stunning secret of her natal origins all for himself… 

Spellbinding, overwhelmingly fast-paced and terse to the point of bombastic brevity, this is a breakneck, supercharged thrill-ride of non-stop action that still manages to be heavily plot-based with genuine empathy and emotional impact. Truly superb comic storytelling which should be on every fan’s wish-list or bookshelf.

Uncivil War: Plague

And so here we are again. 

Way back when Uncivil War began, I had so many ideas for so many future volumes. And as time went on, I only ever got more and more ideas. But real life also intruded, and I found myself crushed under various deadlines—not the worst fate in the world for a freelancer, but also not the most conducive situation for one wishing to continue to self-publish. Something had to give and to my great frustration, it was Uncivil War. 

And then 2016 happened. And to the surprise of probably no one in this country, on either side of the political divide, writing a new volume of Uncivil War was about the last thing I could possibly imagine doing. Suddenly it all became too much—too real. Far too real. 

And then election day was rapidly approaching and somehow I found myself kneedeep in Uncivil War once again. I wrote what looks to be the longest volume yet, a series of vignettes of varying sizes and set in various locations around our country…and then suddenly I realized I was back on the island with a pair of old friends (and at least one new one) and this volume was demanding my full and unfettered attention. And before I knew I was at least waist-deep—and perhaps more like neck-deep—and then this volume was finished. 

And then it sat. And sat. And sat. As the election was over and yet, obviously, things were unsettled. As was I. To the point where I wasn’t able to even open the finished, copyedited document since three weeks after the election—it was, again, all too much. 

So here we are, now, two days before the inauguration and I’m well aware that from a sales point of view it would have made so much more sense to get this out in the market months ago, or at least weeks ago, and yet it just wasn’t something I was able to get done. But over the past few days I’ve found myself thinking about Uncivil War again and again, even as I have deadlines breathing down my neck yet again. 

And so. Here we are again. At long last, here is the third volume of Uncivil War: Plague.

Gotham Adventures #30: Heart of Clay

I love Scans-Daily. Long before legal digital reprints were easily accessible (or even available), Scans-Daily was where I'd go to find a story I remembered fondly (or couldn't quite remember very clearly). Even now, I find them not just an invaluable resource, but just plain swell.

It doesn't hurt when they like the stuff you write, of course. Such as, for instance, Gotham Adventures #30.

(Don't get me wrong—I know what they're really responding to is the wonderful art by the great Tim Levins. And who can blame 'em?)

Here's what I wrote:

PAGE FIFTEEN
Panel One
Batman and Clayface stand with Mister and Mrs. McKee and a doctor--let’s make this doctor female and either African-American or Asian, whichever you feel like, Tim. She wears a coat that clearly shows she’s a doctor, but perhaps the STAR Labs logo can be on there, to differentiate her from the Fort Kisco docs?
     DOCTOR: ...and since the floor temperature can be dropped in a matter of seconds, Clayface can be frozen into immobility at any time.
     BATMAN: I don’t think we need to worry about another escape attempt.

Panel Two
Batman’s opening the door that leads into another room. Clayface is looking sullen..
      CLAYFACE: Great. So you can keep me here, but you can’t force me to do whatever it is you want.
     BATMAN: Why don’t you explain that to Tommy?

Panel Three
Closeup on Clayface, his face going slack upon seeing Tommy.
      CLAYFACE: Who’s Tommy and why do I...
      CLAYFACE: Oh. 

Panel Four
Twoshot of Clayface and Tommy. Tommy’s ten and due to a genetic problem, he looks very much like a smaller, paler version of Clayface, only worse--his molecular structure is breaking down, causing him, in effect, to melt. The two of them look at each with a touch of horror and lot of recognition and resulting sadness.

Here, impossibly, is what Tim delivered:

How heartbreaking is that last panel? How crazy spot on is the expression Tim gave poor Tommy? I swear, I've seen this page dozens of times and it never doesn't get to me. The pathos is insanely powerful.

Somehow, Tim then surpassed that on the subsequent pages—here's what I wrote:

PAGE SEVENTEEN
Panel One
Clayface holds out his right arm and pushes up his sleeve with the other. We can see that from the wrist up to the elbow it’s goopy and Clayface-looking. Tommy looks on.

Panel Two
Now Clayface’s arm solidifies and looks quite normal. Tommy looks happily amazed.

Panel Three
Tommy hold out his arm and grits his teeth and squints his eyes, clearly trying the same thing. Clayface looks somewhat anxiously expectant.

Panel Four
Tommy lets his arm and the rest of his body drop, very disappointed: this seemed to be his last hope, and now it’s gone too. Clayface looks quite sad.


PAGE EIGHTEEN
Panel One
Clayface grabs Tommy’s arm and holds it with his arm, which is now goopy again. Clayface smiles reassuringly.

Panel Two
They both concentrate like hell, Clayface playing it up for all it’s worth.

Panel Three
Closeup on Clayface’s and Tommy’s eyes as Tommy concentrates and Clayface stares at Tommy intently.

Panel Four
Pull back for them both looking down at Tommy’s arm which is now the arm of any ol’ ten year old. Tommy looks like he was just told he’s taking batting practice with Ken Griffey Jr, while Clayface’s pleasure is a little more muted if just as deep; he’s purty durn stoked here. 

How perfectly did Tim draw Clayface's morphing lessons?  

I love how Tim used the exact same size and shape panels on each of these two pages, then changed them up—all widescreen on the first page and then switching to all vertical on the second. So great.

To his chagrin, time after time, Tim showed me that I could write anything—from ridiculously overcomplicated shot descriptions to pages where I'd just say "I have no idea what should happen here, Tim--help!" and I'd get back exactly what I wanted only ever so much more so. In other words, I'm pretty sure this sequence was a metaphor for our artistic relationship.

Batman: Kings of Fear one of the year's best

Well, that's awfully nice.

Kelley Jones just gets better with age, honing his abstract style to do more storytelling alongside visuals that put Bats and his rogues gallery into perspectives no other creator has thought to try. The covers alone are worth picking this one up, and the insides are even better. Some of the panel layouts and way Kelley works off Peterson's cool concept--what if Scarecrow drugged Bats enough to get him talking--were so good I just stared at them for several minutes. And that's not to underplay Scott's work here as a writer--he really digs into the psychological concepts of Batman, even if I disagree with some of the answers we find in the series. I don't read a lot of DC material right now, but I'm glad I got to this one, it's highly recommended and requires no prior context beyond a general knowledge of the characters.

I admit, I thought it was pretty swell, too.

Truckus Maximus: what more could a reader want?

Another librarian likes us! She really likes us!

A futuristic, dystopian world where the slightest mistakes can get you sent to your death, exciting races (also to the death), and a bunch of teenagers using their skills to make a family - what more could a reader want? Excellent art, well detailed with as much or more of the story told in pictures as in the text. My manga fans are going to love this one! Can't wait to get it on the shelves.

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

When you're writing a comic and you've José García as your artist, you'd be well-advised indeed to tell the story in pictures more than the text.

Truckus Maximus: adrenaline high, action-packed

A good review is always nice. But a good review from a librarian is extra special:

This was a fun, adrenaline high, action-packed book. The illustrations are gritty and intense, with a full range of colors that evoke a dystopian world. The plot is quick moving, with training montages and a climatic race to the finish. The characters are lovable, quirky, and authentic, and the story is a great modern take on the Roman Empire and gladiators. If you love adventure, racing, monster trucks, or gritty illustrations and characters, this is a perfect book for you. 

Truckus Maximus: the interview!

Chris Barton, who's not only a wonderful children's book author but also one of the only human beings who might just have better musical taste than I, interviewed me and Truckus Maximus illustrator José García (one of the only human beings who might just be more prolific than Chris Barton) about Truckus.

Being interviewed together was a delight, as I discovered yet again that José and I are like peas in a pod, except for the ways in which we have absolutely nothing in common. I like to think that strange combination is what makes us so simpatico as collaborators.

Here's the interview—and if you move fast, you might even win a free copy of Truckus Maximus! Oh, sure, I know, you've probably already bought a copy of Truckus for yourself, as well as several more copies to give to loved ones this holiday season, but if you win Chris's giveaway, you'll also have one to give to strangers, and what could be better than winning—nay, earning—the eternal love and gratitude of a complete stranger? Exactly: nothing!

So what are you waiting for? Go now—operator is sitting by.

“I was drawn toward tales of underdogs — especially when they banded together to achieve something none of them could ever do on their own.” (2-question Q&A and giveaway for December 2019

"I AM Batman."

So partner-in-crime(fighting stories) Tim Levins posted this page earlier today:

And great as his storytelling is—as always—this page never doesn't make me laugh, because of the middle panel.

I was so sure everyone was going to pick up on my blatant Seinfeld reference.

Truckus Maximus: an alt-world action movie

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books weighs in on Truckus Maximus!

With its action-packed visuals, tricked-out cars, and edge-of-your-seat racing stunts, this sci-fi graphic novel holds plenty of tween and teen appeal. The plot reads like an alt-world action movie, complete with training montages and climactic race to the finish, but the story never loses its heart or its humor. Readers will be drawn to Axl, stubborn Piston, and the rest of Team Apollo’s crew. Give this broadly likable novel to fans of Camper’s Lowriders in Space, NASCAR, racing video games, and The Fast and the Furious franchise.
RECOMMENDED

My daughters love the Fast and the Furious films so from their point-of-view, that's some high praise indeed.

Truckus Maximus: boisterous fun

Booklist weighs in on Truckus Maximus!

With nearly 300 pages to work with, author Peterson is not afraid to pump the brakes in order to develop his characters and flesh out his bizarre world, helpfully sandwiching such scenes between daredevil races and huge car pile ups. 

In artwork resembling a mash-up of Speed Racer and Mad Max: Fury Road, [artist] García compellingly pairs anime-inspired character designs, complete with over-the-top expressions, with heavily detailed cars and in-depth racing action, bringing lively, dynamic motion to the scenes. He also makes clever use of space, switching nimbly between full-page spreads and short runs of panels.  

Boisterous fun for manga or racing fans. 

Yeah.

Truckus Maximus: high-octane adventure

The School Library Journal reviews Truckus Maximus! An excerpt:

Welcome to a futuristic world that never saw the collapse of the Roman Empire. There are enormous disparities among social classes, with the rich cloistered away in temples with plenty to consume and the poor working themselves to death for a meager existence. One of the few things that unites everyone is watching Truckus Maximus, the ultimate car race.

[José] García’s art owes much to traditional manga—characters have large, expressive eyes and artfully spiked hair. Creative paneling and great use of fumes, fire, and smoke capture the frenetic action. Peterson effectively conveys Piston’s journey as an underdog and Team Apollo banding together when facing obstacles.

VERDICT ...this high-octane adventure will appeal to fans of manga or racing.

They could not be more right about José's amazing ability to capture frenetic action via  creative paneling, great use of fumes, fire, and smoke and pretty much every other tool in the kit, as well as a few I think he invented.

 

Oh yes. 

Truckus Maximus: tribute to underdogs

A pretty spiffy review from Kirkus:

Thanks to the incisive probing of the crushing power of spectacle via a focus on the game and its toll on the drivers, the story evokes oppressive regimes. The gritty artwork overflows with frenetic action, using colors that evoke a dystopian world. Ample use of close-ups, irregular panel layouts, and other techniques sharpen the story’s emotional resonance and stakes.

A truly marvelous tribute to underdogs.

Batman: König der Angst!

Today I Learned: that the German edition of Batman: Kings of Fear is titled Batman - König der Angst and I couldn't possibly love that more. And to discover it on Halloween yet!

It's available from Panini as well as the German and Austrian Amazons, with the translation courtesy Josef Rother.

Man. The only thing that makes the Batman even more the Batman is when he's German. (I think that's the answer to one the Riddler's riddles. But probably not really.)

José García: modern gladiator

It wasn't easy finding the right artist for Truckus Maximus. See, most artists have a thing or two they especially like to draw...or hate to draw. Some love drawing tech, others hate it. Some love to draw animals, others hate it. Some love superheroes, some hate 'em. Some love fantasy or sci-fi, others hate...you get the idea. So finding the right creative team for a project is always a challenge, but a vital part of the process. A brilliant artist on the wrong book just isn't likely to catch creative fire.

Truckus was especially challenging. Because a lot of the book is people talking.

And the rest of the book is insane car races.

Finding someone who loves drawing either one of those isn't too hard. Finding someone great who loves drawing either of those, however, is. And finding someone great who loves drawing both? That's nearly impossible.

What's more, for logistical reasons, I needed to write the entire script before locking an artist down—the first time in a long time I'd done a major project without knowing in advance who the artist is. That's a key bit of information for a comics writer to know. Because if you know who your artist is, you can write to his or her strengths and avoid the things he or she doesn't like. Your artist loves cityscapes? Set your story in the urban jungle. Your artist loves drawing horses? Write a western. Your artist loves tech? Set it in a futurish factory. Whatever. The more your artist likes what he or she needs to draw, the better your story is likely to look and the better it's going to therefore seem—and the better a writer you're going to therefore appear. Genius!

So. We had a monster script that called for two specific skills sets which are themselves a bit on the rare side in comics and which are even more rarely to be found in the same person. We know this because we looked for an artist for a long, long time. But although we considered a fair number who could do one thing well or the other thing, no one was quite able to nail both aspects perfectly.

And then one day editor Calista Brill said, hey, I think I found the guy.

Enter José García.

She'd seen his stuff at San Diego Comic-Con and was really impressed. She sent me his samples and I was really impressed. So we pulled together some material for him to try out on.

And a few days later, this stuff came in:

I believe Calista put it quite well when she said, "HOLY CATS."

That was my first look at what José could do when unleashed upon the stuff I'd written. These characters who'd lived in my head and in my script for so long were suddenly real. And they were spectacular.

So. Okay. Sure. He could design characters like no one's business. And invent one seriously badass automobile. But how was his storytelling?

A few days later, these came in:

I believe my reaction was something along the lines of "homina homina homina."

So. There was no doubt: we had our artist. And I was a very happy boy. A very happy boy indeed.

But it was many, many months later, after José was able to really start on the project in earnest, that I fully realized just how much I'd lucked out. It was the day this double-page spread arrived.

Everything about it was just right. It showed that he not only totally understood who these characters were, but was also able to convey that in just a few images, and without even the benefit of (almost) any words. The characterization is so deft. The storytelling is impeccable. The drawing is perfect. And it's simply gorgeous. 

And, improbably, somehow José actually kept not only matching that amazing page, but even topping it. And, somehow, even 250 pages later, he was still talking to me. (That's how you can tell he's a keeper.)

Truckus Maximus: Bread, Circuses, and Gladiator Monster Trucks!

I'm stealing this review's title wholesale because it pretty much sums up Truckus Maximus perfectly:

If you have manga fans, give them this one! The artwork is very manga-inspired, and the storyline is fast-paced, with car aerodynamics and explosions aplenty. There’s good world-building – I like the idea of the Roman Empire’s enduring and not moving past this whole entertainment-or-death business. It’s a popular dystopian theme, from The Running Man to The Hunger Games, and fits where we are as a media-obsessed, “if it bleeds, it leads” society. Axl is an interesting character, with his stoicism and the big moral choice ahead of him. In a society where everyone is corrupt, the good guy becomes the outlaw – and the team owner and the emperor himself are all in, trying to sway Axl. Piston is Axl’s foil, made of passion where Axl represses everything. Her bad decisions get her tossed off one team, and leave her future with Team Apollo pretty tenuous until she starts to harness her own power and channel it in more positive ways. But having a bit of that wild streak also means pulling out some big risks, and that may be what Team Apollo needs.  

Truckus Maximus is a fun read, and should be popular with tweens and young teens. I’d like to see this as an animation.

Hey, me too!