Panel Discussion: Bending Backwards (A Participatory Exercise)!

Martinex1:  Have you ever been taken out of the enjoyment of a story by an oddity in the art or a quirk in the dialog?   Has your suspension of disbelief ever been stretched by what is visually on panel?   Have you ever reread a comic page thinking something was missing or it should have been modified somehow?  Or do you just like goofing around?

If the answer to any of those questions are "yes," then this Panel Discussion may be for you.  Once in a while here at BITBA, I will rescript a page just for sheer enjoyment (hopefully yours).

Before we get to the action, let's talk about how this all came about.   Creating a comic is difficult and time consuming work.   It involves a significant amount of  talent in the art arena that I don't have, although I spend a certain amount of time praising, reviewing, and critiquing the work.  I am aware that even with the best of intentions by the creators sometimes things just don't appear as intended in its final form. 

In a recent post, we took a look at Firestorm and during my research I came across a page from Justice League of America #179  (cover dated June 1980) by Gerry Conway and Dick Dillin.  The story itself in which Firestorm first joins the JLA is a strange one starting with the alliterative title "The Siren Song of the Satin Satan."   Dick Dillin was an artist with DC most notably remembered for his decades of work mainly on Blackhawk and Justice League of America.  In my mind, Dillin helped create a certain DC feel as he handled the art on countless covers for them.  Conway created Firestorm and brought him over to the JLA. 

Together the talented duo created a page that made me laugh and take a second look.   The bizarre position of Firestorm in the large panel had me wondering if Ronnie Raymond was a contortionist.   There is just something a little off in the character's position.  The dialogue that followed made me wonder if Conway took note of the art (particularly with the word balloon from the Elongated Man).  I also noticed the shock effect behind Firestorm's head; I am tempted to add the Gwen Stacy "snap." Take a look yourself...

Dillin is an extremely able artist, but sometimes everybody has an off day.   Not only was the back-breaking pose extraordinary, but I didn't think that the facial expressions on the team matched the joy of the page or the general happiness of what they were expressing.

So as I am apt to do, I had a little fun with the page.   A few word changes and the page has a slightly different meaning...

It is puerile I know, but I cannot resist.  So here is one more...

I've had my fun for the week, so now it is your turn.   Do you have any suggestions for revised dialogue or commentary?    And on a broader scope, does any panel or page stick in your mind where just something was unintentionally off?  The Bronze Age is full of art demanded on a tight deadline; it is all better than anything I would have scribbled in the time allowed, but we can still have some laughs with it can't we?

Cheers!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thanks for all of the visits and participation on the BITBA site!  We wish you and your families all of the best today and in the new year! On this special day we are sharing a special post with pictures of Santa Claus on various comic covers throughout the comic ages.  And also, we are sharing some artwork with comic heroes wearing the Santa suit. 

Come back tomorrow and throughout the new year for more fun and BITBA cheer!  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

This & That: Traditions, Traditions...

Redartz:  Here it is, Christmas Eve. And whether you are celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or the advent of Winter, you are probably engaging in those time-honored routines we call traditions. From decorating your home to attending a religious service; from enjoying some favored holiday delicacy to honoring loved ones with gifts, traditions are a huge part of our holiday observance. And here at BitBA, we're no different. And so, before all the guests arrive, we're inviting you all in to share a few of our traditions.

At our house, the decorations go up Thanksgiving weekend. Setting up the Christmas tree is the biggest job, as we've accumulated a bunch of ornaments through the years. One little tradition I've added is that of making an ornament each year. We still buy some, especially the collectible ones- Batman , the Muppets and Spider-Man have prominent spots on the tree). Yet the effort in creating that ornament is well worth it; making the tree a bit more unique and personal.

Speaking of personal, I also design a greeting card each year (and my wife usually has to remind me that time is running out). Meanwhile, the cookies she makes are cooling on the counter; of course I have to sample a few to keep my creative energies up. She lets me help decorate them, but the baking is off limits to me- I'm no help there, anyway. 

We always try to catch a variety of holiday movies each season, and the animated specials as well. YouTube has enabled us to go back and rewatch some long-ago treats. This year we saw a John Denver special from 1975 (with a young Steve Martin), and a Judy Garland show from 1963. Lots of fun, and also a kick seeing the original commercials included (remember "Clink"- Andre' for the Holidays", and the Norelco  shaver with Santa on board). 

And, of course, I also try to read a few Christmas themed comics. A good way to wind down after a long day of work followed by a long evening of holiday shopping...

Martinex1:  Much like you, Redartz, our family starts to decorate Thanksgiving weekend but items gradually roll out as the days progress.   Wrapped gifts start to appear on the fireplace mantle with the pile gradually growing as Christmas approaches.  We have a couple of artificial trees that we rotate from year to year.  My favorite is the completely modern silver metallic tree that spins.  It reminds me of the one my parents put up for us back in the 70s.   My wife is much more traditional when it comes to trees so we get a good laugh out of it; this year we have the green tree up. 

My youngest still looks for the Elf on the Shelf each morning, so there are quite a few creative challenges each year. My favorite was when Elfie ate the dog biscuits and left a note that Santa would not be pleased with our choice of cookies, or perhaps when Elfie added mustaches to the boys' school photos.

We light some bushes outside our door in red, green, and white.  But every year the rabbits chew through the wires so we have intermittent strands.   It has become a bit of a tradition to see which shrubs stay lit. 

With the boys we watch Christmas movies of all kinds, but lately we seem to catch Elf, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone more frequently.

Christmas Eve is typically a big day.   Our family always goes to an animated movie in the theater; this year we most likely will see Sing.  Then it is off to church for the evening candlelight service and back home for a nice dinner (usually a combination of pasta and ham and a special sausage soup). While we are out Santa comes for the boys and leaves behind the special gifts (and perhaps a small lump of coal).

Christmas Day is more low key and relaxing.   But festivities really last all the way through New Year with visits from the Grandparents and board game playing.  Cheers and Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by today! Feel free to share some of your holiday traditions and diversions. We still have a few gifts to wrap, so we better get  busy. Wherever you are, and whatever your beliefs, may you have all the peace and happiness the season can provide!

The Quarter Bin: Hey, I'm Standing Here!

Martinex1:  Let's take a look at some comic covers today! Pick the four that you like the most and would like to own for whatever reason.  It's called the "$1 Challenge" and this time around we have a whopping 42 issues from which to choose.

Frankly, I think I could have found a hundred more covers of this ilk because today at BITBA we are exploring a pose that is quite ubiquitous.   Let's call it the "Face Front, Stand Proud, Middle of a Jumping Jack, Comic Cover Pose $1 Challenge."  You will see what I mean when you scroll through the images.  

Through no scientific or confirmed method at all, I suspect Marvel has used this type of pose the most.   I say that because the examples were very easy to find and seemed to appear in almost every Marvel mag.  The Avengers' artists loved this pose as it appeared very regularly in that title.   For DC on the other hand I had to do more searching; and other than in Justice League of America I was surprised at the relative paucity.  I scoured Charlton covers and I could only locate the pose in E-Man (and that was borderline); I suspect it is out there in Charlton comics so bonus points if anybody sites another example.  Atlas-Seaboard had a couple examples that I found, but I admit I am taking a bit of liberty with those.   In general, forgive my stretch in finding the scarce issues in the Harvey and Archie comics, as this is more of a Super-Hero pose.   The short legs of Harvey's headliners make it less likely I suppose.  And I know Jughead is seated, but it still fits the theme in my opinion.  

What I enjoy most about the position depicted is that it is truly a comic cover trope.   Nobody in real life stands like that.   In fact, I am tempted to make it my New Year's Resolution to break into this pose on a daily basis.  Wouldn't it be fun to go to a corporate meeting and present an annual Power Point financial statement while standing so dynamically?    To stand with legs spread so wide has to be uncomfortable, but our comic heroes seem to enjoy the position.  I am sure artists use it because it fills the frame nicely and is inherently bombastic.

My choices this time around would include all DC issues simply because I don't explore that publisher as much as I should.   I have to say though that the Wonder Woman cover is weird.  Is she facing forward or backwards?   Take a close look as Diana is exhibiting her rarely used "owl" power!

So face forward BITBA fans and assume the position!  What do you think?  Which comics would you like?  What have I missed?   What are your favorite four?  And tell us something about the issue if you already own it and recommend it.   Cheers!