Elliot Stabler is the Green Lantern!
The New Green Initiative | Graphic Novel Reporter - New Green Lantern cartoon movie coming to DVD!
The above article includes an interview with Chris Meloni, or as I like to call him angry Elliot Stabler. You may also recognize his name from Harold and Kumar go to White Castle - yes, that was him!!
He sounds all excited about the prospect of voicing a superhero, “You become a kid again. I’m doing what my five-year-old son does in his bedroom. Only I get paid for it. That makes it even more fun.”
I think Meloni is a great choice. He’s got a strong voice but it isn’t too deep (think Batman) or too unsure (think Superman) or too high (think Spiderman).
Green Lantern is certainly getting a lot of attention. I read the beautifully illustrated and mythos heavy Sinestro Corps War. I was confused, it’s true, but enjoyed it none the less.
Matt Thorn Interview
Publisher’s Weekly has a good interview with translator Matt Thorn. He talks about the challenge of bringing shojo manga to an American market. What’s still strange to me is that, thanks in part to Thorn, shojo manga did come here and it revolutionized the market. So how come nothing’s changed? Josei (manga for women, as opposed to girls/teens) is being resisted and the attempts to make girls interested in western comics have flopped. The Minx line failed due to terrible or, rather, average stories but still, why give up all together?
People Can learn to Love Manga
I mentioned yesterday that my new favorite blog is Warren Peace Sings the Blues. I can’t resist posting this interview with his non-manga reading, teenage brother Noah. It’s hilarious and Noah is a great at cracking me up.
Only one thing that really needs to be said. Noah, are you listening? Pinoko? Is awesome.
Skim – review
This is, by far, one of my favorite books of the past year. I would go so far as saying it was my favorite book but that would mean I would have to give up on the guilty pleasure Picnic and I’m not willing to do that just yet. Kimberly Cameron, a.k.a. Skim, attends an all girl-school in Toronto. She’s an outsider, wrapped in her shell but with the guts to wear black nail polish and a scowl. Most of her life experience comes from hanging out with her best friend. She’s a typical teenager, full of angst and anger. Then, finally, some excitement hits the school when the popular girl’s boyfriend commits suicide. As the girls analyze the hows and whys, Skim enters into a relationship with her English teacher, Ms. Archer.
It would just be another overdramatic Lolita story if it weren’t handled so sensitively, not just in the dialogue but the artwork. The plump Skim is pulled along by the ever present wind. It tugs at her jacket, her hair, forcing her to move along even when she wants to stay in one moment.
If you want to know more, check out this interview with writer Mariko Tamaki.
Neil Gaiman interview – L.A. Times
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I read American Gods in grad school, at a time when all I really wanted to read was manga and young adult books, so I approached it with a sort of ‘meh this is pretentious’ feeling. Then came Neverwhere, Anansi Boys and my favorite, Coraline. His latest, Graveyard Book, is waiting on my shelf. But you can’t really talk about Gaiman without mentioning Sandman. This weird twisted series has kept me up at night. Not because I’m afraid but because Gaiman’s dreams are so much better than my own.
Here he discusses his career, the movies and what he hopes for the future. I’m looking forward to the Coraline movie, especially because the graphic novel was a disappointment.
Comic Book Tattoo interview
Newsarama has an interview with Comic Book Tattoo editor Rantz Hosley (is that his real name?). It’s a pretty long winded interview with no amazing revelations, still if you are interested in the book you might like what he has to say.
Personally, I am not a Tori Amos fan. But I am a Neil Gaiman fan and when he tells me to read something, I do it. The artwork in this book is stunning. Plus, the giant size makes every last detail stick out; I included a really big picture so you can get an idea. Definitely made the “poetry” of Ms. Amos worthwhile.
