2008′s best graphic novels
WORD BALLOONS
Graphic novels continue to be one of the few categories in bookstores experiencing growth. As such, there’s a near explosion of quality work coming out in the longer format. This week, Word Balloons will look at the best graphic-novel format comics released for the first time in 2008; next week we’ll look at the best periodical comic-book releases.
1. Local
Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly’s tale follows young Megan McKeenan as she crisscrosses America. Each chapter is set in a different city in a different year. Wood and Kelly capture a sense of each city on the itinerary.
2. Too Cool to Be Forgotten
Software engineer Andrew Wicks seeks the aid of a hypnotist to quit smoking. But rather than waking up smoke-free, he wakes up in 1985, as a high school freshman. He decides he’s been sent back to avoid taking his first smoke, but hopes to avoid otherwise shaking up his teenage life. Written and drawn by Alex Robinson (“Box Office Poison,” “Tricked”).
3. What It Is
Part autobiography, part creative workbook, Lynda Barry’s “What It Is” features dazzling artwork with elements of collage throughout.
4. Bottomless Belly Button
Dash Shaw writes and draws this huge graphic novel about the adult children of Maggie and David Looney, who have announced their divorce after 40 plus years of marriage.
5. Freddie and Me
Mike Dawson’s memoir shows how his life was influenced by Freddie Mercury of Queen. Influenced by the aforementioned Robinson, Dawson intertwines speculation about the band with his own coming-of-age.
6. Burma Chronicles
Guy Delisle and his wife go to Burma as part of Doctors Without Borders. As his wife battles the dictatorship’s bureaucracy to care for malaria victims, Delisle takes care of his young son and details day to day life in the oppressed nation.
7. Dugout
Writer Adam Beechen and artist Manny Bello are the creative team for this story of a down-on-his-luck baseball manager in 1959 who decides the only way to save his job is to break a hotshot pitcher out of jail. “Dugout” mixes the sports and caper genres with aplomb.
8. Love and Rockets: The Education of Hopey Glass
Jaime Hernandez has been spinning tales of Maggie and Hopey, punk rock girls from the barrio, since 1983. Now the women are in their 30s, but no less fascinating. Hopey’s trying to become a teacher’s assistant in this story. Meanwhile, Ray, who used to live with Maggie, lusts after Vivian and finds himself at the edges of a murder plot.
9. Omega The Unknown
Novelist Jonathan Lethem updates the oddball 1970s Marvel title for the modern era. The first chapter is based very closely on the original work by Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes and Jim Mooney. “Omega,” drawn by former Oklahoma resident Farel Dalrymple, features a mute alien superhero and the earth teenager with whom he is strangely connected.
10. Aya of Yop City
Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie’s sequel to “Aya” features Aya helping Adjoua with her new baby. There’s a question of the baby’s paternity which has the town buzzing. Meanwhile, Bintou has a new romance with a smooth Parisian. Aya’s father has his own problems at work, which spill into his home life in a cliffhanger of an ending.
By Matthew Price
From the Dec. 26 edition of The Oklahoman
2008′s best games innovated
THE NEXT LEVEL
Several sequels were among the best video games of 2008, but innovation also came into play, both with new peripherals, new properties, and new adaptations of well-known franchises. The following are some of the best games of 2008:
Wii Fit
Using the Wii Balance Board in this workout game is not only fun, it’s a way to burn calories. The Nintendo crew continues to find ways to make the Wii a must-have for the non-hardcore gamers.
Grand Theft Auto IV
The game lived up to the hype. The mature-rated “Grand Theft Auto IV” features Niko Bellic, an eastern European lured to Liberty City by the promises of his cousin. His cousin, however, has oversold his own importance, and Niko must dig through the city’s underbelly to reach his goals. Excellent visuals and an engrossing storyline make “GTA IV” a must-buy for those who don’t mind the rough content.
Dead Space
Engineer Isaac Clarke is sent to repair a ship in deep space. But once there, he finds the ship overrun by zombies.
He has to use the tools on hand (like saws and welding guns) to take out the zombies in this survivalist horror game with a twist.
Left 4 Dead
Another zombie thriller, “Left 4 Dead” will adjust the gameplay experience based on the characters’ actions.
LEGO Batman
Explore the world of the Dark Knight in this adventure game starring LEGO versions of Batman, Robin, the Joker and more.
MLB 08: The Show
Excellent graphics and multiple gameplay options make this among the best sports games available for the PS3.
NCAA Football 09
The addition of online dynasty mode to this always-solid college football simulation made “NCAA Football 09″ among the year’s best.
Rock Band 2
Music-based games became more popular in 2008. The best of them was “Rock Band 2,” which allows the gamer to take on various roles in a rock and roll band. “Rock Band 2″ has new songs and more modes, as well as compatibility with previously downloaded “Rock Band” content.
– Matthew Price
From the Dec. 26 edition of The Oklahoman
Relive classic newspaper strips with collected editions
WORD BALLOONS
Comic strip fans had much to choose from in 2008. Several classic strips have been reprinted in new formats, many for the first time. While all the news for the future of the newspaper comic strip isn’t good – comic strip space in newspapers continued to be at a premium, and several editorial cartoonists were laid off in 2008 – the year did provide a window into the past with several top-notch collections.
Two of the reprint projects have Oklahoma connections – IDW continued its comprehensive “The Complete Dick Tracy” reprints, and Fantagraphics reprinted almost all of Bill Mauldin’s “Willie and Joe” panels.
Willie and Joe: The World War II Years collects 600 cartoons, many never-before reprinted, of Bill Mauldin’s cartoons from the front lines. Bill Mauldin’s early cartoons were published in The Oklahoman. Mauldin served with the 45th Infantry Division, and more than 200 of his cartoons are collected at the 45th Infantry Division Museum, 2145 N.E. 36th Street.
“The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy” volumes 4 and 5 were released in 2008. Volume 4 contains comic strips from July 1936 through January 1938. Storylines in volume 5 include “Chief Shellberry,” “Karpse,” “Scardol” and “Whip Chute,” which ran January 1938 through July 1939. Gould was born in Pawnee, and his hard-bitten police detective Dick Tracy is one of the world’s best-known comic-strip characters.
If you want a broader overview of the history of the comic-strip, “The Comics: The Complete Collection,” a Borders-exclusive book from Brian Walker, will do just that. The book is a compilation of his two previous books, “The Comics: Before 1945″ and “The Comics: Since 1945.” This book is lushly illustrated. Early color Sunday comic strips like “Flash Gordon” receive full-page reprints; the oversized trim of “The Complete Collection” gives readers a feel for what these comic strips looked like to readers of the time. Covering “The Yellow Kid” to “Zits,” Walker’s book is an excellent primer to learn what’s been great about comic strips through the years.
By Matthew Price
From the Dec. 19 edition of The Oklahoman
Retailer wants parents to watch game ratings
THE NEXT LEVEL
Parents should pay attention to video game ratings, says a vice president of a major video game retail chain.
Jason Cochran is vice president of stores for the western half of the United States for GameStop. Cochran is responsible for about 1,000 GameStop stores. He says his stores won’t sell a mature-rated game to anyone under 17, but he wants all parents to be aware of what the ratings on video games mean. Games are rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Cochran said lots of information about game ratings can be found at www.respecttheratings.com.
The six primary ratings for games:
Early childhood, intended for those 3 and older, EC
Everyone, intended for those 6 and older, E
Everyone 10, for those 10 years and older, E10+
Teen, intended for those age 13 and up, T
Mature, intended for those 17 and older, M
Adults only, for those 18 and up, AO
There’s also a “RP,” for rating pending, which is occasionally seen in advertising before a game’s rating has been assigned. Each game also will have content descriptors, which describe what type of content is present in the game. Cochran said parents can find the rating on the front, side and back of each video game.
Cochran said while mature-rated games such as “Grand Theft Auto” draw attention and do sell well, they aren’t the majority of what’s available to gamers.
“Statistically, last year, 85 percent of the (titles) we sold were rated E for everyone.”
Cochran said music-based and sporting games are among the popular choices this year.
“It’s a growing category. I think what’s made it more popular is the extension of the customer base and the enjoyment of the entertainment,” Cochran said. “Music has been a great connection with what a lot of people enjoy.”
He rates “Wii Music” as a top E-rated choice this holiday season.
“There’s over 60 musical instruments to chose to interact with (through the Wii remote).”
Other E-rated games Cochran considers to be really fun choices include “Cooking Mama,” “Tiger Woods PGA Tour” and “Mario Kart.”
By Matthew Price
From the Dec. 19 edition of The Oklahoman
Comics vodcast: Supergirl 36, DCU Holiday Special, Terminator 1, Dark Reign New Nation
DVD review: Doctor Who the Complete Fourth Series
Christmas season is as good a time as any to start watching the fourth series of the modern Doctor Who. The madcap David Tennant plays the Doctor, who finds himself spending Christmas aboard the Titanic. But it’s not the classic doomed ship: Someone has remade the vessel as a themed space cruise. Apparently those on board don’t fear the history, but the Doctor discovers this Titanic too is meant to destroy itself. Kylie Minogue guest-stars as Astrid, a waitress aboard the ship who dreams of seeing the galaxy.
As the season proper begins, Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), who first aided the Doctor in the “Runaway Bride” Christmas special in season three, returns as a full-time companion for the Doctor. But while Rose and Martha Jones, previous companions in the relaunched Doctor Who series, grew romantically attached to the Doctor, Donna’s just a friend – something the characters make a point of telling nearly everyone they meet.
The Doctor and Donna see the fall of Pompeii, meet Agatha Christie, and of course travel to far-off planets and times. Overall, Tennant shows why he’s especially suited for the wisecracking, 900-year-old Time Lord, and it’s too bad he’s announced this full season will be his last. The Steven Moffatt-written two-parter, “Silence in the Library” and “the Forest of the Dead” make up the best episodes of the season.
– Matthew Price
From the Dec. 19 edition of The Oklahoman
Merry Christmas!
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to all from Nerdage!
- Matt Price
Comics shipping 12-24-08
Shipping this week is yet another issue of Batman, the long-awaited “Thor” #12, and the $125 indy anthology Kramer’s Ergot. Full list after the break. Happy Christmas Eve!
Oklahoma Film Critics announce honorees
“Slumdog Millionaire” was the Oklahoma Film Critics’ Circle choice for film of the year. Also honored among the ten best were “Wall-E” and “The Dark Knight.” Release follows.
The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle has announced its third annual list of awards for achievement in film, giving top honors to “Slumdog Millionaire” as the year’s best motion picture.
“This was a really good year for films, and we hope our awards encourage viewers to see those on our list once they open here or rent them once they’re on DVD,” OFCC President Phil Bacharach said.
The OFCC’s 18 voting members write for print and online outlets in Oklahoma that consistently publish or post reviews of current film releases: The Oklahoma Gazette, The Oklahoman, the Tulsa World, Urban Tulsa Weekly, Tulsa Today, Hardnews.com, Edmond Life & Leisure and various other media outlets.
This year, the OFCC selected “Slumdog Millionaire” as best film. The riveting tale chronicles the adventures of a young man in Mumbai who winds up one question away from winning a fortune on India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” The movie edged out “The Dark Knight,” the comic-book superhero epic, by a single vote.
The group awarded Best Director to the man who helmed “Slumdog Millionaire,” Danny Boyle. Its Top 10 Films of the Year List honored many smaller-budget films in addition to Boyle’s — “The Wrestler,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “Rachel Getting Married” and “Happy-Go-Lucky.” The group also recognized the quality of bigger studio films like “The Dark Knight,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Doubt.” “Wall-E,” Pixar’s animated triumph about a trash-compacting robot, also made the list.
Film buffs can find the complete list of awards on the OFCC Web site, ofccircle.org, as well as frequent postings on film-related items and links to our individual reviews year round.
Top performances included Mickey Rourke as Best Actor for his performance as a past-his-prime professional wrestler in “The Wrestler” and Sally Hawkins as Best Actress for her portrayal of a sunny London schoolteacher in “Happy-Go-Lucky.” Supporting performance honors went to Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” and the late Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight.”
While 2008 ended as a strong year for fine films and outstanding performances, OFCC member critics also expressed disappointment and frustration with others in their Obviously Worst Film of the Year, “The Love Guru,” and Not-So-Obviously Worst Film of the Year, “Mamma Mia!”
“As professional moviegoers, we see many more unsuccessful films than successful ones,” Bacharach said. “The Not-So-Obviously Worst Film category contains films that have great talent behind them — think Meryl Streep — but just don’t make it. We might give E for effort, but the result is a failure.”
Not all of 2008′s films opened in Oklahoma before voting took place; studios arranged press screenings and provided DVDs of many of their films so OFCC members could assess and consider them for year-end awards.
“We honor achievements in motion pictures each year both to celebrate film and to continue to draw attention to Oklahoma as a place with a sophisticated audience of people who appreciate films that challenge and entertain,” Bacharach said.
OFCC promotes film in Oklahoma and strives to increase the visibility of the state’s film- viewing and filmmaking communities. Oklahoma film critics see the majority of the studio and independent films of any given year and write hundreds of reviews of them as individuals. They publish their personal best-of-the-year films for their individual media outlets. The group’s Web site, at ofccircle.org, contains frequent posts and links to film-related items.
Full list after the break.
Monday movie quote challenge #11
“Make work your favorite. That’s your new favorite.”
Identify who said this quote in what film in the comments!
