Comics Thread (was My OFFICIAL Apology to Dave)

[Black Jack Rackham]

You're not wrong.

[Black Jack Rackham]

You all probably saw this, but just in case. I am very sad.

To all my fans, friends and extended family,
It’s rather hard to believe that it’s been almost three years since I formally announced my retirement from producing comics due to my failing vision and other infirmities brought on primarily by my diabetes. At the time I was flattered and humbled by the number of tributes and testimonials given me by my fans and peers. The kind words spoken on those occasions were so heartwarming that I used to quip that “the only thing missing from those events was me lying in a box.”
It was amusing at the time, I thought.
Now, not so much. On November 29th I received confirmation that, after undergoing surgery for a blockage in my liver, I have Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer. It is surgically inoperable and my estimated life expectancy is between 6 months to a year. I have been given the option of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, but after weighing all the variables and assessing just how much of my remaining days would be eaten up by doctor visits, treatments, hospital stays and dealing with the often stressful and frustrating bureaucracy of the medical system, I’ve opted to just let nature take its course and I will enjoy whatever time I have left as fully as possible with my beautiful wife of over 40 years, my family, friends and my fans.
Since I received my diagnosis and prognosis, those in my inner circle have given me so much love, support and help, both practical and emotional. They’ve given me peace.
There will be some business matters to take care of before I go. I am already arranging with my art agent to refund the money paid for sketches that I can no longer finish. And, since, despite only having one working eye, I can still sign my name, I hope to coordinate one last mass book signing to help make my passing a bit easier. I also hope that I will be able to make one last public appearance wherein I can be photographed with as many of my fans as possible, with the proviso that I get to hug each and every one of them. I just want to be able to say goodbye with smiles as well as tears.
I know that many of you will have questions to ask or comments to make, and rather than fueling the fires of speculation and well-meaning but potentially harmful miscommunication, I will be returning to the arena of social media by starting a new Facebook account where fans and friends can communicate with me or my designated rep directly for updates and clarification.
For media and press inquiries, please use the contact information on the page as well. Please respect the privacy of my wife and family at this time and use the Facebook page rather than reaching out through other channels.
I may not be able to respond as quickly as I would like since I will be endeavoring to get as much outside pleasure as I can in the time allotted me, but I will do my best. Kind words would also be greatly appreciated. More details to follow once it’s up and running.
Well, that’s it for now. This is not a message I enjoyed writing, especially during the Holiday Season, but, oddly enough, I’m feeling the Christmas spirit more now than I have in many years. Maybe it’s because it will likely be my last. Or maybe because I am enveloped in the loving arms of so many who love me as much as I love them. It’s quite uplifting to be told that you’ve led a good life, that you’ve brought joy to so many lives and that you’ll be leaving this world a better place because you were part of it. To paraphrase Lou Gehrig: “Some people may think I got a bad break, but today, I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”
Take care of yourselves—and thank you.
George Pérez
December 7th, 2021

Younger me dug his Avengers (where he created Taskmaster) and New Teen Titans (pretty much every single Teen Titans thing you know, he drew it).

[Black Jack Rackham]

Fun reading for this week:

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon - series from back in 2017 in which Danny Rand turns over the Iron fist to an actual Asian person! Woo, way to get with the times Marvel! But its a cool story so I am gonna give them a (sort of) pass.

Avenging Spider-man: An unofficial Marvel Team Up series without the name. Spidey teams up with several other superheroes to do his thing. Most notable for having the first issue where Ms. Marvel finally stepped up and called herself Captain Marvel. Nothing to write home about, but a fun read.

Challengers of the Unknown: Howard Chaykin redefines the classic DC series (in his usual style). I admit I am a sucker for his art (even if all the leading men look exactly the same).

ODY-C: Matt Fraction takes on Shakespeare in SPACE! What more do you need?

[salamanca]

Good, you finally read that Iron Fist series.

[salamanca]

Mark will meed to watch part of a football game monday night.

The Moon Knight trailer is premiering during the game.

[Black Jack Rackham]

DAVE! Cursed Pirate Girl has a new series out! The Devil's Cave! Just picked up the first issue.

[salamanca]

Whee!!!!!

It's like Windsor McCay got assigned to draw a book based on a script by Guillermo del Toro based on characters from Joss Whedon.

[Black Jack Rackham]

I know we have some CoC fans here so I will mention a new comic I got, Miskatonic: Even Death May Die. It's an oversized trade 1-Shot. Can't swear the story is good, but the art is very eerie...

Also have to point all of you lovers-of-7th-Sea toward No Holds Bard. Imagine if you will, the great bard in all his pontificating glory (for context, imagine someone hired Brian Blessed to play Shakespeare). THEN imagine that he'd somehow been infused with the spirit of the writers of Batman '66 (in all their scene-chewing Adam West and Burt Ward goodness). What's that? You can't handle all that concentrated overacting in one imaginary scene? THEN YOU DON'T DESERVE NO HOLDS BARD!!!

[Black Jack Rackham]

Some cool new-to-me adds this week. Picked up the Dominic Fortune trade. Howard Chaykin at all his Howard Chaykin best in a MAX series from back in 2010. It's everything I expected it to be.

Also at the intersection of Comics and RPGs, apparently Marvel is trying their hand at that roleplaying thing. They hired Matt Forebeck (of Brave New World fame) to make a go of it. They just published the Marvel Multiverse Playtest Rulebook (complete with multiple different covers because of course they would). I picked one up and thus far it reminds me a whole lot of Marvel Heroic Roleplaying from Margaret Weis Productions.

Also picked up the new Strange series. Clea is taking over as sorcerer supreme after Steven Strange's death. So far the art alone is carrying it.

Moon Knight continues to chug along and Devil's Reign is a fun little read. I am enjoying the Black, White, & Blood series of short stories by various writers. MK is coming up so I am happy.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Just discovered that Marvel (in its infinite wisdom to pander to every iota of fandom they can possibly think of) decided to release a two book Marvel Universe by John Byrne title. It's all his "lesser known MCU" work over there (so things like, Iron Fist, Champions, the Avengers, Captain America, Silver Surfer, Hulk, Wolverine, Star Brand, etc.) So like an idiot, I bought both volumes. I shall be reading them both very, very soon.

Also re-reading Thor: God of Thunder (one of the inspirations for Love and Thunder). It is just as awesome as I remember (and I am SINCERELY hoping that Christian Bale's look from the newest trailer is just a starting point).

From there it's Spider-men Worlds Collide. I haven't read it but I believe it's related to the greater spider-universe out there.

[salamanca]

Saw a guy on antiques roadshow with an old Disney Phantom Blot comic. He was very excited about how his 12 cent comic had gained in value.

It was now worth a whopping 12 whole dollars!

Glad he was happy, if I had stored the thing for 68 years, i would want a better value on my efforts than 12 bucks.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Yea, I got a few that made a bit more than that...

[Black Jack Rackham]

MONSTRESS! So SO good! Written by Marjorie Liu (who, if you didn't know, teaches a course on comic book writing at MIT).

Also picked up a copy of Clandestine (for the Ms. Marvel tie in). A Marvel property SO obscure I had not heard of it until after the series came out and I looked them up. Haven't started it yet (because of Monstress) but I'll let you know

[Black Jack Rackham]

Haven't updated in a while, so lets get some reviews going!
Picked up the trade of One-Star Squadron. I bought all the issues but only read the first one (and loved it). So now I am sitting down to the whole thing! Some of the second raters in DC decide that money can cure their ills. So they start DCs version of Heroes for Hire...

A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance. If the artist did not have Benedict Wong in mind I will eat my hat. For proof, allow me. First pic Benedict Wong (obviously), second the cover of the first trade.


I can't talk much about it because it will give away the plot but I will say, the first trade has very little actual speaking and still tells a Rick Remender level story!

Slumber. Have bad dreams? Monsters attacking you? Maybe evil mom? No worries just hire Stetson, the underground dream healing specialist. She'll get right into your dreams and smoke those monsters but good!

[salamanca]

Mark, those are not DC's second string... that is the Y-list.

Not z-list, there are still worse characters but not many.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Some TRULY TERRIBLE ideas for comics (and I am here for that)!

This week's suggestions include SHIRTLESS BEAR FIGHTER! (and yes, just like DOMINGO GIGANTE!) the exclamation point is part of the title. The plot you say? DID YOU NOT READ THE TITLE??? It's about a GUY who fights BEARS while SHIRTLESS!!! Dorky but fun.

Next up GRIZZLYSHARK Follow the adventures of the world's most feared animal as it messily devours its favorite prey and confronts it's ancient nemesis, SEABEAR!

They both really remind me of the sillier comics of my youth, DESTROY! and MEGATON MAN (though MM had quite a bit more plot)

[Lady Grace]

If anyone is interested, may I recommend Everything Will Be the Same Ever Again? A really well-done comic that is both hilarious and grippingly serious with its homages.

Also, Lord Nightpunch...

[Black Jack Rackham]

Been reading Nottingham recently. Fun twist on Robin Hood where none of the principles are the good guy (or gal for that matter) nor are any of them particularly more evil than the rest. PLUS the masks he merry men (and Robin too) wear are just downright scary (Very, V for Vendetta).