expatNERD

Category: Solicitations

  • 32 – No More

    32 – No More

    I’m going to jump in on this week’s comic post and take over from Marv because I think ‘I have some explainin’ to do.’

    I have been really wanting to inject a homage to one of the most famous panels in comic books for a very long time. In fact, I would probably say this is the most swiped, homaged, tributed, panel of all time. And that is of course from Amazing Spider-Man #50, when Peter Parker throws his Spidey-suit in the trashcan and walks away. It’s a beautiful shot from John Romita Sr. and it was an instant classic. I thought it would be a funny moment for Curt to do the same, on the day that he decided that Cosplay was just not for him. Which is mainly his own fault of course.

    This one has yet another swipe from one of my favorite movies of all time Shawshank Redemption. It is a shot of freedom, and finally escaping the shackles that were holding you back. And here it is used to show how over-exaggerated our friend Curt is and the importance he places in himself.

    In fact, when I was conceptualizing this story-arc and wanted to depict the transformation of Curt, these two images came to mind. I either watch too many movies or read too many comics…or perhaps both. Either way, I look upon it and believe it good.

    Bis bald,

    -Franka

  • 31 – The Meeting

    31 – The Meeting

    Ahh yes. The so-called ‘climax’ has been reached. Curt and Garth Ennis met and it did not turn out like Curt expected. Now granted, this is from Curt’s point of view and I have had the pleasure of meeting many Irishmen in my day. I can say that they were all very clean speaking and I can’t remember one using a swear word. At least from what I could understand at the time. Indeed, the Irish are charming and I’m sure Garth Ennis was/is as well.

    Now, I think the shock probably had something to do with Curt’s choice of cosplay. When ‘Arseface’ first appeared, it was a very (one of many!) shocking moment for me in Preacher when I read it in real time, for the first time. I remember lifting my head up, looking out into the distance and allowing that epiphany to inject itself in my brain. ‘This is what comics can do. And perhaps what they are meant to do.’

    Ennis and the late legend Steve Dillon really did not hold back on this series. They pushed the envelop, and just when you think they couldn’t push it anymore, they pushed it even further. And just when you thought the envelop would fall off the table, you realized there wasn’t a damn table to begin with. That’s how good this series was.

    I don’t recommend Preacher for everyone. But it is a highly entertaining and easily digestible series. Also, because it is so darn popular you can find many printings of this series. I know DC will finish up its new printing of Absolute Preacher when the third and final volume is released in October or so. And as I said, it shows you what comics can do and why they can do it better than other forms of entertainment out there today. Preacher lives rent free in my head and I’m glad to see it does for Franka as well.

    For Curt? Well, I don’t think he understood it to begin with. But let’s keep reading to find out!

    Ciao,

    -Marv