John Byrne and "Angel"

To start with: I have read a great deal of John Byrne's work as a writer/artist since the early 1980s. Most of that I didn't read when it came out, I caught up on later. I have read many interviews with him over the years and, while I haven't liked everything he's done, I have been present for most of it.
Conversely, I have never watched the TV series "Angel," nor did I watch its predecessor, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Not once. I know nothing about either one.
So, you can probably see where this is heading.
Byrne's recent "Angel" projects left me with a conundrum: am I interested enough in his work to buy his adaptation of a TV show I have never watched?
The answer is yes. I have bought his "Angel" projects -- one limited series and a couple of one-shots. And they were all very good. I am still not interested enough in "Angel" to sit through an entire episode of the TV series, though.
I suppose this is sort of like someone who had never seen the TV series "The Fugitive" but has watched the movies a few times. Like these people, I have no idea what gets lost -- or added -- in the translation from one medium to the other.
What brought the point home to me was Byrne's latest effort, called "Angel: Lorne."
I read the whole thing, and never knew it was a tribute to one of the show's actors who had died until I read the material at the end of the book.
Here's the story synopsis:
The world is in peril (again!), and only the most unlikely member of Angel's entourage is able to save the day. A special book-length tribute to the late Andy Hallett and his character, Lorne, presented by writer-artist John Byrne.
After reading the whole thing, I felt strangely left out. I could tell the book was supposed to tug at my heart strings for someone whose loss was deeply felt.
But, I had no previous affection for the character or the actor. Heck, I didn't even know who he was.
It was clear from the story and the columns in the back of the books that the show's fans loved him.
So I had read the whole thing, and ended with the thought, "Another solid effort from John Byrne."
And I missed the whole point.
What a strange feeling -- excluded in the middle of something so familiar.

One less truly fun comic in the world

I have been reading "Power Girl," written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray and drawn by Amanda Conner for nine issues now. Recently, I saw this article, that tells us they are all leaving the book with issue 12.
This is sad, because "Power Girl" has been one of the most fun comics on the market. Every month, I can look forward to being entertained with light-hearted but still intelligent stories.
But the real joy of reading "Power Girl" every month comes from looking at the pretty pictures.
As you can see from the sample, Conner's art is simple, unique and expressive. I had seen her work before in places like MAD Magazine. There too, her style stood out among the MAD artists. She may not be as accomplished as some of those guys, but she brings a lot of energy and a sense of fun to the pages she draws.
Seeing the first issue was what drew me in, so to speak. There aren't that many women who draw comics, at least not super hero comics, and she brings a different, and very welcome, approach to her characters.
I wish this team's run on "Power Girl" could continue indefinitely. At least, they won't have time to grow stale on the book.
I'll just have to keep on the lookout for the next project Connor brings her unique talents to.

You know ...

... I have thought up a bizillion things that would have made good blog entries during the last month and a half. But, when I sit down here to type something, I can't think of a doggone thing.

Amusing things overheard

(This wasn't really overheard, but ...)
I once said, of former NFL cornerback Adam "Pac Man" Jones after he was names a suspect in a shooting outside a Las Vegas strip club:
"Nothing good happens at a strip club at 2:30 a.m."

Amusing things overheard

Once overheard in an office:
"If you are listening to "Tirico and Van Pelt" (an early-afternoon ESPN Radio show) on the way home from work, you are leaving way too early."

I am back

After a month's hiatus during which I could not blog, I have returned from the land of the missing, and shall resume the usual stuff.