Ah, Fall … how do we love you? Let me count the ways! Pumpkin spice? NO. Sweater weather? YES with an * … *I live in San Diego, so winter is more sweater weather time, if winter ever actually arrives. Lots of new books? YES, YES, and YES, gloriously YES! Here’s what I read in my favorite month.
Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard
This is the novella that introduced U.S. Marshal Raylen Givens to the world, along with Art Mullen, Ava Crowder, and that force of nature known as Boyd Crowder. Oh, and good ol’ Dewey Crowe, too. This story by the legendary Leonard—who also gave us the characters who inspired the films Get Shorty (Chili Palmer) and Out of Sight (Karen Sisco), two personal faves—has Raylen and Boyd as older characters, but otherwise the pilot of the FX series Justified is pretty faithful to this “origin” (except for one important change; no spoilers, but you’ll figure it out pretty quick if you read this novella and watch season 1, episode 1, which I’ve recently watched, along with all six seasons plus the new Justified: City Primeval series). I’ve always had a hard time reading Leonard’s books; I’m not sure what it is, I guess I just don’t like his writing style, but I enjoyed this one, especially the glimpse at how these favorite TV characters of mine started and how vividly they were brought to life by the likes of Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, and Nick Searcy.
Fantastic Four (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; series edited by Ben Saunders
I have read these stories so many times I’ve lost count, and currently own them in multiple editions, including Marvel Epic Collections and Mighty Marvel Masterworks, not to mention a few actual original issues, but that won’t stop me from buying yet another high-end version (for the record the Taschen $200 tomes are way out of my price range). This series is a bit high-falutin’ for me in its academic examination of the comics, but I do love the hardback format and design, with the gold edges and panel enlargement endpapers. I do have a problem with how fingerprints and oil from your hands show up on the cover, though … not to mention that ugly font that masquerades as comic book lettering (is it Leroy lettering?). And Saunders, for all his knowledge still makes a few gaffes: Joe Sinnott took over as inker on Fantastic Four #44, not 45, and there’s no mention of where the first Sub-Mariner story actually appeared (in Motion Picture Funnies, a giveaway comic that’s the first actual book from Timely Comics, which became Marvel Comics). For the most part, I enjoy Saunders’ articles in this edition, but if I see the word “baroque” to describe Kirby’s art one more time, there might be violence. This collection includes FF 1-5, 10, part of 11 (the “Day in the Life” story), part of 48, and all of 49-51, plus FF Annual 6, and the above-mentioned very first Sub-Mariner story, looking better than I’ve ever seen it. This is a beautiful package, and worth the stiff price tag ($50, but you can find it cheaper online), and the latest volume in another release of three new ones, including FF, Avengers (see below for my review), and X-Men. Last year’s volumes included Spider-Man, Captain America, and the Black Panther. All volumes come in hardback and paperback editions, but go for the hardback ones.
The Avengers (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection) by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, et al; series edited by Ben Saunders
Book two of this year’s three-part release of Marvel’s original super-team books features the Avengers in all their early (1960s) glory (the other two volumes for 2023 are Fantastic Four and X-Men). Avengers 1-4 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are presented, as are issues #9, 26, and 28 (Wonder Man and the return of the Wasp and Giant Man becomes Goliath, all with art by Don Heck), #16 (“The Old Order Changeth!” wherein Iron Man, Thor, and Giant Man and the Wasp leave the group, to be replaced by Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye—I felt gypped as a kid, to be honest), as well as some really fine Roy Thomas, and John and Sal Buscema work, including issues #44, 57-58 (the origin of the Vision), 71, 74, and 83. Of the three volumes of the Penguin Classics Marvel Collections that I own (including Fantastic Four and Captain America), this is my least favorite, though. Editor Jose Alaniz puts all his text info upfront, while the other volumes I own seem to have more articles scattered throughout the books, a format I enjoyed more. Also, a side effect of having academics edit and write about pop culture is the plethora of mystifying notes in the text like “(Howe, 2012, 112-116),” which I know means Sean Howe’s Marvel Comics: The Untold Story book, but many people don’t (I was in the dark on many of Alaniz’s other parenthetical notes, too). It’s a book reprinting comics, not your doctorate thesis, dude. As with the other Penguin Classics Marvel Collection volumes, Avengers is available in both hardbound and paperback editions, but the pricier hardbound ones have great production value and perks like gold leaf covers and sprayed edges.
Palookaville 24 by Seth
Any new edition of Palookaville is a welcome addition to my Drawn & Quarterly shelf, and this new one (#24 for those keeping track at home) is great. We’re treated to more of Seth’s sketchbook comics (five short stories in the back of the book), which are a lot looser in drawing style than his more formal stories, like Clyde’s Fans, and It’s A Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken (still my personal fave). This volume—it stopped being a comic with #20, I believe, and is now a hardback book—also includes a DVD plus photos from Seth’s performance art, a film called The Apology of Albert Batch, directed by Luc Chamberland and featuring puppet work by Seth (who insists, in an introduction to the film framed by beautiful color photos in a 20-page section of the book, that “he’s no puppeteer”). The real star of the book though is the opening story, Part Four of “Nothing Lasts.” It’s a reminiscence of Seth’s teenage years working at a local restaurant. Presented in what is basically a 16-panel grid format over almost 45 pages, this is Seth at his best, with an autobiographical story that shares not only his life but the transience of his memory of these times. It’s evocative, almost poetic, and filled with beautiful cartooning. I know it’ll be a number of years until Seth gives us Palookaville #25, but I’ll be here, patiently waiting for another lovely work of art.
Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
The Tamaki cousins are back with their third collaboration (after Skim and This One Summer, one of my favorite graphic novels of all time), Roaming, published by Drawn & Quarterly. It’s a cross between a coming of age story and a travel guide, as two young friends—Dani and Zoe—meet in New York City for a dream trip in 2009. Only that dream is interrupted by Fiona, Dani’s new college friend who comes along and proves to be a divisive influence on the trip. This book is so wonderfully illustrated by Jillian Tamaki; there are breathtaking two-page spreads throughout the story that showcase the absolute beauty of NYC and some of its most famous locations (The Museum of Natural History, Times Square, Central Park, and—of course—the M&M Store), and Jillian’s use of limited color (light blue and a sand-like color along with the black line art) is superb. Even her lettering is perfect. This is the first collaboration between the two since This One Summer, almost ten years ago, and it was definitely worth the wait. Roaming is one of the best graphic novels of 2023, and as usual the production and printing on this book make it another sumptuous D&Q project.
Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker
This oral history of the classic 1980 comedy film, Airplane! is by the writer/director team of brothers David and Jerry Zucker and their friend and cohort, Jim Abrahams. It chronicles not only the making of this seminal movie— which was like an issue of MAD magazine come to life on the big screen—but also their earlier work with Kentucky Fried Movie (and before that, Kentucky Fried Theater, a live show in Madison, WI, and LA). It’s warm, laugh-out-loud funny, and very thorough and honest. The threesome share memories of making the film and the people involved, especially the “serious” actors they cast in Airplane!, charged with playing their roles straight: Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, and Robert Stack. Their roles rejuvenated their careers, especially Nielsen who went on to be an out-and-out comedy star with his role of Frank Drebben in the ZAZ produced Naked Gun movies, among others. Many other cast members—including Robert Hays and Julie Hagarty—are included, too. Warning: Reading this book will make you want to watch Airplane! again … and again and again. And you should!
MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards
This long, dishy history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is all the stories Disney and Marvel don’t want you to read. Journalists Robinson, Gonzales, and Edwards delve deep into the chronological history of moviedom’s most prolific and popular tentpole franchise, in which just about every movie is a sequel to Iron Man, the first Marvel Studios film not so way back in 2008 (it’s only been 15 years, people). There are a lot of inside stories on just about all the films (for some strange reason, Doctor Strange and Benedict Cumberbatch are all but ignored); you will get some fascinating info on Robert Downey Jr., Ed Norton, Mark Ruffalo, and just about every film. It’s definitely a must-read if you love these movies like I do, even though the influx of Disney+ shows has weakened the brand considerably.
Will I make my 2023 goal on GoodReads of 75 books? I’m currently at 64 books, with two months and 11 more to go … stay tuned!
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