• Suspended Animation

    Suspended Animation: Hal Foster: Prince of Illustrators, Father of the Adventure Strip 

    Published on 04-25-2012 06:20 AM  Number of Views: 193 
    Categories:
    1. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Hal Foster: Prince of Illustrators, Father of the Adventure Strip

    I was in my late twenties before I took a good look at Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant, despite being a fan of comic books and strips since childhood. Maybe it came with the passage of time, and further education in the art form of comics, but a deep appreciation for his work eventually materialized. And then solidified. Then, marked me for life. That’s why I’m so thankful for Brian M. Kane, and his book Hal Foster: Prince ...
    Read More Read More 3 Comments

    Suspended Animation: Interview with Doug Wheatley 

    Published on 04-12-2012 06:31 AM  Number of Views: 82 
    Categories:
    1. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Interview with Doug Wheatley

    As a fan of comic books and strips for over 35 years, I actively refer to Doug Wheatley as “an artist’s artist”. All that really means is that, in my eyes, he is one of the most accomplished artisans in the comics industry, today. While I can only speak for myself, however, I suspect that his refined, realistic style has convinced many other fans of the same. It was a pleasure to conduct this short interview with him, and I appreciate his patient, enthusiastic ...
    Read More Read More

    Suspended Animation: Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 3 

    Published on 02-29-2012 05:05 AM  Number of Views: 152 
    Categories:
    1. Superhero
    2. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3
    Published by Marvel Comics
    520 pages
    $16.99

    Simon and Garfunkel. Burns and Allen. Conway and Knotts. Sonny and Cher. Abbot and Costello. What do these duos have in common? They produced a lot of entertainment, for a lot of people, which will be remembered for a long time. Of course, we can add many more to such a list, but the duo this column is concerned with is Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as the look back on their classic work ...
    Read More Read More

    Suspended Animation: Essential Fantastic Four Volume 2 

    Published on 02-14-2012 04:09 AM  Number of Views: 234 
    Categories:
    1. Superhero
    2. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Essential Fantastic Four Volume 2
    Published by Marvel Comics
    528 pages
    $19.99

    Some transformations are entertaining to watch. Some are not. A loud, funny comedian (or comedienne), morphing into a loud, obnoxious politician or political commentator? Not fun. Jack Kirby in the early ?60?s, developing his drawing style into one of the biggest, boldest and most daring the world of comic books and strips has ever seen? Like Willy Wonka?s chocolate factory for the eyes. Add Stan Lee?s increasingly enjoyable writing, combined with his illustrative alliterations, and you have the treasure that is Marvel?s Essential Fantastic Four Volume 2. ...
    Read More Read More

    Suspended Animation: Essential Fantastic Four Volume 1 

    Published on 01-31-2012 02:52 AM  Number of Views: 215 
    Categories:
    1. Suspended Animation
    Article Preview

    Essential Fantastic Four Volume 1
    Review by Mark Allen
    Published by Marvel Comics
    544 pages
    $16.99

    Marvel Masterworks, or Marvel Essentials? Whichever a person chooses to consume the first 20 issues (and Annual #1) of The Fantastic Four is, for all intents and purposes, inconsequential. That is, unless you judge a great comics experience by whether or not the strip is in color. If so, you will be depriving yourself of some of the great works of the medium. ...
    Read More Read More