Comics: Is it art?

On the Quality forum there's been a discussion raging regarding the medium of comics as an art form. A tutor of one of the regular contributors asked the question, why do you like comics? The inference being that it isn't serious art. What then followed was a long drawn out discussion that I felt was more revealing of some of the regular contributors than it was of the original statement. There appears to be some sniffiness toward the whole superhero genre and comics aimed at children. Part of the problem with the industry for me, and I'm sorry but I do blame the likes of Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman for this, is the move to make comics the exclusive preserve of adults. Moore as much as admits this in a recent interview on the web. My point is that comics should cover every age and every genre and be fun as well as serious and be political, exciting adventure ... etc, etc. There's room for all of it. Sadly, grim and dark is cool and that's it with the mainstream companies. People think Art Speigelman is what comics should be about and I say yes, but that it should be about the Beano and Captain America as well. Some of the best art produced in the last hundred years has been produced in the comics medium. If you don't believe me Google the Grantbridge Street and other Misadventures site, it is very instructive. This medium is essentially an open canvas for just about any kind of expression. It's as old as time and needs to to promoted as a tool for raising literacy as well as engaging the imagination. But let's keep it an open canvas for every kind of expression, eh?

Kane 13

I'm gonna watch Alien again. I figure Kane in the movie has a baby at 13minutes and 27 seconds into the Movie. Has the mystery finally been solved?

Zoon: The Mourning Star

Zoon: Book of the Dead

and again ...

Zoon again

Zoon art by Kane 13:27

Kane 13:27

Just gonna throw this out there for folks to peruse. This is a guy I've known for a long while and we've had one or two things out there. The name is strange and when I ask him what it means he says he just made it up. I reckon it's the time of the day he was born but what about that name Kane? Isn't that the name of an ancient killer. Did Kane kill Abel in chapter 13 verse 27?

Marvel owns Marvelman

Hey guys

Maybe I'm late here but just getting news that Marvel have bought Marvelman from Mick Anglo and that they're lining up Gaiman and Buckingham to finish their stint on the book. There's also talk that they will reprint all the past Moore stories. I am completely feckin shocked, guys!

Buzz Comic

Yo Joe

That link to Buzz comic now replaced with functional link in last post. RaptorZ is the first published Mitchell/Fabry story for years! The story is in twelve parts of 6 page story installments and will be available in June 09.

BUZZ Comic

Let's all welcome the new comic website Buzz Comic which features a new series written by me and illustrated by Glenn Fabry and will be fully launched this summer. You can find out more
on:

http://signup.buzzcomic.com/

Check it out

This maybe a ropy old scan I did a long while ago but it's of a great original page I own of Fabry's Slaine which I actually prefer to everyone else except Mike Macmahon

Now, this masterwork belongs on the cover of the megazine.

Dredd going for Tea With the Devil

ABC Warriors - The Second Element

The recently published ABC Warriors graphic novel entitled 'The Third Element' collecting the stories featuring the Warriors' return to Mars was written by Pat Mills and me - yes, me, Alan Mitchell. Due to the editorial politics at the time, with Andy Diggle and what seemed like a mandate to ride rough over Pat's scripts and a general perceived negativity toward Pat, he reasoned that it would be unwise to declare my involvement with the project although we did speak, albeit tenuously, about subsequently getting my name credited should there be any collection of this work. I need to contact Mills about what has happened but I certainly feel that an acknowledgement of my involvement with a full writer's credit is what I will be seeking as I am the second element (geddit?) on the story. Answer your question?

Keep it real

Oh, and you have to check this geezer out ...

Raw Art.

If you like fine art check out the above site ...

Superman and Panic in the Sky

Just found this wicked site for Superman stuff old and recent. There's been lots of praise for an episode of George Reeves' Superman for season 2 in 1953 called 'Panic in the Sky' and I have to say the 12 minute clip of the story, which can be seen here

Comix & things.

is remarkable if you consider when it was made. What do you guys think?

Crisis

For those trying to get info on Crisis the political 2000AD comic from the late 80's and 90's you could do no worse if you started with this URL as listed below ...

Crisis.

The great and beautiful John Hicklenton

I hope people were able to catch 'Here's Johnny' on T4 Tuesday night about John's brave battle with MS. I forgot how much I love this guy. He's an incredible artist, his style being at once elegant, graceful but also laden with the ferocity of a Werewolf. John was the artist on my favourite Third World War stories I wrote with Pat Mills. Especially the first story 'The Word According to Ryan.' Mills and I spent several days working up that story and John just exceeded our expectations by designing some of the most grotesque images of human beings I have ever seen. Especially Chief Inspector John Ryan. If you've never caught John's art then it's certainly a must! John is amongst the greatest artists this country has ever produced. He is an absolute genius but don't take my word for it, check out his stuff, some of which will feature on this site shortly ...

Coming soon ...

I will be loading all my published and future projects for all to peruse on this site so keep an eye out or two for upcoming announcements ...

Alan Moore has got a point

Why are some blogging fans smearing bogeys all over Alan Moore for adopting a principled stance on what Hollywood has done with his creations? It must be hell to have seen some of the crap the big studios have turned out in his name. Fact is most genre activity, from novels to comics to movies and games are seemingly churning out product for the sake of solely generating profit. So most of it is tailored to this or that market. Aimed at this or that demographic. It seems like very little art is presently involved in the so called creative endeavours littering the genre scene. It all feels like heartless industry for all the wrong reasons.