The Mighty Pencil: Jim Lee

Jim Lee helped me make it through middle school.

While many may not recognize the name, a great many do. Jim Lee is a comic book artist, writer and publisher. A major player in the comic biz for the last fifteen or more so years, back in the late 80's he was a rising star. I still have (and have passed them down to my oldest son) my original Punisher: War Journal collections which he penciled, along with the new X-Men series that he did with Chris Claremont. While not in pristine shape by any means, those worn pages helped me make it through a plethora of tedious and long days at my new school. I even made a few friends through comics (Darren preferred West Coast Avengers while I was a die hard Uncanny X-men kind of guy).

While we didn't have much money, my mother did allow me to splurge on comics twice a month. Ah the anticipation of filling up with gas at Lange's gas station and perusing the comic book display for the latest issues.

High school really allowed me to expand my collection and I really worked to piece together continuous issues (X-Cutioner's Song really kicked my ass!) but it was more than difficult.

I even remember my first Frank Miller comic: Batman: Year One. I bought it at the mall in Tyler while on Christmas vacation. I didn't realize the lasting impression it would leave with me. To this day, I still have it and discover the little nuggets that I often overlooked in the first and twenty-first reading of those books.

I don't buy to many actual comics today anymore. It seems that they have risen in price dramatically (Currently, that pristine copy of 300 that Kris has sitting on his shelf retails for about $25.00 US. I'll buy a few of whatever the boy wants when it's time, but for now, I'll be introducing him to digital copies. Kris is shaking is head; I know it's not the same, but it's an introduction and a chance to really read the comic. The intrinsic value lies in the shared time and the mystic of a mint copy (but still having read the book).

Call me a geek if you will, but you cannot doubt the hotness of Psylocke. For your viewing pleasure...

Vote or Die for Adaptations!

Wow, P Diddy had it to the extreme.  

No rappers or political candidates here though.  Just an opportunity for you to voice your opinion while I finish up the next entry.

What do you think about movie adaptations?  Do you think they are treasure that illustrate an author's voice?  Perhaps they tarnish the work of art known as literature.  

There's no specific adaptation.  I'm talking as a whole.  Graphic novels, time tested literary classics, comics, high school novels, even modern day works.

Just to kick things off here, here's a list of three that I liked and three that...well...pretty much sucked.

Black Hole List:

1. The Rainmaker - Perhaps my favorite John Grisham novel, Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation lacked substance that made the novel that much more enjoyable.  Rudy Baylor, the protagonist, really develops in the first half, as Grisham is able to develop a backstory on Baylor.  It ain't there in the movie.
2. Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown's thriller involving the Church was a great read.  I had difficulty putting it down to conduct my golf clinic.  But watching the movie was basically going through the motions.  I had a hard time being sold on the "What's going to happen next?" moment.  I doubt it was because I had read the book, but again, the movie just lacked.
3. Last of the Mohicans - Anyone who reads my blog knows that I love this movie; I wrote about it a while back.  The movie is good, but as an adaptation, it sucked.  It didn't have James Fennimore Cooper's touch in description.  I hate to add it to the Black Hole List, but...

Glaringly Good:

1. 300 - Did you see the movie?  Did you read the graphic novel?  Where did one end the other begin?  Exactly.  One of the most brilliant adaptions I have seen.  Frank Miller should be proud.
2. The Greatest Game Ever Played - Mark Frost's account of the 1908 US Open, as the game of golf was basically getting started.  The humble upstart Francis Ouiment earns his title in this riveting must-read/see for any golf fan.  The movie takes few liberties but keeps the substance that makes this story that much more memorable.
3. Holes - One of the first books I read during my first year teaching, the movie was nearly an identical transition to film.  Many don't like the story (it's geared towards teens), but that doesn't take away from the creative story of standing up for others and doing what's right.

So now is your chance.  Vote while you can, and leave comments.  Think these few are wrong?  Want to point the finger at more offensive offenders?  Do it!  Now!  Or die!  Okay, you won't die just because you didn't vote.  But it couldn't hurt right?

On a closing note, I take Last of the Mohicans off the list.  Sorry.  Too bad.

Final quote: Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes.  ~John LeCarre

Epilogue:  Ahh...the voting is over.  Most voted that adaptations are okay, but they aren't the same as books.  One commented that movies are treated as separate entitites (I like the idea!).   I doubt we can ever reach a true concensus, and that's okay.  It's makes for some interesting conversations.  Thanks for all that voted!  Keep visiting!  Oh, and yes, Last of the Mohicans is still one of my favorite movies.  That's not changing anytime soon.