Howard Chaykin turned an unused Batman pitch into an imaginative new series for the extremely short lived “Heavy Hitters” imprint from Marvel/Epic in 1993.
I’ve seen most of the original art for this title, and each page is beautiful: Great storytelling, terrific draftsmanship, and a generous use of deep India ink and screen tone for depth and effect. He worked his ass off on these pages, and it shows.
Bonus: Great lettering, as always, by John Workman.
Honestly, the only thing I don’t like about the series is the coloring (not by Howard), but hey, it was the 90s.
The four-issue series has never been collected, but individual issues typically turn up in dollar bins, and are worth seeking out.
Remember, you can’t kill the Midnight Men.
I’m sure I’ve used this photograph elsewhere, but, we are pals, and I like it. Sue me.
Once again, HUGE thanks and congrats to all the terrific folks who made this past weekend’s Baltimore Comic-Con just as perfect an event could be.
As noted in previous years, It’s easily one of my favorite conventions — an absolute delight to attend. I had a blast catching up with old friends and colleagues, making some new acquaintances, and hosting some fun panels.
I’m exhausted, but it’s a happy exhaustion, and once again, I miss all of you already.
Ron Garney, Walter SimonsonJamal IgleMike Grell, Mike Gold, John Workman, Steve RudeCully HamnerTerry Kavanagh, Howard MackieLouise Simonson, Chris Claremont, Walter SimonsonMike HawthorneDavid MackScott Dunbier, Joseph MelchiorBob Greenberger, Barry KitsonRichard Pini, Wendy PiniJoe StatonGreg Goldstein and Howard Chaykin with a super fan!
Here’s the loveliest page from Howard Chaykin’s very entertaining Guy Gardner Green Lantern series from DC’s “prestige” format. (Less issues, but longer stories, nicely presented in a deluxe package.)
Lovely is somewhat ironic in context here — Guy just killed a bunch of bad guys, but he does seem to be enjoying it, and the storytelling and illustration are indeed… lovely.
So let’s stick with it.
Welcome to Day Seven of the 12 DC Days of DeCember.
Big thanks and congrats to all the folks who made this past weekend’s Baltimore Comic Con just as perfect an event could be.
It’s easily one of my favorite conventions — an absolute delight to attend. I exhausted myself catching up with old friends and colleagues, making some new acquaintance, and trying (ultimately not quite succeeding) to see all the great comics-related material in the room.
I miss all of you already.
Keith WilliamsBill MorrisonBill Cox with Scott DunbierGarth Ennis with a delighted fanMike McKoneJon B Cooke and Mike GoldCraig RosseauScott HannaJamal IgleDean HaspielJohn BeattyDavid Armstrong, Mitch Hallock, Howard Chaykin
It’s been a minute (specifically, three years!)… Glad to be back in Long Beach with friends and fans!
Howard Chaykin sketching… Star WarsDenys Cowan, Michael Stradford, Michael PolisScott KoblishMatthew ClarkHoward and Greg… Together againGabe HardmanFighting crime is… tiringWith Show Promoter Extraordinaire Martha DonatoWith Chris Gossett
Until the last few years, James Bond’s appearances in comic books are rare. Added all together prior to 2016, they most definitely would not fill an omnibus.
Rights issues are always tricky with this franchise; although Eon Productions —and its merchandising arm, Danjaq — manages film rights, the literary property itself remains controlled by the Ian Fleming Estate.
Which explains why this run at Dark Horse features a James Bond who doesn’t in fact look like any other Bond we’ve seen previously. In fact, here he looks a little bit like — Paul Gulacy.
Regardless, It’s great Gulacy page from a good-looking miniseries; even if this specific example looks like it would be more at home in an Indiana Jones comic book.
James Bond through the years in comics. (The experience was so distasteful for Howard Chaykin on For Your Eyes Only that he left Marvel Comics.)
New art, along with a repost of last year’s Flagg blog:
Remember what is was like to first watch Sopranos or The Wire or some of other great early HBO-produced television shows? You knew it was TV, of course but it was so different… so much better than typical commercial fare, it made you think about what the medium could actually be.
For many fans — myself included — Howard Chaykin’s American Flagg (especially the first dozen issues or so) had a similar impact on comic books in 1983. Part SF, part satire, all adult, Flagg’s dystopia was like nothing else in contemporaneous comic book publishing.
Its inventive storytelling was groundbreaking, an oft-overused word that most definitely applies here. Need validation? Read those first twelve Flagg issues, and then read The Dark Knight Returns, by Howard’s studiomate Frank Miller, which appeared a few years later.
I’ll wait.
Or, just trust me on this.
Flagg came from nascent publisher First, and its editorial plan pursued mature, original comics from talented creators. And Flagg was one of the best of them.
It was obvious that Howard put his heart — and more — into the series.
In fact, I think there are only two reasons why Flagg isn’t frequently discussed in the same breath as other innovative titles like DKR or Watchmen.
First, it’s because of First.
Independent comic book publishers almost entirely relied on the direct market. Their reach wasn’t anywhere near as wide the mass market, and even with some newsstand distribution, a top independent comic book would never have the reach of a poor-selling superhero title from Marvel or DC, let alone a smash hit.
In other words, no chance you were going to score an American Flagg Slurpee at 7-Eleven.
The second reason is more frustrating.
Remarkably, all 50 original issues of Flagg have NEVER been collected. The early issues appear in and out of print from time to time, but it’s a pity that you can’t get the complete series in digital or print, on demand, as they say.
And that’s a conversation I’ve had with Howard many times. Many, many times.
