Reading #2: Graphic Novels

34 is a pretty unusual age for someone to start getting into comics and graphic novels I admit, and while I've been reading Harvey Pekar and other biographical graphic novels for a few years, it's only this year that I've started to read more traditional superhero tales. All of the books below I bought at Ace Comics in Southend-On-Sea, who are very friendly and welcoming to new customers and are happy to order in anything you're looking for that they don't already have in their large stock.

Civil War (Marvel)
Mark Miller/Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, Morry Hollowell
Having been a fan of the Iron Man & Avengers Assemble movies in recent years I wanted to read a Marvel book and after a bit of research on the internet I settled on Civil War. The plot is a well worn superhero one of which side of the law superheores fall (as explored in X-Men, Batman, Watchmen etc), in this case costumed crimefighters are required to register and reveal their secret identities. This creates a civil war between those willing to sign up and those unwilling with familiar Marvel faces on both sides (although the Hulk is oddly absent), the principle players are Iron Man & Captain America. While the story is an interesting one I did find the dialogue cliched, but my main problem was with the artwork. I found it too perfect, the colouring was airbrushed, too realistic and high sheen - as someone who draws himself I want to see the mark of the illustrator and it lacked character for me. So my first experience of Marvel left me disappointed and a little put off.
Artwork: 1/5 Story: 3/5

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC Comics)
Frank Miller/Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley
Batman is probably the most told crimefighter story in the movie world (7 films to Superman's 6), and with Chris Nolan's darker films in mind I opted for The Dark Knight Returns, written by Sin City author Frank Miller. In this story Batman has retired and Gotham has gone to hell in a handcart, and the release of Harvey Dent from prison prompts a greying Bruce Wayne to take up his cowl once again. But's a different world Batman returns to, mutants rule the underworld, 24 hour news coverage gives him nowhere to hide, Commissioner Gordon is retiring and the new commissioner wants Batman's head on a stick. I really enjoyed this book the story had depth and the artwork was much more interesting - simpler and with more character than Civil War, I'll definitely be reading more of Frank Miller's Batman stories.
Artwork: 4/5 Story: 4/5

Hellboy #1: Seed of Destruction (Dark Horse Books)
Mike Mignola/John Byrne
Although not your average superhero, I'm a big fan of the Guillermo del Toro directed films so Mike Mignola's original books were always on my 'to read' list. Seed of Destruction follows a similar story to the first Hellboy film although the film script is very different - Hellboy is a paranormal investigator, and while investigating the death of his father figure he comes up against Rasputin who needs Hellboy in order to end the world. That's where the similarities with the film end, despite the radical differences I enjoyed the book and look forward to exploring the character more (I've already ordered #2), and I liked the bold block colour artwork alot.
Artwork: 5/5 Story: 4/5

Live #1: Akira the Don & Art Brut

Unbelievably it's been over 2 years since I last went to a gig, being a carer will do that to your social life. But when I heard that Akira the Don was playing a support slot for Art Brut at the Scala, I knew I couldn't miss it.

Having arrived at the Scala, perused the merch stand and bought a beer, we saw Akira bound over to the merchandise, a prime opportunity to meet the man himself. So I sent Debra over (I'm far too shy) - they say never meet your heroes, but 'they' didn't get to meet AtD, who is as nice in real life as he is on twitter and is soon posing for photos with me and even using his own phone to take the picture as mine doesn't have a flash (see below). Then he has to run off as he's due onstage in 2 minutes and we make our way into the, so far, sparsely populated auditorium where we take up a position at the front.

Akira the Don & me, taken on his phone.

Supporting a guitar based indie five piece isn't probably the ideal situation for Akira the Don's stripped back one man rap show, but he pitches his short set perfectly playing his most 'pop' & singalong tunes. His boundless energy & enthusiasm quickly wins the growing crowd over, and it probably helps that his lyrics share some DNA with Art Brut's, rapping about the everyday, politics, comics, music and more. 'Steven Wells' certainly hits a chord with the older indie music lovers, and on 'We won't be broke forever baby' & 'Thanks for all the Aids' he gets everyone singing along. Debra and I are surprised and pleased to hear the very poppy 'Babydoll' & 'Oh! (what a glorious thing)', two of our favourite songs, before he rounds the set off by getting Eddie Argos onstage to sing 'Living in the Future 2.5' with him. And then he's gone leaving Debra & I with a warm glow that we've finally seen someone whose music we've loved for so long, and hoping he'll do his own headline show soon (subtle hint).

Akira the Don onstage at the Scala.

It may have been a long time since I've been to a gig but pretty soon it feels like I never stopped going to them, dashing off to the bar between bands, finding a spot, random support bands like Keith TotP & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band. There are 15 people onstage, 7 guitarists, 1 bass, 2 sax, 1 french horn, 1 trumpet, 1 flute, 1 musical saw and a drummer, who make a joyful lo-fi indie-pop racket with quirky lyrics.

This is however Art Brut's night, their 10th anniversary party no less, they're a band whose first two albums I loved but somehow lost track of after that. They are in a party mood and eager to impress that as they are now 10 years old & have a 'best of' out (it hasn't left my stereo since the gig), they are now a CLASSIC ROCK BAND. They open playing the intro to 'Paradise City' before launching into 'Formed a Band' when Mr Argos arrives, they may be an energetic 'indie' band but they're not shy to wear their love of Guns'n'Roses on their sleeves. Eddie Argos is a chatty & funny fellow, often interrupting songs to talk about how things have changed, such as during 'Little Brother' where he talks about how his younger sibling is no longer the brother his parents are worried about. During 'Modern Art' he ventures into the crowd to tell us that in the 10 years since he wrote the song he has managed to go to one more art gallery on his travels around the world. The rest of the gig flies by in a blur of energy, fun and a family party atmosphere, and this lapsed fan has well and truly returned to the flock.

Art Brut are indie, Art Brut are punk-pop, Art Brut are witty, but most of all Art Brut are CLASSIC ROCK. Long may they continue and we'll see them at the 02 in another ten years.