You may have noticed some minor changes around here lately. First, we’ve created a forum so stop by and check it out when you have a chance.

Also, Gnorm has his own site now, along with a new title for the strip. As the Grass Grows has just launched and will be updating every Monday. There were a couple of reasons for moving it to a new site. I think the format of the comics here on oddnik is better suited for long form stories with chapters or “books” that you can browse around. As the Grass Grows is going to be a more traditional “strip” style webcomic, so I think the new site will accomodate that better. I also wanted to change the look of it a little, so this gave me an opportunity to re-work the couple strips that already existed and to create a new style going forward, so let me know what you think of the new site/strip.

Last but definitely not least, we’ll be attending the Baltimore Comicon on the 27th and 28th of Sept (which is next week, yikes). I’m really looking forward to it since we haven’t been to a con in a long time. Dave, Jason and I will be there, so stop by our table and say hi if you can make it. I’ve never been to the Baltimore show even though I’ve been working in or around Baltimore for about 7 years now. Should be fun.

-Brad

I’ve been thinking a lot about stories and their movie remakes lately.  My last post about Hellboy is not usually how I feel about stories remade into films.  I understand, respect and appreciate a remake as an artist reworking another artist’s original vision and idea.  I have never bought into that old adage, “the book is always better than the movie.”  A more accurate assessment would reveal that not only is a director working with considerably less time with an audience, they also are limited by what may be accomplished visually as opposed to textually. 

That being stated, I read and research science fiction relatively heavily.  I came upon a story entitled “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell Jr.  Some of you may recognize this story from its film adaptation name, “The Thing” (dir. - John Carpenter - 1982) or “The Thing from Another World” (dir. - Christian Nyby - 1951).  WOW!  I’ve seen both film versions but had never encountered the short story before the other day.  Since I wasn’t exposed to the story before I had seen the film, I was reading it purely objectively.  I don’t want to reveal any plot points … mostly because the plot, in its simplicity, couldn’t be altered too much for the films to work.  The formula is simple: a frozen alien, a remote research facility, and some overly curious scientists (big surprise).   As for the rest I’ll leave it up to you to check out, and I’m curious to know what you think of the film translation or the story in print form.  As a side note I’ve compiled a short list of other interesting adaptations.  If you can add any dimension to this list … please do …

I Am Legend - Richard Matheson - Excellent short story, Excellent adaptation to graphic novel (Steve Niles and Elman Brown) - Okay movie

I, Robot - Isaac Asimov - Cool collection of stories based on the 3 Laws, very creative adaptation to film

The Time Machine - H.G. Wells - Classic Sci - Fi, Decent film (screenplay by Wells grandson)

Lord of the Rings - Fellowship was the best of the movies, all the books were decent if you’re into fantasy.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K. Dick - Excellent book and film (Blade Runner)

A Scanner Darkly - Dick - Great story, Creative roto-scope animation for the film

War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells - Radio broadcast (1938) sweet,  Tom Cruise film (SMELLS HORRIBLY EVEN WORSE THAN HELLBOY 2)

I was first introduced to Hellboy through the first movie.  I thought it was great.  It showcased some cool villains, an original antihero, and a creatively crafted story.  Surprisingly, I even enjoyed the love story which is one aspect of plot that is usually so overdone its vomit inducing.  All in all I was fulfilled and satisfied.

Fast forward about two years, the movie had all but seeped out of my subconscious and replaced by whiskey and student papers.  One student, who was particularly interested in mythology, handed me the first Hellboy trade; I was amazed.  I immediately picked up all the trades and enjoyed each one more than the previous.  Given my training in literature with a focus on mythology I am always interested in the subject matter these books have to offer, and this experience was no different.  I was especially drawn to “The Troll Witch” where the Rasputin character was given a dimension the film never explored.  Again, the old adage came to mind…the movie is never as good as the book, though in this case it did come close.  “The Chained Coffin” and “Weird Tales” was also impressive with the use of various mythologies like vampires, ghosts, gods and demons, magic and science.

Fast forward another year.  Since I was impressed by the Hellboy series, and had just finished reading Busik / Nord’s ”Conan” series (another great series both in story and artwork) I decided to give “BPRD” a chance.  Again I was blown away.  I liked these characters and stories more so than Hellboy, though a lot of them overlap from that series.  I thought Roger and Johann Krauss stole the series though they are secondary characters.  I’ll admit I have a soft spot for characters like Roger who is childlike giant with a big heart and playful personality; and Johann who pays a steep and unusual price for love.

As you can probably tell I did admire the work put into the books, and then I saw the second movie.  WHAT A STEAMING PILE OF STINK.  The love story was McTarded but that is just the edge of the toilet paper on this one.  Other elements of the plot were equally ridiculous.  The elf twins? COME ON! Then they tried to balance out that little slice of stupidity by having Liz being pregnant with twins … stroke of genius … for me to POOP on.  When the elf brother was hurt, his sister felt the pain also.  Remind anyone of Tomax and Xamot, the Crimson Twins from G.I. Joe?  What happened?  I think Guillermo del Toro’s ego got the best of him.  His visual style had really started to blossom, and he wanted to showcase his talent for character design.  Listen up Guillermo, we know you can direct movies.  We’ve all seen “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “Devil’s Backbone”, “Blade 2″ etc…  Everyone thinks your vision for characters (especially the ones with strange eyeball placement) is exceptional but please, please, please take more than two hours working on the story.  You can’t compensate for a bad story with beautiful or stirring imagery, it just doesn’t work.  You dropped the ball on this one.  You sold out fans and tried to force the characterization to fit into you’re world instead of you understanding and showing us your image of their world.  I know it’s only $8.00, but I want my money back.  I haven’t been this disappointed since dating that girl in college for two weeks before I noticed the bulge in her pants….yeah very disappointing and uncomfortable the next morning.  But these are just my opinions.  So all the other Hellboy fans (comics and films) out there; I’m very curious to know … what do you think?