Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities The all Darwyn Cooke (deceased) thread

Prompted by these covers that he has done for Criterion, to be released in January. Movies I probably wouldn't watch, but it's nice to just look at the box set covers.

Good stuff. He's perfect for that sort of thing.

Some friends of mine let it slip yesterday that they're getting me the Absolute New Frontier for Christmas. I was surprised, but rather pleasantly so.

I can't wait for the "New Frontier" animated film -- if they manage to keep the look of Cooke's art it should be amazing!

Cooke is probably my favorite current working comic book creator. At least the one that gets me the most excited about comics.

His New Frontier is by far the most impressive thing I've read in quite awhile! Can't wait for his Spirit!

He also did the way cool intro to the Batman Beyond series...

Jamie

Darwyn Cooke may be the best thing to happen to comics since the staple!

Yes! I knew someone of your great tastes would be in agreement with me Eryk that Darwin Cooke is like the oxygen that I breathe in that it gives me great pleasure and reinforces my will to live!

Honestly, New Frontier and now the Spirit are beyond unbelieable. Now, for Eryk and others, if you can find it and haven't read it, you MUST get his issue of SOLO (its #4 or #5 I think, have to check at my parents house). It contains some of his best stuff so far!

Darwyn Cooke on The Spirit here .

He also had a few words on single-issue stories which are interesting given the debate on arcs vs singles:

I think a lot people miss single-issue stories, the ability to sit down and read a comic and walk away from it feeling something and it being a closed matter.

I also think, from a professional point of view, the writers have really taken to the format of writing longer stories because you don’t have to think as much. You only have to come up with one plot and you drag it out over six issues for a trade. It’s a far easier way to make a buck. And I’m not afraid to say that.

FC, thanks for the interview link. Cooke's a fascinating guy. I will say again that I had never been a Spirit fan before, but Cooke's first issue just blew me away. So fun, so clever, so beautiful to look at. I am always in awe of creators who can make almost every issue a masterpiece. I know Eisner was one, and Cooke is a fitting heir.

I was definitely impressed by this:

Q: It’s been said before, but it just seems to me with the mainstream superheros, the big two just seem to be focusing in on one audience that keeps getting older and older and demanding certain types of stories and it’s a smaller and smaller audience.

A: They have no way out of this box. The commitment it would take for them to reclaim mainstream ground, it’s insurmountable. We’ve basically got a cottage industry here now where the people who create the product are creating it for themselves or their friends. It’s created in a way so it’s inscrutable to anybody else. And it doesn’t reflect any social trends. There’s nothing of interest to bring a consumer in.

Hey Fat Cramer! Great thread! You've combined two of my ultimate favourite subjects - cool comic book creator Darwyn Cooke and the Criterion Collection (the best DVD company on earth)!

I noticed a few weeks ago that he was designing the covers for some of their upcoming titles and I was blown away. They're known for having some of the most beautifully artistic DVD covers of any DVD company so to see Cooke adding his talents to their mix is a great step for both of them.

That site you've linked to doesn't have what I think is the best of his new covers though. This simple, snazzy work of art for 'Green for Danger' -

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=375

Love it!

For those not in the know, the Criterion Collection is a DVD company devoted to releasing older or little-known or foreign films that deserve more attention in the US (and the West) or re-releasing some well-known films that have never received the DVD treatment they deserve. They're a little bit more expenisve than the average DVD but deals are to be found on the internet and they are well worth the rent or buy. There are some *AMAZING* movies in their collection.

Here are some great websites for anyone who's interested in learning more about the Criterion Collection company -

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=375

I hope he does more Criterion covers! Thanks for the links Blacula.

Superman Confidential has Cooke writing, with Tim Sale on the art. The approach is interesting in that it's Superman who is sort of bumbling and uncertain - not just Clark Kent. Lois strikes me as very Katherine Hepburn in this and it suits her well. Luthor takes the back stage to villain Anthony Gallo, a casino operator. The kryptonite talks (sort of). All-Star Superman is a lot more fun, but I disliked the Lois story. Confidential has a far better Lois portrayal for my tastes.

The core of Cooke's Superman Confidential seems to be good, old-fashioned crime/investigative reporter-type story, which suits me just fine. I enjoyed the Johns/Busiek Superman story for similar reasons, although this one is even better because it's Lois in the lead, as it should be. It reminds me of an updated, more hard-edged version of the old TV series, with Lois and Jimmy off snooping into something fishy.

Cooke's portrayals of Superman are interesting. In New Frontier, he was the good soldier in a bad war, but not a total dupe (he was conspiring to keep Batman under cover, after all). In confidential, he's very young, inexperienced, and therefore somewhat bumbling.

What's in common to both versions, perhaps, is that Superman never stops trying to do the right thing, even if he doesn't always succeed. He admits mistakes, he learns, he never stops. He's not infallible, he's indefatigable. I think that's a nice take on the character.

That was a fantastic interview, FC. Thanks for the link.

I find myself agreeing with Cooke on a lot of points, especially the lack of a "wish fulfillment" factor in today's books.

There's a lot to like in the Superman Confidential story, but I don't find myself as wowed by it as by The Spirit or New Frontier.

I do agree that that Cooke does a great job with Lois, both in this and in New Frontier.

Living in Nova Scotia doesn't make him dead!

just a little chili.

More Cooke goodies: DC will be reissuing his Batman: Ego in June - from Comics Worth Reading

For more modern work with classic flavor, in June comes BATMAN: EGO AND OTHER TAILS (200 pages, $14.99). It’s mostly Darwyn Cooke work, but it also includes stories by Paul Grist and Tim Sale. It collects BATMAN: EGO, CATWOMAN: SELINA’S BIG SCORE, and stories from SOLO #1 and 5 and BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #23 and 33.

I did read in some interview he gave that he was disappointed with Ego, one of his earlier works. Still, I'll probably pick this up even though I already have the Catwoman and Solo books.

(Not Cooke news, but Johanna also mentions "The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen" Showcase volume in July - sure to please fans of the wacky.)

My store has a copy of Ego, and I got to check it out yesterday.

His art's fine, but the story is a bit pretentious for my tastes.

Cooke's back cover for the Toronto Comic Festival comic (Brian Lee O'Malley did the front cover):

You have no idea how excited it makes me to open up the board and see a post to the All Darwyn Cooke Thread!

Looks cool.

Nifty.

They've announced Cooke as a guest in San Diego this year.

I'd love to get another sketch from him, but I doubt lightning will strike twice in this case. He's way too popular.

Just read Superman Confidential #4, and it was actually really cool. I think I need to go back and re-read the earlier issues.

The talking Kryptonite reminds me a lot of the villain from New Frontier, however.

I re-read First Frontier yesterday, for the first time since it was released.

BLOODY AMAZING!!!!

Gets better with every read doesn't it?