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Published on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 8:31am |
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That last epi of SAMURAI JACK... A Parable For The Death Of Comics'
Hey Folks, Harry here... I don't know if you are like me and if you are currently a card carrying member of the most fantastic wonderful animated show on television since the very best of Timm & Dini... And definitely the best original concept animated show since THE SIMPSONS... SAMURAI JACK is a religion. I adore it in the most primal of ways. And for those that think it is just hack and chop, I offer up the following to make you think... You see SAMURAI JACK is about the issues closest to our hearts....
Hi Harry,
I think the first 30-minute episode of Samurai Jack
(aired 8/16) was a symbolic representation of the fall
of comic books as a serious artform for children.
The wooly beasts' utopian society represented comics
at the height of their popularity. Comics were bought
and shared at cheap prices. Everything was brand new,
and kids were happy to read and enjoy the beauty of
comics. Comics were enjoyed by the people who loved
them for next to nothing. Kind of a comic book
Socialism, if you will.
But, the little guys represented collectors, and it
was two things they said that started this idea.
Number one was the conversation two had where the one
had bought some sort of item "still in the plastic for
10 (creds, etc.)". Also, when Samurai Jack told them
the city looked old, they said "Thank you."
The collectors moved in from nowhere, and they chained
up the comic beasts. The artform, previously free and
wild, was now restrained and forced into narrow
parameters (i.e. profit). The glowing power orb was
Marvel's control during the late 80's when they
single-handedly drove comics into the ground with
their crappy foil covers, multiple series and poly
bags.
I also noticed that the collectors didn't even inhabit
the buildings and city they loved so much. They all
slept and worked outside. This would parallel comics
now being hung in their CGC plastic case and never
touched. I mean, if I ever owned a copy of Amazing
Fantasy 15, you're damn right I'd read it, smell it
and, most importantly, touch it. Every chance I got.
The collectors wanted to preserve the old and worship
it for value, not for art. I mean, what kid can now
afford to read the classic Lee and Kirby stories? Or
any sort of Wolverton or Ditko classics? None, because
asshole baby boomers have turned comics into a
high-priced money market. Even quality reprints cost
hundreds of dollars. Hell, I'm an adult and I can't
afford to buy them.
When Marvel's power ended, comics began to recover,
but there is still a lot of work to do. The buildings
must be rebuilt and the beasts' areas must be cleared
again.
I was left wondering who the head wooly was supposed
to represent. Surely not Stan Lee. Karen Berger? The
wooly did resemble Alan Moore. The point could be
argued.
Thanks,
grendel's_dead
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Reader Talkback
I am first... by Samurai Jack | Aug 16th, 2001 08:43:19 AM | Rabid fanboys? by Redbeard_NV | Aug 16th, 2001 09:02:36 AM | Ya know... by chudzzo | Aug 16th, 2001 09:05:55 AM | I've been reading comics since
the mid-70's - and the "crappy
fo by Smugbug | Aug 16th, 2001 09:27:14 AM | reaching... by simian | Aug 16th, 2001 09:41:48 AM | Ahhh...comic books. by Mil Mascaras | Aug 16th, 2001 10:11:30 AM | A brain fart? Now I'm
offended. by grendel's_dead | Aug 16th, 2001 10:14:29 AM | Speaking of comic books, what
happened to the weekly comic
book by vroom socko | Aug 16th, 2001 10:21:49 AM | Impressive, most impressive. by Darth Gravy | Aug 16th, 2001 11:22:45 AM | I agree that quality is
returning lately... by The Killer-Goat | Aug 16th, 2001 01:26:11 PM | Fanboys by JamesPond | Aug 16th, 2001 02:08:40 PM | on again friday 7:00 PM by Razor42 | Aug 16th, 2001 02:21:33 PM | How to save comics... by Project: 2501 | Aug 16th, 2001 04:39:25 PM | Rob Liefeld has ALWAYS sucked,
and my "Rob is a prick" story by SethShandor | Aug 16th, 2001 04:47:29 PM | Liefeld by Project: 2501 | Aug 16th, 2001 04:54:48 PM | Samurai Jack... by dmiles2go | Aug 16th, 2001 05:17:48 PM | Let he without comics in bags
cast the first backing board by cesspoolinferno | Aug 16th, 2001 07:12:15 PM | Liefeld is a no-talent,
shithead. by Uncapie | Aug 16th, 2001 10:08:21 PM | Chastain86: Liefield over
Mignola? You are smokin' some
SERIOUS by superhero | Aug 16th, 2001 10:50:49 PM | the other message... by stinkyg | Aug 17th, 2001 05:18:10 AM | BATMAN+WIZARD MAGAZINE+IMAGE
COMICS= The downfall of comics
as t by AtomoPrime | Aug 17th, 2001 05:33:28 AM | My awful artist story and my
thoughts on comics by FrankB3 | Aug 17th, 2001 03:03:15 PM | Hey! by StraightEdgeChik | Aug 17th, 2001 04:00:38 PM | Thank You, AtomoPrime and Mim by Chiisusan | Aug 17th, 2001 09:23:03 PM | Liefeld by Andy_Christ | Aug 18th, 2001 03:50:39 AM | yet another "how to save
comics" post by Andy_Christ | Aug 18th, 2001 03:57:29 AM | Leifeld....... by Xander71 | Aug 18th, 2001 11:26:14 AM | SO right about Wizard, and
other things... by Johnny Dagger | Aug 19th, 2001 12:02:06 PM | Tain't dead... just kinda
staggerin'... by PencilSharp | Aug 19th, 2001 06:27:41 PM | i stopped collecting because
of guys like rob and jim lee by vekt0r | Aug 20th, 2001 12:20:50 AM | Project::2501, Huh? by Mechboy | Aug 20th, 2001 07:37:58 PM | This show by SinDrome | Aug 21st, 2001 06:49:18 AM | You guys are starting to make
me sick... by The Beast | Aug 21st, 2001 07:45:04 PM |
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