Wonder Con.

Went to Wonder Con last Saturday. And it was fun, I was a bit bummed early in the day as my companions had to bow out for various reasons, and it was raining, which always puts a funk on things. But I had a really good time. Didn't make it to any panels, but had a fun time on the floor, talked to some friends in Artist Alley, and found some cool stuff. Got myself some old Star Trek and Supergirl stuff, and Womanthology. Much will be said about that book when I've finished with it. One of the neat things about the con is that the Anaheim Convention Center had a few other things going on (which is standard operating procedure for the place), a volleyball tournament and the ever present cheer competition. But it added a fun energy to the place, and I saw many volleyball girls taking pictures with cosplayers. It was great.

But one thing that Wonder Con 2012 left me with was a feeling that Comic-Con International made the right choice staying in San Diego. The big problem is that the Convention Center though large is in a neghbourhood that has no infastructure for it. The parking for the center was full by 9:30 (the con opened at 10:00) and all but the hotels in walking distance had no connection to it. We parked at Disneyland (we have free parking on our annual passes) and walked. The only other option was to go to Anaheim Stadium and get bussed in. And this was a small convention. Comic Con is larger than both of the things going on in the main convention center. And most likely Comic Con would be sharing the facility, something would at least be in the arena. Wonder Con was great but, if it was any indication, Comic-Con International would turn the city of Anaheim into a black hole.

A Tribute to Jean Giraud.

On March 10 the comic artist Jean Giraud, also known under his pen name Moebius, passed away. He was a true great and a towering talent. Comics are definatley richer to have had him as part of the craft. Giraud initially gained fame doing western comics (a genre that is very popular in his native France) the most famous being that of the Ranger Lt. Blueberry. If that was the only thing Giraud had ever done, I believe he would still be viewed as a legend. But Blueberry was just his "day job". Giraud was extremely passionate about the art and craft of comics, and was famous for being experimental. Eventually to, free his work from his famous style, as well a possibly to protect his reputation from his experiments. He created the pen name, some say alter ego, of Moebius for his experimental work. And it is with this work that he redefined comics for a whole generation. Moebius' bold experimental work was usually in the vein of science fiction, and it never repeated itself, from wordless comics like "Arzach" to pure surrealism like "Le Garage Hermetic" to social satire and commentary, and surreal trance like autobiography. He proved that comics have no limits and he proved it with some of the most beautifully rendered comics. As well as pushing the envelope Giraud also did much to facilitate the works of others that wanted to push the boundaries of the form, with the foundation of Les Humanoids, and their seminal magazine Metal Hurlant, which was made available in the US in a diminished sense by the National Lampoon as Heavy Metal. Due to his influence as a comics artists many film makers approached Giraud, to do design for them including Alejandro Jodrowsky's (whom he collabarated on comics with as well including the amazing "L'Incal) unmade film of "Dune". Ridley Scott on "Alien", and probably most famously of Stephen Linsberger's Tron. Aside from directly designing films his influence pours over other's like Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (Scott has never hidden his love of Moebius) and Luc Besson's the "Fifth Element" Some have even said that "The Fifth Element" is a complete ripoff of Moebius and Jodorowsky's "L' Incal". Giraud was an amazing talent. I have never seen a comic artist read his work and not come away influenced. And there is something magical about his influence, you can tell that the artist has been inspired but, there are not many Moebius wannabes like their are of many other great artists. I believe that the biggest aspect of this is that more than anything Giraud's art expresses to the reader the power of the imagination, and that's what artists take away from him.

As with all of my tributes like this, I like to point out, although he is a god of comics art to me and others. He is just a man, and however sad we are at the loss of Giraud. It is more sad and painful to those who knew him as just a man. The people to which he was not Giraud or Moebius, but Father, Brother, husband, Grandfather, and friend. And to these people I offer my condolences. And I urge others to keep in their thoughts and prayers.

David

Image belongs to copyright holder used for scholarly purposes.