Writing and motion comics
So I've lost my mind and signed up for yuletide this year. I've offered up a bunch of fandoms, some obvious, some not-so obvious unless you've peeked at my book collection. I'm nervous with anticipation over my assignment.
mini_nanowrimo is going well. It's good to be writing again. I've done two fanfic stories and the rest of the days have been filled with original fic. One was inspired by the hidden object game I was playing at the time. Don't question the inspiration, just run with it. The game's Hidden Magic and it's a weird cross between hidden object/puzzles and Magic the Gathering. You have to find the objects to cast the particular spells, prompting much panic when you can't find something. (I even incorporated that into the story. There was an early bug in the system so there was no acorn shown even though your spell needed an acorn.)
I've watched the five episodes of the "Spider-woman: Agent of Sword" motion comic off Hulu. (You do need to register on Hulu if you want to watch them because they've been tagged with an MA rating, mostly because of the blood and violence. It didn't strike me as really horrific, but if it'd been live action?) I really wasn't familiar with the character before I watched it, which was fine. The story filled me in most of the backstory. Now Brian Michael Bendis does great gobs of dialogue. I pity his poor letterers whenever they get his scripts. But what works on paper doesn't always sound as snappy and interesting when spoken. I'm thinking of Jessica's opening monologue. (Personally I think the Avengers could have a contest for most screwed up person on their team -- they've got plenty to choose from.) Those issues evened out as the five episodes went along.
I had some issues with the voice acting choices, mainly Madame Hydra and my poor Bucky. Just because he's 80 years old doesn't mean he should sound it! Madame Hydra was actually played by the same actress who played Jessica Drew, which fits the whacky backstory oddly. The thing with her was the accent. There's alien and there's foreign and there's somewhere in between. I actually mistook her for Agent Brand whose own accent is just off-putting enough without straying into cariacture land. (And I have an excuse to use my Brand icon!)
I'm trying to figure out how to react to it in general. On the one hand, it's good to see a female solo book. Jessica was definitely an active player in her storyline. Even when the cavalry showed up, she got to save the day. I liked that fact. I only hope she gets an easier assignment next time around. For five episodes, she got pretty knocked around and beaten up in every episode. One hopes that Bendis will allow for some "down time" or breathing points in the future storylines. Some aliens have to hide in Monte Carlo or Tahiti, don't they? That said I never felt like the violence was ever sexualized. Brutal, yes, but more worried for her health than her safety.
As for the motion part, I'm a big fan of real animation, so this is never going to work perfectly for me. But I thought they used Maleev's artwork well. Jessica looked "real" not like a plastic Barbie doll. Can you imagine animating Greg Land's artwork? *shudder* (I did get a chuckle out of how flat-chested he drew Carol Danvers. Ms. Marvel is not quite the Power Girl of Marvel, but close.) I liked this better than the Astonishing X-men preview I've seen. And some of it may been how it was created. Maleev was involved in the process from day one, adding additional artwork. So although his artwork can be as staticy as Cassady in places, they made it work. The motion parts felt natural, rather than so forced. And that's frustrating to say since the X-men one is done by Neal Adams and his team.
mini_nanowrimo is going well. It's good to be writing again. I've done two fanfic stories and the rest of the days have been filled with original fic. One was inspired by the hidden object game I was playing at the time. Don't question the inspiration, just run with it. The game's Hidden Magic and it's a weird cross between hidden object/puzzles and Magic the Gathering. You have to find the objects to cast the particular spells, prompting much panic when you can't find something. (I even incorporated that into the story. There was an early bug in the system so there was no acorn shown even though your spell needed an acorn.)
I've watched the five episodes of the "Spider-woman: Agent of Sword" motion comic off Hulu. (You do need to register on Hulu if you want to watch them because they've been tagged with an MA rating, mostly because of the blood and violence. It didn't strike me as really horrific, but if it'd been live action?) I really wasn't familiar with the character before I watched it, which was fine. The story filled me in most of the backstory. Now Brian Michael Bendis does great gobs of dialogue. I pity his poor letterers whenever they get his scripts. But what works on paper doesn't always sound as snappy and interesting when spoken. I'm thinking of Jessica's opening monologue. (Personally I think the Avengers could have a contest for most screwed up person on their team -- they've got plenty to choose from.) Those issues evened out as the five episodes went along.
I had some issues with the voice acting choices, mainly Madame Hydra and my poor Bucky. Just because he's 80 years old doesn't mean he should sound it! Madame Hydra was actually played by the same actress who played Jessica Drew, which fits the whacky backstory oddly. The thing with her was the accent. There's alien and there's foreign and there's somewhere in between. I actually mistook her for Agent Brand whose own accent is just off-putting enough without straying into cariacture land. (And I have an excuse to use my Brand icon!)
I'm trying to figure out how to react to it in general. On the one hand, it's good to see a female solo book. Jessica was definitely an active player in her storyline. Even when the cavalry showed up, she got to save the day. I liked that fact. I only hope she gets an easier assignment next time around. For five episodes, she got pretty knocked around and beaten up in every episode. One hopes that Bendis will allow for some "down time" or breathing points in the future storylines. Some aliens have to hide in Monte Carlo or Tahiti, don't they? That said I never felt like the violence was ever sexualized. Brutal, yes, but more worried for her health than her safety.
As for the motion part, I'm a big fan of real animation, so this is never going to work perfectly for me. But I thought they used Maleev's artwork well. Jessica looked "real" not like a plastic Barbie doll. Can you imagine animating Greg Land's artwork? *shudder* (I did get a chuckle out of how flat-chested he drew Carol Danvers. Ms. Marvel is not quite the Power Girl of Marvel, but close.) I liked this better than the Astonishing X-men preview I've seen. And some of it may been how it was created. Maleev was involved in the process from day one, adding additional artwork. So although his artwork can be as staticy as Cassady in places, they made it work. The motion parts felt natural, rather than so forced. And that's frustrating to say since the X-men one is done by Neal Adams and his team.