|
Writers
on Comics Scriptwriting
by Mark Salisbury
Book review by:
Troy Brownfield
Fans
of comics have long been able to find volumes and volumes
devoted to the "art" of comics. You've got books as diverse
How to Draw the Marvel Way, How to Draw Superman Animated,
and Hide Ankles Like Rob Liefeld. Still, for the massive amounts
of text on the picture side, there's very little said about
the words that go with the pretty pictures. Mark Salisbury
strikes a blow for the writers in Writers on Comics Scriptwriting.
Candidly interviewing fourteen scripters, Salisbury tries
to get to the core of what makes for good writing in comics.
I'd have
to say that many of Salisbury's choices are stellar. The author
himself bemoans his inability to get Alan Moore for the book
(maybe in a sequel, he says), he does manage to snag Kurt
Busiek, Peter David, Chuck Dixon, Warren Ellis, Garth Ennis,
Neil Gaiman, Devin Grayson, Dan Jurgens, Joe Kelly, Jeph Loeb,
Todd McFarlane, Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, and Mark Waid.
I must
admit, I'd have to take exception with the inclusion of McFarlane
as anything resembling a "great writer"; while it's true that
McFarlane possesses a vital imagination, remarkable marketing
savvy and keen business sense, he quit writing and drawing
his own flagship creation years ago. I'd have rather seen
a James Robinson, a Denny O'Neil or a Matt Wagner is this
slot. Still, the majority of these scribes have produced most
of the comics that are worth reading in the last ten years.
One of
the primary strengths of a book like this is that it allows
the personality of the artist to shine through. Warren Ellis
is predictably hilarious, pontificating on his desire to "buy
a castle and walk the ramparts with a shotgun . . . maybe
culling the peasants and the livestock occaisionally." Morrison
gets verbal about physics, Jeph Loeb talks movies, and Mark
Waid becomes very serious about his disappointments with scripting
heartaches over Captain America and Superman.
Of particular
distress to me was the interview with Dan Jurgens. Jurgens
seems really bitter about Grant Morrison's success in particular.
I also intensely disliked his comment that all comics writers
should be artists; that's like the typical Hollywood bullshit
that says eliminate the screenwriter.
A real
solid bonus to this work is the fact that each writer has
allowed a portion of a script to be reproduced so the world
can see how they do it. I quite like the fact that none of
them do it the same way; it's a telling note as to why each
one was asked to contribute: they don't do it like anyone
else.
Writers
on Comics Scriptwriting is a treasure trove for the comics
fan. Aspiring comic writers should read it if only to see
how influenced these writers are by things outside of comics.
It's extremely entertaining, and damn it, it's educational
too.
Note:
I have to take a moment to reflect on one point of personal
pride. Of the writers interviewed for the book, Kurt Busiek,
Chuck Dixon, Warren Ellis, and Devin Grayson have all appeared
as guests in our Big Question feature here on the site. It's
worth noting simply because while these writers are considered
among the best in their field, they still have time for the
fans. THAT is a measure of greatness in itself.
Troy
Brownfield is Editor-In-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. He'd like
to thank his mother for buying the book for him. Email the
mama's boy at psikotyk@aol.com.
|
