Manarvel Comics
It was recently announced that Milo Manara will be working with Master Wordsmith Chris Claremont on an X-Men title.
The blogs and message boards sounded up a HUZZAH... except for lone Voice of Reason Mike S. Miller, who had this to say....
"Does this mean we'll get to see the X-women getting it on with X-men, in gratuitously explicit sex scenes throughout the book?
Minara is a pornographer. Anyone who just 'googled' him knows that, why is it being kept so quiet on this thread?
I used to read his stuff. Excellent artist, but I wonder what sense it makes to put him on a book that is supposedly all-ages? What if a kid falls in love with his artwork and GOOGLES him?
"Kid, welcome to the wonderful world of graphic porn comics."
Nice"
Thank you Mr. Miller, for saying what needs to be said. Oh sure, the liberal elite thinks it's A OKAY to let a KNOWN PORNOGRAPHER work on a kiddie book.
Of course. Next thing you know, Richard Maplethorpe will be showing us all how far Batman can shove a bullwhip in his ass.
Well I got news for you pinkos. My boycott of X-Men starts Right NOW. Until they bring back the One True X-Artist (John Byrne), you can kiss my hard earned buckers goodbye.
As long as this FILTH is in print, I will fight it tooth and nail. The idea of Jean Grey's voluptious, silky, soft, freckled tits being rendered in soft, delicate lines absolutely repulses me.
Chris Claremont had better get to writing up some endless internal dialogue for these gals... maybe one of his painfully over-written thought ballooons will cover up the firm, smooth contours of Storm's long, chocolate thighs. If anyone can do it, he can.
The thought of this Smut makes me sick. I get all light-headed and dizzy, and I feel nervous and lose my appetite. Sexy women in comics should be drawn ineptly by guys with a tenuous grasp of anatomy, and they should be in costumes that make no sense. Period.
And all these Italians should stick to what they know best....
Fumetti.
posted by Alex! at 6:42 PM
21 Love Letters:
I took you this long to quit X-Men?
10:29 PM
If you don't buy every x-title every week you hate America.
Don't you read Wizard?
10:39 PM
Your blog is really lame. Who cares about the X-men these days?
And Manara owns any Marvel artist.
1:42 AM
No Euro-pean owns Big John Byrne!
He is a free man! And last time I checked, owning humans was illegal in Canadia.
I don't know what the rules are in FRANCE, commie, but over here in the promised land, Abe Lincoln grabbed a shotgun and freed the slaves.
Nobody owns anyone, in this Land of the Free!
8:40 AM
Serious question: when you read the press release, were you also left thinking that these books are aimed primarily at the international market, and not the US market? Because that's what I thought I read, specifically the part where they said the books were "aimed primarily at the international market." And, you know, other parts that stress that whole European and South American thing.
10:53 AM
Let's just hope that Claremont and Minara don't team up to relaunch Iron Fist.
All kidding aside - your point is well taken (so long as you're not pulling my leg - my irony detector is in the shop), and I am certainly one who likes his comics to be squeaky clean. That being said, many comic book legends have done their share of 'blue' work. Sure, some of the stuff is a bit tame - like the gratuitous tits in Wally Wood's Cannon to Jack Cole's Playboy cartoon, but some have done harder work for mags like Penthouse Comix. My point is that you could Google lots of arists and find some porn (whether it be soft or hard).
I don't think this is a very well thought out move by Marvel, but that's nothing new.
11:02 AM
I agree... they didn't think it out AT ALL.
They must have been seduced by his immaculate storytelling, subtle linework, and near perfect renderings of the human form.
11:08 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
11:12 AM
Wait - you switched from Anon to alex. Me so confused.
There is no questio that he can draw. But Alex, I thought your initial comments were about whether there would be any consequences of having someone who is best known for his adult work draw a mainstream funnybook.
The question is, did Marvel think about those consequences and chose to damn the torpedos, or did they simply forget that some of their readers are under the age of 25?
11:14 AM
Ok - just realized what was Miller's quote and what was your post. I had them a bit mixed up before.
I don't necessarily disagree that some Googling may end up with some interesting conversation between child and parent (hopefully), but if that's the risk Marvel is willing to take for artistic integrity, so be it. It is only partially questionable as a business decision - if there is some sort of backlash from parents (or more importantly, Wal-Mart). Doubtful, but all I am saying is that as a business the folks at Marvel should have at least given it some thought.
Since becoming a parent, I have started seeing the world through slighly different eyes. For example, the Beguiling, a shop here in Toront a lot like your Rocketship, is great - but there is a bit too much Adult material for me to walk in there with my son when he's ready to buy comics.
In addition, when it comes to Googling, I'll have much graver concerns than nudie drawings.
11:21 AM
I hear ya, Scott... I was just ribbing ya.
Seriously though, I think this is just one of those things where you take the good (amazing art) with the possibly bad (kids finding his more explicit work).
I don't know that it will be that big an issue... I mean, like you said, if a kid wants to google up some erotica, I doubt he'll be interested in Manara over Bukkake-ButtAction.com or whatever.
11:36 AM
Looking for comic books at auction prices?
4:13 PM
I think we have to assume that the Manara book is targeted at adults, and may carry such a tag upon publication. Yes, Manara's art is of an erotic nature, but I highly doubt they're going to get as graphic as his normal stuff with X-Man characters.
I would tell you to stop overreacting, but I can't tell if this post is serious or not.
Oh, and I hate being this guy, but it's Robert Mapplethorpe, not Richard.
I'm both surprised and pleased that Marvel would take this step in international graphic arts and sexuality. It's not like the X-Books aren't already highly suggestive. Why do we object to graphic sexuality but we're perfectly okay with blowing up schoolchildren to kick off the company's big crossover event?
All you need is love, people!
10:37 AM
My problem with this is that it's part of a frightening slide towards pornography actually being helpful to people's careers. I mean, next thing you know, we'll be seeing porno actresses actually move on to real films! We will not be able to make fun of their naivety and depressing state in life!
Keep the pornies in their place, I say!
5:35 PM
"Pornographer" is rather strong, no?
8:09 PM
Goddamn, since when did the internet not get humor?
11:12 PM
It's a strange world, Jacob Munford.
8:23 AM
I wonder what happens when you Google Mike S. Miller.
10:26 AM
Man, I've haven't seen this many people miss the obvious since the time I saw a group of homophobic Southern Baptists stand up and dance to "YMCA".
So Marvel's hiring a pornographer? Good. That means they'll have someone who knows how a woman's spine actually bends.
11:53 PM
"So Marvel's hiring a pornographer? Good. That means they'll have someone who knows how a woman's spine actually bends."
hahaha!
And also how gravity affects breasts... and how long ankles and necks actually should be... and how a page can be laid out for maximum storytelling potential.... and how perspective works... and have you read EL GAUCHO? Damn, that guy can draw sailing ships...
-a
8:45 AM
You're aware that Frank Quitely started in porn, right? The X-Men have already been drawn by a "pornographer."
8:50 PM
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