InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "what of the warts?"

kamino_neko (kamino_neko) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-06-27 14:06:00

Entry tags:

creator: james robinson, title: superman

OK, now James Robinson's just parodying himself.
As I make my way through my insanely large read pile, I get to two months worth of Supermans. I wasn't really happy with Robinson's run when he first started, but I've been happier with it since the cast changed to Mon-El and the SPs - his particular style of dialogue doesn't stand out as badly when it's not being layered on Superman and his usual supporting cast. But, his...Robinson-ness, for want of a better word, is still there.

Seriously, he's got to be doing it deliberately, now.

Nice to know he's got a sense of humour about himself.

3 panels from Superman 688.

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	ashtoreth 2009-06-27 02:55 pm UTC (link)
	Which work would you say he's parodying? (Reply to this) (Thread)

kamino_neko
2009-06-27 03:27 pm UTC (link)

Starman, primarily, though this isn't the first time he's used it in Superman (before it was more like he did in Starman, though). Henchmen having conversations about random esoteric topics, rather than the job at hand, or more prosaic topics (family, sports, etc) showed up often enough in Starman that, at least among the people I know who've read it, it became a bit of a joke.

It's usually far less blatant and far more natural (though I don't think I've ever seen Robinson do truly natural dialogue), which is what makes this read more as deliberate self-parody than simply using his favourite type of scene.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	icon_uk 2009-06-27 03:30 pm UTC (link)
	IIRC Robinson said at the time that it was a direct parody of Quentin Tarantino movies, where the usually thuggish characters start having debates on outre topics. In Starman, Robinson had a gang discussing their favourite Sondheim musical and whether Bernadette Peters was the best performer of his work. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehefner 2009-06-27 04:27 pm UTC (link)
	Answer: yes, yes she is. Although I'd be interested to know who her competition would be. Mandy Patinkin could certainly be up there. Man, between this and the Mon-El scans, James Robinson seriously has me wanting to rewatch SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	buttler 2009-06-28 12:08 pm UTC (link)
	Funny thing is, while you were typing this, I was seeing Bernadette Peters in concert. And it was freaking fantabulous. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehefner 2009-06-28 12:45 pm UTC (link)
	Egad! Where? In New York? I've only seen her live once, in GYPSY. And she was freaking fantabulous there too, no matter what the damn critics said! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	buttler 2009-06-28 12:48 pm UTC (link)
	In San Francisco. And I neglected to take into account time zones, so it may not REALLY have been while you were typing. But still, awesome. And she sang a whole lotta Sondheim! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehefner 2009-06-28 12:54 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, so frickin' awesome. Did she sing "Move On"? I take no pride in admitting that if she did while I was there, I'd have started sobbing. SUNDAY just does that to me, especially with Bernadette. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	torberg 2009-06-29 10:12 am UTC (link)
	Ugh, I find her grating to either see or hear. I just don't get her appeal. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thehefner
2009-06-29 02:10 pm UTC (link)

I completely understand that. I'm often amazed that I don't feel the same way about her, honestly. All I can say is SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, with her and Mandy Patinkin (who, it's worth noting, a lot of people feel the exact same way about, and again, I SO understand why)... somehow, it was alchemy. Pure alchemy.

That show's made such an indelible impression on me ever since, to the point where I could barely stop crying when I saw the real painting in Chicago. As such, Bernadette now always holds a special place in my heart.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	torberg 2009-06-29 02:16 pm UTC (link)
	In fairness, about the only things in which I've seen her are "Into the Woods" and "The Jerk." I've also heard snippets of her from "Annie Get Your Gun." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thehefner 2009-06-29 02:29 pm UTC (link)
	If you can stomach it, I'd strongly say try SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. It's one of my favorite DVDs ever, although even besides Bernadette and Patinkin's own... "acquired tastes," it's not for everyone. That said, it DOES feature a singing Brent Spiner! With a German accent! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	pyynk 2009-06-27 03:12 pm UTC (link)
	Heh reminds me of a bit from one of the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser stories. (Reply to this)

	nymphgalatea 2009-06-27 05:09 pm UTC (link)
	Definitely deliberate, and quite hilarious. And I'm really liking his run, though I do think the title should be changed from "Superman" to the more accurate "Watch Mon-El Be Ridiculously Adorable". (Reply to this) (Thread)

kamino_neko
2009-06-28 04:38 am UTC (link)

Like I said, it's been much better since Clark headed off to New Krypton - the way he wrote Clark, Lois, Jimmy, etc, just feels incredibly off. Having a new supporting cast, and more or less blank slate versions of Mon-El and Guardian allows him to be himself without that consideration.

I'm not sure what's going on over in World of New Krypton - whether he's just gotten better at the established characters, or if Rucka's keeping him focused, or what - but it is better.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	psychop_rex 2009-06-28 12:54 am UTC (link)
	"You know, Eddy, I fear I'm in the midst of ANOTHER existential crisis." Who needs realism? It's funny! (Reply to this)