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Post by Cei-U! on Nov 26, 2020 23:03:11 GMT -5
I think it's fair to say that 2020 has not been the kindest of years for any of us. While we can't wave away our present troubles, we can at least end this anno horribilis on a positive note. That's why this year more than ever, I—and I suspect a great many of the rest of you—need the feeling of community that comes with that most welcome herald of the holiday season: the launch of the seventh/sixteenth observance of the Twelve Days of Classic Comics Christmas! If you're new to the Classic Comics Forum, you may well be wondering, “What's all this Twelve Days stuff?” So glad you asked! TDCCC is an annual celebration of the tastes, opinions and quirks of our happy little society of classic comics fans. I began it back in 2005 and, to my eternal shock and pleasure, it has become a tradition, one I wouldn't dream of futzing with. I know I say that every year but every year I mean it. Comics are often celebrated as a visual medium and rightly so, but that's only half the equation. The words that accompany those visuals can be just as important to the dramatic and emotional effect of the story on the reader. When done right, narrative and dialogue can add context and meaning to the images presented, nuance and personality to the characters. This year's theme, then, is devoted to this often underappreciated aspect of graphic storytelling, to wit: I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself: Your Twelve Favorite Comic Book Scripters Creative credits in comic books being what they are, it can be impossible at times to determine what is meant by and who is responsible for “writing” a particular story. So for our purposes here, a scripter is the individual who composes the captions and fills the dialogue balloons in a comic book, regardless of their degree of collaboration in the plotting of the story. It is the finished product, the reading experience, that we are evaluating. Artists who script their own work are not eligible (as we covered cartoonists in an earlier TDCCC), and newspaper comic strips are excluded. Otherwise, any format, any era, any nation of origin is acceptable with a single restriction: because it's the Classic Comics Forum, you may only consider work that first appeared in print prior to January 1, 2011. Keep in mind that these are your personal favorites, not what you or anyone else considers “the best,” and remember: you must explain your choice. You are not required to include pictures for your selections but if you do, please post no more than two images per entry. Also—and I must insist on this— if you quote someone else's posts, please edit out the images. I have very little time to devote to the event this year and will help me immeasurably if I don't have to scroll past the same pics over and over. The survey will work just as it has in previous years. Each participating poster will draw up a list of their favorite scripters, ranked 12 (lowest) through 1 (highest). On December 13, I will post my #12 choice, on the 14th, #11, and so on until our #1 choices on Christmas Eve. You must post each selection on the appropriate day's thread, though not necessarily on that day. Late entries (up through, say, the 31st) are welcome. At the end of the survey, the results and a brief statistical overview will be posted with links to the original 12 threads. Rules are subject to tweaking based on participant input for the next week (until midnight on December 5), after which they’re locked in. Any questions, suggestions or (horrors!) criticisms should be posted in this thread. So this is your official heads up: you have two weeks and a day to create your lists before the fun starts. Who's in? Cei-U! I summon the wondrous world of wordsmithing! * I try to keep public rules lawyering to a minimum so I encourage you to contact me via PM if you have any questions about your choice's eligibility. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2020 0:57:26 GMT -5
I do have one question/clarification-you said artists who script their own work are not eligible, and that's clear, but what if said artist worked as a scripter on a book/project where someone else did the art and they were only the writer/scripter for that project/book? Would they be eligible on the basis of those works, or is the fact they at some point drew as well scripted a project make them ineligible. I don't have a specific single example in mind, as I haven't even started brainstorming my list, but there are several creators to whom this applies that come to mind immediately.
-M
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Post by foxley on Nov 27, 2020 5:24:12 GMT -5
I'm in, in case it needed to be said.  (I already know who my #1 slot is. Now I just need need another 11.) |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Nov 27, 2020 5:48:11 GMT -5
I am so very ready for this one, as writers are pretty much my passion when it comes to talking classic comics. Started with a long list of 38 and believe I've already whittled it down to my final 12 with no shortage of regret and remorse. I am a little aghast to realize that my final twelve consists entirely of white dudes, and even then, most of them are Jewish American or Irish American. Apparently, my comic reading preferences are a lot less diverse than my novel reading preferences.
It is definitely fun being able to go all the way up to 2011 now, as I feel like there was a shift in the mid 2000s as a counterbalance to the art-driven industry of the 1990s where, for a time, the writer was what sold a book more than anything else. Lots of great writers entered the industry and earned acclaim during the 2000s, and a lot of over-hyped, substance-less hacks got their time in the spotlight as well.
Just a head's up now--anyone who chooses Grant Morrison is getting funny looks from me until at least Groundhog's Day.
Thanks as always, Kurt, for keeping the tradition alive! You're right: we needed this.
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 27, 2020 7:30:23 GMT -5
I don't remember doing this subject before, not even in the old site. I will confess to being thrown off by the term " Scripter". I'm going to interpret it as the person who actually writes the book without any help. He has to do the plotting AND writing of the words without any assistance. I already have a list of 15. shaxper, you might not talk to me till Groundhog Day.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 27, 2020 7:32:36 GMT -5
I also have to make sure my list isn't too Marvel heavy.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Nov 27, 2020 7:39:26 GMT -5
I don't remember doing this subject before, not even in the old site. I will confess to being thrown off by the term " Scripter". I'm going to interpret it as the person who actually writes the book without any help. He has to do the plotting AND writing of the words without any assistance. This is a new assignment. We haven't done it before. And Kurt's rules don't require the writer to be the sole plotter, though you are free to impose that limitation upon yourself. Of course, how do you know they plotted it entirely on their own, without input from the artist, the editor, or the guy they met on the elevator that morning? I helped Stan Sakai plot an Usagi story while I was giving him a ride back from dinner once. You won't find my name in the credits for that issue. No silent treatment. Just a raised eyebrow that you can't see anyway 😉 |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Nov 27, 2020 9:53:41 GMT -5
Cei-U!, you are our own Bizarro Grinch! Thanks for bringing joy to this otherwise terrible year!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 27, 2020 9:57:33 GMT -5
This sounds like a really wide open theme, can't wait to see where everyone goes with this And Kurt's rules don't require the writer to be the sole plotter, though you are free to impose that limitation upon yourself. Of course, how do you know they plotted it entirely on their own, without input from the artist, the editor, or the guy they met on the elevator that morning? I helped Stan Sakai plot an Usagi story while I was giving him a ride back from dinner once. You won't find my name in the credits for that issue. Wait..what! How have I not heard this yet!? Which issue? |
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 27, 2020 10:20:27 GMT -5
This sounds like a really wide open theme, can't wait to see where everyone goes with this And Kurt's rules don't require the writer to be the sole plotter, though you are free to impose that limitation upon yourself. Of course, how do you know they plotted it entirely on their own, without input from the artist, the editor, or the guy they met on the elevator that morning? I helped Stan Sakai plot an Usagi story while I was giving him a ride back from dinner once. You won't find my name in the credits for that issue. Wait..what! How have I not heard this yet!? Which issue? It’s the issue where yojimbo is traveling and gets attacked. Oh wait, that’s every issue.  |
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Post by coke & comics on Nov 27, 2020 11:18:16 GMT -5
I'm confused by Paragraph 6, where you say: "Each participating poster will draw up a list of their favorite cartoonists"...
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Post by wildfire2099 on Nov 27, 2020 11:30:12 GMT -5
So what about creators that started their career as artists but evolved later to just be scripters, or to gain more fame as such. (I'm thinking specifically of Bill Willingham, but someone also might want to choose Bendis).
I really like this choice... it requires a bit less research than usual, so we should get lots of participation, and we'll probably see some interesting tabulated results.
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Post by Icctrombone on Nov 27, 2020 11:35:24 GMT -5
I guess as long as you reference their scripting work only , it should count.
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Post by coke & comics on Nov 27, 2020 11:54:37 GMT -5
I guess as long as you reference their scripting work only , it should count. That's my take. I'll judge the writers on work they scripted but didn't draw and rank them accordingly. Which, by the way, I have done. Unless somebody I'm forgetting comes to mind, I have my 12. |
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Post by Farrar on Nov 27, 2020 12:20:58 GMT -5
My #1 and #2 are non-negotiable...now to think of some others.
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