Wednesday's for Kids XXIII -- DOUG TENNAPEL (woo-hoo!)

from Ghostopolis

For kids a little older than I usually address here (and this week I'm trying to make up a bit for my tardiness the last couple entries), I present the great Doug TenNapel, graphic novelist (he does other stuff, but I'm pretty much only familiar with the books) and certifiable nutcase.

In the collage below are all the books of his which I've read, some of which I proudly own and all of which I highly recommend (those who are both interested and astute may recognize the absence of one of his novels, which will here remain nameless, and which I don't recommend, for personal moral reasons) and are here in a sort of organization:  Down the left hand side are the books I've read and in rough order of best (Creature Tech, which I've mentioned here before) at the top to the least, yet-still-totally awesome (Flink) at the near bottom, followed by three titles I haven't gotten to yet (lack of personal funds are a particular obstacle when the local libraries don't bother carrying this man's stuff, which, by the way, is hilarious, adventurous, beautifully drawn, witty in language and plot, absolutely ridiculous, absurd, and often drawing in theme from everything from Christian mythology and American History to popular current movies and other books), which I eagerly anticipate.  The big one on the right, Ghostopolis (which is in preparatory phases for film adaptation by Hugh Jackman, Disney, and others--crazy cool, if it actually happens), I just read today while "team teaching" (which fairly amounts to nothing save sitting in the back of another teacher's classroom while that teacher obstinately ignores you) for an English teacher, and I enjoyed it thoroughly--the book, not the "team teaching."  Always a fast read, a rushing escape, and, well, I'll say it again, laden with beautiful and surprisingly kinetic illustrations.

Cowboys & Aliens

Awesome, right?

Hardly.

Or so I thought for the first five seconds of the trailer, and would have thought still had not the trailer shown Harrison Ford, as well as the names, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Steven Spielberg all associated with it.  Not that each of these is above reproach.  They've all had their share of rotten movies, but something about the ridiculousness of this concept paired with the faith of these four men enough to put their names, and in the case of Ford, his face, with it, tells me Cowboys & Aliens could really work, and who better than the gutsy nut, Jon Favreau.  Unfortunately, I can't say that I have yet quite the faith in Daniel Craig and even Favreau alone, at least by long term reputation, and much less Sam Rockwell to lean the whole tent on them, though each of them has done pretty good stuff, and I totally love Iron Man.

Whatever.

It all begs a bigger question:  Why do I care so much?  The movie's not out yet.  I've only seen two minutes of  montage.  How can that, let alone the cast and production crew (active or just figurehead), really indicate quality?

Creature Tech, by Doug TenNapel

It ain't so much about quality.  Sometimes a movie's good just because it is.  Last night I watched the new Clash of the Titans.  It was a terrible movie.  Really.  The thing's garbage.  I like the original better, and that's not nostalgia speaking.  But I loved it!  I had a blast.  It was ridiculous.  Manly.  Over the top.  Fun.  Stupid.  Exactly what I needed last night.

Yes, there is a place for crappy movies, and I don't care how crappy this one may or may not be, and here's why:

DOUG TENNAPEL, who was introduced to me by my wise big sister.

Haven't read him?  Pick up Creature Tech, and tell me it isn't an early iteration of the coming cinematographic attraction.  Read the book and tell me truthfully that you didn't like it, even if it's the epitome of B-movie-in-book-form schlock.  Do it!

Here's the trailer to the movie, by the way.