Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Doth Scott Pilgrim Not Rock Your World?

Page: (1)2 3 4 5 6... 8

FinderWolf

14:32 / 02.06.06

OK, this comic doesn't have its own thread and it's high time for one.

Bryan Lee O'Malley's wonderful "American manga" series is up to Vol. 3 currently - it's the whimsical, fun, joycore soap-opera/comedy/action/videogame-inspired tale of slacker Scott Pilgrim, who plays in a band called Sex Bob-omb and his varied & sundry dating life. (funnily enough, the book, which is only available in paperback manga-sized digests from Oni Press - no 'single issues' - is categorized on the back cover as Comedy/Action/Drama/something else)

Who here has read it? Who here has fallen in love with this series which truly deserves the name JOYCORE? I feel like 'Lithers especially would love the hell out of this book.

Vol. 3, just out this past week, features several pages in the back with various indie artists doing Scott Pilgrim pin-ups/mini comics. Lots o'fun. I never read O'Malley's previous work, 'Lost at Sea,' but heard it was decent.

FinderWolf

14:39 / 02.06.06

The World of Wiki Wonders has more.

Signifier

14:53 / 02.06.06

Yes. Scott Pilgrim is totally cultworthy.

Phex: Dorset Doom

15:07 / 02.06.06

It's excellent. Really. You can get the broad outline from Wikipedia and a bunch of reviews (all positive, if anybody can find one that isn't gushing praise then I'll be your barbe-slave for a whole month*) but really you should be reading it. 'Joycore' is a good (made up) adjective to describe it- it makes readers happy and that can only be a good thing. At the same time there's a sliver of another made up word, Emo, at the story's heart that stops it from becoming bubblegum.
It also has the finest piece of in-fight banter I have ever read:
'Looks like I grazed you'
'How appropriate. You fight like a cow.'
Like I said, owning this comic is now necessary to the development of your appreciation of the graphic novel medium.

* Every time you post I'll write something like 'wow! how insightful! With opinions like that (yourname) must be super hot in real life!' after it.

FinderWolf

15:12 / 02.06.06

YES YES YES YES YES!!!

>> Like I said, owning this comic is now necessary to the development of your appreciation of the graphic novel medium.

These may seem like overly strong words, but ohhh, they are ACCURATE.

I laugh out loud like a madman with giddy glee whenever I read these books. And then I re-read them. Vol. 3 made my lengthy subway ride home an absolute delight last night.

the permuted man

15:16 / 02.06.06

Yeah, definitely a fun read, though I enjoyed volume 3 less than the previous 2.

Bryan Lee O'Malley is Canadian though, right? I mean, granted that's American in the sense of North American, but usually American is used a bit more specifically.

FinderWolf

15:21 / 02.06.06

True, he is Canadian. I just meant American in the wider genre sense.

Hope this link still works; this should be the free new Scott P. story from Free Comic Book Day.

(It takes place after Vol. 3, but never fear, there are no spoilers for Vol. 3. And I love his Franklin Richards 4 1/2 T-shirt.)

the permuted man

15:51 / 02.06.06

I just meant American in the wider genre sense.

Now I'm even more confused. Do you mean something different than the much more accurate: "Original English Language (OEL) manga"?

A fall of geckos

16:01 / 02.06.06

I really enjoyed these - they have a great style. I've heard it described as Nintendo Realism, which seems appropriate.

The first graphic novel's slated for development as a movie with Spaced's Edgar Wright as the director. I think this is a great match. I can see a lot of similarity between the way the Scott Pilgrim books use modern culture and the way Spaced appropriated complete sequences from horror films, science fiction and geek culture.

the permuted man

16:09 / 02.06.06

First I've heard of Nintendo Realism, but does sound satisfactorily apposite. Definitely describes its particular charm for me, though I think it does emulate and incorporate(with varying success) other styles as well.

FinderWolf

16:46 / 02.06.06

>> "Original English Language (OEL) manga"?

That sounds fine too, and is likely more accurate.

Mark Parsons

17:29 / 02.06.06

I'm halfway through book three and am kinda bummed: it feels thrown togather somehow, or at very least quite far off the first two books' mark of sheer delightful perfection.

I'm hoping for a mid-book reversal, of course.

PS: the book has been optioned for movies, but it seems like a live action plan, whereas this world work perfectly as an animated project (or better yet an animated series with a finite arc like MAXX or **cough** SPAWN.

doyoufeelloved

17:45 / 02.06.06

I did feel the third volume wasn't quite up to snuff, but it began to redeem itself right around the time they went to Honest Ed's. Single best gag in Vol. 3: The "(It sounds delicious)" caption.

SCOTT PILGRIM feels to me like everything that comics should be, honestly, in terms of format, level of commitment and creativity, opportunities for cult/identity fixation, etc. I wouldn't say it's perfect, but it's about as close as our fallen world can get. Here's hoping O'Malley doesn't crack up under the pressure/praise.

Phex: Dorset Doom

18:58 / 02.06.06

O'Malley really ought to be isolated from all human and internet contact until Gideon bursts into ten million Canadian dollars at Scott's feet. Or something more imaginative.
I'm also dissapointed they're going with a live-action version. Wright's a good director and it definitely makes sense that he'd direct (Americans: watch Spaced before continuing). It needs to be animated, by the makers of FLCL, an anime which I'd say is a minor inspiration for Scott Pilgrim.

Grady Hendrix

19:39 / 02.06.06

I prefer the term, "Canadian Manga." Because it sounds like comic books written for teenagers that have a hickory-smoked bacon flavor.

eargang

20:22 / 02.06.06

I got into this thanks to the "teenager" section of our public library.

...I'm 29.

Oh well. Good stuff. picked up Volume 3 at the store, and will probably pick up vol 1 and 2 for my own bookshelf.

Andria

00:40 / 03.06.06

Why haven't I heard of this earlier? After reading through the preview a few times, despite initally disliking the art style, I now feel like running across town in the middle of the night to my not-so-local comic book store and buy this right away. I can connect to this book. And it's pretty cheap, too!

I'll post again when I've read it, hopefully soon.

FinderWolf

02:10 / 03.06.06

SPECULATION SPOILERS

****

Some have theorized that by the very end of this story, whenever that is (since we have about 5 evil ex-boyfriends left), Scott will end up with not Ramona, but Kim Pine. Discuss. I think it's a pretty viable theory, the way the story's been dealing with Kim and her past with Scott.

Guitar battle at the end of Vol. 3: super-awesome.

I love it when Scott has his lame stammering comebacks, ie. "What...? Huh? ...No! Your - your mother is [whatever insult was hurled at him]!"

The Timaximus, The!

21:22 / 03.06.06

Re: Kim:

I've only read the first two books so far, but does Scott not know/not remember that he and Kim dated? It kind of seemed like that to me.

FinderWolf

16:43 / 04.06.06

He goes over their becoming friends & starting to date a bit in Vol. 2, right? After she's kidnapped by the evil boss of the rival school? (I could be mis-remembering here)

But Scott always glosses over it or doesn't want to talk about it, for the most part...or the story is conspicuously staying away from the subject. And Kim is treated as something of a mystery and she still seems to have some feelings for Scott. Ramona asks about her in Vol. 3 and Scott is like "Why are you asking about her?" and it seems like the story is telling us Ramona senses there's more to the Kim/Scott connection than perhaps both Kim and Scott realize consciously.

Math is for suckers!

22:27 / 04.06.06

*cough* look over here *cough*

FinderWolf

04:26 / 06.06.06

Rich Johnston writes:

>> London is completely dry of "Scott Pilgrim" #3. Despite ordering hundreds and hundreds of copies, all orders being filled by Diamond, by last weekend Forbidden Planet, Gosh, Comics Showcase, Comicana and Orbital were devoid of the book.

On reorder apparently. Still, it's shouldn't be this hard to keep a guaranteed hit on the shelves should it?

Looks like "Scott Pilgrim" is shaping up to be the comic industry's "Harry Potter." Expect midnight queues for volume 4.
----------------

I know Vol. 3 was sold out within 5 hours of its debut last Wed. at NYC's Midtown Comics and other stores as well. I was astonished that the well-stocked super-large store Midtown was sold out soooo quickly on a Wed. They did get copies in last week, thankfully. I also heard from a friend in San Franisco that a shop there sold out the first day the book appeared as well.

Phex: Dorset Doom

09:15 / 06.06.06

It's always bittersweet when something you like sells out (of copies, not integrity). On the one hand it equals money and press attention to somebody deserving (for once), on the other hand people who want the book might not get it.
Y'know, unless they had it on pre-order on Amazon for three motnhs. Like I did. Life is good.

Tuna Ghost: Pratt knot hero

21:59 / 06.06.06

Still, it's shouldn't be this hard to keep a guaranteed hit on the shelves should it?

You'd think not, but I had to go to like five places today to find the first two volumes. Totally worth it though, this shit is ace. Don't know what I'm going to do about the third volume. I've alreadly resolved to never order anything again by mail or internet, so my quest will have to stretch out beyond the borders of my usual haunts.

FinderWolf

18:46 / 14.06.06

Interview with creator Bryan Lee O'Malley.

doyoufeelloved

20:18 / 14.06.06

I also just want to note that O'Malley drew an awesome T-Rex (of Dinosaur Comics fame) on the inside cover of my copy of Vol. 1 at MoCCA this weekend. The man can see inside my soul.

Matthew Fluxington

13:01 / 15.06.06

He saw into my soul and drew Ramona in mine!

I am going to treasure the "I Wish Kim Pine Was My Girlfriend" pin that I bought at his booth for the rest of my life.

FinderWolf

13:33 / 15.06.06

He sells/gives away pins that say that??!!? Awesome. Or are you joking, Flux?

Matthew Fluxington

13:48 / 15.06.06

Not anymore! They sold out!

See for yourself:

Also:

These are great! Thanks for the scans!

doyoufeelloved

16:06 / 15.06.06

Yeah, I too bought both those pins. The Kim Pine one popped off my bag at the movie theatre this week and I screamed like a little girl and dove onto the floor to rescue it. (Though I actually like the 1-UP one more.)

Starting A Fight: I'm rereading Vol. 2 right now and it is far and away the best of the series so far. DUKE IT OUT.

The Timaximus, The!

00:42 / 16.06.06

OMG! I hope he has those at San Diego this year. (If he's even going.) Wait, even if he's not there, maybe Oni will have some...

Janean Patience

07:37 / 16.06.06

I'm disappointed. All my pin, or badge as they should properly be called, says is "I'm A Scott-oholic". I would've preferred the 1-UP one.

I got mine from Page 45 in Nottingham, who are sending out a free badge with every order of v3. And they've got lots of v3.

Page: (1)2 3 4 5 6... 8

Add Your Reply