Hello again!

Tonight's interview brings us Hcrealmser Canada Maestro.

Canada Maestro hails from Ottowa and is a 31 year old Computer Professional who joined the Realms on 3/9/03.

When did you start reading comic books?

CM: I can't give you an exact date because I actually can't remember. I don't even remember a time when I wasn't reading comics. So it would probably be late 70's or very early 80's.

What or who got you started?

CM: My father claims to be the instigator. He says he used to take me and my brother to the store and pick up a comic for each of us. Then he'd borrow them. My brother was probably a big influence on me as well. He was older and you know how it is, the younger brother looks up to the older and all that. This was probably aided by the fact that we lived in a pretty secluded area where there were no kids my age so my brother and his friends were all I really had before I started school. We've always shared hobbies like comics, collecting (hockey cards or whatever else), D&D, etc, etc. Even now whenever we get together the conversation usually comes around to comics.

What do you like most about comic books?

CM: This is a tough one. What I like most about comic books is the medium itself. The combination of art and text to tell a story in a way that other mediums can't. When I was young it was probably more about superheroes in flashy costumes beating the bad guy and maybe some of that has to do with my enjoyment of drawing. I still enjoy the superhero side of comics but I also appreciate comics that go beyond what people expect a comic to be.

Least?

First up would probably be how comics are perceived by people in and outside the comic community. When they are dismissed as trivial by people who relate them to childish slapstick or whatever, that bugs me. Movies and novels don't have that. People don't look at silly movies and generalize that all movies are that way. Sure, we have movies like Dumb and Dumber or the Cable Guy but then we have Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan. Comics have that same range of possibilities yet people seem reluctant to see it. And I think part of that comes from people inside the industry. They seem focussed on moving on from comics to TV and movies or comic companies seem focussed on bringing in outside talent who treat the job as a fun aside. I do appreciate what TV shows like Heroes or movies like Spider-Man do for comics by getting people to maybe look at them for something more than childish fluff but I also worry that the message might be getting lost along the way. I think there are other issues that comics have to get over, like getting more women and minorities involved in the making of them. A lot of this has to do with the portrayal of women and minorities in comics but perhaps I've gone on too long as it is.

What is your favorite title? Why?

CM: Right now I'd have to go with Astonishing X-Men or Elephantmen. Yes, I see the irony in putting Astonishing on that list given my previous rant about bringing in outside talent but I can't help it, I love the book. The book is just what I look for in an X-Men book, a small core team of outsiders fighting to save the day even if they're help isn't always appreciated. I really disliked the mutant books for quite a while with how many titles and characters there were but this title brought me back. Part of that was Joss as I'm also a Buffy, Angel, and Serenity fan and I love his writing here too. Elephantmen was a surprise for me as I wasn't expecting to enjoy the series when I first started picking it up. But the writing, the emotion that the art brings up, it's really pretty amazing. And I generally like stories that are reflective of society and bring up moral issues but at the same time, can just be an enjoyable story to read. But I should also point out that throughout all my years of collecting there's been one title that has remained on my list and that's the Incredible Hulk. There's always just been something I liked about that character. The creature that is tormented by those who refuse to understand him. The brainy scientist with the powerful creature inside him. I see so much potential in the character and have read some great stories courtesy of Bill Mantlo and Peter David (and some I'd rather forget like Bruce Jones).

Who is your favorite/least favorite comic character? Why?

CM: I don't know if I have a least favourite character. I usually find potential in pretty much any character. There have been times where I've found myself disinterested in certain characters like Wolverine or Superman but then a different writer comes along and brings me back to them. There have been a few characters that I don't know much about that have less appeal to me. I can think of a few comic covers depicting the latest female character creation that shows her in skimpy clothes, back arched, big attributes, etc. I can't say I don't like the characters as I don't know anything about them beyond these pinup shots but they'd probably come closest to being my least favourite. You have some of the same issues with some male characters, like the industry will go through a phase where every new character will be a gun toting bad-arse and that kinda irks me. But with the proper writing behind them, pretty much any of these characters could be interesting.

If your favorite comic book character is a hero, who is your favorite villain? If it’s a villain, who’s your favorite hero? Why?

CM: My favourite character is the Hulk who can sometimes fall into both categories so I'll cheat and give a favourite hero and villain. My favourite hero would be Spider-Man. I know it's cliche and people may argue it but I find him to be the most easy to relate to on a personal level. Cap and Superman are the beacons one might look up to and that's great but Spidey connects with me. Favourite villain would be Dr Doom. If written well he's the epitome of villainy for me because from his point of view, he's not the villain. From his point of view he's the best thing to happen to the world and it would be best if people just realized that. I love that about him. I also find it interesting that I can go through the 7 deadly sins and pretty much match them to him at some point in his career. There are just so many dimensions to him.

What is your favorite/least favorite hero team? Villain team? Why?

CM: Favourite hero team at the moment: The X-Men in Astonishing for the reasons above. Least favourite, the X-Men in the past and to some degree the ones now. When there are so many mutants and X-Men that Marvel feels the need to have so many X-books out there then I start to feel the books lose focus and I find it harder to get an underlying theme to them. They just tend to wander along. I can't think of a favourite or least favourite villain team.

Who is your favorite/least favorite comic writer? Why?

CM: Favourites:Probably Peter David, Allan Moore and Joss Whedon (and maybe Richard Starkings but I don't know if I'd include him yet). I just find that after reading a comic by them that I feel like I've read something great. They have the ability through their storytelling and dialogue to have me connect with the characters. There have been very few times that I've read any issue by them and went "meh, that was okay." I don't know if I have a least favourite per say. Some names that do come to mind are Daniel Way and Bruce Jones (mostly for his Hulk run but I also realize that there was some Axel Alonso in the mix there). Paul Jenkins, I kinda liked his run on the Hulk in the beginning but it trailed off and I enjoyed Origin. But his Wolverine: The End, Civil War: Frontline, and Civil War: The Return haven't impressed me.

Who is your favorite comic artist? Why?

CM: It's hard to narrow just one. Dale Keown is usually near the top of the list as I just like how dynamic and detailed his art is. But he's notoriously slow and don't get me started on Pitt. Alex Ross' work is amazing, do I really need to say why? Perez is incredible just for the sheer volume he puts into his work. I don't think anyone else could have done JLA/Avengers. And Kirby will probably always be the King for me.

How many comics do you read on a monthly basis?

CM: Probably a dozen or so. Not much really. I'm getting more into TPBs now.

How much do you spend on comics monthly?

CM: I guess it would be somewhere around $50 Canadian on the monthly stuff. Lately, you can add anywhere from $20 to $60 on TPBs.

About how many comic books do you own?

CM: Single issues, somewhere around 5000 maybe. I'm pretty sure I'm over 50 TPBs now.

What is your favorite comic era- the Golden Age (1930’s-1950’s), the Silver Age (1950’s-1980’s), or the Bronze Age (1980’s to present)?

CM: I'd probably have to go with the Silver Age.

What changes would you like to see in the comic book medium?

CM: A change in perception from inside and outside comics. In doing so, I'd like to see comics appeal to a broader range of people. From child to adult, male or female, black or white,... everyone.

What is more important to you: good stories or continuity? Why?

CM: I'd lean towards good stories. I'm a big fan of characters staying true to their core ideals and not forgetting what brought people to them to begin with. But on the other hand, continuity can be a double edged sword. You get the history that connects the character with the reader but after 30+ years, that's a lot of history and not all of it do you want to remember. I look back at some of the old Superman or Captain America books that were really out there (like one issue where Superman and Big Barda are mind controlled and forced to make adult movies together) and I don't mind forgetting about those. I can some times be the first to argue about continuity so I'm a bit of a paradox but in some ways that's what makes comics what they are. While reading Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics he talks about how much a reader brings in to the story when reading comics. Between each panel, with each letter of dialogue, the reader is putting something of his or her own into the story. And that's where continuity also gets cloudy. What I brought in to the story will differ from someone else.

Do you only read comics from one company? If so which one and why?

CM: I'm primarily a Marvel reader. But I do read DC from time to time and there are the indy books I collect.

Pitch 5 comic series, Graphic Novels, or trades to members of HCrealms.

CM:

• Elephantmen -- Although the story started in the Hip Flask books, new readers have the choice of picking up those back issues (or reprints) or just picking up the story from this series alone. Combining complex characters with a science fiction story you get storyline that works on so many levels. From the humans playing God to create the "Elephantmen" to be used as weapons to the reluctance of people to accept these outsiders into society you really get immersed into their world.
  
• Watchmen -- In my opinion (and the opinion of several others), this is one of the most important turning points in comic books. The details, the imagery, the underlying themes that are masterfully woven throughout this book make it a masterpiece. It truly showed people what comic books could achieve in telling a story that made you sit back and think. With characters that seemed so real you could make a connection with. It's one of those books that you can just enjoy or you can sit with people and talk about and realize just how complex it is. I think Allan Moore has mastered comic book storytelling more than anyone.
  
• Marvels -- See much of the Silver Age of comics through the eyes of an everyman. A photographer who witnesses the emergence of the original Human Torch spends his career documenting the actions of superheroes. He sees the highs of new heroes and the lows of humanity that is scared of the unknown or change and just as he starts to feel apathy towards it all his world is rocked when a hero fails. The emotion of the story, the beautiful art of Alex Ross, and the ability to witness the Silver Age from a character just like us, it's a must read for me.
  
• Fray -- Maybe not as complex and thought provoking as the previous books I've listed but an enjoyable book nonetheless. A future Slayer from the Buffy universe but in typical Joss fashion of tormenting strong female characters, she's left with less support than any slayer ever had but put through as much hardship in her first days as Slayer as any of them. And of course, Joss' usual snappy dialogue and storytelling come through.
  
• Understanding Comics -- This one is the hardest to sell but such an important book. I think Scott McCloud's knowledge of comics surpasses anyone and the way he uses the comic book medium to share that knowledge is just amazing. It's not a book for your casual comic book reader but for someone who really wants to appreciate the medium for what it is, this is a book that will open a lot of eyes. It'll give you an appreciation for many of the masters of the field and how they use the medium to not only tell a story but to envelop the reader into the world of the characters. Scott McCloud's books, especially "Making Comics", should be tops on the list of so many comic book makers as well as several comic book enthusiasts.

What is your favorite comic-related movie to date?

CM: Spider-Man. It had everything I had hoped for.

If you watch comic-related cartoons, which has been your favorite?

CM: I don't watch them enough to have a favourite.

What do you like about the comic forums of HCrealms? What do you dislike?

CM: What I like: The variety of opinions you can find. What I don't like: The variety of opinions. Okay seriously, what I don't like is the lack of participation in the Indy section.

How can HCrealms improve the comic forums, to better suit the needs of the comic book readers who used the site?

CM: I wouldn't mind an easy to use ratings system where people could give a quick rating (or maybe just a thumbs up/thumbs down) to books that came out each week. Users would then be able to browse the past few months to see what books are getting positive reviews. But that would be a lot of work and I don't think the Realms needs to do it.

What would you like HCrealms comic readers to know about you, in regards to you as a comic reader/collector?

CM: In regards to me as a comic reader/collector I'm not sure there's really anything I feel anyone "needs" to know.

Thanks Canada Maestro, for your participation!

You hadn't seen the novels that Rokk and I wrote as our interview responses before you wrote this, did you

I did try to avoid reading any answers before I wrote mine. I usually get quite a few eye-rolls whenever I go on one of my comic rants.

So... you missed the question of "Are you now or have you ever been, a member of the Nationalist Socialist Party?"

Nice interview, and if you're interested in some non-crappy Paul Jenkins stuff you should check out Inhumans and the original Sentry mini-series. Though the later suggestion may not be a popular one... He also did some good Spider-Man stuff, but that run is very hit or miss. Probably the best way to sum him up from my experiences.

So... what you're saying is, when you go to a comic convention and he's there, he sometimes likes to try to run you over? Maybe he mistakes you for Ro Gan and is trying to kiss Joe Q's be-hind?

I agree with the Inhumans story. Primo stuff and even has some tolerable Jae Lee art. As for the Sentry series....the first one was really good. I think a lot of people agree that it was a top notch story. The problems post- Sentry Vol. 1, however are well documented throughout the site.

Yay Cm! Hulk is one of my all-time favorite guys too. Also, I really enjoyed the first few Elephantman stories, but the last one or two, not so much.

Hulk will kick some ### in the war that's coming up. That should be good.

Ever notice that the overly hyped titles (eg; Civil War) are no where near as good as the under hyped titles (eg; Annihilation)? That worries me about the Hulk's storyline coming up.

You would have to be a moron to f-up a story like World War Hulk!! Hulk is PISSSEDDD!!! And headed back to earth to spread rampage and biological matter!!! How could anyone screw it up? (Huge thought bubble pops in head with image of even more huge Joey Q bulging out the sides of the bubble) .... Oh yeah......... nevermind.

Do you always think of Joey Q bulging? You may need help from a psychologist with a special kind of license.





a License to kill his patients.



Or maybe Joey's just really happy to see you.