This is a book I keep coming back to. Back in the day my initial flip through left me a little deflated for the lack of red ie Daredevil's suit. Every subsequent read has been a discovery of technique for me. A shorter story that builds on Miller's run with those characters and showcases his work going forward. Thanks guys for the video. So fun hearing your thoughts on this.
A magazine called Comics Interview had an article on Miller when he was working on this book and they showed some excerpts... in b/w, with that simple line drawing only. They showed that staircase page, that panel of the ninja on the roof, and some others. They looked great even like that, and different from Miller's previous work for sure. After seeing those, I was totally unprepared for how the finished book looked when it came out, just how much the color filled in the space between those lines and added to it, how different the athmosphere in that staircase page became, for example. It just blew me away. Very unique collaboration between a line artist and a color artist.
I remember buying this when it was released. I was absolutely gob-smacked. To this day, it has been my favorite artwork from Miller. I love how you guys discuss some of my favorite comic books. Thank you so much for reminding me why I love this medium so much.
I also seem to recall in an interview that Miller was astonished by Varley's choice of making the cemetary fight set in the early morning light as opposed to during the night as he had envisioned the scene.
On page 18 you can see "Carmen Cru" , a character created by french artist Lelong in 1981 for the magazine "Fluide Glacial". She is a mean old lady, and I love the series. Check it out, the art is fantastic. And I love how Carmen gives a shit about other people's opinions.
Frank’s inspiration for the horror elements of this book largely came from reading Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, believe it or not. His original intentions were to introduce a horror element to the book that he had planned to revisit at the end of Born Again, but Born Again was cut short by two issues and the plot line was never followed up on afterwards.
This whole book is like a fever dream,so creepy and sad,reminds me of a David lynch movie in that you can never really get your bearings straight. Definitely in the top two Miller works for me.
This book is so amazing, it blew me away when it came out. I don’t believe in killing characters and bringing them back to life but the art was so spectacular
IIRC. Marvel had to outsource the first printing of the original graphic novel to Graffiti designs in order to accomplish the high end printing format they were unaccustomed to.
Long time viewer, 1st time commenter. Great episode. One of my favorite Miller/Miller/Varley books for many reasons but especially for the inkline he uses here. Re: influences & that inking line: Check out Utagawa Kuniyoshi & his student Tsukioka Yoshitoshi & his work "100 Aspects/Views of the Moon".
I have the big HC of this and I can tell you that these colors are haunting. As for Elektra, this was supposed to be an alternate universe, where she died, came back, died and eventually..lives again. Marvel has a nasty history of test running these tales and 'What if's' ......and making them reality down the road...
Another great video and spotlight on one of my favorite comics. You guys picked up on the Darrow influence and I just wanted to mention in the back of the book Miller thanks Geof Darrow, so your instincts were spot on.
For some reason this comic always reminded me of the first episodes of Peter Chung's Aeon Flux (the spread at 21:56 for instance), maybe it's the exaggerated anatomies, the palettes or maybe just the general surreal/nightmarish vibe.. Great vid btw!
Beautiful work. I recently had to remind some comic book friends about this book and Miller's drawing and page composition, specifically the page where Matt gets up and walks downstairs.
The repeating character motif is the De Luca Effect. You guys should review The Dark Knight Strikes Again - another Miller/Varley collab that's weird as hell.
Eadweard Muybridge? "Eadweard Muybridge was an English photographer important for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion." - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regarding the converse all stars... Mckeever's Eddy Current might be the genesis. Check out the thinky veiled Frank Miller story that Ted spins into his very underrated Pencil Head book. Also thanks for getting this book some attention. Gorgeous visuals
I remember one of the pages from Elektra Lives again in that issue of Marvel Age did not appear in the final product and wondered how many other pages exist but did not make it to the final issue. Is there an ultimate edition that prints everything included cut pages? Also that page in the brownstone with the staircase might have been influenced by M. C. Escher. And I remember seeing shout out to Geoff Darrow in the credits and wonder if he might have contributed something to the book.
Darrow absolutely did Help him with the drawing on this book; You can also find some of those old pages in a google search and whatnot, they definitely exist and the story was quite different? But he had to readjust a number of elements, including Karen Page returning, which had been unplanned originally.. A secret history of this graphic novel would be fascinating. To me, at least...
Ed's Patreon: www.patreon.com/edpiskor
Jim's Patreon: www.patreon.com/jimrugg
Thanks for reconnecting me with Frank Miller's Elektra Lives Again! It has been ages since I last read this comic.
Thank you, Kayfabe. I love your channel ! Tthis is one of my favorite comic books ever. Thank you for all the insight!
This is a book I keep coming back to. Back in the day my initial flip through left me a little deflated for the lack of red ie Daredevil's suit. Every subsequent read has been a discovery of technique for me. A shorter story that builds on Miller's run with those characters and showcases his work going forward. Thanks guys for the video. So fun hearing your thoughts on this.
A magazine called Comics Interview had an article on Miller when he was working on this book and they showed some excerpts... in b/w, with that simple line drawing only. They showed that staircase page, that panel of the ninja on the roof, and some others. They looked great even like that, and different from Miller's previous work for sure. After seeing those, I was totally unprepared for how the finished book looked when it came out, just how much the color filled in the space between those lines and added to it, how different the athmosphere in that staircase page became, for example. It just blew me away. Very unique collaboration between a line artist and a color artist.
For those looking for it, it's Comics Interview #82 from 1990.
You’re right, the artwork is so beautiful! And bizarre
More phenomenal conversation about another one of my favorites. Excellent content guys. Thanks.
Great vid, love this book. I think you guys were referring to the "De Luca Effect".
Coming through in the clutch. Thanks Ho. --Ed
Other term for that is "polyptych"...
-Ameziane-
I thought it was Family Circus Effect
I remember buying this when it was released. I was absolutely gob-smacked. To this day, it has been my favorite artwork from Miller. I love how you guys discuss some of my favorite comic books. Thank you so much for reminding me why I love this medium so much.
I also seem to recall in an interview that Miller was astonished by Varley's choice of making the cemetary fight set in the early morning light as opposed to during the night as he had envisioned the scene.
On page 18 you can see "Carmen Cru" , a character created by french artist Lelong in 1981 for the magazine "Fluide Glacial". She is a mean old lady, and I love the series. Check it out, the art is fantastic. And I love how Carmen gives a shit about other people's opinions.
Frank’s inspiration for the horror elements of this book largely came from reading Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, believe it or not. His original intentions were to introduce a horror element to the book that he had planned to revisit at the end of Born Again, but Born Again was cut short by two issues and the plot line was never followed up on afterwards.
Probably my all time favorite comic.
I’m regretting not paying an extra 50 for a signed copy this is a masterpiece
This whole book is like a fever dream,so creepy and sad,reminds me of a David lynch movie in that you can never really get your bearings straight. Definitely in the top two Miller works for me.
This book is so amazing, it blew me away when it came out. I don’t believe in killing characters and bringing them back to life but the art was so spectacular
IIRC. Marvel had to outsource the first printing of the original graphic novel to Graffiti designs in order to accomplish the high end printing format they were unaccustomed to.
Long time viewer, 1st time commenter. Great episode. One of my favorite Miller/Miller/Varley books for many reasons but especially for the inkline he uses here. Re: influences & that inking line: Check out Utagawa Kuniyoshi & his student Tsukioka Yoshitoshi & his work "100 Aspects/Views of the Moon".
I have the big HC of this and I can tell you that these colors are haunting.
As for Elektra, this was supposed to be an alternate universe, where she died, came back, died and eventually..lives again.
Marvel has a nasty history of test running these tales and 'What if's' ......and making them reality down the road...
Another great video and spotlight on one of my favorite comics. You guys picked up on the Darrow influence and I just wanted to mention in the back of the book Miller thanks Geof Darrow, so your instincts were spot on.
This is my favorite Frank Miller comic ever done! Maybe my favorite ever. What a book!
Octobriana 1976 looks great with my Valiant Vision glasses
This book is a masterpiece. One of the best books of all time😆
I love this book. It's perennially filed with my 'art of comics' books because it is, bar none, the most beautiful comic art I own.
For some reason this comic always reminded me of the first episodes of Peter Chung's Aeon Flux (the spread at 21:56 for instance), maybe it's the exaggerated anatomies, the palettes or maybe just the general surreal/nightmarish vibe.. Great vid btw!
Not sure of the comic term for this but the first time I saw the effect was Marcel Duchamp's painting "Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2"
Just found my copy and re read this last night. Pure gold!
Beautiful work. I recently had to remind some comic book friends about this book and Miller's drawing and page composition, specifically the page where Matt gets up and walks downstairs.
The repeating character motif is the De Luca Effect. You guys should review The Dark Knight Strikes Again - another Miller/Varley collab that's weird as hell.
SHIELD Agent Garrett on page 41.
LOVE the clean line style Miller drew this in.
One of my abs favorite! Read it for the first time as kid in a bookstore around 1990 (i think). Finally picked it up on eBay a few years ago
Here is some additional background on some of the typography - www.comicbookfonts.com/Elektrakution-p/dl294.htm
Eadweard Muybridge?
"Eadweard Muybridge was an English photographer important for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion." - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
28.38 "we're in everything mode", nice one guys!
New to the channel and binging your vids-great variety! I never know what’s going to be up next. Keep up the good work.
frank miller never drew another comic like elektra lives again, and deserves attention for that.
Regarding the converse all stars... Mckeever's Eddy Current might be the genesis. Check out the thinky veiled Frank Miller story that Ted spins into his very underrated Pencil Head book. Also thanks for getting this book some attention. Gorgeous visuals
CMON ZACK SNYDER make this movie!!
Yr copy's even more beat up than mine -- RESPECT
For me this is uncle Frank at the peak of his powers. Varley is not to be underrated either.
Are there any plans to release a superduper edition of this comic?
I remember one of the pages from Elektra Lives again in that issue of Marvel Age did not appear in the final product and wondered how many other pages exist but did not make it to the final issue. Is there an ultimate edition that prints everything included cut pages? Also that page in the brownstone with the staircase might have been influenced by M. C. Escher. And I remember seeing shout out to Geoff Darrow in the credits and wonder if he might have contributed something to the book.
Darrow absolutely did Help him with the drawing on this book; You can also find some of those old pages in a google search and whatnot, they definitely exist and the story was quite different? But he had to readjust a number of elements, including Karen Page returning, which had been unplanned originally.. A secret history of this graphic novel would be fascinating. To me, at least...
Great stuff in this
is that garrett at 21:30 at the bottom left of the right page?
An adaptation would be interesting, imo.
Where can the photos that Miller used as reference be viewed?
READ MORE COMICS!
I'm here after zack Snyder interview
If Marvel Knights film studios still exist. Marvel would definitely get Snyder to direct a Electra movie