Heartland

Ok, I have a question for all.

I'm the editor/project organizer of the recently released monsterously huge coffee table anthology Comic Book Tattoo, featuring over 50 stories inspired by the songs and music of Tori Amos. The book's been a huge success, and I'm getting asked a lot "What's the next band you're going to do?"

...and to be honest, I really didn't think there was another musician or band I'd want to tackle, just because of the sheer amount of work that went into Comic Book Tattoo, and not wanting to 'repeat' myself.

HOWEVER...

With the upcoming tour, and the fact that Andrew and Co. will be playing in my area (Anaheim), I've been seriously considering the potential and possibilities of Doing a SoM-based book, and am now wondering if there's enough of an audience for it for me to try and set up a meeting with Andrew.

So, the question (and poll) to everyone is: If I did this, and put out a Massive SoM-based comic anthology, with the same kind of production values, art, talent, etc that was present in Comic Book Tattoo, would YOU buy it? (CBT is 12" x 12" - record album sized, and 480 pages on heavy art stock paper. The Ltd ed. is leather bound with slipcase and gold leaf logo and page edging, etc)

And, if you aren't familiar with Comic Book Tattoo, you can see some pics of it Here
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... e&id=15838

http://www.spinner.com/2008/07/21/tori- ... ok-tattoo/

http://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Tattoo ... 1582409641

http://undented.com/news/1478/comic-boo ... ak-preview

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bauwauhaus/2565062159/

thanks in advance!

Well, being a lover of Tori Amos I've just ordered the above book and await its arrival with eager anticipation (though it's a pity Mr Gaiman only contributed the intoduction).

Let me see...

Sisters fan - check
Comics fan - check
Rabid collector - check
Own the collected issues of Lazarus Churchyard - check
Written a novel filled with Sisters references - check

It's certainly looking good for you shifting at least one copy in my direction.

In short - a bloody good idea, Rantz.

However, I'm not certain will be up for it, but best of luck approaching him.
Edit - Actually, I've just remembered "Bradley Goes Gothic" in 2000AD, so he might be more up for it than I first thought.

it will be a good idea

i´d buy it!!

Great idea! Would be cool to see Eldritch given villian or superhero powers... hmm dark lord of the dominion... lol.. I used to be a huge fan of 2000 AD style comics ala ABC Warriors, Nemesis et al, I think Eldritch would make a great character profile for something special. I haven't read Comic Book Tattoo, but one on the SOM would intrigue me enough to buy your new one for certain!

Nice Hair?

dtsom wrote:it will be a good idea

i´d buy it!!

Seconded....

eotunun wrote:Nice Hair?

I was just about to mention that!

I'd almost certainly buy it.

Nice idea.
I think I'd buy it.

I've been seriously considering the potential and possibilities of Doing a SoM-based book, and am now wondering if there's enough of an audience for it for me to try and set up a meeting with Andrew.

good luck

No.

And if you get AE involved in your "idea", i'll become a Hussey fan.

ALL: Thanks for the feedback and input. I've been a huge fan of tSoM for decades, and they've provided plenty of artistic 'fuel' for my brain since the first time I heard Alice on the old 12" singles. I'm well aware however that, just because YOU think it's a good idea, doesn't mean the world will agree with you, so hearing your thoughts is greatly valued!

Erudite: Well, being a lover of Tori Amos I've just ordered the above book and await its arrival with eager anticipation (though it's a pity Mr Gaiman only contributed the intoduction).

I thank you sir, I do hope you will enjoy CBT. I'm very proud of it, as is Tori. We wanted to really redefine how people perceive 'music comics' and anthologies in general. Based on the feedback and sales so far, it seems to be working! One of the very few times in my creative career that I don't feel like the end result isn't what my intentions were. A rare and lovely feeling.

and yes, I would have been most excellent to have Neil do more than the intro, but his sched. was crazed and Tori and I felt bad enough adding more to his plate. There's other things a-brewing tho'...

In short - a bloody good idea, Rantz.

Thank you again, I think of all the groups and musicians, that tSoM's catalogue has the most potential for some diverse 'riffing', since the lyrics are so evocative, but at the same time, don't tell a linear narrative.

However, I'm not certain will be up for it, but best of luck approaching him.

Yeah, indeed. We'll see how it goes...

TomK: Great idea! Would be cool to see Eldritch given villian or superhero powers... hmm dark lord of the dominion

Well, the key with Comic Book Tattoo, and I'd want to do a similar thing here, is to not have the book be about the band or musician, instead focusing on the ideas and interpetations that the songs evoke. That way, it doesn't just become 'fan service', and ideally appeals to people who are NOT fans of the band as well, but who like comics and hopefully, through the back door (if the book does its job) gets the reader to think twice about the music they dismissed out of hand with blanket stereotypes.

itnAklipse:No.
And if you get AE involved in your "idea", i'll become a Hussey fan.

Why? I certainly can understand you not liking the idea of a comic, different strokes/perceptions and all of that, but why the level of vitrol towards the idea? Did a comic book steal your lunch money as a child? I'm genuinely curious.

Again, thanks all.

Rantz wrote: TomK: Great idea! Would be cool to see Eldritch given villian or superhero powers... hmm dark lord of the dominion

Well, the key with Comic Book Tattoo, and I'd want to do a similar thing here, is to not have the book be about the band or musician, instead focusing on the ideas and interpetations that the songs evoke. That way, it doesn't just become 'fan service', and ideally appeals to people who are NOT fans of the band as well, but who like comics and hopefully, through the back door (if the book does its job) gets the reader to think twice about the music they dismissed out of hand with blanket stereotypes.

Then you'd better make sure you have a loooong chat with Andrew about the meanings. Any reference to "goth" and he'll completely cancel the whole project, probably just as you've got the final proof ready. He can be like that sometimes.

Rantz wrote:itnAklipse:No.
And if you get AE involved in your "idea", i'll become a Hussey fan.

Why? I certainly can understand you not liking the idea of a comic, different strokes/perceptions and all of that, but why the level of vitrol towards the idea? Did a comic book steal your lunch money as a child? I'm genuinely curious.

Again, thanks all.

Just ignore him, we do our level best to.

As to whether or not I'd buy your proposed offering, it would depend entirely upon the quality of the contents, not the quality of the materials used to create the artifact.

It sounds like a great idea. I certainly would be interested in contributing as well.

Absolutely yes

Ganith

Hom_Corleone wrote:It sounds like a great idea. I certainly would be interested in contributing as well.

"Gies a job - ah could do that!"

Ten points if you spot the reference, Steve.

@ Rantz
did you never think to a Cure based comic-book?
cure fans "eat" every s**t comes out from fat Bob's arse

A big fat hairy yes from here too.

Go for it!

psichonaut wrote:@ Rantz
did you never think to a Cure based comic-book?
cure fans "eat" every s**t comes out from fat Bob's arse

There's been a LOT of bands/musicians suggested after Comic Book Tattoo launched, both from fans and from bands. Tool, NIN, The Cure, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and a few others have come up quite a bit, but a project like this is a year out of my life, and it's a LOT of work, so there has to be a degree of passion for the source material to help sustain focus.

And while i *do* like a *lot* of the Cure's library, I don't know as I like *enough* to be the right editor for a book riffing off of their tunes, if that makes sense. Sisters? No problem.

Erudite wrote:

Hom_Corleone wrote:It sounds like a great idea. I certainly would be interested in contributing as well.

"Gies a job - ah could do that!"

Ten points if you spot the reference, Steve.

Easy.

@Rantz - See above.

Rantz wrote:And while i *do* like a *lot* of the Cure's library, I don't know as I like *enough* to be the right editor for a book riffing off of their tunes, if that makes sense. Sisters? No problem.

Yes, reading you loud and clear. That makes total sense to me.

Hom_Corleone wrote:

Erudite wrote:

Hom_Corleone wrote:It sounds like a great idea. I certainly would be interested in contributing as well.

"Gies a job - ah could do that!"

Ten points if you spot the reference, Steve.

Easy.

Good 'ol Yosser Hughes!

Hom_Corleone wrote:@Rantz - See above.

I suspect this is for established talent... but I bagsy "Driver".

As a follow up on this, had a good meeting before and after the Anaheim show, we're supposed to talk further in a few weeks. Fingers crossed and all of that.


Was really the icing on a wonderful cake of a show

Rantz wrote:As a follow up on this, had a good meeting before and after the Anaheim show, we're supposed to talk further in a few weeks. Fingers crossed and all of that.


Was really the icing on a wonderful cake of a show

Good!

Fingers crossed...

How exciting- I'm tempted by the Tori Amos book simply because the art looks great.
Hopefully you'll keep us updated should show interest in the project.