“QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES,” Part II

Continuing our discussion about what Romance could learn from her Graphic Novel brethren requires that a bit of history be spilled. Pour yourself a cup of Earl Grey and settle in. There are blackberry scones if you’re feeling peckish.

Comfortable? Good.

To fully understand the continuing influence of WATCHMEN, let’s have Sherman set the Way-Back Machine for 1981. Wes Craven, director of LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and THE HILLS HAVE EYES (and much later, SCREAM), has set his sights on a cinematic version of DC Comic’s SWAMP THING.

For those who have read the comic, it’s not hard to understand what attracted Craven. SWAMP THING premiered ahead of its time in 1972 as a short story in HOUSE OF SECRETS, a horror anthology title; the success of this story lead to its own bimonthly book. The title drew heavily upon the pathos of Boris Karloff’s “I only want to be loved” creature trapped in a horrible body. (The book also featured some astounding artwork by Berni Wrightson, who recently designed the creatures in THE MIST.)

And, for the most part, there were no capes, no superheroes, and no flying dogs. As I said, it was ahead of its time.

Jump to 1982: SWAMP THING has long since been cancelled after only 24 issues. But, DC knows dollar signs when it sees them, and decides to bring the book back to cash in on the film’s pending release. A fly lights in their ointment, though. Neither the comic nor the film (an enjoyable, but lightweight foray into B movie goofiness) hauls in the gold bullion DC would like to see. For the second time, Swampy faces cancellation.

Enter Alan Moore. DC, at the end of its financial tether, decides to go for broke and hire a relatively unknown writer from England. Since the book was moribund anyway, what did they have to loose? Alan Moore had come to their attention by way of V FOR VENDETTA, which he was writing for WARRIOR, a British comic anthology. V was different, incorporating heady, powerful material. (If you’ve seen the film, you have some idea of the story, but it can’t compare to the graphic novel.)

With the appearance of SWAMP THING # 21 in early 1984, Alan Moore completely rewrote the character and laid the groundwork for what was to come. Sure, some old-school Swampy fans resisted the change initially, but sales grew each month. The word spread. Something was happening here. The stories were now complex. The language grew poetic. And the subject material grew very adult—too much for the antiquated Comics Code Authority.

DC was at a crossroads. Did they tone down the scripts Moore was handing in, or allow him to continue plunging ahead into unchartered territory? Luckily, they went with the latter, or everything from THE DARK KNIGHT to SANDMAN may have never seen the light of day.

In late 1984, SWAMP THING # 31 debuted without the comic’s code seal of approval. In its place, the new banner of “Sophisticated Suspense” served as a warning—or invitation—depending upon your flavor.

Buoyed by this freedom, Moore submitted an idea he had been bouncing around in his head: WATCHMEN. Again, the suits at DC shrugged and let him go for it. I doubt they understood it, but they had enough faith in what he was trying to do: Push aside the preconceived “comics are only for kids” notion and expand their scope.

It worked.

Though not an obvious paradigm shift at the time, WATCHMEN altered the way graphic novels were both written and perceived. Forever. Once the product was available for purchase, word of mouth took care of the rest.

Nowadays comics are called graphic novels and they’re for adults. The average reader lies in his 30s/40s. They feature big words, naughty words, nudity and all kinds of R-rated content and complicated themes. They regularly score reviews in mainstream magazines such as ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY and movie theatres can’t sell tickets for comic-related films fast enough.

Graphic novels are free from their solitary comic book store confines and sold in the big chains like B&N and Borders. Manga (Japanese comics) sell by the truckload, and often occupy the golden real estate of upfront and endcaps. So how, in less than twenty years, did comics turn around the perception that their audience only consisted of 10-year-old boys and socially maladroit men who still lived in their dark basement with their mothers?

Answer: Because the books left us no choice but to alter this perception. Because writers such as Alan Moore crafted such high quality stories within the industry that one couldn’t help but notice their literary value. And, lest we forget, because there were some suits who took a chance on works such as WATCHMEN—allowing the creators to stay true to their voice and vision.

Now let’s step back a moment and examine how this correlates with the romance industry.

Uninformed people also make sweeping generalizations about romance novels and have for years. You’ve heard them; I’ve heard them: "The genre is nothing but 'porn' for women." "It’s trash for an easy beach read by bored, overweight housewives." Then there’s the unfortunate “bodice ripper” reputation, where all genre books are nothing but Fabio look-alikes cavorting with Scarlett O’Hara wannabees.

Uggh. No matter how many times romance advocates make their voices heard against this, the designation just refuses to die.

And let’s face it, except for the occasional Lifetime "quality" movie, Hollywood hasn’t tripped over itself to regale us with blockbuster romance films. Even mainstream book reviewers can’t be bothered with them, as delineated by recent posts at Ramblings On Romance and Smart Bitches.

In short, the romance genre shares the same lack of respect from mainstream culture that comic books once did, which is odd, since both industries have generated millions of dollars and ardent fans. Is this simply the nature of the beast? Can anything be done to alter this perception?

We’ll explore how this can be turned around when next we meet. Hang on! The ride is about to get quite bumpy in here!

Joyfully yours,

Heather

“QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES,” Part I

Who watches the Watchmen? You should. And here’s why.

In 2006, TIME listed WATCHMEN as one of the 100 greatest novels of all time. WATCHMEN is also the only graphic novel to win a Hugo Award. Now, 23 years after this groundbreaking story hit the stands, Zack Snyder of 300 and the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake is helming the big screen adaptation. The recent release of the movie trailer alone prompted DC Comics to release 200,000 more copies.

Bu what is WATCHMEN? In a nutshell, it’s epic. It’s heartbreaking. WATCHMEN is the comic book miniseries that changed the mainstream press’ low-brow view of comics and helped pave the way for more adult fare, including DC’s Vertigo line that includes PREACHER, FABLES, and of course Neil Gaiman’s SANDMAN.

Trust me when I say that the book may well rank right up there as one of the 100 greatest works of fiction you’ll ever read, too. (In other words, yes—for once—believe the hype!)

Here’s the brief but excellent summary at Wikipedia. (Beware of the spoilers, though.)

But there’s one very important detail that the article (and most who review the graphic novel) omit: WATCHMEN contains a romance—one that’s both realistic, layered, and hawt. Clearly, legendary author Alan Moore & artist Dave Gibbons were onto something.

Now I’ll admit that you don’t want to read WATCHMEN just for the romance, although I couldn’t blame you one bit if you did! This sober, complex tale is an example of what happens when literary fiction and fine art collide with the graphic novel medium.

WATCHMEN is rife with political conflicts. But it’s also loaded with action and adventure, angst and anger. It challenges the reader to confront her beliefs and darkest desires.

But back to the romance! As I was preparing this post, I suspected that in all of the hoopla surrounding the trailer’s release, there weren’t many sites or blogs devoted to the romance subplot in WATCHMEN. Guess what? I was right. A thorough Google scrubbing of the entire Internet revealed practically nil.

I did come across this passage however, excerpted from an academic essay posted at Shotgun Reviews (warning: the review itself contains spoilers ):

"From utter destruction to the beginning of life, Watchmen confronted the actual issue of sex with a frankness that most mainstream comics had never seen before. Most Americans would never realize that a comic book could portray a realistic, adult, sexual relationship, but Moore brings off the attraction and eventual romance of [Daniel and Laurie] tremendously."



“Most Americans” is right, and my condolences on their loss. I’d add that the execution of the relationship dynamics portrayed in WATCHMEN rivals anything found in any romance novel past or present.

Having said that, stay tuned for the next post to hear about what the romance industry—and readers—could learn from this graphic novel opus....

Joyfully yours,

Heather

Cyber-Launch Book Party: SHADES OF DARK

Your attention, please! The Galaxy Express is now departing for Enduring Romance, so all passengers may attend one of the universally acclaimed Cyber-Launch Book Parties hosted by Kimber An!

Come one, come all! Celebrate the release of science fiction romance author Linnea Sinclair’s SHADES OF DARK.

When: Today, August 7
Where: Why right here!

Don’t miss this chance to learn about the next chapter in this compelling epic as well as chat with the author herself.

Let’s party!

Joyfully yours,

Heather

All Your Beta Are Belong To Us

Once upon a time, there was a Japanese video game titled ZERO WING. It was pretty standard for its time, and would no doubt would be relegated to the forgotten annals of Segadom...if not for one startling aspect. Its "unique" English translation. One line in particular nearly caused the Internet to catch fire. It read: “All your base are belong to us.” (Apparently, this is the sublime phraseology you get when you hire translators who barely know the language they're translating. Go figure.)

To wit:

Now, despite the mangled translation, there’s still something rather sinister about the message—not to mention electric. Seductive. I can feel the excitement...something wildly different is about to happen here! (And I can't attribute it all to the fact that the main villain is named "Cats," either...although that is pretty cool.)

So after mulling this over ("Cats!"), it occurred to me that there’s a parallel here. That line reminded me about one of the differences between SFR and other romances--namely, Alpha vs. Beta heroes.

Alpha heroes are a staple of romances, and they are particularly predominant (pun intended) in paranormal romances. Despite their reputation, these characters aren’t entirely witless...but it doesn’t seem as though they’re particularly appreciated for their intelligence, either. At least, I don’t often see it listed as the number one preferred attribute.

I’ve encountered many more Beta heroes than Alpha ones in science fiction romance, whether in books, television, or film. And remember, Jacqueline Lichtenberg pointed out that SFR basically evolved from SF fan fiction featuring Spock as a love interest. Even Suzanne Brockmann can’t help but include references to Spock, even while she’s discussing Alpha males!

Spock—the quintessential beta hero!

So naturally, one subset of beta heroes I really dig is scientists. They don’t need predatory gazes or bulging muscles to solve problems and win the heroine’s heart—just gray matter and a quirky personality. Sure, they don’t always have ripped abs or chiseled good looks, but that doesn’t reflect in the least on their potential for romance. Some are hot, but others aren’t—and so what? I think scientists are underappreciated and/or overlooked as a love interest.

Never fear, The Galaxy Express is here! Below is a roundup of some snazzy scientist Beta heroes for your reading/viewing pleasure:

Eccentric robotics genius Raj Sundaram from Catherine Asaro’s THE PHOENIX CODE will leave you breathless. (This one’s for you, Patty!)



Sanada San, inventor extraordinaire with a dark secret from UCHUU SENKAN YAMATO.



A computer expert and chess enthusiast, David Levinson of INDEPENDENCE DAY is also an environmentalist. What’s not to love? (I'm willing to overlook HOLY MAN if you are, Jeff.)



Despite his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality, Bruce Banner from THE INCREDIBLE HULK is a poet at heart. (What can I say? I’ve always thought Bruce Bixby was smokin’.)



He may be absent-minded, but when he’s in love, his devotion overcomes even the obstacle of Time itself: “Doc” Emmett Brown from BACK TO THE FUTURE III



And finally, there’s the shy but brilliant engineer, Brains, from THUNDERBIRDS.



Just check out this awesome (and recent!) video of Brains moving & grooving:



See what I mean? I challenge anyone to show me an Alpha male who can dance with such grace and dexterity. (Wolverine, I'm looking at you, Bub!)

The above brainy ones are just a few of the Beta heroes worth getting to know. Let’s generate a list for current and potential fans in the comment section. And finally, a question: What makes Beta heroes such a great match for science fiction romances?

Joyfully yours, All your Beta are belong to us,

Heather

Are We There Yet?

We’re ridiculously far off from really colonizing other planets, no doubt (and I mean substantially, not a 3-person outpost on Mars). But lucky for us dreamers, there’s a plethora of science fiction novels about humanity populating the universe. Like the Happily Ever After in romance, it’s one of the genre staples.

Now mix colonization with a setting hundreds or thousands of years in the future. Add a cup of catastrophe, a spoonful of romance, and a dollop of mystery and what do you get? The following authors who not only provide a glimpse into what real colonization might be like, but also do it with panache:

THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey is the number one reason why I now love a healthy dose of mystery with my SF. Not only does this esteemed author weave an epic tale about dragons and their riders fighting a deadly force called Thread on planet Pern, but she also integrates a number of touching romances. Then if that weren’t enough, she creates a mother of a plot twist in the later books. Even as I write this—years after discovering the books—it still causes a shiver to run down my spine.

For those of you new to Anne McCaffrey, there are a number of trilogies, standalone books, and compilations in which to indulge. In the FAQ section of the author’s Web site, you can download a pdf document that outlines a suggested reading order.

THE DARKOVER CHRONOLOGY by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This series is a compelling tale by one of the masters of science fiction. It explores what can happen when a colonization expedition goes horrendously awry. Darkover is a planet circling a red giant, and it produces uncommon effects on humans as they struggle to adapt to their new environment. The stories explore the trials and tribulations of the characters as the Terran based society devolves to a feudal level.

Each book stands roughly alone, and Ms. Bradley recommends reading them in the order they were published.

And if you still can’t get enough....

THE CELTA SERIES by Robin D. Owens

Twenty-five first families of Celtic origin, gifted with the mysterious Flair, soar through space to escape persecution back on Earth. They settle on the world of Celta. Centuries later, thirteen royal houses rule the planet.

Political intrigue, betrayal, psi abilities, and the search for one’s HeartMate all add up to delightful tales in a series that drowns in rich imagery and engaging characters. Start this series with HEART MATE.

Now you tell me: If you could leave on one of these colonization expeditions tomorrow, would you go? What if you could never see Earth again—would it make a difference? What personal items would you take? Is there an Earth tradition or cultural practice that you would attempt to preserve for future generations on the new planet?

Joyfully yours,

Heather