Sunday, December 07, 2008

comic movies - BD special

Comic movies are all over the bloggosphere because they are a popular topic. And you can get much more readers by talking about the worst of low budget comic movies than writing about the best comic ever made.


That´s a fact. People are much more interested in movies than in comics and if you are making movies you are far higher on the social ladder than if you make comics. I remember a guy who wrote on a german comic message board about his experiences. The case was that he was making comics for years without getting much notice from his friends or relatives. But the second he began making a movie project he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of relatives, friends or people he had never seen in his life that suddenly turned up offering advice or just wanting to be a part of it.

So don´t let anybody tell you making comics is like making movies. If you make a movie you have it easy. Making a comic - that´s hard work. Anyway, the reason I wanted to do this quick post is that I recently stumbled upon two comic movies that are a bit old and that I was not aware of. Usually I hear about most movie projects like the CORTO MALTESE animated movie or the new CAPITAN TRUENO movie but somehow these two managed to slip under my radar.


The first one is IZNOGOUD and was apparently released on DVD in August 2005 ! IZNOGOUD - for those who don´t know the comic - was written by Rene Goscinny and drawn by Jean Tabary who carried on alone after the death of Goscinny. The stories revolve around Iznogoud ( pronounced "is no good" with a French accent ) who is the Grand Vizier to the Caliph Haroun El Poussah. But that´s not enough for Iznogoud who always tries to become " Caliph instead of the Caliph ".


To achieve this goal he uses every possibility which in the comic are always entertaining things like a calendar that allows it´s bearer to travel through time by ripping off the sheets or putting them back with glue, a puzzle that turns the person you think of when completing it into this puzzle, a road that leads to nowhere or other magics that allow him to switch bodies with the Caliph.

Of course the Caliph is totally unaware of this and believes Iznogoud to be his best friend who in turn never succeeds.


In fact in most of the cases he has to suffer the fate he intended for the Caliph and even if he manages to become Caliph instead of the Caliph it ends in total disaster for him. The publisher Cinebook Ltd is currently publishing English language translations of the books in the Iznogoud series. The first book in the series, "The Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud", was published in March 2008 with the second, "The Caliph's Vacation", following in August 2008. A third volume, "Iznogoud and the Day of Misrule" is scheduled for March 2009.


Like I said I haven´t seen the movie yet so I have no idea if it´s actually good.






The second movie is SKY FIGHTERS and is an adaption of Mick Tanguy or Les aventures de Tanguy and Laverdure like it is called in the original french version.


Like Iznogoud it is one of the classic franco belgican comic series that was started by Jean Michel Charlier and Albert Uderzo who was later on replaced by Jije and others. The stories tell the adventures of Mick Tanguy and Ernest Laverdure, two inseparable friends from the flying school and future commendants who are opposite characters.


While the latter is serious, honest and obedient, the latest is eccentric, blundering and awkward. However, Laverdure is a strong team mate for Tanguy in difficult situations. Indeed, dangerous missions and spying are everyday tasks for the two pilots, who are flying aces and always efficient defenders of their homeland.


There apparently was a tv series titled LES CHEVALIERS DU CIEL ( SKY KNIGHTS ) that ran from 1967 to 1969. It ran for three seasons with each season having 13 episodes.



Like with Iznogoud I haven´t seen the movie but the trailer looks promising.





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Say, I´ve seen pictures of that place !

That´s right ! A Mr. Schickelgruber lives there !

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