Keith Giffen on Power & Glory

Okay, first things first, Howard Chaykin's comics are the only comics that I purchase sight unseen. They're also the comics that tend to stack up beside my board unread for the longest period of time. That's because it takes longer to read one of Howard's comics than it does to take a dump.

I've always maintained that comic books are the perfect bathroom read. It's almost as if that particular time was set aside just for us. That time belongs to us, if only by default. It's pretty much competition free. Except for the very rare instance, there are no TV sets in the can. No TV; no video games. That's two down right off the bat. Don't even bother mentioning those small hand-held jobs; you know as well as I do that the batteries are always dead or dying. Go on, check for yourself, don't take my word for it. And the average book (I'm talking book books here, all words-no pictures. And yes, they are still printing them) doesn't really work, considering the time constraints. Magazines? Maybe, but do you really want to be checking out a bunch of bulimic models or the latest glossies from Rwanda at a time like this? And I think we'll all agree that the average stroke magazine, when combined with the average hormonally insane adolescent...well, let's just say that it ain't very pretty.

In most cases, the time it takes to read a comic is equal to, or slightly less than, the time it takes to wrap up one's business. A match made in Heaven as far as I'm concerned. I can get my four-color fix in relative privacy) and if you're the type who likes to verbalize your own sound effects, the acoustics are unbeatable) and be well done with the book before having to deal with the intensity of movement/amount of paper required issue. In some cases I can get through as many as two or three comics in one sitting. Howard's books, unfortunately, defy a single sitting read though. At least I've never managed it. Well, unless I get a stomach virus or something, in which case I could probably plow through a Tom Clancey novel, if you know what I mean. So the books just pile up until I can set aside the time for them, or until my wife drags me to that Thai restaurant. Whichever comes first.

Now I know I'm not alone in this as those among my peers with less tolerance for hard truths would have you believe. The comic book/crapper connections have been the subject of some heated debate in the industry, with the general consensus being: "As long as they're reading the damned things, who cares where they do it!" A laissez faire attitude to be sure, and quite realistic when one factors in an increasingly reader driven market. It's only a matter of time before the major comic book publishers take a serious look at not just who reads comic books, but where they are read. When that happens you can be sure that steps will be taken to lock in that particular block of time as belonging to comic books and comic books alone. It could even be argued that certain forward thinking creators are already tailoring their product to this end. The single sitting comic book will officially become the industry standard (I don't even want to think about the affect this could have on the whole concept of the cover enhancement) and I will be vindicated. Which brings me back to Howard, whose books, as previously stated, defy being read in a single sitting. Power & Glory being the latest example.

Power & Glory could have been the break-through book for Howard, Power & Glory could have sent a clear message to the comic community that yes, Howard Chaykin could adapt to meet the demands of an ever evolving marketplace. A big lummoxy hero, a street wise operator with the obligatory big gun, toss in a bad guy or two, fight -fight-fight, bicker-bicker-bicker, to be continued, reach for the paper. Perfect! That converted spot on the wizard top ten would have been Howard's for the taking.

Instead, what we find in Power & Glory are the provocative storylines, crisp dialogue, complicated characterizations, and intricate artwork that have come to typify Howard's comic book productions (except for that star Wars thing, but I think that fell under the heading of "take the money and run") And while these are the reasons that I snap up all of Howard's books with a near Pavlovian zeal, they are also, unfortunately, the reasons why Howard may soon find himself hard pressed to place his product. The harsh constraints of the single sitting market will only fuel the "comic as sound bite" mentality already prevalent, and leave little room for comics that ask the reader to do much more than "check your brains at the door." I'm afraid that even the creator driven imprints such as Bravura will eventually have to face up to economic reality and re-tool their product if the hope to survive.

This trade paperback may mark the end of an era. Whether or not Howard can take the steps necessary to weather the coming storm remains to be seen. Me, I wouldn't bet on it. Howard's just gotta be Howard. (And don't go starting in about Viper show! Situational ethics are part and parcel of the television industry. So back off!)

I know I'll be buying an extra copy of this book to set aside for my son, in the hope that one day he too can experience the unique voice that was Howard Chaykin. And when he's ready, he'll know where to find it...right next to the Imodium A.D.

Power & Glory Trade paperback, Malibu Comics/Bravura 1994