After bouncing around at a few local colleges in upstate New York, Randy Gentile made the decision to move to New York City where he attended Pratt Institute. He landed an internship in the famous Marvel Bullpen and was able to turn that into a full-time gig in the now defunct Marvel in-house lettering department. He later transitioned to Chris Eliopoulos’ Virtual Calligraphy lettering studio.
With VC he lettered damn near every Marvel book at one time or another including Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men, Punisher, and Marville… wait, Marville?
Anyway, after 7 years of lettering Randy decided to make a go of it on his own without the aid of Chris “Obi-Wan” Eliopoulos. Since then he’s begun lettering for DC Comics where his work can be seen in funny books like Batman, Detective Comics, Gotham Underground, Teen Titans and Booster Gold.
Outside of his lettering work he self-publishes an autobiographical comic called NYComix and an uber-fast paced superhero strip called Randall. Both comics have been featured on Comic Geek Speak and Fanboy Radio.
When he’s not wallowing in lettering self-pity he spends his time in Brooklyn along with his lovely wife, Ereisa and their three cats Finnian, Don Fanucci and Olive.
Blind Item!
If you read Week 1 of Font You! you might remember me mentioning that I used to be a hardcore Marvel Zombie. These days I wouldn't call myself a Zombie by any stretch of the imagination. I drop by the Marvel Universe from time to time only to feel like I'm not part of the club anymore. Sounds strange but it's true. Marvel is flying high right now and dominating the sales charts like never before.
So what the hell is wrong with me? Am I not "with it" some something?
I spend a ton of time over at the Bendis Board... I do so for a number of reasons, mainly because it's a great message board with some great people and tons of creator interaction. In any thread anyone from Bendis or Warren Ellis could drop by. But the main reason I hang out over there is that it's like hanging out in a comic shop all day. And while you can find a thread on just about any book, the bottom line is that it's the Brian Michael Bendis Board so the bulk of the members are fans of the current comic trends. And the more I try to catch on with these trends the more I begin to realize that they just aren't for me.
I could go on and on about decompressed storytelling and while there are plenty of good books that utilize this storytelling technique, there are just as many books that suck because writers insists on telling a decompressed story. A writer's plot and characterization has to be very, very strong in a decompressed story or he's going to lose his readers. I'm sorry but for 3 bucks a pop I'm not hanging around for 3 or 4 issues just on the hopes that something actually happens during the 5th and 6th issue of a 6 issue storyline. Something needs to hook me in that first issue or I'm not coming back. Yeah, that's probably not fair, but what can I say, that's just the kind of reader I am.
Actually, on second thought, that is fair.
It's the old adage "Any comic might be some kid's first comic". A mediocre 22-page set-up isn't going to grab many new readers. It isn't grabbing me and I've been reading for over 20 years now. Hell, I could be watching a movie, playing my PSP or watching the Thurman Munson Yankeeography for the 12th time. Or I could go over to my trade paperback shelf and read Batman: Year One again.
Anyway, one of the first threads I started on the Font of Wisdom board was "What's Everyone Reading" and I'll admit I did so out of selfish reasons. I wanted some new comic suggestions.
So I went out and picked up one of the trades mentioned in the thread, read it and was all set to write in this week's Font You! that I thought it sucked, that I was shocked how the book built up to a huge climatic fight for 6 issues only to have that fight end for seemingly no reason at all. It was like watching Rocky IV but instead of a 15 round fight Ivan Drago threw in the towel 10 seconds into the first round. I was going to go on about how the art was a stagnant photo-referenced bore. I was out for blood, I was namin' names.
But then I decided not to.
I dunno I'd just rather not put those bad vibes out there. Although I kinda already did, but whatever...consider it a Blind Item.
Font The News!
- Check out this video about the upcoming direct-to-DVD release of Batman: Gotham Knight. It'll be 6 animated shorts set between the new BatFlicks. Directed by Bruce Timm with writing by the likes of David Goyer (Blade TV show), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets) and Greg Rucka (Queen & Country). Looks amazing.
- After an 8 year exclusive relationship with Marvel writer Michael Straczynski has decided to not extend his contract. The guy made me stop reading Amazing Spider-Man after Gwen had a fling with Norman Osborn... my geekiest moment to date for sure, but what can I say? I have morals.
- One thing you're going to read a lot here at Font You! is me waxing poetic about my favorite comic on the shelves... Eric Powell's The Goon. It's the only book that gives you The Goon fighting a giant squid, zombies, and spiders with hats on... just all around fun. Not to mention amazing art and storytelling that'll not only make you laugh out loud but tug at your heartstrings. The book ain't a perennial Eisner winner for nothing. It's Goon Month over at Dark Horse so there's no better time to hop on the bangwagon than right now. Check it out.
Font You! Artist of the Week!They say never judge a book by its cover but with comics it's quite the opposite. A cool and dynamic cover will at least make a potential reader flip through the book and that's exactly what Denys Cowan's cover for Batman: Confidential #12 did for me. Cowan's art is just a blast to look at and I'm upset I didn't catch onto his work earlier. Better late than never though, right. The story was a lot of fun too. Just some good old fashioned Batman versus the Joker action.
On a personal note I'm going to have a table at this years New York Comic Con and I'm going to debut my first non-mini comic version of NYComix with NYComix: Book One. (fancier name to come) A 64-page trade paperback compiling every NYComix strip as well as some new strips and a bunch of extras... stay tuned.
Thanks for reading...
Font You!
Randy
Got a comment or question about this Soapbox?
Leave at message at the Font of Wisdom Forum.