CBR: Yippee-Ki-Yay: Chaykin Talks Die Hard

[CBR News]

BOOM! Studios explores the origins of terrorist-fighting policeman John McClane in "Die Hard: Year One," a new ongoing series set ten years before the first film. We spoke with writer Howard Chaykin about the series.


Full article here.

[JimmyDee]

While the concept of bringing Die Hard to comics has me filled with doubt, the fact it's being written by Chaykin is a HUGE help towards me picking the book up. I think if an unknown writer or one with less experience was on this I'd likely pass, but to see what Chaykin does with a story based in 1970s NYC is very intriguing.

[FanboyStranger]

I agree. If this series were being written by anyone but Chaykin, I wouldn't know what to make of it, but Chaykin writing John McClane just seems to make sense. I'm actually looking forward to this now. (And the "YippeKayYayMutha..." cover is brilliant.)

[Leocomix]

American Flagg, Black Kiss, yes but I would add Blackhawk: Blood and Iron to the list of his best works (and Twilight as a personal favourite)

Recently I loved Blade, and his Iron Fist story.

I will have high expectations for Die Hard.

[pariah-1972]

The only thing i have read from Chaykin was his Wolverine (which i really didn't like) and his recent G.I Joe work (which i freaking loved) but i love love love Die Hard( don't ask me why) so i will be checking this out even if i have to donate blood.

[Abeja]

Wow, I was talking to my friend about comic book ideas awhile back, and I brought up doing a Die Hard comic. Absolutely, I will check this out.

[dupont2005]

sounds cool to me

[FanboyStranger]

The only thing i have read from Chaykin was his Wolverine (which i really didn't like) and his recent G.I Joe work (which i freaking loved) but i love love love Die Hard( don't ask me why) so i will be checking this out even if i have to donate blood.

There is a big difference between Chaykin the artist (especially on his recent work for Marvel) and Chaykin the writer, not to mention Chaykin the writer/artist. I would recommend American Flagg! and Black Kiss above all for someone trying to get into Chaykin as a writer, but also Blackhawk, Twilight, The Shadow: Blood and Judgement (if you can find it), Ironwolf:Fires of the Revolution (with Mignola!), American Century, Challengers of the Unknown: Stolen Moments, Borrowed Time, and City of Tomorrow as all good examples of Chaykin's writing (and in many cases, art). In addition to that, he's pretty much the king of the Elseworlds with Son of Superman (with JH Williams), Secret Society of Superheroes, Batman: Dark Allegiances, Batman/Houdini: The Devil's Workshop (with Mark Chiarello), ThrillKiller (with Dan Brereton), and Superman: Distant Fires (Gil Kane). I also have a soft spot for Midnight Men from Epic and Angel and Ape from Vertigo, although in the latter case it's mostly because of Phil Bond's art.

Chaykin, in my opinion, is one of the most important creators in the history of the medium, and American Flagg! has to be ranked among the top ten most influential comics of all time. People who have been judging Chaykin on his recent Marvel work (which I will admit has been subpar) are selling this legend very short.

[pariah-1972]

There is a big difference between Chaykin the artist (especially on his recent work for Marvel) and Chaykin the writer, not to mention Chaykin the writer/artist. I would recommend American Flagg! and Black Kiss above all for someone trying to get into Chaykin as a writer, but also Blackhawk, Twilight, The Shadow: Blood and Judgement (if you can find it), Ironwolf:Fires of the Revolution (with Mignola!), American Century, Challengers of the Unknown: Stolen Moments, Borrowed Time, and City of Tomorrow as all good examples of Chaykin's writing (and in many cases, art). In addition to that, he's pretty much the king of the Elseworlds with Son of Superman (with JH Williams), Secret Society of Superheroes, Batman: Dark Allegiances, Batman/Houdini: The Devil's Workshop (with Mark Chiarello), ThrillKiller (with Dan Brereton), and Superman: Distant Fires (Gil Kane). I also have a soft spot for Midnight Men from Epic and Angel and Ape from Vertigo, although in the latter case it's mostly because of Phil Bond's art.

Chaykin, in my opinion, is one of the most important creators in the history of the medium, and American Flagg! has to be ranked among the top ten most influential comics of all time. People who have been judging Chaykin on his recent Marvel work (which I will admit has been subpar) are selling this legend very short.

Yes i've been told to read American Flagg many times but i have no idea what it is about.

I'm a bit overloaded at the moment since i am just now reading Annihilation in trade

[Leocomix]

From Chaykin I also liked Cyberella and Bite Club.

[FanboyStranger]

Yes i've been told to read American Flagg many times but i have no idea what it is about.

I'm a bit overloaded at the moment since i am just now reading Annihilation in trade

Well, that's okay: both Annihilations are great!

AF! is a science fiction comic about Rueben Flagg, a washed-up actor (replaced on his own tv series by a hologram of himself) who serves the joint US-USSR 'Plex' Mars-based government as a Ranger for the Chicago OHare PlexMall. He discovers conspiracies within conspiracies from subliminal transmissions in tv programming that forces the local gangs/'political organizations' to attack the PlexMall every Saturday night, widely available contraceptives that sterilize the user, white supremecists groups attempting to take over North America, Third World corporations attempting their own takeovers, illegal sports programming, and on and on. The book prefigured so many elements of our current world from the obsession with reality tv to splinter militia groups in the '90s (and now, it seems likely). It's just a fantastic book, tightly plotted with great characters (including a talking cat that steals the book and the world's worst sidekick) and great humor. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

[FanboyStranger]

From Chaykin I also liked Cyberella and Bite Club.

I liked Don Cameron's art for Cyberella, but I didn't like the story all that much. In fact, I'd say the issue I liked the best was the issue that Cameron wrote himself.

I thought Bite Club was alright, but nothing spectacular.

[pariah-1972]

Well, that's okay: both Annihilations are great!

AF! is a science fiction comic about Rueben Flagg, a washed-up actor (replaced on his own tv series by a hologram of himself) who serves the joint US-USSR 'Plex' Mars-based government as a Ranger for the Chicago OHare PlexMall. He discovers conspiracies within conspiracies from subliminal transmissions in tv programming that forces the local gangs/'political organizations' to attack the PlexMall every Saturday night, widely available contraceptives that sterilize the user, white supremecists groups attempting to take over North America, Third World corporations attempting their own takeovers, illegal sports programming, and on and on. The book prefigured so many elements of our current world from the obsession with reality tv to splinter militia groups in the '90s (and now, it seems likely). It's just a fantastic book, tightly plotted with great characters (including a talking cat that steals the book and the world's worst sidekick) and great humor. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Wow i'm sold that sounds interesting as hell.

Did Chaykin do the art and if so it does look different from his overly inked new stuff right?

[FanboyStranger]

Wow i'm sold that sounds interesting as hell.

Did Chaykin do the art and if so it does look different from his overly inked new stuff right?

Chaykin did the art for the first twenty (?) or so issues, and it still looks fantastic. Much much tighter than his current work with a greater variety when it comes to page design and action choreography. Also, not as many fat faces.

[pariah-1972]

Chaykin did the art for the first twenty (?) or so issues, and it still looks fantastic. Much much tighter than his current work with a greater variety when it comes to page design and action choreography. Also, not as many fat faces.

The book he is doing for G.I Joe with that guy Chuckles is blowing me away .