The interplay between comics and music

There’s something you should know about me before we go any further: in addition to being a comics fan, I’m also a music fan. This leads to some tight budgeting around the house, as I try to squeeze in comics, CDs (yes, I still buy them), and tickets for shows while still leaving cash for items like food and soap. That’s why, whenever comics and music blend, I’m in heaven–except for the 1997 series Kiss: Psycho Circus. Are we really going to believe that Gene Simmons and gang are elemental beings from the beginning of time? Not after Gene Simmons Family Jewels, we’re not.Kirby Krackle is a Seattle band that plays catchy rock songs based on comics, such as “Ring Capacity,” told from the perspective of Green Lantern. In true comic-book-geek fashion, their name comes from the rough circular dots first used by Jack Kirby to represent negative space in different energy illustrations. The band’s released two albums so far2009′s Kirby Krackle, with hits like “Zombie Apocalypse” and “Tony Stark,” and 2010′s E for Everyone, which features “Ring Capacity” along with “Secret Identity,” “Great Lakes Avengers,” and many (well, more.For those who prefer a little more beat in their music, check out the hip-hop stylings of Adam WarRock. Named after Adam Warlock, a cosmic character created in 1967 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. His surreal tracks touch on important issues like falling in love with a zombie girl and the problems of being left out of the Dr. Who fandom. You can download more than 70 tracks from his website, and purchase his debut album The War For Infinity if you feel so inclined. He also takes requests to perform at local comic shops.Besides musicians singing about comics, there have been plenty of fine comics about music. One of my favorites is Hopeless Savages by Jen Van Meter, with art by Bryan Lee O’Malley, Christine Norrie, Chynna Clugston, Ross Campbell, and others. The series is about the Hopeless-Savage family, made up of parents Dirk Hopeless and Nikki Savage and the children, Rat Bastard, Arsenal Fierce, Twitch Strummer, and the youngest, Skank Zero. Dirk and Nikki were punk rockers in the 1970s and have tried to adapt as best they can to domestic life. However, their histories, and the individual personalities of each child, don’t always make this easy. No matter what the struggles are, the family always comes through in the end. Check out the newly released Hopeless Savages: Greatest Hits for the complete series to date.Also check out Keiron Gillen’s and Jamie McKelvie’s Phonogram series. Published as two different miniseries, the story follows mages who use Britpop music to work their magic. The first volume, Rue Britannia, follows one main character, David Kohl. The second, The Singles Club, is a series of one-shots, each one centering on a particular phonomancer during one night at a club.