tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81880997544400429932024-02-19T08:31:15.093-08:00Rocket Lawnchairin the not too distant future, somewhere in time and spaceTristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-50950053450970703552009-08-05T16:06:00.000-07:002009-08-05T16:07:28.941-07:00Weird Al sends up The White StripesAnd calls out Chuck Norris, basically.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VTwNYjwbwag&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VTwNYjwbwag&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-91574927098584783562009-07-30T11:29:00.001-07:002009-07-30T11:42:18.666-07:00Guitar Hero 5 tracklist is.... kinda good?You can read the whole thing <a href="http://kotaku.com/5326223/the-complete-guitar-hero-5-trackist">here</a>, which has a lot more stuff I'm interested in than the last game. Some highlights for me:<br /><br />Johnny Cash - "Ring Of Fire"<br />Queen & David Bowie - "Under Pressure"<br />Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"<br />The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes"<br />Blur - "Song 2"<br />Bob Dylan - "All Along The Watchtower"<br />Billy Idol - "Dancing With Myself"<br />David Bowie - "Fame"<br />Deep Purple - "Woman From Tokyo ('99 Remix)"<br />Beastie Boys - "Gratitude"<br />John Fucking Mellencamp - "Hurts So Good"<br />Smashing Pumpkins - "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"<br />Sublime - "What I Got"<br />T. Rex - "20th Century Boy"<br />Thin Lizzy - "Jailbreak"<br />Weezer - "Why Bother?"<br /><br />There's a bunch on there I probably don't recognize but might like (I looked some of these up on YouTube to double-check -- I forgot that Jailbreak was awesome).Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-26123431094358474632009-07-24T23:27:00.001-07:002009-07-24T23:27:53.745-07:00Song stuck in my head right now<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/grKaSsyvxZE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/grKaSsyvxZE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-75601410712975642362009-07-16T15:20:00.001-07:002009-07-16T15:24:20.125-07:00I want this more than I have wanted anything<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=futurama_benderheadset.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/futurama_benderheadset.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /><br /></a><br />The Complete Futurama, in Bender's head. It comes out at Comic Con for $200, but I'm going to use willpower and wait til it comes out for cheaper on Amazon in October.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-32130161231322091192009-07-06T18:28:00.001-07:002009-07-31T23:02:01.035-07:00eight things<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=crazy-8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/crazy-8.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 things I am looking forward to:</span><br /><br />1. five days off work, in a row<br />2. some distant East Coast trip<br />3. <span style="font-style: italic;">Bruno</span><br />4. spending a bit more of my tax return on a couple more frivolous things<br />5. getting in shape<br />6. a clean room<br />7. my unread comics and books<br />8. some sort of beverage from 7/11 in a few minutes, here<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 things I did yesterday:</span><br /><br />1. went to work on very little sleep<br />2. made dozens of keys for the dumbest college kids alive<br />3. took a nap after work<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />4. went BACK to work because two people called in sick<br />5. had too many energy drinks<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />6. avoided someone<br />7. lost a lot playing <span style="font-style: italic;">BlazBlue</span><br />8. watched more of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wire</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 things I wish I could do:</span><br /><br />1. never go back to work<br />2. live on my own for a while<br />3. create something, like inward singing<br />4. make a sweet Arakune figure<br />5. fly somewhere else<br />6. write something<br />7. find someone to see <span style="font-style: italic;">The Hangover </span>with<br />8. draw comics<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 Shows I watch:</span><br /><br />1. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wire</span><br />2. <span style="font-style: italic;">It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia</span><br />3. <span style="font-style: italic;">Futurama</span><br />4. old <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Simpsons </span></span>episodes<br />5. <span style="font-style: italic;">Mystery Science Theater 3000</span><br />6. <span style="font-style: italic;">Rome</span><br />7. <span style="font-style: italic;">True Blood </span>(don't judge me)<br />8. <span style="font-style: italic;">Arrested Development</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 favorite fruits:</span><br /><br />1. pineapple<br />2. green apples<br />3. oranges<br />4. starfruits (mostly for the name and appearance)<br />5. bananas<br />6. plantains (mostly in chip form)<br />7. tangerines<br />8. the opposite of that gooey crap Ary and Max made me eat at their house<br /><br />8<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Places I'd Like to Travel</span><br /><br />1. Scotland<br />2. New York<br />3. Japan<br />4. Boston<br />5. Chicago<br />6. New Zealand<br />7. France<br />8. Italy<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Places I've Lived</span><br /><br />1. Honolulu, HI<br />2. Ft. Leonard Wood, MO<br />3. Germersheim, Germany<br />4. Aumsville, OR<br />5. Silverton, OR<br />6. Corvallis, OR<br />7. someplace in Virginia I don't remember<br />8. Scotland (near Glasgow I think... or Edinburgh)Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-49131926077351888512009-07-06T18:13:00.000-07:002009-07-06T18:23:48.936-07:00Comic Book Day -- 2 Word Review editionYeah, to save some time and maybe force a little creativity out of me, I'm going to write-up these comics with a two-word limit. Let's try it out.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=batman-and-robin-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/batman-and-robin-2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman and Robin #2</span> -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Continued brilliance</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain America: Reborn #1</span> -- <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lost deja-vu<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings #5</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> -- </span>Nerd soap</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Boys #32</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> -- </span>Redeeming itself</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">FC Aftermath: Run! #3 -- </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Surprisingly good<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greek Street #1 -- </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Auspicious opening<br /><br /></span>Hm. I didn't think about these as hard as I wanted to, but that was still fun.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-37674234789050473682009-06-25T02:18:00.000-07:002009-06-25T03:12:57.125-07:00Comic Book TimelinessOkay, I'll try to make this more of a habit, just spend a half hour or so every Wednesday night on this stuff.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=11866_400x600.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/11866_400x600.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Detective Comics #854 --</span> Holy crap! After pretty much nothing but a passing interest in continuing my <span style="font-weight: bold;">Detective</span> sub with Batwoman taking the reigns, Greg Rucka and JH Williams come in and kick my ass and nail it down. Great introduction to Batwoman (I erm, don't exactly know who she is or how she fits into Gotham City -- I should look that up) -- I like that we're already getting some good characterization so I can start to feel familiar with the character. But damn, it's the Batwoman sequences that bookend the story; the otherwise muted color palette gives the reds such a sharp, satisfying sting, and everything from the nice, round lines to the hyperstylish panel composition puts this book on the goddamned A-list from the start. Already I can see the way Batwoman deals with criminals differs so much from Batman himself -- we see this right in the first few etherreal pages. I love this book. Even without the cool Question back-up, I'd say it was worth the $3.99. I don't usually make picks of the week, but <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pick of the Week</span>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thor #602 --</span> This is sort of a catch-up issue. Not exactly reader-friendly, per se, but it does the audience a favor and ties up a few loose ends that've been dangling since the series started. We get some progression in other plot threads, but there's the feeling that we're just stopping to tie our shoe before getting on with the rest of the journey.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=51_GUARDIANS_OF_THE_GALAXY_15.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/51_GUARDIANS_OF_THE_GALAXY_15.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy #15</span> -- I can't imagine how this series reads in trade format. The last few issues have been so full of chock that the staples have started to buckle a little. How is it that hell breaks loose pretty much every issue and Abnett/Lanning are still able to keep the pace. This is not to mention Cory Walker pulling his weight, doing a great job at keeping the chaos in order, along with maybe the best Groot I've ever seen). I feel a bit sheepish gushing about this series so much. Maybe I should talk about how <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova </span>wasn't awesome.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova #26 -- </span>Yeah, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span> is usually awesome, but it's sorta like this week's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thor</span>; the big breather between major arcs. Consistent with the series and everything, but sort of a necessarily-evil filler episode.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=f3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/f3.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables: The Literals #3</span> -- This closes out The Great Fables Crossover in grand fashion, reminding us how genius it is and how this really is the perfect format for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables </span>(though I am interested in the novel coming soon), breaking down pretty much every comic book story arc right before our eyes, winking at us along the way. We get a nice big clean slate for both ongoing series, and we had a lot of fun along the way. Now, wasn't that Event Book easy? Now do you see why Marvel and DC think it's such a good idea?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern #42 --</span> How did this book ever lose my interest? Didn't I ask this a month ago? I'm such a dumb grinning kid when I read this series. I cannot wait for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blackest Night</span> and the myriad of tie-ins. I am a glutton. I should probably have an orange lantern t-shirt or something.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=132_wolverine__weapon_x_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/132_wolverine__weapon_x_3.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wolverine: Weapon X #3 --</span> This book finally picks up as Wolverine gets down to what he does best. This includes shooting a gun that gives you cancer at some special forces dudes who happen to have lightsaber claws. I'll be damned if Jason Aaron does not have this thumb on the pulse of my still-beating heart.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-85819082881939540432009-06-04T21:49:00.000-07:002009-06-24T16:50:25.149-07:00Comic Book MONTHI'm like a month behind. Forward!<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=batman1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/batman1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman and Robin #1 </span>-- Hot damn! Morrison and Quitely's new series is here, and it it already awesome. I love the characterizations and dialogue of the new duo ("Crime is doomed."), and the art is knocked clear out of the park (the sound effects text blending into smoke and water, that big splash page when Batman and Robin "arrive"). Love the creepy new villain at the end, too. And heck, DC is keeping this series at $2.99, when such a hugely anticipated series with such massive talents would certainly go for four bucks at Marvel. Check this <span style="font-style: italic;">out</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Battle for the Cowl #3 </span>-- The best thing I can say about this book is that it paved the way for the above. The story and telling here (by the same guy) are serviceable, but kind of pale in comparison to what we're getting now (and hopefully what we're going to get from Rucka, Dini and Winick).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern #41 </span>-- How did this series ever stop retaining my interest? Fun popcorn action with some gooey lore-expanding additives.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=jf34.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/jf34.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack of Fables #34 </span>-- Even though Jack jumped ship to another book, the cartoony sense of humor stuck around as Jack is transformed against his will by what seems like some offscreen Disney genie. Well, it's really omnipotent "literal" (read: demigod) Kevin, who is more or less the star of his own book...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Fables: The Literals #2</span> -- ...who faces off against his brother in this issue. As Kevin is pretty much The Author, his sibling acts his bane, Writer's Block (talk about inferiority complexes). Kevin finds an... interesting way of dealing with him. It's probably not a coincidence that the "angel" on Kevin's shoulder has a similar way of acting on the actions of his devilish counterpart. Trust me, it makes sense if you've read it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy #14</span> -- This shit is <span style="font-style: italic;">jam-packed</span>. Seriously so much going on. Huge magic battles, kidnappings, explosions, floating heads of dead gods at the edge of the universe, I could keep going here. So so fun.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=nova25.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/nova25.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Nova #25</span> -- This issue ties up the Worldmind-gone-nutters storyline, so hopefully that means Nova will finally get down to bidness and put some smack down in the War of Kings. Dependable read, always enjoyable, yada yada.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crossed #5</span> -- Funny thing about this issue. We get a look at the survivors as they cope with the world after the Crossed hit, how decimated everything and everyone is. There isn't a single infected in the entire chapter, but their presence still haunts every inch of this book. I can't imagine much of a happy ending here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Battlefields: The Tankies #2</span> -- After a first strong first issue, I got kind of lost here. We meet up with more tankies (as um, the rest of them are kind of dead), and they yammer back and forth for a while, but we don't really get any advancing story with the characters we spent time getting to know during the last 22 pages. Hoping this one has a strong finish.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=scalped29-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/scalped29-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Scalped #29</span> -- This issue is why they say <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scalped </span>is just like (or should be) an HBO series, and why it's destined to be a classic and a benchmark for the comic medium. It is just that good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool: Suicide Kings #3</span> -- I'm warming up a lot to this series. Silly, zany fun with Deadpool and some Marvel superstars (Spider-Man, Daredevil, Punisher). The art is just right for the character, too -- reminds me just a little of Ed McGuiness' stuff during Joe Kelly's run.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings #4</span> -- Another mini that's picking up steam for me. I've liked each issue more and more, and while the "shocking" death at the end of the book means little to me in general, I'm interested to see what it means for the cosmic Marvel as a whole.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=Herogasm01covRobertson.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/Herogasm01covRobertson.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Boys: Herogasm #1</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">+ 2</span> -- <span>It's easy to pass off this mini as a crude collection of dick jokes and boobie doodles, but halfway into the second issue I sort of realized its genius. We've got a bunch of these superheroes just standing around completely naked, talking about this or that. Sure, all sorts of dorks and lady parts are hanging out, but how far is that really from the skin-tight cape comics from the big two? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Herogasm</span> literally strips away any delusions we have about what we're really looking at when we read superheroes (or at least, when Garth Ennis reads them).</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The Boys #31</span> -- Finally, shit gets <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span>. Can't wait to see how The Boys (the rest of 'em, anyway) react to what happens here. Not diggin' Robertson's sub-in, though.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1</span> + <span style="font-weight: bold;">2</span> -- A potentially cool series about a Japanese superhero team that really wants to do good but is sort of taken over by corporate interests. It's sort of like <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Boys</span>, but a bit more optimistic. It's fun so far. The Twitter narration boxes are just a <span style="font-style: italic;">hair </span>out of touch -- the closer you get to real life, the easier it is to screw up the details. I like the poppy art, though. I'll read this through to the finish.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=11958_400x600.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/11958_400x600.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Air #9 + 10</span> -- Nine was good, but god damn, ten was great. Perker outdoes any previous work in this series with a one-off shot set centuries in the past. Props to G.Willow Wilson for somehow sticking a Star Wars analogue in a book like this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain America #50</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">+600 </span>-- I love Bru's Cap, but it hasn't been great lately. I mean, it's really good, but I'm missing that drive, that overarcing story that really pulls things together. I have a feeling that we're getting that very soon.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Wolverine: Weapon X #2</span> -- Love this series already. I don't know that this first arc can measure up to Get Mystique quite yet, but it does have a few issues to step up. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=walkingdead_cov62.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/walkingdead_cov62.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Walking Dead #61</span> -- I recently read an interview with Kirkman that basically spelled out this whole Most Dangerous Game arc, including who will probably die. I kind of wish I hadn't read it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman: Streets of Gotham #1</span> -- I don't know whether I want another Batbook on my pull list, but I figured I've gotta give Paul Dini Batman a shot. It's pretty cool so far, but like I read in a review, I wish it kind of pulled back from Batman and Robin and just gave me the peripheral characters and their viewpoint. I think I'll check out the next few issues to see if it sticks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Trial of Thor</span> -- My local comic shop likes to sign me up for everything under the sun for a certain character whose series I've subbed to. If I don't explicitly state otherwise, I end up with stuff like this one-shot. And this time it's not too bad! Sort of a murder mystery set in Asgard, with a really great last page. I'm maybe a little ashamed that this is the first of anything I've read of Peter Milligan's. Really looking forward to his <span style="font-weight: bold;">Greek Street</span> series, along with the reissue of the first <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shade the Changing Man</span> trade.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/?action=view&current=yl16.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/yl16.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Young Liars #16 </span>-- Ugh, to think that this issue is the third-to-last. Ever! Seriously, we probably won't ever get such a creepy/funny one-off about a background character from this series <span style="font-style: italic;">ever again</span>. I blame everyone but me. Pay your respects and buy the trades or issues and read this series.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Incognito #4</span> -- This series is too good to end in two issues. I can't see how things can't come to a conclusion soon, given the chest-deep shit Zack Overkill is drowning in, but I've got to wait out <span style="font-weight: bold;">Criminal</span>'s single-issue run (only trades for me with that one) before I get more <span style="font-weight: bold;">Incognito</span>. I suppoose I should just be grateful that there's a cool series as successful as this one. I mean, it could be another <span style="font-weight: bold;">Young Liars</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghost Rider #35 </span>-- Can Jason Aaron and Tony Moore just do this series forever? This three-issue arc is just way too tiny! I could do with a few more chapters of batshit-crazy gonzo/grindhouse madness. I hope Roland Boschi keeps some of the magic these two had for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghost Riders</span> mini (it seemed like it was there when he worked with Aaron earlier on his run, at least).Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-26889273947469939212009-05-18T00:23:00.000-07:002009-05-18T03:02:58.946-07:00Comic Book Day 5/13/09<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/11676_400x600.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Action Comics #877</span> -- I missed the last issue for some reason, and just read two of these back to back. All of a sudden this book is kind of brutal. The awesome fight in 876 basically took up the whole issue, and even though 877 slows it down a bit, we still get the newly-blind Ursa kicking ass like Zod's woman should. Way to go, Rucka.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Fables #84 </span>-- Soo basically, Jack (of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack of Fables</span>, derp) comes back to his original book in this issue, and of course causes quite the stir at The Farm, basically the last refuge for Fables in the "real world". Farm inhabitants are divided pretty cleanly between worship and revulsion. Hilarity ensues.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/REBELS-Cv4.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REBELS #4 </span>-- I had some catching up to do on this series, too. It is basically DC's version of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span>, which means it's great cosmic action with sharp writing and strong visuals (with characters you barely know). Brainiac 2 (aka Vril Dox) is the best asshole ever, as he puts together a team of ragtag misfits (who hate him a lot) to reclaim his army of peacekeeping robot drones. The art is uniquely sketchy and realistic at the same time; Andy Clarke, I think that's the artist's name, has a great knack for subtlely realistic facial expressions. They've got a sub-in guy that's doing a decent job at keeping up the same style, but I hope Clarke comes back for the long run. Gotta say though, these covers aren't doing them any favors.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern Corps #36</span> -- Even though there's a rainbow-colored Lantern explosion battle on Oa in this issue, I was more impressed by the conversation between Sinestro and his daughter. It's seriously like 8 pages of talking heads, but it's written so smartly and put together so well visually that I didn't even notice (I mean, until after I read it and wrote about it here). It's hard to think, sometimes, that this is sort of a "background book" -- there's this whole big battle for the Sinestro Corps leader, but by the time Hal Jordan gets back to him in the regular <span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern</span> book, Sinestro himself will have come back, put the smack down, and reign supreme like nothing ever happened. At least I'm taking more of a shine to these characters every issue.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/unwritten_2.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Unwritten #1 </span>-- First issues are neat and all, but they rarely give me more than what I've gleaned off of solicit info and preview pages. This book doesn't buck that trend, but it still delivers an interesting premise, which follows the son of the author of very popular Harry Potter-esque novels, as he learns that he may share more than just a name with the hero of his father's books. Looking forward to following through with the next few issues.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Walking Dead #61 </span>-- Well, I haven't said "oh shit!" during an issue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Walking Dead</span> in like, three or four months, so it figures it was about time. Funny, I read a fan letter in an issue about that long ago that noted that the twins weren't really doing anything but just sort of standing there. Good of you to rectify that, Kirkman.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/yl.jpg" /><br />Young Liars #15 </span>-- This series is <span style="font-style: italic;">cancelled</span>. Have I mentioned that? And how god-awful it is? After this mindfuck of an issue, we only have three more ass-kickings left before there's no more <span style="font-weight: bold;">Young Liars</span>. That is god-damned terrible. This series was great at the start, but really kicked into high gear in the second arc, and has blown dozens of hundreds of minds each month ever since. I feel like this is a rare Vertigo series that would be read a bit better in the monthly issues, for the sake of letting each table turned be properly digested. David Lapham really has a soft spot for this book, and he says he may someday find a way to continue it. Godspeed, you insane bastard.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool: Suicide Kings #2 </span>-- This surprisingly-good series looks to be home to a series of big-name guest stars for Deadpool to bounce off of. I'm okay with that; while it's not laugh-out-loud hilarious like Daniel Way's monthly <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool</span> book, it's fun to see DP brawling with The Punisher and Daredevil and the like.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-53389506016775151352009-05-10T02:11:00.000-07:002009-05-10T03:32:40.863-07:00Comic Book Day -- Catching Up AgainI'm sort of starting to wonder why I do these. I mean, I don't really have more than one or two "readers". I tell myself it's just an outlet, but I look back and all I see is the type of stuff I used to write for Nintendo fansites years ago. Still, the reason I started doing this was because I had all sorts of thoughts brewing without too many people to talk to about it. So it's sort of just me talking to myself. Like now!<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/fa.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Literals #1</span>-- This is just sort of an extra issue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables</span>, but I'm not complaining. I've enjoyed getting to know the sadistic, bratty, god-like Kevin since this crossover event began. There's a good deal in the book that is just Kevin chatting with his creations (really, talking to himself) that's more compelling than the biggest fight scenes in the Wolverine movie. I'm going to savor this miniseries, as it ups the ante to three high-quality <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables </span>books per month. Avengers, eat your heart out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Flash: Rebirth #2 </span>-- I'm still waiting for this series to pick up steam. The whole thing is really continuity-heavy; the last-page reveal might shock and awe some, but I really have no idea what it means or why I should care. The art is still fantastic, though, and I have faith in Geoff Johns.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Deadpool #10 </span>-- I'm tired of saying how enjoyable and funny this series is.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/Final_Crisis_Aftermath_Run_1.jpg"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #1 </span>-- <span style="font-weight: bold;">House of Mystery </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack of Fables</span> co-writer Matthew Sturges is my kind of smartass. This series, following the no-name Z-list villain who killed Martian Manhunter during the impenetrable <span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Crisis</span>, brings out his darker and more cynical side. We're given a character with no discernable redeeming qualities and asked to laugh as he fumbles around, running from capes and villains alike who want his head. I liked it, I admit, but I really hope this character has enough of an arc to last a six-issue series.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />War of Kings #3 </span>-- This mini finally kicked into gear, for me, when the talking raccoon and sentient warrior tree showed up; makes me glad I've been keeping up with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians. </span>Maybe if I'd kept up with the myriad of other characters in this series throughout the years, I'd care a little more about this series. I am starting to like this Ronan guy a bit more, though. I think he's getting his own little <span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings</span> series?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Boys #30 </span>-- Okay, so, we had some potentially game-changing mass murder last issue, and the payoff... more guys in suits talking back and forth. Seriously, Garth, you're killin' me here. If I wasn't attached to these characters so much (and if I wasn't a terrible Ennis fanboy), I would've dropped this book a little while ago.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/gl40.jpg"><br />Green Lantern #40 </span>-- I don't know what it was, but this is the first issue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">GL</span> that's clicked with me in a few months' time. Before, I was tiring of the exploration of each colored Corps' origins and mythos, but I found myself pretty enthralled with the Orange Lanterns in this issue. Love that back-up story at the end, too -- I'll probably be looking to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tales of the Corps</span> mini for more of that.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Proof #19 </span>-- I'm getting tired of talking about how enthralling, inventive and pretty this series is.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Nova #24 </span>-- Whenever I open <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span>, it's like sitting down to watch an episode of a consistently-good TV series. This is one of my most dependable reads. Lovin' that big <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span> hardcover I just bought, too.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/RASL_4_Cover.jpg"><br />Rasl #4 </span>-- God, this series is going to be over in like 20 years. Well, half that (literally). I guess a hundred pages a year of a soon-to-be-classic hard-boiled sci-fi mystery is better than none. I still get the feeling sometimes that Jeff Smith is trying a little too hard to separate this from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bone</span>, though.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Battlefields: Tankies #1 </span>-- I wasn't sure how Ennis could follow up the seminal <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Billy </span>after that last issue, but this mini is off to a strong start. It definitely helps that I was raised reading books and books of Scottish comic strips -- the dialect reads like butter for me, but I can see how it might be trouble for others. Anyone used to Cassidy in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Preacher</span> should be alright, I guess. I've often mentioned I'm a sucker for a lot of things -- a good Men on a Mission story belongs in that canon.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-64715766454191600842009-05-03T19:52:00.001-07:002009-05-03T19:53:45.433-07:00More than one color at The Red House<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vnOyMSEWNTs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vnOyMSEWNTs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />You see, America? Everything is going to be alright.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-9735283211117274902009-04-29T16:24:00.000-07:002009-04-29T16:54:45.295-07:00Recent Games 4/29/09Hey look! A non-comics post!<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/outrun-online-arcade-20090206042545.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Outrun Online Arcade</span> (Xbox Live Arcade) -- It's been a long time since the high score fever of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pac-Man Championship Edition</span> hit me, but this "new" <span style="font-weight: bold;">Outrun</span> has done the trick. It's technically very short; there are fifteen courses, but you only play through five at a time via branching paths. Playing through all the courses in one go will run you about fifteen minutes, but that's not the real draw. What keeps me coming back to the game is the scoring system, which rewards you for speediness, slipstreaming and passing other cars (and special "Rival" cars) without hitting them. It sounds a bit simplistic -- it is! -- but plotting a course through the game and mastering your own little corner is extremely rewarding. It's almost a bit daunting to think about conquering all of the courses in their entirety, to my satisfaction.<br /><br />This game is incredibly refreshing in a time where gaming is choked with the smog of "realistic" dark browns and greys. The shining sun (complete with Impressive Ten Years Ago Lens-Flare) celebrates the bright blue sky and tall, healthy trees. This game is just so... happy! And that's nice.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/genesis_collection_001.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (Xbox 360)</span> -- I thought I read somewhere that this compilation boasts the highest volume of any console collection to date. Perhaps it does, but the list onscreen just scrolls by too fast. Sure, there are like seven or eight <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sonic </span>games, two <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinobi's</span>, three <span style="font-weight: bold;">Streets of Rage</span> titles, four <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phantasy Stars</span>, and original arcade versions of stuff like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Altered Beast</span> -- well, when I guess I say it like that, it sounds a bit better. Anyhow, at 30 bucks, it's a decent deal for a blast processing of nostalgia. It's cool to play old stuff I never got around to, like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Comix Zone</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vectorman</span>, however well time has treated them.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/chinatown.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Nintendo DS)</span> -- I go through these phases with <span style="font-weight: bold;">GTA</span> games. When I first pop them in, I'm a bit disappointed that they're pretty much the same as their predecessors. I trudge on for a bit, because hey, I spent my money already. And somewhere along the line, I'm won over by the silly carnage and surprisingly varied missions I'm sent on. During this period, I can often be seen with a stupid grin on my face, throwing molotov cocktails at police cars and doing whatever else it is that the millions of gamers who buy these games do. And then, probably before the end, I stop cold. I might try to pick it up again, but it won't have that same grip on me. Sure enough, this is what happened with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chinatown Wars</span>, old-school handheld flavor or no. I'm feeling pretty over <span style="font-weight: bold;">GTA</span>. Until the next game.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-6892444130480228612009-04-22T23:44:00.001-07:002009-04-23T02:17:23.618-07:00Comic Book Day 4/22/09I promise I'll get to a non-comic-related post soon. PROMISE.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/ghost_rider_vol_5_34p.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghost Rider #34 </span></span><span>-- Holy hell, this is maybe the first issue I've seen where an artist handily trumps writer Jason Aaron. Usually the latter chooses artists that compliments his talents and they <span style="font-style: italic;">both</span> look good, but Mr. Aaron took a step back to let Tony Moore shine (though not before spicing up the book with some great Southern dialect). This issue even outshines Roland Boschi's earlier work on this series, at the start of Aaron's run -- no mean feat at all. This is a great self-contained story that I intend to use on folks to get them into this run of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghost Rider</span>. </span><span>And help me god, the next issue has ninjas on the cover.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Thor #601</span> -- I've tried to get my roommates into this series, to no avail. Perhaps they're bored (or intimidated) by the idea of Norse Mythology Action with Shakespearian Dialogue.I don't think they know that part of the appeal of this series is in the deft mix of Asgardian nobility and weight with Oklahoman hospitality and charm. The way these two peoples, brought together at the start of the new series (a little over a year ago; it's since been renumbered starting with last month's #600), interact is sort of heartwarming in an Everything Will Be Alright kind of way. There have been a lot of moments in Straczynski's run that seem like those one-off chuckles in films that gives everyone in the theater a common smile. It does get to be a bit much at times (Dr. Doom mentioning Wikipedia? Really?), but it doesn't ever grate for very long. No, any harsh feelings I have for this series are currently aimed at the permanent pricejacking to $3.99 an issue. This is becoming awfully common for Marvel books.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/gg13.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy #13</span> -- Oh hey, speakofthedevil -- a Marvel book that's both better <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> cheaper than <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thor</span>! Not to dump on a decent comic, but <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians</span> just kicks too much ass. This issue recaptures the first issue's manic pace; awesome brawls are spotted with zippy little "talking head" panels (think <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Office</span>, with cosmic superheroes), and the second half finally catapults the Guardians head-first into both sides of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings</span>! I know I sound like a solicitation from Marvel, but this is such a blast of a comic. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Jack of Fables #33 </span>-- I am not one to say that It Was I Who Told You As It Was, but, I do remember wondering earlier in this blog if the rushjob on the previous <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack</span> issue was a casualty for the coming of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Fables Crossover. </span>Indeed, Braun's lines here are so much stronger, matching the confident swagger of its titular hero. One need look no further than the second and third pages, a spread which details the meeting of dozens of Fabled persons and creatures in a decidedly Mos Eisley fashion. I especially loved one inset zoom-in on Jack, eerily channeling the similarly brutish <span style="font-weight: bold;">Beauty and the Beast </span>villain Gaston. The writing here is quite solid, too, especially the bits with the ultra-powerful Kevin. It sounds funny when you say it that way, but this is a guy who can bend reality by writing with his pen, and as it turns out, his creative half is also his sadistic one. I do abhore the ongoing full-page Peanuts-esque lamentations of Babe the Blue Ox, though I do like his newfound Woodstock. Kevin has his own text-heavy six-panel spread too; I wish it would replace its obnoxious cousin.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/detective-comics-853-version-2.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Detective Comics #853 </span>-- This is the second part of the etherreal <span style="font-weight: bold;">Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusdader<span style="font-weight: bold;">? </span></span>arc. I should mention that I take issue with DC calling this an "arc". An arc, by its very nature, has at least three parts, so it can rise and fall. This story is made up of exactly one couple of issues. The absolute most it could ever aspire to be is a <span style="font-style: italic;">line segment</span>. I don't care that it's Neil Gaiman's lovely and surreal love letter to Batman, complimented with Andy Kubert's stunning visuals. It's still horseshit.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buck Rogers #0</span> -- I can't complain about the price of this one. Though street-priced at what was once associated with a single Shave and a Haircut, I actually scored this for the low sum of True Love. And heck, it's not a bad comic, to boot! It's gotta be maybe ten or twelve pages, but it's a pulpy and fun dozen pages. I thought the <a href="http://i.livescience.com/images/BuckRogers00.jpg">new look</a> of Buck Rogers was pretty cool, until I looked at the front cover of this week's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span> to see a dude (Chris Summers, I think? Brother of Cyclops?) in uncannily similar duds. Ah well. This little guy did its job -- I'm interested to check out the "first" issue of the series, whenever that's coming.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/SCALPED28cover.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scalped #28</span> -- I am kind of damned excited that I'm "in" on this series at close to the ground floor. I swear this series will keep growing in stature among comics fans, even moreso when the book concludes in a few years. We finally get RM Guera back to draw this whopper of an issue, wherein we finally find out what happened on that day, more than 30 years ago. Criminy Christmas, this series is great. Have I said it's my favorite series currently running? Because it so, so is.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-2935569848275888902009-04-16T01:46:00.000-07:002009-04-16T03:11:44.492-07:00Comic Book Daypocalypse -- Tax Day EditionSo, I sort of forgot to write about comics last week. Or anything else, for that matter. I really wanted to get something new in before writing about comics again, but here we are. Maybe I should split up my blogs according to topics. Rocket Lawnchair isn't a good name for a comic blog, I don't think. Maybe I should just write more. Like right now!<br /><br />Two weeks worth of comics. This'll be long. Just so you know, you one or two people who will read this besides me. I'll try to keep it short and sweet, but we all know how that's turned out in the past.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/air_cv8.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Air #8</span> -- Soo I think I'm getting a handle on this whole situation with Blythe and hyperpraxis, etc. It's been sort of a rush to get here, but this issue was nice enough to slow down and tie some strings together. I should really get more people to read this book. I should also probably read <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cairo</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DMZ #41 </span>-- That last sentence there reminds me. I'm always talking about what I <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> do, mostly involving rereading comics. Do I read them too fast? Because in the last arc of this series ("War Powers"), I could've sworn that Matty was upset that Zee killed herself? Perhaps it was something slightly more subtle, like his guilt for siding with Parco eating away at him. Anyway, I enjoyed taking a break from escalating political struggle for a good ol' fashioned morality tale with nice, big panels housing clean lines and moody colors.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern #39 </span>-- I sort of just want <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blackest Night</span> to be here already. I love GL, but spending four issues exploring each color of the rainbow and its Lanterns has worn a bit thin. It's interesting to think that the leader of the Orange Lantern Corps (powered by greed) may actually be the only real member, and the art is stellar as usual, but I somehow I feel overwhelmed at the same time I feel bored. Maybe it's just been the mood I've been in while reading the past few issues, because I sure don't have a problem with the "little brother" series.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/11477_400x600.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern Corps #35 </span>-- This is where the Green Lantern action is at. The stories here are smaller in scope than in the main series, but when it comes to GL, that still means jailbreaks, genocide and entire planets at war are all fair game. It helps a lot that the Corps is populated by real characters, as opposed to the somewhat pre-molded Hal. If GLC stays this good, I'm okay with a bit of a dip in GL proper here and there.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings: Ascension #1 </span>-- I kind of sort of read a little bit of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings</span>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Darkhawk</span> two-part mini that precedes this new four-part series (it really could just be one big six-parter, but we can't have a side series as long as the main one, can we?). I was a bit interested in the character, but was a bit apprehensive as to exactly how this could be that different than <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span>. The end of this issue definitely takes measures to assuage those fears (I always wanted to use the word assuage in a sentence), though it takes a bunch of mindless action to get there. Ah well. I'm a hopeless DnA fanboy these days anyhow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Young Liars #14 </span>-- In a rare chapter, this issue actually answers more questions than it creates. Things are finally coming back together. I guess that's David Lapham's cue to blow them apart again.Read this series or else the spiders from Mars will get you, too.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/wolverine_weapon_x_1p-1.jpg"><br />Wolverine: Weapon X #1 </span>-- This issue is mostly just a set-up, but knowing Jason Aaron, it's going to pay off big-time in the next few chapters. Because I have to mention both writing and art, Garney's work here is solid. And if that's a Death Wish reference on the subway, I owe both men a kiss on the mouth.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Incognito #3 </span>-- Thanks a lot Brubaker, for making this series a bi-monthly. I really don't feel like waiting eight weeks between each installment awesome supervillain noir action drawn by Sean Philips. I'll never read another one of your comics again!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain America #48</span> -- Hur, get it? It was just like a great sitcom joke, what I did just there. Anyhow, this issue is kinda filler, but then again, so was tonight's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lost</span>. Doesn't mean that episode wasn't any good, and it doesn't mean I regret reading it, but we all know both of them are stalling just a little bit in the shadow of the no-doubt huge events just around the corner.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/3237526358_51dfea9248.jpg"><br />Ignition City #1 </span>-- The panels in this comic seemed extra wide, to me. So much so, I double-checked it with something else I got last week. Nope. Same size. Maybe it was the great world Warren Ellis has already created, fusing Buck Rogers and steampunk together like it's already been done before a dozen times. Maybe it was the instantly-iconic imagery that pulled that world together (I want a full splash page of the protagonist taking a nap in her spaceplane). I want more of this world. More than just the four issues it has left. I guess that's a sign of a great comic, no?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Fables #83 </span>-- Like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Weapon X</span>, this issue is mostly a set-up. It does it well enough, but there's only so much you can ask of the very first part of a multiple-series spanning crossover event. I do wonder how the hell they're going to work this out in trades, though.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Batman: Battle for the Cowl #2 </span>-- This was a nice surprise. I was just sort of going along with this mini, just to "be there" when the new Batman (Dick Grayson, no doubt) takes the cowl. But really, this issue ramped up with some great action and a typically stirring call-to-arms minispeech by Alfred. Still, whatever finale Tony Daniel has in store will probably pale in comparison to Morrison and Quitely's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman and Robin</span>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The Walking Dead #60 </span>-- I always rush through a new issue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Walking Dead</span>. It's not my fault. This book is the one that rushes <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>. I've just got to get through to see what happens, who dies, how many zombies get it right in the head. I loved seeing Rick and Co. literally run right past the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Night of the Living Dead</span> scenario (unfortunately for them, the zombies shuffled by it too). Too bad it looks like they're going to stick with the "most dangerous creature of all" bit for the next little while.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-80103172047770258342009-04-07T00:05:00.000-07:002009-04-07T02:03:37.526-07:00Comic Book Day 4/1/09Okay, I'm going to try (in vain) to make this quick -- I'm already way behind and another New Comic Book Day is just around the corner. Plus I've got to find some time to go over the cool crap I got at the Emerald City Con (and from Rick, that generous yahoo).<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/flash_rebirth.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flash Rebirth #1</span> -- I was reading some reviews and forums online, and the general consensus was that the series was off to a "slow start" (Get it? Flash? Slow start? LOL?) -- but for me, it was just fine. There's something like four or five Flashes of different ages and colors running around, and this issue gave me time to get acclimated and remember who's who and what the hell's going on. I'm a sucker for Geoff Johns' writing (loved that chat with Hal), and artist Ethan Van Sciver is just the god-damned <span style="font-style: italic;">man</span> (see: The Flash Museum, the farmland scene, Flash getting his suit out). Dug the slightly WTF ending, too. Looking forward to the rest of this miniseries, with a strong likelihood of giving Geoff Johns even more money month after month for the new Flash series proper. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scalped #27</span> -- Jason Aaron did it again, god dammit. He took a character we all hated, and skillfully showed us his sympathetic side. He's just doing this to build us up, get us to know each character before he kills one or more of them. Stupid bastard and his compelling storytelling. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/DEADPOOL9.jpg" /><br />Deadpool #9</span> -- I talked to Daniel Way at Emerald City, and he told me that he's signed on to write this series at <span style="font-style: italic;">least</span> until issue 24 or so. "Awesome!" I exclaimed, barely masking my girlish glee. I had the same reaction when I heard he's doing an arc coming up wherein Deadpool becomes a <span style="font-style: italic;">pirate</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />War of Kings #2</span> -- I'm thinking about just waiting until I've got this entire series and just reading it all in one go. It might make <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span> a bit more confusing, but I'll be damned if I can't figure out which character is which. So, Vulcan is Cyclops' brother, but also somehow King of Shi'ar? Ronin (Ronan?) used to rule the Kree but has stepped down to let Black Bolt in because he and his people are "the future"? Sure, there are sweet space battles with lasers and giant robot men who scream spaceships to death, but <span style="font-style: italic;">what does it mean</span>? I guess if you put it that way, does it even matter? <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/IRREDEEMABLE_001B.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Irredeemable #1</span> -- Mark Waid is something of a legend in comics (I guess? I really should read his <span style="font-weight: bold;">Flash</span> stuff), but I haven't read anything of his until now. This series is said to chronicle the descent of a boy scout superhero to a seriously evil supervillain. Judging from this guy's actions in the first issue, he's already made some serious headway. After murdering a former superhero comrade <span style="font-style: italic;">and his family, </span>the other capes are all scared shitless. They wonder if they can even stop this guy, if he has any weaknesses at all. <span style="font-style: italic;">Something</span> certainly happened to send this guy over the edge. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out, moreso as to where it goes from there, as an ongoing series.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Boys #29 -- </span>Man, this arc had been plodding along leisurely until the end of issue 28; now that we hit 29, everything has <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> hit the fan. We learn the reprehensible acts behind the G-Men and their creators, and pulling the camera back even further, the incredible last few pages change the game completely with a twist that will no doubt affect the remainder of this series. Really cool stuff.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-92030209373444171902009-04-03T01:55:00.000-07:002009-04-03T02:43:17.824-07:00F My Life (dot com)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70aiAOYOTWNwv9A5EnilqR9IXAlO_-rNO4R2ZhDifDXq_x7va5J6fBgwRTjvnAm4XNlwMHQRiFvAVn8ntkfKHBapR302Dy358avSMlzKKIRMAW84l_02h2-_B0tp6p6eJHMFwo4g_SEJZ/s1600-h/dawson-crying.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70aiAOYOTWNwv9A5EnilqR9IXAlO_-rNO4R2ZhDifDXq_x7va5J6fBgwRTjvnAm4XNlwMHQRiFvAVn8ntkfKHBapR302Dy358avSMlzKKIRMAW84l_02h2-_B0tp6p6eJHMFwo4g_SEJZ/s320/dawson-crying.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320388635139399922" /></a><br />I'm a little late on this, but the site <a href="http://www.fmylife.com/">fmylife.com</a> seems to have really gained popularity over the last few months. Delivering short, pithy tales of woe from around the globe, FMyLife (or FML) is at once hilarious and depressing and reassuring. Some choice snippets:<br /><br /><blockquote>Today, I was trying to get drama students to attempt to make themselves cry. I was not having any luck, until suddenly a girl burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. I jumped up to applaud, saying what a wonderful thing it is to have such expressive kids. Turns out her grandma just died. FML</blockquote><br /><blockquote>Today, my boyfriend told me he couldn't hang out with me because he felt really sick. I went to his house anyway to surprise him with homemade soup. I walk in to his room only to find him hooking up with my sister. She can't drive, our mom drove her there. FML</blockquote><br /><blockquote>Today, I had drunk sex with a girl that I barely know. I didn't have a condom and was nervous about getting her pregnant, but she assured me that I could pull out. Right when I was about to pull out, she wrapped her legs around me and yelled : "BE MY BABY'S DADDY!" I couldn't get out in time. FML</blockquote><br /><blockquote>Today, I decided to eat at this new cafe near my apartment. When I sat down a super flamboyant waiter came up to me and asked for my order. I asked him what he recommended. He said "to be honest honey, you could go for the salad." I just got out of an eating disorders rehab and put on 30 pounds. FML</blockquote><br /><br />Heaps more are at the site, with more every day. While many of them probably aren't real, take solace in the fact that some of them <span style="font-style:italic;">are</span>, and those that aren't have could still probably apply to some poor soul.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-59275343465757748572009-03-26T23:32:00.000-07:002009-03-27T03:53:35.966-07:00Comic Book Day 3/25/09I missed last week because there were only two comics; I'll rectify and pellet-review them. Just for you!<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/proof_cov18.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Proof #18</span> -- I'm sad that nobody reads this comic. I'm glad Image has kept it going this far, at least. For those who don't know (so, Rick and Antony) this series is about a sasquatch named John Prufrock (nickname Proof) who works for a government agency that tracks down and preserves fantasy creatures. So, fairies, chupacabras, sewer alligators, etc. It sounds a little lame, maybe, but would a comparison to a wonderful mashup of Fables and The X-Files help? It's all tied together with neat, sketchy inks and solid, moody colors? You can brag to your friends you read Proof "before it was cool"?<br /><br />Anyhow, this is a neat issue that really shows how much this series can expand. I really look forward to seeing what comes next in this book.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Battlefields: Dear Billy #3</span> -- This issue wrecked me, a little. After a few pages of Billy blabbing away, we get to the good stuff: Carrie's narration. As things start to get rocky, we see the real difference between her and Billy, and how their similarities and shared bonds ultimately doom their relationship. The last page is stunning, stirring and haunting all at once. I really don't know how the next <span style="font-weight: bold;">Battlefields</span> miniseries ("<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tankies</span>") can top this.<br /><br />The trade of this short series comes out soon. Definitely keep an eye out for it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crossed #4</span> -- Garth Ennis has written about guys stuffing their own dicks up their ass after being told to fuck themselves, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crossed</span> is still the most messed up thing he's ever written. He spends this issue hammering home, as he has for the past few issues, that there's absolutely no Great White Hope in this world of zombies. They're not even zombies -- they're humans who, once infected, become the most evil and sadistic individuals the world has ever seen. They're smart (did a zombie ever think of spitting on someone to infect them?) and they've got a diabolical sense of humor (one word: horsecock). This miniseries is relentlessly nihlistic, and it's not even half over. Things can only get worse for the featured survivors, and I'll be there for every minute.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_12_by_PaulR.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy #12</span> -- Okay, I think I'm getting the hang of what's going on. Drax (the dude who looks like a green-skinned version of Kratos from <span style="font-weight: bold;">God of War</span>) and Phyla (the daughter of Captain Mar-vell and inheritor of sweet Quasar power bands) were "killed" in effort to go to the realm of the dead to bring back Heather (the former's daughter and the latter's lover). It sounds a little convoluted, but it gets away with it with a fistful of dismemberments and one big black space dragon. I'm glad we're getting back to the rest of the gang so I can see some characters in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings</span> event that I actually recognize.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain America #48</span> -- I'm only just now caught up with Brubaker's epic Cap run (cue: kicking self for waiting so long), just in time for Bucky's first big outing after donning the shield. It's a short and sweet bros-on-a-secret-mission with Namor and Black Widow for backup. Toss in a creepy, menacing villain and a mad scientist who's got a past with the Winter Soldier and you've got yourself a great chaser to a sprawling 40-some-odd issue saga. They're switching the numbering back to include all back issues in a few months (joining <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daredevil</span>'s upcoming 500th issue, and matching <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thor</span>'s recent 600 benchmark), but I hope Bru sticks around for a while. What else is he doing? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Incognito</span>? That comes out like what, every two months?<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/nova_vol_4_23p.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova #22 + 23 </span>-- After catching up with the last two issues, I'm having a hard time deciding which Abnett/Lanning book I like better -- this or <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span>. They're pretty different books (<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians</span></span> an ensemble series<span style="font-weight: bold;">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span> centering on The Richard Rider Show), but they share that same zippy DnA flavor. I guess I should just be glad I have both. I mean, check out the slick one-issue crossover with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova 23</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians 12</span>; Quasar flies off at the beginning of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span>, makes his appearance in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians</span> and still makes it back in time for the end of that same issue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova</span>! That's what you get when one section of continuity and crossovers (in this case, Marvel's cosmic space) is handled by two dudes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack of Fables #32 </span>-- This issue suffers from the same rushed feeling that the last issue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables</span> did, thanks to the impending <span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Fables Crossover</span> starting next month. Unlike <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables</span>, though, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack</span> actually has some important, game-changing stuff to deal with in the latter half of the issue. It's a revelation that sort of blows away the reader and those affected in the story, but those explaining it (both the authors and the characters in the issue) seem to pass it off non-chalantly, like breaking up with a girl in a postscript. Anyway, glad to have everything sorted out for the crossover, which I expect <span style="font-style: italic;">big things</span> of, Mr. Willingham. Don't disappoint, or else I'll... keep buying <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables</span>. Bastard.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/BronsonBeliever/11193_400x600.jpg"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Air #7</span> -- This is one of the more compelling ongoing series around. Blythe's existential journey takes an even trippier turn this issue when she figures out she can travel not only through time and space, but through <span style="font-style: italic;">people</span>, as well. I'm loving MK Perker's art, too -- detailed facial expressions, subtle body language and some of the most convincing kissing I've seen in a comic. This issue's on sale for a special price: one American dollar. You don't really have an excuse if you see this comic on the stands. Better yet, try out the first trade for a tenner. There should be all sorts of impressive quotes from comic creators on the back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool: Games of Death </span>-- Blargh. After Daniel Way's great run on the title character, this one-shot really disappoints. It's front-loaded with tons of exposition, while at the same time weighed down by uninspired cartoony violence and flat jokes in the last half. Mike Benson's got another shot with a Deadpool miniseries in a little while, so we'll see if some breathing room helps smooth things out a bit. Otherwise, I might have to drop <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool</span> proper if this guy takes over after Way's run is through.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-82834343645968579302009-03-15T20:17:00.000-07:002009-03-15T22:12:10.316-07:00Recent Games 3/15/09This'll be an occasional thing; I haven't been playing too many games lately (well, much less than <span style="font-style: italic;">usual</span>), but a few have sucked me in . We've got a couple hardcore Capcom games and some stuff that's... yeah.<br /><br /><img style="width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Street_Fighter_4/street_fighter_4_video_game_image_zangief__1_.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Street Fighter IV (PS3)-- </span><span>I got pretty into <span style="font-weight: bold;">Street Fighter II</span> when they released the <span style="font-weight: bold;">HD Remix</span> edition for Xbox Live a while back, so I felt right at home with <span style="font-weight: bold;">IV</span>. It's... pretty much like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Street Fighter II</span>, but with shiny graphics, a few new characters and online play. The latter works a lot better than expected, except for the cheap sons of bitches online -- I guess I can't blame the developers for that, though. <span style="font-style: italic;">I guess</span>. It's a very familiar game, and there are definitely some balance issues (pick Sagat and you win), but it's still an incredibly solid and engaging fighting game.<br /><br /><img style="width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="http://en.gamers.com/_file/news/1090/20090123013345t7dd.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Peggle (Xbox Live Arcade) -- </span>It's hard to explain the appeal of this game; you've just got to play it. There's a demo <a href="http://files.filefront.com/Peggle+Deluxe+Demo/;6872270;/fileinfo.html">right here</a> for your PC. It's very simple. Either you don't get it, or you spend hours bouncing a little ball down rows of pegs in order to clear all the orange dots on the screen. I've had good experiences with the multiplayer, though when I say good I mean the pure luck involved in this game sometimes fills me with an unspeakable rage that would frighten my mother.<br /><br /><img style="width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/resident-evil-5-3.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360) -- </span>The demo for this game really turned me off. After loving <span style="font-weight: bold;">Resident Evil 4</span>, I was disappointed to find that the game hadn't really evolved at all. There was the same tank-like controls that, in the four years since <span style="font-weight: bold;">RE4</span>'s release, have been improved upon greatly by games like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gears of War</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dead Space</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Resident Evil 5</span>, in the year 2009, does not allow you to <span style="font-style: italic;">move and shoot at the same time</span>. At first I thought this was a real gamebreaker for me--the demo shot the game down from an instant purchase to a definite rental for me.<br /><br />I sat down to play the game this weekend, and was really surprised with the results. The controls don't matter too much after about half an hour, and the same unique visceral feeling that permeated <span style="font-weight: bold;">RE4</span> starts to shine through. Besides the incredibly polished and detailed graphics, the only real new wrinkle is a co-op mode, which really does add a lot to the game. It makes proceedings a bit less frightening (though the fear of getting your head cut off by a chainsaw-wielding maniac is still there), but the action remains as tense as ever. The teamwork dynamic is very well suited to this game.<br /><br />The series director has said that the next game in the main franchise will be another big reboot/retooling like <span style="font-weight: bold;">RE4 </span>was. I believe it. This game is like a huge tribute to (or a museum for) old school game design, for Japanese development especially. There are the bosses and enemies with big bright and obvious weak points, bosses that you have to lure into traps of fire, buttons to push and levers to pull. Hell, there's even a level full of conveyor belts that just keeps feeding flammable containers into a furnace -- a veritable exploding barrel<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">factory</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span>That and the tons of unlockables and fun arcadey Mercenaries mode really scratch the right spots for a longtime "hardcore" gamer like me.<br /><br /><img style="width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.endsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/nobynobyboy.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noby Noby Boy (Playstation Network) -- </span>Can you call something a game if there's really no objective, or um, <span style="font-style: italic;">point</span> to it? Sure, stretching your snake-like body around simple, clean storybook levels is fun, but why? Yeah, I giggle every time I eat something and a big bump slithers down my body until I poop out the object (or person) unharmed, but does that really justify an official software release? For five dollars, I felt like I had my money's worth in fun and dicking around doing nothing. And isn't that really what games are for, anyway?<br /></span>Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-80020357064607003462009-03-12T06:37:00.000-07:002009-03-12T08:56:39.079-07:00Comic Book Day 3/11/09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qusxkObiM6eIGY7gazZUCKQAd5o093DPo6tJUpqlxGGAmu9f-spmyHoR3HejQjNhh2XklUILyZerazCyFd0cn_nkrF69m6mk_rqvx-Fkaz-fC3Wbc8Wkk613taQLkzWQh7tpsJLEsaNg/s1600-h/scal26.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qusxkObiM6eIGY7gazZUCKQAd5o093DPo6tJUpqlxGGAmu9f-spmyHoR3HejQjNhh2XklUILyZerazCyFd0cn_nkrF69m6mk_rqvx-Fkaz-fC3Wbc8Wkk613taQLkzWQh7tpsJLEsaNg/s320/scal26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312298943017669442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Huge week, for me. I'll try to keep these shorter than last week. But no promises! Promises are for politicians and girlfriends.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern Corps #34 -- </span>The delays for the regular <span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Lantern</span> series have finally started affecting the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Corps</span>, as the Red Lantern that Kilowog brings in seems to have been apprehended in some mystical future issue. That's some <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lost</span> shit right there. An uneven issue, if only for the talky first third and the hardcore balls-to-the-wall brawl that follows it. Uneven isn't the right word, because that implies "bad". But it's too late now! The delete key is for college kids and the morning after drunk-texting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Young Liars #13 -- </span>This continues to be the most batshit insane series around. This issue follows last month's crazy ambiguous installment (which followed a similarly world-upside-down-turner issue itself) , and follows Johnny/Danny six months after he leaves a mental hospital. Danny is trying to piece things together at the same time the reader is, which I think might also qualify as "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lost </span>shit, right there". It's hard to explain this series to anyone beyond "ludicrous" and "brilliant".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghost Rider #33 --</span> For the start of an arc, this issue doesn't really "go" anywhere or set much of anything up (beyond "let's take down Zadkiel"), but it sure is awesome. We get to see what the new Caretaker has seen -- Ghost Riders throughout history. Tony Moore seriously knocks it out of the park -- a Tommy gun-wielding Ghost Rider in the prohibition era, pilgrim Ghost Riders chasing down witchhunters, an ace dogfighter Ghost Flyer in WWI, a group of Ghost Tankies in WWII, Ghost Riders from what seems like a Mad Maxian future. If crazy crap like that sounds sweet to you, you need to read this series. If not, you are officially not coming to my birthday party.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy #11 -- </span>I should thank Marvel for these first-page recaps, because I totally forgot that Drax and Phyla were killed somehow. Well, not <span style="font-style: italic;">killed</span>, really, as much as in some sort of purgatory, or something? It doesn't matter, because there are huge black dragons, Captain Marvel zombies and Drax being the badass Space Kratos that he is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fables #82 -- (spoilers herein) </span>I wouldn't say this issue is as much as an "epilogue issue" that it claims to be; it's really more what you'd call "filler before the huge crossover next month". Basically, it's hammered home that yes, Boy Blue is really dead. And we finally end that little miniseries that's been eating a few pages of the the last five issues. Maybe it'll read better if they paste it all together in a trade, but I could never bring myself to do more than skim it, at best.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Action Comics #875 -- </span>And the Kryptonian Nightwing and Flamebird are... umm, people I've never really heard of? The girl is the daughter of a couple of Zod's original crew, and the guy's name is Chris, I guess? I should really check a forum to see what the hell is going on. Anyway, I'm gonna stick around to see how Rucka handles this scavenger hunt for the evil Kryptonian agents that Zod's left around earth. Side note: I dig the "power suits".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Battle for the Cowl #1<span style="font-weight: bold;"> -- </span></span>It's a bit sad that I don't exactly want to <span style="font-style: italic;">read</span> this series as much as I just want to know what happens so I can be filled in when the new series start up in June. I'm probably just going to stick with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Detective</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman</span>, pick up Morrison and Quitely's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman and Robin</span> and mayybe Dini's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gotham City Sirens</span>. Tony Daniel's doing alright; I often enjoy reading works by a writer/artist, even if they can be a bit self-indulgent sometimes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DMZ #40 -- </span>Brian Wood has said that this arc points to the end of the series, wrapping up around issue 60 or so. The escalation between the two (now three... four?) groups has come gradually and naturally, but it feels like things are really accelerating now. This issue is definitely a lot quieter than you'd expect after the big reveal last month, but the calm deliberation is sort of a nice surprise. I predict that the next year and a half or so will be spent growing Matty into something other than the little brat he is currently. Next month I guess we'll see what's up with Zee, and if she killed herself or whatnot? I was confused by the offhanded comments and dreams in the last couple issues.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scalped #26 --</span> Not as good as the last issue, but that was probably my favorite single issue of my favorite series currently running. So, Jason Aaron, I officially forgive you. It still was a strong read, trying its hardest to wring out some sympathy for the murdering bastard Diesel. It worked, dammit. But only a little! I usually reserve those kinds of feelings for crying girls and dogs at the Humane Society.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-90356863796715609082009-03-09T20:54:00.000-07:002009-03-09T21:28:17.827-07:00What if this woman used to be a man?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDHELBd-n88NkgciJTBu0aWdAT2S3KAcSS8ugCooGHfa7ScP6yVDpzRobHZ5huWxKtBmgIG9L6yYM3pcLr0D3ZgymJkeIDLps8d587X64zCQS-2EjfQirwmUcGbg-M14v96dJGVxZzn0Q/s1600-h/megan-fox-panties.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDHELBd-n88NkgciJTBu0aWdAT2S3KAcSS8ugCooGHfa7ScP6yVDpzRobHZ5huWxKtBmgIG9L6yYM3pcLr0D3ZgymJkeIDLps8d587X64zCQS-2EjfQirwmUcGbg-M14v96dJGVxZzn0Q/s320/megan-fox-panties.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311402841451266562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A friend and I were just having an argument that didn't exactly end well. She was complaining about Megan Fox, how she's ugly and has fake boobs (and gets more attention than her, etc). She compared Miss Fox to a tranny, but was quick to put on her best Seinfeld voice to assure me that there "wasn't anything wrong with that".<br /><br />In fact, it would give her cause to, in fact, <span style="font-style: italic;">like</span> Megan Fox. My friend believes that if the already-popular star were to all of a sudden "come out" as a transsexual, the country could elevate her fame to new heights, and cause many people to question their own sexuality. She'd become the first cross-gender symbol, ushering in a new age where people had frank and honest conversations about this sort of thing.<br /><br />Personally, I think it's too far off. Sure, this is from the guy whose hometown elected the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwD6mjsZveI">country's first "transgender" mayor</a>, but most of the population just isn't ready. This is the nation that voted for Prop 8. Sure, Hollywood, New York and San Francisco could take it, but too many bros (Fox's main audience) would be scared away from the idea fantasizing about someone who is even close to being a fellow bro.<br /><br />Infuriated by my cynicsm, my friend slammed her instant messaging box shut as hard as she could. I guess she'll just have to go back to a world where gay people have come as far as black people. Not that there's anything wrong with that.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-65935715142474097412009-03-06T00:21:00.001-08:002009-03-06T00:34:46.102-08:00So... how 'bout that David After Dentist?If you don't know what I'm talking about, just <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs">watch it first</a>.<br /><br />Kind of funny, right? Well, you are just a bad person. This is a <span style="font-style: italic;">little kid on drugs. </span>We're seeing him in that state in the only socially acceptable context, but that does not mean it is right. This is one of the most popular YouTube videos in recent memory, at 14 million views after just a month (I swear it was at 13 mil just a few days ago), sooo apparently the general internet populace are a bunch of morally bankrupt bastards. In the video, David asks "Why is this happening to me?<span style="font-style: italic;">"</span>. Why indeed, America. Why indeed.<br /><br /><br />So, upon starting this post, I had an option between false self-righteous indignation or a faux-analysis of David After Dentist's deep-rooted philosophy (What <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> forever, David?). I don't know that I made the right choice.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-79215495317923217482009-03-05T02:44:00.000-08:002009-03-05T04:11:51.761-08:00Comic Book Day 3/4/09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3q8vAw0Ex9nLBusJK8-ozNpqMSUKhZ7zcBAIMrLTNbcS5BAzoiwjJsiPmAUrp5QPn9BCxeqoTuKJOuDDHAIiIxa9rncJx1kIMGlm9ckflvr0QRQRkIaciN2Sq8iLeDZSHhnZEJObW27u/s1600-h/TNBFBilly02CovCassaday.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3q8vAw0Ex9nLBusJK8-ozNpqMSUKhZ7zcBAIMrLTNbcS5BAzoiwjJsiPmAUrp5QPn9BCxeqoTuKJOuDDHAIiIxa9rncJx1kIMGlm9ckflvr0QRQRkIaciN2Sq8iLeDZSHhnZEJObW27u/s320/TNBFBilly02CovCassaday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309673227282003458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I hope to make this a sort of weekly thing, to keep in the practice of writing. My mind is constantly stewing<span style="font-style: italic;"></span> while I read this stuff, so why not pour out some hearty brain broth to share with everyone? I might even find a few new spices along the way.<br /><br />Liking that stew/brain analogy? Yes. Yes, I thought so. Well, the <span style="font-style: italic;">pot</span> is <span style="font-style: italic;">full</span>, my friends, so expect some sweet, sweet leftovers in the days to come. Mmm... it's even better the day after!<br /><br />So! This post contains capsule reviews of comics that came out this week. If you don't read comics, feel safe skipping this. It may run a bit long, but until someone tells me how to page break on this damned website, I am sort of screwed. Well, you are.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">War of Kings #1</span> -- I have been following Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's (or DnA to nerds like me) stellar <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nova </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guardians of the Galaxy</span> series, so I figure this cosmic-event miniseries might strike my fancy. It's off to a fun start so far, though I'm a bit hung up on the whole "what the hell is going on what who is that should I care that he died" sensation I felt throughout the book. There's a huge barrier to entry on this thing; fittingly enough, there is a <span style="font-style: italic;">giant interstellar barrier</span> featured in the first few pages. I suppose it goes to show that the barrier is taken down within the course of the issue, and things a'splode shortly thereafter. Really, any bewilderment is smashed each time I turn the page to see grossly detailed alien cities being torn apart by gigantic space weightlifters shooting lasers and punching each other in the throat. Props to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>frequent DnA partner Paul Pelletier and the rest of the art crew. I only expect it to get even better as the series goes on. No pressure, guys.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman: Cacophony #3</span> -- This is a strong end to a decent miniseries. T<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>he first two issues are fun, if in large part a retread on past Joker stories. There wasn't a whole lot to make it stand out next to Ledger's and Azzarello's recent takes, leaving author-created baddie Onomatopoeia to give the series some verve. It actually hits its stride when that crazy bastard takes off, leaving Batman and Joker to have a real heart-to-heart. The conversation is revealing and hilarious, and puts quite a different spin on two archenemies than we see in The Dark Knight. It's that scene that really "makes" the miniseries. I liked this quite a bit more than the only other Kevin Smith comic I've read (his short run on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daredevil</span>), and it makes me wonder if I shouldn't seek out a bit more. Any man who can sneak in such a timely Christian Bale reference deserves at least that much.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadpool #8</span> -- I swear, each time I pick up this comic I think I'm going to tire of the relentlessly self-referential and pop-culture obsessed humor, but each new issue has made me laugh since the series started. I almost groaned when Deadpool announces to himself (himselves, I should say) that another bout of hallucination was heading our way, but I'll be damned if it wasn't aggravatingly funny. Is this series really gonna make me pick up Thunderbolts for the story tie-in? I am dangerously close to being obliged to do so.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Battlefields: Dear Billy #2</span> -- Admittedly, I'm a bit taken off-guard at how good this series is. This particular part of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Battlefield</span>s anthology (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Billy</span>) has proven even more compelling than the previous installment (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Night Witches</span>). The latter has the benefit of a more engaging premise (Russian women in WWII become the terror of night skies in jalopy biplanes), but the former (the love affair of a soldier and a nurse with traumatic pasts) has a much stronger voice, thanks to its coldly hearfelt narration. As much as it surprises me to say, I think I liked this more than the other Garth Ennis book released this week.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Boys #29 </span>-- As much as I love this series, it does get bogged down a bit too often with corporate politics. Part of me thinks it heresy to befoul the name of Ennis' next big creator-owned series after <span style="font-weight: bold;">Preacher, </span>but scenes with two suits talking on cell phones just flat-out bore me, even if one of them is a loon who wants a recently deceased superhero resurrected into a mindless zombie. Thankfully, Hughie gets himself in trouble before the book's end, and the rest of The Boys declare that it is in fact <span style="font-style: italic;">business time</span>. Lines like "He's savin' strippers" are <span style="font-style: italic;">why</span> I read Ennis books. That and he finds great guys to draw hilarious gut-spattering violence. Darick Robertson's fill-in guy for this issue does a good job of keeping tone with the series, but it's a bit distracting when he doesn't get the faces <span style="font-style: italic;">quite</span> right (see: Frenchie and The Female's big page just before the shit hits the fan). Looking forward to the conclusion of this arc -- seems like Mother's Milk's side story is finally paying off.<br /><br />Told you it'd be long. Just imagine next week, where I get something insane like eleven or twelve comics.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188099754440042993.post-84648171318349605232009-03-05T01:25:00.000-08:002009-03-05T01:31:32.542-08:00Press StartI sort of meant to create this blog about a year ago, but never really did that. Rick reminded me. So here I am! If you chuckled the first time you read the title of this blog, perhaps we can be friends. If you don't have any idea what it means, then, we will just have to see about you.Tristanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12882285435922528288noreply@blogger.com0