tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14196277561026760912024-03-05T17:14:50.296-08:00Continued on 2nd Page Following...as advertised in the fine print of comic booksAaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-48203735838798649642011-09-10T16:39:00.000-07:002011-09-10T17:11:59.556-07:00Batgirl #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNBMsMQXOrM1FAV0dtmY2ZyZyAsabkLvyjSxJii27L66iyOyKpbg9k6gvWc6ypArK5_OKXDCPg_7Wzg4ouCEiFxdEKm0DgL-NG0enesvjsgQWuoah6Q7kQsk6omPGZqLU3F-wuNmIgWF-/s1600/Batgirl_Vol_4_1_Textless.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNBMsMQXOrM1FAV0dtmY2ZyZyAsabkLvyjSxJii27L66iyOyKpbg9k6gvWc6ypArK5_OKXDCPg_7Wzg4ouCEiFxdEKm0DgL-NG0enesvjsgQWuoah6Q7kQsk6omPGZqLU3F-wuNmIgWF-/s400/Batgirl_Vol_4_1_Textless.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650880123510967762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*SPOILERS*<br /><br />The almost original Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, is back, and as you can see with her new textured gloves she can open a mean pickle jar and dispense gardening justice. We all know that what was 25 years, or so, for us, and, it seems, three years ago for Babs, she was shot in the spine by the Joker and was unable to walk for the rest of the century and a bit. This is part of the new 52, so just how much this Barbara has in common with the Barbara we all grew up with seems to sort of be up to the reader. I for one don't mind the ambiguity, but if there's one thing continuity bears hate, it's ambiguity; so this could end being a big snag for the titles in the new 52 where some of the old history apparently either applies or is at least duplicated, but they don't exactly tell you.<br /><br />The writer is Gail Simone and artist is Ardian Sarif who at his best actually reminds me a bit of Herb Trimpe, strangely (though this could in part be down to the inking of Vicente Cifuentes) - but who unfortunately has a few anatomy problems to work out, as evidenced by a Spider-man-esque splash page of Batgirl swinging through the city in which her body parts look a bit distorted. There is also a certain amount of spatial confusion on a panel to panel basis, but it is still overall quite decent. There is nothing outstandingly distinctive about his style, at least so far, but it is cinematic and does the job. <br /><br />As far as the writing goes, there are some neat touches. I like the idea that Batgirl's eidetic memory, which is something that has been referenced probably as far back as her first appearance in <span style="font-style: italic;">Detective #359</span>, is a kind of burden as she is tormented by the memory of the Joker's attack on her, which, as she mentions in the narration, was part of a home invasion - neither contradicting nor sustaining the exact version of the event we saw in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Killing Joke</span>. This is also interesting because in a way, it is almost that this attack is now at least one of her motives for fighting criminals, just as the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents is for Batman. As a matter of fact, this does accomplish the feat of turning a story idea I never liked into something interesting. However, that this version of Barbara Gordon had some affiliation with Batman before the incident is made plain in one caption; but it's not clear if she was actually Batgirl or not. Again, ambiguity. I'd be just as happy with the stories just going forward without that being cleared up or obsessed about much, but that likely won't happen. <br /><br />In this version it seems that event happened three years prior, and Barbara has actually regained the use of her legs and is now very anxious to take down some criminals. And so in the opening story, we see her confront a group of home invaders, she gains a somewhat irritating new roommate, a villain named the Mirror is introduced, and then we end on a cliff hanger. My main beef is the continuing use of the first person narration via captions, which have essentially replaced thought bubbles in modern comics. They have that weary, jaded tone that's in every comic, I wouldn't mind seeing something different. But this is a decent reboot, and Batgirl's costume, a little more textured, looks good back on Babs. <br /><br />On a scale of one to ten I'm giving it a B+. Nothing blew me away but it sustained my interest and I will get #2 and probably more because I want to find out more about The Mirror.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-20198487703856166562011-08-22T17:29:00.000-07:002011-08-22T18:07:44.600-07:00Shuffling Through the New 52
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaGNALlOfECKgYPUhFe6rvPi_Au0BX55azoIMHSau418b55fcR0iM2ulBii8HG2TQShAeMPZ9aaODCpSSn5q0WbeQZzpmvnm8J797dSE1aGcN_qsHMNY9TvzBM3hGQfGXZR-jGcLpqGac/s1600/I-Vampire-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaGNALlOfECKgYPUhFe6rvPi_Au0BX55azoIMHSau418b55fcR0iM2ulBii8HG2TQShAeMPZ9aaODCpSSn5q0WbeQZzpmvnm8J797dSE1aGcN_qsHMNY9TvzBM3hGQfGXZR-jGcLpqGac/s400/I-Vampire-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643842396076912866" border="0" /></a>
<br />Well, it's a bold move and I'm all for boldness. My biggest concern about the new DC Universe about to be born is that it seems tailored to appeal to the audiences which already exist, rather than being its own new and innovative thing. When Superman first appeared, it was not known that the audience for him existed. When Stan Lee started creating the Marvel universe, he was not trying to match what was seen as having popular appeal, in fact he went against that, and it worked, obviously extremely well. Looking through the materials for the new 52, what I see is an attempt to match current tastes, rather than something which is new and surprising and different. Heck, as much as I don't like <span style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span>, I'll admit that when it came out, it was not much like anything that had ever been seen but it created its own audience. I tend to feel something that is deliberately made to appeal to trends is doomed, and it is perhaps especially fatal in the comic industry because theoretically one wishes to create a continuity to last at least 20 years, and if the designs are so obviously matched to current tastes, it means updates will be needed in a few years.
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<br />Maybe that's where comics are heading. I hear Marvel's Ultimate line is restarting, so it could be that the future of comics is in kickstarting a new continuity every few years. Basically like doing a remake of a movie once a decade. I suppose there is no real reason that these things can't be done just because they haven't been. I'm fairly certain that Superman and Batman, and probably at least some of the rest, will be around in some form in 200 years, and likely they will look different and have undergone some significant changes. Just as I am sure that the myths and legends that survive from previous civilizations did not first appear as we know them.
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<br />I personally have decided to give most of the more iconic books a pass, and will concentrate on some of the interesting looking other books. While I love the big guns, I am also a fan of DC's history of offbeat characters as well as their horror comics. My pull list as it stands is:
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<br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Batgirl</span> - I have always liked the Barbara Gordon Batgirl, and am now interested in what will be done with her returning to the costume. While it is controversial that she is back, I always felt her original injury itself was a bit of a cheap move, ie the shock value of having something from a prestige one-shot have lasting consequences in the main universe.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE</span> - I'm a fan of Creature Commandos, its original run in <span style="font-style: italic;">Weird War Tales</span>, and this looks like it could be that kind of fun.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Demon Knights</span> - I realize Medieval superheroics might sound like the essence of corny to some, the concept appeals to me and I love Etrigan and his original series.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-style: italic;">DC Universe Presents</span> - This one looks like a sampler, so it might give me some idea about the rest of the stuff without me taking the plunge on a lot of other books.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: italic;">I, Vampire - I'm a fan of the old House of Mystery series, which was certainly ahead of its time and foreshadowed characters like Angel. This actually looks like it could be a prime example of what I'm talking about, in the sense of pandering to current tastes, but I'm going to give it a try. For some reason this paragraph will not de-italicize, my apologies.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Justice League Dark</span> - While the name could not be more distressingly on the nose, and I normally hate "dark" superheroes, I like the idea of a team of super supernatural people, which has been done before to a lesser or greater degree, but this group of characters is intriguing. It just might be there's a kernel of originality in among all the typicalness of it. We shall see.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So that's probably it, it's possible I might end up feeling like I missed the boat on something, but I've also gotten a bit tired of the task of getting rid of comics I decide I don't need to keep around for rereading. These ones I'm getting will at least be unique and if they're cancelled early, I can fit them in my section of quirky misfires like <span style="font-style: italic;">Brother Power the Geek</span>. For the ones I'm not getting, I look forward to reading the thoughts of other bloggers.
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It's not to say I don't have the highest hopes for the relaunch, and wish DC well. I love comics and would like them to last for eternity. I'm probably a bit jaded but this is just not the first reboot I've been around for, as it won't be for most of you, and it's made me a bit sad to see how in the last ten years, since the phenomenon of more exposure through films, comics have become increasingly obsessed with the "cool" factor, rather than being fascinating for those indefinable but joyous reasons they were in the past. But time marches on. Anyway, it's not the first time DC has changed according to its audience's perceived needs.
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<br />Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-89476571613714136822011-07-06T15:08:00.000-07:002011-07-06T17:07:40.816-07:00Marvel Paperbacks I Have Loved<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDuOyx50L6vZuYJ2DDcyzUjiEy7yu9TZlRu7bGlTOwkAC6a3OtX0JQtks1LJ3WFshKLxMCPGjsp7bJE3DG0lN5fhEbPYMNDCA6-uyw7ncgVI44rE1j5hTe4yPNNoImnmUDdKlWe7RNut/s1600/Drama+drenched.jpeg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJztxFaXqopewA81_GdxFyet8aYGcSE-r2HJ4h8YvxThCydOK1DsrEzgPf1AU82DhIaGfbZwH6OoGq1fPRSUAUEzaJcf4lLMuGSEzR-GhU5c3mswdaPT2q9qLF10dOK34SaYCNL0f3rsc/s1600/Stan.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJztxFaXqopewA81_GdxFyet8aYGcSE-r2HJ4h8YvxThCydOK1DsrEzgPf1AU82DhIaGfbZwH6OoGq1fPRSUAUEzaJcf4lLMuGSEzR-GhU5c3mswdaPT2q9qLF10dOK34SaYCNL0f3rsc/s400/Stan.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626384543536296210" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDuOyx50L6vZuYJ2DDcyzUjiEy7yu9TZlRu7bGlTOwkAC6a3OtX0JQtks1LJ3WFshKLxMCPGjsp7bJE3DG0lN5fhEbPYMNDCA6-uyw7ncgVI44rE1j5hTe4yPNNoImnmUDdKlWe7RNut/s1600/Drama+drenched.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDuOyx50L6vZuYJ2DDcyzUjiEy7yu9TZlRu7bGlTOwkAC6a3OtX0JQtks1LJ3WFshKLxMCPGjsp7bJE3DG0lN5fhEbPYMNDCA6-uyw7ncgVI44rE1j5hTe4yPNNoImnmUDdKlWe7RNut/s400/Drama+drenched.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626387925949444482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPPZlu5EcSgtDe_mOAcdJNxkaF1AfmlBwxddsI97z28X6O7KMUkioxUcU0ISxDDp3-BFuMZ6cCEMPPG1EnWN3dINaplBb3DI8CEWbmL7Wo9Mqe5cZv4NvoaVrLYOdKNySVcOM7o-sun-j/s1600/TheManTheyCallTheMan.jpeg"><br /></a><br />These days it may be hard to believe there was ever a time when comic stores didn't exist, and there wasn't a place to walk into to find hot and cold running reprint editions, repackagings of every kind for the various types of comic book fan.<br /><br />No, for people wanting to read the early issues of Marvel characters we had limited options. Among them were these paperback editions, which I own a few of. I remember borrowing some from friends as a kid. There was always a sense of awe while reading them as if I was finally getting to explore the early, primordial times of characters I'd come to know well from comics of the late seventies and early eighties. It was a feeling akin to learning the most cosmic secrets of the universe.<br /><br />However, at the time I did not own any, and I'm not sure where they were sold, whether they were available at book stores or if they were sold in 7 Eleven next to the regular comics, though if they were I don't remember.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQPTBabOa6tstGlFWPOrmkPtt_QbhUBs0CMcQrVH58joEUlfWxD9p4qVEmJ5QLphITBW_lnZ_7bDxSXH48Cosa85C-4YRluVMC6HwEIiuaqcaCI8mGKbn-xzCzfBYmnQAx89D6xCnf4D6/s1600/Dr.+Strange+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><br /></a>The ones that I own now I bought at conventions in the years since, some in the nineties, or more recently.<br /><br />In the case of this Captain America one,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGVA6xIZ7062U2f8AQGx88DL8SndECNyKYTP-_OqWCk6WWnZvglLOm3_8-wC3Mi4hRsRZLKU_4dFK-6lKK5q57Ry9e6XWm7Cf6NELYSbtQujV90IQynAHPxUCT0nW2FeVLsHUqWGIQa4g/s1600/Dr.+Strange+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7waezyoaokGod0gmwp2Q2NAAY79WFtngJ9MW_yHj5-VVkNIW5nJ4-zBhdrHplKVvDfL51MmzzOlUpgWTxQTE3Ih6eDXPkRMet-pebRhyeEr8Cx5xxtH3SK9foT_mgjE-F1JVtR5gsBUxL/s1600/Captain+America+Paperback.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7waezyoaokGod0gmwp2Q2NAAY79WFtngJ9MW_yHj5-VVkNIW5nJ4-zBhdrHplKVvDfL51MmzzOlUpgWTxQTE3Ih6eDXPkRMet-pebRhyeEr8Cx5xxtH3SK9foT_mgjE-F1JVtR5gsBUxL/s400/Captain+America+Paperback.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365891766097426" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxQFYwBmUV828fj0zfpjlBSrnVOXwcxW4a5lCCUeIajiO_ZJvknuxeZWJ81-iS8-2CgqAI-YXZsk-uQMNhdkby9dCferNrPIheZnirjw0wRMc7Z5XX_v1KNn6UOk8HHomScGw4z7fc066/s1600/Captain+America+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxQFYwBmUV828fj0zfpjlBSrnVOXwcxW4a5lCCUeIajiO_ZJvknuxeZWJ81-iS8-2CgqAI-YXZsk-uQMNhdkby9dCferNrPIheZnirjw0wRMc7Z5XX_v1KNn6UOk8HHomScGw4z7fc066/s400/Captain+America+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365875629751250" border="0" /></a><br />...I've actually bought it twice. I bought it once in the nineties and then it disappeared, I believe a roommate might have absconded with it. But I came upon it again at a mini-convention in May for a few bucks, and was overjoyed. Well, maybe not overjoyed, but joyed. It starts off a reprint of <span style="font-style: italic;">Avengers</span> #4 and the epic return of Cap after years of being a human popsicle worshipped by Eskimoes. Then it goes into some early sixties solo adventures from various sources, one tale of a rescue in Vietnam before going into some freshly created WWII era stories, I mean freshly created in the sixties. I wonder how many other Vietnam rescue stories of Cap there were? Lee and Kirby maybe had trouble fitting in the ultimate patriot character with the morally ambiguous times, but that was what I imagine made him right for Marvel at that time, the fact that he was a man out of his era trying to fit in. Anyway, it's been great to have this book for boning up in anticipation of the film.<br /><br />This Hulk one is a nice thing to have,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvcQtpbS3qC4V5gIC235gu95FZJlKF0be6G1suZjwSFcwrrrWB3ZvUC0KRdLr0cYyP6Wy7mO-1Qe825lYgctjLR34ZtzbTjCr0RmXnKbjoBHBF2QAjASnZcF50i2LzWCA6qclxK2qN4qV/s1600/Hulk+Paperback+Front+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvcQtpbS3qC4V5gIC235gu95FZJlKF0be6G1suZjwSFcwrrrWB3ZvUC0KRdLr0cYyP6Wy7mO-1Qe825lYgctjLR34ZtzbTjCr0RmXnKbjoBHBF2QAjASnZcF50i2LzWCA6qclxK2qN4qV/s400/Hulk+Paperback+Front+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365903072537442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MCWSBe34JXMGIklYuOfOH96npGboDVujF3aGiB_X_wsI6mVjefbT2VKRJJ2fTWlDaaDPsKXP-IFxzQLs39qaQqtG3wpTJChohFHbWnZ03HmnSltWeEJcF2F7CfgUoS4eIyobEvLXONjQ/s1600/Hulk+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MCWSBe34JXMGIklYuOfOH96npGboDVujF3aGiB_X_wsI6mVjefbT2VKRJJ2fTWlDaaDPsKXP-IFxzQLs39qaQqtG3wpTJChohFHbWnZ03HmnSltWeEJcF2F7CfgUoS4eIyobEvLXONjQ/s400/Hulk+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365905183076914" border="0" /></a>...because, as it says, it contains Hulk's first six issues from his earliest series. I believe in the first issue he has been recoloured green from gray, I suppose for the sake of consistency. But of course in these earlier appearances Hulk's personality is much more like what would eventually be the "Gray Hulk", he's shrewd, aggressive, and swaggering, not the more well known "Hulk Smash" style. I enjoy both depictions but anyway these first six issues are a great read, even teeny tiny as they are. This is the same material that is contained in the first volume of Hulk's Masterworks series.<br /><br />And speaking of which, I now own the first Marvel Masterworks volume for Fantastic Four, but still hold onto this -<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4AHdQQLzrAxAFMG_DHVMZVxJ4W7prJbiN5vh720sdUApmMMrb_qgaDs7YYdEU0G48XZTWtXvh2FRJLOTG32h5fVi8PFv_HZMXZ15HJDGNGgWoIZv_vGCvU86K6P5x3W4-A2VtVfEeldY/s1600/Fantastic+Four+Paperback.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4AHdQQLzrAxAFMG_DHVMZVxJ4W7prJbiN5vh720sdUApmMMrb_qgaDs7YYdEU0G48XZTWtXvh2FRJLOTG32h5fVi8PFv_HZMXZ15HJDGNGgWoIZv_vGCvU86K6P5x3W4-A2VtVfEeldY/s400/Fantastic+Four+Paperback.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626366614263058418" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi2kIbUnRaDj4IiGX-UcSE5Xo9_5ykAGxviaJJZrvPru4w6FeIKHluFMgw2i7EXZ1UMaN_6u7sgbTLz8TueG4KU7EndkGqXWBW5gFvNRorxCAnh06BVSsQ5lD2jrWSOLLC58mOpl-8-Nl/s1600/Fantastic+Four+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi2kIbUnRaDj4IiGX-UcSE5Xo9_5ykAGxviaJJZrvPru4w6FeIKHluFMgw2i7EXZ1UMaN_6u7sgbTLz8TueG4KU7EndkGqXWBW5gFvNRorxCAnh06BVSsQ5lD2jrWSOLLC58mOpl-8-Nl/s400/Fantastic+Four+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365924221977282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7waezyoaokGod0gmwp2Q2NAAY79WFtngJ9MW_yHj5-VVkNIW5nJ4-zBhdrHplKVvDfL51MmzzOlUpgWTxQTE3Ih6eDXPkRMet-pebRhyeEr8Cx5xxtH3SK9foT_mgjE-F1JVtR5gsBUxL/s1600/Captain+America+Paperback.jpeg"><br /></a>...because it was the first format in which I read the first six issues of the World's Greatest Comic Magazine.<br /><br />I also have fond memories of these -<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi2kIbUnRaDj4IiGX-UcSE5Xo9_5ykAGxviaJJZrvPru4w6FeIKHluFMgw2i7EXZ1UMaN_6u7sgbTLz8TueG4KU7EndkGqXWBW5gFvNRorxCAnh06BVSsQ5lD2jrWSOLLC58mOpl-8-Nl/s1600/Fantastic+Four+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK2_UNVrr7lHmrdsl3G34YH-SPD9awE_FeYIp_LZBkHKCG9P5MDDOYSTKZyn9hGa9-dfHDLgxG7vIiPgOX_aFeiLJMg7al9rpsYpZoseHiOTBOYHVypAMGuIMB-dqMUuoyJLfr12ijDtt/s1600/Dr.+Strange+Paperback.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK2_UNVrr7lHmrdsl3G34YH-SPD9awE_FeYIp_LZBkHKCG9P5MDDOYSTKZyn9hGa9-dfHDLgxG7vIiPgOX_aFeiLJMg7al9rpsYpZoseHiOTBOYHVypAMGuIMB-dqMUuoyJLfr12ijDtt/s400/Dr.+Strange+Paperback.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626366803985829426" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGVA6xIZ7062U2f8AQGx88DL8SndECNyKYTP-_OqWCk6WWnZvglLOm3_8-wC3Mi4hRsRZLKU_4dFK-6lKK5q57Ry9e6XWm7Cf6NELYSbtQujV90IQynAHPxUCT0nW2FeVLsHUqWGIQa4g/s1600/Dr.+Strange+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGVA6xIZ7062U2f8AQGx88DL8SndECNyKYTP-_OqWCk6WWnZvglLOm3_8-wC3Mi4hRsRZLKU_4dFK-6lKK5q57Ry9e6XWm7Cf6NELYSbtQujV90IQynAHPxUCT0nW2FeVLsHUqWGIQa4g/s400/Dr.+Strange+Paperback+Back+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626366643583850850" border="0" /></a>...which were many early adventures of the good doctor from <span style="font-style: italic;">Strange Tales</span>. I recall the bizarre Ditko multi-dimenstional imagery blowing my young mind when a friend lent me his copy in grade six. It was a definitely a case of me feeling like I was actually being shown what goes on behind the thin veneer of what we mortals call reality. I've never read these stories in any other form, to read them any other way would just feel...strange.<br /><br />Wait, now that I think of it that's actually not true, I have a Marvel Treasury with some of those in it, in fact it uses the same cover. I imagine the two books were published in conjunction. So some of the stories I have read tiny, and supersized. No middle ground.<br /><br />For stories from other books that I did eventually read in other formats, it actually was a bit odd to suddenly see them so large, or regular sized. It was a bit like taking a movie you're used to watching on TV and then suddenly seeing it on a regular sized movie screen.<br /><br />I believe there were more in this series, I saw a Spider-man one at that mini-con, but since I own his original stories in both Masterworks and Essentials formats, I let it go. It would be tough to go from having read something regular sized to readng it tiny, and I sometimes have to put my completist urges on the backburner in order to have the money to indulge other completist urges. Priorities!<br /><br />I have some other Marvel paperbacks, pictured below, but these were more general as far as material goes, and used a cut up technique so that almost normal-sized panels are made to fit, usually about two per page. The Daredevil one reprints, in black and white, a couple early stories with art by the great Wally Wood, although I must confess, while the art is great by most standards, I don't feel that he brought his a-game, for whatever reason.<br /><br />It contains two stories, the first one with the Fellowship of Fear from <span style="font-style: italic;">Daredevil</span> #6, which was also the last story with DD's original yellow and red costume. The second is the first Stiltman story from #8.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL6tBGcsdziMrlvIFkdVtKcZPyW0f3maRV8Ez9UoQKq8qKat-LDrRd8vv2p1-Y3vop1-mSmu5DNG6Wu_cKxVMI9y164uiKw52XaS133fiMsptAhUWaBhLwZUgYLpyU3UIGU8GzwW8edmo/s1600/Daredevil+Paperback+Front+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL6tBGcsdziMrlvIFkdVtKcZPyW0f3maRV8Ez9UoQKq8qKat-LDrRd8vv2p1-Y3vop1-mSmu5DNG6Wu_cKxVMI9y164uiKw52XaS133fiMsptAhUWaBhLwZUgYLpyU3UIGU8GzwW8edmo/s400/Daredevil+Paperback+Front+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365139747523170" border="0" /></a><br />This X-Men one is also black and white and is simply the seminal story from <span style="font-style: italic;">Giant Size X-Men</span> #1, which shocked the world with its introduction of the second team of X-Men, one of the most successful revamps in human history; as well as the story "Psi War" from <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny X-Men</span> #117.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG_TrjBABBEqtW5thtkOpK0zHcBkHFPy9Fosn3OBtgdcvY_afrv5HX04S4sOuoT42ijYlKqyCe-dSCeMjUz9Xy_KNI9b_hdhfr07LeHbfPgxVuC31lqvNSTKaATb-3oEAMb82Al7W1g0G/s1600/X-Men+Paperback+Front+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG_TrjBABBEqtW5thtkOpK0zHcBkHFPy9Fosn3OBtgdcvY_afrv5HX04S4sOuoT42ijYlKqyCe-dSCeMjUz9Xy_KNI9b_hdhfr07LeHbfPgxVuC31lqvNSTKaATb-3oEAMb82Al7W1g0G/s400/X-Men+Paperback+Front+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365124011934530" border="0" /></a>And lastly, this Hulk one, which also uses the cut-up technique, though it's actually in colour, and features the Jarella story "The Brute that Shouted Love at the Heart of the Atom", from <span style="font-style: italic;">Incredible Hulk</span> #140, and "They Shoot Hulks, Don't They?" from <span style="font-style: italic;">Incredible Hulk #</span>142.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pb5Yg9TBmHweDnBMsyaHQavdYo7u7qoeweduJNsXyb50svCD_LZHni_lMPPOkgE2YpjbbgqZET8MRtgWQWAuE5WaNSZPvAXAuUei-eQG0TVSFSuf7ptYPI3XrLZ6vzCoWji-HOJ_8hoW/s1600/Hulk+Paperback+Cover.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pb5Yg9TBmHweDnBMsyaHQavdYo7u7qoeweduJNsXyb50svCD_LZHni_lMPPOkgE2YpjbbgqZET8MRtgWQWAuE5WaNSZPvAXAuUei-eQG0TVSFSuf7ptYPI3XrLZ6vzCoWji-HOJ_8hoW/s400/Hulk+Paperback+Cover.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365148685377746" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-15556170468445957702011-06-29T17:11:00.000-07:002011-06-29T20:09:50.643-07:00The January Jones Effect<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZv9ZddvCib9D6NjAOeMYBE3Gg-_Kot-dRZWej-7WYqRtQc3RcUzmtQqh7Lu0m1ZygFRSPegHbAxJ8sp3SAHFjkDn4UawTkKoVZea-DB4fmBqUCP1zDeNFtaHM0qVpW3dUNjwxI7ysZY4/s1600/January-Jones-shows-her-diamond-cut_gallery_primary.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZv9ZddvCib9D6NjAOeMYBE3Gg-_Kot-dRZWej-7WYqRtQc3RcUzmtQqh7Lu0m1ZygFRSPegHbAxJ8sp3SAHFjkDn4UawTkKoVZea-DB4fmBqUCP1zDeNFtaHM0qVpW3dUNjwxI7ysZY4/s400/January-Jones-shows-her-diamond-cut_gallery_primary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623799876200133602" border="0" /></a><br />...is a term I have coined for when a performer appearing in a comic book film has a name that sounds even more like a comic book character's name than the name of the character they are playing.<br /><br />New case in point is the young actor Sebastian Stan, appearing next month as Bucky Barnes, Captain America's ill-fated sidekick in the motion picture <span style="font-style: italic;">Captain America: The First Avenger </span>being released on July22<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjht7cnURTk9V5UeVUSvE2k9OcP4tCHj-PoBXaYRE1XyzpjI2aziBs4rcL8TKdBj3yKlJkJARl_GZrkR5w848e__dr3i36S_4IZCGYUXz4WUz1sXmDyM5madtWGbhlMnE01LIxbAP6PLF1q/s1600/detail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjht7cnURTk9V5UeVUSvE2k9OcP4tCHj-PoBXaYRE1XyzpjI2aziBs4rcL8TKdBj3yKlJkJARl_GZrkR5w848e__dr3i36S_4IZCGYUXz4WUz1sXmDyM5madtWGbhlMnE01LIxbAP6PLF1q/s400/detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623799705996978466" border="0" /></a><br />Will the appearance of Bucky in a successful film convince movie makers that boy sidekicks can work in superhero flicks? Only time will tell, old chum, only time will tell.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-21011882800330704602011-06-27T08:43:00.000-07:002011-06-27T08:50:54.238-07:00Gene Colan Takes On DC Icons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9IE60-5m-BtoumeE7e1jh3-JB6mtviEQkhiUw8dtUu41baTC3HrpRzU5ornie8Kdv_sNO9UUNrmHaRq92wqkvocpqJdjpiWpSgCFyHlIVeZ1AjC6jv_-LXCRxDrqTny7RTdl0V7_qDhh/s1600/GCSuperman.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9IE60-5m-BtoumeE7e1jh3-JB6mtviEQkhiUw8dtUu41baTC3HrpRzU5ornie8Kdv_sNO9UUNrmHaRq92wqkvocpqJdjpiWpSgCFyHlIVeZ1AjC6jv_-LXCRxDrqTny7RTdl0V7_qDhh/s400/GCSuperman.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622927127053069170" border="0" /></a><br />The prolific and unique Gene Colan passed away at age 84 on June 23. He was a master of storytelling and action pacing. In terms of visuals, for some reason the word that comes to mind for his style was "slippery". Everything had a liquid feel to it, as though each comic panel morphed into the next one. I loved his work on Marvel's clever and absurdist <span style="font-style: italic;">Howard the Duck</span> with writer Steve Gerber. The same team took on the Man of Steel in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Phantom Zone</span> miniseries of 1982, exploring the furthest reaches of the titular nether region; which also meant some other DC Icons slipping into the fray. Here are some selections with inks by Tony Dezuniga.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBiG8yHhqg5hkg9OqplFloTWCiKn7KgnNgX548VYIO9-H4HXREZPW3l_1HxYDkhnfiBcOtzSTBT9vrXclIPS7Ep8vt_6xDlkmCmk3g__3ieqhCLjmQdIEwVQGrbYGlXRFAF3xKpAXcWCk/s1600/gcsupergirl.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBiG8yHhqg5hkg9OqplFloTWCiKn7KgnNgX548VYIO9-H4HXREZPW3l_1HxYDkhnfiBcOtzSTBT9vrXclIPS7Ep8vt_6xDlkmCmk3g__3ieqhCLjmQdIEwVQGrbYGlXRFAF3xKpAXcWCk/s400/gcsupergirl.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622926778189450018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTK2LG31FvVd_dJA40QkVQMNsQjooOTjEOhWV-rCkxNMwCeRkg-Shzf6ikHpw4aIexr8dbSbjkbHxK7HCBeO1zIYtNHmYnYrheW5jlA0ZTe8irbWeKCOyNlzUUAPkVFrLd9KWZsEzzNVI/s1600/GCBatman.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTK2LG31FvVd_dJA40QkVQMNsQjooOTjEOhWV-rCkxNMwCeRkg-Shzf6ikHpw4aIexr8dbSbjkbHxK7HCBeO1zIYtNHmYnYrheW5jlA0ZTe8irbWeKCOyNlzUUAPkVFrLd9KWZsEzzNVI/s400/GCBatman.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622926957779072466" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-15973056042484943262011-06-18T07:40:00.000-07:002011-06-18T12:00:25.679-07:00Green Lantern's Light!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy0brClTsepSJvN_Iz1AXtgnJarLqZDIqui0zRnmMbzfnup_aBogp-x06SNXpBeB-F6n1U2h97axjuB24KKvj-4apgOwB6-6ygU2Ma02Hko5pq9_Uz15Uv39nTLhvnPrkEwyLQka-p4Jk/s1600/green-lantern-movie-poster-art.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy0brClTsepSJvN_Iz1AXtgnJarLqZDIqui0zRnmMbzfnup_aBogp-x06SNXpBeB-F6n1U2h97axjuB24KKvj-4apgOwB6-6ygU2Ma02Hko5pq9_Uz15Uv39nTLhvnPrkEwyLQka-p4Jk/s400/green-lantern-movie-poster-art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619570123422319730" border="0" /></a><br />****SPOILERS****<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Green Lantern</span> is a superhero movie that dares to be fun and exciting and return the comic book hero to a time when it was about good versus evil. The movie reminded me of what I love about comics, a feeling that has taken a beating with some of the torturously dark films of recent years.<br /><br />Now this was more like it. I found <span style="font-style: italic;">Green Lantern</span> to be more in the spirit of superheroes than almost any movie I've yet seen. I've gotten quite used to the idea that when I see a superhero movie, it's going to be the movie version, ie a version of a character made acceptable to regular movie viewers, at best meeting the fan half way. The thing is, often this almost seems to be how fans want it, there is a sense of embarrassment over the fantastical excesses of the four-colour universe. Because of this I'd come to believe a superhero movie is just never going to be as enjoyable, as limitless-feeling, as reading a comic.<br /><br />This is one of the first comic movies I can remember that so fully embraces its comics roots, sparing just about nothing and thus becoming a fantasy and science fiction film as well as a superhero movie. It's really only hampered by being an origin movie, and because of that there are not going to be huge dramatic surprises, as we see a hero gain power, and a villain gain power, and then a clash, although even that contains some interesting twists. To those who see Green Lantern as derivative, what they don't realize is how many things actually derive from GL, from the style of his costume, which preceded Spider-man, to the Green Lantern Corps, which, as a powerful universal peace force, was surely an influence on the Jedi of <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> - though admittedly the Lensmen series of books was an influence on the Green Lantern Corps.<br /><br />Some of the CGI is being criticized, but I really have yet to see a film where CGI isn't apparent, including the highly praised <span style="font-style: italic;">Avatar</span>, which I stopped watching after about forty minutes due to the leaden heavy-handedness of its story. Certainly the big boss villain of this film, the giant evil cloud with a head called Parallax, in some shots reminds me a bit of Malebolgia from the original 1997 <span style="font-style: italic;">Spawn</span> movie, but at least his mouth movements are in unison with his words ( I think Malebolgia was supposed to be uttering thoughts telepathically but that was never apparent). There is at least a wonderful malevolence to the Parallax monster, its sense of being evil incarnate palpable but without it being overdone. I've read some compare its look to giant fecal matter, but if someone's stool looked remotely like that, they would be well advised to see a doctor immediately.<br /><br />To me an important element of this film was the way in which the viewer is reminded that superheroes fight for the good of humanity, believing it worth saving. After a slew of comic book type movies with a sort of juvenile jadedness, actually daring to return to the roots of what a superhero story is about is a powerful message, one I believe audiences will respond to. It doesn't have a bunch of "cool" or "hip" dialogue. There is nothing - ugh - "badass" in sight. So many comics I've read in the last ten years seem to create dramatic situations simply so the hero can utter a tough guy line. While this movie has some drama, and gives its characters lives, it never loses its focus on being a superhero film about powers and saving the world. There are no long-winded dramatic scenes to try to convince us this is all "real", an element of many comics and comic movies that to me always takes away from the reality, the fact it's being taken so deadly seriously seeming to make it all the sillier.<br /><br />Ryan Reynolds really surprised me. Going in, I always liked the way he could pull off smart-guy roles, such as in <span style="font-style: italic;">Blade Trinity</span>, but here I was pleasantly surprised by his capacity for sweetness and sincerity, especially in the scene where he pleads with the nicely rendered Guardians for the chance to try to save earth - a scene that strongly evoked similar confrontations from the comics where Hal Jordan has to tell his immortal bosses that they don't know everything.<br /><br />There is little about the dialogue that doesn't work for me. Many comic fans feel embarrassed by romantic dialogue, but the truth is that relationships work that way. I loved some of the scenes of Hal and Blake Lively's Carol speaking, set against a wistful, dreamy sunrise background, and there is much amusement in how she deals with his new powers and dual identity.<br /><br />Mark Strong was incredibly charismatic as the still (at this point) heroic Sinestro, and I greatly appreciate that the actor reportedly fought to ensure that Sin would not be revamped with a goatee and a pony tail, as if an alien would be aware of the fashions on earth and thus feel embarrassed to have a non-hip mustache. Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond looked like a classic movie monster as he begins to mutate. His tweaked origin I felt was integrated more satisfyingly into the the larger story than in many superhero movies with multiple villains.<br /><br />I love the other members of the Corps who appear, Abin Sur and Tomar Re both projecting a sense of nobility, and Kilowog appearing suitably menacing and ominous. Unlike some reviewers, I'm glad that the Corps is not part of the final action scenes, because for me the movie was about Hal. But I greatly enjoyed the scenes where Hal is part of a giant Corps assembly, and we can see many of the members who have been part of the comic mythos since the Silver Age.<br /><br />The action in the movie is big and fun, with many amusing green energy constructs, and in the end, Hal's way of defeating his opponent is pure classic comic book. I left the film when it was over with a sense of excitement about the endless possibilities of superhero stories.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-47582125290370397702011-06-04T14:40:00.000-07:002011-06-05T09:12:51.807-07:00X-Men: First Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi549mUyIcEHFBEpB1BB4Eu4mBDuQTsbW7VnAG4n2VbNuXAvwCmevvoqC7NdcMm0ek9lHr6q-XEoJ1Jc4a-Bh7NivNgFBF0nFpSBqEAWUhtj1zc2g9rFzWmW7H6qHBBjMJe2hWqHTpVMhMn/s1600/x-men-first-class-movie-photo-07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi549mUyIcEHFBEpB1BB4Eu4mBDuQTsbW7VnAG4n2VbNuXAvwCmevvoqC7NdcMm0ek9lHr6q-XEoJ1Jc4a-Bh7NivNgFBF0nFpSBqEAWUhtj1zc2g9rFzWmW7H6qHBBjMJe2hWqHTpVMhMn/s400/x-men-first-class-movie-photo-07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614484365257473682" border="0" /></a><br />*** SPOILER ALERT ***<br /><br />Here we are with the exciting new "one post every six months" format. It's been way too long, but it started with losing the internet temporarily and also was related to me initially wanting to only reach 100 posts.<br /><br />But with this outrage called <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men: First Class</span> being foisted on the public, I can no longer keep silent!<br /><br />Just joking, I didn't dislike it that much, I just didn't love it. I sort of want to feel the excitement that other people experienced from the new X-Men movie but it didn't have it for me. I'm not trying to convince anyone who liked it not to, because to me, in the grand scheme of things, someone enjoying a movie that I didn't particularly like is not the worst thing in the world, in fact if someone enjoys an evening at the movies it's pretty positive.<br /><br />First of all let me say my problem is not, as it is with a lot of fans, that the First Class has nothing to do with the original X-Men team, which we all know consisted of Ringo, Gilligan, Shaggy, Potsie, Drooper and Snork. I completely support film tweaks of original material when there is reason to go back in with more recent revelations, and so forth, or just to not be extremely laborious and predictable - I'm a big <span style="font-style: italic;">Smallville</span> fan, after all, which, more often than not, played fast and loose with the mythos in a knowing way, such as how Lena Luthor was depicted. I would hardly expect a film production company to invest in a story that wasn't very successful its first time around even as a comic book, as in the case of <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men</span> and its original team. Do those "hardcore" fans really want a step by step retelling of the original Marvel stories, with scenes such as the X-Men using their powers in construction jobs to raise money? I mean, I'd get a kick out of that, but I think some of the so-called "purists" would scream bloody murder. Just not cool enough. Comic fans hate being exposed to the general public as liking silly things.<br /><br />I'll run down some of my problems with <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men First Class</span>.<br /><br />One is that while we were given an origin for Magneto's hatred of mankind that contained absolutely nothing surprising but which instead, in typical prequel fashion, drew it out painfully, we actually learn nothing about where Xavier's humanitarianism really comes from. It seems like this iconic mutant's entire basis for his sunny outlook is simply that, having grown up rich, he experienced few real difficulties and was sheltered, having no chance to view either humanity's darker side or its more heroic side, which basically makes him seem naive. Granted, he's psychic, so in a way he is privy to everyone's thoughts and experiences. Maybe he's optimistic because he's able to tune in on some of people's finer thoughts, but that would also of course mean he could see their most evil thoughts. How does he sort that out? How does he deal with the potential disgust? But that's another thing - in this version, Xavier seems to just roam around in people's minds with no compunctions, and not just for tactical purposes, though he does that as well. He's depicted as virtuous, but at no point is it viewed as slightly shady for him to change someone's mind on an issue using psychic tampering. He is depicted as doing so quite playfully, and is not shown as having a moment of realization that this might not be much better, from an ethical point of view, than Magneto using his own powers aggressively.<br /><br />Most of the young mutants have extremely generic, blurry personality types, with none of the actors, save the young actor depicting Hank McCoy, the kid from <span style="font-style: italic;">About a Boy</span>, using acting ability to imbue the character with a sense of life as a good actor does when a character is underwritten. Havok seemed like a very poor man's version of Chris Evans' Human Torch from the much-maligned Fantastic Four movies. Angel, based on some new concept Angel, and portrayed by the daughter of Denise Huxtable, goes from being horrified that villain Kevin Bacon's forces have just slaughtered a bunch of men to suddenly joining up with him because of...why? Because some of those guys who were just brutally slaughtered made fun of her when they were alive, I guess. I've been made fun of before but I would still be utterly traumatized to see the perpetrators actually brutally killed, and I sure wouldn't want to then put myself in the hands of the killers. She sure didn't seem that cruel or that naive. I have to say I can not reconcile that side of her with anything shown previous to that moment; not as we can see the development of <span style="font-style: italic;">X2</span>'s version of Pyro.<br /><br />In the end Magneto kills Sebastian Shaw by very slowly moving a coin through his head. He's bulletproof but supposedly this action contains no energy at all for Shaw to absorb because it's happening very slowly. Huh. Because to me, it might work better to throw Shaw's ship into space with him in it to see if he could absorb a vacuum. Or if Mags isn't quite up to that at this stage in his Jedi career, wrap a section of the hull around Shaw and then throw him into space. But it wouldn't have the poetic justice, I grant you. And putting things in space isn't as cool and "badass", which seems to be the esthetic demand for all films deemed worthy by fanboy masses.<br /><br />I could sit and pick apart leaps in logic all day but I would bore everyone, especially myself. Comic geeks like myself are on shaky ground when they pick apart logic. In the approximately 4,000 comics I own there is probably an overall average of 10,000 crazy leaps of logic. But those comics, mostly, are fun to read, and I didn't find the film much fun at all. I will happily go along with crazy logic if it's for something fun that doesn't take itself so deadly seriously as this movie does, and if I have something invested in the characters. I mean my other blog is about how much I love b-movies, so I'm not trying to present myself as a snobby, serious film critic. <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men First Class</span> has moments, but there is also a lot of tedium waiting for something to happen. The action scenes I found were actually less exciting than the fight at Jean Grey's parent's home from the hated (by most) <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men: The Last Stand</span>; I felt much less invested emotionally because I hardly cared about the characters. If any of the nominal good guys had died I'd have been unlikely to cry myself softly to sleep that night. Also, the climactic scenes were choreographed and filmed sloppily so it was hard to make any spatial sense. I applaud the ambition of introducing battleships to superhero action, but not a lot of the action felt very visceral at all. There was nothing to match Wolverine's battle with Deathstrike at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">X2</span>, and as a villain Bacon doesn't measure up to Brian Cox's (admittedly less dynamic-looking) Stryker, even if he cuts footloose on making evil facial expressions while involved in mundane activities such as sitting in a chair.<br /><br />If you liked the film, more power to you. I always say, if everyone felt like I do about everything, I'd lose my individuality and I sure wouldn't want that; and having fun watching a movie other people don't like isn't a sin. I know, I do it all the time.<br /><br />Just so we don't all leave with a bad taste in our mouths, here's some art from a piece I always loved, a backup Steve Mellor did for <span style="font-style: italic;">Spider-ham</span> back in the day. Mellor's style is great, I would have loved to have seen more superhero stuff like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KZd0L2GUJEsjzYwS6KMSEH8IGFvPaeP1ti-EYa2_IzNXWN0sV4aYkG1SDGsygVlLnb7iV80Uxw6Lld5XjqzGbjSIUu4yj-WQaHTreODomXSX6-0Cd9s5XrVXAPGMtOwU6g6lOJEhXZeY/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KZd0L2GUJEsjzYwS6KMSEH8IGFvPaeP1ti-EYa2_IzNXWN0sV4aYkG1SDGsygVlLnb7iV80Uxw6Lld5XjqzGbjSIUu4yj-WQaHTreODomXSX6-0Cd9s5XrVXAPGMtOwU6g6lOJEhXZeY/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614497742278099618" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-13675251973878827722010-11-27T06:08:00.000-08:002010-11-27T06:35:15.172-08:00Comics in Electra Glide in Blue<span style="font-style: italic;">Electra Glide in Blue</span>, 1973's vehicle for future <span style="font-style: italic;">Baretta</span> star and future murder suspect Robert Blake, is an occasionally brilliant but often hamhanded look at some of the social ills of the early seventies through the eyes of a diminutive Arizona motorcycle policeman who longs to be a detective. Comics seem to pop up with quite a bit of frequency and unfortunately, as is often the case in older movies and some newer ones, are used to characterize the mentally ill and the stupid.<br /><br />In this scene, a crazy elderly man portrayed by Elisha Cook, the wonderful veteran actor of <span style="font-style: italic;">Maltese Falcon</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Shane</span>, among many others, is involved with a scuffle with orderlies at what seems to be a combination nursing home and mental health facilty. Someone is passing out comics and saying something like "Who wanted Batman?", and all these disturbed elderly men are reading comics. In the foreground, Cook and the orderly are literally fighting at each other with rolled up comics.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XXW6MPFOO86-olB_vDcMSyZMjTaVokMIOW1lb22Pd1O6YmqtuFuDoHlAQOvNYVvD25ww4vPMhDycGzh9qfvd4JmcDMgKURaiadaMBmbgRwbQCqCnyCuKBscs56uN7kY-8i7EOzg4F8vF/s1600/100_2297.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XXW6MPFOO86-olB_vDcMSyZMjTaVokMIOW1lb22Pd1O6YmqtuFuDoHlAQOvNYVvD25ww4vPMhDycGzh9qfvd4JmcDMgKURaiadaMBmbgRwbQCqCnyCuKBscs56uN7kY-8i7EOzg4F8vF/s400/100_2297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544231919577747698" border="0" /></a>It's difficult to see any of the comics clearly, but the one being read in the middle ground, as this detail shows...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU3QQhaRORK8c0j_Sfq56IBuqQQ5Jhgl8VWDVDq2_DvnpzTrlmNwhYiBmkJg23W00oTqd0uNJ9Lr8mSO6_93nrqWA8Eh-ZxdSTRFRImeAOnDfxBPqz9dzWQgyYBc4vJsfIwzz58Pymz0v/s1600/FFbit.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU3QQhaRORK8c0j_Sfq56IBuqQQ5Jhgl8VWDVDq2_DvnpzTrlmNwhYiBmkJg23W00oTqd0uNJ9Lr8mSO6_93nrqWA8Eh-ZxdSTRFRImeAOnDfxBPqz9dzWQgyYBc4vJsfIwzz58Pymz0v/s400/FFbit.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544232305281316530" border="0" /></a><br />Is almost certainly this issue:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHD8ytyXyWsxNfGnVVgwSlbtzLKjSYx2yKryaVmZhvrt-pNsDEEmEFkRs7tJZCTuA5CBy3Naf4e0dvsCnjheogaAZp7yDxEYDkGSN50prAkmepRJF4WZjNIh-3mBjlP4Z5rlwZnGcQQSy/s1600/72-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHD8ytyXyWsxNfGnVVgwSlbtzLKjSYx2yKryaVmZhvrt-pNsDEEmEFkRs7tJZCTuA5CBy3Naf4e0dvsCnjheogaAZp7yDxEYDkGSN50prAkmepRJF4WZjNIh-3mBjlP4Z5rlwZnGcQQSy/s400/72-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544231656061558098" border="0" /></a><br />A nursing home where they casually pass out Kirby FF issues? I can't wait for retirement!<br /><br />Throughout the movie, we are also subjected to Blake's partner Zipper, a cretinous cop who lives for three things: his motorbike, cracking hippie skulls, and the comics he reads in the shade while pulled over from the highway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-lx7o3pzsenYzDYQzvk543Yw64ZvMtO1Nm03zigMyPFZJ7AGtdFR4DoI-r15dsInPlSmK8cCWW9cGW-TbC5Mi-1u0m3ZQAXcx5uqyNJ-a6P5nSuOQPirMvWrY-z0d20FzsxeHFDwuGPH/s1600/100_2298.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-lx7o3pzsenYzDYQzvk543Yw64ZvMtO1Nm03zigMyPFZJ7AGtdFR4DoI-r15dsInPlSmK8cCWW9cGW-TbC5Mi-1u0m3ZQAXcx5uqyNJ-a6P5nSuOQPirMvWrY-z0d20FzsxeHFDwuGPH/s400/100_2298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544231469664790050" border="0" /></a><br />Whatever comic he's reading here as Blake pontificates, we don't get to see the cover, and it looks slightly outsized to me. According to Zipper, it's a <span style="font-style: italic;">Wonder Woman</span>, as he keeps referring to Wondie's "meat and potatoes". And to think the Lynda Carter show was still in the future.<br /><br />This film's worth a look as it does capture the era of hippies gradually going from a peace and love thing to more of a drug subculture, as portrayed in <span style="font-style: italic;">Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers</span> comics. In the late sixties, they were dropping out, which meant in the seventies they were just dropped out with nowhere to go, only they knew they hated the fuzz and the pigs hated them. Members of the band Chicago play several of the hippies.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-18546332544321200772010-11-25T18:47:00.000-08:002010-11-26T05:16:07.257-08:00Continued on 2nd Page Following - Before The Force, There Was The Source<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pHRRipytjMB6qmUv-vNn29jus-kvVb5F7K_hVgKjMXnQFfqStBGatDtvR4aJzuzkeElhDMQiw09ViJsYxxdVW2G2c9vISbSINMG0wxd_uGyaEleBpGRUPGzHrSo7jt1BuM2YnIXOvqNH/s1600/Orion2.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543684904402734098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 234px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 340px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pHRRipytjMB6qmUv-vNn29jus-kvVb5F7K_hVgKjMXnQFfqStBGatDtvR4aJzuzkeElhDMQiw09ViJsYxxdVW2G2c9vISbSINMG0wxd_uGyaEleBpGRUPGzHrSo7jt1BuM2YnIXOvqNH/s400/Orion2.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br />I always thought Kirby's depiction of Orion had kind of a Peter Noone thing going on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA3rzBmH0jae_WAF0K3Gxn5_OEz24SHWCkO2DJ-GQBrx834Ov4tYtY9UonvklJkeJ2DTD93XnCBq6o9w5lyEoi-dUuhtgPZBXf7q1HcO1V54SMw2DHxEqZ5jClo48Jmz3PYT7YXzp8V3p/s1600/noone-sized.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543684810528864146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA3rzBmH0jae_WAF0K3Gxn5_OEz24SHWCkO2DJ-GQBrx834Ov4tYtY9UonvklJkeJ2DTD93XnCBq6o9w5lyEoi-dUuhtgPZBXf7q1HcO1V54SMw2DHxEqZ5jClo48Jmz3PYT7YXzp8V3p/s400/noone-sized.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, that was only the way his features appeared due to Mother Box altering his appearance from Apokaliptian hideousness. Could be that Mo-Bo has a "teen heartthrob" setting.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-24078953202517239662010-11-23T16:23:00.000-08:002010-11-23T16:29:25.730-08:00But Don't They Realize Lead is the Only Way To Block Kryptonite?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetJgD-Vjg6ZHzH_Hi0VXr8cX0zjxC8NUcb18HmYoB1RiyFAEjhGf3YvAlJbI0n9PaAANBUJcZ8LQx4xgK2lpXVWdOhxOopenK3gbMYvI0-zyiBO1_rqMz1_6kFphTxUHzp8OhCPnOAwj8/s1600/superman+glass.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetJgD-Vjg6ZHzH_Hi0VXr8cX0zjxC8NUcb18HmYoB1RiyFAEjhGf3YvAlJbI0n9PaAANBUJcZ8LQx4xgK2lpXVWdOhxOopenK3gbMYvI0-zyiBO1_rqMz1_6kFphTxUHzp8OhCPnOAwj8/s400/superman+glass.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542905383473953554" border="0" /></a>If you haven't heard yet, a Utah-based company, Vandor, has been ordered to recall DC hero collector glasses after tests commissioned by the Associated Press showed it contained more levels of lead that is deemed safe for children. Therein lies the point of contention, because Vandor says they were marketing the glasses to adult collectors but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says no dice, they're kids glasses. I guess I can see their point, though, since kids are always going to like superheroes. So if you bought any of these, hold onto them! They're about to become scarce.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-68815397534436181482010-11-21T14:13:00.000-08:002010-11-21T14:21:32.724-08:00Super Spectacular Regular Sized 100th Post!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqguceIgneHnGgyUNZim9fYiErAxX0musOc6oyrKmMCuPtjoYl8uK4neKUBFhgHpcg2z3PJ8mrELH8IdnZDZI4qiqmO-AgbI-pLklvDrw9UtNqhZn4zbztlfLgRZCSLqR34wQHfrJCiTe/s1600/100.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqguceIgneHnGgyUNZim9fYiErAxX0musOc6oyrKmMCuPtjoYl8uK4neKUBFhgHpcg2z3PJ8mrELH8IdnZDZI4qiqmO-AgbI-pLklvDrw9UtNqhZn4zbztlfLgRZCSLqR34wQHfrJCiTe/s400/100.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542129933495768882" border="0" /></a><br />Here I am at number 100 and it feels pretty darn good. Thanks to my Rogues Gallery of regular followers and to all the very valued drop-ins and drive-bys for giving me a place to yap about that giddiest and ginchiest of all topics, and for all the insightful, thought-provoking, and informative comments. The best people to learn from are those who know more than yourself, so luckily for me, that's practically everybody!<br /><br />In comic collecting news, I marked the occasion by putting a bid on <span style="font-style: italic;">Justice League of America</span> #100. My League collection is still a bit spotty down at those numbers, but not for long.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-22423999946813152832010-11-19T18:09:00.000-08:002010-11-19T18:24:37.540-08:00Stray Thoughts on Tonight's Aquatastic Episode of Smallville!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP8X-A1zusYiTupM8qlIYH7K_C9Q2xqxRznxYzvyKz8sRdrvjf0QrHEu8u66gg5Wdp0BzNyf2JKBUamV0L9cyCUyU4LDF4mrLxojCdxKzfUEWTxDJ8ELInXCacL2DbUe-kiAt0a9ZR18i/s1600/Elena-Satine-360x560.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP8X-A1zusYiTupM8qlIYH7K_C9Q2xqxRznxYzvyKz8sRdrvjf0QrHEu8u66gg5Wdp0BzNyf2JKBUamV0L9cyCUyU4LDF4mrLxojCdxKzfUEWTxDJ8ELInXCacL2DbUe-kiAt0a9ZR18i/s400/Elena-Satine-360x560.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541448457192731682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />- There's nothing like making out with your sweetie after blowing something up.<br />- We definitely got a bit of angry nineties Aquaman.<br />- Mera's not too hard on the peepers.<br />- I liked her way of talking, sort of Kirby-esque.<br />- I really like the effects for Aquaman's swimming, it's nice the makers of the show get that he swims very fast. Even in the Spidey movies they didn't seem to convey that his wallcrawling is supposed to be quite fast and scrambley. As Jeremy Piven said on <span style="font-style: italic;">Entourage</span>, Aquaman is Spider-man underwater. I'm just free associating, but hey, it's Friday.<br />- Just me or were Justin Hartley's line readings at the beginning quite stiff? He improved a bit as the episode went on. He seems to act better in scenes that are more action oriented.<br />- "Squidlips" "...we got off on the wrong fin." Oh, that Lois!<br />- I like the idea that when Aquaman's been depowered by lack of water, getting hit with a splash is almost like a Banner-into-Hulk kind of moment.<br />- I'm glad we saw Mera's powers in action.<br />- I like how in <span style="font-style: italic;">Smallville</span>, the return to the farm is always symbolic of a return to peace and happiness, however temporary.<br />- I feel silly for not seeing the ending coming! At the same time, it was nice to be surprised, I'm glad I usually avoid material on upcoming episodes.<br />- I have a feeling before the season is over, the line "an eye for an eye" will be uttered.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAfl22Du4fXhYMz4ZDJCexZSIH-shLF1d5QJGKmCWRKKrNmCdr92t672RtwMtQfYkVhJyFq7AZSwJQkx1eemk22Z-wM2FiKDZuq5dT3bWkcn3mcLpuQY6n4GsMDL-cBcZUskAdxjA9WXQ/s1600/deathstroke-14-d-crotchkick.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAfl22Du4fXhYMz4ZDJCexZSIH-shLF1d5QJGKmCWRKKrNmCdr92t672RtwMtQfYkVhJyFq7AZSwJQkx1eemk22Z-wM2FiKDZuq5dT3bWkcn3mcLpuQY6n4GsMDL-cBcZUskAdxjA9WXQ/s400/deathstroke-14-d-crotchkick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541448599987993410" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-82147691094789141102010-11-18T15:21:00.001-08:002010-11-18T15:41:23.038-08:00Gold Key Fever!Is it wrong to shop in the 50 cent bin? Should these bins be eschewed by the "serious" collector? Am I a "serious" collector? Nah, I consider myself more a wacky, slapstick collector.<br /><br />I dunno, sometimes I find stuff there in better condition than stuff I've paid more for online. Anyway, it serves me well when I know I'm sort of impulse shopping, buying something I'm curious about but that I probably won't want to collect all of. What I'm collecting purposefully right now will probably keep me occupied for the next five to ten years. Also, it's just nice occasionally to actually pay less than a dollar for a comic.<br /><br />So here's a few things I picked up recently for four bits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA5caC1ioRCm8jbbUwjjKFPhtImGZxsaFAOVmz7s60gjSjJNeTIS8fkx7V4mjow2IqwgYfuw4S0ekeZup_7fpnGHbMJEkGT1PCNlr8vNc4S3p-8t62S17ulToal6zZKvbftYfbTlV4-NU/s1600/2zh0ab9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA5caC1ioRCm8jbbUwjjKFPhtImGZxsaFAOVmz7s60gjSjJNeTIS8fkx7V4mjow2IqwgYfuw4S0ekeZup_7fpnGHbMJEkGT1PCNlr8vNc4S3p-8t62S17ulToal6zZKvbftYfbTlV4-NU/s400/2zh0ab9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541035156169051554" border="0" /></a>I've heard the name <span style="font-style: italic;">Magnus: Robot Fighter</span> bandied about quite a bit. In fact, unless I'm mistaken there's a revival on right now. It turns out that he's a guy who fights robots - in the future. You can't go wrong. What is it with the name Magnus in comics, anyway?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5H9MtOL7OsGOPYYnM2fwZtbwrN3lb2r-uTOQl3dkyOCtDmeLre1YktXL6G5nGkuBfBk4sgeswyOmyp6M5iTyVLs-hSKt6kzGW6hp83bXw35t-bldFFftRI7jttbDyLDSYwwB4RDxHgdkb/s1600/36-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5H9MtOL7OsGOPYYnM2fwZtbwrN3lb2r-uTOQl3dkyOCtDmeLre1YktXL6G5nGkuBfBk4sgeswyOmyp6M5iTyVLs-hSKt6kzGW6hp83bXw35t-bldFFftRI7jttbDyLDSYwwB4RDxHgdkb/s400/36-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541035063825809234" border="0" /></a>Well, <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> is pretty self-explanatory. It's the comics spinoff of one the greatest TV shows known to science. This issue is rather late in the run, the earlier ones have groovy photo collage covers and are now worth quite a bit as Trek collectibles. I remember when these comics were persona non grata to collectors but times change.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdkjZYajNmgksvTETqSLzljxEBYHAm1xDm5Pi-tYxsXdbUVH0Lkkt7XLKdsgYcCiZ5coAkDFE9Q0htyDw57b4HNu1xfqxcJSTC-ZqcikKPYabL5k5m7PIgYkcMeHu_Ce3lTxRGPA_lgYd/s1600/AAUFOFlyingSaucersNo10May1976Cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdkjZYajNmgksvTETqSLzljxEBYHAm1xDm5Pi-tYxsXdbUVH0Lkkt7XLKdsgYcCiZ5coAkDFE9Q0htyDw57b4HNu1xfqxcJSTC-ZqcikKPYabL5k5m7PIgYkcMeHu_Ce3lTxRGPA_lgYd/s400/AAUFOFlyingSaucersNo10May1976Cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541035003354629858" border="0" /></a>And that is just a cool, crazy cover, what can I say? It's a spaceship that looks like a bat and I want one. One of the things that makes Gold Keys amusing is how everything is presented with deadly seriousness, so even Magnus or Trek reads like a Classics Illustrated. I can remember as a youngster the painted covers deterred me, I think they looked too grown-up. Now they look quite funky to me and I will probably have them out in the comic room for their aesthetic appeal.<br /><br />For those who don't know, there are more fun covers to look at, and words to read, on <a href="http://www.goldkeystories.com/">Gold Key Comics!</a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-19696791562281214312010-11-15T06:35:00.000-08:002010-11-15T17:25:25.583-08:00The Best Part of Waking Up is Super-Heroes and Super-Gorillas<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQP0ajYNGZFFeGkkCgeuVX91cznu0mFTcHHXBVJggG6Bt0gX6QTTZOEuQ4PMHAasJPBO5pz6TWfHSnw4lC_acwJWOeFj-SLNCMkWoPnmqRFiCehRnDthyZ3hf8VX8WGetnatiAGFs5Gm2/s1600/gorillas199.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539785255965420818" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 260px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQP0ajYNGZFFeGkkCgeuVX91cznu0mFTcHHXBVJggG6Bt0gX6QTTZOEuQ4PMHAasJPBO5pz6TWfHSnw4lC_acwJWOeFj-SLNCMkWoPnmqRFiCehRnDthyZ3hf8VX8WGetnatiAGFs5Gm2/s400/gorillas199.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Wanting something to read during breakfast this morning - I can read comics while eating with little risk of damage to the comic, it's one of my gifts, I grabbed this out of the DC Specials section, perhaps my favouritest section of all.<br /><br />With my usual banana, toast, and OJ, I enjoyed Superman taking on a Krypton gorilla, The Flash being fooled by Grodd into thinking Grodd had sped up everyone in the city, and Batman and Robin versus a diabolical criminal that wanted to put Batman's brain into a gorilla and pin a series of crimes on him.<br /><br />I don't advise eating while reading a comic unless you are a trained professional like myself. One of the things to make sure of is that it is about a foot away from where the food is, so the food is between you and the comic, to avoid spillage. Not too far away, or you won't be able to see it. Also, keep a hand clean for page turning. Place the comic on something protective, at least its empty bag and board.<br /><br />And it happens that my copy of this is unfortunately in about fair/good. Probably don't want to try it with a near mint <span style="font-style: italic;">Detective Comics #27, </span>even with a great set of skills.<br /><div></div></div>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-37500012992155170792010-11-14T10:35:00.000-08:002010-11-14T11:11:41.771-08:00Bootleg, Not a Bootleg?I got this baby at a con in 1994 from one of the tables selling figures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QqqAneyjTA6nDn0L2ZYJEjKMg0E9Aw9c9Iw3PAKVjCqdzz50ysyuILB1sMQoluIHlh-A4X5KABSYiVr5jJo8blpIvt9yCx4fewRQEZm0F9Ltq86k9tG34s4NRTs3-O0Xg3Fn2zvVRfOX/s1600/100_2266.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QqqAneyjTA6nDn0L2ZYJEjKMg0E9Aw9c9Iw3PAKVjCqdzz50ysyuILB1sMQoluIHlh-A4X5KABSYiVr5jJo8blpIvt9yCx4fewRQEZm0F9Ltq86k9tG34s4NRTs3-O0Xg3Fn2zvVRfOX/s400/100_2266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539479254551066626" border="0" /></a>In the small print on the cape, it says, "(copyright symbol) D. C. COMICS 1992 COMICS SPAIN" but I have doubts about how legit it is. Do they write DC as D. C. in Spain, with periods and a space? Well, perhaps they do. But this is certainly not the most exquisitely sculpted figure, as a close-up reveals perhaps some bad facial surgery in Superman's past.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjth88MiHoisW-uOYOwg3fdqzuFSEdCAfoFWWWloQCmKS3VEN6nsVLM3s7YBdlOe0UOXeft8X3_fCmxKE9eF-kyr1SMrdgd160Z5NVKeUPt8Rq6-p9NXLad21v3bJsefJCzoqzK2T8SvwlP/s1600/100_2268.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjth88MiHoisW-uOYOwg3fdqzuFSEdCAfoFWWWloQCmKS3VEN6nsVLM3s7YBdlOe0UOXeft8X3_fCmxKE9eF-kyr1SMrdgd160Z5NVKeUPt8Rq6-p9NXLad21v3bJsefJCzoqzK2T8SvwlP/s400/100_2268.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539478284960913394" border="0" /></a><br />One idiosyncracy is the symbol on the back of the cape. Though I'm fairly certain even comic colourists have made the mistake of putting red in it when it should be all yellow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6fAd0iQFC2wwK5a7HPmRviQYFYL-6K-z8_2KePmCj8NR4t8ZAUcp4vgigiHd29r4ZruHFUIY0Yb1yir91Uv238fN54RhyphenhyphenH-2o7df1rQNvUysW4hxznGdfMQyJrQMJi1n1PBIt-ilUq9z/s1600/100_2273.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6fAd0iQFC2wwK5a7HPmRviQYFYL-6K-z8_2KePmCj8NR4t8ZAUcp4vgigiHd29r4ZruHFUIY0Yb1yir91Uv238fN54RhyphenhyphenH-2o7df1rQNvUysW4hxznGdfMQyJrQMJi1n1PBIt-ilUq9z/s400/100_2273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539476822848894114" border="0" /></a>Another interesting feature is his gigantic feet, which I must admit do help him balance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhogwYbwy-A-CDdIUxRxga_ip1QXxv6hXAFVV5JelmTuXnc40i5WV82GhwJo4hBgEkSrfq7uu6JcS3tXZ9yf9Y0jzjOYJpG6835xkPwPI43CeCZJpwBBoVs-C4ZYAs51duVvSM3Wn7oLrw/s1600/100_2274.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhogwYbwy-A-CDdIUxRxga_ip1QXxv6hXAFVV5JelmTuXnc40i5WV82GhwJo4hBgEkSrfq7uu6JcS3tXZ9yf9Y0jzjOYJpG6835xkPwPI43CeCZJpwBBoVs-C4ZYAs51duVvSM3Wn7oLrw/s400/100_2274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539476594407856722" border="0" /></a>Just for comparison, here's the Crisis Bizarro figure, who actually looks handsomer than this Superman. I just somehow feel the Thing of Steel would like that. Or hate that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3UGN-BMJqiSp2SlrXqrcQ4Yv-rL_6uSXCgg3woIZSVr9Z8RDZXMjVAzNOBLHX0RhT0T_Bj89Ev8G9WgcTd_5yS4CnFXbeJUyUC73ODWlgEmjXRF9zno6zHKidMX6P3fOetm5Ac1149Cq/s1600/100_2264.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3UGN-BMJqiSp2SlrXqrcQ4Yv-rL_6uSXCgg3woIZSVr9Z8RDZXMjVAzNOBLHX0RhT0T_Bj89Ev8G9WgcTd_5yS4CnFXbeJUyUC73ODWlgEmjXRF9zno6zHKidMX6P3fOetm5Ac1149Cq/s400/100_2264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539476391347647906" border="0" /></a>And just for fun, and so you can get a sense of the size of Spanish Possible Bootleg Supes, here he is next to a well-known small wind-up robot. I like how the slats on my JVC boombox make it sorta look like they're on the Death Star. Well, they do to me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxTnr1AqrlDuzPgUyKDvKNpbhSifTRd8oQ3E317b8yFJ-zhyphenhypheno1m2mW4_FLJX3YlxTBDSYpxHirx4HZZHzByASs90rXoP5-F6mdqMPIpkh_tl9zYdAB4jGlwERk5KRF_l1sEE8eBMeWfcj/s1600/100_2271.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxTnr1AqrlDuzPgUyKDvKNpbhSifTRd8oQ3E317b8yFJ-zhyphenhypheno1m2mW4_FLJX3YlxTBDSYpxHirx4HZZHzByASs90rXoP5-F6mdqMPIpkh_tl9zYdAB4jGlwERk5KRF_l1sEE8eBMeWfcj/s400/100_2271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539476218055681618" border="0" /></a>I actually like this figure. I guess I have to say it's the pose, that's some powerful-looking stuff, and he looks all right on a shelf, even if he has a face only Lara and Ma Kent could love.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-36761502442148106652010-11-13T14:48:00.000-08:002010-11-13T14:56:48.380-08:00Continued on 2nd Page Following: Yellow Hot-Pants!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo1oIaqGoGLFuqP0EvyGcAvBhxA2MkgY5nAK21ESLPD8EaLWgko2-EPyCzQenMMF0s96SgAQMnOlxjPqmlcdSeXB8OqDdH0vHxywulprkT4MBNLCrT9qqGkqFTH4UDRuDjIz0E_z50RZd/s1600/Supergirl+Hot+Pants.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo1oIaqGoGLFuqP0EvyGcAvBhxA2MkgY5nAK21ESLPD8EaLWgko2-EPyCzQenMMF0s96SgAQMnOlxjPqmlcdSeXB8OqDdH0vHxywulprkT4MBNLCrT9qqGkqFTH4UDRuDjIz0E_z50RZd/s400/Supergirl+Hot+Pants.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539170281581937986" border="0" /></a><br />Supergirl's got to use what she's got, to get just what she wants. From <span style="font-style: italic;">The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl</span> #9, my contribution to the "things wrongly coloured yellow" field of studies as pioneered <a href="http://www.aquamanshrine.com/2008/09/ballad-of-yellow-glove.html">here</a> on The Aquaman Shrine. I do prefer the hot pants version of her costume, I'd rather wear shorts than a skirt if I was a girl who was flying, and landing.<br /><br />Always good to come across the name of my blog during my casual back issue reading. The problem with modern comics is they don't have these handy warnings. I hit a page of ads and I'm lost.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-84936059011476264272010-11-12T18:06:00.000-08:002010-11-12T19:55:31.383-08:00Stray Thoughts on Tonight's Episode of Smallville<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakSMzJyVPW4F43vfc2lwhdPDFW_BgovBdLKwocnfv96jl1fQhx3LGQ67IMJa_96ZOACPmUTGZ_uu5g1j24Mg63LBZKBCz60A8gtzPKu-0kTfpzff7IFPaFSy4C8PQmXIKneuBhH8CFOmR/s1600/smallville-teri-hatcher.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakSMzJyVPW4F43vfc2lwhdPDFW_BgovBdLKwocnfv96jl1fQhx3LGQ67IMJa_96ZOACPmUTGZ_uu5g1j24Mg63LBZKBCz60A8gtzPKu-0kTfpzff7IFPaFSy4C8PQmXIKneuBhH8CFOmR/s400/smallville-teri-hatcher.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538853856639993554" border="0" /></a><br />- Doozy of an episode.<br />- Lots of cute women, especially Teri Hatcher and Helen Slater.<br />- I like that Teri's hair was like it was in the early days of Lois & Clark, which was on the air 15 years ago when the tapes were from. Quincy-dence?<br />- I was wondering if Clark actually had a VHS around. I guess so.<br />- Teri Hatcher + Michael Ironside = Erica Durance<br />- The <span style="font-style: italic;">Smallville</span> version of Desaad is much prettier than the comic version and<br />- I'm a bit surprised they don't have him wearing a hoody. I miss the greasy maitre d' hairstyle.<br />- I like Granny Goodness, she's nicely creepy.<br />- Love the Furies.<br />- Was that a real trap or was it Clark's bachelor party?<br />- Tess is not Big Barda but she's...<br />- QUITE the shock reveal at the end.<br />- Jor-El is Warlock!<br /><br />Let us now bask in the glory of Teri Hatcher on the Love Boat, for we all know the early eighties was the absolute highest point of western culture, it's all downhill after that...<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IDzCbSPMeDs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IDzCbSPMeDs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-67829310741013732912010-11-12T14:13:00.000-08:002010-11-12T14:38:27.194-08:00Jheri Curl Causes Omnipotence! Plus: Twinkies, Twinkies, Twinkies!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExzQTKbPaGMMlI_WI_o1yOwPSwoLQcmBeLofMsoXvJuRH8T5V680Ua_uctWhKm8j2DZAJ-QnkUvaDNsEql5LsuCFDO4r4Jt4PqQojX4ZmSSZsV2C_a-6Xee0nlE69saLlWXdqi41KpLGf/s1600/rufus-sewell-dark-city.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExzQTKbPaGMMlI_WI_o1yOwPSwoLQcmBeLofMsoXvJuRH8T5V680Ua_uctWhKm8j2DZAJ-QnkUvaDNsEql5LsuCFDO4r4Jt4PqQojX4ZmSSZsV2C_a-6Xee0nlE69saLlWXdqi41KpLGf/s400/rufus-sewell-dark-city.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538791731630367346" border="0" /></a><br />So I'm watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Dark City</span> the other night and trying to figure out who Rufus Sewell reminds me of with his dark jheri curl hairdo and his ability to manipulate all matter. Then it hit me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB4f1EpMmYo2ELGN-OZYAXBwaBWS7k4YgihpMQDHPN0eimC1d3eHAXwZVLdaqUV87v7DKvJMm5KZlxsgg4xTPSbbPoj3Bdwwd49nIy5NJr8Iez9AFU9_RdsbV9V5L8R1bVBl24HyN32jj/s1600/beyonder.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB4f1EpMmYo2ELGN-OZYAXBwaBWS7k4YgihpMQDHPN0eimC1d3eHAXwZVLdaqUV87v7DKvJMm5KZlxsgg4xTPSbbPoj3Bdwwd49nIy5NJr8Iez9AFU9_RdsbV9V5L8R1bVBl24HyN32jj/s400/beyonder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538791857592568546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, the Beyonder as he appeared in <span style="font-style: italic;">Secret Wars II</span>, minus the white disco suit! Proving once again, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Germans love David Hasselhoff. Well...it doesn't disprove it.<br /><br /><br />In other news, I thought one thing I haven't yet posted is a Hostess ad, and I can't seem to find this one on any places that usually do so, including the estimable <a href="http://tomheroes.com/Comic%20Ads/hostess%20ads/hostess_ads.htm">Hostess Ads site.</a> So here is my contribution to the ongoing quest to put all Hostess ads online so they will be enjoyed for generations to come until Kamandi happens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k7MJFJc2AA0ZLG2gk1JVw-IbFYGcitbLmKxWyWJFynWU5ny-c1Otujf4ylQwOpwv2SIfDszkdNL5StxTEm8L6qrferMxz64254ezxwCKxuNoM7kUcfU5JjxopnVrN8xs0qo6k0sLLA9M/s1600/Josie+Hostess+Ad.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k7MJFJc2AA0ZLG2gk1JVw-IbFYGcitbLmKxWyWJFynWU5ny-c1Otujf4ylQwOpwv2SIfDszkdNL5StxTEm8L6qrferMxz64254ezxwCKxuNoM7kUcfU5JjxopnVrN8xs0qo6k0sLLA9M/s400/Josie+Hostess+Ad.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538794064184813586" border="0" /></a><br />Twinkies. It's what's for dinner.<br /><br />Now if you'll excuse me, tonight is Teri Hatcher night on <span style="font-style: italic;">Smallville</span>. Yes!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-52071776735762258872010-11-11T09:49:00.000-08:002010-11-11T10:12:01.926-08:00My Recent War Comics Reading: Haunted Tank<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94GylSIKSoLx8qUF8QGRIJYeT546YeME1AKHk897P1_J90Gl0QhSXR3jAVVSUh8w7TEVgIpHTwW2RS2GmlNSBNQNOsvAwCWauGKxvvdM8W0p_kC-vD1jRUW6m5J__53H5Fkro2ee3IYVw/s1600/Haunted+Tank.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94GylSIKSoLx8qUF8QGRIJYeT546YeME1AKHk897P1_J90Gl0QhSXR3jAVVSUh8w7TEVgIpHTwW2RS2GmlNSBNQNOsvAwCWauGKxvvdM8W0p_kC-vD1jRUW6m5J__53H5Fkro2ee3IYVw/s400/Haunted+Tank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538350824763420194" border="0" /></a>While I think comics have a very respectable tradition in war stories, it is generally not my thing. However, I am also always curious about areas of comics I don't know much about and recently purchased <span style="font-style: italic;">Haunted Tank Showcase Vol. 2</span> new, as it was going at a very affordable price. It turns out the cheap price was probably due to a misprint on one of the pages where a page was printed twice, and then the correction glued on. I learned about the mistake <a href="http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/topic/6522">here.</a> , strangely on a Marvel Masterworks board.<br /><br />While superheroes are just usually more my thing, I definitely recognize the excellence in storytelling with the art of Joe Kubert and Irv Novick, both of whom I always appreciate, and Russ Heath, who is fairly new to me. Robert Kanigher wrote all the stories. I'm quite familiar with him from his brilliantly nutty Metal Men and Wonder Woman. His Haunted Tank tales show how multi-faceted and complex he really was. Likely no story is going to get across what war is really like, but instant and brutal death on both sides of World War II accompany the travels of the Haunted Tank in North Africa. Jeb Stuart, the commander of the tank, receives cryptic warnings about his next battle from the ghost of a civil war general, but are these visions real or is Jeb cracking up? As well as a depiction of the trauma of being in the heat of battle, the reader gets a sense of the weariness and isolation of soldiers.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-86108565118651147312010-11-09T16:47:00.000-08:002010-11-11T13:53:30.990-08:00When Comic Book Thugs Look Like Charles Bronson Part 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifx_yJUDz6UV6wMd31KqMfwasmKtT_3_BRSeL3LeLbypWY_OWdRi7ryeLIetCJmq3muG3wqESR6IPWkhqMUEP7gbOfHHYCMBOSbmMOGyY_YsmDRM4EkSC2BE29FHmn38jwFR2Bn422mIcF/s1600/Bronson+3000.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifx_yJUDz6UV6wMd31KqMfwasmKtT_3_BRSeL3LeLbypWY_OWdRi7ryeLIetCJmq3muG3wqESR6IPWkhqMUEP7gbOfHHYCMBOSbmMOGyY_YsmDRM4EkSC2BE29FHmn38jwFR2Bn422mIcF/s400/Bronson+3000.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537716724366127682" border="0" /></a>"Thug" doesn't exactly fit, but I'm going with it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes</span> #212, 1975, as Cosmic Boy, "on a break" from his relationship with Night Girl, though clearly still thinking of her, watches what I suppose is <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Wish: The Thousand Year Anniversary Special Edition</span>. His date Sinde seems to like it - a girl who likes action movies might be a keeper, but Rokk is back with Lydda by the end of the story. Of course Lydda actually beats up bad guys on a regular basis, and looks good in her new costume, so I can't really blame the boy, even if having a girlfriend who has superstrength when in the dark might sometimes be problematic.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-18343718122975783052010-11-08T17:17:00.000-08:002010-11-08T19:41:33.649-08:00I Impulsively Bought Essential Hulk Vol. 6 Yesterday...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ahvoBVVlx19zt6amhi3UwzwpT_1wk_I6srjed-cFbXadQ0EsdY95YTrLrDTb0AaNd8XnS-bcsPsoaaDlz_YWC5f0442DhtH0F4A0K3P93Y9QCODj3-JS3ruNt1XY5ps37hUGPItWGgNn/s1600/Hulk+Essentials+6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ahvoBVVlx19zt6amhi3UwzwpT_1wk_I6srjed-cFbXadQ0EsdY95YTrLrDTb0AaNd8XnS-bcsPsoaaDlz_YWC5f0442DhtH0F4A0K3P93Y9QCODj3-JS3ruNt1XY5ps37hUGPItWGgNn/s400/Hulk+Essentials+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537353256326824962" border="0" /></a><br />I was at the book store and looking at perhaps buying something, maybe <span style="font-style: italic;">Superman: Earth One</span>, which, despite some trepidation about potentially ephemeral revisionist versions of characters ("fresh and exciting" one week, expensive bird cage liner the next), I thought might be important for me to read as a lifelong Superman fan. But suddenly, I saw the Hulk book and realized that's what my mood was. It could be that I've been enjoying reading <a href="http://herbtrimpeshulk.blogspot.com/">Herb Trimpe's Hulk</a>, the blog, which has reawakened my senses to the appeal of seventies Hulk. I believe this particular volume is slightly past the more significant part of Trimpe's contribution, although he is a contributor on two of the issues - inked by Joe Staton in one case, which certainly interested me. And of course there are other notable artists. Sal Buscema's style, for instance, I recognize instantly, and something about it just says "seventies Marvel".<br /><br />This is the first Hulk Essentials Volume I've bought. I have a tendency to read series and characters from whatever point interests me, and then put together the saga in my head, perhaps rereading it in order later. I have some eighties and nineties Hulk, and I've read the original 6 issue Silver Age series in the form of a digest I own (which recoloured the originally grey Hulk green). I of course have a fondness for the Jade Giant from the Bixby/Ferrigno show. As I've mentioned before, from a certain age I've been stronger for DC, but I have a fondness for Marvel at its best. I do love Marvel in the seventies. The first reason might be nostalgia, sure, I was a little kid at the time. But my more analytical side says that it appeals to me because the ideas were still fresh, but were now being worked on by a second generation of creators able to unearth some of the potential hinted at in the original work by Stan and the gang, expand on it, broaden it. I will read and enjoy Silver Age Marvel, but also find it tends to blend after a while with a sameness to the histrionics, almost unavoidable due to the scripting and direction of a single brilliant, strong creative personality, aided and abetted by a small group of brilliant, strong talents. So in my mind DC owns the Silver Age partly because of greater variety - having had the advantage of more creators and editors. Sixties DC covers I find endlessly entertaining, Marvel covers of the time are usually not my style and some I find downright bland. Okay, I have to be honest, I like covers that have dilemmas, captions, and exclamation points. I like covers that make it seem absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">vital</span> I read the comic to find the important information located therein. For me, Marvel did their best at that in the age of the Osmonds.<br /><br />But though the companies tend to get compared a lot, I sometimes feel with the early days of Marvel it's like comparing <span style="font-style: italic;">The Honeymooners</span> to <span style="font-style: italic;">The Simpsons</span>. Or <span style="font-style: italic;">Gilligan's Island</span> to <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost</span>. Surface similarities but a whole host of reasons why it's not really apt. And in the seventies, of course, the two houses were exchanging talent so much it seems a bit odd to be totally loyal to one. Who would only watch their favourite actor's movies with one studio?<br /><br />Okay, but about this volume. This era of Hulk I find I am enjoying a lot, as I thought I would. I tend to like comics that are the adventures of an itinerant character who keeps travelling and running into weird stuff. I love <span style="font-style: italic;">Kamandi</span> for that reason, and this is entertaining in the same way, with the added feature of Hulk's incredible strength coupled with his often confused grasp of situations being a great combination to create problems but also provide a visceral, gratifying solution. When the young man at the store was ringing up my purchase, he said, "Essential Hulk Smash!" Exactly!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-58560551043654593732010-11-06T12:50:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:39:58.550-07:00Teen Titans on Miami Vice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu6G9PEWcdACEZL7oA8dSzmT8SvZiOFsmYg-FVwSAeNTBOB_bxQobdqS6GMTbS3DHBMods3orc4NZrw-VK-A4aLqlxLWnpBrUhyphenhyphenmhYm8x-AtCcbvXKo8XEgs44HdlhAKKGJqcp9HcFU3N/s1600/teen+titans+60.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu6G9PEWcdACEZL7oA8dSzmT8SvZiOFsmYg-FVwSAeNTBOB_bxQobdqS6GMTbS3DHBMods3orc4NZrw-VK-A4aLqlxLWnpBrUhyphenhyphenmhYm8x-AtCcbvXKo8XEgs44HdlhAKKGJqcp9HcFU3N/s400/teen+titans+60.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536528023032233282" border="0" /></a>It's always great when two of my favourite things overlap, especially if those two things are rather incongruous and seemingly irreconcilable. In this case, I'm referring to the Teen Titans and <span style="font-style: italic;">Miami Vice</span>, that hallmark of eighties neon noir cool.<br /><br />Here is a shot from the <span style="font-style: italic;">MV</span> episode "The Fix", airdate March 7, 1986.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP8dly5R4NxNOSlAaGP0ziHU2p5HVVorAhcVoRY8CrItoJnbhb2hABFNF4avBzX6KpRdsixj0ww5PzmGuUx7tSrz0o1a1Ao3wwntXuFH1SKmYpJCrZBKzYdTQQIxo2rtlmt9TJDTqHPtE/s1600/100_2257.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP8dly5R4NxNOSlAaGP0ziHU2p5HVVorAhcVoRY8CrItoJnbhb2hABFNF4avBzX6KpRdsixj0ww5PzmGuUx7tSrz0o1a1Ao3wwntXuFH1SKmYpJCrZBKzYdTQQIxo2rtlmt9TJDTqHPtE/s400/100_2257.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536527792513124066" border="0" /></a>Yes, that is none other than <span style="font-style: italic;">Tales of the Teen Titans #60</span>, evident from Trigon's beaming face, displayed in the van of the Vice Squad's surveillance crew of Switek and Zito. There's another comic or mag overlapping it but I can't tell what that is.<br /><br />I'm almost certain the comic probably was meant to be belonging to Stan Switek, who was the relaxed hipster of the Squad, as evinced in a previous episode, "Made For Each Other", where it was shown he was a die-hard Elvis fan (though of course Crockett's pet alligator was actually named Elvis, which might mean Crockett is the bigger King fan, I suppose).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFjmz8SO-2vmtkwJHiw1NdKGFVfX6VgM55RTF-kRbUUdChx83r_FuNrJWyOGMkb7GR0JRyNsTvzH78upqLucPM80G0p7Hxseczcu8I5DSaPh1R-bi-ccrQ4DdooMkF_ZmNJdxxC38X3WD/s1600/100_2258.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFjmz8SO-2vmtkwJHiw1NdKGFVfX6VgM55RTF-kRbUUdChx83r_FuNrJWyOGMkb7GR0JRyNsTvzH78upqLucPM80G0p7Hxseczcu8I5DSaPh1R-bi-ccrQ4DdooMkF_ZmNJdxxC38X3WD/s400/100_2258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536527623310117442" border="0" /></a>Here he is sweating it out in the van with Zito. Switek was portrayed by Michael Talbott, a somewhat weighty comedic actor who might have had a more prominent career now in the age of Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Zach Whatsisname (though I realize he most resembles Chris Penn in the above pic).<br /><br />I can definitely see comics being great for passing the time in a surveillance van, though certain detectives get to listen to it all from afar in the cushy, cushy offices of Miami Vice, and have other things to occupy their time such as making their hair look awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ibe6Jz3zVKQS5hTDv4r2ppdOOXZK2X1VDkm_XTRJ7vzxpHl1h40GgRmxk4DNJ5tCNrRj7o2D-OriIt4g2WDqfNNeNSXZItGwGlJ-C5f_N03CYWQR0ipUz44y_pR6RAGUqEel0ZAAdsZ8/s1600/100_2259.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ibe6Jz3zVKQS5hTDv4r2ppdOOXZK2X1VDkm_XTRJ7vzxpHl1h40GgRmxk4DNJ5tCNrRj7o2D-OriIt4g2WDqfNNeNSXZItGwGlJ-C5f_N03CYWQR0ipUz44y_pR6RAGUqEel0ZAAdsZ8/s400/100_2259.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536527440795561986" border="0" /></a><br />Also notable about this episode is that the main villain is...Cosmo Kramer!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhGsvxqTTBxZPT2y9Mz0XbsX2iNzWHKiO6ff9ZlLFhWMNoqEE8590kDRflnx0HupI91EGqApGx3ctPruM5gPj4A8HPlZrvCSk-bHqONTz-7q0x3ZmYBlI_UMxsQLuFSVOBxh4hyphenhyphenqWPZEg/s1600/100_2262.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhGsvxqTTBxZPT2y9Mz0XbsX2iNzWHKiO6ff9ZlLFhWMNoqEE8590kDRflnx0HupI91EGqApGx3ctPruM5gPj4A8HPlZrvCSk-bHqONTz-7q0x3ZmYBlI_UMxsQLuFSVOBxh4hyphenhyphenqWPZEg/s400/100_2262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536527262427653826" border="0" /></a>Yes, a young, pre-<span style="font-style: italic;">Seinfeld</span>, pre-unfortunate rant, though post-whatever it was with Andy Kaufman on <span style="font-style: italic;">Fridays</span> Michael Richards plays the guy trying to fix fights and get a prominent, basically good but gambling-addicted judge (Bill Russell, in the middle above) in his pocket. The vice gang is tapping the judge's line.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1DDRcWtWi4hUimiP426jU0zGoFuOxrDwhMB98RHafrieCPjlhy0VSDugztUkjMKpr4q30ZL911ZKdIKS6OOLr91bAD-j0s8_diCVsLpEhAz5HrrQ2USWVooNqyf7xEOcygH2JnyNpGFZ/s1600/100_2263.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1DDRcWtWi4hUimiP426jU0zGoFuOxrDwhMB98RHafrieCPjlhy0VSDugztUkjMKpr4q30ZL911ZKdIKS6OOLr91bAD-j0s8_diCVsLpEhAz5HrrQ2USWVooNqyf7xEOcygH2JnyNpGFZ/s400/100_2263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536527083220967826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> <div style="text-align: center;">"Levels, Jerry!"</div></span><br />All of this unfortunately comes to a head when the judge decides to blow away Kramer and then himself just as Sonny arrives on the scene. Crockett must hold some kind of record for the amount of people who have shot themselves in front of him.<br /><br />This episode is also notable for being directed by Dick Miller, star of such Roger Corman b-classics as <span style="font-style: italic;">Bucket of Blood, The Terror</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Shop of Horrors</span>, though people who are not as into the b-movie scene will probably remember him from <span style="font-style: italic;">Gremlins</span> and as the gunshop owner that Arnold shoots in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Terminator</span> - "You can't do that!" "Wrong." <span style="font-style: italic;">BLAM!</span>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-53451079121753750592010-11-04T13:08:00.000-07:002010-11-06T18:26:43.559-07:00Continued on 2nd Page Following: Superboy #167<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ISzrkP8Idu2sXPXvjEEphdH4exD5LJps7XT3_rDq9r-QoFHmCatYrQTuJOWuz2-yXQBdksiKt_l928FgQVpZUOxCfxlwNw4mQlxD1c67QL0DMwf7XBk1XFwn8_I-Labl_W7PybCVcc7/s1600/Superbaby+Paints.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90ISzrkP8Idu2sXPXvjEEphdH4exD5LJps7XT3_rDq9r-QoFHmCatYrQTuJOWuz2-yXQBdksiKt_l928FgQVpZUOxCfxlwNw4mQlxD1c67QL0DMwf7XBk1XFwn8_I-Labl_W7PybCVcc7/s400/Superbaby+Paints.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535559598162668962" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, yes, a super-strong flying baby, sure, fine. I was believing everything until they said that said baby could crash through a window so fast it wouldn't make any noise. What is this, *snicker*, some kind of supernatural windowpane? What about the falling glass? Air friction burnt it up? I expect realism from comics, dagnabbit!<br /><br />But not really. I want amazing insanity from any Superbaby story, and they generally deliver. And that is one reason I chose this as this week's installment of the regular feature, an appearance of the blog title in a back issue.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-10951472548983478942010-11-03T14:13:00.001-07:002010-11-03T14:26:42.541-07:00Central Canada Comic Con 2010: Costume Contest Pt. 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nDAXtUfwzPRGYZ-RDjx9SEWbSMaZWBQ9Ow7AYb8YEnCSjQBZq87R9A-dmbo7_9l8fIsC2Lh1VJwmxMLeNhW_tB0jHCDooaD34FZqCz2MfXyA9eata0bt4phremFIYwaE0twAeGUbbxlK/s1600/100_2241.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nDAXtUfwzPRGYZ-RDjx9SEWbSMaZWBQ9Ow7AYb8YEnCSjQBZq87R9A-dmbo7_9l8fIsC2Lh1VJwmxMLeNhW_tB0jHCDooaD34FZqCz2MfXyA9eata0bt4phremFIYwaE0twAeGUbbxlK/s400/100_2241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535436837384495426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhkAD98i5s0etrS4ztg20cIZDZflk6QVF043VwdhSqLFDPyiZNpdIhyp3t7JZwwj7vcWJ9usXLVaePIAIllhV2tKldKBFPR3oZfYkMd7i5bKsLoGauC8M3r6oJZ7xexLxhEUK4SIF6vDf/s1600/100_2248.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhkAD98i5s0etrS4ztg20cIZDZflk6QVF043VwdhSqLFDPyiZNpdIhyp3t7JZwwj7vcWJ9usXLVaePIAIllhV2tKldKBFPR3oZfYkMd7i5bKsLoGauC8M3r6oJZ7xexLxhEUK4SIF6vDf/s400/100_2248.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535435335506858418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszvAa-KN2NPgcw2Se3E-diBQJIIH9Icg03Vtda9ZL_sF_VK5RtzXKhrnGADSCeVedCakJqQZW-fWnT68cLtFUy53m0KBdh6YxIe2XcsiUeMpmhN27bvwJaqs5GXLYwcM7Ml_CxY1muqDa/s1600/100_2249.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszvAa-KN2NPgcw2Se3E-diBQJIIH9Icg03Vtda9ZL_sF_VK5RtzXKhrnGADSCeVedCakJqQZW-fWnT68cLtFUy53m0KBdh6YxIe2XcsiUeMpmhN27bvwJaqs5GXLYwcM7Ml_CxY1muqDa/s400/100_2249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535435175001628818" border="0" /></a><br />Again please excuse the graininess. That top THX 1138 guy had a great and original costume that probably did not offer much visibility. The guy that was Optimus Prime did an amazing job and actually transformed into a truck, using an attachment he brought with him, so I am impressed with the dedication of Transformers fans. I have no idea if Mysterio could see out of his helmet but the outfit is impressive. I have to say I admire people who are willing to walk around all day in these cumbersome things.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419627756102676091.post-50023073522888648412010-11-01T08:20:00.000-07:002010-11-01T08:27:31.172-07:00Central Canada Comic Con 2010: Costume Contest Pt. 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLFfeB14mDA62L90LS-XVJy-eZvZM7rcsn1fw6anj1YSh8GINl0GovI2TivGqH-SMjMeu2sHFcC5cCWVRJNuBN4T1swIybs_Zm6s7-RVrh-Z8SeUy0ReTJnw7I0HIpeOgMeG_bofNbVkV/s1600/100_2245.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLFfeB14mDA62L90LS-XVJy-eZvZM7rcsn1fw6anj1YSh8GINl0GovI2TivGqH-SMjMeu2sHFcC5cCWVRJNuBN4T1swIybs_Zm6s7-RVrh-Z8SeUy0ReTJnw7I0HIpeOgMeG_bofNbVkV/s400/100_2245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534602108222022034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AgFRotRUxy8wzJKf8z210RPnpnHaQUJaMCvCponwR4MTjK-Bhkz67b_BBqfUz6AMPYh9i6XpgswMWvvQ8JXn3D0Tyjry62BAAUYa2TPWZ1sTSCEXV0pNK79UHfp59DBhWuDT9cp4C6Ez/s1600/100_2247.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AgFRotRUxy8wzJKf8z210RPnpnHaQUJaMCvCponwR4MTjK-Bhkz67b_BBqfUz6AMPYh9i6XpgswMWvvQ8JXn3D0Tyjry62BAAUYa2TPWZ1sTSCEXV0pNK79UHfp59DBhWuDT9cp4C6Ez/s400/100_2247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534602013902306802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDJkf-P6K2ruh_ug8EtN3dD2OVWzy05KRNnJg8Cwe5QE4Lo7dQSuadSLSGRJbZh7Pyyt3Nu-vlP72JXTPohTJvcGkAVlQi9AlNxiSFI-151Kt2LGWRHm4RtvDcr_NB9q_csjLUST7OUWU/s1600/100_2251.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDJkf-P6K2ruh_ug8EtN3dD2OVWzy05KRNnJg8Cwe5QE4Lo7dQSuadSLSGRJbZh7Pyyt3Nu-vlP72JXTPohTJvcGkAVlQi9AlNxiSFI-151Kt2LGWRHm4RtvDcr_NB9q_csjLUST7OUWU/s400/100_2251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534601761028441602" border="0" /></a><br />I was about a million miles away from the stage so my camera was on super duper zoom, so excuse the graininess. Though I kind of like the blurry pic of the Hobgoblin, almost looks like some hastily snapped candid distance shot from the Marvel Universe that might be on the cover of the Daily Bugle. I'm glad I got the Doom and Sue staredown; they had a great Thing with as well but my camera didn't clear in time for me to get him. And Joker and Harley were a highlight, as they actually serenaded each other with a quick song, it was nicely done.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04513689328502499665noreply@blogger.com2