email me: chris@chris-karath.com
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September 2004
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Thursday September 30, 2004 11:59pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» John Kerry did much better at the debate than Bush. (And that's a pretty generous statement to Bush I think considering the true balance of their presentations) I watched the split screen coverage on CSPAN primarily, with a second TV also tuned to NBC. I reccomend the split screen format for those watching the next debate.
I really don't get the "undecided voters" at this point. There is so much information out there, the internet and multiple 24 hour news sources. Choosing to be "undecided" at this point is really admitting a lack of interest and a focused desire to stay uninformed.
Samantha B on the Daily Show did an excellent skit to that effect on the Daily Show tonight. If you missed it, it's worth viewing the replay of the Daily Show tomorrow at 7pm.
Wednesday September 29, 2004 11:32pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» I took this photo a couple days ago at Barnes and Noble. It amused me as a concept.
» Played Flag Football after work tonight. Might have a better picture tomorrow. (We Won!)
Comments on Comics
Green Lantern #181 - Ron Marz, Luke Ross
Bad Comic. I'll be REALLY sorry, and amazed, if this spoils the issue for anyone.
Let's Go Surfing
» HeroClix Mutant Mayhem Rules
via Gamingreport.com
Tuesday September 28, 2004 11:37pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Watched the Star Wars Trilogy Bonus DVD Documentary tonight. Very Cool.
Lots of good stuff. On a certain level it's a propaganda piece for Lucas, being that it's his footage, he's paying for it and therefore it paints him very very postively, but still it's a very cool presentation. I highly Recommend.
I also saw the Episode III Hayden Christensen becoming Darth Vader vignette on the same DVD. Also very cool. Part of me feels like it's a spoiler of sorts but it's a good spoiler and sometimes it's good to be spoiled. Don't get, if did get, for-get.
Let's Go Surfing
» Like disaster movies, you'll love these end of the world photoshops
via Boing Boing
Tuesday September 28, 2004 8:04am #
» C.H.E.A.T.ers are on the move. Now you too can show your support for restoring Ch'p to the Green Lantern Corp by displaying this button on your web page. You know it would be nuts not too!
Monday September 27, 2004 11:15pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» I got to thinking tonight, with the return of Hal Jordan imminent, Silver Age Green Lantern fans will need a new focus and a new cause. I hearby declare the formation of
C.H.E.A.T!
The Ch'p of H'lven Emerald Advancement Team!
We at C.H.E.A.T will not rest until we get our own Rebirth Series and Ch'p returns to the Green Lantern corps.
We at C.H.E.A.T. will also not rest until G'Nort is removed from DC Continuity as there can be only one True Cute Furry Green Lantern.
Let your voice be heard Join C.H.E.A.T below!
Monday September 27, 2004 8:02am #
Let's Go Surfing
» DC Comics Green Lantern Rebirth Mini-Site. And New Logo?
via Emerald Dawn
Sunday September 26, 2004 10:28pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Yet another Robin comparison pic featuring the new DC Direct Robin figure out this week. The current Robin's alot tougher looking now adays isn't he? Still, they should have kept the pixie boots, nothing strikes fear in the hearts of criminals like pixie boots.
» No new episodes of Justice League or Teen Titans this week. Cartoon Network did a showing of Star Wars Clone Wars all night instead. More New Superheroic Animatated fun next week.
» I did see the Bane episode of The Batman Saturday morning. It was ok for Saturday morning fare. Maybe if you didn't have the previous series to compare this one too, this show would seem better than it is, but that's not the case. Memory of BTAS is still to near and Justice League continues a more favored Bat-portrayal for me.
» Picked up the Star Wars Trilogy this weekend, haven't watched it yet though. Of the six stores I looked at Friday and Saturday, Meijer had it the cheapest on Saturday.
At the Movies
The Forgotten
Suspense/Thriller [PG-13] 1hr 31min
In Theatres: 9/24/04 Date I saw it: 9/25/04 at Celebration Cinema East Beltline
Good Movie. Along the lines of Sixth Sense. Julianne Moore makes this movie, and the only times it seems awkward is when the camera shifts away from her. They probably could have done this movie centered only on her character and it would have worked equally well and rose even more viewer speculation on the plot direction. That comment aside, many might wait until the DVD on something like this, but I'd reccomend the theatre for this one. There are several scenes that will lose impact on the small screen. Go See.
Overall [good] Story [good] Special Effects [good]
key: [awful] [poor] [ok] [good] [great]
Comments on Comics
Dr. Spectrum #1 - Sara Barnes, Travel Foreman
This issue largely expands on the power prism merging page in issue two of Supreme Power. The additions to what we have seen previously are largely flashback sequences of Joe Ledger's, aka Dr. Spectrum's, back story (Childhood, earlier life etc.). Nothing terribly out of the ordinary or anything beyond what you would expect from this character as he's been presented so far. So far this has "Wait for the Trade" written all over it. I'm a huge Green Lantern fan, and Dr. Spectrum is a Marvel derivitive of Green Lantern so I'll keep buying it, but others could probably wait for the enivitable reprint. Not Bad.
Supreme Power #12 - JMS, Gary Frank
For the first few pages of this issue, I wasn't sure I was going to buy into the storytelling gimmick employed, 4 panels per page each folowing a paralel storyline, but it ended up working fairly well in the end. Plus you get another issue of Naked Zarda.
This issue pretty much sets the major players up and introduces a Seventh, Hyperion, Blur, Nighthawk, Dr. Spectrum, Power Princess and the absent Amphibious being the previous six., for what is sure to be an upcoming action packed arc. Still a personal fav. Good Stuff.
Let's Go Surfing
» More Heroclix buildings I like the way the bushes in front of his Baxter building have been designed.
via HCRealms
» Pat's 2004 Dragon*Con Photo Album: Comics and Groups. Huge and hilarious photo collection of con attendees in Superhero costumes.
via Mystifying Oracle via Progressive Ruin
» It's nine o'clock does your boss know where you are?
via Smart Mobs
» The UK in 2020. Large list of connected articles on various topics of life in the near future.
via Smart Mobs
Saturday September 25, 2004 12:19pm #
Comments on Comics
» Picked up the DK: DC Comics Encyclopedia from Barnes and Noble (much cheaper at the moment at Amazon though-- bummer). Great Coffee table book. A Who's Who Guide in one volume. I haven't been through the complete book yet (it is afterall an encyclopedia) but from what I can tell it is a fairly complete snapshot of DC Comics At-This-Very-Moment as opposed to a historical volume. Character bios appear to largely forgo past continuity and instead focus primarily on current continuity. ex: Large bio-page on Zoom, smaller mention of Reverse Flash. Entry on Wally West's wife and how they are currently split up, Teen Titan's entry primary shows the current new "Young Justice" team, etc. DC Fans Go Get.
Flash #213 - Geof Johns, Howard Porter
Good Issue (yeah, I read this after 214). An actual self contained story that still fits into a larger ongoing whole. Hasn't anyone told Geoff Johns that he's supposed to be writing for the trades? What're comics going to come to if you can pick one up and get something that feels like a complete episode that still makes you want to read the next issue? Also, I think I spent 20 minutes on this book. It's called "The Flash" shouldn't it be a faster read, like 5 minutes tops! Do Read.
Let's Go Surfing
» Cool humor comic, trial of "Han shot first"
via (someblog... but I forgot which...)
Friday September 24, 2004 7:22am #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Got nothin' today... so here's a pic of Sarah Jessica Parker and Lenny Kravitz in the Gap commercial.
» Oh yeah... it's also my friend Chris' birthday today. Happy Birthday Chris!
Thursday September 23, 2004 2:16am #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Does my geekity come into question since I haven't ran out and bought the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD on the first day?
Comments on Comics
The Flash #214 - Geof Johns, Howard Porter
Great Issue. More than a tie-in to Identity Crisis. This really is an additional chapter to that story. 
Johns really ties Identity Crisis in tight with what has been happening to the Flash in his own story arc. If you are reading Identiy Crisis, do not pass this book up, it's every bit as good.
Do Get.
Let's Go Surfing
» My Little Pony Borg?
via Boing Boing
» Scientists find part of the brain that extinguishes fear.
» They finally got John Conner!
» Fantastic Four Movie Costumes. I like 'em (even Thing)
» A 368dpi LCD Screen. (Sure it's only 2" but still that's an awesome resolution)
via Pocket PC Thoughts
» A Portable Wireless Router that connects to dial-up.
via Pocket PC Thoughts
» More previews of the Mutant Mayhem Heroclix tokens and Feat Cards.
via HCRealms
» Cool a new DC HeroClix expansion announced
via HCRealms
» Marvel December 2004 Comics Solicitations Highlights: Ultimates2 #1, Ultimate Secret #1, WHA... HUH?: (What if the Identity Crisis happened in the Marvel Universe?), MARVEL TEAM-UP #3 Marvel December 2004 Tradepaperback Solicitations
My Cover Picks (but go look at the links above, Marvel always has great covers)
via Comics Continuum
» Alex Ross Illustration of the Spidey/Mary Jane upside down kiss from the Spider-man movie More Alex Ross images for the "catch-up" sequence in Spider-man 2
via Comics Continuum
Tuesday September 21, 2004 1:23 am #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Mike Sterling passed along from CBR.cc (with Thing picture), the casting of Kerry Washington as Alicia Masters in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. At the far right, middle of the 2nd unretouched pic is the HeroClix figure, of the Puppet Master, Alicia's father.
What did HeroClix maker, Wizkids, know and when did they know it? ;)
Monday September 20, 2004 9:41pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
Picked-up a few Star Wars Minis. The scale is perfect with HeroClix as you can tell in these pictures I took.
Let's Go Surfing
» New Teen Titan Toy Pictures. Terra is cool. Seems like a non-customer friendly decision to seperate Thunder and Lightning though.
via Batman News Network
» Another site with Modular Heroclix Tiles for game maps in PDF format.
via HCRealms
Monday September 20, 2004 12:12pm #
» There's a link to my site is on Fred Hembeck's link list. Cool. (Sure it's a massive massive list of links but still.... that's neat.)
Back when I was a kid I used to always enjoy finding Hembeck's cartoons on the comics editorial pages. Being pre-internet and pre-Wizard and all that, 
Hembeck's work was one of the few regular comic parodies/comedies being done way back then that a kid picking up his comics off a 7-11 spinner rack was going to come across.
Here's a Hembeck Green Lantern cartoon. Always fun little strips and one of the most distictive cartooning styles on the planet. Good Stuff.
Cartoon via Proudrobot Hembeck Files
» Very cool custom created 3D Buildings for HeroClix
via HCRealms
» More Custom Clix Buildings: Clixbuilders.com CD of graphics available for sale.
via HCRealms
» National Heroclix Labratory
via HCRealms
» Cool Shareware Stop Motion Animation Capture Software. Anasazi Stop Motion Animator. Really Neat.
via Everthing Isn't
Saturday September 18, 2004 11:56pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Have you seen this odd Burger King commercial with the guy waking up next to a Burger King Mascot Headed Guy yet?
Let's Go Surfing
» This sneaks up on me every year. Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day Arrrrrrrr!
via Boing Boing
» There is a Daily Show Book The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book) : A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction coming out this Tuesday. Cool!
via Tom the Dog
Comments on TV
» Tonight's episode of Venture Bros. on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim has Dr. Venture joining Richard Impossible's Government Think Tank. As you can see it was a Fantastic Four parody episode. It also had a guest appearance by Race Bannon of Johnny Quest Fame. I've only seen a handful of episodes of this show but I've found all of them funny so far.
Saturday September 18, 2004 10:16pm #
Comments on TV
» Tonight's Teen Titans
Robin: Gizmo are you inside Cyborg.
Gizmo: Oh, I'm inside him alright, but I'm not in his brain, I'm in his butt.
Yep it was that stupid. Beast Boy downloads a 133t advance copy of a video game and gets Cyborg infested with a computer virus that makes him want to eat things. The Titan's enlist Gizmo, shrunk to microscopic size, accompanied by Beast boy, who has morphed into an amoeba to 'destroy the virii'.
» Tonights Justice League Unlimited: The Return
Fanboy Dream! see pics below!
Check out the Spoiler Suprize Ending pic
Excellent, Simply Excellent.
Saturday September 18, 2004 4:46pm #
Comments on Comics
Identity Crisis #4 - Brad Meltzer, Rags Morales
Little bit of a breather issue to set some things up to be knocked down later I think. My personal favorite part of the book was the several page Hal-Spectre/Green Arrow conversation. The panels at right would probably have even more impact if Hal's return wasn't so well known. Good Stuff.
Astro City Special: Supersonic #1 - Busiek, Anderson
Solid Story and art. I really enjoy how self contained the Astro City stories have been. Good Reading.
Aquaman #21 - Will Pfeiffer, Patrick Gleason
I'm enjoying the Sub Diego storyline, but here's a couple of things that stick with me while I'm reading it. One: Alot of the characters look like the artist is using Super Powers figures as his drawing reference (All the the art is generally fine.) Two, there is a similiar vibe in Aquaman and in Green Arrow that I just can't put my finger on. There is just something odd about those two characters, their cities, and supporting casts that's a little off from the rest of the DCU. More on this latter if I figure out exactly how to articulate it.
Flash #212 - Geoff Johns, Steven Cummings
Mirror Master Rogue spotlight issue. Not alot of books can get away with turning the spotlight completely off the main chacter for an issue, but the Flash's villians are just so much fun it's never an issue for me on this title. DC should look at doing a Rogues monthly. I'd buy it.
Justice League Another Nail #3 - Alan Davis, Mark Farmer
No real idea what this book was about, but boy was it pretty. Pages and pages with dozens and dozens of heroes in old school Crisis-like epic comic fun. Good Stuff.
Let's Go Surfing
» I don't stay that plugged into what's happening in the Marvel Books but I'm definently going to have to give Marvel Team-up a try now that I know Robert Kirkman (Invincible) and Scott Kollins (Flash) are the writer/artist combo on the book. The book comes out 11/3/04.
via Newsarama
» I haven't given this a try yet but the concept of a portable USB stick version of Firefox is a winning concept.
via Tiny Apps Blog
» Classic Star Trek Green Orion Slave Girl Action figure
via Action Figure Times
Saturday September 18, 2004 10:59am #
At the Movies
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Action Adventure Pulp Science Fiction [PG] 1hr 47min
In Theatres: 9/17/04 Date I saw it: 9/17/04 at Rivertown Cinemark
I liked this movie but it wasn't a good movie. Some minor spoilers may follow, read on at your peril.
Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow. Never before has a movie been made that looks like this, yet everything in this movie looks very familiar. The acting is good yet uninspired. The detail that keeps this from being a good movie however is the lack of any villian whatsoever. Let's focus on the positive first.
This movie is positively gorgeous. Every detail is slavishly attended to and faithfuly set in the picture's chosen milieu. This is 1930's Sci-Fi at it's visually most stunning. Every building, every robot, every plane, every second of this movie is one continuous special effect that does not dull in it's visual spectacle. There is one niggly problem, and that is plot and character.
It's impossible to fault this movie on the sights it delivers, but the acting and pacing are another matter altogether. Just as the backdrops and action are firmly set in the 30s, so is the acting style. The few characters we see are two dimentional and what little empathy one can feel for them probably comes from the attachment to the actors, we already know, more then the characters we meet within the reels of this tale. The actors are hard not to like, but they come across as unreal as the world they inhabit. Disbelief is easy to suspend for the fantastic visuals but much harder so for these performances that fall flat against their script.
(Here there be spoilers)
No discussion of this movie should be had without a discussion of the performance (or lack thereof) of the villian. Every great sci-fi story rests on it's villian. Star Wars' Darth Vader. Matrix's Agent Smith. 2001's Hal. The grandeur in the performance of the villian is what makes the heroes heroic moments heroic. Sky Captain's biggest flaw, is that it has NO villian. No villian at all. There are bad giant robots and bad flying robots but there is never a human face (well technically I suppose there is, but this is more of a metaphorical commentary) that threatens our heroes. There is no battle between ideologies, no real good versus evil. Noone at all to fear, hate or despise and worst of all, noone to root for the hero to overcome. Despite everything else that makes this an interesting movie, the lack of a villian stops this from being a good movie.
As I mentioned at the top of the review, I liked this movie. Those that like sci-fi, should see this on the big screen, the craftsmanship that goes into each frame deserves no less. But that's as far as this movie flys. Awe, not excitement. Spectacle without being spectacular. Design without art. Do go see it and afterwards think about how great this movie could have been as you leave the theater with a smile instead of a grin.
Overall[ok] Story [ok] Special Effects [great++]
key: [awful] [poor] [ok] [good] [great]
Friday September 17, 2004 8:05pm #
» According to The Beat, Diamond Comics (Which for my non-comic reader's is *the* distributor of all of the major comics publishers in the US. ie: they are the company comic stores actually order all their Marvel, DC et. all. from.) recently compiled this data on "comics readers"
Average age: 34
Gender: 87 percent male; 13 percent female
Residence:
City 48 percent
Suburbs 38 percent
Rural 14 percent
Education level:
College 45 percent
High school 33 percent
Junior college 10 percent
Post graduate 9 percent
Grade school 3 percent
Music taste:
Classic rock 27 percent
Metal 16 percent
Adult contemporary 8 percent
Country/western 6 percent
Classical 4 percent
Rap/hip-hop 2 percent
Own a computer: 77 percent
Use the Internet: 86 percent
Own a home video game system: 68 percent
via The Beat
» According to Diamond comics
The top 10 comics for August were:
1) Astonishing X-Men #4
2) Superman #208
3) Identity Crisis #3
4) X-Men: The End: Dreamers and Demons #1
5) Ultimate X-Men #50
6) Ultimate Nightmare #1
7) X-Men: The End: Dreamers and Demons #2
8) Ultimate Spider-Man #63
9) Uncanny X-Men #447
10) Ultimate Spider-Man #64
Wow Six books with X-Men and Two books with Spider-man, One with Superman (which let's be honest, Jim Lee, the current artist on that title, is mostly famous for his "X" work. So really it's those X-man readers buying that title too.) and DC's Big Event book Identity Crisis. Hmm. Not a lot of diversity in the top ten is there?
via Newsarama
Thursday 16, 2004 12:46am #
Comments on TV
» Tonight's Rescue Me. Such a bad show in such a good way. Most interesting point of note (besides this firehouse crew making the Sex and the City girls seem chaste) the actress, Diane Farr, who played opposite lead against Denis Leary in The Job has joined (temporarilly?) the cast as a hot female firefighter. The big guy behind her has already been on as a reoccuring character. Good Stuff. The Job image off of a Google search: serieslive.com. Best I found with a quick search, the Close-up from IMDB.com
Let's Go Surfing
» Maria Menounos from Entertainment Tonight has joined the cast of Fox's Fantastic Four movie. She is going to play a nurse that Johnny Storm pursues. Sure it's not newsworthy but it's a great excuse to post this photo of Menounos from an episode of ET on VH1. (Censored shirt was like that on the show) Flame On!
via Comics Continuum
» HeroClix Feats. New Rules/Cards from upcoming Mutant Mayhem
via HCRealms
Tuesday September 14, 2004 6:58pm #
Comments On TV
» While I'm sure I'm not putting it on my regular viewing schedule, LAX wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Completely two dimentional characters. Unrealistic situations. Overly comic side stories, and inane drama but because of Heather Locklear, still somewhat watchable. Go figure.
Let's Go Surfing
» Assuming this doesn't get Slashdoted into obliteration, here's a detailed Map of the Simpson's Springfield
via Slashdot
» As mentioned on Mike's site: Ian Brill has an excellent review of yesterday's DC solicitations.
Monday September 13, 2004 11:52pm #
» Protester dressed as Batman scales royal residence.
via Progressive Ruin
» DC Comics for December and DC Direct for March
DC Comics Highlights:
DC The New Frontier Vol 1 TP $19.99
JLA: Another Nail Tp $12.95
JLA #109 $2.25 feat. Crime Syndicate of Amerika
JSA #68 time travel issue feat Alex Ross cover.
The Legion of Super-Heroes #1 $2.95 Yet another relaunch but the blurb promises every monthly issue will be 40 pages for $2.95
Astro City: The Dark Age #1 $2.95
Ex Machina #7 $2.95
BATMAN/DANGER GIRL $4.95
DC Cover Highlights:
DC Direct Highlights:
Alfred Pennyworth Figure, Green Arrow Maquette
via Comics Continuum and others
» Cool X-man Evolution Character Line-up
via Comics Continuum
» Mini-Review of Star Wars Mini Game play
via More than Games
Monday September 13, 2004 12:12am #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Largest amount of "unique" hits ever last week at 361. Largest day ever last Friday at 75 "unique" hits (in part due to the "Sterling-effect"). There are a fair number of people from Google looking for "Justice League torrents" and "Teen Titans bittorrents" though. Nowhere near as many people hitting the site looking for weird naked stuff on the internet as there used to be... which is disapointing because those are always the most amusing to read in the referer logs.
Let's Go Surfing
» 5 Minute MP3 of Mark Hamill talking about Episodes 7, 8, and 9
Supposedly there is a Fox Television Series based on Star Wars on the way too.
via Slashdot
» Possible that your left and right ears work differently Music on the left ear and speech in the right.
Sunday September 12, 2004 11:10pm #
Comments on TV
» Just saw the season finales of Six Feet Under and Entourage on HBO.
Six Feet Under's finale was excellent TV. A half a dozen different plots, both resolved and extended that leave you waiting for the next season at the same time that you're satisfied with the one you just saw. I can't say enough about this smartly written show.
I equally enjoyed the wrap-up of Entourage's season. This is a great weekly replacement for Sex and the City and it looks to just get stronger next season.
Good stuff all around and worth the premium cable fee for either of those shows alone.
Let's Go Surfing
» Just noticed Julius Marx 9/9/04 posting which contains pictures of a lost Super Powers action figure: Rocketman! That's just the appetizer, take a look at Toy Otter for the full story of an entire unproduced line, over two dozen, of Super Powers figures, fully illustrated. Includes John Stewart Green Lantern, or as he's called on this presentation board "Black Green Lantern". There's more though, get this: Zan and Jayna the Wonder Twins!. There are playsets in this article too... take a look at this OA Lantern Base
Sunday September 12, 2004 12:12am #
Comments on TV
» Tonight's Teen Titan Episode featured the Titans on Starfires homeworld as she is betrothed to a green blob. Major wacky anime take episode. The episode also featured the return of Blackfire. Eh.
» Tonight's Justice League featured: Booster Gold and Skeets as the focus of the entire ep. They managed to sneak a recap of his origin in as well. Many many cameos by other Justice Leaguers too. The plot: Mordru is attacking Metropolis and it takes the entire Justice League to take him down, except for Booster who is stuck on crowd control duty. Minor complaints: Skeets flys around while vertical instead of horizontal and his voice was like Beast Boy. Other than that though, you get your moneysworth out of this one. Best Line: Green Lantern to Elongated Man "Plastic Man is already down there, we don't need two stretchy guys". Good Stuff.
Saturday September 11, 2004 11:52am #
Random Non-Sequiters
» It's September 11th. My sympathies to anyone who has a birthday or wedding aniversary today.
Comments on Comics
Ex Machina #3 - Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris
I continue to look forward to this book every month. Great characterization, fresh comic angle. Really good art. When this hits the trade, I'll be pushing it on the non-comic reading public at large. Really Good Stuff. Do Get.
DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America #1 - David, Ellison, Wolfman, Giella, Nguyen, Friend.
Another Julius Schartz tribute issue. I thought the first, more biographical story (Ellison, David, and Giella) was ok and a fair tribute. The second (Wolfman and Nguyen) didn't really work for me, not that it was "bad". In the second story the League meets their younger selves. The story didn't really work well for me taken in continuity or out of continuity. I thought it played *too* true to the two different writing styles of the periods represented and because of that I didn't think it tied together very tight. Identity Crisis is also dealing with the "Justice League used to be a happier place" concept to far better effect than this one does. However, both stories are much better than the "Heroes that Cry" arc running in the main JLA book.
Superman Birthright #12 - Waid, Yu
I just got around to reading this final issue in the "new" Superman origin. I'm not sure that the DCU can really handle yet another reimaginging of Supes Origin and the ripple effect that that generally has on the other characters but as a story unto itself, I thought it worked very well, especially as a compliment to the Smallville TV show. If you like Smallville, but aren't a regular Supes reader, pick-up the trade reprint of this series when it comes out soon.
Comments on TV
» 30 Years from now audiences will still be enjoying Bruce Timm's Batman the Animated Series. The same will not be said, I think, of The Batman which premiered this morning on Kids WB.
The animation has all the sophistication of a high end Jackie Chan Adventures. Bruce's characterizaition lacks confidence. Alfred's characterization is dark and unrefined. And then there's this fairly lame "Batwave" Palm Pilot. Sure this show is still better than most everything else on Saturday morning and the Kids may indeed watch it, but I doubt it will have the adult crossover appeal that the previous incarnation did.
Of course, the below from Toy News International is probably the biggest reason for the show's lack of coolness:
For decades Batman has entertained fans around the globe through comic books, television shows and movies; making The Dark Knight one of the world's most popular super heroes ever. On September 11, 2004 Batman appears in an all new animated series, "The Batman", on the Kids WB!, introducing this crime-fighting legend to a new legion of kids. But this time around, kids can not only watch all of the action, they can become a part of the action like never before with Mattel's new, innovative line of Batman T.V. Activated toys that really do bring the thrill of the series "to life" by letting users hear messages from Batman and download villians, weapons and vehicles straight from the T.V. screen via VEIL technology (Video Encoded Invisible Light).
Disapointed.
» Watched this week's Rescue Me on FX last night. Not the strongest of the episodes but still a good show that continues to get more dysfunctional with every episode. This series would fit in quite well on HBO. For those who have seen it: sad thing about the monkey isn't it?
Let's Go Surfing
» Take a look at these cool USB Bracelets. Great for geekettes.
via Reluct
» This is interesting looking: A Compact Flash/Movie/MP3/and more player insert for Game Boy Advance.
» Levi's no longer to make Jeans in U.S.,
In 1990, Levi's made 90 percent of its merchandise in the United States. The company now contracts out more than 90 percent of its production work to foreign garment workers, essentially becoming a marketer and distributor of jeans, but no longer a maker.Link
via FARK
Friday September 10, 2004 10:02pm #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Was out and about today and saw this new Batman Cartoon mini-hotwheels playset. The Batman and Joker figures look to be in Heroclix scale for any interested customizers out there. Price I saw was $7.
» I mentioned a couple days ago that I had my highest unique visitor count ever. Well, a brief mention on Mike Sterling's Progressive Ruin and that total has already been topped and climbing. I also registered with Comics Weblog Update-A-Tron 3000 which I learned of on Mike's site. Of course it's not about the numbers :) Alot of this stuff is just a convenient way for me to find links later as well as create a personal (del)illusion of turning all this time-wasting surfing into something semi-productive that others might enjoy too :)
» Remember, the New Batman Cartoon premieres on Kids WB tomorrow (Saturday 9/11/04) at 10:30am. There is also a new episode of Teen Titan's and Jusitice League Unlimited tomorrow at 8 pm on Cartoon Netork
Let's Go Surfing
» Mad Magazine "What if" GW Bush ran against Jesus Parody Commercial Storyboard.
via Boing Boing
» Noah Wyle plans to leave ER after this season.
via FARK
» Frank Thomas, One of Disney's "Nine Old Men" and co-author of Disney: the Illusion of Life passes away.
via FARK
» Worlds largest cylindrical aquarium. 5 story aquarium with elevator in the center. Very cool. Click on the little pictures (especially the first one) at the right of the linked page above.
via Boing Boing
» Eisner to Step Down from Disney in 2006
via Boing Boing
» Yet Another Comics Blog. Good Site. I've been scanning it more and more lately.
via Progressive Ruin
» WOW! check out these Sin City Movie Stills. This really looks good.
via The Beat
» Lookee at this Promo piece from Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis' Hero Squared Looks like this one could be Bwah Ha Haaaa funny!
via CBR.cc
» Take a look at this Sewer Map for HeroClix. Scroll down to the bottom to see the pictures. The site also has a bunch of other maps to download too.
» Here's a cool site that contains a Who's Whoish character bios of HeroClix Figures. Non-HeroClixer comic fans should enjoy it also. Click on the different HeroClix set titles to read character summaries.
Thursday September 9, 2004 10:15pm #
Comments on TV
» Not sold on the new Joey show yet. In the back of my mind I kept "wondering where the other friends were" I also think Joey's 20 year old nephew just makes him seem older. Also not sure about the Joey dating(?) a serious corporate accountant angle. Plus the cast seems very New York and the set is very TV LA. I'll watch next week though.
» Cool! Margot Kidder to appear with Christopher Reeve on Smallville TV Show.
via Comics Continuum
Random Non-Sequiters
» Yesterday, had largest number of "unique" visitors in one day on this blog ever at 51.
Let's Go Surfing
» Now this my friends is a Superhero cover ;)
via Newsarama
» Anti-Movie-Pirating Commercial Commercial
via Boing Boing
» More naked rollercoaster riders
via FARK
» Nicole Kidman takes "erotic bath" with 10 year old boy?
via FARK
» Meet the characters of the new Batman cartoon show that premieres this saturday on KidsWB at 10:30am
via Toy News International
» Star Wars "Clix"
via Toy News International
» HeroClix, New Battlefield Conditions
via gamingreport.com
Monday September 6, 2004 11:15pm #
Word of the Dayeudaimonia n. - A contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
Comments on Comics
Ultimate Fantastic Four #9 and #10 - Ellis, Immonen
Good Books. More chapters than books really. I like this title so much that I will probably drop it soon and just collect the trades. With the Fantastic Four movie on the horizon, it doesn't look like they would have any thoughts of dropping this book, and as well written and drawn as it is, it still moves too slow, even holding back and reading several issues at once.
Issue 10 has ten pages devoted to the introduction of the Fantasticar. Ten pages, and frankly although functional, it isn't that fantastic. Again this is a good book, but better to be read in a trade, especially since the whole Ultimate Universe is just a reimagining anyway. There isn't going to be alot of ground breaking twists and turns in the stories (especially not at these story speeds) that won't wait for later.
Green Arrow #40 and #41 - Winick, Hester
Good Books. Both are aftermath issues of the whole Demon storyline from a couple issues back. Winick does a great job with Ollie's characterization although the book could use a lighter touch here and there. Like everything else these days it's written with the trade in mind, but the individual issues work better than most on this series. Do Get.
At the Movies
I, Spy
Action/Adventure [R] 97min
In Theatres: 10/23/2004 Date I saw it: 9/6/2004 on HBO
Not a great movie, but an ok movie to watch in the background of doing something else. If you like Eddie Murphy, watch it if you flip by it on tv.
Overall [ok] Story [ok] Special Effects [ok]
key: [awful] [poor] [ok] [good] [great]
Random Non-Sequiters
» Just tried Mixed Berry 7up. Truely heinous, I mean absolutely horrid. Blech.
Mountain Dew Pitch Black on the otherhand, really rocks. Good Stuff.
» Read a New York Times article on the costs of stress in the workplace. An interesting read even if I didn't really get any new insights. It started me on a train of thought though.
When is enough enough and can you really get off the hamster wheel if noone else around you does?
Let's Go Surfing
» Count how many people are in this GIF before and after. Amazing huh?
via J-Walk blog
» Wikipedia article on the Parable of the Broken Window
» Vending Machine Toys
via J-Walk blog
» Monetary Econmics of Thurston Howell
Sunday September 5, 2004 11:44am #
Comments on TV
» Last Nights' Teen Titan Episode. Good straightforward episode, very few anime quick-takes. The team battles the the "Return of Red X" which is not Robin this time(?). One thing I've noticed is how much Robin continues to become a mini-brooding Batman as this series progresses, not a bad thing mind-you, just an observation. No screencaps this week
» Justice League Unlimited: Fearful Symmetry. Pretty good episode. None of the core team in this episode (other than a Martain Manhunter cameo) which brings: Supergirl, Green Arrow, and the Question together. Question is played sort of as the Fox Mulder of the team, right down to a parody of the X-Files: "I want to believe poster" in his room. Black Canary shows up again, but strickly plays the little red headed girl from Peanuts role to Green Arrow's Charlie Brown. This episode also sets up what could be a larger overarching theme to the show, or at the very least a plot thread to be concluded in another episode. Good Stuff.
Random Non-Sequiters
» I was in the grocery store yesterday and spotted this in the travel size HBC aisle: Charmin "To Go" packs.
That works on a couple different levels doesn't it?
» Here's a photo of a Japanese "Super-Deformed" Hal Jordan Green Lantern toy I picked up last month at the Wizard Comic Con. It's about 3 inches tall, made out of similiar material to a child squeeze toy. These show up on eBay fairly regulary too.
» On the topic of eBay, here's a 'Jack in the Box' Star Sapphire I bought off that auction site. No Jack in the Boxes in Michigan, but I really wanted this figure from their JLU Kids Meal collection. She has a battery and a button on her back that makes her eyes light up red. She is shown here with a Subway Green Lantern Figure from awhile back.
» Here's a cool pic of Bat-mite and Ace the Bat Hound with Batman, Robin and Batgirl (from different sets) from the recent Silver Age Batgirl/Batwoman (not pictured) Boxed set. The Bat-mite figure has moveable arms, legs and head.
» While we're in the Batcave, here's a comparison of the Carrie Kelly Batman Returns' Robin, which just came out, side by side with the Silver Age Dick Grayson Robin.
Mike Sterling on Progressive Ruin described this Robin as a "pegwarmer", meaning that it's not selling. Of the four characters that came out in this series, this is the only one, however, I bought. I think this figure fits in nicely on the shelf with the Kingdom Come characters. I thought the Batman, Superman and Joker figures in this series were a little too cartoony/caricaturish.
Saturday September 4, 2004 10:20am #
Random Non-Sequiters
» Here's a recap of last weeks Heroclix game I played last Wednesday. Last weeks lesson, beware Ultimate Thor.
I've only recently started playing this game so any Googlers who stumble accross this page who want to reccomend Heroclix resources, please post in the comments below. Thanks.
For those reading my blog that don't know what Heroclix is. Here's a good overview
Saturday September 4, 2004 7:40am #
» Comics Continuum: Geoff Johns on Green Lantern:
» Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle "Wallpaper"
via Comics continuum
» Scott McCloud on making his new book: Making Comics
via Newsarama
» New Justice League Monogram Resin figurines and Bank Tumblers
via Batman News Network
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I don't spell check! Most of the time the Quotes of the Day are by someone else, and sometimes I misremember them abit... and they are taken out of context. I often state my opinions as facts. I'm aware that can be annoying? Occasionally I edit content on these pages after initially posting them. Sometimes I type the word "Fnck". Flip the "n" over... I don't have a problem with the word myself, I just type it that way to slip it past overzealous work censorship programs. I'm also aware that I spend too much time on the internet and that it's nice outside and I really should go out and play.
You should not...
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Calendar
9/21 (Tues) Star Wars Trilogy on DVD
9/30 (Thur) Presidential Debate
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