I’m getting a little too excited at this point for Indy 4, but my enthusiasm helped me realize why comics have been so discouraging of late. There’s no sense of adventure in them, at least not for me. Back when I first read comics the stories seemed much more grounded in fantastic larger than life yarns. Whether they were good or bad, there was still a sense of wonder. That’s not to say I never wanted relatable heroes. I was a big fan of the X-men back in the day and Spidey’s suffering is part of what makes him a great character but now… it just seems too overloaded with heartbreak and catastrophe. What’s the next “tragic event” to hype so the big 2 can get their comics talked about in the fan press. Time and time again these things have been a letdown unless there was some sense of wonder and adventure. That’s why I signed up for The Phantom Comics by Moonstone. I should have done this a long time ago. It’s back to basics with the good guys fighting the bad guys. Adventure is really at the core of what I want despite any genre I may choose. It’s why I’m reading Conan and Red Sonja and it’s why I dropped most of my Marvel and DC stuff. There are a few other adventure comics coming down pike that I’m also looking forward to like Jungle Girl, Superpowers, Kull, Solomon Kane (possibly), and Airboy.
Oh and Dark Horse, now is a good time to collect all those Marvel Indiana Jones comics into trades just like you did with the old Star Wars stuff.
On a completely different topic, I purchased The Tick VS. Season Two and Popeye The Sailor 1933-1938 DVDs. When it comes to the Tick I forgot how awesome this show is. The scripting is brilliant. The stories work on two levels for both kids and adults. It’s often “laugh out loud” funny and the parodies of superhero-ness are spot on. The price is steep for only 12 of shows though (I got it with a reduced price promotion), and like the first season set it’s missing an episode, which is frustrating. The Popeye DVD collection is mind-blowingly good with 60 Fleischer cartoon shorts on 4 disks. In a similar manner to the Looney Tunes Gold Collections there’s lot of special features on each disk. Documentaries, commentaries, and early Fleischer shorts fill up each disk along with the amazingly well crafted Popeye cartoons. This set is for the serious collector, as it doesn’t censor the less savory elements like racism and violence and in fact each DVD has a disclaimer at the beginning. Despite that, the quality of these cartoons shines and they remind me why I always liked the black and white Popeye cartoons the best.
8 comments:
You're so right about the lack of adventure. I suppose that's why I've been into The Middle Man and P.S. 238 lately.
My introduction to The Tick comic back in 1991 is a long, potentially boring anecdote.
The show never jumped the shark, unlike the comic with issue 12.
Oh, and Popeye was a Coastie, darnit!
Those Popeye cartoons take me back. I remember watching them as a kid.
I am with you on the one-up drama hype thing. If one ice cream bar is good, eating ten more in rapid succession is 10 times better, right? Well, no.
I love The Tick TV show; it was so hilarious! The writers and actors really "got it"; I think audiences did too, but the money men just didn't give it enough time.
Hey the Popeye stuff sounds good, I'll have to check it out!
Tick cartoon is on my list. I love the guy that does the Rainman impression.
The Sewer Urchin!
Olive:'Swee'pea?' Well, I don't think 'Swee'pea' is a good name for him.
Popeye: What would you'd rather me call him? Baby Oyl?
arkonbey – interesting titles, I really like art on middle man.
Funny, I had the same experience with the Tick comic and Cartoon.
Well, Popeye sure dresses like a Coastie doesn’t he!
Snab – It’s strange how the old Popeye cartoons had no story but they were still fun. They take me back too.
That’s one of the best analogies I’ve heard about the state of comics we’re due for a course correction soon.
LB – I think your confusing the live action Tick TV show with the Cartoon Tick show from 1990s but both were great. The cartoon had three glorious seasons while… the Live action got a half season. I’m convinced that some stupid Fox executive hated it and so put it up against NBC strong fall Thursday night lineup. Originally it was supposed to be mid season replacement and then Fox held it back for the fall. Bastards. I love comparing and contrasting American Maid and Die Fledermaus with Captain Liberty and Batmanuel.
Dean – yes, the Tick cartoon rocks! And I don’t think Sewer Urchin is doing an impression.
Panda – I always thought his name was kinda funny too… But I like the name of that weird animal the Jeep.
Eugene the magical Jeep. Yeah, hard to explain that character...
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