You fight dirty Dean Wormer, with your Bat Dancing post (here), I have no choice but bring out the big guns!



-Swinebread

"... The Creature Has Made It All the Way To Downtown Los Angeles…”

I just finished up Steve (30 Days of Night) Niles’ Giant Monster. It’s a fun Sci-Fi horror comic with some nice twists on an old genre. It’s well scripted with moments of dark humor. If I didn't know better, I'd say that Giant Monster seems like it was made to interest major film studios. Hmmmmmm… I’m not completely on board with Nat Jones’ art style though, but I like the rendering of the Monster itself so that’s something. Here again, it appears that Boom Studios is ahead of the curve as a slew of American Kaiju films are sure to be green lit following the success of Cloverfield. And to ride that success, Boom is releasing this comic on-line for free (grrrrr). See it here


-Swinebread

I see Dean Wormer's dancing Pee Wee, and raise him an Ed Wood meets Orson Wells.



You wanna' call it Dean?

-Swinebread

Psycho Gigolo Shatner

Because I haven't posted anything with Shatner in some time.



-Swinebread

The Retcon the Feminists Missed

After reading Red Sonja #29 on Saturday the 26th I figured the usual blogs would be all a buzz about the story from that issue. Well, there was nothing… nothing except a review (here) by Ray Tate at comics bulletin.

I guess that most woman aren’t reading Red Sonja otherwise this comic would have made bigger waves. Now I can understand this as Red Sonja does have her cheesecake with a side of pornface appeal but ultimately that’s more of a cover art kind of thing. The bigger concern here is that Red Sonja’s origins have been drastically rewritten and most of it is awful.

With issue 29 Michael Avon Oeming and Brian Reed bring their Kulan Gath conquers the world storyline to a close, his defeat by Sonja and the shattering of Sonja’s origin play out in this issue.

What’s important to know about Red Sonja’s past is that as a child she was raped, her family was murdered, a goddess took pity on her and that goddess made her into a great warrior. Additionally, Sonja was given a warrior’s skill and in return she’s forbidden from having sex. Not only that, but she can only take a mate when she’s defeated in combat by a man someday. This is the back-story that Roy Thomas laid down in the 1970s. There’s never any mention of any possible lesbian relationship in all of this by the way. So apparently Sonja has always been a celibate hetero hero. OK she did screw a god a year or two ago but that didn’t count ‘cause he was a god.

Anyway, the idea that Sonja is a feminist icon (as Tate and some purport) is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, she’s a strong woman that makes her own way in the world. She has a warrior’s destiny and she kicks butt. She fights against evil and is a womanly force for good in a primitive male-dominated world. On the other hand, it seems that it was necessary for Sonja get raped for all this to come about, and that’s troubling. While rape is a fairly common theme in some ancient myths, which is what I think Thomas was tapping into, it’s much more of a dubious storytelling origin in our modern era. In addition, the idea of her being celibate until she’s defeated by her “Mr. Right” brings up all kinds of other gender issues as well. (Especially since her Mr. Right is Wolverine, don’t believe me? Read What if? Vol. 2, #16.)

So where does this leave us with issue #29? Well, it’s revealed that Red Sonja’s rape and the murder of her family were actually orchestrated by the goddess so that Sonja would be a force to oppose and defeat Kulan Gath. It’s also revealed that she was created out of the blood of Kulan Gath and the heart of a Tree which is confusing and creates all sort of questions about her such as; is she an artificial person, an elemental like Swamp Thing, or a homunculus as Tate says? The story goes further and demotes the Goddess to simply a failed, pathetic sorceress willing to use Red Sonja as a tool. Thus the Recton is complete.



Now having the goddess exposed as merely human and the one that caused all of Sonja’s troubles is incredibly cynical and isn’t a good payoff on a storyline that’s been going for a long time. This is the kind of lazy narrative we usually see from the big 2.

The one bright spot in all this is that Red Sonja has renounced her vows. This means that she could have an intimate relationship with someone now and that opens up new avenues for storytelling. It’s just too bad that Oeming and Reed’s plot was a very messy way to accomplish this. To top it all off, Ron “the refrigerator” Marz takes over the writing duties with issue #30 so any mature examination of this new liberated side to Sonja is probably doomed. At least he can’t kill her off since she’s the title character.

-Swinebread

Project Superpowers Trailer

Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's epic Project Superpowers (name change from just "Superpowers" most likely due to Marvel and DC threating legal action) now a has a trailer which can be viewed here.

Some wonderful and classic public domain characters are back.

Like Marvel's The Twelve, I've been excited for this one to arrive since last summer. #0 is out this Wednesday.

-Swinebread

My New Comics

This week’s best cover is Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5.


Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #4, DC Comics/Dynamite Entertainment.

Red Sonja #29, Dynamite Entertainment.

She-Hulk #25, Marvel Comics.

Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5, DC Comics.

Marvel Zombies 2 #4, Marvel Comics.

Star Trek: Alien Spot: Borg #1, IDW.

Incidentally Star Trek Year 4 #6 came out this week but I dropped this title. This comic was a huge, boring slog like the Astronaut’s Wife. It’s strange because I’ve been enjoying the Alien Spotlights that IDW has been publishing.

-Swinebread

Kai-ju-ju

I saw Cloverfield last weekend but I didn’t have time to do a review so here’s a quickie.

When I was a kid I remember watching quite a few Godzilla movies and wondering what it would be like for the folks at street level if a giant monster was really smashing through a city. Well, with Cloverfield that’s what you get along with the added bonus of home movie camera work, which means jump cuts and garden hosing. It was better than I thought it was going to be and the film is a nice parody of Echo Boomer values and current anxieties. It’s quite scary at times but also very energetic with direct visual references to 9-11, and the Iraq War. Cloverfield is the rebirth of the 1950’s giant monster movie reinterpreted for the modern age.

Here is what I liked in no particular order (spoilers):



The homage to the Escape From New York poster.

The timing was excellent. “Accidentally” stumbling upon moments that advanced the plot often felt very natural despite the absurdity of the subject matter.

The monster is not always shown on screen

When we do see the monster it looks like a cross between a kaiju and a Lovecraftian horror.

Generally being surprised several times during the film.

I’m glad they didn’t make it (or most of them didn’t make it) but that could change with a sequel I suppose.

Special effects were well done and deliberate rather than being used to fill up the screen with nonsense (i.e. Star War prequels)

The way the film went from night to day was subtle but effective.

The origin of the Monster is unknown unless your paying attention at the end.

The baby monsters are scary and fun especially in the subways.

The infected chick’s death was classic movie horror.

I liked the whole leaning tower section.

Nods to Aliens, and 28 Days later to name just a few horror films referenced.


Here is what I disliked in no particular order (spoilers):

 


Is everybody in New York a twenty something?

OK we could still use a few more moments of stillness to keep out eyes from popping out of our heads

The pretty people with their pretty problems section went on just a little too long.

A little too focused on one demographic? Maybe not but… there were other movies before 1990 out there.

New York again?

Most of the characters were not interesting people at all. (But that’s the point right)

I sure hope we don’t get a whole slew of movies shot with shaky camera movements now.


Missed Opportunities (spoilers): 



Umm None I can think of… ...maybe a joke at the expense of the American Godzilla?


Warnings:

My SO got sick during the movie and had to close her eyes halfway through. If its easy for you to get motion sickness or you’ve gotten ill in a movie before, skip Cloverfield on the big screen.

Veterans of Combat might have a problem with some of the actions scenes.


-Swinebread

The Joker Killed Heath?

The early autopsy tests are still inconclusive but one of those “entertainment gurus” went on CNN a little while ago, saying that Heath Ledger wasn’t sleeping very well when he was playing the joker, (he was getting about 2 hours a night) suggesting that’s how he got “hooked” on sleeping pills. The anchor responded that the Joker was such a dark, scary character and being in character for long periods of time must have really taken a toll on his mind.

What the Fuck?

Now Mr. Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker will be that much more eerie because of his death but are these folks on the payroll of WarnerBrothers or something?

-Swinebread

RIP Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger found dead today in his apartment. Good actor, what a waste.

I wonder what happend?

see here

Ledger as the Joker


-Swinebread

Robert E. Howard's Birthday

Today is Robert E. Howard's 102 birthday. He was creator of Conan the Barbarian and the originator of the Sword and Sorcery genre. Plus, Howard wrote many other wonderful adventure tales set in both modern and ancient times.

But the idea of a man making his living by writing seemed, in that hardy environment, so fantastic that even today I am sometimes myself assailed by a feeling of unreality.

-Robert E. Howard

Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.

-Robert E. Howard


A scene from the movie The Whole Wide World where Howard, played by Vincent D'Onofrio, talks about his favorite creation, Conan.


-Swinebread

My New Comics

Last week’s best cover is Spider-Girl #16.

I didn't pick up much.

Dominion #4, Boom Studios.

Spider-Girl #16, Marvel Comics. In a word, Buscema.

Shadowpact #21, DC Comics.

New Exiles #1 #1, Marvel Comics.

Magazine
Back issue #26, Twomorrows. (See here) Has nice articles on Airboy (the Eclipse Comics years), James Bond in comic books and the great Ms. Tree.


-Swinebread

Another Reason I wasn't Reading Comics in the 90s

...And maybe a better one at that.

(NWS nasty lyrics)



I had a nice long post I was preparing for today, but I didn't get it done in time and now I'm off to the beach for the Weekend.

That means I'll be late with usual My New Comics post as well since I'm hitting the comic book store on the way outta' town.

See you Monday!

-Swinebread

One of the Reasons I wasn't reading comics in the 90s

-Swinebread

Now I Know Why Dean Wormer Is Going to Cloverfield

It seems that a new teaser trailer for Star Trek 11 will be shown before Cloverfield. See Here.

Now all Dean has to do is wait until December.

Yeah right!

Just don’t try to freeze yourself like Cartman buddy.

Plus, that's a new “Official” pic up top there. Oh Boy!

-Swinebread

One More Observation

I know, I know, everybody is sick of blogging about One More Day and Peter and Mary Jane’s Marriage disappearing but I just wanted say that, more major news organizations (and not so major) have finally picked up the story this week... ...at least on the web. This one by the AP here is a good example. Most of them just regurgitate Joe Q’s spew about how wonderful the whole thing is and how the fans had now idea it was coming. Of course, opinions like these really reflect the surprise of the reporters that aren’t reading comics rather than the fans.

It’s funny, because this happened last month, but I guess a comic book can still make news even belatedly. Too bad it wasn’t a story that was actually any good.

-Swinbread

What Post-apocalyptic Character Are You?

I've got nothing going on today so I tried another quiz.

Your Score: Gang Leader

You scored 61 Strength, 55 Guile, 33 Morality, and 66 Survival Rate!

You're strong and smart. Traits that the other thugs respect. Your survival skills are a bit low, but it doesn't matter because you can get someone else to do all the work for you. Just come up with a really cool gang name and sit back and relax.

Link: The Post-Apocalyptic Survival Test

I'm not sure what the picture has to do with anything but there you go.

-swinebread

High Ratings for Terminator

Hmmmm Looks like a few other folks enjoyed the premiere.

From Superheroflux here

Even without Arnold, the Terminator franchise is most certainly back.

According to Variety, the premiere episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles scored the highest opening-night ratings of any new show in three years. The show nabbed an outstanding 7.6 rating/18 share amongst the 18-49 adult demographic, and scored 18.3 million viewers for the show's debut, according to the Nielsen ratings service. The scripted show's success only accentuates the need for scripted programming while the networks try to make due with reality programming during the writers' strike.

Speaking of the strike, it conversely affected another program this week as well. NBC's hour-long telecast of the Golden Globes annoucement was trounced in the ratings with a 1.7/4 in demographic and drawing just 5.8 million viewers. The announcement special came in lieu of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild both boycotting the normal two-hour telecast.

Hey FOX give the writers a good deal so we move on and ensure that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles doesn't end up with crappy scripts that doom the show.

-Swinebread

Mantlo: A Life in Comics

One of the nice things about the ROM exhibit I went to last month (here) was that they had copes of the benefit project book, Mantlo: A Life in Comics. Bill Mantlo, as some of you may know, was a prolific comic book writer from the mid ‘70s to the late ‘80s. He wrote many of my favorite comics from my childhood and created several unique characters along the way. In the early ‘90s, Mantlo was hit by a car and never fully recovered from the brain injury that resulted. The purchase of this book goes toward his care.

Reading this slim, but jam-packed magazine was a great stroll down memory lane. So many wonderful stories and superheroes came flooding back, Cloak and Dagger, the smart Hulk, the crossroads Hulk, ROM, Micronauts, Jack of Harts, Peter Parker the Spectacular Spiderman, Rocket Raccoon, Rawhide Kid, Champions and Iron Man. Bill Mantlo was an amazing writer and his work holds up very well by today’s standards. I’ll take his version of the Marvel Universe over what’s currently going on at the house ‘no’ ideas. Pick it up. It’s well researched and a joy to read.

An interview with the author of Mantlo: A Life in Comics, David Yurkovich, here

-Swinebread

Come With Me If You Want To Be Renewed (Hopefully)

FOX may have a hit on their hands with Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I really enjoyed the first half of the premiere this last Sunday and I'm looking forward to the second half Monday night.
From Wikipedia:

[The Show is about] the adventures of the title character and her son in the years after Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The series will ignore Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Sarah Connor will be alive. The series starts with the return of the Terminators into their lives, prompting Sarah and John to stop running and focus on stopping the birth of Skynet. They are aided by Cameron, a Terminator, played by Summer Glau, who poses as a student at John's school and whose mission is to protect John. Meanwhile, an FBI agent named James Ellison pursues Sarah and John with the belief that Sarah is deranged.

I didn't pay attention to any of the publicity for the show and I'm glad I didn't because the plot was a delightful surprise. A great premise, good actors, and thrilling action (for a TV program), make Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles a winner in my book (so far). Sure it's got a TV budget but it works for what they're trying to do with this program. It's a case where less is more. It makes me happy to see Summer Glau on network TV again and it makes me really happy the whole thing doesn't look like Vancouver B.C.

Of course I could be all wrong and the Sarah Connor Chronicles will get cancelled... this IS a sci-fi show on FOX we are talking about here.

trailer:


-swinebread

Superheroes Just Got a Little Bit Cooler in Portland

Picture from the Portland Lumberjax via the Portland Tribune.

When you cross an über jock with an über geek the results can be rather stunning. In this Photo we have Dallas Eliuk, a lacrosse goalie for the Portland LumberJax, and his wife Daria O’Neil, a Rose City radio celebrity. The local non-daily paper, The Portland Tribune, wrote up an article about Eliuk for the sports section this last Friday (see article here), and man, is this guy a hardcore Batman fan or what? From the story:

The geekdom of Dallas Eliuk can be traced back to his childhood, watching Adam West play Batman on television and reading DC Comics about the Caped Crusader. Today, it’s displayed in Eliuk’s thousands of collectibles and his own alter ego… …Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Eliuk says, “my first spoken word was ‘Batman.

What's most amazing is the fun, geeky relationship Eliuk has with his new wife.

Eliuk met his match in his new bride, Daria O’Neill, a radio personality with 105.1 “The Buzz.” As their relationship took off, Eliuk broached the subject of Batman – and Spiderman, since Eliuk isn’t naive enough to think that only one superhero saves the world. Sunday cartoons told him that.
Eliuk couldn’t believe that O’Neill loved comic books and superheroes, too. This sort of thing just doesn’t happen with women, he thought. It had been such a “big issue” with his ex-wife…
…The couple tied the knot New Year’s Eve at home, but O’Neill says a Batman-theme marriage celebration is planned for spring or summer. There will be heroes joining Batman on one side, and villains with leather-printed Catwoman on the other side. Guests will register by Batcomputer. No word on whether the couple will then take the Batplane on their Bathoneymoon.

I used to listen to Daria quite a lot a several years ago so it was a bit of a surprise to discover that she’s really into geeky comic stuff along with her husband. But the two of them sure make a great looking couple right? They made an appearance at the last Portland Comic Book show as Batman and Catwoman, but unfortunately I was in Japan. I love it when a good-looking folks let their freak flag fly. Maybe I can sneak into that wedding and snap a few pictures? Heh heh!

My New Comics

This week’s best cover is Fall of Cthulhu #9.


The Evil Dead #1, Dark Horse Comics.

Bat Lash #2, DC Comics.

Hulk #1, Marvel Comics. In a hyphenated word, She-Hulk.

Army of Darkness: The Long Road Home #5, Dynamite Entertainment.

The Un-Men #6, DC Comics.

The Twelve #1, Marvel Comics. I’m loving this Comic!

Infinite Horizon #2, Image.

Fall of Cthulhu #9, Boom Studios.

Back Issue
The Foundation #1, Boom Studios. Got skipped the first time around.

Trade Paperbacks
Conan The Blood Stained Crown and Other Stories Dark Horse.

The Savage Sword of Conan Volume #1, Dark Horse. YES! IT IS NOW MINE!

-Swinebread