Marvel was kind enough to let me post this cover on my website ahead of previews. Enjoy!
Month: October 2013
Movie reviews: Mystery Men, The Iron Giant
Originally published September 3, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1346
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
–John Donne, “Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions”
There are two movies out at the moment, one squarely comic book related, the other tangentially related, both of which serve to remind me of my earliest days of comic reading. Specifically, what heroes were about, or at least what they were supposed to be about.
Continue Reading “Movie reviews: Mystery Men, The Iron Giant”
Waiting for Godot
So I saw “Waiting for Godot” last night with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan. Oh, and Doctor Manhattan (Billy Crudup) as well. Kathleen has stage managed three productions of it and so this play meant a lot to her.
It was the first time I’d seen it. Here’s my spoiler free review:
WTF?
Seriously. What the hëll was THAT about?
I am happy to award a brand spanking new Peter David WTF award to the best explanation.
PAD
Elfquest Under Attack
Originally published August 27, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1345
It always gives one a nice, tidy, false sense of security to think that the only comic books which undergo attacks by watchdogs or misguided individuals with no clue as to what the First Amendment is all about, are those comics that somehow “deserve” to have it happen. Over-the-top pørņ, raging obscenity, stories that seem to encourage violence towards women or in some other way make you feel ever so slightly unclean just for having to defend it.
I want to welcome you, then, to the latest case to fall into the docket of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, as a part-time dealer in comic books—selling them at flea markets—finds himself facing two counts of trafficking in selling obscene material to minors. The name of the ever-so-foul comic that this scumwad was dealing?
Elfquest.
The Punisher
Originally published August 20, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1344
There are two characters in comics whom I have written and never want to take another try at. This isn’t to say that the characters are necessarily bad, or that other writers with a far greater affinity for them couldn’t producer cracking good stories for them. Indeed, writers whose work I have nothing but respect for have done exactly that. Nevertheless, I personally have no affinity for the characters whatsoever.
So where does the GOP stand now?
I’m reading all sorts of articles that claim the GOP has royally screwed itself thanks to its shutting down the government. (And those who are trying to spread the blame around can just stop. You’re fooling no one except yourselves. This was a GOP action from soup to nuts.)
The question is, are they really as dead in the water as pundits are claiming? Are they going to lose upcoming elections? Seats in the House? Me, I’m thinking not, because people have such short memories nowadays that I’m concerned by the time elections roll around, they will have forgotten all the crap the GOP pulled and be on to the next thing, while the Democrats will be unable to take advantage of GOP incompetence.
PAD
A Review of Life
Originally published August 13, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1343
This is the all-review issue, I’m told.
Let’s review life.
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