tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41163955076055353882024-03-13T10:06:27.927-05:00Digsy Has A Blog!Temporary BluesBretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-85579243592178909962009-07-17T22:58:00.015-05:002009-07-17T23:11:43.716-05:00Halloween 2009 - Time To ChooseI've pretty much decided to be one of the following. Since both costumes are almost identical (which I didn't realize until today), it really comes down to the accessories. Which is better, public?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BANSHEE</span></span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk0owvHnGbR7h7oBGorxi5sJ3F8NPrcZSh7iGkUMPLttqeN3T7EoLcEUe0kQpuYiN9ZYD6j2pvaSa4XFQtzn8D5wlegJACBkkHV6fGy5_nEfT67Ue3170GoRAwK2vb3XpV3D9ek2-XeIG/s1600-h/banshee-mini-bust.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk0owvHnGbR7h7oBGorxi5sJ3F8NPrcZSh7iGkUMPLttqeN3T7EoLcEUe0kQpuYiN9ZYD6j2pvaSa4XFQtzn8D5wlegJACBkkHV6fGy5_nEfT67Ue3170GoRAwK2vb3XpV3D9ek2-XeIG/s320/banshee-mini-bust.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645322370159090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNolmr36XWxhKFXkw6fcau69XTXHCpZIslMpCBQTDqcpvhEldO-Hrc3vjifaFJv9O-ot8wD_szPOZhvrXVD9oAYTa6-ib4GFgFOxninhi8-vqeS5gqk9264kfjwwITrS6wLi-wk7r6VsQz/s1600-h/banshee-bigcostume1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNolmr36XWxhKFXkw6fcau69XTXHCpZIslMpCBQTDqcpvhEldO-Hrc3vjifaFJv9O-ot8wD_szPOZhvrXVD9oAYTa6-ib4GFgFOxninhi8-vqeS5gqk9264kfjwwITrS6wLi-wk7r6VsQz/s320/banshee-bigcostume1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645270855205314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_q0S9BmLp9ZWExzSmd3dtwM816Z9A-k30mbHY8CLjmbB3s5eVqeVaNR8kpB94VzONRpOkVle7ouMnYbGiSp05yGuCc1nlDHSpRL199m-g4Zz2f5lv0viXv1RoPFE7dOx-S9yjMdwTq9m/s1600-h/banshee10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_q0S9BmLp9ZWExzSmd3dtwM816Z9A-k30mbHY8CLjmbB3s5eVqeVaNR8kpB94VzONRpOkVle7ouMnYbGiSp05yGuCc1nlDHSpRL199m-g4Zz2f5lv0viXv1RoPFE7dOx-S9yjMdwTq9m/s320/banshee10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645219735453826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefCN9wzyDGNUQy9Rb52hjgKMqCPtASPtYWJ97eM1AH-yN_wYaSOZ57D7bErYBOkAeUOKBG6PT9Vk3JBiNAPufZXvtOWRhamSILhJsarG7_UrG3eX1MMSYtPmhn4OhCJ5X_cnuoMaVmPPo/s1600-h/banshee00.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefCN9wzyDGNUQy9Rb52hjgKMqCPtASPtYWJ97eM1AH-yN_wYaSOZ57D7bErYBOkAeUOKBG6PT9Vk3JBiNAPufZXvtOWRhamSILhJsarG7_UrG3eX1MMSYtPmhn4OhCJ5X_cnuoMaVmPPo/s320/banshee00.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645162130384354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqUWTQ5X1YWYT33RSB74Sjqx7a4HAxv2zPfbxH-RciBmcp78-8mha92A0Hy1ayaCrO8c5EMWU6ztWbNZIvrdtSKLh9zFY6p1kTJhn-VAQdIiiOq-6zKRnDcrBBrQP-zbEEg5y5JwF2pup/s1600-h/Banshee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqUWTQ5X1YWYT33RSB74Sjqx7a4HAxv2zPfbxH-RciBmcp78-8mha92A0Hy1ayaCrO8c5EMWU6ztWbNZIvrdtSKLh9zFY6p1kTJhn-VAQdIiiOq-6zKRnDcrBBrQP-zbEEg5y5JwF2pup/s320/Banshee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359644979736945442" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Pros: Banshee is an X-Man and I made a vow to always be X-Men for Halloween. I would love the chance to have red hair and sideburns on Halloween AND talk in an Irish accent. Plus that cape looks like a lot of fun.<br /><br />Cons: It's overall not as exciting and hilarious as my other choice. Plus yellow boots are a pain and I'd probably have to do the converse and yellow knee socks again this year. And the less amount of time I have to wear yellow rubber gloves, the better.<br /><br />Or...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">IRON FIST</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ol90kulS8KIs_q0moATK1AKC6YeD6NubIZ1fzKvyP5MvHV4eqyj3w2CGch0k6p92PKMyJ7CYX62HLKZh0-oLb7DX6nkebcSAk1sRPWmrcDbXGP5PX-NQ_j544ivvNx4661mJTc3lTmeF/s1600-h/696178400-04224d0c69.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ol90kulS8KIs_q0moATK1AKC6YeD6NubIZ1fzKvyP5MvHV4eqyj3w2CGch0k6p92PKMyJ7CYX62HLKZh0-oLb7DX6nkebcSAk1sRPWmrcDbXGP5PX-NQ_j544ivvNx4661mJTc3lTmeF/s320/696178400-04224d0c69.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645107312701234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubdYwEEyfp3LXUEMcV6UZDwZ5UsEXQq-jyf-zfwGPyJtKGRdrT0gt7B_DGjNk7h8m8zCEIf9BjpVLCQzCCKF7SYlnR0lMoK4J3eWlrHjKGlImWNpbX3pJb850NeLavTQ6VOqGIjb8d3vf/s1600-h/splash-791684.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubdYwEEyfp3LXUEMcV6UZDwZ5UsEXQq-jyf-zfwGPyJtKGRdrT0gt7B_DGjNk7h8m8zCEIf9BjpVLCQzCCKF7SYlnR0lMoK4J3eWlrHjKGlImWNpbX3pJb850NeLavTQ6VOqGIjb8d3vf/s320/splash-791684.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645681002234066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmjJfECtz_zJQFH_dxdaYTR32CALmXDROFV1kzIAWpgPv7t6a9Efk251sFMBbxbn_p5ZKqWxNDLtg09ZgpqWIxz03XmT5sTB2-e_BI3tQ9GE33RtdnQMx-3tX7VxjVJf8AnKLYdCDbrT/s1600-h/pmifhousead.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmjJfECtz_zJQFH_dxdaYTR32CALmXDROFV1kzIAWpgPv7t6a9Efk251sFMBbxbn_p5ZKqWxNDLtg09ZgpqWIxz03XmT5sTB2-e_BI3tQ9GE33RtdnQMx-3tX7VxjVJf8AnKLYdCDbrT/s320/pmifhousead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645572543861490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fTpr85kfq9VgLuNHVXb5g_SsyZewRcmWYSL0ce5AqGg4n5QAWV0tWhyrFQ0A8ZUK30RQcupNA3N_o2Le6Zu9EB_VmM1QB2VoAuVQJc9GxkHtgNNZAlh4EIGE6VFb8Otyzflvhzl7nIp6/s1600-h/IronFist-Classic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fTpr85kfq9VgLuNHVXb5g_SsyZewRcmWYSL0ce5AqGg4n5QAWV0tWhyrFQ0A8ZUK30RQcupNA3N_o2Le6Zu9EB_VmM1QB2VoAuVQJc9GxkHtgNNZAlh4EIGE6VFb8Otyzflvhzl7nIp6/s320/IronFist-Classic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645513638379042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfO765p6QCBVgCiheOS9jN-YGS9bw5xU0fWk141We42qZfU2-EGI8gwOyqX7I5ag-N3gbn_47R7k__lpYShyphenhyphenNZeKERAtYI6bnM1KLVUWwQE-sJrUqfrLYrM9wT4A64-noQaVfheGp2CiU/s1600-h/IronFist2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfO765p6QCBVgCiheOS9jN-YGS9bw5xU0fWk141We42qZfU2-EGI8gwOyqX7I5ag-N3gbn_47R7k__lpYShyphenhyphenNZeKERAtYI6bnM1KLVUWwQE-sJrUqfrLYrM9wT4A64-noQaVfheGp2CiU/s320/IronFist2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645447063561426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrz3LqJRMwSVNH6gehEToc26noj6EqX0Pze5_iFJlnFtJ5FqbRM2NPwbg31L09ROx2ZChKzaZst-HiSJ6pV8OBsZYjmYUaU4GHeY6Q_X6yrPa8MTAoeVQcKmBayj09PkbOiVYquVh9ReK/s1600-h/ironfist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrz3LqJRMwSVNH6gehEToc26noj6EqX0Pze5_iFJlnFtJ5FqbRM2NPwbg31L09ROx2ZChKzaZst-HiSJ6pV8OBsZYjmYUaU4GHeY6Q_X6yrPa8MTAoeVQcKmBayj09PkbOiVYquVh9ReK/s320/ironfist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645391556426018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxF0tyXzNjNWtb-R0j9tlpsUzIgdVbRgehwWaKcYy6siOx4qi0VPWoApfWy5Ym2a_MN1wtc0seBYW1V1c460teLoJh2gbclz-l0lcEnVVbO30qQNzgPLloAeBrNZLvf_HIQEznj9HgmRU/s1600-h/54_IMMORTAL_IRON_FIST_27_DJ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxF0tyXzNjNWtb-R0j9tlpsUzIgdVbRgehwWaKcYy6siOx4qi0VPWoApfWy5Ym2a_MN1wtc0seBYW1V1c460teLoJh2gbclz-l0lcEnVVbO30qQNzgPLloAeBrNZLvf_HIQEznj9HgmRU/s320/54_IMMORTAL_IRON_FIST_27_DJ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359645039242384562" border="0" /></a><br />Pros: I'd get to wear actual shoes I could actually find somewhere. I wouldn't have to wear rubber gloves. I'd get to have a bare chest and capri pants, which is just hilarious to me. This is more iconic.<br /><br />Cons: It's not an X-Man and it's actually a character I know less about. I love the recent <span style="font-style: italic;">Immortal Iron Fist</span> series, but I have a bit of poseur guilt since I haven't read anything starring Iron Fist pre-2007. I could change my vow to always be a Marvel Character, which isn't that big a stretch. Also I could foresee that mask getting annoying...but if I wanted to go super authentic I could dye my hair blonde for the night.<br /><br />I think Iron Fist is more fun just because he's probably one of the only heroes who DON'T have implausible gloves or boots. But Banshee is actually an X-Man and one I like. VOTE ON THIS.<br /></div></div>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-58661912548914035822009-07-10T17:17:00.003-05:002009-07-10T17:25:48.045-05:00Where I've BeenYeah...don't know what I'm doing writing wise anymore. Here at least. I feel guilty about not updating this, especially since my main reason for having a blog is to keep track of my own life. I usually fear that I will forget everything. Yep! This has been a pretty stellar week, oddly enough. I started my new job as a page at <span style="font-style: italic;">The Late Show</span>, and all the fears I had were pretty immediately silenced once I got there. It's fun, a fun job. And I'm back at <span style="font-style: italic;">Late Show</span> in some capacity. And I got to see Rainn Wilson on my birthday, so that was awesome.<br /><br />Tuesday I got to go to Six Flags with some great friends. I liked this. The day got 5.5 flags, the rain that came in knocking off the half a flag. We met costumed critters!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAG91dLuPjzGpK9duUJO1la6dqidZxk_5DF0VnhYchqxlK-AfWAe0NJLLpsEzJ6NLxWg7q8UgKrIGif9SeFT8Vj-FD8SDURcLFsiQqjBjCcIk-zNbrOFqGf_WRIiNQSnXFedrKCVInNhQ/s1600-h/6692_924279090183_5207782_52874030_2811284_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAG91dLuPjzGpK9duUJO1la6dqidZxk_5DF0VnhYchqxlK-AfWAe0NJLLpsEzJ6NLxWg7q8UgKrIGif9SeFT8Vj-FD8SDURcLFsiQqjBjCcIk-zNbrOFqGf_WRIiNQSnXFedrKCVInNhQ/s400/6692_924279090183_5207782_52874030_2811284_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356960109713151538" border="0" /></a>We also spent the weekend before at Matt Mayer's pool house, or Fort Mayer as I called it. I was reminded all weekend long how much fun my friends are, and how much I love spending an unstoppable amount of time with them. I didn't shower all weekend and slept on a hardwood floor one night, and it was still so awesome due to company. Here are eight of the minutes from the epic Fourth of July weekend.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qnbp8_x4hz8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qnbp8_x4hz8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I also got asked to submit to be a Maude writer (a.k.a a sketch writer) for UCB by the artistic director on Thursday morning. That was unexpected and completely mind-blowing, a big ol' pat on my back that I didn't really need (I had such a great time in 201 and I was already feeling good about myself) but it undoubtably heightened my outlook and mood and perception from feeling really good to feeling really great. Even if I don't get it, it's so flattering to have been suggested and gotten the opportunity. A world of wow.<br /><br />So many good things are happening to me and my friends right now. Is 2009 turning around? Did I jinx it by writing this?Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-18142758161396492882009-06-16T17:45:00.002-05:002009-06-16T18:11:24.070-05:00Comics: Uncanny X-Men #242<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvGqq08arY0u3WDEYD89BspnuqMUqJqLODpcI95AoiFVe7JpRcIsOvR9VvkF4GX7kKxQaNd021VHug1rbg0C-Oim5AZHGxmJpDy1HSTkPO7Hke6zSH4LIuIP2NKkKCYUwT7Iybn7VtD5k/s1600-h/Uncanny+X-Men+242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvGqq08arY0u3WDEYD89BspnuqMUqJqLODpcI95AoiFVe7JpRcIsOvR9VvkF4GX7kKxQaNd021VHug1rbg0C-Oim5AZHGxmJpDy1HSTkPO7Hke6zSH4LIuIP2NKkKCYUwT7Iybn7VtD5k/s200/Uncanny+X-Men+242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348066918171093218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">UNCANNY X-MEN </span>#242</span><br />March 1989<br />"Burn!"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Marc Silvestri<br />Inker: Dan Green<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Letterer: Tom Orzechowski<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />Wow, if ever there was a doubt about Marc Silvestri's artistic talent, that opening page shatters all of them. The closeup image of Wolverine kissing Jean Grey passionately has become quite iconic, and it makes for a doozy of an opening page. And then...there's the rest of this issue. This giant-size issue. Way too many pages are spent with the X-Men fighting X-Factor for...really no reason. Sure the X-Men are sorta under demonic control, but that doesn't seem to bother Storm whenever she's reunited with Jean Grey. And then everything is back to normal and both teams join up to defeat N'astirh. It's kinda ludicrous and I really could have done without all of it. Yeah the fanboys want to see the two teams fight, but when there isn't really any motivation besides petty name-calling and there's no resolution besides saying "hey, let's not fight," it's just silly. There are some cool moments during the fight to defeat N'astirh, like Iceman creating a slide to hurl a falling Colossus directly at N'astirh. The art is pretty great throughout, I just with this was a normal-sized issue with a lot less ridiculous in-fighting.<br /><br />MY SCORE: 8.2/10Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-78618444934762849262009-06-16T10:18:00.003-05:002009-06-16T10:28:11.675-05:00Comics: New Mutants #73<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMPu1BsjcBLjHGWMAeI4pKQ6jMuiwmxsYav43pfgdPHpaUcw_v3Y2Zlp8BI0bgJNkF7pOXdFEIB6sf1O7QdZs-p58JyFUMhm95zZB8SOIH5SCjpMWj-cMM4m0OVlulZmHLBFJWlNE8Lfl/s1600-h/New+Mutants+073.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMPu1BsjcBLjHGWMAeI4pKQ6jMuiwmxsYav43pfgdPHpaUcw_v3Y2Zlp8BI0bgJNkF7pOXdFEIB6sf1O7QdZs-p58JyFUMhm95zZB8SOIH5SCjpMWj-cMM4m0OVlulZmHLBFJWlNE8Lfl/s200/New+Mutants+073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347947405428370434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">NEW MUTANTS</span> #73</span><br />March 1989<br />"The Gift"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Bret Blevins<br />Inker: Al Williamson & Mike Manley<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />This issue pays off Magik pretty well, as her character falls fully prey to her dark side and then goes back to the light in a final sacrifice for the greater good of the world. It's a fine story that's only hindered by being all mystical and seemingly nonsensical (I'm really getting bored with all this stuff). I love these characters, so that gets me through it. The art is highly kinetic, emotive and fun. They really did a good job of saying farewell to Magik. Her storyarc with the Mutants feels complete after this and it's a shame that she had to be resurrected last year. This issue sets up the new status quo of Magik being reverted to her six year old (right?) self, which she will maintain until her death in 1993. That will then be undone in 2008. Oh well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.1/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-64618231012089608832009-06-16T10:00:00.002-05:002009-06-16T10:13:00.982-05:00Comics: X-Factor #37<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPl8s3idsHLmDMcs4x2YAVdGSPtsL4N2KYfi5oPTTKLd93QdPpoO7wtQ5PSb_SUxDEmlCfNlksQSjVJNf2jVLfbga5C0oouRyAMvAYAtypvHjnRbqgr0H9DJ4IZKILhTGZTUFhu4VY_4a/s1600-h/X-Factor+037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPl8s3idsHLmDMcs4x2YAVdGSPtsL4N2KYfi5oPTTKLd93QdPpoO7wtQ5PSb_SUxDEmlCfNlksQSjVJNf2jVLfbga5C0oouRyAMvAYAtypvHjnRbqgr0H9DJ4IZKILhTGZTUFhu4VY_4a/s200/X-Factor+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347943654907305090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-FACTOR</span> #37</span><br />February 1989<br />"A Matter Of Honor"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Walter Simonson<br />Inker: Bob Wiacek<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Petra Scotese<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />The length of "Inferno" seems to have taken its toll on Walt Simonson, who starts to turn in some lazier-than-normal pencils with this issue. Proportions are off, faces are weird, it's not that bad but also not as great as he usually is. Plus the entire issue is X-Factor and Madelyne Pryor playing hot potato with baby Christopher. It gets old and definitely didn't need a whole issue devoted to it. Once again, so much mystical mumbo jumbo is tossed around it's all kind hard to follow. The last page has a decent cliffhanger, with Wolverine's hand plopping down on Marvel Girl's shoulder. Who wouldn't want to read <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny X-Men </span>#242 with the promise of a reunion?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 7.9/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-48353923107709039632009-06-16T09:43:00.002-05:002009-06-16T09:55:27.430-05:00Comics: X-Factor #36<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8r17NyfKJWLtsGGkDz-dSs7ZJzD9_PFzzYdDWfmuyPj84bq5BeCS7wwxIL7PLemJQCu8X8BbLVnjMnIIjwZ1DgZQ5cCx1AY869rQkZuKvqK8B063P71hyT4qKcHoIRC-wGCIpEMLNiQlQ/s1600-h/X-Factor+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8r17NyfKJWLtsGGkDz-dSs7ZJzD9_PFzzYdDWfmuyPj84bq5BeCS7wwxIL7PLemJQCu8X8BbLVnjMnIIjwZ1DgZQ5cCx1AY869rQkZuKvqK8B063P71hyT4qKcHoIRC-wGCIpEMLNiQlQ/s200/X-Factor+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347939140735776882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-FACTOR</span> #36</span><br />January 1989<br />"Transformations!"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Walter Simonson<br />Inker: Bob Wiacek<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Petra Scotese<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />This is a fine issue. Beast and Iceman battle a demonized subway train while Marvel Girl and Cyclops re-enter Manhattan by mini-jet and fight their way through tons of airborne goblins. Beast and Trish Tilby face each other after Beast's re-furry-ization and deal with that (she's okay with it eventually) and the original five X-Men are once again reunited on the last panel when Archangel (or Angel...or Death...can't remember what he's going by at this point) swoops in. Trish Tilby is a well-rounded character with as many strengths and weaknesses as the main cast and there's a real sense of importance in that last panel when the core X-Factor unit is reunited after almost a year's worth of issues spent apart.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-88000557797596569572009-06-15T16:15:00.002-05:002009-06-15T16:37:45.113-05:00Comics: Uncanny X-Men #241<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UcqH5Q4ZyLZGAKYqJzURqIsv-p_AGpP_WFTezA-tOx6aU9Z63SD6O9l-oKYltZaTCSZyY0eyEuxKMRdm3cRmAClZ2gpjUB4E2nXv6bLmKftBmZSFljVLurp4sslY8wb-PJ7tVn4Indu3/s1600-h/Uncanny+X-Men+241.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UcqH5Q4ZyLZGAKYqJzURqIsv-p_AGpP_WFTezA-tOx6aU9Z63SD6O9l-oKYltZaTCSZyY0eyEuxKMRdm3cRmAClZ2gpjUB4E2nXv6bLmKftBmZSFljVLurp4sslY8wb-PJ7tVn4Indu3/s200/Uncanny+X-Men+241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347671611431220050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">UNCANNY X-MEN </span>#241</span><br />February 1989<br />"Fan The Flames"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Marc Silvestri<br />Inker: Dan Green<br />Letterer: Tom Orzechowski<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />Yeah, I'm about eight issues behind with these reviews. I'm going to try and speed through them and since they're all part of "Inferno," you can apply the following to pretty much every issue:<br /><br />1. Including all the build-up, this story has gone on way too long.<br />2. I think Limbo and all the magic stuff is generally annoying and uninteresting.<br />3. It's cool seeing a lot of big and iconic plot points happening.<br /><br />Okay, with all that out of the way I can say that this is another above-average issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny</span>. Even though the issue is essentially not much more than an extended fight scene between the X-Men and Marauders, the "not much more" involves Mr. Sinister telling Madelyne Pryor her origin. For that alone the issue is exciting, since as someone who came along way after Pryor's death it's interesting to see the beginning of her end. My biggest problem with this issue is the "demon" Colossus fights on page 19. It's...not a demon. It's one of the Right's armored goons from the pages of <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span> that, well, looks <span style="font-style: italic;">nothing</span> like a demon. It looks like a robotic egg with a smiley face and Colossus says that he's seen "his kind" before in Limbo. No, I don't think he has. Unless I'm missing something, there was some sorta miscommunication between editorial, Claremont and/or Silvestri.<br /><br />So, a fine issue with a really weird error.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.6/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-91038226290338763672009-06-09T17:08:00.004-05:002009-06-09T17:17:08.955-05:00I wanna jinx it!I am now starting to have a lot of fun in comedy. JINX. I'll probably hit slump town again. But I've had a nice streak of enjoyable shows, mostly due to the fact that I am trying to take ownership of my playing style (pretentious sounding, yep). I have been trying to play in a style completely opposite of how I naturally want to play for the past year, in an attempt to strengthen that side of my playing and get more real. But...it's been confusing and not a lot of fun. I think the goal now is to attack improv from the other direction. I am big characters, I am decisions, sometimes non-sequiters...but still, I'm not boring and I'm rarely the guy who figures it all out. I think I need to figure out how to play fearlessly and loudly with a dash of realism and sense, instead of the other way around. It's working so far so...keep it rolling. And my Spank is coming along. It's all written out now and going into second drafts. I'll be in the process of casting it and figuring the rest out soon. Now I need to get to work on a job.<br /><br />RIGHT?! RIGHT.<br /><br />I've also been helping out Will Hines with some UCB Comedy shoots, which has been awesome. I like making videos, and it's been a pleasure to help with them. Hope I can continue with this and all my other ambitious video-making friends. Here's one I helped with last week. I held the boom mic!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E6znxvoWJ2E&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E6znxvoWJ2E&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-78922092384418901582009-06-09T15:44:00.003-05:002009-06-09T16:13:17.294-05:00Comics: Uncanny X-Men #240<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMc_gwPRXO619kF78MuoaGCF3DteTPnA2O7DrUfT8F2qDM_7gUsol04FiVdaXE0t4EJvQjyzvhDz__t6k7mYb1dx3VN4lhwUdjJjztBajgOQYs4i6ePBvduDGN4mvnIBkb1HGUAEmE106/s1600-h/Uncanny+X-Men+240.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMc_gwPRXO619kF78MuoaGCF3DteTPnA2O7DrUfT8F2qDM_7gUsol04FiVdaXE0t4EJvQjyzvhDz__t6k7mYb1dx3VN4lhwUdjJjztBajgOQYs4i6ePBvduDGN4mvnIBkb1HGUAEmE106/s200/Uncanny+X-Men+240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345438933720602546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">UNCANNY X-MEN #240</span><br />January 1989<br />"Strike The Match"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Marc Silvestri<br />Inker: Dan Green<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Letterer: Tom Orzechowski<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />The X-Men all begin their descent into madness in this issue. It starts with Madelyne Pryor and Havok on a date at the Rainbow Room in NYC, which turns bloody when the demonized building starts eating people just barely off-panel. Gateway teleports the couple back home and Madelyne then goes out, alone, in full Goblin Queen gear to visit and pout at Jean Grey's grave. Jean's parents happen across the grave and Madelyne turns them into demon henchmen out of anger. Back at the X-Men's Australian headquarters, Dazzler gets extremely mad when Rogue flirts with Longshot. And then Longshot gets upset when he realizes Dazzler considers him hers and, after being a slave for Mojo, doesn't like the idea of being possessed. Cut to the Nebraska orphanage that Cyclops and Jean visited a couple issues ago in <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span> and Madelyne starts uncovering some secrets about her history. The X-Men then track the Marauders to the Morlock Alley and start getting some revenge. The issue ends with the reveal that Mr. Sinister believes Madelyne should call him...father!<br /><br />Overall this is a good issue. Several plotlines lurch closer towards their climax, and the issue also includes a lot of slam-bang action. At first I was wondering why the X-Men were all of a sudden so blood thirsty for the Marauders. Sure the Marauders kicked the crap out of them before, but the X-Men have never really been about revenge. It's hinted at later that all of this is dark energy influencing the team. I like that Alex is insecure about his new relationship with Madelyne and I like that Colossus still feels remorse for killing Riptide (who is alive again, shockinlgy) back during the "Mutant Massacre." The end reveal is bold and it feels like all the loose threads that have been dangling for the last few years are coming together...even if this isn't what Claremont envisioned.<br /><br />The art is fun. Silvestri turns in solid action work, even if his faces tend to be fairly flat when he shows them from a low angle...which he does a lot. But anyway, it's still fresh and crisp. Solid inking from the vet Dan Green helps, definitely. I don't really get why Madelyne Pryor's dress changes from panel to panel during her date with Havok. I'm assuming it's to show her dark mastery over matter, or evil sorcerous ways, and maybe to highlight the surrealness and creepiness of the date and her control over Havok's perception...but none of that is mentioned. It's subtle, so I will take it as intentional.<br /><br />Good issue, and a lot better than the <span style="font-style: italic;">New Mutants</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Terminators</span> issues of this crossover since it doesn't focus on the demons as much as it does on the characters.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.7/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-1020696102245648372009-06-09T15:29:00.004-05:002009-06-09T15:42:27.620-05:00Comics: New Mutants #72<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m8rhGrDXcslI5mERyDrcc8U4723M61hQ46Q0p9nYqoKBqiEdQguyhwEf8ZipAebwXGjH40uDLVAzJXjwOxkrIYn38Bybke-uI8YBZcg0C1qcyyzt_VRIyzhGoAPCik0MjyjNt0lsw4ZS/s1600-h/New+Mutants+072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m8rhGrDXcslI5mERyDrcc8U4723M61hQ46Q0p9nYqoKBqiEdQguyhwEf8ZipAebwXGjH40uDLVAzJXjwOxkrIYn38Bybke-uI8YBZcg0C1qcyyzt_VRIyzhGoAPCik0MjyjNt0lsw4ZS/s200/New+Mutants+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345430901982530114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">NEW MUTANTS</span> #72</span><br />February 1989<br />"Demon Reign"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Bret Blevins<br />Inker: Al Williamson<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />The New Mutants side of <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Terminators</span> #4 is shown here, with us following Magik as she flees through the demonized Manhattan and the rest of the Mutants help dissolve the portal to Limbo above the city. I'm almost always a fan of comics that show other sides of the same story (like the improv form Tracers...and no one reading this review gets that reference...) so I got some enjoyment out of that. But on the whole, I feel that this issue is really just average. The characters are all acting like themselves, the plot is fine, and I get a geek thrill out of seeing the seeds of X-Force planted here with Boom Boom and Rictor going on their first mission with Cannonball and Sunspot. Nerd grin! Also Blevins' art wins me over as always. It's so youthful and kinetic, I really enjoy it. Where'd he go after <span style="font-style: italic;">New Mutants</span> was up?<br /><br />I don't really like most of the bits with Magik, like her getting a demonic makeover, and I also just generally don't care for magic based stories. So, "Inferno" is going to be rad, I can tell. I just think that magic based stories have no real rules that the reader knows. Like as a reader I can put a terrorist story or a bank robbery or anything that actually happens in real life in context. Magic based stories feel like you're playing a game with someone who keeps making up rules. Of course this defeats that, sure why not. There's no realism to back it up and it all just feels kinda fake. That's what most any battle between Magik and N'Astirh feels like. Also I have to wonder what modern coloring would do to this book. Reading these old comics I'm realizing how spoiled I am. Nowadays N'astirh would probably have texturized skin and scales, with gradients of disturbing brown. In 1989 he's just one big color block of brown. I'd love to see this stuff touched up now.<br /><br />So another okay issue. Characters I'm biased towards liking and snappy art barely outweigh the fact that I'm getting tired of all this demonic mumbo-jumbo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 7.9/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-82162655814584071082009-06-03T16:17:00.002-05:002009-06-03T16:35:28.522-05:00Comics: X-Terminators #4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboJQ4nbNOprQfHvk9kdH9sJWcX0CklKIu-6Q8svkC963AVB1iEmj3QXyQsJJRxePUOwBcwnQFcu9R75kxGxGreqU71f2I7LAOM5a50pT5FF2ApWyJiqtTar50BpY9hKtQPrfRJ6LMGxg7/s1600-h/X-Terminators+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboJQ4nbNOprQfHvk9kdH9sJWcX0CklKIu-6Q8svkC963AVB1iEmj3QXyQsJJRxePUOwBcwnQFcu9R75kxGxGreqU71f2I7LAOM5a50pT5FF2ApWyJiqtTar50BpY9hKtQPrfRJ6LMGxg7/s200/X-Terminators+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343218021058402146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-TERMINATORS</span> #4</span><br />January 1989<br />"Finale!"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Jon Bogdanove<br />Inker: Al Milgrom<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Petra Scotese<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />Preposterous magickal computer aside, this climax is executed pretty well. The book's light-hearted side brings us some slapstick of Artie and Leech trying to, literally, unplug the magickal computer and also has Taki creating a huge gestalt of six flying planes for the X-Terminators to use in their assault on the demons and their mission to rescue to captured infants. It's all a lot of fun and, when put in context with the rest of the series, justified. The stakes are actually so high that I really felt that some characters were in jeopardy even though I knew no one was going to die. Skids' selfless declaration that she was going to save the infants was well-played and had the gravitas of a last act, as did Taki's last minute near self-sacrifice to stop N'astirh. And considering what Taki would go on to do (you know, nothing) he probably should have died in this issue.<br /><br />This is also the first time that the New Mutants and X-Terminators meet, thus chaning all of their lives forever. With this team-up, the seeds of X-Force have been planted as all the characters invovled (except Warlock, Wolfsbane and, ugh, Gosamyr) would go on to be involved in the book as either members of the MLF or X-Force. It's a big moment, in a good way for us X-Force fans. Fans of the older <span style="font-style: italic;">New Mutants</span> status quo probably felt that the intrusion of those other X-Teens was a jump the shark moment. But really, why are there two teams of teen X-Men running around? Maybe it's because I grew up considering Rusty, Skids, Boom Boom and Rictor all New Mutants, but I had to keep telling myself through this issue that the X-Terminators weren't New Mutants. The cover of this issue just looks like a New Mutants team photo.<br /><br />I also have to note that Rictor still doesn't have much of a personality, but his new punk look is a step in the right direction. It seems that in most issues of <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span> he was merely the other guy, with no personality. I don't know whose decision it was to have Ric dress himself in a leather vest and studded gloves, but that bad boy image would soon become his main character trait. I'm excited to watch his character grow into what I know him as, and I am curious as to which writer first started writing him that way.<br /><br />Good issue, and a nice end to a fun mini-series.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.1/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-15196451791363728892009-06-01T18:50:00.003-05:002009-06-01T19:15:35.979-05:00Comics: New Mutants #71<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOoNGXrPVgLITqwBxzo-IB8UrGgJqGu5DAbBKPgnh5Jugbu-GLd0pyJx4tU6kaN29zMunmKcNfUsP9mNzbbsLrAJZ-rbS7SPBFzjcT0U8dNcTSn0kqpKB0BArZ37acS27ugKziRAwO1C3/s1600-h/New+Mutants+071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOoNGXrPVgLITqwBxzo-IB8UrGgJqGu5DAbBKPgnh5Jugbu-GLd0pyJx4tU6kaN29zMunmKcNfUsP9mNzbbsLrAJZ-rbS7SPBFzjcT0U8dNcTSn0kqpKB0BArZ37acS27ugKziRAwO1C3/s200/New+Mutants+071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342517212002975522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">NEW MUTANTS</span> #71</span><br />January 1989<br />"Limbo"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Bret Blevins<br />Inker: Al Williamson<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />The fantastical side of the X-Men universe has never really grabbed me, so spending all this time reading about Limbo and demons and spells is getting kinda tedious. Luckily all the great characters make it tolerable and somewhat entertaining. In this issue, the New Mutants try teleporting back to Earth by way of Limbo, but get stuck there due to the spell N'astirh's casting over in <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Terminators</span>.<br /><br />This issue mostly goes over stuff that was covered in <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny X-Men</span> a hundred issues prior, but it's necessary since apparently Magik's teammates didn't even know her origin. These parts are well done, with Magik going just crazy enough and the rest of her teammates acting justifiably horrified.<br /><br />And while I don't really care for all the demon stuff, it is still terrifying to see the transformed objects of Manhattan wreak havoc on tourists. The binoculars stealing a man's eyeballs for its own personal use and the elevator filled with blood and bones are illustrated with a manic glee by Blevins. Good work.<br /><br />The stakes are set up well by Simonson, who ends the issue with a gateway to Limbo being left open over Times Square, raining demons all on it. This is essentially Magik's last story and it feels like it. There's a sense of dread and urgency, and the character feels like she's coming to a climax. It's well done. So, of course, she was resurrected earlier this year. Thanks, Marvel. Whooooah brother.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-37372439471541368062009-05-30T15:19:00.004-05:002009-05-30T15:38:38.781-05:00Comics: X-Terminators #3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLYnmuE8yTmlXwmKR243zczQIcbyV5o7acJghCDff0W9nr4_1HRVwvFN5v2heCM28XigqOk3tBeWEeoZCM_vE2rZ-Mm_ybr1SeSkSoaWYQgt5BjNuFZg2N5w7LdbHqC8g1FE7nfoiFIAi/s1600-h/X-Terminators+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLYnmuE8yTmlXwmKR243zczQIcbyV5o7acJghCDff0W9nr4_1HRVwvFN5v2heCM28XigqOk3tBeWEeoZCM_vE2rZ-Mm_ybr1SeSkSoaWYQgt5BjNuFZg2N5w7LdbHqC8g1FE7nfoiFIAi/s200/X-Terminators+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341719043481752418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-TERMINATORS</span> #3</span><br />December 1988<br />"Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Jon Bogdanove<br />Inker: Al Milgrom<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: John Wellington<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />The all-ages fun of a bunch of demons kidnapping babies and trying to eat them keeps on rolling with the latest issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Terminators</span>. I think this is the problem with mini-series; they are usually designed to tell a single story with a singular vision and tone, so for the most part the problems you have with one issue are there for all four. This one has the fine art that see-saws between overly cartoony and a classic workman style like the other two issues. It also has the same creepy mix of cartoony action and demons. The slapstick battles between the big kids and all the animated inanimate objects of New York City are fun, until you realize that it's hell energy animating them. Then it's creepy.<br /><br />I do have a problem with N'astirh seriously thinking that a computer can help his spells because they have spell checkers on them. Now...I know that computers were as common as Bigfoot back then (man, 1988 you guys, Stone Age!) but doesn't N'astirh at least know that spell has two different meanings? Really? But looking past that, Taki's interactions with him are great and really show him having a cunning mix of snotty whininess and tactical thinking. I like Taki. Why did he disappear?<br /><br />So yeah, it's an okay issue. It seems like it's an essential part of "Inferno" so far, but then again I might get into the actual story later and realize that all this could be covered by narration captions. For now it's fun. And way better than <span style="font-style: italic;">Fallen Angels</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 7.9/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-751345609515512662009-05-27T15:31:00.003-05:002009-05-27T15:36:07.042-05:00WOOOOORKI've fallen out of the habit of writing here everyday again, but is that such a big deal since all I was writing before were reviews of late '80s X-Men comics (those are coming back, by the way, I just have to read some first). Memorial Day weekend was long and fun, with pool parties and picnics and board games. I took the night off last night, which was both good and bad. I needed some me time but every time I take it I just feel awful. So I need to figure that one out. I guess seeing people everyday is a good thing, even if I don't think I feel up to it. I spend too much time getting all the figures on my desk to stand up. Psylocke and Gambit have been having some leaning problems lately. Hey guys, I'm not going to start a new paragraph! I watched all 9+ hours of the Beatles Anthology over the last day and a half. Wow, a lot of Beatles. I wish I had access to similar docs about the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. I'm writing sketches, I think I'll try writing one a day for a week. See if that works. I just need to get a body of work put together that I can really show to people and polish. I want a body of work.Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-19493411248330784512009-05-20T14:28:00.001-05:002009-05-20T14:29:49.307-05:00Cash 4 SkullsI can't believe I never posted this here. Here's Cash 4 Skulls, a commercial parody I shot with Laurel for my sketch 201 class show. Enjoy and share!<br /><BR><BR><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4a2ZEurDS28&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4a2ZEurDS28&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-69353753913910114312009-05-19T13:57:00.005-05:002009-05-19T14:16:49.643-05:00Comics: X-Terminators #2<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8PUDVcuzpeom9yMlcp3OcBHvMIqvTN7Dv_0HHKxdMzGDjtqbm0wwlza-LOjagdWR0a8G0GLCOuFQR8-HCZTZLXimvBglv1s_54Yx8SXBcx1EXxtv-ibY4HmXAFWMejVJVde9rqnY7CVx/s1600-h/X-Terminators+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8PUDVcuzpeom9yMlcp3OcBHvMIqvTN7Dv_0HHKxdMzGDjtqbm0wwlza-LOjagdWR0a8G0GLCOuFQR8-HCZTZLXimvBglv1s_54Yx8SXBcx1EXxtv-ibY4HmXAFWMejVJVde9rqnY7CVx/s200/X-Terminators+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337615936880464338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">X-TERMINATORS</span> #2</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />November 1988<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">"Speed Demon!"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Jon Bogdanove<br />Inker: Al Milgrom<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: John Wellington<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />This issue continues the weird mix of light-hearted slapstick and dark demonic hijinks that started last issue. Really most of this issue is like reading an adaptation of a fun Saturday morning cartoon (the kids use their powers to get money out of a Pepsi machine, they try on clothes, ride around in a flying car, etc). That's totally fine. I'm always a fan of comics addressing both where money AND costumes come from, as they seem to just be on hand when needed at all times. I like that this issue is dedicated to the team getting costumes, although I have no idea what store would sell the spandex top Rusty is wearing.<br /><br />The light-hearted events are interrupted by a pretty harrowing subplot involving N'astirh's demons stealing babies. One kidnapping is preceded by a two-page build up that realistically introduces us to a young couple trying to cope with an economic downturn and a move to the suburbs. The two pages are really involved, with tons of dialogue that makes you sympathetic to the couple...only to have demons bite the crap out of the father's neck, spewing blood everywhere, before they fly off with the couple's baby. It's crazy dark and effective in selling the serious stakes of this mini even if it does come in between pages from </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Saved By The Bell<span style="font-style: italic;">: The Mutant Years</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.<br /><br />So another okay issue with decent art and a quirky mix of the serious and the silly.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >MY SCORE: 8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-25682702059129712672009-05-18T16:06:00.003-05:002009-05-18T16:32:54.123-05:00Comics: X-Terminators #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t99JoLp5y_qmmhDfw4CzREBZZFKk7_yC6H6WdWT01R8yRm0Rc8FF8P5Jks4yhNyenE2exsWcXE2WAA8trj1bfQ0d0hrqEUFoCNmmOqhyphenhyphenhaDID_eTZnzcjGvUNFGBoLDgGr7DfmgGNGv-/s1600-h/X-Terminators+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t99JoLp5y_qmmhDfw4CzREBZZFKk7_yC6H6WdWT01R8yRm0Rc8FF8P5Jks4yhNyenE2exsWcXE2WAA8trj1bfQ0d0hrqEUFoCNmmOqhyphenhyphenhaDID_eTZnzcjGvUNFGBoLDgGr7DfmgGNGv-/s200/X-Terminators+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337279953859344434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-TERMINATORS</span> #1</span><br />October 1988<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"Invasion Of The Baby-Snatchers"<br />Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Jon Bogdanove<br />Inkers: Al Williamson & Al Milgrom<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: John Wellington<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />The wards of X-Factor star in their own limited series and play a part in launching "Inferno." This doesn't seem that gratuitous, although it surely must have at the time. Just five years earlier only <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny X-Men</span> existed. Then in 1988, X-Fans all of a sudden have <span style="font-style: italic;">New Mutants</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Wolverine</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span> to get every month. And now there's this, another mini-series. X-Fans of 1988, get ready. It only gets worse.<br /><br />After reading <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span> I have to say that the kids steal the show in most cases. Simonson clearly has fun writing them and they're a relief from some of the more melodramatic elements of the title. So here they are, in their own limited series. This issue, which follows Artie and Leech to a special school for younger kids and the four teens to a boarding school, is both fun and juvenile. It's very much an all-ages book with lots of slapstick and sometimes "Archie" like art from Jon Bogdanove. It is odd to have a book have both goofy action sequences and baby-snatching demons, and <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Terminators</span> barely pulls it off. It never swings too heavily in either direction and plays down the middle as both an all-ages romp and an installment in a very sinister linewide crossover.<br /><br />Taki's power is somewhat over the top and he reacts pretty calmly to finding out he's a mutant. Plus I'm shocked that that random school employee knows so much about demon lore to identify that Artie and Leech have been captured due to the effigies left behind. Maybe that was common knowledge in the '80s?<br /><br />I love Boom Boom and Rictor and have a soft spot for Artie and Leech, so that adds a lot to my enjoyment of this issue. It's fine. And as long as it doesn't get as out of hand crazy as <span style="font-style: italic;">Fallen Angels</span>, this will be a fun mini.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-35228814419685001162009-05-16T11:52:00.003-05:002009-05-16T12:14:35.334-05:00Comics: Uncanny X-Men #239<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtuxOWnoAypyXzMII5xn83yP2BiUFSQAKHOHCYK-yBPfprqd_RRu9D4lnRkIb9xREdS0wcVRzQ6eZkD3eoQsmoD81uXqKb2679OqdFNAOoT1bE25DqxAsUeY6ws1dzst4YXSZhWCDP5A-/s1600-h/Uncanny+X-Men+239.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtuxOWnoAypyXzMII5xn83yP2BiUFSQAKHOHCYK-yBPfprqd_RRu9D4lnRkIb9xREdS0wcVRzQ6eZkD3eoQsmoD81uXqKb2679OqdFNAOoT1bE25DqxAsUeY6ws1dzst4YXSZhWCDP5A-/s200/Uncanny+X-Men+239.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336471215722427298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">UNCANNY X-MEN</span> #239</span><br />December 1988<br />"Vanities"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Marc Silvestri<br />Inker: Dan Green<br />Letterer: Tom Orzechowski<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />And so it begins. After reading months of buildup in various titles, "Inferno" starts up here. This is a relatively quiet issue, with a decent amount of time spent on all the main team members and setting up the inner struggles that are plaguing them during this stretch of issues. The pacing works at building up tension since the issue starts with a very dark scene between Mr. Sinister and Malice. Just knowing that Sinister is out there scheming affects all the scenes with the X-Men that follow. The readers know a horrible challenge is coming and seeing all of our heroes in such emotional turmoil doesn't lead us to believe this is going to be a pleasant action romp. This is going to be tough.<br /><br />The first couple pages of the issue follow a family visiting the Empire State Building in the slowly demonized New York City. An elevator eats the entire family, and a clueless janitor accidentally mops up all their blood. Wow, 1988, epic bloody win right there. Shock of shocks.<br /><br />Havok is a very complex character and I like that Claremont has dusted off his old paranoia about his power using instances that recently occurred, like him trying to kill his possessed ex-girlfriend and a couple Brood aliens. I'm glad that his reckless actions are taking a toll on him.<br /><br />Other than that, Storm gets freaked out because she finds out that Wolverine has been keeping the news of Jean Grey's resurrection secret and a sparring match between Psylocke and Rogue and Colossus gets a little too serious. Yep, our team isn't in the best of shape, putting them square into the underdog category. The issue ends with Madelyne's downright creepy seduction of Havok, which is expertly laid out by artist Marc Silvestri who manages to capture a dark atmosphere in the middle of a bright and scorching Australian summer. We then find out that Madelyne has gone nutso and is working with the demon N'astirh to kidnap a buncha babies.<br /><br />Claremont's strong characterizations are again running amok all over this issue, and his wordiness is only a small problem (like during Havok's dream sequence, the art explained it all perfectly and was only hurt by all those flowery words). Silvestri's art is solid and despite my dislike of aspects of his sketchy style, it tells the story beautifully. Although seeing art like this in 1988 and knowing it's leading to the insane art of the early '90s...it's hard to appreciate something knowing it's going to inspire tons of crap imitators. It's like trying to listen to Nirvana and not hearing a bit of Puddle of Mudd in there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.6/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-11506158229190855172009-05-15T16:22:00.005-05:002009-05-15T16:37:47.061-05:00The Features @ Piano'sI haven't seen the Features in almost two years, which when considering that I saw them roughly fifty times from 2001-2006, that's a big drought. A big drought. I still find it hard to rationalize that I now live a life almost completely void of this band, aside from listening to them on my iPod. They were my life in Tennessee, through message boards, friends, hanging out, flyering, going to shows, making mix CDs, it was just what me and my friends did. It was nice to have even more Tennessee friends up here than the last time they played in New York in 2007. It felt right being able to freak out and have a good time with some of the same people I freaked out with back in the Boro.<br /><br />The show was great. It's nice to see that the band still brings it with every performance and that their onstage personas haven't dulled at all. They're all still highly energetic and captivating performers with tunes to back them up. I'm of course bummed that I can only hear album tracks now, as the spontaneity of the Features shows of yore was a large part of the appeal. Being able to yell out "Damage Is Done" and have them decide to play it after a year of not, or having the power go out to inspire an acoustic version of the seldom played "Bumblebee." But this show was definitely a solid show with a consistent set of songs, all of which had me freaking out. I really lost it to "Me & The Skirts," of all songs. I get nostalgic for that jam every time, maybe because I remember the first time I heard it and the bit we still do to this day when discussing it (thick country accent: "You see that all them sang on that song right there!"). I don't know, memories flooding back.<br /><br />The Features play Brooklyn on Sunday night, at Union Hall. You should go.<br /><br />Here are some pictures that <a href="http://dontstaylong.tumblr.com/">Davis</a> took. You can also fall in love, either again or for the first time, with this band daily at <a href="http://damageisdone.tumblr.com/">The Damage Is Done</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj6hK-Acj96PKU-O-JHNGS6spqStM1dzq2ALLcKLbOqjo_vrE9bMyxblrSE6Qcrj8aIfpE_Yi5bhyphenhyphen-lE6pxxU6FfZxULNizR7F1vRO90mRCClZlk5pNTRkjumZvBK9n683VwV1ePDnxaU/s1600-h/3532261917_7a3ce2d728_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj6hK-Acj96PKU-O-JHNGS6spqStM1dzq2ALLcKLbOqjo_vrE9bMyxblrSE6Qcrj8aIfpE_Yi5bhyphenhyphen-lE6pxxU6FfZxULNizR7F1vRO90mRCClZlk5pNTRkjumZvBK9n683VwV1ePDnxaU/s400/3532261917_7a3ce2d728_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336167025796121602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTvT9NPrDEsh7tz1upE8ucgyCXHwAWigU1oPzuJy0DQD2f-MEjaTC6sRWGUAL17WlzY5qdP_cMQzmLhjm9gDPlGS_ZYDwP6UVa4YBt8IBsMZDCaxAQao_zA_R-yvsynlpNLmAmPgWoYjg/s1600-h/3533080694_9a23612dc5_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTvT9NPrDEsh7tz1upE8ucgyCXHwAWigU1oPzuJy0DQD2f-MEjaTC6sRWGUAL17WlzY5qdP_cMQzmLhjm9gDPlGS_ZYDwP6UVa4YBt8IBsMZDCaxAQao_zA_R-yvsynlpNLmAmPgWoYjg/s400/3533080694_9a23612dc5_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336167163667555074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PY0r-ujHAjtWQZ1XnmZ-Qlo3XX5rMsRE1QhqMn1t-NpXkrQPWu0X180WlYcNat8b0xSr8aZPnRI7gGA0L9D674Kz-5pjffZWN5JR-CxO5iek_Oxa4LnCBoYDK5XkslaECaOGzhMi2wHu/s1600-h/3533080850_a91c6a3817_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PY0r-ujHAjtWQZ1XnmZ-Qlo3XX5rMsRE1QhqMn1t-NpXkrQPWu0X180WlYcNat8b0xSr8aZPnRI7gGA0L9D674Kz-5pjffZWN5JR-CxO5iek_Oxa4LnCBoYDK5XkslaECaOGzhMi2wHu/s400/3533080850_a91c6a3817_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336167312207501250" border="0" /></a>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-36393275914873116032009-05-15T12:27:00.003-05:002009-05-15T12:52:14.833-05:00Comics: Excalibur #5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uhq7P_ZXux2beS5AO-j1e0-olx2FHngraKyoz_K3Yt7YqKqjU-l68k4Ai7HAGOACBjRD37XkjjUu-EV1GLrOu3cO_NnWF6fGm1cC8ZNkR_6K0QfvMYZ2dXpv84xcqX2_G1cGF-cZE63D/s1600-h/Excalibur+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uhq7P_ZXux2beS5AO-j1e0-olx2FHngraKyoz_K3Yt7YqKqjU-l68k4Ai7HAGOACBjRD37XkjjUu-EV1GLrOu3cO_NnWF6fGm1cC8ZNkR_6K0QfvMYZ2dXpv84xcqX2_G1cGF-cZE63D/s200/Excalibur+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336109920564134594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">EXCALIBUR</span> #5</span><br />February 1989<br />"Send In The Clowns"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Alan Davis<br />Inker: Paul Neary<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Letterer: Tom Orzechowski<br />Editor: Terry Kavanagh<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />So pretty much all my complaints about last issue are in this one, since it's a continuation and conclusion of the story. Courtney Ross is still a solid character. I think I understand who Meggan was, personality wise. She was just a standard X-Woman when I read <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span> in the mid-to-late '90s with no personality, but here I think I understand what made Claremont like her. She's very dependent, which is shown through her powers, and doesn't know her own strengths. It's good. The epilogue with Nightcrawler and Captain Britain's discussion about Meggan is tops, where they actually analyze a relationship that has real faults and isn't perfect. This stuff isn't addressed in comics...ever really. People date, then they sorta break up, get back together, etc. Or all their problems are power based or super hero based. Captain Britain and Meggan's relationship has a very real problem (Meggan needs Cap and he fears she doesn't exist outside of him). Nice. Also the ending, with Coutrney getting zapped by her other dimensional twin, is a great twist and pretty dark. Just what the issue needed after a dozen pages of silly running around with Alice in Wonderland characters.<br /><br />And yeah, that's the problem with this issue. All mind-swapping and brainwashing malarky. I don't even get how Shadowcat frees Phoenix from mind control. She merges with her mind by actually phasing into her? Um? Does that work?<br /><br />Also, this issue has talking custard pies.<br /><br />A mixed bag. Claremont should stick to the drama, since that's what he does best.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 7.8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-74006842015988128472009-05-14T16:12:00.002-05:002009-05-14T16:21:31.388-05:00Something Else...Okay, I know almost no one is interested in comic book reviews from the last '80s except me, right? But in the interest of giving myself some stability I'm going to keep on doing them. I need stability!<br /><br />I'm also doing daily junk at my two other sites. <a href="http://yesterdaysspecial.tumblr.com/">Yesterday's Special</a> is my usually daily nostalgia blog, focusing on all the crazy stuff that entertained me as a kid in those precious pre-X-Men years (also known as the first eight years of my life). If you haven't seen the opening credits for "TaleSpin" or the first third of one of the greatest episodes of "Muppet Babies" ever, then that site's for you.<br /><br />I also just began <a href="http://damageisdone.tumblr.com/">The Damage Is Done</a>, which is where I'll be posting one song by The Features a day with a brief recap/history/opinion on the song. I love this band and I want to provide a place online for people to go to get a good grasp of what they're all about (to paraphrase their song "Buffalo Head").<br /><br />And there's <a href="http://talestodiminish.tumblr.com/">Tales To Diminish</a>, my webcomic that's a bit on hold right now as I gear up for a revamp. Go there and enjoy the ten strips I've done!<br /><br />And that's it for now. I'll try to post other things besides comic reviews here...anyone interested in daily updates on what "food" I'm eating? No? Sometimes it's NOT frozen pizzas, you guys. Isn't that interesting?Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-17022659807375723832009-05-14T14:09:00.003-05:002009-05-14T14:35:16.716-05:00Comics: Excalibur #4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zho4YfOcVMv2-ahhUhU7SEdpUv0s7xdnuRB25i18Kwx39Plql7xV0G30YSytYaMsaK1XTrqlIPVVZSGmlJY16TEZXxKI31oQTdbWWhe4_-LDXpANj5yzj4ALdsZMe6dl6hKBRxjQXdBZ/s1600-h/Excalibur+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zho4YfOcVMv2-ahhUhU7SEdpUv0s7xdnuRB25i18Kwx39Plql7xV0G30YSytYaMsaK1XTrqlIPVVZSGmlJY16TEZXxKI31oQTdbWWhe4_-LDXpANj5yzj4ALdsZMe6dl6hKBRxjQXdBZ/s200/Excalibur+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335765322592813842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">EXCALIBUR</span> #4</span><br />January 1989<br />"Still Crazy After All These Years"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Alan Davis<br />Inker: Paul Neary<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Letterer: Tom Orzechowski<br />Editor: Terry Kavanagh<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />I can't think of any other issue in recent memory that contains both everything great about Claremont and everything frustrating about him. I'll start with the great.<br /><br />The main cast is great. Claremont expertly builds friendships between cast members that were previously strangers, like with Meggan and Nightcrawler. Their flirtation is so palpable and believable yet subtly done. Nightcrawler has received a new lease on life with this title. Alan Davis was born to draw him, it seems, and Claremont is really rejuvenating everything that made the character such a winner. With Wolverine and Storm taking center stage in <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny</span>, Nightcrawler was getting overshadowed. Here he's front and center and deserving of the attention.<br /><br />The friendship Phoenix and Shadowcat began forging in their previous title has carried on across the pond and to <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span>. I love that Claremont so bluntly states what each character's viewpoint is on each other's fashion choices and has them play off each other. It's kinda simplistic, but it's so rare that readers get these personal glimpses into superheroes' lives. We never hear what music or movies or books characters like, and most every hero has absolutely zero fashion sense outside of their spandex. They usually just wear a t-shirt and converse.<br /><br />Lastly, Courtney Ross grows as a supporting character in ways few other writers could accomplish. Claremont was never content at just letting his core team members get personal growth. He was always striving, either with Moira MacTaggert, Amanda Sefton or Stevie Hunter, to have the supporting and powerless players be as strong and fleshed out as the top billed names. Courtney Ross is fierce, independent and totally charming. I like her. She's much more than Captain Britain's ex-girlfriend.<br /><br />And now on to the stuff that Claremont fails at. The Crazy Gang. I know this is supposedly a comedy book (the cover is comedically meta), but a team of villains who dress up (or are?) characters from "Alice in Wonderland"? Seems like another idea that only Claremont is interested in. Was anyone really that psyched to see a Tweedledum analogue named Tweedle Dope? No? Believe it or not, these characters were actually created by Alan Moore...pre-<span style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span>. Tying them to Arcade makes some sense, and Arcade does have a known vendetta against Captain Britain so that's all sound, I just don't want to read about the Crazy Gang.<br /><br />This issue ALSO features body swapping and mind control. I'm actually tired of complaining about how much Claremont uses these two story devices, so I'm just going to say that he uses them too much, wag my finger, and move on.<br /><br />So this was a mixed effort, which was definitely bumped up due to Alan Davis' impeccable art. Was this guy ever bad? It seems that he started out as strong as he is now. That's amazing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.5/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-77797883756629245232009-05-13T13:08:00.002-05:002009-05-13T13:30:22.216-05:00Comics: X-Factor #35<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcE7KpG-v6TEEyhQDZPZZOqNFYx2LEMxssHnMk0MK30vZbP-PvIF0gSO99DF955IeOsJaijcpqzKAd9nMGP63JMonO2f5R26MwGb5cVW2aIbNcLwMaHROs3bspefAz66ihJxzvOjhHvbc/s1600-h/X-Factor+035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcE7KpG-v6TEEyhQDZPZZOqNFYx2LEMxssHnMk0MK30vZbP-PvIF0gSO99DF955IeOsJaijcpqzKAd9nMGP63JMonO2f5R26MwGb5cVW2aIbNcLwMaHROs3bspefAz66ihJxzvOjhHvbc/s200/X-Factor+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335377586959742498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-FACTOR</span> #35</span><br />December 1988<br />"Go To The Orphan Maker!"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Terry Shoemaker<br />Inker: Joe Rubinstein<br />Colorist: Petra Scotese<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco</span><br /><br />Cyclops and Jean Grey, Nanny and her forces and N'Astirh's demons all convene at the orphanage of Cyclops' youth with the same goal: steal some babies. This storyline has been building up for months and Louise Simonson has woven the various ongoing stories in <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span> in with the wider scope of "Inferno" quite well. Cyclops' lost son Christopher is the main target for N'Astirh's demons, who were working alongside X-Fator foes Right until last issue, when they splintered off after finding out where a ton of mutant babies were. It's all well done.<br /><br />This issue is really exposition heavy and melodramatic, two things which tend to plague Simonson's work on this title. Both Cyclops and Jean talk in powerful and bold statements that are clearly executed, which doesn't fit well with how comics are written now...or how people talk. Plus knowing more about Cyclops' past now, all these flashbacks to his orphanage make me wonder how well they fit in. Is the bully that's picking on him supposed to be Mr. Sinister? Cyclops mentions how cloudy his memories of the place are, which is a big red flag too that something is wrong. I also don't know how orphanages work, but his brother Alex is just shipped away as soon as possible while Cyclops is in a coma. That's rough, right? Do orphanages do that, just split up siblings after they lose their parents? That's cold!<br /><br />Nanny as a villian has never excited me or worked, so I'm glad that her prevalence in the late '80s gave way to near-non-existance in the '90s and now. This issue introduces some more of Nanny's hench men, none of whom get clear code names or powers. Two of them turn out to be Jean's neice and nephew, which is kinda random (was her sister killed by Nanny? Can't remember that far back right now). Still, the scene where Cyclops finally sees his son again is touching and Simonson sets up the stakes for "Inferno" pretty well.<br /><br />Terry Shoemaker turns up as fill-in artist again after doing (or maybe before doing) this month's issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">New Mutants</span>. He does a fine job, but when a book is so defined by Walt Simonson's peculiarly energetic style it's hard to fill-in. I also liked the fill-in work Shoemaker did in the '90s more than the everyman-esque stuff he's doing here.<br /><br />Overall, not the strongest issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Factor</span> dialogue wise, but the plot is fine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 7.8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-68285726808204062222009-05-13T10:39:00.002-05:002009-05-13T11:37:47.007-05:00Comics: New Mutants #70<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs0gL-t36lYF1LmSBihejPaOHyvj269pXiwIr0Eox7Lfia4DrnSxFS8Bh6RGi_HtfWCwrA53jKMkyunDFH1gPo-u26iyqOkDpHFJpJI6pa9iGaNbxj40r2NYspxQPoo1yWTj9cGtdC0E8/s1600-h/New+Mutants+070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs0gL-t36lYF1LmSBihejPaOHyvj269pXiwIr0Eox7Lfia4DrnSxFS8Bh6RGi_HtfWCwrA53jKMkyunDFH1gPo-u26iyqOkDpHFJpJI6pa9iGaNbxj40r2NYspxQPoo1yWTj9cGtdC0E8/s200/New+Mutants+070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335348568802410130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">NEW MUTANTS</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> #70</span><br />December 1988<br />"Self-Fulfilling Prophesy"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Louise Simonson<br />Penciler: Terry Shoemaker<br />Inker: Al Milgrom<br />Letterer: Joe Rosen<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Bob Harras<br />Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco<br /></span><br />This is still Louise Simonson, right? Yup, her name's on the book. Can't figure out where the stilted dialogue suddenly came from. The issue begins with the Mutants imprisoned by Spyder on the alien world. Spyder then delivers two pages of exposition explaining who each New Mutant is by saying "Ah, ____, you do ______ and feel _____." Yep, he actually says "ah" and then the name of a character three times in a row. Is there a rule about not repeating words or vocal patterns back to back, because it's something I always eliminate from my creative writing and hate when I read it.<br /><br />Gosamyr's family is stirred early and are "born" prematurely, thus unleashing their crazy giant monster modes on the team. They're only thwarted by Lila Cheney, who apparently teleports them into a nearby sun (which obviously doesn't stick as she is back alive as early as 1992, maybe even before). As Spyder sics his forces on the Mutants, Illyana decides to risk her soul and teleport the kids home by way of the ever-worsening Limbo. The issue ends with the team stuck in Limbo against the foces of S'ym, thus preparing their involvement in "Inferno."<br /><br />This issue wasn't as much fun as the previous ones, mainly due to the less enthusiastic art of Terry Shoemaker and some clunky dialogue. Plus this story has gone on far too long. Simonson is at her best when she's treating these kids like kids and putting them in fun/realistic drama. This has been way too much, especially since it follows the almost exact same Bird-Brain story arc (mysterious inhuman needs help, thus leading team to exotic locale and tragedy). I'm looking forward to the X-Terminators joining this book after "Inferno."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 7.7/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4116395507605535388.post-21554375559238348262009-05-12T15:08:00.003-05:002009-05-12T15:30:11.754-05:00Comics: Excalibur #3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCyLID4Z98i6OdmIPU8lA5J_p8KsJJl3_2JUlUYnwSnyN54u1Um_MBLk5kdtrg9B8_nhTRemWsME4JR6vP41cTseiceZT8prSQo-8ROKHDOuxAbGGYZzbB4l-Gv8prLw_penh_HQWJTFI/s1600-h/Excalibur+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCyLID4Z98i6OdmIPU8lA5J_p8KsJJl3_2JUlUYnwSnyN54u1Um_MBLk5kdtrg9B8_nhTRemWsME4JR6vP41cTseiceZT8prSQo-8ROKHDOuxAbGGYZzbB4l-Gv8prLw_penh_HQWJTFI/s200/Excalibur+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335037330988582370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">EXCALIBUR</span> #3</span><br />December 1988<br />"Moving Day"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Writer: Chris Claremont<br />Penciler: Alan Davis<br />Inker: Paul Neary<br />Letterer: L. Lois Buhalis<br />Colorist: Glynis Oliver<br />Editor: Terry Kavanagh<br />Editor In Chief: Bob Harras<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Wolverine </span>have always been the biggest holes in my X-Knowledge. Both series were harder to find and more expensive when you did (this issue's cover price is fifty cents more than the standard Marvel Comics at the time). I also have to note that this issue has held up amazingly for being ten years old. The pages are all still very crisp and white, unlike every other comic I'm reading from this era. I don't know what's different with the paper stock, but that extra fifty cents has somehow made all the issues of <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span> that I've read so far hold up far better than all the other comics I have from this time. Interesting.<br /><br />This is also my first time reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span>'s early issues and I'm quite surprised by how good they are. Claremont's run on <span style="font-style: italic;">Uncanny</span> at this time was by no means poor, but all the characters had very much settled into their stereotypical Claremont voices and all the crackle and energy of the John Bryne and Paul Smith years have faded away into something a bit more amorphous (but still good). It might be Alan Davis' gorgeous art or the fact that the creative team is obviously excited by this new series, probably both, but this series so far and this issue in particular is really fun and holds up amazingly well today.<br /><br />The issue opens up with that stuffy/slutty old English lady we saw last issue busting Juggernaut out of a prison and putting him in the path of Excalibur. The fight scene that follows is almost as funny as some of Giffen and DeMatteis' run on <span style="font-style: italic;">Justice League International</span>, with Captain Britain stubbornly thinking he can take on Juggernaut and Shadowcat using her phasing powers in creative ways against a car full of escaped convicts. The team displays effortless teamwork and it's really a joy to behold.<br /><br />The second half of the issue mixes light moving in comedy (Kitty in the bathroom too long, Nightcrawler's morning exercise making noise) with serious character moments (Captain Britain gets an impromptu intervention because of his drinking and almost gets with lady pal Courtney Ross). Shadowcat also stumbles across a parallel universe/wacko version of herself and Lockheed, thus giving the team more evidence that something fishy is up in their new lighthouse home.<br /><br />Overall, this issue was ten times more entertaining than I expected it to be, and I'm now looking forward to reading the next issues of <span style="font-style: italic;">Excalibur</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY SCORE: 8.8/10</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15542765422761971424noreply@blogger.com0