News of the Right

Which obviously means that I’m waaay behind in my bloggery duties. The short of STAPLE is this: it was a fantastic day to see an event center full of talented folks who do what they love doing. The long.. is actually not much longer.

After set-up, my table looked like this:

with the spectacular banner Scott made. What you can’t see is the equally spectacular banner for Weird City Theatre that I didn’t have room to hang, so it became a runner for the half table I reserved. (Sorry, guys! Next year, a whole table!) I was hoping the banner would be enough to draw people in, but I actually started accosting people to give away the $5-off coupons for “Giants in Those Days” admissions and postcards for Scott’s and my websites. That was the most difficult part of the day since I’m not a great salesman, and walking up to strangers who may have no interest in what I’m saying makes my stomach clench. Still, I did it. And I’m happy to say no one told me to shove off.

I didn’t sell much, but I did meet Brandon from Austin Word-Slingers, and got invited to join the group. I’m looking forward to my first meeting with them.





All told for the day, I probably made about $30, which is exactly what I spent on a new comic book series being sold a few tables down. My goodness! Why did no one ever tell me about Atomic Robo? I’m going to say it’s a failing on the part of all my friends who knew about this comics, but for some reason didn’t recognize that this is exactly the kind of book that I LOVE to read. Shame on you. You’re off my Christmas card list. Props to my STAPLE tablemate Jenner Carnelian for letting me read his copy of the first issue, which led to my buying the whole series.

The concept behind Atomic Robo is one so simple that I’ve decided to make it my mission for the next year to pare back my own writing to this level of clear but wonderful wordsmithing. Nikola Tesla, mad inventor and genius, created an atomic-powered robot to safeguard the world from threats no one else could hope to defeat. It’s makes perfect sense for Brian Clevinger to write about Tesla and his inventions, being a genius himself. Robo’s speech is anachronistic at times – having 21st century levels of snark – but it doesn’t kill the mood of the story because it makes the character that much easier to relate to. Of all four volumes out, the third is hands down my favorite because H. P. Lovecraft and his mad gods play a huge role in it, and because the Star Trek levels of sciencespeak give Grant Morrison’s 9th dimensional devisings a run for their money. The fun of the book is in the throw-away lines like “…Edison would never let the likes of you or I near his necrophone.” The uchronology in the book reminds me of Helen Killer. It’s fantastic stuff.

Save yourself some time and postage, and buy all the issues at once. No sense in putting yourself through the torture of waiting for the next installment to arrive.

Sunday was the indy panel discussion at Dragon’s Lair with me, Jason Neulander, Drew Edwards, Chris Garrett, Keith Quinn, Nate Bramble, and Anthony Rezendez. Honestly, we outnumbered the audience members, which was fine because we got to talk amongst ourselves a lot. It was a good afternoon, though I don’t think I sold anything to anyone who didn’t already know me. Thanks Lisa Ann and Steven!

I have to say I was a bit nervous about meeting Jason Neulander. He does a live comic book radio show called “Intergalactic Nemesis” which draws its inspiration from adventure serials of the 30’s and 40’s, but with comic book pages that are brought to life by actors and Foley artists. I only found about this a few weeks ago when his troupe performed at an Alamo Drafthouse event, and when I heard about it, I just about died. “Intergalactic Nemesis” is what Jason does for a living, which is undeniably the coolest job ever. Everyone on the panel spoke about making their comics out of a love the the medium and the passion of telling our own stories, but Jason took it a step further and exhorted us to not wait to be discovered, but to make a business out of ourselves. “Inspiring” really doesn’t do the excitement of his words justice. but back to my near-death experience. His concept for “Intergalactic Nemesis” was exactly what I was thinking for “Giants in Those Days.” Poop. Luckily, I’m not the artistic director for Weird City, so I’m going to stop worrying (…a bit. Maybe…) and let someone else develop the concept.

And speaking of “Giants in Those Days”, four souls who were not busy with the Oscars were at my house Sunday night to do a read-through of the play and to give me feedback on what’s good and what’s not, and what needs to be added and what needs to be changed. It was a productive meeting, and there are several things I need to take care of, but I’m happy for the occupation. Whatever else it may be, “Giants in Those Days” is going to be an unusual night of theatre.

Today is my second day of Spring Break, and I have lots to do in the coming days, not the least of which is avoid the ex-convict who wants to mow my lawn. Maybe I’ll get to a winery or someplace that has a hot tub for a day.

The HULK! #23

I didn’t buy Crossed this week like I had planned because my LCS didn’t have back issues extending to #1. Being a completist, I would have been driven mad by half a set. HOWEVER, there was a copy of the infamous The HULK #23 in which Bruce Banner is almost shower-raped at a Y by two sour-faced gay guys. As noted in Mistakes of a Past History #2, writer Jim Shooter was apparently going for “verisimilitude” with this story, but the result is a menudo of melodrama, a veritable potpourri of painful plights so grotesquely portrayed that I can’t believe it got green lit in the first place. Of course, I was interested in buying the issue because of the gay angle (it being of personal interest), but trust me, gay people were not the only one’s maligned by Jim Shooter. Junkies in particular should be taking some umbrage with him, to say nothing of baby mommas. “Verisimilitude” to Jim Shooter apparently means, “everyone dies unmourned: the good, the bad, the innocent” or something equally as nihilistic… well, in a Sartre-for-Dummies-I-read-about-this-once-while-waiting-on-line-at-the-grocery-store kind of way. Shooter didn’t have the chops to write this effectively, and that’s the real crime.

Come see me at table 10A in the Auditorium! It’s going to be a GREAT day of Indy media in all it’s forms. I’ll also have discount coupons for Weird City Theatre’s production of my play Giants in Those Days, debuting this July in Austin, TX! The poster below is by the soon-to-be world famous Benjamin Ruth, who also did all the art for Rise of the Pink Ninjas.





Also, my brother created a banner for the event. I picked it up yesterday and it’s everything I hoped it would be:





Of course, it will look better at my table (well, half table; I’m sharing with GINK Press) than on my floor. I’ll be sure to post pictures after I’m assembled Saturday morning.

AND At 1 PM on March 7th at Dragon’s Lair Comics, I will be part of a panel of local folks – Jason Neulander, Drew Edwards, Chris Garrett, Keith Quinn, Nate Bramble, and Anthony (sorry, no idea on the last name…) – talking about a life of Indy comics. I’m looking forward to it!

fungible



Of course, Scott Adams owns Dilbert.

Come see me at table 10A in the Auditorium! It’s going to be a GREAT day of Indy media in all it’s forms.

Also, my brother created a banner for the event. It’s being put together by SpeedPro and I’ll have it by Tuesday. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have something so… official. Check out how cool:





AND At 1 PM on March 7th at Dragon’s Lair Comics, I will be part of a panel of local folks – Jason Neulander, Drew Edwards, Chris Garrett, Keith Quinn, Nate Bramble, and Anthony (sorry, no idea on the last name…) – talking about a life of Indy comics. I’m looking forward to it!

No reviews this week, but I found something truly wonderful at Austin Books and Comics: Dynamite #4 with the dreamy Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson on the cover! Squeeeeeal! On a less gay note, Dynamite was one of those magazine’s for kids that we got through Scholastic Book Services in school. It was a step above Highlights for Children in terms of content and reading level, but less erudite than CBS’s “In the News”. The cool thing about this find is that it still has the subscription form and club patch inside. And, yeah, the Hardy Boys.

Come see me at table 10A in the Auditorium! It’s going to be a GREAT day of Indy media in all it’s forms. AND At 1 PM on March 7th at Dragon’s Lair Comics, I will be part of a panel of local folks – Jason Neulander, Drew Edwards, Chris Garrett, Keith Quinn, Nate Bramble, and Anthony (sorry, no idea on the last name…) – talking about a life of Indy comics. I’m looking forward to it!

I’m going to write this feature without referencing Calvin and Hobbes, because any comic with a put-upon daydreaming ten-year-old boy is going to call up the comparison (plus, everyone else who discovers this comic is going to say the exact same thing). So, let me say that for those who enjoy pre-adolescent (and at times rather dark) whimsy and have an affection for all things superheroic, then as fast as you can type the URL, get yourself over to SMASH, and let the stupendous wash over you. It kicks Kick Ass’ ass without breaking a sweat or breaking a skull open.

Thanks to Lorin of the GLA for the tip!

Xposted to CPB

A super-rare and very fine issue of Action Comics #1 sold today at auction for $1,000,000, a new record for this kind of collectible. According to the AP, only 100 copies of this comic are still in existence, and none approach this good of condition.

The transaction was conducted by the auction site ComicConnect.com. Stephen Fishler, co-owner of the site and its sister dealership, Metropolis Collectibles, orchestrated the sale.

Fishler said it transpired minutes after the issue was put on sale at around 10:30 a.m. Eastern time (1530 GMT). He said that the seller was a “well known individual” in New York with a pedigree collection, and that the buyer was a known customer who previously bought an Action Comics No. 1 of lesser grade.

The previous comic book record was set last year when John Dolmayan, drummer for the rock band System of a Down, paid $317,000 for an Action Comics No. 1 issue. Attempts to reach him for comment on Monday’s sale were not immediately successful.

For those keeping track, that’s a profit of 10,000,000,000%. And they say we’re in a recession. Tcha.

[via APNewsBreak]

cachectic

Last summer, my father passed away from metastatic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In essence, the cancer attached itself to his organs and instead of destroying them, ate off of them, taking away his energy a little more every day. This is word for that.

I’m getting behind in posting all my food porn here at Orthocomics (damn you for being so easy to post pictures to, Facebook! seriously. Wordpress need to step it up.), so here are several days with of food at once:

Poached Chicken Panini with a Yogurt Dill Dip:

Recent excursions into bread:









All of which were pretty yum. There are days when I wonder if I could go to culinary school…

Green Lantern #51

There’s a reason that Geoff Johns was just promoted to the post of DC’ Chief Creative Officer, and it’s in this issue. I don’t normally read any of the GL titles, but Johns’ “Blackest night” has me buying all his supplementary stories. The guy is carrying on a serious love affair with all things DC, and his affection is contagious. Under his direction, I can see the DCU becoming a much more interesting place.
Grade: A

Uncanny X-Men #521

If it weren’t for the last page of this issue, I would consider dropping the title altogether. The X-Men just created a nation for themselves, and instead of getting into the meat and potatoes of setting up a government, mutant political factions, “savior complexes”, and host of other issues that are pretty relevant to current topics, Matt Faction serves up a very tepid Legacy Flu. It’s sort of like having Hamburger Helper every Friday night: it’s safe and traditional, but no one is every going to moan in delight with each meaty, saucy spoonful.
Grade: C-

The first toys I remember my parents getting me for Christmas were the Mego Batman, Robin, Superman, Spider-Man, Joker, the Batmobile and the Hall of Justice. And “remember” is far too light a word. These toys are ingrained in me, and still pull and tug at me to this day (they’re also sitting on a shelf in my bedroom, which has a lot to do with that, no doubt).

Now, Mattell (!!!) is coming out with their DC Universe Retro-Action Figures series, which are unaplogetically based on the Mego aesthetic.

In the Set One (the first of many, I hope) only one figure (Superman) was ever produced by Mego; the others (Green Lantern, Lex Luthor, and Sinestro) were rumored to be in production, but never made it to the assembly line before Mego went bankrupt in 1981 (thanks a lot, Kenner!). They look like the real thing and are going to be packaged to look like Megos (along the same lines as Diamond Select’s Star Trek re-issues) , but that $85.00 price tag is enough to give an enthusiast like myself pause.

Looks like I may be selling some less desirable things on eBay to cover the bill. Maybe my Dark Tower…?

obstreperous

I read this work in Dexter by Design, which I will excuse myself now by saying that while I have read all the “Dexter” novels, a co-worker lent them to me. There’s nothing wrong with the novels, but there’s also not much right about them. However, I’m a little tired of books that have 50+ characters and cross the span of several hundred years. I’m saga’d-out. “Dexter” is a nice departure from all that.

Umweltverschmutzung

Because that’s just where I am today.

prolapse

After seeing the following video on my favorite gay blog Joe.My.God

with New Hampshire state Representitive Nancy Elliott saying that same-sex marriage should be repealed because “we’re talking about taking the penis of a man and putting it in the rectum of another man and wriggling it around in excrement. And you have to think, would I want that to be done to ME?”, I read with glee Jeffrey’s response

O.M.F.G. Get out of our bedrooms, you stupid, bleeding cunt!

And HELL YES, I want my husband’s cock up my ass. As for the wiggling around part, maybe YOU are loose enough for that, but don’t project your own near-prolapse on the rest of us, honey.

*hairtoss*

which is quite the image.

dormer

Weeks ago, I got a wild hair and decided to have my considerable but useless attic space made into an upper den accessible from the master bedroom. However, when trying to explain to a co-worker about “windows that stick out”, I could not for the life of me remember what they’re called. “Dormers.” They’re called “dormers.” I’m still picturing a spiral staircase going from my bedroom to a private den all my own where I can look out on the dead lawn in the middle of summer. Of course, I live alone, so how much more space and/or privacy do I need? And what if the contractors found my porn?

Oh, YEAH!!!!

exonumia

I have no story about this word other than it’s completely new to me and fun to say.

Siege #2

I haven’t been an “event” person in years (even though I have every issue of the much-maligned “Final Crisis”) mostly because I find them to be more con than content. While hyped to be huge and meaningful, events aren’t usually that impacting, and, worse, they’re horribly written and poorly plotted.

Having said that, I loved Siege #2!

While the content is on the light side (the majority of the issue focuses on Ares and his ill-fated battle with Sentry), the more mundane scenes – particularly between Nick Fury and Alex, the Avengers in the S.H.I.E.L.D. transport, and the last page of the issue – are well-written and give more weight to the story than “superpower-on-superpower action” and “the Saint Crispin’s Day speech”. But, I’m a moments guy.

Coipel, Morales and Martin are a cyclonic artistic force. While Bendis’ words may have been handled well enough by another team, this one breathes life into each panel with its dynamic compositions and expressive faces. Even the capes are expressive and full of movement. The best example of this is page three – Ares’ realization that he’s been manipulated into attacking Asgard juxtaposed with the battle below is brilliant. Without words, without mummery, the reader knows exactly what is going on under the god’s helmet. Great stuff! However, the rending of Ares on a later page, while arranged beautifully, is odd in that his intestines seem to have been previously resting on his back, protecting his spine. Gory, yes, but inaccurate overkill at best.

My one complaint is the half-truth of the “death of an Avenger” solicit. It was sophomoric hype at best. You can do better, Marvel.
Grade: A-

Hey! If for no reason in particular, you might be thinking, “I want to get Sean something special, but, what? Whatever could I get him?” You might want to consider this, the RENT, Roger Davis bear from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS:

And he comes with all this cool stuff:

Roger wears an exact duplicate of his Broadway costume. First seen at the top of ACT II during the emotionally charged “Seasons Of Love”, this faithful re-creation consists of Roger’s black and white geometric-print sleeveless button down shirt, straight leg pin-stripe pants (both cut from the cloth of the original costumes), green hand-knit scarf and black leather biker jacket with the portentous and tragic hand-painted “Only Good Die Young” logo on the back. His brown leather “New Rock” boots have been eternalized in miniature form, and his grunge-cut, frosted blonde wig has been perfectly styled. Finally, Roger comes with his very own (working!) acoustic guitar and stand, which will certainly help as he finds “…the power to ignite the air” and write his “One Song Glory”. Once he looks into “Your Eyes” you’ll know that he can’t live “Without You”!

Included in this lot is a hand-signed “eviction-notice” prop from the 2005 film RENT, signed by Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal as well as a set of Roger’s “old rock and roll posters, advertisting gigs at CBGB’s and The Pyramid Club” used in the final days of RENT’s Broadway run.

Did you see that? SIGNED BY ANTHONY RAPP AND ADAM PASCAL!!!!

All the iconic Broadway Cares bears up for auction can be seen here. All proceeds go to help people living with AIDS.

Thanks to Joe Jervis!

space cookies

I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack for “Bare: a Rock Opera” mostly because of how evocative the story is (gay boys at a Catholic boarding high school. Yeah. Really, has anything else in my life defined and informed me more than this?), but also because (Lord help me for saying this) the songs are so catchy. “Space cookies” comes from the song “Birthday, Bitch!”

kvell

I have a fascination for Yiddish and all things Jewish. All my friends know that. I’ve been accused of being a matzo queen, though I think I just prefer non-white guys. “Kvell” is one of those words I like to drop into conversation (along with “schmutz” and “schtupp” and “fakakta“). I heard this word used last night during a re-run of “House”. House said he kvelled when Cameron finally came to accept that everybody lies. I think I’ll really have arrived when I use “fartatshish” (“sloppy”) correctly in a sentence.

abattoir

There is apparently a chophouse in Atlanta called “Abattoir” that serves guests “the use of locally-raised proteins to produce high-quality, affordable food.” I admire how up-front they are about the name being from the French for “slaughterhouse”, but I really enjoy how they refer to meat as “protein”. Thanks, “Top Chef”! You’ve done for meat what “open concept” has done for real estate.

Last summer, I heard Maggie Gallagher say the most reprehensible and simultaneously twee-est (if I’m using the word right; it means “cutesy”, correct?) thing to ever come out of her voluminous pie hole: “Marriage is not a civil right. In fact, it’s a civil wrong.” Her ability to turn a phrase aside, Mags’ head should have by all rights exploded from just the uncut rage I was sending her way (to say nothing of the other people I’m sure were doing the same thing). Ah, “Scanners,” you disappointed me once again. So, what’s a guy to do?

Easy: write her as a blobby (well, “blobbier”) hulk with swaying tits in league with all the other hating low-lifes and get friends to help make it into a comic book.

I now present to you the fruits of our labor – Rise of the Pink Ninjas: A Gay Fantasia (click on the hate to get the fun):

(Go ahead. It’s free.)

SEE Mad Gallagher throw her weight around!

STARE IN WONDER at the mysterious Bastard Baby Doll!

CLENCH your butthole when P & M, the Night Bears, cruise by!

But most of all, enjoy and keep fighting. I want to start buying gay wedding gifts.


Rise of the Pink Ninjas: A Gay Fantasia
written by Sean McGrath
drawn, inked and colored by Benjamin Ruth
lettered by Christopher Moshier
cover graphic by Scott McGrath



UPDATE: For those who prefer their comics paginated instead of stacked, I’ve made a CBZ file available. It’s my first time making one and it was stunningly easy. Why have I never done this before?

UPDATE the SECOND: Joe Jervis of the excellent gay blog Joe.My.God posted an entry about Pink Ninjas on his site, which thrills me in ways I can’t explain. One decision early on was to have the real voices of the LGBTQ movement supplant the tyrannical Solomon when they discovered he wasn’t working in their best interests. Joe is definitely one of those voices.





The readers had some affirming comments about the comic, like:

“That there was ten shades of wonderful.” from JD.

“Wow. That is just too fabulous. And it catches the relationship between the professional gay and anti-gay forces to a T.” from Smartypants.

“I love this comic for that reason someone finally had the GUTS to call out the traitors in our own midst for who and what they are!” from Daveinsf.

“I think I have a new wallpaper for my computer.” from art.

And “As a lifelong comic book fan I loved it, loved it, loved it! Kudos to all involved.” from Ken Berg.

JMG is probably one of my favorite blog communities. I’m glad the folks over there enjoyed the comic.

UPDATE the THIRD: Oh WOW! We were mention on After Elton!

heigth

I’ve been using this word for ages, and tonight in an email to my brother about the dimensions of a new header he’s making for me (!!!) spellcheck kept marking it as wrong. I finally had to look it up, and found out there is no such word. Maybe it’s a Northeastern thing, like perogie and Lake Effect Snow.

After several years of looking at my first few attempts at getting a comics book out into the public and all the mistakes therein, I’m happy to announce that a new trade paperback available at Indyplanet.com collects Frater Mine issues #1 to #3 – “Family Reunion” – with a new introduction, and corrected text and images. FINALLY!! Now maybe the OCD-induced nightmares will stop.

The interior art is by Juan Romera (the faithful artist whose work just gets better and better) and Andres Barrientos (who was aboard only for issue #2). Re-lettering was done by Ed Brisson, who has been doing all the Frater Mine issues since #4. He’s an amazing talent, and right now is working on issue #8. I intend to keep him around for as long as possible. Cover art was done by my brother Scott with contributions from Austin photographer Dan Machold. This is a great team, and I’m thrilled to know and work with them.

Also, in about a week or so, a new webcomic – “Rise of the Pink Ninjas” – will be available for download. It’s drawn and colored by Benjamin Ruth (whom I’ve conscripted to help with “Unmouldered Vespula”, another new project) and lettered by Christopher Moshier. I’m not going to give everything away, but here’s a sample of page one:






The download will be free. I’ll make an announcement when it’s ready for your reading pleasure.

Kick Ass #8

The final issue of Kick Ass is just about what everyone expected it to be: loud, hyper-violent, and calculated to offend as many people as possible with… well, pick your issue. It’s bound to be there. and I say “calculated” in the most cynical way possible. Even going back to the solicit, which asks “Who will be morally outraged?” (when there’s not a single character in the book that knows what morality looks like let alone if outrage is an option), it’s obvious this finale was designed to provoke a reaction from the audience. Mark Millar went where “Heroes” couldn’t/wouldn’t/was unable to go with the “superheroes in real life” theme, and how messed up it really would be. Overall, however, Kick Ass is like watching porn: lots of button-mashing and screaming and penetrations climaxing with everyone screaming as the money shot splooshes out, covering everything. It is a comic fanboy’s wet-dream brought to the page. I have to applaud Millar for doing what no one has really done before: delving into angsty-teen-comic-fan-fic comic stories and making at living at it (then again there is the inexplicable popularity of “Twilight” and “Wicked Lovely”). If “nuance” is what you’re looking for, well, that’s why there are movies like “When in Rome” (I jest, of course. “When in Rome” is as subtle as a skinhead at a Seder.). I just help but wonder that I read this series the whole way through. Maybe because it betokens the future of comics writing.
Grade: C

Madame Xanadu #19

Madame Xanadu is one book I look forward to every month. Oddly, this month’s issue was supposed to be the conclusion of a story, but instead there was an overwrought “aside” about Nimue and Morgana’s childhood together (an extremely long childhood, at that). I know that Matt Wagner is often overwrought, but usually that can be forgiven because of the art that accompanies the story. This is one of those titles where the art means so much to the words. Amy Reed Hadley, who normally illustrates, is off this month, replaced by Joelle Jones, and the story is just kind of “OK”. Amy brings some real magic to Matt Wagner’s words, and without her, this chapter seems both unnecessary and ugly.
Grade: C+

trews

I’ve been reading The Smart Aleck’s Guide to American History and “trews” came up in a joke about the Founding Fathers and “Yankee Doodle”.

I had to post a picture of Andy, post-bath.

Cute, right? He hates baths, so I’m surprised he’s even looking at me.

Spoke too soon. He actually broke out of the cage

then peed all over the place.

I think I’ve hit frustration level.

I spoke to Andy’s previous owner this morning, and while he seems like a nice guy, he was a little fast and loose with the people at Town Lake Animal Center when he surrendered Andy. It seems that his mother had become unable to care for Andy due to some health reasons of her own, but also because Andy was unable to use the potty appropriately. Basically, his hind legs and age make it difficult for him to posture correctly when he makes, so he will often just do the best he can wherever he can. Obviously, this means I can’t let him have unfettered access to the house, especially if I’m going to sell it this summer. But I also can’t have him living in my bathroom forever.

At the advice of my vet, I decided to set up a hospice-like situation for Andy.

After work, I went to PetCo and got Andy a kennel. It seemed the best thing to do for him. I gussied it up and made it into (I hope) a serviceable and comfortable place to live. The idea is that when I’m not around, he’ll live there, but when I am, I’ll let him out to hang with the other cats. This way he’ll have the ability to socialize, accidents will be contained, and clean-ups should be easier.

I’ll also get my bathroom back.

Here’s how the first evening is going:

This is a pretty good example of how he’s doing. A few minutes before I filmed this, he got right out of the kennel without a problem.

urine scald

I recently adopted a special needs cat named Andy, who, because of a dog attack, is unable to posture correctly to go potty. The vet warned me to keep him clean in order to avoid urine scald.

EMDR

A friend of mine mentioned this to me a few months ago. To say anymore would be breaking a confidence.

Green Lantern Corps #44

Normally, i hate deus ex machina because it’s a cheap escape from a dramatic problem: the universe steps in and says, “No more. It’s done.” which leaves characters (and viewers) unsatisfied because it shows that we’re at the mercy of powers greater than ourselves, and free will is a slogan like “life should be fair.” That being said, I LOVED GLC’s method of disposing of the Black Lanterns: Mogo. It seems fair in some way, especially because Xanshi in its entirety came back, to say nothing of the rest of the universe’s re-animated dead. God doesn’t come down and declare that “Enough is enough. Go home.” No, no. God comes down with some righteous smiting, and it looks great ion a page. Is there a counterpoint to deux ex machina? If so, that’s what Peter Tomasi has created in this issue.
Grade: A

Uncanny X-Men #520

When sitting down to write this review, I had to pick the issue back up again because I had no recollection of what had happened. Then I saw the cover and remembered that Wolverine and Psylocke were out and about looking for someone for some reason. Then it occurred to me that I had liked Magneto because he was being misunderstood (Scott, of course, was a controlling bitch to him) and noble (poor guy couldn’t catch a break even when being helpful). In general, the issue was half-forgettable and half-sorta interesting.
Grade: C-

Alien space bats

I found this word while trying desperately to remember the fancy name for the historical fiction genre. I’m pretty sure it starts with “meta” (but, these days, what doesn’t?). I did come across “uchronia“, but that wasn’t the exact word I wanted. Still pretty cool, though.

Supersessionism

In my continuing fascination for all things God, I came across this word the other day. For being such a common topic of discussion, I’m surprised no one ever uses this word. Same with “theodicy“.

inappentence

I came across this word while researching why my cat is refusing to eat. It sounds much more urgent than “loss of appetite”.

rime

This word makes me think of a pauper’s grave, bodies covered in quicklime.

Bass-O-Matic

This was said tonight by a competitor on Food Network’s “Chopped”. She used it as part of her justification as to why she hand-mixed a salad after slicing her finger with a knife. “It wasn’t all Bass-o-matic,” she said. I still wouldn’t have eaten her salad if God himself told me she was DDF/HIV-/certified cootie-free.

Sort of. In getting ready for the new semester, I’m trying out new healthier recipes for lunch so I don’t have to subsist on hamburgers every day (which, while delicious, would be bad), so here are two experiments:

First, pan fried wheat noodles with tofu in a Dr. Pepper/soy reduction. Yesh, the Dr. Pepper isn’t too healthy, and it doesn’t do anything for the flavor other than add a bit of a caramel finish. I think I’d be better off using Sprinte or white wine the next time.

Next is brown rice risotto with veg. I completely understand now why risotto is such a delicacy: it took me and hour of constant stirring to get the rice cooked! However, it was totally worth the effort. Fresh lemon juice just before serving gives it a nice finish.





YUM!

My friends Mike and Jeremy will be getting married this August in Colorado. A few months ago, they asked me to draw their save-the-date cards. I balked. They persisted. I relented, because how cool an honor is that? Here’s the card I made them:

I have no future in art; however, I believe in Mike and Jeremy’s future together with all my heart. Congratulations, guys!

After Marvel proudly announced to the world that they are the biggest assdancers in comics publishing after Diamond, Adloph Hitler had this reaction:

Thanks to Andy Mangles for pointing this out!

The Power of SHAZAM! #48

I’m sure the undead have their own particular stench, but in this case, it smells like… poo? Jeez, someone light a match for this Blackest Night stinker! First of all, this one-shot is even more proof that no one knows how to write the Marvel Family well. Except for their abbreviated stint in JSA last year, there’s really nothing marvelous about them of late. Second of all, I’m uncertain if this a “triumph of the human spirit” story or a “here’s another clue as to how Nekron will be defeated” story. If it’s the former, why is Osiris of all people able to resist the Black Rings? “Black Adam’s magic” is a throwaway explanation since lots of magical beings have not resisted un-life in the main BN title. If it’s the latter, well, it’s a clue no one in the DCU is going to have access to.

The Marvel Families have so many stories that still need to be told, and with just one issue to do one story, they (and we) were we given this. Osiris himself says that “we were all just family,” and that would have made an excellent theme for an excellent story, but, unfortunately, we got jack shit.

Today, a friends of mine who works with animal rescue sent me a Craigslist link about a cat named Andy at Town Lake Animal Center. Her email read simply “ADOPT HIM”. When I clicked on the link, the ad read as follows:

This loving orange tabby boy is dependent on humans to help him, but is still responsible for himself. He gets where he wants to go, uses his back legs when he can, and most of all, he wants to connect with people. He gives headbutts, purrs continuously, and is clearly missing his safe home and owner. Even in the scary shelter he shows a lot of independence and the ability to move out of harm’s way.

Andy is a 9-year old orange tabby and white lovecat. Severely injured during a dog attack 8 years ago, he has limited use of his rear legs. His owner left him at TLAC Monday because she hurt her back and can’t keep him.

If you meet Andy, your heart will strengthen, not break. He is loving, trusting, and the shelter staff gave him the highest friendliness ratings. He is easy to pick up and carry around.

Can you save Andy’s life? He was put on the euthanasia list and now has one day to find a home or rescue placement.

And don’t ask me what it was about the words or the picture; I don’t know. But he’s mine. I pick him up tomorrow at 3. He’s adorable, isn’t he?

hove

Another one from The Road.

crozzle

I read this word in The Road:

The days sloughed past uncounted and uncalendared. Along the interstate in the distance long lines of charred and rusting cars. The raw rims of the wheels sitting in a stiff gray sludge of melted rubber, in blackened rings of wire. The incinerate corpses shrunk to the size of a child and propped on the bare springs of the seats. Ten thousand dreams ensepulchred within their crozzled hearts. They went on. Treading the dead world under like rats on a wheel. The nights dead still and deader black. So cold. They talked hardly at all. He coughed all the time and the boy watched him spitting blood. Slumping along. Filthy, ragged, hopeless. He’d stop and lean on the cart and the boy would go on and then stop and look back and he would raise his weeping eyes and see him standing their in the road looking back at him from some unimaginable future, glowing in that waste like a tabernacle.

According to a CNN report today, people who have watched the movie Avatar are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts.

On the fan forum site “Avatar Forums,” a topic thread entitled “Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible,” has received more than 1,000 posts from people experiencing depression and fans trying to help them cope. The topic became so popular last month that forum administrator Philippe Baghdassarian had to create a second thread so people could continue to post their confused feelings about the movie.

“I wasn’t depressed myself. In fact the movie made me happy ,” Baghdassarian said. “But I can understand why it made people depressed. The movie was so beautiful and it showed something we don’t have here on Earth. I think people saw we could be living in a completely different world and that caused them to be depressed.”

A post by a user called Elequin expresses an almost obsessive relationship with the film.

“That’s all I have been doing as of late, searching the Internet for more info about ‘Avatar.’ I guess that helps. It’s so hard I can’t force myself to think that it’s just a movie, and to get over it, that living like the Na’vi will never happen. I think I need a rebound movie,” Elequin posted.

A user named Mike wrote on the fan Web site “Naviblue” that he contemplated suicide after seeing the movie.

“Ever since I went to see ‘Avatar’ I have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na’vi made me want to be one of them. I can’t stop thinking about all the things that happened in the film and all of the tears and shivers I got from it,” Mike posted. “I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora and the everything is the same as in ‘Avatar.’ ”

Other fans have expressed feelings of disgust with the human race and disengagement with reality.

I’ve experienced this kind of depression before (though not with “Avatar”), most notably after seeing “Les Miserables” for the first time and wanting to run away with the touring company. Come to think of it, some women in grad school quit four weeks into their first semester to become “RENT” groupies after seeing the show for every performance of its DC run. I think that was actually my fault.

Call it what you will – Post-Holiday Letdown, The Back-to-Reality Blues, The After-Event Crash – but I’m going to call it Marauders’ Guilt. I’m also going to suggest that people stop worrying about what disgusting things movie people are doing to a fictional planet and wake up to how we’re destroying our own. That, if anything, was James Cameron’s message. Be angry (and active) here; not in make-believe.

QUASIMORON – male, indeterminate age – Quasimoron is simple evil. It isn’t so much alive as it just exists. It is fat, hunched and cross-eyed; it dresses like a perverted clown. Its power is to make you exactly like it is – empty and dumb.