Let’s say you like comics. Let’s also say you’re gay. Let’s go even further and say that you’ve spent some time in front of Xtube participating in your own personal Tubesock Holocaust the likes of which would make Onan himself stop and go, “Wow.” Pushing the “what if’s” past the bounds of good taste, let’s finally say you enjoy the Underworld series. Sean-Z’s MYTH #2, then, is probably for you. However, if you are a savvy politico who keeps abreast of current gay events, MYTH #2 is definitely for you.
Ostensibly a story about the often-naked Zithyran V’riel and his quest to locate and reawaken his world’s gods, MYTH also reflects an important part of the gay cultural dialogue that has long gone unaddressed: namely, the equal and opposite reaction of gay opponents to Marriage Equality. As important as Marriage Equality is as a civil rights issue, there is a faction within the gay community that does not embrace it as step forward, but rather as a white flag to the heterosexual hegemony (say that three times fast!). In essence, gay culture will die under the trappings of “normalcy” – spouses, children, split-level houses, and dogs that do no fit into a shoulder bag – finally losing our sense of “special otherness”. I’m not saying I agree with this, nor do I presume to know Sean-Z’s political leanings; nevertheless, he gives us an alluring, profound, and often exciting look at the Marriage Equality counter-argument.
Sex will always be a part of the gay identity, mostly because we are both self- and other-identified through our sexual behavior. In terms of the heterosexual (i.e., “other”) identification, I would even argue towards “over-identified and bordering on unhealthy obsession” (I’m looking at you, Matt Barber and Peter LaBarbera). One only need glance at any number of postings by anti-gay groups to see that their fevered imaginings are far more pornographic and detailed than anything the average gay male has experienced. Why then is it important to have the discussion of “marriage” at this time? Wouldn’t Marriage Equality kill the gay sexual drive, as any number of late night TV wags have said it does to straight marriage? What would become of gay culture as we know it? Obviously with so profound a question mark directly in our path, it makes sense that some people would try to apply the brakes or jump out of the vehicle altogether.
In MYTH, inhabitants of the world Zithyra and their gods are comfortable with their bodies enough to go au naturel (and with their bodies, who wouldn’t be?) and are obviously queer. In choosing to arrange his universe this way, Sean-Z opens up two interesting points: one, that somehow the race propagates, and two, that there is no stigma attached to being queer, so we are left to judge “good” and “evil” by their respective behaviors. The “evil” side, the one that represents Marriage Equality proponents, is populated by vampires, draining the life of others to make it their own. I’ll admit the characterization is on the harsh side, but one can feel the sense of betrayal that V’riel has towards the head vampire, Donjovan Faust. I hope in future issues to see the past of their relationship. The “good” side is seen in V’riel and his mecha servant Koz (which brings to mind the colloquial “cuz”, so I’m left wondering about the implications of man-on-machine sex), who rescue a god (called a “Maker”), Julian, and his friends from a fire at a bar called “The Raunch”. The good guys are sexually liberated and for most of the book are naked and/or on teh cock like a GOP Congressman at an out-of-town convention without his wife. It’s a canny metaphor, and one without clear answers. While we root for the good guys, we can’t help but notice that the bad guys are just as hot and just as motivated to prevail.
Whether you are pro-Marriage Equality or feel that it will be the ruination of “gay”, Sean-Z’s compelling MYTH #2 will force you to take a long hard look at the future as it lays bare before you.
While looking at the cover of my copy of Giants in Those Days, specifically Miss Dawna, my nephew came up with the idea that her light power should evolve into an electricity-based power and her new name would be Static Elektra (which I thought was pretty clever)! And she would be evil because the good guys abandoned her (seems reasonable). Of course, I had to ask the ultra-talented Benjamin Ruth to come up with an appropriately good-stomping costume. And this is she:
Static Elektra (c) 2010 Dominic Kierzek. Costume design (c) 2010 Benjamin Ruth.
Dominic now owns a character, and I hope it gets him to draw more and make up stories. When he becomes famous, he’ll owe Ben a HUGE royalty check.
I can tell already that Robert Kirby’s new series, THREE, is going to get a lot of mileage out of its title. So many good things come in threes – like wishes and bears and the hot soccer triplets down the street whom I fervently know are 18 years old – or multiples of three – like a six pack (a three pack would look weird with a partnerless odd-ab-out) and… no, a six pack is the pinnacle of all things “six”, I’d say. And to begin his latest anthology venture (the sublime Boy Trouble book preceding), Robert and two other cartoonists – Eric Orner and Joey Alison Sayers – each offer up a story of a moment. Filed under “s[tuff] you can’t make up”, I’m tempted to say there is a semi-autobiographical revelation that comes from these moments. Whether by accident or design, there is a theme of “one” in each cartoonist’s work (yeah yeah yeah, it’s also issue number one) that has the ring of verisimilitude which I say can only come from personal experience. Like so:
Weekends Abroad by Eric Orner sets the bar high for every story in every issue including and following this one. Ostensibly a tale of what an American Jew working in Israel does on the weekends (cruise guys on the Internet, go to clubs, get laid), Weekends is a sad story. Not suicide levels of sadness by any means, but I feel for the nameless protagonist. And that is my point in a nutshell: can it get any lonelier for this cartoon stranger in a strange land who doesn’t speak Hebrew and who can’t find a decent guy to schtup than we readers not even knowing his name? I doubt it. There are moments of comfort, but the anonymous hero isn’t part of them – Markot games, Vox, finding the mysterious graffiti poet; he’s an observer. But, as with most things, there is grace in the end.
Joey Alison Sayers’ Number One is an odd piece, but it made me laugh. My six-year old nephew is going through his “bodily noises and functions are funny” stage, and, yes, my brother and I are encouraging it, not only because burps that scare birds out of trees are funny, but also because they’re natural and everyone does them (we’re trying to avoid any kind of shaming issues). Recently, the three of us were at Sara’s, a local beach-front hamburger “stand” which has my favorite ice cream in the world: soft-serve orange sherbet, when my brother belched unexpectedly, like, “Kronos eating his children too fast” belched. We all started laughing then realized a woman and her daughter sitting next to us were chuckling along. Scott was immediately embarrassed and apologized for interrupting their meal, though I have to give him credit for not stopping laughing. The mother said she looked over because she thought her son was nearby as he also doesn’t cover his burps in public. My nephew and I were amused by this, like, groundling amused. This is the charm of Number One: we’ve all been there.
Robert Kirby’s Freedom Flight rounds out the issue with another story about loneliness in the middle of a crowd. Drew has always wondered what it would be like to disappear, so when his boyfriend blows him off to work one afternoon, Drew leaves their apartment to meander around NYC. Kirby’s “one” could be seen as a companion piece to Orner’s, but much darker. In both stories, the protagonists are lost in the Big City, mostly because they’ve never been connected to it. But unlike Orner’s leading man, whose interior monologue connects his past to his present and to his future, Kirby’s Drew cycles around and around in a never-ending present, an existential “Groundhog’s Day”. And finally, there is no grace to save his Drew in the end: “one” simply becomes “none” (worse, “no one”). It’s a sucker punch in the gut, to be sure. It’s also honest and real.
Robert Kirby promises this is the first issue of an on-going series (a promise backed by the art samples for #2 on the final page) with contributions from old and new names in queer comics. It’d be a shame to not get on-board for this sure-to-be spectacular ride now. Order a copy of THREE here as soon as you reach the period at the end of this sentence.
In brief: See it, but pretend that someone else is playing Scott Pilgrim.
Too gay to be straight?
Several weeks ago, there was a minor rhubarb in the gay blogosphere when Ramin Setoodeh of Newsweek suggested that Sean Hayes, co-starring opposite Kristen Chenoweth in Promises, Promises, ruined the play because his gay was sparkling through what was supposed to be a straight character. I’m going to suggest the exact same thing about Michael Cera in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Dude acts like a lady. I’ve seen him in similar movies about disaffected and intensely understated teen love – Juno springs immediately to mind – which end in emotional waterfalls of caring and empathy, but I’ve never actually bought it from him. I’m now convinced it’s because is ways too subtle for the conscious mind to perceive, he was actually projecting his love for J. K. Simmons. (And who wouldn’t?) Never having read the manga-books, I wondered for the first thirty minutes if Cera’s lispy and breathless performance was foreshadowing Scott’s coming out later the film. Even his roommate, uber-slutty manbanger Wallace, in a metafictional moment says of him, “And you think I gay up the place too much?”
Is Cera really gay? Is he really straight? Who knows? Who cares? All I can say is, he needs to butch it up there a little and step out of his “less is more” schtick or he’s going to be typecast in the way of D J Qualls who is mostly famous for being Holocaust-thin. That or, ya know, he can start up a production company with Chad Allen. “Cerallen” or something mish-mashy like that.
Too hip to be square?
And speaking of disaffected. Is the… I dunno, are they still called “hipsters”? What is the generation of Xbox addicts and lonely souls in skinny jeans and pork pie hats called? Someone let me know, but until then I have to ask, is the Hipster Revolution over yet? I’m kinda tired of them. Yeah yeah yeah, my generation had the spotlight held up to our disappointments in The Breakfast Club, but kids these days remind me vaguely of kids from my college days who didn’t have jobs or any visible means of financial support but who still managed to be dropped out of helicopters to snowboard down mountains.
Holy crap. I’m my father…
Scott Pilgrim and his friends are like that (not my father; the previous thing): they don’t do much, but their days are full of activity – playing video games, wearing ironic t-shirts, faking suicides, trying to get signed with a music label, making much ado about trivia, and muddying the waters with their unexpressed emotions in a self-conscious way. Of all the gang, only Kim (Allison Pill) has the facial chops to pull off the seething cauldron of rage and resentment that threatens to bubble over at any moment. Scott himself is dating a high schooler – 17-year old Knives Chau – because he wouldn’t get any play otherwise. Though he wants to hang out with her, and they have a simpatico ninja-ass kicking video game technique, it’s awkwardly apparent that the power dynamic between them is WAY off. In one moment, Scott literally freezes his affections towards Knives until she obsequiously puts more quarters into their arcade game then he continues as if she had done nothing wrong. Yeah, right away, I didn’t like Scott (the character, not Michael Cera), but I’m certain I wasn’t supposed to like him, otherwise how could he grow into a better person by the end? Thinking of it, the ladies of the film were actually far superior to the boys in every way, not only as characters, but also as actresses. Knives (Ellen Wong), Kim, Stacey (Anna Kendrick), and Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) are part of what I’m calling “Hit Girl Syndrome”: “when a secondary female character upstages the male lead in every scene.” (I’ve already submitted it to Urban Dictionary, bitches.)
I think the only current cultural obsession missing from the movie was zombies (seriously, it even had a bacon moment! I don’t think even Twilight had a bacon moment.), but it did have winged Japanese succubi in sailor outfits. Is that almost the same thing? Is Scott Pilgrim too, almost cynically, relevant?
What’s a meta for?
None of this movie is meant to be taken literally, postmodern bitches.
+8 Balls
It may not seem like it, but I enjoyed this film a lot. I could relate to the story and the difficulty of forming relationships in what is now the 128-bit digital age (yeah, the NES graphics are part of the metaphor, too.), and though I wasn’t moved by the characters, I was certainly touched by their woes. Had it been directed by anyone other than Edgar Wright, it would have been forgettable, maybe even terrible. But Wright brought all the charm of the comic book medium to the screen as literally as was possible, and in doing so kept the usual translation problems to a minimum. Perhaps Neil Gaiman should have a sit down with Wright before Anasi Boys goes into pre-production.
A-
…but this seems like the most fun:
Tickets available at the Weird City Theatre website. It’s about heroes, villains, monsters, God, and the End of the World (all my favorite perseverations), but, thankfully, not about sparkly vampires.
GIANTS in THOSE DAYS got a blurb in this week’s Austin Chronicle. I don’t know who wrote it, but they’re pretty comics savvy. Hope my words live up to theirs!
Tickets available at the Weird City Theatre website. It’s about heroes, villains, monsters and the End of the World, and, thankfully, not about vampires.
burned flesh, irreversible blindness, cutting through some metals: these are all the first steps to making my Jedi dreams come true. Wicked Lasers has developed a lightsaber-like product that can inflict loads of damage, but without the philosophical claptrap to get in the way of some real mayhem.
Wicked Lasers radically redefines the way we see lasers yet again. For the first time in history, direct blue laser diodes have now become available in the consumer market. Wicked Lasers took the direct blue laser diode components and made the world’s first 445nm direct blue diode laser, the Arctic.
The Artic emits a 445nm cool blue, ultra high power 1W beam which appears up to 4000% brighter than the Sonar’s 405nm violet beam. This direct blue laser diode is the result of the evolution of laser technology. Less than one year ago, this laser would have cost thousands of dollars to build. Don’t let the Arctic name fool you, this laser possesses the most burning capabilities of any portable laser in existence. That’s why it’s also the most dangerous laser ever created.
And I need to get one before the FAA decides that no one needs that much power hanging on their belt.
For Immediate Release: June 10, 2010
Media Contact: Patti Neff-Tiven, Managing Director, Weird City Theatre Company
512-786-5033
Patti@WeirdCityTheatre.com
Weird City Theatre Company
Announces World Premiere
Giants in Those Days
AUSTIN—Weird City Theatre Company announces the world premiere of Giants in Those Days, an original graphic novel to stage adaptation by local writer, Sean McGrath. Heroes and villains of the muscle-y spandex-clad kind have been all but expunged from the world by the godly decree of Jason December, but one man remembers the Heroes of the Superior Union – shining beacons of everything mankind could become – and their stand against the evil of The Karnivale. Alone, he attempts to resurrect hope and decency and light in a new generation of heroes. But victory isn’t guaranteed for the good guys… Directed by Patti Neff-Tiven, the cast includes WCT Artistic Director John F. Carroll, Company members Kevin Gouldthorpe, Bethany Harbaugh, Nick Orzech, Jenni Bauer and Russell Minton and features Jennifer Baldillez, Chris Romani, Braden Hunt, Daniel Moore, Paul Camp, Austin Davison, Terri Lynne Hudson, LeRoy Beck, Ronis Alvarenga & Xaq Webb. This multi-media piece includes film, puppetry and panels from the original comic book. Featuring original art by Benjamin Ruth, Nockiman, William O. Tyler, Michael Troy, Joe Palmer, Ren Burke, Christopher Moshier, and Sean S. Martin.
Performances run July 8 – July 25, 2010 at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX. Performances are Thursday through Saturday nights at 8:00PM and Sundays at 5:00PM. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for children, seniors and students (with ID), and group rates are available. Tickets can be purchased at our website, www.weirdcitytheatre.com, or by calling 512-745-2636.
Weird City Theatre’s mission is to encourage the growth of the artist and represent the uniqueness and vitality of Austin through re-envisioned classics and original works. Keeping a child-like sense of play, we focus on the process of the actor and we are playing our part to keep Austin weird!
Weird City Theatre is a sponsored project of Austin Circle of Theatres, a nonprofit performing arts service organization.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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]
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…?
Oh, YEAH!!!!
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!
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!
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.
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.
Lake Superior State University published its annual list of “Banished Words” that meet the institute’s qualifications of “Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”
Recipients of the honor of being shuffled out the lexicon door are
- SHOVEL-READY
- TRANSPARENT/TRANSPARENCY
- CZAR
- TWEET
- APP
- SEXTING
- FRIEND (as a verb)
- TEACHABLE MOMENT
- IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES….
- STIMULUS
- TOXIC ASSETS
- TOO BIG TO FAIL
- BROMANCE
- CHILLAXIN’
- OBAMA-prefix or roots?
Of course, “teachable moment” holds a special place in my heart, by which I mean “stuffed in the Devil’s mouth next to Judas Iscariot”. I do, however, like the recently-promoted-to-verb “friend” as I believe most words could become verbs if we encouragemented it.
