Thursday, October 29, 2009

Tom Wait's Thursday: What's He Building in There?



I don't know what's scarier. The idea that you're neighbor may be up to something sinister or that Tom Waits is waiting outside you house. Gathering information about you life. Watching you. Always WATCHING you!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fanboy Reasoning

I see this line of argument in comic book debates more and more these days.
"Creator X hates the fans because he put out work that I don't like and he puts out work that I don't like because he hates the fans."
No one ever seem to call anyone out on this. Am I the only person who notices this? I mean people are making sweeping generalizations about people they don't know based on circular reasoning. This is why poeple think comic fans are fat losers who live in their mothers basement.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Realy Bad Pun

What do you call a rapping Transformer?

MC Hummer!

In related news, I have writer's block.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

If I Ran the Zoo;: the Hangman

Instead of Tom Waits' Thursday, this week were going to do another installment of If I Ran the Zoo. where I suggest reinterpretation of existing comic book characters. This week, we're going to focus on the Hangman, one the Archie characters that DC Comics recently revived.
The problem with the recent Hangman revival is that it's basically a retread of the old vengeful ghost story. The twist is that, though he is a murdering ghost by night, the Hangman is a doctor be day. Thus, he must work to heal the people who suvive his nightly attacks. If this premise sounds familiar, it's because it is basically the plot of the web comic Dr. McNinja, except not funny or interesting.
My reinterperetaion of the character goes back to his ogininal Archie comics origin with a darker twist . In the orginal comics, the Hangaman was actually Bob Dickering, the younger brother of the superhero, the Comet. When the Comet gets shot by mobsters, Bob becomes the Hangman to get revenge on the criminals who did it.
My take on the character is that the Comet's death was the major turning point in Bob's life. It was the event that gave him direction. Befre that, his life was on autoplilot. Being the Hangman gave him a purpose and, for the first time, he was truly happy.
The only problem is that the Comet, like all good superheroes, gets better. (I'm talking about the 1940's Comet. The less that it said about the 60's version of the character, the better.) Suddenly, Bob's whole motivation is gone. His brother's presence reduces him to just a man in a slly outfit. After all, what's scarier to criminals, a hero who has no superpowers or the man who can and will disentigrate you by looking at you funny?
After all, death is not the worst thing that can happen to a superhero. The worst thing is being made irelevant.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Adventures in Bad Marketing

So if anyone's following the new Captain America: Reborn miniseries, Marvel is extending it by one issue which will be released in January. In other news,there also doing a special epilogue which will be released -- in December. They're actually releasing the epilogue before the last issue. I repeat: They're releasing the epilogue before the last issue. You have to wonder who signs off on stuff like this.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Comic I Liked This Week

The new Batman Annnual is an unessential murder mystery. Its only purpose is to serve as pilot for the new Azrael series. (He's Batman, only crazy and murderous). It features probably one of the silliest looking new villains in ages. And I loved every minute of it. People have no idea how refreshing it is just to read a superhero comic that is content with what it is. The superheo element is not treated as a distraction so that we can get to the real story. The superhero action is the real story. Its nice to know that there are still superhero comics that haven't forgotten how to have fun.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tom Waits Thursdays

Wow. It's been a while since I've done one of these.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

It's Been a While Since You Got Some Actual Content

---And you're not getting any now. Instead you get to listen to They Might Be Giants.


Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Truth Reveald at Last

http://www.thegoodatheist.net/2009/06/superman-better-than-jesus/