The comments, reviews and rantings are for entertainment only. If you are offended then someone else is getting entertained. Welcome to the internet. Have at it. This is where I sound off on what I read in comics this week, and occasionally ramble about other things.
Showing posts with label The Walking Dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Walking Dead. Show all posts
OK, the local TV station has been advertising that its going to be showing episodes of THE WALKING DEAD. I was a bit surprised because I though the rule of thumb for a show to go into syndication was that it needed to have about a hundred episodes under its belt. I remember it was a big deal when BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER hit 100 episodes because they could go into syndication. It does seem like the rules have changed a bit. It has been a good ten years since I last took note of the subject. So, THE WALKING DEAD is coming to WTVZ channel 33. I read and love the comic. I've watched the first season of the AMC TV show on Netflix. I did not really like it. I'm not saying it was a bad show or anything like that. Its very well done. I just have a very strong attachment to comic books as a medium and I just really prefer the comics. I'm not planning on watching the show, but its nice that another comic book related program will be on. I opened up the newspaper, because I try to keep up with Luann in the funny pages, and there's the TV listings. Its debuting tonight at 8, and they're showing two episodes. Apparently this is going to be the norm on Wednesdays. This is taking over from showing double episodes of HOUSE. OK, I know HOUSE can be pretty graphic at times and I certainly wouldn't let the kids watch it, but isn't THE WALKING DEAD a bit rough to be showing at 8 on network TV? Did I get old or something? I'm not saying they should just show re-runs of family friendly sit-coms in that time slot. I did like watching AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. and SUPERNATURAL when it was on at that time slot. Still, the first season I saw of THE WALKING DEAD was really hard viewing at times. I figure they'll edit some of the really graphic parts. Maybe I'm just a bit surprised, and making more of this than it really is. Just seems a bit early in the evening for hardcore horror.
THE WALKING DEAD #98 continues the "Something to fear" storyline which will be leading us to issue 100. You know something is up when the person behind the counter is freaking out over the issue with a complete, "I can't believe that happened" look on their face. Yes a main character gets bumped off in this issue and I honestly didn't see that one coming. Its true what Kirkman says about this comic: "No one is safe." The battlelines are drawn between Rick's group and this mysterious Negan. Lately with the group taking out an entire herd of walkers its seemed like they were ready for anything. Granted, Rick's group is still as tough as they come, but its looking like Negan's group is a serious threat. Now we have the loss of an important member of the group, which has me seriously wondering if Rick and the others will be able to hang on to their community in the face of this threat. There's some critics that say the series moves a bit slow, but they certainly can't complain about this issue. Plenty of action, and all of it brutal.
ANGEL AND FAITH #10 is an absolute hoot. The quest to get Giles back takes an amusing turn when we meet Giles' Great-Aunts. These sisters have used every trick in the book to stay young and beautiful, but now with magic gone, the bill has come due. Christos gage and Chris Samnee do a huge gear shift in classic Whedon fashion. When things get really heavy like they did in the last storyline, when its time to turn around and deliver some fun. The sisters are an absolute hoot, as is how Angel and Faith react to them. I had some real laugh out loud moments here. At the same time, we also move along with "Giles Quest". This is a really well done issue. I had a blast with it.
ROCKETEER ADVENTURES 2 #3 serves up three stories again. David Lapham and Chris Sprouse give us a nice story with with Cliff and Betty thinking about their future and what could be. There's a story by Kyle Baker which is better off skipped. The last is by Matt Wagner and Eric Canete which is an interesting retelling of the Rocketeer's history. Sprouse and Canete both really serve up for beautiful art, and this is added to by a sweet pin-up by Eric Powell. I would have liked some more action with this issue. The stories show a lot of love for the character, but now a lot of punches thrown and bullets flying. Not bad, but hopefully we'll get more action next issue.
ZOMBIES VERSUS ROBOTS ANNUAL 2012 came out, and to be honest I only picked it up because Drew Moss drew one of the four stories in there. Sam Keith did art on a story in there too, so that's a bonus. It was interesting in that Keith and the other artists have a really quirky style, and that really made Moss's stand out with his cleaner style. I'm not a big ZvR fan, and this issue isn't going to get me on the bandwagon, but it wasn't bad at all. The "Summer" story was the stand out for me, but of course I'm biased there.
OSU! Its Sunday, May 13,2012, I think I've washed all the sand off of me, and this is The Side. After a pretty trying week, I wrapped it up with the Zanshinkan/Seireikan beach workout. It was a bit of a light turnout as it seems everyone had something going on this weekend. Still, there was about twenty of us out there, so it we had a good number. The workout started with a half mile run to warm up. Then on to stretching and drills. Bill Sensei led us through the kata Empi Ha which my school doesn't do, so it was new and exciting for my students. Its a nice form which Bill Sensei learned back in his Goju-Ryu training, and he's recently added it officially to his kata list.
I wrapped things up with a bit of a tribute to Darrin Sensei who passed away two weeks ago. I showed the group three particular techniques that he had showed me. We didn't go full blast with them as we did with Darrin's training sessions as those left me bruised to weeks. Still the applications got across, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.
After that it was off to Red Robin for burgers and a healthy round of shooting the bull. I was quite exhausted the whole way home, and passed out on the couch.
COMIX!!
THE WALKING DEAD #97 kicks off the "Something To Fear" story line which will be taking us up to the 100th issue. The last storyline gave us a brief glimpse at another community and this is looking good for Rick and his group. Rick's group has some serious muscle. The Hilltop has a lot of supplies that Rick's group needs. WE saw Hilltop has a problem with some guy called Negan who has a group of his own. Seems he's been extorting goods from Hilltop. Rick's volunteered his groups's aid in dealing with Negan in exchange for supplies. That's pretty much enough to give us a good idea as to where this current storyline is going. This issue gives us a little look at some of Negan's crew. Nothing terribly impressive. They come off as sort of culties, referring to Negan as if he was some sort of spiritual leader. However, its looking like this is the tip of the iceberg. We also get some big news about Glenn and Maggie which kinda has me worried about them. it seems when things start going really well for some characters that the bottom is going to drop out from under them at any moment. We're at another point in which the group is a well oiled machine and for the most part have a handle of things. this is pretty much the cue for Kirkman to lay waste to the cast with something horrible.
MORNING GLORIES #18 bounces us back to the events concerning the Woodrun. This book is crazy, and I mean that in a near schizophrenia type of way. Its been tough to pin down some of these characters, and there's been a lot of weird stuff going on. This time around we're focused on Jun or Hisao or whichever his real name is. We get some back story to him. We get the "not that there's anything wrong with that" reveal about him. More importantly, we get a bit of a look at the playing field. We know Morning Glory Academy is up to something weird and horrible. We know there's an organized resistance against them. There're buckets of straight weird all over the place. We know know that there's some kind of plan against the Academy, but we're light on the details. The reveal about Jun isn't really "graphic", but its pretty in your face, and I'm wondering how the fans of the book are going to react to this. Personally, I've liked the character since I started reading the book, and this doesn't bother me. I do imagine there's going to be camps on bother sides of this, but i doubt its going to be a big deal. This comic still flies under the radar even though its is very good.
Its Sunday, April 22, 2012, if you're one of the every fifth people who click on this block you get to see the variant pictures, and this is The Side. I got into it over variant covers with some people this week. I've seen how ridiculous it can be. I was around in the early 90s when it was completely out of control. Now many of the books with the super elaborate covers that collector's though would be worth something one day are found in dollar bin in comic shops right next to the same comics that didn't have the fancy pants variant.
Its one thing if a comic has a variant cover by a different artist. When INFINITE CRISIS came out years ago Jim Lee did the covers and George Perez did the variant covers. I sought out the variants because I'm a big fan of George Perez's artwork. I certainly didn't buy two copies of the same book. I can even understand seeing two covers by different artists and really loving the artwork on both covers, and buying both if you're unable to choose.
But this business Marvel's doing with not coloring parts of the cover and calling it a variant. That's so freaking sketchy. I've got to wonder where they came up with such an idea..
BEHIND THE SCENES!!!
Head Suit: "OK men, our movie franchises are a hot ticket right now, but need a good sales boost on our comics. Ideas?"
Suit #1: "Make the best books we possibly can and hope readers and the market recognize this?"
Head Suit: "You're fired."
Suit #2: "I've got it! Variant covers!"
Suit #3: "We tried that back in the 90s. About the same time our bankruptcy attorney gave us our frequent filer card."
Suit #2: "No, no! It'll work this time! We've got Disney money backing us! Mickey Mouse cheddar, baby!"
Head Suit: "No, we're not going to use the Disney money to fall back on, but still this variant cover idea might have legs."
Suit #2: "Sure. We'll hit the nostalgia factor. If those guys across the street can bring back Barry Allen and get people to actually buy a book starring him after he's been gone for twenty-five years, I think we can run with such an old school gimmick. Its been twenty years, so its about time again."
Suit #4: "Are we going with the card stock, foil embossed covers with the holograms again?"
Suit #3: "Hold it. You've got to remember that we're still in a recession. Those bells and whistles will up the cover price. Money's tight and there's a lot of readers who won't pay too much more than they already do for one book."
Head Suit: "Yes, we need something that won't up the cover price much, if at all."
((Insert hours of pondering here.))
Suit #4: "What if we don't color part of the cover?"
Suit #3: "What?"
Suit #4: "Yeah, we'll not color a certain character on the cover."
Head Suit: "Oooo, I wonder how much we'll save in ink?"
Suit #3: "Probably not much, sir."
Suit #2: "Hey! Maybe we can get a kickback from Crayola, since someone will have to color those missing parts."
Head Suit: "Excellent thinking! Good work, gentlemen! Pie and hookers all around!"
COMIX!!
THE WALKING DEAD #96 concludes the "A Larger World" storyline which is pretty pivotal. At the end of the last issue Rick was forced to kill a member of the Hilltop community in self defense. This issue we get a better idea of what Hilltop has to deal with, but its from description rather then Kirkman just dumping action on us. Hilltop has enemies. Rick and the others need what Hilltop has to offer in terms of supplies and food. Hilltop needs what Rick and others can provide by way of strength. This is so very fascinating from an anthropological point of view. We're seeing how countries are made. These tribes have formed a network to help each other. Now Rick's tribe has joined and we see what their contribution will be. How its going to work out is anyone's guess, but most likely Hilltop's enemies are going to have to deal with a very determined Rick Grimes as we approach issue #100 of the series.
THE SHADOW #1 kicks off Garth Ennis and Aaron Campbell's take on the classic pulp character. I'm a fan of The Shadow. I loved the Alec Baldwin flick. I still catch an occasional episode of the old radio show when the local high school radio station plays them. Ennis pulls no punches here. I love WWII comics, but haven't seen anything of his concerning anything from the Pacific Theater. The book opens with details of japan's brutal assaults on China. I'm not sure how much of it is accurate, but when it comes to WWII stuff Ennis tends to be very well researched. Ennis's version of The Shadow is a gun toting, avenging mystic, who seems very cold. Then we see him as being very smooth and debonair as Lamont Cranston. I wasn't really thrilled with how he acted towards Margo Lane, however that was only one scene and I'm thinking she's one that'll be holding her own. I find this version of The Shadow not very likable, but still entertaining. I do like Ennis as a writer, and he's good at writing characters which aren't terribly likable, but still sympathetic. Haven't seen it here yet, but its just the first issue and we'll see how it goes.
THE ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #2 gives us another trio of really great stories. This book has an excellent balance to it. We start off with a harrowing tale from the battlefield of WWII. Then its over to a fun little story with Cliff checking up on Betty while she's filming a movie. The last one is a great story from the one and only Walt Simonson with a charming little story. I do get a kick out of this book. We're treated to all these different takes of the same character by all these really talented writers and artists. Even with all the differences in the story styles, its still all obviously the Rocketeer. Great read.
RAGEMOOR #2 is just flat out freaky. I've read my fair share of really weird and disturbing comics, but this one has got to be up there in the ranks. It bangs about with the subtlety of a tire iron right to the face. The setting is just so intentionally horrendous, and Master Herbert tries to rail against it this issue for what happened to Anoria last issue. It just goes horribly and I have to wonder how on earth he and Bodrick the butler have survived so long in there. The answer is that the castle tolerates them and you don't screw with the castle. The creatures inhabiting the place are just so weird and freak that i have difficulty fathoming how the pieces of the puzzle fit. We know from the first issue how the castle was built, and how over time developed some sort of life of its own. Its almost like it is some Gothic, Lovecraftian entity that has all these little things growing in it like bacteria. Read it if you feel like getting weirdly creeped out.
MUSIC!!!
Caught this tune on the radio yesterday. I dug it.
Whew. It's Friday, March 30, 2012, I'm a self imposed deadline beatin' motherfrakker and this is The Side. Had to pick the kids up after work on Wednesday as The Missus had a doctor's appointment. Work ran a little long, but I got them and made it all the way across town for their gymnastics class and they were only a few minutes late. But that meant I couldn't pick up my comics on Wednesday.
So I got them yesterday between after work. Still got to Karate on time. Got them read. Banged out the reviews, and here we are. LIKE A BOSS!
Thus is my commitment to you.
Also this will probably the only time I use the phrase "like a boss" in reference to myself.
COMIX!!!
THE WALKING DEAD #95 is part three of "A Larger World" and I'm finding out exactly how apt a title this is. Rick, Michonne, Andrea, Glenn, and Carl (who didn't stay in the house this time either) have gone with Paul to see the settlement he's from. There's still a lot of trust issues Rick's having with the entire situation. We get only the tiniest view of things at the hilltop before learning that the place has its own drama going on. Our cast of survivors have found themselves in someone else's story, and it seems like they're arriving as things are coming to a head. Its become obvious that just because there are other groups that have found means to survive and somewhat thrive life its still very treacherous. This book continues on a very interesting path as far as being a study of society. Very came into the series as society was in mid-crumble. Now we're well on the way of seeing it rebuilding. The groups of survivors are very much like tribes, and now that we've gotten to a point of having a successful tribe, we're into seeing how these tribes deal with each other. This story arc is seriously picking up steam on the way to issue 100 and I'm very eager to see what's coming.
MORNING GLORIES #17 revolves around Jade and Ike. You get a lot of backstory on Jade. The book continues to give pieces to the puzzle that is the story, but for the life of me I still haven't figured out the shape of it. There's a continues sense of "this whole thing makes sense somehow". Everything feels significant, but its a mystery as to how it all fits. That's probably why I'm incredibly hooked on this book. This issue in particular centers around Jade and Ike talking. No huge danger to them. No direct threats. Just two interesting characters having an incredibly interesting conversation. The dialogue is word porn on a Whedonesque scale. This book really isn't for everybody, and I know some people with excellent taste who just don't like it, however this issue is exactly why I'm on board. Not only is the puzzle hooking me in, but these characters are so great to watch. If you haven't read this comic, give this issue a look. If you dig these characters, you're just getting a small dose of how god this title is.
ANGEL AND FAITH #8 is solid stuff. Drusilla has returned and is surprisingly sane. She has a way for people/vampires/whatever to away with painful emotions. This is the same time as Faith's father returns to cause Faith some trouble. We have Nadira dealing with survivor's guilt over losing her fellow Slayers to Pearl and Nash. Faith is dealing with some nasty "daddy issues". On the surface it seems like Drusilla is offering a great fix, but there's always a catch to things like this. I've got some ideas as to where this is heading, but lately things have been going in unexpected directions with the "Buffy-verse". Solid issue, and keeping me on board.
MUSIC!!!
I wish I was classy enough to dance like this.
That's going to be it for me today. I'll likely be talking about Batman on Sunday. Be prepared.
Egad. Its Sunday, March 25, 2012, I should got back to bed, and this is The Side. I have a real problem with being stupid about sleep. I don't get a lot of time to myself with the Missus and the Kids, so when they're all in bed that the time I get to watch whatever I want to on TV. This leads me to doing stupid things like not getting to bed until midnight and then still getting up at six in the morning because I have to work or, in the case of today, I want a bit more time to myself in the morning before anyone else gets up.
That said, I really shouldn't have stayed up to watch BATTLE ROYALE last night. Definitely ready for some coffee. An IV of it would be nice.
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION!!!
THE WALKING DEAD wrapped up its second season on AMC last weekend. There's quite a few people who are upset a bit about one thing in particular on the show: Carl Grimes still lives. The "KillCarl" hashtag on Twitter has gained a lot of steam and it seems that there's quite a few folks who don't like the character and are just waiting for him to die.
Its plainly apparent that these people have never read the comic. That's not really bothersome because I've learned long ago that just because an intellectual property that originates from comic books hits big on TV or at the movies people still won't go and pick up the comics unless they already read comics. I know that sounds horribly pessimistic but that's just how it is. The trades are easily available at decent comic shops and bookstores, but still fans of the TV show will sit patiently for months waiting for the next season. I only get seriously irked when I get the "kill Carl already" crap from someone who I know hasn't read the comics but will get all snotty about THE HUNGER GAMES or HARRY POTTER and say "The books are so much better".
For those of you who are in that category, let me break this down for you. Carl Grimes is the toughest kid ever. You want to see some incredible character development? Carry your sorry asses down to a comic shop, grab some TWD trades and read. What sucks is I could give example, after example, after example as to why Carl is a really awesome character and crucial to TWD, but I'd be giving away too many spoilers.
As it stands on the AMC show, the group has left the farm, albeit in much different conditions than in the book. I know that The Governor has been cast for season 3. I can easily speculate as to where season three will end off, which will be crunching a lot of the comics into one season. Now, the serious event in the comics that I think will end season 3 of the series was in the comics the start of the serious character development of Carl. this kinda stinks because we'll be in for another whole season of fan-dumb bitching and moaning about how the show needs to kill Carl off.
Fine, let's look at where the show in right now. Rick, the main character, has one main focus: keeping everyone alive thus protecting his family. Its completely nuts that so many people who profess their love for the show and for Rick Grimes want to remove one of his main motivations as a character. At this point Rick's big job is protect Carl. People keep griping about how Carl keeps getting told to "stay in the house", but that's parents trying to protect their child. It blows my mind that there's so many people who love a character, but want desperately to see him totally fail at his main objective. It seems remarkably stupid.
I think there's a disconnect with some people as to what they think TWD is, and what it actually is. Some folks are thinking this is a typical zombie thing in which there's tons of zombies, they gets killed horribly by the dwindling survivors, and one or two people make it out to escape to somewhere. The thing is TWD takes place after that. The people have escaped their own little horror movies. They got out of the cities. TWD is about the people who got through the horror movie only to discover that the movie doesn't end. Its not about killing zombies, its about doing what it takes to survive in a harsh world where you're not on top of the food chain. They have to work to find food and water. Safe shelter is something to fight for. Trust is something earned and cherished. This whole thing is about people doing their best just to live.
Carl Grimes is a character with a unique perspective, and a valuable one. He's the last kid standing in all this, and he knows what's up. Like any kid, he's struggling with growing up. He's knows there's danger, and as much as his parents try to protect him he wants to help and be a man whether he's ready to be or not. Losing this character before he really gets a chance to bloom would be a complete shame. My big regret is with the loss of Sophia there won't be any of those really amazing moments between the two characters that readers of the comics have been treated to.
So for everyone hoping Carl gets bumped off: go read the comics.
MUSIC!!!
Of course when posting about THE WALKING DEAD we have to have a song from The Kingston Trio.
That's it for today, I'm going to make some coffee. For those who read Friday's post, continued prayers and well wishes are much appreciated for my mother-in-law who is having a significant health scare right now. Thanks again, and we'll see y'all Wednesday.
Its Sunday, November 27, 2011, the end is drawing near, for my beard anyways, and this is The Side. Yes indeed, I did the whole "No Shave November" bit, and while I've gotten quite a few compliments about my chin whiskers I'm ready for it to go. Indeed, I am looking manlier than ever, but it feels like I'm wearing a mask, and while masks are great, its nice to take them off too.
That and the amount of grey in there is making me look and feel a bit old.
ENDINGS!
There are somethings that we wish would go on forever. Four of these I kind of wish could. One of them could go away and never ever come back and I'd be a happy camper. Still, its tough giving some things a proper send off. So, for any of those producers out there who might need a little ghost writing done, I've got your back!
In the finale of THE BIG BANG THEORY it is discovered that Penny is really a Russian spy and the entirety of the time she'd been involved in Leonard and Sheldon's lives she had been reporting back to her superiors and subverting the scientists' efforts. Sheldon puts the pieces into place noting that Penny has always had an amazingly sharp memory. Paranoia sets in as Sheldon tries desperately to reveal Penny's real motives without tipping his hand. Its spy versus nerd until Sheldon finally confronts Penny, only to discover that the entire thing was ruse to lure Sheldon to his surprise birthday party. Leonard finally proposes to Penny. The episode ends with Penny reporting to the Russians that everything is going according to plan.
THE WALKING DEAD concludes with Rick waking up from his coma only to discover that the entire zombie apocalypse had been a dream. This is immediately followed by every fan around the world simultaneously wailing and gnashing their teeth.
SUPERNATURAL comes to an end in their final season when the Winchester boys find themselves up against C'Thulu. Its pretty much a descent into madness, which isn't anything new to the show, but the in an unexpected twist, Sam and Dean actually get along for the entire season. This is completely groundbreaking for the show. The series ends with Dean reciting a spell from the Necronomicon, but he messes the words up and sends himself and Sam to another dimension where both of them have chainsaws for hands.
In the new final installment of the TWILIGHT series, it vampire guy (played by that weird looking dude in the movie) and the werewolf guy (played by the former Shark Boy in the movie) reveal that they were sitting around watching IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and thought Aaron Eckhart was a complete boss in that film. They went to find a really stupid girl to do the same thing to, and everything just got really, really out of hand from there. Both guys get the heck out of dodge. The stupid girl then spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out what she's going to do with her half vampire kid and thinking community college would have been a much better idea than trying to live out her gothic fantasy.
And finally, CASTLE wraps up when Castle and Beckett begin to penetrate the whole conspiracy behind who tried to take out Beckett with the sniper rifle. The person responsible hired the serial strangler that got away from Castle and Ryan to lead Castle through a series of challenges testing his deductive powers to save people. Meanwhile, this is all a ruse while the figurative noose tightens around Beckett. She's in the cross-hairs and knows it, but the team can't stop those behind that and keep up with supporting Castle against the killer. Castle breaks ranks and ditches the others for a lone confrontation with the killer, freeing Ryan and Espesito up to aid Beckett in taking down the people who tried to kill her. Castle has a whole Holmes/Moriarty battle thing and if he survives finally get together with Beckett. He also gets made an honorary police captain, because its Nathan Fillion and he'll always be a captain to us.
MUSIC!
Let's keep it simple today.
That's all from me for today. I'll see y'all Wednesday.
OK, the local TV station has been advertising that its going to be showing episodes of THE WALKING DEAD. I was a bit surprised because I though the rule of thumb for a show to go into syndication was that it needed to have about a hundred episodes under its belt. I remember it was a big deal when BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER hit 100 episodes because they could go into syndication. It does seem like the rules have changed a bit. It has been a good ten years since I last took note of the subject.
