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February 28, 2006
Dinner for Five: KISS and tell
One of my favorite shows about the movie industry is on IFC (Independent Film Channel): Dinner For Five. Hosted by Jon Favreau (Swingers), it's like have dinner with five people in Hollywood. The guest list changes each week and includes people in both television and movies. One week Michael Chiklis was a guest, along with producer Michael De Luca. De Luca, obviously a big fan of the Shield, starting asking Chiklis about Aceveda's sexual assault and if this was planned from the very beginning of that season. Just last Friday, a 
very cool episode was shown with Kevin Smith taking over Favreau's place as dinner-boss, and the guests included Stan Lee, J.J. Abrams, Jason Lee, and Mark Hamill. Abrams told fascinating stories about how he sold his first movie scripts while in college (one of them was Regarding Henry), and how he started "dating" Tom Cruise (after he watched the first two seasons of ALIAS on dvd) and became director of Mission Impossible 3.
Stan Lee's told a story regarding Marvel Super Special #1, featuring KISS. This was a big event at the time. Marvel put Steve Gerber (Howard the Duck) on the book, who wrote a wild tale about KISS fighting Doctor Doom. Marvel obviously hoped this would lure rock fans to their superhero line. On the cover, it actually says: Printed in real KISS blood. Lee said that he took an airplane trip with all the KISS members to the printing plant, which was most likely Sparta, Illinois. They were met at the airport by the police, who escorted them all the way to the factory. Roads were blocked off and traffic was halted so that Gene Simmons and company could shed a few drops into the printing ink. As Lee said, and as Don King would say, Only in America! I wonder what Stan the Man could possibly discuss with the KISS gang on the airplane flight? Nuff said.
Posted by Adam Warlock at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Happy Birthday, Herb Tarlek!
Today is Herb Tarlek's birthday! Or it's the birthday of the actor who played him on WKRP In Cincinnati, Frank Bonner. According to IMDB, he's 64. I loved WKRP and it's zany crew: Dr. Johnny Fever, Venus Flytrap, and newsman Les Nessman, who drew imaginary walls around his desk. My favorite will always be ass-kissing Herb, who was forever scheming to get into Jennifer's skirt--since it belonged to 70s pinup queen, Loni Anderson. Herb had his faults: he always thought of himself to be smarter than everyone else, and he was quite selfish. Yet when the chips were down, he had a heart of gold. I'll always associate Herb with the Internet boom. When I worked at Pandesic (a startup in Folsom), we called Friday at 5pm the "Herb Tarlek hour". Herb always kept a bottle of whiskey in his desk. We kept up the tradition with a bottle of Captain Morgan's. Morgan's and Coke, a very fine tradition. Raise a glass to Herb and Frank today. Nuff said.
February 27, 2006
Sky High
Sky High is a very enjoyable comedy that goofs on both superheroes and high school. From the reviews, I recalled the critics panned it, but Rotten Tomatoes gives it a fresh rating of 70%. I think I’d put it on the level of Teen Wolf, which was also set in high school. If you’re a comic book fan, it’s a must-see. The story centers on Will Stronghold, the son of the two most powerful superheroes, the Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). (Russell is one of my favorite actors for his usual steadied and low-key approach to acting, but this is the first time I’ve seen him do anything hammy. Somehow it fits within the character of the Commander, who is a cross between Captain America and Commander Steel.) The film starts on Will’s first day of school at Sky High, a high school for superhero kids that exists on anti-gravity platform in the clouds. Will has a big problem: he hasn’t displayed any paranormal powers to date. The first task upon entry to Sky High is to figure out whether the kids are Heroes or Sidekicks, which is determined by Coach Boomer. Boomer is hilariously played by Bruce Campbell, just one of the many funny supporting actors, which also includes Cloris Leachman, Dave Foley (Mr. Boy, Sidekick teacher) and Kevin McDonald (Mr. Medulla, the mad scientist teacher). Lynda Carter (still lookin’ mighty fine) is cast as Principal Powers.
With only human abilities, Will joins the Sidekick class. There’s a lot of tension between the Sidekicks (who seem like nice geeky kids) and the Heroes (who are the preppy bully types). One of Sky High’s themes is about the cliques in high school: how parents respond to them and how kids respond when one of them moves to another group. Will’s caught in a love triangle between his best friend Layla (a sidekick) and Gwen (a hero). But there are plenty of super-powered belly laughs, especially after Will’s super-strength power is activated in a moment of crisis. There is a speedster bully called Speed, a Mr. Fantastic-like youth called Lash, and a Multiple-Lady cheerleader called Penny. One of my favorite scenes has Will and another hero, Warren Peace (sorry Tolstoy) taking on Speed and Lash in Sky High’s version of the Danger Room. The main villain is called Royal Pain, who has a device called The Pacifier, which turns heroes into babies. She tells the Commander about the plan after he’s in diapers:
My only regret is that this may be the finest supervillian speech ever given…and you don’t even know what I’m saying.
Sky High is a very funny film aimed at a general family audience, but I think it succeeds as a film much better than a lot of comic book translations. Nuff said.
Posted by Kid Flash at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)February 26, 2006
Infinite Crisis: Reverberations of Earths Past 3
Infinite Crisis spoilers ahead. Week 3 continues with another three heroes echoing through the multiverses...
This one, from Wonder Woman 226, is the most unique out of all the reverbs. The story was essentially a filler, killing time until the big reboot, but it included different stories from World's Finest magazine about Diana. This last page offers visions of Diana in various Elseworlds modes with Superman. In one of them, she kills Superman instead of Max Lord, and then in another, Superman kills Diana. That one featuring Superman dressed up in WW's costume really freaks me out. I hope Rucka didn't suggest that one.
The last page in Catwoman 52 is a good one, and the story itself has a pretty significant event in Gotham City. The second costume looks like the Silver Age, the third seems to be the Golden Age Bob Kane version. All the way in the background at the end, you see the purple skirted costume that was used in the 80s. Alan Davis really drew that one well in his brief Detective Comics run. No Jim Balent big-breasted unitard? Awwwww.
Batman 650 is my favorite One Year Later teaser this week. Batman's yelling "Jason!" because he threw a razor sharp batarang into Jason's chest, but I am betting we haven't seen the last of that troublemaker. The third one is the classic 70s Neal Adams era. The fourth one looks like Owlman from the evil Justice League. What's the second costume? Can't get that one right away, so help me out like you did last time! Nuff said.
See also:
Infinite Crisis: Reverberations of Earths Past 1
Infinite Crisis: Reverberations of Earths Past 2
February 25, 2006
Seven Soldiers of Victory in JLU's Patriot Act
Justice League Unlimited's new episode, Patriot Act, features the original Seven Soldiers. Not Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers, but his inspiration. Forty years ago, there were the Seven Soldiers of Victory, an eclectic and diverse group of heroes that banded together during World War 2. I can only assume that the editor or writer who selected the members put a list of heroes on a corkboard and threw darts to choose them at random. The Golden Age Seven Soldiers were:
Shining Knight: Sir Justin, a member of King Arthur's court.
Green Arrow: the Golden Age version of DC's archer.
Speedy: Green Arrow's teenage sidekick.
Star-Spangled Kid: DC's version of Captain America, as a teen.
Stripesy: the Star-Spangled Kid's sidekick. This is the first and only sidekick who was physically bigger and older than the headliner.
Crimson Avenger: one of DC's earliest heroes, he avenges crimes, duh.
Vigilante: Cousin Dick's favorite hero, a country-western hero who rides a motorcycle and uses twin pistols to dispense justice.
I first encountered the SSOV in the Justice League of America, during one of their annual crossover events with Earth-2. DC reprinted some SSOV tales in their 100 page Super Spectaculars, and in the 1980s, Roy Thomas featured them on the cover of All Star Squadron #29 (brilliantly rendered by Jerry Ordway).
Patriot Act is a subtle nod to this odd collection of heroes. Mr. Terrific sends the Shining Knight, Vigilante, Green Arrow, Stargirl, and Stripesy to attend a parade in Metropolis (since Superman is off in a neighboring galaxy). The other heroes fit into the SSOV, but what about the last two? In the DC Universe, the Star Spangled Kid died, and Stargirl adopted his costume and belt, courtesy of her adopted father, who happens to be Stripesy. Stripsey invented a giant Transformer robot that he rides around in, to keep Stargirl out of too much trouble. Stargirl got a power boost and her name when Starman retired and gave her the star lance. That's five members of SSOV-not enough to fight off General Eiling when he becomes an Ultramarine and beats the tar out of any hero on the street. Later in the episode, Green Arrow calls for backup, and Mr. Terrific, running low on resources, sends in Crimson Avenger and Speedy.
There you go, this episode is strictly for the old timers who wanted to see the Seven Soldiers of Victory back in action. It's a riot to see Vigilante and Shining Knight, two people who are anachronisms, interact with the other heroes. I didn't realize what was going on until Crimson Avenger showed up near the end. How great is it that the JSA's Mr. Terrific is taking over Jonn J'onzz role as JLU operations manager? Geoff Johns must be pleased. Nuff said.
February 24, 2006
Jim Lee working on DC Comics Online MMORPG
Newsarama is covering the New York Comic-Con and they have an interview with Jim Lee about his latest project: designing characters and environments for the DC Comics Online MMORPG. Back in June 2005, I speculated on this, and it seems like my dream is coming true:
JL: Imagine getting to create your own unique superhero, give it a name, choose a physique, a costume, a set of powers and then dive into the DC Universe where you get to meet and ally with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the entire pantheon of heroes. Imagine getting to team up with friends and other players from around the world and take on the likes of the Joker, Lex Luthor and Deathstroke. Imagine getting to use your network of contacts to go on missions and adventures to incredibly diverse environments. Imagine gaining fame and notoriety, forming leagues of superheroes to battle one another or to take down Darkseid himself. It's not hard to see how awesome a game like this would be and it's really the chance to play around and do so many different things in the DCU that is the big draw to gamers and comic book fans alike.
Sony has the good sense to get Jim Lee involved in the design. Many of the current DC writers are gamers as well, so maybe they would also get involved in the storyline. What if current DC events were reflected in such a game? Newsarama asked that question...
NRAMA: So this will be a full functional, albeit "alternate" DCU in cyberspace. Will it in any way impact or reflect the monthly comic continuity?
JL: I can't get into too much detail about this at this moment...
Imagine playing in this world and suddenly you hear a Boom Tube exploding--Darkseid invades Earth. Or look up and see a red sky--Crisis is on the way. Nuff said.
External Link:
Newsarama: Jim Lee on the DCU MMORPG
Spider-Man 3 Teaser: Is that Topher Grace as Venom?
I just saw this Spider-Man 3 teaser poster at the Comics Continuum. It's not a black and white photograph, so is it Topher or Tobe? Click to enlarge and let me know...
I'm betting on Topher, as Venom. Or maybe Peter wearing the black symbiote costume before it goes to Topher. Topher as Peter Parker's opposite number is genious casting.
Posted by Kid Flash at 12:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Bruce Jones: The Short Story Master of Comics
After crankiness comes guilt. To restore balance to the Force, I must talk about the good things in comics. I held up my fanboy nose at Bruce Jones' Warlord #1, but back in the day, he was the undisputed king of short stories. Jones wrote a number of memorable short stories for Warren's black and white horror magazines, such as Creepy and Eerie. He worked with a variety of notable artists, such as Richard Corben and Berni Wrightson. Jones' short stories always had an O-Henry twist at the end that gave you a kick. I'll never forget the story called "Jennifer" from Creepy that he did with Wrightson. Clarice, a girl born with a ghastly face, casts an uncanny Lolita-like spell on men. Jones' story works perfectly with Wrightson's black and white artwork. In tracking this down on the Internet, I discovered two things. One, there is a great recap of Jennifer over at Datajunkie's blog. Two, there is actually a filmed version of this on Showtime's Masters of Horror! Starring Steven Weber from Wings, who actually adapted it for Dario Argento to direct. I gotta see this ASAP.
After Warren fell apart, Jones went on to work for Marvel (Kazar) and Pacific Comics. At Pacific, Jones edited two anthologies: Alien Worlds (science fiction) and Twisted Tales (horror). He wrote all the short stories with A-list top talent on the art: Al Williamson, Val Mayerik, Scott Hampton, Dave Stevens, John Bolton, Mike Ploog, as well as his friends Corben and Wrightson.
Looking over my collection, I remembered that Jones even drew a few stories himself (see the panel above), and he's a very capable artist. In this particular story that he wrote and drew, Jones displays an ability to tell a story from a kid's perspective. His artwork really sells that feeling of innocence.
It's no secret that Mike Ploog is one of my favorite artists. He wasn't working much in comics after he left Marvel, but Jones coaxed him back for a short story. This one involved a man, completely downtrodden, who has an affair with a hooker. 
The hooker keeps demanding more and more material possessions. He keeps working and getting promoted to give her curtains, televisions, furniture, etc., until he can't take it any longer.
Jones moved on to Eclipse, where he edited more anthologies. He teamed with his Kazar artist, Brent Anderson, to produce a limited series called Somerset Holmes. Somerset was a unique series featuring a woman as the titular character, suffering from amnesia, on the run from people who want to kill her. In a way, it reminded me of the first few issues of the Hulk that Jones worked on with John Romita Jr. and Lee Weeks. Great characterization, fantastic feelings of suspense and mystery. I recalled Somerset having a pretty good ending, but the Hulk lost me half way through the big conspiracy.
I'm rambling on because I think Bruce Jones is a good writer. Too bad we can't have him do some anthologies. With decompressed storytelling all the rage, there's no popular outlet for short stories. God, I had better stop before I cry over my Gold Key digests. Nuff said.
Posted by Adam Warlock at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)February 23, 2006
DC Comics New Warlord: Is a Reboot Necessary?
I'm cranky again. I tried to make a pledge to myself, not to be cranky for just one day. Then I read this week's new Warlord #1 from DC Comics and fell off the wagon. It's written by Bruce Jones and drawn by Bart Sears. Jones decided to reboot the series from scratch, starting in the present day, with test pilot Travis Morgan crash landing in Skartaris. Skartaris, for those who don't know, is one of those Pellucidars, Savage Lands, Lands-That-Time-Forgot places. Located in an extra-dimensional realm (rather than the Earth's core), Skartaris has sorcerers, demons, barbarians, ancient kingdoms-perfect for any family vacation. In the new first issue, I thought the black and white pages that retold Morgan's origin were flashbacks. A few pages later, when almost nothing happens in the present, I realized I was wrong. It is a complete reboot. We see Morgan's plane go down, but most of the story centers on Tara, a princess who's about to be rodgered to death by a barbarian fighter unless she gets some big muscle protection. Enter the stranger from another land: Travis. I just told you the entire plot of Warlord #1 in half a paragraph!
It's OK and I suppose I shouldn't shoot down a title based on one issue. But I can't understand why it was necessary to reboot Warlord. It's hard to imagine now, but Warlord was one of DC's most successful titles when it was published in 1976. Written and drawn by Mike Grell, I often found Warlord to be more interesting than Conan, because it took a man from the 20th century and plopped him into a savage world. Grell pretty much institutionalized the double-page splash that occurs everywhere now, on pages 2 & 3. He developed a colorful cast of supporting characters (especially the women) and villains Morgan teamed up with various heroes in the DC Universe, including Green Arrow when Grell wrote that series. I can't see throwing all of this away.
Bruce Jones has done this before, ignoring everything that has come before to do his own thing. Hulk and Kazar are prime examples. I would rather that Jones had kept the history, tweaked the characters to modernize them, and add new layers of mystery into Skartaris. Oh well…how many old farts are left to recall the old Warlord, which ceased publication in 1988? Venting all of this hasn't made me any less cranky. It's time to break out those Partridge Family 8-tracks. Come on get happy! Nuff said.
Posted by Adam Warlock at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)You Will Not Believe a Spider-Man Can Fly
I'm done pissing and moaning about The Other storyline, Peter Parker's bone-spikes, or that crazy new costume. You fanboys are buying this in record numbers, so I'm just too old and inflexible. Amazing Spider-Man 529 is a bit better than the previous issues, and it ties into Civil War. Peter gets the new costume from Stark and it enables him to fly. Which I don't get at all--do spiders fly? Oh well, they don't shoot you in their eye with their webs, so maybe I'm inconsistent. I'll just have you young ones know that Spider-Man flew before. That picture above was from ASM 328. During the story arc in ASM 326-329, Peter inherited the power cosmic of Captain Universe, which enabled him to defeat Count Nefaria, Magneto, and the Incredible Hulk! Yeah, it was weird then, it's weird now.
I'll tell you what is even weirder: Tony Stark talking out of that eagle in Peter and Mary Jane's bedroom. I'd run for the hills if that happened to me. Want to bet there isn't a camera in there, despite what Stark said? I'd move out ASAP. We've been watching Tony Stark getting more closely involved in Peter's life for the past year, and now we see what this has been building toward. Is it me, or is Tony Stark really different here than in his own mag? Nuff said.
