Here's an article on Alex Ross, comic artist and unwitting provider of art to this site. Alex's work is covered in the new book, Mythology, which, yes, i already have. Read a review of Mythology here.
View Alex's Superman to your left.
<----------------------------------------
Alex's vision of the Justice League is seen directly above.
Friday, December 12, 2003
Jamie is curiously interested in the original run of Battlestar Galactica.
Last night we finished watching the two hour pilot (which I am a bit sad not to have enjoyed more than I did), and Jamie said, "well, what happens next?"
"They kind of fly through space."
"Okay."
"On adventures."
"So do you want to watch another one?"
"We have six two-sided discs of this stuff to get through."
"And then they find earth?"
"No."
"No?!!!"
"No. We'd have to find the TV movie they made called Battlestar Galactica 1984 or something."
"What?"
"Show got cancelled. So they never made it to earth."
Which I think Jamie found profoundly disturbing. TV viewers didn't care enough about whether or not the voyagers of Battlestar Galactica made it to earth, and so, in a way, the characters were left to kind of float around in space.
"But they made it there in the TV movie," I assured her. "But I don't think it's out on DVD yet."
"So what the hell do they do in between?"
"Have adventures," I concluded. "And stuff."
You never really know what the hell is going to turn Jamie's crank, which makes it difficult to anticpate what she's going to like or dislike. She'll watch Battlestar Galactica reruns on DVD, and then turn around and watch The OC, and follow it up with an half hour of Headline News. Either wide interests or a complete lack of any interests, I guess.
On a completely unrelated topic, Jim, who has been SERIOUSLY busy blogging of late, took some time out to point to The League and post an entry to our little Holiday Contest, for which I am eternally grateful. While you're there, check out his comments on recent Supreme Court Decisions and other legal brou-ha-ha.
Last night we finished watching the two hour pilot (which I am a bit sad not to have enjoyed more than I did), and Jamie said, "well, what happens next?"
"They kind of fly through space."
"Okay."
"On adventures."
"So do you want to watch another one?"
"We have six two-sided discs of this stuff to get through."
"And then they find earth?"
"No."
"No?!!!"
"No. We'd have to find the TV movie they made called Battlestar Galactica 1984 or something."
"What?"
"Show got cancelled. So they never made it to earth."
Which I think Jamie found profoundly disturbing. TV viewers didn't care enough about whether or not the voyagers of Battlestar Galactica made it to earth, and so, in a way, the characters were left to kind of float around in space.
"But they made it there in the TV movie," I assured her. "But I don't think it's out on DVD yet."
"So what the hell do they do in between?"
"Have adventures," I concluded. "And stuff."
You never really know what the hell is going to turn Jamie's crank, which makes it difficult to anticpate what she's going to like or dislike. She'll watch Battlestar Galactica reruns on DVD, and then turn around and watch The OC, and follow it up with an half hour of Headline News. Either wide interests or a complete lack of any interests, I guess.
On a completely unrelated topic, Jim, who has been SERIOUSLY busy blogging of late, took some time out to point to The League and post an entry to our little Holiday Contest, for which I am eternally grateful. While you're there, check out his comments on recent Supreme Court Decisions and other legal brou-ha-ha.
Thursday, December 11, 2003
I did have something to say today, and I was being crabby, so I forgot.
Congratulations to Randy of RHPT.com! He got engaged to his longtime love, Emily, while in Vegas. The League has been aware of RHPT.com's plans for sometime, but decided this was not the place to break the news.
So, way to go, RHPT.com! I am sure it will be a Super Wedding.
Congratulations to Randy of RHPT.com! He got engaged to his longtime love, Emily, while in Vegas. The League has been aware of RHPT.com's plans for sometime, but decided this was not the place to break the news.
So, way to go, RHPT.com! I am sure it will be a Super Wedding.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Being in the spy business is tough, according to the movies. I mean, you get to be dead sexy, wear cool clothes, get trained in sci-fi style martial arts and go to cold looking places in Europe a lot and an occasional Troipcal paradise (although that paradise will always be run by someone nefarious).
The problem with being a spy, I have learned, is that when things go bad, instead of just KILLING you the way they should, the Company tends to block your memory and release you into the wild.
From what I can tell, the latest Affleck movie entitled "Paycheck" is one of this particular slice of the "amnesia" spy genre. I am certain the trend has been going on for 50 years, but I'm a little slow on the uptake and just noticed. More amazing is that somehow the fact that Matt Damon was in "The Bourne Identity" just last year somehow escaped Affleck. Since we're led to believe Matt and Ben are such good chums, one would assume that Ben might have noticed his buddy just made this same movie. Especially since, according to IMDB, there's a sequel to "The Bourne Identity" in the works. Not so! Instead, our Christmas present from Affleck is the same dopey sweater we got last year.
As far as I can tell, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" may have helped spark this trend, but I am probably wrong. After all, there are a lot of shades of this sort of idea in "Total Recall."
So, if anyone else can think of any movies in which someone must tediously figure out who they are or what has been happening to them for the past few years, please send me an e-mail. I will compile all answers and report out. TV shows, books, magazines, Christmas Pageants and all other forms of media are also acceptable for this report on amnesiac spies.
The problem with being a spy, I have learned, is that when things go bad, instead of just KILLING you the way they should, the Company tends to block your memory and release you into the wild.
From what I can tell, the latest Affleck movie entitled "Paycheck" is one of this particular slice of the "amnesia" spy genre. I am certain the trend has been going on for 50 years, but I'm a little slow on the uptake and just noticed. More amazing is that somehow the fact that Matt Damon was in "The Bourne Identity" just last year somehow escaped Affleck. Since we're led to believe Matt and Ben are such good chums, one would assume that Ben might have noticed his buddy just made this same movie. Especially since, according to IMDB, there's a sequel to "The Bourne Identity" in the works. Not so! Instead, our Christmas present from Affleck is the same dopey sweater we got last year.
As far as I can tell, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" may have helped spark this trend, but I am probably wrong. After all, there are a lot of shades of this sort of idea in "Total Recall."
So, if anyone else can think of any movies in which someone must tediously figure out who they are or what has been happening to them for the past few years, please send me an e-mail. I will compile all answers and report out. TV shows, books, magazines, Christmas Pageants and all other forms of media are also acceptable for this report on amnesiac spies.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
It's time to mark One's Calendar, as SuperheroHype! Reports.
December 15th marks the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of the Richard Donner directed Superman film starring Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve.
I can honestly say that two of my three earliest memories deal with seeing movies. The first memory is of seeing Star Wars and being totally terrified of the Tusken Raiders (a fear that Shmi Skywalker should have shared...). The second was of seeing Superman in the theater with The Old Man. I got a gumball machine for free for some reason at the theater and I remember being terrified when Lois Lane dropped in the big hole. The third memory is falling down a stairwell at the apartments we lived in but not telling anybody because I thought I'd get in trouble.
At any rate, Superman holds up pretty well even in the uber-ridiculous movie-going era we now live in. Krypton still holds no small amount of wonder in my mind, just as Glenn Ford's portrayal of Jonathan Kent is absolutely perfect.
And if you want to know why I love Superman. I mean, really, really love Superman... It's not just the exchange between Superman and the pimp when Superman first emerges, nor is it the look of wonder the crowd has as Superman flies into the air... nah, it's not that. Watch the entire helicopter rescue sequence, including the conversation between Lois and Superman after he's saved the day. Right after Superman is done talking to Lois, he kind of looks away, and he has this look on his face letting you know how great saving the day really is. That's what I love about Superman.
So go out there and find a copy of this movie. I can't recommend the DVD with all the extras nearly enough. It's all cleaned up and pretty, and they added in a few more extra shots to let you know how cool Superman can be as he's coming to take out Luthor. THe bonus materials will rock your socks off.
Oh boy, Jamie is never going to let me watch this movie again...
December 15th marks the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of the Richard Donner directed Superman film starring Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve.
I can honestly say that two of my three earliest memories deal with seeing movies. The first memory is of seeing Star Wars and being totally terrified of the Tusken Raiders (a fear that Shmi Skywalker should have shared...). The second was of seeing Superman in the theater with The Old Man. I got a gumball machine for free for some reason at the theater and I remember being terrified when Lois Lane dropped in the big hole. The third memory is falling down a stairwell at the apartments we lived in but not telling anybody because I thought I'd get in trouble.
At any rate, Superman holds up pretty well even in the uber-ridiculous movie-going era we now live in. Krypton still holds no small amount of wonder in my mind, just as Glenn Ford's portrayal of Jonathan Kent is absolutely perfect.
And if you want to know why I love Superman. I mean, really, really love Superman... It's not just the exchange between Superman and the pimp when Superman first emerges, nor is it the look of wonder the crowd has as Superman flies into the air... nah, it's not that. Watch the entire helicopter rescue sequence, including the conversation between Lois and Superman after he's saved the day. Right after Superman is done talking to Lois, he kind of looks away, and he has this look on his face letting you know how great saving the day really is. That's what I love about Superman.
So go out there and find a copy of this movie. I can't recommend the DVD with all the extras nearly enough. It's all cleaned up and pretty, and they added in a few more extra shots to let you know how cool Superman can be as he's coming to take out Luthor. THe bonus materials will rock your socks off.
Oh boy, Jamie is never going to let me watch this movie again...
Monday, December 08, 2003
Dear Santa,
How are you? I hope you and the reindeer and doing well. As Christmas is coming so quickly, I hope that you, the elves and Mrs. Claus are still taking time out to enjoy the Christmas Season for yourselves. It seems to me awfully sad that you cannot ever enjoy this time of year for yourselves, but I suppose it's better than having Mrs. Claus's parents and siblings hanging out and ruining a nice, quiet Christmas.
This year I have been ever so good. I have tried to think of what I have done this year that would get me on the "naughty" list, and I'm drawing a blank. Well, I will admit to finding new and creative obscenities to use on the freeway, but I do not think anyone can ever hear me, and I find shooting the bird to really be a last resort. There was also that incident with the javelina and the staple gun, but if there are no witnesses, is it really a crime?
So, Santa, I believe this is the portion in which I make my list of what I would like for Christmas. We've dispensed with the small talk, and I've stated my case for my goodness.
This year, I would like:
1) A sweater. Every year I ask for a sweater and (I guess because I live in the south) everyone thinks I'm kidding. But this is year #4 I've asked for a sweater, so I am beginning to think the people in my family are just jerks. So a sweater would be nice. Why do I want a sweater? Santa, even chubby guys get cold. I own three sweaters and two of them are either threadbare or kind of dopey. So just a nice sweater, maybe a BLUE sweater would be nice.
2) A rocket kit. Now Santa, I know you're going to immediately remember the incident with the fire in the trashcan. Okay, BOTH of the fires in the trashcans. And maybe the richocet incident with the BB gun. And you're going to remember the thing with the circular saw (which is why we keep receipts, isn't it?). But Santa, I was watching those guys on Discovery Channel, and if they can do it, so can I. Right? Okay, maybe it'd be best if I didn't get a rocket.
3) Some hardcover Superman Archives editions from DC. Now these things are crazy expensive, but they're of really nice quality and a lot of fun to read, and we think reading is good, right? Aw, screw it. I know it's not really reading, too.
4) Superman Seatcovers. Now I remember when Jamie said "Hey, no way in hell am I sitting on those," but Santa... Jamie got over the blue and red room, and she got over the KRYPTO license plate. Surely she will adapt to these as well, right, Santa?
5) A Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker, painted red and fully armed. You know why. And hey, it will make next year easier as next year I won't bug you as surely what I have planned will keep me off the "good" list for next year...
And that's pretty much it, Santa. I know you will see it in your heart to do what's best. and by what's best, give me what I want without simultaneously providing me a method by which to severely injure myself. Same as when i was five and wanted my own lawn mower.
Merry Christmas, Santa. Rap with you next year.
Your pal,
R.
How are you? I hope you and the reindeer and doing well. As Christmas is coming so quickly, I hope that you, the elves and Mrs. Claus are still taking time out to enjoy the Christmas Season for yourselves. It seems to me awfully sad that you cannot ever enjoy this time of year for yourselves, but I suppose it's better than having Mrs. Claus's parents and siblings hanging out and ruining a nice, quiet Christmas.
This year I have been ever so good. I have tried to think of what I have done this year that would get me on the "naughty" list, and I'm drawing a blank. Well, I will admit to finding new and creative obscenities to use on the freeway, but I do not think anyone can ever hear me, and I find shooting the bird to really be a last resort. There was also that incident with the javelina and the staple gun, but if there are no witnesses, is it really a crime?
So, Santa, I believe this is the portion in which I make my list of what I would like for Christmas. We've dispensed with the small talk, and I've stated my case for my goodness.
This year, I would like:
1) A sweater. Every year I ask for a sweater and (I guess because I live in the south) everyone thinks I'm kidding. But this is year #4 I've asked for a sweater, so I am beginning to think the people in my family are just jerks. So a sweater would be nice. Why do I want a sweater? Santa, even chubby guys get cold. I own three sweaters and two of them are either threadbare or kind of dopey. So just a nice sweater, maybe a BLUE sweater would be nice.
2) A rocket kit. Now Santa, I know you're going to immediately remember the incident with the fire in the trashcan. Okay, BOTH of the fires in the trashcans. And maybe the richocet incident with the BB gun. And you're going to remember the thing with the circular saw (which is why we keep receipts, isn't it?). But Santa, I was watching those guys on Discovery Channel, and if they can do it, so can I. Right? Okay, maybe it'd be best if I didn't get a rocket.
3) Some hardcover Superman Archives editions from DC. Now these things are crazy expensive, but they're of really nice quality and a lot of fun to read, and we think reading is good, right? Aw, screw it. I know it's not really reading, too.
4) Superman Seatcovers. Now I remember when Jamie said "Hey, no way in hell am I sitting on those," but Santa... Jamie got over the blue and red room, and she got over the KRYPTO license plate. Surely she will adapt to these as well, right, Santa?
5) A Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker, painted red and fully armed. You know why. And hey, it will make next year easier as next year I won't bug you as surely what I have planned will keep me off the "good" list for next year...
And that's pretty much it, Santa. I know you will see it in your heart to do what's best. and by what's best, give me what I want without simultaneously providing me a method by which to severely injure myself. Same as when i was five and wanted my own lawn mower.
Merry Christmas, Santa. Rap with you next year.
Your pal,
R.
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
Comics Continuum says: Sources tell The Continuum that the third season of the show might be called Justice League Unlimited. The season will feature many new characters, although Martian Manhunter will remain a key character.
Among the characters apppearing next season will be Captain Atom, Red Tornado, Atom, Black Canary and Green Arrow.
Comics Continuum says: Sources tell The Continuum that the third season of the show might be called Justice League Unlimited. The season will feature many new characters, although Martian Manhunter will remain a key character.
Among the characters apppearing next season will be Captain Atom, Red Tornado, Atom, Black Canary and Green Arrow.
Friday, December 05, 2003
Leaguers, I can't say enough about R.O.T.O.R.
R.O.T.O.R. was filmed in Dallas in 1989, but you'd think it was, at the latest, 1982 from the look of the film. It's a weird and extremely poorly planned knock-off of Terminator/ RoboCop, I guess. It's hard to say what it's a knock-off of, because, really, R.O.T.O.R. is more or less a knock-off of many better knock-offs involving a dude who is supposed to be a robot. Maybe Heartbeeps? It's difficult to say.
Last night R.O.T.O.R. played on some movie channel I have simply called "Action", I believe, and while I have seen R.O.T.O.R. all the way through before, I could not stop myself from watching it yet again. Beyond any allusion to the collision of any automobile or even a freight train accident, this movie defies all expectations for utter and complete low-budget crappiness. And for some reason I simply could not shake the feeling that the producers of this movie had played just waaaaayyyy too much Dungeons and Dragons. Although the film has not a single allusion to swords and mysticism, those who have been around folks who play too much D&D will know what I mean. It's a genre I like to refer to as "White Trash Sci-Fi." Basic elements include
(1) a working knowledge of the world based upon science fiction/ fantasy novels including (but not limited to) an inflated sense of understanding of all sorts of science based upon principles learned in viewing Star Trek
(2) an emotionally crippling misunderstanding of basic male-female relationships. Usually resulting in bizarre dialogue for women and a perpensity for writer, director, producers to wear their personal fetish on their sleeve. (See Dr. Steele)
(3) a perpensity to quote from lofty sources both inappropriately and lacking any real context, but done so in order to somehow try to suggest their own work is of the same mind.
I can't do this movie any better justice here, and so I will simply provide Loyal Leaguers with some links in which they can read up on R.O.T.O.R.
An excellent synopsis and review is here.
a Yahoo! review is here.
A diatribe in which Captain Coldyron (I do not make this name up) is wrongly placed in Houston instead of Dallas (clearly shit like this happens in Dallas, but not Houston) can be found here.
UPDATE
Looking for the film's star, Richard Geisswein, actually turns up a hell of a lot of stuff about R.O.T.O.R.
R.O.T.O.R. was filmed in Dallas in 1989, but you'd think it was, at the latest, 1982 from the look of the film. It's a weird and extremely poorly planned knock-off of Terminator/ RoboCop, I guess. It's hard to say what it's a knock-off of, because, really, R.O.T.O.R. is more or less a knock-off of many better knock-offs involving a dude who is supposed to be a robot. Maybe Heartbeeps? It's difficult to say.
Last night R.O.T.O.R. played on some movie channel I have simply called "Action", I believe, and while I have seen R.O.T.O.R. all the way through before, I could not stop myself from watching it yet again. Beyond any allusion to the collision of any automobile or even a freight train accident, this movie defies all expectations for utter and complete low-budget crappiness. And for some reason I simply could not shake the feeling that the producers of this movie had played just waaaaayyyy too much Dungeons and Dragons. Although the film has not a single allusion to swords and mysticism, those who have been around folks who play too much D&D will know what I mean. It's a genre I like to refer to as "White Trash Sci-Fi." Basic elements include
(1) a working knowledge of the world based upon science fiction/ fantasy novels including (but not limited to) an inflated sense of understanding of all sorts of science based upon principles learned in viewing Star Trek
(2) an emotionally crippling misunderstanding of basic male-female relationships. Usually resulting in bizarre dialogue for women and a perpensity for writer, director, producers to wear their personal fetish on their sleeve. (See Dr. Steele)
(3) a perpensity to quote from lofty sources both inappropriately and lacking any real context, but done so in order to somehow try to suggest their own work is of the same mind.
I can't do this movie any better justice here, and so I will simply provide Loyal Leaguers with some links in which they can read up on R.O.T.O.R.
An excellent synopsis and review is here.
a Yahoo! review is here.
A diatribe in which Captain Coldyron (I do not make this name up) is wrongly placed in Houston instead of Dallas (clearly shit like this happens in Dallas, but not Houston) can be found here.
UPDATE
Looking for the film's star, Richard Geisswein, actually turns up a hell of a lot of stuff about R.O.T.O.R.
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Jill departed my house at 7:00am today, and I am a little sad to see her go. She's a cool chick, and with her living in Georgia, I imagine it will be quite a while until she graces my presence yet again.
I am wearing a Christmas tie today at work. It is adorned with puppies and presents, and I regard it as having no small amount of kitsch value, but I am fairly certain I am in on this joke all alone.
What shall I miss by not being in Austin during the Christmas Season?
1) Rainy, cold weather
2) Highland Mall's craptacular busy-ness
3) Garland, lights and wreaths crossing each block on Congress from South to North
4) The tree on the Capitol grounds
5) Getting boozy in the cold on Congress
6) The conical strings of lights conjoined to form a "tree" at Zilker
7) The trail of lights at Zilker
8) Hearing my brother bitch endlessly about not knowing what to buy anyone
9) The emptying of Austin as all the 20-somethings go home to their folks' places
I am wearing a Christmas tie today at work. It is adorned with puppies and presents, and I regard it as having no small amount of kitsch value, but I am fairly certain I am in on this joke all alone.
What shall I miss by not being in Austin during the Christmas Season?
1) Rainy, cold weather
2) Highland Mall's craptacular busy-ness
3) Garland, lights and wreaths crossing each block on Congress from South to North
4) The tree on the Capitol grounds
5) Getting boozy in the cold on Congress
6) The conical strings of lights conjoined to form a "tree" at Zilker
7) The trail of lights at Zilker
8) Hearing my brother bitch endlessly about not knowing what to buy anyone
9) The emptying of Austin as all the 20-somethings go home to their folks' places
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Wanted to clear something up here.
It's League of Melbotis. Melbotis is NOT pronounced "Mel Bought Iss" or "Mel Bought Us". It is pronounced "Mel-boh-tus". The name came from Mel's original owners who thought good names for a dog could include "Melba" and "Otis" and combined them into "Melbotis".
Look, i didn't name the dog, i just feed him.
It's League of Melbotis. Melbotis is NOT pronounced "Mel Bought Iss" or "Mel Bought Us". It is pronounced "Mel-boh-tus". The name came from Mel's original owners who thought good names for a dog could include "Melba" and "Otis" and combined them into "Melbotis".
Look, i didn't name the dog, i just feed him.
Jim's post on the many, many varieties of Texas license plates is worth taking a look at. Arizona has only a few sample choices, and all of them are pretty dumb. The standard license plate is blue, pink and purple to reflect the desert sunset. Boy, there's a color scheme which works on a lot of cars.
Jim asks that I recommend some topics for license plates. In all seriousness, I don't think the license plates memorializing 9/11 or calling for patrotism are silly, but as the ever increasing number of flags on everything (including boxes of Corn Flakes) threatens to turn our national symbol into wall-paper, I do prefer the simplicity of the "Enjoy Texas Music" license plate. There's nothing wrong with any of the license plates, and their design is generally pretty good. I guess my recommendation is to know when you've crossed the line to being untasteful. One flag license plate = ok. one flag license plate + 2 flags hanging off windows + 4 flag stickers doesn't make you more patriotic. It means you look like you just left a parade, Uncle Sam.
Do I have any additional suggestions? Not really. Barbara Jordan? LBJ? Tommy Tune? Hank Hill? Indeed, what makes a Texan great enough to earn a place on a license plate?
Hopefully it's something more than what it takes to be the model for the silver silhouette girl on truck mudflaps.
My high school chum Jill Hermann-Wilmarth, whom I have not seen in more than 5 years, is staying with us out here in the desert while she attends a conference in Scottsdale. Jill is all grown up and is teaching at Univ. of Georgia and earning her PhD in, uh... you know, she told me, but it sounded complicated. Something to do with education. Anyway, she's still an A#1 gal, and I couldn't be more pleased to have her taking up space in our guestroom.
They are showing all the Christmas specials this week. Charlie Brown Christmas was on last night, and, indeed, gave me my first real taste of Christmas Fever. THanks, Sparky.
I would take this opportunity to remind everyone to prepare your entries for the Holiday Heckstravaganza. Rules and Regulations are posted in the left-hand column below Superman.
Jim asks that I recommend some topics for license plates. In all seriousness, I don't think the license plates memorializing 9/11 or calling for patrotism are silly, but as the ever increasing number of flags on everything (including boxes of Corn Flakes) threatens to turn our national symbol into wall-paper, I do prefer the simplicity of the "Enjoy Texas Music" license plate. There's nothing wrong with any of the license plates, and their design is generally pretty good. I guess my recommendation is to know when you've crossed the line to being untasteful. One flag license plate = ok. one flag license plate + 2 flags hanging off windows + 4 flag stickers doesn't make you more patriotic. It means you look like you just left a parade, Uncle Sam.
Do I have any additional suggestions? Not really. Barbara Jordan? LBJ? Tommy Tune? Hank Hill? Indeed, what makes a Texan great enough to earn a place on a license plate?
Hopefully it's something more than what it takes to be the model for the silver silhouette girl on truck mudflaps.
My high school chum Jill Hermann-Wilmarth, whom I have not seen in more than 5 years, is staying with us out here in the desert while she attends a conference in Scottsdale. Jill is all grown up and is teaching at Univ. of Georgia and earning her PhD in, uh... you know, she told me, but it sounded complicated. Something to do with education. Anyway, she's still an A#1 gal, and I couldn't be more pleased to have her taking up space in our guestroom.
They are showing all the Christmas specials this week. Charlie Brown Christmas was on last night, and, indeed, gave me my first real taste of Christmas Fever. THanks, Sparky.
I would take this opportunity to remind everyone to prepare your entries for the Holiday Heckstravaganza. Rules and Regulations are posted in the left-hand column below Superman.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)