5 Cures for the Super Summertime Blues

Sure, the colors are prob Photoshopped, but still looks better than Man of Steel

Usually whenever I'm in the ocean or a pool the feeling of weightlessness and ease of movement reminds me of the strange visitor from the planet Krypton. The height of Summer should be spotlight on sweet soul music and the superhero powered by hope and the same sun that will likely give me skin cancer if I don't keep applying the 50 SPF. Hope, I say.

Batman fares better in Gotham like New York "below Fourteenth Street at eleven minutes past midnight on the coldest night in November" according to Denny O'Neil. Maybe that's why I heard the Batmobile sucks in the new Arkham game and the identity of the Arkham Knight is gag worthy. No spoilers from me.

So, Superman  keep us cool and calm in these days of record breaking heat and political idiots.

Seven Sexy Things about 70's Batman

Dames, demons, and Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town. That's 1978, baby. Camp is dead. Frank Miller (big fan of Springsteen too) studying under the master sensei, Denny O'Neil. Batman is in his prime thanks to combining Clint Eastwood, James Bond, and Indiana Jones (predating 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark) into the Dark Knight Detective. And here's how O'Neil, Adams, Len Wein, Steve Englehart, Marshal Rogers, Jim Aparo, Bob Haney, and company did it!

Spider-Man Vs Ayn Rand... and Why the Greatest Spidey Movie Will Never Get Made

The Color of Money isn't just a Tom Cruise and Newman salad dressing film about the secret origin of Mark Millar and Grant Morrison's bromance breakup, but also a permanent shade in the wardrobe of Spider-Man's rogues. The Sinister Six could change their names to 6 Shades of blah if NuMarvel ever wanted to experiment with topical humor...

Odd man out Kraven missed dress rehearsal

Sweet Mountain Dew green was the choice for Doctor Octopus, the Lizard, Green Goblin, Scorpion, Vulture, Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, and those are just the ones created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee.

Two Blonde Dudes

I might have said something about finishing my dark heart of the soul analysis of Twin Peaks as a reworking of Peter Pan, but that shit be dark and depressing, and I got a little weekend getaway in Kyoto planned, so I felt more emotionally comfortable blogging about two white bread characters. Just be grateful I didn't have the time to include other blondes like Barry Allen (now a brunet on the CW), John Constantine (dyed thanks to NBC), or Animal Man

The Brave, the Bold, and the Blonde gender bender await after the jump!

Peter Pan: Twin Peaks for Kids Part 1 of 2

“Peter Pan flew with children, Lois...in a fairy tale.” So spoke Christopher Reeve, who made us believe a man (not an actress portraying a male youth) could fly. That poignant scene between two consenting adults is why I got problems with Steven Spielberg's Hook. 

Robin V Superman

Sure, Robin Williams was a brilliant actor working alongside one of cinema’s most talented, the director of Jaws, E.T., Indian Jones and The Shia LaBeouf Abortion that Never Happened. No one’s perfect. Hook’s insurmountable hurdle was having a cinematic adult Peter Pan in a time after 1938. Superman isn’t Peter Pan for adults. Superman is almost the Anti-Pan. The character’s story is mostly about growing up, not with reluctance, but on a cosmic folk tale level of adventure, which Smallville failed at showing for 10 long years. From a baby on Krypton to stumbling awkward blue collar young man in a big city, to romance with Lois, Superman reflects the experience of becoming and steadily continuing life in the daily grind of adulthood with super heroics as set dressing, much in the same way how those great early Spider-Man comics dealt with adolescence. Superman is an aspiration, not in regards to biceps, but for morality, humility, and conduct. The only documented case I’m aware of a grown man who wished he was Peter Pan was a so called king of Pop. I’m sure he was never associated with accusations of child abuse, right?

Just saying, Peter Pan is messed up!

So what does Peter Pan have to do with incest and Twin Peaks? If you type in a search for TP and PP together you’ll mostly just get links about Johnny Thorne’s favorite book. Johnny was a mentally handicapped man tutored by Laura Palmer. It seems to be Lynch showing his hand, but being very coy about doing a modern reinterpretation of the children’s classic tale. One could argue that is a little too vague for the director when compared to Wild at Heart’s strong connection to The Wizard of Oz, but does Marilyn Monroe’s life immediately jump to mind after watching Mulholland Drive? Regardless, let us strap on our Alan Moore goggles and slit the tender throat of innocence. 

An Honest Stand; Marvel Masterworks: The Black Panther Vol. 1

“HE IS NOT A SYMBOLIC CHRIST! FORGET ABOUT TURNING HIS FLESH AND BLOOD INTO SOME ESOTERIC ALLUSION TO THE PERSECUTION OF CONTEMPORARY MAN… THE FLAMES WHICH CONSUME THE CROSS AND HIS BODY PROVE HIS HUMANITY”—From “A Cross Burning Darkly Blackening the Night!” in Jungle Action #21, May 1976. 

The KKK Can't Take My Baby Away

If Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams helped pave the way for Frank Miller, then Don McGregor, Billy Graham and the rest of the talent behind “Panther’s Rage” and “The Panther Vs. The Klan” set the bar for the much admired literary writers of the Brit Invasion almost a decade later to pursue. There’s no reason why these 18 comics should not be mentioned in the same breath as Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, or Sandman.

Banner Saga, Vikings, and A Princess of Mars walk into a bar...

This week I've enjoyed so many things that I can't decide on just one! Read below for mini-review of the game Banner Saga, the show Vikings, and the book A Princess of Mars.

The Banner Saga

I absolutely love this game. The first thing you'll notice is that the art is absolutely stunning, and it remains so even during game play. Travel in the game is done Oregon Trail style, uncontrolled journey that you interact with through event-driven prompts. They can be morally ambiguous or potentially risky to your caravan. Combat takes place on a grid-based, tactical map. Each character has an ability or two that makes them different and changes how you plan an encounter. Enemies are reasonably difficult, if not particularly varied.

A meeting of Varl and Men.

A special note on the combat -- I appreciate that each stat in the game matters. Strength is the most important, as it is your health and damage (which lowers as you take damage, which is an interested translation of battle fatigue/damage), but all of the others have very important roles in character growth.

Grid-Based Goodness.

The story itself is dark and grim but, for the most part, very well told. The characters are unique and interesting and you're given enough choices throughout the game to feel as if you're changing things. The main players are viking-like humans and giant, horned varls verse dredge, though their may be more behind the sudden dredge invasion than is readily apparent...

The few negatives I have are that the actual story is fairly scripted. Most of you choices effect your caravan, but they have very little effect on game play. Also, certain events can happen that are unavoidable if you make certain decisions fairly early in the game, and they seem terribly unfair. The combat itself is interesting, but the maps you fight on, while beautiful, are the unbroken/unaltered grids. There is no terrain or obstacles, and that would have added a huge element to the strategy components. Oh, and the game is a bit short. I've played through almost three times already (I enjoy it that much), but I definitely wanted it to keep going, especially considering the final story elements. No word on when the rest of the trilogy will come out (assuming, of course, they do...).

This game gets a 9/10 from The Nerd, it really did hit a lot of levels I enjoy.

Vikings

Verizon has the first season free up until Thursday. It's almost like a historically based Game of Thrones. The action is solid, the tension can ride pretty high, and the history component is pretty damn interesting.

Ragnar, the most BA Viking you'll meet.

Thursday, when the second season premieres. I watched it on a whim and The Wife and I quickly fell in love. There are a lot of characters to like here, from the main character Ragnar, to the mildly insane Floki. It plays out almost like a historical-based

This is one to watch for the characters above all else, I'd say. I give it an 8/10 because I find some of their story choices to be a touch odd, but it is always engaging.

A Princess of Mars

New cover, works for me.

Following my sci-fi classic bent of late, I picked this up at a Barnes and Noble after the new cover caught my eye (I always judge a book by its cover). It was a relatively short read, but there was a lot to love. It was sci-fi before sci-fi had to explain everything to the thousandth degree. How does John Carter get to Mars? I have no idea, but when he gets there he does manage to kick some Barsoom-ian ass. It's a nice little romp through a fiction that has influenced many that have come since. Despite being a story that built many tropes we see today, it still stands firmly on its own without being overly campy.

The Green Martians, John Carter, and Dejah Thoris are all notable identities in this novel, and I strongly suggest it. For a rating, I'm comfortable giving it a 10/10, I had zero issues with the novel and look forward to the rest of the series.

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story

Most of my reading is strictly set in fictional universes. Non-fiction isn't quite as appealing to me, possibly because I could go make non-fiction happen if I really wanted to (I don't). Doesn't satisfy my need for the fantastic, I suppose.

Even so, the Wife recently bought "Marvel Comics: The Untold Story" for me. I even decided to add it to my train reading list, after having it sit on my bedside table for awhile. It may be non-fiction, but at least it was about the folks who created some of my favorite fictitious characters and stories.

I'm glad that I did. In the beginning, the book is engaging as it tells you how the company got started and then follows the paths of the major players, icons such as Stan Lee or Jack Kirby.

Being more of a story/character guy, I rarely notice who's drawing or writing my comics. Yes, this makes me a bad comic fan, but it's easier than having a list of favorite authors that I get sad when they're no longer writing a series I follow. The Untold Story was especially illuminating for me, then, because it goes into distinct detail about all the writers, artists, and editors. Oh, and don't forget the drama. There are all sorts of issues that span the entire length of the book.

The writing is clear and concise, though it doesn't make it super clear when jumping back and forth through time, which it does sparingly. Also, the end tapers off suddenly and leaves you wanting more. It touches upon things that were still relevant today, such as The Avengers movie, but without the same detail given to the early portions of the book. And the brief snapshot of the Marvel offices today was almost asinine -- I would have loved a comparison with the past offices to today, but only a physical layout was touched upon.

Even so, the book was an interesting read, especially if you're mostly unaware of the tumultuous history of the company that spawned some of my favorite characters (and, if I dig down deep enough, artists).

I give it an arbitrary 8 out of 10.

Day 25ish: Two Book Suggestions

Oh, and did I mention the tattoos?

Hi Folks! STILL playing catch up from my lazy weekend. I've got two book suggestions, one of which I've read, and the other I'm just waiting to find a copy of.

First, if you enjoy any of the following, I strongly suggest Stormdancer:

Steampunk theme.
Japanese culture.
Young Adult literature.
Post-apocalyptic setting.
Griffons.
Samurai.
A female protagonist.
STEAM-POWERED SAMURAI ARMOR and AIRSHIPS and AWESOME.

This is really all you need to go on. Saying too much more would spoil the story, and we all know how much I hate spoilers. What I can say is that the writing is decent, the story is interesting, and it is part of a series. I've yet to pick up part two, but part one was worth the read.

Additional comment: I normally dislike stories with female protagonists. Even the strongest of them are ALWAYS beset by some romance, where they are pining over a boy or worried about some odd romantic triangle. You almost never see this with male protagonists. It is even worse with YA fiction, and it is an almost fundamental flaw because it draws a decisive line between male and female fiction -- the boys do not need girls (though generally want them), while the girls need (or think they need) boys (but don't want them).

Eventually summoning from Amazon...

If this seems minor or as if I'm complaining against something that no one else notices, I get that. I just want me protagonists to be strong on their own merit and, honestly, I really want a strong female protagonist where relationships DON'T create a major plot point. Sure, it can be done well, but I'm ready to seen it skipped and let the female character be strong on the OTHER merits of the gender, not the oriented-to-reproduce side we tend to see all too often.

Stormdancer features the romantic triangle setup, though it does almost feel tacked on, as if an editor said, "Oh, no. This NEEDS romance. Go back and make something up, quick." It's mostly painless, in the long run. Kind of.


The OTHER book I wanted to mention, and have had trouble finding myself (because, you know, Amazon is so far away...) is, "Shadows over Baker Street." All of the short stories combine the characters/setting of Sherlock with the Cthulhu Mythos. Uh, yes please.

It also features "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite writers. Sure, it's available on his webpage, but I'm personally waiting to read it when I get the book.

Day 22ish: Spoilerific Opinions on Fables

Alright, I've talked a bit about Fables here and there as I've been reading, but there have finally been enough events that I've read that I'd like to address a couple points. I've finished Fables Volume 10: The Good Prince (up to issue #69 in singles).

WARNING! MANY (if not all) OF THESE POINTS WILL BE SPOILERS. At least one of them will be huge enough that I STRONGLY suggest you skip this post if you plan to read the series in order.

Otherwise, let me know how you felt about the items below, or offer blind opinions on 'em if you've chosen to spoil it even with my warning above.

Spoilers below Bigby!

You'll notice things too, if you go below this picture!!

Alrighty. These topics are in no particular order, beyond what popped into my head first.

And don't forget, Ghost is invisible...

1. The Kids. When Bigby knocked up Snow White, I was surprised. When she carried to term, I was even more surprised (especially with how quickly it was done). Add to that a LITTER of kids, ok, uber-level shocked here. Admittedly Bigby and Snow have been taken out of the limelight, which is a bit of a bummer for me, but the kids have been done well. They're interesting cross breeds with unique personalities without having too much attention paid to them (they're neo-Fables, after all). The one odd kid, Ghost, is a living zephyr, or gust of wind. That's strange and has been a bit underutilized, if not forgotten. Not sure where the direction with the family and each individual kid is going, but I've come to appreciate that most with the boundary pushing Fables series.

2. The Adversary. Admittedly, it's pretty obvious WHO the Adversary is before the official reveal, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it for some time after. Gepetto being the big bad just seemed so... anti-climactic. He hasn't been hugely developed even after the reveal, but you catch enough glimpses of him to see that his mind is definitely in the right place for being the despicable strings behind the puppet (heh) Emperor. The Good Prince storyline in particular shows Gepetto explaining why wholesale slaughter was all in a good regime's work.

3. The answer is magic, duh. There are several moments/items/people that skew the view of the Fables world(s). Boy Blue launches a single-man campaign, simply due to having two magical items -- the Witching Cloak and the Vorpal Sword. He tears through the worlds of the Empire, defeats the puppet Emperor (for a moment) and is able to uncover who the true Adversary is, all without ever getting a scratch. A bit overpower, no?

God Mode cheat enabled.

Well, take a look at Prince Ambrose, able to use Lancelot's armor and Excalibur to fantastic results. It made for an interesting read and it was refreshing to see a good character win and win completely compared to most fantasy pieces (looking at you, Game of Thrones), but if he could do something like this, and Boy Blue could become a dashing hero with a pinch of magic, why did the Adversary succeed in taking the Homelands over in the first place? Overwhelming might works as an excuse for a bit, except when the Kingdom of Haven proves that even that isn't always the key.

What I'm hoping comes very soon is some serious badassery from the villains. I don't want them to win, of course -- I love too many of the characters, but I want to see a reason for the Fables' exile in the first place.

4. The characters. Wow. There are so many diverse characters and side stories. And there isn't a single one I dislike following on a tangent. Even characters that were introduced to hate, as with Prince Charming, a fondness has grown with the terrific storytelling and character development. And even Fables being introduced in later issues are dropped in skillfully. I look forward to eventually branching out to Jack of Fables (arguably the only character I still DON'T enjoy in the series) and Fairest down the line.

5. Breakneck speed. I'm used to comics where time progresses very slowly, if at all. How old is Peter Parker, again? Admittedly, these characters live forever and have a bit of a boon over those that should probably have passed away by now, but the actual feeling of time progression is palpable and done very well. Stories don't drag and anything you miss in skipped months seems decent fodder for side-stories, if nothing else. Snow giving birth and raising the kids, Prince Charming becoming Mayor, Flycatcher's transformation, all of these got the appropriate build up and there hasn't been a single moment of me feeling a story was rushed.

Glad to be so bad.

6. Knowing the Big Bad. A lot of stories today keep the final/biggest villain either in the shadows or out of reach for the entire piece of work, until the climax, which is generally fairly short. Fables took its time introducing the Adversary's true face, but since then they haven't been afraid to punch it on the nose and run away to live another day. And we're taken inside the enemy's camp to see, in a limited sense, their side of things. These aren't faceless villains! I don't necessarily think they're everything they could be/I want them to be, but the fact that they are given appropriate detail and their own side-stories is crucial for me in respecting them as an enemy.

I think that's it for now. There's a lot to love with this series, and I am still a 100% fan. Looking forward to one day actually catching up, though I hope it never has to end.

If you are NOT reading Fables, you are doing it wrong. Swing on by and I'll lend you some! I can't seem to find my 2nd Volume, but I feel strongly enough that, once exposed, this is a series that will hook you.

Day 14: Now Reading

A personal favorite I suggest for all Fiction fans.

Been awhile since I updated on what I was actually reading:

The Anubis Gates

I've almost finished re-reading this book by Tim Powers. It involves time travel, an interesting view of magic, and all the antics that come from combining the two. Brendan Doyle is from the present (well, the 1980s) and winds up in 1810 due to a completely logical foray into the past by a wealthy and intellectual man. From there, nothing goes quite right and the story is an interesting view on alternate history, destiny, and keeping readers on their toes. Even when you think you've got a handle on it, it adds a new twist and turn.

I'll be drawing on this book a lot for inspiration with my Steampunk-Detective novel that I'd like to work on after I finish my current project. That, the Cthulhu mythos, and the movie Chinatown. For starters.

Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt Part II: Exile

I like fantasy. I like older fantasy, and D&D stories, and the like. I've never really gotten into Forgotten Realms, though. I finished the first Drizzt book awhile back and found the second one at a used book shop, so have been paging through it. To be completely honest, it holds almost no interest to me other than the later (MUCH LATER) stories seem as if they're so interesting, I just can't imagine skipping so far ahead.

It'd be like reading current Dragonlance without ever reading about the War of the Lance! Blasphemy!

Fables: Sons of Empire

Solid entry, though not especially plot heavy.

I've just finished the 9th TPB of Fables. Without fail, the series is still going strong at this point, and this had a nice juxtaposition of what's going on in the Homelands with the Adversary and his gang as well as some of the less severe adventures of the Fables on Earth. This issue is notable for finally bringing Bigby together with his pops, though it is by no means climactic.

The Pull List

Yeah, so, folks may have noticed I haven't followed up on this lately. The reason is that my Pull List was reduced dramatically after moving back to MA, and I find reading 2-3 single issues a week fairly frustrating. I'm keeping current on my favorites, namely Saga, but otherwise am waiting until I have a few issues lined up to sustain a lengthier reading cycle. For now, Pull List Reviews will be put on hold and I'll do some "state of affairs" posts for the series that I'm enjoying down the line. Until then, however, I'm always happy to take suggestions -- as long as you know I won't jump in the middle of a series, I've got to start at the beginning.

I'm also trying to hunt down some Cthulhu related comics but have been unsuccessful at this time.

... That's about it. I am adding liberal amounts of Lovecraft since I've been in the mood lately, but I'm eyeing some other Mythos related authors more so. Just gotta find 'em.

Day 2: Time Travel, Different Dimensions, and Free Love

Tonight (running a bit late but if I don't go to sleep, I'm counting it as the same day) I wanted to pop by and mention what I've been reading.

Working out of Boston gives me a bit of train time for reading, and I've been focused on getting through Robert Heinlein's works. For those who are unfamiliar with Heinlein, he's a speculative fiction author who frequently pushes the bounds of understanding with his glib pseudo-science rooted in actual science. He passes off time travel and dimensional travel almost as if they were a common commodity to the characters that could otherwise be based in current times (well, current for Heinlein, anyway, who wrote the last entry in 1987). I've focused on his books featuring Lazarus Long, know as his "Future History" series:

I might have started calling my cat "Pixel"

Time Enough for Love: Technically I read this years ago, but it was my introduction to the series and was a solid introduction to Lazarus long and the peculiar future in which one man is the ancestor to most of the wayward human race across time and space.

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls: A fast paced book that doesn't care if you understand what's going on as the characters are pushed or pulled from one direction to another. It's been compared to The Hitchhiker's Guide but I think that's rubbish. Maybe if you made the Guide a touch more serious with hyper-intelligent characters, humorous wordplay, and an excessive amount of *ahem* free love, maybe I could see it. But it's not quirky so much as intense.

To Sail Beyond the Sunset: In which we learn about Lazarus' immoral mother and her extensive back-story (most of which is spent in a timeline slightly different than our own but set in a similar time frame that includes World War I and II. It's Heinlein's last published work but makes a very solid introduction to his writing -- it spends a lot more time explaining how all of the characters become so hyper-intelligent and accepting of things such as incest and open (loving) infidelity. Also, the writing is just a touch more polished than other entries in the series, which could be beneficial to someone trying to get a handle on Heinlein's writing style. Also references some short stories of Heinlein's that can be found in his book Expanded Universe, which was a nice touch.

The Number of the Beast: I tried reading this one some time ago but couldn't get past the absurd speed in which the characters approached things such as marriage or other things I'd never seen done so brazenly. Entire novels could be spent around the moral dilemmas Heinlein's characters analyze and overcome in seconds. Not to mention they're all able to get fabulously wealthy and have expansive back stories before we ever meet them. This book delves a bit more into the dimensional and time travel, however, and doesn't hold back in regards to the idea of "the world as myth." The characters may or may not visit Oz. Yeah. Yellow Brick Road and all.

Don't mind the ship's name...

There are a couple more I haven't gotten to, but I'll get to them eventually. For those interested in the series, start with Time Enough for Love. It introduces Lazarus the best and, once you've accepted him and his tales, everything is a bit easier to take. Just remember, if you're left in the dust with the facts and sciences being thrown at you, roll with the punches!

In comics, I have been focusing all of my intention on Fables, which I am not up the 9th trade paper back. That's a bit more than fifty single issues. Most series I've collected for this long tend to fluctuate in quality or general interest (ie, Star Wars: Legacy or Knights of the Old Republic). Fables has, if anything, gotten better with every set of stories. They've even leapt the hurdle of revealing the big bad known as the Adversary and STILL keeping the Homeland plot interesting. If this were a TV show, they'd have to kill him off or defeat him seriously in the first season. With Fables, appropriate time is being taken to really appreciate the villains of this story, while still building individual lives for the Fable-folk set in modern day New York City.

Loving this series more and more.

The series also has my favorite romance in a comic series. I've never wanted two characters to come together quite as badly as I've wanted to see Bigby and Snow White hit it off. And Fables does it while still spanning years in mere issues.

I'm very pleased with the series and look forward to someday catching up.

Only other comic news to report, then, is that Saga still proves to be awesome, it's just coming out too damn slow for my preference.

1-2-3-4-Beat on the Bat: Favorite Bat Comics Pt1

Coming Soon to a Theater in 2015! Minus the Damon!

Take a chill pill and remember the casting of Michael Keaton for Batman, Heath Ledger as the Joker, Ann Hathaway as Catwoman, and Daniel Craig for James "Blonde". The fan reaction was just a tad ridiculous in hindsight, right? I'll admit Ben wouldn't have been my first choice for an older Batman (Karl Urban), and if WB wanted a Batman who could do a Boston accent flawlessly I'm insulted I wasn't considered despite being too young, but I'll wait and see before assuming Affleck will tank the film. Most of the hate is probably due to wanting to make yourself hate the most popular dude in school. I recently watched The Town I was more than impressed with his directing and acting, which is a feat in and of itself, especially when directing an action film. So don't despair. BATMAN AND ROBIN WILL NEVER DIE! Which is what I plan to prove after the Batsui Bop.

Christmas in July: Pt2 No Moore after this

Move over Bad Santa

Chris Kringle is a dirty bird, didn't I say so? The above is a cover of Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson's 4 issue comic Happy. It sadly wasn't part of my Xmas haul so I can't include it, but it helps put me in a taking the piss outta Santa mood. The blue unicorn winged Happy isn't Photoshopped FYI. Come Dasher and Cupid, and whoever after the jump!

Characters in Literature

You thought I forgot, didn't ya?! Well I didn't, here's part one of three for Character Week.

I'm going back to my old Top Five style, where the order doesn't matter except for the last slot meaning best of the best.

---

Scarlet Spider/Ben Reilly 

(Several comic books series)

Hopefully making a comeback!

If you didn't except to see some Scarlet Spider love here, you're new. I love Spider-Man. I love that Peter Parker is a relatable guy who just happens to be able to do whatever a spider can. He has girl problems, money problems, and bad guy problems.

Ben Reilly, if you didn't know, is his clone. During the '90s, when Marvel was trying to retire Peter Parker (the first time, anyway), they brought in Ben. He has a tormented past and, due to more plot twists than you can shake a stick at, identity issues. Marvel played around with him being the real Peter Parker, just replaced years prior.

I espeically enjoyed Ben because he was everything Peter was, but with a darker tint. When he fought characters like Venom or Carnage, he had his own reasons for doing so and his own approach. He was a damaged character that did his damnedest to do right.

Also, I loved his Scarlet Spider AND Spider-Man costumes.

Corwin of Amber 

(The Amber Chronicles)
If you have no idea who this is, I forgive you. The Amber Chronicles are a series of books written by Roger Zelazny. One of his other characters, Jack of Shadows, almost took this spot, but Corwin pulled ahead by having one of the most interesting introductions ever.

Gotta love that cover art.

Well. Most interesting cliche introduction, anyway, because we meet Corwin when he's waking up in a hospital bed with amnesia. The thing is, amnesia doesn't stop our boy from being suspicious of everything, and we follow him along as he breaks out of the hospital and, using proto-Jason Bourne skills, slowly discovers the truth about who he is.

And THAT'S when shit really hits the fan. Corwin is a Prince of Amber, one of the two "real" worlds. Everywhere else, including our Earth, is a "shadow," a twisted, shaped reflection or refraction of the two real worlds. And we learnt his all through Corwin as he stumbles blindly into a fantastical world of literally infinite possibility.

When Corwin does get his memories back, we find out that he actually blows Jason Bourne out of the water in regards to awesomeness. His character continues to evolve in the five novels that follow him (and the others he appears in) and, while it does get pretty weird, it still makes for an engaging character you support the entire journey, even when he's a revenge-seeking tyrany-wannabe. Or a blind prisoner, confined for years. Or when he... Well... I don't want to spoil anything more. Read the books, they're amazing, and 90% of that awesomeness is pure Corwin.

David Rice 

(Jumper)

David as I know him, sorry Hayden.

While the movie ruined the character, it still didn't tarnish my love for the literary David Rice. This is another example of a damaged boy getting great powers, but the novel follows David in such a way that it feels completely new.

David's father is abusive. This and David's attempt at running away cause him to "jump" for the first time. Then we get to follow a broken boy on a journey by himself to discover himself and a world where he can, maybe, be happy. It's not always easy, but it is always interesting.

Teleportation is my power of choice, and this novel sets up a character that will explore this ability, his past, and the future with a wonderful sense of reality.

And, in the two books of the series that I've read (have yet to read the recently released third), there are no Paladins, no Samuel L. Jackson character, and there IS an engaging romance.

The novel, mainly due to David, is also an easy read targeted to young adults. I'd suggest this for anyone at any age, however.

Lazarus Long 

(Multiple novels by Robert A. Heinlein)
Lazarus is a strange character. He has an excessively long lifespan that allows him to go on many adventures (and create enough progeny that he's almost related to everyone). I wouldn't want to pin him down in one novel, simply because his story is so widespread, but Time Enough for Love is a good sample of the strange character and the even stranger settings he's put in.

Yeah, they're probably related.

The biggest draw to Lazarus is his completely unapologetic outlook on life. He does what he wants, when he wants to and, as long as it fits with his arbitrarily defined morals, it's all kosher. His life, lasting over thousands of years, has had lots of impacts, and the best part about the character is watching him as he bounces along the universe like a stone across water, leaving spreading ripples in his wake.

If you want an unusual character involved in time travel, parallel dimensions, and the undying pursuit of free love, look no further, you've found your man. And many of his children. And possibly a clone or two. Oh, and his mother who he... oh. Well. Let's leave that at that.

Julian "Bean" Delphiki 

(Ender's series)
I've mentioned this before, but I read Ender's Shadow BEFORE reading Ender's Game. Because of this, I was slightly disappointed by Bean's portrayal in the actual origin novel, and I'm concerned with how my favorite character of all time will be shown on the big screen.

You wish they'd stay this small...

Bean is my favorite character simply because of his precocious personality. His bizarre back story helps, but we get to follow Bean as he grows up (and up and up) and watch his personality shaped by the people and
events around him, even as he knows that he is easily smarter than them all. His intelligence his unparalleled due to a genetic manipulation that also puts him on a quick path to a very young death. We see him in the beginning of the Ender saga, but then he heads back to earth and an entire series follows him, his friends, and his family.

I think I enjoyed Bean so much because I actually felt smarter while reading his thoughts, seeing the way he inferred large amounts of detail with very little evidence and, even more so, catching on to things slightly before this massive intellect given body did, simply due to an almost-unseen naivete.

One other thing that made Bean especially great, even when compared to Ender, was his arch-nemesis, Achilles. Their relation far outshines many rivalries I've come to enjoy, and I voraciously read any scene that promised the two going head to head.

---

Well, there you have it. I know I'm leaving out plenty of characters, but I'm very happy with this selection for the first Character Week on the Arbitrary Nerd.


Special shout out to (pretty much) the entire cast of Saga. It's still early in the series life, but I love Marko, Alana, the in-laws, The Will, Lying Cat, and many others. There isn't a single character I dislike popping up across the panels.

Magnificent7 Pt4: "Death is a Star" so said Joe

Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Vol 1

By Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta

Recommended Listening:          Global a Go-Go-Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros (2001)

It’s not easy coming up with companion albums to go with the comics I’ve been reviewing. I’m not getting paid to plug any bands, I don’t consider myself to be a hipster (probably because I don’t even know how to define one) needing to show off my anthems, but for me rock and roll and comics go hand in hand. I’ve always enjoyed listening to music while reading or doing homework when I was in school. Finding a match for essentially The Lord of the Rings of comics had me pretty stumped until today.

Special! Next Week is "Character Week" on the Arbitrary Nerd.

I know it's been awhile since I've done a themed week or even posted mutliple times during a week, but I've been busy, so you'll have to forgive me.

Or not. That's ok too.

This week, I'll be looking into my favorite comic books/novels, video games, and movies/TV shows based on the characters in them. Some of these won't be the first time they've been talked about on the blog, but I'll be focusing more on the given characters than their books/game/movie.

Monday will be from novels and comic books.

Wednesday will be from video games.

Friday will be from movies and TV shows.

Stay tuned and be ready to discuss your favorite characters!

Origin of the Nerd (Part II: Comic Books)

No, I'm not talking about the origin of the word "nerd" or even the origin of nerds as we know them. I'm going to do a three part series about how I got into the things I talk about most on this blog: Video Games, Comic Books, and Movies/TV Shows. I don't often write about myself, so this will be an interesting exercise. And maybe I'll connect with some readers who have had similar experiences, would like to get into new things, or want to talk about how they themselves got into the given subject.

Some of the Nerd-Cave wall.

Last time I defined my favorite definition for "nerd." This week, I'd like to take a look at a related term, the word "geek":

"Geek is a cooler term for a fan. A devoted fan. An over-the-top, obsessive fan of some hobby or media. They are a part of some fandom or speciality, their jokes and allusions no one can get except other geeks, they spend money on their hobby instead of some Serious Business. They waste time debating their favourite media on message boards and writing articles about geeks in Wikipedia and TV Tropes. And if there were no conventions and no Internet, many of them would have never socialized."
-Television Tropes and Idioms

While I feel I have some attributes listed above, I have far too many branching and unrelated interests to be truly obsessive. I have things I consider myself well versed in (Star Wars, Spider-Man, etc...), but not to the degree I feel a true geek would.

Note: These definitions list these words as derogatory. I do not think this is the case -- these are titles to be proud of, at least in this Nerd's opinion.

For this second installment, I want to talk about how I got into Comic Books. Check it after the break.

Christmas in July: Pt1 Everything You Want & Moore

Did Santa forget to bring you a Turbo Man doll? He’s senile Commie Pinko pedo, George Baily killing, Fortress of Solitude stealing, Deniro deer hunter slaver, and a shameless Coke fiend promoter. Sure it’s a cliché to say, but Xmas is truly the most cynical time of the year! Welcome to Christmas in July all the way from rain soaked Japan. Let’s “organize some distance” cause “I won’t be home for Christmas”… but that’s BS since LYCO BOND WILL RETURN IN LYCO’S FAMILY CHRISTMAS VACATION coming out in December, 2013.

I can spit on Jolly Nick, Black Friday, and radio season songs (With the exceptions being Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” & Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again". I hope that reindeer backed over Granny after the head on collision), but I enjoy plenty of eggnog, A Christmas Carol (The black & white one and Muppets!), and spending time with loved ones as much as anyone.

Being home for the holidays made me really appreciate Amazon domestic delivery prices, comic shops, and the wonderful socialist services provided by my local public library. I also got to reread a lot of my favorite collections from the dusty bookshelf in my stately suburban home. 

Below is a list of books I got while stateside that I had never read, which I brought back with me to enjoy. The books that made the list have kind of been forgotten or not talked about enough. Well, that ends now! Run run, REDRUM Rudolph after the jump!

Magnificent7 Part 3: Gabba Gabba Hey

Justice League International (1987)

By Keith Giffen, J.M. Dematteis and Kevin MaGuire

Recommended Listening:          Ramones-Ramones (1981)

Out of all the teams that populate DC the Justice League has always been the headlining act. The Justice Society, Doom Patrol, Teen Titans, Young Justice, Legion of Superheroes, Green Lantern Corps, Seven Soldiers of Victory, Outsiders, Metal Men, or even Space Canine Patrol Agents (Why is this not a current series?!!) would never try to hit the stage following the rock star gods taking their bows after a third encore. The League are embodied descendents of the Greek/Roman deities. It’s not like any of those other teams have a Zoroastrian lineup or Genesha in their corner. Actually they might, but those aren’t as popular sadly in comics. The roll call in JLI clearly reflects the Pantheon with Batman as Hades, my favorite Martian J’onn J’onzz as Mars, Booster Gold as Dionysus, Blue Beetle as Dionysus, and Guy Gardner as… Does  Nick Bottom count?

JLI wasn’t your corporate cookie cutter pretty boy band. They were the Ramones with all their dysfunctional backstage and onstage infighting. Besides Batman and J’onn, the rest of the team and the Ramones weren’t professionals like Wonder Woman, Superman, or the Beatles. Booster Gold was a loser from the far future, who went back in time with a stolen power suit to cash in on fame and glory. Captain Marvel, or Shazam as he’s known now, was for years the alternate identity of an eight year old, but with the personality and comprehension of an adult, suddenly become like Tom Hanks in Big, a child in a man’s body. However, Capt. Marvel was never a member of NAMBLA.

The boys from Queens were learning to play their out of tune instruments on the fly. Whether you love, hate, or could care less there can be no denying that the Ramones brought along more than enough attitude to a gig. They had plenty when they broke out with “Judy is a Punk” for the first time at CBGBs, and the equivalent being “One Punch”!

Holy Bat Punch!

 

From then now the gods became human in the best sense. During a time when deconstructing superheroes was in vogue to the extent of being completely joyless Travis Bickles and Dirty Harry bastards, the JLI heroes opted for a different kind of radicalization. They got a sense of humor. A lot of comedy gold came out of characters arguing in their off hours or even when faced with end of the world scenarios. The goofiness is obvious if you can picture Christian Bale Batman partnered with Tim Allen Booster Gold and Tom Hanks Blue Beetle, but there’s more to this unique team than a sitcom laugh track. During early years of their run, writers Giffen and Demattis were smart enough to balance the wise cracks, slapstick, and pranks with great action scenes and character drama, and Oreos.

 

The horror... the horror

Tune in next time to Rock and Roll Radio for Christmas in July.