So given my penchant for irregualar posting, I feel some catching up is in order. Last time I came to you dear readers was with my Dallas Comic-Con experience. Well San Diego Comic-Con was last weekend, and no I didn't go, but I did hear about some cool stuff, Image Comics/Skybound/Robert Kirkman is doing a Zombie obstacle course, and when you complete it you get an exclusive Walking Dead #100, only available at the con. If you know me, you know my love of TWD, its such an amazing story, the comics are incredible and really pull you in like no other book out there currently. The TV show is also amazing, albeit the seasons are too short, but who thought we'd have a zombie TV show on in prime time?
Other than all that, just been trying to find a job, who knew how hard this was going to be, at this point i'd take my chances as a fry cook, in-between all that I've been sucked back into the world of Magic: The Gathering, a fun, yet addictive card game that I played way back in college (wish I hadn't sold all my cards). The nice part about the game is it is social and I've made a lot of new acquaintances playing.
Got back to the Rock last weekend, it was nice, didn't do a whole lot, mostly time with family, did get to eat lunch with my 3 friends in Searcy, mmmm Mi Pueblito....and I got to see The Dark Knight Rises, oh my god, what a great movie. To steal a quote from a friend, this is on par with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, they are not 3 separate movies, but one long epic, meant to be seen back to back.
The tech rumor mill is all abuzz regarding the new iphone, we all know its coming, and we all know we're going to buy it, but the question is, is this the new iphone? I kinda hope so, I'm ready for something different, the 4 was a nice departure, but it still feels the same.
Showing posts with label Comic Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comic Books. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Reflections on Comic-Con
So, I went to my first official Comic Con, Dallas Comic Con was last weekend, and it was a surreal experience. First let me forewarn you readers, this post will be dripping with fan boy rantings, and full of name drops. That being said, the first rule of Conventions, wear comfy shoes. A good friend of mine from back home came down for the weekend, not being a comic book fan, but a Star Wars nerd, I was confused as to why he would want to go to a comic book convention. I realized it was more for the experience and of course to hang out with me (I mean who wouldn't want to hang out with me!).
The big draw for the con was of course Stan "The Man" Lee, who had to cut short his trip and was only available on Saturday, so they set him up special on Friday night, which I did not attend, although Stan has been an invaluable soldier in comic book creation, my goals were on a few other things. Firstly, my two favorite people in the comic industry, who also happen to be Harding University graduates and from Little Rock, Mitch and Elizabeth Breitweiser were going to be there and they had a limited edition print that Mitch drew and Bettie colored. Even cooler I found that it was limited to only 60 copies. Those who don't know, the smaller the batch run, the more valuable these things are, but I don't care about that, I mean its original, and its limited, auto-buy. Secondly, I had my three volumes of Batman by Neal Adams hardbacks that I wanted to get signed, which I did, and had them personalized to me, which I was informed made them less valuable, again, those are for me, no one else, so value be damned! Oh wait, back to Mitch and Bettie, I had Mitch's first official series he did for Marvel, "Drax the Destroyer" 4 issues mini series, which I had him sign, along with Defenders #5 (the best so far, art wise), this was also a collaboration with Bettie, so I got her to sign as well.
Now let me go back a step here, so we got to the Irving Convention Center at 10 am, the show was supposed to open at 11, describing the line is hard, so lets just say it snaked its way from the door, up the stairs, down the stars, along the side of the building and then back to the street and then up the center of the stairs. I really didn't pay a lot of attention to the time, but it was 1145 before we were inside. another 75 minutes waiting for Neal Adams. Then to learn that as I was heading to Kevin Conroy's line (he was the voice of Batman in the animated series in the '90's) only to learn it went all the way around the convention center and was capped, ok over to George Perez's line, oh wait its capped too. Well lets check out the wares. Tons of toys, books, comics, a booth selling knives and swords, no thats not dangerous...a booth selling custom leather work, including bracers, superhero masks, etc. Costumes, yes, nerds do it right, from 7 year olds as Captain america, to a 60+ creepy Riddler (I swear he had free candy!). We decided to grab some lunch and that took over an hour, then went to the panel room to get ready for Patrick Stewart, we got there an hour before and sat in on Neal Adams, who of course talked about how he was turned down by DC at first and wound up at Archie Comics, and was told all along that the industry would be dead in a year...Tons of stupid questions bounced off him and his son, but the best he answered with and get this he told us it was a lie. "Who is your favorite character to draw?" the truth is all of them, its just that much fun. The lie, Batman, because he has a cape, and thats like drawing two people. Honestly, I liked the lie!
Patrick Stewarts Panel, was packed, although not all the VIP seats were filled, so he made a comment about it and all of the sudden they were like you guys move on up... He told stories about his childhood growing up in England, and how he got started, and how he loved playing bad guys on stage. About midway through, a question was pitched from the other side of the room, "Who was your favorite villain?" Holy shit its John Delancie (Q from TNG). He approaches the stage, and they have one of those moments, you know two old friends, give each other the handshake hug, and then start to reminisce. So very cool! Not one question about X-men, all about Star Trek and his Shakespearean works. Fast forward, I leave a bit before its over to try one last time to get Perez, I have been lugging around the first six issues of the New 52 Superman for him and the lines not horrible, I am however at the very end. told I will not make the cut today. Fortunately one of my friends who works at the local shop is there and like 15th in line, tells me to give him my books and he'll get it for me. That was awesome, thanks again Brad, you totally rock!
Sunday, my friend says we need to get there earlier, but today won't be as crowded as Saturday, as they never are. So we get up and have a great breakfast at the Old West Cafe, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, hash browns, and some toast, they do it up right! We roll out, 45 minutes later we're at the convention center, maybe 100th in line. 90 minutes till doors open. Got a few shots of some great costumes, a great Batgirl, a mini Batgirl (she had to be 5 or 6), Maverick, Goose, and Iceman, a little girl as Indiana Jones (it was too cute!), Master Chief from Halo, Bane from the new Batman movie, a family of Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern and the daughter was also Supergirl. My one goal for Sunday was to get Kevin Conroy to sign my Batman the Animated Series Boxed Set. I went immediately to the line to queue. So, the ruling here is first is VIP then Priority, then General Admission. We are told that the first hour will be only VIP and Priority, my thought is 11-12 right...well 1230 rolls and then we are told the line is capped and he has a hard stop at 330 to catch a flight. the 3 people in front of me start raising all kinds of hell, and genuinely so, we could have been up there waiting, but they held us all back. They claim if they get though all that that then they will let us through. The Red-shirted nerd with a little power leaves and the orange shirt guy was like you 4 go on, no promises, but I'll let you through. fast forward 2 hours and we are through, I'm standing in front of the man who no one will recognize in a photo, but the minute you hear his voice its like, holy shit your batman! He signs my stuff, even stops for a photo, and I'm done. Wow, that was incredible, and to the soldier in front of me, good luck on your deployment, and thank you for being such a hard ass to the line nazi and getting us through! I also found out that Mitch's print of 60 sold out mid day saturday, which is awesome!
So that was my experience for Stan Lee presents Dallas Comic Con, lots of line standing, great people watching, and overall a fun weekend! Next time, I'm going VIP, 30 minutes early and line cuts sound good to me!
Live long and prosper.
The big draw for the con was of course Stan "The Man" Lee, who had to cut short his trip and was only available on Saturday, so they set him up special on Friday night, which I did not attend, although Stan has been an invaluable soldier in comic book creation, my goals were on a few other things. Firstly, my two favorite people in the comic industry, who also happen to be Harding University graduates and from Little Rock, Mitch and Elizabeth Breitweiser were going to be there and they had a limited edition print that Mitch drew and Bettie colored. Even cooler I found that it was limited to only 60 copies. Those who don't know, the smaller the batch run, the more valuable these things are, but I don't care about that, I mean its original, and its limited, auto-buy. Secondly, I had my three volumes of Batman by Neal Adams hardbacks that I wanted to get signed, which I did, and had them personalized to me, which I was informed made them less valuable, again, those are for me, no one else, so value be damned! Oh wait, back to Mitch and Bettie, I had Mitch's first official series he did for Marvel, "Drax the Destroyer" 4 issues mini series, which I had him sign, along with Defenders #5 (the best so far, art wise), this was also a collaboration with Bettie, so I got her to sign as well.
Now let me go back a step here, so we got to the Irving Convention Center at 10 am, the show was supposed to open at 11, describing the line is hard, so lets just say it snaked its way from the door, up the stairs, down the stars, along the side of the building and then back to the street and then up the center of the stairs. I really didn't pay a lot of attention to the time, but it was 1145 before we were inside. another 75 minutes waiting for Neal Adams. Then to learn that as I was heading to Kevin Conroy's line (he was the voice of Batman in the animated series in the '90's) only to learn it went all the way around the convention center and was capped, ok over to George Perez's line, oh wait its capped too. Well lets check out the wares. Tons of toys, books, comics, a booth selling knives and swords, no thats not dangerous...a booth selling custom leather work, including bracers, superhero masks, etc. Costumes, yes, nerds do it right, from 7 year olds as Captain america, to a 60+ creepy Riddler (I swear he had free candy!). We decided to grab some lunch and that took over an hour, then went to the panel room to get ready for Patrick Stewart, we got there an hour before and sat in on Neal Adams, who of course talked about how he was turned down by DC at first and wound up at Archie Comics, and was told all along that the industry would be dead in a year...Tons of stupid questions bounced off him and his son, but the best he answered with and get this he told us it was a lie. "Who is your favorite character to draw?" the truth is all of them, its just that much fun. The lie, Batman, because he has a cape, and thats like drawing two people. Honestly, I liked the lie!
Patrick Stewarts Panel, was packed, although not all the VIP seats were filled, so he made a comment about it and all of the sudden they were like you guys move on up... He told stories about his childhood growing up in England, and how he got started, and how he loved playing bad guys on stage. About midway through, a question was pitched from the other side of the room, "Who was your favorite villain?" Holy shit its John Delancie (Q from TNG). He approaches the stage, and they have one of those moments, you know two old friends, give each other the handshake hug, and then start to reminisce. So very cool! Not one question about X-men, all about Star Trek and his Shakespearean works. Fast forward, I leave a bit before its over to try one last time to get Perez, I have been lugging around the first six issues of the New 52 Superman for him and the lines not horrible, I am however at the very end. told I will not make the cut today. Fortunately one of my friends who works at the local shop is there and like 15th in line, tells me to give him my books and he'll get it for me. That was awesome, thanks again Brad, you totally rock!
Sunday, my friend says we need to get there earlier, but today won't be as crowded as Saturday, as they never are. So we get up and have a great breakfast at the Old West Cafe, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, hash browns, and some toast, they do it up right! We roll out, 45 minutes later we're at the convention center, maybe 100th in line. 90 minutes till doors open. Got a few shots of some great costumes, a great Batgirl, a mini Batgirl (she had to be 5 or 6), Maverick, Goose, and Iceman, a little girl as Indiana Jones (it was too cute!), Master Chief from Halo, Bane from the new Batman movie, a family of Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern and the daughter was also Supergirl. My one goal for Sunday was to get Kevin Conroy to sign my Batman the Animated Series Boxed Set. I went immediately to the line to queue. So, the ruling here is first is VIP then Priority, then General Admission. We are told that the first hour will be only VIP and Priority, my thought is 11-12 right...well 1230 rolls and then we are told the line is capped and he has a hard stop at 330 to catch a flight. the 3 people in front of me start raising all kinds of hell, and genuinely so, we could have been up there waiting, but they held us all back. They claim if they get though all that that then they will let us through. The Red-shirted nerd with a little power leaves and the orange shirt guy was like you 4 go on, no promises, but I'll let you through. fast forward 2 hours and we are through, I'm standing in front of the man who no one will recognize in a photo, but the minute you hear his voice its like, holy shit your batman! He signs my stuff, even stops for a photo, and I'm done. Wow, that was incredible, and to the soldier in front of me, good luck on your deployment, and thank you for being such a hard ass to the line nazi and getting us through! I also found out that Mitch's print of 60 sold out mid day saturday, which is awesome!
So that was my experience for Stan Lee presents Dallas Comic Con, lots of line standing, great people watching, and overall a fun weekend! Next time, I'm going VIP, 30 minutes early and line cuts sound good to me!
Live long and prosper.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
ZOMG, this looks so cool!
My other favorite so far has been the Court of Owls storyline that Scott Snyder has been running in Batman. I have to say that this is by far my favorite Batman story since Hush. The emotions running in the story really resonate and you can see how Bruce is dealing with all that's happening throughout. This is IMHO Snyder's best work to date.
Nothing else new to report on the geek front, go out and have a great Wednesday, its hump day after all, go get some humps, some humps, some lovely lady lumps...wow that was so bad.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Comic Book Men
So, it's been two episodes and I just can't give Kevin Smith anymore of my time. I guess I just don't dig him like I used to. The premise, albeit gave me a nerdgasm, a day in the life of the comic book store. But it just feels too scripted, too fake, and honestly the shopkeepers seem like douches and jackwagons. I've spent many an hour at a CBS, browsing, reading, playing games, geeking out, discussing who'd win in a fight Shazam or Thor, Batman vs Iron Man, Superman vs well anyone (still think Wonder Woman could take him!). I've also been listening to comic book podcasts of late, and maybe that has me jaded, these are from the fans, not shop owners, these are they guys who are out there every Wednesday hitting the shelves to fill their needs (yes a comic book is like a soap opera for guys, without all the bad acting). I've been working on my list of things I'd like to do this year, so far I've gone back to school...I'd like to participate in or start my own comic fan podcast. I am slightly slanted as I really only read DC, but I'm always up to talk about anything... Did you see The Walking Dead this week? See that's how my brain works, it's the whole ADD, oh look a duck, but with cool geekiness. That being said, I really don't know how many people actually read this, I don't get many comments, but I do see the page views spike after a new post. If your reading this, leave a comment, let me know who you are and where you come from, feel free to comment, call me a clownshoe, whatever, just don't sit back and lurk the boards...
Back to geekiness, I've been messing with DSLR photography since October more seriously, yes my camera is off of Auto. I'm running into issues trying to catch the kiddo in action, by the time I get the settings down she's right up in the lens, should I use my 55mm or the 18-55mm I like the fixed focal length on the 55mm, but sometimes I think it should really be just for portraits, please tell me your thoughts if your a photo nut on what the 55mm should be used for. Should I just carry my DSLR with me everywhere in case I see something that just looks great, or should I just go out somewhere I've never been and just take a ton of pics? Seems like all I ever take are family shots indoors or out at an event like the Zoo, etc. What did you do to get better at finding "the shot"?
With all the hullabaloo about the iPad 3, a friend of mine on Facebook summed it up pretty well, "I'd rather have thin than a ridiculous pixel density." I think I have to agree, while I love my iPad, I still don't see how it fits into my digital life fully, I don't like using it for typing notes in class, as I just don't like the non keyboard tacticity (is that a real word?). My daughter is content using it to watch Dora or Diego, which is great, since it frees up the big TV for adult use. I'm starting to feel like I use it less and less, I don't read on it all the time, I still prefer a real book, I don't play as many games on it like I used to, and well, the movies I have on it are great, but I don't have a lot of free time to watch them. Occasionally I'm a Twitter S#|$$er, or will browse the web while on the throne (who doesn't?). I guess since the move, the relegation that I'm unemployed, and now a student, the iPad just doesn't seem like the business tool I thought it would be. And why does blogger look like a steaming pile on it? How can I blog remotely when it looks like something that a cat coughed up? Although, it appears that MS Office has been seen running on the iPad, and its close to a release, shame apple beat you to the game here with iWork for the iPad, think I can squeeze in another i product into this sentence, how about iOS is great, I love iMacs, and I'm a total iTool! HA, Bazinga!
Back to geekiness, I've been messing with DSLR photography since October more seriously, yes my camera is off of Auto. I'm running into issues trying to catch the kiddo in action, by the time I get the settings down she's right up in the lens, should I use my 55mm or the 18-55mm I like the fixed focal length on the 55mm, but sometimes I think it should really be just for portraits, please tell me your thoughts if your a photo nut on what the 55mm should be used for. Should I just carry my DSLR with me everywhere in case I see something that just looks great, or should I just go out somewhere I've never been and just take a ton of pics? Seems like all I ever take are family shots indoors or out at an event like the Zoo, etc. What did you do to get better at finding "the shot"?
With all the hullabaloo about the iPad 3, a friend of mine on Facebook summed it up pretty well, "I'd rather have thin than a ridiculous pixel density." I think I have to agree, while I love my iPad, I still don't see how it fits into my digital life fully, I don't like using it for typing notes in class, as I just don't like the non keyboard tacticity (is that a real word?). My daughter is content using it to watch Dora or Diego, which is great, since it frees up the big TV for adult use. I'm starting to feel like I use it less and less, I don't read on it all the time, I still prefer a real book, I don't play as many games on it like I used to, and well, the movies I have on it are great, but I don't have a lot of free time to watch them. Occasionally I'm a Twitter S#|$$er, or will browse the web while on the throne (who doesn't?). I guess since the move, the relegation that I'm unemployed, and now a student, the iPad just doesn't seem like the business tool I thought it would be. And why does blogger look like a steaming pile on it? How can I blog remotely when it looks like something that a cat coughed up? Although, it appears that MS Office has been seen running on the iPad, and its close to a release, shame apple beat you to the game here with iWork for the iPad, think I can squeeze in another i product into this sentence, how about iOS is great, I love iMacs, and I'm a total iTool! HA, Bazinga!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Back to our nerdly nuts and bolts
We are up to issue 4 of The New 52's and Justice League is a book that has really been on my list as one that I just can't decide on. Let's go back four months, the first issue hit, we are in a universe where the heroes don't really know each other, Green Lantern had no idea that Batman was just a man in a costume...Superman seems to not like authority, and The Flash, well he's just the flash, fast, cocky, and a smart ass, gotta love it! Jim Lee can really suck you in with his artwork, Geoff John's story work can usually keep you on the edge of your seat, but this title just runs slow. I am still trying to piece together the current state of the DC Universe, as I really only follow Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Green Lantern. Its tough, I mean we really don't know what has happened, what from the last 50 years still happened in the new universe, Bane vs Batman, Jason Todd's Death, Superman's death, Barbara Gordon is not wheelchair bound anymore..etc, these are the things I really wish I knew the answers to. With This month Justice League #4 hit the shelves, and well remember Aquaman from the Superfriends? Well, friends he isn't hear, we have an Atlantian bad ass, who doesn't mind getting his trident dirty and I'm loving it, if you ever made Aquaman the but of a joke, well brother, let me tell ya, he ain't that guy.
Lastly, my biggest gripe, is DC touted out that they were drawing the line at $2.99 earlier in the year in response to Marvels inability to decide on price point. But two of the flagship titles, Action Comics and Justice League are $3.99, and Justice League is 22 pages of story/art and the rest ads and filler, its just a bit much, and then for them to charge the same day and date for digital really chaps this authors ass a bit. It really makes the thought of going digital only hard to swallow, and I have thought about it, but there is just something about holding a real book in your hands, going to the nerds den, the geektopia, the comic book store and browsing the shelves for something new, finding something that Mitch Breitweiser (a fellow Arkie) has started working on, finding that hard to find trade paperback, that Frank Miller Batman Statue, hell even just picking out a new 20 sided die...You don't get that on your nook, iPad, playbook, blackbook, blackberry, chuck berry, or whatever your using digitally!
So, I don't think you can find back issues on JL right now, but I know once this arc is done it will be in trade paperback (they've already announced a Batman trade, so its coming), when that happens, pick it up, you'll love the visually stunning art by Jim Lee, an incredibly woven team building story by Geoff Johns, and of course a glowing review from me.
4.5 out of 5 Tankards of Terror!
Lastly, my biggest gripe, is DC touted out that they were drawing the line at $2.99 earlier in the year in response to Marvels inability to decide on price point. But two of the flagship titles, Action Comics and Justice League are $3.99, and Justice League is 22 pages of story/art and the rest ads and filler, its just a bit much, and then for them to charge the same day and date for digital really chaps this authors ass a bit. It really makes the thought of going digital only hard to swallow, and I have thought about it, but there is just something about holding a real book in your hands, going to the nerds den, the geektopia, the comic book store and browsing the shelves for something new, finding something that Mitch Breitweiser (a fellow Arkie) has started working on, finding that hard to find trade paperback, that Frank Miller Batman Statue, hell even just picking out a new 20 sided die...You don't get that on your nook, iPad, playbook, blackbook, blackberry, chuck berry, or whatever your using digitally!
So, I don't think you can find back issues on JL right now, but I know once this arc is done it will be in trade paperback (they've already announced a Batman trade, so its coming), when that happens, pick it up, you'll love the visually stunning art by Jim Lee, an incredibly woven team building story by Geoff Johns, and of course a glowing review from me.
4.5 out of 5 Tankards of Terror!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Every Batmobile...ever
Even the crappy ones from the non-Tim Burton movies. Your daily dose of comic book nerdiness.
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