Waugh!  Yesterday was Wednesday wasn’t it?!  Don’t you hate it when one day transposes itself over another?

Anyways, quite a few things going on worth mention:

 -The Demon Mages, Issue #2 is on the threshold of completion.  Took a little extra time, but significantly less OT than before.  Look for that in and around the time of…

 -SAN DIEGO COMIC CON!  I’ll be happy to give you readers the extended post-con coverage (August 2nd.  Let’s be fair; jet-lag) , but in the meantime, a few lead-up articles will get passed around, starting next week.  There’s not much to say here, except that packing for ten days in two bags will be… interesting.

-Almost directly afterwards is Otakon 2008.  This blogger lives moments away from it, so like the event horizon of a black hole, it seems many individuals may be drawn into it’s vortex.  Convention roundup on that one as well will be posted, come August 13th. 

-Pixiv.net & Nico-Nico Douga are neat!  Even if your Japanese is lackluster, it’s easy navigation & content abounds!  I’m there most every day!  Google searches readily turn up non-native registration instructions, so there’s little chance of getting lost.

-BONESAW IS REA-DY!!!  Tough as heck with a keyboard, a little imprecise, but still an impressive game and I chuckled at most of the humor.  A cool homebrewed time waster.

-In the spirit of our nation, I watched Paul “John Adams” Giamatti in probably my most favorite role I’ve seen him play — as the whip smart, buck-nasty Mr. Hertz in Shoot ‘Em Up.  Funny to me to see commercials for his HBO special, and super-impose Mr. Hertz’s cellphone ringing.  Or maybe an extended gunfight with Ben Franklin. 

And now, some new art!  Both done by hand, with markers & pens — the second from back on June 13-15th for the Anime-Mid-Atlantic weekend.

That’s all for now!  See ya next week!

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Greetings, Deadly Friends!

So, some of you may have seen that Iron Man movie that came out a month or so ago.

You may have even stayed until the end credits.

You further may have known that Robert Downey, Jr. made a cameo as Tony Stark in a related film that opened this past weekend.

What am I getting at?  Wait.  What was I getting at?  Oh yeah – I saw that film last Sunday and I’m going to do a mini-review for this week’s Office of the Don.

That’s right, this week I talk to you about The Incredible Hulk.

Now, from what I’ve seen and heard, there are two classes of people – the bourgeoisie and the laissez-faire.  No, wait.  That’s not right.  Hang on, let me look it up…

 
*elevator music*

 
Okay, got it – there are those who like the Hulk film that Ang Lee made a few years ago, and those that don’t.  I, personally, liked the film for what Ang Lee tried to do despite a couple of daddy issues I had with it.  His personal take made for a decent psychiatric study into a popular comic book character.  But it wasn’t the Hulk we geeks know and love.

Now, the latest and greatest from The Transporter director Louis Leterrier?  This is the Hulk film the fans wanted.  It took elements from the Bruce Jones run in the comic (Mr. Blue), the TV series (including the theme song – well done!), and mixed it together with some top-notch talent.

Is this movie as good as Iron Man?  No.  But, it’s close.  The pacing is excellent – it’s set up almost like a combination of a Bourne Identity-style thriller and a monster movie.  All the actors gave great performances.  The only exception was Liv Tyler.  She wasn’t bad, but I preferred Jennifer Conelly’s Betty Ross.

The CGI stands out a little at first.  But by the time Hulk and Blonsky are duking it out on a college campus, the CG effects are forgotten as it pulls you into the action.

The plot seems more cohesive and put together better than in Ang Lee’s effort.  There are a couple of divergent storylines going on with a couple of different characters, but each one seems to serve the greater story, merging into the main plot before the end.

And there’s no crap involving crazy fathers and weird character amalgamations.

Then there are all the little shout-outs to the fans – the mention of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, Stark Industries, the Stark cameo, a sequence towards the opening that seems rather familiar to anyone who has seen the show, and the theme song.  Oh, and there is not only a cameo by Lou Ferrigno (jerk), but a surprise cameo by Bill Bixby himself!  All of these are sure to make a fanboy giggle with glee.  I should know.  I tested that personally.

Again, this movie isn’t as good as that other Marvel movie that came out this year, but it’s a fun and wild ride.  If you’re looking for “Hulk Smash!”, you’re gonna get it.

Plus, that feeling I told you about in my Iron Man review?  The one where it felt like the Marvel Universe is finally coming into being and expanding?  This film is just handed us another piece of the puzzle.

And not even Mr. McGee could make me angry after watching this film.

The Don is trying to find a way to control the raging heartburn that dwells within him.

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From the Office of the Don:

On a Thwip and a Prayer

By Donnie Sturges

Greetings, fellow geeks!

When we last left our hero, he had just written and posted his first article for the irrepressible web mag called Spwug to establish his geek cred.

Meanwhile, at the Hall of Internets, The Don returned to discover an interesting after-effect of his online activities…

*crickets*

Well, I’m back for round two! For this installment, I will be reviewing the new Saturday morning cartoon that debuted back in March – The Spectacular Spider-Man. And although it may seem like I’m running off a one-note theme, I assure you that’s not the case. I’m reviewing it because the Universal Code of Intergalactic Species states that I must. And because it’s cool.

Spider-Man, though extremely popular thanks to the three mega-successful films that have come out in the past several years, hasn’t had a popular animated series since the mid-1990s. Spidey did experience a brief resurgence in 2003 with a CGI-animated series on MTV that tied in to the first film. Unfortunately, that series lasted about as long as Uncle Ben’s appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15.

Luckily for our web-slinging hero, his unwavering popularity has endured thanks to his blockbuster films, as well as the recent controversies plaguing him in his four-color adventures. So, it was only a matter of time before an animated Spider-Man series would grace television screens again.

And the newest incarnation couldn’t have arrived in any more capable hands. Cartoon fans may remember a little animated show that Disney aired from 1994 to 1997 called Gargoyles? Created, written, and produced by Greg Weisman, Gargoyles became a decent hit and found a loyal fan base quickly. Sadly, creative differences forced Weisman to leave the show right after the beginning of the third season. The show was cancelled soon after.

But Weisman has returned to write and produce the new Spidey series. Anyone familiar with Weisman’s writing knows how in-depth and complex he can be with his story and characters – a trait he has been able to carry over to Spectacular Spider-Man.

So how does it hold up? Let me tell you - I’ve been able to watch the first six episodes so far. And those six episodes have punched me repeatedly in the face with fanboy glee.

First, let’s start with the new theme song. I think I can see what their intention is. It’s the first theme to have lyrics since the original Spider-Man cartoon in the 60s. And I think that’s what they were going for. It kinda feels like the old theme, but updated to appeal to the alternative rock crowd. It’s not my favorite theme, but it gets the job done. And it hardly takes away from the rest of the show.

Now, one of the first things you will notice is the animation style. It’s animated by the same folks who did the Teen Titans animated series, and you can definitely see the influences here. Thank the maker that didn’t include importing the sudden chibi-fits like the Titans characters would fall into. I hated those. They made my eyes bleed.

Another plus on the animation style is that we get to see lots of dynamic movement by our wall-crawler. His moves are impressive. He doesn’t just jump around execute simple moves like he did in the 90s animated series. No. This boy is all over the place! Flips, spins, bounces – crazy acrobatic stuff you’ve come to expect thanks to the movies. It’s all here, and it is glorious.

As I said before, one of the great things about having Weisman on board is that his incredible writing talents are showcased here in full force. Within the first few episodes, he has already planted seeds for plot and character development that won’t be revealed until several episodes down the road. This series is episodic, but at the same time it has ongoing storylines that make it appealing to the die-hard fans that watch it from week to week.

And Greg is no slouch in handling the characters on this show, either. The show focuses on Peter and his two friends – Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborne. What? No Mary Jane? Not to worry, she shows up soon enough. All the other supporting characters are in place as well. Under Weisman’s guidance, each character is developing nicely and at a great pace. Each episode gives us a little more background of each character, especially our main trio. Whether it’s going out for the football team, trying to make money to help Aunt May pay the bills, or showcasing a little romantic tension between a cute blond and a straight-A student who is oblivious, Weisman and his writing staff prove that they get the characters – they match their printed counterparts perfectly. And those of you who love J.K. Simmons’ portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson in the movies will love how close to that version he is portrayed here, even if it isn’t Simmons.

One of the interesting approaches to the show has been the decision to practically reset the series. But instead of starting the first episode off with the origin like you would think, this show starts several months after 16 year-old Peter Parker has gotten his abilities. We’re thrust right in the middle of his life, but not too far that we can’t get a quick grip on our bearings before getting thrown head first into Spidey’s first on-screen battle with some thugs.

And I think this is one of the major strengths of the show. Without having to mess with origins, Weisman has given himself and his writing staff plenty of room to work their magic. Their plotting and pacing are outstanding. And they are no stranger to the history and mythos of the characters and the comic. In fact, they incorporate elements from the comic book quite well into the series. A perfect example – instead of starting off with Peter and Mary Jane, as has been standard procedure for the past several years, Weisman and crew go back to the roots and make Gwen the first woman in Peter’s life. In a perfect execution of remaining faithful to the source, MJ is merely mentioned for a few episodes as the girl with the “nice personality” before her final onscreen debut as Peter’s date. And to add a cherry to the web-spinning sundae (that probably wouldn’t taste very good now that I think about it), her first appearance is punctuated by her now legendary line – “Face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot!” Oh, and minus several million cool points to you if you didn’t know what the line was. I’m ashamed of you.

If I have one issue with the show, it’s that currently it appears like part of the story has already settled into a formulaic and repetitive plot device. So far, most of the villains in the show deviate from their original beginnings and are instead created by Norman Osborne’s company Oscorp. And almost every episode has followed this formula – shadowy big boss man is tired of his plans getting thwarted by the webhead, so each episode he has Oscorp take a guy and turn him into a super-powered villain to unleash on Spider-Man. The only thing keeping it from getting too redundant is the gradual reveal of the underlying machinations behind these creations.

Overall, I think The Spectacular Spider-Man is a solid little show – a great addition to an already colorful TV resume. I eagerly anticipate each episode. And in today’s society where it seems like Saturday morning cartoons are in danger of going the way of Peter’s marriage, this show is a perfect web-sling in the right direction.

The Don spins a yarn, any size, but can only catch a cold.

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Oh sure, a new anime spring season is upon us…  But sometimes, it’s the nuts and bolts of the industry that’s the most interesting and rewarding part.  Just a quick entry this week to show what this blogger’s been watching lately.  Some recent, some not; but it’s always inspirational to see animators both professional & upcoming work, talk and show off their stuff.  

“Kings of Power 4 Billion %“, by Paul Robertson (Pirate Baby Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006), recently completed in January

“Altitude Adjustment“, a student film by Nick Butera at CalArts, May, 2006

“God Slayer“, by Johnathan (PersonaSama) Kim from his CalArts presentation, May 2007

Brad Bird (direction, Pixar — Ratatouille, The Incredibles, The Iron Giant) for ThinkTank.com, Jan. 2008

Glen Keane (supervising animator for Disney),  in an interview & discussion over his work on Tarzan

More to come!  See ya’ll next week!

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Like many geeks of my generation, I have a special place in my heart for old shows, cartoon and live action, from my childhood. And like many geeks with a reasonable amount of disposable income, I have tried watching some of these old shows again.

They don’t always hold up. The years have not been kind to the quality of film, to the acting, to the writing in the show.

But sometimes they do. And do so well. I think so, at least.

Two of my all-time favorite shows from the 80s were the Centurions and the Bionic Six. I had a discussion about old shows with a friend recently, and decided to look for footage on YouTube. I was not disappointed. (Warning: My opinion on these shows is positive, but your mileage may vary.)

The Centurions was about three (then later, five) rugged men, all built like barbarians, who used special suits that fused with various weapon systems. These weapon systems allowed Ace McCloud and his friends to fight the forces of the evil ‘Doc Terror’, and his cyborg lackey, ‘Hacker’. The show was kind of hokey, and no one ever died, but the action was neat, the ideas were interesting, and they even had ‘science lessons’ at the end.

Most importantly, the toys were pretty cool. (I had Jake Rockwell and his base weapon system.)

The Bionic Six was also set in the near future, and centered around the Bennett Family; an unusual group that, through adoption, covered much of the ethnic rainbow. Through a fairly strange contrivance, the family, sans the father, falls comatose due to the influence of an alien device. Only by ‘bionic-izing’ the family, as the father already has been, can they be saved. Once the family was made bionic, they ended up fighting Scarab, a mad genius bent on world conquest, and his twisted minions.

Neither of these shows have been released on DVD yet (not officially, at least), but if they ever are, I will be one of the first in line to get them. I’d be behind a remake, too, just to see how they treated the licenses.

So, what are some of the special shows from your childhood? Have you watched them again recently? Do you still love them, despite the passage of time? Do you think they would be good fodder for a remake? And will I ever write anything interesting again?

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First, my apologies for being really behind once again. If I get some spare time, I’ll try to catch up on the posts I’ve missed. 

So, a few weeks ago, a coalition of 12 environmental groups from New Mexico suggested that a tax be levied against video game and television entertainment, (link from Kotaku) so that the tax could be used to fund outdoor education programs. These programs would be aimed at getting children out of their homes and into the parks and such. 

I, for one, am both for and against such a tax.

I’m for it, because while I love video games and television, I do believe that education of all kinds is important. Even if I’m not personally a fan of the outdoors, I do think that it’s good for children to experience it for themselves, at least somewhat.

I’m against it because of the way it targets just video games and television, and not other forms of entertainment, like sporting events and movies. I’m against it because it’s trying to blame video games and television for the waning numbers of children visiting their parks and recreational areas, as opposed to themselves.

If they are going to levy a tax on entertainment, it should be on all entertainment, not just video games. That would be fairer, and get them even more funds.

What do you think? Should we tax our entertainment? Why? Why not? What would be fair if we did?

On a happier note, with the Writer’s Guild strike ended, some of favorite shows have come back. In my case, I’d been waiting for Big Bang Theory to come back, along with Heroes (sadly postponed until the next season) and How I Met Your Mother.

What show(s) did you miss the most, if any? Did the WGA strike affect you at all?

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Sorry, folks. Life has been a bit more insane than usual.

I’ll be posting about the return of our favorite shows when I get a chance to write more than a couple of sentences.

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In the past few years, a few Japanese shows have been brought to the U.S. and repackaged for American consumption. The ones that come to mind the most readily are Ninja Warrior (on G4) and MXC (on Spike TV). These two shows, along with a couple of others, have been met with varying degrees of popularity.

What some people might not know is that with the exception of Ninja Warrior (known as Sasuke and Kunoichi for the male and female versions) and Hey! Spring of Trivia, which are both currently running, the shows are fairly old.

While it’s kind of easy to tell with MXC (originally Takeshi’s Castle), where the footage is fairly old looking, it’s not as easy to tell with G4’s new show, Unbeatable Banzuke (Muscle Banzuke). Banzuke ran in Japan from 1995 to 2002, and because the footage is relatively recent, one could easily mistake it for a modern Japanese show.

However, there are a couple of tell-tale signs if you look for them. Fashion in Japan is generally close to that of the U.S., so when you watch Banzuke, you can notice some definite 90s fashion. The contestants’ (and host’s) hairstyles also give the show’s age away, if you watch closely.

So, fans of these shows, what do you think? Do you care that we’re being given repackaged shows from 10 and more years ago? Do you want more old Japanese (and other foreign) shows brought to the U.S. mostly untouched? Do you watch any shows like this that I didn’t mention?

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There is a long tradition of Hollywood stars going to Japan to make commercials that would be hideously embarrassing for them to make in the West (Lost in Translation dramatizes this process, along with being a very good movie about alienation and isolation). These range from Arnold Schwarzenegger plugging energy drinks to Sean Connery talking to a bunny puppet about yogurt. There are plenty more out there, but few of them have tread into our Sprouting territory, until Suntory coffee decided to raise the ante.

Behold, Tommy Lee Jones as an alien in Akihabara.

Does this mean that Tommy Lee Jones is maid moe? You make the call!

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“A moment of silence, for Optimus Prime, who gave his life in 2005…”

And that was how my new year of 2008 was kicked off.  A nice social gathering and a toast at midnight, with that reminder that here we are, still at the dawn of the 21st century.  And eight years in, we’ve not (yet) been assailed by robots from a robot planet, subject to some  time-shattering horror clawing up from the Earth’s core, and STILL we’ve not had the request for flying cars or giant space elevators satisfied… (Well, we’re at least DAMN CLOSE to a modern Babel Tower. Thanks United Arab Emirates!)

Readers rejoice, for science fiction (hard or soft, whatever your fancy) is slowly but surely making a ressurgence!  We’ve had plenty of time to enjoy all that the Lord of The Rings trilogy spawned, and I’m sure all the spoilers for Harry Potter have been spoiled.  Magic and swords and fightin’ polar bears continue to be cool, but it’s about time for classic space opera revivals, dimensional super powers and the dependability of plot-holes-via-time-travel-dysfunctions. 

We have the here-and-now monster movie jangling of Cloverfield, a new Star Trek revamp in production (Sylar as Spock?!  Choice.)  The Terminator is on prime-time television (and hey, that beats a generic Bionic Woman remake!), and even next-generation games like Too Human, Starcraft II and Everyday Shooter are making headlines and whetting appetites.

Rock/Mega Man celebrated his 20th anniversary this past Christmas too – that should immediately warm the steel-plated geek’s heart!   And for the Gradius fans out there, hey another (spinoff) game can’t hurt!  Of course, there’s also the venerable Transformers on Cartoon Network… in one form or another.  Be glad though.  It’s not Master Force.

 But, again rejoice and celebrate!  2008 looks to set the pace for another glimpse into the future, be it tomorrow or 2356AD.  And something to look forward to is always, always a good thing.

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