In Defense of Judd Winick

Its been almost a month and the Judd Winick bashing from Heroes Con is still sticking in my craw. That and alot of the reviews I'm reading have convinced me that the man just isn't getting a fair shake. Today's post will therefore be me getting my Judd's back and and in general review of Green Arrow/Black Canary so far.

Let me say from the outset I am a Winick fan. His Batman stuff was quite enjoyable and I have enjoyed his take on the Green Arrow charcater. The biggest complaint seems to be with the tone of the series. Basically that the humorous quips and banter don't fit with what the series should be. Have any of you naysayers read anything by Joss Whedon or Keith Giffen or even Kevin Smith during his run? Same deal folks. Yes Connor getting shot was a dramatic event but darkening the series would not have worked. The overall issue where Connor was shot was dealt with appropriately. Green Arrow screaming "CLARK" from Paradise Island so loud that Superman hears him in Metropolis was classic. The reactions of the JLA to one of their teammates in pain was also far better than any of the Super Friendsesque garbage being written in JLA these days. The scene where Ollie cradles the brain dead Connor in his arms and says "Shhh Daddy's here son" is one of the most touching scenes I have ever read in a comic book.

The humor is sarcasm/pop culture reference which is my favorite. It may not be quite as witty as Whedon but it still works. The best thing about the book though is that it is a family book. Not family like Cosby show but the Green Arrow family. Ollie, Dinah, Mia, Roy and Connor are a family and that shows. Its not dark like a Batman book nor as hokey as some of the Superman titles but it works.

Bottom line, and this goes to my point from last week, its a book I look forward to each week. I would also be remiss if I did not give a shout out to Mike Norton for his terrifc pencils. Green Arrow may no longer be the uptight voice of the anti-establishment as much as he was during the Denny O'Neil years but he doesn't need to be anymore. Its smart and entertaining and that should be enough.

Later

Kevin

Episode Three: Totally Nude Podcasting

Well, not exactly "nude" nude, just without any music beds. In this episode, we get back to basics with just Mike and TJ. Kevin and I both contribute by way of emails read by TJ "Mel Blanc" Tunnington and his many voices.

We begin this episode with a brief return to the literary. Mike and TJ discuss the merits and compare HP Lovecraft, Hemingway and F.Scott Fitzgerald. We also hear a tale of hallucinagenic defense of Mario Puzo's The Godfather.

Beverages this week: Mike = Landshark Lager from Margaritaville™ Brewing Co.
TJ = Iced T and leftovers from his Flying Dog sampler

*Bus Stop Trivia: Immigrant farm workers can bring chairs onto public buses to sit on when there are no seats available.

This is an episode of segways...magical segways...segway to segway to segway. Example: Drinking beer while eating to mexicans picking blueberries to immigrant workers bus riding rights to forced labor. Topics include in no particular order, forum etiquette, the dangers of dead air and potty-mouthed childrens' authors.

There is signifigant discussion on comics, highlighting Astonishing X-Men, Final Crisis and TJ's hope for the DC universe, Batman #678 and the Dresden Files.

The year is 1964......fuck it....just so you know, I'm listening to the show right now and I'm ahead of this segment and on the top 5 influential albums. If you're looking for the funny, stop listening now (well, maybe not, Kevin's pics are pretty funny). Between listening to TJ brutalize my words with his Bobby Brady voice and the story he told at the end, I have to stop now..........

A Drop in the Bucket

This week I decided to drop two books from my pull list. That got me thinking two things: 1) How do we come up with a pull list and 2) when do we make the decision to drop a book. I found that the two go hand in hand. A very wise man told me that only books that you look forward to each month should be on your pull list. This is where the completist collector part of me and the fanboy conflict. When I gave it a serious look I found I was dropping money on books that I wasn't really enjoying simply because I felt I had to. I have since seen the error of my ways. To that end my two drops were

Cable

I really wanted to like this. I'm an X-Men nut and I really dug Messiah Complex so I was interested to see where they took the story. The answer. Nowhere. The first arc was 5 issues of Cable and Bishop chasing each other through post-apocalyptic New Jersey. Thats it. I'm all for decompressed storytelling but this arc moved at the pace of a special olympic marathon runner. The art by Ariel Olivetti was really annoying no one looks like that. I was ready to drop this after the second issue but I thought it was a part of the overall X-Men universe and I had to keep buying it. I have seen the error of my ways.

Iron Fist

Let me say first off I have been loving this book under Fraction,Brubaker and Aja. Honestly though I am a fan of the creative team not the character. Since they have departed as of the last issue I will be going with them. Interestingly enough the new head writer is Duane Swierncynski who also writes Cable. Since I don't particularly care for that book and am dropping it I see no reason to think I'd like him on this one. Also the preview art looks like in a word four color vomit.

Avengers Invaders

I haven't dropped it yet butits on the bubble. Jim Krueger while a competent storyteller is verbose to Chris Claremont levels of exposition and so far its been three issues of Capatin America calling everyone Nazis. I'm enjoying the Twelve and even Project Superpowers a hell of alot more. Krueger, Ross and Co. are getting one more issue to develop an actual point to this series or I'm jumping off.

Bottom line I am reevaulating my pull list criteria which will enhance my reading pleasure and hopefully save me a few bucks.

Episode Two: Oh, what do you do with a drunk podcaster

We are again lucky....NAH, Privledged....NAH! GRACED with yet another resounding opening from that Prince of August Verbage the Wordsmith Extroidinare, Michael Manning *applause *applause

Also present, the ever delicious, TJ Tunnington and myself your humble and ever tardy servant (also, part-time Master of Thunderball Snorkeling).

Right off the bat, we get to the drinkage. T, tempts fate (ref. to Saturday night at Heroes Con) by trying out the Flying Dogfish Head Sampler. Mr. Manning, keeping it local (to Vermont) with "X the Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale" (I feel more masculine just writing that!). For me? Well, I decide to bring some culture and polish with a little Monkey Bay wine.

Mike and I both fall pray to drunken bliss. Listen closely at 01:51:00 for a special treat. At least for the first twenty minutes, we're all still coherant and I tell a few stories about having clowns for parents....yes, CLOWNS...both of them.

- Comics, Comics, Comics:
We've got a gender bending Martian Manhunter, penis growing jungle queens,
Red Hulk smash!, RASL Rox!, a Peter David love-fest, midget hand fearing
Werewolves and TJ jumping off Captain America once and for all.

*It wouldn't be an F-BombCast if we didn't mention
our manhood's at least once:

Mike = Harvey
TJ = Mr. Happy
Dave(me) = My Friend

- Misc. Ramblings:
Dumps, Robin Willams is a hack, welfare, vaginettes
and chinese historic period movies

- Douchebags

Kevin: Shout out to a pot smoking delivery guy
Mike: The Discovery Channel for F*^king up his Monday Sex night
Dave: The loud group of "Stereotype" girls behind me in the theater during Wanted
TJ: Verizon Wireless and Wes Anderson fans

- F'd up five - Top 5 Deaths in Film

Kevin: Mr Orange in Res Dogs,Sonny Corleone GF,Bonnie&Clyde,a famous historian
from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Clarences dad in True Romance
Mike: Eric Childs in This is Spinal Tap, King Leonidas in 300, Toth in Raiders,
Crissie Watkins in Jaws, Boromir in fellowship of the ring
Dave: Arhur Charles Herbert Muncy adam Jarrett Monty Python MofL, Mo Green in the
Godfather, the Burly German from Raiders,CW from Jaws, 4 Girls in DeathProof
TJ: Decapitaion in Omen, "curbed" Guy in Am.History X, Mo green,
Dante in the alternate ending of Clerks*

*There was no robbery in the theatrical release at all.
I think we got it partly confused with Fast Times
at Ridgemont High

- The year was 1987

In the music, the Cutting Crew was making us swoon with "(I just) died in
your arms", Tawny Katain kept us company in the "Still of the night", Bono was
still cool in his "Joshua Tree" fort and Guns & Roses left us with an
"Appetite for Destruction"

The small screen saw the premieres of Star Trek: TNG, 21 Jump Street and
Married with Children.

Silver Screen favs include The last emporer, Running Man, Nightmare on
Elm Street 3, The Princess Bride and Wall Street.

- The show ends, mercifully at the 2:08:51, but the few minutes belong to
me. Basically, I highjack the show by laughing uncontrollably and
blurting out random body parts.

SO....that's it. Not nearly as comprehensive or witty as Ep.1 but not even Babe Ruth hit it out every time. Remember, to visit us on the forums and to check out the "Quotent Quotables" section and vote for your favorite quote from the previous week's show.


Keep it sleezy,
Dave

Alice, I knew her well

Some of you may or may not know I am a paratransit driver for my local public transit system. I am not one of the circle jerks (my personal pet name for drivers that go around the same route all fucking day over and fucking over) I am a glorified taxi for the disabled, the elderly getting them to and from their medical appointments.

Alice is an elderly lady who has been on Dialysis for 12 years now....I have transported her for the past 3 years, twice on Tuesdays, Thursdays and during the winter on Saturdays. Today was the last day that I will bring her as the lung cancer has advanced so far that the doctors have basically told her that she is fucked and they can not do anything more for her. I have Alice on my bus for about 30 minutes each way so we talk and over the years we have talked about alot of stuff, from kids, family relations, shitty TV, shitty movies, weather (A popular subject in Vermont) and other sundry topics to numerous to name.

I was unaware of the results of her doctors visit on Saturday, and so Alice's daughter brought her out today and after I had gotten Alice on board (she is in a wheelchair) and folded up the lift, the daughter told me the news...she has maybe a month left but they as a family were pushing her to keep dialysizing. Dialysis is a very draining process ...literally. You are hooked up to a kidney machine for anywhere from 3 to 4 hours while your blood is cleaned....it is a very tiring and exhaustive process that has to be done 3 times a week.

The daughter left and I talked to Alice for about 15 minutes just sitting there wasting gas just talking. When I die I only hope that I have half of the dignity of Alice. She is worried about her family and her brother who will be the only one left out of 5 siblings and she is in alot of pain....if she takes enough Morphine for the pain, she is totally out of it or asleep, she wants to stop the dialysis and just get on with dying.

I brought her in and dropped her off and thought about it for the entire day. I picked her up and she was in lala land as the hospital had doped her up before kicking her out the door for the day. It was a quiet trip to her home as she pretty much snoozed the entire way. We arrived and I unloaded her and gave her a hug and told her I would miss her and took the daughter aside as the grandchildren pushed her back inside her home.

I told the daughter that she should stop pushing and just enjoy being with her mom for her remaining days.....I also pointed out how blessed she actually is because she will actually have the chance to say goodbye.....I never had that chance, as my mom died suddenly overnight.

I am going to miss you Alice

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:You can Go Home Again

Yes its two for one Wednesday here at the FBC. For anyone left who I did not alienate with my last post here's a nice little review. Today's review is Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8 #16. Right off the bat let me say I'm a whore for certain authors (Morrison, Ellis, Brubaker) and last but not least Joss Whedon. With this issue/arc Whedon picks up the writing duties again taking over from Drew Goddard. This alleivates my Whedon withdrawl now that he has wrapped up Astonishing X-Men. I am usually not a fan of comic adaptations of licensed properties they very rarely capture the feel of the show/movie. This series however has been consistently excellent from the beginning. Whedon and co. (the writers rotate with each arc) truly make you believe that this could be the eighth season of the show. The narrative structure is very similar to what we came to expect over 7 seasons the dialogue fits the established personas of the show and the art by Georges Jeanty resists the urge to just copy the tv actors.

This issue was even better since Whedon teams Buffy up with Fray the Slayer he created exclusively for comics five years ago. Also back for this arc is Fray penciller Karl Moline. What can I say I loved it! The story flows nicely from the conclusion of the last arc, the dialogue is spot on and hilarious (Dawn is a minotaur) and the final page leaves you wanting more.

Bottom line this series continues to be on of the ones I consistently look forward to each month. Those of us who have missed Whedon on tv can rejoice that he has found yet another medium to conquer. If you are a fan of the show and not reading this shame on you go get the first two trades. If you are a comic fan and not reading this shame on you. If you are a minotaur and wish to complain about the depiction of your species send an e-mail to Dark Horse.

Later
Kevin

To Be or not To Be.... A Pretentious Blowhard

Ok folks TJ inspired me over on his other blog www.thankgoditswednesday.blogspot.com with a terrific rant on Wes Anderson's latest film The Darjeeling limited and why it sucked. Boy did it suck. Newsflash to Wes Anderson, the Coen Brothers and the rest of you East Coast snots no one either likes or quite frankly understands your movies. They just say they do so people will think they are "cultured" That got me thinking about recent trends in movies and TV and how they have sacrificed entertainment for the sake of being "bold" or "quirky" or god help me "revolutionary". I personally blame the Weinstein Brothers for starting the trend of "art house films" Can anyone name me any of the films that won Oscars this year? Whats that you say you haven't watched the Oscars in years. Good neither has anyone else. Why? No one is going to tune in to a telecast to watch a bunch of movies no one saw starring a bunch of people no one has heard of get honored. We don't make movies for movie fans anymore we make them for critics. There are execeptions but these days the movies people actually want to see are the ones uptight, eltist wannabes scoff at. Remember the good old days Star Wars, Psycho, The Godfather, Raiders of the Lost Ark. They were blockbusters and classics at the same time. We used to have Spielberg and Coppola now we have Michael Bay and Mc G.

Lets not get started on "comedy" either. Gone are the days of Monty Python, Mel Brooks, shit even Bill and Ted was funny. Now we have Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and the whole frat pack recycling the same dick and fart jokes year after year or we get art house crap that's not only not funny but depressing.

All is not lost. There are some truly gifted people out there who actually are worth the hype (I'm looking at you Joss Whedon, Kevin Smith, Aaron Sorkin, Quentin Tarantino)and on the comedy front Get Smart was probably the funniest movie I have seen in years. It was smart but not pretentious and yes there were dick and fart jokes but take note Messrs. Ferrell, Sandler, Myers and Stiller, its all about timing and not blowing your wad all at once. On the tv comedy front we've got hope in the form of anything on BBC America, Stewart and Colbert, and Californication. Please note if you have read this and said "but he left off IFC and the Sundance Channel" please slap yourself three times and then reread the first paragraph.

Here's hoping that the exceptions become the rule again. Thanks for calling and not reversing the charges.

Kevin