Archive for the ‘Comics’ Category

The Outdoor Co-Ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society

Posted: April 28, 2013 in Books, Comics
Tags: , , , , , ,
3

topless-reading-4

There comes a time when every blogger takes a desperate leap to increase their hits.  We all know what that means for me though right?  I either have to post about cars or sex.  It’s depressing, but true. Comics are only as popular as the movies make them, and even then not everyone reads.  I’ve been looking at ways of increasing my hits without compromising my own values and appreciations, and thanks to the recommendation of an exhibitionist friend who lives here in Colorado, I found the perfect update for my site!

A group of women who run a website titled The Outdoor Co-Ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society, which is based in New York, get together and read books while topless out in public.  According to the site, New York doesn’t have laws against sitting around certain areas without your top on.  So this band of friends gets together on a regular basis and chats about their favorite crime novels.  How can I increase my blog hits without feeling like I’m desperate?  Combine my love of reading with my love of those who’re are willing to push the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. I have a love of doing nude art as well, and this also falls in line with that. Group bio from their website is below…

We’re a group of friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends, and complete strangers, who love good books and sunny days and enjoying both as nearly in the altogether as the law allows. Happily, in New York City, the law allows toplessness by both men and women. So that’s the way we do our al fresco reading. If you’re in New York and the weather’s good, won’t you join us sometime…?

topless-reading-2

To answer your question…yes, this site is filled with pictures of these women laying around a public park in New York completely topless reading books together.  Now before you head on over to their blog, Keep in mind this isn’t a pornographic site.  (well, I guess that depends on you’re own reasons for visiting huh?) From what I can gather, this is a group of women (and men occasionally) that really do like to live on the edge in the company of a good book.  I’m not certain I would be brave enough if I was a woman to do this, but I’m not going to hate on this band of readers for their need to feel alive and liberated.

Currently they’re working their way through a good selection of hard crime novels, which is always good reading despite the author.  However I’m hoping they bump into this little blurb supporting their reading/exhibitionist group and look into getting some comics in their future reading lists.  I know I could give them some damn good reads that would not only be substantial, mysterious, and fun, but also go right along with their exhibitionist drive.

1. Watchmen – which deals with that pulp fiction era of superheroes, but also has a blue man completely in the buff, presenting this image that nudity isn’t bad, and no one should be afraid of it.

2. Y the Last Man – in which all the men have died except for one, and the mystery of how all the men around the world kicked the bucket begins, leaving women in charge of the post-apocalyptic society.  It’s thought-provoking and intense, with quite a humorous end.

3. Sin City – a quick read, but still incredibly fun.  Filled with the feeling of noir and over-the-top crime crime stopping action, sex, violence, and wonderfully written campiness.

But even if they don’t see this and go on with their reading endeavors, I hope they know that what their doing is awesome and riveting.  I wonder what’s next on their list after the crime novels have been read through?

topless-reading-1

Justice League #9 Review

Posted: May 17, 2012 in Comics, DC Comics, Gary Frank, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Justice League Of America
0
Written by: Geoff Johns
Pencilled by: Gary Frank, Jim Lee
Cover Color by: Alex Sinclair
Lettered by: DC Lettering

Hold on a sec…the Weapon’s Master is back???  I guess the DC reboot hasn’t forgotten everything that made the Dan Jurgens run of the Justice League so good!  In fact, it was issue #61 of the Justice League that featured the Weapon’s Master from April of 1992 that birthed my love of comic books.

Much to my dismay however, the Weapon’s Master is neglected the spotlight and used more as a comic relief, along with Flash and Green Lantern’s bantering over who plays who in the old “good cop-bad cop” routine.  But Wonder Woman never misses a beat with her ever-so-subtle entrances to help calm the storm.

Meanwhile, Supes, Bats, and Cyborg take on a riot at Arkham Asylum, seemingly started by the notorious villain, “The Key.”  Apart from Bruce Wayne’s text to Clark Kent about his dinner plans, this a much more angst driven fight, filled with the kind of gothic sensibilities that follow Batman like a plague.

However, hovering in the shadows is the crippled author, David Graves who mysteriously disappeared and now walks with a super powered metal suit (so it would seem) attacking Colonel Steve Trevor and forcing him to reveal the secrets of the JL Satellite base.  From author to potential arch villain?  From respected JL fan to revenge driven old man?  This I gotta see!!!

There’s an interesting juxtapose coming out of #9; Graves is shown being an expert on the Justice League, having written multiple books on them and other super-powered phenomenons, and the book continually (and randomly) flashes back to each League member’s past, showing very stressful times in their lives that directly connected to their current situation as superheroes. Unlike last month’s installment, this issue is working on almost every level, providing us with some very cool story building elements.  I’m going to make the educated guess that these flashbacks are both memories which haunt the League but also have to do with the knowledge Grave’s has in which he will use against the League within an issue or two.  I wonder why Aquaman wasn’t included in the festivities though?  Hhhhmmmmm…

One of the most terrifying moments in the book is when Graves shoots his doctor.  It doesn’t matter that superheroes and villains have died of much more devastating causes due to supernatural, explosive, or cataclysmic events, the visual of a bullet to the chest and blood flowing out on the carpet seems to have a different and much more emotional impact.  Would you agree?

I love Jim Lee, but am I the only one who sees his work as…unchanging?  Comic books, especially the much more main stream ones, have gotten to a point where even their BEST artists follow a similar format when it comes to penciling. With Jim Lee, so many of the poses and stances each character has in THIS issue can be found in almost every issue Jim Lee has ever drawn.  I love his work, don’t get me wrong, but due to its unevolving nature, I find myself enjoying the artwork of Amanda Conner, Francis Manapul, and others that tend to keep their style fresh and unique.

And of course, a secondary storyline involving Billy Batson and company comes to us right after Steve Trevor ends the Justice League section of the book, being forced to do something that Wondy will, most likely, whoop his butt for!  Billy is having to endure being apart of a family he never wanted in the first place, a school that seems to be against him, and anger issues he should probably seek therapy for.  But it’s all part of the plan for the upcoming change destined for little Batson.  I’m enjoying the slow pace, I just wish it wasn’t in the Justice League book!  I appriciate not feeling compelled to buy another title, but unless there’s an eventual connection Captain Marvel will have with the League, (Possibly replacing the uninteresting Cyborg???? pleaseohpleasohpleaseohplease…) I’d really like the Cap to have his own solo book.

And there we have it, issue #9!  It’s a great read and an undeniably fantastic improvement on an already fun title.  Three more issue to go before we hit the one year mark, and things are just starting to boil!

9 out of 10 stars

The Death And Return Of Superman…Explained?

Posted: February 11, 2012 in Comics, DC Comics, Max Landis, Superman
0

So the only real reason why this video is entertaining is because Max Lanids’s ability to make any story sound awful is pretty funny, as well as having guest stars like Mandy Moore, Elijah Wood, and Ron Howard.  However, Landis does leave out a lot of details concerning the death and return of Superman.  But before I go on, have a looksie….

Nothing he’s says is wrong, the return of Superman is one very complicated mess of a story. Landis, however, decides to leave out some very important details that helped give the entire arc coherency.  (Is that a word?)

From Superhero Hype

If you’ve read the comic, you’ll know that it wasn’t this big secret that Superman’s energy was still out there searching for his body, and that these clones weren’t the real Superman.  Landis makes it out as if the REAL Superman’s return was this big surprise.

This video has too many gaping holes in it, which leaves very little for readers unfamiliar to the comics to go off of.  Landis does a great job at picking and choosing what he wants to talk about so he can rip it apart like it was the worst thing to happen to comics.  If only he, himself, actually knew what he was talking about.

True, Superman’s death and return did change how death was utilized in the comic book genre, but that doesn’t make it a bad story arc.  Death for superheroes doesn’t necessarily mean DEATH anymore; you can always count on superheroes returning from the grave.  But, of course, Geoff Johns help give a deeper meaning to rising superheroes with Blackest Night right?

He’s a pretty shitty writer.  Whoever thought Chronicle was a good idea for a movie needs to rethink the trust they put into this joke of a screen writer.  It’s clear he has no respect for the Superman stories.  Which is fine, he doesn’t have to like them.  But for someone who knows the history of Superman quite well, it’s hard to watch this and not think to myself, “you’re an idiot.”

Nerd Lunch!!

Posted: July 23, 2011 in Comic Book Blogs, Comics, Girls Gone Geek
2

So two of my favorite comic book blogs, www.girls-gone-geek.com and onceuponageek.com were featured on a show called “Nerd Lunch” which is a webs series where nerds get together and talk about…well, nerdy things.  I had the privilege of talking with Vanessa and Erika, the two authors of Girl Gone Geek, over the phone a few months ago specifically about their blog, how they got started along with a few of their interests within the comic book world.  So for me, it was actually really cool to see them headlining a web series and getting to see their faces while they talk so passionately about their interests.

Below is that very episode.  It’s interesting because it toggles between conversations about a neat local restaurant and and comics.  While you watch the video, make sure you jot down the each blog address as they pop up in the video and go pay Girls Gone Geek and Once Upon a Geek a visit!