Movie overload

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Return...of the king? Sure, why not.

So, it's been awhile. Yeah...sorry about that. A new schedule and some new events (like going to Hawaii) threw off my equilibrium for writing. BUT, I have returned, with gusto! Or, well if not with gusto, at least with a bluster.

Let's get right to it. A lot's happened since I last checked in. A lot of it pretty trivial, like the situation with the NFL. Some it it fun, like the NCAA tourney starting (and even though I still have 7 of my 8 Elite Eight teams and all of my Final Four, I don't feel confident about that with the way things have been going). And some of it has been tragic, like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I watched, as I'm sure many of you did, in horror as the footage from the quake itself came in and with the nuclear reactor scares, the whole thing is frightening on so many levels.

But to try and keep with the happy-go-lucky style of blog you, as readers, have come to expect I shall dive right back into the good stuff.

Since I've been gone a lot of my work has been published over at 8 days a geek, I trust you've all been keeping up with that via Twitter and/or Facebook but for those of you that are new to the blog or those that may have missed them, here ya go:

The first was Phonogram, which is a truly great British comic. I highly recommend it. The next was Blackburne Covenant, the first of my new style of article which includes picture inserts from the book as well as the introduction of my rating system based on a five-star scale. After that came Ultra which is a really good book. If you're a fan of digital art and have somehow missed this book, check out the article for a sneak peak and then I'm positive you'll want to run right out and pick it up. I followed that up by venturing into the dark side of Transformers and G.I. Joe in this Dreamwave production from the early nineties. The art is spectacular. Then I took a big step forward and ventured into mainstream with Superman: For All Seasons which takes a look at the man of steel from a new perspective. Next came my review of Random Encounter, the Viper Comic from a few years back. The guys over at Viper liked it so much they actually sampled it and put it up on their site! Check it out HERE. As you can see some of the coding got messed up in the transfer, but still...very cool! And last, but not least, my most recent article steps back into the mainstream with Marvel 1602. Alternate reality timestreams are fun! More to come! Bookmark the site, because aside from my awesome Bin Fodder featured articles going up every Friday, there's tons of other great stuff on the site!

Well now that I've overloaded you with information I feel obliged to just ramble for a bit and let all that soak in.

Spring is in the air, both metaphysically and actually (since it's after March 21st now). So what does Spring mean to you? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

I started and completed a new script in the past two weeks (about 10 hours of total work put into it, mostly in two really long writing sessions). I like the idea a lot but I think the script needs some work. It's a first draft and I've turned it in to my editor so I should get some good feedback from him in the next couple days. There's also some really big things in the works, not specifically related to comics but definitely related to writing, stay tuned!

Let's see...what else. Well, C2E2 was this past weekend. Did you go? I didn't. For a couple reasons. First: with everything that's been going on I lost track of what weekend it was and timing just didn't work out. Secondly, because of the first part I never got around to getting my professional pass so I would have had to pay to get in...nuts to that! What's the bonus of being a published comic book writer if you can't reap the benefits. I would have liked to go; conventions are fun. BUT it will only inspire me more to go to Wizard World Chicago later this year and shop my wears...hopefully I'll have some wears to shop.

Ok...so at this point I've run out of things to say, or...at least, I've grown tired to rambling...for now. Don't worry, I'll be back soon and ramble some more!

Peace,

Tb

R & R ain't overrated

It's true...today is a seriously lazy day. Sure, I went in to the office for a couple hours this morning (something I truly regret and has left me forlorn) I persevere!

I have a couple new articles up on 8daysageek. I posted one on Wednesday night that talks about the death of Fantastic Four character The Human Torch and how comic book companies continue to kill off characters only to bring them back. So should readers really care? It also explores the opposite side of the spectrum where companies use the destruction of a character or characters for a larger purpose. Even if you're not currently interested in comics you should still check out the article...if only to support me! Haha, but seriously, it has some interesting points of view, which if you're reading my blog you clearly enjoy.

The second post went up today and like previous posts is my weekly review of an independent comic. This week it's White Picket Fences. You could say this was a homer move of shameless proportions since I know the creative team but I would say that the book deserves recognition as a quality independent title! The article reviews the mini-series and double-sized one-shot that have been produced thus far. It's a fun review, check it out!

You may be thinking, "that's a lot of work...where's the R & R you speak of" and you'd be right, thus far. But the rest of my day is gonna be all dinner and episodes of NBC's Community! Gotta rest up for the big basketball tournament tomorrow. Yes, I'm playing in it, not just attending some sporting event that I'm going to watch and thus need to rest up for. Sheesh!

If we win, I will let you know...if we lose, you will probably never hear mention of it ever again.

Alright, short one today.

Peace,

Tb (JQ)

Holy Crap it's cold out!

I consider myself a rather "rugged" guy when it comes to the elements. I don't care about rain or even snow for that matter. For the most part I'm totally at peace with the fact that I live in Chicagoland and we have relatively insane weather. For example: this past Monday it snowed, rained, hailed and snowed again all within the span of about two hours. *shakes head* We Illinoisans are a hearty breed for the most part. Though there is never a shortage of complaining from people who live here about the weather.

I write this blog not in complaint but in protest. Protest of wind. Wind is so unnecessary. I mean, what has wind ever done for me? Nothing, that's what. I mean, sure...summer breezes are great and I have fond memories of kite flying. But I have even more bad memories of Frizbee's going awry and perfect basketball shots clanging off the rim due to a random gust of wind. Winter weather would not be nearly as unbearable if wind would simply cease to exist. That is all.

Now, on to more exciting things! After a very productive and entertaining conversation with the guys over at 8daysageek I have been named Associate Editor and Contributing Feature Writer. See my profile HERE. Thus far my main contribution has been a new weekly series called Bin Fodder which reviews and discusses under-appreciated comics like Cyberforce and Blue Monday. (posts linked for your convenience!) There will be much more in the coming future as I get my website-writing legs under me.

Hmm...let's see...Ahh, well next week is my basketball group's annual tournament. I'm really excited about it because two weeks ago I got my sports goggles (yes, I'm a nerd, shuddup!) and thus far with practice at the gym and this past week's game they have improved my shot and my passing.

Alright, well that'll do it for today.

Peace,

TB (JQ)

p.s. 31 days till HAWAII!!!!

Angry Writer on the Loose!

Fully grasping the idea of how things are supposed to be is an idea that generally escapes and eludes most people. I can honestly say that it eluded me for a very long time. But times have changed. There’s an intelligent black man in the white house, instead of the ignorant whitey we had for so long. Sarah Palin is a villain. Marvel is making good movies. The Batman movie franchise is relevant again. The world is a pretty crazy place, clearly.

I’m here to tell you, it’s going to be OK. Global warming may ruin the planet for those unfortunate souls still alive in the year 2100, but that’s their problem, not ours. Be concerned with what you can control, not what you cannot. Now, don’t try and twist my words around and say “this guy is anti-environment”, no, wrong, stop it. Recycling takes NO EFFORT at all, and benefits the world incredibly. But I came across a facebook post today of a “friend” of mine who linked an article some woman had posted online talking about how they had “given up the fight” of being a vegetarian because she realized that her efforts were going unnoticed by the major food corporations. Ok, first of all…DUH! How stupid are you? I will quote from Community, “Believe it or not, I dropped out of High School because I thought it would impress Radiohead.” (Britta Perry) The same nonsensical idea applies to this woman’s article which I have refused to link in this blog because it is SO STUPID that it doesn’t deserve the readership of my faithful followers. The fact of the matter is that the machine of consumerism cares so incredibly little for the opinions and actions of the individual, and if you didn’t already know that, then you need to go to any gas station in America and attempt to barter over the price of your gasoline. Once they’ve stopped laughing at you they’ll probably ban you for life from the store.

The capitalist society is built on the idea of choice. You are free to have yours but maintaining a choice or even a belief because you think it’s going to affect society or events outside your sphere of influence (yes, typically this term is used in reference to nations and not people, but the rules still apply) then you truly need therapy for your MASSIVE FUCKING EGO. You cannot change the world. I don’t say that to be a defeatist, I say it to be a realist. The biggest things in the world that needed to have a world-changer have happened. You’re not MLK. You’re not Jackie Robinson. You’re not (whoever the first major professional popular athlete to admit being gay…or maybe you are). Stop thinking you’re important, because you’re just not.

Soap box conquered and squashed. On to more fun things!

So as some of you hopefully noticed I started posting articles on a new website as well last week, (www.8daysageek.com) and I will be posting another new article on this Friday as well. Last week I featured the much maligned 90s comic Cyberforce; truly unappreciated in its day. This week I will be featuring another rather unknown comic, Blue Monday. It’s an Oni Press book; creator owned, written and drawn by one amazing person (to be profiled in the feature). It’s a really great book and I hope you all check it out.

Hmm…what else…I had a really cool moment last Friday while working with Matt. We brainstormed an idea for about 2 minutes and within 20 minutes I had written the entire 1-page pitch. It was awesome. It helps that the idea itself is pretty amazing (more details to come once it’s in development).

Alright, that’s all for now. I should have another new post up on Friday!

Peace,

TB (JQ)

Manifest Freaking Destiny!

Hello my friends, welcome back.

As some of you know already I have recently began expanding the use of my writing talents to different fields away from just the blog-o-sphere. It started with my first published comic and has now moved on to writing for a website called 8 Days A Geek.

The site is a one-stop shopping experience for all things geek with articles on upcoming movies, comics, dvd releases and there's even a podcast series (download for free from iTunes). My first feature article for the site will launch my weekly series on comics called Bin Fodder. It will center around comics that either a) weren't necessarily popular but that I have a soft-spot for and enjoy very much or b) were amazing and everyone should know about it! This first week's installment comes from option A; as it reviews Cyberforce, the Top Cow/Image early 90's series. Check it out HERE! I'll be doing more things for the site as I get more settled, but Bin Fodder should be a weekly staple, so get used to it!

GREEN HORNET is out!!! I am very excited and will hopefully be seeing it sometime in the next week, so there will be a review with my name on it somewhere here in Internets land, I'll keep you posted.

Hmmm...what else. Oh, I heard they changed the Horoscope signs and apparently added one? Facebook and Twitter have been all abuzz with it today. What this tells me about the people in this world is that, to quote Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) "you [people] participate in the mass cultural delusion that the sun's apparent position relative to arbitrarily defined constellations at the time of your birth somehow affects your personality." Well said dear sir. Well said.

Alright, I think I'm going to make today's post a relatively short one and allow you to go off any explore the wonderful pieces of information I've listed above!

Peace,

Tb (JQ)

You've Been Derezzed

I know what you're thinking...holy crap, another blog after only a couple days. I promise this isn't someone else hijacking my blog and updating it more regularly, it's me...and I'll prove it, just you wait.

So I've been pretty obsessed for the last couple days with the Tron soundtrack. I've always been a fan of Daft Punk since their early days with the album Discovery. They have managed to consistently keep me coming back for more with hypnotic electronica sounds. I'm pretty sure they are the only group to survive through my many phases of musical likes and dislikes. Sure, like most people my age I have a healthy collection of trance and electronic music buried in the nether regions of my iTunes playlists but I rarely pull them out. There was a recent writing project I was working on that I really wanted background music for but found lyric laden music to be distracting so I made an entire playlist comprised of nothing but trance and electronica. Yes...nerdtastic I know. If anyone is curious I could share it with you, hah...like that'll happen.

Abruptly switching topics; I finished watching the first disc of the Japanese Animated show Last Exile last night and I must say, I'm intrigued. The story itself is compelling and visually it's outstanding. There's parts of the story that I don't fully understand, mainly because I believe the writers have created a storyline where some things just have to be accepted for what they are without explanation. For instance, the culture of the people. The armies battling in certain scenes (not pivotal to the story, from what I can tell) carry an idea of classic sea-faring battles with massive ships pulling alongside one another to fire their cannons and they refer to one of these massive air-ships going down as "sinking". Randomly thrown into the mix is a group called the "Guild" who are only briefly shown but seem to be some kind of overseer or, for lack of a better term, sheriffs of the battling nations. However, in their one scene they seem to be uncaring about the "inappropriate" battle techniques one side is using...if you're confused reading this, try watching the show. I took a lot of what I was seeing on faith; either in the idea that it would be explained later or in the idea that I just had to accept that certain things were how they were in this universe and would not ever be explained because the creators simply did not feel it warranted explanation. Long-story-short, the show is good. Thus far I'd recommend it, but don't turn on the subtitles. They don't match up with the English dubbing very well at all. I'm not sure if they're a more accurate representation of the original Japanese or just bad subtitling but it got confusing and annoying pretty quick. Another Japanese show I got the first disc is Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi. Thus far from the first couple episodes I've watched I really have no idea what's going on...but I'm going to stick it out.

Ahh the beauty of Netflix.

I'm going to leave you on this note: I leave for Hawaii in exactly 50 days; Hell. Yeah.

Peace,

Tb (JQ)