Monthly Archives: March 2015

March 17, 2015 · 9:04 pm

Review: IVAR, TIMEWALKER #3

Variant cover art by Brian Level

Fred Van Lente (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four) knows how to spin a yarn. In “Ivar, Timewalker,” he takes us on a time-traveling adventure full of heart. With one of these stories, you’ve got to have a device or portal or some kind of method. Here, we’ve got the Tachyon Compass. And you’d better have compelling characters too and we do with Neela and Ivar. You see, Ivar seems to have gone rogue. And, Neela, who has been pursuing him, has also fallen in love with him. Go figure. These things happen. If it’s not attempting to kill Hitler, then love is in the air.

Back with his partner, artist Clayton Henry (Archer & Armstrong), Van Lente rolls out a daringly gritty and funny tale. It’s a balancing act, for sure. Neela is quite the spitfire and takes her fire spitting seriously. And you need a sense of humor when you delve into some Nazi torture. It gets a bit bloody but it’s all one of a piece and makes sense within context.

So, while in hot pursuit of Ivar, Neela loses him and gains a stalker, The Lurker. With Issue 3, we find Neela desperately trying to get back on track. She stumbles upon Gilad, Ivar’s brother from another life, and nearly sideswipes Hitler! And then there are these creatures from the fourth dimension who would like to have a word with Neela if only she’d hold still long enough. Pretty good stuff.

IVAR, TIMEWALKER #3 is available as of March 18. For more details, visit our friends at Valiant Entertainment right here.

Review: ‘Moomins on the Riviera’

So, what is a Moomin, exactly? Well, they’re hippos. And their large faces act like masks that hide facial expression. They’re terribly enigmatic when you think about it. They’re also very isolated as they don’t normally wander far from Moominvalley. But they’re not meant to be spooky although they do have their weird habits. For instance, they save all their dirty dishes under the sofa until there’s a good rain to wash them clean.

Moomin is an odd and wonderful world of comics. Truly, one of the best. Do kids pick up on the enigmatic quality? Oh, sure. That’s part of the magic and charm. If you are new to the antics of the Moomins, just think of them as some of the most fanciful creatures to grace a comic strip. This animated feature honors the original work by Tove Jansson. With “Moomins on the Riviera,” directors Xavier Picard and Hanna Hemilä bring to life all the magic and charm from the page to the screen.

Most of the major Moomins, from left to right: the Snork maiden, Moomintroll, Moominpappa (in hammock with top hat), Moominmamma, Little My and Snufkin.

So, knowing that the Moomins are a strange lot, a change of scenery is not such a bad idea. And they may as well live large and end up on the Riviera. Of course, with Moomins being a bit out of touch, this is strictly a hippo out of water kind of story.

The Moomins will win you over. This is a fun and whimsical tale of how these hippos stumble into high society. In the end, both hippos and all who meet them are the better for it. If you’re looking for a feature perfect for the whole family, this is it. And its sense of style and odd humor will keep adults entertained right along with the youngest of viewers.

“Moomins on the Riviera” was released in Finland and France in 2014 and makes its North American premiere on March 22, 2015 at the New York International Children’s Festival. For more details, visit the official website for the film right here.

2 Comments

Filed under animation, Comics, European Comics, Finland, France, Tove Jansson

Tagged as Animation, Art, arts, Comic Strips, Finland, France, Media, Moomins on the Riviera, New York City, Pop Culture, Riviera, Tove Jansson, Xavier Picard

March 16, 2015 · 2:53 pm

Review: LISA SIMPSON’S GUIDE TO GEEK CHIC

Behold, “Lisa Simpson’s Guide to Geek Chic,” a new book by Matt Groening, published by Insight Editions. And, check this out, this book is part of the Vault of Simpsonology. Yes, once you’ve enjoyed this book, you can move on to books focusing on other Simpson characters.

Ah, but first, there’s Lisa Simpson and her particular view of the world. How about a periodic table, according to Lisa Simpson? Or her idea of what should be in everyone’s emergency kit. The Complete Works of Shakespeare, perhaps?

While this will win over any young reader, I have to say that this item transcends any age demographic in a very appealing way. This is, indeed, the perfect gift for anyone.

“Lisa Simpson’s Guide to Geek Chic” is available as of May 5, 2015. For more details, visit our friends at Insight Editions right here.

Art: SPRING LIFT

Here’s a new painting I did entitled, “Spring Lift.” First day of spring is this Friday, March 20! This painting incorporates thoughts of Seattle in the spring and the Macefield Home, a symbol of resistance.

12 Comments

Filed under Art, Ballard, Edith Macefield, Henry Chamberlain, Illustration, Painting, Seattle

Tagged as Art, arts, Ballard, Edith Macefield, Entertainment, henry chamberlain, Illustration, Media, Painting, Pop Culture, Seasons, Seattle, Spring

March 15, 2015 · 11:17 am

Fire vs TV (Part 1) Gadzooks: By The Straps of My Yoga Toga

Words to live by!

Review: Bill Plympton’s CHEATIN’

Ella is an enigmatic beauty. She seems so ethereal and unaccessible. And then, one day, her defenses down, she stumbles into a romance with Jake. This sounds like the start of another great Bill Plympton animated feature. It takes me back to some of my earliest memories of his work. I had seen at least some of his stuff on MTV back in the day. All I can say is, if you haven’t, you owe it to yourself to dig deeper.

Bill Plympton is one of the greats. He has a way of looking at the world that is truly original. He stepped into the spotlight with his Academy Award-nominated short, “Your Face,” in 1987. He was courted by Disney but he chose to remain independent. He’s the only animator to single-handedly draw every frame of a feature film–six times. Plympton cartoons blaze upon the screen: joyful, erotic, and full of wonder. And so that leads in to, “Cheatin’,” Bill Plympton’s latest feature.

Things don’t just move in his animation. They jiggle, ripple, undulate, sway, and sashay. There’s a perpetual sexual tension metaphorically attached to nearly everything. We begin with the long fluttering ribbon attached to Ella’s hat. In this feature, our two lovers are quite a mismatched pair but they definitely have a spark between them.

If Ella was ever aloof, Jake wears down her reserve. He rescues her twice, both times with great sexual connotations. But that’s only the beginning of our story. No sooner does boy meet girl, it seems, than boy loses girl. In fact, these two had become quite the couple when things go terribly wrong. Outside forces relentlessly work against them. For example, one of Ella’s rivals attempts to lure Jake away while he’s mowing the lawn. She carpets the sky with a pulsating pattern of her laundry. Ella retaliates with a counter-strike of her own laundry.

What happens next involves an elaborate process of regaining love. This includes a wayward magician and his mysterious “trans-soul machine.” Perhaps this contraption will shed light on what has thwarted our lover’s happiness. As this dangerous and uncertain path unfolds, our story spreads out with hints of grand opera, science fiction, and crime noir.

As in all Bill Plympton features, we find that human longing and desire, in one form or another, cannot be ignored and is seldom, if ever, denied. Amid a rogue’s gallery of buffoons and dimwits, lovers race toward each other’s hungry bodies. Sexuality will find its release whether it oozes from the walls or drips from the ceiling. And, amid the melting butter and bubbling coffee pots, a more complex story unfolds. While sex makes the world go round, Bill Plympton, like Federico Fellini and Terry Gilliam, provides much more. The content is implicit, not explicit. It’s a mix of the tragic and the comic that proves so pleasing.

“Cheatin'” is in theaters and online as of April 2015. For more details, visit the official website right here.

8 Comments

Filed under animation, Bill Plympton, Movie Reviews

Tagged as Animation, Art, arts, Bill Plympton, Entertainment, Filmmaking, Love, Movie Reviews, Pop Culture, Romance, Sex, Sexuality

March 11, 2015 · 11:10 am

Review: Howard the Duck (2015-) #1

Some things seem so far ahead of their time that they could never stick. Well, Howard the Duck has stuck. Way back in 1976, when Marvel Comics first unleashed the fluffy curmudgeon, he seemed like he’d come out of nowhere–and he had. That was his thing. He had a crunchy underground vibe to him and yet he got to hobnob with Spider-Man, the most iconic comic book character ever created. That must have been hilarious for Howard’s original creators, Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik.

Back then, in 1976, Howard also got to spend time with Red Sonja, all ready for a good fight in her chainmail bikini. This time around, Howard matches wits with a whipsmart tattoo artist. She would also look fine in a chainmail bikini but it ain’t gonna happen. Tara resoundingly puts him in his place. And all he did was call her, “doll.” Pretty tepid for the Howard of yesteryear. In this new Howard comic, writer Chip Zdarksky and artist Joe Quinones are definitely working off a different vibe than what came before.

While a lascivious Howard preying on half-naked women seemed so subversive in 1976, it’s a risky business in 2015. It would surely require some creative heavy lifting. And, in the cheesecake wars, this appears to be a battle not worth having. Of course, on the flipside, what have you got left once you defang a raunchy out-of-control misanthrope? In the end, the original Howard wasn’t so bad and he was more of a feminist than he got credit for.

Howard the Duck in 1976

Howard was a dirty, unstable, contradictory, and thoroughly messed up duck. So, I ask you, to clean him up too much is to snuff the life out of him, no?

However, if you never cared for the original underground-like Howard, then this Howard could be what you’re looking for. Consider him a second cousin to the wisecracking Rocket Raccoon. That said, this first issue is definitely a fun and worthwhile adventure.

With anything possible these days, it would come as no surprise to find Howard’s activities meeting up with Rocket Raccoon’s somewhere down the line, even on the big screen. Wasn’t an appearance by Howard the Duck the teaser at the end of the credits to “Guardians of the Galaxy”?

Howard the Duck #1 is available as of March 11. For more details, visit our friends at Marvel Comics right here.

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Filed under Comics, Comics Reviews, Marvel Comics

Tagged as comic books, comics, Comics Reviews, Entertainment, graphic novels, Howard the Duck, Marvel Comics, Movies, Pop Culture, Steve Gerber

March 10, 2015 · 1:45 pm

Advance Review: FRANKENSTEIN UNDERGROUND #1

There are all sorts of horror to consume and a Mike Mignola horror comic book is one of the best across any form. And then you bring to that one the horror canon’s greatest, Frankenstein, and it sets up something worthy of taking notice. This is not, say Frankenstein vs. Superman or Spider-Man, as much fun as that can be. No, this runs much deeper as you have two distinct visions in horror coming together that have exceptional qualities that naturally fit together. It’s more akin to Boris Karloff bringing his unique sensibility to the character of Frankenstein’s monster. But let’s jump in and check this out.

First of all, I love the fact that this Frankenstein is not just about long stares and grunts. The guy can actually hold a conversation. And I’m intrigued by the additional bolts. He has two big bolts where his nipples should be. Is this for when he needs a really special electrical jolt? I’m just saying. So, this Frankenstein fits right into the quirky, dark, deadpan, and offbeat humor that is the universe of Mike Mignola. And what does the big buy have to say for himself? Basically, he’s not too happy. He’s feeling very regretful for what might have been as he wanders in search of greater meaning. Yeow, that’s more Mignola-speak coming out of the iconic monster than any fan has a right to hope for. So, for you newcomers, this is what to expect: a Frankenstein who is more freaky, intellectual, and downright moody.

This first issue, written by Mignola, drawn by Ben Stenbeck, and colored by Dave Stewart is a knock-out. Now, your hardcore Mignola fans can tell you about the roots to this story. They’ll direct you to that time when Mike Mignola’s celebrated character, Hellboy, got into the ring and actually fought Frankenstein in Mexico in 1956. Yes, Mexico in 1956! Mexico! 1956! You see, another wonderful trait in any Mignola story is the seemingly random pairing of an exotic locale with an obscure date. Why Mexico? Why 1956? It just is what it is. And it’s fun. Here’s the deal, way back when Hellboy fought Frankenstein, nobody knew for sure that it was indeed Frankenstein. But now we know that, yes, it is.

So, again, I ask you, why Mexico in 1956? Well, it’s actually a pretty cool backdrop. Not only do you have the pairing of Mignola and Frankenstein but you can also add to the mix all the magical and spooky Aztec tradition and, to top it off, you have the overall crazy that was the ’50s. Imagine a Day of the Dead celebration times one hundred. Because that’s what it would have been like in Mexico in 1956. So, all this is very geeky fun and yet another fitting tribute to one of the greatest characters in horror for all time, our pal, Frankenstein.

Frankenstein Underground #1 will be published by Dark Horse Comics on March 18, 2015. For more details, visit our friends at Dark Horse Comics right here.

4 Comments

Filed under Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Frankenstein, Mike Mignola

Tagged as Boris Karloff, comic books, comics, Comics Reviews, Dark Horse Comics, Entertainment, Frankenstein, graphic novels, Hellboy, Horror, Mexico, mike mignola, Monsters, Pop Culture

March 9, 2015 · 2:46 pm

Short Film Review: THE SHAMAN and exclusive manga

There’s a touch of the poet, the adventurer, and the dreamer in Marco Kalantari’s short film, “The Shaman.” There’s a quirky intensity here like you might find in your favorite story or game. And I consider myself most fortunate to know about it now.

It’s bursting with originality and fierce energy that grabs you from the start. It is 2204. We fight our wars with intelligent machines. The only way to subvert their power is to engage with their souls. And it is only the shamans who can access these machine souls that exist in the Netherworld.

The world war has been raging for 73 years on. It’s some really strange and dark holy war or something quite bad. A scorched Earth is nothing new to anyone. But there’s the Netherworld and, perhaps, it is there that all souls will some day know eternal peace.

“The Shaman” packs quite a punch. It’s a dark and gothic mashup of “Star Wars” and “District 9.” The special effects are first-rate. And there’s plenty of new ground upon which to trod and take leaps of faith from. You’ll love the ritual involved in transporting a Shaman to the Netherworld. This short film provides a whole new set of terms and signs to behold.

And the scene between The Shaman (played by Danny Shayler) and the Soul of the Colossus (played by Susanne Wuest) is brilliant. This is a great battle of wits between shaman and machine. It’s wonderful to see and let’s hope that perhaps all this leads to a major full-length motion picture. I really think that’s possible. Whatever lies ahead, this is an excellent short film.

What follows is a prequel to The Shaman. This is a manga story setting the stage for what lies ahead in the main story:

Continue reading →

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Filed under Movie Reviews, movies, Short Film, Tribeca Film Festival

Tagged as comics, Entertainment, graphic novels, Manga, Marco Kalantari, Movie Reviews, Movies, New York City, Pop Culture, Short Films, The Shaman, Tribeca Film Festival

March 8, 2015 · 7:41 pm

Review: THE BULLY’S BULLY

“The Bully’s Bully” is a unique webcomic, and book, on the subject of bullying. It tackles the issue with a lot of grit. I don’t recommend this for the youngest of readers simply because of it’s spirited, and intense, depiction of violence. We can discuss that. Overall, it’s a solid work in comics. But, be warned, this gets the equivalent of a PG-13 rating. Story and art by Courtney Huddleston and James Taylor, this is an impressive production. The look and feel would do proud any animation house or comics publisher. I would describe it as a clean and polished house style. And, as the title implies, this is a book about bullies. Or, more precisely, a girl with a lot of guts, who is out there to defend, and encourage, victims of bullies. She is going to do her best to set things straight.

You’ll find here a collection of stories that follow our heroine on her quest to stop bullying. The comics are wordless throughout. We don’t have a name for our main character other than Bully’s Bully, or B.B., for short. There are a wide spectrum of scenarios to be found here ranging from a hunting story to a story set in the inner city. The feature story finds B.B. locking horns with one of the most diabolical villains, under 18, you’re likely to find. He looks a bit like Pugsley from the Addams Family.

“The Bully’s Bully” is a webcomic and, when this B.B. vs. Pugsley story first ran, it caused quite a commotion regarding the violence. So, what exactly is the deal here? Well, this Pugsley boy has no qualms about punching B.B. right in the gut, starting at page 26, and repeatedly attempts to smack her around and worse. He also has no problem with slamming a puppy into a tree, which is shown in one panel. Is this too much? Yes, without a doubt. If it walks and talks like a duck, it’s a duck. So, emphatically, I tell you this is one very disturbed duck. If there’s another spin to it, I’d say that these disturbing scenes certainly do evoke the terror a bully can inflict. However, that could have been achieved differently. As it is, you lose the younger readers.

Well, that’s what can happen when you choose to turn up the volume to eleven. Unfortunately, everything is thrown out of balance with such an extreme shift in tone. Oh, I know, I know, you may wonder if I’m overreacting. But, no, I’m not. I think it’s better to speak to these issues than simply go along to get along. You can find plenty of reviews like that already. And I’m not against this book. I am concerned about the fact that younger readers will be attracted to it and could get sucker punched by the content. That said, in the real world, kids can and do get hurt. So, sure, it’s a tricky situation. With all this in mind, if you have a notion of getting this book for a young reader or pointing him or her to the website, try the book or webcomic out and see for yourself beforehand.

You can buy your copy of The Bully’s Bully 152-page trade paperback on Amazon right here.