AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club

A lot of cool stuff i've really been looking forward to is finally available to burn a hole in my wallet. Both the trade paperback for 'Madman Atomic Comics Vol. I' and the art/bio book 'Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko' came out last week...reviews for both forthcoming as soon as my copies come into Beyond Tomorrow Comics (PALATINE REPRESENT!).

That said, i'm really looking forward to receiving...

'DARWYN COOKE: RETROACTIVE 1998-2008'. A humdinger of a 48-page collection of selected art produced over the last ten years, from Darwyn’s time as an animation artist to his current career as a superstar comic book writer/illustrator. The book collects all-new, never-before-published art, rarely-seen material, and some sketchbook pages, with most being finished, full-color illustrations.

While checking out the artist tables at Wizard World Chicago, I happened upon Alberto from Brandstudio Press giving some dude a little sneak peek and man did it look gorgeous. I also overheard him saying that Darwyn wanted to sell it only as a San Diego Comicon exclusive, but (lucky for us who couldn't attend) they have some copies avail via their website HERE. I think it's limited edition, so if you are a fan...better act now. I ordered mine the day it went on the website. Whee!

'No, no, you... you COMPLETE ME.'

I didn't get to check it out in the IMAX format, but I did get a chance to peep the 'Dark Knight' while out on vacation. As the flick has been out for almost two weeks, i'll spare you too detailed a review. Suffice to say that this was, as I called it, THE flick of the summer...comic-book or otherwise. It was nice to see the film live up to the years worth of hype surrounding it.

Funny enough, while Christian Bale did a fine job as Bruce Wayne/The Batman, my two favorite characters: Heath Ledger as The Joker and Chicago as Gotham City. Hands down, those are the film's two biggest strengths. While i'm not surprised I found that to be the case, I am impressed w/ just how good each functioned in it's respective role.

While I don't think i'd go so far to suggest an Oscar nod for Ledger (really, who gives a fuck about the Oscars anyhow), I will say that his performance was everything i'd want in a Joker. Where Tim Burton's version was a little more a campy Caesar Romero w/ the trademark psycho Nicholson twist, director Christopher Nolan taps into the darker source material of more recent graphic novels to generate something more frightening and substantial. Ledger proved fantastic at bringing said disturbed individual to life...one w/ an agenda based solely on getting their kicks via anarchy. It is extremely sad he'll never get a chance to reprise the role.

Taking my home-base pride out of the equation, i'd still say that Nolan used Chicago flawlessly as the perfect Gotham City for this tale to take place in. While the Batman's scope has expanded quite a bit over the years, he's always been the protector of Gotham, first and foremost. Via both story and direction, this film keeps that concept as one of it's pillars. Plus, you haven't been to the movies until you see a high speed chase on lower Wacker done up like this. Wow.

The are few minor flaws in Batman's first scene, the almost anti-climatic final standoff w/ the Joker and while Aaron Eckhart did a great job playing Harvey Dent, I found him to be a little short on gravitas upon his transformation into Two-Face. That said, I found the the overall film even more engaging/satisfying than the last and this is, w/out a shred of doubt, my favorite movie of the Summer/Comic-based film to date. A flick made for the BIG screen, don't miss this while it's in the theatre.

Tan, Rested and Ready!

Yep. I'm back from vacation and digging myself out of a bazillion emails at work. Had a blast and i'll most likely be back to posting more useless pap by tomorrow. A better-late-than-never 'Dark Knight' review, a couple of new books to talk about and other fun stuff forthcoming. 'I don't feel tardy.'

Nice Talk, Russ.

I had every intention on hitting you up w/ numerous posts this week, but as stated earlier...i'm going on vacation starting tomorrow and have been spending time at work and home getting ready for it. So, instead, enjoy the slightly-appropriate music video above while i'm out.

See you somewhere around the end of the month, true-believers!

Awwwww Hell(boy)!

Went and caught 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army' over the weekend and, while enjoyable, it proved to be a slight blemish on the bright face of a Summer filled w/ excellent comic-book adaptations. To be fair, the bar was raised pretty high based on how much I enjoyed the first and a recent foray into the comic itself.

The amazing Guillermo del Toro is back at the helm as director and screenwriter with the same incredible visual style, but a story that kind of felt rambling, unfocused and (for lack of a better word) goofy at times. This was surprising to me, considering it was written w/ Hellboy comic-book creator Mike Mignola...a genius in his own right, in my humble opinion. More specifically, it seemed more rooted in LOTR-esque fantasy than the classic horror/pulp influences of the first film and comic. Maybe that's a good sign for Del Toro's work on the upcoming 'Hobbit' films, but in this capacity it kind of blew the mood.

Even above that, the film seemed to be rife w/ more goofy jokes and snappy one-liners than the first film. Now, i'm really okay w/ a sense of humor to these type of films, but the level of it wasn't at all what I had expected going in. Said moments end up being kind a weight on the film's pacing and ended up making it feel like it was dragging until the next stellar action scene...of which the film still delivers PLENTY of.

Ron Perlman does an excellent job once again as the title character, but the performances by the rest of his B.P.R.D. team-members left me a little cold. Selma Blair is fine and all, but she's playing a much less-screwed up Liz Sherman in this, to less interesting results. Finally, both 'Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane's voice work for and the lack of charchter development of ectoplasmic Johann Kraus ends up both unfunny and annoying.

Wow, reading back through that, sounds like I hated the film...which isn't the case. I just expected something completely different. I kind of have a suspicion, that knowing what I do now, i'll enjoy the second time around on DVD...in a fun 'Big Trouble in Little China' way. If you're not carrying as much baggage as I am in that you've never read the comic and/or seen the first film...you may really dig it. Otherwise, i'd tell you to lower your expectations, check out a matinee and just have fun with it.

Again with the FRESH NEW KICKS!

Only Thing Cooler than the Last Post...

THE AQUABATS TV SUPER-SHOW! Back in March, the band posted on their website that the pilot episode was almost finished and from the preview above they look ready for freaking prime-time! One has to think that MC Bat Commander's alter-ego, Christian Jacobs, being the co-creator of the excellent Nick Jr. children's television series 'Yo Gabba Gabba!' should be reason enough to pick this up. I mean, c'mon'...this has 'Adult Swim' written all over it.

If you've never graced your ears w/ the sonic stylings of the Aquabats, I implore you to make it your civic duty to remedy that by checking them out in the sample area. Also, for any of you lucky bastards going to San Diego Comicon...sounds like they're planning a gig somewhere there in town the same time frame. LUCKY!

1.21 gigawatts?! 1.21 gigawatts?! Great Scott!!!

GREAT SCOTT! Nike released their new Hyperdunk in a sweet looking teal version to make it look like the 'Air McFlys' from 'Back to the Future II'...

Shoe collector shop Undefeated in Santa Monica, CA got first dibs, but only had less than 100 pairs to sell to the droves lined up outside. Kobe Bryant showed up in grand style, flux capacitor and all...

Over the next couple weeks, a few choice stores will get these in extremely limited supply. I'm hearing less than 1000 pairs will be made and only half released in the U.S. There are some on ebay already, going for $1000 a pair! Maybe if they had the real-deal automatic laces, but otherwise...i'll sit this one out.

TECHNOLOGY! YAY!

Looks like box.net got their e-shit together and fixed the AMBFAD supa-fresh sample jukebox thingamabob...so strap on your ear goggles and enjoy some tunes whilst I stall for time in figuring out something cool to post.

I'll have come correct w/ the goods for you tomorrow, pinky swear!

BTW, Here's a Random Block O' Bosstones...

I couldn't tell you why, but 4th of July afternoon...while both kids and adults were taking naps...I was enjoying the beauteous warm-yet-breezy weather from a lawn chair in my driveway, drinking Old Style and listening to all the Mighty Mighty Bosstones albums on my iPod.

I kind of forget how much I love these guys and funny enough, I think they are kicking off a tour w/ the Dropkick Murphys in Chi-Town tonight. You'll have to remind me to tell you the story of why I used to have Dickey Barrett's # on my cellphone sometime, but until then...

Whoa! The Next Couple O' Weeks...

...are going to be jam-packed w/ all sorts of crazy good stuff. 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army' opens this weekend and next week it's not only my birthday, but we're headed out on a week long family vacation to the 'Hillbilly Las Vegas' of Branson, MO w/ my folks, sister/bro-in-law and my two nephews.

More on said vacation later, but one of the cooler things i'll be doing out in Kitsch-ville USA...'The Dark Knight' at an IMAX theatre! That's right kiddies, the flick opens up on 18-Jun and somewhere amidst water parks, outlet malls and go-carts, i'll be peeping the 'Caped Crusader' six stories tall with a 44-speaker digital surround sound system. Sweet!

I'm going to be pretty swamped at work over the next few days, so things might be kind of sparse. I'll do my best to throw something out there for you to have fun with though, so check back in. Hopefully, the jukebox will be fixed soon as well...box.net customer support is looking into the issue. Peace!

Hmmmm...

Yeah, not too sure what I think about the upcoming 'Day the Earth Stood Still' remake slated for 12-December. Maybe it's Keanu Reeves as Klaatu or the sour aftertaste from the sub-par 2005 'War of the Worlds' remake, but i'm not really sold on the concept.

My Spider Sense is Tingling...

...amongst other things. A Peter Parker/Webhead Mighty Muggs exclusive for the San Diego Comicon coming up in a few weeks. As if that isn't cool enough, the glimpse I caught at Wizard World of the limited run Darwyn Cooke art book that will be available there is enough to make me insanely jealous of those attending. Bastards!

BECK

'Modern Guilt'

My relationship w/ the music of one Mr. Beck Hansen can best be likened to a trip through mountainous terrain, full of peaks and valleys...a journey full of both highs and lows. I've become completely enamored w/ him on albums like 'Odelay', 'Sea Change' and 'Guero'...only to hit a wall of complete disinterest w/ releases like 'Midnight Vultures' and 'The Information' w/ a resounding thud. That said, the collective output is still awesome enough to make me giddy w/ anticipation upon news of each new release.

The additional bonus that he would be working on his most recent release, 'Modern Guilt', w/ producer du jour Danger Mouse, further peaked my interest. Considering the whizzbang job D.M. did on the latest from the Black Keys, it sounded like a lethal combination...and, needless to say, i'm not disappointed in the least. While hardly a revolutionary record on par w/ the genius of 'Odelay' and the beautiful earnetsness of 'Sea Change', 'Modern Guilt' sprinkles a little bit of each all over what ends up being a satisfying listen.

'Modern Guilt' starts w/ a pleasant little modern (almost uptempo) take on 60's psychedelia w/ 'Orphans', prior to shifting into a more punchy turn at spy-rock on my favorite track, 'Gamma Ray'. The album then veers upwards into the clouds on another lush, sweeping psychedelic nugget that wouldn't have sounded out of place on 'Mutations' in 'Chemtrails'. I really dig the peppy (yet restrained) new wave electro-stroll of 'Youthless' into the float-right-off-the-ground Beatle-esque pop of 'Walls'. The greasy blues stomp of 'Soul of Man' eventually rides of into the sunset on the contemplative sounding balladry of the final track that is 'Volcano'.

Here's the funny thing, even with all those twists and turns into different tempos and style...I think that 'Modern Guilt' ends up being one of Beck's most cohesive, satisfying bodies of work. Danger Mouse never lets any of the samples or electronic garnishes take precedent over the song itself and seems to have helped produce an album pleasantly lean and focused in comparison to the previous two releases.

A lot of folks may finds it to be a 'grower'...initially on the fence, i'm digging it more and more with each listen. I think it will depend on what version of Beck you are looking for: quirky, offbeat sonic collage artist or serious, sometimes dark, folk troubadour. Thing is, on 'Modern Guilt' he does a great job at being a little bit of both. Album drops tomorrow, get a little taste in the sample area prior to picking it up.

HAVE A GOOD 4TH OF JULY, AMERICA!

I'm off work tomorrow and we have family coming in for the weekend. So, have a fun 4th of July Weekend and don't blow any of your digits off playing w/ firecrackers. Peace out, REAL AMERICANS!

UTTERLY KICKASS T-SHIRT ALERT!

Two awesome Tron-themed tees from the fine folks at CHOP SHOP. Illustrations by the excellent Jay Hillyer and not only will they make you the talk of your next D&D campaign...but these babies GLOW IN THE DARK! Some other fun stuff over there, for both guys and gals. Chickity check them out.

The Day the Music Died

I'm noticing that the AMBFAD e-Jukebox in the sample area to the right is telling me I have no tunes uploaded or that I need to insert a few more quarters. This has happened once before...files are there, it just ain't seeing them. I'll keep an eye on it and if I need to throw new stuff on there I will.

On the music tip, look for a review of the new Beck album next week and a genre-specific look at some surf-rock albums i've recently been enjoying to come soon. I'll have a few more dollops of other junk later today to hold you over during the 4th of July weekend...fire up a sparkler or two in celebration.

KILL YOUR TELEVISION!

'Don't let Pay TV be the monster in your living room.'

Robt. Williams - 'Hot Rod Race'

As a frame of reference outside of just looking at the shoes. More on him later, as promised.

Yet More Fresh New Kicks

Last week, I lucked into finding a pair of what may just be the coolest shoes i've ever owned...a pair of Robert Williams-themed Vans! For those of you unfamiliar w/ Mr. Williams, he is a legendary painter within the lowbrow art-scene and founder of Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine.

You may be familiar w/ his piece 'Appetite for Destruction', featured as the original cover for the Guns N' Roses album of the same name before controversy forced Geffen Records to move it to the inside cover. An amazing man, I fully intend to do a full post on his work as part of an upcoming weeklong celebration of my favorite non-comic book-related artists/designers.

Back to the shoes, these beauties feature one of his most treasured pieces, 'Hot Rod Race' w/ some cool little nuances thrown in as well. Seriously, almost too cool to wear. They've been out for a while as part of the Vans Vault series I posted up about earlier via their Moon Eyes offering, so they may be hard to come by...but worth looking for. Good luck!