You'll love Avatar, even if you hated it.

This isn't a review. Really, it's not, I promise. These days you can't do much without getting someone's opinion on James Cameron's latest work. Whatever your opinion of Avatar is, you'll end up loving it in the coming years. The face of film is changing, and it's blue and furry.

Why do we like movies? Well, there are lots of reasons, but almost everybody likes a good story, good characters, and a chance to be so convinced by the action onscreen that we forget ourselves and get sucked in. Escapism! We know it and love it, but there a lot of barriers to keeping us there. Anytime a movie makes us stop and say, "What is that? That doesn't make any sense," we're done.

In other words, if people talk like people and the world doesn't act like Barbie's dreamhouse we'll probably be all right. But if your movie has aliens or monsters in it? That's a tall order. Puppets and CG have worked out alright, but they've always stood out and said, "This is a movie!" loud and clear from the silverscreen. We want to see movies to see a story that's different from our lives, something we've never seen or experienced before, and the stranger it is the better. But the stranger it is, the more work you have to do to keep us in the action. Why should you like Avatar even if you hated it? Avatar proves that not only can you create a convincing world totally unlike our own, but that there are new ways for us to experience it.

I've seen Avatar twice now (yeah, I love it, can't deny it) and each time I left thinking of my favorite worlds and characters that could finally be done on screen. We can make movies that aren't "just sci-fi" or "just a kid's movie". We can bring the fantastic to film and not worry about it looking cheesy or justifying how it works. Instead, we can make a movie around it. A good movie. Avatar has open doors for brand new films, with exciting technical features and a new attitude towards the unreal. So, in 5 years, when that movie you thought would never be made because "we just couldn't do it," say "Thank You" to Avatar.

I've caught the Viral Marketing Bug!

When the Dark Knight was gearing up for release, you may remember being solicited by the Joker or Harvey Dent to participate in various movie-themed events. It was nothing more than a marketing ploy, but boy it was fun. There's nothing like getting a call from Mr. Dent himself (albeit a pre-recorded one) asking for your help in Gotham. Well, with filming wrapped for Iron Man 2 and post-production underway, Marvel has thrown their hat into the viral marketing ring.

Stark Industries has set up a website, and is looking for new recruits. There is a surprisingly extensive Job Application form which is fairly hilarious, as well as a well-drafted note from Tony Stark. The entire site does a great job at capturing the spirit of the Tony Stark we grew to live in the first film, and needless to say, I applied immediately.

I will say that the application asks for a lot of information, more than I am usually willing to give out online. The Terms and Applications does indicate that it is a fake application, so I assume you're pretty safe, but you never know. If it's anything like the Dark Knight campaign, you can expect phone calls, mailings, and who knows what else for signing up. I really enjoyed participating in Harvey Dent's campaign, and I'm even more excited to work for Tony Stark! I just received an e-mail from Kay Baker at Stark Industries that stated the following:

Hey there!

Thank you so much for being one of the first people to apply for a job at Stark Industries. So far, the response has been incredible. You are among the best and brightest and your interest in joining our ranks is truly appreciated.

Already we have an overwhelming number of applicants and we plan to take our time thoroughly investigating each one. It may be a long process, but it is the only way to ensure that we find the absolute best candidates to work at Stark Industries.

We will contact you soon as we narrow down our selection.

All the best,
Kay Baker

Looks like working in the Career Center this summer is paying off! I'll let you know the details as my application goes through. Hopefully they'll invite me out to Stark Industries for an interview soon.

It's Not a Game

With the 2009 Game Developer's Conference in full swing, I've been doing a little looking into, you guessed it, game development. The gaming industry is incredibly interesting, and for years I've loved pontificating about it, without any real knowledge of its inner-workings. I'd call myself an armchair general, but I don't know what the video game equivalent of that is, though I imagine both could have the word "armchair in them". In any case, an industry so reliant on technology is constantly evolving, and players like Nintendo have proved that hardware isn't necessarily the key to to success. But where, oh where, might a relative newcomer to the cold hard facts of the industry go to educate myself on how things really work? There are any number of places, but I am particularly fond of Gamasutra. As their tagline says, they are devoted to the "art & business of making games". Perfect! Even a cursory glance at the articles they feature is a great resource to breaking intelligently into the conversation of video games. And there are things to talk about. The upcoming OnLive service is sure to impact the gaming community. If you don't need to buy a console or even a fancy pc to play next gen games, I think you may potentially gain new players, but there may also be a negative effect on publishers and developers. How can they make money in a state of perpetual renting? Also, the idea of virtual ownership of a game without a physical copy is definitely an avenue that will be explored in the future, and OnLive is perhaps just the first major step towards it.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Gaming isn't all about video games! What about all the fun games we play that don't require an outlet or $400? Well, fear not! David Sirlin website, the aptly named Sirlin.net, is full of awesome design articles on all types of gaming. Admittedly, he's worked alot on some video game projects, but he doesn't limit his insights to that style of gaming alone. All of it is insightful and an interesting read. At the very least, it gives you some food for thought. I'm particularly interested in his book "Playing to Win". Winning as a lifestyle for self-improvement? That's something I can get behind!

There's a Cat in the Couch

In fact, this post has almost nothing to do with a cat in the couch, though when I began writing, there was a cat in my couch, which led to this corresponding story. Take a look for yourself, just click on the picture.
Have you ever heard of M.U.L.E? Probably not. It was a game developed for the Atari 400/800, and ported to a variety of systems, including the NES. M.U.L.E. is heralded as one of the first great efforts at a multiplayer experience on a single console. Though it didn't make huge waves at the time, it has maintained a strong fan following, including noted game designer Will Wright, who dedicated The Sims to Dani Bunten, creator of M.U.L.E.
So, what makes M.U.L.E. so great? Basically, it's just a lot of fun! It plays alot like a boardgame, where up to four players attempt to harvest the most resources on a space colony. In order to collect your resources, you have to install M.U.L.E.s (Multiple Use Labor Elements) to gather your resources. From then, it's a mad dash to the finish as you deal with space pirates, storms, M.U.L.E.s running away, and everything else under the sun! It's a great time, and if you get the chance to play it on an emulator or through one of the other versions out there, I highly recommend it.
Curiously, despite its strong resemblance to traditional board games, I don't actually know if it could be replicated. There are a few game mechanics, such as the way land is claimed, that are problematic to replicate on a table top. Hopefully I can work out some of the issues, but in any case, there may be a new version of the game coming out this summer. Hooray! It just goes to show that a good game is a good game, despite time, or hardware limitations. Design is what's important, and too often these days that's what developers miss.

Have you met TED?

I met TED today, and I have to say, I am pleased to make his acquaintance. If you are unfamiliar with TED, so am I, but here's the run down. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and is a conference of some pretty fantastic speakers that happens annually and/or semi-annually, I'm not entirely sure. Either way, you have to apply if you even want to attend, so there you have it. It's a pretty fancy shindig. A podcaster I follow linked a talk by Adam Savage of Mythbusters on his website today, with the declaration that "EVERY creative person out there needs to watch this." That's a pretty strong endorsement, and seeing as I've watched hours of Mythbusters in the last few days (thank you Netflix), I decided to give it a try. At only 15 minutes long, it was pretty fantastic, and I recommend that others watch it as well, but then do as I did, and mosey on over to the TED website and watch a few more. Bruce McCall's piece on his art was amazing, as was Aimee Mullin's speech on her 12 different pairs of legs.
There are a few reasons I find these short videos valuable. First of all, the people featured are interesting, engaging, and aren't simply chosen at random for this conference. They have something to say that's worth listening to. Secondly, they're just plain inspiring. Like so many others, I am a creator who is more often than not afraid to create. For one reason or another, it is always easier to take things in than put them out. Let me tell you, putting out has never been my strong suit. Sorry, I had to say it, but really, I love to see the myriad ways that people find fulfillment and inspiration in their creative endeavors. It helps me to feel a part of the creative community.
Quite honestly, as much as I loved these talks (and I do), I find a similar amount of creative vindication coming from that lone podcaster who recommended the video, Scott Johnson, seen here with his Kim in beautiful Utah! That's right, he lives in Utah suckahs. Eat it! Why do I admire Scott? He has two actively running webcomics, My Extra Life and Experience Points. He also has his own creative art projects. He manages two popular podcasts, ExtraLife Radio and The Instance, both of which are of the highest quality, and a few other personal podcast and video podcasts as well. Why do I admire him? Because he creates! Not because he is famous or well paid. His creative works aren't how he makes his living...or is it? That's what inspires me. Scott, and the TED Conference speakers that I've listened to, are all people who are living "authentic lives" as Frankl might say, who have taken up the mantle of the "Citizen Artist" as Paula Vogel might say, and are contributing themselves through their work into the wider world. That's really all I want to do. Creation should never be about getting a job. It should be done because, well, frankly, that's what makes life interesting, and I feel enriched when I see others who have seen their labors come to fruition, even if only for themselves.

Wishing my head was on fire...

Well folks, if you thought that the return of this blog meant a move away from its comic book roots, then think again suckahs! Before my four hour sojourn in the Minneapolis airport yesterday (which was far more grueling than anticipated), I stopped at Mind's Eye Comics to pick up some reading material, all of which was delightful!I have to say though, that Jason Aaron's Ghost Rider continues to be one of my favorite reads each month. Though this issue was sadly missing artist Tan Eng Huat's talent, but hopefully he'll be back, and if not, Tony Moore's work fit the bill quite nicely.
Ghost Rider works if, and only if, he is treated as something other than the Superheroes of Marvel's other offerings. Originally conceived as a horror comic to capitalize on the current media trends of 1972, that is where the 'ol flame-skull really shines. Ghost Rider lives in the world of the supernatural that lurks right behind the corner, that you always suspect is there, but are too afraid to look for. Where Angels and Demons vie for your very soul, so is the Ghost Rider, spirit of vengeance. I mean, within the first 20 issues, he'd fought Satan countless times, and even met Jesus, who handily pardoned him of his sins. As soon as he starts palling around with jokers in tights, things start going downhill.
Enter Jason Aaron, who, even after the 2007 Nicolas Cage fiasco, managed to put some life back in the flagging franchise. How did he do it? Simple. He pruned the Ghost Rider mythos until it became recognizable once more. Accompanied by Huat's subtly distorted visuals, we have a book firmly embedded in the Ghost Rider mythos, with our sometimes hero beset by Rogue Angels and demons, fighting his battles, not participating in any superheroic shenanigans. The best part, is that it never takes itself to seriously. It's the kind of world the Bruce Campbell inhabits. Some of it is as campy as the nearest KOA, but instead of being a mindless parody, it remains engaging and exciting. This is reason that The Mummy and The Pirates of the Caribbean work in my mind, and why their sequels fail. Simple, ridiculous, but ultimately fantastic.
Take Ghost Rider #33 for example. Basically just setting the groundwork for the series now that Heaven has fallen (you heard me), we are treated to a short history of the Ghost Riders, and are treated to appearances from no less than 19 new Ghost Riders, scattered throughout history, all of which are completely awesome! I have to say that while the Ghost Rider tank and crew from World War II and the semi-truck Devil Rig were pretty fantastic, the cyber-punk Riders of Tomorrow definitely take the cake.
What does this all boil down to? For years, I have firmly believed that our media takes itself too seriously. We don't have to have logical reasoning for everything. We don't always need deep character development. Sometimes, we just need good solid fun. When you over think it, it falls apart. The Ghost Rider is a man who becomes a flaming skeleton and rides around on a flaming motorcycle. He smites the wicked as a weapon of God's vengeance. Oh, and sometimes he fights monsters. Do we need more than that? Jason Aaron has proved that with those simple tools, a continually engaging story can be created. It isn't about a lack of complexity, it's about focus, and using what you have to the fullest. So make what you want to make. Don't worry if it's Pride and Prejudice or The Sound and the Fury. If all you have is the next Army of Darkness, odds are you've succeeded.

My penance...

Here I am, once again. My absence has helped me to recognize how much I missed and I how I enjoy the process of regularly updating my B-log. Blog. Lately on YouTube, I've noticed a cartoon called Blog Smog appearing on the side of my screen, enticing me to view it instead of whatever Royksopp music video I am currently watching. Blog Smog. An interesting concept, and an even better turn of phrase. Is the Blogosphere overpopulated? Does the existence of the term Blogosphere priove that there are too many blogs? Perhaps, yes, but is it a problem?
I say nay! Tis no problem at all! In fact, I would be happy to see everyone with a blog. Why not? This is our internet, and as much as I love sneezing pandas and lol-ing cats (and I do) why not populate with the people? Sure, there's going to be a lot that I won't want to read, and that I won't ever know existed. In fact, as I right this post, I anticipate that my readership will be slim to nil. Despite this, I write. If nothing else, this is a forum for me to organize and express my ideas as part of a community of expressors. And so it is that I write for myself, and if you enjoy it, or even read it, then I have something else to be happy about. If not, I created something here. Though it may be no more than pixels, it is mine, and I created it. Blogs - the Internet's playdough.

Captain Price and the Mustache of the Ages

This is Captain Price, one the leading characters in Call of Duty 4, and an all around BAMF. Not to mention that his mustache/beard is indescribably cool. So cool in fact, that I'm thinking of breaking my rule against facial hair.
Today my mother and I went to the National Junior College Football Championship between Utah's own Snow College Badgers against Kansas' Butler College Grizzlies. It looked like Snow was gonna be trampled, but in the last few minutes they came back by fourteen points and tied it up, 23-23. The game went into double overtime, and Snow almost won it, but lost it on a faulty block. I have a friend who plays on the team for Snow, so that was reason for our going. Unfortunately we didn't get to see him play, since he'd broken two fingers earlier (ouch), but it was a great game. It was said to see them play so hard just to lose it at the end, but it was a lot of fun. I seem to only enjoy football live. TV just doesn't cut it for me. Strangely, I have an inverse relationship to Golf. Go figure.
I've been reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road. I'm coming off of a Post-Apocalypse kick thanks to Fallout 3, and The Road has been a fantastic read. There haven't been many books that I haven't been able to put down, but it's extremely readable. McCarthy has a style that isn't verbally dense, but requires thought to draw out what's behind what's been said. It's very human, and is frighteningly real despite its setting. Highly recommended to any and all who are so inclined.
I do NOT recommend Punisher: War Zone. Or should I say, Punisher: Crap Fest? I should.

Wolverine Down Under

Give thanks for Thanksgiving! Mmm...food. I insisted on participating in the preparation, and even made my own Sweet Potato/Chestnut mash! It was alright, and a good venture into cooking this break.
After consuming the food, we ventured out to see "Australia" with some family friends. I will not offer a review per say. I will say that if it has a central theme, it is lost in the 3 hours of movie provided. However, I enjoyed it overall. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman are far too stunning a couple for us common peasants. That man is RIPPED!
What was most interesting to me (Spoiler alert?) was the overt symbolism of the Wizard of Oz. Oz, Aussie, Australia. There's magic, there's young women stuck in "Faraway Downs". On top of that, we have references to Peter Pan with the "Never Never", and "The Jungle Book" with Kipling Flynn (Rudyard Kipling), all revolving around the young Aboriginal boy Nullah and his search for identity. I think it's an interesting idea, with some big symbols and allegory floating around, but once again, I'm not sure that it goes beyond that. I'm also not as familiar with those stories as I'd like to be, and I wonder what the film would be like if I had that under my belt.
I'm a big fan of allegory and overarching symbolism, and I'm glad to see some in the theater. I don't know if it worked, but we can do with more of it as viewers. We can also do with more Hugh Jackman. Hey, I just realized that I got movies with Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman AND Jason Statham this year. Hurray for British/Australian action stars!

From the Depths of the Vaults comes...an update?

Well folks, it's true. I CAN update blogs! Who knew! I will make no excuses for my un-bloggish behavior. I only hope that this humble offering will appease my friends, well-wishers, and internet based stalkers.
There is so much to cover, that I will simply start with what has been devouring my time in the recent past. I could talk about Seascape, Literature of the American West, school, Gordon Ramsey, James Bond, but no! None of it! Instead, let's spend our time in the D.C. Wasteland talking about Fallout 3, Bethesda Softwork's latest venture into the gaming world.
I have to say, first off, that no game spawns semi-plausible conversation like Fallout 3. I can't tell you how many times friends have overheard me talking about seeming mundane things, like talking to people, getting soda, listening to the radio, only to be shocked awake by a phrase like, "Then this Super Mutant came out of nowhere! But I liquefied him with my plasma rifle."
Tonight, I finished the main storyline. Which was excellent. I will say it panders to its audience, but why not? If you have a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi setting with strong 50's overtones, playing things up is more than acceptable. And really, the setting is ambitious. The whole game is set in a bombed out Washington D.C. and has HOURS of voice acting. Sure, you'll hear a lot of the same actors again and again, but the quality and quantity of it is amazing. Bethesda works very hard to immerse you in the world, and they do a fine job. The first person perspective is also a really unique vantage point for a roleplaying game, and aids in the immersive experience.
While there are a lot of great things to say about the game (graphics, story, gameplay mechanics, sense of humor, weaponry, art style), I was most impressed by the non-linear nature of both story and character development. Yes, there is a main set of quests, that are followed in a one after another fashion, but this is interspersed with a giant wasteland to explore, side quests up the wazoo, and many choices to be made in how to carry out these quests. This leads into the extremely varied character development. A friend of mine purchased the game a few days before me, and we played the game through at roughly the same pace. The amazing thing was, our experiences were extremely different! Skill choices make a HUGE impact on the game, as well as perks, bonuses gained at each level. My friend's character was hacking computers at every turn, and I was picking locks and charming people. The most impressive part of this system to me was the Karma indicator. Depending on your actions, you receive good or bad karma. This affects your interactions with certain NPCs, companions, quests, it changes everything! Not only that, it has a profound effect on the player. I started out trying to play somewhat morally neutral, but it got to the point that I couldn't make some of the bad choices without feeling guilty! My character ending up making a moral turn around part way through the game! I've never had a game tug at my psyche in quite the way that Fallout 3 has.
All around, the game is wonderfully constructed, and open for several playthroughs. I spent over 40 hours on the game, and if I saw half of the content I was lucky. Despite a few nagging graphical bugs, the game is a joy to play, and oozes cool. I mean, your dad is Liam Neeson. Sweet.
So, I know it probably wasn't what you were expecting from an update, but it had to be said! Expect more in the coming weeks, as I have considerably more stress free time available to me. This is Three Dog, signing off!

The Blog Shall Rise Again!

Well, I sure have been slacking on the Blog front, that's for sure. But don't worry! Things will start rolling again soon. Things have been busy between going home and getting back here to school, but expect a decently sized update soon. Adieu!

And So It Goes...

Well, it’s all coming to a close. Just as Captain America has passed, so too do I leave this summer behind and go on to new things. Tomorrow I fly back to Utah for a few days before heading off to school. Another summer gone, and certainly one of my favorites so far. Today was my last day at Marvel this summer, but hopefully I’ll be back again.
Today was a busy last day, but a good one. My supervisors gave me whatever they could before I left, particularly time consuming projects like scanning. I did a lot of scanning today, but hey, that's fine with me. Secret Wars was the name of the game today. Unbeknownst to me, Secret Wars was one of the first, if not THE first, big crossover event, which are now ubiquitous in the comics industry. Just look at all the tie ins for Secret Invasion or Final Crisis. It's amazing that there are any books that aren't connected to these major events. Just like any genre, when an original idea works, it becomes a part of the regular process, and then you have to think up new ideas. Just take a look at the old Superhero comics, and you'll have small changes like 2 page spreads and removing thought balloons have completely changed the face of the Superhero comic.
I was also able to squeeze in a few proofs today as well. More essentials (which take up a fair amount of time in the office) and Ultimate Power among others. While I love the Ultimate universe, sometimes it just turns into "______ vs. _______" , which is fine, but lacks a lot of substance.
I had a great time working at Marvel this summer. I would love to work even closer to the editorial process of the monthly comics, and the Trades department was an awesome place to be introduced to the company. Both my supervisors were great guys and wonderful to work with, and both said they'd pass on recommendations for me inside and outside the office. I really had a unique chance this summer to reflect on comics from many different angles. The fan in me indulged himself in the shear variety of merchandise and product available, reading whatever I could get my hands on. The inside look I got at my favorite publisher, while not comprehensive, was incredibly enlightening. Simply by being there you learn about the process and the environment in ways that you just can't from the outside. Finally, I've been able to do some reading on literature and comics in particular, giving me a much better understanding of comics in general. I also wrote a comic this summer! How about that? Really, it was one of the most incredible things that has ever happened to me, and while this summer had it's share of heartache, it was time of growth and learning in any number of ways.
I also had lunch with my cousin Peter today. It was great to get in touch with him and just talk. It's something I haven't done much with my cousins, and it was a lot of fun. I'm glad I saw him before I left town tomorrow. I'm also glad I shipped stuff home, or my bags would have been WAY over the weight limit.
Well, though the summer draws to a close, it is only the beginning for Exelcsior! Be on the lookout for more exciting updates and opinions. It's my life. Don't you want to read it?

Until next post true believers,

'Nuff said

Oh Bad Movies, Will You Ever Learn?

Hopefully, they won't, or I wouldn't have as much fun laughing at them. I will start by introducing to the coolest thing I have found in a long, long time. The Antimatter Multiverse is home to dvd releases of some of the worst Science Fiction and Superhero movies and TV specials ever made. I mean ever. How about the Nick Fury moving starring David Hasselhoff? Turkish Star Wars? The infamous Star Wars Holiday Special? They're all here for about $12.00! Oh, so tempting. At the very least, reading the descriptions of the movies and looking at the pictures and trailers is amazing. Oh, definitely check out Superman: The Musical from 1975. It is real, and it is ridiculous. Really, it's a good thing Marvel stepped up their movie making. They have alot to answer for.
While I always appreciate the blasts from the past, lets not forget that bad movies are still being made today! Let's talk about one I just saw last night: Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I want to say right off the bat, that the reason I think this was an awful movie, is because it was a good Saturday Morning Cartoon show. It basically followed the formula for what a Saturday Morning Cartoon (SMC) needs, and turned three or four episodes into a movie. Basically, you have a series of self contained adventures, and though they all piggy back on each other, they each have a seperate issue that needs to be resolved. So, introduce the problem, fight for a while and fix it, and then make sure everything is exactly the same as it was at the beginning of the adventure. Repeat this a few times, and you have a movie right? Nope. Sorry guys. Really, this movie should have gone straight to DVD. Now, I'll admit that I thought the animation was great, and the action sequences were really cool. Star Wars lends itself very well to animation, but the structure of the movie really brought it down.
However, I also want to say that I'm not trying to defend the movie that much. The dialogue was stupid, I mean, even for a new Star Wars movie, and most of all the plot was anything but engaging. I don't about the Hutts. I really don't. Let's not forget Anakin suddenly being someone who Yoda, yes, Yoda, would entrust a prepubescent girl to.
Finally, if we thought the days of stereotypical Star Wars aliens were over, this film has shown that they've just begun, thanks to Ziro, the big gay Hutt. This was just astonishing. I mean, with Jar Jar you can sort of fudge it and say, "That's just the way he acts", but a big, purple and pink hutt, wearing feathers, who talks with a lisp? Hoo boy, someone's gonna get mad about this one, and they have every right too.
Well, I have one day of work left. Yesterday was really busy. It seemed like I had 2 or 3 things I had to do at the same time all day long. This is good, of course, but also stressful, since everything we do is on a schedule, and so things need to get done. I did a lot of proofs yesterday, some good, some not so good. NYX was great. It's amazing how even though we've had the X-Men around for years, you can still do a great story about mutants that doesn't feel old. Another of the four proofs I did was a gigantic Punisher book. I only got halfway through it, and that was moving at top speed. Seriously, this thing was easily over 600 pages. The Punisher is another interesting character. He's certainly moved across the spectrum of anti-hero to superhero to just-plain-killing people, all with a variety of success. Still, I feel like you don't read the Punisher because you agree with him, you just want to see him kill guys and be hardcore. Really, he shouldn't be a Superhero. It just doesn't work.
I transcribed the biographies of few European comic book creators yesterday, and it's interesting to see the subtle differences in the industry in different parts of the world. Outside of England, most European comics seem to be focused around Science Fiction and Fantasy. At least that's what it seems like. It's just a testament to capitalism that Superheroes have defined comics for us here in the States, and not necessarily around the world. Well folks, talk to you soon.

Exciting New Product!

Well, though I promised a full blown post, I did manage to get my script online, so head on over to the Rogue Gallery and check it out. Hope you enjoy!

Adventures in New York!

My last day with Lacey was a big one. After making into New York and getting on the wrong subway line (lousy express trains) we went back to the natural history museum. There was a lot we didn't get to see on Friday. When we got off the subway, it was raining so hard, that water was pouring down the steps out! We made a mad dash to the museum, and only got a little soaked. Once again, the museum was great fun, and we got to see a cool IMax show called Sea Monsters about prehistoric sea creatures. It was pretty sweet. We followed that up with a trip to the Statue of Liberty, with a truncated NY Bakery Tour afterward. It was a great day, and the short rain was no real hindrance. We finished off the night with "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D which, actually, was pretty fun. I mean, we weren't expecting anything magical, but we got a fun action movie with stuff flying at our faces. Also, I've decided that Bruce Campbell and Brendan Fraser should do a buddy picture where they fight monsters. It would be amazing.
Well, I figure I ought to give you an update on work, since it's been a little while since I've done so. As I've stated before, the proofs seem to come in waves. Some days I don't have many, some days I have almost nothing but. I find it interesting that I tend to only see proofs of a book at one stage. Rarely do I make a dummy book and then check over the proof afterwards. Usually it's just one or the other. The last few days I was lucky enough to see a book twice in the proofing process. I actually got to help put the dummy book together, then go through pagination and the initial check. Yesterday, I was able to proof it! This means that in the intervening period, the dummy book (or at least a copy of it) was sent to the printers, and they sent back the proof. Little had changed, but after over 500 pages of a proof, it can be hard to see differences some times!
Yesterday was a mostly proof day, which I prefer really. It gives me the chance to see a lot of different material and compare and contrast. I did proofs for a Marvel Essential book containing comics from the 60's, and two contemporary pieces, an adaptation of the Lords of Avalon series done in a manga style, and several of the Marvel Adventures books, which are marvel characters geared towards a younger audience. I was interested to see that the older comics have a lot of similarites with the Marvel Adventures books. They feature heavier narration, very action based stories that don't much more than an issue to complete, and more straightforward characterization. Now, I don't mean to say that the older comics didn't have their complexities and nuances, because they did, and Stan Lee does a great job of adding depth to somewhat two-dimensional characters, but I find it interesting that to make a comic for younger kids, they end up like the comics of old. It shows to me how comics have evolved out of the constriction of the Comics Code Authority, and the medium (and the superhero genre) have evolved as well.
There is a surprising amount of research that goes into the making of trade paperbacks, particularly for the older comics that are being collected. For just about every book, there are spreadsheets put together with research notes on issues, characters, etc. They aren't comprehensive, but they point out anything significant and/or that would be important for construction of the book.
I really enjoy meeting people at the office when I have to "run" covers. Basically I have to get a lot of signatures, and some of the editors and other staff are pretty cool about saying hi and getting to know you. It can be intimidating some times, and not everyone has time to talk, but meeting people is an important thing in this business. Speaking of that, tomorrow is the Joe Quesada lunch for the interns. Joe Q is the Editor-In-Chief at Marvel, and we get pizza and get to ask him questions for two hours! I'm still trying to think of the exact things I would ask him. I know I'd like to ask him something about writing, maybe "What are the most common mistakes new writers make?" or "What do you look for when you look at a submitted script?" But I also really want to ask if Stephen Colbert will be elected president in the Marvel universe. So tempting!

The Oldening

It's official folks! I'm 23 now. The big two-three. Yeah, it's not that exciting, but I had a great birthday. Lacey has been here since Wednesday, and we've been having a great time in the big city. Thursday night we saw August: Osage County, the winner of many Tony awards and a Pulitzer prize. It lived up to the hype. It was an amazing crafted show, and brilliantly mixed comedy and drama in one of the most enjoyable family conflicts I've ever seen. Absolutely worth the money.
Yesterday, my Birthday, was also a ton of fun. Nathan's grandma made an awesome cake, and Lacey set up the sun room with balloons and a banner, the whole shebang! Not to mention I got a lot of fun stuff. Lacey gave me the absolute Kingdom Come and some sweet little Star Wars guys. Eric Huberty managed to get a me X-Men #1 from the early 90's signed by Jim Lee himself! Whoa! A bunch of people at school this summer got together and took some awesome Birthday themed pictures, which were totally sweet! And let's not forget a Mighty Muggs Venom from the Handler camp! Later in the afternoon Lacey and I visited the American Museum of National History and the Guggenheim, both basically for free (the Guggenheim was pay what you wish, but we decided to give them a little money). Both were a lot of fun, and we decided we need to go back for more time at the Natural History museum. There is a lot of sweet stuff there. We finished off our night at the Hard Rock cafe for some burgers and headed on home. It was a great day!
The olympics have started, but I haven't seen anything yet. Olympic fever! Speaking of the Olympics, they're in china. Have any issues? Discuss!

Art: Form and Fantasy

Despite the really fancy title, I imagine this post will be fairly mundane. I recently scrounged through my "Pictures" folder and discovered that I had a lot of cool images that I didn't see very much. So, I put them all in a folder and now my desktop changes randomly every hour. After that I scoured DeviantArt for any cool pictures I could find, and now I've got a fun surprise on my desktop every hour! I'll scatter one or two of the cooler pictures throughout this post. Black Bolt, who you see on the right, is one of the coolest characters no one has ever heard of. Of course he was a Skrull last time we checked, but the Inhumans are going to venture out and find out if he's still alive in the next few months. This next picture is the cover of the first issue of that arc. It features Medusa, queen of the inhumans, cradling the costume of Black Bolt, her potentially fallen husband. I found it a really striking image. Medusa has so much hair because her power is complete control over her hair, which seems kind of weird, but is totally wicked in my opinion. I mean, you could have a head of full of blades to flay your enemies, or grab people, whatever! In any case, I picked up the next book in my required reading for the summer, This Book Contains Graphic Language: Comics As Literature, by Rocco Versaci, which is a completely rocking name. He's an english professor in California, and I've really enjoyed his book so far. The nice thing about the book is that it isn't a defense of comics, it's more of a proof. It's a hard distinction for me to explain, but that's the best description I can think of. He's not ranting about how Comics get a bad name, etc, he's simply showing that Comics have a place in what we consider to be "good literature", and not only is it comparable, but that the medium has unique qualities that give it its own place as an independent art form, rather than an amalgamation. In any case, I've finished the first chapter, and I'll keep you updated on interesting tidbits I pick up.
Work has continued to be great. I did some work with Indicia the other day, which sound way cooler than it actually is. Basicially the Indicia are things you see on a title page in a book, and every comic book has them somewhere, either in the front or the back. Interesting, according to Wikipedia it seems to be a term that applies mostly to postage and comics books and not other products. Weird. I've done a few different projects the last few days, including scanning an entire 60-page comic book. Despite the subject matter, that was not fun, mostly because the scanner always seems to scan things slightly askew, and the book I was working with had this nasty binding that never let me scan the full page. I felt really bad, but I didn't know what else to do about it. In fact, it made me feel a bit like that guy over there. Yeah, ok, that was a really bad transition, but I really wanted to put this picture in here, and I didn't know how else to do it. If Carnage was ever in a Spider-Movie, he'd look like this. Slicey, slicey! Friday there was an intern lunch at Marvel with free pizza. Sweet, sweet pizza. I didn't even have work that day, but I went in anyway, which was totally worth it. I met some cool people that I'd never seen before. Most people are much farther along in school than me. One intern was working on his PhD! That was crazy. I actually met a guy who works in web content who goes to the U of M. Neat!
I finished the first draft of my comic on Friday. It was interesting. I think it ended up being more visual than verbal because I did the breakdowns first. Which isn't a bad thing, it just means I'll have to try it another way next time. Once I edit it I'll probably post it up on-line. Also...I don't know what to think about this. Really, can anyone tell me what that was? It confuses me.
Of course, I send my best to the cast and crew of "Orange". I wish I could see the show. It'll be awesome though. Of that I have no doubt.

It's a Psychobilly Geek-out!

Well boys and girls, I can't resist it anymore. I've tried pretty hard to keep this blog from being just a list of cool stuff I've seen on the internet, and I've done an ok job so far. Today, that's all out the window. WAY too much has been going on, and I gotta let it out. I will try to keep these announcements to the things that were totally and completely awesome.
First off, the San Diego Comic-Con has, of course been a breeding ground for juicy nerd-food. First up, a certain mister Neil Gaiman will be writing-wait for it- Batman comics. This is very exciting. Not only that, but Mark Millar, who I mentioned in my last post, is also returning to Marvel's Ultimates universe, presumably to tear it down around us. In Animation news, Hulk vs. Wolverine was screened, and we also saw the trailer for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, the new cartoon coming out this fall. It's intended more for the kiddies, but hey, I'll still watch it. Speaking of kids and comic-con, the toy announcements were phenomenal, particularly on DC's side. The amount of new toys they have coming out is astounding, and many of them are characters that have rarely had toys ever made of them, including...The Question! In fact, there are 3 Question toys coming out soon, but I'm most excited for this one. We've been waiting for a long time, but he was held back due to legal reasons. And let's not forget Comic-Con costumes, including The Summers Family, A Henchman and Dr. Killinger, and Hot Booster Gold.
Next, on to video games. All I can say is that I'm glad I don't own a PS3 or a 360, because I would be circling the money drain. There are a lot of impressive games coming out. I will mention some of them quickly. Dead Space is a Sci-fi survival, horror game, where you fight creepy monsters (that used to be people) and try to stay alive. The coolest feature is that the music responds to the situation, making the game even more cinematic. Mirror's Edge is a first person game, which moves free running into the video game world in a dramatic way. I'd call it a shooter, but you can actually complete the game without shooting anyone. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 should be wonderful as long as the gameplay stays about the same. The update in graphics looks amazing. DC has two games in development that keep looking better and better. DC Universe Online looks like more and more fun each time I see it, and, to my surprise, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe looks like one the best fighting games I've seen in a long time. The Close Combat and Freefall features are cool in that way that they're completely ridiculous.
Finally, perhaps the most important link of all the many links I just posted. If you know me, then you know that there is a particular 80's movie starring one Jeff Bridges that is an extremely important part of my upbringing. Well guess what baby? Sequel time! I can't believe it. Tron 2! I am unbelievably ready for this to happen. And Jeff Bridges is back too! Hurray! Unfortunately, the title is unpronounceable. How do you say Tr2n? I can't. Also, Wolverine teaser trailer. Blob and Gambit baby! Also, Emma Frost?
Now that you've seen how much time I spend watching trailers on the inter-tubes, I am going run in shame. Enjoy!

We are Oscar Mike

It's a thing. People say it. Google it why don't you.
If you haven't guessed, that phrase is military jargon. There are two projects in particular that I've been following recently that tie into our current military situation in two very different ways. The first is War Heroes, the latest venture from Mark Millar, master of Superhero comics that retain what's fun about the superhero genre, without the innocence. The first issue of this six issue project came out last week, and it really was a fun read. The art by Tony Harris has just the right feel of realism to it to keep the story grounded. The premise asks the question, if the US continued to invade other nations, how would we get new recruits for the war effort? Give them superpowers.
The other project is a seven part miniseries on HBO. Generation Kill is an extremely realistic portrayal of a Marine Recon Unit in Iraq. It's based on the book by Evan Wright, which is a retelling of real events. It's really interesting, and is just plain good TV. The fact that it's so close to the actual situation in Iraq just makes it a little more hard hitting. If you do check it out (do it) make sure to go the the website and read up on the characters. Their rank is a bit confusing in the show.
I'm a fifth of the way done with my vampire script. It doesn't take me that long to do, I just haven't put in much time on it lately. But the first draft will be done soon, fear not. Once that's finished I'll edit it a bit and put a draft on the lines. Hurray for progress!
Last Thursday was another solid day at work. It's great to go in there to work. Honestly, I've said it before, but it's just cool! There's another intern there (an art intern) who brings his portfolio to work everyday, and tries to show it to whatever editors he can, even though that's a frightening prospect. Last week Axel Alonso (the editor of the Marvel MAX comics) took a look at his portfolio and gave him some useful criticism. I not only respect that in so many ways, but it's so cool to be working with people who really want to be a part of the industry. Also this intern is really good. I can't believe his stuff. In any case, it's a very encouraging environment. All in all the work proceeds well. I may have mentioned this before, but all of the proofing is good practice if I end up doing more editorial work at the office. Most days I have a few proofs, a dummy book to make, books to send out, comics to file, the usual. It's nice though because I get to see a variety of artistic and writing styles across my projects.
There's been a lot of news coming out of the San Diego Comic Con, a little too much for me to cover, so I won't. CBR has really good coverage if you're interested. I can't think of anything else I wanted to write, so I'll finish this post up with yet another link of interest: Lego Batman.

Uber-Creepy

Corn Starch + Water + Vibration = Really Creepy
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