Posted on March 29 at 8:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Here's some more non-superhero comics for those of you interested in comics, but not tights or capes. By the way, none of these are aimed at children:
1) The Dark Tower - Yes, there's a comic based on Stephen King's epic story, and yes, it is canon. King acts as story adviser while Peter David handles scripts. If you want to know more about Roland's past, pick it up. The first volume, The Gunslinger Born, is collected while the new volume, The Long Road Home, is 1 issue in so far.
2) Transmetropolitan - Imagine the bizarre world of Hunter S. Thompson where he is the only sane one. And its in the future. That's how Spider Jerusalem, rogue journalist and enemy of the mayor can best be described. Definitely not for children, but hilarious and filled with social commentary.
3) Preacher - Soon to be an HBO series (the rights were picked up at least), this book takes a Texas preacher and outfits him with the power of the Word of God. When he uses the power, you do exactly what he tells you. Exactly. Given the power by Genesis, the lovechild of an angel and demon, Jesse finds out that God has left his post in heaven, and begins a search to tell the Lord to get back up there.
Posted on March 13 at 7:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Even though I didn't start reading them until well into my college years (I blame it on the fact that they didn't exist when I was in middle school), but the obvious Harry Potter series is a great one to read. Also, the Ultimate Spider-Man series is a great retelling of the Spider-Man mythos, told as if (like the movie) Peter Parker was a high school student and became Spider-Man now, not in the 1960's. More than 100 issues in (the series started in 2000) and it's a great series for everyone. Action, comedy, drama, it's got everything. 12 or 13 volumes are out now, and new ones come out twice a year or so. With both of these picks, you can always run on the popularity of the movies to get kids to read them. It worked for me and Jurassic Park 15 years ago, so I assume it'll work now.
On Atonement
Posted on March 13 at 7:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yes, the movie comes out Tuesday, along with 'Enchantment,' another lovely movie that includes differing realities. Of course, it's "real" reality and a Disney reality, but it's still a fun little movie.
Just some other good books that deal with the creative process and the nature of reality (or, the ones I've read, as there's a zillion out there):
1. The Dark Tower by Stephen King
The series of seven (and also other King novels and now comic novels) is about the last gunslinger in a destroyed world fighting to reach the Tower, King's nexus of reality. It connects other King novels (such as "The Stand), but also "our" reality, as King himself enters the series. If you're a King fan, you must read this series, as I do it no justice here.
2. Animal Man by Grant Morrison
To be exact, this is #1-26 of the 1988 series Animal Man from DC Comics. It starts out like any other superhero story, but eventually turns down a weird road. Buddy Baker (Animal Man) eventually learns that he's not exactly a real person, but a fictional character, as is his entire world. Read the 3 volume collection to check it out.
3. The Man In The High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Remember World War II? Where Germany and Japan won and divided the US? No? Well the characters in this book do, but they have a book there that tells the unbelievable story of a world where the US won. But is their world real, or is the world of the book? What about OUR world? Are we just a book somewhere? Yeah, I just blew your mind.
On Wish list
Posted on March 13 at 7:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
1. Chipotle
2. Potbelly's
3. Chipotbelly's.
Yes.
Oh, and 4. Borders, duh.
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On The great video game debate
Posted on October 13 at 8:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am all for a story being spread out among different media. I love when a main story (example = The Matrix) is told in one medium (film), and supplemental material is presented in other media (video games, comics, novels) with the authorization of the original writers, making the supplemental material 'canon.' Another example is the continuation of the television show 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' where the eighth season is currently being presented as a comic book.
Now, if the game is necessary for one to complete the book (I doubt it is), then I'm not sure how I feel about it. IMO, any supplemental material should be just that - supplemental. When one is forced to complete one story through multiple media, then its just overkill.