I think it's time to sling my duffel over my shoulder and walk away.
It's obvious to anyone reading that the quality and frequency here has declined in a steady slope since this past summer. A lot has to do with general workload here at Casa Fossen, but that's not the real reason I'm closing up shop.
My original intent was to have an outlet for honing my writing. However, as I resumed my theatre career after a near decade-long retirement I realized that my creative passion lies there. Writing was a good substitute, but at the end of the day, it's just that: a substitute. It's not the real thing ... at least not my real thing.
This isn't an angry farewell to the WeboComicsBlogoNet or to the artform. I just need to be "focusing" my energies elsewhere. I've come to thoroughly enjoy this community, and hope that I have contributed something to it. I'll still be lurking around, reading and commenting when and where I can. I'll also be making infrequent contributions to the excellent gaming blog 5WG.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
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Focused No More ... |
Friday, February 23, 2007
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T.G.I.F.: February 23, 2007 |
Busiek wins.
Again.
I can't even find a specific image from this wonderful issue, so I simply give you the stunning cover. Want to see superheroes being super? This is the title you want to add after you cull that pull list, as per Mr. Church's suggestions.
From Superman #659 by Busiek, Nicieza, Vale, and Pacheco.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
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52 on 52 #42 |
Again, plotlines slowly built over the course of the series suddenly get resolved in a few pages.
It's a bit of slumming, a bit of fulfilling the contract, a bit of "leave your hamster jokes at home, smartboy" ... but Darick Robertson absolutely nails Ralph's look.
How well does a longbow float?
*What is this? Each week, I write exactly 52 words on that week's 52. The word count is according to the Word Count Firefox Extension. A picture is not worth a thousand words. For many more words (and excellent ones at that), check out Douglas Wolk's 52 Pickup.
Friday, February 16, 2007
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T.G.I.F.: February 16, 2007 |
Excuse the lateness - this Friday was more Friday-ish than most. At least it's basically over. I imagine that were I a nattily attired evolutionary standout, the day would have gone much better.
From Nextwave #12 by Ellis and Immonen.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
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52 on 52 #41 |
"What the hell was Wacker letting you people do? We've got 12 issues left! Start wrapping this shit up pronto!"
Why so surprised, Adam? It's a deux ex machina. Surely you've seen one before?
Wouldn't the Valentine's Day issue have been a good time to touch base with the weird-on-many-levels Nightwing/Batwoman relationship?
*What is this? Each week, I write exactly 52 words on that week's 52. The word count is according to the Word Count Firefox Extension. A picture is not worth a thousand words. For many more words (and excellent ones at that), check out Douglas Wolk's 52 Pickup.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
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This Week's Releases: February 14, 2007 |
Goodbye, Nextwave. Thanks for all the T.G.I.F.s.
When I hit 2005 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Winning Night Flight Comics, I'll be sad to see this delicious brew of Ellis-Immonen madness come to a close.
Casanova, Godland, Manhunter, Astonishing X-Men and Thunderbolts should take off some of the sting, I figure.
52 #41
Batman #663
Gen 13 #5
JLA Classified #34
Justice Society Of America #3
Manhunter #28
Stormwatch: PHD #4
Casanova #7
Godland #16
Astonishing X-Men #20
Nextwave: Agents Of HATE #12
Thunderbolts #111
Monday, February 12, 2007
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Focused Linkblogging |
- Hey! Look! It's a bus! Let's throw Adam Kubert under it! I'm all for informing the readers, but pointing fingers to appease forum denizens seems .... unseemly.
- Elk's Run will be finished soon, so where can one go to find creepy tales of gnawing suburban dread? One could go to Three Rivers, the new story from Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon. The prospect of more from the Elk's Run team warms the cockles of my cold, cold heart and may be the tipping point that pushes me into reading webcomics. Josh says it's a secret ... so don't tell him I told you, OK?
- I really feel a Focused Linkblogging post needs at least three items, but I can't find a third.
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Focused Linkblogging |
- You read the last 52. You were told by wise and knowledgeable men that the title was an allusion to a song. You wanted to hear that very song. I provide.
- "Mark," you ask, "tell me: what is the fine line between wit and bile? Between snark and spew? Between mocking and ranting?"
"Grasshopper," I answer, "direct your gaze here, and learn." - ComicMix has actually opened now, but quickly becomes another site I won't read unless someone links me there. Why? Three simple letters: RSS. There's no feed I can find, and the FAQ makes it pretty clear that none's in the works: "How can I find out when there's something new on ComicMix? You can check in regularly. We have new content every day, several times a day -- new comics, new columns, new blogs, and new news." I like the idea behind the site, and want to see Elayne writing about comics again ... but not enough to check in every day.
Friday, February 09, 2007
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T.G.I.F.: February 9, 2007 |
Secret.
Freakin'.
Codes.
And decoder rings websites!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
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52 on 52 #40 |
Like I said 31 weeks ago, standard superheroics are simply too decompressed to fit in 52. Though an enjoyable enough fight comic, this failed miserably as an issue of 52.
I do get the reference. "Nancies" still paints Gar as a homophobic bully.
We get this cliffhanger, then three weeks of nothing?
*What is this? Each week, I write exactly 52 words on that week's 52. The word count is according to the Word Count Firefox Extension. A picture is not worth a thousand words. For many more words (and excellent ones at that), check out Douglas Wolk's 52 Pickup.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
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This Week's Releases: February 7, 2007 |
I have no interest whatsoever in Dark Tower.
There ... that's out in the open. I feel better.
There's so much other great stuff happening. Aside from a weirdly manufactured hype event, this Wednesday's comics look to be as good a crop as 2007 has seen. 2005 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Winning Night Flight Comics isn't having one of those midnight openings ... but I kinda wish they were.
I'm not alone amongst bloggers by saying that Shazam: The Monster Society Of Evil (a.k.a. All-Star Captain Marvel) is at the top of my list. I'm a bit selfish on that one, though: I know I won't be scrambling for a TGIF this week. But there's seas of cool stuff beyond that: Action Comics Annual, Astro City, Fell, Cthulhu Tales ... and more. This is one of those weeks where it's really worth the trip.
- 52 #40
- Action Comics Annual #10
- Astro City: The Dark Age Book 2 #2
- Detective Comics #828
- Midnighter #4
- Shazam: The Monster Society Of Evil #1
- Welcome To Tranquility #3
- Fell #7
- Fantastic Four: The End #5
- Incredible Hulk #103
- New Avengers #27
- newuniversal #3
- Uncanny X-Men #483
- X-Men Annual #1
- Cthulhu Tales: Rising
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Maintenance |
Who cleans up after Dr. Sivana?
The Maintenance guys, that's who.
I received a preview pack of the first two issues of Oni's Maintenance, by Jim Massey and Robbi Rodriguez. It's one of the perks of being a blogger: people send you stuff that you never would have bought otherwise, and you like it. I'm not much of a sitcom watcher - I think the last sitcom I watched was The Office on BBC America - and Maintenance is nothing if not sitcom. In an underground lab for scientists who are both evil and mad, Doug and Manny are the janitorial crew, cleaning up fetid piles of shit and freeing zombie kittens from the inside of vending machines.
It's funny, it's charming, and it has a wit that moves past pop-culture reference pretty quickly. I laughed out loud reading it, and immediately grew attached to the characters. Rodriguez lays out the pages well, and tackles all the weird creations the script throws his way.
The one big drawback here can probably be chalked up to the ol' comics bogeyman know as "economics". Maintenance is published in black and white with grey tones, but really sreams for a full-color treatment. The mad lab of scientists, aliens and sharkmen just doesn't have the visual punch it ought to. I understand that color's expensive ... but how many more copies does Maintenance sell if it's in full color, allowing it to become the mad Adult Swim title it is at heart?
The second issue hits stores tomorrow (February 7th), and is another solid lark: cavemen, Segways, and time travel.
Friday, February 02, 2007
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T.G.I.F.: February 2, 2007 |
Would you like to send your own postcard?
Do so at the Postcards website, and spread the T.G.I.F.-ness.
You could even do it on Monday, if you insist.
(Look at that freakin' lineup!)
Thursday, February 01, 2007
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52 on 52 #39 |
I know how that goes. I can't remember what happened to you either.
Beard Hunter, where art thou?
Pleeease keep the Metal Men action figure sized!
In a classic 52 "Clue Or Typo" moment, we go backwards from "Day 6" in Khandaq to "Day 5" for Lex's storyline.
No. You're Power Girl.
*What is this? Each week, I write exactly 52 words on that week's 52. The word count is according to the Word Count Firefox Extension. A picture is not worth a thousand words. For many more words (and excellent ones at that), check out Douglas Wolk's 52 Pickup.
