Nostalgia Versus NOT-stalgia

Trying to escape to a better adaptation.

Trying to escape to a better adaptation.

There seems to be a wave of nostalgia-based movies on the rise, but when you really think about it, there isn’t. Movies (as well as comics and “re-imagined” TV shows) based on such shows as Underdog, The A-Team, Miami Vice, Land of The Lost, Josie & The Pussycats, and most recently Jem all lack any real nostalgia. I call them Not-stalgia productions. They bare the name of something you grew up with but when you watch it you don’t see the reasons you spent time and/or money to watch or read this. Because the creators didn’t care about your show, just their story. So why does this keep happening and why is it our fault?

Continue reading →

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Adventures Of The X-Men #2

Adventures Of The X-Men #2

Apparently Wolverine doesn’t get along with anyone in the Summers family except Jean.

Adventures Of The X-Men #2

Marvel (May, 1996)

“The Green Revolution” part 2: “The Great Divide”
WRITER: Ralph Macchio
PENCILER: Mike Miller
INKER: Dan Panosian
COLORIST: Adam Wallenta
LETTERER: Ul Higgins
EDITOR: Mark Powers

The X-Men and X-Factor must put aside their differences to rescue the Hulk from the Leader, but it isn’t the Hulk the Leader wants–it’s Bruce Banner. Feeding Bruce an illusion of a happier life with Betty and without the Hulk, the Leader uses Bruce’s mind to control a set of satellites that will bathe the world in enough mild gamma radiation that they will come to him for the cure in exchange for world domination. Or so the Leader hopes. Jean is forced to take Bruce out of his happy fantasy to stop the Leader’s plan, but Beast has to finish his work when the stress causes Bruce to hulk out. The X-Men convince X-Factor to give the Hulk what he wants, to be left alone, and the brothers part on good terms.

What they got right: It was an interesting story all around. The Hulk does work well in the X-Men style and while Bruce is barely in this story you have to feel sorry for him losing his dream life.

What they got wrong: At least if you know Bruce and the Hulk’s fully backstory. Since Bruce is barely in this people who don’t know the character’s history won’t care as much as they should. The art is still getting shades of the exaggerated style that was 90s art. And congratulations for finding a character I can finally hate more than Wolverine among the good guys, namely the knockoff Wildchilde. I hope to never see him again.

Recommendation: A fair story. It may not be worth hunting down this storyline but if you come across it, it’s not a total waste of money. Just not really worth hunting down.

BW’s Art Soundoff #8: When Sick Leave Isn’t An Option

Art Soundoff logo

Guess who got a cold just as he’s getting off a Crohn’s flare-up? Yep, me. This led me to a thought as to how comic (and other creative) creators handle or prepare for sickness when sick days aren’t always an option to keep the money coming in.

Continue reading →

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Darkhawk #29

Darkhawk #29

“Hey, not on the first date!”

Darkhawk #29

Marvel (July, 1993)

“Shattered Fates” finale: “Past Shock”
WRITER: Danny Fingeroth
PENCILER: Tod Smith
INKER: Ian Akin
COLORIST: Troy Sayers
LETTERER: Bill Oakley
EDITOR: Nel Yomtov

Continue reading →

The Amazing Talents Of Hedy Lamarr

Cropped screenshot of Hedy Lamarr from the fil...

Cropped screenshot of Hedy Lamarr from the film Dishonored Lady. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t think I’ve seen a Hedy Lamarr movie but I was familiar with the name before the Google Doodle that was posted today. Once known as the most beautiful girl in the world. Lamarr didn’t just have beauty, but brains as well.

Continue reading →

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Batman & Robin Adventures #14

Batman & Robin Adventures #14

“Okay, who wants the turkey leg?”

The Batman And Robin Adventures #14

DC Comics (January, 1997)

“Dagger’s Tale”
WRITER: Ty Templeton
PENCILER: Brandon Kruse
INKER: Rick Burchett
COLORIST: Linda Medley
LETTERER: Tim Harkins
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Darren Vincenzo
EDITOR: Scott Peterson

Continue reading →

BW’s Art Soundoff #7: Forgotten And Forgettable

Art Soundoff logo

The Art Soundoff postings are coming up weird on Tumblr, just a link with a lot of space. So I’m going to start putting these installments behind the jump. NOT A PAYWALL, just the jump on the homepage and see what happens. In today’s return to the Art Soundoff, I look back at yesterday’s Jake & Leon comic and beat myself up some more as a warning to my fellow comic creating people. With some extra time I also bring up some story ideas I wish I HAD forgotten since they don’t work in this strip or any of my work.

Continue reading →