“I’m so glad I didn’t pointlessly die in some secret plot.”
Robotech: The Macross Saga #14
Comico The Comic Company (September, 1986)
“Gloval’s Report”
ADAPTATION: Jack Herman
PENCILER: Mike Leeke
INKER: Keith Wilson
COLORIST: Kurt Mausert
LETTERER: Bob Pinaha
EDITOR: Diana Schutz
One of the problems I’ve noted with comics today is that kids seem to be pushed away in favor of college kids, forgetting that not only did most of us get into comics as kids but there won’t be comics anymore, at least not superhero comics from the US, if the comics companies don’t at least try to reach the younger audiences the way Japanese manga does. John Trent of Bounding Into Comics goes over this problem and uses Seeley’s tweet above to explain why boys today seem less interested in modern US comics. The short version is they aren’t making comics for boys anymore, or at least DC and Marvel aren’t at a price they can buy them for.
I just realized I spelled Commercials wrong in the banner for this article series. Why didn’t anybody say anything?
When television was first invented you needed an antenna either on the house or on the TV itself in order to get a decent signal. Then cable and satellite came along and for a fee you could not only get local channels but channels around the country. Then the internet happened and streaming services came along to steal much of their thunder. However, while most services paid and free alike tend to follow the “on demand” mold a few exist that actually run like a cable system, with constantly running channels in real time. They can be accessed through the internet, with a few available for free, or via a streaming box with a monthly subscription or an app through a smart TV. They have fewer channels but still serves as yet another alternative.
One of these services is Sling, a service that boasts 300 channels and somehow got Danny Trejo to do a bunch of skits for them. My favorite is when he’s working in a coffee shop and a girl who just got her heart broken suddenly starts coming on to him with an emotional whiplash Masters Of The Universe figures couldn’t keep up with. Unfortunately they went as far as they could with that gag and went with something new. I say unfortunately not because I thought they could do more because ending things before they get stale is a longstanding request for this article series. It’s the campaign that came after it, a play on their name by having owners refer to themselves as “slingers”. Yes, it sounds like “swingers” and that’s the joke. A joke that somehow got worse and worse as they stuck with the joke and tried to just refresh their approach. And I just want it to stop!
Evil Kirk wishes he could grow a goatee this cool.
Star Trek: Mirror Mirror
Marvel/Paramount Comics (February, 1997)
“Fragile Glass”
WRITER: Tom DeFalco
PENCILER: Mark Bagley
INKER: Larry Mahlstedt
COLORING: Team Bucce
LETTERER: Jon Babcock
EDITOR: Bobbie Chase
The Dreamland Chronicles is a web comic I’ve brought up in years past. The story follows the adventures of a college kid named Alexander Carter whose dreams consisted of adventures in a place called Dreamland, where he and his friends used to go on adventures, until one adventure led to him being unable to dream at all. Finding an amulet he had as a kid he now finds himself able to return, only to find the adventures have grown more dangerous. And it may be leading to troubles in his waking life with his brother and a sleep researcher who aren’t sure if Alex’s adventures are a dream or another reality. It was a great comic with beautiful use of CG. I lost track of it at some point, but I know the comic shifted to 2D near the end of the run.
However, that apparently didn’t work for the creator, Scott Christian Salva, who has decided to have the comic completely redrawn, this time in 2D by Tracy Bailey, formerly of the webcomic Catena. She is a good artist but I thought the 3D art was just fine. So if you haven’t read this comic, which you really should because the story is fantastic, or you read it before and want to start over again, this is the perfect time to check it out.
You can also search for reviews of the original comic here at the Spotlight from the few issues IDW published.
Wolverine is the best there is at what he does, and if you don’t know that he’ll happily tell you. He’s known for two things, the “healing factor” that has made him nearly immortal and somehow gave him enhanced senses, and his big metal claws, later retconned to be bone claws because they wanted to ditch the adamantium but still keep his signature weapon. And now they also glow white hot after his recent resurrection because apparently death just gives Logan MORE powers. Here I thought DC was the only one misusing death.
However, since I’m continually at war with the growing insistence on “realism” that certain loud voices keep demanding we have to ask…are Wolverine’s claws even good weapons? Author and melee weapon, medieval, and fantasy enthusiast Shad M. Brooks looked into the famous blades to see if they are actually effective or just a work of fiction.
Instead of a joke I want to ask…has Blizzard ever fought Iceman? If not that’s way overdue.
Iron Man vol. 3 #41
Marvel Comics (June, 2001)
“Aftermath”
WRITER: Frank Tieri
PENCILER: Keron Grant
INKER: Rob Stull
COLORING: VLM
LETTERING: Sharpefont
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Andrew Lis
EDITOR: Bobbie Chase
The Clutter Reports (my other site) Atop The Fourth Wall Crisis On Earth Prime Lean Into Artcast Bully Says “Comics Oughta Be Fun” Siskoid’s Blog of Geekery
Cartoon Hero’s Lair SF Debris Four Million Years Later
