Welcome To My Queue: JAWS, GRIMM S.1, ONCE UPON A TIME S.1, LOCKOUT and More!

August 24, 2012, 4:00 pm

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 I'll be furiously watching and writing this weekend as I continue to play catch-up. 

After the jump check out reviews for a bunch of great and a few not so great releases.

Fire up your queues and Amazon shopping cart.

The Raid: Redemption
Sony / Released 8/14/12

Gareth Edward's sensation is a martial arts tour de force that is a must see for action fans.  A rookie member of an elite special forces team finds himself outnumbered as a raid on a criminal headquarters goes bad as the boss offers lifetime sanctuary to any criminal who takes down the special forces team.  Story and characterization are virtually non-existent as the kinetic action sequences offer plenty of gore, violence and inspired choreography.  Unfortunately, at times, the film's pace lags as the fairly redundant plotline offers little more than a bare-bones skeleton to hang an awful lot of violence on.  Extra features include commentary, video blogs, interviews, featurettes, and trailers.  The Raid: Redemption is a solid recommendation for action fans, but for those looking for more, it's likely not for you.


Spaceballs: The 25th Anniversary Edition
20th Century Fox / Released 8/7/12

The beginning of the end of Mel Brooks' reign as the king of parody, Spaceballs was dated when it was released, and twenty five years certainly hasn't made the film any better.  Brooks' take on Star Wars and period sci-fi films in general is miscast with talent not generally known for humor (Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga) and unfortunately, misdirected performances from Rick Moranis, John Candy and Brooks' himself.  Spaceballs does succeed with it's visual effects which are as comparable to pretty much anything else at the time.  The Blu-ray itself is gorgeous, with amazing picture and sound and features a plentiful supply of extras including commentary, featurettes, image galleries, storyboard to film comparisons and trailers.  I have friends who swear by Spaceballs, but the film pales in comparison to Brooks' better films; but for both Star Wars fans unfamiliar with Spaceballs or fans of Spaceballs, itself, this release is a likely must have.



Jaws
Universal / Released 8/14/12

First off, Jaws is my favorite film of all time.  It's inherently watchable, flawlessly constructed and perfectly executed.  If I come across it on television I usually stop and watch it from whatever point it's at.  It's quotable beyond belief, the more obscure lines being the most quotable ("Beaches Closed - No Swimming. By the Order of the Amity PD.  And let Polly do the printing."; "What's wrong with my printing?"; "Let Polly do the printing...").  My excitement for this Blu-ray release is only equaled by the fact that it is among one of the best Blu-ray's ever released.  Universal's restoration is amazing as are the supplements including two feature length documentaries, The Shark is Still Working and The Making of Jaws, featurettes, deleted scenes, trailers and more.  For people ready to dismiss the film on the notion that the shark looks fake, I dare you to watch the film and go for a swim in the ocean.  Jaws is a must own and a necessary addition to every Blu--ray collection.  Highest recommendation.


Glee: The Complete Third Season
20th Century Fox / Released 8/14/12

The students and characters of McKinley High School are back, improving from it's sophomore slump.  Although season three is full of stunt tribute episodes and excessive guest stars, it's best moments are the small ones, from the sweet moments between Kurt and his father in the finale, to the long overdue humanization of Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester (a character that on more than one occasion was more caricature than human being) to dealing with real issues such as spousal abuse, suicide, sexual identity, the uncertainty of one's future and coming to terms with the realization that a parent makes mistakes and aren't always as infallible as they seem.  The season does a great job transitioning several of the characters from seniors through their graduation and in several cases uncertain futures.  The cast is uniformly good and as always Heather Morris steals every scene she's in as the inimitable Brittany. Extras include deleted/extended scenes, featurettes, and the Glee jukebox feature, which indexes and allows you to find every song performed.  Glee is a fantastic series and regular viewers as well as Gleeks who were disappointed with the second season have no reason not to add this great season into their collection.  If you haven't seen the series, do yourself a favor and start with season 1 and tear through all three before the fall premiere.  Highly recommended.


Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Season One Volume One
Shout! Factory / Released 8/21/12

I was in college when the MMPR launched and never really saw much of it until now.  I always liked the concept, tried unsuccessfully to get into their first film, and now, almost twenty years after their debut consider myself a fan.  Season One Part One is certainly a bit cheesy and dated, but extremely entertaining, reminding me of the original Batman television series mixed with H.R. Pufnstuf.  This set contains 30 episodes of over the top heroes and villains, action and characters and stories and dinosaur inspired robots.  Extras are non-existent.  Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season One Volume One is an easy recommendation for nostalgiac fans of the series and a worthwhile risk for curious genre fans who dismissed the series when it was originally released.  Recommended.



Community: The Complete Third Season
Sony / Released 8/14/12

What appears to be an ordinary situation comedy on the surface, Community is anything but.  Creator Dan Harmon's work on this season can be incredibly frustrating.  As the show flirts with meta and self awareness, it sometimes finds itself torn between the most cliche episodes and others which rank as some of the best episodes of television ever produced.  At times it's hard to process whether or not if even the mundane moments on the show are intentionally crafted to be just that.  This season features a number of guest stars including John Hodgman Michael K. Williams, Jeff Garlin, Luis Guzmán, Martin Starr, Malcolm-Jamal Warner,  Giancarlo Esposito and John Goodman, but unlike other shows (I'm looking at you, 30 Rock), these appearances never take away from the series itself and only add to the complicated mythology of Greendale.  Extras include commentary on every episode, featurettes, gag reels, and deleted scenes.  Community: The Complete Third Season is a must have and it's brilliance is worth revisiting again and again.  Pop, pop!

Black Hand
Warner Archive / Released 7/10/12

Gene Kelly makes a rare dramatic performance playing Johnny Colombo in this pretty solid revenge thriller.  Kelly's father is killed by the mob when he was a child and his mother moves him back to Italy.  Years later, he returns, switchblade in hand, swearing vengeance on the terrifically named Black Hand.  Going to the authorities only makes the situation worse and Colombo is forced to assemble a gang to fight the mobsters.  Previously having only seen Kelly in musicals, I was more than pleasantly surprised by his performance.  Black Hand is a familiar tale, and certainly earns it's place as a noir/gangster film worth checking out.  Recommended.



Devil Makes Three
Warner Archive / Released 7/10/12

Gene Kelly makes another, albeit less successful, foray into drama in this predictable film where Kelly portrays a United States Army captain who is forced to help some Nazi smugglers with a nightclub hostess (Pier Angeli).  Technically, this film is beautifully shot on location in West Germany, and it's certainly a watchable film, just not a particularly memorable or must see effort.  Performances are solid, but the characters have so little in common, it's hard to connect with them as a couple.   No extras, but for a Gene Kelly fan or old movie buff, it's worth renting before a purchase.  Mildly recommended.




Heidi’s Song
Warner Archive / Released 7/31/12

A decade after Charlotte's Web, Will Hanna and Joseph Barbera returned to feature animation with this extremely dated and loose adaptation of Johanna Spyri's book; emphasizing plenty of slapstick, the addition of various creatures, cute animals and trippy dream sequences straight out of Scooby-Doo.  There are songs aplenty (none of them particularly memorable) and solid voice work all around (with special mention of Lorne Greene and Sammy Davis, Jr, as well as voice over legends Janet Waldo, Peter Cullen and Frank Welker).  Heidi's Song is definitely geared toward a young girl audience, but it's simple minded and sticky sweet execution might only service the youngest viewers.  Animation is mediocre, and the print is fairly dirty and spotty.  For parents hoping to introduce the story to their children, they might be better serviced with the more charming 1937 Shirley Temple version.



Grimm: Season One 
Universal / Released 8/7/12

In Portland, Oregon, a police detective learns his familial legacy that he is a Grimm, a human with the powers to perceive Wesen, various creatures that have been dismissed by the world as the stuff of children's fairy tales.  But that's not all, he's also a guardian, protecting the innocent and hunting and killing the monsters that lurk, hidden from mainstream society by human forms.  Plus, there's good Wesen and bad Wesen, which also can complicate things.  With the majority of the first season playing like a monster-of-the-week procedural mashed with familiar genre tropes like Buffy and Supernatural, many of the episodes feel redundant.  But, thankfully, the series finds it's footing and by season's end, the mythology is pretty well established.  And it's pretty damned fun.  Extras include featurettes, deleted scenes, gag reel and audition tapes.  Grimm is fairly standard stuff, albeit entertaining.  Stick with it, though and by the end, you'll be clamoring for more.  Recommended.


Once Upon A Time: The Complete First Season 
WDHV / Released 8/28/12

With impeccable timing, ABC's Once Upon a Time debuted just as the fairy tale reimagining trend began.  The series takes place in Storybrooke where fairy tale characters live in the modern world, frozen in time and unaware of their actual identities.  The series runs two parallel storylines, one in Storybrooke and the other in the fairy tale land where the characters and their mythologies intertwine.  One of the things that sets this show apart is that ABC is owned by Disney allowing live action versions of their iconic animated characters to be included within.  The cast is uniformly great and the mythology is extremely engaging.  Extras include featurettes, commentaries, deleted scenes, bloopers and Easter Eggs.  Once Upon a Time: Season One succeeds not only because of it's concept, but also thanks to it's spectacular execution.  Highly recommended.


Mike & Molly: The Complete Second Season
Warner Bros. / Released 8/21/12

The second season of Mike & Molly focuses on an overall arc leading to it's title characters' nuptials.  What was refreshing about the second season is they didn't waste time separating the couple and creating the illusion of change.  The story is about Mike & Molly and their life is far more interesting together than it was apart and the characters are certainly self aware of this.  The strongest element of the series is the cast and their chemistry with one another.  Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy are fantastic and the supporting cast which includes Swoosie Kurtz, Katy Mixon, Reno Wilson, Cleo King, Rondi Reed, Nyambi Nyambi, Louis Mustillo, and Holly Robinson Peete.  The second season set includes 23 episodes, a gag reel and a Wedding video featurette.  Mike & Molly doesn't break any new ground, but doesn't have to.  It's a charming, fun sitcom with a likeable cast and solid storylines and is the perfect distraction for a weekend vegging out on the couch.  Recommended.

Lockout: Unrated
Sony / Released 7/17/2012

Tremendously entertaining, Lockout is a throwback to sci-fi films of the eighties. This low budget effort starring Guy Pierce is an Escape From New York homage that offers non stop action and over the top silliness that deserves a watch.  In the future, Snow (Pierce) is the anti-hero with chip on his shoulder who after being convicted of a crime he claims he didn't commit, is given a chance for freedom when the President's daughter (Maggie Grace) is stuck on a satellite during a riot at an "escape-proof-prison" and needs a rescue.  So it's up to Swan to save the day; which he does of course.  Extras include two featurettes.  Lockout was largely ignored theatrically and deserves a wide audience, especially if your taste is tongue-in-cheek escapism.  Highly recommended.

Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation
Warner Bros. / Released 8/21/12

Now, almost forgotten, Tiny Toon Adventures was one of the early nineties' best ideas.  Under the eye of Steven Spielberg, Warner Bros. introduced a new, younger generation of cartoon characters.  The youngsters attended Acme Looniversity where many of the original Looney Toons characters appeared as instructors.  Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation was a 1992 direct to video original movie release (a rarity at the time), which focused on the summer vacation adventures of main characters Buster and Babs Bunny, Plucky Duck and Hamton J. Pig, and Elmyra Duff.  The twenty year old film is extremely pop culture savvy (if it were 1992, with appearances and/or references to Roseanne Barr, Johnny Carson, The Little Mermaid, Arsenio Hall, David Letterman, Deliverance, Jay Leno, Superman, Oprah Winfrey, and Sylvester Stallone.  Being a direct to video release, the animation quality wasn't any better than the series itself, which is fine, but there's little incentive for any new viewers to check this out (it might have been served better as a bonus in a season release if they ever continued to do so).  I remember liking this just fine back in the day (a Superman cameo used to go a long way), but watching it now, it's not nearly as clever or charming as I once remembered it.  Watching Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation is like sitting through someone's vacation photos; you recognize the players but it's more of a chore.  Extras are limited to a trailer.  Unless you grew up in the nineties and feeling nostalgiac, this release might be better left as a fond memory. 

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The Comic Drawer: AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS

August 24, 2012, 5:00 pm

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I don’t know much when it comes to literature by H.P. Lovecraft.

Sure, I know a little about it with the whole Cthulhu and Necronomicon stuff, but that is more from popular culture that references the man.


I also know a bit about H.P. Lovecraft himself.

Yes, he was a bit racist, and anti-Semitic and it seemed the man was afraid of nearly everything.

A fear of sex that arguably is portrayed in his fleshy and squishy monsters with their visceral and gross nature, night terrors that made sleeping a scary proposition, and most importantly to the graphic novel I’m reviewing, a simultaneous hatred of the cold due to Lovecraft’s sickly nature, yet fascination with barren unexplored worlds such as the Arctic.


I.N.J. Culbard has done a wonderful job adapting At the Mountains of Madness, which interprets Lovecraft’s terrifying story into a graphic narrative.

With this tale of scientists in the Antarctic, Lovecraft and Culbard literally create a picture of a bleak, desolate landscape with seemingly nothing around for miles but snow and ice. Our aforementioned protagonists are at the South Pole for the purposes of getting mineral samples, but as they stumble upon strange remains of unknown creatures they find themselves drawn to figuring out just what sort of animals—nay, monsters—they could have found.

A sense of dread permeates the book, from the never-ending cold to how we see the bloody aftermath of what happens when scientists awake, “The Elder Ones.” We never actually see any gruesome acts take place resulting in the after-effects we do witness being all the more disturbing.

I literally squirmed uncomfortably in my seat during the scene where a scientist describes dissecting one of the seemingly-dead creatures with illustrations showing the alien being in all its gross-out glory. I probably was squirming because I learned from the movie, The Thing,  which also happens to involve aliens in the Antarctic, that nothing good ever comes from trying to cut-up a mysterious creature.

As our protagonists see their numbers dwindle, two happen to come upon an ancient abandoned city,
which is gorgeously rendered by Culbard as something at once imposing and eerie in its emptiness. While one of my complaints with this story may be how the scientists decode everything in this ancient city with way too much ease, dumping exposition upon us at an alarming rate, the book does sort of explain how this knowledge could have been gained from a nightmarish book known as the Necronomicon.

Yes, this Lovecraft story combines many of his favorite themes as the foreword points out, to create a cohesive story followers of Lovecraft will especially enjoy with all its call-backs to the aforementioned Necronomicon, Shoggoths, and Elder Ones. Those of you like me who know just a little of all this mythos will definitely appreciate the scientists explaining all the back-story even if it is shoe-horned in as I mentioned.

It isn’t all the back-story we get about the strange creatures that populate Lovecraft’s works which I enjoyed the most however. No, it was the aforementioned constant feeling of unease that the book carries, with you knowing terrible things are bound to happen to many of the men on this expedition and all you can do is wait to see what terrible fates await them.

This unease is elevated by Culbard’s expert artwork. It is at times minimalistic, with the scientists looking almost like cartoon caricatures, and other times hyper-detailed such as when depicting a breathtaking view of the creepy city. While one often will feel uncomfortable with the more gut-wrenching bits of the story such as the aforementioned scene where an ancient monster is cut-up or we see the horrible remains of the men who dared attempt to autopsy that which wasn’t quite dead, the story never is overwhelmingly violent or gross.

If you don’t know much about Lovecraft but enjoy comics, this is a good way to dip your toe into the literary waters of horror fiction while also getting your fix of illustrated goodness. Also, if you are fond of Lovecraft’s work but don’t read comics much, this is a wonderful way to try them out while sticking with a story that’s bound to be familiar to you. Lastly, if you love horror comics or just horror in general this is also a great read.
 
So basically no matter how you slice it this is a book worth picking up.

Do so, and hope that you don’t have nightmares.

I myself like the plush versions of Cthulhu you can buy at stores because it takes something horrifying and makes it cute, presumably keeping the Elder Ones out of your dreams. At least that’s what I tell myself at night now that after reading this book I could swear I hear the cries of the monsters when the air conditioner blows—“Tekeli-li, Tekeli-li! “

Yeah, sleeping has been harder lately.

WTF FRIDAY: Here's An Upsetting Video To Start Your Weekend With

August 24, 2012, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE Some 'Half-Life' Crossbow Action With the Tune 'Cotton Eye Joe'? Pure Beauty.

≪ Previous: The Comic Drawer: AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS

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I'm tired and have very little energy left so let's just agree that this video is a nice stopping point to end our week on shall we?

I'd like to tell you that it's enjoyable but it isn't. In fact, it's nightmare fuel so, if you decide to watch it, you've been warned.

Have a good weekend.


Source: Topless Robot

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE Some 'Half-Life' Crossbow Action With the Tune 'Cotton Eye Joe'? Pure Beauty.

August 27, 2012, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Search Results BOOK REPORT: Book News For The Week of August 26th, 2012

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 It's Monday and I don't know about you but I could always start my work week off with a nice heaping spoonful of rage and chaos.

And thank goodness there's a video that embodies all the goriness and horror that in my secret heart I would like to commit (had I lost my soul and cared nothing for humankind) set to the haunting tune of Cotton Eye Joe.

Yes, it's certainly gonna be a good week.


Source: Unreality

Search Results BOOK REPORT: Book News For The Week of August 26th, 2012

August 27, 2012, 10:00 am

≫ Next: PUT A SLEEPER HOLD ON YOUR BEER With This Luchador Bottle Opener

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Rowling-Patchett Event 
J. K. Rowling will be making her only US visit on October 16th in New York to promote her new adult book, The Casual Vacancy, in conversation with author Ann Patchett.  The Casual Vacancy comes out September 27th.

Enhanced Inheritance 
On October 23, Random House will be released an "enhanced" ebook version of Christopher Paolini's book, Inheritance, featuring 17 behind-the-scenes commentary videos embedded in the text.

Young Adult's Hottest New Trend: Mermaids? 
In an interesting article from IO9, they analyze the number of young adult books being released featuring mermaids, and posits whether this is the new trend after vampires and dystopias.

Contemporary Authors as Adjectives 
We're all familiar with the terms "Orwellian" or "Kafkaesque," and now Flavorwire brings you some new adjective for contemporary authors.

10 Coolest Niche Bookstores From Around the World 
A lot of people, when they travel, want to check out the unusual bookstores dotting our globe.  Here's a quick list to help you find them.

PUT A SLEEPER HOLD ON YOUR BEER With This Luchador Bottle Opener

August 27, 2012, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Damning with Faint Praise: HONDO

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 There is nothing more awesome in life than handing your friends a novelty bottle opener and watching their face as they reconsider your coolness (this happens right?).

In fact, I'm pretty sure that just owning one of these Lucadors will up your "Fuck Yeah" factor immensely.

Think about it. You have your fridge stocked with cases of Zima and Bartles and Jaymes wine coolers (that you bought intentionally without any irony ) and your friends are starting to question why they hang around with you.

Until you toss them one of these:

All of a sudden you are no longer a douchebag with a bad selection of brew, instead you are throwing a nostalgic High-School theme party (complete with a mean game of 7 Minutes in Heaven going on in your hall closet).

So you see, buying one of these is a sure way of making yourself the King/Queen of the Social Gathering.

You're welcome.

Source: Boing Boing

Damning with Faint Praise: HONDO

August 27, 2012, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: WHEN SCIENCE AND CYPRESS HILL MEET You Get Insane In the Chromatophores (Science Nerds Will Appreciate That Joke)

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This 1953 Western is 86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, where 74% of the audience report liking it.  It’s a bit too old to have a Metacritic score, but it’s relevant today because it’s been digitally remastered.

I got a chance to catch it in widescreen on AMC, and I was glad to watch it again – even if it wasn’t in 3D.

Yes, Hondo was originally shot in 3D, and there are several scenes in the movie that were clearly meant to take advantage of that format.

Synopsis
In 1870 New Mexico, the Chiricahua Apache under Victorio (Michael Pate) are on the warpath. Courier Hondo Lane (John Wayne) witnesses Victorio wipe out a cavalry troop and rides his horse to death trying to get the news back to the US Army. He walks out of the desert into a homestead, where Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page) and her son Johnny (Lee Aaker, star of TV’s Rin Tin Tin) are waiting for her husband to return. Try as he might, Hondo can’t get the Lowes to pack up and head for safety. Will the Army arrive first, or the Apache?


Verdict
If you can get past the corn of the period marketing, there’s a tense love story here with rich, complex, characters.

My wife had an opinion about John Wayne. She thought he was a corny, clichéd, actor who didn’t make any good movies until he was old and fat. Hondo is one of the movies that showed her there was more to the Duke’s career than the simple oaters the studios forced him to make when he started out.

In 1953, the Marion Morrison was 46 years old and on his second of three marriages. He already had the John Ford cavalry trilogy (Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Rio Grande) under his belt, as well as war movies like Sands of Iwo Jima. He and John Ford had already made The Quiet Man (which should have been on my list of Greatest Movies), and Hondo was his fourth movie of 1953.

So he was an experienced, hard-working, actor by this time. Unfortunately, that also meant that he had a specific image that the studios used to sell his movies. That image made it harder for him to find a variety of roles. He got lucky with this one.



Hondo Lane isn’t just a starring role, it’s the core of the movie. Hondo lives by his values. He’s honest, and he’s independent, and he’s got the skills and toughness to back those values up.

Like John Wayne, Hondo had already been married once when he meets Angie. Hondo’s first wife was a Comanche woman, who passed away. He knows and understands love, and yet his feelings for Angie sneak up on him.

She certainly doesn’t treat Hondo well. She lies to him. She pulls a gun on him. Like Hondo, she’s trapped by her situation. She’s a woman, alone, on an isolated farm. Hondo is a stranger. She does what she does to protect herself, and Johnny. Over time, she realizes that Hondo is a genuinely good man living in a hard situation, and comes to trust him.

These characters drive the action of the film, and you’re almost disappointed when issues with the Army of the Apache intrude on the story of Hondo and Angie. Intrude they do, though, led by actors like Ward Bond and James Arness.

Victorio, for his part, gets far more character development than most Native American characters in Westerns of the period. He is not a cardboard cutout of a bad guy. Like Hondo, Victorio lives in a world that’s changing, and that no longer values the same things he was brought up to respect. His values lead him into inevitable conflict with the US government and the Army. His losses fuel his anger, and drive him forward, but don’t blind him to the courage of a boy protecting his mother.



Lurking under the corny marketing and the simmering love story is a meditation on values and change. Hondo can survive in the changing world because he is capable of change. Angie brings that out in him. Victorio, on the other hand, would rather die true to himself and his traditions than change.

Who’s to say which is the better way?

Watch the digitally remastered Hondo and decide for yourself.

WHEN SCIENCE AND CYPRESS HILL MEET You Get Insane In the Chromatophores (Science Nerds Will Appreciate That Joke)

August 27, 2012, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Jimmy Cliff's Glorious REBIRTH

≪ Previous: Damning with Faint Praise: HONDO

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This is a squid getting jiggy with it

 Okay, so this here is a science experiment conducted by some really high scientists who obviously spent an entire night in the lab, smoking some chronic, and listening to mixtapes on an old boombox that they found in a closet.

I would try and explain the concept behind what they were doing but I'm one of those Liberal Arts people who are mad that they didn't go into science therefore I can't translate their work into "English-Major Speak"

So this is what they said:

"During experiments on the axons of the Woods Hole squid (loligo pealei), we tested our cockroach leg stimulus protocol (an iPod) on the squid's chromatophores. The results were both interesting and beautiful."

Here's what that looked like:


For more info on what the fuck this all means click HERE.

Source: Geekologie

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Jimmy Cliff's Glorious REBIRTH

August 27, 2012, 6:42 pm

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It's been a really good year for album releases by music legends.

There have been great albums turned out by the usually reliable: Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Americana, Patti Smith, Bhangra, Air, La Voyage Dans la Lune, Paul McCartney, Kisses On The Bottom, Tom Jones, Spirit In The Room, and Public Image Ltd., This Is PIL. 

The Beach Boys delivered a surprisingly wonderful (and I have to admit, completely unexpected) album, That's Why God Made The Radio, and two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers released not only among the year's best albums, they are two of my faves of this year, plus they will also rank alongside these artists discographies finest.

The first album is Dr. John's Locked Down, reviewed previously here, and the second, the subject of this Mystery Box— the newest album by Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, astutely entitled Rebirth.

The Beginnings

Jimmy Cliff migrated from his hometown of St. James, Jamaica to the capitol, Kingston, at age 13 so that he could attend the Kingston Technical School. Already he had begun writing songs before the move, and now was even more determined, knowing the capitol was the home of Jamaica's bustling music business.

He was enamored of the Sound Systems that were pumping out music for the local dance parties and knew he wanted to be a singer and songwriting star.

Sending songs to various producers and entering talent shows proved fruitless.

From his bio Cliff recalls, "One night I was walking past a record store and restaurant as they were closing, pushed myself in and convinced one of them, Leslie Kong, to go into the recording business, starting with me."

Leslie Kong

Leslie Kong, had begun along with his two brothers running an ice cream parlor, a restaurant and a record store called Beverly's. The first single of Jimmy Cliff's that Kong would release on his new record label Beverly's would be "Dearest Beverly."

It failed as did a couple more until Cliff finally had a Jamaican hit at age 14 with "Hurricane Hattie." The song, produced by Leslie Kong, kick-started Jimmy Cliff's career and would see him working with Leslie Kong for the rest of Kong's life until Kong's death in 1971.

Leslie Kong would become one of the seminal figures in Jamaican music, recording the first Bob Marley single "One Cup Of Coffee"/"Judge Not", and becoming one of the three shareholders (along with Chris Blackwell in the U.K.) who began Island Records. Kong would subsequently record the many early Jamaican music styles, from Ska through Rocksteady and Reggae with artists such as Toots and The Maytals, Joe Higgs, Desmond Dekker, Ken Booth and John Holt.

Jimmy Cliff would become one of the Jamaican representatives for the 1964 World's Fair, and in 1965 he would move to the U.K. to sign with Island Records which was now solely owned by Chris Blackwell after Blackwell bought out Leslie Kong's portion of the label. Kong continued to license Jamaican music to Island Records.

At first Jimmy Cliff was pushed by Island unsuccessfully towards a rock audience.

His debut album for Island, 1968's Hard Road To Travel, did give Cliff international recognition with the song "Waterfall" and his 1969 album Jimmy Cliff contained the hit songs "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" (a #25 hit in the U.S.!) and one of Bob Dylan's favorite protest songs, "Vietnam." A 1970 cover of Cat Stevens "Wild World" would also become a huge U.K. hit single.

The Harder They Come

In 1972 Jimmy Cliff's starring role as the character Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin—a young man with nothing but dreams—who comes to Kingston in search of making it in the music business. The film was Jamaican director Perry Henzell's The Harder They Come.

Jimmy Cliff as Ivan in The Harder They Come

The movie would bring Cliff international recognition and underground acclaim, but not the mainstream success he was hoping for. It would become the first important Jamaican film and eventually snowball into one of the biggest and greatest of Jamaican films—all propelled by Cliff's outstanding performance as the Rude Boy rebel, a realistic and gritty portrayal of Jamaica that was a far cry from the touristy beach resorts in Jamaican travel brochures, and a soundtrack album on Island Records that was absolutely astonishing.

Jimmy Cliff in the film, recording "The Harder They Come"

The Harder They Come soundtrack included one new song, the title track by Jimmy Cliff (in one of the film's classic moments, he's seen recording it in the studio), a couple of older Cliff songs, and a remainder of songs by various Jamaican artists.

Director Perry Henzell compiled the soundtrack quickly, using some of his favorite tracks that he though might work in the film. They ended up working with the film miraculously, as if they were expertly scripted to the visuals. The album brought attention to Reggae music around the world and the soundtrack has since been acknowledged as among one of the greatest albums of all time, and for myself, it is up there with my all time faves.

So you would think the everything was right for Jimmy Cliff to become a superstar, however, The Harder They Come was not released in the U.S. until 1975, and earlier, Island Records focused on another Jamaican artist signed to their roster, Bob Marley...

Rebirth

So why now call his 2012 album Rebirth?

After The Harder They Come, Jimmy Cliff briefly left the music business and traveled as a new Islamic convert to Africa.

He returned, with his new religion influencing his material and signed with Reprise Records in the U.S. and EMI in the U.K. and then later Columbia Records. Over the decades Cliff continued to release albums, tour worldwide, make film appearances (1986's Club Paradise), have songs appear on soundtracks (a cover of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" was a hit from the 1993 film Cool Runnings) have his songs covered by other artists, contribute to both the We Are The World and Sun City benefit albums, and make guest appearances on other artists' albums (the Rolling Stones' 1986 Dirty Work).

Yet, he never quite regained the remarkable ascension that had been promised with The Harder They Come.

Yes, some albums were very good, his voice still outstanding and his tours always wonderful, but at times he reached for too many modern sounds, and seemed to lose the vibrancy and spark of his earlier work. With his 2004 album Black Magic Jimmy Cliff took a turn into making a duets album, for myself always a warning sign of a career on the slide.

Even with such luminaries as Joe Strummer, Sting and Wyclef Jean on board, the album is decent but seems too much a slick, modern hodgepodge of trying too hard and coming off more lightweight.

Still a promising bit of news came when Jimmy Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. This was at least a sign of how appreciated his contributions to music have been.

But damn, Ivan, your fire has surely been missed!

In 1987 a California band called Operation Ivy became one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk with ska, to create "ska-core." Two members, Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong, also played in a bunch of side project bands, with one that ended up becoming a huge bestselling, critically acclaimed, hit making major label act—Rancid.

Always the devoted reggae fan and a huge Jimmy Cliff fan, Tim Armstrong was intent on getting the singer back to his roots, and to write songs and create the music that he began with, utilizing the styles and the sounds that were a part of that classic time period of Jamaican music. He also knew that there always was a connection between punk rock and reggae, with the rebelliousness of both apparent, and with bands such as The Clash closing any gaps that the two genres might have ever had.

Cliff and Armstrong's first collaboration together was a cover of The Clash's "Guns Of Brixton" and then a five song E.P. called Sacred Fire. The E.P. contained "Guns Of Brixton", one Cliff original song "Ship Is Sailing", a cover of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" a cover of Rancid's hit song "Ruby Soho" and a reworked "Brixton Version".

Things could not have worked out better, with Cliff's voice so well suited to the material making it all his own. Critics took notice and reggae/rock/punk and pop fans knew something special was taking place. As a producer, Tim Armstrong and his backing band, named The Engine Room, were strict to adhere to using vintage equipment, both for their own instrumentation and for the recording studio equipment.

2012's full length album Rebirth, is so named because Jimmy Cliff feels his career is experiencing a new rebirth, both in rediscovering his musical roots and the new-found acclaim that has been garnering.

To call Rebirth a full on Jimmy Cliff comeback, a return to form, and one of the year's best, is not to merely heap faint praise. From the opening track "World Upside Down" Cliff's songwriting is better than it has been in a long time, his voice youthfully strong, and the music full-on authentically vintage Jamaica.

"One More" the album's first single, is so good it requires repeated listenings. In the song, Cliff delivers his statement of purpose for Rebirth: "I got on more shot at the goal/straight from the soul/I'm in control".

All of the musical colors of reggae, from ska to bluebeat, rocksteady to the deepest of roots are present on the album. There isn't a solitary misstep, a clunker or a misguided attempt to cash in on any modern trends. One hears the vintage magic of Lee Scratch Perry's Upsetters, Studio One Productions and all those great early Leslie Kong platters.

"Guns Of Brixton," "Ruby Soho" and "Ship Is Sailing" all feature on the track listing as well as a song that really showcases just how great an album this is: To a galloping beat, "Reggae Music" is Jimmy Cliff's autobiographical look at his own history, tossing in remarkable wordplay, recounting his days auditioning for Leslie Kong, and the paths that Cliff's musical career took.

This is not to say that Rebirth ever feels nostalgic or too steeped in the past to be relevant now. That's hardly the case, as Cliff's songwriting here is filled with vitriol ("World Upside Down"), societal questioning ("Children's Bread") and an underground, outsider defiance ("Rebel Rebel," "Outsider").

A tip of the hat to Tim Armstrong for bringing back Jimmy Cliff and perhaps even a resurgence of interest in reggae music in general. Armstrong has managed to spurn on Cliff's songwriting, to capture the sounds that so well suit his voice and to rebirth his already fascinating career. It could not have been as easy as listening to this wonderful album would make it seem.

Rebirth is a masterpiece and an instant classic. One worthy enough to make even The Harder They Come's Ivan—in all his guns-a-blazin' rebel glory—mighty proud indeed.

For, as Jimmy Cliff has recently said "2012 is my time".

IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER COLLEGE, Here's A Few Words of Wisdom

August 27, 2012, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: The Pull List: THE FLASH #12, BATMAN INCORPORATED #3, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #692

≪ Previous: Jimmy Cliff's Glorious REBIRTH

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Not to be confused for reality

 Hello college freshman who are filled with anticipation,

I just want to welcome you to a new stage of life where a good chunk of you will experience the wonders of STD's, alcohol poisoning and, most likely, college loan debt that will cripple your ability to make a decent living after you graduate.

Oh it's going to be fun.

At this point in your collegiate life you will be asked to choose a major that will determine your eternal fate (and which you will look back on at the age of thirty-eight and wonder why the fuck you picked it).

Now, I know that at eighteen you have this wonderful idea that you can make a difference and if you major in philosophy or the Liberal Arts, somehow this will propel you toward your goal of saving the planet or whatever.

This idea is wrong.

The only difference you are going to make in the world is whether or not you are going to suck as a human being or live quietly until you die.

Those are your actual options.

I realize this advice is scary and confusing but the video below might help you choose a path that you hate least.

And really, it's all you have to look forward to- hating your life less than the person next to you.

Good luck!


Source: Geeks Are Sexy

The Pull List: THE FLASH #12, BATMAN INCORPORATED #3, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #692

August 27, 2012, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: HELP SAVE KARL KESEL'S COMIC COLLECTION From Being Sold To Pay For Healthcare Expenses!

≪ Previous: IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER COLLEGE, Here's A Few Words of Wisdom

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Check out what I checked out this week.

Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.

Welcome to The Pull List.

And, as always...Spoilers ahead!

The Amazing Spider-Man #692 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Dan Slott, Dean Haspiel & Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art: Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba & Dean Haspiel
Colors: Edgar Delgado, Giulia Brusco & Nuno Plati
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $5.99

It’s Spider-Man’s Birthday and he is celebrating in style with an oversized Anniversary issue.

So, what does one get a superhero for their fiftieth?

The answer is a sidekick.

Dan Slott introduces the world to underachieving teenager; Andy Maguire. There is nothing special about him at all until a laboratory accident changes his life forever. This is all too familiar to one Peter Parker and he decides to take the youngster under his wing. The writing in this series is consistently entertaining and the artwork and colors bring an energy that would only be suited for the wall crawler.

At first, I was puzzled as to why Spider-Man would not be the focus this issue. However, a landmark such as this should bring about new horizons that justify the occasion and the elevated price tag.

Without question Spider-Man is one of the most popular characters not only in comic books but in pop culture. Everyone should join in on the party and pick up this book.

Now, I wonder what he wished for when he blew out the candles on his cake?

Grade: A

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison #4 of 5
Writer: Haden Blackman
Art: Agustin Alessio
Letters: Michael Heisler
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50

The last issue saw Lieutenant Laurita Tohm, Moff Trachta and Darth Vader hiding out on a secret Jedi prison while the Emperor is in critical condition.

In order to successfully implement their strategy, they need an army in order to retake Corusant. Tohm suggests the prisoners but Darth Vader doesn’t want them all and decides to hold “tryouts”.

The plot’s ingenuity really shines here. When Tohm conducts a background check on the prisoners, he notices they all have one thing in common: an arrest at the hands of Anakin Skywalker.

Tohm feels Vader is simply using Sith methods to create an army but he doesn’t know that he is really standing next to the very individuals who knows prisoners better than anyone.

Agustin Alessio’s art has been solid throughout the series and I see no signs of him slowing down.

This will probably go down as the best Star Wars series of the year as the 20 year gap between episodes III & IV are a writer's dream because there is so much ground to cover.

Grade: A-

The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Chris Samnee
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99

It’s safe to say that Mark Waid could write an entertaining comic book about paint drying on a wall.

Suffice to say, the latest adventures of Cliff Secord produced page by page drama, suspense and action.

The story opens and really revolves around with a young aspiring pilot named Sally who gets stuck in a sticky situation. She is strong willed and has a big heart. You can’t help but to like her which is always a plus when telling a story.

Chris Samnee brings his talents on board and the detail in his pencil work is something special.

There is a certain authenticity to his work that makes you feel you are reading a comic from the 1940’s. Bellaire’s color treatment is the exclamation mark on one hell of a first issue!

Grade: B+

The Flash #12
Writer: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

The Flash is the appropriate title for this issue because while reading it, before you know it, it’s over.

The credit goes to the crisp writing of Manapul and Buccellato.

Plot thread after plot thread weaves its way seamlessly through the pages and the artwork perfectly complements this achievement. If this doesn’t convince you to read this book then I have something else for you.

THE ROGUES ARE BACK, and in full force.

There is a twist to this equation as one of them is on the outs and plans to put himself back in by any means necessary.

My fellow constituents at the comic book store and I often discuss whether or not the Rogues should have powers.

It is a welcome change in my opinion and I can’t wait to see what the creative team cooks up next.

Grade: B+

The Punisher #14
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Mico Suavan
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99

The latest installment of Greg Rucka’s run on The Punisher suggests that something big is coming down the pipe.

Right now, we will just have to settle for another outstanding issue.

I know, I know. It’s a little hard to swallow, but you’ll get over it.

Frank Castle and Rachel Cole-Alves look for a way into the Exchange’s headquarters.

The golden ticket is in the form of a certain piece of super villain paraphernalia. This all leads to a very intense confrontation between Cole-Alves and the puppet master responsible for killing her family.

Everything about the beginning, middle and end of this moment was beyond clever as you never saw any of it coming. This includes Castle swinging in to save the day using one of Spider-Man’s web shooters.

The image has to be seen to be believed and is nicely put together by Mico Suavan.

Overall, this is a solid comic in every way.

Grade: B

Batman Incorporated #3
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Chris Burnham
Colors: Nathan Fairbairn
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

Grant Morrison is giving Scott Snyder some serious competition as to who writes the best Batman series.

This is the issue that was delayed one month due to the tragic shootings in Aurora Colorado.

I personally didn’t think the content in question was a big deal, but kudos to DC Comics for taking the moral high ground. Matches Malone is back in the fold and he is an effective weapon for Batman Incorporated as he sniffs around to find out anything and everything on Leviathan.

Morrison’s writing and Burnham’s depictions gel together perfectly as the books opening shows how Leviathan easily infiltrates everyday life in Gotham.

It almost seems as if the city is lost and the caped crusader and company just don’t know it.

Was this book worth the wait? The answer is a resounding yes.

Grade: B+

Mind MGMT #4
Writer, Artist, Colorist: Matt Kindt
Cover: Matt Kindt
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99

This was one of the rare times I judged a book by its cover.

I couldn’t control myself. It reminds me of the endless hours I spent playing Echo the Dolphin in middle school.

Matt Kindt has created a series that is intriguing to the nth degree.

While children and most teenagers will disagree with my opinion, the shrewd ingenuity of Matt Kindt is evident on every page, every panel and every word balloon. I’d recommend reading the first three issues before jumping in as there is a lot to catch up on.

The gist of the overall story is a down and out author named Meru who is hot on the trail of her next big story.

The Mind MGMT group lurks in the shadows and we come to learn they have played a role in a lot of events in history. If you are looking for something new I recommend you give this series a try.

Grade: B+

Here are some other titles that didn't make the list but may just tickle your fancy.

The Bionic Man #12 (Dynamite Entertainment) 
Bionic Man vs. Bionic Bigfoot in a backwoods slug fest. What else to I need to say

Wolverine #312 (Marvel Comics)
Logan ups the violence factor as he gets to the bottom of Sabertooth’s resurrection.

Invincible Iron-Man #523 (Marvel Comics) 
A well-paced story that begs the question, is Rhodey really dead?

HELP SAVE KARL KESEL'S COMIC COLLECTION From Being Sold To Pay For Healthcare Expenses!

August 27, 2012, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: DVD/BD NEWS; BBC America Announces COPPER

≪ Previous: The Pull List: THE FLASH #12, BATMAN INCORPORATED #3, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #692

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If you came of age in the late 80s/90s and read any comics at all, then the name Karl Kesel means something to you.

The writer/inker demi-god (at least in my perspective) was delicious staple food during the mid-nineties when I got hooked on his Superboy series for DC comics and suddenly found myself in total fangirl crush-mode on Kon-El.

But his list of accomplishments are not just limited to the Superboy title, oh no, Kesel has been a a mainstay in the comic industry for DC, Marvel and Darkhorse since the early 80s working on such comics as Fantastic Four (where he revealed that The Thing was Jewish), Harley Quinn, Superman and so many more that to list them all would require keeping your attention for more than five minutes.

But here's, the downer portion.

Kesel and his wife Myra just adopted a son who was born addicted to heroin and the combination of doctor's bills and adoption fees (upwards of $67,000) are forcing Kesel to sell off his prized collection of rare comics that's taken 40+ years to accumulate (which he is happy to do considering he has a wonderful and now, thankfully, healthy son Issac-click HERE to buy some).

Which leads me to plug an indiegogo fundraising opportunity set up by some people who think that one shouldn't have to sell your awesome shit to pay for something like medical bills.

If you happen to be a fan of Kesel's and the idea of seeing him having to sell off such comics as: Amazing Spiderman #1 just so the insurance can suckle at the teat of American pocketbooks some more makes your head explode, then maybe you can help a brother out by donating a couple of bucks HERE.

I know times can be tough but there's no reason we can't support the people who make being a huge Nerd worth it right? So help out if you can or spread the word.  

Superboy would want you to.

Source: io9

DVD/BD NEWS; BBC America Announces COPPER

August 28, 2012, 7:00 am

≫ Next: COMIC NEWS: MADEFIRE Announces Three New Titles; Ben Abernathy Joins As Editor

≪ Previous: HELP SAVE KARL KESEL'S COMIC COLLECTION From Being Sold To Pay For Healthcare Expenses!

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COPPER

BBC AMERICA’S FIRST ORIGINAL DRAMA BECOMES THE CHANNEL’S HIGHEST RATED SERIES PREMIERE EVER

COMING TO BLU-RAY AND DVD OCTOBER 30

“**** COPPER shines bright” – New York Daily News

“BBC AMERICA's first original scripted series, is hearty and smart.” – Associated Press

"COPPER has much to recommend it: action, passion and great performances arising from an exploration of classic American themes…TV gold for BBC AMERICA." – San Francisco Chronicle

BBC Home Entertainment invites you to join New York’s Finest when COPPER shoots its way to Blu-ray and DVD on October 30, 2012. Wall Street Journal calls this gripping drama “powerful,” while Boston Globe says, “COPPER casts a spell.” The first original scripted series from BBC AMERICA which premiered on Sunday, August 19, became the channel’s highest rated series premiere ever when it delivered 1.8 million* viewers in total audience. The series, which is filled with intrigue, corruption, mystery and murder, follows Detective Kevin Corcoran – a rugged Irish immigrant cop – as he seeks justice for the powerless in the notorious immigrant neighborhood of Five Points.

Created by Emmy®-winner Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz, The Borgias), Academy Award®-nominee Will Rokos (Monster’s Ball, Southland) and executive produced by Academy Award®-winner Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, You Don’t Know Jack) and Cineflix Studios President, Christina Wayne (Broken Trail and executive in charge of Mad Men), together with Fontana and Rokos – this series will keep you at the edge of your seat till the very last moment.

Set in 1864 New York City, Detective Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones) returns home from the Civil War to find his daughter has been murdered and his wife has disappeared. Distraught and searching for answers, Corcoran’s relentless quest to find justice for his family fuels his pursuit to help the unfortunate residents of Five Points. Assisted by Sixth Precinct partner and friend, Detective Francis Maguire (Kevin Ryan) and Detective Andrew O’Brien (Dylan Taylor), Corcoran goes the extra mile when investigating a crime, much to the dismay of his superiors.

More often than not, Corcoran’s investigations lead him to the steps of the elite citizens of Fifth Avenue. When a young girl is murdered in Five Points, he finds himself at the home of trusted friend and Manhattan aristocrat, Robert Morehouse (Kyle Schmidt). Mustered out of the 71st regiment with Corcoran, Morehouse feels more at home with the immigrants in Five Points than with high-society types. When Corcoran digs into the girl’s murder, Morehouse sets him on the trail of those who believe their status puts them above the law.

Corcoran is thrust into the contrasting worlds of elegant and corrupt Fifth Avenue, and the emerging African-American community in Northern Manhattan with secrets from the battlefield that will haunt him forever.

Bonus Features Include:

• Talent Commentary On Select Episodes
• Deleted Scenes
• “Making of” Documentary
• Character Video Profiles and Featurettes

About BBC Worldwide Americas:
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide Americas brings together all of BBC Worldwide businesses across North and South America. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer, and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Digital. Under these businesses fall two key brands in the U.S. – digital cable channel BBC AMERICA and BBC Worldwide Productions, the production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars.

COMIC NEWS: MADEFIRE Announces Three New Titles; Ben Abernathy Joins As Editor

August 28, 2012, 8:00 am

≫ Next: PLAY WITH MY CROTCH: The Etch-A-Sketch Belt Buckle Makes It Easy To Interact With Drunk People

≪ Previous: DVD/BD NEWS; BBC America Announces COPPER

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Madefire Heats Up iPads With Launch of Weekly Digital Comics; DC Digital Editor Joins Storytelling Team

Weekly Release of All New Motion Books Fires Up With Three All New Titles and Four New Episodes; Industry Veteran From DC Digital, Ben Abernathy, Joins as Editor

SAN FRANCISCO, August 28, 2012 - As webbed superhero Spider-Man turns 50 and looks toward his golden years, the new heroes and myths of the 21st century are being born on the Madefire App for iPad. Madefire, a digital publishing and content company that is revolutionizing the comic and graphic novel industry, is heating up the summer following its June 21st launch with its announcement today of weekly 'Motion Book' releases, including three all new titles and four new episodes of currently available Madefire titles. Each title -- exclusive to Madefire -- features the artistry and story worlds of renowned comic book creators, including Dave Gibbons, Brian Bolland, Doug Braithwaite, and Liam Sharp, as well as up-and-coming creators like Kinman Chan and Ben Wolstenholme.

Madefire is the only publisher offering episodic digital comics in the immersive Motion Books format, which are continuously delivered on the free, five-star rated (overall) Madefire App for iPad 1, 2 and 3.

"Madefire's 'Motion Books' offer readers an immersive, dynamic experience that cannot be had anywhere else," says Dave Gibbons, creator of Watchmen and member of Madefire's Board of Advisors. "In transforming the reading experience, Madefire is equally committed to delivering a steady dose of innovative, original content that gets readers excited about coming back every week for more."

The weekly content push rolls out with new titles and episodes that will be released throughout August and September, and will include:

"Captain Stone Is Missing. . ." (episode 02) by Liam Sharp & Christina McCormack

"The Engine"  (episodes 01 and 02) by Guy Adams & Jimmy Broxton (ep. 01 released August 15)

"The Irons"  by Haden Blackman & Gary Erskine (released August 8)

"Mono" (episode 02) by Ben Wolstenholme and Liam Sharp

"Treatment: Mexico City"  by Dave Gibbons, Doug Braithwaite and Robbie Morrison

"Treatment: Tokyo" (episode 02) by Dave Gibbons, Kinman Chan and Robbie Morrison, with cover by Brian Bolland
As part of its ongoing commitment to delivering original content created by industry leaders and up-and-coming talent, Madefire also announced that 14-year industry veteran Ben Abernathy will join the company as Editor. Abernathy most recently served as Group Editor for DC Digital, a division of DC Entertainment, where he was instrumental in every platform launch and initiative including the daily content release of digital first material. Abernathy began his career with Dark Horse Comics as an Assistant Editor. He later worked in creative services and editorial for both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Abernathy will assume his new editorial role on September 4.

"Having Ben join the Madefire team is a huge step forward for the company," says Liam Sharp, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Madefire. "Releasing this many original new titles and episodes within a three month period is virtually unheard of in the comics space. Ben's experience and vision will be vital as Madefire continues to deliver original, high-quality, episodic content to readers on a weekly basis."

Since launching, the Madefire App has maintained a 5-star average rating in the Apple App Store. Madefire stories are optimized to take full advantage of iPad's leading features and functionality, including the gyroscope, accelerometer and Retina display. Madefire's titles are built on its Motion Book Tool, which is currently in private beta and is being made available to the wider creator community through phased betas.

The Madefire App for iPad is available for free from the App Store, and all Madefire titles are available for free through the app. You can view the Madefire launch video, and download Madefire images and the media kit from the online press kit.


About Madefire
Founded in 2011 by Ben Wolstenholme, Liam Sharp and Eugene Walden, Madefire provides artists and writers a publishing solution for iPad allowing them to build their stories in an exciting new format called Motion Books. Madefire is backed by Toni Schneider at True Ventures, with angel investors including Sina Tamaddon, former Senior Vice President of Applications for Apple Inc -- both of whom are on Madefire's Board of Advisors. The Advisory Board also includes industry leaders Mike McCue, CEO and Founder of Flipboard, Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen, the bestselling graphic novel of all time, and Bill Sienkiewicz, widely recognized as one of the greatest innovators of sequential art. For more information go to madefire.com, or download the Madefire App for iPad.

PLAY WITH MY CROTCH: The Etch-A-Sketch Belt Buckle Makes It Easy To Interact With Drunk People

August 28, 2012, 9:00 am

≫ Next: ZACK ATTACK! "Save The Frogs"

≪ Previous: COMIC NEWS: MADEFIRE Announces Three New Titles; Ben Abernathy Joins As Editor

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I wish I had this belt buckle back when I was in the heyday of my clubbing years because it would have made my pick-up line to gentlemen a bit less awkward (the line: "Wanna Touch It?").

Alas, I'm no longer single and nowadays if I want my significant bother to spelunk my nether region all I have to do is lift up my shirt and say "It sure is hot out".

But I still might buy an Etch-a-Sketch belt buckle just because it would certainly make those long boring minutes in the grocery store line go by a little easier, especially if I could Etch myself various body parts on it (I have the mind of a fourteen-year-old boy, blame the all the comic books I read).

Of course, the line might move faster seeing how the other customers might assume I'm playing with my crotch and move to a different cashier.

Win-Win!

Source: Incredible Things

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ZACK ATTACK! "Save The Frogs"

August 28, 2012, 10:00 am

≫ Next: BILL WEARING SOCKS: A Video Tribute to Bill Murray And His Many Iconic Outfits In Films

≪ Previous: PLAY WITH MY CROTCH: The Etch-A-Sketch Belt Buckle Makes It Easy To Interact With Drunk People

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The 1990s were a very interesting time for television, when the boundaries of content were tested and the role of the protagonist was redefined as never before. As part of a semi-regular feature here on Why Love the '90s? (and because Frankie was away this weekend), T.J. Martinez once again assumes his role as the Internet's foremost Saved by the Bell expert with the Zack Attack!

It’s episode number four of Good Morning Miss Bliss/Saved by the Bell entitled “Leaping to Conclusions.”

The show starts off with a cold opening. Miss Bliss brings up the next big topic, The Civil War. The class had been promised the chance to watch a film as Zack points out, but Miss Bliss says too bad. The film, which was actual movie film, is all tangled up in a box. What an age to be alive! So, Miss Bliss has a plan B, she goes over to the pull down map and as she opens it up it rips in half.

Tough times at John F. Kennedy Junior High School.


After the break we hear Miss Bliss talk about history being a mirror to the future and that it always repeats itself. Bliss and Miss Paladrino are complaining to Mr. Belding about needing new school supplies.

The answer, as it is every year, is no.

Budget has been gutted, Mr. Belding tells them. Miss Bliss asks Belding to read the list: A globe, a set of encyclopedias, a VCR and a field trip to the statehouse to see, “history come alive.” Belding says history is best left in the past and all he can do for her is give her yet another requisition form.

But those forms never go through! What about the children dammit?

As Miss Bliss walks away Mr. Belding sees a letter in her mailbox from Trump Hill Academy. Apparently they hired away two teachers from John F. Kennedy Junior High last year. Uh oh, Belding thinks, but says, “They are not going to get Miss Bliss!”

The following scene we cut to the science lab. Mr. Morton, the over the top science teacher, tells everyone that the next day is going to be dissection day! Class will be cutting up frogs! Everyone is so excited...well not everyone. Nicki is upset and asks if every student has to do the assignment. Paraphrasing Mr. Morton, his answer is basically hell yes!

On to lunch, Mr. Belding comes out with a globe for Miss Bliss. But I thought they were broke? Miss Bliss asks what the catch is, but he says there isn’t one but an old requisition form went through. Mr. Morton, seeing this, asks about a lightning rod that he wants. Not happening, Belding says. Miss Bliss figures that he’s up to something.

While the teachers are worried about supplies, Nicki is asking the gang to sign a “down with frogicide” petition. She wants to, “stop the senseless killing of frogs in science class.” Nicki is truly the original Jesse Spano. The group, headed by Zack and Mikey, laugh it off but tell Nicki they would lie to get Nicki out of class but she declines, wanting to stand up for what she believes in and says she will go talk to Miss Bliss.


On to the science lab and Mr. Morton is cooking up a cup of noodles. Miss Bliss comes in and tries to negotiate with Mr. Morton on coming up with a solution for young Nicki. He basically says she’ll get over it and continues to remind me of Charles Nelson Reilly.

Is it absolutely necessary for Nicki to participate?

If she wants to pass the class then it is. Miss Bliss couldn’t get her out of it. She tells Nicki to think long and hard about the situation but tells her to do what her heart and conscious says is right. I have a feeling that advice will backfire. What does she do?

She steals the box of frogs!

Back from the break, it looks like they’re taking a test. An announcement from Belding for Miss Bliss to go to the principal’s office. Class does the typical, “Ooooo” chant when someone is in trouble. She has to go and tells the kids that they’re on the honor system with Zack being in charge. Really? Mikey asks around what the answer to number one is. Screech is looking over a girl’s shoulder. Zack is against cheating in this situation for whatever reason. The bell rings and everyone leaves. But no one turns in the test? What? I have a feeling that will be completely ignored the rest of this episode.

Miss Bliss is called to the principal’s office because Nicki is there. Mr. Morton, who is clearly pissed, lets Bliss and Belding know that Nicki released the frogs near the football field. What’s the punishment from Belding? “That wasn’t nice,” he says. “Don’t do it again.” He is still trying to butter Miss Bliss up in an effort to keep her from the evil Trump Hill Academy. Mr. Morton wanted a harsher punishment and apparently so did Nicki. She was trying to make a statement dammit!

Back to Bliss’ classroom, Miss Paladrino talks about her class getting their ballet trip taken away. As they discuss this, Mylo wheels in...a brand new VCR! Paladrino asks Miss Bliss if she has revealing photos of Mr. Belding. I myself would be asking if there’s hanky panky going on, but Paladrino doesn’t go that route. Then Mylo brings in a set of encyclopedias. Okay, now i’m guessing there’s a scene that was edited out when Paladrino asks if Bliss and Belding are “doing it.”

In the hallways, Zack and Mikey give Nicki a hard time for getting rid of the frogs. She asks Screech if he still supports her but he sides with, “The feeling of a nice cold pancreas against your skin.” Possibly the creepiest line in the history of the show. Lisa isn’t mad at Nicki for letting the frogs go but when it comes down to it, since her grade would depend on it, she would still say, “Pass the scalpel.”

Nicki then goes over to Miss Bliss’ house for some much needed advice. She’s still very upset about it and is strongly against the dissection. Miss Bliss says there have been great advances in science because of animal dissection, a fact Nicki understands, but she can’t stand others like Mikey, who want to, “See how far he can dropkick a kidney.” (Great line)

Bliss says there are alternatives to dissection. She has a friend at a University who sends over a computer program that simulates dissection of a frog. Even though Mr. Morton got a new batch of frogs, this will be a great alternative for those like Nicki (Or really, just Nicki.)

Next day, Miss Bliss then asks Mr. Belding why she’s getting whatever she wants while other teachers suffer.

Belding says it’s because she’s special. Why did he not punish Nicki harsher? Just take the gifts and be happy Mr. Belding tells her. Belding then fesses up that she knows that Trump HIll is trying to woo Miss Bliss, after taking two teachers from the school last year. Miss Bliss is upset he looked through her mailbox. He was assuming it was a job offer, she breaks the news to him it was one of the teachers writing just to say hello.

Back to the science lab, Mr. Morton is hopping mad, Mylo tells Miss Bliss. Morton tells her that Nicki, once again, took the frogs. She did, but returns them to Mr. Morton. She apologizes to him and explains her beliefs. She has to learn to respect the rights and opinions of others. Nicki let one of the frogs go however. As Morton was about to fail Nicki, Miss Bliss shows him the computer program, thus saving her academic career. Mylo wheels in some of the stuff that Belding got for Miss Bliss. No more kiss up time. Miss Bliss says hands off the globe, threatening bodily harm on Mr. Morton and we end the program.

This episode didn’t really do anything for me.

Maybe it was the lack of Zack Morris?

Maybe it was Nicki being all preachy but not funny like Jesse would have been?

Maybe it was the seriousness of the topic of the lack of education funding in our nation’s schools?

Eh, probably not.

BILL WEARING SOCKS: A Video Tribute to Bill Murray And His Many Iconic Outfits In Films

August 28, 2012, 11:00 am

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As video thank you cards go, this one is far less upsetting than most that I have seen. In fact, I do believe that artist Niege Borges has created one of the cutest and least stalkerish "Hey I Love You" celebrity videos known to man.

That might be saying a lot but hell, do you know how many of these things I get forwarded to me on a daily basis? I even have a special file called IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY on my desktop filled with videos and various love letters to celebrities that I can send to the FBI in case one of them ends up strangled, vacuum-packed and stuffed under a bed somewhere.

So many thanks to Ms. Borges for not making me feel icky inside.

Bill Wearing Socks from Niege Borges on Vimeo.
Source: I Watch Stuff

To Reboot or Not to Reboot — Judging the DCnU One Year Later

August 28, 2012, 12:00 pm

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Change is a constant in comic books. 

Costumes, codenames, writers, artists, even mission statements—they’re all subject to change as the industry marches on.

But in September 2011, DC Comics did something unprecedented by changing everything .               

Well, almost. 

We’ll get there, be patient.) and cancelled every one of their ongoing titles to replace them with all new number one issues set in a slightly different universe.

Such a drastic, linewide reboot was naturally met with some resistance, including from yours truly but what could not be denied was that DC had the comic book world talking. 

A lot.

Seriously, it was promoted like an international event.

So what happened?  In the alternate world tale of Flashpoint, Barry Allen—aka the Flash—inadvertently jacked up history by choosing to alter time and stop his mother’s murder.  Smooth move, dude.  Way to be a team player.

Anyway, for a still as of yet to be explained coherent reason, reality couldn’t be set back exactly the way it was and the post-Flashpoint DC Universe emerged with a slew of changes, some barely more than cosmetic tweaks, others drastic alterations.  So, it was kind of like the collected surgeries of LaToya Jackson.  Only less scary.

Gaaahhhh!  Look away!  For God’s sake, look away!

Batman and Green Lantern somehow escaped Flashpoint relatively unscathed, their monthly titles basically picking up right where the previous volumes ended despite the shiny new number ones on their covers, but over in Superman we not only got a new costume, but no marriage to Lois Lane, no employment at The Daily Planet and both Kents dead.  That’s some depressing stuff right there.

Barbara Gordon, once paralyzed and transformed into a much more interesting and multifaceted character known as Oracle, was miraculously walking thanks to some horrid fanfic explanation—if you want to call it that—about a "cure" and was Batgirl once again.  And remember the Justice Society?  Well, nobody else does.  Because they never existed.

"But…but…we’re right here.  Can’t you see us..?"

So, DC is now very different, but the real questions are: Was it worth it?  And is it any good?

The first question depends on how you gauge success and DC has had a great deal of commercial success since the reboot, the attention having brought them their best sales period in years.  However, it’s tempered by the fact that, just as Marvel’s bread and butter continues to be the Avengers and X-Men franchises, DC’s top sales all involve the same characters and creators—namely Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and the Batman and Green Lantern titles.

Of the 52 new books that came out, ten were canceled within a month and, based on sales charts, nearly a dozen more are circling the drain.  DC has naturally focused on the continued strength of their top sellers (and of course events like the Before Watchmen minis), and that’s fine, but when nearly half your line is canceled or near cancelation in less than a year, that should be something of a red flag.  And when creators are unafraid to publicly criticize the heavy hand of editorial, even at the risk of losing their jobs, then, well, something’s amiss behind the scenes, especially when it seems apparent that a lot of the post-Flashpoint ideas were more of an ad hoc thing as opposed to the company line of having been planned for years.

I’m just as shocked as you are, Blue Bettle, that your book has somehow avoided cancelation…

But still you have to give DC credit for not only having the massive King Kong sized balls to go through with it and, more importantly, stick with it, but also for at least trying to diversify the line with lesser known properties and characters.  Some turned out surprisingly well, like Jeff Lemire’s Animal Man.  Others like O.M.A.C., which was actually a ton of fun, lasted only eight issues.

And it says a lot about the comic industry and comic fans in general that the top sellers are almost always the usual suspects while some lesser known books, even great ones, get lost in the shuffle.  When you dedicate over one quarter of your line to spinoffs based on Batman and Green Lantern and those sell like crazy, but over one quarter is dying on the vine, that’s something you need to address.

So, yeah, I guess you can say it was worth it in as much as it got people talking, got people excited, and boosted sales not only for DC but a rather reactionary Marvel.  That’s great for the industry.

Most people don’t realize that Rocky IV wasn’t about the Cold War; It was about fierce competition in the comic book industry. True story.

And, to be honest, I buy about 35 of the DC monthlies, and there are some fantastic books out there.  Green Lantern and Batman, obviously, are solid, but Animal Man and Swamp Thing have been nothing short of amazing.  Wonder Woman continues to blow me away and Batwing has been a pleasant surprise.

But at some point, throwing out the baby with the bathwater and engaging in quick fix gimmicks and events to boost sales temporarily is something the Big Two are going to have to think about because with rising costs and “nothing will ever be the same” slogans becoming increasingly meaningless, it’s only a matter of time before the fanbase stops buying into the hype.

After all, when everything is special, nothing is special.

Sorry, Jimmy.  Not even you.

ECSTATIC BACON LOVER GOES NUTS For Burger King's Bacon Sundae

August 28, 2012, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Jupiter Tango

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I don't know whether or not this woman was paid by BK to sit in various restaurants and have an orgasm over their disgusting concoction of ice cream and bacon, but if she is, bravo Burger King.

And if not, well, I have never been this excited over any food item ever (except that time when I experienced my very first candy cigarette, that was frakking awesome) so kudos to her for putting her love of pork back fat and dairy on display for the world to see and capture for the masses via video.

You'll have to excuse the name of the video as it was obviously titled by an asshat. I don't care what size a person is, everyone has the right to go bat-shit insane over anything they want (I once pissed myself when Pepsi introduced their wild cherry flavor and I wear a size 14 so there).


Source: Obvious Winner

Jupiter Tango

August 28, 2012, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: OLD SKOOL JOURNALING JUST GOT EPIC: Evernote Teams With Moleskine to Bring Your "Feelings Journal" Into the Future

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With the recent hubbub over NASA’s Curiosity roving and zapping the landscape of Mars, I thought it was high time to give a shout-out to the red planet’s neglected outer neighbor, Jupiter.

Frankly, Mars is a bit of an attention whore, having received more than its fair share of focus in movie history.

From cult and oft-cheesy favorites such as the original War of the Worlds, Total Recall, The Martian Chronicles, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians to lesser, blander, decidedly non-classics such as Red Planet, Mission to Mars, Mars Needs Women, Mars Needs Moms, Mars Attacks!, John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars, two versions of Invaders from Mars, and John Carter, the red planet has repeatedly been the topic of many an author’s and filmmaker’s imagination.

Poor Jupiter, on the other hand, hasn’t been shown nearly as much love on the silver screen.

The memorable films that venture to the gas giant can be counted on precisely three fingers: Stanley Kubrick’s ethereal, contemplative 2001: A Space Odyssey; its streamlined, audience-friendly sequel, 2010; and Outland, a sci-fi take on the seminal western High Noon that is just now getting its first proper home video release on Blu-ray.


Both Outland (1981) and 2010 (1984) were directed by Peter Hyams, and coming on the heels of Hyams’ 1978 hit Capricorn One (a conspiracy thriller about a faked moon landing), he was understandably perceived as a sci-fi filmmaker during the early ’80s.

Hyams

Together, Outland and 2010 offer a unique double-take of the mysterious super-sized planet, even if it serves as little more than mere background scenery (it’s a bitch being made entirely of gas, a physical trait that prohibits any sort of actual, you know, LANDING).

Outland benefits from the mammoth star power of Sean Connery, portraying a lawman pitted against a corrupt company man (Peter Boyle) who runs a mining colony on Jupiter’s volcanic moon, Io.

The villains here are human, not extraterrestrial, and the central MacGuffin—designer drugs that heighten worker productivity but result in increasingly horrific episodes of psychosis—is wholly plausible.

The movie was made on the cheap and shows its age, yet despite its obvious B-movie limitations the picture boasts spacious sets and some truly impressive practical and visual effects for its day. Several characters meet their gruesome demise via zero-pressure atmosphere decompression, and the film earns its “R” rating with its realistic depiction of the associated viscera. Alas, for every squishy exploding-head/splattered- entrails bit, there’s a shoddy matte painting or some sloppy roto-scoping effect.

Even so, the film holds up rather well as a relic of the early ‘80s.


The movie marks the first use of IntraVision, a compositing process combining rear-projection elements and foreground miniatures with the actors layered in the space between. Several exterior shots of Connery scaling the top of a greenhouse equal anything digital artists can create with mere keystrokes in this day of pre-fabbed CGI software.

The newly issued Blu-ray offers a rich widescreen transfer of the film that finally does justice to the grain and shadow director Hyams typically paints his pictures with (onscreen Director of Photography credit is given to Stephen Goldblatt, but Hyams typically serves as his own DP). Sonically the movie rumbles with exaggerated bass during the exteriors, highlighted by Jerry Goldsmith’s exciting orchestral score.

As a bonus, the disc includes the theatrical trailer and a feature-length audio commentary by the director.

Outland pales in comparison to the scope and artistry of, say, Ridley Scott’s Alien, but it remains a solid and well-crafted piece of B-movie popcorn entertainment.

2010, often subtitled The Year We Make Contact, was mounted on a considerably larger budget and every penny shows.

The movie inevitably demystifies Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 by explaining too much of what was originally left to interpretation, blending its awesome tale of human endeavor with a Russkies-versus-Americans cold-war scenario that has the world teetering on the brink of World War III. The film details a joint U.S./Soviet mission to Jupiter to learn the fate of the U.S.S. Discovery and its dormant malfunctioned computer, HAL. All clues point towards Jupiter’s moon Europa, which may contain intelligent life. 2010 is more plot-driven and action-oriented than its predecessor, but its lofty themes of spirituality versus science intertwine nicely with the ticking-clock threat of nuclear Armageddon, culminating in a stirring if somewhat ambiguous conclusion.


2010 is breathtaking in its scope, with magnificent, eye-popping visual effects supervised by Richard Edlund (Return of the Jedi), finally done superb justice on home video with a richly detailed widescreen Blu-ray transfer. Other than the ghost of an occasional “garbage matte,” the old-school model-based analog effects of 2010 rival anything George Lucas would eventually concoct for his digital Star Wars prequels. Likewise, the soundtrack rumbles with thunderous bass and eerie ambient effects, and remains one of my favorite demonstration discs. (Fun fact: I’ve blown two subwoofers while showing this movie to friends.) 

Casting for both Outland and 2010 is a big part of both films’ appeal. Joining Connery and Boyle on Io are Hyams regular James B. Sikking, future James Bond villain Steven Berkoff and Frances Sternhagen (she would eventually join TV’s “ER” and have a recurring role as Bunny MacDougal on “Sex and the City”). Look sharp for a pre-“Cheers,” pre-Pixar John Ratzenberger as the poor chap who loses his head in the shocking opening sequence. Headlining 2010 are Roy Scheider, John Lithgow, Helen Mirren and Bob Balaban, with an extended cameo by Keir Dullea as 2001’s sole/soul survivor, and featuring the voices of Douglas Rain and Candice Bergin as computers HAL-9000 and SAL-9000, respectively.

Seen together, both movies offer a terrific one-two Jupiter punch, and a sampling of Hyams’ visually rich work.