tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68154912011-06-07T23:31:44.512-07:00Pop-Culture CommentaryDorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.comBlogger18081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-19336960204804714362009-01-05T20:29:00.001-08:002009-01-05T20:30:05.647-08:00

As of tomorrow, the site will be updated to a new Wordpress format. Please visit the site to update your feed.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-87935955282062311602009-01-05T00:23:00.000-08:002009-01-05T00:24:57.018-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-11497576010112613562009-01-03T09:34:00.000-08:002009-01-03T09:57:46.166-08:00

Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol, 1990, Graeme CurryThe Doctor overthrows the government of a thinly veiled Margaret Thatcher in a single night. Ah, the 90s...

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-40676628998419777652008-12-31T10:27:00.000-08:002008-12-31T10:28:04.505-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-30579856964606235242008-12-30T09:53:00.000-08:002008-12-30T09:55:17.967-08:00

Employee Aaron made me this for Christmas. He knows me well.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-76343589872726194892008-12-29T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-29T00:01:00.258-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-68498952916624331882008-12-27T09:44:00.000-08:002008-12-27T09:46:46.966-08:00

Witches Abroad, 1991, Terry PratchettAnd the parade of...interesting character interpretations continues.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-66656847686343980212008-12-26T09:40:00.000-08:002008-12-26T09:41:25.936-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-51473270539271580862008-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-25T00:01:00.735-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-41119248546075070502008-12-24T11:33:00.000-08:002008-12-24T11:39:33.375-08:00

Good news, everyone! Dave Campbell is blogging again, at The Society for the Advancement of Dave. And you know what that means: we can stop pretending that Chris Sims is funny!(I kid. A little. Maybe.)Also, check out Dave's awesometastic new video:Speaking of Sims, he has a Christmas themed web-comic up at the Flashback Universe: The Saturn Knight Before Christmas.Speaking of web-comics, the

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-51099376757476758902008-12-23T11:30:00.000-08:002008-12-23T11:32:53.060-08:00

Some mornings, it's a picture of Wildcat groping Power Girl"Karen didn't seem to like that much, Ted.""Yeah, well, that's what Joan said last night, Jay.""What?""You heard me!""But it doesn't make sense...""Yeah, well, that's what she said.""What?"

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-58852642539250657072008-12-22T09:53:00.000-08:002008-12-22T10:19:03.355-08:00

Here, in a nutshell, is the moral of The Tale of Despereaux:Pretty is always Good and always Right. If, inconceivably, Pretty is somehow Wrong, you are obliged to forgive Pretty. Because Pretty is always Good and Right and Pretty being Wrong must have somehow been your own fault.By the same token, Ugly is always Bad and Wrong. Even if Ugly isn't actually Bad right now, eventually they will do

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-72213806572228767202008-12-20T08:49:00.000-08:002008-12-20T08:57:58.137-08:00

Hogfather, 1996, Terry PratchettThat's certainly an...interesting artistic interpretation of Susan.(I forewent my annual re-reading of this book this year in favor of rereading the witch books. I'm more in a Nanny Ogg mood.)

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-65223199286625042592008-12-18T12:01:00.000-08:002008-12-18T12:03:53.443-08:00

"Say, Jay, what happened to Joan? Weren't you supposed to be bringing her?""Well, I certainly didn't vibrate her atoms into a wall because she threatened to tell you and Ted about my premature ejaculation problem, if that's what you're implying Alan.""What?""Nothing.""Did someone say ejaculation?""Not now, Ted."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-67805474671444157882008-12-17T09:44:00.001-08:002008-12-17T09:47:34.583-08:00

"Hey, Clark, I ever tell you about the time I tricked a female astronaut into thinking the Earth had been destroyed and we had to recreate the human species on an alien planet?""Yes, Bruce. You have. Many times. That's exactly the sort of behavior that I'm sure makes your parents proud of you.""...Screw you, Clark.""What, do I look like an astronaut to you?"

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-23979634157873459442008-12-16T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-16T00:01:00.184-08:00

Who is the Dark Knight Detective on the hunt for? Could it be an alien time traveller?Hollywood bad-boy and occasional nudist Scott Caan?Skaro bad-boy and occasional nudist Dalek Caan?Or, in a rare cross-over, is he hunting down an over-exposed X-Man?Only you know for certain!

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-2586593558062744382008-12-15T10:19:00.001-08:002008-12-15T10:21:29.918-08:00

"*sob* They just didn't know...how much it hurt...to be Superboy, Bruce.""What, am I your therapist now, Clark?""I'm sorry, Bruce, I just thought, you know, seeing your parents gunned down in front of you might make you more sensitive to the pain of child-hood."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-90873285768737875222008-12-13T07:50:00.000-08:002008-12-13T07:52:53.789-08:00

Cats Have No Lord, 1985, Will ShetterlyWell, maybe if they did, they would know to use proper spelling and grammar.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-2967704587786927542008-12-12T00:09:00.000-08:002008-12-12T00:10:48.416-08:00

Pay Full PriceStar Trek: I honestly never expected to find myself looking forward to a Star Trek movie. It helps, tremendously, that this actually looks a bit like the anti-Trek. A Trek in name only. In other words, the fact that everything about this film is pissing the holy hell out of the people whose fascination with the show turned it from an actual pop culture thing into the most convenient

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-40189255670725979092008-12-11T14:20:00.000-08:002008-12-11T14:36:15.092-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-51453189843331366882008-12-10T08:25:00.000-08:002008-12-10T08:29:05.792-08:00

"I don't get it, Clark. I can do twelve backflips from a standing position, know a dozen ways to cripple a man with my pinkie, but I can't hit a damn baseball.""Well, Bruce, I know when I was a kid, my dad took me out to the fields every day and practiced throwing and hitting a ball with me. It's just a question of muscle memory.""...""Oh, right, sorry. I forgot.""Screw you, Clark."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-5987696603289066742008-12-09T08:15:00.000-08:002008-12-09T08:18:13.557-08:00

"As you can see, Clark, my name is a mystical sigil which encompasses all the words of the English language.""What about xylophone?""...Screw you, Clark."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-91347902993518315652008-12-08T00:01:00.001-08:002008-12-08T00:01:00.563-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-56177185703181878052008-12-06T11:48:00.000-08:002008-12-06T11:49:47.621-08:00

Jem, 1979, fifth edition, Frederik PohlThis book is outrageous. Truly, truly, truly outrageous.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-2281154797874118482008-12-05T08:58:00.001-08:002008-12-05T09:00:16.897-08:00

This bit of unnecessary self-awareness brought to you in honor of Mike Sterling, defender of all unloved Bat-series.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-7503044164257598752008-12-04T09:52:00.000-08:002008-12-04T10:20:04.399-08:00

An ongoing point of discussion with several of my friends and I is: which group of people is more prone to an over-developed sense of entitlement and the kind of narcissistic rage that can only come from an excess of privilege, video game fans or comic book fans? I mean, on the one hand, I've never seen comic book fans actually complain about publishers and artists actually expect to be paid for

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-43791435156421984602008-12-03T09:18:00.000-08:002008-12-03T09:19:51.948-08:00

Once you've gone cosmic entity from before time began, you never go back, baby!

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-82246858951287601402008-12-02T09:03:00.000-08:002008-12-02T09:20:33.972-08:00

Problem is, I can't decide which one to go with...Postmodern DuckPostmodern TurtlePostmodern CarpPostmodern Abandoned Furniture In The WoodsPostmodern Extreme Close-Up Toy PhotographyPostmodern Ginger Cats

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-61819846276567976532008-12-01T07:06:00.000-08:002008-12-01T07:08:39.845-08:00

Ah, Charlton romance comics...keeping silly thoughts of "college" or "careers" out of girl's minds since 1960...

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-590778585673386022008-11-29T09:13:00.000-08:002008-11-29T09:18:32.985-08:00

X-Men: Prisoner X, 1998, Ann NocentiThis year, I was thankful that the 90s are well and truly over.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-82742337077788524372008-11-26T06:57:00.000-08:002008-11-26T06:58:20.595-08:00

The Orgy Mistress and her commands must be obeyed, swingers!

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-22407906240086908942008-11-25T00:13:00.000-08:002008-11-25T00:14:16.444-08:00

Korak's milkshake brings all the Red Chinese to the jungle...

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-65859838902826427162008-11-24T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-24T00:01:01.102-08:00

You know, even I think they lay the gay subtext on a bit heavy in the X-Men movies, sometimes.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-7525733406660991312008-11-23T14:42:00.000-08:002008-11-23T14:44:55.446-08:00

Dragons of Autumn Twilight, 1984, Margaret Weis and Tracy HickmanJust a reminder that teeny-bopper vampires aren't the first ineptly written children's novels with heavy Mormon subtext.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-53378689867724086942008-11-21T07:00:00.001-08:002008-11-21T07:05:41.998-08:00

As many of you are probably already aware, Carla Hoffman and her husband Lance were badly injured in the most recent fires to hit Santa Barbara. Doctors are optimistic that both Carla and Lance will make full recoveries, but in the meantime their home was completely destroyed. Carla is a friend of mine, a terrific writer, and the sort of enthusiastic front-lines type that the comic industry needs

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-58118554513621525992008-11-20T07:16:00.000-08:002008-11-20T07:20:16.260-08:00

"Say, Mike, if I were to show you this two-page spread in this catalog, what would you say about it?""Well, Dorian, I'd say that nerds, especially in Japan, like themselves the sexy lady statues.""And what if I told you that I could instantly make the layout I just showed you the most appalling thing you've seen all day?""I'd be very surprised.""Aiieeee!""Told you so."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-46841772195132864682008-11-19T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-19T00:01:00.851-08:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-20924243904693049882008-11-18T07:56:00.000-08:002008-11-18T08:01:46.509-08:00

Yes, because when I think "girl toys from the 80s" I think about a song describing a woman's attempts to sexually excite men by shaking her breasts at them.Hey look, a full set of gay porn action figures!They're not?"Mixed Martial Arts?"How are you supposed to tell the difference?

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-80743336701473850912008-11-17T07:28:00.001-08:002008-11-17T07:29:12.575-08:00

It's not just me, right?

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-56796519436117829642008-11-16T10:56:00.000-08:002008-11-16T11:00:20.127-08:00

The Sentinel, 1974, tenth printing, Jeffrey KonvitzThere was a time when the film based on this seemed to be playing every other day on cable.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-49607003079460296472008-11-14T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-14T00:01:00.923-08:00

Aw, man...I've managed to blow through all the books in print by the authors I'm currently reading. I am bookless. I gotta find something to read. I know, I'll swing by the Local Chain Bookstore on my way home from work and pick something up. Take a look around, find something new. Yeah, that'll work. How hard can it be to find something worth reading in a store with millions of books on the

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-51951461757367907222008-11-13T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-13T00:01:01.011-08:00

I'm not sure what exactly those ducks are doing, but I'm fairly certain that Huey, Dewey and Louie are all underage!

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-15178314089984448232008-11-12T07:49:00.000-08:002008-11-12T08:28:11.957-08:00

So, let's get this out of the way first: I'm not a Star Trek fan. In fact, I dislike Star Trek more than I dislike Star Wars. To further put that into perspective, I'm a Doctor Who fan who will hash out seeming continuity errors with friends for fun, and I still think that people who like Star Trek have an unhealthy attachment to the show.Recently, some footage from the upcoming reboot of the

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-5161763340099135892008-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-11T00:01:01.101-08:00

Finding myself with an excess of time on my hands over the weekend, I used it to sit down and watch some "under $5" DVDs I'd purchased recently, of films that I felt deserved to be in my collection, Alien and An American Werewolf in London. They're both good films (for varying degrees of "good") that I enjoy, but I'd never really placed them highly on my list of favorites. Taking the opportunity

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-61321919840734821212008-11-10T07:18:00.000-08:002008-11-10T07:19:41.457-08:00

After the weekend I had, a little man-on-robot action is just the ticket.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-57553474587554842242008-11-08T10:14:00.000-08:002008-11-08T10:16:36.651-08:00

1984, 1949, 48th printing, George OrwellYes, this does probably count as "teasing the conservatives" at this point.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-17857509491783885242008-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-07T00:01:00.695-08:00

And how do you respond to the kiss from the nice lady, Bruce?You, uh, you can't really catch anything from kissing, Bruce...

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-12255276381323986592008-11-06T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:16:10.099-08:00

Now that the unpleasantness of the election season is over, let's look at the slightly less despair-inducing lunacy of Diamond Previews, shall we?Dark Horse has a new edition of CLAMP's long out of print title Clover, making Dark Horse the collective's fourth US publisher.I really wouldn't mind if Dark Horse picked up the rest of the CLAMP titles TokyoPop published in English, either.I was

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-72427869882135576732008-11-04T07:06:00.000-08:002008-11-04T07:08:51.206-08:00

Two things stand out here. One, is that very risque dress by Gold Key Comics standards. And two, what the heck is he going to do with that wrench?

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-90791263850294152832008-11-03T00:01:00.000-08:002008-11-03T00:01:00.605-08:00

This message brought to you by Yukiya Sakuragi and volume eleven of Inubaka.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-47002587401176718592008-11-01T11:28:00.000-07:002008-11-01T11:33:36.380-07:00

Marked for Murder, 1959, Brett HallidayWhat better way to top off a week devoted to films inspired by pulp thrillers than with a pulp thriller?

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-39279081995090924572008-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-31T00:26:45.546-07:00

I've mentioned how Argento like to exploit the voyeuristic aspects of horror films, and a key example of that is in the film The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. In this early scene from the film, Tony Musante plays Sam Dalmas, an American writer living in Rome and forced to write books about the care of exotic birds in order to make a living. While walking home after picking up his final pay-check

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-14830258342159311042008-10-30T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-30T00:01:34.566-07:00

And now, in no particular order, four of the best scenes from Dario Argento movies.TraumaDoctor Lloyd, playd by Brad Dourif, is decapitated by the Headhunter via elevator, and the camera follows the still-screaming head's descent down the shaft.PhenomenaJennifer Corvino, played by Jennifer Connelly, psychically commands insects to devour the murderous dwarf who has been terrorizing the Swiss

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-14849869885444817482008-10-29T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-29T00:01:00.441-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-57957093204535253522008-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-28T07:12:44.144-07:00

So, Mother of Tears. I almost hate to review it, because here I am, setting up this week about how great Argento films are, and his most recent release is absolutely terrible. A lot of the blame can be chalked up to "sequel-itis." You see, in Suspiria, Argento set up this back-story about the Three Mothers: Mater Suspiriorum (the Mother of Sighs), Mater Tenebrarum (the Mother of Darkness) and

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-55704826855482486272008-10-27T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-27T00:01:00.269-07:00

I've been watching horror films as long as I can remember. The first film I can recall seeing in a theater was Jaws. Even if I have to say it myself, I consider myself a very finicky connoisseur of the genre. I won't go near zombie or vampire films, and I've been known to rage at the screen when a film blithely ignores it's own internal logic, on the grounds that "it's horror" is no excuse for

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-14382927573009557692008-10-25T15:25:00.000-07:002008-10-25T15:37:26.023-07:00

Night Mare, 1970, Morton J. GoldingA little pre-Halloween disturbing imagery for you.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-74406555414182771702008-10-24T07:03:00.000-07:002008-10-24T07:21:19.868-07:00

So Billy and Mary and Freddie are out looking for contributions for a charity rummage sale, when they stop by Pa Potter's antique shop to hit the old man up for some goods. While there, they find an old pirate map and decide to go get pirate treasure and donate that to charity instead.As you do...So, hopping into Pa Potter's helicopter they all go off to find pirate treasure. When the inevitable

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-29211718677130183672008-10-23T07:17:00.000-07:002008-10-23T07:20:25.340-07:00

Unfunny Golden Age gag strips are the new out of context Silver Age Superman panels.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-47252765536190023942008-10-22T07:20:00.000-07:002008-10-22T07:30:41.277-07:00

Now, are the girls there to let other girls know this is a hobby they can have fun with too! Or just to get guys to pay attention to the ad?

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-44423510864964715142008-10-21T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-21T00:01:00.530-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-49108459599312226652008-10-20T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-20T00:01:00.374-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-3186080733999865482008-10-18T10:56:00.000-07:002008-10-18T11:00:28.953-07:00

Red as Blood, 1983, Tanith LeeIn just a couple days, I get to play a video-game I'm possibly looking forward to a little too much, and so now I have fairy-tales on my mind.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-42411018559425513322008-10-17T14:01:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:01:00.443-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-87810730931067287822008-10-17T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-17T00:01:00.423-07:00

And then there was the time she beat up a treeFor not providing sufficient shade for her picnic.And then there was the time she beat up some bakersBecause 'gluten-free' means 'gluten-free' not 'low gluten,' dammit!Mary Marvel don't take no guff.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-76115620041386384612008-10-16T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-16T00:01:00.843-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-4251441169464612552008-10-15T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-15T00:01:00.933-07:00

What's a be-turbaned hero to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon, other than take his gal out to the ol' diamond and watch some more physically robust men earn twice what he makes?Uh-uh...looks like Ibis had a little money riding on this game...Ah, nothing like a good, wholesome old Fawcett comic to restore your faith in American traditions!All panels from Whiz #71

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-29888810428617866902008-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-14T07:12:58.837-07:00

Click to make Sam bigger

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-9134406226662671392008-10-13T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-13T00:01:00.846-07:00

That's a pretty sweet Caddy the old guy's got there. As for the whole "war against the whiteman" bit and the...curious caricature of the villain, I'll remind you that this story is meant to take place in 1953...Yes...scalping...sigh...Truly these Captain Marvel comics are full of innocent and harmless whimsy and frolic.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-91633689833249507752008-10-11T11:13:00.000-07:002008-10-11T11:18:13.039-07:00

Battiste, 1915, D. T. TrombleyThis is the oldest book I own. It's a dialect novel, aping a nearly unintelligible French-immigrant patois.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-92077896624027491012008-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:002008-10-10T14:00:01.081-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-73478418906293911942008-10-10T07:15:00.001-07:002008-10-10T08:17:37.837-07:00

So, I've been amused by DC Universe: Decisions, and not particularly in the "wow, this is a really good comic" sort of way. Now, this comic series isn't as bad as you've been hearing, not by a long shot...but it's not any good either. I've been enjoying it as "stupid DC fun", and since it's been coming out during the Final Crisis skip-month, it's also filled my "DC heroes team up and bicker"

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-80928227218427057342008-10-09T08:40:00.000-07:002008-10-09T08:41:25.220-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-76966270803903502462008-10-08T11:34:00.000-07:002008-10-08T11:35:47.012-07:00

These days, advertising "tops for teens" will get you five to twenty.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-84519107481008948812008-10-07T07:33:00.000-07:002008-10-07T07:35:05.476-07:00

Click for large version

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-46036383500458861842008-10-06T07:19:00.000-07:002008-10-06T07:23:07.405-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-55552597103742113822008-10-04T09:12:00.000-07:002008-10-04T09:15:30.967-07:00

Year of Consent, 1954, Kendell Foster Crossen

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-52434890165305962672008-10-03T14:01:00.000-07:002008-10-03T14:08:03.160-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-26263207007791984272008-10-03T00:01:00.000-07:002008-10-03T00:01:00.939-07:00

Spider-ManSnake PlisskenDr. LoomisThe DoctorJack RyanMr. BoogalowJesus (Godspell version)Lord SumerisleThe JokerDarth Vader"Alderaan is peaceful! We have no weapons!""I'm a baaaaad boy."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-10751463546290512592008-10-02T07:51:00.001-07:002008-10-02T07:52:37.785-07:00

Oh, terribly unfunny Fawcett gag strips...will I ever get tired of you?"I'm basically useless and unemployable!""Have you tried working for Wall Street?"

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-41076732292536486272008-10-01T07:24:00.000-07:002008-10-01T07:26:18.706-07:00

And how did Marvel respond to the anti-comics hysteria of the 50s?Here's the list of the "nope, nothing objectionable here" titles:

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-4826073515206234752008-09-30T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-30T00:01:00.958-07:00

Religious Halloween merchandise featuring born-again pumpkins:"Daddy, does this mean the pumpkin is saved?""I suppose it does, Timmy.""So even a pumpkin's sins can be washed clean by the blood of the redeemer?""Well, er, yes. I suppose so.""Daddy?""Yes Timmy?""How can an inanimate object sin?""You're going to hell for heresy, you know that, right Timmy?""Yes Daddy."

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-86572118205167013682008-09-29T09:59:00.001-07:002008-09-29T10:01:30.342-07:00

Kanvasback's friend looks awfully eager to grease him up...I'm going to overlook the bear comment because, frankly, Kanvas doesn't really look like the typical type bears go for.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-45373452096860535012008-09-27T12:33:00.000-07:002008-09-27T12:36:34.489-07:00

Taxi Driver, 1976, Richard ElmanBecause some days you just need to see an underage Jodie Foster in hotpants.Wait, that came out wrong...

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-23982398285650651042008-09-26T07:13:00.000-07:002008-09-26T07:14:56.007-07:00

"What do I do in the Fortress all day? Well, I'll tell you! I'll tell you right off!""I'm waiting...""I...I do YOUR MOM!""MY MOTHER IS A SAINT!"

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-47772242895481710182008-09-25T07:13:00.000-07:002008-09-25T07:17:21.169-07:00

"Too bad there's no one out here on the street to see how bad-ass I am! I am so cool!"Bonus Green Arrow is a Totally Useless Super-Hero PanelsOh, man, I wonder how Ollie will save that kid? Given tha-Oh, he is just going to fire an arrow at him.I guess putting him out of his misery before he's smashed into pieces on the ground is the kindest thing.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-65155602919652881642008-09-24T07:07:00.000-07:002008-09-24T07:18:19.456-07:00

With bonus inexplicable punch-line.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-34198578472211855682008-09-23T14:01:00.000-07:002008-09-23T14:01:00.424-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-2637229777828360362008-09-23T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-23T00:01:00.151-07:00

From a recent interview:Speaking of "judging" Guggenheim said a lot of people who aren't reading Spider-Man or refuse to read Spider-Man are judging it based on misunderstandings. "Part of the problem with the controversy behind One More Day is the understanding of what was retconned overstates the extent of what was done," he said. "Everything that happened in the last twenty plus years of comic

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-74101244198971827382008-09-22T07:28:00.000-07:002008-09-22T07:29:42.686-07:00

I wonder what the educational benefit of threatening to skin a baby skunk is?

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-63103563777669821762008-09-20T11:00:00.000-07:002008-09-20T11:05:22.238-07:00

Logan's World, 1977, William F. NolanSequelitis is a terrible thing...

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-72511284101562671552008-09-19T07:33:00.000-07:002008-09-19T07:37:15.112-07:00

Well, that's oddly phrased, but it seems innocent enough...Oh, wait...not with that pose it ain't.Hey, don't judge them, they're ancient Greeks.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-50058987076778579762008-09-18T07:12:00.000-07:002008-09-18T07:14:24.900-07:00

Lifeforce, 1985, directed by Tobe Hooper

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-64789105453154229082008-09-17T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-17T00:01:00.165-07:00

"I'm sorry Kara, but according to the Techno-Priests of Rao, Kryptonian life begins 0.000287828 seconds after conception. If it makes you feel any better, we can put the baby in a rocket and send it into space after it's born.""And I know, from personal experience, that children who aren't raised by a mother and a father grow up with deep emotional problems. That's why the Wayne Foundation is

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-43496242795901777802008-09-16T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-16T00:01:00.906-07:00

So, I go into the comic shop over the weekend, and I see this:I'd heard of this a few months back and was intrigued enough at the notion of Euro-comics takes on super-heroes to want to check the book out when it came out. I flipped through it...and it looked okay. Not as porny as most Euro-comics, understandably, but still recognizably not an American production. And certainly the sort of thing

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-67102684961182413392008-09-15T19:11:00.000-07:002008-09-15T20:08:51.183-07:00

It's frustratingly difficult to find good, gay themed erotic comics. Oh, sure, there's a seemingly endless flood of yaoi titles on the racks, if you like your men adolescent and wispy and strictly conforming to heteronormative gender roles. There are some good European comics, but one of the few outstanding American contributions to the genre was Dale Lazarov's and Steve MacIsaac's Sticky. And so

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-45791150870714131052008-09-15T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-15T00:01:00.325-07:00

Fall is a dicey time of year for movies. What you basically have to choose from are the films that aren't considered quite good enough money-makers to release in the summer or over Christmas, and the early batches of the Oscar-bait films. Frankly it's a miracle anything worth watching ever comes out between the firsts of September and December.Full PriceMilk: It's horribly Oscar-baitey, but I'll

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-69491028478840563552008-09-13T13:44:00.000-07:002008-09-13T13:46:15.896-07:00

The Divine Invasion, 1981, Philip K. DickYou know, people really shouldn't try to literalize Dick novels in cover illustrations. It just comes out creepier than it needs to be.

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-856164209515846622008-09-12T00:01:00.000-07:002008-09-12T00:01:01.168-07:00

It's time once again to look at the sublime, the ridiculous, the mockable and the proofs of Satan's existence in Diamond Previews.A new edition of Bryan Talbot's The Adventures of Luther Arkwright is due for release, at a very reasonable $18.95, which is nice, as it's a book I've been oddly unable to find easily. This new edition also promises to be based on new scans of the original artwork, so

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6815491.post-37202067271574417902008-09-11T07:17:00.001-07:002008-09-11T07:17:54.474-07:00

Dorianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14754097613320749614noreply@blogger.com0