I heard Saturday morning about Michael Turner's passing, but didn't repeat it to anyone because I didn't have confirmation, was afraid of spreading rumors and, frankly, was hoping it wasn't true.
I know that Billy Joel says that only the good die young, but honestly: an artist that good, dying that young?
Just not fair.
PAD
I will be attending the Wizard Convention in Chicago this Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.
Sunday I will be back in NYC doing a signing for "Tigerheart" at Books of Wonder from 1 to 3 PM. More info can be found at http://www.booksofwonder.com
PAD
This from the NY Daily News, after the Mets lost 11-0 to the worst team in baseball:
"We have to get on the field, figure it out, work it out, we have to do everything possible as a staff to get us on track and remain on track or we might have some tough decisions to make," said Manuel, who met with GM Omar Minaya, Tony Bernazard and other front-office members following the game. "We have to find a consistent formula at some point and we have not found that yet.
Perhaps they might want to consider this formula:
Sucking = Losing
Not Sucking = Winning
I'm not quite sure how to express that in purely mathematical terms (although I'm sure someone here can) but that would certainly seem, to me, the way to go.
PAD
WASHINGTON (June 24) - Ivy Leaguers and other top law students were rejected for plum Justice Department jobs two years ago because of their liberal leanings or objections to Bush administration politics, a government report concluded Tuesday.
The only thing I find surprising is how unsurprised I am.
PAD
"Rest in peace" seems a ridiculous thing to say in regards to someone who seemed so resolutely unpeaceful.
I never got a chance to see him in concert live, and will always regret that now.
PAD
To counter the slew of critical tell-alls about his administration, President George W. Bush is considering penning his own book upon leaving office. No word as to whether each copy will come packed with a set of crayons to color it in.
Thoughts as to a title? Warning: "Are you there, God, it's me, George," "See Dick Run the Country," and "Everybody Poops" have already been suggested.
PAD
So recently the ol' Cowboy's seen "Incredible Hulk" and "Get Smart." Comments below...
INCREDIBLE HULK: So many people have asked me what I thought of HULK, and I can't fathom why. I mean, I work for Marvel and I wrote the novelization. Wouldn't anything I had to say, especially positive, be suspect?
But, okay, you asked:
I loved it. I think all the edits they made were good ones. The many character-driven scenes which were cut, while well written and, for all I know, well acted, wouldn't have moved the plot along. And the plot most definitely moves along, making it the anti-Ang Lee Hulk movie. The first half hour is, to my mind, the strongest, as we find ourselves in Bruce Banner's world, hiding out in Brazil while searching for a cure. That's when Norton is at his best. And the Hulk as menace-in-the-shadows is also the most effective use of the character, although the subsequent battles with the army and, climactically, with the Abomination, are lightyears ahead of the previous endeavor.
My only complaint is that I thought the chemistry between Bruce and Betty was somewhat lacking. He was almost more interesting when he was watching her from afar (although their abortive lovemaking scene was funny enough.)
Frankly, the high-light of the film, acting wise, is Tim Blake Nelson as Sam Sterns. Apparently channeling Matt Frewer's manic energy, he seems to be having the best time of any actor in the film, and his presence as the fully empowered Leader will undoubtedly kick the sequel to new heights.
GET SMART--Kath and I have been looking forward to this film since the earliest trailers, and we were not disappointed.
I cannot fathom what the critics are carping about, save to say that their recollections of the original series are extremely suspect. The recurring complaint is that Steve Carrell plays Smart with a modicum of actual skill, rather than as an unrelenting buffoon. Except that's EXACTLY the way he was in the original series. Yes, Smart was a comedic character, but he was a crack marksman, a formidable hand to hand opponent, and insanely conversant in the minutia of CONTROL protocol. That's who he is in the film as well. The shout outs to the TV series are breezily interwoven into the film without being annoying. In fact, the opening credits features references to the series pilot and a fast reference to Max's recurring opponent, the Claw (always announced with, "So! It's my old enemy, the Craw!", a monumentally politically incorrect joke that would probably never fly today.) And the cameo by Bernie Kopell (the original Siegfried) is brilliant. Indeed, Kopell's presence highlights the film's only shortcoming: Terrance Stamp as Siegfried brings absolutely nothing except glowering to the role. One wonders what a German accented Sasha Baron Cohen--or for that matter Kopell himself--would have added to the film by making Siegfried a more over-the-top presence than Stamp portrays.
Anne Hathaway is nearly as appealing as Barbara Feldon was originally (and she even wears her hair in Feldon's style for an extended sequence.) And Alan Arkin is perfect as the Chief, looking like he's having the time of his life. The plot...well, it's kind of all over the place, but you never watched "Get Smart" for the plot. You watched it for the characters and the catch phrases, and all are present intact.
PAD
YES, IT'S TRUE! AS OF THIS WRITING, "TIGERHEART" IS RANKED NUMBER ONE...
...in the category of "Books Written by Peter David."
In general overall sales, we're someone around thirteen thousand...
Curiously, it's also ranked #7 in "Anthologies." Go figure.
PAD
"The Dark Tower" is up for a Harvey Award for "Best Graphic Album (Previously Published.)"
PAD
It is amusing that some people fulminate about so-called activist judges, and yet when judges in California legalize gay marriage by a strict reading of the Constitution, conservatives rush to get a referendum on the ballot for November that would restrict marriage to a man and a woman.
Food for thought: a mere forty one years ago, the marriage of Senator Obama's parents would not have been recognized in sixteen states, because there were strict laws against a mixed race marriage...until some gosh-darned activist judges ruled that law unconstitutional.
When are those who are busy minding other peoples' business going to tumble to the fact that any two people who wish to marry are the same race--the human race--whether they have different skin or like gender? There cannot be different grades of equality. Marriage, which once was something strictly arranged by parents, typically for financial gain, is in a constantly state of change and gay marriage is simply the next logical step in its evolution...presuming that critics of gay marriage believe in evolution.
PAD
The inestimable Beau Smith has issued a challenge to Marvel and DC to spend a year telling nothing but done-in-one stories. You can read it here:
http://www.comicsbulletin.com/busted/121341903078446.htm
Of course, the thing is, when you're issuing a challenge to someone, there should be some reciprocity. Like when a politician, for instance, issues a challenge to others to have campaigns that focus purely on the issues rather than dirt. There's something at stake for the challenger as well, since he has to abide by the same rules or risk looking like a hypocrite.
What's Beau putting on the line? Nada. He's not saying that if Marvel and DC do this, then he will donate ten grand to the CBLDF or climb into a dunk tank or give up his column or something. It's not like when I threw out the challenge to Marvel to maintain "Captain Marvel" at its then-current cover price and in exchange I would drop my writing fee to $20.99 until sales went up. Beau's challenge is just, y'know, thrown out there. What's at stake for Beau? Nothing, really.
What would Marvel and DC have at stake? Well, quite likely plummeting sales across the board. I mean, Marvel already DOES lines with done-in-one, easily accessible stories. They're called "Marvel Adventures." I've written a bunch of them. They sell for crap. For that matter, "Fallen Angel" exists in its own universe and has had any number of done-in-one stories. Yet when it was a DC title it was cancelled, and as an IDW title it still isn't burning up the sales charts.
The harsh fact is that crossovers sell and independent stories devoid of contact or context with each other don't, or at least not as well. Rather than issuing challenges to the companies to change what's working for them, why not issue challenges to the readership to change their buying habits? And Beau can start by pledging to get subscriptions to every single issue of "Marvel Adventures" titles and to "Fallen Angel." Sounds like a good way to put one's money where one's mouth is.
PAD
...it occurs to me there's one candidate we haven't considered:
The title character.
What if the Battlestar Galactica survived the attack because it was meant to? Because the ship itself is a Cylon?
PAD
UPDATED AT 11:20 PM FRIDAY--Let's use this thread to discuss the season ender. So warning to all that spoilers will no doubt be herein.
Caroline lost her first tooth. Nice little gaping hole in the front of her lower set. She was slightly traumatized by it until we explained that this was all a perfectly normal part of growing up, and also told her the whole thing about the Tooth Fairy. Then her eyes lit up. "I'll have my OWN MONEY?" she said. So now's she's jazzed. I suspect we'll have a fairly easy time getting her to go to bed tonight.
I always thought the best Tooth Fairy riff was Dan Slott's, back when Dan was writing "Ask Doctor Stupid" for the "Ren and Stimpy" comic. One kid asked the fictional answer man, "What does the Tooth Fairy do with all the teeth she's collected from me?" Dan's reply: "Well, Timmy, actually the Tooth Fairy is using all those teeth to build another you. So be careful, because once she has all your teeth...she's coming for your eyes."
PAD
Rep. Dennis Kucinich is presenting articles of impeachment for Bush on C-SPAN on the floor of the House. It is a 35-count resolution. Last year he endeavored to launch impeachment against Cheney, a resolution that has yet to be acted upon.
PAD
First I've got a podcast at 2 PM for the Bat Segundo Show. Then I'm heading over to Del Rey to sign copies of "Tigerheart" for various promotional giveaways. And then I've got the preview screening of "The Incredible Hulk" at 4:30.
I'm exhausted and it's still Sunday.
PAD
Two reasons:
1) From Obama's point of view: There is no guarantee that it will unite the Democratic party, since those who were willing to support Clinton in the top slot might not do so with her in the second chair. There is a likelihood, however, that her presence could galvanize the GOP against her, which is exactly what Obama doesn't want since McCain remains a candidate with soft support in the GOP. And it is problematic for Obama to sell himself as an agent of change when he's got the symbol of Washington insider status quo as his running mate.
2) From Clinton's point of view: According to the "West Wing" scenario, the young, vibrant, ethnic candidate chooses a Washington insider with close ties to a previous administration (and has one daughter) as his running mate who then dies on the eve of election. Why risk it?
PAD
"Tigerheart" hits the stands on June 17. If you were planning to order it from Amazon, now's the time. Maybe we can drive up the sales ranking.
Feel free to check out www.tigerheartbook.com to see five pages worth of glowing reviews.
PAD
The penultimate issue of the current Mutant Town storyline, and we finally reveal the circumstances behind She-Hulk being disbarred. Whad'ja think?
PAD
So a guy came up to me at the Wizard Philly con with "Fallen Angel #22" and he told me he hadn't gotten any issues since. When I asked why, he said the store manager said they'd stopped carrying it because he was the only customer buying it.
I told him that if the store couldn't be bothered to accommodate a customer, he could order it directly from IDW.
PAD