Greetings & Salad Dressings,
Were you at the Wilkes Library Con? Did you see a guy displaying different comic art prints and stuff? That is where the BlogMark you picked up came from. To the right is the excellent sketch by Renae DeLiz I scanned and used on the BlogMark. She is one of my favorite artist. I like how she draws some of my favorite characters and cherish the Joan of Arc Commission I had her do at HeroesCon one year.
So What is this Blog about? Basically I used to really be a comicbook reviewer. It became a way to stay busy after Graduating from Divinity School and then the death of my Mother. I was able to use my hobby as therapy and then it just became fun and a bit of a duty. I have always wanted to create a place parents and other adults could seek advice on books that would be helpful, while also promoting the reading format. I had become so noticed I was on complimentary list that aided my own collecting, as reviewing was something I did for no pay.
Alas, because of silly politics at a place of employment I gave up my hobby to ensure I could work with kids. Rumors and lies hurt, remember that people. I gave it up and walked away from the high profile (laugh here) world of on-line reviewing. Now I am at a place where my hobby is not seen as something to use as control, but a part of what makes me different and celebrated. So I decided to do this again and try and place safeguards to keep the mean people from being as mean.
I will place reviews and discussions on the comics I buy. I will tell you when a book is for those who have have time to develop a mind to handle complex issues.
I will try and showcase Kids books that are for those starting to learn how to read. There will be looks at the comicbooks I have collected over the years. As time goes by there may even be guest that will write some of their favorites on here.
Being a lover of sci-fi and fantasy I will discuss things that are in that realm. I also will tell you what I think about movies I see. This is just a place I want to share my thoughts on things that I love. I hope you will join up for the journey. At the very least Thank You for stopping by.
BDS
The female version of James Bond. I was very upset by my local paper the Winston-Salem Journal. They have cut so much in attempts to be what they once were, a well read and sought out paper, so they need to get these random reviewers for movies. That stinks as you now have no consistency of understanding of a regular reviewer. The pitiful review in the Journal did not do justice to this exciting movie. Once again a know-it-all got it wrong.
Now parents, it is PG-13, so it has heavy use of bad language in places. As character and film development it is appropriate usage of such words, but they are there. There is also some scenes that are graphic when considering young eyes, so don't drag the kiddies along. Be responsible. There was a child that I consider too young in the theater I was in.
I love Angelina Jolie. She is one of my favorite actresses. She hasn't lost a beat either as she handles some amazing stunts in this movie. It is on par with Daniel Craig in the current James Bond movies. I had most things figured out by the end, but that did not damage my enjoyment. It provides a clear view of who is good and why? You can see that there are bad people that do bad things and good people that will go to the edge yet not cross it.
Exciting and cool is the movie SALT. Jolie is awesome as usual. The supporting cast is awesome. So I guess this movie is AWESOME.
BDS
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| Batman Beyond #1 |
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I am someone who loves the animated series that still appear on TV. One that was really great was BATMAN BEYOND. It was the tale of a Bruce Wayne that had given up being the Dark Knight because of a bad heart and his having to grab a gun during a hostage situation. This is a Gotham that was without a protector and that had entered the future full force without its moral guide Bruce Wayne. That status quo becomes shattered when a young man named Terry McGuiness enters the world of Batman and avenges his own tragedy. A new Dark Knight is born and Gotham has a protector once more.
There was a short lived comic by this name that ran as the cartoon ended on the former Kids WB. It was nice and very kid friendly. Here we get a more mainstream and balanced book that is stylish for adult fans and accessible to older kids. This is a Six issue limited series that has some connection to the Superman/Batman Annual which I do not have because it was damaged in the store's bin. I will probably find it one day, but for now I just have the current issue.
The story has a mix of Terry's villain base with a storm brewing using Bruce's villain base. The funny thing is a cameo by Amanda Waller, and the usual Batman banter that Terry became famous for. This really is a nice continuation of the story. We have a rich background with the Future Gotham City and an easy setting of the world with a Justice League connection made. It is a good start by Adam Beechen. I also really liked the way Ryan Benjamin drew the world of Batman in the future. He has a nice blend of the animated feel and the modern DCU style.
I liked the start and hope the series carries through just as good.
BDS
I want to apologize for taking a bit of extra time after a very rewarding, yet tiring week at camp. I had hoped to put a few thoughts on via email, but a lack of accessible wi-fi kept me away. I now will work on catching up while money rebuilds in the bank account so I can buy new comics.
During the past year there were two comics that I have enjoyed and also saved for the honorable last read of my books. I read the books I enjoy most last, which may be odd, but it is what I do. What two books have those been? Well, the image to the left should give a clue to one, Power Girl. The other is Batgirl. The problem is that like so many of my favorites at DC I get a drastic change when a creative team comes.
What I loved about the Gray, Palmotti, and Conner Power Girl was a sense of fun. Along with the action and the adventure, I laughed. That is a rare gift anymore. I also digged the softer and cartoony look to the book. It was just this well oiled machine that delivered on so many levels. Funny and stylish with subtle humor and jokes could be a tag line for the title. It really worked and I was able to follow a character I have always liked and yet never really been drawn to in other books.
So, now comes a nice fellow with talent, but whom I always seem to leave a title when he comes on it, Judd Winick. I do see improvement with his writing as I have read the tie-ins to various DC events. Yet, when he came to Green Lantern years ago I left the book. Now he has been given the title of Power Girl and to his credit, a saddled tie in to this Max Lord story that will carry through the DCU for a while. I worry that my light-hearted adventure book will become a constant tale of bad things happening with more bad things happening and just to throw it in more bad things happening. Winick writes reality, but for me the unreality of Power Girl is what I loved. I mean the whole book had strange characters that worked and Karen just took it all in stride.
I am going to give the book a chance. The art is different, yet works well. I would encourage you to buy the trade of the first 12 issues. It is a great example of comicbook wonderfulness.
Happy Reading!
BDS
Well, I had hoped to talk about the books I got at the shop Wednesday, but getting ready for camp took priority. Leaving at 9 AM and be back sometime Friday. I am going to attempt to email some post in if the thing works. Heading to fix the settings now. So if a post appears before Friday then you know I got it working.
CBG
