So you think you can dance... in Japan

On a coolness scale 1 to 10, this video goes well into triple digits:



From (what I'm guessing is) a dance contest TV show in Japan, two skirt-clad, ass-hanging-out Japanese men dancing Daft Punk on a red-and-white square tiled floor straight out of a dance console game. But they're good, and the dance routines are frankly inspired, with all the camp and kitschiness you would expect from our muses in the East.

Now I have to start slapping booty and headbutting people on the dance floor!

Kevin Smith on Gay Bears

Is it really just a gay thing? Isn't Kevin Smith just adorable to the opposite sex? It's really true if he ever entered a gay bear bar he would have a ton of guys drooling after him (yeah, me included)

btw:

cubs: younger bears.

Guys who like bears: chasers.

Twinks? hairless young slim guys, not really into bears.

Kevin should totally remake Cachorro/Bearcub for an American audience

Brand New Day solicitation spoilers

So, how closely have you been looking at the recent Marvel Comics Solicitations, and the Brand New Day covers?

Like, say, the cover to Amazing Spider-Man #546 above.

You know the one. The one where Spider-Man is pulling his MASK down, swinging on rooftops with a CAMERA strapped on his arm, while on the background J. Jonah Jameson is ranting on a billboard about the MASKED MENACE.

And isn't Peter Parker looking all single in those preview pages where he's mending his spider-man costume on his own?

This humble fan's opinion: JMS is ending his run with a huge RESET button, undoing spider-man continuity all the way back to the spider-marriage and beyond. The world forgets who spider-man is, Spider-man forgets who Mary Jane is, Mary Jane forgets who Peter is, but also gets a nifty power set and superhero identity out of the deal (so they can fall in love with each other all over again, not knowing who each other really is! awwwww)

Homosexuality in Comics

CBR ran a very interesting set of articles last month, focusing on the portrayal of LGBT characters in comics.

The panel included nine famous creators who are either gay themselves or have been linked to some important LGBT landmarks in comics:

Marc Andreyko (MANHUNTER)
Lillian Diaz-Przbyl (TokyoPop's Yaoi editor)
Devin Grayson (USER for Vertigo)
Terrance Griep (PRISM Comics)
Mark Millar (THE AUTHORITY: the wedding of Midnighter and Apollo)
Allan Heinberg (YOUNG AVENGERS)
Scott Lobdell (ALPHA FLIGHT: Northstar's coming out)
Alan Moore (you know him...)
and Greg Rucka (GOTHAM CENTRAL, 52: Renee Montoya and Batwoman)

Parts I and II introduce the panel in more detail and talk to them individually about their experiences and history in comics and LGBT issues.

Following that Parts III and IV get into the nitty-gritty with as close examination of the major 'gay issues' in comics and the panelists' thoughts on them. Part III talks about the Comics Code, comics viewed as a kids' medium, choice versus genes, and how much LGBT characters tend to be completely defined by their sexuality. Part IV features the panelists' favourite LGBT protrayals in comics, adresses the 'gay retcon' and wraps up with a general address at LGBT elements in comics today.