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!
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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
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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)
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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.

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POTTER'S FIELD #1 review

POTTER’S FIELD #1

Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Paul Azacetta

BOOM! STUDIOS


It’s official, Mark Waid has gone Boom!



POTTER’S FIELD is Waid's first book as editor-in-chief (and he chose to write it himself. Huh.). Waid doesn’t set out to reinvent the company wheel with this series, as the old adage still is in effect: ‘if it ain’t broken…’.

Instead, Waid adapts every subtly his writing style to what is expected from a Boom book; PF #1 reads like a captivating TV crime show pilot in comics form: the premise is laid out revealing the show structure of a weekly murder mystery, the protagonist is introduced through third parties, keeping a shroud of mystery around him yet providing enough off-key minutia to keep him interesting to the reader and raise questions, while all the information is spaced out through a smaller-scale opening salvo murder investigation.

Let’s backtrack and look at what the story is about though:

‘Potter’s Field’ is a term used for public burial places for unknown or indigent people. Wikipedia has an interesting article explaining the origins of the name (and including a reference to this comic).

The stories in this book are centered around the Potter’s field on Hart Island, New York. The protagonist is ‘John Doe’, a sunglass-wearing tabula rasa of a hero, carrying a morbid obsession/compulsion to investigate the stories of the other Johns and Janes Doe who are buried in that field, and discover their true names so that he can chisel them on to their numbered grave plates and they can then be properly mourned. Each issue looks to be geared to be the quest to uncover the next number in sequence in the burial ground. J.D.'s ‘crew’ consists of people in key positions (coroners, prison guards, reporters) who support his cause and owe him a debt of gratitude for helping them out when tragedy had struck close to their own lives. Very GLOBAL FREQUENCY meets CSI. The first case is an unidentified (duh) girl, who jumped off a building terrace, carrying only a walkman (remember those?) containing only Top 20 summer hits from ten years ago. What a way to go!

The premise is solid and fertile for a variety of crime and murder stories, probably allowing other writers to come in after Waid’s opening arc and tell their own stories. Much like Boom’s other prominent properties, it’s also a by-the-numbers comics-acting-as-a-pitch for Hollywood and TV execs. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, this is a concept that’s indeed perfect for TV; if it wasn’t for Paul Azacetta with his stunning visuals (very John Paul Leon) and the sneakily evil things he does with panel perspective and camera settings (angling many of his ‘shots’ as reflections on J.D.’s sunglasses lens, or shooting from inside a toilet can at a man’s head sunk inside), I could even hazard to say it’s something better suited for the screen than the paper. Paul is saving the day here, Boom.

Any complaints? At first read, I was ecstatic over this title, the premise and everything, really. The second reading, for the purposes of this review, revealed flaws in the pacing and the execution of the clever crime-of-the-month that were quite jarring; although the first issue carries an original crime mystery, Waid is squandering its potential by cutting it short enough to fit as a self-contained issue, and then even shorter to accommodate all the setup that needs to get out of the way in the pilot issue. The victim’s situation is introduced, J.D. pays two visits to his informants and before you know it he’s already solved the mystery and is sneaking around the culprit’s apartment seeking hard evidence and retribution. There are no false leads to make the route more exciting, no potential suspects, no clues left out for the reader to get in on the detective game (isn’t that a huge part of the fun in crime series and whodunits?); John Doe simply serves us the suspect in a platter and then explains how everything happened with enough glee to make Angela Lansbury jealous (at the same time not providing quite enough convincing arguments about how he came to these deduction, apart from divine intuition).

A secondary complaint pertains to the accuracy of the depictions of this specific Potter's Field, on Hart Island. Since Waid chose this specific burial ground, to take advantage of the New York setting, I expected a higher degree of accuracy compared to the real facts about the place. A cursory Wiki search reveals that the graves in Hart Island are in fact mass graves, with six coffinsfitted in the same hole, without any individual markers. I understand how this different interpretation of the fields caters to the plot machine set up here, so the only real gripe is that the added realism/accuracy would have made it an even better book, though it certainly doesn't detract all that much (it's not like a lot people are likely to know about the inaccuracy unless they're reading us -oops- ;) ).

I’m hooked enough with the creative team and the premise to tune in next month for the next crime mystery and hope for the best! I wonder how many months before the first press release announcing the property has been optioned by HBO? ;)

Grade: 6.5/10


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Vote for Panel of the Week 10.09.07

Each week I'll be posting the 3-4 most memorable panels from the week and putting them up for a public week-long vote. The winning panels gets posted on the sidebar and earns boasting privileges over lesser panels...

Last week two Teen Titans #50 panels raced to the finish line, with Todd Nauck and Dezago's Impulse panel seizing the win by 4 votes!

This week the Marvel super-heroines take the lead, as Ms Marvel enters the fray with a record--breaking (sic) three panels, accompanied by one more She-Hulk panel. Machine Ma- - Aaron Stack's cameo is doing wonders for the book's readability!

CoolWebPoll

Panel A:

An Avengerette menace-a-trois. And two of them with claws! (Ms MARVEL)

Panel B:

The Three Super-Amigos - A C-list heroes, B-movie, buddy flick (Ms MARVEL)

Panel C:

Painful Weapon IV: A C-list heroes, B-movie, buddy flick sequel (Ms MARVEL)

Panel D:

Oh, no... you didn't! (SHE-HULK)

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God, will you give me a Sign to go on?

A truly innovative and fun way of bringing God closer to people and their everyday lives.

Godmarks is a donations-based organization which puts out messages like this out in cities, on billboards, on post boxes, in the back of buses and in magazines. The messages are fun, smart, and often controversial, meant to ignite debate and trigger people to think about God.

Apart from the above (my favorite), messages include:

"I miss how you used to talk to me when
you were a kid
- God"

"Contrary to popular belief, I don't hate anyone who's gay
- Jesus"

"Isn't it weird how most people think I'm white?
-God"

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No more... X-Men?

This just in (2 mins ago) from Marvel. So you probably DID see it here first!

Marko Djurdjevic up to his usual excellence. I'm intrigued by the upcoming crossover, but the name 'Disassembled' conjurs too many painful memories.
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Pig-versary!

With all the Spider-Pig craze going around the internet, let's not forget the Alpha Pig of comics: Pig from Pearls Before Swine

Today's strip:


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Parlliament Election Campaigns Made In Greece

This is an actual campaign video for TV for one of the lower upper-tier political parties in Greece (I think 5th in order) LA.O.S.. The video is for new candidate Efi Sarri, one of the trashiest Greek singers.



Allow me to translate, for a full enjoyment of the video:

I thought about it well,
and it won't take any more
again, we have to save our Greece

I thought about it a lot
to get into the Parliament
and everyone together, hand in hand to get on the step

Cross me (give me a cross/vote)
Cross me
On your arms
lift me up

If you want to save yourself
if you want to complain
you vote me
and then you'll see

If you want a voice
that is true
give your cross to LA.O.S.
to Efi Sarri

Cross me (give me a cross/vote)
Cross me
On your arms
lift me up

(x2)

And I will fight
to get the right thing done

I believe in Greece
I believe in the Christ

The young people especially
if they want to be 'in'
they should join me
to turn on the light

Cross me (give me a cross/vote)
Cross me
On your arms
lift me up

Our parliament needs fun
give a cross to Efi
to Efi (x6)

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Black Canary: UNCENSORED

LYSAD has a major exclusive that we'd like to share with you: the original, uncensored covers to the BLACK CANARY mini-series

Forget these watered-down fakes that got published:

Here, for the first time on the internet, are the original covers, leaked from DC's editorial offices:


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Orange Wednesdays: Spike Lee

The third in our regular Wednesday series of specials

If you're lucky enough not to live in the UK, you have been deprived of one of the greatest movie theater inventions since buttered pop corn:

the ORANGE FILM FUNDING COMMITTEE short clips.

These are sponsored by the Orange mobile company and feature a different actor every few months trying to pitch their movie idea to the committee, only to have them -- well, you just watch.

This week, the unfortunate guest-star is Spike Lee:


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Black Canary or... Black Widow!

Am I the only one noticing the subtle absence of Ollie from the first two covers of GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY ?

Exhibit A: Cover to #1

Solicitation:

The new Green Arrow/Black Canary team investigates the shocking results of the Wedding of the Century in an all-new adventure that brings the Star City-crossed lovers together!

Now, we know the united Super-villains are crashing the wedding in the next JLA issue, but could they really be offing the groom? Why else wouldn't Ollie be featured on the cover of the first issue?




Exhibit B: Cover to #2

Solicitation:

Black Canary and Speedy head to Amazon Island, where a job offer from Athena seems to be the perfect opportunity for Dinah to focus some of her frustrations over what's happened to Green Arrow.

Again, no Ollie, but the rest of Team Arrow is present. Artist Cliff Chiang recently posted this cover on his blog, commenting that:

Plus, I can’t really preview much of the art for the book just yet.

Will DC kindly stop offing their characters library? It's been a death-a-month since Countdown started and I'm starting to get ticked off...

p.s. As a bonus, check out Cliff's pencils and inks for the second cover by clicking on the image in this link. Cliff Chiang on the book is the only thing that would make me read this despite Winnick's continuing presence...
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American Virgin #18 review

AMERICAN VIRGIN #18

Writer: Steve Seagle

Artist: Ryan Kelly

Vertigo


Around the World: Part 4 of 5: Delhi

The Series: Adam Chamberlain is the 'American Virgin': a 21-year old Born Again Christian preacher who is the poster boy for sexual abstinence until marriage, passing the message through TV appearance and conventions to kids his age that 'abstinence is cool'.

His whole world will be turned on its head when his girlfriend Cassie (whom he regarded as his intended soulmate, after God spoke to him in a dream) is beheaded while in a Peace mission in Africa. This sets of a chain of events that lead Adam on a journey of spiritual, sexual and religious discovery across the world, experiencing different worldviews towards sex and God.

Current story/issue: After last issue, and his sexy new spiritual tattoo, Adam is finally rid of the haunting ghost of his dead girlfriend. Now, accompanied by his new kinda-girlfriend Vanessa, they continue their world tour with their next stop: Delhi, India.

As always, with each new locale comes a whole new set of awkward and new sexual and religious taboos to challenge Adam's convictions. From the ancient Hindu's Worship of sex as a way towards Ascendance, to the modern day conservatism and casual genderist attitude against women. When the couple and their guide stumble upon a Hindu wedding, Adam has his first run-in with Hijra, the third Sex, a very respected and traditional form of transvestism in India.

Becky Cloonan is taking a month off from the art duties, and a perfect stand-in is selected in Ryan Kelly, the artist who succeeded Becky as Brian Wood's collaborator in the Demo/Local series. Due to Brian Miller's familiar two-tone palette taking dominance over the linework, I'm not actually sure I would have recognized the change in artists if I hadn't read about it in Ryan's blog. The art style and character designs remain extremely consistent, and editor Casey Seija deserves a nod of approval for managing to keep to a monthly schedule without compromising the quality of the book with inappropriate fill-ins. Still, having seen the uncolored art from both Becky and Ryan, I can't help wishing the art was reproduced straight from the inks for this series, as they are both artists who are used to working in black & white and their linework turns to lose its edge once colour is introduced.

American Virgin is one of the most enjoyable monthly reads from Vertigo. Adam is a very intense and controversial character, and the writer doesn't waste any chances to really push his beliefs and convictions to the breaking limit. This leads to entertaining and revealing stories about the nature of religion and the importance of sex in culture, and acts as a sort of Sex-centered National Geographic, with Adam as our impromptu guide through the different attitudes towards sex around the world.

As good as it, I'd be honestly surprised if it made it past issue 25. It's a convergence of different reasons. Low sales are one, naturally. The premise of the story itself is limiting to the amount of stories you can tell, as the title character keeps evolving and growing, and will inevitably grow out of the title premise. The story since 'Wet' has been speeding towards such a conclusion, with the introduction of Vanessa as the new love interest and Adam's 'intended'. Future solicitations and covers reveal that Adam may not remain an American Virgin for much longer, as well; and once that cherry has popped, the title will have reached its natural conclusion.

Still, I'm not discouraged. This is standard for writer Steve T. Seagle. He offers grand original concepts and creates an engaging cast, but it's always with an eye towards a specific ending, creating a very rich library of finite series, like House of Secrets and the Crusades, two of my all-time favorite Vertigo books.

Grade: 8/10


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Marvel Comics Advance Reviews for 5/9/07

Well, good news is I've been promoted to main Reviews Editor for the Comics Nexus

Bad news is this leaves me less time to do my own advance reviews, as I instead must edit, format and pretty up other people's reviews.

From now on I'll be focusing my energy on indy and mature readers titles, and posting guest reviews for the rest of the mainstream.

This week, advance review by Aaron Glazer and Iain Burnside for:

Ms Marvel #19

Marvel Adventures Spider-man #31

Uncanny X-Men #390

Incredible Hulk #110

Wolverine #57

all shipping this Thursday
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August 2007 H-O-T Grade

At the close of every month, LYSAD will be putting out the absolute and final word on what was H-O-T in comics.

August 2007 was a very busy month for comics (with 5 weeks of releases) and lots of great choices:



1. THE ORDER #2 (Marvel)

2. ASTONISHING X-MEN #22 (Marvel)

3. WOLVERINE #56 (Marvel)

4. CASANOVA #8 (Image)

5. PROGRAMME #2 (Wildstorm)

6. BLACK SUMMER #2 (Avatar)

7. FAKER #2 (Vertigo)

8. GARTH ENNIS CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD #6 (Avatar)

9. FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD SPIDER-MAN #23 (Marvel)

10. BATMAN #667-668 (DC)
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