I'm Wanted (dead or alive)

Hello Chums,

I just finished reading Wanted by Mark Millar and JG Jones.

Mark Millar (probably best known for his work on The Ultimates) has crafted a tale that is reminiscent of a Garth Ennis story. It's a very twisted story with an assortment of oddball characters. With so many new characters though, (they're not the Justice League or the Avengers) I would have preferred more character development. We find out almost nothing about several of the big players in the story. A little more back story (through flashbacks or dialogue) could have added some much needed depth. As it is, the series is packed into 6 issues, but with so much story to tell, I wish it was 8-10.

JG Jones photo referenced art style works well with this story. Several characters bear striking resemblances to known celebrities: Marshall Mathers (M&M)? as Wesley Gibson, Halle Berry? as the Fox and Tommy Lee Jones? as The Killer. All nicely done.

All in all, I think there is enough here to make a decent movie. When was the last time there was great character development in an action movie anyway? As a comic reader, we just expect a little more.

If you want to read the story before seeing the movie, pick up the trade (trade paperback). It has a nice section of character bios and art from many of today's top artists.

But what's the story about? It features your basic loser (Wesley Gibson) down on his luck in life. Terrible job, no-good girl friend and father that left soon after he was born. Then things start to change for him. He meets a woman named Fox who tells him his runaway father is dead. And oh yeah, he was the most deadly supervillian the world has ever known, The Killer.

It seems in 1986, all the world's super bad guys banded together to kill all the super heroes. They then divided the Earth into 5 areas, each ran by a family, Mafia style. Fast forward to today. With the Killer dead and gone, his "family" train young Wes to be the next Killer. Does Wes embrace the life of a criminal? What do you think?

I picked the trade up while in Chicago at the con. Mr. Millar was at the con all weekend. So I decided I would have him sign it. I was headed into the con one morning when I saw him get into a taxi. Since I knew his signing was scheduled in about an hour, I didn't think he would make it. Sure enough, it was announced that his signing was changed to later in the day. Of course I didn't make that one. Oh well. His excuse? He was off to have lunch downtown with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Timur Bermambetov (the director of Wanted). Hey, you've got to have your priorities straight.

The casting of Wanted (the movie) is suspect. I mean I known the producers want to cast actors that will carry a movie (to the bank.) But come on, in the book Fox is a black woman that looks like Halle Berry. Angelina Jolie: white. This reminds me of two recent comic book movie casting blunders. #1 In Catwoman, Selina Kyle is played by Halle Berry. #2 In Daredevil, the Kingpin is played by Michael Clark Duncan. Two really bad choices (along with the scripts.) Bad casting can really kill a movie for this fanboy.

I just hope The (original) Killer looks like Tommy Lee Jones.

D.L.

I need a PSP bad.

Hello Chums,

I saw this ad in the NOV 07 issue of PSM (playstation magazine). The new game is Final Fantasy Tactics - The War Of The Lions. Made for the PSP (playstation portable), it's a port of sorts of my favorite video game Final Fantasy Tactics.

For the uninitiated, the original game is a incredibly huge turn based role playing video game. What does that mean? Two things. #1 A video game where you use characters already created with characters you meet and create during the game. The characters gain skill points and grow more powerful. #2 During a battle, the characters are placed a large map with a grid on it. The characters (good and bad) take turns (actions) based on speed. The faster character moves first and so on.

The original game has many different classes of characters, weapons, spells and monsters. Along with the main quest, there were tons of side missions and dungeons. All with a compelling story. I spent more than 200 hours on the first game.

The great news is the new port will be a full remake of the original with new CG cinematics, new jobs and missions and new characters. Where the original game had some language translation issues, the problematic translation from Japanese to English has even been fixed! All this in a hand held package.

Now I finally have a reason to buy a PSP. I hope my wife agrees.

D.L.

A Zombie here... A Zombie there... Zombies are frigin' everywhere.

Hello Chums,

I thought I'd talk a little bit about zombies. What? Why zombies? What is the big deal with zombies these days? It is a craze. The genre seems more popular than ever. But why?

I've never been a big fan of horror. Sure, I used to read every new Stephen King novel when it came out, but that was almost 15 years ago. I've watch a few Horror movies over the years, but the genre isn't my favorite. Zombies have never been all that interesting to me. They've always been pretty low on my monster scale.

However that feeling has started to change. It probably started when I watched 28 Days Later on HBO a few years ago. This movie surprised me by being Very Good. The victims were infected with something called "The Rage." A very nasty zombie type disease. Good Stuff!

Earlier this year, I read my copy of Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend." It is quite a bit different than the Charlton Heston movie "The Omega Man." It's a much darker story and Neville's situation seems more hopeless. Okay, so the monsters are technically vampires, but the way they move around and they're lack of usual vampire abilities remind me of zombies. I hope that the "I Am Legend" movie coming out later this year closely follows the book. With Will Smith in it though, it's already off to a bad start.

I keep hearing the term "Marvel Zombie". This refers to rabid Marvel fans (fan boys), who are crazy about Marvel comics. Does this mean they are brain dead automatons programmed to buy Marvel Comics? Maybe, but isn't it more likely that a DC (Didio Controlled) comics fan would continue to pick up their crap no-matter how bad it is? DC zombies anyone?

My next encounter with zombies was the book "Marvel Zombies" by Kirkman,Phillips and Suydam. I kept hearing how good it was, so I had to see for myself. It's a nice (graphic) little tale that features some of the top Marvel characters zombified. Hey, I liked it! After reading it, I tracked down the Marvel Zombies Dead Days one shot and the 3 issue Black Panther story arc. All very good. Zombie fever rising.

This all leads up to the comic book that made zombies popular. The Walking Dead. This book has done more to fuel the zombie craze than any other. I didn't buy this book when it first debuted. However, I have smelled the rotting flesh. I picked up the first trade while at a con in Kansas City. I devoured it like a zombie with a fresh piece of meat on a Saturday night. Tasty! The next day at the con I had Tony Moore (the artist) sign it. Who's it written by? Robert Kirkman. He knows a thing or two about zombies. I have now read trades 2-6 (in one day). Good stuff indeed. Zombie fever set to high.

Now for a zombie story or two. I was playing the board game Risk at Scott's house a while back. Fellow con attender Wayne and some other guys were there. Wayne was talking about all the zombie movies he had seen and there various story lines. One of the guys says that if zombies are so slow, they would never be able catch anyone to eat their brain. Wayne says that would be true, but the problem is the regular people tend to dance around and go na-na -na-na to the zombies. Then they trip, fall down and the zombies pounce on them. The funny thing was Wayne doing his own dance, the mocking thing and trip while trying to explain it.

My other zombie story involves my son Z.D. (Snake) Nelson. Years ago, I used to play the Play Station survival horror game Resident Evil 2. The problem is young Z.D. (not yet Snake) was in Kindergarten and he would watch me play all the time. It never seemed to bother him at all. Well that was until the teacher had her class draw what scared them. It didn't take long to get the call from school with the teacher asking: "Why is Zachary scared of zombies?" That was pretty much the end of my Resident Evil days.

Final Thought: MUST EAT BRAINS!!!

D.L.

DON'T GET CHUMPATIZED

Hello Chums,

I saw a great movie the other night. The King Of Kong.

This documentary tells the story of one man's quest to be the best in the world at what he does: Play the video game Donkey Kong.

Steve Wiebe was an out of work husband and father of two. He hears about the highest score ever recorded on Donkey Kong and decides he would beat it. So he does what anyone would do: Get a Donkey Kong arcade console, put it in his garage and play all the time. He plays so much he figures out tricky patterns that the game throws at him.

When he beats the high score does the movie end there? Not Hardly! Enter Billy Mitchell. Gamer of the Century. Billy is the gamer that has held the record for over 20 years. Will he let his record fall? No Way!

What ensues is some of the best documentary film making I have ever seen.

Don't Get Chumpatized see this movie.

D.L.

Secret Agent Man

Hello Chums,

I've been reading comics a long time. I can't get enough of them. I would consider myself more of a Marvel guy than a DC guy. I also like James Bond movies. So Nick Fury, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. should be a slam dunk right? No, not really.

I never really knew much about Nick Fury. Sure I saw him here or there in the Marvel universe but I never paid much attention to him. I mean, he didn't even have super powers. What's to like?

Awhile back I started reading a lot of Garth Ennis books (The Preacher,The Punisher), which lead me his other works which included a couple of Nick Fury limited series. I really enjoyed those so I decided to investigate Colonel Fury a bit further. I picked up the Nick Fury, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. trade at W.W. Chicago this year. I've had my eye on it awhile and decided at 40% off it was time to buy.

Flipping through the book I realized that the art was very good for something produced in the 60's. The coloring is amazing (though not original.) Altogether a nice package with high production values.

And the story? A very good 60's secret agent story. Fury goes up against A.I.M., Hydra, Baron Strucker and the Yellow Claw while saving the world. Just like all the great Bond movies, Fury has plenty of gadgets, a fancy car and a couple of babes. And an agent that makes a cameo appearance bares a striking resemblance to Sean Connery's Bond. Good stuff.

Highly Recommended.

D.L.

Bring Back Barry

Hello Chums,

When someone from Oklahoma writes a blog called Bring Back Barry, You might guess it would be about Barry Switzer. Although I'm a Sooner fan, this post is about comic books.

You see, I've been collecting comic books for about 35 years. Recently, I lucked into finding and buying the first comic book I ever owned. Fantastic Four #24. It had been a little tough to figure out what book it was because I couldn't remember the cover image and only some of the interior panels. I had my copy when I was 4 or 5 years old. That was quite a few years ago. Yes my new copy is very rough, but after flipping through my original copy countless times it was very rough too. Why spend a lot of money, when I can buy a copy that's comparable to the one I owned? This copy even has mustaches drawn on the characters like I would have done. The funny thing is I bought it at my Local Comic book Store (LCS), New World Comics.

I've been shopping at New World Comics since 1981. When I found out a comic book store was opening 3 blocks from my house, I couldn't believe it. I went by everyday after school and looked in their windows. I couldn't wait for opening day. On that fateful day, I ran to the store after school. I rushed inside. I couldn't wait to check out the merchandise. The store owners told me that I was their second customer (the first guy was just asking for directions.)

Since 1981, I have spent a lot of time and money at New World Comics. Why do I continue to shop there? I don't live down the block anymore. As an adult I can spend my money anywhere. If it's not because of their location, is it the stock? No. It's because of the people.

You see, going to New World was kind of like Norm going into the bar on the TV show "Cheers." You know, "where everyone knows your name." I'd walk in and I'd get: Hey Dave, how's it going? There would always be great talk about comics, movies or whatever. Usually some serious nerd talk. It was great stuff for my formative years.

Early on, New World management hired their first New World kid to sweep up and take out the trash. His name was Barry. Now Barry was a couple years older than me. He was well read (not just in comics), knew a lot about movies and a lot of other things. Over the years, Barry moved up the ladder to store manager. During this time, we had great conversations about all kinds of things. But it wasn't just me, I'd walk in and Barry would be in deep conversation with other customers. Barry became so popular customers would always ask for him. I began to wonder: Did Barry bring in customers? Or was it the comics? Was he bigger than the store? Could he open his own store and take all of New World's customers? Unfortunately my questions would ultimately be answered.

After an almost 15 year run, the New World owner let Barry go. He said he couldn't afford him any more (it was after the comic market bust). I personally took this news very hard. Barry and I were buddies. I wasn't going to let this happen. I had to do something. My friend Scott and I decided to try something. We made up fliers that said "Bring Back Barry" and placed his picture on it. We then hung fliers around the area of the shop. Nothing happened with the fliers except Barry asked us to take them down. He was ready to try something knew (and not even open his own store.) A very sad time in New World history.

There have been other New World kids or employees. But not another Barry. You can't replace a "fixture" so easily. And all those customers I used to see in the store talking to Barry? They're all gone now of course. But so is the original owner. He sold the shop to one of the newer New World kids. I've been shopping at the store longer than the new owner has been alive.

I've checked out all the other LCS' around town, none of them feel right. Even though the conversations don't seem as interesting, I'll continue to shop at New World. Maybe out of habit. Maybe I'm just getting old. Hey, It's hard to make a change after 26 years and I am their second customer!

So for the last time: Bring Back Barry!

D.L.

Best of SCI-FI

Hello Chums,

I thought I'd talk some SCI-FI on this post. Everyone who likes SCI-FI has their own favorite movie or TV series, but what's the best? Do we rate them on the best action, adventure, locations, special effects or even the actors involved? Sure, lets take it all into account.

Now there is quite a few franchises that I really like. But you have to start somewhere so I thought I would eliminate a few TV franchises because of the cheesy factor. The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Battlestar Galactica, DR.WHO, Buck Rogers and even Quantum Leap were okay at the time, but do they belong in the top spot? No-way. Yes, some of the stories were compelling, but the special effects were generally bad at the time. And how about the locations? You can only do so much in an abandoned factory or out in the woods. Don't get me started on the bad acting on Buck Rogers or Battlestar Galactica. Maybe it was just the best they could do with their lousy scripts. What about the new Battlestar Galactica or Dr. Who? I haven't even watched them. I'm not even interested. I feel like all of my questions have already been answered. But I may give the new Bionic Woman a try.

Now lets talk movie franchises. You have Terminator, Alien, Predator and the Matrix. All good franchises but best of all? Hardly. The Terminator, Alien and Predator are glorified monster movies. And before you say, What about the Matrix? Yeah, the first movie was awesome, but did you see parts 2 and 3? Total let downs. Nice action but the story was lame. They should have stopped while they were ahead.

So what do we have left? Star Wars, Star Trek and the X-Files. You may say the X-Files? What? But don't forget the continuing alien plot line. But the X-Files was mostly supernatural. So that leaves us with Star Wars and Star Trek. Easily my favorites.

When you consider the number of Star Wars and Star Trek themed conventions and their attendance that they have each year, it's easy to say that they are a lot of people's favorites. But which is best?

Both have had many movies (Trek 10 and Wars 6) and a cartoon series each. Trek has had 5 TV series against Wars old lame TV special (best to be left forgotten). Both franchises have had great locals, special effects and action with top notch actors. And before you ask, no I'm not putting the original Star Trek series on the cheesy list. Kirk and company are far to cool for that.

But what is the message? Can't we just boil Star Wars down to good vs evil? With a little magic (the force) thrown in? In a galaxy far, far away, I think that same theme will go on forever and forever.

Doesn't Star Trek offer more? It has the promise to "explore strange new worlds" and to "seek out new life and new civilizations." To boldly go where no man has gone before. Star Trek gives you the possibility of experiencing something new with each new outing.

To me Star Trek has the feeling of what could be possible in our future. Star Wars not so much. It has an unbelievable quality to it. I mean did you ever wonder where they could get enough steel to make a battle station the size of a planet?

Best of SCI- FI? No question Star Trek.

D.L.

HIGH ROLLER or low roller?

Hello Chums,

I thought on my opening post I'd talk about one of my favorite things. Going to comic book conventions (cons).
When I was a kid, I'd be lucky to go to one con a year. Of course this was the local con here in OKC. I would go with my friend Darin. My mom would usually take us and his would pick us up. Now this would not happen now days of course with all of the weirdos out there. But it was okay back then. We would spend the whole day at the show.

At the show, we would have the complete con experience. After paying our $5.00 to get in, We would spend our usual $20.00 on "awesome stuff" (comics or whatever). We would have lunch at the con hotel restaurant (a hamburger) because we were not aloud to leave the hotel. After looking at all the cool stuff in the dealers room, we would watch a movie in the movie room or play a role playing game. Yes the complete con experience.
Things have changed now that I'm an adult. The admission price of to the con is a lot more, $25.00 a day. Food prices at conventions are outrageous. Hotdog $5.00, Sandwich $8.00, Slice of pizza $5.00. Want to park your car at the hotel your staying at? $15.00 a day. You get the idea.

This begs the question. Am I a HIGH ROLLER or a low roller?
On the one hand, I feel okay spending money on air fare, nice hotels and the things I buy at cons (comic books, graphic novels, action figures, toys, prints, etc.) But $5.00 for a hot dog, that sucks.

I went to Wizard World Chicago for the first time this year. W.W.C. is in a HUGE convention center. At a huge con like Chicago or San Diego, there is an incredible amount of walking to be done each day. But don't forget your carrying your bag All Day Long. Now this bag has everything you need in it for the whole day. A few necessary items in it would be: sketch book,pens,camera,snack,water bottle, something to get signed and the con schedule. Then you start adding to it what you have bought and the free swag. This bag gets heavy fast. A lot of walking and a heavy bag will wear you out by the end of the day if not sooner. So in the evening when the show is over, your tired and hungry. It's time to get a good dinner.

After walking at the con all day, now it's time to walk back to the hotel (some years it's been 8-10 blocks away) to drop off our stuff and use the facilities, then walk to a restaurant, wait 30-45 minutes to be seated, eat and walk all the way back to our hotel. At Chicago the restaurants were almost a mile away. That's a lot of walking in one day. Now times that by 4 or 5 days.

I pointed out to my friend Scott that a HIGH ROLLER wouldn't do all the extra walking, he would take a cab when possible. But at the rate we were going we would need a cab 2-3 times a day, were we willing to shell out for a cab 10-12 times a con? Not likely yet. Hey we're barely in our 40's, still in good shape. We'll walk for now. Save some dough.

Does this make us low rollers? I don't think so. A low roller wouldn't be able to go to 3-4 cons a year. Maybe we are mid rollers.

D.L.