Batman: Reborn GOTHAM SIRENS #1: UNION

So. I originally inteded to use this blog for posting reviews of comics as I read them. Better late then never.

And just incase you care, Spoiler Alert!

As most of you comic folk know, DC has recently killed the one, the only BRUCE WAYNE. Is the BATMAN dead though? We'll have to wait and see. I'd like to say here that I think this was a good choice and was very very necessary. I'm very interested to see who will take up the cowl and how they will earn it. But that matter is for another post, right now I want to talk about the new series GOTHAM SIRENS that has been birthed from the death of Bruce and the turmoil it has left in it's wake (ahaha pun).

As the name implies the series will be focusing on the tempterous bad-girls of the Gotham crowd. When I first heard about the launching on this series, I nearly cried,for good reason. The series will be following SELINA KYLE, PAM ISLEY and my personal favorite HARLEEN QUINZEL. On top of the spectacular cast, one of my favorite writers (and creator of Harl!) PAUL DINI will be scripting the series :D

In the first issue the girls band together after KITTY realizes that she is still "as weak as a kitten" (from having her heart torn out by HUSH) after nearly being killed up by some wannabe goon. PAM ISLEY saves her fur and bring Selina to the pad that she is currently sharing with a hypnotized EDWARD NIGMA. HARLEY arrives as SELINA is proposing an aliance. Though they agree with the proposition, the girls are also worried about SELINA's physical and mental state, expecially considered how out of the ordinary it is for SELINA to work with a group, a luxuary she rarely even shared with the BATMAN.

Deciding that they better do a background check on their feline friend. Shunning a typical phone call, PAM "calls" everyone's favorite girl-in-a-top-hat ZANTANNA using a vase of roses as the receiver. A vase of roses which grows into thorned vines that trip a hardly clothed ZANTANA into her own hot tub, after an evening of showing off her magic to the wealth of Gotham. While keeping her tightly bound and showing her head underwater anytime she tried to mutter a spell, PAM interogates her to see if she had added anything harmful to the potion she had given SELINA to help her recover her injuries. ZEE denies having done this. She reminds PAM that as doctors, her and HARL should know that there are some wounds that can go deeper then the flesh. Satisfied with her response, PAM withdraws herself from ZANTANA's home, but not without one last plung into the water.

PAM and HARLEY are about to tell KITTY that they will agree to the UNION, when the goon from earlier, THE BONECRUSHER, decides to drop in. After a swift beating from the girls, after daring the hit the Joker's dame and a quick visit from Harley's signature mallet, the girls leave. There is a neat little moment that made me giggle here. During the scuffle, EDDIE become untangled from PAMELA's plants, regains his awarenees and sees the state that his home is in after the fight. THE BONECRUSHER, powerless and scared, nervously tries to start a friendly conversation about how he has idolized him, HARVEY and MISTER J (the old school villains!). EDDIE calmly replies "Well, you know what they say, meeting your heroes is always a dissapointment" as he reaches for his question mark cane. THE BONECRUSHER then whimpers "You're going to kick my ass aren't you?". EDDIE simply retorts with "Oh my goodness, yes." and the page ends with a nice frame of his angry face as he strikes his victim. How classic :)

The story countinues with the girls taking shelter at KITTY's new loft, which is an old abandoned animal shelter. Though PAM thinks this is a bit too obvious, I myself like it a lot. For one it goes back to the campy style of the early BATMAN stories where the PENGUIN would hide-out in an aquarium or JERVIS in an old girl's school. It's always nice to revisit those kind of thing, kind of like a homage. I also think it is very significant to where KITTY is at the moment. Shelters are a place for animals to go whn they have been abandoned, but in SELINA's life even her shelter has been rundown and left behind. The shelter is sold to them by a new character who I think could have a very successful future in the DC world. THE BROKER specializes in finding and selling appropriate hideouts to villians. I can just imagine him hunting down decrepit circuses and arbotories.

Once he leaves the girls with their new loft, the discussion turns back to the UNION, which HARLEY and IVY were going to list a single condition too, before they were interupted by THE BONECRUSHER. To her surprise SELINA receives a handful of pollen-like dust to the face from PAMELA, which knocks her off her feet. As she fades into a coma like state, the last panel shows HARLEY and PAMELA stating their one condition of living together: They want to know "WHO IS BATMAN?".

If you smile at me you know I will understand, because that's something everybody, everywhere does in the same language.

I still stand by the opinion that no matter how hard she tries, Feist will never be as cool as Grace Slick.

What's the buzz? Tell me what's happening!

Most badass peice of news that I heard in a while.
Mozart Rockpra.
If anyone feels like donating to the send Maria to Paris fund, feel free.
I can only imagine the costumes that an 11milliondollar budget would allow for. They will no doubt record the show and make a dvd of it, and since realistically I probably won't be going Paris to see it, I am excited to get the dvd.
I hope they include the fact that he was chucked in a paupers grave after his death and I hope they include when he burnt his own set. Weeeeee Mozart!
Yeah I'm a dork. Shut up.

P.S. Ten dollars says that Andy Lloyd will be at the opening night.

I'd have loved you if you were a movie star. And you'd have loved me if I only had a heart.

With the fantastically large amount of good movies coming out of the next couple years, I thought I would write a little somthin-somthin about the ones that I am most excited about.

For all you people who are bitching about how this Holmes movie isn't really "Holmes" please fuck off and read the books. It won't kill you to actually do soemthing that will take some time and mental effort. It will be worth it I promise.
Once you do that you will be able to appreciate the awesome that this movie is going to be and how fantastic the cast is.
I think I'm going to start re-reading my complete works. Just because :)
And eventhough the guy is this Sherlock Holmes interview doesn't say that there is any M-man, I really hope and think that there will be an appearance, even if it is on a small scale.

Ok, just saw this last night so it isn't something that I am looking forward to see in the future. What I am looking forward too though is seeing it again. I don't give a shit if the Globe and Mail only gave it half-stars, I think it is the best action/adventure movie since TDK. Possibly of all time, asides from TDK.
Visuals = A +++
You could actually tell who was who, unlike some other movies this year. Effects and costumes were both very diverse and every little bit had exceptional detail.
Story = A +
Not only was the movie's story fantastic, the back stories had just the right amount of detail to be fancinating and leave you wanting more, while at the same time not overpowering the present time story. You can definitely tell they are setting up a huge plot for the next movie too, and before the credits even start you NEED to know what happens next.
Script = A
Funny and true to the comics. It balanced the fine line between cheesy funny (ie. Ripcord hitting on Scarlet) and dead serious evil guy stuff (finding out that Rex is the Doctor/COBRA). It, unlike most actions films, has enough dialogue to satisfy the educated ear, but doesn't take away from the fact that it is indeed an action film.
Acting = A
Though some of the goodies were lacking in sincerity and stuck to the acting-towards-a-childrens-audience take, the acting of the villans more than made up for it. Eccleston Eccleston Eccleston. :D
Here is a sweet G.I. Joe review that has a lot more detial:G.I. JOE.

Here are some awesome looking movies that are coming out soon. I really hope the Poe one is good, true to his works and not aimed at teenage girls. If that happens, heads will roll. Seriously.
Russia vs. Georgia
The Raven
Little Red Riding Hood

P.S. John Hughes, I miss you already. Remember me when you join Micheal ranks of undead zombie celebrities.

P.S.S. If anyone actually reads this, especially if you actually know me, your probably wondering why Alice isn't mentioned here. It's worth and entire entry of it's own, so don't worry it's on it's way.

Fire storm from the Fifth-Dimension.

Well I do have to agree with every report on the past weekend = Success.

Despite the drama, the yelling, the jealousy, the break-ups, the stress and the druken idiots, the good moments cancel out the bad. Or should I say they made the bad parts worth it. Or maybe the bad parts made the good parts all worthwild?

Whatever way you please, I thought I will highlight some of the funnest moments, in my opinion. Yes, I know it's only been two days, but I can still open a can of Nostalgia if I want. Besides two months from now I can re-read this and smile.
Kinda like a diary, but without hearts scrawled in the corners.

Aw what the hell.

<3 Best performance: Julie Dorion by far. It was her best performance I have ever seen, live or recorded.
<3 Best set list: I'm stuck between The Burning Hell and Eric's Trip. Leaning towards The Burning Hell though.
<3 Best quote: "It's like the premature ejaculation of cigarette smoking."
<3 Best stunt: BA crowd surfing in a tube withe the Mario Bros theme playing.
<3 Best hilarious moment: Baby. Glass tube. Need I say more?
<3 Best WFT moment: Waking up on Monday with a party hat still on my head.
<3 Best BAWWW moment: Making Fred giggle by screaming "Fred have my babies!" during Julie Doiron's set.
<3 Best group moment: Drunkenly running down Lorne St singing Mind Crumb at the top of our lungs.
<3 Best sincere moment: Talking to BA on the George's porch and him introducing himself to us as Christian.
<3 Best disguisting moment: Lisa eating burnt popcorn off of the 25BS floor. After I had picked it up with my toes. And put it on her toes. So that she could feed herself. With her toes.
<3 Best "Sense this make zero" moment: Watching Mission Impossible with the guys from Attack in Black. On the History channel. Seriously.
<3 Best sexy moment (kinda?): Having a chat with Spencer through the 25BS back hall window. While the was wearing nothing but his breifs.
<3 Best "Oh yeah, we went there" moment: Attack in Black + Super Power Rings + Saving the Day = MECHA JIMMY.
<3 Best embarassing moment: Having Jimmy come into the apartment while we were listening to his album.
<3 Best food related moment: Eating half a watermelon with spoons. Actually the tasty everything breakfast nachos were pretty awesome too. And the breakfast at Vanessa's. I love food.
<3 Best best moment: Being able to hear Calm Down It's Monday's set while napping in my apartment.
<3 Best Neil Bonner moment: Neil drinking most of the pitcher at George's and CHRIS out of all people saying "Oh fuck, Neil is drunk".
<3 Best "Maria is a jerk" moment: Ninja throwing whatever it was I threw at Neil for making fun of me playing WoW.
<3 Best cute moment: Meeting Stephane's girlfriend Ingrid. She was just too cute.
<3 Best purchase of the weekend: Freuermusik's cd. Since they have no lyrics in their music, the cd booklet was the score to the lead melodies. Brilliant.

That's all I got for now. Feel free to post your own additions :)
Oh yeah, this post is totally all about Sappyfest.

Hey diddle diddle now isn't this a riddle? It's the proof of love.

Good on this woman. Not only is she sticking it the "the man" she's sticking it to Jesus. :)

I will burn my every book.

Well, I had sent that last post while I was at work, and apparently work computers don't like blog postings. And I am far too lazy to type everything all out again.
So here it is in summary:
- Star Trek = FUCKING AWESOME
- Terminator = Pretty cool (Bale needs speech therapy)
- Anton Yelchin = FUCKING AWESOME
- Bought my Hal-Con ticket/VIP ticket (Which means I get ot meet Walter Keonig!!!)

On that note, I recently learned that Keonig's son, who played Mister J in the www.batinthesun.com movies, also does improv at Second City LA and
he also helped produce a film about Gonzo. He also was in an episode of TNG. He's also unmarried. And it's also a little more legal to marry then his father. But unfortunately, he isn't all that good looking >.<
I'm sure he can afford plastic surgery if I ask really nicely....

So, for those of you who haven't heard and care, I had an interesting Tuesday night this past week. After waiting three hours in line, with my Hal-Con shirt on, Decepticon band aids on my cheek and Megatron clutched tightly in my pale hands, I got to see Transformers 2. Or should I say, I got to see about the first two hours of it. And then the film reel started playing backwards and upside down. They couldn't get it fixed fast and I had to work the next morning so I had to leave.
Not a good scene.
After three days I couldn't wait any longer and decided to go see it with my mom.
And it was way better then the first.
No takies about it though. No spoilers from me.

I will be the one in the unmarked car.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.... Or the one.... I have been and forever shall be, your friend.

Oh Star Trek, you will always be my friend. I was about to watch 'Control', but noticed that In Search of Spock, and figured it was a more appropriate movie to watch at the current time. I was planning on starting my Star Trekkin' spree on the weekend, but this will be a nice warm up. I still need to finish up my Vulcan robes for the movie showing and get some dermal wax for my ears, for the movie showing. SO excited. Got my ticket today, along with my Wolverine ticket (which will be the topic of my next blog).

Anyways, the only real point I had for this blog was a concern that arose while I was watching STIII. When Saavik and Dr. M are taking the readings of the Genesis, they read the temperatures of the various sectors in degrees Celsius. Now, I really don't think that in the well developed, science oriented, multi-planetary future, Celsius would be the main unit of temperature measurement. Considering of course that freezing point is consistent everywhere in the universe, some sort of unit that has the same mathematical patterns to Kelvins would probably have been made on each planet. Now why wouldn't they be reading the temperatures in Kelvins? It's the most easily convertible, usable and conceptual unit of temperature measurement. Seriously, they should be using Kelvins. That's all I have to say about that.
Man, the captain of the Excelsior is a pompous jerk. He reminds me of the duke in Moulin Rouge.

Oh shit! Klingons! They want the Genesis planet!

I think the Chekov's outfit, when they are stealing the Enterprise, is absolutely ridiculous. Only he could pull off a pink cardigan and a oversized white collar and get away with it. I think I might faint when I get to meet Keonig at HAL-CON. And orgasm at the same time. That would be an intense sensation, though there would probably be a lot of shaking involved. Speaking of orgasms, (great bridge I know) am I the only one who find the scene where Sarek mind-melds with Kirk highly erotic? It's not especially attractive, since that was starting to put on the chub at that point, but just the angry build up to the situation, the dimmed lighting and the close up shots of Sarek's mouth all scream 'SEX' to me. This coming from the person who thinks that mild-melds in general are really sexy. That might explain it.
Sweet, Pon'far scene now. Woo Vulcan hand jobs. Literally, hand jobs.

I also find it hilarious that at one point in the movie it is said that Kirk's career is passed on rationality. That made me laugh. A lot.

This Friday at 10et Space is paying a special on the new Star Trek movie, in case anyone is interesting. In the commercial, it is said that "You have never had to have watched Star Trek, ever, to love this movie" and I'm really not sure if that is encouraging or not. If it's anything like The Watchmen, I would rather that they catered to the knowledgeable crowd then the general crowd. I know that it's selfish and that they need to make money blah blah blah, but really, Trekkies are not people that you want to piss off. We've all learned never to trust Lucas again (especially after the Clone Wars movie) but Roddenberry's memory should not be tainted. Oh well, it looks like it will be a success, but I will still be wary.

Ahaha those Nicorrette Inhalers that they are advertising all over the tele look like 'pearl' tampon cases. I definitely want to put those in my mouth. This is why I don't watch the tele that often.

The dashboard melted but we still got the radio (Stupid blogspot terminology)

So. I went to a so-called punk/metal show last night. Covering bands such as The Clash, Nirvana and The Misfits. I was super excited because it was the first show that I had been to in Moncton that involved me having to be 19. Little did I know, the whole spirit that comes along with being at those shows is dead. The people there were more concerned about not spilling a drop of their precious intoxicating liquids than having fun and being part of the whole community crowd thing that used to happen at shows. A friend of mine got arresting for trying to start a mosh pit. Arrested. Seriously, what kind of fucking punk show doesn't allow a mosh pit? The people who act and dress all tough, with their tattoos and beards, are apparently just fragile and boring narcs. Sure, the whole idea of starting a mosh pit and pushing and shoving people around may seem like something only younger people do, but I've seen indie kids at an accoustic show move more then the people last night. Ugh, I think that's the last "punk" show that I will be going to in Moncton. The phrase "Punk's not dead" is apparently not true for Moncton.
On a different note, I really need to stop staying up so late and then sleeping in. I am so screwed for going back to university. I've been going to bed at like 2 or 3 am and sleeping for 12 hours. I'm starting to get all nocturnal again. Oh well, just need ot force myself to get up early for the next couple days, then I can get to sleep earlier. Blah, should go to bed now.

The sweetest May, this is not your luck....

I know I said I'd finish the previous post, but I do not have the brain/will power to do it right now. But I still feel the need for a post of some sorts. So my ebay shopping is going well, found a lot with Mad Love and the first issue of the Harley Quinn series for a not-quite-so-ridiculous-as-usual price. Assuming that it doesn't get bid inflated. Hence why I am currently outbidded, but am waiting to bid on it again, because I am one of those last minute bidding jerks. :)
I also found a lot with the three LOTDK Halloween specials by Loeb/Sale. SUPER EXCITED. I love their creepy pumkins, very signature. I am also looking at a set of Nofesratu comics and lots of LOTDK. I love comics. End of story.
Time to paint :)

Not to touch the earth, not to see the sun.

"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."

I've been thinking about that quote a lot today. Actually, it's been stuck at the back of my head for a while, and surfaces once in a while for me to ponder. But lately the pondering won't stop. The more I think about it, the more I find that it is as vague as it is multifaceted. Now, I think I need to write out an analysis to at least satisfy myself, if not anyone else, on the meaning of the statement.
"I believe" it simple enough to start with. It is Mr. Morrison starting that this is first point of view is his and he believes it is correct. He is not stating that it is universally correct, he is not making the assumption that everyone else shares this view, but simply indicates that this is what he believes. "Long" has a couple meaning. It could be "long" in a geometric sense, as in, something that is elongated in one of its dimension. It can mean that it is full of content or space, for instance a long list or a long way. It can also mean a large portion or distance in time. Now at first I would have thought that it would be related to a period of time of which the derangement occurs. When looking at the word from a different point of view, I started to think of this derangement in terms of physical or representational space. It seems to me that this process that Jim is in terms with is like a journey, a long way to travel. when considering the rest of the text, it fits in well. I never imagined "The unknown" to be any wheres close to a person. After all what is around us is in our sights, and that's why we stay in that spot, because we enjoy the things around and their secure familiarity. When we go on a "long" journey, it is often to find something new to replace what we know (because we are not satisfied by what we know) or to expand on it (to heighten our perceptions, to make our vision acute but broad).
I'll finish this late, need to pay attention to class now.
Also, read Huxley. Always.

You are the sun. I am the moon. You are the words. I am the tune, play me.

Ugh, had improv tonight. I was feeling that wonderful feeling of really getting into a scene for the first while, but then not so much. I think that must be how a cocaine down must feel. Except worse, because you only have yourself and your skills to blame. Oh well, I know I probably won't be preforming soon but I know it's only because it will be for the better hood of the performance. I would not be a good communist if I was not looking out for the needs of the many, now would I? Speaking of which, I really wish I had a fur coat. I think I might invest in one soon, though the Com Badge and silver wig take priority over it as of now.
I really shouldn't keep the menu for Jack's Pizza near my desk, especially not right in front of my chair place (which is where it is now), for two reasons: 1) I want donair 2) I lost.
Bahaha. Pointless rambling, I know.
Well, here's a point. Today I reached the 9th issue of The Huntress series by Cavalieri, and it's starting to piece together nicely. The three issues before the 9th I find were quite up in the air, storyline wise. They focused more on Helena, which was great, because she is a interesting character to see evolve, but the rest of the world in the story was a little too helter skelter to overly enjoyable. I was reading in one of the comments to the writers that someone thoguht that Helena Bertinelli was not "pretty" enough, and that if she was more beautiful, she would be able to use it to her advantage to get information out of people, and the like. Now this pissed me off. How typical can you get? Can we not have atleast one femme fatal that does rely of hypnotizing people with her chest? Sure, it's funny once in a while, but something a little more down to earth-one is good to have once in a while. Also, if they had really been reading the series closer then just for the pulse raging pictures of her jumping from buildings while her tits defie gravity, they would have seen that it would be totally out of character for Helena to do so. She is far to independant and reclusive from other people. She even rejects her body guard that has been her only friend all her life. I dare say, she has to real friends, and seems to like it that way. Why she would go out of her way to socialize and degrade herself to get information, when she can just beat the shit of out people until they tell her what she wants, I don't know. And I am glad she doesn't. In the newer versions of The Huntress, they have indeed givin in to this request (hence why I stick to the 1989 version, for now). Fuller lips, less powerful and dominating eyes. Just the art turns me off, because it doesn't give off the powerful feel that Cavalieri's Huntress did. Though I do like her new outfit.

P.S. The Huntress is totally my comic girl crush, if you haven't figured that out yet. ^_^

Let's swim to the moon. Let's climb through the tide....

Is it wrong that I almost vomit with excitement every time I look at the new Star Trek promotion pictures?

I really can't believe how good it all looks. It will be strange not having George Takei or Walter Koenig at the helm for me to lust after, but I'm sure I'll survive. I sure hope that there is some shirtless swashbuckling on Sulu's part though....
IMDB has whispered to me that Nimoy will be having an appearance, which is completely expected and appropriate if you ask me. I'm interested to see if Monsieur Shatner will eventually give in and lend his body to the production. Or if they even want him to at all. We'll see.
I think it would be funny if Michael Dorn had a cameo somewheres in the movie, maybe as a red shirt (though I don't think he deserves to sinkthat low, really. After all he has his Klingon pride to protect) because no one would recognize him with out his layers of makeup. Well, I would. and real Trekkies. Who are probably the only people who will be going to see this.
So, after hunting on ebay for a decent Com Badge, I decided that I may just save up and invest in a real good one. The cheapest one I could find was 30$, but for another 30$ you can get an super nice one. Worth it, I think. But I think this ebay spree will mostly be spent on les comic. LOTDK are an obvious choice, and I was thinking about finally picking up my own copy of Long Halloween aswell. Depending on how many LOTDK I choose to get, I may also get a lot with the three Black Orchid comics that Gaimen and McKean did. I'm a totaly sucker for McKean's art. I also stumbled accross some Alex Ross meets Nosferatu books, which look interesting.
We'll see though. Time to read some Kant.

Procrastination.

It's things like this that make me have that panic-like feeling when I sit down to do a test or midterm. These sort of things that I do instead of properly preparing my self for examination. The sort of things that make my large quantities of money, that has been spent of my education, go down the drain. Maybe after typing this out rather then just thinking it in my head, I will actually get motivated enough to keep learning about bits of the brain; what they do and where they sit in our little held-high skulls.
Perhaps.
The recent change of music, to some more familiar music, seems to be helping my attention span. I think that I should get back to work, but not until after noting the reason for creating one of these. For one I need to practice writing. Secondly, I want to see if anyone actually reads this stuff. Third, I want a place to get thoughts out. Sound good? Yes.