"Softies," Graphic Novel Review

Iron Circus Comics puts out an assortment of cool stuff from more adult works to all-ages books. Their latest release, "Softies," is a young adult graphic novel that is a bit like a younger-readers version of, "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy." Titled, "Softies," this book is written and illustrated by Kyle Smeallie and it is a hoot. "Sofites," follows the last human to survive an Earth that has suddenly exploded (the reason is purposely left unclear) named Kay as she ends up on a trash ship. 

There she meets a lizard-alien named Arizona and a fox-like alien who goes by the name Euclid. From there an assortment of vignettes occur as Kay, Arizona, and Euclid encounter all kinds of interesting aliens and situations. From a so-so comedy show to a diner being attacked by a mutated creature, a bunch of fun and humorous situations occur. There are some heartfelt situations too, as Kay comes to terms with the destruction of Earth, but I loved the more funny moments and Smeallie's artwork is fantastic at expressing how crazy and different these space creatures are.

"Softies," goes on sale October 20th and I'd encourage you to seek out a copy from your preferred comic-store/bookstore/online retailer at that time. I found it charming and if you have a younger reader around the ages of 10-12 who loves space this book will most likely be a perfect fit for them!

5 out of 5 stars.

Note: A digital copy of, "Softies," was provided for the purposes of review in one of the assorted press emails I often get.

I Met My Wife 9 Years Ago Today

October 8th is a special day as it is when I met my now-wife, Samii. That occurred nine years ago today. We met at Crestwood Mall (which is now sadly a crater) after having spoken online for a few days and then went to a nearby Chili's for our date where I was extremely awkward. Thankfully, she was willing to go on some more dates with me and we proceeded to fall in love! I love her so much and am eternally grateful for having her in my life.

A Surprise Guest Crashed the VP Debate and it Was Amazing

The Vice Presidential debate last night was a relatively mellow affair. Compared to the mess of screaming that was the first Presidential debate, this was a pretty chill-but-tense event. That is, except for the full minute and a half-ish that a fly landed on Mike Pence's head and just...stayed there. Pence maybe didn't feel it, who knows, but it just sat there and sat there while he and Kamala Harris spoke. Fly's love things that are rotten, and nothing is more rotten than Trump's Presidency which Pence has happily been a part of, so the fly is a fitting metaphor. The whole thing was surreal and everyone has made plenty of jokes about it online, including Biden's own campaign. Who knew a little bug could have so much impact?

When, "The Bachelor," Leads to an Abusive Relationship and Stalking

I write extensively about my love-hate relationship with, 'The Bachelor," and, "The Bachelorette," extensively. The show is often a hot trash fire, but like a 20-piece box of spicy Chicken McNuggets, I can't stop indulging. One thing we often forget about these shows, however, is the lives of the folk on it continue after the program. Sometimes happily, with some marriages and kids coming out of these shows, but sometimes things take a darker turn. 

Colton Underwood's season of, "The Bachelor," was one of the more unpleasant ones. He was obsessed early on with Cassie Randolph despite her clear disinterest in him. He basically dropped any pretense of picking from a group of women and went right to relentlessly pursuing her in a way that came off as aggressive and toxic. She said no, and he didn't take no for an answer. She relented, they tried dating, it lasted less than a year, and it ended. That's it, right? 

Nope, she had to take out a restraining order, he would stalk her, he placed a tracking device on their car, it's been bad. As this article by Maria Sherman observes about all this, if you know what's happening now it frames those episodes of, "The Bachelor," quite differently. No longer is it a fairytale of a man convincing a poor confused lady she loves him, it is just a dude gaslighting a woman into thinking they should have a relationship and getting abusive once she realizes that no, she wants to stop being miserable.

There is no way the people behind, "The Bachelor," could have known things would get so twisted, so I'm not blaming them, directly. The show does try to create a fairy-tale sheen for everything, however, and sometimes things are more akin to the classic Brother's Grimm tales of messed-up people whose motives are kinda twisted. I truly hope Cassie can be left alone as she desires and Colton finds the help he clearly needs to stop his abusive behavior.  In the meantime, "The Bachelor/Bachelorette," will probably keep on keeping on with its themes and formula, for better or sometimes much worse.

"Penultiman," #1 Review

I remember reading the little bit of an intro to, "Penultiman," in a comic from publisher Ahoy a number of months ago (pre-pandemic) that had samples of a number of series. The one that caught my eye the most was actually the Penultiman story. Picture a self-hating Superman and you're on the right track. The first (full) issue comes out tomorrow and follows how Penultiman is from far in the future where humanity has reached its ultimate form. However, his parent who created him has Penultiman at the stage right before ultimate evolution, he's the penultimate, hence the name. This has resulted in him being banished to our time where he's absolutely incredible to us, but still not good enough for his own home.

This sounds depressing, but it is all presented with a darkly comedic tone and you really feel for Penultiman while also thinking he should realize he's pretty great and should believe in himself. It's well written, with Tom Peyer balancing misery and humor quite well. Alan Robinson supplies the artwork and its absolutely gorgeous as well. The nice clean look is perfect for a Godly superbeing like Penultiman, but Robinson draws the character's sadness and self-doubt with expertise too. Plus, whenever fighting and explosions occur they are deliciously bombastic.

"Penultiman," is a fun story, has amazing art, and I loved reading it. From its first sample I was intrigued and this debut full issue delivered the goods. I would recommend getting a copy at your local comic shop or preferred (legal) online resource tomorrow. I can't wait for the next issue!

5 out of 5 stars.

Hot Comics Revue 11: All About Movies and Shows

 Flicks and Speculation

Comics can heat up for a variety of reasons, but lately, it seems when something has a rumor of being made into a movie or television show that is what triggers a lot of interest. The books I'll be discussing today all have confirmed or rumored adaptations occurring.

A Comic That is Warming Up

The newly-relaunched, "Shang-Chi," had its first issue come out recently. With a movie on the way and this comic apparently introducing his sister (she goes by, "Sister Hammer," right now) that has made this first issue start creeping above cover price, with variants that feature his sister attracting attention too. It's a mild heat right now, but as the movie nears and if we get Shang-Chi's sister in the flick this could get pretty hot later on.

A Red Hot Comic

"Black," was actually optioned once before some years ago by a company known as Studio 8, but that option has now been sold to Warner Brothers. This caught everyone's attention and took the comic from being found in dollar bins to the regular first issue trending for $30 and variants going for a lot more or a bit less depending on rarity. The comic is about a World where a very small percent of the population has superpowers, and anyone who does develop powers happens to be black (including being biracial, and so forth). This results in groups trying to keep it secret lest a race war kick-off, with one organization wanting to help people with powers and another wanting to exploit it. It was a good read and one of my favorite newer comics of 2016 when the earliest issues were released then. It is even more topical now in its discussion of race, politics, and such with everything going on in the World, so I hope it turns out well. My friend Bryan Edward Hill is actually writing the script, so that's a good sign!

A Comic With Steamy Potential

Indie publisher Aftershock is merging with a media distribution company and as a result a number of their titles now deserve another look. Some things have already been optioned, such as, "Undone by Blood," but one book that carries some steamy possibilities is, "Babyteeth." It's come out off-and-on and is written by Donny Cates, who since he started the series has become an extremely popular writer thanks to some big Marvel titles ("Venom," and, "Thor," for example). The concept is a young girl gives birth to the Antichrist and as a result, various people try to capture her and the child from those who mean harm to folk who want to bring about the end of the World. It was a bit of a dramatic comedy and quite dark. I could see it working as a movie or show and the controversy it would garner would make the comics hot.

Vinegar Syndrome is a Cool Website for Vintage and Cult Films

Before I begin, I know there are websites that offer DVDs and such of old hard-to-find movies that they burn and sell somewhat illegally, but those are pretty poor quality of the ones I've seen. That is why when I saw a link from the American Genre Film Archive to their official partner in releasing some of their movies, Vinegar Syndrome, I was pleased to discover this website has official high-quality DVDs and Blu-Rays of popular cult, underground, and mostly forgotten films. 

Vinegar Syndrome is much like the AGFA in their dedication to film preservation, with it actually being where they get their name from--Vinegar Syndrome is when old film deteriorates from its own chemicals eating it alive. Vinegar Syndrome has their own on-site lab dedicated to film preservation and through their partnerships with various organizations and film companies has some awesome flicks for sale. I have a fondness for weird old movies, whether it is watching them or reading about them, so a site dedicated to selling copies of them--that aren't bootlegs--is very appreciated. If you're into weird old movies give them a look.

Note: This is not a paid post, it is an opinion post. I was just quite impressed by Vinegar Syndrome and wanted to share my thoughts.

Going (Band)Camping: Edition 5

Here we are, the fifth edition of, "Going (Band)Camping." I continue to love finding great and unique music on Bandcamp and sharing my thoughts about those tunes with you all here. Tastes in music can obviously vary, so you may quite agree or completely disagree with my opinions on these artists and their songs. I'd encourage you to explore them all so you can form an opinion too! Now then, let's talk about some jams!

CONDITIONER--LOW POINT

Sometimes the situation calls for good, enthusiastic, well-done punk music. For such a situation, "LOW POINT," is a great album to play. It is pretty brief, but generally any punk song longer than 3 minutes isn't truly a punk song in many folks' opinions. I grooved to the whole thing so I can't say there is a standout track so much as the entire LP is great. It isn't too heavy or light, just energetic punk from our neighbor to the North, Canada. I recommend it to any punk-lovers who want to check it out at this link.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Quarrel Reef--Fluorescent Lights

This album by Quarrel Reef is full of fun, laid-back jazzy rock, and sometimes just straight-up jazz. It has that indie sensibility of, "Let's just make some noise and have fun," but with the positive element that the, "Noise," made is some darn catchy tunes. I adored the closing track, "House Party Blues," and could listen to it on repeat without growing sick of it anytime soon. You can get yourself a digital or physical copy here.
5 out of 5 stars.

THE TUESDAY NIGHT MACHINES--Acid Tape

Released on tape but also available digitally, "Acid Tape," is described by its creator as, "Thicc and crunchy analog Acid music," in the vein of the subgenre Acid House. Basically, it is some really danceable techno that you can move your feet or bop your head to as its heavy thump invades your brain and gives you a boost of energy. Every song keeps the BPM going, with the whole thing a pleasure to hit, "Play," on and let the tape roll. I recommend it anytime you feel low on enthusiasm and need a pick-me-up. Check it out here.
5 out of 5 stars.


I Have Four Names--IH4N (DX)

This album by I Have Four Names is pretty enjoyable. It has a solid mixture of melodies, and vocals that with their clever melancholic vibe really remind me of the great band Modest Mouse. One standout track is, "Capslocked," with its metaphor of a boat capsizing. It's some fun indie rock from straight out of Australia and is very listenable. Find a copy for yourself here.
4 out of 5 stars.

Android Apartment--Roes and kisses under the rain

I've not listened to a ton of what the kids call, "Vaporwave," but from what I have heard I think I've developed a taste for it. This LP from Android Apartment features all the usual Vaporwave goodness of sound like a neon-drenched techno landscape inspired by the 80s but blasted into the present. From the first song, "Under a cloudy sky," to the rest of the LP the album is extremely fun and gets you grooving in your seat while driving/working as it plays in the background. Get yourself a copy here.

5 out of 5 stars.

What Fresh Hell Is This/Trump Has COVID-19

President Trump has COVID-19. In some ways I'm surprised he did not contract it sooner considering he took almost no safety precautions (he almost never wore a mask, as we saw, and so forth). Still, this is dangerous as if he barely has symptoms and recovers easily he'll be able to brag how it clearly is no worse than the flu (which is false). If he dies, he'll become some kind of beloved martyr and the election will be even more of a hot mess than it currently is. I see some people wishing him ill online and I think that is foolish. I want him to recover so he can be elected out of office this November and then hopefully end-up in prison for all his crime not too much time later. 

Trump dying will only embolden his followers and they won't even believe it was COVID-19 and take it seriously if he does die--they'll create a conspiracy theory along the lines of QAnon that Democrats poisoned him or something absurd. I don't know how this will impact any upcoming debates (the most recent one was a shitshow) and this is just a huge flustercluck, to put it in a cute less-sweary way. I hope Trump recovers as he doesn't deserve to be immortalized or remembered fondly as Presidents who died in office are. He needs to live a long life and as I said, much of the rest of it needs to be locked-up for his treasonous acts. The election can't come soon enough because what else could 2020 hold?

Sasha Baron Cohen Went and Made a, "Borat," Sequel

There were rumors something was secretly being filmed by Sasha Baron Cohen that related to his well-known and beloved(?) character of Boart. Cohen often poses as various people for projects, but Borat? How could that work with so many people knowing who Borat is, still? That first movie was a huge hit and was shocking at the time for exposing how hateful people could be (less shocking now, honestly). Well, the next Boart moving is coming to Amazon Prime on October 23rd and it actually is kind of meta how it deals with Borat's fame. Check the trailer out below:

In this movie--full title, "“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," Borat wants to convince Mike Pence or somebody in the Trump administration to marry his daughter. This is so he can gain political influence in the United States. However, almost everyone recognizes him, so Boat goes undercover pretending to be various random Americans. Yes, this is Cohen, as Borat, as other people. It's odd, but it could work. I say it could work as I don't know if there is anything really shocking about how terrible the human race is towards each other anymore. 14 years ago watching Borat convince a group of people to sing a hateful song about throwing a Jew down a well was disturbing, now you can watch everyday people freely state hateful thoughts without a care in the World online or in-person and witness a President of our country refusing to condemn White Supremacy. Therefore, watching Borat expose how dumb folk are about COVID-19 just ain't surprising.

Can Borat really shock us anymore? Perhaps that won't be the point, it'll instead be some catharsis as we witness Cohen/Borat messing with terrible people and letting us feel some relief at witnessing just how stupid the hateful bigots are. Cohen has a knack for bringing the worst out of the worst people and maybe in the hellscape that is 2020 the fact Boart isn't shocking anymore is itself saying something and shows just how much we maybe need the crazy character to cause a little mayhem. We have Amazon Prime, so I would think we'll be watching it for sure on the 23rd. Then I hope when the election happens not too long after we'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief as opposed to preparing for things to get even worse.