So, Now Sony Buys Bungie

Has anyone used the term, "Video-game Acquistion Wars," yet? If not, I'm going to start using it, as that has been what we've witnessed this month. First, Take-Two acquired Zynga for the seemingly hefty sum of 12.7 billion dollars. Then, Microsoft scooped-up the plauged-by-controversy Activision-Blizzard for an insanely massive 68.7 billion in bills. I reported on both those events and when Microsoft made its move I wondered what Sony might do in response. 

Well, I guess we have an answer sooner than I expected as Sony was already working on--and now officially can announce they are buying--Bungie (formerly of, "Halo," fame and now the company behind, "Destiny," and other allegedly in-development new games). For a relatively cheap--compared to the other deals--$3.6 billion, Sony will have Bungie be an independent subsidiary that does its own thing but basically gives profits to Sony. They can still be multiplatform at Bungie and put their games on other consoles, they just give Sony a cut. The video-game acquisition wars are undoubtedly not done and will probably only get more vicious. Now we wait and wonder, "Does Nintedo have anything up its sleeve like back in the day when it and Sega were brutal to each other?" We shall see.

Spotify is Having a Bad Couple of Weeks, Eh?

I enjoy Spotify. I don't use it for too many podcasts besides some comic-book-themed ones and the stellar horror movie podcast, The Carpenter Rants. I use it a ton for music, however. I still love cassettes, vinyl and CDs, but I find Spotify handy for finding random artists and songs I would not otherwise know of thanks to it finding stuff it thinks I'd enjoy after examining the utterly random tastes. I personally am not mad at Spotify, but a lot of people are and it has had a rough couple of weeks as a result.

Joe Rogan is one of the most popular podcast hosts around. I have not ever listened to him for an extended period of time so I don't really have an opinion about him beyond hearing from folks who really like him he's great and folks who really hate him he's terrible. From some clips I've heard he has said some stuff about COVID-19 and vaccines that come across a bit tone-deaf and incorrect without being absolutely abhorrent--walking a fine line, in other words. A number of people do not like Joe Rogan potentially spreading misinformation in their views and want Spotify to quit carrying him. The thing is, Spotify paid a ton of money for him and he continues to get something like 11 million listeners a show. They don't want to lose all that money. 

Joe Rogan and Neil Young

Some big names have told Spotify they don't want to be associated with it if they continue to support Rogan in any way, shape, or form, however. Therefore, Neil Young had his music pulled from the platform and Joni Mitchell is following suit. I like Neil Young, he's made some great songs, has a wicked sense of humor ("This Note's For You," is a hoot), and put his money where his mouth was getting his stuff taken off Spotify. He and the talented Ms. Mitchell are following their ideals and that deserves respect. It sure doesn't help Spotify though.

I don't have much interest in Joe Rogan so I don't listen to him. I feel those who don't want to listen to him can do so as well and those who enjoy his podcast can. If Neil Young doesn't like that he has every right to not associate with a platform that hosts Rogan. Joni Mitchell can pull her music along with other possible musicians who may follow suit. I think everyone is doing what they feel is best and I don't feel a need for us to boycott Spotify, boycott Young/Mitchell, or whatever. I just can see that Spotify is really not having a good time with this and imagine they wish all this controversy would go away (it isn't anytime soon). 

Joni Mitchell

Listen to Rogan if you want and listen to Young if you want, Spotify is a private business and can do what they want so anyone complaining about freedom of speech is missing the point as once you're on Spotify you're doing everything according to their rules. How they want to enforce or not enforce those rules is what has given them this PR headache and how will end is anyone's guess.

That New Energizer Battery Ad is Kind of Dark and Pretty Funny

When you're watching an ad for batteries you don't really expect it to have a theme relating to murder. Hence, this Energizer lithium battery ad about crime scene investigators is a bit dark and funny because it's a bit creepy. Apparently, "Miss Cupcake," quit working due to shoddy batteries. She's laid out with chalk around her and, I guess, some new batteries will bring her back to life. Still, it is a bit off-putting in a darkly funny way to see her just on the ground in the ad--essentially dead--as investigators snap pics and inspect the scene. The Energizer bunny shows up to save the day, however, so I imagine Miss Cupcake is going to be okay even if she ain't looking too great at the start of the ad. The whole thing is strangely morbid and hilarious for that twisted reason. Give it a view below:

See what I mean? It's weird but kind of hilarious at the same time.

WorldBox is a Fun Sandbox-Style Game

I read some articles discussing WorldBox on Rock Paper Shotgun and it sounded quite fun. A sandbox videogame where you don't actually control any characters or what they build. You just set up the World, tweak it to your liking, plop humans/orcs/elves/dwarves down and witness as they build kingdoms and develop their cultures and tech. Farms and roads are discovered, kingdoms declare war, and in the meantime, you can add extra resources, or if you feel like a stinker plop a volcano in the middle of everything. 

It is pretty easy to learn, "Worldbox," but there is a depth you can explore as the World keeps developing and growing. Plus, watching the characters adapt to whatever mayhem you sometimes throw their way is a hoot. Check the site out and get it for your PC/Mac/Linux/Android/iPhone. I played it on my iPhone and really like it. The game is still in an earlier development stage so more features will be added over time as well--hence I don't want to offer an official review, but will say what already exists is good fun.

Banning a Book About the Dangers of Fascism Says a Lot About Yourself as a Person

A Tennessee school board removed, "Maus," from the eighth-grade language arts curriculum due to concerns over foul language and a panel of a naked mouse character in a non-sexual situation. They banned a book about the Holocaust because it contained words like, "God-damn," as apparently, eighth-graders are delicate flowers who never swear or witness nudity anywhere. "Maus," and, "Maus II," or the combined printing of, "The Complete Maus," are/is incredibly hard to read, but necessary cultural and historical text. They are comics about the holocaust by Art Spigelman that use cartoon imagery as a metaphor with Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats. It's the only graphic novel to ever win a Pulitzer Prize. One would wonder if perhaps people are more upset about a frank and honest portrayal of the horrors of the Holocaust than some swear words and nudity.

Over six million people died because they were Jewish, LGBTQ, Roma, Polish, Russian, disabled, and anything else besides the supposed Aryan ideal. When a school board votes 10-0 that a book with a frank, honest, and admittedly horrific portrayal of the Holocaust is, "Offensive," they are missing the point. The Holocaust was one of the biggest offenses in human history. It is one of the darkest chapters in humanity. We literally say, "Never forget," and just had Holocaust remembrance day yesterday, and some people are upset over a bit of cursing in a book about the evils of Nazis and fascism? Excuse my own language as I try not to get too sweary on the blog, but come the fuck on.

I Acquired Some Vaguely Notable $2.99 Newsstand Cover Price Variants

Lots of folks are aware how for many years there were comics sold in comic shops (direct market) and at newsstands, bookstores, and so forth (newsstand editions). The Rare Comics blog breaks them down pretty well. Newsstands used to not be especially rare but as the existence of...well, actual newsstands, faded, eventually, comics quit having the variation. One weird but interesting thing that occurred sometimes were rare (but not necessarily valuable) Marvel newsstands with a price difference. Back when comics would be $2.25 or $2.50 there were sometimes newsstands from Marvel between 2003-2006 that cost a bit more--$2.99. It happened on one really notable comic, "Amazing Spider-Man," #529, as well as plenty of random ones (it is the debut issue of the Iron Spider armor Peter Parker wore for a bit). It is such a footnote of a random occurrence only a handful of sites even mention it (here is The Rare Comics blog again with the only deep-dive I could find about this). Then during 2006, all the Marvel newsstand and direct market issues became $2.99.

I sometimes will buy small collections or find stuff in stores and recently happened to come across some newsstand cover price variants in different locations. I got, "Wolverine," and, "X-Men," ones as well as the aforementioned most notable of the cover price variant issues, "Amazing Spider-Man," #529. Again, these aren't worth a ton more than a regular issue, maybe like $10 each besides the Spidey book which in near-mint shape could pull $75 or so. My copy is a little worn and could fetch the $30 I paid for it on a good day as I didn't buy it to flip so much as I enjoy collecting a strange piece of history.

The $2.99 price.

If you like odd bits of trivia the fact that some newsstands had a higher price is a fun little random thing to know. CGC doesn't even acknowledge regular newsstands in their grading and barely makes note of the cover price variant ones. CBCS does make note of newsstands but I'm unaware if they point out simply if a comic is a newsstand or do a special note for those that are a cover price variant--perhaps someone can comment to let me know! Now, I should start looking into the $3.99 cover price variants of newsstands that occurred too, I suppose. That's another story for a different day, however.

"Toxic," and, "Pony," Actually Make for a Good Mash-Up

The idea of taking two (or more) songs and literally smashing them together had been around forever--just look at the KLF. Known as, "Mash-ups," they increased in popularity and used to be all the rage some years ago. Then they faded away a bit even if they still existed, they just got less hype. Against all odds there is a mash-up of, "Toxic," and, "Pony," which is quite catchy and getting a bunch of attention now thanks to apps such as TikTok. It's called, "Toxic Pony," and it is a banger. Altego created it and I tip my hat to them for such a great blend of a jam:

Mash-ups are fun when they work (and atrocious when they fail). I'm glad that, "Toxic Pony," is so fun and catchy. I dig it. Perhaps mash-ups will continue to catch on again, I'd enjoy that.

I Mean, Peter Dinklage Isn't Necessarily Wrong

I like Peter Dinklage. He's been in a lot of great movies and folks loved him in, "Game of Thrones," which I did not watch but heard was good (I prefer sci-fi to fantasy, as everyone knows). Dinklage has a form of dwarfism and has been an advocate for the fair and nonstereotypical treatment of little people. While recently promoting a new flick he's in, "Cyrano," he discussed how Disney is going to be making a new live-action, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves," and how he has concerns.

During a podcast--Marc Maron's WTF-- Dinlage pointed out that Disney is proud of how they're being progressive with the casting of a Latina as Snow White (Rachel Zegler) but a problem remains. He stated “You’re progressive in one way but you’re still making that fucking backward story of seven dwarfs living in the cave. What the fuck are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough. They were so proud of that, and all love and respect to the actress and the people who thought they were doing the right thing, but I’m just like ... what are you doing?”

I mean, Peter Dinklage has a bit of a point. We need to look at the old versions of, "Snow White and Seven Dwarves," as products of their time, but some stuff just doesn't translate that well into the modern-day without a lot of changes--if at all. I've seen suggestions that if the dwarves are portrayed as a fantasy race as opposed to people with dwarfism it might be okay, and I have no clue how accurate or inaccurate that is, I've just seen it suggested. There are people saying Dinklage is being too sensitive or, "Woke," as if that were a negative thing, but I do see his concern. I'm not sure what the solution is, the whole thing is messy. 

This isn't a case where you can cut one problematic element from a story (get rid of the, "Red Man," song in, "Peter Pan," or the racist crows in a remake of, "Dumbo," to give two big examples), the problematic element is the story. I'm not sure what the answer is here, but I imagine something's gotta give. For what it is worth, Disney responded to him with a short statement that they've been, "Consulting with members of the dwarfism community." What exactly that means is unclear, but again, something's gotta give.

"Far Cry 6," Has Guapo the Crocodile, and I Appreciate That

"Far Cry 6," is basically more, "Far Cry," with the addition of a fantastic actor as the big baddie--Giancarlo Esposito. Besides that, you fight an evil force that is in power, hunt some animals, fiddle with your weapons & such at workbenches, and drive around. I was playing it and found myself relatively unimpressed by the samey style until quite early in the game I met my first--and the best--animal companion, Guapo. 

Guapo is the pet crocodile of another character you recruit to the rebel cause and he is as adorable as he is deadly. He has a gold tooth, a snazzy windbreaker, and a lot of energy regardless of his cold blood. Guapo will follow you around and sic any enemy troops you point him at. He also will let you pet him and when you give him some affection he hisses with glee. Guapo is a treat and made me want to play, "Far Cry 6," longer than just a smidgen of time. I still didn't play the game a ton ("Far Cry," games have gotten pretty samey over time), but I played it a lot more than I would have without Guapo. We all love Guapo, we are him and he is us.

Guapo needs a spin-off. If they make, "Far Cry: Guapo," it will sell so many copies and be the game of the year. Heck, give him a prequel movie too. Guapo is amazing and our World is richer for having him in it.

"Clodagh," #2 Review

Blue Fox Publishing consistently puts out great horror-influenced comics. With the second issue of, "Clodagh," they continue that trend! After a solid first issue that sets up the story of an evil witch stealing the child (named Aine) of a woman named Clodagh and a man named Fillin to give chase. This issue follows Fillin as he faces various challenges in pursuit of the witch and Clodagh as she prepares to join in the search for Aine. 

There are all kinds of creepy and hideous creatures under the influence of the witch and Willi Roberts illustrates and colors them with skill. The comic's writer, Simon Birks, gives everything a suitably eerie tone as well, with various supernatural occurrences building us readers unease throughout this issue.

I quite enjoyed the second issue of, "Clodagh," and would encourage folks to watch for when its Kickstarter campaign starts in February (which will bring opportunities to read the first issue as well so you can enjoy the whole story). Now, we just need to await issue #3 to resolve some cliffhangers at the end of this issue!

5 out of 5 stars.