April 30, 2008
5 Fists of Science: The Play
The Matt Fraction residency on Whitechapel revealed much to me.
l: 5 Fists the Play - r: 5 Fists the Comic
(via whitechapel, yale caberet, 5 fists of science: stage play)
Posted by Groonk at 10:14 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Interviews, Just Freaking Neat
April 03, 2008
Ben Templesmith is Wise and True
(via twitter)
UPDATE: read the complete conversation
Posted by Groonk at 06:22 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Intertube Madness
April 02, 2008
Bacon Chocolate Makes Me Barf, Curious
It should not exist yet here I sit, looking at it. Mo's Bacon Bar. It's candy. Horrible pig flavored, chocolate candy.
Oh, and Diesel Sweeties RStevens is having a chat fest this week on Whitechapel. Go talk to him.
Show him some bacon-porn.
(via whitechapel's rstevens chat-out)
Posted by Groonk at 08:11 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Intertube Madness, Weird
I Spent a Swank Evening at Wayne Manor
And I am all the better for it.
LISTEN: "Another Swank Evening At Wayne Manor"
(via whitechapel, b00mb0x)
Posted by Groonk at 05:18 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat, Music
April 01, 2008
Dr Horrible vs Dr Sleepless
The Dr Horrible movie poster is up featuring The NPH decked out in his "operating" gear.
Separated at birth? A ripple in Ideaspace? An homage?
You decide.
(via dr horrible and dr sleepless)
Posted by Groonk at 10:15 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Intertube Madness, Movies, Versus
March 27, 2008
Reflections on Heath Ledger's Joker have Begun
And the movie's not even released yet.
"It was punk, it was 'A Clockwork Orange', it was druggie. It was this kind of fantastic, anarchic look to him. This character who had absolutely no rules whatsoever," said Christian Bale, who returns as rich guy Bruce Wayne and his crime-fighting alter-ego Batman. "That's not like any Joker I've ever seen before, what I saw Heath do."
[...]
Ledger's performance floored two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine, who reprises his role as Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred. Caine's first glimpse of the character came when Ledger emerged onto the set from an elevator; in an interview last September, four months before Ledger's death, Caine said he was so startled that he forgot his lines.
"He came out of the bloody lift like a whirlwind," Caine recalled. "They said, `It's your line, Michael.' I said, `What is it?' Extraordinary. It will be one of the characters of next year, the Joker as played by him."
[...]
"You can tell Jack Nicholson was having fun doing that, but you can see Heath probably put his soul into it," said "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee. "That's why it's scary. You see the trailer, just a few shots of him, you have to see the movie. ... I'm anxious to see it. I'm afraid to see it. I don't know how I'll respond to it, but you have to see it."
Heath Ledger. The guy could act. It was usually tiny bits. The subtle things that made him worth watching.
(via yahoo news)
Posted by Groonk at 05:15 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Interviews, Movies
March 20, 2008
Obama Talks to Nation Like an Adult, Nation Unsure about that Sort of Business
LISTEN: Obama's March 18, 2008 speech
I shudder to it the "race speech" but that's all anyone else can think to call it.
I actually call it the "won my vote" speech.
If you took the time to read the banner(creator currently unknown) above. You just read a few pages of one of the most extraordinary comics I've had the pleasure to read.
I suggest you buy The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and get it in your head post haste.
Video of the speech lay under the cut.
(via the first site i could find that had the speech as an mp3, political you tube)
Posted by Groonk at 04:35 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Politics
March 11, 2008
Dave Stevens 1955 - 2008
Dave Stevens, co creator of the Rocketeer and the artist who helped bring Bettie Page back in the spotlight passed away at the age of 52 due to complications with his battle with leukemia.
If, like me, you are unsure who Dave Stevens was, think The Rocketeer comic(and later the quite decent movie of the same name) and all will be explained.
Heidi Macdonald at The Beat remembers Stevens.
Mark Evanier remembers Stevens.
Archived interview with Dave Stevens.
(via pvponline tweet, dave stevens web site)
Posted by Groonk at 05:44 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Interviews, People Who Died
March 10, 2008
Gary Gygax 1938-2008
For those not in the know, he was the co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons. A game I never could come to like but I appreciate it's geek roots. XKCD did a special tribute.
Gygax forged an industry around D&D and made a small fortune in the process. His home-brew publishing company, Tactical Studies Rules, went from a basement enterprise to a thriving corporation with 600 employees in less than a decade. D&D sold millions of copies and has been translated into more than a dozen languages in at least 50 countries.
Something extra special is under the cut.
(via laughing squid gets the cred for this one)
UPDATE: Wired "Dungeon Master: The Life and Legacy of Gary Gygax"
(via you tube, for as long as it lasts)
Posted by Groonk at 12:58 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, People Who Died
February 28, 2008
Geek Networking of the 1990s was Quaint, Televised, Canadian
Explore the origins of Sci Fi fandom. See how little Neil Gaiman has changed in 15 years. Recoil at the (usual) curtness of Harlan Ellison. Be amazed by the teenaged Garth Ennis.
Chuckle at 90s TV graphics. I could probably do a rather long essay on how internet graphics changed the visual design landscape of television. I'll save that for another obsession.
(via neil gaiman, Prisoners of gravity: Fans, a response to neil gaiman's sharing of the Fans You Tube by the creator of Fans)
Posted by Groonk at 03:17 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Books, Comics, Culture, Documentary, History, Tee Vee
February 24, 2008
BLIND CLICK 25
(via digg)
Posted by Groonk at 11:52 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day. You Can Suck It
These geek valentines cards are ok, though.
Posted by Groonk at 01:39 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Holiday
February 11, 2008
Steve Gerber (1947 - 2007)
Well today just wants to be a sad day, doesn't it?
Mark Evanier shares his memories:
Stephen Ross Gerber was born in St. Louis on September 20, 1947. A longtime fan of comic books, he was involved in the ditto/mimeo days of fanzine publishing in the sixties, publishing one called Headline at age 14. He had a by-mail friendship with Roy Thomas, who was responsible for the most noteworthy fanzine of that era, Alter Ego. Years later when Roy was the editor at Marvel Comics, he rescued Steve from a crippling career writing advertising copy, bringing him into Marvel as a writer and assistant editor. Steve soon distinguished himself as one of the firm's best writers, handling many of their major titles at one time or another but especially shining on The Defenders, Man-Thing, Omega the Unknown, Morbius the Living Vampire, a special publication about the rock group Kiss...and of course, Howard the Duck.[...]
...Steve began to get work in the animation field, starting with a script for the Plastic Man cartoon series produced by Ruby-Spears. This led to a brief but mutually beneficial association with the studio, especially when Steve launched and story-edited one of the best adventure cartoons done for Saturday morning TV, Thundarr the Barbarian. Later, he worked for other houses on other shows, including G.I. Joe and Dungeons & Dragons.
I didn't know Steve Gerber but he created all of the animated projects I watched as a kid and still remember fondly today. In a strange way, he influenced my love for tales of the fantastic.
Funny, and strange, the invisible connections we have with other people.
(via rantz1, mark evanier's memories of Gerber, comics reporter)
Remembering Steve Gerber:
- The Beat: Trapped in a world he never made
- Rantz: In Memory of Steve Gerber
- The Comics Journal: Steve Gerber Interview
- Neil Gaiman speaks
- Slate: One-Man Counterculture
Posted by Groonk at 07:33 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, People Who Died
February 07, 2008
More Free Stuff: This Time, Comics I Know Nothing About
Crazy things happen on the internet. Myspace Comic Books has been blowing up my email with free samples of random comics the past few days. I've no idea of their calibur, but who am I to turn down free as a marketing gimmick?
(via myspace comics)
Posted by Groonk at 11:34 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, Marketing
February 05, 2008
Bill Hader Interviews Ed Brubaker about CRIMINAL
It's CRIMINAL week on Myspace. This has to be the cleverest...cleverful...cleverite... most brilliant interview tactic ever. Good show, Bill Hader. Ed Brubaker, you're a special kind of awesome for participating. I like the interview so much, I'm dropping it above the jump.
Plus: Simon Pegg on a pink bicycle.
(via the beat, myspace video)
Posted by Groonk at 08:26 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Funny, Interviews, Just Freaking Neat, Video
January 09, 2008
Marvel's Spiderman has a "Brand New Day"
(via delusional PTBs at marvel.com)
Posted by Groonk at 02:07 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
December 02, 2007
BLIND CLICK 18
(best internets post ever via the beat)
Posted by Groonk at 03:23 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat
November 19, 2007
MOVIE: "Persepolis"
Because actual films like this can't afford to crash into your living room boob tubes, highway lcd billboard monstrosities, and please me meals like some other black and yellow jacketed insect. I bring you Persepolis:
Yahoo has a full and proper trailer that's currently unsharable. Tsk Tsk. What the hell are you thinking, you Yahoos?
MAIN SITE: http://www.sonyclassics.com/persepolis/
(via iwatchstuff, yahoo movies, eye of youtube)
Posted by Groonk at 10:37 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Movies, Politics, Trailers
Hello, Monday
(via applegeeks lite)
Posted by Groonk at 03:29 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
November 18, 2007
BLIND CLICK 17
(via 7d)
Posted by Groonk at 05:51 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
November 16, 2007
Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill have THE BLACK DOSSIER
Alan Moore Talks about THE BLACK DOSSIER and in doing so reveals I know nothing about anything.
"There are little undercover threads throughout our story with connections like that," continued Moore. "The film 'The Third Man' was written by Graham Greene, who based the character of Harry Lime on his lifelong friend Kim Philby, a very famous British spy who turned out to be a double agent for the Russians. And weirdly enough, there had previously been two Russian agents exposed, Guy Burgess and Anthony MacLean, and there was a rumour there was a third double agent in MI5. I remember there was a headline back in the Sixties that said, 'KIM PHILBY IS THE THIRD MAN,' which were written completely unaware that he was the third man. So he was the basis for 'The Third Man.' All of these obscure facts are woven into the fabric of 'The Black Dossier.' It's been very interesting, with some surprising inclusions."
More proof of my ignorance:
"Orwell was almost exactly wrong in a strange way. He thought the world would end with Big Brother watching us, but it ended with us watching Big Brother."
--Alan Moore
How fucking right is he?
(via cbr)
Posted by Groonk at 05:55 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Interviews
November 14, 2007
XKCD Influences People, Life, Ninjas
Wired finally figured out where the cool part of the web is and talked about the lovely comic, XKCD.
And then Munroe's fans read the installment in which a mysterious dream girl leaves the hero with a set of coordinates for a place and time in the near future.
In the comic, nothing happens. "It turns out that wanting something doesn't make it real," the comic's narrator says mournfully.
But in real life, those coordinates pointed to a real time and place: Sept. 23, 2:38 p.m., in Reverend Thomas J. Williams Park in North Cambridge, Massachusetts. On that day, nearly a thousand xkcd fans from as far away as England and Canada converged on the park, bearing tape measures and Rubik's cubes. At the assigned minute, Munroe emerged and spoke.
"Maybe wanting something does make it real," he said as his fans cheered and fought duels with foam swords. The comic that spurred the gathering was enlarged and hung from a fence, and fans took turns contributing to a new last panel, where dreams can come true.
You lost me with the foam sword duels. I'm not sayin' I'm too cool for school. I'm just sayin' I'm entirely too cynical.
Every sword I wield in public will have a razor's edge. Every battle I fight will be to the pain.
(via wired, xkcd meetup pool, xkcd, hober's flickr)
Posted by Groonk at 04:57 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Culture, Flickrlicious, USA
A Talk with Monkey Punch
Monkey Punch created the LUPIN III manga that the anime was based on. He's got some neat views on comics in The Future.
His work was discovered by an editor of Futabasha, the company behind Weekly Manga Action, for whom he created the Lupin III series, loosely based on the Arsene Lupin novel series and 007 movies. The artist's strange pseudonym, he explains, was given to him by his editor, who compared his characters' faces to those of a monkey.
[...]
Monkey Punch began using computers in his work nearly two decades ago.
"Digital technology allows me to look closely at the details [of the images] and easily change minor things several times. This means, though, that it's sometimes hard to give up the details and complete [the images]."
Cooperating with famous mangaka, including Machiko Satonaka and Tetsuya Chiba, Monkey Punch established the Tokyo-based Digital Manga Association five years ago to explore and develop manga content for the Internet.
"I thought it would be a waste not to utilize the Internet, since it allows us to directly communicate with people around the world," the creator said.
"Japan's manga culture is drawing international attention, but we don't even have an archive containing information about all the manga published here," he said. "I want to find a way to set up such an archive, getting cooperation from other mangaka and relevant experts."
(via green jacketed josh hechinger, daily yomiuri online)
Posted by Groonk at 03:23 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, Grammar, Interviews, Marketing, Only in Japan
November 12, 2007
Doonesbury Remembered the "Proper Days" of Frat Hazing at Yale
Did you know that the Current President (yes, that one) once defended a fraternity's practice of branding its pledges with a red-hot coat hanger?
I didn't. Mind you, I'm not at all surprised by the idea of it.
Trudeau's cartoon "Doonesbury" featured fictional character Mark Slackmeyer explaining the President's position against current anti-torture legislation by revisiting a series of 1967 Yale Daily News articles that exposed DKE's rush activities, which at the time included brandings and alleged beatings. Soon after these stories were published, the University's Inter-Fraternity Council fined the fraternity for performing "physically and mentally degrading acts," and the Times published an article in which Bush defended the brandings, comparing them to cigarette burns."At the time, it caused quite a stir on campus, even generating some national attention," Trudeau said.
(via yale daily news at the fraternity in question's site)
Posted by Groonk at 04:24 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Politics, USA
Captain America Returns! (sort of) for Veterans Day
Captain America may not be back from the dead, but he's back — sort of. After Marvel Comics unexpectedly killed off the champion of liberty and the American way earlier this year, he appears in a comic made exclusively for U.S. soldiers. He is seen on a videotape made before his death.[...]
Captain America is not being resurrected in "Spirit of America," said Bob Sabouni, Marvel's vice president of business development.
But when AAFES asked Marvel officials to include the hero in the latest military issue to be released before Veterans Day, they agreed because no other character better symbolizes the heroism and patriotism of the American soldier, Sabouni said.
(via yahoo news)
Posted by Groonk at 04:07 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Culture, USA, War
November 09, 2007
COMICS: Learn from the Best Why Don't You?
There are days that I love the internet more than peanut butter cookies and coffee.
The Comic Book Script Archive
An online resource for comic books scripts
(via comicbookscripts)
Posted by Groonk at 02:34 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Google-fied, Research, Tutorials
November 06, 2007
DANGER: DIABOLIK Old School Comic-2-Movie
Funny the things you learn when you're not looking for them.
(via diabolik google video and film junk)
Posted by Groonk at 02:43 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Movies, Podcast, Video
September 23, 2007
My Respect for Alan Moore's Works is Evolving
To paraphrase Mr Ellis, 'you can do fucking anything in comics.'
(via topshelfcomix)
Posted by Groonk at 01:41 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Sex, Video
August 24, 2007
Extensive Comics Covers Browser Kills All Your Time
Tom Muller shared a link to a cover browser warning all who follow it will lose hours of their precious time clicking through it.
He wasn't wrong.
He follows up such a wonderful link with something so horrible that decent people should turn their eyes from it: Worst Album Covers.
But none of you fine readers will. I know who reads my noise.
(via tom muller)
Other comic book covers:
Posted by Groonk at 01:01 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Research
August 13, 2007
Mike Wieringo (1963 - 2007)
It's been a while since I've posted one of these. I wish it had been a little bit longer.
Wieringo was 44 years old. He was a vegetarian, and "one of the healthiest ones of us in the bunch," as his longtime friend and collaborator Todd Dezago described him. Currently, there are no details about services or a funeral.
Wieringo worked every day, updating his blog and website with a constant stream of sketches at MikeWieringo.com. His last sketch was posted on Friday.
[...]
Wieringo was born June 24th, 1963 in Venice, Italy, and first caught the attention of comic book fans when he joined writer Mark Waid on DC's The Flash with issue #80 in 1993. Together, the two co-created the character Impulse, the future speedster brought back to the present. Wieringo (or, 'Ringo as he was better known by then) moved on to Robin at DC, and then moved to Marvel, where he settled in on Sensational Spider-Man with writer Todd DeZago.
The pairing with DeZago was something of fate, as the two co-created and launched their creator-owned property Tellos, which saw several projects and miniseries published over the years. Ringo moved back to DC for a run on Adventures of Superman, and then, in 2002, reunited with Waid for a run on Fantastic Four that was perhaps best known for fan outcry when Marvel announced that they were going to replace the team. Marvel quickly reversed their decision, and the two completed their run on the series.
Ringo then moved to Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man with writer Peter David, and most recently, completed a Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four miniseries written by Jeff Parker. His next project had not been announced, although, as readers of his blog knew, he was very excited at the prospect of doing more Tellos work, with an eye on being able to debut something at next month's Baltimore Comic-Con.
His art was unique and as I'm reading more about Wieringo, he had an unbelievable web presence. I'm just now realizing I crossed paths with him several times on The Engine. As I rummage through his work, I'm also realizing his art was a considerable influence on my life.
Today, I am sad.
(via Bad Signal and newsarama)
Posted by Groonk at 01:10 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, People Who Died
August 02, 2007
Today I learned about "Vegansexuals"
No, really. VEGANSEXUALS.
But seriously, get the fuck out my face with that shit.
(via applegeeks lite and buzzfeed)
Posted by Groonk at 03:33 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Culture, Sex
July 26, 2007
Nerd Prom 07 Mega Linkage
San Diego Comic Con has begun!
Links will gather here for those who could not make it this year. Those people like me.
Writer Rich Rohnston will get funny emails and texts:
http://markandrich.googlepages.com/sandiegodreaming
Most amusing one so far:
"26/07/07 01:22 EMAIL: Gaiman fans self harm because of their inner turmoil. Ellis fans self harm cos it's bitchin"
Warren Ellis will CRY about lack of Red Bull:
http://twitter.com/warrenellis
Photos will be shared:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/sdcc2007/pool/
I hear David Hewlett(SG: ATLANTIS' Dr McKay) has been convinced by Scfi.com People to twitter his experiences.
http://twitter.com/dhewlett
I bet round of beers that there will be "A Dog's Breakfast" whorebaggery.
More as I find them...
Posted by Groonk at 02:21 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Linkable, Quotables
July 20, 2007
Elvis Honky Tonk Man* Clocks Thor with a Guitar
I have no idea how this came to happen. I'm thinking this is a moment best not explained. It has a certain elegance in it's simplicity.
I'm roughly 4 months behind on this Engine thread. Oh, the sweet images that await my eager eyes.
(via The Engine: The Greatest Single Panel in Comics)
*Dunc corrected my wrong thinking. This was not Elvis but in fact some 80s wrestler named Honky Tonk Man. Why and how he knocked the fuck out of Thor is still blurry.
Posted by Groonk at 04:09 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
There are Days that Comics Break the Cool-o-meter
It was described to me here . I'm told that this gem can be found in Punisher #4 of the Marvel Knights line. You can bet your sweet ass I'm looking this up at my local comic shoppe.
The idea I live in the same world as a bear-punching Punisher. It gives me strange hope.
(via The Engine: The Greatest Single Panel in Comics)
Posted by Groonk at 03:54 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
May 30, 2007
His Followers Will Come in Waves
Applegeeks comedy: I like very much.
(via applegeeks lite)
Posted by Groonk at 01:33 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat
May 03, 2007
Fresh Wounds Breed the Most Fear
Three Panel Soul is a webcomic I've quietly followed for 2 months now. Nice, funny, and simple stories. Imagine my surprise when I discover the latest story is actual truth. And that "terroristic" mysteriously became a word overnight. I'll let Diesel Sweeties' RStevens fully explain.
I've been meaning to post about Three Panel Soul, the new comic by Ian and Matt of MacHall fame- unfortunately I've got to do so under less-than-wonderful circumstances. I love this new strip because I’m finding it a lot more minimalist and relatable… also ridiculously funny.Matt was working as a contractor for a branch of the government. He made the mistake of being interested in the hobby of paper target shooting at about the same time as the VA Tech shootings and talking to someone about this hobby at work. Keep in mind he wasn’t even talking about those shootings, in fact he was discussing how he wanted a gun which would make it difficult to kill someone.
He was promptly fired and not allowed back to work because people were scared of him.
To top it all off, he was later visited by police detectives for making a comic about his experience, because it was a "borderline terroristic threat." (Is "terroristic" even a word? Did they get that from the Colbert report?)
I’m not a lawyer or a reporter or anything, but I would recommend anyone who was one of those things to contact Matt. ( machallboyd ATZORS gmail.com ) If you’re a cartoonist or a webcomics fan, spread his story around. The more people who know about this, the better. He’s a good dude who deserves your support.
(via diesel sweeties and three panel soul)
Posted by Groonk at 01:27 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, USA
BLIND CLICK 7: My New Desktop
(via xkcd)
Posted by Groonk at 12:54 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat
April 25, 2007
FOUND: Kryptonite in Serbia. Orphaned Babies Nowhere Closeby
Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science.
Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral’s chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in literature - albeit fictional literature.
“Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral’s chemical formula - sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide - and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns.
“The new mineral does not contain fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite.”
DC's PR team wasted no time in commenting:
“The universe is full of mysteries, and some have been foreshadowed by comics,” said Paul Levitz, DC Comics President and Publisher. “We look forward to scientists figuring this one out.”The real world version of “kryptonite” – which according to media reports will be officially named “jadarite,” after the place where it was discovered and because it does not contain the element krypton – is white, does not glow and is reportedly harmless to humans and/or natives of the planet Krypton.
Wait a tick...Goldilocks is orbiting a red dwarf(that's a tiny red sun to you and me). Then real life kryptonite is found in Serbia. Where is the Ubermensch? The Nietzschean ideal can't be far away. All the signs are there. Show yourself!
As long as you still "fight for truth, justice and the American way," that is.
Posted by Groonk at 12:40 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Marketing, Science
April 12, 2007
More Unfortunate Comic Panels
Aunt May takes up a new profession
This has become habit forming.
(more @ YesButNoButYes; via geekologie)
Posted by Groonk at 05:11 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, History
April 11, 2007
Always Remember, Comics were Often Stupid
Also, back then, they were exclusively for kids.
Matt Fraction assembled some tragic and unfortunate panels from old DOOM PATROL's.
(via mattfraction)
Posted by Groonk at 07:12 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Funny, History, Weird
Andy Hurley'd Rather Read Comics than Party
"You really believe Alan Moore's casting spell on you when you read what he writes."
--Andy Hurley, Fall Out Boy drummer
(via warrenellis.com)
Posted by Groonk at 07:04 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Flickrlicious, Quotables
April 08, 2007
DEFENDERS OF STAN has Comedy Inside
Usually geekfest shortfilm comedy falls tragically short of it's goal of "laugh with me" and falls snugly into the category of "laugh at me." Maybe it's the drugs I forgot to take but this bit of comedy fell into the "laugh with me" slot:
episode 4
WATCH: all the DoS episodes on Channel 102.
(via dannyhearn21 and stole it from Superman YouTube)
Posted by Groonk at 02:09 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat, Movies, Video
April 06, 2007
Kelly Sue DeConnick Talks 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, Swooping and Banging, and Manga
DeConnick has interesting words on translating manga to english. I've always had an interest in that business. She talks aboout 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, mainly, but I'm not as familiar with that work. She also talks about the birth of two terms I use quite a bit.
NRAMA: And finally…you’re credited with being the first to call San Diego Comic-Con "Nerd Prom." How’s it feel to see that term become so widespread?KSD: Heh. Funny you should ask that. There's been a mix-up somewhere. Fraction actually coined "nerd prom." (In fact, I thought it was Han Q. Duong's, but apparently it was Fraction's.) I think I was the first one to use it with Ellis, and thus the legend was born. I came up with "futurephone," and somehow Fraction got credited with that, so I suppose it all comes out in the wash.
(via matt fraction, newsarama)
Posted by Groonk at 01:14 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Grammar, Interviews
April 03, 2007
There Should be Some Way to Vote on These Things
The Eagle Awards voting link is up. My Bad Signal tells me, Dirk Anger is up for Best Villain.
I wouldn't dare to try and shift votes or anything but: NEXTWAVE, Ben Tmplesmith, FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE, Brian Micahel Bendis, Brian K Vaughan, Warren Ellis, Michael Avon Oeming. Oh and JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED.
Only question I have is under Favourite Web-Based Comic where the fuck is Diesel Sweeties or Gone with the Blastwave?
Otherwise, Go Vote.
Posted by Groonk at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
March 27, 2007
Concord Grape Juice + Super Soaker = Velociraptor Doom
In case you have not noticed I have an insatiable love of dinosaurs. If I had my way, we'd all worship the mighty Supersaurus and its bloodlust for vegetation.
XKCD.COM has irrational velociraptor fear. And Daniel Snyder, PhD has seen fit to provide a homemade dromeosaurid deterrant for our fair hero XKCD.COM
Thus, I recommend you carry around a loaded SuperSoaker filled with Concord grape juice. Fresh-squeezed would be ideal, but from concentrate should be effective as well. This will not only have the theoretical asset of protecting you from Velociraptor, it will have the pragmatic asset of protecting you from thirst.
Dr. Daniel, you will pay dearly for usurping our dinosaur masters.
(via the brilliant xkcd.com)
Posted by Groonk at 05:02 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Funny, Just Freaking Neat
March 11, 2007
COMICS: PREY to Make a March Debut
The grapevine passed along this trailer for the new Marvel comic PREY:ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES.
(via 7d and dabelbrothers.com and funny pages YouTube)
Posted by Groonk at 11:10 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
February 24, 2007
Radiation Gets a New, Supplemental Brand
It's like a mini-comic of doom.
"We can´t teach the world about radiation," said Carolyn Mac Kenzie, an IAEA radiation specialist who helped develop the symbol, "but we can warn people about dangerous sources for the price of sticker."
The new symbol, developed by human factor experts, graphic artists, and radiation protection experts, was tested by the Gallup Institute on a total of 1 650 individuals in Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Thailand, Poland, Ukraine and the United States.
The symbol is intended for IAEA Category 1, 2 and 3 sources defined as dangerous sources capable of death or serious injury, including food irradiators, teletherapy machines for cancer treatment and industrial radiography units. The symbol is to be placed on the device housing the source, as a warning not to dismantle the device or to get any closer. It will not be visible under normal use, only if someone attempts to disassemble the device. The symbol will not be located on building access doors, transportation packages or containers.
Comics save the world again. But they keep me from developing my awesome Spidey powers.
(via iaea.org)
Posted by Groonk at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Comics, Science
January 29, 2007
Phonogram #1 is FREE to Read
Thanks to Newsarama. They've had the complete first issue up for weeks and I still haven't read it.
Damn time.
PHONOGRAM #1 story by KEIRON GILLEN art & cover by JAMIE McKELVIE August 2 • 32 pg • BW • $3.50
Phonomancer David Kohl goes hunting for new flames at a feminist festival, only to get burnt by a very old one. A Goddess scorned returns to collect her pound of flesh and demand reparations.
Phonogram: a world where music is magic, where a song can save your life… or end it.
(via newsarama)
Posted by Groonk at 07:11 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Decompression
1984: The Comic
The adaptaion is free and ready to be read.
(via 1984comic.com and boingboing)
Posted by Groonk at 11:21 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Decompression
December 29, 2006
New Fantastic Four Trailer Kinda Impressive
Please excuse me while I experience this moment of Easily Amusedness. I swear to all that's holy I never pictured the new FANTASTIC FOUR teaser trailer looking any sort of cool. I also never figured they'd make Silver Surfer look like a force to be reckoned with.
I'm curious how the whole Galactus bit is going to work out. Surfer is his herald after all. I guess we'll all know this June.
The glamourous hi res version lives on the apple site.
(via iwatchstuff)
Posted by Groonk at 02:36 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Movies, Trailers
December 15, 2006
You'll Never Be Lost on Mongo Again
The Strange Maps blog is posting all kinds of cartography curiosities. Funny maps. Fictional maps. Factional maps.
If it's a map, I guess it'll end up there.
(via strange maps and warren ellis)
Posted by Groonk at 02:31 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Blogged, Comics, Weird
November 30, 2006
When Cthulhu comes for Us All, There's Only One Way to Go
The credit to this parody belongs to Howard Hallis. May his genius continue to enlighten.
Some cultural-studies type ought to do a book on the way that the Cthulhu mythos has oozed forth from its pulp origins to become Western pop culture’s generic Nightmare From Beyond. This parody could have been written thirty years ago — Chick goes back that far and has been remarkably, er, consistent in his output — but thirty years ago only a handful of SF and fantasy fans would have recognized Cthulhu. Nowadays ol’ squid-face is all over the place; there are, ironically, plush toys.
I put it down to fantasy-role-playing games, which have reached a far larger audience than print SF or fantasy. Gamers have borrowed the Cthulhu mythos so frequently that it’s a cliché — but one which, thanks to the eerie power of Lovecraft’s imagery, never completely loses its power to send a chill down the spine. Even the mere names — the Necronomicon, Yog-Sothoth, the corpse-eaters of Leng, the Hounds of Tindalos, and of course dread Cthulhu himself — is to feel a vast and threatening darkness.
Hallis’s parody draws on a much more specific tradition. The idea of the Campus Crusade for Cthulhu as a parody of the Campus Crusade for Christ was already live when I was in college in the 1970s. But Hallis makes their point more compactly and effectively, and therein lies the real touch of genius in this piece.
Jack T. Chick’s pamphlets speak plainly the most fundamental message of Christian evangelism: believe or be damned. It’s all about fear, the induced fear that if you don’t get straight with God you will burn in Hell. Not for Chick the sugar-coating of talk about love or morality or becoming a better person. Writing for the lowest common denominator, he zeroes in on terror.
Where is the comic in its entirety?
Right here.
Check out the Galactus Jack Chick tract for more parody. It's not as delicious as the Cthulhu for Christ parody, but it's just as funny.
(via neil gaiman and armed and dangerous and YMB)
Posted by Groonk at 02:05 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Religion
November 09, 2006
Babycakes will Disrupt Your Senses
I suggest you read The Fabulous Jouni's webcomic version of Neil Gaiman's short story "Babycakes." It is very well done and it will disturb your soul.
You'll eventually go back to your lives...mostly.
(via The Dreaming)
Posted by Groonk at 08:33 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Books, Comics
Garfield is a Lesson in Surrealist Comedy
I read this article on Monitor Duty about the differences between Garfield and Dogbert and was blown away. I mean, damn, Garfield is much funnier this way. Why did Jim Davis have to torture us with that cat's dialogue?
Dogbert talks. Garfield does not.When Dilbert, the rather sad and pathetic engineer bachelor, comes home to complain about his lousy job and poor social life to his pet, Dogbert belittles him vocally and they hold conversations.
When Jon Arbuckle, the rather sad and pathetic cartoonist bachelor, comes home to complain about his lousy job and poor social life to his pet, Garfield thinks up witty sarcastic responses in thought balloons. Jon doesn't hear Garfield, although often he can tell what Garfield is thinking due to body language or he responds to Garfield's inattentiveness. (And sometimes, the strip strays off concept for a while and Jon seems to understand Garfield as though he were talking.)
Even Neil Gaiman agrees. You can view countless other examples on the Truth and Beauty Bombs messageboard.
More surrealist candy after the jump.
(via Monitor Duty: What's the difference between Garfield and Dogbert? and Jim Davis)
Posted by Groonk at 02:04 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat
October 30, 2006
The Eye of OMAC
That's so wrong:
(via cbr:lying in the gutters volume 2 column 75)
Posted by Groonk at 12:25 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Comics, Sex
October 19, 2006
The Truth About the Internet is Told
Asher Carlin's comic was featured on BoingBoing a few weeks ago.
I wonder what writers did for distraction before the internet. I mean, it's not everyday you get to have cake with dinosaurs.
(via boinboing)
Posted by Groonk at 04:34 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat
October 18, 2006
Marvel Comics has Lost its Damn Fool Head
I dared not read the full article in one sitting for fear that my head would 'xplode.
A backup tale in select Marvel titles starting Oct. 25 will find Marvel’s New Avengers visiting the town of Springfield, home to the frothy passions and dastardly deeds of "Guiding Light."
Then, on Nov. 1, an episode of the soap titled “She’s a Marvel” will pay tribute to Marvel as one of the “Guiding Light” characters gains superpowers.
[...]
Marvel characters and "Guiding Light" characters fight side by side, he says, with the ending "very much a soap-opera cliffhanger."
McCann left the ending open-ended, he says, “because Marvel and Procter & Gamble, along with 'Guiding Light,' are having such a great time that we both hope this can continue.”
(via Dunc! the Daring)
Posted by Groonk at 09:19 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Marketing
September 24, 2006
Another Day, Another Cool Webcomic
I found Applegeeks Lite while reading through Robert Hewitt Wolfe's(former head writer for Andromeda) messageboard Q&A on the Andromeda: Coda "fanscript" thing he wrote about a year ago to straighten out how his real vision for the syndicated series Andromeda was supposed to play out. It made tons more sense than what the PTBs turned it into. Go figure.
I stopped watching midway through season 2. That's right about the time Wolfe was canned.
Anyway, that's how I found Applegeeks Lite buried in somebody's signature file.
Life is so much simpler without a backstory.
(via robert hewitt wolfe's messageboard)
Posted by Groonk at 09:13 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
September 07, 2006
XKCD: A Comic after My Own Heart
Wheaton linked this awesome, but simple, webcomic drawn by a NASA Langley Research Center roboteer(my own personal word). His doodles are clever, cool and a lot of other 'c' words. The comic is updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday without fail.
Here's a funny one:
And he likes Serenity which is a film on my mind of late. Last vestiges of Dragon*Con, I suppose.
(via wilwheaton in exile)
Posted by Groonk at 01:07 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Just Freaking Neat
August 01, 2006
Tim Molloy Makes You Think
I came across this webcomic by Tim Molloy and was reluctnat to post it because he does not offer the same reposting rights as Diesel Sweeties. But I figure: post the title and saying it really is a darn neat thing to read will cause people's curiosity to rise so much that it overwhelms them and they follow the link back to his page and immerse themselves in this one panel wonder webcomic.
I assume a lot, I know.
(via dear internet)
Posted by Groonk at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
July 23, 2006
Nerd Prom Day 3: ONI is Full of Surprises
More good stuff from Oni:
Unveiled to applause, "My Name Is Earl: The Comic Book" was the first item on the block. Editor James Lucas Jones explained that some might think a book of this sort might be a change in direction and focus for Oni, "but it's really not. From the very beginning we weren't adverse to doing licensed books. It just had to be something we liked; a property we'd read. ['My Name Is Earl'] fits in with the Oni brand."
Joining the Oni team to assist with the writing of "Earl" is Hunter Covington, the script coordinator on the NBC television show.
"Hopefully we will be able to do some things in the comic that you can't do on TV," Covington said. "Such as Earl flying a plane. That would be something." Covington explained that telling the stories of Earl in comic form made a lot of sense from a writing standpoint, as creativity is often severely limited by the television budget. He remarked, "In comics, you don't have to buy a special pencil to see something exploding."
The creative teams for the "Earl" comic have not yet been sorted out, although Oni artists Steve Rolston and Dean Trippe have created many designs to assist in translating the world of Earl's Camden into comic book form.
[...]
Finally, James Lucas Jones announced the biggest surprise by playing a clip of Comedy Centrals "The Colbert Report," in which faux host Stephen Colbert promoted his epic science fiction Mary Sue novel, featuring lead character Tek Janson.
Following the clip, Jones declared, "when I first saw that, I said 'we have to secure the rights to do the comic book adaption of Stephen Colbert's Tek Janson.'"
Details are still being sorted out with Colbert and his writing staff, but they will be involved with the new series' development along with a regular comics creative team.
Other books that stand out to me:
"['Jumper'] is what a regular kid could do if he could start teleporting," said Oni managing editor Randal Jarrell. "He'd rob a bank and have crazy adventures."
"The Earth's been invaded by aliens and that's going to complete change our entire existence," Guggenheim explained. "Just knowing we're not alone, rebuilding the planet. It's a bit of an allegory for rebuilding after 9/11." Guggenheim says that at first, the means to the human's victory will not be disclosed, although the details will be revealed slowly over the course of the ongoing series.
(via cbr)
Posted by Groonk at 09:59 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
July 13, 2006
"The Internet is a Series of Tangled Up Tubes"
A while back, Diesel Sweeties did a comic on it. Jon Stewart finally got around to it last night. Ponzu sent me a link to a techno remix of it.
So here it is. The hat trick of Senator Ted Stevens'(R, Alaska) internet. By the by, Stevens is famous for wanting to build a bridge to nowhere.
1) Comic
2) Video Satire
3) The Techno Remix
LISTEN: Ted Stevens - The Internet is Tubes(remix)
Posted by Groonk at 07:22 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, Funny, Music, Politics, Video
July 10, 2006
Dark Horse is Unapologetic
The Oregonian did a fairly decent article on comics very own Dark Horse publications. Dark Horse is the company that will release the Whedon's 8th season Buffy comic sometime this fall.
As the Internet, video games and other forms of entertainment vie for comic lovers' attention in more recent years, the company has shown flexibility, working to transform itself from a publisher of comics into a company whose array of products strives to reflect ever-changing pop culture.
Some in the industry question whether the company's creative luster has dimmed slightly in the process. But Dark Horse is unapologetic, charging ahead in the wake of what executives call the best year yet for a company whose varied efforts -- comics, graphic novels, toys, books, movies and retail enterprises -- racked up $30 million in sales in 2005.
A company dealing in the business I want to work in and based in the city I want to live in. You can't get more poetic.
(via The Oregonian)
Posted by Groonk at 06:33 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
June 08, 2006
"Elk's Run" Still Alive and Kicking...Now in One Volume
Recall the word of mouth acclaimed book Elk's Run a few month's back? It just got a second life thanks to Villard publishing.
So, a decision was made to move the publishing duties over to Speakeasy Comics last year. A change to an up-and-coming publisher with better position in the Previews Catalog should have brought in a whole new audience for the book. That would have been all well and good, but a series of delays from the publisher hurt the book's chance of building a fan base, but that wasn't the worst of it. In February of this year, Speakeasy closed its doors and this critically acclaimed title found itself without a home and unfinished. All this despite the book seeing high praise from the likes of "Entertainment Weekly" and "Variety."
What followed was a couple of months of uncertainty, but then on June 1st Fialkov got his first bit of "Elk's Run" good news in months - the book had been nominated for seven Harvey Awards. But the good news doesn't end there. The entire "Elk's Run" story will finally have a chance to be told and in one volume. Villard, a division of Random House Publishing, will collect the complete eight-issue series, giving readers their first opportunity to read the entire story.
CBR News caught up with Fialkov to get the low-down on the happy ending to the very challenging publishing history "Elk's Run" has faced.
"After much hand wringing and searching high and low, we finally have a home," Fialkov told CBR News of his deal with Villard. "It's nice to finally have the book somewhere that's going to treat it properly and get it into people's hands."
Posted by Groonk at 01:40 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
May 29, 2006
Alex Toth Died the Other Day
Alex Toth (1928-2006). As I read it, he was best know for design and storyboard work in 60s and 70s cartoons. Space Ghost, Super Friends and Sealab 2020 to name a few. His work was remixed recently and became Sealab 2021.
Posted by Groonk at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics
May 27, 2006
X-Men Comic History is Weighted and Measured
IGN counted down The 25 Greatest Moments in X-Men History. Although I haven't read all the ones mentioned, I have read more than the average joe. I'll be damned if I can't find fault with any of their choices.
All IGN really did was make me want to hunt down a few more trade paper backs.
Of those that I have read, these stand out:
I would include the Colossal Bar Brawl with Juggernaut but that was just before my time.
(via ign.com)
Posted by Groonk at 03:39 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, History
May 26, 2006
Diesel Sweeties + Groonk = BFF
Diesel Sweeties is a webcomic. Diesel Sweeties is funny. If Diesel Sweeties were a girl, she'd be that girl you wouldn't take home to mother...also known as the perfect woman.
I like Diesel Sweeties a lot.
Read all of "Creationism is like a box of chocolates. It melts under hot lights." It's chock full of Teh Funny.
(via Diesel Sweeties)
Posted by Groonk at 01:12 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, Funny
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