tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35542087455779770582024-03-12T17:33:02.571-07:00abbracadabblingThe 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.comBlogger807125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-17671833786521471962010-06-28T12:38:00.000-07:002010-06-28T12:38:27.825-07:00MARINA BAY SANDS SKYPARK OPENS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwCbDdKkI/AAAAAAAAlXs/d31jTu2RIcA/s1600/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_01.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwCbDdKkI/AAAAAAAAlXs/d31jTu2RIcA/s640/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_01.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #9fc5e8; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Once in a while, we're blown away architecture that's so fantastic and future-forward that it's like something out of a comic book -- like Dubai's <a href="http://abbracadabbling.blogspot.com/2010/01/from-middle-earth-to-middle-east.html"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Burj Khalifa</span>, </b></a> a rival for even Metropolis' elegant super skyscrapers.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1781601064"> </a></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Marina Bay Sands</span>,</a> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">however, is more like something we'd expect to find on <a href="http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Risa" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Risa</b></a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">,</span> <i>Star Trek The Next Generation</i>'s pleasure planet. Built by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation to be the <a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/Corporate/About_Singapore.aspx" style="color: #6fa8dc;">launchpad</a> for Singapore's budding tourism industry, Marina Bay opened the doors to its three towers Strip-style hotel in early April -- but it's main attraction saw guests for the first time just <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/10653/moshe-safdie-marina-bay-sands-skypark-opens.html" style="color: #6fa8dc;">last week</a>.</span></span></div><div style="color: #9fc5e8; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #9fc5e8; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Resting 200 meters in the air and size-equivalent to three football fields laid end to end, the Sands' <b>Skypark</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">is a 380 meter-long roof top playground that spans across the length of the complex's three skyscraper structures. With an observation deck capable of holding 900 people alone, the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Skypark itself hits it max capacity near 4 thousand; a 150 meter-long infinity swimming pool, bar, restaurant and spa, and a botanical garden with 250 species of trees and 650 plants keep visitors entertained if the view fails to impress.</span></div><div style="color: #9fc5e8; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Spending even one night at the Sands would come with a price tag well near $1,000; thankfully, $20 gets you into Skypark. No reservations are required, but we hear the para-gliding insurance is sky-high. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: x-small;"><i>More info on Marina Bay Sands on the hotel's new website </i>- <a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/" style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwHZM1n4I/AAAAAAAAlX0/ZWqAjrvWxJw/s1600/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_02.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwHZM1n4I/AAAAAAAAlX0/ZWqAjrvWxJw/s640/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_02.PNG" width="608" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwKVBymII/AAAAAAAAlX8/jG5viXC7VrM/s1600/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_03.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwKVBymII/AAAAAAAAlX8/jG5viXC7VrM/s640/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_03.PNG" width="638" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwO9Qs13I/AAAAAAAAlYE/XjHGtODX64M/s1600/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_05_with+Para-Gliding.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCjwO9Qs13I/AAAAAAAAlYE/XjHGtODX64M/s640/MARINA+BAY+SANDS_05_with+Para-Gliding.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-4937941120113263542010-06-26T20:31:00.000-07:002010-06-26T20:35:13.238-07:00SUPER DELICIOUS INGREDIENT FORCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCa0YDuthFI/AAAAAAAAlXk/XDGsfgb_ELI/s1600/SUPERDELICIOUS__BlogHeader.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCa0YDuthFI/AAAAAAAAlXk/XDGsfgb_ELI/s640/SUPERDELICIOUS__BlogHeader.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #c27ba0; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Need more proof that superheroes are taking America by storm -- and not just at the box office? Now, they'll be protecting all of us at the drive thru, too. <b style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://www.tacobell.com/" style="color: #a64d79;">Taco Bell</a>,</b> our favorite purveyor of <i>la comida rapida</i></span></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">has launched their latest ad campaign - and the nation's newest band of superheroes: <b style="color: #a64d79;">Super Delicious Ingredient Force</b>. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #c27ba0; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #c27ba0; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In true team-up fashion, the 'Bell joined forces with advertising giant <b style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://www.draftfcb.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">DraftFCB</span> </a>Chicago</b> and legendary comics artist <b style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="http://www.nealadams.com/" style="color: #a64d79;">Neal Adams</a> </b>to develop a Taco team of <i>Super Friends</i>-esque heroes that would have their own online cartoon and appear on Taco Bell menus and signage - very similar to the use of the Hamburgler and Ronald for McDonalds. The result: <span style="color: #a64d79;">Super Delicious Ingredient Force</span><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span>(or SDIF), </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a nine-member team that includes heroes like the blatantly gay <span style="color: #a64d79;">Fantastic Rice</span><b> </b>and <span style="color: #a64d79;">Flex Tortilla</span> - a definite in-joke and spoof on <span style="color: #a64d79;">Grant</span><b><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Morrison</span>'s own inside spoof-ish creation, <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flex_Mentallo"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Flex Mentallo</span></a> </b>-<b> </b>and a buzz-worthy video that succeeds at hitching Taco Bell to the superhero choo-choo.</span></span></div><div style="color: #c27ba0; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #c27ba0; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first of a planned trio of videos hit the internet this month; in over three minutes, the short's more mini-cartoon than commercial, and surprisingly as subversive as it is funny - or ridiculous, depending on your point of view. With a mission to rid the world of "minuscule meals of mediocrity," an El Camino that stands-in for the Batmobile, and a scene with a pickle that pushes into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy"><b style="color: #a64d79;"><i>Family Guy</i></b></a> territory, the humor and super hero shout-outs actually over-power the actual product. But that's likely the intention anyway: establish the brand - especially if the likes of<b> </b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Chicken Woman</span> and<b> </b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Crunch Boy</span><b><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></b>will soon be filling Taco lobbies as super standees. </span></span></div><div style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Super Delicious Ingredient Force</span> - pure awesome, for one reason or another. But after the </span><i style="color: #a64d79;">enchirito</i><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> was invented, who really needed </span><i style="color: #c27ba0;">another</i><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> reason to love </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Taco Bell</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> anyway?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/39KhykdSEs4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/39KhykdSEs4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCa0WD3r_VI/AAAAAAAAlXc/h9qW3Sh8npQ/s1600/THINK+OUTSIDE+THE+BUN__BlogFooter.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCa0WD3r_VI/AAAAAAAAlXc/h9qW3Sh8npQ/s640/THINK+OUTSIDE+THE+BUN__BlogFooter.PNG" width="640" /></a></div></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-17653720480061987212010-06-23T22:21:00.000-07:002010-06-26T18:36:19.302-07:00HIATUS: ABBRACADABBLING BACK TO YOU 27 JUNE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLn_WCJCaI/AAAAAAAAlWo/ZnkuE0zIDd0/s1600/HIATUS_Abbracadabbling_Marker+Art.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLn_WCJCaI/AAAAAAAAlWo/ZnkuE0zIDd0/s640/HIATUS_Abbracadabbling_Marker+Art.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLoCEdOYqI/AAAAAAAAlWw/sE4ESRACmbk/s1600/ASM_GRIM+HUNT_BlogBanner2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="44" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLoCEdOYqI/AAAAAAAAlWw/sE4ESRACmbk/s640/ASM_GRIM+HUNT_BlogBanner2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLoG_9d_CI/AAAAAAAAlW4/_F8SZ2RNoug/s1600/JONAH+HEX+Blog+Banner__Coming+Attractions.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="44" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLoG_9d_CI/AAAAAAAAlW4/_F8SZ2RNoug/s640/JONAH+HEX+Blog+Banner__Coming+Attractions.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLoMO-IZ6I/AAAAAAAAlXA/X4MQY_ynNzo/s1600/THE+TROUBLE+WITH+TITANS__BlogBanner_Abbracadabbling.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TCLoMO-IZ6I/AAAAAAAAlXA/X4MQY_ynNzo/s640/THE+TROUBLE+WITH+TITANS__BlogBanner_Abbracadabbling.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-75841960992321057022010-06-21T13:50:00.000-07:002010-06-21T13:50:25.179-07:00Coming Attractions: IRON MAN 2 DVD EXPECTED THIS OCTOBER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_GxV4zLFI/AAAAAAAAlVc/lizlDze_6DY/s1600/IRON+MAN+2_DVD+Date+Is___Abbracadabbling.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_GxV4zLFI/AAAAAAAAlVc/lizlDze_6DY/s640/IRON+MAN+2_DVD+Date+Is___Abbracadabbling.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #f1c232; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">lthough <b style="color: #990000;"><i>Iron Man 2</i></b><span style="color: #990000;">'s</span> world premiere in late April had to be moved from London to Los Angeles thanks to travel complications caused by the Icelandic volcano <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/04/how_do_you_defeat_iron_man_try.html">Eyjafjallajokull</a>, the sequel did make it into<a href="http://www.deadline.com/2010/05/iron-man-2-widest-release-in-history/"> European theaters</a> a good week before its North American debut. So in a way it makes sense that while no official word on an <b><i style="color: #990000;">Iron Man 2 </i><span style="color: #990000;">DVD</span></b><i> </i>has come from Paramount or <span style="color: #990000;">Marvel Studios</span>, the movie is already up on Amazon Germany for pre-order with a <b style="color: #ffd966;">7th October</b> release date. </span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In addition to a single DVD release, Amazon Germany </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">also lists a Blu-ray as well as a limited edition<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><i style="color: #990000;">Iron Man 2</i> Steelbook for the 07 October date - and with details like those, it's a date we find difficult to doubt.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> The only questions remaining are what extra fans can expect to find when <i style="color: #990000;">Iron Man 2 </i>does hit, and if American fans will have to wait a bit longer for a heavy metal fix than their European counterparts. Considering the film made Europe first, it's altogether reasonable the DVD might, too.</span></div><div style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">As far the extras, the only clues fans have so far came from </span><i style="color: #f1c232;">Iron Man 2 </i><span style="color: #f1c232;">director </span><b style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="color: #990000;">Jon Favreau</span>,</b> <span style="color: #f1c232;">who </span><a href="http://www.ugo.com/movies/favreau-talks-iron-man-2-dvd" style="color: #f1c232;">noted</a><span style="color: #f1c232;"> just before the Los Angeles premiere that behind the scenes cameras 'were always running' and the future DVD should include several featurettes and a robust commentary. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i><span style="color: #990000;">Abbracadabbling</span> <span style="color: #f1c232;">will keep dabblers up to date with</span><i style="color: #990000;"> Iron Man 2</i><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="color: #990000;"> DVD</span> news as it hits, so stick around...! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OUR THANKS TO </span><a href="http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/512735/iron_man_2_rumoured_dvd_and_bluray_release_date.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DEN OF GEEK</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> FOR THE TIP.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_Gz2fLIfI/AAAAAAAAlVk/4WWuJHbmsbQ/s1600/IRON+MAN+2_Movie+Image_Slice.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_Gz2fLIfI/AAAAAAAAlVk/4WWuJHbmsbQ/s640/IRON+MAN+2_Movie+Image_Slice.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-81904101575723034712010-06-21T12:58:00.000-07:002010-06-21T12:58:25.798-07:00SUPERHERO SLEEPOVER: The Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_EROOMz-I/AAAAAAAAlVU/2OPOucbIQL0/s1600/SUPERHERO+GIRLS+SLEEPOVER+PARTY__Art.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_EROOMz-I/AAAAAAAAlVU/2OPOucbIQL0/s640/SUPERHERO+GIRLS+SLEEPOVER+PARTY__Art.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-23585017430279569232010-06-21T12:57:00.000-07:002010-06-21T12:57:19.867-07:00SUPERHERO SLEEPOVER: The Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_D18aTdBI/AAAAAAAAlVM/YH9RAjQqnGM/s1600/Superhero+dude+sleepover_via+batarangs+tumblr.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB_D18aTdBI/AAAAAAAAlVM/YH9RAjQqnGM/s640/Superhero+dude+sleepover_via+batarangs+tumblr.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-23420283788056885812010-06-21T12:53:00.000-07:002010-06-21T12:53:30.716-07:00COMICS INSIGHT: Finishing JACK KIRBY's HAWKMAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zXUHNUQI/AAAAAAAAlUo/PTZ8m5OAefw/s1600/HAWKMAN__BlogHeader_Jack+Kirby+Process.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zXUHNUQI/AAAAAAAAlUo/PTZ8m5OAefw/s640/HAWKMAN__BlogHeader_Jack+Kirby+Process.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">New York-based comics illustrator and designer </span><b style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Brendan Tobin</span> </b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">provides some quick insight into the creative process of comic book creation here by completing a rough sketch of DC Comics' </span><b style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hawkman</span> </b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">by</span><b style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">legendary artist, the late</span><b> </b><a href="http://www.bpib.com/illustra2/kirby.htm"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Jack Kirby</b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span></a> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> Kirby originally penciled </span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">the work as a presentation piece for an unrealized</span><i style="color: #6fa8dc;"> Hawkman</i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> cartoon, presumably dating his initial sketch back to the late 60's or early 1970's. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">[Interestingly, Kirby left New York and the comics industry behind </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">in the late 1970's, disillusioned with both Marvel and DC Comics for not giving him fair payment or enough credit for his creations. He went to California and began a new career in animation, working briefly for</span> <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hanna-Barbera</span> </b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">before winding up at</span> <a href="http://www.rubyspears.com/"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Ruby-Spears</b></a> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">in 1980. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">There, he designed characters and backgrounds for the Saturday morning action series </span><i style="color: #6fa8dc;">Thundarr the Barbarian</i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> as well as created presentation boards for potential new projects. Although none of Kirby's concepts were produced before he died in 1994, the Ruby-Spears company (in tandem with Sid and Marty </span><a href="http://krofft.net/"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Krofft</b></a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">) </span><a href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/bad-ideas/ruby-spears-and-sid-and-marty-krofft-team-up.html" style="color: #6fa8dc;">announced</a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> in April they plan to revisit his ideas for production. ]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Working from the original pencils, Tobin completes what Kirby began, first by inking the Hawkman, then finally coloring and lettering. What he ends up with is an amazing piece of comics art and history. Tobin also posts this process on his own blog, which you can find </span><span style="color: #073763;">[</span><a href="http://brendantobin.blogspot.com/2010/02/inking-king-hawkman.html" style="color: #0b5394;">here</a><span style="color: #073763;">]<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zeHzZMOI/AAAAAAAAlU4/zUiCJ7ZArFE/s1600/HAWKMAN_Brendan+Tobin+finishing+JACK+KIRBY_KIRBY+Sketch+actual.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zeHzZMOI/AAAAAAAAlU4/zUiCJ7ZArFE/s640/HAWKMAN_Brendan+Tobin+finishing+JACK+KIRBY_KIRBY+Sketch+actual.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hawkman </i> - Jack Kirby's original pencils</span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zgbmNcgI/AAAAAAAAlVA/Mej-Bmq5Exc/s1600/HAWKMAN_Brendan+Tobin+finishing+JACK+KIRBY_Inked.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zgbmNcgI/AAAAAAAAlVA/Mej-Bmq5Exc/s640/HAWKMAN_Brendan+Tobin+finishing+JACK+KIRBY_Inked.PNG" width="640" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tobin inks Kirby's line work, then adds the lettering</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zZ4C2coI/AAAAAAAAlUw/mIhCx8arCoo/s1600/HAWKMAN_Brendan+Tobin+finishing+JACK+KIRBY_Final.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-zZ4C2coI/AAAAAAAAlUw/mIhCx8arCoo/s640/HAWKMAN_Brendan+Tobin+finishing+JACK+KIRBY_Final.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </b></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: #666666;">Hawkman </i><span style="color: #666666;">completed, Kirby -style - by Brendan Tobin</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MORE TO SEE</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i style="color: #134f5c;">The New York Times</i> recently compiled an online <b style="color: #0b5394;">slide-show</b> of <b style="color: #0b5394;">Jack Kirby</b>'s yet-to-be-produced cartoon characters and concepts, found [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/04/12/arts/20100413_KIRBY_SLIDESHOW_index.html?ref=movies" style="color: #0b5394;">here</a>].</span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-10681488223840452912010-06-21T11:24:00.000-07:002010-06-21T11:24:29.057-07:00Figures In Action! On The First Day of Summer, VICTOR FREEZE Is NOT Pleased<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-sUts5yUI/AAAAAAAAlUg/5C86f2ePJ1U/s1600/MISTER+FREEZE_DC+SUPERHEROES+Mattel_FIA.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB-sUts5yUI/AAAAAAAAlUg/5C86f2ePJ1U/s640/MISTER+FREEZE_DC+SUPERHEROES+Mattel_FIA.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #9fc5e8; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">M</span>I<span style="color: #3d85c6;">S</span>T<span style="color: #3d85c6;">E</span>R</span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">F</span>R<span style="color: #3d85c6;">EE</span>Z<span style="color: #3d85c6;">E </span></i></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>DC Superheroes, Mattel (2007) </i></span></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[<a href="http://chrismandesign.blogspot.com/">via</a>]</span></b></span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-75979428094828370442010-06-20T17:16:00.000-07:002010-06-20T17:16:53.080-07:00TEN FUN SUNDAY: CLIFF CHIANG'S PRETTY IN PINK ...HEROES MOST UNSUNG...And More!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mL_rJJaI/AAAAAAAAlSg/LjeadDcN5g0/s1600/Cliff+Chiang__XMEN+and+PRETTY+IN+PINK+Mash-Up.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mL_rJJaI/AAAAAAAAlSg/LjeadDcN5g0/s640/Cliff+Chiang__XMEN+and+PRETTY+IN+PINK+Mash-Up.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">One last round of great graphics for you before the weekend's officially over, with comics artist</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1362274190"><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></a><b><a href="http://www.cliffchiang.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Cliff Chiang</span></a><span style="color: #ea9999;">'</span></b><span style="color: #ea9999;">s latest mash-up at the head of the (brat) pack. Chiang's been turning out </span><b style="color: #e06666;">12-inch Remixes,</b> <span style="color: #ea9999;">as he calls them, for the past couple years, merging famous comics characters with classic 80's album covers. His latest with the<span style="color: #e06666;"> X-Men </span>was auctioned at </span><a href="http://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/" style="color: #ea9999;">Heroes </a><span style="color: #ea9999;">Con earlier this month, and its his second Remixed nod to the late director of </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091790/" style="color: #ea9999;"><i>Pretty In Pink</i></a><span style="color: #ea9999;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000455/" style="color: #ea9999;">John Hughes</a></span></span><span style="color: #ea9999;">. </span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Chiang's first tribute casts the classic <span style="color: #e06666;">Teen Titans</span> as <i>The Breakfast Club </i>-- and you can check it out [<a href="http://www.cliffchiang.com/2009/08/07/dont-you-forget-about-me/" style="color: #e06666;">here</a>]!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6shmF4KlI/AAAAAAAAlT0/zi3wY_KRYkg/s1600/Blog-Dots__Abbracadabbling_.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="12" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6shmF4KlI/AAAAAAAAlT0/zi3wY_KRYkg/s640/Blog-Dots__Abbracadabbling_.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mReADGwI/AAAAAAAAlSo/yeMSc1nUHhs/s1600/inf+u+gotta+fight+fight+dirty__Vintage+advertisement.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mReADGwI/AAAAAAAAlSo/yeMSc1nUHhs/s640/inf+u+gotta+fight+fight+dirty__Vintage+advertisement.PNG" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mUz6OgiI/AAAAAAAAlSw/Yb8o7lIuoYo/s1600/IRON+R2_by+Mike+Verta.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mUz6OgiI/AAAAAAAAlSw/Yb8o7lIuoYo/s400/IRON+R2_by+Mike+Verta.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Iron R2 </i><span style="color: #ea9999;">by Mike Verta</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mXb1t_rI/AAAAAAAAlS4/qTWcWNv4aWE/s1600/WOLVERINE+UP__Pic_via+retconpunch.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mXb1t_rI/AAAAAAAAlS4/qTWcWNv4aWE/s640/WOLVERINE+UP__Pic_via+retconpunch.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[<a href="http://www.retconpunch.tumblr.com/">via</a>]</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mh2q72vI/AAAAAAAAlTE/GB1Ufe1qDs8/s1600/Aquaman+vs+BP+by+Rob+Kelly__LOL_via+fuckyeahaquaman.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mh2q72vI/AAAAAAAAlTE/GB1Ufe1qDs8/s640/Aquaman+vs+BP+by+Rob+Kelly__LOL_via+fuckyeahaquaman.PNG" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://www.fuckyeahaquaman.tumblr.com/">via</a>]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6n0BLttVI/AAAAAAAAlTk/TRdGkvGaOkw/s1600/BP+SPONGEBOB+by+Mike+Mitchell_via+sirmitchell.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6n0BLttVI/AAAAAAAAlTk/TRdGkvGaOkw/s640/BP+SPONGEBOB+by+Mike+Mitchell_via+sirmitchell.PNG" width="484" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[<a href="http://www.sirmitchell.tumblr.com/">via</a>]</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mmzhqhuI/AAAAAAAAlTM/eh99N7qnf5k/s1600/Esquire+Magazine+SPOCK_by+Norma+Bar_graphic+design+art.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6mmzhqhuI/AAAAAAAAlTM/eh99N7qnf5k/s640/Esquire+Magazine+SPOCK_by+Norma+Bar_graphic+design+art.PNG" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Spock, Esquire </i><span style="color: #ea9999;">by Norma Bar</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6nvwVZkGI/AAAAAAAAlTc/krsdpjDznZM/s1600/Mr+Muggles_HEROES+Unsung+Hero_.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6nvwVZkGI/AAAAAAAAlTc/krsdpjDznZM/s640/Mr+Muggles_HEROES+Unsung+Hero_.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Heroes' </i>Mister Muggles Wallpaper</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">[</span><a href="http://www.nbc.com/heroes" style="color: #ea9999;">via</a><span style="color: #ea9999;">]</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6n8EqUvEI/AAAAAAAAlTs/pE6UfJaejBo/s1600/hulk_hyde_by_libre_comme_lart.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6n8EqUvEI/AAAAAAAAlTs/pE6UfJaejBo/s640/hulk_hyde_by_libre_comme_lart.PNG" width="626" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hulk Hyde</i></span><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> by 'Book Eats The Art'</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://www.libre_comme_lart.deviantart.com/">via</a>]</span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6m6uShTHI/AAAAAAAAlTU/wuqCeicbRbY/s1600/STOP+EXISTING+AND+START+LIVING__art+image+via+jaymechatterton+tumblr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6m6uShTHI/AAAAAAAAlTU/wuqCeicbRbY/s640/STOP+EXISTING+AND+START+LIVING__art+image+via+jaymechatterton+tumblr.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-47080458686661257482010-06-20T16:31:00.000-07:002010-06-20T16:31:04.315-07:00THE POWER OF ONE: THE DAYS, ISSUES, & DOLLARS OF AN AMAZING SPIDER-MAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB562P3aQkI/AAAAAAAAlRw/1qVecP1xPwY/s1600/SPIDERMAN_Power+of+One__Abbracadabbling_Header.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB562P3aQkI/AAAAAAAAlRw/1qVecP1xPwY/s640/SPIDERMAN_Power+of+One__Abbracadabbling_Header.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The major players, the triple-A Big Two characters that top each publisher's 'A-Lists' of characters, are impossible to control completely, even by the companies that own them. Fan-films like<i> <a href="http://abbracadabbling.blogspot.com/2010/06/cinema-popular-batman-city-of-scars-and.html" style="color: red;">Batman: City of Scars</a></i> clearly illustrate this point: some superheroes -- Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Green Lantern, Captain America, and <b><a href="http://marvel.com/universe/Spider-Man_%28Peter_Parker%29"><span style="color: red;">Spider-Man</span></a>,</b> for example -- have 'lives' of their own, their destinies often beyond the reach<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span> </b></span>of the editors, writers, and artists whose job it is to forge them. From both a creative and a business standpoint, then, it's interesting to observe the machinations of Marvel's and DC's respective A-List business units and watch them exert the control they do have.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Marvel Comics' <i>Spider-Man</i> group under the direction of Executive Editor <b style="color: red;">Tom Brevoort</b> and Editor <b style="color: red;">Stephen Wacker</b> may be one's best bet to observe the editorial in action process. Wacker, who made an abrupt departure from DC Comics as editor of the experimental weekly comics title<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_165702653"><span style="color: red;"> </span></a><i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52_%28comics%29"><span style="color: red;">52</span></a>,</b></i> in September 2006 to join Marvel and fell in with the Spider-office soon after, is the guy in charge of Spidey's day to day and as such, he deserves much of the credit for reigning in - even salvaging - Marvel's flagship wall-crawler. But <i>How</i> Wacker pulled that feat off must wait until we explore the <span style="color: red;">one </span>big <i>Why.</i> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">THE TERRIBLE TREE</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a creative property, Spider-Man is unique among his fellow A-Listers as the <b><span style="color: red;">only character</span></b> not to have the privilege of being killed and inevitably resurrected. A-list superhero deaths, from Superman to Green Lantern, and Wolverine to Captain America, may have served to make a statement now and again, but in nearly every case, their main function has been to reign in a property that's spun completely out of editorial control. In dramatic storytelling, readers' interests are raised (as are sales) anytime a writer pushes the protagonist higher up the metaphorical tree and sometimes, there's no way to get them back down other than putting them six-feet under. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Marvel and writer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Millar"><b style="color: red;">Mark Millar</b></a> sent Spider-Man up into that tree in 2006-2007, when the hero publicly revealed his <span style="color: red;">Peter Parker</span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> secret identity during the company's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_War_%28comics%29"><b style="color: red;"><i>Civil War</i></b></a> mega-event. Spider-Man's unmasking achieved its goal of gaining major exposure and drove <i>Civil War'</i>s sales -and those of the three <i>Spider-Man</i> titles being published at the time - even higher. But it also sent Spider-Man higher into the <i>terrible tree</i>, the<span style="color: red;"> same </span>tree that would claim the fictional life of Marvel's<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/08/books/08capt.html"><b><span style="color: red;"> Captain America</span></b></a> just mere months later. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6NEmNLw1I/AAAAAAAAlR8/YETUnTXH96k/s1600/SPIDER-MAN_Power+Of+One__Montage.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6NEmNLw1I/AAAAAAAAlR8/YETUnTXH96k/s640/SPIDER-MAN_Power+Of+One__Montage.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">NOT DEAD...YET</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To necessarily undo the genre-disabling damage that Millar's Spider-Man unmasking caused, Marvel's 'brain trust' took, upon editorial mandate, a more novel if not completely dissimilar approach to recreating their character: they - or Spider-Man - made a deal (literally and figuratively, it seems) with the Devil, the longtime Marvel character and demon, <a href="http://marvel.com/universe/Mephisto"><b style="color: red;">Mephisto</b></a>. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In the 2007 storyline<b style="color: red;"> One<i> More Day</i></b>, Mephisto agrees to undo all the harm Spider-Man's unmasking caused (including <a href="http://www.the-iss.com/2008/07/15/img/auntmay.jpg"><span style="color: red;">Aunt May</span></a> being mortally wounded as a result) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">by making everyone forget whose face was under the Spider mask. The caveat was he'd only do so in exchange not for Peter's soul, but for his marriage to Mary Jane Watson. Peter Parker made his secret ID known to Mary Jane and married her in '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding%21_%28comics%29"><b style="color: red;">The Wedding</b></a>' - a seminal comics event (and <span style="color: red;">one</span> of the most important in Peter Parker's life) that occurred in <i style="color: red;">Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2</i><span style="color: red;"><b>1</b></span><i style="color: red;"> </i>in 1987</span></span>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Spider-Man's - and perhaps Marvel's - deal with the Devil set Peter Parker's life - and the stability of his fictional world - back to normal, though in true tragic Spider-Man form, Peter alone would remember what he sacrificed. Beyond the comic book pages, however, the story was different. Then head <i>Spider-Man</i> scribe and screenwriter<b style="color: red;"> Michael J</b></span></span><b style="color: red;">.</b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Michael_Straczynski">Straczynski</a>, </b>who wrote the events of <i style="color: red;"><b>One</b> More Day</i>, dismissed the editorial directive as "infuriating and downright disrespectful to anyone who has come to love <i>Spider-Man </i>comics over the years " and resigned as a result. His sentiments were shared by, we'd daresay, the majority of <i>Spider-Man</i>'s fan followers, perhaps <span style="color: red;">one</span> of the most loyal - if not <i style="color: red;">the most </i>loyal - fan base in all of comics.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6WCAlvufI/AAAAAAAAlSE/s80jLBg_WPA/s1600/SPIDERMAN+UNMASKED_Power+Of+One.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6WCAlvufI/AAAAAAAAlSE/s80jLBg_WPA/s640/SPIDERMAN+UNMASKED_Power+Of+One.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For a great many<i> Spider-Man</i> loyalists, the character they'd grown up with had died; for Marvel, the publisher had found the <span style="color: red;">one </span>way to rejuvenate <i>Spider-Man</i> and Peter Parker, which according to Editor-in-Chief <b><span style="color: red;">Joe Quesada,</span></b> was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_More_Day_%28comics%29">necessary</a> for the longevity of the <i>Spider-Man</i> franchise. While <span style="color: red;">one</span> single, all-important, life-changing decision by a character is the basis of all great drama, Spider-Man's pact with Mephisto was more than many readers could handle, and the unenviable duty of damage control has belonged to Stephen Wacker's group ever since. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BACK TO WACKER </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It would be incorrect to assume Marvel's plans to<b><span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retcon">ret-con</a> </span></b></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Spider-Man</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"></span></b></span></i> were reactionary in the least; indeed, Stephen Wacker's move to Marvel from DC Comics weekly <i>52</i> project is just <span style="color: red;">one</span> indication that Marvel editorial had been planning to un-marry Peter Parker for quite some time. Immediately following the conclusion of <i>One More Day</i>, both <i>Sensational</i> <i>Spider-Man</i> and <i>Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man</i> were canceled, and Wacker became the editor of the <span style="color: #cc0000;">one</span> remaining title and the franchise's flagship, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="color: red;">Amazing Spider-Man</span></b>. </i>The move was a consolidation of control and a concentration of creativity. It was also a gamble; along<i> </i>with its price point increasing by<span style="color: red;"> one </span>dollar - from $2.99 to $3.99 an issue -- <i>Amazing Spider-Man </i>would now be published three times a month instead of just <span style="color: red;">one</span>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">To find the tomorrow after <i>One More Day</i>,<i> </i><span style="color: red;">Spider-Man</span> would make yet another ambitious move into his future.<i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6jVmmZ_ZI/AAAAAAAAlSM/brzRZaPWvfU/s1600/SPIDERMAN_Power+Of+One__TBC_Footer.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB6jVmmZ_ZI/AAAAAAAAlSM/brzRZaPWvfU/s640/SPIDERMAN_Power+Of+One__TBC_Footer.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-44544698577563578562010-06-20T00:27:00.000-07:002010-06-20T00:27:26.420-07:00Cinema Popular: BATMAN: CITY OF SCARS And The NEW GENRE OF FAN-FILM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2W2dbdlBI/AAAAAAAAlP4/mfFIK-UOTdI/s1600/BATMAN+CITY+OF+SCARS__Header.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2W2dbdlBI/AAAAAAAAlP4/mfFIK-UOTdI/s640/BATMAN+CITY+OF+SCARS__Header.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ray Zablocki's quick <a href="http://abbracadabbling.blogspot.com/2010/06/video-superman-of-mediaand-what-became.html">video history</a> of <i>The Man of Steel </i>is impressive enough to those of us out of the digital video loop, but guys like <b style="color: #f1c232;">Aaron Schoenke</b> take the bar of amateur production to an entirely different level. An incredible investment of time, talent, film, and financial resources (the film short cost roughly $27,000) on the one hand, Aaron Schoenke's <i><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Batman:</span> <span style="color: #f1c232;">City of Scars</span></b><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></i>is, on the other, a testament comic books' enduring ability to inspire and compel their readers to create.</span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2apAUns-I/AAAAAAAAlQQ/DSVT1YmQz8A/s1600/BATMAN+CITY+OF+SCARS__Mini-Info.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2apAUns-I/AAAAAAAAlQQ/DSVT1YmQz8A/s200/BATMAN+CITY+OF+SCARS__Mini-Info.PNG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="color: #f1c232;">Fan-made films</b> and videos based on comic book characters, popular Hollywood movies, and now even video game characters, are nothing new. (Hell, even our beloved Dabbler still talks about the <i>GI JOE: A Real American Hero</i> fan flick he made back in eighth grade! ) Ranging from the ridiculous and uninspired to productions worthy of discussion and merit like Schoenke's <i>Scars</i>, fan-made shorts - if anything - provide insight into what resonates.</span></span><br />
</div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not surprisingly, <i style="color: #f1c232;">Star Wars</i> fan-flicks out-number those of any other character or franchise around; <a href="http://www.fanfilms.net/" style="color: #666666;">Fan Films</a>, an online registry website, currently counts 312 fan-made <i>Star Wars </i>shorts. The BBC's <i><span style="color: #f1c232;">Doctor Who</span> </i>comes in at second place with 128 fan works to its credit, with <i>Star Trek</i> placing in third with 84. Rounding out the Hollywood-spawned Top Five are (surprisingly) <i>Friday The 13th</i> (64) and <i>Indiana Jones</i> (50). </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2mC2ImOqI/AAAAAAAAlQY/m9WNaft2els/s1600/BATMAN+CITY+OF+SCARS_Movie+Poster_medium.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2mC2ImOqI/AAAAAAAAlQY/m9WNaft2els/s400/BATMAN+CITY+OF+SCARS_Movie+Poster_medium.PNG" width="283" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Batman</span> </b>can't beat Darth Vader on that same list, the Dark Knight does land in second place overall with 144 fan-films made. Appropriately enough, Superman ranks as the second most popular superhero for amateur interpretation: he counts 71 to his name. Spider-Man is third with 51, and relative newcomer <b style="color: #f1c232;">Green Lantern</b> asserts himself as an up-and-coming challenger with 34 -- and rising. Interestingly, despite their broad longtime popularity, only 12 fan-films on Fan Films are credited to Marvel's uncanny mutants, the <b style="color: #f1c232;">X-Men</b>. </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If<i><b> </b></i>'Fan Cinema' or maybe <i style="color: #f1c232;">Cinema Popular</i><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span>could be considered a genre unto itself, <i><b> City of Scars, </b></i>currently in the midst<i><b> </b></i>of<i><b> </b></i>much comicsblogosphere debate following its debut at <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdpig1_city-of-scars_sho%20%20rtfilms/" style="color: #666666;">Daily Motion</a> yesterday, can already count itself among the cream of the fan-made crop. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Schoenke draws much of his inspiration from the recent blockbuster <b><i><span style="color: #f1c232;">Batman Arkham Asylum</span></i></b> <a href="http://www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/"><span style="color: #666666;">video game</span>,</a> crafting his thirty-minutes to mesh quite well with the game's grisly, Gothic milieu. <i>Scars</i> is, in fact, the first fan-made film to be set in Arkham, and Schoenke 's camera captures the setting vividly. </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's the camera work - the mark of a good cinematographer and director - that sets <i>City of Scars </i>apart from the vast majority of fan film; Schoenke knows his tech and his skill using a light meter is beyond reproach. The film, like so many 'professional' movies do, relies on its look to convince and distract, and its more than enough to capture the interest of any wide-eyed fan boy. </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But that's also the film's flaw, and Schoenke's piece - like the great majority of amateur, student, and fan-films - doesn't transcend it's fan niche for want of a story. While better looking and better crafted than most, </span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Batman: </span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>City of Scars</i> isn't really better told. The demands of production and editing being what they are, Schoenke's desire to conquer the mechanics of film make him and his story victims of their own fan-boy special effects. </span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Don't get us wrong: even criticism like that - if it's warranted - shouldn't truly detract from <i>City of Scars</i>. Although its creator may have more lofty ambitions, <i>City of Scars</i> does succeed at being what is: a fan-film tribute to the medium of comic books, to superheroes, and their innate ability to convince us all that yes, a man can fly. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2-CjR79GI/AAAAAAAAlQk/RB4QVqRzFpM/s1600/BATMAN_City+of+Scars__screep+cap_.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2-CjR79GI/AAAAAAAAlQk/RB4QVqRzFpM/s640/BATMAN_City+of+Scars__screep+cap_.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">SYNOPSIS:</span></span></b></div><div style="color: #f1c232; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">When the Joker escapes from Arkham and murders the parents of a young boy, Batman recalls the pain of losing his own parents as a child. He is pushed past his limits to the point where his focus becomes revenge on all who stand in his way, including many of Gotham’s underworld. Finally, Batman is forced to look at the psychological profile of his own mind and accept the consequences of his life to find resolve.</span></i></div><div style="color: #f1c232; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="270" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xdpig1_city-of-scars_shortfilms"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><paramname="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xdpig1_city-of-scars_shortfilms" width="480" height="270" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div></div><div style="color: #f1c232; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Check out more short films by Aaron Schoenke and Bat In The Sun Productions on their website [<a href="http://www.batinthesun.com/">here</a>].</span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">And if you're curious about <i>City of Scars </i>fan-filmed Bat-competition, swing over to <b>Batman Fan Films</b>, an entire website devoted to the amateur Bat-genre -- [<a href="http://www.batmanfanfilms.com/">here</a>].</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2W81uSmgI/AAAAAAAAlQA/hNL3Mu3A4-4/s1600/BATMAN+Dark+Knight+by+Bill+Sienkiewicz.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2W81uSmgI/AAAAAAAAlQA/hNL3Mu3A4-4/s640/BATMAN+Dark+Knight+by+Bill+Sienkiewicz.PNG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i style="color: #134f5c;">The Dark Knight </i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;">by Bill Sienkiewicz</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">MORE ON MR SIENKIEWICZ [</span><a href="http://www.billsienkiewiczart.com/" style="color: #134f5c;">here</a><span style="color: #134f5c;">]</span></span></span></b></span></span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-87329963327516843722010-06-19T21:18:00.000-07:002010-06-19T21:18:48.700-07:00DYNAMIC DUO: A HALF-DENARY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2RmS3Hh4I/AAAAAAAAlPI/qhYamrA_Rgc/s1600/Bat_family_colored_by_qBATMANp.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2RmS3Hh4I/AAAAAAAAlPI/qhYamrA_Rgc/s640/Bat_family_colored_by_qBATMANp.PNG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Family </i></b></span> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Colored by qBatmanp</b> </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://www.qbatmanp.deviantart.com/">via</a>]</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2Nj1zxdMI/AAAAAAAAlOw/C4h8gwpefz4/s1600/Batman+Beaker_via+coreympanderson.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2Nj1zxdMI/AAAAAAAAlOw/C4h8gwpefz4/s640/Batman+Beaker_via+coreympanderson.PNG" width="550" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">B</span><span style="font-size: small;">atman <span style="color: #3d85c6;">&</span> Beaker </span></i></b><span style="color: #073763; font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://www.coreympanderson.tumblr.com/">via]</a> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2SLMNBtLI/AAAAAAAAlPk/cpxB0i7z-Vw/s1600/Batman_and_Robin_by_dryponder.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2SLMNBtLI/AAAAAAAAlPk/cpxB0i7z-Vw/s640/Batman_and_Robin_by_dryponder.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Batman & Robin </b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>by Dryponder </b></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>[<a href="http://www.dryponder.deviantart.com/">via</a>] </b></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2SfCOkfJI/AAAAAAAAlPs/B33BtORuN8s/s1600/Rite_of_passage__by_eiko_chan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2SfCOkfJI/AAAAAAAAlPs/B33BtORuN8s/s640/Rite_of_passage__by_eiko_chan.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Rite of Passage</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>by Eiko Chan [<a href="http://www.eiko_chan.deviantart.com/">via</a>] </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2R3Mr0hCI/AAAAAAAAlPc/hWDqACnucEk/s1600/Strings_revisited__by_eiko_chan.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TB2R3Mr0hCI/AAAAAAAAlPc/hWDqACnucEk/s640/Strings_revisited__by_eiko_chan.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Strings (revisited)</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By Eiko Chan [<a href="http://www.eiko_chan.deviantart.com/">via</a>] </span></b></span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-49479304000106530642010-06-19T02:06:00.000-07:002010-06-19T02:06:18.379-07:00VIDEO: SUPERMAN OF THE MEDIA...And What Became Of Our SMALLVILLE Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TByBN1jRP1I/AAAAAAAAlOg/3_PPyVB_AjE/s1600/ACTION+COMICS_Superman_BlogHeader_.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TByBN1jRP1I/AAAAAAAAlOg/3_PPyVB_AjE/s640/ACTION+COMICS_Superman_BlogHeader_.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #ffd966; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">If you were following our blog </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(and if not, shame, dabbler!) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">yesterday, you'll be happy to know that we're half-way through the <b><i style="color: #6aa84f;">Smallville</i> </b>marathon. Not everything went according to plan, but ah, they seldom do. Probably my fault, if you really want to get honest about it. My crazy notion just 33 minutes into the pilot episode, and by Hour Two, the gang had decided to turn our observance into a drinking game. Bottles appeared from nowhere, the keg came not twenty minutes later. And now....now, the night has become blasphemy, with half the crew either passed out or trying to get into the other half's pants -- and it's approaching two in the morning here. Cool, clammy Springfield, Oregon. This place...this spinning, hazy room...it never seemed so naughty as it does right now...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Where were we...where was I? I. Where am I? Yes.<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">Superman</b><span style="color: #ffd966;">. See, all those hours with <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tom Welling</span> and a bottle of Grey Goose made me realize just how pervasive Superman's presence has been, in literally every form of media these last 72 or 73 years; from stage to screens large and small, novels, newspapers, coloring books, and of course, the comics books... too much to dive into this late. Or when you're only blogging in boxer briefs. But for a quick - and animated, no less - survey of the </span><i style="color: #ffd966;">media</i><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span><i style="color: #ffd966;">super</i><span style="color: #ffd966;">, Vimeo contributor </span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">Ray Zablocki</b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> [</span><a href="http://vimeo.com/rayzablocki" style="color: #ffd966;">link</a><span style="color: #ffd966;">]</span><b style="color: #ffd966;"> </b><span style="color: #ffd966;">does a bang-up job in less than two minutes. Check it out; one helluva hang-over and lots more for </span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">JONAH HEX</b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> and </span><b style="color: #6aa84f;">DC Comics 75th Anniversary</b><span style="color: #ffd966;"> coming at you this weekend.</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="265" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10598849&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10598849&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="265"></embed></object></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-39466157225795976452010-06-19T01:23:00.000-07:002010-06-19T01:23:26.737-07:00KIRBY IS THE HERO OF DREAMLAND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBx66b_U9xI/AAAAAAAAlOY/9w7OTCDtMzE/s1600/Jack+Kirby__by+APE+LAD.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBx66b_U9xI/AAAAAAAAlOY/9w7OTCDtMzE/s640/Jack+Kirby__by+APE+LAD.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">LMFAO. <b style="color: #741b47;">Ape Lad'</b>s a Southern California professional illustrator with Disney Interactive with a penchant, he says, for drawing hobos. </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He's also an amazing - and rather prolific - cartoonist with a flare for caricatures. His <b><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apelad/4468109736/" style="color: #741b47;">Jack Kirby</a> </i></b>is perfect; if the 'King' were alive today, he'd be laughing along with the rest of us. Check <span style="color: #741b47;">Mark Evanier</span>'s weblog [<a href="http://www.povonline.com/Jack%20Kirby.htm" style="color: #741b47;">here</a>] for a thorough and straight-forward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby" style="color: #351c75;">Jack Kirby</a> primer, and Ape Lad's <span style="color: #741b47;">Flickr </span>stream is full of talent and goodness you'll spend hours with [<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apelad/" style="color: #741b47;">here</a>]</span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">.</span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-14060659022967457882010-06-19T00:58:00.000-07:002010-06-19T00:58:18.002-07:00Figures In Action! AQUAMAN Hates HydroTherapy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBx4CUfO-HI/AAAAAAAAlOQ/HruMOcCc2IY/s1600/AQUATIC+THERAPY__Secret+Life+of+Aquaman_via+Poeghostal.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBx4CUfO-HI/AAAAAAAAlOQ/HruMOcCc2IY/s640/AQUATIC+THERAPY__Secret+Life+of+Aquaman_via+Poeghostal.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/poeghostal/">via</a>]</span></b></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-37021775550871038142010-06-19T00:48:00.000-07:002010-06-19T00:48:09.141-07:00GRAPH-ITTI: The PAC-MAN Percentile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBxz5NMZgJI/AAAAAAAAlOA/J-Gf6HrIzfA/s1600/Pac+Man+Chart_Pie+Chart.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBxz5NMZgJI/AAAAAAAAlOA/J-Gf6HrIzfA/s640/Pac+Man+Chart_Pie+Chart.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBx1_34oGwI/AAAAAAAAlOI/GPuup0vxEp4/s1600/GRAPHITTI_Abbracadabbling.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="78" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBx1_34oGwI/AAAAAAAAlOI/GPuup0vxEp4/s640/GRAPHITTI_Abbracadabbling.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-84810559160241583972010-06-19T00:34:00.000-07:002010-06-19T00:34:46.833-07:00Not Comics: RED CAT AND THE WINNER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBxxsV_KMVI/AAAAAAAAlN4/TUxOG1wnEC8/s1600/CAT+The+Winner_jiang+peng.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBxxsV_KMVI/AAAAAAAAlN4/TUxOG1wnEC8/s640/CAT+The+Winner_jiang+peng.PNG" width="483" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #990000;">Red Cat and The Winner</span></span> </i></b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">are about a famous idea of </span><a href="http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/dengxiaoping.shtml" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Deng Xiao Ping</b> </a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">that changed China’s modern history. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">In the late 70's, after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution"><b>Cultural Revolution</b></a>, Deng Xiao Ping expressed this idea: no matter what color a cat is, if it can catch a mouse, it is a good cat. Thus he confronted those who argued against his new policy as being more capitalist than socialist.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">(On left) Jiang Peng, <i style="color: #cc0000;">The Winner</i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">,</span> acrylic on canvas, 200 x 150 cm</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">[</span><a href="http://www.jaymechatterton.tumblr.com/" style="color: #cc0000;">via</a><span style="color: #cc0000;">]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-23752883652129160022010-06-18T17:07:00.000-07:002010-06-18T17:07:37.016-07:00JONAH HEX: DEZUNIGA's Chosen One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBwIjuHAdfI/AAAAAAAAlNc/XgZK69Ot_9o/s1600/JONAH+HEX+Blog+Banner__Coming+Attractions.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="44" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBwIjuHAdfI/AAAAAAAAlNc/XgZK69Ot_9o/s640/JONAH+HEX+Blog+Banner__Coming+Attractions.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBwIoYBQjxI/AAAAAAAAlNk/BInblXoAPuk/s1600/JONAH+HEX+Creation_Tony+DeZuniga++Quote_Abbracadabbling.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBwIoYBQjxI/AAAAAAAAlNk/BInblXoAPuk/s640/JONAH+HEX+Creation_Tony+DeZuniga++Quote_Abbracadabbling.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">-- </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="color: #45818e;"><i>Tony Dezuniga</i></b>, comic book artist and co-creator of </span><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">JONAH HEX<span style="color: #cccccc;">,</span></span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;"> when asked his thoughts on <span style="color: #134f5c;">Hex</span> getting the feature film treatment</span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26753">via</a>]</span></span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-6863002177091014802010-06-18T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-18T16:50:57.357-07:00THE JOY OF 'HEX': GET IT HERE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b style="color: #cc0000;">Abbracadabbling</b><span style="color: #999999;">'s second day of<span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span></span><b style="color: #134f5c;">JONAH HEX</b> <span style="color: #999999;">continues! The film's already opened nationwide - and if you're feeling a bit ornery, it's probably just the thing for your Friday night. Undecided? We've got the our synopsis of the new <span style="color: #134f5c;">DC Entertainment</span> flick here to help you make up your mind: </span><b style="color: #999999;"> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBwFh5BwHaI/AAAAAAAAlNU/ihIyCHgoul4/s1600/JONAH+HEX_Red+Sky_BlogHeader_.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBwFh5BwHaI/AAAAAAAAlNU/ihIyCHgoul4/s640/JONAH+HEX_Red+Sky_BlogHeader_.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b style="color: #134f5c;">Jonah Hex</b> <span style="color: #45818e;">(Josh Brolin) is a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort, a tough and stoic gunslinger who can track down anyone… and anything. Having survived death, Jonah’s violent history is steeped in myth and legend, and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the “other side.” </span> </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #45818e;">His only human connection is with</span> <b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Lilah</span><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span></b><span style="color: #45818e;">(Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own. But Jonah’s past is about to catch up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can’t refuse: in exchange for his freedom from the warrants on his head, he must track down and stop the dangerous terrorist </span><b style="color: #134f5c;">Quentin Turnbull</b> <span style="color: #45818e;">(John Malkovich). But Turnbull, who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah’s oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Fandango<span style="color: #999999;"> </span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;">is the official superhero cinema online ticket vendor of abbracadabbling. Before you mosey on down to your local cineplex, get your</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span><b style="color: #134f5c;">HEX</b> <span style="color: #999999;">in advance -<span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.fandango.com/jonahhex_126410/movieoverview" style="color: #134f5c;">here</a><span style="color: #999999;">. </span></span> </div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-37787198780636835472010-06-18T16:23:00.000-07:002010-06-18T16:23:23.437-07:00TODAY IN COMICS HISTORY: SUPERMAN and 18 JUNE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvqxDpt4zI/AAAAAAAAlMM/Ox9Nww-UD-U/s1600/Superman+Date__laptop+calendar_Abbracadabbling+BlogHeader.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvqxDpt4zI/AAAAAAAAlMM/Ox9Nww-UD-U/s640/Superman+Date__laptop+calendar_Abbracadabbling+BlogHeader.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">Don't be surprised if relatives in Kansas don't return your phone calls this weekend, or if half the folks you know are seen spotted running around town trailing a red cape. In fact, we'd suggest you fit yourself with a cape of your own and join them. It's a holiday, after all</span>. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #cc0000;">June 18th</b> <span style="color: #999999;">has long been observed as the day</span><b> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Kal-El</span></b><span style="color: #999999;">'s rocket ship, sent forth into the cosmos from the planet Krypton to save his life and </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">in turn, for him to save ours, landed on Earth. As for the year of the occurrence, there's much speculation. Some say it happened in June of 1938, when </span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jerry Siegel</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></b><span style="color: #999999;">and</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Joe Shuster</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></b><span style="color: #999999;">chronicled Kal-El's arrival in the pages of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Comics_1" style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>Action Comics #1</i></b></a><span style="color: #cc0000;">.</span> <span style="color: #999999;">Others claim Krypton's Last Son crashed even before then; some say that it hasn't happened yet. </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">As with politics and religion - and one could argue that </span><b style="color: #999999;">Superman </b><span style="color: #999999;">is, indeed, a bit of both - polite conversation should make every attempt to steer clear of controversial matters of personal import. If conversationally unavoidable, we'd advise that in lieu of joining the debate, you excuse yourself with an appropriate "</span><i style="color: #e06666;">Up, up, and awaaaayyyy</i><span style="color: #999999;">!" and seek your converts, if you must, in a less public forum.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thankfully, comicsblogging is definitely not polite conversation, and its liberating platform allows us to present our views on the matter of Kal-El's crash-landing with (near) impunity. As the traditional of corn on the cob </span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">dinner is even now being prepared, </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">the DVR already readied for tonight's 13-hour</span> <i style="color: #cc0000;">Smallville </i><span style="color: #999999;">marathon and the final readings </span><i style="color: #999999;">(</i><span style="color: #999999;">a difficult choice</span> <span style="color: #999999;">between </span><i style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Man_Who_Has_Everything" style="color: #cc0000;">For The Man Who Has Everything</a> </i><span style="color: #999999;">and Issue #2 of</span><i style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Birthright-Mark-Waid/dp/1401202527?ie=UTF8&tag=abbracadabbli-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">Birthright</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=abbracadabbli-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1401202527" style="border: medium none ! important; color: #999999; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i><span style="color: #999999;">) selected, let us say briefly that Kal-El's landing didn't happen in 1938 - although it did - and it won't happen in the future -- although it will. The space ship that carried baby Superman to our planet has, is, and will happen -- it will always happen, or be happening, no matter what the time or year or era. </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such is the way of the very best of stories, and the reason why 18 June is a truly important date not just in comics history, but in yours -- and ours. </span></span></div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">* <span style="color: #3d85c6;">*</span> <span style="color: #990000;">*</span> <span style="color: #45818e;">*</span> * * <span style="color: #3d85c6;">*</span> * <span style="color: #3d85c6;">* </span>* <span style="color: #3d85c6;">*</span> * <span style="color: #3d85c6;">*</span> * <span style="color: #3d85c6;">*</span> * </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">You already know the story. So, how would you tell it? If you're</span> <b style="color: #cc0000;">Grant Morrison</b>, <span style="color: #999999;">the answer would be '8 words.' Morrison and artist</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Frank Quitely</span>'<span style="color: #999999;">s</span> <b style="background-color: #e06666; color: #cc0000;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Star-Superman-Grant-Morrison/dp/1401229174?ie=UTF8&tag=abbracadabbli-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">All-Star Superman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=abbracadabbli-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1401229174" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></b> <span style="color: #999999;">is undoubtedly the greatest contribution to Superman's mythos of the last decade; for dabblers needing a refresher on this June 18th, there could be none better.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvqz9hvS2I/AAAAAAAAlMU/OtY63MpQ1tI/s1600/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvqz9hvS2I/AAAAAAAAlMU/OtY63MpQ1tI/s640/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq2R8XlcI/AAAAAAAAlMc/CdEtLXSITG0/s1600/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq2R8XlcI/AAAAAAAAlMc/CdEtLXSITG0/s640/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq4yKNw9I/AAAAAAAAlMk/cKbGWXVcnE8/s1600/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq4yKNw9I/AAAAAAAAlMk/cKbGWXVcnE8/s640/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+3.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq7xHITfI/AAAAAAAAlMs/T5jEWbcq09Y/s1600/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq7xHITfI/AAAAAAAAlMs/T5jEWbcq09Y/s640/Superman+One-Page+Origin_Grant+Morrison+Frank+Quitely_ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN__Panel+4.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq-m6KoDI/AAAAAAAAlM0/VpxFOr-Og_Q/s1600/ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN_Origin+Page+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvq-m6KoDI/AAAAAAAAlM0/VpxFOr-Og_Q/s640/ALL+STAR+SUPERMAN_Origin+Page+2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvrgbXOV_I/AAAAAAAAlNE/vnhvC2aDe8M/s1600/DC+75th+Logo+_BlogBanner.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBvrgbXOV_I/AAAAAAAAlNE/vnhvC2aDe8M/s640/DC+75th+Logo+_BlogBanner.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-60439651803315864852010-06-16T18:52:00.000-07:002010-06-16T18:52:07.337-07:00JONAH HEX Meets The JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ...And So Did We<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl016WT2-I/AAAAAAAAlKw/lfQbVMYqnUA/s1600/JONAH+Hex+Meets+the+JLA__Issue+199.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl016WT2-I/AAAAAAAAlKw/lfQbVMYqnUA/s640/JONAH+Hex+Meets+the+JLA__Issue+199.PNG" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl08E5v8-I/AAAAAAAAlK4/E2QIlIkRjiI/s1600/JONAH+HEX+Blog+Banner__Coming+Attractions.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="44" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl08E5v8-I/AAAAAAAAlK4/E2QIlIkRjiI/s640/JONAH+HEX+Blog+Banner__Coming+Attractions.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When four members of the <b>Justice League of America</b> - Green Lantern, The Flash, Elongated Man, and Zatanna - become stranded in Southern Arizona circa 1878, <b>JONAH HEX </b>and several other DC Comics Western heroes come face to face with DC's modern heroes- and mainstream comics storytelling - for the very first time<b><span style="color: #999999;">**</span>.</b> Published in 1982, <b><i>JLA #<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_94439736">198</a></i><a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_of_America_Vol_1_198"> </a></b>and <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_of_America_Vol_1_199"><i><b>199</b> </i></a>were titled "Once Upon a Time in the Wild Wild West..." and while they maintain a certain importance within the fictional annals of DC comics history, the comics also hold personal significance for our main man and yours, <b>The Dabbler</b>. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl-Oj_iirI/AAAAAAAAlLI/h6kt3hBuiz4/s1600/JLA+198-199.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl-Oj_iirI/AAAAAAAAlLI/h6kt3hBuiz4/s200/JLA+198-199.PNG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> While The Dabbler was no stranger to the heroes, the League's time-twisting adventure will forever be Dabbler's first <i>Justice League of America </i>comic books -- as well as where he first met Jonah Hex and his heroic posse (<i>as pictured above)</i>, the characters Scalphunter, Bat Lash, and Cinnamon. Those two comics, and the amazingly-drawn double-sized<i> Justice League of America</i> #200 that followed, established the foundation of Dabbler's life-long love of all things JLA. After one look at<b><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P%C3%A9rez" style="color: #45818e;">George Perez</a>'</b> astounding <i>Issue #200</i> wraparound cover art, we can only ask:<i><b> how could they no</b><b>t</b></i><b>? </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl9x1P6geI/AAAAAAAAlLA/iWHtQ45ho9s/s1600/JUSTICE+LEAGUE+OF+AMERICA_Issue+200_George+Perez.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl9x1P6geI/AAAAAAAAlLA/iWHtQ45ho9s/s640/JUSTICE+LEAGUE+OF+AMERICA_Issue+200_George+Perez.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The early 80's brought the world a lot of comics magic, and paved the way for Alan Moore's <i>Watchmen</i>, Frank Miller's <i>The Dark Knight Returns</i>, and The Dabbler's <span style="color: #990000;">Abbracadabbling.</span> As far as his relationship with comics stands, we're happy to report that it continues even today, as strong - and as expensive - as ever. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #999999;">**</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #134f5c;">We should note that while neither character remembers the encounter, </i><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Jonah Hex</b></span><i style="color: #134f5c;"> actually met an earlier version of the Justice League - and the still-active member Elongated Man - when both he and the JLA were thrown forward in time (</i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Justice League</span><i style="color: #134f5c;"> of America #159 & 160) </i></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #999999;">**</b></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-40249034946477007792010-06-16T18:03:00.000-07:002010-06-16T18:03:41.786-07:00What Were You Like, BATMAN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlzv-dtm9I/AAAAAAAAlKg/heURjw-7WEU/s1600/BATMAN+___.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlzv-dtm9I/AAAAAAAAlKg/heURjw-7WEU/s640/BATMAN+___.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlzJdsnxmI/AAAAAAAAlKI/ok-SzLdosgg/s1600/BATMAN+_At+First+I+was+Like.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="599" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlzJdsnxmI/AAAAAAAAlKI/ok-SzLdosgg/s640/BATMAN+_At+First+I+was+Like.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlzLSQtKoI/AAAAAAAAlKQ/4aT3oI6A17M/s1600/BATMAN_But+Then+I+Was+Like__.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="597" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlzLSQtKoI/AAAAAAAAlKQ/4aT3oI6A17M/s640/BATMAN_But+Then+I+Was+Like__.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl0D7l1NUI/AAAAAAAAlKo/r0ia3Ieuh_8/s1600/BATMAN+___wink.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="505" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBl0D7l1NUI/AAAAAAAAlKo/r0ia3Ieuh_8/s640/BATMAN+___wink.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-46715320263907041812010-06-16T17:54:00.000-07:002010-06-16T17:54:36.621-07:00JONAH HEX: MEGAN FOX On A Mannequin For 'Interview'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlvGMBqpWI/AAAAAAAAlJs/O1vTQWwOrUA/s1600/Megan+Fox+for+Interview+Magazine.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlvGMBqpWI/AAAAAAAAlJs/O1vTQWwOrUA/s640/Megan+Fox+for+Interview+Magazine.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We came out of the closet as <b><span style="color: #45818e;">Megan Fox</span> </b>fans weeks ago, and her co-starring role in <b><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Jonah Hex</span></i></b><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span>has got us pumped. Not super-pumped like a <b><i>Justice League </i></b>movie, mind you, but we won't say we're not happy campers, either. Considering she'll be playing<b><i> Hex'</i></b>s hooker <a href="http://www.allmoviephoto.com/photo/2010_jonah_hex_001.html" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Lilah</b></a>, we wouldn't gamble against Fox getting down and dirty with Josh Brolin's bad-ass. </span></span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if that turns you on even a little, Fox's photo shoot for this month's<span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Interview</span> </i>magazine may make you electrocute yourself. She looks sleek and dangerous in black - especially with the black bob - and the poses she strikes while crawling across a naked alabaster mannequin are deadly. Check them all - and read what she said to writer </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Zach Galifanakis - on </span><i style="color: #45818e;"><b>Interview</b></i><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span>[</span><a href="http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/megan-fox/" style="color: #76a5af;">here</a><span style="color: #76a5af;">].</span></span></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-52125544332196933592010-06-16T17:34:00.000-07:002010-06-16T17:34:10.809-07:00DC Comics 75th Anniversary: Our JONAH HEX Mini-Primer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlSTcm3CsI/AAAAAAAAlI4/FTIYY4fo96o/s1600/DC+75th+Logo+_BlogBanner.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlSTcm3CsI/AAAAAAAAlI4/FTIYY4fo96o/s640/DC+75th+Logo+_BlogBanner.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlSZ9CdDXI/AAAAAAAAlJI/b9ndPtVL2O0/s1600/JONAH+HEX__Who+He+Is__Abbracadabbling.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlSZ9CdDXI/AAAAAAAAlJI/b9ndPtVL2O0/s640/JONAH+HEX__Who+He+Is__Abbracadabbling.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: #a2c4c9; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Abbracadabbling</b> begins our comicsblog look at <b><span style="color: #76a5af;">DC Comics 75th Anniversar</span>y</b> with <b style="color: #45818e;">JONAH HEX</b><span style="color: #45818e;">,</span> the anti-heroic bounty hunter of the Wild West whose adventures sometimes border on the supernatural but always end in blood. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Rumored to having killed 336 people in his lifetime, Hex's trademark is the result of a</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> traumatic disfigurement he </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">suffered </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">during an Apache punishment ritual -- his right eye is enlarged with a cataract, and a scar runs down the right side of his face and across his mouth. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlr0YuRdaI/AAAAAAAAlJc/e0bF9VS0TYs/s1600/All-Star_Western_v2_10_JONAH+HEX+First+Appearance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlr0YuRdaI/AAAAAAAAlJc/e0bF9VS0TYs/s320/All-Star_Western_v2_10_JONAH+HEX+First+Appearance.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #a2c4c9; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The character itself was created by writer <b><span style="color: #76a5af;">John <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/John_Albano">Albano</a></span> </b>and illustrator<b> <span style="color: #76a5af;">Tony <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Tony_DeZuniga">Dezuniga</a></span>,</b> and debuted in the pages of <b style="color: #45818e;"><i>All-Star Western</i></b> comics,<span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/All-Star_Western_Vol_2_10"><i style="color: #45818e;">Issue #10</i></a> in March, 1972.</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since then, <span style="color: #45818e;">Hex</span> has remained the most popular - and most ubiquitous - of DC's Old West stable, and has starred in several of his own series while making appearances in even more. Yes, despite having lived 100 years before a rocket ship would ever deliver Krypton's Last Son to a cornfield in Smallville, Kansas, <span style="color: #45818e;">Hex</span>'s adventures have been told even within the main DC Comics Universe. How? Well, thanks to the benefits of time-travel - and quite likely the approval of the <b style="color: #45818e;">Justice League of America</b>, whom <span style="color: #76a5af;">Hex</span> first met in the 199th issue of that team's book. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> While not all comics fans - or folks in general - will be familiar with <span style="color: #76a5af;"><b style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Jonah_Hex_%28New_Earth%29">Jonah Hex</a></b>,</span> DC's done a good job of making the squarely B-list character more accessible. Tamed-for-TV versions of Hex have co-starred in episodes of the popular<span style="color: #45818e;"> Cartoon Network</span> series <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275137/"><i style="color: #45818e;">Justice League</i> </a>and <i style="color: #45818e;">Justice League Unlimited</i><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span>and, much more recently, on the hit animated show <b style="color: #45818e;"><i>Batman Brave and The Bold</i></b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i> (see right)</i></span><b style="color: #45818e;"><i>. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #45818e;"><i> </i></b> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlrqNrFrRI/AAAAAAAAlJU/6U6AYc-4W_s/s1600/Jonah+Hex+BATMAN+Brave+and+Bold.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlrqNrFrRI/AAAAAAAAlJU/6U6AYc-4W_s/s320/Jonah+Hex+BATMAN+Brave+and+Bold.PNG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow, the spaghetti-Western stylings of<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1297415155"> </a><i><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1075747/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Jonah Hex</span></a> </b></i>gallop into theaters nationwide; it's the end of a journey that was often perilous and at risk far more than it ever was of being a success. That's typical for <span style="color: #45818e;">Hex</span>, but not for a superhero screen adaptation. How the film stacks up we'll know before high noon on Friday; however, the movie has already accomplished a feat, at least within the halls of<span style="color: #45818e;"> superhero cinema</span>. <span style="color: #45818e;">Hex</span> will be the first Old West comic book character to see itself on the Silver Screen. Old timers, don't buy a ticket and expect<b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082648/"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">The Lone Ranger</span></i></a></b><span style="color: #45818e;">,</span> because <i style="color: #45818e;">Hex</i><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span>is nothing if not different; from the Ranger's pulp and radio roots to the core of the character, The Lone Ranger is who<span style="color: #45818e;"> Jonah Hex </span>has for breakfast. Yee-haw!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlSU-vJ_3I/AAAAAAAAlJA/o8RM5_dCPzA/s1600/DC+MOVIES_Video+Tribute_Blog+Footer.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlSU-vJ_3I/AAAAAAAAlJA/o8RM5_dCPzA/s640/DC+MOVIES_Video+Tribute_Blog+Footer.PNG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554208745577977058.post-23424474072329278632010-06-16T15:33:00.000-07:002010-06-16T15:33:40.431-07:00Running Red: TRUE BLOOD SEASON 3 BEGINS WITH A BITE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlKnnRo5hI/AAAAAAAAlIY/0WkxhRUAfo4/s1600/TRUE+BLOOD+Season+3_Promo_Series+Began+June+13th.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1sDImhbykvE/TBlKnnRo5hI/AAAAAAAAlIY/0WkxhRUAfo4/s640/TRUE+BLOOD+Season+3_Promo_Series+Began+June+13th.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In case you forgot -- because we did -- the much blood-lusted <span style="color: #cc0000;">third season </span>of HBO's <b><span style="color: #990000;">TRUE BLOOD</span> </b>began last Sunday, June 13th - and the series kicked off Year Three with all the </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e06666;">vampires, nudity, and campy dialogue that fans had been dying to see during the show's downtime. Just like it did for season two, Sunday's premiere episode — titled “Bad Blood” — picked up just minutes after the events of last summer’s finale. But where </span><i style="color: #e06666;">True Blood </i><span style="color: #e06666;">takes us </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e06666;">from here on out will be uncharted territory, even as the show - and its producer<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1833263324">Alan Ball</a></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0050332/"> </a>- continues to more or less follow the plot of <a href="http://www.charlaineharris.com/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Charlaine Harris</span></a>’ </span><b style="color: #990000;"><i>Sookie Stackhouse</i></b><span style="color: #e06666;"> books. With so many new characters teased at during the hiatus, </span><i style="color: #e06666;">True Blood </i><span style="color: #e06666;">will run quite thick this summer. For more </span><i style="color: #e06666;">True Blood</i><span style="color: #e06666;"> - and the new<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.idwpublishing.com/" style="color: #990000;">IDW</a> </span></b>comic book series tie-in beginning next month - check </span><b style="color: #cc0000;">abbracadabbling</b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>[</span><a href="http://abbracadabbling.blogspot.com/search/label/true%20blood" style="color: #e06666;">here</a><span style="color: #e06666;">] and HBO's website [</span><a href="http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/index.html" style="color: #e06666;">here</a><span style="color: #e06666;">].</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The 'Dabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433204065293699177noreply@blogger.com0