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*Please note that this article is an opinion-editorial.
Whoever said, "The truth shall set you free," obviously didn't tell Paula Deen to never, ever say the N-word (Even the term "the N-word makes my skin crawl!) and then admit to it at a later date. When I was little my mom told me to never, ever use the N-word. Of course, she also told me to watch my money around black people. What can I tell you? Her grandparents were from Kentucky.
When I talked to my mom last week, I told her I hoped to see Man of Steel this weekend. She said, "You always did love Superman." And, I did. And, I do. It's hard to believe the last son of Krypton is 75. Harder still to believe the movie that made me fall in love with him is 30 odd years old.
We have gays in the military, gays wanting to get married . . . do we really need gays in comics? Of course, we do!
June is national Gay Pride Month, so happy pride, EVERYONE. And, let's take a look at the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer, phew!) situation in comic books. Comic books have historically reflected current trends, politics, and issues. Sometimes to serve the story, sometimes to serve a purpose, and a lot of times simply for the fanfare. It makes sense that there is a large faction of GLBTQ comic fans. An outsider form of entertainment for an outsider subculture? The plight of the mutants in The X-Men forced to painfully co-exist in a society that shuns, if not fears and hates, them is an all too identifiable situation. When John Byrne introduced Northstar of Alpha Flight, he always intended him to be gay. Of course, things were different back then, and they had to pussyfoot around the issue. It wasn't until Issue #107 of Alpha Flight under a different writer that Northstar would scream and shout and let it all out that not only was he a mutant, he was homosexual (AND Canadian!). To Marvel Comics' discredit, Northstar was quickly ushered back into the closet after much negative feedback. It wasn't until years later, when gay rights become white hot and super trendy, that Marvel would reintroduce Northstar into their best-selling X-Men comic, give him a boyfriend, and a publicity-filled wedding. Too little, too late? Nah, it's better than nothing.
Let's face it. DC Comics' animated features kick major booty! (Wonder Woman was awesome! We need a Cheetah sequel, though!) So, will the legendary "Judas Contract" storyline from Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans run be the next DC animated movie? If Jarrid Steel has anything to say about it.
After the success of 15 Minutes: Honey Boo Boo, artist/writer Michael Fitzgerald Troy is teaming up with Bluewater Productions again for his latest comic book, 15 Minutes: Kris Jenner. Troy's comic book is a tongue-in-cheek, satirical view of everyone's favorite/least favorite self-proclaimed "Momager" and matriarch of the infamous Kardashian Dynasty. The comic is part of Bluewater's 15 Minutes series, which focuses on reality TV celebrities.
The talented chefs at Garlic, My Soul teamed up with Fanboy Comics Creative Director Sam Rhodes to review a beer worthy of kings. You ale or you die . . .
Brewery Ommegang has teamed up with HBO to produce several limited edition Game of Thrones beers. AWESOME! The first one released is the Iron Throne Blonde Ale, and it’s a malty, golden beer, sunny enough to make a man of the Night Watch think he’s lounging in a wading pool down in Sunspear. The website describes the beer as “lightly malty, rounded out by honey malt sweetness.” Now, normally I don’t go for the malty beers, and I was a little hesitant at first. But, the more I drank, the more the other aspects of this beer opened up and merged with the maltiness to reveal a truly well balanced and bright beer worthy of a true king.
Sometimes, in the life of a geek, you don’t just have a TV show or book series that you love, but you also have a favorite person to share it with. For months, Jennie and I have wanted to make a TARDIS cake in honor of my love of Doctor Who. And, when the time finally came to plan our Whovian confection, I couldn’t stop thinking about my favorite fellow Doctor Who lover, my good friend, Oren.
Among other talents, Oren is a masterful baker of pies and something of a connoisseur of new pie flavors. He and I discovered buttermilk pie in a hole-in-the-wall diner in middle Tennessee when we were on a cross-country road trip last year, and I’ve been telling everyone who would listen about this pie ever since.
*Please note that this article is an opinion-editorial.
DC continues its very public nervous breakdown by killing popular Robin and biological Bat son Damian and replacing him with legendary female Robin replacement Carrie Kelly from Frank Miller's legendary comic book game changer The Dark Knight Returns. It hasn't officially happened, but Kelly is in Robin garb on the surprise foldout of the cover of Batman and Robin #19. Not that anything is a surprise in the day and age of the all knowing internet.
That said, there may be a few spoilers here.
I was going through some art and came across this piece I did referencing one of my all-time favorite fanboy events from the Marvel/DC Crossover, teaming up Marvel's Uncanny X-Men with DC's New Teen Titans. They were originally published in 1982, a time at which both titles were the best selling for their respective companies.
"We all go a little mad sometimes." - Norman Bates
Ain't that the truth? I was so mad when I heard they were making a show called Bates Motel. I figured it was A&E jumping on the success train of hour-long horror dramas ignited by Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story, as Hollywood is cannibalistic. If a fresh idea is successful, they must suck dry the last ire of moisture from the creative marrow. Although over-the-top and eye roll worthy at times, Fox's The Following is a welcome addition to the horror trend tip. It's a knock off of Silence of the Lambs meets Sister Wives, but intriguing nonetheless. So, I figured, what the heck? I'll give Bates Motel a shot. It's a great concept. If they do it right, it could be killer!
SPOILERS BELOW