Featured Series
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling. The Lion sleeps tonight.
Lioness: Hidden Treasures is the last musical offering from Amy Winehouse, featuring a collection of recordings from her tragically short singing career.
Amy was one of those singers that evoked sirens, if they existed. You can always hear every ounce of emotion in her soulful voice. An odd, if not imagined, observation is the void, the emptiness, and the pain in her voice, seemingly channeled by a force bigger than her.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
There are comic book characters that are created with a lot of potential and languish on the proverbial vine until a creative person is smart enough to pluck said character and either elevate them or maximize their full potential. The X-men's Emma Frost is a perfect example of one of those characters.
The White Queen was created by legendary X-creators Chris Claremont and John Byrne as Sebastian Shaw's right-hand man of the nefarious Hellfire Club, debuting in Uncanny X-Men #129. Originally British, Claremont named her after Emma Peel from the UK television series, The Avengers. (Or, maybe it was Byrne; those two notorious cat fighters would certainly correct me, I'm sure.) She has since been remanded to being the daughter of a dysfunctional family from New England. Perhaps, she affects a fake British accent like my other favorite bleached blonde? (One can only hope!)
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Why are there so many songs about rainbows? How the hell should I know? But, I surely am glad that there are. I'm not just saying that because rainbows are the symbol of gay pride. (How original, girlfriends!) As a card-carrying member, I would have opted for a glass slipper. Make that a glass stiletto to satiate my hooker heritage.
Some kids have Disney, some kids have Teletubbies, and most kids have behavioral problems. I had The Muppets. Not Sesame Street. Not Fraggle Rock. Just The Muppets. When I was little, I worshiped The Muppets. I had all the toys, had a Muppets bday cake, and even had my babysitter, Patsy, make me a bitchin' Muppets poster that I wish I still had to this day. But, I grew up and The Muppets went away. "The Rainbow Connection" disrupted - never severed.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
You gotta love J-Lo. You do? Yes, you do. What's not to love? She's gorgeous, with a banging body after birthing twins (Yes, I said twins!), she's an accomplished actress and singer (I double-dog dare you not to cut a rug to her infectious monster hit, "On the Dance Floor," with Pitbull!). She's a successful businesswoman, a fun judge on American Idol, and she's been linked to some of the hottest men in Hollywood. Sure, her love life has had its fair share of ups and downs, but what deserving diva hasn't? Liz Taylor anyone? But, I'm feeling so good, why dwell on the negative? Okay, so, maybe if I were the jealous type, I wouldn't like La Lopez so much, but I'm a gay man and I adore Jennifer Lopez! (It's part of my contract. She only headlined at White Party in Palm Springs a few years back for the love of Pete!) And, she is still Jenny from the block, after all.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
BIC of the Spider-Woman. Jessica Drew taught me how to draw. Sort of, but not really. I have loved Spider-Woman since her Saturday morning cartoon. That's right, kiddies, before she kicked it with the Avengers, Spider-Woman had a Saturday morning cartoon/marketing tool. But, it really blew my mind! From her infamous mane of gorgeous, raven hair to her mesmerizingly red, skin tight outfit, watching Jessica Drew solve crimes sure beat the crap out of putting up with that old wind bag Jessica Fletcher over on Murder, She Wrote.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Isn't it weird that some serial killers are hot? I realize that statement could put me on a "most wanted" list, but hear me out.
Haven't you ever seen American Psycho? You could bounce a Ginsu knife off of Christian Bale's washboards. Sure, he's got a funny nose, a terrible Batman voice, and a penchant for being a butt smack on the set, but anyone who can wield a chainsaw in the raw is okay in my book.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
So, gay characters are coming out of the shadows and respective closets. Even real life homosexuals who play straight characters are coming out of the closet. Sure, innocuous gay characters have been around for ever and ever, amen. Like Paul Lynde, Jim J. Bullock, Siegfried and Roy, and Liberace. Of course, them coming out in the height of their gay hay day would have sent the movement back to the closet faster than Skechers shape-ups.
Now, we have more savory, palatable homolebrities bursting from the closet door like Zach Quinto, Ricky Martin, and Ellen DeGeneres.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Anyone who follows my insanity knows I have a soft spot in my heart for blondes, and Thor is no exception. I think I have my brother to thank for introducing me to the God of Thunder. A girl down the street from us used to sell him used comics for two or three cents, depending on whether it had its cover or not. It used to chap my ass that she would write the price on the book with a marker. (Even at a young age, I was an elitist for quality.)
Thor was always one of the books in the pile and always one of my favorite to look at. What's not to love? It had gorgeous art from Kirby, a leading man who went back and forth from heaven to the real world on a rainbow bridge, and an immortal that let Spider-Man call him "Goldilocks."
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and, um, Lady Gaga's 90-minute commercial for her new holiday EP and Born This Way remix album- er, rather 90-minute Thanksgiving special, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving.
Anyone who knows me knows I love Lady Gaga. I did try to ca$h in on her popularity with my Gaga tribute comic book, Going Gaga!, after all.
Directed and produced by Gaga herself, I have to say it was highly entertaining and beautifully shot.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and, at times, hard to handle. But, if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
― Marilyn Monroe
That is one of the many fantastic quotes of the late, great tortured genius Marilyn Monroe.
Sadly, or amazingly - depending of how full your glass is, it is also one of her quotes I relate to the most. I was truly saddened by the tragic death of the blonde bombshell. Of course, she died long before I was born, but it was tragic nonetheless. My mother idolized Norma Jean and passed the torch on to me. (Blonde is as Blonde does!) When I was young, one of my bedroom walls was dedicated to Madonna, but the one I could see while laying in bed was dedicated to Marilyn.