KP's Take

The Mighty Thor!

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:20:00 +0000

Yahoo! Movies has revealed Chris Hemsworth as Thor! It looks GREAT http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/movie-stills/gallery/2588/thor-stills#info.

A lot of comments say that there needs to be CGI to make him bigger. I mean, let's see where the genius of Kenneth Branagh is going with this before we start screaming for a CGI Thor. I think this image is a great tease and I really think that we need to see the other characters before we go crazy over a lack of CGI. There are plenty of camera tricks and such to make the Asgardians look bigger without disrupting some of their actual realistic integrity.

I'd also argue that a non-CGI is a better Thor because while yes, these are gods, Thor walks amongst the humans and by humanizing the God of Thunder just a little bit, I think we'll get a much more powerful story.

Boston Comic-Con

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:02:00 +0000

I hit the Boston Comic-Con this past weekend with my buddy Keith Dallas to promote "The Argonauts" and "Mack Turner: Slayer of the Dead" from TJ Comics. Decent show, a lot bigger than they expected which will only mean a bigger show and location next year. It was actually the first time I had been to Beantown in a looooong time. Took the train up there Friday with the other half, who also had her first convention experience on Sunday. It poured on Friday which made the whole "Romantic Freedom Trail walk" kind of silly. We got absolutely drenched... but oh well.

Surprisingly, I didn't buy a whole lot of artwork. I got a great Superman sketch from Mike Norton, I'll post that up after I finally scan it in and I got a print from Joe Quiones. But that was it. I spent more money on cab fare than I did artwork. Yeah, I know, I took a cab in Boston but it was just more convenient than taking the T.

The show was definitely pretty good, Keith and I sat next to the super talented Sean Wang , whose book "Runners" is phenomenal.

I'll have more on the Boston Comic Con trip when I get to scanning and posting the artwork.

Buy Mack Turner #2!!

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:08:00 +0000

The second issue of my comic, Mack Turner: Slayer of the Dead is now on sale and available at the TJComics.com shop! Head over to the shop and pick it up!!

End of an Era

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:02:00 +0000

I know, I'm once again neglecting the blog, but things have been wild between the day job and getting Mack Turner #2 ready for print. Anyways, in case you missed it, an era ended this past weekend.

I've always been a wrestling fan. As a kid and in high school I was really into it, but as I got older my interest faded but recently I've really gotten back into it, but more so for reasons that involve my day-to-day life. Anyways, throughout the years, even when my interest faded, there were two professional wrestlers I always watched. Interestingly enough, they were both childhood favorites and they both stayed in their respective companies. These two performers kept me in wrestling, even when I wanted nothing to do with it. I am referring to Sting and Shawn Michaels. I had always dreamed of seeing Sting and HBK in a match. The guy who never left WCW or ever worked for WWE against the guy who never left WWE. But that will not happen now as Shawn Michaels has retired from active competition.

Having watched HBK for my entire life, hoping he'd return in the 4 years he was gone, and then seeing him comeback and perform just as well, if not greater than he has in his first stint was inspiring. Shawn Michaels was a controversial figure in pro-wrestling, he was an innovator, he made everyone he stepped in the ring with look phenomenal. He put on some of the most breath-taking matches ever such as the Iron Man Match, his WrestleMania 21 match against Kurt Angle, his long feud with Triple H and of course, his final two WrestleManias against The Undertaker.

It was a awe-inspiring career. It was nothing short of amazing and HBK will be sorely missed on Monday Nights. I also think WWE has a HUGE gap to fill with HBK now retired, I know many people who continued to watch wrestling, and WWE, solely because of HBK. But the day was surely to come. HBK is almost 45, sure, he could keep going, but what does he have to prove? Nothing. Shawn Michaels is hands-down the greatest professional wrestler to ever live. Sure, it's bittersweet to see him go, but you know he went on his own terms. In the last three months, he feuded with his longtime rival the Undertaker, reconciled with Bret Hart after the infamous "Montreal Screwjob", wrestled one last tag-team match with Triple H and had his last match on Raw against another WWE mainstay, Kane. It was a fitting end for HBK.

While he will surely make cameo appearances, and maybe do one more WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels is indeed retired. The Icon, The Showstopper, The Main Event, The greatest wrestler who ever lived, Shawn Michaels.

Thank you, Shawn. For keeping me entertained as a child all the way into my adult life.

Let's Get Dangerous

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:26:00 +0000

Although I've basically been a mindless drone due to prepping Mack Turner #2 and Argonauts #2 for press (ahh, the joys of being both publisher and pre-press worker) and my day job getting geared up for our biggest time of the year, I was able to read and get really excited about some news that has come out of the Emerald City Comic Con. I've come to notice that the Cons without "Wizard World" attached to their name tend to have big announcements and great panels.

Now, I remember the first comic book that I ever bought with my own money. It was Darkwing Duck #1. I loved Darkwing Duck and I love that comic. I beat the shit out of that book because I took it with me everywhere I went, but I still have that copy. I also have a fresher, mint copy I acquired last year.

Anyways, what got me really excited was the news coming out of ECCC that BOOM! Studios was going to bring back Darkwing Duck for a four issue mini-series.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25219

YES! BOOM! has done an exceptional job with the Disney titles and characters, and I hope Disney lets them keep at it for a while until Marvel inevitably takes over. But to have Darkwing Duck return is totally phenomenal. I hope this will lead to Direct-to-DisneyDVD features, or even a brand new theatrical feature. Darkwing Duck is definitely one of the best ideas Disney had during the 90s and it horribly unseen in today's market.

I am honestly really excited about this book and cannot wait to get my hands on it! In fact, I am going to get ready for it by re-watching the whole series!

The 82nd Academy Awards

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:53:00 +0000

James Cameron is overrated. Yup. I just came out and said it. Don't get me wrong, he's made some phenomenal films like Terminator, Rambo II, Aliens, and T2, but The Abyss is OK, True Lies was a great action flick, but mediocre overall and Titanic is... ick. But what he has done with each of those films is create a new method of film-making, he's a guy that adds to the wheel and for that he is amazing. The thing I believe that made Titanic so huge was the visuals, and once again, I believe this to be true for Avatar.

Titanic's story is basic. Rich girl is to marry rich guy but loves the pauper. Tragedy ensues. Basic, solid acting, but a basic story. And as long and boring as I find Titanic, the visuals, especially for the time are stunning.

Now, FlashForward to Avatar. Basic story, stunning visuals. I love that he's created an entirely new universe with Avatar, I really do, BUT the story itself is a bit cliche and offers nothing new for me. It harpens on all the political tones, human brutality, the power of love, natives vs. imperialists, all those things. But damn, it is sure as hell pretty to look at.

I mean what Cameron did visually with that film was outstanding. It's very well done, beautifully rendered and overall a delight to the eyes, at least on the big screen. A film like that should earn Visual Effects and Cinematography Awards, but Best Director and Picture? No and I'll tell you why.

For almost 10 years there has been a war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Few filmmakers have yet to touch on this conflict mostly due to its unpopularity and the general feelings many have towards it. Recently, the first few films centered around this conflict have begun to emerge such as Stop-Loss, Hurt Locker and Green Zone amongst a few others.

But what Hurt Locker did, and did VERY well was not focus on the unpopularity of the conflict, but on the human toll. You see World War II documentaries and films and you think "that was a different breed of human being." But you see Hurt Locker and you think the same things. Hurt Locker is incredibly personal, it is incredibly tense and it is without a doubt one of the best movies ever made. It was much better than Avatar because the material was fresh, it was real and you felt a genuine human connection to what these people were going through. You witnessed the horrors and challenges of modern warfare and the toll it takes on those involved.

Hurt Locker was directed by Kathryn Bigelow who has had a few hits and a few bug budget movies, but nothing truly as amazing as Hurt Locker. The first woman to win Best Director, she made a truly compelling film, and with almost no studio backing her, and a film that rose to prominence based almost on word of mouth.

The Academy Awards that Hurt Locker won are well-deserved and the Academy certainly got this right and reaffirmed my faith in the process. After all, I'm still mad Saving Private Ryan lost to Shakespeare in Love.

In other Oscar news, Jeff Bridges won a well and long deserved Best Actor... the Dude Abides! And Sandra Bullock won a well-deserved Best Actress, shes was really everywhere in 2009 and certainly made some good moves with the exception of All About Steve, but hey, they've got to collect paychecks too.

Why I have always hated politics

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:43:00 +0000

That's right, I post sparingly and now all of a sudden I'm in political attack mode. Two years ago, I really used this blog as a major platform for the election of Barack Obama. When Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, I was ecstatic. Here was a brilliant man, a man who has overcome many challenges and became the leader of the free world. Obama took office in the midst of a major economic crisis, a country heading to hell and the world opinion of our nation was poor.

So here comes Obama, the world rejoices, he tries to bring a little bit of respect and humility back to America and what does he get? The most partisan United States Government in the history of our country and a group of people so afraid of change that they go completely on the attack. And if you've noticed, Obama has been fighting back. Did you see the State of the Union where he went after everyone including the Supreme Court? He's doing the best job he can with virtually no support from Congress.

I understand people are frustrated, I get that people are upset, but Obama wasn't even given 6 months before everyone went on the attack. And the Republicans are trying to kill health care and everything Obama wants to do just because they know that if the bill passes, it's a CRUCIAL blow to them.

But let's face it, Obama is out there working for us. How the hell can we get out of debt with the same old programs that got us there? Sure, it sucks we have to spend more, but in the long run, that is the only answer. Obama doesn't want socialism, he doesn't want the government to have control of the country. No, but he understands that certain policies, even if they skew a bit socialist, are necessary to help pull the country out of mounting debt. People complain the government does nothing for them, yet when the government tries to work for the people, all they do is bitch.

The problem is that I am convinced the majority of this country is completely uneducated and has forgot one of the very foundations of our Nation. When it comes to conservatism, that's fine if that's how you feel, but leave religion out of it.

I mean when it comes to health care, it's gotten so bad between the parties that the President has to force a policy through just to show the American people that their elected officials are doing something.

Anyways, I wanted to point out a few examples of politicians and their horrendous hypocrisy and their self-serving racism and mud-slinging.

First up is this story: http://cbs13.com/local/ashburn.arrest.dui.2.1534505.html

A California state Senator who opposes Gay rights is arrested for DUI after leaving a gay night club AND he had another man in the car with him.

Really? WTF is wrong with people. First off, Gay rights to me should be a non-issue. People have every right to love whomever they want and have every right to be with whomever they want and our Nation and government needs to recognize the rights of all Americans no matter race, sexual orientation or whatever. And then there's this guy who apparently isn't even fighting for his own cause.

Then of course there's yesterday's explosive reveal by Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html.

The RNC has a PowerPoint designed to strike fear into the hearts of Americans. Shouldn't the RNC be presenting the President with their health care ideas as opposed to mongering fear?

I've been burnt out by politics over the past 6 to 8 months, and yet, still this is enough to rile me up.

When does a President get a chance? When do we as Americans come back together and stop bickering over personal opinions?

Where have you been?

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:13:00 +0000

Whoa! It appears that old habit of "blog neglect" has reared it's ugly head once more. Why? Well, I've been super, super busy. In January, I started a new day job. It's a great gig and I've really had an intensive transition time into the new position. But all seems to be well on that front.

On a second front, Mack Turner #2 is in the final stages of production, so stay tuned for that. Also, "Legends of Steel Creek," formerly the short story website, now a weekly webcomic on TJ Comics is in it's second week and looks fantastic. I hope people are really enjoying it.

I'm also scouring for new artists for upcoming projects. So I've just generally been very busy.

Not to mention I played, and beat, Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect 2 is a phenomenal work of art and I wish the third installment wasn't 2 years away.

Nolan on Superman?

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:56:00 +0000

I get that Chris Nolan has done some great things for the Batman movie franchise. Batman Begins is one of the best comic book movies ever, The Dark Knight, while mediocre, made a bazillion dollars and Warner Brothers understandably wants more. Now with Green Lantern supposedly coming, and "DC Entertainment" in full force (although, what have they done?), it's no wonder that there's talk of Superman once again. But will Superman remain in developmental hell for the next 20 years (again) even though two pieces of the puzzle, Brandon Routh and Kevin Spacey, have said they would reprise their roles?

Well apparently, according to multiple sources... so here's one http://www.latinoreview.com/news/chris-nolan-to-help-sire-superman-reboot-9167... Christopher Nolan will apparently oversee the Superman reboot.

Okay, I have one question... um... why?

Christopher Nolan makes dark films. He makes psychological thrillers. His take on Batman is dark, it is psychological, and while it features a popular superhero, the character himself is a bit more grounded than other the average spandex clad superhero.

What I really don't get is why does Superman have to be dark? Why is Warner's so hell bent on making Superman dark? He's not a dark character. I just don't get it. Give us Superman, you know, truth, justice, all that stuff.

Give us Superman fighting an actual super-villian like Brainiac. In fact, I defer to my old posts on my vision for the Superman movie franchise, a vision I believe is perfect for Superman. There's no need for Chris Nolan, there's need for people who understand Superman and don't want to pay too much homage to Richard Donner or give Superman a kid.

Part 1: http://kpstake.blogspot.com/2008/08/next-superman-movieman-of-steel-my.html
Part 2: http://kpstake.blogspot.com/2008/08/next-superman-movieman-of-steel-my_25.html

Steel Creek Lives Again...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:00:00 +0000

As I promised, Steel Creek will live again... now in a new form!

Timeless Journey Comics is pleased to announce the debut of their latest title, Legends of Steel Creek. Set in the late 1860s to early 1870s, following the American Civil War, Legends of Steel Creek takes in a town in the New Mexico Territory during the period known as “the wild west” or the “old west.”

Legends of Steel Creek will be free to read and will appear exclusively on TJComics.com.

The story focuses on the wide range of people not only residing inside of the town, but also those who come and go. Steel Creek is a town run by a former Confederate Colonel named William Hanover. While on the outside the Colonel appears to care for the people of Steel Creek by protecting them, he is also a brutal man that will kill anyone who crosses him. He employs criminals, pillages the natives and demands loyalty. With a strong economy, it has become difficult for the people of Steel Creek to want to move elsewhere, even with a despot running the town. But Steel Creek changes when a mysterious bounty hunter comes to town, a man who could be the Colonel’s best friend or worst enemy.

Legends of Steel Creek is written by Kevin Powers, writer of TJ Comics’ hit Mack Turner: Slayer of the Dead, with phenomenal artwork from Ger Curti.

Legends of Steel Creek will appear in weekly page installments exclusively on TJComics.com, starting February 15th, 2010.

Go to TJComics.com!

The iPad...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:27:00 +0000

I’ll be honest, I’m not that impressed with the iPad. It’s merely Apple’s way of getting into the e-reader market and merely upping the ante. By upping the ante, I really only mean color screen. There seems to be mixed reaction to the iPad. It’s like a cross between an iPhone and an iBook. But you have to cough up a ton of money for 3G coverage, roughly $700 to have a 3G enabled iPad, only about $400-$500 for wireless only.

Honestly, I don’t see the iPad being hip like the iPhone. It’s bigger, you can’t toss it into your pocket and it’s not a phone. Although, you can probably do the Skype app thing and use it that way. I just don’t get it maybe. I have a Blackberry. I also have Verizon which means I don’t have an iPhone. However, when the iPhone comes to Verizon (and it will), I will probably get one. But an iPad? I just see it as a really expensive toy that is almost unnecessary. Okay, it can run all of the iPhone apps and run in a similar manner. That’s cool, but what if you have an iPhone? Do you have to re-buy the apps? Does it make the iPhone obsolete for nothing more than a phone? Does it devalue the iPhone? Oh, and what if you got an iPhone and a Kindle for Christmas?

What also seems a bit inevitable is exclusivity in terms of books and such. What if an author goes exclusive to one type of e-reader? What if a newspaper goes exclusive? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of transcending your work to the digital realm?

Okay, so I guess the one industry really talking about this thing is one of my industries. The comic book community is generally excited about the iPad. Personally, as a writer and publisher, I don’t see it as a savior of comics. I see it as just another outlet for people to read my titles. It’s great to have another avenue and expand readership to people who own one of these things, but if my title is already on the iPhone and formatted a certain way, do I have to upload another format to make it readable on the iPad? The iPad can fit a comic page on its screen, while the iPhone mostly goes panel by panel. And yes, it’s the iPad is great until someone counters it or until the Kindle makes a color screen available.

What’s interesting is that Marvel seems to not be a fan of the iPad because it doesn’t support Flash, something they rely on for their digital comics.

I firmly believe that books and comics in print form will never go away. I think for small press and independent comics, the iPad – like other e-readers – will simply help audience and access. My publishing house, TJ Comics, will soon debut an exclusive web comic on the site and will soon make our titles available to digital readers. And you know what, that’s fine. But I still believe nothing will trump having a real comic to bag and board!

Cool Figures...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:25:00 +0000

I won't lie about it, I have always been a fan of professional wrestling. My "Re-igniting the Monday Night Wars" post kind of covered that, but I really like the spectacle, the action, and the entertainment value of pro wrestling. So what if the outcomes are pre-determined, it's about the story being told. Anyone who says those guys aren't athletes, well, I'm sorry, you are dead wrong. And anyone who uses the old steroids argument, well, let's talk baseball too then, huh? Most athletes and body builders mess around with performance enhancers, so it's kind of beating a dead horse. I don't condone the use of them AT ALL, but it's just a vice that seems to never go away.

Anyways, I also liked to collect action figures. It's usually Marvel and DC and every now and then characters I like. For example, the only Star Wars figures I really have are Han Solo and Boba Fett because I like those characters. And yes, I've been picking up some of the new WWE Figures from Mattel.

For years, JAKKS produced the WWE figures and they definitely had their ups and downs. The last few series of figures were solid but the recycling of parts and re-paints was a bit overwhelming. In the end, the "Classic Superstars" were really the best figures they had. So about a year and a half ago it was big news to find out toy giant Mattel would be taking over the toy license.

At the beginning of this year, the figures debuted and I've got to say, these are some nice figures. I orignally planned to only pick and choose which ones to get, the wrestlers I'm a fan of, like Shawn Michaels and Ted DiBiase. But Toys R Us has a six pack with all of the series 1 single pack figures in it for about $15 cheaper than buying them all together so I figured what the hell.

These guys are pretty nice, articulated, great for display and if you really want to splurge, they have the "Elite series" which feature more articulation and extras than the basic figures. But what really makes these figures stand apart is the fact that they are proportionate to one another. The Jakks figures were mostly all the same size or poorly resized. These guys are VERY accurate. For example, the Big Show towers over the rest and a guy like Shawn Michaels, his arms are thinner than Batista's. But even more revolutionary is the tattoo quality on the wrestlers.

Mattel used a new computer technology to accurately place the tattoos in their exact details. That's a pretty tall order, especially on guys with full sleeves like the Undertaker and Randy Orton. So yeah, these are pretty well done figures.

There's also the "Entrance Greats" series which features the WWE Superstars in their greatest Wrestlemania entrance attire. I had to grab the Shawn Michaels one. The figure is wearing the attire from Wrestlemania XII when he descended from the ceiling over the fans and defeated Bret Hart in the first Iron Man Match.

Check them out if you're a collector or have a favorite wrestler, they make great additions to any collection.

Donate to Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:21:00 +0000

Hey everybody, I've been mum on this subject, at least on the internet mostly due to time constraints and the fact I just haven't had time to sit down and write this out.

I truly, truly understand the natural way of the world. I absolutely understand that some things in this world are unstoppable and usually when it involves our planet, we are but mere specs in the universe. But never do you want to see an entire country suffer in the way that Haiti has. What happened down there is awful and truly tragic. Haiti, once a prosperous colony and then nation, has been riddled with poverty and corrupt leaders for decades. Thus, when an Earthquake the size of the one that riddled the country hits, the effects are even more devastating. The country of Haiti lies in ruins, and while many are trying to help with relief, the country itself is still stricken with poverty.

People like Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson should go burn in hell. I won't repeat their comments but I will say they are distasteful and truly, truly horrid. Even Former President Dubya is slamming idiots like Limbaugh.

Anyways, if you can spare even $10... here are some links to donate:

Americares
Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund
Google Donations (UNICEF and CARE)

Late Night Throwdown...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:56:00 +0000

I’ve always watch the Late Night Talk shows sporadically. Sometimes I’ll watch them in weekly spurts where I will at least watch the monologues and first few bits. My Mother actually tells me that when I was a baby, wouldn’t go to sleep until after Johnny Carson’s monologue. She attributes that to my staying up late and waking up early even to this day. Now as a former film student and as someone in the entertainment and television industry, I am following the debacle between Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. In fact, I’m watching Late Night regularly now, just to get a few laughs out the two unleashing on NBC and the entire situation. In fact, EVERYONE is ragging on NBC because well, they screwed up bad.

In 2004, Jay Leno said he would step down from the Tonight Show. Conan O’Brien had a stronger audience and more of the 18-35 demographic. Conan’s brand of humor was a bit wild and he was thought to be the future of Late Night. Fast forward a few years and Jay didn’t want to retire but NBC already committed to Conan, so “The Jay Leno Show” at 10 pm was born. The experiment has obviously failed, David Letterman took the late night ratings (something he could never do against Jay) and now the new Late Night War has erupted.

As it stands, NBC wants to bump the “Tonight Show” to 12:05 AM and give Jay Leno his old time slot at 11:35 PM. Conan has apparently turned this offer down and from what it sounds like, Conan is just waiting for NBC to buy out or release him from his contract. NBC will likely fight it because if Conan moves to a different network, say for example FOX, a significant chunk of the late night audience will be taken with him.

I did read somewhere this morning that this feud may end up helping NBC, Conan and Jay because people will tune in to see what they have to say, much like I have. However, that can really only get you so far. The truth of the matter is that Conan O’Brien is really absolutely right.

I’ve always liked Leno, I’ve been to his show and I will watch him over Letterman any day. The same goes for Conan, I’ve always liked Conan. But when it comes to this situation, Conan is getting screwed. NBC realized they screwed up by moving Jay. They now believe that Conan is not their man or that his placement on the Tonight Show is premature, even though he’s been on NBC since 1993. But I am with Conan on this one, the guy has only been given seven months to work and NBC is already kicking him to the curb.

So what’s going to happen? Who knows. Apparently, Conan is contractually obligated to do whatever NBC says. NBC’s argument is that there is nothing in his contract that specifies timeslot, but Conan, in a non-corporate manner, does not want to destroy the integrity of the Tonight Show by moving the time. I’m sure he could give a crap less about NBC’s integrity, but he wants to keep the Tonight Show in tact with or without him.

So if you ask me, I think Conan and NBC will soon part ways, Jay Leno will reclaim the Tonight Show and Conan will be the competition on FOX. That seems logical as Conan feels devalued by NBC and you know what, he’s right. NBC has really screwed up big.

Rebooting The Webhead...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:57:00 +0000

To be totally honest, I’m not surprised that Spider-Man 4 got scrapped. The reasons are simple. First off, there’s a big studio involved. When a franchise gets to this point in a series, especially when it is a studio’s big one, things tend to crumble. Case and point, Batman & Robin. (Although arguably Batman Forever). So I’m not totally surprised to see Spider-Man 4 get scrapped and the Raimi franchise to end. Honestly, I’m not all that disappointed. I LOVE the first Spider-Man movie because I think it captures the Lee/Ditko original fairly well. But I’m not a huge fan of Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 is all hit and miss.

Like many people I never liked Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane, I never liked the shunning of Gwen Stacy and I certainly didn’t like the Sandman connection to Uncle Ben. So with that, I happily welcome a reboot. Sony says they will send Spidey back to high school and quite honestly, that’s how it should go. To this day, my favorite run on Spider-Man is and always will be Lee/Ditko. I think Sony looks at films that followed the first Spider-Man and they see what does and does not work. When staying true to the source material with a cast and crew that loves the material, there is a lot of room for success. Sony no doubt sees Iron Man and Batman Begins, two films that stayed very close to the source material and really do Spider-Man justice. That definitely means that Gwen Stacy ranks over Mary-Jane for the first film or two, Norman Osborn should not die and should be the corporate man who moonlights as the psychopath Green Goblin.

The formula for a successful reboot of Spider-Man involves staying very true to Lee/Ditko with a little bit of Ultimate Spider-Man thrown in. Peter Parker should be an unknown, Mary Jane should be really, really hot and Gwen should be the girl that audiences really love so that when she goes, its heart wrenching. Throw in Osborn as the leader of the Sinister Six and you’ve got a solid formula.

Spectacular Spider-Man the Cartoon got it right!

On Sony’s part, they need no more than one villain per film, unless it is the Sinister Six or Venom/Carnage. This way each story doesn’t get bogged down and condensed.

Oh, and if Sony doesn’t bring back J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson the franchise will collapse. All I ask is that Simmons return as JJ!

The Rocketeer Complete Collection...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:22:00 +0000

Yesterday, my Christmas Present from my fiancee finally arrived in the mail. I've read the stories before, a few times actually, and I can't wait to read them again. But honestly, I've been oogling and drooling over the book for the past day. As the title of this post would suggest, I am indeed talking about "The Rocketeer Complete Collection Deluxe Edition." The late, great Dave Stevens' ultimate creation, which became a hit film, The Rocketeer, is collected for the first time in its entirety thanks to IDW Publishing.

I'm sure once I finish going through it completely I'll have more to say about it, but I really wanted to take second to recommend this book. The artwork is beautiful and fully recolored as Dave Stevens requested, the foreword is by uber-geek and all around bad-ass Tom Jane, and the Deluxe Edition features over 120 pages of extra content.

The Rocketeer is a masterpiece and right now, it has certainly gotten that treatment. The colors are vivid and new, the artwork is just as stunning as it was 25 years ago and the story is truly, truly timeless. It is already sold out on Amazon... but you should order it anyway...

http://www.amazon.com/Rocketeer-Complete-Deluxe-Dave-Stevens/dp/1600105378/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262842108&sr=8-1

It's brilliant!

Reigniting the Monday Night Wars...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Back in the mid to late 1990s there were two huge pop culture phenomenons that launched one particular industry to new heights. One was a group of people led by an industry legend, the other was an individual who changed the face of a century old industry that has seen it's share of triumphs and tragedies. The one individual was featured alongside a new, edgy group who were crucial in changing what was acceptable on Cable TV. That one individual also gave birth to another individual who would become the most electrifying man in the industry.

Of course, if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm talking about what has become known as "The Monday Night Wars." It was Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) going up against Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). The group of people led by industry legend Hulk Hogan was over in WCW, they were the New World Order(nWo). Hulk Hogan no longer wore red and yellow and was the quintessential "good guy," no, now he was "Hollywood Hogan" and he was the bad guy, a turn that would shake the very core of the industry. WCW dominated WWE for a good two and a half years with old and new stars and a product that pitted good guys vs. bad guys where typically, the bad guys won.

WWE's answer at first was D-Generation X. Led by arguably the greatest wrestler of all time, Shawn Michaels, DX began to walk the line between "wholesome family entertainment" and "FCC blockworthy." But DX wasn't enough, especially with a sidelining injury to Shawn Michaels. But while WCW and nWo dominated the ratings, two new characters were rising to prominence, these two characters were "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. And professional wrestling was never the same. It changed so much so, that in 2001, WWE was able to purchase WCW.

Fast forward a few years, WWE has no competition and a ton of talent. Suddenly, a small promotion in Florida affiliates with the NWA (possibly the most prestigious pro-wrestling organization) and they have fresh new talent with names like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. Then after another couple of years this promotion signs Sting, one of the greatest and most popular professional wrestlers ever, a name synonymous with WCW and a name that WWE never featured and they get a spot on Spike TV after WWE returns to USA Networks. Now, Stone Cold and The Rock are gone. Shawn Michaels has returned, Hulk Hogan makes sporadic appearances and WWE's big star, John Cena, is perfect as people both love and hate him.

Then this small promotion, TNA, starts signing former WWE talent like Booker T, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Christian and others. Suddenly, they are building a name for themselves. Another year or so goes by, Jeff Hardy and Christian return to WWE, Hardy leaves once again, but TNA pulls a power move. As WWE enters 2010 with a slew of potential future stars including the son of "The Million Dollar Man" and the son of Dusty Rhodes, TNA signs Hulk Hogan to essentially take over the company. Hogan promises to change the product, to create a product to contend with his longtime friend and rival Vince McMahon. Hogan may not wrestle, but he promises that TNA will change for the better and give WWE a run for it's money.

WWE's response? Bringing back Bret "The Hitman" Hart, one of their biggest stars of the 90s and the man who was at the center of the infamous "Montreal Screwjob."

When does this go down? TONIGHT!

I'm a longtime wrestling fan. I've had my ups and downs with the industry, but overall, there are great performers, great entertainers and it is without a doubt a major part of pop culture. Seriously, if you get passed the pre-determined outcomes and accept that it is entertainment, you realize it is indeed VERY entertaining and that professional wrestlers are amazing athletes. Personally, I really hate it when sports commentators rag on pro-wrestlers, those guys go out and give it their all.

Anyways, tonight sees the return of Bret Hart to WWE since the Montreal Incident and the debut of Hulk Hogan as the new head of TNA. Both shows are going head to head. And just like the old Monday Night Wars, TNA (like WCW) will be three hours, with an hour early start against RAW. It's going to be fun flipping back and forth like I used to in High School. And while there is no doubt WWE will come out on top... I'd love to see a re-ignition of the Monday Night Wars and really elevate professional wrestling once again.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:57:00 +0000

First and Foremost, Happy New Year! Welcome to the second decade of the 21st Century! WOOHOO!

The Full Body Scan

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:13:00 +0000

I don't fly a lot. In fact, I rarely fly. I'm not afraid of flying, I am just one of those people that thinks of all the horrible things that could (but very rarely ever) happen on an airplane. Actually, I think flying is one of the most relaxing activities a human being can take part in. Soaring high above the world, people all around you either irritated, drugged, excited or just as nervous as you are, it's a surreal experience in it's own right.

Anyways, my old man travels a lot. I mean A LOT. He's a pretty important guy in his field and that requires him to travel all over the United States. As long as I can remember, he's traveled a lot, but lately it's been more frequent. I asked him once how he felt about the long lines and super-security measures at the various airports he traveled to and from. His response "if it keeps me safe, I don't care what they do."

So that makes me really wonder about the controversy behind the "full body scan." On Christmas Day, some extremist tried to blow up a plane with a bomb in his underwear. People are now saying that the full body scan would have detected the device and prevented the guy from getting on board.

This morning, according to CNN.com, the Dutch will begin using the full body scanner.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/30/airline.terror.schiphol/index.html

As I think about the privacy issue and general safety on airlines, I think... would you rather have someone see a negative scan of your naked body, or would you like to let another extremist onto a plane? I'd try to avoid the latter. I personally think that this is just what the world has come to, that the primary concern of people should be their safety over their privacy, especially when it comes to flying. I'm not saying all airports need such a thing, but it is evident that it will certainly help.

And while I am liberal, I also understand the needs of defense and security. And with that said, I do truly believe that airports and security forces HAVE to profile.

Coming New Year's Resolutions...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:15:00 +0000

With a new job starting, my wedding coming in August and a solid direction for TJ Comics, I think I need to make a few New Year's Resolutions. I know, it is horribly cliche, but I think there are 3 things I really want to work hard at achieving.

They are...

1) Significantly cut back on, and eventually cut out, diet soda, specifically Diet Mountain Dew.

Currently, I drink on average, 3 Diet Mountain Dews a day. That's not horrendous, but it's not good either, so cutting this out of my daily routine and needs is something I really want to do. I've tried and failed before, but I've quit things like smoking very easily so I can do this if I really set myself to it. However, this resolution is directly related to #2.

2) Go to bed earlier.

I've never been the type to require much sleep. I'm not sure what it is, but I've never really needed a lot of sleep. In High School, I'd stay up late playing video games, reading comics, listening to music or talking on the phone with my best friend (who was of the opposite sex). Even in college, I never slept much. Some days I feel it, it catches up to me. Typically I go to be between 2 and 3 in the morning, and I'm up at 8. That's not great and only feeds my Diet Mountain Dew addiction. So if I could start going to bed at 1, and eventually at midnight, I think things would be much better for me. Granted, my new job requires me to work until midnight or later once a week and once a month, I still think I can manage,

3) Learning to cook more/eat better.

I currently eat pretty well. Not as well as I could, but I am not one for fast food or super greasy food. I also don't eat enough of the stuff I should be eating. I need to cook more things and do it better. Part of the problem is I'm a big grill man. In college, my roommates and I had a grill and I grilled like a champion. But since then, my ability to cook chicken has become non-existent. But I want that back. While I currently cannot have a grill at my apartment building (it would also be a major hassle), I need to really teach myself to cook better and more things. My fiancee just doesn't have time because of her hectic job and I'd actually like to be able to get home from work and make dinner for the two of us.

So those are my main New Year's Resolutions... I think I can do it.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Hello all,

I've taken the past week or so off and for good reason! I've been REALLY busy personally over the past couple of weeks. A new and HUGE employment opportunity came up for me and I had to take it. It's really cool and should be a lot of fun, so sorting all of that out has really kept me busy.

I've also been working out two new titles for TJ Comics which will be announced shortly.

Oh, and I ended up getting "The Saboteur." AMAZING game.

Anyways, I just wanted to take this time out on Christmas Day to wish you all a safe and Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!

Ain't It Cool News Reviews Mack Turner

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

THE Ain't It Cool News has reviewed my first comic "Mack Turner: Slayer of the Dead"!!!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43393#11

The great AICN reviewer Ambush Bug calls Mack Turner "a pretty fun adventure" and says "Israel Gonzalez offers some strong art and seems to take his grue and gore seriously."

AWESOME!!!!

Christmas Present I can't wait for...

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

My wonderful fiancee asked me what I wanted for Christmas. If there is one thing she is incapable of doing, it is surprising me. Very few people can surprise me, I get it from my grandfather, a man who once didn't even show up his own surprise party. So she wasn't going to try this year, which is all well and good with me. So when she asked me to pick something out... I took a second to think about it. It came down to two things really, the new video game "The Saboteur" which you play as an Irish mercenary inside Nazi occupied France. You're job is to liberated areas of France and soften up the Nazis for the impending Allied invasion. It is by the makers of one of my all-time favorite game series, "Mercenaries" and "Mercenaries 2." The game is supposed to be a bit over the top, but the action and violence of the non FPS World War II game is attractive. Also, what I find most attractive about this game is the fact that the liberated areas of France are rendered in full color with beautiful weather and birds signing... all the happy things. The Nazi occupied areas are rendered in black and white, only the deep red of the Third Reich is in color. As you liberate these areas, the color is restored. Now that is cool.

Alas, "The Saboteur" has to wait until I finish "Assassin's Creed II," which I am just about done with. But "The Saboteur" is probably one of those games I'll play, replay a few levels and then trade-in when it comes time for "Splinter Cell: Conviction." So instead, my fiancee ordered me the yet to be released "The Rocketeer Complete Collection Deluxe Edition" hardcover.

I am super-excited for this book. I have a number of the original Rocketeer features in Back Issue form, but to have Dave Stevens complete epic in once book is AWESOME! And to top it all off, it has been completely recolored to fit the vision of the late Dave Stevens.

Check out the preview here: http://www.amazon.com/Rocketeer-Complete-Collection-Dave-Stevens/dp/1600105386/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260807551&sr=8-4.

I'm going for the Deluxe Edition though, with sketches and all the good extras that will really make this collection complete. The only problem is that I haven't the slightest idea when the book is coming. First it was supposed to be released in October, then early December, then I heard this week, then I heard early next year. I want this book!

Not only do I LOVE the Rocketeer, but I'm also developing a character inspired by the Rocketeer. Much different, but definitely drawing inspiration from.

Dave Stevens' masterpiece truly is a comic classic, and I really can't wait for this book to be released so I can spend a whole day just reading it an enjoying the artwork.

Ultimate DC... finally?

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Since the birth of the Ultimate Marvel Universe, comic fans and writers have been rabid about the idea of an Ultimate DC Universe. Let's face it the "All-Star" titles epically failed at this (although All-Star Superman was epic itself) and still the call for ultimate DC has been made.

Now, according to Newsarama, "DC: Earth One" a new initiative by DC to release "ongoing graphic novels" all sharing a new, streamlined continuity.

Of course, first announced is Superman and Batman. Superman being written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Shane Davis and Batman being written by Geoff Johns and art by Gary Frank.

Clearly, the creative teams are powerhouses. Clearly this could be huge. However, this could also not be so good.

The VERY good is a new streamlined continuity, an "Ultimate DC."

BUT there are two sides to the argument here. On one hand, many readers prefer graphic novels to the traditional monthly books. This is due to storage, delays, full stories in one shot, etc. So for graphic novel collectors/readers, this is good news for them.

This is a move that could potentially bring in new readers (after all, you HAVE to start with Superman and Batman) and it will definitely bring a much larger profit margin to DC Comics.

The more I'm sitting here thinking about it, the more I'm wondering if this is really the right move. For example, some people start a comic and may not like the first issue or two, that is usually the buffer zone before a person decides whether or not they want to keep reading a comic. That's not a good thing for those who buy a $14.99 or higher graphic novel. I'd be pretty pissed if I spent anything over $9.99 and ended up with a story I hated.

There's also the question of delays. JMS and Geoff Johns write a lot of books. They are also two Hollywood guys and have things outside of comics going on. While they seem to handle writing just fine, I don't want to wait more than 6 months for the next installment. I read a lot of comics every week and there are indeed books I have to re-read before reading the new issue... I really don't want that to be the case.

This is a really interesting move, "Ultimate DC" is the way to go for sure, but it terms of format, it is just a little questionable. Time will tell.

Justice Done to Dr. Fate!

noreply@blogger.com (KP) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Okay, so it's a little bit of old news, but as far as news blogging/reporting goes, I'm a little behind.

One of my favorite obscure characters is Dr. Fate. In terms of mystical characters, he is one of the few I really enjoy reading and seeing in action. I also really like the current Gerber-inspired version that is seen in the pages of Justice Society. Fate just has a very cool look to him and has some great powers to boot. While I do believe he is one of those characters always on the verge of mega-popularity, but he's never had that one writer that has really put him over. (Of course, I've got a couple of ideas). But regardless, Fate is very cool.

So amongst the pop culture and comics crowd there is quite a bit of excitement over the coming Smallville 2 hour movie featuring the JSA. We've seen Hawkman, the trailer has revealed that Green Lantern Alan Scott and Sandman will show up, but more than that, we saw the first glimpse of Fate. Then TV Guide's Ausiello got the first promo shots... one had Hawkman and Green Arrow hating each other as they should, the other...

I do and don't like Stargirl's outfit, as has been the case amongst many fans online, but it's mostly just that mask.

But Dr. Fate... YES! He looks bad-ass. This may be Fate's big moment.