T-shirt #144: The Teen Titans

T-shirt #144: The Teen Titans and a roundup of bloggy stuff and other nonesuch

Happy Monday!

I say "Happy Monday" on purpose because "happy" is the operative word today. Stay tuned.

As I wrote yesterday, KUDL's summer season is over, and so I am taking a break from KUDL and Ultimate shirts in general for some time.

I felt it was time for some roundup and reflection. For some readers the blog can be overwhelming. I do have a category devoted to what I think is my best work, entitled "Lists-My Ten Best Blog Entries," which contains 11 blog entries. I could not stick to ten.

One of my good friends and a dear reader spoke to me this past weekend wishing me well. I was deeply touched by this expression of good will by a dear friend and a reader. Thanks. You know who you are.

Part of my intention to do a roundup today is to recap as I close in on 150, which feels like a milestone. Also, I am approaching another milestone. If you don't know what milestone I am talking about, read T-shirt #77: Narcissism. My personal milestone takes place (begins and ends) on August 16th, which also happens to be my parents' 55th wedding anniversary, and the day before my wife's birthday (her number of years I am not at liberty to disclose). Starting August 16th, I have scheduled four days of pajama T-shirts. I may not use all four days in a row to show pajamas but that's the current plan in case I need that much time.

THE ROUNDUP

I promised roundup today. And, so I present, first, some bloggy roundup. I expected to do a whole bevy of roundup today but that's not going to be possible. Bloggy roundup, happiness, and one happy thing (George Pérez) is all I will have time to accomplish.

I had a reader praise my blog but admit disinterest in much of it: "too much about comic books," he said.

Though I explore a lot of subject matter with this blog, it would make sense for comic books to be the number one subject. So far, I have devoted 44 of the 144 posts to comic books: DC Comics (20), Marvel Comics (11), and Other(13). I do not have an "other" category, so I derived that number from subtraction. You can see these categories listed on the right side of the blog page. The Sports category takes second place with 36 entries, mainly because I include all of my Ultimate shirts in sports. I have featured 19 Ultimate shirts and 16 KUDL shirts, and though this may seem like a lot, the category for Just Logos and Symbols carries the third place rank with 29 entries, and I did not include sports logos in this category. The Logos category consists of comic book, SF, and other related logos, such as Star Trek,  Mad Magazine, and The Comics Code Authority.  Shirts I have been given as gifts takes fourth place with 27 entries, so NO, I am not buying them all myself!! Thus, TV and Movies takes fifth place with 25 entries, as many of these overlap with comic books. Some may feel I am cheating here as the shirts for several entries in this category have nothing to do with TV or movies, such as T-shirt #99: Moby, but since I wrote a little review of Iron Man 3 in that entry, I added it to the TV and Movies category, and so it serves double duty.

TOP TEN CATEGORIES FOR THE 365 T-SHIRTS BLOG AS OF TODAY
For those who like lists, here's the top ten for the blog so far.

1. Comics Books = 44 entries
2. Sports = 36 entries
3. Just Logos and Symbols = 30 entries
4. GIFTS = 27 entries
5. TV and Movies = 25 entries
6. Music = 22 entries
7. DC Comics = 20 entries
8. Science Fiction = 20 entries
9. Ultimate = 19 entries
10. KUDL = 16 entries

ABOUT HAPPINESS

I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes me happy. This is surely a theme of this blog. Why would I wear a shirt displaying something that makes me unhappy? Obviously, if I am going to wear a shirt, which sits close to my heart, the thing depicted will also be close to my heart. This entire blog is one long journal about the things that make me happy outside of the obvious things, such as family and friends. I could probably complete a blog about 365 people or memories and not run out of material, much like the T-shirts.

But because of the aforementioned milestone, I have been thinking about things that make me happy, why they make me happy, and managing what my therapist and I call "self-care," which means making sure I get enough of those things that make me happy. I did discuss this subject some in T-shirt #103: Aloha, dedicated to the concept of Aloha from my wife's native land of Hawaii, which someday I hope to visit. In that blog entry, I began a subject that I plan to expand and explore often in the second 100 entries, of which I am halfway complete: THE RULES OF CHRIS. Though I did not name the "Rules of Chris" in the post, I added T-shirt #64 to the category because of the subjects I explore therein. Subjects of T-shirt #64 will connect very directly to several future blog entries.

I cannot make a list of happy things because the list is this blog. In the end, I hope to have over 365 happy things, and maybe room for more. In fact, some of the happy things, such as the very first entry: T-shirt #1: Son of Satan, deserve further exploration. I did not know what I was getting myself into when I started back on March 22nd. I could surely explore the very interesting Damion Hellstrom in more depth, but I will save that investigation and reflection for another time.

For now, today's happy thing: George Pérez and the Teen Titans.


ONE HAPPY THING: George Pérez

If I had to select one favorite comic book artist, I do not even have to think about it. I would select George Pérez.

I have struggled with this issue of listing my favorite comic book artists. I started my thinking on this subject in T-shirt #27: Iron Fist, when faced with writing about Gil Kane. At that time, I made a very preliminary list, which, of course, contained George Pérez. I made the list just off the top of my head, which five artists sprung to mind first. By the time I reached T-shirt #43: Deadman, I realized that I had left Neal Adams off the list, and so I had to correct my oversight, and so I decided to organize the artists by era, which saves George Pérez for the 1970s and 1980s, even though he is still working today. In fact, the height of his career is arguably the 1980s, and he is probably best listed then. I decided to divide by era only because I have too many favorite comic book artists to keep to a simple top five or even a top ten. I have not even written about all of my favorites yet. More are still to come. But if I were to choose one artist as my all time favorite, I would unhesitatingly choose George Pérez.

I have the pleasure of being Facebook friends with George Pérez. In the 1990s, when my friend Neil Southwell and I were trying to sell a Teen Titans comic book idea to DC comics, we had the privilege of going to George's house (then in Queens) so he could critique Neil's art, which was an amazing learning experience. I am proud to say that we were able to meet with the editor of the Teen Titans books of the time, but DC declined to hire us to create a new Titans book. I am amused by the current All New X-Men book at Marvel Comics because this was essentially our idea with the Teen Titans. We wanted to bring back the original Titans (Robin, Speedy, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Wonder Girl), though I planned to leave in doubt HOW they came back to the, then, mid-1990s DC landscape. Were they clones? Was it time travel? Were they brainwashed? Maybe they were aliens? What if they were brainwashed, alien, clones from the past? I had many plans for fun revelations and mysteries. Too bad we did not get our shot. If I had scans of the art, I would share it. The first page splash showed the original Wonder Girl's fist slamming into the then Robin's (Tim Drake) face in extreme close up, blood and teeth spewing forth. It was a great idea for an image and Neil drew it beautifully, though as George showed us her pointed wrist bracelet would not have allowed her to bend her wrist without goring herself.

Back to George and the Titans.

This shirt commemorates a more recent edition of the Teen Titans and a spanking new logo. But any time, I think of the Teen Titans, I think of George Pérez (check out the Wiki).

In fact, I think about George Pérez every day because his lithograph for the Avengers 41st anniversary hangs directly above my computer desk in the place of ultimate honor (see photos).

I spotted George Pérez from his very first published art work in the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu magazine in 1973. Soon he was illustrating many of my favorite comics, to which I subscribed to ensure I would have all of George's great work, such as Avengers and Fantastic Four. 

In 1980, George hopped to DC with Marv Wolfman to do the New Teen Titans book. Though I bought the first issue, I was off to college and my comic buying was spotty for a few years as I distracted by girls, girls, music, more girls, okay and maybe a little with academics (especially my classes with beautiful women). I loved the New Teen Titans book, but I missed a lot of issues. It was early 1984 before I started making regular treks to the local comic shop (a used bookstore that is now out of business; it would be another year before I would find Fanfare) and started buying the Teen Titans issues on a regular basis (and any back issues I could get my hands on). My love of comics renewed, I followed George's work avidly as he created the world-shattering and pivotal comic maxis-series Crisis on Infinite Earths with Marv Wolfman and then later a complete re-definition and a wonderful re-envisioning of Wonder Woman.

I have been an avid follower of George Pérez's work for most of my life (and his). I think his art is the most gorgeous in the history of comic books. I also love that he is an oft-imitated artist, such as by Phil Jimenez, who is a great artist in his own right but surely lists George as his number one influence. George's career is well chronicled in the Wiki devoted to him. He is still at work today, involved in DC's New 52 launch.

In 2010, DC finally agreed to publish the graphic novel we Titans fans had been waiting for since the 1980s. I actually owned a photocopy of the art that was distributed to our APA TitanTalk way back in the late 1980s. I wrote about my involvement with the APA in T-shirt #62: Nightwing. The graphic novel Games is a beautiful masterwork and a testament to the excitement of those 1980s Titans stories. Back in the late 1980s, George had asked my friend Neil to do some drawings that would appear on cards in the finished product. The cards are included on the pages of the finished art work, but I am not sure if these are Neil's drawings. He is not credited, in any case. Nevertheless, George has always been a huge supporter and a regular communicator with the fan community, much more so than many of his standoffish colleagues. It's one of the things I appreciate about the man. Not only is he a great artist, but he is a wonderful and gentle human being. I feel honored to say I know him, even a little.


Games is a wonderful graphic novel, and I highly recommend it. Maybe in a future post, I will review it and offer up more of a love letter to those 1980s Teen Titans issues and why I am such a huge fan. (And, no, it's not just because I have a huge crush on George's Donna Troy, Wonder Girl, and consider her my favorite woman character in all of comics... but that's surely part of it.)

Meanwhile, I will close with some more George Pérez art, including an image from the other, long-awaited master work: the JLA-Avengers book, which finally saw print in 2003.

Also, no entry about George Pérez can exist without mentioning his ingenious Hulk: Future Imperfect (written by Peter David) and George's run on AVENGERS with Kurt Busiek.

Enjoy this image gallery tribute to the great George Pérez. Surely, it is incomplete, and I will be forced to cycle back to this great artist again before my 365 days are at an end.

A FEW FUN LINKS

MOST ANTICIPATED COMICS OF 2010: GAMES

GEORGE PEREZ ON TEEN TITANS

TOP TEN MOST INFLUENTIAL COMIC ARTISTS: GEORGE PEREZ

CACHED COPY OF A REVIEW OF GAMES

GEORGE PEREZ IMAGE GALLERY

page from the "Who is Donna Troy?" comic (Titans #38).

 

All art (I hope) is posted here with permission of George Pérez, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics.
With all love and respect to and for George Pérez.

- chris tower - 1308.12 - 16:48

T-shirt #143: KUDL 2013 - Green

T-shirt #143: KUDL 2013 - Green wins championship!!

Quick post today as there is a lot going on in the wake of yesterday's tournament.

I know I have overdosed on Ultimate and KUDL shirts lately. I promise that this is the last one for some time as KUDL summer season is over.

I want to congratulate the Green Team named Team Hulk as our 2013 KUDL champions.

Congratulations to Team Hulk (Green) led by captains Jeremy Welter and Kathy Williams!! For our dear "Peaches," another longtime KUDL captain is on the trophy, joining myself, Kent Elliott, Ed Kenny (our only two time winner), David Mandrick, Matthew Frayer, and Stu Gulliver (not on Facebook).

Green team played a hard fought game against the Orange, Not Aquaman, team, but Green's lead was too much for Orange to overcome.

GREAT KUDL season everyone!! Possibly our best ever. Watch for Fall League registration opening very soon and our special "retro" shirt offer.

Happy Hucking. See you on the fields.

KALAMAZOO ULTIMATE DISC LEAGUE RECORD OF CHAMPIONS
(Listed by Captain and team color)
2006 - Matt/Crimson
2007 - Ed/Black
2008 - Kent/Black
2009 - Dave Mandrick/White
2010 - Tower/Marina Blue
2011 - Stu/Royal Blue
2012 - Ed/Light Blue
2013 - Jeremy "Peaches" Welter and Kathy Williams

I think it's interesting and fortunately coincidental that of the shirts I bought of our leftovers from 2013, I bought a green one.

However, in trying it on for today's pictures, I have discovered it is not large enough for my big belly, and I will be giving it back to KUDL.

Does it still count in my 365 even though it is passing out of my possession at this time? I think so. I am going to count it.

Also, I do not have time for much else.

Jeremy "Peaches" Welter deserves this win. He is one of the best people and the nicest of all human beings whom I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He is also a great captain. Kudos "Peaches!"

Summer season has ended.

And now, Fall...?

- chris tower - 1308.11 - 18:54

T-shirt #141: Centrals 2002

T-shirt #141: Centrals 2002

Plans and changes. Once again, I had a shirt all planned for the blog today and other things happening in my life derailed it.

Yesterday, I took an extended work break to go to the Kalamazoo County Fair with my dad and my brother-in-law, Noel.

It's always nice to spend time with my family, my Dad and Noel in this case. We had a nice time at the fair, though a bit short. I ate half an elephant ear and drank some lemonade. My Dad had a soft serve ice cream. Noel drank a Coke. Not that these facts are exciting, but I am making note of them for my own permanent record.

We were all tempted by several rides and games, but we did not take advantage of any. We toured the 4H exhibits and all the livestock. We walked the midway, had our snack, and then I had to get back to work.

I decided to wear one of my favorite Ultimate shirts, one I designed, using a swiped and "unofficial" Calvin and Hobbes as the logo (drawn by my friend Neil Southwell). This was the shirt for the 2002 Centrals Ultimate Tournament that I used to host here in Kalamazoo. It was our best ever with almost two dozen teams and with women's and co-ed divisions to go along with the usual open division. It was a lot of fun.

I am keeping this entry short and sharing photos because I want to get ahead on other posts for future blogs, as I have a busy week running up until my next "break" from the blog, which will hit on August 16th.

WEEKLY COMIC LIST

I have found more time to read comics lately. I have needed this down time to recuperate energy from some busy weeks and demands on myself and my schedule. Green Arrow jumped to the top of my stack last month after I caught up on the title and started enjoying the Lemire run. The Fanfare boys also convinced me to buy Lemire's new book Trillium, which has an interesting double-sided effect (more on this in a future post). All New X-Men stays high on the list, and I am starting to see Bendis' master plan in running out a different pre-history for the original X-Men characters. This issue truly sets forth that intention quite well in regards to romance with Jean Grey ('Nuff Said!).

I have a weakness for Howard Chaykin and for Buck Rogers, so I had to try the first issue of that series. Almost missed buying Sheltered, which was a pick of Andrew, who works at Fanfare, and so far I do like it. I might re-order these as I read, which I often do because I may be eager to read Kick Ass and Daredevil: Dark Knights before those Avengers books. The special buy comes along because I am stock-piling for some rest and relaxation, which will start on August 16th when I intend to post easy and very brief dedications to my pajama T-shirts for as much as a full week, though maybe less. I love hiding these little previews deep in my daily text. Did you read to this point and catch my secret preview? Good for you.

Comics from 1308.07

Green Arrow #23
All New X-Men #015
Avengers #017
Avengers A.1 #002
Kick Ass 3 #2
Iron Man #014
Detective Comics #23
Daredevil: Dark Knights #003
Superior Spider-Man #015
Hunger #002
Buck Rogers #1 (Chaykin - Hermes Press)
Sheltered #2
Trillium #1
Sidekick #1

BACKLOG
Green Lantern #23
Earth 2 #15
Action Comics #23
Fairest #18
SPECIAL BUY - MIND MGMT VOLUME ONE: The Manager by matt kindt

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LORI MARIE!!!

Today is my sister's birthday. Just wanted to give her a shout out on my blog.

Me at the KALAMAZOO COUNTY FAIR August 8th, 2013

On the midway and ready for action

Me and "Score," who is
hoping to score some sugar!

Considered riding the big wheel
but ate a snack instead

me and Noel

me and Noel and Score

My dad by the big wheel 

- chris tower - 1308.09 - 12:14

T-shirt #140: Mage: Joe Phat

T-shirt #140: Mage: Joe Phat: More Grading Robot

This shirt is not a modified replica of a uniform. This is the actual shirt in terms style, cut, and design as worn by the character Joe Phat in the comic book Mage: The Hero Defined, the second series of stories about Kevin Matchstick and his companions begun by Matt Wagner in 1984 and published by Comico. Wagner returned to the world of Mage in 1997 for a second run of issues, The Hero Defined, this time from Image Comics.


This is my second Joe Phat T-shirt.






My first Joe Phat shirt had a hole punched in it. Dissatisfied with this turn of events, I bought another. The original Joe Phat shirt with its hole will surely come up for its own feature some day when I am under the work gun as I am today and need a quickie.

Joe Phat is an avatar of various Native American characters/identities, such as the Coyote and the Raven. There's a great explanation of Joe Phat, via this link to the Comic Vine page. The Mage Wikipedia page is underwhelming, but it does provide some basics. Joe Phat is loosely based on a friend and colleague of Matt Wagner's, comic creator Joe Matt.

I woke up this morning with the thought in my head that this should be the shirt of the day. Originally, I had another shirt planned. But, today, Grading Robot, my alter ego, must channel the essence of Joe Phat. I have to be FAST. I have to be dedicated and disciplined. I have to persevere and overcome and triumph.

I am also going to the county fair with my dad.

And I was going to have a haircut but I needed to save work time, so I am re-scheduling.

Grading Robot must run at full power today.



The Mage books are very good, though as much as I like them, if I am going to recommend comics to a non-comics reader, or even recommend comics to a comics reader who doesn't know the stuff  that I am recommending, Mage would not make the top ten (though it might make the top twenty). Books like Optic Nerve, Concrete, The Tale of One Bad Rat, Strangers in Paradise, Bone, Fables, Y the Last Man, and a few others are the first things to come to mind outside the mainstream.


I have at least two other shirts that will give me a chance to share about Kevin Matchstick and the Mage stories. For now, Grading Robot must cycle up to full velocity and break the quantum barrier between this world and the next.

Have a good day!

- chris tower - 1308.08 - 8:56

PS: I could not stay awake last night as I was reading comic books and listening to the Detroit Tigers game on the radio. When Rondon gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 4-4, I had to go to sleep. I woke a little after midnight and checked my tablet to see through bleary eyes that the Tigers had won 6-5. I slept happily after seeing that and yet I was not sure of it. I had to check again this morning to make sure I had not dreamed that I had seen a winning score and the eleventh straight, consecutive victory for my favorite. It's a good day to be a Detroit Tigers fan.

PPS: Two covers and a page of interior art to inspire those who do not know the comics that are Mage.

T-shirt #139: KUDL-KUSS-WHITE

T-shirt #139: KUDL-KUSS-WHITE

Hello and welcome to my blog. If this is your first time here, please check out the explanatory nonesuch in yellow directly above as well as the handy lists and fun things along the right side.

Today, I am being a bit self-serving, but this work is for a good cause.






As a league, Kalamazoo Ultimate Disc League, KUDL, is selling left over shirts at bargain prices ($5). I have had many requests for shirts. What sizes? What colors? What fabric? From what years?

Instead of posting the list to Facebook, I thought it would be fun (and self-serving) to direct people here. I can also edit the list shown here as people reserve and/or buy shirts.

I have featured all the KUDL and KUSS years of shirts here on the blog before. To view the different designs, simply go to the labels list on the right. Scroll down to KUDL. Open the KUDL label link in a new tab/window. The smart Blogger program will then sort all of my entries and show you just the ones pertaining to KUDL. You will have to scroll through a lot my stuff (which is sort of the point and the self-serving part) (you should be amused by this self-serving part), and when you get through the first set of posts, you will have to click OLDER POSTS to see more.

Today's shirt is the one most sought after by many players: the vintage KUSS shirt from the league's first year in 2006. These shirts are rare. There are other whites in XL, but I did snag the one seen here and paid my five dollars.

FUTURE SHIRTS!
Two things.

1. SHIRTS FOR FALL 2013: If you're in our Facebook group, you may have seen our ongoing discussion about special edition shirts for Fall in any color, short and/or long-sleeve featuring the original bear with the racing stripes design of 2007 (which seems to be the consensus choice). If this is popular, we may do it every year. We're waiting on prices (I will update this text here when I know more), and we are working on two ways to pay (one when you register for fall and another for people not registering for fall).

2. DESIGNS: We are always open to ideas for our next year's design, and though we have a designer who has done great work for us, we are open to consider other designers. So, if you have an idea or are a designer (or both), feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Thanks!

Anyway, here's the list. Thanks for reading. If you're visiting my blog for the first time, look around. If you find what I am doing overwhelming, I am sensitive to this issue, but I do appreciate you stopping by.

THE SHIRTS AVAILABLE LIST
Letters after color refer to size. All sizes are men's cuts unless noted.

KUDL players. Simply leave a comment for me on this blog page (at the bottom) to reserve a shirt. I will confirm with a return comment that should produce a return email if you add your email when you comment. No comment; no reservation; no confirmation email/comment.

KUSS SHIRTS -2006 (cotton)
Purple = M, M, S
White = XL, XL

KUDL SHIRTS - 2007 (cotton) bear with racing stripe
Green = (youth large), L, XL
Light Blue = M, L, L, XL

KUDL SHIRTS 2009 (cotton) Dancing Bears
Navy Blue = Women's: M, M
Men's = L, L

KUDL SHIRTS 2013 (A4 MATERIAL)
Light Blue = L
Red = S, M
White = XS, XS, M, M
Pink = S, L
Royal Blue = XS, XS, XS
Silver = XS, M, M

That's all....

$5. Cash preferred. I will have the shirts with me at Saturday's Tournament (Aug. 11). I am taking reservations as explained above.

Thank you for your time.

- chris tower - 1307.07 - 9:05

T-shirt #138: Classic Starman

T-shirt #138: Classic Starman

There are so many things to do in this world.
There are so many things to read, to watch, to take in via the ears.

Not like "back in the day."

Back then, there were only three TV stations if your family lived in a good area and had a decent TV. Some people lived in burgeoning metropolitan centers and had access to maybe five TV stations.

Books came from the library more often than from the bookstore. And the Internet?
What's the Internet? Is this something invented by Stark Industries or Advanced Idea Mechanics in Marvel Comics?

Had you told my eleven year old self in the weird year of 1971 that in 40 years I would be creating and publishing a daily journal dedicated to reviewing these past experiences with popular culture and other issues around our identity, our own process of individuation, and that I would be publishing this daily log on a vast computer network used by billions of people every day, I would not have been able to understand you.


Okay, no. Strike that. I was a reader of science fiction, comic books, and an avid viewer of Star Trek, The Time Tunnel, and Dark Shadows all of which featured time travel and some of which featured computers. So, yeah, I would understand you. But I would have been blown away nevertheless.

And I know many of you would agree with me. Even those younger than me, born after the invention of the early Internet (ARPANET - 1971), but before the true proliferation of the Internet among the public at large (commercialized in 1995) may connect to what I am saying and may have similar experiences.

The world was so much smaller then. Bigger is not necessarily better.
In fact, people want to make the world smaller. Smaller is easier to deal with. Bigger is overwhelming.

Even this blog, at times, feels overwhelming. There's so much to say, so much to share, which is why I often write WAY too much. I am trying to get it all in and share with you during your one stop to my page as I always assume is the most common reader, though I know some are visiting more often, and I am humbled by your kind attention. I will try to make your time spent here worthwhile. So I am working to be more focused and less diffused. Long jams that go on for thirty minutes in concerts may inspire some people, but in our fats paced and short attention span culture, sometimes, even 100 words seems like a burden let alone over 3000 words. One of the recent blog entries I am most proud of is T-shirt #128, which clocks in at 3140 words. I just had a nice conversation about that one with my friend Andy "Big" Momotiuk. Thanks Big Andy!

What's my point? I am promising a bit more focus and spacing out the big essays with shorter posts. I suspect today is sort of medium-sized.

The long term exploration here will be in the subject of how the world is different today. I know it's obvious that the world is different, but I am interesting in exploring how this works for how identity shaped by popular culture works. Back in the day, I watched a lot of crap or read some crap simply because there was nothing else to read or watch. My choices were limited. Do I love a show like Gilligan's Island because it was very good or because I had little choice but to watch it if I wanted to watch something because it was on every day.

So, today is dedicated to a quick little round up of a half dozen things of interest, all of which are things to read.

But first, two quick comments.

1. Today's shirt is the Classic Starman (Ted Knight circa 1941). I am ashamed to say that I had thought the shirt was Kurt Busiek's Samaritan from Astro City (great comic). But when I searched images online, no, actually this is the original Starman. I am not exploring the subject of Starman today. DC has put the character through many iterations, but the comic by James Robinson and Tony Harris that ran from 1994 to 2001 featuring Jack Knight was some DC's best recent stuff. I actually own a shirt from the Robinson/Harris comic and a watch, so I can devote more text to this great comic then. For now, on to other subjects.

2. Valiant in Yahoo news??  UNITY ARTICLE. I spend mornings on Yahoo going through sports stuff. Sometimes I look at other things. The other day, glancing at Yahoo's entertainment news feed, there was an article about Joss Whedon's SHIELD TV show (because Yahoo is now linked with ABC news) , something about Miley Cyrus, and this article about a new Valiant comic.

VALIANT? I consider myself a big comic geek, but even I cannot read everything. I read Valiant books when Jim Shooter launched them in 1989-1990, but then I lost interest and did not return when the company rebooted in 2005.

But here's the puzzling thing: there were THREE stories in the feed from Yahoo and one was about Valiant. Is this because the vast social media network knows I like comics and the feed is tailored OR is it just that even the smaller comic companies are making big news now that Comic Con is one of the biggest entertainment events of the year (up there with the Oscars and the Emmy's for media attention).

Review OPTIC NERVE #13

Drawn and Quarterly Blog announces OPTIC NERVE #13

I wrote about Optic Nerve in T-shirt #98.

I have been raving in my local comic shop (Fanfare) about Adrian Tomine and Optic Nerve.  And then the issue comes out and the style is much than some of the more realistic panels and pages I posted when I did the send up in #98. Still, despite Tomine's more cartoony work for this issue, the story is just as strong as the other work (mostly to be found in collected editions).

"Go Owls," the main story of issue 13, is described on the D&Q blog as  "a dark comedy about 12-step programs, drug dealing, and minor league baseball."

The story is just as strong as Tomine's other efforts. The art appears ultra cartoony but has great depth and nuance. Tomine also takes guff from readers who want to see his work on the Internet in digital form as seen in this panel included here.

So far this book is only available in paper form either for shipping from a comic vendor online or from your favorite local shop assuming they ordered some copies. It's $5.95, but it's well worth the cost for such a rich and complex story that features no super-heroes at all.

Because all these comics do not have to be about super-heroes or fantastic things, right?

Review of Lazarus

Another fantastic comic book that I want to recommend by singing its praises is Lazarus by Rucka and Lark.

I know I say that I am "a huge fan" of some thing quite often, but I really am a huge fan of Gotham Central from DC (2003-2006) that featured the last pairing of Rucka and Lark (and Ed Brubaker co-wrote the series with Rucka).

Image has been hitting it out of the park lately with some of the best comics in the business. I cannot possibly read everything being published even from the major companies, but I have added several excellent Image books to monthly orders, including Mind the Gap, Saga, Mara, Clone, Great Pacific, America's Got Powers, Satellite Sam, Fatale, Ten Grand, Jupiter's Legacy, and now, also, Lazarus.

Lazarus is a great near future thriller about a world in which the wealth is even more consolidated in the hands of a very, very few. Here's the preface blurb: "The world now lies divided not amongst political or geographical boundaries but amongst financial ones. Wealth is power, and that power rests with only a handful of FAMILIES. The few who provide a service for their ruling Family are cared for. All others are waste. In each Family, there is one person given the best they can offer, training and technology and assets, every scientific advantage. This person is named their Family's sword and shield, their protector, their LAZARUS. In the Family Carlyle, the LAZARUS is called Forever. This is her story."

The first issue told a compelling story, only providing enough background on this new world to aid the immediate set of scenes. The same style of storytelling (less background, more direct mimesis) held true in the second issue. The first issue did come with a long afterword written by Rucka explaining how the book came to be; the second issue contained more letters but a short newsy bit on how current tech predicts what is being shown in LAZARUS.

Some of the vital stats help put the book into perspective along with startling imagery by Lark:
Los Angeles, Family: Carlyle
Population [Family]: 3 (2 permanent)
[Serf]: 322,274
[Waste]: 2,874,500 (estimated)

As an extrapolation of our current state of affairs, Lazarus is even more compelling, thought-provoking,. and worthy of discussion. Possibly Image is proving itself capable of better work than any of the other big name companies. This book is well worth your time.

Comic Book Resources on Lazarus

"Ultimately, Rucka wanted to emphasize that while "Lazarus" is a book set in a new and different world, the story really boils down to character.

"Look," Rucka said, "I don't like books that are polemics and I don't like reading something that feels like I'm being lectured to," Rucka said. "We talked about the economic divide and things like that, but the fact is, this is an adventure story, this is a story about a woman, it's about Forever Carlyle. Everything else is backdrop. Just the opportunity to do this story the way we want, how we want, man, I love it. I'm so excited. I'm so excited that we finally get to show people what we've been working on for so long. i really hope folks will dig it, I really do. I think Michael has done some of the best work of his career on issue one certainly and I am having a blast. That's what I've got to offer'"(Comic Book Resources on Lazarus, 2013).

BLEEDING COOL ON LAZARUS

"Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark is (by the author’s own admission) “hard sci-fi” but it’s also as frightening as it is exciting. Frightening like the fear that comes with knowledge, the more you learn the more you know and the more you know the more you fear. Knowledge may be power but it’s also goddamn unsettling" (BLEEDING COOL ON LAZARUS, 2013).

DAMN Good Comics: Charles Skaggs on Lazarus
SPOILER ALERT! Don't read the next quote if you want to avoid it.

"This first issue opens with a demonstration of said resurrection ability as Forever is shot three times and left for dead, only to rise a minute or two later and swiftly kill all three of her attackers.  As Forever relays the details of what happened to her doctor James, we get our first glimpse inside her head with hints that she isn't entirely satisfied being her Family's protector against people who are only looking for something to eat" (DAMN Good Comics: Charles Skaggs on Lazarus, 2013).

Review of Ocean at the End of the Lane

REVIEW FROM GOODREADS: Simple truths: Neil Gaiman is an excellent writer. Neil Gaiman's books are always excellent and enjoyable. I am giving this book five stars simply because I cannot give it 4.5 stars. It's excellent and well worth reading. But I am suffering from symptoms of wanting something more. Like _The Graveyard Book_, this story is entertaining and chimerical. Gaiman is smart enough to leave much of the explanations to our imaginations, which is a wonderful technique to increase my enjoyment of the book. But I want something into which I can sink my teeth all the way, something like _American Gods_, and so news that he is writing a sequel to coincide with the projected six-season HBO show is more exciting to me than this book as excellent as it is. If you want to give it a try, do the audio. Neil Himself (his Twitter handle) narrates, and it is an excellent way to read the book, much like his wife's experience, for whom he wrote the book, and to whom he read each day's pages in bed before sleep. I recommend a similar method of ingesting this story.

KamerTunes Blog

I found this other blogger doing something similar to what I am doing. Instead of working his way through his T-shirt collection, he is working his way through his music collection, tackling one musical artist[s] at a time.

I made the header above the link.

Right now, Rich Kamerman is touring through XTC with very lengthy essays on each album and the tracks of each album. It's well worth reading if you like XTC and pop music in general. Recently, he also toured through Alice Cooper, Neil Young, and PJ Harvey.

Check out his blog!

GUN MACHINE by Warren Ellis (and the DEAD PIG COLLECTOR)


My Gun Machine review from GOODREADS: SPOILER ALERT!! Do not read my review if you intend to read this book. Finished! I wanted to give this book five stars. I really did. I am a big fan of Warren Ellis' work. He is a big part of my daily life. I receive his Twitters. I follow his web site. I get his Gun Machine emails. I read and have read pretty much everything he's done. This book is a great read. It's fast paced, clever, intriguing, and well written. The characters are vivid. The situations are realistic. The premise is imaginative and quite puzzling. Ellis unfolds the story with great pacing and elegant design.

Two aspects held back my fifth star. His use of figurative language is at times a bit over-wrought, and this is coming from Mr. Gorpy Baroque himself. But sometimes, Ellis' figurative word play just doesn't work. It reads like he's trying too hard. Some of these tropes work in Twitter messages. In prose, not so much.

But it's really the ending that held back the fifth star. As I was about twenty pages from the end, I wondered how he could possibly wrap up all these loose ends in so few pages. Well, he didn't completely wrap them all to my satisfaction (not the caveat: "my satisfaction") and the whole ending plays out in a very hasty way. The trap the main character, Tallow, lays for the antagonist, The Hunter, is a good one and that plays well, but the rest is too rushed and disappointing given the slow build-up of the investigation. But the crown to the disappointment tree came with the easy explanation of the gun machine, given by the villain no less, after coming back to himself after being pumped full of anti-psychotic drugs. It reads like an after thought and is very anti-climactic after the 280 pages of build up. Knowing that Ellis was writing to a set maximum (perhaps set by the publisher) because I watched him work toward it daily (and complain about it), I may be biased into thinking the ending is rushed. But then again, I think I could make the argument with anyone that the book could have benefited from at least another 25 pages and possibly a few more.

Still, I loved it. I love Ellis' work. The book deserves its accolades. The book deserves to be read. If you read this far, I hope I have not spoiled it all too much.

Diegesis-Mimesis: DESIGN FICTION

The other night in bed I was reading the links I posted the other day about Ellis and his recent story Dead Pig Collector.

Warren Ellis Talks About His New Novella And Living In A Science Fiction Present

'Dead Pig Collector': Eight Questions With Author Warren Ellis [INTERVIEW]

In the Forbes interview, Ellis mentions "Design Fiction," which is a new art form championed by Bruce Sterling, which led me to a posting on SLATE:

Sci-Fi Writer Bruce Sterling Explains the Intriguing New Concept of Design Fiction

In turn that article led me to explore diegesis and mimesis in relation to Design Fiction. More products of this thought process to come. Meanwhile, if you are interested, check out the Slate article and the cool article because as Ellis mentioned some of the most intriguing fiction work today is being done in Design Fiction video.

- chris tower - 1308.06 - time

T-shirt #137: KUDL - KUSS - Purple -2006

T-shirt #137: KUDL - KUSS - Purple - 2006

I questioned the wisdom of presenting another KUDL shirt for the third day in a row. But it is KUDL Monday, and it's a very special Monday. Today, August 5th, marks the last Monday of the KUDL 2013 summer season.

Also, tonight we will host the first two games of our 2013 tournament, playing the rest of the games on Saturday, August 10th.

So far in the history of this blog, I have featured 14 KUDL shirts or Ultimate shirts with KUDL related photos. I have featured shirts from every year of KUDL (2007-2013), except the very first year, when we were called KUSS: Kalamazoo Ultimate Summer Syndicate (2006).

I drafted what I thought was a rocking and awesome team, but somehow, through no my fault of my own (or at least that is my story), we did not win a single game. Not one. I do not remember too many more details of whether we played close games or how often we were blown out. I do not remember scores or statistics from our year of loss. But I do have some nifty photos. And in keeping with the short and fun posts, I present another series of photos. Don't say that I did not warn you.

From KUSS costume night with Ed Kenny

From KUSS costume night: team captains (Ryan Kircher not pictured)
L-R: me, Ed Kenny, Kent Elliott, Matt Frayer, and Dan Lipson

Bobby Frantz and Miah Newhouse

L-R: Miah, Van, me, Touchdown Jesus, Tiffany Gleason, Hari Johnson,
Melissa McKim, Stu Gulliver, Bobby Frantz, and ...? I forget

L-R: Hari, TDJ Walters, Van, Craig Schram, Miah, Lanny Potts, mem Stu, ??, ??, Dave Schram

Greg "Van" Isom happy with his award

Watching the KUSS finals and keeping score
Me, Ali Almadari, Van, Ryan TDJ Walters

Team Purple cheers to lift its spirits before another loss.

- chris tower - 1308.05 - 9:37