This blog should be sub-titled: a journal of my life in geek.
I get my geek on with things about which I am geeky: comic books, Baseball, Ultimate, science fiction, my favorite bands, books I have read and loved, and Jungian psychology to name some of the most frequently traversed subjects.
I began this project simply as a way to count my T-shirts. I own a lot of T-shirts. But how many do I have? Do I have 365? We shall find out.
When I started this blog, I thought about how each T-shirt means something to me. I bought it for a reason, after all. I set myself the task to post an entry about a new T-shirt every day as a way to simply write something every day, a warm up for writing fiction, which is my passion. Writing is like exercise. Warm ups are good for exercise. But after completing a month of blogging about T-shirts, I have learned that this blog serves as a journal; it documents my life in geek, sort of a tour of my interests in pop culture. The blog serves as a tool for self-inventory, for assessment and analysis of self and the origins of self, for stepping through the process of individuation in catalogues, lists, and ranks.
The blog also made me aware that I have some serious gaps in my T-shirt ownership, and I am in the process of collecting some new T-shirts for several of the great popular culture icons that I truly love. Stay tuned.
I was also a bit surprised that people checked out my blog and continue to check it, read it, and even comment on it. I am very appreciative of this readership. Please feel free to share your thoughts in my comments section. I will respond.
Also, please note that I have moved the original introductory text to the side bar. And now, I present to you the most recent entry of 365 T-shirts: a journal of my life in geek. Thank you for reading.
(Second Update - 1310.24. First Update - 1306.05 Originally Posted - 1304.25.)
This T-shirt thing is not a new interest, obviously. If I had not been buying and receiving T-shirts as gifts for years, I would not be in a position to wonder if I have 365 or more shirts.
Today's blog will present various related thoughts and ideas via blurbs and snippets: the proverbial sound bite. Though now, as I edit, I notice that the text looks like more paragraphs than bites. I am so Baroque.
This Atom Ant shirt was a gift from Liesel and the kids for Christmas 2011.
When I was making my gift wish list (yes, I make lists), I examined various T-shirt web sites and discovered that one could now buy T-shirts featuring many of my favorite cartoon characters, such as the Jetsons and Atom Ant.
In trying to decide among the various Atom Ant shirts, I chose this one because it is not the classic pose like some of the other images shown in today's entry. Look down at the one by the Wiki quote.
I liked the look of "surprise" and maybe fear on Atom Ant's face in this image. This is definitely a "what the fuck" look or an "oh shit" look, though Atom Ant would never say either statement.
I remember watching a lot of Atom Ant during my childhood, but in researching for today's entry, I learned that there were only two seasons and a total of 26 episodes produced by Hanna-Barbera and broadcast on NBC between 1965-1968. It seems to me that I saw a lot more Atom Ant and for more years than those years.
I made a top ten favorite list of Hanna-Barbera in T-shirt #101 for the Jetsons. Atom Ant ranked #3 on that list but maybe I did that simply because I knew I was going to feature this shirt.
Here in the photo to the left, you can see up close the toy I own (as seen in the photo above).
Lots of Atom Ant videos are available for viewing on You Tube.
Some of the You Tube like "Atom Ant Meets Karate" are very racist in depictions of Asians and Latinos.
Atom Ant Meets Karate Video clip - STEREOTYPE ALERT
"Atom Ant is a cartoon ant and superhero, created by Hanna-Barbera in 1965. His name may have been derived from adamant, which gives indication towards his great strength, exceeding "250 times his own weight". The name and character might also be a gentle parody of the Charlton Comics character, Captain Atom. Atom costarred in The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show (sharing top billing with Secret Squirrel). In syndication, Atom Ant aired alongside Precious Pupp and The Hillbilly Bears.
"Atom Ant (voiced by the late Howard Morris then by Don Messick in later episodes) operated out of an anthill in the countryside, where he possessed such things as a mainframe computer and exercise equipment. His powers mostly consisted of the ability to fly, super speed, and incredible strength.
"He was often contacted by the police, who sent him out on assignment. Some of these missions parodied those of Batman. The police force was constantly shown to be underfunded and inept, as they relied on Atom Ant to do all their police work. The only two police officers were the chief and deputy chief. The department only possessed one rusted patrol car. Atom Ant fights various villains including recurring ones like Ferocious Flea (voiced by Don Messick) and mad scientist Professor Von Gimmick" ("Atom Ant," Wikipedia, 2013).
#WarnerArchive #WarnerBros #AtomAnt Theme Song with Lyrics | Atom Ant | Warner Archive Aug 5, 2016
Warner Archive Atom Ant (1965) #WarnerArchive #WarnerBros #AtomAnt Atom Ant theme song.
Lyrics below: Up and at 'em it's Atom Ant
He's strength, he's might, He's speed, he's fight He's Atom Ant, that tiny ant, and his atomic power
Has what it takes and always makes The vilest villain cower He's rough, he's tough, And bad guys yell enough When he is up and at 'em Atom Ant.
Directed By Joseph Barbera, William Hanna Starring Ted Cassidy, Henry Corden, Don Messick
Atom Ant | Up and Atom | Boomerang Official
Apr 23, 2019
Boomerang Official
Who remembers this tiny but mighty cartoon bug?
Atom Ant's catch phrase is "Up and at 'em, Atom Ant." My shirt reminds me that I need to keep egging myself along to accomplish things with this "go get 'em" -type attitude.
There are lots of things to do in each day. Like, I have to go to the store to buy food so that the wife and the children do not starve. (Though Liesel also goes to the store much more often than she would like. Neither of us like how often we are at the grocery store.)
I have been enjoying a work break but next week I will have to bring Grading Robot up to full power again: "Up and at 'em, Atom Ant!!"
The work matrix
So, back to work. Here's my weekly to-do list (image above). A friend of mine suggested to-do lists to help with my organization and juggling as many as nine classes. After a few weeks of writing daily lists, I noticed that many items were repeated, and I was wasting time writing them over and over again.
So I gave birth to the weekly matrix to-do list. I modify the file each week based on what I have to do.
For instance, last week was not so busy, and so, in the matrix, the far right column, which is the majority of the demanding and time consuming work-work was shorter and contained fewer tasks.
One more week in which Grading Robot is operating at a quarter power and speed. It all ramps back up for the month-long sprint starting next week.
This is the central command station of the home office. I added the second monitor earlier this year, and I have found many uses for it.
The dark blob nestled inside the desk pod is the Herman Miller Aeron chair I bought last year, which has made all the hours of sitting so much more bearable.
Is it all too messy?
In the image on the right, you can see the left side of the office. The art finally hit the walls back in March at the last big work break like the one I am enjoying now.
Note the hats, toys, and yesterday's T-shirt (lower left corner) draped on the standing work station with the laptop underneath.
On the TV, you will find the Mystery Machine, Underdog, Robby the Robot, and Doctor Strange, who is perched on a baseball.
These all may make appearances in future blog entries. I am nothing, if not a show off.
The office is due for an over haul. This is one of the projects for this work break like that so many others has not been accomplished yet. Messy? Oh, yes. But it's a work space that constantly shifts. And actual work is accomplished in the space. The mess is definitely proportionally related to the amount of time I am spending maintaining it and keeping it cleared.
You can see part of Aquaman in the top center of the photo (hmmm, future blog prop?). Previews, with which I order comics from Fanfare, is sitting waiting to be conquered, and that issue of Comic Creator I have been buzzing about it under the phone: KIRBY'S KINGDOM.
- chris tower - 1307.10 - 9:16
PS: Today's is my step-daughter Piper's birthday. This does not seem related to Atom Ant in any way but I wanted to mention it.
T-shirt #110: Smallville Athletics or Ten Reasons I loved Superman: The Man of Steel
I saw Superman: The Man of Steel on Sunday July 7th.
After seeing the film, I was contemplating buying a Superman shirt so I could write about the film until I remembered that though I may not own a traditional blue, red, and yellow shirt, I do have some more Superman-themed clothing, such as this fine garment in the same vein of the faux athletics style as featured in T-shirt #108 for the Powers Division. I claimed that I owned more of these, didn't I? I had not intended to post another one so soon, though.
My friend and fellow blogger Charles Skaggs lent Superman: The Man of Steel his "Charlesish" review of the film the day it came out. Find it at this link: DAMN GOOD MOVIES. I barely made it to Iron Man 3 before it left town. Still, I feel ahead of the game in catching the Superman film three weeks after its debut. Oh, for those days when I used to catch films on the day they came out!
Charles in his Charlesish-way ranks Superman: The Man of Steel fourth on his all time superhero movies list behind Superman (1978), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Avengers (2012). I cannot agree. Not only is the original Superman II (1981) film better than Superman (1978), but Superman: The Man of Steel is better than all five of the previous films (not counting pre-1970s fare) put together and well shaken (not stirred). (Yes, I like to mix pop culture metaphors.)
SPOILER ALERT!!
If you do not wish to learn things about the film, stop reading now.
TEN REASONS TO LOVE Superman: The Man of Steel
1. JOR-EL KICKS ASS! No wimpy Jor-El who stands by, arms at his side, as cold as the set looks, pleading the case of Krypton to some big floating heads. Yes, Brando was great. I doubted that Russell Crowe could be as good. Aided by a great script and a better dramatic sequence on the home planet, Crowe was better. We see Jor-El stand up for his principles. We see Jor-El escape Zod's coup before he is taken prisoner in the council chambers. Jor-El shows off how buff and athletic he is as he dives into the Genesis Chamber and takes the Codex. Then, back at his observatory home, he beats the crap out of Zod, humiliating the general, until the evil and quite psychotic Zod sucker stabs Jor-El. Though Jor-El dies, he has bought time for Lara to launch the rocket that will take Kal-El to earth. This whole sequence plays out MUCH BETTER than the original 1978 film with plenty of action; Jor-El is no slouch when it comes to combat (and neither is his son as we see later on).
2. KRYPTON IS COOL! Gone are the crusty, Styrofoam-looking, ice sculptures of the 1978 movie. And though the floating heads and Phantom Zone projector were the coolest part of Old Krypton, this upgrade re-envisions both beautifully as well as giving the planet a retro-fit and much needed face lift. Krypton is great because of its mix of technology and futuristic gizmos as well as beasts with ancient lineage, one of which Jor-El rides through a combat zone! The Kryptonian world and technology (mainly used by Zod and company) finally seem to get Krypton and Kryptonians right.
3. A NATURAL BIRTH: Comic book fans of all the different remediated Superman origins over the years (principally the 1980s work of John Byrne) are acquainted with the uber-sciencey, sexless, suited-up Kryptonians of Kal-El's homeworld. We all know that Kal-El is special because he was a natural birth, but here the creative team (Goyer, Nolan, and Snyder) actually SHOW the live birth with the wonderful Ayelet Zurer (Lara-El) screaming her head off as she gives birth because, apparently, for all their technology the Kryptonians did not solve the dilemma of painful, vaginal birth (or maybe Lara did not want to seek a solution). All in all, regardless of the reasoning, the sequence is VERY COOL.
4. CHILDHOOD TOLD IN FLASHBACK: Often in Superman movies (at least the first one) viewers have to sit through all the Krypton stuff followed by Clark Kent's growing up years in Smallville. Goyer, Nolan, and Snyder realize that most people know the story of the childhood in Kansas, and so after the Krypton sequence, Superman: The Man of Steel jumps right into the action as Clark (Kal-El) is a grown man trying to figure out who he is and how he should help people. We are treated to a series of heroic deeds, in which Clark works anonymously and backs down from direct confrontation (such as in a bar scene in which a beer is dumped on his head). The key elements of his childhood are told via flashback mixed throughout the movie, culminating in how Jonathan Kent sacrifices himself to preserve Clark's secret identity and powers. This sequencing is possibly the smartest, wisest, and best choice for the film and one of the reasons it is so successful.
5. FLYING SAVED FOR RIGHT MOMENT: We watch Clark wander the world seeking his identity and his role, and most importantly, seeking the answer to the question: "if I am from the stars, then where am I from?" There is sufficient build up to Clark finding answers in an 18,000 year old Kryptonian scout ship (future Fortress of Solitude), which runs the AI in the command key Jor-El placed in the capsule that brought Kal-El to earth. A hologram of his father gives him his suit, bearing the El crest. We learn that the El crest, which looks like an English "S," means "hope," which is very appropriate for the film's message. Donning the special suit, (which seems as indestructible as he is), Clark tests his last untried power: flight. The sequence provides the act one-act two climax that the film needs.
6. AMAZING BATTLES (NOT TOO MUCH CGI): When I walked out of the theater, I said the film was "fucking awesome." My wife, who kept confusing the film's title as "Batman," thought there were too many fight scenes. Ivan, Olivia, and I joked with Liesel that saying a superhero film has too many fight scenes or scenes of fighting that go on for too long is like going to a slasher film and complaining that too many people get killed. Though she may have a point that the film could have been five or ten minutes shorter with a little less battle (which could be added to the DVD releases), the CGI is not so completely crazy with spinning and bobbing cameras that you can ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IS GOING ON, unlike a lot of CGI fests.
7. CASTING: All around great casting. Laurence Fishburne as Perry White. Antje Traue as Faora (the comparable character from Superman II is Ursa), Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy, Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil Hamilton (who is a core character in the Superman mythology but may have already been killed off), and I already mentioned the Els, Jor and Lara. But the best two casting choices are Michael Shannon as General Zod and Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman. Superb!
8. THE KENTS - SUPERMAN'S HEARTACHE: I was a bit leery of Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, but he delivers an impeccable performance. And Diane Lane, who is a gifted actress, delivers a warm and beautiful version of Martha Kent. But most importantly, there are key scenes with Clark and his father leading up to Jonathan Kent sacrificing himself to a mammoth tornado so that his son can keep his super powers a secret. It's a brilliant scene and gives Clark the extra tragic past he needs to round out his character and make him less cardboard.
9. KILLING ZOD: Further rounding occurs for Clark Kent/Superman when he is faced with an impossible decision at the end of the film. Either he keeps to his "no killing" policy or he lets humans be killed by Zod's heat vision. In a nod to the classic Superman #22 by John Byrne, Kal-El chooses to snap Zod's neck and thus executing him.
10. "ON MY TERMS." The film ends with Clark assuming his bespectacled identity at the Daily Planet. Right before that final scene, he drops a crushed surveillance drone at the feet of the General Swanwick (Harry Lennix) and tells him and the whole human race that if he is to help, it "has to be on my terms." Excellent!
PS: Battlestar Galactica fans alert! Alessandro Juliana (Felix Gaeta) makes an appearance. This is also amusing since he played Dr. Emil Hamilton in Smallville, the TV show.
FEW MINOR NEGATIVES LOIS LANE: Nothing against Amy Adams, but she is not Lois.
Here I will quote Charles Skaggs: "Amy Adams was an interesting choice for Lois, especially since her previous Superman experience was portraying fat-sucking vampire Jodi Melville in the first season of Smallville. Her introduction into the film is strong, with a great line about "comparing dicks" when she's confronted by self-important military officers. It's a shame we don't get to see much of Lois being a reporter in the movie's second half, but there's an interesting dynamic to explore with her already being aware of Clark's dual identity" ("Man of Steel review, DAMN GOOD MOVIES, 2013).
My take? As delightful as Adams is, she is NOT Lois Lane any more than Margot Kidder or Kate Bosworth, as much as each of them is cool in her own right. It's an issue with physicality. THIS art image from John Byrne's Superman is LOIS LANE. This follows with the same reasoning as to why KIRSTEN DUNST is not MARY JANE WATSON. Dunst is just as talented as Adams. Neither is right for the role. I am a type casting Nazi when it comes to characters in superhero movies. Though, I must admit, I LOVED Erica Durance as Lois Lane and Krisin Kreuk as Lana Lang in Smallville even though they are physically speakign against type, so I am not a total Nazi. Still, Lois is a brunette. Period.
WHY CAN'T THEY LEAVE KRYPTON? I just don't get it.
We are told that the Kryptonians colonized the galaxy (or a neighboring galaxy?) for 100,000 years, AND YET, with all their technology, all their advances, and with their planetary core collapsing, why can't they leave Krypton? This is never well explained. There are some vague and abstract statements like "everyone on Krypton is already dead" and something about their fates being tied to the planet, but there is no good reason why more of them (or all of them) could not evacuate the planet. The explanation seems to be: they didn't leave, so they cannot leave.
Um
yeah,
right.
WHAT'S WITH THE "RICH" ATMOSPHERE?? The comic books have NEVER mentioned that our atmosphere had ANYTHING to do with Superman's super powers. It was all due to the sun. He's a big solar battery. This element seems to be added so loss of special breathing apparatus can give the other Kryptonians instant powers that confuse them. SIGH.
WHERE'S THE SCOUT SHIP? During the big and long epic battle sequences as Kal-El is trying to stop the World Engine from terra-forming the planet and wiping out the human race, we see the 18,000 year old Kryptonian scout ship take off from its landing spot in the arctic and ... (unless I missed it) ...
DO NOTHING.
Huh? NO APOLOGY FOR ALL THE DESTRUCTION: Given that Superman is trying to win the trust and approval of the human race, a little apology for all the destruction and likely the massive casualties in Metropolis as a result of the huge battle (though we do not see any, surely, they happened) would have been nice. It only takes a minute to be polite and considerate. It fits with Clark Kent's upbringing. Manners matter.
Not that Kal-El was at fault for the massive destruction, but certainly there would have been less of it had he not been FIGHTING OTHER KRYPTONIANS. Just sayin'.
NO JIMMY - NEXT FILM? I am cool with there being no Jimmy Olsen in this film BECAUSE that means that we could be treated to MORE JACK KIRBY THEMED MATERIAL for which his estate is not compensated at all. Project Cadmus? The Forever People? New Gods? The Fourth World? Prelude to Darkseid being the Big Bad in the Justice League movie?
This prospect could be summarized in two words: "fucking awesome."
Damn. I loved this film so much that I may have to go see the 3D IMAX show.
I shared KUDL team for 2011 with co-captain Jeremiah Newhouse (and yes, no hyperbole, one of the best and nicest guys I have ever met). It was our second team together and much better than our original 2006 team, as in we actually won some games; the 2006 team did not, though it had a great cast of characters.
We did not win the league in 2011. We did not advance to the finals. But we had a good season. 2011 was our only year as a league for which the tournament was rained out. The finals were completed on Monday two days later and were won by Stu Gulliver's team.
This is our Asian bear. Kung Fu or Ninja bear?
It's a nifty logo, and I felt special that we managed to snag black, which is always a popular color.
I am all about the action photos.
Me catching at a recent pick up game.
Yes, jumping is necessary to execute the catch properly.
There I am again admiring my throw. Terrible thing to do.
And yet, that is my friend Ed Kenny in the foreground
in the "Pickles" shirt. I don't believe he managed to block that
sizzling forehand.
Back hand this time. Not good form.
I am not getting enough reach.
Then again, no one was marking me.
I am following through with my weekly KUDL or Ultimate shirt day.
I am not making it to KUDL tonight as I am off to Ann Arbor to see David Byrne and St. Vincent in concert at the venerable Michigan Theatre on Liberty across the street from Borders.
As before, photos are courtesy of Lindsay Phillips. Thanks Lindsay!!
Ed Kenny is one of the founders of KUDL that grew out of our car pool to South Bend. At a recent KUDL draft, he proclaimed that the thing he likes best about KUDL is that it is here in Kalamazoo and does not require an hour's drive.
We all liked the car pool because we had great conversations. But we also like not having to drive so far to play Ultimate.
Others in that original car pool include Ryan Kircher, Matt Frayer, Dave Heimberg, and Natalie Dale.
I am wearing an X hat I found in a box. It is meant to commemorate Malcolm X though most people, knowing me, will think it's for the X-Men.
Damn, I look fat.
It's amazing that I still think of myself as the ultra skinny young man of my 20s even though I weigh about 40-50 pounds more and am 30 years older.
Satchel wants to play, too.
Satchel enjoyed her time at pick up. First time on the stake and tether. Puppy is happy to be outside but would rather run free.
NOTE: See the toy truck in the pocket of the chair? Some child left that truck in my chair many years ago. I have kept it there all this time. It is the "Cool Patrol" truck, which was the name of our championship 2010 team. I panic a little if the truck falls out or I do not see it. I am careful so as not to lose it now.
T-shirt #108: Police Athletics: Powers Division: Grilling and more
Here again in Blog Central, things are changing and always in flux. After two days (July 4th and 5th) of going completely nuts with long, drum solo, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" -style, lengthy blog entries, I am trying to dial it back. Yesterday, I sketched out the next week's worth of blog entries (#s 108-113), but then things happened, such as grilling some steaks: change of plan.
This picture comes from yesterday about 19:30. Piper's friends from college are here to celebrate her birthday. Adding her boyfriend and Ivan's girlfriend to our group, I was grilling for eight people. Piper and Olivia were handling potatoes and zucchini indoors, so I was grilling on the deck, while listening to the Detroit Tigers pound the Cleveland Indians 9-4. Now, as I compose today's blog entry, I am watching Andy Murray play (and I hope beat) Novak Djokovic in a live TV broadcast from Wimbeldon. GO MURRAY!
This shirt is one of those fictional creations for what would be available to the characters if the Powers Police Division actually existed and provided employees who work out with Athletics shirts. I am rather fond of these faux Athletics Division type shirts, so expect to see others. However, I am not as crazy about this comic or this shirt, so it's perfect for grilling. I don't care if it gets soiled.
Powers is a fine comic by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming published as part of Marvel Comics' Icon imprint after leaving Image Comics. It was launched in 2000 and has published around 70 issues so far. I bought some of the collected editions and enjoyed the "Who Killed Retro Girl" storyline and some of the other stories. But it's just not one of my most highly rated comic books even though many others love it.
The dinner was very successful. After grilling these round steaks, which do look a little pale, I grilled chicken drumsticks. The grill did well with fewer flare ups than in the past, though as you can see I have the water bottle handy. Also, in this shot (above), you can see the "Official Tower Grilling Table" given to me by my Dad, the Big Guy. There are grilling implements on the table and on the deck below is the box in which I keep them and the corner of a Frisbee that I use to keep them covered and dry. This is only my second time grilling this year. I am not as proficient as my father, but I did manage to grill without burning anything to a crisp.
After dinner and cleaning up, Liesel and I watched Identity (2003) with John Cusak, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, and more. It's a good twist on the slasher type film and was a good and relatively short end to the day.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Closing today with various random thoughts.
A friend of Liesel's brought us yummy pumpkin bread yesterday in exchange for a gift. Piper also made yummy cookies in the middle of the night. Luckily, we are running our bedroom fans on high for plenty of white noise.
I find that I am noticing other people's T-shirts more and more as I am out shopping. On two different occasions yesterday, I was tempted to ask strangers if I could ask them about their T-shirts and maybe take a picture. One kid had a "Sub Rosa" T-shirt. Was this for a game? A brand? Or was it for the concept itself ("under the rose")?
I realized after finishing yesterday's set of lists that I had not provided a list of comics I would recommend and have enjoyed recently. But then, I probably write about comic books too much, and you are all sick of hearing about them. When I was in Fanfare yesterday, I sung the praises of Green Arrow (which I have sung here), Captain America (ditto), and others that I have not praised here or not praised at length, such as Hawkeye, Daredevil, Aquaman, Iron Man, and Thor. The Matt Fraction and Aja Hawkeye is freaking brilliant, especially the most recent "Pizza Dog" story. As a new dog person, I loved that story especially. I also noted to the employees that I was distracting from work with chat that I had just caught up on Detective Comics recently and found it to be much better than I expected.
As of right now, I have T-shirts 108 (today) through #115 (next Sunday) planned and drafted. I am tempted to make a "Coming Soon on 365 T-shirts" list, but since I keep changing my mind (as I did by inserting today's shirt) and I think that the unexpected nature of the blog is better, I will refrain.
But you tell me. I am always whoring myself out for comments and attention.
Previews or no previews?
Another hesitation I have for previews is that I have had an entry in the works for about 20 days, and I keep pushing it back. It's currently scheduled for #114, if I do not push it back again. I have mentioned that it is upcoming twice already if you need further hints as to its identity.
My page views are on the rise. I peaked at near fifty views twice last week. Granted several of these views are blog-rating bots, but still, they are views. I know that most of my readers come from Facebook and Twitter, and yet my top traffic sources are blogsrating, vampirestat.com, and google.
I really want Murray to win Wimbeldon.
I want to see the Tigers sweep the Indians. I am ecstatic that after some recent losing struggles, the Tigers have exploded for 40 runs during the recent five-game winning streak. I hope I did not just jinx them with these hopes.
I just finished reading the first issue of Comic Book Creator magazine with great articles about Jack Kirby (which I have mentioned before), Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek, and an interview with the legendary Dennis O'Neill and Neal Adams. I think I may subscribe.
I want to see the Superman movie. That may have to happen today.
I may grill again today. I had a beer and a mixed bourbon drink yesterday. Today may need to be whisky, single malt, straight. My wife bought me a nifty Robert Burns branded whisky (though a blend) for Father's Day. It is very yummy. I do not discriminate against blends. It is pictured here from the day I chose to sample it for the first time: June 30th, 2013 (two days after I received it).
This is my wish for all of you as well: drink scotch, single-malt whisky.
T-shirt #107: The Daily Planet, Random News, and the Missing Ring
I promise for once this will be short. Or at least shorter. I have gone a little nuts lately, but, hey, time off, vacation, freedom, and thus more writing and time in research. I had some fun.
Yesterday (Friday July 5th), I had a haircut.
Here is a picture of me in the salon (left).
I was just out the door of my home and at the stop light at our nearest major intersection when I discovered that I had left the house without my wedding ring.
Had I not been late to my appointment at the salon, I would have turned around and retrieved my ring. But I did not, so I thought that this would be a cute picture. A thank you to Tim at Ultima Salon for the photo.
I hate being without my wedding ring. I only take it off to shower or wash my hands. But sometimes, I forget to put it back on, such as when I am doing dishes and get called away or when I am in a hurry and leave the house in a rush.
When I am without my wedding ring and I am not absolutely certain where it is, I feel PANIC. I am terrified of losing it. Though it's just a ring, it is a very important ring, and I am sentimental about it. Made of Tungsten, if I am ever seriously injured, I may lose a finger as the ring cannot be cut off. It would be great if I was able to slip it off in the middle of a serious accident. I will work on developing that super power.
Of course, this time, my ring was where I left it on the bathroom counter, and I was much relieved when I returned home and put it back on my finger. Whew!
I was so proud when I got married and had a wedding ring that I swore to never take it off except for bathing or dish washing and such things. I debated as to whether I should wear it playing Ultimate as it is a bit loose when my finger shrinks in the cold, but so far, in almost four years, it has not slipped off. This is the main source of the panic. I have no visible evidence of being married without the ring, which is troublesome in and of itself, and which I never do on purpose, and if I am away from home, I am afraid that it is lost. I have to check to make sure I know where it is, which I cannot do when I have left the house. I also panic a bit when I leave the house without a watch, and at least once a week, I double back to make sure I have shut the garage door.
I already featured my other Daily Planet shirt in T-shirt #42. So, not much today about the actual Daily Planet.
Since the Daily Planet is a "fictional" newspaper (though as Charles Skaggs will tell me it is real and he writes for it), I thought I would close today's entry with some "news" of my own in the form of lists as I know how you all love the lists.
Here are a few random lists of the things kicking around my brain lately: things to recommend and share.
TOP FIVE FAVORITE BLOG ENTRIES Yes, this is completely self-serving and self-indulgent, but here are my top five favorite entries so far on this blog. If you have not read all of these, and if you have tuned in today, this may be a good sample for you. Thanks again for your kindness and your time. Granted, these are my favorites today. This is my own first impression choices of the moment. The list could change tomorrow as it is arbitrary in some respects. I probably could find better choices for numbers three and four, and I am only picking number two because of the video. (Though I am awfully fond of yesterday's T-shirt #106: Captain America.)
If you asked me to name five books I have loved lately and read recently (as in during the last twelve months), here we go:
The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
Ready, Player One - Ernest Cline
Red Shirts - John Scalzi
Gun Machine - Warren Ellis
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - by Michael Chabon
But really, out of this list, Ready, Player One by Ernest Cline is the most amazing. Everyone to whom I have recommended it has loved it, and the audio edition with narration by Wil Wheaton is fantastic! Beware. You will not be able to put it down.
I originally mentioned Ready, Player One in the entry for T-shirt #61, another post that could have made the top five and of which I am enormously proud. (See how I am sneaking in more than a top five in posts?)
MUSIC I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY
Again, a quick five items. Just the music that I have been listening to in the last two weeks, and in the case of number one, what I am listening to right now.
Spektrmodule podcasts
At Water's Edge podcasts
Love This Giant - David Byrne and St. Vincent
Out of the Woods Tracey Thorn
Destroyed - Moby
I wrote about Warren Ellis' Spektrmodule in T-shirt #75, another entry in which I take great pride.
The Tracey Thorne album came up in T-shirt #97 and lists of most listened to albums. Of course, Moby being in the above list is proof that often when I choose to write about something, as I did with Moby in T-shirt #99, then I am inspired to listen. I am going to see David Byrne and St. Vincent in two days (on Monday July 8th), so expect more on this subject following that show.
AT WATER'S EDGE, which is a great ambient podcast/ radio show can be found via the following:
T-shirt #106 - Captain America, Jack Kirby, and KUDL costume night
As promised, I present Captain America. If only I could find the shirt, which may be packed away at my parents' house. On today's blog, you will see pictures of me wearing the shirt in 2007 at the Kalamazoo Ultimate Disc League (KUDL) costume night.
The subject of KUDL costume night (which this season will be observed on July 15th) would be enough for an entry, especially with these wacky pictures. However, I am dressed as Captain America (at least with just the shirt), and so today's subject will be devoted to the most patriotic of heroes, though I promise to keep it relatively short as I went a bit nuts with yesterday's entry.
In terms of page length, this one is going to be long, but there's more pictures and links than text.
THE CAPTAIN AMERICA SHIRT
I think I have only worn the Captain America shirt three times: once around the house after I bought it and twice playing Ultimate, once at costume night in 2007.
Dan Lipson and me - KUDL Costume Night 2007
Me with Andrew "Little" Hamilton - KUDL Costume Night 2007
... I have no idea what we're doing...
CAPTAIN AMERICA
I can't really say that Captain America has been one of my favorite heroes or even one of my favorite Marvel heroes. As cool as he is, and though the throwing shield thing is very cool, he would not make my top five in either category. After all, as I have established on this blog already--and will continue to establish--I am quite a bit more fond of those heroes that are not the flagship characters, such as--at Marvel--Silver Surfer, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, and the Son of Satan.
Though Captain America has not always been a favorite, I have not avoided him; I have read issues of Captain America avidly for most of my life.
My first issue featuring Captain America was Tales of Suspense #96 from December of 1967, featuring an Iron Man story by Stan Lee and Gene Colan (an artist who is in my top five faves of the 1960s), and the Captain America story "To Be Reborn" by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, in which Steve Rogers is drawn out of retirement and back into uniform as Captain America.
I did not have any Avengers comics before Tales of Suspense #96 came out. My first comic of the Mighty Avengers was #63 from April of 1969. I bought Avengers Special #3, which retold Cap's origin and return to the then present of the Marvel universe and joining the Avengers when it came out in July of 1969.
I might own Captain America #100, the first issue of his own title after the cancellation of Tales of Suspense, but I do not have access to my comics here. (NOTE: Another reason to update the blog someday.) I know I have read the issue in reprint.
My next issue was Captain America #119, after Steranko's short run, and once again a story featuring the awesome GENE COLAN.
Art by John Cassady
Cap gave up his uniform again and fought for justice as Nomad in 1974. I was getting nearly every issue up to Jack Kirby's return to the book after his years at DC Comics starting with issue #193 (January 1976). Though I skipped out in the later 1970s, I read sporadically and started tuning in for every issue when John Byrne took on the title. I loved the mid-1980s run by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck. Though many fans criticized Mark Gruenwald, I enjoyed his tenure on the book from 1985-1995. He logged the most consecutive issues by any single author in the character's history. Gruenwald epitomized what comics are in essence: a business. It's not easy to create earth-shattering, creatively-rich, and innovative stories monthly for ten years. Gruenwald's stories may not have broken new ground, but he kept the character's story coming month after month for 137 issues. I loved Mark Gruenwald as a writer and a person, as I had the chance to know him during my brief time in the Marvel offices in 1985. Gruenwald died in 1996 of a heart attack at the age of 43.
Mark Waid's run on the book followed Gruenwald, and then there was Rob Liefeld, who did what is known as Captain America Volume 2. Not much to say about that. Waid returned with Ron Garney for Volume Three in 1998, which ran fifty issues with the wrap-up by Dan Jurgens and Bob Layton in 2002. The thirty-two issue run of Volume Four began in June of 2002 with some of the most definitive work on Captain America to date by John Ney Rieber and John Cassady. Though a great creative team like that cannot produce thirty-two issues and Volume Four concludes in 2004 with a team of The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman and Scot Eaton. This is what comics is all about. It's manufacturing. It's production month after month after month, and few can keep it up like Kirby or Gruenwald.
Art by Sreve Epting
Volume Five began the era many praise today as the character's finest (next to classics by Kirby) with 50 issues by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. In this arc, Brubaker introduced the Winter Soldier, Cap's old sidekick Bucky, whom Cap thought had died in their final battle against the Nazis in World War II, but who survived and had been brainwashed and stored cyrogenically, thawed for assassinations when needed. These years also featured the assassination of Captain America with Bucky taking on the role of his departed comrade. In the end, Steve Rogers was not dead and he ultimately returned to the role of Captain America. The sixth volume consisted of nineteen issues; Brubaker continued as the writer, the initial issues were drawn by Steve McNiven and later by Alan Davis, Patrick Zircher, and others.
There are tons of great stories in these volumes, but I want to focus on Jack Kirby's legacy and on the recent set of issues (Volume Seven), which is an extended love letter to Jack Kirby and his ingenious contributions to the saga of his first and greatest creation:
Captain America (though credit must be given to co-creator Joe Simon, also).
From the Bicentennial issue? I will include this
in full size at the end.
JACK KIRBY'S RETURN TO CAPTAIN AMERICA
I have created a category for Jack Kirby in the blog because he is the master and a subject I plan to return to over and over again.
Two of the first comics I ever owned were drawn by Jack Kirby: Tales of Suspense #96 and Fantastic Four #69 (both published in December of 1967). I became an avid Jack Kirby fan from those very earliest days. I read Jack Kirby Fantastic Four, I read Jack Kirby Thor, I read Jack Kirby Captain America, and the Uncanny X-Men, and the Avengers, etc.
When Kirby left Marvel in 1971, I started reading his DC Comics, such as OMAC (which recently had a Kirby love letter of its own), The New Gods, Mister Miracle, Kamandi, and the most awesome Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.
When Kirby returned to Marvel, I was in full comic-buying mode and spent my money faithfully on Captain America, The Black Panther (a Kirby themed shirt will be featured in the near future in this blog), 2001: A Space Odyssey, Machine Man, Devil Dinosaur, and my personal favorite--one of my all-time most favorite comic books: The Eternals.
Kirby's late 1970s Marvel period began in January 1976 with Captain America #193 - "The Madbomb, Screamer in the Brain." I have featured art from this first and other issues later in today's blog entry. The Eternals debuted in July of 1976, and Kirby's The Black Panther started in January of 1977, by which time Kirby was cranking out 60-80 pages of art per month, including covers and maintaining (as writer, artist, and editor) four ongoing, regular titles. To use "Marvel-esque" words, this kind of output is ASTOUNDING and ASTONISHING, even UNCANNY and FANTASTIC!
This is the most fertile and amazingly creative period of Jack Kirby's career in comics. Though many "comic fans" criticize this period (some feel Kirby cannot write realistic-sounding dialogue), most comic book fans and readers will be quick to agree that this period is one of the most rich and innovative in Marvel Comics history.
LINKS ABOUT JACK KIRBY
I own a nifty coffee table style book by Mark Evanier on Kirby called Kirby: King of Comics, which won the Eisner for best comic related boom in 2009.
Author of the blog at the next link, Scott Edelman worked at Marvel Comics in the 1970s during the time Kirby returned after his years at DC. Kirby was abused by the staffers during that time, and things got so bad that Stan Lee had to intercede. These anecdotes are explained in the "You Can't Go Home Again" article
linked above.
Years later, Edelman is taking more cheap shots at Kirby by criticizing this panel from Captain America #207.
Not that I consider Kirby some saint but is this kind of criticism really necessary? Seems to me that Edelman has an axe to grind and is pulling out some obscure and forgotten panel to make the point that Jack Kirby needed Stan Lee, even though many agree that Jack's solo work is some of the most brilliant comic book work ever created. Granted his dialogue, external, or internal as seen here, is often stilted, but Kirby was not trying for "realism," which is often what comics strive for anyway (lack of realism), especially in the late 1970s. I say, shame on you, Scott Edelman.
The current run of Captain America is part of the Marvel Now line issues #1 (January 2013) through issue #8 (August 2013) with one issue (#9) left in the story, which is being called "Captain America in Dimension Z." (Note dates are two months in advance as per the norm in comics.)
Written by Rick Remender
Pencils by John Romita Jr.
Inks by Klaus Janson
Colors by Dean White
SPOILER ALERT! Do not read on if you want to avoid spoilers.
This current run of Captain America comics is truly brilliant. Remender and Romita JR with Janson and Knight have synthesized what makes Kirby so great and given it all a modern look.
Like the 1970s Kirby issues, Remender chops Cap out of the current continuity, placing him in "Dimension Z," which is run by his old foe (and a Kirby creation) Arnim Zola. Cap spends TWELVE YEARS (yeah, not sure how Remender plans to deal with this plot element but he has claimed that Cap will be "forever changed" by this story line) in Dimension Z, avoiding Zola and raising Ian, a clone of Zola, who he rescued from Zola's headquarters.
Flashbacks to the childhood of Steve Rogers provide further (and new) back story for the character as present day Cap fights through the horrors of Zola's nightmare dimension with all sorts of Kirby-esque tropes, such as the costuming of Zola's daughter Jet Black, the kindly Phrox with whom Cap and Ian take refuge, and the growing Zola virus embedded in his chest (as revealed at the end of issue #3).
Issue #4 begins with a page that reads simply: "ELEVEN YEARS LATER," and at the end issue #5, after Ian has been taken by Jet Black, to be returned to Zola, Cap cuts out of his chest this growing techno-organic presence before he sets out to get his son back.
The reviews and articles do a good job explaining why Captain America Volume Seven is so great. Check them out as well as the Marvel AR videos.
I always had trouble with the Marvel Augmented Reality, so I finally deleted the APPs from my phone and tablet, but I was very disappointed because I wanted to access this content. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Marvel is posting the AR videos to You Tube. How much do I love social media? A LOT.
Here's three videos from the AR app: two with artist John Romita Jr and one with writer Rick Remender about recent issues of the Captain America series.
Captain America #7: Rick Remender - Marvel AR
Captain America #7: John Romita JR talks - Marvel AR
Captain America #5 - John Romita Jr. - Marvel AR
CAPTAIN AMERICA
I must give a nod to the recent movie Captain America: First Avenger (2011), which I thought was quite good and far superior to the two CBS live action films from 1979. (SIDE NOTE: The first Cap TV movie premiered on my birthday in 1979, which I thought was quite a treat until I watched it.)
As a fan of the Winter Soldier story in the comics, I am quite excited about the next film Captain America: the Winter Soldier (2014), especially because Robert Redford has been cast.
Captain America By Jack Kirby
An art gallery of various images from Kirby's 1970s work on Captain America. The blog closes with a Captain America painting by Alex Ross.
From the Bicentennial issue?
Captain America #197 - pg. 10
Captain America # 199 pg.2
Captain America 193 - 02
Captain America 193 - 03
Captain America 199 - 04
Captain America 196 - 05
Captain America 208
Captain America 214
Captain America Bicentennial?
Some of my favorite (though not all)
of my Kirby Captain America covers follow.
art by Alex Ross
Okay, this entry took way longer than I had planned. If you actually made it to this point, THANK YOU!
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"Atom Ant is a cartoon ant and superhero, created by Hanna-Barbera in 1965. His name may have been derived from adamant, which gives indication towards his great strength, exceeding "250 times his own weight". The name and character might also be a gentle parody of the Charlton Comics character, Captain Atom. Atom costarred in The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show (sharing top billing with Secret Squirrel). In syndication, Atom Ant aired alongside Precious Pupp and The Hillbilly Bears.
"He was often contacted by the police, who sent him out on assignment. Some of these missions parodied those of Batman. The police force was constantly shown to be underfunded and inept, as they relied on Atom Ant to do all their police work. The only two police officers were the chief and deputy chief. The department only possessed one rusted patrol car. Atom Ant fights various villains including recurring ones like Ferocious Flea (voiced by Don Messick) and mad scientist Professor Von Gimmick" ("Atom Ant," Wikipedia, 2013)..jpg)
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I often rock the T-shirt as I shop..jpg)
T-shirt #36: Kraftwerk and the concept of Grading Robot..jpg)
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