Brian Bendis often talks in interviews about having different styles of writing when approaching comics but he's known for, stereotyped as, being the guy that takes six issues to tell two issues worth of story while filling the rest of the time with somewhat realistic dialogue that reminds one of Kevin Smith without the sexual and bodily function references. Going into issue #3, Siege has not been like that. The story has been focused on the key elements of the tale with tie-in books filling in some of the details that aren't necessary to know in order to enjoy the main book. Siege #3 moves along at a fast paced, action packed clip, that manages to take enough time to provide detail so that the story continues to make sense. Combined with the detailed art and the Big Moments that are paying off as truly game changing makes this a book to get. I am very impressed with this mini-series. I mean, I did really enjoy Secret Invasion but the last few issues just felt like one big fight scene that was drawn in a 'lets get everyone in there somewhere'. While a lot of that is happening here, the art works with the story, so that the battle 'feels' right, not just like a two page splash panel with a bunch of characters on it. Just... Wow.
Groo - The Hogs of Horder #4 completes this mini-series where the story has surrounded some familiar sounding economic troubles. You wouldn't think it would be funny but it is. It manages to sound like newspaper headlines without being depressing. Uplifting even. The moral of the story is a good one if a bit 'easier said than done' - the best person to work for is yourself.
Hercules - Fall of an Avenger #1 of 2 features Herc's funeral. Friends get together to tell stories of the fallen. Amusing but not essential.
Dark Avengers #15 builds into Siege. It exists for really one moment, one event that clearly has an impact on what will later happen in Siege. Beyond that moment, there's nothing really to see here.
Muppet King Arthur #3 still doesn't feel... right. It's amusing, the art is decent, the story is acceptable, there's a Monty Python reference, but it still doesn't have the impact that Muppet Peter Pan had, or even Muppet Robin Hood. Perfectly acceptable Muppetry but nothing exciting.
Nova #35 completes the Sphinx story with a twist at the end. I continue to enjoy Nova but this feels more like Perfectly Acceptable 1990s Comics more than the 'Wow!' I expect from Nova. Next issue begins the tie-in with the next big cosmic storyline so maybe that'll kickstart things again. It's not that there's anything wrong with this issue or this storyline, it's just B instead of A+.
Simpsons Comics #164 is entertaining. The storyline is about 'Cash for Clunkers' and therefore feels like it should have come out last year. That's a problem the show seems to have of late as well, topical references that aren't topical by the time the episode airs. Then again, you can be too topical as well and then you're not funny a year later. I should read this again in a year.
Amazing Spider-Man #625 is very sad. It's clear that a happy story from a month or two ago existed solely to have this follow-up story occur and have a greater impact. Bad Things happen to a Spidey villain and he will be worse for it in the future. Depressing in a well written sort of way.
Thankfully I read The Muppet Show Comic Book #3 after Spidey. All better! I had expected the gang to be on the road away from the being repaired Muppet Theatre for another issue or two but they return home at the beginning of this issue. Gonzo takes the 'slow' way home in order to raise money for charity and Fozzie is still missing. The twist around Fozzie's absence is no real twist but everything works out as it should. Statler and Waldorf being lost without Fozzie to heckle is a great insight into the characters. It's as if it's their job in life to push Fozzie onwards. There's a fondness there that doesn't need to be fondness at the same time. There's also a Muppet Labs experiment that leads to multiple Beakers. Ah, Good Stuff.
18 March 2010
16 March 2010
MPM to Shed Free Day?
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/87726152.html
I've had to read this article a few times to get the sense of it. At first glance it seemed like the goal was to remove the traditional free entry on Mondays for Milwaukee County residents. Upon further inspection, Dan Finley seems to be arguing that Monday is not sacred.
Some of this is clearly financial even if it's 'not about the money'. The Museum has a number of volunteer employees to help fill out their ranks. If, say, the free day was moved to Sunday, perhaps they would have more volunteers available to meet the increased visitor volume that the free day generates. There is a financial aspect to the question even if there continues to be a free day of entry.
I honestly can't remember a time when the free day at the Museum wasn't Monday. Since I was a kid it's been one of those 'you know you're from Milwaukee when you know the free day at the Museum is Monday'. With the Museum being a symbol of history and tradition, it doesn't seem right to change that process.
Yet, if it's not working, it should go or be moved. Just because something is a tradition doesn't mean it has to happen that way for always. The Museum is also a symbol of science and understanding. Those things sometimes change.
As I have a membership, I get in for 'free' all the time so, at the moment, this doesn't directly affect me. Yet, somehow, it does. I note all the other changes to the Museum that I notice. This one would be weird.
I've had to read this article a few times to get the sense of it. At first glance it seemed like the goal was to remove the traditional free entry on Mondays for Milwaukee County residents. Upon further inspection, Dan Finley seems to be arguing that Monday is not sacred.
Some of this is clearly financial even if it's 'not about the money'. The Museum has a number of volunteer employees to help fill out their ranks. If, say, the free day was moved to Sunday, perhaps they would have more volunteers available to meet the increased visitor volume that the free day generates. There is a financial aspect to the question even if there continues to be a free day of entry.
I honestly can't remember a time when the free day at the Museum wasn't Monday. Since I was a kid it's been one of those 'you know you're from Milwaukee when you know the free day at the Museum is Monday'. With the Museum being a symbol of history and tradition, it doesn't seem right to change that process.
Yet, if it's not working, it should go or be moved. Just because something is a tradition doesn't mean it has to happen that way for always. The Museum is also a symbol of science and understanding. Those things sometimes change.
As I have a membership, I get in for 'free' all the time so, at the moment, this doesn't directly affect me. Yet, somehow, it does. I note all the other changes to the Museum that I notice. This one would be weird.
15 March 2010
Music Monday - The Hollies
Truth be told, much of the music from the 1950s and 1960s that we consider to be rock and roll was considered pop at the time. Pop music? Heavens no! Pop music conjures up the idea of heavily processed music, pre-fabricated stuff that's lethal to your brain. It's not necessarily supposed to be so. It was 'popular'. It just needs to be catchy, have hooks and lyrics that burn into your brain.
That's exactly what the Hollies have been for years.
Clearly a pop song from the sound of it, catchy and fun. Yet there's a story being told, there's a depth to it, it's a playful depth, but it's depth nonetheless. And the subject matter of a 'dancing' lady might be common for pop music now, but not of the pop music of the 1960s. There is something different here, something that's not pre-programmed to appeal to the populace.
This just rocks too hard to be a simple pop song. Certainly the subject matter is simple enough in it's love song way, but there's a growl to the guitar, an echo that feeds with the harmonies of the singers that becomes more than the sum of its parts.
I need to give you one song that might be familiar and here it is, the 'what is he singing?' classic - Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.
The Hollies are going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today. This is a fine thing, especially as there is no Pop Music Hall of Fame and that building would probably have too much ABBA in it anyway. There's still a version of the band that tours today and they still occasionally record new albums. Outstanding!
Congratulations to the Hollies!
That's exactly what the Hollies have been for years.
Clearly a pop song from the sound of it, catchy and fun. Yet there's a story being told, there's a depth to it, it's a playful depth, but it's depth nonetheless. And the subject matter of a 'dancing' lady might be common for pop music now, but not of the pop music of the 1960s. There is something different here, something that's not pre-programmed to appeal to the populace.
This just rocks too hard to be a simple pop song. Certainly the subject matter is simple enough in it's love song way, but there's a growl to the guitar, an echo that feeds with the harmonies of the singers that becomes more than the sum of its parts.
I need to give you one song that might be familiar and here it is, the 'what is he singing?' classic - Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.
The Hollies are going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today. This is a fine thing, especially as there is no Pop Music Hall of Fame and that building would probably have too much ABBA in it anyway. There's still a version of the band that tours today and they still occasionally record new albums. Outstanding!
Congratulations to the Hollies!
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