Who watches the Watchmen?

I did!

It was quite gory and quite violent--I think it definitely deserves its R-rating in the sense that it really did not seem appropriate for an under 17 crowd, although I am sure I behind times in what kids these day know and see on a daily basis. Still, I would much rather give my kid the graphic novel to read first, than this to watch.

All that aside, it was very good, it stayed pretty true to the general storyline, and I thought the cast selection, especially The Comedian and Nite Owl II, was nicely done (well, and I suppose Rorschach, but you see so little of his face, you know?! Oh, incidentally, this movie reunites Jackie Earle Haley and Patrick Wilson, last seen in 'Little Children' together. They should make more movies together; they have a nice vibe going.)

I wonder how it will play out to someone who has not read the graphic novel, or isn't quite aware of why, when it first came out, it was such a landmark event in the comics world and, in a way, for the novel genre itself. I think they will enjoy it. I suppose if you liked the previous Alan Moore adaptation (V for Vendetta), you will like this--granted, V the movie took more liberties with the story than Watchmen the movie has, but given that neither were made of the typical superhero fabric (in novel as well as in the movie), they are remain comparable enough that liking one probably means you'll like the other.

The soundtrack, by the way, is quite nice, too, and rather eclectic, which makes sense, since the novel/movie spans about 40 years in time (in flashbacks). The one song that felt a little off was 'Hallelujah', not because it wasn't appropriate, but I guess because it was used in the one of two ways that song always seems to be used (sex/love scene or death/loss scene. For once, I'd like to see someone do use it in a completely unexpected way.). Props, though, to using the Leonard Cohen original, whose darker, starker delivery than later covers went very well with the similar overtones of the movie. Other than that, though, I loved the varied choices of songs--all classics, but very nicely interjected. Oh, and there are also covers on soundtrack, which really seals the deal for me as far as it being a good attempt at a memorable soundtrack. Especially since, how could you go wrong with an album that has Nina Simone doing Pirate Jenny from Threepenny Opera?

Pirate Jenny - Nina Simone

(Oh, sweet! Here's a link to the actual original from the 1931 film 'Die Dreigroschenoper'. Definitely click through!)

The other cover on the album is My Chemical Romance's cover of Bob Dylan's Desolation Row. I think if you are a purist who believes Dylan's work is Dylan's work is Dylan's work, you probably will hate it. Even if you are not a purist, you may not like it as much if you come at it cold, thn if you see it in the context of the movie (it does work better with that as its backdrop). I'm not a Dylan purist, so I actually don't mind the MCR cover, in and of its own--it doesn't come even halfway close to hitting the particular spot Dylan's does, but I don't think it was trying to or was meant, to anyway, you know? Actually, I kind of like it. (Is it just me, or is there a little hint of Meatloaf's 'Bat Out of Hell' interspersed with Slade's 'Run Runaway'? I think so, and I am usually good about picking up on certain arrangements, however unintentionally they may end up in a song.)

Desolation Row (cover) - My Chemical Romance



Desolation Row - Bob Dylan



(By the way, my go to source for buying albums, Amazon, appears to have only the MCR cover available off the soundtrack as a download, (I don't know about itunes, which I hate and don't use), but you can easily 'build' your own soundtrack by choosing and downloading the songs from a different album from the artists.)

POW 012809

Snappy little tune and also on the great soundtrack to a quite entertaining movie--loved everyone in it, especially Rebecca Hall and Benedict Cumberbatch (who also happens to have one of the most awesome names for an actor, ever!).

Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)? - The Buzzcocks
Update: had to replace with a live version since all album version were removed. Then again, isn't live the best way to experience punk rock?




***

Also, less than two months to go. Yay!

Watchmen (3rd and last trailer)



I do still like the original trailer best, the starting music was perfect:

Watchmen (original trailer)
The comment at the end of the trailer is so funny...and so spot on.

Comics update and more

I finally made it to the comic bookstore to pick up my stash for the past few weeks and, I have to say, it was a pretty haul (in content, although there actually was quite a number of comics.)

Before anything else though, I have to make a confession: I spent $25.00 on a single comic. Yes, TWENTY-FIVE. No, you don't have to tell me what other things I could've done with that money, because I already know and I already calculated it with light speed when I saw the actual price and only hesitated a fraction of a second before adding it to the pile.

It's the Mike Perkins variant cover which is the first part of the five part tableau I mentioned before, specific to the Captain Tripps arc.

That's right part one of FIVE. That means I get to cough up $125 before all is said and done for this arc's variant (and variants for the remainder of The Stand, in general. Least, that's my story for now.)

I honestly did not know it was going to cost that much, when I saw I had the regular cover in my pull bin, and asked for it to be added. Apparently, my talent for sniffing out the most coveted (and, therefore naturally, the most expensive) items did not fail me even in my so called amateur foray into the world of comics. Maybe I should make a job out of that: Wanted-position that requires ability to suss out what is coveted and will get top price. I think they call that target marketing.

You know what is funny? I never even read The Stand completely! And if I had, I doubt very much doubt it would beat the Stephen King books I prefer out of all the ones I've ever read (Rose Madder and Skeleton Crew, by the way). Something about the artwork, though, is just mesmerizing. The variant cover did live up to the sketchbook expectation, and what I really want to do, once I have all five covers, is to frame them for my future reading room.

Anyway, now that that confession is done with, on to the remaining comics. There was actually another surprise in this lot--although a MUCH cheaper one. Apparently at some point, possibly because I was asking to have the Ultimate Origins pulled and also the X-Men Origins one shots, E. (the owner) must've mentioned something about an Ultimates X-Men/Fantastic Four short arc and I must've said yes, because there was a two-parter in my haul. It was pretty interesting and it was self-contained so whether I'd asked for it, or they'd mistaken my bin for someone else's, I didn't' mind getting it.

Oh, there was a new Fables, and it's a completely new arc but even though I haven't caught up with all the back issues/trades, I did read enough of the last arc to know what the new setup is and can read from hereon out and catch up simultaneously, although I am obviously spoiled for any foreshadowing in the old issues. It was an interesting season opener, as it were.

Okay, so we get to Air, and oh my god, I am really, really, really loving this. For one thing, a suspicion I had appears to be playing out: that the lead male is Iranian or of Iranian descent. The name he is given--which may not be his real name, of course, given his character--Javad Aryanpour immediately caught my eye. "Wait a sec," I thought, "that's interesting; his name or alias is Iranian."

[For the non-initiated, even though the first name Javad is Arabic, there are two dead giveaways that the name is actually Iranian. First, that the first name is written as Javad and not Jawad and second that the last name, even if you did not understand the meaning (which is another hint), has a "p" in it. Arabs do not pronounce "v" the hard way, but rather as a soft "w" and, more importantly, there is no letter "p" in Arabic. (A "P" from a word in another language is usually replaced by a "B", so Portugal become "B"ortaghal, for example. There are also three additional letters that are unique for Farsi and not found in Arabic: the hard "g" like gate; "ch" like chair; and the soft, vibrating "j" like the French "j" in "J"e t'aime or "j"eune). ]

In addition to the name, the very last panel in the second issue makes mention of Javad's unknown/supposedly dubious past in relation to Tehran, which seems to solidify my hypothesis as to his origins. Now, given that the whole premise of Air is about terrorism, but with a twist , one could argue that the writers are potentially setting up Javad to be associated with the 'Axis of Evil' in a less than savory manner...but since he is clearly being targeted as the lead male/love interest of the main character, I am hoping the twist is that he is an Iranian good guy. I really hope the writers don't take the low road and feed into the common-denominator perception of Iran and Iranians. Comic readers happen to be actually fairly intelligent folk, especially those who are over 30 (ehem!) and I think they deserve better than to have their intelligence insulted this way.

If they do go that route, I will be EXTREMELY disappointed and will, of course, immediately stop buying the comic, as well as possibly buying anything printed by Vertigo, in general--al after sending a stern;y worded letter to the writers/publishers, of course. (Which I will then print out and pin up right next to my letter to Ben and Jerry's that explains why I have refused to eat their product or allow anyone in my family/house to do so, for the past 11 years. It won't make a damn difference to the publishers, just as the previous didn't to B&Js--though I did get a answer back--but it makes me feel good.)

In the meantime, though, I'm content that the second issue was every bit as good as the first and held up to the high expectation set in the first issue. Which is why I sincerely hope they don't fuck it up with stupidity.

***

I completely forgot, until now, that I actually had gone to the comic store the very first week of September, for the 4th anniversary of their opening. They had 40% off all trades and novels, and 40-50% off all comics, and so in addition to my usual pulls for the beginning of the month (Buffy, Angel, House of Mystery), I also bought Spike-Asylum, which had been highly rated in the comic Buffyverse, a nice new edition of V for Vendetta, and then a graphic book , which was more novel than graphic (i.e. actual chapters and paragraphs, accentuated by black and white lithograph type drawings) called Quixote. I'm always intrigued by variations and updates on classics I like (see: Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene although, to be fair, Graham Greene could write a variation on the phone book and I would embrace it), which was actually quite interesting, and I think very much in line with the "noire" aspect of the original Quixote plot, if you stop and think about it.

Before I forget, the House of Mystery finished its current arc and damn, was it was good and damn, was it not what I was expecting, except that it totally was, because HoM has never been about pretty, happy endings. It was a little heartbreaking and I think if I'd been a teenager reading it, I'd probably would've been a lee-tle upset. (Maybe.) That's why I loved HoM in its previous carnation, and do so now: despite being fantasy and requiring a suspension of reality, which is as all comics are, HoM has special kind of bizzare suspension of reality that interestingly enough ends up being the most realistic that tells it like it really. I love allegories that are just so perfectly in tune with how it actually goes down, in the regular world.

(Damn, I am really becoming a comic fangirl, aren't I? I obviously have a lot to say about it all!)

***

Of course, I figure I can't provide a comics update without giving an update on the whole E. situation alluded to previously, (that's the owner, again, for all of you playing along at home), which is his supposedly being drawn to my irresistible self.

Sooooo...yeah, I guess he is kind of attracted to me, but not in the romantic way, obviously--more in the 'hey, chick who likes what I like' way. Apparently, this is also not lost on his wife--who runs the store with him and his brother--because even I had to finally concede that when I go in there and they are both there, she immediately directs him away from me or completely breaks up our conversation with such speed and insistence that it's beyond mere coincidence. (Even though she knows perfectly well I am married, with a kid AND both L. and the kid come in with me, at least half the time. Also, for the record, I almost never initiate conversation unless he is manning the register, because I like to browse for a a good bit when I first go in. He comes up to me, to say hi, etc. and then shoot the breeze not just about comics, but books and movies in general.)

L. actually witnessed one of these descend and break up efforts and could not stop laughing afterward, saying he was surprised E. didn't get whiplash at the speed his wife turned his attention to the farthest corner of the store from where I was standing. I'm neither offended nor amused, and pretty much ambivalent when that happens--I know, as a woman, trying to convince another woman that you have absolutely no interest in their significant other is a futile effort, because it does absolutely nothing except to make her feel even more sure that something is afoot. Over the years, with situations like this coming my way now and then, I've learned to maintain a neutral attitude which seems to be the best approach.

Which means that while I definitely won't fan the flames such as they may be (and I never do, by the way, no matter how provoked) and while I am not going to go out of my way to either ignore him or seek him out when I go to the store (since I have no intention of not going over something so silly), I'll still talk to him if it happens as the natural course of events. That is, if we happen to talk, we will, much like how it happened this weekend this past weekend, while L. and the kid were walking around the store, checking out the displays (the kid loves doing that), E. and I chatted. When he commented on how I looked rather sad and worried the last couple of times, I talked a little bit about what was going on and he was really nice about it--expressed regret and then totally changed the conversations to books and secondhand books, where I told him about a couple places that he didn't know of (like me, he'd been bummed out about the secondhand bookstore near us closing down two years ago) and we traded info on the best library sales around us.

After which I paid for my comics, we said goodbye, and I came home with my husband and child, having had a nice conversation with another guy with no ulterior motives whatsoever. Why is that so frigging hard for a lot of people to understand and accept? Sigh.

(Upon rereading, this makes me seem like some sort of geeky femme fatale, which is only half true. It's actually quite funny, if you know me/see me in person, because I am so far from the femme fatale/sexpot who drives men crazy type, in both looks and demeanor, that it makes the humor in this and similar situations even more obvious.)

Okay, enough of that. I agree it had been bugging me a bit (so, okay, maybe not quite ambivalent about it), but it's all good and I know, from previous experience, things have a way of settling now, after the first few months.

***

Oh, to wrap things up, the noire reference way back up reminded me that Marvel is doing a noire take on three of their most popular characters--X-Men (central role TBD), Spiderman, and Daredevil. I'm going to get all three (sigh...well, I suppose it can count as helping the economy?!), but I am mostly excited about how they do Daredevil, because I totally agree with the general articles I've read on the proposed series that if ever a Marvel character screamed of noire overtures, it is Daredevil. I've also never read any Daredevil in comic format except consistently, so I'm looking forward to it, since I have no attachment to any arc/depiction from previous issues coming into this version.

Well, that is all for now. Tune in, same bat time, same bat channel for the next update.

Comics update the third

I am still reading BtVS Season 8 comics. I didn't really like the last arc, but the new one is quite good and especially interesting for me, since I had just got done reading Fray before the first issue of the new arc came out.

I'm also catching up on the Angel Season 6 comics, which I decided to try a month or so ago. It's got surprisingly good storyline(s), and I definitely like it better than the BtVS one(s), although that shouldn't be surprising since I always liked Angel the series best of the two. There is also a Spike specific limited run series, that takes place after the end of the Angel TV series (season 5) and before the start of the season 6 comic. I think there's only been one issue (or, at least, I've only read one) but I think it may end up being the best of the bunch.

The Ultimate Origins is entertaining enough for what it is: another limited run, alternate depiction of Marvel's best known characters. Actually, that's not entirely fair, it is quite entertaining, and I am looking forward to see how it all comes together and ends in the last issue.

The Jean Grey Origins came out yesterday. (Side note: I thought it was going to be a five issue arc, but it looks like it is just a one-shot. I am confused, I confess, because I had the distinct memory of reading how it was going to be five issues. Maybe I got all mixed up with the Wolverine Origins five issue arc. I will look into it--I don't like being confused!) Anyway, it is very glossy and bright and bubbly, graphically, with not a lot of story or major (or new) character development yet, but it's fun, in a way a catchy little pop song is fun. Lovely inkwork.

Air also came out yesterday and oh my god, it is so good. I mean SO good. The first issue is almost a double issue, but even putting aside the length, it is pretty dialogue intensive, and there was really good character and plot development right off the bat. The graphics are also pleasant: fresh and light and..."airy"and give off a cool vibe. I think it's going to be even better in the next issue.

Finally, I have to link to the Iranian comic books I found, based on the hero Rostam from the Iranian epic work of literature (and possibly the best known work of literature in Iran), the Shahnameh. I haven't ordered them yet, but you know I will very soon.

P.S. The Stand comes out in just under 3 weeks, I think. I really hope the graphics hold up to the promise of the sketchbook preview, otherwise I am going to be very disappointed, since I'm not really getting it for the story.

Comics update

The more I hear about The Stand, the more I think I will like it. Of course, cover art and sketchbook previews can be misleading, because the artists are far more detailed in those, and a lot of times the cover artists are completely different from the ones for the story (See: Buffy Season 8). But Mike Perkins is doing it all, and I liked his cover variant best, so I have high hopes.

I recently discovered our local library carries some graphic novels--as do our sister branches--and comics once when they're published as trade PBs. I just read through all of Fray and a bunch of the Buffy ones that way. It's a good way of figuring out which ones I really want for myself with spending the money...well without spending it right away.

Fables continues to charm me, although it angers me a bit more now. They took the main female character where they didn't need to, although I suppose you could argue that this being a series based on fairytales, of course that's where they would take the character. Except that this is supposed to be the anti-fairytale, so to speak. I am still holding out, because some of the other arcs and characters are still so great (I will never think of Little Boy Blue, or Goldilocks, or Jack of beanstalk fame the same way!), and there is glimmers of hope for my favorite character.

The second issue of Ultimate Origins was great. Other than X-Men, I really have very little back story on Marvel universe characters, so this particular limited run is perfect for me, because it is a new twist on the origins of the most famous Marvel characters, and tying them together.

I caved in and bought a new copy of Watchmen (the trailer is up online!), because I am weak. No kidding about the falling down a comics hole and taking all your money with you, as noted by my last post--my comic bookstore owner loves me, not surprising, since I think I have single handedly increased his revenue by 50%. He and his brother and his wife are really cool; they pull stuff they think regulars might like to preview without having to pay for it, and then if you like it you pay for it and if you don't you still get to keep the issue if you want. So you tell yourself you are saving money that way (not buying what you want), although in reality you end up finding something else to add!

*L. thinks the love has a little more to do with just my spending money. To wit, our recent conversation after he came in the store with me, and walked around with the kid while I was talking to the owner:

"He's totally mesmerized by you, especially when you're talking books and comics..."
"Oh, knock it off..."
"Come on, you know what you can be like when you get enthusiastic about something and start talking about it. "
"Oh, right, that's right, I am irresistible."
"You know it. Don't be all coy about it."

He's right, and I do know it, but honestly to goodness, it is the last thing on my mind when I am talking excitedly to someone about something we both feel passionate about. I don't go into the conversation thinking, hey, let me see if I can enthrall this person. I know it happens every time I get into that particular zone of bonding over common interests, but--even though I know people don't believe me--I really and truly have no ulterior motives other than pure excitement and joy at connecting with someone over something we both like or love. Which, pretty much happens with most people I talk to regularly, since I can always find some common bond. It's either chance them thinking I am coming on to them, on some level, or stop talking to people all together.

Comics update

Fables? Is really good so far. I've read through two story arcs (so, 12 issues or so) and I like it a lot and have been talking L's ear off about it. I'm hearing the later issues, especially the arc that deals with Western meets Eastern fable characters will grate on my nerves because of some potentially overt racist tones, but I'll reserve judgement until I get to them. So far, so good.

Origins (Wolverine) was good, and I am definitely excited about the Jean Grey one, now. House of Mystery keeps getting better and better. Oh, and I had a copy of the published sketchbook for The Stand in my little pull list bin yesterday (yes, I now have an official pull list at the store.Color me geek). The drawings are GORGEOUS and the interpretation of Randall Flagg is just spine shivering brilliant. There was also a preview of the first 5 issues' variant covers, which are each part of an overall tableau from the Lincoln Tunnel scene. Even if I didn't care for the story, I'd buy it for the cover art alone. It comes out in September.

Finally, a very recent e-mail reminded me of the Asterix/Obelix and Tintin strips! I loved those as a kid and of course, now I feel a need to go hunt them down and get copies of some of my favorite books.

Ker-ching: the sound of the money being dropped this rabbit hole...

Comic, my old friend

After about 15 years, I've started to get back into and buying comics. I think the first comic I ever read was actually a pocket Batman graphic novel when I was about eight, when we were living in Spain and getting my hands on anything written in English that was not school property was exciting. I still remember the storylines and that was around when I decided I wanted to be Catwoman when I grew up. When we lived in England, I was a faithful buyer of the weekly comics such as Beano and Dandy, and WoW! and Whoopee! (which merged), and also the girls' weekly comics like Mandy and Debbie (which also merged) and Bunty. Back in Iran, there was no access to new comics but luckily for me, my cousin had access to his uncle's (on the side we're not related!) DC comics from early 50s to late 60s, which he'd bought while going to school in the U.S. and brought back with him. He'd especially been a fan of the House of Mystery, House of Horror series, Oh, and he also had Atlas' Strange Tales (which got taken over by Marvel), which were my absolute favorite (esp. the late 50s ones). He even had pre-comic code issues of Strange Tales which, from what I can tell, would go for quite a bit now!

Anyway, there is a great comic bookstore near us--right next to our favorite family run ice-cream shop!-- and so I am catching up on old favorites and picking up new ones. So far, what I've been buying has been:

1- Catching up with and now regularly buying BtVS Season 8 series, as well as collections of back issues I never read (The Death of Buffy is my favorite so far of the old ones I've read).

2- Catching up on the Origins mini-series (about Wolverine), as well as starting to read the Ultimate Origins (just started this month). And I think there is going to be another Origins mini-series, this time about Jean Grey.

3- Catching up on the Matt Wagner 2002 Trinity series, as well as now buying the new 2008 Trinity series (just started this month).

4- Buying the new Vertigo House of Mystery series, which I wasn't sure about last night and now I suddenly love this morning.

5- Catching up on Fables, which is SO my cup of tea, given how I love retelling of fairy tales.

6- I think I am also going to give a new series called Air, which was previewed in Ultimate Origins #1, a whirl.