Boogie Nights

Get Fuzzy 3-1-08

Still one of the more under-rated strips out there.

Brian Michael Bendis Rewrites Matt Yglesias

Ultimate Blogs - Matt Yglesias

I do so love when comics are injected into the political blogosphere.

Everything is a Story

Which Book Should Neil Gaiman Put Online for Free? - Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing
The Birthday Thing - Neil Gaiman

I love ideas like this, particularly when they come from excellent authors. Neil Gaiman (of The Sandman fame if you didn't know, you heathen) has gotten permission to put one of his novels online in its entirety. My preference is for American Gods but that might come off as a little too intense for some so I'm voting for Neverwhere, one of his early novels with all of the elements of a typical Gaiman story but nothing too overwhelming. If you haven't read anything by Gaiman yet then that's an excellent place to start. With American Gods one should really read The Sandman series first, but it's not an absolute necessity. Also, if you want a taste of Gaiman but are too lazy to read, then go rent Mirrormask. The movie was directed by Gaiman's friend and incredible artist Dave McKean and Gaiman provided the script. It has a kid's movie feel to it but enough adult themes and intelligence that you won't feel insulted by it. Besides, it's a great movie anyway.

Waiting for 2012

There are 200 'Real' Superheroes in the United States - Kevin Kelly @ io9

Damnit, Grant Morrison was right.

The Jerusalem Effect

Alexis Millan - Warren Ellis

I love how Spider Jerusalem has taken on a life-force of its own. He stands for both the counter-culture and for what is ultimately right. I think Ellis has only once produce a better character: Elijah Snow of Planetary. Comics are wonderful.

The Hero's Journey

Eight Reasons Why The Hero's Journey Sucks - Charlie Anders @ io9

It's posts like this one that remind me we don't all have the same knowledge base nor do we all agree about the same things. This rant about Joseph Campbell is pretty bad in my opinion, though. It's a complaint about lazy writers who follow a formula without playing with the formula. The hero's journey of Campbell's work is one of those formulas but I've seen great authors do amazing things with that formula. All this rant proves is that Anders isn't a well read as he would like us to believe.

The Transformation of the Punk

Tank Girl then and now - Nadya Lev @ Coilhouse

I never read the original Tank Girl. My interests in comics during that period were primarily in the X-Men realm. But she did catch my eye every once in a while and for a long time that was what a real punk was supposed to look like for me. Now, in the age of the cyberpunk, the visual expression is less important than the subverting presence of a punk mindset. Plus, I adore Ashley Wood's art, when I can figure out what the hell he's doing. Just a weird mix of nostalgia and the modern for the morning.