Hello, it is time for the latest update to Return of Jetman. Can you feel the electricity in the air? Wait, what's that? I've just been rubbing my feet on the carpet trying to shock you? Would I do a thing like that?
OK, yes, I would. But that's beside the point. We're here to discuss this update. And it's fantastic update, too!
There are seven new pieces of artwork posted to the DX Gallery. Two of them are from Kabuki Katze, and you can find a handy reference for both of them on this blog entry of hers. Two more are from newcomer to ROJ Sean Moore. And the last three? Well, they tie into the other portion of this update.
As promised, New Return of Jetman Episode 6 - "Beyond the Universe" is now live! But this isn't just any episode, oh no. This particular episode is also a CROSSOVER produced in cooperation with those enigmatic daredevils Kazekage, Igadevil, and Kabuki Katze. Each of them had full approval of the usage of their characters (Kienan Ademetria, Kamen Rider Sigma, and Star Anise, respectively), and each also has permitted an art piece depicting my special guest stars in the DX Gallery. I offer my humble thanks to all of them for letting me play in their sandboxes.
This particular episode turned out to be so massive that the accompanying notes did not get finished in time for this update. They are in progress, and will be posted when the next site update happens. Trust me, they will be worth the wait.
Oh, and before I forget - this episode carries a special dedication. I've been keeping it under wraps until this update was posted. It's just a small gesture to someone who has offered a lot of support, encouragement, and advice over the last few months as I toiled over this lengthy and challenging story. Thanks again, for everything.
Your feedback on any part of this update is warmly welcomed. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Know Ye These, The Hallowed Labels of OWARI
I hop around from one subject to another, and I imagine that can be a little frustrating for some people. If you are one of those people, you will be pleased to know that I have spent some time this evening adding labels to all of the posts on this blog. I intend to continue this practice in the future, which will give everyone yet another option in navigating this odd little corner of the web.
The labels will be appearing in the sidebar in order of most frequent usage. I expect them to swap places often. As of this writing, they appear in this order :
comic books : Posts about comics, comic creators, and things related to the medium, even tangentially.
tokusatsu : Posts about Japanese live action science-fiction - superheroes, monster movies, that sort of thing.
blogging : Posts where I discuss blog matters (such as this one).
works : My original works, both in prose and in art.
music : Posts related to music in some fashion.
quotes : Interesting quotes I have gathered from various sources.
cartoons : For animated fare of every stripe.
general nonsense : For those times when you want to be totally random.
movies/TV : For those things that do not fall under "tokusatsu" or "cartoons", which will happen a lot. Sports will probably appear under this label, too.
reading : For print material that has nothing to do with comics.
I've also got the special guest star label in the works, but you'll understand that one better when and if I actually need to use it.
The big site update is scheduled for tomorrow, and I'll probably be posting it in just a few hours. As for the rest of the week, I have a bit of a backlog of completed entries that have been sitting around unposted. I completed the revision of one in particular over a month ago, and have yet to find the right time to post it. So I will be increasing the posting here slightly for a week or two, in an attempt to clear out those pieces and make room for new things.
The labels will be appearing in the sidebar in order of most frequent usage. I expect them to swap places often. As of this writing, they appear in this order :
comic books : Posts about comics, comic creators, and things related to the medium, even tangentially.
tokusatsu : Posts about Japanese live action science-fiction - superheroes, monster movies, that sort of thing.
blogging : Posts where I discuss blog matters (such as this one).
works : My original works, both in prose and in art.
music : Posts related to music in some fashion.
quotes : Interesting quotes I have gathered from various sources.
cartoons : For animated fare of every stripe.
general nonsense : For those times when you want to be totally random.
movies/TV : For those things that do not fall under "tokusatsu" or "cartoons", which will happen a lot. Sports will probably appear under this label, too.
reading : For print material that has nothing to do with comics.
I've also got the special guest star label in the works, but you'll understand that one better when and if I actually need to use it.
The big site update is scheduled for tomorrow, and I'll probably be posting it in just a few hours. As for the rest of the week, I have a bit of a backlog of completed entries that have been sitting around unposted. I completed the revision of one in particular over a month ago, and have yet to find the right time to post it. So I will be increasing the posting here slightly for a week or two, in an attempt to clear out those pieces and make room for new things.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Brain Hurting
It all started when LJ-user Cosmorific posted a meme in her journal where you were asked to write a drabble (short fic, ideally 100 words) about a highly unlikely fandom pairing. These pairings were not left to chance, but were created via the Brain Hurting Fanfic Pairer. And trust me, that sucker more than lives up to its name.
Now, this usually isn't my sort of thing, but I was intrigued and took her up on the challenge. So which oddball pairing did I choose? Why, Rorschach and Dr. Gregory House.
THIS IS THE SHOCKING RESULT!
Watchmen spoilers. Oh, and slash.
Rorschach (Watchmen)/Dr. Gregory House (House)
"Dead dog brains, splattered on the pavement..."
"Excuse me?"
Rorschach turned, the ink blot pattern on his mask betraying no emotion. "Veidt. Veidt killed half of New York."
Dr. Gregory House sighed petulantly. "Not this Veidt rubbish again. Look, I'm a busy man and I haven't got all night."
"But the people must know. The journal..."
House leapt from the seedy motel bed and grabbed Rorschach by the collar. "Listen Kovacs..."
"Rorschach."
"Whatever. Are we doing this or what?"
Rorschach eyed House's wiry frame and the ink blots arched upward. He threw his hat aside.
"You like it rough, hurm?"
As you can see, the results of writing challenges can be interesting to say the least. And scary.
Now, this usually isn't my sort of thing, but I was intrigued and took her up on the challenge. So which oddball pairing did I choose? Why, Rorschach and Dr. Gregory House.
THIS IS THE SHOCKING RESULT!
Watchmen spoilers. Oh, and slash.
Rorschach (Watchmen)/Dr. Gregory House (House)
"Dead dog brains, splattered on the pavement..."
"Excuse me?"
Rorschach turned, the ink blot pattern on his mask betraying no emotion. "Veidt. Veidt killed half of New York."
Dr. Gregory House sighed petulantly. "Not this Veidt rubbish again. Look, I'm a busy man and I haven't got all night."
"But the people must know. The journal..."
House leapt from the seedy motel bed and grabbed Rorschach by the collar. "Listen Kovacs..."
"Rorschach."
"Whatever. Are we doing this or what?"
Rorschach eyed House's wiry frame and the ink blots arched upward. He threw his hat aside.
"You like it rough, hurm?"
As you can see, the results of writing challenges can be interesting to say the least. And scary.
Friday, March 6, 2009
My Favorite Comic Book Of 2008
I know absolutely no one is dying of suspense over my "favorite comic of 2008" choice. Still, I will tell you anyway.
...Whut?
I am sure anyone who cares is probably shaking their head. I like this comic book for a lot of reasons, not all of them directly related to the content. I like that too, but the whole package is what endears this book to me.
It's weird, though - I am a knee-jerk DC Comics fan from way back. And in fairness, I did enjoy some stuff from DC in 2008. However, my tastes and DC's publishing plans both have been drifting in odd directions. So while I certainly enjoyed Ambush Bug : Year None, I am not prepared to throw a party for that series and declare it my favorite book of 2008. That's partly because I had some problems with it, and partly because the final issue is running ridiculously late.
On the other hand, Giant-Size Avengers/Invaders #1 tickles me exactly the way it is. The first thing I love about this book is that it is the gratuitous reprint tie-in comic. It was created largely as an extra "product" for people interested in Marvel's Avengers/Invaders mini-series. It even has a few pages in the back previewing that comic. But they are without dialogue, so you can just look at them or even ignore them if you choose. They won't pull you into the "big" story unless you're already on-board for it.
(I'm not, if you hadn't guessed. Not my cup of tea.)
The second thing I love about this book is that it reprints comic stories I already love, though it is almost random in places. Avengers #71 and Invaders Annual #1 are both obvious choices if you've read them. I presume the tale from Giant-Size Invaders #2 (by Roy Thomas & Lee Weeks) snuck in because it was a recent story with the Invaders. Can I also say how awesome it is that this book thereby flaunts the old "seven year rule" by doing this? I know that rule is largely antiquated anyway in this day and age, but this comic book reprints a story from another comic that is LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I'm not even being sarcastic when I say this makes me laugh. The final story included is from Invaders #10 and its inclusion is so random that I can barely hazard a guess. Maybe they wanted to "preview" Invaders Classic Vol. 2 and this was the best they could do without filling the whole comic?
My thoughts on these stories :
I also like that this is a comic I could buy and enjoy and not have to worry about any other comics. I mean, it technically is a tie-in to a big mini-series, but none of the stories expressly point you to it. It's a self-contained book. That's rare in this day and age.
Lastly, I like this book because of how I got it. My store had sold out of it, and I found a copy of it while I was visiting my good friend Sara Denny this past May. So it is wrapped up with some special memories, too.
So there you have it, my favorite comic of 2008. No one is more surprised about this than me.
GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS/INVADERS #1
...Whut?
I am sure anyone who cares is probably shaking their head. I like this comic book for a lot of reasons, not all of them directly related to the content. I like that too, but the whole package is what endears this book to me.
It's weird, though - I am a knee-jerk DC Comics fan from way back. And in fairness, I did enjoy some stuff from DC in 2008. However, my tastes and DC's publishing plans both have been drifting in odd directions. So while I certainly enjoyed Ambush Bug : Year None, I am not prepared to throw a party for that series and declare it my favorite book of 2008. That's partly because I had some problems with it, and partly because the final issue is running ridiculously late.
On the other hand, Giant-Size Avengers/Invaders #1 tickles me exactly the way it is. The first thing I love about this book is that it is the gratuitous reprint tie-in comic. It was created largely as an extra "product" for people interested in Marvel's Avengers/Invaders mini-series. It even has a few pages in the back previewing that comic. But they are without dialogue, so you can just look at them or even ignore them if you choose. They won't pull you into the "big" story unless you're already on-board for it.
(I'm not, if you hadn't guessed. Not my cup of tea.)
The second thing I love about this book is that it reprints comic stories I already love, though it is almost random in places. Avengers #71 and Invaders Annual #1 are both obvious choices if you've read them. I presume the tale from Giant-Size Invaders #2 (by Roy Thomas & Lee Weeks) snuck in because it was a recent story with the Invaders. Can I also say how awesome it is that this book thereby flaunts the old "seven year rule" by doing this? I know that rule is largely antiquated anyway in this day and age, but this comic book reprints a story from another comic that is LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I'm not even being sarcastic when I say this makes me laugh. The final story included is from Invaders #10 and its inclusion is so random that I can barely hazard a guess. Maybe they wanted to "preview" Invaders Classic Vol. 2 and this was the best they could do without filling the whole comic?
My thoughts on these stories :
- Avengers #71 - the concluding chapter of a three-parter from my favorite run of the title.
- Invaders Annual #1 - Roy at his most willfully indulgent, but still lots of fun. I mean, I can describe it using the terms "Sub-Mariner" and "panty raid" in the same sentence. How can that be wrong?
- Invaders #10 - This was a pre-designed "filler" story that incorporates a 1940s Captain America tale. Yeah, head is spinning too.
- Giant-Size Invaders #2 - This has the same tone that characterizes most of Roy's more recent (think last fifteeen years or so) superhero output. I liked it OK, though the allusions to current events are about as subtle as a kick to the head with an iron boot. Artist Lee Weeks is heavily underrated, and turns in some nice work.
I also like that this is a comic I could buy and enjoy and not have to worry about any other comics. I mean, it technically is a tie-in to a big mini-series, but none of the stories expressly point you to it. It's a self-contained book. That's rare in this day and age.
Lastly, I like this book because of how I got it. My store had sold out of it, and I found a copy of it while I was visiting my good friend Sara Denny this past May. So it is wrapped up with some special memories, too.
So there you have it, my favorite comic of 2008. No one is more surprised about this than me.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Green Arrow Gets Confused
From World's Finest Comics #249 (Feb.-Mar. 1978). Writer : Gerry Conway. Penciller : Trevor Von Eeden. Inker : Terry Austin. Colorist : Gene D'Angelo. Letterer : Ben Oda. Editor : Jack C. Harris. Batman, Green Arrow, & artwork © DC Comics, Inc.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
My Hypnotic Paul McCartney Medley
I understand why the jailer man is so worried about it, but what is Sailor Sam's beef with the Band on the Run?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Teaser
"No..."
It was but one strained, whispered word, but it spoke volumes. Shinsei Hinotori sat in front of the staticky screens of Skywatch's command center. The mission he had been monitoring - Jetman's infiltration of Nemesis' base at Jigoku-dani - had obviously gone wrong. Horribly wrong. A massive energy surge had flared up right when communications had been abruptly cut off.
"This is bad," his companion Michiru Oshima muttered in disbelief.
"I'm not sure it could be much worse," Shinsei said as he stared at the screens despondently.
"What...what can we do?" Michiru asked.
Shinsei rubbed his face. "I don't know. If Jetman has lost, I'm not sure what anyone can do."
"I'll tell you what we can do!" an unfamiliar voice announced confidently. "We can take the fight to Nemesis ourselves!"
Shinsei and Michiru whirled around in surprise to face their unexpected guest. They were greeted by what appeared to be a handsome Japanese man attired smartly in a suit, tie, and hat. He almost looked like an anachronism in the 21st Century. Yet his manner betrayed to them that there was far more to him than was apparent.
"Who the devil are you?" Hinotori inquired sharply. "How did you get into Skywatch?"
The mysterious man tipped his hat with a knowing smile. "There are few places I cannot access, if it suits my purposes. As for my name, I have lately been answering to...Mr. Hoshi."
"Well, I've never heard of you!" Shinsei retorted angrily.
"No, I suppose you haven't," Mr. Hoshi noted. "Ken Tendo would never have volunteered that we had crossed paths, and as for his father..."
"Ryu?!" Shinsei exclaimed as he jumped to his feet and grabbed the stranger by his lapels. "What do you know about Ryu Tendo? What's happened to him?"
"Patience, my good man," Mr. Hoshi cautioned as he effortlessly slipped from Shinsei's grip. "I will explain everything, and then..."
"Then?"
"Then, we will endeavor to save the universe."
***
New Return of Jetman Episode 6 - "Beyond The Universe" will premiere March 10, 2009 at www.returnofjetman.com. Don't miss it!
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