Comic Review: GØDLAND 21

It took what seemed like a year (and probably was close to it), but it’s good to see GØDLAND finally moving forward again. I sincerely love this book and its Starlin or Englehart-esque vibe. But the wait between issues has been ridiculous at times.

I can see why though. Tom Scioli’s art has evolved issue by issue. His females finally look female (my only real complaint ever about his work), and his layouts are strengthening. I sense a lot of Peter Laird in his current work, especially Laird’s own Kirby-influenced Stupid Heroes. I don’t know if is purposeful or coincidental, but I for one love it.

Joe Casey is (almost) always on the ball with his writing, and this issue was no exception. I especially appreciate the density that came with this issue. Some issues I have devoured in five minutes or less, which seems odd for the cosmic being-style storyline, but not this one. Most of the book was six to nine panel grids. I know a lot of folks love the whole modern, manga-style three or four panel layout, but give me a big, dense book like this for my $2.99, and I’m a happy reader.

As a side note, I want to also say great work on both Scioli and Casey’s contributions to the Next Issue Project. I especially enjoyed Scioli’s take on classic space opera storytelling, even if it was quite tongue in cheek.

Anyway, here’s hoping for many more issues to come of this great project. And please, please, please, keep it coming at an almost monthly pace. I hate having to wait months between my tastes of cosmic goodness.

Back in action

So, yeah, I suck. I admit it. Here’s the thing. Life has been throwing shit at me left and right for what seems like weeks. Now, I guess what I really should be doing is blog about it, but I just don’t have it in me sometimes.

Over the last couple weeks, we’ve put over $800 in to the car. Income tax return? What income tax return? Seriously though, most of the return went under our hood, with the final part magically blossoming in to this laptop I am typing on today. Yes, despite the crap with my car, I did manage to eak out a new computer between phase one ($600 alternator and battery) and phase two ($200 new belt on the engine). Economically, I am going to feel the pinch of this beauty over the next month or six weeks, but I will maintain through March with just a slice of bread and an ounce of water, approximately. And I still have Girl Scouts to pay for from my daughter.

Speaking of the rug rat, Hannah has been down with a nasty virus all weekend. Gloria finally succumbed and took her to the Urgent Care today, and $15 later they informed us to just keep a close eye on the kid’s fever and keep doing what we were doing. At least it’s not pneumonia like I worried it might be.

Now that I have this handy portable device and it will be with me at my glorious job that gives me ever so much reading time, I plan on starting to blog more with reviews of various comics, books, DVDs, games, movies, TV shows, etcetera.

The first, for GØDLAND #21, should be right above this one.

Sammy Chan and Jule Styne must die!

Unfortunately, they probably already are. If only the minds behind Let It Snow had realized what they were saying...

Eastern Iowa is more of a winter wasteland than a wonderland. Already haven received literally feet of snow in December and January, we have already been buried in a few inches today, with more to come tonight and tomorrow morning. This is kind of how I imagine hell to be...

My winter funk has been sort of assuaged by the massive stack of comics I purchased at Half Price Books and Alter Ego recently. Woohoo for after Christmas sales!

Now if only the Super Tuesday coverage could end...

The right team won

So I am by no means any kind of football analyst, but having watched the Super Bowl this year I can’t help but think the New York Giants win was perfect.

They didn’t have a perfect season and they weren’t the best put together team money could buy. But they were a team with heart and fire and they pulled out a win against what some have called “the greatest team in NFL history”. I personally call them cheaters (their video-taping on the sidelines earlier this season) and crybabies (especially when it comes to whiny challenges made to the refs). Well New England, you may have had a “perfect” regular season, but that doesn’t matter a lick if you cannot win the big one.

So congratulations are in order for New York and even though they beat my Super Bowl favorites (Green Bay), I have to say you deserve it. The better team truly did win.

Back on track

All right, after a less than stellar January I am trying to get my writing, my reading, my blogging, and my life back on track. Everything has pretty much settled here again (thankfully) so the time should be fine for it.

Anyone who read Timeline this last week should be happy to know that the story’s conclusion will be coming on Wednesday as I wrap it up. Living Legends will come the next week, and Epsilon the week after that. I am a busy sort...

You know what true evil is: the Wrestler application on Facebook. I could suck up hours playing this thing, but thankfully I can limit the number of matches I fight at once.

Anyway, I am working on a bevy of projects: Epsilon, Living Legends, Charon, Champion City, the next Timeline story, and Arc. And all may fall by the way side for a few weeks if I can score a top 10 spot in the Shadowline Superheroine contest. Fingers are crossed until Monday.

That is it for now. Back soon, I promise. Really.