Bill Walsh 1931-2007

It’s a sad day for 49er fans everywhere. We’ll miss you, Bill. Thanks for making the game what it was and making us proud.

Friday Night Fights - Uppercut! Round 6! The Authority!

Uppercuts are all well and good, but Wicked Juan is bringing a bit of the old ultra-violence this week, courtesy of The Authority #14.

It’s been that kind of week.

Bahlactus hits so hard, your entire galaxy will feel it!

(One of my favorite fight scenes ever was brought to you by Marvelous Mark Millar, Fantastic Frank Quitely Titanic Trevor Scott, Dynamic David Baron, Ravishing Ryan Cline, Jovial John Layman and the fine folks at Wildstorm back when it was just Wildstorm. Props where props are due.)

Comics Stream of Conciousness

Just rounding up my thoughts on some of the stuff I bought this last week. Granted, I haven’t read everything yet because I am Slow Reader Boy. And because of that Potter kid.

Super Villain Team Up: Modok’s 11 looks like it’s going to be a ton of fun. Modok and a buncha C and D-List villains planning a heist? Count me in. Snappy dialogue from Fred Van Lente and some really nice art from Francis Portela. Really enjoyed this one. Can’t wait to see more.

“I’m tired of these mutha$%^#ing snakes on this mutha$%^#ing helicarrier!” For a book not starring the character it’s named after, Captain America #28 is still a great read. I want more Serpent Society, in fact I’d like to see all of the Marvel snake-themed characters working together again in one mega Serpent Society. And I want to see Fury show up to utter the line that started this paragraph and for Cap to take out the entire Serpent Society single-handed. Because you know he can. And it would be awesome.

The Order #1 didn’t really hook me right away, but I’ll probably give it another look because I like Matt Fraction’s work on The Immortal Iron Fist, comic’s gift to awesome.

I have no idea why I bought Justice League of America #11, but at least I could understand it this time.

I’m really happy that Wally West is back in All Flash #1, which may be one of the weirdest title names I’ve heard in a while. I was never a huge Flash guy growing up but always really liked Wally as Kid Flash in the New Teen Titans and during Geoff John’s Flash run. Still don’t know if I like turning the Rogues into murderers, since it always seemed to me they weren’t out to kill the Flash, but rather were just trying to keep him out of their hair. Why so dark, DC? Why?

More later as I read more books in between chapters of Harry Potter…

Friday Night Fights! Uppercut! Round 5! Batgirl!

Think Clayface has what it takes to knock out Batgirl?

Yes. Batgirl.

This public service announcement is brought to you courtesy of Blah-g de Wicked Juan, reminding you to: Always Bet on Bahlactus!

Random Musings: 19 July 2007

Ever feel guilty about not blogging? If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s blogging with inconsistency. 

Comics!

A big, fat, huge stack of comics followed me home today… which really makes me happy beause I think I walked away with about four last week. Of the highlights from last week, I really enjoyed Justice Society of America #7 and Green Arrow: Year One #1. I haven’t been really high on the DC stuff lately, but JSA is generally good and Green Arrow Year One got off to a rocking start. But then that’s what you get when you mix Andy Diggle and Jock with Green Arrow.

Harry Potter is eating my brain… in a good way

I’ve seen Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix twice now, once in the regular theater, once at the IMAX in 3D (the entire movie wasn’t in 3D… but it was huge). I’ll be first to admit that I got on a very late bus to Harry Potter, even though I was given the opportunity very early when my mom got me a copy of the first book, well before it became a phenomenon. I was pretty dismissive of it at the time, thinking it was a kids book and I wasn’t all that into magic anyway. The book eventually grew into the cultural phenomenon it is today, which made me even more dismissive. The first couple movies didn’t move me, I think I may have even dozed off during the first one…. I just wasn’t getting what all the fuss was about. Most of my friends and associates that read the books thought I’m a crazy man because I hadn’t jumped on board… I was a pariah in that sense. I just wasn’t into it. I’ve always been a bit more into history and what’s gone on in the real world to really jump into the full fantasy stuff, even if I do love guys in tights beating the crap out of each other. Anyone who knows me knows my tastes go toward the non-super powered set as opposed to ultra powerful or magical beings. I guess I like some element of reality to my fantasy.

While I don’t think my sensibilities have changed that much, I really like how magic is really dealt with in the Harry Potter universe. Things seem very matter of fact and all the characters, even the most fantastic, have a very human quality. In some ways, I think the humanity of the characters is what is really sucking me into the HP universe. The magic and fantasy seems secondary to the characters and their struggle and their situation. Plus Harry is a really, really gripping protagonist, you can’t help but empathize with all that he’s gone through. Watching the transition from kids to young adults has also been interesting and I like how the series seems to get darker and darker as it goes forward. 

Needless to say, I finally broke on this, the biggest of Harry Potter weeks, and am reading the first book. I’m finally getting on the bus and enjoying the ride so far. And I cannot wait to see what happens next.

New Game!

Picked up All-Pro Football 2k8 today, which I’m looking forward to playing. I’ve always enjoyed the 2k football series and was saddened that it got canned due to the NFL/EA exclusivity deal. I’m super stoked about this game because it allows you to draft legendary players from years gone by and build dream teams to play with. My interest in football the last couple years has waned, mostly because I got tired of hearing about all the off field incidents than the actual sport. I’m hoping this hearkens back to a better time.

I’m looking forward to collecting as many of my 80s-era San Francisco 49ers and kicking some butt. 

Errata

Tomorrow is FIGHT NIGHT! Everyone, especially me, loves FIGHT NIGHT!

Simpsons Avatar Creator!

If you go to the Simpsons movie site, you can create an avatar that looks like you, or a close approximation thereof!

 

Kick ass!

Friday Night Fights! Uppercut! Round 4! Black Panther!

 

Even when throwing down, T’Challa lays on some respect. That’s class. Long live the king!

Bahlactus knows all about class!

Whatever Will We Do Now?

Yes, dear reader, I am as saddened as you are.

Found the above during an adventure in Seattle tonight. Couldn’t help but share.

My apologies for the lack of content the last couple days. Too much heat and summer doldrums are causing blahs.

Tomorrow’s FIGHT NIGHT! Everyone loves Fight Night, even if Wicked Juan is bad about blogging.

Awesome Comic of the Week: The Irredeemable Ant-Man #10

The Irredeemable Ant-Man #10 was one great comic. I’ll be first to admit this series got off to a slow, somewhat directionless start, but I think it’s finally hit its groove with issue 10.  It’s been a fun, organic kind of ride since then. I’m still saddened to learn of its impending cancellation.

Basically, this issue takes place in the early stages of the World War Hulk storyline, where Hulk has landed in New York City and made his ulimatum. Our hero and resident scumbag, Ant-Man, and his pals at Damage Control decide they’re going to pitch in and fight The Hulk… well, everyone except Abigail, whose powers are kind of lame in “Let’s take on the Hulk” situations. She does the wise thing and takes off to get her kid out of the city before things go nuclear.

There are a lot of reasons to enjoy this issue:

• The Cover - Ant-Man is crawling out of the Hulk’s nose and is waving to the reader. Do they make better covers than this?
• Page 1 - Recap Ant is always cool. A team up with Incredible Hulk Recap Ant? Totally awesome.
• Page 5 - Ant Man makes fun of the Hulk’s tiara. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
• Page 6 - Potential looting is schemed.
• Page 7 - Mitch hate! Mitch smash!
• Page 7 - Possibly the best sequence in the book… definitely the one that made me laugh out loud the most:

Oh no he didn’t!

• Page 8 - Ant-Man actually does something heroic.
• Page 11 - More heroic action is taken. And looting is schemed. I was shocked by the first part.
• Pages 12 to 16 - Ant-Man attacks the Hulk’s insides by flying into his mouth. Apparently Hulk eats a lot of Old Spice products to keep that minty fresh breath. Seriously, I’m not making it up.
• Page 17 - Hulk is as tough inside as Hulk is on outside. Hulk smash! Ant-Man’s attacks have been largely unsuccessful, so he exits through the Hulk’s nose. The looting plan is engaged.
• Page 18 and 19 - Something bad happens!
• Page 20 - Then something worse happens!

Good, fun comics!

One thing did really bother me about this book though: There seemed to be a ton of product placement for Old Spice in this comic. It made me wonder if comics have finally caved into marketing and now are placing products for additional revenue. Needless to say, I’m not a fan of this. I’ve got nothing against Old Spice products or Marvel trying to get some extra revenue out of a flailing title, but this is ridiculous.

By my count, there are at least 13 references to the Old Spice logo or its products in the comic. I call Weak Sauce on Marvel.

You know they had to be sitting in some meeting going, “We can make some extra cash with product placement. We should at least try it out.”

“Yeah. Let’s do it in Ant-Man. No one reads that.”

Today’s Excuse for Content: Masculiner!

Sometimes you pick the content, sometimes the content picks you.