The Hero and the Villain

But which is which?

Look here, are three little ponies

We are the cutie mark crusaders

on a quest to find out who we are!

Hearts & Hooves

It's been too long since I've posted MLP:FIM fanart. (;

Grey Matter

This sums up my evening:

This sums up my week:

This sums up the hilarity of the awful Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance movie:

This is to remind everyone of how the new Powergirl costume is inferior to the old:

And here is some Scott Pilgrim fanart:

The past few weeks have worn me down a bit, but I was overwhelmed by some of the responses I received from all over.  It can be so easy to lose sight of what's important when things go sour, and even the simplest of gestures mean a lot to me when I'm down.  All it takes is that tiny nudge of encouragement to really get me back on my feet -- to the point where I worry people will think I'm bipolar. Part of the reason I often hesitate to communicate my unhappiness is because I'm fully aware of how easy I am to please.  (Complaining too much seems like a waste when I know I won't feel the same tomorrow.)

So, now that the worst of this very long work week is over, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  And it's because everyone in my life is awesome.

Balancing Act

Despite all the good things that have happened this past week, they also came with plenty of disappointment.

My stress levels are skyrocketing.  I hope the mild weather sticks around so I can start running again.  The exertion is a great stress reliever!

Continuity in Comics

The subject of continuity has been popping up in conversation a lot lately.  

(For now I'm going to disregard creator-owned publishers like Dark Horse and focus on the two big kahunas because it's where the controversy is most relevant.)

Although I understand the argument for it, I don't get bent out of shape when continuity doesn't occur.  As a comic fan, I can only dream of being given the opportunity to write a story for one of Marvel or DC's characters.  (Not that I'm even a writer.)  And I'm sure it's safe to assume that writers like Geoff Johns and Ed Brubaker are fans of the characters they write for.  With that in mind, I don't find it right to expect every story they tell to connect with the rest -- if these writers have been fans for a long time, they've probably had ideas brewing for a while.  There is another challenge that comes with one writer being signed on to a title for a specific amount of time before another is sort of "tag-teamed" in to write the following issues.  It is also my understanding that there are limitations to what writers at DC and Marvel can get away with, but still -- all things "canon" might have to change in order for it all to make sense. 

Who cares!

I'd rather read a good story than have to worry about Villain X killing off Hero B during Story Arc 7 back in '89; a time before I could even read.  If I have to make a timeline the size of my car in order to comprehend a 7-issue arc, my interest dwindles.  One-shots (complete stories in one issue) and mini series' are my favorite formats.  Most of the time they aren't considered canon, and are written for the sake of telling a good tale about our favorite characters.  Look at Kingdom Come - written by Mark Waid and illustrated by [the godly] Alex Ross, it's one of my personal favorites and it has nothing to do with anything in terms of DC canon.  It's even set in the future.  

Marvel's Strange Tales I & II are made by combinations of numerous writers and artists, and they're some of the most amusing comics by Marvel I've ever read.  I found James Stokoe's 3-page comic about the lonely reality of the Silver Surfer's job as a herald more memorable than the 2011 Summer "event" Fear Itself.

My theory is, collectors and fans invest so much time and money into comics and desire some sort of real reward for all their hard work.  Putting time into reading all these arcs and collecting all of a specific title turns into an obligation because of an addiction or commitment to it.  It's apparent that some long time fans lose sight of why they started reading them when they were kids.  If we start to pick them apart and get grouchy about consistency, the fun goes away.  If more fans could take them for what they are (and not what they have been in the past or could be in the future), ratings and reviews would be drastically different.  It should come down to good or bad, not potential or lack thereof.  Just like novels, they take you to a place outside of reality where anything is possible.  

Comics are supposed to be fun.  Putting energy into griping over a story written by J. Michael Strazcynski being inconsistent with something Jonathan Hickman wrote is just as pointless and redundant to hear about as it is when someone complains about the Harry Potter movies lacking parts that occurred in the book. We already know.

World 8-8

Thursday night my brother's band, 4-Player Co-Op, played a show with this band called the Wicked Hearts, whose lead singer and rhythm guitarist had one of the most outlandishly hipster outfits I've ever seen.  So much so that I couldn't resist the urge to draw it.

Three ties.  Three of them!

Chris Giarrusso from G-Man and Mini-Marvels liked my fanart :D

Eeep!

Chris Giarrusso is a really nice guy. He's come to Maine for MeCAF and for a signing at our store. He even said a nice thing about my blog so there's even more proof for you!

I always feel really giddy when something like this happens :D

Rainbow Flash

Mick always ends up with the stuff I find hardest to part with.

Transformation

Setting the monster story aside to try and pull together a mini comic first.  Fantasy husband Kevin O'Neill's likeness will most definitely be used.  He fits the role all too well, it's not my fault. (;

Sacrifices

Zooey Deschanel would make the cutest drawback-free vampire ever.