GRIFT

The Big Lebowski has one of my favorite soundtracks of all time.

I know I haven't been around the board in a while, but when did Matzat jump all the way to trolling? In terms of the FF, I've recently read Hickman's entire run and he has taken one of my least favorite Marvel books and turned it into one of my favorites. He has very much so done for the FF, what Grant Morrison did for Batman and Robin. He has managed to rejuvenate the franchise with large, multifaceted story arcs, that offer changes in tones and new examinations of the characters and themes, moving forward characters who are 50 years old-- all while evoking a lot from the books past.

Oh, and also Fat Cobra-- FTW.

I just reread Immortal Iron Fist and the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven (beautifully collected as a hardcover) and wow, if ever there was a single storyline of a character that needs to be turned into a film this is it. I think I posted about how much I loved this run after the first time that I read it and it has certainly held up on the second read. It introduces the character of Danny Rand wonderfully and without the burden of being an outright origin tale all while building a rich multi-textural mythology. What are some of your favorite storylines that you could see being turned to film?

Is the guy on The Cape who hires Faraday's wife the same actor who tried to get Ron Donald to do porn on Party Down?

And his reckless driving, his ability to hotwire a car, all of this is laying the ground work for that character reveal...

Regarding Glenn's driving

Yes ladies and gentlemen, the EWB where Gabriel Iglesias is a more revered comedian than Lenny Bruce.

1. Louis CK 2. Patton Oswalt 3. Bill Hicks 4. George Carlin 5. Dave Chapelle 6. Dave Attell 7. David Cross 8. Joe Rogan 9. Zach Galifinakas 10. Chris Rock Louis CK, is by far and wide the best stand up comedian working today. He, in the last 5-10 years, has approached life with blisteringly honest observations that step completely outside of his ego in a way that makes his best work border on philosophical.

Sea Wolf -- are they any good? I was just given two free tickets to their show tonight.

I reckon they'll probably do a film about the band breaking up in the wake of Rufus' death only to end up throwing an epic reunion concert that averts global chaos.

Ok, so the Punisher channeling Glenn Danzig on the cover of FrankenCastle #21 has totally made my day.

Alright, so I've been reading A LOT of comics lately -- like entire runs. Needless to say I could use a few recommendations, as I've burned through a lot of my own 'catch up' list. Here are some of the things I've read lately, and my thoughts. Transmetropolitan, the entire run. To those who know me, or those of you who've just plain been around long enough to catch a whif of the Grifterman's stink, it is probably no shock to find out that I reread this series once or twice a year. Politics, debauchery, and mad bastardry abound in Warren Ellis' undisputed masterwork, and Darick Robertson's art work explodes across each page with a savage and layered frenzy that not only matches the pace of Ellis' lightning quick acerbic dialogue, but at times passes it cold. Ultimates 1 & 2/Ultimate Iron Man/Ultimate Human/Ultimate X-Men #1-100/ Ultimatum I avoided the Ultimate universe for a good long time. I know there are a lot of folks on the board who love it, but when I checked out Ultimate Spiderman a few years ago I hated it. I thought some of the changes to the characters they made (I am looking at you Green Goblin) were needless, and fractured attempts at making old stories feel new again. When I saw an image of Sabretooth with 4 adamantium claws sticking out of his hands, I told myself it must be more of the same in the X Books. What ended up making me give the Ultimate Universe another shot was enjoying the two animated films quite a bit, and deciding to give the Ultimates a chance. Whoever said this book was Michael Bay's Marvel had it dead on-- but in a good way. The first thing I loved was their version of Captain America (The God Damned Captain as I joked to a friend). Everything was just so damn over the top, I found myself laughing out loud for most of these books. But the shinning accomplishment in my eyes, was Ultimate X-Men. It took everything I loved about decades and decades of X-Men books and condensed it into 100 issues. Not only did it stay true to the original themes of series, but it explored things that had been passed over in the original arcs like the relationship between Jean and Xavier. Actually, what I think this book did better than anything was its work with Xavier/Magneto -- I wouldn't be shocked to find a lot of this pre-X-men stuff popping up in the new Origins movie. There were a few moments in the book that left me groaning, but for the most part their retelling of these stories were done gracefully and this book above all others had the most character examination. Then Ultimatum happened... and if we could just... just not talk about that event that would be ok. Blackest Night and most of the tie ins. Maybe it is because I don't care for the DC universe at large, but this really didn't do anything for me. I dig the Green Lantern corps, I did Batman, I enjoy Superman for the ways you can use him to explore the superhero archetype, and mostly when he is used as a foil for Batman, and I have a soft spot for Green Arrow, but the rest of DC is tough for me to care about. A lot of their B-listers are just too hokey, and they just don't do the shared universe thing as well as Marvel. Y The Last Man Re-read, and finally got around to the finally. This one has gotten a lot of play in this thread lately so I will keep my praise brief and just say that it had the best series ending of any comic book I've ever read. Batman RIP and Batman and Robin (Amazing Spider-Man, pre OMIT) Wow, Grant Fucking Morrison. Batman is one of my favorite characters. Not just comic book characters, but in any medium and yet for the last few years I haven't been reading his books. It has felt like the character had been treading water until Morrison grabbed the reigns. What I think I like the most about Grant's writing is that he doesn't just write Batman well, he write every character well. Joker, Dick, Damian, Gordon, Tim, all pop with their own unique voices. Batman and Robin has consistently been one of the most fun reads I pick up. It reminds me a lot of the work that they had been doing with The Amazing Spider-Man before the OMIT storyline. It has been back to basic, out in 3 story arcs that revitalized their respective rogues gallery and even introduced new threats.

Ugh. I don't know why but I can't stand Levi. I am one of the few on this board who doesn't like Chuck, but that bias aside I feel the same way about him playing Superman as I felt about John Krasinski (who I do like) being up for Captain America. They are both just too damn quirky, and to me don't have the build or look to pull off the SUPER hero half of the equation. With both I think that, at best, they'd be able to play the man but not the hero. For me, Superman is one of the few heroes who doesn't need to be adjusted to be contemporary. He doesn't need to be young, he doesn't need to be dark. Give me a 35 year old Superman. It helps to give him the gravitas, and majesty that make the character. Don't shave his corners to make a square peg fit into a round hole. Part of what I love with that character is that he is an odd man out. Not just because of his unparalleled might, but because of his unmatched will to uphold his ideals. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and that 1950's feel-good-apple-pie-American way. Can you make a dark story around him? Yes. The best stories show his morals being tested, but him rising to the occasion to scatter that same darkness. Give us a story about him finding a way to deal with his outdated ideals and finding his place in the world instead of another origin movie. Give me a Superman who has saved the world a few times and is now asking, why? But most of all, give me someone who looks like a Superman. Give me someone who I don't think I could beat the shit out of in a dirty bar fight. With Superman, his secret identity is the mask. He hunches over, he covers his face. Don't cast Clark Kent, and hope he can play Superman. Cast Superman and have him play down to Clark Kent! I guess what I am saying is "What ever happened to the sqaure jawed, wide shouldered man of tomorrow?

1. Women by Charles Bukowski 2. Lord of the Flys by William Golding 3. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace 4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by HST 5. The Paper Men by William Golding 6. Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan 7. Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski 8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 9. The Abortion by Richard Brautigan 10. I've Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me by Richard Farina

Ha, topic reading fail. Looks like Grift should have stayed in his deep hibernation.

Might be for one of the other films, but this seems to be something that would be enough to assemble the Avengers...

So I just read 99 issues of Exiles over the course of 2 days... God damn, if there was ever a property I've wanted turned into a TV show this would be it.

Now that Rue McClanahan has died, I really want a T-shirt with Betty White holding a broad sword that says, "THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE" underneath. My birthday is in a week... some digitally savvy board member, or stencil skilled (ahem Keith) should make this happen. I'd totally pay for post.