GRIFT

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.

After watching the Blind Spot episode of Justified with guest star Ray McKinnon (also formerly of Deadwood fame) I am now positive that he was born to star in a Townes Van Zandt Biopic.

Opening: Where I Lead Me by Townes Van Zandt

Closing Credits: None But The Rain by Townes Van Zandt

Life on Mars.

But perhaps that is because I have a warm and somewhat surreal memory that involves the song...

After a particularly heavy night of drinking, I woke up in my friend Randy's attic and I heard this song blasting from below me. I worked my way down to the kitchen, and then through the living room-- stepping over another good friend who was passed out on the floor-- and eventually into Randy's room. He was passed out asleep in his bed with porn on 3 different screens (laptop, desktop, and tv) and Life on Mars was playing on his stereo and it had just hit my favorite part so I belted out, 'TAKE A LOOK AT THE LA-AW MAN BEAT-ING UP THE WRONG GUY', in a terrible Bowie impression, just about as loud as I could, thus waking a terrified Randy. We all had a good long laugh about it.

We then proceeded to get all day drunk, passed out on his apartment building front lawn, and eventually went sailing... and randomly throughout the day belted out that line.

Russell "The Stringer" Bell? Who made this list, Mike Adamle?

Here are the teaser trailers for the aforementioned shows for those interested. I can't get over how slick the combat in the Iron Man clip looks. I hope they redesign Wolverine's look before the actual show. I can get over the mullet, but the long Mandarinesque finger nails and thin arms aren't becoming of everyone's favorite berserk-er.

Also, a question for more ardent Cable fans, what the heck is the status of his powers right now? He keeps being depowered and repowered and after reading Messiah War I am really unsure what the deal is. Also, if he has been traveling time long enough for Hope to mature into early adulthood, why hasn't he aged? I imagine there isn't an explanation for the latter, but hey, it's worth asking.

http://wutangvsthebeatles.bandcamp.com/

You can download the album for free from the site above and I recommend you do. Stand out tracks include, Da Mystery of Chess Boxin', Uzi (Pinky Ring), and a version of Baby, I Got Ya Money mashed with You Never Give Me Your Money.

Has anyone seen the trailer's for the anime Wolverine and Ironman shows that Marvel is working on? I think the Wolvie one is being written by Warren Ellis. I am excited to see what comes of them. The Ironman trailer looked amazing... the Wolvie one... well, it looked different.

Antwon Mitchell wasn't on The Wire. He was on The Shield.

An almighty uppercut? Okay, my new goal in life is to start a band named Dolph Lundgren and the Almighty Uppercuts.

1. William Cutting, aka Bill The Butcher (Gangs of New York) One of my all time favorite characters, period, from one of my all time favorite movies.

2. Stansfield (The Professional) - Gary Oldman, 'nuff said.

3. Captain Vidal (Pans Labyrinth) - The very real, very human evil in a film full of fantasy. His first actions in the opening of the film

4. Clarence Bodiccker (RoboCop) - "Bitches leave." Who would have guessed Red from That 70's show was capable of such good ol' fashioned mad bastardry?

5. The Joker (TDK) - Heath Ledger's amazing performance has been covered to death, so I won't retread what others have said here.

6. Frank Booth (Blue Velvet) - Heineken? HEINEKEN?! Fuck that shit! PABST, BLUE, RIBBON.

7. T-1000 (Terminator 2) - Simply an iconic villain. I was legitimately afraid of the T-1000. I remember watching this movie as a child and being shocked when he slowly stabbed Sarah Connor in the shoulder. At ten years old, I had never actually seen the bad guy hurt a good guy like that before.

8. Ethan Zoebelle (Sons of Anarchy) -

Arranging the gang rape of Gemma Teller, being in league (pun intended) with white supremacists and also working with the Mayans, all the while being an FBI informant! Zoebelle is, as of this typing, the one that got away for SAMCRO. He is a slippery fuck who seemingly lies to everyone and gets away with it.

9.

10.

1. Rescue Me

2. Sons of Anarchy

3. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

4. The League

5. Dexter

6. True Blood

7. Venture Bros.

8. Curb Your Enthusiasm

9. Californication

10. Community

I just finished reading that interview before coming over to the board and...

I was surprised that Johnny Lewis was unhappy with his role creatively. His character is one of the more lovable on the show. I am guessing he didn't want to play such a light character, but Sack got a lot of attention throughout the series-- from the testicle implant, bareknuckle boxing, Gerry, and general Prospect business he probably got more attention than Chibs or Juice.