This post is going to be as much of an explanation as to why my blog has been sucking lately as it will be a review of the latest graphic novel I read. Anyway, I realize my blog has been sucking lately. It’s not anything I don’t know. There are hardly any original posts, and all I seem to be doing is posting a bunch of reviews of crap you guys don’t give a shit about. I’m just in a bit of a rut. Professionally, my job comes to an end in December, so I have to find something new before then. Home life is frustrating because there are always people there. I know, crazy right? Like, who are these people and why do they want me to call them Mom and Dad? But this weekend I paid off my final grad school loan (GO ME!) and now all I have left is a bit of undergrad to go. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and that’s a good thing. And romantically, ha, that’s a joke. This is all a roundabout way of saying I have a severe case of grumpypants (some people may even call them the poor me’s, but those people are mean) and can’t muster the energy to put the proper time into my blog. So once I get out of this rut, I’ll be better, I promise. In the meantime, please be patient.
So I finished the graphic novel Batman: Hush the other day. It was really good. Not as great as The Long Halloween or The Dark Knight Returns, but still really good. I liked that this was more of a canon series, that was built into the Batman mythology, more so than the previous Batman graphic novels I’ve read. It was good to learn more about the previous Robins and see Nightwing in action as well as Huntress and Oracle (who I previously only knew about from the short-lived Birds of Prey TV series). I loved the interactions between Batman and Catwoman, which were the most in depth I’ve seen so far. The story itself I found a little lacking. Even though the mystery kept me guessing, and I fell for the red herring they threw me about halfway through, I just wasn’t as riveted as I felt I should have been. But it was still a decent mystery. All in all, a good read, but not great. The artwork was top notch though (the women’s boobs were enormous and I felt downright dirty reading this on the train) and they were it was all breathtaking.
Next up is Batman: Year One.
Stop beating yourself up, there are too many in line who are willing to do it for you. Any endeavor that requires long term, sustained effort is bound to have moments when it is great and others where it isn’t as great. It is to be expected. So no worries on the blog front.
As for the love, the home, the bills. All in time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Never read Batman, but I certainly read plenty of comics and saw tons of giant comic boobs. For a period of time, they got ridiculous, but then I changed the type of books I read and they were more normal. You aren’t a dirty, dirty boy for reading. You are a dirty, dirty boy for other reasons.
I was born wearing a pair of grumpypants! Don’t worry ’bout it! Maybe you can write an entry about all the things that are pizzaing you off! I love bitching about shit that botherz me! And if all else fails, you can ALWAYS dedicate a post idolizing the majestic beauty of RHONETTA! <3
We’re happy with whatever crumbs you give us. Although a Rhonetta post would be awesome.
It’ll all work out/You’re young/Don’t worry so much. Rah rah.
I’ll add to the chorus of “this’ll pass”. Hell, you’ve been posting way more regularly than I have lately. And you’re entitled not to be “on” all the time. Don’t sweat it, take a deep breath, and seriously, congrats on those grad school loans!
My only complaint is that you’re reviewing the horrible DC comics instead of the spectacular MARVEL comics.
The blahs are the suck. They pass fortunately. Yay you on the loan! Soon. My friends have said that Black Wade is an amazing graphic novel. Okay, its gay pirate porn but its all in color. You can google it and see pics. I would get it but it was about $30. I might yet. I’m typing this on my phone (they can’t keep ME off the net bwahahaha) so excuse errors and crappy formatting .
Name some good Marvel graphic novels and I’ll read them.
Lo siento mi amigo. I totally understand the blahs, I have been fighting with them myself for the past few months. Chin-up Craiggers, we’re always here for you
I haven’t read much Batman other than The Dark Knight Returns, but I am glad you are enjoying them.
Craiggers: firstly, I’ll echo what everyone else said, you don’t have to be on all the time. take time out to let the crankypants situation resolve itself, as it will. I’ve been quite stressed myself lately and not feeling the blogging thing. hopefully that’ll change for all of us.
Secondly: Gokitty and Craiggers: if there WERE any spectacular/good Marvel graphic novels, i’d recommend them.
Seriously, they’re all like “oh, my life sucks so much because of my powers/I’m a mutant/nobody likes me/I want to tell my loved girlfriend-boyfriend-aunt-etc-etc about my powers but I just CAN’T!/etc, etc, etc ad nauseum”.
There’s some good Marvel stories out there, pre-1990 or so, but I’m not sure if they’re collected into Graphic Novels. John Byrne/George Perez run on the Avengers were awesome. Claremont/Bynre X-Men set the standard. Byrne on the Fantastic Four was pretty good. (and despite all this, I’m not really a byrne fan. Good figure). Claremont./Alan Davis Excalibur run was pretty good. But mind you, these are all pre-1990s. Since then, the Marvel way has been to slap and X on the cover of a book or throw Wolverine in it, even when if makes NO sense whatsoever, and all the Marvel Zombies lap it up without even realizing how much it sucks.
Thinking a little more on it, I can say the Young Avengers were a pretty damn good series. But they only last about 12 issues, and then had a 6 issue miniseries. If you’re looking for good recent Marvel, Craiggers, look them up. That was a fun and interesting run.
HUGS…
Well, if it helps, stopping by your blog and getting a new entry (review, snappy aside, comic, argyle photo or Craig photo) ALWAYS lightens my day. Always.
(Plus you have some of the best Blog Commenters ever, smut-field and all.)
Polt: While I mostly agree with your comic statements, I will disagree that there aren’t any good Marvel graphic novels. The She Hulk graphic Novel by John Byrne is good as is Dazzler: The Movie and X-Men: God Loves Man Kills.
Re: grumpypants – I’m going through a very similar thing myself. Only way is up!
john: Ah, yes, but if you recall, all three of those are pre-1990. Not sure about the She-Hulk one, but the other two are a pretty good read…albeit ones from before Marvel got all bad and sad.
And Milo, it must be cause its wintertime, cause there’;s a lot of us, apparently, rocking the crankypants hard!
HUGS…
Just saw this and LAUGHED my ASS off!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLrsCnBvQFo
See if we ever have a Puntaburoad-trip, we gotta take snickers along, cause this is SO gonna be us! Or some of us anyways.
HUGS…
Polt: Ug, sick. The last thing I want to become is a cranky, old, funky & played-out diva who has no voice anymore yet is consistently brought out on award shows to scream while everyone holds their ears and wince in fear.
But Snickerz?! No way! Give me organic yogurt-covered pretzels instead!
I’ll take Josh’s share of snickers. Glad David is having a healthy effect on him. Leaves more for us.
I’m with you Craig. I’m riding shotgun too.
Cute commercial.
“Can you feel that?” “Put it in your system, crankypants.”
Bwahahahahaha…..
Sassy josh, I never said YOU’d have to be the diva. Perhaps you’re the fat guy with the bed head and the unruly beard in the back with the Snicker? I mean, he did not eat the Snickers himself, he gave it away.
HUGS…
It is OK to feel down sometimes. It is just another place on the road toward better things. You are an amazing person, and we believe in you.
Here is a poignant song that I am fond of:
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush -Don’t Give Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCRZLr9oRw
As soon as I read the GoKitty comment, I friggin’ ***knew*** the Poltster was going to chime in. And chime in he did. “God Loves, Man Kills” *is* one of the great ones. And yeeeees, it is pre-1990, aka the pre-Cambrian.
I’ll echo what everybody else said about the grumpypants / crankypants situation, which I, myself, been having IN SPADES, BABY, and no, it’s not just all about the wintertime, O most Poltular one!
And I’ll echo the “GO YOU” on the loan!!!!
As for the blog, I’m still astonished at what your creative output. And like John S., I can honestly say it lightens my day, whatever I find here.
Pff. So far all I’ve done is repeat what everybody else has said. That just makes me more cranky, so I’m going to steal some of Josh’s organic yogurt-covered pretzels and skulk off into a corner. >:-P
Polt: Hahaha! That was great, “can you feel that?” Priceless! Thanks for the chuckle
I’m all for yogurt-covered pretzels (and if they are covered in dark chocolate, even better).
Craig, you may be pleased to know that I’m taking (read: dragging) Josh to see Avatar tonight. We’ll see if his head explodes from boredom or enjoyment by the end of it.
Either way, David, *do* be sure to take pix/vid of the explosion, kthx
Oh, and I would like to know whether a 3D Sam Worthington rates a “desperate” or a “gorge” …
He may just fall asleep David. No really, the scenery was gorgeous, the glow in the dark paint on everything was lovely. The flying was cool. The rest? Meh. You could always put a plastic bag over his head to avoid any mess. Clear of course so he can watch right up to the big moment.
Pfffft. Tam, you have no romance in your soul (aka you’re not a pathetic emotionally-arrested loser). I got teary-eyed during the climactic “I See You” sequence in the mobile lab.