Listening To: Rankin/Bass Presents…The Hobbit (Original Soundtrack, 1977)
Mood: Brillig
Colored paper. I love it. Throw some black lines in the mix, I am so there. I need it weekly, like the Cosby Show in 1985. Backed with Family Ties, that was half my TV allotment as a kid. I was also allowed to watch 60 Minutes with my dad. But I digress. I’ve been reading comic books since way back when, but adult-me enjoys them so much more than kid-me ever did…
Anyhoo, Wednesday July 2nd is, evidently, Hellboy Day (who declares these things?), and my local shop came equipped with free issues of said book (well, one free issue per customer). Looks like a good one, two or three stories, glossy and bright, next-to-no ads. I guess I’ll officially recognize Hellboy Day…this time. But I expect two free books next year, Mike Mignola. I suppose they’re trying to drum up interest in the new Hellboy movie, coming soon. But I was gonna see it anyway, suckers. Gotcha! Actually, I’ll probably rent it. Because, honestly, the only time I go to the movies is when my folks are in town. By the way, I’m just gonna interrupt my own train of thought to say how hot this Hobbit soundtrack is. The goblins are singing about raosting the dwarves ’til their skin melts and their beards blaze! It’s like horrorcore! I must have watched this movie a hundred times back in the day. I don’t remember the song about eye-eating. But again with the digression…
So, last week gave us a pile of B+ books, and I guess it’s to be expected that there’ll be less to go around this Wednesday. So what did I cop? Read ‘em and weep…
Astonishing X-Men #25 hands the creative reins over to Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi, who may or may not pick up the story where Joss Whedon and John Cassaday left off. I’m not caught up with the Whedon run, but it starts off strong and (according to everyone and their mom) keeps on full-steam ahead ’til the end. The X-Men represent one of comics’ best franchises, but, like most of the big names in funny books (Supes, Bats, Wolvie, Spidey et al), their regular titles often disappoint. Sidebar–looks like I accidentally listened to Side 2 of that soundtrack first, because I just flipped to Side 1, and yikes!…it is fuck-awful. Four songs in a row from Glenn Yarbrough? No wonder they haven’t made “The Hobbit, The Musical” yet…or maybe they have. Double-yikes… So where was I? Oh, yeah, all the best characters have the worst regular comics (something like that). So when a book like Astonishing X-Men (or, before that, Morrison and Quitely’s run on New X-Men) comes along and does a great title justice, it’s a sight for sore eyes. Hopefully the forthcoming Ellis/Bianchi arcs will continue the excellence.
Hellboy Day also brings us the totally-unrelated-in-every-way House of Mystery #3. This title hasn’t really found its legs yet, but the premise is promising, and it’s helmed by the great Bill Willingham (of Fables fame). So I keep buying it. Plus, it provides my weekly dose of quirk. And, in the final analysis, that Hobbit album was only half-good. Side 2 yea, Side 1 nay.
And speaking of the Hobbit, here’s another book that has nothing to do with it. It’s Terry Moore’s Echo #4, and neither of the above images is the actual front of it. But this book is so obscure that I couldn’t even find a picture of the cover…on the internet. I can find a picture of a monkey riding a dog…
…but not the cover of this fucking comic book?! WTF!!?? WTF, indeed. And I know I could always scan my copy, but I don’t think you care that much. So I say balls to that noise…I’m out, yo. But not before I tell you to dig the booties on that there pack-pup. Super tasty. I like the ninja-dent at the toe.
Alright, cretins. Time to bounce like Vaughn Mason. I got books to read. Until next time, this is your captain saying we are about to crash. Brace yourself.
Bagged and boarded,
Grip
That Vaughn Mason song is tight.
Left by Rich C. on July 2nd, 2008