Howdy Inter-Webbers. I’m Matt Cohen, and I dig consistency (hah!).
With that in mind, “Comics & Comics” has taken a bit of an “op-ed” feel to it this summer, and though I have been enjoying writing those pieces (as I hope you enjoy reading then), I dont want to neglect what is one of the focuses of this column – To tell you which comics to spend your hard-earned (or ill-gotten… I don’t know how you roll) funny-bucks on.
And hence, the weekly standout guide is back… And what a week to stand out in! So strap on your reading moccasins and don your funny book fez’s (cause I know that’s how the kids read comics these days) and prepare for the week that is/was and forever will be (Spooky, I know)…
Hit it.
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MARVEL
Punisher Max #50: Goodbye Garth… It was an amazing run while is lasted. With this week’s release of Punisher Max # 50, we also mark the exit of the series writer (and one of the better comic book writers of the last few decades), Garth Ennis. How can one issue sum up years of fantastic writing and the best characterization of Frank Castle ever, in my opinion? With the same style, biting wit, and mind-numbingly awesome action as the rest of his seminal work. Anyone who has read Preacher knows Garth can bring the gloom and doom, but what I really think will be the lasting testament of his run on Punisher is Garth’s ability to ground and humanize Frank, who is basically a single-minded killing machine. We know Frank. We understand him. We don’t necessarily sympathize or root for him, but he is a real person – something which strikes pretty different when compared to the classic Punisher War Journal books and the concept of Frank as death incarnate. This issue goes further into Frank’s history than we’ve been in a while, and is a fitting and appropriate finish to one of the better runs in comic book history. I may be dropping this book next month, but I will always remember the good times. (Tear, tear)
Astonishing X-Men V.3 #26: With the exit of Joss Whedon as writer, many fans wondered if their favorite X-series would drop off quality wise, with the change to new helmer Warren Ellis. After reading the first issue in the arc, I can say that though it isn’t quite the book it was when Whedon was writing, Astonishing X-Men is still a great read, and probably the best X-book around today. This arc finds the team knee deep in a new conflict, as Xavier’s kids are facing off against an unknown foe, someone who is genetically engineering mutant/mutant hunters. Scott and team head out to Chaparanga, the spaceship graveyard, to see if they can’t locate the source of all their current problems. What they find there will take the combined forces of all the X-Men (including re-recruit and current queen of Wakanda, Storm) to defeat. Nothing groundbreaking, but a solid enough introduction to Ellis’s arc, and one that doesn’t make the reader suffer from Whedon-less drop off (too badly). Not quite the magic Whedon was weaving but still a very readable, entertaining book and one that will continue to stand out as the best X-Comic currently offered.
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DC
Final Crisis Revelations #1: Wow. I have no idea where this mini came from, or why we even need to it, but #1 is one of the more dark, adult, and frankly shocking comics I have read from any of the mainstream companies in a long time, and one of the better ones. Starting with an attempted rape by everyone’s least favorite villain, Dr. Light, Crisis Revelations takes the DC event to the more primal of levels. How does the embodiment of death deal with the Libra, the new baddie on the team? Crispus Allen, the current human shell for the Spectre, is faced with that very question. With a supporting B-line starring the new Question, Renee Montoya, and with some truly disturbing imagery and content, this is now the mini I most look forward to continuing. I’m not sure if this lies in current continuity or not, but if it does then all I can say is Dr. Light has definitely met a deserving reward for his actions as of late. This is as hardcore as a main label DC book will get, and I for one am definitely along for the ride. (One nitpick/spoiler alert…. avert your eyes. Ahem, NO WAY Dr. Light ever gets Starfire, Raven, AND Donna Troy incapacitated and trembling in fear. Just won’t happen. But a great plot device none the less.)
Batman #679: Part four of RIP is a bit confusing, but still a very fun and pretty insane book. I’m gonna be honest and admit it’s a bit tough to follow, but I find myself enjoying the individual moments more then the whole, which in this case isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With stunning artwork from Tony Daniel, Morrison’s Bat run has not hit a lull yet – It continues to be one of the stronger super series Also, how could you not buy a book that features Bat-Mite? It’s Bat-Mite!!! He’s tiny!!! C’mon!!! I am intrigued by the concept of a Batman with no trace of Bruce Wayne, and Morrison delivers a character that is both psychologically menacing and yet manages to keep true to the man in the cowl we all know and love. I don’t know if Bruce Wayne is really losing his mind, but I’ll take it if it means we get more books like this – more crazy, violent, dark as hell Batman books. Really great arc, and the finale promises to not disappoint either. Check-check-check it out.
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INDIE
Hellboy: The Crooked Man #2: Or, “Albinos Unleashed”. Mignola and guest artist Richard Corben are back with the second part of the newest Hellboy mini, and things are getting pretty damn crazy. Set in the backwoods of American Appalachia, this series finds big red on the hunt for the mythical Melungeon Witches (For history buffs, Mulungeon is a real sub “race” of Appalachians, with such famous Melungeons as Elvis Presely and Ava Garner) , with some help from a local who may have more involvement in the deaths occuring than first let on. I really like the vibe of this book, and though it’s darker fare, it’s told in a very light hearted way. I enjoy these random Hellboy tales almost as much as I enjoy it when we get a book in continuity, and Richard Corben’s art is a great compliment to the very folk-taley story that he and Migonla have hatched for everybody’s favorite beer drinker from hell. I would definitely recommend this to any fan of Hellboy – though if you are a HB fan, you probably already A) Own the issue and B) Love it.
Everybody’s Dead # 5: The final issue of Brian Lynch and penciler Dave Crossland’s Frat House Zombie epic has arrived and I can happily say that it kicks all kinds of reanimated ass. This has been one of my favorite minis from any company in a long time, and the finale brings just as many belly laughs and badass zombie busting moments as the four issues that proceeded it. We all know Brian Lynch can bring the funny, but what he also manages to do this time around is create a character that I personally will add to my geek lexicon of heroes; Of course, I refer to Westerberg. Imagine a pot smoking Egon mixed with a cynical college student and you’ve got my favorite character in the series, and one I will definitely miss not reading the ongoing exploits of (IDW… Ongoing?). This series really does feel like a film (and if you know the book’s history you may understand why) and this last issue is that sort of cinematic “grand finale” that we see time and time again in theaters, taking the book out on a rock and roll high and leaving the reader wanting a lot more. And I do want a lot more. If there is any justice in the world, this will not be the last time we get to see the boys of Phi Beta Eta taking names and getting their collective “hang on”. If you missed the first issues, definitely pick up the trade when it is released. One of the more unique and memorable series I have read in a long while. Also – gun bong. Oscar… Worthy (or, at the very least, Eisner).
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Wasn’t that fun? Well, forget you… I enjoyed myself. Check back next week for a review of the new comedy blockbuster Tropic Thunder starring Derrick Zoolander, Jables, and Tony Stark (odd casting choices). Be forewarned, though… It might get messy. MESSY GOOD! So keep it here, kids, and while you are around, check out the other great Quick Stop brand content that the site has to offer. And, as always,
“Keep em’ bagged and boarded”
–Matt Cohen is currently watching 12 hours of olympic coverage a day. His response… “I could do that”
Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the Quick Stop…
Jonathan Coulton on Jonathan Coulton: “In 2005 I left my day job writing software to pursue music full time. To keep myself busy I released a new song on this website every week for a year in a project called Thing a Week. A few of those songs became big internet hits (my folky cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”, a funny video called “Flickr”, a song called “Code Monkey”), and I am now fortunate enough to make my living as a musician.
Paul and Storm are a comedy music duo, and they have been performing as a duo since 2004. Before that, they were one half of a cappella band Da Vinci’s Notebook for about 12 years. A Paul and Storm show is part music concert and part standup/improv comedy”“just enough of both to fit neatly in neither category. They like to engage the audience, and are known to award snack cakes and/or other prizes for good (and sometimes bad) behavior. Their show would be PERFECT as a cable special, and would make lots of money for whichever brave channel decides to air them first.
You know ’em as the RiffTrax trio, but here at Song Fu they are the mighty RiffTones…
Doc Hammer was born in 1626 in Hamar, Norway, under the name Erik VonHamer. Being the son of a humble cobbler, not much was expected of the young man, other than to cobble and to not complain about all the cobbling. But Doc was destined for greater things. At 17, with nothing more than really well made shoes and a dream, he made his way to Antwerp to study oil painting under the great Rubens. Within a year, the two were at odds. Rubens spoke (infrequently) of Doc as “that creepy skinny kid,” and Doc spoke of Rubens’s work as “kinda unattractive if you really look at it.” By 1648, Doc had relocated to Leiden, where he found his master in Rembrandt. It was there, in his 23rd year, that Doc met “She Who Was To Deliver The Kiss Of Eternal Youth.” After a spicy courtship, “She Who Was To Deliver The Kiss Of Eternal Youth” and Doc were married. By 1650 Doc had grown weary of immortality and committed an unsuccessful suicide by burying his never-corpse in the basement of a Dutch cottage. In 1870, Doc again resurfaced. Using the name Vilhelm Hammershoi, Doc resumed his painting career with mild success. After thanking his bride for “the immortality thing” and nicely reminding her that he had “heard every one of her stories like a billion times,” “She Who Was To Deliver The Kiss Of Eternal Youth” and Doc split up in 1916. Again, Doc literally went underground until, now using the name Armond Hammer, he resurfaced and made a whole mess of money selling overpriced meds to the Russians. Sick of all the baking soda jokes, Doc faked his death. Biding his time till the MC Hammer thing had blown over, Doc again resurfaced as “Doc Hammer.” Today, Doc still paints in oils and writes, voices, and does other crap for The Venture Bros. (a show you can watch on cable TV).
The Deal: After 20+ years making music as a hobby, I recently wrote and recorded a song for my daughter. I got a little taste of mild success (hey, my mom liked it). So now I’m taking my music out of the closet, dusting it off, and seeing how it does in the sunshine. Who knew there was so much work in just attempting to do music for a living. I feel like I am opening a Subway franchise (Only opening a Subway franchise seems more fulfilling in a creative way).
Run At The Dog are high energy, rock/pop, category-sluts with multi-gendered vocals and intricate arrangements. They are like Abba meets Faith No More meets Mos Def meets the Mormon Tabernacle Choir meets Steely Dan. The songs of this Minneapolis 5-piece are always written right away, with no respect for the calculating mind. Audience members are unsure whether to dance, laugh, or panic.
I suppose I am what you could call a “Multi-Instrumentalist”. That is a nice way of saying “Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none”. I began playing drums as a teenager and spent a great deal of energy during my 20’s trying to “make it” in the music biz. As a drummer, I have had the opportunity to play with some pretty incredible musicians, garnering literally DOZENS of fans over the years. In 2004 I joined the band Celestial Static, and spent several years melting some face with good friends Jeremy and Julie Elzerman. Once that ran its course, I decided to spend more time locked away in my studio, writing my own songs and learning to play guitar, bass and sing. It doesn’t pay the bills, but I have a good time doing it.
Edric has been writing music (off and on) for the past fifteen years. He wrote and directed a musical, The Pushcart War, based on Jean Merrill’s wonderful novel. He has written and/or arranged a number of songs for various friends – some commissioned, some as surprises. He loves acting in community theatre, and is inspired by the music of Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty – and yes, Jonathan Coulton, who in addition to writing wonderful songs, also served as a portal to finding out about the Song Fu competition.
“BucketHat” Bobby Matheson is an awkward teenage accordionist and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in superhero-themed and “Comedy” music, and who works for minimum wage in the fast food industry. With his style varying from polka to folk, punk to pop, and then again from rock to bluegrass, we’re left unsure what to expect. One thing for certain is that Bobby doesn’t like talking about himself in the third person, and therefore will stop this silliness right now.
Insane Ian is a comedian and writer from Baltimore, Maryland who specializes in all things nerdy, both in parody and original compositions. From Sci-fi TV shows and films, to video games, to comic books – no nerdy topic escapes his sardonic (and satiric) wit. Among his peers – such as Sudden Death, the great Luke Ski, Jonathan Coulton and, of course, “Weird Al” Yankovic – he is the only artist to have written this bio, and remains at the top of that list. Currently, his song “Guitar Hero” (from his upcoming album n3rds0ngs) is the number three most requested song on the Dr. Demento radio show for last month. Usually for a song, I.I. surrounds himself with talented people to make himself look better…and now is no exception, as friend and producer Mike S. helps on instrumental duties.
Hello everyone. I’m Bram Tant, a 19-year-old Belgian student who enjoys playing the electric/bass guitar, singing, and writing songs in his spare time. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional musician, and I’m psyched to have been selected for this awesome contest. Having greatly enjoyed the first edition, I want to test my humble songwriting Fu against other (hopefully) great artists. Unfortunately, I do not own decent recording equipment – all I have is a computer microphone. Still, I’ll try the best I can to record the best song I can write. About musical influences – lately I’ve been really awed at/inspired by the work of Jonathan Coulton, and I found out about this contest through his website/forum. Else, I enjoy a bit of everything. My musical style is a bit hard to define: I play a bunch of stuff like soft/hard/classic rock, punk, metal, folk, jazz, lots of improvisational stuff, and I seem to have a knack for writing love songs, probably because of a subconscious yearning for love… Anyway, I wish the best of luck to all the other competitors, and may the best win!
The phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” could almost have been invented to describe Mick Bordet’s musical existence. Writing and recording songs since the tender age of thirteen, a quarter of a century’s experience has failed to produce any music his family can relate to. This may be because he steadfastly insists on bouncing between and across genres at every opportunity like a hummingbird with ADD, or perhaps it’s the eclectic collection of instruments he utilises for his sonic palette, from guitar and ukulele to theremin, yobstick and electric harmonium. Mick is a founder member of “The Lunacy Board”, Scotland’s premier progressive avant-garde skiffle duo, and cites influences as diverse as Edgard Varèse, Ivor Cutler, Conlon Nancarrow, and Roy Harper, to name but four. The duo have recently released three debut albums, including one written, recorded, and mixed within a single day ““ perfect training for the Song Fu challenge.
Steve Chatterton is an independent musician living in the suburbs of Toronto. Known primarily for his jingle work on local television and his electronic project 11t1, he’s now putting all of his musical efforts into the ever-elusive self-titled singer-songwriter recording project he’s been wanting to get around to since he was 10-years-old and had just discovered The Beatles. Steve is an honors graduate of the jazz guitar program at Mohawk College, and has since performed in a wide array of bands that nobody has ever heard of. After retiring from performing to concentrate on raising his kids, he’s recently put together his own basement studio and has set a personal goal of producing at least one song a month.
Tom Rooney has participated under the band name Thomas F in the Record Production Month Challenge for the past two years, successfully completing an album of 10 new original songs within the month of February. The challenge provided a welcoming environment of diverse artists from around the globe all frantically striving to beat the end of the month deadline while encouraging and supporting each other. This experience has given Tom the confidence to put his music out there, for better or worse. Most feedback has been politely positive. Raving masses of fans still to come.
Fun, Zesty, Acoustic, Energetic, Crunchy. Some of these words describe the Baritone-Ukulele-wielding N8 Shivers (the others describe Taco Bell’s newest food-like invention). He began writing songs at the age of two, and taught himself to play the uke a mere 17 years later. N8’s Family members claim he’s the best uke-playing song writer they’re related to. He enjoys Stand-up Comedy, Coen Brothers movies, Chilly sandwiches, and Canadian sitcoms. His Turn-offs include Banana Flavored Things, Republicans, and Mountain Dew. N8 is currently employed as a Wizard in southern Ohio.
Jeremy Pierson is a struggling artist of that so-called RenGen crowd. His passion for music has run deep through his veins since his earliest days of hearing The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie wonder, and Marvin Gaye on his parent’s record player at home. As a songwriter, his influences cull from the likes of those legendary artists already mentioned, and include influences from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jamiroquai, Earth, Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Bob Schneider, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon. His greatest barrier as a commercially successful artist is clearly his lack of interest in limiting his musical creativity to any one genre. Jeremy also feeds his creative juices through his artistic work in photography, film, writing, illustration, and design.
Johannes “Jutze” Schult (from Germany) likes to make songs about weird stories and situations. It’s all about creating a musical scenario that is somewhat original, yet believable by some stretch of imagination. Jutze used to play drums in a heavy metal band, and then founded his own pop band where he played guitar. These days he’s mainly doing solo work for the fun of it.
Last year, Paramount released the first season of the remastered original Star Trek series as hybrid standard DVD/HD-DVD discs. As we all know, HD-DVD was roundly defeated in the high definition format wars by Blu-Ray, which left the future of the remastered releases a bit muddled. Well, 
Why does it always seem that when my car’s battery decides it’s time to die, it’s always when it’s pouring down rain. It never fails. Also, after a childhood arcing incident, I’ve always been paranoid about opening up the hood and attaching the leads to the battery. Well, those days are done and gone with the 
Although his smarmy, opportunistic, and ultimately destructive behavior became cartoonish in his last years as prime minister, it’s a film like writer Peter Morgan and director Stephen Frears’ 
As we approach the Beijing Olympics, why not take an unprecedented look across the cultural and geographical breadth of that nation with the documentary 
It’s not the first time its been released on DVD, but I’m safe in saying that the new 2-disc special edition of 
After over 20 years, watching the fourth season of 
It was only a matter of time before somebody did a comedy with 64-bit videogame animation, and G4’s 
In the category of “there had to be a documentary on him eventually, and here it is” comes 
The second season of the BBC’s 
How much do you love the 80’s? A lot? Well, Paramount has taken a batch of their 80’s classics and rebranded them with “I Love The 80’s”, and included a bonus CD collecting a clutch of 80’s hits (A-Ha, anyone?). The flicks included in the rebranding are 
In my fondest dreams, I’d hope that the release of soundtracks from the animated direct-to-DVD 
Get up to snuff on this year’s presidential nominees with the A&E Biography of both 
Joanna Lumley stars as woman whose retirement dreams with her husband are thrown into turmoil after tragedy strikes in the series 
Robson Green and Simone Lahbib return as Dr. Tony Hill and Detective Inspector Alex Fielding in the fifth season of 
Soapier than a bar of Irish Spring, the Brits manage to bring an air of trashy class to their own little spin on Las Vegas, 
The animated adventures of come to a close in 
Flash back to 2004 with Sheryl Crow’s episode of the live performance show 
Sir David Attenborough turns his cameras toward the slithery, slimy, and pebbled with 
Director: 
Director: 
The real star of this film is Philippe Petit.
The Deal: After 20+ years making music as a hobby, I recently wrote and recorded a song for my daughter. I got a little taste of mild success (hey, my mom liked it). So now I’m taking my music out of the closet, dusting it off, and seeing how it does in the sunshine. Who knew there was so much work in just attempting to do music for a living. I feel like I am opening a Subway franchise (Only opening a Subway franchise seems more fulfilling in a creative way).
After years of begging, pleading, and borderline groveling, Warners has finally answered all those pathetic pleas with the long-awaited first volume of 
So, you’ve got a pair of computers and you want to transfer files between them quickly and easily. Sure, you could try and create a network connection, or send things over a instant messenger service in a pinch, but most ISPs are painfully slow on uploads, and you might not even have the option. No, the easiest piece of kit I’ve ever encountered is the 
It’s not nearly the groundbreaking revelation that was Scorsese and The Band’s The Last Waltz, but 
The Blu-Ray train has reached Clancy station (yeah, I just typed that – I may need a vacation), and that means we’ve got a quartet of high-definition, stunning looking versions of 
Spawned from the same animated era that gave us Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, and Pinky & The Brain, I always thought that 
Take the highway to the danger zone in gloriously crisp, high definition Tony Scott vision with the Blu-Ray edition of Top Gun (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP). In addition to the uber-quality, you get the bonus materials from the recent special edition DVD release, including an audio commentary, making-of documentary, featurettes, galleries, music videos, and more.
Like most effortless surprise cult hits, the sequel to Harold & Kumar Go Two White Castle suffers from trying too hard. That’s not to say that 
Has it really been 10 years since 
It may be mired in its mid-80’s time period, but there’s a great ticking clock fun to 
Fans (and Paul Sabourin) will rejoice in the fact that not only will they get to re-watch the stunning conclusion of the saga, but the fourth and final volume of 
Anglophiles wishing to get a wonderful primer on the sceptered isle’s history will want to pick up a copy of Simon Schama’s in-depth 
Plunge back into the Fox vaults with a box set devoted to the 30’s George Clooney with the 
Start refreshing on the original before the new series launches this fall with the complete fifth season of 
If getting the series in separate sets wasn’t appealing to you, you can now get the entirety of 
In the annals of great cooking shows, a special place must be reserved for one of my favorites – Britain’s 
With season 7 of 
Spawned in the desperate post-Buffy bid to launch any kind of female action-hero series the networks could get their hands on, 
Growing up, the name James A. Michener meant incredibly massive TV miniseries based on equally massive books set in some period of America’s past. Such is the Wild West tale 
