Challengers by TEH NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

I was going to write an actual, honest-to-God review of this for the first issue of The Quill, but since the deadline is tomorrow and I still haven't gotten in contact with the Arts editor, I'm not going to bother. I'll be sure to get into every other issue afterwards, though, as once the year starts I will have easy access to the office and those that inhabit it.

Challengers is a different album from TNP. There's only two songs here that I would say fit in with their past work, and even they use a slightly different style. But you know what? I applaud them for doing something different, and successfully at that.

Like all their work, the album flows perfectly. There are really no songs that I would skip on regular listen-throughs. The lyrics are still eccentric and fun, and the singing is still smooth as ever. They are just trying something slightly less bombastic, and using a much greater variety of instruments and composition styles as before. The 5th song, 'All The Things that Go To Make Heaven & Earth' has a pretty rockin' piccolo in the background. Yes, a rockin' piccolo.

It seems like a lot of critics are down on this album because it's different. It certainly is different, but I love it all the same. I'd say it's worth picking up, for a rockin' piccolo and more.

The Weakerthans new album is coming out in a month, and they're experimenting, too. Can't wait for that one.

*****

In other news, I finished my first comic script and sent it for review to my collaborator. It took nearly a month to hammer that thing into first draft completion, and it's more of a filler thing setting up the motus operandi of the antagonists. If there's one thing I don't honestly know will go over well with potential readers this early, it's two issues of talking heads (which pretty much describes what we wrote to a tee), but we'll see.

That is, if we ever get to the point of being able to publish this monstrosity, which would involve finding an artist and inker, or an artist/inker. Not just an artist/inker/artistinker, but one that would be willing to take a dual-nerd dictatorship, and for very little pay. It's too bad neither of us ever took a complete pursuit of art, because that would have taken out the middle man entirely. So it goes.

Now your child can experience the fun and brutality!

Playmobil presents the 'Roman Colosseum' super play set, where you can have slaves from foreign countries bludgeon each other into gruesome death, and then get fed to savage beasts!



Add to the adventure: Look for the special 'Nero and Doomed Christians' set at a toy store near you!

Superbad

I'm awful at movie reviews, I really am.

Superbad is funny. Very funny. But at the same time, the main characters did feel very genuine, which is great.

Really, all that needs to be said is: go see it.

Visuals: DC VS. - World's Finest

Later than I expected, but here's the newest batch of DC cards, ready for the lame jokes and references!



Say that name fifteen times fast!



WHY WOULD YOU EVER LIVE IN A PLACE CALLED 'SUICIDE SLUMS'????



I dunno, there's something awfully Fritz Lang about this depiction of Steel. There's something else familar about it, too...





I know I'd feel safe with a hero named Loser protecting my city!



Really. The Newsboy Legion.



The first Sean Connery VS card! (Wiki it)



"Awwwwww, not again!"



Just reminding everyone: The Question is awesome.



I really have to give it to Black Lightning: He does a good job despite being Persona Numero Uno whenever someone brings up bad attempts at African American superheroes (to be fair, they only care about the fact that he is named Black Lightning, and probably know nothing else of the character. To be honest, neither do I.)



BWAAAAAAAAAAAH!



Being both a Douglas Adams and Radiohead fan, this version works on TWO levels!



THE BEAR IS WEARING PANTS!



Each set in Vs seems to trump the last when it comes to LOL card names. Still, it's gonna be hard for the next set to outdo this one (unless they seriously make a card called "Clobberin' Pine").



Yes, do it! DO IT!



I love Bat Mite. And you should too.



No matter what context you look at this card, be from a player or just random passerby, it is silly. It is not just silly, it is the admiral of sillyness.



I found Colonel Kurtz!



How very glam.



I'm pretty sure they have procedures for that sorta of thing...



Must not make banana joke...must not make banana joke...

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!



GRATUITOUS NUDITY!



I'm scared.



If there's one concept that just. Makes. Sense, it is that Superman's ultimate enemy is an evil Sun.

I <3 Grant Morrison.



I think he takes the title of 'Lamest Character To Be Made in Vs'

Just lemme check for contenders...






...nope. He gets it.



This guy is way to rectangular for my tastes.



They usually say "Save the best for last". Screw them. THE BEST IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.



Batman is way too sinister in this picture.



Let it sink in.

Well, enough of that for now. It won't be long before I do another one of these, so don't worry.

Mario Strikers Charged

I should probably tell you about this game, just in case you haven't played it yet.

Like the first Strikers, this game is soccer for people who like hockey more than soccer. There's a lot more emphasis on bashing people, and very little in the way of defense. Add in items, fields with various hazards, and super shots that can score up to 6 goals at once, and you get a pretty good idea of what you're getting into.

But, it's fun. And despite all the chaotic elements, the game feels balanced. And there are a couple of minor improvements that make the Wii game feel even more fun and balanced than the original. Some improvements are quite noticeable (being able to select every member of your team is great, and each character feels full of variety), while others are not unless you really got to know the first game (the goalies are a hell of a lot better).

The main attraction of the game is the multiplayer, though. The single player does boast some tournaments and themed challenges that will give you something to do (especially since both get really difficult very fast). But the heart of the game is getting four people around for a little healthy competition.

The Wiimote controls are restrained, but work really well. Smacking opponents by flicking the remote feels natural, and the Mega Strike blocking (if you were wondering how they balanced those multiple-goals-in-one-shots) also works really well. Overall, the controls are tight.

The big new thing, however, is the online play. It uses the Friend Code system, which I have yet to have a problem with but I can see why others do, but it also has random ranked matches. So, if you want to play someone in North America you don't know, you can, and each match earns you points and gets you ranked every week (the number one people in the rankings, however, are insane and if you are normal you have no way of ever catching up to them). And these matches seem more likely than not lag-free, which is good. It's too bad they couldn't smooth out the online for those across the ocean, but thus are the casualties of new technology.

One turn-off for many people is the atmosphere of the game, though. It just doesn't feel like a Mario game, really. The music, the style, the art...it's the closest we'll ever get to 'XTREEEEEEEME' Mario, hopefully. Some could see this as good, however, if they are tired of the normally cheery, drug-induced environment of these games. Plus, stuff like Diddy Kong getting a sitar theme song and the crowd cheering for Wario in the style of an Irish drinking song can be funny.

So yeah, it's a good game. Probably wouldn't be a worthy enough purchase if you know you won't be able to grab a few friends every once in a while, but it's a great, great party game. Which is pretty much what the Wii has been providing for the most part. And if this doesn't appeal to you, Metroid Prime 3 is coming out soon.

Those Cold, Dead Eyes

After having quick glances at a number of British cartoons on this site, I have come to two realizations. One, the British love their stop motion. Second, puppets can be absolutely frightening. Not just ventriloquist dummies or marionettes, either, although they are generally the worst of the bunch. I guess it's the Uncanny Valley in a way, although instead of looking like humans, most of them just look like they should be alive in general. When they're being used, they can be great. But I could never be in a room filled with stored puppets.

I think this movie looks fun. It would probably seem pretty pedestrian, however, if I didn't know it was a Michel Gondry (or, as he pronounces it, MEESHELL GAWNDWEE) film. So I at least have the possibility that the final product will be filled with exuberance.

Time for another Time Waster

Seriously, I can watch this all day.

There's something about these old movie reviews that is really interesting. Also, seeing Siskel and Ebert together really makes me realize how bad a reviewer Roeper is. Where is the original duo can actually get interesting conversations (and arguments - see Silence of the Lambs), the later pairing leads to Ebert being the sole source of interesting theory, while Roeper just sits and bores.

On Junior Script Writing Part 2

I guess I don't get to edit the University paper this year :( Although, I can still contribute to the paper, and I may or may not pay attention to deadlines. Pity the person who got my job.

My friend finally finished his script, and I'm onto to mine. You know, it really is hard to fill 24 pages (the standard in comics, I think) with content. Especially when I don't cheat and use a bunch of splash pages for no reason. Maybe future scripts with more meat to the concept will be easier to write.