One More Day…Say it ain’t so, Joe.

So…the controversial One More Day storyline has come to its conclusion and has left its mark on the Spiderman mythos. Some like it, most hate it, if only for the ham-fisted manner in which the ‘problem’ of Peter Parkers marriage was ’solved.’ I have thoughts of my own about the whole thing, but so as not to parrot what’s being said on the message boards across geek-dom, I’ll just summarize a point or two:

A) The story was what an old art teacher of mine called a ‘well-rendered mistake.’ The art was decent and some of the dramatic moments well-scripted, but overall it was just plain…bad. And while the story was poorly-written, I can’t blame JMS too much for it as the whole thing reeks of the ‘too many cooks’ syndrome. Mr. Staczynski even wanted his name taken off the final 2 issues from what I understand. Not surprising as the end result of OMD pretty much erases much of his ‘historic’ run on ASM.

B) This ad below was a promo for the whole OMD ‘event’ which teased that one of the characters contained would have a pivotal role in the storyline. Considering that NONE of the characters made much of an impact, let alone appeared (save for Iron Man who shows up to get webbed up by Peter and that’s pretty much it), methinks that some real re-writing and re-jiggering of the storyline had taken place. In the end, it reeks of poor planning and storytelling.

I’m left scratching my head over this one. The larger issue of the world knowing Peter Parker’s true identity is ‘resolved’ in a line of throw-away dialogue. So much for Civil War’s ‘long-term effects.’ And the Parker/MJ marriage goes where Joey Q. wanted it to go for so long…away.

More thoughts to come.

Another kick in the nuts - On Christmas Day

I’m not going to try to spin this into some kind of comic fantasy, it’s just too hard. Nine days after finding that my cat Timon had died unexpectedly, we were forced to euthanize our dog Suki. She was a beautiful mixed husky, going on 16 years of age and was suffering from many health issues that made ending her suffering a necessity. Although it was not totally unexpected, after she suffered yet another seizure that paralyzed her back legs, I looked up into Heaven and said ‘are you shitting me? You’re taking another one?’

It happened on Christmas day.

The one thing I learned from this dog was the value of tenacity. She never lost sight of what she wanted, whether it was in a closed cupboard, on an unattended dinner plate or even behind a closed refrigerator door. She figured out how to open doors, cabinets and even cans of dog food. I shit you not, the dog learned how to open cans of dog food!

If I had even half of the tenacity this dog had, I’d be working in comics now and not just writing about them.

God, I loved that dog.

And God, You better be taking good care of her. I expect to see her and my cat when I get there.

Suki, look after Timon for me, willya’? Keep the other cats from messing with him and leaving him be like you did at home.

I’ll be seeing you again. Someday.

Suki - The Newest Star in Heaven

1992 - 2007

Holiday Greetings to the Warrior Nation!

Art by Erik Tiemens & Ryan Church

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

Peace on Earth - Good Will to All Men, Women and God’s Creatures.

And a Happy New Year, too!

Blade Runner - The Final Cut

He’s an unfeeling killing machine, who has fought in interstellar wars and seen ships ablaze in the deep, dark vacuum of space. He’s a replicant that has been designated for ‘retirement’ because he’s perceived as a threat to ‘real’ humans. And yet Roy Batty shows kindness to a bird and saves Deckard’s life. The scene is as poignant today as when I saw it in the theaters almost 25 years ago. Harrison Ford wasn’t Han Solo or Indiana Jones in this one, he was just some shmoe who got in over his head.

 

And I say bullshit to Mr. Ridley Scott who says Deckard is also a replicant. Harrison Ford says poppycock to that idea, and I stick with the man on that. Just like many folks have their own opinions on the Star Wars Special Editions, and refuse to accept Lucas’ changes to the films, I refuse to accept that Deckard is a replicant.

 

On top of that, when you say ‘Final Cut‘, I’ll always think Roger Waters’ follow-up to The Wall. So sue me.

The Greatest Cat in the World - Tribute

Some time ago I discovered something about myself that really should have been obvious to me from the start. See, while I am somewhat obsessed with ’super animals’ (i.e., Krypto, Ace the Bat Hound, Dynomutt) I just never realized where the fascination came from. Yes, I do work at an animal shelter when I’m not trafficking in the comic world and I do care for animals quite a bit, but still, why something as silly as a dog (or even a cat!) wearing a cape?

Some self analysis revealed the following: These ’super-pets’ are not only the embodiment of the ultimate ‘best friend’, ala Krypto, but they can never be hurt, abandoned, left to starve or suffer. These fictional animals are meta-creatures that can survive all the intentional and random cruelties that this world we live in can subject them to.

And they can live forever.

It is a rare occasion where Superman will have to say goodbye to Krypto, Supergirl to Streaky, Blue Falcon to Dynomutt, etc. (Unless, of course, Alan Moore is writing the ‘last’ Superman story and is out to torture his readers.)

If only the real world were so merciful.

While Timon didn’t arrive in an experimental space craft from Krypton, he was still a very special cat. A tiny ball of a tabby, I first saw him in the shelter isolation ward, housed there because of a severe upper respiratory infection. I’d never fostered an animal before, and many of my co-workers were surprised when I agreed to foster the little tabby kitten. He came into my home, and made sure that I never brought him back. From his little banzai leaps off the headboard of my bed to awake me for his AM feeding, to how he loved me to cradle him in my arms like an infant. (I’m not the maudlin type, really, and I try to not romanticize animals at all. ) This little guy just struck a chord with me. Living alone at the time, he was my sleeping buddy and silent companion. Then came other animals and he just went with the flow, dealing with the intrusion upon my attention, never demanding more than his meals and an occasional cuddle. But if he was sitting next to me on the couch and one of the dogs wanted that space, tough, he was there first.

He sure was. First in my heart, curled up and enjoying a cat nap.

And now he’s gone, taken from me all too soon as the Lord above only gave his tiny heart so many beats to live. And leaving me without my buddy to snuggle with on the couch these cold winter nights. Life is just not fair sometimes. I guess it just is what it is. If only it could be like in the comic books.

Goodbye little man. I’ll miss you.

Timon - One Great Cat
1995 - 2007