Cythusly's weblog

Alright, I was just reading over an article at superherohype.com; they’ve been really doing a lot of coverage on X-Men Origins: Wolverine and I can say I’m completely underwhelmed. When I first heard Ryan Reynolds was going to be one of my favourite characters in the film: Deadpool, I was skeptical. Now there’s pictures of Gambit makes him look like a fucking tranny in his shiny purple shirt and “beard” that would be shamed by a 14 year-old.

And now – and NOW, I hop on imdb and check that, oh, Dominic Monaghan is going to play Beak. Seriously!? Beak was a fucking lame character to begin with, now they’re going to lame him up even more in an attempt to make him visually interesting and fun on screen? Who is writing these fucking movies!? I had to fucking check wikipedia because it’s been so goddamned long since I’ve even read the New X-Men series and he was so utterly lame and forgettable (until the kind of Hawkman-esque appearance of him after the AoA-like story arc, the beginning of which I just had to quit reading… yes, it was that bad) that I really had to make sure I was thinking of the right character.

Anyway, I know Wolverine is a cash cow property because of whatever-fucking-reasons (“he’s a badass, and tall, and has cool facial hair and can’t die!” ugh…) so much so they’ve already make 3 fucking movies about him and now they’re making a 4th that is apparently going to be based on his origin (which from what I’ve seen is nothing like Origin, thank fucking Christ, but still if you have source material, especially relatively CURRENT source material: USE IT) I wonder if they’re going to establish bone claws? Or had they already done that in one of his other movies? X-Men? I can’t remember and don’t have the angry energy to check.

Bottom line with the Wolverine movies is this: I’ll definitely be seeing it, because there’s not been much out that’s been good and this is no exception. I’m pretty sure I won’t be surprised by OMG SO FUCKING AWESOME to discount my hatred for a character I liked as a kid reading the comics and watching the Animated Series. I reserve the right to be angry because that’s who I am.

-Tyler

Still busy with school, but I thought I’d do something out of character for the direction I had always planned for this blog – speak briefly on the results of the recent Presidential Election here in the United States.

For the first time ever we have a black President Elect and in January Barack Obama will become our first ever black President. What does this mean? Other than a huge leap forward for civil rights in this country, it means absolutely nothing. He’s a man, just like any other.

I spoke with one of my friends the night he won and the possibility of his being assassinated came up – we wondered what would happen, but to my horror she said that she wouldn’t mind him being assassinated so we could find out the answer to that question. I began to wonder… is this the feeling of most of the people who decided McCain would make a better President? I also wondered – was this feeling because he is a black man? Or because he’s a democrat? Or because he’s a black democrat.

To me those things are irrelevant – I understand feeling safe, or having faith in someone, I certainly did not in John McCain, whether I thought he would have been a better president or not (I don’t think he would have been a better choice, and Sarah Palin scares the bejesus out of me.)

Before stating that she wouldn’t care if Obama was killed she expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the race was called in Obama’s favor before all precincts had reported in (actually 3 minutes after the polls closed here in California) but that’s just how projections in these kinds of races go. It’s not that all of the liberal news outlets were calling Obama the victor, and conservative news sources called it too close to call – no, as soon as someone reaches 270 electoral the race is called in their favour.

Anyway, where does this intolerance come from? I know this is a lot of rambling, but I would like to think that I live in one of the more liberal states in America (California) even with the passing of Prop 8 which bans gay marriage – where do the people come from that think it’s okay to forfeit a persons life?

I’m kind of out of anything to say, I know I haven’t expressed half of what is in my mind but the rest is even more of a jumble of thoughts and emotion I have yet to sort out.

-Tyler

I know it’s been a while, but I’ve been busy. Enough said.

I’ve got a lot to go over so hopefully I can get through everything I wanted to cover today; here goes:

Okami covers! Yes, the IGN watermark is not on these and I have to say that they are beautiful. I got them in the mail the other day (was sad to see only 2 then I realized that the original cover, less IGN watermark, is on the back of BOTH) and it was a very nice treat and a long time coming.

Next Mother3 fan translation patch released this week! I’ve not had the time to sit down with this one because I’ve been so busy with school and work and Halloween fast approaching but I do plan on taking most of November to eat turkey and play the English translation. Thanks to Chewy & Mato and the rest of the team over at The Mother3 Fan Translation site – I’ve been looking forward to this for almost 10 years and I’m fucking excited as hell! Also, go buy the Japanese version of the game! Remember it’s illegal to download a ROM unless you own the game!

There is a bunch of information over at the site about the Earthbound (Mother) series – including walkthroughs, an interview with Mother creator Itoi, and a link to a page that the M3FT has been working on in the background.

Continuing with Mother 3 news, a group of people are creating a guide for Mother 3 that imitates the classic guide that came with Earthbound. Complete with pictures of real clay figures similar to the artwork in it’s predecessor and a full walkthrough. For a $20 preorder (guide slated for release in early 2009) it’s certainly worth the price – especially with a free Courage Badge keychain and reduced shipping on Earthbound shirts when you order together!

Alright, on to comics this month. IDW released Ghostbusters: The Other Side this month. So far all I can say is: amazing. I’m a big fan of the artwork, similar to Stuart Immonen’s artwork from the recent issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, and the story is definitely shaping up to be a good ‘un!

I’m going to end this journal with a mention of a book I just started reading, it’s called “Alive in Necropolis” by Doug Dorst. I’m still not sure about where the story is going but it’s been a fun read so far – I should be done in the next couple of weeks, as I get 10 or so pages a night done before I get to bed, and I’m going to make sure I do a full review of the book (probably my first full review of a book outside on an English class. I’d suggest checking it out at your local library or buy it!

Until next time (hopefully less time than it took me to update this last time)

-Tyler

Hey Viagra Spammers – I have all day to delete your comments, I’m a college student.

Well this is some awesome news – according to 4cr Capcom is finally sending out the Okami covers from MONTHS ago after the whole watermark “scandal”. In another apology (an apology nested in an apology? I’m starting to get confused) Capcom is apparently sending out all 3 of the covers. Score!

The Capcom website states that if you put in a redemption request that you’ll be seeing an email soon with information on when to expect your covers.

Very happy with Capcom right now – this has been a nice little treat.

[From 4 color rebellion » The Sun Finally Sets for Okami Covers]

Just a quick link to my photos from Comic-Con this year that I have yet to post here (everyone who reads this has probably already seen them though)… Comic-Con 2008 – Flickr

There was also a bunch of fanboy moments caught in these picture sets – something I try not to do, because celebrities are people too… but c’mon! It was fuckin’ Ron Perlman! And Felicia Day… and, and Amy Okuda! And the rest of The fuckin’ Guild!

Also, I just updated ecto and it quit on me while it downloaded and restarted itself and everything I had typed (stupidly without saving) came back up. I’m totally loving this blogging software! Any blogger with a Mac should check this shit out.

-Tyler

I’ve been really busy with the startling realization that my & my friends Halloween costumes might not be finished in time and haven’t really been thinking about writing or posting. So while I’m doing work on our costumes and shit I’ll probably be posting progress journals and pictures – so stay tuned for that. I am still trying to get in touch with my friend that is supposed to do some artwork for the site and I’ve got to remember all my passwords and shit so I can backup this thing on a regular basis and then finally upgrade to WordPress 2.6.

Hopefully a larger update later, I’ll try and have something to say or review (I won’t be doing a Dark Knight review because that movie apparently can do no wrong. Actually I can think of one thing but it’s so whatever-y that it’s not even worth mentioning.)

-Tyler

I’m working on a new layout for the blog right now but it’s still a couple weeks away. I’m trying to get one of my friends to do some artwork but she’s really busy working on stuff for TokyoPop and hasn’t been able to do commissions much less artwork for me.

I need to buy a binder or pad of paper so I can just jot down ideas I have for the blog as I have them. I know about 2, maybe 3 people read this (all my friends, and I love you for that) so I’m not so much doing this for attention as I am just to get thoughts and ideas (and reviews, yes, seems gimicky – but it’s just a way for me to think about things and put them into a little more formal presentation than my normally stream of consciousness first draft posts) down for posterity’s sake.

I got to the con a little bit earlier today than yesterday, it was really nice knowing that there was a tram that ran right from where I was staying to the convention center – it saved about 3 hours of trying to find parking, yes, Comicon is that fucking insane.

I got back around to the Ghostbusters VG booth and met the canon 5th Ghostbuster – Ryan, one of the developers. The guy was really awesome, and loves the property as much as I do. He was really interested in what everyone had to say about the game. After playing it I only had ONE complaint (that I didn’t get a chance to tell him because he had left for lunch) and that was when the characters put away their throwers the animation is not realistic. That’s it. Something in a game about catching ghosts that doesn’t look right because it’s so difficult as to being almost impossible.

After that I ended up collecting a nifty con exclusive LEGO Joker and Batman that I will probably end up giving to one of my friends (he loves LEGOs and I missed his birthday this weekend.) Swagged some other nifty, useless stuff. I’ll probably post a picture on Monday or something.

I saw the entire Guild cast standing around taking in a huddle and I decided not to bother them and just find them while they’re signing later.

I was excited to meet quite a few people that I’d missed on Friday. Wil Wheaton (I got his book “Happiest Days” and talked to him for a bit and he was cool, there’s another story here and I’ll tell that a little later on); Scott Kurtz from PvP, the Candyman, Ken Foree and Cassandra Peterson (awesome lady, I did not expect her to be dressed as Elvira but surprisingly enough she was!) and got my picture with most of them.

I also met Amy & Felicia from The Guild and I think I kind of freaked Felicia out a bit, which kind of sucks. They told me the rest of the cast was signing upstairs and I went and found them (getting my picture taken with an awesome Red Power Ranger on the way) and they were very cool! Robyn and Sandeep were very enthusiastic about the Ghostbuster uniform and Robyn was even more excited when I came back with the pack on. I got a few pictures with them and they all turned out… well, so many people were taking pictures of us it got a little confusing. But there was a picture with Vince, Robyn and Jeff that turned out great and the one where Sandeep jumped in that two of us were looking at different cameras. Oh well, it was a very “Zaboo!” moment.

After that the con was kind of winding down and I stuck around for part of the Masquerade showing in one of the satellite showing rooms since I didn’t know Ballroom 20 wasn’t filled to capacity. I left just as there was a chick dancing around as Emma Frost and there was a nip slip and the lights went OUT. I felt really bad for the lady, but come on… who doesn’t wear pasties underneath a tube top? Not that I’m complaining.

After that it was back to the friends place and slept in the tub ’cause there was snoring.

Yay cons.

-Tyler

Comicon has been great so far. Been able to play some of the Ghostbusters game, very fun, need to check it out some more today (Saturday) and I also couldn’t help but notice – Marvel Nemesis 2? Wasn’t Marvel Nemesis a huge steaming pile of crap? Don’t shake your head I bought it, I know how huge and steamy and smelly it was.

Checked out the WB booth and got some cool interior (and a few exterior) shots of Night Owl’s ship (think it’s screen used from Watchmen.) Didn’t swag anything from that booth, so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for swag-ing shit. I gave up on doing the little scavenger hunt for LEGO Joker pieces, and when I was feeling more up to it they apparently had run out of heads and stopped doing it for the day.

Web of Shadows looks pretty damn cool, I didn’t hunker down and play any of it but that’s why there’s 2 days left at the con. I also need to check out the Warhammer Online MMO. I went by what seemed to be the conglomeration of awesome webcomic artsts and writers – met R.K. Milholland of something*positive, his girlfriend Rinny (dressed at Zatanna, sooo cute), and Jennie Breeden from The Devil’s Panties, and got a picture with the three of them. I also met the writer/artist from Two/Lumps and he was a very awesome guy, he had been doing a few sketches so I didn’t want to bother him with another – hopefully I can stop by and get a sketch from him today!

I dropped by the Penny-Arcade booth and met Jerry & Mike… and honestly I was less than impressed. I don’t know if I managed to piss them off in the few seconds I was there but they did not seem happy that I was there at all. Maybe I cut off a line or something that I just didn’t see. But the two of them were just sitting there doing nothing. Oh well, I didn’t expect them to be really cool and kiss readers asses – because their pay-grade is way beyond false appreciation of fans. That’s not to say that they don’t appreciate their fans, I’m sure they do. Whatever slight they concocted for me to have committed I hope it was something as awesome as flipping off a box of kittens or punching a baby.

More later,

-Tyler