Archive for February, 2009
26 items.
I realize that the punchline of today’s comic is a cheap bit of slapstick, but I can’t resist when things start getting serious.
Can you tell that Jimmy is hurting? And not just from the door swinging open at 20 miles per hour (who knew the bathroom door was on a double-hinge?) I’m drawing things out a little bit, but Jimmy’s fear of the women’s restroom has less to do with a nervous Nellie insecurity around the fairer sex than one might have previously assumed.
I think you guys are really going to like where I go with this next. The challenge for me at this moment is to move past the exposition and start digging deeper into Jimmy’s past.
I’m not usually very graceful when it comes to these transitions. I have to take the Band-Aid approach to them: Just rip it off and get it over with. The Band-Aid in this case would be my propensity to keep the characters in one place doing the talking head’s routine before one of them slips on a banana peel.
I was able to get out of the house this weekend and see Liam Neeson in Taken. I had a lot of fun at this movie. It’s a solid B-action thriller. What’s great about it, I think, is that 1.) It is absolutely cut-throat and 2.) Liam Neeson is pretty much unstoppable.
It’s funny. If it were a Tom Cruise movie featuring some square-jawed action guy dodging a hail of bullets and kicking ass, I would reject it. But because it’s Neeson, I totally buy it. That guy brings so much authority and command to everything he does. There’s not an “actory” bone in his body. He just… does the work and makes it look real.
Taken is the kind of movie Harrison Ford would have done 10 years ago. Except this time instead of a missing wife, Neeson is searching for his missing daughter who has been kidnapped and sold into the sex trade by Albanian thugs in Paris.
Watching this movie reminded me when I went to Edinburgh with a friend in 1999. My Dad warned me about strange people and (without getting into it) basically told me to keep my wits about me so I don’t get raped.
I don’t know if he was confused for a minute or if what he said came out wrong, but my family and I have been torturing him about it ever since.
Thankfully, I wasn’t raped by a Scottish highlander on my excusion, but I understand a little more clearly his parental concern after watching Taken.
Should I have been taken advantage of in some way 10 years ago, I’m not sure my Dad would travel over half the globe to put a massive smackdown on a network of European criminals… but stranger things have happened.
I think what I love about Taken is that it goes to NO effort toward making Neeson into a hero. This guy kills EVERYONE. He doesn’t negotiate. He shoots people in the back! He’ll graze your wife with a .45 slug if it gets him closer to finding his daughter!
I don’t know if I’ve been asked to sympathize with a remoresless protagonist in this way before. I wasn’t bothered by it. I think they were pretty much counting on the audience to give Neeson’s character full reign because – hey – his daughted had been kidnapped and sold into the sex trade! That pretty much excuses any bloody mess you start to stir up in a foreign city.
What’s crazy is that this movie has been out in Austrailia for over a year before we got a chance to see it here in America. Usually, it’s the other way around. I’m not even entirely sure at what point it came up on my radar. But I saw the riviting trailer at some point (“This is the important part (pause) They are going to take you.”) and knew it was a must-see for me.
He’s what’s even crazier… Taken took the box office crown this weekend earning nearly $25 million in ticket sales! That’s Paul Blart money we’re talking about here, folks.
Frankly, I’m glad Neeson put a movie like this under his belt. For too long I think audiences have viewed him as a the firm but kind fatherly type and it was a pleasure to see him put that on it’s ear. Neeson’s performance in Taken reminded me of another film where he was a complete bad-ass. One of my favorites, actually, Rob Roy.
Waitaminute… Neeson played a Scottish highlander in that movie! OH, DEAR GOD! I CAN SEE THROUGH TIME!
I’m really excited to talk about Taken tonight at 9:00 PM CST when we record our weekly podcast, The Triple Feature. Did you know we record it over at TalkShoe.com? Because we do.
This was a movie that all three of us agreed to see last week and I think we actually made it happen – which is kind of rare since I don’t leave the house much anymore. I think we’re at our best when the three of us have all seen the same thing, so if you listen live tonight, I think you’ll be in for a treat.
In the meantime, who else here saw Taken this weekend? What did you think? Leave your comments below!
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Just a friendly reminder to pre-order Theater Hopper – Year Three.
Check out this 10-page preview of Year Three for a taste of what to expect from over 200 pages of Theater Hopper goodness!
Don’t forget that there is a 15% discount on EVERYTHING in the store from now until Friday. Just use the coupon code “dummy” at checkout to save big!
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Here’s a comic!
Not sure what to say about today’s comic without delving into my anxiety about whether or not I’m dragging out the introduction too long or if the implication that Jimmy is afraid of girls… or is he? (tee, hee!) – might have run it’s course.
Maybe we should focus on that typo in the last panel, eh? Don’t worry. I’ll fix it when I get home.
See, this is what I do: Instead of letting the comic speak for itself, I feel like I have to explain it or position it for you guys in relation to the larger story. I’m never satisfied making a one or two-line quip about the punchline and walking away from the keyboard. I always feel like I owe you guys more than that in the blog, even when I’m shooting myself in the foot by over-explaining it.
I’m excited for Friday’s comic because it will signal the transition into “flashback mode.” We’ll get to hear from Jimmy first-hand what changed him in the girl’s bathroom and I plan on punctuating that transition with a great, big splash image. Single panel, fools! Glorious color! Let’s take the action outside the movie theater, shall we?
Not much more to talk about. This week hasn’t exactly been an improvement over last week. I don’t want to get into it because I don’t want to bore you with my problems. Fortunately, Cami is feeling better (she thanks you for your well-wishes), but, y’know… sometimes life just keeps handing you lemons.
Personally, I’m really looking forward to the crop of new releases this weekend. Push, He’s Just Not That Into You, Fanboys, Pink Panther 2, Coraline… I’d like to see all of these movies.
I don’t know if perhaps my taste in movies has atrophied from lack of nourishment in January, but you wouldn’t run into much resistance if you suggested any of these movies to me.
Push, in particular, I think looks fun even though it’s basically the 2009 version of Jumper.
Okay, the plot is contrived (People with special powers are hunted down to be turned into weapons!) but I like the execution of the powers on display. I also think Chris Evans is a pretty good actor and deserves a break. He can’t be Johnny Storm in those sub-par Fantastic Four movies forever!
So what about you? Is anyone else excited by this week’s releases? Making any plans to see one of the above films? Which one looks best to you, if any? Leave your comments and we’ll discuss it!
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This is extremely short notice, but if you have some free time tonight, swing by TalkShoe.com at 8PM CST and listen as I’m interviewed by the good folks at the appropriately titled Webcomic Reviews & Interviews.
As I understand it, they want to ask me a few questions about the autobiographical aspects of Theater Hopper versus the fictional ones as well as a few inquiries about the advantages and disadvantages of having a family while trying to produce a web comic. Should be a good time!
Of course, if you miss the live recording you can always go to their page on TalkShoe and download the show to listen to at your leisure. But, yeah… if you’re free in the next 15 minutes, swing by. TalkShoe has a pretty cool chat feature available during live shows. Maybe you can submit a question of your own!
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I realize that Jimmy looks a little bit like a leather daddy or some kind of Judas Priest reject if you don’t understand the visual reference I’m making with today’s strip. That’s why I was so explicit in his visual representation.
Need a clue?
Perhaps a more contemporary take?
If you’re still at a loss, Google the title of today’s strip and get back to me. Hey – at least I was good enough to toss in a Pee Wee’s Big Adventure reference, right? Or does that not apply to anyone born after 1982?
I’ve only done a couple of single-panel strips like this one and it always kind of feels like a cheat. But at the same time, they are a relief to do because I don’t have to worry about moving characters around or being responsible for multiple expressions. Despite my guilt, I think they turn out really well. I guess it’s a change of pace.
I hope you like today’s comic. It signals our transition into full-scale flashback territory. Next week is all about Jimmy’s rebellious past. Ain’t I a stinker for making you wait for it? All the more reason to keep checking the site, right?
Tonight Cami’s parents offered to take Henry off our hands and we’re planning on seeing He’s Just Not That In To You. Reviews have been tracking on the mid-to-low end, but not as poorly as Push or The Pink Panther 2. I don’t particularly care. We’ve both had a rough week. A romantic comedy feels like the right thing to see right now.
I’m still eager to see Push, but I’ve been reading so many over-the-moon reviews for Coraline, I’m wondering if I shouldn’t switch my focus.
Coraline looked like the kind of movie that I would have been content to let slip through the theaters and then catch on DVD later. But I guess I hadn’t been paying attention to the fact that the film is also being presented in 3D, and I almost always fall for that when I presume the content of the film to be bearable.
I don’t want to give the impression that 3D is the only thing that would pull me into the theater on this one, but it kind of put things over the top. I mean, stop-motion in 3D – has that been done before?
At any rate, it looks like a great weekend for movies and I’m excited to go out there and see ’em. Which movie do you think will take the box office crown? Are you surprised by The Pink Panther 2’s 8% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes? What do you think about today’s strip? Are you excited to see Jimmy’s past life as a motorcycle punk?
Leave your comments and let’s talk about it!
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I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone that today is the last day that you can get 15% off your purchases in the store.
As part of a coding screw up that prevented people from completing their orders, I offered a 15% discount for one week. To take advantage of it, simply type “dummy” into the promotions and coupon field at checkout. (I am the dummy in question).
I would especially like to encourage to pre-order Theater Hopper – Year Three. It was my hope to take copies of the book to the Emerald City Comic Con in April. But, unfortunately, the estimate I recently got back from the printer was much higher than the previous editions of the book I have published. I suppose, like everyone else, their costs have gone up. But it was still a bit of a shock.
We’re received some orders that put us closer to our goal, but if there is not an increase in orders soon, I might have to push the project back and wait for advertising revenue to back fill the cost. Worst case scenario, I might have to shelf the project completely and refund the pre-orders I’ve already received.
We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks. If it gets bad, I might promote a little “$X to Goal” sliding bar to help people visualize things and spur orders. But after today, I won’t be offering any more discounts. So if you want to catch a break, today is your last chance to do so.
Thanks again to all of you who have already placed your orders. It will be a great thrill for me personally to put Theater Hopper – Year Three in your hands. I think it’s the best of my books so far and a lot of work went into making the commentary in the book extra special.
I appreciate your support!
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I love checking my referral logs hourly from time to time because sometimes the results turn up some doozies.
For example, during my last exploration, I found the following phrases people used to find my site:
- gay wolf
- geriatric homicide
Should I be at all concerned that these search phrases were back to back?
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This is the part of the story we like to call “building the drama.” I was half-way through inking it when I realized, “Hey, this comic has no punchline!”
That’s okay. Never every comic has to be fortified with your daily allowance of 10 comedy nutrients. Certainly not when compared to Friday’s comic – which was more of a visual gag than anything else.
At this point, I just want to cement the idea in your head’s that Jimmy was kind of a tool in his youth and the best way to do that is show you and not tell you.
I’m going to explore that idea a little more on Wednesday, specifically as it pertains to Jimmy’s relationship(s) with the opposite sex.
Much to my chagrin, I didn’t have an opportunity to see ANY of the myriad of new films released this week and I harbor a secret shame.
Cami’s folks offered to watch Henry Friday night so she and I could see He’s Just Not That Into You, but we only got as far as dinner before Cami wasn’t feeling well and we had to go home. We diluted ourselves into thinking maybe we could catch the late showing. But we both ended up crashing on the couch before 9:00 PM before waking up later, Rip Van Winkle style, and cursing our feeble bodies for being old and run down.
After that, I found it difficut to get motivated to see anything else. Cami had a social function Saturday night, so I was holding down the fort at home. She came back around 10:00 and I had about 15 minutes before Push started at the theater down the street. I couldn’t get myself up and out the door.
Henry took a nap on Sunday afternoon and Cami suggested I see Coraline. But it was 58 degrees outside and I decided to take the opportunity to sweep out a winter’s worth of sand and silt from the garage.
You know that scene in Old School where the college kids are telling Will Ferrell’s character to chug a beer, but he tries to worm out of it with the Home Depot / Bed, Bath & Beyond / “nice little Saturday” excuse? I’m starting to feel that way, but with movies.
If you want to listen to a couple of guys who KNOW what they’re talking about reflect on this week’s new releases while I moderate, be sure to listen to The Triple Feature this evening at 9PM CST over at TalkShoe.com. I’m not sure what we’ll be talking about specifically (since I’m such a flake). But, if nothing else, Joe can share with us his experience at the New York City Comic Con this weekend!
If you have a question for the show, we’ve gotten into the habit of soliciting those through e-mail and answering them at the top of the show. So send all of your movie-related questions to group@thetriplefeature.com. We WILL answer them!
Or, you can listen live and ask your question in real-time. If you want, you can call-in and ask it in person! So many options!
That’s all for me this morning. I’ll catch up with you guys soon. Got a comment about today’s strip? Leave it below and I chat you up!
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Let me take a moment to talk about something that has nothing to do with movies, web comics or Marlon Brando. This is a little pet peeve of mine and I’m going to use my site as a soapbox for a second.
When you are parking your car on the street near a parking meter, there is a right way and a wrong way to leave your vehicle.
EXHIBIT A
Think of the space between parking meters as a goal post in a football game. Park your car between the goal posts. Put your money in the meter in front of your car. This is the right way to park at a parking meter.
EXHIBIT B
When you park your car directly in front of a meter, you end up taking more space than you should from the spot in front of you. This complicates parking for other motorists, not to mention puts your car door at risk of dings and dents from opening the door into the meter you’ve parked directly in front of. This is the wrong way to park at a parking meter.
If you insist on parking like an effin’ moron, please do not be surprised when someone firebombs your car and you return to a smoldering husk of twisted metal on the street.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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It occured to me that Jimmy needed some kind of souvenir from his wilder days – and not something easily faked – because even though we know modern day Jimmy as forthright and kind, there needed to be some evidence to back up his claims as a womanizer. A poorly thought through series of tattoos seemed like the appropriate solution.
I imagine a lot of women will probably look at this comic and be really, really turned off by the idea of a guy sporting a sleeve of crossed out names permanently etched into his arm. But there’s something to be said about the appeal of a bad boy, too, right? Oh! But who could hope to tame him?
There’s not much more for me to talk about today and I feel conspicuous cutting today’s blog short. But at the same time, I stayed up WAY too late last night working on the comic after my night class and I’m pretty sure my eyes are focusing in two different directions.
So enjoy the comic and be sure to come back bright and early on Friday for another BIG REVEAL from Jimmy’s sorrid past! Wanna take a guess as to what the big reveal might be? Leave your comments and we’ll see who is right!
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