Just so we’re all on the same page, everyone know what Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots are? If not here’s a commercial from a time before fun was invented.

I know I’m not the only one who looked at the trailer for Real Steel and immediately thoughts of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. I mean, there’s clearly a moment in the trailer where a robot’s block is literally knocked off. But dammit if I’m not a sucker for nostalgia.

And violence.

I know I went a little overboard with the Photoshop effects in the last panel. But what can I say? I wanted to make it colorful!

I don’t know that I have too much more to say about Real Steel except that I really wish they hadn’t thrown in the kid as some kind of conduit for Hugh Jackman’s redemption. It’s an old trope and it reminds me too much of Over The Top… and not in a good way.

If you haven’t seen Over The Top, it’s a movie starring Sylvester Stallone as a truck driver that reconnects with his son through the power of competitive arm-wrestling. You read that right. Arm-wrestling.

It’s a horrible, horrible movie – redeemed only by it’s high 80s cheese-factor. A crazed man drinks a quart of oil out of the can as a psych-out move before a competition. That happens.

Do you see where I start to draw the comparisons with Real Steel?

I mean, I get why they had to throw a kid in there. They have to sell toys, after all. It’s pretty much the same reason Jake Lloyd was cast in The Phantom Menace. Little kids need to see themselves on screen as some kind of proxy… I guess.

Although if you’re taking your 7 year-old to a movie about robot boxing, well… there are bigger problems in the household that need to be addressed.

Do I still want to see Real Steel? Of course! Why? Because I’m mentally 7 years-old and I have a driver’s licence, that’s why.

I CAN DO WHAT I WANT!!

I wanted to post a quick reminder that I currently selling prints of comics from my 1,000+ archive. Making a purchase couldn’t be easier. Just comb through the archives and find your favorite strip. Then click on the “BUY PRINT” icon in the navigation field just below the comic. Send me $5.00 and I’ll ship to you a SIGNED print on lovely cardstock paper – suitable for framing!

I’ve already received a bunch of orders since announcing the option last week. Thanks to everyone who have already ordered prints. I really appreciate it! I’m finding it very interesting to see what comics are people’s favorites. Some nice surprises in there!

As always, anything you can do to help spread the word about Theater Hopper helps. If you could click on one of the icons below to share this comic on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or with a friend on e-mail, I would really appreciate it. Word of mouth is the most valuable form of advertising there is! Think about it: Right now, one of your movie-loving friends has NO IDEA Theater Hopper exists. Share it with them, won’t you?

That’s all for now. If you have comments about Real Steel or Over The Top, throw ’em into the comments ring below, ya?