laura_seabrook | Entries tagged with comic

I just finished watching the first season of JESSICA JONES. Now by coincidence I read the first three trade paperbacks of the comics just before I started watching, and borrowed the 4th volume from the library today. So, I was already into the character before i watched a single episode.

And I found the TV series a good adaptation of those comics. Sure, there are extra characters, and some characters, like Luke Cage act very differently than they do in the comics, but what makes this series sing for me, as much as the comics did, is the characterizations. Goddess Jessica is tough, but much tougher on herself than anyone else. I liked seeing "The Night Nurse" who turns up in the Daredevil series (which I've also been watching). I'd guessed how the season arc was going to end but it was still nail biting until the resolution. It's also obvious what the story arc of the next season's going to be, and I look forward to that as well.

In many ways Jessica reminds me so much of FAITH from BUFFY. Some attitude and strength and vulnerability. She even mentioned "fighting the big bad" in the final ep, a classic reference to Buffy.

I think what added a lot to this series (and to Daredevil as well) was the "flat" manner in which the scenes were shot, and a really good pacing between highs and lulls in each episode.

Loved it!

It's true, the CDC have released Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic for general reading.
NOT - A - JOKE.

Be prepared.

Found this old artwork the other day, and it spurred me on to creating an avatar version of the character. I've inverted the colours on the original to make the linework stand out.

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1498411.html

and

and

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1427437.html

BILLIONS OF BLUE BLISTERING BARNACLES, fighting off TEN THOUSAND THUNDERING TYPHOONS!

I loved this. You KNOW - FROM THE VERY FIRST SCENE (which has a special "guest star" in it) - that they've read the books! In fact the opening credits are full of references to them as well.

I don't care that it's not exactly what Herge wrote and drew. You have to understand though that he constantly revised the adventures and had a whole studio to redraw them as well. But it has the main characters - Tin Tin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy - just right.

Much better the the TV versions, which have the adventures to the letter and less the spirit. I've seen the two live action films as well, and while they are good, this seems just right.

Was shouting out stuff before it happened from the audience.

THEY READ THE BOOKS :D

Current Mood: VERY content
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1334970.html

I had waited for this film for some time but in Australia its release was delayed until recently. Then I discovered last week that the only sessions showing locally of Captain America: The First Avenger were on at 9pm. Not a problem if you have a car but I don't and the last bus to get home leaves the nearest cinema before that time. Well, without going into specifics I found a way to see the film anyway, although in a less than perfect condition. I don't think it mattered, in fact it probably added to the film!

I'm highly impressed with this film. Like Thor, the writers have done their research and I think the film captures the character of WWII Cap almost perfectly. Of course some changes have been made to the origin story, but it is essentially intact. The point of a film like this is not to mimic the original comics exactly, but to get across the basic idea and flavour of the stories. What I quite liked about this film was how deftly it wove several Marvel characters and groups together. Not only do we have the Captain fighting the Red Skull (Weaving is perfectly cast) but with the appearance of the Howling Commandos, Agent Carter, and HYDRA. (and their uniform now actually makes sense in a WWII setting).

The look of the film seems just right, and the Nazi hi-tech kit is either based on real designs (in the case of the aircraft) or has the feel of the period. I also liked how we see the Kirby-Simon costume (including patriotic poses which could have been lifted straight off the covers of the comics of the period), and later the Ultimates costume versions. Not only that that but there's at least one scene featuring tricks and hi-jinx on a motorcycle, which is a tip to the otherwise terrible TV show!

I loved it, especially a storyline involving The Cosmic Cube! Can't wait to see the Avengers film. They're doing these right, so far.

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1251893.html

JUst saw this on tonight's Letterman:

Current Mood: amused
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1247257.html

Still have the problem logging on with Comicdish but I'm not the only one. Am working on getting back in.

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1188367.html

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1119854.html

Here's some characters from Return to Second life:

The main characters. Marble is sometimes human, sometimes furry.

Dummy is an extra avatar I use as an extra. The Bees were some characters from previous characters, who have less than perfect domestic relationship.

Boffins from another metaverse who are friendly to the main characters, or are they?

The "bad guys" of the story, most of whom will appear in the next chapter.

Current Mood: pleased
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1119506.html

I finally finished reading this story on Xmas day, after starting it in the early 80s in Near Myths magazine. I used to buy those in the Market St Bookshop in Fremantle - a Marxist establishment with all sorts of interesting stuff in it piled up to the ceilings. The bookshop is long gone (replaced by "Bob's Shoes") but its influence on me remains.

The story is very much a Jerry Cornelius type thing in a multi verse of parallels. I liked the execution and especially the artist, Bryan Talbot.

Mind you, 30 years (for me) is a long time to finish a story. I have the sequel to this as well, but that won't take anywhere as long!

Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1075233.html

This is based on a post I made in an ongoing discussion about using 3D generated art in comics in a forum. It's focussed me on why I do some comics a certain way.

One thing about Second Life, is that while in general they are there too, shapes figures and genders can be changed totally if you know how. I love doing collage art, which is why I'll mix comic with photo under the right circumstances (a bit like MonStar). And second life can be one big collage resource for me, with backgrounds, outfits, bodies and props already there.

However, that's only one way to do it, and even so it's important to be consistent to get the best results. That's were the art lies, in designing those characters and settings so it looks right. And while for me that's fun and I find it a valid way of generating Fumetti (just like machinima is a valid way of generating videos) it's only one way, and nothing beats drawing something by hand!

Current Mood: contemplative
Crossposts: http://laura-seabrook.livejournal.com/1014829.html

I had a pleasant surprise reading the graphic novel HICKSVILLE.

I'd borrowed this from the local library and put it aside for other stuff to do. It was hard to say what it was about from the cover. But once I got reading, it just "grew on me". A great book to read about comics in general and about graphic novels and success as well. The panel above is no spoiler, because out of context you'll have no idea why he's saying this (or who the character is).

Very inspiring to me. Smile