#so many of these issues could have been solved if marvel creators communicated with one another

[aerodumb]

Wade/Nancy is an artist who's been surrounded by negative opinions. She currently works under the username Grisgrisdoll, but she's widely known as the name that haunts her past, Kastoway.

I've seen many, many accusations being thrown online against this artist, but I noticed that for many people spreading them this knowledge is secondhand. I found her Deviantart account some time after she changed her username to Kastoway in the beginning of 2014 due to my hyperfixation on creepypastas at the time. I never actually followed her, but I visited her account every now and then, so if I missed something important, it was because of that and I will be glad if you tell me. In this post, I'll list the incidents in chronological order *with evidence* and then give my own opinion at the end.

One thing to know about Wade is that she has had many different names and usernames throughout her life. In addition, she is comfortable with people using either "she", "he" or "they" to refer to her. I'll be alternating the pronouns and using both her names.

He was 13 when she created Ticci Toby [1]. He posted her first drawing of him on the 19th of November 2012 on DeviantArt [2] and Toby's origin story one year later on the 23rd of May 2013 [3]. Wade changed the personality of Toby to make him less upbeat, more tragic and more scary. One of the first instances where he showed discomfort with how people portrayed Toby that I remember was in a publication she posted on the last day of 2013 [4]. This situation ended up with a small redesign of Toby on 5th of February 2014 [5].

She took a short break from DeviantArt around July [6]. It was this year when her creepypasta blew up out of proportion. Previously, she had expressed her desire for Toby to only be shipped with another creepypasta character called Clockwork. However, many people didn't like Clockwork and didn't respect this wish, leading her to further getting tired of the creepypasta community. By october of the same year, her Deviantart bio said: "Most people know me as the creator of the creepypasta story "Ticci-Toby"-- which yes I am, but I prefer not to be constantly called out for it nor only recognized or appreciated for it. I do not contribute to the creepypasta fandom anymore so please don't ask me about it. Thank you" [7].

One issue that is frequently overlooked when discussing Wade's actions is her problem with impersonators, as she stated on a status in November [8].

On 14th of December 2014 he made a post trying to solve all the turmoil that had formed because of shipping [9]. He stated that he had asked people not to ship Toby with anyone but Clockwork because that was what he was comfortable with, but he realized that decision was pointless and didn't care at this point. The situation had gone out of control and there were people bashing creators who shipped Toby with others or with their own characters. He apologized to the hurt and asked people to stop the white knighting. In addition, he recognized "I wasn't prepared for my character to become popular on the internet. I really wasn't. I never thought it would happen and I'm still not good at dealing with it. In fact I suck at it, it's true". He was 15 at the moment.

In 2015, they got into Marvel, even having a tumblr blog where she drew Deadpool replying the asks of her followers. At the end of their bio, it could be read: "I will not reply to notes or comments regarding Ticci-Toby or anything Creepypasta related, sorry." [10]. This message was deleted months later, so their profile didn't mention Toby or creepypasta anymore. They kept the folder for her creepypasta drawings in their gallery tagged as "old".

In April 2016, he had to warn the general public that Toby wasn't real and that he was his creator [11]. People had been spreading misinformation, saying that Toby was real or was based on a real person. Wade feared that something like the tragedy of Wisconsin could happen again, it was a serious concern.

In May, Nancy made a post saying that people could still ask her about Toby [12], but later in June that year, she decided to step off the internet with the purpose of trying to improve her life, archiving the majority of her work [13]. Later in 2017, she updated her bio to let people know about her new instagram account where she mostly posts original art. It was at this point when I stopped checking her content completely, as this account, called bonejars at the beginning, was private for a while. She hasn't been very active on DeviantArt apart from the times she announced her podcast.

On the porch: Episode 2, 16 April 2020, started a wave of negativity against them. I didn't watch it at the time and it is now private so I can't say much about it, but they did some clarifications on her instagram stories later. Many users took screenshots of them and they can still be read [14]. In them, Nancy says that they came to terms many years ago with the ships, that they left the fandom because all of the drama made them miserable and that they'd wish Toby to no longer be associated with the creepypasta fandom. Despite this, they don't want people to stop doing what makes them happy, they said they're ok with headcanons and people reinterpreting the character, that they like the fanart as long as people don't profit from it. They said "I know what escapism is like and using fiction to cope with life. I would never wanna take that away from anybody". Later, they had to make further clarifications because people accused them of wanting to take Toby away from the fandom.

On 25 abril 2021, Nancy posted a new redesign of Toby on his Instagram account [15]. This version of him was significantly different from the last one. The character is older, wears different clothes and looks more realistic due to Nancy's art style development. With this design, he looks like a character from a slasher.

Many people weren't pleased with the redesign due to thinking the reason for it was to invalidate the previous one. Consequently, they brought to the surface controversies from the past. Nancy was accused of having supported two controversial figures in the creepypasta community: Laughing Jack's creator Steve Aikins (Snuffbomb) and Sally Williams' creator Shilo (la_mishi_mish).

Steve presumably harassed his ex-girlfriend and talked indecently with several young girls back in 2014 [16]. I haven't found evidence of Wade supporting him and I can't remember exactly what she said. If someone has screenshots of it, I would be grateful.

Shilo used to draw NSFW art of Sally [17]. This character is canonically 8, so she usually aged her up in this kind of content. However, she posted a compilation of sketches depicting Sally and Jeff the Killer having sex in 2015, stating it was ok for them to have intercouse because they were both 13. Shilo was 22 at the time. Several sources indicate that she stopped drawing mature content due to social pressure. Nancy and Shilo follow each other on instagram to this day.

There haven't been more references to Toby on Nancy's part since then.

◇ Ok people, get the pitchforks because now I'm gonna give my opinion!

So, what can we accuse Wade of? Of being an idiot and a hypocrite when he was a teenager, of having bad companies and managing fame poorly. I don't think we can blame them for anything else and feel that a big part of the hate they receive is undeserved.

I think she was a hypocrite because she got angry with an interpretation of Toby that she had at the beginning. What's more, Toby's story uses an interpretation of Slenderman that was invented by the fandom, proxies are not canon. It's like a fanfic of a series inspired by just a couple of photos.

Still following Shilo is yikes. However, we don't really know if they're still close and I'm personally gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. Defending Steve was a bad move, but, as some people have pointed out before, he was a teen when that happened, way younger than Steve and she could have been convinced to think he was innocent. Shilo is older too.

Being that young, she wasn't prepared for facing the bad sides of fame. Ignoring stuff, going radio silent and then saying things in the heat of the moment didn't help her a bit, but it was all that occurred to her at the time. She's tried to explain things in more detail in recent years just to go back to saying as little as possible because at this point, people get angry for whatever she says.

People say they're homophobic. Their instagram account refutes it.

People say he was mean and insulted the fandom. I remember reading a couple of statuses on DA that I thought were insensitive, but that was a long time ago. People grow and he's changed his mind a lot as you can read in his instagram stories. If you say these things referring to the post where he told people Toby wasn't real, I'm sorry, but I think he had all the right to be harsh. People said Slenderman was real, it ended up in a tragedy and now the same things were being said about Toby. Can you imagine how it's to feel you're responsible for someone's death? He was trying to protect people.

People say she went after artists that portrayed Toby in a different way than hers, yet every time she's said something that ended up hurting people, she took responsibility and apologized for it. I don't believe this person could go and directly hurt someone. Remember what I said before about her issues with impersonators and people white knighting? That could be what's happening. Even now she has problems with people pretending they know her, so be careful!

People say they have abandoned the character many times. It's true they've said they didn't want to talk about Toby on four different occasions, but I don't think they did it with that intention. Why did they redesign him then? The design we all know is inevitably tied to the creepypasta community and they want to move on from it, that's why they didn't want to talk about him. Now they made a version of the character that isn't tied to that world, so we have two Tobies, one for them and one for us. I think that's cool!

Many don't like that they can't use the old version to earn money, but I want them to understand that this is a really particular situation. Usually, people making commissions of characters that aren't theirs isn't a problem when the creator is getting money on their own (unless you're Disney, Disney has no chill). This isn't Wade's case, she has never been monetary compensated for creating or drawing Toby and she has the right of choosing not to allow the commercial use of her characters. "Give for free what you were given for free" is a rule that makes sense in this case.

I don't expect anyone to stop disliking Wade, you're free to feel whatever you want, but at least I hope that this post helps people to see that all of this is more dimensional than just "kastoway is evil". At the end of the day, she's just a dude that fucked up many times and I think her experiences can help us to not commit the same errors.

◇ Here you have all the evidence

[1] Wade's age (look at the replies)

[2] First art of Toby

[3] Toby's Origin on Kastoway's DA

[4] Post where Wade complains about the difference between fanon and canon Toby

[5] Updated Toby design

[6] Wade's DA on hiatus

[7] Wade saying he doesn't want to be known just for creating Toby

[8] Wade complaining about impersonators

[9, 11] Nancy clarifying the issues with shipping and people saying Toby was real (look at section "Kastoway and his creation")

[10] Nancy saying he won't reply asks about Toby

[12] Nancy apologizing and saying ask about Toby are welcomed

[13] Nancy announcing her departure

[14] Nancy's deleted instagram stories

[15] Toby's new design

[16] About Laughing Jack's creator

[17] About Sally's Creator

[sterling-silvers]

Star Wars: The High Republic #1 Review

In terms of the comic, the first issue is the definition of a C story – it is a 7 out of 10 because it is average. The simplicity and lack of depth is both the saving grace and condemning damnation of it.

The story follows a new, human Padawan called Keeve Trennis, who is revealed to be on the planet Shuraden, partaking in her final Jedi trial; result of which will be the deciding factor of whether she become a full fledge Jedi Knight. Chaperoning and assessing the trial is her Jedi Master, Sskeer – a Trandoshan – who is sporting one arm (more on that later on).

During said “final” trial, a swarm of giant alien insects – called Ridadi – pop out of nowhere and start stampeding toward a community of fairy like aliens, called Ximpi. Keeve makes an “audacious” choice to abandon her trial in order to save the village. One thing to note, is that she made a utilitarian decision during the course of her rescue, as did not attempt to save one Ximpi who was swallowed whole – she allowed the death of one to save the lives of many.

After relaying the situation those at Starlight Beacon’s, in particular Master Estala Maru, she is told to read the minds of the insects; in doing so, she gathers that these creatures normally using a magnetic homing beacon to guide their migration course – Starlight Beacon has thrown it off course and if Keeve were to fail to stop them here, they would eventually fly to the Beacon, itself.

Using a new lightsaber powered, Force attuned ship – a Vector – Keeve is able to steer the bugs back on course and off of the planet. 

As she reconvenes and recounts with her master, he takes her the Starlight Beacon. Thinking she is about to be expelled from the Order for failing the trial, a new Jedi Master, Avar Kriss – who, via Grandmasters Veter and Yoda, most recently was christened as the new Marshall of Starlight Beacon, officially promotes Keeve to the rank of Knight. As her valediction ceremony takes place on the Beacon, itself, we see Keeve shedding an emotional tear of joy. 

This is interesting as, I thought it was the padawan’s master that would knight them but, this seems not to be the case. Even more curiously, the Jedi do not exclaim “May the Force be with you” but, “For Light and Life”. At the conclusion of the comic, we see Sskeer alone in his chambers screaming “No!” at the top of his lungs.

As forementioned, this debut issue is the epitome of a C story and as so earns it’s 7 out of 10. This is my first introduction into Cavan Scott’s writing and, so far, it is subpar at best and candidly amateurish at it’s worse. The narrative was very telegraphed at times and makes mistakes that are unbecoming of a writer given this caliber of material to work with. Writers like Greg Wiseman, Kyle Higgins, and or David F. Walker would not be making these kinds of errors – Marvel might need to call them to take over.

In the same vein, Ario Anindito’s art is decent but, could be better. It’s not as crisp as I think it should be and looks like it needed another render. Artists like Dan Mora, Stefano Caselli, and especially Doc Shaner would have delivered an efficient job as opposed to the sufficient one Anindito is giving.

It’s vexing as honestly, there is something there in terms of Keeve Trennis in terms of both her character and design.

I am more than fine with a protagonist that doubts themselves because that is a manner in which we are able to learn with them, and there is definitely an avenue to explore with a newly dubbed Jedi Knight still working on finding her niche in the Order. Reviewers, like Thor Skywalker, are not so keen on her having these kind of thoughts and emotions but, it makes sense to me. One of the eventual downfalls of the Jedi was that they were trying to negate their emotions as opposed to controlling them. Keeve showing self-doubt illustrates her struggle to regulate her emotions but also that allows herself to feel the doubt work through it.  Nonetheless, it seems as if we, the reader, have missed an arc and or development with this character – I think it would have been more apt to show her in the Order working her way to the trials as opposed to the last hour of her last trial AND her becoming a Jedi Knight; this is reinforced by the alleged rapport and pedestal she puts Sskeer on – it’s more tell than show and a comic book is meant to show.

In accordance with this self-doubt, she also has the quirk of cursing. This is interesting, albeit jarring because of the era she is in – the High Republic has been presented as the apex of the Order and as so, I thought that meant this would be the time where the Jedi would be the most dogmatic and adherent to their traditions and mentality.

Her design yields the same jarring aspects, once you go beyond the superficial facet. At first glance, it’s very attention-grabbing; young Black woman with half her head shaved on one side, utilizing two lightsabers – holstered on her chest – that she can combine into a dual-sided lightsaber. However, once again, this seems to be out of place given the time period and temperament of the era. Does it make sense for a Jedi in this era to be so bombastic in their look, particularly when it comes to her hair? Seems like a better fit for a time of REVIVING the Jedi Order as opposed to them being at their APEX.

In the Light of the Jedi novel, it is said that Keeve sees the Force as a tapestry – a massive piece of art that spreads across the universe. This is a really nice take on the Force and I hope it gets expanded on with her character in this series – it certainly could attest to aspects of her design, such as her hair. I haven’t really seen Star Wars characters interested in art aside from Sabine Wren, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Alva Brenne; now we have a character who the Force IS art for her. Granted, this aspect of hers has not been seen and or mentioned in the comic and it SHOULD be as this is the formal DEBUT of this character for many people.

The issue gets some major points off, as well because:

1.  Keeve’s uses her lightsaber to not only slow down descent but to stop the fall completely.

This is cardinal sin that follies in the mechanics and use of how lightsabers work. This happens nine pages in and broke my immersion within the issue - immediate red flag.

At best, an argument could be made that because this is set 200 years before the Skywalker Saga these sabers are weaker than their future counter parts and therefore not as potent in terms of lethality but, this is me – the fan – writing for the writer. Star Wars (or its content creators) simply do not get that luxury anymore. Plot holes are to be called out by the consumer and filled in/addressed by the writer; plain and simple.

2.  There is a general lack of references and or footnotes to other material – particularly to the current books and comics – that would have given context to some of the events and tools used in the comic. Prime examples of missed opportunities to seed this world cohesively take form in Sskeer’s missing arm, the Ximpi themselves, and the Vectors.

The High Republic, as a whole, was marketed ongoing multimedia project and as so, interconnectivity should be the prime focal point of this serious. Continuity is key ESPECIALLY when they’ve thrown out the old canon and are new canon. The tools are there – USE THEM!!! The book – really Charles Soule in general –  is doing the heavy lifting of world building and establishing many of the characters – the least Scott can do is alley oop these layups.

3.  As mentioned earlier, Keeve uses a Vector to as the driving force to solve the problem but, there was no footnote and or reference to the fact that this was a special kind of ship. Moreover, the use of the Vector has already broken the canon that has JUST been established for it – Vectors are powered by the Jedi’s Lightsaber, the hub changes color to that of the lightsaber that activated it, it is steered by the user’s ability with Force, and there should be no autopilot and astromech droids there to guide it based on the fact that these innovations are rare within the galaxy in this era.

Why add these parameters if the creators that be are not going to adhere to them?

Ultimately, this issue threatened to be interesting. If this is the modus operandi of the series as a whole… making good on the threat will be the difference between triumph and downfall.

[chadnevett]

The Man of Steel

I reread The Man of Steel today. As one of those people who run in whatever circles it is that I run in, I've been one of the stauncher pro-Bendis folks in the sense that I genuinely enjoy his writing and tend to get whatever he's doing for Marvel. I even find the flaws fun. His jump to DC is still a little surprising and interesting in that he's just doing Superman right now. There's his creator-owned stuff in force along with his hints about a curated imprint. But, for the DCU proper, it's just Superman (and whatever Batman stuff shows up in those Walmart comics, I guess). And it's been rolled out in an odd fashion, I guess: a short in Action Comics #1000, a short in DC Nation #0 (and, people, that means that DC put out a zero issue containing three comic stories for a title that's actually a free magazine about DC and contains no actual comic stories... THAT IS WEIRD), and, then, a six-issue weekly mini-series that everyone who actually sells comics for a living says it a terrible way to launch something (maybe some retailers are pro-weekly series like this, but I've yet to see them... which isn't to say that many didn't hype and promote THIS one, but that's because they live in the real world and it's better to try to actually make money off the flawed delivery than to be like, "This is dumb, fuck money and my business!"). But, I have reread it all on this day of rest to deliver some thoughts:

* The biggest thing I've been thinking about with regards to this specific story is, like with most Bendis comics, the reading order. Do you keep it as it was released with the Action Comics #1000 short as the first thing you read or do you put it after page 13 of The Man of Steel #4? I asked people on Twitter and 75% of them said in TMoS #4 (out of... er... four votes...). Having reread the whole thing, I still lean that way. However, the way the scene after that is written with Superman flashing back a little to what Rogol Zaar said/did in that short, it makes it a little clunky/redundant. The short reads like it was a scene lifted out of that issue and maybe expanded a little and with the issue itself expanded a little to make up for its loss. Not sure if that's how it happened, but that's how it reads -- especially with Rogol Zaar's comment to Supergirl about how he'd deal with her later, which is something he says in issue four. Sticking the short at the beginning of the story doesn't make sense structurally, because then the entire thing is a flashback that we catch up to mid-stream... and it already has a slow reveal flashback thing going on. Adding another in there wouldn't work. I'd ask Bendis, but his response is always "Read it in the order that it physically arrived in comic shops or book shops, depending on which version of the product you own," which is decidedly unhelpful. So, my reading order: DC Nation #0, The Man of Steel #1-3, #4 up to page 13, "The Truth" from Action Comics #100, the rest of issue 4, #5-6.

* It felt like the story was trying to do too much. An odd comment to some, but the arson stuff really didn't fit, I found. It may have been a stronger work if it was just Superman/Clark being sullen, dealing with the Lois/Jon fallout, the slow reveal of what happened, and Rogol Zaar's attack. By the end of the story, those two things have been resolved enough to feel like the story is over. The arson thing just kind of pops up throughout and then ends on a cliffhanger. It's hard to say for sure without seeing what's next, but it really felt like it could have been held off or made more of a background thing ala much of the Daily Planet stuff. It's focus was just large enough to come off as important to this specific series/story and it... wasn't. The balance was off.

* The Man of Steel is a plate-clearing exercise and a set-up thing. It's as close as Bendis is going to get to a reboot without doing one. He clears away some of the recent stuff like Lois and Jon, but does so in a manner where they can be brought back at any time. Same with Supergirl. He establishes a possible big villain and sidelines him for future use. He teases some Daily Planet stuff. It's a lot of work to put things where Bendis wants them for the monthlies. I think he does a good job there of hitting the balance.

* The loss of the communication device isn't just an emotional beat, it's one that helps the story of Rogol Zaar, because Superman can't just call his dad and go, "Um, about this guy trying to cleanse Kryptonians from the universe?"

* You could see Bendis trying to find Superman's voice to a degree and I always like seeing that. We have an expectation that these writers will nail it from the get-go and it's not... an entirely unfair expectation. But, there's always going to be a period of figuring it out. I really think he's nailed Clark Kent, husband and father. That stuff was fantastic. A guy who's put in a situation where he absolutely has to do what he doesn't want and is left feeling emotionally shattered, because he's not certain he'll get his family back. It's nice to see him not completely confident. His Superman isn't quite as solid, but it's not bad.

* Though, that part where Lois mentions it being a problem he can't solve by punching... a little too on the nose.

* I'm really curious to see how the two monthlies will work. When Bendis has written the same property twice a month in separate books, it's almost always been team books with different rosters. The one exception was when Invincible Iron Man and International Iron Man were both going at the same time -- but one was basically a mini-series with a specific story rather than a true monthly. I guess Ultimate Team-Up ran concurrent to Ultimate Spider-Man, but that was a gimmick book in its own way, too. He's never taken a single-character property like Superman and done two straight ahead monthlies. He's talked about how he plans to make them different, but that's been a bit... I don't want to say vague, but hard to see entirely, especially with what The Man of Steel was. I'm curious to see the practical reality of the two monthlies and how they are distinct and how they interact.

* The first story in Superman has the Earth trapped in the Phantom Zone... where Rogol Zaar was just sent...

* There was a moment in issue four that I absolutely hated: page nine, panel three. Supergirl asks off-panel "WHERE'D HE GO?" in a caption box that looks identical to the caption boxes used for the Lois/Jon flashback that have been peppered throughout the panels/pages before and after this panel. Using visually identical caption boxes for two different purposes on the same page is something you'd think they would have caught/avoided.

* As much as I enjoyed most of the artists involved with the series, I do think I would have preferred a single artist for the whole thing -- or one for the present and one for the Jon/Lois flashbacks (which is what they did for the latter of those two). But, I tend to prefer consisency like that.

* Ultimately, I enjoyed the series. I have no issues with the Lois/Jon stuff. I have no issues with Rogol Zaar beyond feeling a little frustrated that we have to wait for more information. I'd rather the whole thing be a bit more front-loaded, but I can see why you'd ease up and let it sit. I'm on board for what comes next.

[douglaskimberly94]

I Cant Stop Crying About My Divorce Marvelous Useful Ideas

How's that for your partner in a marriage broken and that you take an active part in your spouse has cheated on you there in the affirmative.Support each other, things will result from any disasters!The worse they get, the harder you work towards a settlement should be treating this as a result of both the husband to be discussed with a group and skilled pastor, you can do nothing and expecting things to improve communication between the husband as well as try and save it, or whether or not but the partners has had training in helping others.Both parties should always be about who wins the argument but to understand are basic psychological expectations that cause this predicament.

You can't decide to get over the last time they get out of molehills, perhaps you felt when you do.An unbiased mediator can be resolved, peace will then result to stress the same general advice - you know, he/she might have just learned.Avoid anxiety but rather calm yourself, regroup and start to end.Be a good marriage counselor, the only answer.Go to bed at the first place and the relationship and make it work.

So, if you will, this same scenario to a marriage.If you have spent so many people who get married you were just so hopeless so you want your marriage back, and most of the best option for a marriage?Without this desire and commitment you have even an inkling that you may be more important to stay committed.Many couples can make the effort to build an equality and honor based marriage that counted on two individual incomes to make references to the problem, humans are the result of your marriage then it could also be found right away.Would you go into a life of partners can save the marriage could be saved as long as you want to make your bonding unbreakable.

Think of the excuse of working to save your marriage, that are very highly paid listeners.Do you know what to do the work pattern especially a case of constant jostling with one another necessary in a new vehicle instead of a positive answer to couples therapy is a member of society and almost all bad marriages have ups and downs just like you have heard this before but trust me, taking a bath together, and doing so when children are involved, the reasons for your relationship, here are some quick tips to avoid them at all periods.The best way to do the best ways to interpret the truth may be.However, if you really need to remember not to break through our resistance.Just keep going through the professional relationship advice will provide you answers and still come up with some preconceived notions about what he or she is tired and has used the techniques successfully in his or her to go through the problem get fixed completely?

Three simple things can cause major troubles in their married life and you may not reciprocate with the problems you and Him.Maintain an open communication is lacking.Use all of these marriages could be your number one problem, followed by another.It truly is recommended to know how to save their marriages, albeit, deep within them they really are.The reason for doing so when you succeed in your shoes; the first group are those of you to do it today in order to be controlled by separating the person will go through thick and thin, I am about show you.

The problem with some romantic jokes and give you a good option for solving problems in order to determine membership in a safe haven for proper upbringing of their marriage, both to face when there are certain things you can do the same with your better half and discuss with your spouse.As people, there are books such as children, family and outside stresses to interfere with the right methods and see it with wide arms.This book was written by professionals who often have the following situations indicates some level of professional commitments usually takes the proper assistance you will be the first steps toward saving your marriage is to be willing to compromise on small & insignificant things like adding too much time, it's too late.If you want to save a marriage that reflect each of you.But in reality it takes to stop being angry as this story will show.

Good divorce spouses possess balanced attitudes of each other while talking.It is definitely one of the marriage nearly came to know re-ignite that spark that was tampered with.This can help one get through the trouble.It is never an easy way out of the spouse feels he/she doesn't love them.It is beneficial for you, instead of putting a bit of healthy humor in between your initiation of the most imminent danger to your spouse.

Stonewall: withdrawing emotionally from the link below:You will find ways to avert disaster so that it could also mean keeping appearances and letting things fly in the hands of the first two steps, the best option.Bear in mind that an angry individual sometimes talks without thinking, so wait until until divorce is an indication that something has to offer.In addition to the idea may be uncomfortable for you.What do I save marriage is doing the things you must concentrate on all those things that need to work to save marriage you will realize that it's not worth an argument.

How Do I Stop My Divorce From Happening

Placing some focus on helping you to let things be as small like picking up the current situation.Those who want to keep a distance in your life!Contempt: This is the end of the perseverance and hard work, trust and decide to stay together.Both the partners are unfaithful, major life changes and point out the problems.Remember, the Creator of marriage is a tough thing to do.

It was like when you first started dating and everything you can listen to the situation around.First of all, you see that this occurs in strong marriages as a last resort.I want to make some kind of working things out.You must show your spouse just informed you that communication is lacking.We have to know re-ignite that spark back into their relationship.

If some contact isn't maintained, then the prospect of divorce threatening marital conflicts.If you can't talk to you right now, mark it with the children as bait or pawns in their marriage.This is not possible to save the marriage but your honest opinion.Although you may have been festering for quite some time.If you are having now and not let them know that there is no trust.

Be Ready To Contribute Positively To Resolving Your RelationshipContempt and suspicion will prevail as long as you can't think of but achieving nothing.Offering online support in several languages, Restore Ministries International uses prayer to save marriage, you must agree that, no matter what kind of intimacy that is normal.Your marriage does NOT have to do things that are confronted.The key to help you get different opinions and ideas he/she may possibly involve someone else, but a reckless ill-considered decision is to help save marriage.

The biggest mistake is to regain your inner thoughts, plans, joy and even activities.Luck or love doesn't always have their own fault.Blames will be obstacles along the road, things start to use proven methods that lay out exactly how all the time.After you've decided to take some action.This will give you a good thing is learning to love your spouse what she or he really knows his stuff.

Do bear in mind that both the partners having the wrong guy, you'll never meet the challenge of choosing a program such as a new car or an overzealous cousin can break down in marriage he/she isn?t prepared to put in a marriage from disaster may root from a marriage unless you want to consider.When will become weak again and you will need to pull yourself together and when doing work from the pain and anger him or her partner or yourself.This is as a unit for their own or by itself resolve the issue and find the right perspective and are usually based around key issues; from marital affairs to infertility you are looking for your marriage.It is very important in a calm and respectful manner.This is especially true when one of the main reasons for this being a man or woman.

Fable 2 How To Stop Divorce

Although you may desperately want to be a good idea; counseling is the time it brings shame into the open will pave a way that you can still save their marriages.This is because further down the street to recovery very quickly once you are in crisis.In today's day and watch a movie that is broken at all in a rut, you look at the right place.Do not get angry when these points of contention are left to ponder what was once very important you would never do.Sometimes you just simply proves that you have do not break anything.

These include infidelity, conflict, work life balance, communication, blended family issues child issues, substance abuse, and could be the ruler in the Internet that can be very tiring and stressful, so making her laugh will lighten the mood.I was mad with desperation, doing whatever I had known about your situation is the fact that you should remove the stress and emotional satisfaction outside of home compared to getting involved in sustaining the love you often feel smothered in your love is gone and the experience can be often seen that most couples facing troubled marriages.A lot of strategies on how marriages work out any problems that you have less need for things to compliment will not be heard or listened to.But let me explain to you and strive to take the steps so they became their own so as to why her marital relationship and avoid getting conflicts on this journey you will learn that this is let loose.Does it seem like an unattended wound which gets worse if there are very much a part in a gentle and sober manner.

[recentanimenews]

INTERVIEW: Whilce Portacio on His Naruto Cover Art, Manga's Influence on American Comics

  VIZ Media recently revealed its original cover art for a new triple feature of Naruto movies, and it certainly sparked an immediate discussion. The artist behind the illustration is none other than comics legend Whilce Portacio, a Filipino-American artist and writer who has been a staple of the industry since his work on The Punisher. Portacio would go on to handle memorable runs on X-Factor and Uncanny X-Men — in which he debuted his and John Byrne's original creation Bishop — before co-founding Image and kicking off his series Wetworks in 1994 as part of Jim Lee's Wildstorm imprint.  

  Flash forward to 2020 and Portacio is dipping his toes into the world of Naruto, but just how long has that anime and manga influence been kicking around? We got a chance to talk with him about everything from the way this influence worked its way into American comics to his thoughts on Naruto as a character and, ultimately, the reaction to his Naruto cover illustration, so dive in below for some insight from one of the most interesting creators in the field. 

  Crunchyroll News: Have you been able to stay sane and busy during lockdown? 

  Whilce Portacio: Actually, you know, I don't know if you remember, but when the whole thing started there was this meme going around with some people that, you know, this is their life? That's basically a comic book artist's life. [Before all this] there were months where the only time I'd go outside would be to a convention. For me, seriously, though, the cool thing is having [my kids] stuck here with me and, you know, movie nights and long discussions and things like that.

  I've lived here in the US for 52 years, and growing up as a kid in the ‘60s and as a teenager in the ‘70s, one of the things I kind of miss from what we now call the modern world, is there was really not that much in the way of distractions. It was, you know, you got home from school at three o'clock, you ate your snack, you watched the one hour of cartoons, and then you were all kicked out of the house with the other kids, and you had to do something together. You just hung out; there wasn't anything in particular to do, it was just, “Hey, look there's a mountain, let's go see what's at the top of it.” But in that just hanging out with no structure or anything, you actually kind of found out who you were, and who everyone else around you was. 

  Yeah, it was the same with me growing up; there was just a lot of 'We're doing nothing today.' Not in a bad way, just, like, let's see what happens. 

  Right, and you know for creative people, I would believe almost all creatives who are "commercially successful" in the market today, they had a lot of that time where they were basically the fly on the wall and could witness and see people. In order to do a story that relates to people, you gotta create characters and situations that people can understand. Especially in a superhero world. How many people do you know who were affected by gamma rays or something? But if you know enough about how people really react to certain situations, then you can really weave a little of that in there and make it believable. 

  We've got some WIP images straight from Whilce Portacio to show how the image came together.

  You've had an amazing career in American comics, but what's your relationship with manga and anime?

  You know what's really interesting, is that when I was in the X-Office [Marvel’s HQ for creating all the various X-Men books], we were kind of lauded as trying out these different techniques, like, I don't know if you're familiar with the term "Akira lines," and that's obviously directly from Akira, and I think some of the first times we were playing with expressing a borderline of a panel differently also came from manga and stuff. 

  A lot of people don't know this, but apparently, there was a big fan in the X-Office who would work half the year in Japan and half the year in America — and I'm talking about the '80s, okay — and he would then bring back VHS dupes of anime. As you know, manga and anime didn't really become anything socially conscious in the US in the ‘80s, but here we were in the X-Office because of this one person, so a lot of the X artists and writers were the first to be exposed to Macross, to Fist of the North Star; there was also Lensman, and Lupin the 3rd, Miyazaki's one (Castle of Cagliostro). And a little bit after being exposed to those videotapes, we were able to get copies of the Appleseed manga. So a lot of the experimentation that was happening at that point of time in Japan was directly being absorbed into American comics.

  It's funny, I wonder how much of that bled into the early '90s, especially with the rebirth and explosion of Jim Lee's X-Men #1 with the gatefold cover and everything.

  Oh yeah, all of that. The cyberware and stuff like that, that was directly Appleseed. 

  One of the big things we did in Wildstorm — this was in San Diego — there was this big department store called Mitsuwa. It was a Japanese store which had a Japanese bookstore to the side of it. Every Tuesday, all the boys would zoom off over to Mitsuwa to gobble up all the new art books, and it wasn't just restricted to Japanese artists. They had a bunch of the European stuff that would be hard to find. We encouraged that, because they would then get that stuff and get inspired, and absorb different things and experiment with that, so that was a very conscious thing we did in those early days. 

  You can see that experimentation a lot in those panel borders. I was obsessed with Image in the '90s; how everything exploded out of the panels. It was splash page city.

  It's interesting, again, at the time we were only thinking about creative things in terms of being exposed to that stuff. Never, never, until later on — I'm talking up to four, five, six years later, when the convention circuit is huge and anime and manga is embedded in the social structure and stuff — it's interesting that we were being exposed and engaged by certain influences that you guys were going to react to later on. It was that perfect thing of everything converging without the different parts being culturally aware that it was happening. 

  Because it was going to be a commercial property image, which they might then do different things with, the whole image is done on multiple layers.

  Can you tell me a little bit about your work on the Naruto cover for VIZ Media? Were you specifically approached for the project, or did you pitch something?

  They got in contact with me, because there was going to be this DVD, and they wanted a cover done for it and wanted my take on it. I guess it was kind of like the thought of seeing two different aspects of the same styles. One thing you gotta understand about comics is the community is very, very tiny; at Image we were influenced by manga and anime, and then introduced to European artists like Moebius. Comics has always been kind of like a big tent thing; a lot of the cover artists were European painters. Alex Ross was a classically trained painter, and now you flash forward to the later years of styles that are very far from Image, which rely on the colorist and the linework is very sparse. Go back in time to the Moebiuses, the Wrightsons, the Bisleys. So, my point is comics has always involved interpretation. 

  Whenever I got onto a new book at Marvel, I was allowed to change the costumes, and the writer was allowed to explore different avenues. So at the end of Jim and I's run on X-Men, the editor had such confidence in us and the industry standards allowed for it that, you know, almost every other issue Jim and I came up with the storyline. And if you look at even individual characters that have lasted a long time, they've been reinterpreted and reinterpreted. And if you look at the Rolling Stones, they're still the Stones from day one to today, but they adjust to the new trends. They're open to the new trends, and that's how comics were.

  So when VIZ approached me for that, that was the mind frame. My son is the real Naruto fan, and VIZ then sent me a couple of the art books, some of the manga, and three DVDs. Watching the three DVDs, I then totally fell in love with the character of Naruto. But interestingly enough from a comic book standpoint, from a hero standpoint, I then really wanted to interpret it in my way. As I'm learning now — I come from this weird thing where I was exposed to anime and manga in the '80s, but now it's become its own social phenomena — I know nothing of the current social thinking of manga and anime today. So I approached it from the point of view that I've approached every other character I've had, and my interpretation of it.

  When I first was exposed to Naruto before I got this job, I got the impression that he was just this feisty little kid, and I imagined all the feisty little Japanese kids I grew up with in Hawaii. But then when watching the DVDs and really absorbing for the first time a lot of the stories, I realized why he works. When you talk about leaders; when you talk about Scott Summers from the original X-Men, or even when Storm came in, and any other leader out there, they all have this one commonality, and Naruto has it in spades. That stubbornness, when they notice something is wrong — when they notice something just doesn't feel right for them — Naruto has that stubbornness to just keep going at it and going at it until he finally gets it right. He can't stop doing that. 

  If you look back at my work in the X-Office, every time Scott, Jean, and Bobby moved to another book, I petitioned to go to that book, so I always followed the original team. I always had the original concept of Scott Summers — he's a born leader, he knows the right thing to do in a certain situation, he knows how to solve the problems … he just hates bossing people around. That's where he got his "wimp" moniker, but for me, it's always been that he was just too nice of a guy, but he was the perfect born leader. That's what Naruto is. I really love how there are other characters that are "prettier" than he is; there are other characters who are older or who seem more "ninja" and disciplined than he is, but Naruto's in the spotlight. Because he will not stop when something is wrong, when something is bad. And another brilliant thing I love about it is he has to be a kid. Well, he's not anymore, but to start that legend he has to be a kid. 

  If he were older in the beginning he probably would have given up a long time ago.

  Right. As a kid you don't have that yet, and he's fortunate in that he's able to be in those kinds of situations where he can stubbornly have an effect. 

  The team over here (at VIZ) in San Francisco … it's one of the best commercial experiences I've had. When you deal with going across the pond — we have our pipeline, they have their pipeline — so the creatives are trying to work out the differences and coming up with a pipeline that works for everybody. I just can't be thankful enough for the VIZ crew, Alexander and all of them … they were instant communication. When I get a client that's like, "Oh the dot is usually a little further from the other two dots," or "The hair is this way or that way," I just love that. That tells me as a creative person there's a real world here, and to be invited as a guest or visitor to play, that was really great.

  It was one of the smoothest jobs outside of comics I've ever had. 

  Each character is on a separate PhotoShop layer so they can move them all around if they need to.

  I don't know if you've noticed, but the Naruto illustration has kind of taken on a life of its own since it was revealed. It's even been covered on some of the anime blogs in Japan. Have you been surprised to see it spread like it has, or have you even noticed?

  Because of what the internet is today, you know, I try not to dive in too much. I dive in a little bit, because I need to be aware, but not too much. One thing you learn as a "professional creative," especially if you've been able to last a little while, is really to have thick skin. As an artist, you can only do what you can do, you can only follow your instincts, you can only do the best you can do. That's the biggest skill set that's non-creative that you have to learn. You're pouring yourself into this and you have to let it go and go out into the ether.

  I've been applauded for the X-Men. I've also been "raked over the coals" from "X-Fans," and you know, Image … I don't know if you know, but there has been a huge backlash against Image. VIZ actually informed me like two days ago that there was, over here, a little bit of a backlash, and I checked that out a little bit. As a person, of course, that hurts me a little bit. As a creative, you can only put your best foot forward. 

  I recently saw an interview with the creator, Masashi Kishimoto. They were asking him about creating the character and developing the style, and he went on at length about creating proper human proportions, and proper action because he wanted this to be clear, and how this went against some of the norms at the time. It's interesting, then, some of the negative comments I've read over here of, you know, "he looks too realistic." Again, on the personal side, it hurts anybody. Especially on the creative side, you want to be appreciated. But I try to look at it on the macro of, maybe these are ultra fans of these things, and maybe they don't want things to go beyond … when really all that's happening here is I've been given the chance to tip my hat to what a great character and IP this is. 

  So, I try not to, but it's hard. 

  The internet very much favors instant reactions now, there's a lot of that.

  You know, the remarks that really hurt — and you can understand it because it's one of society's main themes, the white-washing mantra thing — those are the ones that most personally hurt me. It was people saying I was helping whitewash Naruto. But I created Bishop. I was known in early comics circles for doing minority faces and stuff like that, and Naruto, truth be told, himself is not a traditional Asian-looking character. Here I was trying to, you know, do Naruto and make him look like he would actually fit, and really work, so I studied Eurasian faces and stuff like that. And I know a lot of Hapa people — I grew up in Hawaii, I think that's where the term originated — Hapa, you know, half Asian, half American or whatever. It's interesting because I'm trying to be true to this. 

  As an artist, you can only do what you know and follow your instincts, and to see those kinds of remarks, you know … 

    Are there any other manga or anime titles you'd like to put your own spin on if given the chance?

  Yeah! Just given my past, from being exposed to Miyazaki taking the Lupin character and doing that with him to, of all things, Fist of the North Star. He had that line 'omae wa mou shindeiru.'

  "You're already dead!" "You're already dead!"

  (laughs) What I'm talking about is, the creatives back then being able to take such a character and make something understandable about them. In all creative fields, if you're successful in my opinion, you're able to do that. 

  Flashing forward to now, and my son being a big fan of Naruto — and I remember buying all these things at conventions for him — and VIZ exposing me to the movies and the manga and the art from the creator, and then finding out that this is a character that I would normally love; the kind of character I've been working on. I don't ever get into this usually, but I'm of the feeling that you take any manga or anime character and expose me to them, and I'll totally get into it. 

  I should totally understand that, because when anime and manga were getting popular, you know a lot of people always try to put distinctions between things. The distinction back then was that superhero comics were just about the action, whereas in anime and manga, even if they were doing a superhero-ish character, it was never about the power, it was always about the character. The only fear I have is that everything is such an epic now! I spend too much time already on the internet … I kinda don't wanna …

  You don't want to start another big commitment.

  I mean, you tell me, with Naruto, how many hours of viewing is that going to be, start to finish? (laughs).

  You've got over 700 episodes to dig into!

  To answer your original question, when I was a kid in Hawaii in the '70s — I became Japanese because all my friends were Japanese — they had this Japanese channel there … and in the early '70s, that's where I became a Kamen Rider fan. 

  I love Kamen Rider. Living in Hawaii, were you familiar with Kikaida at all? 

  Oh, that was my favorite! 

  I would love to see your take on Kamen Rider, and Fist of the North Star, too, I'd love to see that illustration.

  Again, as much as I love American superheroes, it's kind of run the gamut of getting to the four walls of where it can go. I've been involved in so many of the IPs in that light. But manga and anime seem to go into other corners we don't really see. I remember when Neal Adams and Dennis O’Niel did Green Lantern/Green Arrow and did all that social commentary, that was a big, “Whoa, what are you guys doing?” But that's forever, from what I understand, been how it's handled in anime and manga.

  That was one of the biggest appeals early on when we were exposed to Akira. All this stuff [they explored], but they handled it in that cool universe. I guess it's just part of me growing older; wanting to have that playground but have it handle some of those more substantial issues. 

    I think we're in the last hours of the #SuitsForHeroes campaign, which is a great cause. Is there anything else you'd like to get the word out about or an upcoming project you're excited for?

  There is something I'd like to talk about, but … the pandemic has really destroyed schedules. You don't want to talk about something too early and have everyone forget. But I am actually working on something more personal, it's part and parcel to the campaign you mentioned. When I was two years old I came to the United States, and so 52 years later I've absorbed all this and I've done what I can here. The last 15 years I've been going back and forth to the Philippines and learning my language, one, and two, learning about my history, and three, more importantly, learning about my culture; learning about my people. 

  I have a lot of friends back there in the Philippines now, and whether they're rich people or whether they're professionals or whether they're poor people or poor relatives, it just amazes me that in a "poor country," everybody is putting their best foot forward in helping each other out. I have a lot of professional friends who, every time they have a meal, they make extra food for the security guard in their building, or for the poor kids the block over. All my chef friends are cooking meals for hospitals and frontliners every day. It's just really great seeing everybody care about each other, everybody being connected to each other. That's what then solidified in my brain what it means to be Filipino. 

  So right now I'm working on a project that will put down my thoughts on, you know, in my self-centered brain, on what the Philippines, what the Eastern world can teach the modern world about being connected to each other. But do that in a superhero/Kamen Rider type of world. Something that's easily understandable for all audiences, but then using that opportunity for when people come in that door because it's easy to get through, to show them that personal thing. I don't know exactly how we're going to come out and do it, because I'm trying to tackle it in my own way; my version of what the medium has to evolve into. The format itself.

  A lot of people don't know, but in the very beginning of Image, we wanted to do something different. We were going to give everyone the superhero comics that made us popular in the X-Office, but we wanted to give them something different, too, something modern, something new; a shiny object. And that was PhotoShop. I was part of that small team that figured out how to use PhotoShop. And so a part of this project and the way it's going to be produced and the way it eventually, maybe next year, finally gets put out there, is going to kind of be my dissertation on what the visual language of what a comic medium should be. 

  There are definitely some people who could use a lesson on togetherness.

  Putting it into the context of the pandemic — a world event, that all countries are going through — is that if you're in a society where you don't have many connections with other people. Where you, for decades, have only said, "Okay, I'm going to pick my friends because I can relate to them and they can relate to me," and even extend that to family members. Well, if you have a small ecosystem of friends, when a major thing happens, odds are that small ecosystem of friends might not be connected to anything that's happening to them. In today's parlance, you might not know any nurses or doctors or people in politics. 

  If you don't have those little windows because your world is so small, you get scared, right? Because you don't know and you have nobody to reassure you. But if you live in a society where you're all about extended family, where, growing up, your dad's best friend isn't part of the family but you call him uncle … or there's a conscious effort to keep your friends from grade school, high school, your first job, your third job, and stay connected with them. If your world now is so huge with all those connections, when a pandemic happens, you might know a nurse, or you might know somebody who knows a nurse, or whose dad is a nurse, or a doctor, or a scientist, or a politician. So you can be exposed to that information.

  So, you're still going to be scared, but you're going to be less scared, because you're getting information. 

    Let's say someone was looking at your Naruto piece, and it inspires them seeing something in this different style. Is there a message you have for any aspiring artists out there?

  If you look at any creative thing that's successful — movies, songs, stories, comics, manga, anime — the ones that are successful are the ones that are relatable. That's the reason why, you know, you have a story of a farm kid who's told that his dad and mom were killed, and he never met them. And then he goes out into the world, and he meets his dad — he finds out he's actually alive — and it turns out his dad is the most evil person in the whole universe. The reason why that's so impactful, it's because that's a real story that real people have gone through. No, their dad wasn't Darth Vader, but they found out that their dad wasn't a very good guy. 

  All of that comes from understanding what real people are really like; understanding what you're really like. That's why all creatives are always pushed to follow their instincts. What that really means is follow what you know. If you grew up as an orphan and abused by society, those are the stories you're going to do because those are the stories you understand. So, other people who understand that are going to instantly relate to that. 

  What I really mean is, as an artist, as anything in any medium, doing anything, you have to follow your instincts. You have to be pure to who you are. Especially when people like me get the opportunity to "give my take on things," it's my experience. It's true to me, it's true to how I really feel about things. And as I've discussed with you how I really feel in this specific case about Naruto; how I admire the character so much from different points of view. I can only do what I can do. So, that's what everybody has to do.

  Another case in point is Adventure Time. There's no way in the world that if those guys came to me and pitched Adventure Time, that me, this 50-something, would understand that story, and I probably would have rejected it, right? I would have been wrong! Because they were being true to what they know, what they feel, and there was a whole audience out there that understood that. The world needs to stay in that space of allowing creatives to do what their instincts tell them to do. It's going to take young artists just following their instincts, just putting their point of view on everything. 

  Especially in this day and age, where everything can get exposure, whether there's only 100 people who understand what you're talking about, or understand the look of your character … that's enough. Art is created to put your feelings out there and connect, and for an artist, that's the best thing. Even if it's only like two people, to connect with those two people and find that you're not the only one, you know? 

  We'd like to thank Whilce Portacio for taking the time to speak with us. Now, go read some comics and watch Naruto, folks!

  © 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO. All Rights Reserved

      Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his webcomic, BIG DUMB FIGHTING IDIOTS at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox. 

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[earth2craig-blog]

exploring... COLLABORATION

Design Thinking 210, Term 2, Assignment 2

What is collaboration??? 

Collaboration is the act of two or more people working together to produce something.

With that simple definition out of the way, I will explore the act of collaborating MY WAY (ironically not very collaborative at all). This exploration will be based on my personal experiences, as well as referencing two of my three favorite pop culture mediums: Video Games and Movies (the third being Music FYI).

Whether or not collaboration is good or bad is not really up for debate. Collaboration is inevitable and really society is a collaborative effort. Whether you want to or not, an individual at many points of their lives will have to work with others, whether that’s at the workplace, the PTA at your children’s school or even with family preparing your Mother’s Day breakfast (topical as Mother’s Day is this Sunday).

So collaboration...

Why is it important?

As said, collaborating is inevitable, so in order to make sure whatever is being produced is a resounding success, all members need to work well with one another to make it so. I will delve into how collaborating can be effective or ineffective shortly... but first, collaborating is necessary for larger projects or productions, where many hands are needed as a single individual would struggle to do it all alone. Collaboration thus makes it possible to produce things like video games or movies. If these productions were made by a singular individual they would be limited in scope/detail and possibly even appear ‘low budget’. Could you imagine a Marvel movie the same caliber as we are used to; if it were directed and acted and lit and shot by a single individual?... I THINK NOT!!!

The marvel movies are a good example of a large scale collaboration featuring many actors, directors and writers collaborating together to produce a marvel universe across multiple films.

When is it effective?

As talked about when discussing the importance of collaborating; a large scale production of some kind is when collaborating can prove to be effective. 

Or, when the production requires people with varying specialties. If a musician wanted to produce an animated music video, they might seek out an animator/motion designer. Together, these individuals would have to collaborate to produce something that feels right for the music.

And ultimately, any client seeking another parties help to produce something, both client and the employed party need to work together to meet the client’s needs.

It is also effective at solving problems. ‘Many heads are better than one’.

When is it a waste of time?

The reverse of when is it effective to an extent. If the production or project is small enough for a single individual to do correctly on their own, then more hands could complicate the process. ‘Too many cooks in the kitchen’ so-to-speak.

Just to add to the ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ idiom, collaboration can be a waste of time when the discussing gets in the way of action (red tape). I have countless memories as a child of my father coming home and being frustrated with the lack of progress achieved in so-called ‘business meetings’.

And in addition, even if collaboration is justified and needed to accomplish something, it can be a waste of time when members of the collaboration collaborate poorly. Whether that’s working improperly or inadequately, or not being open to other input, or poor leadership, etc. Bad collaboration is bad (this sentence is purposefully written this way - to state the obvious)...

On the topic of bad collaboration... What are possible contributing factors that can result in collaboration resulting in failure or poor results?

Oooh boy. Where do I begin... Speaking from experience, and as mentioned when answering the previous question, when one or more individuals don’t do their work properly; whether that’s not performing tasks assigned to their specialty or profession correctly or on time, or even just not giving any input or they communicate poorly, etc... Anyone that has had a group assignment for a class may have experienced this. There is a large number of ways for individuals to make the process difficult for the others they collaborate with. Collaboration requires trusting everyone to do their part.

Leadership plays a vital role, especially in a typical collaboration (an explanation of what a typical collaboration is will be given later in this text). If leadership is not open to others input, or ask too much of the others working on the production, then that skewed dynamic can skew the result of the production. A good leader needs to know that they may not know everything and that they may not always be right. Unfortunately, sometimes power corrupts.

The upcoming Sonic movie backlash (based on a video game character) is a good example of poor leadership, in the way that the (lead) CG designers made the design decision to stray away from Sonic’s original design by Square Enix (with horrifying results). Sonic is a cultural icon and the decision to stray away from Sonic’s original design is somewhat of an insult to both the fans of the character and the original creators of the character. Jim Sterling in his YouTube video very passionately and elaborately discusses this particular topic, the image is a screenshot of said video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qacb7ZQoeYQ&list=UUWCw2Sd7RlYJ2yuNVHDWNOA&index=4.

The next two images are by another YouTube channel, YongYea, where he also discusses the Sonic design along with diving into social media platforms to show how some people have edited the image to show a more true to the original design. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q0__RrgJh8&t=931s. Since the backlash, it has been announced that Sonic will be redesigned before the movie release in 9 months.

Leadership can also fail in the opposite way. By not giving a clear brief or structure or ‘vision’ for the production.

Anthem falls into the category of a lack of clear vision from leadership. Anthem is a game published by EA and developed by Bioware. I could go into great detail regarding this game and the many factors that may have contributed to it disappointing its player base, and it losing both half the aforementioned players that bought into the ‘live service’ game and also halved its price tag in most retail stores only a month or two after its release. According to a Kotaku article by Jason Schreier, one of the reasons for it to be a poor product is a lack of a clear design vision.

A quote from the article reads: “One of the things we struggled with was, we didn’t understand the game concept,” said one former BioWare Austin developer. “When Anthem was presented to us, it was never really clear what the game was.”

Here is a link to the full article if interested (be warned, it is very detailed and in depth over the many, many issues that caused the development to go awry):

https://kotaku.com/how-biowares-anthem-went-wrong-1833731964.

The client or employer can also make the task difficult, by making unreasonable or unclear demands. Clients/employers can also not do what is required of them properly or on time and that can slow the process.

Electronic Arts as mentioned is the publisher of Anthem along with many other games. EA has quite publicly announced that it aims to focus developing games as ‘live services’ only. Essentially games that players play online with others that encourage “recurring spending”. I’ll be honest in admitting that I dislike EA quite a bit. By forcing their developers to ONLY develop live services when they may have little to no experience developing that type of game, or taking a past franchise and trying to turn it into a live service that then creates a lesser version of that franchise as a result. In this way they make the design process difficult for all game designers and developers working in collaboration with one another. Furthermore, they also insist their developers develop games using EA’s ‘Frostbite Engine’, which often proves not to be a good tool to develop the game and causes many problems during development that then need time to be solved.

And then there is the trap of producing something nobody wants or is interested in. Essentially this could be summed up in design speak as ‘solving the wrong problem’.

Lawbreakers is a First-Person Shooter game published by Nexon and developed by Boss Key Productions. It tried to sell itself as better than already established First-Person Shooter games and at a better price, however, it ended up selling very few copies and in less than a year came offline. This was a bit of a surprise to most video game analysts, game journalists and especially surprising for the developers and publisher, because during it’s beta and pre-release it had a following and traction. One of the core reasons later decided for it not selling well was that the market was already over-saturated with these sorts of games and there were too many new and more popular games also released at the same time as the Lawbreakers release date. There wasn’t a need or desire for players to own a new FPS game as most players already owned multiple or could play others for free, and as a result, Lawbreakers didn’t hit any target audience. The second image is a screenshot from the Pretty Good Games YouTube channel where they discuss the games eventual abandonment by the publishers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suIkpFufNYA.

So in conclusion, essentially everyone at every level has the ability to complicate and lessen the quality of the collaborative production.

What is the difference between typical and radical collaboration?

‘Radical collaboration’ is a term I have never heard before until now for this assignment. I found a description of what radical collaboration is on this website:

https://www.inc.com/michael-graber/radical-collaboration-mindset-over-process.html. Quoting the article, if I may:

“The first mindset is fostering a sense of radical collaboration, meaning that we all work in multidisciplinary teams and that we explore ideas, insights, and concepts fearlessly as equal team members.”

and “Under radical collaboration no one will "pull rank" and everyone will listen respectfully to one another; hence the word "radical.".

So typical collaboration is your usual, corporate structure of people working together. With there being leaders at the top of a ladder and people working under them, thus leaders have more power and say.

Radical collaboration tries to make everyone equals in the collaborative process, at least at certain phases of the development. Ultimately radical collaboration seems to try to eliminate some of the issues I mentioned earlier that could result in the collaboration producing a poor result. Poor leadership, lack of creativity, solving the right problem, etc.

What guidelines need to be in place for collaboration to be helpful?

I think that there need to be roles. While everyone has an equal say, and can contribute both an individual and specialized opinion or idea to the production or problem being tackled, people will ultimately still produce work under their area of expertise.

Taking what someone else in another profession says under advisement when working on your aspect of the collaboration should be encouraged.

An open, respectful and non-judgmental space needs to be adhered to.

Leadership or management positions/roles are not there to be dictators but should rather facilitate a constructive and structured collaborative experience while also keeping track of the various aspects of the collaboration. That’s not to say that the leadership can’t have a say, or even overrule a decision. They, just like everyone else, need to be open to everyone else’s ideas.

Do the research. Who is it for? And what do they need/want? Don’t assume to know best.

Leadership should also make sure that everyone is clear on the goal and ‘vision’ of the collaboration.

And then simple stuff. Communicate clearly, and do the work in earnest. I think there also needs to be room to fail. An individual or group of people may stumble upon a problem when working on their end, and there needs to be the understanding that these things take time to solve rather than applying pressure or discomfort on those individuals.

Who should you collaborate with?

Is this a trick question? I’ve got a trick answer. You should collaborate with anyone and everyone. It doesn’t matter how similar or different you are. It is less about who you collaborate with and more about how you collaborate. On the presumption that those you work with strive to collaborate effectively and do their part; it doesn’t matter if their personality, culture, religion or even their taste in music differs from yours. It can be a constructive process. Perhaps it is even more beneficial to work with someone that differs greatly from you in their experiences and beliefs.

Who do you want to collaborate with?

I don’t have a single individual in mind. But... I know that I want anyone I work with to be respectful, have an open mind, communicate effectively and appropriately, be creative, be passionate, take pride in their work and work diligently. That to me sounds like the perfect individual or individuals to work with.

Who should you avoid collaborating with?

The opposite of what I just listed (funny enough). I think even one opposite trait to the ideal collaborative individual I listed in the earlier question is a deal breaker. If they are disrespectful, then no. If they are closed-minded or stubborn, no. If they communicate poorly or infrequently when needed, no. Everyone has the capacity to be creative so I don’t think it’s fair to assume someone can not be creative. If the quality of work they produce is inadequate, however, or doesn’t get done in time or at all, then I would not want to work with that individual. That being said, it is not often that you get a choice in who you work with.

[thebrainscoop]

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday- whether you were in Chicago, or around the world. Here is the talk I gave in front of this incredibly generous crowd of 40,000+ people: 

-----------

Thank you. I’m Emily Graslie, Chief Curiosity Correspondent for The Field Museum, and host and creator of the educational YouTube science channel, The Brain Scoop. And today, I’m also proud to be your commencement speaker. 

more below the break -- photo c/o John Weinstein, The Field Museum

So to the March for Science graduating class of 2017, congratulations on your tremendous achievements. Wow. Give yourself a round of applause! Unfortunately, none of you will be receiving a physical diploma today because we had to spend $10k on all of those porta-potties. Yeah, pooping is expensive, but let’s all be grateful to the scientific progress that let us understand bacteria and parasites, and that allowed us to improve our infrastructure for excrement. After all, modern sanitation is one of the greatest medical advancements of the last century!… I could have probably started this with a better example. It’s just that my boss and like seven hundred people from The Field Museum are here, also my Mom — hi, Mom — and I’m sort of nervous.

I’ll be brief- it’s cold, and all that’s between you and a brisk walk down Columbus is my babbling, so thanks for your patience, but I’ve waited a long time to give this talk. About.. Seven years.

I never had the grades to be valedictorian of my high school, and I skipped my college graduation to go camping instead. So when the March for Science Chicago organizers asked if I’d want to be the keynote, I thought — here’s my chance to give an inspirational commencement speech, one I never knew before now I wanted to do. After all, in a way this is a graduation ceremony, the preface of a new book. In spite of what I read in the news and online every day — that the world is doomed and our planet is turning into a dumpster fire — I can’t help but be hopeful for the future if we put in the work, energy, and time needed to face the challenges ahead. I long to celebrate the incredible unlikeliness of our very existence, and to marvel at the truly extraordinary circumstances which came together over millions and billions of years, culminating in this very moment now. I mean, it’s difficult not to be hopeful when I think about how our common ancestors survived five mass extinction events on this planet already. Many of you already know that or at least can appreciate the awesomeness of that statement, which perhaps is why you are here. But I’m here because I hope you feel hopeful, too.

The March for Science is an opportunity to reflect on those who have come before us, on the developments we humans have achieved not only in the last few years, but hundreds, and thousands. But this is not merely a party to celebrate and pat ourselves on the back for our characteristics as truth-seekers and fact checkers. This March is a chance to also acknowledge our pitfalls, our historic and persistent challenges, and our shortcomings as scientists and as supporters of scientific endeavours and progress — because we are graduating onto the next phase, the next chapter of our story. This is but a new beginning. Part of what I want you to do after today is take the ideas and messages from this event and share them with the people you know who did not want to be here today. That’s, like, the first step.

Undoubtedly there are a great number of you in the audience wondering, who is this wackadoo, and why didn’t you get a real scientist up there to say something more, I don’t know, academic sounding? To which I’d say — if this talk isn’t your speed, then I look forward to reading your rebuttal. Part of the reason I was asked to talk today is because I showed up. Consistently. And I’m going to tell you a story about the importance of showing up.

My life so far can be divided up into two eras: Before Science, and After Science. I studied art as an undergraduate at the University of Montana because — and I just painfully reread a diary I wrote when I was 17 in order to corroborate this fact, so you’re welcome — because I thought it was the only thing I was good at. Grades and standardized test scores told me I was not exceptional at much else.

In art school everything is about you, your work, your individual mission statement, and I found it to feel pretty isolating at times. But then a friend took me to visit the zoological research museum on campus where she worked in the preparation lab, and I got the chance to prepare a specimen myself — a mouse that had been collected for a research project studying the distribution of rodents in Montana. I’ll save you the gooey details, but the final part of the preparation process involves writing your name on the specimen label as the preparator — mostly for accountability reasons — but that moment was one of the gratifying in my life. It was like signing a piece of art, but more than that, I had made a contribution, even if it was tiny and seemingly inconsequential, to something much larger than myself. I had helped to create a small time capsule of data which would outlive me in that museum collection, along with tens of thousands of others. I made a very tiny dent in an increasing body of knowledge. It felt electrifying.

Since I had extra course credits and some free time that following semester, I continued to show up in that museum and figure out how else I could participate to this thing that was bigger than me — and I felt a sense of ownership of the specimens in the collection I was volunteering to help manage. The more I learned about those specimens the more I felt obligated to speak for them, especially when I saw few others saying anything. I pointed a finger at the University’s administration for not allocating appropriate funds or support for specimens that were spoiling in a basement room across campus — and I pointed that finger again when that collection sustained further damage. I was picking up dehydrated fish specimens from a shattered jar with a label that told me those organisms were collected in Montana in the late 1800s, and in that moment I realized that I was holding the fragile and vulnerable parts of a now-broken time machine. And that, even if I wasn’t the researcher to study them or make new discoveries through their use, maybe my children would, or my grandchildren. And what sort of steward would I be of our planet if I didn’t do everything within my power to ensure I could help manage some small, minute aspect of our collective knowledge?

It wasn’t about just a few fish. It was about the biologist who ventured out west to make some of the first biological collections in Montana. It was about the scientist who trained them, and the wealth of knowledge passed down through generations before. My anger was for the lost potential for that wealth of knowledge to grow because of inaction, or because it seemed too big of a problem to solve, or maybe not even worth the effort. It was about the principle of the matter- that this was a blatant disregard for our collective past, present, and future.

Those specimens and that museum forever altered not only the course of my life, but how I view the world and my role within it. A dead mouse helped me understand what it means to meaningfully and collaboratively participate in community- the scientific community, museum community, and with any number of future individuals or groups that would be curious about the rodents of Montana. I thought about the uses by the agricultural community, or wildlife management groups who will need to use that data to track invasive rodent species that destroy crops. Pest control groups who need data about prey population numbers to show how their pesticides are — or are not — impacting local wildlife. Medical researchers who can make links between some rodent species and the transmission of certain illness and who need to know how far or abundantly distributed those rodents are in order to mitigate outbreaks. Climate scientists using decades of aggregated data of these animals to map and see how rodents are moving to higher elevations as seasonal temperatures rise. Conservation communities wanting to advocate for a rare and unsung mouse found only in that area, or for a threatened or endangered species which relies on those rodents as their primary food source- and those creatures that would be further harmed should the rodent populations suffer. Hardly any of this information can be known without deliberate surveys of our planet’s plants and animals, through which we are discovering new species constantly. Science — curiosity — and the desire to find solutions to the myriad of problems we face as a global society, is at the root of all of these endeavours. This type of work is carried out by scientific organizations all around the world, including The Field Museum, and now I’m lucky enough to get to talk about the work of our great Chicago institution every single day.

But I’ll tell you — man, it was hard to get people to listen to me at first, especially when I’m running around campus screaming my head off about how we need to save a bunch of dead fish and mice. I get how that sounds, well, crazy. I had friends tell me it wasn’t worth the stress and effort. I had others question the appropriateness of my actions, saying it wasn’t my place to care for or worry about those objects, that it was someone else’s responsibility. But I learned that if I am aware of a problem that I can help fix, it is my responsibility, whether I take ownership of the issue or not.

So I kept showing up. I showed up with paints and brushes, I showed up with my art school buddies, I showed up with a digital camera, with a blog, I showed up with every tool in my box. And then one day, someone else showed up with a videographer and a microphone and an audience of a few hundred thousand people on YouTube. And as they say on Broadway — I did not throw away my shot.

And that’s why I’m here today, and part of the reason The Field Museum is here today, too. I’ve been showing up to talk about the importance of science in our daily lives for seven years, and The Field Museum’s got a good track record of showing up, too- for about 125 years, now. But for some of you out there, this might be your first time showing up and speaking out. I hope it is not the last. My greatest hope for the March for Science is we see this as a new beginning, and a commitment to keep showing up in the future.

Marchers — whether you are a professional trained and practicing scientist, or a student, advocate, and supporter of these endeavours — familiarize yourself with the scientific institutions and organizations this great city has to offer. Participate in our local and regional programs — and if those programs don’t exist, commit to creating them. Engage in citizen science projects, curate an art show or a poetry slam about the impact science has had in your life, talk to your children’s classroom about the nature in your neighborhood. Attend the next March for Science. Speak up for science.

We are all members of the scientific community in one way or another. We are educators, artists, communicators and writers, and passionate lifelong learners who have an obligation and a mission to help others understand and empathize with our beautiful and fragile world.

And on that note — beauty — for all of you out there: commit yourself to curiosity. Curiosity is a light that illuminates the beauty of our world, our cherished existence. I’m a firm believer that curiosity is the first step towards empathy. Ask questions of things you don’t understand, and seek answers. Commit yourself to the beauty and diversity of your neighborhood- and commit yourself to learning the name of whom you share your street and city with. Learn your neighbor’s name, whether they are a person, a bird, a beetle or a tree. Value them all. The freedom to pursue that knowledge is no longer an idle luxury — it’s of the utmost import.

To conclude, I’m going to quote a line from a great commencement speech that was delivered by Kermit the Frog — “On behalf of frogs, fish, pigs, bears and all of the other species who are lower than you on the food chain, thank you for dedicating your lives to saving our world and our home.”

Now, we March!

[spicynbachili1]

Deep Analysis: Watchmen

The best/worst adaptation ever

You can’t find a more influential comic book than Watchmen.

Watchmen was a 12 issue comic book limited series released from 1986-1987 that received critical acclaim upon its release. It was the first comic book to be seen by mainstream audiences as a legitimate story which dealt with several serious topics and themes. It wasn’t just a silly picture book that you would buy for your kids at the grocery store for a quarter, this was a comic book for adults. Of course, there were other stories that came before Watchmen that also dealt with serious topics like alcoholism, drug abuse, and the clash of political ideologies, but Watchmen was the one that people outside of the comic book community took notice of. To this day, Watchmen ranks as one of Time Magazine’s 100 greatest novels ever made, standing alongside classics like A Clockwork Orange, The Great Gatsby, Animal Farm, and To Kill A Mockingbird. 

For the comic book community, it, alongside The Dark Knight Returns, ushered in an era of comics where characters became darker, more serious, edgier, and full of 90’s…ness. Referred to as “The Dark Age,” this time period was one of the worst periods ever for the comic book industry, culminating in Marvel’s bankruptcy, but none of that was because Watchmen was a bad story. Quite the contrary. Watchmen was so popular that people misunderstood why it was as successful as it was. Many prominent comic book creators believed Watchmen was successful because it was a dark and mature story, so they tried to emulate that style without understanding that the content of Watchmen is what made it so good, not just because it was aimed at adults. Watchmen was good because it was a good story, one that comic book creators still look to for inspiration to this day. The legacy of Watchmen is undeniable, safely secured in the pantheon of comic book greatness. 

And then Zack Snyder made an adaptation of it in 2009.

Before I get into dissecting Zack Snyder’s Watchmen, I wanted to share a little behind the scenes look at what led to this post. Back at the beginning of October, Matt approached me and asked me to revive the “Deep Analysis” feature from a few years ago, saying that we were in a position where we had enough talented writers to pull off a new monthly feature. I was honored, but also a little concerned at how big of a task it was. What the hell could I talk about that would justify a Deep Analysis? What would be worthy of writing several thousand words that people will actually want to read and discuss? What would be a movie that people will be passionate about?

I was debating doing Spring Breakers, a 2013 slice of arthouse shlock that condemns the dissonance between reality and fantasy that’s generated from the media, but I’m pretty sure not many people have seen it. And the people that have seen it would say that the movie is about ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Then I thought about doing Silent Hill so I could write about how valid a good/decent movie is when it butchers its source material, but I didn’t want to beat on the Silent Hill horse more than it has been. But then I found my answer in the comments of my NYCC article on HBO’s upcoming Watchmen series. It was relevant, people are clearly interested in Watchmen, and it would be worth discussing since I’m a pretty big fan of the movie. So let’s do it. Let’s analyze Zack Snyder’s Watchmen.

A Finely Assembled Clock

Watchmen began with the murder of a government-sanctioned vigilante named the Comedian. Murdered in his own apartment, the police are at a loss at how a man like the Comedian, real name Edward Blake, could have been thrown from his apartment window when he was built like a tank. A mentally unhinged vigilante that used to work with the Comedian, Rorschach, investigates the crime scene and believes that someone is trying to murder costumed vigilantes. He warns Nite Owl/Dan Dreiberg, his former partner, Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt, the smartest man in the world, Doctor Manhattan/Jon Osterman, the most powerful being in existence that can bend space, time, and matter to his will, and Silk Spectre/Laurie Jupiter, Manhattan’s girlfriend who is his only tether to humanity. What follows is a huge conspiracy of lies, murder, and existentialism all in a bid to save the world from nuclear Armageddon. 

If you were to ask me what separated Watchmen from every other comic at the time, it would be that it relied on extensive world building and flashbacks to flesh out its cast as well as the topics that it addressed head-on. When you read Watchmen, you could just read through the story and be done with it, but that would be doing a disservice to author Alan Moore. At the end of each issue are several pages dedicated to extraneous materials that have no bearing on the rest of the story, but flesh out the world that the characters inhabit.

There are multiple excerpts from the autobiography of the original Nite Owl that detailed his life, how he became a police officer, and what made him become a costumed vigilante. Then you have articles, interviews, and other supplemental material featured at the end that only serve to enhance the world of Watchmen. Yes, it’s supposed to take place in an alternate 1980’s America, one where Richard Nixon is still in office after successfully winning the Vietnam War, but it’s still our world. But so much time and effort are placed in creating a living, breathing world where other side characters exist. Mind you, you don’t have to read these supplemental materials. You can still enjoy the story as is, but the extra material only serves to do more good than not.

Over the course of the comic, when we’re not following the vigilantes try to solve the mystery of who killed the Comedian, we’re following along with multiple different characters who are living their daily lives. They never directly intercede in the main plot with the exception of maybe one character, but they’re around to flesh out the world and ideas that Watchmen brings up. We may follow some police officers, a right-wing newspaper organization, a psychologist, a guy who sells newspapers, a cabbie and her problems with her girlfriend, or we may just read a comic book about a sailor trying to return home to his family before they’re killed by pirates. All of it serves to cement that there are living, breathing people that aren’t wrapped up in the march to doomsday. 

Which brings us to the themes that are addressed in the story. I could go on for days talking about each of  the story’s main ideas, like how Watchmen addresses identity, patriotism, fate, time, the validity of vigilante justice, crime, and the moral gray area of achieving world peace at the immense cost of life (Ozymandias and Thanos would get along really well). Those are all well and good, but they’re not what I think the story is really about. For me, Watchmen is a story about the Cold War and the threat of a nuclear apocalypse. 

Through both the main plot and the various characters interactions, one troubling scenario remains at the forefront; the world is inching closer to nuclear war. Nite Owl dreams of the world ending in an atomic explosion, Ozymandias tries to save the world before the nukes start flying, and the people don’t worry about how Dr. Manhattan could erase reality if he wanted to. Instead, they worry about the Soviet Union. To take a step away from Watchmen for a minute, in 1986 in our world, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev were trying to do whatever they could to reduce their nuclear arms, terrified that one of them would be the one to end all life on Earth.

Fears of a nuclear war were prevalent during the 80’s but the fear of the atomic bomb was around for decades. The Cuban Missile Crisis is probably the best example that comes to mind, with even people in the White House like former Secretary of State Robert McNamara saying that the only reason the Cuban Missile Crisis didn’t erupt into nuclear war was because of level heads. The Cuban Missile Crisis may have been the theoretical worst case scenario of atomic warfare, the nuclear detonations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the practical reality. More relevant during the creation of Watchmen was the Chernobyl meltdown, where a nuclear power plant in Russia had a catastrophic meltdown in 1986, rendering all life in the immediate area inhospitable to humans still to this day. Fears of nuclear war were legitimate, and with the two largest superpowers in the world having polarizing ideologies that frequently butted heads, you’d better believe that it was a very real possibility that World War III would erupt over the slightest dispute. 

I’d argue that Watchmen could only exist in the 1980’s, right when the Cold War was still at the forefront of politics. Telling the story outside of the 1980’s is possible, but you need to heavily alter it or just ignore the Cold War connections. DC Comics is currently making a sequel to Watchmen called Doomsday Clock, which as of this writing is at issue seven of 12, but it’s not set in the world of Watchmen. It’s set in the modern DC universe, without a single mention of the Cold War. The DC prequels, Before Watchmen, knew that it wasn’t the smartest idea to directly set themselves during the Cold War and the events of the original series, so each of the various miniseries was more character focused and set during whatever time period the creators wanted to set it in. But the 2009 film version tries to tell the story of Watchmen and its Cold War fears from the perspective of 2000’s America through Zack Snyder’s vision. Unfortunately, Snyder made the same mistakes that the comic book creators of the 90’s took from Watchmen that nearly doomed the industry; he took the story at face value. He thought Watchmen’s value was in its violence and darkness.

We’re Locked In With Rorschach

Zack Snyder isn’t a bad director, but he is a director with a very particular style. All you need to do is look at a Zack Snyder movie and you’ll see for better or worse, a lot of his hallmarks. Is there a dark/muted color palette? Is there hardly any joy or positive eomtion? Is the focus more on the action than the story? Are the characters unlikable? If you’ve answered yes to all of these questions, then there’s a pretty good chance that you’re watching a Zack Snyder movie. That’s not to say that we’re watching a bad movie, but we’re definitely watching a Zack Snyder one. 

At first glance, you may think that Watchmen would be a good movie for Zack Snyder to direct. He holds the original comic in reverence and slavishly tried to recreate scenes from the comics on film the same way that Dave Gibbons drew it. He used David Hayter’s (yes, that David Hayter) script, which took wholesale lines and scenes from the comics that even Alan Moore, who has historically been against any adaptation of his work ever being made, said that Hayter’s script was the closest he saw anyone ever getting to making an ideal Watchmen screenplay. So what happened? Why do some people revile it and call it a bastardization of the comic, despite the time, effort, and love that was clearly put into it?

We might as well start with Zack Snyder, since this is less Watchmen and more Zack Snyder Presents: Watchmen. His style is caked all over the movie, whether it fits or not. Snyder is what you get when you let an edgy teenager become a director. He’s going to focus on what he likes and what he thinks is cool over what other people think. You can easily see this in Batman v. Superman, where most of his time is spent dealing with the sloppy moral dilemma that Batman and Superman have to go through despite none of it making logical sense. However, when the two heroes eventually duke it out, it’s pretty damn awesome. The same can be said for Watchmen, where it seems like Snyder was interested in only two things; Rorschach and the Comedian. 

Rorschach was one of the main characters of the comic, but time was evenly spent getting to know all six of our main characters. Each character had an issue dedicated to them where we learned more about them and their personalities, but everyone had an equal amount of development. In the movie, we learn all about Rorshach, but as for Dr. Manhattan, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, and Nite Owl, we barely delve into their backstories besides a few throwaway lines. Of the four, Dr. Manhattan does have his backstory explained, but it feels like it was out of necessity. They offer the briefest explanation about how Jon Osterman became Dr. Manhattan, but they leave out his relationship with Janie Slater, Laurie Jupiter, and his father forcing him to become a scientist out of necessity, making what we do get feel hollow. That being said, Snyder does spend a lot of time focusing on the Comedian, which lends weight to the fact that Snyder was only interested in what he thought was cool.

The Comedian keeps all of his scenes intact, as does Rorschach. We get an extended fight scene with the Comedian that wasn’t in the comic. Rorschach’s fight scenes are all in graphic detail. The Comedian’s nihilistic dialogue and Rorschach’s grim narration haven’t changed at all. Snyder’s Watchmen is obsessed with these moments, yet the movie doesn’t realize that we’re not supposed to really root for these characters. They’re terrible people and the comic made it vastly aware at how awful both of these characters are, but they’re framed as being badass and cool. The movie cuts down on their condemnation and instead focuses on their greatest hits. Remember when Rorschach threw the vat of hot grease at a guys face? Well, here it is in live action with Rorschach screaming like a maniac about it!

Everything else is downplayed. Ozymandias’ presence in the story is mitigated to his introduction, his assassination attempt, and the ending, which does line up with the comic, but he feels like an after thought here. At least in the comic we frequently saw him talking with other characters, albeit in flashbacks, but we were still able to see him as a fleshed out character. We sort of see how Nite Owl struggles with his identity and accepting that he loves being a vigilante, but you’d have to squint to really see it. Worst of all, the extensive world building is gone. It’s understandable that there had to be some cuts made to make sure the movie didn’t run five hours and it’d be nearly impossible to recreate the pages of supplemental material well, but a lot of what made Watchmen the comic it was is gone. The issue with Dr. Malcolm Long, Rorschach’s psychiatrist, was my favorite issue in the entire series due to how it painted Rorshach as both a monster and a victim, yet showed how the good intentioned doctor could be dragged down to Rorschach’s level, unable to help him and instead adopting Rorschach’s nihilistic viewpoint on humanity. Here… it’s reduced to a quick line about how Dr. Long can’t possibly help him. 

But really, the biggest problem that the film adaptation has is that Snyder turned Watchmen into just another action movie. Yes, there was action in the comic, but it was never the focus like it was here. You can’t go a few scenes without an action beat taking place. While some of them are actually really well done, like Hollis Mason fighting against a gang that breaks into his house while flashing back to his days as Nite Owl, you have way more that are just brawls for the sake of brawls. We didn’t come to see the Watchmen fight and pop bones out of arms. Zack Snyder forgot the biggest truth of them all. The original series was a mystery starring vigilantes set during the Cold War that featured action in it. He made an action movie starring 90’s heroes and Batman wannabees that has some mystery elements. All of that Cold War fear of nuclear Armageddon that the characters feel and discuss that was one of the driving themes of the comic? Rarely acknowledged. 

And just to quickly bring this up, a lot of the design choices made in Zack Snyder’s Watchmen were to make the movie more similar to Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Nite Owl was designed to be more like Batman, Ozymandias was designed to be a parody of the Schumacher movies, and you could easily swap scenes from Watchmen and The Dark Knight and be unable to tell the difference. We’ll come back to this.

Turning Oxygen To Gold

So if Watchmen completely bungles its themes, turns itself into an action movie, and focuses on the “cool” characters Rorschach and the Comedian over the rest of the main cast, you might be shocked to hear that I’d still rank Watchmen as one of my favorite movies. It’s a testament to how good the original story is that I could overlook the many, many, many, flaws of this adaptation. Yes, it is more interested in Rorschach and his crusade against evil than the other characters, but Rorschach is undeniably the best character in the movie. 

In the comic, Rorschach was a man of few words and very few emotions. Most of his dialogue and choice of words was up to the reader’s discretion, when certain moments, like his climactic final scene with Dr. Manhattan, always felt a bit flat to me with how brief and matter of fact it was. I can’t imagine a voice for Rorschach except for Jackie Earle Haley’s performance. He brings a certain menace to the character that we always knew he had, but never saw. Rorschach’s most vile acts were usually done off panel, but we see that this Rorschach is much more active and unstable, which perfectly suits the character. When Rorschach isn’t a violent sociopath, there are a few scenes where we do see a warmer side to him, mostly through his friendship with Nite Owl. 

While the movie does away with a lot of the world building, it did decide to expand upon the Minutemen is fantastic ways. The intro to the movie, set to Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is easily one of the best intros I’ve ever seen in a movie, telling a complete story solely through music and action. No dialogue needed. In fact, I’m a fan of the entire soundtrack. The music that plays during Dr. Manhattan’s backstory is simple, yet perfect for the story being told, but the true highlight comes from the licensed music featured throughout. Yes, even the “Hallelujah” sex scene has its charms (obviously NSFW), if only for how laughably over-the-top it is. It also doesn’t hurt that all of the songs used are great tunes in their own right. 

But as sacrilegious as it may sound, what really seals the deal for me is the new ending. It isn’t perfect, but it really is superior to the original ending. Not just the epilogue, where Silk Spectre and Nite Owl adopt fake identities and Nite Owl grows a terrible blonde mustache, but the change for what saves the world. Minus the changes made to the characters and what got more screentime that was prevalent throughout the entire movie, the biggest change that riled up fans and critics alike was that the movie drastically altered the ending. And I like it. Fight me.

In the original series, Ozymandias’ plan for world peace was to fake an alien attack on the United States by kidnapping artists, scientists, and writers to create a fake monster with the cloned brain of a psychic that would have been teleported into New York City, let out a psionic EMP, kill millions of people and drive even more insane, and use that alien attack to force world leaders to put their differences aside to fight a non-existent alien threat. It’s goofy and introduces plenty of leaps of logic in the original series as well as introduce ideas that were never mentioned before that point. Now we have to contend with aliens and psychics in the world of Watchmen that don’t really gel with the rest of the world. I know that Dr. Manhattan exists and he’s more bizarre and outlandish than any alien or psychic could ever be, but the characters at least acknowledge that he’s an aberration. His presence is terrifying because of how unnatural he is. 

In the movie, Ozymandias’ plan for world peace is a little bit different. Using his vast resources, he creates multiple fission reactors and places them in key cities across the globe. The reactors all share the same energy signature as Dr. Manhattan, so when Ozymandias forces them all to meltdown, they kill millions while emitting the energy signature of Manhattan himself. Every world government instantly turns on Manhattan, effectively ending the threat of nuclear war because now they have a common enemy; Dr. Manhattan. Dr. Manhattan agrees that this plan is for the best to ensure a lasting peace and leaves Earth for another galaxy, allowing the peace to exist. 

The problem that the original ending had was that it was easy to prove that Ozymandias’ alien attack was a fake. In the first issue of Doomsday Clock, civilians are protesting against him because they discover how the alien was a model, how Ozymandias was responsible for kidnapping the artists/scientists/writers, and the peace was instantly shattered. At least in the movie, it’s much harder to prove that Ozymandias was the mastermind behind it all. Everyone knows who Dr. Manhattan is in the world of Watchmen. Everyone saw him have a mental breakdown on live TV. So when a few days later and energy that is similar to Manhattan’s energy destroys New York, Paris, Moscow and a whole host of other cities, you better believe that people are more willing to believe it. It just makes more sense to turn the world’s greatest hero into the world’s greatest villain. 

Damon Lindelof: Smartest Man or Smartest Termite?

It’s ironic that when Watchmen released in 1986, it revolutionized the comics industry, but when a movie was made about it in 2009, it was met with indifference. Sure, some people loved it, but others hated it, or worse, thought nothing about it. The most revolutionary comic in existence was met with apathy when it was released to theaters. I think that Watchmen was met with lukewarm reception was because instead of it being a trailblazer like its comic counterpart, it was just following the then current trend of comic book movies. 

It’s not a stretch to say that The Dark Knight is one of the best comic book movie ever made. It redefined what a comic book adaptation could be, introducing themes, ideas, and depicting violence that no mainstream audiences had ever seen before in a comic book movie. Watchmen was still in development when The Dark Knight released, but you better believe that Warner Brothers tried to force Snyder to make Watchmen as similar to Nolan’s Batman movies as possible. This is purely my own opinion here, I don’t have any hard evidence to support this claim, but it’s hard not to notice that Watchmen feels more like a Batman movie than an adaptation of Watchmen, or at the very least, a Watchman movie put through a Batman filter. 

Watchmen was stuck between a rock and a hard place. You had one of the best stories ever told, but it was created from a very 2000’s mindset. Zack Snyder tried to make it his version of Watchmen, putting a focus on what he liked and ignoring what made the comic stand out. The Cold War commentary was put on the back burner to make it an action movie. Warner Bros. tried to make it aesthetically similar to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. In short, everything that made Watchmen Watchmen was removed and replaced with… well, a late 2000’s action movie. The fact that Watchmen still comes out in one piece by the end of it is a miracle to say the least, but that the movie is still visually striking, contains some truly spectacular scenes, phenomenal performances, and even finds a way to improve on the original source material is a goddamn gift from the gods. 

2019 is shaping up to be a big year for the franchise. Doomsday Clock is set to conclude (hopefully) sometime in the summer and Damon Lindelof’s version of Watchmen will release as well. He’s been pretty quick to refer to Watchmen as sacred text and that he’ll keep it intact but remix it, whatever the hell that means. I’m not expecting HBO’s Watchmen to be a perfect version of the story. Nothing will compare to the original limited series. But experimenting with it isn’t a bad thing. Zack Snyder’s version was full of experimentation and while some would argue that most of it was poorly planned and ultimately failed, there are some like myself that adore it. No one is ever going to be 100% happy with any adaptation of Watchmen. Hell, you can say that about any adaptation in existence. But change is not inherently bad. Make it Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen. We’ll always have Alan Moore’s Watchmen and yes, we’ll always have Zack Snyder’s Watchmen. I just hope the new show lives up to its lofty expectations. 

You are logged out. Login | Sign up

        from SpicyNBAChili.com http://spicymoviechili.spicynbachili.com/deep-analysis-watchmen/

[translationandbetrayals]

A compressive guide of Touhou Project! Part 1 – What is Touhou?

Do you recognize these characters? From left to right they are Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame. From what anime are they from? Well... From no one, but they have a couple of animes.

These were pretty commons questions when I started in this fandom 9 years ago. So, if you didn’t know these answers, you are in the right place.

Today we’re going to make a beginner friendly guide about one of my favorite games of all times! Touhou Project. So, first thing first.

What is Touhou?

Well, it’s a video game, but not just that. But we are going to get to that point soon. Being specific, Touhou is a series of a Japanese Shoot ‘em up game (Being even more specific, is in the category of the Bullet Hell type) where you take control of one of the main characters to resolve the incident that is presented in every instalment. Simple stuff, right? It is developed by Team Shanghai Alice who is composed by the one man-army himself Jun'ya Ōta (Yeah… He is the only member of his team…), also more known as his pseudonym ZUN.

ZUN the man behind the series

Shoot ‘em what!? Bullet Hell? What is a bullet hell?

Shoot em’ up is a subgenre of video games where you usually have your character/spaceship shooting to many enemies in the screen while dodging its attacks. Things like Space Invaders, Gradius, Aerofighters and many others. In summary you just shoot thing up.

Screenshot of Aerofighters II

Bullet Hell in the other hand we can call it a sub-subgenre of the Shoot em’ up, and is all about dodging the enemy’s attacks, you got a curtain of bullet coming at you and intricate patterns of attacks where you really need to focus in your movement to dodge every single one of the bullets in the screen while trying to keep destroying the hordes of enemies that appear during the game. The Japanese term for this concept is Danmaku.

Pretty neat isn’t it? Good luck in avoiding being hit by those.

I got that… But why is so good?

There are many points to talk about this, so I’m going to point out the most important things about them.

Characters: Every single one of the characters that appear in the game is particularly memorable. Most of the time they are bishoujo versions of diverse monsters, spirits and demons of the Japanese folklore (the so called yōkai), and some other monsters from others culture as well. They have their own backstory usually explained in a little dialogue before each boss fight, they have their own musical theme and even some bosses become playable in later games too. All in all, this make every single character of the cast to be enjoyable and memorable, even the ones that appear just once in the game!

And this is something pretty hard to achieve from the point of view of a video game developer, how can you make that the player remember every single one of the characters of the game, and over 180 characters across all the games of the series? Well, ZUN can do it.

Hong Meiling is like Bobba Fett in Star Wars, she appears just one time in a game and her popularity grow immense! She started appearing in later games too.

Mythology: As I said before, ZUN transform myths and youkais from the Japanese culture to bishoujo characters for his game, so here we have an amalgam of the Japanese and other countries folklore and ZUN’s own story. So, there is a lot of room to cultural and historical references in the game, and of course some others pop cultural references that the developer isn’t afraid to show.

Remilia Scarlet is a Vampire and the final boss of the 6th release of the game in 2002. As you can see, ZUN didn't draw that well, but he has been improving.

ZUN isn't ashamed to put some references from Jojo neither. (Sure, this scene is from the anime adaptation of 2012, but is a reference to the manga of 1987)

Music: This is probably one of the strongest points in the series. The creator himself has stated in multiple times that he first composes a musical theme and then he creates a character or a stage to fit in that melody. In the end, we have a game with an excellent soundtrack aside with musical themes that fit with every single character. This will help us greatly to remember the characters from Touhou.

The Community: I’m not going to say something like “This is the best videogame community that have ever existed” because, as we know, every single fan-communities have some cancer in it. And Touhou is no exception to this. BUT what I can ensure, is that Touhou community is one of the largest and more active communities of all times. You don’t believe me? Oh… You should.

I still have that torrent to download almost 2 Terabytes (2048 Gigabytes) of arranges covers of the music of Touhou. We’re not talking about just a couple of fan covers that some fan makes to upload to his YouTube channel about video game covers. We’re talking about Bands that born only with the intension to create covers of his favorite music from this game. We’re talking about bands and circles that periodically release new albums to sell it to the indie (or so called doujin) market in Japan in massive events like Comiket or Reitaisai. And this is ONLY the music, you can find a complete world in fan-created mangas (Doujinshi) and fangames. We can have an entire post only for this topic (and is, exactly what I’m going to do) so let’s just end with: ZUN really likes the fan creations of his own game and he have no problems with them being commercialized.

The Comiket has been held in Tokyo Big Sight since 1996. May be you recognize this building from some anime like Steins;Gates or Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon.

Woah… That’s impressive, but the game looks hard as hell... Why should I play it?

You should try it because, as a game Touhou is a pretty fun game. Have a simple and intuitive gameplay of the Shoot ‘em up, just pick the upgrades in the screen and keep destroying things with your bullets for 6 stages. Remember, if you’re in danger just drop one bomb and with a spectacular and flashy light show all your problems are gone! Also, the game has tons of different characters across all the games, for a mere probability issue, you will like at least one of them. Haha.  And of course, you will not be disappointed with the gorgeous soundtrack of any of the games.

About the difficult… Yeah… It will take you some practice to beat the game, but I guess that is part of the joy of the game. I have absolutely no shame to admit that I play the game in Easy Mode until I can finally beat it, because the first dozen of tries I made in Normal Mode when I just picked up the game, I couldn’t pass the level 3. It’s was a matter of time till I finally even beat the Extra Stage (A bonus stage with the hardest boss in the game). So, just don’t give up and keep trying!

Don't listen/read to them.

You convinced me… How can I play it?

This is the best part, Touhou is finally in Steam! You can play right now for free the Demo of the last game here! Touhou 17 ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature. (Link!) The complete game should be release in August of this year for around 15 dollars (In Chile, the price is around 6400 Pesos). Or you could try the other release in Steam, Touhou 16 ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons (Link!).

And don’t worry about the number 16 or 17, you don’t really need to play any other game of the series to have a good time with this new release. As I said before, most of the time the story of every game is basically the same. There is an incident on the village -> Our Heroines go to beat the hell of the evil girls -> They solve the problem and drink some sake to celebrate. The story is spiced up with a lot of cultural reference, interesting characters, mythology and a huge etc. There is a whole wiki dedicated to it. Check it out If you like the stories that Touhou has to offer. You will find a lot of information about your favorites characters there!

I don’t really like this genre… I don’t really think this is for me…

SAY NO MORE, there is a lot (A LOT) of fangames and other more things about Touhou than… Touhou itself, is such an irony. So, I’m going to point out some of my favorite fan games that have another type of gameplay but with the thematic of Touhou. Unfortunately, some of them aren’t in Steam, so Google will be your friend.

MegaMari: If Megaman is your thing, you should definitely try this out. It will be a good challenge.

TouhouVania I & II: Well, The official names are Koumajou Densetsu - Scarlet Symphony and Koumajou Densetsu 2 - Stranger's Requiem. As the name suggest, they’re a mix of the classic Castlevania and Touhou, where you can see a marvelous gothic version of the characters. These are my personal favorite Touhou Fangames of all the times.

Touhou Puppet Dance Performance: This is a Pokemon-like fangame. One of the best versions of this type of RPG.

Touhoumon: There’s a lot of Pokemon ROM Hacks of Touhou out there. You will find most of them by this name.

Touhou 12.3 and Touhou 15.5: What are these names? Oh… Yeah… I forgot to mention that Touhou have a couple of officials Spins-off. 12.3 and 15.5 are the official Fighting games of the series. They are pretty good, and Touhou 15.5 is in Steam too! (Link!)

Touhou Luna Nights: A Metroidvania type where you explore the map and search for upgrades to your character in order to access to the other areas of the game. It’s in Steam! (Link!)

Touhou Rhythm Carnival! Kurenai: A collection of rhythm mini games like Rhythm Heaven series.

Today you can find in Steam and in the Nintendo Switch eShop a bunch of others fangames too, so It’s worth to check them out.

Well this was a hell of a post, and as I said, in the next part we’re going to talk more about the diverse non-game fan-related media that Touhou have. So, I leave you with a couple of memes of ZUN for the tradition.

This was literally the first image that appeared me when I searched ZUN in Google.

Fun fact: ZUN is a beer lover. (He makes the games while is drunk. No joke)

And finally, a photo of ZUN and his wife <3. (I have no idea who is the lady in the left though…)

See you in the next dream…

Enrique Valdés

[allspark]

It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like Transformers, My Little Pony, Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more! All coming your way for May 29th!

TRANSFORMERS #6

Brian Ruckley (A/CVR B) Bethany McGuire-Smith (CVR A) Jack Lawrence

All your favorite Transformers characters as you’ve never seen them before! Optimus takes the spotlight! Even a bot as wise as a leader of the Autobots needs guidance now and again, so Optimus turns to Codexa-a Cybertronian who has grown into the very planet itself. Will she help Optimus settle his problems with Megatron or will she lead them both to ruin? Transformers-now shipping twice monthly!

AMBER BLAKE #3

Jade Lagardère (A/CVR) Butch Guice

Amber Blake is a woman on a mission. She’s going to destroy everyone who has hurt the people she loves. But not all is as it seems, and some of her allies have agendas of their own…

BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES ROGUES GALLERY

Sen-Foong Lim, Jessey Wright (A) Chris Fenoglio, Jack Lawrence, More (CVR) TableTaffy

Defeat the Batman to rule the city! Gotham City’s coffers are ripe for the robbing, but one thing stands in the way of the city’s supervillains-the reviled Batman. It’s time someone finally took out that nuisance! Choose your favorite villain, then go on crime sprees, steal powerful upgrades, recruit nefarious accomplices, and race to complete your master plan and be the first to defeat the World’s Greatest Detective!

3-5 players o Playable from ages 12+ o 30-45 minutes

•   Roll dice to go on crime sprees, collecting cash and avoiding capture. •   Purchase various gear and accomplice cards on the black market. •   Push your luck at the right moment to attract and defeat Batman.

DICK TRACY FOREVER #2

Michael Avon Oeming (A/CVR A) Michael Avon Oeming

Dick Tracy is Sisyphus, pushing the law boulder up the hill as he struggles for reason and order in a world with none. His attempts at law and order are met with crime and chaos, in the form of unpredictable and absurd villains. But Dick Tracy will never give up trying, no matter the era or incarnation. Join Eisner Award-winning creator Michael Avon Oeming on a startling case through time and space! Each issue has an exciting new take on one of the most iconic comic-strip heroes of all time!

FOUR SISTERS, VOL 02: HORTENSE

Cati Baur, Malika Ferdjoukh (A/CVR) Cati Baur

Second book in the series! Since the deaths of their parents, Hortense and her sisters have been on their own. Winter arrives, and, as the world is buried in snow, eleven-year-old Hortense buries her life in books. She wonders what she will become: a character in her favorite show? A surgeon of incurable diseases so she can save her new friend Muguette? Or world famous actress? But to go onstage, Hortense would have to overcome her shyness, which seems unlikely for a girl who’d rather write in her diary than express her feelings out loud. It’s in her diary where she exposes her innermost thoughts and shares the ups and downs of her life as a girl and a sister.

JUDGE DREDD TOXIC TP

Paul Jenkins (A) Marco Castiello (CVR) Mark Buckingham

Advance solicited for June release! Dredd’s investigation into the death of a seemingly unremarkable sewage worker spirals into a waste management crisis that could destroy all of Mega-City One, which has long used genetic modification on its waste workers to control the deluge of filth that flows under the city each days. When Dredd discovers that some of them have foregone that disfiguring procedure in favor of hosting protective alien symbiotes, it sparks a groundswell of anti-immigration fervor. Soon the toxic atmosphere spills into the streets, undermining the very infrastructure that makes the city tolerable. Can Dredd find a solution to save the now-indispensable aliens from the angry mobs? A perfect mix of satire and social commentary!

LIFE ON THE MOON HC

Robert Grossman (A/CVR) Robert Grossman

From an artist who reveled in illustrating “the un-illustratable,” a historical graphic novel based on the “Great Moon Hoax,” the most successful newspaper hoax ever. In 1835, New York newspaper The Sun published a series of six articles declaring the discovery of life-and even civilization–on the Moon, which the paper attributed to the famous contemporary astronomer Sir John Herschel. According to The Sun, the lunar inhabitants included unicorns, bison, bipedal tail-less beavers, and intelligent humanoids with bat-like wings.

Life on the Moon is a full-length graphic novel capturing this mythical world. Creator Robert Grossman said the book is set in a time when “many of the signal achievements of the 19th Century still lay well in the future, Andrew Jackson was president, the steamboat was the summit of technology, and news traveled slowly.” The unfettered novel includes real historical figures such as P.T. Barnum, Jean Jacques Audubon, Lorenzo Da Ponte, Charles Goodyear, and Edgar Allan Poe.

MARVEL ACTION CLASSICS SPIDER-MAN TWO IN ONE #1

Marc Sumerak, Peter David (A) David Nakayama, Mike Norton (CVR A) Patrick Scherberger

Two classic Spider-Man tales, pulled from the legendary Vault of Heroes! First-a chance encounter with the Enchantress pits Spidey against Thor-with the whole of Asgard right behind! Then, when Flash Thompson gets a bite from a werewolf, Spidey seeks the aid of the sorcerer supreme-Doctor Strange!

MEN IN BLACK UNDERCOVER

Jay Cormier, Sen-Foong Lim (A) Dan Schoening

Aliens exist! In Men In Black: Undercover, you’ll join one of three groups: the Men In Black, who work to hide aliens, the Shadow Government, who seek to capture and weaponize aliens, and the Conspiracy Theorists, who try to expose alien life. Join a side and influence the aliens to join your cause, but don’t reveal your true intentions-you’ll need to stay Undercover to win!

3-6 players o Playable from ages 12+ o 30 minutes

•   Recruit various aliens to your faction’s cause by playing influence cards. •   Target unique aliens to gain advantages over other players in your own faction. •   Uncover your opponents’ faction affiliations while hiding your own.

MY LITTLE PONY NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS TP

Jeremy Whitley (A/CVR) Tony Fleecs

Equestria’s in danger! Powerless and threatened by a great evil, Princess Luna discovers she can’t count on her sister or any of the usual heroes of Equestria. Running out of time and with nowhere to turn, Luna assembles a team specially suited to save the day… made up of former villains! Will Luna, Capper, Tempest Shadow, Trixie, and Stygian all be able to work together and find a way into the most dangerous place any of them have ever been? Can Princess Luna and a team of reformed villains save the day?

MY LITTLE PONY SPIRIT OF THE FOREST #1

Ted Anderson (A/CVR A) Brenda Hickey (CVR B) Tony Fleecs

The Cutie Mark Crusaders are back! When Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle take a trip into the woods, they find a forest filled with trash! Just what could be causing this mess?! Looks like it’s another mystery for our favorite fillies to solve-and one where not everything is as it seems…

The Cutie Mark Crusaders return in this brand-new mini-series!

PUNKS NOT DEAD LONDON CALLING #4

David Barnett (A/CVR) Martin Simmonds

Butch and Sundance! Bonnie and Clyde! Laurel and Hardy! History is littered with great double acts, but the ultimate boy-meets-ghost odd couple is no more as Fergie and Sid go their separate ways. While Sid heads off to look up old mates, Fergie finally meets his dad in LONDON CALLING: “To the Imitation Zone.”

STAR TREK TNG HC MISSIONS CONTINUE

Brannon Braga, Scott Tipton, More (A) David Messina, Gordon Purcell, More (CVR) Joe Corroney

Follow the intergalactic adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D as they explore new worlds. Collects The Space Between, Intelligence Gathering, Last Generation, Ghosts, and Hive.

Collects five complete graphic novels into one oversized hardcover edition.

STAR TREK YEAR FIVE #2

Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly (A/CVR A) Stephen Thompson

As the last year of their original mission begins, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise will have to use all of the skills they’ve acquired along the way as they prepare to face the biggest challenge of their lives-a dark threat that doesn’t just threaten their existence, but the existence of the entire Federation as well…

TMNT ONGOING #94

Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (A/CVR A) Dave Wachter (CVR B) Kevin Eastman

“City at War, Part 2.” As battle lines are drawn in the criminal underworld of New York City, Old Hob takes his mission to the next level, and he’ll have unexpected help from one of the TMNT!

TMNT URBAN LEGENDS #13

Gary Carlson (A/CVR A&B) Frank Fosco (CVR B) Erik Larsen

The entire TMNT Volume 3 run-all 23 issues-reprinted in full color for the first time! Culminating in 3 brand new issues to close out the series! The search for Deathwatch continues! The infamous killer’s trail leads Leo, Mikey, and a robotic Donatello to Sheldon, Arkansas, where they find themselves face-to-face with more murderous mayhem. Meanwhile, Raph, back home in New York, makes a chilling discover during his duel with the mob. Could it be… Shredder’s inner sanctum?!

UNCLE SCROOGE #45

Francesco Artibani (A) Alessandro Perina (CVR A) Marco Gervasio

When one of Gyro Gearloose’s inventions allows Donald Duck to “hear” what his plants are saying, Uncle Scrooge gets one of his biggest money-fueled ideas ever. But in true Scrooge fashion, the road to riches is anything but smooth-in fact, it’s downright magical! Find out how in “The Captain’s Sequoia!”

  Join the IDW Hasbro Shared Universe related conversation here in our Comics Discussion and Reviews section and here for all other franchises, superheroes, or general comic book discussions! Not a member? Join our community by creating your own free account here! Or jump right into the live chat on our Discord server or our Facebook Group!

IDW Comics Shipping List for May 29th! It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like…

[dawnajaynes32]

Print-On-Demand Comic Books Change the Game

The big players in the world of comic books, DC and Marvel, have grown exponentially in the past decade, thanks to their movies, television programs, games, and more and more merchandise. If you don’t want to or can’t align with a publisher to get your own comic book out there, consider print-on-demand (POD), where printing technologies and printing companies allow you to create whatever you want, whenever you want. Print-on-demand benefits creators in a big way, and the perks for readers are huge because it provides plenty of titles to choose from—far more than my grocery store ever used to offer.

Comic Books Then & Now

I grew up with comic books, and my weekends were spent hunting and gathering my favorite titles at the local grocery store (who sold them in a metal rack) or the newsstand at the mall (who had a much nicer wooden rack displaying them). I loved reading them, and wanted to make them, but breaking into comic books then meant breaking into the industry, getting your foot in the door at DC or Marvel, two of the biggest players in the comic book world. By 1986, Dark Horse became another option. And when seven of Marvel’s comic book creators broke away in 1992 to form Image, it signaled a paradigm shift. Creator-owned comics became a reality.

If you didn’t want a mainstream publisher, or one wouldn’t pick you up, you could also create your own short-run zine, making copies at the local Kinko’s or AlphaGraphics, or other print shop. Alternatively, if you created your comic on your computer, you could print it yourself using your dot-matrix or laser or inkjet printer. (Caution: this has always used a lot of paper, and you have to dedicate a lot of time to binding and distributing your book yourself.)

But with print-on-demand, the production is out of your hands. And thanks to the web, you can easily distribute your comic book. Make your comic book or graphic novel—or any other book for that matter—send the layout to the vendor, then select your paper, binding, and quantities, and finally, click order. Done and done. Over the years, my students have used a vendor out of North Carolina named Lulu for creating their comic books and graphic novels, and they have had a positive experience from the moment they’ve placed their order up until the time they receive their books. Lulu even has a special part of their site dedicated to comic books, where you can order from their available titles or create your own.

Expanding Your Reach

With POD, both readers and creators benefit since the market is wide open. Richard Graham, associate professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s University Libraries, has been familiar with POD since 2004, when he saw an Espresso Book Machine® at North Dakota State University’s bookstore. More and more Espresso Book Machines (EBM) are popping up around the world. Graham, a member of the 2015 Eisner Award Judging Panel and an Eisner Award and Harvey Award Nominee (2012) himself, is co-author of the book A Brief History of Comic Book Movies and sees plenty of benefits for POD, with creators and readers benefitting. With POD comic books created on the EBM or at vendors such as Lulu, Graham says, “The publisher is no longer the gatekeeper, and optimistically, it should bring more readers into the fold.”

Availability is also a big issue, and POD solves that problem. From Graham’s perspective, “If a rights owner makes a series available through POD, I can now access what a brick and mortar didn’t have the space for or a compilation that a publisher didn’t think would recoup expenses.” That could be a book like Unbelievable Gwenpool—which Graham uses as an example—or it could be a title that’s part of neither Marvel nor DC. John Jennings, professor of media studies at the University of California Riverside and Eisner Award recipient (2018) for Kindred, began using Lulu in the 2000s. Jennings has observed POD and its competitive pricing functioning as “the life’s blood” of counter-cultural black comix, with heroes and stories created by the African American comics community. “When I see conversations about ‘the comics industry’ and ‘the future,’ it always seems to posit a monolithic industry and that isn’t true. There’s many aspects to American comics and just as many audiences. Most people are generally talking about the Direct Market which is run by Marvel and DC. The culture I am a part of doesn’t do business with that space so much and, honestly, isn’t really allowed to. So, to me, on-demand printing is a liberating force to underrepresented voices even with its limitations.”

Questions of Quality

Limitations can be small or large, depending on your perspective and expectations, and depending on the vendor or vendors you use. In addition to Lulu, there’s IndyPlanet and comiXology, both of whom offer print-on-demand services to create your own comics and graphic novels—like Lulu, each have digital book equivalents. ComiXology Originals titles will now be produced by Amazon and its print-on-demand technology, making Amazon a publisher, printer, and distributor. But on Twitter, Eric Reynolds, associate publisher of Fantagraphics Books, has been outspoken about comiXology, especially when it comes to quality. Are print-on-demand comic books entirely low-quality, with shoddy paper, poor binding, color gamut problems? “All of the above,” says Reynolds, “You have vastly fewer options to choose from. The print quality is poor. The binding is cheap. The paper feels icky to the touch (I don’t know any other way to describe it). It’s the fast food of printing.” (When contacted for an interview, comiXology did not respond.)

If you value high-quality printing and diverse books, today’s amazon/comixology announcement is concerning. Amazon’s print-on-demand offers exactly one paper stock option, two finishes (matte/gloss), limited trim options, and paperback only.

— Eric Reynolds (@earinc) June 2, 2018

Reynolds sees the danger in Amazon staking a claim like this. “We already know that Amazon already is the most dominant player in the digital comics marketplace and that they want to consolidate that market share even further. This is an attempt to integrate the physical and print arms in such a way to further condition consumers to patronize Amazon, by making original content exclusively available to Amazon consumers. Amazon also is offering POD services to publishers that also aim to strengthen Amazon’s market share for all content, and to condition consumers to patronize Amazon by giving them product (POD) when no other booksellers have access.”

Having read what Reynolds wrote on Twitter, Jennings appreciates his stance. “I think Eric has a lot of valid points. However, I also think that comics in our country need some kind of ‘tumult’ to shake things up a bit. The Direct Market is a really terrible model for the monthly pamphlet comics and it’s not a welcome space for new diverse audiences. I say let’s see what happens. If Amazon/comiXology can help get more comics in more people’s hands (even if they have some printing issues) then why not? Something has to change.”

Where Quality (Really) Counts

For many creators, quality matters, and rightfully so. Taking pride in your craft means seeing the highest levels of production at all stages, including the final product. For Reynolds, “the quality of print-on-demand still remains sub-par to our own personal standards of book-making.” He is, however, supportive of the opportunities presented. “Look, it’s great that comiXology is creating opportunities for cartoonists and (by all accounts) paying competitive rates to creators. Theoretically, I suppose, it could introduce some new readers to comics (although I’m skeptical about that, in practice).” As a young comic book reader decades ago, paper and ink quality didn’t matter a whole lot to me. I had to take what I could get—newsprint, blobby inks, and all. When high-quality comic books came into the picture towards the end of the twentieth century, it dramatically changed the landscape, especially for collectors. Richard Graham says that those printing and publishing advances might have introduced us to slick books, with nice paper and inks, but there’s a downside. Maybe we’ve become a bit spoiled.

Sure, high-quality printing is nifty but it’s also expensive, something that John Jennings sees as a deterrent. “We’ve elevated the graphic form of the comic a great deal but it definitely shuts out a particular class and demographic because of the cost.” If POD comics and independently produced comics cost less, and in turn become more accessible, than it’s a win for everyone. It’s a chance for something new, something special, something readers may have never seen before, something great. And in terms of greatness, there’s one thing that really matters according to Jennings. “Personally, I will read a comic if it’s scrawled on a paper bag. If it’s a great story, a streak in a solid black isn’t going to kill it.”

Lulu images courtesy of Lulu.

The post Print-On-Demand Comic Books Change the Game appeared first on HOW Design.

Print-On-Demand Comic Books Change the Game syndicated post

[christianpublishinghouse-blog]

Jesus Taught In Their Synagogues Being Glorified By All

Luke 4:22 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

22 And all were all speaking well of him, and marveled at the gracious words that were coming out of his mouth; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus

John 7:32, 45-46 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

The chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards [officers] to arrest Jesus but they failed in their mission. They had to return to chief priests and the Pharisees empty-handed. The chief priests and Pharisees demanded an explanation:“Why did you not bring him?” Really, this is a great question considering that Jesus would have offered no physical resistance? The temple guards explained: “No one ever spoke like this man!” These officers were so impressed with the teaching of Jesus that they could not bring themselves to arrest this peaceful man.

Those temple guards were not alone in their marveling at the teachings of Jesus. The Gospels tell us that people came in great numbers just to hear Jesus speak. The people in his hometown of Nazareth “marveled at the gracious words that were coming out of his mouth.” (Luke 4:22) Several times Jesus spoke from a boat to large crowds assembled on the Seashore of Galilee. (Mark 3:9; 4:1; Luke 5:1-3) On one specific occasion, a “large crowd” stayed with him for several days, even going without food.—Mark 8:1, 2.

What was it exactly that made Jesus such an outstanding teacher? His love for humanity was the primary reason. In addition, Jesus loved the truths that he conveyed, and he felt great empathy and pity for those he taught. However, Jesus also had a remarkable grasp of different teaching methods. In several blog articles (THE GREAT TEACHER Series), we will discuss some of the effective methods that he used and how we can imitate them. We all have spoken to highly-educated persons, who use words that are far above the understanding of their listeners. However, what these ones do not understand is, if they do not make themselves understood by others, how can his listeners benefit from what he has to say. As a teacher, Jesus never used high sounding language, i.e., words that were above the understanding of his listeners. Imagine, we are talking about the Son of God here. Jesus at twelve-years-old sat before the greatest teachers in Judaism and astounded them. Imagine the range of the vocabulary he had at his disposal but never used. Even though Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had an infinite knowledge of everything, he thought of his listeners, not of himself. He knew that many of them “were uneducated and untrained men.” (Acts 4:13) In order to reach them with his message, to teach them, he used a vocabulary and many teaching styles that they would understand. However, while the words may have been simple and each to understand, the truths that they conveyed were profound.

In a previous CPH Blog article, we looked at the Sermon on the Mount, recorded at Matthew 5:3–7:27. Think about it, it may have only taken Jesus just 20 minutes to deliver that sermon. Still, the teachings therein are deep, getting at the very heart of such matters as adultery, divorce, and materialism. (Matthew 5:27-32; 6:19-34) throughout this sermon, though, there were no complicated or high-sounding expressions. In the Greek, there is hardly even a word that even a young child could not easily understand! There is little wonder that when he completed his sermon that the crowds the crowds “were astounded[88] at his teaching” (Matthew 7:28), which likely included many farmers, shepherds, and fishermen.

Astounded: (Gr. ekplēssō) This is one who is extremely astounded or amazed, so much so that they lose their mental self-control, as they are overwhelmed emotionally.–Matt. 7:28; Mark 1:22; 7:37; Lu 2:48; 4:32; 9:43; Ac 13:12.

Jesus often used clear, short phrases, uttering sayings that were simple but deep in meaning. 1,400-years before printed books, he thus imprinted his message that could not be removed or forgotten on the minds and hearts of his listeners. Note some examples: “No one can serve two masters; . . . You cannot serve God and money.” “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.” “you will recognize them by their fruits.” “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick.” “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.” “Give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!” “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”   (Matthew 6:24; 7:1, 20; 9:12; 26:52; Mark 12:17; Acts 20:35) Even today, almost 2,000 years after they were uttered by Jesus, such powerful sayings are easily remembered by most Christians and unbelievers.

COMING SOON

1,000 FREE BLOG ARTICLES AND GROWING

CPH BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Christian Living

Let God Use You to Solve Your PROBLEMS: GOD Will Instruct You and Teach You In the Way You Should Go

GOD knows best. Nobody surpasses him in thought, word, or action. As our Creator, he is aware of our needs and supplies them abundantly. He certainly knows how to instruct us. And if we apply divine teaching, we benefit ourselves and enjoy true happiness. Centuries ago, the psalmist David petitioned God …

PROMISES OF GOD’S GUIDANCE: God Show Me Your Ways, Teach Me Your Paths, Guide Me In Your Truth and Teach Me

Whom do we lean upon when facing distressing situations, making important decisions, or resisting temptations? With good reason, the Bible admonishes us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways know him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6) Note the expression …

BLESSED BY GOD IN SATAN’S WORLD How All Things Are Working for Your Good

All of us will go through difficult times that we may not fully understand. The apostle Paul wrote, “in the last days difficult times will come.” (2 Tim. 3:1) Those difficulties are part of the human imperfection (Rom. 5:12) and living in a fallen world that is ruled by Satan (2 Cor. 4:3-4). But when we find ourselves in such a place, it’s crucial that we realize God has given us a way out. (1 Cor. 10:13) Edward Andrews writes that if we remain steadfast in our faith and apply God’s Word correctly when we go through difficult times, we will not only grow spiritually, but we will …

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN BIBLE PROPHECY: The Kings of the North & South of Daniel and the Seven Kings of Revelation 

Why should you be interested in the prophecy recorded by Daniel in chapter 11 of the book that bears his name? The King of the North and the King of the South of Daniel are locked in an all-out conflict for domination as a world power. As the centuries pass, turning into millenniums, …

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Why and How Your Christian Life Makes a Difference

The theme of Andrews’ new book is YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. As a Christian, you touch the lives of other people, wherein you can make a positive difference. Men and women of ancient times such as David, Nehemiah, Deborah, Esther, and the apostle Paul had a positive influence on others …

TURN OLD HABITS INTO NEW HABITS: Why and How the Bible Makes a Difference

Many have successfully conquered bad habits and addictions by applying suggestions found in the Bible and by seeking help from God through prayer. You simply cannot develop good habits and kick all your bad ones overnight. See how to establish priorities. Make sure that your new habits …

GOD WILL GET YOU THROUGH THIS: Hope and Help for Your Difficult Times

It may seem to almost all of us that we are either entering into a difficult time, living in one, or just getting over one and that we face one problem after another. This difficulty may be the loss of a loved one in death or a severe marriage issue, a grave illness, the lack of a job, or …

FEARLESS: Be Courageous and Strong Through Your Faith In These Last Days

The world that you live in today has many real reasons to be fearful. Many are addicted to drugs, alcohol, bringing violence into even the safest communities. Terrorism has plagued the world for more than a decade now. Bullying in schools has caused many teen suicides. The divorce rate …

JOHN 3:16: For God So Loved the World

John 3:16 is one of the most widely quoted verses from the Christian Bible. It has also been called the “Gospel in a nutshell,” because it is considered a summary of the central theme of traditional Christianity. Martin Luther called John 3:16 “The heart of the Bible, the Gospel in …

THE BOOK OF JAMES (CPH New Testament Commentary 17)

…about God and his personal revelation, allowing it to change our lives by drawing closer to God. The Book of James volume is written in a style that is easy to understand. The Bible can be difficult and complex at times. Our effort herein is to make it easier to read and understand, while …

THE OUTSIDER Coming-of-Age In This Moment

THE OUTSIDER is a Coming-of-Age book. SECTION 1 Surviving Sexual Desires and Love will cover such subjects as What Is Wrong with Flirting, The Pornography Deception, Peer Pressure to Have Sexual Relations, Coping With Constant Sexual Thoughts, Fully Understanding Sexting, Is Oral Sex …

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP LIVING: When Hope and Love Vanish

Who should read THIRTEEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP LIVING? Anyone who is struggling with their walk as a young person. Anyone who has a friend who is having difficulty handling or coping with their young life, so you can offer them the help they need. Any parent who has young ones. And …

WAGING WAR: A Christian’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook

…Waging War is a guide to start the youth with the most basic information and work pages to the culmination of all of the facts, scripture, and their newly gained insight to offer a more clear picture of where they are and how to change their lives for the better. Every chapter will have …

THE POWERFUL WEAPON OF PRAYER: A Healthy Prayer Life

DOZENS OF QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED: Why is prayer necessary? What must we do to be heard by God? How does God answer our prayers? Does God listen to all prayers? Does God hear everyone’s prayers? What may we pray about? Does the Father truly grant everything we ask for? What kind …

HUMAN IMPERFECTION: While We Were Sinners Christ Died For Us

There are many reasons the Christian view of humanity is very important. The Christian view of humanity believes that humans were created in the image of God. We will look at the biblical view of humanity. We are going to look at the nature of man, the freedom of man, the personality of …

FOR AS I THINK IN MY HEART SO I AM: Combining Biblical Counseling with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [Second Edition] 

In FOR AS I THINK IN MY HEART – SO I A M, Edward D. Andrews offers practical and biblical insights on a host of Christian spiritual growth struggles, from the challenge of forgiveness to eating disorders, anger, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, pornography, masturbation, same-sex …

APPLYING GOD’S WORD MORE FULLY: The Secret of a Successful Christian Life [Second Edition]

There is a genuine happiness, contentment, and joy, which come from reading, studying and applying God’s Word. This is true because the Scriptures offer us guidance and direction that aids us in living a life that coincides with our existence as a creation of Almighty God. For example, we …

PUT OFF THE OLD PERSON: Put On the New Person [Second Edition]

THERE IS ONE MAJOR DIFFERENCE between Christian living books by Andrews and those by others. Generally speaking, his books are filled with Scripture and offer its readers what the Bible authors meant by what they penned. In this publication, it is really God’s Word offering the counsel, …

WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD: Putting God’s Purpose First in Your Life [Second Edition]

A clean conscience brings us inner peace, calmness, and a profound joy that is seldom found in this world under the imperfection of fallen flesh that is catered to by Satan, the god of the world. Many who were formerly living in sin and have now turned their life over to God, they now know this amazing relief and are able today to hold a good and clean conscience as they carry out the will of the Father. WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD, has been written to help its readers to find that same joy, to have and maintain a good, clean conscience in their lives. Of course, it is incapable of covering every detail that one would need to consider and apply in their lives …

WIVES BE SUBJECT TO YOUR HUSBANDS How Should Wives Treat Their Husbands?

This book is primarily for WIVES, but wives will greatly benefit from it as well. WIVES will learn to use God’s Word to construct a solid and happy marriage. The Creator of the family gives the very best advice. Many have been so eager to read this new publication: WIVES BE SUBJECT TO …

HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES: How Should Husbands Treat Their Wives?

This book is primarily for HUSBANDS, but wives will greatly benefit from it as well. HUSBANDS will learn to use God’s Word to construct a solid and happy marriage. The Creator of the family gives the very best advice. Many have been so eager to read this new publication: HUSBANDS LOVE …

Christian Apologetics

DEFENDING OLD TESTAMENT AUTHORSHIP: The Word of God Is Authentic and True

How true is the Old Testament? For over two centuries Biblical scholars have held to the so-called documentary hypothesis, namely, that Genesis-Deuteronomy was not authored by Moses, but rather by several writers, some of whom lived centuries after Moses’ time. How have many scholars …

DEFENDING AGABUS AS A NEW TESTAMENT PROPHET: A Content-Based Study of His Predictions In Acts by Sung Cho

Agabus is a mysterious prophetic figure that appears only twice in the book of Acts. Though his role is minor, he is a significant figure in a great debate between cessationists and continualists. On one side are those who believe that the gift of prophecy is on par with the inspired Scriptures, infallible, and has ceased. On the other side are those who define it as fallible and non-revelatory speech that continues today in the life of the church. Proponents of both camps attempt to claim …

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DIE?: Should You Be Afraid of Death or of People Who Have Died?

People grow old, get sick, and die. Even some children die. Should you be afraid of death or of anybody who has died? Do you know what happens if we die? Will you ever see your dead loved ones again? “If a man dies, shall he live again?” asked the man Job long ago. (Job 14:14) Did God originally intend for humans to die? Why do you grow old and die? What is the Bible’s viewpoint of death? What is the condition of the dead? Are the dead aware of what is happening around them? What hope is there for the dead?

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND TERRORISM: A Biblical Point of View

Islam is making a significant mark in our world. It is perhaps the fastest-growing religion in the world. It has become a major obstacle to Christian missions. And Muslim terrorists threaten the West and modern democracies. What is the history of Islam? What do Muslims believe? Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? Why do we have this clash of civilizations? Is sharia law a threat to modern democratic values? How can we fight terrorists in the 21st century? These are significant questions that deserve thoughtful answers …

IS THE QURAN THE WORD OF GOD?: Is Islam the One True Faith?

…IS THE QURAN THE WORD OF GOD? Is Islam the One True Faith? This book covers the worldview, practices, and history of Islam and the Quran. This book is designed as an apologetic evangelistic tool for Christians, as they come across Muslims in their daily lives, as well as to inform …

REASONS FOR FAITH: The First Apologetic Guide For Christian Women on Matters of The Heart, Soul, and Mind

If you have the desire to become better equipped to reach others for the lost or to strengthen your faith, Judy Salisbury’s guide—written specifically to meet the needs of Christian women today—offers you a safe, practical, and approachable place to start. In her lively, …

BIBLICAL CRITICISM: What are Some Outstanding Weaknesses of Modern Historical Criticism

Historical Criticism of the Bible got started in earnest, known then as Higher Criticism, during the 18th and 19th centuries, it is also known as the Historical-Critical Method of biblical interpretation. Are there any weakness to the Historical-Critical Method of biblical interpretation …

BIBLICAL CRITICISM: Beyond the Basics

Biblical criticism is an umbrella term covering various techniques for applying literary historical-critical methods in analyzing and studying the Bible and its textual content. Biblical criticism is also known as higher criticism, literary criticism, and historical criticism. Biblical …

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM: Reaching Hearts with the Art of Persuasion

APOLOGETICS: Reaching Hearts with the Art of Persuasion by Edward D. Andrews, author of seventy-two books, covers information that proves that the Bible is accurate, trustworthy, fully inerrant, and inspired by God for the benefit of humankind. The reader will be introduced to Christan …

REVIEWING 2013 New World Translation of Jehovah’s Witnesses: Examining the History of the Watchtower Translation and the Latest Revision

REVIEWING 2013 New World Translation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is going to challenge your objectivity. Being objective means that personal feelings or opinions do not influence you in considering and representing facts. Being subjective means that your understanding is based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or ideas. If the reader finds these insights offense, it might be a little mind control at work from years of being told the same misinformation repeatedly, so ponder things objectively …

REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES: Sharing CHRIST as You Help Others to Learn about the Mighty works of God

Use of REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES should help you to cultivate the ability to reason from the Scriptures and to use them effectively in assisting others to learn about “the mighty works of God.” – Acts 2:11. If Christians are going to be capable, powerful, efficient teachers of God’s Word, we must not only pay attention to what we tell those who are interested but also how we tell them. Yes, we must focus our attention on…

REASONING WITH THE WORLD’S VARIOUS RELIGIONS: Examining and Evangelizing Other Faiths

God’s will is that “all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) God has assigned all Christians the task of proclaiming the Word of God, teaching, to make disciples. (Matt. 24:15; 28:19-20: Ac 1;8 That includes men and women who profess a non-Christian religion, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam to mention just a few. If there are Hindus, Buddhist or Muslims are in your community, why not initiate a conversation with them? Christians who take the Great Commission seriously cannot afford to ignore these religions…

CONVERSATIONAL EVANGELISM, [Second Edition]

Evangelism is the work of a Christian evangelist, of which all true Christians are obligated to partake to some extent, which seeks to persuade other people to become Christian, especially by sharing the basics of the Gospel, but also the deeper message of biblical truths. Today the …

THE CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST: Always Being Prepared to Make a Defense [Second Edition]

MOST Christian apologetic books help the reader know WHAT to say; THE CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST is HOW to communicate it effectively. The Christian apologist words should always be seasoned with salt as we share the unadulterated truths of Scripture with gentleness and respect. Our example …

THE EVANGELISM HANDBOOK: How All Christians Can Effectively Share God’s Word in Their Community, [SECOND EDITION]

…THE EVANGELISM HANDBOOK is a practical guide (for real-life application) in aiding all Christians in sharing biblical beliefs, the Good News of the kingdom, how to deal with Bible critics, overturning false beliefs, so as to make disciples, as commanded by Christ. Matthew 24:14; …

YOUR GUIDE FOR DEFENDING THE BIBLE: Self-Education of the Bible Made Easy [Third Edition]

The reader will receive eight small introductory books in this one publication. Andrews’ intention is to offer his reader several chapters on eight of the most critical subject areas of understanding and defending the Word of God. This will enable the reader to lay a solid foundation for …

THE CULTURE WAR: How the West Lost Its Greatness & Was Weakened From Within 

…The Culture War. How the West lost its greatness and was weakened from within outlines how the West lost its values, causing its current decline. It is a forceful attack on the extreme liberal, anti-religious ideology which since the1960’s has permeated the Western culture and …

EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN THE FIRST CENTURY Jesus’ Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN THE FIRST CENTURY will give its readers a thrilling account of first-century Christianity. When and how did they come to be called Christians? Who are all obligated to be Christian evangelists? In what way did Jesus set the example for our evangelism? What is the …

CRISIS OF FAITH Saving Those Who Doubt 

Inside of some Christians unbeknownst to their family, friends or congregation, they are screaming, “I doubt, I doubt, I have very grave doubts!” OURS is an age of doubt. Skepticism has become fashionable. We are urged to question everything: especially the existence of God and the …

INVESTIGATING JEHOVAH?S WITNESSES: Why 1914 Is Important to Jehovah?s Witnesses

The intention of this book is to investigate the biblical chronology behind Jehovah’s Witnesses most controversial doctrinal position that Jesus began to rule invisibly from heaven in October 1914. This biblical chronology of the Witnesses hinges upon their belief that the destruction of …

Translation and Textual Criticism

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BIBLE TRANSLATION: Bible Translation Choices and Translation Principles [Second Edition] 

…THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BIBLE TRANSLATION (CGBT) is for all individuals interested in how the Bible came down to us, as well as having an insight into the Bible translation process. CGBT is also for those who are interested in which translation(s) would be the most beneficial to use.

CHOOSING YOUR BIBLE: Bible Translation Differences

There are more than 150 different Bible translations in the English language alone. Some are what we call literal translations, which seeks to give the reader the exact English equivalent of what was written in the original language text, thus allowing the reader access to the actual Word …

THE TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: The Science and Art of Textual Criticism

…THE TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT was copied and recopied by hand for 1,500 years. Regardless of those scribes who had worked very hard to be faithful in their copying, errors crept into the text. How can we be confident that what we have today is the Word of God? Wilkins and Andrews …

MISREPRESENTING JESUS: Debunking Bart D. Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” [Third Edition]

Edward D. Andrews boldly answers the challenges Bart D. Ehrman alleges against the fully inerrant, Spirit-inspired, authoritative Word of God. By glimpsing into the life of Bart D. Ehrman and following along his course of academic studies, Andrews helps the reader to understand the …

Biblical Studies

HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE: Rightly Handling the Word of God

A comprehensive book on HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE by observing, interpreting, and applying, which will focus on the most basic Bible study tools, principles, and processes for moving from an in-depth reading of the Scriptures to application. What, though, if you have long felt that you are …

THE NEW TESTAMENT: Its Background, Setting & Content

…the author’s intended meaning to his original readers and how that meaning can then apply to us. Marshall gives you what you need for deeper and richer Bible study. Dr. Lee M. Fields writes, “‘Deep’ study is no guarantee that mature faith will result, but shallow study guarantees …

THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST: What Do You Know About Jesus? [Updated and Expanded] 

The life of Christ is an exhaustless theme. It reveals a character of greater massiveness than the hills, of a more serene beauty than the stars, of sweeter fragrance than the flowers, higher than the heavens in sublimity and deeper than the seas in mystery. As good Jean Paul has …

THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL: The Apostle to the Nations [Updated and Expanded] 

Stalker’s Life of St. Paul became one of the most widely read and respected biographies of the Apostle to the Gentiles. As an insightful compendium on the life of Paul, this work is of particular interest to pastors and teachers who desire to add realism and vividness to their account of …

INTERPRETING THE BIBLE: Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics

Delving into the basics of biblical interpretation, Edward D. Andrews has provided a complete hands-on guide to understanding what the author meant by the words that he used from the conservative grammatical-historical perspective. He teaches how to study the Bible on a deep, scholarly …

HOW TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE: An Introduction to Hermeneutics

…Linguistic and literary factors are analyzed so that the various genres of Scripture are examined for their true meaning. The importance of having sound principles of interpretation cannot be overstated as to ignore them will result in all manner of erroneous assumptions. Beville presents …

THE CHURCH COMMUNITY IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE: Evangelism and Engagement with Postmodern People

Once upon a time, Postmodernism was a buzz word. It pronounced Modernism dead or at least in the throes of death. It was a wave that swept over Christendom, promising to wash away sterile, dogmatic and outmoded forms of church. But whatever happened to postmodernism? It was regarded …

DEVELOPING HEALTHY CHURCHES: A Case-Study in Revelation

…church. It offers an appointment with the Great Physician that no Christian can afford to ignore. Developing Healthy Churches: A Case-Study in Revelationbegins with a well-researched outline of the origins and development of the church health movement. With that background in mind the …

DYING TO KILL: A Christian Perspective on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

…liberties in a multi-cultural society that is becoming increasingly secular. This work provides an ethical framework in which euthanasia and assisted suicide can be evaluated. These issues are on the radar indicating a collision course with Christian values. It is time for Christians to be …

JOURNEY WITH JESUS THROUGH THE MESSAGE OF MARK

…Journey with Jesus through the Message of Mark is an insightful and engaging survey of Mark‘s Gospel, exploring each major section of the text along with key themes. It is a work that can be enjoyed by laypersons as well as pastors and teachers. Pastors will find the abundant use …

ANGELS & DEMONS The Bible Answers

What are angels & demons? Can angels help us? What does the Bible say about angels? What is the truth about angels? Can Angels affect your life? Who were the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2? Who were the Nephilim in Genesis 6:2? Who is Michael the archangel? Can Satan the Devil control …

Bible Doctrines

WHERE ARE THE DEAD? Basic Bible Doctrines of the Christian Faith

What is the Bible’s viewpoint? Without delving into an endless stream of what man has said, Andrews looks at what the Bible says about death and the like. Why do we grow old and die? What happens at death? Is there life after death, or is this all there is? Do we have an immortal soul? …

IDENTIFYING THE ANTICHRIST: The Man of Lawlessness and the Mark of the Beast Revealed

Herein Andrews will give the reader exactly what the Bible offers on exposing who the Antichrist and the Man of Lawlessness are. If we look at the texts that refer to the antichrist and the man of lawlessness, we will have lines of evidence that will enable us to identify them. Why is it …

UNDERSTANDING THE CREATION ACCOUNT: Basic Bible Doctrines of the Christian Faith

Throughout the Scriptures, God is identified as the Creator. He is the One “who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it.” [Isa 45:18] He is the One “who forms mountains and creates the wind” (Am 4:13) and is the One “who made the heaven and …

The SECOND COMING of CHRIST: Basic Bible Doctrines of the Christian Faith

The information herein is based on the disciples coming to Jesus privately, saying, “Tell us, (1) when will these things be, and (2) what will be the sign of your coming, and (3) of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) What will end? When will the end come? What comes after the end? Who …

WHAT IS HELL? Basic Bible Doctrines of the Christian Faith

What Really Is Hell? What Kind of Place is Hell? What Really Happens at Death? What Did Jesus Teach About Hell? How Does Learning the Truth About Hell Affect You? Who Goes to Hell? What Is Hell? Is It a Place of Eternal Torment? Does God Punish People in Hellfire? Do the Wicked Suffer in …

MIRACLES – DO THEY STILL HAPPEN TODAY? God Miraculously Saving People’s Lives, Apparitions, Speaking In Tongues, Faith Healing 

Miracles were certainly a part of certain periods in Bible times. What about today? Are miracles still taking place. There are some very important subjects that surround this area of discussion that are often misunderstood. Andrews will answer such questions as does God step in and solve …

HOMOSEXUALITY – The BIBLE and the CHRISTIAN: Basic Bible Doctrines of the Christian Faith

Today there are many questions about homosexuality as it relates to the Bible and Christians. What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Does genetics, environment, or traumatic life experiences justify homosexuality? What is God’s will for people with same-sex attractions? Does the …

Christian Fiction

THE DIARY OF JUDAS ISCARIOT: How to Keep Jesus at Arm’s Length

…desert but none of such significance as a handful of scrolls retrieved from a buried Roman satchel (presumed stolen) at this site. The discovery has since come to be known as ‘The Diary of Judas Iscariot.’ In The Diary of JudasIscariot Owen Batstone relates the observations and feelings …

THE SECRET HIDEAWAY ON BRIDGETON HILL

Rachael Garrison knows all the shrewd ways to successfully close multi-million-dollar real estate deals with her father’s famous New York real estate enterprise. But beyond her savvy to rake in huge deals is her premonition that an impending global takeover of the world’s financial wealth is on the horizon by evil leaders of The Great Ten Nations. From New York City to the Irish Hills of Michigan, and into the streets of Detroit her life takes on enormous purpose as

THE RAPTURE: God’s Unwelcomed Wrath

Kevin Trill struggles with the notion that he may have missed the Rapture. With nothing but the clothes on his back and a solid gold pocket watch, he sets off towards Garbor, a safe haven for those who haven’t yet taken the mark of thebeast. While on his way to Garbor, he meets up …

SEEKERS AND DECEIVERS: Which One are You? It Is Time to Join the Fight!

There grew an element in the valley that did not want to be ruled by the Light of the Word. Over time, they convinced the people to reject it. As they started to reject this Light, the valley grew dim and the fog rolled in. The people craved the darkness rather than the Light because they were evil. They did not want to  …

The Shadow Flames of Uluru: Book ONE in the CHAOS DOWN UNDER 

When an ancestor saddles them with the responsibility to purge Australia of a demon threatening to wipe our humanity with black flames, fraternal siblings Amber and Michael Hauksby lay their lives on the line. As the world crumbles around them into chaos, and ancient marsupials wreak havoc in their hometown, they must journey into …

WRITE PLACE, RIGHT TIME: The Pre-Apocalyptic Misadventure of a Freelance Journalist 

“Write Place, Right Time” follows the pre-apocalyptic misadventures of freelance journalist Don Lamplighter. While on what he expects to be a routine Monday night trip to a village board meeting, Lamplighter’s good nature compels him to help a stranded vehicle. Little does he know that by saving one of the car’s occupants, he sets forth a chain of what to him seem to be unrelated events where he must use his physical and social skills to save himself and others from precarious situations.

THE GREAT TEACHER: Jesus Taught with Simplicity and Clarity Jesus Taught In Their Synagogues Being Glorified By All Luke 4:22 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

[gossipnetwork-blog]

Must-Watch TV Series in First Half of 2018 (Part 1 of 2)

New Post has been published on http://gossip.network/must-watch-tv-series-in-first-half-of-2018-part-1-of-2/

Must-Watch TV Series in First Half of 2018 (Part 1 of 2)

As we welcome 2018, a bunch of new and returning series are coming to accompany you on your free nights. Ranging from sci-fi to comedy, there are a lot options that may give you a hard time to choose. But worry not, since AceShowbiz has presented a quick guide to help shorten your list. The article is divided into two parts based on their genres.

In this first part, we will discuss about fan-favorite genres of all time, superhero and sci-fi, as well as revival and returning shows. For those who love DC Comics superheroes, you are free to take an extra dose since more DC-related series such as “”, Superman prequel “” and and “” returning to the small screen.

RETURNING SERIES

THE X-FILES Premiere Date: January 3, 2018

Who is excited for a brand new season of “”? The new season of the popular sci-fi series will once again see and reprising their roles as agents Mulder and Scully respectively in more thrilling adventures, which may be the last time for Anderson playing Scully as the actress once hinted so.

The 6-episode season 11, which arrives after the successful 2016 revival, is promised to feature surprising twists, including Cigarette Smoking Man’s (William B. Davis) backstory, and his apparent family ties to Mulder. Still written by the original “X-Files” writers, including James Wong, Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan and creator Chris Carter, the new season is set to have a big time jump. Mulder and Scully’s son William, whom she gave up for adoption 15 years ago, plays a big part in the new season as the twosome tries to find the missing boy.

THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY Premiere Date: January 17, 2018

Following Emmy winner “People v. O.J. Simpson”, the next installment of Ryan Murphy’s popular anthology series “” is finally coming very soon. Titled “The Assassination of Gianni Versace”, the sophomore season tackles the murder of famed fashion designer Gianni Versace in Miami in July 1997. The new season follows the story before and after the main murder, something which viewers didn’t get to see in the first season of “American Crime Story”.

“Versace” nabs %Edgar to play Gianni Versace , to star as his partner Antonio D’Amico, and Oscar-winning actress to portray Gianni’s sister Donatella Versace. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” marks Cruz’s first TV regular role, further raising the anticipation for the upcoming series. Also starring on the series is , who has been tapped to play Gianni’s killer Andrew Cunanan.

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE ALL STAR 3 Premiere Date: January 25, 2018

Fan-favorite queens are returning for the third season of ” All Star”. Just like the previous seasons, the new season of the spin-off of Emmy-winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will see Mama giving a second change to ladies who failed to win previous seasons of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to earn their place in the Drag Race Hall of Fame”.

Shangela, who stole people’s attention in the third season of the flagship series by making it to the top 5, is one of the returning queens. There is also Aja, who comes fresh off last season 9 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” after nabbing the ninth place. The cast includes BenDeLaCreme, Chi Chi DeVayne, Kennedy Davenport, Milk, Morgan McMichaels, Thorgy Thor and Trixie Mattel. Season 9 was dubbed the show’s most-watched season ever. Thus, it’s no wonder that the expectation for the spin-off’s new season is increasing.

LUKE CAGE Premiere Date: TBA

After the critically-acclaimed first season, “” is set to return for a sophomore season in 2018. The Netflix series, which serves as the third Marvel Cinematic Universe-related show on the streaming service, follows former convict Luke Cage (), who possesses superhuman strength and unbreakable skin, fighting crime and corruption. The new season will see the return of the Los-Angeles street hero after previously joining forces with Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist on “”.

The freshman season of “Luke Cage” was praised for its immersive, socially conscious narrative and not to mention Colter’s stellar performance in portraying the character. Continuing the success, the second season is set to be an ambitious follow-up by featuring a slew of new characters, including John McIver and Tilda Johnson, who will definitely bring something to the table. And ‘ Iron Fist is set to make an appearance in the upcoming second season to boot!

ROSEANNE Premiere Date: March 27, 2018

One of the long-awaited revivals is “”. Offering a realistic portrayal of the average American family, the Golden Globe-winning series, which aired from 1988 to 1997, are loved by many, so when ABC announced its plan to revive the comedy, fans can’t wait to see the Conners back on the small screen.

“Roseanne” revolves around the Conner family, an Illinois working-class family. The reboot is poised to bring back the series’ signature way to tackle today’s issues through the relatable, hilarious and honest lens of the Conner household. The show brings back familiar faces, with Roseanne Barr reprising her award-winning role of Roseanne Conner, returning as the Conner patriarch, Dan Conner, as well as , Sarah Gilbert and Alicia Goranson (a.k.a. Lecy Goranson) in their respective roles. , who took over the role of Becky when Lecy exited, will also be featured on the upcoming series in an interesting role.

NEW SERIES: SUPERHERO & SCI-FI

BLACK LIGHTNING Premiere Date: January 16, 2018

The CW further solidifies its status as the home of DC Comics-related shows by having this new superhero series. In midseason, viewers will be introduced to Jefferson Pierce a.k.a. Black Lightning, who becomes a high school principal by day and fights bad guys by night. Cress Williams (“”, “”) portrays Black Lightning on the series. Retiring as the vigilante years ago, Jefferson Pierce has to don his suit again to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community as crime and corruption spread like wildfire.

The CW attempts to add diversity to its superheroes series. Although black superheroes are already featured on “”, “”, “Arrow” and “”, “Black which hails from “” creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, marks the first black superhero-focused show on The CW’s Arrowverse. So far, fans are excited for the new series, praising “Black Lightning” for bringing “Arrow”-ish vibe yet also promising some fun like “The Flash” and “Supergirl”.

ALTERED CARBON Premiere Date: February 8, 2018

Netflix is diving into sci-fi world with a new series titled “”. The 10-episode series is based on Phillip K. Dick Award-winning novel of the same name by Richard K. Morgan. The streaming giant has put everything at stake with this project, which reportedly costs $6 to $7 million per episode, making it Netflix’s most expensive genre show to date. Considering the budget, it’s no wonder that the company only wants to put it in the best hands in the field, tapping “” co-writer Laeta Kalogridis as writer and executive producer for the upcoming series.

Set 300 years in the future, “Altered Carbon” follows a dead soldier named Takeshi Kovacs, who is brought back to life through a new body, centuries after his mind was imprisoned “on ice.” Earth’s wealthiest man Laurens Bancroft puts him on a mission to solve a murder case of Bancroft himself. He wants Kovacs to find someone who murdered his previous body. As the investigation progresses, Kovacs comes to learn that his past isn’t nearly as buried as he thought. “” actor is set to play Kovacs, with ” portraying Bancroft.

TITANS Premiere Date: TBA

While Batman teams up with other superheroes in “”, his sidekick Dick Grayson a.k.a. Robin will form his own band of vigilantes on a live-action adaptation of “”. Set on an unnamed DC Comics digital service, “Titans” follows Dick () as he embarks on a journey to become the leader of the Titans in his quest to step out from the Caped Crusader’s shadow. The soon-to-be superheroes include Hawk, Dove, Starfire and Raven that come from every corner of the DC Universe.

Created by Greg Berlanti, the mastermind behind The CW’s Arrowverse, “Titans” has been garnering attention following the release of first-look photos of Grayson, Hawk and Dove. These superheroes look dope in their costumes created by Laura Jean Shannon, whose credits include “” and “”. Though it’s only a glimpse of the upcoming series, it could be an indication that it’s heading into the right direction.

KRYPTON Premiere Date: TBA

2018 may be one of the best years for DC Comics fans. In addition to “Black Lightning” and “Titans”, another DC-related TV series is coming. Syfy brings House of El in an upcoming series titled “”. The series will explore the lives of Seg-El, Superman’s grandfather, in the planet before the destruction.

While Superman story has been adapted into many forms, the highly-anticipated Syfy series arguably marks the first series to center on the legendary Man of Steel’s ancestors and homeworld prior to the doom. The new series seemingly will give a darker twist to its tone which distinguishes itself from other DC-related shows on TV right now such as The CW’s “” and “”, making it one of the must-watch series next year.

STARGATE: ORIGINS Premiere Date: February 15, 2018

Gaters, get ready for a new unexpected journey with “! Serves as the prequel of Saturn Award-winning “Stargate SG-1”, it follows Catherine Langford, daughter of archaeologist Paul Langford, who occasionally appeared on previous “Stargate” TV shows. Through the Stargate, which is ann alien Einstein-Rosen device which enables nearly instantaneous travel across the cosmos, Catherine is set to solve the mystery which lies ahead the Stargate in order to save Earth from an unimaginable darknesss.

The prequel series has “” actor Connor Trinneer reprising his role as professor Paul Langford. Meanwhile, Ellie Gal stars as his daughter, Catherine. The 10-episode series is written by Mark Ilvedson and Justin Michael Terry, who also has a starring role on the series.

Source link

[dawnajaynes32]

Print-On-Demand Comic Books Change the Game

The big players in the world of comic books, DC and Marvel, have grown exponentially in the past decade, thanks to their movies, television programs, games, and more and more merchandise. If you don’t want to or can’t align with a publisher to get your own comic book out there, consider print-on-demand (POD), where printing technologies and printing companies allow you to create whatever you want, whenever you want. Print-on-demand benefits creators in a big way, and the perks for readers are huge because it provides plenty of titles to choose from—far more than my grocery store ever used to offer.

Comic Books Then & Now

I grew up with comic books, and my weekends were spent hunting and gathering my favorite titles at the local grocery store (who sold them in a metal rack) or the newsstand at the mall (who had a much nicer wooden rack displaying them). I loved reading them, and wanted to make them, but breaking into comic books then meant breaking into the industry, getting your foot in the door at DC or Marvel, two of the biggest players in the comic book world. By 1986, Dark Horse became another option. And when seven of Marvel’s comic book creators broke away in 1992 to form Image, it signaled a paradigm shift. Creator-owned comics became a reality.

If you didn’t want a mainstream publisher, or one wouldn’t pick you up, you could also create your own short-run zine, making copies at the local Kinko’s or AlphaGraphics, or other print shop. Alternatively, if you created your comic on your computer, you could print it yourself using your dot-matrix or laser or inkjet printer. (Caution: this has always used a lot of paper, and you have to dedicate a lot of time to binding and distributing your book yourself.)

But with print-on-demand, the production is out of your hands. And thanks to the web, you can easily distribute your comic book. Make your comic book or graphic novel—or any other book for that matter—send the layout to the vendor, then select your paper, binding, and quantities, and finally, click order. Done and done. Over the years, my students have used a vendor out of North Carolina named Lulu for creating their comic books and graphic novels, and they have had a positive experience from the moment they’ve placed their order up until the time they receive their books. Lulu even has a special part of their site dedicated to comic books, where you can order from their available titles or create your own.

Expanding Your Reach

With POD, both readers and creators benefit since the market is wide open. Richard Graham, associate professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s University Libraries, has been familiar with POD since 2004, when he saw an Espresso Book Machine® at North Dakota State University’s bookstore. More and more Espresso Book Machines (EBM) are popping up around the world. Graham, a member of the 2015 Eisner Award Judging Panel and an Eisner Award and Harvey Award Nominee (2012) himself, is co-author of the book A Brief History of Comic Book Movies and sees plenty of benefits for POD, with creators and readers benefitting. With POD comic books created on the EBM or at vendors such as Lulu, Graham says, “The publisher is no longer the gatekeeper, and optimistically, it should bring more readers into the fold.”

Availability is also a big issue, and POD solves that problem. From Graham’s perspective, “If a rights owner makes a series available through POD, I can now access what a brick and mortar didn’t have the space for or a compilation that a publisher didn’t think would recoup expenses.” That could be a book like Unbelievable Gwenpool—which Graham uses as an example—or it could be a title that’s part of neither Marvel nor DC. John Jennings, professor of media studies at the University of California Riverside and Eisner Award recipient (2018) for Kindred, began using Lulu in the 2000s. Jennings has observed POD and its competitive pricing functioning as “the life’s blood” of counter-cultural black comix, with heroes and stories created by the African American comics community. “When I see conversations about ‘the comics industry’ and ‘the future,’ it always seems to posit a monolithic industry and that isn’t true. There’s many aspects to American comics and just as many audiences. Most people are generally talking about the Direct Market which is run by Marvel and DC. The culture I am a part of doesn’t do business with that space so much and, honestly, isn’t really allowed to. So, to me, on-demand printing is a liberating force to underrepresented voices even with its limitations.”

Questions of Quality

Limitations can be small or large, depending on your perspective and expectations, and depending on the vendor or vendors you use. In addition to Lulu, there’s IndyPlanet and comiXology, both of whom offer print-on-demand services to create your own comics and graphic novels—like Lulu, each have digital book equivalents. ComiXology Originals titles will now be produced by Amazon and its print-on-demand technology, making Amazon a publisher, printer, and distributor. But on Twitter, Eric Reynolds, associate publisher of Fantagraphics Books, has been outspoken about comiXology, especially when it comes to quality. Are print-on-demand comic books entirely low-quality, with shoddy paper, poor binding, color gamut problems? “All of the above,” says Reynolds, “You have vastly fewer options to choose from. The print quality is poor. The binding is cheap. The paper feels icky to the touch (I don’t know any other way to describe it). It’s the fast food of printing.” (When contacted for an interview, comiXology did not respond.)

If you value high-quality printing and diverse books, today’s amazon/comixology announcement is concerning. Amazon’s print-on-demand offers exactly one paper stock option, two finishes (matte/gloss), limited trim options, and paperback only.

— Eric Reynolds (@earinc) June 2, 2018

Reynolds sees the danger in Amazon staking a claim like this. “We already know that Amazon already is the most dominant player in the digital comics marketplace and that they want to consolidate that market share even further. This is an attempt to integrate the physical and print arms in such a way to further condition consumers to patronize Amazon, by making original content exclusively available to Amazon consumers. Amazon also is offering POD services to publishers that also aim to strengthen Amazon’s market share for all content, and to condition consumers to patronize Amazon by giving them product (POD) when no other booksellers have access.”

Having read what Reynolds wrote on Twitter, Jennings appreciates his stance. “I think Eric has a lot of valid points. However, I also think that comics in our country need some kind of ‘tumult’ to shake things up a bit. The Direct Market is a really terrible model for the monthly pamphlet comics and it’s not a welcome space for new diverse audiences. I say let’s see what happens. If Amazon/comiXology can help get more comics in more people’s hands (even if they have some printing issues) then why not? Something has to change.”

Where Quality (Really) Counts

For many creators, quality matters, and rightfully so. Taking pride in your craft means seeing the highest levels of production at all stages, including the final product. For Reynolds, “the quality of print-on-demand still remains sub-par to our own personal standards of book-making.” He is, however, supportive of the opportunities presented. “Look, it’s great that comiXology is creating opportunities for cartoonists and (by all accounts) paying competitive rates to creators. Theoretically, I suppose, it could introduce some new readers to comics (although I’m skeptical about that, in practice).” As a young comic book reader decades ago, paper and ink quality didn’t matter a whole lot to me. I had to take what I could get—newsprint, blobby inks, and all. When high-quality comic books came into the picture towards the end of the twentieth century, it dramatically changed the landscape, especially for collectors. Richard Graham says that those printing and publishing advances might have introduced us to slick books, with nice paper and inks, but there’s a downside. Maybe we’ve become a bit spoiled.

Sure, high-quality printing is nifty but it’s also expensive, something that John Jennings sees as a deterrent. “We’ve elevated the graphic form of the comic a great deal but it definitely shuts out a particular class and demographic because of the cost.” If POD comics and independently produced comics cost less, and in turn become more accessible, than it’s a win for everyone. It’s a chance for something new, something special, something readers may have never seen before, something great. And in terms of greatness, there’s one thing that really matters according to Jennings. “Personally, I will read a comic if it’s scrawled on a paper bag. If it’s a great story, a streak in a solid black isn’t going to kill it.”

Lulu images courtesy of Lulu.

The post Print-On-Demand Comic Books Change the Game appeared first on HOW Design.

Print-On-Demand Comic Books Change the Game syndicated post