"The Push Man and Other Stories" and "Abandon the Old in Tokyo"

If you're a fan of comics like "Ghost World", "Love and Rockets" or "Strangers in Paradise", chances are that you have Japan's Yoshihiro Tatsumi to thank. He is the originator of the gekiga ("dramatic picture") style of comic art that deals with more realistic, mature, and somewhat moody subject matter, as opposed to the escapist adolescent fantasies that makes up the more well know comic book fare. It has been said that Tatsumi's influence on modern comic books of the east is similar to Will Eisner's development of the term "graphic novel", to describe comics that relate more mature, realistic, subject matter. In short, both artists have not only broadened the technique applied to the comic arts, but also broadened the scope of the subject matter that could be covered by the medium.

Tatsumi started publishing his stories in the late 1950's, and his works were not published in North America until the late 1980's. But more and more of today's comic book artists are citing his influence on their modern works. The gekiga style is more prevalent than you think. The influence is shown in works by creators such as Kazuo Koike and Goski Kojima ("Lone Wolf and Cub"), Lynn Johnston ("For Better of For Worse"), Charles Burns ("Black Hole").





I found collections "The Push Man and Other Stories" and "Abandon the Old in Tokyo" in the graphics novel section of my local library, which is quickly becoming a much beloved source of entertainment. Tatusmi's works are compelling, but they are not easy reads because the subject matter is pretty explicit. His works focus on post-war Japan, on the isolating effects of increasing urbanization. The stories show how amid the sheer numbers of Japan's overpopulated cities, one can get lost in the miasma caused by just eking out a day to day living. His stories are sexual, but not titillating, violent but not gratuitous. His works are just plain undeniable.




I don't know if that is a recommendation or not. I'm just telling you what it is. It's up to you to decide whether you want to experience it or not.

In other comic book news...

It is exactly one year until the re lase of the movie version of Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbon's "Watchmen". To celebrate, Zack Snyder has released the following photos, showing the Watchmen in full costume.







Looks slick, baby! I think the costumes are phenomenal, and although not absolutely faithful to the graphic novel, I am impressed with the choices made to bring the characters to life. Hopefully the story holds up. I'm still holding out my reservations because Zack Snyder did wonderful thing with the visuals in the movie 300, but I think he crapped out on the acting and story.

...Yeah, But Can She Write An Environmental Assessment Report?

Margaret Atwood thinks she's so friggin' smart,
because everyone thinks her writing is art.
The only thing I really know is,
she couldn't hack it in the environmental biz.

She likes to write futuristic, feminist plots,
that don't ever mention spaceships, laser guns or Asimov robots.
Now other readers may give her a pass,
but she must have been sick the day they taught science fiction in writing class.

To write a technical report you have to be precise,
and somehow make bad news seem nice.
And you have to make spurious lab data fit,
or else your Client is gonna lose his shit.

Today I wrote "Low dissolved oxygen content indicates the groundwater is oxic."
But MS Word kept spell correcting the word as "toxic".
Watch out! 'Cause one misplaced "t" could repeal,
A multi-million dollar land transaction deal!

So let's raise glass to the writers of environmental prose,
Because we all are truly life's un-sung hero's.
We may never win a Booker prize for writing the technical word,
but we should feel free to flip Margret Atwood the bird!

Buffy Blogcast #2: Is Buffy Sleeping with Xander?

THE LONG WAY HOME: PART II

Synopsis:


We get re-acquainted with some old friends.

Giles, apparently, has re-started the Watcher's Council, only this time there's only one Watcher, but hundreds of Slayers-in-training.



Buffy is also busy training (trouncing) her squad at the Scotland HQ.



Andrew is busy with his Italian Slayer Squad.



And Giant Dawn takes a bath.



Meanwhile, General Voll is contemplating using tactical nukes as a method of dealing with the Slayers (and he's not even remotely joking). He also wears a "setting sun, rising star" scar much like the demon victims in issue #1.



Elsewhere, Buffy kisses Xander, making his head pop off.



We soon realize stuck in a dream induced state, the first wave of an attack instigated by Amy the Witch. The second wave involves....



...lots and lots of kilt-wearing zombies. I kid you not.


The Queen Slayer is down and out, zombies are invading the Castle HQ. One would lose all hope if not for the appearance of...



Willow, the Uber-witch. I smell a Wiccan Battle Royale!

Stay tuned for Issue #3!

Key Plot Points

• Xander suspects Dawn made herself giant on purpose, perhaps to get Buffy's attention.
• Andrew's appearance in the comic is too funny to summarize. Worth the price of the comic alone.
  
• Depictions of Buffy's dreamspace is identified with black borders.
• Did Buffy and Xander have a "friends-with-benefits" thing going on in the recent past, or is this just a part of Buffy's dream?
  
• Which beg's the question: Why is Buffy dreaming about sexing Xander?
• Amy announces that her spell on Buffy can only be broken with the Kiss of True Love. Seems that Amy prefers casting spells that require kisses to be broken (see Season 7 episode "The Killer In Me").
• Xander's paramour, Renee, takes a zombie sword to the back.
• Willow can fly!
  

Bedfellows

I guess I can't complain that my bedroom is so crowded
'cause I don't know if I wanna do anything 'bout it.
When the clock hits ten o' clock and my wife turns in
it's an open invitation to some old time friends.

First I spend some time with a snow and blood-splattered lady
raised with vengence in her heart from the time she was a baby.
When somebody needs somebody killed, just pay 10,000 yen,
the lady unsheathes her sword and then the fun begins.

Or maybe I'll take a visit at the Boulder Free Zone,
and hang with Stu, Frannie, Glen, Nick and other friends I have known.
We'll commiserate about the plague. Oh how that summer was bad!
And we'll plot the downfall of that man Randall Flagg.

Or maybe a trip to Vegas? A room at the Sands would be keen.
Take in a Summit show with Joey, Peter, Sammy and Dean,
And oh yes! Mr. S! The vaunted Leader of the Pack.
One more scotch-on-the-rocks before I hit the sack.

I've met beggars, I've met queens, and people in between those stages.
We've been formally introduced between the turning of the pages.
I've met messianic humans raised on the Planet Mars.
I've broken bread with modern prophets, and spent time behind bars.

These people I have met, in my dreams I hear their voices,
as they rant, cheer, weep, and mutter agonizing over choices.
And as I put the books away, snuggle with my wife, feeling mellow,
I'm glad, and very grateful, that I have such strange bed fellows.