Secret War Trailer

OK, this is pretty sweet...

SECRET INVASION Animated Webisode!


So far, Secret Invasion has been stellar. It looks like it's going to be just huge. I'm normally not a "comic book event" king of guy, but apparently there have been so many hints about this, and so much groundwork laid for this story that I can't help but think that there will be no cheating here. Big story. Big consequences? Loads of fun.

...Long Time Coming...

What up!? Ok, so it's been...well...a really long time.

(Isn't it amazing how many blog posts start like this? Not just on my blog. On all blogs...)

...but I digress. I'm on here tonight for a few reasons.

1) I actually drew something! Look at me! I drew:

Pinky and the Brain! But my own messed up version of them!

You see, I was in a meeting the other day at work, and someone in the meeting mentioned something about how they saw an episode of Pinky and the Brain the other day, and how they forgot how much they liked that show, which made me think, "Ha! Pinky and the Brain RULED!" So, of course, in my own, "Yes I'm listening to what you are saying, bosses, but I'm also drawing during a meeting" way, I doodled head shots of Pinky and the Brain. Unfortunately, it had been so long since I last saw a Pinky and the Brain cartoon, they looked a little messed up. Kinda twisted-like. And I thought, "I should push that a bit further...that would be fun!" Thus, wah-lah...Pinky and the Brain, a la Troy.

So, that's #1...

2) #2 is kind of bittersweet. You see, I've FINALLY installed wordpress over at my "real" website...http://www.popmatic.com. I'm thinking it's maybe time to move back to where I should be. However, I'll kind of miss Blogger...it's nice around here.

Of course, this probably won't happen until Barack is in the White House (and he WILL be in the White House!) but I'm working towards it. Now I just have to set up a pretty template to make it look nice. Which we all know will take well over a zillion years, so I should probably just stay comfortable where I am.

...and that's really it. Just thought I should pop on and say 'hey, stuff is going on'. I may even get my $h!+ together enough to throw up the fun pictures I took in Chicago this weekend.

Papercut...the Art of Peter Callesen

A good friend of mine (Dave G) sent me a link today that cost me a solid hour of work time at the office. The MIND BLOWING art of Peter Callesen is some of the most playful and beautiful stuff that I've come across in ages. The sheer simplicity of all that clean, white paper and the wonderful shapes and figures created by Callesen is just a wonder to take in. I only wish there was more to see.

Of course, then I wouldn't have gotten ANYTHING done today...

Inside the Mind of a Political Cartoonist

Caricaturist John Kascht has posted an amazing series of videos on the Washington Post website, detailing his thought process behind his amazing caricatures of the 2008 Presidential candidates. Not only do you get a glimpse of his methods of drawing, but he explains why he makes the choices that he does for each candidate. Fascinating, entertaining stuff.

Bruce Campbell IS...BRUCE CAMPBELL!!!

No way. This is gonna rock!

Y'know...I DO feel better now!

I've spent tonight catching up on my Google Reader feeds, and the always entertaining GiantMonster has steered me right yet again. Point your browser of choice at The Fail Blog and feel better about your life.

Oh! And on a completely random note, I downloaded the album "The Great Unwanted" by Lucky Soul from eMusic this weekend, and it's my current can't-stop-listening-to-it album of the week! You can listen to the whole album on their website...check it out!

Orgy of Covers from YANP and Of Montreal!!!

I know that I've discussed the godsend that is the "You Ain't No Picasso" music blog before, but MAN, that site has just outdone itself!

Not one...not TWO...(or three or four or...) but FIFTY SEVEN covers, all performed by one of my new favorite bands, Of Montreal.

It's because of YANP that I discovered Of Montreal in the first place. They posted a link to their cover of Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" (don't worry, it's in the collection above) that just blew me away. I couldn't stop listening to it. So now, I've got about four albums worth of other songs to explore.

Do yourself a favor and get over there before they're taken down.

Post-It Note Project: Accomplished!

Hooray! February 1st is here! I can't explain it, but I've really been looking forward to doing this project. I've just needed an excuse to do something frivolous and fun.

Unfortunately, this has been an insanely busy week. My poor wife had some minor surgery (don't worry, she's fine...though I think she's starting to go a bit stir crazy!) and I've had to take care of the poor girl. Luckily, I was able to get three post-its doodled upon before the end of the day. So, after dinner, I head down to the local Wal-Mart to pick up some brownies, and to leave what I hope are seen as happy little surprises throughout the store. (Don't ask me why I was fixated on leaving these things at a Wal-Mart...it just seeemed like the perfect place to do this)

There was no question where my monkey was going to go, of course. I wish the photo was clearer, but I like to think that he's happy, surrounded by his favorite fruit.

My spaceman has confused "The Rock" terribly. Poor Dwayne just can't understand why this spaceman would want to cover his tu-tu'd dog's face. Sorry Rock, spacemen can sometimes just be like that.

Talk about Rock! He was my favorite, and I figured all the hippy ice cream would enjoy some kick-ass rockin' for a while. Stand back, Willie!

Man, that was fun. I may just have to make this an annual event. Or monthly. Or when I get bored. We'll have to see....

Thanks again to Fiona for proposing this really fun project!

Post-It Notes Project, Feb 1st

This Friday, February 1, there is a really cool project going on, started by blogger Fiona Harding, called the "Post-It Notes Project". The idea is really simple, and it sounds like a ton of fun. The object is to simply doodle on a stack of Post-It Notes, and then leave your drawings in random locations around the globe, documenting it all in pictures. Then, send the pictures to Fiona, and she'll post them all on her blog!

I'll probably be posting my post-its here too. I'm thinking a trip to Wal-Mart is in order. I'm not sure why, but the thought of leaving a little post-it of a martian in the bread aisle over there makes me smile. =)

Cloverfield - So Good It'll Make You Sick!

OK, so I'm just back from Cloverfield. *Whoo!* My head is spinning.

****** SPOILERS AHEAD...I'LL TRY TO KEEP THEM MINOR ******

First the good:

1. The movie was totally intense. The decision to watch the whole thing through the lens of a video camera (a la Blair Witch) really put you in the middle of everything. I was genuinely frightened a few times. (I'll tell you one thing, I'm never going in a subway again!)

2. There were a few good moments of humor These were totally necessary to break the tension, but they never took you completely out of the moment.

3. The acting was good. No one will be getting any awards for their performance, but you totally bought that these people knew each other, were friends, and were scared out of their minds.

Now the bad:

1. HOLD THE FREAKING CAMERA STEADY! My eyes were going cross-eyed during the running, jumping, action parts. I understand the theory of why that should work. You never get a good look at what's going on (adds to the tension). The sense of things coming at you really puts you in the moment. But I have two problems with this cinematic device. First, if all that movement doesn't give you motion sickness, it will at least give you a headache. Also, I can't help but think throughout the entire movie "PUT THE F*CKING CAMERA DOWN! THERE'S A HUGE FREAKING MONSTER CHASING YOU!" I mean, seriously, does history really need a record of the giant monster wrecking New York that badly? Surely someone would notice something like that...it's not going to slip under everyone's radar.

2. The characters are totally forgettable. I honestly think this was done on purpose, though. From the few snippets I've read on Cloverfield before we went tonight, it seems like it was really important to the filmmakers to put "everymen" (and "everywomen") into the story so that it would be easier to empathize. Which, I think worked quite well. Still, you would think they would make the characters a LITTLE more appealing? As I said, the acting was good, I believed in these characters...I just didn't fall in love with them.

3. "I totally saw that coming!" While much of this movie feels incredibly fresh and innovative, who didn't know what was going to happen when Rob said, "The camera has night vision. Here, let me turn it on!"

I suppose I could go on, but it's not really necessary. The movie is worth the hype. It's a wonderfully fun, scary, roller coaster ride of a movie. The viral marketing was genius, and totally adds to the fun of the whole thing. Fried Geek does a great job of rounding up the links and easter eggs hidden across the Internet.

So GO! Enjoy! Be scared! You will have a great time getting wrapped up in Cloverfield. Just remember to take your motion sickness pills.