The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #1

Beware: Insane Geek Moment About To Occur

This has to be the coolest book I've read in a very long time. Just keep in mind, I just started reading DC for the first time since I was kid about 3 years ago. Ever since then, I've been hooked on classic characters like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the JLA and everyone. The Flash has always been kind of kooky to me, because he wasn't taken seriously as a hero, because he could just run fast, but in recent years his powers have evolved from just speed, to using speed as a means to do other things. I actually like and followed Bart Allen more. He's the basically the junior Flash from the Young Justice books and then he moved on to the Teen Titans. He could do more with his powers.

Just recently, during DC's big summer event, Infinite Crisis, the current Flash, Wally West disappeared into the Speed Force, along with Kid Flash, Bart Allen, as they tried to stop Superboy-Prime from killing everyone by sending him into the Speed Force. Subsequently, everyone thought that all of the Flashes had disappeared and the Speed Force was gone. Nope. A Flash re-emerged and it turned out to be Bart aka Kid Flash, who aged 4 years, but after the battle with Superboy-Prime, was depowered and no longer able to access the Speed Force. Bart officially retired from the superhero life. Until now.

The new Flash series jumps one year later as all of the DC titles did after Infinite Crisis was over. Jay Garrick, the original Flash is now the Fastest Man Alive, however without the Speed Force, he can barely keep up, since Jay is in his sixities. Bart is now working at Keystone City Motors as a car assemblyman. Bart's trying to live a regular life and ignore his superhero past, until an accident happens and his friend is hurt. Bart, unexpedidly tapped into the Speed Force and got his friend out, but Jay also get to the scene and sees Bart crackling with energy. Jay automatically sees that Bart has been lying for months about being depowered and wants to discuss what's going on. Bart dismisses his questions. Then thinks to himself, that the Speed Force should never be tapped again or it just might kill him. See...cool!

Fuckin' A! The Flash is going to be the coolest book for me.

Gay Pride '06

Today marked my 10th Pride Parade. I’ve been going, celebrating my life, community and the heritage of the Gay community for a decade now and I feel just as proud as I did when I went to my first one. This year was a little different because it rained off and on, but the turnout was no less than the previous years. Needless to say this will be the Pride I remember the most now.

As it went, the roomie and I got there about 2:30 to a not so crowded area yet, but there were still people out in force. We got to the usual spot at the corner of Christopher and Bedford. We had a good spot and saw what we could of the parade walkers and the floats. Then I got the call from Javi, so I went to meet him. At the same time, Uptown called and he was in the area, so I told both of them to meet me in the same spot. I got there, then Adorable David appeared. Then we headed back to the corner where I left the roomie. When we got back, the roomie was clearly having a wonderful time by himself. He was so full of life and pride that I was happy he came out with me. With all that he’s going through lately, I wanted him to enjoy himself for once. We stayed for a little longer, until the hunger got to us so we trekked over to Uno’s. We had a blast there. It was Travis’ turn to grill David and he got a light treatment in the question department. However, we did laugh at some of the notable and often hilarious times we’ve had at some of the parties at Calle Sequenta y Seis. The rain let up and we headed back to the parade route.

We proceeded to the festival area and the parade was finishing up by this time. We walked south for a little, away from Christopher. We got to a point where there was a drag queen promoting a club out in the BX and we stood there and danced a little. Then the Houses got into their battles, which for the life of me I don’t get into that scene, but it was fun to watch homos flail around, twirl and fall to the floor. We quickly left the area, only to find my roommate being a hit at the parade, because he saw people that hew knew and was having a great time, and again, I was happy that he was. I also took pictures of boys, which is always great. I also saw my boy Emilio, who I also haven’t seen a long time. We walked up towards Christopher for the pier. Of course the area is packed with homos and the police are treating everyone like cattle. I hope they got paid time and half for this parade. It was a lot people to play crowd control. We fell in love with Officer Diaz, one of the many cops playing people traffic cop. We get to the pier and realize just how many gay people are in this city. I know a small percentage is out-of-towners, but still the homos are a serious group of people in this town. It’s amazing we could all fit in it. We get to the pier and walk around for a little. Rest. Check out more people. Girls and guys alike. Then we head back up Christopher Street. It’s close to about 8PM now. David and Javi say their good-byes. I saw this guy I had a crush on, who clearly doesn’t have a clue I’ve had a crush on for the longest. We kinda just gave each other a pound, said what's up and he bounced to meet his people. Then the remainder of us decides to stick around some more and chill up the street. We boy gaze a little longer and I see my friend Frankie. He tells me to meet up with him at the Hanger when I am done. The suggestion was duly noted and after another 20 minutes or so we head to the Hanger. There’s a line to get in and a $5 cover. Uptown and I could really go for a drink. Travis was pooped from Pride and decided to go home. Once we parted ways, we headed inside. We found the bathroom really quickly first and waiting online this really cute white boy named Rob started kicking it to Uptown. As it turns out he was part of Frankie’s crew of hot, roving men of Pride. We group up laugh drink and get out of The Hangar since, the entire original cast of Gay, I think Sister Sledge was playing in the backgroun and it was hot as hell inside, so we all headed outside and go towards the Pier again.

Outside we ran into Euly. A little further up, I saw Kenny too, who I haven’t seen in a few months. Then proceeded to head up to the Pier. We get there and have an awesome time. Watched the fireworks. Uptown and I had a conversation about dating/meeting guys, which was interesting. We both realize that we have bad luck in the area. And I just hung out with some really attractive men, so I felt good after awhile. After a while, the pier started to close and we were being shuffled through. As we’re trying to exit, I bump into a guy in the process – I turn around and it’s The First. Yeah kids, The First. The first boyfriend I ever had who I haven’t seen in years was standing next to me. It was really nice to see him. He gave me a hug, asked me how I was doing and he was with friends and so was I, so we really couldn’t stop to chit chat. Uptown asked who that was and I told him. He goes “wow” and I couldn’t agree more. He looked damn good. Then I don’t know what hit me, but all of a sudden I missed him. It was really odd, but that man was my former everything for three years of my young gay life way back when. He was the first and only thing I knew about love. So I guess the feeling of nostalgia hit me hard and I was limping for a hot minute afterwards.

We get further down the street and the barricades are still up, so it makes it so difficult to navigate through the streets. We find an opening and rest for a minute. Uptown and myself are getting tired, but everyone else wants to go another bar down in Chelsea. We say nope and head in the other direction. We giggle at people some more. Talk about how fat and ugly we are and how we got looks today, but no one talked to us. Then we all agree that we’re like the only gays guys who never meet/get numbers/hook up with anyone during Pride. We chuckled some more. I look at my watch and it’s going on midnight. Uptown and I walk away from Frankie and the crew, and I begin to think to myself. As the gayest night of nights comes to a close, I’m left wondering what’s tomorrow going to be like. I smile at the fun I had that day and wish that everyday could be as fun.

For Travis...

"All I Really Want"

by Alanis Morissette

Do I stress you out

My sweater is on backwards and inside out

And you say how appropriateI

don't want to dissect everything today

I don't mean to pick you apart you see

But I can't help it

There I go jumping before the gunshot has gone off

Slap me with a splintered ruler

And it would knock me to the floor if I wasn't there already

If only I could hunt the hunter

And all I really want is some patience

A way to calm the angry voice

And all I really want is deliverance

Do I wear you out

You must wonder why I'm so relentless and all strung out

I'm consumed by the chill of solitary

I'm like EstellaI like to reel it in and then spit it out

I'm frustrated by your apathy

And I am frightened by the corrupted ways of this land

If only I could meet the Maker

And I am fascinated by the spiritual man

I am humbled by his humble nature

What I wouldn't give to find a soulmate

Someone else to catch this drift

And what I wouldn't give to meet a kindred

Enough about me, let's talk about you for a minute

Enough about you, let's talk about life for a while

The conflicts, the craziness and the sound of pretenses

Falling all around...all around

Why are you so petrified of silence

Here can you handle this?

Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines

Or when you think you're gonna die

Or did you long for the next distraction

And all I need know is intellectual intercourse

A soul to dig the hole much deeper

And I have no concept of time other than it is flying

If only I could kill the killer

All I really want is some peace mana place to find a common ground

And all I really want is a wavelength

All I really want is some comfort

A way to get my hands untied

And all I really want is some justice...

The Father's Day I Forgot

My grandfather’s cancer came back. This not only makes me worried, but it also makes me feel like the biggest asshole, because I forgot to call him for Father’s Day yesterday. I reminded myself to call him, but got so wrapped up in other meaningless shit that it completely didn’t dawn on me that I hadn’t until this morning. (Actually, it was really just me not trying to remember it was Father’s Day, because of my dislike for my own dad. Yeah I know. I need to work that out.)

I talked to my mom this afternoon and she filled me in on what’s going on. Since I would have found out yesterday, if I had called. Here am I being a loser.

My grandfather had battled with a bout of cancer a few years back. We had all thought it was gone, but it came back last week. A family consultation occurred on Friday and those don’t bode well, because it’s usually prefaced with the “you have only so long to live” phrases. As it turns out he has a few options:

1). He goes back on the chemo, which he doesn’t want because the last time there were some complications and sickness involved.

2). Take some new experimental IV drip-drug, which has a 60/40 chance of kicking the cancer back into remission. Which he’s leaning towards.

3). Ride it out. Without medication, he would live an expected 2 more years.

This wasn’t news that sat well with me, but my grandfather’s pushing 80 and things like this are a reality for some men his age. I am not sad and I didn’t understand why. I should be sad, I shouldn’t want to talk about this, but I just don’t want him to suffer. I love him dearly and there are certain characteristics that I have from him, which I often remark as being just like him, I don't want to see him go through this, but I am okay with death or least I think I am. On top of that, my other grandfather (my father's dad) I forgot to call as well. He's been sick for a long time and he can barely remember my name half the time when I call. With all this around me, I tend not to deal with my family. On one hand I have a grandfather who I miss and who I dont see all the time, except for holidays. Then there's the other one I've never met, who doesn't really know me.

Either way, I wish I‘d called them both yesterday. I have to make up for it tonight and I’ll try not to cry while I do it.

Being on the frontline of a Civil War

The Nation of Chulo is like those secret groups held by little boys in their tree houses, except there’s sex and heavy flirting involved and there's no secret decorder ring to show membership. The Nation is comprised of several single individuals or couples, depending on what day of the week it is. We’re usually taking applications for more members though. Yeah I know you’re saying to yourself, ewww, it sounds like a hostel of homos. It can be - at times. However, not all of us have gotten down with each other and it's really wontan lust. The basis of why we’re a nation is because we all have something in common and that’s his majesty – Larry. My roomie has a better snapshot of the Nation over at his blog. Larry a.k.a Chulo, is the root or in this case, the tree holding the secret club house up. So what happens when a civil war in the nation erupts and that tree is rocked or becomes broken? You’d get what happened last week.

You see the Nation of Chulo’s main thing is that we’re a tight knit group. We have great times and sometimes they can be wild, but not all of us are like that. My roommate for example is one such innocent. As for me, well, as one of the council of elders, I’ve had my experience with a few members of the Nation and not at all innocent. I’ve been there since its inception, so that’s a given. It doesn't excuse my behavior, but hey things happen.

Last week, history was made in the Nation of Chulo, which is sometimes fraught with “oh no he didn’ts” and they are easily dismissed. However this time around, a huge bomb was dropped that rocked the foundation. Yes again, I’ll point you to my roommate’s blog and Larry’s blog about the whole thing. It wasn’t pretty and it led to some odd emotional outpouring from various denizens (Principio and MSD in particular) including the creator himself. Needless to say Larry’s trips are never really this crazy, but sometimes they have cosmic like ripple effects, ones that I usually cause myself, to reverberate through everyone in close proximity. (God that was so Star Treky.) Being on the frontline of this was insane, because the people involved are close to me, well not MSD. I don’t know him too well, only that he works stock at a bodega somewhere in Long Island and has caused a series of battles on the Nation’s shores before.

So after the huge homo-bomb was dropped last week in the Nation of Chulo, and civil war erupted, what’s the damage look like? Not bad at all really.

Here I’m thinking this event could have had serious repercussions on the Nation, but it really didn’t. After the smoke cleared, it really showed that MSD now could read and Larry’s blog is his favorite thing and one thing he didn’t know existed. Then we have Principio and Larry’s relationship reaching a new height in which they both can’t reach a suitable agreement on (again!). It seems like everything is back to normal or until Larry comes back to NYC.

Therein lies the lesson.

It appears that no matter what happens in the Nation, nothing has serious consequences, which could lead to more trouble. On the frontline again, I felt this whole thing was an experiment in emotional terror and the evils of long distance relationships. For the most part, this explosion was the result of emotional tension between Principio and Chulo over the last several months or maybe even a year. Can two people who care about each other so much be willing to compromise certain things to be with the other, like moving, etc.? Doesn’t seem likely here regardless of the circumstances here. One of the most obvious thing you can gleam from this is how each of them hurts each other by continuing an on again off again intimate relationship, while continuing to see/meet other people and not having a clearly defined status of their relationship. Is this feasible? Who knows? It works for them. Let's call this the Lake House Effect. Personally, I would think it’s hard to see someone I care about, mention, talk or even introduce me to the person they’ve been with or want to get with. Maybe it’s just me, but it sounds warped. However, if there wasn’t an intimate relationship still present, I can see it, but in this case it seems rather tortuous. Go figure. Although, as it appears, the lines of communication are sustained and not too much damage has been wreaked.

Ultimately, the parties involved have gone back to their respective corners hopefully with a clearer understanding of people, relationships, and general consideration of feelings. It seems like things are normal on the shores of the Nation. Cleanup has occurred. One can only hope that there was lessons learned from this, some maturity has happened and that I for one don’t want to be anyone’s fuck buddy. =)

Heartfelt

PRIDE Month started with a bang – literally. Kevin Aviance was beaten by a group of young men this week, which brings a dark, cloud over this month’s festivities of Gay Pride. This is usually a month were we are all rejoicing and celebrating as a community and now we have to worry about hatred lashing out at us at every turn. It is extremely sad and a bit worrisome that this is still happening especially, he was not in drag while it happened and in a gay-friendly neighborhood. This just proves that no one is really safe.

I believe in my heart that this attack was not sudden or random, but it was fully premeditated and those boys should be punished to the fullest extent of the law for this.

This month we should be especially proud of who we are and let everyone know that we won’t accept or tolerate treatment like this. We have to also take in consideration that bigotry and anger towards the GLBT community, especially in a place like New York, is still prevalent from this. It is reported that around the same time that another group of gay men were attacked in Astoria, Queens. It's really a shame. However, we shouldn't hide from this either.

As for Kevin Aviance, I pray that you have a speedy recovery and I hope you keep your spirits up and bless us with your presence at this year’s Gay Pride Parade.

So please everyone, be cautious right now especially given what month it is. I hate to say it, but we’ve become targets for evil. Just be careful and aware of your surroundings and yourself. Protect yourself if you can. Stand up.

Be happy, be safe, be blessed and be proud.

About Last Night...Dave and Buster's

So last night I expected to spend a quiet night at home given that the rest of the week would be crazed to a few things going on. Instead I ended up going out to Dave and Buster's in Times Square to chill with BabyBoy, the King of Spain, Javi and his new guy David.

I quickly change out of my chill clothes and throw on gear for an evening out in the city, grabbed my Nextel and my iPod and continued to the train station. It’s about 9:30 now and I’m waiting for the train. I have been on a serious Prince kick in the last couple of days, because I realized that I am so lax when it comes to his music in my iPod. So I wanted to listen to some old joints. When I pull out my iPod, it slipped from its case and I went to go grab it. However, instincts told me that since I was close to the edge of the track, if I hit it’ll go over and I’d never get it then, so I let it drop to the platform. The screen was weird, stuck between transitions and it wouldn’t shut off. I cursed and screamed, stuck it in my pocket, called and complained to my roommate about it and continued to head towards the city hoping that the night would end up better than it started.

I get to Dave and Busters and the gang’s all there, including lil’ Tito, who I haven’t seen in a hot minute and he brought this hottie with him named Henry, who was absolutely fucking beautiful and absolutely fucking 20 years old. I sighed as he introduced himself. I put it out of my head - he was too young for me. =) Tito and Henry didn’t stay too long, so after they left we headed upstairs to D&B’s. I get upstairs and thought about how much money to put on the D&B game card and dropped about 27 bucks. I played the Monopoly game and won like over a thousand tickets in like 30 minutes. We got hungry and thirsty, I had a huge bucket of beer in a mug I could hardly lift, but the more I drank the lighter the cup got. =P D&B’s is a fun place, but do not go there expecting not to spend money on not only food and drinks, but games too.

After laughs and merriment, drinking, eating and me completely interrogating David (he’s so adorable) with really stupid questions, we decided to play some more and win more tickets. By the end of the night I had about 1300+ tickets. We had a hard time figuring out what to get and then ended up with bringing home Care Bears. I had a really good time and good times was had by all. Javi and I made plans to hang out during the Pride Parade at the end of the month, so that’s something to look forward to. Babyboy and I then hop on the train. I’m exhausted, but nice from the beer. I check on my iPod. Needless to say, it was stuck on one screen for a few hours until the battery finally ran down and then it cut off. I tried it again and now its just got the apple symbol on it that won’t go away. I think my iPod is done kids. I am pissed, because I love my iPod, I am never without, but the real kick in the balls is I can’t afford another one. I don’t believe I renewed my warranty so I am up shit’s creek without a paddle. I put it back in my pocket. Cuddle with my new Care Bear and took a nap until we got home.

So we stumble in around 2:30, I stayed up for a few and eventually passed out at 3:00am, knowing full well I had to be at work that very morning at 8:30, which I hardly ever do anymore, but I got up and got to work before 9. And sadly, no iPod in tow.

Movie Review: The Omen

I just need to stay away from remakes. So far this summer I’ve seen two remakes of movies that I loved when I was younger: Poseidon and most recently on Friday, The Omen. I have no idea why I went to see it, oh yeah, Baby Boy’s in town and he wanted to see it. So that’s why. Either way, I was unhappy with both movies for their "remake" status. They should be called "refakes" Because these new movies pale in comparison to the gold they're spun from.

So here’s my major issue, I go into remakes hoping that they’ll be as good as the originals. What’s the sense of an updated version, if it’s not on point or least a better movie than the original. Most remakes these days just try to be visually better, since most of the remakes coming out are of movies from the late 70’s and 80’s. Newer technology = lack of storytelling. There have only been a few faithful movies that have been considered by me as great remakes in the last few years: Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job, The Amityville Horror, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, Dawn of the Dead just to name some. The other, more dastardly remakes I usually dub “WB versions”, because they are made with younger audiences in mind, whom never ventured into video stores and got the VHS of the originals. Kids these days have no idea that some of the greatest movies of the past few decades are the originals of the horribly remade movies they’re getting now. These types of films are made with this younger audience in mind, and not for the people who’ve loved them forever. So why do we even go see them? Because we get stuck with shameful interpretations of video games, comic books, defunct television shows and other stories that have been done so many times, we can’t help, but pay homage to the movies they’ve ripped off. Then a remake comes along that makes you want to rethink it. It makes you want to believe in movies again and then you see one and it doesn't live up to the original or surpass it. The Omen is no exception.

For the most part the story remains the same, in essence. What you see on screen is something else entirely. Robert Thorn is a senior American diplomat whose wife, Katherine, endures a difficult delivery where their newborn child has died. Thorn knows the news will devastate Katherine, who had suffered two previous miscarriages. The hospital priest presents Thorn with another child born that night, whose mother died in childbirth. The priest compels Thorn to take the infant boy as his own; Katherine will never know the truth, and their son, which they name Damien, will be raised as their flesh and blood. As the child turns five, unsettling events begin to occur: Damien's nanny hangs herself at the youngster's birthday party; a strange priest brings dire warnings to Thorn; a children's trip to the zoo results in a panicked frenzy; Damien becomes hysterical during a drive to church; and blurred movements in a series of photographs portend shocking deaths. Enter Mrs. Baylock, Damien's new nanny, who seems to have a preordained devotion to the child. Then tragedy strikes closer to home. But only later does Thorn comprehend the truth: Damien is no ordinary child; he is the long-prophesized Anti-Christ. Now, Thorn must make the ultimate sacrifice to prevent the unspeakable terror that awaits the world. [from Yahoo Movies]

The original Omen is one of those movies that that still hold up so well, there's really no need to remake them. There is nothing that modern film-making has brought to this film to make it stand out against the original. It's not as scary, not as honest or raw. The original film is genuinely disturbing -- from the dogs, to the nanny, to Damien... this modern remake just isn't as convincing. It has it's moments, but there's an annoying distance, or separation between the subject matter and the film. It's too clean, too polished... it just isn't evil enough. There's this really annoying and random demonic imagery from Nine Inch Nails music videos. Even more so, the film is riddled with terrible atonal loud punches for additional scare value. In fact, most of the “scares” were audio increases on the soundtrack – which many in the audience greeted with jumping, which is illusionary scariness. Even the deaths are not as disturbing. I left the theater utterly convinced that this movie was put together by paint-sniffing clowns.

But should we judge this film on its own merits? No we can't, because it's damn near a carbon copy remake. So where did it go wrong? I think the one of the main problems is that the studio decided to remake an “A” picture – and cast it with “C” actors in the lead roles. Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles have zero weight in these roles. Mia Farrow was spot on as Mrs. Baylock, the creepy nanny. Also, most remakes suffer from changing much of the storyline and plot advances to make it workable for a new audience. However, there is very, little new material worth mentioning to completely say this was a real departure. (Except, I wasn't happy with the Final Destination explaination they gave regarding the pictures of people and how it foretold their death.) This one suffered from being so close that it failed to reach the same level mainly due to leaving things out and adding things they shoudn't have. The only positive thing to say is that for anyone who hasn't seen the original, this new version is worth a look on DVD when it comes out. But even then I'd still recommend the original.

I think the big draw from this, is the whole "6-06-06" date its been plugging and I think in an effort to make this big marketing push, the producers fell a little short sided. Yeah the date is scaring people and generating buzz, because it's a big bad date and there's tons of shit forever surrounding Satan's pager number. However, like all remakes, there’s a sacrifice in the storytelling and they hardly pull it off well. The Omen is just another remake that doesn't go anywhere. To top it off, there was a really bad ending that made no sense at all and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Despite it all, the Omen just wasn't evil enough.

The Transformers

Transformers. More than meets the eye.
Transformers. Robots in disguise.

Yeah you know the rest....

The Transformers cartoon in the 80’s single handedly changed my life when I was a child. My imagination was created, nurtured and soared based on the adventures of fantastic robots that had the ability to disguise themselves as cars, planes, weapons and other cool things. My life revolved around them up. I ran home every day from school to watch them. I taped them and re-watched them over and over again. I always played with them in my room, outside or with friends from the neighborhood. If anything I ever wanted all the time was more Transfomer toys. I pretty much had most, but not all. My mom kept up with them for me. She knew which ones I had, so she didn’t repeat anything. They were hard to find, even back then. Even when I got older, I never forgot them. Transformers: The Movie is #2 of my Top 3 movies of all time list, which I still watch to this day. I can recite every word of the movie verbatim (which was very annoying to an ex of mine whenever I watched it.) I still get goose bumps when I watch certain parts, like I was 8 years old again. You know the part? When Optimus Prime comes to the rescue in the beginning when the Decepticons attacked Autobot City, and he rolls in as the mack truck, launches into the air, transforms and starts unleashing ass whoopins to every Decepticon in his way. Fuckin A!!!

Even more so, Optimus Prime was the only role model I had. So this whole show was important to me. I have even thought of collecting them again, since they have this cool new, Alternators sub line of toys. So imagine my surprise when I found out that Jerry Bruckheimer wants to do a live action movie of my beloved Transformers, with Steven Speilberg’s ILM FX company in tow to do the CGI. I shuttered in my boots. It could be actually good. I never imagined this, but I’m interested.

As a geek and a fan of the series, I don’t watch the new incarnations that have come out during the years. I am strictly a G1 fan. G1 means “Generation 1”, which includes the characters from the original series, the 1986 movie, and the 2 seasons right after the movie in 1987. This live action Transformer movie will be an updated version of those much loved G1 characters. So as a geek, I have some reservations about it. I mean come on, it’s the Transformers - how would a live action movie come off? I was thinking kinda cheesy. I have my doubts, my fears, and my excitement, because this could be really be awesome or really terrible. It’s one of those things that you love that you hope will get the proper justice on the big screen and not have it ruined. This is one of those entities that I can only see fanbase going to see or kids who naturally love robots and cool shit like that.

One fear I do have of course is that they would change a lot to “suit the times”. Since Fast the Furious, all we get is tricked out import cars in movies. This could be one of them, but from what I saw they are using traditional and contemporary cars. One such change I've seen so far is Bumblebee, who was a Volkswagen Bettle in the cartoon. Bumblebee's car mode is now a Camaro (see below), but you know what - I am okay with this for some reason. I always felt Bumblebee got the shit end of the stick when it came to disguises. The other Autobots had cooler cars to transform into. Plus, he was one of the smallest Autobots. This is a welcome change. It’s a cool fuckin’ car. Let's hope the rest of the movie is this cool.

Wizard World Philadelphia

Fuck the exposition I usually have – Philly didn’t go as well as intended. I didn’t get picked and I didn’t get an honorable mention. I know I am going to sound really hard on myself, but I really sucked, but that was a good thing. (I’ll tell you why in a minute.) If you talked to me day or so prior to Wizard World Philadelphia, I was extremely nervous, but I went in with a high expectation of my art and myself and I thought I had a legitimate chance of making it at least to a second round chance. Boy was I wrong.

Now here's the exposition...

After 30 minutes in Philly, I met this guy Anthony, who was entering the contest as well and we swapped glances at our pages. His pages totally rocked and mine, well compared to his, were the equivalent of Sunday morning funnies. (Can we say Calvin and Hobbes?) Anthony’s work was awesome and he saw the look in my face and my immediate trepidation of the whole situation. I said out loud, “I just wasted a trip.” He calmed me down and told me some really great things and he asked if I ever had any education in it, I was like “high school art classes that’s about it”. Drawing has always been a love of mine, but I never was fully educated in it – I just kind of got it. Which was always cool normally, but in this environment, a natural wasn’t going to make it. I was going up against seriously educated people, so the thought rocked my world that I wasn’t going to be good enough. He reassured me that this was internship and I have a valid reason to be here and that’s to learn. That helped, but it was really Chris Lie who really made me feel better. As it turns out Chris was the guy behind the new designs of GI Joe Sigma 6. He had some great words for me and he saw how nervous I was, he walked me over to the submission booth and watched me submit my pages. He wished me good luck and told me to stop by his panel discussion on character design. After I talked to Chris, I walked around the show. Here’s some highlights:

I saw ex-wrestlers King Kong Bundy and Virgil.

I met another artist Daniel Leister who draws the indie book The Sire. He gave me some advice.

I talked to Frank Beddor, the author of the forthcoming book The Looking Glass Wars. I met him at the NY Comic Con and was excited for his re-imaging of the Alice and Wonderland story. He remembered me, which was cool.

I saw the X-Men statue I’ve been dying for. Click Here. Scroll down the page for pictures of it.

I stopped at the Wizard booth and got some cool stuff.

I got a hero of mine, Michael Turner to sign some books of mine.

I saw a few minutes of Ultimate Avengers The Movie 2.

I got lost in Philly.

I found the gay part of town by accident.

I found the ghetto part of town intentionally. That's where my hotel was.

I had a sleazy hotel. (People were having sex in the next room.) Not in the gay part of town either. Though I wished.

I met some Hip Hop Arabics.

I saw a few landmarks. You know you're a true geek when you don't recognize something for it historical value, but from just what movie it was in. "Hey I saw that in National Treasure!"

I learned how to play Marvel Heroclix, which is now like my favorite game. (My nerd quotient shot up with that one. Dre’s into miniature wargaming yall - it’ll get ugly soon. Travis will hate me more.)

I bumped into and talked to Kevin Smith. He told me it looked like someone shot my dog.

I met artist Clayton Henry who drew my favorite book from last year, the New X-Men: Hellions mini-series. He offered some advice as well.

I was acknowledged as being a “Hot Nerd” by a bunch of girls working the convention.

I saw a sneak preview of an episode of Stephen King’s: Nightmare and Dreamscapes premiering this July on TNT.

I met some more really cool guys to geek out with about comic books and toys and learned more about Heroclix. I’m telling you, it’s going to be like Magic the Gathering all over again.

So here’s why it was good that I sucked. What Wildstorm was looking for were really talented people that didn’t need much work in the art department, just in panel work or storytelling ability. The guys who where selected were awesome and the final guy’s work blew pretty much everyone out the water. I knew I wasn’t selected when Anthony’s name wasn’t even called. I sat right behind him and he looked even shocked. I knew then I didn’t even have a snowball’s chance in hell. I sat there already knowing that I wasn’t going to make it, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I was inconsolable for about 30 minutes, but I realized good things and bad things about myself, which this show helped me overcome. I know I worked hard and stayed up late, but it’s about more than that.

I know now I need to work harder on my art. I may not be educated, but I can be. There are tons of books out there that I know of and there are even correspondence courses that I am looking into for the late summer or fall. The quality of my work has to change. I’ll just keep reading and practicing and doing my best. I even started my “Fuck You Philly” sketch last night, which I hope to share soon. I am not going to let circumstances like lack of schooling get in the way. There are other ways to tutor myself. In order for me to be good, not the best, but good – I gotta really concentrate hard and get better. I am going to try again in February with the NY Comic Con rolls around. I’ll have my portfolio ready by then and the not the folder, wrapped in a Macy’s bag this time.

Legal Day 1

For those of you who don’t know, my bank was acquired several months ago by a larger, rival bank from up North. There were months and months of speculation of when layoffs would happen, well they’re finally here. Today is officially Legal Day 1 that means that it’s the first day of the merger and we are officially apart of Sovereign Bank. It also means those who were not remaining will be out of a job today and tomorrow. A lot of people I’ve come to know over the years, will be gone and probably will never see them again. It’s sad though. And it’s going to be so quiet around here than it already is. One of my co-workers has already put in her 2-week resignation. My greedy ass wants to stay and collect money, so I have to sit this out until September. (Just like black people huh? Sitting around waiting for the next circumstantial pay-day.) It’s going to be a ghost town and so will be so weird around this office in the next coming weeks. I think even one of my bosses is leaving soon and I don’t want her to go, because she has been hands down the best boss ever. I wish I could go with her at her new job.

Even though I hate change, this is one that I welcome, because this means a significant and great change for me – a change for the better.