I really wish these sort of “It’s the right thing to do” comic ads existed today. I’d love to see Superman swoop down at a Town Hall meeting, informing protesters that there’s no such thing as “death panels” in the Obama Health Care bill.
Yanked from ComicMix
There’s been alot of talk recently (and by “recently,” I mean “Back when the film came out in May, and I haven’t had a change to write about it until now”) about STAR TREK’s reboot, the appeal of space opera (also the story implications of the reboot itself, which I’ll get to, probably in another 3 months). The appeal of space opera, essentially, is that it is a workplace drama filled with things we never experience in our own workplace. This is the same appeal of hospital dramas and cop dramas: people doing their jobs in ways we can relate to and at the same time cannot fathom. There’s been a lot made about the loose, handheld camerawork in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, but it’s really not that different to ER and THE WEST WING.
BSG has much better dramatic lighting than either show, though. Plus robots.
The point is, space opera is compelling for the same reasons ER, THE WEST WING, THE DEADLIEST CATCH and THE WIRE are compelling. We love seeing people do their jobs, especially if those jobs involve a crisis every twenty minutes or so. It’s really too bad that the success of BGS has not lead to more space opera shows. We’ve got DEFYING GRAVITY right now, but that show seems to want to be LOST more than it wants to be ER. Which is a waste of opportunity, in my opinion, but I’m not a television executive.
But what if I was? What if I could create a whole new workplace drama in space from scratch. Naturally, this has led to a small amount of dream-casting, of who would be in my own tv space opera
Captain: Micheal K. Williams
First Officer: Michelle Rodriguez
Medic: Gina Torres
Engineer: Wes Studi
Security: Kristen Bell
Helm: Gabrielle Union
Gunner: Rick Yune
Naturally, this sort of cast is about as likely, as well, a workplace drama set in space. But a boy can dream…
Delightfully big news, as I am the first–FIRST, I say!–official contributor to the I Should Be Writing blog. Mur gives me a fantastic intro, there, which leaves me with more than a little apprehension about what the devil I’m going to be talking about. I can only hope that I live up to the introduction.
(I will, of course. Don’t worry too much. I’m just trying to build suspense.)
In addition to taking over The News From Poughkeepsie, I intend to throw out the odd essay about writing advice–as opposed to an odd essay that is writing advice–and maybe a comic or two. I haven’t done an Autobiologic in forever, and the gods know I’ve got plenty of writing-based hilarity (read: pain) to illustrate. I’m not sure what else. Any ideas?
But that’s not the only unusual place I’ve showed up on the internet today. Io9 put up a post on Steampunk novels, illustrated with nothing less than the photo of Miss Liza James and I that Kyle Cassidy took and subsequently was put on Wikipedia. Clearly, Miss James and I have become the faces of modern steampunk. Which I am okay with.
First ISBW and then Io9….clearly my plot to take over the internet is moving apace….
It was a Russell Davies blog post that alerted me to these mugs, which contain one of the best concepts spoken by a president, but with a helpful fill in the blank portion in place of the “go to the moon,” bit. JFK’s full quote is, of course:
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”
The whole speech is here, but that’s the humdinger. “…not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills…” That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Anybody can do the easy stuff. But it’s the hard stuff that defines us.
My wife and I have started embarking on couple of difficult things ourselves. One, is a new, tight budget that forces us to spend a lot less under the dream of spending more at one big go. Less comics every Wednesday, in order for a Hawaiian vacation (or a European one. Or a Japanese one) It evens out, but it’s been difficult to stay within the narrow confines we’ve prescribed ourselves. Difficult, but not impossible
But you know, we choose to do them not because they are easy…
Along those lines, we’ve decided to become serious about losing weight and getting into shape. We’ll both be thirty next year, and the goal is to enter our thirties in better shape than we entered our twenties—an easier goal than it sounds, considering how heavy I was at 19. I’ve been working out every morning, getting at least 50 push-ups in–if not some concentration curls and some lateral raise with the 20lbs barbell–before I stumble downstairs for breakfast. I’m going to purchase a bicycle (in case anyone was wondering where that costume commission money was going to) and JR’s gonna get her old one fixed up. We’ve streamlined our diet—not eating out as much for financial reasons has really helped with that—and all this eating right and exercising has apparently transformed us into one of those couples.
For example, just the other day, I said, in all seriousness, “It’ll be great to bike down to Whole Foods and pick up some protein powder.”
Clearly, we have past some point of no return.
Which brings up the question, if you do the hard often enough, does it become second nature? Perhaps, that’s the goal itself. Do we do it not because it is easy, not because it is hard, but because it’s effortless.
And damn, if effortlessness isn’t the hardest thing in this life to pull off.
I’m sure everyone remembers the epic Halloween Costume Deal of last year, which led to excitement and fist-pumping on the behalf of the young gentleman who received it. Don’t you too wish you could bask in the happiness that this young man possesses?
Of course you do. More than that, I want you feel that happiness as well. Which is why, this year I’m doing it again.
“But wait,” you say. “Jared, it’s August. That’s way too early to be planning for Halloween.” And for some people, that may indeed be true. However, due the outcropping of hopes and dreams that were unfortunately dashed last year when I only had time for one costume, I am opening up earlier. More time means more costumes.
That’s right, for the low, low prices of $200 a piece, not one, not two, but three people can look as awesome as I do come Halloween. Or Dragon*Con, for that matter, since we’re still in August.
The first three people to email me and pay $200 in advance will get a costume whatever they want* custom made head to toe—props included—done to their specifications. Want to be a pirate? I can do that. An airship pirate? No problem. An airship pirate superhero? Consider it done.
I have an extensive portfolio, should you want to peruse it.
But don’t spend too long looking! This offer is limited to the first three people who pay! Act now!
AND IT’S OVER!!! All three slots are now filled!!!
*Within reason. Some costumes will not be able to completed in the time. A rule of thumb: if it has futuristic armor, it’ll take too long.
“…A poet of bad times and B movies”
Earl Newton, strangerthings.tv
I’m a writer, sculptor, illustrator, costumer, puppeteer, freak show performer and cape enthusiast. I was a founding member of 365 Tomorrows, and wrote 78 stories for it. I am the creator of two podcasts, The Voice of Free Planet X and Aliens You Will Meet.
I was recently commissioned to do costumes for a photoshoot by Rae Winters: 
…which came out fantastically, I might add.
Born Of An Atom Bomb is a blog I started to keep track of internet references for various projects. There’s alot of “Waiting For Ironwine,” stuff on there now, as I just finished a comic script based on this story. I imagine “Father Brothers” and “Way of the Dodo,” will overtake them in the next few weeks.
Give The Robot A Beard is a blog I started after a phone conversation with J.C. Hutchins. There is no better daily image depository of robots with facial hair on the internet.
Further Evidence of My Credentials
The Superhero Films of Raja Loreddex
If I Knew Then What I Know Now…
Rayguns In The Time Of Cholera
The 10 Rules of Quality Superhero Fiction
Just A Day, Like Any Other (A Mythos Man Adventure)
The Great Temptation of Bronco McGillicutty
Is It Better To Be Feared Or Respected?
It’s What Philo Farnsworth Would Have Wanted
Tales of the Uncanny Valley
The Sovereign Era: Year One
Podthology: The Pod Complex
Triangulation: End of Time
Salt
