tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.comments2023-10-17T14:12:17.731-04:00Pick of the Brown BagRaymond Tatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-61955070238823624642023-10-17T14:12:17.731-04:002023-10-17T14:12:17.731-04:00Welcome Aboard
Ray :)Welcome Aboard<br /><br />Ray :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-44400930975300576752023-10-06T22:30:34.803-04:002023-10-06T22:30:34.803-04:00I really enjoyed your blog, thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your blog, thanks for sharing. Recoveriinghttps://recoveriing.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-41760034818074879482022-03-12T12:55:44.582-05:002022-03-12T12:55:44.582-05:00Oh and thanks for the compliment on the Human Targ...Oh and thanks for the compliment on the Human Target. That took a lot of work, and it's nice that it was appreciated :)<br />Raymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-22679910726860206002022-03-12T12:42:29.466-05:002022-03-12T12:42:29.466-05:00Cool beans :)
Cool beans :)<br />Raymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-25443617268779122252022-03-06T14:31:56.463-05:002022-03-06T14:31:56.463-05:00I admit I’ve had your blog in my reading list for ...I admit I’ve had your blog in my reading list for years but haven’t always been reading. Between this and the excellent analysis of Human Target previously, I’m going to be correcting this.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-89991029835543611932020-03-29T00:21:05.563-04:002020-03-29T00:21:05.563-04:00Raymond, I’m a little late in thanking you for you...Raymond, I’m a little late in thanking you for your insightful review of Sonya, but thank you for your insightful review of Sonya. I am definitely using your “brilliantly stupid” line as a pull quote. <br />See you in the funny papers, <br />Nick Capetanakis Nick Capetanakishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03832878801772470154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-64653226418907244662019-04-07T04:28:22.559-04:002019-04-07T04:28:22.559-04:00Great post! I just read FF # 7 and I found it quit...Great post! I just read FF # 7 and I found it quite interesting, I still have to read 8, though. <br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />http://artbyarion.blogspot.comArionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00794190466838336293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-37173296808682544502019-03-03T04:09:46.047-05:002019-03-03T04:09:46.047-05:00I'm less than impressed with beautiful--people...I'm less than impressed with beautiful--people vampiric characters who are invariably Caucasian. One important reason why I prefer graphic novels with a Lovecraftian theme.Bill the Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08436195659154078021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-57976946959374565942019-02-27T02:12:45.276-05:002019-02-27T02:12:45.276-05:00Well, it's been a long time since the Dr. Wh...Well, it's been a long time since the Dr. Who episodes anyway.Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262797120326863324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-72163073039303224952018-07-11T18:04:23.346-04:002018-07-11T18:04:23.346-04:00No, she's no dummy, but she also wasn't I ...No, she's no dummy, but she also wasn't I felt in a position or time to read. Whereas the Legendary world being steampunk also carries over a love of books. Raymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-44902859466952008452018-07-10T07:43:02.906-04:002018-07-10T07:43:02.906-04:00Point taken about Legenderry Sonja vs regular Sonj...Point taken about Legenderry Sonja vs regular Sonja although the Legenderry version lacks the regular version’s superhuman strength. Hyborian Sonja’s no slouch whe it comes to smarts either ... look how quickly she learned English when she went to New York in Amy Chu’s storyline Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-55584694179429636172018-07-03T14:35:58.665-04:002018-07-03T14:35:58.665-04:00You'll definitely like Black Widow. Visa vers...You'll definitely like Black Widow. Visa versa actually regarding Jason King. The late Peter Wyngarde portrayed Jason King in Department S, from the sixties.Raymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-29608558433957779432018-06-29T12:01:25.537-04:002018-06-29T12:01:25.537-04:00This Aquaman run is so good! You've sold me on...This Aquaman run is so good! You've sold me on Black Widow, too. That sneaky Jason King looks like a Morrison character from Invisbles.Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262797120326863324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-65994180205850793192018-05-14T03:54:52.606-04:002018-05-14T03:54:52.606-04:00Agreed on Byrne’s approach to Tigra. I really wasn...Agreed on Byrne’s approach to Tigra. I really wasn’t a fan of his WCA run to be honest, it was the beginning of his downward slide as a writer, although the art was great. Mainstays like Tigra and Wonder Man were disrespected and shoved to the background, whereas former guest stars Scarlet Witch, Wasp, Pym and Vision took centre stage. Vizh’s origin was changed and he was turned into an automaton. USAgent was thrust into the spotlight and Byrne ignored the strides made with Hawkeye's character development and wrote as he was in the Kooky Quartet day’s. Before he quit, he wasn’t even treated like the team leader, Pym was. Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-44290306307319193612018-05-07T12:43:19.035-04:002018-05-07T12:43:19.035-04:00You're certainly correct about John Byrne illu...You're certainly correct about John Byrne illustrating Red Sonja only once, but once was all that was needed. His Marvel Team-Up is memorable because he illustrated Sonja so well. I also rank him as one of the best Tigra artists. Because once was all that was necessary. He sidelined Tigra when he took over West Coast Avengers, which was mighty unfortunate. <br /><br />I agree with you on the other artists you mentioned. For the sake of column length, I picked out the three classics that popped into my head when I thought of them. There are plenty of artists that can illustrate Red Sonja well, and I meant no disrespect to any of them. Sonja is a character that appears to bring out the best in an artist. I've only rarely encountered bad Red Sonja art for some variant covers.<br /><br />I of course meant John Buscema. Not Romita. Brain-freeze. Romita Jr. did however do a few Red Sonja illustrations, I think for covers. I read the draft of the POBB three times and didn't pick up on this error. Thank you. This will be corrected in a moment. Raymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-7771568135431522462018-04-17T17:32:50.576-04:002018-04-17T17:32:50.576-04:00Agreed about Carlos Gomez’ Sonja, he really is bec...Agreed about Carlos Gomez’ Sonja, he really is becoming one of the all-time greats and works hard at drawing different figures. Look at Sonja compared with her 21st century friends Spike and Holly ... she’s more buxom and powerfully-built than either and stands a head higher but Carlos drew Spike leaner with more defined abs. His Sonja looks almost strong enough to do some of the crazy stuff she does, like hoisting 250lb bouncers off the ground by the throat with one hand, as she did in #10. <br /><br />That said, each to their own but two of your choices for all-time great Sonja artists are head scratchers. Thorne is a given but Byrne only illustrated Sonja once, I think, and he was basically aping Thorne. I can’t recall JR Sr drawing Big Red at all. For me, the best Marvel Sonja artist was Sal Buscema, he drew her even better than his big brother did. Over at Dynamite, Mel Rubi is right up there and if you want a sexy but incredibly strong-looking She-Devil along the same lines as Gomez, Lui Antonio is fantastic ... quite a lot like Ron Lim. Lastly, he’s not one of my personal favourites but Walter Geovani should absolutely get a mention for drawing Sonja for so long and in so many popular runs ... and he’s about to do it again in the Tarzan crossover.Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-85109398180888070432017-08-28T12:51:24.608-04:002017-08-28T12:51:24.608-04:00Aquaman has just been great to really great since ...Aquaman has just been great to really great since the new 52 began, minus the Aqua-Magician bit. Dolphin's a peculiar character in the DCU. I cannot deny the sex appeal, but I think she's also draws on the primitive girl archetype for pop culture staying power. She's like an underwater Rima.<br /><br />RayRaymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-88382549961398665272017-08-23T17:03:12.279-04:002017-08-23T17:03:12.279-04:00I just started reading Aquaman. It's gotten ve...I just started reading Aquaman. It's gotten very interesting indeed. Plus I collect Dolphin appearances, always have.Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262797120326863324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-53875080414163448522017-07-16T17:22:44.999-04:002017-07-16T17:22:44.999-04:00It's a minor thing but to be fair to Sonja, sh...It's a minor thing but to be fair to Sonja, she was overpowered because a) she was caught off guard and b) she was injured. Amy Chu was quick to say it would've taken more cops if the She-Devil was healthy and in fact has said since that Sonja's as strong as 6 or 7 regular guys. The next issue's a pretty stark demo of how Sonja compares to a bunch of muscle bound barflies in terms of strength. Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-10023800677432044592017-04-19T07:18:42.439-04:002017-04-19T07:18:42.439-04:00That's total speculation from me on Chu!That's total speculation from me on Chu!Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-38658269042824579492017-04-18T21:07:41.539-04:002017-04-18T21:07:41.539-04:00That's nice of Dynamite to comply to Chu's...That's nice of Dynamite to comply to Chu's request. The Thor comment is a good point, and that would neatly satisfy everybody. You could even expand whichever story would require the extra pages.Raymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-57969242988130284872017-04-18T06:44:14.254-04:002017-04-18T06:44:14.254-04:00Ha, about 30 minutes after I left the comment abov...Ha, about 30 minutes after I left the comment above, I read the solicitation for #7, out in July ... Sonja's sticking around in the modern day for the time being and is going on a roadtrip across America with Max. Chu said in an interview back along that this would be a 6 issue story but obviously that's changed. My guess is that she's been coaxed by Dynamite to stick around on the book awhile longer (sales figures for Chu's run have been on par with Gail Simone's and ahead of Marguerite Bennett's) but she's requested that she keep Sonja in the modern world for the time being.Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-50251678557783879582017-04-18T05:29:26.314-04:002017-04-18T05:29:26.314-04:00The majority of people seem to prefer Sonja in her...The majority of people seem to prefer Sonja in her own time and when it turned out she was in modern New York for the current story, plenty of critics rolled their eyes and said 'Not again'. Quite a few seemed to give up on the book at that point. It's a shame coz Amy's done Sonja in modern times better than anyone else before her.<br /><br />It'd be cool to have two books, one with Sonja in modern times helping the cops, and the other in her own age ... kinda like the old Thor books, which would have him on Earth in the main story and in Asgard in a backup. That approach would've meant Sonja didn't need to learn English and everything else so quickly and she could've relied on her own formidable skills to fight crime alongside Max, although she wouldn't have been able to stay in the bikini for too long. It was rumoured not long ago that Bryan Singer might be doing a Sonja TV show and I think Sonja in NYC would work really well for that, maybe after an initial episode in the Hyborian Age. In fact, I think the current run has been done so well that the early episodes could follow it pretty much to the letter but rather than Sonja returning to her own age, she decides to stick around after beating Gath. The scene in the bar in #2, with the drinking and armwrestling, was really cinematic, I could see it being done really well in live-action.Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-23621713950579657872017-04-17T12:56:30.883-04:002017-04-17T12:56:30.883-04:00It's a pity that she's leaving the present...It's a pity that she's leaving the present day. Although I hope Chu doesn't leave at that point.<br /><br />RayRaymond Tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834292307741650917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117444802988560123.post-62289957336009640392017-04-12T04:18:42.797-04:002017-04-12T04:18:42.797-04:00No problem ... I managed to skip Legenderry someho...No problem ... I managed to skip Legenderry somehow, so I'll have to pick up on that.<br /><br />Seeing as Dynamite own the rights to both Sonja and Xena, it'd be great to see a crossover between them at some point. Gail Simone pretty much wrote Sonja as an alcoholic Xena but there are big differences between the two character-wise and it'd be cool to see how a writer like Amy Chu would handle that. Of course, there'd have to be a scrap at some point and I think the two are very evenly matched ... Xena's more agile and has her nerve strikes but Sonja's better with a sword and can take more punishment.<br /><br />I think we're leaving modern times with #6. I was worried Amy might leave the title at that point ... she doesn't seem as invested in Sonja as she is in her KISS book, she just doesn't seem as enthusiastic about Sonja in interviews. Amy's also a New Yorker so by bunging the She-Devil in the Big Apple, she's writing what she knows. It looks like she's sticking around for at least one more arc after the NYC one though, and I'm chomping at the bit to see how she handles it. Chu admits she's not a diehard Sonja fan but she takes her research seriously and I imagine she'll take Sonja to the East, which hasn't been done all that often. She may or may not have her cop buddy Max with her, time will tell; doing so would be fun, though, as Max would find himself in the same situation Sonja did in #2, albeit with the ability to speak the local lingo to an extent.Conrad Knight Sockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047473790475457299noreply@blogger.com