Monday Morning Commute: Jean Grey, You Crazy
There’re twelve days until Christmas, the holiday in which we celebrate the birth of a God by telling kids that if they’re assholes all year a fat burglar is going to put coal in their socks. Makes sense. Anyways, there are no doubt fools in our ranks who want the next eleven days to fly by so that they can collect their Christmas goodies. But to that, I say Bah humbug!
We are now in the thick of the best part of the holiday season. We’re close enough to the summit to actually begin enjoying the ascent, but don’t have to start thinking about the dreadful descent. The holidays are making out, baby, and with the shirts being taken off the post-coitus regret isn’t even a consideration.
So put on an ugly sweater, drink some eggnog, and grab the ass of the one who catches your eye.
And while you do that, let me tell you about my upcoming week. After all, Monday Morning Commute is my chance to tell you what I’ve got planned for the next few days. If you’re feeling bold, hit the comments and tell me what you’ll be doing.
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Reading / The Dark Phoenix Saga
I’ve been in a real X-Men mood as of late. Why? Well, when done right I think Marvel’s mutants might be the best superhero team of all. I’ve just started reading The Dark Phoenix Saga and I have to say that I’m thoroughly impressed. Jean Grey is psychically connected to this strange-ass universal entity known as the Phoenix. While the connection gives Jean immense powers, it also enables her to be corrupted by the Hellfire Club. Even though I’ve never actually read these issues before, the end result will be no surprise as it earned legendary status and served as the crux of decades of subsequent storylines.
With that being said, I’m truly enjoying the ride provided. Chris Claremont’s script is heavy on the prose, giving me more to actually read than I get with modern comics. Sure, it’d be easy to criticize the script as being filled with too much exposition but I find it to be a charming quality of the paneled pages of yesteryear. With John Byrne’s classic art serving as the background for these words, it’s clear as to why The Dark Phoenix Saga has ingrained itself in comics mythos.
Oh, and it also has the first appearance of Kitty Pryde! Who doesn’t love her?
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Listening / John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Now I can’t say that I’m the biggest John Denver fan. In fact, I wouldn’t even say that I’m a fan of him at all. But even a lame-ass country boy can be cool when you pair him up with the Muppets. There is something about the very nature of a Muppet that makes it hilarious, heartwarming, and hip.
For further explanation, I now turn to an exchange from The Simpsons:
Lisa: Dad, what’s a Muppet?Homer: Well, it’s not quite a mop, and it’s not quite a puppet, but maaaan! (laughs) So to answer your question, I don’t know.
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Presenting / DEFEAT.
Over the summer I finished a novella that I had been working on called DEFEAT. I then deliberated, trying to figure what I wanted to do with the piece. I considered formatting it to print-on-demand, shopping it around to publishers, and even just tossing it into the trash. After all, who would buy a science fiction/fantasy/war epic/pop culture celebration about a teen who kills himself for the benefit of his best friends?
Not many, I’m sure.
But who would read such a story? Well, the followers of OL, that’s who.
Every Tuesday I post a new section of DEFEAT. Having convinced Brian Galiano, an artist extraordinaire I’m proud to call my friend, to lend his skills to the work, each post includes some absolutely gorgeous original art. Every week I look forward to getting the email in which Bri has attached a visual file that just takes my breath away.
The kid’s got mad skills.
So please, as an aspiring writer, I beg of you: give DEFEAT. an honest chance. If you enjoy the ridiculous shit we post about at OL, you’ll probably enjoy the fiction that bleeds from my brain.
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That’s my week. Comic books, Muppets, and an attempt at making a name for myself as a writer. What’re you doing this week?