Minorities and Other Issues in Comics Thread/Community III

[Genki Sudo]

Do you read more than one superhero book? Because if so, based on the above, might be somewhat of a hypocritical statement.


I mean, there's plenty of reasons not to be interested. But don't tell me you haven't seen/read plenty of media that doesn't share thematic similarities. Because to a certain extent, it's all Theseus.


That said, I got a free copy of the first book signed by the author before it came out, haven't gotten past the first bunch of pages, so whatever. And I asked her specifically about Battle Royale back then, which she had no clue about beyond freaking out a little because someone asked her earlier that day about it and she said it was the first she heard about it. Which I wouldn't be surprised, it's a fairly cultish film in the US, I've introduced my share of people to it. And at least from the first bunch of pages, it does have a different vibe, at least from the first person narrative.

Which funny enough got it's official US release on dvd/blu ray( both films as the book has been in american print since 2000 and the manga was in print ) this week. The timing of it all

[StoneGold]

No worries, I'm pretty thick skinned. Unless I think someone is an idiot....I can't abide that.

I agree a lot of stuff I like is thematically similar, but when I had the book described to me all I could think was, "This is just a mashup of a bunch of movies and stories I've already read/seen." It's sudden popularity seemed strange to me. But I've been wrong plenty of times in the past.

Still, I feel better having qualified. Besides, this way, we can actually talk about it, instead of arguing about it. Just a feeling, but if I had left the statement the way it was... look, we might not be throwing things at each other, but we might not be talking as civil, either. And really, there are plenty of ways, with a little more specificity, to lower any hypocrisy in the statement. Maybe you're just tired of that genre? Although I do think a lot of it is the geek side of hipster, I knew it back when it was cool, but now that you know it, it's not. But one more post-apocalyptic snuff game show...

Which funny enough got it's official US release on dvd/blu ray( both films as the book has been in american print since 2000 and the manga was in print ) this week. The timing of it all

Well, less funny, more calculated. I guess it's been long enough that the "Oh my god, they're killing kids!" thing is dead. Almost feels quaint now. Although I've had a DVD copy since forever.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

I've only seen the movies.


Someone gave me the run down on Hunger Games and it just seems like a story I've seen a million times. If a few of my friends like it I may check it out, but so far nothing I've seen interests me. Though I've heard the sequels move into another direction.

Check out the manga of Battle Royale, x10000000000 times better than the movie could ever be. The movie is a pale and weak compared to the manga.

[RolandJP]

I agree with Stonegold. DOnt discount something because there has been other versions of it.

I mean Battle royal is an homage to 14 or fight. And loads of other teen angst/being hunted books and films.

Thanks to my peeps for pointing this out. Ironically this generation went on to become one of the most conservative and racially intolerant.

[Genki Sudo]

Saw Hunger Games and it was pretty good. I thought that when Woody, Lenny and Stanley came on camera they pretty much stole the show and when that one death happens I don't think there was a dry eye in the place( when leaving I over heard a guy telling his wife that he knew the death was hard to take in the book but it really got to him in the movie ).

Was also nice to see a good portion of every race in all the districts and capitol

[Greg Anderson]

Anyoen pick up the new issue of Darkness? David Hine and Jeremy Haun are the new team and have a fine first issue. There's an awesome African character named Aram, the Witch-King. He was created in Phil Hester's run and looks like he's gonna continue to play an awesome role in the series.

http://thedarkness.wikia.com/wiki/Aram





A few of us here are familiar with Hine's work. He's written some great black characters in the past. Al Simmons (Spawn), Michael Lane (Azrael), Bishop and the cast of District X.

[FanboyStranger]

Anyoen pick up the new issue of Darkness? David Hine and Jeremy Haun are the new team and have a fine first issue. There's an awesome African character named Aram, the Witch-King. He was created in Phil Hester's run and looks like he's gonna continue to play an awesome role in the series.
.

I haven't gotten to my LCS this week, but I'm definitely picking this up. I've never liked The Darkness, but I'm a major fan of both Hine and Haun.

[Kasper Cole]

Greg, is it a decent jumping on point for someone who hasn't read the title before?

[Greg Anderson]

Greg, is it a decent jumping on point for someone who hasn't read the title before?

Yep, most definite. The issue opens up with a few pages to get you up to speed.

[Greg Anderson]

I haven't gotten to my LCS this week, but I'm definitely picking this up. I've never liked The Darkness, but I'm a major fan of both Hine and Haun.

Just wait till you see this issue, man. It definitely looks like they're gonna push forth the horror aspect with this book. Their Arkham Asylum work was top notch, wasn't it?

[Captain Clarkie]

This seems a good place to post this. Remember the UK riots last year? Bill O'Reilly and others tried to make out they were race riots. This was an over simplification, the ethnicity of those convicted (far too fast) was something along the lines of 51% "White" 49% "Other", though I can't find the link, it is out there. Characterising these Riots as a purely Race thing is an attempt at divide and conquer. It should be treated as the atavistic ignorance that it is. The Riots were about having nothing, and in this brave new world, everyone can have nothing. I dislike Plan B, but this new tune he's done sums the situation up perfectly, and in language that a lot of people have found frightening-

[Kid Kamikaze10]

He's not that great rapping wise, but I want that beat.


And yeah, I think he summed it up pretty well, comparing that with what the media tries to say, and what my relatives say really went down.

[Captain Clarkie]

He's not that great rapping wise

Yeah, he can't sing either. It's why I dislike him, that's a fairly acceptable rap from him though. He's an actor too. I like that he's had the balls to throw his commercial appeal in the face of the tabloids, and address these kind of issues in the mainstream.
I guess the difference between the US and the UK is that over here there is less segregation of race because there isn't the space, it's more rich vs poor across the board. Not to say that there isn't racism, far from it, but in large UK populations, divide and conquer via race seems a bit harder , because we have a fifth of the population of the US on less than a tenth of the US land mass.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

He's not that great rapping wise, but I want that beat.

That beat ain't that great either

[Johnny P. Sartre]

Ain't this a motherfucker

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...obama-2nd-term

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...un-target.html

In recent weeks it has been Santorum making offensive gaffes while on the campaign trail but today one supporter stepped in to do it for him.
While rallying support at a police gun range in Louisiana today one Santorum fan shouted from the crowd ‘Pretend it’s Obama’ as the GOP candidate fired a gun at a target.