“Some of the gross stuff Brody does is loosely based on a few girls I’ve had in my life over the years. I’ve known a handful of grubby, letting-it-all-hang-out, skanky, unshowered, nasty, crass, jerk-ass, nose-picking girls who played important roles in my life in the past, the kind of girl who shows up at your door and the only thing you can say is ‘try some deodorant’ and then in response she wipes a booger on your leg. The book was originally going to be much raunchier and grosser with much more profanity and overall vulgarity, it was going to be me writing about these girls from my life, and there’s still a lot of that in the book, but it did get toned down a lot. I guess it’s good to see that people still seem to be repulsed by the characters. But aside from her specific vulgarities, most of Brody’s personality is made up from scratch. I find that a good mix of both make for the best characters.”
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America’s Best Dance Crew: Season TwoJuly 2nd, 2008 by Kayode Kendall 1 Comment » Ah, one of the very few reasons to even watch MTV finally returns! From the first time I watched it, I found America’s Best Dance Crew to be easily more enjoyable than So You Think You Can Dance, and definitely more enjoyable than Dancing with the Stars, which I just found corny as hell! It just seems to have a lot more fun with the whole “competitive reality show” concept, and what can I say, Layla Kayleigh is too damn hot for her own good. Notice how all these shows employ hot British women as co-hosts? In any event, I didn’t watch all of season one, but what I did catch, I enjoyed, although the popularity of Status Quo baffled me. Naturally, it didn’t matter, because after the first two or three weeks, the Jabbawockeez would prove to be the crew to beat, and ultimately could not be taken down. The synchronization of their dance moves and their overall showmanship left me mesmerized. Now, the show returns with some new crews looking to prove they’re the best in the country. ASIID (Detroit, MI) – At the moment, they’re one of the most consistently good crews on the show, at least in my opinion. They work great as a cohesive group, and the even split of men and women lends itself to a lot of stuff you probably couldn’t get away with in a crew where everyone’s the same gender. They did this great bit where the ladies seductively led the men around like dogs. I’m a sucker for stuff like that. Another factor to consider is that one of their members is deaf. It just makes their routines that much more impressive to watch, as he makes it look entirely too easy. Boogie Bots (Washington, DC) – I want to root for these guys, being that they’re from my area, but I’m not entirely impressed by them just yet. They were in danger of elimination last night, but did an impressive job with the video challenge. I’m still waiting for them to do something to really wow me, though. I do agree with the criticism that for a group called the “Boogie Bots”, they haven’t really done much that’s evocative of the name. Fanny Pack (Los Angeles) – I like them ‘cause they’re different. They’re goofy as hell, and look like they fell out of a Delorean. The whole 80s/Valley thing really sets them apart from most of the other crews that are more of the b-boy/breaker variety. Beyond that, they’ve got some pretty impressive moves. Although I think they’re second routine could have been better. The challenges are going to get a lot more inventive, and I want to see if they can adapt. Sass x 7 (Piscataway, NJ) – How this crew made it into the top ten is beyond me. I may want variety in the crews represented on the show, but these chicks were little more than a glorified cheerleading squad. Hearing them talk about wanting to be taken serious as a dance crew was even more comical, as they CONTINUED to pull off moves that immediately make you think of a cheerleading squad!! It was like Vanilla Ice making the case for how different the music in “Ice Ice Baby” was compared to Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure”!! Miraculously, they got enough votes in the first week to stay out of the bottom two, but America quickly came to their senses, placing them in the bottom two for week two. Their routine emulating the choreography from Britney Spears’ “Slave for You” video was almost painful to watch. It actually made me appreciate the days when Spears was still a worthy piece of jailbait! Distorted X (Houston, TX) – The first crew to fall, and a damn shame as they were infinitely better than Sass x 7. Now these chicks could do some sexy dancing!! I’ll never forget when they ended their first routine with the one girl who did one of those b-boy style handstands, and held it while one of the male crew members gave her a passionate smack on her bottom!! Little things like that gave me high hopes for the crew, but alas, it was not meant to be. Phresh Select (Philadelphia, PA) – Ignoring the fact that they sound like a fast food specialty item, these guys definitely have some moves. And they’re all about helping the kiddies, isn’t that sweet?!? After two near-flawless performances, I’m looking for them to do even better this week. Supreme Soul (San Francisco, CA) – They’re certainly one of the more charming crews on the show, as evident from their Video Challenge performance. They seem to already have a pretty favorable reputation among the other breaking/b-boy crews around the country, but I’m not ready to predict them as favorites just yet. So Real Cru (Houston, TX) – Comparisons to Kaba Modern from last season are unavoidable. But if we’re being real here, these guys have yet to prove that they’re on their level. This is another mixed crew of guys and girls, and I’d say they girls in the crew are holding their own better than they male mates. Having to do the boring-ass choreography from Usher’s “Love In This Club” video for week two didn’t help, either. They may be a little too fluid, and too reliant on tricks than actual solid dance moves. Xtreme Dance Force (Naperville, IL) – Suburban prepsters with something to prove, and it shows! This crew’s weakness is that they just try too damn hard. They’re good at strict, uniform choreography, but they really need to learn to loosen up. There’s just so much force and stiffness to their moves that it’s like they’re trying to kick through a wall half the time. And admittedly, they all look like tools. They all look like those guys in high school that had to do a whole lot to look like pretty boys, because they weren’t attractive on their own, but flashed enough of daddy’s money to get all the girls, anyway. We all HATED those kinds of guys, and I think that hatred will affect how the crew is viewed. Super Cr3w (Las Vegas) – As it stands, I’d be willing to wager that these are the guys to beat in this competition. They certainly matched the showmanship of the Jabbawockeez with their first week routine, done to James Brown, and dressed as ninjas! They certainly know how to work an audience and use the stage for all its worth. Their moves are very solid and energetic, and the level of intricacy when they dance together is very impressive. They manage to look like they’re just having fun, while maintaining their focus. Note for next year: we need more b-boying ninjas, dammit!! Far as I’m concerned, Super Cr3w is a lock for the finals. I’ll be very surprised if that turns out not to be the case. So, who would they go up against? I’d say right now, Phresh Select and Supreme Soul are the other top crews on the show, and I could see one of them possibly getting into the finals, more so than the rest. AOL’s Top 25 black superhero list is a whole lotta crapJuly 2nd, 2008 by Rich Watson 3 Comments Blankman ranks higher than Black Panther. Meteor Man ranks higher than Luke Cage. Way too much emphasis on TV and film. But at least their number one choice is a decent one. I mean, c’mon, you or I could make a better list than this without even thinking hard. Dabels’ latest adaptation: Jordan’s Wheel of TimeJuly 2nd, 2008 by Rich Watson No Comments » Mosley, Banks, Barnes, others part of Darker Mask anthologyJuly 2nd, 2008 by Rich Watson 1 Comment » “It’s interesting to see the parallels reviewers are drawing to The Darker Mask and something like the new film Hancock or the show Heroes. Ordinary folks? Yeah. Disgruntled, alcoholic super-powered ex-crusaders? Sure. But that’s just the broadest possible cut. Slice it thinner and deeper you see people of color, you see people drained of hope—perhaps homeless, out of rehab…criminals or scumbags possibly in their own right. My story for example takes place in Darfur. Sleepers author (and screenplay collaborator with Barry Levinson) Lorenzo Carcaterra’s ‘hero’ is a ’strega’—think Italian female witchdoctor, malocchio and all—in a Mafia-controlled Manhattan slum, circa 1950. So yes, our stuff is more visceral, gritty. Not necessarily happy or heroic endings because our ‘heroes’—and you can see it in the artwork—are not happy or heroic people. More like real life!” Also: Gary Phillips, who is one of the editors of Darker Mask, talks about his new comic High Rollers. Manhwa Review: I-Doll, Vol. 1July 2nd, 2008 by Chloe Ferguson No Comments » I-Doll, Vol.1By Mi-Ae Choi
Oh, the plot indulgence—because community service is clearly too old school for the new breed of delinquency. All willing suspension of disbelief aside, I-Doll proves a moderately enjoyable title that is much better than it looks. Granted, the main leads are hardly groundbreaking, with Na-rae as the obligatory obstinate girl and Ji-Yoo Lee and Nyung-Goo Kang filling out the roles of “troubled prodigy” and “prickly fighter” respectively, but there’s a touch of originality here that pumps some substance into them. The majority of volume one is dedicated to setting up the character dynamics for the next installment, primarily by introducing various side characters with conflicting designs on the leads and, of course, forming the band. Most surprisingly, the title seems to have an almost shojo bent—something you’d never guess from its dark cover graphic and categorization as “comedy.” The primary speaker is Na-Rae, the resident girl, and a flashback to past trauma in her life coupled with sisterly troubles seems to indicate that her baggage is the first up to be unloaded. Having seen plenty of shojo, the makings of future love polygons seem at hand, which (when coupled with the disproportionate number of attractive males floating around) seem to have all the trappings of a title with a more girl-oriented lead. Conceivably it appeals to a male audience, but the closest parallel is undeniably seoung-jun manhwa. The art seems to agree with this, as the polygonal sparkles and lighter screentones are out in full force. The art has much in common with other Korean titles, from sharper character angles to its generally unobtrusive vibe. There’s no reason to linger, but the art never detracts. The primary beef should be with Tokyopop’s handling of the title, as the cover design does it no favors. (It’s one of the chapter pages retouched with a rather glaring aqua blue digital brush.) Tokyopop: this title could sell with girls, but not if you hide its nature so thoroughly they’d have to read it to figure that out! I-Doll may not be a masterpiece of creative wit, but it does engage and entertain on a basic enough level to be worth a read. Tokyopop’s catalogue can be a bit of a downer, making I-Doll stand apart if only because of its perfectly readable, perfectly likeable nature. There’s the promise of more tension and plenty of drama in future volumes as the band progresses on its path to success, and while the ending is predictable already, this doesn’t per se make the journey irredeemable. This may be one to watch—although it would help if they could make sure the right demographic is watching it… Volume one of I-Doll is available now. Live stream of Hancock premiere tonight!July 1st, 2008 by Rich Watson No Comments » Begins at 6M PST. Download the widget to watch it here. Comics for July 2 and newsJuly 1st, 2008 by Rich Watson No Comments » Turning Points: Little Rock Nine GN A new graphic novel about desegration in the 1950s and the integration of the Arkansas school system, designed for younger readers. Water Baby GN A graphic novel about surfing, sharks, and ex-boyfriends. The Complete K Chronicles TP Dark Horse collects Keith Knight’s award-winning comic strip series in one volume. Also this week: Also notable: More news from Wizard World Chicago: Chriscross is working on a new book. An analysis of the film and graphic novel Wanted from a racial angle. Jamal Igle talks about his upcomig stint on Supergirl. Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca’s book Street Angel was a surprise hit, but now they’re having fun with a spin-off character from the book called Afrodisiac. Check out this webcomic with him. Guest Review: Dragon Ball Z: Burst LimitJuly 1st, 2008 by PCSbot No Comments » Our latest guest review comes from Christina, one of the main contributors to the popular Naruto Gang blog. She takes a look at Dragonball Z: Burst Limit, a videogame tie-in with the wildly popular anime and manga series. For more of Christina’s thoughts on anime, manga, videogames, and cosplay, visit her website at http://www.thenarutogang.com/blogs. Dragon Ball Z: Burst LimitAtari
The tutorial and trial modes are all that you need to understand how the game works. The trial mode is not so easy, though, as you’ll have to beat 100 characters with only a little help from the health bar to restore your energy. If you finish the Z-Chronicles before entering the trial mode, you’ll have more unlocked characters and more drama cards to use. The training mode is a great help in learning more complicated moves. Note that the attacks are not character-specific, so what goes for one character goes for them all, and speed counts for more than agility. That said, I still recommend that you take the time to play through the training mode, as you’ll have more strategies and moves to choose from. To unlock the extras and the higher levels of difficulties, you’ll need a second player. I like the option to play the “versus mode” that enables you to play against a second person (or the computer’) on- or offline.
While it’s always fun to beat players sitting next to you, playing online can be much more competitive. Your scores are saved and the ranked matches will enable you to find players of similar ability. There’s just one drawback: if you play against someone in another country, expect delays and breaks in the action unless you both have a really good internet connection. For me, the best thing in the game is the graphics. The visuals are brilliant and it is really clear that the game is based on a Japanese animated series. You’re going to feel at times as if you are looking at the anime. Everything flows beautifully: the fast character movements, the drama cards, the scene changes. The sound design isn’t quite as good as the visuals. The heavy metal soundtrack suits the game, but was a little too heavy on the ears for me. The English voices are not really natural, but if you’re used to seeing the dubbed anime, you might be immune. I even tried the Japanese mode with the English subtitles but returned to the English version soon enough. There are more than 50 fights, but for the most part they are over in a couple of minutes due to the fast tempo of the game. You’ll find long dialogues only in few of them. If you want to play the game for longer periods of time, try going online or playing the harder difficulties levels as they would unlock more options that you’ll be able to use in the games. If you’re a fan of the Dragon Ball Z anime or manga, you’re going to love the games. Little surprises make the game extra fun, but if you’re just in for the fights, it can be a little frustrating. The official website: Previews for July ‘08June 30th, 2008 by Rich Watson No Comments » BOOK OF THE MONTH: The Japanese manga of the legend of blues guitarist Robert Johnson comes to America in this new edition from Del Rey. Also notable: The list: |
Ji-Yoo Lee is caught gambling illegally. Na-rae is busted for a concert brawl. Hyung-Goo Kang is put down for street fighting. One night, three police writeups and a few phone calls later, all three students find themselves caught up in a decidedly different reform program: starting a rock band. The brainchild of their beleaguered principal, the band is supposed to build friendship and civility amongst its participants, but brash attitudes, blood enmity and a few killer right hooks are hardly conducive to great music. Can an obstinate group of delinquents pull together a group? Or perhaps more importantly, can they afford not to?
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is a real action game, with very little story and a lot of fighting. (The game uses a short exchange of insults as a trigger for the fights.) Not to worry if you’re a fan of the anime—the drama cards link the game directly to the cartoon and are a nice reminder of the story. These drama cards are introduced as the game progresses and enable rest, recharging the player’s Ki, and other fun stuff. The cards stop the game and switch it to a cut scene that seems to be taken directly from the cartoon. When the player is rested and his Ki is full, he opens for attacks again.
