for those who don't know, M.O.D.O.K. stands for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing. Check out more on this dynamic hipster at http://www.ludickid.com/modok.htm or at Last Gasp Publishing's website, here:
http://www.lastgasp.com/1/
tonight's ep of Dinner for Five hosted by Jon Favreau featured an eclectic crowd as usual: Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Berg, Buzz Bissinger and Brian Grazer. Always been a fan of Berg (both as an actor and director), plus Thornton is constantly amusing (he was decked out in full gangsta gear for the diner at LA's Le Meridian). Anyway, the thing that shocked me about the show was how producer Brian Grazer (24, Friday Night Lights) actually won me over. I always thought he was a tool - no particular reason, other than I can't stand his spiky faux-Iggy Pop hair do and the fact that his name is attached to everything under the California sun. But he was actually very down to earth, self-deprecating and humble on the show and spoke with great conviction about making films and television that other people didn't want to look at twice. If you can catch it, do so.
also, on the comic-book-front, I am about 1/2 way through the first volume of Walter Simonson's masterful run on Thor from Marvel back in the 80s. I wasn't a big Marvel-kid growing up, expect for the X-men and the Punisher, so I never caught this on the stands and it took me twenty years and countless articles before I shelled out the cash for the new collected editions of the material. Damn good stuff. I loved Simonson ever since his work on the Detective Comics back-ups of Manhunter from the late 70s, but this surpasses even that. Later in the week I will try to upload some of the mind blowing artwork.
So, after a month off for the work on NaNoWriMo, I took an additional month off because I am a lazy bastard. Anyway, with the new year arrived in one piece, I will try for at least weekly updates with the Weekly 5 and a review or interesting weblink here and there.
Let's start it off with the Weekly 5 Year End Review:
Scan It: Best Graphic Novel or Comic of the Year: My vote goes to Brian K. Vaughn's and tony Harris's Ex Machina. A mix of political commentary and superhero action, with just the right amount of wise-ass comedy, this book rocks consistently. Fantastic art by Harris (the best stuff he's done since his seminal run on Starman) only adds to the high quality of this book.
Read It: The final three volumes of Stephen King's Dark Tower series is hands down the winner. Among the three, I have to pick Wolves of the Calla as the best.
Listen to It: Three way tie here for me: Mission of Burma's On off On, Mike Watt The Secondman's Middle Stand, and finally, even though I don't think it came out this year, I got it this year, so My Morning Jacket's It Still Moves. Rock.
View It: Easy-peasy Japanesy -- Movie: Hellboy: the new special edition dvd makes it that much better. TV: Lost: more intense than a bowel movement after a latenight session at Wes's Rib House.
Bookmark It: Shameless plug time: www.forcesofgood.com - Sure, there was only one issue this past year, but the online pop culture mag/authority figure will be back in February with an all new format and daily updates, plus weekly reviews of all the hottest films, books, comics, and more. Check back for the new launch date!
So, first in for the year, let me know what you call Tops in your own little spacepods. Comment and tell me what made you squirm in '04.
