Great Time to be an old Geek

Its been a weird week for me. Its a week where we lost some BIG BIG BIG names in Star Trek fandom. I mean, Robert Walker, Jr. (Charlie X), D.C. Fontana and last night, Rene Auberjonois left us. Its odd for me as a man in his 40s now, watching his heroes slowly retire, drift away or pass away. In a world that is constantly telling you to "grow up" or that movies, comics and games are things for children... its pressure. And I would be lying to you if I said I never agree. Because sometimes I do. That maybe I had these things and I had my time with them. Those times are over and I have to move on.

But if you look around my home, you'll see its filled up as an entire museum of my life. Especially my early years. I have toys on the wall. I have in boxed Nintendo games. I have shelves and shelves of DVDs, Blu-Rays, Comics, Books, Magazines, LPs, CDs and so many other things. I still drink out of Star Trek 3 Taco Bell glasses from 1984. I watch old cartoons like The Real Ghostbusters or Scooby Doo. I play Mario and Ghostbusters for Ps4. On and on and on. I'm a giant man-child and I don't think I will ever grow up. I've come to terms with that and I like that about myself. I think my kids like that about me too. We share in these things together. Lately I've been turning my youngest into a Ghostbusters fanatic. He's got a jumpsuit and a proton pack and he plays the video game constantly. He's got toys for it and we watch the cartoon together. Its awesome!

The geeks have grown up and now they are making the media. Some get it right, some miss the mark of what made that thing so great. But really, it doesn't matter. We have SO MUCH of the right thing. Like STAR TREK. Okay, so older fans don't enjoy the new stuff. But we have so many old episodes, books, comics that get it right. I'm willing to bet that all the ranty fans online haven't seen or read all of it. Why focus on the bad? And okay, I wasn't a fan of the 2016 Ghostbusters movie. I gave it an honest chance but I felt like it wasn't funny and it missed the mark. There were things I liked about it, but ultimately, I wasn't into it. That is okay. Did I need to go online and threaten the makers or the actresses in it? Of course not. Why do people do that? I don't get it.

Perhaps the best thing about me growing older is that not only did I never leave these things, but I also left my elitism behind. I remember a younger, angrier version of me who judged anyone who didn't like this movie or that band.  I sometimes playfully act that way in front of younger co-workers who talk excitedly about anime or Pokemon and I say, "Whats a Pokemon?" Cause it is funny to "play" like I'm an old angry man, just barely tolerating the youngsters around me. But inside I am enjoying that they like something. They can dress up and play and collect, just like I did. Its actually awesome. It feels good to have let go of my elitism and put down the swords of a gatekeeper of the old cool things, so that when someone asks about it, I'm not all, "you weren't there for that and its only for me!" I'm more like, "wow... you got so much cool shit you missed out on. Let me show you." And I'm really happy to open the door for anyone who wants to check it out. I think its a much better way to be.

As I look to my left I got a shelf with an Enterprise ship and an Ecto-1 car on it. Both are screen accurate and immaculate looking. If I had these things as a kid, I woulda lost my mind. But I have them now. My kids have them. For all the wrongs that happen, there is a lot of right things to embrace as well. So why dwell in the negative? I am entertained by the ranters and naysayers who tap into the anger and use it as entertainment. Like the RED LETTER MEDIA youtube folks, or the ANGRY VIDEO GAME NERD. That is for entertainment. But those actual ranters... the ones who boycott and threaten and use their anger to spread hate and vitriol everywhere.... that I don't get. What is that? How can you spend your time dwelling in that head space? I feel sorry for you. Cause there is so much good shit out there. All you gotta do is go find it!

Aging is weird. Everyday I wake up, someone I liked is gone. A project I like ends. A creative team I liked has left a project. But then, new cool shit comes up. Its refreshed. Reborn. Because there will always be cool things to come. I can't tell you how excited I am for the rest of the season of The Mandalorian. or Star Wars Episode Nine. Or Star Trek Picard. Or Ghostbusters Afterlife. or the Creed movies. On and on and on.

Being an old geek ain't so bad. Drop the hate an enjoy it. There's no better time than now.

-T

A Hundred Thoughts at Once

Hello friends!

I don't get much of a chance to write blogs as much as I used to. Just have been in heavy production with the new KICKSTARTER FOR STARSLAM BOOK 4 and commissions. Also my PATREON PAGE. Plus day job taking up lots of time. It is necessary though. I've just been busy. Looking forward to a vacation we will be taking to Lake Michigan in September for a couple nights of camping. To get away from it all is very much desired. I'm looking forward to some peace and quiet and nature surrounding me. Just disconnect and get away from it all. That is what I need!

My mind is so busy lately. So much going on. So many things that attempt to bring me down. I got a new sketchbook yesterday and it exploded into some sketches, writings and single panel comics all in one day. I've done this sort of thing since high school. I write poems, do quick sketches, to do lists and other various notes and ideas I hope to one day get to. I think I have about twelve fully loaded sketchbooks full of things. Maybe someday my kids will read them. But I've wrote some DARK shit in those. I hope they don't think I was a massive depressive person all my life! Usually my sketchbooks are for therapy. I get out the crap I am feeling. Seems like something new is always around the corner to come along and try to fuck me up. But that's life, isn't it?

Things are okay. My bills are paid. My Kickstarter is off to a good start. I'm pretty sure things will keep rolling and it will get funded. Its slowly trickling together. I'm damn proud of it. My colorist is working extra hard to get things rolling with me and he's kicking so much ass. I have some friends doing pinups and fan art for the book and beyond. Its incredible to see! I'm truly blessed in these things.

This week, this album turns 25 years old:

This is an album in my top 10 of all time. I got turned onto it by my friend Tim, to whom I am forever grateful for that. It took me a while to fully listen to it beyond a casual listen. I pulled it out while I was in some down times back in 2015. I call it the "soundtrack to my divorce" album. It was my therapy. It helped me fall in love again. I owe a lot to this album. I became a total Jeff Buckley fan, chasing down every live CD/DVD, his demos of his unreleased second album. I have all the Record Store Day releases too. Just a month ago I found the LEGACY edition with the extra disc and DVD full of videos and documentaries. Jeff was that soul of a poet whose life was taken from us way too soon. But man, what an album to leave behind. So fucking great.

Currently also I have been listening to this:

I saw the movie in the theaters a couple weeks ago and I absolutely loved it. My favorite of the year so far. The soundtrack comes complete with radio ramp ups and commercials. You toss it on and its like you are cruising around in 1969. I know people are trying to assign a certain agenda and crap to Tarantino now, but I think the man is just wonderful. He is my favorite modern director out there. I love all of his films. My favorites being Kill Bill and Jackie Brown. Just fucking awesome.

I don't get out to the comic shop much but I am absolutely loving the new YEAR FIVE Star Trek series from IDW. The art and writing on it are top fucking notch. I think I practically own every single STAR TREK comic that is out there. These new ones are greatness. Total wood.

And I am still diving through STAR TREK DISCOVERY, despite my initial reaction to it. I am almost done with the first season. As a show, I like it. As a STAR TREK show, I don't. But I do watch it. I like most of the characters. I just try to not pay attention that it is a Star Trek prequel and just think its an alternate timeline. Much like I think STAR TREK PICARD will be. But hey, at least I am getting new Star Trek. I'll take it.

So many cool things are coming. A BREAKING BAD movie, THE MANDALORIAN, STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, GHOSTBUSTERS REMASTERED for PS4, LINKS AWAKENING and DRAGON QUEST 11 for Switch... I'm just bursting. Good shit is on the way! I can't wait.

I got big things coming up. I got this current Kickstarter that is running. Then Fantasticon Mt. Pleasant in October. A nice vacation in September and of course HALLOWEEN SEASON all the fall! Greatness just around the corner. For now, I just gotta clean house, keep drawing and enjoy the ride. Keep that depression and the toxic people at bay. I'm doing a good job of it so far. But man sometimes it is so hard.

I'm trying, folks. I really am.

Cheers, T

Vintage TOY Memories

For you toy nerds, this will be a fun one.

I decided to run down some of my favorite toy lines from when I was a kid. Now, I will say up front there are a couple major toylines that everyone loves that I had none of. That being TRANSFORMERS and GI JOE. I wasn't into Transformers, although I do recall having a couple GOBOT toys from Mcd Happy Meals. And GI JOE I wasn't allowed to get into because it "promoted war and it was against our religion." So it goes.

But I don't say that to knock my parents at all. They bought me a shit-ton of toys when I was a kid. When I sometimes find old toys on con tables or in vintage antique toy magazines, I'm always remembering, "Wow I had that!" I had a lot of toys. (Thanks mom and dad) But I thought I would highlight some of my favorite toylines and give some of my memories about them:

Of course it all starts with KENNER's Star Wars toys with me. I was born in 78, so I didn't see STAR WARS until it came out on Betamax home video around 1982 or 83. But of course, I loved the movies. So as the movies came out on home video and I also read the kid's books and had the books on record covering the movies and the side fictions, I made my own stories up too with these figures. I still have around 16 of my original Star Wars figures too. Those were my BUZZ and WOODY of my life, I suppose. My favorite figure was my Endor Han Solo. I had the original Han Solo, but his head broke off the first day I had him. My mom tried to glue his head back on but it didn't work. So I had a headless Han Solo! I had a ton of the figures and the Falcon, Landspeeder and not much else vehicle-wise. Truly, the best of times.

In the 90s I had a complete set of the POWERS OF THE FORCE line. Now I just have the orange backs and some of the green ones of characters I like. I have a few random 40th anniversary, vintage collection, black series (small and large) and others. Its very piecemeal but I get what I enjoy.

While STAR WARS was in my life first, I discovered STAR TREK shortly after and it became my favorite thing, as many of you know. When I was a kid, TREK toys were severely lacking. I missed the 70s Megos but I did have a few of the MOTION PICTURE Mego figures. And I had all the ERTL Trek 3 figures. I had to make my own accessories out of cardboard. I had about 85% of all the episodes all dubbed onto Betamax compilations, and those were edited for TV. So when I got the DVDs later in life, I saw all these additional scenes. They still take me aback for a second when I see them now cause I saw those older tv versions over and over and over. They are drilled in there!

In 1987, TNG came out and I had all the Galoob figures and the aliens. I didn't have any of the vehicles and they teased playsets on the back of the packaging but they never came out. The toyline was cancelled before they released them! But I had them all and still have some of them loose. I had a few of the Playmates toys in the 90s but by then I was in my teens and into video games more and out of toys. But I do have a bunch in the box now. Not a complete collection by a longshot, but quite a few!

Probably the toyline I was most into and had the most of was He-Man. I think I had every figure up until She-Ra kinda took off. I had a lot of the vehicles and play sets too. Castle Greyskull and Snake Mountain. Attack Trak and Mashor... I had a ton of them. I loved the toyline a lot. Eventually when I grew up, my mom gave all my toys to a friend of hers for her young son. I wish I still had some of them, honestly. In the box, some of those are worth MAJOR money. Luckily they will be re-released next year. I think I might snag a couple for old time's sake. I do have one He-Man out of the box just for the shelf. Cause why not.

Of course I am a major Ghostbusters fan and I loved the REAL GHOSTBUSTERS cartoon. I had a lot of the major figures, ghosts and the Ecto-1. The last Christmas I had as a kid I got the Firehouse HQ. I didn't even know it was a thing but my parents bought it. Despite that there wasn't much to the toy, I loved that thing. I still have a couple of them. These are VERY expensive in the box. So I will have to work up to getting them. I'm sure the fever for them will only increase when the new GB movie comes out. One of my favorites of all time.

I was big into PEE WEE HERMAN as a kid too. I had everything you see in this pic above. But I don't have any of them anymore. I am not even sure what happened to them. Probably went to that same kid who got my He-Man toys. I miss these guys.

In the late 80s, a RAMBO cartoon came out and lasted maybe a season. But I had about 5 of the figures from it. Plus a helicopter and a playset. It was an awesome toyline! And I loved how they had his chest scars from FIRST BLOOD PART 2.

I don't talk about it much but in the 80s I got into WWF wrestling. I watched from around 1987 to like 1992. Then for a year or two around the WCW NITRO era. I had a bunch of the old bendable figures, the giant unbendable figures and then these stiff ones came out. I saved up allowance money to buy the ring and steel cage for the figures. Old skool wrestling is something I toss on while I am drawing once in a while. I can't get into modern wrestling. I've tried. Something about the cheese and innocence of the 80s storylines and characters I enjoyed a lot. 

The last official toyline I got into before I got serious into video games was TMNT. I had all the classic figures and the Turtle Van. I was way into the cartoon as well. But it slowly turned into the 90s and things like Nintendo and grunge music was turning my attention away from toys. I don't have any of these guys anymore. I wish I did.

So there you go. Just a quick run through memory lane from me. I wish I still had all these figures. Cause getting them again, complete in box will all cost major major money! But for now I watch youtube unboxers and collectors and also look at people's vintage toy collection pics and videos to remember and enjoy that I am not alone in how I feel. I have many toys that are opened for my kids to enjoy and I have a bunch hanging on their walls. But they don't really seem interested in action figures like I was. Its all ipads, youtube videos and video games. So maybe it is all dying out once we old fogies croak. And these in box toys can go to that great antique store in the sky... or a landfill with Atari games!

Luvs, T

CHRISTMAS 2018

Some picture highlights of my Christmas 2018:

Belle Belle says: MEOW HUMBUG!

Santa really poured it on this year!

Lily loves the empty boxes.

Watching my boys open their presents is always a delight!

Above: My gifts from my lovely in-laws and my lovely fiancee Santa D! They know me so well.

I ended the day making Ham, Green Beans, Biscuits, Dumplings and Potatoes using my mom's mixer and Gloria's rolling pin. Its like they are with me every time I cook those meals for my family!

I spent the rest of Xmas drinking booze, playing games and chatting. It was a fun day. Now back to the day job grind for the rest of the week. Gotta get ramped up for the end of the year and get some stuff off of my TO DO list! Here's hoping!

Merry Holidays to all of you. Thanks for your support.

--T

TOYS!

No depressing shit this time. Let's get nerdy and talk about TOYS!

I am a few months from hitting the big 4-0. And as I move closer, I realize that I am starting to wake up to my age a bit. More grey hair comes daily. Carpal tunnel. Digestion issues. Gonna have to start taking a finger in the ass to check the prostate and so on. That is part of life. What I'm also finding, is that being an aging nerd is a mental wrestling match.

For example, I went to Toys R Us a couple weeks ago because I had a few spare bucks and thought I'd treat myself to a random toy. I was in there early in the a.m. and I noticed people were looking at me. Suddenly it dawned on me: I'm almost 40 and buying a toy for myself at the toy store. Why am I doing this? Am I a big kid or something?? And why reward myself with a toy like I am a fucking kid?

Embarrassed, I left. Reaching out to social media, people tried to sway my initial reaction and encouraging me to embrace my nerdy side, go back in and get something. Well, I didn't. But the thoughts remained. So I started looking at the toys in my collection that somehow have been dragged with me from place to place over the years. Some of which are going for pretty good money now. Then I thought back to all the STAR TREK toys I used to have and have let go via ebay over the years. I had a complete set of the ERTL Star Trek 3 figures in box. I had all the TNG Galoob Figures in box. I had about 8 of the STAR TREK MEGO Motion Picture figures from the 70s in the box. The 2007 re-release Diamond Select MEGO reprints, all the crew and aliens.... all gone. And now to recoop them, I'd have to pay out the nose, whereas at the time I sold them for maybe half of what I paid for them. Stupid.

I regret letting them go. A few years ago I opened a lot of my toys so my boys could play with them. Scotty being autistic, doesn't care so much about toys at all. James does play with them, but his current obsession over the last couple years has been vacuums. Its literally all he talks about. My oldest son is nerdy like his dad, but in a different way. He's into online gaming PCs and anime stuff. Both worlds, I honestly don't know much about.

So, sometimes it feels like I'm a man out of time. I'm a big child. Approaching 40. Financially, I could buy a toy or two that I'd want now. I don't have many "high end" toys like SIDESHOW or HOT TOY figures. The most expensive one I've bought was a Matty Collector 12" Egon from Ghostbusters. Its out of the box and standing on a shelf with the rest of my Ghostbusters figures and cars I have in the box. I did recently get a Han Solo of the new Star Wars 40th Anniversary re-release figures. And I got a large format The THING from Marvel Legends. Other than that, a few tubs of random toys. Some are worth money. Most of them, not.

I'm at the point now where I am starting to ask: Do I let all of these things go and abandon these child like tendencies? Because my kids don't care about them. I sometimes feel stupid and childish for drooling over them. What do I want to do?

In the end, I cannot deny it. I'm a nerd. And I'm of the age where they are making good looking toys and I can afford them. I'm not going to run out and spend thousands on toys, but I will enjoy a purchase or two down the road. (but NO Funko Pops! Okay???)

I think this is okay. I am comfortable with it. Most of my collecting is nostalgia. Old Cds/records, NES/SNES video games, old STARLOG and MAD magazines, DVDs/Blu-rays, rare VHS tapes, STAR TREK vintage things, posters, old books, stickers and other rarities. I think I have enough room in my heart to keep my toy obsession alive for the time being. And maybe even kick it up a notch. I look at these premium figures and other toys and think, "MAN! I would LOVE to have that!" I'm sure having, is not as cool of a thing as owning. But honestly, every now and then, I like to take in the things I got and say, "fuck yeah! My 9 year old self would be proud!"

You gotta be happy with who you are. And call me Michael Jackson, but I 'm a big kid at heart. Adulting sucks. Just give me a big bowl of cereal, some cartoons and a book or a toy and I'm good. I'm happy and content with it now. I've tried to run away and "grow up" for a long time now and it hasn't took. Oh well. Fuck it. I am who I am.

Anyway, here are some things right now that peek my interest:

This is my recent gift to myself: the ENTERPRISE 50th Anniversary model kit. (Used a 1/2 off coupon! Sabo would be proud!) I put this model kit together about 6 times when I was a kid. Looking forward to doing it again. Of course, I got about 5 other model kits in various states of completion. Maybe I need to jump on those again. Been feeling a bit crafty lately. Maybe its time to relax and do some modeling on a day off!

Here's some toys from this past San Diego Comic Con:

Look at this ECTO1. I mean... LOOK AT IT! I'm sure it costs a fortune... but man.....

The same company produces this HANNIBAL LECTOR figure. Looks really great! Gotta have it.

Something on my Amazon wish list is this ED 209 by Neca from ROBOCOP. Looks awesome!!!!!

For higher end figures, this Han Solo looks sweet!

Same company is putting out this Peter Cushing/Tarkin figure. Man that sculpt looks amazing! 

Something I've been eyeballing for a while now is this Ghostbusters HQ in legos. The price is high for me and that is what scares me away from it. But look at it?!?!?!!?!?! I woulda KILLED to have this as a kid. SOOOO cool looking.

Also shown at San Diego were these awesome TMNT 80's movie version figures. Dead on sculpts. VERY nice!!

Apparently McFarlane toys got the Trek license for the new TV show and they are also releasing a Kirk and Picard. Sculpts look okay. I'll likely add them to my collection.

 There are a few other toys I've put on wish lists and bookmarks. Maybe if I drop some weight I will reward myself with one or two.

(SIGH) What a great time to be a nerd. Maybe its time to stop being bitter and forcing myself to fit a mold I just don't seem to fit in via what the world tells me (by age) how I should be, and just embrace what I dig. Maybe we all should. I'm sorry I whined about growing older and how I should let these things go. I decided to stomp my foot and say "I DON'T WANNA!"

Nerd up!

--T

Post-Thanksgiving Gobble Gobblez

Hey friends! Turkey Day has come and gone and I gotta say it was a relaxing weekend all around. EXACTLY what I needed!!! I took time off from everything and just did my best to relax and spend time with Kitty D. We watched movies, munched on leftovers and just enjoyed each others company. Of course tomorrow I go back to work with the overtime at the day job. No rest for the wicked!

Over the break I enjoyed some new media... like the new Metallica album and Rush documentary. Both essential.

On Saturday I ventured out and finished 95% of my Xmas shopping. And even got a couple things for myself. Some discount blurays and this:

Will be excellent for my house party game collection! 

 

Miss Lily Munster "helps" with the wrapping of the presents...

I watched a couple newer flicks too.

GREEN ROOM - Eh, it was good, but not spectacular as some told me it was. Worth a watch.
GHOSTBUSTERS (Remake) - Not funny. Not BAD, but just not funny. In the end, it gave me no reaction. To give it the same review a pal of mine gives a movie: "It was a movie. I watched it."

Last week I also got a tune up for my car to make sure the winter months ahead are not a problem. Also an oil change and tire rotation. I think I'll get the alignment checked as well this week to be 100% on point with my car management skills. Meanwhile, I'm back at the day job until Xmas doing overtime hours and saving my pennies for 2017.

I will be having a special announcement soon here on the website for new fun (and FREE) content from me! Stay tuned!

Anyway, its back to our normal lives... whatever that means nowadays...

Cheers, T

LIVE MY LIFE

Hello friends.

We live such crazy lives. Everyday something comes along to take us down. So we try distractions to keep our heads in sync and attempt to stay sane. We all have our little things that do this for us. While all around us, violence, wars, racism, sexism and other disgusting things occur. I'm not a voice to tackle those things beyond my own back porch, so I will not attempt to try. There are others more qualified to do so.

What I can do is work hard to provide distractions for myself and for you. I want to remain a place to come and be entertained and fuel the thoughts and concepts preaching that life is good. Life can go on and it will all be ok.

Personally, I know there are things coming up that I am looking forward to. In August, I am moving back to East Lansing for a year. Shortly after that I am due for another raise at the day job, where I will celebrate one year of being there. Having a home (especially when I love the day job so much) is such a welcome concept. In September I am going on a (gulp) camping trip. Well, sorta. There is a drive in showing a whole weekend full of exploitation horror movies and we are going to go and camp out there all weekend and get drunk with my new friends. I'm really looking forward to that.

I've been enjoying new movies on Netflix. Stuff like DEATHGASM and I AM THOR. I'm ramping up excitement for GHOSTBUSTERS. Not so much the reboot movie, but all the stuff coming out with it to promote the brand.

Like light up Stay Puff and the Animated Series re-release. Maybe I can finally get my kids to watch a new cartoon at my place!

And lookie what my girl got me! A whole case of ECTO COOLER! I haven't had these since the late 1980's. Today I took my first sip. It was like my childhood come back to greet me again!

I got a free movie ticket to see the GHOSTBUSTERS movie if I want to. I might. Cause why not, right? Chase the whimsies. You never know what good might come out of it. 

Yes, there is a new STAR TREK movie coming too but I'm not that excited about it from the trailers. But hey, we get one. And we get to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of my favorite sci-fi franchise ever. Plus a new STAR WARS movie not too long after that! 

And then in October: Halloween is always a fun time for me. I've got my eyes set on getting even more decorations and probably throwing another party at my new place with friends. Thanksgiving after that, where I always cook a huge meal for the kids. Then of course, Christmas... which I am enjoying more and more with each passing year. There's so much to look forward to.

...oh yeah.. and FOOTBALL!

I get to spend time getting to know my girl better. We're working on building a future together and that makes me happy. 

There are other things to look forward to. Excitement will abound as I build the new concept and keep it up and running. Putting pencil back to paper and warming up the Microns and Wacom Tablet again has me excited. After a couple months break (where I didn't even know if I WOULD come back), its good to know that I have come away feeling refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.

Every day I am presented with a new problem. Something trying to take me down. Something to get depressed about. Something to be angered with. Its never going to stop. I've accepted that, finally. But what I can do is strive to make TODAY the best I can make it. Remember the past, live for today. And maybe the future won't be so bad. As I find a way to make room in my life for every little thing I want to do, like and enjoy. I'll just simply: LIVE MY LIFE.

Its what we all strive to do, right?

So as much as I am angered and mad at the world for what seems to be going on daily around us, and how the idiots seem to keep bubbling up... we cannot let it distract us from our happiness. We have to continue to live our lives. We have to keep moving forward.

Because there is so much good to see and do in this world. Join me won't you?

--T

FANTASTICON this weekend and other goings on

 Hey friends! This weekend is FANTASTICON Lansing, MI. The organizers graciously offered me space and I was happy to join in on the fun. I will be there all day Saturday and Sunday and setting up shop with a lot of my pals alongside me. A nice way to celebrate comics and fandom and for me its local! So come on out this Saturday-Sunday at the Causeway Bay Hotel in South Lansing. Should be some fun. LANDO and TS from Mallrats will be there. But most importantly, I will be there! I'll have all my books (freshly restocked from a re-order), prints and I will take commissions at the show. Show deal is: BUY A GRAPHIC NOVEL, GET A POP CULTURE PRINT FOR FREE!!! Come out and see me!

In other news, they released the Ghostbusters trailer today. I've watched it three times and I know people will want to ask me my initial reaction. I know I don't like it when people naysay things before they see them, but this is just my initial thoughts. First of all, 30 years ago, FOUR SCIENTISTS didn't save New York. Winston wasn't a scientist. Second, the design of things looks like shit. It looks like kids playing dress-up with their dad's old Cadilac and parts from a Junkyard and Radio Shack. Third, a missed opportunity to make the black character a scientist herself. But no, she's not the smart one. She's the wise crackin' New York commoner. Been there, done that. The CGI on the ghosts looks like "Hocus Pocus" or "Casper." Fucking AWFUL. All the jokes were not funny in the slightest. This made me want to pull out the original Ghostbusters and give it another watch. Finally, Ghostbusters 2 won't look so bad anymore. Cause it can be worse. A lot worse.

I probably won't see it unless some trusted pals of mine come back saying its good. This one has officially dropped off my radar. Just goes to show how modern filmmakers cannot come up with anything new or interesting. Just homages of what came before, and way better. Thats why STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS sucked balls. Homages to a movie that was way better and now I'm reminded to watch it when I get home, to remove the sour taste from my mouth.

But maybe its not so much the filmmakers, but the movie goers. The makers of this flick are probably trying their best with what they got. Modern audiences won't care. They'll go and spend the money and us old farts will sit and hurmph. And when the smoke clears, they got their money to make more reboots/remakes because they are scared of new ideas.

Its a commentary on us as a society. We're scared of new ideas. We only like things that we are familiar with. I see it constantly at comic shows. No one wants to try a new idea, unless you can describe it with terms they can understand and are comfortable with. ANNA POCALYPSE isn't a post-apocalyptic tale of redeption and revenge. Its "MAD MAX WITH A CHICK." People get that. (sigh) And everything has to be mash ups of things they like. "Oh, the Tardis with a Transformer! I know those things!" We make money off things we don't own, cause that is all that sells.

Boy did I just go off on a rant there? Sorry about that.

Hard to be angry when you got a new Jeff Buckley CD coming. Rare tracks and covers. Also we got a new Megadeth album. Some other new great music on its way. I am on a big REM and PEARL JAM kick for some reason lately. Reliving the 90's I guess.

STARSLAM 2 is almost done being colored. I finished art on the cover this week and I will do it up good and get it out there. Word balloons start next week. We're gonna get this book in the can and get that Kickstarter rolling soon!

Anyway, that is what is up with me lately. Come see me this weekend! Or any of the other dates I have to the right there in the APPEARANCES column.

Cheers, T

SDCC Finds So Far...

I went to San Diego Comic Con only once in 2009. It was a very memorable trip for me. I got to see lots of my friends, make new ones, drink next to Uhura, buy exclusives, work the Antarctic Press booth for a while and even concieved a new character and comic in the hotel room one of those nights! Yes, my graphic novel ANNA POCALYPSE was outlined and sketched there. So the trip was quite fun and I've always wanted to go back. Its not a good "business" show for me to set up at or anything, but just a fun spectacle to behold and be at. Each year since 2009 they've had major surprises and goings on that make me mad that I didn't get the cash together to go back yet. Last year was the big BREAKING BAD stuff, which especially hurt.

Each year, I watch on FB, Twitter and other news sites of all the news, pics and fun all my pals are having there. I also read up on the news, pics of the show floor and exclusives. Its only Thursday so some of the big nut news going on out there right now still hasn't dropped yet. But so far I am digging the pics of some of the upcoming toys and things.....

Especially exciting is the new Ghostbusters figures. I missed out on the first Matty Collector run and now they are on ebay for stupid money. But these are essentially the same figures, but the packs can be removed. AWESOME! I Gotta jump on these this time. And yes, I will buy two of each. 

I'm a BIG fan of the Batman animated 90's series. And they are producing figures for the set. I'll get a few of them, I am sure. For sure a Batman, Joker and Riddler. 

Finally, FINALLY, the announced and showed packaging for the upcoming Batman 1960's tv show Blu-Ray box set. Its never been released on home video before, so everyone is anxious for it. The price is a tad high right now, but I'm sure it will go down in time.

Its early yet and I am sure some major happenings will be going down this weekend at Comic Con. I know all my pals are having a good time. It is my definate hope to join them there next year. Since I recently scored a new day job, I'm making it a personal goal to pay off all bills and then save up to go to the show and have fun. Its an expensive one, sure... but one that is well worth checking out at least once in your life. There's arguements all over the place how the movie studios have taken it over and its not "comic" con anymore. But Fuck it. Its more a big celebration of all things nerd pop culture and there's about 150,000 people there that all are into the same shit as you. And EVERYONE goes. So make your plans to try it once as well!

T

RIP EGON (Harold Ramis)

Ugh... this one hurts. This one fucking sucks.

Seems like every year there's at least one major death that really kills me and hits me in a personal place in my love of all things pop culture. Today is that day. Harold Ramis is gone.

I love his movies obviously. From Animal House, Vacation, Stripes, to others he has acted in. He even had a nice deleted scene in my fav. movie of all time, High Fidelity.

But the one thing that I always come to with Harold Ramis is EGON. My favorite Ghostbuster. So much so that when they released the super nice 12" figures a while back, I only bought one... EGON, of course! Spending over $60 for an action figure just isn't my style. But I did it for this one. Only this one. Cause it meant that much to me.

I still have it.

I bought an Xbox 360 only so I could play Ghostbusters on it. I loved the cartoon. I love the movies. I had all the toys as a kid. Egon was by far my favorite. He's smart and hopelessly and cluelessly funny. And Harold Ramis brought something to the character (and the script which he co-wrote) that just made me fall in love with it as a kid. And to this day, I am still a massive Ghostbusters fan. Top 5 fav. comedy of all time, Top 10 movie of all time, to me. 

There has been talk recently about a Ghostbusters 3. In fact, just yesterday I was listening to a Stern interview with Bill Murray from 2013 on youtube and he mentions it. And the whole time I'm thinking "I'd love to see more Egon, but it wouldn't be the same." They are older now. They would want to bring in a new, younger cast to carry the flick and the franchise. Fuck that. I never wanted to see that. And in a way, this pretty much cements that is not going to happen... not the same way anyway. I don't want to see that Ghostbusters movie. No fucking way. You can't top it.

But then again, maybe we woulda got lucky and it would have been exactly what we wanted. Maybe it woulda been like the last Rocky and Rambo movies and be surprisingly good. Who knows? But it is not going to happen now. The swan song for Ghostbusters will be the 360 game. And I'm fine with that. I'm fine with the memories.

Goddamn this one hurts. Thanks for all you gave us Harold Ramis. Another one of my childhood heroes, gone. 

May the ladies in the afterlife be ever interested in your Epididymis. And thanks for the work you left behind. That was a big twinkie.

T

Scotty and his Autism

Sometimes I'll get emails or messages asking how our son Scotty is and how things are going since he was diagnosed with autism. Slow, but progress happens almost daily. We've had meetings with doctors about courses of action, tried a couple of medications and I think we got a rhythm now that makes him very happy (and US VERY HAPPY!). As you can imagine, there's all sorts of emotions that come with having an autistic child. There's things we cannot do and we get comments, stares and judgements accordingly. Its hard for us to do anything. Everything has to be planned around him and the possibilities. But I think now we've got a great stride and I am happy.

He's even progressing with his learning. A while back I bought him an Ipod and he's discovered the joys of youtube. He watches little cartoons and things on it, as well as he now seems to have an interest in playing Wheel of Fortune ad naseum. I don't mind because he learns letters. He's quite good at it.

This week I took a chance and decided to show him how to use a desktop computer. The mouse work took some doing, but he caught on. I gave him his own log in side and he's going to google and pulling things off the net. Mostly pictures he likes. Today he pulled off a ton and wanted them printed out. So I put them all on one page using InDesign and printed them out for him. He's extremely happy with it cause he did it too.

Point is, he used a mouse. Can type his own name and make selections he wants. I'm preparing him for a computer age. He's really taking to it and enjoying it.

Also, his vocabulary is expanding. He's trying new words. And he's added "please" and "Thank you" to everything, instead of just shouting what he wants as one word. He'll say "help please." and we'll help whatever it is he wants. Progress. I'll take it.

To my delight, lately he's been obsessed with Ghostbusters. So we started watching the cartoon series. Usually he will just watch the menus or the intro music to a cartoon. But he watches the episodes all the way through with me. He loves them.

Watching the old cartoon with him again has made me nostalgiac for my old love of the Ghostbusters cartoon days. As a kid I was a massive fan of it, and of course, the movies. The last Christmas I ever had when I was nine (long story..I discussed in on the blog here back in 2007. Give a read right HERE) I got the FIREHOUSE playset. I wish I could get it for him and even the figures. They are collectors items, rare and outrageously priced now, but I am hoping I can find a cheap lot somewhere. I'd love to play them again with him. I know it would be cool to watch and experience through his eyes again.

On the other kid front, James is making progress as well. He seems way more playful, interactive and talkative than bots did when he was that age. Still not saying many words however, which has us understandably concerned. But we are just playing it day to day at this point. Today he was saying "DADA" clearly over and over. And he's only 1 year and a few months old. No rush.

Anyway, thats the update on them. Thanks for all your messages and thoughts. We appreciate it, believe me. Now excuse me, I gotta go watch some cartoons with the kid.