I've always been a big fan of audio books. I came across a series several years back by Stephen King that was all epic and had plenty of heroes in all 7 volumes. Since I'm a big horror novel and horror movie fan, as well as a huge SK fan, I loved the series. The audio books were narrated by Frank Muller. He is, in my opinion, the best narrator who will ever walk this earth. I was going through some pretty tough times when I started the series. The main character of this 7 book cycle, Roland Deschain of Gilead, was one of the characters that stood out to me. Who gave me the courage to move forward, I guess you could say. But Frank brought so much life to this guy by the voice he created for Roland. Whenever I was having an off day, I'd get home and after homework and whatnot, I'd listen to him read for a while.
I knew I wanted to go into audio book narration. No, I don't want to try to fill this guy's shoes. No one ever could do that. No one ever will. But he gave me the want to.
Frank suffered a motorcycle accident in 2002 and was no longer able to narrate. I learned this past evening that Frank passed away last week on June 4th and that his life was celebrated on June 7th. How I wish I could have been there. I didn't even know he passed away until a few minutes ago. Sad? Yeah, you bet. I wanted to meet him and to tell him just how much his narration meant to me. I wanted to at least e-mail him. But my bothersome screen reader never seemed to want to cooperate. I'd still like to write to his family via his homepage sooner than later. From what I read, it seemed like he was a terrific family man. A loving father and husband. Qualities I myself hope to possess whenever I meet Miss Right. I really looked up to him. Still do, actually.
I can't really sleep this evening. This was all so unexpected. I feel like I've been frozen in carbonite for the last week or so. How could I have missed this news until this evening?
Anyway, this post goes out to you, Frank. You were the best. You pulled me into every story you narrated and made them seem better than any film or even the written word itself. Thank ye, sai. May you find peace in the clearing at the end of the path. You lived your life to the fullest. Like Roland and the members of his ka tet, you were able to stand and be true through all your trials. You were the true definition of a hero. Farewell. I may not have known you in life, but that doesn't change anything. I will miss you.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The Stuff of Legends 4: Heroes TV series
I went to spend a few days with my friend Tommy Brown from college this past January. Tommy had been going on and on about a show called Heroes for months by that time. Heck, longer than that. I think he was watching the series when it first aired. I hadn't seen it yet. I thought it was another one of those "one shot episode a week" jobs. I voiced my concern to my friend, and I'm guessing he let a big goofy grin spread across his face as we were walking through a Walmart parking lot late one Saturday evening.
"Oh that's not it at all," he tells me. "Dude, you say you love comics and never get the chance to read them, right?" I agree with him as we rush toward his car with a couple of frozen pizzas in hand, trying to evade the biting January cold.
"Bob, man, this show is a comic. I freakin promise it is. Every episode has one of those cliffhangers at the end of it and i know how much you like those types of series!" He's really animated at this point, undoubtedly talking with his hands like most people do around me even though I'm not able to see them. I enjoy that, actually. It lets me know that they've forgotten about my blindness and that they are comfortable around me, no longer walking or talking on eggshells. It lets me know that I have done my job.
So we arrive back at his apartment after cruising around town a bit. He pops in the first season of Heroes. He asks me how much I know about the show. I tell him that from my research about it online, I've deduced that it is about ordinary people having to deal with unusual powers.
"But I don't think it to be some x-men knockoff," I tell him. He tells me he's glad I feel that way as I hear him rise to his feet and enter his kitchen, clanking several dishs together as he prepares a few pizzas.
Tommy always does a wonderful job when it comes to describing movies or tv to me. Needless to say, I was hooked when i heard the theme music and when he read the prefatory matterial at the beginning of volume one, directly prior to the pilot. I felt like a kid again preparing to view some action packed blockbuster film. How can I describe that feeling? You know for a fact that the film or series you are preparing to watch is going to be ground breaking. You know that you are going to watch it over and over again, and you haven't even made it past the opening credits. Your heart is beating away in your chest. The world around you has been forgotten as you leave it behind for a little while. A writer has certainly done his job if he is able to captivate his audience from the very first scene. Tim Kring and company did that and more. But it also takes a patient guy like my buddy Tommy when it comes to giving sufficient play by plays.
One thing Tommyboy kept saying throughout the episodes was,"Everything connects in some way, dude. Everything." That guy really knows how to advertise a series. He could probably sell a deaf kid a pair of headphones if he wanted to. He had me wanting to watch the show long before I visited him back in January. Tom always makes sure to describe everything in vivid detail. Not too many people out there with such a gift.
We only got to watch the first five chapters from volume I while I was visiting him. But the next week, I rushed to my local Walmart to nab the first season or volume. Yes, Heroes is very visual. There are entire scenes from episodes in which one of the main characters, Hiro Nakamura(Masi Oka), speaks Japanese. That's why I'm thankful for the Heroes wiki page. These guys post every little detail under episode synopses. I doubt anyone anticipated a blind guy getting hooked on this show, but I'm glad it has such an analytical fan base with time enough to describe everything. It makes things easier on my end. So thanks go out to the fans of Heroes and shows like it who take time enough to write such detailed summaries. As a result, I'm able to enjoy and appreciate these works of art even more so.
I don't need to tell you that I flew through the remainder of the first volume. Tim Kring, the producer of the series, is a brilliant writer. I wish they'd make more serials for TV. I've never seen a live action series as good as this. I suppose it is due to me being such a sucker for comics and sprawling story arcs as well as plot continuity.
I haven't watched the second volume, Generations, yet. I'm waiting for the dvd. I don't watch a series unless I have the entire season in front of me. I love cliffhangers, but I don't like having to wait every week to see what happens next. No, I don't look up spoilers to stave off my curiosity in the mean time. I'm simply waiting to own the second volume. I want to watch each episode back to back if I can.
The cast is terrific. These men and women don't work halfheartedly. They give it all they've got when they're acting. The writers work with just as much dilegence, and so do the composers. I can't give you an opinion concerning the costume design or the backgrounds, but I'm sure it is "so artistically done," as a legendary Star Wars villain would say.
Who's my favorite character? Well, that's a tough one. Hiro Nakamura comes to mind. He's one of the few people who seem to genuinely care for others. He's got a good heart. There's something inside him the world hasn't wittled away as it has done to so many others. I don't know if it is an inocence or nobility. He's like the kid you see on Christmas morning with that big wide eyed look I hear so much about. Only this guy has it all year round. Sure, he can be hurt and of course he can get angry at times. But I don't think he's one to let bitterness cultivate in his heart. I'm not sure if he'll stay this way as the series progresses, but here's hoping he does. Although, I wonder if he'll go dark at some point. Hopefully, if he has to face a devistating loss, he can bounce back from it. He's already had to say good bye to someone close to him and seemed to do alright. So maybe he'll continue to walk the straight and narrow in spite of the events surrounding him. He's just one of my favs though. I have lots of them. Far too many to mention in one post.
Noah Bennet and his daughter Claire are also of interest. So too are the Petrelli bros and their mother Angela. Pete's a real trooper because he also has a love for people and their well-being. This guy seems like he'd give you the shirt off his back if he found you in some ditch and in need of assistance.
There's alot more to say about this exciting serial, but I don't have much time today. I'm trying to give an overview of these shows at present. I wish I had more time to jot down my thoughts, but there are only 24 hours in a day and I like so many TV series as well as novels. Hopefully, I'll be able to cover them all in more detail as the months and years go by. But that's all for today. Will try to post again tomorrow if time is on my side.
"Oh that's not it at all," he tells me. "Dude, you say you love comics and never get the chance to read them, right?" I agree with him as we rush toward his car with a couple of frozen pizzas in hand, trying to evade the biting January cold.
"Bob, man, this show is a comic. I freakin promise it is. Every episode has one of those cliffhangers at the end of it and i know how much you like those types of series!" He's really animated at this point, undoubtedly talking with his hands like most people do around me even though I'm not able to see them. I enjoy that, actually. It lets me know that they've forgotten about my blindness and that they are comfortable around me, no longer walking or talking on eggshells. It lets me know that I have done my job.
So we arrive back at his apartment after cruising around town a bit. He pops in the first season of Heroes. He asks me how much I know about the show. I tell him that from my research about it online, I've deduced that it is about ordinary people having to deal with unusual powers.
"But I don't think it to be some x-men knockoff," I tell him. He tells me he's glad I feel that way as I hear him rise to his feet and enter his kitchen, clanking several dishs together as he prepares a few pizzas.
Tommy always does a wonderful job when it comes to describing movies or tv to me. Needless to say, I was hooked when i heard the theme music and when he read the prefatory matterial at the beginning of volume one, directly prior to the pilot. I felt like a kid again preparing to view some action packed blockbuster film. How can I describe that feeling? You know for a fact that the film or series you are preparing to watch is going to be ground breaking. You know that you are going to watch it over and over again, and you haven't even made it past the opening credits. Your heart is beating away in your chest. The world around you has been forgotten as you leave it behind for a little while. A writer has certainly done his job if he is able to captivate his audience from the very first scene. Tim Kring and company did that and more. But it also takes a patient guy like my buddy Tommy when it comes to giving sufficient play by plays.
One thing Tommyboy kept saying throughout the episodes was,"Everything connects in some way, dude. Everything." That guy really knows how to advertise a series. He could probably sell a deaf kid a pair of headphones if he wanted to. He had me wanting to watch the show long before I visited him back in January. Tom always makes sure to describe everything in vivid detail. Not too many people out there with such a gift.
We only got to watch the first five chapters from volume I while I was visiting him. But the next week, I rushed to my local Walmart to nab the first season or volume. Yes, Heroes is very visual. There are entire scenes from episodes in which one of the main characters, Hiro Nakamura(Masi Oka), speaks Japanese. That's why I'm thankful for the Heroes wiki page. These guys post every little detail under episode synopses. I doubt anyone anticipated a blind guy getting hooked on this show, but I'm glad it has such an analytical fan base with time enough to describe everything. It makes things easier on my end. So thanks go out to the fans of Heroes and shows like it who take time enough to write such detailed summaries. As a result, I'm able to enjoy and appreciate these works of art even more so.
I don't need to tell you that I flew through the remainder of the first volume. Tim Kring, the producer of the series, is a brilliant writer. I wish they'd make more serials for TV. I've never seen a live action series as good as this. I suppose it is due to me being such a sucker for comics and sprawling story arcs as well as plot continuity.
I haven't watched the second volume, Generations, yet. I'm waiting for the dvd. I don't watch a series unless I have the entire season in front of me. I love cliffhangers, but I don't like having to wait every week to see what happens next. No, I don't look up spoilers to stave off my curiosity in the mean time. I'm simply waiting to own the second volume. I want to watch each episode back to back if I can.
The cast is terrific. These men and women don't work halfheartedly. They give it all they've got when they're acting. The writers work with just as much dilegence, and so do the composers. I can't give you an opinion concerning the costume design or the backgrounds, but I'm sure it is "so artistically done," as a legendary Star Wars villain would say.
Who's my favorite character? Well, that's a tough one. Hiro Nakamura comes to mind. He's one of the few people who seem to genuinely care for others. He's got a good heart. There's something inside him the world hasn't wittled away as it has done to so many others. I don't know if it is an inocence or nobility. He's like the kid you see on Christmas morning with that big wide eyed look I hear so much about. Only this guy has it all year round. Sure, he can be hurt and of course he can get angry at times. But I don't think he's one to let bitterness cultivate in his heart. I'm not sure if he'll stay this way as the series progresses, but here's hoping he does. Although, I wonder if he'll go dark at some point. Hopefully, if he has to face a devistating loss, he can bounce back from it. He's already had to say good bye to someone close to him and seemed to do alright. So maybe he'll continue to walk the straight and narrow in spite of the events surrounding him. He's just one of my favs though. I have lots of them. Far too many to mention in one post.
Noah Bennet and his daughter Claire are also of interest. So too are the Petrelli bros and their mother Angela. Pete's a real trooper because he also has a love for people and their well-being. This guy seems like he'd give you the shirt off his back if he found you in some ditch and in need of assistance.
There's alot more to say about this exciting serial, but I don't have much time today. I'm trying to give an overview of these shows at present. I wish I had more time to jot down my thoughts, but there are only 24 hours in a day and I like so many TV series as well as novels. Hopefully, I'll be able to cover them all in more detail as the months and years go by. But that's all for today. Will try to post again tomorrow if time is on my side.
particularStuff of legends: 3, Batman The Animated series
Here's another one of my favorites I remember watching when I was a kid. I didn't have cable until about 1995 or so, but I'd always go visit my grandma during the summer or spring break. She would have Fox and this is the channel it used to air on. I remember seeing it for the first time when I was about 9 or so. This would have been back in 1993 during spring break. It was a Tuesday, I think. The very first episode I saw was entitled Off Balance. I thought I was in for another light hearted kiddy superhero show. Certainly not.
I remember hearing the opening theme and thinking to myself,"Oh cool! A real orchestra rather than some synthosized composition being played by keyboards." That drew me in, and the episode itself got me hooked. It was as if Ihad gone into a movie theater and been blown away by a summer blockbuster. My mom who never has enjoyed cartoons actually sat and watched it. I remember that also. She looked at me when the show was over and said,"My God, are all the episodes this good, do ya think? It feels like this series is made for adults and you kids are just along for the ride. But I think its brilliant."
I was glad to see Batman similar to the way I remembered him from the 1989 Tim Burton film. And when I heard him speak for the first time, I was facinated with the voice.
I remember being amazed as to how Kevin Conroy, the voice of Bruce Wane/Batman, could turn the Batman persona on and off. You'd see Bruce working in his office and dealing with his daily life. He'd sound warm and cheerful, usually. Like he didn't have a care in the world unless that is, some company started cutting down trees in some rain forest. Then we'd hear a bit of Batman emerging. But when he is with Alfred in the cave and among his computer equipment and working the night shift, that is when he takes his Bruce Wane mask off and makes himself at home. Gone is everyone's favorite company man. In his place is a man who refuses to let the city he has sworn to protect go to seed. He's all business. His voice seems to be a bit deeper and darker, but not frightening. We see the man behind the mask when he's in the batcave or out chasing the Joker, if that makes any sense. In a way, I guess you could say that Batman is just wearing a Bruce Wane suit as a disguise during the day. You wanna know who he really is? He's all hero. Don't let his tough exterior fool you. He's got a good heart. After losing his parents at such a tender and young age, he has sworn to never let it happen to anyone else if he can help it. And each of these 109 episodes lets us see what type of a life he leads. And they allow us more complex and interesting confrontations with the villains from his rogue's gallery.
The villains from this particular incarnation aren't your average Saturday morning cartoon baddies bent on world domination. Some of them were good people once. And some of them want to do good and noble things, but they go about doing them the wrong way. Take Mister Freeze for example from the Emmy award winning fan favorite, Heart of Ice. His wife was dying of an incurable disease, so he put her in a freezing unit until a cure could be found for her. But the guy he worked for broke into his office and out of spite, caused him to be exposed to some of the chemicals he used to freeze his beloved.(Wish I could have gotten a play by play of that scene as well as many others from this hit series.) There was a big fire from what I heard and ole Victor Freeze came to believe that his wife was taken from him forever. So he designed this cryogenic containment suit to keep himself alive because he was no longer able to survive above subzero temperatures. Then he set out to punish the man who took his wife from him. But he was willing to take the lives of anyone who stood in his way. He was out for vengence and not justice. That's understandable though. If I ever marry and should someone murder my wife, I'd probably want his head on a platter. You really tend to feel sorry for some of these antagonists like Freeze. And some villains are just plain nuts.
Joker, for example, is a fruitcake. You never know why he's doing what he's doing. I love Mark Hamill's take on the villain. He's the complete opposite of Batman. Joker's all mouth. Let's say you go shopping at one of Gotham's department stores and from out of nowhere, you hear that trademark laugh you've heard on the news whenever footage of him has been shown. You know smiley's here and he's going to hold the place up. You don't have to see him to know. That laugh and those crazy oneliners are enough to anounce him. His soul purpose seems to be to make ole Batsy laugh right before he offs him. He's fun loving, but a psychopath at the same time. And he may be crazy, but he's also crafty and very manipulative. I'm glad this series is filled with Joker episodes because Mark Hamill really redefined this guy. My only complaint is that Bruce Timm never gave us a two part origin episode for this guy. He was just there when the series began to air. Seems like lots of villains got an origin story, but it would have been wonderful to hear how Hamill would have portrayed Jack before he got dumped into that vat of chemicals. I love to write fanfiction, so I started working on something last year just to keep myself entertained and to at least satisfy my own curiosity concerning the origin of Bruce Timm's version of the clown prince of crime. Should we consider the 1989 Burton film as a suitable origin for the guy, I wonder? If so, I guess I'll be satisfied with that. Works for me. I'm not very good at writing fight scenes though. Having never seen some of Batman's moves and all the equipment he uses, its a bit tough. Also, it is difficult for me to describe scenery. I can get characters down with no problems but backgrounds... Well, I'm trying to work on those.
But if you've never seen this series and want to give it a go, it has been released in four volumes on dvd. It can be had at amazon.com or anywhere else on the Net, I guess. Maybe they'll have a sale on a few of those sets when the release of The Dark Knight draws near. Yep, this geek owns them all. Pretty much everything DC AU, actually. Sad, huh?
Well, that's enough geeking out for now. Maybe more later or early tomorrow.
I remember hearing the opening theme and thinking to myself,"Oh cool! A real orchestra rather than some synthosized composition being played by keyboards." That drew me in, and the episode itself got me hooked. It was as if Ihad gone into a movie theater and been blown away by a summer blockbuster. My mom who never has enjoyed cartoons actually sat and watched it. I remember that also. She looked at me when the show was over and said,"My God, are all the episodes this good, do ya think? It feels like this series is made for adults and you kids are just along for the ride. But I think its brilliant."
I was glad to see Batman similar to the way I remembered him from the 1989 Tim Burton film. And when I heard him speak for the first time, I was facinated with the voice.
I remember being amazed as to how Kevin Conroy, the voice of Bruce Wane/Batman, could turn the Batman persona on and off. You'd see Bruce working in his office and dealing with his daily life. He'd sound warm and cheerful, usually. Like he didn't have a care in the world unless that is, some company started cutting down trees in some rain forest. Then we'd hear a bit of Batman emerging. But when he is with Alfred in the cave and among his computer equipment and working the night shift, that is when he takes his Bruce Wane mask off and makes himself at home. Gone is everyone's favorite company man. In his place is a man who refuses to let the city he has sworn to protect go to seed. He's all business. His voice seems to be a bit deeper and darker, but not frightening. We see the man behind the mask when he's in the batcave or out chasing the Joker, if that makes any sense. In a way, I guess you could say that Batman is just wearing a Bruce Wane suit as a disguise during the day. You wanna know who he really is? He's all hero. Don't let his tough exterior fool you. He's got a good heart. After losing his parents at such a tender and young age, he has sworn to never let it happen to anyone else if he can help it. And each of these 109 episodes lets us see what type of a life he leads. And they allow us more complex and interesting confrontations with the villains from his rogue's gallery.
The villains from this particular incarnation aren't your average Saturday morning cartoon baddies bent on world domination. Some of them were good people once. And some of them want to do good and noble things, but they go about doing them the wrong way. Take Mister Freeze for example from the Emmy award winning fan favorite, Heart of Ice. His wife was dying of an incurable disease, so he put her in a freezing unit until a cure could be found for her. But the guy he worked for broke into his office and out of spite, caused him to be exposed to some of the chemicals he used to freeze his beloved.(Wish I could have gotten a play by play of that scene as well as many others from this hit series.) There was a big fire from what I heard and ole Victor Freeze came to believe that his wife was taken from him forever. So he designed this cryogenic containment suit to keep himself alive because he was no longer able to survive above subzero temperatures. Then he set out to punish the man who took his wife from him. But he was willing to take the lives of anyone who stood in his way. He was out for vengence and not justice. That's understandable though. If I ever marry and should someone murder my wife, I'd probably want his head on a platter. You really tend to feel sorry for some of these antagonists like Freeze. And some villains are just plain nuts.
Joker, for example, is a fruitcake. You never know why he's doing what he's doing. I love Mark Hamill's take on the villain. He's the complete opposite of Batman. Joker's all mouth. Let's say you go shopping at one of Gotham's department stores and from out of nowhere, you hear that trademark laugh you've heard on the news whenever footage of him has been shown. You know smiley's here and he's going to hold the place up. You don't have to see him to know. That laugh and those crazy oneliners are enough to anounce him. His soul purpose seems to be to make ole Batsy laugh right before he offs him. He's fun loving, but a psychopath at the same time. And he may be crazy, but he's also crafty and very manipulative. I'm glad this series is filled with Joker episodes because Mark Hamill really redefined this guy. My only complaint is that Bruce Timm never gave us a two part origin episode for this guy. He was just there when the series began to air. Seems like lots of villains got an origin story, but it would have been wonderful to hear how Hamill would have portrayed Jack before he got dumped into that vat of chemicals. I love to write fanfiction, so I started working on something last year just to keep myself entertained and to at least satisfy my own curiosity concerning the origin of Bruce Timm's version of the clown prince of crime. Should we consider the 1989 Burton film as a suitable origin for the guy, I wonder? If so, I guess I'll be satisfied with that. Works for me. I'm not very good at writing fight scenes though. Having never seen some of Batman's moves and all the equipment he uses, its a bit tough. Also, it is difficult for me to describe scenery. I can get characters down with no problems but backgrounds... Well, I'm trying to work on those.
But if you've never seen this series and want to give it a go, it has been released in four volumes on dvd. It can be had at amazon.com or anywhere else on the Net, I guess. Maybe they'll have a sale on a few of those sets when the release of The Dark Knight draws near. Yep, this geek owns them all. Pretty much everything DC AU, actually. Sad, huh?
Well, that's enough geeking out for now. Maybe more later or early tomorrow.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Stuff of Legends 2: Spectacular Spider-Man TV series
So while I'm at it, I might as well post a bit more. And since Spidy's new animated series has been on my mind today, there's no time like the present.
I've always been a huge Spider-Man fan, especially of the animated series over the years. I'll go into Fox's incarnation a little later and how much I enjoyed that, but this new show aired on the CW every Saturday morning is what I want to focus on. I'm all about a show heavy on continuity. I enjoy when a plot or story arc spills over into episode after episode. So the writers of this particular series captivated me from episode 1 to the season finale which will air next weekend. It seems to focus on Peter Parker following his encounter with a radioactive spider. We get to see the web head in action during most of the episodes, but these stories also focus on Parkers life when the mask is off. There's really no corny dialogue to be found here. It seems as if I'm reading a comic book rather than watching a tv show and that's the way this blind guy likes it!
One thing that helps me understand the fight scenes a little better than usual is Spider-Man's dialogue as he's facing an opponent. Spidy isn't dark and bruding like Bruce Timm's version of Batman or McFarlan's Spawn.(Although I enjoy those shows as well.) Spidy always has a comeback to throw at a villain along with a punch or a kick. And he seems to think his actions through before he carries them out. I know they're probably inside his head, but I'm so thankful that the guys who write this show let you hear what he's saying. Such as,"Oh boy, Doc Oc has me pinned down. If I don't get that battery powering his arms to shut down, I'm a goner. Gotta time this web blast just right."
Some viewers may think there's a rather large amount of dialogue, but I certainly enjoy it. It draws me into the story, and that's what it is all about for this kid. The story. Like I said before, I enjoy both this show and the series Fox produced back in the 90's. I don't prefer one over the other. If it has something to do with Marvel or DC or whatever, I'll watch it... In my own way. I use the term watch rather than listen because one simply does not listen to television. You'd have to call it... uh... Something I haven't figured out yet. Nope, I like to think I watch along with the rest of the audience.
Anyway, if you've never seen the show and are interested in it, the first season ought to be airing in reruns for the next several weeks after the finale next weekend. You basically get to see Pete encountering some of his adversaries for the first time through out this season.
There isn't a cliffhanger tagged onto every episode, but it helps to watch the show directly from episode 1 and beyond. It isn't a show containing one shot episodes. They're all connected. Just like I like it. I've never been too big a fan of one shot episode series. In the case of the amazing Batman the animated series and some of the DC animated universes other works, I'll gladly make an exception. But more boasting on behalf of those masterpieces another day.
Point is, the new Spidy series has the makings of a 65 episode epic from beginning to end. I hope the show goes past their desired 65 episodes. Since this is my only way to experience Stan The Man Lee's works of art, I take all I can get. 65 episodes? Why not 100 or so? That's the wonderful and terrible thing about stories. You want them to last as long as they possibly can if you enjoy them because it is unfortunate to see them end. I was hesitant as to whether or not I'd like this incarnation but I grew to love it the moment I saw the first episode. So here's hoping they keep'em coming. This is, in my humble opinion, one of the best animated series out there today. You don't see many shows dealing with these types of heroes anymore. I hope I'm not seeing the last of the heroes I grew up with fade away. Rather frightening, really. If ya like anime, that's terrific. I just can't seem to follow it though. Maybe I'll give it a go some day, but mayhap not just yet. I'm 24, set in my ways and all that jazz.
As for the characters, well, I hope to write entries dedicated to a few of my favs over the following weeks. But tonight, I thought I'd focus Blind-Man camera on the larger view. Not that I want to stay on this Spidy rant either. There are so many characters and so many various series I hope to share with others. If you're not a big fan of Spidy, well just skip over the entries relating to him. Hopefully there will be something every superhero junky can enjoy. And comment all ya feel like, whoever's reading this. I don't think I can use MSN as of yet due to my infernal screen reader, but I love chatting with anyone and everyone about all this stuff. Not just flapping my gums to hear myself talk, so to speak. So that's all I got for ya this evening. I'm gonna pull a Matt Merdock and get some shuteye now. Well that's sort of redundant, but you follow me, don't ya? (P.S.) If ya wanna know more about my life in general, visit me at my live journal and feel free to comment there as well. Username is blindguy02 so if ya have an LJ and would rather chat about things nonsuperhero there, I'm up for it.
I've always been a huge Spider-Man fan, especially of the animated series over the years. I'll go into Fox's incarnation a little later and how much I enjoyed that, but this new show aired on the CW every Saturday morning is what I want to focus on. I'm all about a show heavy on continuity. I enjoy when a plot or story arc spills over into episode after episode. So the writers of this particular series captivated me from episode 1 to the season finale which will air next weekend. It seems to focus on Peter Parker following his encounter with a radioactive spider. We get to see the web head in action during most of the episodes, but these stories also focus on Parkers life when the mask is off. There's really no corny dialogue to be found here. It seems as if I'm reading a comic book rather than watching a tv show and that's the way this blind guy likes it!
One thing that helps me understand the fight scenes a little better than usual is Spider-Man's dialogue as he's facing an opponent. Spidy isn't dark and bruding like Bruce Timm's version of Batman or McFarlan's Spawn.(Although I enjoy those shows as well.) Spidy always has a comeback to throw at a villain along with a punch or a kick. And he seems to think his actions through before he carries them out. I know they're probably inside his head, but I'm so thankful that the guys who write this show let you hear what he's saying. Such as,"Oh boy, Doc Oc has me pinned down. If I don't get that battery powering his arms to shut down, I'm a goner. Gotta time this web blast just right."
Some viewers may think there's a rather large amount of dialogue, but I certainly enjoy it. It draws me into the story, and that's what it is all about for this kid. The story. Like I said before, I enjoy both this show and the series Fox produced back in the 90's. I don't prefer one over the other. If it has something to do with Marvel or DC or whatever, I'll watch it... In my own way. I use the term watch rather than listen because one simply does not listen to television. You'd have to call it... uh... Something I haven't figured out yet. Nope, I like to think I watch along with the rest of the audience.
Anyway, if you've never seen the show and are interested in it, the first season ought to be airing in reruns for the next several weeks after the finale next weekend. You basically get to see Pete encountering some of his adversaries for the first time through out this season.
There isn't a cliffhanger tagged onto every episode, but it helps to watch the show directly from episode 1 and beyond. It isn't a show containing one shot episodes. They're all connected. Just like I like it. I've never been too big a fan of one shot episode series. In the case of the amazing Batman the animated series and some of the DC animated universes other works, I'll gladly make an exception. But more boasting on behalf of those masterpieces another day.
Point is, the new Spidy series has the makings of a 65 episode epic from beginning to end. I hope the show goes past their desired 65 episodes. Since this is my only way to experience Stan The Man Lee's works of art, I take all I can get. 65 episodes? Why not 100 or so? That's the wonderful and terrible thing about stories. You want them to last as long as they possibly can if you enjoy them because it is unfortunate to see them end. I was hesitant as to whether or not I'd like this incarnation but I grew to love it the moment I saw the first episode. So here's hoping they keep'em coming. This is, in my humble opinion, one of the best animated series out there today. You don't see many shows dealing with these types of heroes anymore. I hope I'm not seeing the last of the heroes I grew up with fade away. Rather frightening, really. If ya like anime, that's terrific. I just can't seem to follow it though. Maybe I'll give it a go some day, but mayhap not just yet. I'm 24, set in my ways and all that jazz.
As for the characters, well, I hope to write entries dedicated to a few of my favs over the following weeks. But tonight, I thought I'd focus Blind-Man camera on the larger view. Not that I want to stay on this Spidy rant either. There are so many characters and so many various series I hope to share with others. If you're not a big fan of Spidy, well just skip over the entries relating to him. Hopefully there will be something every superhero junky can enjoy. And comment all ya feel like, whoever's reading this. I don't think I can use MSN as of yet due to my infernal screen reader, but I love chatting with anyone and everyone about all this stuff. Not just flapping my gums to hear myself talk, so to speak. So that's all I got for ya this evening. I'm gonna pull a Matt Merdock and get some shuteye now. Well that's sort of redundant, but you follow me, don't ya? (P.S.) If ya wanna know more about my life in general, visit me at my live journal and feel free to comment there as well. Username is blindguy02 so if ya have an LJ and would rather chat about things nonsuperhero there, I'm up for it.
The stuff of legends: 1
Since time out of mine, I've had a passion for the superhero genre. Why, you ask? I wish I had an answer. Most people who don't know me that well think I should become a musician. Another Ray Charles or Stevy Wonder. I often get questions such as,"So what's with your facination concerning Marvel, DC, and Mirage? Ya can't even read a comic? So why not become a computer programmer or another song writer?"
Because people have already been there and done that. I hope to become an audio book narrator or to do voiceovers in anything animated dealing with the genre I enjoy some day. Imposible? Nah, like a wise little green Jedi Master said once,"Do or do not. There is no try."
I have a passion for writing, and for epics as well as the characters that make up these stories. No, I can't go out and read a comic. But there are animated series as well as films based on these stories which are just as interesting. These are, in fact, my comics. So I can't go pick up a Spectacular Spider-Man issue and leaf through it. But the CW has a fantastic new series dealing with everyone's favorite wallcrawler. It is heavy on dialogue as well as action. As for being able to get a play by play on some of the fight scenes from such series... Well, I still haven't figured that one out yet. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying these shows or the blockbuster film incarnations either. Don't even get me started on how much I enjoy the Heroes live action TV series. That, my friends, is extremely visual, but that doesn't stop me from looking up a detailed synopsis on the Heroes wiki and having it read to me by my faithful screen reading program. There are ways around such obsticles. Challenging? Sure. But I know what I like and I don't let anything stop me from experiencing this stuff of legends.
This is primarily a blog concerned with a look at some of these characters and the worlds surrounding them from my unique perspective. I don't have a particular favorite. I'm a lover of everything from the DC animated universe to that of Marvel. I'm also a huge Star Wars junky, so I hope to write about some of the expanded universe characters I've come to know and appreciate over the years. No inane psychobabble though, so don't worry about any of that. I hope to share my appreciation for the myriad of films, novels, and series surrounding all of these characters as well as the characters themselves. Hopefully some of these entries will cultivate a love for some of these stories in someone unfamiliar to them.
Ok, so enough of the prefatory matters. Like the profile says, if you have any questions whatsoever, ask. I'm not one of those blind folks who get offended at the drop of a hat. I respect the opinions of others and I enjoy a good conversation as much as the next guy, so don't worry about walking or talking on eggshells around me. I promise I don't bite. How else are you going to learn something new if you don't ask. I never shun the curious. That is how I tend to be by nature.
Anywho, that's enough ranting for one evening, I think. I'll be back tomorrow when I've slept and am refreshed.
P.S. I have a Live Journal. My user name there is blindguy02. That's where I talk about my everyday life in general. Feel free to visit me there.
Because people have already been there and done that. I hope to become an audio book narrator or to do voiceovers in anything animated dealing with the genre I enjoy some day. Imposible? Nah, like a wise little green Jedi Master said once,"Do or do not. There is no try."
I have a passion for writing, and for epics as well as the characters that make up these stories. No, I can't go out and read a comic. But there are animated series as well as films based on these stories which are just as interesting. These are, in fact, my comics. So I can't go pick up a Spectacular Spider-Man issue and leaf through it. But the CW has a fantastic new series dealing with everyone's favorite wallcrawler. It is heavy on dialogue as well as action. As for being able to get a play by play on some of the fight scenes from such series... Well, I still haven't figured that one out yet. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying these shows or the blockbuster film incarnations either. Don't even get me started on how much I enjoy the Heroes live action TV series. That, my friends, is extremely visual, but that doesn't stop me from looking up a detailed synopsis on the Heroes wiki and having it read to me by my faithful screen reading program. There are ways around such obsticles. Challenging? Sure. But I know what I like and I don't let anything stop me from experiencing this stuff of legends.
This is primarily a blog concerned with a look at some of these characters and the worlds surrounding them from my unique perspective. I don't have a particular favorite. I'm a lover of everything from the DC animated universe to that of Marvel. I'm also a huge Star Wars junky, so I hope to write about some of the expanded universe characters I've come to know and appreciate over the years. No inane psychobabble though, so don't worry about any of that. I hope to share my appreciation for the myriad of films, novels, and series surrounding all of these characters as well as the characters themselves. Hopefully some of these entries will cultivate a love for some of these stories in someone unfamiliar to them.
Ok, so enough of the prefatory matters. Like the profile says, if you have any questions whatsoever, ask. I'm not one of those blind folks who get offended at the drop of a hat. I respect the opinions of others and I enjoy a good conversation as much as the next guy, so don't worry about walking or talking on eggshells around me. I promise I don't bite. How else are you going to learn something new if you don't ask. I never shun the curious. That is how I tend to be by nature.
Anywho, that's enough ranting for one evening, I think. I'll be back tomorrow when I've slept and am refreshed.
P.S. I have a Live Journal. My user name there is blindguy02. That's where I talk about my everyday life in general. Feel free to visit me there.
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