Comics Round-up - Before Watchmen

Okay, the DC idea of individual Before the Watchmen miniseries was an idea that i took like a lot of you.  Yes, Alan Moore is beyond nuts, but maybe he is actually right.  I was going to skip these altogether (Okay, was probably going to pick up the J Michael Straczynski ones).  However, as I have said before, i have a close friend who owns and runs a comic shop.  He offered to sell me some of the Before Watchman titles at half-price.  Damn.

I actually for the most part ended up liking the Before Watchmen books that I read.  Individually and as a whole.  I have read that Moore saw Watchmen as a franchise with prequel opportunity.  Sure, Watchmen has become such an iconic book, it feels a bit like DC is releasing Charles Foster Kane- The Business School Years.  Still, all said, I think it gave some writers and artists a chance to explore some stories and play with some characters.

Before Watchmen: Comedian (DC) - written by Brian Azzarello - I am not a particular fan of Azzarello, but this comic does what he does well- bold, flashy Vertigo-style fiction.  This one will anger a lot of purists for selecting one of the most popular Watchmen and Azzarello takes some liberty with the canon.  That aside, this feels like the one title people will remember.  It spends time with the Comedian and his relationship with the Kennedys.  JG Jones art adds to that immediacy and in-your-faceness that Azzarello aspires for here.  I realize that this one will be filed in the love-it-or-hate-it category (hate it because you don't like what Azzarello did with the character.  Hate it because you don't like the mature readers-style).  Personally, I took Azzarello's boldness as probably the best thing you could do with this title.  It's an attention grabber.

Before Watchmen: Night Owl (DC) - written by J Michael Straczynski  -  I really wanted to like this title and it's tough to review.  Tough to review, because there are a lot of brilliant moments in this book.  JMS is a a master storyteller.  I felt the relationships presented in the book were well-thought out and established, and the dialogue was real.  It was an origin story that I felt was just a tale that would stick in your mind for a long time.  It stuck to classic comic book mythos (the art by Andy and Joe Kubert fed that) and seemed to stay true to Moore's vision as well.  That said, I think there wasn't an immediacy here, and I can see where many readers wouldn't feel obligated to stick through it to the 4th issue end.  For me, I would give it an 'A" or more likely a high 'B', but it has been ravaged by online fans, and I can certainly see why.


Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre (DC) - written by Darwyn Cooke-   There are a lot of things to like about Cooke's Silk Spectre too.  It appears to take the opposite approach of Comedian and slowly builds a story.  Cooke goes for a teen angst and this book to a certain extent feels like a female perspective on Amazing Spiderman.  It feels very girly at times, and though, that might be a negative for me with some titles, it generally works in the book's favor.  Amanda Connor's art really adds to the whole proceedings and probably raises this book up a grade.  I think it was an interesting read enough and although it feels far from essential, it is better than a lot of the books you will find on the shelf.

Overall, I was impressed with these titles.  In some ways, I think the Watchmen- tie-in hurts them, but I also realize that without that, likely they don't see the light of day.  I don't really have much faith in DC these days, and the idea seems like nothing but a cash grab.  However, I was impressed with the variety and all of these titles are something for DC to be proud of.  Having the opportunity to look back, it does seem that there is a universe here that can provide (at least some) area for some exploration.  I am going to have to move myself from the reluctant to someone who thinks it was a good idea.

New Music Initiative 047: Holograms

I am going to throw out another new band for you- Holograms.

This Swedish band taps from the same kind of Joy Division influence so many bands draw from.

For better or worse, they play it straight. An American band might crank up the drama or the irony (and that's how you end up with a band like Interpol or She wants revenge). Holograms aren't big on lead singer personality, and it makes for a sound that is timeless.

This album could have come out in 2012, or it could have come out on Factory Records in 1977. It is also a record that could have sat aside the early-2000s heyday of Scandinavian counterparts The Hives and The International Noise Conspiracy.

In any case, if your tastes run fall anywhere on that punk continuum, you will probably find something to like. The single "ABC City" recalls early Wire, and is a three minute blast of energy.

On the shelf 074: Chumbawamba

As you likely have heard Chumbawamba have called it a day.

Frequent visitors here know that I am a big, big fan of the band.

Because of my ties with college radio, i was already familiar with them by the time "Tubthumper" hit. I remember first hearing that song, and thinking equal parts "It's incredibly brilliant" and "This band will never get played on the radio".

After the success of Tubthumper. I, of course went back and made myself familiar with the back catalog, and then had to run out and see the anarchic (in more ways than one) live show (Cheers GarbageCanMusic!).

Three years later, they made WYSIWYG which I thought finally captured the band perfectly. Although, by then, the pop run had ended. four years after that, the most recognizable members of the band (Alice Nutter, Dunstan Bruce, Danbert Nobacon) left, but the band continued in on in a new direction. headed by the core of three long-time members of the band, they ditched the electro-pop they were known for, and embraced folk, acoustic music and a capella.

Even then 21st century Chumbawamba was as innovative as always (and they often showed up on my Year End best-ofs). The Boy Bands Have Won and ABCDEFG are the best of this era.

Before the split, though, they left us with one last disc. The band had collaborated with the aggit-prop Red Ladder theater company to put together a production called Big Society! with Phil Jupitus in a starring role.

A lot of hype was made that this was a departure for Chumbawamba, but I really didn't think so. There always seemed to be a love for music hall in Chumbawamba, and a an appreciation for per-rock n roll era music (they made an album called English Rebel Songs 1381-1914 to drive that point home).

I like the music a lot. It is certainly Chumbawamba, and it's a brilliant idea (using the early 20th century to highlight the problems of the current day- ruthless bankers, gung-ho military leaders, xenophobia, class warfare, etc.).

I will warn you right away that this is certainly not for everyone, but some of you will appreciate it. The Big Society soundtrack is available on Amazon and elsewhere.

2012 "It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)" Tour : Xel-Ha

We made one excursion which took in Tulun (as noted before) , but also the natural waterpark Xel-Ha.

Xel-Ha is an awesome experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in the Cancun/Maya Riveria/Cozumel area.

It was a hot day, so I settled for drinking under a thatched roof (all-inclusive), sitting under the sun, and swimming alongside colorful fish in clear blue water.

There are for more adventurous types a lot of potential once-in-a-lifetime experiences- snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, manatees and stingray encounters, ziplining, and deep sea diving. I know there's a rivalry in the area between Xel-Ha and Xcaret. I don't know that I can tell you which one is better (having only went to one), but I really liked Xel-Ha. If your goal was like ours, to enjoy a day in a place that recalls Paradise in natural beauty, then Xel-Ha is perfect. I think if you are more adventurous, then Xcaret would be worth checking out.

Xel-Ha actually has some history to it. The area was inhabited by the Mayas, and it played a role in the Spanish conquest as a beachhead.

A favorite moment was swimming in an underwater cave, but there was so much to explore.

Here are some pics.



Lounging in Paradise



Can you spot the dolphin in the pic below?