I Don't Have to Run Day

That’s Cinnamon, That’s Hollywood

These are some of my complimentary movie tickets that have accumulated in a span of over four years. I think there are still some that I haven’t found. I’ve seen just about as many movies—free and paid--in that time that didn’t have tickets, though. But the first that started the unexpected collection was the Attack of the Clones preview ticket. I won that from an E! Philippines contest. It was shortly followed by a Spider-Man ticket, which was given to me in exchange for a Spider-Man drawing. Long story.

I like that many of these tickets were creatively done. Some of them have gimmicks like die-cut covers or envelopes (King Kong, X-Men 3, etc.) or are shaped like vinyl records (Dreamgirls and Down with Love). Some have exclusive images, while others have covers that are repros of existing movie posters. Some of these tickets are even more likeable than the movies themselves. Together, they look real interesting. I can’t help but stare at this wall from time to time.

Air Outside So Soft, Confessing Everything

Here's a rare group shot of the writer peeps in Tagaytay.

Oh, in that health resort we stayed in, Donita Rose was taping interview segments for her show. It was at the garden area, only a few meters from where our room/cottage was located. You can actually hear her voice from the bathroom.

She later entered the resort’s dining area with her toddler kid for lunch. She greeted us, and introduced her son. The boy was like a wind-up toy; his mom would say some words and he’d do funny stuff. When Donita said “Gigil!” the boy would grit his teeth and clench his fists. He’d do a scared expression for “Scaredy Cow!” because, as Donita explained later, those tractor-cows in Cars frightened him.

Funny kid. He just might have a future in show biz some day.

Blame it on the Brain

He’s now a super-cop and the director of SHIELD. But Civil War and Civil War Frontline recently revealed that Tony Stark’s hardly a real hero anymore. He’s become one of the most arrogant, most untrustworthy Marvel characters ever.

But, boy, his action figures look good. I especially like the original fat armor, the silver one with the mask that looks like a carved pumpkin. The others look equally fine in toy form. In the comics, he can send his armors into combat missions at the same time now, via some sort of psionic-cybernetic control (I think). So basically, he now has his own army of Iron Men. He rarely uses them, though.

Anyway. Hey, Iron Man! The new, evil, celebrity Thunderbolts are mercilessly disabling rogue superheroes. Look into that, fool.

Marching In

X as a Weapon

Mike Carey’s ongoing adjectiveless X-Men run has been exciting so far. I’m liking it, see, but I do have problems with Chris Bachalo’s art from time to time. I preferred his style back in the ‘90s, during his first year or so of Generation X. Now, I dunno, his figures seem to be extra-cartoony and the shapes of figures are hard to distinguish sometimes. So that really keeps me from enjoying and appreciating the story. He still does certain pinup shots well, though, as this particular panel shows:

Anyway, I love this lineup. Rogue’s the leader, and this strike force isn’t tasked with teaching at the Xavier Institute. It’s an interesting, diverse mix with Cable, Cannonball, Mystique, Iceman, Lady Mastermind, Karima Shapandar, and Sabretooth. I’m really not into the idea of having unrepentant villains coerced into service, as in the Thunderbolts post-Civil War, but somehow, Sabretooth as the team’s loose cannon feels more naturally done. Also, as many on it can be counted as reformed villains or have different backgrounds, it’s good to see that this team’s fighting approach is different from the other X-teams’.

I do hope that there’d be really memorable villains in the coming issues (the Children of the Vault and Pandemic characters were just okay), and that Carey’s promising team lasts for some time. May this tough X-group's adventures be bigger and illustrated better.

Zack Snyder!

Oh, here’s my article on filmmaker Zack Snyder, published last Saturday (thank you editors!). I did that phoner about a month back, shortly after watching 300 (thank you Warner publicists!). That interview went well. The guy sounded energetic from the start; instead of just saying “hello,” his first words were a loud “Zack Snyder!!!” So that was smooth from the get-go. He did a great job on Frank Miller’s work, and he’s now doing Alan Moore’s Watchmen, too, so let’s all cross our fingers.

300 opens today in the Philippines, I believe.

Like Toy Soldiers

Was able to get some of the Marvel Legends/X-Men/Spidey figures I’ve been fancying for quite some time. I hope I can still find a Mad Jack or Toxin figure though. Or a white costume repaint of Storm. But, yeah, am quite happy with what I have right now.

One thing I wasn’t too satisfied with, however, was the Iron Man-Mandarin Face-Off set. It took some time to get a decently painted one, because many were disappointingly, shoddily done. And, once I opened the one I bought, I was kinda dismayed to discover that Mandarin wasn’t poseable, since he’s wearing a thick rubber robe. Yargh.

Oh, and the comic book? Iron Fist. The same that came with the Iron Fist figure in early 2006. Yeek.

Gods Almighty

Beyonder versus Warlock, pencil drawing on vellum paper, Feb. 2007

After recently reading a boxful of borrowed Warlock and the Infinity Watch and related crossovers like Infinity War and Infinity Crusade, and finally reading old tie-ins to Secret Wars II, I was inspired to draw a meeting between the two main cosmic characters. Adam Warlock has been Jim Starlin’s Jesus-like figure, an artificially created being and hero, who sacrificed himself to save an Earth-like planet, was resurrected a few times, and ascended temporarily to godhood. Jim Shooter’s Secret Wars series introduced the all-powerful Beyonder, a being who sought to understand human desire and fulfillment. For a time, both were considered threats to the Marvel Universe’s different realities, and were opposed by its various heroes and entities.

I did this last Wednesday, after work. I chose to draw the Beyonder in the armor he wore in the Buscema-Avengers issues, as it looks way cooler that the casual jumpsuit he normally wore. Adam Warlock’s “God” mode only had one look, so I stuck with that. Warlock’s brief stint as omnipotent being and wielder of the Infinity Gauntlet was an interesting point in the character’s existence, as he pondered, like the Beyonder, what to do with the nearly limitless power. Unlike the Beyonder, though, Warlock didn’t have time to revel in his might, and divided the power among his chosen guardians.

They’re among Marvel’s most fleshed-out characters, and for a time, among the company’s more popular ones, which probably means that they’re being considered to have their own Marvel Legends figures someday (well, Baron Zemo and X-23 got immortalized in plastic first, so it’s hard to say if that’ll happen). Also, as the characters haven’t really met in the comics, I have this idea that, maybe, they actually have (they can do anything), or can still do so, what with retcons happening left and right in many titles. I think that it’d be a great meeting. They can try to eradicate each other from existence, and even have some pretty heated philosophical debates while they’re at it. This can so happen in the Exiles comic book.

No Mercy on the Battlefield

Early this week, I was able to attend a special preview of the Zack Snyder-directed 300, based on Frank Miller’s limited series. Awesome, awesome movie. I loved the moody, stylized look, the muted colors, and kickass battle sequences and character designs. Gerard Butler did a good job as Leonidas, leader of the 300 Spartan soldiers, as did Rodrigo Santoro, who played Xerxes, the conquering god-king to legions.

Thanks to the Warner people for that and the thick and pretty Art of 300 book, too. The movie opens March 7^th. I hope it stays uncut.