Another Year Over

Torotot Time

Hello, 2007.

2006 was a pretty okay year for me, overall. Thanks to all the people who made it worth remembering. You’re the finest.

Just started posting at my new gallery site, alternatural art. I’ll still post some of my artworks here, but that other one’s exclusively for my illustrations. There’s a mix of old and new drawings over there, so do check that out soon.

Christmas week was pretty normal. Got a few gifts. Partook of the food, and shared some. I gained two pounds, which I think happened some weeks back. Hope to lose some weight soon.

Spoke with Benedict’s ex (“the one who got away”), who left Wednesday for Europe, and found out that I do have some things in common with that person. We both adore Harriet Wheeler (of The Sundays), Eddie Reader (of Fairground Attraction), Lightning Seeds and Ocean Blue, among others… hee hee.

Hung out with John yesterday afternoon, after finally finding time to get some of my comics from Druid’s Keep. Essential Handbook of the Marvel Universe-'89 Update is out, woohoo! That, and the latest Astonishing X-Men. Only a few issues left for the Whedon-Cassaday team.

Anyway. Manigong Bagong Taon! If you jumble the letters, they can spell “Gangbang Moaning Too!”

Speed of Sound

Songs that meant something to me in 2006. Some aren’t necessarily new, but they’re part of my soundtrack for the year nonetheless:

I See You, You See Me (Magic Numbers), One (U2 and Mary J. Blige), Teen for God (Dar Williams), Last Worthless Evening (Don Henley), Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol), Love Shines (Live), Bad Day (Daniel Powter), What Can Never Be (Sinead Lohan), Stolen (Dashboard Confessional), Passionate Kisses (Mary Chapin Carpenter), Will You Be There in the Morning (Heart), Fidelity (Regina Spektor), Dear Jessie (Madonna), High and Dry (Jamie Cullum), Shasta (Vienna Teng), Am I Wrong (Love Spit Love), Speak to Me (Color It Red), Key West Intermezzo (John Mellencamp), Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper and Sarah McLachlan), Something to Believe In (Poison), Show Me Heaven (Maria McKee), Valley of Sound (Heather Nova), Afterglow (INXS), Rumble Doll (Patti Scialfa), Speak to Me Someone (Gene), Bluest Eyes in Texas (A Camp), and Collide (Howie Day).

Making the Page Count

My fave comic books of the year. Some of them were only lent to me, heh. I included titles that didn’t come out this past year, also, stuff that I only read recently. Some that I can remember, in no particular order:

Stupid Comics TPB- Finally, a compilation of Mahfood's witty, honest and entertaining comic strips.

Walking Dead- A suspenseful year, as a really terrifying human bad guy, the Governor, is introduced.

All-New Marvel Universe A-Z- Updated character guide; I hope they start showing new, exclusive art next time though.

Astonishing X-Men- Love the friction between Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde.

Essential Marvel Universe Handbooks- Still very informative, the ‘80s companion series has been compiled into five thick books.

All-Star Superman- Each issue’s been imaginative, energetic and refreshing, so far.

X-Factor- Nice new lineup, and one of the deeper, more involving X-books out there.

Astro City-The Dark Age- The ending raises questions, but the arc is still a good read.

Thing- While short-lived, it was respectful of continuity and full of fun surprises.

Aloysius Crumrin- It’s an early adventure of the wizard character. Hope Naifeh continues to do more stuff like this, and Courtney Crumrin.

Promethea Vol. 1 TPB- Chockfull of Moore goodness. I like the overlapping but coexisting concepts. Trippy.

New Avengers Annual # 1- A good action issue that finally shows the team dynamic.

Deadpool- Liked the Joe Kelly issues most of all. He made the character real interesting.

Villains United Special- The villains make their move, the Justice League expands, and Metropolis becomes a war zone. What a great cliffhanger.

Shining Knight- This Seven Soldiers title stood out for me, because of the well-paced storytelling and exceptional art.

Runaways- You care about them and their best character dies. Drat.

Secret Six- It’s kinky, dirty, and unpredictable. I love it.

Exiles- It makes every alternate reality in Marvel count, and stars an eclectic mix of dimension-hopping characters.

She-Hulk- Again, Slott tells stories well.

New Avengers Civil War tie-ins- It’s great that these issues were self-contained. There’s good characterization especially in the Captain America, Luke Cage and Spider-Woman issues.

Young Justice- Wholesome fun with the young DC heroes, but it’s occasionally a dark teen team book.

Young Avengers- Nicely done first year, and I’m looking forward to how these characters develop.

Civil War Front Line- This actually enhances the main Civil War book.

The Forty Niners- Gorgeously rendered tale about Precinct Ten and Neopolis in the early days.

Stuff I didn’t like at all: Alpha Flight killed off-panel in New Avengers, the confusing and abrupt ending of Seven Soldiers, the evil Batgirl arc in Robin, the last three issues of Marvel Team-Up, the unending massacre of mutant students in New X-Men, and the inconsistent art of Infinite Crisis # 7.