Scenes from the Life of an Amateur Comic Book Collector--(17)--Search for the Fantastic Four

Recently I completed my collection of Marvel Essentials reprint volumes of the Fantastic Four. Volumes 1 though 8 go up to issue number 183. So rather than wait for volume 9 to come out, I decided to catch up to the present with as many back issues and other collections as I could find. There are color reprints of the FF works of George Perez, John Bryne, and Walter Simonson but they don't cover every issue. There is a gap between issues about the 190s about 214, then 215 to 220 is covered by a John Bryne collection. Bryne picks up for issue 232 and continues way into the upper 200s, but I have only gotten as far as 230, with a few sporadic issues in there. So my mission was to find the missing issues.

I went to Cosmic Comics, Time Machine, Midtown (which had no early ones), Metropolis Collectibles--really a mail order house, but I found their address on the web--and St. Marks Comics which was having a half-price sale on back issues. I went to Metropolis before work and found a few good issues for reasonable prices. I managed to find almost every missing issue. Now I just need 195, 197, and 213. A lot happens. Reed Richards loses his stretching power, but regains it just in time for a final showdown with Dr. Doom in the 200th issue. Then the FF engages in a gigantic intergalatic battle with the Skrulls which goes on for several issues and involves recruiting Galactus, the devourer of planets, to save the world from a super-powerful being called the Sphinx. It gets very distracting when a bunch of other heroes from a defunct comic called Nova into the action in a wild attempt at crossover. It's almost like a continuing episode of Doctor Who with endless space battles, a beautiful alien queen, a battle between the Skrull general and his treacherous wife, and a planet split into four separate parts.

Byrne's work starting with 232 is way too stylized for me. Everyone looks so cartoonish. I prefer the realistic earlier issues which resembles the art of Dick O'Neal at DC. In the early John Bryne series, the Human Torch finds a female equivalent, but later falls in love with Alicia Masters, the blind sculptress romantically involved with the Thing. but it turns out she's a Skrull in disguise. I hate when that happens.

Work of Art--Episodes 7 and 8--Miles Wears Thin

At first I thought Miles on Work of Art was cute, enigmatic, and soulful. Now I'm getting a bit tired of him. Every week he nails together some pieces of wood and the judges love it. And yes, Jaclyn has a beautiful body, but enough with the nudity. That's the main takeaway from Episode 8. I was too busy to write my reactions to episode 7 last week. Plus I'm getting headaches from being on the computer too much so I need new glasses, but they're not ready yet. So I'm trying to limit computer time. Also I'm too obsessed with the Fantastic Four to think about art and Project Runway starts soon. But where was I?

Okay, episode 7 was the childhood one, right? Peregrine's piece looked sloppy to me. but the idea was interesting. I thought Jaclyn's was totally undeveloped. She obviously did not want to think about her childhood. I wanted to see more of Mark's comic book. It looked really intriguing and was a departure for him and they only showed a few seconds. Miles bamboozled the judges once again with some abstract empty shit--a blank crossword puzzle and some rubber band balls. Give me a break. He should have gone home for that. Abdi made a bunch of logos. If he had taken them and done something more creative than just arraging them in rows that could have worked. Nicole had a really great idea, but I couldn't make out the individual pieces and what they meant. Ryan's piece was definitely not the worst--that was Jaclyn's. But we needed to see her breasts one more time, so she stayed.

Onward to episode 8--opposites. I really liked Peregrine and Mark's heaven and hell pictures and I don't care if the snooty judges thought they were too obvious. They were right about Abdi this time however. He really dropped the ball with that green coral painting. What is with that Socrates' cave crap?? Miles sailed by with some woodwork he punched. I will say that Jaclyn's painting was actually very pretty, even though it was the same subject--herself nude--that she's been doing week after week. I'm sure it excites the straight guys--particularly Miles. I would have eliminated Abdi rather than Mark. And why was everyone crying? Was China that upset and why did she wear a cocktail dress in the morning segment? Did she just get in after a night on the town?

They said there was one more challenge before the final three compete for the prize, so I guess two will be eliminated next week. Probably Abdi and I hope Jaclyn, but she'll probably stay to disrobe and pleasure herself publicly once again.

Forget About Jobs Coming Back, Plus ruminations on Kathy Griffin and Joan Rivers

Despite victories on financial reform, capping the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the fine for Goldman Sachs, Obama and the Democrats are still trailing in the polls. Just as Dems hated Bush's guts, Repubs can't stand Obama's audacity to try to do something for people--and spending money doing it (even though Bush did the same thing.) It all boils down to--where are the freakin' jobs? The average American is saying "I don't give a crap about gays getting married or in the miltary, oil spills, stocks, bail outs, or any of that shit. Just give me a job so I can watch American Idol in peace."

Unemployment hovers at around 10 percent and it's probably going to stay there for a while. The reason is employers have discovered they like it like this. During the recent economic crisis, thousands if not millions of people were laid off and the companies realized, "Hey there was a lot of waste the ways things were before. Now one person can do the work of three and we only have to pay the one salary and benefit package. Why should we hire back anybody when we can work those remaining like dogs and make bigger profits?"

The repubs will use this in their bid to take back Congress in 2010. Their soul aim is to stop any sort of meanigful legislation, say NO to everything and get back in power. Fortunately Scott Brown and the women from Maine went along with financial reform. Speaking of Scott Brown, I had no problem with Kathy Griffin's joke about his daughters being prostitutes. They are both grown women and Brown set it up with his comment them being available during his acceptance speech. I also find it ironic that all this moral indignation is coming from a former Playgirl model. She's a commedienne, it was a joke. Similarly Joan Rivers was very funny in the new documentary on her life and effectively dealt with a heckler objecting to her making Helen Keller jokes. "I have a deaf son, that's not funny," he yelled. She responded, "I'll have you know I have a deaf mother and I lived with a man for 17 years who lost his leg in World war I and then went back to get it." It was pretty funny that she ad libbed all that. I haven't always found Rivers all that funny, but you have to admire her for perserving through all kinds of setbacks. Not many people of her age (77) are still on top and in the public eye. She also pointed out during her rant to the heckler that we have to be able to laugh at anything--including pompous Scott Brown. I do still like him for having voted the right way on occasion.

Work of Art--Episode 6--Eric Sulks, Peregrine Dresses Cute

The first team challenge on Work of Art resulted in predictable fireworks with novice artist Eric clashing with tortured "art-school pussy" Miles (Eric's assessment not mine). I can't really blame Eric for getting pissed off because the other three in his group--sleepy Miles, quirky Peregrine and sexy Jacklyn--shot down all of his ideas for their public-space sculpture. But he should have discussed it with them instead sulking like a child and getting all passive-agressive. Then that weird note from Jaclyn. Why not openly say to him in front of everyone, "Look, I'm sorry for not acknowledging your suggestion on my photo collage in front of the judges. I'm sure you have good ideas, I want to encourage you. We don't have a lot of time so can we quickly go over your suggestions and see what works. I'm willing to listen." Slipping Eric a note was kind of a way of relieving her guilt without directly contradicting Miles.

Eric really let his insecurities get the better of him. He's clearly unsure of himself and jealous of Miles' seemingly effortless way of coming up with minimalist stuff the judges love. He probably thinks, Who is this creep who can take naps in the middle of the floor and still win two challenges and makes nothing but homeless shelters. I don't think Eric is correct in believing it's all an act on Miles' part. That's how he really is. (BTW, Ryan's impression of Miles making coffee was a riot.)

I had to agree with the judges on the final results. The winning piece was intriguing and looked finished. I liked the separate little pebble pieces. The Miles-Eric thing had a certain grace, but the sheets of metal they stapled on at the last minute made it look like a sloppy patchwork.

Peregrine looked really cute in her aviator's cap. I'm loving the way she dresses, that red jacket really suited her and stood out in the crowd. I forgive her for the rabbit-ears headdress of a couple of weeks ago.

So Eric was kicked off for his non-cooperative attitude and it was great to see Miles in the bottom. He needs to be humbled. It will probably come down to Miles, Abdi, and probably Jaclyn--yes, the judges will be told by Bravo, keep the girl with the bare breasts on as long as you can. She'll attract what few straight guys we get.

Leaderboard
Miles--two wins--death portrait of Nao; sleep sculpture with concrete anuses
Abdi--one win--explosive heads
Jaclyn--one win--photo and mirror collage about how sexy she is
John (eliminated)--one win--Time Machine book cover
Nicole--one win--concept of the public sculpture with separate pebble pieces

Objections to Objectivism

I recently found a video on You Tube of Rand Paul explaining he was not named for Ayn Rand, contrary to internet rumor. His full name is Randall and it's just a coincidence that he's a big fan of her anti-government novels and philosophy. Lately, I have become interested in her work. I recently read her fantasy novella Anthem about a dystopian future where collectivism has destroyed civilization and the word "I" has been obliterated from the language. I also saw and reviewed the NY premiere of her 1934 play Ideal in which a movie star is accused of murder and seeks refuge with six of her devoted fans. Like Christ she asks her worshippers to forsake safety and side with her, all but one turn her down.

I have not read Rand's longer novels or her philosophical tracts on her view of life called Objectivism, but I did see the movie version of The Fountainhead with Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, and Raymond Massey on TCM. I remember getting an almost Nietzchean vibe from it. The superhero has the right to conduct him or herself however they chose because of their superior sensibility. The hero Howard Roarke is unwilling to compromise his artistic vision in the slightest. When a building he was to have designed is erected by a lesser competitor, he blows it up and Rand believes he is justified in doing so. She later proclaimed she was not in favor of violence, but she did believe the rights of the individual supercede those of the society at large.

I think a lot of Tea Partiers have read her work and are now taking it literally. Any move by the government to have an effect on people's lives, for good or ill, is seen as the first steps towards a tyrannical dictatorship. Ronald Reagan actually made a record in the early 1960s saying Medicare would lead to slavery.

Things I like about Rand's philosophy:

1. Man should rely on reason and not faith. Therefore it is rational to not believe in a God.

2. Excellence should be rewarded. (OK, but that's like saying motherhood is great.)

3. Government should not interfere in people's lives. This can be interpreted several ways and some have taken it to mean no Medicare or Social Security or unemployment benefits. But Rand at least was consistent, believing the government should not lift a finger to help anyone, but it should also not stop anyone from getting an abortion or pass laws against homosexuality, even though she personally found gays repulsive mutant sickos.

Things I don't like:

1. No one should pay taxes. What are you nuts, Ayn? She advocates entirely private infrastructure and services. We'd all be paying tolls and fees through the nose. If every service which should be public--that is something everyone uses--were privately owned, competition would NOT drive prices down. The capitalists would all get together and drive the prices up. That is unless you have government regulations to stop them, and that is exactly what Rand was against.

2.Government should not help anyone at any time.

3.Capitalism should be totally unfettered with no government regulations as to safety, fairness to the consumer, or how the owners conduct business. (She believed the open market would eliminated crooks. Ha!) The Bush White House and Republican Congress removed constrains on Wall Street and the morgage brokers and we all know where that led: Obama getting all the blame.

Rand was raised in Soviet Russia and her father's pharmacy was taken over by the state. I believe she was a brilliant person who was so enraged at this injustice, she went to extremes in the other direction. I do want to read Atlas Shrugged, but the damned thing is over 1,000 pages.

Note: these are just impressions based on Rand's statements and what I have read of her philosophy and her interviews with Mike Wallace, Phil Donahue, and Tom Synder, all available on YouTube.

Work of Art--Episode 5--Whores for Audi

If I were a contestant on Work of Art for this week's challenge I would have done a portrait of the judges as whores on Ninth Avenue in the 1970s with a big Audi car as their pimp. How do you like that, China Chow or whatever your name is? Such blatant product placement. The episode opens with Simon waking everyone up at 5:30 AM--with some gratuitous shots of the typically sleepy-eyed Miles getting out bed possibly naked--to meet him in front of the building for some shameless promotion. They will be driving through Manhattan in the sponsor's car to the sponsor's showroom to see how many times they can say the sponsor's name.

Once in the Audi Forum, which sounds like a letters column or the site of a debate society, they are given a half-hour to draw inspiration from a car! Miles promptly takes a nap and decided to take a photo of an empty space. Exciting (not)--and he almost wins--again. I will say his work is oddly beautiful but I didn't get the police barricade stuff. The promos showed him flirting with Nicole and touting him as a Casanova, when in fact it was just some brief silly talk. Yawn!

Once again Jaclyn uses males' fascination with her to create a meditation on how sexy she is. She spouts off on how difficult it is to be so attractive while the camera zooms in on her cleavage.

Ryan painted yet another self-portrait while Mark made a boring grid thing and Jamie assembled an art-school project while little figures of herself which belong on greeting cards for girls' 16th birthdays. I think she has a future at Hallmark. She deserved the boot this week.

Eric is beginning to display his jealousy of the others and it looks like it will explode next week. He still resents Jaclyn for not acknowledging his idea for her piece last week and is angry Miles always gets in the top two even though he takes naps at the drop of a hat.

My parnter watched the show for the first time last week and was fascianted with the interplay of the personalities.

Leaderboard
Miles--two wins--death portrait of Nao; sleep sculpture with concrete anuses
Abdi--one win--explosive heads
Jaclyn--one win--photo and mirror collage about how sexy she is
John (eliminated)--one win--Time Machine book cover

'Independence Day' on Independence Day

This Fourth of July week, I rented the blockbuster movie Independence Day from Netflix. I had been curious about it since it come out in the late 1990s, but not enough to go see it when it opened. It's basically a large-scale disaster movie, but it tell us a lot about America's mind set at the time and now. Pop culture and massively successful films tell you a lot about a nation's pysche. That's why I like to watch silly old films of the 1930s, '40s, and 50s. A few weekends ago I DVRed Neptune's Daughter starring Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban, Red Skelton, and Betty Garrett, a silly water-splashing musical. Yet it made me imagine going to a movie theatre in 1950 and seeing this technicolor fantasy and the average drab housewife or closeted gay imagining she or he could go out to nightclubs and see Xavier Cugat or Carmen Miranda singing and dancing in enormous shapes and vivid hues.

Independence Day is a retread of HG Wells's War of the Worlds with a seemingly invincible alien force nearly conquering earth. In Wells' version, the monsters are defeated by a flu virus while in this update a computer virus does the trick. Thus we see that man and not nature can defeat the enemy from space. The characters are a who's who are cultural stereotypes played by actors popular at the time (some still are)--the cocky, charismatic pilot played by Will Smith; the quirky lovable scientist played by Jeff Goldblume; the wise and wisecracking Jewish elder played by our favorite sitcom star Judd Hirsch; the nasty, small-minded bureaucrat played by James Rebhorn (not a well-known actor, but a familiar face from similar roles in films like Scent of a Woman); the gutsy president with the fight-pilot past (Bill Pullman); even the nervous nelly hiding under the desk (Harvey Fierstein who is conveniently killed in the early part of the film just like all gays in movies up to that point.)

We get the comforting fantasy that humankind will come together, with America in the lead of course, and we will make our American holiday into a world holiday when the bug-eyed aliens are destoryed on July 4th. Of course the rest of the world goes along with American dominance and our the brave president forsakes personal safety and protocal to lead the charge. I wonder if George W. Bush got the idea for him to don a fighter pilot uniform and declare mission accomplished in Iraq from this movie? It wouldn't surprise me. There is also a satisfaction in seeing our symbols of government like the White House destroyed in a movie and then having everyone retreat to an imaginary secret installation like Area 51. It did feel strange to watch these images after 9/11.

And where does a single mother stripper like Will Smith's girlfriend, get the money to afford a nice house in a good neighborhood and still have enough to support her son and have a dog? Who takes care of them while she's out pole-dancing?

In reality, my family was visiting our upstate house over the weekend and we went to nearby Kinderhook, birthplace of Martin Van Buren, our 8th president. A retired army vet spoke about our forefathers and Van Buren fighting for limited government. I think tyranny would have been more accurate. He also mentioned our belief in God and the importance of family and community is what set us apart from Europe and why the American revolution succeeded and the French one didn't. But he didn't turn his speech into a libratarian rant and spoke movingly about soldiers under his command losing their lives.

Then we went to Van Buren's house which is a national park site and took a tour. I also finished reading Ayn Rand's novella Anthem. It was very short and didactic. I want to read more of her work because I am curious as to how it relates to what is happening now and how Tea Partiers are using it to justify their crazy no-government screeds. More on that once I have shrugged like Atlas.

Work of Art --Episode 4--Shock Value

The challenge this week was a bit absurd--create a shocking work of art. Art should not intentionally set out to shock, it should just say what it wants to say and if
that shocks anyone, it's a by-product. If you deliberately mean to shock, you get self-conscious work which was the result of many of the submissions. And what was with Peregrine's rabbit-outfit? She should have been eliminated for that alone.

The episode opened with a tour of Simon's gallery and the graphic works of Andres Serrano. I recall his Piss Christ was the object of much hatred and derision when he received an NEA grant. Many conversatives used it as a reason for eliminating the government funding agency altogether. His point was the distortion of religion in the modern world--at least that's the explanation Jamie Lynn, the pretty Christian contestant, and Sister Wendy, the art critic nun, have given. Interesting when you think about what a free society we live in. If he had done such a thing in a Muslim country he would have been the object of a fatwa and been jihaded on the spot.

Erik and Jamie Lynn both identified with Serrano, but their work was hardly shocking. Jamie Lynn's Last Supper looked like a greeting card or a cartoon. Her concept of Christ being beset by trendy sluts and skanks looked so genteel and gentile it wasn't scary. Christ didn't even look like Christ, more like a surfer or Twilight actor. Erik's was too obvious while Mark made the same point much more subtlely with the bare, stark photos of blood stained panties and a burst balloon.

Once again Jaclyn couldn't wait to get her clothes off. I felt pretty dirty watching her second nude photo shoot in a row and I found it exploitative that the prettiest woman was once again baring her breasts. If Nao did something like that it would have been a lot more fascinating and she probably wouldn't have gotten the axe.

Back to Jaclyn--there is nothing wrong with taking an idea from another contestant if they offer a suggestion and nothing wrong with acknowledging it to the judges. From the tapes, it seemed pretty clear that it was Erik's idea to have gallery goers write on Jaclyn's photos. All she had to do was say, "It was Erik's idea." And they would have said, "Great."

Back to Nao--she really didn't have any idea what she was doing. I found it delightful that Serrano actually liked her performance and the other judge looked at him like he was crazy when he said so. Serrano made some good points, if Nao had a clear concept or focus to her piece it could have been very powerful. She could have been a homeless woman, smeared with her own filth and the crude teepee she built could have been her home. But she didn't think it through and it was a confusing mess. John was too timid and his self-gratification painting looked like bad porno from a 1970s Hustler magazine.

Despite the rabbit outfit, I loved Peregrine's anti-fashion statement and China's reaction to seeing her Dior dresses up for satire. Hated her hoop skirt, BTW.

Miles did not have to cum all over his Disney piece it was gross and shocking enough--and well drawn--and he did not have to tell us about pleasuring himself--EWWW! (This had to be the most gratuituously sexual Bravo episode ever.) Abdi's dynamite heads did deserve to win, but they didn't quite look young enough to get the total point across. I see the final three being Miles, Abdi, and maybe Ryan. Will they each have to make a ten-piece show and the judges pick a winner like on Project Runway?

Leaderboard
Miles--two wins--death portrait of Nao; sleep sculpture with concrete anuses
Abdi--one win--explosive heads
John (eliminated)--one win--Time Machine book cover