Overcome by the need..

Oh, I almost forgot!
The most jaw-droppingly awesome thing I saw in a comic this week.


Luke Cage ain't afraid to kick a chick in the taco.
For real.
Wow.
This actually happened in a Marvel Comic with Avengers on the masthead.
The stones on Bendis, right?

Oh, also, no group of people or super-people even remotely resembling "The Avengers" appear anywhere within the pages of New Avengers #27.

I mean, these guys look like a fun bunch, but they are in no way anything like "The Avengers".
So, you know, just an FYI kind of thing.

If you wanna do it, do it right..

Let's talk about Black Panther.
The Reginald Hudlin-New Marvel's Trying Too Hard To Make Him Important By Constantly Shoving His Total Badass-ness Down Our Throats-Black Panther as featured in Marvel Comics' Black Panther Volume 4 Number 24.
(This "down our throats" strategy is also working out great for DC with Supergirl, btw.)
I hate this comic, and I hate how it makes me hate Black Panther.


Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Carlton. Now do that stupid dance.
You can have him be a "badass" without writing every other character he runs into like a sycophantic fanboy/girl.

You know what else this comic taught me about Black Panther?

GROSS!
So he's into old ladies (Storm's grandma in this instance) and dirty underpants?
So what does he do with dirty underpants?


Oh.

But it's just girl's underpants, at least... right?


Wow.
So he's using his incredible flexibility and agility to flip face first into Captain America's ass?

Bravo, Marvel. That's certainly a more surprising character revelation than the phony affair with Photon you tried to fake us out with in this issue.

Risin' up...

Just messing around in CS2 on my break at work.

Christmas in February!

5 Reasons Toy Fair 2007 Was Rad


The best animated Joker figure ever.


Aquaman says, "Just let me throw an anchor at it!"


Space, it seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you.


SHAZAM!


Finally a Madman figure that's worth a damn. Snap!

There'll be more of these Toy Fair 2007 awesomeness updates.

Also, it's worth noting/mentioning that I've replaced Thor's Playlist with a much grander in scope chrishaley approved! playlist. I hope you enjoy it.

It bears repeating.

About as good as comics get as far as I'm concerned.
I don't really feel like I need to go into too much detail, as I'm sure anything I'm going to say has already been said by someone else out there in the comics-blog-o-verse... I'm still going to though, because I loved it so much.


Bully really has the right idea. Go read about it and then do your part.

Ain't talkin' 'bout love.

So, it's St. Valentine's Day yet again.
Back in 2004, I believe, I cut all ties with this holiday, opting instead to celebrate Daredevil's Day every February 14.

The idea being that it's still got the same red color-scheme and getting and giving Daredevil related presents is a lot more fun than flowers or stuffed bears.
Also, I try to wear a Daredevil shirt if at all possible... and I mean, I've got two, so it's usually possible.
Feel free to jump on this bandwagon before it gets away from you.


I mis-saw one of those candy hearts in a box and thought it said this.
A lot more fun than what it actually said.
Anyway, for those of you who'd prefer or more traditional Valentine's Day sentiment from me, I suppose I can oblige that as well.

Imperius, etc.

Paul Maybury has done an awesome redesign for Namor over at Project Rooftop.
Go look at it.

Love is all around.

Joel has made probably the best Valentine's Day comic present ever.
Even cooler is the fact that I got to watch him draw most of it.

Wait, you're not Superman.

DH over at CapVsBats has put up a pretty funny parody of The Return.
Check it out.

Do you like good music?

So I added a playlist from Finetune.com over there to your right and then down just a bit.
Go ahead.
Click on it.
Get it going while you're perusing my business.
I don't even mind.
It'll make your visits here more enjoyable.

At the moment, it's THOR'S PLAYLIST.. in that it's songs Thor demands be played loudly. Hard rock, metal, really upbeat stuff. You get the idea.
The odds are very good that I'll make another one just below it that features good music that doesn't have to be listened to at any particular decibel level.

Seriously, give it a listen so that I haven't wasted my time making and embedding it.

http://www.finetune.com/playlist/1348664
That's the plain link for it should you want to check it out that way.

Oh, and by all means, if you make your own playlist let me know in the comments section.

In honor of Thor having his own playlist, here is a drawing of everyone's favorite God of Thunder. Sorry, Gene.

Shock me.

If you're ever in Cleveland, OH and in need of comics, this is the place I'd recommend. It was the best of the 4 or 5 I got to visit while I was there to see Sloan.


I also found that, if possible, it's good to have Ernie around to keep an eye on your things.


If you're in Cleveland and want pizza, I cannot possibly recommend Rascal House enough. It's downtown near CSU and I'd punch someone in the face right now to get to have lunch there today.


I didn't get to go to the science place pictured here, but it certainly looked like fun.


I also didn't get to go on this huge ship.

However, I DID get to go here...

I feel great, I feel fine.

So here's a very quick, but slightly more polished version of my take on a Robin costume redesign.
Dean Trippe and I got into an "argument" over whether or not Robin has to have the color green in his costume.
I say he does.
The tunic and green in the original version of his costume (as well as the weird slippers, I suppose) are what tie him to Robin Hood. Design-wise at least.
I may be wrong, but since I was a wee-tiny chrishaley, it's been my belief that the codename/heroic identity of the original Robin was equal parts small bird and English folk-hero.
Am I alone in this belief?
So yeah, my design would bring back the red tunic, only now it would be over a green full bodysuit as opposed to a short sleeved quasi-unitard.
I completely agree with the current Robin costume that there's absolutely no reason for Robin's arms or legs to be bare.
I also kept the black gloves and the high collared black cape with yellow interior.
I didn't draw them here, but I planned on using some kind of cross between Robin's current boots and the version he wears on the animated Teen Titans.
This is officially far more than I intended or wanted to write about this little sketch.
My apologies.

Again with this.

Kasabian - Club Foot (Live)

My mornings are full.

So here are two versions of Boo Berry I did in vector last week.
I can't decide which version I prefer.
I based it off some sketches I saw on someone else's blog, but I can't recall where for the life of me.
If you know, let me know.

Born to run.

So here are three versions of the same thing. It's a sketch of The Flash that Mike Wieringo posted on his blog. I decided to take a stab at coloring it in the slap-dash style I'm fond of lately. The first take is just flat colors. For the second I added a little more detail. The third is what my colors look like without the linework.
The end.

Don't start me talkin'..

Blur - Oliver's Army (Live)
Minus Story - Hybrid Moments (Misfits Cover)
Switchyard - Hybrid Moments (Who knew this was such a popular cover for ladies and piano?)

Andrew WK Live

http://www.awkshare.com/musicupload/masquerade_1_18_03/10%20-%20I%20Get%20Wet.mp3

http://www.awkshare.com/musicupload/tremont_4_22_02/10%20-%20I%20Get%20Wet.mp3

http://www.corkyjames.net/MP3s/live_to_win.mp3

Some say I learned it, some say it's innate.

I wish I could explain how much I want to destroy some people.
Not that I feel this way all the time, but fuck, sometimes some people just make me crazy.


This is a ninja I drew.
Right now, I wish I was this ninja so that like a shadow serpent I could use silence as my veil and with the precision of the cobra, kill these people and leave no trail.

He keeps on workin'..

So here's a sketch I did of my idea for a Robin costume redesign. There are all kinds of notes and such on it if you click on it to check out the bigger version.

Have I waited too long?

Welcome to Photoshop for Web 103W.

Even though you lied..

Guy Smith (aka The Orphan, Mister Sensitive) from Milligan and Allred's run on X-Force (which later became X-Statix).
One of my favorite characters from one of my favorite comics of all time.

Catches thieves with curly fries..

So, I decided I liked my original background for this picture better than that version I posted the other day.
I know it's not a big difference, but I think this version is better.. so there you go.

Here's some pictures from Tara and I's trip to Cleveland, OH to see Sloan.

Spins a web, hits on guys...

Spidey sketch I did on a post-it and decided to play around with in Corel.

Does whatever I tell him too.

Spidey by Ryan Ottley that I colored today.
Please click upon it to view it in all it's largeness.
Wahoo!

Tablet Superman.

A quick sketch of Superman I did on my tablet quite a while ago.
Feel free to click it to see a larger version.
Maybe I'll finish it someday.
Knowing me, I probably will not.

I continue on my Sloan kick.

Enjoy some live Sloan from their album 4 Nights at the Palais Royale courtesy of Neiles Life.
Coax Me - One of my favorite Sloan tunes, and a song that contains one of the best lies I've ever heard in a song "it's not the band I hate, it's their fans"
Everything You've Done Wrong - Possibly even more fun live since the horns in the album version are replaced with vocals.

2-Minute Music Review

Some of you may have been coming here long enough to remember when I used to write these.
I've decided to bring it back, albeit in a slightly more thorough fashion.
You can thank me later.

SLOAN "Never Hear The End Of It"
2-Minute Music Review by chrishaley!

Who's this for? : Imagine if Weezer had gotten together in '91 instead of '94, were four guys from Canada that could all write good tunes and sing, and had grown and gotten better with each successive album instead of worse. If that sounds good, you're in the right place. Later Beatles mixed with the best of 70s hook-rock and the honesty and sincerity of early R.E.M.

How Crescent Fresh? : Pretty "Super Cres" (or 9 out of 10)

Thoughts : 30 songs. No kidding. I hesitate to call this album an epic, but I think it's very safe to call it grand. In scope, subject, and execution. Songs range from less than a minute to almost six minutes and from mildly trippy to sincerely sappy, from a star-gazing lilt to daylight punk-esque. If you don't like a song on this album, just wait two minutes and you'll probably hear something completely different. One of the band's greatest strengths is the variance in their vision that comes from having four equally contributing singer/songwriters. This album was designed to be listened to straight through, and you'll enjoy the individual songs more later if you do listen to it from start to finish a few times. Obviously an experimental album for the band, but an experiment that succeeds with far more hits than misses.

Highlights : Depends on your mood.
Upbeat - "Set In Motion", "Blackout", "Can't You Figure It Out?", "Will I Belong?", "Another Way To Do It", "I Understand"
Mellow - "Even Though" (downloadable bonus track), "Love Is All Around", "Everybody Wants You", "Light Years", "Last Time In Love", "I Know You"
You must listen to - "Fading Into Obscurity", "Who Taught You To Live Like That?"

Memorable lines : "ana lucia, you're the belle of the ball, you really don't owe me that much, and i really don't know you at all"
"we can make it like we never met, keep in mind that you'll never hear the end of it.."
"sounds a bit offside, judgin' who just died, who'll be the first to speak?
the piano was upright, attendants were uptight, countin' the days of the weak
but 'round about midnight, your comments were highlights, the party spilled into the street"

Yes or no? : If you can find it, and you like good music, you should definitely buy this album.

The same music meme.. only different..

In honor of the new Sloan album that came out yesterday, I wanted to do this music meme again using only my Sloan playlist.
Let's see what happens...

Opening Credits: Median Strip
Waking Up: The Good in Everyone
First Day At School: Nothing Left To Make Me Want To Stay
Falling In Love: Nothing Lasts Forever Anymore
Fight Song: Hollow Head
Breaking Up: I Wanna Thank You
Prom: I Understand
Life's OK: Waiting For Slow Songs
Mental Breakdown: I've Gotta Try
Driving: Two Seater
Flashback: Someone I Can Be True With
Getting Back Together: A Long Time Coming
Wedding: Worried Now
Amazing Hot Sex Porno Scene: Never Seeing the Ground for the Sky
Birth of Child: Bells On
Final Battle: The N.S.
Death Scene: Fade Away
Funeral Song: People of the Sky
End Credits: Seems So Heavy

That seems like a pretty good little soundtrack. I have to say, I like it a lot better than the other one.

2006 at the Movies.

So I thought I'd compile a list (for my own record if no one else's interest) of all the 2006 movies I saw or wanted to see but didn't.
After I compile this list, I'll probably do another entry later with my thoughts on these movies or a Top 10 list or some such.

Movies I Saw
V For Vendetta
An American Haunting
The DaVinci Code
X-Men 3
Cars
Superman Returns
Clerks 2
Monster House
The Descent
Fearless
Jackass 2
The Departed
Texas Chainsaw Massacre : The Beginning
Borat
Casino Royale
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Rocky Balboa
Brick
Feast
Night Watch
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Crank
The Protector

Movies I Wanted/Still Want To See
Underworld : Evolution
Curious George
Thank You For Smoking
Slither
American Dreamz
Silent Hill
Art School Confidential
Mission Impossible 3
Over the Hedge
The Omen
A Prairie Home Companion
Nacho Libre
Lady in the Water
Little Miss Sunshine
Miami Vice
Talladega Nights
Pulse
The Illusionist
Beerfest
Invincible
Hollywoodland
The Black Dahlia
Everyone's Hero
All the King's Men
The Last King of Scotland
The Queen
Man of the Year
The Grudge 2
The Marine
One Night With The King
The Prestige
Babel
Stranger Than Fiction
For Your Consideration
Happy Feet
The Fountain
Blood Diamond
The Good Shepherd
Children of Men
Death of a President
Idiocracy
An Inconvenient Truth
Jesus Camp
Night of the Living Dead 3D
The Notorious Bettie Page
Revolver
A Scanner Darkly
Strangers With Candy
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
The U.S. Versus John Lennon

So obviously, I missed more movies than I saw.

A music meme..

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
NO CHEATING

Opening Credits: "Blessed Be The Guy That Bonds (McBain End Credits)" - The Simpsons
Waking Up: "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" - Johnny Mathis
First Day At School: "The Flame of Youth' - Dragonforce
Falling In Love: "One Brother" - Andrew WK (a song about not falling in love... weird)
Fight Song: "Let It Rain" - Ok Go
Breaking Up: "Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll" - KISS
Prom: "We Win (Ha Ha)" - Thunderbirds Are Now!
Life's OK: "A Touch of Evil" - Judas Priest
Mental Breakdown: "Septopus Theme" - Brendon Small
Driving: "Heroes" - Kasabian
Flashback: "Blue Highway" - Billy Idol
Getting Back Together: "So Beyond Me" - Sloan
Wedding: "Garbage" - Nuno Bettencourt
Amazing Hot Sex Porno Scene: "Grief Hammer" - The Darkness
Birth of Child: "10538 Overture" - Def Leppard
Final Battle: "Desecration Smile" - RHCP
Death Scene: "I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Elvis
Funeral Song: "I Am Hell" - White Zombie
End Credits: "Love Burns" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Never Hear the End of It.

The new Sloan album should be in a store somewhere near you today.
I'd recommend finding it, and buying it.
I'd highly recommend doing that.
I mean, it's what I plan to do.