Minorities in cartoons: George Takei

May 232013
 

Kevin Keller #6This week’s minorities in cartoons entry is George Takei, the Japanese-American actor most famous for his role as Lt. Hikaru Sulu on “Star Trek.”

Besides his role in the various “Star Trek” movies and TV series, Takei is known for his work in promoting gay and lesbian rights; Takei fully came out as gay in 2005, though his sexuality had been an “open secret” for years. Takei also is known for his work on promoting Japanese-American culture and history, including the history of the US’ Japanese-American internment camps of World War II, in which Takei himself and his family were placed. Takei’s served as a spokesperson for LGBT rights group Human Rights Campaign, and is also a member of the board of trustees for Los Angeles’ Japanese American National Museum.

Takei’s also been fairly active in voice acting in recent years, in addition to his role on radio’s “The Howard Stern Show.” Among the cartoon appearances of Takei include:

  • The Simpsons: Takei’s voiced several minor characters in the series, including sushi restaurant waiter Akira in a second-season episode. Hank Azaria’s largely voiced Akira since, however.
  • Mulan: Voiced one of Mulan’s ancestors.
  • Kim Possible: Takei voiced “Master Sensei,” a recurring character who mentors Ron Stoppable to preparing him for his “ultimate destiny,” which involves Ron making use of his dormant “mystical monkey power.”
  • Futurama: Takei appeared in this series as himself, having survived until the 31st century in an episode parodying various tropes from the original “Star Trek.”
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series: The 1970s Filmation-animated “Star Trek” series featured Takei returning to voice Lt. Sulu.
  • Kevin Keller: Takei appears as himself in Archie’s “Kevin Keller” #6 (January 2013), where he visits Riverdale High School upon hearing of a report Kevin wrote about Takei’s work on LGBT rights.

Anthony’s miscellaneous comics picks for August 2013

May 222013
 

Disturbingly Awful MADRounding out this month’s picks is what’s of interest from various random comic companies/comic strip compilations. Apologies for this not being longer, but I didn’t find much that struck my interest for this month’s installment.

Comic strips

  • Disturbingly Awful MAD, on sale Aug. 13, $13

Comments

Dark Horse features Art Baltazar and Franco (of “Tiny Titans”/”Superman Family Adventures” fame) working on a kid-friendly miniseries version of “Hellboy,” entitled “Itty Bitty Hellboy.” Yep, a kids’ comic despite his name staying intact…and not changed to “Heckboy” or somesuch. At any rate, here’s a Newsarama interview Baltazar and Franco did last month, where they discuss their current and future work, including their own effort, “Aw Yeah Comics.”

 

Kevin Keller finally kisses on-camera, plus a slight poke at One Million Moms

May 212013
 

Kevin Keller and DevonAs I noted in the Archie solicitations for last month, we’re finally going to get to see Kevin Keller kiss his boyfriend. And not just a kiss on the cheek, but an actual kiss on the lips. At least, that’s what the released advertising images indicate, as seen in this post.

Accompanying this is some publicity, including this Associated Press article about the upcoming story. One interesting tidbit is that there’s a scene with a woman protesting against Kevin and Devon kissing…meant to be a “playful poke” by Archie writer Dan Parent at the One Million Moms protesters campaigning against the adult Kevin’s wedding story.

Of course, I’ll assume that this “first kiss” won’t be the last for Mr. Keller, even if the second/third/etc. kisses don’t make headlines, just as Archie’s kisses don’t.

Anthony’s Archie Comics picks for August 2013

May 202013
 

Archie #647Here’s my alliteratively-titled Archie comics picks for August 2013. Full solicitations are available here.

Comics

  • Archie #647, on sale Sept. 4, $3
  • Betty and Veronica Double Digest #215, on sale Aug. 28, $4
  • Jughead Double Double Digest #196, on sale Sept. 11, $6

Trade paperbacks

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, vol. 3, on sale Sept. 4, $11

Comments

The Archie-proper title seems to have eased off of the stunt storylines for the moment, though it’s delving back into parallel universes (again) with this month’s story.

Jughead gets the “Double Double” Digest treatment this month, coming in at 320 pages (and $6).

The third volume of the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” manga paperback compilations is being released, completing most of the series’ run. One volume left to go!

“Archie & Friends Double Digest” features Kevin Keller on the cover. Until now, I don’t think Kevin’s ever appeared on a digest cover, this “Betty and Veronica” digest aside. Kevin’s also shown with Chuck; I don’t think the characters have interacted much in stories to date, despite that they both like sci-fi. In real world terms, both characters also were introduced to add diversity to Archie’s cast. Of course, like Chuck’s solo backup stories, I’d expect Kevin’s own stories to wind up reprinted in digests someday. I’d still like to see Chuck get his own solo series, something he’s never had; however, “Archie at Riverdale High” in the 70s/80s apparently became a Chuck-centric title for awhile.

Anthony’s Marvel picks for August 2013

May 172013
 

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #26Here’s what’s of interest from Marvel for August 2013. Full solicitations are available here.

Comics

  • Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #26, $4

Trade paperbacks

None.

Comments

As I said for July, my reading of Marvel’s slacked off. I really wish they’d make like DC and offer their single-issue books digitally for Nook/Kindle/Google Play instead of just Comixology. Still, I’ll recommend the above books anyway…

This month apparently sees another huge crossover featuring Thanos. Also, the build-up for “Guardians of the Galaxy” continues…

Anthony’s DC Comics picks for August 2013

May 142013
 

Batman '66 #2Here’s what’s of interest from DC Comics for August 2013. Full solicitations are available here.

Comics

  • Adventures of Superman #4, on sale Aug. 28, $4 (digital-first)
  • Batman ’66 #2, on sale Aug. 21, $4 (digital-first)
  • Batman: Li’l Gotham #5, on sale Aug. 14, $3 (digital-first)

Trade paperbacks

None.

Comments

More cancellations coming this month, including “Threshold” (so much for the new and “improved” “Captain K’Rot“) and long-time DC title “Legion of Super-Heroes.” I guess being set 1000 years in the future makes it difficult to have forced crossovers with the present-day DCU, and/or it’s hard to forcibly tie it into one of the 876 Bat-titles…

In more interesting areas (read: not the “New 52″), the digital-first weekly titles continue to roll along unabated with their paper versions, compiling several digital issues at a time. “Batman ’66″ sees the appearance of classic TV show villain King Tut, as well as a “1966″-ized version of Killer Croc. I assume we’ll surely be seeing a “1966″ version of Harley Quinn before long.

No “Showcase” volume this month, but there is a trade paperback release of the “Secret Society of Super Villains,” the classic super-villain team from their 70s run in various titles. This volume includes a reprint from “Cancelled Comic Cavalcade,” an “ashcan” black-and-white title “published” (via several dozen photocopied copies) by DC for copyright purposes. Said “title” consisted of several otherwise-unpublished black-and-white stories from titles that feel victim to the infamous “DC Implosion,” a mass cancellation of titles during the late 70s. The Secret Society consisted of various foes ranging from Star Sapphire to Gorilla Grodd.

 

Archie Comics now available through Google Play

May 132013
 

Archie & Friends #152Although  it was announced several weeks ago, I thought it’d be worth noting anyway: Archie Comics’ books are now available through Google Play’s digital media store.

The comics offered include some back catalog of books, as well as offering same-day digital versions of the paper books. Comics bought through Google Play may be read using the “Play Books” smartphone app or directly in your browser. Like other online bookstores (unfortunately), the comics sold here are laden with DRM. However, unlike Comixology, there’s the option of downloading an actual file for use on various devices, a DRMed PDF, which may be read on a computer using Adobe Digital Editions.

(It’s possible to remove the PDF’s DRM via various means, letting one keep one’s purchases unmaimed by DRM. No, I’m not advocating piracy, just the right to actually own what one paid money for…)

I tested the new Archie offerings via the 99-cent sale they held late April with the service’s launch, by buying the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch: 50 Magical Stories” volume offered. The stories (a compilation of various Sabrina stories over the decades) are entertaining, of course, but unfortunately, the comic itself has some severe quality issues. At least several stories are printed entirely as if someone had flipped a negative or something: all black with white outlines for the artwork, and no colors. The feature to download the PDF version is also disabled; the link leads to a “404″ error page. While I only paid 99 cents, I think I’d be greatly annoyed if I’d paid full price.

Fortunately, several other comics (offered for free as samples) were printed correctly, and with their PDF download options functioning normally. The “Play Books” app seems to work well enough for reading comics, as they looked fine on my Nexus 7.

Overall, seeing more options to buy digital comics is a good thing. It’s also good that Google Play is using an actual non-proprietary file format (unlike Comixology) for its comics, DRM aside. Given Barnes and Noble’s possibly shaky future with the Nook/Nook Store, an alternative digital comics venue is nice. Hopefully DC and (especially) Marvel will follow suit in expanding their same-day digital offerings to Google Play.

Archie’s “Kevin Keller” wins the 2013 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book

May 122013
 

Archie Comics and Archie writer/artist Dan Parent announced on their Twitter feeds Saturday evening that they’ve won this year’s GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book (for “Kevin Keller”):

While any of the nominees would’ve deserved the prize, I was hoping for “Kevin Keller” to win. It’s one of the few pieces of American entertainment aimed at children that features an openly gay character. Unfortunately, LGBT folk are still seen as “off limits” for American children’s media as far as TV/movies are concerned. Thus, “Kevin Keller” winning highlights this aspect of media. It’s also an entertaining comic, of course…

(Unrelated, but if you’re wondering about “ParaNorman”‘s nomination in the “Outstanding Film – Wide Release” category, it lost to “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”)

Birthdays in cartoons

Apr 302013
 

Super ChickenDespite the characters’ lack of aging, cartoons sometimes like to depict its characters observing birthdays. Depending on the cartoon, either “wacky hijinks” may ensue (such as “The Simpsons” or “The Flintstones”) or more serious goings-on may take place (Superman’s birthday in “For the Man Who Has Everything”). Either way, expect the characters to “turn” their usual, never-changing ages once again (Lisa Simpson turning eight, Superman turning 29, etc.). The old joke “you’re turning 29 again, right?” is literally true for most cartoon characters’ cases…and Superman in particular, who really was permanently 29 from the 70s through the early 90s. (DC raised his age to 35 after “The Death of Superman,” but the New 52 reboot’s managed to reduce his age to 27.)

Here’s a few random cartoons that depict birthdays:

Super Chicken

One “Super Chicken” episode on the late 60s Jay Ward cartoon “George of the Jungle” sees our heroic chicken and his lion sidekick Fred try to stop a “birthday bandit” from using mechanical toys to rob birthday parties. Pretty hilarious from start to finish: the narrator noting “the robbery” as part of the usual birthday party customs; said robbery’s victims (Kid (sobbing): “My teddy bear’s gone!” Dad (also sobbing): “So’s my TV set!”); our heroes staging a fake birthday party as a trap…a party that lasts for two weeks (cue the picture accompanying this post); Fred getting repeatedly blown up through the whole adventure; and a robotic toy double of Super Chicken (playing into the ending).

Teamo Supremo

This early 2000s Disney cartoon, made partly to cash in on the popularity of “The PowerPuff Girls” (only featuring Batman-like non-superpowered crimefighting kids) featured a villain named “The Birthday Bandit.” The Bandit’s shtick was, like Super Chicken’s foe, robbing birthday parties. Voiced by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker of “Star Wars” fame), the Bandit resembled a goofier version of his other famous character, the Joker from “Batman: The Animated Series.” Like the Joker’s sidekick Harley Quinn, the Birthday Bandit counts a woman as part of his henchmen, who’re dubbed the “Party Favors.”

The Flintstones

A few episodes have revolved around Fred’s birthday. An early first season episode sees a wild party thrown in the gang’s new pool end up with Fred getting arrested, after he assaults a cop who Fred thought was someone pulling a gag. A season three episode sees the others try to throw a surprise birthday party for Fred, which doesn’t go well when the guest of honor (kept away from home by Barney) goes missing. The series states that Fred’s birthday is on February 2 (Groundhog Day).

Of course, the most famous Flintstones birthday episode is none other than the birth of Pebbles herself. Bamm-Bamm’s adoption was featured in his debut episode; I’d assume the Rubbles celebrate that day as his “birthday.” Decades later, we also see the birth of the adult Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm’s twin offspring, Chip and Roxy.

The Jetsons

The Jetsons’ 80s revival featured George fretting about his birthday in one episode. Another episode during that time has George state he’s 38 years old, bumped up slightly from his mid-30s age in the show’s original 60s run. This still implies he got married and had “daughter Judy” when he was barely out of college…

The Simpsons

The Simpsons family members’ birthdays have been shown in a few episodes. Lisa’s birthday is seen in the famous Michael Jackson episode (where she’s “turning eight”), while Homer in another episode notes his birthday’s “the same day as the dog’s.” Bart’s birthday is also shown significantly in one episode: he attempts to cash in on multiple free birthday offers, which is followed by a birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese-like restaurant; cue: Nelson cramming multiple balls down a skeeball game, lousy animatronic singing robots, etc.

And yes, the births of the various family members have also been shown through the series’ run.

“Blooper Bunny”

This 1991 Looney Tunes short focuses on Bugs Bunny’s “51st-and-a-half anniversary,” parodying the hype at the time for Bugs’ 50th birthday in 1990. (“Tiny Toon Adventures” sometimes had the characters note how old Bugs is…). The short features the “making of” a sappy cartoon celebrating Bugs’ anniversary, taking shots at the idea of the Looney Tunes all being “pals.” Pretty hilarious, especially the scenes of Daffy telling off Elmer Fudd and the short’s closing (Yosemite Sam hurtling at Bugs a stream of creative insults; I liked “you low-down, flop-eared, son of a kangaroo!”). The full short’s available on YouTube.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force

The episode “Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary” features Meatwad’s birthday, which goes south quickly once Master Shake uses it to try to launch a scheme to create a new, “better” birthday song than “Happy Birthday to You.” Cue a trip to a condemned “Pizza Potamus” restaurant (Chuck E. Cheese with Hanna-Barbera’s Peter Potamus as the mascot), a heavy metal musician to play the song (guest star Zakk Wylde), and Meatwad trying to eat said restaurant’s exposed wiring.

DC Comics

The various DC Comics characters’ birthdays have been featured in comics over the years, to the point they published a 1976 wall calendar highlighting the various heroes’ birthdays. I’ve written about most of the JLAers’ birthdays:

 

C2E2 2013 summary

Apr 282013
 
Burt Ward at C2E2 2013

Burt Ward, at the 60s Batman TV show panel.

I’ve finished attending yet another C2E2 comic-con in Chicago. Here’s a summary of my experiences at this year’s show:

The line this year to get in was long as usual. For some reason, I didn’t see a ton of costumes while in line, though two guys near me were dressed as (in their words) “Batman cosplaying as Superman” and “Spider-Man cosplaying as Captain America.” The Batman/Superman guy had apparently heard of the Composite Superman when I mentioned to him that minor villain.

Of course, once in the show there were a lot more costumes; among the others:

  • The X-Men
  • Quail-Man (from the 90s Nickelodeon cartoon “Doug”)
  • A headless woman in a wedding dress (complete with fake blood)
  • Some warriors in costumes made entirely out of old beer cans and beer carton boxes
  • Captain Marvel (the Marvel/Carol Danvers version)
  • The Scarlet Witch
  • Starro
  • Captain Marvel (the “real” one, though given DC’s current treatment of “Shazam,” I’d argue otherwise…)
  • Black Adam
  • Captain America
  • Aquaman
  • Cable
  • Iron Fist
  • Green Arrow
  • Superman
  • The main cast of the TV “Young Justice” cartoon
  • A man dressed as Black Canary
  • Jesus Christ (two of them!)
  • Multiple people dressed as the Doctor from Doctor Who, including the modern version of the Doctor (lots of bow ties at the show), as well as the Fifth Doctor (whose actor was appearing at C2E2).

The only panel I really got to attend was seeing part of the 60s Batman TV show panel. Burt Ward and Julie Newmar were there, describing their experiences on the show to the audience. However, Adam West due to an injury wasn’t able to attend. I also tried to go to the Marvel panel, but I got turned away; the panel room was completely full. So full they also had to turn away others that were still waiting in line…

While I didn’t get to see Svengoolie, I did get to see some writers/artists in Artists’ Alley. I spoke with Thom Zahler (of “Love and Capes“), who I asked a few questions about his most recent trade paperback, “What to Expect.” While I’m not a “brony,” I also asked a few questions about his work on the current “My Little Pony” comic. I also congratulated him on his recent engagement announcement.

Another artist I got to see was Joe Staton, a long-time artist who drew one of my favorite superhero stories, the origin of the Justice Society in 1977′s “DC Special” #29. However, I left my copy of such at home, so instead I bought from him a recent Archie trade paperback that he’d drawn (which he also signed).

I also met Yale Stewart, the writer/artist of the webcomic “JL8,” about the Justice Leaguers as grade-schoolers. I asked him about the name change for his strip; originally it was called “Little League,” but changed due to the baseball organization’s protesting.

Finally, I bought the usual comic-con knick-knacks, including a bobblehead of Darth Vader. I did buy some comics as well, including: the first black-and-white reprint volume of the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” manga run;  a few issues of “Aw Yeah” comics (an independent effort from the creators of “Tiny Titans”); and a volume of the indie series “Princeless” (praised on the blog Comics Worth Reading). However, I haven’t bought as big a pile of comics as usual. Reasons why include: having filled in many of my desired back issues or not finding what I wanted; a switch to buying mostly digital comics; and that C2E2 for some reason seems to have way fewer DC trade paperbacks for sale versus Marvel material.

Speaking of DC/Marvel, DC didn’t have a booth at this year’s show, for unexplained reasons (DC apparently refuses to state why). I’ve seen some suggest the cost of renting floor space at McCormick Place as why the no-show. (Bleeding Cool suggests a lack of a booth might also be to either save on set-up and take-down costs or to avoid people asking too many questions about DC’s embarrassing spate of recent decisions.) However, if said rumors are true, it’d sound quite odd for one of the two dominant comic companies to skip one of the midwest’s biggest comic-cons. DC did still hold panels at least, but that’s not fully the same as actual floor space, which Marvel’s booth took up plenty of (and prominently featured near the entrance). Since marketing’s a reason for comic creators appearing at comic-cons, and since DC supposedly wants to promote the “New 52″ and all its current New 52-ness (Superman/Wonder Woman pairings, Clark Kent “fighting the power” as a blogger, and all), not having a floor booth at a major midwestern show sounds odd from a marketing standpoint. With a major Superman movie due out in a few months that parent company Time-Warner’s hanging all its future movie hopes on, I’m not sure any cost-savings (even at McCormick Place prices) is worthwhile. Meanwhile, Marvel definitely hyped up “Iron Man 3″ at its booth, and even offered promotional material tying into “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which isn’t due until 2015.

However, given my dislike of the “New 52,” I guess I can’t say I’m too disappointed. Despite being a fan of DC’s characters, most of what I was interested in at this year’s show were from smaller-press companies, Marvel, or independents…

Overall, I had fun at this year’s show, even if I only went down for one day. Staying overnight in Chicago instead of going straight back to Milwaukee, however, lessened feeling “rushed” like I did last year.

Finally, here’s the photos I took of this year’s show:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mechanikat/sets/72157633373465090/with/8690559456/

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