A Toast to the Comics

In case anyone is wondering...

I've gotten through The Complete Peanuts box set for this year.  1978 turned out to be an extra hilarious year, at least for this guy's funny bone.

And yes, I've also gotten through Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, the first book Scott Pilgrim series this past Friday night.  So... how did it hold up?  Which is really a 'reversal' [story reference there!] since I technically should have come to the work of Bryan Lee O'Malley first.  How do I relate to the source having loved the translation over the moon?   The answer is I like it very much.  I so enjoyed the parts of the film that utilize O'Malley's deceptively simple art.  It's great to experience it first hand.

I'd been surprised to find out that the movie begins at the same place as the books.  I had expected a tiny bit of backstory... having known from the film extras that there had been a bus scene of Scott meeting Knives and such.  Well, that's surely there, but it's one of those "cut to" moments.  Hence, any scene from before shows up as a flashback, a la remembrance of the character.  Which is just fine.  I'm happier this way, that the two are so close.  That's not to say they are exact, but on the whole, it's the same thing... just with some added or shifted scenes.  (Film: Knives comes to the door when Scott had already been at rehearsal.  Book:  Knives approaches the rehearsal with Scott as he talks with her.)  Such differences are to be expected and it's nice to see "new" material.  In both senses.  New to me, as we all keeping the film fresh without drastically altering what scenes exist.

So as to help me savor it... I took a break about halfway through.  But I couldn't not finish that same night.  What a treat to see the real images and unfolding (literally of turning pages) layout of my favorite of the Evil Ex's, Matthew Patel.

What I wonder the most... and will unfortunately never know... is how I would have heard the voices of but more importantly perceived the characters if I'd not had the movie versions in the back of my mind.  Yes, it's true.  I can't not think of Michael Cera's performance.  What would 'my' Scott have been like?  Would I have put in the same levels of emotion (or lack there of) or inflectary* patterns?  Oh well, I'll take solace in the fact that O'Malley didn't object to what Cera presented and go on with that as a basis.

Of course, now I have to wait a week before I can move on to the next book.  I'm not even picking it up.  It shall remain in the box set until time to read it.  I must simulate the 'torture' of having to await the next chapter of O'Malley's fun and strange little world.

But in other news, I saw an ad recently and I won't have to wait much longer for new episodes of Johnny Test.  He's been off for quite a while now and I don't know how I've survived.  That's only partial jest.

Hmm.  Scott Pilgrim vs. Johnny Test?  Who would win?
Tough call, if you ask me.

* Coined word, see here.

*Also in case anyone is wondering, the title is a View Askew reference.

Von Brown vs. the Box Sets

In a previous post I gushed about the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.  Recap:  I love it.  Instantly in my top five favorite films of all time.

Well, the truth is I'd come to the character with his martial arts and guitaring prowess via the film.  It's based on a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley.

So I am pleased as punch to have received Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Box Set which is, but of course, all six books conveniently crammed into a little box.  And it comes with a poster, too.  (Sweet!)  At last, I will be able to experience the original manifestation of the endearing and wacky world of O'Malley.

I know from watching the supplementary material on the Blu-Ray DVD that O'Malley appoves of the movie.  And his charming drawings appear ratherly cleverly in the film.  So it's not like I'm going to be disappointed.  The goal had apparently not been to one-for-one adapt the series, but to make a new version of it without losing sight of the source.  The film could threw in whole sets of balls of waxes - from video game sound effects to music (a big part of the story) to ways of moving the camera not feasible in print.  Thus, they knew it would be a different animal.  But of the same species.

I can't wait to flip through the pages.  But I shall!  You see, I have decided to first get through what Santa brought me.  Every year since their first release, Santa delivers a different box set:  The Complete Peanuts.  They've compiled the entire oeuvre of Schulz by year, a la each and every day (it ran for 50 years, people!) in published order.  Some of the strips have not been seen in decades.  Being a major fan of Peanuts it's a rare gem.  Each box has the two books published throughout the year, each book spanning two years.  I've got half of the second book to get through... and then...on to Scott Pilgrim!  [I can't not hear Matthew Patel [a character in it] saying that.]

I've also decided something else.  As with any series, devoted fans of Pilgrim had to wait a year or so for each next book to come out.  And the final chapter didn't arrive until one month before the movie!  It's sort of a pet peeve of mine.  Okay, no, it's not a pet peeve.  But it just makes me a touch sad that when a work is complete the overbearing anticipation is no longer a factor.  Sometimes that build up of suspense is a good thing.  It can also drive one nuts.  But I've decided not to plow through the graphic novels.  I'm going to wait a week before I will allow myself to get to the next one.  Granted a week doesn't compare to the wait endured by the fans who knew the joy of Scott before me... but it will at least nod to it.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to pick up 1977-1978 of Peanuts and laugh myself silly.

An Historical Day

Once again it is the anniversary of the day that Sir James Matthew Barrie entered into our reality. He left his mark, and we salute him. (I know I do!) Last year I displayed a special decorative, (commemorative?) envelope featuring Barrie. See it and read how I obtained it here.



Just imagine if I paraded around like Schroeder in Peanuts.

As if inspired by Barrie's celebratory day, I came up with a location that shall be found on NeverWorld in subsequent adventures. I've hinted and teased quite a bit about projects... so I'll let you in on this new idea: Londoom. Like the charming city we all know but as a darker, nightmarish, dangerous version. Peter will recognize it...until he flies in closer. I almost want to write some of it now. But it shall have to wait.

Much gratitude, Mr. Barrie, for your marvelous puer aeternus mythology.

Bravo, Sir!

Another's Allusion...

I came across a delightful, wacky post. Have a read.

It's a bit of silly fun. Yet one cannot deny the insights.

The allusion alone is quite stirring.

Bravo, Ted!

As for the picture on the left...can you believe this exists?

I didn't expect to find a Peanuts reference.

Third Snoopy out of the blue today, in fact.

Also for the record, the name Ted seems to be coming up a lot.

Update:

On second look, why does Snoopy have an accordian type instrument and not pipes?