Batman #2

So if there is one thing that encompasses all that The Bat-Man is (besides Christopher Nolan's ongoing masterpiece cinematic trilogy) it is Scott Snyder's run at the helm of DC's Batman. #1 Established Batman as the clever detective that he really is, but it also established the city of Gotham as a dark, deviant character. #2 hit shelves on the 19th of October and is better than the first installment. I am a huge fan of movies that start at the end and then go back to the start and trace the steps up until that climactic moment. #2 starts with what looks like the impeding death of Bruce Wayne, then goes back to the time prior to explain the story and make you think hard. The end of the book will make you revel in the awesome-ness that is Batman. I love how DC has embraced Gotham in the "New 52" with All Star Western and Batman. They have breathed new life into the city. I've always loved the degeneration of the city and to give it a predominant role in their books is so awesome.

Batman #2 is amazing, the art is amazing, and the story is amazing. You have NO reason to NOT go pick it up.

Animal Man

Of all of DC's relaunched "New 52" Animal Man is by far the best. It's about Buddy Baker who is able to channel the power and ability of any animal at any time. He can channel the lightfootedness of a bee to creep slowly, or the bark of a dog to intimidate, basically he is awesome. The story is extremely catchy, its hard to wait for the next months issue. Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth) is the perfect author and Foreman's art is the perfect amount of disturbing. My favorite frame from this series so far is during our hero, Buddy Baker's nightmare; his son is running towards him as his guts are pouring out of his stomache.. its gnarly, unsettling, and completely awesome. #2 came out last week and its completely great. Pick it up and get into this amazing story.

The Best Western in a Long Time

If you don't read comics, you should, if you do, you should read this one. All Star Western #1 is one of DC's final installment in their new 52 this last month, and let me just say... its 100% badass. I've heard it compared to what would happen if "Clint Eastwood hunts down Jack the Ripper". It is so awesome. Jonah Hex ends up in Gotham set in the 1800's and searches to find a guy who is brutally murdering prostitutes. It's super rad to read about the early roots of Gotham and see who Arkham mental institution was named after and get a glimpse at the twisted upper class society of Gotham. Needless to say, it is beyond awesome! Read it.

The Builders And The Butchers

One of the best bands of my generation. They play a dark, folksy tune with lyrics that are meant to doom and depress. They rock harder than necessary and they don't let up until that last note slams down on us. Their new album titled "Dead Reckoning" came out earlier this year, completing a hat trick of perfect albums of fresh, old sounding folk rock. Give them a listen, they'll change the way you look at rock n' roll. Go here!

Old Color Pictures

Awesome Pictures

More Here

What Happened to the Airlines?

As far back as I can remember, flying was great. It was one of the most exciting treats that I got as a kid. You drove to the airport, grabbed your tickets and walked up to the gate, onto the plane, into your seats, on your way; Soaring above the country, scanning the horizons. Flying used to be great.

Today, fliers experience unjustifiable fees on pretty much everything from aisle seats, to extra bags of peanuts. Security is excessive, and not a single person enjoys it anymore. What happened to the days of meals, service, friendliness, luxury. What happened to the enjoyment of flying. Ill tell you. Money.

Money literally does make the world go round. It also makes a lot of peoples lives less enjoyable. The rich get richer and the middle class gets pissed. The rich stuff their pockets at our expense, taking things that we all used to enjoy, like flying, and turning them into an overly profitable cattle drive. Sadly, the white collared bureaucrats have destroyed an American way. The days of packing the bags and heading to the airport for an exciting adventure are gone.

Where do we go from here? Whats the better (not good) news? The automobile is coming back. Families are jumping into their cars and heading down the highways, its a small throwback to tradition, Americans and automobiles. Its so simple, but its what we do here. We love cars, we buy them, we drive them, we get more, we collect them, we relish them, treat them well, beat them up, ride them hard, worship them, curse them.

The line seems to stop there. But it doesn't. Current events are certainly threatening our most beloved form of transportation.

Gas.

It literally fuels us, and it now costs $4 a gallon.

What do we do? Where do we go from here? Do we bite the bullet? Do we park the cars and walk? Nobody has a definitive answer, and nobody WILL have a definitive answer. We have traditionally done what we want to do, nobody has ever dictated us as Americans about what to do. Ask the English.

So really, what do we do? I don't have the perfect answer. But I do have an opinion, we forget about it. We don't let it phase us, we keep going like nothing is happening, we continue to better our lives and say "forget about it" to all the troubling things in life. Take a philosophical lesson from Jeff Bridges' character, "The Dude" from the Coen brothers film "The Big Lebowski". "The Dude. Takin' er easy for all us sinners."

Just take it easy, ride it out. Most everything sorts itself out in the end.

-tod

I'll Try Anything Once - The Strokes

This is quite possibly the best song ever written.