Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 282

March 25, 2018: These dogs needs their own comic book!

Our cast of characters…

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Suji and Lulu

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Chung

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Clementine

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Chip

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Lola

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Riggs

The comics…

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More Suji Doodles

Suji (and occasionally Lulu)

Chung

Clementine

Chip

Lola

Riggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 24, 2018: I Re-Rank Japan’s Top Mascots!

Boy, Japan looooves its mascots.  You’ll find them everywhere, from sporting events to corporate ads, city events to supermarket openings.  Every city and prefecture boasts its own kawaii characters used to promote their local regions. Some of these Yura-chara have soared to celebrity status and need no introduction: Domo-kun, Kumamon, Hikonyan, Sanomaru, Gunman-chan, and, of course, the self-made Funassyi – to name but a few.

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Akemi’s brush with celebrity!

Perhaps rivaling mascots in popularity is the Japanese obsession with ranking things.  So it should come as surprise that, every year, the Yuru-Chara Grand Prix rates 200 (out of some 1400 annual entrants) mascots representing local governments and companies across Japan.  Looking back on 2017’s list, my Top 13 would have broken down a little differently:

#13. Zokirin (Saitama)

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A cross between an elephant and giraffe, I like Zook’s inclusive spirit.

#12. Kiko (Hokkaiko)

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The love child of Chicago’s Benny the Bull and Nintendo’s Mario.

#11. Victoire – Cheval Blanc – Murao (Nagano Prefecture)[image error]

I like the hair, his laid-back look, and the fact he goes by three different aliases.

#10. Sosejin (Kagoshima-ken)

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I feel Sosejin is one tragedy away from turning B-grade super villain.

#9. Hiyawan (Miyake-ken)

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That Where-Are-They-Know? special finds Snoopy enjoying a comfortable retirement.

#8. Kuruppa (Fukuoka Prefecture)

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Rosy-cheeked, cleary concerned, unsteady on his feet – the drunkenest mascot on this list!

#7. Shimabaran (Nagasaki Prefecture)

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A ghost with a great attitude.

#6. Konyudoukun (Mie Prefecture)

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He’s like that kid from Ju-On’s more sociable less killy brother.

#5. Kamisukoko-kun (Ibaraki Prefecture)

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I’m drawn to his smugness.

#4. Komoshika (Mie Prefecture)

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Literally – like a deer caught in the headlights.

#3. Shigako (Nagano Prefecture)

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I can’t get enough of this lovable dimwit who seems to have suffered some sort of magic marker accident.

#2. Momoiro Usahi (Yamagata Prefecture)

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It’s either PTSD or he missed the bus.

#1. Yumeizukin-chan (Nagasaki Prefecture)

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Reminds me of Suji.  In fact, I could see Suji in this outfit, complete with strawberry antler hat.

Check out all of last year’s official rankings here: http://www.yurugp.jp/ranking/?year=2017

March 23, 2018: News of Note!

Check the weather forecast in your area for the Easter weekend as it may call for cloudy periods with a chance of space debris showers –

Out-Of-Control Chinese Space Station Will Crash to Earth Over The Weekend

“According to the European Space Agency‘s Space Debris Office in Darmstadt, Germany, debris from Tiangong-1 will splash down between March 30 and April 2 across the northern hemisphere.”

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Do you live in the yellow shaded area pictured above?  If so, you may want to consider vacationing in the blue shaded areas for those four days (P.S. I hear Greenland is beautiful this time of year.)

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Lab-Grown Meat Is Coming, Whether You Like It Or Not

“Clean meat companies claim the process will be more efficient because you’re only growing the bits you need to feed people—no guts or eyeballs or brains.”

Whoa whoa WHOA!  The guts, eyeballs and brains are the best part!

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Your Guide To Proper Napping

“To help, try to simulate nighttime conditions. Reduce light with a mask, blackout curtains, or—if for some strange reason your office actually invested in one—a workplace nap “pod.”

The workplace nap “pod” – aka Your Office.

Finally, Breaking News!  I have a cold.  My first in about five years!

March 22, 2018: Is it time for Cookie Monster to come out of retirement?

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Welp (Honestly?  I just like saying “Welp!”), I think it’s high time I brought resident film critic Cookie Monster back from extended vacation so he can start catching up on his superhero movie reviews.  It’s been over three years since we last heard from our blue-furred Richard Roeper (not to be confused with the real blue-furred Richard Roeper).  At first blush, it would appear the last movie he reviewed, Kick-Ass 2, may have done him some lastingdamage [“VERDIKT: If you loved de first movie, you’ll hate dis one. But if you hated de first movie, you probably won’t hate dis one as much.”], but in truth, all the blame lies with Avengers: Age of Ultron. According to Cookie in his farewell letter dated October 29, 2014, sitting through Avengers: Age of Ultron “be like watching somebuddy else play video games for tree and half hours!”.  Which is pretty damning when you consider the movie’s runtime was just a shade over two.

Anyway, with Black Panther out and Deadpool 2 poised to hit theaters in a couple of months, I figured now is the time to cajole Monster into getting back in the critic’s seat.  And, of course, there’s Avengers: Infinity War that looks like the perfect movie for anyone with a PhD in Marvel Comics (Everyone else need not apply).  Of course, getting back in the saddle will mean writing up a review of Age of Ultron which, given the fact it’s been almost three years since he saw it, may require a repeat viewing – which would be akin to asking him to relive prom night with Grover’s cousin Shanice.  But, hey, let’s see.  Stranger things have happened.

Prom night with Grover’s cousin Shanice, for one.

Meanwhile, you can check out all of Cookie Monster’s past movie reviews here including his thoughts on…

Man of Steel:  …dis be filmic equivalent of having to attend an uncle’s funeral at Six Flags. Wit unbelievable romantic B story tacked on.

Superman Returns: …more boring den Fozzie Bear’s off-off-off Broadway production of “Old Coronation Street Episodes”.

Catwoman: Verdikt: Dis movie a CATastrophe.  Get it it?  She a cat!

The Incredible Hulk: Verdikt: If dis movie was a frat house, it be Pi Krappa Gamma.

Meanwhile, it looks like them marbles (consult previous blog entry for reference) have rounded the bend and are headed towards the finish line.  Comet is still out in front but Reflektor is closing fast.  Looks like I may need to start binging horror movies.

 

March 21, 2018: Best Comic Book Covers of the Week!

These were my favorites …

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Doctor Strange: Damnation #3 (of 4)

Cover art by Rod Reis

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Monstress #15

Cover art by Sana Takeda, Yoshi Yoshitani

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Spider-Men II

Cover art by Sara Pichelli

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Star Wars: Poe Dameron #25

Cover art by Phil Noto

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The Adventures of Captain Cosmic #1

Cover by Andy W Clift

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The Mighty Thor #705

Cover art by Russell Dauterman

Meanwhile, I’ve decided to fully immerse myself back into the word of comic book reading.  I read the majority of last week’s new releases and will do the same for this week’s.  As in the past, I will drop titles that fail to hold my interest and continue reading the ones that do.  And, once I have a few issues under my belt, I’m going to start making recommendations.

March 20, 2018: Unique Japanese Gift Ideas!

With Akemi’s birthday less than a month away, I’ve started perusing various online sites for the perfectly unique birthday gift.

What follows are some of the more – uh – remarkable offerings available for you to order from JapanTrendShop.com:

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You too can smell like a sumo wrestler!

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His an Hers.

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I wasn’t even aware this was a thing.

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This gum would have come in so handy these past few months.

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I’m not sure…I don’t even…I just don’t know.

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So elegant-looking!

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Okay.  Finally, this is something I can get behind.

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For those long-haul flights.

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Yep.  My pet peeve when I go out for drinks is to get a mug that’s practically all beer and hardly any foam!

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How else is your dog going to get his/her exercise?

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Who doesn’t like robots?  And love to laugh?

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Fix your face!

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To be saved for later use?

Decisions, Decisions…

March 19, 2018: The Almost Animated Adventures of Suji!

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https://www.instagram.com/sujidoodles/

March 18, 2018: My Goofy Girlfriend!

Between here and the dogs, it’s hard to stress out about anything…

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March 17, 2018: Toronto Comic Con!

That big Dalek, Baby Groot, Winter Soldier Irish jib crossover is finally here!!!

Yes, today, we hit Toronto Comic Con – or “Geek Festival” as Akemi refers to it.

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Like most cons, much of the fun is in checking out the people in costume.  Or at least I assume they were in costume.

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When in doubt, follow the woman with wings!

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I think I successfully convinced Akemi to dress up as a stubby-limbed dinosaur next con.

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I consider myself fairly well-versed when it comes to anime and comic books but even so I can usually only identify half of the cosplay characters.  For instance, on the left is Tokyo Ghoul’s Kaneki, but I have no idea who’s standing beside him. More often than not, when I draw a blank, it’s a video-game character.  Final Fantasy?

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Plenty of Black Panther cosplay at this event.

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Ran into my buddy, Duane – a comic con veteran.

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Picked up an awesome Dark Matter mug and bag from artist Nicky’s shop.

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It’s a Stargate/Dark Matter crossover!

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Natasha with the Elizabeth Weir cosplay.  Nice!

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Even Pikachu put in an appearance.

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You shall not pass!

You shall not pass!!!

No.  Wait.  Wrong big budget fantasy series.

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Two and a half hours later…

All in all, not a bad outing.  I picked up a slew of cufflinks (including a pair of nifty Walking Dead crossbows) and added to my burgeoning super villain t-shirt collection with some interesting finds (Gorilla Grodd and a motorcycle-riding Orb among them).

Alright.  Back to work!

March 16, 2018: Hunh!

Hmmmm.  Odd.  I was expecting…feedback on various fronts this week.  I won’t go so far as to say I’m disappointed.  I’m more…restless.

A little impatient.

Okay.  Maybe slightly vexed.

But let’s see what next week brings before I declare it time to ratchet things up.

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I mean, come on, people!  How am I expected to get through a rewrite of this character overview section with these guys around?  Honestly, I don’t need distractions like these with a deadline looming.  So just stop being so darn cute!

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Damnit!  What did I just say?!!!

Meanwhile, some very interesting developments on the projects front.  Wish I could share, but it’s very hush-hush.  Various wheels set in motion are approaching the finish line.  At this time, I kind of feel like this guy:

I’ve got my own Comet, Reflektor, Deep Ocean, Snake’s Tub, Tarantula, Pollo Loco, Dragon’s Egg, Glassy, Mocha Madness, and El Capitan in contention.  Who’s gonna take it?!  We’ll know in the coming weeks!

P.S. Don’t forget to post your questions for Dark Matter‘s Teku Fonsei, actor Andrew Moodie!