In my previous entry, I brought up the death penalty in regards to super folks. Basically, I stated that I support the death penalty for the super-powered people who are pretty much beyond reform - that is, if released, they'll do the same damn thing that got them incarcerated in the first place. As it is, many of them escape rather than serve out their sentence.
As is the case in my neck of the woods, my support of the death penalty for super folks wasn't taken very well here. However, rather than come away with an impression that I'm some sort of bloodthirsty type, let me explain a bit why I came to this conclusion. When normal humans wreak havoc, there's limits to what they can do. However, depending on the power, super people can wreak unimaginable harm and chaos. A telepath can fry the minds of those within range of his or her power, or alter their minds in such that they are no longer the same. A super strength person can literally tear people apart with less effort than it takes for you to lift a sheet of paper. Those with fire-based powers can cause incalculable loss of life and damage in a relatively short span of time.
I liken the gaining of powers to winning the lottery. Some people can handle suddenly having a lot of money; others can't. Some lottery winners will invest their money so that they won't have to work for the rest of their lives; others will blow it all away on stupid stuff and end up even more poor than when they started. Getting powers is a lot like that. Some people can handle having powers, others can't. Having been a longtime fan of comics, getting my powers was like a dream come true. For others, their powers become tools of oppression and/or destruction.
For others still, it's like being addicted to a drug. For instance, there's one guy who has rage-induced super strength. He goes from a 5 foot 5 skinny guy to a hulking 6 foot 5 monster who can get stronger than me if he's angry enough. When normal humans get extremely angry, they can do some seriously dangerous things that they normally wouldn't do. Now add to that if you gained super strength on top of that. Next add that this guy isn't exactly stable when he's not powered up, and you have a guy who's like the worst brat in history with the mother of all temper tantrums. Even worse, he's a drug addict, and his super strength rages are often drug-induced. I've seen the results of the damage he's done, and I'm tired of hauling his ass to the holding facility only for him to escape again.
And folks, that's just one super-powered guy!
Other super-powered problem people, of course, cause other kinds of trouble; this blog entry would be too long to mention them all. But in short, many of these people are repeat offenders who don't seem capable of rehabilitation, as I keep having to recapture them time and time again. They simply have little to no self control to begin with, and their having powers on top of that only makes the problem worse - pretty much like handing a belligerent drunk guy an AK-47.
Understand that I didn't go into this decision lightly - but I am tired of seeing the damage they do. I'm tired of seeing the great numbers of lives harmed or destroyed in the process of trying to stop one of these people when they lose control. I understand that some of them might not be responsible for their actions, but it still doesn't justify allowing them to walk so that they can do more harm. I don't go into this wanting them dead - I just want to stop them from killing others. If it means doing that permanently, then so be it.
I'm sure that I haven't changed some of your minds on that, but that's my take anyway.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Comics talk - Sunday edition
Hey, gang!
Welcome to a rare weekend appearance! Today I’m going to discuss DC Comics’ DC Universe Decisions (DCUD), in which the various DC superheroes reveal their political leanings, followed by my own revealing of another one of my political views. Enjoy! But first…
This past Wednesday, the second issue of DCUD, here’s how the candidates are lining up so far, followed by the superheroes that support them:
· Katherine (Kate) McClellan: Republican moderate
Vixen
Plastic Man
· Robert (Bob) Ridgeway: far right conservative
Guy Gardner – aka Green Lantern
Power Girl
Wildcat (Ted Grant)
Hawkman
· Martin Suarez: Democratic moderate
Beast Boy
Firestorm
Bruce Wayne (not as Batman)
· Davis Brewster: far left liberal
Green Arrow
Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
(unidentified hero)
So far, that’s all the heroes that’s identified their political leanings. Also, I am LOVING this series! It’s taking the characters in waters that are not normally explored! If you are near a comic shop, I definitely recommend getting it!
Okay, time for me to reveal another one of my political or social views. Today I shall discuss the death penalty. Before I got my powers, I was uncertain how I felt, but now that I’m super-powered, I can see the need for it – at least for those who are super-powered. Some super villains are like 8 year old children who have been suddenly given the power to control people. In other words, they have no self control – they’ll always do the wrong thing. Yes, we can incarcerate them, but they always break out, and some innocent civilian always ends up getting used, harmed, or killed by them – all because we didn’t have the will to end their evil ways permanently.
Understand that in my universe, there are other super folks who totally disagree with me. And as Americans, that’s their right. However, I invite them to join me the next time I see the results of what super villains do to people. Look into the eyes of someone whose mind has been permanently scrambled by a telepath, or whose body has been torn into pieces by a super strength villain. As often as I’ve seen the damage they do, it still can make me sick to my stomach.
They’re the reason that I fight the good fight, even though at times I’m out of my league with some super villains. But if I don’t do something, the people that are being victimized by a super villain have no chance whatsoever. At least with me to take on the damage, they’ll have a chance to escape. Some villains I’m tired of bringing in time and time again only for them to escape and do even more harm. I’m for stopping them permanently. It’s an issue that’s still being debated in the governmental department that I work in, but they know how I feel. That’s my take on the death penalty – at least as how it applies to super villains. For regular humans, it depends on the case. At least there, I’m still open to discussion.
Okay, that's my take. Feel free to let me know what you think.
Welcome to a rare weekend appearance! Today I’m going to discuss DC Comics’ DC Universe Decisions (DCUD), in which the various DC superheroes reveal their political leanings, followed by my own revealing of another one of my political views. Enjoy! But first…
****WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!****
If you have not read DC Universe Decisions and don’t want the story spoiled for you, STOP READING NOW! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
If you have not read DC Universe Decisions and don’t want the story spoiled for you, STOP READING NOW! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
This past Wednesday, the second issue of DCUD, here’s how the candidates are lining up so far, followed by the superheroes that support them:
· Katherine (Kate) McClellan: Republican moderate
Vixen
Plastic Man
· Robert (Bob) Ridgeway: far right conservative
Guy Gardner – aka Green Lantern
Power Girl
Wildcat (Ted Grant)
Hawkman
· Martin Suarez: Democratic moderate
Beast Boy
Firestorm
Bruce Wayne (not as Batman)
· Davis Brewster: far left liberal
Green Arrow
Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
(unidentified hero)
So far, that’s all the heroes that’s identified their political leanings. Also, I am LOVING this series! It’s taking the characters in waters that are not normally explored! If you are near a comic shop, I definitely recommend getting it!
Okay, time for me to reveal another one of my political or social views. Today I shall discuss the death penalty. Before I got my powers, I was uncertain how I felt, but now that I’m super-powered, I can see the need for it – at least for those who are super-powered. Some super villains are like 8 year old children who have been suddenly given the power to control people. In other words, they have no self control – they’ll always do the wrong thing. Yes, we can incarcerate them, but they always break out, and some innocent civilian always ends up getting used, harmed, or killed by them – all because we didn’t have the will to end their evil ways permanently.
Understand that in my universe, there are other super folks who totally disagree with me. And as Americans, that’s their right. However, I invite them to join me the next time I see the results of what super villains do to people. Look into the eyes of someone whose mind has been permanently scrambled by a telepath, or whose body has been torn into pieces by a super strength villain. As often as I’ve seen the damage they do, it still can make me sick to my stomach.
They’re the reason that I fight the good fight, even though at times I’m out of my league with some super villains. But if I don’t do something, the people that are being victimized by a super villain have no chance whatsoever. At least with me to take on the damage, they’ll have a chance to escape. Some villains I’m tired of bringing in time and time again only for them to escape and do even more harm. I’m for stopping them permanently. It’s an issue that’s still being debated in the governmental department that I work in, but they know how I feel. That’s my take on the death penalty – at least as how it applies to super villains. For regular humans, it depends on the case. At least there, I’m still open to discussion.
Okay, that's my take. Feel free to let me know what you think.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated!
Sorry I hadn't posted all week, gang. Been really crazy! But tell ya what: On Sunday I'll make a rare weekend appearance and get all caught up at the same time! See you then!
Monday, September 29, 2008
New Pin-up art by Freelancer!
Today is two for the price of one day, folks! Below check out Freelancer's two art pieces of yours truly.
Note that it is in a Manga style. Pretty cool! Also, he has me in one picture with shoulder-length hair. It's rare to see me with shorter than very long hair. Even when I do cut it, it grows back very quickly, then stops growing when it reaches the long length that you usually see it in. I've had my hair short before, but I prefer the long length. I guess I'm old school.
And speaking of old school, note that the color art is hand colored. That's a skill that you don't see as much of anymore. Hand colored adds a touch that a computer graphic coloring does not. Very nice. Anyway, thanks Freelancer! Great job!
Here tomorrow will be a review of tonight's episode of Heroes, and then later on in the week, I'll update you on the goings-on here at Command Central. On Wednesday, the second issue of DC Decisions comes out, and I'll give a review of it - along with sharing my views on another political or social issue.
Have a great week, folks!
Note that it is in a Manga style. Pretty cool! Also, he has me in one picture with shoulder-length hair. It's rare to see me with shorter than very long hair. Even when I do cut it, it grows back very quickly, then stops growing when it reaches the long length that you usually see it in. I've had my hair short before, but I prefer the long length. I guess I'm old school.
And speaking of old school, note that the color art is hand colored. That's a skill that you don't see as much of anymore. Hand colored adds a touch that a computer graphic coloring does not. Very nice. Anyway, thanks Freelancer! Great job!
Here tomorrow will be a review of tonight's episode of Heroes, and then later on in the week, I'll update you on the goings-on here at Command Central. On Wednesday, the second issue of DC Decisions comes out, and I'll give a review of it - along with sharing my views on another political or social issue.
Have a great week, folks!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Comics talk!
Before we head off into the weekend, let's go ahead and talk comics!
By the way, there's some spoilers coming up, so if you haven't read the books whose titles are in red below, don't read those sections underneath them if you don't want me to reveal any part of the story to you. There's yer warning, bucko!
DC/Wildstorm DREAMWAR crossover
Normally I LOVE comics company crossovers, but this one sucked. Folks, don't buy it. And don't buy it if it comes out bound together as a graphic novel. I don't have a list of "Worst Comics Crossovers", but if I did, this one would be at the top of the list. I'm that disappointed in it.
Marvel's Secret Invasion
This effort by Marvel for a company-wide storyline is coming off better than their recent efforts of Civil War and World War Hulk. The pacing is still a bit spotty, but it's been interesting to find out who's a Skrull and who isn't. The final determiner of this storyline will be how they finish it. The finishes of both CW and WWH totally ruined those respective storylines, and Marvel needs a good showing here to make up for them. I'm intrigued enough with SI that I'll keep up with it, and I'll let you all know how it finishes.
DC's Final Crisis
DC's previous effort, Infinite Crisis, was awesome. So far, Final Crisis has not been awesome. Instead, it's been confusing. Part of the problem is that DC has SO many branch-off titles of the FC book that it's hard to keep up with what's going on. I think DC got greedy, so they made all those extra titles expecting us to just gobble them up. But hey, not all of us can afford to buy that many comics! It's not easy to know what to say about the storyline's progress so far, and I'm hoping that the final issue will help sum up everything. Right now, I'll just mark this as "Incomplete". As with Marvel's SI, I'll let you all know how it turns out.
Hulk #6
At last, we find out who the Red Hulk is! No - wait! We don't! It's NOT Doc Samson as had been previously believed, as he showed up at the end while the Red Hulk lay on the ground unconscious, having been knocked out by the original Hulk. How did Hulk knock out Red? Well, unlike Hulk, who gets stronger as he gets angrier, Red gets hotter when he gets angrier. Apparently, he go so angry that he overheated and passed out! What a wuss!
What was especially cool was seeing Thor return, royally pissed! His hammer Mjolnir came zooming in at Red, slamming him probably as hard as anyone has ever hit him! Then Thor continued to pummel Red, and even Red admitted that Thor had him on the ropes before the Hulk stepped in. Another hulk-like character named A-Bomb talked Thor into staying his hand so that the Hulk could finish this fight, and he did. After the Hulk took down Red, he leaped into the distance like he always does. A little later, Red wakes back up - no doubt to plot his latest scheme to take down the Hulk.
All in all, it was a great story - and it's because of storylines like this that I still buy comics. If you can find Hulk #'s 1 to 6, go ahead and buy them. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Take care, folks, and have a great weekend!
By the way, there's some spoilers coming up, so if you haven't read the books whose titles are in red below, don't read those sections underneath them if you don't want me to reveal any part of the story to you. There's yer warning, bucko!
DC/Wildstorm DREAMWAR crossover
Normally I LOVE comics company crossovers, but this one sucked. Folks, don't buy it. And don't buy it if it comes out bound together as a graphic novel. I don't have a list of "Worst Comics Crossovers", but if I did, this one would be at the top of the list. I'm that disappointed in it.
Marvel's Secret Invasion
This effort by Marvel for a company-wide storyline is coming off better than their recent efforts of Civil War and World War Hulk. The pacing is still a bit spotty, but it's been interesting to find out who's a Skrull and who isn't. The final determiner of this storyline will be how they finish it. The finishes of both CW and WWH totally ruined those respective storylines, and Marvel needs a good showing here to make up for them. I'm intrigued enough with SI that I'll keep up with it, and I'll let you all know how it finishes.
DC's Final Crisis
DC's previous effort, Infinite Crisis, was awesome. So far, Final Crisis has not been awesome. Instead, it's been confusing. Part of the problem is that DC has SO many branch-off titles of the FC book that it's hard to keep up with what's going on. I think DC got greedy, so they made all those extra titles expecting us to just gobble them up. But hey, not all of us can afford to buy that many comics! It's not easy to know what to say about the storyline's progress so far, and I'm hoping that the final issue will help sum up everything. Right now, I'll just mark this as "Incomplete". As with Marvel's SI, I'll let you all know how it turns out.
Hulk #6
At last, we find out who the Red Hulk is! No - wait! We don't! It's NOT Doc Samson as had been previously believed, as he showed up at the end while the Red Hulk lay on the ground unconscious, having been knocked out by the original Hulk. How did Hulk knock out Red? Well, unlike Hulk, who gets stronger as he gets angrier, Red gets hotter when he gets angrier. Apparently, he go so angry that he overheated and passed out! What a wuss!
What was especially cool was seeing Thor return, royally pissed! His hammer Mjolnir came zooming in at Red, slamming him probably as hard as anyone has ever hit him! Then Thor continued to pummel Red, and even Red admitted that Thor had him on the ropes before the Hulk stepped in. Another hulk-like character named A-Bomb talked Thor into staying his hand so that the Hulk could finish this fight, and he did. After the Hulk took down Red, he leaped into the distance like he always does. A little later, Red wakes back up - no doubt to plot his latest scheme to take down the Hulk.
All in all, it was a great story - and it's because of storylines like this that I still buy comics. If you can find Hulk #'s 1 to 6, go ahead and buy them. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Take care, folks, and have a great weekend!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Please contribute to a worthy cause!
Nothing's worse than an excellent comic book artist being out of work! Well - actually, there is, but I won't quibble about that right now! Instead, I want you all to go to the Comic Strip Club website and donate to help Hapajap pay his bills so that he doesn't have to - ahem - (Warning! Terrible pun coming up!) "wok" his dog! (I warned you!).
Here's the details of what you can do to donate to Hapajap, and what you'll get in return. Lotsa cool stuff! He did an artwork of me a while back, and it's awesome! So give now, as this guy's going to be famous later! Otherwise, you'll kick yourself later for not getting some original art while the gettin' was good!
I'll try to prod the boss into cracking out his art pens to do art of me doing my bit to help out the cause! Won't you help? Think of his children! Give today!
Here's the details of what you can do to donate to Hapajap, and what you'll get in return. Lotsa cool stuff! He did an artwork of me a while back, and it's awesome! So give now, as this guy's going to be famous later! Otherwise, you'll kick yourself later for not getting some original art while the gettin' was good!
I'll try to prod the boss into cracking out his art pens to do art of me doing my bit to help out the cause! Won't you help? Think of his children! Give today!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hey la, hey la, HEROES is back!
To find out that there were going to be TWO new episodes of Heroes showing was like finding out that you won the lottery and a new car at the same time! I got all my real-life stuff done and out of the way, popped up some popcorn, and watched myself silly for two hours! Okay, on to the show! But first....
This new chapter of Heroes is titled "Villains". We also found out who shot Nathan Petrelli - his younger brother Peter! Well, Peter from 4 years in the future, who came back to the past to "fix" things in the present. From here on, I'll call him FP for "future Peter", to distinguish him from the Peter of our present time. In FP's time, Nathan's revealing of his super powers caused all kinds of problems for those with super abilities, so FP decided to go back to his past (our present day) and kill Nathan before he had a chance to reveal his flight powers to the public. However, not only did FP not make things better in his future, he actually made them worse!
FP knew things were going to be different when things started to happen in the present day that didn't happen in his future time. For instance, the escape of evil super-powered people. That didn't happen in his time. More on the super villains later. Also, Claire Bennett, the teen with the super healing powers (better than mine!), was finally caught by Sylar, and he cut her head open to get to her brain! But of course, her healing power is such that she healed even from that! However, she seems to have lost her sense of touch. She can't feel pain, and it makes her wonder if she's even human anymore. This didn't happen in FP's time.
Claire also complained that she's tired of always having to run away. She said (not these exact words, but words to that effect): "Sure, I can heal and all that, but what kind of lame power is that if I keep getting beat all the time?" I wholeheartedly agree. I say let her learn how to kick some ass! Apparently in some future time, she does learn how to kick ass, as the first episode began with her holding a gun to FP, who kept from being shot by freezing time, then teleporting back to the past.
In other news, Nathan has found religion! And Linderman is alive - even though it's only as a figment of Nathan's imagination. Matt Parkman has been teleported by FP to Africa, where he wanders some savannah before being found by someone who probably has powers as well. Also, Niki Sanders is back! Or is it her? Either she has amnesia, or she's trying to hide her past. Assuming an alternate identity is nothing new to her, after all.
Then there's Dr. Suresh! He's injected himself with some sort of serum that gives him spiderlike powers! But it also seems to be turning him into a spider! Yikes! He's gonna be a bug! As for Maya, I'm kinda tired of her. Her power seems to be to infect others with some strange virus when she's angry or scared - which is a sucky power to have.
Well, I could go on, but I better stop here before another day goes by. I've pretty much covered the first episode anyway. I'll try to post commentary on the second episose later this week, but today new comics arrive, and I want to comment on those tomorrow!
***SPOILER ALERT!!***
Cometh up is a discussion of yesterday's episodes of Heroes! If you haven't seen them yet and don't want to know what happens - STOP READING NOW!! You have been warned, bucko!!
This new chapter of Heroes is titled "Villains". We also found out who shot Nathan Petrelli - his younger brother Peter! Well, Peter from 4 years in the future, who came back to the past to "fix" things in the present. From here on, I'll call him FP for "future Peter", to distinguish him from the Peter of our present time. In FP's time, Nathan's revealing of his super powers caused all kinds of problems for those with super abilities, so FP decided to go back to his past (our present day) and kill Nathan before he had a chance to reveal his flight powers to the public. However, not only did FP not make things better in his future, he actually made them worse!
FP knew things were going to be different when things started to happen in the present day that didn't happen in his future time. For instance, the escape of evil super-powered people. That didn't happen in his time. More on the super villains later. Also, Claire Bennett, the teen with the super healing powers (better than mine!), was finally caught by Sylar, and he cut her head open to get to her brain! But of course, her healing power is such that she healed even from that! However, she seems to have lost her sense of touch. She can't feel pain, and it makes her wonder if she's even human anymore. This didn't happen in FP's time.
Claire also complained that she's tired of always having to run away. She said (not these exact words, but words to that effect): "Sure, I can heal and all that, but what kind of lame power is that if I keep getting beat all the time?" I wholeheartedly agree. I say let her learn how to kick some ass! Apparently in some future time, she does learn how to kick ass, as the first episode began with her holding a gun to FP, who kept from being shot by freezing time, then teleporting back to the past.
In other news, Nathan has found religion! And Linderman is alive - even though it's only as a figment of Nathan's imagination. Matt Parkman has been teleported by FP to Africa, where he wanders some savannah before being found by someone who probably has powers as well. Also, Niki Sanders is back! Or is it her? Either she has amnesia, or she's trying to hide her past. Assuming an alternate identity is nothing new to her, after all.
Then there's Dr. Suresh! He's injected himself with some sort of serum that gives him spiderlike powers! But it also seems to be turning him into a spider! Yikes! He's gonna be a bug! As for Maya, I'm kinda tired of her. Her power seems to be to infect others with some strange virus when she's angry or scared - which is a sucky power to have.
(End spoilers)
Well, I could go on, but I better stop here before another day goes by. I've pretty much covered the first episode anyway. I'll try to post commentary on the second episose later this week, but today new comics arrive, and I want to comment on those tomorrow!
Review of Heroes to come later
My review of yesterday's episodes of Heroes is running a little longer than I thought, but I enjoy the show that much! I'll try to have it done by today, though. Patience, my friends!
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