Sookie Stackhouse: No Romantic Engame?
Sep 08I haven’t seen True Blood yet. I’m feeling an odd mix of really, really wanting to watch it and really, really wanting to avoid it for as long as I can. I’m a fan of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books, and thus am fretting about how it all turned out. But that’s not what I want to talk about, exactly. I just finished the latest Sookie tome, From Dead to Worse, and here’s something I’ve been chewing on: though Sookie herself has a very sweet romantical-type side, it doesn’t really seem like Harris has a pre-determined endgame couple in mind here. I think that’s kind of cool.
Now this is, of course, it’s own kind of trap. Sookie seems to keep meeting an endless array of supernatural suitors, and they are all MADLY IN LOVE WITH HER, and that can get kind of annoying. That said, I think Sookie’s general down to earthness keeps it from being completely annoying — she’s no Bella Swan, you know? And I like the feeling that there’s no one guy I’m supposed to be rooting for, that it could go a few different ways.
I’m getting an idea of where I, personally, would like it to go, though. I know there’s a pretty vocal fanbase for blabby, preeny vampire Eric (currently blood-bonded to Sookie), but he’s probably my least favorite. Weretiger Quinn seems like a non-starter. I still like Sookie’s first love, Bill (the love interest in True Blood), but Harris has taken the character down a path fans don’t seem too willing to forgive. No, I’m throwing my lot in with Sam, Sookie’s shifter boss who’s also one of her best friends. He’s been there the whole time, his connection to Sookie runs deep, and it seems like she might be starting to realize that he’s also ridiculously hot. He’s slowly become one of my favorite characters in the series, and I think if he and Sookie were to finally get it on…the payoff would be deliciously satisfying.
So, yeah. Put me down for Team Sam. Make me the t-shirt, register the fansite domain, start up the meaningless online petition. Team Sam FTW.
Grok #2: Secret Origins
Sep 03
How did you spend your summer vacation? Entangled in the sweaty embrace of Comic-Con? Trying to set the world record for Most Consecutive Viewings of The Dark Knight (In IMAX, of Course!) EvAr? Mounting a spirited, M&Ms-focused campaign to ensure The Middleman doesn’t get canceled?
We…wish we had done all of these things, but instead, we whiled away our days assembling the latest issue of Grok. If you’ll recall, this is our PDF zine that you can either read on your computer screen or print out and tote wherever you desire. It’s a throwback to our heady days of college zine-ing with a slightly modern twist.
Within, you will find essays, fiction and general silliness exploring geek culture and the nerd experience. The pieces are a bit longer than what you will generally find on the site (in some cases, spanning an unnecessary, er, epic amount of pages) and they all center on a theme chosen by the editors. This time around, the theme is…SECRET ORIGINS. (Please say it in a loud, spooky voice, as if the words are always in all caps and maybe in a creepy, squiggly font.)
Grok #2: Summer ‘08, Secret Origins (PDF)
In this issue…
One Con Glory, Part II, by Sarah Kuhn: Curmudgeonly comics fangirl Julie’s last words in Part I: “Oh fucking shit.” Find out why as she continues her adventures at the unfortunately-named GinormoCon. There may be a Guitar Hero tournament involved.
I Was a Teenage Letterhack, by Matt Springer: Matt reveals his tragic past as a compulsive comics letter writer. Find out why he once penned the words “Bloodwynd looks to be a fascinating new character” and so much more. Thanks for noticin’ him!
The Facebook Newsfeed for Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, by Ivan Sian: Those crazy X-Men are all about the Superpokes! But why won’t anyone play poor Beast at Scrabulous?
Misspent from the Outset, by Jeff Stolarcyk: Jeff takes a trip down memory lane, a locative look at his own secret origins. Old comics and gaming stores are explored, with thought-provoking results.
Connected, by Ken Simon: A mild-mannered librarian/tech guy scratches the surface of his seemingly mild-mannered life to discover the secret origins of ordinary. In other words, find out how Ken almost partied with the stoners and why he was once known as “Ken Van Nuys.”
Grokfiles Learn about the scintillating secret origins of some of your favorite nerd superstars, including Lea Hernandez, Felicia Day, Jon Collins, Marc Wade and Fred Chao!
All this, plus another letter from your pal Fake George Lucas! So read on, print out and/or send to your friends! Share the magic of Grok #2: SECRET ORIGINS!
If It Looks Easy, It's Really Hard (McCloud's Google Comic)
Sep 03I started to read Scott McCloud’s comic for Google yesterday on Google’s new web browser; I stopped because I ran out of time, and the information contained inside of it wasn’t compelling enough for me to want to finish it.
I didn’t stop reading because it was poorly done, but it does seem as though Stuart Immonen didn’t like it much:
As an informational graphic work, it’s pretty weak tea; as a comics work, it fails to exploit at almost every turn the inherent advantages of the medium, avoiding visual/literary juxtaposition, and using a series of limp visual metaphors (A computer bug flyswatter! Wrenches and hammers! Wings of Hermes!) to illustrate easily apprehended non-technical language.
I disagree.
Williams at the Bowl
Sep 02
Thanks to good geek pals John Charles and Katherine (they, along with the mighty Chris Stewart, are responsible for my introduction to Spaced), I got to spend Saturday night the way every Saturday night should be spent: at the Hollywood Bowl, watching John Williams conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic. There was a sweet little tribute to filmmaker Stanley Donen (he of Singin’ in the Rain/Funny Face/that clip where Fred Astaire dances on the walls that was later used to sell vacuum cleaners fame), but what really makes Williams’ annual jaunt to the Bowl special is the utter joy that ripples through the crowd when he conducts his own compositions. Hearing those soaring scores float over the summer-drenched greenery of the Bowl is enough to remind you of why you liked Star Wars in the first place, before it was a hotbed of geek controversy and disappointment. Indiana Jones, Superman, E.T. — all in there as well, all reminding you of iconic moments in your childhood.
And as soon as the opening notes of The Imperial March rang out, clumps of lightsabers lit up the crowd, bopping along in time to the beat. It was a great moment — geekily enthusiastic, yet respectful. A fitting tribute to a guy who keeps showing us just how much more powerful music can make a moving picture.
