Just a spew of recent happenings/noteworthy things:

This past Saturday was my 10-year high school reunion here in Orlando. The thing had been pushed back from earlier this summer, as the organizing/planning changed hands a few times, I believe.  One of my oldest and best friends Michelle and I decided that we would each go if the other one went - neither of us were really super-excited to go, but we didn't want to possibly later regret missing out on it, either.

Anyway, it was actually not that bad, save for the fact that I was disappointed in the turnout.  Our senior class of 1997 from Dr. Phillips High had almost 800 graduates, and I don't think even a tenth of that number showed up Saturday night. Still - it was nice to see a handful of people I hadn't seen or heard from in a decade, and many alcoholic beverages were had at the Rosen Plaza Hotel bar, which always makes things fun.  Also, there seemed to be some type of celebrity impersonator/look-alike convention this weekend, and dozens of different "stars" ambled in and out of the bar/seating area, providing a good source of entertainment and random conversation.

Sunday afternoon, I ended up meeting empressvesicaand ancient_immieout and about for movies and grub - fun was had.  Ended up seeing Shoot 'Em Up (mindless, over-the-top action - maybe worth a rental) and 3:10 to Yuma (excellent, serious western - Christian Bale and Russell Crowe balance each other perfectly, and Alan Tudyk has a memorable turn, too).  Dinner was had at Kobe Japanese steakhouse, and it was goooood.

And since my dear _cinjudes_brought the show up in her entry found HERE, I'll also mention that I've gotten the parental units hooked on Friday Night Lights, as well.  They are over halfway through season one, and are making themselves find the time to finish the set before season two starts in a couple of weeks. I did this with them three years ago with Veronica Mars, too, and I must give them props (both dad and mom) for keeping up with Lost and loving Firefly.  Though not nearly in the quanitity/variety I enjoy, they still do watch their share of TV, I must say.  I guess I come by my affinity for the tube somewhat naturally.

Lastly, I'll add to the previous entry pertaining to the variant cover art from BtVS Season 8, drawn by Georges Jeanty. Dark Horse just released the variant cover image for issue 9 - the standard version of which, done by Jo Chen, I already posted - found HERE.  Jeanty's variant art isn't all that great on this one, IMO, but it is funny, for the bit of situational commentary it plays on the current Faith-oriented arc, with Giles involved.  The image is HERE.

That's all I've got for now.  More randomness later. 





Kristen Bell is awesome.

I guess it seems I get on one subject-track and kinda stick with it for a few days. *shrug*

In a measure of fairness (and procrastination from doing work), I wanted to link images to the variant covers for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 comic issues.  These were drawn by Georges Jeanty, who also illustrates the panels inside for each issue so far.  He's said he's committed to the life of the series, as long as Joss takes it - which at this point will probably be at least 30-40 issues for season eight, and he let it slip at ComiCon in July that he already has an idea for a season nine.  The comic-canon could continue for quite a while.

Anyway, these will again be direct image links, but I'll still put the list under a cut.  And so far, I've only been able to find the variants for issues 1 through 8.  Will keep an eye out for what follows.


All in all, I just wanted these here for my own completist purposes.  I can respect Jeanty's take on the characters, simplifying features and details for the sake of multiple panels created for every issue each month, but I'm glad Jo Chen's artwork covers are the standard version.

And a side note on issue #5: This was the first stand-alone type story that Joss has said will be sprinkled in among the 4-5 issue 'mini-arcs' as the season progresses.  He had said this issue was pretty personal to him and his ideals, and that some may or may not appreciate its theme.  I won't spoil details, except to say that none of the regular scoobies we know are in it, save for a uber-brief appearance by Giles. Initially, the story hit me as good, but not anything overly special - until I re-read it, and then read it again.  The underlying message is sort of a powerful one, and can be as universal to the reader as it is personal to the main character involved (an un-named slayer).  Basically, it's a poignant segue of sorts from the first arc centering on the core scoobies, into Faith's upcoming story.  And Jeanty decided on two different variants for his cover version, playing on both the action and thematic elements of the issue.

I guess I should do some actual work.







Kristen Bell is awesome. 

Well, whaddya know - a non KB-oriented entry.  Woot!  \o/

But seriously - I've been meaning to post on this for several days, just haven't gotten around to it (lazy and/or otherwise occupied).

Mainly, I just wanted a place to toot Jo Chen's horn (no, not that way - minds out of the gutter, people), regarding her outstanding work on the ongoing issues of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8.  I believe I posted a bit on this late last year, but for those who may have been under a pop-culture rock the last 6 months or so, this is the comic book continuation of the TV show canon established by the end of season seven, the storylines of which are being overseen and "executive produced" by creator Joss Whedon. He's even writing many of the issues himself, including the already established five-issue first arc "The Long Way Home".

Georges Jeanty has been the penciller/illustrator of all the issues, while Jo Chen is the artist who has been tapped by Joss to illustrate covers for every monthly issue (so far, and continuing indefinitely).  Jeanty does fine work, and has drawn the variant covers for each issue, but his interpretations are more typical of comic-style caricatures, with only a passing real resemblance to the TV characters at certain times. To me, Jo Chen's work is where the awe comes in. She's been able to capture a real likeness in the characters to the actors who portrayed them, while still giving them her own artistic personality.  And since she doesn't have to illustrate the script of each issue, her covers give a nice one-shot image that is at once intriguing and epic in scope and feel.  

The second arc of season eight, "No Future for You" is beginning this month, with an emphasis on Faith and her own drama.  It's being written by Brian K. Vaughan,  with pencilling and covers still done by Jeanty and Chen, respectively.  That said, covers for the next few issues have also been pre-released, so I'm going to try and link images here for issues 1-9, as well as the collected trade paperbacks for each mini-arc, because they are all stellar.  The links are direct to images, but I'll still put it all under a cut to shorten f-lists just a bit:


To top that off, I've been emailing Jo back and forth the last few weeks, after I saw a message on her MySpace page that she had some limited edition art for sale - mainly, giclees of some of these covers.  Needless to say I jumped on asking her what was available, and that I would be interested for sure.  I just got what I ordered from her in the mail on Saturday, and may post a separate entry for actual snapshots of the items.  But included in the group were numbered and autographed giclees of covers for issues 2, 3, and 6 (I already have two lithographs of the #1 cover - one signed by Jo, and another signed by her and Joss).  In addition, she sent me two never-for-sale promo posters - a mini 11" x 17" promo from the New York Comic Con of the TPB #1 cover, and a 22" x 34" promo from ComiCon in San Diego of the issue #2 cover (Buffy and Xander - my 'ship!).  

I already have frames for the giclees, and will try to get the other two framed ASAP.  Again, perhaps more pictures of those to follow later.

And issue #6 comes out today - to be at my comic shop tomorrow, due to Labor Day delay.  I'll be there.



 

Kristen Bell is awesome.