Comic: Preparation Craft

Starcraft 2 is soon among us…  in approximately 50 minutes to a bit more precise. This is a game that many PC gamers have been awaiting for quite some time. It’s the ‘Next’ of many things. It’s the next big title from Blizzard (then again, which of their titles aren’t big?), some might say it’s the next step for real time strategies … well hell, it’s the next Starcraft. That’s all you need to worry about.

For the older gamers out there, Starcraft was (and maybe still is) a staple LAN game. Though LAN is gone, there’s still some preparation required for Starcraft 2. The list above is a bit exaggerated… neither Amrit nor myself own a UPS.

Music: Big Boi – Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty

After a long run of hit albums, Outkast had seemed to hit a wall with Idlewild, the soundtrack to their musical motion picture of the same name, both of which received lukewarm reviews. It was a departure from Outkast’s normal sound (if you can call it ‘normal’ – their style is inimitable), employing the sound and feel of the big band 20’s if black folks ran the show. A large part of the stylistic change was allegedly driven by Andre 3000, the perceiveably ‘funkier’ (and to many, stranger) of the rap duo.

The album was bittersweet, as it proceeded Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, the pair’s double album release, which was essentially two solo albums packaged together. And to many fans, it signaled the decline of Outkast. It appeared they were getting soft, or at least, failing at being experimental. It was relatively quiet on the Outkast front. They released a handful of un-notable singles, and both Big Boi and Andre 3000 were seen working with other artists, separately. It began to seem that the band really was breaking up. Fast forward several years later to 2010, when then the duo leaked a single, Lookin 4 Ya. This song featured rapping parts from both Big Boi and Andre 3000, accompanied by a smooth hook featuring the vagina-wetting voice of Sleepy Brown, most known for appearing on ‘The Way You Move’, Big Boi’s key single from Speakerboxxx. The single was a throwback to old school ‘Kast, and proved instantly that the team had not lost their edge and, if anything, were hard at work on something new.

Enter Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, Big Boi’s first solo album release. The album art features a Big Boi logo in the recognizable shape of Outkast’s famous crown logo, reminding listeners this isn’t an abandon of Outkast music. If anything, ‘Kast fans should see this as a team release. Dre 3K might not be present lyrically or on all tracks of production, but the sound is undeniably Outkast. The tracks are peppered with skits in between, depicting life in West Savannah, Georgia, where players fast-talk dirty south hoes, and where crackhead hustlers jive talk the police. Where many band-turned-solo acts tend to move forward and forget their roots, Big Boi keeps this album Decatur by shouting out to Outkast, Goodie Mob, and the Dungeon Family.

If you’ve ever given Speakerboxx and Idlewild a full listen, you’ll clearly see the evolution of Big Boi’s artistic direction. The man has a love of beats in the minor keys, that have almost a gothic vibe to them. Tracks on this album, like ‘Night Night’ and ‘Tangerine‘ are reminiscent of ‘War’ (from Speakerboxxx). There’s almost something to be feared in these tracks, which embody something almost evil feeling, though the lyrical subject matter is classic Outkast fare (It’s bedtime/Tuck yourself in/I can tell that you’re terrified/Check my records/You will see that I’m verified/I terrorize/Now you’re terrified). The first track beyond the intro, ‘Daddy Fat Sax‘, is an epic confidence track, sampling previous Outkast tracks (‘X-plosion’ f/ B-Real), and is perfectly expressive of Big Boi’s character as an artist. You can even tell Idlewild has influenced Big Boi in tracks like ‘Be Still‘, which features a chorus by Janelle Monae, who was also featured in Idlewild’s ‘Call the Law‘. And ‘The Train Pt. 2‘  is a follow up to ‘The Train‘ from Idlewild, produced by Organized Noize, of which Sleepy Brown is a part.

It’s actually pretty hard to put a finger on what makes this album so catchy. The production has a distinct dirty south feel, but would have been wasted in the hands of a less-capable rapper. Big Boi brings a confidence that is not created by money or girls or flashy clothes. He raps about all of those things, but underneath those things, you know you are listening to the life and times of Big Boi, aka Antwon Patton, aka Daddy Fat Sax, aka Sir Lucious Leftfoot. Big Boi stands out as an artist primarily because he applies his life experience to the microphone, and even in the popular singles like ‘Shutterbug‘ and ‘Shine Blockas‘ have that unique flavour that can only be found on Outkast tracks.

On a personal level, the most notable track for me is ‘You Ain’t No DJ’, which completely embodies the radical, extraterrestrial instrumental that Andre 3000’s been known to produce. The track sounds almost demented, a digital bell loop repeating in what can only be described as a developing insanity. But there is something so damn catchy, I can’t help to hunch my shoulders over, pull my fingers out their holster, and do the crooked booty.

This album is absolutely solid. Not only is it a great solo album, but it has a maturity that is best appreciated by having listened to Outkast’s previous albums. It gives new Big Boi fans an incredible introduction, and old Outkast fans what they’ve been wanting to hear for a long time.

Lego + Futurama … LEGORAMA!!?!

We all know Futurama has made its long-awaited return to the the airwaves, with original voice actors in tact. And that is totally awesome. Do you know what’s equally awesome? This set of New New York, lovingly created using Lego pieces, complete with Planet Express, Madison Cube Garden, Robot Arms Apartments, and even the Mutant Sewer of Old New York. Check out this FlickR album for the whole shebangabang.

Futurama in Lego Form!!

Your spelling is just aweful.

CurryStainCasanova: oh and I finally saw some gameplay from epic mickey
CurryStainCasanova: i didn’t know that game was a wii excslusive
CurryStainCasanova: that really sucks
CurryStainCasanova: the graphics are gawd aweful
pussy fairy: you don’t have a wii?
pussy fairy: AWEful? or AWFUL?
CurryStainCasanova: oh
CurryStainCasanova: lol
CurryStainCasanova: shitty
CurryStainCasanova: they’re shitty

Donkey Kong Country Returns

They must’ve gotten a bailout from China.

(Sorry to have wasted your time if you clicked the jump… I’ll don’t think I’ll be able to make it worth your while ………… it’s a pretty shitty title for a video game…it’s a shitty title for anything, really.)

A commercial by gamers for gamers.

Just thought I’d share this commercial for Blur, which totally rips on Mario Kart …. but in an adorable, loving, kinda way.

Just when you thought the Zombie craze was over

I’m a little bitter …. I once drew up designers for a game similar to this …. but god damn, does Dead Nation ever look sweet.

Do you know why I hate him?

Pussy Fairy: is beta still on?!?!
CurryStainCasanova: yeah, extended until hune 25th i think?
Pussy Fairy: NO
Pussy Fairy: NO WAY
Pussy Fairy: you’re logged in right now?
CurryStainCasanova: yeah just downloadin new patch
Pussy Fairy: NO
CurryStainCasanova: haha YES
Pussy Fairy: ……….
Pussy Fairy: NO
CurryStainCasanova: sorry man, but I’m not quite sure who you are, lol have we played lfd together or something?
CurryStainCasanova: L4D
Pussy Fairy: It’s JON
Pussy Fairy: hahahahahahahahaha
CurryStainCasanova: fuck off
CurryStainCasanova: lol pussy fairy??
CurryStainCasanova: wtf
Pussy Fairy: lol it’s my griefing name on L4D
CurryStainCasanova: hhh
Pussy Fairy: NO
CurryStainCasanova: patch didn’t work, lemme try again
Pussy Fairy:
CurryStainCasanova: lol seriously i had no idea it was you man
Pussy Fairy: lol sorry, i forgot i changed my name
CurryStainCasanova: i was actually only logging in to see if I could type in a command that made marines and marauders dance, lol
Pussy Fairy: lol wtf
CurryStainCasanova: fuck man they are up to patch 15
Pussy Fairy: well
Pussy Fairy: it IS beta
Pussy Fairy: were you able to get in?
CurryStainCasanova: still patching
CurryStainCasanova: aaaaand still patching
CurryStainCasanova: lol
Pussy Fairy: wtf
CurryStainCasanova: i gotta download like 4 patches, i missed em since 11 i think
Pussy Fairy: my game just kinda crapped out
Pussy Fairy: whoa
CurryStainCasanova: not working?
Pussy Fairy: it’s dropping me
Pussy Fairy: or just closing
CurryStainCasanova: hmm, maybe it is closed and I was just messed up
Pussy Fairy: hmm
CurryStainCasanova: i coulda sworn they said it was open till the 25th thought
Pussy Fairy: it’s still patching though
Pussy Fairy: update was successful
CurryStainCasanova: oh yeah, just restart it outta steam
Pussy Fairy: but my PLAY button is grayed
Pussy Fairy: now its…. doing …. something else.
CurryStainCasanova: yeah iits gotta go through all the subsequent patches i think
CurryStainCasanova: the ones you missed
Pussy Fairy: i should be up to date though
Pussy Fairy: oh well we’ll see
CurryStainCasanova is now Offline.
CurryStainCasanova is now Online.
CurryStainCasanova: ok im in the loading screen right now
CurryStainCasanova: but it is not letting me log in
Pussy Fairy: hahaha
Pussy Fairy: you bastard
CurryStainCasanova: ohhhhhhh
CurryStainCasanova: ok
CurryStainCasanova: its not on anymore
Pussy Fairy: !!!!!!!!
CurryStainCasanova: theres a message in the game
Pussy Fairy: Damn it Amrit.
CurryStainCasanova: lol
Pussy Fairy: you son of a bitch
CurryStainCasanova: sowy
Pussy Fairy: ugh
Pussy Fairy: lol
CurryStainCasanova: haha
PussehPatro has changed their name to [DsD]rocklobsta.
CurryStainCasanova: it says june 7th was the last day
[DsD]rocklobsta: if you don’t stop talking, I’m going to kill you.

Walking Dead TV Series Starts Filming!

Robert Kirkman announced that filming has started for the Walking Dead television series, which will air on AMC in October. You can hit the link below to see the details, but here’s the gist of it:

It will start with 6 episodes
It is being written, produced and directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile)
There are makeup caps in the link below! Check em out!

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/101966-first-look-at-amcs-the-walking-dead

I’m pretty sure Amrit’s necrophilia is starting to creep up right about now.

Jon says, read: Invincible

Think of every great comic series you’ve ever enjoyed. No really, go on, think about it. In your youth, in your adolescence, in your adulthood. Every single one. I’ll give you a minute.

Got em? Good. Now in your head (I repeat, IN YOUR HEAD), tear out every page of fluff, filler, and cheese — wait. Leave in the good cheese. A little cheese never hurt anyone. Now take some duct tape, and tape all the remaining pages together into a book, and what you have, is something that serves as inspiration for Robert Kirkman’s Invincible.

In an unspoiled nutshell, Invincible follows the life of Mark Grayson, a teenager learning to harness the superpowers given to him by his father, the legendary Omni-Man. The series looks at the superhero dilemma, and examines it from all angles; from keeping a secret identity, to dealing with annoying arch nemeses, to the social awkwardness of flying while carrying another man in your arms.

You can tell from where Kirkman draws his inspiration. He makes no apologies about it. In fact, you could almost say this is a love letter to everything that’s great about superheroism. You can tell that Kirkman has a lot of fun writing Invincible. You can tell that he is taking all the great inspirations in his life, and weaving them into a world out of any 80’s or 90’s graphic novel. And yet, there’s a bit of fun-poking to be made. He openly mocks Aquaman (though to be fair, who doesn’t?), and original characters with outlandish names like Monster Girl, Dupli-Kate, Rampage, and the Mauler Twins hint at the kind of cartoons Kirkman watched in his earlier days. Indeed, Invincible covers it all.

What’s best about the series is that no matter how typical and predictable Invincible appears to be, it is still a completely original piece of work. Plots twist and turn, characters hide the greatest surprises up their sleeves, and the universe is rich, and incredibly well laid out. You don’t question why anything has happened, you just want to turn the page to see what happens next.

At the time of posting, Invincible is an ongoing series, still in print. Individually issues are being released, but I’m currently reading the trade paperbacks (just finished 12, desperately awaiting 13). There are also hard cover complications encasing 5 trades in a single volume. Do yourself a favour, and grab the first 3 trades. You’ll be glad you did.

Next Page »