batman - the long halloween - jeph loeb and tim sale

This was one of my birthday present from Robbo in September, and pretty good it was too. 'The Long Halloween' was originally released as 13 comics in 1996 and 1997, and has 'Holiday' killing off various people (on each festive occasion), while Batman tries to figure out 'Holiday's' true identity, and how to stop him.  Along the way, Batman tries to worm the killers identity off  'The Calender Man', while simultaneously dealing with other arch enemies as 'The Joker', Scarecrow, and 'The Riddler'.  It's one of those stories that you want to re-read immediately once you have finished, to have another search for the clues.  I still prefer the artwork on the 1960's comics, but the storyline couldn't really be faulted. Top stuff.

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what a super sunday!

What a great day l have had today.  We went to Lolls birthday do at Tunstall last night with Robbo and Kerry (and Cairon), but were home at a decent time because Rook wasn't drinking, so we nabbed a lift home with him and Deb when they left.  Managed to hit the pub first, witness Robbo hurting his ankle falling out of the pub, drink and chat at the party,  then eat about 72 sausage rolls before we left.  All of this and we were still  in time for 'Match of the Day'. Result!
A lazy lie in this morning with the paper was followed by a bath and the two football matches, Everton v Liverpool (2-2) and Chelsea v Manchester United (3-2 to United).  The results and games were great for me, and it was made sweeter by the fact Luis Saurez (we know what you are) had a winning goal disallowed    for Liverpool (hilarious), and Javier Hernandez for United had one stand that was offside (tremendous).  Fernando Torres capped off all the fun by being sent off for diving, in a decision that was surprising (but welcome) even to my blinkered eyes.
Apparently there will be repercussions from the Chelsea game, as Chelsea have reported the referee (Mark Clattenburg) for 'inappropriate' comments he made to two of their players.  If he is found guilty of being racist to them, l wonder if Chelsea fans will start booing the players involved.  I certainly hope they do.
It was such a fun packed day , l nearly forgot to say that l managed to bid on (and win) a load of old Manchester United programmes.  All of this was before l made some cheese pasta for tea (Mmmmmmm)
Altogether now........
Heaven......  I'm in Heaven.....

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t.rex conquer america advert

No excuses needed to post a Marc Bolan or T.Rex item.  This poster / advert of their American tour is superb, and certainly floats my boat (old as it is).  Just a shame that it never really worked out, apart from Get it On / Bang a Gong single.

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the shining - original photograph

Everybody must have seen 'The Shining' by now.  It's a stone cold classic of the horror / psychological movie genre.  Contained within it is a touched up 1921 photograph featuring (supposedly) Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson) at the Overland Hotel.  The top photograph reinstates the man who was replaced (name unknown). Good work by whoever did it.

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this is not here

Another t shirt l will eventually get around to making or buying.  Based on the John Lennon / Yoko Ono art exhibition in New York (1972).
I just think it will mess with peoples minds, especially when they are drunk.  I might even print 'But this is' on the back.
Feel free to nick the idea if you are a t shirt maker, just send me a free copy (usual address) if you do.

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the snow has arrived

The bastard snow has arrived in Catterick, and it is only October.  This is the view from outside my front door about half an hour ago.  It's bleeding cold as well.
I blame God.

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richard and willie

I'm all for a bit of dirty, surreal, and political comedy, especially if there is a potty mouthed ventriloquist's dummy thrown in for good measure, but the trouble with these Richard and Willie albums from the late 1960's to the early 1970's, is that they are not that funny, the politics is laboured (not that way) and they are just foul mouthed yet boring (hard to believe, l know). Created by Richard Sanfield (Willie is the dummy) in 1967.  They may be funnier live, but these feature live performances, so l pretty much doubt it.  Bit of a shame really, as the idea is magnificent.
If you want to check out various dummies  through the ages, there's a great site here.

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debbie harry photograph

Now that is what you call a promotional photograph.  Debbie Harry of Blondie looking good.  She has got a punk attitude and is also intelligent, arty and funny. She also stayed with and helped nurse Chris Stein after he became ill.  That's why nobody really dislikes her.

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king george v and a poor person

King George V in his carriage being chased by a poor person ("Spare a shekel guv"?) in a photograph that l never get bored of.  It's like it was taken yesterday.  Soon to be re-enacted.

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eric cantona french film poster for l'outremangeur

I took this picture while standing outside the Gare Du Nord in Paris, and it is of the great man himself, Monsieur Eric Cantona, starring as Superintendent Richard Milina in the film L'Outremangeur (The Overeater).  How French can you get?
He was lucky he got the role, because if l had been born in France, there is absolutely no question that l would have had that role sewn up as mine - l was born to play it.

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homer simpson and adamson (silent sam)

This has been common knowledge for a while (amongst comic geeks).  the old cartoon strip 'Adamson', which in the USA was known as 'Silent Sam', was originally drawn in 1920 by Oscar Jacobsson, a Swedish cartoonist.  I don't think Matt Groening ripped him off when he came up with 'The Simpsons' (and 'Homer'), but he may have seen the strips when he was growing up, and been influenced by them, even if it was only subliminally.  I suppose everybody already knows that 'Homer' was named after Groening's own father, but l am throwing it out there anyway.

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galactus costume

Christ on a bike, l thought l was a geek!  Just take a butchers at this chappie,  photographed at the EECC (Emerald City Comicon) in 2012, wearing a home made 'Galactus' costume.  I would never, EVER, wear a costume like that, but l do admit l have a grudging admiration for the fact that he just doesn't seem to care.  I wonder if he has got a girlfriend?
Photograph from mattpagedotcom.

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du levande (you, the living) - roy anderssonn (2007)

Is it Swedish?  Depressing? No great story to it? Subtitled? Strange? Weird Music?  Untrained actors?  Black comedic moments? Dream sequences?  
All present and correct (SIR!!).
50 short sketches that sometimes have links, Du Levande (translation - You, the living) certainly isn't like most films out there.  I like to relax with this kind of stuff, but that probably says more about me than the film itself.  Mind you, it took Roy Andersson 3 years and a lot of haggling to get this project completed, so he must be an even stranger cove than l am (high praise indeed).
Now pass me some drugs so l can watch it again, as l might discover some great hidden meaning to it all, apart from the futility of existence (but l doubt it).

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the casual vacancy - jk rowling

I have never read any of the Harry Potter books, and am not that interested in the films (I've only seen two), but l thought l would crack on with 'The Casual Vacancy' as it is J.K Rowling's first 'adult' book, and l knew it to be about class, bigotry, politics, and responsibility for others (four of my favourite subjects).  It didn't let me down in  the slightest, as there is plenty of swearing, a bit of sex and violence, and as far as the political angle goes, if Jan Moir of The Daily Mail considers it to be "More than 500 pages of relentless socialist manifesto masquerading as literature, "Then that also ticks my boxes.
A local Parish Councillor (Barry Fairweather) dies, leaving a vacancy.  As he was arguing for the amalgamation of  a local housing estate (The Fields) and drug rehabilitation centre (Bellchaple) with the West Country town of Pagford, and the votes were more or less split, some take this as an opportunity to put themselves (or family) up for Council so they can sway the vote.  'Ghostly' revelations about the nominees are then posted on the Council website'e online forum, with varying consequences.  Along the way, there is the tale of the misunderstood Krystal Weedon, her young brother Robbie, and her ex prostitute, drug addled mother.  Also heavily featured are two school friends, 'Fats' and Andrew (and their families), a cyber bullied Sukhvinder Jawanda (and her family), plus Howard Mollison, the overweight leader of the Parish Council (and his immediate and related family). If you are looking for pomposity, self righteousness, class war, bigoted attitudes, narrow mindedness, overestimated self worth, rape, drugs, and a bit of humour, this novel has them all.  I don't consider it a masterpiece, as it is (even to me) a bit preachy, but parts of it were really well written, and l can't overstate how pleased l am that it is out there in the first place, selling by the bucketload, and (hopefull) changing some peoples perceptions and attitudes towards the working class scumbags (like me) that they so readily despise.

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ellen ripley - believe it or not

This silicone sculpture looks amazingly life like, and just a little bit spooky.  It's of Ellen Ripley from the Alien films (Sigourney Weaver) and it is by Steven Scott (who's Facebook page is here).   Some people are just so talented it is sickening (or at least sickening to me).  Bastard!

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