Good Reads: The Rocketeer

 

Right-O.  Time to take a break from classic Sci-Fi/classic literature to get some comic books up in here, yo!  Dawg!  Fo ... sho?  Bah.

Anyways, this comic is credited for a lot of major changes in the comic industry once it was published in the early 1980's.  The Rocketeer is often cited as a major influence in giving the independant artist/publishing combo greater traction as well as being the poster child for early comic-to-movie sucess.  On top of it, this comic book is almost exclusively to thank for bringing Bettie Page to a whole new generation.  In case you do not know Bettie Page, please see figure 1.1 below.

 

Figure 1.1

 

 

You are welcome.  Moving along, the Rocketeer is a very pulpy tongue-in-cheek comic adventure involving Nazi spies, vengful circus folk, high-flying adventure, long-winded internal monologue during fight scenes, and strung-along romance of the juvenile variety.  This is not high-brow stuff.  It is fairly fun, and most importantly it is very well drawn.  Behold the combination of styles present below:

 

 

Notice how the layout of the comic is structured, but still non-traditional given the backdrop.  As for the line work, it adds skin/musle tone that reminds the viewer of those old Edgar Rice Buroughs book covers in a way to harken back to classic adventure tales while the color maintains a more modern/early 90's approach.

As for dialogue, it's pretty cheesy in a traditional Indiana Jones style.  Charming, yet kistchy.  The story is playfully convoulted yet transparent while maintaining the naivette of 1950's American pop-culture and the action is fratic and playful.  The complete collection of these comics is fairly small, limiting The Rocketeer to two story arcs; one involving Nazi spies regarding the rocket pack itself and the other arc involving a tragic love tale borrowed from the film Freaks.

With a idealization of Bettie Page prancing around half-dressed every other page combined with vintage banter, well-penned action, and vivid colorization, this is a very well made comic book that is a monument of fanservice.  Add it to your collection for casual reading and as an example of independant comics done right without falling victim to avant garde temptations.

Get it here at amazon.  Also, as a little bit of trivia, Bettie Page apparently was so flattered by her comic-self in Rocketeer she became friends with the comic's creator Dave Stevens.

The Well Rounded Gamer: Poo!

Merry Holiday of Your Choice, and happy new year CoF!

Sick and tired of LFR? Not into The Old Republic yet? Despairing because Diablo III's release date
was pushed back again? Looking for something new for your geek resume? You're in luck! It's time for
another long-delayed round of non-digital fun and mayhem!

Today's game is a nice, simple and messy little card game. You and your friends are monkeys in the
zoo. And you fling poo at each other. Yep. The name of the game? Poo, of course.*


Players use cards in their hands to fling poo at their competitors. Too many stacks of monkey poo and
you're out. Other cards let you block incoming messes and clean yourself off. Occasional Special cards
let you inflict more monkey woe on your friends, or help buy you some time with a wash. But beware
the King King Poo!

 


This game is easy to pick up and a round lasts from 5 to 15 minutes, making it an awesome for parties
or quick pick-up games just about anywhere. Also, the card art is nothing short of hilarious. Best yet?
You can get the game for about $9!

 


*Special shout out to Zeb and Astorya for introducing me to this one.