Saturday, June 30, 2012

Todd McFarlane's Spawn

Four days later. Sometimes I wonder...

Anyway! My obsession with this fan-fucking-tastic animated series is still in overdrive!

My newest obsession! | From Google

To begin, let's start with my history with Spawn. I'm quite sure I either learned about it from the old pictures my mom showed me of my older cousin as a kid reading Spawn comics (he was/is (?) a big fan) or because of the 1997 movie. Either way, naturally, I became interested, but never pursued. Then somewhere along the line I saw the movie. I liked it, though I don't remember my reaction very well...aside from loving that cape, man! The caaaape!!

Fast-the-fuck-forward to this week. Whoa, man. Don't even ask what possessed me to suddenly search for the TV series or how I discovered it. It was just this past Monday and I don't remember, either. All I do remember is that I was begging for the cartoon to be as dark and gritty and, well, everything I've been dying for in a TV series that I haven't been able to find.

How ironic that I would find it in an old HBO series, considering everyone I know considers HBO to have really interesting stuff and I can't get into any of it. True Blood? Gag me. Please. I cannot take it seriously; you have no idea...

Right. So I was hooked on the first episode. What is it about this series that I love?

Pros

  • A legitimate story
And a story that doesn't include crap called school, work or owning a damned restaurant. Better yet, apparently like the original comic itself, it gets right to the gist of the story, with the main character Al already in his undead state as a Hellspawn General...er...a general of the Army of Hell...or someother...As much as I love gradually getting into a story, it's a rare to treat to come upon one that jumps right in that ends up being good in my mind.

  • Superb voice-acting
A definite 10/10 for voice acting in this series.  Not only do they have a boss of an actor (Keith David) voicing Spawn, but the voice acting is legitimate! When Spawn agonized, oh, my god, did I agonize along with him. I thought my forehead would permanently crease from all the times I furrowed it in my pity for this...erm...man. Everyone else did just as good, but you know I have to give the main man best props. Also...whoa. Violator's voice. Scary as shit when he was in his true form.

  • Animation was dark, atmospheric
And they call this series low-budget. The only sign of its times or possibly of it being low-budget were the occasional (in my opinion) reuse of scenes. But I understand they did that in the old days, anyway. Some were well manipulated to flow with the progression of the episode, but some carried flaws. Didn't bother me in the slightest. And must I mention HIS CAPE?! Oh, sorry...his shroud. Oh. Ugh. Every scene with that bloody thing is my favorite. It moves so beautifully. The blending of shadows, the wonderful contrast of day and night...Good features for every character (unlike some anime I won't mention)...Oh, yeah...

  • Not for kids!
Not by any stretch of the imagination! Also, c'mon, this is HBO. Sex? Yes. As usual, there was a moment there I was worried every episode was going to have sex or nudity in it...but don't worry. Later on it becomes much more tastefully done. Eh, but it didn't bother me, anyway. Voice acting was good with that, too~ :p Pfft. Nice gratuitous use of crude and strong language, too. Ahh...

Cons...

  • ....Too. Damn. SHORT!
Seriously? This isn't too uncommon for good animated series, be they anime or otherwise. The short ones are usually really freaking good. Six episodes per seasons, and there were three. Three seasons...three sixes. 666, anyone~? And so, only eighteen freaking episodes, and just when I was ready to freaking cry at the last episode!

  • IT. JUST. ENDS!
No conclusion to that nail-biting discovery?? What about Wynn?? And Spawn! Just when he got it! *Gag, growl, hiss* Over ten years later and there's still no conclusion!! 

Any other complaints? Nada~! 

I'm kinda in a rush (may touch up on this bas later), but seriously. Spawn has everything I've ever looked for in a TV series: dark, humorous (Spawn even has his moments; oh, and his one-liners!), tragic, dashes of ADULT romance (nothing pissed me off, which is a first in itself), and...deeeemons. Deeevils. Posssesssions...Wheeeee....It was somewhat lacking in the element of more dark cretins, but I have no complaints. It was short, but I'm so getting this bad boy on the best DVD set I can get my hands on!!

...

And this will be the third Western comic (along with The Crow and Batman, of course) I'm so adding to my library! Must get into Spawn...

Monday, June 25, 2012

Short rant of upcoming review: Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997)

I have just spent the past...oh...about if not over ten hours, staying up all night and all morning, watching this...heavenly...90s cartoon.

Unfortunately, I have somewhere to go in six hours. So I'll have to make the actual review after I come home, as I have to take a four-hour nap. Here's to hoping I wake up before 11 AM so I can take a freaking shower!!

From Google

Adding this son of a wizard to my top favorites' list. The one and only complaint? WHERE'S THE REST OF IT?! It just ENDS! We, the fans, DEMAND MORE. If the comic is anything like this cartoon...this will be the second, and only second, Western comic that is irrefutably and lovingly going into my library....along with Batman. Of course.

You don't understand. I've literally been wining and bitching and moaning and groaning for a show like this for...so...long. And then I find it...only to find out it's...not...FINISHED?!

Why...oh, why...is it that I miss out on all of the goodies only to discover them years later...I had to be seven years old when this mofo came out, eh? SEVEN! And just a year later I started writing smut!

As you can see, I attached the "obsession(s)" label. Yes. Along with Beetlejuice, this is one of my new Obsessions. Prepare to hear more about this...lots more...

...and speaking of Beetlejuice...this must be my lucky-eye-weekend: yesterday I watched a whole bunch of "new" (to me!) Beetlejuice episodes on YouTube!! Finally got to see Not So Peaceful Pines, in which we get to see a cartoon, kid-friendly version of his movie self, in a way...!

...
...

Oh.

See~ I can't help myself when it comes to my obsessions....~♥

Saia~!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

The search for peace of mind, pt. 2

To begin, there hasn't been much to talk about. Okay, maybe there has, but nothing I would want to talk about here, even if this is the place to rant. My words seem...pointless. Repetitive. Stupid. Laughable. Immature...Haven't checked my mail, haven't read anything, haven't enjoyed anything...My mind is so...


I am so...

Here's the goddamned deal. I've spent the past...what...six months...?...at Gateway. Pretty much worked my ass off, or maybe I didn't; everything seems like a pathetic blur, now. To sum it up, not only did I get straight A's in all four subjects, but I made the Dean's List and have also...received annoying, aggravating pressure from just about every teacher and facilitator I know. As I'd mentioned, my intentions were to get the fuck away from home and go to Job Corps. Yeah. Thing is, since that got out to my teachers, word spread, and to sum it up, I've now not only got the attention of the person who runs this damn program, but I've got one of my frigging state representatives throwing favors at me to stay at Gateway in the fall instead of going to Job Corps. That and also other favors from other important people, including offers of scholarships and lovely shat like that I'd feel like an idiot if I didn't agree to suck up to.

What. The. Fuck.

So. As much as the idea of this is lovely and all, I'd unfortunately not only still be in the same state as I am now, but I'd still be reliant on home. I'd have to keep on frigging coming back here every day. I. don't. WANT. So what to do? 

And this fucking medication I'm on isn't working. It's just easier to grin and bear with it, but lying has always been my specialty, thank you very fucking much. But is it working? No. No, it doesn't seem to be.

As usual.

I'd still so rather just end it, for crying out loud...

And then there's me. Ah, how forgetful I am. Was supposed to call this culinary instructor guy over the weekend, but as usual, I've been forgetting. Now this will be the second time I'll have to face the guy who gave me his number and did this favor for me (he's hooking me up with the culinary guy because he knows I want to be a chef). Even lost the number. Can't remember where I put the damn thing. 

Do I feel like a fool? Yes. Yes, I do. As stupid as an excuse my forgetfulness is, it is a legitimate problem, people. I've apparently inherited it from my father. Yet no one believes me... What I don't get is, why the hell would I be doing this to myself on purpose, assholes?

So.

Feeling like a good wad of shit right now. Nothing new, of course

...I know. I get it. Nothing to talk about...