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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Concentrating on what's really important is one of the mental tricks I'm using to get myself through the construction/contractor problems at Casa Isabella. The above photo was taken at Universal Studios Florida in the summer of 2001. That family vacation, which included several days at Walt Disney World, was the best vacation of my life. I'd like to go back there soon...not that I've a clue how we could afford it or when we could go.
TOT is not going to be what I would like it to be for the rest of the week as I pursue legal options in the matter of a contractor who won't fulfill his obligations to us. However, I hope what I do bring you in these columns will still amuse and inform you in some small manner. Sometimes you go to the Internet with the column you have and not the column you want.
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COMICS IN THE COMICS
Hmm...maybe "Comics in the Editorial Cartoons" would be a more accurate sub-title for this section as JEFF DARCY channels PEANUTS for his recent commentary on the so-called "blame game" as played in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Here's the skinny on Darcy from the AAEC [American Association of Editorial Cartoonist] website:
Jeff Darcy was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1963 and graduated from the University of Dayton in 1986 with a degree in Political Science. Since 1993, he has served as Editorial Cartoonist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. From 1987 to 1993, he served as Editorial Cartoonist for the Sun Newspaper group of Northeastern Ohio, and for the Cleveland Edition.
His award-winning cartoons have also appeared in NEWSWEEK, TIME, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and have appeared on "Good Morning America," "Meet the Press," CNN and MNBC.
You can enjoy more Darcy cartoons at:
www.cleveland.com/darcy
You can visit the AAEC website at:
editorialcartoonists.com/index.cfm
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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Subscribers to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY also get the bonus "Listen to Me" section once a month. In the October 7 edition of the LTM, two comics were listed among the section's "things not to miss": Santa Inoue's TOKYO TRIBES [TokyoPop; $9.95] and Jordan Crane's THE CLOUDS ABOVE [Fantagraphics; $18.95].
In the "Movies" section, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, adapted from the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, scored an "A" in a review by Lisa Schwartzbaum. Elsewhere in the section, she gave Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman's MIRRORMASK an "A-".
Finally, in the "Books" section, reviewer Scott Brown gave an "A" to THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES [Andrews McMeel; $150] while Nisha Gopalan gave an "A" to Harvey Pekar's THE QUITTER [Vertigo/DC Comics; $19.95]. Not a bad issue for comics.
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TONY POLLS
Every Tuesday, I post new TONY POLLS questions...just because you and me and many others enjoy them. Here are the results of the questions asked the week of September 20...
THE BATMAN has now started its third season. Which of its second season episodes was your favorite?
GRUNDY'S NIGHT.....6.90%
NIGHT AND THE CITY.....6.90%
THE CAT, THE BAT AND THE VERY UGLY.....6.90%
Riddled.....3.45%
Strange Minds.....3.45%
The Butler Did It.....3.45%
The Laughing Bat.....3.45%
Fire & Ice.....1.72%
Meltdown.....1.72%
Swamped.....1.72%
JTV......0%
Pets.....0%
Ragdolls to Riches.....0%
Didn't see any of them.....60.34%
The current BATMAN animated series, which features a younger Batman than its predecessors, doesn't seem to have the following of earlier series. That said, I voted for NIGHT AND THE CITY because I thought it made wonderful use of the partnership between the Bat and Detective Ellen Yin. Sadly, in the new season, Yin is nowhere to be seen. She's been replaced by Batgirl.
The new TV season has brought several new shows with it. How would you rate the first episode of BONES?
Near-Mint.....0%
Fine.....15.94%
Very Good.....14.49%
Good.....7.25%
Fair.....5.80%
Poor.....5.80%
Didn't see it.....50.72%
I rated it GOOD. I liked leading players Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, but their characters and the supporting cast began to grate on me by the second episode. It's not must-watch TV for me, but I'll probably watch an episode here and there.
How would you rate SUPERNATURAL?
Near-Mint.....1.52%
Fine.....9.09%
Very Good.....10.61%
Good.....7.58%
Fair.....9.09%
Poor.....4.55%
Didn't see it.....57.58%
I rated it VERY GOOD. The show's strengths are a workable premise, likeable heroes, some truly creepy moments, and, for me, the added fun of watching it with my daughter Kelly every week. I reviewed the pilot episode on her birthday and you can read that review here:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/back20050916.shtml
How would rate the first episode of THRESHOLD?
Near-Mint.....4.48%
Fine.....14.93%
Very Good.....14.93%
Good.....2.99%
Fair.....7.46%
Poor.....1.49%
Didn't see it.....53.73%
I rated it FINE. It has a great premise, terrific characters (and actors), and a whole lot of creepy moments.
I'm not just interested in your comics. I want to know the real you as well. What is your favorite season?
FALL.....58.95%
Summer.....18.95%
Spring.....16.84%
Winter.....5.26%
I'm with the majority in picking FALL as my favorite season. Fall is a season of mystery. You never quite know what the world outside will look like when you wake up in the morning.
I'll have more TONY POLLS results for you later in the week. In the meantime, check out the current questions at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Thanks for spending part of your day with me. With a bit of luck, I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 10/04/2005 | 10/05/2005 | 10/06/2005 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Tony's Online Tips
840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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