Free Comic Book Day: Vampirella - "Disciple"

[laughing_tree]

It is, therefore, ironic that films like Breaking Dawn earn millions by constructing their stories off of the classic tension of Christian mythology. A more accurate view of Christian theology would not sustain the dramatic plotline of this Twilight nonsense. It is, therefore, the Lie, this Christian Myth, that is startling in its global pervasiveness. The audience has to already embrace the God vs. Devil nonsense before the lights dim or none of these films work. Without even mentioning God or the Devil, the film series relies on both to forward their main conceit: the sexual allure of evil incarnate.

It would be fringe for me to suggest the filmmakers are Satanists or wiccan or what have you, but I would guess the key drivers behind such films are not Christians. They may be Christians by culture, believing their ultimate message to be one of good triumphing over evil after a long, fierce struggle, but even such presumably noble intentions blaspheme God and rob the Gospel of its power. Oh, she’s in love with this undead abomination, a corruption and violation of God’s very nature, but she’s still a virgin. This is the con game this stuff plays on your kids: alleging value statements while glorifying Satan and the occult.

-- Christopher J. Priest

For FCBD, Dynamite printed a preview of Christopher Priest and Ergun Gunduz's upcoming Vampirella run, which will mark the character's 50th anniversary...

( The full eight-page story, under the cut... )

Mod Post! Off-Topic Tuesday

[icon_uk]

In the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like. Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.

Wishing those who observe it, a happy and blessed Ramadan!

In UK news, in the perhaps overly sarcastic headline of the Communist leaning "Daily Star" - "American Actress Gives Birth", in other words The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) have had their first child, a boy who is now seventh in line for the throne. (Whilst I wish them all the joy and happiness I wish parents with a new baby, I just can't get overly excited about it all)

Attorney General William Barr is facing contempt proceedings for not having released an unredacted copy of the Mueller Report.

In other cheerful news, We've likely borked the planet more than we thought!

Caster Semenya has lost her appeal against the International Association of Athletics Federations, and they have ruled that women with testosterone levels above a certain value must take steps to reduce them before they can compete as it's held they hold an unfair advantage.

The fact that some people, like Semenya, have such levels occurring naturally has been pointed out as being something which should NOT be penalised, with the comparison being made that Michael Phelps, the swimmer, has a physique and metabolism which enhances his ability to perform through entirely natural means, so why was he permitted to compete? I suspect this is not the last we've heard of this topic.

Firefox users might have noticed that all their Add-ons failed over the weekend due to certification issues. This is being addressed

The world of Star Wars bid a sad farewell to Peter Mayhew, the 7'3" actor who created (I'd also say "voiced", but "growled" might be a better choice) the role of the worlds most loveable, irascible, walking hearth-rug Chewbacca. And as any fan who has ever met Mr Mayhew will attest was one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet.

In the UK, local council elections saw the (pro Brexit... sort of) Conservative and (Kinda pro-Brexit unless it makes a better soundbite to fudge it in which case we want a Second Referendum) Labour nominees get a severe drubbing, with the major winners being the (resolutely anti-Brexit) Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Apparently the lesson to be learned from this is, according to our Prime Minister that "The people just want us to get on with Brexit" ... Riiiiiiight!

At the more frivolous end of the spectrum, the Met Gala was held in New York, with this years theme of "Camp" being a notoriously difficult thing to pin down, (as were some of the outfits). Lady Gaga (perhaps unsurprisingly) seems have done quite well out of it, taking the onion skin approach to couture, Janelle Monae going Cubist (or possibly Dadaist), Michael Urie being memorably.. half and half and Ezra Miller looking absolutely nightmarish.

A pearl weighing over 27 kilos (60 pounds) has gone on display. If this was Gotham City I'd be feeling very nervous about this.

Beetlejuice is coming to Broadway

Been catching upon a few movies over the long weekend just past, I finally watched "Mary Poppins Returns" (the songs are infuriatingly catchy), "Into the Spider-verse" (Wow! Though I'm glad I didn't see it in 3D IMAX as I'm not sure my brain could process the effects) and "The Incredibles 2" (I actually found this more engaging than the last one in terms of story, but had the same slightly worrying undercurrent that the unregulated heroes actually WERE a problem and I'm not sure their return would be the best thing for the world).

And speaking of irritatingly catchy tunes, for fans of "The Good Place", Whitney Avalon has released a tribute to everyone's favourite Janet!

Free Comic Book Day: Absolute Carnage - Prologue

[cyberghostface]

“Cletus Kasady is back, and he is deadlier than he’s ever been. Absolute Carnage encompasses every single character who has ever worn a symbiote and every symbiote that has ever been, going all the way back to when Peter found the black suit. Going from there to Maximum Carnage to Venomized to everything…everyone is a target.” -- Donny Cates

( Scans under the cut... )

Velocity #1

[history79]

( Read more... )

Strange Attractors came out in 2013.

[thanekos]

It was re-released on Comixology in 2016, split up into five issues.

It's about complexity and a student of the subject, Heller Wilson.

One day, he approached a man in a diner: " Excuse me, but are you Doctor Spencer Brownfield? "

" And what if I am? "

Heller explained himself.

( Doctor Brownfield ate. )