Yahoo's Supervillain Style

Just in time for summer, Yahoo has posted a Supervillain Style Guide. Their rogues gallery is surprisingly eclectic, ranging from the original Supergirl film right up to Whiplash in Iron Man 2. Not mentioned is Michelle Pfeiffer from Batman Returns, a memory burned into my brain since I was a pre-teen, for obvious reasons.

Stratum Lasertag

My coworkers and I went to Stratum Lasertag in Mesa, Arizona today, and before kicking Frank Caliendo's* kids' butts two rounds in a row, I noticed the walls were decorated in enlarged comic panels. In the right mindset, one could be immersed in a completely graphic sci-fi experience. Unfortunately, my head wasn't in the stars; I was just starstruck.

*Frank Caliendo is a Valley resident. I saw him at the Tempe Improv a few years ago, but nothing beats bumping into a celeb out of the blue . . . let alone schooling his kids at lasertag.

Under the Umbrella of Comics

My girlfriend and I went to another art show in the Phoenix area today, this time on Tempe's Mill Avenue, and the influence of comics was as obvious here as it was in Scottsdale earlier this week. Consider these two pieces, and Google "Holy Dominatrix, Batman" by the King of Pop Art, if you dare.

The Further Influence of Comics

My girlfriend and I went to Scottsdale's Artwalk tonight, and even there the influence of comics was evident, from these weird Pokemon-looking creatures to this heroic painting that demands, "Further." Indeed.

Cop Out

Anybody that saw the Bruce Willis/Tracy Morgan buddy cop flick Cop Out this weekend was subject to many subversive comic book references, from the Marvel logo appearing on a storefront window, to a Black Canary Justice League International action figure cameo, to Bruce Willis' baldness likened to Professor X. Director Kevin Smith knows his audience and isn't afraid to betray his geekiness in the mainstream, either. When it comes to being a fanboy, he never, uhm, cops out.

Don't worry -- a subplot surrounding a lost baseball card is sure to appeal to you jocks, too. A good buddy cop movie has a little something for everybody . . .!

We Are All Doomed

I just took in the animated short films that have been nominated for the Oscar at Tempe's Valley Art Harkins Theater, and while Logorama is by far the most daring, Poland's The Kinematograph is the most emotionally compelling. Most of these short films exploit death to elicit an emotional response, but The Kinematograph actually retains an universal life lesson, as well -- with an allegorical homage to the power of film itself.

This Dr. Doom adorned Phoenix New Times stand greets attendees outside of that particular movie theater, one of the successful entries from the paper's decorate-a-stand contest this year. Its inscription parallels the animated shorts' shared, consistent theme: we're all doomed. Yet, if your life is an animated one, it might be worth it.