Mikester

Sorry for the inconvenience.

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Just testing something.

EDIT: I’ve had to do away with the old commenting system, as the company that owns it is forcing a replacement with a new system that, from all appearances, seems to be more trouble than it’s worth. Thus, for the time being, I’m using Blogger’s built-in comment system since 1) it’s the least trouble for me to install, and 2) they’re not charging me for the privilege, like the other guys are. So that’s what we’ve got here now, at least until I finally move to WordPress, someday. Plus, there are still some formatting issues I’m working on, but I’ll get to that when it’s not nearing midnight on a Friday.

Anyway, I backed up all of the site’s original comments, so while you can’t see them any more, I’ll be able to treasure them forever in the privacy of my home.

…

Er, that’s a bit creepy. Sorry about that.

ONCE SEEN, IT CANNOT BE UNSEEN.

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From the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Make ’em Laugh,” a Roseanne Barr parody spanking Robin:


The character is comedienne/TV sitcom star Lisa Lorraine, who, under the mind control of the Joker, has become the supervillain named in dialogue as “Mighty Mom,” and named in the end credits as “Rolling Pin.”

The voice of the character is a fairly spot-on imitation of Roseanne’s, to the point where at first, just for a moment, I thought maybe Roseanne herself did the deed. But 1) this is hardly a flattering parody, and 2) I think I would have heard about it before this. And, in fact, it was Andrea Martin who voiced Lorraine.

This episode also features the voicework of comedian Richard Jeni, who sadly left us too soon.

Anyway, when Lorraine first shows up in costume, she takes both Batman and Robin out immediately. With her mop. I can totally picture Roseanne being able to do that. I hope director Christopher Nolan keeps this episode, and the possibility of casting Roseanne, in mind when he starts to put together his next Batman movie.

WARNING: NOT RECOMMENDED USAGE OF ERIC POWELL’S CHIMICHANGA.

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In honor of the release of Eric Powell‘s newest comic book, Chimichanga, Employee Aaron had a chimichanga for lunch. No, he didn’t eat the comic, he had a chimichanga from the bar ‘n’ grill down the street, but if had eaten the comic, it would have looked like the above. LOOK AND LEARN, FRIENDS.

Anyway, it’s a fine comic, and you all should buy it. Not eat it. Well, okay, eat it if you want, just give me your money for it first.

In other news:

  • Who likes the free comics? You like the free comics!

    First, it’s the long-awaited third installment of the world’s greatest comic about a Luchador gorillia scientist/surf-guitarist, El Gorgo! Available in multiple downloadable formats, and it’s all completely free! (And here are number one and number two, if you need to catch up!) It’s comics as God intended, so go read ’em already!

    Second…”What? ‘Second,’ you say? But Mike, surely El Gorgo #3 is more free comics than we sinful, miserable comic readers deserve! Can there possibly be more?” Why, yes…yes, indeed, my friends, there are more free comics to be had from your special internet friends Chris Sims and Matt Digges at Action Age Comics: it’s The Christmas Chronicles of Solomon Stone, available, like its spiritual brother El Gorgo, in many a download friendly format. And did I say it was all for…FREE? Because it surely is.

  • My friends, prepare for genius: Bully the Little Stuffed Bull in “Bully of the Lantern Corps” – may be too cute for the cuteness-appreciation impaired. All the hoopla surrounding the Blackest Night event, all the effort we had to put into obtaining and distributing the plastic rings…it was all worth it for this.
  • A big “huzzah” to our pal Gilbert Hernandez, upon his becoming a Rasmuson Fellow and scoring a $50,000 grant. Drinks are on you, buddy!
  • E-mailed to me by everyone on planet Earth, which should probably tell me something: construct your own Sluggo papercraft toy. (Superdeformed Darth is kind of cool, too.)

Greetings from the land of linkings!

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Some things happening in the online world of comics and love:

Blogging about blogging is a sin. (Plus, bonus Popeye content!)

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Popeye speaks truth, from E.C. Segar’s Popeye Vol. 4, available from Fantagraphics at finer stores everywhere. Comics don’t get much better than this.

Anyway, in the “if it’s not one thing, it’s another” department: after the website outage last week, I started having intermittent connectivity problems with my ISP this weekend, and I ended up spending time trying to get that resolved instead of working up a post for today. Yes, I know, I’m a terrible blogger. So let me just get a site note or two posted for today, and hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

  • A friend of mine on the Twitter referred to me by the user name of “progressiveruin” instead of the name I’ve actually been using (which, oddly enough, is my actual name of “mikesterling”). However, once I saw it, I thought “well, better grab it while it’s available,” so yes, there is now a “progressiveruin” account on Twitter. Currently it’s just an autofeed for new posts on the site so you won’t miss brilliant content like today’s, plus the occasional announcement, but maybe I’ll think of something else to do with it soon. Hey, it’s free, what the hell.
  • Speaking of the Twitter, let me remind you again that I’m still contributing to that Fake AP Stylebook thingie. It’s a magical world of wonder and beauty, so please visit.
  • You know, for what was basically a simple post about a Batman cartoon, I’ve been getting a lot of discussion on the topic of Batman’s gun usage. Hey, who knew?

    On a related note, did people really hate the Batman: Year Two series that much? I thought it was okay at the time, though I have to admit it’s probably been a decade or so since I’ve last read it. And, yeah, Greg brings up a good point about how messed up it is.

  • For the love of all that is good and holy, buy stuff through my Amazon links. Especially expensive stuff. Hey, I’m sure your Grandma needs three or four iPods, so get buyin’.
  • Er, yeah, comics:

    Punishermax #2 – Great comic, but still hate the name. Steve Dillon is probably my favorite Punisher artist, and Jason Aaron is almost out-Ennis-ing Garth Ennis on this.

    Citizen Rex #6 – I love these short-run comics Gilbert Hernandez has been doing (this last one with brother Mario). Can’t wait for the next one!

    R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 – Have now heard several people who picked up the previous issue for the Blackest Night tie-in describe how surprised they were at how much they liked the comic. Good, because it is a fine comic, despite my own less-than-enthused response to the ongoing Starro storyline. But hopefully some folks will stick around for more issues past the tie-in (though I haven’t seen any recent back issue movement, which may not bode well for new readers, especially on a comic that just started).

  • And…er, well, that’s it, really. How are you doing?

And now, Bruce Wayne using a firearm…

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…from the Batman: The Animated Series episode “The Terrible Trio.” Enjoy!


I know, we’ve seen Batman using guns before…he packed some heat back in the Golden Age (an era later revisited in the recent Batman/Doc Savage special), and in Final Crisis (used as a last resort), and even in the Animated DC-verse (in the very first Batman Beyond, where Batman uses a gun to defend himself when his aged and battered body fails him). Oh, and then there’s the Tim Burton Batman, whose Batmobile has machine guns built into the front of the car. And I’m sure there are plenty of other instances I’m not remembering at the moment.

Still, given Batman’s usual attitude regarding gun use, Bruce casually using a firearm for sport, as seen in this cartoon, feels a bit…out of character. Okay, Bruce’s parents were offed by a mugger with a pistol, not a shotgun, and Bruce is shooting skeet, not hunting The Most Dangerous Game or anything. And it’s Bruce using a gun as part of his rich sporting playboy disguise, not Batman trying to mow down the Penguin. But still, yeah, Bruce Wayne with a gun. Just struck me as a bit weird.