Infected Worldmind

Politics and Culture. A Tonic.

Who am I?

I'm general counsel for a medium-sized tax-exempt organization that helps court-involved and other at-risk populations clear barriers to success in the community.

I'm also a development/fundraising professional and provide legal advice and guidance to start-up entertainment firms.

I'm a contributor to Funnybook Babylon and my ever-expanding bookshelf is here. I infrequently write about food and take pictures.

I'm also the happiest newlywed in the world.

That's everything.
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Posts tagged "Before Watchmen"
iamdavidbrothers: The shock comes from Cooke’s and Conner’s gobsmacking decision to depict Laurie’s crowning moment of heroism as a re-enactment of Eddie’s violation of Sally (Figures C7-8). (via Who Whitewashes the Watchmen? Part 2 « The Hooded Utilitarian) I have a few issues with this essay that prevent me from wholeheartedly recommending it (what gets attributed to Moore, the facts that are presented in such a specific way they’re misleading at best), but I do want to pull this out. I didn’t read Before Watchmen because I don’t like how DC does business. It wasn’t intended as a knock on the talent involved (though you could make a case for that pretty easily, if you wanted) so much as the straw that broke the camel’s back. I almost wish I’d read it now, because I’m trying to figure out why this storytelling decision was made. Mirroring is useful tool, though it can be hammered into the ground when used wrong, word to Batman Begins. It’s used to comment on the action we’re seeing, forcing a comparison where there might not have been one. But I can’t figure out what Cooke and Conner are saying with this bit if mirroring. The role reversal, the woman in charge instead of victimized, is one route, but that doesn’t feel all the way there. It feel superficial. It seems like it’s either saying nothing, or saying something really ugly. “Why?” is my question, I guess. I hate commenting on something (Before Watchmen) that I haven’t read, but here goes: I strongly suspect that Cooke/Conner were trying to demonstrate that Laurie has her father’s capacity for brutality/violence by mirroring her assault with Dave Gibbons’ depiction of her brutal rape in Watchmen. The problem with that is obvious once you put it into words. It makes me wonder if Cooke/Conner intended for the parallel to make the reader uncomfortable (maybe we should question our instinct to cheer Laurie’s victory). Or maybe they were just being indulgent. It’s hard to tell (especially without more context). I’d love to hear a take on this from a smart critic who’s read this series and is more inclined to be forgiving towards Cooke and Connor for this book. By the way, you should definitely check out both parts of William Leung’s essay on Darwyn Cooke’s work on Before Watchmen. I don’t agree with all of it, but it’s definitely thought-provoking (I particularly liked his writing on Moore’s depiction of Laurie’s character).

iamdavidbrothers:

The shock comes from Cooke’s and Conner’s gobsmacking decision to depict Laurie’s crowning moment of heroism as a re-enactment of Eddie’s violation of Sally (Figures C7-8). (via Who Whitewashes the Watchmen? Part 2 « The Hooded Utilitarian)

I have a few issues with this essay that prevent me from wholeheartedly recommending it (what gets attributed to Moore, the facts that are presented in such a specific way they’re misleading at best), but I do want to pull this out.

I didn’t read Before Watchmen because I don’t like how DC does business. It wasn’t intended as a knock on the talent involved (though you could make a case for that pretty easily, if you wanted) so much as the straw that broke the camel’s back. I almost wish I’d read it now, because I’m trying to figure out why this storytelling decision was made.

Mirroring is useful tool, though it can be hammered into the ground when used wrong, word to Batman Begins. It’s used to comment on the action we’re seeing, forcing a comparison where there might not have been one. But I can’t figure out what Cooke and Conner are saying with this bit if mirroring. The role reversal, the woman in charge instead of victimized, is one route, but that doesn’t feel all the way there. It feel superficial. It seems like it’s either saying nothing, or saying something really ugly.

“Why?” is my question, I guess.

I hate commenting on something (Before Watchmen) that I haven’t read, but here goes: I strongly suspect that Cooke/Conner were trying to demonstrate that Laurie has her father’s capacity for brutality/violence by mirroring her assault with Dave Gibbons’ depiction of her brutal rape in Watchmen. The problem with that is obvious once you put it into words. It makes me wonder if Cooke/Conner intended for the parallel to make the reader uncomfortable (maybe we should question our instinct to cheer Laurie’s victory). Or maybe they were just being indulgent. It’s hard to tell (especially without more context). I’d love to hear a take on this from a smart critic who’s read this series and is more inclined to be forgiving towards Cooke and Connor for this book.

By the way, you should definitely check out both parts of William Leung’s essay on Darwyn Cooke’s work on Before Watchmen. I don’t agree with all of it, but it’s definitely thought-provoking (I particularly liked his writing on Moore’s depiction of Laurie’s character).

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-Steve Rude’s depiction of Dollar Bill (a minor character from Gibbons/Moore’s Watchmen). From the Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill one-shot that Rude’s pencilling w/ words by Len Wein. via Robot 6’s Robert Kardwell, who helpfully points out that Rude’s art is appropriate for almost any genre (and not just the retro stuff). I’m not a fan of DC’s Before Watchmen event for all the obvious reasons, but hope that this is the beginning of more opportunities for Rude.

-Steve Rude’s depiction of Dollar Bill (a minor character from Gibbons/Moore’s Watchmen). From the Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill one-shot that Rude’s pencilling w/ words by Len Wein. via Robot 6’s Robert Kardwell, who helpfully points out that Rude’s art is appropriate for almost any genre (and not just the retro stuff). I’m not a fan of DC’s Before Watchmen event for all the obvious reasons, but hope that this is the beginning of more opportunities for Rude.

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A Before Watchmen Review Bingo Card

dcwomenkickingass:

The first issue of the first Before Watchmen series is out tomorrow. Minutemen written and penciled by Darwyn Cooke will focus on the early years of the original heroes. You can see a preview of the art here.

Given the publicity surrounding the book, as well as the talent involved, I am sure every comic site will be reviewing the book. To liven things up I’ve created a bingo card for you to use as you read the reviews. Good luck!

I really don’t understand the point of this, but to each their own…I think I’ll take the center square. People are more important than fictional characters and corporations.

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[I]f you see the Watchmen characters as currently being merely victims/tools of a faceless corporate entity, you really haven’t been paying attention. These characters are dangerous. These characters know exactly what they’re doing. These characters are bigger than any Summer comic book event, any sweaty-mad discussion on a comic book news message board, any slick press junket. Their desire to get out into the masses and infect them with what they represent — stir them to think — is probably bigger than their creator. I’m a subscriber to the belief that these characters represent powerful archetypes that have, to an extent, a life of their own.

-Valerie Gallaher parrots the company line in her promotional piece for Before Watchmen and mounts a spirited defense against an argument that I’ve never read from anyone objecting to the project. They try so hard to make you forget that it’s about the creators, don’t they?

The worst part? I think it’s going to work. Gallaher’s values are shared by most fans of Marvel/DC superhero comics. I think I’m going to have to stay away from the comics blogosphere when this (expensive and well executed) cash grab is released. This may sound cynical, but I expect that many of the mainstream critics who’ve expressed mild concern about the project (not counting those who’ve flat-out objected of course) will come around when the first issue is released.

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iamdavidbrothers: (via The Ethical Rot Behind ‘Before Watchmen’ & ‘The Avengers’ [Opinion] - ComicsAlliance | Comic book culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews) I wrote a thing about Before Watchmen, The Avengers, and why I quit Marvel & DC a few weeks back. If your answer to “This is injust” is “Life isn’t fair/we all get screwed/so what, it was years ago” do a shot of bleach and then chew up the glass, too.

iamdavidbrothers:

(via The Ethical Rot Behind ‘Before Watchmen’ & ‘The Avengers’ [Opinion] - ComicsAlliance | Comic book culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews)

I wrote a thing about Before Watchmen, The Avengers, and why I quit Marvel & DC a few weeks back.

If your answer to “This is injust” is “Life isn’t fair/we all get screwed/so what, it was years ago” do a shot of bleach and then chew up the glass, too.

(via iamdavidbrothers)

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Newsarama: Brian, I know this is a little weird. But I’m going to do a Before Watchmen interview without talking about the so-called “controversy,” because I think we’ve covered that pretty well, don’t you?

Newsarama.com : BRIAN AZZARELLO Talks BEFORE WATCHMEN, After the Controversy | Before Watchmen

lovely scare quotes, there

(via iamdavidbrothers)

So, Brian Azzarello’s one of the bad guys. Good to know.

(via iamdavidbrothers)

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Before Watchmen: Marketing Tips and a Bold Prediction →

Our own Chris Eckert explains basic marketing and reminds us that J. Michael Straczynski is a terrible writer. For more, check out David Brothers at 4th Letter, who twists the knife a little bit further.

DC’s not satisfied with simply ignoring Moore’s wishes, now they have to engage in a weird passive-aggressive smear campaign. They imply that Moore wants more than he deserves, that he’s a hypocrite. It’s almost as if Roger Ailes is running DC’s public relations.

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Everything goes from grand to paltry.
Eddie Campbell, with the best response to DC’s planned prequels to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ celebrated Watchmen series. There’s nothing else to say, is there?
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