Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Faith So Weak

Archer: Ma'am, I do not know how you can stand there and let our Lord -- your faith -- be insulted by this drunken degenerate?!
Sister Thomas Aquinas: Simple, child...
...My faith is not so weak it can be threatened by a differing opinion.
- Archer & Armstrong #3
by Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry with Pere Perez

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Thursday Morning Theology Hangover


Looking at my stack from this week, I noticed that it is definitely Image heavy. I got one from Dark Horse. The Unwritten is Vertigo, which is technically DC. But the rest is Image. How did the house of Spawn and Witchblade turn into the publisher of some the best comics out there?

Pick of the Week: The Unwritten: Apocalypse #5



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Prelude

The blank page is my enemy. It is a fierce and terrible monster. Before I even attempt to attack, the monster taunts me. It mocks and ridicules me. It calls me a fool and a dreamer. I should back away and find an easier, simpler, less ambitious task to pursue. For I will fail, the monster tells me, I will fail if I dare to face it.

I weigh its advice. I consider its tempting taunts. But I know deep within me that I can slay this fiend. Raising my sword, I begin to thrust. Wait. I halt. Delete the few marks from the page. I recalculate my tactics, reconsider my words. Recomposed and confident, I proceed with my initial attack. My sword clashes with the monster's and slips through, knocking a chink into its armor. Bringing the sword back around again, I allow its momentum to carry me froward, strike after strike.

Progress is slow. The fight is laborious and tiresome. But every letter, every word, every sentence breaks its armor a little more. The monster cries out in anger and defiance. It tells me I can't continue. It's noticed my growing weariness and exhaustion. What if I run out of ideas? What if I simply cannot continue? It tells me to leave the battle for a rest. The monster will wait right here while I recoup and regain my strength. It knows, oh, this devious demon knows, that I will likely never return from such an interlude.

I look down at the monster. Its armor is nearly half gone. We both realize that if I persist the battle will shortly be mine. Its words are no longer confident taunts but pleas of desperation. I tighten the grip on my sword. Every swing connects and shatters the monster's armor a little more.

The cursor still blinks, but the page is no longer blank. It is full. The monster, however, is empty. It is empty of its energy, its insults, and its mockery. Raising my sword high, I swing it through the air with all my might, slicing through the monster's neck and lopping its head off for a final, definite victory.

I lower my sword and breathe heavily. Exhausted, but victorious, I smile as I gaze upon my accomplishment and the once blank page now filled with words. I have slain my foe. I have won.
------------------------------------------------------------
The cursor drops to the next line and my worst fear is realized. The demon rises up, completely whole, completely armored, and completely empowered. The taunts of the blank page begin anew.


























 - Mitch Alfson
May 21, 2014

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Thursday Morning Theology Hangover

Some of you may have missed this feature last week. I dropped the ball on that one. But I have a good excuse! My brother got married! Plus he and his wonderful bride got me this awesome Batman mug you see pictured above. LOOK AT THAT AWESOMENESS!

Man, typing in all caps is super tacky. Don't do that. But I feel the awesomeness of that mug required it.

Anyway, so here we have my rambling on new comic books I bought yesterday. And a few from last Wednesday I quickly purchased before skipping town for the festivities. And even a few from Free Comic Book Day which was way back on May 3rd.

Let's get started!



Pick of the (past couple of) week(s): Mouse Guard, Labyrinth, and Other Stories

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Thursday Morning Theology Hangover


It's Thursday! For those of you who don't know, that means that yesterday was Wednesday (duh) and new comics were released (yay). I try to read what I buy Wednesday night and write about it Thursday morning. This is nothing fancy, just a short paragraph on each issue to give my general impression. If something sounds interesting, go try it out! Or hit me up through the various forms of internet communication available and ask about something that intrigues you. Also I tried to do something new with the covers this week. I'm sorry.

Pick of the Week: CMYK #1

There Was A Man

Rennes-Le-Chateau? That's in France, right? Where have I heard that name?
There was a man. A priest. Named Berenger Sauniere. Who came here a hundred or so years ago. Perhaps you've heard of him.
- The Invisibles #7
by Grant Morrison and Jill Thompson