The Toddfather Part II (Quick Take)

Spawn 306 and the Reveal of Raptor

Following the Rebirth event starting in Spawn 267, fans of the long running (and record breaking) series have been treated to not only some of the best, but most consistent writing to ever come out of Image comics. As if history is repeating itself, independent publishers are swooping in to bring refreshing concepts into an otherwise stale industry; picking up where they left off with a return to creator driven storytelling.

Spawn issue 306 sees the return of Philip Tan taking over the role of lead artist, as he and Todd set up the next epic story arc in the Hellspawn's saga, with "Prophecy of Death".  Featuring an all new character, Raptor, McFarlane sets up his hero to take on the very fate of his universe, and a potential showdown between these two forces vying for redemption. Is Raptor a friend, or a foe? What is his mysterious link to Spawn? What events lead to the destruction of Raptor's world, and how can he help Spawn save his own world? This issue is the perfect jump-in point for new readers, as it is captivating and fresh, revealing just enough to hook those curious enough to peak inside while still being satisfying. One sequence is so shocking, you may find yourself looking it over twice just to make sure you read it right!?

They say not to judge a book by it's cover, but when it comes to Spawn, it's hard to ignore the sheer artistry Todd employ with his variants. This is the second issue to feature a cover with The Gunslinger Spawn (D), and unsurprisingly, it's already sold out. Covers A & B are still a beautiful , while (C) is a textless "virgin" print of  McFarlane's work. Inside the book, Tan's wonderful illustrations adorn the pages, reminiscent of the 90's era, Liefeld inspired, works of Jim Lee, with an almost manga style edge; put simply, it's badass! 

The team-up with Tan and McFarlane will be one for the ages you DON'T want to miss, so, run, don't walk, down your favorite local comic shop, and pick it up TODAY! (Unless you're a necroplasmic wielding soldier of Hell, then just use shadow transit).

Quick Take: Zheani - the Line (EP) [NSFW]

Lie and Look

Recently, Australian rap artist Zheani has been making waves in the hip-hop community, with the tell all track, "The Question", in which she alleges that fellow rap artist Ninja of Die Antwoord acted out various abuses on the then only 19 year older rapper. The video is littered with "receipts", or  messages, that seem to support her story.

To some, it seems to be another case of "clout climbing", using controversy against a famous person to further your own gain, but I'm not here to decide who's guilty or innocent in this case. Sure, the timing was fortuitous, as it appeared to align with the release of her new EP, "The Line", but then again, so did the attacks AGAINST her. 

For now, one must accept that only those involved can know the truth, and hope, that one day, justice will be served. In the mean time, it has made for some very "hot tea" in the hip-hop community, and created an opportunity for one rap artist to open up in a very vulnerable, and intimate fashion...

Releasing March 7th, 2019, the album fell under fire for controversial (and self proclaimed) "ritual rap" themes (pertaining to witch craft and the occult), overt sexuality, violence, profanity, and most importantly defamation related to the group Die Antwoord. Additionally, funding for her release was largely procured through the money she earned from her NSFW Snapchat, and Patreon; all actions she claims are taking back power from the slander against her. Not for the feint of heart, I've described the album to non-fans as the Black Metal of hip-hop; not just for its screamed lyrics on "Cum Everytime" and "Maenad", but for it's handling of uncomfortable topics like violence and Satanism. "The Line" is an intimate look into the mind of a damaged artist coming to terms with not only mental manipulation, but physical/sexual violence at the hands of someone she admired, and empowering herself to face her demons. 

Besides being a little rough around the edges thematically, Zheani is facing legal action from the target of her more revealing lyrics, with Cease and Desist orders being filed, forcing the removal of much of her content on all major music platforms. For now, the visualizer for "The Line" [NSFW] is available on YouTube, and her previous releases can be found on Tidal and Apple Music, with Soundcloud being the only source for her new album.

Amidst all the drama, there is in fact a very adept release to be heard here, and it is a solid enough offering, that it deserves some reflection.

"The Line" in it's individual parts tends to be mistaken for the current trend of mumble rap, trap rap, emo rap, or...whatever the hell Die Antwoord is, but at the end of the day, while elements of these styles exist on "The Line", it isn't really any of these things. Zheani herself is known for what she calls Erotic Art, and she brings a lot of that intimacy to her music, but somehow, finds a way to make it ugly. One moment the listener may be sexualizing the young artist, and the next, they feel ashamed, as they have become the cipher for the predator she is describing. Enhancing the experience, the Visualizer that accompanies the album is a piece of art in it's own right. Swinging from sensual shots of implied sexual acts, to a jarring sequence of nude tribalistic thrashing and dancing. It's moments like these that allow Zhiani to communicate the complexity of her emotions, while bringing substance to tracks with lyrics about drowning her jealousy in Hennessy.

Final Score: 4/5 ⭐ 

This is a complete audio and visual experience, meant to be taken in all of it's forms to fully appreciate, but that being said, the album is more than able stand on it's own. Singles like "Lie and Look" offer her work a radio banger that people can have fun listening to, without disrupting the pacing of the album as a whole. Moody instrumentals ranging from electronic trap to industrial, push and pull the tone of "The Line" in a very organic eb and flow of emotions. Zheani's previous work "Eight", showcased her ability to execute cohesive composition, but felt mildly restrained, where "The Line" is a far more dynamic and avante-garde approach to her unique brand of rap. Lyrically, it has shifted away from more intricate word-smithing, in favor of atmosphere, and some listeners may roll their eyes at certain familiar cliches, but ultimately, the mood created by each song aid in painting a pleasurable sonic picture.

A (Not So) Triumphant Return

Starting Anew...

Thoughts from a Coffee Shop

It didn’t take long for my attention to falter, and my devotion  to my blog to dwindle. However, isn’t that how “New Years Resolutions” go? It’s easy enough to accept the unlikely scenario that you will ever be able to create a reliable regimen, enough to create a following, thus justifying your lethargy. However, that's what this whole exercise is about. Training the mind, and disciplining it's thoughts. 

Like the body, the mind is a complex vessel that, when ignored, gets lazy, and loses function. When the year started, I whole heartedly intended to set a strict schedule to achieve my goals. But, one excuse to delay an update, turned into another, followed by more reasons why I could wait even longer. Soon enough, it had been almost a month, and I hadn’t updated at all. 

A lot of life happened in that period, and a lot of fascinating experiences that I desired to 

share, but how do you condense life into mere words, while still communicating the significance of the event? Well, really, it’s easy, just do it. Spew the words into the page (not on-to, you want to thread the idea through your writing), and just speak to the reader in the same way you would your friends around you at the coffee table.

This update may seem hardly important to the casual reader, but for anyone who has an interest in writing, it’s an all too common scenario, and is something they can relate to. Sometimes the (writer’s) block in the road can't be circumnavigated, but instead needs to be pushed out of the way, so that the freeway of thought can once again flow freely.

90's Kids Living the Dream

Dragon Ball Super: Broly!

Where it all began:

Growing up a kid in the 90s, I would no doubt gorge myself on all the great action cartoons and Saturday morning spectacles laid out like a buffet before me on the table of the weekend. In particular however, I remember staying up to watch Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, or waking up early, to catch a glimpse of the violent and flashy style of Japanese animation. Even before my family had cable, I would look forward to our family trips, as I knew hotel stays meant cable access, and I could binge all the series I'd missed, and just indulge in the anime I couldn't access at home. Much like the other youth of my era, I become completely obsessed with shows like Pokemon, and Dragon Ball Z.  At the time, my mom was unsure about the risks propagated by the media, about how violent shows bred violent youth, or the all consuming craze that swept the nation. Eventually, my mom accepted anime as just a more mature platform of storytelling to the usual American cartoons, and even began to support my interest by buying VHS imports of certain specials and movies. When we finally got cable, I would sit and watch entire blocks of anime episodes, even those I'd seen before, and when we got internet, I would download and draw images of my favorite characters (all while screaming like a madman, or sound-fx with my mouth). I bought the merchandise, played the games, and spent hours sketching with friends. I enjoyed playing these heroic characters, calling out their special moves, and imagining myself pushing beyond my limits to be a hero. 

The only thing I could never do, was convince my family to make the 3 hour drive to the nearest city, so I could actually SEE an Anime film on the big screen. Even those that did get a US theatrical run, were usually 1-3 day limited events, and were almost impossible to catch unless you lived anywhere near a metro center. Instead, it was either resorting to importing fan subs, or waiting the 2 (or more) years for localization. The closest I ever got was the global release of the first Pokemon and Digimon movies. It wasn't until recently that mainstream acceptance of foreign films and animations, has allowed anime to reach beyond it's niche appeal.

Fast Forward 20 years... 

Following the success of the Dragon Ball series reboot with "Super", and it's relatively profitable movie releases, Toei Animation and Funimation took a gamble with their largest theatrical release yet, premiering a trailer for Dragon Ball Super: Broly at San Diego Comic Con 2018! 

The trailer received a immensely positive response, and made it resoundingly clear that they could confidently continue the series on the big screen. Adding to the excitement, was the announcement that this was the first movie since the late 90s to be written by series creator Akira Toriyama himself. While he humbly denies his creative writing ability, there is a consistency he bring to the story-telling, a sort of comforting sense of familiarity.

With the same admiration for the series I've held all these years, my youthful vigor overtook me, and I KNEW, this would be the first of many feature length animes I would see in theaters, no matter how far I had to go; after all, I'm an adult now, so the power was in my hands, and I could share this life long dream with my own family. 

Reaching the next level... 

Thanks to Fathom Events, DBS: Broly happened to be showing in Albuquerque, NM on the same weekend we would be traveling for my daughter's gymnastics tournament, and so the pieces fell into place! One of the awesome benefits of seeing a film hosted by Fathom Events, especially one back by a massive theater chain, is the way it really feels like a special occasion. Due to limited showtimes, the seating is always nice and full, and every person in attendance is as excited as you to be there. Before the movie, there is a low murmur of excitement, and in place of the usual ads for local business, or upcoming blockbusters, there are previews of future event films, usually comprised of anniversary runs of classic anime, or independent releases. The best part however, is the content related specifically to what you're watching; anything from trivia games, to cast and production notes, to audio clips from the soundtrack.

Speaking of soundtrack,

one of the DBS: Broly's greatest strengths, was just how good the music was! Every moment captured the essence of the scene it was attached to. Gone were the days of the alt.-rock "bangers" from US releases, or quirky lighthearted "bops" of previous Japanese soundtracks, and in it's place was a driving and powerful industrial amalgam of the best of each, coupled with a sweeping original score. It managed to somehow be heavy, but sensible, and it never felt gratuitous. One of the evening's highlights, was after the movie ended, there was a rousing round of applause, followed by a couple of "bros" seated next to me asking their friend if he wanted to sit through the credits for their favorite song, or if he'd rather head out to their truck and pop in their imported CD!? Special moments like these that people share, really showcase how universally beloved this franchise has become. 

Sounded Good, but looked even better! 

The advancements in digital animation have benefited the anime industry as much as it has been a detriment. While the movements have become more fluid, they often feel cheapened by recycled attributes, or uncanny textures against the surrounding environment. Usually this is the most apparent with characters, especially those in the background. One thing long time fans of the Dragon Ball series have pointed out, is that the anime borrows from Toriyama's style, but it often looks too clean, and discards his traditional influences. Thankfully, DBS:B looks every bit as good as previous entries, and the "over polished" nature of Dragon Ball Super doesn't appear as prevalent as it does in the series. Since I am not an animator, I can't speak on the amount of digital work done for the film, but can say, that whatever they did do, blends more seamlessly with parts that appear to be drawn by hand. It is very artistic style, almost reminiscent of the original Dragon Ball and Z cartoons, with clear classic influence.

Final Thoughts

The Story So Far...

It would require almost an entire other blog to do a proper review breakdown on the the technical aspects of the movie, and to treat it like a more conventional write-up. However, It's hard to really scrutinize this film, when it really hits on almost everything fans and the general audience could hope for. Instead, I wanted to share what the series meant for me, and how Dragon Ball Super: Broly was able to fulfill a life long dream for fans like myself. Obviously none of the things I spoke about would mean much if there wasn't a coherent story to frame this audio and visual masterpiece of anime, and I can assure you, it is probably the most cohesive addition to the DB Universe outside of the core series itself. It fleshes out fan favorites like Bardock, giving him one of the most powerful moments in the series, while canonizing characters like Broly and Gogeta into epic forces that will become true staples in the franchise. Being restricted to feature film length has forced the writing to be more concise and creative, as they no longer have the luxury to draw out a narrative over the course of several episodes, but must instead communicate their theme with more consideration. Due to the time contraint, DBS: Broly is probably the best paced entry since the original Dragon Ball, or maybe the Goku Black Saga, and never feels bloated or overwhelming.

Support anime in theaters.

I was fortunate enough to catch it in a large format theater, and that really was something I wanted to express; If you plan to see this, try to do so on the big screen. This is not only so that you can support the industry and encourage more releases like it, but to also enjoy it the way it was meant to be seen. It is such a multi-sensory spectacle, it would be a shame to miss out on all the fantastic details, and epic nature of this Shonen. DBS:B has seen massive critical and financial success, and will no doubt spawn sequels, but movies like this can't flourish without support from their fans. Thankfully, wider distribution, and mainstream attention is helping to boost their roles in the media.

If you aren't able to see it in theaters, don't worry, it more than delivers on everything you would want from a Dragon Ball film, even if you end up watching it at home with a living room of screaming children trying to become Super Saiyans!

With wonderful pacing, jaw dropping action, and moments of honest emotional gravity, DBS: Broly is a re-imagining of the previously non-canon origin movies, done in a fashion that is a return to form of Toriyama's masterful story telling. I was captivated from start to finish, and at times literally moved to tears by the tale of family, friendship, abuse, and redemption. In classic DB fashion, moments of drama are broken up by frenetic combat, or well timed humor, and when taken as a whole, it is truly a worthy continuation of the Dragon Ball story.

Score: 5/5

Hotel Inferno and the Art of the Budget Gore-Fest!

First Person Blood, Guts, Guns, and Demons!

Independent films are a dime a dozen, and while they usually reflect the inspiration of their creators, limitations such as budget or experience often hinder the concept from being fully realized. However, on a rare occasion, the talents of the people behind the camera, and their ingenuity, can overcome these obstacles to create a genuinely fun experience. 

In steps Hotel Inferno; a brutal mess of a film that plays out more like a first person shooter video game than an actual cinematic experience. It's this unique style, and commitment to concept that allows Hotel Inferno to succeed. What has been tried in the past by other films in the action and horror genre has always felt like a gimmick, but in this series, it's creators have made it clear that this is more than just an aesthetic choice, this is their vessel for story telling.

Summary

Hotel Inferno Trailer

With Hotel Inferno, director  Giulio De Santi tells the story of assassin Frank Zimosa, who is hired by a mysterious group to knock off a few targets in a European Hotel. What seems like just another day in the field, quickly devolves into chaos, as he is caught in a HELLacious mouse trap meant to feed the dark desires of an ancient evil. Splattering and battering his way through the various halls of the hotel, Frank is faced with ever increasing levels of horror, as his enemies turn from humans, to the undead and finally, even the damned! 

Hotel Inferno II: The Cathedral of Pain

Poor Frank can't catch a break; following the events of the first film, we see that Frank is no longer amongst the living, but instead has awoken in Hell itself?! Presumed to be dead, Frank sets out to find an escape to recover his earthly body, hoping, that through the help of another tortured soul, they can navigate this realm of Hell, where cultists endure endless torment in exchange for forbidden knowledge. The Cathedral of pain is the canvas by which Frank will paint his bloody masterpiece, as he quests to find the 5 elements that compose the human soul...all before his physical form rots away.

Review

Hotel Inferno is the film made for those horror fans brave enough to step off the beaten path, and follow the blood drenched footprints of independent genre pioneers. Relying on the contributions of it's fans, Hotel Inferno is a crowd funded effort by it's creators and Necrostorm. It is a surprisingly adept film series with great (if not limited) set pieces, and interesting characters. The plot can be thin at times, and feel like it was only there as a framework to support all the gore, but at it's best, it hearkens back to the beloved days of splatterfest video games like Pain Killer, or DOOM. Abash with awesome creature designs, and some great practical effects, (along with the nastiest of sound work), it can be a little rough for the squeamish, and while Hotel Inferno may not be for everyone, it was probably never meant to be.

Score: 

3/5 

Be sure to drop by Necrostorm's website to see upcoming projects in the series, including the already in the works, "Hotel Inferno III: the Castle of Screams!