Friday, February 10, 2012
If there's one thing this world needs, it's more songs about Booster Gold. Thankfully, there's Adam WarRock!
The Adam WarRock album You Dare Call That Thing Human?!? will be released on Monday, February 13. Track number 6 on the album is "Booster Gold," a hip hop song from the first person perspective of a very aggressive and angry Booster Gold. (Warning: Booster curses when he raps. Apparently, that's necessary for establishing "street cred.")
WarRock has firmly established a following among geek culture with his previous albums celebrating television's Firefly and Marvel Comic's Infinity Gauntlet. This new album has already received positive reviews from Newsarama and Wired.
You can pre-order the album as a digital download or compact disc at adamwarrock.com.
| | Tags: adam warrock music newsarama.com wired.com you dare call that thing human
Morgenstern posted on Feb. 10, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Hip Hop. why did it have to be Hip Hop?
CDN posted on Feb. 10, 2012 at 11:02 AM
I hate to be a nit picker, but it seems to be track 6, not 8 xD<br /><br />Side note, anywhere we can listen to the track?
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 10, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Nit pickers can preview the track on Amazon.com.
Russ Burlingame posted on Feb. 12, 2012 at 1:16 PM
There's nowhere yet to hear the full track (even though I have--review copy), but the record drops tomorrow.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 12, 2012 at 4:13 PM
Quote: "even though I have" sounds like bragging to me, Russ. ;) That said, if you have a link to a review of the track or album, let us know; we love second (and in this case, first) opinions.
Russ Burlingame posted on Feb. 13, 2012 at 10:24 PM
It'll go live in a day or two. When he sent the review copies out he requested that reviews come out after the release of the album, which is different than the way most people like it but probably better suited to digital sales.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Yesterday, when I was picking on Vixen, I honestly had no idea. Wow.
Last week's poll question: Which current DCnU JLI member would you prefer to see leave the team? (41 votes)
DC must be schizophrenic. First the company strong arms its readers into the future with the all-new, all-different DCnU. Then it decides to release books with events and characters that take place before a comic mini-series released 2-and-a-half decades ago. Sigh.
Since DC is determined to mine its history for material, we fans should do our best to help out. Speak up and tell us what other Booster Gold-related classic comics you want to read prequel stories about.
| | Tags: justice league international polls
CDN posted on Feb. 9, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I must say, I'm surprised by last weeks results. Not by the over-whelming anti-Vixen(ness?), but the fact of the rest of the results. I guess Booster fans really don't like seeing a girl play with his heart (potentially at least, given how I read into Godiva's (24%) reply to General Irons). Guy (12%) coming in 3rd was a HUGE shock, especially considering Booster has no Ted to be buddies with...and the fact Jurgens basically gave a middle finger to the whole 'Guy and Tora ship has sunk'. What I'm most surprised (though not shocked) with is who got the least amount of votes. Fire, Ice and Rocket Red. That'd make it a team of four. Smaller, more efficient, less clutter...But then there's Irons (12%). I'm surprised to see that the Booster fans have seemed to grow attached to him if he received less votes then Guy. o_o
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 9, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Guy Gardner is a polarizing figure, with as many people liking him as disliking him. I knew a lot of people who HATED him when he had his own series. And with 41 total votes, the difference between the relative unpopularity of Guy and General is just one vote.
Jobu posted on Feb. 10, 2012 at 2:47 PM
I have to confess, a lot of motivation for my vote for Vixen was based on:<br /><br />*landscape on viewscreen*<br />"That's my native Africa!"
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
With the coming of the New 52, DC released a glut of new books on the market. Readers bought far more books then they typically would in the initial excitement in order to sample the offerings of this brave new world.
Unfortunately, that buying pace cannot be sustained. Because so much capital was expended during the buying frenzy generated during the initial hype, fewer titles can be purchased going forward, so the hype ends up detrimental in the long run as it forces buyers to be more selective than they would otherwise have been. And thus this hype cycle ends up damaging sales, not increasing them.
At least that's my theory. I'm also blaming Vixen: so far she's just dead weight.
| | Tags: graph justice league international reboot sales
Harry posted on Feb. 8, 2012 at 11:15 AM
So much for the brave new world of comics. Same old same old. Based on what I see here, it seems that DC should just relaunch it's titles each and every year with new #1's. I wonder how long before that will fatigue buyers?
Jesster posted on Feb. 8, 2012 at 11:53 AM
It's unfair to blame Vixen, she's as much dead weight as anyone else on the team that's not Booster Gold. Even Batman is just there to support Booster, so drop everyone else and give Booster his own book back. Then team up Vixen to with Animal Man to be his replacement, oh wait wasn't he cancelled too.
Russ Burlingame posted on Feb. 12, 2012 at 1:19 PM
No, Animal Man is far from canceled. It's one of the best-loved new titles among DC Editorial, and it's not selling too badly either.<br /><br />That said, remember that these numbers don't count digital, which apparently is somewhere just north of 10% of sales now. And it's how I buy JLI.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 12, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I'd love for DC to reveal real numbers for digital sales. Ten percent of JLI #5 sales is 3700 units, enough books to move the title from 51 to 42 in the Diamond sales ranking. However, that assumes, of course, that other titles don't have 10% also added in. If they did, JLI would still be in 51st place for January.
But I understand what you are saying: a ten percent increase in those numbers puts JLI 5 marginally above BGv2 on my graph. That doesn't change the slope or my analysis, just a bit of a y-axis shift in the right direction.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
In the most recent "International Exchange" interview, Dan Jurgens implied that he hoped to bring some verisimilitude to the pages of the Justice League International. It appears that he is doing something right.
The website of Foreign Policy magazine recently ran the article "The League of Extraordinarily Bureaucratic Gentlemen" by Colum Lynch. The article uses Jurgens' JLI to reflect the historical peacekeeping role of the United Nations and question the United States of America's leadership role in the global environment. Quote:
Jurgens says that while he, personally, has been favorably disposed to the United Nations he sought to portray the world organization as morally ambiguous, neither intrinsically good nor bad, and a target of intense affection and revulsion, much as it is in the real world.
The decision to place the United States in the background was also intentional. "Within this country we're probably arrogant enough to think that the U.N. should be an American-controlled institution. I don't have that thought," says Jurgens.
The article identifies Booster Gold as an American (ignoring DiDio's recent jest that Booster is a Canadian), partially because it fits with the author's supposition about the decline of America's leadership position. Frankly, we could all do a lot worse than replacing "American exceptionalism" with "American Booster-ism."
Agree or disagree, the article is worth a read if only to see how the politically-minded, non-comics reading population interprets the latest politically correct Justice League International. You can find the entire article at foreignpolicy.com.
| | Tags: colum lynch dan jurgens foreignpolicy.com justice league justice league international
CDN posted on Feb. 7, 2012 at 12:21 PM
As a Canadian, I'd like to make a point about Booster's apparent Canadian citizenship and his leadership role. Canada's never been a military power (albeit, after the 1st World War when we became a naval superpower for a few years) but we've always have had a VERY active role in the UN's Security branch. It was a Canadian who proposed the UN Peacekeepers, a the man eventually was picked as the Commander for awhile (during the Suez Canal crisis). When thought in this light, Canada has always been a bit of a 'leader' in the UN's military operations (and this is not to make the UN out to be some radical military operation). It would, therefore, make sense for Booster to be a Canadian and a leader for the UN. His doubts about leading could also be seen as typical Canadianism about our own doubts on the Global Scale of life. While I still believe Booster is a full blooded Yank, his fears about leadership, especially in times like these, give support to him being a Canadian.<br /><br />As a side point, this is why I love Jurgens, not just for making Booster, but for the subtext he has written in to the story.
Morgenstern posted on Feb. 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM
You are selling Canada quite a bit short. Canada has always been a military power whenever it chose to be one. During WWI Canada was one of the biggest contributors on the western front (behind the UK & France), with their troops excelling at frontal assault despite suffering huge casualties. Their forces played huge roles in all major battles on the northern half of the front (The South was defended by the French). From the disastrous Battle of the Somme, over Passchendaele , to the hundred day Offensive (which is still often refered to in France & Belgium as “les cent jours du Canada“), the Allied always used Canadian troops to spearhead their offensive. This caused the Germans to always reinforce any region where they just sighted Canadians as quickly as possible. <br /><br />And that was just the first world war. Here, the Canadians again served in every major campaign at the Western Front. When the D-Day came in 44 the Allied took 5 beaches: 2 American, 2 British, 1 Canadian. From their landing point the Canadians made the quickest and most succesful advances inland from all Allied Forces. After playing a vital role in the liberation of Paris, Canada was once more essential in freeing the low countries, esp the Netherlands, saving millions from starvation. Until this day the Netherland send thousands of tulip bulbs as a sign of thanks to Canada. <br /><br />Also, at the end of the Second World War, Canada boasted the third strongest Navy of the world, including several aircraft careers.<br /><br />Long story short: Canada can be a huge military power whenever it feels the need to be one..but they won't brag about it.
CDN posted on Feb. 7, 2012 at 1:32 PM
You make me blush, M, with your knowledge of my country. See, we're also very modest and don't like to be all that boisterous too often :P But yes, I know of all our military battles and our fights. I can atest to the tulips too (my hometown has a giant Tulip shaped fountain donated by a family with heritage in the Netherlands). But I think this just goes to support the idea that we shy away from believe in our Global Stance, even with our history in military, we don't push it out there, too shy of what the world would think of us (much like Booster's fear/hatred for negative limelight)
Jake Speed posted on Feb. 7, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Never talk politics among polite company. Anyone in entertainment - like Mr. Jurgens - should remember that bit of wisdom. <br /><br />Although I agree Canada is a fine country, I don't believe the UN has a very good reputation. Just think Oil-for-food and you'll get the idea. It is without a moral compass.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Morgenstern, who at this point is probably responsible for more content on this blog than I am, notified me over the weekend that Booster Gold appears in a new YouTube video by Hollywood screenwriter Max Landis. Landis is the son of Hollywood legend John Landis and writer of this past weekend's big-budget Chronicle. Apparently, he is still really angry about the conclusion to the Reign of the Supermen story, so he does what everyone of his generation does: complain about it on the internet.
I disagree about his assessment of the effect of the Death of Superman on the history of comic books -- returning from death was old hat before DC hyped it to the moon -- but I applaud the fact that Landis does give Booster Gold full credit for naming Doomsday. If you don't mind a little foul language and can stomach a drastic evisceration of a high-point of 1990s DC stories in the name of comedy, it's worth your time to watch it. If only to see the only live-action Bloodwynd you're ever likely to see, ever.
As a rule, I don't post NSFW content on this blog, so if you want to see Landis' take on the Death of Superman storyline, you'll have to go directly to YouTube.com.
| | Tags: max landis morgenstern superman youtube.com
Eyz posted on Feb. 7, 2012 at 4:22 AM
Kids these days, always complaining about everything..<br />even more so on the internet :P<br /><br />Anyways, besides that, the video was actually sort of fun!<br />I actually like Death and Return of.. but managed to enjoy this lil' video nonetheless.
Curt posted on Feb. 11, 2012 at 6:27 PM
I enjoyed the video as well, very entertaining with a few guest stars!
