Yearly Archives: 2011
On Politics and Pokemon
I’m not going to talk about politics all that often on this blog, but a certain moment recently came to my attention when Republican Candidate Herman Cain dropped out of the race. He quoted Pokemon: the Movie 2000. First he did it unknowingly, then the media called him on it, and in his concession speech, he just straight up admitted it.
See for yourself:
I won’t blame you if you stop watching that video after the first 20 to 30 seconds. I just think it’s awesome. That has to be my favorite part of the Republican race for the presidency so far. I’m not following the campaign with any depth. I haven’t watched a single debate. And I’m barely even keeping up via The Daily Show. All I know is that Herman Cain quoted the Pokemon movie, and he admitted that it was the Pokemon movie, and that just makes my day.
Apparently Cain has been using that quote since 2003, attributing it to an unknown poet.
Life can be a challenge. Life may seem impossible. But it’s never easy when there’s so much on the line.
Later he said it was from the theme of the 2000 Olympics. Not so, Mr. Cain. Once he started using it in the campaign, some Pokemon-savy people out there pointed out that this big quote he’d been living by, been using, was from Pokemon: The Movie 2000. At least the man was brave enough to admit on camera when he’s quoting a children’s cartoon.
It’s too bad Cain is dropping out of the race. It just got interesting.
He's gotta catch'em all!
There’s a Good Avatar, and It Has a Sequel Coming
Cartoons aren’t just for kids anymore. Nor are they just about making toys. A fascinating thing happened between the 80s and the 90s – we grew up and became adults. And some of those adults are a lot more successful than I am, and they got jobs in TV. So everyone who grew up watching cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and GI Joe (like me!) are now the ones making cartoons. They are putting that love they had as kids into the products of today.
Which is why Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably the greatest cartoon ever.
Bad to the Ass
Did you see the movie by M. Night Shamallamadingdong? Forget that fucking movie. It was an abomination. Not only was it just a poorly made movie, but he crammed the entire epic first season of the show into a 2-hour crapfest. Do not watch the movie.
Watch the cartoon that ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon.
It’s about a 12-year-old boy who finds out that he’s the chosen one, and is the only one who can stop the bad guys and save the world. But it’s told with such grace, depth and character that you can’t help but be riveted throughout the whole epic saga. The hero, Aang, is simultaneously a boy trying to have a childhood, and a hero with the fate of the world on his shoulders. He wants to have fun with his friends, but they all know they have this incredible responsibility. The group of them must travel the world, gather the allies and the training they need, so that in the end they can defeat the villains and save the world.
It’s a story about politics, about moral gray areas, and in the end it’s about heroism, friendship and romance. It’s also about super powers, so that’s pretty awesome. And it’s most definitely NOT about making toys.
Not action figure accesible
The reason I’m telling you all of this is twofold. 1. Not all of my readers might be familiar with Avatar: The Last Airbender. And if they’re not, I want them to know that it’s totally worth watching. If you have kids, show them Avatar. If you’re bored one weekend, watch Avatar. You have the Henchman-4-Hire guarantee that it’s awesome.
And 2. There’s a sequel coming! It’s called The Legend of Korra, and stars, of course, a girl named Korra.
Inheriting badassness
She’s the new Avatar, because the position of all-powerful being comes once per generation. She’s got a lot of learning to do when it comes to controlling her powers, and I guess that’s what the show is going to be about. The world might need saving again, and it’ll be up to Korra, and possibly her friends, to band together and do the hero thing. That should be pretty awesome.
Recently on the Internet, I found the opening sequence for the sequel cartoon:
And if that’s not enough, here’s the teaser trailer!
I’ve Got a Skyrim Song in My Heart
So I don’t know if I’ll ever write a review of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The game is just too massive, too wildly untamed, to really get it down in review form. I may whip something up someday, but for now, I figured I’d just update everybody on my status. Maybe some of you care, maybe some of you don’t. For those that do, keep reading. For those that don’t, at least enjoy this fun video.
Made by the same guys that did the earlier Skyrim songs.
Now then, my orc warrior Tannenbaum has continued to explore the world of Skyrim. He’s been to the frozen north and the jungles of the south. He’s been inside a magic black gemstone and he’s slain ghosts, giants, and humans alike. He’s even killed a few orcs who deserved it. Tannenbaum hasn’t chosen a side in the civil war, but who needs to? He’s the dragon-slayer!
The townsfolk were very grateful and came out to watch
And from that dragon, I crafted a legendary suit of dragon-scale armor.
I also made orphans out of its children
And I met a comely wench who sang the song of the dragon-slayer!
Very comely in the chest
Good times.
Forgotten Characters: Excavator
Whatever happened to the fifth member of The Wrecking Crew, the teenage, shovel-wielding Excavator?
Fans of my blog know that I am a huge fan of obscure superheroes. I just can’t help it. Sure, guys like Batman and Spider-Man are awesome, but I’ve been reading comics long enough to develop a list of favorites who aren’t quite headliners. Some of the best comic book characters of all time only made a few appearances, then somehow got lost to comic book limbo, rarely to be seen again. I think my blog is a good place to highlight those guys, with a new feature I’m going to call ‘Forgotten Characters’.
First up is Excavator, who only made one appearance in Runaways #1 (Volume 2).
I want to beating the living shit out of him already
I Now Know What Everybody’s Getting for Christmas
Or at least for the male members of my family. DC Superhero themed boxer briefs! And not just any old superhero underoos, we’re talking classy underwear with actual super powers. Like, I guess, the Flash boxers warm up when you wear them. And the Green Lantern boxers glow in the dark. The Joker boxers are just in bad taste. About as bad as this video.
That Joker is a maverick renegade! I guess nobody told them that the Joker is a homicidal maniac?
Here are the actual boxers for your viewing pleasure. They’re made by some company called Diesel, because that’s the perfect name for an underwear company. I think my favorites are Batman, because they made the boxers look like his armor, and the Joker, because it just looks like fun.
Batman:
The best ever representation of the sort of underwear I assume Batman wears
Flash:
These will open the floodgates for guys being called 'too fast'
Green Lantern:
Ryan Reynolds is missing a prime endorsement deal here
Joker:
New fuel for everyone's fear of clowns
Henchman-4-Hire 