Jazz the Opossum Can Now Be Real!
A lot of fun new video games were announced at E3 this year, with a ton of really cool trailers. Unfortunately, since I switched almost completely to PC gaming, I don’t get to play any of the cool new games on the Nintendo or the Playstation. But there’s one trailer in particular that spoke to me on a personal level.
Or, more accurately, spoke to the dorky, teenaged Sean that was super into creating fan fiction characters. Behold, Sonic Forces, with a legit Sonic character-creator!
Way back in the day, I liked to draw at school. I’m sure a lot of us did. I doodled on line paper like every other would-be cartoonist. I would move Heaven and Earth to somehow find those doodles and sketches again. But for now, I’ll have to rely on my memory.
One thing I loved sketching was the Sonic the Hedgehog team, circa Sonic 3. I had some dorky obsession with Knuckles, and it didn’t help that I never actually owned a Sega Genesis or anything to play those games. I was just a dork, pining away for video games of my own, tracing and re-drawing Sonic cartoon characters.
And, sure enough, I created my own: Jazz the Opossum! He was hip and cool in all the best Poochie ways. I’m pretty sure he wore a backwards baseball cap and had roller blades. There was no shame.
Now, thanks to the first-ever Sonic character creator in Sonic Forces, I can create Jazz the Opossum and send him on adventures! I’ve just got to, somehow, get my hands on the gear and systems needed to play the dumb game…
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Ducktales, Woo-oo!
I’m pretty sure I’m gonna try to watch the new Ducktales cartoon. I’ve got no reason not to. I loved the original, and I love how well cartoons are made today. I’m confident that the creative minds behind the new Ducktales have put together a quality show.
But maybe I won’t watch, because I’m lazy. At least we have this neat opening theme.
I’ll let you know if I watch. I’m excited for Gizmoduck. And I have to believe that someone, somewhere has discussed including Darkwing Duck in their new universe.
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Rictor and Shatterstar Have Grown Big Gay Mustaches
Look, I know LGBT issues can be a sensitive topic for some people, and I totally respect that. I’m pro-LGBT all the way, and as a straight male, I’m probably in no position to comment on this or really stomp my feet about this issue. I just think it’s worth mentioning. In case nobody else on the Internet picks up on this and says something, I just want to put this out there for everybody to see.
The last time we saw Rictor and Shatterstar in an X-Men comic, they came out as a gay couple in the pages of X-Factor. Their first kiss back in 2009 was the first ever on-panel male-to-male kiss in the pages of Marvel Comics. It was a big deal.
Then X-Factor came to an end in 2013 and I don’t think we’ve seen either of them since. Rictor and Shatterstar disappeared into the same comic book limbo that claims most B and C-list mutants.
Until this week! Both heroes make their spectacular return in Secret Warriors #3, set during the whole Secret Empire debacle. And, well…as my headline implies…
First there’s Rictor.
Outshining Quake
And then both of them show up on the final page. You’re going to have zoom in for this one, but it’s as plain as that mustache on both of their faces.
Click to embiggen
Look, anybody and everybody is more than welcome to have whatever kind of facial hair they want. But you cannot tell me that those are not stereotypical big gay mustaches. Those are clearly Freddie Mercury mustaches.
I’m not making any judgement calls here. I’m just throwing it out there that I think it’s a little weird that when two of Marvel Comics’ most popular openly gay men make their long-awaited return to comics, they’re both sporting stereotypically gay facial hair.
Someone somewhere clearly made that active decision.
Also, while we’re here, the Strong Guy Watch continues!
Strong Guy also shows up in Secret Warriors #3, and he is still as silent as the grave.
He’s also apparently wearing a giant, badass chain draped off his belt
He appears in several panels, beyond just this big team shot, but he doesn’t say a word. It’s like whatever edict is putting Strong Guy in these comics also states that he must not utter a word. This is fascinatingly weird.
Also, oddly enough, that was totally Strong Guy reacting when Rictor and Shatterstar had their first kiss! Comics are cyclical!
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My 6 Favorite Comic Book Marriages
Batman and Catwoman are getting married! Batman proposed in the latest issue of his solo series, and even though I don’t think Catwoman has given him an answer yet, I hope they go all-out with the superhero wedding. I want Nightwing as the best man, the Robins as the groomsmen, Harley and Ivy as the bridesmaids and Ace the Bathound as the ring bearer. I want the seats filled with Justice Leaguers and Outsiders!
Who doesn’t love a superhero wedding?
Such romance
There have been tons upon tons of superhero relationships over the years. Once upon a time, they were the bread and butter of superhero comics. Clark Kent and Lois Lane are the standard bearer. Everybody knows about them! But what about marriage? How often do these classic superheroes actually tie the knot with their live interests? Lois and Clark did it. Who else?
Join me after the jump to celebrate with my six favorite comic book marriages!
The Secret Origin of Red Tool!
Huh. Talk about your deep cuts…
In the latest issue of the ongoing Harley Quinn comic, writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have revealed the secret origin of one of my favorite characters, Red Tool! I didn’t know he even had a secret origin! And it’s a bit of a neat little doozy!
A new legend is born!
Haven’t even heard of Red Tool? That’s OK! That’s what I’m here for! Red Tool is a Deadpool knock-off and supporting character in the current Harley Quinn comic, introduced a couple years ago. He’s one of Harley’s various sidekicks and happens to be quite infatuated with the lady. She tolerates his advances to an extent, and might even reciprocate from time-to-time, but for the most part she is trying to teach him not to be one of those weirdly infatuated Nice Guys. It’s a fun story and he’s a pretty cool guy!
And being an Internet scribe who loves Conner and Palmiotti’s Harley Quinn comic, and possibly one of the only people on the Internet who thinks this is a big deal, I thought I’d chronicle their page-twisting, deep cutting new reveal! Someone’s got to let them know that we readers love and appreciate their nifty storytelling and long term character-building!
Join me after the jump!
