All That Glitters...

The creative writing class I've been taking this semester has been tough as nails, and not in the expectations necessarily, but in the stories I've had to read of some of the other students. I don't want to sound like too much of a bitch, but seriously, I've seen better writing in Zero Wing.
I did, however, get an A on my midterm story, which was a memoir about my Wii. I'll post it on my website (still in construction and getting even worse due to school being all special ed on me), but if you really want to read it, you'll know how to get a hold of me to read it.

All of this writing really makes me think, though. About (what else?!) comic books.
There are 3 or 4 ages of comic books in this order
The Golden Age (1930's - 1950's) - This age marks the begining of many comic books and ongoing heroes (Supes, Bats, Cap)
The Silver Age (1950's - 1970's)- The beginning of more heroes, and the introduction of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Marv Wolfman
The Bronze Age (1970's - late 1980's) - Worlds lived, worlds died, and nothing ever was the same. (RIP Gwen Stacy)
The Modern Age (also debated the Diamond Age) - Oh yeah, nothing was the same, it turned to CRAP until the last few years.

The thing about naming all of these after Olympic Sports places is that the later ones are deemed less lustrious than that of the early years, which is FAR from true. Perhaps my favorite is the Bronze Age, from which came New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, The Dark Knight Returns, The Phoenix Saga (X-Men) along with the UNCANNY X-Men, The Watchmen, and The Sandman. All of these were some of the most IMPORTANT writings ever. And then after that, in the 90's, something happened and comics just started to be badly written. Thankfully, both houses finally got their acts together (yes, I know I'm discluding the indies, but you'll get over it), and as of recently, things have been REALLY good for comics. We've seen in the last 5 or 6 years a reinvention of many stories, characters, and worlds that have been great. And everyone else has been racking in the popularity, the new comics for a new generation. Marvel actually has their own MOVIE studio now. And DC is finally coming out with some cartoon movies of their more racy stories.
It's quite a wonderful time to be a comic book geek.
Not that I am one or anything.

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Cat's Cradle

I've been completely trapped in the 2-D world of Super Paper Mario. It's been such a joyous event, and then last night, I heard some news that crashed the party.

Kurt Vonneguit (1922-2007) died.
This is actually somewhat personal to me. A year ago, I was working at a cafe over by the United Nations, by where Kurt lived. He would come in a few times a week during the summer I worked there, buy a hot dog with his little dog at his heels, walk outside and smoke like crazy. I finally got the courage to talk to him, and we ended up talking about politics, life, and Iowa. I felt I learned a few things from him, other than the fact that he was a crazy old man who chain smoked too much.
I'd always wanted to meet him, and I'll never forget the days when I was a regular part of his life.

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Super God of Paper....Stuff

There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of beating a game.
And I got my bloody satisfaction: I beat God of War 2. And may I just say, it was a doozy of a game. Comparably to the first GoW, it felt much more complete. I rmeember reading an interview about GoW by David Jaffe, and he said that a few of the levels had to be rushed due to the production schedule. And it was a shame, really.
But GoW 2 felt like part of a complete healthy breakfast. However, it left me with a new hunger: what was next?

I have a snack for now. I just downloaded StarFox 64 for the Virtual Console. Ahhhhhh, the memories. Nabbing medals, time trials, vs mode. So much goodness in that game.

The main course, however, is the new Super Paper Mario. Oh man. It looks like a deliciously long and new game.
The premise is hilarious in its own right:
- Princess Peach(Toadstool) has been kidnapped (again!). Toad rushes to Mario and Luigi, who feign their disbelief, and rush off to Bowser's (King Koopa's) castle to confront him. They catch him unaware and begin their attack, but Bowser says he was just about getting ready to nab her, and he hadn't done it yet. Just then, the true enemy reveals himself: an evil black wizard. He sucks most of Bowser's castle into a vortex. Bowser wakes up in a tuxedo close to Princess, in a bridal gown. And the wizard's plot is revealed: he is going to force Princess and Bowser to wed, thus screwing up the natural order of things and causing a paradox so great it releases an evil force (the Black Heart) that will swallow the entire universe into itself!
EVIL! AND HILARIOUS!

Now that my bloodlust has been quenched, this is a perfect game to move on to. That, or I need a game with lots of naked mens in it. But not Mario. He can keep his overalls right where they are.

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