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I went to see Transformers 1 and 2, so I also blame myself in helping the germinate the abomination that is Transformers 2. I won't even go into details about how bad the flick is, nor will I probably end up reviewing the movie - better websites than this have already beaten me to it and anything that I had to say would just be redundant at this point. So instead of making fun of Bay, Shai, or the fact that there was no plot in this movie and that it contradicted not only itself, but the first movie several times (did they say that Optimus and Megatron were brothers, but then in this movie they claim that Optimus is the last Prime...which, to me, sounded like a different race of Transformers, but they never really explain it).

No, instead I decided to make fun of the movie-goer. And perhaps a little too harshly, but I assure you that my rants are intended to be done all in good fun.

But there's a lot of truth in this rant as well. The all-powerful dollar does hold a lot of weight in Hollywood, and what people pay to go see helps determine what kind of movies will be made. We, the people, dictate the kind and level of entertainment / quality that is within our movies - or we continue to feed the current machine, which allows movies like this to get made.

I have little doubt that there will be a Transformers 3, and that it too will be god-awful. The movie made almost as much as The Dark Knight in its opening weekend...and The Dark Knight was a good movie! So where's the disconnect? How does a terrible movie and a good movie make almost the same amount of cash?

If you were insulted by today's comic, then I apologize that you identified so strongly with the type of stereotype that I was speaking out against. Perhaps you would benefit from re-evaluating your entertainment choices, or just pop 2Fast 2Furious back into the ol' DVD player and relive your glory days vicariously through Paul Walker's attempts at "acting."

Meanwhile, the rest of us should demand better from our movies. It's not like this couldn't be seen a thousand miles away. Ignoring the fact that the first Transformers was terrible, Michael Bay made Bad Boys 2! Where Florida cops invade Cuba to stop the bad guys! Since when do Florida cops have authority in Cuba!?!

Michael Bay needs to go back to directing Playboy movies, and the rest of us need to demand that Hollywood make better movies. Period.

But I digress, what did you think of Transformers 2?

My Site and Drunk Duck

This scene was written a little differently than it appears here, as I actually choreographed the entire fight. However, it's difficult to interpret movement and flow in a comic because the images aren't moving - they're still. Sequence and pacing play big parts in a fight scene, especially one like this.

I added some blood to the "wounds" that Sophia is inflicting for effect more so than anything. She's really not supposed to be doing much if any damage here. The script called for no blood, but I guess a lot of people were confused by the previous page's sound effects. I think that the fight that I have planned for him and Sophia and the swordsman in the Bushido story that I was writing will help show this a little better.

So Kidjo is a lumbering bully that really has no passion for the fight, so much as just beating the crap out of people. He likes to inflict pain, and when he can't then he just doesn't see the point.

But while this fight's going on, what's happening with Selphi...? Find out next week!

Have a great 4th of July, by the by!

Alan Evans, one of the coolest guys in web comics and creator of one of my favorite series Rival Angels has posted the latest page with a cameo appearance from your's truly, me. Not only do I get rejected by my long-time comic book crush, Australian bombshell Brooke, but she also makes fun of me. It's every fan boys dream just to see their face in their favorite comic, but I actually got to interact with my favorite character.

Make it hard for me, Brooke. Punish me. It'll only make my winning you over all the sweeter.

Be sure to check out and read Rival Angels, updating every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

My Site and Drunk Duck

This is my model friend who looks like a blond, white Susie. You may recall that I spoke about her quite some time ago, especially to Fitz (my twin with hair). So now if you ever wanted to know what Waffles and Susie would do during the day, here you go.

Last night was tragic because it marked the passing of a musical genius, the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Say what you will about his personal life, I was excited about the prospect of his comeback tour (and rumors of a new album in the works). The man would've shown the world how a comeback happens, and would've sent Britney Spears crying home to mommy over her failed attempts at doing so.

The Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls would also be included in the list of people that I would call "failures" in the comeback department. Way to have a tour and then flitter out into oblivion again. Thanks for the reminder.

Michael Jackson, I've seen this man perform in Ireland. The crowd was already screaming at the top of their lungs before he took the stage. And then BAM! a puff of smoke and the man's standing there without moving for a full 30 seconds - and the audience gets even louder! Then the guy makes one move and strikes one of his signature poses, and the audience somehow erupts into a frenzy! Then the man puts on one of the greatest performances I have ever seen in my entire life.

Michael Jackson: musician, performer, legend. Rest in peace, Mike.

My Site and Drunk Duck

Finally doing a call back to an earlier story (the first photo story arc, in fact), but mostly I just wanted to show cute photos of Waffles and myself wrestling.

Plus, there may be some more references from that first story arc around the corner.....

But I digress, right now the cat and I are enduring this Chicago heat wave without any AC - only because I haven't gone out and purchased a unit yet for the window. I come from a state where just about every building has central air, or a built-in unit somewhere. Plus, no one could have predicted these 90+ degree days. Waffles is so hot and uncomfortable right now that she doesn't even want to play. The problem is that I may not have time to get a unit until Friday....in the meantime, she'll just keep shedding and crying whenever I try to pet her. :(

No worries, though, I'll be getting a unit this week. The cat will be comfortable again...!

My Site and Drunk Duck

When Sophia and Selphi originally started this quest, they never said that there was someone that they knew who were blown up in the cathedral explosion at the beginning of this story. They didn't say, "My mother was in that explosion," or, "My friend's second cousin twice removed." This was less of a personal matter and more of a matter of principle. A bad thing happened and we should bring to justice the people responsible.

Now, though, it's become personal. Now, in their pursuit of justice, one of them has been (potentially mortally) wounded and the gloves are off.

However, there's a time limit here. Her sister isn't going to last long with a wound like that, and if Sophia has any hope of trying to save her life she's going to have to act fast...!

My Site and Drunk Duck

I toyed with the joke for this comic, and went through like 4 punchlines before finally landing on this one - which I think is most humorous of the bunch.

The original punchline didn't have the woman speak, but then when I started playing with ideas of what she could say (and ultimately, how Trevor would react) the joke came into its own. I had variations of sexual innuendo, like her saying, "I want to have sex with you, Trevor," and Trevor saying, "Is that the steak talking...?"

They just didn't work as well as this one, though. This is what I get for having an idea in my head and not scripting it in advance....

I'm going back to Ann Arbor this weekend to help a friend move into a new apartment, and hopefully taking a boat-load of pictures for a funny story arc. I don't want to spoil anything in case it doesn't happen, but if it does happen it'll be good. You'll laugh.

Have a great weekend!