Monday, June 27, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

MONDAY SOUL WITH SCOTT MORGAN....

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 02:27 PM PDT


Kimmer and Scott

Here are some new soul videos that are Scott's favorite picks for this week. Sorry we didn't get them posted yesterday... still recovering from the big SRC show and after party... Here are Scott Morgan's soul tunes for the last week of June 2011... Thanks Scott XXOOK

From Scott:

This is still my fave. it's surreal...



hey this isn't j geils...



oh there's more. a lot more. this can't really be work can it?



check out the scream at the end...



i've gotta get a higher paying gig...



Chuck did the original I Need You...



so this girl does have soul... and it doesn't hurt having labelle singing backup...



WHERE IS CHARLIE SIX?: NEW NOVEL BY BRIXTON KEY

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 10:28 AM PDT




Where is Charlie Six will be on sale in early August 2011. You can get it now for the Kindle... Click the link at the bottom of the page. This book really looks exciting and I can't wait to get a copy! Might have to break down and go get a Kindle... heard they are pretty low priced now. Anyway Check out the trailer! It is so well produced!






[New post] Quick reviews: FF#4, New Mutants #26, Moon Knight #2

Quick reviews: FF#4, New Mutants #26, Moon Knight #2

FF#4

By Jonathan Hickman and Barry Kitson

FF continues to grow in its goal to becoming the finest superhero team book on the shelves. The roster boasts 16 members including Doctor Doom, Spider-Man and a floating evolved mole man head making it the most unusual group assembled in a monthly book and with Hickman on board, the plot is satisfyingly complex and inspired.

Reed's father, a time-traveling genius who had just won a duel with alternate versions of himself in as trans-dimensional all-out brawl, has advised his son to bring his lifelong nemesis Doctor Doom into the team for a secret purpose. Before Doom could be of service, however, it became necessary to 'download' a back-up copy of himself from his adopted son. Once more the devilish combination of sorcerer and scientific genius, Doom is part of a cabal of evil masterminds with one goal, destroy Reed Richards.

Throughout the previous months, readers have seen Reed construct a device allowing him to visit alternate realities, desperately seeking justification for his own actions in the Marvel Civil War. Instead, Reed met a council of alternate versions of himself who were shaping reality. Cold and heartless, they attempted to recruit Mister Fantastic into their numbers with little success. What appeared to make Reed stand out from his alternates was that his wife and family were still very much a part of his life while the alternate Reeds were isolated from human relationships and sought only to perfect creation.

A handful of alternate versions of Reed Richards managed to break through to this reality (a fact that Reed's daughter Valeria kept a dark secret) and separated to the four corners of the Earth to build a device that could destroy all life on the planet. By uniting his most fiendish foes, Reed hoped to gain some insight into defeating himself, but it proves to only distract him while his alternates busy themselves igniting a war between the 'Four Cities' hidden in the cold wastes of Old Atlantis, the blue area of the Moon, the Negative Zone and the underground realm of the Mole Man.

Fantastic Four has traditionally blended fantasy, science fiction and drama with a bit of comedy as well and this issue is no exception. Hickman has captured that special quality that makes this title so unique and amped it up to the next level, something that has escaped several other creators before him. If you have caught his work in S.H.I.E.L.D. or any of his creator-owned works and are curious if his superhero work is worth reading, make sure to pick up this series. If you are already a fan of FF, seek out his other books that come highly recommended!

New Mutants #26

By Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Leandro Fernandez
Abnett and Lanning (or DNA, as they are known) have established themselves as a finely tuned collaborative team from their time together on many books including Legion of Superheroes, Nova, Annihilation and Guardians of the Galaxy. Their latest work takes them into the realm of the X-Men with the junior title, the New Mutants. Ever since the series returned two years back, it has been a kind of homage to the Claremont work, combining high drama and all out action. Reuiniting the classic team, the New Mutants is in many ways a continuation of the writing by Claremont and Louis Simonson after him.

After the departure of Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, the series is faced with the challenge of finding its identity once more both creatively and on the racks. With so many mutant books out there, why should you bother with another? The simple answer is that it is done so damned well. Team leader Cyclops has charged the New Mutants with cleaning up the messes that they have left behind. There are so many dangling plot threads that litter the Marvel Universe that the mission is not an easy one and the first stop takes them to the doorstop of Norman Osbourn's old HAMMER facility where X-Man was being held. An alternate version of Nathan Summers, X-Man is a shaman from another dimension stranded in our world. Rather than let X-Man roam free, Cyclops orders the team to locate and assess his situation.

What the team discovers is that Nathan is being used as part of an experiment in building enhanced beings by the mad creature Sugar Man who is searching for his way home. A refugee from the Age of Apocalypse version of reality, Sugar Man is a distorted and malevolent monster who preys on others, promising them power while delivering misery.

Only two issues into the 'new regime,' the series is still in its early stages but the plotting and artwork are both solid while the cast of characters cleanly defined. If you are a fan of the old book, this is a great jumping on point.

Moon Knight #2

By Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
I am a big fan of the Moon Knight, a kind of cross between the Punisher and Batman only far more mentally unhinged and driven. While Moon Knight is hardly a man with a mission, his psyche is shattered into four distinct quadrants, each one a separate personality. In the previous runs of Moon Knight's monthly series, an over-reliance on hyper violence put some off while it also raised the stakes so high that even depicting Marc Spector wearing the torn off face of his arch foe was hardly shocking. His third restart since 2005 faces a new challenge as Moon Knight is currently an Avenger but has been out of the spotlight for so long that his mental landscape is all but a mystery. Bendis of course clears that right up by showing readers that he is far more unhinged than ever before. Moon Knight isn't just a member of the Avengers... he IS the Avengers.

The previous issue showed Moon Knight in one of his last remaining aliases, Jake Lockley, in charge of a TV program based on his vigilante past. Working out of LA, he is then contacted by Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine who ask him to look into the theft of an Ultron model. A nearly indestructible robot construct devoted to domination and destruction, Ultron is an important case. The Avengers team is unsure if Moon Knight is capable of the job and debate the issue... but they aren't really there at all as the debate is taking place inside of Lockley's mind.

I had my doubts about this series. Bendis and Maleev are a winning combination, their work on Daredevil, Spider-Woman and Scarlet show that... but can they find the same success here? In a word, yes. The art is stylish and slick, the plot very cinematic and the character has been made over in an entirely new light.

Moon Knight is a must read and is flying off the shelves as it has been notoriously under-ordered so make sure to hunt around for the first two issues and subscribe for the rest!

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[New post] Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto bring the Punisher's war back to the streets of Marvel

Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto bring the Punisher's war back to the streets of Marvel

dailypop | June 27, 2011 at 7:59 pm | Tags: greg rucka comics, marvel comics punisher | Categories: Punisher | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-2MF

For Frank Castle, the war on crime will never be over.

Created as a new kind of villain for Spider-Man, the vigilante took on a life of his own and eventually gained a popularity that rivaled that of the more established heroes of the Marvel Universe. After fighting alongside the web spinner, Castle explained that he was a Vietnam War veteran who had returned home, hoping to escape the horrors he had seen and live with his family in peace only to have that dream shattered. His family murdered in Central Park during a gang shoot-out, Castle was left for dead. Emerging from the carnage was a twisted and wounded mind that saw the city as a new war zone and the mob as the enemy. Using war tactics that he had learned in the military, he donned a cold black costume adorned with a white skull. He never promised justice for the guilty, only punishment.

Appearing in hundreds of comics, mini-series, and feature films, the Punisher has changed drastically since his initial creation in 1974, becoming everything from an angelic crusader to a modern Frankenstein's monster, but his central mission has never changed, to punish the guilty. The previous run by Rick Remender and Tony Moore controversially altered the character into a monster hunting other creatures of the night with mixed reception from readers. Even the most glowing of praise had to include the statement that it was hardly a Punisher book.

Crime novelist Greg Rucka (Whiteout) is taking over the Punisher this Summer for what promises to be a brutal back-to-basics approach that should please fans of the classic character. Artist Marco Checchetto (Daken, Spider-Man) will be providing the interior art that looks far grittier and darker than readers have seen in some time. The new creative team recently discussed their plans for the revamped Punisher book and what readers can expect.

"I suppose, fundamentally, that Frank is a character I think I get," he expresses. "He's a character I really like, one that we've seen within literature both within and outside of comics before, but one who's also fairly unique in the standard of the execution. The revenge story is a traditional one, but Frank moves it so far beyond that; it's become so much more than that with him, yet at the same time, it remains deceptively simple.

"There's the character factor, which—for me—is always the important question. Is this someone you'd like to spend time with as a writer? Is this a character you want to explore, whose world you want to inhabit? And Frank's world is very much one that I find that I find myself comfortable in, so that certainly influenced the decision [to do the book]."

"I'd never in a million years call him a 'super hero,'" he notes of The Punisher's status. "He doesn't fit easily or comfortably within the Marvel Universe from my perception, but that absolutely isn't to say he doesn't work in the environs nor am I saying he shouldn't be there. He forces some very hard questions. The moral void zone that he occupies actually—in my opinion—serves the broader Marvel Universe. Frank is a killer; he takes life and he does so without remorse and without much hesitation, if any at all. Put that next to someone like Spider-Man or Daredevil and you get immediate and dramatic contrast. That's crucial when you're working with a canvas as large and rich as this."

"My favorite character is Spider-Man and I love to draw super heroes in action, but my second favorite character is The Punisher," shares the Italian-born artist [Marco Checchetto]. "The challenge is certainly more difficult, given the level of realism we want, but fortunately I love to draw weapons, violence and dark scenes. For our Punisher I'm influenced by movies like 'Die Hard' and 'Lethal Weapon' and video games such as 'Call of Duty.'"

"He's quite remarkable, both as an artist and as a collaborator," praises Rucka of Checchetto. "I was genuinely surprised how in synch we seem to be about the way we want the book to look and feel. Punisher stories are about violence in a very unique way. Marco and I really want to carry that sense forth, make the violence effective and haunting as opposed to shocking and grotesque. We're talking about acts that people commit against their fellow man that have echoes for years, if not decades. Frank is the textbook case in point. Marco is very gifted at finding that emotional core and investing it with the kind of resonance I love to see and to read."
"We have the same ideas on the type of Punisher that we want to realize," Checchetto concurs. "Greg has a very European style of writing; the scripts are very detailed, but at the same time make me feel free to express myself."

Rucka counts numerous influences in his approach to The Punisher, many coming from beyond the scope of comics.

"I think Donald E. Westlake's writings as Richard Stark, the Parker series, have had a strong influence on me there," he shares. "Cinematically, [The Punisher] feels very 1970's to me—a sort of Charles Bronson colliding with Clint Eastwood, a lot of that warrior ethos. Given where we are in the world today, all you have to do is look and you can see pieces, edges of Frank everywhere."

(Via Marvel.com)

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


Linea midcentury-style Fairmont sofa and armchair range at House of Fraser

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 07:15 AM PDT

Fair

Some midcentury style on the high street, courtesy of this Linea Fairmont sofa and armchair range at House of Fraser.

Only available in this 'mushroom' shade, you get the choice of a three-seater sofa, a two-seater or an armchair, all with those angled wooden legs, angled arms and back, as well as a low profile.

Heavily discounted right now (it is the sale, after all), you can secure the chair for £399 (from £699), the two-seater for £599 (from £999) and the large three-seater for £799 (from £1,399).

Find out more at the House of Fraser website

Modernism on Sea: Art and Culture at the British Seaside by Lara Feigel and Alexandra Harris

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 07:07 AM PDT

Modernism

Published next week in paperback by Peter Lang is Modernism on Sea: Art and Culture at the British Seaside by Lara Feigel and Alexandra Harris.

It's described as 'a journey around the coast of Britain to explore the rich artistic and cultural heritage that can be found there'. So expect the cheeky postcards marvelled at by George Orwell to austere modernist buildings such as the De La Warr Pavilion, as well as the Camden Town Group's sojourn in Brighton, John Piper's Nautical Style, Paul Nash's surrealist benches on the promenade in Swanage and the influence of bunting and deckchairs on the Festival of Britain to name just a few things.

288 pages, you can pre-order now for £11.99.

Find out more at the Amazon website

eBay watch: 1963 Hillman Super Minx Convertible

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 06:54 AM PDT

Hillman

Some early 60s style available on eBay right now - this 1963 Hillman Super Minx Convertible.

Or rather, a pair of them. One is ready to go and 'looks good', with some bodywork repaired and a full respray, as well as having a Holbay engine and RoStyle wheels. It's said to run 'ok', but does need more work, both mechanically and cosmetically.

The second care is 'useable', but ideally suited to be used for spares. Think of it as a freebie if you like. Check out the listing for more images (especially of the stylish interior) and if you like it, both cars are currently at a combined price of £920 right now.

Find out more at the eBay website

Adidas Store summer sale - up to 50 per cent discounts online

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 06:43 AM PDT

London

If you are after some classic sportswear, the Adidas Store online sale has plenty of bargains if you hunt around.

Beckenbauers, London, Samba, SL 72, Gazelle 2 and Stan Smith for example, as well as classic men's sweatshirts and t-shirts, airline bags, tracktops and the Vespa range.

The Adidas London above seem the best buy though. Once sought-after, you can secure a pair in just about any size for just £27 in either the red or green variations. Get 'em while you can as they'll not hang around.

Find out more at the Adidas online store website

Via His Knibs

For sale: Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Charles R. Perry House house in East Glencoe, Illinois, USA

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 06:37 AM PDT

Frank1

The price of houses in the UK is scary. For example, over on our WowHaus site, we recently featured a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Wetherby, Yorkshire, which was priced at £1.3 million, despite being pitched as a potential 'knock it  down and start again' property. On the flipside, this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Charles R. Perry House house in East Glencoe, Illinois, USA is an absolute bargain.

It was designed in 1915, but looks much more contemporary. Midcentury at first glance, which is perhaps indicative of the architect's forward-thinking. The interior in particular, with its heavy use of wood detailing,  could be right out of the 1950s.

Frank2

The house, which is sat on a third of an acre and a short walk from a lake, is sold 'as is' and apparently needs some updating, not least to the kitchen and bathroom. But the images shown on the agent's site don't indicate that considerable work required in the main living areas. On the contrary, they look almost show home.

Frank3

Talking of rooms, there are three bedrooms, a family room, living room, dinning room, kitchen, office, one and a half bathrooms and an 'unfinished' basement.

That price? $550,000, which works out at a figure just short of £345,000. As I said, an absolute bargain compared to the British market.

Find out more at the Rubloff Properties website

Via WowHaus

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...