Announcement: Joel on Better in the Dark Podcast

Dollar Bin contributor, Joel, spends some time over on the Better in the Dark Podcast to discuss Zack Snyder and pimp the DB.  Here is the link and the show discription:

Director’s Court - The Case of Zack Snyder (Guest: Joel Mangrum)
Court is back in session, as Tom and Derrick welcome special guest judge Joel Mangrum. Together they put the latest target of geekdom’s rage in the docket! Join the Boys Outta Brooklyn (and the One Outta Cali) as they evaluate the reasons behind the recent backlash, whether Zack Snyder should have made Sucker Punch when he did, his reliance on certain cinematic tropes, and his impending Man of Steel. Plus, old gals who are still hella hot, an investigation into why writer / artists circa 1980 have become hopelessly insane, and a classic BITD rant — and it’s not from Tom! You don’t want Emily Browning to dance for you (or maybe you do), so get to clicking!  Download

Speaking of Zack Snyder, here is a link to the Dollar Bin’s discussion on Watchmen Part 1 and Part 2.  We have a 300 movie topic discussion around here somewhere.

Review: Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

I began writing this review April 29, 2011 then a bunch of stuff happened.  I made it as far as the first 2 paragraphs.  I’ve completed it just now and I feel the exactly the same.

I don’t usually write reviews for the Dollar Bin.  I tend to convey my opinions on the audio recordings.  However, after I finished reading the Eisner nominated  Amelia Earhart:  This Broad Ocean by Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle I just had to get my thoughts and emotions out now, so here I write.

I want to start by telling you that multiple times through my reading experience I felt my whole body well up with emotion.  I found myself just grinning and tearing up all at the same time.  (Did I mention I was reading this in the middle of a crowed restaurant?  Well I was and the threat of out-pouring emotions was a little embarrassing.)  Ben Towle has the incredible ability to give characters with simple black dot eyes the most amazing range of expression.  I truly felt every bout of anxiety, moment of anticipation, and glimmer of hope along with Amelia and the rest of the cast.  Even has I flip through the book to write this review I keep catching myself grinning as I scan the panels.

Sarah Stewart Taylor’s tale of Amelia Earhart as told through the eyes of the young Grace Goodland, writer of the self published local newspaper, The Trepassey Herald,  couldn’t have been told any better.  Grace is a pioneer of her own merit and is the perfect conduit to relay such a powerful example of hope and inspiration.  Her story is both informational and encouraging.  The scenes depicted as the tale is told are well paced and so full of hope and wonder.
Click to read more…

Click to read more ...

Woman as Object, Woman as Subject: The Male Gaze and the DC Comics Relaunch

DC Comics recently relaunched their entire line of comics in hopes of revitalizing their brand and attracting new readers. With The New 52 came a lot of controversy surrounding female creators and characters. The loudest public outcry has been over the perceived objectification of women in Red Hood and the Outlaws (by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort) and Catwoman (by Judd Winick and Guillem March). Here, I intend to prove that the protests are justified and that the depictions of Starfire and Catwoman are indeed objectifying.

Historically speaking, the typical viewer of a work of art was a male, just like the typical comic reader is a male (heterosexual with disposable income). It wasn’t until fairly recently that the term “male gaze” was coined to give voice to these assumed eyes that were viewing works of art. It not only describes the perceived viewer but it also comments on how the work of art was, and still is, constructed in order to please this assumed male patron. A female is thus turned into an object when she is there solely to give pleasure to this male gaze. Conversely a female is treated as a subject when she is a fully-formed, three-dimensional character that is an active and vital participant in the story or image. In a single image a female can be turned into an object or treated as a subject. Women throughout art history have been objects meant to be looked at. Just like the Barbara Kruger piece on the right states: “Your gaze hits the side of my face.”

Click to read more…

Click to read more ...

DC 52 Relaunch Batch 4: The Rankings

Adam and Shawn ranked the fourth wave of DC Relaunch books in order of enjoyment, #1 being at the top of the enjoyment scale. This is the final week of the first issues and it was the hardest to rank because so many of the books were ok (not bad, not good, just ok). Adam and Shawn’s lists vary greatly because of this; however, they have the same #1 and #13.

Shawn’s List:

  1) All Star Western
  2) Justice League Dark
  3) Batman The Dark Knight
  4) The Flash
  5) Aquaman
  6) Superman
  7) Green Lantern New Guardians
  8) Blackhawks
  9) Teen Titans
10) I Vampire
11) Voodoo
12) Savage Hawkman
13) The Fury of Firestorm

Adam’s List:

  1) All Star Western
  2) The Flash
  3) Aquaman
  4) Superman
  5) Justice League Dark
  6) Batman The Dark Knight
  7) Voodoo
  8) I Vampire
  9) Teen Titans
10) Savage Hawkman
11) Green Lantern New Guardians
12) Blackhawks
13) The Fury of Firestorm

DC 52 Relaunch Batch 3: The Rankings

Adam and Shawn ranked the second wave of DC Relaunch books in order of enjoyment, #1 being at the top of the enjoyment scale. It was really easy to rank the top and the bottom this go round, but the middle ones were pretty difficult to rank because they were very similar in quality and enjoyment. This is the first time that Adam and Shawn agree on the #1.

Shawn’s List:

1) Wonder Woman
2) Batman
3) DCU Presents Deadman
4) Green Lantern Corps
5) Supergirl
6) Blue Beetle
7) Nightwing
8) Captain Atom
9) Birds of Prey
10) Legion of Superheroes
11) Catwoman
12) Red Hood and the Outlaws

Adam’s List:

1) Wonder Woman
2) Green Lantern Corps
3) Batman
4) Supergirl
5) DCU Presents Deadman
6) Blue Beetle
7) Nightwing
8) Legion of Superheroes
9) Captain Atom
10) Birds of Prey
11) Catwoman
12) Red Hood and the Outlaws