schmevil: (lana)
schmevil ([personal profile] schmevil) wrote2008-08-15 10:17 am

(no subject)

Since the release of the theatrical trailer Watchmen has sold 900,000 copies! In comments on The Beat Torsten Adair says:

I think what is driving this is that non-comicbook people saw Dark Knight with their comicbook-reading friends, saw an incredible trailer, and asked their friends, “What is that all about?” And their friends replied, “That’s the greatest graphic novel ever written, and you have to read it.”

Watchmen is currently #36 on BN.com, the lowest since the trailer hit. From now until April, retailers everywhere have to bring their A Game everyday. People are going to read Watchmen, then read it again to see how the pieces fit together, then they are going to come back and say, “Okay, I’ve read a great graphic novel. What other great stuff do you have that I don’t know about?” That’s when the retailer asks, “What do you like to read?” and then goes to the shelves and starts hand selling.


Pretty much agree - on its own I don't find The Watchmen trailer all that impressive, but pairing it with The Dark Knight was the perfect marketing move. The target audience for The Watchmen is much the same as for TDK (as distinct from say, Iron Man).

I so need to reread.

***

This morning I was introduced to Xavier Nuez via MoCo Loco. Here's how they describe his work:

While conventional wisdom tells us to keep away from dark alleys, photographer Xavier Nuez goes looking for trouble, or at the very least, signs of it. Being accosted by addicts and dealers, chased by gangs and questioned by police is all part of a night’s work. Nuez is inspired by inner-city ruins, dead ends, back lots and uninviting urban corners, partially due to a family history of homelessness and the fear that he too would succumb. To counteract this past, the artist creates monuments of the gutters, working with Hasselblad film cameras and shooting with lights and gels, and very long exposures.

His site has some seriously gorgeous photos of graffiti art, construction sites and 'ruined' urban landscapes. Incredibly lush colours and fantastic lines.

See also Buff Monster, who started doing guerrilla, silk-screen poster art, and now does vinyl figures and other cook stuff.



And NASA's image of the day an Arctic eclipse. v. v. cool.

[identity profile] dlasta.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh, the universe is telling you to reread!

[identity profile] schmevil.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
The universe is sending me coded messages to reread The Watchmen? How Grant Morrison of the universe. *g*

[identity profile] dlasta.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Totally.:D

(*succumb!*)

[identity profile] schmevil.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Do I get a free Stepford Cuckoo with purchase?

[identity profile] dlasta.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
....but would you really want one?



[identity profile] schmevil.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Pre Greg Pak shenanigans? Sure. After he got his grubby paws on them? Not on your life. Morrison's Cuckoos were lulzy teen-snobs. Pak's were just a mess.

[identity profile] dlasta.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Greg Pak shenanigans?

I may have actually repressed that specific story line.
:D
(Don't make me think about it! It does not exist!)

Loved The Cuccoo's with Emma. There was just something funny with the whole concept. And the hive mind-esque telepathy was interesting.

..Now I miss the New X-Men.

[identity profile] schmevil.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I have only the faintest memories of Greg Pak's Phoenix garbage. I do recall that he mauled the Cuckoos, Jean and Emma pretty badly.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, conceptually Morrison's work on X-Men was fantastic, but in terms of sustaining the franchise, it was no so fantastic. Way to close every door but your favourite, man. But New X-Men is certainly better than most current X-books. Blegh.

[identity profile] dlasta.livejournal.com 2008-08-15 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay for faint memories, I say. Yuck, seriously.

X-men franchise is tricky. There's always the need for something new and still it has to adhere with the old.
I have no idea how that could be done well over and over again.

That said, sometimes I just like the spiffy, new uniforms.:D