Wanna know the best way to start your week? MONSTER SQUAD REFERENCES!
You’re welcome.
Speaking of monsters, I saw Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend and, unfortunately, was NOT bowled over. I’m not exactly sure what went wrong other than it fell into that same trap of pop culture references and soullessness that other Dreamworks animated movies seem to fall into.
Maybe I went in with my expectations too high after the success of Kung-Fu Panda last year. But Monsters vs. Aliens is just more of the same.
There are a few laughs to be had. Great line delivery from Stephen Colbert as The President and Will Arnett as The Missing Link. But, unbelievably, it’s Seth Rogen who steals the show as the indestructible blob, B.O.B.
Much like B.O.B., Rogen has crafted an indestructible slacker/stoner/moron persona that brings the biggest laughs in this film. He’s pretty much the only character having a good time while the rest of the world is falling down around him and his cluelessness and confusion makes him instantly endearing.
The rest of the movie is a cheap girl-power parable wrapped up in a few action pieces that have been strung together. Pretty much the best thing it had going for it was the 3D. But even that was a little annoying when they were pulling cheap moves like a guy hitting a paddle-ball toward the screen.
Really, Dreamworks? Why not shoot a scene at a kids birthday party so someone can blow a party noisemaker that uncurls into in our faces.
Should you see Monsters vs. Aliens. If you’re a fan of animation, 3D movies and cheesy sci-fi from the 50’s and 60’s, I’d say “yes.” If you’re a fan of laughing or have laundry to fold, I’d say “no.” I don’t really regret going. But it could have been executed much better.
Switching topics, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be at the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle this Saturday and Sunday, April 4 – 5. I’m going to have a table on Artist Alley and you can find me at H-05.
I’m a little nervous about going because this will be the first convention I’ve flown out of state to attend. Typically I only go to conventions I can drive to so I can save on cost. But I found a cheap flight to Seattle and Emerald City was too good to pass up (they have an excellent reputation and are very welcoming to web comics).
Part of my nervousness stems from not knowing anyone at the convention. Sure, there will be a lot of web comics people there like Scott Kurtz, Jeph Jacques and the guys from Penny Arcade. But these guys operate WAY out of my league and they aren’t people I’ve really had an opportunity to interact with socially before.
When I go to Wizard World Chicago ever year, I get to hang out with Gordon McAlpin, Joe Dunn and the rest of the Digital Pimp crew. We set up shop next to each other and goof off for 8 hours while we try to sell our wares. In Seattle, I’ll kind of be own my own.
Well, that’s not entirely true. To take the sting out of travel expenses, I’m splitting a room with Indigo Kelleigh from The Adventures of Ellie Connelly. So at least there is someone I can hang out with after being on the show floor all day. Or, if he has better places to be, I could always go see Fast and Furious the weekend.
Oh! I should probably mention that I was invited to speak on a panel at the convention! Yeah – it’s the Business of Webcomics panel at 1:00 PM, Sunday, April 5 in panel room 3AB.
I’ll be in a room, talkin’ web comics with Robert Khoo from Penny Arcade, Danielle Corsetto from Girls With Slingshots and Jeph Jacques from Questionable Content, doing my best not to sound like an idiot. It’s an amazing opportunity and I want to say thanks to the show organizers for including me! If you’re coming to the show that day, check it out!
Is anyone reading this planning on going to the convention this weekend? If so, can you talk about it a little bit in the comments section? I just want to get a general sense of what to expect. I’m sure everything will be fine, it’s just the unknown that’s eating at me a little bit.
If nothing else, it’ll be a real treat to meet fans from the West coast. This will be my first trip to your neck in the woods and I’m eager to meet you!
Thanks again for reading and I’ll talk to you soon
Well, it's not light the two movies would be side-by-side in a video store.
There are plenty of movies with "monster" in the title!
Like Monster with Charlize Theron, Monster's Ball with Halle Berry or Monster Squad!
"WOLFMAN'S GOT NARDS!"
, will you?
Monster Squad is the most 80s movie I have ever seen and Wolfman does indeed have Nards! Awesome comic and good luck at ECC. If it wasn’t for my thesis, I probably could have killed two birds with one stone and gone to the Con while visiting my Aunt out there.
Man, when Monster Squad came out on DVD, even though I was practically flat broke I found room to fit it into my budget. For me, that’s like a quintessential film of my childhood. I love that movie and all its silly humor for reasons I can’t quite put into words, so it was a real treat seeing this comic up after a long night at work. Thanks again for coming through, Tom!
Hey Tom, it’s Jesse from the DP forums (and from my guest appearance a while back). I have decided to make the hour long drive from Olympia and come up to the convention on Saturday. I have never been to the con before though so I cannot give you any indication as to what it is going to be like. Actually, I have never been to ANY con before so maybe you could give ME some idea of what to expect. 😛
Jesse, it’ll be a pleasure to meet you in person!
In terms of the convention, I suggest checking out their web site. In addition to all the vendors selling comics, collectibles and what-nots, there are going to be a lot of celebrities in attendance and various panels that might interest you!
“What he is asking is Have you ever been ‘dorked’?”
Classic movie. One of those unfortunatly that does’nt quite stand as well in my eyes as the fond memories. ALso hopefully I can spare you all the pain. Flight of the Navigator and Neverending Story are not as good as you remember!! If you haven’t watched them since you were kids don’t. That may just be my opinion but i was so sad.
good luck on that panel, im just wondering when you’ll come to the san diego comic-con that would be great
Frankly, Mah… I’m terrified of going to SDCC. Cami has been egging me on to go for years. But from everyone I’ve talked to, it’s so overwhelming and stressful, I’m not sure I could swing it.
Certainly going to Seattle is a step TOWARD going to San Diego, though. I at least want to get one convention under my belt where I have to fly to get there. Because from shipping merch to setting up a booth, I have no idea what I’m doing this time out. San Diego would be a bad first convention to experiment with.
I love Tom and Jared’s faces in the last panel. For some reason, that just makes the comic for me.
I have not seen the MvA yet and those its getting mixed reviews, i still have my heart set on it. I like all the pop culture refrences that Dreamworks is known for. I was dissapointed tho that the main character was the 50 foot tall women and that the theme became women emporement. I am a female, and even I’m tired of that kind of story. Oh well, i’ll see it for BOB
I’m not going to lie. I own 3 copies of Monster Squad. And yes, one of them is my original VHS. I also own a dvd that was burned from the VHS, and the new special edition DVD. This comic made my heart happy.
“I’m in the goddamn club, aren’t I?”
totally makes sense tom, ive gone to the SDCC a few years now and i can say it is very hectic, even as just as an atendee, but so very fun, i do hope you eventually come to san diego, and i just hope the rumors of the con leaving san diego arent true, cause then i would be just really out of luck then
ill be honest i really liked about monsters vs aliens was the references to where i live… you i live in fresno and have been to modesto… so those lines about fresno just made us all laugh….and you should totally go to comic con… its the only con i go to…
You have an amazing opportunity to network with some huge people in webcomics and you’re looking to see Fast and Furious? Go out with these guys and talk to them. If you’re on a panel with them, you’ve obviously proven yourself. Don’t let this amazing chance slip away!
Emerald City Comicon is great. The staff is super nice and helpful. If you get to the show and need any help, the volunteers have always been awesome to work with in the past.
Also, I’ll be the moderator on the Business of Webcomics panel. It should be fun!
Why, hello, future moderator! It will be good to meet you in person!
“Wolfman’s got nards!” is the greatest quote ever. I still quote it quite often, but nobody EVER has any idea what I’m talking about. You just became my new favorite person because you used it in a cmoic, Tom.
Tom, I can guarantee you are at least doing two sketches this weekend (me as Alex from Clockwork Orange and if your willing to try from a photo my girlfriend as Winona Ryder from Beetlejuice(her crazy request)). I think me and my friend are going bar hoping at the local hotels that Saturday night to if you get bored. See you soon, Donny