Sorry that Monday’s comic was so late. I was basically wiped out after driving home from the Chicago Comic-Con on Sunday evening and didn’t have time to put anything together. I would have drawn and posted the comic sometime Monday afternoon except Monday’s are the days that we keep Henry home from day care and I watch him. So a Tuesday comic it is.
My first thought with this blog was to embed the video from the infamous parody PSA from the first season of the animated G.I. Joe cartoon show. But the language is a little salty and this is a family site. So I’ll leave it up to you to look it up on YouTube instead.
If you’ve been on the internet at all in the last 5 years, you probably know exactly what Tom is referencing in today’s comic. If not, just look up “Porkchop Sandwiches” and it will become clear real quick.
If you’re still hankering for some video giggles, check out The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Funny or Die. It features cameos from Zach Galifianakis, Alexis Bledel, Billy Crudup, Julianne Moore, Tony Hale, Alan Tudyk, Vinnie Jones, Henry Rollins and non-other than Sgt. Slaughter himself!
Back to the comic, it guest stars Joe Dunn from Joe Loves Crappy Movies. Our tables were next to each other on Artist Alley and we made plans to see G.I. Joe with the rest of the Digital Pimp Online crew, Zach Miller from Joe and Monkey and Jennie Breeden from The Devil’s Panties. Our good friend Gordon McAlpin from Multiplex couldn’t go that evening because he had won tickets to see the Arctic Monkeys in concert. I guess it was a sold-out show. So, good for him.
Anyway, before seeing the movie that night, I told Joe in real-life exactly what I said to him in the comic. His response was one of moderate disdain and amplified for comedic effect for this comic. I always like to portray Joe as more exasperated and annoyed with me than he is in real life. But, as they say, all humor is rooted in truth. I’m sure there were several times this weekend where he would have given anything just to shut. me. up.
I thought the movie we went to was fine. I thought it was better than Transformers 2, which is kind of faint praise. But I was able to keep up with the action and despite the wooden acting and transparent CGI work, was able to enjoy myself.
I guess you could say the trailer for the movie had lowered my expectations to the point where anything would have been acceptable. Does that make G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra a good movie? Of course not. It’s horrible. But the action moves along at a steady clip and there are a few fun, over-the-top moments.
The things I was most surprised by were the number of deaths and the amount of civilian property damage going on in this thing. The destruction the Joe’s leave in their wake is catastrophic. I can’t imagine ANY “covert” agency staying under the radar for that long when cars are being jack-knifed 50 feet in the air everywhere they go.
As for the convention, it was a good time. Always a treat to see and talk to old friends. Of course everyone who stopped by the booth was exceptionally friendly and usually the first thing people would ask was “How’s the hand.” It was nice to know that people were concerned for my well being. I appreciate it.
If you’re a new reader coming to the site for the first time, welcome! Not sure where to tell you to start. But I hope the site finds its way into your bookmarks and that you come back to visit us every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I promise to update on time from here on out.
Not much else to talk about at the moment. But be sure to come back on Wednesday for more comic goodness! See you then!
PORKCHOP SANDWICHES!
Tom, if you yell that in the theater...
...I will punch you so hard you will have to drop your pants to eat your food!
Dude, you’re nuts. Joe totally loved your drumming.
You see the crap so we don’t have to. Thanks for taking one for the team!
A credit on that clip worth noting: Gung Ho (the guy Dr. Mindbender is talking to on his ham radio) is played by Chuck Liddell, the recently retired UFC legend.
I haven’t seen G.I. Joe yet (just the trailers), but your comment about the “covert” Joes leaving a massive trail of destruction in their wake reminds me of another “covert” team…Team America! Come to think of it, the Eiffel Tower was destroyed in that movie too.
GI Joe was a ton of fun. It actually felt like a saturday morning cartoon from the 80’s being acted out on the big screen. Although that doesn’t say a whole lot for the writing.
Glad you had a good time at the con, it was fun catching up, as always. As for where newbies should start, you should direct them to your highest rated comics over on the right!
I totally agree with Brian about G.I. Joe… I went to see it last night, and that’s exactly what I was thinking all along… it felt like a 80’s cartoon, and just like in cartoons, it doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be cool! Unlike Transformers and all the other comics/superhero movies, G.I. Joe certainly doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s just fine. I had an infinitely better time watching this than Transformers.
On The Triple Feature Monday night, I compared G.I. Joe to a cartoon and that it worked for me. But I remember when Transformer 2 came out, that explanation didn’t hold water for me. I guess because I thought G.I. Joe was fun and Transformers was exhausting.
Would I prefer a plot that makes sense and reasonably good acting? Of course. But in absence of that, a few well-timed explosions will have to do.
I think it’s because Transformers takes itself too seriously. They took a cartoon/action figures and made it into a ‘serious’ film where everything needs to be somewhat based in reality. That just isn’t the case with G.I. Joe… it’s an action film based on a cartoon, and it assumes it.
Excellent comic Tom…..I really hope to come over there one year and go to a massive convention, we don’t really have anything on the same scale in Britain :(….. As for G.I Joe- a friend and I went to see it and we were both massive fans of the cartoon but after the advert we decided to take it with a pinch of salt- and you know what- it worked. If you take the film as a laugh of an evening out it’s great fun…you can almost forget the stereotypical placing of a Wayans Brother (who cares which one) screaming “BUST A CAP”!!!
Kinda like Speed Racer and Fantastic Four. I loved G.I. Joe, and had a blast watching it. I would have had more fun if the family behind me would keep their comments and kids quiet. I look forward to the DVD.