March 7th, 2010
Hey everyone! It's been awhile, hasn't it? Well, it's Tony's fault!
No, I'm kidding. The lack of updates have solely been resting on my shoulders. Even though we're doing much better posting new content up on a more regular basis than the three month gaps we typically do (and I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that), the goal has always been weekly updates. Hopefully as all the snow on the ground is beginning to melt and spring is finally coming around, we'll be able to get more on track on these things.
But enough with apologies. Today we have another entry in the long-delayed Blockbuster Gallery; this time based on last year's comedy "The Hangover". And if that wasn't already good, it's done by one of our returning guest artists, Roxi MacDermott! So have yourself a look at the tremendous job she did and hopefully it will be worth the wait.
That's all for now but in just six days we'll be debuting another PSBG picture (I promise) as well as another edition of the "Letters to Plight Site". So if you have any questions or comments you'd like to make and don't want to wait a long time for a response, send them our way at
jake@plightsite.com or crimsonpug@comcast.net and we'll feature them next week. So until then, stay warm! - Jake
People can attest: I don't handle Valentine's Day very well.
Even though it's a commercial holiday for card stores and candy shops to drive up their revenue, it still irks me. Because no matter how many times I hear people say how unimportant it is, it still doesn't change the fact these same people who are so freely giving me advice already have someone in their lives. And if they don't, they might be single but they're still single with at least some form of experience already behind them. The world sees Cupid's Day as a time to celebrate love and togetherness. Most of the single folks in the world sees it as a day of being lonely. Me? It's one-third loneliness, one-third proving how much of a loser I am, and one-third the universe laughing in my face. So no, I do not like Valentine's Day.
Which is why I'm taking a step back and letting others update the website for me this week. The way I see it, the last thing I want to do is rain on everyone's parade so instead of debuting yet another bitter condensending drawing in honor of February 14th, I'm going to post some upbeat (and let's face it: better illustrated) drawings in synch with a more festive mood. Really, if you can detect the early signs of crabiness in this rambling, I'm sure you'll quickly agree this is a very good idea.
Anyhow, we begin with a couple of new entries in our "Guest Artists" section; this time by two fellow artists (fans?) by the name of J. Gray and Kross who chose to capture Kari Athens in their own unique styles. I was just floored when I got these in my e-mail and both Tony and I can't thank them enough. They did a terrific job!
And speaking of Tony, who should make an appearance but the man himself. That's right, "Art by Tony" has a brand new pin-up! It seems a month ago when I was saying what kinds of subject material is and isn't allowed in here, my co-hort saw it as more of a test to see how much he could get away with. The result is a vastly different and more mature take on Erik, Crispie, and Eli called "Rise of Impetus". Now I'll say this right up front: it's definately not in continuity and it might even be NSFW ("Not Safe For Work" for those unfamiliar with the abbreviation) but it's still a really good picture nevertheless. So check it out and be sure to send some feedback his way. Oh, and before anyone gets any bright ideas, this doesn't mean we'll allow pictures of horrid acts of violence from here on out. This is a one-time deal and a chance for Tony to get it out of his system (or least I hope he did.)
Yeah, I'm really starting to get grouchy so I better head off. I apologize for my short temper and hope people honestly do have a great Valentine's Day. Just because I'm down in the dumps doesn't mean anyone else has to be. But before I leave, I just want to give a big shout-out to Matthew Marck for supplying today's sketch which he did at the very last minute. I'm sure I'll be back to my usual cheery self next week so until then, be sure to eat those Sweet Tarts and Bom-Boms in moderation. - Jake
It hasn't been a very good week for Minnesota. As everyone knows, our Vikings didn't make it to the Super Bowl after all. Oh sure, us Minnesotians are still proud of what Favre and the rest of the team did for us this year and because we're "Minnesota Nice", we wished the Saints all our best. It was a good game. A close game. That's how football should be played. Unfortunately we only had two things that got in our way for the win: a bad play by a referee and Prince who felt the need to cash in on the Vikings success by publishing the most femine football song ever composed. You want to know why Favre screwed up that play? Because his IPod was playing Prince's love ballet in his ear. Yes, I've never been a fan of "what funny shape am I going to change my name to today" but if I had a choice between listening to that and attending a Celene Dion concert, I'd sit in with the French Canadian. Shame on you, Prince. Shame on you!
Anyhow, today's blockbuster picture is taking a break from being goofy. It still has a gag in it but for the most part, I was going for something a bit different. My focus was more on the scenery that anything else. So without further ado, we present "Fun With Helium", our little nod to the exceptional Pixar movie "Up"; one of the best movies of last year. Seriously, if you haven't had a chance to see the movie you are really missing out. And if you don't get a little choked up within the first 20 minutes of the film, you're a cold-hearted human being.
Until next week, stay warm (both literally and figuratively)! - Jake
If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’m going to go into a little rant. But trust me - this will all tie into today’s update in the end. Promise.
Tony and I often go into the most ridiculous and pointless arguments. Take for example just last week when we were discussing television shows that ended their runs on a cliffhanger. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more frustrating to a loyal fan of a particular series than to devote years following the cast of characters and the overlaying storyline only to find out in the end that it’s all “to be continued.” Sure, one could get all cerebral and say it’s a matter of art imitating life and that unless the end is death, the journey never really ends.
But if there’s one unspoken law about television shows, it’s that it does have to lead to an end. Even when a show is cancelled, the universe will not rest until the tale is done.
Don’t believe me? Okay. When “Gilligan’s Island” was cancelled, the castaways were still stuck on the island. But six years later they came back in a special when they were rescued by the Harlem Globetrotters. Dr. Bruce Banner was still cursed to walk down gravel roads hitchhiking to ‘Lonely Man’ on “The Incredible Hulk” until a decade later when the Hulk fell out of a plane and died. KITT turbo-boosted into car heaven in “Knight Rider 2000”, Ralph Hickley turned over the super suit to the “Greatest American Heroine” (still without the instruction manual), Sheriff Taylor retired and settled down with a real peach of a woman in “Return to Mayberry”, “The A-Team” stopped running from the government and started working for them instead, the cast of Serenity figured out what was wrong with River while Kaylee finally got some…..
The list goes on and on. If you can think of a television show that ended with questions still remaining, 99.99999% of the time the universe straightened itself out like it always does. And that is why when the freak occurrence of a television show that doesn’t come to its natural conclusion happens, it really pisses everybody off.
For two seasons people were trying to understand just what the hell was going on in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks”. And for two seasons people endured the frustration of log ladies and apple pies and backwards speaking dwarfs just so they could find out who killed Laura Palmer. Sure, to their credit her killer was revealed (spoilers: it was Daddy!) but then they got too cocky and continued the series with some shenanigans about a beauty pageant, an Owl Cave and a killing entity named Bob. Who was Bob? Where did Bob come from? How can Agent Palmer stop Bob? Well, we never found out because Bob took over Agent Palmer and *CLICK* fade-to-black.
So when news got out David Lynch was going to do a “Twin Peaks” movie, everyone got their hopes up. The answers were going to be revealed after all! But no. David Lynch is a weird cat and instead we got a prequel leading up to Laura Palmer’s death and Chris Issak sauntering down Oregon paths with his baby blues. Fans = anger = hate = torches.
Which brings us to the other serialized series that I can think of where the ending left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and is related to today’s update (see, I told you this was going somewhere): “Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles.”
You would think the idea of a “Terminator” television show could not fail, and for the first season it didn’t. We were treated to some great action, cool character development, and a female terminator that looked exactly like Summer Glau. Plus best of all: we already knew how the series was going to end! Skynet would become self-aware and humanity would find itself at war with the machines. So it is written; so it will be. It’s fool-proof! But nine months later when the second season began and all that confidence turned into fear. Sure, Shirley Manson as a manipulative T-1000 was awesome, but they started venturing into storylines about 1930’s gangster and Skynet having extra-terrestrial ties. And how did the season/series end? With the teenage John Conner going into the future, post Judgement Day, and having a gun pointed at his face by his future father Kyle Reese. A cliffhanger that not only screws up where the television show was headed, but the first two movies it was based on as well!
Well, I better stop. If you walk away with anything from this, I hope it is this:
1) The mark of a good television show is one that has a definate ending. If it doesn’t, it will go down in history as garbage. This is a proven fact.
2) I watch too much television. This is also a proven fact.
3) Sometimes Tony and I get into the most ridiculous and pointless arguments. And…
4) I’m not as skilled of a web designer that I claim to be so I have to go into a long, trivial rant so the picture I posted doesn’t mess up the layout of the page.
Anyway, today’s Blockbuster Gallery picture is based on “Terminator: Salvation”, McG and Christian Bale’s attempt to revitalize the franchise. While it didn’t get the best of reviews, and Bale’s off-camera outburst at a crew member got more media attention, I give it props for trying. It’s not a bad movie actually and it looks incredible on Blu-Ray.
I just wish they hadn’t ended it on a damn cliffhanger! - Jake