Independent Propaganda

Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

We all believe in heroes. That’s why we read comic books. We follow the exploits of our favorite superheroes religiously. We all know the parallels between Superman and Christianity. It’s about time that a superhero was created who was given power to act as God’s right hand on earth.

Now don’t think that this is some religious propaganda trying to stuff itself down your throat. It is anything but that. First above all was that this comic was a darn good read. There was a regular everyday guy who became a hero through a very believable scenario and awesome dialogue. The religion that is here is not overt. It pervades the book but does not push.

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Reviewed by Matthew Constantine / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Purchase Baadasssss! DVD from Amazon.com

In Baadasssss!, Mario Van Peebles stars in and directs a movie about the making of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, a film directed by and staring his dad, Melvin Van Peebles. It’s an interesting movie for many reasons. For a biopic made by the subject’s son, it’s surprisingly candid, but also fairly even handed. Melvin (played by Mario) isn’t shown as a nice guy, but he isn’t a tyrant either.

Often in biopics, the subject must be one or the other, hero of villain. But that is avoided here. Sort of. Melvin is the hero of the movie, and rightly so. But he’s deeply flawed. He broke the mold. Sweet Sweetback created a new era of black cinema. It gave rise to the Blaxploitation films of the 70’s, but it also created black characters that were more than the old stereotypes.

The movie shows the many ups and downs of trying to make an unpopular movie with no money. We see Melvin deal with nutty film producers, scary extras, dangerous actors, the law, and his own physical and psychological limitations.

The actors all do great jobs. Young Khleo Thomas is an inquisitive young Mario, watching his dad go through all kinds of hell to make something that really matters. Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute of The Office) is the hippy that helps get Melvin some connections and keeps things together. And Mario himself turns in one of his best performances as his dad.

There’s a long list of great supporting actors, from the always amazing Ossie Davis and the hysterical Adam West, to the uptight David Alan Greir and the spunky Joy Bryant.

A strange mix of characters float through the stranger story of putting together a film like nothing that had been seen before. But in the end, the movie is an uplifting exploration of the brotherhood of all men, and the relationship of a father and son.

About The Reviewer: Matthew is a writer living in Northern New England. He has written for On the Fly Publications and Global Cafe. A longtime film fan, his list of favorite movies includes the classics Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, and Commando.

Technorati Tags: BADASSSS!, DVD, Mario Van Pebbles

Reviewed by Matthew Constantine / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Writer/director/actor Stanley Tucci has created an old school screwball comedy with 1998’s The Imposters. He and Oliver Platt play clueless and luckless actors who offend a famous drunken hack and end up on an ocean liner headed to Paris. What follows is a mix of high and lowbrow humor one used to get with classic British comedy.

While the movie isn’t perfect, and there are many times when you get the feeling they would have done another take if they’d had the money, it’s still very funny and very effective. The supporting cast is fantastic and makes up for some technical shortfalls and lack of polish. Billy Connolly is the over the top, ambisexual tennis pro, Mr. Sparks. Alfred Molina is the famous blowhard stage actor, Sir Jeremy Burtom. Campbell Scott steals every scene he’s in as the pseudo-Nazi, Meistrich. The talented and usually horribly misused Lili Taylor plays Lil, who befriends our neurotic heroes and attempts to shelter them from harm. And Steve Buscemi is a riot as the suicidal entertainer, Happy Franks.

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Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Created, Story, and Art by Debi Hammack

Sometimes comics can get a bit preachy. Everybody lives in a wondrously noble world where honor and freedom are valued and fought for. However, A’PERTUA does not preach; if anything, this comic highlights just how difficult it is to believe in these concepts over our own skins. That’s what is so great about A’PERTUA and its characters.

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Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

INKplosion is an international web comic collective featuring online serials spanning many genres. Here are reviews of the web comics currently running on INKplosion.

MONDAY
Berthold “Hellbert” Arndt
Cover by Arne Beitmann
This is a great little horror tale told entirely from the perspective of the shoes on the characters’ feet. Don’t worry, it is much better than that sounds. It features great art with excellent shading and a very neat little horror tale that could fit into The Twilight Zone.

MUSE
by Alexander Gellner
This short strip actually has two little stories. Gellner possesses a fantastic cartooning ability. The first story is quite a good tale of being chained down by something. Top notch drawing.

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Review by Eraklis Petmeza / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Published by NBM Publishing

The first time I saw Nicolas De Crecy’s work was when one of my best friends came back from a European trip in the early 90’s with sketch books he had purchased of a new young French cartoonist. Flipping through them I was mesmerized by such a strong vision. De Crecy’s characters were both realistic and stylized in the same line. This was an artist that was closer to Egon Schiele then his contemporary brethren. The way he drew figures really showed you a glimpse of who they were. Most artists search years to find what De Crecy had found in his early twenties.

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Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Created by Mark Teague
Written by Mark Teague and Derek McCaw
Art by Mark Teague
Original Story by Mark Teague and Mitchell L. Peterson
Published by Illusive Arts and Fanboy Planet Studios

Wow. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s atmospheric and haunting. The reader is drawn in, like a moth to flame.

Tony Loco is compelling in a way I haven’t discovered before. There’s an underlying hope bleeding through the panels. While reading, I get a distinct sensation, like the pride and optimism I feel when seeing Superman pull his suit open to reveal the shield. We will all be saved. That’s what I feel while reading Tony Loco.

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Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Writer: Robert Boyd
Pencils: Earnest Posey
Colors and Inks: Barbara Jenkins, Robert Boyd, Rod Jenkins
Published by Kiss Me Comix

EXCESSIVE FORCE is a vigilante a la the Punisher and Shadowhawk. His alter ego is Mr. Evans, a scientist who has developed a super-suit of some kind. Now the bad guys are out to get him and his research. He is the only one who will use the suit for good. The bad guys, some gang named the Triad, want it for their own reasons, and Evans just wants it to help him clean up the streets.

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Written by Chris Beckett / Writer for Independent Propaganda

BLACK MANE
Written & Drawn by Michael LaRiccia
92 pp. b/w $10.00
One Time Press (self-published)
Xeric Grant Recipient

By trade, Michael LaRiccia is a printmaker, but he has held an affinity for the comic art form since he was young. With his Xeric-awarded graphic novel BLACK MANE, LaRiccia set forth to examine race and gender issues in America based upon his own experiences. Although a work of fiction, LaRiccia casts himself as well as friends and family within the book, giving the work a more authentic, autobiographical feel. He also frames the book in a non-traditional manner, eschewing a straightforward narrative with a conflicting protagonist and antagonist, and instead presents a variety of situations linked together by a day-in-the-life motif that forces the audience to ponder and examine these social issues on their own. It is an interesting approach in support of a worthwhile endeavor.

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Review by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Created and written by Will Vinton and Andrew Wiese
Art by Fabio Laguna
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Jack Hightower is a ten-inch tall James Bond. He’s the epitome of secret agent clichés. Thank goodness the story in this trade paperback is much more engaging than the premise.

Jack Hightower, a dashing secret agent (whose identity as a secret agent is anything but secret, but I digress), goes after his nemesis, Dr. Savant. Savant has developed a shrinking ray that shrinks our top secret hero. Now our diminutive star has to cope with being only ten inches tall. Will he be able to get his life back? Will he be able to keep his job at that height? Will the girls still clamor over him?

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