Substitute DE for a New Decade

[sdelmonte]

Everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes and Avatar and Doctor Who and Supernatural and Harry Potter. But what about the things that you love and that everyone else hasn't read or seen (or even heard of), but should?

I'll start off with Marvel Comics' Nova, the story of a space-faring super-hero who is the last member of the storied Nova Corps (Marvel's surprisingly interesting version of the Green Lantern Corps). It's a little continuity-heavy at times - it grew out of one crossover event and gets sucked into several others - but the stories seem to work on their own, the writing by Abnett and Lanning is crisp and witty, the art is very good, and the hero himself is likeable and about as heroic as anyone I've encountered in a super-hero comic in ages.

ETA: I should probably also mention that DC Comics has reprinted the first 30 issues of The Question in five trade paperbacks, with the last coming this year. It's not just prime canon for my pup, but it's also one of the most influential and highly regarded comics of the 80s, written by Denny O'Neil at his peak.

Your turn.

Comments

[remindmeofthe.livejournal.com]

Dan Abnett for the win, it is true. He wrote the only two Torchwood novels I've encountered that were actually good (admittedly, I'm way behind on those, but still, writing an actual good tie-in novel for any show seems to be beyond most writers who attempt it), and has a knack for creating original characters who are just as interesting as the canon ones. I play one of his over in MM, James Mayer from Border Princes.

What I really want to plug, though, is The Thick of It. It's the BBC show that In the Loop, which made its way through the States over the summer and is coming out on DVD January 12, is based on. It's about the goings-on in the Department of Social Affairs on Downing Street, has a wonderfully talented and entertaining cast, and is killer funny. It's also partly improvised, so the dialogue sounds very natural. And if the fact that it's a generally amazing show isn't enough for you, it also has Peter Capaldi playing Malcolm Tucker, who is the polar opposite of the character he played on Torchwood - he swears constantly, he's crude, he's so very good at what he does, and seriously do not piss him off. No. Seriously. Series three also goes further into his character, giving him additional dimension, and Capaldi nails it every damn time, standing out with incredible performances amidst the aforementioned uniformly excellent cast.

Unfortunately, it's also a little more difficult to get hold of than a lot of shows these days, especially if you do not live in the UK (the DVDs currently available are region two only, argh), but PM me if I've gotten your attention here and I'll see what I can do for you.

[thanksrainman]

Changing accounts on the iPhone is a pain in the arse.

I am so seconding Batman, and I don't even like him as a whole. Just something about the animation really strikes a chord with me. And if i'm not mistaken, isn't that Diedrich Bader?

Re: Rec for the new decade

[yakalskovich]

I'm on AIM now -- sootymun

[boundxkitty]

*points at icon to say it all*

Though I agree with everyone should read the Hollows! Fantastic work!

[sdelmonte]

It is indeed Drew Carey's former sidekick. Who is an veteran voice actor, having played roles in shows ranging from Gargoyles to Buzz Lightyear. He's not quite as good as Kevin Conroy (Batman in the 90s series, Justice League, etc.), but he's perfect for this show.

[boundxkitty]

I would have to say Kelley Armstrong's series Women of the Otherworld. The narrator changes with the books, mostly. The first four are a two in two, being the first two have the same narrator, three & four have the same narrator, and from then on she bounces between the women of the universe for who narrates which book. It's an amazing series that should definitely be looked into! Full of Witches, Werewolves, Necromancers, Sorcerers, and Demons. I love the cast and am personally excited for her newest book to be out already because the narrator is a character you've watched grow up in the series finally getting a chance to narrate her own book!

Re: Rec for the new decade

[spooky-lemur.livejournal.com]

Internet's being really wonkey here at work, aol is taking forever to load. I'll have to try and catch you later this afternoon maybe. Expect a ping from delmcatee. = ]

Re: Rec for the new decade

[yakalskovich]

Okay!

[kristi-cagle.livejournal.com]

It's not my fault LKH lost the plot post-it note.

God, she's stupid.

Re: Rec for the new decade

[kristi-cagle.livejournal.com]

Knowing the lot of us? I'd be scared of wimmins too. We're an intimidating bunch.

[aisforamy]

Movies I love that haven't gotten a lot of notice:

Dear Frankie, a bittersweet tale about a mother to tells her deaf son that his father is a merchant marine to explain his absence. The mother authors letters from his 'father' telling of his adventures at sea, but runs into a snag when the boy learns that the ship his father is supposedly sailing on is going to be docking at their town.

Millions A clever story of a motherless boy who finds a sack full of money. The money was supposed to be destroyed as the country converts to the Euro, and he must find a way to spend it all or convert it before the deadline without anyone finding out. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of secret you can keep, especially from the man who went to the trouble of stealing it in the first place.



Mary & Max is a claymation film in the style of Wallace and Gromit. It's a quirky tale of a lonely Austrailian girl who chooses a name from an American phone book at random, and strikes up a friendship via mail by sending a letter asking where babies come from in America. (They are found at the bottom of beer mugs where she is from.) Max Horowitz is a 47 year old severely obese man with Aspergers Syndrome and chronic anxiety issues. The unlikely friendship is strangely charming and engaging.

The Brothers Bloom is a strange movie about two brothers who live their lives as con men. The older brother convinces the younger to help him with one last job, conning an eccentric heiress and having an adventure that will take them all over the world. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the odd moments that seem to make no sense, but add to the overall experience.

I also want to recommend The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Rollins and and by Kristin Cashore.

[aisforamy]

Huh. My last two recs didn't come through Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore! Reeeeeeead them!

[wakeupnew]

The musical episode is SO AMAZING

[wakeupnew]

The first half of Graceling is SO GOOD! I'm slightly more ambivalent to the second half, but the first part charms me so strongly that I love the book overall! I need to pick up Fire.

[sdelmonte]

As it happens, Mary and Max will be screening at the New York Jewish Film Festival, which is co-presented by The Jewish Museum and The Film Society of Lincoln Center. It's our first claymation offering, and it's also the film we used for the cover image on the brochure.

Re: Rec for the new decade

[yakalskovich]

Yes we are!!

[sdelmonte]

It's kind of hysterical that the one person who never sings is Batman. Everyone else on that show is at least slightly goofy. Batman? He's still Batman.

And yet...he sang a torch song in an episode of Justice League Unlimited.

[fiery_ring]

I fell in love with With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child, which is an adorable manga series.

[kd7sov]

Y'know what? I'm going to rec something else, too.

Jane Lindskold's books. I haven't read all of them, by any means, but apart from the Wolf series (also called the Firekeeper Saga), which lost me a couple of times, I love everything I've read by her. And she does the research quite well, too - The Buried Pyramid has authentic Egyptian details, Breaking the Wall demonstrates a broad understanding of the histories of Mah-Jongg, China, and Oriental modes of thought...

[innerbrat]

I'm SO millicanoning it.

[wheatencrown]

I picked up the Secrets of Nicholas Flamel and now I want the second and third ones, its a lovely series. Nothing that out of the way in terms of a YA series but its done well.

[jothra]

GUH, I love Cairo. I think I have told you this before, but the thought remains true.

[shati.livejournal.com]

CHAK DE! INDIA

IT WILL PUT HAIR ON YOUR CHEST AND THEN SHAVE IT OFF FOR YOU AS IT REALIZES THAT STATISTICALLY SPEAKING IF YOU ARE READING THIS COMM YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND THAT CHEST HAIR COEXISTS PEACEFUL WITH YOUR SOCIETALLY EXPECTED GENDER ROLE

... IT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, CRY, AND SLANDER THE MEMORY OF CATS?

[aisforamy]

Nice! Max was Jewish, but then decided he was Atheist, but he still wore his yarmulke because it kept his head warm. I hope the attendees enjoy it!

[aisforamy]

Agreed. The first half of the book carries the second, but it's still good. Fire is a bit stranger, and I definitely like Graceling better, but it tells the story of where King Leck came from, though he isn't the main character. There were some major elements that I felt were a little hard to suspend my belief on, but it's still an enjoyable read.