Buckethead in Iowa

Buckethead has always been a mysterious character. He wears a KFC bucket in his head and his real name is not known yet. For several years it was thought that it was Paul Gilbert in costume, in recent years several names have popped out but none has been confirmed.

His style ranges from new age to avant garde, he was part of Guns 'n Roses for a while (his most notable mainstream gig) but he has been part of other bands like Praxis and as a huge discography as a solo artist.

This remarkable character has visited Iowa several times now...

02JUN2008 - The Picador (330 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA, 52240)
14SEP2009 - The Picador (330 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA, 52240)
18APR2012 - Wooly's (504 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309)


If you get a chance to go to one of the shows you'll probably enjoy Buckethead shredding his guitar, & a nunchucks performance among other eccentricities

Here are some of his performances I found:

Adrian Legg Plays @ CSPS - Legion Arts

Adrian Legg played last night (30MAR2010) @ Legion Arts | CSPS

I'm really happy I spent those $16.15 ($14.00 for the ticket + 2.15 service fee). Tuesday night, at 7:00PM Adrian Legg Played at Legion Arts (CSPS), downtown Cedar Rapids. 

It was the second time for me in fron  of Adrian Legg, but the first one so close. Legion Arts is a small venue, it allowed us to feel the evening very personal.

Compared to my first Adrian Legg concert, in the Sunken Gardens, San Antonio (18OCT1996) the vibe felt totally different. In San Antonio the venue was bigger, much more bigger, and Adrian Legg was opening for the G3 concert (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Eric Johnson). This time, it was all about Mr. Legg and his music.

The Setup was really simple. It was him and an acoustic guitar, he used one headphone in which I guess he was listening to a metronome.  

Between song and song he would pause for a minute for tell a story, funny most of the times, that was related to the next piece he was about to play.

If you get a chance to see this guitar virtuoso don't miss it, you'll be amazed on how he tunes/detunes the instrument as needed while he plays.

I haven't found clips in Youtube from that day, and I don't remember if I did any video. I took 2 pictures during the show (which I'm including at the bottom of this post). Here you can see one of the videos I found from a different show, in a different place.

Adrian Legg has played in Iowa several times:

08MAY2014 - Legion Arts (CSPS), Cedar Rapids

30MAR2010 - Legion Arts (CSPS), Cedar Rapids

22JUL2012 - The Mill, Iowa City

18OCT2013 - Legion Arts (CSPS), Cedar Rapids

Batman #663 (The Clown At Midnight)

Batman #663
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art by: John Van Fleet
Cover: ?
Type Design: Todd Klein
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)

Warning: This is not formatted as a regular comic book issue. It is a standalone (kinda) story written in prose by Grant Morrison. In Batman #663 we see the return of The Joker; last time we saw him was in Batman #655, where he gets shot by a fake Batman.

This issue is regarded as one of the best Joker stories out there. I do not agree with that; The story itself is ok nothing special, but the art is awful. It uses CGI (and cheap CGI I might say), back in 2007 there were ways to create better 3D images for sure.

Grant Morrison shows a shows a mastery over an extended lexicon and that's something to applaud. Also, the format, experimenting like this is something that needs to be recognized as taking risks. The downside, which opaques the good work Grant did lays on the layout/font/graphic design of the issue.

This story is not really tied to Batman and Son, but it was compiled in the Trade Paperback edition. 

Batman #658 - Batman and Son Part 4 (Absent Fathers)

Batman #658
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Andy Kubert
Inker: Jesse Delperdang
Cover: Andy Kubert
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)

Damian left Tim out of order to prove who the real son of Batman is. Tim is really injured and Alfred helps him heal. Batman wants Damian to return with Talia and he starts searching for her.

When Batman find Talia, she has a full army of Ninja Man-Bats. We end this issue with a big cliffhanger, probably because this is the last issue of the year. 

I can't say I'm really liking Grant Morrison as a writer so far, I hope I get to understand what's all the fuzz with him. I've heard really good reviews and comments about his work with the series.

Overall, I think this is an issue you can enjoy, but does not bring much to the table. I'm liking the tension between Tim and Damian but I'm guessing they are taking us somewhere where they are able to put all the issues to one side and probably they'll end up being real friends.

Batman #657 - Batman and Son Part 3 (Wonderboys)

Batman #657
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Andy Kubert
Inker: Jesse Delperdang
Cover: Andy Kubert
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)

Batman takes Damian to the batcave. After Talia introduced father and son, it was decided that the boy would spend some time with his dad. The problem is: Damian is a brat; he is not interested in following instructions or taking any advice from anyone. There's a funny sequence of jealousy between Damian and Tim.

The villian on this issue is The Spook.

Overall, I think this is a fun issue. When Damian gets into action it gets very graphic. What's your opinion on media showing kids performing violent acts? are you ok with it?

Aquaman - The Unaired TV Pilot

From Wikipedia: Aquaman is a television pilot developed by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar for The WB Television Network, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Gough and Millar wrote the pilot, which was directed by Greg Beeman. Justin Hartley starred as Arthur "A.C." Curry, a young man living in a beachside community in the Florida Keys who learns about his powers and destiny as the Prince of Atlantis.

The Aquaman pilot was expected to debut in the fall schedule of 2006, but following the merger of the WB and UPN, the resulting CW Network opted not to buy the series. After they passed on the pilot, it was made available online through iTunes in the United States and became the number-one most downloaded television show on iTunes. It received generally favorable reviews, was later released on other online markets, and aired on Canadian television network YTV.

Aquaman - Aquaman

If you were looking for the animated series, here's a link to it too

Aquaman, The Complete Series - Aquaman (Animated)

Batman #656 - Batman and Son Part 2 (Man-Bats from London)

Batman #656
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Andy Kubert
Inker: Jesse Delperdang
Cover: Andy Kubert
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)

Bruce Wayne follows Alfred's suggestion (read Batman #655) and goes to London to relax. We get introduced to Jezebel Jet and after a couple pages we get the appeareance of the Man-Bats, followed by Batman and a long fight between them.

Up to this point, I consider all this introduction to be a filler. I guess the last 2 pages are the ones I would keep. Here's where we get introduced to Damian. Bruce's and Talia al Ghul's son.

Overall, I think you could skip the whole issue without problem. This is one of those weak efforts to keep the story going and getting your money for no real content. I guess I've seen this way too often on serialized comics. What do you think of this issue?

Batman #655 - Batman and Son Part 1 (Building a Better Batmobile)

I´m new to the world of comics, I'm sure I'll be discovering a lot while I keep this log of comics I've read. I'm gonna need your help, being no expert at all any guidance will be useful.

I'm going to start with the Batman & Son arc by Grant Morrison. This will cover Batman #655, #656, #657, #658, #663, #664, #665 & #666

So let get this rolling:



Batman #655
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Andy Kubert
Cover: Andy Kubert
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)

This issue starts in media res; A poisoned commissioner Gordon falls from a building while The Jocker celebrates finally killing Batman, he does not realize though, that Batman has a gun and is willing to use it.

What? Batman with a gun?
I may need some backstory, perhaps in wasn't the easiest issue to start reading Batman, but it took me a while to understand that the Batman with the gun was a cop that snapped.

This arc deals with Batman cleaning Gotham, The Joker gets incarcerated and all major villans are gone.

During this issue we get to see Tim Drake as Robin. So far I've only read stories with Tim or Dick as Robin.

The first 9 pages are very good. They give a feel of where we are heading: a bored Bruce Wayne that has to face life as himself. The rest of the issue goes with no action at all, just dialogue (mostly between Alfred and Bruce)

Overall, I think this issue has a lot of filler with some very strong sequences from the beginning.

JLA #2 - New World Order (The Day The Earth Stood Still)

JLA #2

Writer: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Howard Porter
Inks: John Dell
Colors: Pat Garrahy
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)


Can I start with this issue or do I need to know something?: You haven't missed much if you didn't read Issue #1, briefly, here's what happend: A group of 8 Aliens called "The Hyperclan" arrived to earth, their leader, Protex, promised to fix all problems on earth, The Justice League is suspicious about this proactive approach (they have been reactive so far, right?).


What is it about?

JLA #1 - New World Order (Them!)

JLA #1

Writer: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Howard Porter
Inks: John Dell
Colors: Pat Garrahy
Length: 23 Pages (Estimated)


Can I start with this issue or do I need to know something?: I don't think there's anything that you won't be able to understand if this is your first comic ever.


What is it about?At the beginning of issue #1 we have an existing Justice League consisting of: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash (Wally West), Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), and the Martian Manhunter.


The story starts with a group of 8 aliens arriving to earth, claiming that they can fix all human problems (famine, deforestation, corruption... you get the idea. All humans cheer and welcome this alien group commanded by Protex, but Superman is suspicious about the price or effects that those fixes will have.


Meanwhile, a space station is being attacked. Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Metamorpho are onboard (with 3 other characters I'm not familiar with) and escape just barely.


For a first issue we didn't get much information, of course we get a cliffhanger. So, I would rather get the paperback edition to get more of the story at once. Can't really judge the story so far. The illustration style is something I don't really like, it looks dated... kinda clustered. Superman has long hair, Green Lantern has a very 90's outfit and Batman has long/pointy nails... So far, I'm not crazy about this.


Did you like it?   

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #1 - Shaman Part 1

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #1
Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Pencils: Edward Hannigan
Ink: John Beatty
Letterer: John Constanza
Colorist: Richmond Lewis
Length: 26 Pages (Estimated)


Can I start with this issue or do I need to know something?: 

This is the first issue of the series Legends of the Dark Knight, usually new series don't bring too much baggage. 

What is it about?

This series in particular explores the early years of Batman, there are some slides that quote Frank Miller's "Year One" 
Everything starts in Alaska, while Mr. Dogget, a bounty hunter, and Bruce Wayne are looking for Thomas Woodley. I won't spoil you the story, but Alaska keeps haunting Bruce after he returns to Gotham.

Did I like it?

This has been one of the arcs that I've liked the most so far. I've been reading Batman comics for just 6 months now, I started with the Grant Morrison run, then read the Frank Miller books, tried the Batman series from number one and now, while taking a break on that I decided to read The Legends of The Dark Knight. I've read the first 10 issues, it seems that each arc takes 5 issues.

Amazon has the first issue for free, and even when I had it for a while the cover didn't grab me from the start... So I didn't read it until I noticed I had downloaded it for a while and never paid attention to it. 

The illustrations on it have 70's vibes, probably because of the color palette it uses: plain colors, with no gradients; heavy use of ink patterns and dark silhouettes. I really like the color palette used on night scenes.

Overall, if you get this, you will be getting a really good detective story. Let me know what you think of it.