"The Stand," Captain Trips and the University of Kentucky

In 1978, Stephen King's apocalyptic vision "The Stand" was first published. More than 10 years later, he released the complete and uncut edition. "The Stand" tells the story of good versus evil as set up thanks to most of the world's population being decimated thanks to a government-created super virus. Those who were immune began having dreams... some dreamed of an elderly woman who warned them of the evil that lurked about and drew them to her in Colorado, while others dreamed of "the Walkin' Dude" who drew those folks to Las Vegas. The novel culminates with an epic showdown.

Early on during the beginning of the death and destruction, King took the reader to various places around the United States where people were dealing with the virus scare in different ways. One of those scenes takes the reader to the fictional University of Kentucky at Louisville campus where students are working to form a coalition against the government who they believe is lying to them about the severity of the disease.

Last year, Marvel began publishing a comic book adaptation of the novel. In it, the writers seek more realism by planting this scene firmly on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington.



And if you are familiar with the University of Kentucky campus, the artist also did not take any liberties with the image at the top of the page. As a matter of fact, I think he may have used this photo as a reference:



Ultimately, the story returns to UK's campus where students hold their anti-government rally, which is interrupted by the police and, as the story indicates, a "turkey shoot" takes place.



I have to give Marvel and the creative team behind "The Stand: Captain Trips" credit for incorporating realism into this fictional story. And it's cool that it's UK.

Batman: Arkham Asylum and the next Bat-film

The upcoming video game Batman: Arkham Asylum is almost making me want to save my pennies so that I can buy a PS3 on which to play this bad boy.

Here are a couple of trailers for the game:





But it is the one I saw today that makes the game even more interesting... the addition of Harley Quinn.



I really like what that they've removed her, at least from the look of this trailer, from the cartoony Harley Quinn of Batman: The Animated Series to more along the lines of how she appeared in the original graphic novel Joker.

But more interestingly, is that this could show a way of incorporating Harley into the next Batman film.

I don't see why it couldn't be a possibility.

it's early

i hate it when i can't sleep. i woke up at 3:30 a.m. today. not sure if it was me or my noisy upstairs neighbor. either way, i wasn't able to go back to sleep. why? i started thinking.

and i was thinking about some bad stuff. and i think i've made some decisions that even surprised me.

decisions that probably will be better discussed at a later time.

Quote of the Day - 4/9/09

"I think the best way to start writing a novel is to start writing a novel."

- Neil Gaiman, via his online journal

Remembering Dad

During this month I remember my Dad, who died in 2006.

Last year I blogged about February 2006 and how it all happened.

I am creating this posting to consolidate those entries.

It's still tough. But this helps.

Here It Goes Again

Memories

Fear This!

Sammy and Dad

Hittin' the Rails

Doughnuts

February 15, 2006

February 16, 2006

February 17, 2006

February 18-19, 2006

February 22, 2006

February 23-34, 2006

February 25, 2006

February 27, 2006

The Aftermath

Father's Day 2008 - Part 1

Father's Day 2008 - Part 2

Quote of the Day - 1-26-09

"About to drink second cup of tea without Marmalade this morning. Also, I just won the Newbury Medal for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK."

(and moments later)

"Newbery, not Newbury. Also FUCK!!!! I won the FUCKING NEWBERY THIS IS SO FUCKING AWESOME. I thank you."

- Neil Gaiman, author, via Twitter

Coraline

I am really looking forward to this film. I've never read the book, but have been getting into Neil Gaiman's stuff for a while now, and really like it. I recently read "The Graveyard Book" and really dug it. It's the first novel of his that I've read, having read some of his "Sandman" work.

So, check out the movie "Coraline" on Feb. 6.




And speaking of "The Graveyard Book," if you are interested in it but don't want to read it yourself, you can go to www.mousecircus.com and see video of Neil Gaiman reading the book.