My Favorite Spider-Man Comic Book

It’s not often I recommend comic books, not because there aren’t a lot of good ones out there, but because I only want to urge readers to check out my real favorites. It just gives my urging a bit more weight, y’know? Today’s recommendation is the Marvel Comics series Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, a superbly written teen drama by author Sean McKeever (who I recently interviewed for CBR News). You might recall Sean’s name from the acclaimed The Waiting Place series of trade paperbacks, but if you’ve never read his work, this Spider-Man book is the one to check out. The title of the series may seem a bit sappy for some, but SMLMJ is one part superhero, one part teen drama and one part authenticity, all of which come together to create a really enjoyable comic book series. The concept of the book is simple: it focuses on young Mary Jane Watson, who has a crush on the superhero Spider-Man and who must deal with the day to day challenges of being a teenager. Eschewing cliches, the book manages to be genuinely thrilling without ever feeling disconnected from reality and without any of the conflict feeling artificial. Since the series is set of out of the continuity of the other comic books and the films, McKeever is able to surprise readers with some real twists & turns, which he excels at in each issue. He also manages to pack each issue full of a lot of content, while not making it such a dense read that the art competes with word balloons. I know that some have tired of teen stories, which I understand, but it’s important to note that this book isn’t typical in any manner. The art by Takeshi Miyazawa (as seen on the left) is not only easy on the eyes, but the artist tells a very strong story with the pictures alone. The scripts continually feel like they could happen in real life, without including those cringe-inducing moments so common to teen drama. Plus, there are some great moments with Spider-Man and Peter Parker that remind you of the most poignant moments in the Spider-Man films, so if you’re interested in the superhero aspect, you’ll definitely be satisfied.

If you’re interested, you can find the graphic novel collections of the McKeever/Miyazawa Spider-Man/Mary Jane stories on Amazon for low prices. They are as follows:

• Mary Jane Vol. 1: Circle of Friends
• Mary Jane Vol.2: Homecoming
• Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Vol. 1: Super Crush
• Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Vol. 2: The New Girl

Apparently we’ll even have a hardcover of the new series soon, though there seems to be no firm release date listed. Still, this is a great book to check out and give to a non-comics reader to show them how intelligent, resonant and fun comic books can be!

Kick Ass Like A Canadian

Check this out. No, I don’t think I’d do it with my health issues, but doesn’t it sound like a ton of fun? Plus, Lance Storm was an awesome talent and he seems like he’d be a great teacher…and Arune Singh, World Heavyweight Champion, sounds pretty good, eh? And as we all know, I have some wrestling gimmicks all lined up.

Not In The Know

I’ve said it before, but I’m always stunned by my generation’s aversion (of which I’ve been guilty) to news and candid, challenging debate. There are far too many people I know who ignore the news and then spout off unsubstantiated conclusions as some kind of gospel (maybe that’s me!), or those who view a small amount of the news each day, retreating because it scares them. I know some people who hear about violent crimes and assume it’ll happen to them, without looking at the circumstances surrounding the crime and doing any kind of research to get the proper factual support for their fear.

However, the most baffling condemnation of watching/reading the news comes from those I know who say they don’t “have the time” and don’t like how the news makes them feel. Call me crazy, but isn’t journalism supposed to inform you about your world and then make you feel something about it?

When did it become bad to feel something (positive or negative) about the world around you because you’re informed and can see the nuances of the global community in which you exist?

Now that may be overstating the position of some who seem utterly terrified by watching the news, but I’ve never understood the fear of learning about the world. Yes, there’s lots of crime in North America. Yes, there are acts of genocide committed each day that go unchecked by the world powers. And yes, the social fabric of North America is changing at an increasingly quick rate, meaning that in order to be relevant, you need to be educated (in some fashion). But that doesn’t mean that you need to be afraid of any of it– you just need to realize what’s going on in the world so you have the proper lens to interpret events. If one doesn’t seek to educate themselves froma variety of sources, the world will surprise them (and not pleasantly) at far more turns that if one seeks a real world education. Not everything going on in the world is bad. And if you know what is wrong, then maybe you can contribute to make a difference, becoming a better person as a result. Additionally, if you know about the things that scare you and how to combat them, you’ll have less reason to be afraid. It’s a situation with only upsides.

There are some people who like to get the news from their friends and family, which I understand to a degree, but it really is just a matter of a few minutes each day to properly research the subjects that matter. For example, politicians are notorious liars and while many mean well, their half truths can obfuscate the matter at hand. If one simply uses Google, or any other search engine, to find more material on a subject, we’ll all be more informed and better able to sort through the BS filtered down to us through these public figures.

When it comes to having the time to keep abreast of current events, I guarantee you that you can spend 15 minutes each day (with a meal for example) reading the newspaper (online/in print) to learn about the big stories. It’s not hard to do if you make it a priority.

No one knows everything, and there’s some bias in almost every major news outlet, but at least having a basic understanding of the world around us seems like something everyone would want. Maybe there is a legitimate reason for not actively searching out your own truth, but if it’s out there, I’ve never heard it. There’s just no reason to be averse to some information about the world around us, because it can only do us good and encourage us to see how we can best contribute to the world around us.

Welcome To Arune.Com

With so many new visiters to the site in recent months, I just wanted to say hello and welcome you to my pet project, Arune.Com. Take a moment to check out the menu choices on the right and see what interests you– the “Worldview” section seems most popular. I’ve also got some links to blogs, news and entertainment sites further down the page.

Thank you for taking the time to check out this site and I welcome your feedback. This site is constantly evolving, and with the deluge of original material in the past few months, I truly believe we’re growing into something special.

Spam-A-Lot

If I were to become a secret agent like James Bond, I’d probably find all those people sending me spam via e-mail and kick their asses, y’know? Nothing too severe, maybe just a punch right between the eyes and a knee to the gut. It’s frustrating to wake up to so much e-mail each day. Two of my e-mail addresses are inundated each day, one of which I’ve given up on even trying to stop the e-mail. I filter away as much as I can but it doesn’t help, though according to CNN, I’m not alone: 9 out of 10 e-mails are now spam.

I get a lot of spam comments on the blog too, from a variety of porn/sex related persons, and it makes me wonder: why the hell would anyone want to spend their life spamming people? And how do they morally justify it? To me, the funniest part of the article is the idea that if people stop being interested in porn and sex toys, these spam e-mails would disappear. [Sarcasm] After all, the problem couldn’t be that the spammers are petty, selfish, self-indulgent people who are marking a conscious choice to con, swindle and disrespect people using the internet. That would never happen. [/Sarcasm]

So, next time you get spam, know that you’re not alone, and if you’re one of those people who doesn’t get spammed, well, I’m happy for ya. You’re not missing out on anything.

Arune.Com’s Weekly YouTube Fix

We’re back! It’s a little soon, I know, but the updates over the week will be sparse, so I figured I’d give you all this installment a bit early, so you can look forward to more “real” entries later in the week. Last week’s videos went over well and while I’d love to bring that level of stuff each week, I’m not sure I have the time to search for so many videos! Still, I hope you enjoy the few I can bring you each week. We’ll start off with a clip from the WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007 game (PS2 version below), introducing Gregory Helms, one of my favorite WWE stars right now. His opening music is just great– full of atmosphere and putting forth a bad guy vibe without going over the rop.

Next we’ve got the fall finale ad for Prison Break, which features “It’s Not Over,” the new single from the band Daughtry. It’s a catchy song and their debut album is a fun background music CD. Nothing mindblowing, but catchy enough to keep me interested and good for some noise when I’m writing.

Maybe I’m masochistic, but I felt like seeing a clip from that lame Jean Claude Van Damme Street Fighter flick and well, this will tell you why the film is such a joke:

Kids These Days!

No, this isn’t in response to the moronic teens who tried to blow up Wal-Mart. Instead, this was inspired by a recent article discussing how students behave these days. It’s pretty accurate, at least from my recent university experience, but I’m not sure it’s anything new. Sure, I couldn’t text message and play with an iPod in school, but I still could use a DiscMan and scribble notes to other people. The thing that bothered me most in this article was the idea that students aren’t to blame. I’m not saying that they’re not the only responsible party, but the idea that “It’s the same behavior we’re seeing in the rest of society” excuses their conduct makes little sense to me. Maybe I’m taking this out of context, and there’s more to this person’s perspective, but my first response was, “they’re being sheep…and that’s cool?”

Continue reading Kids These Days!…

Check Out Degrassi In Chicago

Many of you may not have watched Degrassi: The Next Generation, but let me tell you, the show is huge and fans are very devoted. You’re probably familiar with the Degrassi: Extra Credit graphic novels, for which I was mistakenly listed as the author. I also recently talked to Christopher Jackson about Degrassi moving into other media outlets, which is great news for fans of the show. It’s quite an excellent program, with a very authentic view of high school life and if I was a teenager, I’d probably be loyal fan. Not that you need to be a teen to love the show, but I’ve had my fill of teen tales of late, y’know? Anyway, it’s an excellent show and and I catch it whenever I have the time. Also, check out my interview with Extra Credit writer J. Torres, who talked about the books, which really are excellent reads.

If you’d like to meet some of the cast, this week is the time to do it and Chicago is the place to be. Jackson sent me this information, which you might find intersting:

Hey Chicago and Midwest!

Melissa McIntyre and Mike Lobel, Degrassi’s Ashley and Jay, are coming to your neck of the woods with an armload of Degrassi: Extra Credit graphic novels!

Come on out to Borders Books & Music at 1 N. La Grange Road in La Grange, IL (20 or so minutes from downtown Chicago) on Saturday, December 2nd. (Click here for a map) The event goes from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, but we expect a BIG crowd, so you’ll want to be sure to get there early!

M and M will sign your copies of the Degrassi: Extra Credit graphic novels (they’ll be available at the store) and even pose for a picture with you! So come on out to meet Melissa and Mike, show some Degrassi love, and get a hold of the kewlest comics around!

- Doc

P.S. Huge thanks to the hundreds of Degrassi freaks who showed up at our signing in Freehold, New Jersey last Saturday! Freehold Rocks! Keep an eye out for a photo gallery from that signing as we relaunch www.degrassi.tv next week!

Arune.Com’s Weekly YouTube Fix

Well folks, we’re closing in on the end of another strong month at Arune.Com. For many reasons, December may not be as busy, but I’ll try to bring you as much content as I can, along with more of these weekly videos collections. First up, we have my favorite commercial on television, from Libery Mutual of all people. It’s a very touching and resonant ad that manages not to be overly cheesy. I just saw it on television today, but I’m sure it’s been around for a few weeks.

I know that a lot of you love Heroes and while I’m not a fan of the show, some of you might well love it, so here’s two videos– one promoting the pilot and the other promoting recent events. As I’ve said before, I see a lot of potential in the show and maybe it’ll click with me next season. I just can’t get into the show, as much as I’ve tried.

We’ll end with some videos of a new Arune.Com favorite, Sonjay Dutt, another wrestler from the relatively new TNA wrestling fed. He’s of East Indian heritage and calls himself the “original playa from the Himalaya.” You can find more information on him right here. This first match ends perfectly– solid match from everyone involved.

Masculinity & Men’s Magazines

At some point or another, every one of you checking out this site have read a men’s magazine such as Men’s Health, GQ, Esquire or some other magazine for men. I’m not talking about the more sexually explicit magazines– though Playboy really does have some good articles and the porn is easily the most boring aspect to me– but just those “Style” and “Health” magazines that all seem to have the answer to pleasing a woman listed on their cover. Odd, I know. Anyway, I was reading through a couple of those magazines and perhaps I was tired, so this felt like more of a revelation to me (hence this post), but I realized just how out of touch these magazines seem to be from their own definition of masculinity.

Now I love Men’s Health– it’s an utterly fabulous magazine that I can say has improved my life not only because of the fitness tips, but also because of some of the incredibly insightful commentary on life and the pursuit of real happiness. In fact, it’s reading that magazine that inspired me to turn Arune.Com into a blog, so you can either curse or lavish praise on MH. Still, it perplexes me that such a magazine (and others) can at one turn tell me how I need to blaze my own path to be a real man and then tell me how I “gotta” own a $500 sweater. Seriously folks, call Houston: we have a problem.

Continue reading Masculinity & Men’s Magazines…