My First Visit to Astro City

I'd been meaning to do more posting and gathering my thoughts and favorites about Astro City, prior to the first issue of the new monthly coming out, but I never got around to it. And doing a little walking tonight during a free night off work, it got me to rethinking some of those ideas. I originally was just going to do some rereadings and do some favorites and least favorites lists and characters I'm most curious about. But  I figured the best place to start, was my first journey into Astro City.
I was 12 at the time and it was late 1996, in either late November or early December, and definitely what you could call a time of change. I was in my first yer of junior high school, had just recently became a Christian by belief and my grandfather had just recently passed away. My grandparents also used to own a newsstand/bookstore, that they closed up that summer due to my grandfathers declining health. Along with cousins on the other side of my family, that is where is picked up my interest in comics books(and reading in general), having a vast disposal during summers and weekly trips to pick up new magazines and comics.G.I. Joe was the comic that got me hooked and eventually after it ended helped me branch out into superheroes.
At the time though, I was mostly picking up random books that looked interesting or trying to fill in gaps of storylines I was missing. I was digging the one shots of Amalgam Comics, that Marvel and DC made during, DC vs Marvel, and Generation X from Marvel was the only book I was following, but my interest was starting to wain there.
On that chilly dreary looking day, we were out shopping on a Saturday in Jefferson City, mostly antique stores, we made our way to the Antiquarium, a comic book and book store. After doing some perusing and making notes of what stuff I wanted to get or was interested in, I eventually started getting my haul. I had a bad habit in those days of not picking up what I wanted right away and often forgetting what I wanted. I don't know if it was just if my parents weren't going to get anything, I didn't want to waste time of getting some or what. I remember that day Grant Morrison's first issue of the rebooted JLA was on the spinner racks and was one of the books I was going to get, but never did. I kicked myself for years for not getting that then. I was a sucker for starting on new books anyway...   
One book I did pick up was Kurt Busiek's Astro City issue number four(vol. two). I didn't have much of an impression about the book, other than I thought it was Kurt and Alex Ross trying to recreate comic characters in their own world. I actually thought Alex Ross did the interior artwork. Though that should have made me pick it up sooner; I had enjoyed the Marvels trade paperback collection. But the fact it had someone who looked like the Thing on the cover, only reinforced that belief, but hey, I liked trying a bunch of different stuff...
After getting back home, later that night in the cozy confines of the den, where I could enjoy my days haul of comics in solace, I stepped into the world of Astro City.
Kurt's said that Astro City and its heroes are just as unrealistic as any other comic universe and it's not a realistic view of heroes. But the realistic emotions of what it would be like traveling to a metropolis full of superheroes is. Riding along with Brian Kinney in those first few pages, it felt real and unique to any other comic I had read.
And then there were the Crossbreed, a group of evangelical Christian superheroes preaching the Gospel on a street corner, with realistic and derogatory responses from those passing by. That's when I was really blown away, especially after just recently becoming a Christian. Other than a few glancing elements of Catholicism, you wouldn't find this at DC or Marvel. It felt like I was experiencing everything with Brian, rather than being a passive observer.
Then came the history. There's a hero that's been active since 1862?! Who's the Air Ace and Leopardman?  Was I supposed to know who they are? How does the universe have so much built up after only eleven stories? Everything was intriguing and I wanted to find out more.
Thankfully, that day I also bought the year end issue of Wizard, which happened to have an article, A Visitor's Guide to Astro City. It gave me an insight to a few of the things, but gave me more questions too.
The other major drawing point? Brent Anderson's artwork. It wasn't Alex Ross, it was possibly better. Again there was just the realistic element in the details of everything, from faces to the backgrounds of the beautiful city, from city blocks to the secluded museum areas.

A brief aside, but Brent's pencils never looked better than those first twelve issues of volume two, when he was inked by Will Blyberg. Anderson's always had critiques of being somewhat inconsistent, with one great panel, then a so-so one, which I can see to a degree. But, when Blyberg was inking him, it let Anderson bring out the detail a lot more, which the first volume of the series and all the later incarnations feature Anderson doing his own inking. I don't know if it was that combination, plus being on that grittier, darker paper versus shiner, glossier paper later or what, but it was beautiful.

Even though, there were several good jumping on point first issues for Astro City, this one just seemed perfect, entering into the city the same time as Brian Kinney started his journey. I read later responses that it felt like a coming out story for someone who was gay, which I could see as a I got older. But more it felt like the country mouse comes to the big city to try and make a name for himself, but more to find his place. I related it, as someone who was coming out as being a fan of comic books.
I lived in a small rural community and in the country to top it off. I had no internet access at home for another two or three years. Heck, we still only had the Big Three networks, until we got satellite the next Fall.  There was no one around I knew, that liked or even read comic books, apart from my aforementioned cousins. But I really only saw them on a couple of holidays. So, I never really had anyone to talk to about comic books or even really want to mention that I read them, for fear of being an outcast. Wizard was really the only information source I had, when I picked up a copy.
I never really found a place until later high school years, with message boards and information at my disposal where I could discuss my comic book interests. I also found a group of friends, in the class below me, who enjoyed most of the geeky things I did as well, Star Trek, sci fi and one even was a pretty big comics fan, but I still never shed the loner mentality.
Within the next month or so, on the next comic book store run, to a different store though, I picked up the next issue, number five and the first issue of volume two. The continued story of Brian Kinney and another stellar introduction issue, fueled the fire for my interest in the series.
This was my Silver Age of comic book reading, I suppose, if G.I. Joe was my Golden Age. There have been solid and great stories told by Kurt and company since and even before, but there is still something magical in those first thirteen or fourteen issues of volume two for me.

A 2008 Collegiate Men's Olympic Basketball Team

And this is the final installment of playing make believe with the USA Men's Olympic Basketball team, if they always made of college players. I left off with a 2004 team, that would have seemed a little short on talent compared to the other Olympic years. But this 2008 team would have a little more fire and star power. The implement of the "one and done" rule for the NBA surely helps out, in making the most talented players go to college for a year.
I think the coach would have been Ben Howland for leading UCLA back from being a solid program, to an elite program fighting for Final Four berths. And I think a lot of the talent for this team would have been on display at the 2008 Final Four and I don't doubt Howland would have brought a good number of his Bruins.


Starters 

• C/PF Kevin Love (UCLA)
• PF Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina)
• SF/SG Brandon Rush (Kansas)
• G Derrick Rose (Memphis)
• PG Darren Collison (UCLA)

Bench

• C Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)
• PF D.J. White (Indiana)
• F Michael Beasley (Kansas State)
• SF Chase Budinger (Arizona) 
• SG/SF Shan Foster (Vanderbilt)
• SG Stephen Curry (Davidson)
• G Russell Westbrook (UCLA)

 This team and the talent pool to choose from would have made for a very strong team. This group here has a good combination of talent and versatility. And there is depth and strength at every position, height and size wise. There is also a good number of upperclassmen to go with young phenoms. I even left off a couple of the Freshman stars that year in O. J. Mayo and Blake Griffin and a couple of First Team All Americans, to fill in a few role spots.
Making up these rosters were fun, whenever I found the time and got around to it. Looking at various All-American and NBA Draft lists, as well as Olympic practice teams gave me an idea of who were the players around for each year.
The biggest fault I know is that its star player heavy like the Olympic teams since they allowed professionals to play. Looking at the actual collegiate Olympic rosters of the past, many times there were a handful of stars, a few skilled role players for certain spots and a lot more mid major talent. And even throughout the history of USA Men's Olympic Basketball, there was even chances stars wouldn't turn out, like Alcindor and Walton and the other UCLA players in 1968 and 1972. Or even like Pete Maravich and others who didn't make the cut for the 1968 team.
And there is no way to know who would have been announced as coach a year or two before and what type of team they would try to build up before the the Olympics even got close.
But it's been fun and I guess I can do it again in three years...

The Honky Tonk Hero; 6/9 Billy Joe Shaver Concert Review

I had been wanting to see the original Honky Tonk Hero, Mr. Billy Joe Shaver for years. He's played at Knuckleheads in Kansas City through the years and occasionally in St. Louis, but couldn't figure out why not in Columbia, with its huge contingent of rednecks and redneck posers. When the Blue Note posted that Mr. Shaver was coming, I was there in a heartbeat.
I wound up having to eat a ticket, as my old man was able to get in the fields and my brother had to work. But, oh well. I got there right when doors were to open, but they were already open. After taking a piss I wandered in to find a pretty desolate club. I stood for a while, then said screw it and sat at a table through the opening act.
Mercer and Johnson, a local duo played 13 songs over 50 minutes. They were interesting with a few catchy songs. They consisted of one member playing electric bass and the other alternating between acoustic guitar and mandolin, so they had a different sound and appearance. Steve Earle would be the artist they remind me of sound wise the most. A combination of country, blues, rock and bluegrass. And I guess I could have saw them in my neck of the woods in New London. They were enjoyable and a nice primer.
After they cleared the stage and another piss break, I decided to make my way toward the stage and there were more people(younger ones at that too) congregating up front as well. At first I counted about 20 to 30 people while the opening act was playing, but I'd say there was probably close to a hundred by the time Billy Joe took to the stage at about 8:20 or so. Still it should have a been a larger crowd to see this living legend, but it was a Sunday night and all the college kids are gone for the summer. But it does make me glad to know Columbia has some people with good musical taste and knowledge. And they're not all into bigger name or people who get on the radio, or just wanting to reason to get drunk in public.
The early part of his set was dominated by a lot by higher energy songs, which for being a man in his 70's, Shaver is spry and wiry. He was active and energetic with motions throughout the night. And the early part was dominated by some of his more well known songs.
A couple of the highlights for me were early. That's What She Said Last Night, a hilarious song filled with double entendres and dealing with technology and phones ("You just can't satisfy women these days, they want it bigger and bigger...some even like the black models.") Shaver told us it was the hardest and worst song he's ever wrote.
Then Wacko from Waco,which he wrote to tell the correct story on what happened on why he'd shot a man a few years back ("I shot him right between the mother and the fucker."), as compared to the song Dale Watson wrote, Where Do You Want It? "He wrote that before I'd even went to turn myself in the next day and was on the phone telling me about it. And the prosecutor was using it court as part of my motive against me!" Shaver told us.
I'm not sure on the exact order of the set list on a few songs, but these are the ones he played. I noticed it was very similar to his Live at Billy Bobs live album with his opening ten songs or so.

Set List 

Heart of Texas
Georgia On a Fast Train
Honky Tonk Heroes
That's What She Said Last Night
Black Rose
Wacko from Waco
I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)
When Fallen Angels Fly
Star in My Heart
Live Forever
Thunderbird
Hottest Thing in Town
Love Is So Sweet
Sweet Mama
Ride Me Down Easy
Freedom's Child
 I Couldn't Be Me Without You
The Git Go
Honey Bee
You Wouldn't Know Love If You Fell In It
Woman is the Wonder of the World
Bottom Dollar
Try and Try Again
You Just Can't Beat Jesus Christ 

 The song Thunderbird featured a brief break for Billy Joe and his guitarists, while his drummer played a five minute solo or so. Shaver picked up a Red Bull for us all to see. The three piece backing band was very tight. And the best part was they were overtly raucously loud. Standing right next to one of the speakers for almost two hours, I had very little hearing loss.

The next song The Hottest Thing in Town was just as smoking and another highpoint for me. After Freedoms Child, the lead guitarist picked up an acoustic and save for the last two songs, the rest of the songs were softer ballad types.
Throughout the night, Billy Joe gave us backgrounds on the songs, as well as important meanings and things to him. Towards the end when he was talking about God and how you can do anything with Him and He can make you better at what you do, he added, "If you're an asshole, He'll make you a better asshole." Hilarious. 
After Woman is the Wonder of the World, he added, "It's true they are the wonder of the world. We put them up on a pedestal and what do you get? Bottom Dollar," with a sly grin.
The only real surprise was that he didn't play You Ask Me Too or Old Five and Dimers Like Me, two of more well known songs. 
Before the last song, someone handed him a piece of paper with a request, he opened and looked at it and said he'd think about it, but he had to do one for his hero, in You Just Can't Beat Jesus Christ.
After he said his goodbye he mentioned he'd be out front signing whatever. I waited a few minutes to go up front, and waited a few more in line. A bigger guy waiting was mentioning that he might get a restraining order against him, as he'd seen Shaver in Kansas City the night before and was going to St. Louis the next night. Then mentioned he had to give a thong, I'm assuming Billy Joe Shaver on, to his 19 year old daughter, to which Billy Joe put his hand up to his ear jokingly. I was thinking about buying his book, but ended up just having him sign my ticket(benefits and drawbacks to using print at home vs an actual ticket) and shaking his hand.
This was a really great show, by great performer. It's probably muscled its way into one of the best I've been to consideration. It's amazing though how people can't fill up the Blue Note to see a legendary figure in Country music, but yet they'll fill up Mizzou Arena for whatever ass clown of the era comes to town...

A 2004 Collegiate Men's Olympic Basketball Team

Continuing where I left off, I've moved on to making an US Men's Olympic basketball team made up of college players. And this would 2004, a year of infamy in US Olympic Basketball, in which for the first time a team of professional players failed to win the gold medal(and lose three times in the process).
I think it would have been Roy Williams as the coach, if he wouldn't have already been before in his remarkably consistent career at Kansas and before returning North Carolina to national prominence. And I think he would have been the ideal coach for this team.


Starters

• C Emeka Okafor (Connecticut)
• PF Wayne Simien  (Kansas)
• SF Josh Childress (Stanford)
• SG Ben Gordon (Connecticut)
• PG Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph's)

Bench

• PF/C Sean May (North Carolina)
• PF Hakim Warrick (Syracuse)
• PF Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State) 
• SF Luke Jackson (Oregon)
• SG J.J. Redick (Duke)
• G Blake Stepp (Gonzaga)
• PG Chris Paul (Wake Forrest) 

 Maybe I wasn't paying attention as much during this season of college hoops(Mizzou had probably the most disappointing season in their history with the talent they had.) but apart from a few marquee names, the group of players just doesn't jump out at you. The previous Olympic years I've done all had at least a couple guys with that potential that make you think it would be a dominant talented team. This year's group of players would have made 2004 still seem like it was going to be a struggle for the US.
But there are a few stars, Okafor and Nelson, plus Paul who was only a Freshman here. But skipping college had become the norm for major talent. Actual 2004 team members, LeBron James, would have been a Freshman,  Carmelo Anthony, skipped out in 2003 after his Freshman year and Dwyane Wade, left early as well in 2003, all would have been marquee talent.
And all three are that mid size athletic guy or an athletic forward, which going over the All-American lists and other rosters for 2004, which seemed to be lacking. This roster reflects that, in that the guards are all smaller and the big guys tall, height wise. I'm sure in real life it would have been balanced a little more, but it just seemed like all the talent that year were smaller guards, with a handful of bigs.
But the thing is, Roy Williams could probably work it to his advantage. Quite a few of his later Kansas teams were built on three smaller guys and two bigs. As much as I despised him for coaching KU and now Carolina, I've got to admit he's a hell of a recruiter and able to harvest that talent into a unit. With this roster he has talented point guards, solid shooters and quality big guys with various strengths. This team might have stood a better chance that the real 2004 team...
Though maybe we're just destined to lose every 16 years. 1972 to 1988 to 2004, which puts 2020 as the next year. And that will be the first Games after which Coach K won't be coach after righting the US ship following the 2004 debacle...

A 2000 Collegiate Men's Olympic Basketball Team

Continuing from my previous work of making up Olympic teams made up of college players, I'm now up to 2000. The group of eligible players wouldn't have been as stout from top to bottom as the 1992 and 1996 teams would have probably looked. By now skipping college altogether was becoming more common(Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal would have been seniors in 2000) and early entrants were as well.
But looking at the top college players here, I think this group would probably be a better "team" from top to bottom rather than a collection of stars. I think Coach K would have again been the coach, after getting Duke back to prominence from a lull in the mid-90s and he likely would have again brought several of his guys to enhance the team setting.

Starters

• C Brendan Haywood (North Carolina)
  
• PF Troy Murphy (Notre Dame)
  
• F Shane Battier (Duke)
  
• SG/SF Chris Carrawell (Duke)
• PG Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State)
  

Bench

• C Chris Mihm (Texas)
• PF/C Kenyon Martin (Cincinnati) *
• PF Marcus Fizer (Iowa State)
• SF Morris Peterson (Michigan State)
  
• SF/SG Tayshaun Prince (Kentucky)
• SG/SF Courtney Alexander (Fresno State)
• PG Jason Williams (Duke)
• PG Speedy Claxton (Hofstra)

This would definitely have been an athletic team, with forwards with size, speed and agility. The only downside is there isn't that many true shooting guards besides Carrawell, but the versatile forwards like Prince and Battier, make up for it. And there quite a few good point guard candidates that didn't make the roster, A.J. Guyton and Scoonie Penn, were both first team All-Americans, plus there was Ed Cota and Khalid El-Amin too...
And I realize my teams are more star and All-American heavy that historical college Olympic teams. Quite a few of the stars wouldn't want to play, some guys wouldn't make it due to needing various role spots(Height, shooters, mid size defensive stopper, etc.) and there likely have been a couple true two guards. But I also figure that as the game became more international, kids would want that exposure for the future and its a combination of taking as many of the best players and filling roles.
No matter who would have made up the roster( if it were made up of college players), I think this group of players(as well as the options available in 1992 and 1996) would have continued USA Basketball's winning way in Olympic play. But 2004 might be a different story..

*- I'm assuming Kenyon Martin wouldn't have been able to make the team after breaking his leg during the Conference USA Tournament, but as the player of the year in college basketball, he would have definitely been a starter.

Maybe It's the Nerd In Me...

...But on the Big Bang Theory, how does Penny have an apartment in the same building as Sheldon and Leonard, who share an apartment? Granted hers is way smaller, but a waitress barely making ends meet versus two scientists with doctorates working at a university? Stranger things in life happen and I guess it is a pretty crappy apartment building(the elevator has never worked) which would let the two of them save money for stuff they like....

The Spirit of George Jones...And Everyone Else; 5/3 Jamey Johnson Concert Review

I put off buying tickets to see one of my favorite performers for a third time, Jamey Johnson until about two weeks or so before. I was sort of wishy washy about it, I just saw him a year to the date(or at least the same first Friday of May. I remember because it was Free Comic Book Day the next day last year as well.), but figured I hadn't burned up any vacation days and he is one of my favorite artists.

And it was originally going to be held outside on 9th Street in front of the Blue Note as part of it's 9th Street Summerfest line of concerts. The weather changed of possible snow in May, pushed it indoors. Which was ironic because last year, I was worried about getting to hot inside the venue. And it also pushed the doors opening from six to eight for whatever reason.
I got there a little after seven , after doing a scramble to find parking on a Friday night and the line was already tailed back into south alley. I made the strategic decision to leave my heavy coat, in that I'd rather be down in front of the stage than up in the balcony. Standing in line for 40 minutes of 40 degree temperature, I did have some regrets but figuring it'd be warm inside packed up next to people. I'm just glad I skipped shaving...
Once the doors open and I got in and took a piss, I got in a decent area up to the left front area. And to my dismay, even with my hoodie it was still freezing in a gaggle of people. The crowd was made up of a surprisingly number of middle aged women in addition to younger college age fans. Both downing copious amounts of beer.
After standing around for another hour, opening act Chris Hennessee came out at nineish and played seven( I think) songs over half an hour. He did a lot of the outlaw name dropping and covering of songs, doing a good job of priming the crowd, but when playing his own originals it was like he was playing for about ten people in a crowd of a thousand. Which was a shame because I think he's got some talent and enjoyed his raw singer songwriting material, Waylon Jennings Song was the best stand out and even the medley of his influences was enjoyable, though makes him sound too much like others.
Set List
1. Country Boy Can Survive>Outlaw Women
2. Waylon Jennings Song
3. Long Haired Redneck>Hey Good Looking
4. 
5. Red Dress
6. Medley- Mama's Don't Let Your Baby's Grow Up (To Be Cowboys)/ Luckenbach Texas> Good Ol' Boys/ Swingin'/Ballad of Curtis Loew/Can't You See
7. Georgiana

Around 10:05 the lights dimmed and the band took the stage, including Hennessee who played guitar, harmonica and backing vocals during Johnson's whole set, before Jamey clad in a Harley emblazoned jacket, took the stage and opening with  High Cost of Living.
Being my third time seeing him, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect song wise and the reverence of covers from his favorite artist. I could even say it's his shtick, of how he doesn't hardly say anything throughout the show, plays a lot of the same covers, which takes a lot of the uniqueness away for me, but there's something about the passion and joy that makes me forget about most of that and just enjoy the show. Without libation too. It's a celebration of Johnson's songs, his backing band's tightness and ability and his respect for his forefathers.
The day before he played the memorial for the late great George Jones and it was still evident throughout the night, the second song was a Jones song, the first of four, possibly five. And you could see the intensity of Johnson putting in the performance to these songs.
Overall in the 32 song and two and half hour, it was about two thirds cover songs to Johnson originals. While I'd have liked to have heard a couple of favorites California Riots, Women, it really didn't matter. Seeing him do three Waylon songs, and all three ones I like, Set 'Em Up Joe and three of my favorite Johnson songs, By the Seat of Your Pants, Playing the Part and Give It Away, all made up for it.

Set List (Not sure of one song)

1. Released>High Cost of Living
2. Bartender's Blues
3. That Lonesome Song
4. Still Doing Time
5. Can't Cash My Checks
6.  Take This Job and Shove It
7. Waymore's Blues
8. That's The Way Love Goes
9. The Guitar Song
10. Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?
11. By the Seat of Your Pants
12. Set 'Em Up Joe
13. Playing the Part
14. The Door Is Always Open
15. Long Black Veil
16. Dixieland Delight
17. Understand Your Man
18. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
19.  ?(Would These Arms Be In Your Way? Walk Through This World With Me, Honky Tonk World, Don't You Ever Get Tired(Of Hurting Me)
20. Macon
21. Heaven Was a Drink of Wine
22. White Lightning
23. Oh Susannah/Midnight Rider
24. Nothing Is Better Than You
25. Turn the Page
26. Tulsa Time
27. In Color
28. Give It Away
29. The Chair
30. I Fall to Pieces
31. Amazing Grace
32. I Saw the Light


And of my three times seeing him this was the most talkative he's been. Midway through the show there was a couple of fights, where the bouncers had to escort at least three people out through the night(and mostly girls I believe) which led Johnson to remark, "If you all keep up the fighting, we're gonna have to learn the Rocky theme." And one of the crew, looking to be ex-cop or military, came near me and was harassing some girl, making me miss a good part of the fiery performance of Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? Thanks dickhead.
 Before the highlight performance of the night Dixieland Delight, he asked us if we liked Alabama? And after the scorching fiddle playing by the keyboardist, he remarked, "There's nothing we can do that can top that....But we can add to it."  And before The Chair, he said, "Alright, lets do some Hank Cochran," and afterwards explained to us before it was a George Strait song it was a Cochran song.
The only real downside, was being in front of the speaker, the bass was cranked way higher than anything in the mix for where I was standing. Needless to say a day later the ears and deaf and ringing.

"Here's one for the Opossum, " he said, before Amazing Grace and "in case its dark when he gets there," before the finale of I Saw the Light, which Johnson still doesn't do the fake exit encore, which is another reason to love this man.
The big guy I was standing near most of the night and who I believe was there last year as well, yelled out, "Jamey Johnson! You can fuck my mom!" at one point towards the end. Hilarious.
Standing for five and a half hours and being cold all night and still have ringing ears 24 hours later, it was well worth it. Better than last year and almost as good as the first time I saw him in 2009, which is probably the best concert I've ever seen. How awesome is it to see a man with two CMA and ACM Songs of the Year under his belt this close and yet, so sad when people like Jason Aldean are where they are?