As a kid I was always a huge marvel comics fan and now as a big kid , I'm still a fan. I'm a total mark for the work of Stan Lee. Along with Matisse, Klimt, Basquiat, Egon Schiele ,and Vermeer I'd have to say next in line as some of my favorite artists would have to be Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, who illustrated The Hulk and Spider-Man. Anyhoo, Stan left the helm of Marvel Comics decades ago and inmo the product has suffered with his departure. However, Stan started his own company and is developing his own characters.
I had the chance this week to watch the animated adaptation of his new character"The Condor". "The Condor" tells the story of a young hispanic skateboarder whose legs are damaged after being assaulted by thugs. Naturally , in true Stan Lee style his family owns a robotics company and he uses the technology to not only walk again, but to become a skateboarding hero called "The Condor". It's a cool concept and Stan has still got it, but the animated adaptation lacked much to be desired. The production attempts to be hip and at times uses adult situations and language, but it seems written for a 5 year old! I couldn't help but think, "I wish I had a crack at writing this thing" while I watched it.
I guess it served to remind me that I should get cracking on my own comic ideas, of which I have a ton. I've been putting them on the back burner for years due to work and college. I really need to stop procrastinating. I've been corresponding with a group of animators interested in pitching a show to Adult Swim, so we will see where it leads. They seem like some cool cats to at least keep in touch with. I just filmed an old animated short from 10 years ago with a really low tech webcam, but it did the trick. I can't complain. It's nice that the technology exists today where anyone with a computer can crank out a film or short. Internet killed the T.V. star! My cartoon is nothing to write home about, but some parts of it are pretty good, others not so good. Anyway, I'm glad I finally filmed it. Now on to bigger and better. I think I will try relearning and animating with flash again, especially since the sinuses seem to be clearing up.
