Well, it was bound to happen. DC is hard at work producing a range of Watchmen- related comics. I can just imagine Alan Moore sitting in a pentagram over the dead body of a sacrificed toad and screaming spells and curses against the DC CEOs (OK, cheap joke). The various mini- series will be called Before Watchmen and they will be prequel stories set in the Watchmen universe. Details:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/books/dc-comics-plans-prequels-to-watchmen-series.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&ref=arts&adxnnlx=1328270417-MQdxT/op82SG6x5MvPhpKQ 

● RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
● MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
● COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
● DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
● NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
● OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
● SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

Anyone who has any knowledge of comics can see that there is a huge talent pool here. Everyone involved with the project is an accomplished artist or writer. And yet, I am almost speechless with the bottomless stupidity of the whole project.

I am not an Alan Moore fanboy. Watchmen is indeed a masterpiece but it’s not necessarily the best comic of all time. Hell, I’d argue that it isn’t even the best thing Alan Moore has ever done. Moore believed that the whole thing couldn’t even be translated into film and I think he was wrong about that (although I wish it was Terry Gilliam or Darren Aronofski that got to do it and not Zack Snyder).

I am not going to comment on the ethical issues arising with the idea of continuing a story against the explicit wishes of the original creator. DC has the rights to the property of course, but, as a reader, I have the right to demand respect or to not buy their product. Watchmen was a perfectly contained story with a beginning and an end and that’s something that DC seems incapable of grasping. Continuing the story now, more than 20 years after the thing was concluded is idiotic beyond belief and smacks of, shall we say, “financial” considerations and not artistic ones. It’s a prime example of MISSING THE POINT. The mainstream comics industry (that is, Marvel and DC) needs to stop pestering us with stupid sequels, prequels, events and crossovers and learn again the concept of innovation.They don’t need a new Watchmen, they need a new Alan Moore.

Lets leave the last word on the man himself, commenting on the news:

” I tend to take this latest development as a kind of eager confirmation that they are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago.”  

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

We haven’t been paying much attention to the global hacker collective known as Anonymous. Lately, they seemed to be making some threats that were either outlandish or pointless. Shut down Facebook? Who gives a fuck (did the Timeline feature piss them off that much?). What next? Carving Julian Assange’s face on the moon? It all seemed a bit, well, irrelevant.

Wrong. Anonymous posted a protest video on Greece’s Ministry of Justice web site yesterday. The site of course was taken offline until it was secure. The hackers said they were protesting against the country’s bailout by the EU and the IMF which has been associated with unpopular austerity policies, along with the fact that our Government signed the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) treaty.

“You have joined the IMF against your people’s acquiescence… democracy was given birth in your country but you have killed it,” said a two-minute video that you can watch in full below.

And we say excellent! Greece has been Governed by idiots and crooks for too long and we are now paying for it. Our current Government is not elected. Far- right hate crime is on the rise. Businesses are closing down. People aren’t safe in their own homes. Politicians are attacked on the streets. People are scavenging the garbage bins in the center of Athens. Pensions are slashed. Suicides are up by 30%. Unemployment is the norm. People are very very angry and- while this anger can be creative- it can also lead to horrifying results, which is why an eloquent act of dissent like this is important.

These days, we have the fortune or misfortune to live in are considered troubled days. I remember when I watched “Johnny Mnemonic” or “The Matrix” or “V For Vendetta” years ago – I was thinking …what tha fuck, if things like this happen in the future it means that our society and all this vanity world we live in, has simply failed … and now that we have actually failed, “V For Vendetta” suddenly transformed into something more than just a movie or a comic book and Alan Moore isn’t just another comic writer but a prophet.

hm, reading comic’s isn’t a so naive entertainment after all!!!

Anonymous stated that their next target will be Greece’s famously propagandistic media. Frankly, we can’t wait. Our friend Mihaliz has all the details in his blog:

http://whitetrashsoul.blogspot.com/2012/02/ministry-of-justice-in-greece-hacked-by.html

-manoc- & (-Dimitris Kontogiannis-) on behalf of the Crows ‘n’ Bones Team

PS: UPDATE: It now appears that the hacking was the work, not of Anonymous, but of Greek hackers in solidarity with them. The plot thickens…

watch the video:

The Speicherstadt to me is a perfect example of what it means to be a “European” game. It is a very tight game about managing resources – and is, in fact, the first resource management game I have ever played that has hardly any resources. It feels a bit like playing a farming game set in the middle of a drought! So here’s what happens: each player has three bidding markers. Starting with the first player, each player places one of their bidding markers next to a “building” (by building I mean a building, contract, ship, or firemen; also, there will be one more building available than there are players in the game). If another player (or players) have already placed their marker on a building, you can place your marker above theirs. After all markers have been placed, you start determining who purchases each building – the player who placed on the building in question first has the first chance to buy it, but at a cost of $1 per marker present. If they pass, the second player has the option (and it is now $1 cheaper), and so on until the building is either purchased or all of the players have passed. After this, if someone has purchased a ship (the only way of getting resources in the game), then they have to immediately allocate their new resources – whether this means they store them in a warehouse, trade them to the bank, or place them on a contract. Now, at the end of the turn, each player collects $1 of income from the bank ($2 if they purchased no buildings that turn). Also during the course of the game, four fires will start. Each player helps put the fire out by contributing his Firemen (if he has any – these can be purchased like buildings, but must have already been purchased in order to be used). The person(s) with the most Firemen get victory points, and the player(s) with the least Firemen lose points. When you fight the last fire, the game is over, and players add up their score – points can be earned through completed contracts, buildings, and from fighting fires. Whoever has the most victory points gets the option of gloating the loudest (and dancing a victory dance – but you should at least think about having a tactful one)!

The first thing that I like about The Speicherstadtis how purchasing buildings works. I think that this concept of demand is an innovative and yet simple mechanic that functions masterfully. From a capitalist perspective, it also makes sense to me – if there are three people that all want the same thing, then let the first person purchase it – but only if they’re willing to pay for it! (How much do new iPhones cost when they come out again?) Well, it’s not exactly like how supply and demand works in a real marketplace, but it is a nice mechanic in this game. The first person present gets the opportunity to buy the building, but each extra coin they spend can make a large difference in the game! (Keep in mind, you only gain one extra coin per turn) Unfortunately, the limited amount of money in the game essentially turns this into a first player disadvantage. However, you each take turns being first player, so overall, I really enjoyed this new way of handling purchasing.

The next thing that I thought was interesting was the limited quantities of everything in the game. You won’t have an abundance of anything, I can almost guarantee it. One of the games I played I purposely refrained from buying any buildings for the first few turns so that I could have more money later on. Sure enough, within a few more rounds I had been able to purchase what I wanted, but I was back to a very small amount of coins available in my bank (by the way, this strategy worked; I won that game). This makes each decision feel much more crucial – which adds more of a sense of excitement and tension into a fairly simple game.

A third thing that I liked about The Speicherstadt was the Firemen. Specifically, I liked that they were important enough in the game that you couldn’t ignore them, but they weren’t overpowered to the point that you could win the game by focusing only on them. They simply added another element to factor in when deciding what to buy on any given turn. And so they helped add more of a feeling of “but, I need all of them” when looking at buildings. (And then you look at the amount of coins in your bank and you grow very sad realizing that you couldn’t afford to buy three buildings even if you were able to buy them for $1 apiece. I’m assuming this wasn’t just me…)

With that said, the main con that I had with The Speicherstadt was that I felt like the first phase of buildings were somewhat worthless. (There are 4 different piles of buildings that are shuffled separately and stacked on top of each other to form the draw pile.) Most of these buildings allowed you to trade in extra goods of a certain type for one coin each.  Yes, there are times when trading a specific good for one coin is useful – namely, when you have excess amounts of that good and no need for it. However, the trading buildings from the first phase only work with a single type of good and only improve your basic trading from a 2:1 resource to coin ratio to a 1:1 resource to coin ratio. And, you don’t know which goods you will have extras of later in the game. Therefore, buying any of the trading buildings seems to be far more of a gamble than a strategic decision, in my opinion. Since the bulk of the first phase buildings are these trading posts, most of the first phase felt somewhat pointless.

My second con was that there was nothing that really grabbed me about The Speicherstadt. Yes, this is a much harder con to describe, but overall the game just didn’t engage me to the point where I felt like I needed to play it repeatedly. There was no sense of building on previous accomplishment. Yes, there was ongoing strategy from the beginning to the end of the game – buy contracts, decide whether you need buildings now or coins later, make sure that you have firemen; but, overall you’re still reacting to the situation more than you are developing a long term strategy. Whereas I don’t think that necessarily makes a game bad, it is my best attempt of explaining why The Speicherstadt didn’t grab my imagination and make me excited to play it again and again.

Overall I give The Speicherstadt a 7.5/10. It works – there is nothing wrong with this game. I wouldn’t even mind playing it more if other people were interested. However, it’s probably not something that I will actively pursue. I am glad that I had the opportunity to try it, though, because it did feel unique to me, even with all of the other games that I have tried.

Another fine Dice Hate Me review!

Art by Alex Pardee

Alex Pardee is a freelance artist, apparel designer, and a writer born in the US. He is best known for illustrating The Used’s album “artwork”. He has also done works for Hurley International, Twenty Twenty Skateboards, Bay Area rapper TopR and In Flames’s “A Sense of Purpose” and “The Mirror’s Truth”.

you can check more of his work at:  Eyesuckink

-manoc-

From the This Is Fucking Priceless! Department: Fox News is now attacking The Muppets. Seriously. Fox Business Network “television personality” Eric Bolling suggested that the new Muppet movie carries an insidious anti- capitalist message to the children. I don’t know whose idea was this. Perhaps Bolling is more of a Fraggle Rock fan. Or perhaps Fox thought that bullying fictitious stuffed animals would be easier than debating an actual person like, say, Barrack Obama.

Unfortunately for Fox News, The Muppets decided to respond to the allegations. They held a press conference (I am still serious by the way) and eloquently demolished their opponents’ arguments. It must be difficult to retain credibility when you have been outclassed by a felt frog. So, Fox once again is shown up to be a collection of bottom- feeding, McCarthyite clowns. Thanks for the entertainment miss Piggy:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/53103

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

Rock legend, American Idol judge and occasional Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is releasing his autobiography Does the Noise in my Head Bother You? According to a recent Vanity Fair article, one of the most interesting revelations in the book was his flirtation with Aleister Crowley’s occult teachings. I bet his mate Jimmy Page will be proud. Specifically, Tyler has practiced sex magick with various girls, in an attempt to “achieve wider goals”:

http://ac2012.com/2011/05/22/thanks-steven-tyler/

Crowley was unavailable for comment. Anyway, somehow Steven Tyler always comes across as adorable, no matter what he blathers on about in the press (although perhaps Joe Perry would dissagree). Still, the comparison is inevitable. The old Tyler was a sex- obsessed junkie who recorded kick- ass albums, snorted Bolivia and performed sex rituals for the hell of it. The new Tyler is a sex- obsessed elder statesman who is on American Idol with J- Lo and Randy the session guy. If that’s not proof that drugs are good for you, I don’t know what is.

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

It’s no secret that the British have a tradition for excellent horror movies that deal with witches, Pagan beliefs, human sacrifice and other charming subjects. City of the Dead (a.k.a Horror Hotel) is an atmospheric early entry in the genre. Made in 1960 and starring a typically sinister Christopher Lee, City of the Dead involves the Satanic shennanigans of a reincarnated witch (unsurprisingly these include the sacrifice of virgins). It was produced by Milton Subotsky and is widely considered to be the first Amicus film. It’s a fun movie in gorgeous black and white and now it’s getting remade:

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/165247-1960s-horror-hotel-with-christopher-lee-is-getting-remade#.TyLjfR1TsaQ.facebook

I don’t know what to think about this. I like the original movie a lot but it’s no masterpiece. Like the similarly- themed Night of the Eagle (a.k.a Burn Witch Burn) and Eye of the Devil it looks fantastic, but the rather ordinary script stops it from being truly great. Still, it has clearly influenced latter films like The Wicker Man and many punk and metal bands have been inspired by it (including the Misfits, Iron Maiden, King Diamond and Rob Zombie). I kinda like the poster for the new version, but I remain sceptical.

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

Baby Jane are hailing from Australia, they were formed back in 2008, they have opened stages for acts like Sebastian Bach and Paul Diano, this first studio release that comes under the title “Are You Listening” was produced/mixed by infamous Michael Wagener (Motley Crue, Metallica, Skid Row) and it’s a hell of debut album.

The bet, when a new release comes in my attention and hails from Australia is whether it sound’s 100% AC/DC or not. For my good lack – and although the cover kinda refers to AC/DC, with the devil woman n stuff – Baby Jane draws influences from the 80′s sleazy era and more precisely the heavy metal one, with  Skid Row, Motley Crue being definitely their mentors while there are for sure some KISS references. Their sound is massive filled with huge riffs, big choruses and shouting vocals. Andy Smith is an incredible singer, who in times kinda brings in mind huge Paul Stanley while the rest of the band is tight and so Australian flawless!

Although the album has a few down times, in it’s whole is way to enjoyable.

Tracklist:
1. Are You Listening
2. Give It All Up
3. Li’l Gutters
4. Quicksand
5. Town Called Sinner Stone
6. Can You Keep A Secret?
7. Twenty Too Many
8. Miss Scorpio
9. Four Rusted Egos
10.Demontonic
11. Tell Me (What I Need To Know)

Line-up:
Andy Smith (lv, rg)
John Gerasolo (lg)
Paul Judge (b,v)
Nik Kats (d)

Released March 26, 2011 / 100% Records

-manoc-

After various line- up changes, Belgium’s Serpentcult are back as a trio with a fascinatingly  idiosyncratic album. It’s not easy to describe the music of Raised by Wolves. It’s only four songs stretched to 40 minutes and the sound is stripped- down, funereal and moody. I guess you could call them doom, but these songs tend to unfold from groovy to ethereal. In fact, as the album progresses, the band conjures up an introspective, almost Pagan vibe, before expanding into a grandiose, cosmic feel, which reminded me a bit of latter- day Amebix. Raised by Wolves is a rewarding, mysterious album, perfect for these dark Winter nights.

(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)

Metal is the best music in the world, and believe me I haven’t reached the age of 34 to finally understand, that this genre is the only one capable and open minded to be blended with and embrace without any kind of skepticism all other musical genres.

But in times I tend to forget it – and it is then when bands like Sigh come along and put me again in the right track.

So, when you think you have heard it all (or pretty much, a lot) then “In Somniphobia” hits you and you catch yourself listening to the same album over and over again for only Lucifer knows for how many times. Because Sigh like most Japanese artist’s adore the western civilization in its whole and they kinda invented the term “cross-over” and used it in every form of art (comics, music, cinema).

“Crossover” happens when Marvel’s, Wolverine meets with Disney’s,  Donald Duck in his or in a 3rd multy-universe. What is that has to do with Sigh? Well, Sigh, isn’t the typical black metal band – in our example their are Wolverines paying a visit in Duckburg in order to reform and re-organize. That might have resulted to a complete mess but in the case of Sigh it’s a situation when insanity meets genius.

The album mixes black metal with jazz, hard rock, prog and neo classical. The result is a charming full of energy and magnetism amalgam of insanity. I can simply describe it as avant garde. It’s dark, apocryphistic and inspired while it doesn’t lack of electricity. It’s one of my best albums in 2012!

Tracklist:
‘Purgatorium’
‘The Transfiguration Fear’
‘Lucid Nightmares’
i) Opening Theme: Lucid Nightmare
ii) Somniphobia
iii) L’excommunication A Minuit
iv) Amnesia
v) Far Beneath The In-Between
vi) Amongst The Phantoms Of Abandoned Tumbrils
vii) Ending Theme: Continuum
‘Fall To The Thrall’
‘Equale’
i) Prelude
ii) Fugato
iii) Coda

Label: Candelight Records
Release date: March 2012

-manoc-