On a whim, I decided to pick up all 9 issues of AUTOMATIC KAFKA by Joe Casey and Ashley Wood. I've been recently enjoying Joe Casey's work on G0DLAND and have always had a firm appreciation for Ashley Wood's kinetic style. I remember when Automatic Kafka originally came out in 2002, most of the critics regarded Automatic Kafka as a failure...but there was enough of a fervent following for the comic series that I decided it'd be worth picking up. I'm glad I finally did!Man, what a great series! Casey's dialogue is snappy. Wild ideas are thrown out and quickly forgotten with the introduction of other great concepts. Wood's art is iconic, visceral, and super sexy.I can see how this comic failed at DC comics since it's balls are far too big for them too handle. Even though Automatic Kafka regularly embraces itself as a "superhero" comic the sexuality is too explicit, the art is too abstract, and the story's structure is constantly challenging the limitations of sequential art.I love how the first issue starts with our robot hero complaining that he can't fuck because he's got bolts instead of a penis and gets high on drugs to get as close to cumming as a robot can. I love how Casey and Wood's answer to Captain America's Buffy is a hot teenaged girl in a patriotic cheerleader outfit called "Declaration of Independence" with the "Bill of Rights" written on the backside of her panties. I love how instead of using words like "Boom" and "Kapow" for sound effects, Ashley Wood writes "Fucking Bang" and "Muthafucka Kung Fu".I've ready 5 issues thus far. I can't wait to read the last four!

Poorly done, not especially brilliant even if sometimes pretty funny, this movie is made with such passion and courage that I actually enjoyed it. You can feel a huge Ray Harryhausen influence even if we're pretty far away from the master.

El-P (a.k.a. El Producto) used to be an M.C. and producer for Rawkus Records Company Flow. Since then, he's found success in the underground music scene as a rapper, producer, and record label owner of Definitive Jux Music.I'm a firm admirer of El-P's determination to audibly push the envelope of Hip-Hop music. His rhymes are super dense both rhythmically and lyrically. His productions create fascinating worlds of sound that capture life and emotion as few Hip-Hop Producers can (ones that come to mind are Timbaland and DJ Shadow).I love the atmosphere El-P creates. He's a self professed "Blade Runner" geek...which is fitting because his stuff sounds like Hip-Hop from a future cyborg-infested reality.Did I mention he could easily pass for my buddy Adrian Cruz's twin?Check out these two videos from his latest album "I'll Sleep When You're Dead" (which is awesome!):SmithereensFlyentology Featuring Trent Reznor

The NOVEMBER 2007 SOLICITATION FOR IMAGE COMICS is now online at Comic Book Resources. 2/3 down the page is information on Lucha Libre #2! This issue features the introduction of TEQUILA. Written by the maniacal monocled Jerry Frissen. Art by the superfic art-fighting freak-a-force of Bill, Gobi, Witko, and Tanquerelle. In stores November 7th.By the way, don't forget Lucha Libre #1 will be in finer comic shops and designer toy stores worldwide on September 5th (we're only 2 weeks away!).

I just finished reading an awesome graphic novel called "Last Call". Written and drawn by Vasilis Lolos, "Last Call" is about two teenaged boys that find themselves unexpectedly transported to a haunted train after singing the lyrics to a Death Metal song. It's a really fun story filled with some beautifully designed monsters. Lolos has a very strong sense for both pacing and characterization. I can't wait to see where he takes things with the Second Volume. You can check out the first 38 pages HERE.

Apparently I'm (yet again) the last guy to follow the "hottest" YouTube videos. A few months ago, a guy named Tay Zonday posted a video of himself singing the original nonsensical musical composition "Chocolate Rain". I'm not sure if it's his super deep voice, his unusual breathing habits, or ridiculous lyrics...but this video managed to be seen over 6 MILLION times! Tay was onto something. Better yet are the many covers that have since been posted on YouTube. Two of the best can be seen below:one by Tre Cool from the super famous GREEN DAY and another by some dude named Darth Vader. Ben, thanks for the heads up!OriginalTre CoolDarth Vader