Here's a little more about Head. Basically this time, I'm going to go over what I call, my Geek Credentials. What makes me a geek (in my opinion).
Originally this post consisted of two parts. My comic origins and then my favorite superheroes. But I noticed I started meandering and it got a little long, so I decided to split this in to two parts. So this week I'll cover how I got in to comics and next week, I'll delight you wonderful readers with the best superheroes comics have to offer.
So, let's get started on my comic book origins, or what I call...
"How I got in to comics, by Head"
I've always liked superheroes. Besides Star Wars, my earliest good memories are of superheroes. While I didn't get in to comics proper until I was a teenager (when most boys are dropping comics for girls and cars), I've always liked superheroes. I remember as young boy (1st and 2nd grade) watching the old Adam West Batman shows (in rerun of course). Me and my cousin (Larry Park), would play Batman and Robin during recess (again, back in 1st and 2nd grade). We had a half buried cement pipe as our Batmobile and a jungle gym as our Batcave with a Batpole. Fun times.
I also have early memories of coloring in a Batman coloring book with my Aunt Val, laying on my grandmother's living room floor. Batman seems to have been big for me as a kid.
Also growing up I enjoyed watching superhero cartoons. Whether it be the Superfriends (again, with Batman), Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, The Fantastic Four or Plasticman, I enjoyed them all. And let's not forget the other superhero live action shows: Captain America (I vaguely remember this), Shazam, Isis and The Incredible Hulk. And while I didn't collect comics, I got the occasional Fantastic Four, or Incredible Hulk or Amazing Spider-Man at the odd yard sale here and there.
Looking back, I think there were two things that ended up getting me in to comics as a collector (instead of just a tv superhero fan).
First, in the early-mid-eighties, one of the shows I enjoyed watching was G.I. Joe (also The Transformers, but that's for later). In 1985, I went back to Nebraska with my grandparents to visit some relatives (my grandfather's brother and his family). While hanging out with my cousin (Brad, if I'm not mistaken), he had some G.I. Joe comics and G.I. Joe toys. We read his few comics and played with his G.I. Joe toys almost the entire time. When I left, that time left an impression with me.
The other thing that happened, to influence my love of comics, was in the mid-eighties (around the first part of 1985, if I'm not mistaken) a friend gave me a HUGE box of various comics. They contained books like Amazing Spider-Man, Justice League of America, a lot of Superman and Action comics, Batman, and other assorted titles. I read through these and enjoyed them. In fact, I may have read through some of them multiple times.
Eventually all points lead to the beginning or some such nonsense. 'The Beginning' of me collecting comics. One of the first comics I bought off the rack was G.I. Joe #58 (in 1987). I was in Fresno with my mother and the asshat she was married to, eating (at a little dinner butted next to a Thrifty's on the corner of Ashlan and Blackstone (neither place is there any longer)). After I got done, my parents were still eating. So to kill time, I went in Thrifty's to look around. I wandered in front of the comic rack they had there and decided to look at the selection. Then one comic grabbed my balls and made me look at it. The comic as I stated above. G.I. Farkin' Joe! This comic featured Cobra Commander's new Battle Armor. The cover stated boldly... "COBRA COMMANDER -- REBORN!", with Cobra Commander standing in front of a body in a hospital bed. I remember the Commander from the cartoons. For a weeny, he was pretty cool. So I decided pick it up. Shortly thereafter, me and my mom was in K-Mart in Merced, California and I was looking at their comic selection. At the time, they had some slightly older comics, 2 or 3 in a bag for a special low price. One such bag was a G.I. Joe bag, containing issues 51, 53, and 55 (55 called Unmaskings, showing Cobra Commander, Destro and Snake-Eyes taking off their masks). This I had to have. So I added these to my meager collection.
As I said earlier, I also enjoyed watching Transformers. Right after I found the above mentioned G.I. Joe comic (issue 58), I was in a Circle K (I believe). There they had the comic Transformers: Headmasters. They had just introduced Headmasters in to the cartoon, so I was intrigued. So I picked up the series as they came out. When the series ended, issue four referred the dear reader to the regular Transformer monthly. So of course, I started following the Transformers.
A short time later, I found a comic shop in Merced (I think at the time it might have been called Bobby's Sportscards and Comics (or something like that). It eventually turned in to Cop-A-Comics, my usual comic haunt for the next 20 years). Also a block away was another comic shop (I forget the name, but it was ran by two Samoan brothers if I remember correctly). I went in to both places looking for back issues of both G.I. Joe and Transformers. From that moment I was addicted big time. I was stopping in there whenever I could checking out new issues and back issues.
Another comic I need to mention, as it further pulled me in, was when I started collecting Spider-Man. Specifically Amazing Spider-Man 314. This was released in April of '89. This comic grabbed me, as it featured Spider-Man and his wife Mary Jane getting evicted, with a Salvation Army Santa standing nearby. I can't explain it, but something about this cover by the legendary Todd McFarlane, drew my attention... the next thing you know, I had all of the Spider-Man titles on my pull list.
Anywho.. that's how I got drawn in to comics. Every week or two (hell when I lived in Merced, I was there almost daily) for the next 20 years, I would go to Cop-A-Comics in Merced, CA. It was ran by the greatest couple. Lonnie and Ann Cox. They were a sweet couple. Sadly, they've both passed on to the Great Comic Book Shop in the sky, and Cop-A-Comics has closed its doors *sniff sniff*.
I only stopped going when I moved to Fresno and couldn't afford to pick up comics anymore. 8(
Luckily I've found other avenues to access my comic fix.
Other comics I feel that need a mention here are:
As I said, G.I. Joe will always hold a special place in my heart.
The Fury of Firestorm
The Atom ('Sword of the Atom' and 'Power of the Atom')
Ostrander's first Suicide Squad book
Giffen and Demantis' Justice League run
A Death in the Family (the death of Jason Todd at the Joker's hands)
The Killing Joke (another Batman and Joker yarn)
Hawk and Dove (with Dawn Granger... you'll read more about this next week).
Alright... I guess I'd better call it quits there. But I could go on all day.
Continued next week in Head's Geek Credentials 2
Until then, remember... After these messages, we'll be riiiighhht back!
- Head
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
New Batman in Man of Steel 2????
My next blog post was going be Head's Geek Credentials, where I talk about comics and my comic origins. But I just ran across some news on the intertubes, so that post will have to be postponed....
Apparently someone in DC/Warner Brothers has lost their fuckin' minds. Several sites are reporting that the new Batman (which will first appear in Man of Steel 2, coming in July 2015) is going to be Ben Affleck.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not an Affleck hater. I think he's a fine actor in the right vehicle. I enjoyed him in all of Kevin Smith's films (Dogma, Chasing Amy, etc). Hell I even liked him in 'Forces of Nature". Yes, I'll admit I watched it and thought it was a decent movie. Hey... don't you dare fuckin' judge me! Don't you dare!
But Daredevil... Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Daredevil for the most part. Most people that refer to the movie say it was a horrible movie or they hated it or other such nonsense. But I liked it (again, for the most part). But there are two things I didn't care much for. 1) the Matt Murdock (blind lawyer)/ Elecktra playground fight (no, seriously... a BLIND attorney fighting that well in the playground in the middle of the farkin' day???) and 2) Affleck as Daredevil. I think the movie would have been a lot of better if there was a different actor playing Daredevil. I guess whoever is in charge of Batman over at DC/WB didn't watch the Daredevil movie. Or read any of the criticisms of the movie.
Rumors where circulating that Joe Manganiello (from True Blood) and Ryan Gosling were in the running for Batman. My personal opinion would be that either of these would be a decent if not great Batman. But Ben Fuckin' Affleck? I don't know man, I just don't know.
And I know... He was da bomb in Phantoms, yo!
Anywho....
Now after all that ranting and raving, don't get me wrong. I will go see Man of Steel 2 (or whatever they decide to call it) in 2015 when it's released. I'll definitely be there. And hoping for the best.
I guess we'll have to wait until July of 2015 to see how it's going to turn out.
Feel free to leave comments below and let's discuss this.
Until next time, keep it funny. Remember. Humor covers a multitude of sins. 8)
-Head
The next Batman? We'll see in July 2015!
For further information on the new Affleck-Batman see:
Entertainment Weekly
or
USA Today
or even:
Variety
Apparently someone in DC/Warner Brothers has lost their fuckin' minds. Several sites are reporting that the new Batman (which will first appear in Man of Steel 2, coming in July 2015) is going to be Ben Affleck.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not an Affleck hater. I think he's a fine actor in the right vehicle. I enjoyed him in all of Kevin Smith's films (Dogma, Chasing Amy, etc). Hell I even liked him in 'Forces of Nature". Yes, I'll admit I watched it and thought it was a decent movie. Hey... don't you dare fuckin' judge me! Don't you dare!
But Daredevil... Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Daredevil for the most part. Most people that refer to the movie say it was a horrible movie or they hated it or other such nonsense. But I liked it (again, for the most part). But there are two things I didn't care much for. 1) the Matt Murdock (blind lawyer)/ Elecktra playground fight (no, seriously... a BLIND attorney fighting that well in the playground in the middle of the farkin' day???) and 2) Affleck as Daredevil. I think the movie would have been a lot of better if there was a different actor playing Daredevil. I guess whoever is in charge of Batman over at DC/WB didn't watch the Daredevil movie. Or read any of the criticisms of the movie.
Rumors where circulating that Joe Manganiello (from True Blood) and Ryan Gosling were in the running for Batman. My personal opinion would be that either of these would be a decent if not great Batman. But Ben Fuckin' Affleck? I don't know man, I just don't know.
And I know... He was da bomb in Phantoms, yo!
Anywho....
Now after all that ranting and raving, don't get me wrong. I will go see Man of Steel 2 (or whatever they decide to call it) in 2015 when it's released. I'll definitely be there. And hoping for the best.
I guess we'll have to wait until July of 2015 to see how it's going to turn out.
Feel free to leave comments below and let's discuss this.
Until next time, keep it funny. Remember. Humor covers a multitude of sins. 8)
-Head
For further information on the new Affleck-Batman see:
Entertainment Weekly
or
USA Today
or even:
Variety
Sunday, August 11, 2013
A Lil Head
Before we go any further, I guess I should give some back story on Brother Head.
1) Origin of the name Head:
Even though it sounds dirty, my nickname Head came about rather innocently.
Growing up, I've always been a bit forgetful (and yes, nothing has changed all these many years later). My friends (probably either Dee (Dean Cole) or Bop (Billy Tevnan) starting calling me Airhead (you know, like: Way to go Airhead). So for awhile, I went be Airhead. Eventually, being lazy bastichs, my friends shortened it down to Head. So was born 'Head'.
Sometime later, they would start adding Brother on to the front of it (as we were like brothers growing up). So for many, many years, I went by either Head or Brother Head.
2) My Family:
My immediate family consists of my beautiful wife Michelle Moss, daughter Alexis Moss and two sons, Timothy Moss (currently living in Chowchilla) and my baby boy, Steven Moss (yes, at 19, he's still my baby boy). We live in Sanger, CA (except for Tim as I noted earlier) where we're buying a home (yeah for home ownership). Also in Sanger are my in-laws, Robert and Jennifer Hudson (the best in-laws a guy could have). On my mother's side of the family, I have uncles in Chowchilla, Fresno, Merced/Atwater, and Colorado. On my step-father's side... eh, who gives a damn. That side of the family is pretty damn worthless.
My brother (Jerry Lee Todd II), mother (Sherry Darlene Todd), and both grandparents (on my mom's side - Oscar and Betty Gipe) are deceased. My step-father and his parents are also dead, but the less said about them the better. For more on the death of my brother and mother, check out my actual website (http://brotherhead.wix.com.main under Head's Secret Origin).
Then you have my friends, who are like family. First and foremost is my best friend in the whole world and has been for over 35 years, is Dean Ray Cole (of Chowchilla). He was there when my brother and then mother died. He was there when I got divorced. He's been there when ever I need him. And that's what family is.
My other close friends are Jason Spense (my brother from another mother and fellow Bear fan), Scott Kessler (even though he's out in Missouri now), Dean Kasparian, the Little's (no, not the people that live in walls from the 80's tv show, but John and Chanel), and last but not least Tony Ralls.
If I've forgotten anyone, oops. Sorry.
3) Job:
Currently I'm working seasonally at the IRS as a Tax Examiner. I work in the 1040X department handling amended tax returns (1040Xs). I'm trying to get on permanent instead of just seasonal. I'm nearing the end of my fourth season at the IRS.
When I'm not at the IRS, I find myself over at POM Wonderful in Del Ray, CA running the scale house. I've been there for the past 3 seasons.
Going back to my first season at the IRS, it also marked my final year at Brand X Networks. Brand X Networks was an internet company, doing technical support for other companies. Brand X went by several names over the years: Protosource Networks (aka PSNW), Brand X Networks, Fused BX and finally back to Brand X Networks. Due to mismanagement, Brand X finally closed it's doors (at least in Fresno) in 2010.
Besides these jobs, I've also tried to several jobs that have failed. I tried to start an online comic with some guys, was brought on for a comic related fanzine that fell through, and finally with my best friend Dean, tried to write and direct movies. Due to my procrastinating and also getting married, the filming and directing movies fell by the wayside (unfortunately).
Also, me and my buddy Scott Kessler (with our friends Terry and Josh) tried doing a comic book (called Crisis Control). CC was Scott and Terry's idea that I assisted them with. Josh was brought in as artist. Unfortunately, again, things fell through.
Which brings us current.
Feel free to let me know what you guys think and keep reading my blog.
Coming next time: Head's Geek Credentials.
See ya in the funny pages.
-Head
1) Origin of the name Head:
Even though it sounds dirty, my nickname Head came about rather innocently.
Growing up, I've always been a bit forgetful (and yes, nothing has changed all these many years later). My friends (probably either Dee (Dean Cole) or Bop (Billy Tevnan) starting calling me Airhead (you know, like: Way to go Airhead). So for awhile, I went be Airhead. Eventually, being lazy bastichs, my friends shortened it down to Head. So was born 'Head'.
Sometime later, they would start adding Brother on to the front of it (as we were like brothers growing up). So for many, many years, I went by either Head or Brother Head.
2) My Family:
My immediate family consists of my beautiful wife Michelle Moss, daughter Alexis Moss and two sons, Timothy Moss (currently living in Chowchilla) and my baby boy, Steven Moss (yes, at 19, he's still my baby boy). We live in Sanger, CA (except for Tim as I noted earlier) where we're buying a home (yeah for home ownership). Also in Sanger are my in-laws, Robert and Jennifer Hudson (the best in-laws a guy could have). On my mother's side of the family, I have uncles in Chowchilla, Fresno, Merced/Atwater, and Colorado. On my step-father's side... eh, who gives a damn. That side of the family is pretty damn worthless.
My brother (Jerry Lee Todd II), mother (Sherry Darlene Todd), and both grandparents (on my mom's side - Oscar and Betty Gipe) are deceased. My step-father and his parents are also dead, but the less said about them the better. For more on the death of my brother and mother, check out my actual website (http://brotherhead.wix.com.main under Head's Secret Origin).
Then you have my friends, who are like family. First and foremost is my best friend in the whole world and has been for over 35 years, is Dean Ray Cole (of Chowchilla). He was there when my brother and then mother died. He was there when I got divorced. He's been there when ever I need him. And that's what family is.
My other close friends are Jason Spense (my brother from another mother and fellow Bear fan), Scott Kessler (even though he's out in Missouri now), Dean Kasparian, the Little's (no, not the people that live in walls from the 80's tv show, but John and Chanel), and last but not least Tony Ralls.
If I've forgotten anyone, oops. Sorry.
3) Job:
Currently I'm working seasonally at the IRS as a Tax Examiner. I work in the 1040X department handling amended tax returns (1040Xs). I'm trying to get on permanent instead of just seasonal. I'm nearing the end of my fourth season at the IRS.
When I'm not at the IRS, I find myself over at POM Wonderful in Del Ray, CA running the scale house. I've been there for the past 3 seasons.
Going back to my first season at the IRS, it also marked my final year at Brand X Networks. Brand X Networks was an internet company, doing technical support for other companies. Brand X went by several names over the years: Protosource Networks (aka PSNW), Brand X Networks, Fused BX and finally back to Brand X Networks. Due to mismanagement, Brand X finally closed it's doors (at least in Fresno) in 2010.
Besides these jobs, I've also tried to several jobs that have failed. I tried to start an online comic with some guys, was brought on for a comic related fanzine that fell through, and finally with my best friend Dean, tried to write and direct movies. Due to my procrastinating and also getting married, the filming and directing movies fell by the wayside (unfortunately).
Also, me and my buddy Scott Kessler (with our friends Terry and Josh) tried doing a comic book (called Crisis Control). CC was Scott and Terry's idea that I assisted them with. Josh was brought in as artist. Unfortunately, again, things fell through.
Which brings us current.
Feel free to let me know what you guys think and keep reading my blog.
Coming next time: Head's Geek Credentials.
See ya in the funny pages.
-Head
Friday, August 2, 2013
Greetings from Earth Head!
Hey gang.
This is Brother Head. Aka Aaron Moss. Aka Head. Aka The Fat Man (Formerly of Jake and... well, my older friends will get that joke).
Anyways...Welcome to my relaunched blog. I use to have a blog and a message board set up years ago when I worked at Protosource. Due to my stupidity and procrastination, my domain (brotherhead.com) went bye bye. I'm hoping to have a new domain at some point (once I get things situated). And since I don't have quite the access I use to, I decided to use this simpler blog instead of installing and running my own.
Anywho... I'm decided to just relaunch my blog for now. A place for me to rant and rave, give movie, comic and book reviews... basically post anything that pops in my head.
Hopefully you'll be entertained or enlightened. At the minimum, slightly amused.
Please check back often for updates and also leave a message. This thing works best when you guys play along at home. Feel free to ask any questions and you might get answers.
I'm going to try and post a new message at least once a week (unless life gets in the way, or I have nothing to say).
Also, if you haven't done so, check out my website (http://brotherhead.wix.com/main)
Hope you enjoy your stay.
Aaron "Head" Moss
This is Brother Head. Aka Aaron Moss. Aka Head. Aka The Fat Man (Formerly of Jake and... well, my older friends will get that joke).
Anyways...Welcome to my relaunched blog. I use to have a blog and a message board set up years ago when I worked at Protosource. Due to my stupidity and procrastination, my domain (brotherhead.com) went bye bye. I'm hoping to have a new domain at some point (once I get things situated). And since I don't have quite the access I use to, I decided to use this simpler blog instead of installing and running my own.
Anywho... I'm decided to just relaunch my blog for now. A place for me to rant and rave, give movie, comic and book reviews... basically post anything that pops in my head.
Hopefully you'll be entertained or enlightened. At the minimum, slightly amused.
Please check back often for updates and also leave a message. This thing works best when you guys play along at home. Feel free to ask any questions and you might get answers.
I'm going to try and post a new message at least once a week (unless life gets in the way, or I have nothing to say).
Also, if you haven't done so, check out my website (http://brotherhead.wix.com/main)
Hope you enjoy your stay.
Aaron "Head" Moss
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)