How lucky can one guy be?

[thehefner]

Most avatar creators are a waste of time when it comes to coming up with anything that even vaguely resembles me. That was even before I had my current hairline, and now it's bloody impossible. The latest such exercise in frustration was the ever-so-popular SCOTT PILGRIM avatar generator, which instantly failed me due to the fact that I match none of the hairstyles, nor did I own enough douchey hipster scarves.

I thought there was no hope for awesome avatar creators. And then, well... thank Sinatra for the MAD MEN avatar generator, which washes away my SP distaste in a tide of style, awesomeness, and scotch:





This is me performing my new show (wherein I actually use PowerPoint) at your typical Fringe Festival. Well, I haven't done it with scotch on hand, but it's only a matter of time.





And here is Henchgirl at your typical Fringe after party, getting accosted by other performers, volunteers, or whoever else shows up. I'm kinda sad that we didn't go with the original design, where the avatar generator allowed her to have one cigarette in her hand and another on her lips. Also, she bemoans the lack of shoe and dress selection, as well as the inability to have glasses over different pairs of eyes. But nonetheless, this is the neatest damn generator I've ever seen.

Y'know, I still have yet to watch MAD MEN, and I have absolutely no reason to doubt that I'll love it, but can I just say how excellent it is to be seeing a resurgence of 50's cool amid the hipster crap and Gaga-faux glam? Damn excellent, that's how excellent it is. Why, it may even be (brace yourself, Henchgirl, for I know you loathe when I say this)... it may even be coo-coo. Indeedy-do, it's pluperfectly coo-coo, pally.

And now that I've invoked him, well, I simply can't go without making a Johnny Go:





That's what I love about Johnny. He's in his best suit, martini in hand, in a picnic in broad daylight. God damn, I think it's time to get back to that novel, wouldn't you agree? Now if only we could get a 50's-retro Bub image. Ah well, now I know what drawing I'll commission from Darwyn Cooke one of these days, eh?

Comments

[sharkbites.livejournal.com]

I am not an avid fan but I do like watching Mad Men on Sunday nights. It's a well written series. It's a shame a few have to call it a 'sexist' show when it tries to be realistic about that era. Plus, even the secretary herself has an empowered role. Great show!

It's like a Mary Sue character visual generator. ;)

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

What's funny is that this is pretty much exactly how I dress 90 percent of the time.

Re: It's like a Mary Sue character visual generator. ;)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Niiiiiiiiice.

Hey, Box, random question for a Spider-Man fan: what do you make of JM DeMatteis' run on SPIDER-MAN? I mean, Pre-Clone stuff (although his Doc Ock death story--the parts by him, anyway--rank among my very favorite Ock appearances)? I was struck by just how much I still love KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT, which shouldn't work, since a Spider-Man story just shouldn't be that dark and yet work. Hell, it should age about as well as McFarlane's TORMENT, and yet, it's magnificent.

And I remembered JMD's treatment of Harry Osborn's madness, and damn, I think I need to check out his whole run, from the Vermin stuff up to Harry's death. What do you make of JMD's Spidey stuff? I'm also looking into his pre-Gruenwald CAP issues.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, from what I understand, it's an honest look at that era, but through a modern filter that doesn't actually celebrate those kinds of sexist attitudes. It's like people who read James Ellroy's work and think that he himself is actually horribly racist, sexist, and homophobic, when he just is written about the deeply ugly underbelly of what we consider "the Good Ol' Days."

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

I was struck by just how much I still love KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT, which shouldn't work, since a Spider-Man story just shouldn't be that dark and yet work.

You've effectively summed up a lot of DeMatteis' work on the character in general, in that he did a lot of things that really shouldn't have worked (and haven't worked at all, when other writers have tried to do similar things with the character), but under his pen, they just clicked.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Considering how many others writers have tried and pretty much all have failed, it's a damn shame he doesn't get credit for more than just the one standalone graphic novel. His handling of Harry alone was compelling as hell, I think.

Actually, I love his handling of villains in general, whom he writes as broken and sympathetic people rather than just monsters. Off-hand, he's done that with Kraven, Vermin, Harry, Electro, Mysterio, and at DC, Two-Face and the Joker.

Dude deserves more credit than just being known as the guy behind some of the best banter in comics, or being the poor man's Neil Gaiman (or maybe that's just my opinion of him, when it comes to his weakest works).

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

I think his growing fixation with Meher Baba over the years did a lot of damage to his career and his work, which might be why he's so overlooked.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Showing my age, but I'd never even heard of Meher Baba until just now. A quick glance over his Wikipedia entry, and yeah, suddenly, it all makes a lot more sense.

Good to see him back on his game with comedy, since his work on BOOSTER GOLD has managed to wonderfully temper the banter and silliness with maturity and experience. But man, I'd love to see him crank out another great serious work again, if only to remind people of how great he could (and hopefully, still can) be.

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

By the way, enjoy.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I am, my man, I am. :)

I'm getting the gist of the parts I don't get, but I'll definitely remember to revisit that once I actually see the show. Also, I really didn't remember seeing Joan in those backgrounds when I was doing the generator. She was probably there already, but who knows, maybe she wasn't and you just bring her out. You dog, you.

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

It's kind of hard to miss her.

"Oh, Mr. Hefner ..."

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"... You and Ms. Ballard are so gorgeous, and my husband is so useless ... could you please use my body as your shared playground? I promise that the carpet matches the drapes."

Re: "Oh, Mr. Hefner ..."

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who has an agreement with his finacee that, if they ever had the chance, they'd totally jump at a threesome with her.

Henchgirl just thinks that we're all far too impressed with a push-up bra.

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

There is no camera angle or garment in which her breasts are not brobdingnagian. I can personally vouch for this through exhaustive research.

[kmousie.livejournal.com]

I love the show. And I look forward to talking with you about it!

[swimpenguin.livejournal.com]

Highly enjoyed Kraven's Last Hunt and Batman: Going Sane. Was disappointed by Speeding Bullets (the Superman is Batman Elseworlds) and the little I read of Blood in a comic store one time fascinated and disturbed the hell out of me: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Tale-J-M-DeMatteis/dp/1401202632/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283837523&sr=1-1

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, SPEEDING BULLETS was serious "meh." He's uneven, that's for bloody sure. BLOOD is good, though? JMD's Vertigo work strikes me as having a great potential for being not very good.

I'm on the lookout for the issues JMD after KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT, where he actually gives the origin of Vermin after the KLH events, plus brings back crazy ass Harry Osborn. The bits I've read have been excellent.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hopefully I'll have the time to catch up with it in a month or two! Everyone's been raving about the most recent episode too. I'm darn curious.

[kmousie.livejournal.com]

Everyone's been raving about the most recent episode too.

And rightfully so! Wow.

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

Johnny and Bub! More of them, please.

I've never seen Mad Men but I love Christina Hendricks forever because some of us were just not designed to wear blazers and button-downs.

PS You guys look great as 1950s magazine illustrations.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Eeee! Tell you what, once I get this first chapter ironed out, mind if I send it along to you?