#listen a lot of luis fans are rabid

[knifefightandchill]

i have a whole bunch of krauser and metaltango gifset ideas involving like, song lyrics? but one i want to do is bound to irritate someone.

[thegeekerynj]

An Occasional Attempt to Read, Discuss and Review the Wonders of Comics By: John Rafferty, cranky old man, and Fan of All Things Comics

The Joker 80th Anniversary Special Writers: Various

Artists: Various

‘Oh, I’m sorry, This is the wrong form. You’ll have fill out another one, and go back to the end of the line.... AGAIN.

HAVE A NICE DAY.’

In April 1940, Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson accidentally birthed the most reviled, revered, iconic villain in all of comics. A character of such amazing insanity, so wondrously psychotic, yet incredibly loyal, and possessed of caustically focused , savant level intellect, as to make him unique, above all others.

Originally known as the Red Hood, a vertical trip to the Ace Chemical acid vats took Jack Napier from failed stand-up comic, failed protector of his wife and unborn child, and turned him into the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker.

So, here we are, a mere 80 years later, celebrating the legacy of this Master of Mirth and Mayhem.

To say the creators in this spectacular collection bring the crazy does not begin to give credit to the levels of lunacy and abject destruction visited by the tales held within. Ten stories, 10 creative teams, some, marvelous writers with amazing artists, some writer - artist teams uniquely qualified to tell a Joker Story, and Denny O’Neil, with Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, reclaiming his title as Master of the Batman Story, with what is probably his last story.

10 stories, and not a stinker in the bunch... How in the name of face paint did that happen?? This is unheard of, I mean, there’s usually one story that is sub par, just a filler... but no, every one of them holds up to the shadow cast by the Harlequin of Hate, not one that can be called a filler, or even a second tier story.

Not here.

We start with the ‘after’ story... What happens to the victims, the survivors of the Joker’s mayhem? We are flies on the wall of Dr. Reeder, a psychiatrist put on retainer by one Bruce Wayne, to try to help these victims of collateral violence. In this particular case, the doctor is working with Officer Gary Dell, who is suffering from PTSD, as well as physical trauma, as the Clown saw it to remove enough of Dell’s facial structure to make it look like he is grinning a Joker grin...

Skipping the second story for the moment, we jump tp ‘Kill The Batman’, which asks the basic question, ‘What happens when your entire purpose for living life has been taken away?’. Strangely enough, the answers will surprise, and sometimes horrify the reader.

Next up, ‘Introducing The Dove Corps’, which for this reviewer, was the hardest story to both read, and be impartial about. This story, written by the late Denny O’Neil, is possibly the last Batman story written by one of the most prolific, and awarded writers in Comics History ( Mr. O’Neil passed away on Friday, 6/12, just before the reviewer sat down to read and review this collection). This man, having written the Joker many times over his 50 years in Comics, brought a sense of whimsy to the character, who tried to become a ‘non-violent warrior’, with both unexpected, and totally expected results.

This collection, as with any collection concerning the Joker, would not be complete without the requisite Harley story.

While I have a history of complaining about the appearance of Harleen Quinzell in just about every book in the DC Print line (still waiting to see her show up in Basketful of Heads... reading Issue 7 later...), in this group of stories it is totally appropriate, expected... and a neat, little story. Harley, bad dreams, and Joker insomnia... well, we can expect mayhem, and we get it, in face cards! Thank you Paul Dini, for writing the characters you love so well...

The rest of the stories, while just as good deserve, no, need to be read to be fully appreciated. These stories all touch on different aspects of the psyche of the Joker, his violent tendencies, his memories, or rather his rather fluid ‘quasi-memories’, his diabolical sense of humor, and his twisted senses of justice and loyalty...

Yes, LOYALTY.

Read his stories, the Joker exhibits a sense of loyalty to his henchmen, twisted though it may be, like a rabid hyena... but it is a loyalty unrivaled.

Before closing out, no, I haven’t forgotten. Let’s address that second story, the one I made a point to avoid earlier... Yes, this one...

‘What Comes After A Joke’, the story by James Tynion IV and Mikal Janin, asks the question that has been delayed for 3 months due to the COVID - 19 lockdowns, and answers it with the origin of the most awaited character in many years, Punchline. Yes, Gentle Readers, the first origin of Punchline is here, in the pages of the Special... seems appropriate, don’t you think?

Wonder how many times this will be retconned...

Anyway, here’s my take, for what it’s worth... The story as a story is great. The origin is told as a conversation between two characters, pretty straight forward, no dancing around, or anything. The dialogue is truly organic, the reader could imagine themselves being a third person in the room, listening to these two people discussing what led to the creation of the character.

Here’s my problem... I’m just not impressed with the character.

Just another knife wielding psycho, with emo-torn stocking, and mime-puppet makeup, one with villain worship issues.

I think she was done a whole lot better as Marionette in Doomsday Clock, and at least, SHE had a reason for her murder spree.

Now, she may grow on me, but to start, she certainly ain’t a Harleen Quinzell... and I had her story to compare to, written by Paul Dini ( and then I went and watched ‘Mad Love’). Now it might just be the hyped because of it, I’m anticipating more, but right now, I’m left wanting...

Other than this, which I will not hold against the book, it’s entirely worth the 9.99 cover price... sticker shock be damned!

And did I mention the Sienkiewicz Joker cover ??? OMG!!!

Out of 5 🌶 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

[usatrendingsports]

With Yankees and Crimson Sox stacked, MLB groups ought to raid the remainder of the AL East

The Boston Crimson Sox are the defending AL East champs. They have a younger and dynamic core, have solely Drew Pomeranz and Craig Kimbrel as pending free brokers in 2018, and look poised to contend for division crowns for years to come back.

The New York Yankees fell simply in need of the World Collection final season. Aaron Choose, Gary Sanchez, and Luis Severino comprise one of the electrical teams of homegrown expertise within the sport, and so they simply added defending NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the combination. They too determine to be harmful for some time, with a mix of youth, expertise and cash that is robust to beat.

With these AL East powerhouses wielding extra youth, extra expertise and more cash than their AL East rivals, baseball’s intelligentsia has began advising the Jays, Orioles and Rays to promote their greatest high-priced commodities for youthful gamers with upside.  

For the report, we agree. The Orioles may make a last-ditch effort to contend subsequent season earlier than Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Zach Britton, Brad Brach and others check free company … however a woeful lack of beginning pitching makes promoting the wiser alternative. The Rays hung across the fringes of wild-card rivalry for a lot of final season and most of their greatest gamers are underneath 30 … however they will additionally seemingly lose Alex Cobb and Logan Morrison to free company this winter, have expressed curiosity in additional curbing payroll and have a number of extremely marketable gamers they might store. The Jays made back-to-back ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016, they’ve led the AL in attendance in every of the previous two seasons and so they suffered by way of so many accidents and a lot unhealthy luck final 12 months pure bounce-back must be anticipated … however additionally they employed the oldest group of place gamers within the majors final season, a nasty signal for a group hoping to make an enormous leap.

If the O’s, Rays and Jays do resolve to pursue veterans-for-youth offers, they will have loads of suitors for his or her greatest out there gamers. This is a rundown of these gamers, and the groups most definitely to hitch the bidding for his or her providers, in the event that they grow to be out there.

The Orioles are mentioned to be listening to provides for Manny Machado.  USATSI

Manny Machado, 3B/SS, Orioles

Suitors: Cardinals, Angels, Phillies

Baltimore’s ubertalented 25-year-old star has one 12 months left earlier than he can begin fielding free-agent provides that might simply prime $300 million. Given the conservative strategy that the Angelos household and GM Dan Duquette have deployed in recent times, it is almost inconceivable to think about Machado re-signing with the O’s, now or subsequent winter. With few viable pitching choices for subsequent season past Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy, it is also robust to think about the Orioles vying for an AL East crown in Machado’s final 12 months on the town. So the commerce rumors now swirling round Machado make tons of sense.

Additionally making sense: The Cardinals as a extremely celebration. St. Louis hung round in rivalry for a lot of final season earlier than fading late, and was an aggressive bidder within the Giancarlo Stanton sweepstakes. Machado is a special type of participant than Stanton and performs a special place, however he’d nonetheless give the Playing cards an enormous increase at both third base or shortstop, with 2017 rookie standout Paul DeJong manning whichever place Machado would not take. Machado slumped badly within the first three months of final season, weighing down his end-of-year outcomes. However he is nonetheless a dynamic energy supply in his personal proper who’d be an MVP-caliber participant if he reverts again to his 2015-2016 kind. Baltimore’s determined for younger beginning pitching and the Playing cards have extra of it than nearly every other group, with Luke Weaver, Alex Reyes, and Jack Flaherty heading the group’s record of thrilling arms.

The Angels haven’t got anyplace close to that type of prospect energy, however Andrew Heaney and Tyler Skaggs no less than supply expertise and a number of years of group management, albeit with much less upside and extra harm issues than, say, Weaver. In the meantime the Phillies would see Machado as extra of a long-term play, and would seemingly attempt to work out a long-term extension in the event that they had been to pursue him; do not wager on Machado giving up his shot at a large free-agent bidding battle, although.

Josh Donaldson might have carried out all that he can do in Toronto for the Blue Jays.  USATSI

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays

Suitors: Yankees, Cardinals, Angels

It wasn’t anyplace close to as horny a transfer because the Stanton rating, however GM Brian Cashman foisting Chase Headley and his total $13 million wage on the Padres was an enormous coup in its personal proper, giving the Yankees about $27 million in wiggle room underneath the posh tax as they attempt to fill out their roster. Headley’s departure, together with 2017 deadline pickup Todd Frazier hitting the open market, does imply that the Yanks might want to discover a third baseman this winter. Re-signing Frazier might be the trail of least resistance, given Frazier’s mixture of energy, affordability, and his zeal for enjoying in New York.

The Bombers may suppose greater, although. And with Peter Angelos reportedly blanching at any commerce situation that sends Machado to the Bronx, Donaldson might be a hell of a backup plan. The 32-year-old former MVP missed 49 video games final season, however nonetheless posted his traditional monstrous offensive numbers. He is now not a Gold Glove-quality third baseman, however nonetheless profiles as a plus defender who would additionally make New York’s lineup much more terrifying. The Cardinals have been serious about Donaldson for some time and will renew their efforts to land him this winter. The Jays’ tenuous place — a veteran-laden group only a 12 months faraway from a playoff run, with a rabid however context-sensitive fan base which may not be as keen to click on the turnstiles and purchase big foam fingers if Donaldson and others get shipped out of city — complicates issues significantly.

We might need to get used to seeing Evan Longoria in a special uniform.  USATSI

Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays

Suitors: Yankees, Cardinals, Angels, Giants, Braves

As soon as an MVP contender in his personal proper, Longoria’s clearly within the decline section of his profession at age 32. However, $86 million over the following 5 years for a participant of his talent stage is not too onerous, particularly if Longoria’s near-term future seems to be extra seemingly his 2016 (.273/.318/.521) than his 2017 efficiency (.261/.313/.424). Longoria rated as a top-five defender at his place in 2017 and will see his numbers perk up significantly away from Tropicana Subject, a ballpark that completely squashes right-handed energy hitters.

All of these components make him an intriguing commerce candidate for any variety of groups — apparent suitors just like the Yankees and Playing cards, but in addition talent-starved golf equipment just like the Giants and Braves which have black holes at third base, and cash to spend. New Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos has by no means been shy about making splashy strikes too. The larger query is whether or not the Rays will commerce the perfect participant in franchise historical past only a 12 months into what the group may need hoped can be the deal that might carry Longoria all the best way into retirement. That Tampa Bay may flirt with wild-card rivalry with somewhat luck and a few well-placed strikes makes a Longoria blockbuster much more doubtful.

Others who might be in play if their groups dive into promote mode:

Chris Archer, SP, Rays Alex Colome, RP, Rays Adam Jones, OF, Orioles Zach Britton, RP, Orioles Brad Brach, RP, Orioles J.A. Happ, SP, Jays Roberto Osuna, SP, Jays

There’s a lot on the market for relief-hungry groups to buy this winter, with Wade Davis and Greg Holland heading a category that continues to be deep even with high quality arms like Mike Minor and Brandon Morrow already securing new gigs. Groups on the lookout for aid assist with out the burden of a multi-year deal for giant bucks may pursue the commerce route, although, with Britton and Brach as doubtlessly cheaper one-year leases, and Colome coming off a league-leading 47 saves, albeit with an oddly diminished strikeout price. The Astros, Dodgers, Rockies, Twins and Diamondbacks are all 2017 playoff golf equipment actively on the lookout for high quality relievers, although veteran right-hander Pat Neshek signing with the last-place Phillies this week reminds us that any and each group might be in play. The Jays have been reluctant to dangle Roberto Osuna up to now and will have missed their splendid commerce window anyway, if Osuna’s summer time of ’17 woes carry over into subsequent season.

Archer touchdown with the Cubs nearly makes an excessive amount of sense. He was the linchpin of a multiplayer deal again in 2011, one which noticed Archer and a number of other different proficient younger gamers go to the Rays, with Matt Garza shipped to the North Aspect; Cubs supervisor Joe Maddon clearly is aware of Archer effectively too. The 4 years and $34 million Archer has left on his long-term deal make him top-of-the-line bargains in all of baseball, although after all that solely incentivizes the Rays to maintain him, except a bidder makes a big supply. Happ might be a strong backup plan for the Cubs, and he’d additionally make sense for the Astros (Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton are harm dangers), Yankees (it will get awfully skinny after Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and Sonny Grey), Crimson Sox (David Worth insurance coverage), Mariners, Brewers and Twins. Jones wasn’t something particular final 12 months at .285/.322/.466 with sub-par protection in middle discipline, however he might be an fascinating get for an outfield-needy group like Cleveland, given Michael Brantley’s ongoing harm issues. 

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