So I missed last RecomMonday because I was in Norway, and I am posting this one a bit late because I am pretty busy and forgot, but here it is, and it is a passionate recommendation indeed…  I recommend:

I know that a lot of you already know about Rifftrax, but I feel I really should make sure that those of you who do not, or who have thought about checking it out but haven't… do, because they make my life so much better.

Rifftrax is the work of three of my man crushes: Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett

You may recognize them from one of the greatest comedy TV series of all time, Mystery Science Theater 3000.  I loved MST3K and continue to watch it obsessively to this day.  A few years ago I saw Mike Nelson at San Diego Comic Con promoting this new Rifftrax thing, so I checked it out.  I wasn't sure if it would be as cool as MST3K, but in a lot of ways it is better.  Sure, the robots are gone, the theme song isn't as catchy, but RIfftrax solves the real problem with MST3K and that is that Rifftrax enables the greatest movie mockery on earth to now be expanded to every movie in existence.  Sure we loved all those old cheesy movies the guys mocked on MST3K, but we always fantasized about what kind of witty lines they might interject over a movie like Twilight, Transformers, or High School Musical.  Well… it's done, it's here.  They did it.

Basically, Rifftrax sells you an mp3 and they explain in very simple steps how to sync your mp3 up with any movie they have done a track for.  The only drawback about RIfftrax is that the guys are not infinite and can not do every movie in existence- but they have built up quite a library. 

Getting some friends together for a RIfftrax party is one of the most fun experiences there is.  Any time my brothers and I get together (excluding Malachai, he doesn't really get the jokes yet) we watch at least one Rifftrax.  I have even watched them with my Dad and sisters.  My sisters especially enjoyed Twilight and High School Musical. 

For beginners I recommend the first Twilight movie as an introduction, it's a great gateway into the world of Rifftrax.  The other great thing about Rifftrax is that they keep the humor fairly clean.  I'd say the jokes are generally from G to PG-13 rated.  These guys really do have their own brand of humor, and their own little niche they have created over the years.  They have become real experts at talking during a film.

I used to cringe every time I saw a preview for a new terrible movie coming out… like Transformers or pretty much any of the comic book films.  But now I rejoice because I know Rifftrax will be there to make them some of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.  Rifftrax does the world a hug service by taking something once obnoxious and refining it into pure golden joy. 

Also, the RIfftrax guys are huge Axe Cop supporters and they even reference Axe Cop in their riff of Clash of the Titans and X-men Last Stand, which is thrilling for me as a huge geek for whatever these guys do.  Kevin Murphy moderated the Axe Cop panel at San Diego Comic Con and wrote the Foreword for Axe Cop volume 1. 

So that's my RecomMonday.  Rifftrax.  Go and enjoy yourself, you have a lot of laughing to do if you have not given it a chance yet. 

Ethan

Another Thursday installment of Axe Cop.  In today's episode we introduce Uni-Baby's stroller, which was actually created by my buddy Cliff Cramp who drew a pin up for the Bad Guy Earth collection coming out on the 21st.   We made it into a desktop wallpaper (click to enlarge):

Malachai saw that awesome stroller and immediately decided it was canon.  Cliff did this painting as a demonstration for his class.  He is an art professor at Cal State Fullerton.  Of course, I'm not insane, so I don't know how the heck he drew all that engineering so accurately, but I simplfied the design so I could retain my sanity.  If there are any sketch-up wizzes out there it would be awesome to get a model of it for easy tracing.  Yes, I do that.

Alright, we are approaching the finale of this story and we have part two of Axe Cop in Narnia next Wednesday.  I am trying to finish up all this stuff so I can turn in all my files for the third volume of Axe Cop, which is the next collection of web comics.  I just finished my pin up for Doug TenNapel's RatFist book in which I rendered out a realistic version of his character “Monkey Trout”. 

Also, if you live anywhere near Detroit, I hope to see you at Detroit Fanfare, check out the info in Appearances on the top right of the home page for more info.

Ethan

Since the only chance of Malachai and C.S. Lewis ever meeting might take place in the afterlife, I have decided to do an artists rendition of what it might look like.

Knowing what I do of C.S. Lewis I think he'd dig Axe Cop.  I at least hope he would, and I am a huge fan, though I admit I have never read the whole Narnia series, I have a read a chunk of his books on Christian Philosophy which I love very much.  I think Narnia is very Axe Cop in the way that so many different animals and fantasy beings team up and get in battles. 

Malachai's answer to this question was so long and epic I had to break it into two parts, and the second part is about 1/3rd longer than this one, so it is more than 2 pages long. 

Well I am back from Norway (Nornia?) and had a great time.  They were incredibly friendly and I met a lot of people who I am pretty sure will be friends for life.  One guy named Simon did present me with a plastic viking helmet, but didn't have an electric guitar and said he needed the helmet back before I left, so… other than that rip off it was great.  One thing about Norway, it's freakin' spendy!!  A Krone does not get you far.  Their dollars are like nickles here.  I couldn't believe it when I came back to LAX and bought a coffee I was so releived at the price.  That has to be the first time Ihave rejoiced over the price of anything in an airport.

Anyway, I'm still a little jet lagged, but it's good to be home.  The next part of this episode will come out next week on Wednesday, so I apologize for the wait but it will be worth it.  I'll see you tomorrow when Axe Cop and Dinosaur Soldier take Uni-Baby to the park, and don't forget we got a new page of Bearmageddon today as well.

Ethan

I am posting this episode a week in advance, so I am writing this blog to people a week in the future.  If all goes as planned, right now, much like Axe Cop and Dinosuar Soldier in today's episode I have returned home, and much like the cyborgs I am knocked out.  Of course… maybe I died, and if I did it is going to be really creepy when this thing autoposts.  Trust me, if I died, I am still dead, and if you comment I probably won't reply.  But if I am alive, then once I wake up from my stupor I probably will reply if you ask a direct question.  Of course you are more likely to get a reply over at Bearmageddon because I like the comment feature so much more over there.

Ethan

This is one of my favorite pages in a while.  I loved the imaginary science here and the kid logic that lake animals and ocean animals are not different, it is just the water that makes them different.  I also love that Uni-Man fishes for Sharks and Alligators by wishing for them to jump in his boat and die, and he seems to consider himself a real sportsman.

Well, as this posts I am in Norway recovering from a long flight and big time difference.  Don't miss a cool new Bearmageddon page tomorrow!

Ethan

I have always loved the secret attack, ever since Axe Cop first poisoned those monkeys back in Ask Axe Cop #6.  I know some may say that he found a secret secret attack back in Ask Axe Cop episode 21, but I would argue that he discovered secret attacks period at that point.  Either way, this episode is creepy and grusome, but awesome.  I know that you will find it hard to believe but Malachai really does not like gore or horror movies or anything like what comes out in Axe Cop sometimes.  I think a lot of his ripping bad guys apart comes from playing games where that kind of thing is cute, like Kirby's Epic Yarn.  He just applies all the same morality to a world that is not made of yarn- but both are made of imagination.

Don't miss today's Bearmageddon page, it is one of my favorites and involves an elk being suplexed in a heartfelt homage to Final Fight.

Well I am off to Norway. If you are a Norwaynian (I know it's Norwegian, I just like Norwaynian) you should come check out what I've got.  This will be the first opportunity anyone will have to get a brand spanking new Bearmageddon poster off of me.  I'm not incredibly excited to be on 3 planes for almost 20 hours, but here's hoping it is all worth it for the adventure.

I'm going to be in Norway for Raptus this coming weekend, and I fully expect to see this when I step off the plane:

I was talking about this trip with some friends and we came to the conclusion that, where Hawaii puts a lei on your neck when you arrive, Norway should put a viking helmet on your head and give you an electric guitar.

As for today's episode… oh yeah hey look Uni-Baby got a mention, that means the story might actually get on track.  This story is 16 pages long so that will give you an idea of where we are at.  Anyway, I need to get a bunch of work done so that I can still post comics and be on a trip to Norway at the same time.  If you will be at Raptus I hope you come say hello!  We plan on doing our first live Skype session with Malachai at this thing.

Ethan

Today for RecomMonday I bring you reMIND by Jason Brubaker:

Jason works at Dreaworks and you can see why.  The guy is an amazing artist and has an awesome imagination.  He gave me the collected edition of reMIND at Comic Con and it comes in a glorious hardbound book that looks sparkley and pretty on your book shelf.  It also looks sparkley and pretty when you open it because the art is so gorgeous. It's also a pretty interesting story about people's souls getting transferred into animals and stuff.  Lots of cool designs and really fun stylization reminiscent of Sam Keith, but unique all its own.

Ethan

Hey y'all.  For some reason I have been telling everyone that the Bad Guy Earth collection comes out in October.  I have been dead wrong!  It comes out on September 21st!  For those of you who never got the single issues (those things sold like hot cakes!) or were waiting for the collection (as I usually do.  Yeah I am one of those people) you will not be disappointed.  This is my favorite work to date.  The coloring is beauriful, the cover is gorgeous, and I put a lot of work into the extras on this book.  Specifically nearly 30 pages about the making of Bad Guy Earth. You will get to see the toys we played with, the messes we made, the notes I took, the sketches, some sketches from Malachai… it is, in my opinion, the coolest “sketch book” section I have ever seen in a trade paperback.  There are also some beautiful full color pin ups in there.  You can preorder it at many places, though I recommend TFAW but you can also do Amazon if that's how you like to do your preordering. 

So basically Axe Cop went to Magic World to get a thousand dollars and tick off all the magicians.  If it helps make any sense of the tone of this story, Malachai wrote this right around when he wrote the Funny Episode, so he was much more in “prank” mode, then “fight evil” mode. 

Alright, we'll see you next week so you can see where this story goes.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Ethan

I know that this episode brings into question some of Axe Cop's other recollections of his past, but I think we should just go with it.  I'm just happy to revisit Axe Cop's controversial method of night fighting, which I have never seen another good guy put into practice.  Ask Axe Cop #2 (the first instance of Axe COp's night technique and cat suit wearing policy) remains one of my all time favorites.  I think there is something inherintley hilarious about knocking a man out who is already asleep.  He just had no chance to block or dodge. I believe there are some Chaplin routines where he knocks a sleeping man on the head with a mallet to make sure he does not wake up and catch him sneaking around.  Chaplin was the original Axe Cop.  In face I would really like to see a photoshop of Chaplin wearing the cat suit and aviators carrying an axe now that I have the mental picture.

I foresee a few people saying that it can't be true that Super Axe is the world's only Axe Super Hero because there is Axe Cop, and while Axe Cop does have a lot of super hero traits, Malachai would still classify him as a cop, not a super hero.

As is now the tradition, Bearmageddon has a new page up today as well, and I have posted a blog about the time a dog's soul passed over me in my sleep.  True story.

See you tomorrow with more Axe Cop messing with the magicians on Magic World. 

Ethan