Meanwhile…

So not too long ago, I nabbed this from a local comic shop out of their clearance bin for practically nothing (it’s $50 there on Amazon, I got it for maybe five or six dollars). It’s an incredible deal, a collection of nearly every issue of Fantastic Four and The Silver Surfer up to just a few years ago.

It’s hard to argue against the Fantastic Four’s boast of being “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine.” It’s high concept science fiction that perfectly represents the attitudes of the ’60s, and the book revolutionized superhero books at the time. It’s likely the superhero would have faded out long before now if not for Reed Richards’s ill-conceived plan to take his girlfriend into space and get laid beat the Russians into space.

As I’m reading this first issue (November, 1961), a lot of things jump out at me, and I was having too much fun not to share. To the jump!

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Ugh. 20 days! I have been immensely busy with work (and other things) of late. Corporate America is currently in a “Let’s keep producing more while not replacing all these people we laid off a few months ago” phase. It’s awesome.

A couple of recommendations for you today, from a couple of my wildly talented pals:

First up is this noir-flavored short from friend Aaron. I always want to work more with Aaron, but never get around to it. My loss!

Second is another short, from friend Alex. He actually shot this some time back for a web series that never took off (evidently the writer caved under the pressure). But it is pretty.

Third is the new CD, Five Deadly Venoms, from my comrades in the Mr. Bungle-inspired Shaolin Death Squad. These are people with whom I toiled in the unforgiving planogram mines and then drunkenly philosophized with until the wee hours of the next day. They know more about me than I am comfortable with. You should listen and soak in their wisdom.

I have seen Kick-Ass. It is awesome. I have more to say about it, but currently lack the energy to do so. Perhaps later.

It’s been quiet around here lately, but for good reason! Check this:

April 1, 2010

Fans of dark urban humor fantasy won’t want to miss “This is How You Pronounce Ichor” the new nerdcore-style spoken word album from acclaimed author Alexander Burns.

When the music first begins to creep into you, it’s almost unrecognizable. But something deep and dark lurks within the album.

The first whispers of My Other Best Friend is a Derleth lull a listener into a false sense of calm before hammering at the psyche with noisome chords and abject terrors so palpable that it’s impossible to stop the CD without going insane…and yet one isn’t sure that finishing it will ensure sanity, either.

The album is an emotional journey – the eldritch Internet gibbers of O’R'lyeh may leave you a slobbering mess, but the achingly touching The Rats in the Walls (of Love) will rescue even the most heard-hearted souls. And the poignant rants found in Sorry, I’m More of a Shoggoth Person display remarkable insight into human relationships to which anyone can relate. Favored among these offices is Tentacles Hide the Tears, a wrenching tale of heartbreak and revenge in 19th century Texas.

“It’s an incredible foray into Yog-sothery,” stated actor and writer Wil Wheaton. “I’ll be surprised if the world survives the onslaught. It’s like if Henry Rollins had a love child with the Necronomicon, and then that kid got stood up for a blind date at the Innsmouth Cafe, went home and got drunk.”

Look for Mr. Burns this summer on tour with musician Jonathan Coulton.

So yeah, exciting stuff. Keep an eye out here for more information on tour dates, and the album itself will be available via iTunes and other fine retailers next week. Merchandise is available now!