TediVillasor.com

The passing of an artist

July 3, 2010.

Michael Turner (right) and I pose for a photo during the Wizard World Los Angeles Convention in 2006.

How time flies when you are busy with the everyday happenings that make up one’s life.

I am no different.

Well, as I was going about some research online, I was suddenly reminded of the 2nd death anniversary of Aspen MLT Inc. founder Michael Turner.

Here is a tribute I wrote two years ago.

In Memory of Michael Layne Turner (April 21, 1971 – June 27, 2008)

Michael Turner.

Much has already been detailed with his eight-year battle with chondrosarcoma, so this tribute would basically be one that celebrates his life.

Cover of Supergirl #1 (2005) by Michael Turner.

Early history

From what I recall, Turner and a family member took a year off (commonly known as a “gap year” in the United States) before entering college to pursue medicine.  The duo decided to move closer to the beach as Turner had a loved being around water despite living all the way in Crossville, Tennessee.  During this time, the pair waited on tables to make ends meet and soaked up the sun and waves whenever they could.

Eventually, Turner–a gifted artist– turned to the comic book industry to provide supplementary income.  He eventually dropped out from school and immersed himself in his craft.  Among his most notable works at this stage of his career was the co-creation, covers, and interiors of Top Cow’s Witchblade.

By the turn of the century, Turner had gone full circle and founded his own company–Aspen MLT Inc. which was bannered by several of his creations: Ekos, Soulfire, and Fathom—the latter being a story of a heroine who is constantly in the water.

Fathom was one of Michael Turner’s finest creations.  It is also possible that he may have lived vicariously through her (Fathom) as cancer treatments had left him unable to engage in his true passion—surfing and diving.

My signed Michael Turner and Jim Lee Jam Cover from the Wizard Millennium Edition: Michael Turner.

In 2004, Turner signed several deals with giants D.C. Comics and Marvel Comics to either write, do cover illustrations, or interiors of some of the industries most popular characters: Superman, Batman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, etc.  Turner was also responsible for bringing back into continuity Kara Zor-El, who is better known as Supergirl.

Meeting the man

In 2006, I had the opportunity to meet Michael Turner at the Wizard World Tour in Los Angeles, California.  The lines were long, our meeting was brief, but in that short time, he was gracious and generous—signing everything that I brought—including the Turner inspired Supergirl shirt I was wearing.

Michael Turner passed away yesterday at the Santa Monica Hospital in California due to complications brought about by his bout with cancer.

He was 37.

Michael Layne Turner (April 21, 1971 – June 27, 2008).

Category: Books
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels
Author: Bruce Jones
Artist: Sean Murphy

Batman: Scarecrow Year One is a must read for any Batman fan

Published simultaneously with “Batman: Ra’s Ah-Ghul Year One” to coincide with the release of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (which featured the aforementioned Batman arch villains). Batman: Scarecrow Year One is brilliantly illustrated by Sean Murphy and masterfully written by Bruce Jones, who takes his readers on a journey into the origins of dishonored Dr. Jonathan Keeny Crane as well as insight into the recesses of the Dynamic Duo’s fears.

Jones lends his expansive vocabulary and wit to Jonathan Keeny Crane aka “The Scarecrow” (who uses words and terms throughout the two books such as “elliptical ways,” “darkly introspective,” “bevy,” “emancipated whelp,” “furtive,” “digress,” “implausible,” “erudite,” and “debauchery” just to name a few) which I have not seen since Bob Kane’s Batman stories, the 1960’s Adam West and Burt Ward Batman television show, and Mark Waid’s and Alex Ross’ “Kingdom Come.”

I also enjoyed the interplay between the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder, with the latter truly being a “Watson” to the former (“Homes”) in the eyes of Jones. Subtle humor could also be seen throughout the books as Batman playfully treats Robin as just that—a boy.

Batman: Scarecrow Year One’s Robin could be no older than 17-year’s old (based on his “advances” to a receptionist under the guise of “The Hammer”), but Jones gives Robin insight beyond his years (“garrulous mood,” “immaculate,” “aboretum,” and “visceral guilt” are just some the words in Robin’s equally expansive vocabulary) based on a number of references to his training under the tutelage of The Batman (“What’s the FIRST thing I taught you, Robin?” said Batman. He then added, “Everything’s a clue…no matter how insignificant.”)

Batman: Scarecrow Year One is a must read for any Batman fan—new and old. It involves very few of the familiar “Bam!” “Pow!” and “Splat!” fisticuffs as it focuses on traditional detective work which only Caped Crusaders can provide.

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Now playing: Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
via FoxyTunes

Category: Movies
Genre: Drama

An interesting concoction

A great film with a turbulent beginning—starting with its production from Warner Bros and Harrison Ford pulling out due to conflicts over the screenplay and role respectively; to a carousels of who’s who auditioning or being considered for the parts of Nick Frescia (Alec Baldwin and Miami Heat Head Coach (then with the Los Angeles Lakers) Pat Riley were considered for the role of Nick before settling with Kurt Russell) and Dale “Mac” McKussic (Harrison Ford was slated to play this role before he pulled out. Mel Gibson was signed on as his replacement); to admission sales possibly being bloated due to the initial teaser trailer of Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) which was shown prior to the film (giddy fans were reported to have paid admission just to see the aforementioned trailer).

Now to the movie. Tequila Sunrise.

Other than knowing it was a film that “may have” won awards (and it did when it captured the Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases and Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures awards), I knew very little else of its history and sadly, even who was staring in the film.

As the credits rolled, I even missed the title of film and Gibson’s name. But then names of Pfeiffer, Russell, and the late Raul Julia popped up. Now this was certainly something interesting to watch. The lead character, Dale “Mac” McKussic (Gibson), is an ex-drug dealer who is trying to go straight. His “friend,” Detective Lieutenant Nicholas “Nick” Frescia (Russell), throughout the film tries to entrap him, believing that he is unable to “go straight.” Jo Ann Vallenari (Pfeiffer) is a restaurant owner and the love interest of both men. Vallenari had a consistent “glazed look,” and in my opinion, was seemingly on drugs for the duration of the film. And lastly, my “the star of the show,” Carlos/Comandante Xavier Escalante (played by the late Raul Julia) who truly made McKussic believe he was a “buddy.”

Lastly, for an independent film, I have to tip my hat to Writer and Director Robert Towne—he really believed in this project and his passion was seen throughout the film and in his characters (especially Escalante).

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Now playing: Fela Kuti – Zombie
via FoxyTunes

Series: The Batman (2004)
Episode: Two of a Kind (Season 4, Episode 47)
Original Air Date: February 24, 2007
Date Watched: December 28, 2007 (Cartoon Network)

The duo of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini created Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel for Batman The Animated Series

Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel Creator and Writer Paul Dini takes control once again of the character that he created (along with fellow Batman: The Animated Series Creator and Writer Bruce Timm) fifteen years ago by retelling her origin in the episode “Two of a Kind.”

Quinzel (Hynden Walch) is a television psychologist this time around (a step back from her days as a psychiatrist in Batman: The Animated Series (1992)) who is humiliated by the live cancellation of her talk show. This catastrophic event leaves Quinzel longing for an opportunity to redeem herself to the public by writing a “tell all” book on The Joker.

The Joker takes Quinzel (guised now as Harley Quinn) “on a night out in Gotham” in order for her to observe his pathology. Chaos then ensues before The Batman, Robin, and Batgirl finally intervene and avert the dastardly plans of The Joker and Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel:

Inspired by Paul Dini’s love for the character of Calliope Jones (Arleen Sorkin) on television series Days of our Lives, Dini invites Sorkin to voice Harley Quinn–The first and only Batman: The Animated Series character to make the transition from celluloid to comics.

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Now playing: Shirley Walker – Batman Beyond End Credits
via FoxyTunes

In Earth-Prime, there is always downtime for Superboy-Prime

Shamelessly tore this off my brother’s Tumblr.com site. Come to think about it, our rooms aren’t that far removed from that of Superboy-Prime.

Except my room has more variation.

And it’s cool!

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Now playing: Babyface – For The Cool In You

via FoxyTunes

“Madness is like gravity. All you need is a little push.” – The Joker (Heath Ledger)

Who is Harvey Dent?

District Attorney Harvey Dent is famously known as Gotham City's White Knight

A newly appointed public servant. Gotham City’s new District Attorney. And who can forget, the scourge of the underworld (with a good right cross)—Gotham City’s “White Knight.”

But there is more.

After watching Christopher Nolan’s second take on the Batman film franchise, the Dent topic made its rounds at the dinner table.

Who is Harvey Dent?

“Easy enough.” I said to myself, before addressing everyone at our current square-table discussion.

“Dent’s (Aaron Eckhart) love for the law is unparalleled in a world (Gotham) that reeks of corruption from every level. He is Gotham City’s “White Knight”—a public symbol of hope to the oppressed. But all that changed with the loss of his significant other (Rachel Dawes portrayed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal) as well as his facial disfigurement.”

I then added, “From that point on, Dent’s sense of justice was skewed. He was also unable to reach even the most basic of decisions without consulting his father’s lucky coin as Dent believed, “chance is the only true justice, because it is fair.””

I believe in Harvey Dent! Bah! Politics!

Then my aunt offered another perspective.

“Hubris” she said.

Hubris is the ancient Greek term used “to indicate overweening pride, self-confidence, superciliousness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution.”

My aunt then continued, “The downfall of Harvey Dent was because he believed too much in his own press release. Much like the fallen angel, Lucifer, in Judaism and Christian belief—Dent felt that he could do it all by himself. That he didn’t need anyone’s help.”

My aunt was right; Dent was solely responsible in persecuting Salvatore Vincent “Sal” Maroni (Eric Roberts) and his mid-to-low level cohorts. He was also repeatedly warned by Gotham City Mayor Anthony Garcia (Nestor Carbonell) that because of his recent exploits, those on the wrong side of the law would stop at nothing to smear his good name. In response, Dent seemingly brushed the Mayor’s warnings aside and said that he was up to the task.

This was one movie that certainly didn't need a viral marketing campaign

We all know how that turned out.

In the end, the portraits of Dent overlooking Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon (Gary Oldman) give viewers and idea as to his fate.

Harvey Dent’s reputation remains intact and in his death, he serves as Gotham’s enduring symbol against tyranny.

Thanks to the sacrifices of his friends.

My aunt was right.

No man can be an island…even if they really wanted to.

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Now playing: Prince – Electric Chair
via FoxyTunes

He looks really scared…doesn’t he? (Blackest Night: Batman #3)

I’ve always thought that fear was a distance cousin to The Dark Knight.  This photo shows that they may have recently had a reunion.

But I digress…

Welcome to tedivillasor.com.  This will be my home away from home and my official site.  You can also check out my collection, tumblr.com, and twitter.com accounts.

The picture of Batman (an artist’s conceptualization) to the left will serve as my User Icon around Wordpress.org.

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Now playing: John Williams – Raiders March
via FoxyTunes