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Show B4 Monday • September 29, 2008 C O M I C B O O K R E V I E W R E V I E W A L B U M I The Stand delivers Bigger than words, wider than pictures Co/77/cs offers a new spin on a Stephen King classic • BENJAMIN BAILEyj Life writer If you've ever read a Stephen King novel, you probably will not be surprised to hear that Marvel Comics has begun to adapt some of his most well known works into graphic novels. The twisted and unique stories King is known for are a perfect fit for the comic book world. T h e first major collaboration, The Dark Tower, based on the series by King, was a runaway hit. Now, Marvel has launched their second adaptation. The Stand, and if the first issue is any indication, it is going to be a huge success. The Stand is a book of biblical size and scope. In its uncut form, the novel runs over a thousand pages. Instead of releasing one massive graphic novel, Marvel has decided to break the book into three limited series, the first of which is The Stand: Captain Trips. King's novel is the story of the end of the world. When a virus kills 99 percent of the world's population, a few survivors are left to engage in an epic battle of good vs. evil. Considered by many to be King's greatest work, The Stand: Captain Trips would've flown out of comic book stores even if it was drawn by a third grader. Fortunately, the art so far is incredible. Mike Perkins, known to comic fans for his work on Captain America, has delivered one hell of a first issue. His artwork is vivid and realistic, yet still carries a distinctive comic book feel. A page that features the death of two characters in the first issue is by far one of the most horrific and haunting images seen in comics today. Writing duties are handled by Roberto AguirreS a c a sa whose past works include The Sensational Spiderman and Dead Of Night - and he manages to do a great job in the face of what must be an impossibly daunting task. He adapts King's style very well, but manages to avoid a simple cut and paste of dialogue from the novel. The pacing is great; you get just enough to leave you drooling for the next issue. With the second issue due Oct. 8, this is a great time to jump into what is sure to be an awesome series. If you have never read King's books before, The Stand comic book is a great way to introduce yourself to one of his best books. If you have read it, then you should be on your way to the comic book store right now. from snow for the December smoker; ears accustomed to Life writer the straightforward preachPoets have inflicted on ing of MoTab will likely exsociety an inequitable un- perience difficulty extracttruth: that no matter the ing coherence: immensity of a scene, no This album is really matter the immediacy of good. You should listen to a situation, words can ad- it. If you do, equately capture its essence. you will feel However, on Mog wai' s like your life latest release, The Hawk is more imIs Howling, these prolific portant than Scots have continued their it really is. efforts to unshackle meanY o u ing from the bondage of the don't have word. Despite this album to peer verescaping entirely the pitfalls t i g i n o u s l y of language, this review, un- over the fortunately, cannot. edge of the So, like a painter with a 31st floor single color on his palette, of a downlike a sculptor without a town office building, watchchisel, I'm to set about de- ing your thoughts plummet, scribing a sound so monu- crumple, lie limp amid the mental, so vast, that it paral- accumulated heap of gawklels the awe and scope of a ing fools, spread on the night sky. If the stars had a smoldering concrete below sound, that sound would be like insects or mold on rot. Mogwai. You don't need spectaWords cannot separate tors for your final throes, breath from smoke, ash don't need the five o'clock •THOMAS RAGKLIFFEi V I D E O G A M E plosive urges you've suppressed, the truths you've denied, the calm and the storm, the cliche" you can't let yourself abuse. For all who have ever yearned for the divine, for the hand of God, or its shadow, to manifest in their otherwise mundane lives, to direct them with the candor of Scorsese and the wit of Fellini, this album is the answer to these prayers of vain repetition, these cries for validation: God has spoken, and he said he's hungry. If you listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, this probably is not the album for you. or rather, you are not the person for this album -- this album is your soul male, but you haven't lived a life worthy of the sort of eternal companionship Mogwai came to offer. Vomit stains on your shoes and scars on your liver are the recommend needed for entrance to this temple. news to accommodate my grotesque fascination with death or your exhibitionism, to dole out like PBJs to soon-to-be sticky-mouthed toddlers the grisly details of your demise, a corporate landmark, a must-see conclusion to thedoldrums you endured — and now a word from our sponsors. All of this and more can be avoided by letting Mogwai be the Amazon, com sensation life chose to deny you, the warmth of the sun on your skin midwinter, the frigid understanding in your spine after a plaintive good-bye, the numb resignation and self-loathing defeat of an unwanted lover's breath on your neck. This album is the ex- R E V I E W We all just want to be virtual rock stars So Nickelback was, like, half-right. ered on a group experience combining all of these elements, it was more than a When Rock Band ar- little surprising. Now, nine rived last November, it was months later. Rock Band 2 greeted with both breathless has hit the shelves as a limanticipation and a kind of ited exclusive for the Xbox gloomy skepticism. After 360 , and it's safe to say that all, Donkey Konga had giv- this newest iteration is the en us a rhythm game revolv- best yet. ing around drums, Sing Star See, Rock Band had some and Karaoke Revolution had issues, only natural when filled our crooning needs you're doing something and Guitar Hero taught us for the first time, and Rock what it was like to be, well, Band 2 tackles the most anguitar heroes. So when Rock noying ones head on. First Band promised and delivM JONATHAN POOLEj Life writer and foremost, the set up in Rock Band 2 is much less of a headache. Created characters are no longer tied to a specific instrument or group. Pick your character, choose your instrument and let's kick the tires and light the fires. Since this was my biggest annoyance with Rock Band, I'm glad to see that it's been resolved. Second of all. Rock Band 2 may have the most rocking set list in a music game so far. Rock Band, not so much. But Rock Band 2 has you imitating everyone from Bon Jovi to Modest Mouse and Journey to Rage Against the Machine. In short, it's a pretty epic amalgamation. Also, aside from the 84 killer songs on the Rock Band 2 disc. Harmonix has promised an additional 20 free songs via Xbox Live download by the end of the year. While no one is really sure as to what they're going to See ROCK • B6 REVENGE OF THE SHUCKED MANY LANDS GET LOST IN UTAH'S MOST AMAZING CORN MAZE AT THANKSGIVING POINT. - INTERNATIONAL MARKET 1145 N.500 W, Provo • Phnne: (801)-375-3789 • O p e n M o n d a y j o S a t u r d a y i 3 d : | 0 ^ - ^ V ClfTS AND CROCERIES FROM JAPAN. CHINA, BRITAIN, KOREA. BRAZIL, & AFRICA, INDIA, ARGENTINA. POLYNESIA. AUSTRALIA,CEKMANY, HOLLAND, ITALY, EASrEKN EUROPE. RUSSIA^ANDTHAJLAND. OFF I I I 375-8000 y Regular price on any cut and style, color service or perm 2230 N. 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