Rudy Panucci On Pop Culture

Month: May 2008 (Page 2 of 2)

A Preview Song From Next Week’s Radio Free Charleston

Episode 42 will feature music from Doctor Senator, Barrelhouse Bonni and The Synergy Collective.  There will also be animation, film, and a visit from WCW’s Queen of Scream, Daffney.  As a teaser, here’s the entire song by Doctor Senator, “Awkward Social Situation,” recorded live at Davis Park on May 3, 2008.

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An Election Day Rant

I don’t usually get political here in PopCult, but today the election coverage has encroached on my turf and I’m a little miffed. I have to say that I’m disgusted at the tone of the mainstream media coverage of the West Virginia Democratic Primary race between Senators Clinton and Obama.

We hardly get any attention from the national media here in the Mountain State. Basically, unless there’s a coal mine disaster or a flood the media tends to think of the entire state as as suburb of Richmond. For the first time in a long time, West Virginia’s role in the primary process actually matters, and the media, as personified by the 24/7 cable news outlets, has decided to frame the election in this state in the following way: West Virginia voters are racist, because they will likely vote for Sen. Clinton over Sen. Obama.

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Monday Morning Art: Burnt Weenies

We kick off this rocky primary election week with something that many a young person’s mind turns to at this time of year….wieners!  Our art this week is “Burnt Weenies,” a digital painting of a close look at nascent hotdoggery a-roastin’ on whatever it is that they call those metal rotating thingies.  You can almost imagine pressing your nose against the glass before you realize that it’s scalding hot and you probably shouldn’t have done that. This edition of Monday Morning Art is dedicated to the late Frank Zappa, who once titled an album “Burnt Weenie Sandwich.”  Twenty years and a couple of months ago I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Zappa perform in Pittsburgh.  Later this month, Zappa’s former sideman, Ike Willis, will bring his Zappa Tribute to The Empty Glass. They should serve wieners that night, in honor of the event.  

 As is the norm, clickedy-click the image for a larger version.  The internet gods willing, you can cruise over to the Monday Morning Art Cafepress store and purchase this image on a variety of garments and fine trinketry.    Also, all of the artwork for Emily will be available from the PopCult Cafepress store at least through the end of summer. All proceeds will go to Emily.  I’m also working on hooking up with a local gallery to sell prints of this work, again with all the proceeds going to my friend Emily and her family. 

A Rough Year For The Duck

Word came over the weekend that Gene Colan, the artist most associated with the Howard The Duck comic book, is hospitalized, suffering from liver failure. This is just a couple of months after the death of Howard’s creator and writer, Steve Gerber (a major influence on your humble PopCult blogger).

While Colan made a huge mark with Howard, he had a long career in comics before and after. Most notably a lenghty run on Marvel Comic’s “Tomb Of Dracula” in the 1970s. Colan also served stints as the main artist on Daredevil, Iron Man, and Dr. Strange, among many other Marvel stalwarts. Jumping to DC Comics in the 1980s, Colan lent his talents to Batman and Wonder Woman. It was around this time that he crafted two creator-owned series with writer Don McGregor: Nathaniel Dusk, a Private Eye comic, and Ragamuffins, about a group of children. These series were reproduced directly from Colan’s pencilled pages, skipping the industry standard of employing other artists to “finish” the artwork in ink. Colan was legendary for the quality of his pencilled pages, which often were obliterated by less talented inkers.

For more information on Gene Colan and his current health crisis, check out Mark Evanier’s blog. He reports that a benefit project is in the works. PopCult sends best wishes to Gene and his family.

Tuesday Morning Art: Looking

A day late, but that was due to internet gremlins on top of  a hectic, but wonderful, weekend.  Today’s attempt at art is called “Looking.”  I called it that because it’s gots eyes all up in it. There’s a deep metaphysical explanation about what it means, but if I told you, then hundreds of years from now nobody will write a book about it.  You know, “The Panucci Code,” which will explain that Barry Allen (The Flash) didn’t really die, but instead survived the Crisis On Infinite Earths and moved to France, where he raised a family while his neighbors looked on and said, “Ze Americans, zey are always een such a rush!”

As you can tell, I’m very tired.  After the jump, I’ll tell you about the cool weekend music and events, but first, surf on over to the Cafepress Stores to buy this week’s art.  Below the virtual fold, you can also see some of the component pieces that went into this week’s artwork.

As is the norm, clickedy-click the image for a larger version.  The internet gods willing, you can cruise over to the Monday Morning Art Cafepress store and purchase this image on a variety of garments and fine trinketry.    Also, all of the artwork for Emily will be available from the PopCult Cafepress store at least through the end of summer. All proceeds will go to Emily.  I’m also working on hooking up with a local gallery to sell prints of this work, again with all the proceeds going to my friend Emily and her family.

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