As my 3 readers may have noticed, I have started writing a daily blog entitled 365 Days of Comics. It was a way for me to keep up with my writing and creative skills while commenting on subject matter that compels me: comic books. While writing daily I slowly understand sentence structure and terminology pitfalls I tend to over use. At the same time, I begin to understand the process behind reviewing or commenting on a comic book. There are many sites such as ign.com and CBR who have staffs of excellent comic book reviewers (whom opinions I share). Yet it is very rare that a comic is reviewed for a very important element (excluding the Walking Dead) which ads to the tone of a story: the coloring (pitfall #2 – semicolon followed by the connecting answer-like phrase).

No person would argue that coloring is the number one reason a book sells. The actual story and text is the most driving part of the book followed by the illustrations. Coloring is more like lettering. Lettering, presents the text on any given frame or page. The font can have it’s own presence which conveys a tone, type of voice or way a phrase is said. The lettering can give a character’s voice emphasis. Coloring is to art as lettering is to the text.

The colorist helps the story teller set the scene. Maybe the characters in play are mysterious and evil…a colorist may use darker shades. Or in the case of Stumptown, a P.I. crime  drama, Lee Loughridge’s coloring is very simple. Loughridge uses a limited pallet with dull coloring. It ads to the murky world of mystery Stumptown tries to convey. Plus, the coloring doesn’t take any attention away from the driving force of the book, which is the plot.

Other books need bright bold colors. A big action packed caped character story needs bursting colors and tones to take the characters right off the page. Laura Martin of Astonishing X-Men and Secret Invasion fame is a superior colorist who know when to accent action with strong coloring and mellow down the page with less dominant shades in more intimate moments.

Recognizing coloring achievement can be difficult. If a comic book is down well, you may not even notice. At times all you see are colors that liven your eyes. Next time you pick up a book take a look at who colored it and maybe even give them a shout out on a review post from time to time.

When I was young there were many things I enjoyed. I loved to play Nintendo, catch fireflys, watch cartoons, go to United Skates of America and play with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys.

The early Ninja Turtle toys were amazing. The original four turtle figures all came with a grimace, brownish colored weapons, and hours of entertainment. I remember having a few of the turtles, if not all of them, and papa Gazzuolo randomly buying me Leonardo: my favorite ninja turtle. He had katana blades! Swords to you losers.

Their weapons would bend over time (cheap plastic) and their paint would wear on their bodies. At the time no one cared about lead based paint. Back in the day, we licked our toys and didn’t complain when we died.

While I did cherish those early turtle toys, it wasn’t until the introduction of the turtle vehicles that I first understood what a man’s parts were for.

Ninja Turtle Vehicle Invasion

My first vehicle was the Psycho Cycle. This was the motorcycle with the side trashcan seat/stand that could be propelled by a rip-cord. You pulled the cord through the cycle and it spun those wheels (line in a ninja turtle movie song – movie 1) so that the cycle would zip along the floor. It was totally radical and a good start.

The next vehicle I received is possibly the greatest toy in the history of toys. I am not overstating the importance of this toy. If this fact is denied the government finds you and murders you. Fact. The vehicle (all together now): The Turtle Pizza Thrower! Electronic and humming, this ground vehicle which was almost tank like, sat a turtle to shoot pizza pies at his enemies. With a push of a button the vehicle shot out the pizzas fast and far. The projection of the pizza was quite amazing. I heard that NASA has actually studied it for future shuttle use.

The projectile pizzas would not only be used to attack foot-soldiers and other baddies, but was also perfect for attacking your friends and family. “Hey Dom, can you clean your roo…” Bam! Pizza to the eye! Think again Mom…and wear some goggles the next time you come at me with that shit. I had a foul mouth as a kid.

Th last turtle vehicle I received was the punching action turtle plane or helicopter (I can’t remember). This was the last of the ninja turtle vehicles I ever received. I was given it at a birthday party I had at the Untied Skates of America in Ohio. It had a gun-like trigger in the back to hold the vehicle and to make two punching glove weapons on it’s side…well, punch. It was cool for a while. If you were playing with your friends, and didn’t get to pick the pizza thrower, it was a nice alternative vehicle to choose as your primary attack vehicle.

Future impressive toys I eventually got a hold of included the Exo-Squad projectile firing toys. Something about being able to shoot something out of a toy just really got me going. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t turn into a gun crazy psycho…yet.

Holding the door is complicated. There are moments of interaction with our surrounding, and others in the surroundings, that I would rather do without. Holding a door for someone is one of those moments.

The Problems:

• Some people are just rude. If one opens a door going forward the following person should take the batton. The follower should give thanks and take the wait of the door. Unfortunately, too many people do not say thanks, and worse, some don’t even receive the door. Rude people will just walk through with heads down. I hate that.
• The waiting game. Once in awhile you hold a door for someone who takes their sweet-ass time. If eye contact is established you better move on through quickly.
• The waiting game: overtime. Sometimes there is a person behind you at an odd distance. If you hold the door the previous situation may occur, and if you just let the door shut the door shuts just as they get to it and you look like a dick.
• Too close for comfort. Occasionally you are stuck holding the door open ahead of you and the walker-through has to squeeze by you because they are a heavy set person. I’ll allow very few bellies to touch mine, and I would like to keep it that way.

Self-propelled Solution

Every office building needs a rotating door. These are great for buildings with people blind spots. You never have to wait on people or be left in an awkward position deciding to hold a door or not. Occasionally one gets stuck with some idiot who gets in the same little nook with you (making for both of you to create short shuffle steps to push the door forward and not touch), but for the most part rotating doors clear up many door waiting dilemmas.