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The Best Comics of 2016!!!
Hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and are due for a Happy New Year as well! 2016 was one hell of a year seeing celebrities and other notable figures dropping like flies, with Star Wars Carrie Fisher and her Hollywood icon mother, Debbie Reynolds passing within a day of each being the saddest icing on the cake. We also ushered a deplorable moron into the Oval Office this year, a well-heeled billionaire who managed to convince hundreds of millions of simpletons into believing that he would magically fix their sorry little lives (even as he almost immediately began to do exactly the opposite); and all of this nonsense was perpetrated under a campaign of heinous fear-mongering along with his pair-bonding with out and out racist neo-nazis; sheesh! What the religious right saw that made them also kiss his lying ass is something for saner historians to ruminate upon should we survive the administration of this asshole. On to other matters ......
There were not as many posts here this year as I may have preferred, but before we blow out the candles anyway, here are my personal selections for the very best pure comics experiences to be had in 2016. *You will note that in a couple of instances a single issue or two is all certain nominees fielded, but less is often more and virtually any of these issues are far superior to much of what stained the comic shop shelves from the major publishers otherwise.
Velvet - Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting and Elizabeth Breitweiser
Black Panther – Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze, Chris Sprouse and Laura Martin
Love and Rockets – The Hernandez Brothers
Black Hammer – Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston and Dave Stewart
Seven to Eternity – Rick Remender and Jerome Opena
Black Science – Rick Remender, Matteo Scalera and Moreno Dinisio
Posted by Chuck Wells at 12:21 PM 2 comments: Links to this post
In Memorium: Van Williams
I just haven't made the time to swing by the Catacombs recently and this is certainly not the kind of post that I would prefer prompted me to return, but what are you gonna do.
The Green Hornet and Kato have finally been reunited in the afterlife. Actor Van Williams familiar to old school fans from his days on Bourbon Street Beat and its television spinoff Surfside 6 passed away on November 28, 2016 at the age of eighty-two from renal failure. Williams is probably best known as the masked hero from the short run 1960s series where he starred opposite the late Bruce Lee.
Despite his hunkish good looks, Williams had only a modest impact in Hollywood with a couple of big screen roles and a minor string of appearances in many classic shows before hitting wider if brief fame as the Hornet. He later served as a reserve sheriffs deputy and he owned a communications company. He was described by friends as a great friend and mentor. The Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and
fans.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 11:32 AM No comments: Links to this post
In Memorium: Gaspar Saladino
Legendary letterer Gaspar Saladino passed away yesterday following a long illness (his age is believed to be somewhere in the 88 or 90 range). Although he worked for a variety of publishers during his lengthy career, for well over five decades he was a staple of DC Comics responsible for so many of their iconic font designs. Gaspar designed hundreds of logos for the company and as time permitted, also worked on interiors particularly on Swamp Thing with Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. The Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.
In Memorium: Jack Davis
Legendary illustrator Jack Davis passed away yesterday in Georgia at the age of 91. His staggering volume of work for advertising, magazines, films, posters and album covers throughout his long life made him a popular cartoonist. Davis began his career at EC Comics doing horror and sci-fi stuff, but quickly became known for MAD magazine and the caricature art style that led to his wider fame. I met him at a National Cartoonist Society meeting in Asheville, NC a few years ago alonside his former MAD peers Duck Edwing and Nick Meglin. That was a terrific and truly once in a lifetime opportunity. He will be missed! The Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 11:09 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
"Gal" Friday! Elsa Bloodstone
Elsa Bloodstone first appeared in Marvel's 2001 Bloodstone mini-series written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. She is the daughter of the previously established Marvel Universe character Ulysses Bloodstone (first appearance in Marvel Presents #1; Oct.1975). She currently lives in Bloodstone Manor with her mother and her ally the Frankenstein Monster. She has also befriended Charles Barnabus, a pureblood vampire lawyer and the executor of the Bloodstone estate.
Elsa has been utilized in various Marvel publishing efforts such as Nextwave, the Initiative, The Fearless Defenders and Marvel Now; but she has seemingly returned to her monster-hunting adventures vowing solemnly to never have children on her own, since she feels the responsibility of being a Bloodstone too heavy to be forced upon another living being.
Elsa has exhibited superhuman strength, speed, durability and endurance and a regenerative ability. She appears to possess all of the abilities that her father previously had. In addition she has demonstrated immunity to vampire bites (her blood will actually kill a vampire if consumed and the original Bloodgem fragment itself is anathema to vampires).
In the Bloodstone mini-series, Elsa claimed that she had inherited at least some of this power genetically, but it has been shown that her powers of strength and invulnerability were bestowed upon her by the Bloodgem fragment she wears on a choker. She has also been portrayed as an expert marksman. Among a number of artifacts gathered by her father she has used a lamp which contains a genie whom Ulysses had enslaved years ago. This device serves as an early warning system, lighting up during times of supernatural crisis, and transporting her to said event.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 12:46 PM No comments: Links to this post
This here is a run-out-the-clock situation.
Dinosaurs are long gone and collectively we understand that their exit was prompted by the (K–T) extinction, a mass extinction of some three-quarters of plant and animal species on Earth—including all non-avian dinosaurs—that occurred over a geologically short period of time approximately 66 million years ago.
I've come to the conclusion that a portion of fandom, my own demographic, has been naturally going the same route within the comic book industry since the early 1990's. I have had comics around throughout my entire life from before I could even read in fact. Now in my mid-50's I increasingly feel either antipathy or indifference towards the wares of DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Each of these "big two" publishing powerhouses has made every effort imaginable to maintain what we all know to be a shrinking readership, but you would never know it looking at what is sitting upon the shelves in most comics specialty shops. It is a mind-numbing experience pondering what to purchase out of the hundreds of issues comprising the last several months worth of every single series, plus the often dozen or so related titles within each "family" grouping and then to also have to determine how a half dozen active "versions" of each major character are indistinguishable in their own right? I can recall when the monthly letters page chatter used to jockey around the Earth 1 or 2 JLA/JSA crossovers; and that was only a handful of characters. Back in the mid 1980s DC decided that enough was enough, and we got Crisis on Infinite Earths. Twelve isues, a linewide crossover and then a major reboot that settled things once and for all. At least until the sales figures came in, and well you get the picture. Crisis has continued annually ever since. Oh sure, they call each seasons marketing "event" by a different name, but its really all the same conceit.
Diversity too seems to have unfortunately become little more than the kitschy glamor vibe of the moment, with one established character identity after another perpetually getting remade as an ethnic variation or a gender swap, or to a same-sex gay option supposedly because of audience demand? I don't think so. Each company already had plenty of non-caucasian characters and some homosexual heroes or supporting characters, and some were featured regularly. Moving those to the forefront and increasing their prominence in the wider fictional universe has occurred, but the replacments just keep right on coming unabated. Another ebb tide is the routinely manifested white, blonde female superhero who soon finds her love interest in this politically correct climate to be the nearest black male superhero. Time and again we've seen this and while this reflects reality, it has been done to death largely by caucasian creators who must believe that they alone are introducing this idea for the very first time? We seem to have entirely skipped past any healthy presentations of black male/black female relationships, much less actually doing the hard part and creating a brand spanking new intellectual property to stand upon its own merits. We've gone straight to the default polarizing choice over and again, and face it Tiger; that is exactly what sells headlines once the "haters" begin spouting off at the next introduction or romance along these lines. It would be foolish to believe that the publishers don't expect and/or prefer the vitriolic backlash of these gimmicks. Alas, even my head canon fanboy choice can no longer stand the bombardment. Cacaphony rules the day. I'm baling out while I can retain some degree of appreciation for nostalgia if nothing else.
I have tried my best to get on board, to accept and tolerate, but the endlessness of these things has worn me completely out. I do however want to end on a high note praising current books that I am VERY much still enjoying and which all take me to my inner happy place as a reader: Velvet (Image Comics) by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Elizabeth Breitweiser; Black Panther (Marvel Comics) by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze, Laura Martin; Future Quest (DC Comics) by Jeff Parker and Evan "Doc" Shaner and others. Creators whose work also thrills me include Fernando Pasarin, Jason Fabok, Jim Cheung, the Hernandez Brothers, Dan Clowes, Peter Bagge and I'm looking forward to Adam Hughes on Betty & Veronica and the Josie and the Pussycats relaunch later this years. Other than my own shit ton of back issues, this is gonna be about it for me.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 10:45 AM 6 comments: Links to this post
Hot Mess: The Falcon
When it comes to the publishing endeavors of the current comic book industry, frequent reboots, relaunches and other spin the wheel antics are sadly now a very common thing, but they are actually little more than hot messes that can be appealing for a variety of reasons; most notably because they're generally unexpected, capricious, and/or agonizingly provocative in tone and content. Additionally, numerous contingent factors render these increasingly less rare and constantly repetitive cycles virtually inconsequential.
No one set of guidelines exists to determine what distinguishes each seasons "hot mess" from the previous effort that has now come to be considered the train wreck that it was. Fandom is mired in a case of "here we go again" as the same caustic social media frenzy kicks off another round of shout down the other side of the aisle. Regardless of the circumstances, you know it when you see it; because they are conspicuous and thus always heavily marketed slices of the moment.
The Falcon was one of my favorite bronze age heroes, although depending upon how you gauge when each comic book age began and ended, he probably counts as having squeeked in at the end of the silver age. Sam Wilson was an interesting character in his own right who quickly bonded with fans and moved to cover prominence headlining the series Captain America and The Falcon for many years. The two characters were partners and friends and remained that way until Steve Rogers succumbed to aberrant effects of his super-soldier formula aging out in short order. Sam was given the chance to succeed his pal in the patriotic role and name of CAPTAIN AMERICA. The thing is, this actually belittled the Falcon and weirdly, it is a half-assed attempt to seem diverse by pandering to a limited fan audience who just got familiar with The Falcon due to his inclusion in the blockbuster Captain America and Avengers film franchises. It makes fuck all sense, but it does give a couple of white creators a chance to seem with it. To which I say, "Sweet Christmas!"
Sam Wilson is The Falcon. He is not Captain America no matter how many issues that storyline ultimately runs. Strangely, having his costume altered as a tribute to his friend was a nice gesture, but robbing the character of his own unique identity that had beend established for decades stained the whole enterprise.
"They've wrestled with reality for 11 years and seem to have finally won out over it."
As I've grown into a stodgier older fan, I've tried to tamp down on visceral ranting about things that just aren't all that important in the grand scheme of things. Still, with respect to those who will ultimately be honored as nominees for the 2016 Harvey Awards; I simply can not fathom the thought process of their executive committee members. This award is named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents, so I get that "innovation" is likely paramount in the selection process, but as the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art; I frequently find myself at a loss over some top talents who never seem to make the cut. This is largely where I'm gonna leave off in specifying who - in my self importance - deserves to be on the list and/or those whose inclusion is beyond weird - again in my own estimation.
The Harvey Awards may be voted on exclusively by comic book creators who write, draw, ink, color, letter, design, edit, or are otherwise professionally involved in the creative aspect of comics, online or in print; but for years I've regularly not cared much for the majority of those singled out by the nominees. It is said that the Harvey Awards are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Thus voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the industry.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 2-4, 2016, with the awards banquet being held on Saturday night. This will be the eleventh year that the Baltimore Con has hosted the Harvey Awards in Maryland.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 1:41 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
The Fickle Fingers of Fate!
This is going to be a rant!
Originally created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, Doctor Fate first appeared in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940). As in most cases of established superheroes of such long tenure, various incarnations have been published with several different individuals operating in different decades within the DC Universe as Dr. Fate. The characters mastery of magic grants him powers such spellcasting, flight, super-strength, invulnerability, telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, and lightning manipulation. However Fate is unable to counteract spells that have already been cast and are in effect. Given that the original versions origin was tied to ancient Egypt it may come as no surprise, that Fate's magic manifests in the shape of Egyptian symbology (such as an ankh). Doctor Fate was a founding member of the legendary Justice Society of America in 1940.
Beyond that basic information, the published history of disparate versions of the character are little more than a hot mess and no real sense can be made out of that whole in any fashion worthy of discussion. DC Comics has made numerous efforts in the last twenty years to bond the character with an ongoing audience without giving any single version sufficient time to truly take root with overlapping generations of fans, who still seemingly cling to or prefer something much closer to the classic version. The concept of Doctor Fate may have had its best chance to permanently pass the torch from Kent Nelson to a successor in the currently on hiatus New 52 series Earth 2, where an Egyptian man named Khalid Ben-Hassin assumed the mantle. Strangely, after their Convergence event, DC began heavy-handedly introducing more diversity into their titles and that being the case, it made fuck all sense that they literally dropped Egyptian Khalid Ben-Hassin like a hot potato and began another new Doctor Fate series by writer Paul Levitz and artist Sonny Liew, which was headlined by an Egyptian-American med student named Khalid Nassour (yeah, that sure makes better fucking sense, doesn't it)?
As a golden age great, Doctor Fate has the longevity and name recognition necessary to continue making appearances in DC Comics, but their overtired efforts to move the character and concept away from the iconic representation seems futile at best. They wanted diversity and had it in the form of Earth 2's Khalid Ben-Hassin (a decent updating in my opinion), but shifting the character's name slightly and plastering the Fate concept onto a hoodie wearing youth was a shitty idea in my estimation.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 12:32 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
Kickstarter: Buyer Beware??
Kickstarter is a public-benefit corporation based in New York which has built a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to help bring unique projects to life. Kickstarter has reportedly received more than $1.9 billion in pledges from 9.4 million backers to fund 257,000 projects such as films, music, stage shows, comics, journalism, video games, technology and food-related projects.
People who back Kickstarter projects are offered tangible rewards and one of a kind experiences in exchange for their pledges. But Kickstarter is not a store and your donations actually don't guarantee you anything and often these projects struggle to come to fruition despite being fully funded and have on rare occasions have even failed to materialize.
As of this month I funded a comic book project a full year ago that received far more in donations than its originally stated financial goal to complete two issues of a six issue series. At that time I modestly backed the project in order to receive the remaining two issues, but as stretch goals began to be earned, I upped my committment substantially in order to receive an art commission of the character of my choice. I am still waiting, and this isn't a reason to panic as sometimes the projects simply take longer. I am only writing this after long months of occasional inquiries have netted me little more than token assurances that progress was being made, plus samples of pages to back their claim up. I have no doubt that this series will be finished soon and the rewards sent out - finally.
The real reason that I object to the established professionals that sought help to finish their series is that over the last year on various social media forums like Facebook, they have periodically posted photos and comments from convention appearances where they've been selling one of the primary stretch goal items that backers earned and yet have not actually been sent? One of those token assurances previously suggested that they might go ahead and send the items that were ready, but that was apparently nothing but gas meant to assuage and then dissipate as soon as it was spoken. I have also found it galling to see the artist regularly posting completed commission artwork done for paying customers, including some that he has teased to be bringing to the upcoming San Diego Comicon. It is bad form, it is very discourteous unprofessional and downright shitty on their part; if you ask me.
I understand that life happens and that these men need to make a living, but they have been cavalier in their responsibility towards those of us who funded their project. I have lost all respect for the pair of them and at this point all that I and their backers can do is wait, while they continue to languidly take their time accomplishing two measly issues?
Is DC Rebirth doomed from the start?
Well the initial first issues for DC Comics "Rebirth" publishing effort have begun dropping and already cracks appear to be evident. Does this signal inherent problems with such ongoing rebranding efforts in order to periodically prop up sales, or is is just a bump in the road that will soon right itself? We have to wait and see!
No matter which options proves accurate, several things must be pointed out. Namely that titles initially shipped twice monthly is not the best way to treat your loyal customers. It is gouging the admittedly small fanbase, but price gouging nonetheless. This needs to stop! Of course in order to pull off this increased frequency multiple artists for some series is the method DC Comics has chosen to achieve this end. To me this makes it much more difficult to get a feel for the relaunched titles as the cohesion necessary to make a better monthly comic will be harder to discern given disparate art styles. This needs to stop!
DC comics chose to kill off the New 52 version of the Man of Steel who has been carrying the torch over the last five years, and now the pre-Flashpoint Superman exists alongside Clark Kent apparently, having survived the Flashpoint event living in hiding under an assumed named with his wife Lois Lane and their son Johnathan. "Pre-Flashpoint" or "Post-Crisis" Kal-el take your pick, but he doesn't wear the classic suit and other than a color tweak, his costume mirrors his recently deceased namesake, but with blue boots instead of red. Because that makes so much better sense?
Adding insult to injury, there is also an entirely different New Super-Man over in another book and he is Chinese. Lex Luthor is also Superman over in Action Comics and Lois Lane (or some alternate version of Lois) is now Superwoman. You can't make shit like this up; unless (I suppose) you can?
Strangely some promoted series like Super Sons and Justice League have also just disappeared from upcoming solicitations. Further evidence of trouble or simply one of those things, who knows? Whether DC Rebirth will ultimately be perceived as the afterbirth that lived is a discussion for one year hence.
Posted by Chuck Wells at 9:43 AM No comments: Links to this post
Penny Dreadful .... gone, but never forgotten!!
The Showtime series Penny Dreadful pulled off a fast one in their third season finale, by bringing things to a conclusion. That is right! They stealth inserted a series finale to the surprise and disappointment of their hardcore fanbase. I count myself among them and have to admit that given series creator John Logan's asseration that this was planned all along, some things in hindsight seem a little suspect to me.
Why, if this was the grand finale envisioned all along, did Logan basically send his stable of story-wise tightly integrated characters so far afield individually this year only to bring them all together in the last episode? Also much was teased and/or intimated about what might have been season four content (do I hear "Imhotep" anyone)? Oh well, if this was where the tale of Vanessa Ives simply had to end, as a fan we were treated to a course of sugar to make the medicine go down.
I do feel as if viewers who have yet to give Penny Dreadful a chance will subsequently come to regret not having supported the show while it was airing, as this excellent television production has struggled to find a sizable enough audience to have perhaps changed the mind of its own creator. Needless to say the cast of Penny Dreadful (Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Josh Hartnett, Rory Kinear, etc.) was superb and rarely has a shortrun series managed to be of this high quality only to fade quietly away in the most unsuspecting fashion.
To those who may still be on the fence for what this series had to offer, if you have any familiarity with a terrible film called The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen starring Sean Connery from some years past, based upon the Alan Moore comic book; then this show was literally like that concept but done absolutely correctly. I am going to miss Penny Dreadful in the worst possible way!
Posted by Chuck Wells at 9:45 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Ominous Press .... Reborn!!
This past weekend I enjoyed attending the 34th annual Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's always great catching up with the "tribe", that vast coalition of comics and genre fans plus many talented industry professionals who've long made Heroes part of their yearly tradition. The ambience of Shelton Drum's show is always palpable and guaranteed to be chockfull of fun. This year was no exception either!
Also these days you just don't see the same degree of publisher presence as was typically common fifteen or twenty years ago, but one highlight of Heroes Con for me was seeing the rebirth of artist Bart Sears mid-1990s imprint Ominous Press. Sears alongside his partners, writer/editor Ron Marz, fellow artists Andy Smith & Tom Raney and publisher Sean HusVar debuted a new preview issue this very weekend in Charlotte featuring chapters introducing their upcoming titles and creative teams that will comprise the reborn Ominous; namely Prometheus (Sears-Mars-Raney), Giantkillers (Sears) and Demi-God (Sears-Marz-Smith). The overarching plot that will entwine each diverse book is teased, and I do have to say that if the ongoing quality matches this premiere issue, then you should all plan to pick up these books once they hit the shops; although some details over how that happens have yet to be determined.
Sears and company seemingly steeped these new series in classic high adventure concepts and old school mythology, but with modern twists that may break out of normal fan expectations, but time will tell? I do know that I am looking forward to seeing where Ominous Press takes us!
Posted by Chuck Wells at 1:55 PM No comments: Links to this post
Star Wars: Battlefront (Bespin DLC)!!
On June 21st the second major dlc for Star Wars: Battlefront drops two weeks early for season pass holders, like yours truly. Bespin will take the battle to Cloud City from The Empire Strikes Back and also adds the rogue Lando Calrissian and the bounty hunter Dengar as new playable characters; plus another assortment of new weapons, vehicles, star cards, etc.
I've enjoyed playing this game and am curious to see how far this update will raise the current level cap, sitting at 60 for the moment. It will also be fun seeing stormtroopers get blasted off into the abyss, if I'm truly being honest. And it is about time to get back into the game, so don't look for me early next week. My non-work hours will be spent in a galaxy far, far away!!
Heroes Convention 2016!!
This weekend I will be heading to Charlotte, North Carolina for the annual Heroes Convention featuring the usual lineup of comic book industry favorites including: Neal Adams, Mark Bagley, Frank Brunner, Bob Camp, Kelly Sue DeConnick, DMC, Evan Dorkin, Steve Epting, Matt Fraction, Ramona Fradon, Basil Gogos, Michael Golden, Mike Grell, Jason Latour, David Peterson, Eric Powell, Don Rosa, Bart Sears, Bill Sienkiewicz, Brian Stelfreeze, Jim Steranko, William Stout, Babs Tarr, Lee Weeks and many more. The Inkwell Awards ceremony will be held there on Friday evening and the Saturday evening charity art auction is a thing of legend. Hope to see you all there and among the usual cosplay gang, will be Riddle herself (see image of her recent charity photo for Canada), say hello to Riddle and thank her especially for that one!!
1970's Flashback: The Butterfly
Hell-Rider #2 (1971)
Skywald was a short-lived company best known for horror comic magazines like Nightmare, Psycho, and Scream (with a similar adult format as those released by Warren Publications), not submitted for Comics Code Authority scrutiny. In 1971 two 64 page issues of Hell-Rider were published starring a vigilante-motorcyclist named Brick Reese. Backup features included another biker gang The Wild Bunch and the subject of this flashback. The Butterfly was the first Black super-heroine in comics history. She only had the two adventures in each of these issues, but her stories had top talent attached to them such as Gary Friedrich, John Celardo, and Rich Buckler.
Marian Michaels, alias The Butterfly, was a nightclub singer who also faced off against a white supremacist secret society with a leader who had penetrated the halls of power in Washington. The organization called the Brothers of the Crimson Cross mission was nothing less than the total eradication of non-white races in America. The Butterfly wore a really skimpy costume but never degenerated into typical blaxploitation themes common at the time and managed to present a well-rounded depiction of the lead African-American female hero.
Unused splash page by R. Buckler
Newsarama picks the greatest DC Comics Stories of all time!
Newsarama has recently asked its readers to vote for the greatest stories ever published by DC Comics and the list of those tales that were selected is certainly very impressive including classics (going from #10 to #1)such as "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"; "The Return of Barry Allen"; "The Judas Contract"; "Sinestro Corps War"; "The Dark Knight Returns"; "DC: The New Frontier"; "All-Star Superman"; "The Great Darkness Saga"; "Crisis on Infinite Earths"; and "Kingdom Come."
An assortment of exceptional stories and/or runs that have become known as classics for sure, but an argument could be made to include other Alan Moore works such as Watchmen or his "The Anatomy Lesson" from Swamp Thing, not to mention classic Denny O'Neil-Neal Adams work on Batman or Green Lantern/Green Arrow too. Still since these were fan picks, it is hard to take too much of an exception. If for some reason you've missed any of these adventures, trades paperback editions are readily available for you to catch up on.
Josie and the Pussycats are coming back!!
Perennial publisher Archie Comics has announced another reinvention from their catalogue of classic characters with the notice that Josie and the Pussycats are getting a makeover too.
Marguerite Bennett and Cameron DeOrdio will write the series, with art by Audrey Mok. Mok also draws the cover of the first issue (see above), but as with their upcoming Betty & Veronica reboot, Josie & the Pussycats #1 will also feature variant covers from fellow Archie Comics artists Veronica Fish (Archie) and Francesco Francavilla (Afterlife with Archie). If the interiors look as terrific as her cover, artist Audrey Mok just guaranteed that I will be picking this title up this September?
Enter the DC Universe Online!!
DC Universe Online (abbreviated DCUO) is a free-to-play action combat massive multiplayer online game set in the DC Universe of DC Comics. Developed by Daybreak Game Company and co-published by WB Games, it was originally released on January 11, 2011.
The player creates a new, original character that interacts with the heroes and villains of DC Comics. Players choose their character's faction (Hero or Villain), gender (male or female), body type (both height and muscularity), personality (comical, flirty, powerful, primal, serious), movement mode (flight, acrobatics, speed or skimming), weapon, and power (fire, ice, gadgets, mental, nature, sorcery, earth, light, electricity, rage, quantum, celestial, munitions, and atomic). Further customization includes numerous hair, skin, and costume types and up to 3 colors which can be applied to your color scheme palette. Pre-built templates can also be utilized which are inspired by some key DC characters to expedite the whole character creation process.
Once the player's character is named (here you'll need to be creative as most obvious names are already claimed), they are thrown into the world of DC Universe Online, having to fight their way out of a spaceship; the tutorial teaches counter mechanics and using power and skill points. Eventually the player's character is made an official member of the Justice League or the Secret society of Super-villains, where they continue on their missions to increase their level and skill in various content.
DCUO was added to X-Box One on April 29, 2016 and frankly I've been playing the heck out of it. This is a very fun game! Once you earn enough renown to get invited to the Watchtower (for heroes) and the Hall of Doom (for villains), things get even more exciting. I will say that paying attention to what NPC's (non-player characters) say is crucial, particularly in arena matches to earn loot, or you will become lost. This has happened to me a number of times when matched with three other players, all of whom are expected to work together to achieve necessary goals within matches in order to advance to that areas full rewards. Many times in frustration players drop out leaving it almost impossible to complete tasks. Of course had those dummies been paying attention to all of the suggestions and/or on-screen tips, they may have realized that they were actually the problem all along?
I would still recommend DC Universe Online to anyone interested in creating their own superhero to ultimately fight alongside greats like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman or their twisted counterparts Lex Luthor, the Joker and Circe (plus literally dozens of popular DC characters).
Captain America: Civil War!!
I did not post a review of Captain America: Civil War when it was released earlier in the month, but now seems like a good time to sum up my feelings about the latest blockbuster Marvel Studios release. Simply put this great movie pulled off that rarest of film trifectas by becoming the first superhero trilogy to actually post a note perfect three picture run.
Man, this flick was equal parts great standalone film, a great next chapter in the overall cinematic Marvel Universe, and yet still managed to also serve as a great setup for fun things yet to come. The newly introduced heroes Black Panther and the latest Spider-Man were truly epic and fun, plus the large cast all shined in exceptional ways. It is weird being a 54 year old fan seeing stuff from your wayward youth brought to life on the big screen! If you have not yet seen the film and by some chance you are familiar with the 2007 comics storyline that this film is based upon, then expect some deviations from that material. For my money, this movies script improved upon many things from the original source material.
Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Jr. each found impressive new depth in their familiar characters of Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, but for fans it comes at a cost of seeing their onscreen relationship fractured by films end. Thematically tying up many threads from the previous Cap flicks and also incorporating incidents from the twin Avengers films surprisingly does not bog things down, a testament to the talent of the Russo Brothers as writers and directors. Jockeying a dozen major heroes plus a number of secondary roles seems to be their forte. In addition to Captain America (Evans) and Iron Man (RDJ) returning cast members include Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow; Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier; Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon; Don Cheadle as James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine; Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye; Paul Bettany as The Vision; Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch; Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man; Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter; Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones; and William Hurt as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (from The Incredible Hulk). If that doesn't seem like a top heavy cast, we are also introduced to Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther and Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man whose solo movies are set up by this films mid and post credits scenes (might wanna stick around for those at the conclusion). Daniel Brühl as Helmut Zemo provides the main villain of the film in a departure from his comics version, but very effectively done. Captain America: Civil War ranks as one of the best big budget superhero films of all time; hands down (and I didn't even spoil some of the better moments for fans)!!
In Memorium: Mell Lazarus
Mell Lazarus, creator of the comic strip Momma, passed away at the age of 89 on May 24, 2016. Lazarus grew up in New York and like many of his golden age peers started his career as a cartoonist while still in his teens. He worked for Li'l Abner creator Al Capp and also for Toby Press (which was managed by Capp's brother), he later turned his experiences in book publishing into a novel, The Boss Is Crazy, Too. He launched Miss Peach in 1957 (which ran until 2002); he later began Momma in 1970 and it is still running, although with different creators.
Lazarus won the National Cartoonists Society's award for Newspaper Strip, Humor, in 1973 and 1979, both times for Miss Peach. On January 23, 2016, Lazarus became the second recipient of that organizations Medal of Honor, established just last year. He previously won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, for Miss Peach, in 1981, and later that organization's Silver T-Square Award in 2000. The Catacombs extends its condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Rayboy's Review: Future Quest #1 [DC Comics]
Comic book fans will easily remember the many terrific Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon shows starring a legion of colorful heroes (designed by the late Alex Toth) back in the 1960s, and now courtesy of DC Comics and series creators Jeff Parker, Evan "Doc" Shaner and Steve "The Dude" Rude nostalgia blends all of them together in a wonderful new monthly book called Future Quest.
The debut issue features the cast from Jonny Quest who meet Space Ghost and Birdman for the first time (with the promise of others to come in subsequent issues) alongside a dynamic sequence illustrated by Rude featuring classic Quest villain Dr. Zin. This book is a joy for fans of those old cartoons and for anyone that misses the types of comics that used to dominate the stands, not that Future Quest seems dated by design. Rather this book seamlessly plays up the strength of these great characters and does so with a modern twist that for once does not require darkening their original premise overmuch.
Future Quest may be influenced by the history of the Hanna-Barbera gang, but Parker quickly establishes a strong reason for bringing them all together in a shared universe and no better artists could visualize these classic heroes than Doc Shaner and "The Dude." The Catacombs highly recommends this book above all others out there right now (and count yourself lucky that I've offered no spoilers, too). Your joy of discovery awaits!
Game of Thrones [Season 6]!!
Prior to its recent premiere, the showrunners suggested that their current season might end up being their best yet. Boasting, perhaps, but thus far Game of Thrones has certainly been giving every indication that the sixth season of the HBO fantasy epic is trying to swing for the fences. We've seen Lord Commander of the Nights Watch Jon Snow return from deaths abyss, and then be reunited with his half-sister Sansa finally making her way to Castle Black. Sunday nights episode also treated hardcore fans to a spectacular return to form for Daenerys Stormborn, the Mother of Dragons who showed those lusty khals that screwing around with her was simply not going to be part of their agenda, and now our Khaleesi has reclaimed one massive horde of Dothraki horse riders to either aide in her efforts to reclaim the Iron Throne of Westeros or to finally put those vile schemers to task in Slavers Bay.
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys
Game of Thrones remains one of the best genre shows to ever be produced for television and if you are one of the few that has yet to check this series out, well - - - what are you waiting for?
In Memorium: Darwyn Cooke!!
Within a twenty-four hour span late last week an official announcement from his family that he was undergoing an aggressive form of treatment was then immediately followed by their sad update that Eisner Award-winning Canadian comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator Darwyn Cooke, best known for his work on the comic books Catwoman, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit and Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter had succumbed to his battle with cancer. Cooke joins a short list of entirely too young creators that we've lost far earlier than would normally have been expected: Mike Parobeck, Dave Stevens, Mike Wieringo, Dwayne McDuffie and now Darwyn Cooke at 53 years of age. He was not quite a year younger than myself, and I'm a twelve year cancer survivor. What a huge bummer!
Before he was able to break into comics, he had worked as a storyboard artist for Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, and in 1999 he animated the main title design for Batman Beyond. He then worked as a director for Sony Animation's Men in Black: The Series for a year. I am very greatful to have had a chance to see and meet him at shows on a couple of occasions. The Catacombs expresses its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Justice League: The Darkseid War!!
With issue #49 of DC Comics Justice League currently sitting on the stands, it appears that artist Jason Fabok's stellar run [#36-present] on this blockbuster series is all but done with the conclusion of this storyline in next months issue #50. That is a sad, sad thing to ponder!
If there was any New 52 title worthy of that seemingly unnecessary line-wide reboot, it has been Justice League. Trinity War, The Amazo Virus, Forever Evil and The Darkseid War have kept the action churning at a high pace and there has been one exceptional artist after another shepherding this topnotch book along, including Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, Dough Mahnke, and Gary Frank, but it has been Canadian illustrator Fabok that really had me the most excited for a DC book since Peter Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin & Scott Hanna ended their tenure on Green Lantern Corps some years back. Fabok will be missed, and really how do you replace an artist this good; well you can't. I am heartened somewhat at the news that Fernando Pasarin will be splitting duties on the upcoming Rebirth launch of Justice League along with artist Tony Daniel (about whom I am less than thrilled).
Still, if you've not seen the current Justice League run, be advised that these issues are climbing in price; certainly a telling indication of how excellent they are and how well they've been received. I'm posting a single image to whet your appetite for more. Go get them now while they are still affordably priced!
FCBD 2016 [afterward]!!
So, Free Comic Book Day 2016 is now behind us, alas! I chose to visit my local shop, Borderlands in Greenville, SC and owner Rob Young allowed visitors to select six totally free comics (plus the Valiant title as a bonus, since there was a 25% off coupon printed on the cover in a partnership arrangement with the publisher). Those seven books proved to be enough for yours truly, although I did purchase a small stack of new titles freshly arrived in recent weeks.
There was a large crowd in attendance and the Blood Connections was set up in the exterior parking lot to solicit donations (and according to those in charge, they were doing brisk business). Here were the issues that I picked up [minus the Valiant, not depicted]: Bongo Free-For-All; Civil War II; 2000 AD; Love and Rockets; Sonic Sampler; The Stuff of Legend.
Free Comic Book Day 2016
It's only gonna be a measly five more days for most us, but this years annual Free Comic Book Day event is on Saturday, May 7, 2016!
Make plans now to visit your local comic book specialty store, and take the kiddies, to pick up a pile of absolutely free comics to enjoy. Thank your shop owners too! And hey, as a bonus most of these venues will have guest artists doing sketches and other fun activites; plus if you didn't manage to hit the nearest cineplex already ["I know, right?"] - well a spiffy new film that is opening just might interest you this weekend also.
(Hint: It's called "Captain America: Civil War" and rumor has it that big stuff is going down in the latest blockbuster Marvel Studios flick?)
Today is a "banner" day!!
Since I've got nothing else running at the moment, I thought that anyone who may not have seen these nifty banners promoting the upcoming film X-Men: Apocalypse would enjoy giving their eyeballs a sample.
SC Comicon 2016
On Saturday I attended the SC Comicon 2016 in Greenville, South Carolina, a new show on the map that is only in its third year, if I'm not mistaken. Given that this convention is held literally in my backyard, it was only my first time going to the show due to committments having tailgunned my participation the other times that it was held.
I was very surprised to see the massive turnout for the event and can only believe that Rob Young of Borderlands in Greenville somehow managed to find that elusive sweet spot on the annual calendar between other large cons in this area (Heroescon in Charlotte, NC and Dragoncon in Atlanta, GA) that appeals to a large contingent of fans between the more established events?
In addition to over a hundred guest artists including Neal Adams, Greg Capullo, George Perez and others, there were celebrity guests from fan favoritie films and TV series such as Aaron Douglas (Battlestar: Galactica), Sean Maher (Firefly), Helen Slater (Supergirl) and more. I picked up a handful of bronze age gems to fill holes in my collection. Chamber of Chills # 6 (Sept.1973); Dead of Night # 8 (Feb.1975); Jungle Action # 21 (May 1976); Luke Cage # 16 (Dec.1973); Marvel Premiere # 47 (Apr.1979); Thor #216 (Oct.1973); and two issues of Warlock #'s 4 & 6 (Feb/Jun.1973). In addition to those classic comics, I picked up almost a complete set of signed autograph cards previously issued by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund featuring Neil Gaiman, Peter David, Larry Marder, and many others within the industry.
I had a great time at this show and plan on making it a part of my yearly "must do's" so kudos to Borderlands and Rob Young for knocking this con out of the park.
In regards to Batman v Superman, there are tons of highly negative reviews which also still single out an aspect or two for deserving praise (mostly that Wonder Woman is really awesome and some that say Ben Affleck is a good new Batman). Both of the latter are correct, Gal Gadot is exceptional as WW and every precious minute that she is on screen you just want more of her. Thankfully her standalone film is currently in production for release next year! Ben Affleck, perhaps surprisingly, turns out to be a terrific choice to inherit the role of Batman and when his solo flicks come along (also with the great Jeremy Irons as Alfred), I will be more than glad to buy a ticket.
This film is really not very bad at all, general audiences are going to love it, however the sheer weight of the studio bypassing all those separate hero movies in order to quickly bring the Justice League together "Dawn of Justice" remember (as Marvel patiently did with their Avengers), means that this film lays all of that groundwork with one serious side effect as a result. The first half of the film seems over long and plodding; it simply takes its own time to get down to the real nitty gritty. However once it does and the trinity comes together, Superman-Batman-Wonder Woman, things hit their stride in a potent way. Those three classic characters together have as much heft as the entirety of the cinematic Marvel Universe. I've been surprised to read so much diverse and often derogatory stuff about the depiction of Superman in this sequel to Man of Steel? He comes off nearly nowhere as bad as some armchair critics are stating and I have to wonder whether most of those reviews were written prior to those critics having even seen the film? Rather in total, the Kal-El that we would all like seems to finally emerge to some degree over the course of the movie - at least to me. The collective media commentary of harsh criticism seems more like an intentional dog pile with everyone expected to just dive in, so let's just give most of those folks what they clearly want ("hey, you're all geniuses and the rest of the audience aren't as smart as you guys"); now the rest of us can move along, whatever.
I still believe that while Amy Adams plays her role quite well, she is sadly miscast and too old [at 41] to portray Lois Lane against Henry Cavill's Superman [he is 32], and it's less their age difference itself and more how they appear alongside one another; but again whatever. The depiction of Luthor did not sit well with me and I regret that the filmmakers chose this route as it is long past time to stop having Lex appear dopey and/or weird on-screen. The original character has been an alpha-male type for decades in the published source material comics, and that version would have been right at home in this movie? Alas. The huge Doomsday fight at the end of the film was fantastic; so in conclusion I say just forget those reviews and give this blockbuster film a chance to win you over!!
1970's Flashback: The Tomb of Dracula
Tomb of Dracula #13 (Oct.1973)
In 1971, the Comics Code Authority finally relaxed some of its longstanding restrictions regarding horror comics, such as a virtual ban on vampires. After having recently tested the waters with a "quasi-vampire" character, Morbius, the Living Vampire within the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Comics was now prepared to launch a new line of horror books. The Tomb of Dracula was published by Marvel Comics from April 1972 to August 1979. The acclaimed 70-issue series featured a group of vampire hunters who fought Count Dracula and other supernatural menaces. On rare occasions, Dracula would work with these vampire hunters against a common threat or battle other supernatural threats on his own, but more often than not, he was the antagonist rather than protagonist. In addition to his supernatural battles in this series, Marvel's Dracula often served as a super-villain to other characters in the Marvel Universe, battling the likes of Spider-Man, Werewolf by Night, and the X-Men.
The series suffered from lack of direction for its first year but gained stability and hit its stride when writer/editor Marv Wolfman became scripter with the seventh issue. The entire run of The Tomb of Dracula was penciled by Gene Colan, with Tom Palmer inking all but #1, 2, and 8-11. Colan based the visual appearance of Marvel's Dracula not on any other familiar actor who had played the vampire on film, but rather on actor Jack Palance (who actually did later portray the Count in a televised production).
1980's Flashback: Groo the Wanderer
Groo #1 (Dec.1982)
Groo the Wanderer was one of the first widely successful creator-owned comics, one of the few successful humorous comic books in the United States during its time, and one of the longest-running collaborations in comic book history. Created, plotted and drawn by Sergio Aragonés, written, co-plotted and edited by Mark Evanier, lettered by Stan Sakai and colored by Tom Luth. Over the years it has been issued by various publishers including Pacific Comics, Eclipse Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics.
Groo first appeared in Destroyer Duck #1 (May 1982) as a parody of the brutal sword and sorcery heroes who were popular at the time of his creation in the 1970s. Groo is a large-nosed buffoon of unsurpassed stupidity who constantly misunderstands his surroundings. Possessed of superlative skills in swordsmanship (the only task at which he is remotely competent) he delights in combat but otherwise is a peaceable and honest fellow who tries to make his way through life as a mercenary or by working odd jobs. He is incredibly accident prone, and despite generally good intentions causes mass destruction wherever he goes. Most of his adventures end with him either oblivious to the mayhem he has wrought or fleeing an angry mob. His penchant for destruction has become so widely known that just the news of Groo approaching is sometimes enough to cause chaos among the population. Such is Groo's incompetence that so much as stepping onto a ship can cause it to sink.
In Memorium: Paul Ryan
Comic book artist Paul Ryan, who previously worked extensively for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on a number of super-hero comics passed away on March 7, 2016 at the age of sixty-six. Until his death, he had penciled and inked the daily comic strip The Phantom for King Features Syndicate off and on since 2005.
Ryan had a succesful career in engineering graphic design prior to his entry into comics while still in his early 30s. Some titles that his work appeared in include Fantastic Four, The Flash, The Avengers, various Superman series, Quasar, D.P. 7 and Iron Man. The Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.
(photo) Paul Ryan - inset- upper right.
Things we lost in the fire ........
Try as I might over the last couple of years, it is often difficult to find the time to make posts here - no matter how much I would prefer to do so!
On February 6, 2016 a fire at my apartment building cost me my home. Oh, I didn't actually lose anything due to fire damage, but my residence was deemed unlivable due to smoke damage - and yeah, that was pretty bad. At this point, I've easily moved elsewhere and have had a professional company take my household furniture to treat and clean it for smoke damage before returning that stuff to me at my brand new domicile. I salvaged my extensive comic book collection and lifetimes worth of collectible ephemera and can breathe much easier than those who lost everything - whether it was insured or not. I'm just waiting for the final pieces to fall into place, so that I can truly relax.
I was awakened by the smell of smoke early on the morning of the 6th [a Saturday], quickly dressed and grabbed my pug and then simply walked out of my home. I spent the better part of an hour watching others carry out armfuls of clothes and personal effects, and some even took the time to pack suitcases? I have no idea why people act this way, as that rather impressive fire was burning away just a few doors down and the choking smoke that filled my entire two floor townhouse was present in theirs as well?
Needless to say, that although many pop culture news items merited my attention over the last couple of weeks, my time was devoted to a situation that uprooted my life. I feel for those who got it worse than I did, but I will rebound. Take care, one and all! I hope to see you back here in the short term.
In Memorium: Alan Rickman
Aclaimed on both stage and screen as an actor and director, the great Alan Rickman passed away yesterday at the age of 69 from cancer.
His acting career had eventually begun after his original success in the field of graphic design, and even then he first entered the acting profession as a dresser for Sir Ralph Richarson and Sir Nigel Hawthorne. His distinctive voice and mannerisms soon made him a standout in such films as Die Hard; Quigley Down Under; Truly, Madly, Deeply; Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves; Sense and Sensibility; Michael Collins; Galaxy Quest; Love Actually and perhaps what will be viewed as his signature role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films.
The Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans. A sad loss of such a talented man!
"They've wrestled with reality for 11 years and se...
Newsarama picks the greatest DC Comics Stories of ...


text:
Q: How to call the Map Controller's move method of Flutter Map from its parent widget So here is what I want to achieve: I want that when I click on the suggestions of my SearchDelegate it closes the search and move me on the map to the position searched
return FutureBuilder(
        future: chargerMonument(),
        builder: (context, snaphot) {
          if (snaphot.hasData) {
            return SafeArea(
              child: Scaffold(
                appBar: AppBar(
                        actions: [
                          IconButton(
                              icon: Icon(Icons.search),
                              onPressed: () {
                                showSearch(
                                    context: context,
                                    delegate: CustomSearchDelegate(
                                        monuments, updatelocation));
                              }),
                        ],
                key: _scaffoldKey,
                body: Map(),
              }

updatelocation is the function I try to pass to the SearchDelegate to achieve what I want
My map looks like this :
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context)
{
FutureBuilder(
              future: test(),
              builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot<String> snapshot) {
                List<Widget> children;
                if (snapshot.hasData) {
                  children = [
                    Flexible(
                      child: FlutterMap(
                        mapController: mapController,
                        children: [
                          LocationMarkerLayerWidget(
                            plugin: LocationMarkerPlugin(
                                centerCurrentLocationStream:
                                    _centerCurrentLocationStreamController
                                        .stream,
                                //_centerOnLocationUpdate
                                centerOnLocationUpdate:
                                  _centerOnLocationUpdate),
                          )
                        ],
                        options: MapOptions(
                          onPositionChanged:
                              (MapPosition position, bool hasGesture) {
                            if (hasGesture) {
                              setState(() => _centerOnLocationUpdate =
                                  CenterOnLocationUpdate.never);
                            }
                          },
                          plugins: [
                            PopupMarkerPlugin(),
                            ZoomButtonsPlugin(),
                            LocationPlugin(),
                            TappablePolylineMapPlugin()
                          ],
                          interactiveFlags:
                              InteractiveFlag.all & ~InteractiveFlag.rotate,
                          zoom: 18.0,
                          center: LatLng(0, 0),
                          onTap: (_) => _popupLayerController
                              .hidePopup(), // Hide popup when the map is tapped.
                        ),
                        layers: [
                          TileLayerOptions(
                            urlTemplate:
                                'https://{s}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png',
                            subdomains: ['a', 'b', 'c'],
                          ),
                          TappablePolylineLayerOptions(
                              // Will only render visible polylines, increasing performance
                              polylineCulling: true,
                              pointerDistanceTolerance: 20,
                              polylines: [
                                TaggedPolyline(
                                    points: polylines,
                                    isDotted: true,
                                    color: Colors.blue[300],
                                    strokeWidth: 4.0)
                              ],
                              onTap: (TaggedPolyline polyline) async {
                                await showDialog(
                                    context: context,
                                    builder: (_) => new AlertDialog(
                                            title: Text(destination),
                                            content: Text("Vous etes à " +
                                                distance.round().toString() +
                                                "km de votre distination !"),
                                            actions: [
                                              TextButton(
                                                  onPressed: () {
                                                    Navigator.of(context).pop();
                                                  },
                                                  child: Text("D'accord !")),
                                              TextButton(
                                                  onPressed: () {
                                                    setState(() {
                                                      polylines = [];
                                                      refresh = 360000;
                                                    });
                                                    Navigator.of(context).pop();
                                                  },
                                                  child:
                                                      Text("Effacer ce chemin"))
                                            ]));
                              },
                              onMiss: () {
                                print('No polyline was tapped');
                              }),
                          PopupMarkerLayerOptions(
                              markers: _markers,
                              popupSnap: PopupSnap.markerTop,
                              popupController: _popupLayerController,
                              popupBuilder: (BuildContext _, Marker marker) =>
                                  ExamplePopup(
                                      marker, marker.point, drawpolyline)),
                          ZoomButtonsPluginOption(
                              minZoom: 4,
                              maxZoom: 22,
                              mini: true,
                              padding: 10,
                              alignment: Alignment.bottomRight),
                          LocationOptions(onLocationUpdate: (LatLngData ld) {

                          }, onLocationRequested: (LatLngData ld) {
                            if (ld == null) {
                              return;
                            }
                            mapController.move(ld.location, 16.0);
                          },
                              /* onLocationUpdate: (LatLngData ld) {},
                            onLocationRequested: (LatLngData ld) {
                              if (ld == null || ld.location == null) {
                                return;
                              }
                              /* return;
                              }
                              mapController?.move(ld.location, 16.0);*/
                              mapController.onReady.then((result) {
                                print("I AM READY");
                                mapController.move(ld.location, 16);
                              });
                              */

                              buttonBuilder: (BuildContext context,
                                  ValueNotifier<LocationServiceStatus> status,
                                  Function onPressed) {
                            return Align(
                                alignment: Alignment.bottomRight,
                                child: Padding(
                                    padding: const EdgeInsets.only(
                                        bottom: 14.0, right: 60.0),
                                    child: Container(
                                      height: 38,
                                      width: 38,
                                      child: FloatingActionButton(
                                          backgroundColor: Colors.grey,
                                          child: ValueListenableBuilder<
                                                  LocationServiceStatus>(
                                              valueListenable: status,
                                              builder: (BuildContext context,
                                                  LocationServiceStatus value,
                                                  Widget child) {
                                                switch (value) {
                                                  case LocationServiceStatus
                                                      .disabled:
                                                  case LocationServiceStatus
                                                      .permissionDenied:
                                                  case LocationServiceStatus
                                                      .unsubscribed:
                                                    return const Icon(
                                                      Icons.location_disabled,
                                                      color: Colors.white,
                                                    );
                                                    break;
                                                  default:
                                                    return const Icon(
                                                      Icons.my_location,
                                                      color: Colors.white,
                                                    );
                                                    break;
                                                }
                                              }),
                                          onPressed: () {
                                            setState(() =>
                                                _centerOnLocationUpdate =
                                                    CenterOnLocationUpdate
                                                        .always);
                                            _centerCurrentLocationStreamController
                                                .add(18);
                                          }),
                                    )));
                          })
                        ],
                      ),
                    ),

                  ];
                } else if (snapshot.hasError) {
                  children = <Widget>[
                    Icon(
                      Icons.error_outline,
                      color: Colors.red,
                      size: 60,
                    ),
                    Padding(
                      padding: const EdgeInsets.only(top: 16),
                      child: Text('Error: ${snapshot.error}'),
                    )
                  ];
                } else {
                  children = <Widget>[
                    SizedBox(
                      child: CircularProgressIndicator(),
                      width: 60,
                      height: 60,
                    )
                  ];
                }
                return Center(
                  child: Column(
                    mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
                    crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.center,
                    children: children,
                  ),
                );
              });
        });
  }

and the method I want updatelocation to do is something like this :
 void update(double lat,double long){
    setState(() {
                        _centerOnLocationUpdate = CenterOnLocationUpdate.never;
                      });
                      mapController.move(LatLng(lat,long), 18);
  }

how can I from the parent change the child value _centerOnLocationUpdate and
call on mapController move
I tried to use a ValueListenableBuilder but never found out how to make it works, thank you for your time.

A: I finally found the solution I just had to declare the function in the Map state, and use a global key to access it from the parent widget.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Brewery Events – 2 Silos Brewing Co.
Cerveza Mexicana • 5.5% ALC/VOL, 22 IBUs • An authentic Mexican Lager, our Dos Silos was crafted using corn and other ingredients frequently used by Mexican breweries. Our golden Dos Silos was fermented at low temperatures to create a crisp, light, and refreshing lager just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Here for a limited time only; cheers!
Belgian-Style Wheat Ale • 6.0% ALC/VOL, 30 IBUs • An authentic Belgian Witbier, this white devil is cleverly spiced with coriander and orange peel, producing a refreshingly light, zesty ale with a flattering hoppy finish. Best enjoyed Fresh!
India Pale Ale • 8.5% ALC/VOL, 100 IBUs • A hop lover's delight, this black beauty is a full bodied, hop forward, perfectly balanced ale featuring dark roasted malts and agave nectar. At 100 IBU(s), this is a serious beer, not for the easily intimidated. Best enjoyed Fresh!
Double India Pale Ale • 7.8% ALC/VOL, 42 IBUs • We are taking a break from tropical IPA's! Dry hopped with Mosaic, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Lemon Drop Hops, we have crafted a double IPA featuring flavors and aromas of pine and subtle citrus hops, creating a robust and resinous flavor profile. Best enjoyed Fresh!
Irish Stout • 4.5% ALC/VOL, 35 IBUs • This jet black, sessionable Irish Stout, featuring roasted barley and coffee flavors, is derived from hand selected specialty malts.With wonderful aromas, this light bodied ale, compliments the roasted flavors creating a wonderfully smooth finish.
Tiramisu Cappuccino Milk Stout • 10% ALC/VOL, 63 IBUs • For the second release in our Indulgent Series, we infused sweet and medium-bodied Imperial Milk Stout with natural Cappuccino and Tiramisu flavors. These sinful additions compliment the beers' chocolate, caramel, and lightly roasted flavor profile.
Irish Red • 5% ALC/VOL, 22 IBUs • Our malty spring seasonal is back just in time for St Patrick's Day! This smooth seasonal ale, speckled with caramel and toffee undertones, has a nice touch of dryness along with a splash of sweetness, providing a great balanced taste and finish.
India Pale Ale • 7% ALC/VOL, 40 IBUs • This IPA features intense hop aromas, tropical fruit flavors, and milk sugar for residual sweetness. Brewed exclusively with Southern Hemispheres hops featuring Galaxy, Sticklebract, and Motueka varieties! Best enjoyed Fresh!
Chocolate Fudge, Almond & Coconut Imperial Stout • Welcome to the inaugural release of our Indulgent Series! Here we took a limited amount of our wildly popular Old Dominion Barrel Reserve Series and infused it with chocolate fudge, coconut, and natural almond flavors. These decadent additions beautifully compliment the already complex Imperial Stout with rich undertones of coffee, caramel, and chocolate.
Double IPA • 7.8% ALC/VOL, 64 IBUs • This resinous American IPA showcases Denali hops, creating an exceptionally dank bouquet of ripened tropical fruit, grapefruit flavors and aromas. Best Enjoyed Fresh!
Brown Ale • 5.1% ALC / VOL, 25 IBUs • This smooth and medium-bodied Brown Ale features rich caramel flavors accompanied by toasted nuts, dried fruit, and toffee aromas. Noble hops balance the caramel flavor profile to create a genuinely delightful experience.
Cream Ale • 6.0% ALC/VOL, 18 IBUs • A tribute to our brewery's dairy past, this velvety smooth, medium-bodied golden ale with a creamy palate feel, is crafted with clover honey, milk sugar, orange peel and natural vanilla. Best Enjoyed Fresh!
American IPA • 6.9% ALC / VOL, 56 IBUs • Generously dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops, this juicy American IPA is brewed with whole tangerine purée and bursts with tropical flavors and aromas. With a crisp, bright finish, it's Best Enjoyed Fresh!
Belgian Tripel • 9.9% ALC/VOL, 21 IBUs • This Authentic Belgian Tripel, brewed with fresh lemon zest and Candi sugars, is a complex, medium-bodied golden Trappist Ale, featuring malt-forward flavors, fruity esters and a sweet delightful finish.
Crisp & Refreshing • American Lager • Named after the iconic landmark station in old town Manassas, this light-bodied, pre-prohibition pale yellow American Lager, featuring subtle grain aromas and corn flavors, is a throwback to simpler times.
Ring in 2019 at Farm Brew LIVE and be part of Northern Virginia's BIGGEST New Year's Eve Party!Buy your tickets now before prices increase! More details and ticket information here.
Cinnamon, Pumpkin, & Fall Flavors • Autumn Seasonal Beer • Our Oak Aged Pumpkin Ale is a beautifully balanced autumn brew with rich orange coloring and complementing spice aromas. Handcrafted with an assortment of specialty spices, we've added a generous amount of raw pumpkin, and aged in Oak barrels for 2 months to create this delicious American original.
Crisp – Malty – Bitter • We've gone international with our next IPA! We have crafted a balanced English IPA that is crisp, malty, and bitter. Earthy hops compliment the rich malt bill to create a smooth and slightly sweet finish. Best enjoyed Fresh!
Raspberry Cream Ale • In support of the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation, we bring you our Raspberry Cream Ale, a limited special-release of our widely popular Virginia Cream Ale. This golden ale is crafted with vanilla bean, raspberry, orange peel, honey and milk sugar and finishes velvety smooth. Our "Sweet Julia Ale" was created to show our love and support to every child and family who has had to learn to "dance in the rain." Join the Dance!
Coffee – Caramel – Chocolate • As part of our 1 year anniversary celebration, our Old Dominion Imperial Stout has been aged to perfection for 12 months in Virginia bourbon barrels. The American oak and bourbon enhance the complex flavor profile of this big beer, creating rich undertones. of coffee, caramel and chocolate.
India Pale Ale • Aromatic – Clean – Refreshing • Perfect for any occasion, our Session IPA is easy and uncomplicated. We keep the grist simple to showcase the copious amounts of Cascade, Centennial and Columbus hops which create delightful hoppy aromas and flavors. The beer finishes dry leaving you yearning for the next sip. Life can be complicated. Your beer doesn't have to be.
Join us in beautiful downtown Clifton, Va. for Clifton Day Festival as we pour craft beers from the Beer Man tap truck! Our La Gringa food truck will also be onsite. Admission is free. Festival hours: 9am – 5pm/ Stop by and see us!.
New England IPA • Resinous – Dank – Bold • This massively dry-hopped hazy IPA is packed full of Galaxy, Warrior, and Mandarina Bavaria hops to create a wicked cool, harmonious, resinous blend of citrus, pineapple, pine flavors and aromas. Best enjoyed fresh!
Pale Ale • Home Grown – Aromatic • We're excited to share with you our inaugural Harvest Ale! This aromatic Pale Ale was crafted with Cascade & Golding hops which were grown onsite at 2 Silos Brewing Co. Available only once a year- Enjoy!
Willkommen to our 1st annual Oktoberfest in The Great Hall @ Farm Brew LIVE! Commemorative handcrafted Steins available: Pre-sale $20; day of $25. Authentic German food and music, and authentic German outfits worn by staff! More details here!
Dutch Pilsner • Crisp – Crisp – Sweet • In collaboration with our friends at Jasper Yeast company, we are excited to present a specialty Dutch Pilsner. Brewed with Dutch malts and traditional European brewing techniques we've crafted an exceptionally crisp, clean, and sweet Dutch favorite.
Our Pumpkin Ale is a beautifully balanced autumn brew with rich orange coloring and complementing spice aromas. Handcrafted with an assortment of specialty spices and a generous amount of raw pumpkin, creating a delicious American original. Like fall, it won't last long!


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Newsalert
India fined 80% match fee for slow over rate in one wicket loss to Bangladesh in first ODI
Cricket, Sports, , , December 06, 2022, 11:37 pm Daily World
Dhaka, Dec 5 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday said India have been fined 80 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Bangladesh in the first ODI, which the visitors lost by one wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SNBCS) in Mirpur on Sunday. Ranjan Madugalle of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India were ruled to be four overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. India captain Rohit Sharma pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Michael Gough and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel levelled the charge. Coming to the match, despite having a line-up where batting resources were available till number nine, India had a disappointing time with the bat on a slow pitch, skittled out for a paltry 186 in 41.2 overs. K.L Rahul, who batted at number five, made a fine 73 off 70 balls as the rest of the batters fell around him. India took a wicket on the very first ball in their defence of 186 and triggered a Bangladesh collapse from 128/4 to 136/9 in a span of 26 balls. But Mehidy Hasan Miraz made an unbeaten 38 and stitched an unbroken last-wicket stand of 51 off 41 balls with Mustafizur Rahman being ten not out to give Bangladesh a heroic victory. Bangladesh now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second match to be played at the same venue on Wednesday. /IANS
ILT20 Hasaranga is the new holder of White Belt as top wicket taker
Dubai, Feb 1 : Desert Vipers' all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is now the recipient of the White Belt in the DP World ILT20 after a fantastic spell baggi
We will trust our processes and bring our strengths to the table, says Dubai Capitals George Munsey
Dubai, Feb 1 : The Dubai Capitals showcased top form when they defeated Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by seven wickets at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu D
Sri Lanka announce 15 member squad for ICC Women s T20 World Cup
Colombo, Feb 1 : Regular skipper Chamari Athapaththu will lead the 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled to
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Agartala, Feb 2 : The CPI-M led Left Front and the Congress late on Wednesday night announced that both parties would withdraw their candidates fielded against each other in the February 16 Tripura el […]
Dubai, Feb 1 : Desert Vipers' all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is now the recipient of the White Belt in the DP World ILT20 after a fantastic spell bagging three wickets in their previous match. Th […]
Mamata terms budget visionless without any direction to employment generation
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Delhi LG approves convening of MCD House to elect Mayor on Feb 6
New Delhi, Feb 1 : After the Delhi government had proposed three dates - February 3, 4, and 6 - for the election of Mayor, and Deputy Mayor, Lt Governor V.K. Saxena has approved February 6 for the sam […]
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Brett Huntley responded to the Commission's mysterious ruling against the public at the 26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting, to close the only public access to the Alapaha River in Lowndes County. Neither County Manager Joe Pritchard nor County Engineer Mike Fletcher were paying any attention.
I would like to publicly say that I am shocked with the decision. I feel the decision was in favor of a sole person, and not in the interests of the community and the citizens. We tried to speak and explain our side of the story. And the county road has not ceased to be used. It's been being used in our county for over 100 years. I feel your guys just made a decision that will have an impact on our culture and heritage in the community that is not good. It's a bad decision, I feel.
April Huntley responded in shock to the Commission's mysterious ruling against the public at the 26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting, to close the only public access to the Alapaha River in Lowndes County. The County Attorney and the County Manager appeared to be busy working on something else and paying no attention.
I don't know there's a whole lot more to say. Really, really, shocking and surprising that this road would be closed as much public purpose that it serves.
I've done so much research on it and it's in the best interests of the public to have this access that's been there for over 100 years.
to that area; less change. There's already a road there. It only needs parking, and signs, and rules and regulations that people can abide by. And the county, after the last time when it was denied, should have worked with the landowner to mediate things, to get a decent set in place where this could kept for hundreds more years for our county.
And I hope there will be a way to open it back up.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 26 February 2013.
At the 26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting, Geraldine Houston wanted to inform the Commission on behalf of George Page, director of Parks and Rec, that she was back on the job. She sells cakes, cookies, peanuts, etc. in the parks. She had previously had a contract to do that, but someone else had gotten the contract. The someone else moved to Alabama, and now Geraldine has the contract again. She also sells at Valdosta Farm Days.
Apparently one person with a lawyer can persuade the Lowndes County Commission that hundreds of people are just an unruly mass, not the public it's supposed to represent. For whatever reason, not clear to the public, the Commission voted 3 to 1 with 1 absent to close the end of Old State Road to Hotchkiss Crossing, thus barring the only public access to the Alapaha River in Lowndes County. We shall see whether they will follow through with their hint that they might make a park on the Alapaha River at another location. Congratulations to Commissioner Demarcus Marshall for speaking up for due process and for voting for the public!
Update noon 27 Feb 2013: Link to weather conditions, and to Citizens Wishing to Be Heard.
The Commission reappointed J. Glenn Gregory to the South Regional Joint Development Authority and appointed Commissioner Joyce Evans to the Southern Georgia Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council. They are applying for a grant for the county's MIDS bus system and reapplying for a CDBG grant for Second Harvest.
Here's the agenda, with links to the videos and some notes, followed by a video playlist. See also the videos of Monday morning's Work Session.
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013, 5:30 p.m.


Want to help make the 2019 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships a HUGE success? Then you've come to the right place. Be a part of the "Best National Amateur Sporting Event" (Mpls./St. Paul Magazine) without even lacing up your skates. Hundreds of helping hands are needed to get the show on the road (or as we say, to get the ice on the pond). With more than 650 games in 3 days, we need YOU to make it happen!
By volunteering your time, on the pond or inside the massive warming tent, you will play an essential part in providing an un-matched experience to players, sponsors and the tens-of-thousands of fans on the pond. We could not have a successful tournament without our fabulous POND CREW!
Help us get this huge event all set up and ready to roll and assist in keeping the event running smoothly all weekend. If you love watching an event come together, this is perfect for you.
There is no better way to engulf yourself in the USPHC experience than being a part of the outdoor action. We have many volunteer opportunities both on land and on ice, such as score runner, outdoor floater, assisting the referees and more. You'll be instrumental in helping us provide a great experience for players, sponsors and fans!
Love pond hockey but prefer to be indoors, then this is for you! We have several indoor opportunities such as check-in, indoor floater, VIP tent and more. Duties will range from assisting the USPHC event staff, helping players and fans and making the USPHC tent a better atmosphere through genuine hospitality.
Help us refresh and reset each day to keep this huge event top notch or join us for the final night to wrap up the weekend-- clean up and pack it all up for next year!
Sign up TODAY and see you in January!
The Registration "Volunteer for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships" is not currently available.


Today is my diaversary. Today marks 17 years since my diagnosis. Seventeen years since I went in for my 12 year check-up, symptom free, seemingly healthy, and got the news that would forever change my life. I remember my diagnosis, the flood of information and emotions. I also remember the doctors saying, they'll probably have a cure in 10-15 years from now. Seventeen years later, there is no cure. But there have been many improvements in the management of type 1 diabetes.
In my 17th year with diabetes, I am eagerly awaiting the most advanced insulin pump to date. It has the ability to self-adjust insulin automatically based on your blood sugar number, a feature that has the potential to be incredibly helpful to keep blood sugars in range. It's not a cure, but it's a big step forward towards a completely closed loop system.
But there have definitely been hurdles and setbacks on the way. And while talking to a diabetes educator about this new insulin pump, I found out a crucial piece of information about how the auto basal feature works. She said, in order for that new feature to work, you have to pre-bolus for your meals. That means giving your insulin 10-15 minutes before you eat. Otherwise, your blood sugar could rise too rapidly and the pump will kick you out of that feature. For most people, this probably isn't a big deal, after all, you're always supposed to be pre-bolusing your meals ideally. But for me, it's been 17 years of NOT pre-bolusing.
So I here I am, with a few weeks to break a habit that is 17 years in the making. It's not that I don't bolus, I usually end up giving it half way through a meal or after I finish. But I've waited so long for this pump, I want to be able to successfully use the new feature. So how do you make yourself remember to do something? Well, I've been trying a few things.
I've been telling people around me to remind me to prebolus. I want the help, I want people to bug me. I need the reminders. However, I'm finding that most people I'm with also forget so it hasn't been that helpful.
My mom tried to get me to associate eating with a small meditation or thanks before I eat and then associate that with bolusing. It's a great idea, except it's just another thing to remember, so that hasn't been working either.
Someone suggested setting an alarm. I do use alarms, however, I don't eat at consistent times always so the alarm wouldn't be helpful.
I was stumped. Until about a week ago. I was at an art fair with my family and there was a booth with 2 women doing henna tattoos. I love the intricacy of the designs and got one on my arm. Henna tattoos can last anywhere from 1-2 weeks. I loved looking at it on my arm throughout the day. And that's when it hit me! What about a visual reminder to prebolus? What if I write it with henna on my hand, so then I'll see it when I'm about to eat and remember to give insulin?
So that's exactly what I did. I had my sister write "BOLUS" on the thumb of my dominant hand in henna. You definitely can't miss it, I've even had strangers ask me what bolus means. Is it working? Ehh, kind of! About half the time I remember to prebolus, and the other half, I've at least remembered halfway through a meal and not after I'm done. Small steps. And the more I do it, I know it will eventually become a habit.


Be the first to hear about their new releases and deals. Download the Booksprout app and search for Romarin Demetri today!
Romarin Demetri is an eccentric personality with a compulsion for writing that cannot be tamed. With a B.A. in English and Psychology, the support of her readers, and positive editorial reviews, Demetri focuses on twisty fiction and the redeeming qualities of human nature. Demetri is currently writing urban fantasy and paranormal romance set in London. There's just something about the city.


The Chamber addresses issues of concern to your business on local, county, state and federal levels. We take proactive measures to assure that our government officials understand your business objectives and viewpoints (regulation, taxation and business development support, to name a few). As a member of the Oakland Chamber Network, made up of over 28 chambers in Oakland County, we are a unified and collective voice for regional and statewide business advocacy.
The GFA Chamber has always participated in shaping the united effort of many businesses to enhance local business opportunity, promote economic growth and quality of life in the Greater Farmington Area. Our strong relationships with City of Farmington Hills, City of Farmington, Farmington Downtown Development Authority and Farmington Hills Economic Development Corporation, allow us to collectively foster and enhance our area's economic fabric.


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The American Housewife
AuthorAnonymous
Personal DevelopmentFood & Drinks
"The American Housewife" by Anonymous. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
Published25.04.2021 г.
PublisherGood Press
© Good Press (E-book)


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The flag of Mozambique is the national flag of the Republic of Mozambique that was adopted on 1 May 1983. It is a tricolor flag with white fimbriations and a red triangle. Teal stands for the riches of the land, the white fimbriations signify peace, black represents the African continent, yellow symbolises the country's minerals, and red represents the struggle for independence.  It includes the image of a Kalashnikov rifle with a bayonet attached to the barrel crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book. The rifle stands for defence and vigilance, the open book symbolises the importance of education, the hoe represents the country's agriculture, and the star symbolizes the spirit of the international solidarity of the Mozambican people. It is one of four national flags among UN member states that feature a firearm, along with those of Guatemala, Haiti and Bolivia, but is the only one of the four to feature a modern firearm instead of cannons or muskets.

History
The flag is based on the flag of the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO), the leading political party in Mozambique. The FRELIMO flag, used for a brief period after the country gained its independence from Portugal, looks like the current flag but lacking the emblem, with green, black, and yellow horizontal stripes separated by white fimbriations and a red triangle in the hoist.

On independence the colours were rearranged to form the national flag, in diagonals emanating from the upper hoist. Over this was a white cogwheel containing the hoe, rifle, book, and star that appear on the present flag. The flag was altered in 1983; the colours were arranged in horizontal stripes, and the star was made larger. Later in the same year the cogwheel was removed, leading to the current form of the flag.

2005 new flag proposal
In 2005, a competition was held to design a new flag for Mozambique. This came in the context of a drive to create a new crest and anthem for the country. RENAMO, Mozambique's parliamentary opposition, specifically wanted to see two symbols removed from the flag: the star, which they saw as representative of the country's communist past; and the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which they argued is incompatible with a country trying to be peaceful after the Mozambican Civil War. FRELIMO, the ruling party, argued that the star's resemblance to the communist symbol was coincidental, and that the rifle represented the nation's struggle for independence.

169 entries were received and a winning flag was selected, but was rejected by the FRELIMO-led parliament in December 2005. All 169 proposed flags were turned down, including the current flag without the rifle.

Gallery

Presidential standards

Historical flags

Regional flags

References

External links

Mozambique
National symbols of Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Comedy night at The Empire.
Get your laughing gear on and check out Northern Ireland's top venues for mirth and merriment.
If you love a good chuckle, here's where to go.
The weekly stand-up comedy nights at The Pavilion Bar on Belfast's Ormeau Road are where established acts (Shane Todd, Colin Geddis) mix with the stars of tomorrow. Everybody gets 7 – 10 minutes, capped off with a longer set from a headliner. Top American comedian Rich Hall has been a surprise turn up.
Having featured just about every major UK and Irish headliner, and many international stand up artists, Belfast's longest-running comedy club never fails in the laughter department. Hosted every Tuesday by BBC TV's Blame Game regulars Jake O'Kane and Colin Murphy, with occasional guest hosts, it's always a side-splitting night out at The Empire.
The likes of Peter Kay, Bill Bailey, Sarah Millican, Jason Byrne and Ardal O'Hanlon have played this Wednesday night venue over the years, and the new breed of Irish comedy stars are getting the laughs too. Compered by Colin Murphy, the line-up at the Queen's Comedy Club is always varied and the great Belfast crowd are always up for a gut-busting laugh. If you are too, you'll love it.
Have a great night and see some of the best names in the business at Derry~Londonderry's rambunctious comedy club in Mason's Bar. The mayhem on Magazine Street is down to a mix of new and well-known acts, which have included Edinburgh Fringe favourite Bec Hill, and Bangor-born Sara Jade Davidson. It runs every second Thursday, with Micky Bartlett, Terry McHugh and Rory McSwiggan among the king MCs.
Join resident compere Colin Geddis and guests for hoots of hysterics at Lavery's Comedy Club, another fine part of Belfast's cultural offering. This one showcases the cream of local talent and the fastest-rising stars on the live stand-up circuit. It's on the first and third Wednesday of every month, and when a comic stands up to crack a few jokes, the Mister Tom's Lounge crowd laughs loud.