Episode LXIV - Super Fun Hatred Excitement Hour: The Sequel
The Comic Book Haters' podcast crew returns to the fabled land of Japan for an evening of manga, cup noodles, and self-enlightenment. Join DJ Sloofus, Schooly G, andUmbrella-san as they venture, once again, into the magical world of Japanese comics. Popularly referred to as "manga," though no one popular has ever actually discussed them, this Asian sensation is causing quite a stir in our own world of commercialism and lost morals. This go round, the boys look at Osamu Tezuka's "Buddha," as well as a manga about the guys (and gals) who created Ramen Noodles. Click here to embark upon your journey to the far East.
posted by The Comic Book Haters at 7:08 AM
20 Comments:
From The Straight Dope:
"The ubiquitous ramen we all lived on in college (also sometimes called gakusei ryori or "student cuisine" in Japan) was invented in 1958 by Nissin Foods founder Momofuku Ando. Now 89, Momofuku was in his late 40s when he had the brainstorm of feeding the post-war masses with instant noodles.
Instant ramen wasn't a big hit right away. In fact when it was first introduced in Japan, it was considered a luxury item, six times more expensive than the homemade noodles available in Japanese grocery stores. Wouldn't you hate to be the guy who said, "This will never sell"? Momofuku's ramen arrived on the east coast of the U.S. in 1972 as "Oodles of Noodles." The next year came "Nissin Cup Noodles" in the convenient styrofoam cup, and soon hundreds of knock-offs"
What was the prize again? I sure as fuck hope it wasn't something expensive.
-Sloofus
I'm hopin' it was a full case of ramen noodles with shrimp!
The only problem with Schooly's "what's wrong with you, read the book!" argument against something like the 9/11 Report being adapted to comics form is- Where does that leave the majority of people that need to get their understanding of subjects from television news and documentaries? Would you rank an all-visual medium like television above a print-and-text medium like comics?
Anonymous, you raise an interesting point but I still disagree.
One of the reasons the US is in the trouble it is in today is the fact that too many people rely on television and documentaries as their only source of information.
Getting your information from only one media outlet is dangerous. Watching Fox News on a regular basis is just as bad as relying on Farenheit 9/11 for facts on the Bush debacle.
So, yeah, people who NEED to watch TV news in order to understand an issue are totally fucked.
Do you really want a nation of people informed solely by Katie Couric, Dan Rather (RIP), and Bill O'Reilly?
Although I don't like to admit it, Schooly brings up some very good points...however that said, I've never actually seen him read a word book nor do I know anybody who has. When I ask him what he's been doing with his time, he usually replies with one of the following: nothing, playing video games, drinking beer or banging your Mom. There you have it...you be the judge. In his defense he is pretty good at the beer drinking so go easy on him...he probably has a wicked hangover.
Umbrellaman
ps. On the other hand I do have proof he reads comic books as well all know. It's the lies I hate Schooly.
I meant to say:
"ps. On the other hand I do have proof he reads comic books as we all know."
Sorry about that folks, but I'm kind of smashed at the moment and Schooly's Mom was distracting me.
Umbrellaman
Does this manga explain the idea behind putting peas in Cup of Noodles? I always hated those damn things.
Concerning the comictization of the 9-11 report. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as it doesn't sensationalize or trivialize what happened. Marvel had some sort of tribute comic that featured their cast of heroes and villains reacting to the terror attacks. From what I read, it even featured Doctor Doom crying over the World Trade Center buildings coming down. That's just wrong. The 9-11 report in comic form merely illustrates the actual report. Having the report in comic form will allow more people to read the report. Something I think is a good thing.
Part of the problem might be the word "comic" when used in conjunction with the 9-11 report. Perhaps this is one of the few instances where one of those overly pretentious phrases such as "sequential art story telling" would sound better when it comes to this subject material.
Now if it turns out that this 9-11 report comic comes with special "retailer incentive" Michael Turner sketch version variant cover, I take back everything I just said. Except the part about Cup of Noodles having those goddamn peas. I hate those things.
Well, I love the peas. Let's just get that out in the open right up front.
As for the 9/11 comic, SFR, I think you're probably thinking of the issue of Amazing Spider-Man (volume 2), I believe it was issue 36, that dealt with everyone getting together to mourn the tragedy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Dr. Doom rip the goddamn Baxter Building out of its foundation, shoot it into space, and explode the fucker? That's way worse that 9/11, except for the fact that it's fictional.
I have not read the comic book 9/11 report, but I never read the "real" one, either. I agree with Schooly that many forms of information are better than fewer, so long as he agrees that comics are one of those forms.
-Sloof
Comics are NOT one of those forms.
I think I read somewhere that the peas in Cup of Noodles give you cancer of the ass. I think it was a medical comic.
See there's the problem, Schooly-- I never advised that anyone have just one form of news and informatiom. I don't think they should have one medium and certainly they shouldn't have just one cable news channel.
What I am asking is-- Why exclude something like the 9/11 report in sequential art form as one of the sources. How is a puffed-up, with manipulative music and commercials take on the facts of 9/11 that you'll see on a typical news channel actually ABOVE a 9/11 book with words and pictures? Isn't such a form actually closer to an all-word book than a TV report?
Also- Grown-up book reader and history buff that he is, I think it is time for Schooly to regale us with his top 5 non-fiction books that he has read in, say, the last five years.
Anonymous put Schooly on the spot, asking him to regale us his top 5 non-fiction books that he has read in the last five years. To help lesson the pressure on Schooly's shoulders, I thought I would weigh in with my list too. Feel free everyone to do the same. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few repeats when comparing lists.
My Top-5 Non-Fiction Books
1. 39 Easy Soul Food Recipes
2. NASCAR for Dummies Second Edition
3. I Have Two Mommies
4. Writing Comics The Warren Ellis Way
5. Do It Yourself Tattoo Removal
please, anonymous muthafuka, please.
a couple of things here:
1) I've read plenty of non-fiction books in the last fucking year, let alone five years. In fact, I read way more non-fiction that fiction these days. I don't have to defend myself against someone who doesn't even have the decency to make up a fake name to post on here.
2)As quite clearly evidenced by my dear co-host Sloofus, people who read lots of comics are retarded. Sloofus is also a prime example of the fact that many comic readers nearly exclusively read only comics. So if someone NEEDS to get their news in that format, i don't really give a shit. But don't pretend it's art or even a viable alternative to actually reading something. It would totally trivialize an otherwise very salient event- like if someone were dumb enough to draw a comic about concentration camps or slavery. Let me guess- someone already did that...
might i suggest taking this discussion to the forum? It would be a lot easier.
You've never had problems with anonymous questions before. Is there something different this time?
I agree that someone is in serious trouble if they are entirely depending on comics for information.
I would say that someone would be much better off reading the 9/11 Report as a graphic novel than, say, watching that ABC "docu-drama" that is about to air, which supposedly is based on the same document (the 9/11 report) but absolutely butchers the facts in the name of "dramatization".
Would you agree?
nothing different- don't flatter yourself. i hate this format for longer responses.
no, i don't agree at all. it's exactly the same thing. both are "artist's" interpretations.
F you Schooly, I read plenty of regular word books. Just last week I read a biography of Max Fleischer. So there.
-Sloofus
You said re-BUTT-al!
It's true, Vorpal. You did say that.
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