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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1994)
Thursday, February 17,1994 T he Battalion Page 5 ice 'V a crimiii; heist ae ultinii;:* the easies:! ler of fel -vith shoe" and sensui 1 ’erfect coml r classic !!■ iCartoons Continued from Page 3 Just as "The Simpsons" [show often satirizes today's Imovies and television shows, [so these stories are a satire of [the comic industry. In addition [to being entertaining to [children, it provides an [observant critique of the Imedium. At a time when two of the I top-selling heroes are the [Punisher, who likes to kill bad [guys, and Shadowhawk, who [likes to break their spines, it's [nice to see comic books aimed [at and interesting to children, [and also witty for adults. As a side note, Skybox has [put out a set of trading cards to [correspond with the new comic [books, but they're not as funny, [and seem little more than a [marketing ploy now that other [Simpsons merchandise is out of [style. These Guys Suck! Then there's "Beavis and [Butt-head" from Marvel [Comics, the company that [introduced the highly popular [Ren & Stimpy comic a few ^ears ago, kicking off the recent "cartoons to comic books" trend. Just as "The Simpsons" was on the cutting edge when the show started five years ago, "Beavis and Butt-head" has been in a class by itself since it premiered on MTV last year. Although many dismiss Beavis and Butt-head's crude antics as harmful to children, or humorous only to preteens, viewed at a higher level the show is a sharp, intellectual critique of the music and culture of today's high school youth and society in general. "Beavis and Butt-head" is the ultimate in parody and self parody, and is as revisionist and deconstructionist as anything on commercial television. After all, for the majority of the show, the two teenagers make fun of the very network on which they appear. Even late-night comedy king David Letterman has repeatedly praised Beavis and Butt-head. Unlike The Simpsons, however, Beavis and Butt-head don't handle the transition to comics well. Instead of adapting to the new medium, the creators try to copy the show's story-telling style and fail. Beavis (right) and Butt-head display their destructive nature as they demolish their own mail call section of their new paperback cartoon. Reading their dialogue (example: "Huh huh. . . huh huh") isn't nearly as funny as hearing it in those unmistakable, quirky voices on television. And the show's hilarious music video criticism interludes have been replaced with the boys reading other comics and saying nothing particularly funny about them. These interludes are little more than commercials for other Marvel titles. The storyline of "Beavis and Butt-head #1" is thinner than even their worst television episode — the boys trade some yams for candy bars and Butt- head has to see the dentist. The dialogue (Butt-head: "Crime doesn't pay, Beavis." Beavis: "Yeah, TV lied.") might be funny in full-motion with silly voices, but on the pages of the comic book, they fall flat. What could have been a heady intellectual parody akin to "The Simpsons" comics turns into a mindless rehashing of the television show, an obvious attempt to make a cheap buck off a current craze. given!;] istrvJ But tk had exte named o! ■ their sak lonshipc g like the: off scree: ’ not a fib id romance iculd ha 1 ' ie develop- character ods is on iree scen^ off. way/Page: TO id of brathj io is so out I parents il kind ofWI k a little re | ition, she is i incredible r-old,greal I an uncan I in was op I tlietic. tch fifW| id pray ’ ere nec^H to run,' on an ^ iduled ofTg jeh as th ! ,'be mza as k 1 ardieu. -668-! tore n-Sat Getaway Continued from Page 4 As far as bad guys go, Travis is just about as bad as they come. Madsen plays a very convincing and unpre dictable psychopath. Enough reason for viewers to watch the screen with one hand cov ering each eye. Daredevil driving becomes an art form in this film when Basinger is behind the wheel. (Folks, this is not someone you'd want to anger in rush hour traffic.) The saving grace of the film is the occasional spurt of hu mor nestled between scenes of non-stop violence. During a car chase scene, Baldwin and Basinger decide to hide out in a dumpster. Much to their misfortune, however, a garbageman hap pens to be making his rounds in that particular neighbor hood. After unwillingly riding around in a garbage truck, the couple is dumped into a land fill. While sitting on a filthy, torn up couch, Baldwin sarcas tically remarks, "It can't get any worse than this." I couldn't have put it better myself. YOU sTiiidiaUHg 0 n i UP \ OmiEEBSEgEa™ HEM peopleYOllCAii % WAREHOUSE o> WE BUY USED CD'S FOR $4.00'or trade 2 for 1 USED CD'S $8.99 or LESS 268-0154 (Now located downstairs at Northgate) Bargain Matinee Sat. & Sun. Tuesday is Family Night Sponsored by KTSR Radio Aggie Owned & Operated Since 1926 SCHULMAN SIX 2000 E. 29th Street 775-2463 *My Girl 2 -PG $5.00/$3.00 2:00 4:35 7:15 9:40 ‘Philadelphia -PG 13 $5.00/$3.00 1:50 4:20 7:00 9:35 ‘The Getaway *R $5.00/$3.00 1:45 4:25 7:05 9:45 ‘Blank Check *PG $5.00/$3.00 12:30 4:20 7:20 9:30 ‘Schindler’s List *R $5.00/$3.00 12:30 4:20 8:10 I’ll Do Anything -PG 13 $5.00/$3.00 2:05 4:30 7:10 9:35 MANOR EAST 3 MANOR EAST MALL 823-8300 ‘Jurassic Park *PG 13 99# 2:05 4:30 7:00 9:40 My Life -PG 13 99# 2:10 4:25 7:10 9:45 The Joy Luck Club -R 99# 2:00 4:35 7:05 9:35 ‘Dolby Stereo MSC Bl^ck Awareness Committee "'TJie Importance of ‘BCacl^y-fistory Month " Presented By: Carey Caufey ‘Brazos ‘Valley MflRCB President ‘Thursday, PeBruary 17, 1994 MemoriaCStudent Center ‘Room 230-231 7:00-8:15 p.m. "dPasteof STfrican-Sdmerican Cidture ” Soul fern Cuisine zaill be served immediately fodozving the program, for more information please call845-1515 Fashion Hair & Nails 302 N. Main St., Bryan (next to Zarape’s) 779-1161 We offer. • Ear Piercing • Face Make-Overs • Ladies Fashion Jewelry & Apparel • Cosmetics & Beauty Supplies - Beginning February 22nd - Nail Tech’s Veronica and Brenda Macias “Formerly of Nails for Less’ 775-3799 THIS WEEKEND AT THE Cantina 823-2368 201 W. 26th St.., Downtown Bryan Call for Party Rentals Gwen or Jesse • 822-5959 Food and Drink Specials During Happy Hour 5-8 p.m. Thursdays: 18 and older THURSDAY 2/17 Deep Blue Something (Alternative) $5. Cover FRIDAY 2/18 ca g>r>c g ^ O 2 3 g’E ^ £ o so « g 'o Q-g 1 Cj § .§1 SATURDAY 2/19 Eddie C. Cmpbeil Blues $5. Cover USE IT EVERY TIME YOU MOKE A LONE UISTANCE CULIECT GALL.