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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2000)
W t-clneiilav * r* * ■ ics hrii ompou iv cr that key qucslio?. 1\ stxindoll began Fd' !— il agents raided the c inch I)a\ idian leadal^ lolkmers. 1 'h IW}, Koreshaulni d in an intenKV stires tunshots. ent .irson irn cstigat*®) s cet the bla/e. ' law >ers luve allegedti l;< >v en in lent fired repes n the final iHMjrsof&i ilctHirt tiling Jatl&is Micluielt .iddellccoa vt\uvn tfic breads? B ■stnni ;md tfk* ■‘lunitai’; nl s law \ ers pnnxkic tent Ota! the militan 13 .-sent during the aept i setidiers qucstionnf , swore the\gt*t»d« in tfie curnooini at hosp diBsday, January 26, 2000 Comic Book Wednesday BY JUAN LOYA The Battalion A weekly fix. A scheduled habit. An idiosyncratic rou tine. For some people it is catching a favorite television show ora favorite music program. For others it is a more regimented experience. Comic book fans universally regard Wednesdays as “Comic Book Day,” or the release day for new comic books. More than a simple majority make the weekly trip to the comic book Store to catch the next install ment of the ongoing stories comic books detail. Josefina Morales, owner of Lytle's Comics and Games, said that of the 170 subscribers she has, 80 percent of them come in on Wednesday. “There’s a group that comes in every Wednesday, no matter what,” Morales said. Though business will spread out throughout the week, Wednesday is no doubt the busiest day of the w eek for both comic book retailers and comic book purchasers. Ira Babb, a comic book fan and senior agricultural busi ness major, has been reading comicbooks for 11 years and owns over 5,000. “1 anticipate reading my new comics a lot," Babb said. “1 want to find out what happened since the last is sue. 1 suppose ifs a lot like soap operas, except it's not on TV, and it’s stulTthat could most likely never happen in real life.” Indeed, while soap operas may offer the occasional de monic possesion or resurrection from the dead, comic books entrance readers w ith such concepts as the “Anti- Matter Universe of Qward” or Dr. Reed Richard’s patent ed “unstable molecules" formula. It israre that characters on “Days of Our Lives" will even mention genetic mutations, much less the problems facing human and mutant relations in the new millennium. Christopher Vanderkaay, a comic book fan and the video department manager at 1 Listings in Bry an, said that even though there are comic books in his store, he still prefers to go every' Wednesday to buy the new releases. ‘it’s like with video rentals,” VanderKaay said. "Tuesday is the day we get the new video releases, and there’s like a cult of people who come to make sure they get the first copies of whatever we get in. Anything. Even if they’re bad movies.” i i: r i v Continuedfht ck vud the t •aid people wop ing as soon at*® •\tmgi tished •Miltoftne fire p.m. in the Rec 11. Contact GayKr r more informal!# tbroad Program! in informational' Bi/zell Hall Wes! i out study abroa: to the tropical s a. Graduate anJ e students c# edit. Contacts# sastmasters: Lei aking and intei th possible certi in Rudder at 8! ue screen. For n please contact 13. Vednesda)! ’ Comic book fans often display the same amount ofdedication to their favorite pursuit. 4“1 used to read all the comics that had heroes/hero ines/teams that I liked in them regardless of what the writing or art was like,” Babb said. ”1 have about a 100 issue run of The Spectacular Spider-Man that was drawn by an artist that I couldn’t stand.” [“Sometimes 1 go back and read stuff that 1 haven't read in years and 1 think to myself, ‘This story is horrible, what possessed me to buy five copies of it?’” “Sometimes I go back ami react stuff that I haven't read in years and J think to myself, 'This story is horrible, what possessed me to buy five copies of it?’” — Ira Babb Comic book collector Morales said she prefers customers who en joy the content of the comics and not those who just buy them for their potential value. “A lot of them are collectors,” Morales said. “Some of them won’t even let me touch them to look at the price. It’s like, who do they think put them up on the shelf?” Morales said there are less of such customers these days, and more comic book readers in general. And as to the increase in buyers, the reason for growth may lie in the quality of the comics themselves. “Well, Starman is really cool and there’s a whole lot of genuine mystery in the current storyline. Every issue leaves ymii wanting more,” Babb said. “I really like what Kurt Busiek is doing in Thunder bolts right now, there are a lot of conspiracies and plots within plots.” Comic books have attracted writers from all other venues of entertainment, from television to literature to the movies in recent years. ‘Greg Rucka. a famed mystery novelist, is currently writing Detective Comics for DC Comics, and J .Michael Strac/ynski, creator of the television series “Babylon 5,” is currently enjoying success w ith bis comic book line. Rising Stars. Veteran comic book writers have also been getting more mainstream acclaim. Writers Alan Moore and Warren’ Ellis both were list ed in Entertainment Weekly’s I c >99 JT LIST of the 100 most creative people in entertainment. Though the number of readers may be on the up swing, such resurgence in the industry is common and sometimes fleeting. “It seems like there were a lot more [readers] when 1 started reading but it’s sort of fluctuated since then,” Babb said. ”lt seems that whenever you meet someone who’s really into comics they’re people who might have been collectors when they were younger and have gotten back into it a little.”, M VanderKaay anticipates the release of this summer’s X-Men movie and the rumors of a Spider-Man film fi nally hitting the screens to he a promising attraction to potential readers. “Sam Raimi (director of Evil Dead and A Simple Plan) is set to direct the new Spider-Man film, and he’s one of my favorite directors, so yeah, I’m really look ing forward to that,” VanderKaay said. As for longtime readers, few expect to cease their weekly Wednesday pilgrimages anytime soon. “I suppose if the international congress of women mandated that all men who read comics arc hereby off- limits to all women, if they haven’t already, I’d stop read ing comics,” Babb said. “Or maybe if they caused cancer or something.” Graphics by Gabriel Ruenes and Ruben DeLuna FAITH HIL.L Faith Hill Breathe Warner Bros. Faith Hill’s fourth album, Breathe, road Programs: 1 jrmational meefri all West at 1:- jdy abroad oppo- •pical island of i and undergrade . „ ,. ,. , , n earn TAMU cre:' re P , ’ rtedl - v an autobiographical selec- for ‘d'music. If the music is truly re sets Hill’s life, then no guy out there Jiould be holding his breath waiting t H i 11 to divorce her husband, singer / ^ fV| irn McGraw, anytime soon. ^1 Following up on the crossover . ‘iccess of her hit “This Kiss,” Faith "ings a infuses more pop into her test effort, which is packed with ro am ic love songs. The infectious “The Way You ove Me” will bring back memories fearly ’90s pop, while the sweet “I ot My Baby” has a style all its own. :hicf Photo Editor .to Editor ck. Graphics Editor Graphics Editor sight News Editor off. Radio Producer on. Web Editor Science & Technolog) In the midst of all these songs, one finds a welcome treat in the fun and bluesy, “Bringing out the Elvis.” Keeping with tradition, there is also a duet with McGraw, called “Let’s Make Love,” which will make listeners wonder if maybe Tim isn’t taking care of business like he should. As one of the few country stars who still to includes a religious or gospel song on every album, she deliv ers what is possibly the best song on the album, “There Will Come a Day.” Fueled by the success o f the first single and title track of the album. Faith’s new album showcases her in creasingly strong voice. But from the obvious fun she has had singing some of the rowdier songs on past CDs and how much fun it is to listen to them, one can’t help but wish she would let her hair down more often. (Grade: C+) — Matt McCormick Various Artists Any Given Sunday: Music from the Motion Picture Courtesy of Warner Sunset Records Most film soundtracks today take second-rate songs from better known bands and put them together on an al bum, hoping to sell the album off of name recognition. This is exactly what this album is. Although the film Any Given Sun day featured mostly techno tracks from bands like Fatboy Slim and Moby, not a single techno track is on the album. Hole, LL Cool J, Missy Elliot, Kid Rock, DMX and Godsmack. A list of musicians like this might seem to say some talent could be found on this al bum. Wrong. All the songs sound like B-sides from the bands. The songs from the featured artists are poorly written and seem to be done quickly in an effort to get the album out to idiots around the nation who will pick it up and say, “Ooh! Kid Rock and LLCoolJ! I’ve got to get this!” So be warned. This album is one to pass over. (Grade: C-) — Kyle Whitacre FENIXtx FENIXtx CD courtesy of Drive-Thru Records The band FENIXtx originally began its life as the I louston band Riverfenix. In addition to adopting a new moniker, the band has also tied Texas for San Diego, Calif. It is a pity too. The album, with its fast guitars and even faster drums, gives listeners a hint of how energetic FENIXtx’s live per formances could be. The band’s sound, which the record label compares to blink-182’s, is similar to blink’s in the fact that the fast-paced, joyful sound and har monies hide the lyrics’ messages of anger and loss. However, the similari ties seem to end there. FENIXtx’s sound is much edgier than blink’s — more than likely a re sult of the fact that the album was produced and mixed by Jerry Finn, who has produced albums for blink- 182 and Green Day, and Ryan Greene who has produced albums for NOFX and Lagwagon. Greene’s influence can clearly be heard in the NOFX-esque guitar scales and background vocals in “Apple Pie Cowboy Toothpaste.” Unfortunately for fans of FENIXtx, the album is a reminder that they will have to wait until FENIXtx returns to Texas for a live performance. Until that time this album will have to suffice. (Grade: A) — Veronica Serrano ges, Bradley Atchison, Kin#' lie Turner, Patric Schneider Smith. Elizabeth O' Farrell.^ lillanueva & Susan Reddinf Ruenes, Eric Andraos, Jeff®' on. Richard Horne, David Sp^ , Kevin Turner, Sean Gillespie tant: Cristina Padron: Beth^ rrie Bennett, Brooke Corse.I 6 ' uff, Carrie Jacobs. Melissa W' s Siegel & Audrey Bohlmane Noni Sridhara; Whitney $1^ n Locker, Chris Carter, ley, ■Ogy • Judy White, Scott Je*' vski. BMC WEST BUILDING MATERIALS SOUTHCENTRAL DIVISION Partners in Building Texas Attn. Business & Construction Science Majors BMC West is the leading supplier of millwork and building materials for productions and custom home builders in the western half of the U.S. Over the past 10 years we tlin Division ol StudentMediz'v . . r , . , , . . . iii .in. sar. nn Far 8<I5 ; ' lave grown in size from 20 locations and 145 million in sales to 60 locations with ! 1 billion in sales. talion. For campus, local, and i 015 Reed McDonakLandoU*' On Feb. 2 & 3" 1 representatives will be on campus at the Construction Science Career i single copy of The Battaiio" p a j r Stop by out booth and learn about the excellent opportunities that are available mester and $17.50 for the snir® , ' ' . . . . rr tnbur growing corporation. 1 here are various positions available. We are currently mil spunr. semesters andseeking Administrative Managers, CAD Designers and Outside Sales Associates for l A&M University. Periodicals “"s . ^ _ . . . Ml McDonald Building,Texas*' 1 various locations in Texas. Hope to see you there! Pregnant? Need Help? Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, Inc. Has a staff of volunteers who want to help you $ Counseling services *s> Weekly support group $ Arrangements for medical care *p Assistance in making future plans (schtxrl, job, relocation, etc.) Referral to a Christian Agency to facilitate an open-type adoption, if desired ip Maternity clothing *p Opportunity to find wholeness in a secure and confidential environment 409-764-6636 Kim Schams - director kschams@tca.net Aggie Owned & Operated Call For Your ^ Discovery Flight (409) 260-SOAR y* Preiss Aviation "Making Your Dreams Fly” Air craft Ffenfcal FTkEt Trainirg Aviaticn Career Cfcunseling Efesbsrwood Airport - 1680 George Eush Dr. Wat suite 12 - OdLlege Station, IX 77845