Michael Giacchino is fast becoming one of my favorite composers in Hollywood. In the interview he discusses his influences and I can tell I’d like this guy. He lists his favorite and most influential composers as John Williams, Max Steiner, and Bernard Hermann. His score to UP was truly deserving of the Academy Award, I want to buy the soundtrack to The Incredibles on vinyl with my other Mancini records, and his work on Star Trek was fantastic. But he’s done plenty of other stuff, too. He did the iconic music for LOST. He also did music for games in the Medal of Honor and Call of Duty series.

Predictably, he’s reteaming with Brad Bird for Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, but more exciting is this: He’s doing the music for John Carter of Mars.

There are 10 minutes of music from the John Carter of Mars score here in this interview and it’s pretty great. That movie sounds like it’s getting better and better all the time.

Aside from the music, this interview from WQXR’s Music on the Radio is a great listen. This is a perfect example of why we need to support our public radio stations.

The characters of Archie comics have a history of having some truly off-beat crossovers and guest appearances. From classics like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Punisher, along with recent fare such as Obama and Palin, the gang from Riverdale has certainly met their fair share of characters. Add to that list, the foursome of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, collectively known as KISS. Is this story destined to go down in history as one of the more memorable, or does it seem like a stunt? Read on for my opinion!

Archie meets KISS is a 4-part story, and as such, that usually means that the first issue is purely setup. That’s the case here as well, but the setup is compelling enough that I forgave a lot. KISS themselves don’t actually appear until page 11, in fact.  Those first pages are spent establishing that Archie and friends (including Sabrina, which is important) have started the Riverdale Monster Society. It starts off innocuously enough with the gang wanting to help out their community with a simple protection spell. Luckily, they have a friend in Sabrina, the teenage witch who is uniquely equipped to do such a thing. All is well and good then, right? Wrong. Veronica and Reggie’s egos come into play and wreak their usual havoc. Soon, Riverdale is infested with monsters, and the only people who can turn the tide are the members of KISS!

Once the band actually makes their presence known, the awesomeness dials is turned up to 11! Taking a page from the classic Marvel KISS tales, writer Alex Segura casts the band not as their real-life counterparts, but as their stage personas, complete with supernatural powers. Their greatest power is of course the power to ROCK, leading to the best panel in the issue. As part 1 concludes, we’re left with a shocking cliffhanger of the town full of mindless zombie-like denizens! Never has anything made me laugh and simultaneously creeped me out as a zombie-fied Li’l Jinx. I’m eageraly awaiting to see how the story plays out. Surely an Archie/Kiss team up will have the two bands rocking together, which is truly something to anticipate.

Dan Parent’s art style lends itself especially well to the crossover. I find the way he draws faces especially appealing. The teens have rounded, fresh faces, whereas KISS has a much more angular, square-jawed style that just plain works. Everyone is instantly recognizable,  which is doubly important, given the iconic nature of the guest stars. As for the writing, I praised Alex Segura on his first Archie outing a few months ago, and I just want to reiterate it here. I would love to see Mt. Segura on a monthly book.

In closing, if you’re even the least bit curious, it behooves you to pick up Archie Meets Kiss. Check out the preview below if you’re unsure, but trust me, this is the best KISS team up since KISS Saves Santa!

MARK DAGO; “Kill Screen” (Earthburn Records)
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? Mark Dago (lyrics, words and vocals)

As crazy as it sounds, there occasionally exist things that make even this Prince of Dorks feel insufficiently nerdy. Well, almost.

Take, for example, “Mark Dago Presents: Kill Screen,” a hip-hop/nerdcore mini-album that is touted on its cover as being “For
use with stereophonic technology.”

For those who might be unfamiliar with Dago, he’s a Utah-based musician/rapper who has performed in Rotten Musicians and the Numbs. “>And he’s even free-styled onstage with Chuck D. and Public Enemy. So what I’m saying is he’s legit.

His latest solo work explores his preoccupation with video games (especially the old, “8-bit” versions) and other forms of gaming. And it uses available video game music and sonic re-creations as the musical backing (if you’re a veteran gamer, you’ll recognize at least a few sound bites).

Luckily, it’s not nearly as insufferably “inside” or nearly as cutesy as you’d expect such material to be. Dago’s credible, convincing raps and rhymes make “Kill Screen” more than palatable … they make it very enjoyable. Just try to resist the pulsating “Megamanic.” I dare you.

Although it is largely a solo work, there are contributions from some of Dago’s usual collaborators, such as Rotten Musicians mate Daniel “Fisch” Fischer, who produced “Kill Screen” and contributes vocals to “The Low End of Doom.” (The nine songs were recorded by Salt Lake City music legend Andy Patterson, who’s smart enough to know that Dago’s vocals need to be pushed up in the “mix.”)

By the way, while “hard copies” of the CD are on sale locally, at such stores as Uprok, you can also download “Kill Screen” for free at Mark’s Bandcamp site. But you really should give Dago some monetary love. It’s only right.

Jerk-bot is the robotic nom de plume of Utah-based movie and music reviewer/writer Jeff Michael Vice, who invites you to enjoy his other endeavors, for Xfinity’s Big Movie Mouth-Off review program, MSN’s Parallel Universe and MSN Movies, Now IN Salt Lake magazine, X-96′s Radio From Hell, Geek Show Podcast and the Mediocre Show.

Editors note:

You can check out Mark Dago and Fisch performing tracks from Kill Screen on Park City TV below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD3T5Yp865E

DagoBot is back with more PAXPrime coverage. While there, he got to interview Mega-Ran and K-Murdock:

If you were to make a list of the best team ups from any genre, who would make the cut? Would it be Captain America, Wolverine & Black Widow from ‘Uncanny Xmen’ #268. The Spiderman/Black Cat issues written by indie auteur Kevin Smith. Brainiac & Luthor. The under appreciated Power Man & Iron Fist.

What about when it comes to music. Did the ambitious ‘Watch The Throne’ by Jay-Z & Kanye live up to expectations. Are you old-school and have ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell on repeat. Did the love child of Adult Swim, Danger Mouse and MF DOOM ‘Danger Doom’ rock your world.

In gaming cannon, we have been treated to brawlers that show case characters from popular franchises (Super Smash Brothers, Soul Calibur & Kingdom Hearts) and even crossover clashes of Xmen vs Streetfighter and the ultimate Marvel vs Capcom.

Adding to the pantheon of super powered amalgams of video games, hip-hop, monomyth ethos and overall goodness is Random (A.K.A. Mega-Ran) & K-Murdock. I caught up with the dynamic duo at Pax Prime last month to get their thoughts on mashups, their artistic vision and party rocking out of body experiences.

Hey guys! First off, tell us a little about yourselves.

K-Murdock: My name is K-Murdock… and basically i’m a music producer/audio engineer/self-proclaimed RPG Master/avid watcher of anime/dreamer/and proud fan of the Chicago Bears.

Random: Name’s Raheem, was a teacher for the past 6 years, finally decided to spread my wings and try this music stuff full time. Born in Philadelphia, now residing in the Valley of the Sun.

What first got you each interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?

R: I had really creative friends. My buddies all created new game ideas, comics, and even music. We all decided one day to try our hands at music, and the rest is history! My first experiences with music were in my mom’s household… she would always have old soul records playing. Being from Philadelphia, arguably one of the birthplaces of soul music, I had a lot of interest in that sound. My mom loved Marvin Gaye, and I have to cite him and Stevie Wonder as two of my biggest inspirations. Once Hip-Hop hit the block though, it was all over…Ha. LL Cool J is my favorite and most influential artist, even to this day.

K: I grew up listening to my lots of 80s R&B as thats what my mom was playing in her car when we would go out. Artists ranging from Anita Baker to Luther Vandross, I know the catalogs too well. That factored with me trying to be as cool as my cousins who got me into hip-hop. I had a nice range of music to influence me, but it all changed once i heard A Tribe Called Quest’ Low End Theory in 91… that was my biggest influence and reason i got into hip-hop and music making.

With each of you having a various influences in hip-hop and rap, what was it like coming together and meshing styles to create your sound?

R: Its a really cool thing, we’re a lot alike in a lot of ways… we both love video games and hip-hop and those were our common grounds. But his sound is something so lush and spacey, that it’s a sound that I’ve always wanted to capture but didn’t know how… I produce as well, occasionally, but have been blessed to have some great minds in my corner.

K: It was pretty natural from my point of view as Ran and I share many of the same influences. It’s always cool when i hear him speak on emcees as his biggest idols the same way I cite producers like Pete Rock or Q-Tip or DJ Spinna. We have so much in common that again, it made it very easy to do music, which is probably why we stay creating together. It’s easy, and when u find that kind of chemistry where its that fun, you dont let it go!

How would you describe your music?

K: Progressive hip-hop, nuff said!

R: I call it “New Retro.” A little old and a little new…Spontaneous. Fun. True. Unpredictable. Witty and inspirational. If you were to put video games, the 80’s, hip-hop, soul music, jazz and stand up comedy into a blender, you’d have something close to The Random Experience.

Tell us about ‘Forever FamiCON’ , how did this come about? What got you guys together for this project?

K: Basically, I was working at XM Radio hosting my radio show Subsoniq and got a package from Ran. In it was ”The Call’ and ”Mega Ran’, both were dope but naturally I had NEVER heard anything like Mega Ran. Coincidentally at that time I was formulating the concept for Forever FamiCOM, which was originally gonna be an instrumental album. After I heard Ran do what he did and make it sound cool and conceptual…I hit him on myspace and the rest is history!

R: It’s a great story, and K told that one perfectly.

What did you think of the reception the album got when it finally dropped? And what was it like gaining a following within the ‘nerdcore’/chip hop/chip tune’ genre

R: The reception totally surpassed my expectations. Seems like I always say that, so maybe I need to start raising my expectations…Ha. To see the love it got from video game publications and sites that I’d been reading for years is just amazing. I’ve had fans tell me that “Dream Master” made them cry. That they knew exactly how I felt on “Drop The Load.” Fans have drawn us amazing art, traveled out to the shows from crazy distances, made videos, remixed the songs…Wow. The fan support has been phenomenal, we were able to tour off of it once, and now we get to do it again. It’s a very amazing and humbling thing.

K: I’m still being integrated into the ‘Nerdcore’ fold. But, from my touring with Ran the last year, I can say undoubtedly that Nerdcore fans support on a level thats beyond humbling…. and a way that makes me resent the lack of support many true hip-hop fans show. Hip-hop is a lot of talk, but the Nerdcore fans put their money and hearts where thier mouths are. It really makes you feel appreciated. I’m happy I am allowed to rep on their behalf. The reaction the album got is a testament. It’s brought out closet nerds who are equally big hip-hop heads as they are gamers like me & Ran… thats been real cool to see. I’m honored to be part of that.

K-Murdock…this one is directed at you.. What ‘equipment’ do you use for your music production?

K: I used to use an Akai MPC 2000xl for like 10 years till a homie who is a beta tester for Native Instruments put me on to the Maschine in 2k9 and now I’m all about that, its the hub of my prod setup, coupled with lots of analog synth VSTs and of course a nice library of records and samples.

How would you describe your musical evolution?

R: The evolution of Random has been a slow and steady one. It’s strange, but when I listen to my old music, I almost don’t even recognize that person anymore. That’s a GREAT thing in my opinion. It’s only been 5 years, and my music has taken me to places I’ve never dreamed of it going. So the sky’s the limit for the future. My mind is in a completely different place when I sit down to make music now…I’m able to draw inspiration from the smallest and strangest things these days. I think I’ve really grown as an artist in ways I’ve never thought I could have.

K: For me, It was meeting Raw Poetic from my group Panacea in 2003. I gave him a beat CD of traditional boom bap tracks but the one beat that I through on at the end of it was the one he loved. It was some experimental sh!t. It became our first recorded song- Birdfeather. RawP encouraged me to experiment and really delve deep into the anime and video game influences. It helps make my music stand out i guess, so I definitely “thank him for lettin me be myself”.

What other projects have each of you worked on or been involved with?

K: Basically I’m known for working with my aforementioned group Panacea, but i also have produced for Grammy nominated artists Raheem Devaughn and done remixes for a wide array of major and indie label artists too. You can peep my discography on my site: http://neosonicprod.com

R: Well, in addition to the “Mega Ran” series of albums, I’ve been working on my Random solo albums and mixtapes. Most recently “TeacherRapperHero” volumes one and two, which are out now and free. In March we released “Black Materia” with producer Lost Perception and my past albums include “The Call,” “Patches and Glue,” & “The 8th Day’. The next two albums in the works are “The Memorandum” with Phoenix rapper Mr. Miranda, and “Language Arts” which will release next year. I’ve worked on this album longer than anything I’ve ever done…it’s gonna be good.

You recently completed a ‘Kickstarter’ funded tour in the UK, tell me a little bit about that? How did it go for you guys?

R: It was an amazing experience! I’m so thankful to be able to say that we not only went to the UK, but KILLED out there! I almost didn’t want to come back. We felt a lot of love and made some lasting friendships out there. Can’t wait to go back and do it even bigger.

K: It was great, for me I’m 3 for 3 on Kickstarter and love what it does. Erasing the middle man between an artist and he or she’s fans. We got some amazing loyal fans and it showed. The fans that werent going to the UK, helped us because they believe so much in what we do musically, very humbling. The trip was great, but I spent too much money as the dollar carries no weight…but the experience was priceless.

What was the first gaming system that each of you owned growing up?

K: Atari 2600, but my fondest memories was when I got my NES in 86.

R: I had an Atari 2600 as well. I was late to move onto NES, so I was the last one on the block still playing Atari while the other kids played Gyromite and Duck Hunt. Ya know what, the last generation of 2600 games were actually really impressive!

What is your present console of choice?

R: I have a PS3 and Xbox 360, but I just got into PS3, so I’ve been catching up on the classics. Playing God of War 3 and Infamous now…waiting patiently for Uncharted 3!

K: PS3 mainly. My 360 has crapped out on me with the RRoD for the 3rd time!

What would be the most ultimate ‘mash up’ of a game?

R: I would love an RPG that contained stealth action techniques, like a Metal Gear Solid…That would be cool.

K: Maybe a Dance Dance meets final fantasy game… not saying I’d wanna play that but it be pretty ridiculous I’m sure.

What game are you currently playing?

K: I’m still playing Fallout New Vegas, I do these character builds based on other game characters and am currently trying to make Marcus Fenux from Gears. Some others that I have done are Agent 47 from Hitman, Dante from DMC, Sheva from RE5. Its fun to me and honestly, I’m just waiting for Deus Ex.

R: Playing God of War 3 and Infamous now.. waiting patiently for Uncharted 3!

If I was someone who has never seen you guys rock live…how would you describe one of your shows?

R: It’s an out of body experience, literally. I don’t know where the energy comes from, but it’s always high octane and loads of fun. I do a ‘freestyle’ at every show, so the song topic and direction changes depending on what I see. It really helps to personalize the experience. Everyone leaves the place sweaty, but there’s no regretful feeling afterwards.

K: It’s energy and lots of crowd participation. As much as the crowd gives us, we give right back. It’s on some Venom symbiotic stuff. Seriously though, the highlight is ALWAYS Ran’s live freestyle hands down.

Not including yourselves, who are your favorite acts to listen to currently?

R: I’m a huge fan of Deftones, I can listen to their stuff all day long. Right now in heavy rotation has been the new Jill Scott album, Kanye West and Jay-Z.

K: I’m a die hard and old school hip-hop head, which sounds old to even say. I usually listen to the same best of Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul CDs I have when I’m not listening to my own stuff for mixing references. I do love the Flaming Lips on a random note.

What can we expect from you guys over the rest of this year, and beyond?

K: New Forever FamiCOM DLC 2, the final one. Before we do our follow-up Sega-themed album in 2k12. A few other secret projects in the works too and lots of shows.

R: More shows, more music…Forever FamiCOM DLC2, which was all fan commissioned tracks. That will be coming soon. Mega Ran 10, the album will hit right after tour and then K and I will get started on the next album for next year. So much stuff!

Is there anything you’d like to promote or plug?

R: Yes, get the new Mega Ran 10 single “Pump It Up” feat. Adam Warrock here! http://megaranmusic.com/track/pump-it-up-feat-adam-warrock also, see ya on the road with MC Chris, MC Lars and Adam.

K: just want to say peace to my homie Random, shouts to all the other artists I work with, and thank you to the fans for helping me live my dream. Any and everything u need to know about me and my music is at: http://flavors.me/Neosonix and again http://neosonicprod.com

Mega Ran & K-Murdock are on tour now! Catch them when they are in your city…
http://megaran.com
Forever Famicon DLC 2 is available now…
http://megarankmurdock.bandcamp.com/releases

Dagobot is Mark Dago, a badass nerd musician in his own right.  You can check him out on Twitter and on Bandcamp.

Jerry Harvey is the original mastermind behind creating the custom molded in ear monitor.  In 1995 as he was touring with Van Halen when he developed the first custom in ear monitor and started Ultimate Ears. In 2007, after 12 years building and expanding Ultimate Ears, he sold it to Logitech International. Later, in 2007, he decided to start a new company JH Audio that began manufacturing aviation headsets for pilots. In 2009 JH Audio expanded by creating their pro music line.

The JH Audio 16 Pro is a handmade marvel. Fitting 8 drivers, a three-way crossover and a cable connector plus all the needed wiring in each custom shell would seem impossible. JH Audio pulls this off!  Mind you, all of which sit completely flush in your ears.

I was left with a big grin on my face after reading through the witty owners manual. My first impressions after finding the monitors inside the included personalized OtterBox was awe of the quality and workmanship of the monitors. The shells are spot on with a perfect fit in my ears.  Of the monitors that I have reviewed, the JH16 build quality has been the best, with the Sleek Audio CT7 being a somewhat close second. The JH16 shell has a triple bore setup, three independent channels that run from the drivers all the way out to the exterior of the shell. On the opposite side of the first bore sit two high drivers. The second bore sits two mids.  The third bore sits a bass lovers dream of 4 deep lows. *A side note when I reviewed the Ultimate Ears 18 Pro earlier this year which claimed it had three sound channels but only two of which were routed all the way to the exterior of the monitor.

The cable that is included has a very elegant look, well all except for the ugly 3.5 mm jack connector. Oddly the jack connector from UE 18 Pro would be a perfect visual fit for this cable. I have yet to find a cable that I love 100%.  This one being my favorite, I would still make one small adjustment. I would like the memory wire that connects to the monitor to be slightly longer. I enjoy a hugging feel but unfortunately, the memory portion ends just before I can bend it around the backside of my ear.  After two months of use the first three inches of the cable on each side began to oxidize and turn green. This is common for silver cables such as this one. A lot of companies including JH Audio offer black cables in lieu of the silver if the oxidation bothers you.

I burned in and tested the JH16 Pro using a HiFiMAN HM-602 from Head-Direct.com. The burn in consisted of 48 hours with a random play list including long and short breaks at variable volumes. After the burn in I quickly fell in love with the JH16. I have listened to over 400 hours of music through these and still am amazed every time I power them up. The soundstage is absolutely astonishing and the instrument placement can all but be seen. The sound quality and range separation is spectacular. The highs are somewhat bright with very crisp warm mids and smooth deep lows. I must say, these hit spot on with the bass! Listening to heavy orchestra instruments, the 4 powerful bass drivers bring in enough bass that you feel as if you were the maestro. They have a great overall balance to conquer any genre that you’re in the mood for. Overall, these have spot on tone, clarity and a sound signature that is unparalleled to the competition. The JH16 offers a -26db ambient noise isolation to take a audiophile away to a personal Rob Thomas concert. On the flip side, for Rob this removes unwanted stage noise while performing his concert.  With the JH16 you hear what the artist hears. JH Audio is the monitor of choice for performers such as Linkin Park, T-Pain, Hinder, Josh Groban, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and many more.

I must say I have found my custom monitor of choice.  When there is audio involved I lately find myself reaching for the JH16 Pro. They will set you back $1,149, but in my opinion they are worth every penny! If you are interested in picking them up go to JH Audio.com.

Keep in mind; to get the best performance from a custom ear monitor you will need a quality source that will play a lossless media. HiFiMAN players from Head–Direct.com are a fantastic match up!

It’s the last edition of VGQH for August and it’s not exactly chock full of goodies. Which is a little weird considering PAX took place over the weekend. Oh, well. On to the news.

Some of you may be surprised to know that Harmonix is still putting out weekly DLC tracks for Rock Band 3. While the music genre has basically died, the hardcore fans are apparently still picking up new tracks. I see the release list every week but tend to ignore it in VGQH. But today’s tracks are good news for me. Considering I do actually still pick up my fake plastic Fender a couple of times a month, I’ll actually be picking up all eight of these tracks from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Five classic songs are included, as well as three from the new album, I’m With You (in stores now). Individual tracks are $1.99 each, or you can get the whole package for $13.49 (or equivalent points, as usual). Two of the older tracks, “Californication” and “Otherside,” feature upgrades to Pro Guitar and Bass mode for $0.99 each. The remaining classic tracks are “By the Way,” “Parallel Universe,” and “Scar Tissue.” The three songs from the new album are “Look Around,” “Monarchy of Roses,” and “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.”

Did you like Portal? Of course you did. If you didn’t, you’re wrong! Anyway, we all know Valve is amazing and they did a great job expanding on the Portal concept with the recent sequel. But did you know that one of the co-creators of the original game, Kim Swift, has been working with Airtight Games on a first person puzzle game set for publication by Square Enix early next year on PSN, XBLA, and PC. Quantum Conundrum has the player trying to rescue your scientist uncle who is trapped in another dimension. The player has a few of the uncle’s inventions to help shift through parallel dimensions, seemingly at will, to solve puzzles. For example, shifting into a “fluffy” dimension makes objects lighter, allowing them to be thrown, then shifted back into the normal dimension where that lighter than air box suddenly becomes a heavy safe, smashing through the pane of glass that was blocking your path. Make sense? Probably not, but try explaining Portal to someone who hasn’t played it. Check out these two screens, which appear to be the same scene in two different dimensions.

For everyone that’s digustingly enthralled with Mass Effect (like me), Bioware and Dark Horse have a nice treat upcoming. The Art of the Mass Effect Universe will be out in February, with an MSRP of $39.99. This hardcover tome will highlight the unique art and glorious detail that we’ll find in Mass Effect 3 on March 6, 2012. While I’m at it, how about I confuse you with a few more dates. A collection of the Mass Effect: Evolution comic series will be available September 21st, and the new series, Mass Effect: Invasion, begins October 19th. Best get to your comic shop and add these to your pull list.

There wasn’t much in the way of new information about two of my most watched games at PAX, but a few new screens did make an appearance. Check out this shot of Juggernaut and Adrian, one of three playable characters as potential X-Men, in X-Men Destiny. Dig the matching outfits. It’s like Marko got a Mini-Me.

The other game getting some new screen shots, of course, is Spider-Man: Edge of Time, Activision and Beenox’s follow up to the fantastic Shattered Dimensions. Let’s stick with the theme of oversized villainous type dudes and give you this shot of Eddie Brock as Anti-Venom, getting ready for some ultraviolence on our amazing superhero.

And… Well, two screens and no news is a weird place to end. But, frankly, I don’t have any more and nothing is connected enough to go back and edit the order of the stories. Check back on Friday and hopefully we’ll have a bit bigger news day. I’m starting wonder if things are slowing down in the news department because so many huge games are getting set for the October-November rush and there isn’t really anything new to say about them until they release. In the mean time, I’m getting close to my Insanity end run on Mass Effect 2. Depending on how bad I suck at it, I could be finishing that up this week, leading to a little clean up for my Platinum trophy and starting “The Arrival.” Wish me luck.

Conversations I have about The Venture Brothers usually go like this:

“So, when are we getting new episodes?”
“Ummm. . .it sounds like not until next year sometime.”
(Various profanity)
“But. . .but– we are getting a music special in August and another holiday special. . .”
(Grumbling but begrudged happiness.

And yes, this Sunday do not miss the premiere of the untold story behind Shallow Gravy, Hank and Dylan‘s (Correction:Dermit. Sorry- my bad and thanks to reader thefullmetalchicken for pointing out my stupidity) band that we’ve seen show up a couple of times over the past two seasons. I’ll have a full review later this week as well as my interview with show creators Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick from Comic-Con, but wanted to let everyone know that starting Tuesday you’ll be able to download the EP from Shallow Gravy and an exclusive music video for
“Jacket” on iTunes and other various e-music outlets.

Just to give you a refresher, here is a small clip of “Jacket” from the episode “Operation P.R.O.M.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dXToASh-4

Remember that zany cartoon about the Warner Brothers and the Warner sister? (she was the cute one). Not only do I remember it, but I still think Animaniacs is one of the greatest cartoons ever created.  I even quote it on a regular basis and occasionally sing “Yakko’s World” for my friends (whether they want me to or not.)

Since I’m such a fan of the show, you can easily imagine my delight when I recently had the opportunity to meet Rob Paulsen at his Rob Paulsen Live seminar in Atlanta, Georgia. You may not know his name or his face, but you certainly know his voice. From Animaniacs, he is Yakko Warner, Pinky, and Dr. Scratch ‘n’ Sniff. He is also Carl Wheezer from the Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, and a myriad of other characters, including some from G.I. Joe and the Snorks. A much more comprehensive list can be found at his IMDB page here.

Mr. Paulsen’s career has spanned nearly 30 years, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet him. When I arrived at the seminar, he walked right up to me and introduced himself, and he was extremely friendly and down-to-earth. He greeted everyone as they entered and referred to them by name when they asked questions. By splitting his seminar into two sessions, he was able to keep the groups small, and the result was a more intimate gathering with an open discussion and a very relaxed atmosphere.  He explained that his goal was to have a more interactive event rather than merely standing in front of the room and talking.

Mr. Paulsen began the event by recounting some of his history and how he got into voice acting. He grew up in Michigan and initially dreamed of becoming a hockey player. When he realized that hockey wasn’t in the cards, At the age of nineteen, he moved to Los Angeles to join a theater company. He lived there for about a year before moving back to Michigan and joining a rock and roll cover band. After about two years of singing, he moved back to California and returned to acting.  He found a gig on a cable access show and signed with an agent.  Commercial work followed, as well as appearances on MacGyver and St. Elsewhere.

When the voice acting jobs became more and more numerous (to the point that they conflicted with acting auditions), he made a decision to focus solely on voice acting.  He was hired for Haji on Johnny Quest and had roles on Transformers, Smurfs, Gummi Bears, Darkwing Duck, Talespin . . .  the list goes on and on.

A highlight in his career came when he won a Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program” for Pinky in Pinky and the Brain.  He spoke of how he forgot to think Maurice LaMarche (the voice of The Brain) in his speech and had to call him afterwards, and how the one and only Mr. Rogers congratulated him personally after his win.  He also added that Andrea Romano, the casting director of Animaniacs, has so many Emmys that she “dresses them in Barbie clothes.”  (I wasn’t sure if he was being serious or not).

Below is some video of him saying some of Pinky’s best lines:

Without a doubt, the best moment came when I asked Mr. Paulsen how long it took him to learn the song “Yakko’s World,” in which Yakko Warner sings the names of the countries while pointing at them on a map.  He answered with some history of the song, saying that songwriter Randy Rogel was helping his child with geography and realized there was a song to be found there.  Mr. Paulsen received the song, had a week to rehearse it, and it only took two takes (and they used the first one).  He then asked if we’d like for him to perform it.

Here is the result:

One of his latest projects is to voice Donatello for the upcoming Nickelodeon version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  The new version of the four turtles named after Renaissance artists will debut next year, and it will be CGI.  Sean Astin and Jason Biggs are also turtles (Raphael and Leonardo, respectively.)  Actor Greg Cipes takes on the role of Michaelangelo (the party dude!).

If you have the opportunity, I urge you to attend a Rob Paulsen Live seminar.  Go if you’re a fan, if you want to know more about the voice acting business, or if you just want to be entertained.  He was funny, genuine, and ever so willing to answer any questions.  And, everyone who attends has the opportunity to speak with Mr. Paulsen one on one and receive a signed picture.

He will be in Dallas on September 17^th, and tickets can be purchased at his website.

By Jerk-bot

KIRBY KRACKLE; “Super Powered Love” (Kirby Krackle Music)
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? Kyle Stevens and Jim Demonakos (words and music)

The third time, as they say, is the charm. But for Kirby Krackle … the nerd-rock project for Seattle-based musician Kyle Stevens and comics shop owner/conventioneer Jim Demonakos … the third go-round offers proof that KK is not just a whimsy.

The duo’s third, full-length album is titled “Super Powered Love.” It’s the best of the bunch by far, both in terms of songwriting and performance. Stevens, who sings and plays guitar (as well as occasional ukulele) is backed by an actual band: bass guitarist Scott Andrew, keyboardist Bryce Francis and drummer Nelson Estes. (Rappers Adam WarRock and GMK the Great, as well as vocalist Kristina Horner, also chip in on a couple of songs.)

While the initial efforts (a self-titled 2009 release, and 2010’s “E for Everyone”) suffered a bit from their thin sound, “Super Powered Love” has a fuller, richer one. You can really hear how well this approach works with the rousing album closer, the pop-punkish “I Wanna Live in a World Full of Heroes.” A solid rhythm section only makes Stevens’ Ramones-like riffing sound more muscular. A quick plea to radio programmers: Give this winning song some well-deserved airplay.

Elsewhere, there’s expected Kirby Krackle silliness. “Booty do Math” fuses pop with hip-hop, “Hunt ‘em All Down” and “Bite of Another” freshen up overdone subject matter (the Transformers and vampires, respectively), and the title track crackles … excuse the pun … with electricity.

There are still a couple of stripped-down moments, too, though. Stevens busts out that aforementioned ukulele on “In Another Castle,” an earnest love song/plea that again touches on one of the pair’s favorite subjects, Nintendo’s best-selling series of Mario video games.

This is easily the most complete collection of songs. There are no duds here. And again, “World of Heroes” rivals any pop-punk being churned out by major-label act for sheer hooks and catchiness.

As has been done in the past, “Super Powered Love” is self-released. It’s available digitally (through iTunes and other sites, check www.kirbykracklemusic.com for more information), and in “hard-copy” form for old-schoolers like yours truly. (CD and booklet art by comics artists Jim Mahfood and Katie Cook make this purchase pretty irresistible.) KK also previewed several of the tracks on YouTube, so if you are not convinced yet, you should at least give these ones a listen. You’ll be hooked!

Another nice thing about “Super Powered Love”: The duo has had a semi-annoying habit of placing “secret tracks,” which appear after the album seems to end. (“Tony Stark” wound up being one of the best songs on their eponymous debut, if you listened long enough to find it.) Refreshingly, that’s not the case here. The bakers’ dozen tracks are it. And that’s more than enough.

Jerk-Bot is the robotic nom de plume of Utah-based movie reviewer and writer Jeff Michael Vice, who invites you to enjoy his other endeavors, for Xfinity’s Big Movie Mouth-Off review program, MSN’s Parallel Universe and MSN Movies, IN This Week magazine, X-96′s Radio From Hell, Geek Show Podcast and the Mediocre Show.

Oh yeah, this is definitely news-worthy. KISS, the incredibly iconic rock group is returning to comics. While both IDW and Archie have the license to make KISS books, I wanted to focus on Archie’s effort. Archie is no stranger to off the wall crossovers, famously teaming with the Punisher and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the 90’s. And KISS is no stranger to the comics page, having some truly high concept stuff from Marvel in the 70’s and later on with Image in the 90’s. I’ll be honest though. When I first heard about this, my WTF meter kind of spiked. Then I read the book’s actual summary and now I am really jonesing to read this book.

Starting in November’s Archie #627, the four-part “Archie Meets KISS” story will be written by Alex Segura, who recently proved his writing chops over in Archie & Friends and it’ll be drawn by Dan Parent, who is in my opinion the best artist in Archie’s stable. The premise is this: One of Sabrina’s spells goes off wrong and a bunch of monsters invade Riverdale. This predicament brings the forces of the Archies and KISS together to rid the world of these foul creatures with the power of rock!

Don’t take my word for it though, here are some select quotes first, Gene Simmons himself.

“KISS has a comic book history that spans almost four decades…but it was time to do things better than ever before. What’s bigger than two different companies sharing the KISS license? Archie and IDW will tell two unique and in-your-face tales of KISS, and we’re thrilled to be working with them on these projects.”

Then from Archie Co-CEO Jon Goldwater:

“We’re ecstatic to team up with Gene, Paul and the entire KISS Army for this project. KISS is such a huge part of Americana and that goes hand-in-hand with Archie and friends. We’re honored and excited to help bring KISS back to comics in a huge way.

And while IDW hasn’t really announced their part yet Chief Creative Office at IDW, Chris Ryall had this to say:

“IDW’s KISS series will kick off in a very special way in 2012. “Having done comics with Gene Simmons for a number of years already, I’m ecstatic to now be involved fully with the ‘hottest band in the world. We’ve found a very unique way to launch our KISS comics, and have big plans for the series that we’ll be revealing soon. I look forward to bringing KISS back to comics in a huge way!”

“I think this is the first time two comic publishers have shared a license at the same time, and I’m happy that setting this precedent are Archie and IDW. We both have very different audiences and distribution methods to reach our unique audiences, as well as both of us reaching traditional comics fans, too. We’ll be able to reach all ages of the KISS Army in ways never before equaled. We’re both ready to rock and roll (all night).”

Well said, now, I wonder what we have to do to convince Archie to print the comics with authentic KISS blood?