Ant-Man…Need I Say More?

Have you seen the new superhero Ant-Man movie yet?

(As opposed to the old Ant-Man movie…which, yeah, there wasn’t one.)

If haven’t seen the film yet, you should. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ant-Man was the perfect example of Marvel at its best.

I was never an avid follower of Ant-Man during my comic book phase as a kid, but I had heard of him. Let’s be honest, though cute-sounding, his name doesn’t inspire visions of daring heroic feats. Rather, you think of a small guy running around, which frankly “ant” the sort of thing that ranks up there with the powers of the other Avengers. So, imagine my complete and utter surprise when I found that this film was among one of the best, most enjoyable, superhero films that I have seen in many years. I became an immediate Ant-Man fan! (By the way, I get tickled over how that sounds when you say it over and over again: Ant-Man fan, Ant-Man fan, Ant-Man fan!)

To avoid spoilers for those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet, I’ll keep my comments and observations very general in nature. Maybe I’ll add a spoiler-inclusive video in my YouTube channel sometime soon for my other opinions and insights. Moving on…

Paul Rudd portrays Ant-Man.

Part of the enjoyment of the film is the impeccable casting of the main characters. Paul Rudd is, by far, the most wonderful selection to represent Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man. (Granted, Rudd is technically portraying the second incarnation of Ant-Man, following the original by Hank Pym, but let’s not split hairs here.) Nevertheless, I’ve been an ardent fan of Paul Rudd and his work for many, many years. He’s like the perfect “everyman” which many of you know is the type of hero reflected with Caleb, the human protagonist from my Sunset Vampire series.

Hell, I’m an everyman sort of person in real life, so what’s not to love about Paul Rudd as Ant-Man? Rudd embodies the intelligent sort of nice guy who’s trying to turn his life around and take an active role in his young daughter’s life. Oh, and the little girl who portrays his daughter Cassie in the movie, young actress Abby Ryder Fortson, is SO CUTE and adorable!

Michael Pena portrays a humorous character named Luis in the Ant-Man film.

The added humor interjected by supporting actor, Michael Pena, adds laughs to numerous moments in the movie and providing a nice foil to Paul Rudd’s more subtle, tongue-in-cheek situational humor and dialogue.

 The movie Ant-Man explores father-daughter relationships.

The film does a good job of presenting the primary characters and their backstories to viewers who have no knowledge of Ant-Man or his lore in comic history. To its credit, the central story doesn’t rely heavily on science fiction themes and superheroes/villains, but rather emphasizes the personal challenges and very human-relatable relationship struggles between the central characters. The movie has a great underlying theme about father-daughter relationships that plays well among multiple characters and helps the audience to empathize with them. Honestly, that sort of blew me away because I wasn’t expecting the movie to resonate with me at such an emotional level. This sort of approach gives me hope that Hollywood is FINALLY starting to present basic human interest subplots and themes in ways that mass audiences can appreciate and easily digest, while also generously heaping on the superhero/villain conflicts that traditional comic fanboys and fangirls are expecting. Now I’m looking to DC Comics and wondering if they can credibly approach what Marvel Studios is already perfecting. While we may see something hopeful next year with Batman v Superman, I don’t expect much in the human relations category from the Suicide Squad film that follows. We’ll see.

Who is Ant-Man?

So, back to the Ant-Man movie. Who is Ant-Man? Well, in briefest form, Ant-Man is a human wearing a special suit that uses a secret chemical formula to shrink him down to much smaller form (essentially, insect sized), yet imbuing him with 20 times (or more) his normal strength, as its all compacted into a smaller area. There’s also technology in the helmet that permits him to interact with ants (of all subspecies and varieties) to assist him with his missions. I know that doesn’t sound impressive, but believe me, it’s quite formidable when you see how it’s married together on the big screen. I’m very impressed, and it makes logical sense…from a purely fantastical, science-fictiony perspective.

Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas in the Ant-Man film.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about the film was that it posed the question, “Do you think that everyone deserves a second chance?” The film explored the idea of redemption, which I found as a refreshing undercurrent that guided the central characters. It’s a topic that doesn’t regularly get explored in superhero films in a manner that the average person can relate to. There’s a sincere quality to the way it’s handled in Ant-Man that’s both reassuring and realistic.

Overall, I give the film my whole-hearted endorsement. It’s a 10 out of 10, and also a film that I eagerly intend to add to my home movie collection. Moreover, stay until the FINAL credits finish rolling to not only gain insight into where the Ant-Man storyline is continuing, but also get a brief sneak-peek into next year’s Captain America: Civil War movie.

That’s all for now, but leave me a comment telling me if you’re already an Ant-Man fan, and/or what you thought of the movie. Until next time, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Fangs for the Memories…

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 7

Well, it’s over.

I’ve completed the entire Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series. I just finished season 7 a few days ago, and I have to say, it’s one of the all-time, best-quality television series in history! Not only was the cast of actors exemplary in representing their characters, but Joss Whedon is a genius who produced episodes with themes classically relevant to the actual everyday problems faced by real people, though with a decidedly satisfying dose of mysticism, pop culture, and pure fantasy. I feel so lame for having waited an additional 12 years to catch up with everyone else! Now I see precisely what my friend, Shannon, had been preaching to me about for YEARS. My apologies for being so late to the party, Shannon. Oh, and…you were SO RIGHT!!

The Scooby Gang from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I felt immense loss when the credits rolled at the end of the final episode, as if an old friend were moving away forever. I kept wanting to know MORE about where the self-proclaimed “Scooby Gang” characters were headed in their lives, as well as how they reconciled their lingering personal challenges.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "Once More, With Feeling" Episode

Looking back I have to say that my favorite Buffy episode was “Once More, With Feeling” from season 6. That was one of the best TV episodes that I have ever seen! And while I’m not even a big fan of musicals, it made my list of Top-3 all-time favorite musicals, too. OMG, I immediately went out to iTunes and purchased the album, which has since been replayed again and again on my iPhone. I’m a shameless fan-boy for all things Buffy now.

Angel TV Series

However, I was also smitten with the companion series, Angel, which I have watched intermittently throughout my Buffy journey. It’s very good, as well, and it was thoroughly enjoyable to see ex-Buffy regulars appear on the Angel series. I’m currently over halfway finished with season 5, and it’s VERY different in its setting. As in BTVS, the storylines are thoughtful, often emotional, often humorous, and highly entertaining. If anything, it continues my connection of “new” material from the Buffy universe (albeit, more than ten years AFTER the series completion!). Once again, better late than never.

Which TV series were you, or are you, completely addicted to?

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Playing With Cats

Cats help reduce your stress level!

Well, actually, while watching videos of cats playing can actually lower your stress level, sometimes your stress levels can increase by owning a cat. If you’re a cat owner, you know what I’m talking about. Those cuddly bundles of fur can also be real ass-monkeys when they want to be, can’t they?

Recently, I purchased some cat toys on Amazon for Tabby from a company called Equipt4, LLC. I bought two Fish Teasers with Wand and two Feather Teasers with Wand. They were packaged very nicely together and wand assembly was a cinch. Unlike other cat wands, these have a durable string attached and there are handy fishing-style leader clips so that you can easily change out the teaser lures for your kitty. The lures are well-constructed, durable, and visually appealing. And the ensuing wand action? Amazing!

(Cat Toys -- PHOTO COPYRIGHT 2015 BY JAZ PRIMO)

The results were fantastic. Tabby immediately took to them immediately and never seems to tire of them. In fact, she frequently comes begging to me to get them out so that she can leap to and fro through the air trying to catch the lures. This is the most and best exercise Tabby has had since becoming addicted to chasing the red laser dot around the house. (I love those laser pointers, as I can perch on the couch watching television while effortlessly keeping my kitty amused.)

All in all, my latest cat amusements are a real hit, and I highly recommend them to anyone who has cats. They’re priced very affordably, too. I’ve included the purchase links below if you’re interested.

Fish Teasers: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LZU8EDE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Feather Teasers: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LZUCIL8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

What fun toys does your cat enjoy? Leave me a comment.

In the meantime, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Important News to Share! And it’s novel timing…

It’s wonderful seeing you again!

I have important and exciting news to share.

The 5th book in my paranormal romance Sunset Vampire series, SUNSET RISING, is being released on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, and it’s NOW available for pre-order in eBook format on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Additional purchase links are forthcoming, which will be posted on my books page at http://www.jazprimo.com/books/ located beneath the Sunset Rising description section. I’m confident you’re going to love my newest installment in the series!

Please help me spread the word about Sunset Rising by sharing the pre-order link with others. I genuinely appreciate your kind assistance.

 In addition, I have equally-exciting news about the 2nd book in my Logan Bringer urban fantasy series. BRINGER UNLEASHED will go to my editor, Laura, in July. The novel is tentatively scheduled for release this fall, just in time for the holidays. The novel has truly been a labor of love for me during the past two years, and I’m very happy with the completed manuscript. The newest installment picks up within weeks of the events from the first book, and quickly immerses you into Logan’s and Agent Sanders’ countdown to uncover the source of the terrorist threats and thwart them. The stakes have definitely been raised.

Please stay tuned for news regarding the upcoming cover reveal for Bringer Unleashed, as well as pre-order opportunities.

In order to receive advanced information about cover reveals, novel releases, and special giveaways and discounts, please sign up for my newsletter using the entry form located on the lower right-hand side of this webpage. Just scroll down until you see the entry form and enter your email address and your name. Simply click Submit and you’ll receive a signup confirmation email for verification. Then you’re all set!

Speaking of novels, how is your summer reading coming along? I hope that Sunset Rising made your list because its release is only a few weeks away. Stay tuned for a blog update on how my summer reading is coming along, as well.

In the meantime, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Summer is Coming! Read All About It…

[LEGAL USE OF THIS PHOTO LICENSED AND SECURED VIA DREAMSTIME - June 2015 - Credit: Mike Brake ]

Step aside, wicked White Walkers…Summer is coming!

(No, I couldn’t resist a Game of Thrones reference…)

Okay, perhaps there’s still a few days left on the calendar before the official summer solstice begins. However, now is definitely the time for you to get busy.

Busy doing what, you ask?

Cleaning the grill to get ready for endless summer barbeques? Sure.

Putting away your sweaters and unpacking your shorts and swimwear? Of course.

Unboxing your collection of gaudy, plastic margarita glasses? Well, yeah.

But most importantly, it’s time to begin picking out your summer reads!

C’mon, it’s time again for more memorable hours spent taking some family vacation time and escaping into realms of enjoyment while your spouse swims, the kids play, and the dogs snooze.

It’s time for you to fall head over heels for the juiciest romances, kick back with the most charming chick-lit, patio chair lounging over plot-twisting mysteries, lying pool-side with paranormals, tree hammock haranguing with some horror, and umbrella sitting with sci-fi. Remember last year when you experienced some of the best reads that you could have ever set your eyes upon?

Well, it time once again to “read-rave-repeat,” my dearest bookworms!

Below are the two novels that are prominent on my summer reads list. In fact, they’re already purchased, downloaded onto my Kindle, and ready to delve into.

First on my list is Old Man's War, which is book #1 in John Scalzi’s epic space fantasy series of the same name. First debuting in 2007, Scalzi had made quite a name for himself with this unique spin on the space-faring hero, only this time in the body of a much older person than we’re used to rooting for. Since then, the series has continued a successful reign and Scalzi has become as a proven high-quality author. I’m excited about reading the first book!

Next, I selected a work from one of the most gifted and inspirational masters of fiction, the incomparable Neil Gaiman. His 2013 hit, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, captured my attention and practically insisted to be purchased. Coming from an amazing author like Gaiman, how could I possibly refuse? Suffice to say, I’m more than eager to read it.

But enough about me, let’s get back to YOU.

What’s on your summer read list? Drop me a line and let me know.

Now, get busy and go purchase some summer reads.

Oh, and while you’re at it, perhaps you could refill my iced tea glass and made sure my barbeque has a side order of extra sauce.

Ahh, thank you.

As always, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Weekend Forecast: Fair to Partly Castle

(Photo used from Oklahoma Renaissance Festival official website - 2015)

During the Memorial Holiday weekend, I took a road trip back in time with a few friends to Muskogee, Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, which marked its 20th anniversary this year. We had a fantastic “ye’ olde” time!

(Map of castleton - Image used from Oklahoma Renaissance Festival official website - 2015)

We were transported to the European Renaissance community called Castleton, a bigger than life area covering many acres of period-looking structures, including quaint merchant shops and bazaars, tournament grounds, public stages, and craft stands. The costumes worn by Castleton’s denizens are immersive and realistic and the personalities of all players are both welcoming and socially engaging. One denizen confronts anyone who has their hands in their pockets with, “You can pick someone else’s pockets, but you can’t pick your own!”

In the middle of town, there’s a rustic little bank where you can trade in modern currency for hearty coins of the realm equivalencies that you use with vendors and merchants for making purchases. And, oh how the vendors love to engage you about their wares, many of which were handmade (leather goods, and crafts) or home-conjured (soaps, herbal remedies, etc.). The entire environment is like the cross between a Renaissance community and Disneyland in the 1600s!

(Photo used from Oklahoma Renaissance Festival official website - 2015)

While it wasn’t like taking an actual TARDIS trip back to the 1600s, it was immersive and highly socially engaging. Face it; properly masked technology is appreciable. I mean, it’s not only nice to be able to use modern currency or a debit card when paying for one’s chicken Shawarma or lamb kabobs, but modern plumbing is wonderful when it’s time for those infrequent restroom breaks. In fact, those tactfully placed “Ye Olde Privy” signs are a hoot, too.

(Ladies of Castleton -- PHOTO COPYRIGHT 2015 BY JAZ PRIMO)

It was my second year in a row to attend the festival, and my love for it continues to grow. I loved the boisterous welcome provided at Castleton’s entrance by some lovely ladies who placed visible lipstick kisses onto you, only to have Castleton’s residents and players poke fun at you for having visiting the “wenches” as you wander the town. One of my friends – her character’s name is Pearl – was one of those lovely ladies, and she played her role to the hilt! (Pun intended…)

(Lady Knight on Horseback -- PHOTO COPYRIGHT 2015 BY JAZ PRIMO)

Of particular interest was a rare lady knight on horseback. She participated in both the equestrian events and the actual helmed joust. She was amazing! I genuinely appreciated her posing for a photo, too.

Oh, there are foods galore to choose from, too. The fresh scent of cooked meats permeates the air and there are both wine and beer merchants when you’re ready to imbibe. As for treats, I purchased some blackberry and black raspberry jams from one of the merchants, as well as some tasty honey-roasted almonds. Next year, I plan to patronize both the chocolate fudge vendor and the kettle corn merchant.

If you’re interested in learning more about Castleton or the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, please click HERE to go to their website. I highly recommend a visit!

However you choose to spend your weekend, don’t forget to pause for a moment in reflection for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and for us. Certainly, none elected to become a statistic, but we nevertheless owe them at least a silent acknowledgment that we appreciate their sacrifice.

As always, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

The Newest Marvel and DC Plans Go on Forever? Hell, Yeah!

Recently, I’ve read online tweets or snarky blog posts about Marvel’s aggressive grand plan for interweaving the various superhero franchises into common threads of storylines, including movie crossover events. One sardonic reviewer for the film Avengers 2: Age of Ultron (which I loved!) had the audacity to sound shocked that there was already a seven year strategic plan by Marvel to develop continuing sequels for both individual and team-based superhero events. Shocked? Seriously?

My response to that person is, you must have never read superhero comics during your lifetime. Personally, I couldn’t be HAPPIER that Marvel has a strategic plan for their superhero franchises. The fact that they plan to continue interlocking characters and storylines as the films progress is particularly encouraging. So often in the past, films and television programs based upon comic book heroes have operated seemingly independent of the various superhero universes, which always seemed strange to me because comics have a long history of crossover storylines and cameo appearances with heroes, villains, and the casts of key supporting characters.

I’ve primarily been a Marvel fan since childhood, especially Iron Man and Spiderman. The tangible angst and personal failures of Marvel heroes always seemed both believable and often germane to real-world problems that I was experiencing. I identified with Peter Parker’s self-confidence issues, as well as his desire to do the right thing even when it ran contrary to either public opinion or political machinations. As for Iron Man, Tony Stark’s personal demons were palpable and helped provide his hyper-intelligent wealthy aura of perfection with a real-world counterbalance that I could also identify with. Hell, even Tony’s and Peter’s personal relationships were challenged and imperfect. Who couldn’t identify with that?

By contrast with DC, though I was (and still am!) a huge Wonder Woman fan, few of the heroes from the DC universe seemed anywhere near realistic compared to the rest of us mere mortals. I never saw Clark Kent or Bruce Wayne struggle with ANY problems that real-world people seemed to have. Even the way their characters’ lives were conducted seemed not only idealistic but unrealistic. While idealistic in nature, I believe that most readers want to see shadows of themselves, or at least their real-world problems, reflected in the fictional characters they invest their time (and money) into.

But I digress…

Back to Marvel’s Master Plan for Success. Interestingly enough, DC appears to be catching on.

Yes, for all of you DC lovers out there, take heart. It appears that DC’s management team has FINALLY managed to get their collective acts together and take a few key ideas from Marvel’s playbook. First and foremost, DC has begun linking the character and storyline universes together. Next DC has established a timeline for release of their future films and television programs.

If there is a challenge to both DC and Marvel’s strategies, it’s the prospects of maintaining the momentum for filming schedules, strong storylines, and compelling character developments over a series of arcs and seasons. Still, as a longtime fan of all things superhero, I’m hopeful that these new developments will provide fans with everything they have patiently waited for quality conversions of their heroes from the small comics pages to both the big and small screens.

Thus far, I’ve been pleased with The Flash and Daredevil, and I’m cautiously optimistic regarding how well Gotham has progressed. And of course, I’ve loved all of the Marvel films that have been released in the past five years. Moreover, I’m feeling hopeful for the upcoming Supergirl show, as well. Now if they can just get Wonder Woman right on the big screen, I’ll be one step closer to completely satisfied.

Which superhero films or programs have you been anxiously awaiting? Also, which current superhero films and programs have you been enjoying?

As always, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading!

Jaz Has His Own YouTube Channel!

Hi! I hope that all is well in your world.

I have great news to share with you today. I have my very own YouTube channel, and you can subscribe to it right now by clicking HERE!

I’m very excited to have a video log so that I can speak to you directly versus merely in textual format. I’ll be able to cover a number of topics related to me, my novels, or various events or developments that I want to share with you verbally. For those who are hearing impaired, I’m actively working on the transcription function for closed captioning. I’m very new at this, so I appreciate your patience as I work through things.

There are already a handful of videos available for you to watch, including some background about who I am, why you should read my novels, and what makes my Sunset Vampires different from traditional vampires in films and literature. I’m really excited about the potential that a YouTube channel brings to reaching out to you through another modality.

I enjoy a number of YouTube channels, including Emergency Awesome, which is operated by a nice guy named Charlie who covers films and television shows related to fantasy, superheroes, science fiction, and comic books. If you’d like to subscribe to Emergency Awesome, click HERE.

After you get to my YouTube Channel, you’ll see a series of playlists. My official Jaz Primo videos are stored under the playlist titled “Official Jaz Primo Videos.” Okay, so I realize that you could probably easily figure that out on your own, but it makes my OCD feel assuaged by saying it.

Please try out the videos and let me know what you think. I hope that over time I’ll get the hang of adding enhancements to the videos such as clickable links and overlay images during the videos. I’m all about baby steps. Besides, I’m also trying to keep writing on my novels. How’s that sound?

Thanks for all of your support, and please try out my YouTube channel as soon as you can.

Peace.

TV Show-ing Instead of Reading or Writing

Hello and welcome to my unadulterated (because I’m still such a kid!) confession.

Whatever I reveal can – and likely, will – be held against me in a court of public opinion.

Forgive me, reader, for I have sinned…but I’m LOVING it!

Foremost, instead of diligently writing on Bringer Unleashed, much less making any progress on recent novels I’ve begun reading, I’ve spent my time watching programs. Sometimes, I’ve even been…*gasp*…binge-watching.

Yes, I’ve been “TV show-ing” more than writing or reading.

Marvel's Daredevil Season 1 is on Netflix.

First and foremost, I’ve fallen under the spell of Netflix’s Daredevil. In my defense, the entire 13-episode first season was tantalizingly dropped into my lap all at once, creating an immediate urge to plop onto my couch and stare at the huge plasma TV screen before me. Let’s face it, Daredevil is well-conceived and has marvelous character development with engaging plot lines. Who wouldn’t want to get lost in quality programming like that? It seems as if the Marvel properties have reached near-atmospheric engagement in recent years; a development that, as an avid Marvel fan since childhood, has pleased me to no end. Compelling storyline aside, the masterful casting of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock and Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin) has skyrocketed this new series to the top of my binge-watching, even momentarily knocking Castle binging from my daily activity. (Fear not…Castle season 6 returns to my daily activities once Daredevil is complete.)

Wait, there’s more?

Game of Thrones Season 5 on HBO has elevated the fantasy drama genre for viewers.

Yes! The new season of Game of Thrones has begun, so I’ve been watching (and re-watching) the newest episodes. Add to that, I’ve discovered a marvelous YouTube channel called Emergency Awesome that’s run by a pleasant, informed, and highly knowledgeable person named Charlie, who I now follow and check daily for informative and engaging revelations and insights into some of my favorite programs, films, and comics, including Game of Thrones, Daredevil, The Flash, Gotham, Agents of Shield, the upcoming Star Wars and Marvel superhero films, and the entire DC and Marvel character/comic universes. Charlie’s simply amazing!

You can subscribe to Emergency Awesome by clicking here.

What have you been binge-watching recently?