Friday Poetry Blogging (for the first time in a long time)

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant---
Success in Cirrcuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightening to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind---

          -- Emily Dickinson

PSA: Elfquest

Ever thought about reading the independent graphic novel series Elfquest? It's now available free and legit online, as part of the Elfquest 30th Anniversary celebration.

It's hard to sum up Elfquest in a way that doesn't make it sound vaguely stupid, which it isn't. It's about elves who ride wolves, who are driven from their forest home and thereafter quest to find a new home and to reunite all the scattered tribes of elves. The main thing to know about it, though, is that it's gorgeous -- at least, the parts of it that are drawn by Weny Pini, the co-creator. Seriously, the major reason to read Elfquest is because it's beautiful, the second reason is because it has a ton of likeable and interesting characters (including Nightfall, who fits into my favored Ass-Kicking Female Character archetype, and Strongbow, who was an adolescent crush nearly as embarrassing now as my crush on Radu), and the third reason is because the plot is strong enough to be engaging.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Original Quest, written by Richard and Wendy and drawn by Wendy Pini, which is conveniently also entirely uploaded. (The later series are being put up a few issues at a time over the course of this year.) If you read and like that, it's worth going on to Siege at Blue Mountain and Kings of the Broken Wheel, which are also written and drawn by the Pinis, and if you like those you can delve into the less-sure territory of stuff that's partly written or drawn by someone else. (If you get that far and want recs for what's worthwhile and what isn't, I can do that. Some of them are nearly as good as the original -- the first chunk of Hidden Years is excellent indeed -- and some, well, aren't.)

But basically, it's beautiful, it's worth reading, and at least for 2008, it's free. (And if you are familiar with EQ already, note that the Original Quest version on the website is the new, 'definitive' recolor, and very pretty indeed.)

(no subject)

( Talking about my hair. Mostly for my own reference, but if you're interested in hair... )

Anime Expo

So Anime Expo is in... what, two months now? (Time flies.) So the question is: cosplay! Last year I cosplayed Etna from Disgaea and had a ton of fun, so the question is: to dress up or not to dress up, and if so, as who?

I have three thoughts in mind. (Theoretically I could do all three of them -- it is a multi-day event -- but I don't think I have the energy for more than, say, two at most.)

Riza Hawkeye

Pros: Definitely theme-appropriate. From an anime/manga I'm fairly heavily into. High recognition value. Character I love beyond reason. Costume doesn't require showing a ton of skin and doesn't make me worry about bending over.

Cons: Potentially very labor intensive and/or expensive. Would have to either wear a wig or be an inexplicably redheaded Riza (and I don't care much for wigs; they itch). Potentially quite hot in LA in summer (especially if I wear a wig).

Elfquest elf (probably Nightfall or Moonshade)

Pros: Temperature-appropriate garb. Not quite from an anime/manga, but from an anime/maga-influenced property with similar visual styling. Old Favorite fandom. Nightfall's coloring is close to mine, so no major need for wigs/contacts/etc.

Cons: Not as extensive as Hawkeye cosplay, but still fairly labor-intensive. Have to worry about body mods (pointy ears). Not quite from an actual anime/maga, so lower recognition value.

Steampunk

Pros: Relatively easy to put together (already have many pieces). Reusable costume. Can be as revealing and/or overheating as I choose. Can be as labor-intensive as I feel like.

Cons: Not actually anima/manga-specific. Recognition value nonexistant. Feels a bit like a cop out.


And of course there's always the option to do nothing, and to go wearing Jeans And A T-Shirt.

In conclusion: must ponder.

EDIT: OMG, jmpava would make a great Miles Edgeworth, in a maroon suit and ruffled ascot and smug expression....