E. Charles Tucker

writer. designer. and king of the monkeys.
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Of Monkeys and Men

Q: Why do you refer to yourself as "Trickster"? Isn't that kind of...negative?

I've always been fascinated with the Trickster archetype; some of my favorite childhood characters were Tricksters: Bugs Bunny, Pippi Longstocking, Brer Rabbit, Robin Hood. When I got older and delved into mythology, I was naturally drawn to them still - Loki, Anansi, Hermes, Coyote, Sun Wukong. Modern pop culture is filled with them, and they're some of the most loved (and despised!) characters in media: Jack Sparrow, Dr. Who; Bart Simpson.

So what is a Trickster?

The Trickster is the class clown, the rule breaker, the mischief maker, the cunning thief whose antics fail much more often than they succeed. But in those failures are valuable lessons to be learned, both about life and about ourselves. Despite appearing selfish Tricksters often feel righteous in their actions, believing that the end result of their plans and pranks will ultimately benefit all, not just themselves.

It's the Trickster who points out the flaws in our carefully managed societies. He rebels against authority, pokes fun at the overly serious, creates complex schemes and generally plays with the Laws of the Universe. He constantly questions the rules, and causes us to question these same rules. The Trickster appears when a way of thinking becomes outmoded, when old ways need to be changed.

My identity as Trickster is meant to reflect all of these concepts, but most strongly it's meant to convey a sense of both the creative spirit and the simple complexity involved in being able to laugh at yourself, whether your successes or failures.

Super Hot Lava!

Aug02
by Trickster on August 2, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Posted In: Cartoons, Comic Books, Life

Some months back I stumbled across this little web comic called “JL8” and paused, wondering what, by Sam Hill’s Ghost, had I found?

The comic takes DC Comic’s well-known superhero characters of the Justice League – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and assorted others – and transforms them into grade-school, child versions of themselves.  Only in with their regular costumes, powers, and “kiddified” versions of their personalities – they way, say, Batman would be if he were turned into an 8 year old but still had the same brooding, Dark Knight personality.

My initial reaction? One of annoyance; I mean, I’m a die-hard DC fan. The idea of someone hijacking the characters for fanfiction, albeit in comic form…yeah, I had my doubts.  Then I read a few strips. And then a few more. Before I knew it I’d gone back to the beginning of the archives, so I could read the entire series from the beginning.

I want to give Yale Stewart all props here; his work is brilliant, and I’m truly addicted.  Seeing these characters I grew up on in an entirely new light is refreshing and entertaining; the interpersonal relationships between them, their personalities as seen through a child’s eyes – he’s nailed them.  Bravo.

superhotlava

But more importantly here, he’s managed to take me back to my own childhood.  I smile when I read his work, because it reminds me of what life was like when I was a kid – full of wonder and imagination, drama and excitement.  I remember, as in the image above, playing with my friends on tiled floors like this – don’t touch the [insert color here] ones! They’re dangerous! You’ll get electrocuted! Jump!

If you have the time and inclination, I highly recommend this comic.  Unfortunately due to time constraints he only updates now once a week, but it’s worth the wait to see what he comes up with next.

 Comment 

Weiner, Weiner, Chicken Deiner

Jul25
by Trickster on July 25, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Posted In: Life, Other

Oh Anthony Weiner, when will the fun ever end?

For those living outside of the New York tri-state area, Anthony “Carlos Danger” Weiner is a former Congressman brought down by a sexting scandal, where he sent sexually suggestive pics via Twitter to a woman who was very much not his wife.  At least for two separate periods, because he did it again a year AFTER the initial scandal that forced him to resign.

Which wouldn’t concern the general public here, if he hadn’t already announced his candidacy for NYC Mayor.

During his second dalliance he at least had the fore…sight to use an alias: Carlos Danger, itself now having become the latest meme du jour:

Carlos Danger

(he doesn’t really have a handlebar mustache)

 

To be…frank…I could care less that Anthony can’t keep from putting his Little Weiner on display.  Really.  I think he should just own it, call himself an exhibitionist and be done with it.  “Yes, that IS my weiner.  ‘Chu like?”

But here’s the catch.  While I have no problem with the idea that my potential mayor has his sexual peculiarities, what I do have a problem with is that he’s proving himself to be a habitual liar.  Even worse, by my standards: he’s a BAD liar.

Take his reaction to the original scandal.  When it…came…out that his crotch-shot was accidentally sent non-private, rather than chuckle it off and claim he sent it to the wrong person (I sure as hell would have, and found some obscure reason why I’d have confused this woman and my wife), he pulled a Shaggy and said “It wasn’t me.”

Then it became: “Someone must have hacked my account.”

Really, Tony? That’s your story and you’re sticking with it, huh?

If you can’t lie when busted because of a cockshot, you sure as hell won’t be able to lie convincingly when you tell me why you need to cut civil services out of the budget.  This is not a quality I want in a politician!! Lie to me, dammit, and make it good! Make ME feel good! Give me a reason to be mad at you later, for fucking shit up – but you’ll be out of office by then, so what do you care?

But don’t think I’m gonna vote you into office KNOWING you’re an idiot.  Who do you think you are? George W. Bush?

BTW: the “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” phrase apparently came about because in Vegas “back when”, you were able to buy a 3-piece chicken dinner with potatoes and veggies for $1.79.  A standard bet was $2, so if you won you had enough for a chicken dinner.  

 Comment 

11 Commandments of Writing

Jul23
by Trickster on July 23, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Posted In: Authors, Writing

Stumbled across this: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/22/henry-miller-on-writing/ and thought it worth sharing. Plus: Henry Miller said it. What, you’re gonna argue with the guy?!

COMMANDMENTS

  1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
  2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to ‘Black Spring.’
  3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
  4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
  5. When you can’t create you can work.
  6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
  7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
  8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
  9. Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
  10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
  11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

 

 

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My old blog site is no longer maintained, but I enjoyed writing it for a number of years and I thought it worthwhile to keep it on life support here: Dr3amc@tch3r

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