antipopper

I’m so tired. Sometimes I feel like I’ve got nothing left to give. It’s shit. Some of you know about my alarming dependence on energy drinks — ever since I got involved in new media brand-building shenanigans, I’ve been lost in some kind of guarana/caffiene k-hole. An endless tunnel. I’ve written elsewhere about this kind of chemical augmentation as a disturbing form of self-imposed work discipline (as opposed to drugs for fun). It’s creepy.

I drink “V”, a caffiene/guarana drink made in New Zealand. Additionally, Australian Fashion Week is sponsored by Red Bull, so there’s a bottomless fridge of Red Bulls living a few metres from my person, but Red Bull tastes shite. So last week I was minding my own business at work one morning, sipping on my V, when the Red Bull Girls happen to be refilling the fridge for the week. (The pert and uniformed Red Bull Girls drive around in a VW Beetle with a huge Red Bull can protruding from its roof.) One of them comes up to me and says, “You can’t seriously tell me you prefer V to Red Bull!” I fucking kid you not. “I like the taste,” I reply. “But you don’t drink Red Bull for the taste, you drink it for the performance,” she announces firmly; and “did you know that Red Bull contains twice the amount of active ingredients? If you don’t like the taste, you can do what athletes do — dilute it with water.” What. The. Fuck. (Actually, to be honest, V tastes a little like piss, but that makes it seem all the more like it’s replenishing various vital organic substances in my body.)

And fuck, V’s packaging is designed to lure pathetic fanboys like myself:

Actually, that burst of sf pulpdom (I mean, advertising) was just an excuse to get to Warren Ellis’ Planetary, which is returning this week! As someone with only a scattershot relationship to the world of comics, I’ve only recently gotten into Ellis’ work. Shane mentioned Stormwatch to me the other day, and I haven’t a clue. Meanwhile, I’ve found whatever little Transmet I’ve read to be somewhat obviously cyber-gonzo-lite. I really don’t think people like Ellis, Alan Moore and Morrison should be automatically elevated to godhood status — whatever their indisputable talent, such a move is too damn… predictable. (Like saying that Blade Runner is your Favourite Movie of All Time. Boring!) But I really, really like Planetary. Its reworkings of classic pulpy tropes are unpretentious, but very elegant. You want Doc Savage, Fu Manchu and Tarzan versus the JLA? You got it. But in a lovely, understated and tangential way. The self-contained issues haunt you, like coins dropped in a lake.

And speaking of homages, I just saw a shrinkwrapped bundle of Alan Moore’s 1963 at the store! I loved “Mystery Incorporated” when I got it in an Easter Show comics showbag! Especially this priceless panel:

Excellent. And to complement the beverage product shot above: I no doubt missed the fuss about this a few months ago, but here’s something Lena picked up from the supermarket today:

Tasty!