So, I Have Thoughts About The New Miraculous Ladybug Movie

As long-time readers of this blog may know, I am a fan of the French children's animated series Miraculous Ladybug (officially, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir). Heck, it was the reason I signed up for Netflix in the first place. I was originally turned on to it by my youngest back in 2016, but while they've outgrown it, I am still watching it to this day, since I am a fifty-something-year-old with the heart, soul, and mind of a fifteen-year-old er, I mean, who is a kid's fiction writer that needs to keep up with the latest marketplace trends.

In case you're not familiar with it, here's a brief description: it's a superhero show that is like a cross between Sailor Moon and Spider-Man where the two leads, Ladybug and Cat Noir, are high school students by day and secret identity superheroes by...well, still mostly day, and they have huge crushes on each other. Only, she likes him when they're regular kids, he likes her when they're in costume, and neither knows each other's identities even though it's totally obvious to us, the viewers (the show makes some in-universe explanations about how the costume distorts other people's perceptions of you). It mostly follows a monster-of-the-week format and is currently in its fifth season. For some reason that I'm sure has to do with complicated licensing and contractual rigamarole but ends up feeling like the film studio equivalent of a coparenting arrangement, Disney+ has all five seasons plus some bonus material, while Netflix has seasons one through three plus a newly-released full-length movie that is based on the show and is the subject of this post.

WARNING: Spoilers to follow!

Okay, so I watched the movie and...well, I have thoughts. Like:

- Why is it billed as "the long-awaited origin story"? The show has already devoted a lot of time to telling the origin story of its heroes. Also, I'm not sure I care for the movie's version of the origin story. In the show, Marinette (Ladybug) originally dislikes Adrien (Cat Noir), thinking that he's just a snobby rich kid, but ends up falling for him after Adrien proves to instead be a nice guy (if I recall correctly, he lends her his umbrella). In the movie, she basically just seems to be smitten right off the bat by his good looks. I get that you don't have as much time in a movie to flesh these things out, but to me it makes Marinette a shallower version of herself.

- Along those lines, I found Movie Marinette to be much more annoying than Show Marinette. I don't know about you, but I thought she was whiny and insecure (yes, Show Marinette is like that once in a while, but aren't we all? Movie Marinette was kind of the distilled essence of that). And wasn't it weird that Gabriel (Adrien's dad and also the Big Bad, Hawk Moth) was a hippie when he was young? The whole thing was like an alternate universe version of the Ladybug world where people randomly break out into song - oh right, I forgot to mention, it's a musical. Which also threw me off, because Marinette's singing voice sounds so much different from her speaking voice.

- I got the impression that the whole "watermelon" joke (as in, Ladybug's red costume with the black spots makes her look like a watermelon) was derived from some fan comments that the writers decided to incorporate into the script in a meta, self-deprecating kind of way.

- The movie, since it was a self-contained, entire arc, ended up resolving the main conflict of the show, which is basically derived from the fact that Marinette, Adrien, and Gabriel didn't know each other's secret identities. As the credits rolled, I wondered - now that the movie has done the "Big Reveal," how is the show going to top it?

- I did like the use of the Wilhelm Scream.

Anyway, I will say that I was entertained, and am still a fan of the franchise in general. And the fact that I have these thoughts only means that I care. I will simply think of the movie as the aforementioned alternate universe version (the show does have time travel, so it would make sense) while I continue to enjoy catching up with Season Five (Disney+ did not alert me to the fact that it had come out last fall).

On another subject, tomorrow will bring the release of another new track off Second Player Score's new album, 4-D! This one is called "Daily Grind," whose title basically says it all. Here are the lyrics:

The time goes flying by so why am I not having any fun?

'Cause when I get up, I'm so fed up I just want it to be done

Don't wanna die, don't wanna live, I'm sick of giving all I've got but fooling no one

This can't be all there is, it's like I'm free but I'm still in a prison

I'm gonna lose my mind, can't take it any more

Stuck in the daily grind, I'm tired and I'm bored

I've got to find some kind of brand-new line before I break down

I'm like a player in a game that's all the same and much too real

Go through the motions, no emotions, now I'm way too numb to feel

Don't wanna live, don't wanna die, I'm simply trying to survive through this ordeal

I know my place in the rat race is right here on the hamster wheel

I'm gonna lose my mind, can't take it any more

Stuck in the daily grind, I'm tired and I'm bored

I've got to find some kind of brand-new line so I can break out

Check it out on all the usual streaming platforms!

More New Music Tomorrow: Challenge Accepted

Continuing with my band Second Player Score's once-a-week new music drops, tomorrow will see the debut of "Challenge Accepted," the second track from the Summer Suite and the 4-D album as a whole.

The song is an upbeat, no-frills pop-punk tune in the vein of Green Day and other similar bands about, well, accepting challenges. It's the sunny, optimistic beginning to the story behind the album (before things start to go sideways, as they always do). Of course, you could always interpret it independently from the story and just apply its positive message to your own life circumstances. Here are the lyrics:

Minding my own business when today you came along

Offering an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong

You said, "You don't have to do it," but I said, "Oh, I insist"

Because that's the kind of challenge that I just cannot resist

Bring it on

People always have their doubts, but they don't bother me

When they say that something can't be done, I tend to disagree

I don't look at obstacles and get discouraged or depressed

I just find a way to persevere and keep on doing my best

Bring it on

Living in the moment while pursuing some big dream

That I thought might be impossible or so it may have seemed

But the harder something is, the more I want to make it real

You may think I'm being stubborn, but, well, that's just how I feel

Bring it on!

Check it out on all the usual streaming platforms!

Band Update: Ridgewalker Brewing and New Music

This past Sunday, the guys in Second Player Score and I had a great time hanging out with our good friend and SPS super-fan Jeff Alberghini at Ridgewalker Brewing in Forest Grove, OR.

Ridgewalker (discovered by drummer Kyle) is just our kind of place, with pop/nerd-culture decor and themed beers, including the India Pale Jones and the Last Cascade IPA and the Predator-inspired If It Brews, We Can Drink It! lager. About an hour drive from Vancouver, WA, we highly recommend checking it out, especially if you're into the same kind of stuff as us.

Also, starting tomorrow Friday 8/4, we will be dropping a new track off our finally-finished-after-four-years fourth album, 4-D, every Friday for the next eight weeks, at which point the album will be officially released in its entirety. First up will be the lead track from both the Summer Suite and the album as a whole, something appropriately titled "Dimension No. 4." It's an especially nerdy song that serves to sort-of-explain the whole fourth spatial dimension concept (including references to obscure historical figures like Charles Howard Hinton and Ambrose Bierce) and will also be the introductory theme song to the 4-D animated series if when it gets produced. Check it out on all the usual music streaming platforms!

Volume Seven Launch Party Recap (Where Do We Go From Here?)

The launch party and book signing for Joel Suzuki, Volume Seven: Vision of the Virtuoso rocked!

Big thanks to Leah and the staff at Kazoodles Toy Store for hosting us, and to everyone who came out.

So now that Volume Seven is officially out in the world, what is next for Joel and company? I know I've talked about Volume Eight in this post from January and potential Volumes Nine through Eleven in this post from 2017, but are those books really going to be written?

Honestly, I'm still not sure.

Part of me feels like (mild spoiler alert) Joel and Felicity's story came to such a perfect conclusion (what that conclusion entails, you'll have to read the books to find out) that there just isn't anywhere else to go.

But then again, maybe there is.

Like I said in January, I have notes for what I think could be potential ideas for Volumes Eight through Eleven, and right now it's looking like the frontrunners are to make Volumes Eight (the "infrared book") and Nine (the "ultraviolet book") short story anthologies containing "bonus fan material" that would fill in some of the gaps in the main series, with some of the stories from Joel's point of view (after all, his name would still be in the title), while others would be from others' POV (nothing new, the main series has already done that a lot). Then Volume Ten (the "black book") and Eleven (the "white book") would be a duology telling a new, original story set some time in the future. But we shall see!

In the meantime, I'll be turning my attention to other projects, some of which you already know about, like Second Player Score's new album 4-D and the film project Hold My Beer, and others that are still in the gestation stage. As always, stay tuned for updates!

Talking Baseball With April And Lydia

Editor's note: this interview took place on Thursday, July 13th, the last day of Major League Baseball's All-Star break. So if anything significant with regards to the Seattle Mariners or baseball in general has happened since then - like the Mariners trading for Shohei Ohtani or going on a big winning or losing streak - it will not be reflected here.

B: I'd like to welcome back to the blog our in-house baseball experts and die-hard Seattle Mariners fans April Hayashi and Lydia Sanchez. Welcome, ladies.

L: Hey.

A: Hello.

B: First of all, I'd like to apologize for not having you on back in March for our usual season preview.

A: No worries.

L: Eh, whatever.

B: Anyway, how was the All-Star break for you two? Having the game and the draft and everything in Seattle must have been great.

A: Oh, it was amazing.

L: It was cool, except downtown was soooo crowded.

B: Were you able to attend the game?

A: Unfortunately, no.

L: We watched it on our couch.

B: Oh, well. What did you think of the crowd chanting "Come to Seattle" to Ohtani?

L: That was awesome.

A: And the fact that he said some nice things about the city and that he actually lived here for a while was good to hear.

B: Do you think he might actually sign with the M's?

A: As much as I would love that, no.

L: Hey, what happened to hope?

A: Well, I'm not completely giving up on the idea, but the Dodgers just make too much sense as a fit.

B: How so?

A: They're consistently in contention, and he's said that winning is the most important consideration. Then if you add to that the fact that they can afford to outbid just about everyone else, and that he would be able to stay in L.A., it just makes the most sense.

B: I guess also not to mention that he would avoid the awkwardness of going to a division rival, as well as having the opportunity to be only the second player ever to win league MVP in both the AL and NL.

L: And maybe the first to win multiple MVPs, depending on what happens this year.

B: Ah, true.

A: Yeah, so I'll say 80% he signs with the Dodgers, 10% he resigns with the Angels, and 3.33% each for the Giants, Mariners, and Padres.

L: I'm gonna think positive and say he comes here. I mean, can you imagine having him, Castillo, Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Ray in the same rotation? With Marco, Miller and Woo as depth?

B: That brings me to my next question. What do you think the M's are going to do before the trade deadline? I've heard lots of discussion about them trading from their pitching depth to shore up the offense.

A: I'm actually not so sure about that.

B: Really? Why?
A: I don't think the pitching is as deep as it seems. Robbie Ray will be out until probably the middle of next year. They'll have to shut down Woo early at some point. And who knows when Marco is coming back. So the team might find themselves come late August with just four starters. If anything, I think they'll actually try to trade for a rental starter, someone who can eat up some innings with at least an average level of performance.
L: All the more reason they should sell out for Ohtani in the offseason. Come on, Stanton, do it!

B: Don't they need more offense, though?

A: The next couple of weeks should determine that. We'll see if Mike Ford can keep up what he's doing at DH.

L: And I mean, besides, if they bring in a new position player, someone will have to go to the bench or get cut. And if Ford is still holding his own - the dude has the highest OPS of anyone on the team - who else would you displace? The Caballero/Wong platoon? Maybe, but good luck finding a big bat second baseman on the trade market.

B: Fair enough. On another subject, what did you folks think about the M's draft?

A: I liked it.

L: Me too. Some high-upside young hitters backed up by a bunch of college pitchers that the development people should be able to turn into serviceable arms.

B: I guess that about covers it. Thanks for coming in. Any early Word Series predictions at this point?

A: To say Tampa versus Atlanta might be too obvious at this point, so I'll go... Baltimore versus Cincinnati.

B: Hmm, interesting. Lydia?

L: Mariners over whoever, baby! Wooo! Go M's!

Volume Seven Sneak Peek

In case you haven't heard, Joel Suzuki, Volume Seven: Vision of the Virtuoso is coming out next Monday!

And so, I figured I'd give readers a short sneak peek (WARNING: spoilers for Volumes Six and Seven to follow). 

If you've been following along, then you know that at the end of Volume Six, Joel and Marshall simultaneously attained omnipotence, a state that - because of the paradoxical nature of having two all-powerful beings at once - essentially broke reality. And so, the beginning of Volume Seven features Joel and Marshall wandering through weird scenarios that don't seem related to anything else (although some plot points are established that will be important later). My intention was not only to show the effect of reality breaking down, but also to have the first few chapters read almost like a mini-anthology of surreal short stories - in fact, the first three chapters are homages to three of my favorite surreal fiction authors/books. If you can figure out who and which ones they are, let me know and I'll send you a prize!

Anyway, here's the sneak peek:

Chapter One

Metamorphosis

Joel awoke feeling like he'd just had the scariest nightmare ever but wasn't able to remember any of it. The room - his room - was dark, with only the faintest slivers of sunlight filtering between his window curtains. Lying in bed on his back, he glanced over at the digital alarm clock on his nightstand. 8:42 a.m., it read.

   Oh no! I'm going to be late for school!

   He shot up - or tried to, anyway. His body was much heavier than he remembered. The effort to sit bolt upright resulted only in his head raising off his pillow. From this vantage point, he saw that his body, not covered by any blankets, was that of a scaly reptilian humanoid with three arms and three legs. His face had an elongated snout, like that of an alligator.

   What the heck?

   Starting to panic, he squeezed his eyes shut.

   This is a dream, he told himself. It has to be. A continuation of whatever nightmare I was having. Any moment now, I'll wake up for real, open my eyes, and everything will be normal.

   He counted to three, then opened his eyes. He looked down at himself. Nothing had changed. He was still a reptile.

   Um...

   He glanced around his room. Everything looked normal enough, with his black Gibson Les Paul guitar on its stand near his bed and his computer on the desk across from him. One thing caught his attention, however: the calendar on his wall ("Sixteen Months of Star Trek") was set to July 2023. This was significant to him for two reasons: (1) it was summer, apparently, so he wasn't going to be late for school after all, and (2) he distinctly remembered the year as being 2013, not 2023.

   Okay, something really weird has happened.

And there you have it! Hope to see you at the launch party!

Secret Recording Project!

Fresh off Second Player Score's first show at Dante's, we went into the studio - the new digs of our pal Chris Hahn from Zomie Media and Old Cross, to be specific - to work on a special recording project unrelated to our upcoming release, 4-D.

What kind of special recording project, you ask? Well, like the title of the blog post says, it's a secret! You'll just have to wait until it debuts next month, at time and place to be announced. In the meantime, enjoy these photos:

(Editor's note: enterprising readers might be able to make educated guesses about the nature of the project by examining these pictures closely)