Anyway at the moment there is a lot of talk about the current movie Scott Pilgram vs the World and it kind of surprises me how many people didn’t (a) know there is a comic series and (b) that there are Smashing Pumpkins references throughout the series. I’ve had so many tweets/emails from people saying “You should see this movie, has so many Smashing Pumpkins references in it”.

So while going through some archives I made from my work with the Smashing Pumpkins I found this old article, not written by me, but one of the other staff writers and I thought I share it with everybody.

Orignally posted by BlackChicago in May 2009, here is the article going through the Smashing Pumpkins references in this comic series.

Infinite Comics

It may not be the first medium that comes to mind, but among other art forms influenced and impacted, The Smashing Pumpkins have left their mark on the world of comics. Longtime devotees of the band may have already discovered the online strip Billy The Egomaniac, (titled after obligatory goth tome and favorite of Hot Topic shoppers everywhere, Johnny The Homicidal Maniac.) And documented Pumpkins fan/suspected Corgan offspring Gerard Way, he of My Chemical Romance, has a character named Spaceboy in his acclaimed indie series The Umbrella Academy. Yet no series references the Pumpkins as prominently or as notably as graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim, published by independent comic company Oni Press.

Our first look at Scott Pilgrim.

Hapless, hopeless. Hero?

Scott Pilgrim chronicles the misadventures of the series’ hapless, helpless, and hopeless/hopelessly romantic titular character, an early 20′s Canadian slacker and guitarist in the group Sex Bob-omb with his core group of friends. The title follows Pilgrim’s quest to win the undivided affection of his new American girlfriend, Ramona Flowers, a task that involves defeating each one of her seven previous evil ex-boyfriends. Therein lies the conflict and over-arching plot of the series, the fifth volume out of six total books having just dropped earlier this year. On the surface, it might not seem that Scott Pilgrim contains many similarities to the Smashing Pumpkins. Yet the title deals in themes of adolescent alienation, longing and loneliness, well-intentioned but possibly doomed romantic gestures, and a higher faith in the power of love, hope, and rock’n'roll. It’s the kind of reading material that goes perfectly with selections like “1979,” “Daphne Descends,” “Mayonaise,” or “Real Love.”

Yet Scott Pilgrim connects with the Pumpkins on a more direct level, as well. The series is loaded with references both subtle and direct to the Pumpkins and their music, courtesy of the book’s creator/author/artist, Bryan Lee O’Malley. In fact, the first time readers get a glimpse of Scott inside book one, he is wearing the classic SP heart shirt, a shirt he dons with great frequency throughout the series. Yet for a character as flighty as Pilgrim, his intention behind sporting such a garment is potentially suspect.

“The character and the shirt only go together because of the initials,” O’Malley explains in a recent email interview. “(Scott) likes the shirt because he feels that it represents him. I think Scott Pilgrim would actually be kind of clueless about music.”

…From all the glare.

It speaks to Pilgrim’s particular blend of self-absorption that he would be drawn to such a shirt solely due to his initials. Yet just because Pilgrim himself might be oblivious to his surroundings and even his attire, doesn’t mean that the series doesn’t contain other loving nods to the Pumpkins. “There are other references to the Pumpkins in the books,” O’Malley confirms, before adding “one of (the volumes) is titled “Scott Pilgrim & The Infinite Sadness,” and there’s also a chapter in it called “Frail and Bedazzled.”

So just how large of a factor are the Pumpkins in the Scott Pilgrim series, especially with recurring themes of angst, love, and determination? Did O’Malley channel the spirit of the Pumpkins’ music for his graphic novel stories?

“I wouldn’t say it was intentional, but Mr Corgan was definitely a guiding influence during my own adolescent angst, and I’m sure that made a big impact on me as a person in general,” the author/artist reveals. “I have a weakness for capital-R romance and epic gestures, even if I express it in different ways.”

Intentional or not, the Scott Pilgrim series is an interesting and engaging pop-art companion to the Pumpkins’ more tragic and romantic selections. All of which begs the questions, just what era of the band’s catalogue does the title’s scribe connect with most?

“My favourite stuff is Mellon Collie, Adore, and all the b-sides from that period,” O’Malley proclaims, before revealing a knowledge of deeper selections. “And the Adore demos – stuff like “Czarina” and “Once In A While” and “Chewing Gum.” Well, and I guess I totally love Pisces and Siamese Dream, but who doesn’t?”

Scott Pilgrim’s third volume is especially Mellon Collie.

According to Scott Pilgrim The Movie, director Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) is currently working on Scott Pilgrim’s big screen adaption, with Michael Cera (Arrested Development, Juno, Superbad) starring as the Canadian casanova himself. According to IMDB, the film will also feature names like Jason Schwartzman and Brandon Routh, and will see release in 2010. O’Malley is also set to conclude the Pilgrim series with its forthcoming sixth and final volume, which will see Pilgrim facing his final and most intense ex-boyfriend challenge yet. Hilarious, romantic, tragic, and irreverent, the Scott Pilgrim series is a great read for any Pumpkins fan who’s ever fought for love. Watch this space down the road for an update of future Pilgrim/Pumpkins Easter eggs and connections!

All images courtesy Oni Press

Here are some close up pictures:

more examples from the Vader project

Just let me just have one more post about it. Looking at this old blog post today and the photos from the weekend really made me remember what a horrible old building the now Apple store was.

This (on the left) was right in the heart of Perth, a run down old shitty looking shop – with a health food store, bakery and Joynt Venture (bong shop/music store) upstairs. So love or hate Apple, just be grateful that renovations like this can happen in less than 6 months and make our growing city look better and actually feel alive.

Was it everything I expected?

Let’s start with the first question, and let me simply say – yes it was everything that I expected. It was a retail shop opening but it was more how the store opened. I worked in retail from the age of 14 till I was 22, so that is 8 years of solid retail work. In two of the four companies I worked for I was involved in 3 shop openings, but no huge events like Apple opening their first in Perth and with none of the theatrics. I expected hype and I got hype, along with friendly service and a great example of beautiful industrial design.

Was it fun?

If you think arriving in the city at 7am, standing in line for 2 hours in -0.4C tempretures and hanging with your best friend in the whole world before meeting up with other new/old friends to witness a fantastic example of retail launch fun, then this was well and above it.

(Note: I’ve lined up in car parks for 14+ hours to see small intimate gigs by Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins so this was a walk in the park.)

Did they give you ‘the clap’?

Yes! One of the most odd feelings you will ever experience is walking into a store and being met by 30+ staff clapping you in, shaking your hand and giving you high fives *Eiffel tower!*

Will you experience this type of retail event again?

Never say never I guess, but unless it is another Apple store opening I doubt I’ll experience something like this. I can’t see another company, especially another tech company take this leap and this approach into the retail market. That being said, yes Microsoft have their retail stores in America but I think it will be along time until they come to Australia, let alone Perth … and search on YouTube and you’ll see the ‘boot-scooting’ Microsoft do to welcome their customers.

Why?

Because I wanted to do it. I don’t need to justify it to anybody, if somebody called me a “sheep Apple fan boy” then their instant dislike for a company simply because they are ‘that’ company is worse than my apparent fan-boyism. True? I use this one companies products because they all work together, no screwing around with BETA version 2.3a etc for my phone. It works, it works with my computers, it works with my media centre. It is my choice. People that know me well would know that if Nintendo were opening a store, I’d be there too. (Am I blind Nintendo fan boy too? )

Where was I? Oh yeah, all in all, the experience was fantastic. Once in the store we walked around for a little bit, chatted with some staff about the whole set up experience, saw some of the iPod touches that are basically mobile checkouts, looked at some future possible purchases and enjoyed the experience. The exciting thing is now knowing that if I have a problem with any of our Apple products that we can make an appointment with their Genius staff, head right into the store and get it fixed. Something that most other tech / hardware / software companies simply can’t offer in the retail world.

So after months of blogging about this, I’m glad we finally have a store. I’m glad my parents can head in for one on one training classes, I’m happy I can get things fixed without having to send them away, I’m excited there is free open wifi (yay!) and I’m glad Perth has the flagship store in the CBD.

Seriously, go visit and view my photos up on flickr too!

PS: Walking back to the car, poor Sony store around the corner, 10.30am on a Saturday and not a person in store.

Looking at the Apple retail page for the Perth store there is a banner area saying “Featured In-Store” and a picture of the new iPhone 4. Considering the fact the iPhone isn’t set to be released here for another month or so this display model could be the biggest attraction for the new store, besides all the other shiney stuff.

I guess we’ll have to wait until Saturday, look forward to meeting a few other people there and all fighting over the iPhone 4 … if it is there. Because let’s be honest, when does Perth ever get lucky. This is most likely just a web admin that duplicated a site template and forgot to remove the iPhone 4 banner. Right?

The band Shihad’s website appears first but it seems those quirky New Zealand rockers have changed their domain listing information in Google to something very rock n roll.

So I guess the message is have fun with your Google results, because do you really want fans of your band that find you via Google?

]]> http://www.sunkyspeaks.com/2010/06/10/dear-shihad-your-google-is-broken-or-is-it/feed/ 2 http://www.sunkyspeaks.com/2010/06/06/the-mining-tax-it-is-going-to-ruin-us/ http://www.sunkyspeaks.com/2010/06/06/the-mining-tax-it-is-going-to-ruin-us/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:58:46 +0000 Sunky http://www.sunkyspeaks.com/?p=509

Great work from Manic Studios

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A serious one, but it has clowns!