Needs a Hit of Something Strong

Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles punches Fuzzy Lumpkins

Wow!!! I've been busy, but the past few days have brought with them a total energy crash. At first, I thought it was just the consequence of getting some exercise back into my daily routine. But I think there's something going unwell with my health.

I've had low-grade headaches for the past week. I'm constantly tired. My joints hurt, especially my elbows. Consequently, I've been in a sour mood, very irritable. Certainly, I try to keep a friendly demeanor, but recently it's been slipping a whole lot.

As regards blogging, I'm embarrassed by the lack of new material here at Paideia. I keep on hoping to visit some art galleries or celebrate some notable birth date. It's not like there hasn't been a whole lot of interesting things about which to write. I just haven't had the energy.

A detail of Bill Willingham's cover illustration for The Secret of Bone Hill (1981)

Oh well, maybe next week, after the Memorial Day Weekend, when I'm rested and recovered, or so I hope. ;-)

Don't Come Whining to Me

Motherly advice from Morticia Addams to Wednesday: "Tell him you'll poison him right back."

I'm not one to celebrate the "Hallmark Holidays" but here's a quick post in regards to maternal appreciation and interests. And iffin' ya don't like it, read the post title again. ;-)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Marge Simpson and her kids: Maggie, Lisa, and Bart

Fun stuff!!!

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

The Powerpuff Girls officially debuted on November 18, 1998

I often write about the cartoons of my youth, but fun animation didn't stop when I reached adulthood. Case in point, the Powerpuff Girls delivered quirky humor and classic superheroic action/parody.

The mastery of speculative fiction tropes was impressive. From tokusatsu thrills to infernalist horror, the writers knew how to turn genre expectations upside down, delivering stories that would entertain both children and exceptionally geeky adults. And the pacing was excellent, packing relentless mayhem into a mere ten minute short.

Although the protagonists, Buttercup (green), Blossom (red), and Bubbles (blue), were entertaining characters, the show really excelled with the "Rogues Gallery". Twisted parodies of supervillain archetypes, the recurring antagonists sealed the deal for me, whether it was the super-genius monkey, Mojo Jojo, turning the world's population into dogs or the spoiled super-rich girl, Princess Morbucks, ruining Christmas for kids around the world by switching Santa's "Naughty" and "Nice" lists.

Once again, the day is saved, thanks to the Powerpuff Girls!!!

And then there is the outrageous, over-the-top violence. This cartoon could get gruesomely brutal. But it was so absurd that you never stopped to consider that a monster was torn to pieces, limbs ripped off, eyeballs burst from within, and other assorted mutilations. And that the perpetrators of such mayhem were little girls only amped up the gonzo quality.