21 April 13th–April 19th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Pop Culture and Chill What to read, watch, and play on 4/20 this year. BY CHRIS COPLAN A nother 4/20 is upon us. When it comes to cele- brating, you have a few different options. Maybe you’ll eat a giant meal, or head to a concert or nightclub. You might also just spend the evening staring at a wall. But if you’re tired of all that, then here’s something fairly novel: Pair that pot with a comic, film, or video game. Our list of pairings is curated to make the most of your trip to the upper stratosphere (and maybe even push you further into newer, stranger territories). Either way, the following offerings are the perfect way to tickle your emotions, uncover new feats of beauty, and maybe even discover some- thing novel about yourself. The only downside? They don’t come with snacks or a Big Gulp. Comic Books/Graphic Novels ODY-C Here, writer Matt Fraction had a most unenviable task: plotting and telling a “gender-bent re-imagination of Homer’s The Odyssey.” Luckily, he had a major assist thanks to the amazing efforts of artist Christian Ward. It’s Ward’s psyche- delic efforts — with a heavy emphasis on these vivid, dreamlike bursts of color and otherworldly characterizations across an oversized sci-fi universe — that bridges the story’s origins with its lofty new goals. And if you’re let’s say, under the influence, the whole thing changes from a head trip to a true existential experience, one where the pages demand your attention. You can almost feel this story crawling off the page and into your heart, and it’s a tale that sticks in the very crevices of your brain. The Incal Writer-artist Alejandro Jodorowsky first released The Incal back in 1988. And since then, it’s become a kind of lingua franca for sci-fi stories across comics, TV, film, and novels. With his graceful, efficient line work, and extra-keen eye for effective colors, Jodorowsky crafted a surreal story about a young man, John Difool, and his totally bonkers journey as an unlikely hero. Jodorowsky’s designs are maddening feats whether sober or stoned — they’re big and expansive, with a certain heft and whimsy, while very much tied to certain cultural and aesthetic pillars. It’s a massive world that’s as terrifying and utterly alien as it is somehow warm and inviting — it’s a true journey for all readers brave enough to flip to the next page. BLAME! If you’ve never read a manga before, even trying to sort out the book’s layout can be a doozy. (Remember: You’re going from right to left.) Fortunately for any newbies, Hiroyuki Seshita’s seminal BLAME! offers you plenty of time to wander through the story at your own pace. You’ll most certainly want just that as we follow the enigmatic Killy as he wanders through The City, a massive megastructure occupied by vast open spaces and brutalist architecture. As the book moves and shifts, you bounce between feeling claustrophobic and utterly incognizant — a visceral, almost physical experience. Plus, if you get lost and/or over- whelmed, just flip back a few pages and find a safe spot to gawk at for an hour or so. We Only Find Them When They’re Dead So, just who is the titular “they?” Why that’d be massive space gods, who like giant whales are rendered down for their many resources by roving bands of space merchants. But it gets so much more bonkers than even that, as the story itself delivers something truly thoughtful. Writer Al Ewing crafts a tale that’s equal parts murder mystery and a poignant sci-fi epic exploring this very specific universe and economic system. Meanwhile, artist Simone Di Meo manages to both capture the scale and majesty of these “god hunters” while expertly emphasizing the layers of interper- sonal drama. It’s an experience that plays around with your sense of scope and gravity, and it’ll leave you wondering who really are the monsters after all. Films/Movies Psycho Goreman If you’re partaking in some pot, you may want something that scratches a few itches. And that’s what Psycho Goreman does. This story of young kids controlling an evil space monster is equal parts coming-of-age, horror, action-adventure, and comedy — all told through a deliberately and delightfully cheesy lens. Sure, the ample body horror might be too much for some, but every- thing’s done with a proper wink as to make it all feel like some grand joke that we’re all in on (mostly). It’s an experience that’s about placating our love of nostalgia and playing with our cultural sensibilities to make something new and compelling. If it also happens to be a little dumb and silly to boot, then it’s just all the more rewarding. Moulin Rouge! Of all the titles on this list, this is the one that’s seemingly the least verbose and vivid in its weirdness and all-around eccentricities. But that doesn’t mean this groundbreaking 2000s musical extravaganza isn’t still a rush of life-affirming joy. From the immaculate sets and exaggerated costumes to the range of the songs and the cheesy-but-sincere acting from the entire cast, Moulin Rouge! is a scattershot of sensations and ideas that will make almost anyone actively swoon. It can feel a little dated in parts — it’s so unabash- edly 2001 — and perhaps is the most on-brand title from writer-director Baz Luhrmann. But then that’s the whole point of it, and it welcomes you to the big show with massive, loving arms. Princess Mononoke If you watch only one film — heck, consume any fictional property in general — while fully and totally stoned, make sure it’s Princess Mononoke. Creator Hayao Miyazaki is at his most efficient and effec- tive in this darling and spiritually uplifting tale of a prince, Ashitaka, trying to save the day in a battle amid the forest gods and selfish human clans. From the way reality and fantasy blurs to the heartfelt ideas of heroism and personal responsibility, and even the breathtaking pace and plotting of this genuine epic tale, it will tickle ▼ Culture Image Comics Top left, clockwise: illustrated scenes from comic books BLAME!, The Incal, ODY-C, and We Only Find Them When They’re Dead. BOOM! Studios Vertical Comics Humanoids >> p23
