But, these are two very different worlds. Disney gives us spell-binding magic through 'Fantasia' and 'Peter Pan', while Marvel brings more raw action that interacts with the human world via 'Spider Man' and 'Fantastic Four'. Growing up I tended to gravitate to the latter, because I always felt I could be one of these crime-fighting heroes that walked among the rest of city foot traffic – the visions of pixy dust and playful sorcery merely provided a channel of creative inspiration when I was constructing my bedroom fortress.

And this is how Disney plans to expand it's audience. The company feels that by bringing in Marvel they reach a larger male audience, something they've been failing at with the saturation of 'Hannah Montana' in recent years. This may prove to boost the Disney brand to bring a little bit more of that raw appeal, but does this water down Marvel's name? The respect I've had for the comic giant now feels like it may be compromised – I don't think their vision will change, but there's definitely something less appealing about having Disney involved. I remember seeing 'The Black Cauldron' and 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' when they were released, only to have them stripped away and deemed inappropriate at a later time. 'The Black Cauldron' was re-released with altered footage to keep the family quality that Disney aims to now maintain.

There's no way to tell where this could go, though Marvel's name is sure to be a lot bigger and brighter in the years to come. Let's just hope for the sake of art they stay true to their vision, inspiring us all in both ink and film, just the way us heroes like it.

It wasn't until I put the book down and switched to the newish album from Fever Ray that I started to feel an air of creative energy. There was something in the dark arpeggiating cello sound that sent me down a path of imagination as I closed my eyes to rest. My mind was racing on a canvas of black and white, lines swirling about just as I had seen in the cover art for their self-titled album. I was awakened by the passenger next to me about 3/4 into my spell, but remained inspired and it got me thinking about music and art, and how the two are so crucial for each other.

At this point I started browsing for more music that might keep that same energy alive. I threw it way back to "Rain Dogs" by Tom Waits. I love this record for so many reasons. The rough rumble of Waits' mangled voice paired with his knack for drumming up drunken rhythms paints such a vivid picture – it makes me wonder if his carnivalesque marches inspired Danny Elfman's early demented scores with Oingo Boingo or Tim Burton's wild imaginary genius. Either way it instills something within me that gives me creative urges where I'd often have crippling blocks. 

Moments in music such as these drive me to crack open my sketch book and let words or pictures flow. And I'm always on the hunt for the next composition to keep me inspired. Here are a few of my go-to records that get me going:

Very misty New Orleans funeral marchy stuff – kind of like you're trying to find your way out of the gutter in an unforgiving world. This one usually helps with coming up with concepts that are oft way out of the box.

Dark, brooding rhythms from Karin Andersson carry over from her work with The Knife, though this seems to be the more slow paced sound that I always wanted. Great for focusing when you're in actual design mode.

Gulag Orkestar by Beirut

Still a staple after the few years this has been out. There's something to the old world sound that inspires me so much. Maybe it makes me think of simpler, more traditional times when art was nothing but pencil and paper and paint. It's nice to leave pixels out of the picture.

I Need You To Hold On While The Sky Is Falling by Kelley Polar

Juilliard-borne Kelley has created a unique, space-like soundscape that's pretty fresh and pitch perfect. I love listening to this to develop new creative concepts.

At The Blackhawk by Thelonius Monk Quartet

I picked this up because the Black Hawk was an old jazz establishment in The Tenderloin up until 1963, which later became the 222 Club, a joint that I frequented. The place itself still carries the vibe of all the history that it was built upon. Musicians like Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis all recorded here. The live music of this album paints that very picture for me and creates such an involving atmosphere that keeps me focused.

**

These are a few of my favorite things. Are there albums out there that do the same for you?