Halloween Roll-Out 2009: Chill @ The Weirding

I know, I know - I have an hour to get it done. I've been up since 6:30a and went to bed at 4 this morning, so it's not like I'm not trying, here! I mean, it's... it's me - I'm like frigging Image over here! Unless you're just brand, spanking new, you already knew I'd miss the deadline!

Okay, but I'm not going to miss the whole thing:

For now, check out Vincent.

I know it isn't pretty, but that's the problem: I nitpick the living shit out of everything so much that nothing gets done. I had company last night and my friend goes, "I know I don't know what you're doing and all, but it looks like you've been doing that same thing for like three hours." (He really does talk like that. Mumbles too, but I didn't feel like doing the formatting thing.) So I had. Two hours later, I literally had to close the page and do something else...

I really wanted this to be massive - and perfect. And it was perfectly massive from this end... anyway, that's plenty to get you going until I get the rest of it up. I just threw all the elements on the page for now.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Halloween @ The Weirding: The Trees, Ash - They Know!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Halloween @ The Weirding: Rational Gaze

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Halloween @ The Weirding: A Brief History

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Halloween @ The Weirding: Sneaks Up on You

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Halloween @ The Weirding - Agenda

Here's how it's gonna go, Halloweenies:

Many of the features are done (or nearly-so), but still need tweaking. I'm going to publish them, as-is, and work through it over the next few weeks. Because of technological limitations, I cannot actually preview some features included, so I'll be depending on y'all to let me know if anything doesn't work. Y'all never do; some things may not work. (I am in the process of buying a new computer.)

The biggest thing this Halloween roll-out: Chill! Finally. And it's a big one! But also check out Dark Conspiracy and Champions.

Most of this content will not be available until tomorrow, but I am going to try my best to start publishing it early this morning/tonight. Some of it is up already, but you may have to poke around to find it. Some of the new material is actually previously-published content that's received a face-lift, editing, whatever. Actually, the entire site is undergoing a gradual face-lift, but I don't promote that stuff because all websites are WIP.

Anyway, this is a major, major roll-out and I'm very excited about it. I hope to hear some feedback, so brace yourselves for a lot of promotion over the next few months. Chill took 20 years to publish, so fucking read it! Dicks.

Happy Halloween!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Halloween @ The Weirding: Theme from Friday the 13th

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Rick Remender's Strange Girl TPB

27 October 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - Before PUNISHER and DOCTOR VOODOO, Rick Remender made his name writing the post-apocalyptic series STRANGE GIRL, which will be collected in its entirety this January as a limited edition slipcase collection.

"STRANGE GIRL is easily one of my most personal works and I've long hoped for a complete collection," Remender said. "Even more important to me is seeing illustrators Eric Nguyen, Jerome Opeña, Nick Stakal, and Peter Bergting getting their beautiful work collected in such an edition. STRANGE GIRL was an important book for all of us and I'm happy to have readers get their first chance to experience the entire story in one collection."

STRANGE GIRL begins ten years after the Rapture, when a beautiful occultist and her pet demon embark on a road trip to the last open gateway to heaven, in hopes of befriending God and escaping hell on earth. A bare-knuckle, action-driven series, peppered with social commentary and dark humor, STRANGE GIRL is a story about the bewildering nature of religion, what would happen if the dark future predicted by many came true, and what a good person would endure for not having faith in advance of it.

The STRANGE GIRL LIMITED EDITION SLIPCASE COLLECTION contains all four volumes of the critically acclaimed series in an exclusive new slipcase, along with a Strange Girl print by legendary illustrator Michael Kaluta, all signed by series creator Rick Remender and limited to 1000 editions.

Big Fan and Ratatouille star Patton Oswalt commented, "STRANGE GIRL is exactly that. Strange, plus she's a girl. But it's so much more. Redemption, demons, magic spells, hopelessness, friendship, and belly-shirts. Rick Remender takes a loving, nostalgic look at the coming apocalypse."

STRANGE GIRL LIMITED EDITION SLIPCASE COLLECTION, a four-volume signed slipcase strictly limited to 1000 editions for $49.99, will be in-stores January 13^th, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Can You Handle This, Buh-londie?

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

MarvelFest 2k9 - Union Square @ 6pm!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

I Cannot Sleep at Night

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

And So It Begins: Halloween @ The Weirding

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Marvel Comics Shipping 10-28-09

Muah-ah-ack! Ahem. (Sinuses.) Here it is, flies and ghouls, your weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics hitting housewives and laying-out lycanthropes on this, your Halloween week, 2010:

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: ANTI-VENOM - NEW WAYS TO LIVE #2
ANITA BLAKE, THE LAUGHING CORPSE - EXECUTIONER #1
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #29
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #29 SHS VARIANT
DARK AVENGERS: ARES #1
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - DAREDEVIL 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - PUNISHER
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - PUNISHER HERO VARIANT
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - WOLVERINE
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - WOLVERINE HERO VARIANT
DARK REIGN: YOUNG AVENGERS #5 (DR)
ENDER'S SHADOW: COMMAND SCHOOL #2
FANTASTIC FOUR #572
FANTASTIC FOUR #572 EAGLESHAM HUMAN TORCH VARIANT
FANTASTIC FOUR #572 SHS VARIANT
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19
HALO: HELLJUMPER #4
HULK #16
HULK #16 MCGUINNESS DEADPOOL VARIANT
HULK #16 MCGUINNESS VARIANT
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #137
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #56
MARVEL DIVAS #4
MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE
MARVEL PREVIEWS #75
MODELS, INC. #3
MODELS, INC. #3 ZOMBIE VARIANT
MS. MARVEL #46 (DR)
MS. MARVEL #46 ZOMBIE VARIANT (DR)
NEW AVENGERS #58
NEW MUTANTS #6
NEW MUTANTS #6 ZOMBIE VARIANT
NOVA #30
PUNISHER #10
PUNISHER #10 REST IN PIECES VARIANT
RIFTWAR #5
SECRET WARRIORS #9
SECRET WARRIORS #9 SHS VARIANT
SECRET WARRIORS #9 ZOMBIE VARIANT
SON OF HULK #16
SPIDER-MAN: THE CLONE SAGA #2
SPIN ANGELS #3
ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #2
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #3
VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
WAR MACHINE #10
WOLVERINE ART APPRECIATION
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #20
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #6
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #6 KUBERT
X NECROSHA
X NECROSHA CRAIN VARIANT
X-FACTOR #50
X-FORCE #20
X-MEN FOREVER #10
X-MEN FOREVER #10 ZOMBIE VARIANT

Collections On-Sale:
ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE LAUGHING CORPSE BOOK 1 - ANIMATOR TPB
FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES: JOHN BYRNE VOL. 1 TPB (NEW PRINTING)
HULK VOL. 3: HULK NO MORE PREMIERE HC
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOL. 2: WORLD'S MOST WANTED BOOK 1 TPB
KABUKI: THE ALCHEMY TPB
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA MENACE VOL. 1 HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA MENACE VOL. 1 HC (VARIANT)
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 TPB
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 TPB NEW AVENGERS VOL. 10: POWER TPB
SPIDER-MAN NEWSPAPER STRIPS VOL. 1 HC
SPIDER-MAN: AMERICAN SON PREMIERE HC
SPIDER-MAN: THE SHORT HALLOWEEN PREMIERE HC
WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN HC
WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN HC TURNER VARIANT

Posters On-Sale:
DEADPOOL #900 POSTER
*DR = Dark Reign tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Proof Season Finale Heralds New Beginning in 2010

26 October 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This January, the first season of writer Alex Grecian and illustrator Riley Rossmo's ongoing cryptozoological thriller, PROOF, will come to an end as the two prepare an all-new season coming in 2010!

"While this season of PROOF is ending, the series is just beginning," Grecian said. "Not only do Riley and I have a couple of side projects (such as his COWBOY NINJA VIKING) but PROOF takes a very big turn with issue #28. It's a natural place to take a short break. Rest assured we'll be back, and when we start again, nothing in PROOF will ever be the same."

[Ed. Note: "THE WORLD OF PROOF WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER!"]

In PROOF, Special Agent John 'Proof' Prufrock - also known as Bigfoot - works for The Lodge, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting 'monsters' from the threat of human beings. Since its release the series has received critical acclaim, with three volumes of collections in print and a fourth, PROOF VOL. 4: JULIA, to be available during the hiatus. Both Grecian and Rossmo will remain the regular creative team in the new season, due out in 2010.

Rossmo added, "Another reason is to give new readers a very easy jumping-on point. While we've certainly had a great response to the trades, we're making it even easier and more inexpensive than ever to jump on board. If you've never read PROOF before, or only do so with the collections, the upcoming new season is your chance to become a regular reader."

PROOF #28, a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.50, will be in-stores January 27^th, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Nanny & Hank - Bingo & Blood

Nanny and Hank believed they would be spending their golden years enjoying the grandkids and playing mahjong and canasta at their seniors-only condo complex in Ft. Lauderdale. The 70-year old couple never thought they would be spending eternity as vampires in Bluewater Productions’ upcoming original limited-series comic.

The light hearted horror series, Nanny and Hank, follows the misadventures of a pair of curmudgeonly septuagenarians as they deal with planning a family vacation while quenching their thirst for blood.

"Call it a love letter to my grandparents. The main characters are based on my own grandparents, and it was a riot trying to insert some of the funny old family stories into a vampiric context," said Bluewater president and series creator, Darren Davis. "And yes, there names really were Nanny and Hank!"

Slated for a Spring 2010 release, this mini-series pairs writer Mark L. Miller (Ain't It Cool News and Vincent Price Presents writer) with artist Steve Babb.

According to Miller, Nanny and Hank is a vampire story unlike any you've read before, "As a rabid fan of the genre, I went out of my way to break away from some of the overused aspects of this type of literature, giving the story not only copious amounts of blood and action, but a strong heart that makes you laugh with, and care about, these characters."

"As a kid, I remember finding my grandmothers false teeth in a cup of water. It freaked me out then, so you can imagine the kind of fun we had adapting that into the story," Davis mused. "And don’t get me started on their dog, Buttons."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Melancholy Monday

Hey, you nerds!

Well, I cleared-off the GeoCities site. It's the last day for the old site, which served us so well for so many years - about 10, to be... well, when are we ever exact here? I joined Yahoo! in 1997 and already had a GeoCities account - again, estimated (it may have been 1998) - but I hadn't put anything on there, really. I think I had a little page with a few pictures or something, maybe some kind of "introductory" text, but I wasn't really planning on doing anything with it.

Fear the Outside had a Google PR of 8 in 2006. That's pretty good! Especially since I hadn't done anything with it in over a year. While the content was good (duh), the formatting was shite. There were hardly any pictures past the Table of Contents... it was just a general mess. But I also didn't have Internet throughout most of 2004-2005, so what little I did get published was a minor feat.

Anyway, I had all this stuff on CD, but we all know how my luck has been, so I went ahead and saved it all again, just in case. Of course, I haven't even looked at any of this stuff in 3-4 years, and I really didn't even know half of it was there! I have an entire department of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay material that I, to this day, do not recall ever creating! I did create it - my unmistakable stench is all over it - I just don't... I don't even remember when I was into WFRP! Not that into it. Apparently it was sometime in 2002-2003.

Anyway, it's made me a bit wistful - just kind of... melancholy is the only word I think captures it. You know, just a little nostalgic and the like. So much has happened since then that it's flatly impossible for me to recall some of this stuff, so it's interesting, but depressing.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Scream 4 - "These Days, Ya Gotta Have a Sequel!"

What fantastic Halloween news: Original Scream screenwriter, Kevin Williamson, has penned a fourth installment and original castmembers, David Arquette, Courtney Cox-Arquette, and Neve Campbell have signed-on! Legendary director, and the director of the entire franchise up to now, Wes Craven, has not signed-on yet, but is said to be in talks. The only bad news? Someone said Scream 4 is going to be in 3D...

Released in 1996, Scream literally reinvented the genre - literally. Simultaneously a serious, hardcore slasher-flick in its own right and a satire of the same, Scream overturned every staple (read: cliché) of the then some 10-years dead slasher-flick sub-genre and reset the field. It also singlehandedly launched, and cemented, about a dozen stars' places in film history. As Courtney Cox once discussed, it debuted fairly low on the charts, but kept going up - something almost unheard of in movies - and managed to go from "sleeper hit" to "generational touchstone."

SPOILERS

I came across this information because it's Halloween and Scream is one of my all-time favorite movies, so I was watching it but couldn't find the year it was made on the box. I knew it was 1996, because Craven's last genre-busting movie (A Nightmare on Elm Street) - which also set the slasher-flick sub-genre, already flailing and some five-six years past its prime, on its ear - was released in 1986, but I wanted to be certain because I was thinking of blogging about how... incredible it is when you realize just how old Scream is.

I know I'm old - I know this, man - and I know Scream was released a long time ago, but I was already a hardcore netizen at that time (in fact, my friends literally dragged me off my computer to watch it [it had already come out on video] - and they had to ply me with alcohol to do so!) and whenever Sidney "dials" 911 on her computer, I always remember saying, the first time I saw it, "You can't do that!" and having everyone tell me to "Shut up and watch the movie," etc. In the very next scene, Billy's cellphone falls to the ground - that's the first indication that he might be the killer! - that's a pivotal scene!

So, I'm sitting there, recalling that YIM still had that "Yahoo Instant Messenger cannot be used to contact 911 or emergency services" warning the last time I used it, which was maybe just over a year ago, if that, when it occurred to me that, when Scream was released, very few people (Americans, anyway) had cellphones - one of those, "Damn!" moments we old folks get so often, as in, "Damn, that's right... damn!" You'll get them; trust me. Anyway, 1996 = almost no one had cellphones... that was 13 years ago.

Damn! As in... day-um!

It's not just because I'm old and I remember when Scream first came out: It's because Scream is still that good! It's still fresh and "hip," even though it hinges on the fact that basically no one had Caller ID or cellphones 13 years ago.

And I know this because over the summer, when I lived in the trailer, my next door neighbors were all of maybe 22-23 and they watched it with me a few times, they enjoyed it so much. They would have been all of maybe 9-10 when it was released and when I first mentioned it, it was like what Friday the 13^th is to us geezers: "Oh yeah, I've seen that like 2309123789 times." But, just like the original Friday the 13^th (to a lot of my generation, anyway - not to dorky, slasher-flick junkies like myself), when it got started, they realized they hadn't seen it. They'd seen the inferior sequels and probably seen parts of the original here and there, especially cut-up on cable, but they'd never "experienced" Scream - never truly watched the movie - and they both fell completely in love with it.

Despite its dated technological references, Scream stands-up incredibly well.

But even though Williamson maintained it was always supposed to be a trilogy (no one believed it then, either - but this was before those Star Wars travesties!), the sequels did the Scream franchise no favors. They weren't just God-awful, but I only deigned to watch the third installment last year when IFC ran it... they certainly weren't good. I saw the second one somewhere along the way and was so turned-off by it, I never bothered with the third until I was so completely starved for entertainment that I gave-in. I was still pretty starved, afterward.

Still, Scream is a fantastic movie and we 30-somethings basically dated our way through the franchise, so Scream 4 is wonderful news... unless they cock it all up with crap like 3D. Or making the same movie a fourth time.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Dark Reign: The List - Secret Warriors Second-Printing Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Yahtzee Croshaw's Mogworld Comes to Dark Horse

OCTOBER 23, MILWAUKIE, OR –– Coming soon from Dark Horse Books: Critical sensation Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw (The Escapist’s Zero Punctuation Reviews) brings his signature acerbic wit to his debut novel, Mogworld.

Mogworld, a comedic fantasy novel with a twist, is the story of Jim, who, 60 years after dying in a magic-school mishap, is wrenched back to life by a renegade necromancer. All Jim wants is to die properly, once and for all—no easy task for a minor character in a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game).

Croshaw’s animated Zero Punctuation reviews, which package prescient criticism with frenetic animation, off-color humor, and rapid-fire delivery, have made him a household name in the gaming community. Although Croshaw has covered a lot of creative and critical ground in his short career—before Zero Punctuation, he gained a reputation as an independent game designer and blogger, and he recently produced the pilot for a TV series, Game Damage—Mogworld is his first foray into published fiction.

“I love Zero Punctuation, and I had asked Yahtzee to pitch us a book about video games,” explains Mogworld editor, Rachel Edidin. “The last thing I expected was a novel draft! And the next thing I knew, I was taking the manuscript home with me—less to finish it than because I had to see what happened next.”

Says Croshaw, “I’ve been trying to write novels ever since I first read Hitchhiker’s Guide at the age of eight, so this is a pretty big deal for me, and I’m very happy to be working with Dark Horse on this. Mogworld is an idea I’ve been kicking around ever since those dark, unproductive three months I spent playing World of Warcraft. It’s a bit of a cynical take on MMOs and the standard Tolkienesque ‘fantasy’ setting.”

Mogworld is announced in conjunction with Croshaw’s first stateside appearance at this weekend’s GameX show in Philadelphia. Mogworld is set to hit shelves in August 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Doom, Thanos: Super Hero Squad This Morning!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Sorry Guys, Super-Sick!

Hi guys. About 7:30-8p last night, I was burning up with fever - literally - sweating, couldn't get cool, turned on the fan, opened the windows, et.al., but couldn't get comfortable. I had bad heartburn, too. I ate some antacid and got up to see what else I had to take and immediately got very sick! I was vomiting (hardcore) until sometime in the wee hours of the morning. I couldn't even keep water down.

I published your comments and apologize for the delay. I'm feeling stronger, but still very sick. If I'm not better by Monday, I'll hit the doc's. I'm hoping this doesn't delay the much-vaunted Halloween release, but I'm not making promises at this point; my health has to come first, especially since I have to be physically well enough for this surgery!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

On Spider-Man 4

I didn't mean to sit on this information for as long as I have, it just worked-out that way. Plus, Spider-Man 4 is still a little ways off; Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and Sam Raimi were contractually "locked-in" just over a month ago and none of them had much to say about the project until recently. Filming is set to begin in January (2010) and Spider-Man 4 is scheduled for release on May 6^th, 2011.

Evil Dead star and self-titled "career B-movie actor," Bruce Campbell, is signed to a major villainous role, though he does not know the details yet. Geek speculation has him cast as Mysterio, but that is just rumor!

Raimi told Superherohype.com Spider-Man 4 would focus on the character, Peter Parker; he said he wants to really get into whom Peter Parker is with Tobey Maguire as the vessel, though he noted they "must be careful." Raimi said, "You're dealing with a character that has been around for 40-some years, is much loved by people throughout the world, and people not just have a sense of ownership of Spider-Man - rightfully so - they look up to him as a hero."

Raimi said he agreed with the criticism that Spider-Man 3 had "too many villains." He also said Drag Me to Hell taught him the importance of "getting to the point," and that he intended to apply what he learned from making that movie to Spider-Man 4 by taking a a "back to basics" approach. The lack of a big budget and the time constraints of Drag Me to Hell reminded him of his early days in independent film-making and how to boil scenes down to their core and capture that. He discussed the use of blocking, staging, and lighting effects to capture a scene, as opposed to working through numerous shots.

Raimi's effectiveness as a low-budget director is best evidenced by his debut film, Evil Dead, in which many of these "tricks" are employed. Evil Dead remains, to this day, one of the most well-crafted, and truly frightening, gorefests of all time.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Hammer +25 (to Life), Cursed

"I didn't realize I was being attacked until I fell to the floor with my arms up to defend myself," Logan Bryson told the court. He thought he was dreaming when he awoke to find Zachary Frank King striking him with a hammer.

Police say King broke-in to Daniel Shokrian's Cedar City, Utah home through an open window in the early morning hours of May 30^th and struck both Bryson and a sleeping Shokrian repeatedly with a hammer.

King told police he was upset with Bryson for dating a girl they had both agreed not to date. According to King, the trio had been playing Dungeons & Dragons the day before and Shokrian, as DM, was "acting cocky" and doing things with King's character that he didn't like. King then said he went home, took an OTC sleeping pill, and awoke at some point during the night, furious. That's when he went to his tool shed and found the hammer. According to detectives, King went into Shokrian's room and said, "I hate you," before beating him. He then attacked Bryson, sleeping in another room.

Bryson suffered a concussion. Shokrian is blind and has lost the ability to read and write.

Zachary King pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated burglary and two counts of attempted aggravated murder. The judge bound him over for trial.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Rich Johnston's Chase Variant

October 21 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This past weekend Rich Johnston's Bleeding Cool announced he would bring his comics mashup one-shot, CHASE VARIANT, to Image Comics with HEAVY METAL painter, Saverio Tenuta, and 2000AD illustrator, Bagwell, this February!

"CHASE VARIANT has two distinct sides to it, "Johnston said. "One is a balls-to-the-wall blockbuster with babes, bombs, and bazookas, an extraordinary body count, and a beautiful body to boot, in the shape of the star, genetically-altered assassin of the series. The other is a metafictional treatise on the nature of reality, of fiction, of the stories we tell, and the ornaments we collect. It's a meaningful piece of comic book philosophy that's constantly being shot at by a nearly-naked, four-armed, tattooed, walking weapon. Think Michael Bay meets Rene Descartes, TOMB RAIDER meets ANNIE HALL."

In CHASE VARIANT, Johnston, Tenuta, and Bagwell's assassin attempts to fulfill her missions while stopping rival governments from trying to collect her for themselves. Yet her every action is predicted by a very familiar card game being played by unknown assailants, challenging Chase's belief in self-determination.

CHASE VARIANT ONE SHOT (IS ALL I NEED), a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in-stores February 2009.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Stephen King's The Stand: Soul Survivors #1 - Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Weekly Astro Boy Magazine for iPhone

Just in time for the movie release in China and the U.S., Tezuka Productions Co. and D-Arc Inc. have announced the arrival of Weekly Astro Boy Magazine for the iPhone. The Magazine features the original Astro Boy manga in 100-page installments. Viewers will be able to enjoy the manga in English (and Chinese, as appropriate) and zoom-in on specific cels. The first volume is FREE; subsequent volumes of Weekly Astro Boy Magazine will be 99¢ each.

Osamu Tezuka created and released the original Astro Boy manga in the 1950s. In the 1960s, it became a cartoon which was eventually shown worldwide. The Astro Boy cartoon (most recently seen on American TV through [adult swim]) inspired generations of animators, spawning the now famous "anime" style of cartooning. Tezuka, now deceased, came to be known as the "God of Manga."

Weekly Astro Boy Magazine will include some of Tezuka's other manga, including Phoenix, Black Jack, and more.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

William Shatner's TekWar TPB

TekWar Chronicles: Plague of Ghosts, a graphic novel containing the first four issues of Bluewater Productions’ comic adaptation of William Shatner’s TekWar novels will be released this December.

TekWar Chronicles: Plague of Ghosts is loosely based on the original 1989 novel which centers on a disgraced former 22^nd-Century police officer mysteriously released from prison for a crime he is certain he did not commit. Finding himself lost in a world that has changed since his incarceration, Jake Cardigan tries to put his life back together only to be lured back into the dark world of a digital drug called Tek.

Shatner was recently in New York, promoting the comic book series at the Big Apple Comic Con. "Revisiting the world of Tek has been very gratifying," said the entertainment icon. "It's got action, sex, intrigue; I think we’ve created an exciting new mythology based on my books that any fan of science-fiction or noir will enjoy."

The book, which contains a complete story arc, includes the 12-page prologue originally published as the promotional give-away for Free Comic Book Day last May. It also includes all the alternate covers of the first four issues and a foreword by Shatner. Co-written with Bluewater veteran scribe, Scott Davis, and illustrated by Erich Owen, the 108-page novel is considerably darker and grittier than the original novels.

"The book is not only for people who enjoyed the TekWar novels and TV series," said Davis, "but whether you call it an adaptation, a reboot, or a re-imagination, readers will find enough of the source material to make it very recognizable, and enough new turns and twists to keep them guessing."

TekWar Chronicles is a continuing monthly series published through Bluewater. Early next year, Bluewater will publish two other titles based on Shatner novels (Quest for Tomorrow and Man O’ War) and a brand new original concept developed by the actor specifically for Bluewater,,Chimera.

The suggested retail price (SRP) for the upcoming trade paperback is $15.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Cowboy Ninja Viking an Ongoing Series

20 October 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - On the verge of COWBOY NINJA VIKING's debut, Image Comics announces writer AJ Lieberman and artist Riley Rossmo's highly anticipated action-packed mini-series with a multiple personality twist will expand to a regular, ongoing series!

"Even before its release, COWBOY NINJA VIKING has seen a reception much like CHEW's explosive launch, making it evident writer AJ Lieberman and artist Riley Rossmo shouldn't be contained to a mere four issues," Image Comics Vice President Jim Valentino said. "In a time where it's very hard to launch an all-new title, the pre-release buzz for this book has been massive. We're extremely excited to keep it going for a long time coming. Considering we've already had to double our print-run to meet demand, we think the fans will highly enjoy the now ongoing series."

COWBOY NINJA VIKING is the birth child of Doctor Sebastian Ghislain, a psychotherapist who recruits Multiple Personality Disorder patients to create a unit of counter-intelligence agents called the Triplets. But what happens when those guys become out of control assassins? That’s when the deadliest Triplet of them all, COWBOY NINJA VIKING, is called in to take down his own brethren. In order to ensure the timely schedule, the series will ship in monthly arcs with two month gaps in between each storyline.

COWBOY NINJA VIKING #1 (AUG090294), a 24-page, full-color, Golden Age-format comic book for $3.50, will be in stores October 21^st, 2009

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Deadpool #16 - Second-Printing

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Harlem Globetrotters Bouncing Back to TV

The Harlem Globetrotters are bounding back to TV! For the first time since the 1970s, the Harlem Globetrotters will star in their own animated TV series. Toronto-based Cookie Jar - known for Caillou and Inspector Gadget - signed the basketball-based entertainment team to a production deal. While Cookie Jar has not released any of the details, an animated show with licensing tie-ins is assured.

The Globetrotters last appeared on the small screen in 1979, when NBC repackaged their 1971-72 animated CBS series, The Harlem Globetrotters (Hanna-Barbera), as The Go-Go Globetrotters. That's kinda neat, when you consider that Cookie Jar's Inspector Gadget character's catch-phrase was "Go-go gadget [insert gadget here]." And that you probably know them from Scooby-Doo.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Cinematic Titanic - Five Live Shows Five Nights in a Row!

It's true! Cinematic Titanic (Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, Frank Coniff, J. Elvis Weinstein, and Mary-Jo Pehl) is playing five shows in five nights at L.A.'s Largo at the Coronet. The whole thing gets going this Sunday, the 25^th, and you can purchase tickets at the link above or by calling 310-855-0350. Check out this interview with Joel Hodgson, while you wait.

As a musician living basically midway between Memphis and Nashville, hipsters fail to understand why I say I live in a cultural wasteland... but I still wouldn't live in L.A.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Comics Day, No Reviews

I know, I know - I almost never get to anything I say I'm going to when I say I will and I apologize. I have never worked well on a deadline and that's why I hate issuing them. I said I was going to get to some reviews today, but it was Comics Day.

The last shipment was so big, it took me almost two weeks to get it together. I didn't list what I'd received then because there was just too much. Now, I am using Comic Book Realm to inventory my collection, so I won't be doing Comics Day here anymore. I may still post a little of whatever I'm excited about or reading, etc., but no more shipment lists.

I did start on those reviews I was hoping to deliver today, so they should appear sometime this week. I also have some big, end of the month deadlines I have to hit concerning other matters and those take precedent. I am also trying to add at least a handful of issues from my collection to CBR every night. Plus, I have to get my comics order in for December by Monday, and I am really behind on my reading; I am trying to get current so I know what I want to order. I've established some really good runs on several properties, but I've gotten way too much glut along the way.

I'm also, for those who did not know, a big contributor to several major websites relating to the Geekery The Weirding is all about. I am trying to spend a fixed amount of time pursuing all of my many projects each day, instead of working the way I have for so many years now (in which I've gotten so much less done than I should have). I've mentioned this several times here as well, and I'm finally making a real push to change it. It's going to take some time, though.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

December Brings Distortions Unlimited

Bluewater Productions presents a unique horror comic that revolves around existing full-scale monster and alien animatronics in the new series titled Distortions Unlimited.

The three-issue series is based on licensed characters crafted by Distortions Unlimited based in Greeley, CO. Distortions is world-renowned for creating shocking props, masks, and animatronics that have been the mainstay of the dark amusement industry for the last 30 years. The company is best known for reproducing the 16' queen alien from the film Alien, cast from the original molds, as well as designing the stage props for music industry icon Alice Cooper’s Brutal Planet tour.

Daniel Crosier, writer and illustrator on the series, has a unique connection with the project: "I grew up near the Distortions studio in Greeley. I used to tour the studio when I was a kid and was fascinated by their creations. I suggested to Darren Davis (the president of Bluewater) to partner with Distortions to develop another horror comic. Darren liked the idea, so we approached them with the concept. Distortions was enthusiastic about the partnership and greenlighted the project."

The entire series focuses on Distortions’ Rage animatronic. Described as half-Neanderthal, half-beast, and all fury, the Rage is one of Distortions’ most popular characters. Ed Edmunds, president of Distortions, elaborates of the protagonist of the books: "Rage has been a fan-favorite for years. The sheer size of the piece commands attention and really gives people a good scare. He’s a great character to base the series on."

The first issue of the series delves into the horror unleashed on the earth with the collapse of a mine. The plot was crafted with multiple, intertwining layers that combine fantasy and true-life events ripped from today’s headlines. Local Denver celebrities, Uncle Nasty and Matt Need from Clear Channel's KBPI, and Allana Rizzo, from Rocky Mountain Fox Sports Net, have lent their likeness to the project.

Crosier will bring a unique look to the books by illustrating with his watershed technique. All covers and interior pages of the series will be created with graphite on wood poplar panels. Crosier’s influence for the series is Dark Horse's B.P.R.D. 1946. The books will have a high contrast, distressed, organic look. The creative team will also include veteran inker Peter Palmiotti. Palmiotti has worked for a variety of comic publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Image.

Distortions Unlimited will hit shelves December of 2009.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Marvel Comics Shipping 10-21-09

Woo-hoo! We are back to form, guys and gals, after two weeks without your weekly Marvel Rundown, I'm sure you were wondering what was happening, and I'd like to apologize for that. I accidentally missed it a couple weeks back, and (I assume because of the holiday) I didn't receive it last week - but here it is:

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #609
DARK AVENGERS #10
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - AVENGERS 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DARK REIGN: THE LIST - HULK
DARK WOLVERINE #79
DARK WOLVERINE #79 YOUNG GUN VARIANT
DARK WOLVERINE #79 ZOMBIE VARIANT
DEADPOOL POSTER BOOK
DEADPOOL: MERC WITH A MOUTH #4
DOMINIC FORTUNE #3
INCREDIBLE HULK #603
INCREDIBLE HULK #603 SHS VARIANT
INCREDIBLE HULK #603 ZOMBIE VARIANT
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #19 (DR)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #19 SHS VARIANT (DR)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #30
MIGHTY AVENGERS #30 SHS VARIANT
PUNISHER NOIR #3
PUNISHER NOIR #3 CALERO VARIANT
SKRULL KILL KREW #5 (DR)
SKRULL KILL KREW #5 COW VARIANT (DR)
SPIDER-WOMAN #2
THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #1
THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #1 PERKINS VARIANT
THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY #6
THUNDERBOLTS #137
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #41
X-MEN LEGACY #228

Collections On-Sale:
CAPTAIN AMERICA: ROAD TO REBORN PREMIERE HC
LOCKJAW AND THE PET AVENGERS HC
MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS VOL. 10: INVASION DIGEST
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INHUMANS VOL. 1 HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INHUMANS VOL. 1 HC VARIANT
RUNAWAYS VOL. 9: DEAD WRONG DIGEST
RUNAWAYS: ROCK ZOMBIES TPB
SPIDER-MAN: DEATH AND DATING TPB
THUNDERBOLTS: BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE TPB
WAR MACHINE VOL. 1: IRON HEART TPB
WOLVERINE NOIR PREMIERE HC
WOLVERINE: DARK WOLVERINE - THE PRINCE PREMIERE HC

*DR = Dark Reign tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Daredevil #501 - Second-Printing

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Reviews

I know I'm up early, but I'm not going to flood you or anything. I'm going to try my best to get a few reviews out to you today. With the way the comics industry is, these are not necessarily "timely" reviews (when have we ever done timely reviews here?), but because the entire industry is awash in second-printings and TPB collections, I'm going to try my best to save you some $ and frustration, as well as (hopefully) steer you toward some better fare.

Speaking of timely reviews, we got The Beast from Image one week before it went to newsstands. I simply could not review a 150+page book in that time, due to my schedule, and technological constraints. Still, like I say, it's still available and I'm going to review it (and it's good - but that's not my review). I'm also going to give one of the more prolific and generally well-liked writers in the industry a sound drumming. I just don't want to be mean to the guy; it has nothing to do with him as a person and I've no reason to be ugly to him. His work is just kind of... shit.

Wha-at? What do you want from me?

Anyway, this is going to take all day, and I tend to write long reviews, so I may split them up. I've got a few more things to bring you along the way, so kick back and enjoy!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Pres. Obama's Campaign Made Cyberculture History

I am sure you heard at least a handful of reports about it: President Obama's use of social networking sites and the Web, in general, as part of his campaign. Where some of the other candidates used the Web sparingly, if at all (as an after-thought, really), Obama made appealing to the Cyberculture a primary thrust of his campaign. Some say it was what turned the tide - that his online campaigning won him the Presidential election.

President Obama did not just create a MySpace profile or Facebook page and tell people to add him as a friend; his campaign actively and aggressively worked the social networking sites. But above and beyond that, Obama used such sites as YouTube (which now gets 1 billion hits a day... by their count, anyway) and other Web technologies to reach the Cyberculture and get his message across; he was not just looking to cull voters online, he was getting his message across to us in the many forms available to the Web - we could read his opinions and ideas, hear them, or watch him deliver his position.

In fact, Obama used the internet to champion his position of Presidential and political "transparence." All of this together (his policies, positions, and transparency) has come to be known as "Obamanomics." In fact, President Obama has done such a good job of this that his administration's entire policy can be found, in outline form, online! This makes it hard for the current administration to deviate too far from this or change its position. Politically risky, but long overdue.

Obamanomics, in conjunction with the Web and internet, has irrevocably changed the face of American politics.

Whedon Gives Fans Reason for Glee

Joss Whedon will direct an episode of the new Fox series, Glee. Glee is a musical comedy that seems to be right up Whedon's alley; he directed the musical Buffy episode, as well as the Web hit, Dr. Horrible. He has also directed a couple of episodes of The Office, which has the mockumentary feel Glee affects from time to time.

Glee is truly one of the better shows on TV and I have enjoyed the episodes I've seen. The last few weeks though, I have been watching ABC's new sit-coms, which dominate their Wednesday night line-up.

Fans on the sites which broke this story are almost unanimous in hoping Joss Whedon brings Neil Patrick Harris to the show, as Whedon is known to be dedicated to his stable of actors.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Tony Weeks and the Tony Weeks Band featuring Tony Weeks

Once every so often, there comes a band like no other. Sometimes, they "invade" in a storm of controversy and revolutionary antics (like the Beatles), sometimes they sneak into the zeitgeist through extended radio play (like the Stone Temple Pilots), and sometimes they make history because one of them dies (like Nirvana); but however they do it, they make their mark on music. It can truly be said that Tony Weeks and the Tony Weeks Band featuring Tony Weeks is nothing like the aforementioned bands.

However, just like so many others, Tony Weeks and the Tony Weeks Band featuring Tony Weeks has struggled from the depths of obscurity, clawing their way up from their parents' basements to... like Facebook and MySpace. But this kind of dawdling success has come at a price. Tony Weeks and the Tony Weeks Band (feat. Tony Weeks) drummer, Steven Crowder have been feuding for... months now. Of course, it is the fans who have suffered, as Steven's jealousy of Tony Weeks (of the Tony Weeks Band [feat. Tony Weeks]) and substance abuse has lead to a string of YouTube videos and MySpace-slandering - but Tony Weeks (you may know him from the Tony Weeks Band [featuring Tony Weeks]) is not completely innocent, as he too has been YouTubing and... Facebooking and stuff. It's a seedy, sordid tale of parental units, Codpiece, some chick named Juli, and some Gypsies. Some other stuff. Bunnies - no wait, that's, that was something else.

Yes, it can truly be said that Tony Weeks and the Tony Weeks Band featuring Tony Weeks have a history of pain and sacrifice, not to mention a Facebook account. If you are anywhere near Nashville, or you just want to learn more about this up-and-coming band (which has absolutely nothing to do with Bunnies) from Nashville, you should check out the Tony Weeks and the Tony Weeks Band featuring Tony Weeks Facebook page.

Create the Newest Simpsons Character

That's right: the cast and crew of The Simpsons have completely given-up (in case you haven't seen the show in the last two-three years) and now want you to design the newest character. All you have to do is come up with a name, brief description, and a handful of catchphrases; an artist will do the rest. If you win the contest though, you will be flown out to Los Angeles to meet with the artist and design your new character!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Disney Displeased by 'Ho White'

Disney is none too fond of an Australian commercial for Jamieson's Raspberry Ale which features a character named Ho White in bed with with her dwarfen compatriots. Three of the dwarfs have been redubbed Filthy, Smarmy, and Randy. The ad for the campaign was originally featured on anythingbutsweet.com, which is now inaccessible. The images had been removed, but I managed to grab this one, which was attributed to adelaidenow.com.au. Obviously, reporters have posited that the ads have been removed due to issues Disney raised about copyright infringement.

Technically speaking, this is one of those gray areas. I don't know anything about Australian law, but according to US Fair Use, this sort of thing would have been fine as satire; since it is actually being used to sell something, it qualifies as an infringement, regardless of the fact that the character is not Snow White. The featured character is specifically tied to the copyrighted property and is being used to sell a product; were this to simply exist as a parody, not an ad, Disney would have no suit.

I can show it because it is newsworthy, and thus exempt from copyright law; this is an exercise of Fair Use.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Kinda Busy Weekend

Well, I got the Vista box running - which is a good thing - but at the cost of basically every damned device in it. First, I had to remove the modem, which was fried; then I had to detach the CD-RW, which was apparently also fried; and device manager indicates it cannot find the network card. All in all, it appears all the expansion slots and hardware was fried. But that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, seeing as how the computer itself still works... I'm screwed because I can neither network it to move data and files to another computer, nor burn what I want to keep to CD. And I do not have $70 plus the cost of whatever needs to be replaced, so I can't take it anywhere right this minute. I don't know what to do, but at least I can access the files and listen to music and so forth.

I'm going ahead with the big roll-out this month and have been working on that lately (that's part of the reason last week was so slow), but there is a lot of stuff on the Vista box that I simply cannot get to you by then, and don't know when I'll be able to publish it at all. It's just too much for me to completely retype and reformat on this box; it will just have to wait.

This is the problem with being poor. I can take living on peanut butter and crackers for a few days now and again, running out of coffee and/or sugar all too frequently, going for a day or two without smokes, et.al.; those things are inconvenient and can be handled. It's the fact that any, little mishap generally becomes a full-blown ordeal. Too few people truly understand that; that is the greatest misunderstanding when it comes to the poor. Fixing my computer might cost as little as $75-100 or it might be as much as $250-300, but it doesn't really matter, because I have neither! This is how a "simple" problem has crippled me for going on four months now!

Anyway, I've been catching-up on my reading this weekend more than anything else. In particular, I'm reading Daredevil and plan to start on Thor next. I devoured The Uncanny X-Men the last time I pulled-out the collection. I'm also steadily adding to my inventory on Comic Book Realm and hope you'll join me there - just send a friend request and I'll add you!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

MarvelFest 2k9

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Image United - Where Does Spawn Stand?

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Powers #1 - Bendis on Stern

If you haven’t read Bendis & Oeming’s Powers before, then we’ve got the antidote for your blues—pick up Powers #1 in November and find out what you’ve been missing! Plus, don’t miss Brian Bendis on Howard 101 this Saturday, October 17^th, as the special guest on Geek Time from 2:00-4:00pm ET!

The Rundown will feature a SNEAK PREVIEW of Powers #1 tomorrow!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Monty Python on Regis & Kelly Live!

The remaining members of Monty Python (along with Graham Chapman's ashes) appeared on Live with Regis & Kelly this morning for two segments. While it was largely a clusterfuck - they were all talking over one another, naturally, and all were mic'ed at the same level - Regis and Kelly still managed to get some good Q&A going.

The troupe said they first worked together on The Frost Report. They also discussed Elvis and The Beatles as fans. Of course, they were there promoting their appearance in New York tonight, as well as the 6-part IFC documentary by Terry Jones' son (which will be airing "soon," according to the Pythons [October 18^th, according to Regis]). Terry Gilliam was promoting his new movie, out this Christmas, and John Cleese has a one-man show... somewhere.

Regis also said this was the first time the entire troupe appeared together on TV, but that is erroneous; the troupe - along with Chapman's ashes - got together a few years back, with Eddie Izzard sitting-in (for a moment).

Tuesday, Garry Shandling will be there. (I had to throw that in there, because he's just too funny and one of my favorites!)

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

X-Men: A Girl Named Hope - SNEAK!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Berkeley Breathed, Bloom County, and the 80s

It's pretty weird when I realize someone I know didn't experience the 1980s. This was never more apparent than with Michael Jackson's recent passing; I would venture to estimate as much as 30-40% of the viewers who saw that had no real idea why it was on, nor how truly big a star he was.

But the hardest thing for me to truly comprehend is just how timely everything in the 1980s was; nothing that happened during that decade could have happened before or after then. The 1980s became the true height of the Cold War, and saw its end; Ronald Reagan literally brought showmanship to the Presidential office; "Reaganomics" ushered-in Dynasty and cocaine, the drug du jour, brought in Miami Vice and both helped define the fashion; Michael Jackson was the last, great superstar; and Bloom County made sure we all realized these very things. Everything in the 1980s - everything about the 1980s - was so over-the-top, in retrospect: the decade of John Hughes, crack cocaine, synth-pop, AIDS, and MTV; the 1980s never just did something, it did the living shit out of it!

More than a comic strip, Bloom County was "Gonzo..." Well, Gonzo-something. One day, it was skewering the zeitgeist, the next, reveling in its place within it. It was also - again, in retrospect - the end of many, many things... cocaine as the drug du jour, the Cold War and the Berlin Wall, John Hughes movies, the black Michael Jackson, and the syndicated comic strip.

As this excellent, short interview with Breathed explains, within five years of Breathed's departure, Bill Watterston of Calvin & Hobbes had quit (but not before blowing-up at a convention and calling Charles Schultz "a fucking dinosaur" [I love that story]) - never to be seen or heard from again - and Gary Larson had thrown-in the towel, as well. And, just like that, it was over - it was all over.

While it may seem strange to younger readers, these comic strips formed an awful lot of the 1980s' zeitgeist. These strips, along with Doonesbury and Garfield, were must-reads daily - something like The Rundown is now - and provided watercooler chat long before Jerry Seinfeld got a show. The images of these characters donned T-shirts, ballcaps, sweaters, beach towels...

That world seems so far away now.

Even harder to grasp is that it really did just suddenly stop.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Microsoft Presents Seth MacFarlane Night on FOX

November 8^th brings us an entire night of Seth MacFarlane, and it's all sponsored by Microsoft. FOX has announced that, on November 8^th, Family Guy will feature animated portions, live-action sequences in which Seth MacFarlane and co-star, Alex Borstein, perform Family Guy music numbers, comedy sketches - even celebrity guests! The episode is entitled, Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show, and airs at 8:30p CST.

The show will feature non-traditional commercial advertising, sponsored entirely by Microsoft, who is pushing their new Windows 7 operating system. FOX said the Microsoft commercial portions will blend seamlessly into the show.

Further, FOX is dedicating the entire night to Seth MacFarlane programming, showing multiple episodes of Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Bryan Singer Talks X-Men

"I'm still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it," Singer told the attendees at the Pusan International Film Festival. Singer directed the first two X-Men movies, but passed on the third - because he was busy making Superman Returns.

Singer said he loved the cast of the X-Men and the sci-fi and fantasy genres. He also discussed the freedoms of final cut which some directors in other countries have. Hollywood directors have to consort with movie executives: "The [financial] risk is too great to leave it in the hands of a filmmaker."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Marvel, Stephen King Announce Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

Marvel, in collaboration with Stephen King, is proud to announce a new chapter in the Dark Tower graphic fiction adaptation — Dark Tower: The Gunslinger. Beginning in 2010, The New York Times Best-Selling creative team of Peter David, Robin Furth, and Richard Isanove return for a new arc exploring the life of Roland Deschain, revealing how and why he began his pursuit of the man in black across Mid-World’s Mohaine Desert! Beginning another epic tale, told over multiple limited series, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger marks another milestone for the graphic fiction sensation that’s captivated fans worldwide. The Dark Tower collaboration between Marvel and Stephen King has drawn accolades from all corners, revolutionizing the comic book industry with previously unprecedented mainstream media coverage and the first worldwide midnight openings for a graphic fiction series.

“We are extremely excited to continue our epic journey into the Dark Tower universe with The Gunslinger,” says Ruwan Jayatilleke, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development-Acquisitions & Licensing. “And we are equally ecstatic to continue our collaboration with Stephen King as well as keeping comic book fans on their toes!”

Following the climactic Battle of Jericho Hill, Roland Deschain now begins the most important journey of his young life in Dark Tower: The Gunslinger.

All of the Dark Tower series have sold-through quickly. These series seem to be cooling-off a bit now, but they remain a solid investment. I really enjoyed the actual books, and have a handful of issues from these series. Though I have no idea how much they are worth, they really are nice.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel

I can't imagine anyone reading this has not experienced Cirque du Soleil - whether in-person or from the comfort of their home - but did you know that Cirque du Soleil is one of the few circuses remaining? True story. Cirque du Soleil continues to wow audiences with their creativity and skill, and the latest show is no different. In fact, Banana Shpeel is being touted as "not circus or even vaudeville;" the latest outing is said to transcend all of these things.

A deft blend of choreography, music, and slapstick, threaded together by a comedic narrative about a cruel producer and a romantic, young performer... and Banana Man. Yes, "Banana Man." Wha-at? It's Cirque du Soleil!

This troupe always captures my imagination. While I have yet to see them live, I do believe I have seen all of their recorded shows either on TV or home video. There are also clips of them online, though nothing beats seeing the entire performance, if for no other reason than that the bridges (between acts) are sometimes funnier than the acts themselves!

The level of creativity is literally jaw-dropping. It truly makes you wonder how in the world these gifted entertainers develop their ideas. Granted, they are possessed of skills sets few have and a lot of the creativity stems from that, but Cirque du Soleil continues to amaze, year after year. Best of all, their shows appeal to audiences of all ages without condescending to either (kids or adults), so it isn't as thought you are "going to have to sit through" the show with your kids; everyone will enjoy something about the show.

Check out the video below and then check out Banana Shpeel wherever it's playing near you!

Female Force GN Available Tomorrow

Female Force Volume I, a trade paperback containing the first four issues of the popular biography comic book series will be available at comic shops and newsstands on October 14.

Female Force offers a broad examination of strong and influential women who are shaping modern history and culture. The collection includes the unabridged issues featuring Hillary Clinton, Sarah Plain, Michelle Obama, and Caroline Kennedy. Additionally, the 96-page anthology contains an updated version of the Sarah Palin issue that addresses her resignation announcement as Alaska’s governor in July. The issue originally was published in February 2009.

“Each of these women has a powerful life story to share,” said Bluewater president Darren Davis. “And each has made a significant contribution to the political and cultural landscape.”

A new cover by artist Vinnie Tartamella, who has been responsible for many of the individual issue cover likenesses, features all four women. Each woman featured in the trade paperback will include alternate cover drawings.

“We are thrilled with the reception of these bio comics. We know that this trade paperback anthology is only the first of many volumes to come,” Davis added.

The suggested retail price (SRP) for the upcoming trade paperback is $15.99. Pre-ordering is currently available at several outlets and bookstores using the ISBN #: 978-1-4276-3858-8

Female Force individual issues are also available on Amazon.com, where they have been ranked among the site’s top 20 books. Several of the issues have sold-out quickly and gone into second-printings. Collectors prefer first-printings, as they always appreciate better, so you might want to snatch this one up soon. While graphic novels do not appreciate as well as individual comic book issues, they are still collectible.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Hellboy, Umbrella Academy Available on iPhone

Dark Horse is proud to announce that Mike Mignola's Hellboy and Gerard Way's The Umbrella Academy are now available on the iPhone.

At the time of their publication, both Seed of Destruction and Apocalypse Suite were immediately renowned by critics as unique and talented debuts by independent creators. Soon, industry heavyweights joined the chorus. Hellboy: Seed of Destruction is the beginning of the now legendary series Alan Moore calls, "a passport to a corner of funnybook heaven you may never want to leave." Similarly, Grant Morrison calls The Umbrella Academy "one of the great new comic books of this decade," while Newsarama says the first volume of the series, Apocalypse Suite, is "flawless."

With two blockbuster Hellboy films by Guillermo del Toro, and an Umbrella Academy movie in preproduction at Universal Studios, there's never been a better time to have the start of these monumental comics at your fingertips. A perfect way to introduce friends and pop-culture fans to two of the most important comics series today, or a great way to revisit the magic of amazing sequential art, the mobile editions of Seed of Destruction and Apocalypse Suite are a necessary addition for new and serious readers alike.

The first impressive issues of Hellboy and The Umbrella Academy are now available through the iTunes Store, with subsequent issues available soon. Seed of Destruction is available as four issues at $0.99 each, or as a bundle of all four issues for $3.99. The first issue of Apocalypse Suite is available for free (FOR A LIMITED TIME!), with issues #2–#6 only $0.99 each, or a bundle of all six issues for $4.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Beach Cruisers

We here in the rest of the States are getting our first taste of winter, what with the constant rain and unseasonably low temperatures, but those who live on the coasts are still enjoying great summer weather. And there is no better way to enjoy that temperate weather than a beach bike cruiser!

Bikes are a fun, inexpensive, and ecologically sound way to enjoy the outdoors - and, technically, you don't even need a beach to enjoy one. Cruiser Style ships hundreds of their cheap beach cruisers all over the country, in addition to selling so many in their local, California area. Beach cruisers have one speed and coaster brakes (reverse the pedal motion); they are safe, easy to operate, and tons of fun. So what are you waiting for?

Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0 Now Available!

New York, NY (October 13, 2009) – Marvel Comics is proud to announce the launch of the Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0. The new reader builds on Marvel’s groundbreaking digital comics experience! Featuring the acclaimed Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited library of over 7,000 comic issues, as well as exclusive new series, the Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0 cannot be missed by any Marvel fan! The ultimate digital comic Internet destination allows unparalleled access to thousands of titles from Marvel’s historic comic book archives – from the first issues of Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, and other favorites, to unforgettable recent stories! There are hundreds of new heroes, villains and stories right at your fingertips and you’ve never read comics like this before!

The Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0 showcases the most dynamic comics reader interface online, featuring the ability to read comics in three different modes including single page, two page, and the patent pending smart panels: a magnifying tool that allows you to zoom-in on your favorite panels with amazing results; view detailed information about your favorite issues; and a full screen viewer that’ll make you feel like you’re in the comic!

With over 7,000 issues available, and more added weekly (based on feedback from YOU, the fans), no True Believer’s reading experience is complete without the Marvel Digital Comics Reader 3.0! Visit www.marvel.com/digitalcomics today for a free look at the revolutionary new experience and then go more in-depth with subscription rates as low as $4.99/month!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009