We Support Molly Norris

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

RIP Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis, a Hollywood icon for decades, passed-away from cardiac arrest at his home in Las Vegas at 85.

Curtis' career began in the 1950s and included such gems as Some Like It Hot and The Defiant Ones, both of which are considered classics and remain popular to this day. In fact, Some Like It Hot, which co-starred Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, was rated the #1 Best Comedy of All-Time by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2000. Throughout his decades-spanning run, Tony Curtis appeared in some 120 films, as well as on TV. He did his own voice-over work on an episode of The Flintstones, in which he was portrayed as "Stoney Curtis."

Curtis married Psycho starlet, Janet Leigh, in 1951 and though the couple split in 1963, they had two children, including actress, Jamie Lee Curtis. Jamie Lee Curtis remained famously estranged from her father for many years, though she spoke touchingly of her father's passing. In later years, Curtis phased-out his acting career and took-up painting. His works sold for as much as $20,000 each.

Curtis was married six times and had six children. He leaves behind his current wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, six children, as well as "... a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings... [and] fans all over the world." - Jamie Lee Curtis.

Tony Curtis was nominated for an Emmy, as well as an Oscar for The Defiant Ones.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Skullkickers - a "Fan Favorite"

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Firebreather Vol. 3: Holmgang #1

Berkeley, CA - Life's hard enough when you're a human. But what if you're half-human and half-dragon!?

Teenager Duncan Rosenblatt has a human mother and a giant, city-stomping, kaiju father. He also has all the worries of a normal high schooler, from bullies to girls to fitting in. His adventures continue on December 1^st, 2010, with the release of FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG #1 from Image Comics.

Written by Phil Hester and drawn by Andy Kuhn, FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG picks up where FIREBREATHER VOL. 2 left off: Duncan deals not only with losing his father, but with keeping his father's death a secret, even from his mother. But Duncan's mysterious extended family may not let him keep that secret -- or his life -- much longer.

"It feels great to be back in the saddle on Firebreather.” says Hester. “There's a great deal of Duncan's story left to tell, and we're thrilled that Image has given us free reign to do so. Andy Kuhn is pulling out all the stops on the art and Bill Crabtree is doing the best work of his career on colors. I can't wait for you all to see this."

"Phil Hester is one of the best writers in comics,” adds Kuhn, “And I'm proud to be drawing the next chapter in the Firebreather saga. Every script I get is better than the last. Strap yourselves in, this is gonna be one helluva ride!"

FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG #1 (of 4) (OCT100443), a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores December 1, 2010. FIREBREATHER VOL. 1: GROWING PAINS ($14.99, APR090360) and FIREBREATHER VOL. 2: ALL THE BEST HEROES ARE ORPHANS ($16.99, AUG082239) are available now.

Firebreather joins forces with Ron Marz's Dragon Prince in FIREBREATHER VS. DRAGON PRINCE, a 120-page, full-color one shot for $7.99 that will be in stores November 17, 2010.

Finally, don't miss the FIREBREATHER movie, premiering on Cartoon Network this November!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

X-23 #2

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

DC Shake-Up

As you've no doubt read elsewhere, DC Comics is undergoing a huge shake-up, and things have yet to quite... shake-out (I know, shameless). I, like others, was going to bring you the story in the bits and pieces that filtered down to us regular folk, from DC's move of their entertainment division to Los Angeles, to their lay-offs, to their editorial changes (the release of three Vertigo editors and the appointment of Bob Harras to Editor-in-Chief, a title that has lain dormant for years at DC), but the truth is that none of it makes any sense!

Obviously, restructuring a large company like DC is going to take some time, and DC's publicity director is doing a good job of keeping their name in the headlines while this goes on, but -- like Lindsay Lohan (who went into rehab, BTW), and Paris Hilton, et.al. -- I don't want to keep bringing you the "salacious tidbits" of this and that when none of it really means anything yet. Partly because, so far, it's just a lot of hub-bub about nothing, and partly because I want my free-time to do things like lie around, lazily eating grapes fed to me by half-dressed, stoopid-hot chicks with ridiculous fans made from the feathers of extinct birds I reconstituted from DNA samples found in amber, then killed for their feathers (re-extincting them! YEAH!). And though I have neither grapes, nor stoopid-hot chicks, nor DNA samples in amber, nor ridiculous feather fans on-hand, I think you know what I mean.

For now, let's just leave it at, "DC's restructuring is larger than anyone outside the industry -- or even in the industry -- was apparently aware, and continues."

Thank you. Won't you?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Fantastic Four #584 - Vampire Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Bill & Ted 3 - Excellent!

Alex Winter -- Bill S. Preston, Esq. of the eponymous duo -- has confirmed that Bill & Ted 3 is in the works. Though it is too early to know for certain if the project will get a greenlight, Winter says writing team, Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, are working on an idea for the third installment of the most excellent duo. The project began coming together back in March, when former co-star, Keanu Reeves publicly joked that he would be interested in pursuing a third installment of the classic, teenage, stoner comedy.

Winter told MTV the idea had been "kicked-around for years," but scheduling conflicts (well, Reeves' scheduling conflicts) and the fact that George Carlin, who played the team's temporal custodian, Rufus, died in 2008, as well as the lack of a story, "that was, as kind of genuine in spirit as the originals, and without falling prey to kind of retro cynicism or something that was unnecessary," stymied the project. However, Winter said the team has come up with an idea they think is "pretty great," without being cynical or just an excuse to spawn another generation of lame sequels, starring Bill and Ted's kids.

"It's a straight up, what's the funniest and most surprising take on where Bill and Ted would be right now if we stopped back in on them? That's what we're doing."

Winter also told MTV that Carlin's role would not be recast, and they are "trying to be clever" in reworking the part so as not to lose the spirit of Rufus' character and place in the Bill and Ted mythos.

While it's too early to guess at when a Bill & Ted 3 will hit theaters, Winter joked, "We would love to not be doing this when we're 60, I'll leave it at that."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Bluewater Biographies Tackles Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg this December

In December, Bluewater Productions is publishing a 48-page, giant-sized comic book biography based on the life of Mark Zuckerberg: Creator of Facebook, priced at $6.99. Written by Jerome Maida and penciled by Sal Field with cover art by Michal Szyksznian, it will be available from comic book stores and online retailers.

Who is the real Mark Zuckerberg: The young billionaire creator and CEO of Facebook, who recently donated a generous $100 million to public schools in Newark, or the cold-blooded businessman who walks over people to get what he wants, as he is portrayed in the critically-acclaimed movie, The Social Network? The answer, of course, lay somewhere in-between, and Bluewater Productions is filling that gap by exploring the website's founder in the comic book medium.

"This is a fascinating story," says Maida. "I enjoyed researching it, because it's extremely compelling. Think about it: Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire on the planet and [has] created something that has already had a profound impact on the world -- yet, hardly anyone knows much about him. It's amazing!"

The road to success, Maida says, was not preordained, nor was it always a smooth ride. "Mark was offered loads of money at a young age and turned all his suitors down because, deep down, he knew he had higher goals than to work for someone else.

"Bill Gates offered Mark $1 million dollars while Mark was still in highschool, and Mark turned it down. I mean, how many high school kids will ever be made an offer like that? Very few. And how many would have the confidence to turn it down and pursue their own path? Very few, if any. But that's what Mark did."

Of course, he wasn't able to do everything on his own. He received help, to various degrees and in different capacities, from others, and few of these business relationships ended well.

"Rightly or wrongly, Mark dealt harshly with some people on his way to where he is today," says Maida. "As we see, [many people believe he betrayed them]. I try my best to be fair here; no one is totally innocent in this story, [and] I try to represent each of the major players' points of view."

"Bluewater is looking to tell unique stories -- not just those of celebrities," said publisher Darren G. Davis. "The first biography one-shot we are doing is about Father Yod and The Source Family, and Mark Zuckerberg will follow the next month. These books are not only good reading... [they] are also being used in schools and libraries. ”

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Quentin Tarantino's Editor, Sally Menke, Found Dead

Sally Menke, who edited director, Quentin Tarantino's films, as well as the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was found dead on a Los Angeles walking trail early this morning. Menke had been hiking with a friend when the two became separated. The friend called police when she could not locate Menke; police used dogs and a helicopter to find her body.

Yesterday was the hottest day ever on record for Los Angeles, with recorded temperatures reaching 113º, but Menke's body will be examined by a coroner to see if any prevailing condition(s) contributed to the 57-year-old's death.

Menke was nominated for an Oscar for both Pulp Fiction and Inglourious Basterds.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Black Widow #7

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Proof Returning in Endangered

Cult hit PROOF relaunches this December with PROOF: ENDANGERED #1

Berkeley, CA - 24 September 2010 - Sasquatch John "Proof" Prufrock has always wondered about where he came from. He will get some answers this December with the release of PROOF: ENDANGERED #1. Proof may also find himself in the greatest danger of his life!

Written by Alex Grecian and drawn by Riley Rossmo (COWBOY NINJA VIKING), PROOF has been a cult hit over its recently completed 28-issue run. PROOF: ENDANGERED marks a new ongoing chapter in the series.

"With PROOF, we established a book and a world," says Grecian. "With ENDANGERED, we're going to start dismantling that world and ruining Proof's life."

PROOF: ENDANGERED: A mysterious organization threatens The Lodge, a secret government facility whose agents hunt and protect mythological animals. Former agent and sasquatch John "Proof" Prufrock is on the run, hunted by the government he once worked for. He has information that, after 200 years, may finally tell him who he is and where he came from, but he has to turn for help to a teenager who claims to own Proof's body! This is where the series begins all over again!

PROOF: ENDANGERED #1 (OCT100455), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.99 from Image Comics, will be in stores December 15, 2010. Follow the previous adventures of Proof in PROOF VOL. 1: GOATSUCKER TP ($9.99, MAR082085), PROOF VOL. 2: THE COMPANY OF MEN TP ($12.99, OCT082281), PROOF VOL. 3: THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO TP ($14.99, MAY090325), and PROOF VOL. 4: JULIA TP ($16.99, APR100433). PROOF VOL. 5: BLUE FAIRIES TP (OCT100473), a 128-page full-color trade collecting issues 24-28 of the original series for $16.99, will be in stores December 1^st, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Avengers vs. Pet Avengers #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marineman Comes to Image

Ian Churchill brings his all new series MARINEMAN to Image Comics in December

Berkeley, CA - 23 September 2010 - This December will see the release of an all-new Image Comics series chronicling the adventures of a new defender of the oceanic frontier -- MARINEMAN!

Superstar artist Ian Churchill (ELEPHANTMEN, Hulk, Supergirl, Uncanny X-Men) takes on the duties of both artist and writer to bring MARINEMAN to vivid life in this new creator-owned series. The first issue of MARINEMAN will be in stores December 1^st.

Churchill explains, "When I created MARINEMAN over 30 years ago, I always dreamt that one day I would be lucky enough to write and draw comic books professionally and get the opportunity to bring MARINEMAN to as wide an audience as possible. Thanks to Image Comics, my dream is becoming a reality! I hope everyone takes the plunge and rides the wave with me!"

Steve "MARINEMAN" Ocean is a marine biologist and TV presenter -- a man blessed with good looks, a good job, a good circle of friends, and a life many would envy. But Steve Ocean also has a secret -- a secret, which, if revealed, could have perilous consequences for Ocean and everyone in his life. With underwater action and adventure all the way, MARINEMAN may just turn out to be the comic book you didn't know you were missing!

MARINEMAN #1 (OCT100442), a 32-page, full-color comic book, written and drawn by Ian Churchill and released by Image Comics, will be on sale for $3.99 on December 1^st, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Carnage #1 - Art Adams Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Bluewater Presents the Misadventures of Adam West

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Comics Shipping 09-29-10

Here it is, your weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics hitting shelves tomorrow, Wednesday, September 29^th, 2010:

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #644
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #644 SPIDEY VS. VARIANT
ATLAS #5
AVENGERS PRIME #3
CAPTAIN AMERICA #610
CAPTAIN AMERICA: PATRIOT #2
CASANOVA #3
FRANKEN-CASTLE #21
HEROIC AGE: ONE MONTH TO LIVE #5
MARVEL PREVIEWS #86
NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT #2
NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT #2 SHS VARIANT
POWERS #6
SECRET WARRIORS #20
SHADOWLAND: DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
VALKYRIE #1
X-MEN FOREVER 2 #8
X-MEN LEGACY #240
X-MEN LEGACY #240 SHS VARIANT
X-MEN: CURSE OF THE MUTANTS - X-MEN VS. VAMPIRES #1

Collections On-Sale:
DAREDEVIL/ECHO: VISION QUEST PREMIERE HC
FRANKLIN RICHARDS: SON OF A GENIUS ULTIMATE COLLECTION BOOK 1 GN-TPB
HERALDS HC
IRON MAN 2: PUBLIC IDENTITY TPB
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN: AMAZING DIGEST
PUNISHER NOIR GN-TPB
TOMB OF DRACULA VOL. 2 TPB
ULTIMATE COMICS IRON MAN: ARMOR WARS TPB
ULTIMATE X-MEN ULTIMATE COLLECTION BOOK 4 TPB
X-FORCE VOL. 3: NOT FORGOTTEN TPB
X-MEN: SECOND COMING HC

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Mice Templar Vol. 3, #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

McDonald's - OF THE FUTURE!

McDonald's, perhaps the most famous of American fast food restaurants, is launching a full "retooling" -- not just of its menu, but its chain restaurants' design. Some 1600 overseas sites will be renovated, and 400 restaurants across America will be redesigned.

McDonald's COO, Don Thompson, said "People eat with their eyes first." He explained that an "appealing, contemporary, and relevant" exterior and interior makes 'the food taste better.' McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles, New York, and Missouri have already undergone renovation and reported a 6-7% sales increase.

Thompson makes no attempt to hide the fact that this renovation is aimed at the younger generation. He hopes they will see McDonald's as a place to eat, and not just a place to pick-up food.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Walking Dead - Surrender

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Comedian, Greg Giraldo, in Critical Condition Following OD

Stand-up comedian, Greg Giraldo, was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital after collapsing in his hotel room over the weekend. Giraldo, who has discussed his struggles with drugs and alcohol, overdosed on prescription pills and is in critical, but stable, condition. Giraldo most recently served as a judge on NBC's Last Comic Standing but is also a frequent contributor to Comedy Central.

Early reports speculated the popular stand-up comedian had attempted suicide, but sources later rebuked that claim, calling the incident "accidental."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

How to Clean Trucks n Stuff Diecast

If you intend to display trucks n stuff diecast, it is important for you to know how to properly clean these items, especially if you want to take good care of the pieces in your collection. The good news is it is a relatively simple process that can preserve your models for years.

If you have kept your trucks n stuff diecast in its original packaging, all you need to do is wipe them clean with a wet towel and you’re all set. This is all that is required as you only need to remove a bit of dust. However, if you have removed the model from its packaging, you’ll need to use a slightly more meticulous cleaning process to keep your toys gleaming and looking their best.

For starters, keep your diecast truck, etc., out of direct sunlight, as sunlight can fade the color. When it comes to the cleaning process you should begin with a wet paper towel. This allows you to safely remove dust from the object, and it is also good for reaching smaller areas. Use a microfiber cloth to dry it when you are finished with dust removal. Take your time and be very careful as you don’t want to break, bend or alter any of the small pieces that are fragile, such as side mirrors, etc. If you are too afraid to wipe it dry, use a blow dryer on a low setting to remove excess water.

Finally, the last step to the process of cleaning trucks n stuff diescast is to wax it. Simply select a polish you would use on a real car, and apply it just as you would to an actual vehicle using a soft cloth. The wax will help to keep it free from dust while it is being stored. Remember, a collection that is well taken care of lasts for years.

Dynamo 5 Christmas Special

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

SAG Warns Members off Hobbit

SAG, or the Screen Actors' Guild, has sent-out a notice, warning members not to accept work on Peter Jackson's beleaguered Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit -- and they aren't the only ones. According to SAG, and several other international unions, The Hobbit's producers have refused to sign union contracts because they do not want to offer workers standard residuals, which SAG referred to as "less in every respect."

The comments I've read regarding this story elsewhere were pretty split on the union issue, which frankly surprised me. I'm on the fence where unions are concerned; I know there was a need for them many years back but, as many commenters observed, I can't help wondering if their continually increasing demands aren't somewhat to blame for some of the country's, and industries', woes.

Again, there is plenty for which unions have fought that I believe workers -- both union and -non -- should always have gotten (residuals from the Web being one such thing*), but I have to agree that when hiring non-union workers becomes the only way certain businesses, and/or business people, can survive, there's something wrong!

I'm also starting to wonder if God/Fate/Allah, whatever, simply doesn't want The Hobbit to happen...

---
* The Writers' strike in 2007

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Fantastic Four #584 - Art Adams Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Emma Stone as MJ in Spider-Man Reboot?

According to Variety, both Mary-Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy will appear in Marc Webb's (how apropos is that, huh?) reboot of the Spider-Man movie franchise, and Emma Stone is on the short list to portray Spidey's never-to-be wife. Other possible actresses include Teresa Palmer and Lily Collins.

Stone has an impressive resume spanning both TV and movies, including the recent Zombieland. She is also eying a lead role in the upcoming 21 Jump Street flick. Several of Emma Stone's latest films have come from Sony, which is doing both 21 Jump Street and the Spider-Man reboot. If she lands either role, Stone may have to choose between the two projects.

Allow me to belabor the obvious here for just a moment and note that Spider-Man 3 was just released three years ago! Emma Stone may be forced to choose between a "reboot" of a franchise from which the last installment was released to home audiences only about a year ago, and the film "remake" of a 25(+/-)-year-old TV series.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Hulk #26 - Vampire Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Jurassic Park: The Musical

Jurassic Park: The Musical? You are forgiven for not knowing about the musical based on Steven Spielberg's 1993 movie, which was based on Michael Crichton's 1990 book of the same name, as Jurassic Park: The Musical was originally performed before an audience of 250 off, off, off, off Broadway -- in someone's Lincoln, Nebraska backyard back in 2009. Luckily, someone taped it and has now uploaded it to Vimeo, along with an accompanying documentary detailing the behind-the-scenes action.

The rights to Philip Malcolm and Aaron Holmes' magnum opus are available to troupes wishing to perform the two-act, which includes 10 songs with such titles as "Raptors in the Kitchen" and "Born to be Bait." Apparently, at least one troupe in Dallas, Texas has taken on the song and dance tour de force, where it may still be playing. You can find the links to the videos on the blog linked above, but Urlesque has all of them in one, convenient place.

I haven't watched it yet, but only because I read the book before the movie was even made. I know I've seen the movie at least once or twice, though I can't say that I've sat all the way through it. I was not a big fan of the book, which spent far more time explaining Chaos Theory, DNA, and trying to convince the reader that the premise wasn't completely unbelievable, than it did telling the story. This is one of the cases in which the movie is probably better than the book, but I have a feeling Jurassic Park: The Musical is better than both.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Chaos War: Chaos King #1 - Michael Kaluta

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

2010 Record Year for Syndicated Comic Strips

So far, seven features have been launched this year -- four more than in 2009 -- and most were launched prior to Cathy Guisewite's announcement that she is ending her long-running, award-winning feature, Cathy, after 34 years. The Chicago Tribune enlarged its comics features earlier this year, as well, leading one to wonder if the Comics page is on its way back in?

Obviously, this is an attempt to improve circulation and save the newspaper -- which is quickly fading, largely due to the rise of the Internet and smart phones. Will it work? It certainly can't hurt. In fact, the newspaper industry owes a lot to the Comics page, and it could be argued -- probably isn't anywhere near the truth, but it still could be argued -- that newspapers survived the advent of TV with the Comics page, yet isn't faring so well with the advent of the Internet... without said Comics page. Huh? Right?

Our colleagues over to Comics Alliance have a Rundown on all seven features, including samples from each.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Walking Dead: No One is Safe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Heavy Makes History on 'Late Show with David Letterman'

English rock band, The Heavy, made history on the Late Show with David Letterman when the host asked them to play an encore. It's kind of hard to imagine that no band has ever played twice on the same episode, but what's more interesting is that I'd never even thought about it until I saw this article.

Aside from the obvious historicity of the whole thing, it's doubly interesting because Letterman is known to be a kind of hard-ass who has had numerous tiffs with several big-name stars throughout the years, going all the way back to his NBC days, when Cher called him an asshole on-air (of course, the show is taped early in the day and it was bleeped-out, but the censoring made it no less a pop-cultural footnote).

I'd never heard of The Heavy, nor was I aware of their signature song, "How You Like Me Now," but it isn't a bad song. Like most commercial bands, The Heavy probably has a pretty limited shelf-life, but being the first act to play an encore on Late Night with David Letterman is likely enough to keep them touring for several years, and probably secures a "comeback tour" 15-20 years from now.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Heroes for Hire

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

All New, All Different

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

DC Closes Wildstorm, Zuda Imprints

Earlier this week, DC announced that it was closing imprints Wildstorm and Zuda. Zuda, DC's critically-acclaimed digital comics house, had already closed its website earlier in the year, but co-publishers, Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, said that DC was redoubling their digital efforts and the Wildstorm characters would be folded into that universe.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Teri Hatcher Heads to Smallville

Teri Hatcher will guest-star on an upcoming episode of Smallville as Lois Lane's mother. Hatcher played the pin-up reporter in ABC's Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which ran for four seasons. Though she'd gotten her start on The Love Boat, appearing in nearly 30 episodes, and had several roles on TV and the big screen afterward, Lois and Clark proved Hatcher's breakout role. She is even credited as a writer for one 1996 episode.

This is Smallville's 10th and final season and, as we reported previously, the show is pulling out all the stops, with many previous guest-stars returning. Reruns of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman can be found at TheWB. Teri Hatcher is featured in episode eight.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Gun for Hire

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

TRS Plays D&D Encounters

I got this link from a friend who is about my age and is a fellow MST3K enthusiast. This friend also grew-up in the heady days of RPG's heyday and was a big RPGer back then. Like many our age, he no longer has the time to invest in RPG, but that is part of what Dungeons & Dragons Encounters is all about. As the Totally Rad Show explains, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) is releasing one encounter per week, most of which can be played in about an hour, and requires little to no setup.

For what it's worth, these guys lost me from the moment they started talking about the "good ol' days" of 3.5 which... I mean, that was like five years ago, right? I still remember the big to-do over 2E. I don't want to be one of those, "You call this D&D? This ain't D&D; when we were kids, now that was D&D!" But there's a lot of truth to that. And though I applaud the attempt at making it easier for those of us with time constraints to get in a little gaming, and I have not played D&D Encounters for myself (nor even read much about it), few gamers below the age of even 30 know the difference between a roleplaying game and a wargame, and the industry has been blurring that line to their own ends almost from the beginning.

While I could spend whole days posting the differences, when it comes to D&D Encounters, I'll point-out just one: Miniatures are not essential to roleplaying games (RPG). Now, it truly is all "fun and games," but if miniatures are an essential element, then it is most likely a wargame. And, having read a lot on the new 4E, I can safely say -- without having actually played it, without having actually read it -- that 4E is basically a wargame designed to compete with online "RPG" like "World of Warcraft."

Also, these guys have a fit of the Nerdgiggles, which tells me they've never actually roleplayed. I don't doubt they had the books, or at least hung-out with a guy who did, nor do I doubt they took a stab at generating characters and maybe even actually playing once or twice, but I don't think they were ever gamers. I've nothing against them, mind you, but this little demo tells me next to nothing about the game, and more experienced [former, even] players could have shone a light on the differences between this and older incarnations, other RPG systems, and so on. Still, these guys should have at least compared it to videogames, MMORPG, and similar fare with which you know they are familiar.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Wolverine: The Best There Is #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Comics Shipping 09-22-10

Here's your weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics shipping this week, September 22^nd, 2010. I know I missed last week's Rundown of Marvel Comics, and I was going to go ahead and post it for completeness, but decided against it only because I have so much else to do. I'll try not to let it happen again! These Marvel Comics are available today and should be on your retailer's shelves -- unless he's sold-out already!

Comics On-Sale:
ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #3
AVENGERS #3 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
AVENGERS #5
AVENGERS #5 JRJR CHARACTER VARIANT
AVENGERS #5 SHS VARIANT
AVENGERS ACADEMY #4 (HA)
AVENGERS ACADEMY #4 MCKONE VARIANT (HA)
BLACK WIDOW #6
BLACK WIDOW #6 CAMPBELL VARIANT
CASANOVA #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
CASANOVA #2 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER - THE JOURNEY BEGINS #5
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #889
FANTASTIC FOUR #583 (THREE)
FANTASTIC FOUR #583 ADAMS VARIANT (THREE)
FANTASTIC FOUR #583 SHS VARIANT (THREE)
FANTASTIC FOUR #583 THREE LOGO VARIANT (THREE)
HEROIC AGE: ONE MONTH TO LIVE #4
HIT-MONKEY #3
HULK #25
HULK #25 HARDMAN WRAPAROUND VARIANT
HULK #25 TAN VARIANT
MARVEL SUPER SPECIAL #1
MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. THE PUNISHER #1 2ND-PRINTING WRAPAROUND VARIANT
MILLAR & MCNIVEN'S NEMESIS #3
NEW AVENGERS #2 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
SECRET AVENGERS #5
SECRET AVENGERS #5 DEODATO VARIANT
SECRET AVENGERS #5 SHS VARIANT
SENSE & SENSIBILITY #5
SHADOWLAND: DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #2
SHADOWLAND: MOON KNIGHT #2
SPIDER-MAN #6
THOR #615
THOR #615 QUESADA VARIANT
THOR THE MIGHTY AVENGER: DOUBLE RAINBOW #1
ULTIMATE COMICS MYSTERY #3
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #14
UNCANNY X-MEN #528
X-CAMPUS #4
X-FORCE: SEX AND VIOLENCE #2 2ND PRINTING VARIANT

Collections On-Sale:
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE - DREAMS & NIGHTMARES TPB
AVENGERS: UNDER SIEGE PREMIERE HC
AVENGERS: UNDER SIEGE PREMIERE HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN TPB
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN TPB QUESADA COVER (DM ONLY)
CIVIL WAR: AVENGERS HC
DEADPOOL & CABLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION BOOK 3 TPB
GIRL COMICS HC
HUSK PREMIERE HC
IRON MAN NOIR PREMIERE HC
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS: IRON MAN DIGEST
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 4 TPB
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 4 TPB VARIANT (DM ONLY)
MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN TPB
NEW AVENGERS: LUKE CAGE - TOWN WITHOUT PITY TPB
THE 'NAM VOL. 2 TPB
WOLVERINE: THE RECKONING PREMIERE HC

*HA = Heroic Age tie-in
*THREE = Fantastic Four: Three tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Carnage #1 - Zircher Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! - Coming to Disney XD This October

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Lindsay Lohan's Baby Bump, Failed Drug Test, Standing Bench Warrant

A judge has issued a warrant for Lindsay Lohan's arrest after a drug test turned-up positive for cocaine and amphetamines. Sources say LiLo will remain free until Friday, when she is due in court. Many experts expect her to do between 30 and 45 days

A week or so back, the rumor mill churned with tales of Lindsay Lohan hitting a baby buggy with her Maserati. There were several versions of the "baby bump" story, from her barely touching the buggy to her tearing down the street and through both infant and mother, slowing just enough for the windshield wipers to sweep away the blood of the innocent. Either way, the story was never really confirmed, but all revised scenarios agreed that, if it did happen, it was just a little bump. A little baby bump.

Now though, Lindsay's failed drug test could land her in jail for up to 30 days before the hearing. If she is remanded to custody Friday, she will remain in jail until her hearing, which could be set up to 30 days later. If the judge decides to give her jail time due to the failed drug test, it would be on top of the time she spends in jail, waiting for court.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Black Widow #6 - Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Detective for Hire

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Man-Thing by Chris Samnee

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Evi, Randy Quaid Arrested Again

Comedic character actor, Randy Quaid, and his wife, Evi, were arrested over the weekend in Santa Barbara on felony burglary charges and misdemeanor entering a noncommercial building without consent. Evi Quaid was also charged with resisting arrest.

According to reports, police responded Saturday to a call that a couple had been staying in a Montecito residence guest house without permission. The Quaids told police they owned the property, but a representative for the homeowner provided documentation proving it had been purchased in 2007 from a man who had bought it from the Quaids -- back in the 1990s! A contractor then showed police an estimated $5000+ in damages to the guest house, which he blamed on the couple. Bail was set at $50,000 apiece.

Randy and Evi Quaid have been in this position before -- quite recently, in fact: A year ago this month, they were charged with defrauding a Montecito hotelier of $10k+ when Evi Quaid used an invalid credit card at San Ysidro Ranch, That also netted them conspiracy and burglary charges. The Senior DA, Arnie Tolks, said the pair had also used an invalid card at The Biltmore, another luxury resort in Santa Barbara.

Though felony charges against the actor were dropped, Randy Quaid's wife, Evi, pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of defrauding an innkeeper and was sentenced to three years' probation and 240 hours of community service.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Illuminati Returns!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Gaiman Set to Guest on 'Arthur'

Sandman comic book and graphic novel scribe, Neil Gaiman, is set to guest-star on PBS' animated children's show, Arthur. In the episode entitled "Falafelosophy," Gaiman plays an anthropomorphic, feline librarian who inspires Sue Ellen to create her own graphic novel. The second story of the episode also centers around comic books: "Tales of the Grotesquely Grim Bunny" has to do with new inventory at Elwood's comic book shop.

Gaiman, Sandman, and TV made the blog just last week when we brought you yet another story on the property's decades-long journey to the screen. Numerous contractual issues have kept Sandman stalled since the 1990s.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

TRON: Betrayal #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

61 Years Ago Today, Wile E. Coyote First Chased a Road Runner

On September 16^th, 1949, the world was introduced to two of Warner Brothers' most endearing cartoon characters: Wile E. Coyote, and the Road Runner he has yet to catch. Over the years, the two have run their way through 48 cartoon shorts, most of which were done by the legendary Chuck Jones.

The characters first appeared in 1949's "Fast and Furry-ous," though neither was named at the time. Though the wolf in the feature is obviously Wile E. Coyote, he is billed only as Carnivorous Vulgaris; likewise, the Road Runner is billed as Accelleratii Incredibus. The "E." in Coyote's name was later developed into "Ethelbert" in an issue of the Looney Tunes comic book, Beep Beep the Roadrunner, in which the Road Runner was known as Beep Beep. However, the writer, none other than Mark Evanier, said he never meant for the "Ethelbert" to be accepted as canon, he simply used it for a joke.

It wasn't until 1952 that Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner became vocal. Wile E. Coyote speaks only in the handful of cartoons in which he appears alongside Bugs Bunny. Road Runner only ever said one word ("Beep," of course), and was not voiced by Mel Blanc but Paul Julian.

No post about the pair would be complete without mentioning the third character, Wile E. Coyote's gadget manufacturer, ACME. The word is actually from the Greek ακμή, which is best defined as zenith -- the best of the best, in short. It has since been established as an acronym, meaning A Company that Makes Everything. ACME has actually featured in numerous TV and radio shows, cartoons, and movies.
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* Obviously, this entry was posted late. I backdated it (well, only by time) to maintain the integrity.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guarding the Globe #1 - Second-Printing Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Happy Birthday, Mike Mignola! (Hellboy)

Mike Mignola, best known as the artist and creator of Hellboy, turns the big five-oh (50) today and The Weirding and The Rundown want to wish him a very happy birthday! Mignola started turning heads back in the late 80s with his work on Big Two titles such as Alpha Flight, The Incredible Hulk, and Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and numerous comic book covers. In 1993, Mike Mignola teamed with other industry heavyweights, such as John Byrne and Frank Miller, to create the Legend imprint under the Dark Horse banner, under which he released Hellboy in 1994.

Mike Mignola continues to write and contribute to Hellboy, which now spans several graphic novels and a number of ongoing titles. He has also written a novel and worked on several Hollywood films (including two adaptations based on his Hellboy series).

Happy birthday, Mikey boy!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

On OMIT (One Moment In Time)

Comics Alliance published an article yesterday in which the author discusses why Amazing Spider-Man #641, O.M.I.T., wasn't necessary. Apparently, Quesada "breaks down" the minutiae behind the whole Mephisto/wedding/Aunt May storyline which single-handedly redacted 20+ years of Spider-Man history.

David Brothers does a good job of explaining why the story was unnecessary, saying:

More than any question of Mary Jane's motivations, more than Spider-Man being constantly off-balance and behaving like a schmuck throughout the story, the biggest problem with "OMIT" doesn't have to do with the story itself. The biggest problem is a question: Who wanted this story?

He goes on to suggest that regular readers had been enjoying "some of the best Spider-Man stories in twenty [sic] years," while "O.M.I.T."'s most vocal critics proudly boasted of no longer reading the title, and ASM #641 was as much a kick in the face to the former as it was yet another round in the chamber for the latter. However, one commenter takes him to task and explains precisely what I said about the entire thing sometime back:

I quit Spider Man [sic] because I can't think of a better example of lazier, sloppier, and more personally fan-offensive writing in the history of comics. [The handling of the story] is nothing short of a slap in the face to the fans. And it's SO LAZY.

I've said it at least a handful of times here: I love comic books and I'd love to work in the industry, specifically at/with Marvel on at least two characters (Moon Knight and Daredevil), and I understand that some of my criticisms may -- if not already have -- ruin[ed] my chances of doing so, but seeing as how we're talking about my goddamn money, I'll say whatever the hell I want and deal with the consequences like a big boy. Unfortunately, I doubt the Devil will "wave his magic wand," as Caesar so succinctly puts it, and change that for me; I'll have to deal with the decisions I make, and as a reader -- and, specifically, a writer -- I was flat-out offended by the entire concept! So my decision was to voice that opinion and not read Spider-Man.

If you are that bad a writer, QUIT! There's a Johnny Cochrane for you: "If you must O.M.I.T., you ought to quit!" Step away from the keyboard and get back to the drafting table, Joey Q; you are a phenomenal penciler, but any two-bit hack who can chicken-peck his way across the QWERTY can pull the crap you did on ASM.

Again, at the risk of cutting my own throat (I'm fucking talented, and that used to count for something, so for whatever it's worth -- I'm the man, not the work), Marvel Comics haven't been very good since Joe Quesada took the helm. Period. How many mega-crossover events, reboots, retools, and reshoots should we subject ourselves to? The overall quality of the entire line -- the Marvel Universe -- and the Marvel brand itself has suffered from, what seems to be, one man's misguided vision.

The great thing about art is that there is more than enough room for mistakes -- hell, some of the best works were hated by their creators -- but Joe Quesada doesn't seem to get that his vision for the Marvel Universe is not winning the Marvel brand any fans. Either that or he just flat-out does not care.

Quesada's -- and Marvel's -- position on their characters is clear: They are properties -- not characters, not art, not entertainment; comic books are product, not art. These are commercial properties to be exploited for maximum financial return and anyone who fails to understand that, frankly, deserves a "slap in the face." I disagree, Frank Miller disagrees, Alan Moore disagrees, and many, many others disagree... but, you know. Whatever.

Marvel's Submissions Editor, C.B. Celuski, explained Marvel's position in about 140 characters yesterday. To quote someone else, "'Nuff said."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Walking Dead: No Way Out

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

31 Days o' Horror

Thanks to Netflix' streaming movies and my love for splatter-flicks, I am going to review 31 horror movies throughout October. Rest assured, there will still be plenty of comics-related news and such, but because I am pulling back on the blogging here, and most comics are just not very entertaining, I'm going back to the old formula: If I like and want to discuss it, it's going in the pot.

And I love me some horror flicks.

I'll be focusing largely on the 1980' slasher flicks, as well as "Satanic" and supernatural fare, because "psychological thrillers" and PG-13 fare is largely shite. Just because your movie is based on a serial killer or has some horror elements does not make it a horror movie, proper, and I'm reviewing horror movies -- few of which are for children.

RESIDENTS OF MASSACHUSETTS SHOULD NOT READ THIS BLOG UNDER PENALTY OF LAW.

Because I'm pursuing other projects, including a hopeful update of the site this Halloween (as usual), there will be some days with more than one review. All reviews will be tagged "Horror, Movies, Reviews."

That is all.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Assassin for Hire

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Kieron Gillen Joins Matt Fraction on Uncanny X-Men

Marvel is proud to announce that newly-exclusive writer Kieron Gillen (Thor, Generation Hope) will join Eisner-winning, superstar writer Matt Fraction as co-writer on Uncanny X-Men! Beginning with Uncanny X-Men #531, Fraction and Gillen pit the X-Men against what may be their greatest threat yet—the loss of their powers at the hands of the Sublime Corporation, as the malevolent force puts into action its master plan!

"For the last thirty years, Uncanny X-Men has been superhero comics' truest reflection of the age. That's what I have to live up to and take it into the future, trying to write the definitive 20-teen take on the X-Men,” explained Gillen. “Any less is underselling what the book deserves. Co-writing with Matt seems a worryingly natural development, as we were friends, then were working together creating the five lights for Generation Hope. The exclusive is the proverbial gravy. In the words of Ms. Knowles: 'They liked it. They put a ring on it.'"

Fraction added, “As a writer? This feels like Kieron and I have already been working on the book for several months anyway, what with the ‘Five Lights’ story and cueing up what he needed for Generation Hope, so this is a perfectly natural extension of that. As a reader? There's literally no one else in the world I want to read writing X-Men more than Kieron. He's great. He's dangerously great. And he's dying... Dying TO ENTERTAIN YOU.”

A bold new era for the X-Men begins in December as Matt Fraction and Kieron Gillen join forces in Uncanny X-Men #531!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Uncanny X-Force #1 - J. Scott Campbell Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Halcyon - Coming in November

Marc Guggenheim's new ongoing series from Image Comics now titled HALCYON

Berkeley, CA - 9 September 2010 - What happens when the never-ending battle for truth and justice ends? Marc Guggenheim (Amazing Spider-Man, Resurrection) answers this question and more in HALCYON (entitled Utopian when announced during Comic-Con International and in the September PREVIEWS), a new series from Image Comics.

A seasoned comic book writer, Guggenheim has also worked on high-profile projects such as the upcoming Green Lantern movie and No Ordinary Family, a new ABC series about a family that discovers they have superpowers, starring Michael Chiklis. Created in collaboration with Tara Butters (TV's Reaper), artist Ryan Bodenheim (RED MASS FOR MARS), and Collider Entertainment's Alisa Tager (Serenity), the revolutionary first issue of HALCYON will be in stores this November.

"We've been immensely gratified by all the buzz around, and interest in, this project after we announced it as Utopian at San Diego Comic-Con," says Guggenheim, "and I'm hopeful people will be just as excited about the new title."

From Image Comics and Collider Entertainment comes the next quantum leap forward in superheroes: HALCYON. The groundbreaking new series dares to ask: What happens when the superheroes win? What happens once there is no crime, no war? The heroes of HALCYON achieve their final victory only to face their greatest challenge ever.

HALCYON #1 (SEPT100433), a full-color, 32-page comic book for $2.99, will be in stores November 10, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010