Welcome to MichaelMoore.com!: "Dear Mr. Bush:
Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.
Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?"
(Thanks to Nainsi)
Friday, September 02, 2005
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Sara Ryan: Coffee and chicory, regular
So I was coping okay with the New Orleans tragedy, the way you do when you're at a distance and don't know anyone there. And then I read this post from Sara Ryan, and I thought, "I know that place. I've been to Cafe du Monde." And that suddenly just made it personal.
Six, seven years ago, I stayed at a bed & breakfast at New Orleans, run by a young woman who had raised the money to buy the place by working as a sailor. And, sometime in the past six years, I lost her card with her address and phone number and everything, and I find myself hoping that she's okay.
So I was coping okay with the New Orleans tragedy, the way you do when you're at a distance and don't know anyone there. And then I read this post from Sara Ryan, and I thought, "I know that place. I've been to Cafe du Monde." And that suddenly just made it personal.
Six, seven years ago, I stayed at a bed & breakfast at New Orleans, run by a young woman who had raised the money to buy the place by working as a sailor. And, sometime in the past six years, I lost her card with her address and phone number and everything, and I find myself hoping that she's okay.
NBC sends armed guards to lawless Gulf Coast - Yahoo! News: "NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC News has sent private
security personnel to the increasingly dicey Gulf Coast region
to help keep its employees safe while covering the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina.
The private security officers, usually former soldiers or
police, are licensed to carry firearms and are trained to keep
the situation under control so that journalists can do their
jobs safely. That's becoming increasingly difficult in New
Orleans and in Gulfport, Miss., where there aren't enough
police or National Guardsmen to keep the streets safe."
I can't even begin to list all the pieces of "the future is going to suck" fiction that I've read that include public service tasks like policing and medical care being taken over by the private sector...
security personnel to the increasingly dicey Gulf Coast region
to help keep its employees safe while covering the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina.
The private security officers, usually former soldiers or
police, are licensed to carry firearms and are trained to keep
the situation under control so that journalists can do their
jobs safely. That's becoming increasingly difficult in New
Orleans and in Gulfport, Miss., where there aren't enough
police or National Guardsmen to keep the streets safe."
I can't even begin to list all the pieces of "the future is going to suck" fiction that I've read that include public service tasks like policing and medical care being taken over by the private sector...
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Okay, this'll be about TV. And it won't be too long, because other stuff is actually grabbing my attention more right now. But I can't talk about the family pressures, because that's family, and nobody's business. Can't talk about the personal stuff, because it's personal, and doesn't need to be broadcast over the internet. And can't talk about the work stuff, or next week's trip to Oregon, because someone involved may be reading this. Or not. You never know.
So, that leaves TV, and the first new show of the fall season to get my attention: Prison Break, on Fox. Decided to check it out since the soon-to-be-former TV Guide gave it an okay review, making it sound like "the good show on Fox that isn't House." (An aside about TV Guide: do they really think that converting it to a magazine about TV with minimal listings is really what anybody wants? Please. It's like Playboy; nobody reads TV Guide for the articles.)
Anyway, after the first hour, I liked it just fine, enough to want to watch the second hour. (This was not a two-hour episode, but two one-hour episodes back to back.) The acting is solid, the writing has that "we're a really serious drama, so nobody crack a smile" feel that made the first season of 24 worth watching, before they realized that there really isn't a second story, and it doesn't make me squirm in my chair the way Oz did on HBO. The problem is, it's a show about people trying to break out of prison called Prison Break. So what is necessarily the one thing that will not happen, ever? That's right. It's like Gilligan's Island, really. Only this stars Dominic Purcell from Blade: Trinity, which I did see, and John Doe, which I did not. And it stars Sarah Wayne Callie, the good thing about WB's deservedly short-lived Tarzan series from, what, just last year, maybe? Or the year before that? So hard to remember the failures... Anyway, she's still all hot and stuff, in a more-mature-than-Jessica-Alba sort of way. And Robin Tunney is in it, too. So... Eye candy.
Time will tell.
So, that leaves TV, and the first new show of the fall season to get my attention: Prison Break, on Fox. Decided to check it out since the soon-to-be-former TV Guide gave it an okay review, making it sound like "the good show on Fox that isn't House." (An aside about TV Guide: do they really think that converting it to a magazine about TV with minimal listings is really what anybody wants? Please. It's like Playboy; nobody reads TV Guide for the articles.)
Anyway, after the first hour, I liked it just fine, enough to want to watch the second hour. (This was not a two-hour episode, but two one-hour episodes back to back.) The acting is solid, the writing has that "we're a really serious drama, so nobody crack a smile" feel that made the first season of 24 worth watching, before they realized that there really isn't a second story, and it doesn't make me squirm in my chair the way Oz did on HBO. The problem is, it's a show about people trying to break out of prison called Prison Break. So what is necessarily the one thing that will not happen, ever? That's right. It's like Gilligan's Island, really. Only this stars Dominic Purcell from Blade: Trinity, which I did see, and John Doe, which I did not. And it stars Sarah Wayne Callie, the good thing about WB's deservedly short-lived Tarzan series from, what, just last year, maybe? Or the year before that? So hard to remember the failures... Anyway, she's still all hot and stuff, in a more-mature-than-Jessica-Alba sort of way. And Robin Tunney is in it, too. So... Eye candy.
Time will tell.
Hooters serves up classic cheesecake: "Betty Boop, the saucy cartoon character who first appeared in 1930, is now making the rounds as the latest Hooters Girl.
"
For a variety of reasons, not able to write about the news right now. (What could I say that wouldn't just upset and depress me? Better to just donate money to help the folks in New Orleans, really.) But this one, I can't just let slide by.
"
For a variety of reasons, not able to write about the news right now. (What could I say that wouldn't just upset and depress me? Better to just donate money to help the folks in New Orleans, really.) But this one, I can't just let slide by.
James Bond 007 - CommanderBond.net - James Bond At Its Best - Latest News - Robert Wade Talks Haggis' 'Royale' Rewrite: "In an interview with James Bond screenwriter Robert Wade, screendaily.com today confirmed Oscar nominee Paul Haggis has joined Casino Royale's crew to rewrite the film's script. The trade revealed Haggis will do a three-week script polish on the second draft of the script before the January 2006 shoot."
Love James Bond, of course. Also love Paul Haggis' writing, ever since the first episode of Due South (the final season coming soon on DVD... can't actually be bothered to find a link right now, but feel free to Google it). They've got their peanut butter in my chocolate, they have.
Love James Bond, of course. Also love Paul Haggis' writing, ever since the first episode of Due South (the final season coming soon on DVD... can't actually be bothered to find a link right now, but feel free to Google it). They've got their peanut butter in my chocolate, they have.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Dutch authorities investigate "Big Brother" baby - Yahoo! News: "AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch authorities are investigating
plans by the producers of the 'Big Brother' reality television
show to include a pregnant contestant who will give birth on
the show."
plans by the producers of the 'Big Brother' reality television
show to include a pregnant contestant who will give birth on
the show."
EXCERPT FROM MY DOG'S DIARY
8:00 a.m. Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9:30 a.m. Oh, boy! A car ride! My favorite!
9:40 a.m. Oh, boy! A walk! My favorite!
10:30 a.m. Oh, boy! Getting rubbed and petted! My favorite!
11:30 a.m. Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
Noon - Oh, boy! The kids! My favorite!
1:00 p.m. Oh, boy! The yard! My favorite!
4:00 p.m. Oh, boy! To the park! My favorite!
5:00 p.m. Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5:30 p.m. Oh, boy! Pretty Mums! My favorite!
6:00 p.m. Oh, boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6:30 p.m. Oh, boy! Watching TV with my master! My favorite!
8:30 p.m. Oh, boy! Sleeping in my master's bed! My favorite!
EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DAILY DIARY:
Day 183 of My Captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little
dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat
dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the
mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture.
Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by
weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded; must try
this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again
induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair, must try this on their bed.
Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in an attempt to make
them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their
hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was.
(Hmmm, not working according to plan.)
There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in
solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell
the food. More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to my
power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my ad! vantage.
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches.
The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is
obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, and
speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his
current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait;
it is only a matter of time.
8:00 a.m. Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9:30 a.m. Oh, boy! A car ride! My favorite!
9:40 a.m. Oh, boy! A walk! My favorite!
10:30 a.m. Oh, boy! Getting rubbed and petted! My favorite!
11:30 a.m. Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
Noon - Oh, boy! The kids! My favorite!
1:00 p.m. Oh, boy! The yard! My favorite!
4:00 p.m. Oh, boy! To the park! My favorite!
5:00 p.m. Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5:30 p.m. Oh, boy! Pretty Mums! My favorite!
6:00 p.m. Oh, boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6:30 p.m. Oh, boy! Watching TV with my master! My favorite!
8:30 p.m. Oh, boy! Sleeping in my master's bed! My favorite!
EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DAILY DIARY:
Day 183 of My Captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little
dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat
dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the
mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture.
Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by
weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded; must try
this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again
induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair, must try this on their bed.
Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in an attempt to make
them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their
hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was.
(Hmmm, not working according to plan.)
There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in
solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell
the food. More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to my
power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my ad! vantage.
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches.
The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is
obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, and
speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his
current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait;
it is only a matter of time.
Monday, August 22, 2005
San Diego Zoo Exhibit: Panda Cam at the Giant Panda Research Station
Just something I like to look at when I'm feeling like crap...
Just something I like to look at when I'm feeling like crap...
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Okay, so, in mere minutes, Catwoman premieres on cable movie channel Cinemax (the only premium cable channel I get that shows softcore porn every single night! Not that I watch it...). By all accounts, Catwoman, starring Oscar-winner Halle Berry and based not even the slightest bit on the classic DC Comics character, is a truly abysmal movie. But now, without having to leave the comfort of my home, without having to rent a DVD or anything, I get to see for myself how true that is! And I can just watch a little bit of it, and then just give up, if I so desire! Such a deal!
In other news, I should probably warn anyone reading that there continues to be a fairly high probability of posts here about comics in the near future. The thing is, my life currently seems to be balanced between two high-stress points, and I'm not really willing to talk about either of them here. But they're the focus of what's going on around me right now, and reading comics has been my distraction. So that's what I can talk about. If you're a regular reader, and don't care to hear about 1970s Jim Aparo comics or why the first issue of the new Supergirl comic is pretty lame, probably a good idea to just skim the first sentence or two of each new post. I'll make it clear that early if it's just going to be about comics, or something else.
In other news, I should probably warn anyone reading that there continues to be a fairly high probability of posts here about comics in the near future. The thing is, my life currently seems to be balanced between two high-stress points, and I'm not really willing to talk about either of them here. But they're the focus of what's going on around me right now, and reading comics has been my distraction. So that's what I can talk about. If you're a regular reader, and don't care to hear about 1970s Jim Aparo comics or why the first issue of the new Supergirl comic is pretty lame, probably a good idea to just skim the first sentence or two of each new post. I'll make it clear that early if it's just going to be about comics, or something else.
news from me - ARCHIVES: "The Blondie newspaper strip will be 75 years old on September 8. To celebrate, members of her clan are paying visits to other strips to invite their characters to a big party. "
Admittedly, many of the strips the Blondie characters will be appearing in are ones I don't read (Oh, look; Dick Tracy is on the list... and I read that one, so imagine the ones I don't... In fact, email me with your guesses of the ones I don't read) but it's a cute idea. And, unlike a current crossover that a particular comics company is running, I would imagine that not a single one of these is required reading to understand what's going on in Blondie...
Admittedly, many of the strips the Blondie characters will be appearing in are ones I don't read (Oh, look; Dick Tracy is on the list... and I read that one, so imagine the ones I don't... In fact, email me with your guesses of the ones I don't read) but it's a cute idea. And, unlike a current crossover that a particular comics company is running, I would imagine that not a single one of these is required reading to understand what's going on in Blondie...
Friday, August 19, 2005
In the current strip, Dick Tracy is fighting a DVD piracy ring. Does anything scream "written by old people for old people" any more loudly?
Monday, August 15, 2005
lis.dom: books they don't want on display in Hillsborough County, FL: "t's not the job of librarians to highlight collections of books, argued Patrick McDowell, a Tampa resident who frequents the West Gate library branch, where one pride display was removed. 'I would defend their right to have the books in the library, but it's not their job to promote books.''"
(Seriously, it's complete coincidence that I've found all this anti-Florida stuff in the space of an hour, without even looking. Or maybe not so much coincidence as the fact that the loudest folks in Florida appear to be close-minded, redneck, booger-eatin' morons. Either way.)
(Seriously, it's complete coincidence that I've found all this anti-Florida stuff in the space of an hour, without even looking. Or maybe not so much coincidence as the fact that the loudest folks in Florida appear to be close-minded, redneck, booger-eatin' morons. Either way.)
My Way News: "Sex offenders tracked by the state are banned from public hurricane shelters in Florida under a new policy that allows them to weather the storms in prison instead."
Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, Fla.
: "Valparaiso librarian suspended after patrons visit porno sites"
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Fox hot for 2nd season of 'Hell's Kitchen' - Yahoo! News: "LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Broadcasting Co. has
ordered a second course of its summer reality hit 'Hell's
Kitchen.' The culinary competition, which delivered solid
Nielsen numbers for the network this summer, has been renewed
for roughly 10 episodes, with Gordon Ramsay returning as the
highly opinionated judge."
ordered a second course of its summer reality hit 'Hell's
Kitchen.' The culinary competition, which delivered solid
Nielsen numbers for the network this summer, has been renewed
for roughly 10 episodes, with Gordon Ramsay returning as the
highly opinionated judge."
Sunday, August 07, 2005
So, the Batman post that's been up the last couple of days was only supposed to be a draft. I certainly didn't mean to include all my work contact info (plus my name). So that's been pulled until I finish it. But it's time for my monthly rundown of what I'm looking at ordering from Previews (the comics catalog) this month. These would be comics coming out in October, for those keeping track:
NEXUS ARCHIVES VOLUME 1 from Dark Horse Comics
Nexus was a favorite of mine as a kid. Mike Baron is a fantastic writer, Steve Rude is an even better artist, and the fact that they apparently can't sell new issues of this work of genius is a crying shame. (And says too much about the comic book marketplace these days.) This reprint is pricy, but it's one of those series I don't mind paying for a really nice edition. And if the people who want more don't buy this one, there won't be more.
13TH SON: WORSE THING WAITING from Dark Horse Comics
Only one thing better than a horror comic drawn by Kelley Jones, and that's one that's also written by Kelley Jones. Nice to see him finally back doing his own stories again. This looks very Lovecraftian (no surprise there), and ... well, I want to say it'll do nicely while waiting for the next Hellboy story, but really, I've been waiting for a new all-Jones story even longer. So there.
BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE from DC Comics
DC may have driven me away from the monthly, ongoing Batman books by making them stupid, but that doesn't mean I don't want to read good, self-contained story-driven Batman tales. And while I don't buy everything he writes, I do enjoy every Steve Niles story that I read. And Scott Hampton is a longtime favorite, particularly the Batman graphic novel he did once upon a time with Archie Goodwin (whose title I forget...)
CATWOMAN: WHEN IN ROME HARDCOVER from DC
I love the stories Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale do, but they read so quick, I always wait until they're collected. And now this one is being collected. Case closed.
INFINITE CRISIS #1 from DC
I know what I said. But, the thing is, I really had been looking forward to this story. Plus, if I wait until it's collected, there's no way I'll be able to avoid online spoilers, or even spoilers in the comics I read. (Although, for what it's worth, Jeph Loeb will be off Superman/Batman by that point, so I'll be off it too, and DC has already said that Plastic Man and Legion of Super-Heroes won't be affected by the stuff in IC. But stuff will almost certainly come up in Gotham Central, since they've announced that it'll be crossing over into IC, and Birds of Prey exists pretty squarely in the center of DC continuity these days. And probably Jeph Loeb's Supergirl comic--which he'll be leaving soon enough anyway--will be the same...) So, I'm biting the bullet, but I refuse to buy any extra crossover comics just to be sure I get the complete story, and don't get hosed, a la OMAC Project. But I also go into this knowing I might well end up missing important parts of the story if I don't buy every single crossover, and I accept that, so I can't complain.
SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAMORPHO VOLUME 1 from DC
It's something like 200 pages of Silver Age Metamorpho stories in black and white. I'm so there. Although, having heard the price has been reduced from 14.99 to 9.99, I wonder if it'll be the bookstore-friendly manga size? If it is, that's okay. Ten bucks for about twenty old comics stories is fine by me.
ELFQUEST ARCHIVES VOLUME 3
What I said about loving Nexus enough to pay 50.00 for the fancy hardcover reprints? Same here.
LOVELESS #1 from DC/Vertigo
Brian Azzarello is a fantastic writer when he's doing his own stuff, and I love the idea of a dark Western series (and ongoing, not a miniseries). Sold.
FEAR AGENT #1 from Image
When I was a kid, reprints of the old EC sci-fi, horror, and war comics were the first non-superhero, non-funny comics I read. And here's a comic that promises to combine all three EC genres as influences. And they had the good sense to put preview pages in the catalog to show that they're doing just that.
SHE-HULK 2 #1 from Marvel
Had a soft spot for She-Hulk all the way back in the 80s, and then the first incarnation of this series turned out to be real good. I bought it and read it until it ended, and now it's back.
MARVEL MONSTERS (four one-shots) from Marvel
Four comics by folks like Steve Niles, Duncan Fegredo, Eric Powell, Peter David, Roger Langridge, plus reprints of 50s and 60s Jack Kirby monster stories. If Marvel Comics were good, they'd probably be like these.
BOOK OF LOST SOULS #1 from Marvel
J. Michael Straczynski's work for Top Cow, particularly the series he did with Gary Frank whose title I forget right now, were really pretty good. His work on Marvel superheroes hasn't really approached that level. This new series, with art by Colleen Doran, looks to be more of the former than the latter, so I'll try it.
STOKER'S DRACULA HARDCOVER from Marvel
I didn't buy the miniseries by Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano (childhood favorite creators) that adapts the original Dracula novel, because I wanted to wait for the collection. And here it is.
LIVEWIRES: CLOCKWORK THUGS, YO Digest from Marvel
Wasn't about to order the miniseries sight unseen, even if it is by Adam Warren and frequent collaborator Rick Mays. (See comments about JMS's company work, above.) But, by all accounts, this comic really does read like an Adam Warren comic, and this reprint is fairly cheap. (Cheaper than the original issues would have cost, anyway.)
HAUNTED MANSION #1 from Slave Labor
Using my favorite Disneyland ride as the basis for a ghost story anthology done by really cool creators? Yes, please.
MR NIGHT from Slave Labor
All's I know is it's a one-shot by Glen Dakin and Phil Elliott. And that's enough for me.
DOOMED MAGAZINE from IDW
Hopefully won't live up to its title. The idea of trying a Warren-style black and white horror magazine is just too keen for me to pass up.
LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 4 Trade Paperback from IDW
See Nexus Archives and ElfQuest Archives comments above.
IMPORTANT LITERARY JOURNAL by Kyle Baker
I get Plastic Man because of Kyle Baker. I get Nat Turner because of Kyle Baker. I ordered The Bakers because of Kyle Baker, even though I'm still waiting for it. You'd better believe I'm not passing this up.
ROGUE TROOPER: EYE OF THE TRAITOR Trade Paperback from Rebellion
Yay! 2000AD reprints are back! And they're going to finish the Rogue Trooper story, thanks to there being a video game based on the character!
(For what it's worth, the other two Rebellion reprint graphic novels offered this month almost made the cut, as well. Both Family from the Megazine and Judge Dredd: Sin City were pretty good stories, but there were just too many new, original graphic novels for me to get ones reprinting stuff I read just a few years ago, and didn't feel excited about rereading so soon.)
LIVING AND THE DEAD Graphic Novel from Speakeasy
It's written by the guys who do the Black Forest and Wicked West graphic novels, and it's hard to pass up anything that they do. (This is the book that bumped Judge Dredd: Sin City off the list; Family was knocked off by the Metamorpho reprints. I liked both of those 2000AD stories, but they're still fresh in my mind. These other two books, I've never read.)
And there's a tribute book for Jim Aparo, planned and written before his passing, but sadly coming out too late for him to see it.
NEXUS ARCHIVES VOLUME 1 from Dark Horse Comics
Nexus was a favorite of mine as a kid. Mike Baron is a fantastic writer, Steve Rude is an even better artist, and the fact that they apparently can't sell new issues of this work of genius is a crying shame. (And says too much about the comic book marketplace these days.) This reprint is pricy, but it's one of those series I don't mind paying for a really nice edition. And if the people who want more don't buy this one, there won't be more.
13TH SON: WORSE THING WAITING from Dark Horse Comics
Only one thing better than a horror comic drawn by Kelley Jones, and that's one that's also written by Kelley Jones. Nice to see him finally back doing his own stories again. This looks very Lovecraftian (no surprise there), and ... well, I want to say it'll do nicely while waiting for the next Hellboy story, but really, I've been waiting for a new all-Jones story even longer. So there.
BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE from DC Comics
DC may have driven me away from the monthly, ongoing Batman books by making them stupid, but that doesn't mean I don't want to read good, self-contained story-driven Batman tales. And while I don't buy everything he writes, I do enjoy every Steve Niles story that I read. And Scott Hampton is a longtime favorite, particularly the Batman graphic novel he did once upon a time with Archie Goodwin (whose title I forget...)
CATWOMAN: WHEN IN ROME HARDCOVER from DC
I love the stories Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale do, but they read so quick, I always wait until they're collected. And now this one is being collected. Case closed.
INFINITE CRISIS #1 from DC
I know what I said. But, the thing is, I really had been looking forward to this story. Plus, if I wait until it's collected, there's no way I'll be able to avoid online spoilers, or even spoilers in the comics I read. (Although, for what it's worth, Jeph Loeb will be off Superman/Batman by that point, so I'll be off it too, and DC has already said that Plastic Man and Legion of Super-Heroes won't be affected by the stuff in IC. But stuff will almost certainly come up in Gotham Central, since they've announced that it'll be crossing over into IC, and Birds of Prey exists pretty squarely in the center of DC continuity these days. And probably Jeph Loeb's Supergirl comic--which he'll be leaving soon enough anyway--will be the same...) So, I'm biting the bullet, but I refuse to buy any extra crossover comics just to be sure I get the complete story, and don't get hosed, a la OMAC Project. But I also go into this knowing I might well end up missing important parts of the story if I don't buy every single crossover, and I accept that, so I can't complain.
SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAMORPHO VOLUME 1 from DC
It's something like 200 pages of Silver Age Metamorpho stories in black and white. I'm so there. Although, having heard the price has been reduced from 14.99 to 9.99, I wonder if it'll be the bookstore-friendly manga size? If it is, that's okay. Ten bucks for about twenty old comics stories is fine by me.
ELFQUEST ARCHIVES VOLUME 3
What I said about loving Nexus enough to pay 50.00 for the fancy hardcover reprints? Same here.
LOVELESS #1 from DC/Vertigo
Brian Azzarello is a fantastic writer when he's doing his own stuff, and I love the idea of a dark Western series (and ongoing, not a miniseries). Sold.
FEAR AGENT #1 from Image
When I was a kid, reprints of the old EC sci-fi, horror, and war comics were the first non-superhero, non-funny comics I read. And here's a comic that promises to combine all three EC genres as influences. And they had the good sense to put preview pages in the catalog to show that they're doing just that.
SHE-HULK 2 #1 from Marvel
Had a soft spot for She-Hulk all the way back in the 80s, and then the first incarnation of this series turned out to be real good. I bought it and read it until it ended, and now it's back.
MARVEL MONSTERS (four one-shots) from Marvel
Four comics by folks like Steve Niles, Duncan Fegredo, Eric Powell, Peter David, Roger Langridge, plus reprints of 50s and 60s Jack Kirby monster stories. If Marvel Comics were good, they'd probably be like these.
BOOK OF LOST SOULS #1 from Marvel
J. Michael Straczynski's work for Top Cow, particularly the series he did with Gary Frank whose title I forget right now, were really pretty good. His work on Marvel superheroes hasn't really approached that level. This new series, with art by Colleen Doran, looks to be more of the former than the latter, so I'll try it.
STOKER'S DRACULA HARDCOVER from Marvel
I didn't buy the miniseries by Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano (childhood favorite creators) that adapts the original Dracula novel, because I wanted to wait for the collection. And here it is.
LIVEWIRES: CLOCKWORK THUGS, YO Digest from Marvel
Wasn't about to order the miniseries sight unseen, even if it is by Adam Warren and frequent collaborator Rick Mays. (See comments about JMS's company work, above.) But, by all accounts, this comic really does read like an Adam Warren comic, and this reprint is fairly cheap. (Cheaper than the original issues would have cost, anyway.)
HAUNTED MANSION #1 from Slave Labor
Using my favorite Disneyland ride as the basis for a ghost story anthology done by really cool creators? Yes, please.
MR NIGHT from Slave Labor
All's I know is it's a one-shot by Glen Dakin and Phil Elliott. And that's enough for me.
DOOMED MAGAZINE from IDW
Hopefully won't live up to its title. The idea of trying a Warren-style black and white horror magazine is just too keen for me to pass up.
LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 4 Trade Paperback from IDW
See Nexus Archives and ElfQuest Archives comments above.
IMPORTANT LITERARY JOURNAL by Kyle Baker
I get Plastic Man because of Kyle Baker. I get Nat Turner because of Kyle Baker. I ordered The Bakers because of Kyle Baker, even though I'm still waiting for it. You'd better believe I'm not passing this up.
ROGUE TROOPER: EYE OF THE TRAITOR Trade Paperback from Rebellion
Yay! 2000AD reprints are back! And they're going to finish the Rogue Trooper story, thanks to there being a video game based on the character!
(For what it's worth, the other two Rebellion reprint graphic novels offered this month almost made the cut, as well. Both Family from the Megazine and Judge Dredd: Sin City were pretty good stories, but there were just too many new, original graphic novels for me to get ones reprinting stuff I read just a few years ago, and didn't feel excited about rereading so soon.)
LIVING AND THE DEAD Graphic Novel from Speakeasy
It's written by the guys who do the Black Forest and Wicked West graphic novels, and it's hard to pass up anything that they do. (This is the book that bumped Judge Dredd: Sin City off the list; Family was knocked off by the Metamorpho reprints. I liked both of those 2000AD stories, but they're still fresh in my mind. These other two books, I've never read.)
And there's a tribute book for Jim Aparo, planned and written before his passing, but sadly coming out too late for him to see it.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Scott McCullar - CHUCK DIXON PARTNERS WITH SHOOTING STAR COMICS TO RELEASE HIS OWN IMPRINT LINE OF BOOKS
As a longtime fan of Chuck Dixon, I've been waiting for the day he'd start writing comics I'd want to read again. Now it looks like he is (including a return to Airboy, the comic that made me a Chuck Dixon fan in the first place).
As a longtime fan of Chuck Dixon, I've been waiting for the day he'd start writing comics I'd want to read again. Now it looks like he is (including a return to Airboy, the comic that made me a Chuck Dixon fan in the first place).
Monday, August 01, 2005
Bush Appoints Bolton as U.N.
Envoy, Bypassing Senate - New York Times: "President Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process today and appointed John R. Bolton as the new United States ambassador to the United Nations over the objections of Democratic senators."
Envoy, Bypassing Senate - New York Times: "President Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process today and appointed John R. Bolton as the new United States ambassador to the United Nations over the objections of Democratic senators."
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