What I got for my Birthday:
The Books:
- The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soulby Douglas Adams.
- The Doctor Trap by Simon Messingham (It's a Doctor Who novel).
- Soon I will be Invincible by Austin Grossman.
- Character & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card (It's a book from a series called "Elements of Fiction Writing").
- Writing for Comics with Peter David by Peter David.
The DVD:
- School House Rock: Special 30th Anniversary Edition. It has every SHR cartoon & few other cool extras.
SIDENOTE: My favorite song is "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here".
The Big Thing:
- 22" LCD flat panel-ish TV by Sharp. It's got a DVD player into it, too. So, I'm ready for the D-TV change over if it does happen in June & not next month.
That's what I got. Not a bad haul for just being around for another year.
And as always: Stay Jazzy!
-Brian
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
This is Entry 62: This Date in History 2009
Or: This Date is History!
Events:
98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva.
1142 - Wrongful execution of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei.
1186 - Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, weds Constance of Sicily.
1343 - Pope Clement VI issues the Bull Unigenitus.
1593 - Vatican opens seven year trial of scholar Giordano Bruno.
1416 - Republic of Dubrovnik, as a first state in Europe, outlaw slavery
1606 - Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, and ending in their execution on January 31.
1678 - The first fire engine company in the United States went into service.
1785 - The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States.
1825 - The U.S. Congress approves Indian Territory (in what is present-day Oklahoma), clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians on the "Trail of Tears".
1870 - The first college sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, is formed at DePauw University.
1880 - Thomas Edison files a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.
1888 - In Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Society is founded.
1900 - Boxer Rebellion: Foreign diplomats in Peking, China demand that the Boxer rebels be disciplined
1926 - John Logie Baird makes the first television broadcast.
1939 - First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.
1951 - Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site begins with a one-kiloton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flats.
1967 - Apollo program: Apollo 1 - Astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee are killed in a fire during a test of the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center.
1967 - More than sixty nations sign the Outer Space Treaty banning nuclear weapons in space.
1967 - The Doors self titled debut album is released.
1973 - Paris Peace Accords officially end the Vietnam War, Colonel William Nolde falls, becoming the conflict's last recorded American combat casualty.
1977 - Record company EMI sacks the controversial United Kingdom punk rock group the Sex Pistols.
1983 - Pilot shaft of World's longest subaqueous tunnel (53.85 km) between the Japanese islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō breaks through.
1983 - I was born in Seattle, Washington, USA.
1984 - Carl Lewis beats his own indoor world long jump record by 9¼ inches (23.5 centimeters) with a 28-foot, 10¼-inch (8.795-meter) jump.
1996 - Germany first observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
1997 - It is revealed that French museums have nearly 2,000 pieces of art that were stolen by Nazis.
1998 - American First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton appears on the Today Show calling the attacks against her husband part of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
2006 - Western Union discontinues its Telegram and Commercial Messaging services.
Births:
1443 - Albert, Duke of Saxony (d. 1500)
1687 - Balthasar Neumann, German architect (d. 1753)
1701 - Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, German historian (d. 1790)
1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer (d. 1791)
1805 - Maria Anna of Bavaria, queen consort of Saxony (d. 1877)
1832 - Lewis Carroll, English author (d. 1898)
1848 - Togo Heihachiro, Japanese admiral (d. 1934)
1850 - Edward J. Smith, English captain of the Titanic (d. 1912)
1908 - William Randolph Hearst, Jr., American newspaper magnate (d. 1993)
1921 - Donna Reed, American actress (d. 1986)
1924 - Sabu Dastagir, Indian actor (d. 1963)
1928 - Michael Craig, British actor
1928 - Hans Modrow, a German politician, premier of East Germany
1940 - James Cromwell, American actor
1944 - Nick Mason, English drummer (Pink Floyd)
1946 - Nedra Talley, American singer (Ronettes)
1947 - Björn Afzelius, Swedish singer (d. 1999)
1951 - Brian Downey, Irish musician (Thin Lizzy)
1952 - Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player
1954 - Peter Laird, American comic-book artist
1955 - John Roberts, 17th Chief Justice of the United States
1956 - Mimi Rogers, American actress
1957 - Janick Gers, British guitarist (Iron Maiden)
1957 - Frank Miller, American comic book artist and writer and film director
1959 - Keith Olbermann, American news presenter
1961 - Margo Timmins, Canadian singer (Cowboy Junkies)
1961 - Gillian Gilbert, British musician (New Order)
1964 - Bridget Fonda, American actress
1965 - Alan Cumming, Scottish actor
1969 - Patton Oswalt, American actor and writer
1972 - Guillermo, Mexican-born American TV personality
1983 - Me!
1987 - Katy Rose, American pop singer
Deaths
98 - Nerva, Roman Emperor (b. 35)
661 - Ali, the final Sunni Rashidun and first Shia Imam
1595 - Sir Francis Drake, European explorer (b. c.1540)
1629 - Hieronymus Praetorius, German composer (b. 1560)
1688 - Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, grandmother of the Kangxi Emperor in Qing Dynasty China
1731 - Bartolomeo Cristofori, Italian maker of musical instruments (b. 1655)
1740 - Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (b. 1692)
1814 - Johann Gottlieb Fichte, German philosopher (b. 1762)
1851 - John James Audubon, French-American naturalist, ornithologist, and painter (b. 1789)
1901 - Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer (b. 1813)
1910 - Thomas Crapper, English inventor (b. 1836)
1967 - Crew of Apollo 1: Roger Chaffee (b. 1935), Virgil "Gus" Grissom (b. 1926), Edward White (b. 1930)
1972 - Mahalia Jackson, American singer (b. 1911)
1973 - William Nolde, last American combat casualty of Vietnam War (b. 1929)
1975 - Bill Walsh, American producer and writer (b. 1913)
1993 - André the Giant, professional wrestler and actor (b. 1946)
2003 - Henryk Jabłoński, President of Poland (b. 1909)
2004 - Jack Paar, American television show host (b. 1918)
2004 - Salvador Laurel, 9th Vice President of the Philippines (b. 1928)
2006 - Johannes Rau, 8th Bundespräsident (President of Germany) (b. 1931)
2006 - Gene McFadden, American singer and songwriter (b. 1949)
2006 - Jean-Christophe Lafaille, French mountaineer (disappeared) (b. 1965)
2007 - Marcheline Bertrand, actress and mother of Angelina Jolie (b. 1950)
2008 - Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (b. 1910)
Holidays and observances
- UN: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- United Kingdom: Holocaust Memorial Day.
- Germany: Gedenktag für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (Commemoration Day for the Victims of National Socialism).
- Poland: Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Nazizmu (Memorial Day for the Victims of Nazism).
- Italy: Giorno della Memoria (Memorial Day).
- Serbia: St. Sava Day.
- Denmark: Auschwitzdag (Auschwitz Day; commemoration day for the victims of the Holocaust and other genocide).
- Monaco: Day of Saint Devota, patron saint
- My Birthday.
Events:
98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva.
1142 - Wrongful execution of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei.
1186 - Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, weds Constance of Sicily.
1343 - Pope Clement VI issues the Bull Unigenitus.
1593 - Vatican opens seven year trial of scholar Giordano Bruno.
1416 - Republic of Dubrovnik, as a first state in Europe, outlaw slavery
1606 - Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, and ending in their execution on January 31.
1678 - The first fire engine company in the United States went into service.
1785 - The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States.
1825 - The U.S. Congress approves Indian Territory (in what is present-day Oklahoma), clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians on the "Trail of Tears".
1870 - The first college sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, is formed at DePauw University.
1880 - Thomas Edison files a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.
1888 - In Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Society is founded.
1900 - Boxer Rebellion: Foreign diplomats in Peking, China demand that the Boxer rebels be disciplined
1926 - John Logie Baird makes the first television broadcast.
1939 - First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.
1951 - Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site begins with a one-kiloton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flats.
1967 - Apollo program: Apollo 1 - Astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee are killed in a fire during a test of the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center.
1967 - More than sixty nations sign the Outer Space Treaty banning nuclear weapons in space.
1967 - The Doors self titled debut album is released.
1973 - Paris Peace Accords officially end the Vietnam War, Colonel William Nolde falls, becoming the conflict's last recorded American combat casualty.
1977 - Record company EMI sacks the controversial United Kingdom punk rock group the Sex Pistols.
1983 - Pilot shaft of World's longest subaqueous tunnel (53.85 km) between the Japanese islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō breaks through.
1983 - I was born in Seattle, Washington, USA.
1984 - Carl Lewis beats his own indoor world long jump record by 9¼ inches (23.5 centimeters) with a 28-foot, 10¼-inch (8.795-meter) jump.
1996 - Germany first observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
1997 - It is revealed that French museums have nearly 2,000 pieces of art that were stolen by Nazis.
1998 - American First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton appears on the Today Show calling the attacks against her husband part of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
2006 - Western Union discontinues its Telegram and Commercial Messaging services.
Births:
1443 - Albert, Duke of Saxony (d. 1500)
1687 - Balthasar Neumann, German architect (d. 1753)
1701 - Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, German historian (d. 1790)
1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer (d. 1791)
1805 - Maria Anna of Bavaria, queen consort of Saxony (d. 1877)
1832 - Lewis Carroll, English author (d. 1898)
1848 - Togo Heihachiro, Japanese admiral (d. 1934)
1850 - Edward J. Smith, English captain of the Titanic (d. 1912)
1908 - William Randolph Hearst, Jr., American newspaper magnate (d. 1993)
1921 - Donna Reed, American actress (d. 1986)
1924 - Sabu Dastagir, Indian actor (d. 1963)
1928 - Michael Craig, British actor
1928 - Hans Modrow, a German politician, premier of East Germany
1940 - James Cromwell, American actor
1944 - Nick Mason, English drummer (Pink Floyd)
1946 - Nedra Talley, American singer (Ronettes)
1947 - Björn Afzelius, Swedish singer (d. 1999)
1951 - Brian Downey, Irish musician (Thin Lizzy)
1952 - Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player
1954 - Peter Laird, American comic-book artist
1955 - John Roberts, 17th Chief Justice of the United States
1956 - Mimi Rogers, American actress
1957 - Janick Gers, British guitarist (Iron Maiden)
1957 - Frank Miller, American comic book artist and writer and film director
1959 - Keith Olbermann, American news presenter
1961 - Margo Timmins, Canadian singer (Cowboy Junkies)
1961 - Gillian Gilbert, British musician (New Order)
1964 - Bridget Fonda, American actress
1965 - Alan Cumming, Scottish actor
1969 - Patton Oswalt, American actor and writer
1972 - Guillermo, Mexican-born American TV personality
1983 - Me!
1987 - Katy Rose, American pop singer
Deaths
98 - Nerva, Roman Emperor (b. 35)
661 - Ali, the final Sunni Rashidun and first Shia Imam
1595 - Sir Francis Drake, European explorer (b. c.1540)
1629 - Hieronymus Praetorius, German composer (b. 1560)
1688 - Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, grandmother of the Kangxi Emperor in Qing Dynasty China
1731 - Bartolomeo Cristofori, Italian maker of musical instruments (b. 1655)
1740 - Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (b. 1692)
1814 - Johann Gottlieb Fichte, German philosopher (b. 1762)
1851 - John James Audubon, French-American naturalist, ornithologist, and painter (b. 1789)
1901 - Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer (b. 1813)
1910 - Thomas Crapper, English inventor (b. 1836)
1967 - Crew of Apollo 1: Roger Chaffee (b. 1935), Virgil "Gus" Grissom (b. 1926), Edward White (b. 1930)
1972 - Mahalia Jackson, American singer (b. 1911)
1973 - William Nolde, last American combat casualty of Vietnam War (b. 1929)
1975 - Bill Walsh, American producer and writer (b. 1913)
1993 - André the Giant, professional wrestler and actor (b. 1946)
2003 - Henryk Jabłoński, President of Poland (b. 1909)
2004 - Jack Paar, American television show host (b. 1918)
2004 - Salvador Laurel, 9th Vice President of the Philippines (b. 1928)
2006 - Johannes Rau, 8th Bundespräsident (President of Germany) (b. 1931)
2006 - Gene McFadden, American singer and songwriter (b. 1949)
2006 - Jean-Christophe Lafaille, French mountaineer (disappeared) (b. 1965)
2007 - Marcheline Bertrand, actress and mother of Angelina Jolie (b. 1950)
2008 - Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (b. 1910)
Holidays and observances
- UN: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- United Kingdom: Holocaust Memorial Day.
- Germany: Gedenktag für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (Commemoration Day for the Victims of National Socialism).
- Poland: Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Nazizmu (Memorial Day for the Victims of Nazism).
- Italy: Giorno della Memoria (Memorial Day).
- Serbia: St. Sava Day.
- Denmark: Auschwitzdag (Auschwitz Day; commemoration day for the victims of the Holocaust and other genocide).
- Monaco: Day of Saint Devota, patron saint
- My Birthday.
Monday, January 26, 2009
This is Entry 61: Comics!
Here is the first part of the Comic Book Round-Up. This part will deal with all the new comics I've gotten since I last told you about what I bought (that was in early October). Each comic might only get a sentence if that. Also , you can see how often a book ships since I'll be showing you at least 4 months worth of books.
Marvel:
Fantastic Four #561 & 562: The much hyped Millar & Hitch run on the book. I like the cover resign they did. As for the story it just seems a bit muddled. There have a been a few cool images & some interesting ideas but nothing truly awesome so far.
Captain Britain and MI13 # 6-9: This book is one of the better things I've read to come out of Secret Invasion not that is over it should be interesting to see where they go with the book. It's also cool to see a book take place in a other place then we normally see it (They're in England) & deal with a topic we don't get to see much of (Magic!). Leonard Kirk does some nice art!
Captain America #43-45: We have moved past the death storyline & Bucky has become assumed the mantle of Star Spangled Patriot. The current storyline is how he dealing with his past in the present.
The Invincible Iron Man #6-9: The first storyline "The Five Nightmares" finished up. Issue 7 might be the one of the better single issue stories I've read in awhile. Issue 8 starts off a storyline with Tony dealing with the fallout from the Invasion. Expertly written by Matt Fraction & expertly drawn by Salvador Larroca.
The New Avengers #46-48: Mostly issues dealing with stuff from The Invasion. Not sure I'll continue to read the book, only started to pick it up at the start of The Invasion.
Mighty Avengers #19-21: An issue dealing the Invasion, an issue dealing with fallout the Invasion & an issue with the line-up of the team. I was reading this book pre-Invasion & will continue to read it. The new line-up seems interesting. A lot of interesting team dynamics. The book is written by Dan Slott does some good writing in my opinion.
Dark Avengers #1: The new Avengers team that came out from the Invasion. There is some elements that reminded me of early issues of the original [i]Thunderbolt[/i] series. Also, the member not all are what they seem.
Avengers: The Initiative # 18-20 & an Annual: One of the better books to come out of Civil War & the book remained good as it tied into the Invasion. Now that the Invasion is over the group's future is in jeopardy. If the book will remain is around is unknown to me but the what was revealed on the last page of Issue 20 should make for interesting reading.
Avengers Fairy Tales #4: It's a story were the Avengers meets The Wizard of OZ. Nicely done.
Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #29: A Dating Issue.
Thor: The Truth of History: a one-shot which I bought for the fabulous Alan Davis art. The story is ok, but the art is awesome!
3 More One Shots: Secret Invasion: Requiem, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign & Dark Nation: New Nation. They help bridge the gap between the 2 events & help set up forth coming new books.
New Warriors # 17-19: They are in the future & have side stepped the end of the Invasion. The art is a bit wonky at times but the book is ok if you can get over that.
Guardian of The Galaxy #6-9: Even in space they were dealing with Secret Invasion & did it quite nicely. This book will be tying into the forth coming even known as "War of Kings".
Wolverine #70: Part 5 of the "Old Man Logan" storyline. It kicks ass! Wait, that's another book. :) My inner nerd comes out when I read this. So much to love as a comic book nerd in this book. In this issue we find out why Logan has been Wolverine in years. The reveal was awesome! It a book well worth waiting for.
Runaways #3-5: a nice book. I like parts of it. a still read books, I want to see where this goes.
Big Hero 6 #2-4: really cool mini-series. Good story, cool art. Yeah!
It's written by Chris Claremont who also writes...
New Exiles #13-17 & an Annual: *sigh* Exiles use to be awesome but then Claremont came on the book & killed it. It's getting cancelled to be relaunched again. Wha? I hope Claremont has moved on. He's a hot of a miss for me: I seem to only like half of what he's written that I've read.
X-Men Noir #1 & 2: It's pretty much the title says Marvel Merry Mutants in a Noir setting. It's nicely done. The reworking of Rogue is genius!
Giant-Sized X-Men First Class #1: The cover has art done by Writer Jeff Parker. The book has some nice Sci-Fi elements to it. A fun read.
Spider-Nan Noir: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man in a noir setting. Nicely done.
This years' What Ifs' (Story revoling around House of M, Fallen Son, The New Fantastic Four, Spider-man Back in Black & Secret War): Not as great as the older books. I miss good What If stories. :(
The Wonderful World of Oz #1&2: The classic story brought to comics with Eric Shanower adapting the story & Skottie Young doing the art.
Marvel Ape #4: the end of the fun mini-series. If the read the end right there is possibility for a second series sometime.
House of M: Civil War #3-5: We return to that alternate dimension & find out how Magneto become to rule that Earth.
The Age of The Sentry #2-4: Retro stories of the Sentry's adventure in the early 1960's.
Ruins 1&2: a reissue of Warren Ellis' more disastrous look at how the Marvel Universe could have gone.
---------------
That's it for Marvel on to DC:
DC Comics:
Justice Society of America #19-22 & 3 Kingdom Come Specials: Superman, Gog & The Kingdom: This the later half "One World, Under Gog" storyline. The specials went deeper into characters & events from the main story. The "Superman" special the art & writing is by Alex Ross. The next storyline the JSA goes up against Black Adam & his family.
Booster Gold #13-16: a still fun book. Not sure what else to say.
Ambush Bug: Year None #4&5: a fun romp of him through the various DC events of recent years.
Tangent: Superman's Reign #8-11: This universe spanning book is almost over (Issue 12 is the last issue). I still like the older books better but it was fun book.
Action Comics #870: was the end of the "Brainiac" storyline.
After that was the start of the "New Krypton" storyline which had a numbering system so you knew which books to read in what order. So, here are al the books in order:
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1: ties into the events but isn't numbered
1: Superman: New Krypton Special
2: Superman #681
3: Adventure Comics Special featuring The Guardian (The Adventure Comics is being launched as an on going series I think).
4: Action Comics #871
5: Supergirl #35
6: Superman #682
7: Action Comics #872
8: Supergirl #36
9: Superman #683
10: Action Comics #873
Those are the parts. Supergirl #37 continues on with events from the storyline but isn't numbered. I hadn't been reading that book before but it's nicely done. I think I'll continue to do so. The events from this continue on into next week & the events that are going to happening sound interesting so I'll continue read & enjoy.
2 Holiday one shots: DC Universe Halloween Special & DC Universe Holiday Special: I'm a sucker that type of stuff.
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2: this was the one tie-in to [i]Final Crisis{/i] that I though sounded really cool but there has been months upon months between issues. It's to be 5 issue long, I've only seen 2. I got 1 in August, didn't get 2 until November & have seen 3 yet.
Legion of Super-Heroes #48: It's Legion Try-out issue.
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century: an issue from the comic based off the cartoon. This issue features Booster Gold.
Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1: a comic for kids. It's was ok.
DC Super Friends 8 & 11: another kids comic which can be quite odd at times. Issue 8 is Halloween related & issue 11 features an appearance by Bat-Mite!
---------
That's it for DC, on to other comics!
Other Comics:
Top 10, Season 2 #2 & 3: Season 1 is better but this season a fine comic.
Chuck #5 & 6: based of the TV show of the same name. The show is better.
Ex Machina #40: an issue about the the creators' of the comic book trying to get the comic made. Very Meta-Textual.
Mysterious The Unfathomable #1: The first issue from Jeff's Parker's creator owned series. A nice first issue. My favorite part: A man was cursed, he has the all the names of the prostitutes he's been with written all over his body in purple "ink". :)
Doctor Who: The Forgotten #2-6: a fun romp through all 10 incarnations of the good Doctor.
Grant Morrison's Doctor Who 1 & 2: Early on in Morrison's career he wrote some Who stories & they are reprinted here.
Doctor Who Classics Series 2 #1 & 2: Classic Who Comics reprinted.
Umbrella Academy #1 & 2: The second series picks up a few months after where the first one ended. The back cover of the comics is one image that somehow ties into the story contained with it's pages.
3 Geeks: Slab madness #1: one of my favorite comics that only comes out every so often. It's that pokes fun at the readers of comics & the comics themselves.
------------
*whew* That's it for new comics. I'll get a post about the back issues & the few graphic novels I've gotten up some time later this week.
Come back tomorrow for a special post. :)
As always Stay Jazzy!
- Brian
Marvel:
Fantastic Four #561 & 562: The much hyped Millar & Hitch run on the book. I like the cover resign they did. As for the story it just seems a bit muddled. There have a been a few cool images & some interesting ideas but nothing truly awesome so far.
Captain Britain and MI13 # 6-9: This book is one of the better things I've read to come out of Secret Invasion not that is over it should be interesting to see where they go with the book. It's also cool to see a book take place in a other place then we normally see it (They're in England) & deal with a topic we don't get to see much of (Magic!). Leonard Kirk does some nice art!
Captain America #43-45: We have moved past the death storyline & Bucky has become assumed the mantle of Star Spangled Patriot. The current storyline is how he dealing with his past in the present.
The Invincible Iron Man #6-9: The first storyline "The Five Nightmares" finished up. Issue 7 might be the one of the better single issue stories I've read in awhile. Issue 8 starts off a storyline with Tony dealing with the fallout from the Invasion. Expertly written by Matt Fraction & expertly drawn by Salvador Larroca.
The New Avengers #46-48: Mostly issues dealing with stuff from The Invasion. Not sure I'll continue to read the book, only started to pick it up at the start of The Invasion.
Mighty Avengers #19-21: An issue dealing the Invasion, an issue dealing with fallout the Invasion & an issue with the line-up of the team. I was reading this book pre-Invasion & will continue to read it. The new line-up seems interesting. A lot of interesting team dynamics. The book is written by Dan Slott does some good writing in my opinion.
Dark Avengers #1: The new Avengers team that came out from the Invasion. There is some elements that reminded me of early issues of the original [i]Thunderbolt[/i] series. Also, the member not all are what they seem.
Avengers: The Initiative # 18-20 & an Annual: One of the better books to come out of Civil War & the book remained good as it tied into the Invasion. Now that the Invasion is over the group's future is in jeopardy. If the book will remain is around is unknown to me but the what was revealed on the last page of Issue 20 should make for interesting reading.
Avengers Fairy Tales #4: It's a story were the Avengers meets The Wizard of OZ. Nicely done.
Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #29: A Dating Issue.
Thor: The Truth of History: a one-shot which I bought for the fabulous Alan Davis art. The story is ok, but the art is awesome!
3 More One Shots: Secret Invasion: Requiem, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign & Dark Nation: New Nation. They help bridge the gap between the 2 events & help set up forth coming new books.
New Warriors # 17-19: They are in the future & have side stepped the end of the Invasion. The art is a bit wonky at times but the book is ok if you can get over that.
Guardian of The Galaxy #6-9: Even in space they were dealing with Secret Invasion & did it quite nicely. This book will be tying into the forth coming even known as "War of Kings".
Wolverine #70: Part 5 of the "Old Man Logan" storyline. It kicks ass! Wait, that's another book. :) My inner nerd comes out when I read this. So much to love as a comic book nerd in this book. In this issue we find out why Logan has been Wolverine in years. The reveal was awesome! It a book well worth waiting for.
Runaways #3-5: a nice book. I like parts of it. a still read books, I want to see where this goes.
Big Hero 6 #2-4: really cool mini-series. Good story, cool art. Yeah!
It's written by Chris Claremont who also writes...
New Exiles #13-17 & an Annual: *sigh* Exiles use to be awesome but then Claremont came on the book & killed it. It's getting cancelled to be relaunched again. Wha? I hope Claremont has moved on. He's a hot of a miss for me: I seem to only like half of what he's written that I've read.
X-Men Noir #1 & 2: It's pretty much the title says Marvel Merry Mutants in a Noir setting. It's nicely done. The reworking of Rogue is genius!
Giant-Sized X-Men First Class #1: The cover has art done by Writer Jeff Parker. The book has some nice Sci-Fi elements to it. A fun read.
Spider-Nan Noir: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man in a noir setting. Nicely done.
This years' What Ifs' (Story revoling around House of M, Fallen Son, The New Fantastic Four, Spider-man Back in Black & Secret War): Not as great as the older books. I miss good What If stories. :(
The Wonderful World of Oz #1&2: The classic story brought to comics with Eric Shanower adapting the story & Skottie Young doing the art.
Marvel Ape #4: the end of the fun mini-series. If the read the end right there is possibility for a second series sometime.
House of M: Civil War #3-5: We return to that alternate dimension & find out how Magneto become to rule that Earth.
The Age of The Sentry #2-4: Retro stories of the Sentry's adventure in the early 1960's.
Ruins 1&2: a reissue of Warren Ellis' more disastrous look at how the Marvel Universe could have gone.
---------------
That's it for Marvel on to DC:
DC Comics:
Justice Society of America #19-22 & 3 Kingdom Come Specials: Superman, Gog & The Kingdom: This the later half "One World, Under Gog" storyline. The specials went deeper into characters & events from the main story. The "Superman" special the art & writing is by Alex Ross. The next storyline the JSA goes up against Black Adam & his family.
Booster Gold #13-16: a still fun book. Not sure what else to say.
Ambush Bug: Year None #4&5: a fun romp of him through the various DC events of recent years.
Tangent: Superman's Reign #8-11: This universe spanning book is almost over (Issue 12 is the last issue). I still like the older books better but it was fun book.
Action Comics #870: was the end of the "Brainiac" storyline.
After that was the start of the "New Krypton" storyline which had a numbering system so you knew which books to read in what order. So, here are al the books in order:
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1: ties into the events but isn't numbered
1: Superman: New Krypton Special
2: Superman #681
3: Adventure Comics Special featuring The Guardian (The Adventure Comics is being launched as an on going series I think).
4: Action Comics #871
5: Supergirl #35
6: Superman #682
7: Action Comics #872
8: Supergirl #36
9: Superman #683
10: Action Comics #873
Those are the parts. Supergirl #37 continues on with events from the storyline but isn't numbered. I hadn't been reading that book before but it's nicely done. I think I'll continue to do so. The events from this continue on into next week & the events that are going to happening sound interesting so I'll continue read & enjoy.
2 Holiday one shots: DC Universe Halloween Special & DC Universe Holiday Special: I'm a sucker that type of stuff.
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2: this was the one tie-in to [i]Final Crisis{/i] that I though sounded really cool but there has been months upon months between issues. It's to be 5 issue long, I've only seen 2. I got 1 in August, didn't get 2 until November & have seen 3 yet.
Legion of Super-Heroes #48: It's Legion Try-out issue.
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century: an issue from the comic based off the cartoon. This issue features Booster Gold.
Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1: a comic for kids. It's was ok.
DC Super Friends 8 & 11: another kids comic which can be quite odd at times. Issue 8 is Halloween related & issue 11 features an appearance by Bat-Mite!
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That's it for DC, on to other comics!
Other Comics:
Top 10, Season 2 #2 & 3: Season 1 is better but this season a fine comic.
Chuck #5 & 6: based of the TV show of the same name. The show is better.
Ex Machina #40: an issue about the the creators' of the comic book trying to get the comic made. Very Meta-Textual.
Mysterious The Unfathomable #1: The first issue from Jeff's Parker's creator owned series. A nice first issue. My favorite part: A man was cursed, he has the all the names of the prostitutes he's been with written all over his body in purple "ink". :)
Doctor Who: The Forgotten #2-6: a fun romp through all 10 incarnations of the good Doctor.
Grant Morrison's Doctor Who 1 & 2: Early on in Morrison's career he wrote some Who stories & they are reprinted here.
Doctor Who Classics Series 2 #1 & 2: Classic Who Comics reprinted.
Umbrella Academy #1 & 2: The second series picks up a few months after where the first one ended. The back cover of the comics is one image that somehow ties into the story contained with it's pages.
3 Geeks: Slab madness #1: one of my favorite comics that only comes out every so often. It's that pokes fun at the readers of comics & the comics themselves.
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*whew* That's it for new comics. I'll get a post about the back issues & the few graphic novels I've gotten up some time later this week.
Come back tomorrow for a special post. :)
As always Stay Jazzy!
- Brian
Sunday, January 25, 2009
This is Entry 60: Comics are forth coming!
Coming to tomorrow is maybe the first part of a multi-part posting of comics. I have been buying comics quite steadily since I last talked about them way back in October. So, over that time I've been to a smallish ComiCon, an "all back issues are half off" sale, a "6 dollars buys you a pound of comics, your choice" sale (I bought 3 pounds) & then their was of course Christmas! So, I have many a book to ramble on about. I thinking I need to do it soon or I might never do it, so the plan is Tomorrow: I'll start in on the task of reviewing the comics.
Then on Tuesday is a very special annual event that will it's own posting. Then on wednesday this weeks new books come out so I'm might be busy offline (i.e. reading) so on Thursday I'm be back & talk some more about the pile o' comics.
Look for all this to start tomorrow!
So, stay jazzy until then.
-Brian
Then on Tuesday is a very special annual event that will it's own posting. Then on wednesday this weeks new books come out so I'm might be busy offline (i.e. reading) so on Thursday I'm be back & talk some more about the pile o' comics.
Look for all this to start tomorrow!
So, stay jazzy until then.
-Brian
Thursday, January 22, 2009
This is Entry 59: Computer Problems
It's been 3 weeks since I last posted here on the ol' Blog but I have a reason & it's a pretty good reason: My computer had a massive internal breakdown.
The story goes I am working away on the computer on Friday the 2nd & then everything on the screen disappeared. It was replaced by a bright & cheery light blue screen. So, I turned off my machine & attempted to turn it back on. It won't do that for me. :( My computer which was pretty new (like a month of two new right out of the box) had an extended warranty on it so anything that was wrong with that needed to be repaired we didn't need to pay for any of it. The mystics at the Apple store went about used they're mystical powers to find out what went wrong. There were various ideas but some had some to the conclusion that it most likely was coming called a "Logic Board". It was explained to me what a Logic Board but I've forgotten what it actually does. Moving on... They ordered one & tried it. The one they ordered was defective! So, they ordered another that made that sometime around then my computer would be ready. On Inauguration Day (the 20th): We got a call from Drew, an Apple Professional, that the computer was right to be returned to it's proper place in my basement. What was replaced? Logic Board, the Power Source & the Video Card. Most of the major parts of the computer (the Hard Drive was maybe the only one). The cost (which we didn't have to pay due to the warranty) was almost as much as just buying a brand new computer. :)
Now I made half made some plans, call them a New Years resolution if you want, to do more with this small section of the Blog O' Sphere but then my computer becomes illogical amongst other things. I still want to do more but those things might start up in February. Look for those then.
In other news: I now have a page over at the social networking site known as Facebook. I'm slowly building it up & gathering "friends" together. Still not sure what all the myriad of stuff you can do over there are but it's slowly stumbling through it all. Come find me!
As always: Stay Jazzy!
- Brian
The story goes I am working away on the computer on Friday the 2nd & then everything on the screen disappeared. It was replaced by a bright & cheery light blue screen. So, I turned off my machine & attempted to turn it back on. It won't do that for me. :( My computer which was pretty new (like a month of two new right out of the box) had an extended warranty on it so anything that was wrong with that needed to be repaired we didn't need to pay for any of it. The mystics at the Apple store went about used they're mystical powers to find out what went wrong. There were various ideas but some had some to the conclusion that it most likely was coming called a "Logic Board". It was explained to me what a Logic Board but I've forgotten what it actually does. Moving on... They ordered one & tried it. The one they ordered was defective! So, they ordered another that made that sometime around then my computer would be ready. On Inauguration Day (the 20th): We got a call from Drew, an Apple Professional, that the computer was right to be returned to it's proper place in my basement. What was replaced? Logic Board, the Power Source & the Video Card. Most of the major parts of the computer (the Hard Drive was maybe the only one). The cost (which we didn't have to pay due to the warranty) was almost as much as just buying a brand new computer. :)
Now I made half made some plans, call them a New Years resolution if you want, to do more with this small section of the Blog O' Sphere but then my computer becomes illogical amongst other things. I still want to do more but those things might start up in February. Look for those then.
In other news: I now have a page over at the social networking site known as Facebook. I'm slowly building it up & gathering "friends" together. Still not sure what all the myriad of stuff you can do over there are but it's slowly stumbling through it all. Come find me!
As always: Stay Jazzy!
- Brian
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