News of the Right

frisson

There are no atheists in foxholes. Oh wait. Yes, there are.

Kill all you want, just don’t look at boobies.

GOD: Creator of the Universe and OPEC member.

Less funny, but more important: traitorous bitch Pelosi to be unseated in Congress (Please, God. Please.)

Thor #8: Will Thor and/or Don Blake ever know the touch of a woman again? I mean, one that isn’t a slap across the face. Don proves that he’s Thor’s wingman through-and-through by going off in search of Lady Sif, leaving Jane Foster’s feelings as collateral damage. And with Loki sporting boobs now, you know there won’t be any love lost on that front either (as proven in this issue). A-

Grendel: Behold the Devil #6: I’ve always enjoyed Matt Wagner’s forays into the supernatural - Mage (the first series only) and The Demon especially. I keep forgetting that Grendel is also a supernatural story, probably because of the gang wars and intense violence. I think that Matt forgets that sometimes too. Thankfully, he’s back on track with this issue. A

Young Avengers presents Hulkling: Yay, Hulkling! Boo, Captain Marvel being alive by way of some ridiculous time-travel conceit! Given that I have my own father issues and that The Lion King makes me boo hoo every time I watch it, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t even get a little eye moisture reading this story. At least they admitted that Mar-vell was going to go back to his regular time and die like he should. B

Helen Killer #1: I have been waiting (rather impatiently) for this comic book for three months and the pay-off has been worth every minute of the wait. Kreisberg and Rice show us a Helen Keller who is at once a sheltered young woman (literally and metaphorically speaking) on the verge of figuring out who she can be and ready to break a guy’s hand just because she can. I felt actual glee when Helen beat the tar out of some street thugs. It was like seeing Mother Theresa take a smoke break. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how much you need to get this book! Oh, the darkness! A++

And how about this, The Dresden Files #1 sold out! Holy poop! After the disappointing Sci Fi TV series, it’s good to see enthusiasm for James Butcher’s stories hasn’t waned. Sadly, I didn’t get a copy before they were all gone *single tear*

Occasionally, my brother sends me stories about my nephew’s progress in life and, really, just how scarily smart he is. This came in last night from Scott to me and our mom:

A conversation with the boy this evening:

Daddy: “You wanna stop at McDonald’s for some fries as a snack?”

Dominic: “And some chicken nuggets.”

Daddy: “You can have one or the other.”

Dominic: “OK. Nuggets.”

We get to McDonald’s drive through and he sees the sign advertising the toys in the Happy Meal. (He can’t read, but he can figure this out, for sure.)

Dominic: “Can I get a Happy Meal?”

Daddy: “No, you’ve already had dinner. This is just a snack.”

Dominic: “Daddy, do you know what they call nuggets with no fries?”

Daddy: “What?”

Dominic: (pointedly) “A Sad Meal.”

My son. Your nephew. Your grandson.

The kid cracks me up.

I can’t wait to see which of these elimination contests are going to be on Bravo next season - Spacedog Entertainment’s or Platinum Studios’. Both contests start May First and purport to find the next best thing in comics by honing competitors’ ability to pitch their ideas. Lord knows plenty of good comics go unnoticed and an inordinate amount of poopy comics get more attention than they deserve all because of marketing.

Reading over the sites, it seems like competitors will promote just one comic book idea, but that seems too easy. I think they should refine their techniques by promoting other people’s books and then have the top two showcase their own projects in the finale.

Zuda Comics (a DC Comics online imprint that was pointed out to me today) recently finished a similar competition. Check out the winners!

However, given the amount of fluid I can squeeze out in a food-induced orgasm during a regular episode of Top Chef (and am I the only one who thinks that Andrew is just the most adorable Bronx speed-queen around?), I can only imagine what kind of load a comic book elimination challenge would produce.

Whichever one Bravo doesn’t embrace, I’m sure FOX will pick up in a cynical attempt to be as cool Bravo. My money is on Spacedog going the way of infamy. Maybe Dan Dido can host.

Sorcerers in the Congo have a hate-on for the penis.

Google tries to out-classify Craigslist.

Kids. Be. Gone. Need I say more?

Time to start that orchard and apiary I’ve been dreaming of.

syzygy

Is an energy powder marketed like coke a bad thing?

Does myth reflect reality?

Finally!!! A teacher says standardized test are worthless!

Cutting-edge Homeland Security technology based on 1990’s Rutger Hauer and Mimi Rogers movie.

Tim Robbins - traitor, Saddam lover, terrorist supporter, underminer of the troops is my new hero!

Could pot be legal by the end of the year?

Joveth Gonzalez of Pink Kryptonite emailed me on Sunday to tell me he reviewed Frater Mine and that it would go live today as the LGBT Comic Book of the Week Month. I was not prepared for how generous and humbling his woulds would be (click the image to go to the site).

Joveth rightfully praised Juan Romera’s artwork, but I have to add to that. Juan is an important part of the production team that puts Frater Mine (and the goddess comic book) together, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the stunning contributions of Ed Brisson (the incredible letterer), Fernando Melek (artist for the goddess), Scott McGrath (editor and cover artist for issues 4 and on), to say nothing of Dan Machold (the cover artist for issues 1 - 3), Allen Freeman (Letterer for issues 2 and 3), Percival Constantine (editor for issues 1 - 3), the Goddess Cathy (who colored the original cover for issue one) and Chris Moshier (EIC of Making Comics Studios).

Thanks, all! You’re a talented bunch, and I’m going to try to keep you around forever.

Thanks to Joveth as well for his stunning words. I hope to be able to live up to them.

Also, fingers crossed for Ed Brisson. He’s hoping for some exceedingly good (and well-deserved) news to come his way this week. I won’t jinx it by saying what it is, but just send him some positive thoughts.

Wonder Woman #19: What do Wonder Woman and my friend Michelle have in common? Gay men love them both. Unfortunately, Diana may have chosen a gay man to be her boyfriend. No real reason for me to think this other than the locker room scene. A+

Young Avengers Presents: Wiccan and Speed: When will Marvel let Teddy and Billy hug? Hold hands? Say “I love you”? As cute as their relationship is, the lack of PDAs is seriously annoying. Overall, the story didn’t do anything other than have Billy say he “sorta” like his brother Tommy at the end of their road trip. When is the on-going YA series coming back? B-

Kick-Ass #1 - 2: Dave asks his friends “why does everyone want to be Paris Hilton, but nobody wants to be spider-man?” then takes the next step of donning a costume to help people out. To some very real results. “Kick-Ass” is only up to issue 2, and i’m hoping that issue three will answer the question, “How DOES a superhero manage to get back home without anyone noticing?” because I’m dying to know. A+

“Good kids” plan to hurt teacher for “being mean”.

Eight glasses a day, a myth?

Drink me, baby. Tainted wine.

Peace is old.

Arkansas children must wait ’til they are 18 to go down the aisle.

Botanist sues to prevent End of the World.

Fixing It: Repairing some of the worst Bush Administration screw-ups.

Finally, a viral video that I think is stunning, an elephant paints a self-portrait:

Teen Titans Year One #1 - 3: I love the art in these books! It reminds me of animation cels I used to get in Pop-Tarts boxes. I also love the story. Sure, it’s another reboot/retcon/reimagining/updating/whatnot of the Titan’s origin, but it’s respectful of the past history while still being fresh. A+

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #13: Last issue it was Buffy as lesbian; now it’s Xander as a fawning bottom to Dracula’s (ego-fragile) top. Read it just to watch Xander and Dracula trying not to sit around braiding each other’s hair, however disturbing we (and Xander’s Moor) may find it to be. A+

Secret Invasion #1: Ugh. I got drawn into the first issue when I was trying to resist liking it. There’s no way in this blue Earth I’m going to buy all the crossovers, but I’ll probably stick with the main book for its eight-issue run. Just answer one question for me: when did Phoenix team up with the West Coast Avengers? B+

Cemetery Blues #3: Is it the end of the series? The beginning of newer troubles? Will Lear and Orlock get over their fears and finally make out? This issue has an annoying “The End??” feel to it that seems premature since “The Beginning” was vagued out. C

Army of Darkness and Xena Warrior Princess: Why Not?! #1: “Why not?” I’ll tell ya why not! Because comic books based on popular franchises should spend some extra time and money a.) getting to know the characters they’re using and b.) making sure the characters in the book look like their filmed counterparts. D

Also, I have it on good authority that the Prism Comics: Your LGBT Guide to Comics 2008, edited by the ever-so-dear Jonathan Riggs will be on sale as soon as the end of the month. With over 300 pages of content (my article included!!) it’s a bargain at $7.95!

OH! Don’t forget that Helen Killer comes out April 30th!!!! ComicsBulletin seemed to hate it, but I’m still excited to see how “Helen Keller as superhero” is handled.

neurasthenia

Following a link on front page of eBay I came across this item (click to embiggen):

With about three days left, the bid is just under $74,000 for this rare piece of comics history - big, bulky and ugly history. But the comic book, it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Being in the middle of Men Of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book makes finding this auction seems especially serendipitous. I wish I had that kind of money laying around, but ha ha ha no one I know does.

The question is, finally, how high will it go?

UPDATE: The final bid was $94,000.00 BUT it didn’t meet the reserve price. Considering the description said it was worth up to $675,000, one can imagine the reserve price was pretty high.