Fantastic Four: True Story #1: According to this month’s solicitations, one should expect that





which is so frenetic of language it couldn’t be outdone. Right? Oh, so very wrong. Scroll a little further down the page and one finds:





They come on a little strong, don’t they? While I can’t speak to the content of True Believers, I can for True Story. Was the title oversold? The package more delightful than the present? Most definitely. The idea is a good one (in a Gaiman-after-an-all-night-bender kind of way), but the execution of the characters by Cornell (Reed saying that reading Sue’s word balloon was “cool”? Unlikely.) and the uneven artwork of Domingues (it got better by the end, except for Sue’s hair) has a lark-y quality that doesn’t fly very gracefully nor very far before falling to Earth. D+ (Werd to Joveth for the solicitation info.)

Thor #10: I said I wasn’t going to pick up this issue, but with the opening pages set in Kansas (the part of the MJS’s plot I’ve found to be most winning), I forewent my resolution and was thrilled to find the plot was not as same same same as I had thought it would become. Loki, no longer the “god of lies” (and per se, no longer a god), is now a messenger of truth, but as any bridesmaid confronted by the question “Do you like the dress I picked out for you?” knows, the truth can hurt. A

Justice Society of America Annual #1: I don’t typically follow the JSA, but with all the anticipation surrounding this issue and what it means for Final Crisis (if anything) and Power Girl (a lot), I forked over my $3.99 and discovered a title I’ll be adding to my regular pull list. Dammit. My only fear is that there will never be a definitive answer to “Who is Power Girl?”, just an end to the story arc. Bonus: Helena Wayne as The Huntress. A

In other news:

Orson Scott Card calls gay marriage “the end of democracy in America”, but he’s not a homophobe (much like Dave Sim isn’t a misogynist). No, no. Paranoid science fiction writer living in a paranoid world? Yeah, I’ll buy that. AfterElton.com reacts.

Also from AfterElton.com, an editorial about the new X-Files movie. I haven’t seen it myself and before I comment I will be sure to. My only complaint (SPOILER ALERT!): no aliens!!!!

Finally, from Fanboys of the Universe via Joveth, a marvelous kiss:

The last real chance I had to be on stage was in the redemptive role of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream my last semester of college, sadly turned down because I was too busy finishing school to dedicate myself to a full-on Shakespeare play. Now I’m busy teaching college and writing and… ok, generally doing fuck-all with my summer break, but that will end soon enough. And the only equity I concern myself with is my house’s. So, acting has become a fond reminiscence for me in these, my non-staged years, a thing of the past.

Then I saw this:

Audition notice for Night of the Living Dead
Posted: July 14, 2008

Weird City Theatre Company will be casting for their upcoming LIVE stage performance of George Romero’s classic, Night of the Living Dead. Auditions will be held at the Dougherty Arts Center, located on 1110 Barton Springs Road in Austin, on Monday August 4th starting at 6:00PM. An appointment is required. Please e-mail weirdcitytheatre@gmail.com to set up an appointment.

We are seeking a diverse cast that is familiar–if not hardcore fans–of the original film and the genre. Rehearsals will take place Monday –Thursday evenings beginning September 1st. Performances will be the final two weeks of October at Hyde Park Theatre. All positions are voluntary and no compensation is available. Please do not audition if you are obligated to another commitment.

Contact: Weird City Theatre Company weirdcitytheatre@gmail.com

Why not? Am I doing anything else?

UPDATE: I have an audition!!!!!!!