Great Hera! Can I Read Maxim and Still Be a Feminist?

As long as I can remember, I have considered myself a feminist. I believe in much of the basic values that put me in that category, and I have always walked the walk instead of just talking the talk. On the other hand though, I have always firmly felt that much of the natural power of the universe rests in a female’s hand. We have the gift of childbirth and nurturing, and in many instances, we hold the key to sexual power.

My question is this: Where is the line drawn in feminism?

Let me explain. Last night, I was sitting down, looking at a stack of magazines in my living room. Among the pile were issues of Maxim and Stuff. I had purchased and heartily read these magazines, and hadn’t once thought about the implications of it. As an avid reader, it isn’t odd to find men’s magazines in our house. I read a vast array, ranging from Vogue and Vanity Fair- glossy, picture-filled affairs, to news and fitness magazines. There isn’t a “taste” or “favorite” I seem to hold.

When I look at Maxim magazine, I glance at the cover featuring a scantily clad female. I don’t usually dwell too long, unless I am really hypnotized by the amount of air brushing that has been done. I usually am quite eager to peruse the articles, which vary a great deal. I will start with the monthly reviews and releases and work my way through page by page. I have learned everything from how to keep a nice lawn to how to install 5.1 speakers for my DVD. I have also read hard hitting articles that explore true crime and mystery, but I also like the funny articles that help fellas snag a lady, or play a prank. The actual interviews with aforementioned scantily clad celeb usually amuse me, as I can hardly believe how hard these babes are trying to sell their new projects. Part of me if filled with admiration at their ability to market themselves, but then I become ashamed because this kind of selling isn’t part of my basic feminist doctrine.

But I digress.

I have another shameful secret. I love “R” rated schlock comedies. From an early age, I remember watching Animal House with my dad and thinking it was the funniest movie I had ever seen. To this day I can still watch it over and over and get a laugh. I have pretty much memorized the dialogue, and my favorite part is when the guys head over to the women’s college and pull of a prank of the highest order. The problem is this: the movie features female nudity and male humiliation. I know that it is not cool to objectify women and make them appear to be the lesser sex, but I have always felt a sense of power in the fact that in many respects, the man in question has had to embarrass or objectify himself in a sense to make said female nudity happen. When John Belushi spies on the sorority women changing, my thought is that he is the pathetic one. My mind never dwelt on the fact that he was getting an eyeful; I have always loved the fact that he gets his in the end, by falling off the ladder.

Other movies I enjoy are Sorority Boys, EuroTrip, Booty Call, and Wedding Crashers. I love movies that are low brow. I can’t help it. I am not sure if it is a love of the genre as much as I appreciate not having to over think my entertainment.

What this boils down to, is that I have many characteristics that make me a feminist, while exhibiting suspicious traits that may say otherwise. Are there any of you other ladies out there that know what I mean?

Let’s simplify this to a list of traits that do and don’t make the cut.

FEMINIST QUALITIES I EXHIBIT

1. I believe in equal pay for equal work.

2.I think that women can do anything they put their minds to, through hard work and talent.

3. I can take care of myself without having to rely on someone else for support.

4. I can change a flat tire and check my car’s oil and filters.

5. I really hate the fact that there are men out there that are physically abusive and that at this moment yet another woman is being raped. It makes me mad as hell, and I want to castrate the men that are like that.

6. It makes me uncomfortable and upset to see men recklessly devalue our femininity through glorification of the sex kitten image or by literal means.

7. I think that women are the “better” and “fairer” sex.

8. I have an equal or greater say in my financial decisions then my husband.

9. I have no problem speaking my mind, whether it be a delicate matter at work, or a frank discussion with my husband, family, or friends.

10. I am happy to see a more equal ratio of female comic book readers, and love the fact that there are so many different, but unique women out there with blogs.


NON-FEMINIST TRAITS I EXHIBIT

1. I read magazines like Stuff and Maxim without a second thought.

2. I watch “R” rated movies with no thought of consequence.

3. I really like it when my husband hugs me and holds me, making me feel more secure.

4. Sometimes I don’t want to make the decisions. I just want my husband to take the lead, or my father to advise me. I appreciate their input, especially in figuring out where to go eat!

5. I read Lost Girls and forgot it was, indeed, porn. I think it is an incredibly important piece of work.

6. I have no problem letting my husband win an argument. Next time it will be my turn. Some things aren’t worth going to bed mad. But watch out next time!

7. I prefer male company to female company for the most part. I was raised in a predominantly male environment and feel comfortable in that setting.

8. I like to go to the restroom with other women and have an awesome gossip session, only to return and leave the men at the table guessing.

9. I really like the art of Jim Balent, Frank Cho, and Adam Hughes.

CONCLUSION

I like to think that I am a free-thinking, self-reliant woman. I truly believe in a woman’s power. I know that if we wanted to, someday we could rule the world; we have just been too busy raising the next generation of men to do so. In my mind this and many other qualities make me a feminist.

What do you ladies out there think? Do any of you have qualities that make you second guess yourself? Do you revel in your true self, or sometimes question the basic nature of things? I am interested in thoughts from all of you.

Batman #657- A New Kind of Dynamic Duo!

Batman 657
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Batman #657 has sealed the deal for me. Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert, and Jesse Delperdang have worked their magic and I am transfixed. This comic book read sweetly and smoothly, and I was captivated by each panel.

SPOILER WARNING**
Do not read further if you don't want the story ruined.
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I really love the fact that Morrison has utilized the son of Talia Al Ghul and Batman in his opening story arc. Damian is the perfect little assasin from minute one. Arrogant, brash, and superior-minded, this young fella would be his grandfather's dream come true. Watching Batman have to truly be a father to Damian is classic. I laughed and squirmed reading this issue as I watched the dialogue between the two. Adding Robin to the mix only makes things that much more tangled and rough.

The fight between Robin and Damian was excellent. Both are trained fighters- one by the Dark Knight; the other by the League of Asssasins. The only real difference that comes to light is that one fights dirty, and doesn't care about human life, while the other has seen so much loss, it is a miracle he cares to preserve it. I can hardly wait to see what happens next between these two- that is, if Robin is up for it. Also, what's up with Alfred? Here is to hoping he is okay.

END OF SPOILERS

Batman #657 truly won me over. Next issue is the last chapter of this arc, and I can hardly wait to see what happens. The writing is wonderful and the art is beautiful. High quality production and intelligent story telling combine to make an unbeatable tale.

The Boys #3- Delayed for Naughty Content?

The Boys 3
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

According to comic book gossip guru Rich Johnston over at Lying In The Gutters, Wildstorm's irreverent new series The Boys may have been delayed for this very reason:

"The Boys" from Wildstorm has been a rather aggressive book so far. Extreme gore, use of the c-word (that's 'c**t' by the way), extreme superhero hate, Simon Pegg, all that's missing is the sex.

I'm told that at San Diego months ago, Wildstorm staffers were talking up the completed art for "The Boys" #3, which featured a Teen Titans-esque team in an orgy complete with a rather explicit oral image…

"The Boys" #3 has just been delayed. I wonder why?"

Finding out that this book has been delayed, even for naughty content, really bums me out. I have really been enjoying Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's irreverent and dead funny look at fellas and a lady that form a team of sorts to take out the super heroes in their world. Showcasing a sense of humor that can only be Ennis-style, this book is wicked genius.

If you are an adult type reader and you have been looking for an excuse to try this book, do so, if for no other reason then to enjoy the dark and amusing stylings of Ennis and Robertson. They are the new team supreme.

DISCLAIMER: If you don't like naughty, Vertigo-style humor, you will not enjoy this. Buy DC's fantastic series Manhunter instead.

The Book of Fate: A Fantastic Reading Experience

The Book of Fate
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

The Book of Fate
By Brad Meltzer

Have you been looking for the chance to take your love of reading to the next level? Have you enjoyed Brad Meltzer’s work on Identity Crisis, Green Arrow, and now Justice League of America? Do you want to read more of Meltzer’s work but are not sure if you want to spend the extra money? Are you just plain curious to see what kind of a writer Meltzer is, and how he translates into novel format? Or do you just want to read The Book of Fate, but are not sure if you will like it?

I can help you a bit with some answers to the above questions, as I just got done reading said book. As an alumnus and a fan of Meltzer’s work, buying the book was a sure bet for me. In fact, I was hoping Meltzer would use all his practical comic book writing experience and take it up a notch, so to speak.

I was not disappointed.

The Book of Fate reads so smoothly and easily that it is darn near impossible to put down. Meltzer used a formula of many short chapters to switch focus on characters while keeping the reader focused and in the moment. I appreciate the fact that the shorter chapters also gave me an opportunity to put the book down for bathroom breaks and dinner breaks. Practical, but true. The only problem with short chapters is that I kept thinking to myself “one more before bed”, until I had stayed up well past my bed time. The book reads that well.

The book focuses on Wes Holloway, a presidential aide who finds himself in a horrible nightmare during an assassination attempt. He sees coworker Ron Boyle die, only to spot him 8 years later in mysterious circumstances. How this could be and the deeper mysteries of Freemasonry and a secret pact lead Wes down a dangerous and intriguing road. He has no idea who his allies are, and must navigate a treacherous path that brings back and clarifies a moment of terror that changed him forever.

Wow.

The Book of Fate is dynamite, plain and simple. Meltzer’s gift of writing realistic dialogue, and his ability to bring detailed and clarifying facts into the tale in a without confusing the reader really bring the book together. His style was very reminiscent of John Grisham in The Pelican Brief or The Firm. Contagious and brilliant, the book is a fast-paced thrill ride. It topped the best sellers list for a good reason; it is fantastic reading.

I would recommend The Book of Fate to fans of Meltzer’s comic books who want to make the leap to his novels. With the preview of this book in Justice League of America #1, several of you may have already started reading it anyway. Why not follow through and have some quality reading time? The book scores a definite 3 ½ stars out of 4 for me.

New Comics for September 27

Invincible 35
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

After a couple of lighter weeks, this week is an ugly one. I don't know what it is about the last week of the month that makes the list so heavy, but I guess I won't question getting a whole mess of goodies in.

Here is the list!

52 Week 21
Action Comics #843
American Virgin #7
Batman #657
Bite Club Vampire Crime Unit #5 (of 5)
Blue Beetle #7
Hawkgirl #56 - the deciding issue for me.
Jack of Fables #3
JSA Classified #17
Justice League of America #2
Loveless #11
Secret Six #11
Supergirl #10
Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes #22
Teen Titans #39
Trials of Shazam #2
Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #3 (of 8)
Invincible #35- pictured!
Lions Tigers & Bears Vol 2 #3 (of 4)- Mike Bullock's excellent book!
Amazing Spider-Man #535
Black Panther #20
Captain America #22
Daredevil #89
Eternals #4 (of 6)
Punisher #38
She-Hulk 2 #12
Ultimate Spider-Man #100
Ultimates 2 #12
X-Men #191
Wizard #181- yes, I am lame and read Wizard.
Snakewoman #3

Yikes! I guess this means that I will have a lot to read, and possibly a great deal to say!

Thank you for the comments, by the way. I enjoy the dialogue.

Take care and have a wonderful week!

Computer Disaster

Our motherboard is dying, so I don't dare stay on too long. Suffice to say, Jim and I find ourselves in the position of either trying to fix our 3 1/2 year old computer or get a new one. We are trying to decide as I write this.

In other news, I finished reading Brad Meltzer's The Book Of Fate today, and very much want to review it. If I can get to a friend's house, or get a working computer, I will be back with said review before the end of the day. Otherwise, I will be back tomorrow. Maybe my boss will let me blog after work.

Take care!

Civil War Contemplations

Civil War 4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to get issue 4. That is indeed correct. Well, after a big round table discussion of the issue, and a general "group" reading done by hubby and his friends, I have decided that there are points that need to expressed.

1. IRON MAN: Could we hate this character any more? While Tony Stark has always been an egotistical, driven man riddled with countless flaws, there have always been redeeming qualities. Here, there are none. Tony is merciless, crushing those who don't bend to his grand design. There isn't any middle ground with the character. He is cruel and devious, qualities more associated with a super villain then a hero. After reading Iron Man #12, and seeing the plot developments here, I truly wonder if that may not be the set up.
CONCLUSION: Has crossed the point of no return

2. CAPTAIN AMERICA: Steve Rogers has always stood for the "little guy" and the American Dream. Seeing his actions here make me wonder if he has forgotten his core values. I appreciate his intentions, but am surprised that he seems to teeter on the edge of delusions of grandeur. Standing tall in the face of opposition is one thing; wantonly throwing he and his allies into the mouth of utter destruction is quite another. I miss Cap like I miss my Grandma's apple pie.
CONCLUSION: Battered but not beaten

3. REED RICHARDS: What the hell is this about? Reed has always been measured not only by his brilliance, but by his commitment to his family. While sometimes obtuse, Reed has never forgotten the love and stability his wife and family bring. To see him so cold and distant is extremely jarring. One can only hope he comes to his senses before it is too late.
CONCLUSION: Booted from the Fantastic Four, but still allowed access to his family.

4. SUE RICHARDS: I think that Sue acted in character by her actions. She is a level headed, strong woman. She knows that what Reed is doing is wrong, and calls him on it by doing the most drastic thing she can, and doing what she thinks is right. The letter was in character with Sue. It was like "Reed, get your head pulled out of your butt and back to what matters. Fix things and we'll all be a family again". The only thing that really feels wrong to me is Sue's abandonment of Franklin and Valeria. Never in a million years did I think that would happen, and I think it is really out of character.
CONCLUSION: Sue comes home to her family but keeps Reed at arm's length.

THOR: Cloning the God of Thunder???!! What a load of hooey this is! I absolutely hate this with a passion. I always wanted Thor (THE REAL THOR) to come back and make things right. In my vision, he is looking in a scrying pool at Valhalla and sees a great injustice. Hence Thor comes back. But back to the subject at hand, even a clone of Thor wouldn't wantonly commit murder if it was indeed a true match. Thor was always honorable above all else. The actions of this Thor are anything but.
CONCLUSION: Clone Thor must expire and Genuine Thor must step in to clean up the mess.

SPIDER-MAN: In issue 4, Peter starts to feel remorse for his previous decisions. Worse, Iron Man can tell. This doesn't bode well for Peter down the road, especially concerning his family. Imagine all his major villains with chip implants, being sent to kill Peter and all his loved ones. Whether he suffers a tragedy at the hands of Iron Man or not, being publicly exposed have changed things irrevocably in a way that bodes ill for the future of the character. I am sure this is Marvel's plan all along- they want him single and fresh, though many fans would disagree with that.
CONCLUSION: Expect personal tragedies and a return to outcast status greater then before.

Marvel has used Civil War to grab a lot of media attention and generate major buzz, which has hopefully been in an effort to gain new readers and bring old ones back to the fold of the classic Marvel Universe. HOWEVER, looking at the landscape that is being created from this event, I can't help but wonder if Joe Quesada and company truly believe that this is the Marvel Universe the masses actually want.

BOTTOM LINE: Civil War is a bit too ambitious for the believers in the status quo. I believe it will ultimately alienate much more then it will enhance.

Making Wonder Woman Monthly: Voice Your Opinion

Wonder Woman Magic Change
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

In my last blog entry, I was pretty concerned and frustrated about the inability of DC Comics and the creators on Wonder Woman to get the product into our hands in a timely manner. Ragnell had a comment suggesting a letter writing campaign. I think this is a great idea. Thank you to Ragnell for the thought!

Write to DC and tell them that the lateness of the book and their inability to do a monthly isn't cutting it for you. Demand a monthly Wonder Woman book. Tell them that you want to support one of the DC "trinity" but that you need to be able to buy the book to do so.

Or just tell them whatever you want. Heh.

Just tell them.

I am going to compose and send my letter tonight. If you want to see the Wonder Woman Comic book on a regular basis, let them know.

How to do so:

E-mail your letter to:

askeditors@dccomics.com
or
matt.idelson@dccomics.com (not 100% sure about this one- can anyone verify his e-mail address for me?? DC made it harder then Fort Knox to find an individual e-mail address. I am guessing they are trying to keep annoying fans like myself from bothering them!)

or send the letter to:

DC Comics
ATTN: Matt Idelson
Wonder Woman Editor
1700 Broadway
New York, New York 10018

Thank you for all the support you can give! It makes a diehard Wonder Woman fan smile.

Shipping Date Changes Affects Wonder Woman!

Wonder Woman
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I was looking at the shipping date changes posted on Newsarama and came across the latest date for the next issue of Wonder Woman, which is issue 3.

Last Set Shipping date: 10/11/06

NEW Set Shipping date: 11/08/06

What this means for issue 4 that is being solicited in December's Previews is anyone's guess.

In other older news, (also according to stalwarts Newsarama), author Jodi Picoult's run on Wonder Woman will only last five issues, which will take the series up to issue 10. This means five from Allan Heinberg and five from Picoult - not exactly runs.

I am frustrated with this, but also acknowledge that in this instance lateness isn't going to make me drop the book. I have been collecting Wonder Woman since 1974, and love the character. I have no plans to drop her title. In fact, if I couldn't afford to buy comics any longer, it would be the last book I would drop. Hopefully I could panhandle $2.99- forget eating.

With that being said, I am prepared to be frustrated and irritated, but am also not using my dollars to complain, so it is a catch-22.

If and when I hear more news, you will see it here!

Wow! Preview Cover for Manhunter #26

Manhunter 26
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Look at the incredible cover for Manhunter #26! The always fabulous artist Arthur Adams has outdone himself this time!

Seeing this cover and knowing that Manhunter is coming back in December make me so happy. Manhunter is one of my top ten favorite titles, and I have found myself already in withdrawals. Kate Spencer and Chase are such well written female characters, and their male counterparts are excellent foils without taking the spotlight away. Every time this book comes out, it hits the top of my stack without fail. I can see that in December it will be no different. In fact, I may not even get out of the store before I have to look at it!

Having Wonder Woman as a guest star seems like such a good fit. Both Kate and Diana are tough women with strong convictions, so I am really looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

My day is officially a good one after seeing this spectacular cover.

New Comics for September 20

Flash the Fastest Man Alive #4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Once again the month has gone by so quickly that it is unbelievable. It seems like August just ended, but we are already full throttle into Fall. I am enjoying the weather right now, and am sad to know that soon it will be cold outside.

I am really excited about comics this week. 100 Bullets heralds the start of the "what has been going on with Dizzy and the boys" storyline I have been dying for! Astonishing X-Men is hitting the stands. I am also really looking forward to my favorite X-title, X-factor, hitting the stands. Making things even more interesting is that both Birds of Prey and Catwoman are shipping this week.

Without further ado, here is my list!

Conan #32
100 Bullets #76
52 Week 20
Birds of Prey #98
Catwoman #59
Checkmate #6
Flash The Fastest Man Alive #4
Hellblazer #224
Ion #6 (of 12)
Robin #154
Shadowpact #5
Superman #656
Wetworks #1
Occult Crimes Taskforce #2 (of 4)
Wtichblade #101
Astonishing X-Men #17
Exiles #86
Iron Man #12
Runaways #20
Ultimate Fantastic Four #34
Union Jack #1 (of 4)
Wolverine #46
X-Factor #11
Savage Red Sonja QOTFW #2 (of 4)
Strangers in Paradise #84

What a great week ! I didn't mention the Civil War tie-ins, because at this point, it really isn't on my radar.

Here's to a happy Monday evening to all of you and best regards for a happy week!

Review: Virgin Comics' Devi Inspires!

Devi #3 page 4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

From the first page summary of the Indian mythology of Devi, my attention was captured. The simplicity of the brief summation immediately endeared me to writers Siddharth Kotian and Samit Basu. The characters are incredible, and the action perfectly paced. I also appreciate the art by Mukesh Singh, along with the gorgeous colors of Nanjan J. The production value is amazing, and the book itself has great depth.

Before I gush too much, let me give a brief back story. In the second century of mankind’s arrival on Earth, there is a great war in which the Gods of Light must fight one of their own. The dark god Bala feeds off the forced worship of men, and his power is so great that the Gods cannot win the battle. They each put a portion of their power into a powerful hero named Devi.

The first issue of Devi opens with said warrior woman leading the Gods and their troops into a final battle. Devi is a sure witted warrior, whose battle skills are second to none. Ensconced in a glorious light, she is merciless in her goal to eradicate Bala forever. Perfectly paced, the final fight is shown to glorious effect. In modern times, we are also introduced to nemesis and contract killer Kratha.

Issue two takes readers into the modern day with alcoholic cop Inspector Rahul Singh. A brave man, used to dealing with the bizarre, Rahul has a careworn, jaded appearance. An ace cop with a mysterious past and a complex personality, Rahul’s back story is something I am very interested in finding out about.

In this issue we find out more about Kratha and the people paying her. We also meet the modern day Devi, even though she isn’t aware of yet herself. Tara is a beautiful young lady who knows that there is more to life then her current grind of clubbing at her boyfriend’s establishment. We are also introduced to the secret element of Devi, as the Durapaysa tip their hand.

Issue three brings more mystery into the book with the complexity of the characters starting to show through. Nothing is what it seems, and time is of the essence. Watching Tara’s soul journey makes the reader feel as if they are there with her. As the other characters gather to make their presence known, the danger is at an all time high.

I love the fact that I didn’t feel lost as I read the first three issues of Devi. I felt like the book has been well paced, and that the writing is on point. The dialogue drives the story, and never feels forced. I was further impressed that the third issue was written by Samit Basu rather then Kotian but that I didn’t get lost by different styles. The cohesiveness of the story being told is intact, which really impressed me.

The art by Singh is well polished. Ultra detailed with crisp line work, the art mirrors the current “must-have” style seen in today’s top selling titles. Trendy, but significantly individual, Singh does a nice job of panel work, keeping the story moving at just the right pace.

Order a copy of Shekhar Kapur’s Devi from your local comic book shop or online. Give new talent and a new company support so that we can continue to see high quality work like this being created. It might not be American-made, but it still very worthy of our support. A comic being produced in a timely fashion by true professionals is where I want to throw my support.

Virgin Comics Overview: A New Age Cometh

Ramayan Reborn 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Virgin Comics is the newest “mid-scale” comic book company to enter the industry. Having the financial means and great creative minds in place, this imprint is set to revolutionize the comic book industry. Unlike Cross-Gen, whose back to school approach worked initially but failed under weight of egos and business management, Virgin brings an independent approach and the unlimited funds that only Sir Richard Branson could provide.

According to their website, “Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation is the creative collaboration of writer Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and maverick Sir Richard Branson.

Based in Bangalore, India, the company currently houses 50 artists and writers in a creative studio and is focused on two areas of development:

1. The creation of original stories and character properties that tap into the vast library of mythology and re-invent the rich indigenous narratives of Asia in a unique, compelling, and entertaining way.

2. Collaborating with creative talent from around the world - from filmmakers, to writers, to musicians, and other artists - to craft original stories and character properties initially in the form of comics and graphic novels subsequently to be developed into films, television, animation, gaming, wireless content, online, merchandise and more.

Envisioned as a creative exchange, Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation is also leading the transition of India as an outsourcer to a source of innovative and dynamic creations and creators. With an eye on the rapidly evolving entertainment market (550 million kids under the age of 20 in the next 10 years in India alone), Virgin Comics will strive to create properties infused with a mythic sensibility that resonate with readers and audiences around the world. Utilizing the powerful and bold Virgin brand, Virgin comics is positioned to carve out a unique space in the powerful character branded entertainment arena and create a new wave of global comic entertainment.”

It is really exciting for me as a reader to see this unique approach to the industry, unfettered by the old business model. Not confined to super heroes, Virgin Comics can be whatever it wants to be. Interestingly, because this business is not a United States based one, there isn’t a focus on entertaining just one country; instead there is a focus on the world that is unprecedented. Though DC and Marvel have been successful globally, Virgin Comics isn’t confined to the age old mentality of over six decades of inconsistent continuity.

The biggest struggle I see with Virgin Comics is entrance to local comic book shops. The Virgin Comics sampler was an excellent start, but already I am seeing resistance in my town’s retailer. In their minds, DC and Marvel are safe bets, but anything new is still very scary. With that in mind, I plan to order copies of all the Virgin Comics titles available. I realize that as one person, I am not in any position to change minds, but I at least want to show my support in the best way I can- with my dollars.

Titles from Virgin Comics are: Devi, The Sadhu, Snakewoman, Ramayan Reborn, and the upcoming 7 Brothers from Garth Ennis and John Woo. If you see any of these titles on the shelf and want to try something new, please get a copy and see what you think. The comics are high quality productions, with topnotch art and skillful writing.

I am thrilled to be at the ground floor of Virgin Comics’ offerings. I am even more pleased with the fact that the company is being treated like a business, and being backed by some of the greatest creative minds of this age. If you don’t believe me, go out and take a look for yourself.

Bad Computer!

Well, I got up today with every intention of doing a review of Virgin Comics' Devi #1, 2, and 3. I read them last night, and was pretty excited.

Then Murphy's Law hit.

We had major power outages in town that caused the computer at my workplace to cease proper functioning. Being the unfortunate, very amateurish IT person, I got to come in.

So here I sit, doing an IPL and praying the system will come back up. Curses!

My hopes are that the rest of you are having a much nicer day, and are not stuck at work.

Take care!

Enjoying The Beautiful Weather!

Yesterday after work, I made a vow to myself to spend some time away from the computer and the television. So far, I have done pretty well, other then wanting to check in and post today.

It felt nice to work in the yard, take a nice, leisurely drive, and soak up some rays. With the last glints of Summer fading, I wanted to take advantage of it. It was also something different then my normal schedule, which felt very rebellious.

Tonight we are going to go either to a movie or watch a DVD, so I am looking forward to that. Tomorrow it will be back to business as usual, as the housework and the laundry don't appear to be magically going away!

If you get the chance to enjoy some time in the nice weather before it fades away, I highly reccomend it. With cold days ahead, it may be one of the last opportunities to get some really good rays.

Have a wonderful Saturday night! Take care, and do something fun!

Random Musings: Short and Sweet!

I am pleading exhaustion tonight as my reason for barely blogging. All I want to do tonight is eat some dinner, watch the new Survivor, and go to bed. With that in mind, here are some random thoughts.

I am very pleased to say that I now have the first three issues of Devi from Virgin Comics. I have been waiting for my comic book shop to get issue one in before I read #2. Reading that and Snakewoman are high on my priority list for the weekend. I want to support this new comic book company, so I have done orders for most of their books.

Tonight I am severely pissed off at yet another two people who parked in handicapped spots, only to walk very well into the grocery store. It wouldn't kill you to walk the extra 20 feet, People!! As someone who has a loved one who is disabled, I say leave the handicapped spots for the true purpose: people who actually need them!

It started getting cold here today, so Fall is banging on our door. When I got home from work tonight, it was raining steadily. Goodbye Summer!

Not much more to tell. I am tired tonight, and have no intellectual inclinations.

Have a great evening and a wonderful Friday!

One of the Signs of the Apocalypse: Whitney and Bobby break up!

Bobby and Whitney
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

In shocking news, Whitney Houston has filed for divorce from Bobby Brown. Married in 1992, this was always one of those couples I thought would last forever. Their union was too weird to not stand the test of time, you know? The reality television show Being Bobby Brown only enhanced the fact that these two were meant to be together. Whitney screaming "kiss my ass" to Bobby is still a classic moment in viewing history.

So in my great sadness and shock, I am taking the rest of the day off and reflecting on this tear-inducing news.

Let's all have a moment of silence, okay?

Updating My Links!

Let me direct your attention to my sidebar, please! I have added a few new links and want to apprise you of what they are.

The Comics Podcast Network is THE place to go to hear great podcasting about comic books and the industry.

John Layman should somehow turn his blog into a comic book. He is sarcastic and bitingly funny and has a fondness for the felines.

Lady, That's My Skull is one of the most cleverly written blogs around. Sleestak goes for variety, and never misses the point.

QEW Publishing is home to Quenton Shaw and his crew of creative talents. This group is up and coming in the industry, so see it hear first.

Technogreek is the blog of Jim Demonakos, the man behind the Emerald City Comicon and Image Comic's PR man. He is funny and sweet. I enjoy his insights and his tales. This is a busy man who makes the time to check in.

Take a look at these new links. I hope you enjoy these places as much as I do!

New Comics For September 13

Girls 17
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

It's Monday again, which means it is time for my list of new comics for the week. Once again, time is flying by, and before we know it, Fall will be in full effect.

52 Week 19
Aquaman Sword of Atlantis #44
Ex Machina #23
Fables #53
Firestorm the Nuclear Man #29
Green Arrow #66
Green Lantern #13
Green Lantern Corps #4
JLA Classified #27
Man Called Kev #3 (of 5)
Martian Manhunter #2 (of 8)
Girls #17- cover pictured!
Captain America #21
Claws #2 (of 3)
Ms Marvel #7
New Excalibur #11
New X-Men #30
Thunderbolts #106
Ultimate X-Men #74
Wolverine Origins #6
Devi #3

Whew! There is more Marvel this week then I thought, which will bring this week's total up. I can see that it is time to cut back on my comic book list again... and soon!

Have a great week!

Reversal of Fortunes! Next Seattle Comicard Show is October 15!

Rising from the ashes of the cancelled Portland Show, I have just been told that the next Seattle Comicard show is going to be held on October 15. There is a God and he is shining down on me!

Here is the information so far on the show. It is being held on Sunday, October 15 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is being held at the Seattle Center Rainier Room. Admission is $4 or $3 with a can of food. Donations benefit Northwest Harvest.

Jim and I will be there hanging out with our good friend Quenton and the gang from QEW Publishing. If you aren't familiar with the QEW Family, go check out their website. Quenton is a true professional with a lot of integrity, and I think you will find that it extends from his personality to his company's products.

I am so thrilled that there is a local show this fall! I hope to see you there!

Tears of Aphrodite! Portland Comic Book Show Cancelled!

It is with great sadness that I report that the October 8 offering of the bi-annual Portland Comics Book Show has been cancelled. The official announcement reads as so:

"To our Fans, Exhibitors, and Creators:

Due to scheduling difficulties, we find it necessary to cancel our October 8th Portland Comic Book Show.

We hope everyone that looks forward to our show will forgive us for canceling an advertised show.
This is our first show cancellation in 28 years and hopefully our last.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next show on February 18th, 2007 in the Exhibit Hall of the Memorial Coliseum at the Rose Quarter.

Confirmed guests thus far:

Karl Kesel
Fantastic Four writer/artist

Michael Eury
Writer/Editor Back Issue Magazine

Andy Mangels
Novel Writer: Star Trek, Star Wars, Roswell
DVD Special Features Writer

David Hahn
Bite Club artist"

What makes this announcement even sadder is that George Perez was scheduled to be at the October show, and we were also hoping to see Kirk and Pamela Jarvinen.

Now Jim and I will just have to save our pennies for the Emerald City Comicon coming in 2007. That is a long time to go between shows though- I hope we don't go into withdrawals!

Product Lust! New Wonder Woman Statue Is Amazing!

Wonder Woman Statue
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Check out this gorgeous new Wonder Woman statue, based on Lynda Carter as the character in the 1970's televison series. It is an incredible likeness, and I wish to God I could afford to get it.

Unfortunately, the statue is $195 which is too much money for my strapped behind to afford. I am going to have to hope that someday a smaller version of this comes out, so I can pick it up.

Here is the description of the statue from DC Direct:

"No one embodies the spirit and beauty of Wonder Woman more than Lynda Carter, the actress who portrayed her on the beloved television series! She will forever be the vision forged in a generation's memory as the quintessential Wonder Woman. For the first time ever, DC Direct has teamed up with Lynda Carter to bring you a must-have piece to every fan's Wonder Woman collection. This limited edition, hand-painted cold-cast porcelain statue is packaged in a four-color box, includes a four-color Certificate of Authenticity and measures approximately 13" high x 7.5" wide x 7.5" deep. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind collectible! "

Sigh. This is one of those times when I would really like to win the lottery! This statue is absolutely breathtaking, and as a huge Wonder Woman fan, it would be an excellent addtion to my collection.

Oh well, at least I got to see the picture of it!

New Comics For September 7

Detective Comics 823
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Because of the Labor Day weekend, and the fact that I live on the West Coast, I am calling Thursday comic day this week. The good news is that my list is a bit smaller then normal, so I can get caught up on old stuff. The bad news is that my list is smaller then normal, so there isn't as much excitement.

At any rate, here is my list for this week!

52 Week 18
All New Atom #3- deciding issue for me
Detective Comics #823- see beautiful cover pictured
Jonah Hex #11
Mystery In Space #1 (of 8)
Nightwing #124
Outsiders #40
Y The Last Man #49
Noble Causes #23
Punisher #37
Uncanny X-Men #478
X-Men Phoenix Warsong #1 (of 5)
Red Sonja #14
Snakewoman #2 (if my shop gets it!)

I really noticed this week that the Marvel drought is beginning. That is good news for my pocket book, and may give me a chance to try something new from an independent publisher. I am really looking forward to it.

In other news, today I received my copy of Lost Girls in the mail from Amazon.com. I am planning on spending this evening perusing the self-proclaimed "porn" courtesy of Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie. Finally I will see what the hype is about!

Have a great evening! Depending on how long it takes me to read said huge three volume set, you will have an opinion before the end of the week.

Labor Day Random Musings

Today is the calm before the storm. An extra day to reflect, and to get all those little things done that I have been so desperate to do. It has been so long since I have just surfed the internet, that it was pretty interesting to check out what is going on.

The poor Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin has died. My heart goes out to his family.

Moment of silence.

The movie Crank is amazing. It is a hilarious thrill ride. If you are over 17, go check it out. Jim and I went and saw it and we couldn't believe how much the audience as a whole was into it. Amazing.

Rockstar Supernova is my latest obsession. As a longtime metal fan, I haven't been able to tear my eyes away from it. Motley Crue, Guns 'n' Roses, and Metallica still fill up my iPod. My early favorite was Dilanna, but now I am realizing that her lack of songwriting experience may tank her. Toby and Storm are my current favorites, with Lukas ever being the "easy choice". If you haven't been tuning in, go over to the link and check it out.

Not much more to tell today. It is laundry and grocery shopping time for the hubby and me, so I am off!

Have a wonderful Labor Day, and a great week!

Y The Last Man Theories: Who Killed All The Men??

Y The Last Man #1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Have you been reading Y The Last Man from Vertigo? If not, here is the premise. All man and woman kind is having a regular day when all of a sudden, all the men on the planet die... with the exception of one. Yorick Brown is left sparred, and his journey of discovery begins at that moment. He goes to Washington D.C. where he meets with his mother, who is a congresswoman. She sends him and special agent 355 on a mission to find Dr. Mann and get to the bottom of things. Their journey is wrought with danger, as the world as women know it has been turned on it's access. The value of a man, and the women he encounters is as intriguing as it is surprising.

I don't want to spoil the various adventures, so I will summarize by saying that there are many interested parties who have a stake in discovering the fault so that the cure may be given. Issue 50 promises to reveal the reason of the death of all men, and issue 60 will be the final issue. Since issue 49 is coming out next week, I wanted to take the opportunity to guess at some possiible reasons for the demise of men.

1. Dr. Mann's father was a brilliant geneticist. Maybe he is still alive and is the cause.

2. Dr. Mann's father had a mistress. Maybe she is the cause. She is also a well known scientist with unknown ulterior motives and a spy in Yorick's midst.

3. Dr. Mann tried to clone herself. Maybe she released some kind of toxin into the environment while trying to give birth.

4. The amulet of Helene is a well known piece of mysticism. It is rumored that if it were to leave it's homeland that carnage and death would ensue. Well, it definitely left Israel, so it could be a cause. Unfortunately, the amulet was destroyed.

5. The Israel government could have something to do with it all. The most dangerous women soldiers hail from that area, and they seem to be hiding something.

6. The monkeys on the planet that have been experimented on may have something to do with it. Maybe something in their bloodstream was released, or was meant to be a carrier for the cure. Since Yorick has a monkey, it could be that Ampersand was a cure from day one.

7. It could be something that I haven't even guessed!

I am really interested to see what happens in issue 50, as Y The Last Man has been a very intense, addicting read for me, and all signs point to one of the above. My money is on the Mistress at this point, but I am prepared to be surprised.

Any theories I missed?

"Super Hero" Ends on an Emotional Note

Feedback picture
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Last night's finale of "Who Wants To Be A Super Hero" was incredible. From the first moment, watching Fat Momma and Feedback work in tandem in the kitchen, to the final announcement which saw Feedback take the prize, the entire episode was an A+.

Stan Lee has proven to be the perfect host for this show. No one on earth could come across as more sincere or caring. Stan treated the contestants with a seriousness that was touching. He never looked down on them or ridiculed them. I loved that Stan guided the group with love and respect. He was definitely the hub that made the show solid.

Fat Momma and Feedback are decent, caring people who deserved to make it to the end. I believe that either would have made a great winner, but that Feedback had that little something extra that made him really stand out. His love of comic books, and the fact that he was such a fan of the Peter Parker character growing up was really touching.

I am really thrilled with how this show turned out and would love to see another season. I plan to watch the movie that Feedback gets to be in, and I want to get the comic book that is coming out from Dark Horse. If Matt Haley and Stan Lee are teaming up, it is a sure winner.

What an emotional high to end on. I can hardly wait for the DVD so I can relive the moments that made me such a fan.

Who Wants To Be a Super Hero Finale Tonight!

Fat Momma!
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I am very excited to watch the finale of Who Wants To Be A Super Hero! This is the best reality television show ever!

With Stan Lee's wisdom of the ages paired with complex and amazing challenges, the show is good. With the raw emotion and courage of the character involved, the show moves up a level to incredible.

Tonight Fat Momma vies against Feedback to win the whole enchilada. Check it out on SciFi at 9 p.m. and report back. I know I will!

Happy viewing!

Snakes On A Plane: Summer's Guilty Pleasure

Snakes On A Plane Photo
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Tonight Jim and I went and saw Snakes On A Plane. What did I think?

Cool.

It scared me, made my adrenaline pump, and thrilled me. I loved the schlocky humor and gratuitous nature of it all. When Samuel L. Jackson finally utters the key phrase "I am tired of these mother-f*&*king snakes on this mother-f*$*king plane", we all cheered.

I am so glad that we went and saw it in the theatre and got the full effect of the snakes. In real life, I absolutely hate snakes, and fear them with a reverence usually reserved only for family members. That made it even more horrifying, and kicked the adrenaline into overdrive. It was insane.

I have to go sit quietly for an hour or so and let it all creep away!

Snakes On A Plane rules!

Great Hera! My Crystal Ball is Working!

A couple of days ago I had a bit of a rant about the lateness of Wonder Woman. Just a few moments ago while perusing Newsarama, I came upon this piece of news:

"WONDER WOMAN NOW ON BIMONTHLY SCHEDULE

Please note that beginning now, WONDER WOMAN will be published on a bimonthly schedule. WONDER WOMAN #3 (JUN060222) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on October 11.

All orders on WONDER WOMAN #4 (JUL060198) have been cancelled. This issue will be resolicited in the October Previews (Volume XVI #10), scheduled to arrive in stores in December"

Tears of Aphrodite! My instincts were correct. The book has been made bi-monthly! Here is a list of my guesses on publication:

Issue 3: okay for October 27
Issue 4: week of December 7-10
Issue 5: The end of January
Issue 6: First week of March

Pretty close, huh?

At least now I can quit being pissed about something that no one would explain. Now I can just be irritated about the book being bi-monthly!

Random Musings and a RANT!

The more I think about the lateness of the Civil War saga, the more angry I get. I know that may seem strange, but to me it all boils down to this: a blatant disrespect for the fans. Why? The fans are the ones that buy the weekly books that keep the cash flow going in the retail stores, and further up the food chain.

All these creators can use all the excuses they want, i.e. Watchmen was late and no one cares; we want the artwork to be perfect; the writer is ill; comic books are art; blah blah blah blah!! Keep those excuses flowing- it all boils down to this: the scheduling done was unrealistic to begin with. Tom Brevoort can do his spin control until the cows come home- the book should never have been solicited before it was at least two thirds complete at a minimum. McNiven's artwork has become very detailed, which has slowed him down, and that should have been taken into consideration.

The lateness of one limited series has now commanded the lateness of a good chunk of Marvel's titles. Maybe it will pay off for the company and the "trade" collectors in the end, but in my mind, it is strictly bad business.

OTHER MUSINGS:

Don't miss "Who Wants To Be A Super Hero" finale Thursday night at 9 p.m. on Sci-Fi. This show has so much heart, it bursts out of the television. If you haven't caught it yet, make an effort- it is worth it.

Has anyone seen "Snakes On A Plane"? Jim and I want to go see it tomorrow or the weekend, and I am curious what the verdict is.

We went and saw "Beerfest" Saturday night. It was just the kind of humor I like: base and crass. I didn't have to think, I could just enjoy. It did make me never want to drink beer again though. Strange.

I am hoping to take advantage of the long weekend and update my sidebar links. John Layman has a blog that is hysterical. Another good one is Jim Demonakas' blog. He is PR guy at Image and founded the Emerald City Comicon. Both of these guys are solid gold. If you get a chance, go take a look.

That's it for tonight. Have a nice Tuesday!

New Comics for August 30

All Star Superman #5
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

This week should be a quick one with Labor Day coming up. I know my Monday sure did fly by! My good news is that I went to the doctor and my blood pressure was 110 over 60- meaning it has improved in the last two weeks. I quit caffeine cold turkey on the 18th, so it is showing results. Yay!

Here is my list of this week's swag!

52 Week 17
Action Comics #842
All Star Superman #5 (cool cover pictured at right)
American Virgin #6
Boys #2
JLA Classified #26
Justice #7 (of 12)
Loveless #10
Superman Batman #29
Teen Titans #38
Trials of Shazam #1 (of 12)
Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #2 (of 8)
Black Panther #19
She-Hulk 2 #11
Ultimate X-Men Annual #2
Ultimate Fantastic Four #33
X-Factor #10
X-Men #190
Wizard #180
Doc Frankenstein #5 (if my store actually ordered it!)
Savage Red Sonja QOTFW #1 (of 4)

That is it for this lovely week! You all take care!

The Book Meme- Two Weeks Late but Finally Here!

The divine Melchior from Mortlake on the Schuylkill has tagged me on a book meme. I am very late in doing my bit, but here it finally is!


1. One book that changed your life:

The Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank Baum
I had seen the movie and loved it, but getting ahold of the book was a revelation. I collected the series and reread them so many times that they are falling apart without mercy. My childhood was very fulfilled by a simple book.

2. One book you have read more than once:

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Beautiful. Devastating. Descriptive beyond compare. Unreal.

3. One book you would want on a desert island:

A Gentleman’s Game by Greg Rucka
Pure genius.

4. One book that made you laugh:

Sex With Kings by Eleanor Herman
Clever anecdotes about royal mistresses throughout the ages.

5. One book that made you cry:

A Gentleman’s Game by Greg Rucka
I don’t want to spoil it- just read it.

6. One book you wish had been written:

My Weird Life- A soap opera by me...
It's still not too late!

7. One book you wish had never been written:

Life Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
I was very disappointed after loving her first two books.

8. One book you are currently reading:

Born to Rule by Julia P. Gelardi
A book about five reigning consorts that were all granddaughters of Queen Victoria. I am fascinated with royal intrigue.

9. One book you have been meaning to read:

The Sisters by Mary Lovell
It is on my book shelf, and I just haven’t gotten to it yet. It is an imposing looking tome and I have had a short attention span lately.

10. Tag five people!

I hate doing this to people. How about this- if you are linked on my sidebar and you haven’t done it yet, go for it! E-mail me and I will link you.

Analyzing Wonder Woman's Lateness: Set Your Bets!

Wonder Woman 4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Wonder Woman #2 just came out this week, and according to DC's website, issue 3 is set for September 27 and issue 4 is set for October 11. There were no solicitations for November. What does this mean for the lateness of the book?

In now understanding that writer Allan Heinberg will be on the book until issue 6, it seems safe to say that his portion of the run will not be over before Christmas, and may indeed be pushing Spring 2007. With author Jodi Picoult set to take over at issue 7, what does this mean for the future of the book in terms of sales and in terms of shipping dates?

I understand that Heinberg is very busy, and artist Terry Dodson has mentioned that Heinberg is also a perfectionist. This leads me to believe that while Dodson is keeping pace on the art chores, it is editorial and writer corrections that are causing the stall.

I say ENOUGH ALREADY. Quit with the perfectionism and tinkering, and put the product in the readers hands. Please. See, I said please!!

My bets run like this:

Issue 3: okay for October 27
Issue 4: week of December 7-10
Issue 5: The end of January
Issue 5: First week of March

We shall see how close I run on this. If I am wrong and the book comes out sooner, I will be contrite and pleased.

What do you think?

Posting: Tonight's Mission Impossible

Our lovely friends at our internet server had massive problems all night, so I haven't been able to post until now, which is my bedtime. I guess that my good intentions will have to wait until tomorrow now.

In short, Wonder Woman #2- what the hell was the wait about? JLA #1- it's okay, but not earth shattering. Batman has been the best read of the week so far.

The good news is that "Who Wants To Be A Super Hero" continues to entertain. Jim and I were both completely enthralled.

Take care tonight! See you tomorrow!

New Comics for August 23

Birds of Prey 97
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I would have blogged sooner, but we didn't have power for three hours, so instead Jim and I took the time to read comics and talk. It was really nice, except for the fact that the air conditioner wasn't working!

Oh well, at least there are new comics coming out tomorrow! Here is the list:

52 Week 16
Batman #656
Birds of Prey #97 (pictured)
Blue Beetle #6
Hawkgirl #55
JSA Classified #16
Supergirl #9
Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes #21
Swamp Thing #29
Wonder Woman #2 - Yeah right, I will believe it when I see it!
Astonishing X-Men #16
Daredevil #88
Eternals #3 (of 6)
Ultimate Spider-Man #99
Ultimates Annual #2
Wolverine #45
Red Sonja #13

That's it for this lovely week. I am still on Civil War strike, so I am just trying to weed out what's a keeper from Marvel.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Get In The Game with QEW Publishing!

Get In The Game with QEW Publishing
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Talk about exciting news! QEW Publishing is having a talent search specifically for "really gifted and imaginative" writers. There are currently three new projects being developed for the 2008 line up and you could get in on it!

Contact QEW Publishing here. If you think you have what it takes, this is a great opportunity to work with a class act. Tell 'em Heidi sent you!

No Cats Allowed

We just got home from a long, crappy day to find a notice from Animal Control on our door. This is extremely interesting and shocking, as we don't own ANY PETS!! Evidently we are being investigated for having cats that pee on other people's lawns. Okay??!!??

We see two cats from time to time that nap under our front trees, but we have also seen them in our neighbor's yard getting fed, so we are pretty sure they are theirs. We have never complained because the cats weren't doing any harm that we could see. But after today, I am so furious at getting called out for something I didn't do, that I am going to run those cats off at every opportunity.

Fact: I am deadly allergic to pet dander. I can't have small animals around me. This makes getting investigated by Animal Control irritate me even more.

What is worse is that our neighbors are too chicken shit to come over and approach us themselves. I guess it's easier to report someone and hide, huh?

I have enough problems in my life right now. Dealing with this is just the icing on the crap cake I am having to deal with. What's next? I don't even want to think about it.

Bagley to Leave Ultimate Spider-Man: Fans Mourn!

Ultimate Spider-Man
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

According to an article over at Newsarama, Mark Bagley is leaving Ultimate Spider-Man as of issue #110. The article goes like this:

With Ultimate Spider-Man #100 due any week now and the record-setting Ultimate Spider-Man #103 establishing Brian Bendis & Mark Bagley as the record-holding creative team at Marvel (having produced more consecutive issues of any superhero series in Marvel history, surpassing the 102-issue Stan Lee-Jack Kirby run on Fantastic Four), it appears that the end of an era is soon approaching. Mark Bagley has confirmed his plans to leave the series after Ultimate Spider-Man #110.

“I’ve had an incredible time with Ultimate Spider-Man,” Bagley told CSN, “but I don’t want to stagnate. Right now, Brian and I are doing some of the best work we’ve ever done on the comic, and I think it’s best for me to leave while we’re on the top of our game.”

While Bagley is moving on to other projects, Bendis will remain with Ultimate Spider-Man, although Marvel has not chosen an artist to take over the title. Of course, there are very few artists working in comics today who can match Bagley’s prodigious output; the artist has produced as many as eighteen issues per year and has still found time to do additional work for Marvel.

So what’s next for Bagley? “I’m not sure what I’ll be doing next,” he said. “I’m talking with Marvel, and they have several books they’re evaluating to see just where they feel I will fit best.” Once that decision is made, of course, you’ll hear about it in CSN."

This is sad news indeed. In my opinion, Bagley and writer Brian Michael Bendis made a wonderful collaboration. Though not legendary like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (Yet), the fact that this team broke the record for consequtive issues is a testament to their commitment and staying power.

My best wishes to Bagley as he moves on to his next endeavor. I know I will be following the news closely to see where he goes next. Bagley is a creator I want to support.

Marvel's Civil War Delayed.. And The Spin Cycle Goes On High Alert!

Civil War 4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Marvel has announced that Civil War will be delayed, a re-shuffling that will affect not just the core book, but several titles that cross over as well. What a shock... well, no, it isn't really.

The announcement which was posted on Newsarama, goes as follows:

In information released to comic book retailers Tuesday, Marvel has announced that issue #4 and 5 of their hugely successful Civil War series are being delayed.

Civil War #4 [and all its variant cover editions], originally scheduled to be released tomorrow, is now scheduled for September 20th. Issue #5 and all its variants, originally scheduled for next month, is now scheduled for November 15th.

And because of the nature of the storyline, the delays in the main series will affect the related and tie-in titles, like Civil War: Front Line.

In the announcement, Marvel wrote:


“Over the next few weeks, the Civil War proper title and a few of the tie in books that are closely related to the story in the main book will be shipping later than originally planned. In an attempt to accommodate the creative team of Millar and McNiven and keep the artistic integrity and high standards of the event, we will be shifting the following titles:

CIVIL WAR 4 (JUN061952; $2.99) moves to 9/20
CIVIL WAR 4 TURNER VARIANT (JUN061953; $2.99) moves to 9/20
CIVIL WAR 4 TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (APR068201; $2.00) moves to 9/20
FANTASTIC FOUR 540 (JUN061961; $2.99) moves to 9/20
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 6 (JUN061955; $2.99) moves to 9/27
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 535 (JUN061938; $2.99) moves to 9/27

CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 7 (JUL061956; $2.99) moves to 10/11

CIVIL WAR 5 (JUL061952; $2.99) moves to 11/15
CIVIL WAR 5 TURNER VARIANT (JUL061953; $2.99) moves to 11/15
CIVIL WAR 5 TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (JUL061954; $2.00) moves to 11/15
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 8 (JUL061957; $2.99) moves to 11/22
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL 1 (JUL061988; $2.99) moves to 11/22
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL 1 (Black and White) (JUL061989; $2.99) moves to 11/22
FANTASTIC FOUR 541 (JUL061965; $2.99) moves to 11/22
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 536 (JUL061941; $2.99) moves to 11/22

CIVIL WAR 6 (AUG062033; $2.99) moves to 12/20
CIVIL WAR 6 TURNER VARIANT (AUG062034; $2.99) moves to 12/20
CIVIL WAR 6 TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (AUG062035; $2.00) moves to 12/20
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 9 (AUG062036; $2.99) moves to 12/20
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL 2 (AUG062066; $2.99) moves to 12/28

CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 10 (AUG062037; $2.99) moves to 1/4/07
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 537 (AUG062018; $2.99) moves to 1/4/07
FANTASTIC FOUR 542 (AUG062045; $2.99) moves to 1/4/07
CIVIL WAR 7 moves to 1/17, Not yet solicited
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 538 Not yet solicited
FANTASTIC FOUR 543 moves to 1/24/07, Not yet solicited

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE CIVIL WAR CHECKLIST!

BLACK PANTHER 23 CW December 2006
CIVIL WAR: WAR CRIMES December 2006 ONE SHOT

BLACK PANTHER 24 CW January 2007

BLACK PANTHER 25 CW February 2007
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 11 February 2007
Also, starting in November some Marvel will be branded as “Casualties of War” -- similar to how they branded titles as “Spider-Man Unmasked” and “Road to Civil War”. Those titles are:


MOON KNIGHT 7

In December

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER SPECIAL
IRON MAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA SPECIAL
MOON KNIGHT 8

In January 2007
BLADE 5
MOON KNIGHT 9
“The need for these shifts came about as the September [for November shipping product] Marvel Previews #37 was going to press and we were not able to make adjustments,” reads Marvel’s explanation to retailers. “The December Marvel Previews will reflect the changes and additions. At this point we do not anticipate further changes to the schedule. We apologize for the inconvenience but feel that this is in the best interest of the quality of the event and for retailers to continue to realize the immense sales for these books. We are announcing these shifts early enough in the hopes that retailers can adjust their buying patterns for the next few months. Also, we hope the addition of a few more key Civil War titles will make up for any lost sales that result from these moves.”

Of course then writer Mark Millar hops in with his own spin as follows:

When contacted for comment by Newsarama, writer Mark Millar said:

"All I can say is that I'm as surprised by all this as you are. In fact, I only found out about it when I got up this morning and read my email. But you know what? This is a very cool thing for Marvel do to because it would have been so much easier to just go for a cheap fill-in artist instead of pushing back the books. Steve had virtually no lead-time on Civil War and a title with a million characters has proven much tougher than he expected. He and I both assumed a fill-in would be on the cards at some point, but Marvel credit Steve with a huge amount of our book's success and, as a creator, I'm genuinely stunned they spread the project out by another seven weeks to make it work for him. Marvel really took a bullet here. This pushes a lot of cash into the next financial quarter for them and they've really put product over profit here. I absolutely never expected them to work their entire publishing schedule around an art delay, but it's cool that they did and I totally take my hat off to them. Sure, it's horrible when a book we want is a little late, but I can live with a few weeks if it means getting Steve McNiven every issue. Apologies to readers and thanks to many people who were worried this meant I'd got sick again (I'm doing absolutely fine, thanks). This has been the biggest book of the millennium so far and it's clear people are passionate about waiting. But, honestly, it'll be worth it for seven issues of pure McNiven."

Then the kind people at Newsarama post a story with comments by CW artist Steve McNiven and chronically late Ultimates artist Bryan Hitch. Follow the link here for the scoop.

Editor Tom Brevoort follows it up with his spin at Newsarama as well. Follow the link for that complete interview. I would like to quote just one passage at this point:

Newsarama: Tom, first all, first question has to be a simple "why"? What’s the reason for the delay? Mark Millar and Steve McNiven have suggested it was McNiven who needs time to catch up on the series, as well as suggesting a lack of lead-time going into the series was a factor. Is this accurate?

Tom Brevoort: It’s everything. I’m sure Mark would rather I not push this button, but I’ve got a writer with a chronic condition, and a penciler who’s never had to handle a story of this magnitude before, with this many unfamiliar characters and situations (not to mention this much spotlight pressure.) Plus, it’s just a hard book to do. And we did get something of a late start, though that might have been surmountable if this was an easier sort of project—the first page of issue #1 was sent to me by Steve on January 3rd.

“And not that anybody’s going to believe me when I say this, but these delays aren’t at all because we’re changing the story Armageddon 2001-style. There are some elements that are shifting around —hence the new 11th issue of Front Line — but that’s simply an issue of us having more elements on the canvas than we have space for in the remaining pages. But the ending that you will read will be the same ending we spent two days coming up with at our editorial retreat back towards the end of ’05, the one that Joss Whedon visited briefly. Sorry, conspiracy guys!

BOTTOM LINE FOR ME AS A READER:

It sounds like every one is trying to cover their ass and lead us down the path where candy canes grow on trees and daisies taste like nectar. As a customer, I am dissatisfied, and as a business person, I am underwhelmed by the magnitude of excuses.

Don't solicit this stuff if it isn't in the can. Hire a traffic manager who can keep it all in perspective.

Don't tell the readers it is because you care about quality, and that 10 years from now it won't matter. That is just a bunch of posturing. If all the cogs in the machine were working smoothly then this wouldn't even be an issue. Furthermore, don't point fingers at DC for Infinite Crisis having quality problems- at least they got the book out to the readers. If DC wants to back track and correct the art later for the trade, more power to them. At least the customer who goes to the comic book shop every week is still satisfied as well. Quit pandering to the trade paperback readers and ignoring the guy whose dime enables you to make that collection down the road.

Screw Civil War. I am going to go spend my money on timely products made by companies that want my business.

New Comics for August 16

Girls 16
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Here it is, already another week! Because of my sales meetings last week, I have unfortunately not had a chance to read last week's stash. I opted to read my Hellblazer run instead, which was an inspired choice. It made me remember why I love the Vertigo line of comic books so much. Great quality product with an edge is how I like to think of it.

At any rate, I have quite the list of new books this week, so I better get hopping!

Conan #31
100 Bullets #75
52 Week 15
Boys #1
Catwoman #58
Checkmate #5
Deadman #1
Green Lantern Corps #3
Ion #5 (of 12)
Manhunter #25
Nightwing #123
Robin #153
Girls #16- pictured at right, groovy cover!
Hunter Killer #6
Civil War X-Men #2 (of 4)
Iron Man #11
Runaways #19
Thunderbolts #105
Ultimate Fantastic Four #32
Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #2


That's quite a pile of goodies to be sure! I can hardly wait! Catwoman! Checkmate! 100 Bullets! Oh My!

Have a great week!

Tracking John Constantine and Living Through Sales Meeting

Hellblazer 205
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Hey There! I just got done with my company's annual sales meeting, which basically meant 16 hour days and tons of activities. Rewarding but brutal.

To recover from this ordeal, I have been reading my John Constantine: Hellblazer run. There has been so much great talent on the book that it is unreal. Garth Ennis. Warren Ellis. A short spin by Grant Morrison. Jamie Delano. Brian Azzarello. Mike Carey. Whew! Amazing writers all!

I just finished Azarello's impeccable run on the book and am starting on Carey's with issue #174. I know that there is more unholy crap for John to go through, and I look forward to the roller coaster ride.

Until tomorrow though, I am a bad blogger.

Take care!

Seattle Con Sketch: Starfire by Jason Metcalf

Starfire by Jason Metcalf
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Here is the other sketch my husband got for me at the Seattle Comicard Convention. I was blown away at how great this piece is.
Artist Jason Metcalf did an excellent job of showing Starfire at her fierecest, while retaining a certain femininity. I also liked the fact that the focus was on the flow, not just her "assets". Nicely done.

This is definitely a keeper.

Seattle Con sketch! Ms. Marvel by McKone

Ms Marvel by Mike McKone
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Oh sweet love! Check out my sketch of Ms. Marvel by the very talented Mike McKone. I can hardly believe how nice it is, and how quickly he was able to do it.

I am having different artists do sketches of female heroes of Marvel and DC. It has been a great deal of fun to see their interpretations.

At any rate, I wanted to share this incredible sketch from a very talented artist. Not only is Mr. McKone good at what he does, but he is nice as well. It is greatly appreciated.

New Comics for August 9

Superman 655
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

The list is a bit funky this week, as it didn't print out by publisher this week. Bear with me on this! Here is my list of new stuff!

52 Week 14
Fables #52
Firestorm the Nuclear Man #28
Green Arrow #65
JSA Classified #15
Man Called Kev #2 (of 5)
Martain Manhunter #1 (of 8)
Secret Six #3 (of 6)
Superman #655
Civil War Frontline #5 (of 10)
Ms. Marvel #6
New X-Men #29
Se-Hulk 2 #10
Squadron Supreme #6
Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2
Ultimate X-Men #73
Wolverine Origins #5
Fathom #10

That is it! Have a great week!

Seattle Comicard Convention is an Absolute Winner

Layman and Brubaker: Pull My Finger
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Yesterday was the Seattle Comicard Show, and it was most definitely an intimate, casual affair. I felt like we were in on a secret no one else was in on, as there were tons of great deals everywhere and the access to creators was unprecedented. My hubby and I had a most excellent time, and are still quite pleased with ourselves at the end result.

We decided to drive over to Seattle Friday night so we didn’t have to get up too early on Saturday. That was a wise choice, as we had a restful, calm evening. We went to the Hurricane Club for an excellent meal and a couple of beers for me then headed back to the hotel. I fell asleep before 10 p.m. and Jim followed soon after.

The next morning we were up early because of our restful evening. We headed over to McDonalds for our traditional carb loading. I almost had a meltdown because some random asshole parked so close to my car that I couldn’t get it out without hitting there mirror. I stormed into McDonalds, and even though there were police in there breakfasting, proceeded to terrorize the restaurant trying to find the guilty party. Since no one fessed up, I had to very carefully pull out, crying hysterically. I barely missed the mirror, thank God. Randomly swearing, we drove over to the Seattle Center.

Of course, we were the first ones in line. It was 8:30 a.m. and said event didn’t start until 10 a.m. At least we weren’t alone long. Fellow Comic Art Fan Eric came in behind us, and we had a wonderful chat about old school 80’s Metal concerts while waiting. About 9:30, our friends and class “A” retailers John and Randy pulled up. John came over and let us into the con, where we proceeded to catch up. Unfortunately, there was a little “encounter” with Convention Head Steve Miner that left us a bit unsettled, and even a bit alienated. Hopefully it was a one time incident, as we admire and appreciate Mr. Miner very much. I don’t want to get into details, as it wasn’t exactly an international incident. All I will say is this: Steve, we would pay double to get into your con anytime, so our apologies for any confusion.

At 10 am things started rolling, so Jim went over to see Mike McKone, the splendid artist of Fantastic Four. He was incredible, sketching beautiful pieces that astounded all of us. Jim got an awesome Kyle Rayner head sketch, and I got a Ms. Marvel sketch. Mr. McKone was very polite and sweet. I was really impressed. One thing Jim and I didn’t expect was that he had an accent. That just scored even more points in my mind.

Our friend Brian was there, which made the event that much better. Brian is a good guy that Jim met through the Cross Gen boards and continued to talk to at Broken Frontier. He is one of the smartest guys I have ever had the privilege of talking to, and we had a great deal of fun cooking up some ideas for next year that I can’t share just yet.

I had a really nice talk with Quenton from QEW Publishing. His company has great things cooking with Angel Gate. Go check it out if you get a chance. Quenton is the real deal. He is passionate about comics and he is passionate about business, so I look to see much more of him in the future.

Infamous from his inclusion in this week’s Lying In The Gutters, John Layman arrived a bit late with Mr. “I resurrected Bucky” Ed Brubaker. Casual and funny, these two were the life of the party. Because of the size of the con, Jim, our friend Brian, and I actually got to talk to them for a bit. I immediately asked John about his infamy, and he told me that he may show up again in this next week’s column, so I am holding my breath in anticipation. I heard the story about his San Diego con party, but have decided to keep it on the D.L. if nothing else then not to ruin reputations or build legends!

John is a funny, relaxed guy. If you ever see his stuff, go buy it. He is a seasoned writer, and his Xena #1 from D.E. is good reading. He is also working on Scarface with IDW, and that will be another chance to check him out. He also has the coolest project ever coming down the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled.

Ed Brubaker regaled us with some stories that had us rolling. My hubby had a good talk with him about Daredevil, Foggy, Captain America, and Bucky. We are quite anxious for his Icon book Criminal to come out. That will be Brubaker at his finest. Big recommendation here: If you haven’t been reading Brubaker, start. This guy is the real deal.

Jim also got a couple of sketches done by Jason Metcalf. He had him to Starfire for me and a surprise sketch for a friend of his. Metcalf’s work is incredible. I will post his sketch here soon.

Feeling rich in creator conversation, we also proceeded to shop. I am thrilled to death. I got a copy of Wonder Woman #100 from the first series. It is in great shape, and it is a landmark issue. My wonderful husband bought me issue #80 of the same series, and it features the origin of the Invisible Plane. I am definitely in heaven to get these two issues.

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, so we had to head back home to reality. Jim had to work today, so we left Seattle about 3:15. Happy with the day, but hating to leave we said our goodbyes and headed down the highway.

I wish more people would have attended the con. My worst fear is that this show will go away if not enough of us support it. Please, please, please! If you are ever able, attend the Seattle Comicard Convention. It is a wonderful show, with the best retailers around, and top shelf creators. It is definitely worth the time, so please don’t forget about it! We had a wonderful time, and are willing to share!

Taking a Few "ME" Days

Well, it has been very hectic in my life lately, so I am going to take a couple of days off from blogging and try and get some things in order. I will be back by Sunday with something to say.

Please remember that if you are going to be in the Seattle area on Saturday to check out the Seattle Comicard Convention. It isn't huge like Wizard World Chicago will be, but the intimacy and the suberb buying opportunities make it a home run. Good people = good times.

If you aren't reading Paul Dini's new run on Detective Comics, you are missing out on some of the most outstanding work out there right now. Go grab a copy and give it a look. I promise you won't be disapointed.

Take care and have a wonderful next few days!

Seattle Comicard Convention This SATURDAY!!

Seattle Comicard Show
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

If you live in the Seattle area, or just want to make a road trip, there is great news! Steve Miner is having a Seattle Comicard Convention on this Saturday, August 5. It is being held at the Seattle Center as usual. Hours are 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

Check out these guests too!

Mike McKone
Karl Kesel
Ed Brubaker
John Layman
These fine gentlemen are all listed on the flyer. How exciting is that? Talk about your who's who in the biz! Check out the website for the Seattle show!

If you get a chance, head over to the show on Saturday. It should be incredible! Imagine the chance to shop and meet your favorite creators without too heavy of a line and too much crowding. Nirvana.