Top Ten "Best" Comic Events of 2008

After a bit of a downer post yesterday, it is now time to celebrate the “best” of comics in 2008. There was a few that sprang right to mind. The rest were a bit of a fight in my head, which I am sure must have been a heck of a sight to the hubby. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

10. Captain America. Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting continue to bring the heat on a title that has turned into one of my consistently top ten reads. I love Bucky as Cap, and I can hardly believe I am sitting here admitting it. This book is exquisite in every way, and the creative team is amazing.

9. Heroes Season 3. Yep, I said it. I loved the “Villains” storyline despite the controversy. Having the cast focused on a common theme was a nice change. I continue to have a bit of a Sylar obsession, and I still want to save the cheerleader. After a dismal season two, I feel optimistic again.

8. Wolverine: Old Man Logan Storyline. Mark Millar either hits or misses with me as a writer, but here he is hitting it out of the park. Did I mention that Steve McNiven is doing gorgeous art as well? I love the pairing of Wolverine with Hawkeye and watching the re-emergence of the savage part of the character has been fascinating to say the least.

7. Aaron Lopresti on Wonder Woman. I love Gail Simone as a writer, but I have to give some props to the artist working with her. Lopresti draws a beautiful but fierce Diana, and I can’t get enough. The panel work is seasoned, and Lopresti adds an extra dimension to Simone’s vision. I hope he is on the book for the long haul. I miss his work when there is a fill-in. Lopresti deserves a steady run on a title, and I feel that the Wonder Woman fans are lucky to have him.

6. Witchblade and Birds of Prey on DVD. I was thrilled when the DVD’s hit the shelves. I loved the Witchblade series and I had always wished I could have given BOP a second look. This has given me a second chance, and it has been a treat. I just want to know one thing: can Yancy Butler stay on the straight and narrow, and can the television series come back? I miss it! Honorable mention: Blade television series on DVD.

6. Incredible Hercules. I was really poised to hate this book, as I was disgruntled by the dismissal of Hulk from his own title, but I have to say I was wrong. This book kicks ass! The relationship between Amadeus and Herc is one of the best developed and rich ones in comics today and I don’t say that lightly. I can’t recommend this title enough.

5. Outstanding Mature Series of note: 100 Bullets, Fables, Boys, Fallen Angel, and Army @ Love. These mature titles have been some of the best work of the year. I am sad to see 100 Bullets and Fallen Angel coming to an end, as the entire development and production of these series has been phenomenal. Fables has given my childhood fairy tales a whole new life. Boys makes me laugh myself sick. Army @ Love is so damn clever and enchanting that it sucks me in every time. I love the fact that I am able to purchase and enjoy these books and that somehow it makes me feel that comics have grown up with me.

4. Discount Comic Book Service. The smartest move Jim and I made this year is to switch to an online comics service. I admit to some crappy customer service when I have problems, but I also admit to an ease and a peace I haven’t felt in years. I miss going to comic book shops, but I also know that my comics will be here in a timely fashion and I love that. Small town readers rejoice!

3. Return of Nick Fury in Secret Invasion. I love Nick Fury. His comeback to the Marvel universe was well executed and proved that you can’t keep a good character down. He is just the shot in the arm that the endless stream of major events and crossovers needed. Irreverent, whip-smart, and as brilliant a tactician as I have ever seen, I hope Fury is back to stay.

2. Iron Man and Dark Knight Movies. It was fun to go to the movies this spring and summer and two of the biggest reasons were these two flicks. I adored Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and am foaming at the mouth for a sequel. Dark Knight was so perfectly executed that I was in complete awe the first time I saw it. Even better, the movie continues to improve with age- a rare feat in this day and age. A toast to two fantastic films that reaffirmed my faith in the murk and muck that was a potentially fatal comic book movie explosion.

1. Gordon Lee case dropped. One of the most emotional moments for me this year as a comic book reader was learning that this frivolous witch hunt of a case was dumped. Having Neil Gaiman announce it at a CBLDF event was even more spectacular. This was a huge step in freedom of expression. I pray that it is a trend that continues.

That is my list for 2008. Can you think of something I missed? Any disagreements or additions? Let me know! Join me tomorrow for the events to look for in 2009.

Top Ten "Worst" Moments in Comics of 2008

It is time for this year’s “worst of” list here at Comics Fairplay. I went back through my blog, noticed I hadn’t blogged as much, and wondered this: how much is dissatisfaction with the industry and how much is the fact that I have went through a lot in my life? I guess at this point I would put it at a 50-50 split. That being said, I was able to come up with my list of 10 worst items quicker than the best. I mourn my optimism!

Without further ado, here is my list.

10. Justice Society of America Earth 2 Annual. I was really torn on this the first time I read it, and as I have gone back and re-read it several times, my irritation grows. I loved the JSA back in the day, and I am convinced that is a big part of the problem. No issue by any creator would have satisfied me. I also hate the fact that there is a new Power Girl. Her uniqueness along with her demeanor always appealed to me. A year from now, I may be eating my words, but for now this makes the list.

9. Y The Last Man ends. Much like the end of Preacher, the end of Yorick’s journey left me numb then depressed. For sixty issues, I was enthralled by the book and really wanted to know how the men died and how the ladies persevered. Then all too quickly it was over. The only book ending that will remotely touch this is 100 Bullets, which is ending in February. The pain… the pain.

8. Bruce Jones on Checkmate. I hate to say it, but after Rucka left, I left as well. Jones’ writing leaves me cold and this is no exception. The subtle web of intrigue and meaningful action were gone, and the book was soon cancelled. What a waste. I am sitting here hoping for a new series after the Final Crisis ends.

7. Cancellation of Manhunter, Birds of Prey, Spider-Girl, and She-Hulk titles. I am so sad about this. These were four excellent titles with female leads, and the quality of material was usually fantastic. I am just sick that these books are going, going, gone and I truly think it is one of the things that has driven me to cut back so much on my buying habits. It is decisions like this by the reader’s buying habits and the company’s editorial that have made me so cynical.

6. Garth Ennis leaves Punisher Max. This is truly the end of the era for me. I looked forward to each issue of the title, knowing that Frank Castle was going to make things right in his own scary way. It was a bit twisted at times, but I felt a healthy entertainment value was always gotten for my modest fee. I really miss Ennis, and am happy that he and Dillon have done the special mini-series. That is what saves me a bit.

5. Open Source Boob Project. I know you didn’t want to go there, but I can’t help it. This embarrassing debacle was one of the things that inspired my outside polls, which helped me a bit… BUT… come on now. Why would you do something like this at an all age’s event? An idea from some folks who wanted to grab boobs and be grabbed by mutual consent turned horribly wrong somewhere at THE INCEPTION. I know we are better than this.

4. Marvel Fashion Show. You know I had to point this out, right? I am still back at the beginning of this wondering why and how this came about. Do you know anyone that purchased these outfits to wear? The models are gorgeous girls, and they created quite a stir at the San Diego Comicon, but it didn’t seem like a good fit. Fanboys: 1, Dignity: 0. much like the Open Source Boob Project, I worry that this kind of stuff sets us back again, instead of making progress. I am obviously not the target audience.

3. Final Crisis/Countdown Continuity Gaffe. Grant Morrison gave an extensive interview. DC didn’t say much. There really wasn’t a resolution other then “oops”. That pisses me off. Call me “Fangirl” but I pay good money to have a semblance of continuity in two big company events. Speaking of paying good money…

2. Comic Book Prices hit $3.99. Not every book is this price, but the sticker shock is a big reason I have cut back on my comic book buying habits. With free internet downloads, and the price of a comic collection at zero to nothing, why the hell do I want to collect anymore? I might as well wait for the trade on the really good stuff. Damn I am bitter, huh?

1. Michael Turner, Steve Gerber, Jim Mooney, and Dave Stevens pass away. After last year, I prayed we would keep our creators with us. Unfortunately, this year hit hard. Losing these brilliant talents made the industry a much duller place. My heart still aches and I want to take a moment to thank these gentlemen for their work. Godspeed.

That is the list for this year. Care to agree or disagree? I am waiting to check the blogosphere for other lists until I am done later this week. Tomorrow night it is time for the “best” list, proving it is always darkest before the dawn!

Making A List, Checking it Twice...

I am sitting here working on my "best" and "worst" lists so no post tonight. I will be back tomorrow with my list of negatives, and hopefully also the Diamond List. I totally forgot to print it today. Duh!

Have a great night!

Just Hanging Out!

The last couple of days have been nice even thought the weather is still bad. Not having to be places at a certain time is a luxury around here, so we have been reveling in it.

Yesterday we slept in and then we went to the post office. Jim had some art to send, so that was a priority. I couldn't believe how busy it was after Christmas! Then we made an error in judgment. We went to Borders because the calendars were half off. It took a half hour to get to a parking spot. Then it took two minutes to pick out the calendar, and twenty minutes to wait in line. Then it took a half hour to get home when it should have taken less then ten minutes. Not cool.

Jim really wanted to go see Valkyrie because he has an interest in World War II history. It was a decent movie, albeit a depressing one. Definitely not a date movie, LOL. Tom Cruise is one of those actors that irritates out of character, but always manages to capture whatever role he is playing. Jim found it extremely ironic that the cast was mostly British, considering the events of the second World War.

So today is playtime. I lifted weights and did cardio yesterday and will do the same today. I have to work off the cookies I ate! Then it is all about doing what we want on our own terms. I have been enjoying Facebook quite a bit. If you aren't on there, you should check it out. I like it a great deal more then mySpace, as it has a real time feel to it. It has been cool for me also because my high school class has a group and I have loved checking out my former classmates. I also like to stay in touch with my more local friends that are busy like me.

The one sad thing is that I miss my family. I wish I could have seen them this weekend. Thankfully, I know that I will get together with them in a couple of weeks after the snow hopefully melts!

Have a wonderful day! I am going to start concocting my best and worst lists of the year!

Merry Christmas!

I hope that all of you, regardless of your religious and social preference, have a wonderful day today! We are relaxing here at home, since the bad weather prevented our trip. I just put a prime rib in the oven to cook and it is already starting to smell delicious.

By the way, the cookies did turn out. The chocolate chip ones have a slightly crunchy outside and a soft, chewy inside. The spritz cookies, which are sugar cookies that are normally pressed into shapes, turned out well. I was a happy camper.

Today is a day for family and loved ones. I hope you have yours around you have a wonderful day and I wish you peace and love.

(Image courtesy of Heritage Comics)

Christmas Eve Baking!

Happy Holidays to all! It is Christmas Eve and because I couldn't travel to see my family, I am baking cookies. Jim is sitting here in absolute amazement because I don't think he has ever seen me bake. Cook yes... bake no. I am making chocolate chip cookies and spritz cookies. I made a mess and it is a bit scary, but for the most part they are coming out okay. I screwed up the first recipe by adding the flour first- duh!

I had lunch with my friend Kerry, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. It was very cute because the little boy is a huge super hero fan. He loved the fact that I knew what he was talking about. It was also nice, because his dad has a Spider-Man tattoo, and that was common ground. Did I mention I had an excellent hamburger as well?

On that note, I am going to go finish baking and hang out. It is nice to be here but I really miss my family. Maybe next week...

Have a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays!

New Comics for December 24

I got home late tonight because Jim and I went grocery shopping and then I went to my friend Kerry's house and helped him clean it. Now I am sitting here, happy that tomorrow is my Friday. Having the rest of the week off feels great from this side of things!

In bad news, the weather still sucks. It was -1 this morning when I went to work and the high was 16. It also snowed over a half a foot. I can tell I won't be going home for Christmas to see my family.

Here is my list for this week.

Batman #683

Brave and the Bold #20

Reign in Hell #6 (of 8)

Top Ten Season Two #3 (of 4)

Trinity #30

Wonder Woman #27

Darkness #73

Daredevil #114

Hulk #9

Ms. Marvel #34

New Avengers #48

Secret Invasion Requiem #1

She-Hulk 2 #36

Ultimate Spider-Man #129

Ultimatum #2 (of 5)

That is the list. I hope to post more once I get through tomorrow and have more time. Have a great week!

Friday Before Christmas!

Tonight is my company Christmas party. We normally have it on a Saturday, but the last two years have been different. Having the party on a Friday makes it feels rushed. I enjoy and appreciate my coworkers, but this year I am having a bit of an issue. I ate leftovers for lunch and now my stomach is lurching along, which I hate. I am debating whether to still go or not.

In comic book news, my DCBS order has not shipped yet due to unforeseen circumstances that I have worked to resolve. This means that we will not see the order until after Christmas. That is okay, as things will be hectic.

The weather c0ntinues to suck. It was 1 degree this morning on my way to work, and I believe that the high temperature was in the upper teens. Yuck! The next week will bring a fantastic mix of either snow and ice or extreme temperatures. It makes me sad. Hopefully I will have something to cheer me up soon!

Not much more to tell. I feel like a sourpuss, so I have been keeping the blogging light. Hopefully there will be news to tell or I will get some reviews done soon! I have lots of ideas that I have yet to execute. Bad Heidi!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Random Thoughts and Musings: Christmas Blues

The weather here is pervasively cold and crappy. It shows no signs of getting better before Christmas. This makes me very irritated! It is snowing right now and is supposed to snow through tomorrow. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we will experience highs of 11 degrees. This means multiple layers of clothes and lots of care while driving. How is your weather?

In comic book news, I have made a list of the books I must get in January that I did not order. They are Birds of Prey, Manhunter, Fallen Angel, and Noble Causes. Because all these series are ending and I am a completist, it makes sense to save a bit of Christmas money aside and grab these books. Added to 100 Bullets, The Boys, Wonder Woman, and Justice Society of America, and that is my pull list.

It dawns on me that I haven't done Christmas cards. What is the ettiquette on that? Has anyone ever done e-cards and foregone the stamp and mail route? Is it tacky to put superheroes on a Christmas card when one is not an artist?

Not much more going on. I just don't have any Christmas spirit as the weather has got me stressed out. I am worried I won't be able to see my family next week, but hopefully we can celebrate a late holiday if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Have a great night! See you soon!

New Comics for December 17

Today is the 15th. That means like 10 more days to Christmas. Good Lord! The decent news is that Jim and I got a couple of packages sent out today. The bad news is that I haven't even thought about Christmas cards yet. Yikes.

This week's list caps off what is sure to be a huge shipment from DCBS. Three weeks worth of stuff is coming to us, and with the holidays I am already bracing myself for delays. It is being considered our early Christmas present as it should be here on the 23rd or the 24th!

Here is this week's list.

Rex Mundi #15- cover pictured

Birds of Prey #125

Ex Machina #40

Fables #79

Manhunter #37

Supergirl #36

Trinity #29

Dark Reign New Nation one-shot

Deadpool #5

Mighty Avengers #20

Punisher Max #65

Uncanny X-Men #505

X-Factor #38

X-Men Legacy #219

Fallen Angel #32

That is it for tonight. It is supposed to get under 0 degrees farenheit tonight and be horribly cold the rest of the week. I am bracing myself for ice and snow and generally miserable weather.

Have a nice night!

Gift for the Non-Comic Reader: Camelot 3000

I know that in this year of trade paperbacks, the word on everyone's lips has been Watchmen. It has sold like hot cakes and it is getting a ton of critical praise. While I don't discount the perfection and glory of Watchmen, it is not the first book I would give to a non-comic book reader.

I ask you for a moment to think of Camelot 3000 as an alternative in gift giving. This trade paperback is a collection of the first maxi-series ever done. It is also the first adult themed book and it was printed on heavier paper. Did I mention that it also features King Arthur?

Camelot 3000 is the imagining of the return of Arthur, Merlin, and his knights to the troubled future. Britain has been taken over by aliens, and the world has all but given up. Into that time, King Arthur awakes to put things right. The twist here is in the times and in the reincarnated knights and their own reawakening. This book is truly glorious in every way.

Writer Mike W. Barr and artist Brian Bolland have created a book for the ages. Their collaboration is flawless, as the book has the feel of one mind and one spirit creating it. The dress and the introduction add to the tone of the book, enthralling readers from cover to cover.

I selected this as a gift to non-comic book readers because it is not cut from the typical super hero mode. There is no Wonder Woman, and Captain America doesn't make an appearance. These are iconic characters in their own right, and the legend has been passed down for centuries. Who hasn't heard of Lancelot and Guinevere? Merlin is certainly famous (or infamous) in his own right. This is the perfect book to hand to the person who has seen the movie Excalibur. They will go nuts for it!

When shopping this year, I have hesitated to share the comic book joy, but this is a rare exception. The price is right, and the book is available in multiple formats, ranging from deluxe to simple. If you haven't read it, give it a look and make your own opinion.

While everyone else is reading Watchmen, give the gift of King Arthur.

Random Thoughts and Musings

Watching the last episode of Boston Legal Monday night was really sad. Though sometimes the politics were a bit too liberal for me, I was sad to see Denny and Alan say goodbye. William Shatner hammed it up and it always felt like he was having a good time working on the show. James Spader endeared himself to me with his quirkiness and his amazing ability to enthrall and sadden. The chemistry between the two was truly the anchor of the show, though Candace Bergen as Shirley Schmidt was fantastic. I will truly miss this show.

I have been riveted by The Biggest Loser this season. Vicky has become the character I love to hate, while I am intensely rooting for Michelle to win. Ed and Heba have been a roller coaster ride for me. I love Ed's support of his wife and I have enjoyed seeing the two together. I hope that after this show they go have a long, happy life.

Television is slowly replacing comic books for me. It is not a good change, but the truth is that I can afford to watch these shows, while the price of comic books continues to escalate. It is probably the perfect time to ponder ending my longtime love of them.

Not much else to say tonight. Life is interesting, to say the least!

Take care and I will see you back here soon!

New Comics for December 10

Wow, it is the second week of December already! Luckily, Jim and I pretty much know all our Christmas gift giving now, so we are feeling a bit better. I just have to finish a few things and we will be pretty well set.

This week is very heavy with DC books. I think that Marvel must be having a bit of a lull with the aftermath of Secret Invasion. It is scary knowing that next week my second to last big shipment will be sent.

Here is this week's list.

100 Bullets #98

Action Comics #872

Booster Gold #15

Detective Comics #851

Final Crisis #5 (of 7) - pictured

Green Arrow Black Canary #15

Green Lantern Corps #31

Justice League of America #27

Nightwing #151

Secret Six #4

Titans #8

Trinity #28

Witchblade #122

Secret Invasion Dark Reign

Lone Ranger #16

That is the list! Now I have to run off and watch Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, followed by the SERIES FINALE of Boston Legal. What a bummer!

Morning Musings

It feels good to have a lazy Saturday after some really busy months of work. I got up early and have been rooting around the basement. I will try and clean a bit so Jim and I can focus on getting our house clean and nice. After that, we will be able to evaluate what improvements and repairs need to be made. The great news is that the basement is sealed tight as a drum. It is one of the things I really appreciated about the house when we bought it almost nine years ago.

Our big living room is the other thing I have always liked. We don't spend much time in the rest of our house, so it is nice to have plenty of room to "live in". We have had some great parties there, and have had way too much fun in the past!

The other thing I am working on is trying to make room to get my comics organized. What a mess! Since we have cut back so much, it makes sense to try and get some order now. It is a perfect time to make decisions about what I want to keep the rest of my life and what I would part with. I feel ready to do so.

Thank you so much for all your ideas on how to continue our reading habit. It will undoubtably be culture shock of the highest degree. It will be good in the long run. Also, who knows- we may be able to pick up back issues for pennies on the dollar years down the road.

Have a nice day! I am going to go back to cleaning and then I need to go work out. My other goal is to get all this extra weight I have put on off. Damn food addiction!

See you later!

Random Thoughts and Musings

Here it is Wednesday and I am already home from work. I took a half day off work so Jim and I could take care of our business. After working so many hours, it felt good to do the stuff he and I so desperately needed to. We are making plans for our future, and it involves time and effort.

In rant news, I am sad to hear that Comic Foundry is ending with it's next issue. I have really enjoyed reading it and wish it could somehow continue. It was the magazine that filled the void for comic readers who wanted content over T&A. Maybe someday it will start back up... I can only hope.

Not to be too nasty, but the art on X-Factor is awful. It was one of my favorite books until Larry Stroman took over as penciller. I know that he was the artist on the series before, but this looks bad to my untrained eye. I have convinced myself that it is because his style doesn't mesh with normally able bodied inker Jon Sibal's work. It is good timing to have to drop so many books, and this made it an easy choice. Sorry, but in my personal preference, the art was so distracting I couldn't follow the story.

I am now sitting here trying to wait patiently for our DCBS order. It is the third to last decent sized order we will be getting, so I am a bit sad. We had to make the cuts though. It was inevitable. In this day and age, I can't afford to read comics anymore. I have been ranting for some time about how the expense of comics would someday kill my habit, and I am sad to say that the day is now here. It makes me wonder what I will blog about. I am so depressed about it that it is hard to deal with. My reality doesn't reflect the kid in me.

Anyone got anything fun going on? I need a mood booster badly!

New Comics for December 4

Wow, it is December! The last month went by very quickly and now I am in full Christmas panic. I worked late and just got home, so I am really in a state about gift giving. Thank you for the ideas- any help is appreciated!

Here is my list of this week's stuff.

Army @ Love 2 #5 (of 6)

Batman #682

Justice Society of America #21

Sandman Dream Hunters #2 (of 4)

Trinity #27

Broken Trinity: Witchblade

Darkness #72- yes, they started re-numbering in anticipation of the countdown to #75

Noble Causes #38- cover pictured

Sword #13

Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1 (of 6)

New Avengers #47

Punisher Max X-Mas Special 2008

Secret Invasion #8 (of 8)- holy crap- it's over!

X-Men Manifest Destiny #4 (of 5)

Boys #25

That is it for this week! I will be back to answer questions and catch up. Take care!

Getting Ready for Christmas

It starts. Christmas madness is upon us! I went to Sears with my friend Kerry to look at televisions. There were some great deals, but most of the stuff was gone. That is what he gets for waiting until afternoon!

What are you doing for Christmas shopping? I am trying to be creative and do stuff that I can not have to spend too much money on. Does anyone have any suggestions? I will do a monthly calendar for my mom and dad, but other then that I am pretty lost.

It was a nice long weekend for me. I tried to rest as much as possible and tried to get over my cold. It is still lingering, which is bad!

Speaking of Christmas, my hubby and the wonderful artists at Space Goat Fine Arts are having a huge half off sale! I am amazed at this great opportunity. The artists represented here are Richard Moore (Boneyard), Rafa Sandoval (Incredible Hercules, Ultimate Captain America Annual), Jason Metcalf (should be major star any minute now), and Randy Kintz (ditto!). Check it out if you get a chance. The sale starts tomorrow and goes through December 23.

On that note, I am off to try and cook up some soup for dinner. Take care and I will see you back here tomorrow for new comics!

Turkey Hangover

Yesterday was a nice day. I went and saw the new 007 movie and Transporter 3. Then we cooked up chicken breasts and stuffing. Then I proceeded to go to bed and sleep 15 hours in a row! That being said, I have not been productive at all.

I am at my friend Kerry's house trying out his new internet. He hasn't had service for over a year and he just switched to the Charter bundle package. It is pretty cool.

Since today is Black Friday, I am staying as far away from the retail stores as humanly possible. Kerry is going to go play racquetball and I am going home to work on stuff there. Jim and I don't have a shopping plan yet, but we will get there.

Anyone else go see any movies?

Random Thoughts and Musings : Head Cold Edition

It is official- I am sick. I have a crappy head cold and the underneath of my nose is rubbed raw from the constant blowing. The best thing I have found to do is use Afrin nasal spray and Alka Seltzer cold medicine. Otherwise, I just need to sit on my butt and wait for it to go away. Any remedies you have that can help?

I just got the new Guns'N'Roses CD and I dig it. Yes, I know I had to wait like 17 years for it, but I don't care. Axl is batsh*t crazy, and I miss Slash, but it sounds killer. There aren't frontmen out there like that anymore- charisma and insanity are a heck of a mix. Mick Jagger, James Hetfield, David Lee Roth, Rob Halford, and... Axl Rose! LOL. Anyone have an opinion on it?

In comic book news, I have cut back to four titles in January. Yep, you heard me right. We are tightening our belts, so for the near future, I will have to change my focus and review old stuff. That is, if I ever start reviewing stuff again! It is weird to sit here, knowing that I am cutting back so far, but it is a fact of life. I kept The Boys, 100 Bullets, Wonder Woman, and JSA. I also ordered Final Crisis #7. For the first time in many years I won't be getting any Marvel.

On that note, I am going to go sit and try and recover from this mess of a cold. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

New Comics for November 26

It is Thanksgiving week already. Good Lord! This month has gone by so quickly!

I had a nice weekend with my family, but it went too quickly. I also came back with a bad cold, so that is a bit of a bummer. Happily, I have Wednesday through Sunday off, so I can recover.

Here is this week's list of comics!

Batman #681

Birds of Prey #124

JSA: Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom #1

Reign in Hell #5 (of 8)

Superman #682

Teen Titans #65

Trinity #26

Wonder Woman #26

Captain America #44

Daredevil #113

Hulk #8

Incredible Hercules #123

Ms Marvel #33

Secret Invasion Inhumans #4 (of 4)

Secret Invasion X-Men #4 (of 4)

She-Hulk 2 #35

True Believers #5 (of 5) - pictured

Ultimate Spider-Man #128

Ultimate X-Men #98

That is it for tonight. I have a terrible sinus ache, so I am going to go lay down. See you again soon!

Early Thanksgiving!

I am running home to see my family for a day and a half to celebrate early Thanksgiving. Jim is staying here to check out job opportunities and keep the home fires burning. We wish his family lived closer so that it was a car ride rather then a plane trip.

There is not much more to say, other then to wish you all well this weekend. Take care!

Wishing I Was Rich.... Again!

In the DC Previews for February 2009, there is an advance solicitation for a sweet statue of the old school Batgirl versus Catwoman. It is based on the designs of my awesome bud Matt Haley, so that makes it even more tempting.

The problem: I don't have the cash. Bummer!

My only quibble is that Catwoman's top is way more lowcut then I remember it being in the old comic books. Otherwise, I love it. The facial expressions are killer and the sheer poetry of motion is divine. Very cool.

Here are the specs:

CATWOMAN VS. BATGIRL STATUE

DESIGNED BY MATT HALEY

SCULPTED BY ANDY BERGHOLTZ

Gotham City’s female foes do battle in a CLASSIC CONFRONTATIONS statue!The latest addition to this line of statues sculpted by some of DC Direct’s premier talent features Batgirl confronting Catwoman as the feline fatale attempts to pull a bank heist. In a unique twist, not only does each figure’s cape suspend her in mid-air, but the capes act as bases on which the figures stand. Packaged as three separate pieces (Batgirl, Catwoman and the bank vault over which they are fighting), the statue can be set up in a variety of configurations. The Catwoman Vs. Batgirl Statue is limited-edition, hand-painted and cold-cast in porcelain. It measures approximately 8” high x 11” wide x 5” deep, includes a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity and is packaged in a 4-color box. Manufactured to order.

Advanced-solicited;

on sale July 29, 2009

* Statue * $225 US

What do you think?

New Comics for November 19

Hey all! It is another week, and I have something to look forward to. Next week I only work two days- I took Wednesday off and Thursday and Friday are part of the Thanksgiving holiday. This will give me a chance to clean my house and go through my comics so we can sell some.

Here is a list of this week's books!

Brave & the Bold #19

Ex Machina #39

JSA Kingdom Come Special: Magog #1

Stormwatch PHD #16

Trinity #25

Deadpool #4- cover pictured

Punisher Max #64

Uncanny X-Men #504

X-Factor #37

X-Men Legacy #218

Tomorrow our DCBS order should arrive, so that is good news. I am very thrilled about next week as well! I hope to start blogging more regularly soon.

Have a good night!

Selling Comics...

Jim and I have been considering selling large chunks of our collections. eBay fees are killer, so we are wondering where the best places are to try and move books. Do you have any ideas?

Also, does anyone do anything with Amazon? I had heard that they have a program. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I hope you had a good weekend. Take care!

More Comics in Playboy

In the December Playboy, comics are once again touched upon. This time they didn't dress up Tiffany Fallon as Wonder Woman. This time, four writers were asked to talk about thier best of comic books. Walter Mosley (Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones mysteries), Margaret Atwood (fiction and poetry writer), Jodi Picoult (former Wonder Woman scribe and reknowned author), and Jonathan Lethem (You Don't Love Me Yet) all give their takes.

What may interest you, other then the general take, is that Picoult talks about her perception of Wonder Woman. It is fascinating reading to be sure. After so much controversy surrounding her run on the book, I was a bit surprised to find out she was trying to make all the readers happy. Picoult faced a losing battle from the start, so trying to please all of us was not going to go well.

:-(

Anyone else hear about this?

I won't be blogging again until Sunday or Monday, so until then... have a great weekend!

All Time Low

Man, just when I thought I would have more time to blog, life keeps happening! I am in training this week, and it has been great. It just has made me work more hours again. I am still fervently hoping to work a more normal week next week. I think Jim hopes so as well.

Anyone go to the Portland Show? It was last weekend and Jim and I weren't able to make it.

Is anyone planning to see Punisher: War Zone? It opens December 5th and Jim and I are thinking of checking it out.

In good news, we got notification that our DCBS order shipped today. Yay!

Have a great night!

New Comics for November 12

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a nice weekend. We were supposed to go see my nephews this weekend for their birthday party, but plans fell through when a flu epidemic hit my family. Hopefully we can make it up this upcoming weekend.

In comic book news, there is lots of good stuff coming out this week. Here is the list!

100 Bullets #97
Action Comics #871
Booster Gold #14
Detective Comics #850
Fables #78
Green Arrow Black Canary #14
JSA Kingdom Come Special: Superman #1
Manhunter #36
Nightwing #150
Titans #7
Trinity #24
Broken Trinity #3
Darkness #7
Wolverine #69
Fallen Angel #31
Lone Ranger #15

That is it for tonight. I am being a bad blogger, please forgive me. Jim and I are going to sit down and have a discussion about upcoming events.

Birds of Prey, Nightwing, and Robin Cancelled!!

I read over at Newsarama that Birds of Prey, Nightwing, and Robin are being cancelled. The February issues will be the final of each, with issues #127, #153, and #183 respectively.

My first thought is that it has to be due to Batman RIP. My second thought is that DC is imploding again, almost thirty years later. That being said, it is a complete bummer. I do think it is interesting to take note of what Newsarama points out- each series was originally written by Chuck Dixon. Another note is that each book has been wildly popular at one point or another.

In recent memory, there have been some stinker periods on each book. Since Gail Simone left Birds of Prey, it just hasn't been the same. Bruce Jones almost killed Nightwing. I quit reading Robin around the time Identity Crisis hit. I do admit there have been some bad times. I have really enjoyed Nightwing recently and am especially sad to see Birds of Prey end. I love the concept of the book and the execution has been mostly fantastic.

Why do you think the books got cancelled now after such long runs?

New Comics for November 5

We made it through our first day of "go live" very well, so I am a happy but exhausted woman. It is such a relief that things are working as well as they are. I feel good to my bones about it, so that is what matters. Now I just have to cross my fingers that things continue to go well.

Here is the list of this week's books.

Army @ Love #4 (of 6)
Final Crisis Resist #1
Justice Society of America #20
Sandman Dream Hunters #1 (of 4)
Secret Six #3
Top Ten Season Two #2 (of 4)
Trinity #23
Ultimatum #1 (of 5)
X-Men Manifest Destiny #3 (of 5)
Femme Noir Dark City Diaries #3 (of 4)- see cover!

That is it for tonight. I am going to go sit and relax for a bit before heading off to bed. This is a big week for me! Take care.

Still Alive!

Hey there! I am still alive and kicking! My computer conversion was this weekend and things are looking good. Tomorrow morning, we are good to go "live" and I am very happy.

It was amazing. As things were completed and looked good, I could literally feel the stress leaving my body. As the main person from my old company who worked on the pre-conversion, I really felt I had something to prove. As things worked, and we were able to progress, I just had to smile.

At any rate, I hope you are all doing well. I have missed my blog and all the great folks who come around and see me! By the end of the week, I hope to be back on my more normal blogging schedule.

Take care!

Being Healthy and Leaner Is a Good Thing

It is just a couple of days before the "go live" onto the new system, but I wanted to take a quick moment to talk about something serious- being overweight.

The last five months have been very tough on me, and in the last few months, my gym attendance has dwindled. I still get up in the morning and do some cardio, but my weight lifting has been completely non-existent. Add the fact that I am eating poorly to the mix, and I am at the highest weight I have been at for almost ten years. I am fat and I am unhappy. Let me tell you why.

When I gain weight, it really accumulates around my stomach. That makes it harder to get a good, clean breath, and it has caused me to start snoring. Some nights I breath so laboriously that it has really upset Jim. All that fat around my organs isn't good for my heart either.

Since I am in my 40's losing weight means loose skin and more wrinkles. My skin has lost some of it's elasticity, so when I lose the weight, it will look like crap under my clothes.

Add in a higher risk of diabetes, heart attack, and high blood pressure to the mix, and I can't find a single good thing to say about being heavy.

That is why I am going to go on a diet tomorrow. My friend Rick works at a Fitness place and they are sponsoring a lower pressure contest. It isn't on the scary workout level of the contest I have done in the past, but it is still a challenge. That means no more candy and that means that after "go live" I will be back in the gym at night.

I don't care what the naysayers have to say about this. Being overweight sucks. It makes me look and feel like crap and it completely saps my energy. I defy anyone out there to tell me what is great about being heavy- there just isn't any reason.

Cross your fingers for me that I can get my work stuff done and get back on track. It is about time!

New Comics for October 29

It is another big week for me at work. We are exactly a week from "Go Live". It is hectic, but very interesting. I can't wait to be up on the new system, as it will help me with my daily tasks. I also think that Jim would like to see me more, so he will be happy.

Here is my list of new comics for the week.

DC Universe Decisions #4 (of 4)

Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1

Justice League of America #26

Reign in Hell #4 (of 8)

Superman #681

Teen Titans #64

Trinity #22

Sword #12

Incredible Hercules #122

Secret Invasion X-Men #3 (of 4)

Ultimate Captain America Annual #1

Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #3

X-Force #8

Boys #24- both covers pictured

Since I am running so late, I am keeping this brief. This will be a spotty week for posting, as I am going to have no days off until November 8.

Have a great week!

Major Kudos...

On Wednesday, the wonderful Laura at Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog celebrated her six year blogoversary! Many congratulations and high hopes for many more years! That is just awesome!

In further anniversary celebrations, Johnny Bacardi celebrated his six year blogoversary as well! May you continue to be irreverent and inspirational, Sir.

I know that in the midst of my hectic year, I have failed to give a shout out to many of you on my blogroll as you have celebrated your milestone, so I just want to send lots of blog love to all of you who continue to soldier on, giving me a reason to smile and keep on reading!

Random Thoughts and Musings

In really good news, Jim and I got our comic book order Tuesday night. I was very excited, and have been randomly reading them the last few nights.

I am sad that Fallen Angel is going to end. I can't remember the issue number off the top of my head (help on that anyone?), but I will miss it. Hopefully writer Peter David will bring it back again.

Another book I have been pleasantly surprised about is Rex Mundi from Dark Horse. When the book began, I was intrigued, but wasn't able to get all the issues. Since the Dark Horse run, I have been on board. The book continues to improve, telling a tale that appears to be hitting it's apex.

I loved 100 Bullets as usual, and I laughed until I cried when I checked out The Boys. The last page is priceless!

There are many more books in my stack, and I would love to knock off a true blue review sooner than later. I am not holding my breath, but it would be nice to get back on the old review horse.

Work is continuing to rev up as we head towards "Go Live" on the company's computer system. Getting bought by another company can go many different ways, but luckily for me, it has been a pleasant, intriguing experience thus far. My harshest complaint is that I have been working so hard I haven't had a settled homelife. I miss Jim and I miss my blog, but both are being patient.

The bad news is that Jim and I will not be attending this Sunday's Seattle Comicard Show. Jim tried to get a table, but never got a call back. I am not too sad as I am very tired and was not looking forward to the drive. The worst part about not going is missing our friends. I am very sad about that. Next spring, Jim and I will be back on the convention circuit with a vengeance.

Tomorrow is Friday and that is a good thing. Jim and I are planning to order pizza and watch True Blood, so I am really looking forward to that. I hope you all are doing well!

I will see you back here soon to answer comments and babble about more stuff!

New Comics for October 22

Good Evening! I can tell that my computer conversion is starting to be condition critical. We go live on the new system the first week of November, and I am very anxious. The good news is that it will be soon, and that then I can start to look forward to more normalcy and the upcoming holidays, which I hope to spend with family and friends.

This week's pull list is fascinating, with both Secret Invasion and Final Crisis busting out the gate. Because of my DCBS file, I won't see either for another two weeks. I really hope they don't get spoiled all over the internet, but I am not holding my breath.

Here is the list.

Birds of Prey #123

Final Crisis #4 (of 7)

Final Crisis: Submit- cover pictured

Supeman New Krypton Special #1

Trinity #21

Noble Causes #37

Captain America #43

Daredevil #112

Hulk #7

Ms. Marvel #32

New Avengers #46

Secret Invasion #7 (of 8)

She-Hulk 2 #34

True Believers #4 (of 5)
Ultimate Spider-Man #127- I really HATE this story arc.

X-Factor #36

X-Men Legacy #217
Terry Moore's Echo #7

That is it for tonight. I am going to go scrounge up some food for dinner. Have a wonderful night!

Huge Bummer: Manhunter Cancelled

For the third and final time, Manhunter has been given the death knell. In an article at Comic Book Resources, it is revealed that the news comes from no other then series writer Marc Andreyko.

What a bummer! This book has been consistently excellent, yet the readers aren't there. Is it me? Am I the only fan? Did you think it was bad after trying it? I am really curious to know.

Random Thoughts and Musings

Because of the five Wednesdays this month, I haven't seen comics for quite awhile. My DCBS order is shipping today and I will have it Tuesday. That is over three weeks since we have received an order. Jim and I are well past ready to get our shipment.

A major bummer is that many folks have posted about Action Comics #870 with NO SPOILER WARNINGS!! Dammit. Even though it was pretty apparent what was going to happen, it would have been nice to check out the issue with no preconceived notions. Now I just want to burn the issue, gorgeous Gary Frank art and all. Please all you bloggers out there- post spoiler warnings. I am trying to avoid checking out too many sites because of this problem, and now I am too nervous to go surfing around the blogoverse. Those of us that get our books mail order need some love too!

In celebrity news, Madonna and Guy Ritchie are getting a divorce. Wow. Shock. NOT! I am really tired of celebrity news getting more airplay on CNN then the issues that really matter, like our recession.

Can you tell I am unhappy tonight? Sorry. I just can't help it. My normal upbeat attitude is having problems due to being tired, not feeling great yet, and getting my comics spoiled for me before I can read them!

I hope you all are doing better! See you here soon!

New Comics for October 15

What a day! I just got home from work and running errands. I still don't feel very well, so it has been a tough day. The good news is that I made it through Monday, and that the world is still turning.

On that note, here is the list of new comics for October 15.

Booster Gold #13

Brave and the Bold #18

Fables #77

Final Crisis Legion of Three Worlds #2 (of 5)

Final Crisis Rogue's Revenge #2 (of 3)- cover pictured

Justice Society of America #19

Stormwatch PHD #15

Titans #6

Trinity #20

Darkness #6

PVP #41

Astonishing X-Men #27

Mighty Avengers #19

Punisher Max #63

Ultimate Origins #5 (of 5)

Uncanny X-Men #503

That is it for tonight. Sorry to be such a killjoy, but my stomach just isn't cooperating with my ability to concentrate!

Tri-City Comicon- Great Conversations and a Hectic Day

Yesterday Jim and I ran down to Pasco, Washington for the Tri-City Comicon. Our definite highlight was seeing Laura and her husband Eric, while also having a great visit with Jason Metcalf and Randy "Rantz" Kintz, who work with Jim on Space Goat Fine Arts. Laura already has a great report about it on her blog, so check it out!

We had a nice lunch with our friends Brant and Carla, and had every intention of getting home at a decent hour. Plans did not work out, and we got a late start, missing out on seeing Laura and Eric again. I also had the unfortunate problem of getting ill on the way home, clutching my stomach and having a queasy night. That being said, I will post a more full report later.

I want to leave you with the sketch that Jason did for Jim. Why he isn't a superstar artist is a complete mystery to me.

Still Boring...

Tonight I just have nothing going on of value other then to mention that Jim and I are going to go to the Tri-Cities tomorrow for a Tri-Cities Comicon and hope to see friends there. Jim was going to get a booth for Space Goat, but was worried that the prices were too high. Bummer!

Anyone going to said event?

On that note, I am going to go sit on my butt and be unproductive. Only four more weeks to go until the insanity in my life calms down. Yay!

What's fun out there?

Random Thoughts and Musings

It is a Wednesday, and it still feels like Monday. I am having a good, productive week at work. It has been interesting to me to be up on a new computer and to start learning the new system. The last few days have flown by!

Because of the five Wednesdays this week, my new comics will not ship until next Wednesday. This means that when I get my new books, it will be three weeks of goodies. Woo hoo! I am getting withdrawals, but I know it will be a lot of fun to get that package.

When is the next issue of Final Crisis coming out? I am starting to panic and think I missed it somehow in all the shuffle of my busy work schedule. I should probably head over to DC and find out, but I am lazy. Bad Heidi.

I really have got nothing going on other then work and thinking about cutting four inches off my hair. It is down my back over half way, so it take forever to dryl. I also really need to go on a diet, but I know that when I get the computer conversion done I will have a lot more time. November will be the time for catching up on taking care of myself, so I am looking forward to that.

Anything exciting going on that I have missed because I have been working so much?

New Comics for October 8

Good Evening all! Happy Monday! Hopefully you had a nice weekend, and your Monday wasn't too horrendous. I have a busy work week, and know I am going to work late tomorrow for sure, so bear with me.

Thank you for all the great comments on my last two posts. It definitely gave me food for thought! I appreciate the thought and time that goes into it, and really enjoyed reading them.

Without further ado, here is this week's list for me!

Rex Mundi #14

100 Bullets #96

Action Comics #870

Detective Comics #849

Final Crisis Revelations #2 (of 3)

Green Arrow/ Black Canary #13

Green Lantern #35

Green Lantern Corps #29

Secret Six #2 - see awesome cover by Cliff Chiang, pictured!

Trinity #19

Wonder Woman #25

Deadpool #3
Secret Invasion Inhumans #3 (of 4)

X-Men Manifest Destiny #2 (of 5)

Fallen Angel #30

Lone Ranger #14

That is it for tonight! I hope you have a nice evening, and a wonderful week!

Quote of the Day

Today a car with three women in it nearly hit me. Then they glared at me when I got mad. I relayed this information to a guy I was polling for my latest outside poll. He felt like these women were trying to start some trouble and offered to have my back. He said I could take the two big ones and he would help with the third. When I asked if he would hit a woman, he said this:

"Not hitting a woman because she is a woman is sexist."


Discuss.

Naughty or Nice? Cover to Incredible Hercules #121

With the countdown to Christmas under official way, I decided to add a feature here at Comics Fairplay. Yes, it really is October, and right behind the Halloween shelf you can't escape at the grocery store, there is the spectre of Christmas lurking, just waiting to strike. With that in mind, I would like to present my new feature "Naughty or Nice?", which focuses on covers, books, people, or events related to comics.

What I am hoping for is to create a dialogue with you in which we discuss if something is naughty or nice. Rather then using my "Is this gratuitous" feature, which I am tabling until the new year, I thought this could be a way to have some fun. Without further ado, let's get this underway!

I have been purchasing and enjoying the book Incredible Hercules. I enjoy the interaction between Herc and Amadeus Cho, and apppreciate the sense of humor that permeates the action contained therein. It has also been a joyride of fantastic art, with runs by Rafa Sandoval and now Clayton Henry, making the experience an overall 8 out of 10.

Then I saw the cover to issue #121 by Arthur Suydam. It is a stunning work of art. Four beautiful but deadly women with huge guns stand over the battered body of Hercules. The look on their faces says "look at me the wrong way and you die". The stylistic tone is amazing.

Then I notice that the main lady is wearing a Victoria's Secret style bra with what appears to be her nipples showing through. At even closer glance, the gal that is crouching appears to be topless. Hmmm... it stopped me dead in my tracks.

I feel really torn now. I love the sheer grace of the work here. I also understand that Hercules doesn't exactly wear a ton of clothes, so it is a fairplay (heh!) deal here. He is beat to crap, and at the Amazon's complete mercy. The supermodel poses not withstanding, the women are the dominant ones.

Maybe it could be the fact that the Amazons I am used to seeing are the DC ones. They are armored up when they battle, otherwise it is toga city. The renegade Amazons in Amazons Attack wore fatigues and were actually pretty covered. Seeing a whole new take here by Marvel is a revelation. Part of the women inside the book are old school with the armored look, while another group are schoolgirl slutty and naughty. It is a whole new spin on a familiar tribe.

So I sit here tonight simply wondering this: is the cover naughty or nice? Is is groundbreaking and gorgeous, or is it simply a ruse to get guys to buy the book?

Let me know- I am very curious to hear your thoughts!

Iron Man DVD- Hard to Get!

After working a long day, I went to Best Buy to pick up the Iron Man movie Ultimate Edition DVD 2-disc set. Earlier in the day, Jim and I had discussed that we wanted to get that, as it seemed to have decent extras.

I get to Best Buy at a little before 7 p.m. and guess what?

The Ulimate edition is completely sold out. It has been sold out since mid-afternoon. The deluxe edition Iron Man helmet is also sold out. All that is left is a smallish pile of regular edition DVD's. The lady I spoke to said it was crazy how many people came in to get the special edition. they simply hadn't anticipated demand.

Since Borders was close by, I ran by there. I had $5 in Borders rewards to use, so I figured that was the ticket.

There were only two copies of the Ultimate edition left. There were only six copies of the regular one left. Borders had a crazy Iron Man day as well. They simply hadn't anticipated the demand, much like their fellow retailer.

Not wanting to tempt fate, and not sure if there would still be a sale price next week, I picked up one of the Ultimate editions that was left and purchased it. Thank God- now I could take it home to Jim, who was pretty excited, much like I was.

How crazy is that? I figured folks would go for the regular edition, but I was wrong.

Did you have any problems picking the 2-disc set up?

New Comics for October 1

Good intentions are my downfall now. I am halfway through the poll, having had a few delays caused by mucho work and helping my friend Kerry put wood type stuff on their floor. Here I am, with a list of this week's comics!

Army @ Love: The Art of War #3 (of 6)

Batman #680

DC Universe Decisions #2 (of 4)

Justice League of America #25

Manhunter #35

Nightwing #149

Top Ten Season Two #1 (of 4) - woo hoo!! I love this book!

Trinity #18

Witchblade #121- awesome cover pictured

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter: Laughing Corpse #1 (0f 5)

Boys #23

That is the list. I am trying to continue to cut back, but am not doing very well. The great news is that I have a DCBS order that should be in tomorrow, so I will have some fresh new stuff to read. I will try and sort some more books out of that mess for future purchase.

Have a wonderful night! See you back here!

Random Thoughts and Musings- Saturday Edition

I have officially started on my new outside poll so I am very happy. I interviewed a couple of guys at a different fitness facility and hit a few up at the local Red Robin. My next goal is to do interviews at the grocery store and possibly out in the middle of a grain field. Seriously. It should be rad.

I have been trying to catch up with comic reading this week, and I was pleasantly surprised by True Believers, a Marvel five issue mini written by Cary Bates with art by Paul Gulacy. I have read the first two issues and am hoping to do a review after checking out the third. I love Gulacy's style, and Bates is a legend in my mind, so this is very cool.

The first issue of Secret Six made me smile. Writer Gail Simone has teamed up with artist Nicola Scott again and I am thrilled. The scene at the grocery store was especially good. If you haven't read Secret Six, I cannot stress enough how good it is.

Last night Jim and I watched the new episode of True Blood on HBO. I am enjoying it, while Jim is still cautiously optimistic. Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse is a revelation. It is nice to see her playing a grown up.

Tonight I am going to run away and make a little extra money driving truck. I would rather go see Foreigner at the Central Washington State Fair but it is not meant to be. Bummer.

On that note, I am headed out to run some errands and take off. I will do my interviews and really hope to post my poll results tomorrow. If you want to keep up with convention news, the Baltimore Comicon is this weekend, and both Newsarama and Comic Book Resources are posting reports.

See you tomorrow!

Random Thoughts and Musings

Tonight I am tired. I feel every one of my 42 years. I can tell that for a long time now I have been working insane hours while trying to maintain any kind of life. Hopefully in a month I can get back to some normalcy.

One thing I know about working a lot of hours is that in the long run it kills a person's effectiveness. This is a short term thing, and as much as it has been fun and challenging, it has also been a bit hectic. Thanks to the hubby for not bitching about hardly seeing me!

There are several comic conventions coming up in Washington and Oregon I wanted to mention.

Bellcon takes place on September 27 in Bellingham, Washington. It is a one day show and it is this weekend! Head over to the link for details. Unfortunately, Jim and I won't make this one. If you attend, let me know the scoop.

On October 11, Tri City Comicon will take place in Pasco, Washington. This is the first year that the gaming and film festival will feature comics. We know our good buddy and amazing artist Jason Metcalf will be there, so that is very cool. Jim and I will try and shoot down for that one!

Sunday, October 26 is the date of the next Seattle Comicard Show. Clayton Crain is the guest of honor at this one. It is always a great buying show and one that I highly recommend. Keep checking the site for other guests. Our good friend Quenton Shaw of QEW Publishing is slated to be there, and he is the coolest guy around. We also like to catch up with Ben Hanson, AKA the best artist you don't know about but should, at the show. Jim and I hope to attend this one.

Lastly, on Sunday, November 9, the Portland Comic Book Show will make it's bow. Aaron Lopresti, Jim Valentino, and many more guests are slated to attend. I want to go, simply because my family is down there and it gives me an excuse to see my good looking and smart nephews.

Does anyone know of any other shows going on in the Northwest this fall? If so, drop me a comment here!

That is it for tonight. I am going to be a total slacker and go be a television zombie tonight. Take care!

A Couple of Questions...

For those of you who blogger, how hard is it to set up the "blogs I am following" feature and how does it look on your page? I have been wanting to do it, but am a bit nervous.

I went and bought a copy of the Sex & the City movie on DVD tonight. I am very pleased and am planning on hopefully watching it this weekend. One thing I noticed is that is says it has a "bonus digital copy". What does that mean? I am really behind the times on this, especially with how busy I have been at work. Help!

Anybody else go grab a copy of SATC? I loved the series and enjoyed the movie. Though I will never be a wealthy, affluent New York woman, I still enjoy the friendship and warmth between the women. It gives me a chance to have a bit of fantasy in a life that is full of reality.

Have a good night! Any help in answering my questions would be appreciated!

New Comics for September 24

It is the last Wednesday of September. Wow. The month has gone fast, especially because I have been working a lot and had a busy personal life. Before I can blink, it will be snowing. Argh!

My complaint for tonight is about people that don't use their car signals until they are right at where they are turning. I have had at least a dozen instances of this in the last three days and it is irritating the hell out of me. It has happened everywhere from on a busy city street to a housing development. What ever happened to proper driving ettiquette? Some days by the time I get home I just wanna beat somebody up. I never really would, but I ponder it!

I am considering doing my new outside poll specifically for guys. Any particular ideas? I was going to ask about dating comic book girls and about past reading habits. What else would be a good question to ask a random fella on the street?

Before I forget, here is my list of comics for the week.

Fables #76

Reign in Hell #3 (of 8)

Superman #680

Teen Titans #63

Trinity #17

PVP #40

Black Panther #41

Captain America #42

Daredevil #111- it seems like just yesterday this book relaunched with Kevin Smith on writing chores.

Deadpool #2

Hulk #6- Michael Turner variant pictured

Ms. Marvel #31

New Avengers #45

Powers #30- damn this book feels pretty late.

She-Hulk 2 #33

Ultimate Spider-Man #126- really hating this story arc.

X-Force #7

X-Men Legacy #216

That is it, Folks. I appreciate your patience with all my work and stuff. I will have another month of this for sure. I found out today. I can at least now say I see a light at the end of the tunnel, which is awesome. I am very happy with my job right now.

Have a great week!

What Are You Reading?

It is a rainy day here today at Comics Fairplay. We are staying inside and enjoying the solitude. It has also been nice to wander around checking our the newest pile of comics. As you know, I have been very excited about 100 Bullets.

Today is the day Jim and I are going to fill our our DCBS order. I am looking for suggestions on what the hottest book I should be reading is. Can anyone help me?

Back later...

TGIF!

I had a productive and busy week at work, so I have not been blogging. It has been odd to come home late and know that by the time I ate and got my stuff ready that it would be too late to sit down at the computer.

That being said, I am going to start on my new poll tomorrow after a good night's sleep. I want to tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you, and how I am looking forward to catching up with my blog reading.

Quick TV list:

New guilty pleasure: 90210
New fun series: True Blood
Eagerly Awaiting: Heroes Season 3
Pleased so far: Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles
Upcoming Guiltiest Pleasure: Rock of Love Charm School featuring Sharon Osbourne

Anything good on the tube that you would recommend?

100 Bullets Still Amazes

I know I sound like a broken record, but 100 Bullets kicks complete and total ass. I just got done reading issue #95 and it was a shocker in the best sense of the word.

As the series races towards it's conclusion with issue #100, the Trust and Minutemen are upping the ante for violence and mayhem. Writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso have kept the readers guessing while thoroughly entertaining them. This series has become the book upon which I measure all others for quality. Azzarello and Risso are a cohesive unit that harkens back to the days of Ennis and Dillon on Preacher- they are just that good.

I know that many of you haven't read 100 Bullets, and that is cool. I just hope to plant the seed to encourage you to pick up the first trade when you have a the money and the time. It is well worth the price of admission.

This issue was so good that I didn't even mind that it kept me hanging from last issue's events. That being said, I wish the next issue would hurry up and come out because I am in total suspense!

New Comics for September 17

Good Evening all! I just got home and got bills paid so here I am in blogger land. I might as well confess that this is going to be another busy week. Until my computer conversion is done, my blogging will be spotty.

Here is my list for the week:

All Star Superman #12

Birds of Prey #122

Brave & the Bold #17

Stormwatch PHD #14

Titans #5

Trinity #16

Broken Trinity #2

Sword #11

Incredible Hercules #121

Mighty Avengers #18

Punisher #62

True Believers #3 (of 5)

Uncanny X-Men #502

X-Factor #35

Terry Moore's Echo #6

I am tired and worthless tonight. That is it! Have a great week!

Coolness Factor: Low

Today my coolness factor is on low. I am working on a couple of reports for work, one of which I e-mailed home to look at. I also went grocery shopping. Woo hoo!

Now I am going to go help my friend look for curtains with a lady that may or not be hammered. I am leaving my sweet hubby home alone, which makes me sad.

The good news is that I am working on a new poll. It has been on and off today because of said other issues.

That is why my coolness factor is condition low.

Have a nice night!

Outside Poll- Quick Observation

I am so grateful to you for your comments on my outside poll. It really made my day and helped validate the time I spent compiling answers. It has been quite a journey, running around asking strangers their opinions.

What fascinated me was how many women felt comfortable reading Nancy Drew mysteries. I loved them growing up. I have the complete set in my basement and I go downstairs and page through them from time to time.

My question is this: how is the privileged life of Nancy Drew so much safer for young girls then super hero books? While I loved that Nancy thought for herself, and was spunky and independent, I embraced her in much the same manner I did Wonder Woman. Maybe something is wrong with me? The self reliance and power of will thrilled me then and continues to captivate to this day.

Did you read about non-powered females growing up? Was it embraced by your parents and friends? What is an example of this? I am curious.

Outside Poll: Women Reading Comics

It is Wednesday and I finally wanted to post about the outside poll I took about women reading comics. What I did was interview 27 women about comics and their general views. I was extremely frustrated on Sunday about the lack of women I talked to who had ever read comics. I couldn't find any. I am very lucky that you folks chimed in with great answers and a whole lot of support. Thank you!

The questions I asked are as follows.

1. Have you ever read a comic book? Have any of them been super hero related? For How long?
2. What was your first awareness of super heroes?
3. What was your mother and/or father's views of comic books?
4. If you have children, what do you tell them about comic books?
5. What is your general opinion on reading comic books and the stories contained inside?

I was honored that two ladies came forward and answered the questions for me on my post. It was nice to have women who read comics answer, as they helped pull me out of a funk. It also helped because then I had two respondents who read comics. Unfortunately, the other 25 did not read comics, other then admitting to paging through their brother's books.

What was interesting is how uniform the non-readers were in their responses. I love the fact that Sheryl's mom was the comic book reader in the family. That is fantastic! The other women had mothers much like Sea_of_green. The mother in the household told their daughters from an early age that comics "were for boys". One respondent specifically remembered asking her mom about her brother's Batman collection only to be told that comics were only made for boys. She was told to find a different habit and actually began sewing her own clothes. Said female loved to draw and she ended up making intricate designs of the outfits she made. She did say that today she occasionally will doodle a Spider-Man or Wolverine picture for her son.

Back to the first question, 12 of the females questioned said that they read Archie comics, and a few specifically referred to the Josie and the Pussycats or Sabrina comics. Another reader said she read Barbie comics. Three remembered seeing Wonder Woman and other females on covers of books at the convenience store, but not much more then that. An astounding 17 women said that they read and enjoyed Nancy Drew mysteries. Nineteen women said they enjoyed books from L. Frank Baum, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Judy Blume. The majority were readers at a young age, and 15 of them read regularly today. The Harry Potter books were pretty universally popular among mothers who said they read them with their children.

To give some detail to the ladies I interviewed, the youngest was 16 and the oldest was 75. I don't know the ages of the two ladies who responded on the comments, so I will not hazard a guess. 18 of the women I interviewed were mothers. Seven of those women were grandmothers as well.

When I asked for a first awareness of super heroes, my oldest respondent said she listened to a Superman show on the radio. Six of the women watched the 1960's Batman series. Eight of the women had a friend or relative who read comic books. Five women watched the Wonder Woman television series. The other seven had answers that ranged from seeing a daily strip in the newspaper to going to a comic book movie.

Though many women said that their mothers were unsupportive or critical of their comic reading habit, 12 women said that their father was more supportive. Four women said that their brothers read comics.

Of the eighteen women I interviewed that were mothers, only Sea_of_green seems to encourage comics. Fourteen of the women felt it was a waste of money. A staggering eight of those women felt comic shops were awful and were intimidated by the stereotypical comic book reader. One woman particularly mentioned that she felt that comics were something kids read to "goof off". Of the eighteen women, all of them allowed their children some sort of gaming system and felt that was alright. Two women bragged about monitoring the games their children played while one other woman felt it helped her son's eye-hand coordination for baseball. All eighteen women felt it was okay to go to comic book movies.

For my ladies that read comics, the response to their general opinion on reading comics were as follows:

"I love reading comic books as much as reading text-only stories and I am glad to see that comics are gaining acceptance in the mainstream."

"I love 'em, and I think they're good exercise for the imagination. The larger-than-life characters represent mankind's potential, and help give us ideas to shape our futures -- just like any good science fiction or mythological tale."

One woman said "it won't get you into law school". Another said "god bless the folks that read comics. It just isn't my thing." My favorite response was this "tell the perverts that live in their mommy's basement that it is time to grow up".

The majority of respondents didn't have anything else to say. They just wished me luck with my poll and said it was "fun". I didn"t tell them why I was taking the poll until I was done as to not skew the answers. Several thought I was pulling their leg when I told them I was doing it for my blog. The inevitable question was "do you have kids" to me. When I said "no", they nodded knowingly. One lady even showed an expression of what appeared to be pity before she left.

My question after taking this poll is this:

How can we change the opinion of female non-comic readers? Is there anything particular to help? Our comic book market is shrinking, and I worry that twenty years from now the only readers will be aged 40 and up.

What do you think?