Why Wonder Woman Is Destined To Be Alone

Wonder Woman 178
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

It’s our fault, you know.

The readers of Wonder Woman are a supremely devoted lot. I know that I include myself among the faithful, and clamor eagerly each month to get my hands on new tales of the Amazon Princess. It has been that way since I was 8 and continues in the same comforting pace to this day.

DC is the supreme editorial being, and according to their dictates, Wonder Woman has customarily been alone since the first series ended. Here are my thoughts about why this is the way it must be in their eyes.

In the original Wonder Woman series, Princess Diana of the Amazons lays her eyes on Steve Trevor, a wounded pilot whose jet has crashed on her island. She is so overcome by him that she disguises herself to win the contest that determines who Wonder Woman will be. This is lore that I am sure we all are aware of.

Throughout the tenure of the book, Steve and Diana/Wonder Woman indulged in a game of cat and mouse. Steve loved Wonder Woman and she him, but there was always the irritation that he thought Diana Prince was kinda blah. This kept things spicy in the fact that readers hoped for eternal love, but were stuck with a woman who had vowed to banish all evil before settling down.

After awhile, this wore pretty thin. Around issue 178, Steve Trevor was killed and Wonder Woman was de-powered and lost her memories. She ran around fighting crime with I-Ching as her mentor. While I enjoyed this run immensely, evidently Gloria Steinem did not. For whatever reason, around issue 210 Wonder Woman was back in her star spangled tights doing 12 trials to get back into the Justice League. This is where the 8 year old in me picked up the title.

When Diana got her memories back and realized that Steve was dead, I figured that was it. DC had other plans. In a visit back to Paradise Island, Diana fought “men” and found that they were really a test of her goddesses with the exception of a Steve Trevor who had been brought back to life.

This relationship was rocky from the start. Steve knew Di’s secret identity, and she had changed. Perhaps DC sensed a bum deal, and once again Steve was killed. Not long after Diana went and became and astronaut and had a fling with some dude named Mike who turned out to be a baddy in the Royal Flush gang. Fed up with the bull crap, Diana went back to Paradise Island and her mother caused her to forget Steve AGAIN.

In another Hera Help Us moment, Steve was returned a third time. This time he came through transdimensionally and DC took him and Diana back to the basics. Etta Candy, General Darnell, and the military were back in the picture. Once again Diana was the ugly duckling, and Wonder Woman was Steve’s “angel”. Things definitely had come full circle. In issue 300, Diana met with her Earth Two counterpart, who in a happy twist of fate had married her Steve Trevor and had a daughter Lita (soon to be known as Fury, but that’s a whole ‘nother story!). Diana decided to kill off her alter ego Diana Prince so she and Steve could get married. Needless to say, it didn’t come off the way the fans had wanted, and Steve and Di remained close, but not man and wife.

The series ended in issue 329 as Crisis on Infinite Earths loomed. In this issue, Diana of Earth One married Steve Trevor and they lived happily ever after. DC had a planned reboot coming up to rejuvenate sales that was certain to shake things up.

It became obvious very soon in the second series that Diana was NOT meant to have a man in her life. Steve Trevor was much older, and was in love with Etta Candy this time. Diana remained virginal with the exception of a school girl crush on Superman.

The whole Superman thing is a great “Elseworlds” vibe. It creates huge sales and a great deal of interest. There is just one problem with the whole equation and her name is Lois Lane. She is the grounding force for Superman and a key element in his mythos so the Wonder Woman/ Superman relationship can never be. Other then the stupid crap about Supes being WW’s best friend, it is a done deal.

Not until writer Eric Luke came along was there a hint of a possible love life for Diana, and this wasn’t until the 140’s and 150’s of the second series. During “Godwar” Luke introduced Rama, a Hindu hero blessed by his gods, much like Diana. The two flirted and god knows what else, since there were only hints, but it never came to fruition after he manifested into some crazed Hindu God/Killer and was too ashamed to stay.

Writer/Artist Phil Jimenez took another stab at it with Trevor Barnes, a humanitarian who got Diana’s blood pumping simply by being smart, philanthropic, and “beautiful”. It got off to a bad start when at the end of their first date; Di and Trevor were whisked off to the Savage Land of all places. This stalled things considerably and then Di had to go rescue Vanessa and fight the Cheetahs. The last issue on Phil’s run was a great set up for the beginning of a great relationship that was not to be. Walt Simonson’s run from #189 to 194 killed Trevor off, albeit heroically.

This led into Greg Rucka’s run on the book which ended this series. Rucka had Diana doing many cool things; it is just that romance was not one of them.

Now we are starting the third series with a new number one. I don’t know where it is going, but I feel relatively certain that it doesn’t include Wonder Woman getting any.

GETTING TO THE POINT HERE:

I don’t think DC will allow Wonder Woman a steady. Based on the history she had, it was hard to keep the magic with Steve Trevor over a forty year time table. Rebooted, she was treated as a virginal warrior, and her crushes stayed pretty much just that- a crush.

I think the reason for this is that readers and DC alike want to keep Diana untouchable. Unlike her male counterparts, a love interest is not used to spur stories. She is portrayed as a perfect woman who recognizes the flaws in the life and constantly fixes them. The fact that she is unattainable is used as a tool to keep interest. Evidently it has worked so far, but I wish they would allow some loving in her life.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE (pipe dream central) is Diana go on multiple dates and get a sense of the type of men that are out there. Let’s see this untouchable goddess cringe a bit, or even swoon a bit. Even if the ultimate decision is made to stay single, I would at least like to see her get her feet wet.

WHAT I WOULDN’T LIKE is for the third reboot to have Steve Trevor be a love interest. In my mind that ship has sailed. Been there, done that so to speak. I will always have a great fondness for their history, but in my mind that is what it is. I also would like to not have to deal with more Superman/Batman crushes. They are the great trinity- can we leave it that way?

If Diana had to date a super hero, have it be out of left field. Have Diana take out Ralph Dibny for the hell of it, to give him some support. Maybe have her sweat Dick Grayson a bit- that would drive Bruce crazy. Heh. OR just to clear the palate, have her go out with Ollie to teach the old lech a lesson.

IN CONCLUSION, it doesn’t seem that the readership or DC wants to give Diana a love life that is steady, so why not have a bit of fun? The girl doesn’t have to go all ‘ho’ or anything, but let her at least have a date. As her own mother Hyppolyta told her “have some fun while you’re at it.

I can always hope.

Spider-Man Unmask Makes E!'s "Daily Ten"

Last night after posting here, I sat down to read and watch some television. Interestingly enough, at 7:30 p.m. on E! Channel's program "Daily 10", the "unmasking" was featured as Hot Item #5 for the day.

The report used scenes from the movies and some panels from the comic book. The business person in me was happy to see Marvel get something in their comic into the mainstream. The fangirl in me wonders if non readers will care. Only time will tell.

I think "Daily 10" did a nice job of reporting the story and making it interesting. I was spellbound just watching it.

Did anyone else see this?

Civil War Rant with SPOILERS

Do not read further if you do not want to spoil Civil War #2, even though half the news sources around already have....







I can hardly believe what a bunch of crap I got a load of while reading Civil War #2. Let me spout like a fanboy for a moment. Peter Parker would NEVER reveal to the world that he was Spider-Man. In the past it has caused him so much misery and hardship, that he has always been very hardened about keeping his name his own. I don't care how supportive Mary Jane and Aunt May are, the facts are simple. Peter Parker has been able to have a life because of his secret identity. By revealing his true name to the world, he is jeopardizing the core of his being.

Did Tony peer pressure him? Had he just had enough? Has living in the Avengers/Stark Tower gone to his head? What the hell is going on here?

Obviously Marvel has plans for us to find out, if the cover to issue 5 is any indication. (I will try and get the art up here soon) Peter's life is going to be sheer hell. Maybe this is partly to bring him back to bachelorhood as has been whispered. God I hope not. I am tired of May and Mary Jane being used as props just to be retconned by the next creative team that comes along.

I can just picture the Marvel editorial meeting: "Hey let's get rid of that zero Mary Jane so Peter can date hot chicks in slutty outfits and J. Scott Campbell can draw 'em." or "Damn, Mary Jane is cramping Peter's style. Let's out his identity and piss her off so he and Tony can have gratuitous panel shots of babes in their undies." Just picture that.

At any rate, I am sure Marvel will be happy with me being mad, because I am talking about it and publicizing it to their whims.

What are your opinions out there? Screw touchy feely week- let's rock.

New Comics for June 14

Fables 50
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

There was a glitch yesterday in Diamond's computer shipping list, so I am just now going over my list of comics for the week. There is some pretty cool stuff on it, so I am quite pleased.

Here is the damage!

100 Bullets #73
52 Week 6
American Virgin #4
Captain Atom Armageddon #9 (of 9)
Checkmate #3
Fables #50
Firestorm The Nuclear Man #26
Green Arrow #63
JLA Classified #22
Nightwing #121
Superman #653
Civil War #2 (of 7)
Exiles #82
Four #30
Ms Marvel #4
Squadron Supreme #4
Thunderbolts #103
Ultimate X-Men #71
Wolverine Origins #3

That's it folks! Have a wonderful evening!

Pay It Forward Week at Comics Fairplay!

In honor of the mean lady from Friday's post, I propose a week of DOING GOOD DEEDS for others, or paying it forward. I would encourage everyone to do something nice and to be semi-selfless, even if it is something small.

Here are some ideas:

Let someone pull out in front of you during rush hour traffic.

Stop at a crosswalk at the grocery store and let people pass.

Park part way down the parking lot so that people with small children and the elderly can get a better spot for once.

Offer to help carry someone's groceries.

Buy a 12" sub and share half of it with a co-worker or friend. OR buy lunch for a homeless person.

Compliment a stranger on a job well done - example: tell the checker at the grocery store or the teller at the bank you appreciate their efforts.

Let someone ahead of you in line if time permits.

Buy a new comic book for a friend or for a child you know.

If nothing else, just think kind thoughts.


Thank you for your efforts! I can tell it is going to be a great week!

Giving Myself A Time Out!!

Today at the grocery store, it took every ounce of sanity I had to not punch another woman in the face for being an ignorant witch. This is a scary sign to me that I need to go sit quietly for awhile.

Normally I am a very nice, laid back person, but for whatever reason today, I am at my wits end. For reasons I can't discuss, the last eight months have been sheer health for me stress-wise. I think it is finally getting to me. Either that, or I am finally sick of the rednecks, white trash, and other assorted idiots that live in my town. I am not sure the exact verdict.

Said woman was not in a line I could tell and was talking on her cell phone. I had six items, so I proceeded to the 9 items or less line. She got off her phone and got pissy with me that she was in line. I told her a really bad word and went and got in another line to keep from beating her up. She was so nasty and ugly, with an attitude, that she pretty much deserved an ass kicking. Only the fact that I would get arrested stopped me.

The good part of the story is that the line I moved to was faster then my original line, so I left while she was still waiting.

Any way, I am going to give myself a time out and go sit quietly. Hopefully this will make it all better. Cross your fingers.

Have a good night to the all of you- do not catch what I have! Think love.

Wonder Woman #1- A Good Start

Wonder Woman 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Without giving away any spoilers, let me just say that I was pleasantly surprised by a book I was dreading. I hate continuity reboots, and this was going to be no exception... until I actually read the damn thing.

Wonder Woman herself wasn't a surprise in that her identity was that of a person I thought was too easy of an expectation. It all made perfect sense, and is going to give the creative team at '52' and this book a great back story to tell. To top it off, the last page was a blast from the past that will hopefully live up to the hype.

The art was so fantastic that my eyes are still in shock. I have always been a fan of Terry and Rachel Dodson, especially their work on Harley Quinn. To see how they have upped the ante is a thrill in itself. Incredible.

As a diehard, picky, pain-in-the-ass comic geek, this was the book to hate. Imagine my insane joy in picking it up and finding that Wonder Woman is going in a great creative direction with enough suspense and plotting to keep me entranced for a good long time.

Amen and Praise Athena!

New Comics for June 7

Noble Causes 20
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Here it is, the first week in June already! That means it is time for the newest Wonder Woman series, which fills me full of trepidation. She is my sacred cow so to speak, so I am crossing my fingers for the best . I guess I have to look at it this way- I have already lived through one reboot after the 1980's style Crisis, so I can live through this.

At any rate, here is my list of this week's stuff!

52 Week 5
Detective Comics #820
Jonah Hex #8
JSA #86
Outsiders #37
Wonder Woman #1
Y The Last Man #46
Invincible #32
Noble Causes #20 (see picture at right)
Civil War Frontline #1 (of 10)
New X-Men #27 (truly one of the best Marvel books being produced)
Punisher #34
X-Men The End Men and X-Men #6 (of 6)

No indy stuff this week- I guess it doesn't matter. My local shop has me special order every non-DC and Marvel book pretty much anyway.

Take care and have a wonderful week!

Entertainment Weekly Lists Top 10 Franchise Characters- Wolverine Rules!

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

This week's issue of Entertainmnent Weekly (with Entourage stars on cover) has a story which lists the top ten franchise characters as of now. In an interesting turn of events, Wolverine tops Harry Potter as the number one entity on the list. This is in anticipation of the Wolverine solo flick and based on the current box office success of X3.

I think that it isn't just Wolverine, but also the man who plays him to perfection that deserves that bow. Hugh Jackman from minute one has understood the character and his demeanor, making him THE charater you can't take your eyes off in any of the three films. Having seen Jackman in person, and seeing the ease with which he carries himself, it is no surprise.

To make things more interesting/exciting, Spider-Man ranks third on the list of the top ten. Superman and Batman are put in the "Rising" category as well.

What does this mean? It means that comic book movies are firmly entrenched in our culture. Comic books are at that mainstream level of recognition. This is good news for the industry, with the exception of the fact that more comics aren't being sold as a result. We still haven't figured out how to make that happen.

The double edged sword part of this for me is that as a well-known comic book fan with my friends, family, and business associates, every time a comic book based movie comes out, they want to know if I am "super excited" and if I am going to go wait in line to be the first person. That does get old, because it is the stereotyping that I really loathe.

I guess the bottom line is that comic book movies have not only arrived- they have become dominant. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Let's cross promote the product and get the non-comic book consumers netted in.

What do you think?

Oh Sweet Irony, Thy Name Is Tara Chace!

Well, this just figures. I highlighted Queen & Country #30 as my pick of the week, and was excited as hell to go pick it up today only to find that my local comic shop didn't order it for me. I am bummed to the max. They are re-ordering it tomorrow when she can call Diamond, but it just strikes me as ironic. It makes me wonder what would have happened if I wouldn't have shown off the great cover art. Would it have been there after all?

In other comic book shop news, as I was picking up my hubby and my books today, a guy came over and randomly pulled an issue of Liberty Meadows #37 off my stack and took off to the register with it. I had to go slow him down and let him know that he had just nicked my book. Rather then apologising and handing it back, he got rather peeved and wanted to know why I needed two copies. "One for me and one for my hubby", I replied.

He looked at me blankly for a moment, and then asked me if I could live with just one copy. I said "no" and was prepared to kick his motley ass if the occasion arose. Luckily, the nice lady at the shop intervened and informed him that Liberty Meadows was special order only and that I had patiently waited for the book for over a year. He still wanted to argue. She was even firmer that he needed to special order it. I finally got my book!

At any rate, to top it off, we received no copies of Tarot either, so it was a barn burner today. Damn.

ALSO.. it was the first week in over a year that I went to the comic book shop without my loving husband. If he would have been with me, maybe my luck would have improved, or he would have scared the guy with more success then I did.

Oh Sweet Irony.

New Comics For May 31/June 1

Queen & Country 30
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I am not sure if we are getting comics on Wednesday or Thursday, hence the dual dates. Being out here in the Northwest, one never knows.

The goods news is that I have a lot of cool stuff coming in this week. It is as follows.

52 Week 4
Action Comics #839
Crisis Aftermath The Spectre #1 (of 3)
Ion #2 (of 12)
JLA Classified #21
Superman Batman #26
Wraithborn #6 (of 6)
Age of Bronze #23
Liberty Meadows #37
Amazing Spider-Man #532
Runaways #16
Son of M #6 (of 6)
Storm #4 (of 6)
Thing #7
Ultimate Extinction #5 (of 5)
Ultimate Fantastic Four #30
Ultimate Spider-Man #95
Ultimates 2 #12
Queen & Country #30 (pictured at right)
Red Sonja #10
Soulfire #7
Tarot Witch of the Black Rose #38

Whew! What a list. It should mean a great weekend of good reading.

Take care and have a wonderful short week!

Paying Respects on Memorial Day

Just a quick line to all of you out there. Jim and I are paying our respects for lost loved ones today, by thought and deed. To all of you out there who have recently lost a loved one, our hearts and prayers are with you.

If you do nothing else but have a happy memory of a dearly departed, especially one that served in the armed forces, remember what they stood for, and remember the joy of their presence.

Today is a day to honor those who have kept us safe. It is also a day to remember those who we cherished. They linger on in our hearts and our minds.

Take care.

Blatant Story Stretching Salute: New Avengers 17-19

New Avengers 19
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

It has been a long time since I have seen as blatant an attempt at story stretching as I am witnessing in the current New Avengers storyline. There is something in play in this arc that will have some kind of repercussions down the road, but for whatever reason, it has to stalled out for continuity or story telling, or whatever lame reason to be revealed later.

Issue 17 had so many double paged spreads that it was ridiculous. Issue 18 had a long, drawn out battle full of uneasy banter. Now in issue 19, we are getting to the point, but it still can't be resolved. This means I have to pick up issue 20 to figure out what in my mind could have been encapsulated into one or two issues.

Normally scripter Brian Michael Bendis has reasons for this kind of behavior, but I can find no such redeeming merits here. To say I am disapointed is putting it mildly. My hubby was smart and dropped the book after 17, but I had to stick with it to make a point. What an idiot I feel like now.

Sadly, I will pick up #20 to get to the bottom of things. After that, Marvel can take this gratuitous piece of crap and shove it.

How is that for not belaboring the point?

Fantastic Four: A Death in the Family- A Rant!

FF One Shot
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Man, what a pisser it is to buy a comic book and find out that it isn't remotely what you thought it would be. That is what happened to me with Fantastic Four: A Death in the Family one-shot.

From what the preview said, I thought this issue fit into current continuity. I even thought that it might tie in to Civil War. What an idiot I am!!!

FF: Death is a new story and a reprint of Fantastic Four #245, so it isn't even all new. That just makes me feel dumber. Great.

In FF: Death, Johnny makes an error that costs Sue her life. He decides to try and fix what he did. Okay, that is really fricking original... not. The art by Lee Weeks was old school, which was cool, and the story by Karl Kesel was even kinda poignant.

The problem is that I was duped by false advertising, and didn't even get all new stuff for my $3.99. I am pissed about this!

Bottom Line: I want to alert you that this story isn't what you may think. It is okay, but not earth shattering. Don't go buy it thinking that it fits into the current storyline. Don't be misled.

New Comics For May 24

Black Panther 16
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Well, I made it through the goat show in one piece. I even ended up showing a couple. It was fascinating. Even better was having my nephew, sister, and father all here with me for the weekend. It was heaven.

I have quite the list of comic books this week. It goes like this:

52 Week 3
Batman #653
BIrds of Prey #94
Blue Beetle #3
Catwoman #55
Checkmate #2
Hawkgirl #52
JSA Classified #220
Loveless #7
Secret Six #1 (of 6)
Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes #18
Teen Titans #36
PVP #26
Witchblade #98
Black Panther #16 (pictured)
Daredevil #85
Exiles #81
Fantastic Four: A Death In The Family One shot
New Avengers #19
New Excalibur #7
Powers #18
She-Hulk 2 #8
Squadron Supreme #3
Wolverine #42
X-Factor #7

It should be a good week for comics, and knowing that this weekend is Memorial Day just pumps up the excitement level.

Have a great week!

Going to a Goat Show!

Boer goats
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

My nephew and his Uncle are in town this weekend for a big Boer Goat show, so Jim and I are going to be spending the weekend there. Evidently Boer Goats are very popular, expensive critters. They are coveted because of their meat producing abilities and because they are cute as hell.

Jim just got a new job, so he will be working part of the time, but I will be there with bells on. It isn't often my nephew comes to town, and to be able to spend time with him is the ultimate. He is a neat kid, and I just love him to pieces. To top it off, my sister is coming to town today so I get to spend time with her as well. Too cool.

Have a great day, and a wonderful weekend!

Still Waiting for Greatness... But Getting Better: 52 Week 2

52 week 2
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Well, I just got done taking a gander at 52 Week 2. Each character is starting to get some plot lines going, which is going to up the momentum of the book. I am still a bit underwhelmed, but hope that once we get a few more weeks into it that it will get to be a nail biter.

The ultimate challenge DC has in 52 is that we already know where several characters have ended up, and we are following them "One Year Later". Making the time in between Infinite Crisis and that period is going to be tough for sure. That is probably why the focus is on more minor characters who don't have a solo book spotlight. This enables the creators to "play" and make mysteries out of storylines that may otherwise have been resolved.

I am extremely interested in the Ralph Digby and Renee Montoya storylines, and have pinned a lot of interest there. Hopefully one of the other characters will step up and surprise me, which would be a bonus.

The most jarring thing thus far for me is Booster Gold's robotic friend Skeets. He reminds me of Jar Jar Binks, and not in a good way. Here's hoping that it is short lived.

52 shows promise. It will take a bit to build momentum, and I have patience for that, as I have already pre-ordered it for three months at my local comic shop. I just hope it makes a splash, and really entertains us before it is all said and done.

Blogger Suffers Meltdown Upon Finding Out Manhunter and The Thing are Cancelled!

Manhunter 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I just got done reading on Newsarama (see link at right) that both Manhunter from DC and The Thing from Marvel are being cancelled. What a travesty! Both books are high quality work being done by great creative teams. I look forward to reading them both, and am completely overwrought upon finding out that they are done.

The final issue of The Thing will be #8, which is scheduled to ship in June. Manhunter's curtain call will be issue #25, which is scheduled to ship in July.

What the heck is going on here, People? A great book like Manhunter gets the axe while totally crappy books get to stay (think of certain X-books and other series of note). My faith in my fellow fans is devastated- at least for the rest of the day.

Now I will never know what heights of greatness both books may have scaled. I was especially excited at the future of the Manhunter title, so this is particularly irritating. I just got my hubby reading and enjoying it though, so I guess that is par for the course.

Any other mourners care to join me? Cocktails are being served at 7 p.m. sharp!

New Comics For May 17

Shadowpact 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Things are much better today then they have been. Jim has potentially good news, and my company got through our first day with a new phone system! I also am finally starting to feel better from my crappy bronchitis, so maybe my doctor will release me to work out soon! All in all, it is pretty positive.

Comics-wise, this is definitely a DC dominated week. I am enjoying a lot of the product DC is putting out, so it has become my top company for pulls. Interesting, huh?

Without further ado, here is my list:

Conan #28
100 Bullets #72
52 Week 2
All Star Batman and Robin #4
Aquaman Sword of Atlantis #42
Bite Club Vampire Unit #2 (of 5)
Green Arrow #62
Manhunter #22
Robin #150
Shadowpact #1 (pictured at right)
Superman/Batman #25- I don't know why I am getting this; I don't remember what the hell the story is about.
Captain America #18
Ms. Marvel #3
Ultimate X-Men #70
Wolverine Origins #2
X-Men #186
Fallen Angel #5

That is all she wrote! It should be a good one.

Have a wonderful week all!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

A Happy Mother's Day to all of you who apply out there! What a wonderful gift you have given!

I am going to call my mother today and wish her the best. She is a pistol- brilliant and funny, and I am lucky to have her. I wish we lived closer so I could see her more often.

I am going to spend my day recuperating from bronchitis and another six day work week. It is officially lazy recovery day here at Casa Meeley!

Take care and have a wonderful Mother's Day!

52 PICK UP AND A BIT OF A WHINE

Well, it is truly a hellish week in the sense that I have crappy bronchitis but find that I cannot miss work! There are too many things going on, and on top of that, our phone system finally died a screaming, horrible death. Did I mention that tomorrow is also inventory? Oy vay.

At any rate, I took a gander at 52 Week 1 last night. I was really underwhelmed. From what I can figure, this first one was mostly a set-up issue, so things are bound to pick up. I am still reeling a bit from Infinite Crisis 7 and the fact that there seems to be huge changes coming for Wonder Woman. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. 52 series-wise, I am in for the long haul, as I have ordered well ahead. Hopefully it will be magnificent.

Sorry I have been so terrible since I have been back. I only seem to have enough energy to get through a ten hour day at work and then I go home and collapse. Two six day work weeks in a row is quite the challenge when a person is sick.

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! I will probably be back to whine some more soon!

New Comics For May 10

52 #1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Well, here I am back from Idaho! Unfortunately, I brought back a nasty case of bronchitis with me. Having never had it before, I had no idea how nasty the crap is. Yikes.

At any rate, here is my list of books for the week!

52 Week 1
American Virgin #3
Captain Atom Armageddon #8 (0f 9)
Crisis Aftermath The Battle for Bludhaven #3 (of 6)
Ex Machina #20
Fables #49
Firestorm The Nuclear Man #25
Jonah Hex #7
Nightwing #120
Superman #652
Wildcats Nemesis #9 (of 9)
Girls #13
New X-Men #26
She-Hulk 2 #7
Uncanny X-Men #473
X-Men The 198 #5 (of 5)

That's it for the week. I hope to feel better by the end of the week and talk about IC #7. Interesting stuff. Even more ironic was that Marvel threw down their gauntlet with Civil War #1 the same week. Hmmmm...

Take care! Have a great week!

New Comics For May 3

Y The Last Man 45
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Well, it is another week, so it is time for the new comic book list. Just my luck, I won't be here all week, so I will miss out on IC 7 until Sunday. How will I stand the suspense?? Heh heh.

Here is my list:

Action Comics #838
Detective Comics #819
Infinite Crisis #7 (of 7)
JSA #85
Outsiders #36
Supergirl #6
Teen Titans #35
Y The Last Man #45
Necromancer #5
Civil War #1 (of 7)
Exiles #80
Punisher #33
Ultimate Spider-Man #94
X-Men The End #5 (of 6)

That's it for the week. I am going down to Jerome, ID for the rest of the week to take inventory and some meetings. I am leaving the hubby solo, so hopefully he doesn't have too many parties!

Have a great week! See you Sunday!

Quick Takes on This Week's Stash

New Avengers Annual 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

It was definitely a big pile of comics this week, and a mixed bag to be sure. I finally set out to read a few of the stack, and have made the following judgements.

New Avengers Annual #1: I love Jessica Jones. She is a favorite Marvel character of mine. The fact that she and Luke Cage are getting married in a book that isn't hers bothered me from minute one.

My fears were confirmed when a lame ass battle scene was sandwiched between the great character dialogue in this stand alone issue. The villain and her story deserved better, and Luke and Jessica deserved more of the focus. Overall, I was pretty disapointed. C-

Astonishing X-Men #14: Now this is more like it, folks! I loved this issue for many reasons, not the least, Kitty coming through the floor for a very embarassing reason. Great dialogue and sweet art. A

Black Panther #15: Now this is how to do a romantic tale. Ororo and T'Challa completely steal the spotlight from Luke and Jessica in this second part of the storyline "Wedding of the Century". Big points to Scot Eaton for the insane art. B+

Batman #652: I really missed James Robinson's storytelling, and having him back here is a great gift. Batman has one of the strongest "OYL" storylines going, and it just keeps building. Kudos for the scene between Batman and Bullock. B

Catwoman #54: My pre-read favorite this week didn't let me down. The new Catwoman loses it as Selena tries to keep the focus on her new daughter. There are so many great mysteries here, and the art by David Lopez just enhances it. Excellent. A

The Thing #6: This book continues to impress, as Ben tries to do the right thing, and the Yancey Street Gang can't leave well enough alone. Writer Dan Slott just gets it. B+

X-Factor #6: The origin of Layla Miller? I was a bit confused, but certainly intrigued by Peter David's take on one of my favorite new characters. This book is shaping up to be the OTHER "IT" X-Men title in my eyes. B

Checkmate #1: Surprise hit of the week for me. I can't wait to see what happens next. The identity of the new White and Black royalty kicked ass, and their soldiers make perfect sense. I am in heaven. I can't wait to see a certain Dark Knight make a guest appearance. A

Updating My iPod

I just spent the last couple of hours trying to update my iTunes and my iPod. It was a much bigger undertaking then I anticipated. I had to start from scratch when the iPod update erased all the songs I had previously loaded on my baby. Yikes. What made this complicated was that when I was having my surgery in December, the computer got a virus and erased everything. I had to start from scratch reloading my stuff. What a pain!

At any rate, I finally have my iPod reloaded, and now have to go experience the joy that is laundry. What a day. All work and no fun! Hee hee!!

Hopefully before the night is over, I will read some comics and watch some television. What an ending to the day, huh?

Take care!

A Night Out With The Girls

I had every intention of reading my comics and blogging, but at the spur of the moments, the lovely ladies in my office decided on a "Girls Night Out". It was the first time in a long while that I had went out and shot the crap with just females, so I was extremely game.

We hit Red Robin and had a few rounds plus nachos, which is always a winner. Then we talked our secret woman talk and made fun of men in general. All in all it was a cleansing experience. Heh heh.

I didn't blow my diet too badly, and I was able to have some fun. It was worth the sacrifice of not getting my comics read. It was also nice of my hubby to be so amiable about the whole thing. He doesn't mind at all, especially if it gives him some quality alone time.

Have a great evening and a wonderful Friday!

Pre-Read Pick of the week: Catwoman 54

Catwoman 54
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I have been in love with the Catwoman series since Will Pfeifer took over the writing chores of the book. Each month I hotly anticipate the book when it comes in. This month is no exception.

After the first "One Year Later" issue, I am even more excited then ever. There are so many deep mysteries to solve, and there is an atmosphere that envokes the calm before the storm. Selina's life has changed, and I can hardly wait to see the repercussions.

This issue features David Lopez on art. I was a big fan of his work on Fallen Angel, and enjoyed his work on last month's Catwoman. He makes me think of Gary Frank, but with a twist.

I am betting on the fact that Catwoman will be good before reading it. Anyone else with me?

New Comics for April 26

Ion 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

After a busy weekend, and an even busier Monday, here I am, back for another week's worth of comics. I had a headache that wouldn't go away, and wouldn't you know it, I went and worked out for an hour and a half and now it is gone!

Here is the list of my new books for the week:

Batman #652
Blue Beetle #2
Catwoman #54
Checkmate #1
Crisis Aftermath The Battle For Bludhaven #2 (of 6)
Hawkgirl #51
Ion #1 (of 12)
Seven Soldiers Frankenstein #4 (of 4)
Supergirl & the Legion of Super Heroes #17
Villains United Infinite Crisis Special
Invincible #31
Amazing Spider-Man #531
Astonishing X-Men #14
Black Panther #15
Fantastic Four #537
Four #29
New Avengers Annual #1
Sentry #8 (of 8)
Storm #3 (of 6)
Thing #6
Ultimate Fantastic Four #29
Wolverine #41
X-Factor #6
The new Crappy Wizard #176- but I am stupid and keep buying it!

Have a great week!

Catching Up On Infinite Crisis!

DC Special The Return of Donna Troy 4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Tonight I have decided to take a stab at reading the Infinite Crisis Prequels together. I am starting with DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy and then I am going to go to OMAC Project, Villains United, and so on, until I get read up through issue 6 of Infinite Crisis. I know I can't get this all done tonight, but I figured it was a fun project for the weekend that didn't involve housework or exercise, so I am game!

Have a wonderful evening and a splendid weekend if I don't see you before it ends!

Take care!

Comic Book You Should be Reading: Daredevil

Daredevil 84
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

When Marvel rebooted Daredevil as part of Marvel Knights, I was skeptical. I was proven wrong time and time again as creators Kevin Smith, David Mack, Bob Gale, Brian Michael Bendis, and now Ed Brubaker have written incredible storylines every time. The art is gritty, and the tales are reminiscent of Frank Miller's run, which has been well deservedly homaged.

Today, Daredevil is at it's peak. Brubaker has taken the reins from Bendis and made a masterful book into perfection. The story is completely engrossing, to the point that I am pissed that I have to wait an entire month to see what is going to happen next. This is a must read title.

If you haven't gotten into Daredevil, now is the time. Pick up the last three issues if you can find them to see what I am talking about.

This is amazing stuff. Brubaker just keeps kicking ass. I can hardly wait to see how he is going to top this.

The Dreaded Picture!! Before and After

Before and After
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I promised that I would put up my "Get In Shape" before and after pictures, so here is the side profile. The picture on the left was taken on January 20, and the after picture on the right was taken on April 13.

I can tell that my lovely hysterectomy wrecked my addomen area in the before picture. My poor old belly is just absolutely hanging out. At least now, I have gotten back some decent tone, which I am thankful for.

I still have about 20 pounds to go, but I am really happy with my results so far.

P.S. I am slightly mortified that I actually posted these. I guess I wanted to show that anybody can lose weight if they try, even after major surgery!

New Comics For April 19

Conan 27
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I just got home from the "Get In Shape" results program. My team got 2nd, so I am very happy!

Onto comics, here is my lovely list for the week.

Conan #27
Birds of Prey #93
Bite Club Vampire Crime Unit #1 (of 5)
JLA Classified #20
JSA Classified #11
Justice #5 (of 12)
Manhunter #21
Witchblade #97
Captain America #17
Daredevil #84
New Avengers #18
Spider-Woman Origin #5 (of 5)
Squadron Supreme #2
Wolverine Origins #1
X-Men #185
X-Statix Presents Dead Girl #4 (of 5)
Red Sonja #9

That's it kids! Have a great week!

Epilogue: Happy Easter!

Before the day is over, I wanted to wish you all a Happy Easter! I hope you all have had a wonderful, peaceful day filled with love and happiness!

On an epilogue note, my hubby says, and I agree, that my last post was very snarky. Well, it was intended to be. Whether it's blaming Britney Spears for empowering women to bare their navels, or in general saying that it's just "a guy's way" to grope, I just don't see any justification for having to have Victorian standards in a modern age. I had hoped that we had evolved beyond that by now, but obviously not. The last post was my way of saying that we have a long way to go.

At any rate, have a wonderful Easter and a great week!

How to Guide for Women in Social Situations... a Farce Comedy

In modern times such as these, it has never been more important for a woman to follow simple rules of behavior. Otherwise she is just setting herself up for the harassment and violation she so justly deserves in breaking these rules.

1. A lady should never be dressed in less then two layers of clothing. Before going to a mixed sex event, a woman needs to not only wear a large set of underpants and a Teflon bra, but also make sure that she wears enough clothes over them that no trace of said undergarments peek out. Any other dress code and the woman is just asking for what she gets.

2. A lady should never talk about subjects that may be construed as teasing or flirtatious. She must be careful to never say anything provocative. Men must be allowed to take the lead in social situations, and ladies should not speak unless spoken to.

3. Ladies should always stick together. If a situation arises where one lady needs to go the powder room, the others should accompany her. This prevents any of the women present from being left in a precarious position. It also allows the other females present the opportunity to make sure that one of their flock is not behaving inappropriately and to chastise them if needed.

4. Ladies should not consume alcoholic beverages in the company of strange men. This can cause certain unladylike behaviors that are just not acceptable such as dancing or touching. If a woman wishes to have a demon drink, she should be accompanied by a male chaperone she knows who can monitor her consumption.

5. A lady should never go to a social event where she may not know other people. Doing so may cause her to look unladylike. Men at the event may think her to be of a sexual nature because she is alone and speaking to them in a smiling, happy manner.

6. Never be the last lady standing. When all the other ladies leave, you must leave as well or men will think you are fair game for their sexual predatory natures.

Rules to live by!

Get In Shape: Week 12- The Weigh Out

Well, it's finally in the can. I weighed and measured out of the contest yesterday morning. I did my individual stats in the morning and went back and took our team picture in the evening. It was a grueling, but rewarding experience.

Wednesday night I was on the treadmill for an hour and a half while trying to dehydrate. Yes, that's right- I was purposely doing it. Then I went home and tried not to drink anything while eating a small piece of sirloin. By Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m. when I was doing my half hour body pump, my mouth tasted like crap. I weighed out at 7 a.m . and massive doses of water soon followed.

Here is the damage:

Weight Loss: 21 lbs.
Body Fat loss: 7 percent
Inches lost off waist: 8
Inches lost off hips: 5
Inches lost off thighs: 3

Whew!

When I did my calculations, I figured that I lost about a half a pound of lean mass. The rest of the weight was all fat, which is why the number of inches decreased so significantly. This makes me very happy, because this is what I was striving for. I wanted what I lost to be fat instead of burning off the crucial muscle. Yay!

I would actually add two pounds back on after rehydrating, so in future calculations, don't be surprised if I adjust back, according to my regular weigh ins. This means I weigh at night and let it stand.

At any rate, I am very pleased with my results and would like to continue on this path for about another 20 lbs. That should put me right where I want to be, with spectacular muscle cuts and the ability to bear my midriff if I ever get brave enough.

I find out Monday night if our team wins, and if I place at all individually. My co-worker Rick, who is also a teammate, did so well that I think he will surpass me in the individual, but the fact that we are on the same team with two other folks who did an equally great job gives me hope for a strong finish there.

Un "get in shape" wise, Jim and I are staying in town this weekend, so I will be back with rants and thought provoking, argumentative posts. I am still fired up about the whole sexual assault thing, so I have a lot to say, and it may surprise you.

In the meantime, take care and have a wonderful Friday!

What Makes A Real Man??

I just got done reading the latest "What A Girl Wants" column by Ronee Garcia Bourgeois over at Buzzscope. Sigh. Please go read this piece and come back...

A woman creator has stepped forward and addressed a specific issue of sexual inappropriateness. She is having a tough time moving forward, but is pressing that justice be done. I applaud her for that. I will be joining up with Friends of Lulu to give my support to women creators and women fans in general. Let me quote their announcement...

"Friends of Lulu, the national nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and encourage female readership and participation in the comic book industry, is launching a new fund and will be jumpstarting it at CAPE this year!

The fund will be for women in the industry who wish to pursue legal action in sexual assault cases, by helping to provide money for representation and also emotional support when needed.

“I think it is only natural to add this to our focus,” said FOL’s National Vice President Ronée Garcia Bourgeois. “In order for us to truly be an organization aiding women, we need to recognize the fact that this IS a problem and work toward education and the elimination of such treatment.”

As the official jumpstart to this fund, Friends of Lulu will be holding a raffle at CAPE on May 6th in Dallas. Gotham City Limits (http://gothamcitylimits.com/) in Jacksonville, Florida, has donated a Sin City Prize pack consisting of a Sin City Black Death Icelandic Schnapps Ashtray, Cerveza Cango Ashtray, Sin City: Magnet Set, Fuzzy Dice, DF Miho Litho and The Girls of Sin City Action Figure 5 Pack Black and White Version, all of which add up to an approximate retail value of $130!

“The purpose of the raffle is two-fold,” explains Bourgeois. “First, to get exposure to the cause and also to solicit for donations to our upcoming auctions, the biggest of which will be held at HeroesCon this year. So far, the response has been great. Creators, retailers and private collectors are donating everything from original art to memorabilia but we can never have enough for such a cause.

”Make sure to stop by the Friends of Lulu booth at Cape to learn more!

Donation inquiries can be sent to ronee@friends-lulu.org
For more information go to: http://www.zeuscomics.com/cape"

End of said announcement.

I consider myself an open person. I love the "teaser" Black Cat sketch my husband got me (see previous entry). I think it is clever, and it fits my sense of humor. I even laugh at bawdy jokes and drink a few beers. BUT what happened to that woman is inexcusable. There is NEVER a time or a place that a woman should have to go through what she did. What a bunch of bullsh*t. I am glad that she had a male friend who helped her out and is standing by her to make sure justice is done, but what if he HADN'T been there???

Coming to my point, a real man would never do anything like that. A real man is kind and patient. A real man makes his intentions known with romance and courting. A real man can WAIT for it to be right. A real man knows that it is NEVER okay to touch a woman without her consent. A real man would never have done this.

Thanks for making comic conventions less safe for women, Dickhead. If we want to encourage new female readers and the progression and talents of female creators, groping them is not the way to go.

I am furious about this. This is the 21st century, for God's sake. It isn't Barbarian time where you knock a chick in the head and take her back to your cave. This is a time when we can verbally communicate. Don't use your powers of social connection to make a girl feel like she has to let you touch her. This is ridiculous.

There are many genuine, nice men in the industry. What does that do for them?? I just got back from a fantastic convention experience where I made some great new male friends. I really appreciated their time and opinions. To read something like this unsettles me something fierce.

Kudos to Friends of Lulu to taking steps to support women that have experienced harassment. A big bouquet of respect to the woman who was brave enough to step forward.

I am going to seethe about this for a long time.

New Comics for April 12

Desolation Jones 6
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

It is going to be a hectic week for me. I weigh out of my "Get In Shape" contest on Thursday morning, so I am anxious to see what the end results are. Tonight I lifted so hard that I can hardly lift my arms over my head! I am motivated, but know that a couple more days aren't going to change things a whole lot, other then to stay the course.

I have quite a pile of comics for this week, so let's go to the rundown.

100 Bullets #71
American Virgin #2
Captain Atom Armageddon #7 (of 9)
Crisis Aftermath The Battle for Bludhaven #1 (of 6)
Desolation Jones #6 (shown)
Fables #48
Firestorm The Nuclear Man #24
Green Arrow #61
Loveless #6
Nightwing #119
Superman #651
Wildcats Nemesis #8 (of 9)
Girls #12
Noble Causes #19
Exiles #79
Ms. Marvel #2
New X-Men #25
Son of M #5 (of 6)
Ultimate Extinction #4 (of 5)
Ultimate Spider-Man #93
Uncanny X-Men #472
X-Men The 198 #4 (of 5)
Strangers in Paradise #81

It is a hefty list, so I will be working extra hard to pay off my bills this month!

Take care and have a great week!

Mary Marvel Sketch from ECCC 2006

Mary Marvel
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

My loving husband also got me a sketch of Mary Marvel by Francis Manapul. I love the profile look, and the colored pencils.

I am usually too shy to ask for sketches so I am lucky that my hubby helps me out! I never want to impose...

What do you think?

Introducing the (IN)Famous Black Cat!

Black Cat by Adam Hughes
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Here is the sketch I have been referring to in Emerald City Comicon posts. Adam Hughes sketched this for my husband in the lounge after the con around midnight on Sunday. It was the surprise of the con, for sure.

My husband is pretty clever, isn't he?

Bar none, this shows why Adam Hughes is such a genius, and shows what an awesome husband I have for coming up with the idea.

Perfection.

Emerald City Comicon: Monday and beyond- Happy Trails!

After our late night in the lounge, Monday came too quickly. I had a slight headache, and Jim was exhausted, so we slept in. Finally, we knew WE HAD to get up, so we showered, packed and headed towards home. One quick stop at McDonalds in North Bend and it was fast going from there. We made it back into town around 1:30 p.m. Whew!

A two hour workout and much laundry later, there were still many remnants of our comicon experience. It isn't just the physical remains, but also the great memories that will last a lifetime.

A quick aside- some readers have mentioned the "party" tone of my posts. Well, let me clarify. I have been on a strict Zone-type diet for the past 11 weeks. When I added any alcohol, it didn't take much to get a pretty good buzz, hence the conversation with Tony at the end of the night. Besides, it was kinda fun.... until I got on the treadmill Monday afternoon and cursed myself!! At any rate, I am back home on my strict schedule, eating clean proteins, veggies and fruit, and healthy carbs. I have a week left on my "Get In Shape" contest with a lot to prove, and would like to continue on and lose another 20 lbs. after that to get to a "six pack ab" goal weight. Heh heh.

Back to the subject at hand: I had an insanely wonderful time at this year's ECCC. Jim and I are still in awe of the whole experience. We made new friends and met up with old ones. There was a lot of kindness and genuine excitement abound, which was infectious. He and I voted that this was our top comicon experience ever. Too cool.

I will probably was philosophical tomorrow, but for tonight, it is time to relax and regroup. I came back with a slight sore throat and cough, and would love to get rid of it by Monday! Good luck, right?

Thank you again to my friends for the perfect weekend. I appreciate it more then you will ever know.

Emerald City Comicon Report: Sunday- Shutting It Down!

Comics Fairplay ECCC 2006
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Sunday morning came too early. The time change did nothing to enhance things, but we were determined to be up and at 'em early. We went downstairs to the buffet once again to carb load and get on our way. Jonnie joined us for a few minutes, and then it was off to the con with he and Mike along for the ride. Poor guys! I admire their courage.

Once we hit the doors, we were surprised how quiet things seemed. The line to get in was much shorter, and everyone seemed pretty mellow. I sat back to greet the day, and was pleasantly surprised by Polite Scott and his lovely wife Robin. We had a great conversation and then headed upstairs to the DC Panel.

We sat in front of Laura and her hubby Eric to await the panel. Silly me, I just assumed she would know that it was Polite Scott with me. Bad Heidi! I should have made sure. As we waited for the panel to start, Eric allowed Scott and I to peruse his sketch book. It is an awesome sight, and I was quite envious.

The panel started when Kurt Busiek and Gail Simone went upfront and took questions. Bob Shreck followed later, as he had to climb the stairs. Poor guy. All three are very outgoing and give great talk, but there was not a sense of what to ask. (Note to Jim: This is where a moderator would come in handy, hint hint!!)

After awhile, with my husband ringing my phone, I took off and went back to the booth. The highlight was that Brian, our very esteemed, handsome, and talented friend had taken over the ACTOR part of our proceedings. Brian is an excellent fundraiser, and smartly proceeded to tell Jim and I to buzz off so he could get down to the business of making money for a worthy cause! Smart man.

That being the case, Pamela and I wandered over to the concessions where she bought me a large diet coke- thank you Pamela, you saved a life that day! She and I relaxed and pondered life before deciding it would be nice to give Brian a breather.

Back at the booth, Brian had done an excellent job of keeping things going. He had raised quite a bit of money, and was probably hoping we could keep the momentum going. Well.... we tried, but didn't do so well. By the end of the day, we did get better.

We saw Laura downstairs, and she and Eric were having a nice time. For a more accurate report of things, check out her blog, as she didn't wait as long as I did to report the show. I can learn from you, Laura! She was dismayed that she hadn't properly talked to Polite Scott yet, so I was very happy later that she got to see him before he and Robin went to the Science Fiction Museum.

Selling tickets and passing the rest of the day made it go all too quickly. Before I knew it, Brian was taking Mike to the airport, and we were faced with the prospect of trying to finish fundraising for ACTOR solo! I got down to it, and had a wonderful time interacting with my fellow fans. We were so priveleged with the bounty we had. Dan Brereton donated a gorgeous Kane water color and Kirk Jarvinen did an incredible sketch of Thrillkiller Batgirl. We were also blessed with a Birds of Prey trade courtesy of Gail Simone and a Spider-Man sketch from Joe St. Pierre. Brian came through with several action figures, the first appearance of Superboy Prime, and a calendar signed by most of the creators present. Once this was added to the action figure, trade, and comics we already had, it was quite the bounty for the comic fan.

I am happy to say we raised mucho dinero for ACTOR and made some fans very happy. We drew at 3:30 p.m and several attendees came to watch. Some walked away with swag, others were disapointed, but it was for a worthy cause.

The day ended all too quickly and we had to say goodbye to our friends. I will miss our booth neighbors Joe and Shon immensely. I hope they stay in touch! Joe, we never did finish our conversation, so we will have to pick it up later.

We went to dinner with Kirk and Pamela, which was the perfect way to wind down. It was a wonderful, relaxing meal with two people I really like, so it doesn't get better then that.

Back at the hotel, we hit the lounge, hoping to run into Scott and Robin. As luck would have it, they came down not long after we did. What a blast! Thank you again for the beers and great conversation!

After Scott and Robin departed for bed, I sat alone while Jim waited for Adam Hughes to do a sketch. Poor Adam had vowed to do as many sketches as possible in the lounge that night, and he was put to the test. Jim loved watching him, and tried not to bother him too much as he was working.

I didn't have to hang alone for long, as I was able to spend some time with Jim D. and some of the creators. It was nice just to chill. Thank you to Darick for the beer.

Just as I didn't think things could get any better, my hubby took me over to Adam's table and presented me with a custom sketch of Black Cat wearing a Flashdance style shirt that says "Got Milk" on it. I was touched and surprised to find that Jim had spent all that effort for me. The sketch is incredible, so I hope to post it soon.

Funny moment: Tony Harris comes over to where I am looking at the sketch and we have a brief exchange as so:

Tony: "Are you crying?"
Me: "No!"
Tony: "You just look like you have one of those faces where you cry easily. Are you sure you;re not crying?"
Me: "No, I'm just drunk."
Tony" "Oh." (very knowingly!)

Too funny.

Thank you to my fellow lounge mates for the great evening. My diet went to hell in a handbasket that night, but it was worth it for the companionship and sheer fun. We have to do it again next year!

After all the excitement, Jim and I basically crawled upstairs to bed. It was a perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Just one problem: We had to get up the next morning and go home.

Emerald City Comicon Report: Saturday- Getting It Started!

By 8 a.m. Saturday morning Jim and I were down at the complimentary breakfast for some serious carb loading. Oatmeal and yogurt intake complete, we were ready to head out. By chance, we ran into Jonnie Allan in the elevator. Ascertaining that we were headed over to the con, he road with us and even paid for our parking. How nice is that? We later found out he is the genius behind Stykman. Not only is he very nice, but he has a great comic that drew quite a bit of interest. If you get a chance, check it out.

After a bit of wandering from the paid parking to the front of the building, we were ready to start things. Jim paced a bit, getting the lay of the land while I chilled in the booth. Our favorite retailers Randy and John were just kitty corner from us, so we were absolutely thrilled. If you ever go to a Seattle or Portland based con, they are the gentlemen to buy from. The booth is called "Randy's Reader Comics", and their prices are fair while supplying quality.

At 10 a.m., fans started filtering in. It was a bit disconcerting to be on the other side of the table. At first, I felt like a total fraud. People would come by and want to know what comic I created, and my answer was "I didn't. I am here promoting my blog and trying to raise some money for ACTOR". Sometimes the person would think it was cool; other times I got a blank look. Maybe blogs aren't as well known as I thought??

In attempting to get over my insecurity, I decided to just go with the flow. I saw Pamela and had a brief chat. She told us where Kirk was, as he was at the tables with Mercury Studios. Armed with that information, and thrilled that Pamela was there, I felt much better.

Not long after, the incomparable Laura from Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog came by with her lookalike sister Lisa. Both are super friendly, and a great deal of fun. I had my picture taken with her famous troll Torvald. What a wonderful idea! After a bit of conversation, the ladies were on their way, and I stayed at the booth, starting to enjoy the day.

By lunchtime, I was starving, so I left Jim to man the booth while I went in search of dietary food. Luckily, they had a beef teriyaki, so I was in business. While I snacked on my lunch, I was able to talk to several people. Many were intrigued at the thought of me having a booth exclusively devoted to my blog. I know it seems a bit egocentric, but I really feel the need to make an awareness of those of us out there doing our thing. I think we are a great community of diverse tastes, and I love having my own space to express myself.

The rest of the day passed rapidly. Laura and Lisa came by again and I was envious of the incredible sketches they got. Heh heh. My hubby tried to tempt Laura into buying Aquaman art, but she was strong and resisted the urge. As she and Lisa went on their way to continue the fun, I talked intermittently to my booth neighbor Joe. He is as sweet and funny as it comes, so it was a total pleasure. He and Shon were pretty busy all day with fans, and it was compelling to watch.

The night ended with a group of us going to dinner. We went to Red Robin on the pier and had a really enjoyable meal. The conversation and companionship were unparalleled. Mike, Brian, Joe, Shon, Pamela, and Kirk: you made my weekend! After dinner, it was back to the lounge for some beer and conversation. It was so much fun that I never wanted it to end. Alas, it was the night of the "Spring Ahead" time change, so it had to eventually. As Jim and I rolled to bed, I was content as could be. Sunday would be a good day.

Tomorrow: Sunday Comes Too Soon!

Emerald City Comicon Report: Friday- Moving On In!

Last September Jim and I were sitting talking about how much fun we had at the previous Emerald City Comicon and how incredible it would be to have a booth to talk about our blogs and meet up with fellow bloggers. With that in mind, we went to the ECCC website and printed out the application. Painfully, I wrote a check, and mailed the sucker in. Being the anal freak I am, I also got our hotel reservations at the Springhill Marriott, which was to be ECCC headquarters. That done, Jim and I got to brainstorming.

Fast forward to February, and panic set in. Jim decided not to actively blog anymore, but we still planned to attend the ECCC and represent my site. What could we do to make things interesting? After much consideration, we decided to make bumper stickers and a large sign with COMICS FAIRPLAY prominently featured. I also printed out the last three months of my blog entries and put them in a book for folks to check out. To finish things up, we decided to do a small ACTOR fund raiser, complete with Batgirl Thrillkiller action figure and trade paperbacks.

Armed with all these goodies plus luggage, we got in the car on Friday and headed to Seattle. We got to the hotel and checked in around 2 p.m. After that, we ran over to Qwest Field Event Center to set up. Since we didn't have a great deal of bells and whistles, it didn't take long. The definite highlight was meeting Joe St. Pierre and Shon Bury, who had the booth to the left of us. Joe is currently publishing his own book Bold Blood from Astronaut Ink. He had a great sign that really caught the eye. Shon is prepping "Shon C. Bury's Nox" from Nawain Publishing. He had a sign as well, and both had information on their great new ventures.

We talked to Joe and Shon briefly before heading back to the hotel, and were just absolutely thrilled at the prospect of being next to such great guys.

Back at the hotel, we checked out the lounge and then headed across the street for a budgetary and dietary dinner at Subway. We made plans to meet our friends Ben and Mina in the Lounge around 7:30 p.m. Catching up with them was fantastic, and time went way too quickly. Ben took us on a drive around Seattle that really helped familiarize me with the area. We enjoyed the scenery and headed back to the hotel. At 10 p.m, it was bedtime, since we knew we had two long days in front of us and wanted to be fresh.

Next report: Saturday and dawning realizations that I felt like an imposter!!

New Comics for April 5

Lions, Tigers, & Bears Vol 2 #1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Before delving into reporting on the Emerald City Comicon, I thought I would post one of my regular features here. Every Monday I print out the Diamond Shipping List and figure out what is coming my way. There are some great new books hitting the shelves this week so I am psyched!

The list is as follows:

Aquaman Sword of Atlantis #41
Detective Comics #818
Infinite Crisis #6 (of 7)
Jonah Hex #6
JSA #84
Omac Project Infinite Crisis Special
Outsiders #35
Teen Titans #34
Y The Last Man #44
Lions, Tigers, & Bears Vol. 2 #1 (pictured)
PVP #25
New Excalibur #6
Punisher #32
Ultimate X-Men #69
X-Men The End Men and X-Men #4 (of 6)
Young Avengers #11

It should be a great week of reading. I am especially looking forward to Infinite Crisis and the second volume of Lions, Tigers, & Bears by the incomparable Mike Bullock and Jack Lawrence.

Take care and have a great week!

Back From Emerald City!

Jim and I just made it back to town, both thrilled and exhausted. What a wonderful, perfect, extraordinary weekend we had! I can hardly find the words to express it, we had such an incredible time.

I will file reports during the rest of the week, giving some insights and probably just generally gushing, so strap yourselves in!

I wanted to give a special thank you to Polite Scott and his sweet wife Robin for the great conversation last night. It was a pure pleasure! I hope your trip home was stress free.

I also wanted to thank Kirk and Pamela Jarvinen for dinner(s). What a class act you are! Pamela, you are a true friend in every sense of the word, and I look forward to seeing you again!

Other special thank you's go out to our booth neighbors Joe St. Pierre and Shon Bury. Jim and I were absurdly lucky to be placed next to you- I still can't wipe the smile off my face.

Mike Bullock and Brian- thank you as well! Mike, I can hardly wait to meet Angie, and hope your trip went well. Brian, you are the ultimate ACTOR fundraiser, and an all around trooper- I couldn't have had more fun for a good cause! Next time I promise to drink real beer!!

Ben and Mina- thank you for the ride around Seattle and great conversation! Nachos rule!

Jonnie Allan- you are a trooper to trust two strangers to give you a ride! Hopefully we provided comedic relief! We will be keeping our eyes on you and your book Stykman!

Laura, it was a thrill to meet you! That sketchbook of yours is amazing! You were a prime example of how to make a con fun, with your energy and enthusiasm. Hopefully I won't look like too big of a dork with the troll.

Jim D.- you are the man! Thank you for putting on a comicon that exceeds my expectations every time. You worked so hard, and were so sweet to everyone, that it was an inspiration to the people around you. Take care of yourself, okay?

To all the other people I met- thank you for taking the time to share yourself with me. It was an incredible experience!

In my slightly hungover fog I hope I haven't forgotten anyone! The sheer nirvana of being in the lounge last night at midnight and getting a sketch done by Adam Hughes as a surprise from my husband still hasn't worn off yet.

I will be back with more later- it is unfortunately time to hit the treadmill and try to reverse the effects of the beer I consumed, as well as the uneven way I ate. Thank you again!

Tomorrow is the DAY!

eccclogo4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Emerald City Comicon starts tomorrow! It is being held at Qwest Center by Seahawks Stadium in Seattle. If you have a chance, stop by!

I will be in the exhibitor's section talking about this lovely blog and hanging out. Come by and introduce yourself! Jim will be there with me selling some original art and meeting up with old friends. We are very excited!

If you have to make a journey, be safe. We will see you there!

Get In Shape: Week 10

My two hour workouts paid off this week and I am very relieved. With the Emerald City Comicon tomorrow, I definitely needed to step it up. Of course, I am so sore that I think I added ten years to my body, but that is beside the point.

This week's loss: 2 lbs.

Total weight loss: 16 lbs.

Yay! I am getting closer to the 20 lb. mark, which makes me really happy. Once I get there, it will be time to re-evaluate and see where the next mark is.

Take care!

Checking In

This week has been filled with two hour workouts as I enter the final two weeks of my "Get In Shape" contest. It will continue that way until this weekend when Jim and I go to the Emerald City Comicon. Hopefully while I am there, I won't be too tired at night to get my cardio in. Also, I have to keep on my restricted diet somehow in a place that isn't health food friendly, so I will be bringing a lot of my own food.

I find it ironic that I am going to be at an event where working out is considered geeky. Hee hee.

Take care tonight! I will check in tomorrow or Friday with my week's results, and as a reminder that I am having a booth at the con in the exhibitor's section. Come by and say "hi"!

New Comics for March 29

Invincible 30
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

It's here- the last week of March 2006! How did that happen? As I get closer to the countdown of turning 40, time just seems to speed up more and more!

Here is my thankfully smaller list of comics for this week.

Action Comics #837
All Star Superman #3
Blue Beetle #1
JLA Classified #19
Superman Batman #24
Invincible #30 (pictured)
Fantastic Four #536
Iron Man #6
New Avengers Illuminati Special
Sentry #7 (of 8)
Thing #5
Ultimate Spider-Man #92
Uncanny X-Men #471
X-Statix Presents Dead Girl #3 (of 5)
Wizard Magazine.... ho hum...
Tarot WOTBR #37

That is it kids! Have a great week! I am off to eat some pineapple and watch The Apprentice.

One Year Later: Weeks Three and Four

Green Arrow 60
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

I have very mixed feelings about "One Year Later" titles from DC once again. There are definitely some books to watch, and others that failed to walk the fine line between mysterious and compelling. Here then is a rundown of my takes on the latest batch.

Birds of Prey #92: It is good to have the ladies intact for the most part. The addition of "Jade Canary" is puzzling, but is something I already have theories about based on the final issue of Batgirl. The most stand out thing for me is the "journey" that our old school favorite Black Canary seems to be on. Where this goes remains to be seen. Grade: C+

Green Arrow #60: This one had me hooked from page one. With the horrific events leading up to "One Year Later", it is no surprise that things in Star City are at their most dire. Since I am such a diehard original Justice League of America and Green Lantern/Green Arrow fan, I remember the first time Ollie ran for mayor. Seeing it come to fruition here sent a chill down my spine. That keeps me here for the duration. Grade: A.

Superman #650: For whatever reason, I didn't feel any surprise or jolt at the new status quo in Metropolis. Seeing Clark and Lois along with Jimmy and Perry felt like a high school reunion with the popular kids. This one is sure to be a hit out the gate, but for me it was just alright. Grade: B.

Nightwing #118: I know Dick Grayson has always had a bit of a rep as a male 'ho', but this issue left me cold for that reason if no other. The best part is the dueling Nightwings. The worst is Dick being his own cliche. Grade: C-.

Hawkgirl #50: Somewhere in the "One Year Later" Kendra has lost her "balls" and I don't like it. The new premise has promise, but something very bad has obviously happened here that needs to be gotten to the bottom of- STAT. The art made me drool, so the grade here is: B.

Batman #651: This really worked for me. Having been built up to over in Detective's OYL, the follow through is great. I am still so insanely happy that James Robinson is back on a book that I can hardly see straight! Grade: A.

Catwoman #53: Now this book gave me the chills for real. The art was perfection, and the events reminiscent of the Earth 2 family in ways I don't want to spoil. I can hardly wait to see what happens next, and to get to the bottom of what made the blessed event occur! Grade: A.

Manhunter #20: Just when I thought Catwoman would be my favorite OYL title, Manhunter jumped out and surprised me with the best concept so far. This title has really grown on me, so I was really worried about what would happen. I shouldn't have given it a second thought. If you haven't read this book yet, go pick it up! Grade: A.

Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes #16: Insubordination and rebellion are still the mainstays here. Though given credibility by the UP, the kids are still alright. What Supergirl's presence will add is beyond me, but it is a fascinating concept. Grade: C+.

That is it for now- what a crazy ride it's been already! Look back here for more after the ECCC.

Get In Shape: Week 9

It was a tough week in workouts, but I think I got myself back on the weight loss track. Now if I can only remember to eat a very pre-planned regimen of food at the comicon next weekend, things will really be firing on all cylinders. My weigh-out in the "Get In Shape" contest is April 13, so it is really looming large.

This week's loss: 1 1/2 lb.s

Total Weight loss: 14 lbs.

For better or worse, that is where I am. I am happy that I am wearing a size smaller shirt, and am about ready to go down a second size in pants. If nothing else, that is something I am very happy about.

Jim and I are busy putting the final touches on some different things for the comicon, so it should be a busy evening. Take care and have a wonderful night!

Emerald City or Bust!

It is almost time for the fourth annual Emerald City Comicon in Seattle. The show is Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at the Qwest Events Center by Seahawk Stadium.

The reason I am so thrilled is that Jim and I will be there with an exhibitor's booth. I will be there to talk comics and represent this blog of mine. I will have some goodies there, and will have some printed excerpts of my past posts. Jim will have some art and other stuff there as well.

If you are coming to the show, come find us. We are excited to meet our fellow bloggers and fellow comic book fans. It will be fun to have a booth to get an insider's perspective, and also as a place to store our stuff!!

Are any of you going to attend?

Teen Titans Annual: **SPOILER** Rant

Teen Titans Annual
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

If you haven't read Teen Titans Annual, come no further, fair readers! I don't want to SPOIL the tale.

If you have, come on in!!

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Did Cassie and Connor do what I think they did? Are they old enough and mature enough to handle it? Did they practice safe super hero sex? What the hell is going on here?

As a mature adult, I am no prude when it comes to comic books. I read Preacher and Invisibles with a lot of love. As an adult, I can draw my own conclusions.

My question is this: What about some unsuspecting teen reading this who is on the fence about giving it up? I know that sounds far fetched, but I am really wondering what kind of message it sends. If I would have read this when I was 16, I might have been horrified, or went back to my room and secretly fantasized- I don't know at this point.

Good for DC for leaving it up to the readers, but bad for DC for taking it as far as they did. Having Connor take off his shirt is one thing, but to have Cassie do the same? Hmmm... They did wake up with pants on, so who knows...

My point here is that I am honestly very surprised at this step in the relationship, though I guess I probably shouldn't be. The ramifications may be the main point. Case in point: Connor dies and Cassie is left with a bun in the oven. Other scenario: Connor and Cassie are weird afterwards and break up. There are hundreds of futures possible, for sure.

LET ME ASK YOU: What did you think? I am very curious about your opinions, and am dying to know them! Any takers?

New Comics for March 22

Hawkgirl 50
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Here it is, Monday again, and it is time for this week's list of comics. There are several DC books coming out that will be "One Year Later" so that should be interesting, and give me a lot to praise or cry about this weekend!

Without further ado, here is the list!

Batman #651
Catwoman #53
Hawkgirl #50 (pictured)
JSA Classified #10
Loveless #5
Manhunter #20
Robin #148
Supergirl & The Legion of Super Heroes #16
Noble Causes #18
Amazing Spider-Man #530
Black Panther #14- the beginning of the bride saga
Captain America #16
Daredevil #83
Exiles #78
New Avengers #17
She-Hulk 2 #6
Squadron Supreme #1
Storm #2 (of 6)
Supreme Power Hyperion #5 (of 5) - just in the nick of time!!
Ultimate Fantastic Four #28
Wolverine #40
X-Factor #5
X-Men #184
Fathom #8
Red Sonja #8

That's it, folks! Have a wonderful week!

One Year Later: The First Two Weeks

Detective Comics 817
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

After the first two weeks of "One Year Later", my feelings are mixed. Some titles are hitting it out of the park, while others leave me cold. Here is a brief summary of my opinions so far on the first two weeks offerings.

Outsiders #34: The first book I read, and the worst in my eyes. The Outsiders are now a political book?? There was a definite chill in the air about the characters that didn't resonate well with me. Nothing gelled here, and maybe it is the fact that I have no idea what transpired in that year that ruins it, but it definitely didn't score here. Grade: D+

Detective Comics #817: It is nice to have James Robinson back on a comic book, and the book has a welcoming feel. The art by Leonard Kirk and Andy Clarke is amazing- I had to look twice to make sure who the art team was, because I was so impressed. Lots of mysteries here to solve, so for now I stay on board. Grade: B+

JSA #83: I didn't notice a great deal of changes on this title, though there seemed to be a new tenseness. The Gentlemen Ghost story kicks off, and since it was referred to in the previous issue, it wasn't "shocking" in any respect. Rags' art was gorgeous, and Paul Levitz knows his way around a story so I look forward to the next issue. Grade: B

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #40: Considering the names on the cover (Kurt Busiek and Butch Guice), I was expecting brilliance and greatness. What I got was lukewarm mystery. I just don't think I can go backwards with Aquaman this time- the thought of dealing with the Arthur Curry persona and rebooting it all is too much to bear. Grade: D

Firestorm The Nuclear Man #23: Much to my shock, I really liked this issue. The persons being merged were a bit of a shock, and where the story is heading was intriguing. The book has the advantage of not having a lot of baggage, so this was an easy call. Grade: B

I will have more on this week's One Year Later books coming soon. What are your thoughts on the this new crop?

Get In Shape Weigh In: Week 8

It wasn't exactly another banner week weight loss wise, but I feel like mentally I have my head back in the game better. I did an hour and a half on the tread mill today just to make sure. Both mentally and physically, it was an A+, so I am very pleased.

Weight loss for the week: 1/2 lb

Total Weight loss: 12 1/2 lb.

That's the lame scoop for now. We are off to pick up the rest of our comics.

Take care

Missing A Box...

Infinite Crisis Secret Files 2006
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Our local comics shop is missing a box of comics so we got shorted on several items today. Sigh.

Infinite Crisis Secret Files is one of those books. Also we are missing Nightwing, Girls, Generation M, and Ultimate X-Men off the top of my head...

Oh well, at least we got part of them, which is better then last week's late brigade!

Take care and have a great night!

New Comics for March 15

Birds of Prey 92
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Well, it is another week already! I am glad to have made it through Monday. My hubby had to have more cavities filled, so I am home early tonight. He is doing well, just still numb.

Here is my list of new comics for the week.

Conan #26
100 Bullets #70
Birds of Prey #92 (pictured at right)
Green Arrow #60
Infinite Crisis Secret Files 2006
JLA Classified #18
Nightwing #118
Seven Soldiers Bulleteer #4 (of 4)
Superman #650
Teen Titans Annual #1
Girls #11
PVP #24
Witchblade #96
Four #28
Generation M #5 (of 5)
Punisher Vs. Bullseye #5 (of 5)
Spider-Woman Origin #4 (of 5)
Ultimate Extinction #3 (of 5)
Ultimate X-Men #68
Fathom #7

It is yet another ugly week, but Jim and I are working to get our comic book orders lower each month, so it should start showing soon.

Take care and have a wonderful week!

Get In Shape Weigh In: Week 7

It was another weird week at the Meeley house. It went too fast, and I was oddly depressed. The highlight was definitely Friday night when we went and saw Ultraviolet at the local movie theatre. Even though the critics panned it, we enjoyed it immensely.

My weekly weigh in was nothing to write home about, but here it is.

This week's loss: 1lb.

Total weight loss: 12 lbs.

Oh well, at least it didn't go the other way. It just seemed that for as hard as I pushed this week, it would have been 2!

We didn't get our comic books until Thursday, so I am behind on those as well. We shall see if I can get caught up this week.

Take care!

A Sad Farewell to Jessica Jones and The Pulse

The Pulse 14
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley.

Jessica Jones is my favorite Marvel character and they just pulled the plug again. I faithfully read each issue of Alias, savoring the moment, and have continued being engrossed in the PG world of The Pulse.

Now that Jessica and Luke Cage have had their baby, it is time to say goodbye again. I guess I can console myself knowing that she is making a starring appearance in New Avengers Annual, but it just isn't quite the same.

Marvel, don't forget about Jessica Jones. Keep her in a book so I can continue to enjoy her evolution for years to come.

Sigh.