Rock Of Love 2 : Blondes, Brunettes, and Bosoms

Rock Of Love 2 cast
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

After last season's Rock of Love, I was pretty pumped to see Poison frontman Bret Michaels go for a second round, and hopefully get it right this time. After picking the young and gorgeous Jes over older and wiser Heather and getting pretty much dumped, I am hoping that Bret revamps his thought process.

After watching the season opener of Rock of Love 2, I shouldn't have worried. Bret was so overwhelmed by long hair and big breasts that I don't think he took much time with personalities. Is this a good commentary on today's society? Probably not, but Bret is determined to have it his rock star way.

The first thing that caught my attention is that potential "rock of love" Megan looks very familiar. Why is that, you may ask? It is because she was on Beauty and the Geek 3. Since I am betting that Bret didn't watch that show, and since she was so agressive, bubbly, and tall this first episode, it probably won't matter. We shall see.

I was struck by how many women stuck their tongues right down Bret's throat. I think he pretty much kissed all the ladies, and had several sit on his lap and get downright dirty. Since there is a stripper pole in the house, I am sure that is what VH-1 and Bret were hoping for.

Another cast member that struck me was Angelique. The girl is French, and is also blessed with humongous boobs. She was hot to have "ze sex" with Bret in the pool as soon as possible. Good Lord. This one isn't shy.

There were three brunettes that Bret seemed to like that were polar opposites. There was Kristy Jo, who is strikingly beautiful but germophobic. In a house of tongue kissers, this may not be a good thing. Then there is Destiney, who I believe I saw kissing another girl, and who really wants to get up on Bret. Rounding out the brunettes is Inna, who immediately comes out and says she wants to "f*** Bret". Nice. I wonder what her grandma thinks. Heh. Where these three will fit into Bret's plans is anyone's guess.

Daisy and Aubry are two blondes that strike me as enhanced. Daisy was picked as one of Bret's "VIP" girls and he is entranced by her. Aubry was a bit wilder, and seems quite cosmetic as well. I was struck by their faces and will have to continue to watch to make sure it isn't just me, and there was some work done.

In date show history, I have seen a great deal of drunk folks, but I have never seen anyone get so hammered they miss elimination. Rock of Love 2 has that first. Courtney takes a look at the competition, loses her self esteem, and decides to get wasted. She is so drunk that I don't believe she spends more then a few moments with Bret. She passes out on the couch for awhile, and then the girls try and get her dressed for elimination. Finally, she just passes out in a bed and everyone bags it. At the end of the show, Bret counsels the remaining girls to tell her that "her tour has ended" when she wakes up. Yikes. Why the heck someone would go on a reality show and then get so drunk the first night that is a complete waste is beyond me.

Quick note: there is a 45 year old on the show, and I thought she was pretty cool. Her name is Catherine, and while she doesn't have Rodeo's laugh, she seemed to connect with Bret on a mental level. If that is helpful is beyond me, but I liked her spirit. She is a lovely lady with a brain, which I was happy to see.

As for the first elimination, it wasn't too shocking. The very drunk Courtney was left to dry out. Ashley and Missy just simply didn't connect. Contestant Jackye had a panic attack and decided to go home even though Bret asked her to stay. The only real surprise was Erin, who was initially picked as a VIP and then sent packing. I guess she talked too much about how "MySpace" changed her life. Good God.

I really enjoyed the new season of Rock of Love. The girls are on the prowl and it looks like a catfight to the end. Expect visits from Rodeo, Erin, and Lacey to shake up the girl's emotions.

What can I say? It may be reality television, but I dig it.

The Line I Thought I Would Never See

Countdown to Final Crisis #15
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

**Spoiler Alert**

**Spoiler ahead**

I sat down tonight to read Countdown to Final Crisis #15 and got to the part where Donna Troy battles Earth 51's Wonder Girl. It seemed like a pretty good fight and then Wonder Girl badgered Donna until she couldn't take it anymore.

This is what Donna said:

"I'm Donna Troy, Bitch.

Donna.

Troy."

Then she kicked said Wonder Girl's ass. I couldn't help myself. I cheered. Whew!

I kid you not. Then I almost fainted. I didn't know that the magic twin sister of Wonder Woman talked like that. She must have watched some Dave Chapelle DVD's on her downtime.

Incredible.

My only question now is this. Did Paul Dini or Tony Bedard write this?

I have to go lay down now.

Random Thoughts and Musings

It dawned on me today that the Emerald City Comicon is coming up in May on the 10th and 11th. Because of this, I need to make a decision to get a booth or do something a bit different. I am contemplating doing "semi-live" reporting from the show if I can make it work. It is definitely something to think about. Have any of you made the decision to attend?

A quick thing about the whole "gaming forum" linking my Wonder Woman/Tiffany Fallon cover. From what I can tell, the person that linked me didn't read my post before he put it there. If I seemed like an "outraged feminist" it is news to me. Usually I don't get that kind of publicity, so I was a bit floored. I will say this- when it is all said and done, this will fade from my memory quickly.

I have a "Rock of Love 2" review in the works, but I got home so late tonight that I didn't want to post it. I also wanted to talk about Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, but it might be this weekend. Starting the "get in shape" contest always throws me off. Tuesday and Thursday nights are my heavy lifting programs and it takes two and a half hours to do it right. Bear with me.

My wonderful friend John has started a new blog as a comic book related companion to his main one. Go check out Life in 4 Colors. John is a very talented, good guy and I enjoy his writing immensely.

That is it for tonight. I want to go glean inspiration from the Biggest Loser couples edition, not to mention the fact that I am pretty tired tonight. Take care and have a wonderful day tomorrow!

New Comics for January 16

Witchblade #113 (Mike Choi Cover)
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Today has been a strange day here at Comics Fairplay. I got over 2700 visitors and it appears that I will hit 3000 before the day is over. That is insane numbers for me. Unfortunately, most of them came from a gaming forum and it was not a pleasant experience. See my other post for a link.

The good news is that I worked out twice today and burned over 1000 calories. I am tired but pleased with myself. Hopefully I can keep this up for the next 11 weeks and lose all the weight I need to while building muscle. I am feeling very ambitious. I hope that by the Emerald City Comicon I can wear a tank top and not be embarassed!

In other news, here is a list of the comics I am picking up this week.

100 Bullets #87
American Virgin #22
Birds of Prey #114
Booster Gold #6
Catwoman #75
Checkmate #22
Countdown #15
Flash #236- on the block!
Justice League of America #17
Shadowpact #21
Sword #4
Witchblade #113 (cover A pictured)
Immortal Iron Fist #12
New Warriors #8- on the block!
New X-Men #46
Penance Relentless #4 (of 5)
Wolverine Origins #21
Fallen Angel #23

Drops I have made are Robin, Amazing Spider-Man, Exiles (now New Exiles), and the World War Hulk Aftersmash Warbound. There are a couple on the block, so I am well into making progress in my drops.

On that note, I am off to try and eat before it is too late. Have a wonderful night!

Just a quick note...

Due to a bit of brouhaha this morning because of a link from a gaming forum, the images associated with the Wonder Woman/Tiffany Fallon posts have been deleted. If you want to check out the photo image, head over to Playboy.com. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I will be back tonight to check in. Thank you!

Random Thoughts and Musings

Captain America Omnibus Volume 1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Today is my hubby's birthday, so we went out to dinner. It was a nice, quiet one with Jim and my friend Kerry. What I really appreciated is that we ate at Applebees and they had a great "Weight Watchers" menu so I didn't have to worry about overeating. I had a steak with portobello mushrooms, baby red potatoes, and broccoli and it was very filling without the portions being too much. We had a wonderful time.

Yesterday I finally saw the Captain America Omnibus Volume #1 and it was perfection. I wanted to buy it so bad that it hurt to walk away from it. I looked at it quite closely, and it is incredible. The specs are as follows:

"Collecting Eisner Award-nominated Best Writer Ed Brubaker's first 25 landmark issues of Captain America in one titanic tome, plus the Captain America 65th Anniversary Special and Winter Soldier: Winter Kills one-shots! This deluxe hardcover, fat-packed with extras, features the story that stunned readers worldwide and sent shockwaves through the entire Marvel Universe: the death of Captain America! Also including the return of Cap's wartime partner, Bucky Barnes, as the Winter Soldier; the death and life of his greatest enemy, the Red Skull; and the emergences of a new threat, General Aleksander Lukin, the head of one of the most powerful corporations in the world! Collecting Captain America #1-25, Captain America 65th Anniversary Special and Winter Soldier: Winter Kills. "

The collection is 744 pages and weighs almost 5 pounds. It is substantial in every way possible. The only complaint I could think of is that it might irritate my carpel tunnel. Otherwise, this is just fantastic. Ed Brubaker's work on this series is a revelation. It is available online at several places, at Borders and other book sellers, or check with your local retailer and see if they can order it.

One last word on the Playboy "Wonder Woman" cover. I am amazed at the veritable chirping of crickets around here with regard to it. I was terrified that I would have folks with their pitchforks trying to argue with me. Instead, I got my friends Swinebread and Lisa, and was very comforted and at their intelligence and grace. Whew!

I am off to spend some more quality time with the hubby and then watch the season premiere of "Rock of Love 2". Maybe rocker Bret Michaels will have more luck this time around!! Have a wonderful evening!

Playboy Wonder Woman Cover: What it Says Inside!

Today I looked at the inside of Playboy to check out where the cover fit into the picture of things. It turns out that the Wonder Woman/Tiffany Fallon images are used as part of a results article entitled "Sex in America". Her image in the Wonder Woman painted outfit is at the bottom gutter of each page and as a splash shot introducing the article. Other then her image, Fallon isn't featured.

The article gives the results of a survey where 900 people between the ages of 18 and 64 were randomly selected to discuss their sex lives as well as their personal politics as it relates to the upcoming presidential election. The article talks about the fact that in the last fifty years there has been a sexual revolution, and that basically sex has won. There also statements made such as "14% of Thompson supporters and 12" of Obama supporters claim to have sex "almost every day". 5% of Giuliani and Clinton supporters have sex that frequently".

The folks surveyed also felt that Clinton was the sexiest president of the last 50 years. Also the West Coast is "the sexiest". An example of questions asked were "satisfaction with sex life", "age virginity lost", and several questions about personal preferences and past experiences with more specialized forms of naughty behavior. The results were then used to try and find correlations between candidates and sexual behavior. It was actually pretty interesting. I don't know if they came up with exactly what they hoped to find, but it was a new twist on an old polling technique.

As a final word, the presence of Fallon and her Wonder Woman body paint are a footnote. Evidently the fine folks at Playboy used the Amazing Amazon's outfit because of the American flag-like nature it represents. The fact that Wonder Woman has been at times seen as a fantasy and fetish character to some is what brought it all together. Since it is a "adult male" magazine, and it is not required reading, the cover can suggest many things. When it comes down to it, the publisher is trying to sell magazines, and putting the beautiful Fallon on the cover in body paint is surely a winner.

Did any of you read the article? What did you think? Would you have picked another iconic woman to be the focus of what is considered ::cough cough:: a patriotic image? God knows if it was Playgirl, would they have body painted a guy like Superman? Food for thought.

Lynda Carter She Ain't! The Reaction Starts.

February 2008 Playboy Magazine
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Jeez, take a day off and look what happens. Tiffany Fallon pops up on the cover of the latest issue of Playboy and causes a furor. Good Lord. That will teach me to go work out instead of camping out in front of my computer!!

As a rabid Wonder Woman fan of over thirty years, I decided to throw my opinion into the already full pool. Fallon is a beautiful girl with a nice body. She was Playmate of the Year and is trying her hand at bettering the world while recently appearing on Celebrity Apprentice. That is nice and all, but then I read the quote from Playboy that says:

"You know the painted lady on our cover as Playmate of the Year 2005 Tiffany Fallon, but to usher you into the cover story, Sex in America, we recast her as that champion of truth, justice and American Sensuality, Wonder Woman. Tiffany, a modern-day Lynda Carter, has been honing her TV skills. She appeared on TV’s The Simple Life with Paris Hilton, became an weekly co-host for the International Fight League’s Battle Ground and accompanied her country music star husband, Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts (Still feels Good is in stores now), to numerous awards shows. What’s next? “I’ve been filming The Celebrity Apprentice,” says Tiffany. “At first I was intimidated because I was one of the youngest contestants. But I brought a fresh outlook to the tasks. I can’t tell you much more, you’ll have to watch.” If this wonderful woman is involved, we’ll have our eyes glued."

Wow. When does this lady sleep? Heh. I have no personal beef with Fallon, because it sounds like she is a hard workin' gal who has made her lot in life and seems to be doing well in it. What I think is wrong with the above paragraph is the comparison to Lynda Carter and Wonder Woman in general. I have tried in vain to think of someone who has the special spark that Carter brought to the Wonder Woman character and quite frankly, I can't think of a single person who would have the same impact.

What this boils down to is that Wonder Woman has always been considered a fantasy woman. Considering she was created by a guy with a pretty liberal sensibility for his time, it is no wonder that she continues to fascinate so many men and women. Because of the fetish nature of her origins, and Hugh Hefner's interest in old school cartoons and art, it doesn't surprise me to see her pop up here. In fact, I would be surprised if one or more of Hef's girlfriends through the ages hadn't dressed up as the Amazing Amazon to fulfill a few kinks.

I think I would be a great deal more stirred up about this if if wasn't an adult men's magazine. The fact that the character appeals to this particular audience isn't surprising either. Am I giddy with excitement? No, but that isn't a shock considering I am not the target demographic. What bothered me more then the ass shot was the comparison of the woman on the cover to Carter. Petty, but true. Oh yeah, and those boots! Hera help us!

I am interested to see the pictorial inside. It sounds like there may be a theme of sorts there, which makes me wonder if any other heroes are being portrayed in print. Have any of you seen that part of it?

Where will this lead? God only knows, but I am pretty sure that this is just the beginning of the internet reactions. I will be back tomorrow to check on the state of the blogosphere and am interested to see what you have to say.

Quick side note: Playboy is run by a woman. Christie Hefner, Hugh's daughter is an incredibly intelligent and classy female who pretty much saved the magazine and it's properties from ruin when she took over. I have always felt that the magazine is Hugh's vision with Christie's business acumen. It is an irony I have always strongly felt. What about you?

Commercial Break: How Cool is This?

Iron Man movie image
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

I can't help myself. I am really excited to see the Iron Man movie. The more I read about it online, the giddier I get. From skeptic to clear fangirl, I have really grown to love the concept of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.

The other good news is that the Tony in this movie has hopefully never heard of Civil War or ran S.H.I.E.L.D. I am ready for some old school Iron Man.

Quick Side Note: Tomorrow is my "get in shape" weigh in, so I will be home late. I will see you Friday! Have a great one!

How Much Would You Pay?

In the previous entry, I named $3.99 as being the price that would signal to me that it is time to stop collecting comic books. In my mind once comics are priced that high, I might as well either start reading novel length books again or simply buy the occasional graphic novel. $4 is almost the price of a matinee movie or a bargain DVD.

That being said, what price do you put on your entertainment? Do DVD's, movie theatre tickets, CD's, books, comics, and other forms of the medium hit a threshhold with you? I am really curious about this. I know that I will not pay more then $14.99 for a DVD anymore. Also, if I have to spend over $9.99 on a really great CD, I will just legally download the songs I like and leave it at that. As for comics, well, we have been over that.

Let me know what you think here and I will be back tomorrow night to check in with the comments from this post and the previous one.

New Comics for January 9

Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag #5 (of 8)
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Have you ever worked out so hard you feel like throwing up? That is how I felt for about a half hour tonight. It was strange as I didn't feel like I worked out any harder then usual. It must have been the pre-contest belly getting in the way. Cross your fingers for me that it gets better as the week goes on because that was not a good start.

In comic books this week, I gleefully crossed Amazing Spider-Man off my pull list. I also crossed Gen 13 off. It felt pretty good. Now I just have to continue my quest to save money. I told my comic book retailer this: when comics go to $3.99 as a floor price I am going to stop reading them other then Wonder Woman. I feel in my gut that it is getting close to that, so we shall see how much longer I can go. If books go to $3.99 a pop as the bottom price, I will be officially too poor to buy them. What about you?

Here is my list for the week.

Countdown #16- the last couple of issues were pretty okay.
Green Arrow Black Canary #4
Green Lantern Corps #20
Nightwing #140- on the chopping block
Salvation Run #3 (of 7) - also on the block
Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag #5 (of 8) - see pictured!
Wonder Girl #5 (of 6)
Mighty Avengers #7
Punisher War Journal #15
Wolverine #61- on the chopping block
X-Factor #27


That is it for the week. I am pretty happy with the list and hope to see how things go. Have any of you made any cutbacks?

Random Thoughts and Musings

Today was consumed by planning my strategy for this year's "Get In Shape" contest at the gym. It is fun to focus on strength training and mix it up for three months. I am one of those nutty people that likes to exercise, and having a chance to compete at fitness is something I look forward to. I figure it is a better thing to be addicted to then drugs or cigarettes, so that is my excuse.

I want to send a belated congratulations to Lisa at Sequentially Speaking for her 1,000th blog post. She is a wonderful person, and I always enjoy hearing what she has to say. Here is to many more!

Swinebread at Atomic Romance celebrated his one year blogoversary. He is another one of my favorite folks, so I have to give a shout out! You rule, Swinebread.

Over at Eagle's Roost, Eaglewing gives his list of things that happened in 2007 that had an impact. It is very well said, so go give it a look.

The always insightful Mark Engblom has a fantastic insight on one of the truly awful covers to ever hit the newstand. I loved how well he said what needed to be said about the cover to Thor #482. Head over to Comic Coverage and check it out.

Redhead Fangirl got the coolest Batgirl gift I have seen for quite some time. I am officially jealous.

On that note, I am off to get all my stuff ready for the work week. We ordered our supplements for the contest and have the plan, so now I just have to focus on keeping work the priority it needs to be.

Have a wonderful evening!

Great Storytelling: Planet Hulk

Planet Hulk
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

The last few days I decided to go back and re-read the Planet Hulk saga. It is one of those rare stories that is even better the second time around. Writer Greg Pak truly created a fantastic adventure in this story. The characters are compelling, the storyline fascinating, and there was opportunity for the Hulk to expand his horizons, so to speak.

After a year of hating what Marvel has done, especially Civil War and One More Day, it is a breath of fresh air to be able to read a tale that wasn't driven by the incessant need to reboot or retcon the players involved. This is what I was craving as a reader. It is an original, thoughful story that is worth the price of admission.

If you didn't read Planet Hulk prior to diving into World War Hulk, I would recommend picking it up. Amazon.com has the hardcover, and it is a gorgeous piece of literature.

It feels good to read a story that engages me without external interference. Reading Planet Hulk is a good way to escape while getting a rare glimpse into what the Hulk character can be without the burden of crossovers. Check it out- you won't regret it.

Before The Madness: Britney Spears - Oops! I Did It Again

How many closet Britney Spears fans do we have out there? Seriously, don't be shy. I know you secretly did a few dances to her songs in your room. Heh heh.

Seriously, this whole Britney hype is completely out of control. I found out that the pop princess was hospitalized after a police standoff while watching CNN on the elliptical at the athletic club. What is up with that? I was curious about what was going on in Pakistan, with so much turmoil there and instead I got Larry King hosting a show about Britney losing her kids. That scares the living crap out of me. When we care more about Paris Hilton being jailed or Britney acting like a spoiled rich girl, what does that mean for society?

The mind boggles.

In tribute to the madness, and giving my only say to this, I would like to play this YouTube video of Britney back in the "good old days". May she find peace, hopefuly back in Louisiana, so that the country can start focusing on something a tad more important, like the upcoming Presidential election!

Take care.

What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?

It is that time of year again. Time to make well-meaning resolutions and to make a fresh start of sorts. Most folks have weight loss or toning as a resolution. Others want to quit smoking and another segment vows to spend more time with family. Resolutions are very unique to the individual, even if it is a widely used one. God knows that every year I like to start fresh and try to improve something I have taken for granted or let go of.

In that spirit, I want to briefly share my resolutions.

1. Lose weight and get continue weight lifting. I had a great year at the gym this year. I lifted three times a week for two hours a night consistently. I worked out six times a week almost every week. I feel better physically then I have for a long time. The only problem is that I gained 10 lbs. between Thanksgiving and now. I ate all the stuff I usually don't eat the rest of the year. My goal is to get that back off and keep up what I worked for last year.

2. Cut my comic purchases by half. I am going to work on that tomorrow. Simply put, I can't afford the lifestyle of a diehard fan. It is too expensive, and with so many books creeping over $3, it won't be long before I have to cut back to one to three books a week.

3. Quit swearing so much. In the last couple of years, I have really been cutting loose with unfortunate words. This is a must.

4. Find a second job or get a wage increase. Jim and I want to make several improvements to our home, including painting the outside of it. I don't want to have to get a loan to do so, so I am trying to figure out how to get enough extra income to make it happen.

5. Go through my comic collection and sell/donate part of it. I have way too many comic books. I am too embarrassed to tell you how many I have because it is ridiculous. My basement is cluttered with long boxes. Something has to give.

6. Clean my basement and closets. This has become a big problem. I am a packrat and I need to simplify things.

7. Continue to blog regularly and be more prompt answering comments and e-mails. Pretty self explanatory.

8. Do something for others rather then focus on myself so much. Maybe some of the above can help me with this. Cleaning my home and giving comics away may help. I also want to spend my time helping somehow. This is one I want to think about.

Those are my resolutions. What are yours?

New Comics for January 4

Ms. Marvel #23
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

I can tell it is a new year because when I went to the gym tonight it was hell finding a parking spot. Normally I just go park to the back, walk up and call it good, but tonight I had to circle a bit. That is a potential irritant that I have to remember to look out for in the next couple of months. Unfortunately, as a gym rat of many years, I can tell you that this group of resolution folks usually dies out by the end of March. While that is good for my parking situation, it makes me sad for the rest of these people. As an obese country, working out is no joke. It can be a life saver.

That is enough of my soapbox tonight. Last night I actually made a list of all the comics I get in a month. This is the story. I get 70 ongoing titles and 21 mini-series. I printed the list out and am making myself cut half of those before I fill out the newest Previews. That is my resolution for the year, other then losing the weight I gained during the holidays when I ate like a pig.

With that in mind, I am pretty happy that my list this week is smaller then previous weeks have been. Here is the list.

Countdown #17
Countdown to Mystery #4 (of 8)
Detective Comics #840
Supergirl #25
Teen Titans Year One #1 (of 6)
Dynamo 5 #10
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures #7 (of 12)
Ms Marvel #23 - pictured
Thunderbolts #118
Uncanny X-Men #494

That is it. On my chopping block are Supergirl and Thunderbolts. This new issue will tell the tale.

I hope you all had a safe New Years and holiday season and that things went well today! Take care!

2008- Things to Look Forward To!

Echo #1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Happy New Year to all of you from Comics Fairplay! This year we are cautiously optimistic that it will be the best yet. Here is hoping and praying that 2008 will bring nothing but good things for you and your loved ones.

To start the year out on a positive note, I made a list of comic book related things I am looking forward to. In no particular order, here is my buzz list!

1. Starman Omnibus editions coming out: May 21 brings the first of six omnibus books from the celebrated series. Covering issues #0 through 16, this is a treat I am greatly looking forward to.

2. Consistent quality on the Wonder Woman title: With Gail Simone and the Dodsons on the book, I am really looking forward to a return to greatness this year for the Amazing Amazon. God knows she deserves it.

3. Y The last Man ends with issue #60: I will miss this series when it ends but am eagerly awaiting the final issue. Scheduled to ship this month, readers will find out what happens to Yorick and the rest of his cast. Hopefully it will be a memorable finish.

4. 100 Bullets enters its final story arc with issue #89: Scheduled to end at issue 100, this series has rocked my world from the time I read the first trade. Exceptional writing and amazing art make this my go-to book of the year. Much like Y the Last Man, I don’t want to see it end, but look forward to the ride.

5. Dark Ivory mini-series from Linsner and Hopkins: Coming out through Image Comics, the long talked about mini-series by Joe Linsner and Eva Hopkins is scheduled to begin in March. It will be a wonderful way to experience a different side of the Dawn creator and his partner in crime.

6. Noble Causes returns: Set five years in the future, Jay Faerber is bringing back the Noble family in all their glory. This underrated series is a must read in my book, and the fact that Faerber is shaking things up a bit just makes it that much more interesting.

7. Mark Bagley under contract to DC: After enjoying a phenomenal run on Ultimate Spider-Man, Bagley has switched companies and it now under contract to DC Comics. I am anxious to see where this prolific penciller turns up next. As a big fan of his, I see this move as an opportunity for Bagley to spread his wings.

8. Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic commit to Witchblade through issue #150: What fascinates me most about this news is that issue #112 of the book just came out, meaning that this will start firing on all cylinders by mid-year. It is unusual to see a creative team pledge to that long of a tenure in this day and age. Following them on this journey is a definite plan of mine.

9. Iron Man and Batman-Dark Knight movies: This is going to be such a great year for comic book movies if the trailers here are any indication. I can’t wait to go to the movies again just to see these two very different characters on the big screen. All my cynicism about Robert Downey Jr. has been replaced with a considerable amount of excitement. I am also very interested to see Heath Ledger’s Joker face off with Christian Bales’ Batman. This should be fun.

10. New series by Terry Moore: I just got done looking at the March solicitation for Moore’s new endeavor after Strangers in Paradise, and it is safe to say I am on board for the duration. Titled “Echo”, Moore takes an entirely different approach then before and that really captures my interest.

11. More Franklin Richards one-shots: In a year filled with multiple crossovers and major character changes, the Franklin Richards specials by Chris Eliopoulos were always a breath of fresh air. I am crossing my fingers for many more of these.

12. New Zorro series from Dynamite Entertainment: Written by Matt Wagner, this new book from D.E. looks like a good read. If previous D.E. offerings are any indication, Zorro will be a solid hit.


That is it for the list. I am sure there are things I have missed, but those were in the forefront of my mind. The one thing I am dreading is more crossovers, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. In the meantime, let me once again wish you a Happy New Year and great success in the upcoming year!

Top 12 "Best" Comic Events of 2007

Green Lantern Corps #16
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

After focusing on the books and events that I considered the “worst” of 2007, it is now time to concentrate on “best”. It took quite a bit of soul searching to narrow the field, but I am ready to acknowledge the things that made me smile, even while sometimes gritting my teeth to get through the process.

12. Fallen Angel from IDW: Peter David hit it out of the park with this fantastically written series focusing on the town of Bete Noire and the characters that make it so incredible. After a short run at DC, David found his stride with a more independent company. It really felt like he could be free to realize his vision, and I appreciate that.

11. 52 ends on a strong note: While Countdown still hasn’t found its vision over thirty issues in, 52 had a cohesive message from week one. Focusing on minor characters and making them astounding was no small feat, but I feel like DC succeeded very well here. With a stable of writer that read like a “who’s who” of comics, this weekly series had heart to spare.

10. Black Canary and Green Arrow Wedding: I know you are surprised to see this here, after my posts about not wanting to see the two together. I am a bit surprised myself. I still am not convinced that marrying Dinah and Ollie was the best decision ever, but it spawned a gorgeously drawn book that I am really enjoying, despite the dissent of others. Cliff Chiang is incredible, and I am having fun watching Dinah kick some butt. Time will tell how the marriage plays out, but I will always have my memories of the big event, taking enjoyment in the fact that it gave me something to take away the pain of “Amazons Attack”.

9. DC Showcase editions: While the cover to the Batgirl created a great deal of uproar, I chose to focus on the Showcase editions as a whole. I loved the fact that I got a Wonder Woman, Justice League of America, Teen Titans, and Batgirl collection for $19.99 each. I was glad that DC came out with a counterpart to Marvel’s black and white reprint bibles. It was about time!

8. Booster Gold series: Like a breath of fresh air, the Booster Gold series swooped in and captured my imagination. Dealing with “woulda, coulda, shoulda” from Booster’s perspective has been an eye opener. I especially enjoyed Booster Gold #5, which showed why Barbara Gordon’s fate could not be changed. This is the kind of fresh series I have been craving. The fact that Booster Gold stars in it amazes and thrills me. It is certainly the best thing to spin out from 52.

7. Dwayne McDuffie on Fantastic Four and JLA: I have never been so happy to see a writer take over a book then I was when McDuffie took over Fantastic Four at the end of Civil War. Talk about a book needing a shot in the arm! After horrendous storylines that made me want to rip the book in two, I appreciated McDuffie’s sure hand. McDuffie as the new writer on Justice League of America also pleases me to no end. This comic book veteran isn’t flashy, which is refreshing. He is just what these two team books needed. A sure vision and a reality check are what McDuffie brings and I am happy about that.

6. World War Hulk/Planet Hulk: Greg Pak accomplished the near-impossible. He took my mind off Civil War and told a great tale while he was at it. The godliness and redemption of Bruce Banner in his Hulk incarnation was spot-on. In my mind, Pak understands the Hulk character like no one has since Peter David’s glorious run. I loved Planet Hulk, and think it is one of the most underrated stories that was told this year. If you didn’t see it and want to cleanse your Marvel palate, I would highly recommend picking it up.

5. Gail Simone writes Wonder Woman: Two issues in and I’m feeling better about the title already. Simone brings an air of confidence and stability to the book that has been missing since the relaunch. Wonder Woman isn’t a diva, but she isn’t scared of her own shadow either. Time will tell how Simone puts her stamp on the book, but I feel secure with the Amazing Amazon in her hands. I still miss her work on Birds of Prey though.

4. A Fond Farewell to Strangers in Paradise: Terry Moore did something astounding. He ended his long running series Strangers in Paradise on his own terms in his own timeframe. After creating a fantastic body of work centered on Francine, Katchoo, and David, Moore decided it was time for the characters to have some peace and quiet. The good news is that I will always have the books to read and reminisce. The even better news is that Moore is still in the industry, doing what he does best. I will miss the book, but feel that Moore ended things on a very poignant and real level.

3. The Boys gets a new home at Dynamite Entertainment: After getting the boot by Wildstorm for justifiably lewd and obnoxious content, one of my favorite new series has a new home and creative freedom. Garth Ennis and Darrick Robertson are able to continue their vision with full support, and that is wonderful. It is a win-win for Wildstorm and Dynamite Entertainment, as well as the readers. We all get what we want, and for me that means I get to continue to read The Boys glorious demented adventures.

2. Captain America by Ed Brubaker: Brubaker has balls of brass. He killed Captain America and made it work. He was gleeful about it. Then he kept the momentum going by going right into the chase for the killer. Bucky, Black Widow, Agent 13, Falcon, and Tony Stark are being written as they were meant to be. They are dangerous, powerful, and they aren’t going to stop until justice is done. While I will always consider Steve Rogers to be Captain America, I am really enjoying the ride that Brubaker is taking us on.

1. Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps War: I was extremely skeptical about the GL/Sinestro War. I didn’t like the fact that Kyle was going to go evil, and that the Corps was going to be decimated. At the beginning, I thought this was a huge mistake. Boy was I wrong. Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, and an incredible team of artists turned a scary idea into the most successful event of the year. Forget Civil War. Let Countdown take a back burner. Even World War Hulk seemed tame in comparison. This war was the event of the year. Well executed and filled with humanity, pathos, and plenty of action, watching the GL Corps being torn down and built back up was like watching a beautiful painting become even better. This crossover event has made me an even bigger GL fan, and that is saying a lot.

That is my list for 2007. Did I miss an event you felt was noteworthy? Did you agree with some of these, or all of them? I raise a glass to toast the end of 2007 in all its glory. Salute! Now, bring on 2008!

Top 12 "Worst" Comic Events of 2007

Amazing Spider-Man #544
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

After a great deal of contemplation, and even a bit of cringing, I am here to present my list of the “Worst of 2007” in comic book events. I didn’t take this lightly, and had quite the time preparing this list. Hopefully you will find something you agree with, or maybe have a bit of conjecture to share. Whatever the reaction, here it goes!

12. Spider-Man 3 Movie: I just had to go there. I couldn’t help it. Spider-Man 3 was gorgeous to look at to be sure, but for most of the movie I kept thinking that too much was going on. This film would have fared better for me if it would have focused either on Harry and Peter with some Venom thrown in, or would have spotlighted the Sandman character. I also felt that the use of Gwen Stacy was awkward to say the least. There were many great things in this movie that just didn’t mesh because it was too busy.

11. Nightwing Series: Poor Dick Grayson. He had a rough year. First Bruce Jones made him fight Jason Todd for Nightwing supremacy. Then Marv Wolfman came on to try and fix things with a “flashback” tale. Now Dick is enmeshed in the Ra’s Al Ghul storyline. I am hoping that after a very lackluster year that this book can get back on its feet. It is a text book example of too many cooks spoiling the dinner.

10. Countdown Weekly Series: While I have enjoyed several of the Countdown tie-ins, this weekly installment has yet to catch its breath. There is a great deal going on, and it has a very uneven feel. Some cohesiveness would go a long way. I keep hoping, being the eternal optimist that I am, that it all pulls together in the end. It is an expensive bet to make, and I am pretty worried at this point in time.

9. Wonder Woman Shipping Delays and Tie-in Issues: This book just couldn’t get a break. After delayed shipping that made me want to drink, the book dovetailed immediately into the Amazons Attack saga. There wasn’t a chance to just chill with our girl and get reacquainted. That really sucked. Hopefully new writer Gail Simone and the powers-that-be at DC can change that soon.

8. Ultimates 3 #1: Joe Madureira returned to comics and I realized that I had never missed him. In fact, let me be so harsh as to say that the ungrateful guy should have just stuck to video games and left us poor readers alone. To add insult to injury, the tale being told by writer Jeph Loeb was so preposterous that it made me go back and lovingly read every issue done by Mark Millar. This is not a good sign of things to come.

7. Mary Jane Sexy Statue debacle: On all counts, the “sexy” Mary Jane statue was a disaster. Bent over and sassy, super model Mary Jane confounded and enraged the female population of comic book readers while driving an even bigger wedge in the already widening gap between male and female fans. Last year I spoke of the great divide in readership. Well guess what? It has gotten much worse and I don’t see anyone seeing eye-to-eye in the near future.

6. Amazons Attack mini-series: Okay, get off my ass for not liking this already, would ya? I don’t think it is going to ruin the Amazons forever or any crap like that. I just didn’t like the story. It was contrived, irritating, and senseless. When I saw that it had all just been a set up for Granny Goodness to be bad, it made me angry. This was a Coundown tie-in that didn’t work for me.

5. Death of Bart Allen: I know that the Flash characters of the DCU are vulnerable. There is no such thing as a “safe place” for speedsters, other then Jay Garrick. That still didn’t make Bart Allen’s death any easier to swallow. After having to be put into the Flash outfit, which took him away from the Titans team he flowed so well with, DC’s decision to kill him off didn’t sit well with me. There was a great deal of potential there for storytelling that is now gone. Yes, Wally is back and that is good, but I am greedy. I want Bart to be there with him, helping him raise his kids.

4. Manhunter Title M.I.A.: I really miss the Manhunter series from DC. It has left a hole for me. Having the character appear in Birds of Prey was a consolation prize at best. When are we going to get Kate Spencer back, dammit!!??!!

3. Marshall Rogers and Mike Wieringo- Rest in Peace: Two great talents left us this year, and much too soon. Batman legend Rogers was in his 50’s and Tellos genius Wieringo only a year older then me. It breaks my heart to even think about it. All I can say is that the good lord has two fantastic guys in heaven drawing his tales.

2. Failed Wildstorm Relaunch of The Authority and Wildcats: What the hell was this about? Did Grant Morrison not turn in any scripts? Did Jim Lee drop the ball? What a disaster this was. Two issues of The Authority and one issue of Wildcats were all we got before it was all shuffled under the carpet. Talk about disrespectful to fans. This was damn near the worst.

1. “One More Day” Spider-Man storyline: Peter and Mary Jane’s courtship and marriage were retconned out of existence and I am pissed about it. Lucky fans- we get to trade a lot of memories for the return of Harry Osborn. Whooptie-freaking-doo! Joe Quesada may be sitting there being gleeful, but this old reader hates it. My last issue of Spider-man was this one. Marvel doesn’t care about my demographic, or if they do, they think I will follow blindly. Think again.


That is it for the list of "worst" comic events. Tomorrow I will be back with my list of the 12 "best". See you there!

Must Have Book for GL Fans: Green Lantern/ Sinestro Corps SecretFiles & Origins #1

Green Lantern/ Sinestro Corps Secret Files & Origins #1
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Yesterday at the comic book store, I had a pretty hefty tab, so I was really considering not picking up the Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files book.

Then I picked it up and looked through it. I couldn't believe my eyes.

The book was chock full of information on many of the members of the GL corps, as well as documenting the Sinestro corps. Beyond that, there were items on the Guardians and all the information about Green Lanterns I could have asked. This is, quite simply, a handbook for readers of the GL titles.

At $4.99, this book carries a sizable price tag, but it is also one of those rare occasions where the price is justified. Filled with gorgeous art and fantastic bits of trivia, this is the book to have.

Have any of the rest of you picked this up?

Random Thoughts and Musings

It is snowing like crazy outside tonight. As I drove home, it got slicker and slicker. I don't envy any folks who are out in this any later then they have to be. The weatherman is predicting five inches of snow tonight, so that should be fun.

The good news is that I am off work for some vacation until January 2. This will give me some quality time with the hubby and allow me to do some of the many things I have allowed to pile up here at my house. I am also rallying for control of the remote on several of those days. Wish me luck!

Tomorrow will be filled with several errands, some bill paying, and a stop to pick up comics. Then hopefully we can stay at home and watch it snow. I also need to compile my lists for my yearly feature of "best" and "worst". Another goal is to catch up my Comicspace and make it more cohesive. Good luck, right?

Tonight really feels like one of those times it is fantastic to be inside and just snuggle and relax. I am very blessed to be able to do so.

What are your plans for New Years Eve? At this point we are sitting at home watching the television and vegging. I am going to pick up some Miller's Chill beer and drink a few while watching the ball drop.

Have a great night! I am off to spend some time with Jim.

New Comics for December 28

Batman #672
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

After a wonderful Christmas, I had a decent day back at work today. I wore the new festive jacket my mom gave me and worked to get caught up. I am really spoiled this week as tomorrow is my Friday. I won't go back to work until January 2. I can't wait!!

I am working on my "best" and "worst" lists and hope to have them presented here this weekend. It has been such a crazy year that it is hard to remember it all. I plan to comb my previous entries and surf the 'net a bit to bring it all back!

This week's comics are killer. It is a DC heavy week once again. Hopefully I won't cry when I see the bill!

Here is the list:

52 Aftermath the Four Horsemen #5 (of 6)
Action Comics #860
Authority Prime #3 (of 6)
Batman #672- pictured!
Blue Beetle #22
Brave and the Bold #9
Countdown Arena #4
Countdown to Adventure #5 (of 8)
Countdown #18
Crime Bible The Five Lessons of Blood #3 (of 5)
Death of the New Gods #4 (of 8)
Flash #235
Green Lantern #26
JSA Classified #33
Legion of Super Heroes #37- to check out Jim Shooter's work
Teen Titans #54
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #4 (of 8)
Witchblade #112
Avengers Initiative #8
Black Panther #33
Captain America #33
Daredevil #103
New Warriors #7
Punisher #53
Ultimate Spider-Man #117
X-Men #206
Dan Dare #2 (of 7)
Devi #16

That is it... except the list is so large that it seems like a misnomer to say that. Thank God for Christmas money!

Have a wonderful rest of the week! Check back for my lists- hopefully it will be both informative and entertaining.

Merry Christmas from Comics Fairplay

Golden Age Wonder Woman by Chris Ivy
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Jim and I have just arrived back home from a long weekend at my parent's house. We had a marvelous, relaxing time with family. I would rate it a "10" out of 10.

On the way back, we drove through Portland, Oregon and it was a mess. It was snowing and it really confounded several of the drivers, as that is not their natural driving conditions. We tried to drive very carefully through the city, and since the bad weather lasted until Hood River, it was quite treacherous. By the time we got back home, we were very happy. It is snowing here, but that is a more normal condition for us.

Pictured is the original sketch my husband gave me for Christmas. Done by Chris Ivy, the portrayal of Wonder Woman leaves me breathless. I love the shading and softness Ivy brings to this golden age great. I couldn't have asked for a better present!

I am off to go get unpacked and do my laundry, but I really wanted to wish you a wonderful day! Take care and enjoy your time with loved ones.

Christmas Video That is Always in Style: Christmas In Hollis - Run DMC

Well, it is time we are off to see family. My friend Kerry is going to watch stuff here as we head out to for Christmas festivities. We will be back on Christmas Day with bells on!

In the meantime, enjoy this killer Christmas video from Run DMC. "Christmas in Hollis" is a classic in the best of senses!

Is This Gratuitous?: Expose' of Catwoman #74 Actual cover

Catwoman #74 Actual cover
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

When I bought Catwoman #74, something seemed funny to me. I hadn't remembered seeing such a bodacious cover- it had seemed to me that it was more "arty" and serious.

Then I figured out why I had that suspicion.

I went to DC Comics online site and prepared to show the cover here. To my surprise, the original cover had Catwoman's front completely zipped up. The pose was also a bit different, and her expression was more sinister then sexy.

That kinda pisses me off.

Does anyone know why DC had such a radical cover change on this issue? Has there been any news about it? Or was this just simply the case of the good old switcheroo?

In my mind, changing this cover so radically from solicitation to publication makes me smell a rat. It isn't so much the boob centered finish of this that bothers me; it is the fact that a really cool noir style cover is now a titillating one.

Now it is your turn. Weigh in on this one and tell me what you think it all means. Also tell me this: Is this gratuitous?

Quick note: The cover here is the actual one. For solicit cover, hit the link of go to my Flickr page.

Awesomely Cheesy Christmas Video: Please Come Home for Christmas- Bon Jovi

Tonight on the way home from working out, I was listening to the radio and they were playing multiple Christmas tunes, when this Bon Jovi oldie popped up. I was immediately transported back in time, remembering the video, which featured Super Model Cindy Crawford.

What always stood out to me in this were Cindy's "sultry" posing and the incredibly chemistry free makeout session. Never have two more beautiful people been so not into each other! I guess they look good, and that is the whole idea.

Enjoy the really good looking video and the surprisingly soulful stylings of Bon Jovi! Oh, and early Merry Christmas while I'm at it!

Random Thoughts and Musings

Do you ever have a day that starts out kinda sucky but improves as it goes on? I had one of those today. It started out driving in really bad weather- wet snow and ice, but ended at the gym doing weight lifting, knowing I was coming home to my warm house. I also had the knowledge that my Christmas stuff is done, which helps put things in perspective. I am expecting a hectic day tomorrow, and as the Christmas countdown gets closer, it will be crazy. The folks at the grocery store are gearing up for it. The clerk I spoke to tonight said that they have to pretty much double up on shifts up until Christmas to handle the customers. I don't envy them, and my thoughts are with them. I am really lucky to have both Christmas Eve and Christmas off.

Tonight I had a great time weight lifting and hit some personal goals. My training partner and I started lifting intensely in February, and are winding down our latest routine. We decided to do multiple sets starting at lower reps and working up to a max. On my way home tonight I realized that I am actually lifting more weight then I did in high school. That is nuts.

As a Junior in high school I was on the track team and threw discus and shot-put. My friend Diana and I used to go bench press. She could do 140 lbs. and I could do 120 lbs. We felt pretty good about it. Amazingly, tonight I benched 140 lbs! I could only do it four times, and it was hard, but I did it. I am in better shape now then when I was in high school. To me that is unreal. I am very proud that I have stuck it out and made this vow to be fit. I still have quite a bit of weight to lose, but that will start again in January. I burned out in October and had to take a break.

In other news, this Saturday Jim and I made the decision, based on his guidance, to put our mini-busts and statues away. We were cleaning our living room and my Donna Troy bust fell and broke. Jim's Kyle Rayner mini statue also bit it. After I got extremely upset, I finally realized that putting our stuff away for awhile is for the best. I am way less stressed just having a few action figures out. Maybe again in the future we will display our statues again, but they are so fragile that our nerves need a break.

I wasn't too comic book related tonight, but I will be back tomorrow (hopefully) with an opinion or two about the Previews for March 2008. Have a great night!

New Comics for December 19

Immortal Iron Fist #11
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Holy Crap. Christmas Eve is a week from today. This month has flown by! I am thanking God that I finally got my Christmas cards done and my shopping finished. Just to make myself feel better, I got everything wrapped yesterday as well. That has taken my stress level from an eleven to about an eight. Hopefully all of you are doing well with your holiday endeavors!

Jim and I had a wonderful day yesterday. His sister's fiance' Craig came through town and we had a nice lunch and great conversation. It is always great to hang with Craig. We are hoping to see him Thursday night on his way back through.

This week's comics are scaring me as much as last week's books, but that might have something to do with how much lower my stress level is today. Let's get to it!

Rex Mundi #9
Birds of Prey #113
Catwoman #74
Checkmate #21
Countdown Arena #3 (of 4)
Countdown- the Search for Ray Palmer: Superwoman Batwoman #1
Countdown #19
Detective Comics #839
Justice League of America #16
Shadowpact #20
Madame Mirage #4
Exiles #100
Immortal Iron Fist #11 - see pictured!
Incredible Hulk #112
Mighty Avengers #6
New X-Men #45
Ultimate X-Men #89
Wolverine Origins #20
Red Sonja #28
Savage Tales #5

That is it for tonight. I ran late working out and helping a friend shop so I am keeping it short and sweet. Have a fantastic evening! I hope to be back here tomorrow with a new post, although with my track record the last few weeks, I am not holding my breath.

Review: 1st Issue Special #4- LADY COP!

1st Issue Special #4
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Liza Warner is your every day, average gal until she witnesses the heinous murder of her roommates. Driven by natural police-like attributes and a desire to good, she enrolls in Police Academy and becomes….wait for it… Lady Cop.

Dressed in sensible shoes, and a 1970’s style police woman knee length skirt and top, Liza takes on criminals in her NYPD beat. No desk job for this lady- Liza fights crime without a net. I loved every minute of it, other then her boyfriend, who took her to the beach and tried to get her to give up her career. It’s the 1970’s, Buster!

After reading Lady Cop in First Issue Special #4, I felt empowered. Liza didn’t let the bad guys intimidate her and she could take care of herself. She helped a father see eye-to-eye with his “new school” daughter. She kicked some bad guy ass. To top it off, she wasn’t dressed in an overtly sexy manner, but she was fit and attractive.

I want to be Lady Cop when I grow up. You have got to check this book out! I just want to know one thing, though. Why weren’t there more adventures from this sassy, bold woman? I would have read it!

Special Note: I first saw Lady Cop at Seven Hells!, so a belated thanks to Devon for the heads up.

(Non) Metal Video of the Week: Tone Loc - Funky Cold Medina

Remember Yo! MTV Raps? Dre and Ed Lover? Fess up to doing the dumb dance? Remember those fade hair cuts?

Then you must be feeling a bit nostalgic for Tone Loc. He of the fun party rap and killer attitude. Self effacing and cool, Tone is the man! Much like Young MC and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, "Funky Cold Medina" is a tune that hearkens back to simpler times. Remember when rap was fun?

Those were the days. Now it's time to dance!

This Week's Comics- First Impressions

This week had some very interesting new comic books, so I thought I would do a one to two sentence take of a pile and try and come back this weekend and be more indepth. Here we go!

Wonder Woman #15- My favorite part is the "back story" of the Amazons that is developing. So far, so good.

Green Arrow Black Canary #3- Yay! I got the variant cover! Crap, somebody looks unwell.

Green Lantern #25- Now this is what I am talking about, People. Loved it.

Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1- The torch is passed, literally. Marz does his swan song and we get a sense of direction for Kyle.

Green Lantern Corps #19- This is a book to watch. Guy and Kyle are meshing well and I am looking forward to the future.

Black Adam #5 (of 6)- One of the most compelling books I am reading. I am mesmerized.

Wonder Girl #4 (of 6)- I spent most of my time trying to figure out how this mini-series fits into the big picture. Loving Torres' scripting.

Countdown Arena #2 (of 4)- This issue was better then the first one, but that isn't saying much. I am hoping for a big payoff.

X-Factor #26- Damn. I hate crossovers, but adore Layla. Torn.

Booster Gold #5- I really appreciated this book. Fans of Barbara Gordon need to pick this up.

Nightwing #139- Some of the best dialogue between Tim and Dick that I have seen in a long time. I am really enjoying the Ra's Al Ghul storyline.

Fables #68- This book is a winner. Quality story telling and great art.

Ultimate Iron Man II #1 (of 4)- My guilty pleasure. I had a good time reading this.

That is it so far. I haven't gotten any further in my reading, and am hoping to get a second read in tomorrow or Saturday. This week's comics are restoring my faith in humanity for some weird reason.

Grinch Says: "Forget Christmas and Have a Cocktail"

Grinch
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

It has happened. I have hit Christmas overload. I worked an 11 hour day and had to do Christmas errands. People in general were assholes and the roads are icy. It was not a pleasant experience, to say the least.

That being said, I am taking tonight off blogging and going to sit and relax. I have to make dinner and do laundry first, but then it is all about checking out some comic books and reading the rest of the book "Big Boned" by Meg Cabot.

See you tomorrow!

THE Show to Attend: Emerald City Comicon 2008

ECCC 2008 art by Tim Sale
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Ever wanted to go to Seattle to vacation? Interested in going to a comic book show while you are there? Ready for some gorgeous spring weather? Just want to get out of town?

Then the 2008 Emerald City Comicon is for you.

I want to put a bug in your ear while it is still early enough to make plans. May 10 and 11, 2008 are the dates. Please put them on your calendar. ECCC is a fantastic show that is big enough to draw wonderful guests but small enough to have that intimate feel. Go check out their website for details.

I can't stress enough what a great show this is. Get your plane tickets, bus tickets, car rental, or pack mule reserved now. It will be worth it! If nothing else, check out this gorgeous piece of art by Tim Sale.

Did I mention that Seattle has incredibly excellent beer and fun places to go eat?

New Comics for December 12

Booster Gold #5
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Confession time: I haven't done my Christmas cards yet. It is December 10, so I am in trouble. Guess what has to be the priority this week?

Hopefully the flooding has subsided enough to have shipping back on schedule. That being the case, new stuff should be here Wednesday, not that I am holding my breath! Heh.

Here is the list:

Black Adam The Dark Age #5 (of 6)
Booster Gold #5 - pictured
Countdown Arena #2 (of 4)
Countdown #20
Gen 13 #15
Green Arrow Black Canary #3
Green Lantern #25
Green Lantern Corps #19
Nightwing #139
Stormwatch Armageddon #1
Suicide Squad Raise the Flag #4 (of 8)
Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1
Wonder Girl #4 (of 6)
Wonder Woman #15
Angelus Pilot Season #1
Fantastic Four #552
New Avengers #37
New Warriors #6
Punisher War Journal #14
Ultimate Iron Man II #1 (of 4)
Wolverine #60
X-Factor #26
X-Men Die by the Sword #5 (of 5)
Devi #15

Yet another huge week. I give up until after Christmas. The January Previews I filled out was pretty sparse, so hopefully that will help. Have a wonderful night!

Random Thoughts and Musings

Lots o' figures
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

I am tired. Bone tired. I am sitting here a bit lost, after realizing that I hadn't posted since Thursday. Things have been hectic, and the holiday season hasn't exactly put things into a "slowdown".

Our company inventory was on Friday, and I worked 16 1/2 hours. I could hardly get my butt out of bed yesterday! By the time Jim and I got to our errands it was 3 p.m. and all we got done was a trip to the comic shop to pick up my Christmas present (see blog entry) and a couple of action figures.

Then I had to hurry home and prepare for my company Christmas party. It was last night, and I ended up sharing a room there. I just got home about 45 minutes ago and am officially in a panic. I haven't started Christmas cards and Jim and I have laundry, house cleaning, and grocery shopping to do. When do I get to factor in "down time"? Evidently it is not in the cards.

The one thing I did do is take a picture of my credenza of action figures, mini-busts, and statues. Jim lets me keep all my stuff there as a kind of show and tell. God, I am a big geek. My friends can't get over it when they come to our house and it is decorated in comic book theme. What can I say? It is how we like it.

At any rate, I haven't read my comics other then a quick glance, so I have nothing of note to say on that. I haven't even tapped into back issues. It is a casualty of the holiday season, and that is okay. Hopefully I can get caught up someday!

Have a wonderful Sunday and I will see you back here tomorrow for the list of the week's books!

THE STATUE.

Power Girl & Huntress statue
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Well, I did it. I had ordered the statue. To that end, yesterday afternoon I went and picked it up and brought it home. To say it is extremely cool is an understatement. This is the most killer collectible I have.

Power Girl and Huntress from the "All Star Comics" era of the late 1970's define super hero for me. These were days when Earth Two was still the home of the Justice Society of America, before the original "Crisis". Other then Wonder Woman, these two ladies were who I wanted to emulate. Hot headed, strong Power Girl, cousin of Superman, knew how to stand up for herself and could kick some serious butt. Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's daughter Helena followed in their footsteps with brains and beauty. She practiced law and was versed in martial arts, while acting like a lady.

These were the female characters that I still look to when I define my youth. I loved reading their stories. To this day, I still mourn the loss of Helena Wayne to history. Though a "Earth One" Huntress is on the scene in Birds of Prey, she hasn't replaced this character for me. I can at least feel vindicated that Power Girl is in the JSA and is in fact their current chairperson.

I took a picture of the statue where Jim and I placed it. It came in three pieces, and we very carefully put them together. Each is lovingly crafted and a tribute to the character. It is my Christmas present, and I couldn't ask for better.

Kick Ass Metal Video of the Week: Pantera- "Walk"

For the uninitiated, let me warn you now. Pantera is hardcore, uncensored metal at it's finest. It is the music I listen to when I need to get pumped up, and it works every time.

The band from Texas left it's mark on the music world with killer songs and outstanding musicianship. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott is well remembered for his amazing guitar riffs. Unfortunately, he was gunned down on stage with his new band Damageplan a few years ago, so his music is all we have left. Rest in Peace, Dimebag.

Left to carry on, Darrell's brother Vinnie is in a band called Hellyeah, whose hit song "Alcoholin' Ass" was heard all over the rock format radio this year. Singer Phil Anselmo continues to battle his health, and I last saw him singing with Alice in Chains at a Heart tribute concert.

To get pumped up now, press play!

Comics Are Here!

By the grace of God, comics came in today. For whatever reason, we got ours before the west side of the state, which NEVER happens. It has got to be because of the I-5 closure. Traffic must have been re-routed.

That is the good news! In busy news, I am gearing up for our company's inventory tomorrow. This means a potential 12-18 hour day, depending on how things go. That being said, you may not see anything new or exciting going on here. If it wears me out like it normally does, I will be coming home, showering, and sitting on the couch in a daze!!

On that note, I am off to go get some dinner and get all my stuff ready. Take care!

Flooding Causes Comic Book Delays!

road closed
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

In hindsight, I really should have known better then to go to my local comic book shop today, but in my excitement to get books I didn't consider the fact that Washington State and Oregon have declared a state of emergency due to flooding and high winds.

Duh.

My comic books were not there today. They might be there tomorrow, but it is unlikely. More of a possibility is that the comics will be here on Friday or Monday.

This time I can't blame Diamond or UPS. This time it is an act of God. You know what? I can live with it.

After my initial hysteria subsided, I have become very calm and put my energy into praying and hoping for those folks on the coast without power, who may have been flooded. They have a hell of a lot bigger problem then their comics being late!

My comics are delayed and I am okay with it. Hopefully I-5 will open up tomorrow and traffic can resume normal flow. Then the UPS truck will deliver the books and by that time, hopefully the states in question will be back to a more normal state!

Have a wonderful night! I will be back tomorrow with an update.

Blast From The Past: the Supersons!

Batman-Superman- Saga of the Supersons TPB
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

When I first started collecting comics back in 1973 to 1974, I was really into the "100 page spectaculars" which were my entry into reading. One of the first books I picked up was an issue of Worlds Finest that featured the "supersons". The whole concept there was that Batman and Superman would watch "missions" of possible future sons and ponder what might be. Groovy, huh?

Indeed it was groovy as the supersons were certified hotties with the 1970's style hair complete with sideburns. Did I also mention that the boys were a bit horny? As an eight year old, much of that escaped me, but today when I read the back issues, it makes me laugh. God, those were innocent times. Beside that TMI tidbit, what really fascinated me was being able to see the legacy continue and watching the sons grow and learn as they went through missions together.

One thing I loved pondering was who their mom(s) could be. I always secretly hoped that Selina Kyle was Batman Junior's mom while wishing that Lois was Superman Junior's mother. I would also consider that Wonder Woman could be the mother of either as both boys had black hair. The fantasy aspect of it all really increased my curiosity.

What made me bring this whole thing up is that there is a new collection coming out this week called "Batman/Superman: Saga of the Supersons".I have most of the back issues somewhere in my basement, but the opportunity to pick them up in one collection fills me with joy. Further increasing my wonderment is the fact that Dick Dillin, who is one of my favorite artists of all time, pencilled many of the adventures. How the heck he did this and kept up on Justice League of America monthly is one of the things that makes me appreciate him that much more.

Here are the specs on it:

"Written by Bob Haney; Art by Dick Dillin, Murphy Anderson, Vince Colletta and others; Cover by Nick Cardy

For the first time, the complete saga of the Super Sons is collected in one volume! Features stories from the pages of WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #215-216, 221-222, 224, 228, 230, 231, 233, 238, 242, 263 and ELSEWORLDS 80-PAGE GIANT #1!

DC Universe 256pg. Color Softcover $19.99 US"

If you are a fan of the old school World's Finest comics and have an appreciation for the work of the gentlemen listed above, this is a "must have". I would also like to point out that the boys are quite cute, so it is an equal opportunity for the ladies to have some beefcake. Since Christmas is coming up, why not pick this up as a present for the Superman and Batman fans in your family?

New Comics for December 5

The Sword #3
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

Today was absolutely crazy, weather wise. It rained all day and got up to 51 degrees, hence melting much of the snow that accumulated for a week. It was also quite windy, which was kind of a weather bonus... not. Needless to say, I am very happy to be home safe. Since I am not all the way over my head cold, I took tonight off working out.

My list this week could be very scary for two main reasons. The first is that the Huntress-Power Girl statue is coming in this week. The second is that the Wonder Woman "Who Is Wonder Woman" action figures are coming in. What is scary is that it has been so damn long since they were in Previews that I can't remember if I officially ordered them or not. Jim and I don't think I did- in fact I am about 90% sure I didn't, but I have this nagging feeling in the back of my head about this. I am so embarassed.

Here is the rest of the list:

Countdown Arena #1 (of 4)
Countdown #21
Justice League of America #15
Justice Society of America #11
Robin #169
Supergirl #24
Dynamo 5 #9
Invincible #47
PVP #37
Sword #3 - cover pictured!
Ms. Marvel #22
Twelve #0
Ultimate X-Men #88
Uncanny X-Men #493
X-Men Die By the Sword #4 (of 5)
World War Hulk Aftersmash

Short but sweet post tonight. I am going to go lay on the couch and pray that this crap goes away before my inventory on Friday and Christmas party on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Have a wonderful evening!

Finding Wonder Woman's "Voice" in Her Comic Book

Wonder Woman
Originally uploaded by Heidi Meeley

As I have been reading through Wonder Woman back issues and pondering the state of her book today, what has most struck me is how finding Wonder Woman's "voice" can be the toughest thing a writer can tackle. It isn't just about how Diana would tackle fighting crime or how she would react to a betrayal- it is also considering where her heart might be and how she would feel if a romantic situation would arise. Would she be flirtatious or would she be upset? How would Diana feel if a friend told her secret feelings or confided in her?

There is much to consider in finding and translating the "bone marrow" of a character and having it find a unique "voice" that can be found throughout continuity. God knows that in this latest run of Wonder Woman, she has been all over the board, which has made it impossible to lay a foundation for the tone of the book. Hopefully writer Gail Simone will stay on the book long enough to make this happen in a meaningful and memorable way that stays true to the character.

Tough order, huh?

What is unusual for me is that I find my feelings for Wonder Woman as a character to be almost sacred. When I see other readers have "pissing contests" to see who the biggest fan is, I want to run the other direction. In my mind it doesn't matter who has read her the longest or who owns the most collectibles. That is besides the point. What matters to me is my perception of the character. I know who I think Wonder Woman is, and it doesn't matter to me if anyone else agrees with me or not.

That being said, when I read the monthly title, I usually find at least one thing a writer has imbued the character with that I relate to. That helps me to establish a focal point that will further my enjoyment of Diana and her supporting characters. When I can find nothing to help me establish that rapport, it is a bit disconcerting to say the least.

My perceptions of Wonder Woman are as follows. I think that Diana is an overachiever who always pushes herself harder and farther then anyone else possibly could. She holds herself up to standards of perfection and tries to live up to them, which has hurt her in the past. Her physical strength and ablities are second to none, and she is a strategist on the battlefield. Wonder Woman doesn't pick a fight but she will not shy away from one. She is firm in her convictions and will not back down unless other lives are in danger. I think that is why it was not a tough choice for her to kill Maxwell Lord. In her mind it was for the greater good, and though she took no joy in it, she did it and was firm in her decision.

Romantically, Wonder Woman has been portrayed so many ways, yet has retained a quality of untouchable purity. Though she may or may not have been a virgin, and certainly was not by the end of the first series when she married Steve Trevor, she maintained a priority of fighting the evils of the world, and keeping her love life a private, almost sacred thing. When I see her in the current series, I am dissappointed by how poorly her personality has shown in respect to a potential relationship with Nemesis.

I want Diana to have a relationship. I just don't want her to be silly about it. I appreciated Phil Jimenez' take on Wonder Woman with regards to Trevor Barnes. At first she was a bit nervous, but when faced with the reality of her existence, she felt comfortable enough to let her guard down and be a bit flirty while maintaining her dignity. The scene in Wonder Woman #7 where she drops a wounded Nemesis for a swarmy comment just didn't work at all for me.

My bottom line on romance, is that I don't mind if she gets down to it behind closed doors, but that I want her to have a relationship that progresses at a realistic pace and I don't want her to be goofy about it. She is royalty, after all? That is one thing that has been lost in the shuffle.

As a princess of Themyscira, Diana isn't neccesarily prissy, but she has a great understanding of protocol. Having her act ditzy isn't within her character at all. Giving Diana a bit of a glamour is alright, as long as she maintains her priority, which is battling evil.

The "voice" I see in Wonder Woman is many faceted. She is dignified, yet calm. She won't back down from her beliefs but she will hear you out first. She is loyal to her friends and decisive with her enemies. When she meets a man she likes, she is womanly, but not goofy. She always remembers her "mission" but knows how to interact with folks from all social stations. That is what a princess does, after all.

What about you? What is the "voice" you see in Wonder Woman?

Random Thoughts and Musings

December 1. Yes, it is already December 1. That means that in 24 day the most obsessed about holiday of the year will be here. In preparation for this, I notice that the general public has thrown all goodwill out the window. It is nice to see that "survival of the fittest" is once again being proven. Unfortunately our natural selection of today is that the most agressive gets to be first in line to get the latest fad or craze. Darwin would probably shake his head in either amusement or horror, or quite possibly a mixture of the two.

I looked at my comic books the last couple of days and what struck me most is that I am having the reaction Marvel quite possibly was hoping for to the "One More Day" story line. It is obvious that Mary Jane and Peter will be no more by the end of this and of course, I am completely pissed, which probably makes Marvel very happy, especially since in my anger I have been spending my money on the book. I do think that I need to put an end to that, so I am going to quit buying Amazing Spider-Man. Problem solved!

Top Cow's First Born was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. I know, I know. I don't really care though. It had pathos, drama, and was predictable as hell, but I am a huge fan of The Darkness and Magdelena, so it worked well for me.

After a few "so so" issues, I was struck by how much emotion I felt reading American Virgin #21. I am sad to see that book ending at the completion of this storyline. Having a modern take on the age old concept of "should I or shouldn't I" has been fascinating to say the least.

On the home front, like a broken record, I am sick again. This time it is the head cold from hell. I give up. My immune system is shot from burning the candle at both ends and there is no end in sight anytime soon so I just have to resign myself to catching anything that anyone else I come in contact has. Even though I work out and try and take care of myself, stress can overrule everything else. This is a hard truth that I am living proof of. At any rate, I will be over it sooner than later and then something else will come along, so I am not even going to bitch about it.

On that note, I am going to go relax, drink some orange juice, and read the newest issue of Oxygen. I hope that all of you are having a safe and happy holiday season so far. Take care, and I will be back tomorrow!