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Invasion Podcast from Dan Slott
2007-12-21 19:47:00
This official Marvel press release contains the links to all of the Secret Invasion podcasts they have released so far, including the latest one. I know it's a few days old by now, but if you haven't heard about it, it's still news to you.Who better to speak about State of the Initiative than the Initiative’s number one drill sergeant? In this latest edition of the Mighty Marvel Podcast , Avengers: The Initiative writer Dan Slott discussed thinning the pack of the heroes training at Camp Hammond in the upcoming Avengers: The Initiative story arc entitled “Killed In Action”. Providing hints about who’ll live and who’ll die, Slott also gave an ominous warning about the Skrull-fueled Secret Invasion and the full extent of their infiltration! State of the Initiative Podcast Part 3 is the final installment of the State of the Initiative three part series, hosted by fan-favorite Marvel personality Jeff Suter, and it’s available on Marvel.Com today! To feast your ears on thi...

Cheaper Than Hotels
2007-12-21 19:36:00
Just like the name says, Cheaperthanhotels.co.uk contracts with business and leisure accomodations to provide you with rates that large hotel chains simply cannot beat. They have listings for places in North America and throughout Europe, with dublin hotels, cardiff hotels, leeds hotels, and many more. Further, most allow you to secure the room with only a small deposit over the internet; you pay once you arrive, and a lot of their last-minute bargains come with free extras.Cheaperthanhotels also includes fantastic, 5-star luxury hotels with all the amenities. Beds, breakfasts, and full-use of the facilities are often included in their deals. Why pay top dollar for these reservations direct when you can go through Cheaperthanhotels and get a cut-rate far below what you would normally be asked to pay?Check out the site now for access to over 35,000 hotels 365 days a year in just about every major country you can think of. North America, Europe, even South Africa - Cheaperthanhot...
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Messiah Complex 7 Sells Out, New Printing!
2007-12-21 17:33:00
That ol' Mess iah Complex is really burning up the charts, huh? Every chapter has sold-out! That's pretty damned good, even for an X-title. This is an official Marvel press release:Marvel is proud to announce that X-Factor #26, featuring Messiah CompleX Chapter 7, has sold out at Diamond (though copies may be available at the retail level). This marks the seventh straight sell-out for the comic book event of the season, which has shocked readers with the appearance of a new mutant, the return of Cable and the formation of an all-new, all-different X-Force.To meet the overwhelming demand for this issue, Marvel is going back to press with X-Factor #26 Second Printing Variant, featuring the interior art of fan-favorite Scot Eaton on a new cover!“I am so proud that Messiah CompleX is doing so well,” said editor Nick Lowe. “The writers and artists have put in so much work to knock your socks off and it seems to be working (though I hope your feet don’t get cold). Trust me whe...

One of These People Will be the New Captain America!
2007-12-21 15:27:00
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34 (NOV072137)Written by ED BRUBAKERPencils & 50/50 Cover by STEVE EPTING50/50 Cover by ALEX ROSSRated T+ …$2.99FOC—1/03/08, On-Sale—1/23/08
More About: America , People , Captain America , Captain

Some Observational Comments
2007-12-21 14:13:00
So I was doing the maintenance thing last night and going through some of the old posts when I realized the most recent ones seem to have lost their humor. There have been a few, here and there, but we're definitely lacking those short runs of hilarity for which this blog was once known. Maybe I've gone all girly, but there has been a lot going on personally the past few months...Actually, it's safer to say that November was a pretty shitty month for me, all the way around. There was the Google shakedown, then my XP computer went bust and I couldn't do much on the 98 box (but that's all over now), and even though I have a brand new computer (that can beat up your daddy... er, computer), I have yet to recover the site files I have been working on for the past two years or so. And November's cold weather and the return of steady rain (I am in one of the Southern states that suffered a summer drought like we haven't seen in a century) really brought on the pain from my Degen...
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Crawlspace: XXXombies #2 Sold-Out, New Printing!
2007-12-21 00:06:00
I will take some small amount of credit for this - after all, I did give it a glowing review... a few weeks after it came out. But all the same, while the creative team made one of the best things I have ever seen from Image Comics, I will take some small amount of credit for its growing popularity. For, you know, no real reason, whatsoever. This is an official Image Comics press release:CRAWL SPACE: XXXOMBIES #2 sells out, second printing on the way!December 18th, 2007 (Berkeley, CA) - Following its much anticipated debut, CRAWL SPACE: XXXOMBIES #2 has sold out at a distribution level with a second printing on its way to meet demand."I'm glad the response for the book has been so strong," Remender said. "When we saw the orders for #3 and #4 go up we knew the book had found it's audience. Working with Kieron Dwyer and Tony Moore is always a joy and the sales on this mean Kieron and I will be able to produce Crawl Space together for years to come."CRAWL SPACE, the ongoing...
More About: Printing , Sold

Fun with Excuses
2007-12-20 22:47:00
A fellow blogger - one whose blog I regularly read, in fact - indirectly chastised me a few days back for not having posted more "relevant" content and basically just effing-off lately. He didn't mention me by name, so I can't say he even specifically had me in mind when he posted what he did, but it certainly described the activities here as late and got me to thinking, so I decided I would make one final post in my defense, as to the issues I have been facing lately:The Google PR debacle cost me several days throughout several weeks, because it not only took me by surprise, but I really did not have any idea as to what had happened for like two weeks after it had gone down! Then I had to surf through dozens of links to scores of message boards and wade through hundreds of posts to discover what had actually happened. Once I found out, I was obviously extremely upset - like everyone else. It didn't so much keep me from blogging as confuse me and crush my spirit a little; mos...
More About: Excuses

The Bubblenator!
2007-12-20 22:30:00
This is pretty neat, and definitely something I think all our readers will enjoy:Follow this link to http://www.online-casinos.com/bubble/ to The Bubblenator! No, it isn't a game, per se, and it does not cost money, but it is a heck of a lot of fun.The Bubblenator is an online image tool that lets you add comic book-style captions to your images and photos and post them online - in your blog, on your MySpace page, on your website - wherever you want to display your Bubblenated pic.Why settle for the mundane text caption when you can literally add words to your subjects' mouths? I have seen a few of these Bubblenated pictures around and laughed myself silly. Obviously whatever you decide to put in the bubble doesn't have to be humorous; this is a sequential art blog, after all, so just imagine being able to tell the story of your vacation through a series of captioned photos, without any explanatory text. When you think about it in these terms, there is actually a whole host o...

Movie, TV, and Film News
2007-12-20 18:52:00
Well, I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a slew of movie news, including several pieces on films based on comic books. I say surprised because, with the writers' strike, there has been a dearth of decent entertainment news on really any front lately - even the press releases have slowed down this week (though I doubt that has anything to do with the strike - still makes it hard to find stuff to talk about).Anyway, here's a Rundown of some movie and TV news, including some trailers and so forth, that you should find interesting:Joss Whedon is returning to TV to create and script a show for none other than Buffy alum, Eliza Dushku, who played Faith in the series and the series' spin-off, Angel. The new show is called Dollhouse, and TV Guide describes it as a cross between Alias and Quantum Leap. The series is about a group of operatives who have their minds erased after each assignment and are implanted with false memories and necessary skills sets for each new assignment....
More About: News , Movie , Film

Michael Golden's Exiles #1 Artwork
2007-12-20 01:54:00
Here you go, guys: artwork from the highly-anticipated New Exiles , starting next month. I signed-up for this new title by the legendary, former Uncanny X-Men scribe and sci-fi author, Chris Claremont, did you? This is an official Marvel press release:Marvel is proud to reveal legendary artist Michael Golden’s new variant cover to the highly-anticipated New Exiles #1, ushering in a new era for fan-favorite team! Written by iconic X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, with art by Tom Grummett and a standard cover by superstar Greg Land, New Exiles #1 assembles a brand new team of heroes to protect the Omniverse. With new leaders, new worlds and new adversaries, this team of Exiles are about to face their greatest threat yet—that is, if they can survive each other first!It’s an all-new, all-different group of Exiles—let’s hope they all survive the experience in New Exiles #1, featuring stunning covers by Greg Land and Michael Golden!
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Marvel Comics Shipping 12-20-07
2007-12-20 00:11:00
Here you go, guys: your Marvel comics checklist for this Wednesday:Comics On-Sale:AVENGERS CLASSIC #7CABLE & DEADPOOL #48CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE CHOSEN #5CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE CHOSEN #5 CHAREST VARIANTCAPTAIN MARVEL #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANTDAILY BUGLE: JANUARY 2008EXILES #100FOOLKILLER #3IMMORTAL IRON FIST #11INCREDIBLE HULK #112IRON MAN: ENTER THE MANDARIN #4MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #31MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #19MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #6MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2007MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: THE ILIAD #1MIGHTY AVENGERS #6NEW X-MEN #45 (MC)NEW X-MEN #45 VARIANT (MC)NEW X-MEN #44 RAMOS 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (MC)SHE-HULK #24TERROR, INC. #4THE ORDER #6THOR #4 2ND PRINTING VARIANTULTIMATE X-MEN #89WHAT IF? CIVIL WAR DJURDJEVIC WRAPAROUNDWHAT IF? CIVIL WAR DJURDJEVIC WRAPAROUND SKETCH VARIANTWHAT IF? CIVIL WAR SILVESTRI VARIANTWOLVERINE SPECIAL: FIREBREAK ONE-SHOTWOLVERINE: ORIGINS #20WWH AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #1Collections On-Sale:MARVEL MASTERWORKS: RAWHIDE KID VOL. 2 HCMARVEL...
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Sorry
2007-12-19 21:31:00
Whoops! I honestly meant to get the Marvel checklist out to you yesterday, but someone called and I ended up on the phone for about an hour... then the damned thing died on me! I have to do something with that thing; I dropped it a while back and ever since then, it only works for about 20 minutes, then goes dead. Doesn't matter that it stays on the charger 24/7... 20 minutes, and it's done.Anyway, I'll get that out to you shortly, along with a few other news items. I'm watching the Comedy Central Last Laugh 07 and I have to say it once again: Lewis Black is just plain not funny. I don't mean he's "not my cup of tea" or anything like that; I mean he's plain not funny.
More About: Sorry

Online Backgammon
2007-12-19 21:20:00
If you enjoy online backgammon, then you will love the site, MisterGammon. Dedicated to backgammon, it provides you with all kinds of gaming software, both for real money and just for fun. You can play backgammon online, learn more about tournaments and events in and around your area, meet others into the game, and more.So if you enjoy backgammon, make sure to check out MisterGammon today!
More About: Online , Backgammon

Jackson to Produce Hobbit Films
2007-12-18 19:28:00
Peter Jackson will produce two films based on the Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit , contrary to previous reports. Jackson, Oscar-winning director of the famous Lord of the Rings film trilogy, has been in contention with New Line Cinema over profits generated by the first film in the series and the head of the studio had said Jackson would have nothing to do with the Hobbit films "on [his] watch," but new reports say Jackson will produce two films based on the fantasy book by J.R.R. Tolkien for the company.The Hobbit movies will be filmed simultaneously and are scheduled for release in 2010 and 2011.
More About: Films , Produce

The Burden of Perfection
2007-12-18 19:28:00
Doesn't that sound deliciously pompous?It's really nothing like that; I'm just writing to let you know that I am still doing technical-type things, which is why it's been kinda slow today. I will get out your Marvel checklist in a few minutes, but I don't know if there will be much other than that.See, I got both Weird Ink and The OddBlog set-up on their own sub-domains, like I have been saying I was going to do for a while now. The only reason it took this long is because the page I had to access to make the change would not load on Win98 - it just set there for like an hour, saying it was loading. Thing is, nothing else has changed with them; they still reside in the same directories because that's how sub-domains work: you associate them with a folder on the website where the actual files reside. So you can still access both blogs from either the old addresses or their new sub-domains, and since I already had their old addresses entered all over the web, the old address...
More About: Perfection

Baby Needs a Bed
2007-12-18 18:58:00
It's true that I do not have kids yet - I would like to have at least one or two someday, but I am childless as I type - however, I know plenty of people who have children. Like a lot of people, when some of them found out they were about to have a baby, they rushed out and bought all sorts of expensive toys and baby items, redecorated whole "wings" of their homes, childproofed everything in sight, and so forth. But the way I see it, you really only need a few things for a baby, and one of those things is a bed.Follow this link to see the great selection of baby beds from ambybaby.com. Then buy some bottles and onesies, and maybe a mobile to hang over the bed, and you're done!Unfortunately, ambybaby.com does not carry radiators, so you'll have to look elsewhere for that. Wha-at? You'll need something to chain him to when he gets older.I look forward to fatherhood...
More About: Baby , Needs

Pam Anderson: Not the Marrying Kind
2007-12-18 01:38:00
Pamela Anderson has filed for divorce from fellow porn-star, Rick Salomon, after only two months of marriage. The two wed while Anderson was on hiatus from her magician's assistant gig in Vegas. Anderson cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for her divorce. In Hollywood-speak, this would generally mean Salomon is gay, but Salomon is semi-famous for having had sex with Paris Hilton on film, so it may mean that he sleeps around... outside of Hollow-wood, most would say, "Duh," but we have to remember that this is Pam Anderson , so it's not like she necessarily did know this.Anderson made news a few months back, when she instigated a fight between rockers Kid Rock and Tommy Lee. She was married to both. Her marriage to Rock lasted exactly twice as long as her marriage to Salomon.
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Sequential Art Gaining Academic Acceptance... Kinda
2007-12-17 21:55:00
USA Today has a story on how many colleges and highschools are starting to teach classes on sequential art and cartooning, in general. And while the article is brief and not very informative to those of us in the hobby, I wanted to direct your attention to the comments at the bottom of the page.Is it just me or do you also find it a bit shocking that so many people are still so anti-comics? Because that's really what it is. "Iranians are studying nuclear fission"? Seriously? Yeah, I don't think so - it's a third-world shithole where their women aren't even allowed to leave the house; I wouldn't consider Iran academically superior to America simply because our colleges offer courses on sequential art. Or for any other reason, come to think of it.I don't guess it's that weird that the idea of comics being "childish" or inconsequential as a form of serious art/communications is still around, but it's a little bizarre that some people still feel so strongly about their som...
More About: Academic , Sequential , Kinda , Gaining , Acceptance

Online Backgammon
2007-12-17 20:55:00
Although I do not know how to play, backgammon is one of the world's oldest games. It's one of those games that takes a lifetime to master, if you believe the players - and I do - it's a pretty complex and in-depth game, requiring great strategy and planning. And while it is one of the world's oldest games, it has found a new life online.Gammon-World is dedicated to the game, with helpful tips, tricks, and strategies to help you improve your play, along with listings of upcoming backgammon tournaments and events. And, of course, great sites where you can play backgammon.So if you're into this great game, take a moment to check out the Web's premiere online backgammon portal and get involved in the growing online backgammon community!
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Leno and O'Brien to Return, Sans Writers
2007-12-17 19:55:00
Both Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien will return with new episodes January 2nd after two months of repeats thanks to the ongoing writers' strike. Neither will have on-staff writers, so it is unclear how the formats will be different from normal - especially since neither has ever been all that funny.Conan has his moments, but his show owes much to his predecessor's (David Letterman's), in that the brunt of the "humor" is intentionally stupid; Conan can be funny, but his show is generally just non-sensical. It doesn't matter that it is purposely so; being intentionally stupid is not necessarily funny: look at Adam Sandler.Jay Leno has never been funny.Speaking of David Letterman, his show may return soon, as his production company, Worldwide Pants, is set for independent negotiations with the WGA. If these negotiations pan-out, his may be the first late-night talk show to return with new episodes and comedy writers. E! Network's Chelsea Lately has continued producing new shows d...
More About: Writers , Return

I Am Legend Ends Box Office Slump
2007-12-17 19:43:00
Will Smith's adaptation of the Richard Matheson classic, I Am Legend , topped the box office charts, ending the five-week ticket sales slump and setting a record for best opening in December.Being one of my favorite novels of all time, I must admit I have only read Legend once and that was back in highschool. That's because it is an incredibly hard book to come by (so if you ever do find a copy at a decent price, BUY IT!) and I had borrowed my copy from a friend; unlike everyone else I have ever known in all of my life, I am the rare sort who actually returns the books I borrow, so I have been searching for an affordable copy of my own for years. I'm sure they are out there, just not on eBay (most of those are signed and 1st-editions, etc.). Anyway, the reason I am telling you this is because most of the reviews and reports are calling it "sci-fi." Well, technically, I guess that's semi-accurate, seeing as how science-fiction is delineable from science-fantasy, but I Am Legen...
More About: Office , Ends , Slump

British Censors Seek Manhunt 2 Ban, Blame Game for Murder
2007-12-17 18:18:00
Manhunt 2 has been the focus of much consternation in the UK for some time now, and we've discussed it here before. But I didn't realize this part of the story had unfolded beforehand:In late July of 2004, a 14-year old boy, Stefan Pakeerah, was lured into a park and bludgeoned and stabbed to death by a 17-year old boy. The victim's parents claim they overheard the attacker's friends saying he was "obsessed" with the Adults Only video game and blame it for the murder.As some of you know, this is a sticky issue for me: part of the reason I quit playing death metal was because of things like this. Most of my material was about murder - as you also know, I'm a steadfast splatterflick fan and the content was all gore, all the time - and even though I staunchly defend my right to create such material, and know that the material is really, really good, I had to admit that I didn't think I could live with myself should something like this happen and my art be part of the equation....
More About: Murder , British , Game , Manhunt , Manhunt 2

Sweeney Todd
2007-12-17 17:24:00
So Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd is already making waves and it hasn't even been released yet! Both Burton and his wife (both proud new parents of a bouncing, baby girl!), Helena Bonham Carter, were recently nominated for awards, and the buzz is fantastic. You can visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site to check out the trailers.So I was asked to discuss my two favorite roles that Johnny Depp has had in the past and I am a little flustered... I honestly believe Depp is one of the best film actors working today - have for a very long time - but trying to choose between his best roles isn't easy, because he has such a lengthy and varied resume. But seeing as how my personal opinion isn't exactly the point, I just want to contrast two roles of his with which I am familiar, and I know others are, as well.Everyone has seen Depp's turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in the great Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and his portrayal was so outlandish, it bordered on caricature, even though he...

Wolverine: Firebreak
2007-11-29 20:15:00
So I'm reading X-Men: Die by the Sword last night (couldn't finish it - aside from Betsy and Brian and Alison, I didn't know anyone in the cast nor anything about their histories, so I was just going from one situation about which I knew absolutely nothing to the next and finally lost interest) and discovered that Sabretooth now leads one of the X-teams...The more things change...Anyway, this here's an official Marvel press release:The odds are stacked against Logan in Wolverine : Firebreak! A fast-burning chemical-based forest fire temporarily blinds Wolverine, and forces him to rely on his four remaining senses while leading a lost family out of the forest to safety! This brand-new one-shot story by acclaimed author Mike Carey (X-Men) and fan favorite artist Scott Kolins (Omega Flight) also features the enigmatic men and women of the terrorist group Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.). Will Wolverine still be the best at what he does, when he only has four senses to rely upon? A...
More About: Erin

Delightful Deliveries
2007-11-29 19:51:00
DelightfulDeliveries.com Recognized as Hot 100 Retail Website Internet Retailer Ranks Website Among Best in Nation for 2008 NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DelightfulDeliveries.com, the premiere Internet Gift Retailer and America’s #1 Gift Basket Website, today announced it has been named one of The Hot 100 Retail Websites for 2008 by leading industry magazine, Internet Retailer. The Hot 100 list represents the best of what retailers are doing online, highlighting innovation and setting the standards in online for what the rest of the industry should be doing.DelightfulDeliveries.com, a privately-held company, with one of the largest and most unique selections of Gourmet Gifts, ranked alongside larger sites such as Dell, Nike and Amazon.com, by building its award-winning site on selection, functionality, speed and the complete customer experience. A recent re-design has improved the customer’s shopping experience to make holiday gift-giving easy and enjoyable, including rating and re...

Eureka Marathon
2007-11-29 19:17:00
Well, shit.Having problems with the stupid FTP again today, which means the other blogs are suffering for new content which has yet to publish, but there's nothing I can do about that except gripe.I wanted to tell you real quick that there is a Eureka marathon on Sci-Fi until 3:00CST, so even if you missed the first few episodes, there's still time to catch the last few episodes.Great show, loads of fun. If you haven't gotten a chance to check it out yet, I highly recommend it!
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What If? Civil War
2007-11-29 18:47:00
Civil War made be over, but the repercussions are still making waves throughout the Marvel Universe. This issue of What If? takes a look at what could have happened, had things ended differently. The preview art is pretty great, so if you are a fan of this massive event, this is a must-have for your collection. This is an official Marvel press release:The most controversial, most talked about series of 2006 was Civil War, in which the super human community was forever changed—but what if it all turned out differently? That question’s at the heart of the star studded What If? Civil War, exploring two different possible endings to the comic book epic, by writers Ed Brubaker (Captain America, Daredevil), Kevin Grevioux (New Warriors) and Christos Gage (World War Hulk: X-Men). Teamed with artists Mark Djudjevic, Gustavo and Harvey Talibao, this What If is a can’t-miss for Civil War fans—and it’s wrapped up in two covers, one by Marc Silvestri and a wraparound by Djurdjevic!...
More About: Civil War , Civil

Marvel Holiday Special
2007-11-29 17:29:00
Ha! Sorry about that - had some technical problems right out the gates this morning, but I think (hope) we got it all cleared-up now.You know how we here and over to The Weirding are all about the holidays, and Marvel has always thrown a little something special our way for the holiday season, and this year is no different. This is an official Marvel press release:‘Tis the season to be a Marvel fan, as the Marvel Holiday Special dashes into stores with extra helpings of merry mutants, holiday cakes and…a rogue Santa? Featuring the talents of Mike Carey, C.B Cebulski, Fred Hembeck, Shaenon Garrity, Andrew Farago, Nelson, Alina Urusov, Lou Kang and more, this action packed extravaganza is perfect for the holidays! As Spider-Man and Wolverine rush to get a cake to Aunt May’s house, will a seemingly evil St Nick destroy the occasion? And just what happens when the Loners play Secret Santa? Plus, Power Pack looks back at holidays past! This extra-sized issue is wrapped up in a br...

Busy Days
2007-11-29 15:30:00
I spent the day before yesterday working on the Chill Mythos, a new section I'll be publishing soon, though I can't give a final ETA until the project is further along. Yesterday, I had to run around most of the day, taking care of personal business. Of course, Monday is the first of the last month of the year, so I'll be running around like mad, paying bills and all of that... and I have something like 10+ press releases to get out to you, along with other news and reviews.Long story short, the next few days will be busy here. So instead of flapping gums about it, let's get right into it, shall we?
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Quick Note
2007-11-29 07:18:00
I've got tons more to get out to you, but I don't want to overwhelm you and I don't know how much longer I am going to be up. Today was just one of those busy days IRL, not to mention my neck has been hurting this week.So, depending on how I sleep or whatever, I may get some more of these out to you throughout the night or starting tomorrow morning. I will likely have to dedicate an entire day to just press releases pretty soon - they are seriously backing-up here!
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