News for the Week of October 22, 2008
Rick’s Writin’s
It's another Sunday, and this week I don't really have much to say. I
think many folks are up tight right now with all the financial problems,
unemployment and recession talk. There's a hinky vibe out there I'm feeling.
Folks keep asking me how business is going, and I in turn ask them about
goings on with their work. Not much up-beat news or feelings. As far as
we're concerned, Paula and I are working very hard, but there's so much
to do and not enough hours in the day to do it. The Boeing strike doesn't
help here either. Sports wise, there's no good football to cheer us up
and look forward to and absolutely no basketball, except college...I predict
Seneca Wallace doesn't make it through the first half tonight before his
injury acts up, and the Hawks will look crappy on national TV. The commentators
will go on and on about how far they've fallen and I'll have to turn the
game off, just in time to see the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays
and get back to the World Series. Then we'll have to listen to the front
running, baseball newbie, I'm cool because I'm a Red Sox fan jackasses
for another year. Come on Rays!! I'm looking forward to the UW Huskies/
WSU Apple Cup football game next month only because I'm trying to figure
out how both teams are going to lose that game. Man, they stink. The WSU
Cougars got shut out yesterday 69-0, the first time they've been shut
out in over twenty-five years, on top of the fact that they've given up
over 60 points at least three times this year already. At least they have
a win, even though it's against a small school like Portland State. The
UW Huskies wish they had that win. So figure in this next year we'll have
a new baseball manager, and new head football coaches for both the Seahawks
and Huskies (another prediction here, though probably not that tough of
one. Willingham will be fired less than a week after the last Husky game
this year). If I sound a bit bitter, I guess it's because I kind of am...and
I'm tired too. I need to relax and read some comics...you should too!
:0)
The BIG events are happening this week with both DC's Final Crisis (#4
of 7…Finally) and Marvel's Secret Invasion (#7 of 8) series arriving.
Both have side pieces too, Final Crisis Submit, a one shot that will pair
with future one shot FC Resist, has the heroes dealing with Darkseid and
the Anti-Life virus and it's impact, and New Avengers (#46) carries the
SI story along. G.I. Shmoe, I mean Joe the Plumber, no, I mean G.I. Joe,
has a movie coming next summer and a re-launch of the comic series this
week with the aptly named GI Joe: New Beginning (#0), a one dollar special
priced issue. I think these dollar specials are a great way to launch
a book, as there isn't much risk to the reader, budget wise. Speaking
of movies, The Spirit movie, with Frank Miller directing and writing the
screenplay releases Christmas Day, and we have a nice collection of the
original Will Eisner Spirit strips/comics in this week's The Spirit Femme
Fatales TPB. Eisner always gave The Spirit beautiful girls to deal with,
and many of them were not so nice. This collection is a great way to see
why The Spirit has been popular for so many years and to see Eisner's
great story telling, so ground breaking that the comics industry named
their awards for excellence after him (The Eisner Award). The Spirit is
some of my all-time favorite stuff too, so I hope you try it. Superman
has a new story arc launching with a Superman: New Krypton Special, the
first of a nine part story running through the Superman books. There's
some other goodies this week too highlighted by Hulk (#7) with two stories
including one with She-Hulk and The Lady Liberators trying to put a smack
down on the Red Hulk, Captain America (#43) where Bucky Cap faces an old
foe, Daredevil (#112) with Lady Bullseye and her crew ninja-ing all over
the place, and Buffy's Angel After the Fall (#13) giving this week's vampire
fix to you blood drinking romantic junkies out there.
Paula’s Picks
I hope everyone is having a good time getting ready for Halloween! I’ve
decided that I will be wearing a costume to work on October 29th. No,
it will not be the Harley Quinn one. My costume this year is pretty obscure.
So obscure, that if you can guess what it is, you’ll get a prize!
Speaking of prizes, I wanted to remind you all that we are still accepting
entries for our art contest. Rick and I even drew pictures of our own.
If you think you can draw better than we can (it really shouldn’t
be that hard), be sure to enter! All entries are due November 2nd and
the theme is “Current Events Comic Style.”
As for books, we’re getting Northlanders volume 1 trade paperback.
This book collects the first 8 issues of the series written by Brian Wood
(DMZ, Demo). This series focuses on the story of a Viking warrior. I’ve
been looking forward to this book and I’ve really liked everything
that Brian Wood does. So, if you’ve been “waiting for the
trade,” it’s here now!
We’re also getting Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files hardcover this
week. I’ve heard a lot about the novel series after the comics starting
coming out. It’s about a wizard for hire and I’ve been told
it’s really humorous. I’ll definitely be checking this book
out.
From Marvel, we’re getting the newest issue of Runaways #3 written
by Terry Moore with art by Humberto Ramos. Amazing Spider-Man #574 focuses
on Flash Thompson written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Barry Kitson.
Thor: The Truth of History #1 is written and drawn by Alan Davis.