News for the Week of January 21, 2009
Rick’s Writin’s
I'm a bit bushed having just driven up from Portland after having a great
visit with my mom. We did some shopping for home stuff, as I'm still in
the process of getting my house together. I'm taking my time, trying to
find exactly what I want, though that changes occasionally because I'll
find something I didn't know I wanted until I found it. Then I have to
make adjustments. I have an open mind on how to do, but I'm pretty firm
on what I want to do, if that makes sense. One thing for sure: I'm very
proud of my house, and don't think I live in a pigsty but, it is a shocker
after visiting my mom in her crystal clean, you could truly eat off the
floor house, to get home and survey the distinctly lower level of cleanliness
that I find acceptable to live in. Though I've been well taught, my standards
just aren't that high I guess. Again, I DON"T live in a pigsty. I
do basic cleaning and keep things relatively in order, but I have lots
of clutter and don't deep clean as often as I probably should. Definitely
an eye opener. I will put out there that it's hard to do everything by
yourself when you have to work too, but I also think it's a generational
difference and that theory is backed up by research and studies about
people and their living conditions. Many of our moms would be appalled
if they saw how some of us keep house, just as I'm sure they caught heat
by their moms/our grandmas. Are we really that much busier that we don't
have the time to clean? Or, is it just not that important to us. And,
if that's so, why not? What changed? It couldn't have been a conscious
decision by a generation to decide to live dirtier than their parents.
What do you think? Do you fit the pattern I'm talking about? Or are you
a lean cleaning machine (or a fat one)? Or maybe your house is pristine
because you grew up in a dirty house. I don't believe there's a difference
between renting and home ownership either, because though I have great
pride in my house, and my exterior is in good shape, my cleaning habits
inside haven't changed from when I was an apartment dweller, though initially
I think I tried harder. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. On to comics...and
a pretty good week it is.....
Many of you have voiced anticipation about the new Dark Avengers book (#1) coming this week. The team for the first issue looks interesting, based on the silhouettes that were in the Previews, but it looked to me that the team was different in the ad for the second issue, so I don't really know who are Dark Avengers. It's written by Brian Bendis though, with art by Mike Deodato, and its part of the dark Reign story, as this week's Mighty Avengers (#21) and Amazing Spider-Man (#584). The third Captain America: Theater of War special, America the Beautiful fills us in on more of Cap's WWII war year exploits. The Warren Ellis written Astonishing X-Men (#28) continues the Ghost Box story (part 4) that of course "tests the team to their very core...i.e." as they've never been tested before", i.e. "your cliche inserted here." Sometimes, the Marvel preview blurbs really suck. They give you absolutely no information at all as to what the book is about. The attitude is like, "we already know you guys are Marvel Zombies and will buy this no matter what, so "Nuff Said". I'm referring to both you folks and me as a retailer, because the information you get is the same information I have to base an order on. You have the option of looking at the book when it comes out and deciding to keep it or put it back on the shelf. I don't have that luxury so I wish Marvel would do a better job in their title solicitations. It might build anticipation for new books or stories. You'd have more info to plan your comic budgets too.
DC's week features the second part of the Superman Beyond (#2 of 2) installment of Final Crisis. And NO, I still don't think Batman is really dead...though I admit it does look dicey after FC #6. The second to last issue of my beloved Birds of Prey (#126) continues the Faces of Evil January cover event, as does Justice League (#29) and the weekly one-shot series, this time featuring DEATHSTROKE. The late running Green Lantern (#37) has its second issue in a couple weeks as Hal is dealing with the blood spitting Red Lanterns. One I'm looking forward to seeing is an odd-ball Wildstorm book called Mysterius: The Unfathomable. This one seems different than what's usually my style, but the Previews sample intrigued me, so I'm going to try it (see Marvel!!) Lastly, we have some re-orders coming, including a second printing of the Obama cover of Spidey #583 (some, not tons) as well as Transformer Prequels, and the comic prequel issues to the new sci-fi superhero movie PUSH that will be in theaters beginning February 6th, starring Chris Evans (Johnny Storm the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies). That's all for now...I've got to go vacuum and dust.
Paula’s Picks
Make sure that you dust, then vacuum, that way you suck up all the dust
you just spread everywhere! I’m not a hug cleaner. I usually let
my place go until Friday and then I crazy-clean. I always look around
after it’s clean and think to myself “I should really just
straighten up after myself, and then it wouldn’t be such a bit deal.”
It never happens though.
I got Lego Batman for my birthday. That game is so much fun! It was pretty tough at first. Sometimes I would get stuck and couldn’t figure out what to do next. I think I understand it now though. One cool thing about the game is that you unlock characters as you play. I haven’t gotten Harley Quinn yet. Hopefully, I’ll get her soon!
As for books, we’re getting Buffy Omnibus volume 6. I’m currently reading volume 5 that focuses quite a bit on Faith. In other Joss Whedon news, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog released on DVD this last week. It’s only about an hour long, but it is hilarious! It’s got Neil Patrick Harris, Felicia Day and Nathan Fillion. Go watch it!
We’re also getting a new series from Marvel: Dark Avengers. Who are the Dark Avengers? I don’t know. You’d have to read this book to find out. Mighty Avengers #21 ties in with Dark Reign and features a new roster. Learn more about Emma Frost in the Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 (also a Dark Reign tie-in). We’re also getting a couple other Dark Reign tie-ins: Thunderbolts #128 and War Machine #2.
Anyone that got X-Men Manifest Destiny #5 before this week from us got a misprinted copy. It was actually X-Men Spider-Man #2 on the inside. I think we caught it early enough that no one had a chance to pick it up, but if you did, please bring it back to the shop so we can replace it for you!