News for the Week of February 11, 2009
Rick’s Writin’s
I'm pissed. I was probably one of the few fans around here that still
liked Alex Rodriguez. I didn't blame him for taking the huge money to
go to the Texas Rangers (who in their right mind would turn down $252
million?), didn't like that he went to the Yankees, but also understood
that. The thing is, I was always sure, positive in fact, that he was clean.
He didn't need steroids to do what he, the best player in baseball, did.
He was going to be the clean home-run king, and take the crown back from
liar, cheater and all round jerk Barry Bonds. But I guess as a member
of the Rangers in 2003, with the Rangers proving to be one of the most
steroided-up organizations in baseball, with many players who are now
named in the Mitchell report and other sources as steroid users, Alex
must have felt he needed to do them to fit in or compete with those guys.
There seems little doubt that the fact is Alex tested positive for two
types of steroids in 2003. I watched Bob Costas grill the Sports Illustrated
reporter that is breaking the story, and she checked and verified (or
vetted as they say now) the story. She even directly asked Alex about
it, tracking him down in a work-out room in Florida. Alex said he had
nothing to say and that she should talk to the player's union. No denial...just
"talk to the player's union". So, now he's A-Roid, and he will
never be rid of that. And I will be looking for the next clean guy to
be the "Potential One". Could it be Pujols? maybe a guy not
even in the majors yet, or for that matter, even born yet? John McGrath,
the Tacoma News Tribune writer said he was numb about this because he
stopped caring about Alex when he left Seattle. I'm pissed, because I
didn't. What a shame.
There is no doubt that the biggest, not on steroids comic this week is
Batman #686, the first part of the "What Ever Happened to the Caped
Crusader?" story being written by the comic writer and novelist extraordinaire
Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Coraline, American Gods etc..) with art by Andy
Kubert (Marvel 1602 and more). This book is in the same vain as the famous
1980's "What Ever Happened to the Man of Steel?" Superman story
by Alan Moore. It'll conclude in Detective #853, scheduled on Feb. 28th.
Neil Gaiman writing Batman!! Just like Frosted Flakes, it should taste
great!! Last week DC started its Origins and Omens campaign, with Adventure
Comics #0. These Origins and Omens stories are six page back-up stories
in each designated issue, giving some origin and current situation update
on each character as well as a future hint or Omen as to what will happen
in that character's future. These stories tie-in to the upcoming "Blackest
Night" event, featuring the Green Lanterns. This week's titles that
have these stories include: Green Lantern Corps (#33) which also continues
the "War of Light" story, Action Comics (#874), with Superman
trying to help lead poisoned and Phantom Zone trapped former Legionaire
Mon-El return to Earth, Green Arrow/Black Canary (#17), Booster Gold (#17),
and the last issue of Nightwing (#153) which finishes off the Batman:
Last Rites story too. We'll probably see Mr. Grayson next in Battle for
the Cowl, coming next month (I hope he wins). Batman, though "dead",
still has his name on the Batman and the Outsiders Special one-shot that
sorts out what happens to the current roster of the Outsiders, including
my second Bat-Girlfriend Cassie. Since we brought up lead poisoning, I
just wanted to mention that the new UK import line of DC lead figures
are starting to come in this week. You may have seen some of the Marvel
lead figures around the shop. They come bagged, with a magazine. If you're
interested in these please let us know soon so we can order the heroes
and villains you gotta have. I don't know if there will be a Mon-El lead
figure, since lead is his Kryptonite and could kill him, and who wants
a dead lead figurine?
Marvel has it's usual miscellaneous mini series and smaller books this
week, but aside from the big Thor #600 and Amazing Spider-Man (#585),
not too much. There's a couple three Zenoscope books Grimm Fairy Tales
#35, Beyond Wonderland (#5 of 6), 1001 Arabian Knights (#8), and Dynamite
has the Super Powers tie-in Masquerade (#1) to round out the week. Not
much else to say, except to mention that we hope you all will come out
on February 21st to meet gamer guru, comic writer, novelist, and all around
good guy Jeff Grubb from 1-3 pm, play in a HeroClix tournament (noon),
possibly get filmed for a high school senior project (somewhere in there)
and participate in our "What Recession?" Sale-a-bration (all
day)! Til ' next time...
Paula’s Picks
I saw Underworld 3 last night. It was pretty good. It seems that the writers
had this all planned out from when they did the first movie. Everything
matched up really well continuity-wise. I’m going to try to watch
the other 2 movies again soon to catch all of the pieces that are tied
together.
I also saw a new preview for Watchmen at the movie. I can’t wait
until it comes out. It looks like it’s going to be fantastic. There’s
still time for you to read it before the movie comes out. We’ve
also got a great companion book “Watching the Watchmen” by
Dave Gibbons. It’s got a lot of previously unpublished art (including
Rorschach’s full body suit) as well as inspirations and secrets
and the story of how it came to be.
As for books this week, the newest trade paperback and issue for DMZ comes
out. I really like this series. This is one that I like to read in the
collections though. The story can get very twisty and I find that I have
a hard time remembering all of the tiny details from month to month.
One of my favorites is coming out with a new issue this week too, Fables
#81. I’m actually a little bit behind on Fables, so I’ve got
to catch up.
One book that caught my eye was Marvel TV Galactus Real Story. In my head,
I pictured an E! Hollywood True Story type of thing. It looks like there’s
some question about Galactus’ origin though. Could he be a hoax
created by the Fantastic Four?