Massive Constitutional

I've got nothing against beer in a can, but I collect bottle labels, so that hurts me. But after reading the article, I might start collecting cans. Otherwise, I'm okay with them. They seem less classy, but I've never been accused of being classy.

Canned Beer

Let's keep an alcohol theme going. Need a reason to continue drinking moderately? You just might live a bit longer.

Beer Good

Any possible news on either of these two comic books makes me squee with delight.

Sandman TV Show!?!?!?!

I only watched the comedy part of the Emmys, and I loved this Modern Family skit. The Clooney stuff at the end is great.



When I DVR shows and skip commercials, I miss gems like these Infiniti ads with the cast of Community.







Jimmy Fallon's musical tribute to "three shows we lost this year."



Okay, here's my last Emmy video. This was a great intro to the Emmys that stared most of the Glee cast, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Joel McHale, Jorge Garcia, and others. The only thing that could have made this Glee-tastic cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" would have been to have Jimmy Fallon to pull Courtney Cox on stage. I know she was in a different Boss video, but with her "Cougar Town" success, it would have been entertaining to see. I liked the diss of Kate Gosselin and I loved that Hamm was getting dance lessons from Betty White. From what little I saw, I liked Fallon as a host. I liked the little songs that introduced the comdey and drama categories with Amy Poehler and Juliana Margulies. I could have done without the Twitter stuff, but that's just me. I kinda wish I would have been able to see the whole program.



I originally thought this was a little longer than it needed to be, but it's worth it in the end.



Since I'll be announcing at TWO marching band competitions this year, I expect to see this used in a show at least twice.



I loved the text video for Cee Lo Green's song, "Fuck You," but I've got to say that I like the official video better, especially the beginning with the kid lip-synching.



I don't like Sean Penn. As an actor or a two-faced "humanitarian." So I was already expecting to like his appearance on Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis. But this episode is guest hosted by Zach's twin brother Seth. Oh God, I love it even more. Penn is just an afterthought to the wonder that is Seth Galifianakis.

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Sean Penn from Between Two Ferns

Here's the latest trailer for Due Date, and no matter how hard he tries by just being in the movie, I don't think even Jamie Foxx will make me dislike this movie.

Comic Book Reviews for the Week of Dec. 3, 2008 (Limited Series)

Battlefields: The Night Witches #2

With this issue we get a better view of the Germans on the ground who might have given the Night Witches their name. I was a bit shocked by the gang rape, but I wouldn’t be a decent human if I weren’t. At least there was that lone voice of reason, so Germans as a whole weren’t demonized. I’m a bit surprised that this is only a three-issue mini. It seems like there’s more story there.

Chuck #6

As with the TV show, this was incredibly corny. But also like the TV show, it was extremely fun and enjoyable. The Capt. Awesome back-up, though, was decidedly not awesome. In fact, it was downright stupid. Hell, if they needed filler material so bad, just go old school and throw in some pin-ups. It’s Wildstorm. There are tons of crazy-good artists who I’d love to see do a pin-up of Chuck and the gang.

Crossed #2

I’m really not sure what to make of this series. The art by Burrows is as consistent as ever. I expect graphic shit from him, and I’m by no means disappointed. It’s just the actual story. I mean, I also expect graphic stuff from Ennis, but this just feels different. Maybe I’m just burned out on zombie stories (yeah, I know these aren’t zombies in the strictest sense of the word, but it’s pretty fuckin’ close). Maybe it’s the sexual twist that Ennis put in. Other than that, I’m not really finding much difference than you’re run-of-the-mill zombie tale. Maybe he should just stick to military stories.

Ender’s Shadow: Battle School #1

I haven’t read the Shadow books, but I’ve always meant to. I remember Bean being a little shit in Ender’s Game, so I’m glad (and a little horrified) to finally get in on his background. I’m not saying I won’t eventually read the Shadow books, but now I know what to expect. Bean definitely is a scrawny little thing. This issue got him into the Battle School, so I’m hoping next issue we’ll see parallel’s made between him and Ender. And really, that’s already been done. We’ve seen what’s lead up to both kids being sent up to the Battle School. While physically and socially Ender and Bean may be totally different, it looks like they may have a common thought process. I’m loving the Card and King adaptations.

Haunted Tank #1

“A mistake has been made.”

Not a bad issue at all. We’re quickly brought up to speed regarding who JEB Stuart is and why he’s around to help out armored cavalry. Then we get joke: his ancestor this time around is black. This was pretty much an introductory issue that allowed us to meet General Stuart and Sergeant Stuart and his tank crew. While we got some decent but quick action this issue, I’m hoping we’ll get some more in the next one.

Marvel Zombies 3 #3

“Stop that robot! Bring me whichever part of it can feel pain…so I can stab it repeatedly!”

The zombies’ plan is revealed, but can Aaron make it back to Jocasta in time to stop her from delivering the final piece of the “inoculation?” No, he can’t. He gets himself blowed up. I’m a little disappointed in the lack of humor in this series, or how when we do get it, it’s pretty forced. The humor doesn’t flow nearly as well as it did in the last two series. Oh, and look at that. Almost everyone at A.R.M.O.R. is now infected thanks to zombie Morbius. How will Portal and Jocasta end up stopping this?

Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1

I think I was expecting something different. I expected it to pick up sometime after the previous series. But this issue seems to take place somewhere in the middle, right when the Silver Age Marvel Universe was being born. We’re reintroduced to Phil Sheldon and his family, but the first series isn’t really reference at all. At one point, quickly, in passing, he brings up Maggie. If I’m not mistaken, I think she was a little mutant girl that he saved from an angry mob or something like that. Other than that, though, there was nothing. We don’t know at what point in time the issue ends, just that it’s a few years after the intro of the Fantastic Four and the others. I’m assuming now we’re past where we left off in Marvels. It’ll be interesting to see where Phil goes from here.

Projet Superpowers #1/2

Either I missed it and never realized it or I had forgotten that the Dynamic Forces (all of them, or just Man and Boy?) are robots. And really, how self-serving can you be? Dynamite Entertainment is owned by Dynamic Forces, the online store that sells signed and special comic book merchandise, right? Or at least owned by the same guy? Of course, I guess it’s no different than Marvel having a Captain Marvel (or three) running around. This was a quick yet decent issue that gave us a brief glimpse inside Dynamic Man and Boy.

Sandman: The Dream Hunters #2

What a beautiful story. Someone has set out to kill the monk, while the fox creeps around to protect him, getting injured and trapped in dreams for her trouble. I really need to read the original version. Russell is doing an awesome and visually stunning job of adapting this thing.

Secret Invasion #8

Wow. Norman Osborn is having the best year ever (VH1 got it SO wrong). I cannot wait to see how that last page plays out. Osborn, The Hood, Loki, Dr. Doom, Namor, and The White Queen (isn’t she still a good guy?), all in cahoots. Nice. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a universe-wide crossover this much since Infinity Gauntlet. We’ve got actual repercussion rather than a reset to the status quo. We’ve got deaths. We’ve got “resurrections” (I would have been okay had some of them stayed dead). We’ve got a new status quo. And we’ve got a new pariah. I think this might be enough to drive Tony back to the bottle. I really want to see this played up in the Amazing Spider-Man. Norman Osborn is his arch enemy. This has to get more than just a passing mention. Kudos to Bendis and Yu and all involved with this story. This starts a new era in the Marvel Universe, and I’m glad I’m around to witness it.

Secret Invasion: Front Line #5

Oh no, Ben’s wife died? And he wasn’t there…how sad. I enjoyed this Front Line series much more than the Civil War one. It seemed more about real people, and we only got brief glimpses of the super heroes. Because of the last page, I’m hoping we’ll see a Dark Reign: Front Line series. With the death of his wife and his past with Osborn, I would assume this would consume Ben’s life. It’s a story someone needs to write and won’t be able to fit in Amazing Spider-Man or Daredevil, although with his relationships with both characters, his current situation should at least be brought up in both titles.

Terror Titans #3

All right, so Dreadbolt killed his dad, big deal. The shocker (hah!) here was the introduction of Static into the DCU proper. I knew the Milestone characters were coming over, I just didn’t expect Static to turn up here. I never read his comic, but I really enjoyed the cartoon…which was set in the animated DCU proper, so there’s that. So how long has he been here? He’s the reigning champion, so I would assume a while now. I’m looking forward to how this plays out.

Trinity #27

Amidst some page-filling fighting and Tarot and Charity trying to figure out what’s going on, Morgaine and Enigma recruit Konvict to the cause. I guess this was kind of a filler issue, getting us ready for heroes to go up against the unholy Trinity. I had been hoping that we’d seen the last of that horny gorilla, but I guess not.

Vixen: Return of the Lion #3

Again, beautiful artwork, but a lack of backgrounds. It makes me wonder if they’re just not Cafu’s strength and it’s a good thing the story is set in a pretty sparse setting, or if it’s just that we don’t get to see his background work because the story is set in a pretty sparse setting. I wonder what he’s got lined up next? The story is staying consistently decent, but Mari’s power being inside her was telegraphed a couple of pages earlier.

Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #2

The thing that still grabs me about this book is how similar Stephen Segovia’s artwork looks in comparison to Lionel Francis Yu’s. And has Wolverine ever had a girlfriend that wasn’t in some way a villain or at least connected to one? Even Mariko at one point led the Hand. I’m having a hard time getting into this. And Rock of the Buddha looks ridiculous. Is that a giant ball necklace? Seems ‘twould be a hindrance. Soulstriker was pretty cool, though. And at the end we’re dropped right into a Bruce Lee movie. Eh. Just eh.

Xena/Army of Darkness: What…again? #2

Ash, Xena, Gabrielle and Autolocus get thrown around different classic stories after trying to escape from a bunch of Deadites. There’s nothing high-brow about the show, but it’s pretty fun.

X-Infernus #1

Okay, I’ve got no idea what’s going on here, but I like it. The last time I was reading all of the X-Men titles regularly, Illyana was dead due to the Legacy Virus. So she’s alive and in Limbo. Is this Illyana from a different point in the timeline? I don’t know. I’ll have to look it up. But it looks like Pixie (whom I don’t know) has part of her soul (a soul dagger), and Nightcrawler had A soul sword, and maybe it’s Illyana’s and maybe it’s not, I don’t know, but whatever happened when Pixie pulled it out of Nightcrawler, it was enough to bring Darkchylde into the Danger Room. This should be fun.
X-Men: Manifest Destiny #4

I’m still out of the loop about Iceman and his powers. For me, this is all rehashing stuff Bobby went through with the White Queen. Cessily is new to me, too, but I’m getting sick of all the different X-kids and X-Men who bitch and moan about being different. It’s been done to death. Try something new. I guess Nightcrawler’s story had to be told, but something extremely similar is done almost any time an X-person dies. The entire issue seemed to be a retread.

X-Men: Worlds Apart #2
The Shadow King is toying with Ororo by controlling both Cyclops and Black Panther. She had no problem blowing Scott up while he was flying to San Fran to get rid of the X-Men, but things are a bit harder when you’re fighting a husband that wants to kill you. All the while she still has to protect her mutant ward, who killed a man while under the Shadow King’s control. Farouk is making things a bit difficult for Ororo. It’s a good story that shows her being pulled between two very different lives, one as an X-Man and one as a queen.

X-Men: Noir #1

Oh, I hope the Spider-Man book is better than this. It’s just not my thing. The art was too dark and sometimes it was difficult to tell who was who, and the story just didn’t grab me. I’ll pick up the Spidey story, but I think I’m done with the X-Men.

Comic Book Reviews for the Week of Nov. 5, 2008 (Mini Series)

Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel#1

The Blue Marvel. A new, ret-conned superhero that comes complete with his own ret-conned arch-nemesis, Anti-Man. His last fight with Anti-Man was June 4, 1962, so I’m assuming this takes place just days before the Fantastic Four show up on the scene and the Age of Marvels starts. But because of his race, he’s asked, by President Kennedy no less, to step down because the U.S. wouldn’t be able to handle a black superhero (hmm, this comic is released the same week that the first black President of the U.S. has been elected…eerie). I wonder what die hard Black Panther fans will think of this, or even thought of the introduction of Isaiah Bradley, a black man who preceded Steve Rogers as the first Captain America? BP has been regarded as THE first black (not African American, since he’s not American) superhero in the Marvel universe. This is an interesting premise, one that I hope is handled better than the convoluted mess that is the Sentry’s backstory.

Back to Brooklyn #2

I’ll say this for him, Garth Ennis is a consistently good writer. He may not always have a homerun like Preacher, Hellblazer or the Punisher, but he almost always gets a base hit. I think any fan of Ennis’ MAX Punisher series would enjoy this. My only gripe is with the artwork. It seems so stiff, and the characters are difficult to tell apart. I also don’t like the washed-out coloring.

Civil War: House of M #3

Another good issue, although I still think the title should be reversed (House of M: Civil War). Even though we know how the story is going to end, it’s interesting to see how the world got the way it was in House of M. I’ll have to go through my back issues, but did we see why Steve Rogers isn’t around but Bucky is? And I guess with the addition of Mimic to Bucky’s little strike force, not all mutants share Magneto’s, or even Xavier’s, views. Two more issues to go.

Marvel Zombies 3 #2

“Aw, snap! She’s a mannequin!”

Well, Fred Van Lente certainly has Kirkman’s fanboy disease. Portal? He’s using Portal in the series? He must be a Darkhawk fan. So this series looks like it actually takes place between the first two Marvel Zombie minis. I guess this’ll explain what happened while the other group was in space. The novelty of this has ALMOST worn off, but not quite, especially now that it’s robots vs. zombies!

Sub-Mariner: The Depths #3

This is still an engaging story, even though we haven’t seen more than bits and pieces of Namor. Maybe that’s why it’s probably the most compelling Sub-Mariner story I’ve read. I’ve never like the character; he seems so one-dimensional. Focusing on the submarine crew and the legend of Namor seems to be the way to go.

Terror Titans #2

Pretty decent, by-the-book mini here. We see the results of some 3rd-tier-hero fights, but not the fights themselves. Some of them would have been nice to see. I didn’t understand the Argent/Sapphire fight. From the art, it looked like Argent actually won. I’m wondering if Ravager is working on a little sting operation to prove herself to the Teen Titans.

Sandman: The Dream Hunters #1

This is an adaptation of a book that I haven’t read. I think I need to. This first issue was very well written (it’s a Sandman story by Gaiman, so why wouldn’t it be?) and beautifully illustrated by P. Craig Russell. It tells the story of a monk and a fox, how they meet, and what happens to them. Morpheus does not appear in the book, but it definitely fits in the Sandman mythos. I can’t wait for the next issue.

Ultimatum #1

Not the best first issue I’ve seen. I actually felt a greater sense of loss when Magneto blew up the Brooklyn (or was it the George Washington) Bridge in Ultimate X-Men. There was just too much going on to really make an impact. Jeph Loeb is just taking a hit from me lately. I don’t think he’s the right fit for the Ultimate universe. I will give him kudos, though, for being right on top of where all the titles are. As for David Finch, I can take him or leave him; it all depends on my mood. I liked him on Ascension and thought he was okay with Avengers and Ultimate X-Men, but I thought it was kind of ugly here. So, the book isn’t off to the greatest start, but I’ve got hope that it’ll get better.

Venom: Dark Origin #4

This has been a fascinating mini-series. We all thought we knew what we needed to know about Venom’s origin, right? I guess not. When telling a story like this for someone who has been around, what, 20 years, you can assume there’s going to be some retconning. What I’ve found, though, has been insignificant. When we first met Eddie’s wife in or around Amazing Spider-Man #375, she was white. Here she’s black. Big deal. In this issue we get to relive the classic being-pushed-in-front-of-the-subway-with-no-warning-from-his-spider-sense scene, but here it’s an elevated train, not the subway. Again, very minor. I was hoping we’d see the scene where Spidey’s crawling up a building and Eddie grabs his leg and tries to throw him off, but the MJ scene from the end of ASM #299 was extended instead. Good call. Zeb Wells is doing a superb job on this mini, and Angel Medina was made to draw Venom. But with the focus being on Eddie here, I wonder if he’s eventually going to get the suit back? I like Gargan as Venom, and Eddie as Anti-Venom (Corny!) is very neat. I’m looking forward to the conclusion next month.

Vixen: Return of the Lion

Meh. Dull story, beautiful art.

X-Men: Manifest Destiny #3

I feel like the Iceman story is just going over ground already covered when the White Queen took over his body for a while. He’s still got a villainous female putting him through the motions. The Graymalkin origin story was good. Having Yanick Paquette draw it was a good choice since he does the artwork on Young X-Men. I wonder, though, why Graymalkin wasn’t freed any of the other times the mansion was or grounds were destroyed? The Colossus story was pretty depressing, and as much as Wolverine tried to lighten things up, I think it was Santo who actually provided the comic relief. As depressing as it was, it was a story that needed to be told since Peter and Kitty were so close.

X-Men/Spider-Man #1

What we’ve got here is a decent throw-back story that seems to know its continuity. It’s not a bad story, and as I was getting to the end it looked like it was wrapping up as a one-shot and not a mini-series. But then a mystery villain (who is VERY mysterious for the time period) makes himself known, and we’ve got a good set-up for the next issue. Kudos to Gage. As for Mario Alberti, I’m disliking most of the art. When it doesn’t look like a Tim Sale clone, it’s just ugly. Except for the women, that is. He has a knack for drawing extremely gorgeous women. Go figure.