Linkin' Ain't Easy

Are you reading The Comics Curmudgeon? 'Cause you should be. His latest post is an excellent place to start.

Who's awesome? Heidi Meeley is awesome! She's started a new feature on Comics Fairplay called Naughty or Nice.

The latest Comic-Book Urban Legends entry tells the story of Jedi Master Soon Baytes. Teehee.

Check out Polite Dissent for the latest in science-based comics blogging.

And now, your moment of zen:

Linksburg, Linksylvania

The LA Times Online interviewed Eric Powell about the animated Goon movie!

The prospect of a Goon movie is cause to bring out the awesomest image ever:

Click the picture to order the awesomest shirt ever

The San Diego Reader has a very long but very good article about comics in San Diego in the 1980s. Unfortunately, the story starts in the '70s and there are pictures of '70s suits. You have been warned.

Links for the Memories

First, I want to plug another blog I contribute to: Geekzor! It's a listing of weird, geeky ephemera that a bunch of us think is cool.

Francesco Marculiano, the guy who writes Sally Forth as well as writes and draws Medium Large, has put Comic Strip Writing 101 on his site. It is one of the funniest things I have ever read and even has some good advice amidst the drunken ramblings. You know, kind of like the internet.

IGN interviewed David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky about Marvel's upcoming 'noir Spider-Man' title. Also on the way: noir versions of Daredevil, X-Men, and Wolverine. Because it is written on great stone tablets deep in Marvel's basement that Wolverine must appear in everything.

USA Today online has a story about Alissa Torres, a 9/11 widow who wrote a graphic novel about her experience. It was drawn by Sungyoon Choi.

And just because I can't get enough of it, here's a picture of a bunny cold-cocking a turtle:

Linking For Science!

The Periodic Table Of Comic-Book Elements

Wikipedia article on Batman's costume is pretty good but the real gem, as usual, is the discussion page. Here's a relevant quote regarding the kryptonite ring:

And since he's the Goddamn Batman, he only carries it when the plotline dictates.

Greg Burgas from Comics Should Be Good has some nice and accurate things to say about Transmetropolitan.

And now the big news: Fifth-place Eurovision contestants to star in comic book!. They're Bulgarian! They're singers! And they fight crime!

Finally, Manga Dr. Strange!

Again with the Linking!

I just found out about Marvel Digital Comics. I don't generally enjoy reading comics on my computer but they have a hell of a selection and a lot of free samples. Monthly subscriptions are $9.99 and annual subscriptions are $59.88. This definitely won't replace my comic-shop habit but it's a cool idea.

Also, Patrick McEvoy just left word in my comments section that he's signed an exclusive contract with Marvel's Licensing division. So, starting the first of 2008 you'll see more of his awesome art under the Marvel logo. He's still going to be working on Starkweather: Immortal, though, for which I am glad.

Here's one of my favorite examples of Patrick's work. It's from The Gatesville Company #1 which is a title I really enjoyed.

Linkity-link-link-link: This Time It's Personal

There's gonna (probably) be a Starkweather: Immortal Movie. I'm enjoying the comic so far and I'm looking forward to seeing how this shapes up.

Looking for a bunch of Kirby Monster Stories which were never reprinted? I wasn't but I sure am, now!

Are you a plumber? Do you want to be in a comic book? Click here to realize your dreams! Also: Free Toilet!!

And now, here's a sequence in which Guy Gardner gets beat up by a mouse:

Click to Embiggen

Links For The Memories

Oooh! Linkblogging is scary, boys and girls!

Once again, people are talking about doing a Green Lantern Movie. This one gives me hope because it looks like it won't have Jack Black in the title role. However, potential writer/director Greg Berlanti seems concerned about "overcoming the prejudice of a ring-bearing hero". Um, what?

Melissa Auf Der Maur, one of my favorite musicians, is involved in a project that will include "new music, a fantasy film series, a comic book line and an online alternative reality game". Sounds ambitious but the images at XMADMX.COM are intriguing.

Here are some Crisis-related comic book urban legends to complement the return of Blogging the Crisis.

Also, here's a picture of train passengers who ARE ACTUALLY SKELETONS!!

Links + Video Time! Yello - Bostich

Brian Hughes salutes Fred Hembeck: Proto-Blogger!

Randy Lander asked us to, "watch the fireworks" after Heidi MacDonald's piece on autobiographical comics. Here they are! Also, I'm "this guy" in the 4th paragraph.

Dude, what was with the 90s? The fine fellows at Jimmy Olsen's Blues don't know either but they do have a feature on the lame-ass costumes that came out of that decade.

Scott from Polite Dissent posts (among other things) medical reviews of comics. He tells it like it is for good or ill.

Do you know about Blogger Play yet?

And now it's Video Time!!
Yello, the band who did "Oh, Yeah" from the Ferris Bueller soundtrack, consists of a couple of Swiss guys who made some of the best dance music that's ever been recorded. They, along with the Art of Noise, are among the godfathers of electronica.

Here's "Bostich" from 1980 (the video was made four years later) and it is a perfect example of their tongue-in-cheek attitude:

Two quick links

Thanks to the awesome Yedna for letting me know about Nad Shot. It's exactly what it sounds like. Here's a sample:



Also, lists are funny! Cracked.com proves it by showing us the 8 Least Threatening Comic-Book Villains. It's a bit Batman-heavy but at least it's got Ten-Fingered Man.

Knit One Clobber Two!

Someone knitted Ben Grimm! She even made the eyes blue! I sure hope The Puppet Master doesn't get his hands on it.


Thanks to Knitty-Cat

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?

This isn't directly comics-related but every time I see this picture I want someone to put word balloons on it and turn it into an entire story about angry citrus fruit.


Click here for more of these cool sculptures.

Sickblogging

Noetic Concordance is going to be low-content until I feel better. However the news that Kristen Bell is going to be on Heroes has given me the will to go on.

Also, added to the sidebar: Scans Daily.

Just so you know I'm still keepin' it real, here's a Ghosts cover that didn't make it into the latest Weird-Ass Cover collection:

This place is nice. High ceilings and beautiful--

GET OUT!

Too bad we can't stay.

That Comic Book Database Sure Is Grand

I've got a bunch of reviews on the way but they won't be ready until some time Tuesday afternoon.

However, I wanted to mention a long overdue addition to the sidebar. The Grand Comic Book Database is exactly what it says it is. Wednesdays and Fridays would not be the same around here without the GCD. Check them out and donate if you can.

Two and a half items

Ashley MacQuarrie reports on the Spotlight on Darwyn Cooke panel from SDCC. Cooke talks about many things including his *sniff* departure from The Spirit. Turns out he agrees with me about Frank Miller's involvement in the Spirit movie. Well, Cooke was more polite than I usually am about it. He didn't use the phrase "crime against nature" once.

Oops, I broke away from Blog Positivity Week for a minute. Um...Warren Ellis Rules!!! I met him in Atlanta a couple of years ago and it was a lot of fun!.

There, whew.

Here's another dude who loves comic books. That guy from My Chemical Romance used to intern for DC. The article in the link brings up a question I've had for a while. He says he worked in a comic store for books in lieu of actual money. I've heard of this happening a few times before. Is this a common practice? Are there problems with the Dept. of Labor or anything? Are employees who will work for merchandise listed as "oficial" employees? I'm asking because that's exactly the kind of arrangement I would have jumped at when I was a teenager. Just curious. Anyone who can shed some light on this please comment. Thanks.

Hey Kids! Blogs!

Here's some stuff from around the blogosphere:


Heidi Meeley once again shows why she's one of my favorite bloggers by declaring Blog Positivity Day! I'm in! Who's with me?

Scie-Ence! Justice Leak! has a roundup of DC's recent offerings which I agree with to a signicant extent. Short version: DC puts out a bad comic; world continues to turn.

Speaking of things I agree with, Devon Sanders has a tale of the once and future Saturday morning.

Finally, Dave Campbell has begun Suicide Squad Week which is just about the damn coolest thing ever. Waller r00lZ! It begins here. And sort of here.

Oh, and here's a crossover that didn't make it into my latest celebration of all things weird-ass.

You're welcome

Hey, Kids! News!

The payout copy of Marvel Comics #1 goes up for auction. Since I'm not a big-time comics collector, this is the first I've heard of payout copies. I can see why such a thing would be valuable I just didn't know about the practice. I'm curious to see how much it goes for.

A British company I've never heard of buys a stake in an American comics company I've never heard of.

Hell, yeah! There's a Jonah Hex movie in the works! Please don't screw this up.

The Y: The Last Man movie has a creative team. D.J. Caruso will direct and Carl Ellsworth will be the inker-- I mean writer.

Linkity-link-link-link: The Sequel

Of all the old-school teams who could be brought back, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters is the one I least want to see. However, this article about Palmiotti and Gray's limited series about them (the trade is out this week) has me considering a change of heart.

My favorite Onion AV Club writer, Tasha Robinson, has some suggestions for further '80s toy movies.



Speaking of the AV Club, their latest Inventory lists 12 famous living recluses including Bill Watterson and Steve Ditko.

"L" to the "I" to the "N, K, Blog"

Dark Horse Month has begun over at The Comic Book Bin. Check out the intro and the first installment.

There's another Weird-Ass Cover Wednesday coming up tomorrow. Until then, check out the weird-assery of Dave Campbell and/or Brian Hughes.

Also, I saw the Fantastic Four sequel last night and it didn't entirely suck. I think I made the right move in not seeing the first one at all.

Holy Linkblogging, Batman!

Slice Of Scifi has posted a picture of the Batcycle from the upcoming Batman film:

Yep. Here's some more information from the LA Times.

Um, did you know about the James Bond newspaper strips? I didn't until I read this awesome set of articles about them on MI6.

1UP.com and HyperComics.com Seek Next Big Comic Book Artist for the First-Ever '1UP.com Comic Book Creator Contest'

The Oregonian has an article about Mercury Studios that I think is pretty cool.

The Worlds Greatest Linkblogging

Yeah, like the Onion AV Club needs me to tell people about them. However, I couldn't resist linking to 10 Wonderfully Weird Moments From Fantastic Four Comics.

More evidence that the Fantastic Four Sequel might not suck.

One of my favorite artists, Patrick McEvoy, just left me a comment with a couple of pieces of great news. His art will grace the covers of Fall of Cthulhu 6 - 10. WooHoo!! He's also doing a new series from Archaia Studios called Starkweather: Immortal. Issue #1 will be out at the end of this month.