Recently published in...

Comics Buyer's Guide #1649, where I review the following:
DC Universe: Decisions #1
Simpsons Comics #145
Daredevil #111
Golly! #1
Supergirl #34

Here's one of my reviews from the issue:

DC Universe: Decisions #1
DC Comics
$2.99, color, 32 pgs., available now
Writers: Bill Willingham, Judd Winick
Artist: Rick Leonardi
Grade: 2 Stars (out of 4)

Published in time for the real world presidential debates, DC Universe: Decisions #1 (of 4) finds the Justice League up against an unknown assassin. Instead of gunning for one presidential candidate, this bipartisan bomber is aiming to kill them all, including Davis Brewster, a radical leftist who gains official support from DC’s resident bleeding-heart liberal, Oliver Queen. The bomber’s motives are unknown, but his method is particularly heinous: strapping bombs to mind-controlled innocents who have easy access to the politicians in question.

Leonardi’s pencils are hit-and-miss at best, and sometimes downright awful (why is Wonder Woman sporting that goofy grin during Superman’s assassination speech?). Green Arrow looks fairly normal, but Superman, at least in certain panels, appears as though his bones have been broken and reset by a cross-eyed hunchback in a mad scientist’s laboratory. The story fares a little better, but superstar writers Willingham (Fables) and Winick (Green Arrow and Black Canary) could’ve dug deeper into the political realm. Lois Lane does espouse her views quite pointedly, however, and that was a nice touch.

Recently published in...

Back Issue Magazine #31 (the special Steve Gerber tribute issue), which contains my 4000-word treatise on the early '80s action/adventure/fantasy cartoon, Thundarr the Barbarian.

Back from Wizard World 2008

While my family was attending Texas vs. Baylor, I was at Wizard World Texas, where I had a great time visiting with friends, getting some great deals on books, attending a costume contest (always one of the best parts of any good comic con), and much more.


I usually don't buy sketchbooks (finished art gets the job done for me), but, thanks to a killer Flash cover (not to mention some nice interior work), I had to pick up this book from Ethan Van Sciver, one of my favorite modern artists.


Ethan showing off his new book.


I didn't vote for Obama, but this T-shirt painted by Alex Ross is pretty darned cool (as is most anything by Ross).


Corey Feldman, star of such films as The Lost Boys and Stand by Me, sitting with his wife, Susie, Playboy cover girl and co-star of the celebrity "reality" series The Two Coreys. Throughout the weekend, they chatted with fans and signed autographs.


Lou "The Incredible Hulk" Ferigno.


Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies (looks like he's had a hair cut since then).


Participants lining up for the costume contest.


The Batman Returns rendition of Catwoman.


Poison Ivy, Catwoman, The Joker, and Harley Quinn.


Hellboy.


The Joker.


Master Chief, the protagonist of the Halo video game series.


Ms. Marvel.


The White Queen, Jean Gray, and The Scarlett Witch.


One of the highlights of the show was running into my cousin Randy, who drove in from Marshall, which is about three-and-a-half hours east of the Dallas/Fort Worth area where the convention was being held. When I was a kid, after the bigger kids had run off and I was stuck at the house with the adults, I would hang out in Randy's room for hours, reading his comic books. Randy's vast collection was my first exposure to more mature titles, such as Vampirella and Savage Sword of Conan.

Wizard World Texas 2008

This weekend, Nov. 7-9, I'll be taking a break from editing Classic Home Video Games Vol. 2: 1985-1988 to attend Wizard World Texas 2008. I'll be covering the convention as a reporter of sorts for cbgxtra.com, which is a division of The Comics Buyer's Guide. The convention will be held at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington,Texas, near The Ballpark at Arlington (where the Texas Rangers play) and in the shadow of the massive Jerry World (the as-of-yet unnamed future home of the Dallas Cowboys). Guest stars at Wizard World Texas include Lou "The Incredible Hulk" Ferrigno, Corey Feldman (The Gooneys, The Lost Boys), John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men), and many others. For a preview of the show, check out Wizard World Texas 2008.

Halloween 2008

I've been busy proofreading Classic Home Video Games Vol. 2, so I haven't had much time to blog, but I had to post this picture of my kids in their Halloween costumes. We had a great time trick-or-treating and visiting the neighbors. My wife's got the full report on her blog.

Ryan as a creepy skeleton (complete with oozing blood) and Katie as a cute '50s girl.