Anyway, let me clue you in on a couple of WINNAHS that are on the stands right now.

S.H.I.E.L.D. by Mr. J. Hickman is sort of a secret history of the Marvel Universe. I know that very description has probably applied to numerous other books before (Marvel’s ILLUMINATI, EARTH X, MARVELS, THE MARVELS PROJECT, and probably some others I’m forgetting), but this is based more on true history of Earth than those were, while incorporating a HUGE dose of the fantastic. Leonardo Da Vinci is a lead character, as is Sir Isaac Newton. Also, Mr. Howard Stark, whose early SHIELD involvement was revealed to the general public this summer in the very fun IRON MAN 2. In short, it’s a tale of the geniuses of our world working for the betterment and protection of everyone else… or maybe for their own selfish interests.

If you like science and fact and fiction and science fiction and Galactus, I’d highly recommend picking this one up. There are three issues out so far, and I think it might be a limited series? Six would be a good guess. Wait for the trade paperback if you prefer, but don’t miss this one. Did I mention the art?

Yeah, it’s not too shabby.

Okay, this one will probably be a tougher sell. Do you like tales of double agents? Spies? Assassinations and backstabbing? Do you agree that Mr. Christos Gage is one of the better writers working today in comics? Yes and yes? Alright then! You should go pick up the first collected volume of GI JOE: COBRA!

Yes, yes, GI JOE. I know, you only went to see the recent movie because you thought it was ironically funny (you were wrong– it’s a fun action movie), and your main exposure to the property in recent years is those damn PSA remixes that everyone else seems to think are 13x funnier than I do. Don’t sweat all this. Gage and company are weaving some excellent tales of intrigue in this book, and there are barely any GI Joes in it. As the title suggests, it’s mostly about the villains. The first run focused on the Crimson Twins, Tomax and Xamot, and the current story line features Serpentor and– God help us– Cobra-La (here portrayed as the inspiration for a global cult).

These are some of the silliest characters in the history of the property, but when you play them deadly serious, and put them in world that appears to be almost completely realistic, it makes for good reading. It looks like we’ll have a few short stories for the rest of this year until we get to catch up with the excellent undercover story that was left hanging after the first run, but with quality like this, I can wait.

Oh, and not that it needs the publicity, but SCARLET by Bendis and Maleev is off to a bang-up start, as well. Go check that thang out!

Have I driven you all off yet? I’ll write about a rock show or something next time– promise.

NP :: Spoon - “The Mystery Zone”

No, what has had me wringing my hands for a couple of days is a betrayal of trust that I incited. You might think it was nothing if I told you about it, but it really hurts me in retrospect. I hate it. It makes me mad at myself. I don’t really have any lessons learned to offer from this other than to follow your heart and your instincts, even if you have to say no to a friend.

They’ll get over it.

NP :: White Rabbits - “The Salesman”

Whatever you thought about last night, it was still the greatest thing on TV this decade.
Thanks for the memories, LOST.

Charlie, Hurley, Eko, Sawyer, Rose & ‘nard, and everyone else, you were the best.

NP :: Jason Isbell - “However Long”

Montalban is great, of course, and Shatner is Shatner. It is credited with “introducing” Kirstie Alley to the world, so fans of “HEY LOOK AT ME I’M KIRSTIE ALLEY AND I’M STILL ON TV!” over on The OxygenTime Network have this to thank, I guess (she was never my favorite part of “Cheers.”)

I will say that it’s a good looking film for 1982. Having not seen TRON at the time, I’m sure it was impressive enough. Certainly THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, appearing two years earlier, is miles beyond it, though, right? Right.

I believe THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK comes on HDNet sometime this week, and I might just record/watch that one, too. I honestly can’t remember if I’ve seen it or not. I KNOW we went to see THE VOYAGE HOME (Whales!) and I think maybe the one previous, but I’m not certain. Also missing from my memory banks: Did I ask to go see these early Trek films, or was my dad interested in them? He was no huge sci-fi afficianado later on, so I’m guessing that Young Gray was eager to check out ANYTHING involving spaceships.

I do hope he got to see a movie he liked once in a while. Our last trip to the theater together was REMEMBER THE TITANS, which he liked very much. Inspirational sports stories were usually a win for Mike Whitten. Thanks for putting up with everything else you might have taken me to, Daddy.

In February!
I went to Florida to see a Space Shuttle launch (!!!), and saw a Led Zeppelin perform with a Foo Fighter and a Queen of the Stone Age.

In March!
Well, I don’t really have that much March under my belt as of yet, but the plan is to see the Harlem Globetrotters this weekend, so that’s pretty cool! Also, scored some tickets to the CoCo show!

How’s your year going, friend or stranger?

NP :: Chopin - Sonata #2 in B-Flat Minor for Piano, Op.35: I. Grave - Doppio Movimento

Liz saying “Sharkfarts” on 30 Rock
Live Meatwad Christmas performance @ Criminal
Hangar steak + jalapeno mac & cheese @ PURE
LOST S1, D3 review w/ Melissa
Polenta pancakes @ Radial (BEST EVER?)
Made it out of Sand People enclave alive in KOTOR
Chicken pizza + a decent new Simpsons episode!

WEEKEND LOWLIGHTS

Working late Friday night
The Weather
Still behind on every project ever started
Had to come back to work today

NP :: The Bird and The Bee - “Diamond Dave”

Whatever the case, here’s a quick one.

Amusingly Appropriate Products I Heard Ads For While Listening To Conservative Talk Radio On XM During Drive Time:

Data backup software
Prostate care pills
Wang-enlargement pills (WITH free measuring device)
Hot flash treatment medication
Brandy! (the drink, not the fine girl)

The brandy really tickled me. That just doesn’t seem like something that needs to be advertised. You find a drink you like through word of mouth, or trial and error, and you stick with it. I guess if anyone knows their brandy, though, it’s someone who hosts a talk radio show (???).

I’m grasping at straws here, but I thought it was pretty funny. You couldn’t pick a beverage more closely associated with portly old guys smoking cigars in a secret back room if you tried!

Alright, back to the grind. Stay frosty, Internet.