2012 - End of Week 4 - Books.

Greetings Friends,

As part of my 2012 Challenge, I'm planning on reading 20 Graphic Novels and 12 other books. I read one more of each this week. Check them out.

Graphic Novel #5 (out of 20).

Pinocchio.

Written and drawn by Winshluss, this mostly silent book tells the story of a metal Pinocchio, his creator Geppetto, two bums, a police detective, several story book characters and a very vocal Jiminy Cockroach. This story is brought to life with many art styles including full color, mono-chromatic, black and white along with full page water color paintings. The story is a fun, fast moving and very engaging ride. Very Recommended.

Book #2 (out of 12).

Government Issue

Comics For The People, 1940's-2000's.

Research Librarian Richard L. Graham has amassed a very informative collection of comics. Some comics are one panel, some strips, while others are multi-page instructionals. These comics were created by some of the industries biggest stars including Will Eisner, Milton Caniff, Walt Kelly and Charles Schultz to name a few. The subject matter ranges from Military, Safety, Health, Employment, Lifestyle and Economics. Many of the comics were educational give-aways designed to teach life or safety lessons. At 300 pages, this full color over-sized book is a tremendous value at $29.95. Recommended.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

2012: Week 4.

Greetings Friends,

I'm continuing my quest to read 500 comics in 2012. Check out how I did this week.

#23. Creepy #7.

#24. Batman Odyssey #4.

#25. Captain America & Bucky #626.

#26. Demon Knights #5.

#27. Legion Secret Origin #4.

#28. Batman The Dark Knight #5.

#29. B.P.R.D. - Hell on Earth - Russia #5.

#30. Astonishing X-Men #46.

#31. Godzilla - Kingdom of Monsters #11.

#32. Justice League #5.

#33. All Star Western #5.

#34. Brilliant #2.

#35. The New Avengers #20.

#36. Alpha Flight #8.

#37. Elephantmen #37.

#38. Captain America #7.

#39. Star Trek #5.

#40. Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes #2.

#41. Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes #3.

#42. A Game of Thrones #5.

#43. The Bulletproof Coffin - Disinterred #1.

#44. Frankenstein Agent of Shade #5.

#45. Fear Itself - The Fearless #7.

That's it. Forty five comic books read for the first month. I'm right on pace.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Smallville - A Retrospective -3.

Greetings Friends,


I have now watched enough Smallville that when I go without it a few days I begin to miss it. I wonder how long that will last. Anyway six more episodes watched. Check them out.



Season 1 Episode 11 Hug (original air date 2-5-02).


Freak of the week: Touchy. This man's hand shake can really influence people. Bob Rickman causes a business rival to jump off the 31st floor and even gets Jonathan Kent to sell him his property. Rickman is confronted by old salesman friend Kyle who tells Rickman to leave Smallville. Clark's display of power: a swung baseball bat shatters against him, he throws a grown man many feet through the air, rips a car door off its hinges and out runs a shot bullet. Whitney is convinced to go after Kyle. Then Lex is sent to kill Clark and Kyle. More displays of Clark's power: Matrix moves when machine gunned by Lex, getting shot and super kicking Lex. In the end Kyle convinces Rickman to kill himself. Lex says: Trust me Clark. Our friendship will be the stuff of legend.


Season 1 Episode 12 Leech (original air date 2-12-02).


Rock hunting on a school field trip exposes Clark to more Kryptonite rocks. While rescuing a fellow student (Eric) holding a Kryptonite sample, Clark is struck by lightening. His powers are transferred to his geeky classmate. Lex gets a computer simulation of his car wreak from episode one. Lex confronts Clark believing he hit Clark with his car and Clark ripped open the roof. Meanwhile Eric's display of power: stops a purse snatching, swung knife shatters against his hand and he throws the purse snatcher through the air. Sir Harry makes his appearance with his daughter Victoria, Lex's girlfriend. Lana's aunt puts her flower shop and the Talon theater up for sale. Meanwhile Eric is spurned by a girl, punches a mirror off a car, throws a car and throws Clark through the air. Lex realizes that Clark is human when he is injured. Cadmus Industries ends up being worthless so Sir Harry and Victoria aren't going to take over Luthor corp. after all. Victoria to Lex: We could of been great together. Lex: I plan to be great by myself. Using Lana's necklace, Clark takes back his powers with electricity. Clark gives the necklace back to Lana in the Lex's lead box.





Season 1 Episode 13 Kinetic (original air date 2-26-02).



At the Luthor mansion, Chloe and Clark are interviewing Lex for the Torch. When Lex is called away to take a phone call, three Kryptonite infused robbers phase into the office. During the skirmish Chloe is thrown out the third story window. Clark (down for the count because of the Kryptonite tattoos) is unable to aid her. While Chloe is recouping at the hospital we see a guilty Clark chopping wood with his hands. Meanwhile Whitney, down on his luck after loosing his football scholarship, falls in with the wrong crowd. His new friends are older jocks that never got out of Smallville either. These new friends tattoo themselves with Kryptonite infused ink that make their molecules move so fast they can phase through solid objects. A drunken Whitney joins in, gets a tat but then regrets it when they try to shake down Lex. Enter Clark Kent to save the day. Clark display of power: chopping logs and looking through walls,safe. Easter Eggs: Chloe refers to Clark as an investigative reporter. Whitney refers to Clark as a boy scout. New underlying plot point: Lana proposes Lex turn the Talon into a coffee/art house shop.





Season 1 Episode 14 Zero (original air date 3-12-02).





This episode opens up with Lex at a Metropolis night club three years prior. While at the club a friend catches her fiancee (Jude) with two other women. During the fight that ensues Jude stabs Lex then is shot and killed by the bouncer, or was he? Present day Lex is at the Talon looking over the work progress in preparation for opening day. Out on the street, Lex is confronted by the bouncer who tells him Jude is alive and well. Lex sends the bouncer into hiding. We then see that the shooting was covered up by the same dirty cop that tried to blackmail Clark into helping him. Meanwhile a package shows up at the Talon for Lex. The box contains the bouncers hand. Upon his arrival to the Kent farm, Lex is captured and tortured by Jude. Clark saves Lex. And the Jude doppelganger (Jude was always dead) is killed by the Talon handyman (secretly the brother of the scorned woman). Other plot points: The Talon has it's grand opening and Chloe digs deep into Clark's adoption.


Season 1 Episode 15 Nicodemus (original air date 3-19-02).


Opening scene: Easter egg: Pa Kent (Jonathan) is driving down a back road listening to The Dukes of Hazard theme song on the radio. Jonathan stops to help a man in a bad car wreck. While helping the man, Jonathan gets a shot of spores in his face from a strange looking plant. The driver and Jonathan both end up in the hospital fighting for their lives from the plant attack. Chloe and Lana go to the scene of the accident and Lana get a shot of spores also. Lana begin to act strange just like Jonathan did before he was admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile Lex confronts Dr. Hamilton about studying plants. An old Indian remedy for the plant's virus is found at the last minute. When confronted Lex has to lie to Clark about Dr. Hamilton's research. Dr. Hamilton's lab is shut down, but he is secretly moved to Lex's new acquisition Cadmus Labs.


Season 1 Episode 16 Stray (original air date 4-16-02).



While driving at night, Ma Kent (Martha) hits a mind reading kid with her car. After being checked out at the hospital, the child (Ryan) stays with the Kent's awaiting social services since he has no family. Ryan starts reading everyones mind but is unable to read Clark's.
When Ryan meets Lex he's reading his favorite Warrior Angel comic books. Lex tells Ryan and Clark that he has a complete set and likes how the character is an alien and helps people. Ryan's step dad and girlfriend are trying to get Ryan back to help them commit crimes. Clark protects Ryan. Ryan leaves town to stay with Chloe's aunt. Before leaving he gives his comics to Clark and tells him to be careful of Lex.


Continuing To Watch.


D.L.

2012: Week 3.

Greetings Friends,

I've read a few comic books this week and another graphic novel.

Check them out.

First some comics.

#16. Batman #5.

#17. The Avengers #21.

#18. Caligula #6.

#19. Avengers 1959 #5.

#20. Superior #7.

#21. Planet of the Apes #10.

#22. Steed and Mrs. Peel #1.

Graphic novel #4 (out of 20): Mister Wonderful.

Written, drawn, colored and lettered, this is another fine book by Daniel Clowes. Marshall is middle aged, lonely and looking for love. Will his blind date work out? With his date's previous boyfriend at the party how can this first date go well? It probably can't. Check it out.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

Smallville - A Retrospective -2.

Greetings Friends,


I'm continuing to watch Smallville. Check out my episode review.


Season 1 Episode 5 Cool. (original air date 11-13-01)

Freak of the week #5: Frost Boy. High school football jock gets frosty power after falling through iced over lake and drowning near Kryptonite laced rocks. Whitney lets Lana down (this could be the start of a trend). Lex gives Clark more Lana relationship help. Meanwhile, Frost Boy is sucking heat from fire and people. Clark asks Lana on their first non-date, but lets her down by rescuing Chloe from a frosty death. Finally Clark saves his family, Lex, Lana and Whitney at Lex's house from Frost Boy.


Season 1 Epiode 6 Hourglass. (original air date 11-20-01)


Freak of the week #6: Man out of time. The second episode in a row with Kryptonite infused water, this time the victim becomes sixty years younger. Another victim of Clark's arrival to earth: Old lady at nursing home who is blind. She tells Clark that her blindness is caused by a flash burn to her optic nerve caused by the asteroids coming to earth. Lana sees the Wall of Weird for the first time. Clark sees his future by touching the the blind lady: Destined to help people. New Clark power: Invulnerability. A knife shatters when thrust at Clark. Lex shows Clark his destroyed Porsche from when he met Clark (and wonders how the roof got ripped back). Clark rescues his mom from the younger old man.


Season 1 Episode 7 Craving. (original air date 11-27-01)



Freak of the week #7 Thinner. Fat school girl makes smoothies that have vegetables grow in dirt Kryponite crystals. She has a miracle weight reduction but starts having incredible food cravings. Lex sees the Wall of Weird and meets Chloe for the first time. Lex meets Dr. Hamilton and offers him funding on his research into the (Kryptonite) crystals. Meanwhile the now thin girl sucks the fat of a road kill deer and classmates. Clark saves Pete from the thin girl, but lets down Lana for the second time. Dr. Hamilton takes the offer.


Season 1 Episode 8 Jitters. (original air date 12-11-01)


Freak of the week #8 Shakey. Former Kent family farm hand and current Luthor Corp. employee Earl gets the jitters from cleaning the missing third level. Clark gets sick when around Earl. He then tells Ma and Pa how being around Earl and the crystals makes him feel. Earl takes the school field trip hostage at Luthor Corp. Lionel Luthor is back. Lex stands up to his dad for the first time. Clark saves Earl and Lex by pulling them up from dangling off of a breaking cat walk.


Season 1 Episode 9 Rogue. (original air date 1-15-02)



New Clark power: Super strength. While in Metropolis, Clark stops a run away bus with his body and bench presses a generator that has been dropped on him. Clark is blackmailed into helping out a rogue cop that learns his secret. More super powers on display: Clark drops safe on the cop's car, punches through his houses vertical support beam and rips open a metal box. Rogue cop gets death by cop. Clark also shows off some speed: dodging a bullet and blur on museum security camera. Lex suspects somethings up when reviewing the tape. New underlying plot point: Hottie from Lex's past trying to get her hooks into Lex and Luthor Corp.


Season 1 Episode 10 Shimmer. (original air date 1-29-02)


Freak of the week #9 Invis-a-boy. A ghost like presence is moving things around at the Luthor mansion. With no Whitney around, Clark helps Lana with the blood drive and almost gets his first kiss. Clark rescues Lex and his girlfriend from the ghost. Clark's power on display: Invulnerability. A mace shatters when it is swung at Clark's face. Clark stops the "ghost". Clark uses his telescope to see Whitney back with Lana at her house.

That is just about half of season one down. I'll keep watching.

D.L.

Smallville - A Retrospective -1.

Greetings Friends,


The second part of my 2012 challenge is to watch all 10 seasons of Smallville. That sounds like a lot. We'll see.



Season 1. Episode 1: Pilot (original air date 10/16/01).






Great open scene of the asteroids and ship crashing to earth. First display of powers: Clark grown up using his super speed headed to high school. First scene with Clark, Chloe and Pete. We also meet Lana Lang who Clark pines for and her Kryptonite necklace (I forgot about the necklace). Rival Lana boyfriend Whitney makes his first appearance also. This episode really takes off with the entrance of Lex Luthor into Clark's life. Clark rescues Lex. We also have the first Freak of the Week: Scarecrow Boy. Pa Kent tells Clark the truth about his origin. The wall of weird makes it's first appearance. And Lex finds Lana's necklace. Nice set up to the series. A great first episode.






Season 1 Episode 2: Metamorphosis (original air date 10/23/01).






Freak of the Week #2: Bug Boy. He has a thing for Lana Lang, but who doesn't? Super power sighting #2: We see Clark drive a nail with his thumb. #3: Floating while asleep. First appearance of Lex's office and lead box with Lana's necklace in it. Lex meets Lana for the first time. Lex gives Clark the lead box with Lana's necklace in it and discovers Clark has some aversion to the necklace.






Season 1 Episode 3: Hothead (original air date 10/30/01).






Freak of the Week #3: Sparky. The Smallville football coach gains control over fire from sauna steam released from lava rocks laced with Kryptonite. Clark plays football and shows off a few more powers #4 Big Jump #5 Super strength and balance while running caring the football. Clark saves the principal and Chloe from fires set by the coach. Lionel Luthor makes his first present day appearance!






Season 1 Episode 4: X-Ray (original air date 11/06/01).



Freak of the Week #4: Shape shifter. Clark's new power: X-Ray vision. Clark uncontrollably looks through people down to their muscles and bones, through a metal locker and into a bag, through a wooden cabinet and through a brick wall into the girl's locker room. The shape shifter does in her mom then tries to replace Lana. Clark saves Lana from a premature burial from the shape shifter.


Okay, that's the first four episodes watched.



Continuing To Watch.



D.L.

2012: Weeks 1 and 2.

Greetings Friends,

I'm two weeks in on my new challenge. Check out my reads.

First is my graphic novel challenge. I've read three of the twenty I need to read.

Graphic Novel #1: First up is Whatever Happened To The World of Tomorrow? I can't recommend this book enough. The author, Brian Fies, has woven a nice decades spanning tale of increasing technology from the 1939 World's Fair to our future. Nicely done.

Graphic Novel #2: Cat's Are Weird And More Observations by Jeffery Brown. I'm not a cat guy but I am a huge fan of Jeffery Brown's work. His cat drawing are cartoon cute. And their mannerisms are spot on. This book switches between shaded black and white and color markers. Brown also throws in a few still life cat drawings. Very nice.

Graphic Novel #3. Incredible Change-Bots Two by Jeffery Brown. Another Jeffery Brown book? YES! This is the followup, sequel to Incredible Change-Bots. This book is an homage to the transformer toys (if not the movies). This is a nicely drawn and markered book that features the "evil" Fantasticons versus the "nice" Awesomebots. Check it out.

Of my twelve other books, I've read one.

Book #1: Music for Mechanics vol.1 of The Complete Love and Rockets by Los Bros Hernandez. What is it? Black and white, wordy and I'm not really sure what else. Everyone seems to love this series. I'm not feeling it at all after reading this first volume. However, I wont throw in the towel just yet. I'll read vol.2 then we'll see.

On to the single issue comic book challenge to read 500 comics.

#1. Fatale #1.

#2. Batman Detective Comics #5.

#3. Omac #5.

#4. The Li'l Depressed Boy #8.

#5. Star Trek - Legion of Super-Heroes #4.

#6. Cold War #4.

#7. Warlord of Mars - Dejah Thoris #9.

#8. Fear Itself - The Fearless #6.

#9. The Avengers Annual #1.

#10. The Punisher #7.

#11. True Blood - The French Quarter #5.

#12. Batwoman #5.

#13. Punisher Max #21.

#14. Lobster Johnson - The Burning Hand #1! It's about time.

#15. Stephen King - The Stand - The Night Has Come #6. The final issue of King's best book. This series was an amazing accomplishment from Aguirre-Sacasa, Perkins and Martin. Highly recommended!

Okay, just 485 comic books to go.

That was a very entertaining two weeks.

On to Smallville.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.

2012 - The New Challenge!

Hello Chums,

For the year 2011 I challenged myself to read 2011 comic books. I read 2055. How can I top that this year? I probably can't. But I needed a new "goal" for this year. What could I do?



Well with the number 2012 I decided to read 20 graphic novels and 12 other books. On top of that I will also read 500 comic books and watch all 10 seasons of Smallville. That sounds like a lot to me.



Wish me luck.
Keep Reading Comics.


D.L.

The Best of 2011!

Hello Chums and Happy New Year!

I read plenty of comics last year, watched some comic related movies and listened to some podcasts. Check out my Best of 2011 list.

1. Best Comic Book Read - Single Issue: Avengers Origins: Ant-Man & The Wasp (one-shot).

2. Best Continuing Comic Book Series (read as singles): Punisher Max.

3. Best Comic Book Limited Series: The Rocketeer Adventures.

4. Best Continuing Series (read as trades): Invincible.

5. Best Mini-Comic: eggs.

6. Best NEW Continuing Comic Book Series: Planet of the Apes.

7. Best Comic Book Cover: Godzilla - Gangsters and Goliaths #4.

8. Best Comic Book Collection: Usagi Yojimbo: The Special Edition.

9. Best Book Related To Comics: Government Issue.

10. Best Licenced Comic Book Property: Star Trek.

11. Best Writer: Alan Heinberg.

12. Best Artist: Jim Cheung.

13. Comic Book Company Of The Year: IDW.

14. Best Comic Book Related Movie: Thor.

15. Best Non-Comic Book Related Movie: Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

16. Best Podcast: Eleven O'Clock Comics.

That's it. Just a short list of can't miss entertainment. Enjoy.

Keep Reading Comics.

D.L.