One Stop Geek Shop

Like many I began reading The Incredible Hercules when magically The Incredible Hulk turned into The Incredible Hercules…everyone still with me?…good!

At first, I was ok with the switch because it still had quite a bit to do with Hulk during World War Hulk.  Even after WWH was over the story line was still really fresh and new.  Herc hadn’t had a leading role in a book for God knows how long (get the pun?) and with his pint sized side kick Amadeus Cho, the seventh smartest person on Earth, the book was border line…good!

But it got boring for me after a bit.  I really like a book with stories that effect not only the characters in the book but also has a play in the ultimate scheme of things in the Marvel U…and these arc’s definitely weren’t giving me that.

So, I did what any comic reader on a budget would do…I dropped it from THE PULL!  After this point things get a little sketchy and even I’m not too clear on the details…but somehow last week The Incredible Hercules made it into my pile…so, naturally I read it!  And much to my surprise…it was GOOD!

You’re probably asking yourself where I’m going with this and the answer is…to tell you that even if you, like me, dropped this book this particular book was VERY entertaining and worth a read!

Herc and Cho are in the land of the dead, where Herc’s uncle Pluto reigns supreme and they are trying to free Zeus, who had been slain by the diabolical demon Mikaboshi, but of course they hit some bumps along the way.  What I liked most about this book was the dialog between Hercules, Zeus and jury of those Zeus had “done wrong”.  There is some seriously good stuff in there…my favorite part being these two pages:

Hilarious RIGHT?!?  These have got to be some of my favorite pages of dialog in a book for a while…just such an awesome declaration of human weakness and the tendency to shrug the responsibility of LIFE onto anyone but themselves!!!  And to top it all off WHAT A PERSPECTIVE to hear it from!

Just good stuff…pick this up…you’ll want to read #131 by the time you’re done.

Hoping I enjoy the other 100 books in my stack this week as much,
~Steve

Oh Holy God!?!  I just hate seeing this crap.  I go over to comcast.net and scan the home page only to see the headline: New ‘Transformers’ Racist?  Followed promptly by my reading the article and cursing the entire time under my breath…here are the highlights:

First the bull$!#&…

The guaranteed blockbuster is barely 24 hours out of the gate and already much ado has arisen over twin autobots Skids and Mudflap from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, whose over-the-top, hip-hop-inspired vernacular and stereotypically black-sounding voices are, at best, racially and culturally insensitive and, at worst, grossly ignorant and offensive.

When they're not going incognito as Chevy concept vehicles, they sport gold teeth, can't read and cite their place of origin as "da hood."  How original.

And now the recovery…

But most (if not all) critics ultimately swept the inane characterizations—which we should really file under "action-script laziness" more than anything else

And, as CinemaBlend's Josh Tyler reminds us, Skids and Mudflap are more than "a collection of every bad stereotype imaginable, not targeted at any one ethnicity."

Oh and here are the two racist robots in question:

Does anyone else think that this is just ridiculous?!?  I mean give me a break!  Fricking racist robots?!?

Look people, part of the story line in this film is that the transformers have been on earth for a LONG time and because of that there are robots who have inconspicuously been part of human society…therefore they have developed personalities based on their surroundings.

Come on people, let a little bit of reality mix with your entertainment!  If I lived in “da hood” for a while I might saying things like “….” umm and “. . . .” well you know whatever it is they say in “da hood”.

Lets break this down honestly.  African American people, and African American youth in particular, act, dress and talk in a unique way which is different from the way the English, Japanese, Scottish, German, Native American, Canadian or Latinos (the list goes on and on) do.  The thing of it is that whether we like it or not all of these differences between peoples, the way we do things, how we dress, what we eat, etc; they have all become part of our culture and since when has portraying ones culture become such a negative thing?

As a bit of a personal observation and quandary, I’ve always wondered too, why is it that if the African American community looks down so harshly upon these attributes or “stereotypes” then why is it that even the newest generation culturally continues to depict those same characteristics?  (and no, vicious cycle is not an answer)

Here’s the thing, if Michael Bay could have put two black people in robot suits to do the part…he probably would have; because that would have just been two dark skinned fellows acting as is if they were a part of the African American youths culture…and where’s the harm in that? (minus, of course, the part about the reading, which I’m not sure is true yet but, if it is, it was probably only meant to show these were stupid robots, not actually reflecting upon the culture the robots were mimicking).

Bottom line here is pull the stick out of your @$$ before going to see this flick and just enjoy Meagan Fox in short shorts and the many terrific explosions…is that really too much to ask?

Going to follow my advice to the T on Sunday,
~Steve

Most of the time I could really care less about the reveals and info into the next comic stories that come from the comic conventions.  Don’t get me wrong comic conventions are awesome and all but I’m the kind of guy that can wait for the awesomeness to naturally release from the pages of the comic into my brain and shock and amaze me at that time.

But today even I was impressed to open my e-mail and receive info on this years Heroes Con ‘09 in Philly…which revealed some of the pages and covers from the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man stories…first I’ll show you the covers:

To most the thought from seeing these covers might be, ‘meh’.  But to pro’s like myself these cover spill over into excitement and mystery surrounding the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man stories!!!!  And now for the most awesomest of all the info released the pages of upcoming Spider stories…

AWWWHHHAAHHH…..right?!?!?!  I feel like a school girl at a Beatles concert right now!!!!  Right Spider-Man fans?!?  The return of Ben Riley the Scarlet Spider?!?!  WOOHOO he hasn’t been seen in a comic since the mid-nineties…this is truly awesome spider-writing and I personally can’t wait to read it!!!

Check out all the details @ Marvel.com Heroes Con '09: Amazing Spider-Man

Excited beyond belief about the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man stories,
~Steve

Look, everyone knew it was going to happen…right?  Come on…the Marvel Universe without Captain America?!?  That’s like cereal with no milk or ham but no burger!  Essentially just CRAZINESS!

But honestly since they went ahead and did kill him I thought it would at least be a substantial amount of time before they brought him back!  You know, leave people hanging a bit.  It’s been two years with no Steve Rogers…maybe some people were starting to think they might not actually bring him back…but try five or six…that’s how you make a fan boy sweat…well that and the idea that one day they might have to leave the basement.

Regardless of what I thought was best Marvel went ahead and once again ignored my advice…maybe I shouldn’t have used the zodiac code to write those letters…anyways the man in Red, White and Blue is coming back on duty!  Here is the cover of Captain America: REBORN #1 by John Cassaday (right) and Alex Ross (left):

And (because you must know more) a bit of jumble from writer Ed Brubaker and editor in chief Tom Brevoort on the new Captain America mini series:

"REBORN is the next chapter in the larger story that I've been building in [CAPTAIN AMERICA] since issue #1," explains the writer, who launched this current volume in 2004. "This is a chance to really explore how things have changed in the years since Steve's death and really delve deep into who Steve Rogers is and why he became Captain America.

"We've been planning the story of Cap's return virtually from the moment that he died," reiterates editor Tom Brevoort. "[As] the story developed and we embraced the concept of Bucky as the new Cap.”

"[Bucky] has spent a year of his life trying to live up to Steve Rogers' legacy as Captain America, and while he definitely does things his own way, he's been changed by this experience," notes Brubaker. "He's been on a path of redemption for all the things he did as the Winter Soldier, and now he's got a huge task ahead of him: to try to save Steve."

"[But that all] assumes Steve will come back hale and hearty and fit for duty, both physically and emotionally, and that may not be the case. All during these months, while the world thought him dead, Steve's been on a metaphysical journey of his own, and the experiences he's lived through during that time are going to have a profound effect on his state of mind."

But before those questions can be answered, Steve Rogers must be found and rescued—if that's even possible. Fortunately for Bucky, he won't be alone in his efforts.

Good Stuff eh?  Read more about it @Marvel.com Captain America: REBORN

Cap is one of my favorite characters and I hope they do him justice in whatever way they are bringing him back…I mean we’re practically twins…you know first name and all ; )

Wishing my middle name was Rogers,
~Steve

Of course when you’re traveling there is hardly enough time for a nutritional breakfast…so you get the worst possible thing for you…which also happens to be the most delicious:

And if you’ll notice Michelle also scored a brand spanking new army green on top pink under bill Alaska hat for her future fishing excursions.

Our big trip for the day was to go to Whittier and take a day long glacier cruise!  It just so happens that Whittier is only accessible, whether by train or car, through an ICE TUNNEL (enter ice trucker music here).  Yep a 2.8 mile tunnel dug out by the military around WWII in order to use Whittier as a naval dock. 

And of course we were so happy to have made it out of the dreaded Ice Tunnel alive…there was hugging and happy dancing…

So, we got to Whittier…which is full of boats and oddly enough…hippies

But luckily the local reindeer was friendly…good thing too because otherwise someone would have had their hand bitten off…we won’t say who. . .

Even though Jolie the boy reindeer was the highlight of this hippie filled town with mediocre hot chocolate…we made our own fun:

And there is no doubt that Alaska is a beautiful place:

As you can see I was finally able to live out that dream of being a pirate on the open seas…but back in the real world the glaciers were splendiferous…

Of course when traveling in a place where nature is left alone to thrive untouched…you always hope to run into some of the local wildlife:

Also, thanks to one of our professional photographers along on the trip with us we have this next rendition of a drive by animal sighting…now remember we were going about 10mph…can you guess what kind of animal this is?

No???…me neither BUT it is a mountain goat…and I’m so happy that I have this picture so that I can remember this beautiful animal and this treasured moment. . . . .

Until next time when hopefully I’ll have a pictures of a bears nose,
~Steve

Yep…Alaska.

What do you think of when you think of Alaska?  Cold, Bears, Cold, Moose, Cold, Glaciers, Cold, Fishing, Cold, Perpetual Sun, and Cold???

Me too…except after weeks of getting ready and doing Alaska home work and finally getting here it’s all of those things I just listed, minus five colds, and add AWESOMENESS!!!!

But…I’m getting ahead of myself.  First things first…traveling.  Look I hate traveling.  I hate doing it for business and, unless it’s on a cruise ship, I hate doing it even to go on vacation.  While it was a little easier than my average eight hours of traveling (five in the air and three in laid over in Seattle)…it was still a pain in the arse.

Things started off pretty well with some classic hold the camera as far away as possible and take pictures. . .pictures?:

And of course escalated into general boredom and then stepped up to the criticism of those who had the unfortunate luck of being in our immediate vicinity:

Plane Directing Gal

“Thank gawd I was able to get a job where I could openly practice for my next career without anyone being the wiser; modeling…and just in case that doesn’t work out, duel sword wielding ninja master!”

Fellow Traveler a.k.a. Lex Luthor

“If I could just get off of this damn plane I could continue with my plan to defeat Superman and take over the world!!! . . . where’s that damn carry on???  If that fat broad next to me ate it I swear I’m gonna…”

Just a taste of fun from our traveling adventure…the light-hearted side…there is more but it’s late and sleep (or wife) is sure to hit me over the head slamming me into a dream world (or a comma).  So, more to come later kiddies but for now a parting picture of that lovely place where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan first stole our hearts…

I think…

Super excited to do the cliché touristy stuff in Anchorage tomorrow,
~Steve

Awesome right?!?!  I am totally digging these guys!  Just in case you don't recognize these classic heroes they are (left to right) The Incredible Hulk, The Green Goblin, Maverick, and The Amazing Spider-Man.  These guys are all fairly new figures that have recently been released by Hasbro and while I'm not thrilled with the details of all the figures faces...these guys are particularly fantastic and don't worry there will be more to come!

Now for the BIGGER more AWESOMER of my newest STUFF...my new BMW!!!

Oh Yeah that is a 328i and yes it has more bells and whistles than I ever knew existed!  I LOVE THIS CAR...and it loves me...I think.  See more pictures of my Fantasticar HERE.

Hoping I won't go through any withdrawals from not driving it next week,
~Steve

So, I can’t wait for the newest Iron Man installment just like the rest of the world…

And so…when I saw this I just knew I had to steal it from Marvel.com and put it here for the world to see (cause my site is visited by waayy more people then Marvel.com):

Bam the Rourkester is pumped up as the Iron Man baddie Whiplash!!!

Check out the resemblance:

And here is a preview from the movie:

And if you’ll believe that I also have a shot of my head on Brad Pitts body that I’d like to submit as my profile picture…

Currently reviewing my restraining order for Marvel Studies,
~Steve

I always get sucked into these dang comic events!!!  Sometimes I feel like Marvel and DC might as well just stick a vacuum into my wallet and turn that baby on full blast!

For instance World War Hulk…I bought every damn off shoot that was created for that event cause I’m a sucker.  There was like ten different titles!  And guess what off the top of my head I can only think of three that were worth a crap (The Main book, Punisher and X-Men).

Anyways once again Marvel is trying rob me by starting another event full of characters I love to read about…the X-Men and my favorite villain Norman Osborn aka The Green Goblin…

So, do you think I’ve learned my lesson about the events and how they are sucking the life out of me. . . NO!  (although I did tone it down for Secret Invasion which was good cause it sucked)

But NO…guess what….I’m going to buy every damn book on this list cause I HAVE to…what kind of loyal comic reader would I be if I didn’t???. . .right?. . . RIGHT?!?

Siphoning cash for the bank so the wife doesn’t realize how much I really spend on comics,
~Steve

This months Rolling Stone is out and America’s favorite idol Adam Lambert has something to say:

“I don’t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I’m gay,” Lambert says in the new issue of Rolling Stone, hitting newsstands this week.

WHAT?!?!  Seriously???  Wow. . . I did NOT see that coming. . . . .

Hoping the wife is serious when she says “I’m not watching American Idol any more”,
~Steve

Is anybody else dumbfounded by this???:

Air France Jet Carrying 228 Vanishes Over Atlantic Ocean

A massive search is underway for an Air France jet carrying 228 people — including two Americans — from Rio de Janeiro to Paris believed to have gone down off the northeast coast of Brazil a few hours after takeoff.

How in the hell, in this day and age, have we lost an entire plane?!?  Will somebody please call 007 so that he can pinpoint the wreckage ON HIS WATCH!  I just don’t get it…I really thought that nothing was quite ‘off the grid’ with today’s technology!

I guess I’ve learned a valuable lesson. . . If I ever have to commit a heinous crime, there is still a chance I can get away with it ;)

Disclaimer: I don’t mean to be an insensitive ass about this situation I feel for the families of those on this flight and really do hope that the wreckage can be found to put closure on the bizarre disappearance their loved ones.

Never flying again (until next week),
~Steve

Check out Fox News for the latest update on flight findings.

Look, there is no doubt in my mind that I MUST have this game.  It’s not a matter of hype or overall game awesomeness that spurs this feeling in me but PRINCIPAL!!!  I’m a COMIC BOOK FAN and this is a video game about COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS, therefore I must have it…you understand.

Anyways, I’ve been keeping an eye out for new stuff about the game and saw this posted at Marvel.com:

The official playable cast of "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2": Captain America For more Cap info, vist his official MUA2 page. Iron Man For more Iron Man info, vist his official MUA2 page. Hulk For more Hulk info, vist his official MUA2 page. Thor For more Thor info, vist his official MUA2 page. Human Torch For more Human Torch info, vist his official MUA2 page. Invisible Woman For more Invisible Woman info, vist her official MUA2 page. Mr. Fantastic For more Mr. Fantastic info, vist his official MUA2 page. Thing For more Thing info, vist his official MUA2 page. Wolverine For more Wolverine info, vist his official MUA2 page. Storm For more Storm info, vist her official MUA2 page. Daredevil For more Daredevil info, vist his official MUA2 page. Spider-Man For more Spider-Man info, vist his official MUA2 page. Luke Cage For more Luke Cage info, vist his official MUA2 page. Iron Fist For more Iron Fist info, vist his official MUA2 page. Song Bird For more Songbird info, vist her official MUA2 page. Deadpool For more Deadpool info, vist his official MUA2 page. Special bonus GameStop pre-order exclusive character: Juggernaut For more Juggernaut info, vist his official MUA2 page.

My first thought was: “ARE YOU Fing KIDDING ME?”

Have these people even played the first game?  I have the special edition of it and you can play a harem full of characters!!!  16 playable characters?!?  17 if you preorder?  What kind of crap is this!  If I just wanted to play some garbage where I can be a few measly people with big ass heads I’d just play Marvel Super Hero Squad!

Look, I’m still going to get the game but COME ON step up to the plate! The Gameplay better be fricken amazing because if it’s mediocre and I can’t mix things up by switching characters I just Don’t KNow WHAT I’M GOING TO DO!!!!….I JUST MIGHT. . .PLay. . . the whole game…anyways…but…I WONT HAVE ANY FUN…so there!

Retrieving my inhaler and taking slow deep breaths,
~Steve

First of all I just LOVE my new digi-collection of Spider-Man books and finally for the first time I was able to read Amazing Spider-Man #1 in its entirety!

I’m not going to go on forever about it but I just have to say that it is as classic as classic Spidey tales go!

Like I said earlier I am just going to share tidbits and favorites as I read though my collection and here is todays:

This is page 9 of issue #1 and it’s my favorite in the book because it’s the very first time Spidey sticks it to ole flat top!  He pops in when all else has failed to save the day and really throws a web in JJJ spokes by saving his son from almost certain death…(of course he denies it and says Spidey put his son in danger just to save him…jerk).  Like I said classic!  If you haven’t had the joy of reading this issue contact me…I’ll see what I can do.

Reading until the hard drive explodes,
~Steve

Ok, here’s the thing…I am a huge Spider-Man fan!  Always was, always will be…I just can’t shake it!  Every time that wall crawling spider-guy makes a terrible cheesy joke I can’t help but bust a gut…I’m 24 this is getting ridiculous!!! 

So, I’ve given up trying like new cool hip modern heroes and just embraced my inner twelve year old and am currently starting over reading the very beginning of Spidey’s life on the colored page with Amazing Fantasy #15 chronologically through to present day.

I know what you’re thinking…wow you have all of those comics???…sadly the answer is…no.  BUT I have come across a rather extensive digital collection of the web spinners antics and have already dived in for the fun.

I’ll be posting my favorite tid-bits and throw in the occasional review but for now I thought I’d share a few classic advertisements I came across while cheating and skipping ahead to Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man #2.  You just don’t see quality ads like these anymore you know?  Click to enlarge and enjoy:

Until Aunt May finally dies as the oldest broad on Earth,
~Steve

Not only is it an awesome drawing but the content just erupts the little kid in me thats screaming "YEAH KILL THAT BAD MAN!" haha Stryfe and Bishop dish it out to mutant resident 'Bad Man' Apocalypse in X-Force #14 and claim to have killed him...(did you catch that...claim...that means they didn't in comic book world)

Going to kill some Bad Men on Spiderman Web of Shadows when I get home,
~Steve

So awesome!!! Finally I get to go take down the ghosts with Ray and Egon and I don't even have to build my own guns and traps out of LEGOS!!! WHOO HOO!

You know...it's real nice to have a gaming system right when it comes out...you know so I can drop it like its hot (I think that works...maybe not) but I'm like waaayy behind the times getting XBox360 super late in the game...and I'm as happy as an asian kid on the release date of the newest Pokemon movie!!! (that is a personal observation btw)

Game release date is set for June 16th 2009 check it out on Newegg

Can't wait for my ghost shooting ray gun shaped in the form of an XBox controller,
~Steve

AND a little extra info from the nice folks over @ Marvel.com

One of the most celebrated fighting games in history is coming back for another round! Check out the first teaser trailer, art and details for "Marvel vs. Capcom 2"!

Nine years after taking the arcade gaming scene by storm and over six years after making its original home console debut, "Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes" returns! Slated to hit Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade and PS3's PSN, expect the same fast, furious and fantastic gameplay you loved with even more awesome online head-to-head action!

Annnnd the video:

Wondering if Cyclops will remain my favorite in this new version,
~Steve

I really enjoyed all of these drawings!  Taking the classic art forms of individual artists and applying them to mutiple pieces done of just one character is just a fabulous idea and who better to be in the spotlight then Wolverine!!!  Just great stuff enjoy...

So, like any geek I am naturally attracted to facets of entertainment that focus on us geeks and reflect our most loved and socially rejected past times as….well…cool. 

When I come across these gems I try to share them and I happened to do just that…introducing THE HELM!!!!

Written by Jim Hardison and penciled by Bart Sears this book is about a fat slob of a socially defunct mess of a geek named Mathew Blurdy.  After losing his job at the video shop due to his girlfriend dumping him in a terribly humiliating way, he stops at a garage sale on the way home on his moped.  There he finds a helmet that speaks to him and tells him that he is the Valhalladrim!!!…protector of Earth against the forces of evil…too bad he is a total loser!!!

This story is full of laughs and very entertaining.  It’s four issues of good fun and a beacon of hope for all geeks everywhere that no matter how long you live in your mother’s basement or how many sword replicas you have hanging on your walls that you can still be a super hero!!!…with a shit load of magic and in many cases…a bit of soap!

Some eye candy from the book:

Still searching for that special something that will bestow upon me the powers I DESERVE!!!,
~Steve

So, I’ve got MTV on for some background noise the other day and all of a sudden this song comes on that catches my attention because of the lyrics and it turns out to be Lily Allen and the song was “The Fear”.

The thing is I don’t usually like women singers.  Now I’m not saying that I don’t recognize all of the fabulous women in the music industry that have been amazing contributors to the world of organized noise, all I’m saying is that the music that I listen to and enjoy the most usually happen to be men.

Anyways, like I said, what really caught my attention were the lyrics of this song…at the beginning it was mostly just comical but then she goes on to make some pretty interesting things.  I like to think that she is making a mockery of modern society because that…I can appreciate…but then again if she is just keeping it real!!!…that’s ok too…

For your viewing pleasure….Lily Allen in “The Fear”:

AND check out more of Lily Allen on YouTube

Also wanting lots of cars, money and a $%&#load of diamonds,
~Steve

AND what is even more exciting is that it came with a personal message about my check from the big man HIMSELF!!!  President Barack Hussein Obama:

Yo,

Look, it's not your fault that Vegas is full of hookers and horse tracks. It's human nature to want to poor your hard earned welfare check into a world promising the chance at riches gained for nothing, except of course lively hood and in some cases your soul.

Anyways, think of this as reparations, no matter what race you identify with, for the years of oppression by the government (namely the evil administration rhyming with push) that failed to provide you with everything you might want or need, as is your right to receive as an American citizen, and forcing you to work for your place in the world...sad really.

Enjoy and remember to spend it quick because those economic advisor guys say that the value of the dollar is dropping or something like that I wasn't really listening. Good luck and God (if you believe in Him, if not disregard or enter in your personally favorite deity here) speed.

Peace,
Barack

AWESOME RIGHT?!?!  I know, I can't wait to get my check...let's see what shall I buy first...hmmm...I've got it!!!  I'm going to buy Guantanamo Bay and then give it back to all those nice criminals we've wrongly imprisoned there!!! (flashes from 'Escape from L.A.' flash before your eyes)

Can barely wait for my bailout check to arrive so I can wipe my @$$ with it,
~Steve

Go get your bailout check now!

And once again Mike Deodato works wonders on the pencils!  First of all I really dig the way he draws Norman Osborn like Tommy Lee Jones...it's just perfect.  Then he goes and pulls off two page spreads like this:

At this point he can do no wrong, this stuff is just fantabulous.  Long story short I'm excited for the next Avengers comic for the first time in a long time and with the cliffhanger of Dr. Doom allowing Osborn into his info server to access his time cube technology and team up to take down Morgana LeFay before she causes all this trouble (which means the Sentry will be coming back to life) is just awesome...

Visualizing myself on a glider spreading joy (chaos) to the world,
~Steve