News for the Week of April 9, 2008
Rick’s Writin’s
I don't have a lot to say this week as nothing is really bugging me and
all in all I'm pretty happy. I guess I could talk about being happy, but
who wants to hear that? I've been working in my yard, and have come to
detest dandelions. Sure, they're all pretty and yellow, but they're everywhere,
with their snake-like closed flowers and grass gobbling viney leaves.
I have one of those steppy, turny weed puller thingamabobs and still,
you can't pick and pull them fast enough. Bam! Right back. Then, if you
don't get them they turn into big white puffballs of seeds to spread their
kind like mutant aliens and the pod people. I finally laid down some weed
control, though I don't like to put chemicals out. I'm not even sure this
is the right time of year. I know you're supposed to put weed killer down
in the fall to prevent them from coming up, but is it too late to stop
what's coming in? Thing is, the lawn could look mowed and in decent shape
except for the stupid dandelions growing six inches a day. You can't keep
up with them and have a life too. Hopefully the work I did today did some
good. I'm still learning about lawn care. I don't need a putting green,
but I'd like to have a nice lawn and I'm willing to do the work to have
one. Cool, a paragraph on lawn care. Told you I didn't have much to say.
Before we talk this weeks comics, I want to mention that next Sunday,
April 13th is the Portland Comic Con. If you've never been, it's a nice
show with lots of selection and many dealers. There are some guests too,
though I don't have a flyer with me. Perhaps Paula will add some names.
It’s a couple hour drive down south on I-5 but it's really easy
to get to. Just take I-5 south into Portland, and get off at exit 302
for the Rose Garden (I'm not sure if it's exit 302-A or B). Follow it
to the right, and keep going a block or three and look to the left and
you'll see where the show is. If you go over the bridge, you went too
far. I've been doing this show 10+ years and it's always good. It's not
as big as Emerald City Con, but, before Emerald, it was the biggest show
around, and very well run too.
This week has some good basic titles like Amazing Spider-Man (#556), and
Fantastic Four (also #556..wow, interesting), Countdown (#3..tick, tick,
tick), Wonder Woman (#19) and Wolverine (#64) but it's DC's Titans (#1)
that wins big book of the week. Looks like the Twenty-something Titans
are separating from their teenaged teammates as Nightwing, Starfire, Donna
Troy and more leave Robin and his group to form a new team. Since Starfire
and Donna have been featured in Countdown, I've grown to enjoy them and
I've always liked Nightwing, so I'll be reading this one. It's written
by Judd Winick, who has fans and not-fans, and the art is by Ian Churchill
and Norm Rapmund. Serenity (#2 of 3 mini) arrives with three more crew
members on the cover. The last three will be on the third issue cover,
forming a giant portrait when you put them all together. Justice Society
(#14) continues the Kingdom Come sequel that I'm enjoying and Wizard Magazine
reaches issue #200 with Wizard #200 GOLD!! not to be confused with Wizard
#200 Platinum due out later this month. The last item is the new Fantagraphic
Books collection of Peanuts 1967-68. Peanuts popularity was at it's height
during this time, with Snoopy toys everywhere; the Happiness is a Warm
Puppy book was huge, and Woodstock was introduced in the strip. It's my
opinion that these years and those included in the previous volume were
the best Peanuts ever, from a strip that ran 50 years. I highly recommend
this one.
Paula’s Picks
Aha! I read my Wonder Woman this week! No more “I have nothing to
talk about since I haven’t caught up on my reading!” It was
kind of a weird issue that started out as a love story and ends with battling
a Green Lantern. Interesting….I’d like to find out where they’re
going with Wonder Woman #19 coming out this week.
I also read my Serenity Better Days #1 in preparation for #2 coming out
this week. I made the mistake of flipping through the first issue when
it came out and saw something that spoiled a surprise. It turns out it
didn’t ruin anything. I’ve really got to be careful about
flipping through a book I already know I’m going to read. I did
that with Y: The Last Man a while back and completely ruined a really
great surprise for me.
Terry Moore’s Echo #2 comes out this week as well. I liked the first
issue and would like to see where the story it going to go.
We’ve gotten everything unpacked at home. It’s finally livable!
We just need to get some pictures up so it’s not so echo-y. Tonight,
the plan is to get some curtains. I stink at the whole decorating thing.
All I’ve ever done before is hang up posters, so it could be interesting!
I’ve been watching home decorating shows lately. My favorite one
is Trading Spaces because they always do these weird, hideous things like
gluing hay to a wall and make people cry. Is that wrong?
Some of the guests for the Portland comic book show are Stan Sakai, Art
Thibert, Matt Wagner, Kieron Dwyer and more!