The Middleman

And I know I just made a post, but I have to add this.....
I LOVE The Middleman!
In case you didn't get to see it (like I didn't) back during the summer, you can catch it online at the watch TV online sites.
I don't know how this program could be more perfect.
Maybe a bigger budget for special effects, but that's about it.
The inside jokes for comic book fans fly fast (really fast!) and hard.
Javier Grillo-Marxuach deserves an " I'm not worthy" if I ever get to met him.
The Middleman, his sidekick and Middleman in training, Wendy Watson (notice the classic double consonant name), Ida, Lacey Thornfield, Noser, Sensei Ping (a martial arts master that wears a Luchador mask) all fantastic.
My only problem with the series is that so far there has been no movement from ABC for a second season.
Can we not fix that?
Do yourself a favor and watch it.
But be ready to hit the pause and rewind a lot.

My favorite exchange so far (I haven't seen all the episodes yet) .......

THE MIDDLEMAN: Well. You ever read comic books?
WENDY: Yeah. I think Jughead’s a real hoot. Powers, Fell, Astro City, The Spirit, X-Man – old school, not ultimate -- Mouse Guard and The Flash.
THE MIDDLEMAN: Barry Allen or Wally West?
WENDY: Do you want me to leave?

Michelle Obama Comic

Obama was in a comic with Spiderman.
He was also in a comic with Savage Dragon.
Now, his wife, the First Lady, gets her own comic.
The company that put out the Senator Hillary Clinton and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin comics Bluewater Productions (The 10th Muse, Mike Miller's Imaginaries) ,will be putting out a Michelle Obama comic in April. And no she won't be fighting Dr.Doom or Magneto, the book will be about her life from her early years on the South Side through the 2008 presidential campaign and election day.
You can learn more about the comic at Bluewater Productions'website here:
http://www.bluewaterprod.com/news/Announcing_Michelle-Obama.php

Barack Obama, Savage Dragon and Spiderman

The Barack Obama / Spiderman issue sold like hotcakes.
(Is that even a viable reference anymore?)
But not everyone is overjoyed with Marvel Comics success.
Savage Dragon also had a cross over with The President, and Eric Larson (the creator of Savage Dragon) is a little miffed at Marvel for what he sees as stealing his thunder.
You can see what Eric has to say about the situation here.
And Marvel made a rebuttal here.

I understand the book is a huge seller.
But does it remind anyone else of the Hostess ads they used to run in the old comic books?
If you want an example of what I mean, head over to Seanbaby's page where I think he has ALL of the old Hostess ads reprinted.

But if the Obama / Spiderman issue is such gold....what's next?
Maybe DC comics can revive "Prez" and instead of Prez Rickard they could have.....
Nah, they'd never go for it.

Batman, Joker, Iron Man and the Oscars

As expected Heath Ledger got a supporting-actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight".
But The Batman got shut out of other top categories like best picture and director.
Oddly, Robert Downey Jr. is in the running against Heath Ledger, not for Iron Man, but for his supporting role in "Tropic Thunder".
I'm really gonna have to watch that.

"The Dark Knight" did get Oscar nominations, but they were for catagories like Achievement in art direction, Achievement in cinematography, Achievement in film editing, Achievement in makeup, Achievement in sound editing, Achievement in sound mixing, Achievement in visual effects

“Iron Man” actually racked up a couple of nominations, Achievement in sound editing and Achievement in visual effects


“Wanted” which is kinda sorta a comic book movie (well not really), got a nomination for Achievement in sound editing.

Obama, Spiderman and Batman

With the sales of the Obama/Spiderman book doing so well and "The Dark Knight" raking in awards, 2009 looks like it's off to a good start for the comic book industry.

Amazing Spider-Man #583 with President Obama and Spiderman sold out, so another run is scheduled to hit comic book stores on Wednesday.
The Jan. 21 issue will have a variant cover.

The Dark Knight has already garnered tons of awards and nominations. Now everyone is looking at the Oscars and waiting.
On January 23rd, The Dark Knight will be re-released to stir up even more Oscar buzz.
Could the late Heath Ledger get an Oscar nomination? He's already won a posthumous Golden Globe award for his portrayal of the Joker.
A comic book movie getting an Oscar?
Even if that doesn't pan out, there's Iron Man in the special effects catagory.
Comic book movies (plural this time) getting Oscars?
And let's not forget Wolverine is hosting the show.

I checked out Grant Morrison's website (I like Grant. He is one person I would really LOVE to sit down and talk to) and Grant not only raved about The Dark Knight, but he said he thinks the movie screen is the future of Super Heroes.

I have to agree with him, but I'm biased because I can't actually say there has been a comic book based movie I have hated.
Okay, not counting the Superman movies after 2, and the dread Joel Schumacher Batman Forever.
And the Dolph Lundgren Punisher.
Okay. I've liked MOST of the Comic Book Movies.
What scares me is that if The Dark Knight does well in the Oscars, the movie studios will just start tossing out Super Hero movies left and right.

But here is my question.
Who is going to create the first all original superhero, make a movie and turn that character into an icon?
A non comic book based superhero that captures the imagination and reaches the Spiderman, Batman, Superman level?

Marvel Team-Up: Spiderman and Obama!

Well Stephen Colbert has done it.
And if you're old enough, you'll remember the whole SNL cast did it once.
So why not have President-elect Barack Obama meet Spiderman?

Swinging into action, Obama featured in `Amazing Spider-Man' comic book
KALAMAZOO -- As the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama nears, Marvel Comics' announcement of the release of a special Obama issue of ``Amazing Spider-Man'' has intensified excitement over the event for a certain segment of his supporters: comic-book fans.
``Amazing Spider-Man # 583,'' to be released nationwide today, will include interior pages and a variant cover featuring the soon-to-be-president, according to the announcement about the issue on Marvel Comics' Web site.
``It's my understanding that Obama is a comic-book fan, so it's not surprising to me that the comic industry is willing to embrace him,'' said Josh Hall, assistant manager and longtime employee at Fanfare Sports & Entertainment, 4415 S. Westnedge Ave.
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/features-4/1231948249300740.xml&coll=7

Thor Lives!

I had to post this because it's just too good to pass up.....

Burglar scared off by man dressed as Thor after New Year party

A construction firm manager returning from New Year's Eve fancy dress party scared off a burglar by charging at him dressed as the Norse god Thor.
Six-foot tall Torvald Alexander, 38, was wearing a red cape and the thunder god's silver-winged helmet when he spotted the raider in his front room rifling through a desk.
Mr Alexander, who runs building firm Alexander & Summers in Edinburgh, Scotland, said the burglar threw himself out of a first floor window of his £350,000 home in the Inverleith area of the city after being caught red handed.
Mr Alexander said: "As soon as he saw me his eyes went wide with terror.
"He looked like he had had a few drinks and decided to do a late night break in, but he hadn't counted on the God of Thunder living here."
He added: "I had just got back from a fancy dress New Year's party and because I have a Norwegian name I decided to go as Thor.
"It took ages making the cape, helmet and breast plate, and I must admit it was a bit chilly walking home, but when I saw that guy I just went mad and charged at him, my cape flying behind me.
"I think if I had had Thor's hammer with me I might have scared him to death."

Full story here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/4059789/Burglar-scared-off-by-man-dressed-as-Thor-after-New-Year-party.html

With the Thor movie in the works, Marvel couldn't buy publicity this good.

Aurora - Alpha Flight

I really loved the beautiful and messed up Aurora (Jeanne-Marie Beaubier) when she first appeared in X-Men #120 as a member of Alpha Flight.
Heck, I liked Alpha Flight in general when they first showed up.
I even had an" Alpha Flight Auxillary Member" bumper stiucker on my car.
Anyway, Aurora was the twin sister of Northstar (Jean-Paul Beaubier) and the former girlfriend of Sasquatch (Walter Langkowski).

She was plagued with dissociative identity disorder and also being retconned to be half-human, half-elf. But as for the latter, she got better.
Aurora can fly REALLY fast (theoretically approaching light-speed) and has super human speed and reflexes.
Still not fast enough to touch the Silver Age Flash, but Jeanne-Marie is way cuter.
As usual with Marvel characters she has had her mental state pounded to oblivion, been abused, used etc.
Is there a happy comic character anymore?
I mean not counting the crazy ones.......