Sunday, May 28, 2006 - The last few days have been a blitz of activity in the Comic Related world of your hosts, Charles and Katie.  Early last week we drove outside our home city and took a look at a farm which we both agreed really met our individual needs.  Over the course of the last week we put in a series of bids and signed the paperwork to purchase the property about 10:15 PM last night.  We hope to close at the end of June.  This is a goal we've been working toward for a long time as we're horse owners (as well as comic lovers) and wanted to bring that part of our life (namely the horses) home with us.  This goal has also taken a lot of our attention over the last few months as we've gotten increasingly serious about making this move.

Why does this matter to you as a comic fan?  It spells a change or two for this website.  In June our lives will be pretty full selling one property, moving, suffering through inspections on both sides of the fence and everything related to relocating.  Along the way we will do our best to ensure that there will not be any prolonged interruptions in content flowing to this site. That said, once it's done we will be unveiling some great new things here at Comic Related. 

What's coming that's new?  Targeted for early 2007, we plan to unveil the long anticipated sales side of Comic Related.  We've already shifted our massive sales collection (the remnants of seven comics shops from the 80's [details] and much, much more acquired since that time) over to a database and after moving we will shift our focus toward opening the doors on our new store.  We plan accept on-line payments, offer wild specials, expand rapidly with some innovative ideas and service your orders with a smooth on-line shopping cart and quick shipping experience.

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 - This has been a fun week.  I'm thrilled when artists I like who fall a bit off the radar make it into the public eye.  I'm even more thrilled when music I like crosses over into comics, comics make the move to film or a new series based on a comic is rumored or unveiled for television.  Today we have a bit of all three in the work of Rob Zombie and the possible move of DC's Preacher series to HBO. 

Okay, I'll admit that my taste in music (and sometimes television) runs a bit off the mainstream, but you have to understand that I spent my formative years running WRFL [link], an alternative rock college radio station in Lexington, Kentucky.  WRFL samples and exposes the community to a wide range of music, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This station started me exploring music and I haven't stopped since.  These days, I'm much more likely to be seen listening to Tom Waits [link], Leonard Cohen [link], Robbie Williams [link], Rob Zombie [link], Courtney Love [link], the Scissor Sisters [link], Henry Rollins [link] or the Yellow Belts [link] than anything you might hear on the mainstream FM dial. 

Through the years, I've been a consistent fan of theatrical horror rock.  When someone like Rob Zombie puts out a new album, breaks a new film or unveils a new comic, I'm usually interested in checking out what he's created.  Rob has a great act, seems to be a genuinely cool person inside as well as outside the persona and has pointed me to a lot of unknown bands (through interviews) over the years.  He's also created tracks such as Dragula which has actually remained in my Ipod for years (no small feat). 

I had the good fortune to meet Rob back in the 1980's at a CMJ radio convention in New York where he was taking part in a Heavy Metal music discussion panel.  That meeting took place in ill fated World Trade Center which, long before the tragedy of the 1990's, was a regular host for the New York event.

Much earlier than that, I started life as an avid fan of Alice Cooper and followed the line of progression through many bands that followed leading me first to White Zombie then, ultimately, Rob Zombie.  Many feel Marilyn Mason was the air apparent to the Alice Cooper shock/horror throne, but I think Rob has a truer musical linage to the work of Alice.  Some might argue, but to me they would be wrong.

For those interested, Rob will be doing an interview on the Howard Stern Show [Sirius Radio] tomorrow morning promoting his most recent album, Educated Horses [Amazon.com], chatting up his new animated film The Haunted World of Superbeasto and generally sharing the morning with his old friend Howard Stern.   His new animated film, due out later this year, is based on his El Superbeasto comic from Spookshow International Comics.  For even more Rob Zombie, set the Tivo to grab tomorrow night's Late Show with David Letterman.  He'll be performing his latest single during the broadcast. 

Switching gears just a bit, on the HBO front you may notice within our news page [link] that rumors are flying regarding Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's comic masterpiece Preacher making the move to the small screen.  Here's what Aint It Cool News has to say on the topic...

“I was at a comic convention in Dublin recently where Glenn Fabry was signing. I asked about the Preacher movie and he said that it wouldn't go ahead, that nobody wanted to do it. He then told me that days previous he had gotten a call from somebody from HBO looking for Garth Ennis' phone number. A few hours later he got a call from Garth saying that the producers from The Sopranos want to turn Preacher into a HBO TV series. There was no word on Garth's response to this”.

Cassidy, Jesse Custer, Tulip O'Harey, Herr Starr, the Saint of Killers... I really miss this title. Preacher, as a comic series ran from 1995 and ended far too soon in July of 2000.  The series totaled 75 issues (66 monthly issues, 5 specials and a 4-issue miniseries).  The entire run has been collected in nine trade paperbacks which, if you haven't read them, you should.

Back in 2004, there was a lot of scuttle regarding this series making the jump to a feature film. That talk seemed to dry up in 2005. Personally, I would love for HBO to propel this property into a full series.  Knowing the producers of the Sopranos may be involved is even more of a plus.  Will it happen?  Only time will tell, but this fan's Tivo will be set if it ever comes to pass.  For additional details as they emerge, keep an eye on the Preacher's Divinity fan website [link] and our own news page right here at Comic Related.

Tuesday, May 18th, 2006 - This Related Recap is all about this website and why you should bookmark us RIGHT NOW and return daily...  Yes, even on weekends...    There is solid logic behind the request.   We will be the first to admit that there are some amazing comic news website out there sharing some really great content.  It's a flooded web where a new comic website needs to yell to be heard.  That said, we want to earn your trust and give you a few good reasons to add www.comicrelated.com to your daily web surf.

You may ask, "Why should I make Comic Related a regular stop?"  It's a good question.  Honestly, we produce original content and it flows, but not nearly as often as the big boys on the block.  In our news area, we do a lot of redirecting to other websites around the net.  How are we different?  Glad you asked (and even if you didn't, hang with us).

We do one thing really, really well... First and foremost, we update.  Actually, we update A LOT!  Honestly, most days we find ourselves updating a couple times a day [past updates for examples].  There aren't a lot of sites out there that can say that.  Each day you're going to find something that wasn't there yesterday or even earlier that morning.  Pulling out the old score card, that would be one point for our site and that already puts us ahead of about 40% of the competition who don't hold to a 24 hour update cycle.

Next, we promise to save you time.  What do we mean?  We spend time you don't have to each and every day scouring the internet for "comic related" content.  We don't just visit the big guys, we dig into newspapers, blogs, on-line articles, weird ramblings, rumor mills, forums and much, much more.  We watch for news trends and try to provide you links that aren't just to the freshest content, but to the very hottest stories from all corners of the comic world.  We think you will realize that we're finding some stories you missed.  That's makes us different.

Here at Comic Related, we're getting better at this game each and every day and we have some exciting plans for the future.  We're not yet the best on the block, but we're going to be.  We invite you to join us and watch us grow.  We've been here a few years, but honestly were still in our infancy. That said, we're only begun to grow. Each day we get faster, more detailed and bigger.  26,943 individual users visited the site in April registering well over a quarter million hits.  We invite you to add to that number in May, June and beyond.  We're working hard to live up to the motto we've had since day one... "If it's Comic Related, you'll find it here."  Please take a moment right now, add a bookmark within your browser and check back.  You won't be sorry. 

Tuesday, May 16th, 2006 - We here at Comic Related like to highlight, whenever possible, the positive role women play in the world of comics.  Just take a look at the Friends of Lulu's website and visit their "Women Doing Comics" list [link].  What a list.  Those voices don't just touch every corner of the comic industry, I would argue that they form much of the backbone of many titles we enjoy today.  Here's hoping you are more proud than surprised when you take a look at that list of names.

Should you happen to find yourself in the New York area between May 20th and November 6th, 2006 we'd like to share an on topic press release relating to an upcoming event:

What is MoCCA?  Letting their website [official site] share all the details, the purpose of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is the collection, preservation, study, education, and display of comic and cartoon art.  A worthy cause in our book. 

Comics and cartoons have been instrumental in effecting significant dialogue on issues involving society, culture, philosophy, and politics. History has shown them to be instrumental in documenting--and interpreting--historic events and social change. Artistically, comic and cartoon art is created at the highest levels by some of the world's finest graphic illustrators. What does the art tell us about the time period that it was created in? How does it stand the test of time? What First Amendment issues regarding content come into play? How does censorship determine what is (and isn't) published? These issues are only a handful of those that the Museum tackles through its exhibits and programming.

Monday, May 15th, 2006 - I seem, like most people, to live a pretty busy life these days.  For me, I work a full time job (read  50 plus hours a week), put in a couple hours on the side each day keeping this site up to speed and I usually find a way to squeeze in five or six other things not necessarily related to either profession.  That's what made it so nice Sunday when I decided to let things slide and enjoy a couple hours firing up the X-Box enjoying some solid, thumb-tiring video game fun.  I quickly grabbed a cold beverage from the fridge (the kind that would make Wolvie proud), found a comfortable chair and and checked out a coupe new games. 

No, I haven't made my way over to the X-Box 360, but I don't feel like I'm missing anything just yet.  I happen to think it's a great time to be an old school X-Box player.  At this point we're in that great "between period" where one system is going out of fashion yet the other hasn't quite proven it's undying worth to me.  It's clearly the end of days for the first generation X-Box, but that means the old games are out there, fun and still plentiful.  All those titles I wanted to try, but didn't feel like paying $50 to play are available in the $5 - $15 range.  Just last week, while tracking down a Mother's Day present for the world's greatest mother (mine of course), I nabbed a copy of X-Men Legends [official website] on the cheap.  Add to that Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (containing Hydro Thunder, Super Off Road and other classic racing games) [details] nabbed for under $10 and you have the making of a fun, fun evening.

What would make it worth upgrading to the X-Box 360?  If you are a comic book fan, there are two titles that will probably force your hand and propel you into a world of new hardware.  Those titles are Marvel Ultimate Alliance [official website] and Justice League Heroes [official website].  These two are going to be comic video game blockbusters. 

Marvel Ultimate Alliance
With this title we see over 140 Marvel characters come together for an action/RPG title that features, quite literally, the largest roster of comic book characters ever seen in a single game. Players assume the roles of more than 20 Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Blade and Captain America.  Through their actions, the game determines the fate of both planet Earth and the Marvel universe.  Sounds great to this comic fan.

“Marvel: Ultimate Alliance delivers a new twist on action/RPGs where players’ actions and choices ultimately determine what happens to the Marvel universe,” states Will Kassoy, Vice President of Global Brand Management for Activision, makers of the title. “This coupled with the game’s enormous character roster will deliver an action-packed experience that comic book fans have been waiting for.”

Justice League Heroes
Justice League Unlimited was produced and written by comic insider Dwayne McDuffie and from the early look following E3, McDuffie hasn't held anything back.  Justice League Heroes is based on the comic book version of the DC super team (read pre-"Infinite Crisis" JLA). The membership consists of many of the classic characters including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Flash (Wally West), Green Lantern (Jon Stewart) and Zatanna (subbing for Aquaman).

"Justice League Heroes is an exciting game for so many audiences, and our focus is to present these super heroes on the consoles in the most compelling way for players," said Jason Hall, senior vice president for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Partnering with Eidos, who has had much success in distribution, will allow the strongest reach for this action game where gamers take on the super powers of their favorite DC Comics’ heroes."

Looking for screen shots?  Check this page for Justice League and this page for Ultimate Alliance.  Trailers are available on both of the official websites linked above.  Look for Marvel Ultimate Alliance in early 2007 and Justice League Heroes in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Friday, May 12th, 2006 - As everyone knows, comics are all about storytelling through art and text.  At the heart of any comic, no matter how good the art might be, there still has to be a solid story for it to be a memorable work.  Okay, I'll admit that the work of such artists like Alex Ross and George Perez might give that notion a run for it's money, but I feel the story must be there and the art helps tell, empower and enhance the experience.

Every once in a while there are those magical, key narratives that redefine the medium of comics.  One obvious example that jumps to mind is the Watchmen series.  What would the 12-part Watchmen series have been without the genius of Alan Moore powering each page?  Instead of it being "just another series" with outstanding art by Dave Gibbons, we find ourselves still talking about it and holding it in reverence almost twenty years later.

Had that story not been told, it's possible an entire generation of comics might have been forever altered or worse yet, never written.  Some stories just have to be told in order to open the way for other stories that follow.  This begs the question, how many stories are lost each day because they are simply never shared?  This, in a nutshell, is what intrigued me about the StoryCorp Project.

What is the StoryCorp Project?  StoryCorps is a national project designed to instruct and inspire people to record each others' stories in sound.  The project exists to help you interview your grandmother, your uncle or ever a random person who simply finds their way into your life.  Anyone whose story you want to hear and preserve is worthy of the StoryCorp Project.

To start, the folks behind the project began building soundproof recording booths across the country called StoryBooths. The public then, for a suggested project donation of $10, schedules time to use these booths for an hour to record broadcast-quality interviews with the help of a trained facilitator. In this way, the project captures the stories of our country that might otherwise have simply been forgotten.

The first StoryBooth opened in New York City's Grand Central Terminal on October 23, 2003 (pictured left). StoryCorps opened its second StoryBooth in New York City in Lower Manhattan on July 12, 2005. The project also has two traveling recording studios, called MobileBooths, which embarked on cross-country tours on May 19, 2005.  Plans to expand the project continue and you can regularly hear snippets from these stories on radio networks such as National Public Radio.

StoryCorps was modeled after the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the 1930s, through which oral-history interviews with everyday Americans across the country were recorded. These recordings remain the single most important collection of American voices gathered to date. It is the hope of the current project that StoryCorps will build and expand on that work becoming a WPA for the 21st Century.  StoryCorp interviews are collected in the StoryCorps Archive, housed at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.  The stories are also housed in your home thanks to the CD's of the interviews the Corp sends with you as you leave.

Want to learn more?
Visit www.storycorps.net and please consider
participating, supporting or simply listening.

"I'm about to tell you some secrets you will never know
Now don't ask what? Don't moan, don't cry,
don't even ask where this is going to go? no no"

(From "Hello" by Courtney Love / Album: America's Sweetheart / 2004)

Thursday, May 11th, 2006 - How did we get from where we are today, the end of DC Comic's Infinite Crisis, to the surprising changes presented in the various "One Year Later" titles which the comic company has unveiled over the last two months?  These titles took existing storylines and jumped one year in the future leaving many mysteries in each story's wake.  One of the most asked questions centers around how the DC Universe filled the void of a year without Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman?  The teaser info for the 52 series explains "A year without Superman; a year without Batman; a year without Wonder Woman...but not a year without heroes."  That teaser caught my interest and started me thinking.

We're about to learn all the details as this week marks the launch of the anxiously awaited series, 52.  As DC puts it in their pre-event press statements,  52 is the story of DC's most eventful year ever as told by four of the industry's best writers; Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid.  These four will deliver a weekly tale of "death, danger, romance, intergalactic terror and the never-ending, universal meaning of heroism".  With storyteller Keith Giffen and cover artist J.G. Jones, 52 is set to be a clear fan favorite.  After the dark times DC has endured over the last year, it's also a series that promises hope, answers and each week a seven day steps closer to our learning what it took for the heroes to make it from today to tomorrow "One Year Later".

Hope and answers may be effervescent in the DC universe, but they seem in short supply in the real world.  This "One Year Later" line of thought and a passing visit to CNN had me thinking what the real world will be like 52 weeks from today?  Within the last 24 hours, headlines declared [story] that roughly 17,500 U.S. troops have been wounded and 2,500 killed in Iraq during the war to date.  It goes on to tell the tale of a gravely wounded soldier begged to the medics, "Don't let me die! Please, don't let me die."  Another headline [story] explains that "Baghdad's morgue reported that 1,091 people were killed in the city's daily violence in April".  These are two headlines that just a precious few years ago would have been almost unthinkable.  Now they seem like the daily norm.  How did we get so accepting of so much horror?  How did such a loss of human life become a story on a website with a link that will fade from our collective consciousness and front page news a few hours from now? I don't know, but I do know that our soldiers and their families deserve a better fate or at the very least a more appropriate fight than what we've seen in Iraq to date.  They deserve the one thing they have not had... leadership.

I wish we could simply pull a comic out of the protective mylar bag and read what life will be like 52 weeks from today.  If it were only that easy to learn where we would stand in Iraq, or who would control the House and Senate following the upcoming elections, or what will become of Iran's nuclear program, or whether or not FEMA and the government are ready for the upcoming hurricane season, or if New Orleans has really been forgotten, or where all this unprecedented Washington scandal is headed, or even something as simple as knowing whether or not our borders are safe enough to protect us for another year.  Wouldn't life be a bit easier if we could read it all now and simply jump "One Year Later"?

52 is all about change in the DC Universe.  I hope those of you old enough to vote make sure you're registered and take a moment this November to ask for real change in Washington.  The Republican party has had their chance and, in this humble comic fan's opinion, they've blown that rare opportunity in some monumental ways.  Please do note forget when it comes time to vote that the Republican party controlled not just the Executive Branch, but the House, the Senate and now even carry a majority on the Supreme Count.  Is our life any better because of their time in office?  It's been six years during which this party has had every opportunity to enact change for the betterment of you and I. Can you think of one aspect of your life that is honestly better?

In closing, all I see are a thousand points of hope and light that are being snuffed out at home and abroad with every new 24 hour news cycle.  When it comes to a real world "One Year Later" I fear where we as a country are headed if we do not see change.  I desperately hope that the American public embraces their rights this November and send a clear message of dissatisfaction.  I hope that in 52 short weeks we don't have to look to a comic book to read about our best hope for a bright future.  As we begin to welcome back Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, let's think long and hard about who we would really like to see out of political office "One Year Later".

Wednesday, May 10th, 2006 - As you most likely learned yesterday, Marvel has released two banners for fans to place on websites officially stating which side of Civil War they support [full press release].  The company is targeting fan sites and MySpace accounts in the hope of further spreading the word on this news making series.  Here are the official banners:

The internet, being the internet, has already exploded with parodies of these two graphics.  For today's related recap, we thought we would share a few with you...

Seen more out there?  Send us the link to the page.  We would love to take a look!

Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 - How many books (not comics, but actual books) have you read lately that you simply could not put down?  How many books have you read that not only promise epic adventure, but deliver a well written story that coincidentally adapts real comic history for fictional characters?  If you answer is zero, read on because I have a book for you.

Have you ever wanted to feel as if you were standing there when the classic creators of the 40's and 50's began framing the history of the comics we love today?  Have you ever wanted, just for a moment, to understand what that sensation felt like?  If you answered yes to either question, I have a book for you.

In October of 2005 I found myself in Washington DC sharing an afternoon with comic legend Jim Steranko at the Washington DC Comic-Con [gallery].  As we talked, he mentioned Michael Chabon and the Escapist.  The name Chabron rang a bell, but beyond seeing the movie Wonderboys I hadn't had a chance to take in any of his written work.  Steranko [bio] and the story of how he served as the inspiration for both The Escapist and DC's Mister Miracle [bio] character, peaked my curiosity.  Always open to a good book, I wandered into a Dupont Circle bookstore on my way back to my hotel, picked up a copy of Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and started reading.  After I opened that first page, I barely know where the next week went.  I devoured this book and when it ended I was both sad to see it done and, suprisingly, excited by the possibility of reading it a second time.  In the end, it wasn't just the best book I read last year, it's now one of my favorites.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay debuted in the fall of 2000 to critical success. It's achievements to date include a Notable Book of 2000 by the American Library Association, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the New York Society Library Prize for Fiction, the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award, the Commonwealth Club Gold Medal, and a little award called the Pulitzer Prize.  Let's just say this book has street cred in addition to entertainment value.

Through the eyes of Sam Clay and Joe Kavalier, the lead characters of this tale, we walk through comic history and beyond gaining a deeper understanding of what life may have been like for the Jerry Siegels and the Joseph Shusters, the Joe Simons and the Jack Kirbys and, of course, the great Will Eisner as these legends birthed a generation of heroes that would fill adult and child alike with wonder for decades to come.  These people made comics what they are today and this book lets you feel like you were there when it all started.  Better yet, that comic angle is only part of what turns out to be the truly Amazing Adventure that is the life story of Kavalier and Claye, we walk through comic history and beyond gaining a deeper understanding of what life may have been like for the Jerry Siegels and the Joseph Shusters, the Joe Simons and the Jack Kirbys and, of course, the great Will Eisner as these legends birthed a generation of heroes that would fill adult and child alike with wonder for decades to come.  These people made comics what they are today and this book lets you feel like you were there when it all started.  Better yet, that comic angle is only part of what turns out to be the truly Amazing Adventure that is the life story of Kavalier and Clay.

On another day in another related recap, I'll talk a bit about the comics that followed, the new series getting underway over a Dark Horse based on the book and the upcoming movie adaptation [learn more].  For now, I humbly ask that you don't do me a favor, but rather do yourself one by going out and reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay [Amazon.com].  Whether you are a comic fan or not, you will not be sorry.

Monday, May 8th, 2006 - This is one of those clear "you have to see it to believe it" moments in comic store design.  What am I talking about?  Well, give me a moment and I'll take you there.

First a little history...  Back when I had a few stores to call my own [About Us has details], we used to hang pegboard on the walls and pop holes in the comic backboards to hang classic issues on the wall as a form of decoration and visual sales tool.  We also made it a point to encourage patrons to share their original comic art which we respectfully displayed as if they were the work of Rembrandt.  Finally, we would fill our storefront window with an ever changing mix of comic posters (supplied by the publishers) and call it a day.  We thought what we unveiled with each new store opening was a slick look and, for the mid-80's, it was pretty much state of the art.

It's clear the brick-and-mortar comic stores of today have an entirely new set of standards. Jumping forward from the 80's to today, I find myself in awe staring at the creativity that has infested Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find, a comic specialty shop in Charlotte, NC [check them out at www.heroesonline.com].  The two statue display they've set up has me, as a fan of comics, struck speechless.  Take a look at this...

This life-size Doctor Octopus statue is the centerpiece of a two part sculpture which dominates the North Carolina store.  Where Doc Ock's arms touch the tables, they're actually serving as a conduit to feed power to the standalone counters.  You can see on the left side of the photo the webbing that meets Doc's forward arm.  At the other end of that webbing stands a life size Spider-Man statue locked in a classic comic battle scene.  Ten-year veteran of the comic industry Mike Wieringo [www.mikewieringo.com] was behind the design of  both statues and they look great!

For more photos (plus word on the Heroes Aren't Hard to Find Free Comic Book Day celebration), be sure to visit the recent Newsarama coverage of the event and stop back by this page tomorrow for another Related Recap!

Sunday, May 7th, 2006 - Yesterday throughout the world kids, teens and adults alike enjoyed free comics.  This is the fourth year for the Free Comic Book Day event and it continues to get bigger each year.  Almost 2 million comic books were handed out at roughly 1,850 retailers.  We here at Comic Related welcome any new readers who may be digging around the web, learning about comics following the event.  New to comics?  Click here to learn more.

One of the goals of Free Comic Book Day was to reach out to those individuals unfamiliar with the comics specialty market while also highlighting local comic book shops who work so hard to promote the medium of comics. In working toward this goal, every year those behind Free Comic Book Day launch a massive promotional campaign that heralds the event and spreads the good word of comics to potential readers everywhere. Check out the coverage list from 2005 to see just how successful this event has been in the past.

Early yesterday I passed by a local store taking part in the event and it looked to be filled with kids and parents drawn by the event.  In my area, I would like to tip my hat to A+ Comics & Collectibles, Comic Interlude, Collectibles Etc., Plan B Collectibles, Hastings and Warlords Unlimited for taking part in this year's event.  Nice to see our area so well represented.

I close today hoping that each and every individual reading this was out yesterday supporting the event.  Here's hoping you wore your brightest and best comic t-shirt and told a friend or two why you enjoy comics.  The best way you can help is to let others know that you are a fan.

Saturday, May 6th, 2006 - This week DC closed the doors on Infinite Crisis with issue #7.  One Year Later has rolled out it's changes and 52 is starting to really take shape with a May 10th targeted street date.  Can we say (for what seems like the 100th time this week) that it's a good time to be reading comics? 

Having suffered through a lot of the sludge produced in the 80's and 90's, this new modern age of Marvel and DC is really something to watch.  Personally, I've gotten a real charge out of the big "event" storylines.  Along with the DC story to end all stories (Infinite Crisis of course), Marvel's been equally busy churning out quality content via House of M, the Decimation follow-up to M, Annihilation and now Civil War.  Just this week we've even heard a hint that there will be a significant shake-up in Marvel's first family; the Fantastic Four [details]. 

All in all, it's been fun edge-of-the-seat comic reading on both sides of the primary industry fence and I think the we'll all benefit in the long run from the exposure these events are generating.  For example, Civil War being featured on an ABC World News webcast this week was a big win for the industry.  Are you a fan of National Public Radio?  Click here to check out their Civil War coverage.

Okay, getting back to Infinite Crisis #7, this issue had some real shining moments for me.  It had one image I'll not soon forget, one moment that reinvigorated me toward a primary DC hero and, finally, one death that was simply filled with style.  For me, these were the high spots of the issue and they are remembered below (though some images have been edited to eliminate a spoiler or two):

One image I'll not soon forget...

Haven't read the issue?  You're missing out on a comic universe's turning point.  Run, do not walk, to your local comic store and get your copy of Infinite Crisis #7.  It's nothing short of comic history in the making.

Friday, May 5th, 2006 - As you can tell by the shift in look, we're taking the commentary section in a brand spakin' new direction.  Before today, this page featured full articles that were solid, detailed and fun.  The one problem... they were a bit too infrequent.

As of today, we've shifted this area to more of a free form, blog-style arena.  Here we'll post (quite informally) content related to current topics and trends in the world of comics.  We'll cover news stories, things going on around this and other websites and anything related to the ever changing world of comics.  We'll keep it on topic most of the time, but we may surprise you with the directions we take along the way.  Our topics will sometimes wander into music (both popular and obscure), film, television, technology and even a bit of politics.  You may like what we have to say, you may hate it but we guarantee it will be a fun ride.

Want to get involved?  If you drop us an e-mail, we'll give your thoughts a read and roll some of them right into the discussion.  You don't have to agree with us.  You just have to be interesting.  Believe me when we say we're open to your input!

Check back tomorrow as we take on DC's Infinite Crisis finale.  For today, let's start with a rundown of our past commentary articles:

Mutants, A commentary revisited One year later... Comic art just off Bourbon in the Big Easy Our Forums, they are a changing Must See Comic Television John Constantine with a beat Byrne-ing Through History The world needs less mutants Clash of the cancelled comics Long live the Giffen Legion

By the way, the title to today's related-blog was inspired by David Bowie. It just felt like a good way to kick things off...

"Turn and face the strain, Ch-ch-changes, Just gonna have
to be a different man, Time may change me, But I can’t trace time"
 
(Changes by David Bowie / Album: Hunky Dory / 1971)