What Ndamukong Suh Says

What Gronk Do?

Get Ready for Avengers VS X-Men, Coming April 2012

I'm posting this because it would have gone up at http://www.geeksofdoom.com but some other smarmy bastards beat me to the punch. So, this is what I would have posted about it.Also, I need to get back in the habit of posting here. I let this slip away, and I am sorry you poor neglected blog you.

On Reviewing, Part 1

I was struck by some thoughts on my own reviewing techniques tonight, and I just wanted to get some things down on paper and maybe get a discussion going, so feel free to chime in if you are so inclined.

If you don't know me, I review a fair amount of stuff over at Geeks of Doom, and when I review said stuff, I grade on a straight # out of five scale. By this I mean I don't use any half points, and my basic meaning of my score goes like this:

It's New Comics Thursday!!

And it's a day late, but you'll just have to get over it.

Love this. Just....Awesome.

And this too...

You Don't Push Around Jim Schwartz

You just don't do it.

College Football Picks Week 7

This is going up a little early because I don't think I'll have time to write tomorrow morning. Still in New York City, enjoying some crappy weather now and some great comics people. NYCC is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows of the year and this is shaping up to be my best show ever in terms of actual interviews and facetime with people. But that's not why we're here. We're here for some football! I'm too tired and there's only one game worth caring about tomorrow, although I will talk about one others. So let's jump in.

It's New Comics Thursday!!

It's new comics Thursday, and that can only mean one thing!

College Football Picks Week 6

I'm traveling today so no College Football picks, and I wouldn't expect it next week either. I will give you a stone cold lock of the century of the week, and it is this:

Chris Vs The Search for Drakes Cakes

I win this already. I am going to try a funny bone right now. And that is your

What I'd Like To See

Got a couple of sports related posts today, including a Red Wings preview that I still need to do a little research on, but right now I'm going to lay out a scenario for you that I came up with last night.

It's New Comics Thursday!!

It's new comics Thursday, and that can only mean one thing!

College Football Picks Week 5

Games are already starting as I write this so it's time to take a look at the big games of the day. It's week five, which means big conference games are starting this week. There are several important games this week across every conference, including possible Big 10, SEC and MAC championship previews. So, let's take a look.

Chris' Cooking Corner: BACON!!!!!!!!

Guess who's back in the kitchen? Why, it's just little old me. Today for lunch I had possibly the greatest idea for a sandwich, but the whole thing failed in the execution, mostly because of the time of year we are in, so I don't blame the chef that much. The sandwich I had was a fried green tomato BLT. It was your classic BLT, but with a fried green instead of a regular tomato.

It's New Comics Thursday!!!

And that can mean only one thing...

Advance Review: Blackhawks #1

When DC rolled out its plan to relaunch their entire universe and restart everything with a new #1 issue, the most surprising book I saw on the list was Blackhawks. I mean come on! Who wants to read a book about a mediocre hockey team?!?! It doesn't make any sense. I suppose Chicago is a big city, and the Blackhawks are a popular team, but how do you turn this into a comic? I was able to find out when I read this first issue.

The issue starts with Captain Toews assembling his team to fight the looming threat of the Cavity Creeps. The writer presents us a pretty large cast, and does a fair job of punching up their personalities from the bunch of useless hacks and divers that they are in real life. The characters in the book have to deal with being the weaker team in a larger organization, and they are constantly trying to make themselves think they are better than other teams, especially after they get fluke wins. What the writer can't do is make the characters, or "players" as they are referred to, seem like less than little crying douchebags. Most of them are written as unlikeable jerks and I never felt like they were an actual team, so much as a collection of individuals thrown together.

The whole story wraps up with an insane trip to the mall where the team fights Captain Kangaroo Pimp and his team of ninjas. At least this part is kind of exciting, and the art is well done. All in all, this isn't a very good book, and I don't think this is going to last very long. Maybe if the book changed focus to a different team, I would care more, but as of right now, I couldn't care less.

Wait a minute....you mean this book doesn't exist? The actual Blackhawks #1 is about a bunch of mercenaries in the DC universe? The story by Mike Costa looks pretty interesting, kind of a GI Joe of the DCU, and the art by Ken Lashley looks pretty good, and it's in stores today, Wednesday 9/28/11? Well then what the hell was I reading? Did I dream all that hockey stuff, and the Cavity Creeps? I really need to stop eating two extra large pizzas before bed. I always get the weirdest dream. You should hear about the dream I had where I had to track down Mike Tyson because he had stolen all my comics and was trying to sell them to former President Ike Eisenhower, who kept saying "Let's Get Busy". But that's a story for a different time...

College Football Picks Week 4

It's that time again!! Time to take a look at some games and tell you who I think is going to win. It's not scientific, I have no inside information, I barely have outside information. But I'm going to tell you what I think and you are going to listen. Or not, you know, whatever. What say we take a look at a couple of games!

Robocop Sings "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"

Oh my goodness, somebody find me video of this.

Now!!

Photo via Flipboard

It's New Comics Thursday!!

In honor of Detroit Fanfare, The start of the Hockey Pre-Season and because it was requested, I give you...

College Football Picks Week 3

It;s time for week three of college football, and it comes with a great rivalry game. We had a lot of great games last week, including an instant classic in the U of M/Notre Dame thriller under the lights. There are some more good games this week, including a top 5 match up. Here are the four games I'm looking at today.

It's New Comics Thursday!!

And that can only mean one thing...

The Reading Stack: Week 2

Okay, I know I've been absent this week. Ten hour days wipe out my brain. I'm back today, and I only have one more work day this week. So yay for me!

We're here to take this week look at my reading stack. And let's just say I didn't get much done. I read a bit in the Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars hardcover, but that was it. The new section of the Reading Stack will be the addition pile. I didn't get any reading done this week, and I got the Daytripper trade this week. The big problem with Daytripper is that I read the series when it was coming out, and I know I'm going to have to be in a very specific mood to read it. I'm also adding a score to the weeks reading. It's real simple; I get a minus 1 for every book I buy and a plus 1 for every book that I finish. So; lets take a look at the run-down.

Currently in the middle of:
Secret Wars HC
Hellcity
One Soul

Added to the stack:
Daytripper

I'm not going to print the whole list of books on the stack again, you can read the first post in the series for the complete list. Since I got no titles finished this week, and added one book to the stack my score for the week is:

Score for the week: -1

I have my work cut out for me next week, as I am getting at least three trades this week. I have Friday off though, so hopefully I can get some work done on the stack.

Until, next week, Keep Reading!

The Wager Wire #1

Hello folks! Stephen here and I would like to welcome you to the inaugural edition of what I'm tentatively calling 'The Wager Wire'.

My goal is to bring you my picks from around the world of sports with a bit of accompanying analysis as well.

Keep in mind that this column is, and will remain, for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Here's how it works: I will give you the match-up along with the points line and my choice. We will assume that each game has a wager of 50 peanuts riding on it with losses carrying a 10% 'Juice' fee. Therefore a win means +50 in the jar and a loss means -55.

I'll keep a running total along with a win-loss record and we'll have some fun trying to keep the jar full and the loss column clean.

Ready? Then let's get things started! (Home team in CAPS.)

College Football Picks Week 2

Okay, so last week we learned that you should take advise from me if you're betting, but I did end up going 3 for 4 in my actual picks, so good for me. This week, we get some more cupcake games this week and a few good ones and one really big game. So, let's take a look at a couple of them.

The Best Thing You Will Watch All Weekend

And here it is...

It's New Comics Thursday!!

It's new comics Thursday, for me at least, and that can only mean one thing....

The Reading Stack: The Beginning

This my become a Sisyphean effort, but I will now chronicle my efforts to eliminate the mighty stack of books that have piled up over several years. Literally. I have books that I bought three years ago but have not read yet. So, each week I will keep a list of the books that I add to the list, and hopefully the books I subtract from the list. So, today I present you THE ALPHA LIST!!! We start, with the list of books I am currently in the middle of.

Chris' Cooking Corner: Spanakopita

Okay, let's go crazy today! Here is a recipe that I have tried a few times to decent success. Try it out, see if you can improve upon it. have some fun. I demand that you have fun today! Demand I tell you! (I'm in a demanding mood today).

Anyway, the recipe today is Spanakopita or Spinich Pie. This recipe will feed about 4-6 people, prepare and cook time is about an hour. Here's the ingredient list:

The Tao of McDavid, Part 1

It is an intensely beautiful Labor Day as I write this, having just woken up from my third nap of the day, and I find myself reflecting on the good things in life. Cold Coke out of a bottle. Good comic books. A roof over my head and food in my belly. It is the quiet moments in life that I find myself most relaxed, and I doubt I am alone in that. I am grateful for everything that God has given me. I like to say that I am thankful for God giving me everything that I need and even the crap that I don't. So today, take a deep breathe, relax, take a nap, watch a shitty movie, and spend a second to relax on how great your life is, even if you think it isn't. If you are reading this, you are better off than 90% of the other people in the world. Your life is a wonder. Take a minute to think on that.

College Football Picks Week 1

It's the first college football Saturday of the year and I couldn't be happier. However, it is the first weekend of the year, which means there are a lot of boring games. There are a lot of cupcakes on a lot of teams schedules. Fortunately, teams, or rather athletic directors have learned that a big week 1 match-up can equal great ratings so there are a few good ones. Like:

Central Michigan University Football Preview

And thus begins a series of posts that only I and maybe a few others will care about. If everything goes according to plan, I will be writing short wrap ups for each game for the mighty Central Michigan University Chippewas. Some of this plan will live or die on whether I am able to watch/listen to a specific game, which is never a sure thing.

Today, I'm going to give a few thoughts, hopes, and fantasies for the upcoming season.

It's College Football Kickoff Day!!!!

The day is finally here!! It's the start of the 2011 college football season. The best four months in sports and I couldn't be happier!!!! I think I may just give a row of exclamtion marks to prove to you my excitement!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Convinced yet?

Oishinbo: Fish, Sushi and Sashimi Review

Oishinbo

I'm tired and cranky today because I had to wake up early again today for a two hour meeting that did nothing for me except piss me off further. I'm not even in that much of a mood to write, but I also feel like powering through and doing something, so I'm just going to write a quick review for some manga (pronounced main-ga) I read this week. Oishinbo is a food and cooking manga (pronounced main-ga) writen by Tetsu Kariya with art by Akira Hanasaki. It is about some guy whose name I can't remember right now but I'm sure is a Japanese name who is a newspaper writer and gourmet who works with his female partner whose name I also can't remember but is also probably Japanese. They are working to create the Ultimate Menu, a collection of all the recipes that make Japanese food Japanese. Each volume in the American release focuses on a different type of food. This is the second volume I have read so far, the first dealing with the making of ramen and gyoza. This particular volume deals with fish, ssushi and sashimi.

I have very much enjoyed the first two volumes of this series that I have read. I'm not a foodie in any way but reading this manga (pronounced main-ga) kind of makes me want to become one. Each volume comes with a recipe that seems easy enough to make, but beyond that I just love the characters. The main character is basically a slacker who just wants to sleep and eat well, but when push comes to shove he is very focused on his job. Well, he's more focused on beating his father, who is also a gourmet, and is working on the simalar Supreme Menu, and is also kind of a jerk. Each volume seems to have at least one of their major battles (think Iron Chef, but with a lot of posturing and yelling, so exactly like Iron Chef).

The format of the story is a little weird. Since each volume focuses on a different type of food, each US edition draws from different periods within the original story. For example, the main character and his female writing partner eventually get married and have a kid as the story runs its course, so each volume of the US edition starts with them as working friends, skips forward to them being dating, and then skips forward even further to them being married. It makes some of the stories come off a little weird and I wish it was being released in a more chronological manner so I could be more invested in the characters. That said, the characters are written with a lot of flair and you quickly catch up with where they are and what the relationships are. With the series running for over 25 years and with more than a hundred tankobon volumes released so far, a lot of credit goes to the translators for making the series easy to follow, and for explaining all the cooking jargon.

The art is kind of simple, but very expressive as the best manga (pronounced main-ga) should be. It reads quick and will make you want to go out for Japanese food. I did have a problem with this volume in that it says sushi right there in the title, but there's very little talk about sushi or how to prepare it, at least not as much as I would have liked. Regardless, this is a great series and one of the best manga (pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) being published. I need to track down another volume now. Highly recommended.

From the Ladle to the Grave: The Story of Shallow Gravy

Got a chance to watch the all new Venture Brothers special that aired this past weekend and is available now on iTunes (at least in the US). It wasn't too bad. Not great, certainly not as good as the previous VB special, which was the Christmas special that came out a while ago. i think the biggest problem with it is that "Behind the Music" parodies weren't even that good when BTM was a viable force in pop culture, and BTM parodies have not gotten fresher with age. Plus it was mostly clips from old episodes. There were a few good jokes, especially the parts with 21 and The Monarch. Your enjoyment will depend on how much you like Dermett. It's woth the $1.99 I spent on iTunes though, but then again, I have a Lions shirt with the name Henchman 21 on the back, so I may be biased.

Expect a fuller review on Geeks of Doom as soon as I get a free second today. I just wanted to get some thoughts down on it and to post something today. I hope to be back later with a possible MAC football preview and 101 reasons why I hate the term "Mouth Breather" as a pejorative.

Enjoy your day!

Afternoon Linkage

A few quick links to some other stuff I have written/been involved with:

Here's the link to this weeks Comics of Doom, the podcast featuring Justin Vactor, Willie Gillis, Hunter Camp, and of course myself. This week we talk about The Bionic Man #1, as well as a bunch of other comics and news.

Also, here is a story I wrote about the next Hellboy story, that will be showing up in January in the pages of Dark Horse Presents #7.

Enjoy.

Video Music Awards Review

What, are you crazy? I didn't watch this bullshit. I don't have cable, but even if I did, I still wouldn't watch this bullshit. Adult Swim was running a Venture Brother's marathon leading up to an all new special, "From the Ladle to the Grave: The Story of Shallow Gravy". I would have been watching that, and you should have been too. So don't come complaining to me when you get mad about whatever went on at the VMA's last night. You could have been watching the best show on television. So there.

It Begins

Okay, I'm starting another blog, different from my old livejournal account, but basically the same. Expect randomness. Comics, sports, movies, TV, links, anything that I like. My plan is for something each day. But don't count on it because I lack disipline. Also, I have to learn how to use this system, so there will be not many pictures and then there may be many many pictures.

Also, expect a lot of spelling errors.

Also, expect the use of the word "Also" in a lot of posts. It's how I roll.

I'll try to keep things entertaining.

Back to work.