The ComicDorksCast Episode 094 - New Disease

ComicDorkscastEp094.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• We talk about the finale of the Witches arc in Fables #91 and explain the wonders of Buffkin the Winged Monkey
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Brave and the Bold #30 (yes the book is that damn good)
• A rather creepy christmas tale unfolds in Batman: Streets of Gotham #7
• Andy's Pick of the week: Justice League of America #40

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at www.fantasyshoponline.com/comicdorkscast.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "The Black Rider" By Tom Waits

The ComicDorksCast Episode 093 - While We're Ahead

ComicDorkscastEp093.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Nation X #1 only further proves that Marvel is willing to keep trying these Anthology stories until they work ... and this time it does.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Daytripper #1.
• We finally see the result of all of Clint Barton's hard work getting captured in New Avengers Annual #3.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Deadpool #18.
• Black Alice submits her resume in Secret Six #16.
• Tony's Pick of the Week: B.P.R.D. War on Frogs #4.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at www.fantasyshoponline.com/comicdorkscast.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Iron Woman" By Devin Davis

ComicDorksCast Episode 091 - Necklace

ComicDorkscastEp091.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Needless to say things get worse in Blackest Night #5.
  
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Justice Leage: Cry for Justice #5.
  
• It's BACK! Powers #1!
  
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Avengers Initiative #30.
  
• Tony's Last Will & Testament in Invincible Iron Man #20.
  
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Giant-Sized Thor Finale One-Shot.
  
• Brief Mentions.
  
• Anticipated Books.
  

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at www.fantasyshoponline.com/comicdorkscast.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Neapolitan Bridesmaid" by Tarkio.

ComicDorksCast Episode 090 - The One With The Outtake in the Middle

ComicDorkscastEp090.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• FRANKENCASTLE?!?! Punisher #11.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Flash: Rebirth #5.
• Dark Avengers #11 poses even more questions.
• Mike's Pick of the Week: Invincible #68.
• Brother Power, The Geek and Batman team up in Brave & The Bold #29.
• Tony's Pick of the Week: Spiderwoman #3.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Lazy Eye" by Silversun Pickups.

ComicDorksCast Episode 089 - MODOC

ComicDorkscastEp089.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Hercules teams up with the Merc with the Mouth in Deadpool Team Up #899.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #4.
• Kevin Smith continues to wow with Batman: The Widening Gyre #3.
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Stumptown #1.
• John Ostrander proves he hasn't lost a step when it comes to Deadshot in Secret Six #15.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Absolution #3.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Ha Ha" by Mates of State.

ComicDorksCast Episode 088 - Proof that We Are 9 Years Old

ComicDorkscastEp088.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Blackest Night #4 shows that everyone can be a hero when the time comes.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Fantastic Four #572.
• Green Lantern #47 continues the thread of amazing story telling that has been throughout Blackest Night.
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Dark Avengers: Ares #1.
• Batman #692 is Tony Daniel's first issue on the ongoing on his own and it lives up and then some.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Dark Reign: The List - Punisher One Shot.
• We answer a letter from a fan.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Boogie Monster" by Gnarls Barkley.

ComicDorksCast Episode 087 - Pigeons Without a License

ComicDorkscastEp087.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Batman: Streets of Gotham #5 might have been written by a guest writer but was certainly up to the kind of quality we have come to expect from the series ... so we talked about it.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Elephantmen #22.
• This book has been a regular for quite sometime and we talk about it once again ... Invincible Iron Man #20.
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Brave & The Bold #28.
• It may have underwhelmed a little but it certainly showed a brilliant new direction, and thus Justice League of America #38 makes the show.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Incredible Hulk #603.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Combat Baby" by Metric.

ComicDorksCast Episode 086 - Polyp

ComicDorkscastEp086.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Sins unburdened in Walking Dead #66.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Red Robin #5.
• We dredge the Depths in Secret Six #14.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Uncanny X-Men #516.
• Green Lantern Corps #41 brings it all to the table and then some.
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Fables #89.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "In Every Direction" by So Many Dynamos.

ComicDorksCast Episode 085 - The Cool Side of the Pillow

ComicDorkscastEp085.mp3 (Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Batman & Robin #5 starts us off on a really good foot.


• Jon's Pick of the Week: Dark Reign: The List - Secret Warriors One-Shot.


• Daredevil #501 only further proves that there will continue a great lineage of Daredevil writers for sometime to come.


• Andy's Pick of the Week: Planetary #27.


• Astonishing X-Men shows that Warren Ellis still knows what he's doing and that Phil Jimenez is still a genius.


• Scott's Pick of the Week: Vengeance of the Moon Knight #2.


• Criminal returns with Sinners #1!


• Tony's Pick of the Week: Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1.


• Brief Mentions.


• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com
Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.
Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.
The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Everywhere You Turn" by Longwave.

The Dorks’ Abroad: Broadcasting Live from Japan!

日本

Finally, It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on the Dorks’ wall. Getting adjusted to school and not to mention Japan in general has not been an easy feat. But here is goes. The first thing, and perhaps most important, thing you need to know about Japan is that they love comics more than any other country in the world. But you won’t find familiar faces on their comic shelves. まんが (manga) is an absolute obsession in Japan. Of the month I’ve been here, I have been able to walk just a few blocks, in any direction, and find a book/comic store and in the city it is rare not to find them on every block. Truly a comic lovers dream... unless you like American comics. Now I knew when I came to Japan that I was going to have to makes some sacrifices to perhaps my biggest pastime but I was not sure to what extent. If you ever plan on going to Japan, do not expect to find American comics, even in Tokyo, to be somewhat commonplace. I’ve been living in Japan for a month and have only seen two comics, Wonder Woman and Uncanny X-Men... from like three months ago. At first this depressed me but then I realized that I had an opportunity to look into a whole new comic culture. Now I am by no means a manga expert, but I believe if you like American comics and have been thinking about looking into the manga scene, read anything by Kazuo Koike. Born in 1936, Kazuo Koike has been creating manga his entire life, often times with co-creator Goseki Kojima. Koike’s first, and perhaps most famous, work is 子連れ狼 (Lone Wolf and Cub). I was first introduced to this comic by a former ComicDorkCast member that you have grown to known and love, Rob. The story of a wandering ronin and his son has become inspiration for manga and anime creators alike. Directors and artists have also taken influences from Koike’s work. One example comes from writer/director, Quentin Tarentino. Tarentino’s Kill Bill is signficantly influenced by Koike’s work 修羅雪姫 (Lady Snowblood). Although Japan may not have my monthly fix of Hal Jordon beating up some zombies or Jamie Madrox and the Summers Rebellion, they do have a rich comic culture of their own that's popularity far surpasses that in America. Now I just gotta understand this whole…Pachinko thing. Until next time! Sayounara.


Picture 1: Me cuttin up some samurai dude
Picture 2: Just a small corner of an average japanese comic store.
Picture 3: Lady Snowblood... does that color scheme look familar?

ComicDorksCast Episode 084 - Titter

ComicDorkscastEp084.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• J. Michael Straczynski's last regular issue on Thor really showcases why it's a shame that he's leaving the regular title after issue #603.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Secret Warriors #8.
  
• Justice Society of America #31 shows a team ready to split at the seams.
  
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Last Days of Animal Man #5.
  
• Blackest Night amps up with Green Lantern #46.
  
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Wonder Woman #36.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Camera One" by Josh Joplin Group.

ComicDorksCast Episode 083 - Flour

ComicDorkscastEp083.mp3
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• Brian Michael Bends + Alex Maleev means Spiderwoman #1 was completely amazing.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Giant Size Wolverine: Old Man Logan.
  
• Hickman does it again, Fantastic Four #571 rocks our socks.
  
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Detective Comics #857.
  
• Stuart Immonen is really showing off with his art in New Avengers #57.
  
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Superman: Secret Origins #1.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Ghetto Rock" by Mos Def.

ComicDorksCast Episode 082 - The Series Finale of Alf

ComicDorkscastEp082.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Blackest Night #3 explores the light, and the difference between light and dark.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: X-Factor #48.
  
• Dark Avengers #9 was amazing ... shame that Norman didn't really get to see it.
  
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Sword #19.
  
• Action Comics #881 explores love, friendship, betrayal, and military action.
  
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Brave & Bold #27.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Gideon" by My Morning Jacket.

ComicDorksCast Episode 081 - Where's Tommy?

ComicDorkscastEp081.mp3
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• Dark Reign: The List - Avengers One Shot shows how much of a badass Clint Barton really is.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: The Shield #1.
  
• DMZ #45 brings Matty Roth back to the forefront and we see how he will deal with the Parco Delgado in his own way.
  
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Kick Ass #7.
  
• Superman: World of New Krypton #7 has some interesting themes and we discuss Kal-El's allegiances.
  
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Unwritten #5.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Unsalted Butter" by The Long Winters.

Blog Log #2 (A Crooked Little Tale of Crooked Little Rich Assholes That Will Leave You With A Crooked Little Smile.)

Crooked Little Vein (a novel)

by Warren Ellis

I have seen a brand new kind of detective story. Though, there are only so many ways we can find a mystery/ detective/ crime story (and yes, this book fits one of those molds.) Crooked Little Vein gave me a whole new feeling or tone or atmosphere but surely all types of new settings. Settings, I thought you could only found in certain films. That you can find behind the old wood paneled parlor doors that lead you into the back room of a small town video store. Where you have to be a certain age to gain entry. Or, so I have been told. This story was thrilling nonetheless.

Michael McGill, a private dick finds himself on an adventure of a lifetime… one of those adventures that’ll change a man. Along his journey he finds himself in situations that no man should ever have to be subjected to. I have been told that Warren Ellis researched all the types of these situations successfully. Meaning, what you read is not as fiction as it appears. (Disclaimer- “I have been told”) Lucky for him his roads where not treaded upon alone. Being a detective story, of course, a dame is his companion. What would a detective story be without a dame around to get him all mixed in the head? While we’re on the dame, I’d be willing to bet she is a dame you have never known. It is not her fault, I believe she some how traveled here from the future and got unwillingly stuck. (but mostly willingly stuck) That there folks, is all I will say about this story. Trust me it is better if it unfolds before your own eyes.

Crooked Little Vein is a book geared toward a wide audience. Such genres as crime, mystery, detective, underground societies, alternate history, fiction, and even you fetish folks. It was a very quick, enjoyable read. I do have one gripe about this story. For those of you who have read it and want to discuss this further leave a comment. Warren Ellis delivers a wonderful, crooked tale that should be sought out by everyone who is at least in high school and older. -Rob

ComicDorksCast Episode 80 - Welcome Andy -or- The One Where the Audio Sucks

ComicDorkscastEp080.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)
WARNING: THE AUDIO FROM THIS EPISODE IS NOT WHAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED AND THUS WE APOLOGIZE FOR IT'S POOR QUALITY.

• Batman #690 finds two of our favorite "face-based" villains playing prominent roles.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Sweet Tooth #1.
  
• Incognito #6 wraps up the story very nicely while opening the door to the whole world.
  
• Jon's Pick of the Week: The Boys #34.
  
• Invincible Iron Man #17 hearkens to another beloved story "Flowers for Algernon".
  
• Andy's Pick of the Week: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep #3.
• We answer an E-Mail from on of our listeners.
  
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" by The Flaming Lips.

ComicDorksCast Episode 079 - Japherpes -or- A Farewell to Darren

ComicDorkscastEp079.mp3
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• Dark Avengers #8 ends Utopia ... or does it.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Fantastic Four #570.
  
• Green Lantern #45 proves that the Star Sapphires will be hugely important.
  
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Blackest Night: Titans #1.
  
• Secret Warriors #7 is a bank heist ... as planned by the one and only Nick Fury.
  
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #2.
  
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "You're a Loose Cannon McArthur ... But You Get the Job Done" by The Most Serene Republic.

Whatever You Want: Life Sucks

Life Sucks

By: Jessica Abel and Gabe Soria

Art By: Warren Pleece

Anyone who knows me shouldn't be surprised that I enjoyed this book. It combines two of my favorite things: vampires and the movie Clerks. That's right: Vampire Clerks. Dave Miller is your typical college student applying for a job at the Last Stop convenience store. He's excited to be hired on the spot by Radu, until Radu turns him into a vampire and he's stuck as the night manager for all eternity. And Dave can't use regular vampire powers like turn into mist because he refuses to kill humans; he drinks stale blood from the blood banks. Not to mention with Radu being his master, he gets forced into working on his days off ("I'm not even supposed to be here today! " would fit perfectly into this story). If the day guy is late, Dave is in for a world of hurt, literally.



To make life even worse for Dave, there is a pretty goth girl named Rosa that visits the store, but doesn't know he exists. Rosa is part of the nightly "running of the goths" that waltz passed the Last Stop after the local juice bar closes for the night. She imagines being a vampire as the speedy route to an uncomplicated life of elegance and beauty. Little does she know that proof it is otherwise is right under her nose.

Did I forget to mention that there even is a Randal character? Dave's friend Jerome fits that part to a tee, right down to closing the copy store he slaves at for his master to join Dave in the nightly running of the goths. While the writing isn't on par with Kevin Smith, it's still pretty good. Plus, the vampires make fun of the goths, i e "Nice cape." Who can pass that up?

All in all, I enjoyed this book and can't decide whether I want to shelve it with my comics or vampire books.

ComicDorksCast Episode 078 - Bomb Threat

ComicDorkscastEp078.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Brubaker and Lark end their run on a cliffhanger in Daredevil #500.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Batgirl #1.
  
• Things continue to get weird in Mighty Avengers #28.
  
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Blackest Night: Superman #1.
  
• Superman Annual #14 reveals all of Mon El's secrets.
  
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Punisher #8.
  
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Beg Wave" by Ponytail.

ComicDorksCast Episode 077 - He Looks Like Guy Gardner

ComicDorkscastEp077.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Everything gets a little darker in Blackest Night #2.
• Jon's Pick of the Week: Deadpool #13.
  
• Scott Summers shows his badass side in Uncanny X-Men #514.
  
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Walking Dead #64.
  
• He's back! And he's better than ever! Superboy in Adventure Comics #1.
  
• Scott's Pick of the Week: The Marvels Project #1.
  
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver.

Whatever You Want: Hellblazer

Hellblazer: All His Engines

Written by: Mike Carey

Art by: Leonardo Manco

This is by far the best Hellblazer book I have read to date (which isn't saying all too much because there are plenty of Hellblazer books for me to read). It starts with Constantine's sidekick/driver, Chas, coming to our anti-hero for help. Chas's niece, Tricia, is in a coma and no one can tell him what is wrong with her other than it's not a virus, which means that it falls under John's area of expertice.

John snags Chas on a trip to Los Angeles. There is a great scene where Chas is talking about the learning curve of learning how to drive on the right side of the road and John comments that he doesn't want to be around when it flattens out. In Los Angeles, there are a bunch of demons who have emigrated from hell to set up satellite offices. And this is where the story gets twisty.



The demon who has the soul of Tricia has her trapped inside his body, causing John the dillema of killing the little girl if he kills the demon. He strikes up a bargain in true Constantine fashion, never intending to uphold his end to the fullest if he can help it. He goes to another god to play agains the first. Mictlantecuhtli: "You forget yourself. I am no upstart demon, scrabbling in the dirt of the human soul. I am Mictlantecuhtli. I am a God." Constantine: "Great stuff. I'm John - and I'm a bastard." Super classic.

I'm rapidly becoming a Mike Carey fan, with Hellblazer, Lucifer, and the ongoing series Unwritten. He knows his way around a great story. I'm looking forward to reading more of his works.

ComicDorksCast Episode 076 - Welcome -or- Shun! You Owe Me a Coke

ComicDorkscastEp076.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Superman: World of New Krypton #6 begins the Codename: Patriot crossover and is amazing.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Secret Six #12.
  
• Captain America: Reborn #2 makes even the most doubtful dork see the genius that is Brubaker.
  
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Destroyer #5.
  
• Invincible Iron Man #16 continues Tony Stark's fall into a world of pain and confusion.
  
• Jon's Pick of the Week: War of Kings #6.
  
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "When The Curtain Calls for You" by Jonathon Fire*Eater.

Whatever you Want: The Question Five Books of Blood

The Question: the Five Books of Blood

By: Greg Rucka

How far would you go to learn about the Religion of Crime? That is the question ex-cop Renee Montoya, aka the new Question, must ask herself. This book was excellent. A quick read, broken up into five chapters, each chronicling a different aspect of the Religion of Crime. Each chapter starts with an excerpt from the Crime Bible.

In the chapter of Deceit, Renee tries to get a glimpse of one of the Black Books that an author claims to have read. She follows him home only to catch him in the act of trying to murder his wife to boost book sales. This is the first time she meets and fights Brother Flay, a monk from the order of the Stone. Chapter Two is Lust, where Renee goes to a House of Lilith to spend time with Elicia. Once integrated into seeming like a regular customer, Renee moves freely about the House as the Question, gaining information.

As the book progresses, we watch Renee fall deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. She fights with Batwoman over the Bastard's Folio, said to contain Cain's second foretelling. She chases down a cop killer, only to meet up again with Brother Flay. He gives her coordinates to a meeting place, telling her that if she didn't meet him there that he would kill everyone that has meaning in her life.



I'm a huge fan of Greg Rucka and the character of Renee Montoya. This story was a thrill to read and kept me guessing at every turn. I highly suggest it to anyone who read 52, likes Rucka's style of writing, or is looking for a great read. I look forward to reading more about the character of the Question in the future.

Blog Log #2 (Out of the Milk Crates: War… What Is It Good For? Um… Good Comics!?!)

Fury: Peacemaker TP


Writer- Garth Ennis


Pencils- Darick Robertson



Inks: Jimmy Palmiotti & Rodney Ramos

So, there I was the other day, just chillin’ on my couch. (Which, is equipped with an asshole… just ask Dayron.) I had finished my stack of new comics and was in that, oh so awful state of desperation of what to now. Sure, I could pick up my six string and bust out a few hits but I was kind of jonesin’ for a kick-ass story. Since, we were lucky enough to get one of Marvel’s finest this week, (You know… Secret Warriors? …Right? …People?) I thought, “Hey, Nick Fury is a badass. Maybe, I should read a Nick Fury Story.” And so… I did. And this is how that went.

I am a fan of WW2 stories and it seems Garth Ennis is, as well. The proof is in the quantity of Garth’s war stories. Not to mention, that recently, as a Marvel fan and more specifically, a Captain America fan I have read a few WW tales in my day. (I even heard a few from my dear old granddad.) Reading Fury: Peacemaker reminded me that Cap was not the only hero during this world devastating conflict. Obviously, anyone in the armed forces, past or present, are heroes but here I am speaking in comicbotics. (Meaning, Cap and the Invaders and what not.) It turns out I have seemed to be overlooking a major player in the big war. He goes by the name Nick Fury and he is most definitely a howling warrior. This trade takes place during Sergeant Fury’s time in Tunisia. The year was 1943 and Nazi Germany needed to be wiped of the planet like a whiskey shit from a hairy, hairy ass. (A.K.A a Shitler) Explosions, blood and death ensue, as Fury must figure out whom he needs to kill. Well, I guess in Fury’s case it’s easier to figure out whom not to kill. (The numbers would be a lot smaller, of course.) Obviously, he is a man that can take care of himself and do what needs to be done to survive. It is an absolutely funtastical read, especially if you like the time period and the action of war. You saw the team right? Yup, it’s the guys bringing us the Boys and the countless other good time readings they have produced over the years with other folks. So come on… take my word for it, if you like Fury, war stories, or comics in general you will dig this story. And all of you Punisher fans should take heed when I say this, “Fury: Peacemaker is equivalent to Punisher: Born! And if you liked Born, then you know it is the work of the same damned team.” Seriously, if you are a fan of Captain America, Sgt. Rock, Garth Ennis, or Darick Robertson you have no choice but to read this book. And now to get Dayron to check it out I will say, “If you don’t read this book you don’t like Band of Brothers.” In closing I would like to say that Fury is officially two-eyed eagle in this book… or is he? In closing my closing, I leave you with this, “To the end of the war Nick and the beginning of many more.” The poor bastard has no idea...

-Rob

*In the case that you want to know what Fury is up to now, check out Secret Warriors. It fucking rules!!!

**That’s Fury: Peacemaker, not to be confused with Colt: Peacemaker. Resemblance is noted.

(Obviously, This had to be done.)(You are welcome!)

No Episode This Coming Week

That's right, with Rob having left our ranks as of the last episode we're going to take a week off so that when we come back with our new line up (before we change the line up again as Darren heads off to Japan) complete. So, have a great week and we look forward to talking about all things comics next week!

ComicDorksCast Episode 075 - Farewell -or- The Oath of the Brown Lanterns

ComicDorkscastEp075.mp3
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• Supergirl #43 left our hearts broken and our tears on the floor.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #5
  
• Gotham City Sirens #2 was great on a whole lot of levels.
  
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Dethklok Vs. The Goon
  
• Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds was well worth the wait.
  
• Rob's Pick of the Week: Green Lantern #44.
  
• An E-mailer asks about getting into Blackest Night.
  
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" by The Editors.

Rue Morgue

Rue Morgue

by poet_ronin46

Her skin

a pale canvas

which bears

the art of many

Some the art of others

other her own

paint and shade

Scattered among paintings

sculptures that pierce

with rings of steel

Her body all fluid motion

and unexpected grace

Her form crafted of supple curves

which hint at secret delights

Her eyes deep rich chocolate

lying on a bed of vibrant color

Her smile effuses light

which brightens her laugh

a creature made of alabaster

and crafted of shadows

ComicDorksCast Episode 074 - Be Mad at Nature

ComicDorkscastEp074.mp3
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• Blackest Night #1 left our jaws on the floor and lifted our hopes even higher for how good an event can truly be.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: DMZ #43
  
• JSA Vs. Kobra is one of the best books coming out right now, bar none.
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Walking Dead #63
  
• Batman: Streets of Gotham #2 was HOT ... cause it was full of fire ... and Dustin Nguyen artwork.
  
• Rob's Pick of the Week: Dark Avengers #7
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Hey" by The Pixies.

From The Dorks’ Soundtrack: Hey! It’s the Pixies!

Pixies

Album: Doolittle

Song: "Hey"

Perhaps one of the most underrated bands of the late 80’s and early 90’s. Somehow, illogically placed behind such grunge bands as Nirvana, Pixies gained incredible success in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe but achieved only limited success in the United States. The history of this band starts in Boston Mass., where Black Francis (lead singer/guitarist) and Joey Santiago (guitarist) shared a room together at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Santiago showed Francis to the music of David Bowie and 1970’s punk rock and the two formed a band. Over the next couple weeks, the band welcomed Kim Deal (bassist/singer) and David Lovering (Drums). Not much later the band signed with record label 4AD and produced their first recording, Come On Pilgrim EP. This EP was a success and debut hit songs such as “Caribou”, “Ed is Dead”, and “Nimrod’s Son”. The band quickly followed up Come On Pilgrim with their first full-length album Surfer Rosa. This album debuted possibly their most popular song to date, “Where is My Mind” along with other great songs such as “Gigantic” and “River Euphrates”. Pixies then recorded their second full-length record in the last six weeks of 1988 and produced Doolittle. Doolittle was a clear departure from the previous two works and was a much more cleaner sound than the raw sound heard on the previous two albums. The song “Hey” was featured on this album along with many other great tunes. Surfer Rosa and Doolittle together brought great attention to this east coast band, which was beginning to create music that the world had never heard. After a short hiatus the band reconvened and created two more albums Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, which was not received as well as their previous two albums. Shortly after Trompe Le Monde, the band broke up when Francis surprisingly stated on BBC that the band was finished.

11 years later, rumors began circling of a reunion. The band began touring again but was producing no new music. Black Francis stated in 2008 that he was interested in creating new music with the original band but for now it was “a waiting game”. The band has a legacy that reaches as far back as the birth of grunge. There are many music icons that were influenced by this band such as Kurt Cobain and Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Allmusic.com summed up the band perfectly:

“Combining jagged, roaring guitars and stop-start dynamics with melodic pop hooks, intertwining male-female harmonies and evocative, cryptic lyrics, the Pixies were one of the most influential American alternative rock bands of the late '80s. The Pixies weren't accomplished musicians -- Black Francis wailed and bashed out chords while Joey Santiago's lead guitar squealed out spirals of noise. But the band members were inventive, rabid rock fans who turned conventions inside out, melding punk and indie guitar rock, classic pop, surf rock, and stadium-sized riffs with singer/guitarist Black Francis' bizarre, fragmented lyrics about space, religion, sex, mutilation, and pop culture; while the meaning of his lyrics may have been impenetrable, the music was direct and forceful.”

The Albums
Come On Pilgrim (1987)
Surfer Rosa (1988)
Doolittle (1989)
Bossanova (1990)
Trompe de Monde (1991)

ComicDorksCast Episode 073 - DuoPod

ComicDorkscastEp073.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• House of Mystery #15 answered some long held questions and proposed even more.
• Scott's Pick of the Week: B.P.R.D.: 1947 #1
• Blackest Night gets an early start in Green Lantern #43.
• Rob's Pick of the Week: Batman #688
• A bunch of stuff to get caught up on that we couldn't talk about seeing as how we didn't have an episode last week.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Oviedo" by Blind Pilot.

Clubbing

Written By Andi Watson

Illustrated by Josh Howard

Charlotte “Lottie” Brooke is your typical city goth, into the scene. That is until she is exiled to Meadowdale for the summer after getting caught with a fake I.D. at an exclusive night club. Needless to say, she is displeased with the prospect of spending her summer with her grandparents at their country club and working at the pro shop. Upon arriving the into the country, her grandmother starts trying to set her up with the head groundskeeper’s son, the only male her age at the country club. Her grandfather takes her for a walk in the rain to see how the new country club is coming along. This is where Lottie’s luck goes from bad to worse. She snaps the heel off of her three hundred dollar boots.

If that weren’t bad enough, there’s no cell phone reception and she’s not allowed in her grandfather’s office to use the dial-up to get to the internet. It is Lottie’s own personal hell. She’s forced to go on a morning stroll with her grandmother the next day, and, after struggling to keep up, she heads down to the town for a pop. She meets Howard, the groundskeeper’s son, whom she immediately dislikes, gets kicked out of the taproom for being a girl, and meets Emma, a local goth. All in all, the summer is starting to suck. It starts to turn around when she overhears her grandfather talking with Geraldine, who turns up dead after causing a scene at the cake baking event. And that’s just the beginning of the weirdness that Lottie experiences during her summer break.



This was another great Minx book that I got to read. I am sad that DC killed the line. Pretty much every Minx book I have read, I’ve liked. Andi Watson tells a great and twisted story and Josh Howard’s art is fun and lively. Lottie reminds me a lot of one of my friends, and has a good bit of growing up in the story. I definitely did not see the ending coming; it took me completely by surprise. I recommend this book highly for anyone who likes a good, campy, twisty story.

What Do You Mean They're Not Superheroes?!?!?: An Announcement and a Hint at Some Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Alright, for the first time in our history as a podcast The ComicDorksCast is actively taking a week off. We realize that there have been weeks where episodes were not posted but that was always because of technical difficulties. This weekend is the 4th of July. Independence Day. There are a lot of family commitments and whatnot that coincide with that and so unfortunately we'll be unable to record a show for this coming week. I (Scott) will be posting my thoughts on some of the comics I read here, on the message boards at www.fantasyshoponline.com and through my Twitter account at www.twitter.com/ScottDont if you're interested in what my thoughts are on this tumultuous week of comics.

Also, as I mentioned in the headline there are going to be some changes coming up for the ComicDorksCast and I hope that with the coming changes that you'll all feel that we're still bringing you the best in comics podcasting this side of the Mississippi!

Brief Mentions: The Future Brings Dark Days

X-Factor #45

Written By: Peter David

Art By: Marco Santucci @ Valentine de Landro

I’m finally caught up and it feels good. For along time now I have been buying X-Factor issues but not reading them. The main obstacle standing in my way was the Secret Invasion crossover. One factor (no pun intended) was that Secret Invasion was an event that I was no longer concerned about and secondly was the art. But, as always, Peter David’s storytelling continues to become more involved, more emotional, and more awesome. This last week I decided to soldier through the horrendous art and read up to this week’s current issue X-Factor #45, part 3 of Madrox’s journey into the future. This issue has made me so glad that I am finally caught up in issues. David continues to create new and exciting stories, filled with unique new characters and concepts. Jamie Madrox finds himself in the middle of the Summers Rebellion consisting of a battered Scott Summers and his daughter, Ruby. The fate of this rebellion lies in the hands of a familiar foe from long ago. The mystery of the cortex also furthers as the xf investigators frantically try to figure out the cortex’s meaning while being battled on all fronts. Marco Santucci and Valentine de Landro absolutely destroy on this art. I will never take good art for granted ever again. This is just an excellent book and has been since it’s beginning. I urge everyone to check this book out and read some amazing comic booking that is easily some of the best in the industry.

Dark Avengers #6

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis

Art By: Mike Deodato @ Will Conrad

Dark Reign has been a very fulfilling event. Many great books have come out of this event and one such book is Dark Avengers. Just the concept of the book itself is an amazing one. The head of the avengers is the “former” Green Goblin, the rest of the team consists of some of the greatest villains in the Marvel Universe and their most powerful weapon, The Sentry, has the mind of a child. In Dark Avengers #6, an Atlantean terrorist cell has attacked American soil. Norman Osborn immediately takes hold of the situation and attacks swiftly and brutally. The Cabal meets, which ultimately leads to a shouting match, and the power of The Sentry is put to use. Superhero team books are only successful if they remain interesting and hold a unique, dynamic team and Bendis definitely has that with Dark Avengers. Mike Deodato and Will Conrad do an excellent job drawing these characters and also shade the book heavily, which holds true to the “dark” theme of the book. Dark Avengers, along with many other books under the “Dark Reign” banner is excellent. The Marvel Universe becomes more and more unique with each passing issue. This is one of the first Marvel events that have really enjoyed and I hope it will not be the last.

ComicDorksCast Episode 072 - ... What is Happening?

ComicDorkscastEp072.mp3
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• The guys loved the zany science action of Uncanny X-Men #513
• Scott's Pick of the Week: Runaways #11
• Nick Fury kicked so much ass in Secret Warriors #5 that the guys are all left bruised.
• Darren's Pick of the Week: Detective Comics #854
• Scott loved Wonder Woman #33 and thinks that Gail Simone should never, ever leave that book.
• Rob's Pick of the Week: Daredevil #119
• PREVIEWS!
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "The Formula" by So Many Dynamos.

Sneak Peek Reviews for 06/23/2009

Berserker #1

Written by: Rick Loverd

Art by: Jeremy Haun

Sometimes creators make a silly decision. Rick Loverd tried first to find a home for Berserker as a television show. He should have seen the problem with that. This is a story that, in many ways, was meant for comics. In many more ways it was meant to be drawn by the likes of Jeremy Haun. This is an incredibly fun read that brings a fun nuance to what might, in other hands, be a pretty typical horror story. Berserker brings the idea of losing your temper to a new and incredible height, imagine blacking out when you get really pissed off and coming to with a couple dead bodies nearby … that’s the kind of thing that happens to characters in Berserker. This is going to be one bloody entertaining book. Fans of books like Crossed who want a book that’s a little scaled back will love this one.

Detective Comics #854

Both Features Written by: Greg Rucka

First Feature Art by: J.H. Williams III

Second Feature Art by: Cully Hamner

This is going to be the comic of the year. You heard it here first. Don’t ever forget that. Detective Comics featuring Batwoman is going to be the hottest thing since bread, I mean sure when we started slicing it was pretty cool and all but bread was a pretty big step in the first place. Williams’ art is going to quite simply put you on your ass. He has a different style for each story element in the issue. And all of it is awesome. The story is fantastic and while having read The Question Five Lessons of Blood (now available in super sexy trade paperback) will make for a more enriching experience I think that you can feel more than comfortable diving into this book and loving every single moment. There’s going to be a lot of questions and by the time the second story arc rolls around you can expect to get some answers but for now let’s just be glad that the action is on and it’s hot. The second feature of this book is also phenomenal. The Question is a character that has been begging for her own series ever since the end of 52 and now 2 full years later we can expect monthly Question stories for quite some time to come. Cully Hamner has brought his A-Game to this title and even though it’s only 10 pages you’re still going to have a lot of fun with it.

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia One Shot

Written by: Matt Fraction

Art by: Marc Silvestri

It’s not often that I find myself interested in reading a Marvel “Event” these days. There have been exceptions. Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, War of Kings … you’ll note, of course, that all of those books are about cosmic characters. So when I heard that one of my favorite writers currently working at Marvel, Matt Fraction, was going to be writing an event this summer I was immediately excited, worried, and frustrated. Excited because it’s about time that he got some face time on the big stage at Marvel as his work on Immortal Iron Fist, The Order, Uncanny X-Men, and Invincible Iron Man have been consistently amazing. I was worried because I didn’t want people to not like it and for it to have a negative effect on his career. I was frustrated because it felt like I might have to buy a Marvel event that dealt with major players and wasn’t just a super-fun space opera. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. This book is a lot of good. A whole lot of good. So much so that it would be considered, by most, to be awesome. Fraction is going to be the name on everyone’s lips for some time to come (here’s hoping that they will go back and read some of the awesome stuff that he did before he found his way to Marvel). Silvestri’s art is good, though it is quite clear that he had help (yes he has 4 people on “pencil assists” [a.k.a. drawing the backgrounds and unessential characters]). I think that if you’ve been reading Uncanny X-Men that the best part about this event is that it built out of the events going on in the title over nearly the last 2 years. So, get set for Utopia to be broken, and for the world to look at Mutants in an all too familiar way … but with even more support.

ComicDorksCast Episode 071 - The Retrospective

ComicDorkscastEp071.mp3
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• This episode the Dorks talk about Invincible, Invincible Iron Man, Action Comics Annual, The Outsiders, Batman: Streets of Gotham, and Dark Reign: Fantastic Four as well as take a look at some of the books their excited about that will ship this week and talk briefly about some other books they liked.

If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "You Losin' Out" by Two Gallants.

Brief Mention(s): (Dumb Dads Make Their Daughters Sad… Or Dead.)

Supergirl # 42

Writer: Sterling Gates

Penciller: Jamal Igle

Inker: Jon Sibal

This could be one of the most underrated Metropolis books… ever. I will say this only once, so that means listen, Supergirl is, as good as all the other Metropolis books on the shelf. What this means is that Sterling Gates is giving us a quality of writing that rivals some of the best in the business. (Personally, two of my favorite writers in the business.) With that said, every time I see a person picking up Action, Superman, and W.O.N.K. and ask them if they are reading Supergirl and they say no, I turn a little grayer. (I’m going old school here.) Recognize… people. You’re missing out on piece of an epic puzzle.

(Adam Hughes)

Some of you will remember that the previous issue was pretty explosive. (You see how I did that? I learned it by watching Dayron… from afar.) This issue sheds some light on questions we were left with after issue # 41. Particularly, how the fundamental nature of certain relationships will change. Needless to say, Clark is a lucky little alien to be off planet at the moment. I can’t help but think that many relationships are about to change. Gates has definitely found a way to put our characters into impossible situations and he does this in a way that you can easily connect with. Not to say, I'm killin' cousin (or a kissin' cousin… well, that’s mostly a true story.) But you can really feel and appreciate what has befallen upon the cast of this book, which look great. You can thank Jamal Igle for that. So be smart and read Supergirl. In doubt, just ask someone who is reading Supergirl. They will tell you. (What you should be learning from me, right now!) Supergirl rules, Sterling Gates rocks, Jamal Igle rolls and together it is hardcore, man… fucking… hardcore… man. -Rob

(J. G. Jones)

(Jamal Igle... and what the hell is this? I guess we will find out.)

(Nature… possibly augmented.)

Blog Log # 2 (Quote of the Week)

“Surprise, nerds!” (As in the delicious candy, obviously.) It’s me again and “This is going to hurt you much more than it’s going to hurt me.” Yup, it’s a Quote of the Week. And yeah, it has been a while, but I have come down with a serious condition. Many folks suffer from this condition and they can be spotted in many different ways. For one, they become puffy and carry an unpleasant aroma and turn into shut-ins “Or more often, into brain-dead zombies sitting around pulling their peckers all day in some cell.” This is a serious condition that one has a slow recovery from. This condition is known a lackadisicalmitopieitis or laziness, if you want to use the street term. All I can really say is, well… “The truth. Projected against the canvas of all space and time, there is one person who could have avoided all that has happened.” That man is not me, even though it is supposed to be me. And here is the part where I hear, “You wrote the rules, mister, dontcha think you ought to play by them?” Rules… rules are like faces, they are made to be broken. All right, enough of this mushy justification crap. I know what you need and it was delivered to us from somebody’s mind, other than my own. Ready… set… go… “Keep it up, boys! Hard and fast!” Guess what comes next? Uh huh… “That’s what she said!” So there it was the first Quote of the Week in weeks and all that’s left to say is, “Nice hair, loser.” -Rob

From the Dorks' Soundtrack: A Delta Blues Revival?

Two Gallants

Album: The Throes

Song: You Losin' Out

As the ComicDorkscast episodes continue their climb in number, the more bands are also introduced. What is surprising is that week after week, I find bands that absolutely must be talked about. This week, we head to the indie rock duo from San Francisco known as Two Gallants, sharing the name of a James Joyce short story. This band is composed of Adam Stephens (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Tyson Vogel (drums and vocals). The band formed in 2002 when both musicians were 20 years old. Prior to Two Gallants, Stephens and Vogel had been playing and writing music since they were twelve. They even self-produced two albums before their debut, but those albums are regrettably out of print. The Two Gallants first shows were played in parks, warehouses, house parties and other small “venues”. In 2004, Two Gallants came out with their first album The Throes. With this album came larger venues, clubs and even festivals. Two years later they put out their second studio album, What the Toll Tells. They kept the music coming and one year later came out with their third and recent album, Two Gallants. By this time the band had gained substantial notoriety and began to play festivals not only in the US but also in Canada and Europe. The band also gained music press attention for an incident at a performance in Houston, Texas, when a police officer investigating a noise complaint at the club Walter's on Washington allegedly attacked the band and several fans present with a taser…. Oh Texas. Despite the taser attack, Two Gallants have gone on to produce some of the most jaw-dropping blues heard in American music today. When listening to Two Gallants you can’t help but be drawn to the roots of rock, delta blues. You can almost feel Robert Johnson or John Lee Hooker on guitar. In tangent with this powerful music medium, the chord structure and finger picking style also creates a folk feel. These two genres mixed together create some the most unique and “true” music heard today. If you enjoy this band then I hope you follow them to their roots and discover what the grandfathers of music have to offer.

Albums:

The Throes (2004)

What the Toll Tells (2006)

Two Gallants (2007)

**Picture above - John Lee Hooker... Nice Socks! Enjoy!**

The Mysterious Audio Gremlins Have Struck Again

Well, we recorded a show last night ... Darren wasn't there but we went strong and Rob and Scott talked about JSA Vs. Kobra, Fables, X-Factor, and Batman as well as talking about the first 4 trades of Scalped ... but Scott's audio went missing again. Still not sure how that happens. So, on behalf of all of the ComicDorks here at The ComicDorksCast we apologize for the lack of episode this week ... it could not have been forseen ... as per usual here is the picture denoting failure, Me with a Deep Fried Twinkie:

Whatever you want: Sword

The Sword
By: The Luna Brothers

First, let me say that the Luna Brothers are hit or miss with me. I loved Ultra, but hated the Girls. I seem to be the only person who works at the Fantasy Shop that doesn't like the Girls. That being said, I went into reading Sword with a hefty amount of skepticism. It was ill placed.

I was hooked from he first comic. The story follows Dara Brighton, a paraplegic, through her day as a college student. All is well until that night at dinner. Her whole family is gathered around the table, eating, when there is a knock at the door. A gentleman who claims to know Dara's father enters the room, calls her father Demetrios, and says he wants his sword back. When her father claims not know what the guy is talking about, another man and woman enter the room. They proceed to set the house on fire and kill everyone in the room except for Dara, who only survives because a burning beam knocks her through the floor. In the basement of the house, her hand closes around the hilt of a sword, and she uses it to pull herself up. All of a sudden, Dara can walk. She runs to the river behind her house and claims to still be a paraplegic when found by the fire department.

Dara gets abducted at her family's funeral. Along with her friend, Julie, and Justin, a student of her father's, they get away. Now, Dara is in over her head. She leaps over buildings in a single bound (kind of like superman), escapes from the FBI, and hunts down the three people who killed her family. Throughout her adventures, she is able to work out that the stories her father told to his creative writing class were really about him, Demetrios.

This book has yet to fail to deliver. I eagerly await it ever month. I even can forgive the art style, which the characters look exactly the same as Ultra and Girls. Who wouldn't like this book when there are scenes like her ripping the flesh off of her stubs to reattach her legs? You heard me, there is a scene where her legs get cut off, she grabs the sword, her thighs heal over, she rips the newly grown flesh off and reattaches her lower legs. How badass is that? You're imagining it right now, but it is a hundred times better in the comic. The first trade is out in stores now; if you love a good story, go pick it up.

Blog Log #2 (Redemption of a Very Lazy Human Thing)

Brief Mention (From like a week ago or something.)


Justice Society of America # 27


Script and Pencils: Jerry Ordway


Inks: Bob Wiacek




Guess what? Geoff Johns’ beautiful run on JSA has ended. Obviously, it is a sad affair but we must forge a head through the heartache and the tears and realize that Johns will be writing our new favorite books, while continuing to deliver on the books we love so well already. Do I need to name them? No… No I need not! Now let’s get down to brass tacks.

This issue was the beginning of filler* *(I use the term filler against my will, because you should not have dropped JSA with Johns’ departure. The matter of the fact is that it is a bridge that will lead us into a much-anticipated Sturges and Willingham arrival. But sometimes you got to call it like it is.) that I believe will be a lot of fun all wrapped in some seriousness. Relationships continue to grow and old foes return. That sounds pretty JSA to me. Not to mention, how Courtney’s role as a veteran member just brings a great jolly joy to my black, black heart.

I don’t really believe Ordway needs an introduction. It’s not like he has anything to prove to anybody anymore. So why wouldn’t he be able to take the reigns on JSA for a bit and give us a story worth reading? I don’t know, you tell me. Ordway has this cast down. He knows these characters and knows how to tell a story, not to mention how pencil it, as well. Really, there is no reason why any fan of the JSA should not have read this book. Well, unless you have no soul.



Living up to Expectations (From like a week ago or something.)


The Mighty Avengers # 25


Writer: Dan Slott


Penciler: Stephen Segovia


Inks: Noah Salonga





*(Please stay tuned. After this blog log there will be an important message.)

It is no secret that I have been digging this Dark Reign thing over there at Marvel. I like the idea of a change of the statuesque as opposed to another blockbuster, full-blown event. Plus the talent working on this stuff is pretty impressive, old blood as well as new blood. What better time to have a plethora of Avenger teams? To be honest, there’s something you don’t know about me. I am too an Avenger… freelance.
One of my favorite titles that carry the Dark Reign banner is the Mighty Avengers. That is the one Bendis doesn’t write. Well he did but he doesn’t anymore. Instead we are blessed with the presence of Dan Slott. And to be Frank (Full name Major Frank Dangle) Slott is doing something I believe to be amazing with an odd group of characters all pulled together in a mysterious fashion. By mysterious I mean a dame. A dame… a dame with horns. You know the kind of dame that turns tricks. A dame that is kind of magical but too masculine for my tastes. Anyway, we find ourselves with an Avenger team, that in my opinion is the only Avenger team that resembles an Avenger team we have grown to love from the days of old. One word… Jarvis.

Due to the fact you can hear us talk about this on episode # 69 (muck it up children) I will not get to specific. I will tell you this issue reminded me why I love comics and why I love Dan Slott comics. I first caught on to Slott with a Spidey/Torch mini-series which led me to She-Hulk (awesome), and fantastic but too short Thing run (amazing), and so on right into Avengers Initiative. To me Slott is a perfect example of a fans writer. It is obvious he is a fan of comics a rewards other fans by dropping little bits of the past into the present. He also has the talent of doing this using a subtle sense of humor that I find hilarious. As you can tell I might have a man crush on Dan Slott, who I have never met. Let’s just say his writing might produce a broner.

The Mighty Avengers is a book I finally feel was made for me. Like at one of Marvel’s board meetings Dan Slott stood up and said, “How about instead of doing what we normally do, which is try to piss Rob off we give him something he wants. Like a book where Young Avengers, a funny talking god, a man carrying his lady’s name searching for redemption (and maybe a little revenge), a super hot metal chick, a smart ass… smart… ass and Jarvis. We could include a battle of wits involving two men who are too smart for their own good acting like a couple of bitches on a playground.” Thank you Dan Slott. Everybody should check out the works of Dan Slott. If you need direction drop us an e-mail, we will set you straight.

Mighty Avengers = Must Read (if you like comics)

-Rob

*And now for a very important message. (Join us in our revolution. We will not stop fighting until Pym Particles become known as Pymp Particles. Come on, you know you want this. Pymp Particles For Life!)

ComicDorksCast Episode 069 - The Word of the Day

ComicDorkscastEp069.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

• Show notes later tonight
• Best Single Issue of Last Month.
• Brief Mentions.
• Anticipated Books.

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The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Dream On" by Depeche Mode.