Holy Smokes!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted here! Even though I'm mostly nocturnal these days, it's hard to type with a 3-week old bundle of cute on your chest...

So let's see what's going on in the blogosphere lately...


1. World War III: I guess I'm in the minority here. I really enjoyed the event. The one thing that disappointed me was the fact that we didn't get the scene in the Batcave with Jason standing in front of the case displaying his Robin costume. I know most covers are representational, but I was looking forward to some more insight into why he's taken the position he has since his "rebirth". Anyway, I know many people are complaining about how the timeline works now, especially with Teen Titans and the numerous roster changes alluded to in the OYL books, but I've always found that you just have to let these things go, especially since 52's stated mission (track the changes in the DCU during the missing year) went off the rails back around issue 2! I don't want to pull the old "It's only comics!" chestnut out, but...well,...it is only comics. Continuity is great (and necessary, I think, to some degree), but you can't let it rule your life, or it'll kill the hobby for you! So no Haterade for WW3 in THIS fridge, folks! And now we're down to the home stretch, just enjoy!

2. Having said that, I wish DiDio would turn down the hype maching for Countdown and let the 52 team enjoy some well-earned props for what they've accomplished. ESPECIALLY since lots and lots of folks said it couldn't be done. There's been an issue of 52 on the shelf EVERY STINKIN' WEEK for the last year. Hell, there are "monthly" comics that can't manage to make it out more than once a year (I'm looking RIGHT at you, All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder)!

3. And having said THAT, I did have one other nit to pick with WW3. The Aquaman segments are just shoe-horned in there, and it's hard to figure out why Arthur felt that was the best way to deal with Sub-Diego. I thought Sub-Diego was a masterful creation/idea, and I'm sorry to see it go away. Particularly in such a seemingly ill-conceived manner.

4. I'll try almost anything that Warren Ellis puts out. Just wanted to share that...

5. I picked up most of the Gerard Jones/Mike Parobeck El Diablo series via eBay the other day. I'm only 3 issues into it so far, but it's solid storytelling, and it's trying something different, not to mention bringing some of that much-vaunted "diversity" to the DCU. Parobeck's style isn't quite to where it would become on Justice Society of America or the Batman Animated book, but you can see it developing. And Gerard Jones always does good work (see: Mosaic, Green Lantern). Now I'll have to track down the 5 issues I'm missing. The hunt is on!

6. Daughter loves the Donald Duck & Mickey Mouse comics that come out, but I wish they could manage a cheaper edition than the $6.00 ($9.50 for the big ones!) version they've got now. Seriously!

And now, Son II: Electric Boogaloo needs to be fed. I'll be back later...

But Wait! There's More!

A few quick notes...

I'm tired and ready for bed, so I'm going to make this quick:

1. If the Attorney General serves at the President's pleasure, why are there all these calls for him to resign? Seems to me that people should be calling on the Shrub for him to fire Gonzales. I mean, he won't, but that's what they should be asking. In fact, if I were in the White House Press Corps, that's the first thing I'd ask. Gonzales has demonstrated that he's not trustworthy and willing to use his office to advance a particular political agenda (and punish those who don't follow/support that agenda). So what's George waiting for?

2. As you can see HERE, Son II is doing fine and cute as heck. Son I and Daughter love their new baby brother and try to help with him every chance they get. If only they were this diligent about cleaning their rooms...

3. I've been REALLY disappointed with the Justice League Heroes game. It's just not as good as Ultimate Alliance. You can't really switch characters during the chapter (you're given 2 characters in a chapter and can't really switch which character you're controlling), and it's a lot less exciting and fun. Which is too bad, because I was super-excited when I got the game for my birthday. This game could have (and should have) been so much more than it actually is.

4. I've been nocturnal for most of the past week, since I'm doing night shift with Son II. I'm going to have a hard time going back to my regular schedules next week. Ah well...

But Wait! There's More!

Sleep? Sleep is for Sissies (and Babies)!

The fact that I'm writing this at 3:46 in the A.M. should tell you how things are going here with the latest addition to the family. As I type this, Son II is lounging in his little rocker-sling, drifting in and out of peaceful slumber, but never long enogh for me to get some. Sleep, that is.

I've got tons of pictures of the little fellow (naturally), but many of them still reside on the camera. Maybe by the end of the week I'll be able to get them onto the computer and share with you.

Meanwhile, as far as comics go...

Jeez, I'm so tired I can't even remember what the hell I bought last week. Iron Fist? 52? Well, of course, that! I can't miss a week! Oh! You know what I liked (when it finally got here)? The most recent issue of Fantastic Four! Initially I wasn't crazy about Storm & T'Challa joining the FF, but I like Dwayne McDuffie's work, so I gave it a shot. It was really enjoyable. It's promising. I'm willing to give it some time. I don't know if it will be as good as Waid/Ringo's run, but I think McDuffie's mandate from Editorial is different than Waid/Ringo's was, which was to just be an idea factory. McDuffie's got the (un?)enviable task of steering the FF into the post-Civil War status quo. But this Black Panther seems more like Priest's version than Hudlin's version, and that's reason enough for me to read...

Anyway, I'll have more tomorrow (or maybe Thursday) once I've read a few of this week's books. And gotten some sleep...

But Wait! There's More!

Welcome to the World...

Son II
Born on April 4, 2007 @ 11:25
Weight: 8 lbs, 11oz
Length: 19 1/4 inches

Mother and Baby are doing pretty well...

But Wait! There's More!

And a special bonus for you...

A few months ago, I picked up this BIG DCU coloring book at the grocery store. Although calling it a "DCU coloring book" is something of a misnomer, since it only covers Superman, Batman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Green Lantern. Anyway, I hauled out the crayons while my students were taking one of those state-mandated tests that doesn't measure anything except how well my students take state-mandated tests and did a little coloring. You should be able to see the results of my handiwork below (and yes, I know I've got the colors reversed on Sinestro's uniform. I was working from memory):

But Wait! There's More!

It's a little crazy...

...here at Casa del Ziegler, as we're in full-on Baby mode. Z-3 arrives in 3 short days, and there are various and sundry preparatory tasks that need to be finished, hence the spotty posting lately. Allow me to make up for that with a few thoughts on a few things:

1. I will try anything Mark Waid writes. I recently picked up his Fantastic Four run in trade (even though I've got the original issues) on the cheap via eBay (all 6 trades for $20.00. Seriously, sometimes it's a crime what you can find on eBay). The first volume, Imaginauts, included Waid's original proposal, and some of his insights into the characters are just stunning. It's really changing, not only how I view the FF in general, but how I view Waid's interpretation of the characters. I'd love to see his proposal for some of his other work, like The Flash, Legion of Superheroes/Supergirl & the Legion of Superheroes, or Empire.

2. Oh, and all you bozos on the 'Net piling on because of how Waid wrote Hal Jordan's reaction to Supergirl's flirting? It's obvious that most of you don't interact with teenagers all that much. Because both Hal & Kara's behavior rings true with THIS high school teacher. Seriously. Kara's trying to be an adult and experimenting by flirting with someone she obviously considers to be a "safe adult", while Hal's reminding himself that this is his friend's cousin.

...and people say MY mind's in the gutter...

3. I didn't have either Florida or Ohio State picked for the NCAA men's finals, but I did have Tennessee picked for the Women's. Yay me!

4. Finally picked up my Zatanna bust. Man, is it sweet!

5. If Alton Brown isn't the funniest guy on Food Network, I'm hard-pressed to name who is.

6. On a related note, I miss the Japanese version of Iron Chef. I really, really do...

But Wait! There's More!