Miscellaneous Thursday: Feb. 19, 2009

• CHECK OUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT CASTING THE IRON MAN II MOVIE

• Don’t forget to click the VOTE FOR ME button just above my smiling face in the sidebar.

• Don’t forget to vote in the 2nd String Character Hall of Fame Balloting, also in the sidebar.

• And if you want to send me a new graphic to replace my header, feel free … the size is exactly 770 pixels by 200 pixels.

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BLOGGIN’ AIN’T A WALK IN THE PARK

How could I forget this ? ? ?

It was bound to happen. I’m surprised that it didn’t happen sooner. I made a whopper of a mistake. Not the kind of mistake that would make anyone mad, just the kind of mistake that makes me look stupid. In my post a few days ago, regarding Peter David, I said something about the fact that he and I had never worked together. This was not the truth, as both Mark and Kara pointed out in the comments section.

Miscellaneous Monday: Feb. 9, 2009

OMG! IT IS THE 45th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AIRING OF THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH

This three-part Disney’s Wonderful World of Color “mini-series” changed my life. Not only because of it features probably the first historically fictional character to right wrongs in a mask and alter ego, but because I can still sing the theme song 45 years later. Check out the post HERE and HERE for more details.

Cover art by Rick Leonardi

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF NEW FANATIC HEADERS

I’ve asked several times for fans of this fanatic website to submit new headers to replace the pictures of Clint “Hawkeye” Barton that graced the top of this page yesterday. Well, take a look at this first effort. I think it is terrific. The anonymous fan that submitted it wanted me to know that the particular comics that are featured all had special meaning to him.

These were titles that fired his imagination and drove him not just to read more about these particular characters, but to plunk down more and more money for other comic books as well. I think we all have titles like that. Someday I’ll blog about mine (some more), but for today, I’m just going to bask in the glow of this new Fanatic header and encourage others to send me their fanatic headers for use here (exactly 770 X 200 pixels).

Cover art by George Freeman

Cover art by Mike Mignola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What do these three comic titles have in common: Jack of Hearts #1, Rocket Raccoon #1, Cloak and Dagger #1? I’d like to give a tip of my hat to old friend Steven Grant, but this particular Fanatic “what is the connection” isn’t nearly as hard as the powerful brain-teasers that he provides on his regular posts called Permanent Damage over at Comic Book Resources. I don’t read Steven’s column there as regularly as I should, but I almost always enjoy them. Grant’s one of the most interesting guys in comics, IMHO.

All three are Marvel Comics, all three are first issues in a mini-series, neither of those facts are the answer I’m looking for. What else do they have in common? Yes, they are all printed in color … try harder than that.

Should I EVER listen to Marv Wolfman?

My life and career have intersected with the wondrous Marv Wolfman at many points along the way. I am proud to call him my friend … or at least a friendly acquaintance. If you’re reading this Marv, the next lunch is on me. I plan to pay up really soon. 

TRULY GREAT: Tomb of Dracula #54 cover by Gene Colan

I first became aware of Marv Wolfman in high school when I was reading as many Marvel Comics as I could get my hands on. Sometimes that was quite difficult. Remind me to tell the story someday soon about how I almost froze to death during high school in my pursuit of new release comics.

For a comic frame of reference, I essentially grew up in Smallville. I lived on farmland five miles from the nearest town, Claremont, Minnesota (pop. 620). It had one very small convenience grocery store that carried comics. Even though new comics came in only once a week or so, I visited that little rack of comics every day at lunchtime.