Mikester

Feels like the first time, like we’ve opened up the door.

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So anyway, guess which cartoon I saw for the very first time ever this past week?


After revealing on the Twitter that I had never seen the Tick cartoon from the mid-’90s, pal Sean took it upon himself to rectify this particular oversight of mine and brought me his Tick series DVDs.

Now, I was a fan of the Tick nearly from the get-go. A college friend of mine extolled the virtues of the comic book series to me shortly after the original run (by creator Ben Edlund) had begun, and I ended up jumping on with the fourth or fifth issue, and picking up the back issues. However, after Edlund wrapped up his stint on the comics and passed them on to other hands, I lost interest in the series. Not that there was anything wrong with the comics, but whatever particular part of Edlund’s vision that appealed to me so much about those initial installments was no longer there, and the comics just didn’t do anything for me. I realize that’s a minority opinion, and I’m certainly not down on the work anyone’s doing for those comics, nor on the folks who still read and enjoy them. They just weren’t my cup of tea, is all.

And even though I missed the original run of the cartoon, I did not miss a single aired episode of the Tick live-action series, despite the Fox Network’s best efforts at hiding it from potential viewers. I thought it had a strong cast, funny writing, and, of course, Batmanuel. And it’s good to know that the actor who played Batmanuel, Nestor Carbonelle (better known today as Richard from Lost) still has fond memories of the role.

And now, thanks to pal Sean, I’ve seen one whole episode of the seemingly highly-regarded animated series. …Not bad, not bad. Understandably, they’ve left out the Tick’s escape from an insane asylum, which might have been a bit much for a kids’ cartoon, but so far very reflective of the Edlund run on the comic. Yes, because Edlund worked on the cartoon, too, I know. So it looks like I’ll be catching up on this series over the next few days, alternating with episodes of Breaking Bad Season 2 (another series I’m catching up on). That should make for an odd viewing experience.

The Easter Beagle brought me something special this year.

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Comics Alliance has a report from this weekend’s Wondercon that the very much delayed All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder by Frank Miller and Jim Lee will be returning next year, rebranded Dark Knight: Boy Wonder. In “I’ll Believe It When I See It” news, DC Comics is promising on-time shipping for the remaining issues of the storyline. Regardless, it’s good to know that there’s at least something in the works, and that the comic hasn’t been totally forgotten.

Over at that Comics Alliance post, Rocco has this to say in the comments:

“I’m sure Mike Sterling is thrilled..”

You’re darn tootin’ I’m thrilled, Rocco! It’s an Easter miracle!

April 2nd: April Fools’ Boxing Day.

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You may remember me mentioning pal Tom Foxmarnick on the site before, like when he gave me this swell SWAMPDOK drawing, or when I featured a couple of the ‘zines from his Kubert School years.

Well, the other day he gave a photocopy of the above drawing he did while at the Kubert School, circa 1979. Well, he did the pencils on it, anyway…the inks were by one of his instructors: Dick Giordano. Tom asked me if I’d put it on my site, since, with Mr. Giordano’s recent passing, folks might be interested in seeing a mostly-unknown sample of his work. So, there you all go. Pretty neat. Thanks, Tom!

• • •

In other news:

  • As a couple of people have noted here and there…yes, there may have been a bogus item or two in yesterday’s End of Civilization post in honor of April Fools’ Day, the Internet’s Favorite-est Tradition. Most people commented on one, but nobody said anything about the other, which, admittedly, was mostly just for me.

  • Adam Knave brings you…a Man-Thing Public Service Announcement.

  • Are you reading Awesome Hospital, a comic rejected by some online webcomics initiative because it was, in fact, too awesome? You really should be.

  • And speaking of Chris Sims, he and Rusty Shackles have created a thing so great that you will fall to your knees and weep tears of bitter despair that it does not actually exist.

Progressive Ruin presents…the End of Civilization.

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So, Diamond Previews, we meet again. Well, I suppose I have to look through you and see what wonders you’re offering this month. And if any of you folks out there in the viewing audience want to follow along with me, grab your own copies of the April 2010 edition and…um, follow along, I guess.

p. 153 – Star Trek Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor #1:


I was all ready to get my nerd on and say “hey, that’s a Puppeteer from Larry Niven’s Known Space stories!” but when I scanned the pic, I was suddenly able to more easily read the text on the cover there:


Sorry, didn’t feel like scanning it again. It says “With thanks to Larry Niven for the loan.” Ah, well. Still, I probably need to own this.

p. 180 – Brigade #1:


“A complete re-imagining of the original smash series” featuring the villain of Genocide. I don’t know how they’re going to top Genocide’s previous appearance.

p. 221 – Time Lincoln: Fists of Fürher #1:


It’s too bad I didn’t care for the original Time Lincoln comic (as reported here) because normally I’d be all over Lincoln versus Hitler. And let’s face it, all things considered, Hitler was going to pop up in this eventually.

p. 252 – Darkwing Duck #1 The Duck Knight Returns:


Hold on there just a gosh-danged minute. Says here that the writer of this comic is my old pal (and a founding member of the Associated Comics and Pop Culture Webloggers of Ventura County, CA and Outlying Environs) Ian Brill. Hey, I know it’s April Fool’s Day…you’re not going to pull one over on me, Boom! Studios!

p. 254 – Donald Duck #355:


THIS IS A FETISH FOR SOMEONE.

p. 266 – Complete Adventures of the Big Boy Archives Vol. 1:


I find it hard to believe that there would be any demand for this whatsoever. Though I have to admit I can’t wait to see the new Alex Ross cover.

p. 374 – The Twilight Zone Series 1 8-Inch Action Figures:


The action figure translation of the Gremlin, while perhaps accurate, did it no favors, did it?

And from the solicitation info:

“Each exceptionally lifelike character….”

Er, there’s at least one character pictured there for whom the term “lifelike” may not apply….

p. 376 – Elvira Mistress of the Dark 7-Inch Deluxe Action Figure:


Sorry, guys, the dress is molded on.

p. 376 – Tonner DC Stars Power Girl Deluxe Collector Doll:


Power Girl and Elvira on the same page of Previews? We’re violating some cleavage zoning laws here, I think.

p. 383 – Watchmen Mez-Itz Figures:


Sooner or later, that one piece of Watchmen merchandise is going to come out that’s going to make Alan Moore cast that final devastating magical spell that will destroy the world. This is close. We’re at, like, 11:59 on the Alan Moore Magical Doomsday Clock.

p. 387 – Star Wars Clone Trooper Recon Kit:


Basically a bugjar that’s a Star Wars tie-in in that the Star Wars logo is molded into the plastic. Sure, why not.

p. 394 – Psycho-Man Mini-Bust:


No joke here. Just another sad lament that I do not own a Control-Box like the one he’s holding there. And not a prop one, either…I need one that works. Science, get crackin’.

p. 397 – Star Wars “Farmboy” Luke Skywalker Mini-Bust:


“BEHOLD my phallic symbol!”

p. 402 – Doom Generation Action Figures:


I have to say this comes as a surprise, though the very idea of the “Pruning Shears Jordan” figure makes me a little queasy. Nice touch having each figure’s retail price be $6.66, however.

p. 406 – The Hoff “In Your Pocket” Talking Keychain:


Plays clips of David Hasselhoff reciting his catch phrases, like “Don’t hassle the Hoff” and “I’m hoff for you,” and hopefully nothing from this.

p. 406 – Star Wars “In Your Pocket” Talking Keychain:


Unless there’s the Jawa “Utinni!” sound, I’m not interested.

p. 416 – Star Trek Shirtless Kirk Cologne for Men:


There is nothing that is not fantastic about this. “Set phasers for stunning,” it says on the box, and truer words have never been spoken.

While discussing this at work, I was asked what Shirtless Kirk would smell like. “He would smell like adventure,” I replied.

p. 428 – Dinosaur Monopoly 2010 Edition:


“Go directly to the K–T extinction event…do not pass GO, do not collect $200.”

p. 428 – Elvis Monopoly 2010 Edition:


“Go directly to the toilet…do not pass GO, do not collect $200.”

p. 429 – Family Guy Monopoly 2010 Edition:


“Go directly to the flashback with the pop culture reference…do not pass GO, do not collect $200.”

p. 429 – Nintendo Monopoly 2010 Edition:


“Go directly to the Donkey Kong 22nd level kill screen…do not pass GO, do not collect $200.”

p. 430 – Watchmen Heroclix Collector’s Box Set:


I’m telling you guys…no Seymour in the set, no deal.