sir-links-a-lot

Or you didn’t interact with me there because you just plain don’t like me.

filed under Categories blogging about blogging is a sin, sir-links-a-lot 11 Comments

 

  • Those of you who are on the Tumblr, and didn’t want to interact with me there because my regular Tumblr site Estate 4.1 depressed the hell out of you…well, I remembered that I had grabbed the “mikester” user name there a long time ago, but never did anything with that account, so Mike Sterlng’s Progressive Tumblr is now open for business. Mostly I’m just using it so I can comment on and occasionally reblog friends’ posts without breaking the Estate 4.1 “character.”

    Estate 4.1 will still be continuing, so don’t you worry your pretty little heads over that.

  • Bully, the Bull Who Is Stuffed and a Bull And Is Stuffed Also, sticks it to comic book stickers!

  • This week’s Nobody’s Favorites is a character that…I actually sort of liked the idea of, just for how crazy it sounded.

  • MAVERICK PUNCH!

  • So the Dark Knight Rises teaser poster for the film is out. Kind of a neat design.

  • H at the Comic Treadmill writes about currently taking a hiatus from comics and the previous times he’d done so.

    …I was trying to think if I’d ever had a comics hiatus, and…well, not since I’ve started selling the things, obviously, but before that? I think once I started buying comics regularly, I never stopped. My purchasing dipped a bit at times, sure. And even now, the number of comics I actually pick up each week is pretty low. But I’ve never hit a point where I felt the need to give them up entirely. I suspect even at my lowest ebb I’d still be buying Swamp Thing. If there was one coming out, of course.

  • And I wanted to post a special thanks to Matt and Lynnea, readers of the site who were nice enough to stop by the store, say “hi!” and see me in all my disheveled, unshaven and sweaty glory. Yes, they were just that lucky. Thanks again for visiting, guys!

Miscellaneous things, in brief.

filed under Categories sir-links-a-lot 6 Comments

 

  • Bully, The Little Stuffed Bull That Walks Like A Little Stuffed Bull, has been presenting some fine examples of Chris Claremont’s most Claremonty angsting, and you can dig ’em right here at Bully’s “Claremont” blog tag.

  • Oh, hey, check out this new Star Trek webcomic by Kevin Church and Ming Doyle. It’s satirical-licious!

  • Well, that Green Lantern: Hal Jordan movie prequel comic certainly was a retelling of a few brief scenes from the film. Nice Jerry Ordway art, though. And that makes two Hal Jordan-logoed comics on the stands at the same time!

    • RELATED: “What were Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Kilowog, Abin Sur and The Guardians all doing before the curtains rise on June 17?” Not reading a complete set of the prequel comics! Christopher Butcher notes the shipping issues the GL prequels have been having, and how it might bode ill for the coming DC September o’Number Ones.

  • BEHOLD – a third GL-related bulletpoint: even though the “War of the Lanterns” crossover has been botched a bit by the scheduling problems, this week’s Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #11, which takes place after the conclusion of that storyline, doesn’t really spoil much for that storyline. Oh, except that Guy is still alive. And still a Green Lantern.

  • Speaking of logos, which I was a couple of bulletpoints ago: so The Iron Age tie-in mini-series came out from Marvel, and the first issue has two different covers. Having two different cover images is one thing, but one has a big ol’ AVENGERS logo, and the other has a big ol’ CAPTAIN BRITAIN logo, both overwhelming the tiny little “IRON AGE” logo stripped across the top edge of the cover. They look for all the world like they’re two different comic book series. It is not immediately apparent that they’re simply two variations on the same comic. It can be a tad bit misleading, if you’re not paying attention.

  • Seriously, I don’t know why comics folk don’t just consult Dr. Polite Scott first before putting together any medically-involved scene, because they’re totally going to get it wrong otherwise.

  • Finally got my hands on Jim Woodring’s Congress of the Animals hardcover, after some screw-up (i.e. Mike maybe missing that line in the order form during the initial orders) resulted in not receiving the book as soon as it was out. But it’s here, and it’s just as beautifully-dreamlike and nightmarish as much of Woodring’s work. I’m terrible at describing things, so let me send you to this brief preview.

  • In case you can’t make it to a Transformers 3 showing this summer, Andrew has got you covered.

  • Pals Dorian and Ken present their monthly movie trailer reviews, which is always one of my favorite things to read.

  • I have had to remove the Amazon.com affiliate links from my sidebar, as the company will no longer send referral payments to affiliates located in California. (You can read more about it here.) Those few extra dollars a month did help out quite a bit, and I want to thank everyone who used those links to order things and sent me some coin of the realm in the process.

Just a brief post today…

filed under Categories green lantern, sir-links-a-lot 2 Comments

…linking to the reaction of noted biologist and skeptic PZ Myers to Alan Moore speaking about magic. Thought some of you out there might find that interesting.

Speaking of Moore, a couple of his stories were adapted in the recently-released Green Lantern: Emerald Knights animated moviewhich I just watched last night. “Mogo Doesn’t Socialize” makes it through more or less intact, but “Tygers” (the Abin Sur one, illustrated by Kevin O’Neill) is only barely recognizable, having been thoroughly reworked to meet the demands of the movie’s overarching plot. Nothing of the original’s impact makes it into the final product. Otherwise, the film was okay…it’s neat seeing all the Green Lanterns in action (and what must be, what, the sixth or seventh redesign for Kilowog?), but it’s a shame that Special Guest Ultimate Menace Krona didn’t get much to do other than be large and roar a lot. I think I would have rather seen this Krona-centric story made into a movie. But, you know, no one ever asked me.

THE MOST IMPORTANT COMIC BOOK NEWS OF THE WEEK!

filed under Categories pal plugging, sir-links-a-lot, swamp thing 4 Comments


BULLY IS SIX!

Rather, his wonderful and fun and absolutely essential weblog has turned six, which means Bully’s site is now the exact same age as Bully, the Little Stuffed Bull Who Is Also Six Years Old. Bully has been writing his site since birth, which makes all the rest of us look like the slackers we are.

Congratulations to Bully for six incredibly entertaining years! Here’s to six more, at the end of which, Bully will be…six years old still, somehow. Weird.

In other news:

  • In response to yesterday’s post someone took issue with my assertion that Green Arrow #12 didn’t really count as a post-Brightest Day appearance, as it was mostly rehashing events from #24 of the Brightest Day series. Well, there are appearances of Swamp Thing in this issue outside of the Brightest Day recap, but he doesn’t really do anything other than stand there and look at Green Arrow wander around and think about, you know, stuff. In fact, my first impression was that Swampy’s appearances were more symbolic than literal, though rereading the issue, it’s…well, hard to tell, really. Regardless, it doesn’t push Swamp Thing’s particular story any further, and doesn’t reflect the character’s apparent status at the end of Brightest Day #24.

    In conclusion, nobody cares except me, Rich, and that commentator who asked the question and also wants me to post the forthcoming Swamp Thing variants, etc. (NOTE: I’ll post those covers eventually…what, you thought there was a danger that I wouldn’t?)

  • Pal Dorian gets his hands on a Bud K catalog, which reminds us that Diamond Previews has no monopoly on bizarre genre merchandise.

  • Speaking of bizarre genre merchandise, Andrew shows us this thing that actually exists and there shall be no forgiveness for him.

 
 
 
 

image of Bully and, you know, that other guy, whassisname, © John D. and used with permission, hopefully

Not every post can be about Swamp Thing.

filed under Categories doog boog, sir-links-a-lot, swamp thing 2 Comments

Steve Lafler’s Dog Boy is back in all-new stories over at CO2 Comics, and you can read more about it here, or just jump straight to the new stuff. (And be sure to clicky-clicky in the sidebar there for some Lafler classics, including more Dog Boy!)

Hey, I love Dog Boy…what can I say?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oh, okay, here’s a little bit about Swamp Thing: “Do you agree with Swamp Thing being earth savior in Brightest Day?” Dude really wanted it to be Abin Sur. I didn’t even know that was an option.

I should add a wolf howl to my site, too.

filed under Categories sir-links-a-lot 2 Comments

Fantasy and comics artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones has passed away, and my condolences to her friends and family. Tom Spurgeon has an extensive obituary that you should read.

Jones, by the way, was one of the uncredited art assistants who helped Bernie Wrightson beat the deadline on that original Swamp Thing story in House of Secrets #92. You can read more about that in this interview with Wrightson.

• • •

In other news:

  • New Adam Warrock EP, “This Man…This Emcee” available for purchase! Only $5! Listen to the sample track “Marvel Vs. DC” at that link! Exclamation point!

  • The first storyline of The Line (by Kevin Church and Paul Salvi) just wrapped up, and if you’re coming to the strip late, you can start right here.

  • Pal Dorian reminds us of that Dan DeCarlo story from Penthouse Comix. Betty, no! (Link slightly NSFW.)

  • It’s been going around the nerdinet again lately, though the actual process of posting all the pages was, according to the site, completed in 2009 (on my birthday, in fact!). But it’s always worth noting that every single page of the Elfquest comic book series is online for free reading. However, as of a couple of days ago, a PayPal “Donate” button was recently added, so, if you enjoy the Elfquest, drop ’em a buck or three at least to thank Wendy and Richard Pini for their generosity.

    By the way, the wolf howl on the intro page startled the hell out of me.

  • So there’s an unpublished Donald Duck story by Don Rosa that had been laid out but never completed, and Comics Alliance, in association with Boom! Studios, is presenting all the pages right here. (You can get a print version in the recently-releaed Walt Disney Treasury: Donald Duck Vol. 1.)

Bring me Swamp Thing figures in tribute…THIS I COMMAND.

filed under Categories cranius, pal plugging, sir-links-a-lot, swamp thing 13 Comments

Well, my plan was to talk a little more about the whole Swamp Thing hoohar on Monday, after folks have had more of a chance to read and process the character’s reemergence in this week’s Brightest Day #24. But, as many of you have emailed, commented, and Tweeted at me about in the last 12 or so hours, there’s some other big Swamp Thing news this week: MATTEL SWAMP THING ACTION FIGURE WITH EXCLUSIVE PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES available only at this year’s San Diego Comic Con!


OH MAN. And he comes with a case shaped like his head that apparently doubles as a mask:


It seems as if the figure may be available beyond SDCC, but the accessory Un-Men figures are exclusive to this release, such as (what appears to be) Ophidian:


…and of course, the incredible Cranius:


I mean, c’mon, who deserves a Cranius figure more than me? …Well, okay, Wein and Wrightson, but I’m a close third, dammit!

So, since it’s about as likely I’ll be able to travel to Mars as to the San Diego Comic Con, I’m gonna have to plan a way to get my mitts on this thing. Plans probably won’t involve murder and mayhem, but I guarantee nothing.

You can see the whole video presenting this beautiful thing right below:


…or if that doesn’t work, you can look at the video right here.

In other news:

  • So apparently there’s going to be an ongoing subplot in the Superman comics about Supes renouncing his U.S. citizenship, causing people who’ve never read Superman comics to threaten to never read Superman comics. Or something. I guess this is really, really important, somehow.

    Hey, remember that time Superman died and he totally was never going to come back? …Yeah.

  • Andrew has a new Nobody’s Favorites entry featuring one of those characters that everyone’s heard of, but doesn’t make it any less peculiar that the character even existed in the first place.

  • So Kevin Church and Max Riffner contributed a swell four-page story to the Panels for Primates online anthology.

  • When making your Deadpool fan film, be careful with your live ammunition. REMINDER: Deadpool is a professional comic book character and his firearm frivolity should not be attempted at home. (via pal Dorian)

  • Bully, the little bull whom, it seems, is quite stuffed, presents: TALES OF THE SPOILER. Good spoilin’ fun for everyone!

  • Hey, pals Randy and Denise have a new book out: Sketch Card Mania, all about the process in producing those collectible insert cards you find in trading card sets, from two veterans of that industry! Randy and Denise are good people and fun, talented artists, and having seen the book at our shop, I can verify that it looks great. SPECIAL DEAL: if you order from Randy’s site, you will get your copies with original sketches from Randy and Denise.

    Congrats to those two on the release of their book!

  • Oh, I totally forgot to link to this…my latest article for The Content Farm site: How to Sell Your Soul to the Devil. You know, in case you were wondering how to go about that an’ all.

I finally went back to that old post and fixed the contrast on that Adrienne Barbeau pic.

filed under Categories sir-links-a-lot, swamp thing 3 Comments

  • Since I’m probably never going to get that official Swamp Thing/Man-Thing crossover (though we’ve had some unofficial ones), I’ll have to settle for things like this awesome drawing by Paul Wee.

  • Hey, here’s a fantastic William Stout rendition of Swampy.

  • Can’t help but think I’ve linked this before, but it’s Swamp Thing and MODOK, hangin’ out in the swamp together. (Not to be confused with SWAMPDOK, of course.)

  • Speaking of pal Tom Foxmarnick, who drew that SWAMPDOK image for me, here is another drawing of his presenting yet another Man-Thing/Swamp Thing team-up:


    Click on that image for a much better look. And yes, I know Man-Thing has no mouth, but that little tongue is so cute.

    Tom will be selling prints of artwork just like this at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, so drop on by his table and give him a howdy-do. And some money. For art.

  • So apparently at one time there was a vote for which series was most deserving of being presented in a DC Archives hardcover edition, and coming in at a close second was Swamp Thing. So clearly there’s need of a recount. Anyway, there’s a mock-up on that site of what a Swamp Thing Archives might look like.

  • It’s tough not to love a review of the Swamp Thing movie that includes this line:

    “There’s one naked swamp bathing scene, but you just barely catch a glimpse of anything important.”

    However, sir, I must disagree. That’s naked Adrienne Barbeau you’re speaking of…every bit is important.

    Also, the cartoon at the end of the review is something else.

  • Behold: RETIRED SWAMP THING, courtesy Awesome Hospital‘s Matt Digges.

  • “Swamp Thing could fit 20 riders in its single train.” …You don’t say!

  • …And Tony Isabella tells me this comic strip made him think of me when he saw it, so I shall add him to the list of people that I’ve infected with my particular obsession. And soon, I will call upon all these people to rise up as my personal army to…well, perhaps I’ve said too much.

Surely there is a need for a Wikipedia article on “Characters That Have Not Yet Been to The Fortress of Solitude.”

filed under Categories letters of comment, sir-links-a-lot 8 Comments

It always amused me that, in the old Answer Man columns Bob Rozakis used to do in DC Comics a decade or three back, there would be a non-stop parade of folks asking what their comics were worth, and it seemed like most of the time they were worth about thirty cents to a buck:


Of course, this was a while back, before the comics the readers were most likely to have were given labels like “Bronze Age” and “Copper Age” and priced upward accordingly. But enough questions like this appeared to be submitted that, if memory serves, a separate column was created just to handle the pricing inquiries. I think maybe I once saw a reader ask about a comic that turned about to be, like, five bucks or something.

I like the matter-of-factness response to this next question:


And I like the very specific nature of this next inquiry:


In the, oh, 30+ years since this was asked, has Black Lightning made it to the Fortress? I haven’t the foggiest.

I’m also picturing that this was just one of a series of questions the reader sent in. “Has Firestorm been to the Fortress?” “No.” “How about Animal Man?” “Um, not yet.” “Metamorpho?” “Not sure, really.” “Okay, has Johnny Thunder?” “Oh, from the Justice Society? Lemme check….” “No, I mean Johnny Thunder, the cowboy hero.” “…Don’t you have anyone else you can bother?”

• • •

In other news: