I did. Last night as a matter of fact. And I loved it. Watchmen was long said to be un-filmable; and no doubt, back in the eighties when the story debuted, that was probably true. Today, though, with the help of computer animation, a talented director and no fear of a two hour plus run time, the un-filmable has been filmed.

I was genuinely surprised at how true the movie was to it's source material. Doing a straight adaptation of Watchmen was gutsy. It's a challenging story. It's dark. It's a bit morally ambiguous in places (the book's real moral is played out by minor characters who are mostly left out of the movie). I assumed the movie would be Watchmen pushed through the filter of a Hollywood tent-pole action film - and yeah there was a little bit of that, but mostly it managed to stay pretty true to the heart of the book.

Apparently there's a lot of internet nerd-rage over the changes to the ending. I wish director Zack Snyder and company had stuck with Alan Moore's ending, but thought they managed to make their changes work.

Ultimately, as good as the movie is, the comic is better. Rorschach's origin, Ozymandias' speech at the end, the tour of Mars - all have a power on the page that just doesn't quite survive the translation to celluloid.

One place where the film departed from the comic to it's advantage was the opening credits. The filmmakers created original scenes that set-up the history of super heroes in the world of the Watchmen, set to Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changing." While all the scenes grew out of references in the actual story, none of them actually appeared anywhere in the book.

All said and done, Watchmen set it's sights pretty high and, for the most part, hit it's mark.  I'm historically unimpressed with a lot of comic book movies - and if there was ever an adaptation with the potential to disapoint, it's one as ambitious as Watchmen. It's nice to be pleasantly surprised every once in a while.

Labels: nerd

As a result, a shark bites a T-Rex on the tail! Yes!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

Labels: nerd

It made Sara laugh at least...


I totally used a green screen! from Patrick Drury on Vimeo.

Labels: nerd

Sara and I totally just sat on the couch next to each other and video-chatted. The feedback was a little annoying but the intimacy-killing lack of eye-contact was oddly comfortable...

Labels: nerd

The graphic novel they said was un-filmable is coming to theaters. Looks awesome.

Labels: nerd

It took almost two years but Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's incredible All Star Superman mini-series is finally done. It's one of the greatest Superman stories ever. I'm sorry to see it go! The final issue was great. I bought one for me and one for a co-worker. I am not the only nerd at St. Awesome's!

Labels: nerd

When you talk about giants of the comic book industry there are a couple of names that are non-negotiable in my mind. The first one is Jack Kirby, who had a hand in creating probably half of the super-heroes you've heard of and dozens you probably haven't heard of (I'm speaking to the majority of my readers here, the non-nerds). The other name is Will Eisner. Eisner was a master storyteller and most known for his character The Spirit.

A movie version of The Spirit is coming to theaters this Christmas. It's being directed by Frank Miller, the guy who wrote the original graphic novels that 300 and Sin City were based on. Prior to Eisner's passing, he and Miller were friends. Miller has expressed a great affinity for the original Spirit material; which makes it all the more puzzling that, from the looks of the preview trailer, he's decided to turn The Spirit and it's unique voice into a Sin City look-alike.



I know it's just a trailer and I shouldn't judge the whole movie on it, but it seems to lack charm, something Eisner's original Spirit strips never did.

The movie posters, however, are fried gold. Take this one of Scarlett Johansson's character:



Innuendoriffic!

Labels: nerd

Today I bought the final issue of the second arc of Matt Fraction's awesome Casanova series. If Fraction's to be believed, this will be the last Casanova issue we see for possibly a year or more.

If you're one of my readers that cares about comics (a small handful of you) and who bothers to pay attention to the things I say (an even smaller handful) then you know Casanova is my favorite comic book being published these days, possibly my favorite ever.

The second arc, Gula, started out as one that was a little tough for me to get into at first. There was a change in art, tone, and pacing from the first arc. Eventually it all fell together for me, though, and I came to enjoy it almost as much as I did the first arc.

Today's issue, issue 14, is something I'm going to be sitting with for a while.

The issue has a pretty big surprise reveal towards the end, that somehow I pegged a few issues out. When the idea popped into my head I kind of dismissed it. There was no way Fraction would make such a potentially messy move with his lead character. There was no way he would go so far against action-hero type. So imagine my surprise, and to some degree delight, to find out I was correct (even if I hadn't quite pegged the why of it all).

Like I said, I'll be sitting with this one for a while. It's got a lot of emotional nuance that I imagine will reveal itself more fully as I re-read it a few times.

Also, I'm not the only person really affected by this book. A writer over at Comic Book Resources has proposed that Casanova might be the first really important comic book of the 21st century. I know how that sounds, but he makes some really good points.

Also, Fraction printed a Casanova playlist in the back of the last issue that corresponds with different pages in the story. Comments he's made on the internet lead me to believe he may upload it to Muxtape at some point - but I don't know that for sure. Here are the tracks, minus his explanations for why they're included:

Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John
You Only Live Once - The Strokes
The Beat That My Heart Skipped - Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
7 Stars - The Apples In Stereo
Woke Up New - The Mountain Goats
Evil Will Prevail - The Flaming Lips
Six Days - DJ Shadow
River Deep, Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner
To Catch A Thief - Lovage
She Will Only Bring You Happiness - McLusky
Taxman - the Beatles
Execution Day - The New Pornographers

Labels: nerd

Labels: nerd, pull list

Labels: nerd

As I begin to think about moving into a new house, I find myself thinking a lot about my entertainment center.

You're seeing more and more high-level nerds using computers and XBox 360's as one-stop media centers.

The basic idea is that you have a computer attached to your TV (like a Mac Mini)that you wirelessly stream your iTunes library to (after ripping your movies off of DVD and storing them to iTunes naturally). Then you hook up a TV tuner to said computer and use it as a DVR. That way you've got immediate access to non-cable channels, your music and movie collection, and rentals (via iTunes) - all playable through Apple's Front Row software (free on most Macs these days). The only missing piece of the puzzle then would be cable shows not offered on iTunes (like anything on the Food Network or E!). The whole process is explained much more technically (but much more clearly) here.

One option is downloading the shows you like via bit torrents, but I've always found torrents to be kind of a pain to mess with. Plus you then have to make sure you have software that'll play varying video formats on your TV. Too much hassle.

I suppose I could just learn to live without the Food Network and The Soup, but what fun is that?

The other big kink in my tv dream is cost. Basically you'd be talking about an $800 tv, an $800 Mac Mini, and a $200 TV tuner. That's a lot of scratch up front - especially considering you're having tie these machines together to make them do what you want. I have no doubt that Apple has already noticed the media center trend and has their denizens hard at work creating a one-machine option. I just want it all now, dammit!

Labels: nerd

Labels: nerd

From the in-development GI Joe movie: Hello Snake-Eyes.



You look awesome.

Labels: nerd

Here's Fabio Moon inking a page from my favorite comic book, Casanova. If you've never thought about what goes into making a comic book, you might find this interesting. Also, if you're an octopus and you wonder what happens to your inky discharge after it's harvested by craggy old sailors with buckets and milking stools, you might find this interesting. If that isn't where ink really comes from, I don't want to know. The whole "how babies are made" thing was shocking enough.

Labels: nerd

The trailer for Green Fight Club was released yesterday. Here it is in all of it's torn-pants goodness:

Labels: nerd

Watchmen is largely considered to be one of the greatest works of fiction to come out of the American comic book industry. It was written by Alan Moore (From Hell, V For Vendetta, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), drawn by Dave Gibbons and features the story of a group of has-been super heroes living in 1985 in an America on the brink of nuclear war. The story became famous for it's dark, deconstructionist tone and garnered critical acclaim in and outside of comics. It even won a Hugo award.

Zach Snyder, the guy who directed 300 (another comic book movie) is bringing Watchmen to the big screen. Warner Brothers has put up a production blog on their website - complete with character shots. Check it out here.

This could possibly become a comic book movie I'm looking forward to. The character designs look faithful to the originals and fairly well done. They seem to have decided to go with the molded rubber look that most modern super hero movies default to. Some might complain about that, but if the story itself deconstucts the super hero genre, it's possible the movie version might try and do the same to super hero movies (no real reason to believe that's what they're going for - just thinking out loud).

The story itself is so dense, I worry a little about it's ability to be told, and told well, on the big screen in summer blockbuster form. Plus, Alan Moore's works always seem to suffer when they become movies. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and From Hell movies were complete crap compared to their true selves.

At any rate, I'll be keeping my eye on this one, and reserving judgment and hope until a later date.

Labels: nerd

Labels: nerd

Michael Chabon, Sara's mom's favorite author, wrote an essay about super hero costumes for the New Yorker. It's excellent. Here's a bit:

This sad outcome even in the wake of thousands of dollars spent and months of hard work given to sewing and to packing foam rubber into helmets has an obvious, an unavoidable, explanation: a superhero’s costume is constructed not of fabric, foam rubber, or adamantium but of halftone dots, Pantone color values, inked containment lines, and all the cartoonist’s sleight of hand. The superhero costume as drawn disdains the customary relationship in the fashion world between sketch and garment. It makes no suggestions. It has no agenda. Above all, it is not waiting to find fulfillment as cloth draped on a body. A constructed superhero costume is a replica with no original, a model built on a scale of x:1.

Labels: found, nerd

Because I'm a comic book nerd I have friends who always assume I'm going to be excited about upcoming super hero movies. The fact is, though, I can rarely muster much enthusiasm for that kind of thing. Super heroes just seem to work better in comic books than on the big screen. The only notable exception that comes to mind is the first Spider-Man movie. Nearly everything else has ranged from decent to outright terrible (I will say the second Blade movie was awesome, but that barely felt like it had any ties to the comics to me, so I don't include it. Arbitrary distinction? Yes, yes it is).

I've made no secret here on the blog, though, about how excited I am about the new Iron Man movie starring Robert Downey as Tony Star/Iron Man. Every bit of footage I've seen from the movie looks absolutely awesome and fills me with hope and excitement that I rarely have for this sort of thing.

Iron Man isn't the only Marvel movie on the horizon, though. There's also a new Hulk movie coming out in June. Much like what was done with Batman Begins, the producers of the new Hulk movie are taking great pains to separate it from the terrible Ang Lee Hulk movie from a few years back; starting from scratch basically.

I'm not all that excited about the Hulk movie. I will admit that Edward Norton is some nice casting for mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner. And the rumors that there will possibly be an Iron Man cameo is exciting. Outside of those two tidbits and the news that Samuel Jackson will be playing Nick Fury (leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. the Marvel universe's super spy organization) there's not much there that excites me yet.

I do find it interesting that this, along with Fight Club, makes for two movies that star Edward Norton as a timid, put-upon loner who has a raging, violent, Super-Id alter ego.

The Colonel said once that Fight Club was our generation's The Catcher In The Rye. That might be true - but more obvious to me, Fight Club is our generation's The Incredible Hulk. In the old Hulk comics Bruce Banner was transformed into a powerful monster by the mysterious power of radiation. Decades later we know radiation just kills you, so Fight Club features Norton transformed, not by gamma rays, but by the all-consuming forces of consumerism and modern living. See? They're practically the same story!

Hopefully the Hulk won't end with Bruce Banner putting a bullet in his brain, though. Fingers crossed.

Labels: nerd

According to Newsarama, patchdrury.com's favorite comic book writer Matt Fraction (as seen occasionally in the side Twitter bar) will be writing one of the coolest Marvel heroes ever: Iron Man! This will make Iron Man at least 65% more awesomer than he already is. How did I come up with that percentage? Here, I'll show my work:



+



=

65%

See? You can't argue with math. Fraction's new series will feature the pencils of Salvador Larocca and will launch in May, the same month as the big Iron Man movie, starring Robert Downy Jr, hits theaters. Congratulations to Fraction. I don't know him or anything, but he seems like good people. Also, his baby? Cute as a button and has his own blog.

Labels: nerd

BUILD-A-FRIEND
Originally uploaded by ernest.borg9

Paul Pope doing his Jack Kirby imitation, recreating an image from one of Kirby's lesser known works (compared to the Fantastic Four & The X-Men), OMAC The One Man Army Corps.

There was a ridiculous conversation between various parties after Kirby's passing about whether or not John Byrne or Rob Liefeld was Kirby's spiritual heir.

Obviously, Paul Pope is the only acceptable possibility here.

Labels: found, nerd

Labels: movies, nerd

Back when I was a kid living in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, thirty minutes and a driver's license away from an honest-to-goodness comic book store, I used to get my comics one of two ways. I'd either pick them up at a grocery/drug store (I also bought my first Star Wars figures at a drug store. Way before I'd even seen the movie) or I'd get them in the mail via a subscription service.

The first comic I ever subscribed to was G.I. Joe. The second was Uncanny X-Men. When I first started subscribing the issues were mailed to you in a brown paper sleeve, just like a dirty magazine or something. After a few years the sleeve disapeared and the comics were wrapped in an oversized plastic bag. Probably thanks to idiot collectors complaining about the shape the books arrived in.

I started getting Uncanny X-Men in the mail somewhere around the start of Junior High and continued getting them right up until I went to college.

Most of those comics are long gone now. Either given away, sold, or traded for store credit at a local comic shop.

I've just recently started re-reading the stories from those old books via Marvel's Essential line. Essentials are big phone-book size black & white reprints of various series.

There's an essential volume that picks up more or less right where I started reading X-Men. And three more after that which continue the series just about to the point where I stopped reading regularly.

The X-Men these days are pretty dismal. Years of bloated continuity, fan-pandering, and poor writers have brought what was once a great series nearly to it's knees (the only high point in years being the fantastic Grant Morrison run).

So when I sit down with these Essential volumes I'm able to remember what made the X-Men so great back in the day. I can even remember where I was when I slipped some of the jewels out of their crisp brown wrapper and read them.

There's a lot of things I miss about being a kid, but the thrill of waiting every month for the latest installment of my favorite comic book to show up in the mail is right up there at the top somewhere.

Viva la comix!

Labels: nerd

Wanna know who Hurley saw sitting in that cabin on last night's Lost season premiere?

Nerds with DVR's have come to your rescue. Click the link below to see the frame that reveals shadowy figure's identity:

Click here

Keep in mind, that doesn't mean this character is Jacob. Only that he was in the cabin. Based on how fast the eye appeared in the peep-hole, I'd assume there's somebody else in the cabin as well.

Labels: nerd, tv

I was mostly entertained and quite nauseated by J.J. Abrams' new movie Cloverfield. I appreciate any movie that tries to be scary by teasing you with only glimpses of it's monster/killer/Sara Jessica Parker.

As most everyone knows, J.J. Abrams is also the genius behind LOST, one of my favorite TV shows (it's my favorite because I kind of look like Sawyer, Jack, and Hurley rolled into one guy - oh, and the polar bear).

Anyway, it turns out that there's a little clue in Cloverfield that seems to imply that it and LOST are taking place in the same universe. Check this out:



See that in the corner? That's a Dharma symbol. Like in LOST.

I'm sure it's not really meant to be a sign of shared continuity, but rather just a little nerd Easter Egg. Either way, it's pretty cool. This little tidbit was found on Cloverfield Clues. Just so you don't think I'm some kind of super-observant genius or something.

Labels: found, nerd

To the readers of Rich Johnston's Lying In The Gutters column over at Comic Book Resources: Welcome.

The Heath Ledger/Grant Morrison comments aren't to be found here on my blog, though. They're over on the VHive. Feel free to poke around anyway, though. Don't mind Dirty. He always looks like that.

To Rich: Thanks for the attribution.

To my regular readers, the majority of which don't give a damn about comic books: Go about your business.

Labels: meta, nerd

New iPhone applications became available yesterday through a new software update. You can now re-organize your home screen, save web bookmarks to your home screen, find your location via faux GPS, send multi-recipient SMS messages, and watch rented iTune movies.

Go here to watch the video demo and then update your iPhone.

Labels: nerd

This one is hard. I read a lot of comics throughout the year. A lot of them are crap. But there's always, among the garbage, a couple of shining diamonds that remind me of how great a good comic can be. Here's the comics that did that for me in 2007 with the help of Comixology's embeddable descriptions


This issue is dead smack in the middle of the second volume of Matt Fraction's Casanova. I loved the first volume of that book so much that I can barely adequately describe it. The second volume, though awesome, hasn't hit all the same notes for me. It features a different artist, a different direction, and a different all around vibe. I've enjoyed it, but have had trouble connecting with it. Until issue 11. This issue is where the first volume and the second became a cohesive piece for me. The art finally clicked. The story finally clicked. The vibe finally clicked. I'm not sure why. Because of it's redemptive powers, though, Casanova 11 makes it into my top three comics for the year.


All Star Superman issue 6 is about fathers and sons. It's about missed opportunities and second chances and it's a darn good Superman story on top of all that. If I was going to recommend any one issue from the series to a casual reader, it would be issue 3 where Lois gets super powers. For 2007, though, issue 6 stood out as an awesome read and a possible tear jerker (not for me, but I hear some folks teared up a bit...).


Adam Warren is a phenomenally talented creator who could just never seem to catch a break. Empowered changed all that, apparently. Empowered is a manga-style super hero story about a young female super hero who spends as much time worrying about her body issues as she does fighting super villains. This book is sexy, funny, and has more heart than any comic I've read in years. Warren's work is shot directly from his pencils (no inking) and it's absolutely beautiful. Two volumes have been released with a third on the way in March 2008. Hallelujah!

Next up: Best movies of 2007

Labels: best of, nerd

I missed this one somehow on the first post. Scott Porter from Friday Night Lights has been cast as Superman.

Labels: nerd

Warner Brothers is putting together a live action Justice League of America movie that will feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. Instead of tapping Christian Bale and Brandon Routh to play Batman and Superman respectively, Warner Brothers has decided to go with new actors in every role - specifically young actors who could grow their characters into possible franchises (Wonder Woman and Green Lantern are already slated for big screen debuts after JLA ).

Here's the rumored (and thought to be reliable) castings so far:

Relative unknown Armie Hammer as Batman:


Australian actress/model Megan Gale as Wonder Woman:


And the always punchable former OC star, Adam Brody as the Flash:


Comic nerds everywhere are already bemoaning some of the picks. I, for one, am not all that bothered. I love the JLA but have no faith in Hollywood adaptations of super hero movies so I can only be pleasantly surprised.

Labels: nerd

Labels: nerd

So, Sara's mom, Jan, one of the most generous and loving people I've ever met, bought me an iPhone.



Yeah. I know.

She couched it in some excuse about me helping Sam Handwich get on a phone plan, but ultimately I think she just did it because she's awesome and she gets a big kick out of doing incredibly, incredibly nice things for people. Or maybe it's because I'm taking her daughter off her hands.

Anyway, I got the thing last night and I've been getting it all loaded with pictures, songs, ringtones, bookmarks, etc. It is, within less than 24 hours of getting it, already the most useful thing I've ever owned. This morning on the way to work it reminded me that it's BP's birthday today (see coming post).

So thanks to Jan for being generous beyond all reasonable expectations and thanks to Steve Jobs for making a real live Mother Box . Wheeee!

Labels: nerd

So you might have read some stuff I wrote here on my blog about Matt Fraction before. He's totally my favorite comic book writer. He's the only one I've ever felt compelled to write an email to, even though I felt dumb and awkward after doing it. You might have seen me list his book Casanova as one of my frequent buys on my pull list posts. I just really like his stuff.

Reading a recent issue of Casanova I noticed a couple of lines of dialogue that appeared to be lifted from a Mountain Goats song that I love. I went over to Fraction's website and, like a nerd, asked him if they were indeed taken from the song. He confirmed that they were and I had a nice little inside moment where my favorite writer borrowed from a band I like and I recognized it and blah, blah, blah...

Anyway, Fraction was recently asked to create a playlist of his five favorite Mountain Goat songs by a website called Cable and Tweed. He spends a little time unpacking why he picked each song and how the band has made their way into his work. It's a really interesting read and showcases a lot of the reasons I love Fraction's voice.

Read it here. And as a bonus, learn about babies and the Startle reflex.

Labels: nerd, playlist

Labels: nerd

So years ago, I'm not sure how, a fog machine came into my possession. Not the kind to look fog-expelling gift horses in the mouth, I promptly started using it at my annual Halloween party.

The big problem with fog machines, though, is that the fog comes out hot and therefore tends to rise. That's fine if you're wanting to obscure people's vision, but not always conducive to a party setting.

So the internet is full of instructions, created by Halloween enthusiast, about how to chill your fog and cause it to stick close to the ground. The most common of these instructions involves creating a "fog chiller" out of pvc piping and store bought drink cooler. I've thought about making one for years but just never got around to it.

Until now.

Two nights ago I ran by Lowes, bought the stuff I needed, and then headed to Sara's family's house to make the thing. When Sam Handwich and Nathan saw what I was doing they offered to help.

So now, after less than an hour's work and less than $20, we created a fog chiller.

By clicking on the picture below and following it to my Flickr page you can see the notes on making it. You can also click here to find out how to make your own.

Labels: halloween, nerd

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Labels: nerd

Thanks to Steinblogger, I have a new way to nerd out and really annoy my non-comic fan readers (all but two of you basically).

Here's what I'm buying this week:

Labels: nerd, pull list

Labels: nerd

I've totally been getting into Facebook lately. I think I like it because it offers fewer chances for users to be tacky and annoying. I've been on there for several days and haven't had anyone try and post a big glowing message with a large-headed, scantily-clad cartoon girl in it yet. Also, no endless friend requests from soft-core porn models.

Here's my Facebook page. Let's be BFF!

Labels: nerd

I've started monkeying around with Comixology. It's an online reference guide for what comics are coming out on a given week. You can use it to create pull list several weeks in advance. Ginchy, huh?

If you've got a Mac, it also offers a desktop widget. I don't have a Mac, though. I do have a widget sitting on my actual desk at home, though.

Okay, that's a lie. I don't have a desk. I use an old door propped up on two orphans. I'm not a millionaire, you know.

Labels: nerd

Grouchy comic book writer Warren Ellis delves a little deeper into John Allyn Smith Sails from the new Okkervil River album. He's right in pointing out how well the track works, but completely wrong in his short analysis of the band as unremarkable and overwritten.

Labels: nerd, playlist

August 7th: New Okkervil River album, Stage Names is out


August 8th, volume two of Matt Fraction's Casanova series begins


August 19th: Jennifer's birthday


August 20th: The Avett Brothers are performing at the Woodsongs Radio Hour


August 23rd: Vlad's birthday


August 31st: Dirty's birthday


What'd I miss?

Labels: jerks, nerd

He with the situated giblets sent me this link to an online piece in which Ed Norton talks about his upcoming turn as the Hulk. There's also a character concept on the page in case you're wondering what the Hulk will look like this time. Ang Lee's Hulk movie a few years ago was such a convoluted mess they've decided to start over. With Ed Norton as Bruce Banner. Didn't Ed Norton already do a movie where he's a meek, mild-mannered dude who turns into a monstrous alter-ego and causes property damage?

Labels: nerd

This may not be up long, so watch it now. This is pirated footage of the Iron Man trailer that debuted at Comicon. It looks fantastic. Everything looks right. Downey as Tony Stark is charming yet smug. The original armor is a clunky tank. The more streamlined version looks awesome. I'm really, really thinking this will finally be a super hero movie that I don't mind people trying to talk to me about.

Labels: nerd

DSCF1942
Originally uploaded by PatLoika

This weekend is the San Diego Comicon - the largest gathering of weirdos, nerds, and virgins in the world. Obviously I wish I could be there. Okay, sorta, but not really. I've been to smaller comic book conventions before and it's kind of fun, but for some reason my nerdery has never been a social thing. I love people and I love comics but for me they're not two great taste that taste great together.

Does that make me a self-hating nerd? Maybe. I'll ask my therapist. If I ever have a therapist. And I've been thinking about getting one ever since the Colonel bad-touched me at the Avett Brothers' show last night. He said it was an accident but then how does that explain the smoking jacket and the camera crew?

Labels: nerd

I'm about to post some spoilers down below, but I'm gonna post them in white so you can only see them if you highlight them with your mouse. Okay? So if you end up getting spoiled it's your own fault, okay?

I've never read a Harry Potter book. I've only seen parts of any of the movies. It's a cultural phenomenon that has passed me by. Probably because I like to spend my reading time with weightier tomes - things like theology, philosophy, and comic books.

Anyway, there's been such a ruckus online and on the news about the latest and last installment in the Potter books that my interest was finally piqued. Not enough to read the books mind you - but enough to go online and poke around on some spoiler sites and see what the big revelations in the book are. I was actually kind of surprised and intrigued when I read them.

So, if you're interested in knowing what the final fate of Harry Potter and his magicy little friends is, highlight the space below with your mouse:

He grows up and marries you. Is that what you wanted to hear? Okay, I stole that line from the Simpsons. Still, though, who cares what happens to Harry Frickin' Potter. Go do something productive with your time. Or at the very least go start a blog and taunt people with it, like I do. Idiots. Also, if you're so interested in spoilers: Rosebud was his sled, Vader is Luke's father, Bruce Willis was dead the whole time, and the chick in The Crying Game was really a man. Happy?

Pretty cool, huh?

Labels: nerd

My Simpson's avatar via the Simpsons movie site.

Even yellow and I'm so damned handsome...

Labels: found, nerd

# posted by Patrick @ 11:17 PM ::

BATTLING BOY
Originally uploaded by ernest.borg9

Promo art from Paul Pope. Holy McCrap I love this guy!

Labels: found, nerd

This will mean something to probably two or less of my regular readers. In "strangest thing I've heard in a long time" news, Brian Wood revealed on a message board I frequent that he was asked to pitch a Thundercats comic.

That's right, Brian Wood, indie-sweetheart and writer of subtle and poignant books like Demo and Local...


...was asked to pitch a comic featuring late eighties toy commercial, the Thundercats:


To give a little context for my non-nerd readers, this is roughly the equivalent of asking the Colonel to write a book about being a caring, sensitive human being.

Wood aside, If you were a kid who grew up in the 80's and have fond memories of the Thundercats you might be thinking you'd be interested in a comic featuring them regardless of who wrote it. Let me just say, as someone who really liked the cartoon when I was little, the concept doesn't hold up two decades later. Just enjoy your memories.

Labels: nerd

I get more and more hopeful all the time...

Labels: nerd

JC Samsonite sent me this link to Newsarama's small article on the new Batman suit from the upcoming Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight. Here's a picture of the new duds. Clickum make it bigum:





From the article:

Probably the biggest change – the cowl is now separate from the neck and shoulders (which caused Batmen from Michael Keaton to George Clooney to swivel their entire head and shoulders when looking around), and is based on a motorcycle helmet.

Great idea! I wonder where they got it? Maybe from this column I wrote two years ago:

There was really only one thing that bothered me about Batman Begins. I find it incomprehensible that after over a decade of Batman films, Hollywood still can't design a costume that allows Batman to turn his freaking head. I mean, come on! We're supposed to believe that Batman can get his hands on utility belts full of gadgets and capes that allow him to glide on air currents, but he can't master something as simple as the cotton turtleneck? Batman is supposed to be intimidating. What's scary about a guy in a cape and a neck brace?

In case you're wondering, yes, I am implying that the people in charge of the Batman franchise, all the way out in Hollywood, read my column in a small Eastern Kentucky newspaper which offered up a completely unoriginal complaint that could be found on literally hundreds of nerdy blogs and message boards and decided to fix the costume accordingly. One can never underestimate their place in the world.

Labels: nerd

Yikes!



That is one dark Joker.

Labels: nerd

For one thing, the new Avett Brothers album, Emotionalism, comes out today!

In addition to that, the Avett Brothers are playing the Southgate House in Newport on the 31st.

For another, the oversized, hardcover collection of Matt Fraction and Gabriel Ba's Casanova comes out next Wednesday.


And finally on the 26th, Sunday Valley plays at the Dame!


The 26th is also my nephew Zach's birthday party, but the vast majority of you aren't invited, so don't get too excited.

Labels: dear diary, nerd, playlist