Ideas on Ideas

Go read.

I often wish that my job was like those designers in the movies–they pick colours from swatch books, go to big meetings in fancy boardrooms, and are invited to nice parties. What a happy life! At smashLAB, we seem to be stuck in the real world, and simply can’t get out.

http://www.ideasonideas.com/

hi·a·tus

n. pl. hi·a·tus·es or hiatus
1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break: “We are likely to be disconcerted by... hiatuses of thought” (Edmund Wilson).

NMH will be back, but I don't know when. In the meantime you can read me on the Great Curve. "Meanwhile..." is posted weekly on Monday nights.

This week's "Meanwhile..." and a Retailer Challenge

This week's "Meanwhile..." is up over at the Great Curve. Take a look if you're interested.

I also recieved this in the mail recently:

My name is Brian Garside, and I'm a comic book retailer, and a dad (my daughter Kaylin just turned six months this week).

Reading the article on Sam Loeb on the Comics Newsarama moved me beyond words, and made me decided something. After talking it over with my partner Pete, we have decided that we are going to donate all of the money we make on Superman/Batman #26 to the Sam Loeb College Fund.

If you live in Canada and want to get this from us, I encourage you to visit us at www.allnewcomics.com. We're going to ship it for free to anyone who orders it from us, and we are going to eat the cost on that. This will not in any way impact how much money we donate in Sam Loeb's honour.

As a dad, I can't imagine anything worse than losing my baby. I think the only thing that would make me feel better is if I could know that something good could come out of the tragedy, and that for just a moment the rest of the world noticed how special my child was.

I am putting this challenge out there to every other retailer. How cool would it be if not only did we make this the number 1 book for April, but if we all gave up our profits on it and gave back to the business that we love so much?

Brian Garside
President: All New Comics Inc.

Here's the link to their page for Superman/Batman #26.

Memed

From Kelly Brown-

A - Age: 28

B - Band listening to right now: The Eels

C - Career future: Web Developer/Designer

D - Dad's name: John

E - Easiest person to talk to: Hmmm, probably April or Jimmy.

F - Favorite song: Rigt now, probably Marching Bands Of Manhattan by Death Cab For Cutie

G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Neither, but I guess bears.

H- Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

I - Instruments: None.

J - Job: Web Developer/Designer

K - Kids: None, but I'd like to have some someday.

L - Longest car ride ever: Not sure. Probably to DC.

M - Mom's name: Debbie

N - Number of jobs you have had: 9

P - Phobia[s]: None that I know of.

Q - Quote: Love Truth and Pardon Error. - Voltaire

R - Reason to smile: Lisa

S - Song you sang last: "Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)" by The Eels

T - Time you wake up: 7:30, snooze till 8:00

U - Unknown fact about me: Not unknown, but I was the Kool-Aid Man for a while, which was pretty cool and unique.

V - Vegetable you hate: Squash, but I love it in Casserole.

W - Worst habit: Biting my nails, cracking my knuckles or chewing ice

X - X-rays you've had: My leg when I was 6 and broke it, I think that's it.

Y - Yummy food: Chinese. I love the stuff and eat too much of it.

Z - Zodiac sign: Leo

What I Bought: The $25 Edition

My total actually came out to $28, but I have maybe $60 worth waiting for me at the shop still. I'm gradually cutting back my list and buying what I had on hold while still getting new comics each week. Here's what I came out with.

Birds of Prey #91

Simone just writes damn entertaining superhero books. I'm not liking the whole DC character's showing all their incarnations last page on all the books this month though.

New Avengers #16

The book I wanted to hate, but actually really like.

Daredevil #82

I adore Michael Lark's art. Seriously, anything he's on I'll buy. Team him up with Brubaker and I'm just about as giddy over a comic book as I can get.

The Losers #32 Last Issue

Viva la Losers, baby! I've been with it from the beginning and the ending was exactly as good as I hoped it would be. This needs to be a movie. I can see the whole thing in my head now, complete with soundtrack and casting. I'll miss this book. Here's to hoping Diggle and Jock get more work.

Young Avengers #10

I actually don't mind that this is late at all. Weird. I usually hate late books. I guess I'm forgiving because I'm enjoying it that much.

Hawkman #49

Well, I didn't really like this issue much. Should probably have spent my money on something else, but I was already down for it. Next month should be better as Simonson and Chaykin take over and the book becomes Hawkgirl.

Teen Titans #32

Really didn't like the art, but I thought this worked a lot better than the same scene in IC. It had a lot more character moments that I really enjoyed.

JSA #82

Levitz is still a pretty good writer. This was a pretty cool issue focusing on the Earth 2 Batman and Superman trying to figure out why the Gentleman Ghost was stealing the JSA's artifacts after they disbanded. It was a lot better than I expected it to be and I wouldn't mind seeing more 1 year later.

Action Comics #836 and Superman #226

I guess the events in these issues haven't happened yet? I'm kinda lost here. I'll read these again after the next issue of IC comes out. Is there any way you can have a crossover that doesn't depend on reading the other crossover book to actually have a full story? Overall it had some good moments, but the moments are just that unless they add up to a story.

Marvel Zombies #3

Just geeky gross out fun.

And that's it. Most of the books everyone mentioned as suggestions I actually have on hold. Goon and the others will most likely get picked up next week. It was interesting seeing what others would do with only $25. Maybe this can be a regular feature here. What do you all say?

MSNBC Likes Me! They Really Like Me!

This is pretty freaking cool. "Meanwhile...", my new column at the Great Curve was just linked to by MSNBC's Clicked, a column on blogs.

Here's what they had to say:

Speaking of blog round-ups, this is the first time I've seen a collection of comic book blog entries. I've seen Web comics before, but nothing that would include themes like, "examining the Invincible Iron-Man, the embodiment of America and Capitalism in comics."

My only regret is that there were a lot of great blogs that I didn't link to that could have used the exposure.

Your mission, should you choose to except it...

You have $25 a week to spend on comics. What would you buy? It may have an effect on what stays and goes on my list each week.

Here's the list from Diamond from Wed. Tell me what you think I should buy, but stay within the budget. You can see what I had planned to buy here.

DC COMICS

DEC050238 ACTION COMICS #836 $2.50
DEC050231 BATGIRL #73 $2.50
DEC050229 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #74 $2.50
DEC050226 BATMAN WAR CRIMES TP $12.99
DEC050223 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED #1 (OF 4) $5.99
DEC050252 BIRDS OF PREY #91 $2.50
DEC050320 DANGER GIRL BACK IN BLACK #4 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC050302 DEVIL DOES EXIST VOL 5 $9.99
DEC050254 DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES VOL 3 HC $49.99
DEC050301 ELFQUEST THE GRAND QUEST VOL 13 TP $9.99
DEC050255 FIRESTORM #22 $2.50
DEC050332 HELLBLAZER #217 (MR) $2.75
DEC050289 HI HI PUFFY AMIYUMI #1 (OF 3) (RES) $2.25
APR050425 IDENTITY CRISIS SER 1 DR LIGHT AF PI
APR050424 IDENTITY CRISIS SER 1 GREEN ARROW AF PI
APR050427 IDENTITY CRISIS SER 1 HAWKMAN AF PI
APR050423 IDENTITY CRISIS SER 1 INNER CASE PI
APR050422 IDENTITY CRISIS SER 1 MASTER CASE PI
APR050426 IDENTITY CRISIS SER 1 ZATANNA AF PI
DEC058117 INFINITE CRISIS SECOND PTG #3 (OF 7) $3.99
DEC058118 INFINITE CRISIS SECOND PTG #4 (OF 7) $3.99
DEC050268 JSA CLASSIFIED #9 $2.50
DEC050269 JUSTICE #4 (OF 12) $3.50
DEC050327 KID ETERNITY TP (MR) $14.99
NOV050327 LOSERS #32 (MR) $2.99
NOV050330 LOVELESS #4 (MR) $2.99
DEC050293 MAD MAGAZINE #463 $3.99
DEC050272 MANHUNTER #19 $2.50
DEC050274 SGT ROCK THE PROPHECY #2 (OF 6) $2.99
DEC050335 TESTAMENT #3 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE

DEC051770 GIRLS #10 (MR) $2.99
OCT051744 NOBLE CAUSES #17 $3.50
OCT051720 SPAWN MANGA VOL 2 TP $9.99
SEP051708 STRANGE GIRL #6 $2.99
DEC051811 WITCHBLADE #95 $2.99
DEC051796 WITCHBLADE METALKOTE ALT CVR #60 $10.00
DEC051797 WITCHBLADE METALKOTE ALT CVR SGN #60 $20.00

MARVEL

DEC051984 DAREDEVIL #82 $2.99
DEC051985 DAREDEVIL MCNIVEN VARIANT #82 $2.99
DEC052083 ESSENTIAL MOON KNIGHT VOL 1 TP $16.99
DEC052040 GENERATION M #4 (OF 5) $2.99
DEC052022 GIANT SIZE MS MARVEL #1 $4.99
DEC052074 HOUSE OF M MUTOPIA X TP $13.99
DEC052075 HOUSE OF M NEW X-MEN TP $13.99
DEC052005 I HEART MARVEL MARVEL AI $2.99
DEC052010 MARVEL ADVENTURES FLIP MAGAZINE #9 $3.99
DEC052011 MARVEL HEROES FLIP MAGAZINE #9 $3.99
DEC052067 MARVEL MASTERWORKS SGT FURY VOL 1 HC VAR ED $54.99
DEC052066 MARVEL MASTERWORKS SGT FURY VOL 1 NEW ED HC $49.99
DEC052024 NEW AVENGERS #16 $2.50
DEC052023 NEW MANGAVERSE #2 (OF 5) $2.99
DEC051989 PUNISHER VS BULLSEYE #4 (OF 5) $2.99
DEC052028 RUNAWAYS #13 $2.99
DEC052043 SENTINEL SQUAD ONE #2 (OF 5) $2.99
DEC052034 SHE-HULK 2 #5 $2.99
DEC052032 SPIDER-WOMAN ORIGIN #3 (OF 5) $2.99
DEC051972 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #27 $2.50
DEC052069 ULTIMATE X-MEN VOL 13 MAGNETIC NORTH TP $12.99
DEC052053 X-MEN APOCALYPSE DRACULA #1 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC052056 X-MEN DEADLY GENESIS #4 (OF 6) $3.50
DEC052055 X-STATIX PRESENTS DEAD GIRL #2 (OF 5) $2.99

COMICS

NOV052977 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #28 (A) $4.99
DEC052739 ACTOR STAR WARS TRILOGY SET $19.77
DEC052794 ALICE IN WONDERLAND #1 (OF 4) $3.50
DEC052993 ANGRY YOUTH COMIX #10 (MR) $4.95
DEC052815 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #98 $2.25
AUG052848 ARMY OF DARKNESS #4 $2.99
NOV052909 ATLAS #2 (MR) $2.95
OCT053151 BABYMOUSE VOL 1 OUR HERO GN $5.95
OCT053152 BABYMOUSE VOL 2 QUEEN OF THE WORLD GN $5.95
DEC052818 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #140 $3.59
SEP053085 BUTTERNUT SQUASH #1 $3.99
NOV053241 CAPCOM SUMMER SPECIAL $9.99
DEC053080 CHICANOS #4 $3.99
AUG052921 DARLING CHERI A BLAB STORYBOOK HC (MR) $14.95
NOV052917 DF ULTIMATE EXTINCTION #1 SGN $19.99
DEC053014 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #337 $2.95
DEC052769 EMO BOY #5 $2.95
SEP053218 EXALTED #2 POWER FOIL CVR ED $12.50
OCT053323 EXALTED #3 POWER FOIL CVR ED $12.50
DEC058045 FIST FULL OF DOLLARS ALICE IN WONDERLAND #1 (EACHES) PI
NOV052971 FLARE #32 $3.25
DEC053038 FLARE ADVENTURES #16 (NOTE PRICE) $3.25
OCT052912 GACHA GACHA VOL 2 GN (MR) $10.95
DEC052954 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE VOL 1 TP $14.95
DEC052955 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS MANHATTAN $4.95
NOV052892 HACK SLASH LAND OF LOST TOYS CASELLI CVR A #3 (OF 3) (MR) $3.25
NOV052893 HACK SLASH LAND OF LOST TOYS CRANK CVR B #3 (OF 3) (MR) $3.25
DEC053009 HERE COME THE LOVEJOYS AGAIN #3 (A) $3.95
DEC053075 KEEP #4 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV053263 KEKKAISHI VOL 4 GN $9.99
DEC052951 KILLER 7 #1 (MR) $2.95
JUN052803 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #3 (OF 4) $3.99
AUG052838 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE COMM CVR #3 (OF 4) $5.99
AUG052837 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE GOLD FOIL CVR #3 (OF 4) $5.99
JUN052806 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE PREMIUM CVR #3 (OF 4) $9.99
JUN052805 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE RYP CVR #3 (OF 4) $3.99
JUN052804 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE WRAPAROUND CVR #3 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV052689 LUCHA POP ONE SHOT $8.95
NOV052672 MEN OF MYSTERY VOL 1 HEROES FOR THE AGES TP $24.95
NOV053003 METAL GEAR SOLID SONS OF LIBERTY #4 $3.99
DEC053015 MICKEY MOUSE AND FRIENDS #286 $2.95
NOV053264 MIDORI DAYS VOL 4 GN $9.99
OCT052915 NODAME CANTIABILE VOL 3 GN (MR) $10.95
OCT052917 PASTEL VOL 1 GN (MR) $10.95
OCT052918 PERFECT DAY FOR LOVE LETTERS VOL 2 GN (OF 3) (MR) $10.95
NOV052824 PLANETARY BRIGADE #1 $2.99
SEP052863 RED SONJA #6 $2.99
AUG052846 RED SONJA FIERY RED FOIL HIGH END ED #5 PI
SEP052865 RED SONJA FIERY RED FOIL HIGH END ED #6 PI
SEP052869 RED SONJA GOES EAST ONE SHOT UDON POWER FOIL ED PI
OCT052904 RED SONJA VS THULSA DOOM HIGH END FOIL ED #1 (OF 4) PI
NOV053042 REVOLUTION ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #2 (OF 6) $3.98
NOV052972 ROY THOMAS ANTHEM #1 $3.25
NOV053277 SENSUAL PHRASE VOL 12 TP (MR) $9.99
OCT053333 SHOJO BEAT MAR 06 VOL 2 #3 $5.99
DEC052891 SIMPSONS COMICS #115 $2.99
SEP053215 STREET FIGHTER II #1 POWER FOIL JO CHEN CVR C $12.50
NOV052937 STRUWWELPETER & OTHER DISTRUBING TALES A BLAB STORYBOOK HC ( $14.95
DEC053067 SUPERMARKET #1 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC053053 TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS (IDW) #1 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC053308 TRAP DOOR MAKER PHANTOM OF OPERA PREQUEL #2 (OF 3) $5.99
AUG058328 TRUE STORY SWEAR TO GOD #16 (PP #691) $2.95
OCT052919 WALLFLOWER VOL 6 GN (MR) $10.95

Meanwhile...at the Great Curve

I've been invited to join The Great Curve, expect to see the majority of my link posts dealing with comics in my new weekly column "Meanwhile...", where I point out what's good/entertaining/interesting in the comic blogosphere.