Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 520

December 2, 2011: Getting into the Christmas spirit! My new favorite show! Joe's language school! News of note!

Hey!  It's snowing!!!  Not outside but right here on this blog!  I am officially in the Christmas spirit.  Post your questions and I'll answer them in tomorrow's holiday mailbag.

From the "How did I miss this?" file comes my favorite new show I just happened to discover on DVD last week:

Actually, friends have been recommending this series for a while now but I only got around to checking it out recently because, well, I finally made the time for it.  And, boy, am I glad I did.  It's brilliant and easily ranks up there with the likes of The Sopranos and The Shield.  Who else is watching?  And if you aren't, why not?

Hey, you know what's even more frustrating than learning a foreign language?  Educating someone on the fickle nature of English grammar.  I'm the last guy you should be asking about the intricacies of non-continuous verbs and dangling modifiers.  Apparently, while  "Because that's the way it is." may have worked for Walter Cronkite, it aint working for this guy, proving a rather unpopular response to the various questions Akemi has thrown my way.  Equally unpopular answers have have included: "It just sounds right/doesn't sound right.",  "It's hard to explain…" and mumbling something incomprehensible before trailing off and feigning distraction by some mystery phone text.  I liked it better when my contribution to Akemi's ongoing English-learning program consisted of reading and explaining old Far Side strips.

Some news of note:

7 Most Inappropriate Restaurant Names.  I'll see your Mother Clucker's and raise you a Chocolate Log: 

Hey, conspiracy theorists.  Check these out: 19 Famous Photographs Before The CIA Edited Them

Wait.  What?  You mean I shouldn't have already blown all my savings on that fallout shelter and canned food?  

Since we've been talking comics of late, TopTenz.net offers up: Top Ten Worst Moments in Marvel Comics.  And, for you DC fans - Top 10 Worst Moments in DC Comics | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net.  Agree?  Disagree?

One of the many reasons celebrities shouldn't be allowed to have children: 

December 1, 2011: Help me out with this upcoming Mind Meld! The comic book report!

Help me out here.  Every once in a while, the fine people at SFSignal (SF Signal – A Speculative Fiction Blog) ask me to participate in their MindMeld feature, an ongoing series in which a ragtag group (writers, rum-runners, bureaucrats in alien ministries, etc.) is asked a genre-related question.  Past topics have included: MIND MELD: What Cultures Are Neglected in Science Fiction and Fantasy?, MIND MELD: The Best Women Writers in SF/F and, just in time for the holidays - MIND MELD: Great Gift Ideas For Geeks and Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans.  [Check out the archive here: Mind Meld).  Anyway, for their next MindMeld, they're asking: "What were the best genre-related books, movies and/or shows you consumed in 2011?  Not necessarily new in 2011, but new to 'you' in 2011."

Hmmm.  That's a tough one.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to check out as much genre-related fiction as I would have liked this year.  In retrospect, it was time that would have been better spent checking out a few of my favorite authors or screening some SF, Fantasy, or Horror films.  Ah, well.  Live and learn.  Anyway, I'm trying to put together a list and, frankly, having a difficult time.  Looking back over my book list, I have one genre-related work I really, REALLY enjoyed.  Plenty of comic books (thanks to this late reading spurt), a single t.v. series, but no movies.  Did I miss something?  Of course, I would know better than you but seeing as how I'm having a tough time remembering, maybe you could all help jog my memory.  Help me prep!  What were the best genre-related books, movies and/or shows I consumed in 2011?

I'm, of course, helping my cause by testing the comic book waters – and by "waters", I mean a veritable "sea of comic books" – practically every ongoing series out there.  Here the deal: I pick up at least 3 issues of each title, read 'em, and if I like 'em, I'll continue following the series.  If I don't like 'em, I move on.  So far, I've checked out 20 books and am sitting on a record of 11 likes and 9 not-for-me's.  A little over 500.  That isn't that surprising.  What IS surprising is the titles have impressed and those which have failed to grab my interest. This long-time reader of the Avengers and X-Men has yet to find an Avengers or X-book to follow.  On the other hand, titles I simply checked out for form's sake, assuming they wouldn't capture my interest, have impressed (Green Lantern Corps and Red Lanterns anyone?)  But, as they say: "That's why you play the game".

Continuing the game play…

THE FLASH #1-3

Hmmm.  So here's the thing: I was a huge fan of Mark Waid's run on the Flash, so any subsequent take on the character is probably going to pale in comparison.  Like this version.  With all due respect to Barry Allen, I miss Wally and Linda and, while I found the book's premise interesting, it didn't really grab me.  There were too many confusing moments in the narrative, either moments I assumed were flashbacks that actually weren't, or strange reactions on the part of the characters. After thwarting a terrorist attack and discovering that one of the terrorists killed in said attack was an old friend, Barry is paid a surprise visit by the formerly deceased friend.  Suddenly, they are on the run, being chased by a group of men.  Rather than ask what the hell is going on, Barry says: "At least tell me it's not over a woman." and, later: "Seriously.  How many angry husbands are chasing us?!".  He's either incredibly naive or trying to lighten the mood.  If it's the latter, however, I don't know why he'd waste time joking around when the obvious thing to do would be to ask his newly-undeceased buddy what the hell is going on?  In issue #2, there's a moment when he reveals he is able to see everything before it happens, weigh every possible outcome, and make the right choice.  In the supporting visuals, it's pretty clear that he is able to glimpse the future.  If so, this is HUGE and makes one wonder how he could possibly ever make a wrong decision.  A tricky development that risks undermining the tension of the series if he's as powerful as we're led to believe.

Verdict: Despite the nifty shock ending to issue #3, it's not a series I'll be continuing.

AVENGERS ORIGINS: VISION, LUKE CAGE, ANT-MAN & THE WASP, SCARLET WITCH & QUICKSILVER

I think these stories would appeal more to new readers who could use a primer on the origins of these various Avengers.  For my part, I already know their backstories (with the possible exception of Luke Cage which, I suppose, is why I found his dedicated issue the most interesting of the bunch) so I found it hard to emotionally invest in the narrative. Having said that, I think that some of these one-shots (Vision) work better than others (Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver) in delivering a engaging and nuanced narratives.

Verdict: Covers familiar ground for me.  As such, not a series I'll continue reading.

ACTION COMICS #1-3

My thoughts about the Flash's newfound abilities (see above) remind me of the problems I (and many others) have with the Superman. He's just too gosh darn powerful.  Outside of some handy kryptonite, how are you going to stop the guy?  Well, as it turns out, this latest version of the Man of Steel is a little more vulnerable, a little more human, and a lot more interesting.  Still, I had mixed feelings about Action Comics. I liked this new scaled-down Superman, the younger/goofier Clark, his budding friendship with Jimmy Olsen, the annoyingly petulant Lex Luthor, and the art by Rags Morales (whose work I enjoyed immensely on Hourman).  I didn't like the elements involving Lois's father, General Lane.  Yes, I know it's not new, that this version of the character was introduced back in the late 80′s, but it feels like ground already trodden by Marvel with The Incredible Hulk.  Also, not a fan of Big Blue's short-sleeved look.

Verdict: There's enough here to keep me onboard for the time being.

X-MEN #17-21

I join the X-Men's adventure already in progress as they are trapped on a hostile world in another dimension.  Again, some of the characters feel slightly different here than they do in other X-titles.  Emma Frost, for instance, feels more haughty and erudite than other versions, a true ice queen while Magneto comes across as – well – dreamy.  I preferred the ensuing story involving an oppressed nation's attempts to secure an army of sentinels for their national defense but still experienced a few bumps with certain developments, chiefly the ones involving Domino.  Why would the bad guys assume she's dead?  Not only do they not bother checking her vitals (which surely would have revealed she was very much alive), but they fast-track her to the autopsy room from where she makes her escape.  Felt like a bit of a cheat.

Verdict: Still looking for an X-book to follow.

Overall record: 12-12

November 30, 2011: Another Dark Matter interview! Adopting a healthier lifestyle! Culinary Triumphs!

Check out the latest interview I did for my upcoming comic book series, Dark Matter, this one with my buddy Shaun Manning over at Comic Book Resources: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35481.  It offers a little more insight into the series and characters as well as a two-page sneak peek of what's to come.

Yes, it's true.  I've adopted a healthier life.  Note I use the word "healthier" rather than "healthy" because I have no intention of giving up my dessert habit.  Chocolate, ice cream, and cake are as important a part of my life as…hell, I honestly can't think of anything more important.  Which is why the other 25% of the time when I'm not indulging, I'm either working out or eating right.  I schedule two work-outs a day, cardio in the morning and weights at night, so that even if happen to miss one, I'm still covered for the deay.  I'm also eating a lot fish lately – this, in no small part due to the fact that my girlfriend is Japanese and she is all about the fish: salmon, snapper, tuna usually baked, roasted or served as sushi.  Personally, I'm partial to rainbow trout either butterfield and pan-fried with a little thyme, butter, and garlic or roasted with tarragon, lemon, shallots, and a splash of sake.  I do a great slow-baked salmon that never fails to come out fork tender, a seabass (lately sablefish) that's seared then finished in the oven with a hoisin and green onion glaze, a roasted mackerel with tomatoes, sweet onions, and meyer lemon, and salmon collars slathered in sesame oil, sea salt and garlic before being grilled to a crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside finish.  And, of course, no meal would be complete without those delectable sides.  I recently discovered the joys of cooking the Jerusalem Artichoke (aka sunchoke).  I scrub them down, half them, then toss them, unpeeled, with a little olive oil, sea salt, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, and serrano pepper powder before popping them in the oven for half an hour.  Fantastic.

Recent culinary triumphs:

Oven-roasted herring with tomato, lemon, sweet onions and sake.

Akemi's luxurious squash soup.

Akemi's Chinese rice. Addictive!

Those Jerusalem Artichokes I was talking about. A great alternative to potatoes.

So, how are you all doing?  Exercising?  Eating right?  Let's hear about your recent culinary triumphs.

Ironically enough, my latest culinary triumph came on a night I should have been out enjoying Refuel's annual and awesome Whole Hog Dinner.  I've been so overwhelmed lately that I completely forgot my booking.  And this is the second time it's happened.  A month ago, I missed a special foie gras dinner.  Missing foie gras AND pork cheeks? I must be losing my mind.

November 29, 2011: Not dead yet! Let the Christmas rush begin! More comic perusals!

Wha-?! You're kidding!

I assumed my Snow Monkeys were dead in the water following their fourth straight loss but, as it turns out, they have one more shot at making the playoffs in the last week of our R.I.P. Stargate fantasy football league regular season.  Three teams are deadlocked at 6-6, fighting for those last two playoff spots and two of those other teams play each other.  All the Snow Monkeys have to do is win and they move on to post-season play.  A loss and they're eliminated on the tie-breaker.  On the surface, it looks like an easy enough task since we'll be up against the 1-11 Reagan's Raiders but, unfortunately for us, his wide receivers and running backs are looking at some terrific match-ups against the NFL's bottom-ranked pass and run defenses.  If we win, it's going to be a hard fought victory.

Show your support for the team by purchasing official R.I.P. Stargate League Snow Monkeywear and proudly displaying the Snow Monkey logo!

GO SNOW MONKEYS!!!

I officially started my Christmas shopping today and, when all was said and done, wound up purchasing more stuff for myself than anyone else.  I picked up some books, dvd's, desserts, and one of those little gadgets that froths up milk.  I was tempted to get a waffle-maker as well until Akemi pointed out I'd have to source pearl sugar to make a proper liege waffle (according to waffle expert Rob Cooper, it doesn't melt like regular sugar, caramelizing the outside of the waffle but also remaining a half-melted whole inside), but apparently the stuff is harder to track down than D.B. Cooper.  I head back downtown tomorrow for round #2 as I have yet to cross mom and sis off the list. As for Akemi – well, it looks like she may need to go visit her family soon so I think I'll use my points to get us a couple of flights to Tokyo. Better late than never.

On the comic book front, I checked out another three titles last night…

BATWOMAN #1-3

I had heard a lot of very good things about this series going in and it lived up to the hype.  Really interesting, varied artwork – shifting in style and palette – compliments an unsettling little mystery involving the disappearance of some local children.  I know nothing about this new Batwoman (outside of the fact that she is very, very pale), but she's an interesting character and the civilian elements in this book are as fascinating as the superhero throughline.  I'm not a huge fan of stories with a supernatural angle, particularly in the Bat universe, and even though it looks like this one is headed that way, I'm reserving judgment until all is revealed.

Verdict: Great.  Definitely on my pick-up list.

ASTONISHING X-MEN #41-44

Wow.  What a difference 30 years make.  When I first started collecting comics, I couldn't get enough of the X-Men.  Today, I'm having trouble finding an X-title that really appeals to me.  Chalk it up to personal taste and my unfamiliarity with the copious backstory.  Granted, part of the problem is that, unlike DC's New 52 that make it easier for new readers to get in on the ground floor, much of the Marvel titles I've been checking out are ongoing.  The first issue of Astonishing X-Men I read for instance, issue #41, is the conclusion to a pre-existing story.  I was able to follow well enough but the thing that struck me as strange was how different the characters of Wolverine and Emma Frost were in comparison to their depiction in other, equally recent X-titles.  Very quippy and surprisingly light.  The next issue I read, #42, was for some strange reason the conclusion to another storyline.  The ensuing issue offers a standalone story involving a character I do remember from Whedon's run, after which we commence a brand new story in issue #44 – and I was back to being confused.

Verdict: My quest for an X-title continues.

RED LANTERNS #1-3

Given the book's premise and coming off Green Lantern New Guardians, I really wasn't expecting to be all that impressed with Red Lanterns, yet impress me it did.  Writer Peter Milligan crafts a smart and involving narrative that packs a surprising emotional punch in its depiction of the human costs of war and the consequences of allowing our passions to get the better of us.

Verdict: Thumbs up.  I'm very much looking forward to the next issue.

For those keeping track, that's 20 titles read (at least 3 issues of each) – 11 of which I'll be continuing to read for the time being and 9 of which I've dropped.

November 28, 2011: I've finally got my Amazing Race partner! High Tea! Thoughts on comics!

Exciting news!  I've finally got a partner for The Amazing Race.  It's none other than my old former Transporter nemesis and current rival blogger Tara Yelland (http://tarayelland.wordpress.com/ – Check out today's entry for her most shocking grocery line confrontation yet.  You won't believe the last five minutes!).  Earlier today, she sent me an email cryptically titled "So?".  Normally, I redirect her missives to my spam folder but this one intrigued enough for me to check it out.  The message: "Should we team up for amazing race? ".  I told her of course.  We both have complimentary skill sets to bring to the table. She could handle all the navigating, manual driving, puzzles, and heights while I handled all the eating challenges.

Now that I have a partner, Step #1 of my dream to compete in The Amazing Race is complete.  Step #2 is a little trickier and involves one of you guys adopting Tara and me since we, as non-American citizens, aren't technically allowed to compete on the show.  Kindly post your reasons for why you think you would be a good parent to Tara and me. We will consider all candidates and make a decision and official announcement before Christmas.

Did High Tea today with my friend and former Stargate publicist Kim Cowan.  I hadn't really planned on doing High Tea but we met up too late for lunch so I had to settle for tiny sandwiches and desserts fit for an elderly Lilliuptian socialite.

The ideal lunch portions for diners with tiny little hands. Please ignore the patron seemingly being sick in the background.

Continuing my perusal of almost every ongoing comic book series out there…

SECRET AVENGERS #16-19

Back when I was first reading comic books, I collected both the Avengers and X-Men.  Today, there are so many variations of both teams that it's difficult to keep up with all the titles and the various roster moves.  The Secret Avengers are made up of Black Widow, the Beast, Moon Knight, Sharon Carter, War Machine, Valkyrie, and Shang-Chi under the command of Steve Rogers (formerly Captain America). Their mission: "Locate hidden high-level threats to population safety. End threat by any means necessary.  Get out without being identified." Each of the issues I read was a self-contained story and while, on the one hand, they were very clever and offered the satisfaction of a beginning, middle, and end, on the other hand, it felt like they wrapped up a little too quickly and conveniently at times.  22 pages doesn't offer a lot of space to deliver a complete tale yet Warren Ellis avails himself nicely.  Still, the necessity to focus on story doesn't leave much room for character development and ongoing arcs, and these were elements I missed.

Verdict: Well-written but, ultimately, the standalone nature of the stories makes it a tough series to get into.  The line-up raises a couple of questions as well: Is Beast splitting his time between the Secret Avengers and one of the numerous X-Men off-shoots?  And what's with Moon Knight?  I was never a fan of the character because he always felt like a light-weight Batman but suddenly he's psychotic?  I recall that his secret identity was Marc Spector and, in fact, at one point somebody calls him "Marc"  - and yet in issue #19, he's Steven Grant. What gives?  Finally, I have to make mention of those two gorgeous covers by John Cassady and Paul Mounts.  Beautiful.

BATGIRL #1-3

Barbara Gordon is wearing the cape once again.  And walking!  What the what?  I'm a big fan of Gail Simone's work (especially her run on Secret Six), so I'm interested to see where she takes the character. The villain, Mirror, struck me as conspicuously old school and felt a little out of place in an otherwise sharp narrative.

Verdict: Looking forward to seeing what Gail Simone does with the character.  On we go…

CAPTAIN AMERICA (& BUCKY) #622-624

Tales from WWII featuring Bucky, Captain America's sidekick.  I'm a huge fan of Brubaker's work but didn't love these Bucky stories.  He does a nice job of capturing that old-timey comic feel but, at times, it all feels a little hokey.  Coincidence and convenience seems to be the linchpin of our hero's successes and, after a while, it really stretches credulity.

Verdict: I'd probably move on if not for the fact that the title changes direction next issue with a new creative team and arc.  A fresh start. It'll have another three issues to win me over.

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #1-3

Hmmm.  In past installments, I've voiced my concerns about Green Lantern's potential for silliness.  The two previous titles I read, Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps, surprised me by eschewing the sillier elements in favor of darker, more mature narratives.  New Guardians, however, is the flip side of the coin.  It's over the top and, at times, clearly feels like its geared toward a much younger audience.

Verdict: Two for three for the GL titles.  Pass.

X-FACTOR #223-237

X-Factor was one of the last titles I followed before life got in the way of comic book reading.  I very much enjoyed Peter David's writing, the detective agency backdrop, and our oft-put upon protagonist, Jamie Madrox.  Unfortunately, I didn't find the other characters quite as engaging.  At times, Rictor and Shatterstar feel like they'd be better suited to 90′s title.

Verdict: A good book but, unfortunately, most of the characters don't appeal.

SWAMP THING #1-3

Outside of Alan Moore's take on the character, I'm not that familiar with Swamp Thing so I was all sorts of curious to check out this updated version, especially given that Scott Snyder is at the writing reins.  The three issues do a nice job of laying out the backstory while still advancing an interesting narrative.  Surprisingly dark and downright creepy at times.  While not exactly hooked, I am intrigued.

Verdict: Pretty good.  I'm on board for now.

November 27, 2011: Yeeaaaaargh!!!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

My Snow Monkeys are going down to their fourth straight defeat and about to fall out of playoff contention.  Now I must rely on good fortune AND a do-or-die win next weekend to sneak in and secure a post-season spot.  Ivon and Lawren came by today to watch the disaster unfold.  On his way over, Ivon called to say he wanted to pick up a healthy alternative to the typically heavy football feasting we'd been doing.  He decided to get wraps.  I went with the Thanksgiving Turkey which included mashed potatoes, cranberries, and stuffing.  Healthy – no sot sure.  But delicious.  As was half of Akemi's veggie wrap.  And that half bagel and nutella I had for dessert (only realizing two bites in that it was an onion and poppyseed bagel.  Nutella DOES go with anything!).

I'm feeling bummed.  And a little queasy.

Enjoy some miscellaneous pics…

Akemi's Turkey Sausage and Salami – Octopus Style:

Sun dogs:

My recent chocolate haul:

Ivon and Lulu – True Love:

November 26, 2011: Bath time! Tara needs your help! Snow Monkeys need a win! And more comic book thoughts!

The gang cleans pretty nice.  They're all presentable now and ready to put in an appearance at your special occasion, be it a birthday party, anniversary, or wedding.  Book now to avoid disappointment.

Speaking of disappointment – tomorrow will be a HUGE day for my Snow Monkeys who are clinging to the last playoff spot in our Stargate fantasy football league.  This weekend, the second to last week of play, sees my 6-5 Monkeys playing the 5-6 Autodrafts.  Plenty of permutations to consider but, suffice it to say a win this weekend secures that playoff spot.  A loss puts me on very unsteady ground.  In an all-out bid to get that win, I traded injured star RB Adrian Peterson for RB Rashad Mendenhall (who has a nice match-up against the hapless KC Chiefs) and QB Cam Newton who I'll be starting ahead of Tony Romo (and good thing too given Romo's performance on Thursday).

Hanging on to that final playoff spot!

Hey, head on over to Tara Yelland's blog and check out THIS entry (Headshots! Survivor!) where she talks Survivor and asks her readers to weigh in on the dozen or so headshots she took the other day.  Help a gal out.

Continuing my quest to get back into comic books by reading every title out there…

GREEN LANTERN #1-3

I've always found the Green Lantern a hard character to like.  I mean, he's a character I really want to like.  I love the idea of a hero's powers being contained in a ring, a portable device capable of being taken, lost, or exploited. In this case, the ring's power manifests itself as "hard light constructs" originating from the wearer's imagination – anything from the good (cool alien weaponry), the bad (a giant boxing glove), to the inane (a giant baseball mitt for catching plummeting allies).  Oh, and all said manifestations are green.  So you can see the potential for cartoon silliness.  As a result, I approached this latest incarnation of Green Lantern as I approached past incarnations – with muted expectations and a certain sense of trepidation.  But again, like the new Green Lantern Corps series, I came away pleasantly impressed.  It's surprisingly dark in comparison to past GL stories I've read, with longtime arch-villain Sinestro joining the corps and enlisting a recently deactivated Hal Jordan to help him rescue his homeworld – by taking on his former allies, the Sinestro Corps.  The story moves at a rapid pace with plenty of action, but also offers up some terrific little character moments for not only Hal but Sinestro as well.  P.S. What happened to Kyle Rayner?

Verdict: Finally, a Green Lantern series with dark potential.  So far, so hooked.

FF #9-11

I always enjoyed reading the Fantastic Four for its mix of superheroics and super scifi.  Their origin and their powers have SF roots (their doomed spaceflight), they've battled cosmic entities (Galactus, Blastaar, Annihulus), and their leader is a brilliant scientist and inventor.  Of course, the mix of the more complex SF and superhero elements has its drawbacks for the casual reader as well as I soon discovered when I checked out #9 to #11 of FF.  Despite the handy paragraph-long intros that provide the backstory to the individual issues, I had no idea what was going on.  I mean, I sort of got the gist, but I didn't recognize quite a few of the characters, couldn't figure out their motivations, nor could I track the mythology-heavy backstory. Bentley, Alex Powers, Nathaniel Richards, Leech, the Supremor – all, no doubt, would make for a most intricate and satisfying narrative provided I'd been following the series and not hopping on its ninth issue.

Verdict: Unfortunately, way too confusing for me.  Will give the longer running Fantastic Four title a shot instead.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1-3

When I first started reading comics, my titles of choice were the superteams: the Avengers, the X-Men and, occasionally, the Defenders and Champions.  I loved the team dynamics, the sometimes rocky but ever-supportive relations that typified these books.  Although I didn't grow up with the Justice League, it's a title I've checked out over the years.  And so, I was interested to see how this latest incarnation of the team would fare.  Alas, while I was expecting a new team and new team dynamics, I was not expecting a total reboot.  With Justice League #1, we are back at square #1 as we explore the very first meeting of the super-powered individuals who will subsequently form the JLA.  My reader response here was the exact opposite to my FF experience.  Whereas I found the latter too confusing, I found the former too straightforward, covering ground I was well familiar with. Not bad for those looking to get in on the ground floor, but a little slow for this reader.

Verdict: I fee like we're covering well-trodden ground.  I'll shift my focus to Justice League Dark.

CATWOMAN #1-3

Hmmm.  Mixed feelings on this one.  On the one hand, we've got a great character in Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), a loner with a criminal bent, but possessed of a professionalism and allure that makes her altogether fascinating.  She's cool and collected under fire, yet there are moments in which we glimpse her vulnerabilities, the most interesting of which comes to fore in her surprisingly carnal relationship with Batman.  All great and there's even the bonus of a wonderful supporting player through whom we'll be able to gain a better understanding of our heroine.  On the other hand, there's a fairly straightforward story driving the narrative, the action feels at times gratuitously violent, and that supporting player with some much promise gets offed pretty early on in gruesome fashion.  This version of Selina Kyle is, for some reason, struggling to survive, a vagabond who must rely on the generosity of a friend to get by.  It's a far cry from past versions of Selina who've used the money they've made fleecing big targets to set themselves up quite nicely – living in penthouse suites, running in high society social circles, and demonstrating intelligence and resourcefulness in staying steps ahead of both her enemies and Batman.

Verdict: Alas, too far removed from the Catwoman I knew.  Not a title I'll continue with.

Hmmm.  Batting a little over 500 on the new comics – 6 yeas and 5 nays.  So what about all the other comic fans out there.  What are you reading and enjoying?

November 25, 2011: A Stargate Reunion! Plotting Dark Matter's course! Wading through what seems like every comic out there!

So, last night, I was online, finishing up a little historical research, when I happened across my old Stargate address.  Wonder what the old gang is doing?, I wondered.  Well, there was only one way to find out.  I sent out a bunch of emails before calling it a night.  This morning, I woke up to a couple of dozen replies.  Turns out I have a lot of catching up to do.  Making plans to do some coffees, lunches, and dinners – in addition to attending the Stargate Christmas reunion being organized by the lovely Tanja Balic.

Things are moving along nicely on the Dark Matter front.  As you know, the comic book launches on January 11, 2012 and the plan is to use it as a springboard to a television series.  Big conference call planned for next week to discuss strategy – and a brilliant suggestion by my Canadian agent that, if it pans out, should result in the rest of the pieces falling into place quite nicely.

Well, I'm back in the comic book swing of things and, in order to figure out which books I should be following, I've elected to go the "trial and error" route by buying three issues of every ongoing title out there and giving them a shot.  If they impress after three, I'll keep picking them up.  If not, I'll drop them.  Presumably, this method will allow me to whittle down my choices to the select few books I'll continue to follow to my dying days.

Anyhoo, kicked things off a couple of entries back with my thoughts of the new Batman & Robin relaunch.  Today, I've got some catching up to do…

BATMAN #1-3

I've always enjoyed the Batman line for its gritty, grounded stories and darker tone.  Even the most colorful members of the Dark Knight's rogue's gallery are more sinister than silly, less the over-the-top villains found in other titles and more of the believable threats one would expect from a more mature narrative (movies notwithstanding).  This new Batman title did not disappoint, weaving an engaging and eerily unnerving narrative involving a grisly murder, an attempt on the life of Bruce Wayne, and a secret society known as The Court of Owls.  Lots to like here.

Verdict: Scott Snyder's opening story is tightly written and well-paced. Definitely continuing with this series.

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN ("SPIDER ISLAND STORYLINE") #666-673

Like Batman, Spiderman is a character I've always enjoyed reading although the tone of his books tend to contrast greatly with that of the Dark Knight's.  The Spiderman books have always been far more colorful with grand, over-the-top villains and stories.  Of course, that never made Spiderman less enjoyable.  Usually.  There were always certain storylines that felt more cartoonish and silly but, really, they could be excused as more a change of pace than the norm, narrative blips that never really marred the whole.  In the case of the big multi-issue/cross-over Spider Island event, it was a little harder to ignore. Even by Spidey's generally broader arcs, this one felt a little OTT.  The inclusion of other Marvel heavy-hitters seemed beside the point as they just seemed on hand to provide spectacular background combat while the true story moved along.  I quite liked the character moments – particularly Pete's moments with MJ in those final two issues – but thought that Peter's new girlfriend made a huge leap in logic in concluding he was Spiderman.  As far as major events go, the Spider Island arc paled in comparison to far more provocative events like Civil War.  P.S. Peter Parker has a long lost brother named Kaine?  Just like the Undertaker in WWE?  For real?

Verdict: Really liked the character moments but the whole Spider Island menace ultimately felt insubstantial to me, a less inspired threat than its premise.  Read the first issue of the following story-arc and that didn't really grab me either.  Sadly, I think I'm going to move on.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1-3

Now this title surprised me, setting up a nice mystery in its opening issue and introducing an interesting character in the affable Guy Gardner, a character I never really liked in the past who comes across as strangely endearing in GLC.  Love the art and the SF trappings and, while the story seems to slow down after the first issue, devolving into an extended fight sequence, it holds much promise.

Verdict: I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  Hopefully, the pace will pick up in issue #4.  Will definitely be continuing with this one to see how things progress.

THE ULTIMATES #1-3

One of the drawbacks of reading an established title is you go in with the knowledge that, barring some pre-announced shake-up, there aren't going to be any big surprises.  Small surprises, sure, but not the shocking, earths-shattering developments whose ramifications resonate throughout the superheroic universe – like, say, the death of Spiderman, because you know Spiderman is a bread and butter character and there's no way Marvel would…oh, check that.  Marvel DID kill off Spiderman (R.I.P. Peter Parker), albeit in an alternate timeline. And this is why the Ultimates titles appeal to me.  I don't want to go in knowing that a book's writer has been given free reign to play in the sandbox so long as they remember to put all the toys back when they're done.   I like surprises.  And this new incarnation of the Ultimates delivers with a story at times more SF than superhero-inspired, with plenty of big concept twists, shocking turns, and a genuinely suspenseful build-up to what could well be a hopeless showdown with a seemingly superior foe.  Serious and smart.

Verdict: I'm on the edge of my seat.  Of course I'll be picking up the next issue!

DEATHSTROKE #1-3

Oof.  I like dark characters and villains in particular (loved Gail Simone's Secret Six), but only if I, as a reader, can connect with them on some level. They don't even have to be likable necessarily, simply engaging or worthy of respect.  Unfortunately, Deathstroke in this book is a far cry from Deadshot.  While both, for the most part, come across as assholes, Deadshot possesses a depth and humor that redeems him to a certain extent.  Deathstroke, on the other hand, is an incredibly unlikable character doing repugnant things.  There is one point in the opening arc in which he chases down a middle-man who helped set up a deal, leading to a major, messy, violent scenario – a scenario, Deathstroke later admits, that he merely set up to gain some cred. Seemingly lost in all the pyrotechnics is the innocent bystander, a woman in a car, who takes a headshot while it's all going down.  By the end of the third issue, when we find out who is coming after Deathstroke and why, I can actually empathize with their cause and wish they would actually succeed.

Verdict: An incredibly unlikable character in Slade Wilson makes for a difficult read.  Pass.

ULTIMATE SPIDERMAN #1-4

To be honest, I was very wary about this one going in.  Despite my respect for the talented Mr. Bendis, I was a little concerned about the decision to move so far away from the established mythology by passing the mantle from Peter Parker to an all-new Spiderman.  Who am I kidding?  I was a lot concerned – but the story and its characters thoroughly won me over.  Bendis strengths are in full display here, creating and developing grounded, believable, multi-layered characters as they relate to superhuman struggles.  A lot of nice, little touches in the book, humorous and poignant, especially when it comes to the supporting players.  Love Miles' awestruck sidekick, Ganke.

Verdict: Terrific.  Definitely on my to-read list.

November 24, 2011: Au Revoir! Auf Wiedersehen! And football!

Sadly, all good things come to an end, be it a great dinner, a favorite t.v. show or a cross-country visit from good friends.  Alexander and Sarah are (eventually) Paris-bound via Toronto via Los Angeles via Berlin via Toronto.  Their last day with us went like this…

Sarah makes pain perdu.

Et voila!

Maximus taking it easy after his big operation.

Alexander at work. He never stops!

The special message Akemi gave Alex (that roughly translates to "Don't work yourself to death"), forever tacked onto the back of his laptop.

Bubba kicks back.

Dim sum at Sun Sui Wah

Surprisingly, Alex wasn't a fan of the beef tendon.

Seeing Alexander and Sarah off.

Best of buddies!

Auf Wiedersehen! Au Revoir!

Jelly is bummed.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Here at Casa Mallozzi, we celebrated with food and football!

Rob presents...the meatpies in three delicious varieties: curry lamb, jerk beef, and chorizo and onions!

Ivon in football mode.

Maximus missing our guests.

November 23, 2011: Maximus lookin' good! My second Dark Matter interview! More Alexander and Sarah!

Maximus had his follow-up yesterday and the vet says he's recovering nicely from the surgery that removed 80% of his melanoma.  Look at the handsome fella.  He looks ten (dog) years younger!

Another Dark Matter interview is up, this one over at PopCultureZoo. In this one, I sit down with Joseph Dilworth Jr. and discuss similarities between the end of SGU and the beginning of Dark Matter, writing for comics, teams vs. single-hero stories, and plans for the series: http://popculturezoo.com/2011/11/joseph-mallozzi-discusses-dark-matter/.

The first issue hits the stands January 11, 2012.  Start getting the word out!

Well, it didn't take Alex long to hit the wall.  After only two days of eating Mallozzi-style, Alexander was feeling overwhelmed.  Amateur. Sure, he blames me – but I blame this:

P.S. Love the way the first five seconds of that video is frozen in time.

Bubba wishes to hazard a turkey sausage.

Since Alex was feeling a little under the weather, I decided to take it easy on his sad, fragile little stomach.  And so, for lunch, we ended up at Memphis Blues Barbecue for a nice, light salad.  And a side order of something called The Memphis Feast…

All settled in and ready to eat.

This guy.

The ladies.

The girls of Memphis Blues Barbecue. I've got a calendar idea. Miss July.

Miss August.

The Memphis Feast!

Sarah wonders what the hell the rest of us are going to eat!

Following lunch, we did a little shopping.  Alexander was on the hunt…

Looking for his favorite Stetson cologne. Sadly, it was only available in a three pack with two lesser (lesser) colognes.

I had to point out Tim McGraw collection. He informed me he already had it but didn't wear it because Sarah didn't like the smell (of what? Roadhouse and barn?). No kidding.

We returned home and, while they all relaxed, I seized the opportunity to do a little blogging.

With the help of my trusty assistant.

And then, it was off to dinner!  Because of Alex's delicate constitution, we elected to go for sushi instead of instead of Italian.  Our destination – Akemi's favorite Japanese restaurant in Vancouver (she loves the rice!): Miku.

All settled in and ready to eat. Again.

Showing off my chopstick kills. Look at how impressed Alex is.

The salmon sashimi. Gorgeous and delicious.

The tuna sashimi. See above.

The aburi salmon oshizushi. My favorite, with its smoky charcoal undertone and jalapeno and black pepper kick.

Alex seemed to have turned the corner by dinner's end, so we ended up making the short walk to Bella Gelateria for dessert.

Ice cream for everyone!

A rare shot of me in action.

And then, of course, it was back to HQ for some late night laptopping.

Sarah and Lulu take turns updating their facebook profiles.