Nick Davis's Blog, page 107

The Tether Saga and my graphic novel Fabula Exposition now available on Google Books

Here is a some pretty cool Alt World Novel News! Do you own a Google book reader like the iRiver? Well now you can download and read The Tether on Google books here and Accept One on Google books here , that's parts one and two of the Tether Saga books direct from Google books on your eReader. Plus you also pick up my graphic novel mash-up of comic/prose Fabula Exposition on Google books here. Now that is pretty cool news

Inside the Box DCnU52 Special – Pick 6 with Justice League Dark, Teen Titans, Superman & The Fury of Firestorm

Welcome to the last Inside the Box DCnU52 special, together Jean (aka the Nerd Wife) and myself picked six titles off the rack at our local comic book store Chucks Comics to see what would make it into our box for the next month. This is the last week of the new 52 month so the last chance for DC to recruit new readers with their last set of easy accessible books. Below are my thoughts presented in the order I read the books in.

Justice League Dark #1 – Milligan & Janin – When things go bump in the night who are you going to call? DC's more mystical characters have always been on the fringe and Justice League Dark wants to change that. I don't know much about any of these characters – I know Shade because he appeared in Suicide Squad once, Zatanna and Deadman are about my limit because they appeared in the mainstream books; the rest I know little or nothing about and like a lot of the DCnU52 books this one totally fails to really explain them. Interesting, loved the concept of a sentient Power Plant that simply is bored, but that got brushed over. For me its not a keeper although I think Jean will want to keep it.

Teen Titans #1 – Lobdell, Booth & Rapmund – I got this because I liked Teen Titans back in the 90′s and I should of known better. I didn't really enjoy this book at all, nothing wrong with the art and the story was fine, it just didn't do anything for me or make me want to get the next issue. Liked the new look Red Robin look, again though a team book where the team isn't even assembled by the end of the book… Gone…

Green Lantern New Guardians #1 – Bedard, Kirkham & Batt – Don't know what is going on, Kyle Rayner becomes a Green Lantern in this book and gets the last Green Power Ring. Other color lantern rings get stolen and I wont tell you what happens at the end as it will spoil the only surprise in a boring book. Next time I will pick up Weird West Tales…

Batman The Dark Knight #1 – Finch, Jenkins & Friend – Nice art, interesting story, I have noticed that a lot of the DCnU52 books are powered by an inner narrative to help the reader navigate the books; seems to be a very popular device throughout new52. This one is no exception, I have no idea were in the Bat timeline this takes part in, again it references stuff from Batman Inc which I have no idea about, so, so much for no continuity. I read Bat's in trades if I like the story you can guess I wont be picking up the next one.

Wow… Three books in and none of them keepers, did I pick up the wrong material this week?

Superman #1 – Perez & Merino – Part of this story links into Stormwatch and just like Stormwatch you have no idea what is really going on. Interesting to see Superman having power limits, but in the end this was picked up because it was Superman #1. I liked the art and there is a ton of exposition in this book, it didn't grab me but Superman never really did. Looks like next months box is going to be a little light…

The Fury of Firestorm #1 – Van Scriver, Simone & Cinar – I had high hopes for this book, Gail Simone has a proven track record of taking dead end characters and reinventing them again, and she didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the story even if elements left me confused, but at least it was a good I want to know more confused not a give a damn. The two main protagonists lock horns from the beginning and when Firestorm happens it just gets better – I popped for the super-morph-in fury moment at the end; this is a keeper.

I don't know if it was Pick 6 we made or the titles this week just weren't that hot for me; out of six titles only one caught my interest for me to want to read next time around. This is the end of new52 and now we can settle down to see if the titles that made the grade for with me will stay in my box. I guess we will find out next month as the DC titles merge into my more regular Inside the Box column.

Stumbling upon another Baltimore location straight from the pages of Accept One, the second book of The Tether Saga

It is a little harder to actually stumble upon this location, but the rooftop of that building yonder is straight out of the opening chapters of Accept One, the second book of the Tether Saga.

Slowly Sarah rose, looked around one more time and quickly cut directly across the roof to its exit. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow detach itself from one of the smaller roof and instinctively she dropped into the defensive guard pose that CT had taught her. The beads of the Tether had started to glow with a visible light and they felt uncomfortable warm against her bare wrist,  "Okay you want to play… I can play."

Pick up The Tether Saga books in eBook or Print form and then take a little trip about Baltimore, you will be surprised how many different locations pop up in the story.

Sigmartyr Vol.3 of the Epic Stikfas action web comic – Alpha Team wakes up in hands of the Omega Coalition!

Volume Three of Sigmartyr the Stikfas Action Web Comic continues. Click here to view to read this epic story. Alpha team wakes up to find themselves in the hands of the Omega Coalition.

The Nerd Wife – One line reviews of the Alt World Pick 6 from last weeks DCnU52 releases

The Nerd Wife, aka as my wife, or Jean to her friends is a huge reader of comic books and has only recently been introduced to the DC universe via the DCnU52 books. Two weeks ago she gave me a surprise one line review of the Pick 6 new52 DC books we had picked up, and with her permission I posted them to the Alt World Blog. Along with being a huge Nerd, Jean runs a bakeshop called the Sweetsfairy, producers of amazing cakes and cake toppers, check out there amazing Fairy Tale Enchanted Tower here, and you can read her one line reviews below.

Catwoman – Like the artwork, love that she's built like a woman and not disproportional like most female comic characters. Story was good but seemed overly sexy and not sure what I think about the Batman hook up at the end yet. But I am looking forward to seeing what the next issues brings.  More excuses for her to fall out of her costume? – Nick Red Hood and the Outlaws – Again with the amped up sex vibe with Starfire. But liked the story, liked that they have Jason moving on not obsessing on Batman and interested to see how the story unfolds. The only saving grace is Jason is more interesting here, not the cheesecake and bimbo portrayed Starfire – Nick

Wonder Woman – Lot of action which I enjoyed and digging her costume. Interested to see what happens in the next issues. This book surprised both us – Nick

Batman – Wasn't a lot of action other then the very beginning which I was disappointed about. But had some surprises and want to see where they are going with this story. Knew you would like this book better than me – Nick

Nightwing – It was okay, seemed to take forever to get to the villian. Thought there was too much self actualization going on. Might read another issue or 2 to see if it gets better. It seems Dick is not having a hot 52 month, a suspect in a murder, caused the death of two Police Officers which he used as a diversion and getting a beat down in his own opening book! – Nick

Captain Atom – Never read anything with him in it till now and probably won't again. Story kind of bored me and wasn't too interested in any of the characters. They turned him into Doctor Manhatten except his junk isn't hanging out – Nick

Be sure to check out The Nerd Wife's Bakeshop website the Sweetsfairy for nerdtastic cakes and toppers!

An adventure in photography in PA with Screamers from RetroScreamers.com

Today I had the opportunity to have a mini-adventure in PA with Screamers (aka Rose Ward) from Retroscreamers.com. She invited me up to take some pictures for her website and I cheerfully obliged. Along the way I found the best ever Top Gear driving road I've discovered yet in the USA – Rt29 State Rd, an amazing combination of sweeping corners and dips; and in the process I found myself falling in love with my borrowed Camaro. 

The day was a photographic trip through Valley Forge and I think Phoenixville's rustier bits, below is a small five picture preview of the galleries that will be posted here and over on Retroscreamers featuring Rose Ward over the upcoming weeks.

Cha… Cha… Changes… Alt World gets a slightly new look… Easier to navigate with less custard

DON'T PANIC! My regular more readers may be a little confused when they check out the website today, don't worry nothing has really changed I just condensed a few things. I spent Saturday working on a new front for Alt World and released it in the wee-hours of the morning onto the World Wide Web. While there was nothing a matter with the old one, I wanted to move some information from the sidebar and into better real estate; plus it decreases the load time of the actually website – which is a good thing. 

The changes aren't that drastic, we have a new welcome message, more prominence to the what is new section, a condensed blog section and more importantly my novels are no longer hidden. I still have new features planned that I will introduce over time once I figure them out and their placement. I want to get you my readers more involved in this website and in turn I hope my writing.  For now I can concentrate on a couple of writing projects that need my attention by the end of this year, you see I want to complete the second Exposition story, the third Tether Saga story Nevermore and the last three Wonder Tales. Going to be interesting…

Cha… Cha… Changes… We get a slightly new look… Easier to navigate and less custard

DON'T PANIC! My regular more readers may be a little confused when they check out the website today, don't worry nothing has really changed I just condensed a few things. I spent Saturday working on a new front for Alt World and released it in the wee-hours of the morning onto the World Wide Web. While there was nothing a matter with the old one, I wanted to move some information from the sidebar and into better real estate; plus it decreases the load time of the actually website – which is a good thing. 

The changes aren't that drastic, we have a new welcome message, more prominence to the what is new section, a condensed blog section and more importantly my novels are no longer hidden. I still have new features planned that I will introduce over time once I figure them out and their placement. I want to get you my readers more involved in this website and in turn I hope my writing.  For now I can concentrate on a couple of writing projects that need my attention by the end of this year, you see I want to complete the second Exposition story, the third Tether Saga story Nevermore and the last three Wonder Tales. Going to be interesting…

The original coloring of the DCnU52 bikini clad Starfire from Red Hood and the Outlaws

This is a gem, I stumbled across this on Twitter. It is the original intended coloring of Starfire in her bikini from the DCnU52 book Red Hood and the Outlaws. Apparently Koriand'r was supposed to be wearing a… Ermm… Semi-transparent bikini which I guess would of helped improve the perception of her character in new52 and in turn the book as well. The original image is posted over on the books Blond the Colorist Deviant art page here or you can take the jump to view it here.

The DCnU52 Starfire taking Cheesecake and Female Impowerment to a whole new level

The original coloring of the DCnU52 Starfire from Red Hood and the Outlaws

This is a gem, I stumbled across this on Twitter. It is the original intended coloring of Starfire in her bikini from the DCnU52 book Red Hood and the Outlaws. Apparently Koriand'r was supposed to be wearing a… Ermm… Semi-transparent bikini which I guess would of helped improve the perception of her character in new52 and in turn the book as well. The original image is posted over on the books Blond the Colorist Deviant art page here or you can take the jump to view it here.

The DCnU52 Starfire taking Cheesecake and Female Impowerment to a whole new level