February 10, 2012: All aboard the Dark Matter express! Next stop: a t.v. near you! Sampling Crunchyroll! What's up with Apple? And Carl and Alexander's early, early Christmas gifts!

The second issue of my comic book series, Dark Matter, came out last weekend to some terrific reviews.  Thanks to everyone who has been supporting the book by picking up a copy.  If you haven't already checked it out, please do so by swinging by your local bookstore, or ordering a copy (for those of you residing outside North America or not within easy access of a comic store) here: TFAW.com, or just get yourself a digital copy here: digital.darkhorse.com.

As you well know, the plan is to use the comic book's opening four-issue arc as a springboard to an SF television series – so if you'd like to get behind the prospect of a new SF t.v. series, want to get an early sneak peek at what it's all about, or simply want to start making some early, early casting suggestions, pick up Dark Matter #2 (and #1 if you missed it).

Oh, and those reviews of the second issue…

Imad Khan at IGN: Click to read the entire review!

Josh Cabrera at KABOOOOOM: REVIEW: Dark Matter #2 | KABOOOOOM

Paul Centeno at Shifted2u:  Dark Matter #2.. 

Dustin Cabeal at Comic Bastards: bit.ly/wyCZtk

Kaitlyn McAllister at Bloody Disgusting: bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/18…

So I've decided to give Crunchyroll.com a go.  For those of you don't know, it's a website that streams (among other East Asian programming) the latest anime, often within hours of its broadcast Japanese television (Subtitled.  I don't know how they do it).  I've decided to go ahead and try out the 14 day trial and, for the past two nights, Akemi and I have been watching the highly enjoyable Usagi Jump in glorious HD.  So far so good – especially for someone who has invested so much in anime dvd's – but I'll keep you posted.

Hey, what is the deal with Apple?  Akemi asked me to transfer photos of our Tokyo trip to her iPad.  I told her I'd put them on a USB for her only to have her inform me that the iPad didn't have a USB port.  Odd. I visited my local electronics store to inquire about whatever is used to connect a USB drive to an iPad.  It turns out the answer is nothing. There is no way to attach a USB drive to an iPad.  "Okay,"I said, "so how can I attach my iPad to my MacBook Air (probably the easiest way to transfer the photos)?".  The answer: "You can't."  Huh?  So let me get this straight, if I want to transfer documents from my computer to someone's iPad, I have no choice but to email them over?  All one thousand six hundred and eighty pictures?  THIS is progress?!!  What am I missing?

Oh, and one more pic from my Tokyo trip.  I snapped a photo of this billboard because it was my last day and didn't have time to pick up these wonderfully colorful, non-douchebag-looking jackets for my good friends Carl Binder and Alexander Ruemelin (in my estimation, the only two men who could actually pull off this look):

Guess I'll have to go the mail-order route.

Today's more upbeat blog entry is dedicated to all those who have taken the time to tell us about the difficult decisions they have faced in the past.

Tagged: Anime, Apple, Comic Books, Comics, Crunchyroll, Dark Horse Comics, Dark Matter, Dark Matter #2, iPad