Category: Comics

For the longest time—and maybe this is a product of experiencing this fine holiday in Louisville—I associated Free Comic Book Day with an opportunity to become annually reacquainted with one or more of the lovable scamps at Riverdale High. Offerings beyond the occasional issue of Spider-man would extend to Jughead or Betty & Veronica, and I wasn’t necessarily complaining. Sure, I don’t think I’d pay for an Archie comic at this point in my life, but I won’t turn my nose up at them like some ghoulish fiend adverse to fine literature.

So today I put on my walkin’ shoes and set out with a couple of Prime Friends to enjoy my very first Free Comic Book Day in New York City, and I gotta say that things have changed over the years! First of all, I should mention that Forbidden Planet is a killer comic shop, and I would have stayed longer if it hadn’t been so darn crowded. The crowd became understandable, though, as I was ushered around to the back, where they bestowed upon my person a large black bag full of fully illustrated periodicals, presumably chosen at random.

Our three respective hauls were all different, but here’s my dubious pull in no particular order:

Ultimate Fantastic Four #47
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #99
The Man in the Iron Mask (5 of 6)
The Incredible Hercules #113
52 (Week Fifty-One)
Dragonlance: Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning #4
Delete #5
Ed Burns’ Dock Walloper #1
Heroes for Hire #9
Ghost Whisperer #2
52 (Week Fifty-Two)
52 (Week Fifty)
Wonder Man (1 of 5)
Wonder Man (4 of 5)
Dominion (4 of 5)
Wisdom (2 of 6)

The jury’s still out on how many of these are destined to be kindling, but I’ll be sure to report back on DOCK WALLOPER.

Had the stars been properly aligned, the Free Wesley Snipes post (one containing virtually zero content) would have been the 500th post on this blog of blogs; this effervescent cavern in which, if one were to try hard enough, one might be able to catch a whiff of my “underwears.”

Yet, while Wesley sits stewing, contemplating his future behind bars—a fate from which he can be saved… BY YOU—I sit here on a fine Monday morning, thinking about what could possibly comprise my 500th post. Perhaps, just as it all began (though nitpicking fans will be quick to point out that the forthcoming link is actually post #2), I could post an exciting and titillating video that is sure to rouse the fires of your youthful loins (video since removed/fires doused).

I could always join the rest of the internet in a fit of excitement over Grand Theft Auto IV‘s looming release, dancing savagely to what I imagine its many rhythms to be. I could post a photo of a cat; I could even cleverly caption it to capture the essence of some hidden humor. I could actually finish that top 5 game soundtracks countdown, start a new Boss Week, or conjure a Slamm Dunk cover from the recesses of America’s collective consciousness.

I had the same conundrum with the 400th post, and while I probably should have taken the hint not to pay attention to the post numbers, I still ended up talking about The Milkman Cometh, so we can chalk that one up as a win/win situation.

Actually, looking over that one again, I don’t think I’ll be able to top Robert Forster this morning, so you’re on your own! Expect a few of my vague promises to come to fruition in the coming days, weeks, or months!

I never thought I’d see a modern gaming rag with Splatterhouse on the cover, but it seems EGM has that covered now. I shouldn’t be too surprised, what with all the old franchises making modern comebacks, but it’s still pretty rad.

The Splatterhouse series was never really GREAT, and some may argue that it was never GOOD (though I will slap these people with an iron gauntlet), but it’s super memorable for being grody and obscenely violent and pretty much everything else that my young game-loving self wanted to play.

It’s definitely up there on the all too light list of “Gross-out Games.”