A Museum for the Fans.
Someday when I’m paying a separate fee to be able to read the news on the web and another fee to see sports scores and another fee for weather, I will think back to this year and scream till my ears bleed. (I’ve no idea how long that is but I felt it an effective visual aid to describe my frustration…lol.) The New York Times is reporting that the FCC is seeking “more input…” when it comes to wireless internet and net neutrality. If you are a regular reader here at The Giggaheim, you may well remember previous grumbling on my part regarding net neutrality and various ISP’s efforts to make sure it never happens. The only thing certain at this point is that the issue is going to drag on well past the November elections and that each side is knocking on lots of doors in high places trying to sway the matter. From the New York Times article:
The F.C.C.’s decision to seek further comment during the next 55 days effectively precluded any commission actions until after the Congressional elections in November.
Lawmakers of both parties have accused the F.C.C. of trying to “regulate the Internet” with recent proposals that would give it authority over the companies that provide consumers with Internet connections.
Several public advocacy groups expressed anger at the F.C.C.’s move, accusing it of trying to duck a politically difficult decision.
Those groups have been pushing for the commission to re-establish its authority over Internet service providers and to guarantee the open-access practice known as net neutrality.
“I think it has the appearance of the F.C.C. kicking the can down the road,” said Derek Turner, research director for Free Press. “The job of the F.C.C. is to protect the public interest. That includes making the really hard decisions that may anger some powerful industry incumbents.”
The long and short on this is that the delay certainly looks like the possibility of Verizon and Google having their way with wireless internet could be an ugly reality. With wireless internet seeming to be the way of the future when compared to wired internet connections, it’s a real problem. The FCC is claiming that they want more time to mull over the technical details of any legislation that they would propose in order to avoid that document being rejected on some minor point. Taking time to polish and hone their next move isn’t a bad idea as so far, each time they have gone to court in an attempt to enforce net neutrality they have been struck down.
Call me a pessimist, but when it comes to what is good for everyone against what is good for some who will make mad cash…cash wins.
Doug Miller – Giggaheim Technology Editor
Wednesday I opened at work for a change! The weather had finally cleared up some for great late afternoon beach trips. I prefer to go to the beach in the morning and leave around noon, or I enjoy going late afternoon for the sunset. I am fair skinned, and although I use 10,000 spf and reapply constantly, I am still afraid to burn. This means, for those of you not living in Florida, one does not want to be out in the sun in the middle of the day for fun. I digress… Pete is used to me closing, so I thought about sneaking off to my happy place. He would be distracted by COMIC BOOK DAY! You know, the best day of the week for a comic book geek. Oh, that rhymed! However, he tells me Tuesday, he’ll only be getting two books. What a terrible COMIC BOOK DAY it will be, alas. At this point, I’m still thinking about the sand, the water, the relaxation. But, I’ve already closed twice this week. It would, in essence, feel like I am closing again. I wouldn’t be doing my wifely duty (ha ha) of fixing dinner. Fine. You win, crappy COMIC BOOK DAY. I stayed at work a little later, called Pete when I left the building, and asked him if he wanted to meet up for dinner. (Wifely duty, my ass.) “Sure.” He says. “Like a date?” He says with laughter. “Sure.” I say. “How about some sushi?” I say, looking in the direction of the beach. Pete asks if I’m still going to the beach, I say “Nah.” He tells me COMIC BOOK DAY is actually great today. What!? It was supposed to be craptastic!? I was going to stay home, because I was told it was going to be craptastic. You mean, I actually could’ve left work early? I could’ve changed into my bathing suit? I could’ve swam around in the Gulf waters? I could’ve relaxed in my beach chair, sifting through sand, looking for sharks teeth, watching the sunset? Such is life, with a comic book geek. COMIC BOOK DAY is never what it seems. Days it’s supposed to be awesome, it isn’t. Days it should be awful, it isn’t. You just never know about COMIC BOOK DAY. However, we enjoyed each others company while chomping away on raw fish, cooked fish and even some lightly seared sirloin, all wrapped in sea weed and rice. YUM! And, I knew, I was going to the beach the next morning anyway! Oh, because of the holiday on Monday, COMIC BOOK DAY will be Thursday next week, not Wednesday. Plan accordingly.
This week snuck up and slapped me on the back of the head. Originally I looked at my virtual pull list and saw 2 books. What a bummer. And I was thinking, Well the podcast will be a quick one this week, and I also thought about doing a column about digging through the quarter bins. Luckily Marvel Comics unleashed a flurry of #1 issues, and between them and a few surprises, by pull list exploded. These may be a bit short, but I wanted to cover everyone.
One Month To Live #1 (OF 5)WRITER: Stuart Moore, John Ostrander, RICK REMENDER & Rob Williams
PENCILS: Mike Del Mundo, Andrea Mutti & Koi Turnbull
INKS: ANDREA MUTTI
COLORED BY: ANDREA MUTTI
This book looked semi-interesting, and I must admit that I only picked it up for a few reasons that weren’t too compelling. But I enjoyed the crap out of it, and I think the average reader will too. We are introduced to Dennis Sykes who is your average joe working for a greedy-evil bank that won’t lend to a kids orphanage because the fat cats want their bonuses. After he delivers the bad news, he tries to help someone out of a robbery and gets beaten and poisoned with toixic waste (only in the Marvel U) but is rescued by The Thing (again only in Marvel’s NY). After Dr. Richards revives him, he give him the bad news that he has serious cancerous growths, and only a month to live.
Invigorated by the short deadline of his life, Dennis discovers he has weird matter-altering powers and decides to steal the money owed to the orphanage, but is caught by his family who think poorly of him for being Robin Hood. Since he feels guilty, he breaks back in to return the money, only to be captured by Spider-man, who eventually lets him go. Instead he uses his powers to give the orphans what they wanted (which is a rock garden) putting him on the radar of a bad guy who runs the neighborhood.
Now after that synopsis, I’m sure you can’t find many appealing mind-altering ideas that make your rush out to buy it. The real magic behind it isn’t the “It’s Clobbering Time!” or the witty commentary by Spider-Man, but it’s the interpersonal emotional dialogue between Dennis and his wife, and the awkward dialogues with his adopted daughter. The story is actually wracked with tragedy, but as a comic book reader, you get sucked into this world hoping for him, and hoping for a happy ending.
What also gives the book more impact that it should is the artwork by Mike del Mundo. The artwork is bright, dark, gritty and clean when it needs to be to illustrate the moods of the book. The darker panels give the proper somber tones and even a stressful tension that the teenage girl brings to her scenes. This book may be finite, and given its more grounded approach, we have a sense of reality that isn’t present in Avengers. Sure Spidey and Thing show up, but they are the same as seeing a bright green camaro, or a woman with a short skirt. They give you a sense of rare instance, but don’t dominate the overall mood.
It may be because I enjoy Vertigo books, but I really took a liking to this more grounded Marvel book, and the human problems that are in it. I like to escape to a world filled with super powers as much as the next guy, but as a comics reader, I enjoy books like this because they demonstrate what the medium is capable of. Not once did I turn the page and roll my eyes when Dennis manifested powers. I didn’t sigh heavily when the Thing yelled “Clobbering Time!!!”. I was able to set the fan boy down, and embrace the story for the emotions that Rick Remender wanted me to feel, and that my friends is a rare thing.
Avengers Children’s Crusade #2 (OF 9)WRITER: ALLAN HEINBERG
PENCILS: JIM CHEUNG
INKS: MARK MORALES
COLORED BY: JAYPO LLC
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: JIM CHEUNG
Jimmy Cheung is a great guy, and I have had the pleasure of hanging out with him since he is here in the boondocks of Florida. When you see his work, you automatically are drawn to the great character drawings, the framed action sequences, and the panel layouts. It’s always great work. And then when you meet the guy, you just become a rabid fan. He’s one of the nicest dudes, and a genuinely good guy. So of course I’ll pick up this book. I don’t even need Heinberg on it.
This book is a fantastic return of the too short lived Young Avengers title, and I am one of those fan boys that winces at the idea that anyone different from Hienberg and Cheung handling the book. Luckily we get a breath of fresh air, and this dynamic and young group can once again have adventures in an old-fashioned Marvel way.
I can blab on and on about Jimmy all day, but let me swing the spotlight on Heinberg. I was frustrated as hell when he left Wonder Woman since he was doing and awesome job of rebuilding her after Infinite Crisis. Heinberg seems to get comics. He’s fantastic at TV writing, but I love his comics work. He actually reminds me of Jeff Loeb the way he stays within the standard tropes of comic books, but where Loeb loses me, Heinberg excels. Heinberg doesn’t insert everyone’s favorite one-liners for the sake of defining the book and giving people “What they want”. He merely writes a good story, stays true to the characters, and gives us some fun twists and turns along the way.
I’ll admit that the first issue gave me whiplash as they went back and forth to Avengers Tower, but this issue was fluid, and had a confluent idea behind it to keep driving the Young Avengers on their quest. The idea of the kids pairing up with Magneto was delicious, and the torn loyalties and tension was fantastic. All of which eventually leading to a fantastic teaser for next issue which I am anxious to read. Damn it Jimmy! Hurry up!!!
Brightest Day #9Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO
Covers by DAVID FINCH
Variant covers by IVAN REIS
Another solid hit. I was worried to death that we would have a run of Haws stuff, but luckily, it was J’honn and Aquaman. Although the book seemed brief compared to Superman:Last family #2, and 1 Month to Live, it was still filled with good stuff. J’honn is torn and decimating Ollie’s magic forest, as Ollie has to stop the out of control Martian Manhunter, we learn the new Aqualad is the son of none other than Black Manta. That will make for some great stories in the future. In the hands of Geoff Johns Aquaman goes from confusing-crap-character to cool water-avenger.
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #158Writer: Larry Hama
Artist: Agustin Padilla, Rod Whigham
The Joes turn up the heat, and rally at COBRA’s secret Silent Castle. Scarlett and Snake Eyes, infiltrate the castle while Duke and boys rouse bloody hell outside. The issue is filled with great action sequences that leap out of an 8-year old imagination (not a bad thing), and story really does a fine job of giving everyone their minutes of glory. My only gripes were that a few twists in logic drew me out of the story. Even though the story was a bit muddled near the end, and telegraphed everything happening in simple terms, I still enjoyed the book as an enjoyable military toy book. I’m looking forward to seeing the Joes kick the crap out of COBRA this time, and especially anxious to see Cobra Commander’s new battle armor.
Superman The Last Family Of Krypton #2 (OF 3)Written by CARY BATES
Art by RENATO ARLEM
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
I had no idea how much I missed the “Elseworlds” books until this book showed up. And it’s hard to “break in the room”, especially with this crowd or over-analyzing fan boys. Cary Bates continues to write a logically different Superman book, and Renato Arlem illustrates it with balanced and beautifully rendered imagery.
The saga of the Els continues as Clark tries to find his place on Earth. His super-powered twin siblings learn that they are half-mortal due to their earth-birth (sounds like a disgusting beer), and Lex continues to outshine Clark. Only in this book we get a look at the growing cult called “Doomsday” that wants this fantastic super-family off Earth.
Much of the book’s imagery and famous lines can still be found in Mario Puzo’s screenplay of Superman:The Movie, but it wasn’t too awkwardly jammed into the book. I still enjoyed the twist of the half-super twins, the way Lex is playing both sides (naturally) and I especially liked the artwork. These double issues are great, and I’m happy I grabbed this is in issues instead of trade.
Thor For Asgard #1 (OF 6)WRITER: ROB RODI
PENCILS: SIMONE BIANCHI
INKS: SIMONE BIANCHI
COLORED BY: SIMONE PERUZZI
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: SIMONE BIANCHI
I know some fans must hate it, but I’m loving the influx of Thor titles, and I really enjoy these side books. Some fans have cried foul on the account that the movie is coming out, and Marvel is trying to rip-off the readers. Horse hockey! Here’s why: Shut up. Enjoy the extra Thor books, and no one is putting a gun to your head to buy them.
So in this tale Thor is putting down rebellions in the 9 realms after Odin has gone missing for two years and Blader is dead. Can anyone say Ragnarock? Thor must carry the weight of Odin’s throne a she tried to lead the Gods through this dreary time. He Doesn’t have the power of Mjoner, and times are getting leaner and leaner. It was a dreary read, but the tale is dreary. My highlight of the book is when Thor and company have to attack civilians and front giants alike since the frost giants are using the simple folk as human shields. Interesting commentary there. Bianchi draws a pretty good Thor book. The photo-real renderings and character designs are really easy on the eye, and the layouts break up the pages in refreshing ways.
Wolverine #1WRITER: JASON AARON
PENCILS: RENATO GUEDES
INKS: ART & COMICS INT’L
COLORED BY: MATTHEW WILSON
COVER BY: JAE LEE
Jason Aaron has joined the ranks of Geoff Johns, Warren Ellis and Brian K Vaughn as a writer whom I will try anything their name is on. He writes a solid story, with good cliff hangers, true characterization, great experimentation without compromise of character, and a great balance of reality and fantasy. I have always felt that the great comic book writers are the one s that can take chances, remember the stories that have come before, and still write a book that is something new without betraying the true nature of the character.
Here Aaron writes a Wolverine book that gives us the gritty back-story that accompanies Wolverine, and manages to move along at a good pace without being mired in inner-dialogue. Wolvie meets up with Wraith, and then a mysterious group attacks wraith, Wolvie’s girlfriend, and presumably everyone he cares about. Mystique comes to the rescue, and explains that Logan is actually separated. At this point the story ends with Logan about to be tortured in the bowls of Hell. I know right? Craziness. But it all worked. Renato Guedes art is well done, and I enjoyed the thin lines that cleanly rendered the characters. He had great action panels, and some cool character designs.
I also enjoyed the Silver Samuri backup story even though I had no idea he died. It was great, and you can really tell that Aaron has read every issue of Wolverine and that is why he gets him. Not a cliché in sight.
Wolverine Road To Hell #1WRITER: JASON AARON, MARJORIE LIU, RICK REMENDER & DANIEL WAY
PENCILS: Mico Suayan, Guiseppe Camuncoli, Will Conrad & Jerome Opena
This book stole my lunch money. Another one of those books with 9-page previews of other books that I shouldn’t be charged for since it is a big advertisement. Boooooooo Marvel for this book.
Peter Schmeiser – Giggaheim Director
Peter is normally answering several questions everyday about continuity of the DC universe, the status of Spider-man, who has been cast in the latest movies, and what counts as canon in Star Wars. Pete enjoys voicing his opinions on the latest comic books, playing video games, and sharing his wealth of useless comic book knowledge with his friends. The Giggaheim was made to share that.
From Wikipedia:
In traditional Chinese culture, qi, pronounced “Chee”, is an active principle forming part of any living thing. It is frequently translated as “energy flow,” and is often compared to Western notions of energeia or élan vital (vitalism) as well as the yogic notion of prana. The literal translation is “air,” “breath,” or “gas” (compare the original meaning of Latin spiritus “breathing”; or the Common Greek πνεῦμα, meaning “air,” “breath,” or “spirit”; and the Sanskrit term prana, “breath”).
And now you know, and knowing is equivalent to 50 percent of the conflict or some other such nonsense.
We’ve seen wireless inductive chargers before dear readers, but Energizer is rolling out the first in their line of inductive chargers that meets the new universal standard for inductive charging adopted by the Wireless Power Consortium. (Yes that Wireless Power Consortium…This is how the Sith got started dagnabbit.) The new standard states that any device that is Qi equipped and requires less than 5 volts to power up will be able to charge on any Qi charging surface. Nifty. The adopted standard brings with it the hope of universal charging at your friends house, work or the sushi joint across the street. This standard also means that should inductive charging really take off, and I pray to the gods it does, you wont need to carry different sleeves around for your device to charge on different manufacturers charging pads. Standardization my friends – it’s the way of the future…the way of the future…the way of the future…the way of the fu-……yikes, had a Howard Hughes moment there. Maybe it’s all this inductive charging.
If you’re excited about the new Energizer inductive charger well that’s just great. If you are excited about the charger and own an iPhone 3G/3GS or Blackberry Curve 8900 then that’s even better, because these are the only two devices Energizer is supporting at rollout. How you go to sales floors without several charging sleeves and especially ones for the most recent versions of hardware seems to be a mistake in the making to me. And with this limited device rollout comes the problem with getting everyone on the same page with a standard. Energizer is willing to jump into the inductive charging arena but only by dipping their toe in the water. Currently, Energizers view on other products becoming compatible lies with the hope that the various manufacturers of electronic devices will build the Qi standard right into their new offerings thus saving Energizer from having to design charging sleeves for all. The strategy Energizer has put itself into means it’s time to start packing for that trip on the failboat. Why? Blu-ray and HD DVD is why. VHS and Betacam is why. Gasoline and Diesel is why. If you’ve been a fan of technology for any length of time then you have seem some great ideas go down the toilet all because everyone wants to believe they can build their own and maximize profits or secure market share, whichever spin you want to put on it. The ugly truth is that sometimes, standardization keeps a tech idea alive and eventually allows everyone to get a piece of the pie, just not one that necessarily has their logo over the whole thing.
Personally, I’m excited by inductive charging technology and I know it’s a product I would buy in a heartbeat, but for now, I guess I’ll have to wait on somebody to step up to the plate. Somebody? Anybody?…
You can read more about the Energizer Qi on their website.
Doug Miller – Giggaheim Technology EditorHow in the hell does he put his helmet on??? Is that all removal horse hair???
MCSpartan017 – Giggaheim Webmaster
