What Made You Smile Today?

[Doctor Hmmm?]

You know the drill.

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

Man, I'd love to go to that. I've always wanted to go to Austin, and for a comic book show to be there? Have fun!

Travis Herrick (Modular Mod) said:

As some of you may know I do volunteer work from time to time for the Hero Initiative. Well, they are going to be set-up at Wizard World Austin, and want me to lend a hand down there. On top of that they will pay for my hotel, and gas. Plus, getting into the show for free of course. Which is just great, since I go to this show every year anyways. It is almost like paying me to go to a bar.

A side bonus I can hopefully get rid of a lot of the product I've had for years now.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

A small thing: In the recent Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller's access code is "SHALLOWHAL." It's a nice metatextual comment -- in a reference to an awful movie! -- that yes, the lady used to be heavier. 

[Doctor Hmmm?]

Doctor Hmmm? said:

The other day, I was looking for something to read and ended up pulling down a collection of Wold Newton essays.  That reminded me that I've still never been able to lay my hands (or eyes) on a copy of Farmer's Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life.  Knowing that I planned to drop into my favorite used bookstore today, I made a mental note to look for it.  I figured the chances were about one in a million.

And there it was -- a perfectly good paperback copy for $0.88.  I could barely believe my eyes.

This happened to me again.

Last week, I decided I was in the mood to read some ERB -- specifically, the Pellucidar series. (Land of Terror was the first ERB novel I ever read, so I have a soft spot for Pellucidar.)  Digging through my bookshelves, I realized that I had the whole series (some of which I haven't read) except for Tarzan at the Earth's Core.  No surprise -- that's one I've never seen.  And trust me, if I'd ever seen it I would have bought it. 

You can guess how this story goes.  This morning I dropped by that same bookstore.  I'm there (on average) once a week, and every week, without fail, I check to see if there's any new ERB on the shelf.  And today, there it was.  And not just any copy.  A nice, well-worn but solid Ace paperback.  (Man, I love those little guys.) For $1.60.

I should start buying lottery tickets.

[PowerBook Pete, the Mad Mod]

It was two days ago. My soon-to-be-7-year-old granddaughter was visiting for a few hours, and I wasn't feeling very well. I had a couple of comic books sitting on the love seat next to me. Without either of us saying a word, she walked over, picked up both comics, walked over to the easy chair in the opposite corner, and started reading them. My wife had expressed concern over the last several months over how the granddaughter no longer seemed interested in having stories read to her or in receiving new books, so this little incident made us both smile. Both comics were giveaways from Chick-Fil-A and had cow superheroes. As she finished, it was time for lunch, and my wife had fixed a hamburger for me. Granddaughter pointed at the comics and told me that if I like cows so much, I shouldn't be eating a burger.

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

I tell you what, from what I hear, the new Superman film is something of a disappointment. Of course your mileage may vary, but I think I'm convince to wait for Netflix on this one in the meantime.

But what has made me happy over the past few hours are iTunes gift cards from students and a sale on digital comics. John Byrne issues for 99c a piece as well as issues of the animated tie-in comic Superman Adventures. Man, those are some great Superman stories.

[Figserello]

You can buy Comics from itunes?

[Kirk G]

I wouldn't do that...I'd go see it in the discount theatre for $4.oo or $5.00 for the 3-D version.  There's a lot of sound work that a quality sound system and the large screen enhances.

I wouldn't have said that it is disappointing.  It's just more in the vein of the recent Dark Knight movies as grim and gritty, more so that the Christopher Reeves  or Superman Returns movies were.

Wandering Sensei: Emeritus said:

I tell you what, from what I hear, the new Superman film is something of a disappointment. Of course your mileage may vary, but I think I'm convince to wait for Netflix on this one in the meantime.

But what has made me happy over the past few hours are iTunes gift cards from students and a sale on digital comics. John Byrne issues for 99c a piece as well as issues of the animated tie-in comic Superman Adventures. Man, those are some great Superman stories.

[ClarkKent_DC]

This exchange from the Jane's World comic strip:

Jane is sitting in her apartment's kitchen with her roommate and best friend Ethan, when she notices her dog Rusty eating from his dish.

Jane: "Ethan, I was just thinking ...isn't it weird that humans will live with one animal and eat another?

Ethan: "Yeah, I guess that is kinda weird ..."

Jane: "You know, I tried to be a vegetarian once, but then I remembered that I don't really eat vegetables ... Come to think of it, I can't even remember the last green thing I ate ..."

Ethan: "Skittles."

Jane: "Oh, yeah."

[Doctor Hmmm?]

From a Washington Post story today about the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History obtaining a long-term loan of one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found:

The museum announced Thursday that it will borrow the T. rex for 50 years from the Army Corps of Engineers, which owns it, and the state of Montana, which has had it since the Late Cretaceous period.

[PowerBook Pete, the Mad Mod]

I got a bit too much sun doing yard work today and just saw Sinestro in the mirror.

[PowerBook Pete, the Mad Mod]

I woke up to find that Jim Steranko had re-tweeted and affirmed a tweet I sent him. He was talking about legitimate tough guys who were actors, and I offered up Neville Brand.

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

Advice for writers