- Although a couple of these books are from last week, I actually picked up quite a few new issues this week. Although I went to pick up Criminal, I was surprised to find the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And while I was there, I might as well pick up one or two other books, right? Time to get reading.
- Rocketeer Adventures issue 3 - It's hard to write about an anthology series month after month. Especially when everything included is good stuff. I should say that the stories this issue were the strongest yet, each a great addition to the Rocketeer universe. The pinups may not have been as strong, but two okay pages do not drag down the issue.
As an aside, Dave Stevens: Complete Sketches & Studies was available and it took everything in my power not to slap $50 down right then and there. I almost hope someone else buys the one copy they had so that I don't have to face it down again next week. I'm not that strong.
- Warlord of Mars issue 8 - John Carter carries on his mission to rescue his beloved Dejah Thoris. Since she is now betrothed to another, Carter must find a way to free her from captivity without transgressing Mars customs that might prevent the two of them from ever being together. The action is still strong and I love how Burroughs' crazy imagination shines through. I'm still enjoying this series a lot more than I thought that I might.
- Warlord of Mars: Fall of Barsoom issue 1 - Fall of Barsoom is to Warlord of Mars as The Old Republic is to Star Wars. This is a good thing. The story takes place 100,000 years before the main book and explains how Mars fell into its current predicament, with its failed oceans and atmosphere, and with racial tensions between the various peoples on the rise. I liked the writing and enjoyed the Jim-Lee-esque art. It could have been bad, but the book seems like a worthy addition to history of Barsoom.
- Kirby: Genesis issue 2 - Jiminy Christmas, this book is packed full of crazy. All kinds of crazy. I've never actually read a Jack Kirby book, but this seems like the kind of crazy that everyone wants me to think Jack Kirby books were like. Still reading, still curious about the crazy. At least it looks pretty.
- Glamourpuss issue 20 - In this issue, we get a rummination on the love triangle between Nelson Algren, Simone de Beauvoir, and Jean-Paul Sartre, the continued examination of Alex Raymond's final day, and more fashion model art. In other words, just another issue of Glamourpuss.
That's a good thing if you like Dave Sim and enjoy following whatever lacunae he wants to investigate. It's not your average comic book. And thank goodness for that.
- Criminal: The Last of the Innocent issue 2 - After all of the breathless reviews ruined my enjoyment of the first issue, The Last of the Innocent comes back much stronger in the second. Brubaker, Phillips, and Staples continue to kill it with each issue. I'm not going to get me to spoil anything, but I will say that all of the action promised in the first issue finally comes to fruition this issue. Don't miss it.
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century: 1969 - You know, this is a long book and I'm tired. Maybe I'll come back to it later.
© 2011 Marty Runyon. All rights reserved.
- Nothing that the marketing department at EA does shocks me anymore. Starting with Dragon Age: Origins and Dante's Inferno, they have consistently shown that they have no respect for the actually audience for their games. Instead they try to fool the Madden and Call of Duty crowds into playing something that is outside of their comfort zone. When EA does something stupid, it should come as no surprise.
- So here is another stupid thing they did. Surprise.
- For those you afflicted with the inability to click on links (good luck finding your way off my blog if that's the case), EA decided to respond to the many and various calls to include a female Shepard in the marketing material for Mass Effect 3. The statistics indicate at 80% of players use the male Shepard, but those of us who play females are dedicated. In order to recognize those players, Bioware has agreed. And in order to pick the iconic female Shepard, they put it up to a vote on Facebook. Instead of, you know, using the perfectly awesome default Shepard that is already available in the game.
- The results are predictable.
- /sigh
- At a loss for words here.
- The title is a tip of the hat to Idle Thumbs and Jake's description of the marketing for Dante's Inferno. And for more on the topic, check out Shamus Young's Twenty Sided.
- Not that I'm bitter.
- The news coming from Patrick Klepek over at Giant Bomb is that Nintendo will reduce the price of the 3DS to $169.99 beginning August 12. I, of course, used my stack of birthday gift cards to buy one for $250 in June.
- Again, not that I'm bitter.
- The 3DS has not hit the stratosphere like its predecessor did. And with the Playstation Vita on the way, Nintendo had to do something to better differentiate themselves from Sony's offering.
- Not all is doom and gloom, though. Those of us who purchased the handheld at the higher price will receive ten NES and ten GBA games through the Virtual Console free of charge. They revealed five games of each so far. The NES are Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda and the GBA games are Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Not a shabby lineup if you intend to use the system for a retro gaming, something that I am likely to do. I'm not sure that it makes up for the price differential, but it's not awful.
- Really, I'm not bitter. I'm hoping that if I say it enough, I'll start to believe it.
© 2011 Marty Runyon. All rights reserved.
- Giant Bomb is reporting that THQ is putting the Red Faction series out of its misery, citing poor sales for the franchise. Considering how poorly Red Faction: Armageddon performed, both as a game and on the sales chart, this comes as no surprise. What should be surprising is that this is the same franchise that spawned Red Faction: Guerrila.
CLICHÉ ALERT: THQ is tossing out the bathwater and the baby is going right along with it.
- As you watch me shake my head, don't mistake this as some disapproval toward THQ. They had their reasons and they are definitely the right ones. No, the head shaking you see is an echo of the one started way back when Armageddon first came out and it was nothing like Guerrila.
- I suspect that Volition, the developers of the Red Faction series, decided after Guerrila that they needed to return to their roots and design a game that was closer to the first two. But for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Guerrila was a fascinating game. It even inspired a brilliant song. Whatever their reason, it did not work. Oh well.
© 2011 Marty Runyon. All rights reserved.
- I have have to turn in my Geek Card (yes, I have a Geek Card), but I can't keep this to myself anymore: I'm hooked on HGTV.
- It happened a few weeks ago after my entire family caught the same cold. My wife, my baby, and I were all sick and grumpy. Not feeling well enough to do anything but care for our miserable child, my wife turned on the TV and flipped channels until an episode of House Hunters came on. I was hooked.
- Now most nights, and most weekends, I do nothing but watch people shop for houses or apartments, prepare their homes for sale, or landscape and decorate their homes. As I mentioned to MMO Gamer Chick via Twitter, watching these people work and shop is so comforting.
- It's dangerous too, because I often find myself thinking "We should do something like that here." I'm draw primarily to the landscaping and decorating shows, like Curb Appeal: The Block and Candice Tells All, because I love all of the ideas they throw around. Not that I would ever go to such extremes, but I do want to steal some of those ideas to spruce up our home.
- I'm so hooked on the network that my DVR is set up to record HGTV Design Star. I need help. Actually, I need a lot of help if we're going to get this backyard project started. Are you coming?
