Comic Books – Page 4 – My Geek Odyssey

Comics, and Upgrading Websites…

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Bruce

Young Bruce & his comic — Young Bruce & his Comic

My history with comic books is a lengthy one, there are photos of me in third grade reading comics, so while I don’t remember my first comic, I do know I’ve been reading them for a long while. To me comics have always been a stress release. I stopped reading comics, when I first got married… you know the “honeymoon period” and got back into reading them a few years later during grad school. Since then I really haven’t stopped. Even when life wasn’t that stressful, it is always nice to escape into a world where good always triumphs over evil.

As many of you know I’m a teacher by day and last year I switched to a pseudo-teacher on special assignment kind of job which allows me to play with Lego (sometimes). I’ve spent a lot of the past year trying to create the school I would have wanted to go to as a kid. One where a geek can be a geek. I’ve been somewhat successful, but with education the way it is there’s always more to do… and that’s when they ask you to change your job. It’s just a tweak, nothing much, just work on technology training on top of curriculum development, and P.R. and interior decorating, and… You get the idea. I accepted the new challenge, so there is no one to blame but myself. So I’ve been reading a lot more comics in the little free time I have. I’m happy that Boom! is republishing Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid especially with the epilogue giving a little more back story. I’m just hoping that it will continue once they’ve gone through the first 5 issues. I’m also looking forward to starting my own MOOC dealing with Comic Books & Graphic Novels at the end of the month. But what’s really keeping me going is my local comic shop- Comic Carnival and how they take care of me. As I stray away from Marvel & DC and the hijinks they create in hopes of selling more comics(ultimate final infinity crisis of evil), everyone at the shop, especially Dan & Tim give me some wonderful recommendations that have really helped me get through some of the added stress. If you have a local shop give them a chance, the folks there are a wealth of knowledge and in most cases (everyone has a bad day) helpful and friendly. If not I would recommend getting a cat from a shelter, because everyone needs a cat as awesome as Hemi.

As for website upgrades- just another place for some stress. I was working on updating the site tonight and of course when I did, I broke something. I considered asking for help, but I did muscle through and only 2 hours later the site looks OK and hopefully I’ll have a chance to change a few things including adding a comic now and again. Especially since I signed up to do 24 hour comics day this year.

San Diego Comic-Con, It’s finally here!

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Bruce

I just wanted to make this quick blog post before I dash off to sunny Southern California to enjoy all that is the San Diego Comic-Con. I’m really looking forward to all the fun that makes up the San Diego Comic-Con. The great people watching the meeting with friends, the great inspiring sessions and the Exhibit Hall that I hear is going to be the better than it ever has been. I’ll try to post a little when I’m not overwhelmed by the sheer volume of all the greatness that makes up the San Diego Comic-Con. Though I’ll probably be way too busy rubbing elbows with the stars of TV and film. That and going to all the wonderful parties and other events that happen during the week of San Diego Comic-Con. Who knows? Maybe I’ll bring back one of the many Comic-Con Exclusives from San Diego Comic-Con and let you see how wonderfully special it is, and therefore how wonderfully special I am for having it. I’ll try to think of you as you sit back watching Morgan Spurlock’s Documentary on Comic-Con, but I’ll probably forget as I bask in the awesomeness that makes up the San Diego Comic-Con.

Enough already. I’m doing a little online venting because I will once again miss out on Comic-Con this year and unfortunately almost every geek feed, merchant, webcomic, personality, and news outlet I follow has only been talking about it for the past few weeks, if not months. I know it will be a zoo. I know I would never ever consider waiting in line for any of the really big panels, but fortunately over the years I have learned if you like comic books, those panels tend to be easy to get in. I remember one year thinking I was going to wait in line and being waved in to a session with this one writer I really liked. Robert Kirkman was his name – like that’s ever going to happen again. Getting almost front row in a session by David Petersen where he talked about his process and drew. Same thing with Jeff Smith. So many cool things to see and so many great people to learn from. When I signed up to get a Professional Badge years ago I was so excited and now having it now three years, I have been to SDCC once since then. I do feel lucky I to have been three times, and really enjoyed myself. I know many people who have never been, who deserve to go more than I do. Last year I chose MINI Takes The States over Comic-Con and had a great time with so many wonderful friends, so no real big regrets. Yet every year around this time I feel the pull of the coast (which having grown up in Southern California is strange, because I ran screaming away from it and the California culture). I will come back to Comic-Con sometime, but probably not for the foreseeable future.

For those who will be enjoying Preview Night tomorrow- I am jealous, but there is nothing I can do about it, so I salute you and hope you have powers and abilities beyond those of mortal geeks so you may survive the experience. If you were able to snag a badge for any day… Yes, I’m jealous of you too. Have lots of fun, enjoy and take some time to support some of the fine comic creators who are there by buying something from them- expensive original art is a nice start. Without these comic creators, there would be no Comic in Comic-Con, plus there wouldn’t be a whole lot of these really cool movies or TV shows- that seem to have taken over the convention.

’nuff said.

Brickworld & Superman Day at Hall of Heroes! Geek Nirvana in Only 3 Days!

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Bruce

Crowds around the Lego CUUSOO unveiling at Brickworld Chicago

After some deliberation as to when we would head north and for how long- Sue Cecil, and I headed up Thursday to Brickworld Chicago. If you had told me at this time last year that I would be going to a Lego show I probably would have laughed. In the Fall of last year when I had just started my new job, I decided to to attend Brickworld Fort Wayne to learn more since both schools had spent a bazillion dollars on Lego. I then joined the IndyLUG specifically to learn more and see about creating a partnership between the schools and the AFOL (Adult Fans Of Lego) Community. On the way back I picked up my first kit (a Sopwith Camel) to see if I still could build after not touching Lego bricks since I was 12. It’s funny how jobs change your outlook on things. So after a year as a Magnet Integration Specialist I’m off to Chicago and my 4th Lego event. I decided to take this one easy and not display (I’m glad, my builds are still amateurish in comparison), just see what it’s about and decide how involved I want to get next year.

"I'm a leaf on the wind" — “I’m a leaf on the wind”

Unlike other Lego events I have attended this one had actual workshops and presentations not just displays. While I like looking at the creativity involved in a MOC (My Own Creation) I was really happy to learn some stuff while I was in attendance. Without even time to check my goodie bag and get my badge on I headed to my first workshop on Microbuilding. Microbuilding is where you build things in a smaller scale, a 1×2 plate is about the size of a car in this scale, and that tends to be one of many constants. Being late I missed a bit of the lecture portion and had to dive right in making a used car lot. As I look at how I want to proceed in my Lego Journey This is a type of build that really fascinates me. It requires a lot of creativity and unique uses for brick. By the time the workshop was over I had a couple ideas, a lighting system for my build and over two gallon bags of miscellaneous brick to build with. Not a bad start. More information about microbuilds can be found at the TwinLUG Website. My thoughts right now are to play around in this scale and see what I can create that might be worthy of display next year.

So after a quick bite to eat I headed to my next workshop presented by a Legoland designer. This was fascinating, but in the immortal words of Barbie, “Math class is hard!” I knew I was in trouble, not about the math, but when he said “Lego Digital Designer is a great program, but it is really difficult to use if you don’t have a mouse.” Using the school laptop without a mouse, I decided after a few valiant efforts that I would head downstairs and check out the exhibit hall.

Brickworld Chicago gives builders time to get their creations built, unlike some other shows where it seems like there is a bit of rush with only a day to put things together, here you have two. So my first trip to the exhibit hall I saw a number of empty tables, some of which remained so up until Friday night. As I looked around one thing I really liked was the variety of displays. Since I had only attended local shows previously you tend to see the same displays from the same people. It’s kind of like going to MINI car club meeting, you see the same cars and you can only say “nice car” so many times. My Flickr Page has some shots of various displays, but I know I missed a lot and some still weren’t finished when I did my final walk through Friday night. Of the displays that stuck in my mind I’d start with “The Wizard of Oz” this was massive and plotted out the entire film scene by scene. It was awesome and one of many displays that took inspiration from literature and film, There were reproductions of comic book characters and pages, scenes from Charlie and Factory, video game builds, even Herschel’s Farmhouse from the Walking Dead. TV themed builds are works of love from people who really are into a specific show. If you look at Lego online you are bound to discover the Firefly/Serenity build. When I went to Fort Wayne I dreamed of seeing this one. It is massive and completely accurate down to the Minifigs. It wasn’t at Fort Wayne, it wasn’t in Greenfield, it wasn’t at Brickworld Indy, it was in Chicago! Yes, it was impressive. Take a look at my Flickr to see some of the interesting things there (not everything)

As you wander you notice that displays tend to fall into a couple different groups- Science Fiction, Fantasy, Medieval, etc, and Trains. A great number of builds have some sort of train on them no matter what genre they are. It might be futuristic mine cars on an alien planet, it might be a steampunk train going around a fantasy city… trains seem to be a big part of Lego culture.

So Friday rolls around and I head back to attend some sessions, I had a number highlighted and ended getting to two. The first one was KidsWorld which may seem strange, but there is some logic to it. As an educator, I always like to see how other people present ideas to kids and what these experts think are the important facts that all kids should know. The room was mostly younger kids averaging somewhere around 1st or 2nd grade. THe Talk focused on building techniques specifically the three things you need for a superior build- Sturdy construction, Detail, and you have to like it. The talk focused a lot on SNOT (Studs Not On Top). I doubt I would normally hear a presenter showing a slide and asking “Where do you see the SNOT on this?” The 9 year old in me wanted to giggle. The session ended with us all heading to the Exhibit Hall and looking at various builds and seeing how they used the techniques outlined. I know I learned a lot, and now I just need to see about putting it into practice.

I then decided to look at Steampunk in Lego which was fascinating. The presentation went on to highlight many Steampunk artists that work in Lego and what they have built along with the history of Steampunk inside and outside Lego. With Lego Master Builder Academy Level 4 being Steampunk… it is definitely looking up for Lego & Stempunk although it looks like I’m going to need a lot more nets and ice cream scoops!

"We're off to see the Wizard!" — “We’re off to see the Wizard!”

The last session I attended was a Q&A from Lego about their support of the Lego Community. It was interesting as a newbie to see how Lego goes about rewarding the various clubs around the country and just how many clubs there are!

The day concluded with something special, the unveiling of a new kit. This happened during the Charity Auction which I attempted to participate in kind of like the one at C2E2 the prices went sky high quickly, good for the charities, but for a newcomer, I was overwhelmed. So the kits were brought out one at a time for the film crews and the audience. The first one was massive… the Sydney Opera House. The funny thing was so many people were awed, not by the build, but by the 48×48 blue baseplate it sat on. After everyone stopped there the CUUSOO set was unveiled. For those unaware of Lego CUUSOO is another way in which lego reaches out to their fan base. Enthusiasts build a creation, post pictures and try to get votes, any that get 10,000 votes are then considered to be made into a kit. There are licensing issues, and other things that may stop a kit, but it is a really cool process. So in January they should have ready to be in stores the Mars Curiosity Rover! I’m sure my vote helped.

And for me that was Brickworld Chicago. Did I miss out on things? Yes, the Pinewood Derby races, the rubberband powered dragster races, the boat races in the hotel pool, and many other activities… I also missed the public days of the show, so I could visit another thing on my Geek Bucket List, The Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Elkhart, IN.

Yes, I’m a geek, I collect Comics and have been doing so since I was a kid. I tend to stay away from many of the other Comic Book related stuff out there, unless it really jumps. I’m still kicking myself for not getting a Rocketeer Helmet when they first came out… Some people aren’t like that. One has taken his collecting to a new level by building a museum. Now years ago there was a museum in Indianapolis that focused on Comics, it had some really interesting pieces, and went bankrupt within months of opening. This one, is a little different. Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum is in a building that looks like the Hall of Justice from Superfriends. It is an amazing place for the comic book geek. Sue, Cecil, and I headed to Elkhart on the way home from Chicago for their Superman Day (Superman’s 75th Anniversary and the release of the new movie) Avoiding a bit of the rain we came in to a crowded place with kids and people dressed up. The prize of the collection is Adam West’s Batman costume, donated by Adam West. Outside of that the walls of both floors are filled with comic books, and comic book related memorabilia. Fortunately, they are divided by hero, so the Flash section was easy to find. I was very impressed and recommend if you happen to be a comic book geek to take the detour and head to the Hall of Heroes. Check out the Flickr Set of the visit While there is did pick up a Superman Robot Sculpture by Jimm Showman… I’d really like to get a few of his robots for around school.

It must be Wednesday… Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid Special #1

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Bruce

I know, I know… where’s the comic?!? I would love to say “I’ve got one ready”, or “All I need to do it one more thing” but, I’m not quite sure how to answer that question. Right now I’m still working on stuff for school (Yes, I am a teacher, yes it is Summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean I stop working no matter what politicians and the media say about teachers). I hope to start getting back into the swing of things soon after I come back from a few conferences, get the bills paid, get the invasive honeysuckle out of the backyard, and the cat vomit cleaned up off the floor (Hemi’s fine, just hairball season). Enough with lame excuses today is Wednesday or as any comic book geek would know “New Comic Book Day!”

For the summer (forcing me to make sure I get to Comic Carnival each Wednesday) I have decided to review at least one comic in my stack for the week… I’d like to start off by talking about one all ages comic that was in my stack today- Mike Kunkel’s “Herobear and the Kid” Special #1. Originally published by Astonished Comics and now being published by Boom! the comic is a the story of Tyler (think of Chuck Jones’- Ralph Phillips“) and his toy bear that transforms into Herobear. I won’t give away any spoilers from the first arc “The Inheritance” but in my opinion it is a great all ages comic that almost any kid could really get into.

This issue starts off quickly with almost no recap of the first story arc after years of the comic being on hiatus (sound familiar?) It’s school picture day for Tyler and he has to (with the help of Herobear) stop the evil Von Klon from doing something nasty with ginormous rubber ducks… see almost no spoilers!

The one thing that I have always enjoyed about this comic is the artwork… It’s black and white with just a splash of red (Herobear’s cape), besides that the actual art is a “rough animation style” so it is extremely loose, but also helps budding artists to see some of the actual pencil work behind the finished artwork. Which is why I have used it as examples when I teach cartooning.

As many of us have experienced when a creator takes a break from a project for a long time sometimes the return effort doesn’t always meet with our expectations. Take George Lucas and episodes 1, 2 & 3, Robert Lynn Aspirin when he started back on the Myth Adventures series- while they weren’t all bad, as a fan I was expecting more and it seemed like the creators had lost some of the important pieces of the universe they had created. Mike Kunkel, after a first reading, seems to have not lost his connection with Tyler & Herobear’s world, which makes me very happy. I’m holding off on judging everything in Herobear and the Kid just because I really don’t want to dig out my old issues or break the seal on the hardcover trade I have. Upon first reading the story is solid, and similar to what I recall, the artwork is similar, although over the years, it seems that Kunkel’s style has shifted slightly and isn’t exactly as I remember. I’m one to talk looking at how my style has changed over the years.

It looks like Boom! will be reprinting the original story arc starting in August and my only hope is that Mike can keep up the regular pace of a monthly (or even bimonthly) comic- I’m getting old and waiting almost a year between issues makes me grumpy. That said- this Wednesday brought me a little joy and inspiration with Mike Kunkel’s Herobear & the Kid #1. If you have an Elementary school age kid or are a kid yourself I’d check it out at your local comic shop. “Remember your childhood and pass it on.”

Guilty Geeky Pleasures

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Bruce

While I’ve posted this before (I’m sure it’s around here somewhere) I thought it might be nice to update the list of some of the geeky things you might want to explore and my plans for some of my geeky passions for 2013.

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Podcasts-

Yes, these have been around for what seems like forever, but I’m always amazed at the number of people who still have no idea about what they are. A podcast is a simple interweb audio show it comes out on a regular basis and they cover a large number of topics. When I first heard about podcasting in 2005 I starting looking around and amazingly enough while I add a few here and there a few I’ve stuck with since the beginning- my top (not in any order) are:

Decoder Ring Theatre – Pure escapism from Toronto. The shows alternate (for the most part) between the Red Panda (Canada’s Greatest Super Hero) and Black Jack Justice (with Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective). Both are set in the 1930’s and 40’s and are in the style of the old-time radio serials. The Red Panda will actually get a comic book treatment in Comixology at the end of the month- an announced Feb 27 release date from Monkey Brain Comics. Many times this podcast is what makes me happy during the week.

Podcacher – Family friendly podcast all about Geocaching. When I attended a computer education conference in sunny San Diego I decided to stop in on a session that really changed my life. It was all about this thing called geocaching (gee-oh-cash-ing). Sonny and Sandy are now friends and if you are interested in learning about caching I highly recommend it. It is well produced, and filled with lots of great information.

White Roof Radio – The MINI Cooper podcast. I bought my first MINI in 2005 and started listening to the podcast around that time. The format is a roundtable discussion hosted by DB & Todd with regular appearances by Chad, Gabe, and Nathaniel. The topic is MINI Coopers. While sometimes it gets technical especially when dealing with wheels and tires its a great way to get to know what is happening in the MINI Community. I will admit there have been times when I have skipped a bit especially when they are discussing in depth events I can’t attend. I almost wish they would exercise the Zaxxon rule* but over the years, Todd & DB have become close friends (again one of those great things about podcasts is they are put together by real people) and I enjoy listening to the discussion each week.

Pop Culture Happy Hour – I’m trying to figure out how I stubbled upon this podcast, but it quickly became a favorite. PCHH is put together at NPR and is a weekly roundtable discussion about pop culture. Linda, Trey, Stephen, and Glen have opened my eyes to many parts of pop culture and have added some pieces to my vocabulary including “What’s making me happy this week” and the Zaxxon Rule*

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Kickstarter–

It’s a crowdfunding site in which you donate money to “kickstart” someone’s project. There are hundreds of options and the rule is the creator of the project set’s a goal. If the goal is met by a certain date- you get charged, if it isn’t you are out nothing. The cool thing for most projects the backers get a reward in return for their support. in some cases it’s something as simple as “gee, thanks!” in other cases it might be some really cool items. Every project is different. I recommend just checking out some of the Kickstarter geekiness there seems to something for almost every kind of geek.

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Comics-

I have always loved comics. For as long as I remember I have read comics. The problem right now as a long time reader of comics is that the major comics publishers seem to be trying to attract a new audience or bring back lapsed readers. So for me, I get confused as to what to read since the creative teams or story lines are getting all mixed up. I liked Captain America, but now he’s battling evil in another dimension. Don’t even get me started with what DC has done to the Teen Titans…

So while I still try to keep up with my old titles (though I keep bouncing between reading Batman & Superman) there are a few titles that I have stuck with- please note not all of these are “all ages.”

Fables- Bill Willingham’s story of what if the characters form fairy tales were real and had been exiled to our world? Not for kids, but frankly much better than some of the TV shows presently on with the premise (although I am a fan of Grimm)

Mouse Guard- David Petersen’s wonder tales of “mice with swords” but it is so much more than that. the artwork is wonderful and the tales compelling. I’m now being very patient waiting for the next issue about the “Black Axe”

The Walking Dead- Yes, it was a comic before it was a TV show. Robert Kirkman’s story of survival after the zombie apocalypse. while in black & white still not for kids.

Invincible- I’ve been reading this since issue #1 and issue #100 just arrived this week. to overly simplify it- it’s the story of Superman’s son, except… I don’t want to give anything away. Like Harry Potter where the first books were for younger kids, the same rule applies, not really for kids, especially as the story has become more violent and dark.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man- Again another one of those I’ve been reading since the beginning. This started off as a retelling of the Spider-Man story for a new audience. The villains may have the same name, but slightly different powers and origins, making it really cool. Until they decided to kill Spider-Man. THings then became interesting as we discover another spider in the lab escapes and bites another kid and what happens after that. The first part of the story parallels the final issues of Peter Parker as Spider-Man which makes it even better.

While I have issues (and have mentioned them before) about crossover events and how they tend to make me stop reading a title. Once or twice, I can understand, but most of these things cover multiple issues and frankly they don’t need to- the red sky issues in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Hence my hesitance to read Batman or Superman.

What’s on my pull list? (a pull list is what a comic shop has for regular customers, I’ve had a pull list at Comic Carnival for close to 20 years now- to the point where Dan knows when I’ve missed something and will add it back) So here’s what usually is on mine: Earth 2, Fairest, Justice League, Justice League of America, Fables, Flash, Teen Titans, Unwritten, Ultimate Comics: X-Men, Spider-Man and, Ultimates, Captain America… then there are various titles that I bounce around with.

As for comic conventions I’m planning right now on attending C2E2 in Chicago, but will be skipping SDCC this year.

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Games-

I’m still enjoying Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars X-Wing Miniature game. Cecil still thinks I should play an Imperial squadron… I like the game play, and while I have a few games on my shelf (right now Settlers of Catan, Munchkin, Quarriors, and Monty Python Fluxx) finding the time and the opponents seem to be the biggest issue. I am planning on attending GenCon this year (it’s local) and hopefully will branch out and actually play some games instead of just spending money in the Hall.

As for video games- I completed and throughly enjoyed “the Room” on the iPad. and when I think about it the Walking Dead and Bad Piggies are quick diversions.

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Lego-

Yes, this is new and while coming back to Lego after 30+ years it’s like finding an old friend. While I still don’t understand the cost or the various sets or story lines. I am enjoying myself. The thing I like the most is it tends to be relaxing. I can build a kit and really can relax while doing it. Although as with many of my interests I do go a little overboard. I have promised to put together a display for Brickworld Indy and it has required me to actually attempt to create MOCs (My Own Creation) that I’m not quite sure of how well I’m doing. This is also causing me to buy more bricks than I ever thought. It all started with a visit to Brickworld Fort Wayne and thinking about using Lego Brick more at school and now, I’ve working on two different displays of Lego projects at both schools and one of my own.

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Geocaching-

I still am caching and once the weather settles down have planned to put out a couple new series of caches. While I’m slowing down (weather related and other things) IndianaGeocaching.com is going well and keeping me busy.

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MINI-

My initial plan at the end of 2011 was to keep my 2005 Cooper S until the rumored new John Cooper Works GP out, trade it in and have a new GP. In June that all changed and we went with plan “B” which has been wonderful (although all the hype about the GP is tiring). I cannot say how much fun it was taking Alfie (the Roadster) cross country. I really do love this new car, almost as much as my first MINI. Once Spring starts I have a few things on my list. First is new tire for Alfie, then I’m planning on spending the summer working on a much neglected Tink. With everything that has been going on Tink is in need of a lot of TLC and that is the next thing. Besides new tires, she needs a new battery and just another once over in the shop. I really feel bad how much I’ve neglected the classic and I hope that this summer I’ll have the time to get out there and get her back into running order to keep some miles off of Alfie.

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Finally, I’ve made the decision in order to keep my sanity- My Geek Odyssey the comic will be posted once a week, this is at least a schedule I can keep up with.

SO I’ve thrown down my list of geeky suggestions and plans any thoughts? Did I forget something? Do have something you think I should try out? Tim at Comic Carnival did suggest this week that I read the Batman & Robin Annual #1 which was a wonderful story, so thanks for the suggestion.

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*The Zaxxon Rule: from Pop Culture Happy Hour. Limiting discussion (or in some cases eliminating discussion) on something that not everyone has the opportunity to experience. This came about in the “What’s making me happy” segment specifically when Stephen Thompson for weeks would talk about a classic Zaxxon arcade game he was purchasing from Craig’s List. I feel that many podcasts could benefit from adding this rule- one of the nice things about podcasts is you can add “Very Special” episodes focused on “Zaxxon” topics for those who care.

The New 52… Where “My Geek Odyssey” fits into DC’s New Universe

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Bruce

Actually as I stated when DC Comics first announced gutting their entire universe and starting over with every issue being #1 I was kind of lost. How do you really do that logically? So far my initial thoughts have not changed. Superman in Justice League is different than Superman in Superman and completely different than Superman in Action Comics. I’ve figure out how they could have a Teen Titans comic when there is no history of these characters as sidekicks, or Nightwing, or the Red Hood… It’s like jumping into the TARDIS when you move from issue to issue. Each one is in it’s own time frame. It used to be (as a naive) comic book reader you could kind of think that everything in one universe was happening around the same time (give or take a month or two) but for DC its like they have decided that every time occupies a different part of space/time. Which can be confusing. I think I’ve figured some of it out using the character of Superman as an example-
In Action Comics we are covering the back story of Superman (think of is as Year One). In Justice League we are getting the founding of the League (so again Year One for the Justice League) which didn’t happen during Superman’s first year as a hero, so the costume is different. In Superman we are dealing with a later version of the Man of Steel as we also are in Supergirl. This does save me from one of the things I despise about having one character in multiple books which is the poorly executed crossover. Still it does make reading these titles a little on the timey-wimey side.

One thing this has done is caused some artists to do their take on the “NEW 52” and one in particular I like is Aaron Diaz of Dresden Codek. Who has a fantastic blog on design: Indistinguishable From Magic recently he’s taken on the DC Universe by not just redesigning the look of the characters, but also their origins and back stories… which has been neat since it looks like DC has done some things just to shock people into the understanding that “You’re not in Smallville, Kansas anymore” Catwoman, & Starfire seem to be the ones getting press right now, but as long as DC is getting press, I have to believe that they will continue “pushing the limits.”

Heres a list of links on what Aaron has done to the DCU- one of these days I’d love to try this out (who knows maybe that will my creativity project for 2012.

Aaron’s discussions on character design are great for anyone looking at the science behind good design, you don’t have to agree with everything he has to say, but you will end up learning something.

As for the where “My Geek Odyssey” fits into this- I have been inspired to look at some more tweaks to my character design that should show up in this next arc or in some sketches.

Comic-Con Without a Badge

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Sue

As you may have heard, a certain person (who runs this website) received their ‘professional’ credentials for Comic-Con this year. Unfortunately, as a new ‘professional’ there was no way for him to get extra badges so I ended up in San Diego without a badge. Knowing this going in, I had made alternate plans to keep myself occupied. Trust me, I needn’t have worried – there was plenty to keep a ‘Comic-Con Muggle’ busy without venturing anywhere near the exhibit hall!

When we got in to town on Wednesday, we headed directly to check-in at the convention center. Since Bruce had his paperwork in order I just tagged along through the process. After Bruce received his badge we continued through the line and we were both handed the awesomely huge Warner Brothers Comic-Con bags that (almost) everyone carried through the week. Even without a badge, I sure looked official!

There was plenty of time before ‘Preview Night’ so we wandered through the Gaslamp District to people watch and grab some food. We stopped at the Chuck Jones Gallery, got some swag, and ultimately ended up at Nicky Rotten’s for food before Bruce headed back into the mayhem. Because it had been a long day, I sat and read while he did his thing – it was a lovely, cool evening so all was good.

Thursday was to be Bruce’s big day at the Con so I dropped him off and went geocaching – that way he didn’t need to worry about me. But, a friend had told us about a Cirque du Soleil event to be held at Comic-Con that evening so we decided to meet up and attend.

When I got back into town, I took some time to explore an area for upcoming movies located in a parking lot adjacent to where I parked. The movie Cowboys & Aliens (to premiere in San Diego Saturday night) partnered with 7-11 and they were giving away Slurpees and promotional items. Then there was the giant inflatable Smurf, the shark movie area, and the dog on the remote control motorcycle (don’t ask). Eventually Bruce and I hooked up and he was stopped to receive some quite interesting swag – deodorant (trust me, he wasn’t the only one)!

We went for pizza at a place Cartoon Network rented out and redid to look like the cartoon Adventure Time (there were also restaurants taken over by SyFy- the Cafe Diem, NBC- The Playboy Club, not to mention various video games).

Cirque Du Soleil was probably the low point of the Con. Billed as ‘Battle at Comic-Con’ it was to be a 3-D Battle from the show Ka. We’d heard so much about Cirque from friends that we thought it would be amazing. The lawn near Petco Park was packed and people were really excited about the show. First it started a half-hour after it was billed then there were technical difficulties. But, probably the most disappointing was shortly after it started I thought, “I wonder what they’re going to do for the battle” and then it was the end! Complete showtime less than 5-minutes. After this show, I just don’t see the allure of Cirque.

Friday I did take a break and Bruce and I explored Balboa Park in the late afternoon.

Saturday we spent some time wandering downtown. We ran into the Zombie Walk (remember, Zombies=bad), the Top Gear America theater (no, we didn’t go in since it wasn’t the BBC version), and saw NerdHQ. This was all before the geocaching Comic-Con Meet-n-Greet. This was held in a park near the SouthPark theme area that we never even had time to visit.

After the meet-n-greet we headed up to the 4th & B theater for the Nerdist Podcast Live with Dr. Who – excellent! It was a terrific event with Matt Smith and Karen Gillam as well as special guest star Wil Wheaton (and free burritos at the end)! I also don’t think I mentioned that the theater was right across the street from the San Diego Civic Center where they were concurrently premiering Cowboys & Aliens!

In all, there were plenty of free things I didn’t see and some ticketed things we didn’t get tickets for. So, even if I can’t get a badge in 2012, I have a plan to make the most of my Comic-Con time!

Total swag without really trying: Looney Tunes and Pan Am bags, obnoxiously green Psych sunglasses, blowup sword, Slurpee, Butterfinger bar, bag of PopChips, many, many fliers, coupons, etc.

San Diego Comic-Con: Day 3

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Bruce

So, I’m at the San Diego Comic-Con, it’s Saturday… What should I do? I decided to avoid the con almost completely. The started out with breakfast with some geocaching friends and then we headed to Mexico to color in the map. Sue seems to be rather competitive when it comes to caching, so a chance to get another country could not be turned down. So after getting warnings from my overly concerned family we walked across the boarder. About an hour later we were in line to come back, mission accomplished. Actually the three caches we went for are multi-caches since maintaining a cache in Mexico can be a headache. What you do is go to certain coordinates in Tijuana, record some information, then plug it into an equation to get the final coordinates. The final coordinates are in the U.S. But since part of the cache is in Mexico it counts as a find in Mexico. It was a great day of walking, but both of us are sunburned.

So after that adventure we headed back to San Diego for a geocaching meet & greet for attendees. On the way we happened across the Zombie walk which was a hoot. At the Meet & Greet I had a great time chatting with Sonny (of Podcacher) and while there were just a few of us, I could see it growing each year.

Sue & I were rushing a bit to get to the final event of the evening… Just down the street from the world premiere of “Cowboys & Aliens.” The Nerdist podcast was doing a live show with Matt Smith & Karen Gillan of Dr. Who. It was great. I’ll check for when it gets posted although it was definitely NOT all ages. A special surprise guest showed up Wil Wheaton from Star Trek: TNG, Big Bang Theory, Eureka… etc. Again, I can’t say how great it was and the burritos were yummy.

Since GeoWoodstock I had decided to drop my digital SLR and only use either my iPhone or iPad for basic photographs. If I was going someplace to take pictures I would bring along the SLR, but normally I felt I should be able to make it with just my iDevices. I have learned a few limitations… The biggest (and worst) was low light like the Nerdist show. Normally, with the iPad you can set where the lit meter takes a reading… This did not work from a distance in the dark looking at a well lighted stage… I have been happy with my other pictures throughout the trip except for low light situations. Live and learn, & yes, I just posted a negative comment about an Apple product, time to mark your calendar.

Can you say “epic failure?” the stage shot of the Nerdist podcast the white glowing blob with ginger hair is Karen Gillan, to her right is Matt Smith, to his right is Wil Wheaton.

San Diego Comic-Con: Day 2

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Bruce

Have you ever been on a Disney vacation? You know how after a while you just need a break from the “Happiest Place on Earth”? Today was not that day, but close, I did leave early- don’t fret or feel sorry for me I got everything done that I wanted to today & wore my fez and comic Hawaiian shirt for good measure. Today, I had just a few things on my list most of them required the presence of Jeff Smith. If you do not know or have ever heard of Jeff Smith… I am sorry. I am not talking about the Frugal Gourmet- I speak of the Eisner award winning creator of Bone.

This actually demonstrates the difference between Comic-Con and other comic book conventions. Two years ago I went to C2E2 and after a wonderful breakfast with Sue stopped in to get some things signed by Jeff Smith for my classroom. I was confronted with a sign being held by the person in front of me that read “Last in line for Jeff” I decided to wait… What was one more person? I held onto that sign until today. See at Comic-Con there are lines… Lines to get an autograph of some actor who played in some show that was cancelled after three episodes but has a cult following, that or t-shirts. At Comic-Con comics aren’t that important, so unlike C2E2 I walked up to a rather short line and then had a nice conversation with Jeff Smith who took a picture with Cecil and drew a wonderful piece of artwork below “Last in line for Jeff” and now I am happy. The only other things on my list was a photo with the TARDIS and a copy of Dave Kellett’s wonderful Eisner nominated book. Done & done. The only session I wanted to attend was Jeff Smith’s which I did and that got me thinking. Finally before calling Sue to see about a late lunch I headed up to the Art show and saw some cool things, and some amateurish things, but sadly while taking pictures of some Klingons, Cecil lost his Jayne hat… He no longer has the same control over Firefly fans. Tomorrow will actually be a day away from the Con- but fear not, we will be attending an event (the Nerdist podcast) with the Doctor & Pond in the evening so geekiness will not be avoided.

San Diego Comic-Con: Day 1ish

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Bruce

After advertising that this would be the “Year of No” here I am still stunned that I was given professional status at the San Diego Comic-Con. As I write this Preview Night is but a memory and I am going over my notes from today’s sessions while trying to figure out where all my money went. A brief recap for those interested- I applied for pro status, got it but it was too late to get any guest badges. While I immersed myself in geekdom, Sue was going to go geocaching.
Preview night worked out OK… I gave myself some time to get the lay of the land, while Sue read a bit. After an hour the crowds were getting to be a bit much and I called it a day. What SWAG did I get? Nothing that I can recall- except three SWAG bags from Warner Bros. One Justice League, one Big Bang Theory, and one Looney Tunes. I did go and scan the BBC America QR codes that were part of the Dr. Who scavenger hunt. I am only missing one but can’t find Titan entertainment anywhere. The BBC lists them in the same booth spot as “Unshelved” a great web comic and the Comic-Con app put them in aisle 5500 of the exhibit hall (5400 is the last aisle). So that was about it for preview night. Two years ago Marv Wolfman I believe said that preview night was the new Saturday… With the number of comp passes I saw I can believe it. I can also understand why people with 4 day passes without preview night were not happy.

So, I got up Thursday morning with a plan… All geeked out with my QR code t-shirt and geek vest I set out to do a few things first go to Comic Book Law 101 & next go to David Petersen’s CBDLF master session. Both were fantastic and have gotten me to rethink a few things. One on copyright and the other on the process & tools I ink with. After that it was a day in the exhibit hall which is a very scary place. I think I was able to cover the entire floor, but I could be mistaken. I purchased a few things: Katie Cook’s cat & Gronk books along with a Doozer drawing for Sue. A David Petersen sketchbook. Almost the entire “DC Super Pets” series (the last 4 books will be available tomorrow). Two convention special books from Archaia (Rust & Fraggle Rock) which let me get three books for free (& then lug all of them around for hours & hours). Finally, a complete sketchbooks of Dave Stevens compendium (Dave created “the Rocketeer” one of my favorite comics & movies ever). Now you might look at that list and wonder why I bought sketchbooks and kids books… First I am a teacher so finding new comic material for my classroom is important. The sketchbooks are great because I learn so much seeing how other artists draw, even roughy sketches teach me something. By 4:30 I was exhausted. Sue arrived and we dumped my stuff in the car and wandered having a pizza dinner at a Cartoon Network NY style pizza place. Afterwards we walked around people watching and ended up on the grass waiting for a rather sad Cirque du Soleil performance on the the side of Petco Park.

Since I had mentioned the Rocketeer here is the infamous monkey with him… Or at least a very good imitation. For those wondering about other pictures I would ask that you visit my Flickr site and as for Cecil, I had a wonderful chat with some steampunk outfitters about getting him a pair of goggles. I (and he) will be overjoyed if we hear back from them after the con.

Category: Comic Books