REVIEW: Spider-Men #1

Brian Michael Bendis can write Spider-Man like no other, check out why both us thought so in the review below.

REVIEW: Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #1

WOW! What Sci-Fi nerd could ask for a more promising crossover? Watch the video to see just what I thought of the book.

REVIEW: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Wow, once again, both us loved this one, check out the reason why, and listen to us nit pick at a few things in the video below.

REVIEW: The Comedian #1 (Before Watchmen)

The first book in the Comedian series came highly recommended by the guy at the comic book shop. But I still felt it fell a bit flat, so did my co-reviewer David Komer.

REVIEW: Silk Spectre #1 (Before Watchmen)

The second series to launch in the Before Watchmen series. This one doesn't hold up to any type of standard at all. Watch the review for more.

Culture Cast: Episode 3

COMIC REVIEW: Dark Avengers #125

Fellow nerd, David Komer and myself give you our thoughts on Dark Avengers #125.

Is that bacon in my ice cream?

I can’t believe I ever thought it was a bad idea.

But I did in fact think it was a bad idea.

In fact I expected my taste buds to be assaulted in ways that they never had been before, and then some.

Not only did I think it was a bad idea to make, but I couldn’t believe that I was going to actually try it.

All of these thoughts, and more were running through my head as I pulled up to the drive through window last Friday.

“Welcome to Burger King, how can I help you,” is what I heard.

“I’d like to try one of those new sundaes, the one with bacon,” I mildly replied.

“Does that complete your order,” the disembodied voice of a young girl responded through the speaker.

“Yes.”

“That’ll be $2.75 at the second window, please pull around.”

And that was it I had ordered a Bacon Sundae. Now all I had to worry about was what it would taste like.

After another exchange with the people working the window, I pulled away. The concoction came in a large plastic container with an airtight lid.

I couldn’t wait to get this over with, so I popped the top, and immediately the sweet smell of bacon wafted up to my nose and filled the car with a great scent.

It was another two miles before I could actually bring myself to taste it, and at first I only tried a bit of ice cream that was free of any bacon.

At the next red light, I decided to take the plunge, and took a bit, that included bacon chunks. After plunging the spoon into my mouth, WOW. The flavors were amazing, it was like nothing I had ever tasted before.

The perfect blend of sugar and salt, two things that are fantastic alone, and surprisingly even better together. It was astounding.

I can’t believe I ever doubted how awesome this thing would taste.

My only thought after finishing it, how soon is too soon to go back for seconds?

COMIC REVIEW: Minutemen #1

The first book in the Before Watchmen series. The first of six in the Minutemen set within that series. Written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke.

MOVIE REVIEW: Superman vs. The Elite

The Elite, a team of super-powered antiheroes, is renowned for killing their enemies. Despite the acclaim and approval the Elite enjoy, Superman knows they are in the wrong, creating more harm than good by their methods. Tensions between them finally culminate in a mass showdown on Jupiter’s moons, when Superman is forced to prove that violence is never a positive.

TV REVIEW: Dallas puts viewers right back on Southfork

Overall I gave it a mediocre rating. Maybe it's because I didn't know all of the history and the like. It seemed like it was trying just a bit too much. Watch the video for more.

“Pilot: Changing of the Guard” 

Two decades since viewers last saw them, the Ewing’s are back. Television’s first family of drama, sabotage, secrets and betrayal are gathering at Southfork Ranch for the upcoming wedding of Bobby’s adopted son, Christopher, to Rebecca Sutter. Although the occasion is joyous, an old family rivalry crosses generations after secret oil drilling on Southfork results in a major gusher. Everyone has his or her own agenda when the fight over oil and land threatens to tear the Ewings apart once again.

Directed by Michael M. Robin

Written by Cynthia Cidre

“Hedging Your Bets” 

The plot to take control of Southfork gets complicated when two-timing affairs and blackmail arise, and J.R. starts to ask one too many questions. Meanwhile, Christopher and Elena bury their feelings in order work together on a business deal. But Christopher’s new bride may be hiding her own secrets.

Directed by Michael M. Robin 
Written by Cynthia Cidre

MOVIE REVIEW: Prometheus

This one is from a guest reviewer, a co-worker and dear friend, David Komer

MOVIE REVIEW: Dark Shadows

Easily the worst of the three flicks I caught last weekend, maybe I'm just to young to understand being that the show this was based on was cancelled long before I was born.

MOVIE REVIEW: Snow White and the Huntsman

It had its ups and it had its downs, but ultimately it was an average film at best. Check out the video for more.

Men in Black 3: Reviewed

I got a triple feature last weekend to catch up on some movies that I was behind in, here's the scoop so far.
Also I'd like to point out up front that I forgot to mention that Rip Torn not being in the film was a disappointment to me, but it was still a damn fine film, and the best I saw among the three last Saturday. Check out the video for some specific highlights.

My new favorite drummer

I know this isn't a sports blog, but I still had to share this. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith closed out a show in Columbus by singing a few bars of "Hail to the Victors!" 

I love the rivalry, and I love that he had the intestinal fortitude to do this.

GO BLUE!

Boldly going where no Star Trek fan has gone before

This summer, Trekkers across the country can ‘boldly go where no one has gone before’ with “Star Trek: The Next Generation 25th Anniversary Event,” a one night in-theater celebration on Monday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m. local time, with an additional 10:15 p.m. showing in select theaters. Painstakingly retransferred from the original source material during its ongoing multimillion dollar restoration, this special anniversary event celebrating the debut of “Star Trek: The Next Generation – The First Season” Blu-ray on July 24 will feature two of the most popular episodes from the storied first season, “Where No One Has Gone Before” (Ep. 106) and “Datalore” (Ep. 114). The episodes were handpicked by well-known “Star Trek” experts and restoration consultants, Mike and Denise Okuda, who chose “Where No One Has Gone Before” for its beautiful space imagery and the Data-centric “Datalore” because the character played by Brent Spiner has long been a fan favorite.

In addition to the two episodes, which will be introduced by the Okudas, fans will also be among the first to get a glimpse of the brand-new special features including interviews with the team behind the restoration as they discuss the process and countless man-hours dedicated to the upgrade of “The Next Generation.” The evening will conclude with an extended preview of the Season 2 Blu-Ray, which will be released later this year.

Tickets for “Star Trek: The Next Generation 25^th Anniversary Event” will be available beginning Friday, June 8 at presenting theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of presenting theater locations and prices, please visit the web site (theaters and participants may be subject to change).

“We’re thrilled to be able to introduce ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ to a new generation,” said Ken Ross, executive vice president and general manager of CBS Home Entertainment. “Seeing the episodes in a theater setting is the perfect way to show off the pristine picture that high definition allows and launch the first season on Blu-Ray.”

Presented by NCM Fathom Events, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution, this event will be broadcast to nearly 500 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

“‘The Next Generation’ series is timeless. It’s hard to believe 25 years have gone by since this iconic show premiered on television,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “This special event celebrates the magic that made this beloved series so memorable.”

Created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the “Star Trek” franchise, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was produced 21 years after the debut of the original “Star Trek” series. Featuring one of the most endearing ensemble casts in television history, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” took fans on the remarkable continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise set in the 24^th century from the year 2364 through 2370. With 178 episodes spread over seven seasons, it ran longer than any other “Star Trek” series. In addition to “Next Generation,” the “Star Trek” franchise includes “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993-1999), “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001), “Star Trek: Enterprise” (2001-2005), and “Star Trek: The Animated Series” (1973-1974), as well as 11 feature films.

COMIC REVIEW: Westward

Victor West did not ask to be born into wealth. 
He did not seek out the titans of industry that surround him, that pressure and push him toward a life of grand production and unending work. Heir to the fortune of Westward Enterprises, Victor has never had to try for anything; he has never had to strive or conquer or build. But all that is about to change. And Victor will be faced with the ultimate choice: achievement or death.






I'll have to apologize to my readers now, I really need to get this review out there, as I promised the writer/artist that I would have it done in early June. Normally there would be a full length written review posted with the video.

Instead I'm just going to apologize for "mailing it in" and only having the video. I'd also like to apologize to Mr. Krekeler for saying that I wasn't sure if this was a steampunk book or not. It most definitely is. At the time that we recorded the review, I was just coming off of covering the World Steam Expo, and thought that maybe I just had steampunk culture on the brain.

I do hope to do a follow up written review of the book sometime this month, my normal job has just gotten in the way this time.

Check out the book and give it a pre-order at AchieveorDie.com. It's really cool and you won't be sorry that you did.

Hopefully I'll be able to work out something schedule wise and get a feature length interview with Ken Krekeler, the writer and artist on the book in the not so distant future.

So "Before Watchmen" has begun...

I'm still not 100 percent sure if I'll be reading these. Those of you that read my post a while back about how terrible I thought the concept of this series was will know why.

I did however see where DC is allowing you to read the two-page Crimson Corsair cross overs for free on their website. Check it out if you dare.  http://bit.ly/L3wXU2

The mysterious case of Erika Perdue

Photos of the alleged criminal Erika Perdue.

OK so for all of my faithful readers, you know that I'm quite the nerd, geek whatever you want to call me. Little did you know just how nerdy I am though when it comes to some inane things.

I lost the "numbers" both when it comes to our website at TheNewsHerald.com and here on my blog. I'm always looking at popular stories, and things like what people are searching for to drive them to our site. Basically I want to see what types of things our readers are looking for, so that we can provide them with more of it.

From a conference last fall, "our" Erica Perdue is on the left.

Well this week, both on the news site, and on the blog I noticed that a former co-worker, Erica Perdue, was showing up in the search results. The only hitch being that her name was spelled wrong, so actually Erika Perdue was what was showing up.

I just assumed that Erica was covering some big story at her new job and dismissed it when I saw it Friday, but it happened again all weekend, and so far both days this week. It was so strange that I even mentioned it to another co-worker today, but neither of us gave it much of a thought.

Well finally I decided to do a search on the misspelled name. Boy was I surprised, apparently I've been so wrapped up in the local news that I missed this story out of Texas about a wealthy socialite that was arrested for running a child pornography ring. She just happened to share a name, though slightly misspelled, with my former co-worker and friend.

The FBI alleges that Erika Perdue has been downloading and sharing child pornography since as early as 1999.  According to the local media outlet that first reported the story, Perdue, 41, of University Park, faces several child pornography charges after agents raided her $1.4 million mansion in April and found a cache of graphic videos and photos on her computer.
While her husband was at work as a successful attorney, Perdue told investigators she was on the computer swapping and collecting child porn.
“She also confessed that she used file-sharing child pornography every day,” agents wrote in court documents.
Her Facebook page depicts a sultry housewife who liked to pose provocatively for pictures. In the couple’s driveway sits a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with vanity license plates "MY SYN."

I sure hope that no one really confused my friend with this whacko from Texas.

Sony Announces PlayStation Wonderbook

Sony unveiled its Wonderbook this week, an augmented reality book format. The Wonderbook works in conjunction with a PlayStation Eye camera and displays interactive images on a screen connected to a PlayStation 3.

Is the Iron Patriot the villain in Iron Man 3?

Principal photography began today on "Iron Man 3" in North Carolina. Marvel sent out an official release that had little to no details, but they did tweet out a set photo that had Robert Downey Jr. on set in his personal lab.

Other outlets have photos of an actor wearing a suit that looks like the Iron Patriot of comic book fame. The actor is James Badge Dale, who is supposed to be in the film as a character named Eric Savin.

Savin appears in the comics as Coldblood, which is a completely different character than Iron Patriot. Stay tuned as we attempt to sort this out in the coming months.

Vote for Rachael Adams in the Maxim Magazine "Hometown Hotties" contest

Rachael Adams, who hails from Lincoln Park is an aspiring actress, model and all around nice gal. Admittedly I had never heard of her before a few weeks ago, but that hasn't stopped me from becoming a fan of her work.

I first saw her at the Motor City Comic Con a couple of weeks ago, she was there as one of the celebrity guests, and I'll admit that I didn't know who she was, nor did the people I was there with. I did snap a couple of shots of her though, just because she was a local girl.

I then noticed that the paper had recently run a photo of her from a charity event that she had attended, and from that I learned that she was the Ride for Autism spokeswoman, a cause that is near and dear to my heart.

So that prompted me to send her a friend request on Facebook, so that I could tag her in my Comic Con photos, and to follow her career from here on out.

Ms. Adams also posed for for the
cover of  local author
Tom Saywer's novel.

That's when I discovered that she is competing in this year's "Hometown Hotties" contest, and that she is from Lincoln Park, not Detroit, which puts her in our coverage zone. Granted this isn't really the type of thing that we would generally run in the paper, but here on my blog I can try to help her get some votes.

So take a look at the pictures I've shared here, some from Maxim Magazine, some from me, then head over to their website and cast a vote for her. You have tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday to cast votes and help her advance to the second of the three round competition.

Vote for her HERE.