A Sunday Review

TV this week: Numb3rs: "Black Swan" (waffles for dinner!), Classic Doctor Who: "Image of the Fendahl" Parts 1 & 2 (a Doctor Who classic story I haven't seen!), Iron Chef America: "Cora vs Oringer" (I can honestly say I wouldn't want to try ANY of those dishes, or even smell them), Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "A World of Flavors" (yay, more places I want to eat at!), Chefography: "Julia Child" (I never paid much attention to her, but now that I'm cooking more I find her life fascinating), Star Trek New Voyages/Phase II: "Come What May" (iconic characters with new actors, sometimes works, sometimes doesn't... but then, everyone who plays Hamlet isn't great), Verity Lambert: Drama Queen (A great tribute to a great woman who changed TV in her time), Destination Truth: "Giant Anaconda" (I think they were pretty lucky to get out of the Amazon unscathed), Ghost Hunters: "Haunted Air Force Base" (well, I'd like to love it, but they are getting more like other ghost shows... less scientific, more emotion and crap), Supernanny: "Citarella Family" (stop laughing, start disciplining), Chefography: "Mario Batali" (a local boy!), Chefography: "Duff Goldman" (I want to be that happy in my work), and Doctor Who: "The Fires of Pompeii" (Donna is a fangirl, and asks all the questions that fans have been asking for years!).

Comics this week: Countdown 3 was more of the same. Justice Society of America #14 was just a lead up to a big fight... then a big fight. Green Lantern Corps #23 was slightly promising. Wonder Woman #19 made me wonder what Aquaman villain got caught. Titans #1 made me wonder if Tempest was also attacked.

Tiny Titans #3 was just too cute for words. I loved it. Find Fluffy! Doctor Who Classics #5 was just as I recalled the story, only I can't remember how it ends. This issue ended on a good cliff-hanger, unlike some of the others. Serenity: Better Days #2 started out incredibly amusing, then went a bit downhill from there. I liked it, but it could've been better. And lastly, Castle Waiting #11 continued on like it always does. It's a happy sort of read, every time. I feel like I'm cuddled in warm blankets drinking hot cocoa when I'm reading this book. Even though the plot doesn't seem to be moving forward. Which is no doubt a problem for other readers.

This week's library movie was Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer. It was considerably better than I was led to believe it would be by the fanboi complaints. Great effects on the Silver Surfer. So-so plot, but fun overall. There were a few breath-taking moments. I found their version of Galactus to be MUCH more appealing and frightening than the purple giant in the comic books. Stan Lee's cameo was hilarious.

My library book this week was Jack of Fables - The (Nearly) Great Escape. I checked it out because I heard there were Oz characters in it, and I wanted to confirm them for hubby-Eric. I enjoyed this, and remembered why I read the original Fables collections. I probably should pick up where I left off and read more Fables. But this was good, and it had Oz characters. Heck, Toto gets nommed. This was about what you'd expect from Fables, but it might be a bit of a jump if you haven't read any of the original series that this spun off from.

Arriving this week: Fortean Times #235. Of interest in this issue was the article on Infectious Insanity, which seems like it would work well as a comic book story. There was also a Wizard of Oz sand sculpture that I had to show hubby-Eric. Another article I liked was the Brittany witches article, particularly for the fantastic photos. The Home on the Range article proposed tracking UFO and paranormal experiences in a scientific manner to locate "window areas", but I think it would be worth tracking just to encourage reporting so we can figure out what such events actually are. Why can't we apply the scientific method to the paranormal? I think close-minded "skeptics" are just as bad as true believers... they are the opposite sides of the same coin. Charles Fort was against throwing away data because it didn't fit, but skeptics toss out anything they can't explain. Too many people experience the paranormal for it to be nothing at all... so why isn't science willing to investigate it to find out what it is?

I visited Whole Foods to pick up some dark chocolate, which I eat in moderation to satisfy my sweet tooth. I also picked up a small tub of Venezualan Cocoa Nibs, raw cocoa beans. I've been chomping on them as a snack food. Just a little goes a LONG way. They taste a bit like dark chocolate walnuts, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I'm surprised... I like it a lot, and probably will enjoy munching until I get through the tub. Unless I think of something else to do with the raw nibs.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews

A Sunday Review

TV this week: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "Neighborhood Joints" (some of these folks have really long weeks), Robin Hood: "A Good Day to Die" (wow, intense talking scenes, and the most that Little John has ever said), Robin Hood: "We Are Robin Hood!" (I really really didn't expect the ending, and I'm glad I managed to avoid spoilers about it), Ghost Hunters: "Ghostly Bounty Hunter" (nothing in this one but good tales that turned out to be false, and a bat), Destination Truth: "Flying Dinosaur; Sloth Monster" (way more bats than Ghost Hunters had), I also saw ads for Sarah Jane Adventures during both Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth, Supernanny: "Addis Family" (dinnertime problems brought back really bad memories for me), Ace of Cakes: "Duff's Birthday" (meatball cake for the goofball), Torchwood: "Exit Wounds" (whoa. intense. too bad I had one of the major plot points spoiled), and Doctor Who: "Partners in Crime" (I prefer my weight loss program).

Comics this week: Countdown 4 shows me that I clearly missed out on a lot of Mary Marvel storyline, since I haven't got a clue what the deal is with Darkseid. Detective #843 is as good as all the rest of Dini's issues, but there's a bit of continuity I'm not familiar with in this issue that made it a strange read. I also read Action #863, which was a suitable finish to the Legion tale. I found the two-page house ad for Final Crisis at the end of the book to be strange and slightly disappointing.

Justice League Unlimited #44 was a little depressing in the way it humanized another villain, something this series has done before. It's a shame this series is ending. It's probably the best Justice League series ever. I'm not sure what to make of Jonah Hex #30. It was a story told from the wrong angle. I think I liked it. And lastly for this week, PS238 #30 was excellent as usual! The Las Vegas saga gets nicely wrapped up and Tyler starts a new adventure. I love this book.

I also got Holmes from AiT/Planet Lar as a review copy. I think the description on the website says all that really needs to be said, "Omaha Perez' vicious skewering of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic..." I will confess that I've never been a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, I consider him an unsufferable twit. I adored a Doctor Who novel (All-Consuming Fire) that took Holmes into a fantastical setting in which Watson could cope but Holmes could not. This graphic novel goes quite a bit further, making both Watson and Holmes out to be insane drug-addicts. It's very strange, very raunchy, and a bit over the top in places. I can't really recommend it to most folks, but if you dislike Holmes already or like re-imaginings of classic characters, this is one you should check out.

While on the trip to Portland last week, we listened to Doctor Who: Spare Parts from Big Finish productions. This was an intense audio story about the origin of the Cybermen. The story is about the need to survive and the lengths to which people will go simply to continue existing. The story is chilling from start to finish in more than one way. I've listened to a few of the Big Finish audios, and I think this is one of the best.

This week's library movie was Surf's Up. As I somehow collect penguins (or do they collect me?) I tend to like the idea of another penguin movie. The style is very clever, as a documentary about Cody, a penguin surfer wannabe. The story is a bit like Karate Kid with surfing. I would not have enjoyed this movie if it were just a standard surfer movie: the penguins pretty much made it watchable. I really liked the Pen Gu-ins that Chicken Joe befriends. It's a fun little romp.

My library book this week was Dragon Harper by Todd and Anne McCaffrey. I have been a fan of Pern since I was a pre-teen. I've read all the Pern books I could lay hands on, and loved them dearly. Well, most of them. The collaborations between Todd and his mother on Pern have been... not quite a strong. The writing is less finished, like it needs about three more drafts. The action sometimes just jumps, leaving out key moments or transitions. I actually found typos in this one, which doesn't generally happen to me. While I'm certainly interested in this history of Pern, I don't find it nearly as satisfying as the original Pern novels. I'll keep reading these, but Pern is no longer on my "must buy in hardcover!" list.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews

A Sunday Review

TV this week: Star Trek New Voyages/Phase II: "World Enough and Time" (the new actors playing familiar parts take some getting used to, but this is good), Iron Chef America: "Morimoto vs Cole" (surprising ingredient, but not a surprising result), Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "Regional Favorites" (pancakes WAY too big), Robin Hood: "Treasure of the Nation" (Lynda Bellingham! She made this episode), Ghost Hunters: "The Fear Cage" (they were red, not pink), Destination Truth: "Sea Monster; Bat Demon" (Josh is so snarky about the places he goes to I'm surprised he doesn't get beat up), Dinner: Impossible: "Groundhog Daze" (I think Robert deserved this one), Supernanny: "Weinstein Family" (big scary father learns what he looks like to his kids), Ace of Cakes: "Avenue Q Cakes" (I really want to see Avenue Q sometime), and Smallville: "Veritas" (is this series over yet?).

Comics this week:

• Countdown 5 - Another depressing issue, although it pretty much sorts itself out at the end. So, I'm guessing that wasn't the main Earth?
• Green Lantern #29 - Oh no, not Hal Jordan's origin yet again! Well... this is a little different. Promising start.
• JSA Classified #36 - Cats and more cats. I'm not that interested in Wildcat, but this has caught my imagination.
• Spirit #15 - What on Earth does he see in her, anyway?
• Fallen Angel #25 - I keep thinking it will explode into something great, and it keeps not exploding.
• Phantom #22 - The change hasn't been retconned away, so maybe it'll stick around a bit. Maybe. Or perhaps he'll wake up and it was a dream.
• Star Trek: The New Frontier #1 - I read the cover twice, this is issue number one. So why do I feel like I came in at the middle of the story?
• Rogue Angel: Teller of Tales #2 - Ah, the origin story! I think I'd rather have read more about the find in the basement, but this wasn't bad.
• Usagi Yojimbo #110 - A great done-in-one tale! I've missed those. This is one any Usagi fan will probably enjoy.
• Amelia Rules #20 - Amelia was ok, but Apathy Kat was surreal. I'm not sure what I thought of it.

My library book this week was The Search for the Red Dragon by James A. Owen. I read the first book reported on here, and enjoyed it, so I checked out the second. This is more of the same in some ways... lots of literary references and a rippin' plot that pulls you through history and reality. I haven't yet been able to identify all of the characters, but I feel like I'm getting close. This is definitely a series that will reveal more on rereading, so I plan on buying copies of these books once we've got money again. Unfortunately, this book came out this year, so I'm going to have to wait for any more sequels (and I'm thinking there will be at least one more).

A second library book I picked up was The Daily Show and Philosophy edited by Jason Holt. This book is a collection of essays deconstructing the Daily Show from a philosophical viewpoint. Among other topics, the essayists tackle the concept of using fiction to tell the truth, Jon Stewart as a philosopher, critical thinking within the show, how religion is treated in the show, and Truthiness. There's a solid index, footnotes on each essay and biographies of the essayists. It's actually a very good package, although the individual essays vary in quality. Even if you do not watch the show, the essays generally give enough context to understand the concepts. If you are interested in how the media works from a broader view of history, this is a book you may want to check out.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews

A Sunday Review

Comics this week: Best book of the week, month, and year so far is Super Friends #1. I'm now a fan of writer Sholly Fisch (hmm, "fish"?). And this is the first time I've read a comic book and immediately started thinking of children I need to give it to. By contrast, Countdown 6 was terribly depressing, with non-existent people trying to fight the end of the world. Tangent: Superman's Reign #1 was bizarre, but the back-up story helped explain things a little. Good choice, having a back-up story like that.

Justice League of America #19 ties in with Salvation Run, which I haven't read. Funny to see Waller again. Speaking of, Checkmate #24 was incredible. I think that story was built up the right way. I'm a little surprised we didn't get any Aquaman in the various hero scenes, but it was still incredible. And lastly, Witchblade #116 wasn't as good as the last few issues, but was still ok. I think she should've let the Witchblade strangle that dude, though.

I finally got through the latest Fortean Times, which has an awful cover. I hate those paintings. As I've reported elsewhere, I was reading the bit on Arthur C Clarke's opinions of UFOs when I set the magazine down, logged into Twitter, and learned about his death. Very Fortean, and not in a good way. The Vegetable Lambs were interesting, but overall this wasn't the best issue ever.

TV this week: Robin Hood: "Lardner's Ring" (I like the Fool), Iron Chef America: "Flay vs Back" (once again cheering for the challenger... and Popeye), Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "Like Mama Made" (Oh I'm craving some biscuits and gravy... my absolute favorite breakfast ever), Robin Hood: "Walkabout" (nice suspense and humor in this one), Torchwood: "Adrift" (give the poor woman some retcon, Gwen!), Ghost Hunters: "Words From Beyond" (cool library, and the diary find was interesting), Destination Truth: "Wildman; Swamp Dinosaur" (in this episode: Josh eats the strangest things), Supernanny: "McKeever Family" (what an incredibly cowardly and selfish father!), Ace of Cakes: "Police Cars and Wine Bars" (fun snowboarding attempt), Smallville: "Traveler" (Lionel continues to demonstrate his really bad judgement), and Torchwood: "Fragments" (unexpected TW bonus this week... bombs and flashbacks).

I got through a couple of books this week. A Haunted Tour Guide to the Pacific Northwest by Jefferson Davis was a quick read, because I didn't bother to go through most of it page by page. I just flipped through looking for places I've been or intend to go. If I wanted to do an actual tour of haunted places, I'd probably look for a copy of the book. As it is, I thought it was ok, but not very interesting as a book to sit and read. I did, however, enjoy Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from The Atlantic Paranormal Society by Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, and Michael Jan Friedman. The voice of the book was Jason from the TV show. He tells of some of the pre-TV show cases, then goes into detail about a few of the ones that made the show. I thought I'd be bored with it once he got into the stuff I'd already seen on TV, but I found myself interested in reading even the bits I already knew. It was an easy and comfortable read, despite the odd subject matter. I wouldn't recommend this to someone not interested in ghosts, but anyone who has an interest might find this book intriguing.

This week's library movie was Pan's Labyrinth. Wow, what an intense film. I was only partway expecting the ending... it didn't quite take the form I expected. In any case, I'm glad I avoided spoilers for it before seeing it. The violence was a little more graphic than I anticipated, and there were several times I had to look away, which was tough, as I also needed to read the subtitles. I finally figured out how to cover most of the screen while still making the subtitles visible. It was difficult to tell if what Ofelia was experiencing was true, or just her imagination, which may have been the point. Anyway, I highly recommend it, but only if you can stomach some intense moments.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews

A Sunday Review

TV this week: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "Big Breakfast" (I always wonder how Guy can eat as much as he does), Torchwood: "From out of the Rain" (freaky freaky freaky - I hate circuses), Dinner: Impossible: "Santa Fe Struggle" (despite revelations about Robert's resume-padding, I enjoyed this one), Supernanny: "Banjany Family" (cross-dressing 3-year-old and poor snack management), Ghost Hunters: "Two to Tango" (not much of interest), Destination Truth: "Haunted Island: Death Worm" (hilarious! Those islanders put on a show for them), Ace of Cakes: "Celebration Week" (the ear cake was great!), and Smallville: "Hero" (Pete as freak-of-the-week, huh?).

Comics this week: My friend D, who buys some comics through me, decided to get the rest of Countdown, so I'm starting with Countdown 7 and I'm slightly confused. It had high points, though, and I'm curious to see how this whole thing ends. Green Lantern Corps #22 was the typical space adventure that I have no interest in. Wonder Woman #18 still hasn't got my interest. It's well-written, the art is good... I just don't care about the character. JLA Classified #54 had enough Aquaman to satisfy me, and Byrne's artwork wasn't nearly as bad as it's been in the recent past. I really like Tiny Titans #2, but I agree with the commenter who asked, "Who is the audience for this?" It seems a bit too continuity-laden for kids, but way too simple for (most) adults.

I like DMZ, but it sometimes reminds me too brutally of the current political situation. DMZ #29 continues the trend with a reminder of just how difficult it is to bring people who have been at war back together. I've been mostly disappointed in IDW's Lone Ranger, so I wasn't expecting much from Lone Ranger and Tonto #1. But this was great! Ok, it's a depressing story, but it's powerful. I'm glad D bought it. My friend D also bought Rogue Angel: Teller of Tales #1, which was also better than I was expecting. The archeology aspects probably pulled me in the most. I hope he gets the next issue. Doctor Who #2 was considerably better than the first issue artwise. I'm curious to see where the story goes from here, though, particularly the bits with planetary populations vanishing. Serenity: Better Days #1 nice set up. I liked it. "The Hero of Canton... he's real!" Bwah!

An unexpected bonus in the mail this week was the final State Quarters set from the US Mint. This one has Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii. I don't like Oklahoma or Arizona. Oklahoma has flowers and a bird, and I just don't like the composition. Arizona's design tried to do too much, and is cluttered as a result. New Mexico's simple design breaks one of my rules (state outline appears) but is otherwise very nice. The Alaska one is going to irritate Stephen Colbert, as it's got a bear on it. I also like Hawaii's coin. Best of the bunch? I'd go with Alaska. Worst is Arizona.

This week's movie was Justice League: The New Frontier. Not enough Aquaman, but otherwise pretty good. I think it might be a pretty confusing movie if you don't know your DC history. On the other hand, bits of the book that didn't make much sense to me now make perfect sense. I'm looking forward to seeing the extras on the disc.

I also got a Fortean Times mag and a couple of library books, but I haven't had a chance to read them yet. I've been too obsessed over the Aquawiki.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews