BITS AND PIECES
*The new regular season of the NFL debuted last night, and it had all the drama of a hollywood production. The NEW YORK JETS went up against the WASHINGTON REDSKINS, who have four players that the JETS let get away via free agency on their team– being referred to as “JETSKINS” by the press– and all four of these players made contributions to the ‘SKINS defeating the JETS in last nights game. Laveraneus Coles (wide receiver), Chad Morton (return man), Randy Thomas (guard) and John Hall (kicker), were all a little miffed to be lost from their beloved JETS, and they were looking for a little revenge. Coles, especially, felt stung– and he had an amazing game. And the irony of John Hall, the JETS former kicker, making the game-winning field goal in the last seconds, was also pretty sharp. It’s why I love the game– there’s always something dramatic happening on AND off the field.
*If you’re not buying INVINCIBLE by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Bill Crabtree (published by IMAGE COMICS), well– you really should be. It’s a very sharp new superhero book (and well– I STILL love superheroes, I have to admit) that combines some of the more traditional aspects of the long-underwear genre with some wonderful, insightful and often humorous twists. It features the title character’s superpowers kicking in– a legacy from his super powered father– a dad who just happens to still be alive and around to help him deal with them, rather than the usual cliche of the superhero dad being dead, and the kid trying to live up to his memory. It makes for some touching as well as some fine comedic moments at times. Robert Kirkman’s writing is spot on. And the artwork by Cory Walker is brilliant. If I had to describe it in the “hollywood high concept” manner, I’d say it’s a combination of Rob Haynes and Dave Johnson. Very pared down with a fantastic sense of design. And I also love Bill Crabtree’s color palette and his minimal use of shading. It’s just an overall great package. Try it– and I know you’ll like it as much as I do.
*The BALTIMORE COMICON is just a couple of weeks away, and I’m starting to get pretty excited. The last show I was able to attend was the HEROES CONVENTION in Charlotte, NC a few months back. I had to miss out on the SAN DIEGO COMICON again this year, but I’m determined to get there next year. The BALTIMORE show looks like it’s shaping up to be a great one. Lots of really great guests, and I get the feeling that it’s one of those shows that isn’t so huge that you can’t enjoy yourself, but not so small that you get bored. So, I’m hope that as Golidlocks says, it’ll be “… Just right…!”
Mike