The most recent issue of Checkmate is the finale of a two part focus on Josephine Tautin, the current Mademoiselle Marie. It is, to be sure, a very interesting story.

In two issues, Rucka and Trautmann have filled in the Mademoiselle Marie legacy very well, in addition to building up a very interesting back story for Tautin, the Black Queen’s Knight. It is all done pretty seamlessly, where you’re not conscious of it TRYING to multi-task within the confines of the story. It plays to Rucka’s apparent strengths: strong female operatives.

But as impressive as this issue was (and the arc overall), I can’t help but wonder if it is the sort of story that helps the longevity of the series. Two issues that focus on a relatively new supporting character, practically to the exclusion of all other characters? Always a risky proposition.
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It is the closest thing to rapid fire that I get when I review four books in a ten minute vlog. So, within this vlog, you get reviews of the most recent Incredible Hercules, Countdown, JLA, and Flash.

With the latest issue, I find myself heaping praise on Brubaker, Fraction, and Aja, once again. If only I could have included the work of Kano and Pulido in the praise, it would have been a perfect book. Still, it easily is my pick of the week.

A fairly recent fan of Jason’s work at Fantagraphics Books (yes, he is a one name artist, like Madonna, Cher, etc), I take a look at his newest offering. I find that expectations may have been set a little too high.

I take a look at the second issue of Brand New Day because, hey, people click on YouTube videos about Spider-Man and I’m a YouTube ratings whore. But I found the issue surprisingly entertaining, even if I still can’t let go of the OMD animosity completely.

There is a certain site I know of that has a critic that LOVES to attack and rip to shreds issues by reading nearly every book that comes out from his LCS in California. When OMD came out, all he said was:

“Something bad got into the Kool Aid at 417 Fifth Avenue this week too.”

Then that site did a five part interview with the EiC, using such softball questions that it should have been called “Pardon the Teabagging”. It felt like things couldn’t have been more intimate if they had been held in a secluded room in a private yacht in San Diego over the summer.

Weeks later, it is finally reviewed somewhere on the site…and by a creator who works at a different company that all responsibility for can be shrugged off.

A site that is THAT far in the pocket of publisher still has people viewing it occasionally? Can’t Believe Readers, I guess. ;) Why Land your browser at a site like that when they don’t even provide a thread to honestly discuss the article?

Update: Not that I doubt the fella, but I’m guessing that unethical book shredder (who posted details about how he was supposed to have edited the book he was reviewing) has started hearing whispers:

Before you ask, Diamond shorted Comics Ink their entire order of “Amazing Spider-Man” #547. No shipment means no sales which means no review. Sorry.

People must be hounding him.

A Democrat…saying that Reagan effected more/better change appealing to what the people wanted than Clinton? With the endorsements of unions, he praises Reagan? Right before a caucus where those unions now have an easier time voting?Any union member who votes for someone who praised the biggest union buster of our times should scald the skin off their hand in the Hobart machine.

Don’t take my word for it…watch Obama:

He’s playing politics worse than a long time Washington politician. Conventional wisdom suggests he’s saying this to appeal to independents and shaky Republicans in California…that it might bring them in to vote for him during their open primary. More “saying whatever it takes to get elected, whether you believe it or not” politics. That’s at least as bad as Hillary or anyone he’s indicated our country needs a CHANGE from.

Funny Kid Isnt Sorry About Huge Party - Watch more free videos

It is hilarious. Watch the reporter try to bend the kid to her will and hope to put him in a crying situation. He’s just too damn cocky and ego-filled to care. He’s definitely a bit of an ass, but the way he makes the reporter eat it? Priceless. :)

In a previous blog, I jokingly made reference to reasons why Obama might be the anti-christ. This was mostly centered around how he seemed to be taking the primary season by storm.

So what happens? He immediately loses in New Hampshire.

There goes the thought that he could be the anti-christ.

Unless…

…he lost it just to throw me off track!!!

Back in 2006, I wrote the following blog about John McCain. I was just starting to think maybe he’s back to being his own man, but after reading this again…I don’t know that I can trust that feeling enough.

Wow. If this doesn’t just crush any hopes I had that there’s anyone on the Republican side that is genuinely trying to help this country. At this point, Senator Specter is the best Republican I can think of off the top of my head…and he’s not without his sizable flaws, too.

From AP Political Writer, Rob Fournier:

Later, the senator outlined his position on the Senate immigration debate, saying tougher border enforcement must be accompanied by guest-worker provisions that give illegal immigrants a legal path toward citizenship.

Murmurs from the crowd turned to booing. “Pay a decent wage!” one audience member shouted. McCain curtly threatened to cut the speech short, which quieted the crowd.

In the speech, McCain also argued that withdrawing U.S. troops prematurely from Iraq would turn terrorists loose on the United States.

That’s when one audience member unleashed the barnyard epithet.

McCain got another laugh when he finished the speech and asked whether anybody had “questions, comments or insults.” One audience member obliged with a pointed question on his immigration plan.

McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.

Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain’s job offer.

“I’ll take it!” one man shouted.

McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. “You can’t do it, my friends.”

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