And While You're Waiting For Sunday's Double Feature, Check Out The Latest Blog Entry From The Shoppe's Daryll B!

Good Day Once Again Blog Readers! On the eve of The Dark Knight Rises premiere, I am here to give you quick hits and thoughts from comic/sci-fi stories around the web over the last week to 10 days: -For those interested before going to see the film, Newsarama gives a pretty good review of the film that is pretty spoiler free:

http://www.newsarama.com/film/dark-knight-rises-review.html

I am on record on The Comic Shoppe for saying that this could supplant Avengers in terms of box office and critical acclaim... however that 2hr 40min run time will prevent casual fans from seeing it multiple times, making optimal revenue intake harder.

-Cue to my favorite news from San Diego Comic-Con: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/16/strangers-in-paradise-prose/

I'm getting 2 of my favorite comic book ladies, Francine and Katchoo, back in novel form ALONG with David? GOD YES! Thank You Terry Moore! By the way, if you haven't been reading Rachel Rising from him, you are missing out. Creepy as all hell and Moore has perfected the "pulling the rug out from under you" system for his readers who think they know what's coming next.... -I seem to remember AfroNerd, Captain Kirk, Blaque Ronin, Steve, Big Sexy, and Myself having this type of roundtable discussion about superhero movies and the comics they sprung from:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/17/thought-bubble-2-movie-success-and-comic-sales/

I STILL maintain that the industry lost out on getting a new generation hooked on reading the books by not properly advertising in front of the last couple of Hollywood Supe Blockbusters... -No matter how much Disney/Marvel try to clean this up:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/17/marvel-animation-comic-con-sdcc-2012-jeph-loeb-avengers-assemble/

...I still want to throttle someone. Avengers Assemble better not suck.... For the love of... -Augie DeBlieck Jr gives his noteworthy SDCC round up over at ComicBookResources:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39888

I have to agree with him and other writers. We all looked for big news from Marvel and DC book wise and Image came in and took over the show. All those top notch creators affliated with the company while doing their own creations? Reminds me of Image's original formation in the 90's.

-Anthony Mackie. The Falcon. Captain America: The Winter Soldier. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39873 I cannot jump for joy over this psuedo news enough. Now if someone in Marvel's Movie Division can get me Kerry Washington as Storm...?

-Speaking of Marvel Movies: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/07/16/cci-watch-thomas-jane-star-in-brutal-punisher-fan-film/ Thomas Jane is a BADA$$! -Hard week for me, saying goodbye to one of my favorite shows:

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/07/16/why-eureka-will-be-missed/

Hard to disagree with anything Graeme McMillian says about the show and feelings here. I know I am getting back Warehouse 13 and Alphas to entertain me over the Summer but the sense of family, science, darkness, and comedy from Eureka will be missed. Well that and Salli Richardson Whitfield, Erica Serra, and Felicia Day. Cue ice water shower pause here.... -*dripping wet* My link blog continues with this (possibly) happening over SDCC: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/07/17/that-infamous-batwoman-portfolio-review/

Whether or not the story is factual, I know a couple of artists who have attended cons with their drawings/portfolios and let me tell you... the responses were not all that different from this one. Like it or not, comics still have the same image problems that they always have had.

-Once again, David Brothers at 4thLetter makes me think hard. First he takes on comic marketing and some of the sensationalism done by commenters/bloggers/writers like yours truly: http://4thletter.net/2012/07/comics-marketing-pet-peeve/

Again, I know I have done this with some books but in all good conscience, I cannot recommend you all to read a book that I personally think isn't good. No matter who's the character, who's writing/drawing it, or by whatever company.... I always try to recommend quality to you folks and as always, I will say in the same breath: "Don't just take my word for it. Go out and try it out for yourself and form your own opinion...". The era of buying just to buy is dead people.... no matter what the sales of AvX might say....

-Then leave it to Mr. Brothers to bring up this story:

http://4thletter.net/2012/07/on-billy-tuccis-blackwater-propaganda-comic/

As an ex-soldier, I must say that I am disgusted by this but I know all too well that there will be a market for a *shudder* Blackwater comic...

Finally, I am stealing a page from Chad Nevett and Mr. Brothers with a quick music video take. One of my things involving music videos is trying to link up video styles from 2 different genres. For example, and probably my best one, are the videos for Theory of a Deadman's So Happy and Kanye West's Flashing Lights. Both tell the tale of an angry girlfriend and the 'rich' boyfriend, at albeit different times. Whereas ToaD's shows the beginning of the conflict, Kanye's shows the eventful end. Similar things in both videos: the car(s) used; the woman's look; and the violent, yet stylish overtones. Everyone I have shown these videos to has seen where I came to form my train of thought(s)... (By the way, extra geek points to "So Happy" for having Smallville's Zatanna, Selinda Swan, as the crazed girlfriend! Wowsa!)

Theory of a Deadman "So Happy" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVsoPU4DhVA

Kanye West "Flashing Lights" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ila-hAUXR5U

The one link I have for you all today has more of a science fiction angle with M83's "Midnight City" and David Guetta's Sia dance anthem "Titanium". Midnight City opens with young kids in an hospital/center displaying telepathic/telekinetic powers. Eventually they bond together and break out on their own, eyes glowing to meet the coming future. Titanium could easily be 5-7 years later with the last kid left, losing control of his powers within a school in which he was hiding. Why? We don't know but it is obvious that the populace around him are now in fear of him and he is being hunted down.

M83 "Midnight City" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aZFcosBTaQ!

David Guetta ft Sia "Titanium" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRfuAukYTKg

I know. It a stretch to connect these videos but isn't that part of the fun of using our imaginations? Creating links to events that might seem impossible but would lead to even more interesting stories if they were to happen... So I guess all that is left to say is enjoy The Dark Knight Rises experience. You know we'll be talking about it on Sunday. Until then readers, Keep Fantasizing!