Pirate Ducky rants about webcomics with too much plot
 Why is it so many webcomics feel the need to go all plot-driven now and again?
I don't think I'm the only pirate in the seven seas who reads webcomics just for the simple joy of a morning chuckle while consuming my hearty breakfast.
The following are things that will instantly stop me from reading a webcomic, sometimes for weeks at a time, sometimes altogether:
- Time travel and crossover plots (Real Life, knock it off)
- Romantic plots meant to develop a character or characters (Shortpacked! does this way too often)
- The appearance of a new and annoying character (PVP is the worst offender in this category)
- Plots that end up dragging out a one-note joke for waaaay too long (all of the above are offenders)
- Generally, any plots that last for more than three strips.
Rule #1 of webcomics: They should be funny. There are lots of comics out there that manage to be consistently funny without resorting to drama, inserting obnoxious characters, or stretching out one-note jokes over several strips. Rule #2 of webcomics: They should be accessible to everyone, even people reading for the first time. Plots tend to defy both these rules. Therefore, plots in webcomics are evil. Pirate Ducky continues to steadfastly watch over Annie's computer monitor at work. Yarrr! Labels: comics, pirate ducky
CONvergence: Panel goodness
 Just announced are the CONvergence panels! Some of these really look exciting. A few of my favorites (the full and vast list is here):
Make Your Own Voodoo Doll
You know you want to...muah ha ha! We provide most of the material, you provide the nemesis.
Facepainting and Hairbraiding
Get something fun and geeky on your face while getting your hair braided. (Ed. note: Dude, I am SO THERE.)
Women and Gaming
Yes we play them! Why don't the game companies realize that they write for an audience that includes women? There's more out there than Cooking Mama and the Imagine series, after all...
Are You Ready to Rock?
Rhythm-based games like Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Elite Beat Agents, and others have become very popular in the last few years. Is there still room for classics like DDR? Where do you see this trend going in the future and is there any crossover with wanting to learn real-life instruments?
Final Smash!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl was released four months ago. Is it still in your Wii or is it collecting dust? Where is this franchise headed and were any mascots left out? Bring your online friends codes to share!
Is There Anything You'd Like to Pre-Order Today?
GameStop. The bane of many gamers' existence. Why do you keep coming back? Have you taken your business elsewhere or online? With trade-in margins decreasing every year, is the EDGE card worth it? Are there any alternatives or game-swap forums that work?
I Can Has Fluidic Beverage?
Come and share your favorite drinking games. Hopefully you have a room at the hotel and don't have to drive home.
Web Comics
What are some of your favorite web-comics? How long have you been reading them? Share your favorites and discover some new ones.
Previously... in the Whedon-verse
Buffy, Angel, and Firefly have gotten a new lease on life in a comic book medium. Come and discuss the recent Firefly mini-series, Buffy Season Eight, and Angel Season Six.
Drum Jam
Join us for an hour of free-style drumming.
GLBT Comic Characters
Northstar is no longer the only gay in the village. We've got Hulkling, Wiccan, Batwoman, and many others. Discuss your faves and speculate which other characters still need to come out?
Crafty Geek Meet Up
Knit, sew, scrapbook, bead, or just sit and chat about your favorite projects. Learn a little about the local MISFITS crafty club while you're at it! Prop Building
Prop-builder and physical effects artist Christian Colquhoun's projects have included Galaxy Quest, Van Helsing, and Firefly. Come and learn about the art of prop design and construction. Geek Speed Dating
Join in as we put an unique spin on this modern phenomenon. How many three minute dates can you fit into an hour? (Ed. note: I won't be going to this, but I find it amusing it's there.) How to Take Over the World!
Join some super-villain panelists and learn the proper way to take over the world. We'll explain our plan in detail to you and entertain suggestions (but not if you're a tied-up superhero - we're smarter than that!) Puppetry!
From MST3K to the Muppet Show, Farscape to Captain Scarlet, The Dark Crystal to Yoda, there have been a number of series and movies that used puppets as characters. Discuss your favorites and learn about current puppet-related shows. (featuring Trace Beaulieu!) Geek Swap Meet
Bring your old geek items you no longer want and trade for things you do. Sure you'll be filling your old space with new (to you) items, but isn't that half the fun? How to Write a Novel in 10 Steps…
Is it possible to boil down the writing process into ten easy steps or less? Let's find out!
Hogwarts Graduation!
The seventh (and as of this writing) final novel in the Harry Potter saga has been out for about a year, but there is still plenty to talk about! Philip Pullman - The Anti-Narnia
Discuss the "His Dark Materials" trilogy and Lyra's Oxford novella. What are Pullman's plans for "The Book of Dust" and other entries in this universe? Current State of A.I.
How far off is SkyNet? Do we need to start worrying about the Internets taking over? What are some positive advances in artificial intelligence development? Movie Pet-Peeves
Are there any movie cliches that you just can't stand? Things that make you want to leave the theatre or scream in disgust? Come share your movie pet-peeves. MST3K: The Local Legacy
Join first-time CONvergence Guest of Honor Trace Beaulieu as he discusses the local origins of MST3K and his involvement as the diabolical Dr. Forrester and original voice of Crow T. Robot, as well as his work behind the scenes on the show. Smackdown Panel
Cereal Mascot Smackdown - Many will enter but only one will win. Watch out for that Captain Crunch - he's sneaky and vicious and cuts the roof of your mouth! The Match Game
Following the Smackdown panel, join a crazy group as we recreate this 1970's classic gameshow. Please note: the panel will most likely be starting late and running later than normal as well. Killer B's Improv Movie Show
Returning for its second year, the Killer B's Improv Movie Show will give new life to those crappy B-movies of yesteryear. In front of your eyes, our team of experts will create brand-new dialogue (and a whole new Theremin score!) for some of the worst film clips ever placed on celluloid. The catch? They've never seen the movies before! It's a movie and live improv comedy at the same time.Labels: comics, convergence, Joss Whedon, video games
So that "matter of principle" thing...yeah...
Why we're psyched about CONvergence 2008!
- Two words: Peter Mayhew (and an additional acronym and word for those who aren't as geeky as we are: AKA Chewbacca)
- Two full floors of Cabana Room parties each night (Annie's hoping for the return of the Dystopia Party that was so awesome in 2005)
- 99 percent likelihood of multiple Rock Band setups throughout the event (and admittedly, 99 percent likelihood only those who arrive three days early to sign up will actually get to play them)
- Checking out all the cosplayers - like in 2005 when we saw this guy dressed like the prince from Katamari Damacy
- The rooms that run nothing but Buffy and Firefly 24 hours a day
- Getting to chill out in Connie's Space Lounge again...hopefully this time without an obnoxious 10-year-old throwing rubber balls in our faces
- Getting to see our awesome friends (Minnesota) Matt W. and (hopefully) Evan
- Cinema Rex, the big room with the big screen that shows sci-fi movies 24 hours a day
- It's four days long this year, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the con -- that's 33 percent more fun!
- Guests of honor Len Wein (creator of Wolverine) and Marv Wolfman (creator of the New Teen Titans and Blade), who hopefully will participate in a return of the Superhero Smackdown panel
- The possible inclusion of some of our friends from DC and other parts of the country (come on, guys...eh? eh?)
More info about CONvergence can be found here.Labels: comics, convergence, Minneapolis, Minnesota, summer, travel, video games
Bendis?! Jim Lee?!
 On a lark, I toodled over to the Baltimore Comic-Con website, to see if they had any information on this year's event. Much to my surprise, they are listing the following people as guests (who were not guests last year, so I assume this is information for the forthcoming con in September):
Brian Bendis (I assume there should be a "Michael" in the middle there)
Jim Lee
Geoff Johns
Tim Sale
When I saw "Bendis" on the list, I had to scoop my jaw up off the floor. If there were one comic writer I'd ever want to meet, it would be him. He wrote Ultimate Spider-Man, which single-handedly got me back into comics and showed me comic writing could actually be GOOD. He's nothing short of a marvel (ha!) in the industry, a shining beacon in the midst of, let's face it, a lot of crap. Honestly, if I'd never read Ultimate Spidey, I probably would have liked the Spider-Man movies an awful lot better -- Bendis just set the bar way too high. I honestly prefer the short-lived CGI Spidey series (which Bendis produced) to the films.
The other names are interesting, too. Josh hopes to have Lee sign his Batman "Hush" books. Geoff Johns "single-handedly made DC worth reading," Josh tells me. And Tim Sale, who I hadn't heard of before, drew the famed "Batman: The Long Halloween" series Josh enjoyed.
Needless to say, we're excited for this year's con. And it's seven months away!Labels: Baltimore Comic-Con, comics
Losing the Jackpot
I have to thank Marvel Comics. One of my New Year's resolutions was to severely cut back on my comic book purchases. Marvel just made that much easier.
 In last week's issue of "Amazing Spider-Man," Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada finally made good on his pledge to undo the marriage of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. Neither character died or filed for divorce. Instead, the two characters essentially struck a deal with the devil to erase some recent tragedies in exchange for the erasing of their happy marriage. The repercussions of this deal have yet to be fully revealed, but it seems to have rewound Spider-Man continuity about 20 years.
The reaction from readers has been swift and clear: This isn't just a bad idea. This is the worst idea since the abhorrent Clone Saga.
Even the story's author, J. Michael Straczynski, had problems with what was published. He wrote on his own blog that "there's a lot that I don't agree with, and I made this very clear to everybody within shouting distance at Marvel, especially Joe Quesada."
To hear Joe Quesada explain things, you'd think he was boldly orchestrating the redemption of an ailing franchise. He's been adamant that the marriage was a burden to Marvel, artificially aged Peter Parker and made the character inaccessible to younger readers. For more about this, read his manifesto on the subject here.
But do sales figures show the need for such a dramatic change? No. In August, the last issue before the current storyline began, "Amazing Spider-Man" sold 106,485 copies. Compare that to May 2006, when the book sold 95,544 copies, or May 2005, when the book sold 76,143 copies. The book was doing just fine. There was no reason to so fundamentally change the status quo.
Marvel might see a momentary bump in sales, but at what cost? The company has angered and alienated many long-term readers, myself among them. So, again, thank you, Marvel. You just made one of my New Year's resolutions that much easier to keep.Labels: comics
One step forward, two steps back
Like newspapers, comic book companies have long pondered how to make money from their online offerings. I can sympathize with this uphill battle, but the two-step course that Marvel Comics is taking is not the answer.
Last week, to great fanfare, Marvel announced it would place a host of it older comics online for subscribers to view. Access to the content, which includes about 2,500 issues, costs anywhere from $5 to $10 per month, depending on the contract you sign. It was a good step forward, and one that may help curb the download of illegal copies.
But if that move was Marvel's One Step Forward, consider the following to be its Two Steps Back.
 In a far less publicized move made this week, Marvel revealed it would soon halt production of DVD-ROMs that compiled hundreds of issues onto one computer disc. These discs, produced by GIT Corp, are an ideal way to collect older comics without sacrificing a closet.
I understand why Marvel is pulling the reproduction license from GIT Corp, but that doesn't change the fact that I consider this a poor move. While both delivery methods are PC-based, I'd argue the two offerings appeal to different audiences. The thematic DVD-ROMs work best for casual viewers who sought to review the archived adventures of one character (Spider-Man) or team (Fantastic Four). The online service works better for people who seek a greater variety of material, and don't mind losing access to the material once they stop paying the subscription fee.
I implore Marvel to reconsider its decision to let expire its partnership with GIT Corp. I will not use the new subscription service, but the DVD-ROMs are an essential part of my collection. Should their production be halted at year's end, they will be missed.Labels: comics, commercialism
Annie's "Find of the Con": Mail Order Ninja
 My usual Con MO is a bit different from Josh's. He tends to focus on getting sketches, signatures, and buying original comic art from the Big Names, which involves a lot of standing in line and a lot of waiting in general; but I take the strategy of buying up as many independently-published titles as I can to support those artists. Advantages of this strategy include finding unexpectedly great stuff, keeping my budget to a minimum, meeting the actual authors and artists, and not having to wait in line. Ever.
Last year this effort paid off in a big way - I discovered the joy of Love and Capes and have been a subscriber and fan ever since. (Check out their web site - you can even read the first issue online.)
This year, I toured the indies again, and particularly enjoyed talking to the guys behind Sidekicked!, who have nicknamed me "First Fan" because I was the first to buy their new comic last year.
But in addition to indie-touring, I also paid particular attention to those who write and draw comics for kids, which was a special emphasis this year at Baltimore. There was even a whole "kids area" with kid-friendly comic creators, coloring stations and face painting. I checked out some of the comics in that area, and was pleased to grab a free issue of Owly, which has always been a fun comic.
And I discovered my Find of the Con in this area: Mail Order Ninja (a TokyoPop title, if you can believe that).
Mail Order Ninja is every young boy's dream come true. Imagine having an all-powerful ninja do your bidding! Well, little Timmy has one—and the bullies better watch out! Josh and Erich have created a wonderfully humorous and satirical story about friendship, awesomeness, and sweet revenge. This book is hilarious. I read it last night, giggling all the while. I must have volume 2!
Due to my minimalist budget, though, my biggest Con Disappointment was running low on funds before I discovered the plush Chocobos for sale. Yes, I know, I'm too old for stuffed animals, and it would only take up valuable space in our tiny apartment, but it was soooo cute. That particular retailer also had a stuffed Moogle for sale...and, much to my surprise, a plush Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2 (the video game best known for sucking up 200+ hours of my life to date).
One of the best things about Con this year, though, was getting to attend with two friends. Our friend Rob came along, and I also brought my new friend Quinn. It was Quinn's first comic con, which made it even more fun. I got to show her the ropes and help her pick out some good trade paperbacks to check out, now that she's getting back into comics. We had so much fun running around together.
The Con was great, and I particularly appreciated the expansion of the showroom floor - it made for hours of enjoyment. The staff, retailers, and artists put on a great show. I can't wait for next year!Labels: Baltimore Comic-Con, comics
The best things in life are free
There's no challenging the old adage. Truly, the best things in life are free. I submit as Exhibit A an event that occured today: Free Comic Book Day.
This annual day in which comic book shops across the country make available to customers free editions of certain mainstream and niche books is wonderful. Among the free books being handed out this year is an introductory issue of the Justice League of America, a standalone issue of Spider-Man, and even a special issue of Archie.
You can see all of the available books and learn more about the day at the Free Comic Book Day website.
Genius in its simplicity, Free Comic Book Day fosters a unique sense of community in stores across the country. It also entices people who have not yet discovered comics -- or who have long since left the comic scene -- to journey inside their local shop. It's the one day of the year when comic shops are bustling, if not bursting at the seams. Our local shop, Alliance Comics, was so crowded that navigating its two floors was somewhat challenging.
But, oh, the haul that Annie and I have to show for our trip is a glorious one! In addition to several Free Comic Book Day issues, I also grabbed a fistfull of free G.I. Joe and Transformers comics while she scooped up some Witchblade issues and several packs of free stationary. We're both looking forward now to kicking back, relaxing and enjoying a good read.
Free is good, my friends. Oh yes. Free is good.Labels: comics
This gave me a laugh on Metro this morning...
Well, it wasn't "Doublemeat Palace" bad, but...
So. I just finished reading the first "Buffy season 8" comic. It was written by Joss Whedon...But it looks and reads like mediocre fanfic.
Sure, it's got potential. In particular, the storyline that will spin off the cliffhanger ending to this issue looks pretty intriguing. But recasting Xander as a carbon copy of Nick Fury, directing teams of slayers from some supernaturally-enhanced military compound? Giving Dawn a very unrealistic, mystical "problem" right off the bat? All I can say is, "Hmm."
There were a few good laughs - like a reference to an infamous season 4 "Angel" episode where an actress who is clearly NOT Sarah Michelle Gellar stands in for Buffy.
But on the whole, the art was lousy (where does Dark Horse FIND these people?), the storyline and scenarios presented clumsy at best, and the dialogue hit-and-miss. Joss, what happened?
I realize my expectations for this were somewhat high (despite the fact that, going in, I knew it was produced by Dark Horse). But the concept Joss is cooking up is SO out of the realm of believability, even for the Buffyverse, that I'm really skeptical this is going to go anywhere good.
And it kinda makes this week's news about Joss taking the helm of an "Angel season 6" comic seem less than enthralling.
Sigh.Labels: comics
Today's rant is brought to you by Dark Horse Comics
Like most Buffy fans, I'm totally psyched for the forthcoming as-yet-untitled "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" comic that will chronicle Joss Whedon's vision for what the 8th season of the show would have looked like (the series ended with season 7). But when I first heard the news, and heard the comic was being published by Dark Horse, I approached it with a certain amount of trepidation, having read several Dark Horse Buffy comics before. Let's just say the writing is hit-and-miss, and the art, well, even when the art is good, chances are the characters do not resemble their TV likenesses. At all. In one issue I couldn't tell who was supposed to be Xander and who was supposed to be Oz. And those two aren't exactly twins, folks.
But I held out a modicum of hope for the season 8 series, as it was so greatly anticipated. I thought, surely Dark Horse will get an artist who can actually draw the characters as they appeared on TV, and not simply draw one male and one female character and slightly change their hair for each individual character.
Sigh. But then I saw the latest art from the book. This is supposed to be Buffy. Folks, Buffy looks like this. She does not look like "comic book female protoype #1."
I know there are artists out there who can accurately draw people who exist in real life. Take a look at the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" comics. And some of the Buffy comics in the past were drawn quite well, and quite accurately. The covers were generally dead-on accurate. So why, why doesn't Dark Horse employ the artists who can do this for the rest of the book?
That's my rant for today. Rest assured, like any good fangirl, I will still be buying this comic when it comes out. But I really hope that one piece of art isn't representative of the rest of the book.Labels: Buffy, comics
A new low in the "extreme everything" trend
 And I thought Hy-Vee selling Extreme Muffins was bad...
This morning I needed some milk to make (ironically) some muffins, so I ran to the Einstein Bagel place near our house to buy some. What I purchased is pictured on the left.
You'll note this milk contains "calcium to the extreme."
However, "extreme calcium" is apparently loosely defined. You'll see that it actually contains 30% of your USRDA per serving.
 Haven't marketing execs figured out that the "extreme" craze is long since over? I understand the need to market milk to a generation that's taken to subsisting on sugary, carbonated beverages, but even your average 5-year-old would laugh at this nonsense.
On the bright side, I think this gives Bob Lipski some fodder for a Rocketman gag in Uptown Girl...
(Aw, OK, I admit it - this post was really just a subversive way to get you all to visit the web sites of my favorite indie comic producers!)Labels: comics, culture, extreme
DC Moment of the Week
The Library of Congress has everything. Seriously. It even has roundtable discussions of politics in comics.
Today's event, which I watched, was part a weekend celebration of comics as an art form. Among those participating in the discussion was Dennis O'Neil, author of the first politically minded mainstream comic book: "Green Lantern/Green Arrow." His landmark issues, which tackled everything from racism to political corruption, are still cited 30 years later as one of the most important steps toward maturing the medium.
Also in attendance was Phil Jimenez, an openly gay man who's best known as the artist of the recent "Infinite Crisis." He also writes and draws "Otherworld," a politically charged series that pits religious tradition against industrial evolution.
Their talk was informative and enlightening. O'Neil talked about how he had free reign on "Green Lantern/Green Arrow" because the book was on the verge of being cancelled. His work, it turned out, helped saved the series.
Jimenez talked about the recent emergence of gay issues in comics. He said the introduction of a lesbian Batwoman character is an example of how DC Comics is trying to diversify its heroic roster. He also said a "Green Arrow" comic that earlier this year showed the title character supporting gay marriage was an overdue and welcome step forward.
Of course, many other topics were addressed during the 90-minute discussion. I can't list them all, but suffice to say the dialogue was interesting and intelligent. It was the kind of event you'd only find in D.C. -- and that's what made this my D.C. Moment of the Week.Labels: comics, Washington
Con-sider: How much is too much?
One of the big attractions at comic book conventions are the creators -- the writers, artists and editors responsible for assembling your favorite books.
It's fun to meet these people, because they're often nice, personable folks who are genuinely happy to meet a fan. These encounters are also fun because they give collectors an opportunity to get a signature across their favorite issues. But this fun can -- and often is -- all too easily ruined by some truly inconsiderate people.
The first thing I did Saturday inside Baltimore Comic Con was get in line for the signature of writer Kurt Busiek. (For those who don't know, he's the author of my all-time favorite comic book tale, "Marvels." It's a beautiful story, and one that belongs on every bookshelf.) I was the sixth or seventh person in line, so I thought I'd quickly meet Kurt.
Alas, no.
I had to wait an unreasonably long time because the man at the front of the line had literally dozens of comic books he wanted signed. I lost count of how many comics this guy presented to Kurt for a signature, but there were easily 30 issues. A more accurate count might have totaled 40, 50 or more. I never could determine whether this guy was just an overzealous fan, or a retailer trying to increase the value of his wares.
Regardless, this inconsiderate behavior begs a question of etiquette: How much is too much?
There comes a point where someone must interject to stop these overbearing fans from ruining the experience of others. I understand why creators would be reluctant to impose limits, as that might sour their reputation among fans. And I understand why other convention attendants would be reluctant to speak up, as that might trigger a confrontation.
So who can best defuse these situations? The convention organizers. In my opinion, it's the responsibility of those who host these events to limit the number of issues that can be signed at any one time. (Let's say you have 14 issues you want signed, but the limit is 10. By my theory, you can wait in line, get 10 issues signed, go back to the end of the line, politely wait for your turn again, and then get those remaining four issues signed. Don't like it? Leave those last four issues at home.) Convention organizers, I believe, are also in the best position to enforce such restrictions. If you put up a fuss, your entrance pass is revoked.
Maybe I'm asking for too much. But speaking as someone who waited an artificially long time for Kurt Busiek -- and as someone who gave up on waiting for superstar artist Michael Turner -- I think such a policy would greatly improve the convention experience.Labels: comics
"And Now...the Con-clusion"
(And for the record, that bad pun was courtesy of Annie. Shocking!)
 Day 2 of Baltimore was a success. One point we forgot to mention from Day 1 was Josh's acquisition of a really awesome inked sketch of Dr. Doom from Mike Wieringo, Josh's favorite Fantastic Four artist. And today, we successfully met Mark Waid and had him sign two of Josh's Fantastic Four books. Josh got to tell him that his run writing Fantastic Four brought him back into comics, after the Clone Saga destroyed his interest in comics during the mid-'90s. And for the record, Mark Waid is a really nice guy.
Also today, we bought some really funky art for our home. Check out these nice
artistic renderings of "Batguy" and "Batgal," as well as some other well-known "fantastic" superheroes and villains, such as "The Quizzler" and "Tick-Man" and "The Ghost Who Lives in Space."
Josh also scored some rare HeroClix figures for a good price. His efforts to buy a few old comics from Marvel's defunct 2099 line were foiled, though, because the vendors only offered the issues as part of expensive "complete run" packages. Silly vendors.
Overall, Baltimore Comic Con was an enjoyable experience. It was much larger than the conventions in our native Minnesota, but nowhere near as large (or foreboding) as the big conventions in San Diego or Chicago. Josh will opine more about Baltimore Comic Con later in the week, but suffice to say that we gave it two thumbs up.Labels: comics
As Shatner would say, "CONNNNNNNNN!"
We just got back from Day 1 of Baltimore Comic Con. To say the least, it was an adventure (as you can tell from the earlier post today). The fire alarm went off early on in the day, causing the Con to be evacuated (much to the merchants' shagrin, as they had to leave their merchandise unattended).
Nerds, geeks, and dorks alike stood awkwardly outside for around a half hour. Josh had to relinquish his spot halfway through the line to get Mark Waid to sign a couple of his comics in order to evacuate.
Sigh. Unfortunately, we were stuck standing next to these guys.
Here come the fire trucks...
Word on the street was that someone tossed a cigarette in a trash can, which caused the whole mess. But we didn't get to return to the Con floor until noon - which is when Mark Waid was due to start a panel, so Josh lost his place in line. When he returned later in the day, he stood in line for 20 minutes and then was informed Mark had left for the day. So we're hoping Mark will return tomorrow. While Josh attended panels and stood in lines for autographs and sketches, Annie talked to some very cool small press folks and purchased many of their wares. AND Annie got to fulfill a very long-held dream and finally met Scott Kurtz and had him sign her PVP books. So, all in all, a great day was had by all, and now for a good night's sleep and another full day at Con tomorrow! Labels: comics
Con... On... Fire!
This just in:
Baltimore Comic Con was disrupted at around 11:10 a.m. Sept. 9 by fire alarm in the Baltimore Convention Center. There was no immediate word as to whether the alarm was legitimate.
Crowds initially refused to acknowledge the alarm, with attendants, artists and dealers remaining in place. It was only after a announcement was made that people inside the building were under legal obligation to exit that movement began.
Multiple fire trucks responded at around 11:30 a.m.
UPDATE: All clear given at 11:40 a.m.Labels: comics
"Because I guess Dictionary.com was down or something..."
More to read
Josh says:
As a supplemental to the recommendations Annie made yesterday, here are some graphic novels worth reading...
1. Marvels is the best graphic novel I've ever read. It's about the earliest days of the Marvel universe, as seen from the eyes of an aged newspaper photographer. He's fascinated with the likes of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four -- just as you will be with this incredible tale.
2. 1602, written by stellar novelist Neil Gaiman, shows what the Marvel universe would have been like had the X-Men and other contemporary heroes appeared in early 17th century England. It's a beautiful tale full of adventure and wonder.
3. Marvel Zombies is my final Marvel tip. This is a blind recommendation, as I haven't yet read the book, but the story is an amazing one. Not for the faint of heart, this gory tale shows what happens when super-heroes become super-zombies.
4. The World's Greatest Super Heroes, from DC Comics, is a stellar book worthy of its pompus title. Rather than battle alien invaders or criminal masterminds, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman combat more realistic ills, such as hunger and dispair.
5. Batman: The Long Halloween is a fantastic story that emphasizes Batman's detective skills. A killer haunts Gotham City, striking first on Halloween and then on each ensuing holiday. How long will it take Batman to find and stop the mysterious killer?
6. Kingdom Come is similar to Marvels in that it's a bookend tale. But while Marvels focused on beginnings, Kingdom Come is about endings. The DC Comics heroes must find a way to halt armageddon in this thoughtful story about power and responsibility.
So there you have it. Enjoy.Labels: books, comics
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Why is it so many webcomics feel the need to go all plot-driven now and again?
