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Max Landis' New Comic, "Green Valley," Presents a Fantasy-Free Tale of Knights and Redemption
Comic Books
For Vida, that moment was the beginning of happiness, and in that happiness, like some kind of disease, the beginning of her titanic jealousy, which stayed with her forever and finally drove her to her grave. Because one dies of happiness sooner than of misery. (Milorad Pavić, from Landscape Painted With Tea)
After Dark #3 (of 3) by Peter Milligan (writer), Leonardo Manco (artist), Kinsun Loh (painter), Jerry Choo (painter), Sansan Saw (painter), and Clayton Cowles (letterer). $4.99, 47 pgs, FC, Radical Comics.
Milligan's weird little comic comes to an unsatisfying end – given that this was "created" by Antoine Fuqua and Wesley Snipes, presumably so Snipes could play the role of Omar the Bedouin, it's not surprising that it sets up a sequel. Some of Milligan's more interesting tics come out in this book, but basically it's a very by-the-numbers science fiction story, as in this issue the group finds Angel, the woman who presumably will save the world, and page by page, they discover that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't a good idea to find Angel. It's a distressingly depressing comic, with people dying left and right, and the only interesting character, Ana, doesn't get quite enough to do. Manco's art isn't as good as he often is, mainly because he's working in the Radical house style, with slick pencils and digital painting, but at least he doesn't actually "cast" any of the characters with obvious actors (Daniel Craig might be one of the characters, but that's about as far as it goes). It's colored slightly better than most Radical books, but it's still very much in the murky realm that too many of their books inhabit.
When you hire Peter Milligan to write a comic, the best thing to do is let him do his thing. Otherwise, why bother? This constantly feels like Milligan had some interesting ideas but was reined in by the general plot. I mean, heck, I can't imagine Milligan's name is that big a draw – they could have paid me and I could have written a middle-of-the-road science fiction story! So while I'm happy to thank Radical for sending this along to me, it just feels like this is a lot of wasted potential.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Avengers Academy #11 ("Growing Up") by Christos Gage (writer), Tom Raney (penciler), Scott Hanna (inker), Jeromy Cox (colorist), and Joe Caramagna (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Marvel.
You know how comics starring new characters are often confronted by the biggest villains of that company's stable of bad guys and even though it takes the heavy hitters a really long time to defeat them, the new characters always seem to beat them handily? Well, in this issue of Avengers Academy, Korvac shows up and throws the Big-Time Avengers around like chew toys. Oh, Christos Gage – you're going to fall into the trap, aren't you? AREN'T YOU?!?!?!?
Well, no. That's what's keen about this issue. Sure, the kids are going to fight Korvac (tune in next issue!), but the way they're equipped to do so is rather clever, given that the other guest star is Korvac's estranged wife, Carina, who has interesting time-based powers of her own (Spider-Man 2099 makes a freakin' cameo in this issue, for crying out loud). So while this issue is a bit text-heavy – the kids don't know much about Korvac, so Gage allows Carina to spend several pages explaining to them and the audience who exactly he is and what his deal is – it's clever enough that I don't mind too much. Raney gets to have fun showing the Avengers get the stuffing knocked out of them while Carina is explaining, so there's that. I do like how halfway through the book, Carina decides that the coat that's covering her isn't giving her quite enough coverage in the front, so she simply magics up an outfit. I wonder if Raney was busy drawing the issue when he suddenly realized that she came out of Hank's weird dimensional machine completely naked and, even though Quicksilver put a coat on her to cover her breasts, she never closed it all that much, so she was giving the kids a view of her naughty bits (not to mention her butt) while she was talking to them, so he (Raney, that is, since the subject of this sentence is far away by now) simply gave her a costume. That would be pretty funny.
Avengers Academy continues to be a fine comics publication. Gage is doing a nice job with the kids, and I look forward to seeing how he shows them using their "new" powers next issue. That'll be neat.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Casanova: Gula #3 (of 4) ("Fuck Shit Up"/"Some of the Things that Happened to the Murderers and Murdered Among Us") by Matt Fraction (writer), Fábio Moon (artist), Cris Peter (colorist), and Dustin K. Harbin (letterer). $3.99, 38 pgs, FC, Marvel/Icon.
I remember when I first read these two issues, that I was a bit disappointed by the reveal in the second issue after Zephyr carves her way through the moon base killing everyone in her path. I wasn't too disappointed, you understand, just a bit. However, re-reading the issues back-to-back, that disappointment is lessened, partly because I don't have days and weeks and months to stew about it (I can't remember if the second issue was later than a month after the first) but mainly because I know what's going to happen in the final issue(s) of this arc, and also because Fraction's main point in the second issue is that Kaito gives meaning to Ruby's life, and this is contrasted with the casual way Cornelius treats Seychelle's creations – Ruby is just as real as anyone, and Kaito wants to treat her as such, even though they could download her consciousness into another, identical body. Much like Zephyr's seduction and assassination of Suki in the previous issue, Ruby's death shows how Fraction, by taking his time to build this world, has managed to create glorious little emotional moments that are devastating and real, even in the context of this wacky world. It still feels fresh and powerful years later, and I can't wait to re-read the final two issues in one package.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Generation Hope #5 ("The Daddy Issue") by Kieron Gillen (writer), Jamie McKelvie (artist), Matthew Wilson (colorist), and Dave Sharpe (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Marvel.
Ah, Jamie McKelvie. Espin on this book has been good, but McKelvie is wonderful, and I certainly wouldn't mind if he took over the art chores on this book. Man, that would be cool. I was a bit worried when I first opened the book, because even though McKelvie was being colored by Matt Wilson, who worked on Phonogram, Xavier and Magneto looked terrible, and I wonder why Wilson chose to color them that way. But then we get the rest of the book, with McKelvie's crisp lines and Wilson's bright colors, and all is right with the world. Emma's eyebrow is cocked in just the right way when we first see her, Laurie's conflicted face and gripping hands when Hope storms out of the class are perfect, and even though Scott looks like a blank slate when Hope talks to him (deliberate or a misstep by McKelvie?), Hope's facial expressions make up for it. Man, I love McKelvie's art. It pains me to think that he probably made more money on this issue than he did for the 13 issues of Phonogram.
So I've been out of the loop in the X-world for a while, so what's up with Xavier walking around? Is it a simple explanation? I like how Barbara Gordon is perpetually trapped in a wheelchair yet Xavier seems to get new legs every other year or so, which then subsequently get crushed and put him right back into a wheelchair. As a father of a kid in a wheelchair, I'm not sure which is more offensive – that Barbara doesn't take advantage of the vast technology in the DCU to stand the hell up, or that Xavier does take advantage of the vast technology (and, you know, cloning) of the Marvel U. yet is constantly crippled afterward. Actually, I'm not offended by either, because I have far more important things to be offended by, but those are still stupid situations. So what's the deal with Xavier? When did he come back and why he is strolling around?
Oh, Kieron Gillen writes this. I'd write something about it, but he just got married, so he could give two shits about what I say about it. Go congratulate him at his blog!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Morning Glories #8 by Nick Spencer (writer), Joe Eisma (artist), Alex Sollazzo (colorist), and Johnny Lowe (letterer). $2.99, 30 pgs, FC, Image/Shadowline.
For the most part, this is a good comic. Spencer has Hunter ask Casey out on a date, which leads to her setting a time, which leads to us learning that for some mysterious reason, every clock he looks at when he has an important appointment reads 8.13, so he's always late, and he doesn't want to be late for his date. Of course, this being a comic book, you know he will be, but at least he has a good excuse – he gets beaten up and almost killed. Basically, it's another weird issue in a series of weird issues, with several hints about what's going on, intriguing subplots, and mysterious violence. So far, so good. I do hope that Casey, who looks a bit peeved that he missed their date, doesn't hold it against him – he has the bruises to prove he was beaten up!
The one thing that bugs me is Chad. Hunter bumps into Chad in the hallway, and everything is cool. Later, inexplicably, Chad is one of the bullies who beats him up. From the way the issue ends, I very much doubt we'll ever find out why Chad suddenly acted differently, but I'm going to assume it was because someone else was calling the shots, but if Chad is a nice guy, you'd think he'd be a bit more conflicted about beating on Hunter, and if he's not a nice guy, you'd think he'd be slightly more of a dick when Hunter bumps into him. It's odd.
Anyway, while I'm still puzzled why nobody seems to care that people die horribly at this school and that the administration seems to encourage violence, Spencer has done a good job with this book so far, so I can wait for explanations. At least the journey is pretty keen!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Northlanders #38 ("The Siege of Paris Part 2 of 3″) by Brian Wood (writer), Simon Gane (artist), Dave McCaig (colorist), and Travis Lanham (letterer). $2.99, 20 pgs, FC, DC/Vertigo.
Oddly, Northlanders seems to have suffered the most of all the DC books I read from the imposition of the 20-page story. Both chapters of "The Siege of Paris" feel a bit truncated, but I'm not sure if Wood wrote them before the edict came down or not. I imagine that he can write a 20-page story as well as any other kind, so it's weird that both of these issues have felt like there are scenes or pages missing. It's not that what we have is bad, it's just that it feels a bit rushed. Mads, for instance, loses all his men pretty quickly – the siege is taking a while and we see the attacks, but it still feels a bit sudden that all of his men are dead. The way Mads destroys the bridge linking the Paris tower to the mainland is well done (and beautifully drawn by Gane), but it seems like Mads decides to do it on a whim and nobody notices until it's too late, and one man doing that much damage seems odd. Mads himself, who seemed like an angry warrior who loathed Abbo in the first issue of this arc, suddenly seems to be good friends with him. I enjoy this story, because Wood is telling an interesting story and Gane is drawing it very well, but it's a bit off-kilter, it seems, like small bits and pieces have been excised. If it's because of the cut pages, that's fine. If it's something else … well, I suppose I'll have to live with it. Still, the fact that the siege ends with a peace treaty instead of a glorious battle should make the final issue of the arc interesting, because Mads, of course, wants BLOOD!!!!!!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Red Robin #21 ("The Rabbit Hole Part 3: Sinsanity") by Fabian Nicieza (writer), Marcus To (penciler), Ray McCarthy (inker), Guy Major (colorist), and Sal Cipriano (letterer). $2.99, 20 pgs, FC, DC.
Tim's weird journey through the Ünternet comes to an end in this issue, although Nicieza pulls one of those "hand coming out of the grave" endings that shows he's not done with this subplot by any means. Like the other two issues of Red Robin that I've bought, this is a breezy superhero comic, nothing stunning but perfectly solid. It's notable for the presence of four bad guys who happen to be living servers through which the information on the Ünternet flows, because they're fairly humorous dudes. Nicieza manages to get a masturbation joke and an erectile dysfunction joke (see below) into this comic, which are funny because they're not overdone. Tim gets stuck in a Morton's fork, which I always enjoy seeing in superhero books, because it actually shows the world as a bit more messy than the four-color world implies, and To turns in another bouncy, vivid visual script, with a great final panel.
Plus, Jason Bard shows up in this comic. It sounds like he's been in the book since its inception, and since I dig Jason Bard, I'm jazzed to see him here. Yay, Jason Bard!
Red Robin is a perfectly groovy superhero comic. It won't change your life, but it's a pleasant read. I'm skipping the next issue because it's part of a crossover that I have no interest in, but I hope Nicieza and To continue this nice run after that issue!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
The Spider #1 ("Death Siege of the Frankenstein Legion"/"The Faithful" starring Operator 5) by Martin Powell (writer, "Death Siege"), Gary Phillips (writer, "The Faithful"), Pablo Marcos (artist, "Death Siege"), Roberto Castro (artist, "The Faithful"), Jay Piscopo (colorist), and Josh Aitken (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, BWR, Moonstone.
I really want to like Moonstone's comics, because they feature all these old pulp characters (the ones that make Greg Hatcher go weak in the knees), and I like old pulp characters. Usually, however, Moonstone's comics aren't quite up to snuff, because they can't afford to get top talent on books. So while they might strike gold every once in a while with a good story or good art, it's rare those two come together on the same book. The Spider, despite some cool stuff, isn't one of those rare exceptions.
It's not that either story is terrible, it's just that they're not terribly inspired. The main story starring the Spider feels like a continuation of an earlier story, and while it's perfectly easy to figure out, it's kind of an odd way to launch a series (Moonstone has done some other Spider material, so perhaps that leads into this, but they don't put a note anywhere in it, so maybe Powell just dropped us in and trusts us to catch up?). The Spider has to rescue his lady friend Nita, who proves to be somewhat tougher than we might expect, from Frankenstein-monster types, and of course there's a twist as to who's really in control of things. It's not bad, but as it's only 11 pages long, it's kind of hard for Powell to really do much with the characters, so it's hard to care. Marcos does a decent job on the art – some of his poses are a bit awkward, but he has a solid, old-school feel that fits well with both the pulpiness and horror of the proceedings. Phillips gives us a story of Operator 5 infiltrating a white supremacist group in the 1930s, which is also decent. The bad guys easily get the drop on our hero, though, so I wonder how good a secret agent he really is (he, of course, lets a scantily-clad hot woman distract him – will these secret agents never learn that you never trust the woman!!!!!). I'm a bit tired of ministers/priests being white supremacists in popular fiction, and I can't believe a supposedly respectable minister in the 1930s would have long hair like Reverend Mather sports, but that's that, I suppose. There's a subplot with a Marcus Garvey-type character that might be intriguing – we'll have to see. Castro's art is largely inoffensive, and it tells the story fine, so I have no problem with it. The most interesting thing about this comic is that Piscopo colors both stories in a lurid blend of blacks, whites, grays, and reds, giving both of them an almost hellish look. It's visually arresting, and by far the coolest thing in the book. If Matt Wagner's Grendel stuff in these colors didn't influence others, I doubt this will, but I would love to see weirder coloring options like this used on more mainstream books. It really adds a great deal of verve to the artwork.
I pre-ordered the second issue of this series, but I doubt if I'll get any after that. It's not a terrible comic, but it doesn't really grab me. I really do wish these pulp characters' comics would be better, because I want to read about them, man!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5 ("Never the Whole Truth") by Nick Spencer (writer), CAFU (penciller), Ryan Sook (artist/colorist), Bit (inker), Santiago Arcas (colorist), and Steve Wands (letterer). $2.99, 20 pgs, FC, DC.
Chad Nevett is quoted on the cover of this book. I bet he feels pretty damned proud of himself. Do I ever get quoted on the covers of DC books? Of course not. I blame Jonah. Everything is Jonah's fault!!!!!!
So I guess T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents isn't selling particularly well, which is too bad. As this is DC, I imagine it will get more rope than at Marvel, but who knows. It's a shame, because as Chad puts it, the only reason not to buy this is if you hate well-crafted comics. Spencer has done a nice job building the tension throughout the series, and last month's revelation of the traitor is followed up nicely with the story of how the traitor became the traitor. Plus, the fact that Colleen has it well in hand is nice, too, because she doesn't have superpowers, just her brain. She totally outthinks you, man! Plus, we really don't get enough Ryan Sook interior art these days. His five pages are nothing great in terms of wild shit, but man! that dude can draw.
I wonder if the book isn't selling well not only because this is Spencer's "apprentice" period – hot indy creator gets a job at the Big Two, must fail to sell weird quirky book before he gets put on powerhouse comic, builds a following, then can do a different weird quirky book that sells because people know who he is now – but because of the way Spencer writes. He enjoys puzzles and secrets, and while you can get away with that on Morning Glories because nobody cares too much how much it sells (well, I suppose Spencer, Eisma, Sollazzo, and Lowe care, but nobody else does), perhaps when you're writing a superhero comic, people want straightforward superhero comics. It's not that T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is all that complicated, but it's a bit less linear than your usual superhero comic, so maybe it's bothering people. Or maybe the first two issues, which cost $3.99 but were both 30 pages of story (it's cheaper, people!) turned readers off. Who knows. This is still a pretty good comic, and it's worth your while to check out. Of course, I'm sure DC will not get a trade out until issue #12 comes out, because they're so damned slow, but we'll see about that, won't we.
I love to complain, don't I? But not about the comic! The comic is good. That's all we want, right?
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Thunderbolts #155 by Jeff Parker (writer), Kev Walker (artist), Jason Gorder (additional inker), Frank Martin (colorist), and Albert Deschesne (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Marvel.
As the first issue of an arc, this one is a lot of set-up, but Parker and Walker are a good team, so it's an enjoyable issue. Parker spends some time with his "Thunderbolts Beta" team, as the warden and Songbird begin trying out prisoners who might make good members if and when the current members die, but the main part of the issue deals with Dr. Strange, Luke Cage, and Man-Thing heading to the Himalayas to ask Satana to join the team. That's the visually interesting part of the book, as Walker gets to draw giant creatures bursting from the snow and ice and rock creatures and naked chicks (relax – it's a Marvel book, so they all have long hair to cover their parental-frenzy-inducing nipples), and in the end, of course, Satana joins up … but why she does is an interesting twist. Parker pulls a "childish" trick on Satana (her word), but it's all good in the end. Oh, and Satana's outfit is as ridiculous as ever, but whattayagonnado?
I imagine, given the set-up back in the prison, that people will die soon, so we have that to look forward to. Like I wrote, there's a lot of groundwork-laying in this issue, but it's still a pretty cool comic. It's a good place to jump on board!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
The Unwritten #23 ("Leviathan Part 5″) by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (writer and artist), Vince Locke (finisher), Chris Chuckry (colorist), and Todd Klein (letterer). $2.99, 20 pgs, FC, DC/Vertigo.
I honestly don't know what to do with The Unwritten. I've threatened to drop it before, but I stuck around, and while this arc started well, this final issue of the storyline feels like Carey desperately wanted to give people some answers, so he does so, rather ponderously. I get that, but if the book is in any kind of trouble, sales-wise, Carey's written himself into such a deep hole there's no way he can wrap things up quickly (unlike Unknown Soldier, which felt rushed but at least had a resolution), so why bother? This issue has a whiff of that desperation about it, as if Carey knows the book is about to get cancelled and figures he needs to dump a lot of information on us. The book keeps getting solicited, however, so I don't think that's quite true. If it's not, this is just an inelegant way of giving the reader information, with a big old "tell-don't-show" that is so blatant Carey doesn't even let Gross draw much – we just get Tom for a page against a white background. I mean, that's pretty annoying, if you ask me. The explanation is perfectly fine, I guess, but the way Carey got to this point is awkward, and it doesn't fill me with hope for the future.
I don't know – I've been reading the book far longer than most books I don't love, mainly because I still find the idea of jumping through literature fascinating. Carey hasn't done anything terribly noteworthy with that conceit even though some brief instances have been inspired, so I honestly think this is the last straw. I'm really worried I'll buy the next issue even though I don't want to. I may have to ask the proprietor of my shoppe to rip it from my hands and tell me it's just not working out between us. Could he be that cruel???????
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Warlord of Mars #5 by Arvid Nelson (writer), Lui Antonio (artist), Adriano Lucas (colorist), and Troy Peteri (letterer). $3.99, 23 pgs, FC, Dynamite Entertainment.
Nelson keeps trucking along with Warlord of Mars, and while it's not a great comic, it's an enjoyable one. Nelson is doing a nice job revealing facets of Martian society slowly, through the actions of the characters, so we're learning along with John Carter what to do and what not to do. It's a good way to show how people live on Mars, because it adds tension to the narrative, as Carter never knows if he's going to do or say something that will get him in trouble. He insults Dejah Thoris inadvertently in this issue, shows the Martians how to treat their steeds with kindness, and gets in yet another fight. In between, he speaks to Tars Tarkas and discovers a few things about the rifts in Martian society. Antonio is still just decent on art, but nothing he draws is hard to figure out, so it's serviceable.
This is one of those comics that I personally enjoy but can't really recommend. I suppose if you're really interested in John Carter and his adventures, this is a fun read. For me, it's a decent science fiction story, but I don't know how long I'll be getting it.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
X-Factor #217 ("Deep Scars") by Peter David (writer), Emanuela Lupacchino (penciler), Guillermo Ortego (inker), Matt Milla (colorist), and Cory Petit (letterer). $2.99, 21 pgs, FC, Marvel.
Ugh. So right in the middle of this issue, which deals with the three women who killed J. Jonah Jameson's friend the general and now are stalking him, David brings the narrative to a screeching halt when first Monet and then Jameson lectures a bunch of protestors about immigration. It's only four pages long, but it feels like forty, because it drags so very much. Monet, Guido, and Jameson argue for tolerance (funny coming from Jameson, who addresses his hatred of Spider-Man, not very convincingly), the mouth-breathers in the crowd argue that those filthy foreigners are ruining the country, and Jameson wins! Yay! It's really annoying for any number of reasons, and even though I totally agree with David, it's still lousy storytelling. The cardboard villains of the crowd don't really stand a chance against our heroes, simply because David makes sure they're idiots. Now, if you listen to most of the anti-immigrant crowd in a place like, say, Arizona, they often sound like idiots, so I'm not surprised the protestors sound that way, but it still doesn't mean that, story-wise, it's a good narrative to have Jameson stand around and lecture (and according to David on his blog, he took the quotes directly from people featured on FOX News, which doesn't mitigate it at all because he carefully crafts Jameson's responses to make him sound far smarter than the protestors, when in actuality if you took protestors from either side of the political spectrum and put them on the spot they sound fairly dumb because they don't have time to come with stuff very easily when it's extemporaneous). Who is David going to convince? Russell Pearce (Google him) isn't going to read this comic and think, "Hey, I've been wrong all these years, man! Thanks, Peter David!" This is preaching to the choir at its most extreme, and it's completely dumb to have it in this comic book, especially as it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the murder of General Ryan and the attempted murder of Jameson. Maybe it will tie in next issue, but in that case, there's no reason to shut down the narrative for four pages. We get it – cosmopolitan intellectuals are better than troglodytes. Immigration issues … solved!
It's too bad, too, because the rest of the issue is a typically good issue of X-Factor. Felicia Hardy, who for some reason works for the mayor (yes, I'm sure it's explained in the Spider-Man books, but I don't read those, do I?), doesn't like the fact that he hired X-Factor without consulting her, so she gets into her Black Cat costume to keep an eye on him. Jamie, Longshot, Rictor, and Shatterstar visit General Ryan's wife's grave, where Longshot gets a visual impression of the woman who shot Ryan and Shatterstar messes with Rictor's head, first telling him there's a connection between him and Longshot, then, before he can tell Rictor the actual connection, reversing course and telling him it was a joke. (I know the rumor is that Shatterstar is Longshot's kid, but that's still just a rumor, right?) Meanwhile, the first assassin, Ballistique, fails to kill Jameson but seriously wounds Guido, and so the second assassin, Rococo, steps in after beating up Felicia. All clear? With the exception of the four pages in the middle, it's a fun, taut issue, exquisitely drawn by Lupacchino (David has to set up his stories so she gets to draw the arcs with lots of women in them, right?). I can forgive the lecture because it's kind of what you get every so often in a comic book when a writer decides he has something important to say, and it's usually as ham-fisted as this is, but soon enough we get back to the escapist fiction, and all is well in the world. Oh well.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Xombi #1 ("The Ninth Stronghold Part One: Prison of Industry") by John Rozum (writer), Frazer Irving (artist), and Dave Sharpe (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC.
This issue is dedicated to Dwayne McDuffie. I point that out not because he created the character (even though he did), but because David Brothers has pointed out, in two separate posts (here and here, with one million Internet points for referencing A Tribe Called Quest), that DC is planning a "homage" to McDuffie but is not going to donate any of the money to McDuffie's estate or any charity. He gets into the ins and outs of calling something a "homage" rather than a "tribute," but the fact is that this kind of sucks. I stayed out of the McDuffie panegyric cycle mainly because I haven't read enough McDuffie to get a good sense of his writing and what I have read wasn't very good, but he was certainly influential, perhaps not in his writing, but in opening doors for black comic creators, so the fact that DC kept screwing him around when he worked on JLA and continues to screw with him after his death is a bit obnoxious on their part. Would it really kill them to do a series of Milestone one-shots and donate a good chunk of what they make on those books to McDuffie's family or a charity his family chooses? Companies do P.R. shit like that all the time, and take a bath financially for the shot of goodwill it gives them. Oh wait – comic book companies aren't real companies. I tend to forget that occasionally.
Anyway, I can't believe Xombi will last very long. It's a decent enough book, although Rozum is channeling his inner Grant Morrison a bit too much ("an occult organization commanded by oppressive rod puppets papier-mached [sic] out of discarded religious and political tracts" – really?). David Kim, who is infused with nanomachines that keep him young and fit, gets a call from a friend in Brazil who tells him he needs to go to a secret prison under the city of Dakota and make sure a certain prisoner does not escape. He's assisted in this by a bunch of Catholic superheroines – Catholic Girl herself and a bunch of nuns with silly names like Nun of the Above and, well, see below. Of course the prisoner has escaped, and of course creepy things come out of the walls and start attacking them. That's how comics roll, man!
So it's a pleasant enough read, with Irving really nailing the artwork. There's really not much to say about Irving – he has such a distinctive style that you either really love it (like I do) or hate it (like some do). You know exactly what you're going to get with Irving's art, and I, for one, can't get enough of it. He colors his own work, too, which is kind of cool to see, because he does a wonderful job with primary colors – Julian is blue in the São Paulo shadows as the Startling Parade, in vivid yellow, marches by in the sunshine; the lurid pink of the prison as Kim and the nuns investigate; the blues of the snow angels contrasted with Catholic Girl's yellow force field. Irving's linework is always interesting, but when he adds his own colors, the art becomes a thing of awkward beauty.
I say I can't believe this will last very long because neither Rozum nor Irving seems to be a big enough star to sell this, plus I don't know how long it takes Irving to work, so if they need to get a guest artist the script might be in trouble. But it's a pretty keen introductory issue. Buy it just to support Milestone Media, if you choose. It's what Dwayne McDuffie would have wanted!
(I thought I'd get through a review of something Irving drew without mentioning Gutsville, but then I saw on his blog that he actually is still working on it. Huzzah! That would certainly be something if it actually finished, wouldn't it?)
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
One totally Airwolf panel:
Gantz volume 16 by Hiroya Oku (writer/artist). $12.99, 218 pgs, BW, Dark Horse.
Man, this series just keeps getting weirder. I was a bit disappointed with the big death in this issue, because it seemed gratuitous, but using the word "gratuitous" when discussing Gantz seems really, really inappropriate, so let's just move on!
Lewis & Clark by Nick Bertozzi (writer/artist). $16.99, 137 pgs, BW, First Second.
I'm a big fan of Bertozzi, so I'm looking forward to reading this. There's a lot of white space in this book, which makes me curious because I wonder how Bertozzi uses it.
The Vesha Valentine Story by Des Taylor (writer/artist). $12.95, 88 pgs, FC, SLG.
This is billed as a "pin-up story book," and that's what it is, essentially, with a lot of text interspersed among a lot of pin-up drawings of the fictional title character. It does look kind of neat, though, so we'll see.
I'm sure everyone has heard by now that Michael Gough, who played Alfred in the Tim Burton Batman movies (and the two non-Tim Burton Batman movies, but we shan't speak of those), has died at 94. Gough was so old that, technically, he could have been Batman's butler from the moment Alfred debuted in 1943 to the time he died. Gough, I think, is the best Alfred to appear on screen – Michael Caine is a better actor, certainly, but Gough felt more aristocratic than Mr. Micklewhite does, as if he worked hard to overcome a working-class background to be the butler of one of the wealthiest men on the planet. Caine sometimes sounds as if he's going to go cockney on Christian Bale, which would be a bit odd. (Caine turned 78 a few days ago, and I learned some trivia – he's one of only two actors who has been nominated for an Academy Award in every decade from the 1960s to the 2000s. Quick – who's the other one?)
I've been reading Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique LaPierre, which is a fascinating book about India's independence. I find it rather interesting that Gandhi was not a fan of Jawaharlal Nehru's socialist economic vision for India. The Mohatma said a welfare state leads to the people "becoming a herd of sheep, always relying on the shepherd to drive them to good pastures. The shepherd's staff soon turns to iron, and the shepherds turn to wolves." I would LOVE if someone like Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich started quoting Gandhi to support their vision of deregulation and less government intrusion. That would be awesome. Of course, Gandhi was even less of a fan of Western capitalism, preferring instead some form of rudimentary and rickety mercantilism, but Newt wouldn't have to mention that, would he?
I mentioned last week that I got my daughter a Moon Knight action figure, because it's awesome. This week she said something about Moon Knight being a "dance superhero," but I'm not sure what she meant. I'll tell you what, if MK busts a move after he beats up a bad guy in the new Bendis/Maleev series, it will be the greatest comic EVER!!!! This week she decided she needed a girl superhero to hang out with Moon Knight, so when I took her to the comic book store this week, she had her pick. She immediately spotted a Witchblade figure, but I convinced her that an almost-naked Sara Pezzini might not be the best choice. Finally she decided on Rogue, and now her two superheroes are happy … except now she says that she needs a villain for them to fight. The indoctrination continues!!!!! Here's Norah showing off her new action figures:
Even though it's been a long and trying week (it's Spring Break, hence the lateness of this post), my daughters are still awesome.
I don't care much about college basketball and I don't fill out a bracket (I don't work, so I don't interact with enough people for an office pool), I do like it when Penn State makes the tournament, because it's oh so rare. This year they got bounced in an entertaining first game, but what bugged me was that if Penn State isn't around, I want teams from Philadelphia to do well. So of course the Committee matched the Nittany Lions up against … Temple. Sheesh. I guess if Penn State couldn't win, I'm glad a Philly team moved on, but couldn't they have played different teams and both moved on? Dang it.
After a week off, let's return to The Ten Most Recent Songs Played On My iPod (Which Is Always On Shuffle):
1. "Way Down Now" – World Party (1990) "She took us by the hand, hell was the promised land"
2. "Maybellene" – Chuck Berry (1955) "The Cadillac doin' about ninety-five, she's bumper to bumper, rollin' side to side"
3. "Don't Wait That Long" – James (1992) "God made me to her own design; bad planning, too many flaws"
4. "Foxy Lady" – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967) "I'm tired of wasting all my precious time"
5. "Happiness in Slavery" – Nine Inch Nails (1992) "Don't open your eyes you won't like what you see, the blind have been blessed with security"
6. "Sleeping with the Television On" – Billy Joel (1980) "I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more a fool who's not afraid of rejection"
7. "Haunted" – Shane MacGowan and the Popes (with Sinéad O'Connor) (1995) "You were so cool you could have put out Vietnam"
8. "Mr. Roboto" – Styx (1983) "I'm not a robot without emotions, I'm not what you see"
9. "Middle Man" – Living Colour (1988) "Just biding my time, waiting for a sign, to tell me that I'm something special"
10. "Battle Flag" – Lo Fidelity Allstars "featuring" Pigeonhed (1998) "Tell me what is making you bleed"
Finally, a Totally Random Movie Quote!
"You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole."
You might notice I'm in a better mood this week. We're still dealing with some shit here, but it's certainly better than it was! We're probably going to have some strange news to do with our family, which I'll probably share when it becomes final, so won't that be fun? Thanks for letting me rant last week – it felt pretty good. I'll try to keep it to a minimum from now on, though!
Have a nice weekend, everyone!
If Rogue absorbs Moon Knight's new "powers," will she think she's Moon Knight who thinks he's Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America? OR will she think that SHE is Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America?
I'm pretty sure Ionesco wrote a play about this very question.
Any chance of a review on that Lewis & Clark book? I'm interested in picking it up, and would be interested in some comments.
I doubt THUNDER Agents will even make it to #12; but The Unwritten is (I think?) one of Vertigo's better selling titles, so it's fine.
In other news, the spam filter is even eating my comments now, despite the fact that I am signed into the damn blog, you stupid spam filter.
Those students at Morning Glories live in denial and apathy, which is why they're not affected by the gruesome deaths at MG. A theory, anyway.
When do you think Unwritten will be cancelled? Northlanders?
I got the Xombi, 'cuz of Irving. May consider getting the original series. Thought that this was a limited series of 5 issues? BUT I do agree with you on the Gutsville and am hoping to see the remaining 3 issues in this decade. As well as the last 3 issues of War Heroes.
Also, the other nominated-every-decade actor has gotta be Jack Nicholson, right? And your movie quote is too easy; I just watched that one last week.
After reading last week's Vertigo Resurrected: Finals book, I came up with a theory that the kids at Morning Glory Academy are children of people who managed to graduate from Knox State University without dying.
The random movie quote is from The Social Network, which is one of eight movies I saw last year.
"I get that, but if the book is in any kind of trouble, sales-wise"
The reality — which takes all of about 10 seconds to look up — is that The Unwritten is one of the better selling books under Vertigo. In January, Fables of course had the highest sales, but the next ones were American Vampire, I Zombie, and then Unwritten. And Unwritten was almost neck and neck with I Zombie, which had the advantage of being at issue #9 instead of #21. Based on sales trends, by March, Unwritten will have higher monthly sales than I Zombie.
So no, not in danger of cancellation.
Keith: I'm not too far behind my longer reviews, so it shouldn't be too long before I get to Lewis & Clark.
Tom: See below!
SKFK: That's not a bad theory. They're certainly similar schools!
Greg: I didn't really think The Unwritten was in danger of cancellation, but I was running late with this post and really didn't want to look up sales numbers. I COULD forgive the exposition-heavy issue if it were going away, because otherwise, I don't understand why Carey felt the need for the info dump. It makes it more egregious, in my humble opinion.
Man, I love when I get named in the column. Even though I'm frightened of what kind of image it projects of me. Suffice to say, I was interested in that Vesha Valentine book. 13 bucks? Maybe.
And was Moon Bloodgood the one on that one Human Target episode?
Mmm, Black Cat…
I would've picked up the Spider issue if my shop had the Brereton cover, cuz that looked like Alice freakin' Cooper, man!
Are they going to retcon that Moon Knight can take up the Sentry's powers and "boogie" with Rogue, now? You know the big two get all their ideas from your daughter!
While you're probably accurate about Xombi not going to last long, I wonder if it's a self-fulfilling prophecy — internet reviewers saying "this is good/great, which means it won't last long", so then people don't pick it up, so then it doesn't last long…
I wonder if DC will keep Thunder Agents going longer than they normally might now that Spencer is Marvel exclusive. If his contract allows him to keep doing that book, maybe they'd want to keep him on as long as they can just to get what they can out of him. Of course, if they'd been smart, they'd have signed him exclusive themselves…
Robin Williams killing his students is a much better ending to Dead Poets' Society.
I haven't read it yet, but I'm thrilled that Peter David is writing the Black Cat again. He's the one who made her into a decent character after Mantlo and Milgrom made her a clinging crybaby.
She was first shown working for Jameson about a year and a half ago, but it's barely been mentioned since, and it's never been explained, at least not in Amazing Spider-Man. It's like a Claremont subplot.
Peter David had a big discussion about immigration on his blog last year, and I pretty much agree with him on the issue (except I think I'm a bit more extreme), but it does sound from your description that he's just using the story for some clumsy preaching. (And he does tend to caricuturise right-wingers on his blog sometimes.) It seems to me, though, that the topic of immigration law tends to get swept under the rug at Marvel. A lot of Marvel's characters are foreigners living in the US, but nobody ever seems to have to deal with any of the hassles involved. X-Factor alone has Monet, Banshee, Rictor, and Rahne (along with three others from other planets or dimensions, but I'll assume the law doesn't effect them). Don't any of them ever have to deal with hostile immigration authorities? Monet and Rahne presumably came to the US on student visas– how did they avoid deportation when they left school?
Is that how the Green Martians are being drawn? Yikes. Even assuming that this one is much more muscled than the average, that is some very sloppily-designed anatomy. It's been way too long since I read any of the books, but I remember it being mentioned that the lower arms double as legs, so the Green Men can run fast on all fours with the top torso raised centaur-style. Putting the lower arms in the upper armpits just doesn't work.
'Caricaturise'– I actually looked up the spelling while I was writing, and I still got it wrong.
Tim: I would totally see that Ionesco play.
Bill: Yeah, it's Nicholson. It's kind of easy, but puzzling enough for a nifty piece of trivia.
Travis: There's nothing wrong with liking breasts. At least I don't think there is. And yes, Moon Bloodgood guest-starred on Human Target. I don't know about Xombi – I know some people base their buying habits on whether they think something is going to last or not, but I certainly hope that if they like the sound of the comic, they'll try it no matter what. I could be wrong.
Mary: Yeah, I'm basically with David as well, and you're right that several Marvel characters would be perfectly good characters to build a story about immigration around. I wonder why someone doesn't do it. It would certainly be better than what we get in this issue. And the Martian is much bigger than the others, but there's been no evidence that they can run on all fours so far in the series. Dang, that's pretty cool. I wonder why Nelson and Antonio haven't done more with it.
It just feels like that liking breasts might be the ONLY thing people might remember about me.
I also meant to say that hopefully not only will Xombi do well, but Rozum's other cool book (not to say he has ONLY one…), Midnight Mass will get collected. Or continued. Man, that was a cool book. And issue 7, I've actually been ON that street in Salem Mass! The artist got good ref.
Oh, I also wanted to brag that I picked up some back issues at one of my LCSs, and snagged the entire 12 issue run of Camelot 3000 for 9 bucks! Happy dance!
I also forgot: I got Xombi cuz I like that Cranberries song, but now I can't get it out of
Ok, I stop now. Cuz my head really does hurt.
@ Travis Pelkie: There's more to women than their breasts. But for the life of me, I can't figure out what that might be.
No worries, I'm sure people here will remember you as the guy with lots of opinions about comics and other life matters; and the pervy guy who likes women's breasts.
On Xombi chanelling Morrison's Doom Patrol:
That's funny, because that's exactly what I thought when the original Xombi from Milestone came out. So… I guess they're doing it right? (Except, even though I loved Morrison's DP, I didn't buy Xombi way back when either, so maybe not.)
Wow, Greg, 'Battleflag'?!? You've more taste than you look!
ssavoie: That's interesting that it was like that back in the day, too. I guess it's just Xombi's thing!
Blair: Do I look like I have no taste????
"I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more a fool who's not afraid of rejection"
Dear Billy Joel,
You ARE that way. Obviously. You must be, to live your life and write your music.
Is that J Jonah Jameson in that Thunderbolts panel? I know the Hitler mustache is too dated to use anymore, but widening it to that Victorian era extreme looks much worse.
Also Greg, I'm baffled as to why you give T&A cheesecake a pass when its drawn by a woman, as in the Black Cat picture, given that you seem to usually call it out when done by a man.
I think that's Dr Strange. His moustache is usually like that. (But his grey hair should be more on the temples, and not down on the sides.)
T.: Yeah, that's Dr. Strange.
I think I'm fairly consistent in my appreciation of cheesecake. I don't like it when it's obviously done to emphasize tits and ass in ridiculous fashion. Many poses look really fake, as if the artist is simply trying their hardest to show off as much T & A as possible without care as to whether people bend that way. I think I've mentioned that I don't really like Lupacchino drawing Monet, for instance, with her costume almost unzipped, but if I haven't, I should have (it might not have come up). Her Black Cat costume is a bit silly, too, but at least Felicia is posed realistically and all the women in the comic, even Monet, look as if they are proportioned correctly. I get annoyed when costumes are silly (not as much as Kelly does, but still), but I get more annoyed when the women have impossible huge breasts and an impossibly tiny waist and are posed idiotically. If I pick on men for that more than women, I can think of a few reasons – there are far fewer female artists, and female artists who enjoy drawing cheesecake seem to have a better understanding of female proportions and the way bodies bend. But if I'm picking on men rather than women for no good reason, I do hope people call me out on it. Men certainly can draw cheesecake well, but it seems like the ones who do – Adam Hughes springs to mind – don't do interior comic work anymore, so I rarely see their work in the comics I read.
what are moon knight's new powers?
Apparently, in the new Bendis/Maleev series, Moon Knight takes on the personalities of his Avengers teammates. I have no idea how that translates into having their powers, but I'm sure there will be some dumb reason for it!
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Use a combination of these core back exercises to strengthen your lower, upper or middle back areas. Whether you're interested in barbell deadlifts or reverse extensions, we have back strengthening exercises for every level. These exercises are also featured in convenient workout routines that include proper warm-up and cool-down techniques, which greatly reduces the risk of injury.
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You are the only person in charge of you, and if you want something (better health, a more fulfilling job or a more nourishing relationship), you need to take action. Let go of these five habits in order to be the healthiest version of yourself.
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text:
This late, I'm not even sure what to say about Detroit's loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
As I said in the forums, I hate staying up late for a West Coast game only to have the Wings seemingly go to sleep early. Unfotunately, that happened again tonight.
After getting the early lead, it didn't exactly look like the Wings were going to quit, but once again they didn't get the breaks they needed while their opponents did.
The Kings got on the board with a goal that never should have happened. Vishnevski carries the puck the length of the ice, pushes past Kronwall, and bounces the puck in off of Osgood.
Most of the time something happens in that sequence to stop the goal. He gets stopped by Kronwall, or Osgood doesn't give him a gap, or he doesn't get the bounce off of Osgood's padding. None of those came through for the Wings.
The game-winning goal was an attempted pass tipped into the Detroit net by defenseman Danny Markov. How often do we see the Wings score into their own goal? Hardly ever, but it happened tonight.
Detroit put forth an effort that would win on some nights but on nights when all the bounces are going the other way, they have to do more. They didn't and they got the loss.
Hopefully the loss against the sharks is in our rearview mirror, too bad I have to leave for Rhode Island early in the morning otherwise I would be behind the penalty box again!!!
Yeah but the wings stated off fast the other night too...
So far, they're holding out longer than they did in San Jose Wings need to bury some of those chances. Could come back to bite them in the ass later. Playing fairly well defensively though.
Ugh. Great pressure by the Wings but the Kings are the ones to get the goal out of it. Bad break, Ozzie came off the post but it still needed just the right bounce to get through.
Every time I hear Kronwall's name, the Wings are about to score, but then a goal is scored 20 seconds later. I know he is/will be a good scoring defenseman, but it may be hurting them. He is leading the team in shots so far.
Every time I hear Kronwall's name, the Wings are about to score, but then a goal is scored 20 seconds later.
HA! I like that line.They're trying too hard. Forcing passes and all that. We'll see if they snap out of it.
Okay, what the f*ck? Ozzie gets steamrolled and no call!? Meanwhile, Homer looks wrong at a goalie and he's off for two.
The game was killed by poor reffing in the end. The steam roll on Ozzie started it, but the worst was a no-call on a hook on WIlliams getting in the zone (the ref warned the player rather than calling it), then Kopitar draws an equal hook and the Wings get the penalty, kinda sucks
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MCC men win two
The Manhattan Christian College men's basketball team went on the road over the weekend and picked up a pair of wins.
On Friday night, MCC traveled to Ankeny, Iowa, and defeated Faith Baptist Bible College, 86-56. The Crusaders led 49-14 at halftime while forcing Faith into 15 turnovers in the first half. In the second half MCC played all 15 players in different combinations as they held on for the win. Sage Ruis led MCC with 16 points, while Josh Camacho added 11 points and Lonnie Penner and Bryce Birtell chipped in with 10 apiece.
On Saturday, the MCC men went to Moberly, Missouri, and took on the Saints from Central Christian College of the Bible. For the second straight day MCC opened up an early lead, and stretched it out to 47-21 before CCCB closed on a 9-0 run to make the halftime score 47-30.
In the second half MCC was able to stretch the lead out and coast to a 101-58 victory. MCC shot 10 of 24 from the three-point line led by Ruis who finished with 19 points. Thirteen of the 15 MCC players cracked the scoring column.
MCC is now 3-5 overall and 1-0 in Midwest Christian College Conference play. MCC will be off this week before returning to action Nov. 27 at home when they take on Barclay College at 7 p.m.
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May 31, 2013
On May 29, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry students, faculty, staff and invited guests could be found celebrating and showcasing achievements in the areas of research, dental practice and community outreach. During the 13th Annual Clinical Excellence Day and the 15th Annual Pacific Research Day, participants proudly demonstrated professional growth and shared accomplishments.
The event, known overall as "Excellence Day," has grown to become a much-anticipated tradition at the Dugoni School and provides a venue for students to reflect on achievements as the academic year comes to a close. The day finished with a reception and awards presentation in Café Cagnone to celebrate all participants. This year's event and reception was made possible by contributions from Omicron Kappa Upsulon (OKU) and other supporters.
In the clinical portion of Excellence Day, students presented clinical cases on topics such as complex restorative procedures, removable prosthodontics, veneers, implants, orthodontics and more. Numerous patients also volunteered their time to attend the event in support of their student dentist and to display completed treatment in person.
Groups of dental school faculty judges reviewed and evaluated students' cases based on oral and physical presentation, case difficulty, case-based research, preparation and treatment. Several second-year students were given awards. Winning presentations from the graduating class of 2013 will be officially announced during the Alumni/Graduate Banquet to be held on June 14 over graduation weekend.
For the research portion of the day, students and faculty displayed presentations on a variety of topics including oral cancer treatment, orthodontics, cleft lip and palate, and opportunities for collaboration between medical and dental professionals. Research Day also featured its fifth-annual keynote lecture, given by Dr. John Featherstone, dean of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry.
In addition to sharing their research accomplishments with the school community, participating students also competed for prizes, including senior research competition awards and the ADA/Dentsply Award, which enables the student winner to attend the ADA Annual Session's Student Clinician Research Program.
Several committees of faculty members selected the winners of the awards below. Additional award recipients, including winners of the senior research competition, will be announced at the Alumni/Graduate Banquet.
ADA/Dentsply Award [Student Clinicians of the ADA (SCADA) Award]
Deborah Chau, Senait Gebremedhin, Takahiro Chino and Nejat Düzgüneş
"Curing HIV: Targeting lectin-coupled liposomes to the highly mannosylated HIV envelope protein"
Hinman Symposium Award (2)
Jonathan Kim, Lily Kim, Zach Worsley, Katerina Polosukhina and Stefan Highsmith
"Growth recovery of xylitol-inhibited Streptococcus mutans at pH 5 and pH 8"
Jenna Gaw, Michael Yee, Tamer Alpagot and Nejat Düzgüneş
"Treatment of Porphyromonas gingivalis with azithromycin encapsulated in cationic liposomes"
AADR Meeting Award (2)
Zach Worsley, Lily Kim, Jonathan Kim, K. Polosukhina and S. Highsmith
"Recovery kinetics of xylitol-inhibited Streptococcus mutans"
Laura (Hayoung) Kim, Michael Yee, Paulina Skupin-Mrugalska and Nejat Düzgüneş
"Liposomal delivery enhances photodynamic therapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma with Zn- and Al-phthalocyanine used as photosensitizers"
San Francisco Section of the AADR Award
Cory Wood, Shana Vohra, Mirek Tolar, Tarek Abousheta1, Lateefa Al-Kharafi, Shweta Deshmukh and Marie M. Tolarová
"Roles of the TAS2R38 and TAS1R2 taste receptor genes in dental caries status"
Excellence Award (for research)
Nejat Düzgüneş, Aruna Singh, Senait Gebremedhin and Krystyna Konopka
"Non-viral gene delivery to oral squamous cell carcinoma and cervical cancer cells, and suicide gene therapy"
Excellence Award (for review)
Zhanna Konovalenko, Ae Ran Ku, Shelja Bhatia and Angela Laithangbam
"Minimally invasive dentistry"
Excellence Award (3)
Nadim Guirguis, Natalie Yang, HeeSoo Oh and Miroslav Tolar
"Application of mechanical force to PDL stem cells in vitro"
Kenny Liu, Kavitha Ravi, Mirek Tolar, Tarek Abousheta, Walied Touni, Alanoud Alotaibi, Shweta Deshmukh, Lateefa Alkharafi and Marie Tolarova
"Association of TGFβ3 polymorphism rs2300607AT and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate in Philippines"
Lateefa Alkharafi, Miroslav Tolar, Tarek Abousheta, Shweta Deshmukh, Hisham Burezq, Dalal Alhajery, Fatema Alrayes and Marie M. Tolarová
"Orofacial clefts in Kuwait and genotypes of TGFβ3 polymorphism rs2300607 AT: A pilot study"
Excellence Award
Anmol Bhangu and Dorothy Dechant
"Keep calm and chew on: a comparison of dietary adaptations in Indri indri and Loris tardigradus"
*Student presenters are indicated in bold type
View a photo gallery from Excellence Day >>
Category Type: Special Events, Honors and Awards
Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, email@example.com


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A bid has been submitted to help transform Barnsley's Victorian shopping arcade and George Yard and attract more customers.
Barnsley Council has lodged the bid for £100,000 under the second round of the government's Portas Pilot.
It would see the area transformed with improvements aimed at encouraging more independent traders in the area.
If the bid for £100,000 is successful developments will include:
• A new retail space for smaller retailers to share;
• Financial support for new independent traders;
• Weekend and seasonal markets, with stalls for £10;
• Shop-front improvements;
• Reduced rate units for college students.
Coun Linda Burgess is responsible for development and culture. She said it would re-energise The Lanes and George Yard.
"We see this project as fundamental in developing a specialist, independent retail area which will complement the retail offer provided by some of the larger businesses in the central markets and pedestrian precinct areas," she said.
She admitted the arcade had suffered in the recession but added that coupled with an increase in marketing more customers could be attracted.
For reaction, see this week's Chronicle.


text: Dec 26, 2012 00:26 Source: Tagliabue bounty ruling coming Tuesday Source: Tagliabue bounty ruling coming Tuesday FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2006 file photo, Roger Goodell, left, the NFL's chief operating officer, and Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner, pose for photos after Goodell was selected to succeed Tagliabue as the league's new commissioner at an NFL meeting in Northbrook, Ill. The players' union opposes former Commissioner Tagliabue hearing the appeals of the four players suspended in the Saints bounties case. In a statement Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, the NFL Players Association said it will file a motion in U.S. District Court in New Orleans later in the day asking Tagliabue to recuse himself because of a conflict of interest. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) BRETT MARTEL| AP sportswriter Comments äCHAT ONLINE: Join a Saints chat with Advocate sportswriter Sheldon Mickles from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at http://theadvocate.com/sports. Get The Advocate in your inbox Subscribe


text:
New Stock Coverage: Michael Kors Is Absolutely Fabulous for Fashion Week
Justin Sharon
Wall Street ratings agencies set the tone for today's stock market.
1929 chart is currently all the rage
on Wall Street, but it suddenly seems more like 1987, which gave us a one-day drop in the
(INDEXDJX:.DJI) that made the crash 58 years earlier look like a cakewalk. Only twenty-four hours after Janet Yellen, the first Democrat to head the Fed since 1987, testified before Congress,
opened to further relive that awful annum
. As it was, stocks snapped a four-session winning streak amid listless trading activity. Botox owner
(NYSE:AGN), up 0.41% to a historic high, did buck a bad day; no wonder a
perfectly preserved 55-year-old finds herself on the most coveted front cover in "Sports"
(NASDAQ:SPLS) slumped 1.93%, but
read its terrible tape fast enough
and you might not notice.
DaVita HealthCare
(NYSE:DVA), a leader in treating kidney ailments, jumped 3.14% to a fresh best, and Jeff Bezos, who
knows all about those
, watched with horror as his stock slid 3.47% on a
rating reduction
(NASDAQ:FB) hit a fresh best, and on the day Yankee legend
Derek Jeter took to the medium in announcing his retirement
. His first World Series ring came in 1996, when
The Cable Guy
Bronx bombed at the box office.
Life imitates art
, and all that.
It's a frenzied day for corporate earnings announcements, with
Agnico-Eagle Mines
Cliffs Natural Resources
(NYSE:CLF), and
(NYSE:PEP) among a plethora of companies releasing results.
Alcohol Stocks
: Citigroup begins Buy-rated research on
(NYSE:BF.B) but has new Neutrals on both
Constellation Brands
(NYSE:STZ) and
Craft Brew Alliance
(NYSE:IT): IT is assigned an Outperform with Wells Fargo.
lululemon athletica
(NASDAQ:LULU): LULU gets launched with a Buy at Nomura.
Michael Kors
(NYSE:KORS): (Hat tip to the always dressed-to-the-nines duo of
for today's title.) Michael Kors gets a
Gotham Fashion Week
boost from Cantor Fitzgerald, which starts the stock at a bullish Buy. Shares, up 54.85% in the past 12 months, hit the highest level in their history yesterday.
(NYSE:NKE): Nomura has a new Buy on the Dow member.
Ratings Agencies
McGraw Hill Financial
(NYSE:MHFI) and
(NYSE:MCO) are each Market Perform with Wells.
Sempra Energy
(NYSE:SRE): Shares, downgraded elsewhere this morning, are a new Outperform at Wells Fargo.
(NYSE:TIF): Just in time for Valentine's Day, Nomura has a new Buy on the wedding ring king.
(NYSE:WMT): The Dow member is a fresh Buy, also at Nomura.
See also:
Stock Upgrades: Flights May Be Grounded but Children's Place Isn't
Stock Downgrades: Lorillard Goes Up in Smoke
No positions in stocks mentioned.
The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
Copyright 2011 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The World Needs You to Chart a New Course
The MBA in Environmental Sustainability is a concentration in Wilmington University's MBA program. In every sector of the economy, green careers are emerging. Global warming, depletion of non-renewable energy, and the pollution of other natural resources are forcing businesses to examine their environmental impact. With the current unprecedented investments in sustainable business practices, it's time to take action. The WilmU Environmental Sustainability MBA is the first step.
The MBA in Environmental Sustainability concentration has two additional program competencies:
- Demonstrating knowledge of how to strategically align the needs of businesses with environmental needs in order to promote ecological sustainability and,
- Utilizing management skills necessary to meet the complex technological and ethical issues relating to environmental issues both at the domestic and global level.
The 5 courses listed below along with the 7 course MBA core are required for completion of the MBA with a concentration in Environmental Sustainability.
Core Requirements
MBA 6000 Organizational Behavior and Ethical Leadership
MBA 6100 Managerial Accounting
MBA 6300 Quantitative Business Analysis
MBA 6400 Economic and Financial Environment of Business
MBA 7200 Financial Management
MBA 7600 Global Marketing Management
MBA 8800 Business Strategy
Concentration in Environmental Sustainability
MBA 7802 Economic and Financial Analysis of Environmental Issues
MBA 7803 Management Using Sustainable Green Technologies
MBA 7804 Environmental Regulations and Ethical Issues
MBA 7805 Strategic Planning for Sustainable Organizations
MBA 7810 Principles of Environmental Sustainability
Total of core and concentration courses is 12 courses or 36 credits.
WilmU has a lot to offer. Explore other WilmU traditional or online MBA programs.
This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2015-2016 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2015 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.


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Very nice catch at the best moment.
Thanks for watching my new uploads! :)
This are only one of ther first 'explodes'. Will be few more shoots in my uploads in next days.
I was equipped with trippod, but not have good chances to use it because not expected such big popularity and crowded bridge. My light trippod was not enough high to capture over heads, I just used it as ballaste or as counterweight to stabilize image. After every blast crowd scream a loud along (there was many drunk youngsters) and was not easy for stable standing. :D
I had similar problems at the firework of our national holiday. And I was positioned more far away from it. So I made a "summary" of a few of the effects and composed together with PhotoShop --> watch here
Hi Ainars this photo is selected for the Panoramio Election 2007. Good luck! Daniela
Tnx Daniela for promotion this photo amongst Panoramio best photos! :)
Lovely fireworks. Greetings, Avelino
Hello Ainars, a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!
Cheers, Roland
Hi Ainars, I like your Gallery. And some of your Comments are just like the fireworks over Riga,the bring live and humor to your Fotos. You are good. Detlef
To detlef peters: thanks a lot for Your words! I just express what I think about World around me. :)
Photo taken in Āgenskalns, Zemgale Suburb, Riga, Latvia


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* These kits include the components necessary to convert the generator that you have selected. The generator pictures and information displayed on our conversion kit pages are here solely for identification purposes only. The actual generators are not included.
Why Buy Our Kits?
What Tools Do I Need for an Average Installation?
Do you have any questions?
Our FAQ's page can help you learn more about our kits.
Do you want to learn more about our company?
Check our Testimonials page and see what our customers say.
After proper installation, if the engine stalls, the fuel will STOP FLOWING between the Regulator and the adapter. Some engine applications (we are unable to determine which makes/models) might have a disturbance in performance when running your unit on gasoline. If this occurs you can remove the adapter temporarily when using gasoline. This will not hurt your engine. We will not be issuing refunds for this reason.


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South Jersey JBS Freedom Campaign Meetup Message Board › ACTION: Tell YOUR Congressman/Senator to Defund Obamacare!
|Dave G
Group Organizer
Marlton, NJ
CLICK HERE: Contact your representative and senators and urge them to support Senator Lee's proposal to get a continuing resolution that defunds ObamaCare passed by both House and Senate. Contact them by early September because the vote will occur sometime in September
Back in late July Senators Mike Lee and Ted Cruz, and a few other conservative senators started a new initiative to defund ObamaCare with a continuing resolution. Now, a month later, Senator Lee is definitely staying the course and continuing to promote the defunding of ObamaCare.
Since Congress hasn't gotten its annual appropriations bills for fiscal 2014 passed, and since the new fiscal year begins on October 1, it's highly likely that the federal government will be funded for the time being with a continuing resolution, as has become routine in recent years. Senator Lee's idea is to get the House to introduce a continuing resolution that funds the government at the same level as 2013, but with a provision (that's either in the original bill or added by amendment) that completely defunds any spending on ObamaCare in 2014.
If the House would pass such a continuing resolution, then the Senate would have the choice of passing the same bill that would defund ObamaCare, or refuse to pass it and thereby potentially force a government shutdown.
Senator Lee's proposal, as stated in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, was initially supported by 17 senators, but after several establishment Republicans lashed out at Lee's proposal, five senators dropped their support. At about the same time in late July, more than 60 Republicans in the House signed a letter urging Speaker John Boehner "to defund the implementation and enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in any relevant appropriations bill brought to the House floor in the 113th Congress, including any continuing appropriations bill."
Two bills that would defund ObamaCare had already been introduced on July 11. Senator Ted Cruz had introduced S. 1292, "a bill to prohibit the funding of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." It now has 29 cosponsors. Rep. Tom Graves had introduced H.R. 2682, "Defund Obamacare Act of 2013." It now has 138 cosponsors. However, remember that just because one of your congressmen is listed as a cosponsor of one of these bills doesn't mean that he or she supports the "defunding ObamaCare with a continuing resolution" strategy.
The Republican naysayers regarding Lee's proposal falsely characterize it as an attempt to force a government shutdown and maintain that this attempt would harm the Republicans' chances of holding the House and gaining seats in the Senate in 2014. They also point out that there are not enough votes in the House and Senate to make this defunding strategy work anyway.
Lee and others acknowledge that as of now there are not enough votes to make their plan work, but that since ObamaCare is so unpopular and since it will be harder and harder to repeal it later, now is the time to take the defunding proposal to the American people. If a massive grassroots outpouring of support for defunding via a continuing resolution develops, then there just might be enough votes to get a continuing resolution that defunds ObamaCare passed in both House and Senate.
Whether or not this would actually lead to the defunding of ObamaCare, such a grassroots outpouring would prepare the way for a referendum on ObamaCare in the 2014 congressional elections.
Oh yes, President Obama would probably veto such a defunding bill; however, we could leave it to President Obama and Democrat leaders in Congress to calculate the political consequences of a veto at that point.
Edited by Dave G on Sep 4, 2013 10:25 PM
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Salary Search
What Where
Average C++ salaries for job postings in Lexington, MA are 24% higher than average C++ salaries for job postings nationwide.
C++ in Lexington, MA $127,000
You can include this smaller version of your results on a webpage by cutting-and-pasting the code below.
Join discussions in the Forums.


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From 0 ratings
Plant type
Evergreen shrub
Flower colour
Skill level
Ballota is a small genus which includes a few dwarf shrubs or subshrubs, almost border perennials in appearance and originating mainly in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. This species is a neat and attractive foliage plant, evergreen except in cold exposed positions, and a fine choice for hot sunny sites where it forms tidy mounds of ground-cover foliage. The whole plant is woolly, a beautiful greyish white on its younger growth, which is usually encouraged by firm annual pruning. Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer. A hardy shrub, ballota can grow in most soils that are free-draining, but prefers a sunny site, and will tolerate drought. On damp cold sites, mulch with bark over winter. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit.
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ballota
Species: pseudodictamnus
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Flower colour: White
Foliage colour: Grey
Feature: Flowers
Sun exposure: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained/light, Moist, Sandy
Hardiness: Hardy
Skill level: Experienced
Height: 50cm
Spread: 60cm
Time to take cuttings: April to July
Be the first reader to review the Ballota pseudodictamnus False dittany!


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Educational Programs For Your Workplace
At Occupational Health Services, our wellness professionals can offer on-site group presentations to increase awareness and knowledge on a variety of health topics.
These programs vary in length from a half an hour to several hours depending on the employer's specific needs. Topics include but are not limited to: weight loss, heart health, exercise, goal setting, nutrition, and stress management. Call us today to schedule your next informative talk - (970) 810-2680.
Subjects Include (but are not limited to):
Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogen
This one hour educational session is designed to meet the needs of individuals who may encounter an exposure to blood or body fluids. The discussion will cover the diseases spread by blood and body fluids, how to prevent exposures, and what to do if an exposure occurs.
Hepatitis C Screening
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C is one of six forms of hepatitis and is the most serious form. It currently affects over four million Americans. Most people with hepatitis C have no outward signs or symptoms. Others do experience "flu-like" symptoms, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fever, weakness and mild abdominal pain. Less common symptoms are dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes. About 85 percent of all hepatitis C infections develop into chronic (long-term) disease. If left untreated, there is a chance of developing cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Liver failure due to hepatitis C is now the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States. We require that any individual interested in having the Hepatitis C Antibody blood test (Anti-HCV) participate in a brief educational session at the time of the blood draw. Hepatitis C screening results are released to the participant only. Results released to employers will consist of statistics only, even if an employer is guarantor for payment of service.
Herb, Supplements, and Nutrition
Americans spend thousands of dollars on nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals and herbs each year. They also spend thousands of dollars trying to lose weight. Are all these supplements and weight losing diets necessary? At what point are you risking your health? Our Wellness Services registered dietitians can discuss these issues and offer healthy guidelines for purchasing nutritional products and choosing weight loss plans.
Stress Management
Stress affects all of us. This one hour class will address how we can better manage the daily stress we all experience in our busy lives. It will cover what the stress response is, how stress affects the heart, and cover strategies for reducing stress and ideas for de-stressing.
Stretches to assist in the prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other arm, wrist and hand problems
This series includes stretches developed by an orthopedic and hand surgeon who has conducted research on carpal tunnel syndrome. They take little time to complete, and can have a positive impact on upper back and neck muscles. They may also help to decrease tension in the arm, wrist, and hand muscles.
The focus is on teaching basic stretches to help increase body and postural awareness, decrease the risk of injury, and improve employees' comfort level at their workstations.
Studies by NIOSH found that computer workers who take frequent, brief breaks report feeling more calm and relaxed when working, and they have fewer musculoskeletal complaints. In general, employees who took breaks were more productive. Employees who take stretch breaks report feeling both mentally and physically refreshed after stretching.


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RS-18 was last heard from my QTH here in Winston-Salem,NC at approx. half the usual signal strength normally acheived with my 450 ohm ladder-line J-pole antenna at 35 feet. This observation taken during orbit #467 at 00:10z Dec.11,1998. I hope these figures help anyone that maybe trying to narrow down the approx. time of its unltimate failure. 73 de Steve Thompson K5PK email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com ---- Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to firstname.lastname@example.com
AMSAT Home


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511042038282376179.post1450544924475905864..comments2016-06-30T00:47:40.955-04:00Comments on The PFLAG National Blog: Writing Discrimination into the Indiana State ConstitutionPFLAGhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511042038282376179.post-40368717079815632852011-02-09T19:20:47.059-05:002011-02-09T19:20:47.059-05:00Great job Annette! Very concise report on the hyp...Great job Annette! Very concise report on the hypocracy and arrogance displayed by the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee of the Indiana House of Representatives. They came to power in the last election promising to focus on fiscal responsibility and have waisted precious time with their usual fear mongering - a red herrings - and this sop to their reacionary and fearful electoral base. Same ol' same ol'.

A wonder to me is how these people get so ignorant and why they work so hard to stay that way, as if history and God won't judge this as a pretty sad day and not representative humanity's best moments.

Vivian Benge, Pres. INTRAAVivian Benge, Pres. firstname.lastname@example.com