A little food for thought from www.aynrand.org: Why Christmas Should Be More Commercial.

It is at this point where I should state for the record that I do not necessarily subscribe to this particular viewpoint, but facts are facts and I found this interesting just the same.

Tis the season for contests, apparently- over at Progressive Ruin, Mike Sterling is giving away trade collections of the first six Diggle/Brecchia issues of DC's latest Swamp Thing revival. Hie thee to his place to find out how you can win one!

While trying to put that godawful Identity Crisis finale out of my mind, here's what I'm getting Wednesday, per the new Diamond shipping list.

JINGLE BELLE #2
JLA CLASSIFIED #2
LOSERS #19
SLEEPER SEASON TWO #7

Looks like a light stack; I may pick up Solo #2 just to keep the run going because I'm sure I'll be getting #3. I see where Bipolar #5 is out as well; I don't recall seeing copies at my comics shop but if I do I'll be tempted to get that one as well.

ADD's got an interesting list of upcoming graphic novels in 2005. You should go check it out. Really.

Among the many listed, I was most pleased to see that the long-awaited Top 10 GN The 49ers is on the schedule. Bluesman looks interesting, as does Top Shelf's new Owly book (I got the first one Saturday, and I intend to write about it, as part of a LONG post about recent comics I've read, very soon) and, of course, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Vol. 2.

BEST OF THE WEEK

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
What I bought and what I thought, week of December 15!

OCEAN 3
Ellis isn't trying to reinvent the wheel here; it's a straightforward Sci-Fi tale in a somewhat novel setting, with his trademark tersity and some interesting received concepts interspersed between. It is moving slowly, but it's slow in that 2001: A Space Odyssey way rather than any desire to pad for the trade. This time out, we find out more about the other corporate-sponsored crew called "Doors" that's involved in the mystery on Jupiter's moon Europa- they share a collective programmed mind that would be the envy of the Bush cabinet, and the highlight here was the exchange between Nathan Kane and the fellow in charge of the Doors ship (crystal, perhaps?). Best of all, we get another full issue of excellent Chris Sprouse/Karl Story art...Sprouse deserves more recognition and acclaim for his skills than he gets. A

SHAOLIN COWBOY 1
Well, even though my inner Scrooge bristles at paying $3.50 for such a story-light publication, with its one-panel ten-page spread, I still enjoyed what has to be the loopiest comic I've read since The Amazing Screw-On Head. If we've got to have something like this, then at least we get a full issue of that wonderful Geoff Darrow art...it's been too long since The Big Guy came out. Don't know where this is going, if anywhere, and it just may be a well-drawn goof...but I was entertained this time out, and hopefully he won't have the Cowboy scavenging through dumpsters three issues on. A-

DAREDEVIL 68
Another month, another moody, talky, dramatic installment of Daredevil. Fortunately, I'm interested in where Bendis is going with this, and still enjoy his verbosity, so I'm inclined to like. But this arc is really moving at a snail's pace, and I'm getting restless. Hopefully the new White Tiger will bust in next issue, save DD's ass, and we can move on. Artwise, solid as usual from Mr. Maleev, but someone needs to tell him that Daredevil didn't wear his yellow costume when he first faced the Gladiator. A-

POWERS V2 7
Bendis' other book is advancing its plot a bit more rapidly, thank goodness, while juggling the three ongoing plotlines quite deftly. Got a chuckle or two from the Walker-Calista exchange as they were watching the latter's latest escapade as Retro Girl. There were a couple of times where artist Mike Avon Oeming didn't convey the action as clearly as I would have liked, specifically the aforementioned Retro Girl-Magnetic Fields Fucko tilt...but he was otherwise solid as usual. A-

LUCIFER 57
Another title which is taking an inordinate amount of time to get to its point. I can't imagine why anyone who isn't familiar with the previous 56 issues' worth of continuity would want to start buying this now, unless they were prepared to buy all the trades and get caught up. That's not my problem, though- I've been here for a while now and I've invested myself enough by now to still be interested in what happens next. So when I tell you that Lilith, mother of the Lilim, has defeated Lucifer's right-hand person Mazikeen with the aid of some Clive Barker rejects who travel around in an extradimensional sentient house and intend to enlist the Lilim to war on Heaven, which is open for a free-for-all because of God's abdication, and think that the title character is powerless and incapacitated but is actually consolidating his power to combat them with help from the formerly half-angel half mortal now all-godlike Elaine Walker...just nod, smile, and humor me, OK? It's wrapped in a spectacular Mike Kaluta cover, y'know... A-

JUSTICE LEAGUE ELITE 6
Status quo here, too- another pinball-like script with fine characterization and wryly humorous tone by Joe Kelly, excellently illustrated by the Mahnke/Nguyen team. The Elite team is undercover, trying to bust some kind of freaky interdimensional drug dealers or whatnot, and run afoul of the JSA. Of course, since they're in deep cover, the JSA have no idea, and thus we have the conflict. No real surprises, but if you've been following this book there are a couple of interesting revelations about a couple of the cast members. A-

TRIGGER 1
Even though this appears to be derivative of about a half dozen different authors and stories, this still manages to be readable, and writer Jason Hall gets in some not-so-subtle social commentary while he's at it. Besides, what isn't derivative, at least a little bit, these days. I've never been a fan of the art of John Watkiss in the past; he has a sloppy, odd, angular style which reminds me of, oh, Mike Vosburg or Brent Anderson inked by Gerry Talaoc using a paint brush, and it just isn't very pleasing to my eye. But to give him his due, he does a solid job of telling the story here, and made this a lot more interesting, I think, than many artists would have. So while I'm not completely won over, I think I'll continue to pick this up. B+

PLASTIC MAN 13
Plas and Co. get mixed up with the "Book of Ftthpthktksk", a forbidden magical tome of which there are only three known copies and which is presumably responsible for the deaths of two people, thanks to a cultist who is looking for all the copies. Loose, frenetic, frequently funny (most of the good jokes, again, are at the expense of the government and its Patriot Act), but sloppily drawn by Kyle Baker, who needs to be taken aside and reminded, discreetly, that cartoon art looks more satisfying and is easier to read with some sort of defining line, and the darker the better. Baker consistently has color on color, with no definition, and it makes this very difficult to follow sometimes, almost as if a printing plate has been left out or something. B-

IDENTITY CRISIS 7

*SPOILERS*

I've read comics series that started promisingly, then devolved into sludge before they were over. I've read some that got better as the series progressed, and ended satisfactorily. I've read some that were just bad from start to finish. But I can't recall very many that started so promisingly, kept my interest throughout, then completely crashed and burned like this one. For six issues, Brad Meltzer juggled at least three different plotlines, and never really gave us very many concrete clues to the identity, if you will, of Sue Dibny's murderer- which left me (and more than a few other folks) very curious. I was prepared for almost anything, even disappointment, but nothing prepared me for the real thing- a resolution as contrived and as illogical as anything I've ever encountered in any sort of fiction, illustrated or otherwise. So now we're expected to believe that Jean Loring, who, in the last significant addition to the Atom-ic canon, shunned Ray's superheroics, to the point of cheating on him and divorcing him, now wants him back, and wants him back so badly that she concocts a plot by which she steals her ex's super-suit, shrinks down and enters Sue's head, and not-so-accidentally kills her, in order to teach all the spandex guys a lesson and win back her now-desirable-again former spouse? Like Judy Tenuta used to say all the time- "YEAH- THAT COULD HAPPEN!". Then Palmer has her locked away in ARKHAM? Without due process, or anything? The other, non-Sue's murderer related plotlines, like the mindwiping of Batman and Dr Light? Forgettaboutit- not relevant. Unless you consider the Flash's discomfort around Batman a significant character development. The business with Captain Boomerang's son? Oh, we'll see that in the next multi-issue crossover money grab, don't you worry, along with the further tribulations of the Atom as he hides in shame. Since this is now apparently a 7-issue prequel to the next big whatever it completely invalidates and makes everything in it irrelevant, and if it's possible to do a grievous disservice to a fictional character, then the Dibnys (not to mention Ray Palmer and Jean Loring) have been severely wronged, along with all of us who shelled out our twentysomething bucks, thinking we would get a challenging mystery with an equally challenging finale. Ha, how naive we must seem. In all fairness, as with the previous six issues, there are some nice character moments, including Superman with his Ma, Batman at his parent's grave, and the Flash-Green Arrow discussion at the Watchtower. And Rags Morales did a fine job throughout on art- although he occasionally gave us a odd or inappropriate facial expression or three, he still has a dynamic and exciting style, and he seems to have busted his ass on this series. Which makes this total botch job even more of a pity, and don't think I won't remember next time DC foists something like this on us. D+

Here's another contest of a different sort, actually more of a fund drive: Legion of Bloggers Named Dave member Dave Carter over at Yet Another Comics Blog has offered to match donations to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund for first time donators.

It's a worthy cause, and if you read it here, check out Dave C's offer, and donate, I'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I myself have never donated, and probably can't afford $25 what with the holidays here and all that, but I think I could go $10 anyway...

What say we take time now for another round of JOHNNY B'S FEARLESS NFL PIGSKIN PROGNOSTICATIONS!

First, the standard disclaimer: These picks are FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. I'm not betting illegally with these, and NEITHER SHOULD YOU...and I take no responsibility if you lose your house.

OK, today's games:

PITTSBURGH over the NY Giants- Eli Manning continues to thrash about in the deep end.
WASHINGTON over San Fransisco
CAROLINA over Atlanta- This is where I hope I go 15-1 this week...I'll still pull for my guys, but Carolina has everything to play for and have been white-hot lately, and the Falcons have already clinched their division, plus, they've got some injuries to key people.

Sunday:
PHILADELPHIA over Dallas
NY JETS over Seattle
SAN DIEGO over Cleveland
DETROIT over Minnesota (Mike Tice, so long)
BUFFALO over Cincinnati
CHICAGO over Houston
DENVER over Kansas City
ARIZONA over St. Louis
TAMPA BAY over New Orleans
GREEN BAY over Jacksonville
TENNESSEE over Oakland
INDIANAPOLIS over Baltimore
NEW ENGLAND over Miami

Last week: 12-4. Season to date: 129-79, a .620 winning percentage.

Fantasy: My sorry inaugural season in the Cut-Throat Football League has come to an end with a 36-26 loss, leaving me with a record of 5-9, good for last place and (possibly) 1st pick in next year's draft.

Yahoo league: Won 75-58, finished the regular season at 8-6, good for a 4th place tie (12-team league) and a berth in the playoffs.

Johanna's running a contest, the grand prize being the Owly trade, and the runners-up getting mini-comics featuring the cute l'il fella. All you gotta do is email her your version of a cute owl. Whether or not you need to draw it yourself or just send her a pic of what you think is a cute owl is kinda unclear.

Myself, I didn't get Owly; it looks kinda fun, but I don't think my comics shop got a copy in and I haven't been moved to try to order it online. I'll put it in that ever-expanding list of "comics to get...someday" along with Blankets, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, Mother Come Home, and Temporary: Cubes and Ladders (actually, I had my shop order that one for me last Wednesday).

Oh, by the way- click on the cute Owly pic above to visit the website of creator Andy Runton.

If you've got some time to kill, you GOTTA check this site out: CulturePulp: Writings and Comics by M.E. Russell! Words fail me. As usual.

A meme from Jen Contino:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the "coolest" book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

Suddenly all of the other people in the room are exchanging those amused looks again.
CRYPTONOMICON-Neal Stephenson (Yes, I'm trying to read it. Checked it out from the library, but I haven't had any time to read lately...)

I'll say more later when I review this week's comics purchases, but I'd just like to state for the record that believe Identity Crisis 7 is one of the biggest botched conclusions in the history of illustrated fiction. Top five, at least. God, what a mess- it's like Brad Meltzer, who had kept his cards pretty close to his vest for the previous six issues, suddenly decided to hell with it, tossed the cards out the window, and left the game. Doesn't anybody know how to end anything anymore?

DC's put out its March solicits, and like every other Comics blogger worth his or her salt, I'll run down a list of things that hath caught mine eye. First, the weird cover for GREEN ARROW 48, at left, by the incredible James Jean. Talk about pearls and swine (and no, I'm not saying that GA readers are swine)- why in the world is an artist with such a refined and imaginative style doing covers for Green fricking Arrow, for goodness sakes? Typically, though, Jean makes it very memorable- the oddball cowboy robot GA's riding is an old villain from the Batman and the Outsiders days called the (get ready for it) "Duke of Oil" (ouch), and he was pretty forgettable...but Jean gives this hokey character an almost W.W. Denslow look, to my eyes anyway. Will I buy this? Shyeaaah, right.

Moving down the list:

That BATMAN: COVER TO COVER a coffee-table hardcover collection of Batman covers over the years, looks interesting but is too pricey for me. Maybe someday.

Snazzy new B&W Dave Mazzuchelli cover on BATMAN: YEAR ONE DELUXE EDITION HC -- NEW EDITION, which reminds me yet again that right now I don't own a copy of either Batman: Year 1 or The Dark Knight returns since I sold 3/4 of my original collection back in 1987. I've been eyeballing trades of both, so maybe one of these days...

Will someone tell me what happens in BIRDS OF PREY #80? It's supposed to be one of the "most talked-about comics of the year"...but I don't intend to buy it to find out what's going on.

DC COUNTDOWN #1: 80 pages for $1? What the-? I'm not wild about the creators involved, but the inner fanboy in me is intrigued.

DOOM PATROL #10 features the "startling origin of "Grunt". I wonder if Mexican food is involved?

THE HUMAN RACE #1 looks like another slip-between-the-cracks series. At least it's solicited as a 7-issue miniseries.

SEVEN SOLDIERS continues with: GUARDIAN #1, with Cameron Stewart art, always a plus, and SHINING KNIGHT #1 with art by one Simone Bianchi, whose stuff reminds me a bit of a retro cross between John Buscema and Neal Adams...and no, he's not Frank Brunner! I plan to be picking these up, 'cause I'm interested in what I've read about Seven Soldiers.

A title I've been looking forward to for a while now, Jason Pearson and Ed Brubaker's THE RAZOR'S EDGE: REDBIRD #1 (right) is coming out this month.

FINALLY, Paul Pope's 100% TP is set to be released. I flat out loved 100%, but the only issue to come out since I started blogging was the last one, #5, so you've been spared what I'm sure would have been paragraph after paragraph of raving. 100% was one of the best series to come out this decade so far, certainly one of the best things DC's ever published, and if you haven't read it I strongly encourage you to lay down the coin and pick this up. Even with my anorexic bank account, I'm considering getting it for the extras.

I'm not really a fan of Phil Jiminez, but his OTHERWORLD #1 sounds intriguing. I might wait for the trade on this one.

The best thing about the solicit for THE LOSERS #22 is that there will BE a THE LOSERS #22. Same goes for PLASTIC MAN #15.

Finally, I don't buy THE WITCHING anymore, but God love 'er, Tara MacPherson keeps giving us those amazing covers. Heck, I might pick up the trade, if there is one, just to see if it got any better.

Hm...done already. Guess there's just not all that much coming from DC in March that grabs me, with a few exceptions. Ces't la vie, I'm sure they'll do just fine just the same.

Check out this new comic by Jen Wang: Double Happiness Wedding!

Also, while you're checking out stuff, check out the Year-end round table discussion over at Comic Book Galaxy- a group of creators, writers and reviewers hold forth about the best and worst of 2004. and it's mighty interesting. I suppose I'll try to do a best-of list at some point in the next couple of weeks, if I can get the opportunity...

Let's take a quick peek into my future via the Diamond shipping list!

IDENTITY CRISIS #7
JUSTICE LEAGUE ELITE #6
LUCIFER #57
OCEAN #3
PLASTIC MAN #13
DAREDEVIL #68
POWERS V2 7 (my shop didn't get it last week, so it will probably show up this week, I hope)
SHAOLIN COWBOY #1 (If it comes in, and if I remembered to add it to my pull list...)

And that's that!

BEST OF THE WEEK

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
What I bought and what I thought, week of December 8!

100 BULLETS 56
I still think this arc is overextended, necessitated by the inevitable trade collection I suppose, but it's really kicking into high gear now as all the characters (except for poor Gabriel) are drawn closer together and we find out some interesting stuff about Wylie Tymes' past life as a Minuteman, especially his relationship with Agent Shepherd. The most Tarantino-esque chapter yet, and Eduardo Risso is, as always, amazing. A

DEMO 12
Wow, 12 issues already. My, how time flies. Anyway, in this final issue we get two stories- first one featuring poesy by Brian Wood, with Becky Cloonan doing a superb job of bringing out the lyricism in Wood's verse, and featuring that series staple: the by-now requisite vague, unsatisfying ending. Story two features Wood art and Cloonan script, and catches us up with two characters from very early on, and provides closure of, yes, a vaguely unsatisfying sort. DEMO was very much a rollercoaster ride for me- sometimes fascinating, sometimes offputting, but I'm happy I took the trip, if nothing else but to be introduced to Cloonan's art. She wore many hats during these twelve issues, and pulled them all off in smashing fashion nearly every time. So...where do we go from here? This issue: A-. Entire series: B+.

FABLES 32
Bill Willingham continues to advance his plot slowly, showing us how the principals are adjusting to their new roles, setting up what must surely be the next big storyline involving Boy Blue, Bluebeard's missing assets, and the introduction of a new character who seems to be similar in function to Santa Claus is Coming to Town's Winter Warlock and makes a surprising claim. As always, I'm interested in where he's going with all this, enough to overlook the game but unexciting art of Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha. A-

GOTHAM CENTRAL 26
Brubaker takes one more pass at Catwoman, and gets Josie Mac involved as well in part one of what promises to be a pretty good two-issue story. I'm not so fond of the Jason Alexander art (who knew that George Costanza could draw?), which is not terrible but is inked in a fashion that makes regular inker Steven Guadiano look like Terry Austin. Perspective is good, figure drawing fine, staging too...but those black blotches all over everything are just annoying and once again Loughridge's colors make the whole thing even murkier. Nice cover by Mike Lark, who will be missed. B+

B.P.R.D.: THE DEAD 2
Writer John Arcudi will always earn slack from me for Major Bummer, but to be honest I haven't been all that crazy about any of his other subsequent projects, and this is no exception. One misses Mignola's deadpan absurdist humor, Roger the homonculous is once again mis-characterized, and this new zombie Captain guy seems only to have been introduced to be a jerk and give Liz someone to argue with. But, as a longtime Hellboy reader (and I'd imagine newcomers would have trouble with all the unexplained events from previous stories), I am interested in what's going on with Abe Sapiens, the business in the basement of the BPRD HQ with Johann the Ghost Bag, and kinda like the way Arcudi's writing Liz...so I can give this a pass so far. What makes this mini worthwhile, though, is the excellent art of Guy Davis, who's just brilliant these days. B+

ANGELTOWN 2
Another so-so story enlivened by above-average art. This whole thing is reminiscent of one of those straight-to-cable flicks that end up on Cinemax late at night, usually starring Shannon Tweed or Traci Lords or some washed-up male athlete or film star taking whatever he can to prolong his career. Characterization is fine, the mystery is decent if not particularly compelling, dialogue is better than last issue's but still scans awkwardly. I'm still loving Shawn Martinbrough's lively and expressionistic art, which reminds me a little of Jerry Grandenetti (one reason why I think I like it so much)- all full of sharp angles and deep shadows, but I wish he'd been given a better story with more sympathetic coloring. Maybe next time. B-

Not in my holds this week, but I think that may have been store error: Powers V2 7. I'll pick it up next chance I get.

I've been working diligently to complete this article I'm writing (in case Sean is reading this), in between Christmas shopping and decorating and the ULPJ...and haven't had any time, really, to blog. But I did watch tonight's Warren Ellis-scripted Justice League Unlimited eppy tonight, and found it very entertaining and even educational in places. Lotsa cool hero cameos, from Stargirl to Vixen (kinda winced at seeing Sgt. Rock in the background), Batman got a good joke in as he was plummeting to Earth after the big bugs ate his plane...

...and HOLY SHIT, did Wonder Woman put the Atom IN BETWEEN HER BOOBS!?!?! Oh my God, now the Atom can't be the Identity Crisis killer cause he is now officially the COOLEST DC CHARACTER EVER!

And I'll bet Ellis wrote him a quip when that happened that someone edited out...and am I the only one that would like to see Ellis take a crack at the JLA book after Busiek gets done with it?

OK, back to the other thing, which I'll tell you all about as soon as it comes to fruition cause I don't want to count my chickens, as the saying goes. Comics reviews tomorrow or Monday- cause I haven't read all of them yet...

Time once again for the ongoing saga of JOHNNY B'S FEARLESS NFL PIGSKIN PROGNOSTICATIONS!
Not trying to rub it in on you Seahawks fans out there (and I know there are at least two of you)...but in the freebie Yahoo fantasy football league, I had been searching for a 2nd RB to go with Shaun Alexander all season long until Julius Jones' emergence in Dallas. I was able to pick him up from the free agent pool after his Thanksgiving game, and my playoff prospects look a shade rosier now. So I honor him by spotlighting is picture. I still can't stand the Cowboys, but I can root for Jones a little, I suppose!

OK, predictions:

ATLANTA over Oakland- Three weeks ago, this would have been a lead-pipe lock, now the Raiders' offense has come to life, and Atlanta's is like the Cheshire Cat- disappearing when you least expect it. IF they can score, they should win, and I give them a shaky nod at home.

BALTIMORE over the NY Giants- What has happened to the Ravens' defense! Ugh!

BUFFALO over Cleveland- Somebody throw some water on the red-hot Bills.

DALLAS over New Orleans- Go, Julius Jones!

INDIANAPOLIS over Houston- Will Manning set the record? He just might.

JACKSONVILLE over Chicago- I like the Bears, who play tough, but I take the Jag-wires at home.

MINNESOTA over Seattle- Even in the best of times, the 'Hawks don't play well on the road. The disappointment continues for the Seahawk faithful.

NEW ENGLAND over Cincinnati- The Bengals have become an offensive juggernaut, but I think Belichick can slow them down without too much difficulty

DENVER over Miami- Denver needs this worse than the Dolphins do.

PITTSBURGH over the NY Jets- I give the Steelers the nod at home in the best game of the week.

GREEN BAY over Detroit- The Pack will bounce back from last week's embarrassment.

ARIZONA over San Fransisco- I like the Cards at home against a Niners team that's playing out the string.

CAROLINA over St. Louis- Just like Buffalo, Carolina is smokin', and they shouldn't have too much trouble with the underacheiving Rams with Chrystal Chandelier at QB (That's Chris Chandler, for you non-Falcon fans)

SAN DIEGO over Tampa Bay- The Chargers have a chance to help my Falcons out, and while it will be tough, I think they can pull out a close one.

PHILADELPHIA over Washington- The Eagles shouldn't have too much trouble here, even though the Skinnies finally found their offense last Sunday.

TENNESSEE over Kansas City- Pee-yew, what an ugly Monday night game!

Last week: 12-4. Season: 117-75, .609.

Fantasy: Cutthroat Money League: lost 65-14 (ouch). Record- 5-8, tied for 4th in a four team division. Looking good for a high draft pick next year, though!

Yahoo: Won 78-70, record: 7-6, tied for 4th in a 12-team league and clinched a playoff berth.

Just wanted to observe that today is the 24th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon. Yasurakani nemure, John.

Back to the subject of Bob Haney, if I may, the redoubtable Fred Hembeck has posted a nice overview, in his obit for Haney, of a fondly remembered issue of The Brave and the Bold, in which Batman and Sgt. Rock teamed up with...Haney and Aparo! It's the December 6 entry, Fred doesn't do the permalink thing. That issue was right in the middle of the time when my B&B interest was at its peak, and I actually had several letters or one-line team-up suggestions printed in the letters columns of that time. Bangin' 'em out on my old manual typewriter, I was! I wrote a lot of LoC's (as we used to call 'em) on a lot of comics and had a few printed here and there- but Murray Boltinoff, God bless him, was the one person who I could depend to pop me in the lettercol on something resembling a regular basis. In fact, in this issue, I got the entire letter column to myself, thanks to the publisher's statement!

OK, enough reminiscing. Back to work. Sigh.

Time once again for a glimpse into my future via the new Diamond shipping list!

BPRD: THE DEAD #2
100 BULLETS #56
ANGELTOWN #2
FABLES #32
GOTHAM CENTRAL #26
POWERS #7
DEMO #12

And that, as they say, is that! Kinda wish I'd known more about Temporary: Cubes and Ladders, which kinda looks interesting- sort of a less benign Dilbert- but it's due out tomorrow, so it's a wee bit too late to add it to my pull list now...and I strongly doubt my comics shop wil get a rack copy, since it's one of those kind (cf. non-Marvel, DC or Image) of books. Even though there have been reviews posted here and there around the Blogospheriverse, it didn't sink in until today. Oh well, guess it will join the likes of Blankets, Mother Come Home, and Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life in the "books to get...someday..." pile.