Saturday – 14 July 2007
For reasons yet unknown, I was up at 8:15 this morning… after going to be sometime around 3:30. Not that this was a problem, per se, I just wasn’t expecting to be up quite so early.

Last night was apparently Rob the Route Planner (not to be confused with Bob the Builder) night – both Dad and Adam are travelling, and I was acting as remote navigator. Not a problem, especially as I’m kind of used to the role, but it was a little amusing. Adam is traveling a small portion of the route that I took when I moved out here, so I was passingly familiar with some of the things he should look for, but had to consult the Internet and a Rand McNally atlas to fill in some gaps when he got into an area that I didn’t travel. And I neglected to ask him to stop in Metropolis, Illinois to get a picture of the Superman statue. And, I just spoke with Dad; he’s about 10 miles out of Reidsville – he’s stopping in to see Mom and my stepfather and one of my aunts on his way home from West-by-God Virginia. He’s spoken with Adam this morning, who is already underway on the next leg of his trip.

Last night was also Clitorati night. Good turn out… and Acolyte Derek also put in an appearance at coffee. The conversation-to-musical reference generator in my head was turned up to 11. I think that it amused Chris S. to find out just how quickly – and randomly – it worked.

This morning, I watched a “new” episode of Legion of Super-Heroes: “Phantoms.” In it, Clark inadvertently releases a criminal from the Phantom Zone. This results in lots of property damage across New Metropolis as the Legion tries to wrangle him back into the Zone.

I saw Transformers (again) with <lj user=”duckspeaker”> and his… friend and/or co-worker (I think), Terry. Watching robots wantonly blow up lots of property is a great way to start off a Saturday afternoon.

The Best
New addition to the list: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – I Wanna Be Like You (from The Jungle Book).
You can check out a version of it here.

Four-Color Coverage
This week’s take included eleven weeks of Countdown, DC’s latest weekly maxi-series that I had originally intended to skip… until I found out that Karate Kid seems to be featured in it. Which means that it’s a Legion tie-in, even if only tangentially. Which means that I am compelled to buy it. So, that said, let’s get to it:

  • Action Comics #851 – Superman is trapped in the Phantom Zone, while General Zod, Ursa (and a few other Kryptonian villains) are free on Earth. But, just like Ringo Starr, Superman gets by with a little help from his friends. Or just one friend, in this case: Mon-El, who at this point had been in the Zone for about 15 – 20 years… of the 1,000 years that he would wind up being there.
  • All-Star Superman #8 – More adventures on Bizarro World. And Lois discovers Superman’s secret. No, not that he’s Clark Kent (that was Issues #1 and 2… and she didn’t believe him). The secret that his mission to the sun in Issue #1 is killing him.
  • City of Heroes #20 – Final issue. This issue has a big knockdown, drag out fight that lasts for seven pages, establishes a few changes in the CoH/CoV uniferse and alluded to a few things in the upcoming in-game update, Issue 10. There was a little too much exposition in this issue and it felt as though they tried to wrap things up a little too quickly. But, what’re ya gonna do?
  • Countdown #51 – 42 – Something is amiss in the newly reborn DC Multiverse. The Monitors – DC’s answer to Marvel’s Watchers – are back; they who haven’t really been seen since 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths. Now, there are 52 of them – one for each level of the new multiverse. And, at least one of them is on a mission: Eliminate anomalies in the timestream/multiverse – namely, anyone who should be on one Earth, but has migrated to another one.The mysteries don’t end there. Why is Jimmy Olsen suddenly exhibiting superpowers? What’s happening to Mary Marvel? What are the Flash’s Rogues planning? What’s the story behind the Athenian Women’s Help Shelter… and what’s Harleen Quinzel’s angle? Who’s killing the New Gods? What is Monarch planning for the new multiverse?One thing that I am appreciating is a look at some of the between-the-pages scenes that occurred during “The Lightning Saga.” Case in point: A scene aboard the JLA Watchtower, with Dr. Mid-Nite, Dream Girl, Karate Kid and Starman looking down on Earth:

    Dr. Mid-Nite: Does she still look the same in your era? Or have we managed to completely pave her over by then?
    Karate Kid: Actually, Earth’s axis is tilted differently in our time. The South Pole’s in Australia…
    Dream Girl: Can we please not make chitchat? I’m worried about the others.
    Dr. Mid-Nite: Understood, Dream Girl, but we’ll find them, safe and sound, just like we found you.
    Karate Kid: We appreciate your Justice Society and Justice League putting everything into finding our lost teammates, Dr. Mid-Nite… but Dream Girl says one of us is going to die before this is all over, and she’s never wrong about these things.
    Dr. Mid-Nite: Perhaps… but all of you experienced memory loss when you arrived here from the thirty-first century. In the case of Starman, the cognitive impairment was, shall we say, even more profound. How do you know Dream Girl’s precognitive abilities aren’t similarly affected? Just let us finish tracking down your missing teammates’ flight rings. We’ll bring them back here safe, just like Dream Girl. And, hey, at least you’re not locked up in one of our holding cells anymore.
    Karate Kid: Aren’t we? You’ve given us free run of the station, but we’re effectively in quarantine up here.
    Dream Girl: Val, this man is trying to help us.
    Karate Kid: He’s diagnosing us, Nura. He knows a potential infection when he sees one.
    Dr. Mid-Nite: Fair enough, Karate Kid, but can you blame me for being cautious? You very nearly took down Batman!
    Karate Kid: I was mind controlled. I’m not a threat anymore.
    Dr. Mid-Nite: *hh* Do you know why you traveled a thousand years back in time to come here?
    Karate Kid: You know I don’t.
    Dr. Mid-Nite: Do any of you know why you’re here?
    *blank looks on Dream Girl, Karate Kid and Starman’s faces*
    Dr. Mid-Nite: Then until we’re sure your mission isn’t something along the lines of “Kill Sarah Conner,” I suggest you relax and enjoy the view.

    …and…

    *Karate Kid approaches Batman on a Gotham rooftop*
    Batman: People who try to sneak up on me usually regret it.
    Karate Kid: I’m sorry, Batman. I didn’t come to make trouble. I just wanted to say that the Legion is returning to the Thirty-First Century. I’m going to go rendezvous with them right now…
    Batman: Don’t let me keep you.
    Karate Kid: Before I go, I, uh… I am humbly grateful to have fought such a skilled martial artist–
    Batman: Don’t. You outfought me. Once. You wouldn’t in a rematch.
    Karate Kid: I wasn’t trying to rub your nose in it. I only wanted to… Never mind. *flies away*
    Batman: *smirking* Did you expect a sidekick job?

  • Fantastic Four #547 – I think that this has to be one of my favorite issues of FF ever, if only for the following exchange between Storm, The Thing and The Black Panther:

    Storm: I can’t believe you said that.
    Thing: I didn’t say it, I’m just telling you what Michael said.
    Storm: You can tell Michael Collins that my hair is completely natural.
    Thing: Okay, you know. Whatever. Sorry I brought it up.
    Storm: This is not a weave. Go ahead.
    Thing: Go ahead what?
    Storm: See for yourself. Pull my hair.
    Thing: Are you nuts?
    Storm: *wrapping strands of hair in Ben’s hands* Hard as you want.
    Thing: I don’t want!
    Storm: Do it. *irritated look on her face*
    Thing: *lifts Storm a few inches off the floor… by her hair* There. Happy now?
    Storm: I think I proved my point.
    *Black Panther walks into the room*
    Thing: T’Challa, I can explain…
    Black Panther: Don’t bother. She’s very sensitive about her hair. Word of advice: As you value your life, never ask her if she’s wearing colored contact lenses.
    Storm: I ‘m not!
    Black Panther: I know, my love. *walks out of the room*

  • Green Lantern #21 – Aftermath of the attack of the Sinestro Corps. 59 Green Lantern rings seek replacement bearers. Most of the Guardians are… ignoring… the Blackest Night prophecy. Two Guardians – Sayd and Ganthet (surprise) – don’t think that it’s a wise course of action…. and recruit Officer 2814.1 (Hal Jordan) to spearhead an attack against the Sinestro Corps. But, what is it that Hal Jordan (still) fears?
  • Justice Society of America #7 – Another post-“Lightning Saga”thread weaves through this story, with Superman visiting Starman at the Sunshine Sanitarium:

    Starman: *singing* “…to make me fret, I fly a-round! I had strings, but now I’m free– there are no strings on me!” *walks into the cafeteria*
    Doctor: Good afternoon, Starman. You did a very good thing this morning, pulling that school bus from the river. You saved a lot of kids and made a lot of parents happy.
    Starman: Well, today should be a good day for everyone, Doctor. It’s Wednesday, after all.
    Floyd: Hi, Starman.
    Starman: Hi, Floyd. Oh, yes! *bends down to look at Sloppy Joes on the lunch counter* They don’t have these when I come from.
    *off-panel voice* Excuse me, Starman.
    Superman: I know the Justice Society wants a few words with you , but since we’re old friends– I asked for some time first. I want to know more about what’s happened with the Legion. And I want to know more about you.
    Starman: *chompf* You ‘anna ‘oppy ‘oe, Kal?
    Superman: I’d love one, Thom.
    *the pair get lunch trays and sit down*
    Starman: Aren’t you going to drink your milk?
    Superman: Um, no.
    Starman: It makes your bones stronger. You’re not still mad at me, are you, Kal?
    Superman: I’m not mad at you, Thom.
    Starman: The we’re still friends?
    Superman: The Legion will always be my friends.
    Starman: Mine too. I like Power Girl an awful lot, but not in the way I love my Dreamer. I can’t wait to see her again. *chompf*
    Superman: Why didn’t you go back with the other Legionnaires?
    Starman: I wanted to, but I can’t. I’m here to help.
    Superman: Help who?
    Starman: Myself. And Earth, too! The black hole is supposed to help her see the truth. Then he’ll come and why… the Justice Society of America shows us all the way. The world needs better good guys! That’s not just our world, you know. Or our time. But the future isn’t up to me to save. I have my own job. I have gravity powers! I’m quite happy about that. *uses his power to crush a milk carton*
    Superman: Why did the Legion come back here?
    Starman: There’s trouble in the 31st Century, you see. The big three say you can’t help them.
    Superman: Why not?
    Starman: Why Clark Kents can’t come! It’s common sense.
    Superman: When they opened the Speed Force, Wally West and his family came back.
    Starman: And they say lightning never strikes twice in the same place! Pfft! Just ask him.
    Superman: But is that why the Legion were here? To bring the Flash home?
    Starman: From the vibrational plane! Zip! Zoom! The Legion of three worlds! Do you remember XS? She had such a crush on you. And I got to meet another Thom and another Thom!
    Superman: I don’t understand what you’re talking about.
    Starman: Yeah. Me either.

  • The New Avengers #32 – Welcome to “Who Wants to Be a Skrull-ionnaire?” There’s tension on the team. After last issue’s revelation that Skrulls may have replaced some of Marvel’s best and brightest, now the question looms: “Who can you trust?” In the New Av’s case: It seems to be no one. Not even your teammates. Where are Scully and Mulder when you need ’em?
  • Supergirl #19 – Finally! FINALLY! Kara grows up, grows a pair (so to speak) and owns up for her actions – or lack thereof – over the past year. Maybe this book will actually see some progress and story advancement now…
  • Ultimate Fantastic Four #43 – The Silver Surfer arrives… and he’s not exactly the harbinger of good news.
  • Ultimate X-Men #84 – Wolverine lets off a little steam. Stryfe attracts the attention of a fleet of Sentinels. Bishop’s team of X-Men makes a public appearance.
  • Uncanny X-Men #488 – Nightcrawler and the Professor go off in search of Magneto. The Morlocks declare war on the over-world. Storm, Hepzibah and Warpath head to the Morlock tunnels in search of some answers, which leads to this scene:

    Storm: Can both of you concentrate, please? We’re about to enter potentially hostile territory.
    Hepzibah: I do not like tunnels either, Storm. Especially not ones that stink of rats and vermin.
    Storm: For me, it’s a little bit worse than not liking them, Hepzibah. It’s worrying that they might drive me insane… *hovers down into the sewers*
    Hepzibah:     Warpath? What does she mean?
    Warpath: Storm’s claustrophobic. Can’t take being in small places, or being boxed in. It takes all she’s got to even go into these tunnels.
    Hepzibah: Then let us not leave her on her own down there. *drops through manhole… into sewer water* Ukk. This is so unclean.
    Storm: Heh… you look…
    Hepzibah: Careful with your next words…
    Storm: I was just going to say… dignified. You look dignified. For a wet cat.
    Hepzibah: You are a brave woman, Storm. Very brave woman.
    Storm: You don’t know the half of it.

Stray Toasters

  • I spoke with Dad and Adam again today; their respective trips are going well.
  • I am going to have to replace my cell phone. Today. This one is on its last… hinge.
  • To go to the Garden of Sweden or not to go? That is the question.
  • I should install – and play – Locomotion. Finally. I’ve had it since God was a boy.
  • I think that I’m actually craving Ika… and maybe a few other types of sushi.

Time to get something to eat and get some errands taken care of.

Namaste.