Wednesday : 12 April 2006
Today was a markedly better day than yesterday…

…even though I overslept this morning. By roughly an hour. D’oh! I was able to go from bed to ready-to-go in about twenty minutes, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

Work was good. Post-work was good. And quiet. And relaxing. Selah.

Four-Color Coverage
Yep, it’s a new section. I decided to break some/most of my comic-related chatter out of Stray Toasters for those who don’t really care about comic books and the like. But, as I said: “Some/most of [it],” because there are times, when things are just going to go turned into ‘Toasters. That said, here we go…

Although I was skeptical about it at first, I’ve been reading Marvel’s Young Avengers for the past few months. Allan Heinberg (Wikipedia entry), the series’ author, has been drawing rave reviews for his portrayal of life as a (super-powered) teenagers.

And the reviews are spot-on.

Heinberg, who has also gained acclaim for his writing on Fox’ The O.C., has a definite handle on the way that kids think and act. Add to that the fact that these aren’t just any kids: They’re superpowered teenagers looking to be the next generation of heroes (and heroines). So, on top of the pressures of family and school, they are balancing saving the world (or just the city or even one or two blocks of it) along with just trying to fit in.

Heinberg’s story-writing is sharp and full of more than just “A leads to B leads to C” plots. There have been twists, turns and even a loop or two (for good measure). More than once, I’ve found myself thinking: “Wow… didn’t see that coming.” Issue #11, the latest one on the stands, features the Kree, Skrulls, the possible answer to a long-standing question from The Avengers (and The House of M… and a few other special guests. And a “Wow… didn’t see that coming” moment on the next to last page. Go figure.

If you’re looking for a new series – or trade paperback – to get into, I recommend this one.

Stray Toasters

Namaste.