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Invincible #103 Written by Robert Kirkman Illustrated by Ryan Ottley Inked by Cliff Rathburn Colored by John Rauch Lettered by Rus Wooton Cover by Ryan Ottley and John Rauch Image Comics Release Date: June 19, 2013 Cover Price: ...
Invincible #103 Written by Robert Kirkman Illustrated by Ryan Ottley Inked by Cliff Rathburn Colored by John Rauch Lettered by Rus Wooton Cover by Ryan Ottley and John Rauch Image Comics Release Date: June 19, 2013 Cover Price: $2.99 As per usual, Invincible's team of Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley and Cliff Rathburn deliver the goods with super-powered punch-to-the-gut dialogue and illustrated revelations combined with wide-eyed, jaw-dropping moments. Fresh off its 100th issue, Invincible returns this month with #103 and an all new story-arc. With many of the characters facing major unforeseen changes and returning villains entering the mix, this new era in Invincible is sure to stir up excitement, turmoil and bring forth a slew of untouched ethical dilemmas. The newly engaged Mark and Eve must deal with the possible negative effects on their unborn child due to their superpowers. Also unbeknownst to them, Angstrom Levy—the maniacal portal-creating super-villain who was revealed to be back in their dimension in issue 100—is not too thrilled to find out that Invincible is still alive. Meanwhile, on the last Viltrumite warship on the moon, Lord Regent Nolan explains his punishment for the former leader of the Viltrumites, Thragg. [...]
about 2 hours ago
It’s been an interesting year… Cat has been forced into an arranged marriage with William – a situation that comes with far more strings than even she could have anticipated, especially when she learns of his family’s intentions for them...
It’s been an interesting year… Cat has been forced into an arranged marriage with William – a situation that comes with far more strings than even she could have anticipated, especially when she learns of his family’s intentions for them...
about 3 hours ago
Two new items from Diamond Select Toys will be of interest to original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation fans. The items are a Spock Bust Bank, and a TNG Enterprise Silicone Tray. The Spock Bust Bank is 8″ high and will be ...
Two new items from Diamond Select Toys will be of interest to original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation fans. The items are a Spock Bust Bank, and a TNG Enterprise Silicone Tray. The Spock Bust Bank is 8″ high and will be the first in a new series of Star Trek vinyl bust banks. The TNG Enterprise Silicone Tray is “ideal for creating ice cubes, Jell-O, and chocolate in the shape of the Enterprise, or the Starfleet insignia. Beginning Friday, both of these products will be available for pre-order; the Spock Bust Bank selling for $20.99, and the TNG Enterprise Silicone Tray for $14.99. Pre-order the Spock Bust Bank here and the TNG Enterprise Silicone Tray here. Both items will be released in December.
about 3 hours ago
http://www.broadway.com/buzz/170190/santino-fontana-and-josh-gad-join-disneys-frozen-starring-jonathan-groff-idina-menzel/ Alan will play the Duke of Weselton.
http://www.broadway.com/buzz/170190/santino-fontana-and-josh-gad-join-disneys-frozen-starring-jonathan-groff-idina-menzel/ Alan will play the Duke of Weselton.
about 3 hours ago
Things have been a bit quiet around here lately, but I came across a book deal last night that i thought was worth mentioning.. Each of the 3 books in Sean Russell's Swan's War trilogy are sale for $0.99. So for just $2.97, you can buy t...
Things have been a bit quiet around here lately, but I came across a book deal last night that i thought was worth mentioning.. Each of the 3 books in Sean Russell's Swan's War trilogy are sale for $0.99. So for just $2.97, you can buy the entire trilogy in Kindle format. Links: -The One Kingdom -The Shadow Roads -The Isle of Battle
about 3 hours ago
More details have emerged on this summer’s release of Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 2. The details include the release date, which will be August 20th. “Join Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) as he leads his crew through...
More details have emerged on this summer’s release of Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 2. The details include the release date, which will be August 20th. “Join Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) as he leads his crew through more thrilling adventures in sparkling high-definition when Star Trek: Enterprise — The Complete Second Season arrives on Blu-ray Disc August 20 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution. “A centerpiece to the Star Trek: Enterprise — The Complete Second Season Blu-ray collection is the newly produced cast reunion feature, In Conversation: The First Crew, which offers fans a look at an intimate and candid discussion with members of the main cast and recurring guest stars, who reveal their most memorable stories from the set and their favorite behind-the-scenes moments. The reunion is moderated by series co-creator/executive producer Brannon Braga. “Fans will also enjoy Uncharted Territory, a three-part retrospective providing an inside look at the challenges faced by the writing staff and creators during the creative development of the second season, which ultimately inspired the controversial Xindi story-arc that kicks off in the season finale, The Expanse. In addition, a collection of newly produced commentaries by cast and crew including John Billingsley (Phlox), Mike & Denise Okuda, among others, all make Star Trek: Enterprise — The Complete Second Season a must-own for fans. “The Star Trek: Enterprise — The Complete Second Season Blu-ray includes all twenty-six episodes from the series’ acclaimed sophomore season and will be available in 1080p with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, German and Italian 5.1 (Dolby Digital), and French, Castilian and Japanese Stereo Surround (Dolby Digital). The discs also include English SDH, French, German, Castilian, Italian, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. The Blu-ray is Not Rated in the U.S. and it will be available for the suggested retail price of $120.99  U.S.”  The disc breakdown is as follows: Disc One: Shockwave, Part II Carbon Creek Minefield Dead Stop Audio Commentary by Chris Black and Mike & Denise Okuda on Carbon Creek Deleted Scene from Minefield (SD) Audio Commentary by Michael Sussman and Phyllis Strong (2005) on Dead Stop In Conversation: The First Crew (HD) Season 2 Promo (SD) Archival Mission Log: Enterprise Moments: Season Two (SD) Archival Mission Log: Enterprise Profile: Jolene Blalock (SD) Disc Two: A Night In Sickbay Marauders The Seventh The Communicator Singularity Deleted Scenes from A Night In Sickbay (SD) Archival Mission Log: Inside A Night In Sickbay (SD) Disc Three: Vanishing Point Precious Cargo The Catwalk Dawn Deleted Scene from Dawn (SD) Text Commentary by Mike & Denise Okuda (2005) on Stigma Deleted Scene from Stigma (SD) Stigma – Archival Interviews (SD) Archival Mission Log: Photo Gallery (SD) Disc Four: Cease Fire Future Tense Canamar The Crossing Judgment Deleted Scene from Cease Fire (SD) Archival Mission Logs: Shooting Future Tense (SD) Archival Mission Logs: Enterprise Secrets (SD) Disc Five Horizon The Breach Cogenitor Regeneration First Flight Audio Commentary by John Billingsley and Bonita Friedericy on Regeneration Audio Commentary with Chris Black and Mike and Denise Okuda on First Flight Audio Commentary by Michael Sussman and Phyllis Strong (2005) on Regeneration Text Commentary by Mike & Denise Okuda (2005) on First Flight Archival Mission Logs: LeVar Burton – Star Trek Director (SD) Archival Mission Logs: Enterprise Outtakes (SD) Disc Six: Bounty Deleted Scenes from The Expanse (SD) Documentary: Uncharted Territory (HD): Part One: Destination Unknown Documentary: Uncharted Territory (HD): Part Two: First Crew Documentary: Uncharted Territory (HD): Part Three: Course Correction Archival Mission Logs: NX-01 File 04 Archival Mission Logs: NX-01 File 05 Archival Mission Logs: NX-01 File 06 To pre-order Star Tre
about 3 hours ago
(Note: this is part of a series in which I discuss works of the contributors to The Other Half of the Sky. Links to other entries in the series appear at the end of this discussion.) Bloodchildren is a collection of eleven stories by th...
(Note: this is part of a series in which I discuss works of the contributors to The Other Half of the Sky. Links to other entries in the series appear at the end of this discussion.) Bloodchildren is a collection of eleven stories by the recipients of the Carl Brandon scholarship, established in Octavia Butler’s honor to enable SFF writers of color to attend one of the Clarion workshops. The stories were edited by Nisi Shawl, herself a practitioner of many literary arts; they’re front-ended by a haunting cover by Laurie Toby Edison, by moving testimonials from Nalo Hopkinson and Vonda McIntyre and by Butler’s story “Speech Sounds”. The collection is titled after Butler’s groundbreaking story “Bloodchild”, one of the most original and disquieting explorations of interspecies contact: spacefaring humans stranded on a planet with its own advanced sentient species have been reduced to breeding vessels along the lines of hosts for parasitic wasps or the Alien über-predator, though they generally survive the ordeal. Men are preferred as incubators so that women can produce more breeders, although bonds of reciprocal need, loyalty and affection have slowly developed between humans and their native masters. Despite the title, editor Shawl chose “Speech Sounds” instead of “Bloodchild” as the Butler story in the collection and her reasoning is sound: it’s a shard-filled narrative of what happens when humanity loses its ability to form and understand speech. Non-default writers find it hard to speak, especially outside their own milieu. And SF, despite its pride at being the genre of unfettered imagination and forward vision, is actually a-swim with parochial unquestioned assumptions. Collections like Bloodchildren are welcome antidotes to this tendency, giving voice to the dispossessed, the rendered-invisible, the vast swaths of humanity still largely elided in SFF that stubbornly adheres to whiteAnglomale primacy in its narratives. As is the case with un-themed anthologies, the stories in this one range from horror to mythic slipstream to steampunk to hard(ish) SF, from a slightly slanted here and now to alternate worlds light years away. There are braiding strands nevertheless: several of the stories transmute facets of non-Anglo histories and mythologies; many feature unusual societies and family arrangements; most dissect uprootings and oppressions (violent and subtle, personal and collective) as well as responses to them – from subsisting “in the cracks” to defiant resistance. As is my wont, I will start with the stories I felt worked the least and work my way up. The anthology does suffer from a systemic problem: several of the pieces – intriguing as they are – read like workshop exercises that would benefit from one or two more sculpting rounds. Additionally, two are novel excerpts, which severely shortchanges them by not giving them enough room to showcase their strengths. Three stories are “high concept” and basically end the moment the concept has been mined. Christopher Caldwell’s “My Love Will Never Die” starts strongly: the heavily asymmetric relationship between the gay narrator and his charismatic lover (whose powers are telegraphed to anyone remotely familiar with vodun) packs heat. But instead of plunging into the thicket of obsession and dominance, the story runs out of steam with a rushed, facile wrap-up. In Mary Elizabeth Burroughs’ “Impulse”, inanimate objects come to sentient life and comatose humans revive, whereas able-bodied humans freeze into immobility. End of (admittedly frisson-inducing) story, with no development or explanation. Jeremy Sim’s “/sit” is a variation of Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” played for uneasy laughs. Its Gregor Samsa is an RPG-playing loner whose family sharpens their hexing skills on hi
about 3 hours ago
More floods are coming. Of interest is that the Flood Insurance Program is paid for by governments. No private industry is able to backstop flood insurance, so the government steps in to allow us to continue building near water that rise...
More floods are coming. Of interest is that the Flood Insurance Program is paid for by governments. No private industry is able to backstop flood insurance, so the government steps in to allow us to continue building near water that rises. “Yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a landmark investigation on the connections between climate change, population growth and sea-level rise. The study concludes that the amount of the U.S. at risk for floods could increase 45% by 2100, doubling the number of flood-prone properties covered by the National Flood Insurance program and exacting a strenuous toll on the country’s Flood Insurance Program.” (Via Massive Floods Are Coming. We Are Not Prepared..) Reason Magazine has a pretty good, and I believe accurate, rant on this: The flood insurance program was created by Congress in 1968 to fill a void: because of the risk, few carriers provided flood insurance. Now, private insurers offer flood insurance in a partnership with the government — but taxpayers shoulder all the risk. It has turned out to be a bad bet. The program is $18 billion in debt, a sum the government acknowledges probably will never be paid back by premiums, and it is likely to need a new multibillion-dollar infusion to pay claims from Hurricane Sandy. It is long past time for the government to stop subsidizing home and business owners who live and build in dangerous flood zones. Homeowners and businesses should be responsible for purchasing their own flood insurance on the private market, if they can find it. If they can’t, then the market is telling them that where they live is too dangerous. [emphasis added] If they choose to live in harm’s way, they should bear the cost of that risk — not the taxpayers. Government’s primary role is ensuring the safety of its citizens, so the government’s subsidizing of risky behavior is completely backward.
about 3 hours ago
Because I know you want to have me in your ear at all times, just like Jiminy Cricket, here are two audio interviews with me. First one is from WYSO’s Book Nook program, with Vick Mickunas. That’s about a half-hour. Then ther...
Because I know you want to have me in your ear at all times, just like Jiminy Cricket, here are two audio interviews with me. First one is from WYSO’s Book Nook program, with Vick Mickunas. That’s about a half-hour. Then there’s this one from Dungeon Crawler’s Radio, which I did just last night, and I think that one’s about an hour. The interviews have some overlap in which I talk about The Human Division, but there’s other stuff in there too. Have fun with it.
about 3 hours ago
Earlier this week I received an email alerting me that the new Dungeons & Dragons Encounters season was here. I'm going to be honest, I knew absolutely nothing about it at the time. Now that I've had a chance to delve a bit deeper, I...
Earlier this week I received an email alerting me that the new Dungeons & Dragons Encounters season was here. I'm going to be honest, I knew absolutely nothing about it at the time. Now that I've had a chance to delve a bit deeper, I found it to be a pretty awesome set up. It's what I would consider mini-modules that are tailored to fit a certain number of characters but not specific ones. A lot of the build up for the campaigns are generated prior to play and it deals with the core fundamentals of role playing games. Now, I've been playing these games off and on since 1984. That's a lifetime to some people and a mere drop in the bucket for others. But one thing I have learned is that a good D&D game is comprised of many things. From the players to the Dungeon Master to having a great campaign quest, these are all important components to any great RPG. Of course, a Big Gulp and some cash for pizza never hurt anything. But having spoken to all that, I must say that there are so many things that change as we get older. College, marriage, children, location, timing...these all play a part as to why some of us haven't continued playing RPGs the way we once did. [...]
about 4 hours ago