Boughts and Thoughts - March 25th, 2009

The Incredibles #1 - Could've done without four connecting regular covers, but I bought them all anyways. I still want to get the Mike Mignola variant for this issue, but I doubt I'd get it at a decent price. Not a bad start to the series, but right now, it doesn't have the same magic that the first movie did. I'm still optimistic that it will get better, when the rest of the family is involved.

New Avengers #51 - Hilarious bit between Spider-Man and Jessica Jones (and Luke Cage). Kind of took away from the Dr. Strange part of the story, which was kind of a bore, in my opinion.

Resistance #4 - I finally played Resistance 2. Can't say that I enjoyed it too much... but then again, we got Street Fighter IV not too long after I played the game, so I didn't play it that much to begin with. Still enjoying the comic.

Street Fighter II Turbo #5 - Crimson Viper cover! Crimson Viper back-up! Enjoyed this issue.

Umbrella Academy: Dallas #5 - Okay, after re-reading issue 4, I understand this issue a little more. Looking forward to the finally of this series, which is the next issue.

X-Force/Cable: Messiah War #1 - I liked this issue, though I don't care for the character revealed at the end. Doubtful that I'll be buying every issue of this crossover. Probably wait for the collected edition.

Playstation Network

I've decided to add my Playstation Network ID to the sidebar on the right. This is really for those that know me, to add me to their friends list. The only thing is, send me a message with who you are, before I start approving random people. I would like to keep this to people I do know (whether it's personally or professionally), so if I don't approve you, I hope there are no hard feelings.

Although I like playing video games, I don't have too many for the PS3, so I probably won't be up there in Trophies or variety of games to play.

I did increase my trophy count for Street Fighter IV a bit today (think Achievements for the X-Box 360). I don't see me achieving them all, but I don't know how many people have or will get them all.

CN Tower Climb for WWF Canada

I'm not doing the climb, but my bro will be. You can visit his Sponsor page, and make a donation if you'd like (think of the tax receipt for next year).

He needs a minimum of $75 to actually participate in the climb, and set his fundraising goal for $150. He's already two-thirds of the way to being able to participate (one-third of the way from reaching his fundraising goal), so if you can help out, and can find it in your hearts, I'm sure he'll greatly appreciated it.

And if he surpasses his fundraising goal, there is no reason to not donate. The World Wildlife Fund is a great organization that could definitely use the donations.

I got a boo-boo

It's not like I broke anything, but this past Sunday, I probably suffered the worst injury I've ever suffered at work. Okay, it's really not that bad. I just had a cut on the palm of my hand (near that meaty part of the palm, that connects to the thumb).

It looked pretty bad when it first happened, because of the breakage on the top layer of skin. That actually spread apart about half a centimetre. But the flesh part of the palm, it was just a regular cut. Maybe two millimetres at most.

The only problem was that I had a wood sliver stuck in my hand. I couldn't really see it, but that small hole in my hand kinda had me thinking there was one there. I tried pretty hard to get it out, because that was my main concern. So I spent about half-an-hour or so, trying to get at it, eventually resorting to a razor blade (thankfully, we bought a fresh box of them; otherwise, I would've just said, "f*ck it").

Now, I'm not emo. I don't like to cut at myself. I don't find any adrenaline doing that (unlike you, Stan... "it's like adrenaline. the pain is such a sudden rush for me"). I don't mind it so much when I get cuts by accident, but I just don't like doing it to myself. So that wasn't a fun experience.

To top that off, I was unsuccessful at pulling out the sliver. Like I said, it was a small hole in my hand. So, I gave up. It actually looked like my hand was already beginning the healing process, so I just figured, let the wound close up, and if there is a sliver in my hand, it'll be stuck in my hand. I just cleaned up my hand with some hand sanitizer, cried a little bit with that pain, put a band-aid over it, and continued working (though, I was considering milking it, since this was a work-related injury... but I'm not like that).

On Monday, the pain continued to hurt, even more so than on Sunday. I was back at work, cursing the machine that gave me my injury. Still a little worried about my hand, because I noticed a little bit of swelling around the cut. The wound continued looking like it was closing up and healing, so I just continued on.

Tuesday, day off, but drinking day. Kind of a blur, but hand slowly looked like it was getting better, though still hurting.

Wednesday, brought my bro's car to Honda to get it worked on. Brought his laptop too, to use their wireless internet, catching up on some webcomics. Guess I hit that cut, or extended my hand out a little too much, because I opened up the wound a little. Had it covered with a band-aid for the bulk of the day. Got home from going out, and noticed that something was at the opening of that wound. Picked at it, and pulled out the wood sliver that was in my hand. It was a centimetre long. Kind of a holy sh*t moment for me, when I saw that, and remembered that I considered leaving the wood sliver in there. That would've been bad. Few minutes later, another piece makes its way to the opening. Appeared to either be another wood piece that was a little bloody on one side, or a tiny plastic piece that was red, which the machine I was work on did have some red plastic around. Not sure, I just threw it away.

The hand feels so much better, as if nothing is jamming it from the inside. Hopefully, there isn't anymore pieces stuck in there. The wound appears to be healing nicely, and this just adds to my battle scars (aka, cuts I've received at work).

Fun times.

Boughts and Thoughts - March 18th, 2009

Happy Belated St. Patty's Day to you all. Hope you all got drunk and stayed safe.

Another lite week for books this week. Originally, I wasn't even planning on going to the store, since I had to take my bro's car to Honda, for some maintenance. So, he went out to get the my books for this week (which wasn't much). But he forgot one (which wasn't for me), he couldn't find one, and I noticed one that he picked up, that I totally would've picked up if I saw it at the store... so I headed out to the store fairly late (I'm usually there for open at Noon... I was there after 8:20PM). Totally forgot one of the books that I wanted to get, which was released last week, and I missed it then.

Invincible #60 - Ryan Ottley draws the Image Universe... or a very large chunk of it. Just the cover alone sold me (it is a four-page gatefold cover). This was the book that I didn't originally have on my list, but would've picked up as soon as I saw it. Invincible, Spawn, Witchblade, Savage Dragon, The Darkness, Pitt, Shadowhawk, Superpatriot, Brit, Astounding Wolf-Man, Cyberforce, Youngblood, Madman, Jack Staff... and many, many more. At the same time I notice this awesome cover, I also get the thought in my head of how this book would look if it was slabbed with with CGC Signature Series label. Kirkman, Ottley, Rathburn, Plascencia, McFarlane, Larsen, Valentino, Liefeld, Silvestri, Keown, Allred... the list goes on. Little bit of wishful thinking here.

Soulfire #8 - Michael Turner's last interior work, before he passed away. I haven't really followed the series since issue 2 or 3, but am considering picking this up when it's collected. Give it a read then. Rest In Peace, Michael Turner. You will forever be missed.

The book that I missed was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #4. I'm currently considering picking up the collected edition, when the series it done. I know the story, much like most people. So, I think I can wait.

Boughts and Thoughts - March 11th, 2009 & Kat Von D!

Before heading to get my comics this week, I went down to the Indigo at Eaton Centre, for the Kat Von D signing, to get my bro's copy of High Voltage Tattoo signed. I had every intention on being down at Indigo for opening, but was delayed, and got there about 20 minutes after opening. Ended up about 10 people back in the line that started on the second floor of Indigo (downstairs was already full). Eventually, that line wrapped around a good chunk of the upstairs. When the employees at Indigo were doing their head-count, I was 173rd.

Kat Von D arrived around 12:30pm (signing was scheduled to start at 12pm). She ended up walking pass the line upstairs. I tried to break out the camera for some shots, but only came out with the one on the left. The camera I have (Canon PowerShot A2000 IS) has a pretty slow save time, I ended up switching to one of my bro's cameras.

However, due to the amount of people at the signing, these were the only good pictures I took:

Got out of the signing at 1:30pm, and headed to get the books for this week (which wasn't much... and most were released before). Missed out on a copy of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz #4, but I'll get that next week.

Ghost Rider #33 - Decided to try this, just because Tony Moore (The Walking Dead, Fear Agent) was on artwork. Wasn't bad, though I haven't followed Ghost Rider at all, since this new series started up.

Neozoic #8 - Been missing this issue, which came out a few weeks back. Final issue of the series, which has very nice artwork by J. Korim and Jessie Lam.

Savage Dragon #145 - The Obama/Savage Dragon fist-bump cover. Caved... after just one week of saying I was getting over the Obama in comics fad. Ahh well, whatever. Haven't cracked it. Doubt I will, since I don't read Savage Dragon to begin with.

Continued playing Street Fighter IV this evening. Finally unlocked Gouken, and am working to unlock Seth (three fighters left). Played some online matches last night. Got my ass kicked during some of the matches, and fought some damn cheap players. I'll get my first online win soon. Still getting used to the Playstation Network. If I know you, and you're on the network, send me your ID.

Nerdin' Weekend

Having Friday off from work, which I was originally scheduled to work, but gave my shift away for other plans that fell through, I ended up taking in that movie based on arguably one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time, Watchmen. Decided to catch the movie in IMAX, since tickets were still available on the day I was looking into buying them.

What was also key, was that I'm a Scotiabank Scene member, and I had enough points to get two tickets for free. Awesome! I don't take in too many movies at the theatres, so being a Scene member was a nice bonus for not spending a dime.

I'm not going to get too into the movie, but I thought it was really good. I actually read the Watchmen for the first time, last weekend, so I don't know too much about it. Parts of the graphic novel actually had me really bored (when that kid is reading the comic book, and how it kept switching to the comic book). If anyone wants to explain the significance of that, please do. I was actually glad that part was left out of the movie (though, hopefully, it's in the extended edition that'll be released on DVD/Blu-Ray eventually).

Earlier in the day, I got a call from EB Games, that the pre-order my bro placed for Street Fighter IV Collector's Edition finally arrived. So he picked that up before coming home, and we went to watch the movie. Came back, to play the game.

Fun game, but we totally got our asses handed to us by the final round boss, Seth. Apparently, there's some sort of glitch with the game install, and a patch download, which is causing this to be insanely hard. I'll have to look into it, while I get my PS3 set up with my current router. But yeah, after about an hour of getting beaten over and over again, I just gave up. It was already 1:30AM (though, on a normal Friday, I wouldn't even be home from work until at least 3:30AM.

Got up this morning, debating on whether or not I wanted to apply to be an extra for the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. the World movie. My little bro had some friends over just after 11AM, for a little birthday party for him (birthday isn't until Monday, and due to the work schedules over the weekend, we decided on a little party, and we're getting a big present... LCD TV w/built-in DVD player... his TV is going to be better than mine...).

One of my little bro's friends, who happens to be our neighbour, is pretty annoying, and extremely loud, even after telling him to be quiet over and over again. He deserves to be dropkicked, but it's not something I'm going to do. Just him coming over, pretty much made my decision to get out of the house for a bit, and I headed down to apply to be an extra. I spent more time on the DVP, than I did applying. Geez, that was a helluva drive. All the rain, all the traffic. Oh well, hopefully I get to be an extra, and that you can see me for that half second or more I wish to be in. :)

After that, I ran a few errands, which included picking up another PS3 controller. I also picked up two Mighty Muggs that I wanted. Snake Eyes, and Storm Shadow. Couldn't find a Baroness Mighty Muggs figure. So would've picked that up too.

Got home to have some cake, and whatever left over pizza there was. Trying to shut myself away from the annoyingly loud neighbour kid that deserves a dropkick.

Try to get some SF IV game play before the Leafs game tonight.

This coming week: Kat Von D!

Rectified

If you remember the dealing I had with Best Buy two weeks ago, it took them some time, but the situation is somewhat taken care of. I still don't have a copy of Street Fighter IV Collector's Edition, or even a copy of the regular edition (waiting for the Collector's, before I try it out). But, I was given a gift card for my troubles.

Still doesn't change how I feel about Best Buy, but at least they tried.

Boughts and Thoughts - March 4th, 2009

Batman: Cacophony #3 - Hey, Kevin Smith finished this within the year! Kinda wanted more Onomatopoeia, though I did enjoy Kevin Smith writing the Joker. In the end, I could've done without this story.

Executive Assistant: Iris #0 - Interesting start to this series. Liking it, but we'll see if I continue it.

The Goon #32 - Tenth Anniversary Issue - Anniversary issue! Picked it up for the collabo. here, which was mainly the pin-ups. Not a regular Goon reader, but I did enjoy those issues I did read in the past.

Locke & Key: Head Games #3 - Now if I could only shove books into my head like that to retain knowledge of the books. Someone find me a key, so I can shove it through the back of my neck.

Madman Atomic Comics #14 - Not a regular Madman reader, but I picked this up since it contained a story by J. Bone and artwork by Darwyn Cooke, with a cover by the two, along with Mike and Laura Allred. Nice book all-round

Obama: Inaugural Edition #1 - I think I'm getting over this Obama in comics fad right now (but may pick up the upcoming IDW Barack Obama Road to the White House, or whatever it's called).

Scott Pilgrim vol. 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe - Finally, I have my own copy. My shop got their shipment in this week, and I had to get one. I read it last month, and it was great.

Secret Warriors #2 - Not bad. Looking to see where this goes. Not as good as issue one, with the cliffhanger that was left in the last issue. Kind of indifferent with the ending of this issue.