tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69335358460307259262024-02-22T02:44:06.446-08:00comicanuck...Television writer, recovering comedian and some time comic artist explores the amazing stories of Canadian comic book history and all arts sequential.Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-48125851381189217482014-05-06T15:09:00.001-07:002014-05-08T17:19:43.050-07:00Lost Heroes Screening - Canadian Superheroes on the big screen!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfh2viWDuynkdJJ7o7PVLlhx6nyKu42bVNn5sW5tzKyN7pWldwZC83KW9zmT4dhFB6cnuQpOJNXghXY_2IFcnpknd3D8cQK3E8izkxDbYuolRz73dclnF3gDk4ZqF8i9d2xxxrbGy59M/s1600/LostHeroes-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfh2viWDuynkdJJ7o7PVLlhx6nyKu42bVNn5sW5tzKyN7pWldwZC83KW9zmT4dhFB6cnuQpOJNXghXY_2IFcnpknd3D8cQK3E8izkxDbYuolRz73dclnF3gDk4ZqF8i9d2xxxrbGy59M/s1600/LostHeroes-Poster.jpg" height="400" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Things have bubbling over in
the realm of Canadian comic historians and collectors for the last two years,
with more communication, sharing and exploration than there has been for years.
It’s exciting as many of work to help other achieve goals that have only been
dreams in our heads for a long time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So it’s time to dust off Comicanuck and
celebrate some big events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been mostly silent on
this blog in that time… burnout hit me hard. I write up to ten hours a day for
my day job and don’t really get weekends off. So writing blog posts into the
wee hours after work that was growing more and more difficult. And you may have
noticed I tend to write long posts, which significantly increased the amount of
time they took to create.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">While I can only promise
intermittent posting at best, working on shorter posts will help me be here
more often than my old way of doing things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The big news is that the
complete adventures of Nelvana are being reprinted for the first time ever!!! (Seriously, you want this). Check out <a href="http://nelvanacomics.com/">nelvanacomics.com</a> for more info. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Few
people beyond collectors have seen any of these stories and I suspect a
rarified few have actually read all of them until now, including myself. After an
incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, comic book historians Hope
Nicholson and Rachel Richey are releasing the book this weekend at the </span><a href="http://torontocomics.com/" style="font-family: Arial;">TorontoComic Arts Festival</a><span style="font-family: Arial;">. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">More on Nelvana in a forthcoming post. (See? Short and to the point!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To kick off the Festivities,
there will be a FREE SCREENING of creator Will Pascoe’s Canadian comic book
documentary, Lost Heroes, Wed. May 7 at Toronto’s Carlton Cinema at 7 pm. (20
Carlton Street at Yonge). Hope Nicholson, in addition to spearheading the Nelvana project, was a producer on the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here is the info from their
Facebook page:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Come join TCAF and
Nelvana of the Northern Lights for a screening of Lost Heroes!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lost Heroes explores the
past of the Canadian superhero, from the golden age when millions of children
read the tales of Inuit goddess Nelvana of the Northern Lights, to the
thrilling days when Canadian superheroes returned to the newstands with Captain
Canuck and Cerebus. Lost Heroes celebrates the unique Canadian talent behind these
characters and asks why can’t Canada keep their heroes?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The film will be
followed by a brief Q&A moderated by Canadian comics historian Robert
Pincombe (That’s me!) with Mark Askwith (producer of Space TV’s “Innerspace”),
Ivan Kocmarek (Golden Age comics historian), Jason Loo (creator of new Canadian
superhero, The Pitiful Human Lizard), Mark Shainblum (creator of superhero “Northguard”),
Kalman Andrasofszky (writer/artist of the new Captain Canuck comic series),
Mike Valiquette (animation director of the Captain Canuck webseries), and Hope
Nicholson (co-publisher of Nelvana of the Northern Lights & Associate
Producer of Lost Heroes).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a free
screening, and all are welcome to attend! Doors are at 6:45pm, with the film
starting promptly at 7:00pm.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I will be moderating a short panel after
the screening featuring the above line-up of diverse Canadian historians and
artists. But the real in depth talking will likely happen at the official
after-party up at the Spotted Dick pub, (81 Bloor St. E.) It’s the <a href="http://www.blogto.com/events/tcaf-presents-the-2014-drink-draw/">2014 TCAF Drink & Draw</a>! </span></i></div>
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participants will head up to the Spotted Dick (81 Bloor St. E.) for the
official after-party, the <a href="http://www.blogto.com/events/tcaf-presents-the-2014-drink-draw/">TCAF 2014 Drink & Draw</a>. </span></div>
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Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-52598216650663649202011-02-16T16:37:00.001-08:002011-02-16T17:28:13.144-08:00The Mosaik Project comic debuts with Toronto commuters<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVpBkcp-A8a8Kk1jGKUpK4VhyphenhyphenwhxymJYPLS26x7uLxsQ8N6HOZQqS1diYwa3yNSGvV3CpZN9gHBugZ17QzHLfGunJWupwn6gcP5nHHv57xQrr2Rgb_Xi8PBIPr_FF7GakdScckciYfyo/s400/front_cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574462510567591618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Hey all. It's been difficult to juggle things for the past several months. That's why I have accepted a generous offer from the dedicated folks at <a href="http://sequential.spiltink.org/">Sequential</a> to have my own little comicanuck space at their site semi-regularly!</div><div><br /></div><div>My initial focus may be there but I will also be posting here as well on and off. Hopefully we'll find the perfect balance of comicanuck goodness.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can read a chat I had with the folks at <a href="http://sequential.spiltink.org/?p=6735">The Mosaik Projec</a>t, a new Toronto comic book available across the Toronto Transit Commission system at Gateway newstands and through the Toronto Public Library.</div><div><br /></div><div>I ran across their debut issue this week and was actually far more intrigued by their unique approach to getting this sucker into people's hand than the contents. This is literally a throwback to old school newsstand distribution. How much more underground do you get than the subway? </div><div><br /></div><div>Commuters are always looking for different things to read that can entertain them on short and long trips. They also have a better chance at really being seen by urban kids. And the fact that animation professionals are part of the collective behind this project means the art should always have life and a slick veneer.</div><div><br /></div><div>The main challenge the Mosaik Project has so far is compelling material. The first issue has some nice layout, a cool portfolio and loads of hype but is short on compelling comic material. I'm not seeing anything particularly new. </div><div><br /></div><div>A two-page colour spread advertising a new cop character called McBubbles (likely based on the videotaped cop currently suing Youtube over capturing his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP_LB_ZhcTA&feature=relmfu">finest hour</a>) just made me sad. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXr8lQBFb17bJMdVCI55nteHImfTSqFeUU_CP7j5K6d1bdZtFA-v8Hrk8ls82ImgVSOB_0pLKnrwQMjQbNt_aZzKlVBcaalVhpnZsyfIPQhrdEeMzOiHIxXk-Npqe-MPXpRyx_B8dXSA/s400/preview2.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574462407614663234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>The first issue's comic, <i>9toOmega</i>, is well rendered with a really clean line style though its light on the blacks and grey tones. The feature is drawn as if its begging for colour to fill in the blanks. But mostly, it's all about pacing and storytelling. </div><div><br /></div><div>About two thirds of the book is taken up by an Incredibles-style commuter going to work. One or two things happen but events contribute little to the story or our knowledge of the characters. The pacing is out of whack. You turn a page and the hero is no longer in his car but suddenly walking the rest of the way to work asking why he bothers to drive. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why did he leave his car? Because the creators need him to bump into a could-be-crazy-could-be-wise street person. Nine pages are spent covering a discussion that could have been done in four or five pages with greater impact.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have worked for years in animation as a storyboard artist and writer and I know that sometimes animators confuse bits of business for story. I hope The Mosaik Project finds an editorial voice with a sense of story to help guide their awesome line-up of artists into showing themselves to their best advantage.</div><div><br /></div><div>And they need to do it fast. People will make their minds up about this book pretty quickly and you want them wondering what's nest as much as possible so their faces light up when they see the book on the stands. </div><div><br /></div><div>I see flashes of that possibility in this issue. The wonderful Perry Osuna "Electric Mosaic" portfolio shows a stellar style and will appeal to the urban audience. So will Mosaik's efforts to reach the audience (the back cover promises a High School Creator contest). Of course, proper contact info would help with that!</div><div><br /></div><div>But this whole concept and approach has me pretty jazzed about the possibilities. So I wish the Mosaik Project all the best. </div><div><br /></div><div>Find out more about The Mosaik Project at their <a href="http://mosaikproject.blogspot.com/">blog</a> and at their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mosaik-Project/152703858112501">Facebook page</a>.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Beavers Up!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; "><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" border="0" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px; " /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-11826545933727298142010-09-28T14:48:00.000-07:002011-12-28T17:33:06.704-08:00Speed Savage – “Murder Has The Puck”, Part 2<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReZl47LPXQrYlnHjQBHGkxISZ0DiX5dJw-hUnDaY6ksF5ywO67VYxVK8bD8BJpa7jx_llDf9tcBLDdQDUPhDJ6Vdkm7olQoaeJfJCEssTLCVGoPh6_MhqJ8iUDvAEJEkiBUdgsunOlls/s1600/508552.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReZl47LPXQrYlnHjQBHGkxISZ0DiX5dJw-hUnDaY6ksF5ywO67VYxVK8bD8BJpa7jx_llDf9tcBLDdQDUPhDJ6Vdkm7olQoaeJfJCEssTLCVGoPh6_MhqJ8iUDvAEJEkiBUdgsunOlls/s400/508552.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522118710278593378" border="0" /></a><br />Hey there. It's been a long time.<br /><br />So what have you been up to? I'm sorry I didn't call or write, but I had some well, issues, you know? It wasn't you. It was me. And it's all good now. You don't mind if I play a little Barry White while we get re-acquainted, do you? Cause, Big Bad and Dangerous to Love is back and ready to make it up to you. I'm gonna make that painful hurt from waiting so very long with no updates go away with this... My gift to you and only you.<br /><br />A while back I got it in my head to do a post for every day of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. It was the patriot in me. Sadly, I only made it about halfway.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo96L6dUDrb_l8zzY1GZbnOihyphenhyphenP1z6SHHHlHDFDpy_8cuqkn1TBqeAkQbcXlhfTP-sPpPuyOQyF4DNagRFwIB8dughFao3wGQt32Ad3s9XkgHYCNzw05HoMN2BL3Ec9i-dONnubA23w4/s1600/SpdSvg-01-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo96L6dUDrb_l8zzY1GZbnOihyphenhyphenP1z6SHHHlHDFDpy_8cuqkn1TBqeAkQbcXlhfTP-sPpPuyOQyF4DNagRFwIB8dughFao3wGQt32Ad3s9XkgHYCNzw05HoMN2BL3Ec9i-dONnubA23w4/s400/SpdSvg-01-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522131487653576306" border="0" /></a>But I did manage to offer up <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/03/speed-savage-murder-has-puck-part-1.html">Part 1 of "Murder Has The Puck"</a>, a golden age Canadian comic book adventure by writer/artist Ted Steele from Bell Features starring Speed Savage -- The White Mask!<br /><br />Feel free to re-read it and get all caught up. Then come on back here and enjoy Part Two at last. Both of these adventures are from the Speed Savage one-shot put out by Bell after the Second World War reprinting a number of Speed's adventures.<br /><br />Time to bring you up to -- ahem -- speed. Our Canuck golden boy, Speed Savage is a dashing sportsman and all-around magnificent athlete who moonlights as a costumed vigilante known as the White Mask. Speed started out as a pulpy adventurer with a zoot suit, cape, fedora and mask. Eventually he traded in his suit for tights but stuck with twin forty-five automatics to augment his powerful fists. Hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it, right?<br /><br />Last time out we had two modern takes on Speed Savage's White Mask persona with sketches by current <a href="http://sweettoothcomic.blogspot.com/">Sweet Tooth</a> and <a href="http://jefflemire.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-am-writing-atom.html">Atom</a> scribe, <a href="http://www.jefflemire.com/">Jeff Lemire</a> and <a href="http://kennethjunior.blogspot.com/">Scott Hepburn</a> of <a href="http://www.theport.txcomics.com/">The Port</a> and <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/11/scott-hepburn-interview-clone-wars/">Clone Wars</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih14xhWaydOZYt0eIuE8zCtB5eDgCD76mdsDC0bSft833ony0_sP1v2yFEmTV77pNc6MG3QDTDHEj5DcEokxsG0H6jdkbdkkb6h0AgEM6NPmdX63RnrgGr45Hr0yqRA1qkDtRllsMopDA/s1600/62404.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih14xhWaydOZYt0eIuE8zCtB5eDgCD76mdsDC0bSft833ony0_sP1v2yFEmTV77pNc6MG3QDTDHEj5DcEokxsG0H6jdkbdkkb6h0AgEM6NPmdX63RnrgGr45Hr0yqRA1qkDtRllsMopDA/s400/62404.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524704618889739906" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNgYrpjr1yeLkBzlhyJ26Mtzsm1sIMA_tuW1c0RfXe2oQU_ksBuKJhqNZHC8crG1sfadbAex4qsVGRi567sc4bUKDbXmrJX2gzJTTjG_KidOogSMDBFxMGRRgX1fShvO5nc8MnDc8xbw/s1600/62410.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNgYrpjr1yeLkBzlhyJ26Mtzsm1sIMA_tuW1c0RfXe2oQU_ksBuKJhqNZHC8crG1sfadbAex4qsVGRi567sc4bUKDbXmrJX2gzJTTjG_KidOogSMDBFxMGRRgX1fShvO5nc8MnDc8xbw/s400/62410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524704688231143106" border="0" /></a>This time out we have two more awesome variations. The first is Speed's original pulp look by <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://lambiek.net/artists/c/cherkas_michael.htm">Michael Cherkas</a>, co-creator of <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://silent-invasion.com/silent.html">The Silent Invasion</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span>and <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://silent-invasion.com/suburb.html">Suburban Nightmares</a> with writer <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.hollywoodcomics.com/cherkas.html">Larry Hancock</a>. I added some rough, chunky inks to fill Larry's blacks and sharpen the sketchy image. Sadly, my fuzzy photo of it doesn't do it justice.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP-I8uC5Sj14vrv16laGdaFrpAEta2Nk3UjGbekIBTBD9dKcwqgRWRXAWmJa2BAWNLSHnox62FAob5bdlzWuJqx3NDIL8BJxzgMK1if-ImF6wiCglrLDgpuDdhuILnWnSh35xL0pLq-Y/s1600/SpeedSav-Cherkas.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP-I8uC5Sj14vrv16laGdaFrpAEta2Nk3UjGbekIBTBD9dKcwqgRWRXAWmJa2BAWNLSHnox62FAob5bdlzWuJqx3NDIL8BJxzgMK1if-ImF6wiCglrLDgpuDdhuILnWnSh35xL0pLq-Y/s400/SpeedSav-Cherkas.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524706058866007602" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, we have sleek version of Speed's later, super-heroic leotard by <a href="http://www.jaystephens.com/">Jay Stephens</a>, creator of Jet Cat and Tutenstein.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnynjj9P3PtOTCv406BZUwt3RMztaWwK-mByZXmSGkYCLcFO4AP1gKiBM5MW8LByx5gImoHBE-_vQsrinJpcRItmEVm3WAml8Sw54HiiQVyMs2duqvrfztTGiJkq8G1P0Lf25cAyUiaMY/s1600/SpeedSav-JaySt_150dpi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnynjj9P3PtOTCv406BZUwt3RMztaWwK-mByZXmSGkYCLcFO4AP1gKiBM5MW8LByx5gImoHBE-_vQsrinJpcRItmEVm3WAml8Sw54HiiQVyMs2duqvrfztTGiJkq8G1P0Lf25cAyUiaMY/s400/SpeedSav-JaySt_150dpi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522127041500827794" border="0" /></a><br />Sigh... Glorious. You can find more of Jay's work <a href="http://www.jaystephens.com/works/">here</a>. And while you're at it, check out Jay's new syndicated comic strip with writer Bob Weber Jr., <a href="http://ohbrothercomics.com/">Oh Brother!</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJhXxkLheWezRdjt1OuKvInLaXdFUVnxARKfYOGLp_9dJEO9L942bMhY5pYs2zi4q-bDauVQ78hlJuLpCJfqlooRTXqihWgQm0-DzUJOkYqnimO_jve5Bsn2a-ZBJBS4fObT_34neCPM/s1600/Oh_Brother.20100927_large.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJhXxkLheWezRdjt1OuKvInLaXdFUVnxARKfYOGLp_9dJEO9L942bMhY5pYs2zi4q-bDauVQ78hlJuLpCJfqlooRTXqihWgQm0-DzUJOkYqnimO_jve5Bsn2a-ZBJBS4fObT_34neCPM/s400/Oh_Brother.20100927_large.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522092364975648610" border="0" /></a><br />Okay. Intermission is over.<br /><br />In part one of "Murder Has The Puck", Cliff Gordley, star center for the Red Hawks pro hockey team, dies in the middle of a game. as you can imagine, this puts the team's championship hopes on the line until Speed Savage steps in to take Cliff's place. This upsets the unnamed Boss of a gambling ring eager to clean up by betting against the Red Hawks.<br /><br />"Da Boss" sends his number one thug, Patch Gazetti, to the arena to do to Speed what he did to Cliff. But The White Mask smells a rink rat and hunts down the criminals in their lair only to fall as a gangster bullet creases his masked skull.<br /><br />And now, lace up for sudden death overtime in Part 2 of "Murder Has The Puck"!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B4z12Q9GRh-GGxlHCrJZqm5XaEHMl02iA5bz_0K1GbuBzJZ7GhScM1U1uXAzz8vCrjABej_kvyuLeyA2diNP_66XfrE09TM4oCXaGNELVWxa-xDtn2n4mhwHcvYV3VgpP1mQmJwamG8/s1600/SpdSvgA-08-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B4z12Q9GRh-GGxlHCrJZqm5XaEHMl02iA5bz_0K1GbuBzJZ7GhScM1U1uXAzz8vCrjABej_kvyuLeyA2diNP_66XfrE09TM4oCXaGNELVWxa-xDtn2n4mhwHcvYV3VgpP1mQmJwamG8/s400/SpdSvgA-08-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522093222817069122" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4lny7EmP9jxZaMLjb7K5l9hgKyBbBtVDYFWdyfBfbTEsUuLbfH8dLt1VNuovK7FQIdvhPgJVyCkEREziMiKiay4NHjj6ZxtaS4WSLvQyWuRxqXMSd2u0Oj6eFM6XZtFA6frZTJPI9Q0/s1600/SpdSvgA-09-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4lny7EmP9jxZaMLjb7K5l9hgKyBbBtVDYFWdyfBfbTEsUuLbfH8dLt1VNuovK7FQIdvhPgJVyCkEREziMiKiay4NHjj6ZxtaS4WSLvQyWuRxqXMSd2u0Oj6eFM6XZtFA6frZTJPI9Q0/s400/SpdSvgA-09-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522093735226216690" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE96r6Fdh23U56poNKP16Vs1Ec-Ybsq2RhInIfLZYOKmBMExCs6DzWVFOrNJkJfIJHu-ELbCH39chmGo_fPJGlyQmNKacWQFWgTeYYqTTqAk7I56HJcKXN4nlyKbHfguJgHQn-X23T6A/s1600/SpdSvgA-10-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE96r6Fdh23U56poNKP16Vs1Ec-Ybsq2RhInIfLZYOKmBMExCs6DzWVFOrNJkJfIJHu-ELbCH39chmGo_fPJGlyQmNKacWQFWgTeYYqTTqAk7I56HJcKXN4nlyKbHfguJgHQn-X23T6A/s400/SpdSvgA-10-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522093889090765522" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwNOi-N2jMeRzUESqOJQYxe6XTXan0Ef_-aR47iPr94xkWJIDwHd1dESpxK-Ka6iQAq10vqC_FdzOMnxNj9BZNWEHPKRUzSS5rcCZsPjfR1HhP44Bv_1JIWfoSK1ZnDUjwYjPTdLD3Yk/s1600/SpdSvgA-11-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwNOi-N2jMeRzUESqOJQYxe6XTXan0Ef_-aR47iPr94xkWJIDwHd1dESpxK-Ka6iQAq10vqC_FdzOMnxNj9BZNWEHPKRUzSS5rcCZsPjfR1HhP44Bv_1JIWfoSK1ZnDUjwYjPTdLD3Yk/s400/SpdSvgA-11-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522094028052126434" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFvt6DliEw-g_uS9xgJofWY_pYve28LaGxxoHV9obG55wGObdJxu6wMifwBt_pKiUv6zkYx0LwZpRcorc66oKyrZJEsWAIaRui0MDaDWdqv7MITCKkDE4Z3GUVpwzdw7eSQsROeF098g/s1600/SpdSvgA-12-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFvt6DliEw-g_uS9xgJofWY_pYve28LaGxxoHV9obG55wGObdJxu6wMifwBt_pKiUv6zkYx0LwZpRcorc66oKyrZJEsWAIaRui0MDaDWdqv7MITCKkDE4Z3GUVpwzdw7eSQsROeF098g/s400/SpdSvgA-12-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522094160669152418" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsi8XB-mvFzfi2bV5Brw7aPJpj0OSnFCh_BjbI8THpABNWT14uV4fY2Keu8xJ8QKDTpPNIg3_tk-M7PImMVMbpRKq3CeFOjbmkBskeuALuR-5jiaJD3mFPy5OtdmbOpNs5ELKnq1Wem8/s1600/SpdSvgA-13-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsi8XB-mvFzfi2bV5Brw7aPJpj0OSnFCh_BjbI8THpABNWT14uV4fY2Keu8xJ8QKDTpPNIg3_tk-M7PImMVMbpRKq3CeFOjbmkBskeuALuR-5jiaJD3mFPy5OtdmbOpNs5ELKnq1Wem8/s400/SpdSvgA-13-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522094324403490018" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrqGg1_FKHZSK2ke5wlvLrKZY3wH6KPlMY-hraQkMAalYdApTt0Pl-hsoFR6lkQqcKOqpDDVE09wjCCwn-_oTV6eHKXW6XvEbk61FeuZYCEKMnkaYh6ButOpHThrOzL9ZGsrk6-RRJYE/s1600/SpdSvgA-14-PuckPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrqGg1_FKHZSK2ke5wlvLrKZY3wH6KPlMY-hraQkMAalYdApTt0Pl-hsoFR6lkQqcKOqpDDVE09wjCCwn-_oTV6eHKXW6XvEbk61FeuZYCEKMnkaYh6ButOpHThrOzL9ZGsrk6-RRJYE/s400/SpdSvgA-14-PuckPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522094478156358146" border="0" /></a><br />Three cheers for Speed Savage! Keeping the world safe for hot dog lovers everywhere and all within regulation time.<br /><br />Until next time.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpKD9aqHNooWbmgmC8L6JtXYUT1wphyphenhyphenw-RVY-FWE3srmc2rO1Q1x3mohO9ejWvvBRFR7WFZTXgqoaoME8TSNtlWEbX9t6bVD_SprqfzW_M7YHKsQbsmrBBMH2h1tL1WXb7oD3GULMIIo/s1600/Triu17-FC_lo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpKD9aqHNooWbmgmC8L6JtXYUT1wphyphenhyphenw-RVY-FWE3srmc2rO1Q1x3mohO9ejWvvBRFR7WFZTXgqoaoME8TSNtlWEbX9t6bVD_SprqfzW_M7YHKsQbsmrBBMH2h1tL1WXb7oD3GULMIIo/s400/Triu17-FC_lo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524700159392647218" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-35029525347147432322010-08-23T11:14:00.000-07:002010-08-23T11:47:31.035-07:00Fan Expo - The Premiere of Holmes Incorporated and the Craft of Azzarello<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://tytempletonart.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/cover-rough-small-with-logo.jpg"><img style="width: 312px; height: 477px;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4287" title="COVER ROUGH SMALL WITH LOGO" src="http://tytempletonart.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/cover-rough-small-with-logo.jpg?w=500&h=773" alt="" /></a><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Well, I have been struck down with vertigo for a while now and as you have noticed the blogging has as well.<br /><br />The computer screen really does screw with my head so my online time is limited. I am hoping to be well-enough to attend <a href="http://www.fanexpocanada.com/genre/home/view/comicbook">Fan Expo</a> in Toronto this weekend -- the geektastic Xanadu of all things comic book/sci-fi/anime/gaming and horror.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 303px; height: 200px;" src="http://tytempletonart.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/tcw-logo.png" id="il_fi" /><br /></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="width: 157px; height: 237px;" src="http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/7/7/7712_400x600.jpg" id="il_fi" /><img style="width: 161px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/images/0710/Azz/100_B_85.jpg" id="il_fi" /><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />First up, I will be moderating a Brian Azzarello workshop on the craft of comic book writing for the <a href="http://cartoonistsworkshop.wordpress.com/">Toronto Cartoonist Workshop</a>, which is hosting a number of "how to" workshops throughout the weekend. Here's their schedule:<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Comics Programming Spotlight: "HOW TO" WORKSHOPS - Full Descriptions!</span></h3><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><h4 style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aug. 17, 2010</span></h4><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </div><div class="generated" style="font-family:georgia;"><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" class="uiStreamMessage"><span style="font-size:100%;">Please note: all Comics "HOW TO" Workshops take place in ROOM 203D. Any Pass Allowed. No pre-registration required.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" class="uiStreamMessage"><span style="font-size:100%;">Are you an aspiring comic book professional? These 12 Workshops, developed with the fine folks from the <strong>Toronto Cartoonists Workshop</strong> will offer you unique insight into many aspects of the creative process from TOP INDUSTRY PROS --- artists, writers and editors! </span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><strong>FRIDAY, AUGUST 27</strong></span><br /></div><p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>5:30 - Herding Cats in a Hailstorm- The Secret Life of the Comic Book Editor with Joey Cavalieri</strong> - From Julie Schwartz to Archie Goodwin, the comic industry has had a history of formative editors who have shaped memorable projects and creators. A renaissance man who has written professionally and taught at the renowned School of Visual Arts, senior DC editor Joey Cavalieri discusses his relationship with top talent and what it takes to get published in today’s competitive comics market. Moderated by Walter Dickinson.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>7:00 - From Thin Air- Drawing the Comic Book Figure from Memory with Bob Layton</strong> - Comic book artists are known for their abilities to produce detailed artwork on tight deadlines from their imaginations. Creating the human figure without reference is a Herculean effort essential to the cartoonist. Join Bob “Iron Man” Layton as he demonstrates a simplified approach to constructing the human form that is invaluable to the aspiring pro.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>8:00 - Comic Book Bootcamp with Ty Templeton</strong> - Watch Toronto comics impresario Ty “The Guy” Templeton as he performs the 50 minute “nutshell” version of his celebrated Comic Book Bootcamp course. Ty will expose why talent is a myth, the importance of narrative flow and foolproof methods for creating successful writing pitches.</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><strong>SATURDAY, AUGUST 28</strong></span><br /></div><p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">2:00 - My Dark Places- Writing for Comics with Brian Azzarello</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - A former Clevelander who spent his early days in the trenches of independent comic book editing, Eisner Award winning scribe Brian Azzarello is a chronicler of the darker aspects of human nature. From 100 Bullets to his original graphic novel Filthy Rich, Azzarello has proven he is the comics heir apparent to noir writers like Jim Thompson and David Goodis. Join Brian as he discusses his approach to writing the comic book -script and gives pointers to attendees. Moderated by Robert Pincombe <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(Yay, me!)</span>.</span><br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>3:00 - Hardboiled Storytelling- Page Construction and Composition with Darwyn Cooke</strong> - A direct artistic descendant of Caniff, Toth and Robbins, Darwyn Cooke has produced a look and storytelling ability unique in contemporary comics. Listen to this modern master discuss his theories on pacing, eye flow, spotting blacks and page design. From rough sketch to final art, Darwyn will break down his process and show you the components of a well constructed page.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>4:00 - Of Directors and Cinematographers- The Penciller and Inker Collaboration with Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy</strong> - In the artistic process of producing comics, pencillers and inkers have to work together very closely and often the skills of one blend into the other. This workshop will help define the creative boundaries of the two practices. Learn the difference between layouts, tight pencils and finishes. Find out why inking is not just tracing. Listen to Green Lantern dream team Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy discuss their collaborative relationship. Moderated by Gibson Quarter.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>5:00 - Drawn in Blood- Creating in the Noir Style with Alex Maleev</strong> - Longtime Bendis collaborator and artist on the hot new book Scarlet, Alex Maleev has a natural talent for picking “the right moment” in each panel of a story. His iconic stylings have delineated the darker side of life from Daredevil to Spider-Woman. Watch how Alex creates one of his mind-blowing images.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>6:00 - Thumbnail to Finish: Layout of the Comic Book Page with Steve McNiven</strong><br />From an early training ground at CrossGen to working on major projects for Marvel, Steve has emerged as one of the top artists in the field. Noted for his richly detailed images and adrenaline stimulating storytelling, he continues to craft amazing pages that pull you along at a breakneck pace. Listen as the artist shares his secrets for building action and suspense that keep the readers coming back for more. Moderated by Gibson Quarter.</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><strong>SUNDAY, AUGUST 29</strong></span><br /></div><p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>12:00 - Bold Strokes: Painting Powerful Interiors and Covers with Paolo Rivera</strong> - An industry professional since 2002, Paolo Rivera continues to build breathtaking acrylic images for the covers and interiors of top Marvel books. Watch Paolo discuss his virtuoso technique for designing and composing an eye catching colour page. Attendees will learn how to successfully incorporate both imagination and photo reference to full effect.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>1:00 - Drawing for Impact- Heroic Anatomy with Ian Churchill</strong> - Superheroics have to be chronicled in a larger than life fashion. Part of this is the exaggerated musculature and structure of the heroic body. Join Marvel artist extraordinaire Ian Churchill as he demonstrates the dynamic differences between drawing a mild-mannered Bruce Banner and a raging, rampaging Hulk.<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>2:00 - Floating Worlds-Watercolour Masterclass with Jill Thompson</strong> - Watercolour is a difficult medium at best and a hard one to master. Watch Beasts of Burden and Scary Godmother artist Jill Thompson show you how to build a successful watercolor painting. This workshop will show it all, from initial pencil sketch, to the layering of vibrant colour to build an expressive piece with depth and dimension - ROOM 203D<br /><strong></strong></span></p> <p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>3:00 - How to Workshop: Expressive Anatomy - Drawing Heads and Hands with Olivier Coipel</strong> - Any artist will tell you the most difficult thing to draw about the human form is the head and hands. Watch one of Marvel’s “Young Guns” Olivier Coipel as he shares his secrets for breaking these complex structures down into simple shapes. Whether you’re drawing the Avengers or the X-Men these tips will prove to be valuable tricks of the trade.</span></p></blockquote><p class="uiStreamMessage" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></p></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Secondly, this weekend sees the debut of the TCW's first Fit to Print project, Holmes Inc. It's a lovely 52-page extravaganza of stories about the descendents of Sherlock Holmes fighting the good fight across the globe.<br /><br />I wrote one of the stories within as well some text pages. Come check it out. It's created by comic book superstars of tomorrow! Here's a sneak peek at my pag. Story by me, Robert Pincombe, art by <a href="http://gibsonquarter27art.blogspot.com/">Gibson Quarter</a> and <a href="http://tytempletonart.wordpress.com/">Ty Templeton</a> and letters by <a href="http://templetonsmith.wordpress.com/">K.T. Smith</a>.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-out; width: 292px; height: 445px;" alt="http://templetonsmith.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/final-gibson-page-1.jpg" src="http://templetonsmith.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/final-gibson-page-1.jpg" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-out; width: 306px; height: 467px;" alt="http://templetonsmith.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/final-gibson-page-2.jpg" src="http://templetonsmith.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/final-gibson-page-2.jpg" /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The concept and characters are a Ty Templeton creation but all the creators joined in fleshing out the characters and designing the world. The Holmes Headquarters in London at Baker Square is all mine. (In this world, the family bought up 221 Baker Street and the surrounding street and building a public square to house their corporate headquarters). Here it is, drawn by Christopher Yao.<br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 333px; height: 506px;" alt="http://holmesinccomic.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/final-welcome_pg1letters_an.jpg" src="http://holmesinccomic.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/final-welcome_pg1letters_an.jpg" /><br /><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Yup, that is the original 221 Baker Street as the front entrance to the building. The Holmes Inc. family is very respectful of their past. Learn more about Holmes Inc. #1 at the <a href="http://holmesinccomic.wordpress.com/">official website</a>.<br /><br />I'll be signing at the Toronto Cartoonist Workshop table late Saturday. I hope to see you there!<br /></span><p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></p>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-26215515183988399872010-07-10T11:08:00.000-07:002010-07-10T11:15:38.327-07:00Tor.com - A Site full of Fantastical Delights<span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBk0zmcZVyqztN8ASNebAmGUBanvC0iivJKcmZT0-8JmBqkO7QwBZVcY2DfCvpsM4IXozppyQjHn0dKCbbA27cGdeRuvlbBs7KEheFTNoK-3znWjocC_74Yw7MIDg6ceJOAi3M03BAXM/s1600/index_logo_beta.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 51px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBk0zmcZVyqztN8ASNebAmGUBanvC0iivJKcmZT0-8JmBqkO7QwBZVcY2DfCvpsM4IXozppyQjHn0dKCbbA27cGdeRuvlbBs7KEheFTNoK-3znWjocC_74Yw7MIDg6ceJOAi3M03BAXM/s400/index_logo_beta.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492335494575592274" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XOhJxTi8eM9Z4KuJ3Nz0l8dhIdSBb4tIOKSDF46q-WW3rg3TwF_HZ63yWIxzIoouQiiaLPY6F2Vo_R-N7t_bTZ0CMhbObQ0Qn9YLglRh8azgvwpl7jgTDekDrPTTe4cFdy59ih9pFGs/s1600/url-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XOhJxTi8eM9Z4KuJ3Nz0l8dhIdSBb4tIOKSDF46q-WW3rg3TwF_HZ63yWIxzIoouQiiaLPY6F2Vo_R-N7t_bTZ0CMhbObQ0Qn9YLglRh8azgvwpl7jgTDekDrPTTe4cFdy59ih9pFGs/s400/url-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492335072062967442" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>285</o:Words> <o:characters>1629</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>13</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2000</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Sci-Fi aficionados come in all shapes and sizes but even with the large variety of resources provided by the web, we all tend to gravitate to specific sites to get our updates. Some of us tend to look for movie and TV info, others come from a comic book background, more literary types may go to online story sites.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">As far as literary sci-fi goes, I find myself more and more impressed with the community at publisher</span> </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.tor.com/">Tor.com</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">. There’s lots here to make this site both sticky and worth bookmarking for regular visits.</span>
<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I first discovered the site last year when Tor went all Victorian for</span></span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/10/steampunk-month-on-tor-dot-com">Steampunk month</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">, including redesigning “Stubby” the Tor.com rocket logo into a steampunk airship dubbed the H.M.S. Stubbington.</span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">It was a delight to follow Tor blogger Irene’s </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2008/12/animation-index">Saturday Morning Cartoons</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">posts, pointing me to awesome sci-fi themed toons from around the world. </span>
<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I still return to posts like</span> <a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/10/saturday-morning-cartoons-qthe-aeronautq-and-qthe-gentlemans-duelq"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Steampunk Saturda<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">y</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">,</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">which showcased the lavish, steampunk, shadow toon, “The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello” (Whose home website is very cool</span></span> <a href="http://www.jaspermorello.com/gazette/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Gothic Gazette</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">)</span></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and</span> <a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.blur.com/">Blur Studio’s</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">“A Gentleman’s Duel”.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZOM8zoWYSO4EvBUYYXj05Ga5hyq879rei0Ol_qG_Cw4CH7wbtV2NiMbXLwdm58wrQVNh96B-UnGTcsXNej3LbtZ8MV4t17kuNm7Lt5YQUAjirPxFF7E-GrIfqTQvQ_nYzlzHPhLl1RQ/s1600/url-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZOM8zoWYSO4EvBUYYXj05Ga5hyq879rei0Ol_qG_Cw4CH7wbtV2NiMbXLwdm58wrQVNh96B-UnGTcsXNej3LbtZ8MV4t17kuNm7Lt5YQUAjirPxFF7E-GrIfqTQvQ_nYzlzHPhLl1RQ/s400/url-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492334463927136594" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6rI7xpTLFzTpTcr5ruDCdp3YBDG0ekHGwF8i5LUmvOZ9ZJIohm0XEW6-3FsY0ZZ6gk9lzsfABvNutnPxW7ApXRsPl3kQFNPYXg9nZ9OpDiAVF7OdvyNzyMix1L0oFBa6Z3rt1pYciSs/s1600/blur_GDstill_staredown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6rI7xpTLFzTpTcr5ruDCdp3YBDG0ekHGwF8i5LUmvOZ9ZJIohm0XEW6-3FsY0ZZ6gk9lzsfABvNutnPxW7ApXRsPl3kQFNPYXg9nZ9OpDiAVF7OdvyNzyMix1L0oFBa6Z3rt1pYciSs/s400/blur_GDstill_staredown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492334678819674802" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Irene is the Art Director for</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://us.macmillan.com/Tor.aspx">Tor</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">,</span> </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://us.macmillan.com/Forge.aspx">Forge</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">,</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://us.macmillan.com/TorTeenStarscape.aspx">Starscape</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">and </span></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.tor.com/">Tor.com</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">and has excellent taste in toons. Check out her</span> </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.igallo.blogspot.com/">personal website</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">. </span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WweNmA0_ZyS3ROoSRzCS_nmMIb28SnJ3CsG1X-Nrsi4aey0wrAAEmk9X3if1A0j4_94-HO5UuoWOXaadLpNAbmpSzAw22vH6uVDjMvnukqOhGTDS16iRrPgm3bwTV7sDUAJO2acZRKc/s1600/BlackStrings_storypage_80x60.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WweNmA0_ZyS3ROoSRzCS_nmMIb28SnJ3CsG1X-Nrsi4aey0wrAAEmk9X3if1A0j4_94-HO5UuoWOXaadLpNAbmpSzAw22vH6uVDjMvnukqOhGTDS16iRrPgm3bwTV7sDUAJO2acZRKc/s400/BlackStrings_storypage_80x60.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492337134367668114" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">For those who like their narrative more graphic, Tor also has short stories by cartoonists including Canada’s indie horror maven,</span><a href="http://www.rayfawkes.com/"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Ray Fawkes</span></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">and his creepy little gem,</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.tor.com/stories/2009/05/blackstrings">Black Strings</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">.</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And while we’re in a Canadian cartoonist mood, take a peek at </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://mymisiu.com/">Agnes Garbowska’s</a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">delightful animated preview for her comic project, Imagination Station.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><object style="background-image: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Bvrfgf9grRg/hqdefault.jpg);" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bvrfgf9grRg&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bvrfgf9grRg&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>
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<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialBjKgAeWJV3uzZGRlc1s7oL62wWm1GHGiymEB1r5KwAxtAsxExC0st8QIQ3AMiNH6WQ_8MLLkHUVYJt_xwY4sLyqGgH1Tibs104SiAsSNpsGl8_1uneOdrS4B4CGw0_oZT5o2_86kqk/s1600/url-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialBjKgAeWJV3uzZGRlc1s7oL62wWm1GHGiymEB1r5KwAxtAsxExC0st8QIQ3AMiNH6WQ_8MLLkHUVYJt_xwY4sLyqGgH1Tibs104SiAsSNpsGl8_1uneOdrS4B4CGw0_oZT5o2_86kqk/s400/url-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492334891470722674" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-37505479220482718072010-07-03T17:26:00.000-07:002010-07-07T14:25:23.283-07:00Francis Manapul - Superboy and Flash artist to TV Star: Master of the Beast Legends!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ARBgBzcHdpAucWvZVZrftpJq9hr3yaqpM6Hw_GT3wIm4CWNyGA7-zmf_NltfJugP9hXk482gGpJI0r611jfgYamPlH8Oao-EKXn1Pwtm8Aeb5w19yk-zqBpp7Lrfje58vIPkJqO8NDk/s1600/url.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ARBgBzcHdpAucWvZVZrftpJq9hr3yaqpM6Hw_GT3wIm4CWNyGA7-zmf_NltfJugP9hXk482gGpJI0r611jfgYamPlH8Oao-EKXn1Pwtm8Aeb5w19yk-zqBpp7Lrfje58vIPkJqO8NDk/s400/url.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489854141234739826" border="0" /></a><br />Last fall I was one of several people approached for suggestions regarding a Toronto comic artist with a penchant for mythological beasts to do art for a documentary fantasy show going into production. The series, <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=250126">Beast Legends</a>, looked at the real science behind mythological beasts to see if they were indeed possible. I heard no more of it until this week!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBf9CO5F42VSeaeIqAkxF5XKdob0vCxNCjhnMDtTXTJlY_QFZp6NxdZZZo0xvcf7IPO_N_QeHo5QxCn6ajLXCbVXD0VgwxPt5PWBoHDzF5MNdZX5bNT4fZLeS_prxqfxVL32Kwp7Y8gI/s1600/logo.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBf9CO5F42VSeaeIqAkxF5XKdob0vCxNCjhnMDtTXTJlY_QFZp6NxdZZZo0xvcf7IPO_N_QeHo5QxCn6ajLXCbVXD0VgwxPt5PWBoHDzF5MNdZX5bNT4fZLeS_prxqfxVL32Kwp7Y8gI/s400/logo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489852520872818658" border="0" /></a><br />According to the cover story in this week's Toronto Star Week TV magazine, this Wed. July 7, Best Legends premiers in Canada on the <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=250126">History Channel</a> (It will appear on the SyFy Channel in the States later this year and is distributed worldwide by the BBC).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFZRxFAzNLyYHpTqqi_CUKuYBlTbXingiC2r3zNY1JnFJATfjZFBSphqID1VbALvtfqvK6mHgq5RhOVKcML7hE41_GOFx-cZalZxQx9LFMTRyqyaIRL3ENug5cKlUyT-Hnap59dRI24Q/s1600/prv4572_cov.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFZRxFAzNLyYHpTqqi_CUKuYBlTbXingiC2r3zNY1JnFJATfjZFBSphqID1VbALvtfqvK6mHgq5RhOVKcML7hE41_GOFx-cZalZxQx9LFMTRyqyaIRL3ENug5cKlUyT-Hnap59dRI24Q/s400/prv4572_cov.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489852993216388962" border="0" /></a>The production wisely tapped current Flash artist and former Shuster Award nominee <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://manapul.deviantart.com/">Francis Manapul</a> for the art chores.<br /><br />And to my delight, it seems they wanted more than art. They wanted Francis to star as part of a Indian Jones-like team traveling the world and researching legends. How awesome is that><br /><br />There isn't much of a web presence for the show yet but Francis was kind enough to post his own version of the press release over at <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.francismanapul.com/">francismanapul.com</a>:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;"><strong>BEAST LEGENDS</strong></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;"> brings together the ‘Beast Seekers’, an expert team of specialist investigators. This elite, engaging group, a learned kind of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, is made up of:</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Kathryn Denning</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Myth expert, anthropologist, archaeologist and professor at Toronto’s York University. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Scott Edwards</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Curator of Ornithology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Stephen Leonard</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Adventurer and Veterinary Surgeon based in Bristol, England.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Francis Manapul</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: Philippine-born, now Toronto-based, renowned comic book artist. </span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">In each of the six hour-long episodes, the Beast Seekers investigate a different legendary beast, travelling the globe to the actual locations that spawned the stories of these Beasts. They track down clues to find the truth behind the legends. The Beast Seekers uncover historical and eyewitness accounts, and zero in on archaeological and other physical evidence to assemble the most accurate picture possible of what these monsters would be like, where they would live and how they would behave, if they really existed.<br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxgthSCK_UOdRG2W9unLFjx6oM8geRKdUABoWp_lQwWybLy4iAt26D621R71UZw9822rBa28E9Bl4nNoeyLXxqRN-Hk2nRFYCS3273jx3myGIWs_YmkTSxCbNiIOsMZhjFQ42S9yT27w/s1600/BL.DSC_0122%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxgthSCK_UOdRG2W9unLFjx6oM8geRKdUABoWp_lQwWybLy4iAt26D621R71UZw9822rBa28E9Bl4nNoeyLXxqRN-Hk2nRFYCS3273jx3myGIWs_YmkTSxCbNiIOsMZhjFQ42S9yT27w/s400/BL.DSC_0122%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489853345960504514" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Armed with every piece of information the team has discovered, <strong>BEAST LEGENDS</strong></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> then moves to the ‘Beast Lab’ to build the creature, first as initial sculpts and wire-frame forms, and finally bringing it to life in stunning 3D CGI. </span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">And then we unleash it on the modern world…..</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></span></p> It's a fun idea and I think Francis was an inspired choice. He's always entertaining to watch at Cons whipping his brushes back and forth as a beautiful, haunting watercolour and ink wash painting emerges. And as a bonus, he's always really sweet to speak with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO85gOGz5Ib6STToP6qavPmet1g-nkYlDGrpS8TozOZsv2KC9-w9E8wPlDW0WBgNMQBuRS1VlqN5nvZ7sEym2QhAVAjp0Hxy5ojJt8ZnXk2iQr8h2JuPIwoTXaSEJfWYJpUVrrQ4rGsk/s1600/url-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO85gOGz5Ib6STToP6qavPmet1g-nkYlDGrpS8TozOZsv2KC9-w9E8wPlDW0WBgNMQBuRS1VlqN5nvZ7sEym2QhAVAjp0Hxy5ojJt8ZnXk2iQr8h2JuPIwoTXaSEJfWYJpUVrrQ4rGsk/s400/url-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489853596174299874" border="0" /></a><br />I suspect we'll get to see a much more gregarious side of him and co-host, veterinary surgeon and "adventurer" Stephen Leonard, on this show. The first six-episode season will delve into such beasties as the half-eagle, half-lion griffin, the colossal, squid-like kraken, a giant shark spoken off in hushed whispers on the island of Fiji and the wild man of Vietnam, what the Starweek article refers to as a "tropical Sasquatch".<br /><br />Hosts Leonard and Manapul each pulled in their own direction, with the artist constantly considering how the things might have looked and Leonard more interested in the biology of how it could have existed. The remining team members match the field-gathered material with scientific research and speculation to to create a workable 3-D model.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrADBsAzDBMym5FlOth6QytU4qzn_X6EW1bp7fhcwlEisVG9cvIFwWuI6nSBbD6LCCwmQQBvFPiXEjgZajZ000U99k1EmRcVAtMU8xW6wXWJQmOX0Hyuk_QA49gkHGWEHzPPHpYlnoW5U/s1600/BL.DSC_0294%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrADBsAzDBMym5FlOth6QytU4qzn_X6EW1bp7fhcwlEisVG9cvIFwWuI6nSBbD6LCCwmQQBvFPiXEjgZajZ000U99k1EmRcVAtMU8xW6wXWJQmOX0Hyuk_QA49gkHGWEHzPPHpYlnoW5U/s400/BL.DSC_0294%5B1%5D.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489853900248719666" border="0" /></a><br />Then, like any good <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.rayharryhausen.com/index.php">Ray Harryhausen</a> adventure, the magic of modern special effects unleashes the model on the real world (and our hosts) at the end of each episode! Apprently the show has unearthed some surprises, like he fact the legend of the griffin goes farther back than it's assumed medieval origins to the mountains of Mongolia!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy225j8qLEYMhMkxCD6Hj0F5Uatr20ZR7SvEJ4TGkq1DzroomS9ukN-F_3DiN8Y4SLneehwyBFWzBTxIKf18SmkhJRrZ7V7C1pvyop6QzR-zfJYO6QBPv1hm_PI5SJCQF982JZWBqJeHg/s1600/small_ADV6_pg6_FINAL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy225j8qLEYMhMkxCD6Hj0F5Uatr20ZR7SvEJ4TGkq1DzroomS9ukN-F_3DiN8Y4SLneehwyBFWzBTxIKf18SmkhJRrZ7V7C1pvyop6QzR-zfJYO6QBPv1hm_PI5SJCQF982JZWBqJeHg/s400/small_ADV6_pg6_FINAL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489852757587391442" border="0" /></a><br />More on Beast Legends and Manapul <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://manapul.blogspot.com/2010/07/super-mega-update-flash-wonder-woman.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Beast Legends premiere episode airs Wednesday at 10 pm on the History Channel.<div><br /></div><div>UPDATE: The <a href="http://www.beastlegends.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Beast Legends website</span></a> is now live.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bYsYYUEnIywMmazRmE30_tFzKO9PRz3DH-NsDbuQKrza8fxWnJnDWt_dmIWIxN0gvhxQpozIX5NXP4vVJ8y1-skO2jOt53J8vifZKglGgxsHfw4gWQpamoM-yF8RRqq8Wi2PEQ5Z9tI/s1600/Shuster_Awards_Poster_Final_by_manapul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bYsYYUEnIywMmazRmE30_tFzKO9PRz3DH-NsDbuQKrza8fxWnJnDWt_dmIWIxN0gvhxQpozIX5NXP4vVJ8y1-skO2jOt53J8vifZKglGgxsHfw4gWQpamoM-yF8RRqq8Wi2PEQ5Z9tI/s400/Shuster_Awards_Poster_Final_by_manapul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489854350240978386" border="0" /></a></div>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-5096745401687779872010-06-24T07:30:00.000-07:002010-06-25T07:00:33.243-07:00Joe Shuster Hall of Fame 2010 - Richard Comely, George Freeman and Claude St. Aubin<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HM7qTNrI3u9bY3IW02vBDMdyr9OFaKoRGj3u0aGCyysyqHU1sbWYPvd2932N3eFKRSUVIlZrRz45rI6blSu1th1e-iFPrAxHAShHey9dAszizpPztdR9F9XE_Qw6CFtRBLx25dv-e50/s1600/jsa2010_poster_sm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HM7qTNrI3u9bY3IW02vBDMdyr9OFaKoRGj3u0aGCyysyqHU1sbWYPvd2932N3eFKRSUVIlZrRz45rI6blSu1th1e-iFPrAxHAShHey9dAszizpPztdR9F9XE_Qw6CFtRBLx25dv-e50/s400/jsa2010_poster_sm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486352861271774322" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1_0vzBLajTPeGtZSDlgoc35HyZa7f-iExxcR7NCH9EgmR9IxcwPPTdm5TpsOgVH3EOMDm7ClmrKvmaQfCiuSZ14zGwGUGRVRWsIBVGHMdhZHxG2QTnOtJ3FZXN9gUsPU4b-8JO4CU0o/s1600/jsa2010_poster_sm1.jpg"><br /></a></div>2010's <a href="http://joeshusterawards.com/">Joe Shuster Awards</a> were handed out this past June 5.<br /><br />Along with this year's Hall of Fame inductees <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-deni.html">Deni Loubert</a>, <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-dave.html">Dave Darrigo</a> and <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-serge.html">Serge Gaboury</a>, the Shusters also chose to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the creation of Captain Canuck (way back in 1975!) by inducting the three creator's most associated with the Captain's popularity -- Richard Comely, George Freeman and Claude St. Aubin.<br /><br />Claude St. Aubin's award was presented by Canadian artist <a href="http://iamkalman.blogspot.com/">Kalman Andrasofsky</a>.<br /><br />George Freeman's award was presented by Canadian author or co-founder of <a href="http://www.hardcorenerdity.com/">hardcorenerdity.com</a>, <a href="http://www.lesleylivingston.com/">Lesley Livingston</a>.<br /><br />Richard Comely's award was presented by artist-designer-letterer and font of all 80's Canadian indie comic knowledge, <a href="http://ronkasman.tumblr.com/">Ron Kasman</a>.<br /><br />Videtape and posting of the inductions was provided by my oh so patient wife.<br /><br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12632528&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12632528&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12632528">Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame 2010 Inductees: Jean-Claude St. Aubin, George Freeman and Richard Comely</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3770507">Jill Leger</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />Since Freeman and St.Aubin were unable to attend, all three awards were accepted by Richard Comely. Comely will hand delivering the awards when he sees Freeman out west in a month or so.<br /><br /><br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12633284&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12633284&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12633284">Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame 2010 Acceptance speech: Richard Comely</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3770507">Jill Leger</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />As you can see in Richard's gracious acceptance speech, both he and Freeman were specific about wanting to give Ron Leishman credit for designing and co-creating Captain Canuck. though they made it happen, without Leishman's inspiration, the Captain would never have existed.<br /><br />You can find write-ups on all Shuster Hall of Famers at the main <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/">HoF page</a>.<br /><br />Claude St. Aubin's Shuster bio is <a href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/jean-claude-st-aubin-1951/"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">here</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></a> Read an extended <a href="http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/117000597365577.htm">Comics Bulletin interview</a> with Claude St. Aubin conducted Hall of Fame committee member Phil Latter a. Get a copy of Aubin's "March on Fort Whoop-Up" project <a href="http://www.marchonfortwhoopup.com/artistbio.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />George Freeman's Shuster Award bio is <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/george-freeman-1951/">here</a>. Check out Freeman's <a href="http://members.shaw.ca/comicart/COMICS/index.html">website</a> and get a copy of the first Captain Canuck archive <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Captain-Canuck-1-George-Freeman/dp/1600104436">here</a>.<br /><br />More on Richard Comely and Captain Canuck at the <a href="http://www.captaincanuck.com/">official website</a>. A recent Comely interview can be found Jeffery Klaehn's <a href="http://jefferyklaehn.blogspot.com/2010/03/richard-comely-interview.html">Pop blog</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-74073094988075640672010-06-24T06:54:00.000-07:002010-06-25T06:55:51.837-07:00Joe Shuster Hall of Fame 2010 - Deni Loubert<span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1n7C4oOCp-7YdPQUq4p5dT53XVbPgfUz4MKWXi6idtX8-6s1-dt6k0-JMhkjdEPzYUdFjn-0-Ec20eWA7Ia1W6d4rLcZD26DGEeDtq5hTeCVqHFsUogOxBveQc6o3r9MS6FFZwczDnY/s1600/shuster_awards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1n7C4oOCp-7YdPQUq4p5dT53XVbPgfUz4MKWXi6idtX8-6s1-dt6k0-JMhkjdEPzYUdFjn-0-Ec20eWA7Ia1W6d4rLcZD26DGEeDtq5hTeCVqHFsUogOxBveQc6o3r9MS6FFZwczDnY/s400/shuster_awards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486357446850295218" border="0" /></a>
<br />We continue our video coverage of this years <a href="http://joeshusterawards.com/">Joe Shuster Awards</a> Hall of Fame inductions from Toronto's Innis Hall last June 5. With special thanks to my wife Jill for her videography and editing skills. This year's inductees included <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-dave.html">Dave Darrigo</a>, <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-serge.html">Serge Gaboury</a> and <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-richard.html">Captain Canuck writer-artist</a>s Richard Comely, George Freeman and Claude St. Aubin.
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<br />This time we greet the Queen of the Independents. Deni Loubert quite literally helped lay the groundwork for a modern Canadian comic book industry and for independant comics in general.
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<br />The publishing, promotion and distribution system she put in place for Aardvark-Vanaheim while publishing Cerebus with her then-husband Dave Sim was adapted and refined by Sim, enabling him to achieve his incredible, uninterrupted<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>2</o:Words> <o:characters>12</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>14</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->300 issue run.
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<br />She then ran Renegade Press for years, featuring an amazing array of talented artists and awesome comics. Watch comics writer-artist-teacher-bon vivant Ty Templeton induct Deni.
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<br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12631371&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12631371&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12631371">Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee: Deni Loubert</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3770507">Jill Leger</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>
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<br />More about Ty (including regular Saturday morning comics and original art sales!) at <a href="http://tytempletonart.wordpress.com/">Ty Templeton's Artland</a>.
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<br />I wish I had more time to spend with Deni after the awards. She is smart, insightful and has a very unique and broad perspective on the industry. Her thoughts on how artists represent themselves for better and for worse (based on her experience as an artist's rep in Hollywood) alone is worth a round of drinks.
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<br />Deni Loubert's Shuster bio is <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/deni-loubert-1954/">here</a>. The Shuster Halll of Fame main page is <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/">here</a>.
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<br />For your enjoyment and edification, here is the short speech I wrote for her induction, which presenter Ty Templeton delightfully threw out in favour of his own unique take on Deni.
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<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>479</o:Words> <o:characters>2731</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>22</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3353</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Originally hailing from Timmons, Ontario, Deni Loubert grew up living a nomadic existence with her family, crisscrossing the continent as her Dad followed work from the local McIntyre Mine to the railroads of Arizona and northern California and back to the Great White North in the nickel mines of Sudbury. Because her parents frowned on comics as proper reading material she caught up on fave comic book by reading them in the grocery store. The family settled in the San Francisco Bay area long enough for Deni to attend high school and rediscover comics in the form of Gilbert Shelton’s Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Another family move to Kitchener, Ontario led Loubert to discover science fiction fandom. Inspired by local comic artist and fellow Joe Shuster Hall of Famer Gene Day’s self-published work, she began to self-publish a zine of her own, Cerebus. Loubert met artist and future husband Dave Sim at Harry Kremer’s Now And Then Books, the hub for Kitchener’s local fandom and artistic community. Together, the two budding publishers formed Aardvark-Vanaheim to put out a Cerebus comic book based on their aardvark mascot.<span style=""> </span>Loubert’s reputation as publisher eager to help artists create their best work was born here.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Determined to let Sim create, Loubert took the business reins and learned publishing from the ground up, forging alliances with printers, writing text pages, overseeing the printing and arranging for now legendary Cerebus tours. Eventually, her love of artists and desire to forge her own identity inspired her to expand the Aardvark-Vanaheim line, publishing early work by Image Comic’s Jim Valentino, Arn Saba, Bob Burden and Max Allen Collins. When Loubert and Sim’s marriage ended, the infrastructure she had set up for Aarvark-Vanaheim were the foundation of Sim’s extended run on Cerebus - the longest running independent comic in history.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Already partially responsible for helping a new generation of Canadian artists and publishers to step up to the plate, Loubert moved to Los Angeles to start fresh with her own imprint, Renegade Press.<span style=""> </span>In addition to publishing numerous US artists, Loubert helped shepherd new work by Canadian creators like Dan and David Day (Cases of Sherlock Holmes), fellow Shuster inductee Dave Darrigo and R.G. Taylor (Wordsmith) and Larry Hancock and Michael Cherkas (Silent Invasion).<span style="">
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<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span>Loubert closed Renegade’s doors in 1989 but it’s a testament of the wide respect and popularity she held within the industry that the founders of Image Comics first approached her to be their publisher when they broke away from Marvel Comics. Loubert also worked for Wendy and Richard Pini as the Managing Editor at WaRP Graphics and was VP of Comic Book Development for Full Moon Entertainment, overseeing works by Marv Wolfman, Harlan Ellison and others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">For several years, Loubert worked as an artist representative in Hollywood and Friends of Lulu pamphlet, “How To Get Girls Into Your Store”, remains a must-read for comic shops wishing to avoid alienating half the world’s population.<span style=""> </span>In 2003, her comic savvy and natural entrepreneurship continued with NovelGrafx Inc., an early developer of concepts and technology for delivery of comic books to cell phones and is currently laying the groundwork for a new, as yet unannounced comic project.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->While we're celebrating all things Deni, check out this terrific and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hro1j3zMYxE">candid video interview</a> with Margaret Liss and Jeff Tundis during the 2008 San Diego Comic Con.
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<br />Next Up: The creators of Captain Canuck share the spotlight.
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-68420176473163321792010-06-24T06:06:00.000-07:002010-06-25T06:50:59.612-07:00Joe Shuster Hall of Fame 2010 - Dave Darrigo Video<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM4X6Nq6ToPNQNxrmKqhgFMPpxBBThbtCHWoiskr30fufAaLv54jJeZfiibDubsBt4nR7CBJ4UzDi3EZB10iXL3yYqdY9_-hmTe0z-UBJ4W0U0HA3HM5uZqY4kIkb5-EtvfUIstCgBWM/s1600/shuster_awards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM4X6Nq6ToPNQNxrmKqhgFMPpxBBThbtCHWoiskr30fufAaLv54jJeZfiibDubsBt4nR7CBJ4UzDi3EZB10iXL3yYqdY9_-hmTe0z-UBJ4W0U0HA3HM5uZqY4kIkb5-EtvfUIstCgBWM/s400/shuster_awards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486356793894612898" border="0" /></a><br />More of the J<a href="http://joeshusterawards.com/">oe Shuster Awards</a> 2010 Hall of Fame Video from Toronto's Innis Hall last June 5. This year's inductees included <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-deni.html">Deni Loubert</a>, <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-serge.html">Serge Gaboury</a> and <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-richard.html">Captain Canuck writer-artist</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">s </span>Richard Comely, George Freeman and Claude St. Aubin.<br /><br />Our next inductee is Dave Darrigo. Dave has a long history of independent publishing and self-publishing through his Special Studios imprint. Despite not seing the same level of public awareness as some Canadian creators, Dave has provided work and a showcase for a great many Canuck artists. He was also one of the original group that founded and got the the Shuster Awards up and running.<br /><br />The Hall of Fame committee was proud to shine the spotlight on a man who rarely gets such attention and when he does, he usually tries to give it to someone he feels is more deserving!<br /><br />Though family concerns have taken Dave away from comics creation for a while, he assures us he has some ideas percolating.<br /><br />Dave's award was presented by Joe Kilmartin, manager of Toronto's <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.dragonladyshop.com/">Dragon Lady</a> comic shop.<br /><br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12629717&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12629717&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12629717">Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee: Dave Darrigo</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3770507">Jill Leger</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />Dave doesn't have a big online presence as yet. Time to fix that, Dave! :) His Hall of Fame bio is coming soon though. Keep checking the Shuster <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/">Hall of Fame main page</a>.<br /><br />For more info on the Dragon Lady Comic Shop you can join their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto-ON/Dragon-Lady-Comics/23380812908">Facebook page</a>.<br /><br />Next up, we'll see the induction of a true founder and builder of the modern Canadian Comics scene. We all owe the very idea of making it as a Canadian Comic artist to this woman and her fellow early movers and shakers. Stay tuned for Deni Loubert!<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-69174907864380756812010-06-24T05:43:00.000-07:002010-06-25T06:52:22.069-07:00Joe Shuster Hall of Fame 2010 - Serge Gaboury Video<span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM4X6Nq6ToPNQNxrmKqhgFMPpxBBThbtCHWoiskr30fufAaLv54jJeZfiibDubsBt4nR7CBJ4UzDi3EZB10iXL3yYqdY9_-hmTe0z-UBJ4W0U0HA3HM5uZqY4kIkb5-EtvfUIstCgBWM/s1600/shuster_awards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM4X6Nq6ToPNQNxrmKqhgFMPpxBBThbtCHWoiskr30fufAaLv54jJeZfiibDubsBt4nR7CBJ4UzDi3EZB10iXL3yYqdY9_-hmTe0z-UBJ4W0U0HA3HM5uZqY4kIkb5-EtvfUIstCgBWM/s400/shuster_awards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486356793894612898" border="0" /></a>
<br />The <a href="http://joeshusterawards.com/">Joe Shuster Awards</a> have come and gone once again, held this year at Toronto's Innis Town Hall on June 5.
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<br />Each year of the Shusters brings surprising and delightful additions to their Hall of Fame and this time around is no different. (<span style="font-style: italic;">*Full Disclosure: I was one this year's Hall of Fame and as usual, debate was lively but respectful.</span>) Inductees included <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-deni.html">Deni Loubert</a>, <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-dave.html">Dave Darrigo</a> and <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-shuster-hall-of-fame-2010-richard.html">Captain Canuck writer-artist</a>s Richard Comely, George Freeman and Claude St. Aubin.
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<br />I'll be posting video of all the Hall of Fame inductions shot and uploaded by my lovely, talented and oh so indulgent wife.
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<br />The night kicked off with the induction of prolific Quebec cartoonist <a href="http://www.gabourycartoons.com/">Serge Gaboury</a>. I had the honour of presenting Serge with his trophy and chatting at length with he and his beautiful Mrs. Gaboury after the event.
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<br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12629141&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12629141&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12629141">Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame 2010 Inductee: Serge Gaboury</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3770507">Jill Leger</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<br />Serge was gracious, humble and quite moved by the event. See more of his comics and animation at his website, <a href="http://www.gabourycartoons.com/">www.gabourycartoons.com</a> and at his <a href="http://www.bdquebec.qc.ca/auteurs/gaboury/gaboury.htm">bdquebec page</a>. If you need a readable Anglais version, here is the <a href="http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.bdquebec.qc.ca/auteurs/gaboury/gaboury.htm&ei=HlUjTMmyKYaBlAfMmZxf&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dserge%2Bgaboury%26hl%3Den">Google-translated version</a>.
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<br />You can find Serge's Shuster Hall of Fame page <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/serge-gaboury-1954/">here</a>.
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<br />For a complete list of Hall of Fame members check out the Shuster's <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://joeshusterawards.com/hof/">HoF main page</a>.
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<br />For those who are interested, here is the text of my speech:
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<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>788</o:Words> <o:characters>4497</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>37</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>5522</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Serge Gaboury was born in Quebec in 1954. By the time he studied Graphic Communication at Laval University, he had already published strips in the Peuple-Tribune and was drawing cartoons for the university’s newspaper. Despite a rise in awareness and recognition of Québec culture during the seventies, the province’s indigenous comics scene was still struggling to find itself when Jacques Hurtibise founded Croc magazine, a hybrid of Quebec comics and satirical humour that became a leading showcase for Quebec’s top cartoonists. Gaboury joined the Croc team in 1979 and never looked back, contributing strips throughout its legendary run.
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<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Since then, Gaboury strips have appeared regularly in comic magazines like Safarir and Les Debrouillards while his cartoons and caricatures appeared in publications as diverse as the Journal de Québec, Le Devoir, Le Soleil and 7Jours, and La Terre dé Chez Nous (Quebec Agricultural Producer’s union newspaper).<span style=""> </span>Gaboury’s animation work has appeared on Radio-Canada and the Canoe website. In the last decade Gaboury’s popularity and renown has only increased with the publishing of his award-winning Glik and Gluk collections. At one point, along with all his comic work, Segre was also designing all the floats for night parade of the Quebec Winter Carnival.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">It’s easy to dismiss exceptional, consistent output like that.<span style=""> </span>After years of incredible basketball, we take a Kobe Bryant 50-point night for granted.<span style=""> </span>That’s because someone that good is no longer measured in normal terms. They’re only measured against themselves. That is Serge Gaboury’s legacy. Artist Gabriel Morrisette calls Serge the best gagman in the business and mentioned an old joke about Gaboury, who did comics for every level of government at one time or another… Except for the Ministry of Revenue, because he works for them every time he does a job!<span style=""> </span>Artists and fans admire Gaboury’s versatility – from his caustic humour in Croc and the Lewis Carroll-like adventures of Alys in Titanic to editorial caricatures and children’s books like the funny bees of Zzzzzoé (pronounced hEY!) and his well-known Glik and Gluk series.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Morrisette also points to Gaboury’s generosity with his technical expertise. He was one of the first to move to digital colour and helped teach Gabriel when he needed to learn it for a job.<span style=""> </span>In terms of sheer output, Gaboury is amazingly prolific - the Jack Kirby of Quebec comics, constantly working to support his family. Tonight, since I started this speech Serge has finished another Glik and Gluk collection, an ad for Quaker Oats and a 350 page graphic novel about the history of the pogo stick… all since taking his seat!<span style=""> </span>You might be<span style=""> </span>surprised to find there are very few Serge Gaboury anecdotes. But how could there be?<span style=""> </span>The dude never goes anywhere. He’s always at working.<span style=""> </span>Some might think that a dull life.<span style=""> </span>Maybe… but never dull on the page.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Gaboury’s loose, cartoony style sometimes gets taken for granted but it’s very effective and he is highly regarded by his peers. Pierre Fournier tells tales of everyone at the Croc office gathering around when Gaboury’s artwork came in and laughing out loud at his pages. Even an artist like Henriette Valium, whose extremely underground work is miles from Gaboury’s, used to buy kid’s magazines to read his Glik and Gluk and was terrified to meet the talented Serge in person.<span style=""> </span>As you’ll soon see, Serge is in no way terrifying so that says a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">By the way Serge, Pierre requested that I relay a message to you. Usually he meets you at the Quebec Book Fair so you and your wives can catch up. This year Pierre couldn’t make it. He assures me that is because he’s avoiding you, as you suspected.
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<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Fellow Shuster Hall of Famer Jacques Hurtubise did share one anecdote.<span style=""> </span>Croc magazine was the most important Quebec humour/comics magazine of its day. And rival magazine Safarir (or Saf) was very competitive. So when Croc magazine folded, they quickly moved to scoop up three key Croc artists: Pierre Fournier and Real Godbout, who didn’t last, and Serge Gaboury. The Editor-in-Chief of Saf was bragging to Gaboury about the advantages of working for them over Croc and assured Serge that they would never make him draw bloody and violent strips like Croc had him do. Serge happily replied, “They were not forcing me. I love to draw bloody and violent comics!”<span style=""> </span>Dull life? Never on the page.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">We are seeing a slow evolution in English Canadian comics. Where once there was a great divide between comic books, comic strips, comic albums, animation, caricature and graphic art, creators are coming to see the link between all these forms. In Quebec that is how it has always been. The meaning of the term “comics” is vast and broad thanks to the versatility of pioneering artists like Serge Gaboury. Gaboury fans were able to find his work not just in comic magazines, but also in newspapers, on TV and in advertisements.<span style=""> </span>The examples set by Gaboury and his peers (like fellow Joe Shuster Hall of Famers Jacques Hurtubise, Real Godbout and Pierre Fournier) inspired a new generation of creators to view comics as an art form with no boundaries.
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<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p></blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">For over thirty years Gaboury has been a force for Canadian comics in Québec with consistently enchanting, engaging work and we are proud to induct him into the Joe Shuster Hall of Fame. Ladies ad Gentlemen… Serge Gaboury.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">(*With thanks to Gabriel Morrissette, Jacques Hurtubise and Pierre Fournier)</span></i></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">
<br /></span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i>Next up, an under-appreciated but potent force in Canadian Comics is inducted -- Dave Darrigo!
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-1618502716572834672010-04-05T08:01:00.000-07:002010-04-05T08:04:20.264-07:00Ad-Astra: Animation Guest of Honour<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 305px; height: 203px;" src="http://api.ning.com/files/A3MLRlgDYn1zQc4GeLMYE0U1TivESLNd3zakvUAcIbWeCnW6UIbPkyjXqSoWHzMO16kOR0NRpycFNZRP61AO7vMwpetwI0U7/grossology02.jpg" alt="" /></p><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">This weekend I will be appearing as the Animation Guest of Honour at </span><a href="http://www.ad-astra.org/">Ad-Astra</a>.</span><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 302px; height: 119px;" src="http://api.ning.com/files/r7C98mn*LtmKg2w1B5mpcmJjc-0M5oOf35lZd59imMaD064ior7RaO7x00Qjds6*mODyXC7mFe7gcxBlujCHhSCw7KBCUPG7/PNGglowlogo.png" alt="" /></p><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Not only is it my first time as a Guest, but it's also my first official sci<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">-</span>fi convention... </span><i style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">ever!! </i><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">(Not counting Fan Expo, which I have attended for the comics side). I hope you are all gentle with me and my non-sci-fi wife!</span><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><img style="width: 270px; height: 195px;" src="http://api.ning.com/files/gYfw8-n-zrjfVfOU1hJeeZGnbfv8xYD5liPUBANLRkoo5OU-Pu3Qe4Gge3AzeO-LeMXpC4IPPLd-MwfuPD0mxFil37ccJXlZ/Kidvs.Kat.jpg" alt="" /></p><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">In addition to guesting on several panels and helping to judge Canada's Next Top Zombie (</span><i style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Awesome!!</i><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">), my panel on Animation will be on Sunday Morning (Opposite Robert Sawyer's writing workshop. Sigh. But who wants to hear what the tremendously successful, engaging, friendly and prolific hack has to say?)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Since I'm not sure what to expect, I thought Id let you know what you can expect!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIFE IN CARTOONS</span><br /></div><br />Got a question about animation? Wondering why your child is obsessed with Bakugan or where Max and Ruby’s parents are? Want an inside scoop on the making of your favourite - and not so favourite - cartoons? Using his own extensive career as a living example, Animation Guest of Honor Robert Pincombe dishes on the joys and pitfalls of his chosen profession: the trials of breaking in, the challenge of writing for different age groups and different kinds of animation, and the often hilarious cultural disconnects you run into when adapting anime.</blockquote></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Ad-Astra site is</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.ad-astra.org/">here</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And my bio is </span><a href="http://www.ad-astra.org/gohRobPincombe.php">here<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">.</span></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And my not quite current<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">imdb</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> page is</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1416643/">here</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">See you there! :)</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); font-family: Georgia,Times,serif; font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a> </span></span></span><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 300px; height: 223px;" src="http://api.ning.com/files/CUYlhadMhhykqJ6Ym8ds*4xHgYP*9-QJg9kNbpkKj7T6OoszX1prUG7meu7XQHzwP*8l3U0NNkoEh6R4u27fef*VYZLs6eDD/ShunSkyressbakuganbattlebrawlers1016603_1024_764.jpg" alt="" /></p>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-40380836324958940352010-03-14T14:09:00.001-07:002010-03-19T14:34:15.197-07:00A Paralympic Pledge from Alpha Flight's Box - Part Two: Handicapped Heroes and Wheelchair Wonders<span style="text-decoration: underline;">
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<br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVT8lsUZYf-fAl7YB5KCidLGPN437iBLYi7VpoJ0zjhyphenhyphenslg0noZjVfYR65BVIjKphjfP5-B1CGPW0IreYf0bkwfrfEAChtFQ7gCq_cidI7dSPuaEZE51EjfZGwGJrnLulYRH8_drTkQDE/s1600-h/Box1_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVT8lsUZYf-fAl7YB5KCidLGPN437iBLYi7VpoJ0zjhyphenhyphenslg0noZjVfYR65BVIjKphjfP5-B1CGPW0IreYf0bkwfrfEAChtFQ7gCq_cidI7dSPuaEZE51EjfZGwGJrnLulYRH8_drTkQDE/s400/Box1_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450159241457533858" border="0" /></a>
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panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hey there comicanuckers!<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Box</span> here again -- Alpha Flight’s man of metal.
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<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We’re continuing on with our Paralympics inspired look at handicapped comic book heroes.<span style=""> </span>Check out part one,<span style=""> </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/03/paralympic-pledge-from-alpha-flights.html">A Paralympic pledge from Alpha Flight’s Box – Part One: Differently Super-Abled Superheroes</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Last time out we<o:p> </o:p>talked about amputee avengers and paralyzed protectors so let’s check out super dudes and dudettes on two wheels!
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<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">For most of comics history, we only saw a hero in a wheelchair when the writer needed us to see the hero at rock bottom. The hero is completely physically incapacitated. See? He or she’s even in a wheelchair! It provides a potent visual for the hero literally getting back his or her feet, like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Moon-Knight-Marvel-Essentials/dp/0785120920?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">Moon Knight</span></a></span><span style=";font-size:100%;color:red;" class="Apple-style-span" ><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785120920" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> here.</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWW_z30diqw3iS3GqjgyE1lhXluJCNB1D-SeBXjH_2PtIf2_jHet8hcIl-GKarMPpZEOd6XjUahQqq70zjJGXig-o75v9AsFxav77DdIiqIe8dpRsle2h0xxtg4QoSt8Mvn3BZkcIdWc/s1600-h/MoonKnightWheelchair.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448530505620528562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWW_z30diqw3iS3GqjgyE1lhXluJCNB1D-SeBXjH_2PtIf2_jHet8hcIl-GKarMPpZEOd6XjUahQqq70zjJGXig-o75v9AsFxav77DdIiqIe8dpRsle2h0xxtg4QoSt8Mvn3BZkcIdWc/s400/MoonKnightWheelchair.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 272px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Wheelchairs also provided a terrific source of emotional turmoil for seventies love comics! Check out this post over at the awesome Sequential Crush - <a href="http://sequentialcrush.blogspot.com/2009/11/dcs-pity-party.html" style="color: red;">DC's Pity Party</a>!</span>
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<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcwJGMLbTorvJ-1y1MCLjtBmHni6u-CUdfv7tQ4yeHyDz1bUHzm68_P7_hUPC33rFRWmBjQA8asvBqtnYDKh7HTH0o5TqjsTeBD7uXtVMZMC4qqkFHqoAfut47SWZ4zoEzB_R_JHtdOc/s1600-h/LoveStories15201fc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448525812021327138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcwJGMLbTorvJ-1y1MCLjtBmHni6u-CUdfv7tQ4yeHyDz1bUHzm68_P7_hUPC33rFRWmBjQA8asvBqtnYDKh7HTH0o5TqjsTeBD7uXtVMZMC4qqkFHqoAfut47SWZ4zoEzB_R_JHtdOc/s400/LoveStories15201fc.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; text-align: center; width: 270px;" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Wheelchairs also serve to show how bad-ass a hero is when they can kick butt from a rolling wheelchair despite their injuries. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Showcase-Presents-Jonah-Hex-Vol/dp/140120760X?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">Jonah Hex</span></a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=140120760X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> here is classic example!</span>
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<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T_wtJhA3_Xd5rXKLpZcovutVvQXMJ8tYK1gy7PDBWMCE5Ej4SBstF0y5UaOihxtF60rU6tyJrGBjQH6pHvRLOU7POntlPrPJu8tpRgfyJckH3mvbhY1mkGM2wixSPBUhVvcSqNwiy8A/s1600-h/heres+jonah.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448538674511131490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T_wtJhA3_Xd5rXKLpZcovutVvQXMJ8tYK1gy7PDBWMCE5Ej4SBstF0y5UaOihxtF60rU6tyJrGBjQH6pHvRLOU7POntlPrPJu8tpRgfyJckH3mvbhY1mkGM2wixSPBUhVvcSqNwiy8A/s400/heres+jonah.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; text-align: center; width: 274px;" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvohKvs5bjU7HAgJvfjCxoWuZBCvCf1TwHyZguJ1FEpyuHvVVtS0Mb3tuK8B-EM1HAf0pvjTXHvZ-i-7xHzggqWpQURAD0OmLIoUFST1B4Z3e5_DUfJlH_d4sTGtzPrJEl6_xe3oQuSqQ/s1600-h/cover+73.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448539044171358594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvohKvs5bjU7HAgJvfjCxoWuZBCvCf1TwHyZguJ1FEpyuHvVVtS0Mb3tuK8B-EM1HAf0pvjTXHvZ-i-7xHzggqWpQURAD0OmLIoUFST1B4Z3e5_DUfJlH_d4sTGtzPrJEl6_xe3oQuSqQ/s400/cover+73.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; text-align: center; width: 264px;" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Sometimes all it takes to show how wicked wheelchair-bound characters can be is a way-cool toy like these two <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Professor-Action-Figure-Marvel-Comics/dp/B000M28OWC?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">Prof. X</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:red;" class="Apple-style-span" ><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000M28OWC" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > action figures.</span>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMhejHxZGPRPCEjP1MDmM3k6Q-BeSuVZCtlbiF3obXz5hGhDeEI21cDgu6lwD4-uK_xMOPlo6XcWuM7L3ivjWSLVO5T1xaFjEUdcejhJk4bgD71E7KMwbIKT45J6bzHvm2IhAR-TNKyo/s1600-h/Prof+X.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448586730409707042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMhejHxZGPRPCEjP1MDmM3k6Q-BeSuVZCtlbiF3obXz5hGhDeEI21cDgu6lwD4-uK_xMOPlo6XcWuM7L3ivjWSLVO5T1xaFjEUdcejhJk4bgD71E7KMwbIKT45J6bzHvm2IhAR-TNKyo/s400/Prof+X.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 245px; text-align: center; width: 232px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZyWooKQ_SNOJEtqt6eIPjfhmdAUopGCrZKVZHO2pUJpkHLLYmroS5NC7XXpKRjmACWl8fdXMysxuk15LONUvjh-ehwodyyLmpkHOG8NCX7sxc7f8DED5tYAJDEFRKvRloXuUvPrZfLs/s1600-h/minimates-prof-x-magneto-e.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448586421400030434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZyWooKQ_SNOJEtqt6eIPjfhmdAUopGCrZKVZHO2pUJpkHLLYmroS5NC7XXpKRjmACWl8fdXMysxuk15LONUvjh-ehwodyyLmpkHOG8NCX7sxc7f8DED5tYAJDEFRKvRloXuUvPrZfLs/s400/minimates-prof-x-magneto-e.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 213px; text-align: center; width: 227px;" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Or you might prefer the new Avatar <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avatar-Jake-Sully-Action-Figure/dp/B002LE8LRC?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">J</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">ake Sully action figure</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:red;" class="Apple-style-span" ><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002LE8LRC" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >, which are augemnted with some very wild technology, as described over at Coolest-Gadgets.com:</span>
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<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >"These Avatar toys use augmented reality, something that I have referred to as the Coolest Gadget ever. It works when one of the toys is placed in front of a webcam. Software provided by Total Immersion then takes over, and the monitor will display information about the character, 3-D animations of the character, and even more pictures.</span> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDT0KjlG17PcReCtMsvopd3mxs4UIox6gmLGJI5-yMEVuibR7we95VaP1OhmvfUHUf4uej4Lobl86Cu8DjfXvGFV5SzS4NIQ5cFUSSs0JnNXjNn5ntIwdwl37BZvLOCSefRs_dhYIDNg/s1600-h/AvatarToys_SullyWheelchair.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448586300725327010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDT0KjlG17PcReCtMsvopd3mxs4UIox6gmLGJI5-yMEVuibR7we95VaP1OhmvfUHUf4uej4Lobl86Cu8DjfXvGFV5SzS4NIQ5cFUSSs0JnNXjNn5ntIwdwl37BZvLOCSefRs_dhYIDNg/s400/AvatarToys_SullyWheelchair.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 185px; text-align: center; width: 247px;" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There is also a plan for bonus features for the “deluxe figures”. These are figures with a 3-D tag, or i-TAG, on the back of them. Scanning these guys will cause them to come to life on the user’s monitor, and placing two i-TAGs together will have them interact."</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></blockquote><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br />The two grandfathers of wheelchair-bound heroes would be the dueling professors -- DC Comics' Niles Caulder of the Doom Patrol and Marvel’s Charles Xavier, founder of the X-Men.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGWBVhm573MuXpTcrY7cUOKfJ1SOxXtNFPGzvxkmH3qC5dUZ4pd047K7DnlW7uVPErcp88czfA9aYCBAH2oPev9SO1P_zeE6zq_AIQHVbgthzB0konhL9PptyxDRAqIB-3Y0D2xFuwI0/s1600-h/uncanny-x-men-2-prof-x-and-x-men-1-50k.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448585523373684018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGWBVhm573MuXpTcrY7cUOKfJ1SOxXtNFPGzvxkmH3qC5dUZ4pd047K7DnlW7uVPErcp88czfA9aYCBAH2oPev9SO1P_zeE6zq_AIQHVbgthzB0konhL9PptyxDRAqIB-3Y0D2xFuwI0/s400/uncanny-x-men-2-prof-x-and-x-men-1-50k.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 175px; width: 189px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Prof. Charles Xavier</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > started out a terrific visual metaphor -- A harmless looking, paralyzed man of peace who had one of the most powerful mutant brains in the entire world. There have been so many X-Men adventures over time that Charles has grown to become an interesting, if inconsistent character by default.
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<br />Out of that mountain of tales it's only natural some terrific Prof. X stories emerge.
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<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_86NtcC7-w2KOpNRV90cYinpBM393t-7cBL2RDdzxxWlxeA_2edDK-UEmPsy6B402mf4Bl2uXqOgyHHbdHbaYJOnXZcn0fgFgRhgwz8BWugEC0mQjpSi5JQQzzoL7eJ_DvW2LUnj1Pdc/s1600-h/marvel-encyclopedia-prof-x-1-50k.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448543157538467042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_86NtcC7-w2KOpNRV90cYinpBM393t-7cBL2RDdzxxWlxeA_2edDK-UEmPsy6B402mf4Bl2uXqOgyHHbdHbaYJOnXZcn0fgFgRhgwz8BWugEC0mQjpSi5JQQzzoL7eJ_DvW2LUnj1Pdc/s400/marvel-encyclopedia-prof-x-1-50k.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 337px; text-align: center; width: 364px;" border="0" /></a>
<br />Prof. X's character is all about his mission: to lead mutant-kind into a peaceful partnership with mankind. The chair is almost never his motivating factor and that makes him far more interesting and compelling. That said, his chair can also be pretty cool. Especially this<a href="http://gizmodo.com/5487619/professor-x-chair-dispenses-vodka-announces-presence-with-arduino-sounds-and-smoke"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">steampunk versio</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">n</span></a> designed by Daniel "Smeeon" Valdez.
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<br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wRt8YRUYahE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wRt8YRUYahE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object>
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<br />Dr. Niles Caulder, aka The Chief, </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > beat Professor X to the printed page by several years and he was a dark character from the beginning. Caulder tricked and teased his way into the lives of three misfit freaks who had suffered traumatic accidents and gained tremendous powers. Niles Caulder felt responsible for their situations and for the many horrifying inventions his research had set lose on the world. He had a lot to make-up for and a short temper to boot! And best of all, ALL of the Doom Patrol were murdered at the end of their series run.
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<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaHVFDUlP2FbsBOSQWsaOtsLEqrKh-T13wVAy6TAmT8IUHllZvcbk5_z2xOol2UQkAxtQMZLciUrUys7hV7s5MDj0TKXrtLQ9RypLinWA7rlRHAYygHQlP39M6GjpX4tGLHERksn2Dlk/s1600-h/DoomPatrol-ChiefGun.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448542953672600802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaHVFDUlP2FbsBOSQWsaOtsLEqrKh-T13wVAy6TAmT8IUHllZvcbk5_z2xOol2UQkAxtQMZLciUrUys7hV7s5MDj0TKXrtLQ9RypLinWA7rlRHAYygHQlP39M6GjpX4tGLHERksn2Dlk/s400/DoomPatrol-ChiefGun.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; text-align: center; width: 272px;" border="0" /></a>
<br />Unlike The Chief and Prof. X, some superheroes are not limited in their abilities when they’re in their heroic disguise. Daredevil’s previously-mentioned radar sense is a great equalizer, as is Dr. Mid-Nite’s blackout bomb.
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<br />Marvel Comics Navajo hero, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Jesse Black Crow</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > was paralyzed in a construction accident and had vision of the plight of American Indians. When the ancient spirit from that dream transforms him into a mystic warrior he has full use of his limbs and a multitude of magic powers (transforming into a lightning bolt or crow, summoning fog, limited telepathic ability) at his disposal. When his job is finished, Jesse returns to his normal form and loses all that magic mobility.
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<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNFBacDHB7lxPZT3eSKzEMYzADSswAIw2XtDz-ExyanrBZDoRn8HGj1Mf-eEVYaUdrpSVO9YyWg-OSheVK0lrM5OshTyCRrIRs5B1jxnKd-7e8TfhwE7xoyu1sTpN0WxueVz3qrjanbY/s1600-h/blackcrow.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448699629400012082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNFBacDHB7lxPZT3eSKzEMYzADSswAIw2XtDz-ExyanrBZDoRn8HGj1Mf-eEVYaUdrpSVO9YyWg-OSheVK0lrM5OshTyCRrIRs5B1jxnKd-7e8TfhwE7xoyu1sTpN0WxueVz3qrjanbY/s400/blackcrow.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 360px; text-align: center; width: 202px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br />There's another completely paralyzed character who gains full mobility when his powers kick in. He’s the bringer of death for Jack Kirby’s New Gods and always a threat to take gold on the slopes – the Black Racer!<span style=""> </span>Sgt. Willie Walker, a bed-ridden Vietnam War Vet, first appeared in Jack Kirby’s New Gods issue 3.
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<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGUFvQNnhWaWqPznBOCdEAQVfPFb4o3mb5hOQrEMCihD4ZYYABGc2iYBKmz0dWH31hCIPaChXzxtwXKp7R9KU3EFfTsHWBOF6wuVaxdFMug3zmtp1As6lQqtzR9Rhaz6nPH3M6qZ6d6o/s1600-h/ngods_3-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGUFvQNnhWaWqPznBOCdEAQVfPFb4o3mb5hOQrEMCihD4ZYYABGc2iYBKmz0dWH31hCIPaChXzxtwXKp7R9KU3EFfTsHWBOF6wuVaxdFMug3zmtp1As6lQqtzR9Rhaz6nPH3M6qZ6d6o/s400/ngods_3-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450153478501956306" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">After Darkseid brought his war of the Gods to Earth, Walker was in is hospital bed contacted by the Source, a semi-sentient shared consciousness power in the DC universe. When a New God is near death, he Source transforms Walker into the deadly and inescapable Black Racer, who takes their essence to Hadis (Kirby’s Fourth World version of Hades).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlunhcGLUFmFTrRLnEEoct8KmycoOfpSf6cPsOG_0PSoLxH_1emqF8gF4mBWUW3kQfZM7H0RA_Dpt2XF5JMwXHVC66-vI6Z3s-qpInNMqjI7-JQGiJ3phrDw3tz9-Kx1VC1Wc99Tu6tI/s1600-h/jngke.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlunhcGLUFmFTrRLnEEoct8KmycoOfpSf6cPsOG_0PSoLxH_1emqF8gF4mBWUW3kQfZM7H0RA_Dpt2XF5JMwXHVC66-vI6Z3s-qpInNMqjI7-JQGiJ3phrDw3tz9-Kx1VC1Wc99Tu6tI/s400/jngke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450153696087601842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMYhKOzfAuzgKFbVvsnp7thWhX49XRcwsjfNhAmxvKudAvsBmHrUJy9Ve50_3drcPNvDg9Nlvlwrwd0lmCZT3cQ5kQOGm8Rp3pbVmZZXLeejAfy-3H-xATEuYxni6Ub-LhL4iHe1nubI/s1600-h/BlackRacer-NewGods03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMYhKOzfAuzgKFbVvsnp7thWhX49XRcwsjfNhAmxvKudAvsBmHrUJy9Ve50_3drcPNvDg9Nlvlwrwd0lmCZT3cQ5kQOGm8Rp3pbVmZZXLeejAfy-3H-xATEuYxni6Ub-LhL4iHe1nubI/s400/BlackRacer-NewGods03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450153870489720626" border="0" /></a>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >In Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers version of Mister Miracle, the Black Racer is not Willie Walker, he’s a Caucasian man in a wheelchair. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Man, Kirby and Morrison. Two very wild creators firing on Bizarro batteries.</span></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_iwObTypHl56uptn2AfNYMb7JxJxRFW4IzFVQ9SfzPSfJTBeafsqoJT3zVqus6oSnSYsVpQKcDeV4XO_W1s0ZN7wVAIpG59m5bHd-NSUNFnIvencVGe-rjcpO-oa9gU5w2wPU8zviCg/s1600-h/tomtom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448700745928242594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_iwObTypHl56uptn2AfNYMb7JxJxRFW4IzFVQ9SfzPSfJTBeafsqoJT3zVqus6oSnSYsVpQKcDeV4XO_W1s0ZN7wVAIpG59m5bHd-NSUNFnIvencVGe-rjcpO-oa9gU5w2wPU8zviCg/s400/tomtom.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; height: 213px; width: 164px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Paul Grist’s ongoing series Jack Staff introduces a new, marketable character every three or four panels it seems.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Like my own Alter-ego Box, Tom Tom the Robot Man from Paul Grists's </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Staff-Soldiers-Paul-Grist/dp/1582403929?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">Jack Staff</span></a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1582403929" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; font-family: arial;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><span style="font-family:arial;"> series, is in fact a large robotic suit piloted by 11-year old wunderkind Patricia Carthy.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Paralyzed in the explosion that killed her inventor parents, Patricia used their robot suit (designed for Space Exploration initially) to become the mechanical defender of Castletown.
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<br /></span> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm47CEu_9h8ZQ9rlSJrQuveYe43j2Ka0i4KwMNlo7wJspi9UbEHNWqVcVu6eRCc28nGvlvGO3W0uszFzvke-GC7WVlRnsNLUHYgDsh7A-O-IC10vJ3Nc4clyfVUvqr6xYA4ELgKAZFJQ/s1600-h/jackstaff16px8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448700583610901698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm47CEu_9h8ZQ9rlSJrQuveYe43j2Ka0i4KwMNlo7wJspi9UbEHNWqVcVu6eRCc28nGvlvGO3W0uszFzvke-GC7WVlRnsNLUHYgDsh7A-O-IC10vJ3Nc4clyfVUvqr6xYA4ELgKAZFJQ/s400/jackstaff16px8.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 352px; text-align: center; width: 235px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GMkx1T13fbvZ58zUhPAPKL8K7OKa7xoXSn0yKmELfdjVHgWdYjLcTmzJpqIq54xUQwQN0D-xiS-s_G01Md1B9mm-HTXoS5PMtUmaEY3RIvvoVXo6xrwpJjQTJUJcv6ZOofc1VxiycPk/s1600-h/2958k7t.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448702076652996274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GMkx1T13fbvZ58zUhPAPKL8K7OKa7xoXSn0yKmELfdjVHgWdYjLcTmzJpqIq54xUQwQN0D-xiS-s_G01Md1B9mm-HTXoS5PMtUmaEY3RIvvoVXo6xrwpJjQTJUJcv6ZOofc1VxiycPk/s400/2958k7t.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 221px; width: 147px;" border="0" /></a>The one character to challenge for Professor X’s crown as the most interesting comic book character with a handicap is Barbara Gordon. For years she fought crime on her own and alongside the dynamic duo as Batgirl until The Joker shot her in the spine in Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s Batman graphic novel, The Killing Joke.
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<br />Much was made of Barbara being one of a long line of female characters attacked or killed simply to motivate a male protagonist. But Moore was attempting to write a definitive Batman story and wanted to give the Joker’s madness punch and weight. He wanted to really test Batman’s resolve not to kill. In other words, the people crying out where pretty much right!
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<br />But was Barbara really a fully fleshed out character when all she did was dress up as a female version of Batman? Was she really more than attempt to guard DC’s copyright to any bat-related character? I don't’ think so. And the proof is in what DC did with her character after the traumatic event. Barbara used her Detective skills and upgraded her computer tech to became Oracle, a hub of superhero and villainous information for the DC universe.
<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOVVz0DLPNUMalMSjFYDEntC94RJ6oBA0g1FHc_-kAKGXCN5pcTz4NJ0u9Aqqc7jzA0WVoX42AlOGZZe60-HYP78yrOCKw-ZhPLlivQNpg0urfpyCY3mEd8TCgwBehhv2L4TtUJKxbpM/s1600-h/6a00e398b029c500010123f1631c6b860f-500pi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448704663085987298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOVVz0DLPNUMalMSjFYDEntC94RJ6oBA0g1FHc_-kAKGXCN5pcTz4NJ0u9Aqqc7jzA0WVoX42AlOGZZe60-HYP78yrOCKw-ZhPLlivQNpg0urfpyCY3mEd8TCgwBehhv2L4TtUJKxbpM/s400/6a00e398b029c500010123f1631c6b860f-500pi.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 357px; text-align: center; width: 263px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br />In the hands of writers like Gail Simone, Barb has been treated (generally) like a woman with intellect and personality first and foremost. Her handicap is a fact of her existence, not the defining feature. And she can still beat up toughs with the best of them!
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<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Du-QuQ2CkmvU6KMvuTuNiPd_yO6tL0azuZvzEO1t2FDDZwXi3gOKv1dlK6exWLnal9PtXGm6sUKyTm7Cu371zK_kPIvyJ2HAhuhfrqm3YV6wBPu9JUq3xk7uoHd8PN_ZtfhBUGd_tiU/s1600-h/image_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448701723077576050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Du-QuQ2CkmvU6KMvuTuNiPd_yO6tL0azuZvzEO1t2FDDZwXi3gOKv1dlK6exWLnal9PtXGm6sUKyTm7Cu371zK_kPIvyJ2HAhuhfrqm3YV6wBPu9JUq3xk7uoHd8PN_ZtfhBUGd_tiU/s400/image_1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 226px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > <span style="font-family:arial;">Barbara Gordon/The Oracle -- has taken on a much greater symbolism and power by fulfilling a unique niche in the DCU, not being defined by a costume and being a good role model for all the wonderfully imperfect people reading her books – be they men or women and be they handicapped or fully functional... with multiple points of articulation like Babs’ action figure included in the Birds of Prey action figure set below.</span>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh6XtFnJfp4VuZsbUdyx6Us4780hi9sCi0qY_z_enZW8nEzqLwOJgOvMl1Nbhkffg1JndXX2JER5MSCGoaCeVOT3q-5YaKZ9TAaankk7Y6o8Jw6B6jmUMOIDhfeZ3v8EcHwieq16cx9s/s1600-h/3169_a_full.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448588257532766274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh6XtFnJfp4VuZsbUdyx6Us4780hi9sCi0qY_z_enZW8nEzqLwOJgOvMl1Nbhkffg1JndXX2JER5MSCGoaCeVOT3q-5YaKZ9TAaankk7Y6o8Jw6B6jmUMOIDhfeZ3v8EcHwieq16cx9s/s400/3169_a_full.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 347px; text-align: center; width: 232px;" border="0" /></a> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ1LkCItIYkPfwVr3dpDZ9GZY_nOgeO3WYSzCqvSn4ZgMIjgGZQbCkiF4KcejG0GaGGBncDaaxQ-kLoJBLsGv8SmD0OYcHeCQ0w4E4HfsqFcaxrvzO6skQEPNpbXUhmrJVulgTowy5kM/s1600-h/440px-Box_Roger442.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ1LkCItIYkPfwVr3dpDZ9GZY_nOgeO3WYSzCqvSn4ZgMIjgGZQbCkiF4KcejG0GaGGBncDaaxQ-kLoJBLsGv8SmD0OYcHeCQ0w4E4HfsqFcaxrvzO6skQEPNpbXUhmrJVulgTowy5kM/s400/440px-Box_Roger442.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450159612129543122" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >We've managed to make a fairly impressive list . But since this blog is unabashedly Canadian, let's end it with a couple of Canucks. </span> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link style="font-family: arial;" rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>74</o:Words> <o:characters>422</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>518</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US"> You could be forgiven for missing the first and only appearance of this next, all-Canadian Superhero...</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">In the early nineties, Marvel produced five “Kids in Trouble” Spider-Man comic books for the Canadian Association of the Chiefs of Police, the Alliance of a Drug Free Canada and a host of sponsors, including, hilariously Shopper’s Drug Mart. Over three million comics were handed out to Canadian children by Police Officers and teachers. So I’d have to call that campaign pretty successful.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link style="font-family: arial;" rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>807</o:Words> <o:characters>4602</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>38</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>5651</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">The series debuted with a highly touted Todd McFarlane cover featuring the least subtle portrayal of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and needles ever committed to a the comic book page…</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM3w7S4JMuqVhjLcTgzBLmaxWetnkpXClwdQ5nfzMw4Pk-CmEVkrUmXoXoqJxNZvNg6QMxiB1t90TZ5Z3qjRcrCMOIrjiPoeZUIie7QwnJa6y1owsnJLZVF3VN2VCu17fCU4q72DpQ6U/s1600-h/o_suMa3QEAWVTJ8Hg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM3w7S4JMuqVhjLcTgzBLmaxWetnkpXClwdQ5nfzMw4Pk-CmEVkrUmXoXoqJxNZvNg6QMxiB1t90TZ5Z3qjRcrCMOIrjiPoeZUIie7QwnJa6y1owsnJLZVF3VN2VCu17fCU4q72DpQ6U/s400/o_suMa3QEAWVTJ8Hg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450157362835606994" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">The various adventures find excuses for Spider-Man to travel through Canada and interact with local semi-celebrities like the Montreal Expos and The Toronto Blue Jays and Herb Carnegie, the almost NHLer who was blocked due to fifties racism turned community servant. Spider-Man gets caught up in kid’s lives while he fights a who’s who of Marvel’s third-tier villains. Various streetproofing themes are touched upon in the five books, like say no to drugs and bike safety, thanks to one or two panel appearances by the Canadian bike safety brigade, the Right Riders.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzgc8UwWpXaN_ysBXfuoc3OE44EkEZY0JKYmK6qB2i_n1gKo4zNjDNrHZAQY_HCcza513AgWk2apKgT-3SKTGdYTfFI31Dt3vw_tvF2NdkqVeLnPA-iX1KU5dGGbiiFMYLEyTAvQPGkI/s1600-h/rightriders.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzgc8UwWpXaN_ysBXfuoc3OE44EkEZY0JKYmK6qB2i_n1gKo4zNjDNrHZAQY_HCcza513AgWk2apKgT-3SKTGdYTfFI31Dt3vw_tvF2NdkqVeLnPA-iX1KU5dGGbiiFMYLEyTAvQPGkI/s400/rightriders.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450170406981744546" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">All five issues were under the Amazing Spider-Man banner but each had an individual cover title. Skating on Thin Ice followed Spidey as he tracked Electro to Winnipeg and helped a kid named Alan avoid alcohol and drug abuse. Double Trouble moves the action to Fredericton for more anti-drug speechifying. Hit and Run sees Peter Parker in Toronto covering a Jays/Yankee baseball game, bike safety and tracking a drunk driver with the help of the Ghost Rider (who, unlike Spidey, chooses threats over speeches to reach the kids!)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWsYOJSTiQaykp6T8lw_86Wdq3LZfi20I-BKfgMvXjGJChs7SNUcRmSdWu9SJSkIK2kWIxfrdodo8QvmfibWn3uQRMcvp1SD6PA_FGd3VfvJXcWiK6cCgRg-RNnYxQmVeDq8d9YmL8Zk/s1600-h/gr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 433px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWsYOJSTiQaykp6T8lw_86Wdq3LZfi20I-BKfgMvXjGJChs7SNUcRmSdWu9SJSkIK2kWIxfrdodo8QvmfibWn3uQRMcvp1SD6PA_FGd3VfvJXcWiK6cCgRg-RNnYxQmVeDq8d9YmL8Zk/s400/gr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450170267035402210" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:arial;">The fifth issue, Deadball,</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">finds old webhead in Montreal fighting off the Green Goblin.</span>
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<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxHIe_b6btz1uF3Jv1JidkocHIghPlh1TegjHPvdtjDlBapykTde6Tjc6fNLlMgJcJU3zD6zHnp7fCjnQKQzKTqCjDzpvQ91LfzA-o2YPsWth1E44-xOuJ2ETFwYyXya6jwUl4tEQ8Dc/s1600-h/540922.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxHIe_b6btz1uF3Jv1JidkocHIghPlh1TegjHPvdtjDlBapykTde6Tjc6fNLlMgJcJU3zD6zHnp7fCjnQKQzKTqCjDzpvQ91LfzA-o2YPsWth1E44-xOuJ2ETFwYyXya6jwUl4tEQ8Dc/s400/540922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450169062062773426" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">But it’s issue four where the magic happens, in a tale by Canadian artist Jim Craig and Scott Lobdell (he of the worst coming out story in comics with his ridiculous, insensitive and borderline incompetent outing of my Alpha Flight comrade, Northstar). In an issue entitled Chaos in Calgary, we finally meet -- </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:arial;">Joline Cargill, aka</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">TURBINE!</span> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">(</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >SOLEINE</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> to our French compatriots!)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1WjLAgo8zIZsy77ODzdgJ4LzeyXRV7B0log0I9brJJgbkkd71VNooYh3PKJ9jX4dULbIcDb0C9nSATC0gTDvLD6qB7ZkEkGqAS2eNScuJV42Lx0_sszXtxSqWD0Y15XMqSqaHDjiWJ8/s1600-h/turbinespdm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1WjLAgo8zIZsy77ODzdgJ4LzeyXRV7B0log0I9brJJgbkkd71VNooYh3PKJ9jX4dULbIcDb0C9nSATC0gTDvLD6qB7ZkEkGqAS2eNScuJV42Lx0_sszXtxSqWD0Y15XMqSqaHDjiWJ8/s400/turbinespdm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450156374098634322" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Hey, Boxy!<span style=""> </span>Can't I tell I tell my own story? Please, please, please, pleeeeeeeease?<span style=""> </span>I get even less spotlight time than you do and you’re all dead and stuff!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Oh sorry, Joline. Sure, go right ahead. Tell everyone how cool you are.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIiUOpK9deRmP9SpL1dhJIOKeoAlAzr_9cgULUAChEjpWCxguvhkj-H5tQmoSHlNiSTMyISp5z8tIYqYnf-p8d0wvRPrHsI7_RvdlZmmSFPF4R5jM0W8jjDhmWw5S_s30RrntIN-Yt0I/s1600-h/ChaosInCalgary-Detail+02.JPG.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIiUOpK9deRmP9SpL1dhJIOKeoAlAzr_9cgULUAChEjpWCxguvhkj-H5tQmoSHlNiSTMyISp5z8tIYqYnf-p8d0wvRPrHsI7_RvdlZmmSFPF4R5jM0W8jjDhmWw5S_s30RrntIN-Yt0I/s400/ChaosInCalgary-Detail+02.JPG.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450164974652396530" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">I hear the sarcasm, Mr. I-Went-Crazy Pants. Well, my story IS cool. Really cool. So there!<span style=""> </span>Yeah, I’m paralyzed from the waist down but that doesn’t keep me from being awesome!<span style=""> </span>So my Dad, who’s like a doctor and stuff but apparently has no first name buts till won a Nobel Prize, right?</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span>
<br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">So Dad took to me to the Calgary Stampede, but not like any Stampede, one that was totally celebrating the city’s anniversary, right? And people were wearing cowboy hats and pretending they weren’t actually just cubicle drones at some bank or oil company, right? And Marvel’s western super-team the Rangers where performing.</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkhb7J6YN3qB3ogmcn0RRVAEFXyaM-Dn_bmGnt8BIwIF2lcDboPnu0MkC-lHqaQKVy4a9WQICf0vLIsfKXtnXixLQlGSqelaiwoJ_q3yTTM8ebWrKq1LmUJ9-d5LwFzebOkVuAPCXYVo/s1600-h/turbinespdm4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkhb7J6YN3qB3ogmcn0RRVAEFXyaM-Dn_bmGnt8BIwIF2lcDboPnu0MkC-lHqaQKVy4a9WQICf0vLIsfKXtnXixLQlGSqelaiwoJ_q3yTTM8ebWrKq1LmUJ9-d5LwFzebOkVuAPCXYVo/s400/turbinespdm4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450171288613412002" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Anyway, my Dad is there and we meet this totally cute photographer named Peter Parker, right, who’s like covered in awesomesauce with a side of nice buns, you know?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Joline, can you rein in the hormones a litttle? It's a family blog and you’re what, thirteen or something?</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">That’s what you think! The story actually never tells you how old I am so I could be anywhere from eight to fifteen! So there. I’m a woman of mystery and I’m totally smart for my age too.
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<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Anyway, the Frightful Four (In this case, the Wizard, The Trapster, the Dreadknight and the Man-Bull) tries to kidnap my Dad in broad daylight in front of thousands of witnesses. Which makes me think their leader, Mr. Wizard, should kinda rethink his name. So in the fight, the bully Man-Bull dope wrecks my wheelchair so cutey-pattotey Parker carries me back to my Dad’s van. Sigh!...</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o8dOIDWkWh1TPHEGJr0p2SI5Pf83lgDt63uCZUNKhJ3nUSWsVAHbqyszDtawe0FPUHB54EEct98XTFr3FkzanLT9r-BIUwsLwx0q9FjffiiSSlFjNxTyg5LskPUds-W7xSkHNNasLtU/s1600-h/manbulltaurens5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o8dOIDWkWh1TPHEGJr0p2SI5Pf83lgDt63uCZUNKhJ3nUSWsVAHbqyszDtawe0FPUHB54EEct98XTFr3FkzanLT9r-BIUwsLwx0q9FjffiiSSlFjNxTyg5LskPUds-W7xSkHNNasLtU/s400/manbulltaurens5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450173396545953042" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">But what nobody knows is that my Dad made me a solar-powered turbine cycle that flies and everything and hid it in our van, right? <span style=""> </span>It moves superfast, flies kinds facing down, and generates really powerful winds. Not like that boy in my class, Gabriel says he can do I mean, real, strong, non-stinky wind.<span style="">
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<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="">Then </span>I totally fought the Frightful with the Rangers and Spidey. I blew Dreadknight’s horse over and rammed a Trapster trap. Did you know he used to be called Paste Pot Pete? Gross.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">And in the end Spider-Man totally congratulated and promised to look me up when he got back to Calgary. I’m still kinda waiting to hear but it’s not like he took down my e-mail or anything. Same with Peter McMagicMuffin. Boys are stupid. Throw rocks at them. Anyway, that’s my tale!</span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">What about my tale? I’m a handicapped hero too!</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgdLvs1ICq4faxE4kqKgK-s1i7B7yN_VcFiAPHKDjgjjjzeODqiOix1MT4g6G8P8daklwHWTQNzkqsFYx_xBNC07372_H5oowTYNBkwRVl8L6YaW8DZkxGG5QYtmP0hIVWJlBDF3p5Nc/s1600-h/Wiz_Kid_001.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgdLvs1ICq4faxE4kqKgK-s1i7B7yN_VcFiAPHKDjgjjjzeODqiOix1MT4g6G8P8daklwHWTQNzkqsFYx_xBNC07372_H5oowTYNBkwRVl8L6YaW8DZkxGG5QYtmP0hIVWJlBDF3p5Nc/s400/Wiz_Kid_001.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450171753626781890" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Hey! Get out of here fellow handicapped superhero Takashi “Taki” Matsuya, alias <span style="font-weight: bold;">WIZ KID!</span> You're way less super than I am! This is a Canadian blog and you’re totally American!</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >You can't make me leave, Joline: also known as Tur-WHINE.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >After all, you totally stole my flying wheelchair bit.</span>
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<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" >Oh yeah?</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well you totally stole your whole, manipulating-machinery mutant power from Alpha Flight member Madison Jeffries! So there! And flying chairs were around for Jack Kirby’s New Gods with that creepy Metron guy – the New God’s ultimate science nerd.</span>
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbir1Ja0yW8c1c0Xlt8_Nh_f17kv_Is1xGxruapKyX6I9tYrOJMqQEMm937GUZ2swlOPZ9qHlNEhRDu7l-V-nQfDjg5a1EchRSac0qroV3_o1Mwu_l9O6LAt-tpRavv9UlfWTD5T8v_c/s1600-h/Wiz_Kid_002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbir1Ja0yW8c1c0Xlt8_Nh_f17kv_Is1xGxruapKyX6I9tYrOJMqQEMm937GUZ2swlOPZ9qHlNEhRDu7l-V-nQfDjg5a1EchRSac0qroV3_o1Mwu_l9O6LAt-tpRavv9UlfWTD5T8v_c/s400/Wiz_Kid_002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450172046803207922" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >You’re just jealous because since my first appearance in X-Terminators #1, I’ve appeared in more stories than you. I was in X-Factor! </span>
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<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcAx8uBqWJxmfMQMQLqMgINTAkteuBzQ1ENnRd8R1A1QIueYYoyFdFO70E1paHgqA-HDLukwW4_5JVpcaynC2KfETvtKVZgSnzvfAmRp2RWTBpOyL8XBpXvz313lY1EIq5fu8KDPer88/s1600-h/turbinespdm2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcAx8uBqWJxmfMQMQLqMgINTAkteuBzQ1ENnRd8R1A1QIueYYoyFdFO70E1paHgqA-HDLukwW4_5JVpcaynC2KfETvtKVZgSnzvfAmRp2RWTBpOyL8XBpXvz313lY1EIq5fu8KDPer88/s400/turbinespdm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450170507192567442" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">Yeah? And look where it got you.
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<br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">You're lost in limbo without a regular comic now, just like me.</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well get this, not only did I lose my parents and my ability to walk in a car accident, I’m also dyslexic, which is a very hot handicap right now.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">So I’m due for a revival any time.</span><span style="">
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<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">And my origin is way m</span><span style="font-family:arial;">ore awesome than yours! When my mutant friends were kidnapped by the demon N’astirh my mutant ability to rearrange machinery – herewith referred to as “technoforming” burst forth and I turned my wheel chair into an awesome flying weapon and sweet ride. I also know computers inside and out and I’m a Rank 13 Field Marshall in WoW (World of Warcraft).</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Well, so what? You were totally depowered on M-Day and you’re still stupid for never letting me ride your stupid hovering wheelbarrow or whatever you call it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">You-you’d… like to ride on my chair?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Maybe. It's kinda cool I guess. And you're kinda cute under that dorky helmet.</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Look who's talking!</span>
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<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ9GeCGOTQxuOR2cSiZrhbpV8OSUCW21pthneLhNrH5nMRZRdVKjSdg33NF1VLnW2wUbjJntMTF9TIkcQ4CokHwm1lI-foXepgJlZM_oqgOMfrbvZvhrSBIwfs_tw_jnN36aV-_vaeF4/s1600-h/BOX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ9GeCGOTQxuOR2cSiZrhbpV8OSUCW21pthneLhNrH5nMRZRdVKjSdg33NF1VLnW2wUbjJntMTF9TIkcQ4CokHwm1lI-foXepgJlZM_oqgOMfrbvZvhrSBIwfs_tw_jnN36aV-_vaeF4/s400/BOX.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450174066239567954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuURxefdsJ-sGyt0-l2_sgc-DK_lAM3s5qXmQw3Pd8TKs0Id67H7EyYHXYBiu7ILvhvwYiCXEgjpi0zsuAAgvyGqeiM6atplWNtP4Kc4wX1iEk-3hF6fYuz2IWg9RqHl8w-rPWy7mL50A/s1600-h/vancouver-2010-paralympics.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuURxefdsJ-sGyt0-l2_sgc-DK_lAM3s5qXmQw3Pd8TKs0Id67H7EyYHXYBiu7ILvhvwYiCXEgjpi0zsuAAgvyGqeiM6atplWNtP4Kc4wX1iEk-3hF6fYuz2IWg9RqHl8w-rPWy7mL50A/s400/vancouver-2010-paralympics.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450174449675061602" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Okaaaaay. Well, as young love works its magic I'll end our salute to the spirit of the Paralympic as seen in comic books.
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<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Let's end this on a bang with the greatest handicapped hero ever in the history of anything!!! And he's Canadian character to boot (which rhymes with out).
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, the mother of all, "I have to read this to believe it" characters comes from our golden age of Canadian comic books -- </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >MAJOR DOMO AND JOJO!!</span>
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<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge42M7wJVh54xNnKOpm9RWt735CG4bOqfflxPBUTexLk14fpQDAos6RUzehY3lgKZDQVEL1_yaapN_m0DaiTd9uoSYYVwqTBV5W4ySCzrma8LpRxJfk8_fYp1d6Wvma79AoDz18tXbJDM/s1600-h/AE71MajorDomo-thumb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge42M7wJVh54xNnKOpm9RWt735CG4bOqfflxPBUTexLk14fpQDAos6RUzehY3lgKZDQVEL1_yaapN_m0DaiTd9uoSYYVwqTBV5W4ySCzrma8LpRxJfk8_fYp1d6Wvma79AoDz18tXbJDM/s400/AE71MajorDomo-thumb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450452201657651938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Created by artist Avrom Yanovsky for Bell Features in the forties, ex-Paratrooper Major Domo was a special agent for UNIB, the United Nations Investigation Bureau. He was aided by his moustachioed, powerful dwarf assistant, Jo Jo. In addition to Jo Jo's extremely bushy moustache, he also had the biggest pupils ever given to a non-manga cartoon character.</span>
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<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholr4jJRxmKsfJ2mwlIGhJ_o9LP7o5lIofwZVTpgwBJBjqAnb4dCkq84kM9UbWefGQFCjCU-nCUmcYlwf_5zGlRZeT3T15XSEvmrs5bALqvwn6iEnKxPxREAJBEpsZyCwfsQdge9UaTKM/s1600-h/Joke22_31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholr4jJRxmKsfJ2mwlIGhJ_o9LP7o5lIofwZVTpgwBJBjqAnb4dCkq84kM9UbWefGQFCjCU-nCUmcYlwf_5zGlRZeT3T15XSEvmrs5bALqvwn6iEnKxPxREAJBEpsZyCwfsQdge9UaTKM/s400/Joke22_31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450454913476071778" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As you can see, the Major was extremely handy with his feet in a fight. The funniest thing about our hero is the fact that he was an undercover agent! Nope. Major Domo didn't let a little thing like having no arms keep him from donning a disguise and entering the criminal underworld.
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<br />In fact, his ace in the hole Ace on his back?) was Jo Jo, who would ride on Domo's back under his coat, pretending his overlong, powerful arms were Domo's! Yet no criminal ever noticed the sizable hump on Domo's back!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Seriously awesome!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I promise to do a more extensive post on Yanovsky and Major Domo in the future because they both occupy a unique place in comic book history.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Coming up next week: We'll present a final (I promise) Olympic and Paralympic wrap-up post and also bring you the second part of "Speed Savage: Murder Has the Puck!"</span>
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<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a> </span></span></span>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Gipcll9GjaSUPmbWLG1_sCgRq4Frmm36I26gkzJIvz30ytbocE_s-UZXlu1PRXVE2GxtUpyTbm8mfqIhybQI8GPLVQc76Xm6fky8z3Wkvt7KEd7ZEEBbtnpqHwS_ALLelCbv08r0ScM/s1600-h/oracle-the-cure-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448702011375522754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Gipcll9GjaSUPmbWLG1_sCgRq4Frmm36I26gkzJIvz30ytbocE_s-UZXlu1PRXVE2GxtUpyTbm8mfqIhybQI8GPLVQc76Xm6fky8z3Wkvt7KEd7ZEEBbtnpqHwS_ALLelCbv08r0ScM/s400/oracle-the-cure-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 375px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-6479760139928913902010-03-14T09:09:00.000-07:002010-03-15T19:17:22.303-07:00A Paralympic Pledge from Alpha Flight's Box - Part One: Differently Super-Abled Superheroes<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK3jzKMzx4UA_J2FuXRb8qOfO34fXmpGZjDG2xwj0JvJsqn_RTVsnRYeBkdSwmzRmaxr0D-8MtKX2QveQRGDAGUtaGlo8lNlrmgzHYtt3w7-IwgC5hqhRB5Nq02jUvfGtwcu1qk2e9Og/s1600-h/Box_III.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448535024529277714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK3jzKMzx4UA_J2FuXRb8qOfO34fXmpGZjDG2xwj0JvJsqn_RTVsnRYeBkdSwmzRmaxr0D-8MtKX2QveQRGDAGUtaGlo8lNlrmgzHYtt3w7-IwgC5hqhRB5Nq02jUvfGtwcu1qk2e9Og/s400/Box_III.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 350px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 260px;" /></a><br />
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Hey there all you Comicanuckers! Roger Bochs comin’ atcha! But you probably know me better as Alpha Flight’s original living robot -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Box!</span> Get it? Oh wait, you might think, this being a Canadian blog, that my name is pronounced the Frech way,“Bow-SHAY”. But it’s not. It totally sounds like “box”. Now get it? Come on, work with me here. </span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Our comicanuck March Olympic madness continues with a celebration of the <a href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/" style="color: red;">10th Winter Paralympics</a>, the first to be held in Canada, which began this weekend in Vancouver. So naturally I’m a shoe-in to host this post about it.</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLqJofX8YfWmDd9uitaAJqz2tjGppdKGy-1rjO7eqaJN-KyhfQdNLaeeYzbTW11CFY_HE13D-KJhfrSyJpjowz7Tr0rD48yO8eD6wu8lWgT71NEiBAG2VrAS6mSvdjz-DwEly84pnJIc/s1600-h/BOX.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448534309786639250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLqJofX8YfWmDd9uitaAJqz2tjGppdKGy-1rjO7eqaJN-KyhfQdNLaeeYzbTW11CFY_HE13D-KJhfrSyJpjowz7Tr0rD48yO8eD6wu8lWgT71NEiBAG2VrAS6mSvdjz-DwEly84pnJIc/s400/BOX.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 236px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 182px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Though you can’t tell from my handsome robotic picture, I’m disabled -- or differently-abled. Well, technically I’m dead, but how dead does any comic book character ever really get, right? I’m a brilliant mechanic and engineer whose legs were amputated years before my first comic appearance in the first issue of Alpha Flight (a cameo before my real debut in issue 11).<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Being so mechanically-inclined I naturally looked for ways to use my talents to increase my mobility. But new legs weren’t enough for me after watching Saturn 3 like, fifty times (who wouldn’t love a spacewoman Farrah Fawcett?) so took it to the extreme by building a powerful, humanoid robot. That’s when I hooked up with Alpha Flight.</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4hccVSYvXTwkFcdNSjaaVYIyrmjEhypoE5q0CSCrMIe1JeewkKDMxMFEYbDSqqFcldV6HQQPOUiafT1U1Nug-Utitr6bV0SYmLtVA7Wad-U58BmsHeSxflZgpC5lPRhcJTNROaMLOMM/s1600-h/AlphaFlight12-BoxvsSask.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448533543031787698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4hccVSYvXTwkFcdNSjaaVYIyrmjEhypoE5q0CSCrMIe1JeewkKDMxMFEYbDSqqFcldV6HQQPOUiafT1U1Nug-Utitr6bV0SYmLtVA7Wad-U58BmsHeSxflZgpC5lPRhcJTNROaMLOMM/s400/AlphaFlight12-BoxvsSask.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 493px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 342px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
You see? I’m a capable, card-carrying, saving the country and sometimes the world-type. B-List superhero. Heck I once went toe- to toe with the Incredible Hulk. Sure, he smashed my legs clean off, causing me to flash back to losing my legs the first time and revealing a fragile psyche that writers with no idea what to do with me would later use to drive me mad and kill me off brutally. But I’m not a bitter guy by nature.</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvoSrpVW564TBLJhNv0hvBFqQ19FQPRGOjRjwSO6Egk-AZR4FQLN85qmcxjH-iNMtHznla2UdkUGnkBpVJock2TgL53fzX4FKyfpqN2litVxW1Xsz73NORUZ8y2dMYBhgnqMBumBotD8/s1600-h/53-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448538146623049106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvoSrpVW564TBLJhNv0hvBFqQ19FQPRGOjRjwSO6Egk-AZR4FQLN85qmcxjH-iNMtHznla2UdkUGnkBpVJock2TgL53fzX4FKyfpqN2litVxW1Xsz73NORUZ8y2dMYBhgnqMBumBotD8/s400/53-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 256px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 167px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">My point is, despite my so-called disability I can compete with the elite. My original Box body could press 40 tons, was pretty much indestructible (if you ignore the Hulk thing). At first, all I needed to control the body was a psycho-kinetic helmet (kinda like Bruce Willis in Surrogates, except I skipped the fake looking toupee) and I could also ‘see’ and ‘hear’ everything the Box bot did.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">With a little help from fellow Alphan Madison Jeffries, a mutant who can control and construct machines with his mind, I built a new, more powerful Box robot that I could “phase into”, passing my own body into the armor to control it from within. And it flies too! I can stay inside the robot for a few hours at a time or I might end up trapped inside forever!</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgeDGiOBesmod12rQuJX3kX64voRT957L1gaNhIxFO3sATRxKbKzeaUx0mA9UX_XpK48kSR0Zw1BfGikLhQtPm0A_RsqpIf1ZjI1SL9EDGgY4c-ykN5VvTCYftoNYxacrBEBd9sDwUgs/s1600-h/af22-6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448523516076818610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgeDGiOBesmod12rQuJX3kX64voRT957L1gaNhIxFO3sATRxKbKzeaUx0mA9UX_XpK48kSR0Zw1BfGikLhQtPm0A_RsqpIf1ZjI1SL9EDGgY4c-ykN5VvTCYftoNYxacrBEBd9sDwUgs/s400/af22-6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Pretty awesome huh? You bet your back bacon butt it is. And so are the Paralympics. I know… sweet segue, Rog. This article in Friday’s Toronto Star, <a href="http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/778786--paralympics-second-class-games-no-more" style="color: red;">Paralympics: Second Class Games No More</a>, says it much better than I could.</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600;">“While Canada's goal at the outset of the Olympics was to top the medal standings, the target for the Paralympics is more modest. Coming off a 13-medal – five gold, three silver and five bronze – performance in Turin, Italy, that was good enough for sixth place four years ago, Canadian officials are looking to move up to third in the standings this time.</span></span> <span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><br />
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But the Paralympics are about much more than winning medals. They are about athletes proving to themselves – and especially to the public at large – that they are not people with disabilities to be pitied for what they supposedly have lost but elite athletes to be admired and respected for the work they have put in and the skills they have developed.</span> <span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><br />
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Born out of the rehabilitation of British soldiers after World War II, the Paralympic movement grew into an Olympic-style competition for those with spinal cord injuries in 1960. In 1976, which was the year the first Winter Paralympics were held in Sweden, Toronto hosted Summer Games that included the blind and amputees for the first time. By 1988 in Seoul, the Paralympics were using the same venues as the Olympics.”</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448535690932444626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqz07MbKFw1IZABCcTJCfnj_H29WZ9l5qr63Et1ryA_vEzhSmlruP6hgNWYAX19lLv193Tgv5tI-R6AW4_a8XA0IAaIxeITH8g03VWAuEWlz9Sz3NSiM2NUTHaqxaDlFmtXWEbafeBzA/s400/vancouver-2010-paralympics.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 217px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 247px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
Believe me, these athletes are the real deal. There were plenty of inspiring stories to come out of the Olympics, but the <a href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/" style="color: red;">Paralympics</a> are all about inspiring stories! Journalists should beware of overindulging in the smorgasbord of piping hot, heart-warming stories available or they might choke on their own inspiing metaphors. As another Toronto Star Olympic story, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/778727--zelkovich-paralympics-worthy-of-record-tv-coverage" style="color: red;">Zelkovich: Paralympics worthy of record TV coverage</a>, noted on Friday…</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">“One of the highlights of the CTV-Rogers consortium's coverage of the Vancouver Olympics was the depth of heart-warming and inspiring stories the athletes had to tell. But finding those stories, such as moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau's relationship with his brother, or Clara Hughes' inspiring Olympic legacy, wasn't always easy.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">When the 2010 Paralympics open Friday in Vancouver, the consortium will again focus on athletes' stories. But this time, the challenge will be trying to decide which stories to leave out. </span> <span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;"><br />
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"There are so many incredible stories," said Rick Chisholm, the consortium's executive vice-president of broadcasting. "Every story is so inspiring."</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">That's one reason the consortium has committed itself to world-record coverage of the Games. That's not hype, either. The International Paralympic Committee said the total of 57 hours of television coverage – 27 English and 30 French – is more than anyone has ever done. That total includes unprecedented live coverage, all of it focusing on sledge hockey.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">In the past, the Paralympic packages were shown a week or two after the event, with small daily highlight packages. This time, Canadians will get 90-minute highlight packages on a 24-hour tape delay in addition to live sledge hockey.”</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb8m_zXqBTbeB2LSPzgXUx7GgZCsJVXqdHC9razAcGh0xPYSoc0_8u9xhrKerj16UmpzHmLpTHJwYZS-Ofjrww-LfycNHN70Nk3SOWJDSFMQilH_G38cgvLMpW0rjCn9mv7gYS9CBhgQ/s1600-h/brian_mckeever.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448523647863204626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb8m_zXqBTbeB2LSPzgXUx7GgZCsJVXqdHC9razAcGh0xPYSoc0_8u9xhrKerj16UmpzHmLpTHJwYZS-Ofjrww-LfycNHN70Nk3SOWJDSFMQilH_G38cgvLMpW0rjCn9mv7gYS9CBhgQ/s400/brian_mckeever.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 163px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 158px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">I know that doesn’t sound like a lot of TV coverage but it is a lot of the Paralympics and there will be a ton of online coverage too. It’s a growing phenomenon worthy of our support and respect. Athletes like blind cross-country skier can compete with anyone in the world, even if his coaches <a href="http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/778787--no-point-dwelling-on-olympic-slight-mckeever-says">don’t think so</a>.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">So keep the Olympic spirit going for all these extraordinary athletes, okay?<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Comics never seem to be quite sure how to handle disabled characters. Most of the time our personalities are centered around the disability only and we’re given little, if any, further motivation. Even more annoying, we’re often written out of the book or killed off once that limited direction has played itself out.<br />
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Other times, disabled characters are mere walk-ons, or wheel-ons, in my case). We’re trotted out to provide a visual aid or act the mouthpiece to draw attention to an issue and then be packed away for the big fight scene.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qTI8RLxHAotboPwObDGgSuNKZHj1E84h5DlK845bIRC3xNXq9u5lsiApDZUBe3KvjAbT1mouF4FRbxPcnOZ6rhuizOoMgnTl0taZqUT08eMvrIrubXiJs4DgARAMdEHppSH5Kd58m3M/s1600-h/Roger_bochs_2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448536615422779202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qTI8RLxHAotboPwObDGgSuNKZHj1E84h5DlK845bIRC3xNXq9u5lsiApDZUBe3KvjAbT1mouF4FRbxPcnOZ6rhuizOoMgnTl0taZqUT08eMvrIrubXiJs4DgARAMdEHppSH5Kd58m3M/s400/Roger_bochs_2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 184px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 174px;" /></a>I think </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">it’s a testament to John Byrne’s considerable talent and professionalism in the early eighties, how well treated I was under his stewardship of the Alpha Flight title. Byrne has made no secret of the fact that he didn’t want to do the book. So he challenged himself to make his book and his characters as unusual as possible – an Inuit goddess, French Canadian twins, A Sarcee shaman, a hoser dwarf acrobat and a former pro-footballer scientist with an ability to turn into a bigfoot. </span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAsV9D5St0ombbM44NdKKlysOyWxMg9NtHvyc1ejhnYMluZN9iT8IaDV4_jDwNoRC0M7m4gXblFjkNBJCyHHgkNQuoo5x0oRNgsesGKxBTCAyq2a2qVAvkG3rkIHiSt6iTD3D-9jmMX8/s1600-h/Puck1_3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448536940111375410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAsV9D5St0ombbM44NdKKlysOyWxMg9NtHvyc1ejhnYMluZN9iT8IaDV4_jDwNoRC0M7m4gXblFjkNBJCyHHgkNQuoo5x0oRNgsesGKxBTCAyq2a2qVAvkG3rkIHiSt6iTD3D-9jmMX8/s400/Puck1_3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 202px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 132px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Byrne made a poignant point to reference the pain that can accompany Puck’s achondroplasty (the genetic disorder that is a common cause of dwarfism). </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">That gave his joy for life an emotional power that was sacrificed for lame complications by follow-up writer Bill Mantlo, who attributed Puck’s condition to his body being inhabited by an ancient sorcerer, the Black Raazer.<br />
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Mantlo was famous for his crazy, anything-goes plots and prolific scripting for Marvel. Trust me, if you read a Marvel comic in the late seventies and eighties chances are a few of you favourite books and a few of your least favourites were written by Mantlo. But while his Black Raazer yarn made for a wild tale, it sacrificed an element of real humanity in Puck’s character. </span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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Of course, that was nothing compared to how I ended up! My creator, John Byrne established that I had a handicap and but wrote me like a person who happened to have no legs. But after suffering emotional trauma from the heavy damage inflicted on Box by the Hulk my character decisions were almost based around my handicap.</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXnp-fCik8fbUdf3cGYkUQ-vsUvenw1V2VuQc1H89LILf8Xa8rOJiR0hgUlBI4UGMU-WdKhWss8uzIBjrqoGC7namuQdhyphenhypheneBO-2RZGZhT70sBfOzv8wVl3yxFpxbymP9xM6SgwbVBF3Q/s1600-h/02+LOCURA.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448533453553601666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXnp-fCik8fbUdf3cGYkUQ-vsUvenw1V2VuQc1H89LILf8Xa8rOJiR0hgUlBI4UGMU-WdKhWss8uzIBjrqoGC7namuQdhyphenhypheneBO-2RZGZhT70sBfOzv8wVl3yxFpxbymP9xM6SgwbVBF3Q/s400/02+LOCURA.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 319px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 398px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj34DwVbTs4JaszFmkC7Yl5fk982lHmlvo2PMEh8vBGiFCZEGmwT1mO1K7R3cy0jdpBQb-Q-TiyrlaQy8j1J3g-DZV5CMt6v24W_uSmXL2lCjHhcvBMjp1KrnV2d7cUSfUMDhvHz67d2A/s1600-h/220px-Omega_Scramble.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448540353641344498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj34DwVbTs4JaszFmkC7Yl5fk982lHmlvo2PMEh8vBGiFCZEGmwT1mO1K7R3cy0jdpBQb-Q-TiyrlaQy8j1J3g-DZV5CMt6v24W_uSmXL2lCjHhcvBMjp1KrnV2d7cUSfUMDhvHz67d2A/s400/220px-Omega_Scramble.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 202px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 183px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">My Box robot served as a home for Walter “Sasquatch” Langkowski’s lost spirit after he was killed by our Alpha Flight teammate Snowbird. Meanwhile, I moped and wondered if I’d ever get to use Box again. Then I was given new legs and an Olympic worthy body by Madison Jeffries brother Lionel, aka Scramble, who could manipulate flesh the way Madison manipulated machinery. </span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Once I had the new legs I became a complete asshole and Aurora’s lover, all to prove my newfound manhood and show off my manly new bod. Then my legs deteriorated when it turned out they’d been made from dead flesh and I went crazy. Lionel merged his body with mine creating an insane monster that Madison eventually had to kill. </span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8WpZI5eWe-9HS8Z4hs9_Q1A9tyu3uMp1l_ayJQ0wcua9MaELtGOcID7wmgOdzYAsEnLdgpo1nK0gFkyOWCOxCbG5jMEhP_4WbNQAwTCco3w8DIA4FhQavpNN0w3TyLVmGPFCOhhpPSQ/s1600-h/BoxPhase01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448545369443752994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8WpZI5eWe-9HS8Z4hs9_Q1A9tyu3uMp1l_ayJQ0wcua9MaELtGOcID7wmgOdzYAsEnLdgpo1nK0gFkyOWCOxCbG5jMEhP_4WbNQAwTCco3w8DIA4FhQavpNN0w3TyLVmGPFCOhhpPSQ/s400/BoxPhase01.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 191px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 106px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Tell me, is there a single plot point or character decision in there that wasn’t about my handicap? Nope. Nada. Darn it! I had a lot of potential as human being and as a hero. But for my writers that wasn’t an option. The whole “no legs” thing had run its course. Pun intended. So in their minds I had to go.</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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But I have the spotlight here and know and I'm going to use it to celebrate our favourite handicapped heroes!</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Let’s see, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daredevil</span> is probably the big handicapped hero that comes to mind. I sometime wonder if he counts, since his radar vision essentially lets him see better than most of us! But in comic book terms the dude counts. Daredevil's character has benefited from a long, unbroken run since the late sixties. It's allowed writers to explore many sides of his character. He's know known more for his soap opera life than his blindness. Recent writers have pushed the Marvel Universe's former most honorable man (after Captain America) down a much more shadowy, conspiracy-laden road - creating a life as dark and murky as his vision.<br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsjgr97JnOK2Yj_RRznUM8soer0LX0O4Yqp18Fuu-ay6MdbosOoWkQb97yOag60pdmAyJV6b8o57H8Z35h5d0aWl77MXTtoPDASd_ZiGhkBO2UDW2p8WRw4xbNWF6fB5gkmb_mdVC584/s1600-h/daredevil.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448552609944004226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsjgr97JnOK2Yj_RRznUM8soer0LX0O4Yqp18Fuu-ay6MdbosOoWkQb97yOag60pdmAyJV6b8o57H8Z35h5d0aWl77MXTtoPDASd_ZiGhkBO2UDW2p8WRw4xbNWF6fB5gkmb_mdVC584/s400/daredevil.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 317px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">DC's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dr. Mid-Nite</span> was the earliest blind superhero, having a good twenty-years on Daredevil. In another fluke accident caused by gangsters, Dr. Charles McNider and later, Pieter Cross, were blinded but discovered an ability to see in extreme darkness. The current Dr. Mid-Nite focuses not on his blindness (or his half-blindness) but rather on his unique position in the DCU as an expert metahuman physician. It positions him as a useful character for DC Comics. Marvel has tons of superhuman scientists to help an injured hero. DC, not so much.<br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6t9l1c5JmAS0UY1hETkP9CCluPCZrbfBDOgdSObvU8Fbvz-DmGU3NXmXiedKyFRLJ5v1TtqsMc47C1XnFJUhyphenhyphenhN1L84EhJ40lD3XvwV1BqJ6h64ZsvIYD69_cxKI6Ma1LzJExemJMbk/s1600-h/mid-nite.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448584744593927666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6t9l1c5JmAS0UY1hETkP9CCluPCZrbfBDOgdSObvU8Fbvz-DmGU3NXmXiedKyFRLJ5v1TtqsMc47C1XnFJUhyphenhyphenhN1L84EhJ40lD3XvwV1BqJ6h64ZsvIYD69_cxKI6Ma1LzJExemJMbk/s400/mid-nite.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 260px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">We also have have fellow amputees like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Misty Knight</span>, who lost an arm and had it replaced with a bionic one, ala the Six Million Dollar Man. </span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcI_xQZQS1aELCRdNI-547nb6bD1zZYgWL1mtOjuDWdB88tUlMCJBoKDLkvxL2YgUktOeB8_If_m5z5-YiJ5E_0rRzbQ5lHJ7SOm-uhIxY8vK_qLyRP20SLEnzhVWeCzL5VY96lbQJan4/s1600-h/77304-114790-misty-knight_super.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448541131463019058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcI_xQZQS1aELCRdNI-547nb6bD1zZYgWL1mtOjuDWdB88tUlMCJBoKDLkvxL2YgUktOeB8_If_m5z5-YiJ5E_0rRzbQ5lHJ7SOm-uhIxY8vK_qLyRP20SLEnzhVWeCzL5VY96lbQJan4/s400/77304-114790-misty-knight_super.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 229px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
You've got yer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aquaman</span>, who lost a hand and went around sporting a harpoon hook and acting badasss.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Laterm the harpoon was replaced with a hand made of magic water.<br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMyz90Wc5zMc7hOnvCDI_Otk1665f9yUC9y9NI1gP1DxGjJPf5q444tAVZFjBDvJ-i76akzCDOjY1uC9NYHf7puq_HT1hZSNq0IIPV53KC0R-sfqSn2HCNfHED2PKJjIuRdDR68vFyU4/s1600-h/aquaman.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448541685080295554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMyz90Wc5zMc7hOnvCDI_Otk1665f9yUC9y9NI1gP1DxGjJPf5q444tAVZFjBDvJ-i76akzCDOjY1uC9NYHf7puq_HT1hZSNq0IIPV53KC0R-sfqSn2HCNfHED2PKJjIuRdDR68vFyU4/s400/aquaman.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 453px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 162px;" /></a><br />
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">We’ve got a founding member of the New Teen Titan -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cyborg</span> -- who replaced his missing parts with powerful, robotic limbs. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqJe1Lu_fwr9s0XhXBOvNtTv1nY2bPd-Aa1uO45TfAqLEOZL0IlnM1-_3QIhkgBVvrPiGkelKmu8DeKCaamHv16xHB486g496rQGo4YrUplzgiKl2XyfZZxJqN5LGhfC7NY18geM41OE/s1600-h/CyborgOrigin.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448533092895088306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqJe1Lu_fwr9s0XhXBOvNtTv1nY2bPd-Aa1uO45TfAqLEOZL0IlnM1-_3QIhkgBVvrPiGkelKmu8DeKCaamHv16xHB486g496rQGo4YrUplzgiKl2XyfZZxJqN5LGhfC7NY18geM41OE/s400/CyborgOrigin.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 304px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAyYWJNkDc1qf1JVwLXt6r7wVt94aoB71JI3B2WnXRcNhAeueke4id2IS-6BBs5krOBXBozJkIPAo1uO-YghTP2DmR_CAhOC8cKYd0-h3ssMUmS-EnrDPyqVufr3C-EhNdMtZ9nzWlXg/s1600-h/DC_Cyborg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448533022248970962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAyYWJNkDc1qf1JVwLXt6r7wVt94aoB71JI3B2WnXRcNhAeueke4id2IS-6BBs5krOBXBozJkIPAo1uO-YghTP2DmR_CAhOC8cKYd0-h3ssMUmS-EnrDPyqVufr3C-EhNdMtZ9nzWlXg/s400/DC_Cyborg.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 196px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 117px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Though his creators Marv Wolfman and George Peréz did deal with his handicap, they spent a lot of time giving him his own personality and other concerns. The result was a character who has maintained a huge following for the company. Of course, any time you have a character who is part mechanical, eventually you will have storylines based on the human side being taken over and Vic was no exception. After spending time as the villain Cyperion, Vic was eventually given a mostly human body once again and ended up mentoring his own team of young heroes.<br />
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</span>The man who revitalized Daredevil, Frank Miller, gave us a powerful handicapped sci-fi samurai in his graphic novel <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ronin</span>. Billy Challis was born without any limbs due to a genetic defect (one of the rare comic characters to have their condition from birth). Billy's psionic abilities are groomed by the artificial intelligence that cares for him and uses his powers. Billy's vivid dreams of a nameless Ronin and a demon called Agat. Billy uses his powers to refashion himself into the Ronin of his cyber dreams.<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxAV5UZ50_jl60gXEq5AN1NqptuADgnCbnnrdupj3IhXy63L6p0c6qyt3BAdHNkBGI5ZzU45PPqJKmc3ZOGq2PESEw6aLWLtg-pK1P3cdYxZDdmoWemGymvwM04Wn57gFkA49RkTC_g/s1600-h/Absolute-Ronin-Frank-Miller.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448870005562675058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxAV5UZ50_jl60gXEq5AN1NqptuADgnCbnnrdupj3IhXy63L6p0c6qyt3BAdHNkBGI5ZzU45PPqJKmc3ZOGq2PESEw6aLWLtg-pK1P3cdYxZDdmoWemGymvwM04Wn57gFkA49RkTC_g/s400/Absolute-Ronin-Frank-Miller.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 289px;" /></a><br />
In PART TWO, we'll check out handicapped heroes on wheels. Beware the chair!<br />
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This public service announcement was sponsored by <a href="http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/jaxonjerryaf.htm#box" style="color: red;">Am-Can Petroleum Company</a>. Drilling Canada's sweet spot for over fifty years.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" /></a><br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-4502129462425338112010-03-09T14:04:00.001-08:002010-10-06T20:38:15.681-07:00Speed Savage – “Murder Has The Puck”, Part 1<span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJ5mkmmbgpMM-HJqqhw-VsWfOoHCkfFNi244E7qEThVdhmtDYBBCJX6DRwrGOUtj98R0SCvohE6FVW7gxjuR2_tCObXDId49zb8PnuFWwMlhvmgXh4Fa_7kXQtHqfHZ48QSOJL0yRjz8/s1600-h/Eugene_Judd_(Earth-1298).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJ5mkmmbgpMM-HJqqhw-VsWfOoHCkfFNi244E7qEThVdhmtDYBBCJX6DRwrGOUtj98R0SCvohE6FVW7gxjuR2_tCObXDId49zb8PnuFWwMlhvmgXh4Fa_7kXQtHqfHZ48QSOJL0yRjz8/s320/Eugene_Judd_(Earth-1298).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446760217830873618" border="0" /></a></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >
<br /></span><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>1072</o:Words> <o:characters>6111</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>50</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>12</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>7504</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -</style> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" >How’s it going, eh?
<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Eugene Judd Milton Judd, better known as the bombastic Puck, coming ‘atcha again for more Olympic goodness. It took the folks here at comicanuck so long to start blogging about the Olympics (They originally planned to post every day of the Games) that our post-Olympics comic book round-up is now officially a pre-Paralympics series!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Last time we talked up Canada’s favourite game – hockey, eh?<span style=""> </span>Now it’s time for the second period to begin with a nod to the golden age of Canadian comic books.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJ05Fp93Opeu3p2kkSjoycl9SKcPI4jxWd0aZs4IH17PZpx_5K5LDa8d0exj49KH-MQXQV27UW_434znv1TnAyuxND6SJpxpIATENv2clhpshRNd0uJtvwoIaFAZE_za6OY9rmDBfBRc/s1600-h/alpha-puck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJ05Fp93Opeu3p2kkSjoycl9SKcPI4jxWd0aZs4IH17PZpx_5K5LDa8d0exj49KH-MQXQV27UW_434znv1TnAyuxND6SJpxpIATENv2clhpshRNd0uJtvwoIaFAZE_za6OY9rmDBfBRc/s320/alpha-puck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446760035417617970" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UEFKwZ42UOqkcyQUKKP10y7DmY-1LdCWXzWtFmhKijhYk9sFZknZA3M0wlS6PTCx7U7HFeDvzDNWorWKoezQLTVynR3-XQTIwILkQ5Y5oO93KcfrxSwHxm9lOQMB9rMBs1WcpTtEz5Q/s1600-h/Puck_001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UEFKwZ42UOqkcyQUKKP10y7DmY-1LdCWXzWtFmhKijhYk9sFZknZA3M0wlS6PTCx7U7HFeDvzDNWorWKoezQLTVynR3-XQTIwILkQ5Y5oO93KcfrxSwHxm9lOQMB9rMBs1WcpTtEz5Q/s320/Puck_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446766946361864098" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">There’s no doubt that between the Olympics in Vancouver last month and the Paralympics this month, we’re been witness to the top athletes in the world competing in the ultimate competition. But I’d like to tell you about the greatest athlete I’ve ever met.<span style=""> </span>And lemme tell ya, I was born before the outbreak of World War I, I’ve seen a lot of terrific athletes in my day. But first, I've got to set the scene a little.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">In the early days of World War II, (Dec. 1940, to be exact) the Canadian government grew increasingly concerned over the imbalance of trade between the US and Canada, One of their solutions was to introduce the<a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/comics/027002-8300-e.html"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">War Exchange Conservation Act</span></a> which limited the importation of non-essential goods – like magazines, books and comic books.<span style=""> </span>I know, how could any rational, sane human being consider comic books to be <i style="">non-essential?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">
<br /></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjDr-225Lcoq0zv3z70EyBlIJk0pTIq-_yN-zsoZJ2EzOrjf2mKfGe9E5wiGFMeC-k60h0Nqp57BQ9POhx_n4OsVVu8pVI5FviFPxmr9HFasqAcntVkZwnqdLW7tCCixiE9zX9l3oZeQ/s1600-h/ironman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjDr-225Lcoq0zv3z70EyBlIJk0pTIq-_yN-zsoZJ2EzOrjf2mKfGe9E5wiGFMeC-k60h0Nqp57BQ9POhx_n4OsVVu8pVI5FviFPxmr9HFasqAcntVkZwnqdLW7tCCixiE9zX9l3oZeQ/s320/ironman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446768250816146546" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Eager to fill the void, several indigenous comic publishers arose to fill the void. Maple Leaf Publishing, out of Vancouver, and Toronto’s Anglo American Publishing were first out of the gate, putting their first books </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"> (Maple Leaf’s Better Comics with our first superhero, Iron Man, and AA’s Robin Hood and Company) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">on the stands by March 1941.<span style=""> </span>It may have happened even earlier since most periodicals put a long lead date on the cover to allow for long time on the stands.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6Oi7SqbNkocLmWkdtUHTCUzxlXemf_-tl4dLWevFziL8VLZaKfi_Rb8bFlONyfZypUB4rXNvcro1tyB2RxoVLUTh6msDNALUTIFHXvm1DZiegQeJfpGjHORiG4-mr18eEf6OjX1lF20/s1600-h/nlc002260-v6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6Oi7SqbNkocLmWkdtUHTCUzxlXemf_-tl4dLWevFziL8VLZaKfi_Rb8bFlONyfZypUB4rXNvcro1tyB2RxoVLUTh6msDNALUTIFHXvm1DZiegQeJfpGjHORiG4-mr18eEf6OjX1lF20/s320/nlc002260-v6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446768708456392850" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">For a short time, the classiest books on the stands came from the third publisher to enter the fray; Adrian Dingle’s Hillborough Studios and Triumph Adventure Comics.<span style=""> </span>With the help of his wife and several talented painter friends, Triumph was proudly Canadian and introduced the world to Nelvana of the Northern Lights. Sadly, by the sixth issue of Triumph the burden of writing, drawing, editing, packaging, publishing and distributing his book took a toll on Dingle and he sold his title to publisher Cyril Bell.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Bell hired on Dingle as his art director but</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"> Dingle’s other accomplished artists,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"> except for the Kulbach brothers, René and André, did not follow. I suspect several of them were drafted into military service or signed up themselves because Bell Features was soon relying on teenage talent to fill out their ambitious array of titles, rather than more experienced artists.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI-GFomjZpD9gshel1i9yn_a37bNXXVspY2O6qzuBz74D9MCTL_YF4Ivv0BN4Brv9KFMhJ5vgMfFSWhKS9cpU7BiyH27x8I2wqjHhe0v-fvIcp8V9ZRx3nsRKjdH6I1VutKxe6-qbEIE/s1600-h/savage_p1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI-GFomjZpD9gshel1i9yn_a37bNXXVspY2O6qzuBz74D9MCTL_YF4Ivv0BN4Brv9KFMhJ5vgMfFSWhKS9cpU7BiyH27x8I2wqjHhe0v-fvIcp8V9ZRx3nsRKjdH6I1VutKxe6-qbEIE/s400/savage_p1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446845514432673474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb4QyQt0KE9FUjKuJwupLDvJ2KjiTM4SV_2-vyopeVv8HOMF2cw6iu0kde6_G7ob1skHzjwgx87LhPOLpz5XKgO7nrITK7jj0wXniN2xWtAb2bFxGWHADixZU_Y9Is8gbvFzXPqhxAp8/s1600-h/TriV1.9_15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb4QyQt0KE9FUjKuJwupLDvJ2KjiTM4SV_2-vyopeVv8HOMF2cw6iu0kde6_G7ob1skHzjwgx87LhPOLpz5XKgO7nrITK7jj0wXniN2xWtAb2bFxGWHADixZU_Y9Is8gbvFzXPqhxAp8/s400/TriV1.9_15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446845620032117570" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">In the seventh issue of Triumph Comics (which had now dumped the lengthy adventure portion of the title), we see the first of the youngsters to arrive --</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">-- Ted Steele and his heroic adventurer, <span style="font-style: italic;">Speed Savage!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Based on the popular pulp heroes of the time, Speed Savage is “well-known all over the North American continent as a crack athlete and private detective”.<span style=""> </span>I can vouch for the athlete stuff. There were few competitors as well rounded as Speed. When he wasn’t racing cars or speedboats, Speed was making opponents eat his powder as a crack skier or lighting up the scoreboard as a star hockey player.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">To show just how amazing Speed was, here’s a splash page from Triumph Comics 12 that says he is competing in a cross-country ski race at the “St. Anne Winter Sports Carnival in Quebec.”<span style=""> </span>Picture it, Speed is in a cross-country race and yet the splash shows him sailing overa ski jump with perfect form!<span style=""> </span>Either Speed is competing in two races at once (and winning both) or his sense of direction is seriously screwed up!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lM3rWNPfPWv2Gkp1mBdTZ7MGHsSlradzKR5LQYZzdT4laQ6Ape5p31mN-1RkJNhhvDBjW90u2tgQRy7h5z5sOHdwCjbqU7TWNtSS_5W457HvGuQBdQ70gIsy9pj7KHLCwrSAi7UborI/s1600-h/Triu12_14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lM3rWNPfPWv2Gkp1mBdTZ7MGHsSlradzKR5LQYZzdT4laQ6Ape5p31mN-1RkJNhhvDBjW90u2tgQRy7h5z5sOHdwCjbqU7TWNtSS_5W457HvGuQBdQ70gIsy9pj7KHLCwrSAi7UborI/s400/Triu12_14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446845342218788770" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">A competitor as dogged as Speed drew a lot of cheating gangsters and unsportsmanlike criminals into his circle.<span style=""> </span>But Speed took care of them in his own, not so unique way… You see, “only a few trusted friends” knew that Speed was also the “the mysterious ‘White Mask’, dread hunter of criminals and avenger of wrong.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIDn7Nhgj3bM0l2jgHXEwrdh5K15658o7BV6sRsy2xq4rD1iXPe6p063tDrpc9Vw50phEibdiZ1jnmkNaHS0XGGjwoTcMCu02aA0DZ7n_oPwdOI7vP2HrcWVhodsJjAMoKsrhTmN-fZ0/s1600-h/incrediblehercules129a1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIDn7Nhgj3bM0l2jgHXEwrdh5K15658o7BV6sRsy2xq4rD1iXPe6p063tDrpc9Vw50phEibdiZ1jnmkNaHS0XGGjwoTcMCu02aA0DZ7n_oPwdOI7vP2HrcWVhodsJjAMoKsrhTmN-fZ0/s320/incrediblehercules129a1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446766046823398834" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">The White Mask started out fighting crime in a taking-care-of-business zoot suit with a fedora, blazing 45’s and of course, a white mask. He completed the ensemble with a groovy skull symbol on his forehead which, quite frankly, beats the heck out of the “P” plastered on the front of my original costume. Alpha Flight’s government tailors sure make sturdy clothing but fashion forward they ain’t.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"> Just saying.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Here’s Speed as envisioned by Canuck comic book artist, <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://kennethjunior.blogspot.com/">Scott Hepburn</a> (webcomic <a href="http://www.transmission-x.com/_the_port/2007/06/17/prologue/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Port</span> </a>and <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/11/scott-hepburn-interview-clone-wars/?page=2">Clone Wars</a>). The sketch is too big for a scanner so I took a digital photo.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWKZlEcpigsqX1DQ_17rfw9AxIkIvKLki_Jcdd68daNiUlI6M-7cLsSaXN9JgwQtC4QLnY-xTCA2qhFMYsmSp9si8kQLXH6Sz2jb98DyQez38UQdaef4UgVtHBSWuzPCiEW5nK6xXTgA/s1600-h/SpdSavage-Hepburn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWKZlEcpigsqX1DQ_17rfw9AxIkIvKLki_Jcdd68daNiUlI6M-7cLsSaXN9JgwQtC4QLnY-xTCA2qhFMYsmSp9si8kQLXH6Sz2jb98DyQez38UQdaef4UgVtHBSWuzPCiEW5nK6xXTgA/s320/SpdSavage-Hepburn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446840154908067746" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HZIKIGh-joZR7HZXUkWgVTEFU60jmI-7J8jNPyifYM4-YQxRuiYvejscEEgleN8dfgvdIEVujNg_3ri2UTk8FDJ8AypI17ck3vlnF_4_Zc6y6LOpzQ4qTrTgVkOXqetPgJaaDMxZdGU/s1600-h/steele_speedsavage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HZIKIGh-joZR7HZXUkWgVTEFU60jmI-7J8jNPyifYM4-YQxRuiYvejscEEgleN8dfgvdIEVujNg_3ri2UTk8FDJ8AypI17ck3vlnF_4_Zc6y6LOpzQ4qTrTgVkOXqetPgJaaDMxZdGU/s320/steele_speedsavage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446770750825685042" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Later, much like DC Comics Sandman character, Speed dumped the suit but kept the 45’s as he turned to a more streamlined, skintight outfit. He was busting heads and looking good doing it! Ol' Puck here used some of Speed’s, er, the White Mask’s ideas when they first made my costume. Wish I’d thought to copy the forehead skull though. That’s just dang cool.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Toward the end of the war, after the repeal of the War Exchange Conservation Act, Cyril Bell attempted to position his company for post-war business as usual. He released a number of one shots featuring Bell characters like Nelvana, Tang<span style=""> </span>and the Phantom Rider in the hopes of introducing people to the idea of buying their exploits in their own books. The books contained mostly reprints but I suspect the Nelvana one shot had one new story.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Today’s Speed Savage story comes from the Speed Savage one shot (which sported two covers - one for Canada and one for Britain - shades of modern comic marketing! Pictured below is the Brit version). It was released with two separate covers. I believe the one I have here was for the British market.<span style=""> </span>I suspect this tale is a a reprint but I don’t know what issue of Triumph Comics it's from.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Z-_HYqh1QRUniPIBKCB0F5jiCs2EziTVQgwgS21smuvMsroEHH1G8pasvShg9hcKspmFo8GhyphenhyphenkK_mKTIyJx7xXtscfesdT0ZccMN27tNLBFPzzopSw1IvrdLmAewA8LVsNaxJ2SFoR8/s1600-h/SpdSvg_FCA-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Z-_HYqh1QRUniPIBKCB0F5jiCs2EziTVQgwgS21smuvMsroEHH1G8pasvShg9hcKspmFo8GhyphenhyphenkK_mKTIyJx7xXtscfesdT0ZccMN27tNLBFPzzopSw1IvrdLmAewA8LVsNaxJ2SFoR8/s320/SpdSvg_FCA-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446771195724153298" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32ZVVLRgf8qKNVgLKYcmBhwZL1l8xRc0ysuDGXCbjFF9vc4PWOqEuie4bpB4LNjcB29Ip759vKKK4MompllajzGcJ4bwXnDkLNcxMA7u907kIBQg3JaRyZBxo1jBRI_ZSZEAMVDi0Jfw/s1600-h/main+ghost+cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32ZVVLRgf8qKNVgLKYcmBhwZL1l8xRc0ysuDGXCbjFF9vc4PWOqEuie4bpB4LNjcB29Ip759vKKK4MompllajzGcJ4bwXnDkLNcxMA7u907kIBQg3JaRyZBxo1jBRI_ZSZEAMVDi0Jfw/s320/main+ghost+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446772090407456562" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">In keeping with our hockey theme, this golden age adventure is all about rinkside shenanigans.<o:p> </o:p>
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">And to make things even more exciting, we have a splash page recreation by none other than Canadian comic book creator <a href="http://www.jefflemire.com/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jeff Lemire</span> </a>(Essex County trilogy, Sweet Tooth, The Nobody), who’s no stranger to hockey and<a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://jefflemire.blogspot.com/"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">comics</span></a> himself!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>So hold onto yer hats, hosers… Comicanuck and Eugene Judd are proud to present Speed Savage The White Mask in “Murder Has The Puck” part one, by Ted A. Steele!</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OKxqVOueW9z7DECwgWrBvSIEjMyfS5WcJ2E9GvUedSQa4L3oXX3ArwxSGjU8QOyzvCdpzF0OECjdSgODd2NVc8mfW-IVttRjXbN7uK4F9g79oz8imXrU8lehyvJscxFRx4vWCdLSeO8/s1600-h/SpdSav-Lemire.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OKxqVOueW9z7DECwgWrBvSIEjMyfS5WcJ2E9GvUedSQa4L3oXX3ArwxSGjU8QOyzvCdpzF0OECjdSgODd2NVc8mfW-IVttRjXbN7uK4F9g79oz8imXrU8lehyvJscxFRx4vWCdLSeO8/s320/SpdSav-Lemire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446840223616146882" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPz4YaxDTnbxu_tmlKYv0tE4r6evfEY-UlDpDOab3ol_6WIiUTXrbYVbBULKILLAyKj-j5iJ4foGvafgxFRHdgaMqTolUGL028l3kB-nMIq0V3-VuzXmQ2Exwn97AEKZXGTo5UcQZtLA/s1600-h/SpdSvg-01-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPz4YaxDTnbxu_tmlKYv0tE4r6evfEY-UlDpDOab3ol_6WIiUTXrbYVbBULKILLAyKj-j5iJ4foGvafgxFRHdgaMqTolUGL028l3kB-nMIq0V3-VuzXmQ2Exwn97AEKZXGTo5UcQZtLA/s400/SpdSvg-01-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446842786654190562" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKry5d32M1c2z2zZvu064jVKAVZ_L2NkrCqAaxwJxzmd3xKfKy_a-kczYUhP3tOhaOF3yVaPmPg3HFiKPmJtIlRJofdg9P_-K180JLoyyxB-e2hqX_QAEsBaXWFVEoh2U6D-H6UD-Cps4/s1600-h/SpdSvg-02-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKry5d32M1c2z2zZvu064jVKAVZ_L2NkrCqAaxwJxzmd3xKfKy_a-kczYUhP3tOhaOF3yVaPmPg3HFiKPmJtIlRJofdg9P_-K180JLoyyxB-e2hqX_QAEsBaXWFVEoh2U6D-H6UD-Cps4/s400/SpdSvg-02-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446843170621952850" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4AdqvH0y17rWUttCPs_WOobap8HcCxB-siUUsH4tXh73sJIsOzUg1TY51jhM_bm_Qa-1Ia0oE-otNIKXrci5hjCr55cerakRBA_N92-CxibGQxXE4OmwJkVTWeIyyFL6vXCHyc12_Jg/s1600-h/SpdSvg-03-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4AdqvH0y17rWUttCPs_WOobap8HcCxB-siUUsH4tXh73sJIsOzUg1TY51jhM_bm_Qa-1Ia0oE-otNIKXrci5hjCr55cerakRBA_N92-CxibGQxXE4OmwJkVTWeIyyFL6vXCHyc12_Jg/s400/SpdSvg-03-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446843277014831298" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6NQW5MvTkMYcy0dj59D15VklQZOehrXjWuyp6h4sbS2WStYJKHCgnLXuohL_RTMt1Wb-wFr4jfG_KZppkN_GV1whEkdWi2IQQop6nT8CMJQBGArHjCCTjw-E0dSsWtnQeSXQvJhnL1U/s1600-h/SpdSvg-04-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6NQW5MvTkMYcy0dj59D15VklQZOehrXjWuyp6h4sbS2WStYJKHCgnLXuohL_RTMt1Wb-wFr4jfG_KZppkN_GV1whEkdWi2IQQop6nT8CMJQBGArHjCCTjw-E0dSsWtnQeSXQvJhnL1U/s400/SpdSvg-04-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446843457244874658" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqMjnkOMcqPfIYVsC7qKx-8PyJs-dTXgmmeflFQwu9vlkCeC2Y1gCmNjN8TxkO8XTFG5jteiWT2iM69eQR7e1UfPBmnQf7B6aHEikRZdkQP6cAcEAnyQPZ7n4u3O5sxX42eQmxO6Ok5M/s1600-h/SpdSvg-05-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqMjnkOMcqPfIYVsC7qKx-8PyJs-dTXgmmeflFQwu9vlkCeC2Y1gCmNjN8TxkO8XTFG5jteiWT2iM69eQR7e1UfPBmnQf7B6aHEikRZdkQP6cAcEAnyQPZ7n4u3O5sxX42eQmxO6Ok5M/s400/SpdSvg-05-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446843634328987490" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0vlkDzO18VkhpFkvzpjTbmPC9FhhyphenhyphenKHPoOaLA04G92fvjeY5bw3b57vscs8fv19TxXlTll3-O9VWx-7kRyjJ1gJ0JV_Pjc6W6b-PBSbVnr6enx-aWLdrT-qWSl_PU1TT2jhmcj18h34/s1600-h/SpdSvg-06-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0vlkDzO18VkhpFkvzpjTbmPC9FhhyphenhyphenKHPoOaLA04G92fvjeY5bw3b57vscs8fv19TxXlTll3-O9VWx-7kRyjJ1gJ0JV_Pjc6W6b-PBSbVnr6enx-aWLdrT-qWSl_PU1TT2jhmcj18h34/s400/SpdSvg-06-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446843919441475778" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLlvV6oz29cQbKceVehaWq8UrpoWymM8_kOEWI1dj-3EEUbEgEMBcdzgVp7d3HHmvGETeI0wPtW5bzYDzjD6iy4_s1Frf2FhtqhA8SNUCg9oix4N8j4XfjA-XCg49YFPRL4_vGmUinYc/s1600-h/SpdSvg-07-MurdPuck_Web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLlvV6oz29cQbKceVehaWq8UrpoWymM8_kOEWI1dj-3EEUbEgEMBcdzgVp7d3HHmvGETeI0wPtW5bzYDzjD6iy4_s1Frf2FhtqhA8SNUCg9oix4N8j4XfjA-XCg49YFPRL4_vGmUinYc/s400/SpdSvg-07-MurdPuck_Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446844062632038770" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUX5kxSgyr2NtQ5GDcDMM-7pT-d81aSkhtig8pctaLOBDSYngL-VnGR9LE5WItk4e_zxbUJx56avQSq5-y7Z3WuUO7yT8l4ksAY3LSLIXQb1USCsWARskcf8un_ucsZhSdsX-bvFI3Nw/s1600-h/SpdSvg-05-MurdPuck_Web.jpg">
<br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><span style="font-size:100%;">Whoa! What a cliff-hanger. Our eye-patch wearing villain is still going through with his murderous scheme even though his boss, the guy who's presumably paying him, is dead. I guess it's kind of like paying his last respects without having to pop for flowers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Is it just me or does Speed's plan of getting shot by crooks to throw them off their murderous path seem like a bad idea all around?</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Well, the secret is out and now you know why Speed was such a great hockey player. He used to be the top man in the National Hockey League! Let's see... That would have meant he was playing at the end of the thirties, after the Great Depression reduced the number of teams from ten in 1930 to seven by 1940. Playing with greats Howie Morenz, Charlie Conacher, King Clancy, Hap Day, Art Ross and Eddie Shore will make a hockey man out of ya, all right.</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIo06vQhYjZjYWc2PtEhGmrNeDPJID3qbSLE8C1h8uc3kLv7zn21FpuF6hHWm0hciTd0DrXaGCHSHMySxuNf1fFrFuH-3sftOvcaSdwm5lWIXCq2lgeSwj8bZNw8u9fP_AWWC3xVyB8M/s1600-h/1935Maroons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIo06vQhYjZjYWc2PtEhGmrNeDPJID3qbSLE8C1h8uc3kLv7zn21FpuF6hHWm0hciTd0DrXaGCHSHMySxuNf1fFrFuH-3sftOvcaSdwm5lWIXCq2lgeSwj8bZNw8u9fP_AWWC3xVyB8M/s400/1935Maroons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446963426315842674" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Montreal's hockey-crazed citizens supported two teams for years- the Maroons and the Canadians. And New York, then as now, supported two teams as well - the New York Americans and the New York Rangers. The Maroons, despite winning their second Stanley Cup (over the Maple Leafs) in 1935 and considering a move to St. Louis (where the hard luck Ottawa Senators had tried moving to as the St. Louis Eagles for their final season) gave up the ghost in 1939 and the New York Americans were teetering on the brink. After changing their name to the Brooklyn Americans they folded in 1942.
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<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Fg2CPK6oQH9yersh6WZ-W0fKgQBwX074LTG7DKDEuZOOxubGPwTBW8sNSIUC7wnvlmXo4ryem9KMJhGwI6iqMz7RnKOd22ulHUGPd8FQZxKv3SCdBIizSztEDFK2PeKp7umHze4H-E/s1600-h/astonishingtales3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Fg2CPK6oQH9yersh6WZ-W0fKgQBwX074LTG7DKDEuZOOxubGPwTBW8sNSIUC7wnvlmXo4ryem9KMJhGwI6iqMz7RnKOd22ulHUGPd8FQZxKv3SCdBIizSztEDFK2PeKp7umHze4H-E/s400/astonishingtales3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446960516544996930" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I like to imagine that Speed helped the hard luck Maroons win that last Stanley Cup before they ran out of time and money. Not being part of a storied franchise like the Canadians that lasted into the 21st century and celebrates its past heroes maybe the only reason we haven't heard of Speed's days in the NHL.</span> <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >
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<br />We'll retire to the dressing room for a last ditch pep talk while I sweep up the ice (I worked as a human zamboni back in the day, eh?)
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<br />Come on back for sudden death overtime when comicanuck presents <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/09/speed-savage-murder-has-puck-part-2.html">Part II of "Murder Has The Puck"</a>!</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" >
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<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a>
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<br /></span></span></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPaxhG4VBMx4cmlMjKuDSEgBkIsOtRwCA33VptZBYEv6PgN6zGh9mBR7UEbClamV7iKwJ1XgWVSgJdF4dTc28QjopwH2THevdig8oMKDT9ktOIEu59-Sp4NarVn5HvtlGApdZRY8caes/s1600-h/440px-Puck_head.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPaxhG4VBMx4cmlMjKuDSEgBkIsOtRwCA33VptZBYEv6PgN6zGh9mBR7UEbClamV7iKwJ1XgWVSgJdF4dTc28QjopwH2THevdig8oMKDT9ktOIEu59-Sp4NarVn5HvtlGApdZRY8caes/s320/440px-Puck_head.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446774785407184946" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-76762016512601221332010-03-06T08:41:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:42:11.605-08:00A "Golden Age" Olympic moment with the irrepressible Puck!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS251MEtzucNy9ci2aNo6alyTNSpuzHg4GOkqR1-NPwm7K6GRaStu9KC7W8QdlVtMBr0NQFxVQKYLqT3AsGsWckceFHlqGleTprml8yF9efn-oRLESvoeLdCDz66MRA-HLNaIOKBBbg3k/s1600-h/puck2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445574643578144450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS251MEtzucNy9ci2aNo6alyTNSpuzHg4GOkqR1-NPwm7K6GRaStu9KC7W8QdlVtMBr0NQFxVQKYLqT3AsGsWckceFHlqGleTprml8yF9efn-oRLESvoeLdCDz66MRA-HLNaIOKBBbg3k/s320/puck2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; height: 301px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Groan… How’s it going, eh?</span></div><br />Shhhh! Don’t answer so loud. Why is everything is so very, very loud? Oh yeah, my hangover, eh? The last week of partying in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/2010-Winter-Olympics-Shaun-White/dp/B0036FVPRS?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Olympic</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0036FVPRS" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> village and on the streets of Vancouver is pretty much a blur to me and my aching head and ears are a wee bit sensitive today.<br /><br />Forget those other <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Flight-Classic-Uncanny-X-Men/dp/0785127461?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Alpha Flight</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785127461" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> second stringers you’ve been reading all week. Despite my blurry vision and feeling like my skull has been run over by a three-man luge, you’re hanging with the real deal now. The one and only Eugene Milton Judd, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Flight-Mini-Bust-Bowen-Designs/dp/B0015T58UW?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">alias Puck </a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0015T58UW" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: red;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />(Alpha Flight)<img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0015T58UW" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0015T58UW" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />, Alpha Flight’s number one ladies man and adventurer!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-8d-zyFw4aJhVBUfqmYoU21IEBAqQTwJpnGH_BXyivWTf7VMYWGFGd57Q4kbylcPtKAucNYGOZuIyBWQpMLCI6R1cchNhrGcnU6mTbRnQvmVa1UnwAzlT2VtuqlY5IhRbh464Yvh-4E/s1600-h/puck00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445572492926136914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-8d-zyFw4aJhVBUfqmYoU21IEBAqQTwJpnGH_BXyivWTf7VMYWGFGd57Q4kbylcPtKAucNYGOZuIyBWQpMLCI6R1cchNhrGcnU6mTbRnQvmVa1UnwAzlT2VtuqlY5IhRbh464Yvh-4E/s320/puck00.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 358px; text-align: center; width: 287px;" border="0" /></a><br />Oooooh! Shouldn't have done that cartwheel for effect. My stomach’s still delicate from being pumped out by paramedics after the beer chugging contest with those university kids... who, in retrospect, looked suspiciously like disguised members of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Flight-Alpha-New-Avengers/dp/0785124411?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Omega Flight</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785124411" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkb8afRaXN3r_l3N6rRPkLLp0ehzIOjTAfMFvIzCuSmFqYdinFWAhAvzw-KcdBgg6NI8e54ALiPkw9TJyYGPeWgEap5VohytaXryATRopXsiqKt3il72xVPFtB4Uupq2pNAPz0psWAzw/s1600-h/Omega_flight_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkb8afRaXN3r_l3N6rRPkLLp0ehzIOjTAfMFvIzCuSmFqYdinFWAhAvzw-KcdBgg6NI8e54ALiPkw9TJyYGPeWgEap5VohytaXryATRopXsiqKt3il72xVPFtB4Uupq2pNAPz0psWAzw/s320/Omega_flight_1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU4164zOsioV_7wcPs8aU4ua7RC0M3_wnbmCR80ueKsbUzJq8ZsmwnTds8f1hEADk8Egx036d5X-sb5HbJxMseyuDYE2VLk_ga-kBrETVnThbnL7W1tQbsbXEni_6V_62gtOKZkT_FOU/s1600-h/Marvel_Zombies_Dead_Days_Vol_1_1_page_10_Eugene_Judd_(Earth-2149).png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445572851529959554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU4164zOsioV_7wcPs8aU4ua7RC0M3_wnbmCR80ueKsbUzJq8ZsmwnTds8f1hEADk8Egx036d5X-sb5HbJxMseyuDYE2VLk_ga-kBrETVnThbnL7W1tQbsbXEni_6V_62gtOKZkT_FOU/s320/Marvel_Zombies_Dead_Days_Vol_1_1_page_10_Eugene_Judd_(Earth-2149).png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 157px; width: 100px;" border="0" /></a>Jeese, my zombified head is feels like it’s been in a blender. I suspect I feel a lot like these Russian guys in the electric pinballs from the closing ceremony.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLESETlVDWC8kJo2Lt8-3QLtN8LTe5e5GAGTChZSfypbUaviYB3QQzZ7RKLK2rvwB3AZWe0o4iXYOH3_gg2iYKSWbIYan0iD_GZJBvt4-VFyNaSGaA0yNT0rJuio_N2zZOTHUeL6sUVc/s1600-h/capt.olycl18103010304.vancouver_olympics_closing_ceremony_olycl181.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445573424528341170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLESETlVDWC8kJo2Lt8-3QLtN8LTe5e5GAGTChZSfypbUaviYB3QQzZ7RKLK2rvwB3AZWe0o4iXYOH3_gg2iYKSWbIYan0iD_GZJBvt4-VFyNaSGaA0yNT0rJuio_N2zZOTHUeL6sUVc/s320/capt.olycl18103010304.vancouver_olympics_closing_ceremony_olycl181.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 154px; width: 243px;" border="0" /></a>I should know better by now - never mix Glen Breton Rare 15 year single malt with Niagara Ice Wine with pitchers of lager and Bloody Caesars for an entire week.<br /><br />Take my advice. If anyone ever offers you free refills of a drink they call a "<a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.idrink.com/v.html?id=37958%27">Wolverine</a>". You say, "No" and back away slowly.<br /><br />Sore as I am, I can say this was one Hell of a Winter Games. And I should now, I’ve been to pretty much all of them since they officially began in 1924.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M_nVfHv8x4B7BupjhhAuYtjlVkFlRpRUg1ycedclA2X9Y18Ahpdd5Nkuu2mid2tfQMDDeU0HlnzEFyiuR-X_vEQLBOzxrM7YrR-KDFS5T2XeFpX2ut8WUz5ftZQFEpwVylTRnFVsgF8/s1600-h/AlphaFans-Small.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445612867274416642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M_nVfHv8x4B7BupjhhAuYtjlVkFlRpRUg1ycedclA2X9Y18Ahpdd5Nkuu2mid2tfQMDDeU0HlnzEFyiuR-X_vEQLBOzxrM7YrR-KDFS5T2XeFpX2ut8WUz5ftZQFEpwVylTRnFVsgF8/s320/AlphaFans-Small.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 407px; text-align: center; width: 330px;" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1pkPEK3oBMkoURqq77QO_7iNwBuwHfr0lA0KGSCoF69mDe7DEDuxE3Ck2aWSyQR1OexO6dZeRKXCVfifJBKPt8ygUVcdq2O8Tgj1anoTgH_yo6pmSzgiInfqpy3bgTScblbOsAPsPEM/s1600-h/alf31-3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445571812526797618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1pkPEK3oBMkoURqq77QO_7iNwBuwHfr0lA0KGSCoF69mDe7DEDuxE3Ck2aWSyQR1OexO6dZeRKXCVfifJBKPt8ygUVcdq2O8Tgj1anoTgH_yo6pmSzgiInfqpy3bgTScblbOsAPsPEM/s320/alf31-3.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 151px; width: 281px;" border="0" /></a>Let’s see, what can I remember? Me and my Alpha Flight buddies were in special Box seats watching the game. Actually, we were sitting IN Box, who had reshaped his robot body into bleachers hovering near the scoreboard.<br /><br />I was head cheerleader despite already being wiped out from partying with the women’s hockey team. Those young women are harder to stop than Deadly Earnest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcYXNozHMDFGPBZYMxffUbWGFdTMk1DtcjniDjhuTDWCkbkyazWoICAIuojRlAzo2yefKM9RUJ0fW-m5qF11iYXKWfp8VxjlyWn8vZIGqxPj-vilapIvzF5j0dJDqGIw1KCMRzD1bA_s/s1600-h/2616841.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445579005637571666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcYXNozHMDFGPBZYMxffUbWGFdTMk1DtcjniDjhuTDWCkbkyazWoICAIuojRlAzo2yefKM9RUJ0fW-m5qF11iYXKWfp8VxjlyWn8vZIGqxPj-vilapIvzF5j0dJDqGIw1KCMRzD1bA_s/s320/2616841.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br />Who could forget Northstar acting all pissy when his Olympic credentials and passes were rescinded after he interrupted the Joni Mitchell aerial ballet in the opening dancer to give the guy tips on proper flying technique? I think Jean-Paul was just trying to pick up myself. So he was forced to watch it on big screens in Robson Square with like, a billion other people.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ASI7Adi1ixPLKyd_efK5tmWtdsohuwtvlDh2PIMFXUtru7v7_TNuLhgbrD-YTiWu2fCEY4bDJRQYf56ew3Nq0Gg0cEDSkgcb2aIQOBJ_qtZVafV9Ru82-_0z9YJhaVCgVp3UUb2sGRg/s1600-h/Puck-HawHaw.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445589063612234546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ASI7Adi1ixPLKyd_efK5tmWtdsohuwtvlDh2PIMFXUtru7v7_TNuLhgbrD-YTiWu2fCEY4bDJRQYf56ew3Nq0Gg0cEDSkgcb2aIQOBJ_qtZVafV9Ru82-_0z9YJhaVCgVp3UUb2sGRg/s320/Puck-HawHaw.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 194px; text-align: center; width: 262px;" border="0" /></a><br />Jean-Paul and I did get into it with some rowdy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Activision-Shaun-Palmers-Snowboarder/dp/B00005NOD6?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">snowboarders</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00005NOD6" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: red;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> in the chalet. But we made sure those loudmouths had finished competing before we beat the crap out of them for dissing the true north strong and free. You'd think the Danes had been made fun of enough themselves to know better.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FbPyXGy-vfaCp3C-AdmQ1avS9aKGkgKkXR_NOzXGojQAp56GmBqKYKk0LFxIDrcQEZI_qj22jYGkS7B_FwBbeWLOPV9SXgiPNwpy_nKa9t7PCV5-JRz77Bv1ldhPYYG3n9J111sMhzo/s1600-h/superheroeseh.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445584973453649730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FbPyXGy-vfaCp3C-AdmQ1avS9aKGkgKkXR_NOzXGojQAp56GmBqKYKk0LFxIDrcQEZI_qj22jYGkS7B_FwBbeWLOPV9SXgiPNwpy_nKa9t7PCV5-JRz77Bv1ldhPYYG3n9J111sMhzo/s320/superheroeseh.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 315px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yeah. Drunk as I was I can still remember, “He shoots, he scores!” to quote my old buddy, Foster Hewitt.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/03/05/alg_crosby_celebrates.jpg" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/03/05/alg_crosby_celebrates.jpg" style="height: 186px; width: 344px;" /><br /><br /></div>It’s amazing how a single moment like a game winning, gold medal, overtime goal can turn a player like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pittsburgh-Penguins-Sidney-Crosby-McFarlane/dp/B001GRXFZ8?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Sidney Crosby</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001GRXFZ8" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> from the under-performing scapegoat of the Olympic Men’s Hockey team into a hero of the games. Ask Paul Henderson about how that works. The last time I was this excited was after his game-winning goal in game eight of the 1972 Summit Series. He’s been dining out on that for decades. In fact, I’ve treated the guy to a few dinners myself. And Crosby? The kid’s only 22 and he’s got a Stanley Cup, a World Junior Championship silver and gold and now an Olympic gold medal. It’s all downhill from here, kid. Ask Paul.<br /><br />Hmmm. These bruises ring a bell. Now it’ s coming back to me. I remember being pretty stoked when Scott Niedermayer asked me to join the team’s “quiet, family” celebrations – which turned out to be a game of shinny. Did they put me in goal due to my incredible reflexes? Nooooo, they needed a puck and I’m a sucker for punishment.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ewMwBAwNb3RkdXf1QnmsTlxsY5464kz0N87oX87WLSIo57ysZ9TON6B3MD9U1Q9zEfvdmeTykY0fBRTs8a1gn9J5twTgoPY1QRlqEfv4SbZlfOTK3NlpjQdRJ__sTGzggNpGSrajXdI/s1600-h/PuckSocres-150dpi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445613009874196226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ewMwBAwNb3RkdXf1QnmsTlxsY5464kz0N87oX87WLSIo57ysZ9TON6B3MD9U1Q9zEfvdmeTykY0fBRTs8a1gn9J5twTgoPY1QRlqEfv4SbZlfOTK3NlpjQdRJ__sTGzggNpGSrajXdI/s320/PuckSocres-150dpi.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 247px; text-align: center; width: 333px;" border="0" /></a><br />The next thing I know I found myself in a horrible, Canadian nightmare -- a puck's eye view of a tabletop hockey game being played by a half-asleep, bored looking <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Damn-Thing-Avril-Lavigne/dp/B000NA1OXY?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Avril Lavigne</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000NA1OXY" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />, courier du bois and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Love-Michael-Buble/dp/B002KDUDG6?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Michael Bublé</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002KDUDG6" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><span lang="EN-CA">. It must have been some bad poutine. I woke in a cold sweat, screaming. Then <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Horse-Nickelback/dp/B001FSDOZO?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Nickelback</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001FSDOZO" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> arrived to make it all better.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjio7LhbK9_B8njmKoJ_Trlk7_YYNtIp45d8W8huFaR1BPNziKHtMX62aC1P8SvSJCpaTHEFmi3cEqGYA4EqpKCIYshGhm5x9UK_-W5C3SItDdzr2GGSeASbxKT7e2Ox2wp6Keob8xNpc/s1600-h/PucksEyeView.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445567874772883634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjio7LhbK9_B8njmKoJ_Trlk7_YYNtIp45d8W8huFaR1BPNziKHtMX62aC1P8SvSJCpaTHEFmi3cEqGYA4EqpKCIYshGhm5x9UK_-W5C3SItDdzr2GGSeASbxKT7e2Ox2wp6Keob8xNpc/s320/PucksEyeView.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 196px; text-align: center; width: 317px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG5xEVZJil_M6k3lFrWu2zhyphenhyphen3Dk7MuyyTgdSaH49u-yUYQ9KK2m0_OXdeSVfR_d0A0Q_LXHzldpqhHsjeL83fASMzvsz5WPdJPTNCdVcChxTBj9QrWTrymKO-qtVqkSlelU5fqRMdxSk/s1600-h/r2122100334.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445568852118019650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG5xEVZJil_M6k3lFrWu2zhyphenhyphen3Dk7MuyyTgdSaH49u-yUYQ9KK2m0_OXdeSVfR_d0A0Q_LXHzldpqhHsjeL83fASMzvsz5WPdJPTNCdVcChxTBj9QrWTrymKO-qtVqkSlelU5fqRMdxSk/s320/r2122100334.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 237px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DcRBdCkaCJNzRsJtifXIWTQbZU0i8ZIxNp8TpU4ZJGOkV0MazUkPFvVP56KN9QLDD8DjxLfkZY2sffRU9VL2m6d0ePkA6zJXagH7Hg0IUR7fP3_dZ5Kiw8gUeO9fc0fI8nfUA0JlbLo/s1600-h/capt.olycl21303010352.vancouver_olympics_closing_ceremony_olycl213.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445569645458764882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DcRBdCkaCJNzRsJtifXIWTQbZU0i8ZIxNp8TpU4ZJGOkV0MazUkPFvVP56KN9QLDD8DjxLfkZY2sffRU9VL2m6d0ePkA6zJXagH7Hg0IUR7fP3_dZ5Kiw8gUeO9fc0fI8nfUA0JlbLo/s320/capt.olycl21303010352.vancouver_olympics_closing_ceremony_olycl213.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 298px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2LIgD3nnOS4UKEsF7C7op00eOZ_fkdq95a8g_dZHuj9neN8uK9XpEmpULfybTCaNoOaPySBWRIwFajOk5Ohb8J_EuoS3bzOXpbPeVEkmrY-pRXu7fyZevVrx4qokDTvFwDuSlp26AbA/s1600-h/r3687540976.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445570018450836178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2LIgD3nnOS4UKEsF7C7op00eOZ_fkdq95a8g_dZHuj9neN8uK9XpEmpULfybTCaNoOaPySBWRIwFajOk5Ohb8J_EuoS3bzOXpbPeVEkmrY-pRXu7fyZevVrx4qokDTvFwDuSlp26AbA/s320/r3687540976.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 488px; text-align: center; width: 319px;" border="0" /></a><br />Now I know how my nephew, <a href="http://hockey-blog-in-canada.blogspot.com/2007/06/pokecheck-professor.html">Peter Puck</a> must have felt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICeNDPeC2KXYO7l8-z3v_pN_cvv-B-m2sGkQnCQeRYoqTOw5L93gyssUUPdoKeEkyFB5V4ey7L3RYiP9Fu9w5B5N0qwvJY3ayUTdMYRuH3YFLJ_LTuyW1BC6XMOkVDJl81ue_qAtgJ8A/s1600-h/puck4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445582961895713922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICeNDPeC2KXYO7l8-z3v_pN_cvv-B-m2sGkQnCQeRYoqTOw5L93gyssUUPdoKeEkyFB5V4ey7L3RYiP9Fu9w5B5N0qwvJY3ayUTdMYRuH3YFLJ_LTuyW1BC6XMOkVDJl81ue_qAtgJ8A/s320/puck4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 244px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jDSSqY926m_VOyfCZkRLek49gN-6hQ6SKpJ-llASP1KKc3Ca8McCo5bPFDnlfhHzwfKZCIAxuWUntid73HNpSEb4C0lG_9kRmCsxSQV5nT1sWyRxv5pbeF5MZr1P8R1xqX-nB3f365g/s1600-h/puck2-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445583064638725746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jDSSqY926m_VOyfCZkRLek49gN-6hQ6SKpJ-llASP1KKc3Ca8McCo5bPFDnlfhHzwfKZCIAxuWUntid73HNpSEb4C0lG_9kRmCsxSQV5nT1sWyRxv5pbeF5MZr1P8R1xqX-nB3f365g/s320/puck2-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br />While we’re into complete honesty here, I have to admit that I the one who smuggled in beer and stogies to the Women’s Hockey team for their post victory, on-ice celebration. My bad, eh?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNBtuh1KDAEq2WH7O2kufKlIyj4o9CMsRSO1Vl18adolD65BaBswKDGsxPCYUSbcfxPfnJ9yn8rDq0r9RnsVcm49IcKVEJqGa6im1Lvz876G3okXrjMksIbb4LBs3eVnDrqXFybSyxGo/s1600-h/2617052.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445581411178964530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNBtuh1KDAEq2WH7O2kufKlIyj4o9CMsRSO1Vl18adolD65BaBswKDGsxPCYUSbcfxPfnJ9yn8rDq0r9RnsVcm49IcKVEJqGa6im1Lvz876G3okXrjMksIbb4LBs3eVnDrqXFybSyxGo/s320/2617052.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 281px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3bf5d_jyBxgySUx4ZwClIgwyuJUHqPBe-QCaQhB435ifEFf4WkFpoIT1GTwFLyCNAeJtY8jpj8eqY_Sls1g1nOrDjFqnnKOO4o3VkRvp8GKAKKfjhclrHU2mStzpCW7Hj4KgnX9vJrQ/s1600-h/2617212.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445581327376850866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3bf5d_jyBxgySUx4ZwClIgwyuJUHqPBe-QCaQhB435ifEFf4WkFpoIT1GTwFLyCNAeJtY8jpj8eqY_Sls1g1nOrDjFqnnKOO4o3VkRvp8GKAKKfjhclrHU2mStzpCW7Hj4KgnX9vJrQ/s320/2617212.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmv-w53cwxZHnjfJ5l8xwnbKALbbIcZZxMfCpEai4ZNu0eUhILGryITdU2EHIdZMenMITkHC1TvKJLvrT1Qvf1L9HW80gEuzuBhi0pvl6UO8U-RmRmELtn67-fpIQfFjKOR_TjcEV_hY/s1600-h/2617213.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445581576267485730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmv-w53cwxZHnjfJ5l8xwnbKALbbIcZZxMfCpEai4ZNu0eUhILGryITdU2EHIdZMenMITkHC1TvKJLvrT1Qvf1L9HW80gEuzuBhi0pvl6UO8U-RmRmELtn67-fpIQfFjKOR_TjcEV_hY/s320/2617213.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSOC-6ScBPaBY4OKeu-LL0ZqJ3x_mRiZYZpZoCaVoC1TX1d-w5O5aSTE1-OdEm8y7iPbglbQJ_YJTuuZL9ni1v5h4MG1mPwJM2QbikYYsMDqBEFKgfBASzSVKpZF08zDpQHgVwAkYsJA/s1600-h/2616871.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445581822549980946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSOC-6ScBPaBY4OKeu-LL0ZqJ3x_mRiZYZpZoCaVoC1TX1d-w5O5aSTE1-OdEm8y7iPbglbQJ_YJTuuZL9ni1v5h4MG1mPwJM2QbikYYsMDqBEFKgfBASzSVKpZF08zDpQHgVwAkYsJA/s320/2616871.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br />Of course, the women ended up in the same place I always seem to end up after a hockey game -- drunk and passed out at center ice until the zamboni nudges me awake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpHl1pKHnnRaV08mnM6KkmkJLrZ6wflQzoK44G-whrujQG8afDjX0mrRK7emHp0g6qByeVB6UCwSvIoSILuBnGWQ523mFsN3toODarHHyYhsJUj_3838RnJdvFJhSlI6gNpPC5RpDUX4/s1600-h/2616838.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445581880128042050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpHl1pKHnnRaV08mnM6KkmkJLrZ6wflQzoK44G-whrujQG8afDjX0mrRK7emHp0g6qByeVB6UCwSvIoSILuBnGWQ523mFsN3toODarHHyYhsJUj_3838RnJdvFJhSlI6gNpPC5RpDUX4/s320/2616838.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSye-faG4Nm-a_adUq7_HBN8ifH1bNClXyiwyTuUaBvYE1PjvWMaA8zfatm-zW_Yl69kkpMOzTrU5AEtko8y5wHa_jE0pyL4b7uyO_Ujj1MWM_NYApCA1xERLOwDb2sy_60LiwZ2gLlI/s1600-h/2616840.bin.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445581991784202242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSye-faG4Nm-a_adUq7_HBN8ifH1bNClXyiwyTuUaBvYE1PjvWMaA8zfatm-zW_Yl69kkpMOzTrU5AEtko8y5wHa_jE0pyL4b7uyO_Ujj1MWM_NYApCA1xERLOwDb2sy_60LiwZ2gLlI/s320/2616840.bin.jpeg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /><img alt="http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/376/80434-158438-puck_thumb.jpg" src="http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/376/80434-158438-puck_thumb.jpg" />What can I say? I’m a sucker for athletic ladies who aren’t so lady-like. Yes, yes, I know it's wrong in terms of sportsmanship and international unity but it’s also sooo right in terms of hanging out with the toughest, sassiest gals at the Games.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL4p-XTpr5CAh2ALdp5EieyZJfiPd_qNh6x_YnDJkHKoepy2bsPrCdgGvf5OLtL4Gc8l9ekFuYNxSyb04hXgiDlg3yzZenqwTQBHlEKhdc34JdHnEGmjDVRPMPUtaq_tzfH3t9rN5wwY/s1600-h/large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445567303353634594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL4p-XTpr5CAh2ALdp5EieyZJfiPd_qNh6x_YnDJkHKoepy2bsPrCdgGvf5OLtL4Gc8l9ekFuYNxSyb04hXgiDlg3yzZenqwTQBHlEKhdc34JdHnEGmjDVRPMPUtaq_tzfH3t9rN5wwY/s320/large.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 125px; width: 100px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSh6qQHSgy5qb5mspLwW1vySSKyv6fLBTYzhB6PpMEiw-4pJ4g-tf4F6G_NqqdT7BofnJi_ree9s-ytGZhobbQUmcq1At7L4iXh5kMHgLsysSwe4tCEQjkHKYNMOBQeewh8uAb2IphjU/s1600-h/large-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445567249028754834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSh6qQHSgy5qb5mspLwW1vySSKyv6fLBTYzhB6PpMEiw-4pJ4g-tf4F6G_NqqdT7BofnJi_ree9s-ytGZhobbQUmcq1At7L4iXh5kMHgLsysSwe4tCEQjkHKYNMOBQeewh8uAb2IphjU/s320/large-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 125px; width: 100px;" border="0" /></a>The party ended some time around the time I demonstrated my bullfighting skills for <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/athletes/jennifer-botterill_ath1012628Ss.html">Jennifer Botterill</a> and<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/athletes/jayna-hefford_ath1012631Et.html">Jayna Hefford</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>on this huge, floating moose, which turned out to be a balloon from the closing ceremonies.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP16zJ9NzhM_CozC3OnYr2INMqNyUd-EWrm7ursIaezFAOtSrIaBXQEHCwwnmqELmsKxW1eQGvx625cIYTg1Mj-FWDLlzbe-BLlMfIh1yWZntIy4ZCWOgzeqzqgv5cv6R_ek6yC_nAHmw/s1600-h/r1709192526.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445567962241304226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP16zJ9NzhM_CozC3OnYr2INMqNyUd-EWrm7ursIaezFAOtSrIaBXQEHCwwnmqELmsKxW1eQGvx625cIYTg1Mj-FWDLlzbe-BLlMfIh1yWZntIy4ZCWOgzeqzqgv5cv6R_ek6yC_nAHmw/s320/r1709192526.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 212px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Huh, no wonder that thing charged so slowly.</span></div><br />At least <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.teambernard.com/">Cheryl Bernard</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>gave my attempt to impress a thumbs up. Bernard is single-handedly responsible for <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/curling/news?slug=dw-bernard022410&prov=yhoo&type=lgns">making curling sexy</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>in the minds of American males (and <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/03/01/curling-cougar-superstar-alert-canadas-cheryl-bernard/">sometimes their wives</a>) across the continent. My vote for favourite phrase coined so far for Cheryl has to "Couglar".<br /><br />The fact that everyone is raising up a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Sheets-Creating-Curling-Champions/dp/1577363582?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">43 year-old curler</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1577363582" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> as their favourite MILF-Cougar athlete is kinda good and bad, eh? It's nice to see a broader range of what can be considered sexy, and yet we all know objectifying someone is bad. That's why all good old Eugene's jpg's of Cheryl are not on display as his laptop wallpaper, but rather lie safely tucked away in a file marked "Dull Accounting Docs" so as not to insult the ladies, nor arouse their suspicion.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ods5VGseW3RV7OQMDy_3iN18_fUPu8422iyfCQ1lT4csIITsmXOhh-wzKCJtC7aVYLvNy_YaEskRs_mRWi7ZkOz3OqrNWsAWbm3Ey3nqbLrh_hnqTdf1jqHJOdo2obWxIAA-cyR6-yE/s1600-h/3c97d966d48fcbf956ecb7ed6bbee562-getty-95658723al052_curling_women.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445566820404974338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ods5VGseW3RV7OQMDy_3iN18_fUPu8422iyfCQ1lT4csIITsmXOhh-wzKCJtC7aVYLvNy_YaEskRs_mRWi7ZkOz3OqrNWsAWbm3Ey3nqbLrh_hnqTdf1jqHJOdo2obWxIAA-cyR6-yE/s400/3c97d966d48fcbf956ecb7ed6bbee562-getty-95658723al052_curling_women.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; text-align: center; width: 202px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZMZIC8Q0bZgQyblz1vlxc2qR2CD8MQBg9Ed5Mg7fFOUcUMeAKsScVZ6FHMXajPycUXhwSHBXqiGm7_08l-AwSiF6qcuZU4G1MQT6DoVePDrQghuUzbi3AtMTxLUmi7sLwgcdeI3MxIY/s1600-h/6e05091ec9a3faebbd7b9cae406c8927-getty-oly-2010-curling-women-can-rus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445566729843644818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZMZIC8Q0bZgQyblz1vlxc2qR2CD8MQBg9Ed5Mg7fFOUcUMeAKsScVZ6FHMXajPycUXhwSHBXqiGm7_08l-AwSiF6qcuZU4G1MQT6DoVePDrQghuUzbi3AtMTxLUmi7sLwgcdeI3MxIY/s400/6e05091ec9a3faebbd7b9cae406c8927-getty-oly-2010-curling-women-can-rus.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 208px; text-align: center; width: 312px;" border="0" /><img src="http://www.teambernard.com/images/Olympic2010/129%20-%20sm.jpg" style="height: 283px; width: 215px;" border="1" /></a></div><br />Sadly Cheryl, finding a comic book curling story or cover is next to impossible. this amalgamation of curling, broomball and hockey is the best I could do.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGhxUrNGPOQ2Eiq0LKhXjHpBsXhwM36sNjCUj4VN3pTfSmyYOSi1ZFHyHigQrFBCh86xKvKlO8Vf0VApnJHGKaljNdiSMZvVg7qedBQoc7oXh29-BN0_W7kVC8IsL-q3Ei64M6-I-dxA/s1600-h/950-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445590229684832034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGhxUrNGPOQ2Eiq0LKhXjHpBsXhwM36sNjCUj4VN3pTfSmyYOSi1ZFHyHigQrFBCh86xKvKlO8Vf0VApnJHGKaljNdiSMZvVg7qedBQoc7oXh29-BN0_W7kVC8IsL-q3Ei64M6-I-dxA/s320/950-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 269px; text-align: center; width: 193px;" border="0" /></a><br />So we'll just have to hold your sexy curling brethren in our maple syrup drenched, comic book loving hearts here at Comicanuck.<br /><br />So here’s the deal.<br /><br />I know Sasquatch and Shaman are all excited over those old Batman Olympic comics but this diminutive dynamo is all about the hockey, you now? Besides, Sasquatch ran off trying to do unspeakable things to a giant, inflatable beaver with Shaman running after him. So they could be gone for a while, eh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x_bq1TaFLhrdITamUu2lzomEWB8EQx1o57CJN2uKY2prs5mIItxog8LSc7hJHtZZkMhsnK1BQXDBYaoWM6XWSnWPMSC4ZAynB5xf0W2RQDM8c-TfboEqLtwMl1orP80Rw23UeeXfjgE/s1600-h/2638623.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x_bq1TaFLhrdITamUu2lzomEWB8EQx1o57CJN2uKY2prs5mIItxog8LSc7hJHtZZkMhsnK1BQXDBYaoWM6XWSnWPMSC4ZAynB5xf0W2RQDM8c-TfboEqLtwMl1orP80Rw23UeeXfjgE/s320/2638623.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445741445627688578" border="0" /></a><br />Today, we’re going to celebrate Canada’s most beloved sport (along with lacrosse and pretending the cold doesn’t affect us in front of Americans) – HOCKEY!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6gvYHQ5LIryI0uRoU2OVHr5MyDsydFMRmnRI7dfX9ERJWnCixCJXc35c6KuzCcNJ4CciSeSToO4V0ls3zxVa8tw0AXZx4wK0OOS4UlyzfRPK5HgT2dss-fCxjKPuc5WRaSnBaa-mPoo/s1600-h/2646-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445589998795364578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6gvYHQ5LIryI0uRoU2OVHr5MyDsydFMRmnRI7dfX9ERJWnCixCJXc35c6KuzCcNJ4CciSeSToO4V0ls3zxVa8tw0AXZx4wK0OOS4UlyzfRPK5HgT2dss-fCxjKPuc5WRaSnBaa-mPoo/s320/2646-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 178px; width: 112px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGX3fdiOBgB33JVexXWWdOw88nimCwzpQpciSiBKpZfoJnX0gZNsLgn7xZ9fchzSVQO1sK1tqWedS4NUKgjzyfmDht2xHqj3dxeFaUY1W0aCCfLHP1GpsOZCcK7nSutYZM2Diu0k9TDg/s1600-h/23-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445589718073842450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGX3fdiOBgB33JVexXWWdOw88nimCwzpQpciSiBKpZfoJnX0gZNsLgn7xZ9fchzSVQO1sK1tqWedS4NUKgjzyfmDht2xHqj3dxeFaUY1W0aCCfLHP1GpsOZCcK7nSutYZM2Diu0k9TDg/s320/23-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 177px; width: 131px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDtMCaIBqODZHVxJZKMT2q4j06IAhI51A5Wy5Gjgtz87F_elKBkbeWUjKRaDWceXbsBgpR-Fdmrd52rmg9NHmliHUMUQSnd89_TFmmUYMtqqYAmDrPlebTJ38IGjc44VA9rDCsJwypuQ/s1600-h/83-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445589806412228578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDtMCaIBqODZHVxJZKMT2q4j06IAhI51A5Wy5Gjgtz87F_elKBkbeWUjKRaDWceXbsBgpR-Fdmrd52rmg9NHmliHUMUQSnd89_TFmmUYMtqqYAmDrPlebTJ38IGjc44VA9rDCsJwypuQ/s320/83-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 178px; width: 127px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrREcjAivois2zZf-cPnjQo8iorjxWL7BoLatznoej4SvgAl9FbqxsVJag2oekNjVM23FSMa5wR9rNe0LJfbJb8inahYQljzpFjP0cTHN4Eob82cVilVIUjZFg-XK0I4E-br7jSvwPUFU/s1600-h/161-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445591598613831858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrREcjAivois2zZf-cPnjQo8iorjxWL7BoLatznoej4SvgAl9FbqxsVJag2oekNjVM23FSMa5wR9rNe0LJfbJb8inahYQljzpFjP0cTHN4Eob82cVilVIUjZFg-XK0I4E-br7jSvwPUFU/s320/161-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 177px; width: 125px;" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tFfktRIp_76E3wHYdZQVEOCrkBfuH5LEJSiP88CWkdOzE8tzcAAq2UsFB1Xu_Sxmw3OrOXJm_dmPin1oGiGY1FO4vUj1BfTTIKz-HClOymtfaVNtpndOFAlYMQdkdYaY9Jk_kzuJNKk/s1600-h/17-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445591467466286018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tFfktRIp_76E3wHYdZQVEOCrkBfuH5LEJSiP88CWkdOzE8tzcAAq2UsFB1Xu_Sxmw3OrOXJm_dmPin1oGiGY1FO4vUj1BfTTIKz-HClOymtfaVNtpndOFAlYMQdkdYaY9Jk_kzuJNKk/s320/17-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 177px; width: 121px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YY30oGQPvi3cRQk1v9xgmJ1lrLJpd4SU8uZlgVHA0-i7XhX31q0b9gw8m_9Yj75u3-nVyiVO89ef931e0VvSNLNYcfQlFG5NawCEX3h3jn00cD1cTYT0dpgpKYI1wXGPMzaOC0fxJ18/s1600-h/310-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445591803113898594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YY30oGQPvi3cRQk1v9xgmJ1lrLJpd4SU8uZlgVHA0-i7XhX31q0b9gw8m_9Yj75u3-nVyiVO89ef931e0VvSNLNYcfQlFG5NawCEX3h3jn00cD1cTYT0dpgpKYI1wXGPMzaOC0fxJ18/s320/310-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 176px; width: 109px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It seems like mostly gag comics have hockey covers. Makes sense. Adventure comics focus more on the danger elements whereas gag books are always looking at daily life to give somehting for reader's to relate to in the physical humour. Readers have to understand what is normal to know how the characters are screwing things up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zF2FHGSMvt2T9mG0z9KUJUBpNiDiNj2nDG98yYEs6TF-X1NIIXUixLo3uEQgAKLBbOpbcdKcbvAHjNyCYatMdg36RU2yHcM65ovJyHUdE0ieLFKXfAJS9acoEA2uAc63GUQB5vGY0Fg/s1600-h/834-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445597221552341778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zF2FHGSMvt2T9mG0z9KUJUBpNiDiNj2nDG98yYEs6TF-X1NIIXUixLo3uEQgAKLBbOpbcdKcbvAHjNyCYatMdg36RU2yHcM65ovJyHUdE0ieLFKXfAJS9acoEA2uAc63GUQB5vGY0Fg/s320/834-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 261px; text-align: center; width: 174px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNjdxTH9y_83W5Mooz1-fHhj9JwYJF3LTqJEcQw_nHBz-sCxO8yaIXy76e8L4MrUksFHGaRsqdXdiuWxxSBLDWkGqFETdY9NrVHsaQYwfjRNqn0Qv0V4L_VaEf-ANwsRyJNoPzxFVI7s/s1600-h/1287-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445597293269657346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNjdxTH9y_83W5Mooz1-fHhj9JwYJF3LTqJEcQw_nHBz-sCxO8yaIXy76e8L4MrUksFHGaRsqdXdiuWxxSBLDWkGqFETdY9NrVHsaQYwfjRNqn0Qv0V4L_VaEf-ANwsRyJNoPzxFVI7s/s320/1287-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 260px; text-align: center; width: 175px;" border="0" /></a><br />Though stories of hockey heroes have appeared in comic books, few stars achieved cover status except for the modern masters the Great One <a href="http://www.amazon.com/NHL-Legends-II-Figure-Edmonton/dp/B00065IREK?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Wayne Gretzky</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00065IREK" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Legends-Mario-Lemieux-Action-Figure/dp/B0021L3BQQ?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" target="_blank">"Super Mario" Lemieux</a><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0021L3BQQ" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><img alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0021L3BQQ" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPgzphOa3z7jjr1n7QX7Vo_XkeXNKwQsZx5RB13owiKgUZ6M2OSja0zcHQdfq_m1kl8E3UG8zglaJHITZUIDqaH1h0PYnXvBE13RXE-d8Rwhyphenhypheng2WP2mYUZYEQfg2kQD5Urjqbwj92oI8/s1600-h/254936.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445597424329049506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPgzphOa3z7jjr1n7QX7Vo_XkeXNKwQsZx5RB13owiKgUZ6M2OSja0zcHQdfq_m1kl8E3UG8zglaJHITZUIDqaH1h0PYnXvBE13RXE-d8Rwhyphenhypheng2WP2mYUZYEQfg2kQD5Urjqbwj92oI8/s320/254936.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 208px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7jVoKzwFFzSMym51ymK3cEDjsn-dv9eTAqHq8sulqYqVEiUTPRT9Xh6rxNiuEGieFHyY15NGFA8xxV6Jf4aVaMcJ2vJZ-VFH8M_U1THxO48UiITMVOaa2H1R74WBPjya6enQhsaXK1E/s1600-h/254945.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445597485557452610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7jVoKzwFFzSMym51ymK3cEDjsn-dv9eTAqHq8sulqYqVEiUTPRT9Xh6rxNiuEGieFHyY15NGFA8xxV6Jf4aVaMcJ2vJZ-VFH8M_U1THxO48UiITMVOaa2H1R74WBPjya6enQhsaXK1E/s320/254945.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 307px; text-align: center; width: 209px;" border="0" /></a><br />Tough guy superstar Gordie Howe go the star treatment as well. They say a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, rather than being three goals, was one goal, one assist and one fight! The company that put out these sports bios than decided to combine the art and stories from all three books into one "Hockey Masters" collection.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiEz6gS459FzEiml-UlL_0_FPDYJbgvQMmPxPhRgZSYwMPtRJ37JXKCd-l7149n9-CagObSIzTphfR37k6leQetbsLAiD1OM2gY0QwHw-ninY5CNi5-nojqF7uOw8DzhpVnljGdX_iEk/s1600-h/img7785290.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445598845133547698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiEz6gS459FzEiml-UlL_0_FPDYJbgvQMmPxPhRgZSYwMPtRJ37JXKCd-l7149n9-CagObSIzTphfR37k6leQetbsLAiD1OM2gY0QwHw-ninY5CNi5-nojqF7uOw8DzhpVnljGdX_iEk/s320/img7785290.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 257px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPITWKGGrzScLyZFSEELETZfTEfk83QMH8PEWgiUSYMcbJYlvTBb-r4Jxz2al55SERCneL3esJDOcoz0mZmpVfs7Li_0XtGTUQVMLHc92KqEWijhgqNpY0SqlGeb8OwNwnTEy1uFdkzjU/s1600-h/img7968599.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445598954512753138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPITWKGGrzScLyZFSEELETZfTEfk83QMH8PEWgiUSYMcbJYlvTBb-r4Jxz2al55SERCneL3esJDOcoz0mZmpVfs7Li_0XtGTUQVMLHc92KqEWijhgqNpY0SqlGeb8OwNwnTEy1uFdkzjU/s320/img7968599.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 257px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br />When most adventure comics think of hockey at all, the focus seems to be more on the weapon possibilities of the lumber.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1In1kWI_ZnXG0LUcNsEjE0O_A8uQtrd7zkjlwjw0iAu4rizuylG0eepaV1czu0B0PPDWP4pwUMr0iXHHXy7dQ5oROIQjwszMd_8eUOq203qzZT0Q6N3M_yEQFrDKqaDmbxWTEtXuqhs/s1600-h/68-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445596998074472898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1In1kWI_ZnXG0LUcNsEjE0O_A8uQtrd7zkjlwjw0iAu4rizuylG0eepaV1czu0B0PPDWP4pwUMr0iXHHXy7dQ5oROIQjwszMd_8eUOq203qzZT0Q6N3M_yEQFrDKqaDmbxWTEtXuqhs/s320/68-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 222px;" border="0" /></a><br />But I have to give the Brits the biggest score for not quite "getting" how hockey works. Of course, that's the very reason I am dying to read these particular yarns from The Champion more than any other!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_dLBqVoeE_TbMdvuOrJbwddgXD9_YgsRxWV3ibqZ122cC9NWnSRi3NxrBBT8GkeGVjoPfZtddYmqLK4riZco4HI4Y12kh5whmZTPj5Mj6fZ3HRB7_lOpl4p82wdJEzzxMAVqnFa_f2I/s1600-h/778-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445614422356772658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_dLBqVoeE_TbMdvuOrJbwddgXD9_YgsRxWV3ibqZ122cC9NWnSRi3NxrBBT8GkeGVjoPfZtddYmqLK4riZco4HI4Y12kh5whmZTPj5Mj6fZ3HRB7_lOpl4p82wdJEzzxMAVqnFa_f2I/s320/778-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 232px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENOox1k2xtqFsiEFZHsku-nVmT5crD-wncKwodTpYPURnQ0u6PxMDq3LmOd7gcW6-vXYZhWrDXN6qnU_MAwTsL7D77AWghPcF92iVcvGhN3739ZUnpRez367Gf7La-PqfrT7FiYsMBho/s1600-h/793-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445614493669365890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENOox1k2xtqFsiEFZHsku-nVmT5crD-wncKwodTpYPURnQ0u6PxMDq3LmOd7gcW6-vXYZhWrDXN6qnU_MAwTsL7D77AWghPcF92iVcvGhN3739ZUnpRez367Gf7La-PqfrT7FiYsMBho/s320/793-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 232px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60eZWWgl1nyr_Px_QMLPxXm1BmlcabcdIqF5Eok7Z_BhTWoVqNvC3UbDEn_ibtyMkvAoMNnKI7Ql9cAXV6Er7ElIWfARUIm25sq6uCxAMIqak_GZJQEV8-jFbzgT2TAAIo8S0NKoImSM/s1600-h/794-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445614549695264786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60eZWWgl1nyr_Px_QMLPxXm1BmlcabcdIqF5Eok7Z_BhTWoVqNvC3UbDEn_ibtyMkvAoMNnKI7Ql9cAXV6Er7ElIWfARUIm25sq6uCxAMIqak_GZJQEV8-jFbzgT2TAAIo8S0NKoImSM/s320/794-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 232px;" border="0" /></a><br />Got to give "The Champion" props for creativity. A suspended, David Blaine-style cage, ghosts and motorcycles are not usually a part of the average hockey team's equipment. If only they were! The Champion managed to mangle other winter sports as well, as their fire safety version of ski jumping will attest...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6Crr7c3l0WlgJn95v6O7KlwJWwKp_hOw_dIYgv2WcnHaVz_v2Y8XiLZVEXPozM0DJkjQxKYk24LRuRSia9u6UaFFr_6VttglATSnJgArVB-WvfwLwtsFBgpdnY3jHjl2txmf9Lvecsk/s1600-h/746-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445615207412359810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6Crr7c3l0WlgJn95v6O7KlwJWwKp_hOw_dIYgv2WcnHaVz_v2Y8XiLZVEXPozM0DJkjQxKYk24LRuRSia9u6UaFFr_6VttglATSnJgArVB-WvfwLwtsFBgpdnY3jHjl2txmf9Lvecsk/s320/746-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 224px;" border="0" /></a><br />I mean, seriously, that is the most complicated fire safety protocol I've ever seen -- Tie the ends of a blanket or hall carpet to the window, summon the German shepherds to yank it taught as you don your roller skates and ski jump to safety? Just make that cheapo slumlord landlord cough up the dough for a fire escape already.<br /><br />Well, Alphans, the ref is blowing his whistle and the first period for Puck's ode to the rink is over. With the Paralympics less than a week away, we have more surprises in store.<br /><br />Next time we lace up, I promise a special, hockey treat from Canada's own golden age of comics and Canadian comic book star, <a href="http://www.jefflemire.com/" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jeff Lemire</a>.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdAxzRdVGv3luK71lAxw82lgw7PQ2AhPCO7FSihKEzmhoAdRU084R0WqUCZAm8F3OBnnPkCdaWiMpouHyGQJUhQowz17618oIzm0H9_m4s6CYpI7OISM-vDBne4xQfUbDizeEK1s8e_k/s1600-h/20-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445597072371073042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdAxzRdVGv3luK71lAxw82lgw7PQ2AhPCO7FSihKEzmhoAdRU084R0WqUCZAm8F3OBnnPkCdaWiMpouHyGQJUhQowz17618oIzm0H9_m4s6CYpI7OISM-vDBne4xQfUbDizeEK1s8e_k/s320/20-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 236px;" border="0" /></a>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-59268489398407092882010-03-05T09:46:00.001-08:002010-03-05T14:28:23.616-08:00Olympic Memories with Shaman - Revisiting "The Underworld Olympics '76" - Part 2<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7DGccr0kEZla92YVmV6gTO9YI0F2NJMG4W5U6HmCjegEduK_AWA7U_AgVFE2sVs_rI-s07CPX-lBYo-4DLFInJCSd-5_SrU2HwYUnxtQdycjROaE_MyIGMtpyweTqJC3WyAq9hYe5Ag/s1600-h/sasquatchrace2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7DGccr0kEZla92YVmV6gTO9YI0F2NJMG4W5U6HmCjegEduK_AWA7U_AgVFE2sVs_rI-s07CPX-lBYo-4DLFInJCSd-5_SrU2HwYUnxtQdycjROaE_MyIGMtpyweTqJC3WyAq9hYe5Ag/s400/sasquatchrace2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445209254468796514" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bwahahahaha!</span></span><br /><br /></span></div> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZxxPKyg4STW97qcauweOgvp6P5nbIuhIwP4fj8zPZXNR9eRpfwf4JuI3IiKNIgzepRwmtuph8NvrHrT_epdvilwanV9WX3rUs3UepfdCdjj2uqs4ab6Q7mF_O8YlFqXpDyn_xgzjO_s/s1600-h/Tanaraq_(Earth-50358).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZxxPKyg4STW97qcauweOgvp6P5nbIuhIwP4fj8zPZXNR9eRpfwf4JuI3IiKNIgzepRwmtuph8NvrHrT_epdvilwanV9WX3rUs3UepfdCdjj2uqs4ab6Q7mF_O8YlFqXpDyn_xgzjO_s/s400/Tanaraq_(Earth-50358).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445209655942750930" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Fear me!!! Fear Tanaraq, one of the mystical Great Beasts of Canada’s north and deadly enemy of Alpha Flight heroine Narya.<span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">It is Tanarq'a undefeatable form Walter Langkowski takes on when he transforms into Sasquatch. And today Tanaraq has possessed Langkowski's body to better wreak havoc on this week’s Comicanuck Olympic blogging!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;">Bwahahahaha!</span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Prepare for boredom, frustration and rage as I describe in minute detail why the Vancouver 2010 closing ceremonies reeked of suck, except for letting Catriona Le May Doan get a second chance at lighting the torch. Sniff!<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </span>That brought a tear to many a Great Beast’s evil eye.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzztExmXugqK3SoOS523qYM1eCj8F7LTbkjyCw9O3_HPzIdeYBMYHnbsZg1byJndqAdukVDCdxOTi-Oi4ky5F9_BpdWXtPlr4EE4eziK3vR60GTs9GkFPosnzuHQFTS5tlxOVR0cOJoGA/s1600-h/r2112625796.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzztExmXugqK3SoOS523qYM1eCj8F7LTbkjyCw9O3_HPzIdeYBMYHnbsZg1byJndqAdukVDCdxOTi-Oi4ky5F9_BpdWXtPlr4EE4eziK3vR60GTs9GkFPosnzuHQFTS5tlxOVR0cOJoGA/s400/r2112625796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445206457495020802" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO0Vw1kypJGDs_C4vjOLkr-354HGa28OSAj1Gl-y_BSw1RHvSG8Hu9XKpuwyjMrr9wNnHJ8crqDLbDxAG6Xf-O3QybYIlYqRWXt3vcwj2H_xTNzpiCDB9BCCyW-CvUtfEpKsTIB30jN8/s1600-h/r4265645459.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO0Vw1kypJGDs_C4vjOLkr-354HGa28OSAj1Gl-y_BSw1RHvSG8Hu9XKpuwyjMrr9wNnHJ8crqDLbDxAG6Xf-O3QybYIlYqRWXt3vcwj2H_xTNzpiCDB9BCCyW-CvUtfEpKsTIB30jN8/s400/r4265645459.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445206361988840290" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">And Tanaraq must confess the Michael Bublé number is growing on him. Tanaarq can appreciate a good rampage of over-the-top madness, Busby Berkeley-style -- though Tamaraq is afraid of giant beavers. But then, who isn't?</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWo3l3gVswcBnIxYkudz3cIkiha-N1xjlyT5dXDO3Jvid2qi7MZWWDwpe-LT_61iMEfjGH1Wuw3D5jCiLCia_u8Rald46uglKgXutjB1C6dhMr8KVMJs_1camtyO8cpYJ-0xpOJx7rxM/s1600-h/Closing_Ceremony_c278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWo3l3gVswcBnIxYkudz3cIkiha-N1xjlyT5dXDO3Jvid2qi7MZWWDwpe-LT_61iMEfjGH1Wuw3D5jCiLCia_u8Rald46uglKgXutjB1C6dhMr8KVMJs_1camtyO8cpYJ-0xpOJx7rxM/s400/Closing_Ceremony_c278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445207231149221650" border="0" /></a></p><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyIbp2mQLwW8HR9Lt2caCNWLNNpmFYZRmJpiLzgGo4rt6WOSQYY65pdaerR5xyJ5DQyd0NC4D2Q41yUn4N3A5qUFF6a_uBQ-_DvKp9rVnn0OfeyBDhOpm0Jdqaw_yUZMKa5FRUGhDxeQ/s1600-h/2638623.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyIbp2mQLwW8HR9Lt2caCNWLNNpmFYZRmJpiLzgGo4rt6WOSQYY65pdaerR5xyJ5DQyd0NC4D2Q41yUn4N3A5qUFF6a_uBQ-_DvKp9rVnn0OfeyBDhOpm0Jdqaw_yUZMKa5FRUGhDxeQ/s400/2638623.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445210572390131074" border="0" /></a> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPOhfnaEeZKjRlj8W4k2UcoP-yQRY0SMSzZwDxvMl1yIyZHBaTAl-2Hpt0YhuVCoH7AY68TrCLbQU_uezTGbizmY6Ozh-H_EO0Zru1yiGm5i6HRwsHlST2JWG4qHyxiZYbAT-bZea6lI/s1600-h/alpha-sasquatch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPOhfnaEeZKjRlj8W4k2UcoP-yQRY0SMSzZwDxvMl1yIyZHBaTAl-2Hpt0YhuVCoH7AY68TrCLbQU_uezTGbizmY6Ozh-H_EO0Zru1yiGm5i6HRwsHlST2JWG4qHyxiZYbAT-bZea6lI/s400/alpha-sasquatch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445216467417642194" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">First I shall make fun of the audience ponchos – Gah!<span style=""> </span>What is this?<span style=""> </span>Ancient Sarcee magic, binding my mouth, gagging Tanaraq’a mighty roar -- mmmfffttt!!??</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Fear not, gentle readers of comicanuck. There are more than two of you, right?</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIbjuCUV8F3ASUGpn-UQ2zgamdFbugjWpEFcykdcOdij7cqIDJ3rYcPpEN3zX3FNGjDYYAlt4QKPkaVOvTDuax0DLnbGoCixr0MUHv5S398ypmvy8pZhsV4gPuhwDLL4EUp__asCj6a8/s1600-h/Shaman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIbjuCUV8F3ASUGpn-UQ2zgamdFbugjWpEFcykdcOdij7cqIDJ3rYcPpEN3zX3FNGjDYYAlt4QKPkaVOvTDuax0DLnbGoCixr0MUHv5S398ypmvy8pZhsV4gPuhwDLL4EUp__asCj6a8/s400/Shaman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445212698505676338" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">I, Michael Twoyoungmen, better known as Shaman, mystical defender of Canada and founding member of Alpha Flight, have temporarily contained Tanarq’s raging sarcasm with a magical gag.<span style=""> </span>As the Binder of Spirits, the Breaker of Dark Spells and former Talisman, I shall banish the Great Beast and free Waletr Langkwski’s spirit later.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">But for now we shall take some time to discuss more of the Underworld Olympics ’76!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMVfe-LeXostccXqCWKS9uRtWjwiKzPLiwSdq6_2_RF70ea_85AN3ouN_-4gwsfKSkg8f4wGKntTsFmNDXQSzH0hfpT-KUHpxhc9zcpVmH8ELch90o2ExR329mLdP0JVYGrpTkvZzHLE/s1600-h/390px-Batman_273.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMVfe-LeXostccXqCWKS9uRtWjwiKzPLiwSdq6_2_RF70ea_85AN3ouN_-4gwsfKSkg8f4wGKntTsFmNDXQSzH0hfpT-KUHpxhc9zcpVmH8ELch90o2ExR329mLdP0JVYGrpTkvZzHLE/s400/390px-Batman_273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445208453669395426" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Like Walter, I too, followed this DC Comics storyline with interest. After a rollicking J. L. Garcia Lopez romp in Batman 272, we turn to the Batman 273 for second round of this criminal Olympiad.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span>“The Bank Shot That Baffled Batman” opens with the European team disrupting a Revolutionary War reenactment for Gotham’s bicentennial celebrations. As Walter, er Sasquatch mentioned in his previous post, the US was experiencing a fervor of patriotism between their birthday and the Olympics happening so close to home on their home continent.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOqoC2vI1Aqynbl_gzIl1pkkbqoCYBd-_lcm9cu6K1HcTzrM8WfsDsZUZbp__2C4uTcP-V7W_HkJ6-5o_ZyoMkNtDXQnYUIHAtjkK8BErRZFeu7cOzh-WwL5bs77Tdyp-rnsppd_cv0s/s1600-h/BankShot-RedCoats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOqoC2vI1Aqynbl_gzIl1pkkbqoCYBd-_lcm9cu6K1HcTzrM8WfsDsZUZbp__2C4uTcP-V7W_HkJ6-5o_ZyoMkNtDXQnYUIHAtjkK8BErRZFeu7cOzh-WwL5bs77Tdyp-rnsppd_cv0s/s400/BankShot-RedCoats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445237793343252706" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloXiN_HtscIndVTz0sJwU52vs5DBNSOydppEm_vPzlnY2w2R8MgYIVIJpuYmzA-UbHiu-reGKVXc1nv1at9_v21fnu8GBaHTMC2rt9F6D15AjMf8BQuhq-FZejsjK6qXTUg1HX39_pyQ/s1600-h/alpha-shaman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloXiN_HtscIndVTz0sJwU52vs5DBNSOydppEm_vPzlnY2w2R8MgYIVIJpuYmzA-UbHiu-reGKVXc1nv1at9_v21fnu8GBaHTMC2rt9F6D15AjMf8BQuhq-FZejsjK6qXTUg1HX39_pyQ/s400/alpha-shaman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445213139579104482" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Writer David V. Reed starts the proceedings with an ideal opening – a unique action sequence that reels the reader in and creates a lot of questions. Disguised as redcoats and using real bullets the team wounds several Gotham Colonial Minute Men, steal their cannon and add insult to injury by planting a British Union Jack in place of the good old star and stripes. Consider your reader's curiosity peeked! Upon rereading, this approach works just as well today as it did for my nine-year old self back in 1976.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">It’s funny to see Batman helpless to stop the event<span style=""> </span>because he’s stuck in orbit around the earth on monitor duty in the Justice League of America satellite.<span style=""> </span>It’s too bad the JLA HQ doesn’t have say, some way to contact other Justice League heroes to ask for their help in such an emergency.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Come to think of it, no radio would make being on monitor duty kind of pointless wouldn’t it? Then again, Artist Ernie Chau’s (Ernie Chan) cramped version of the satellite doesn’t even have a chair. Batman is huddled on his butt hugging his knees to his chest like a kid quietly watching cartoons downstairs early in the morning hoping they don't wake their parents.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwmV4n6ZM7E8eetbXgCn8fcq_eBiHbMi5jth6A6dLk5bfkHmiTA2WUhC3Ud7dRIImxfZRXZCGji73ZumgGysMowtQl97cRfnhzcie-tZ9-P1ilWEYqFElWuDRAR65iew8LHAnMDEaaXw/s1600-h/BankShot-Satellite.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwmV4n6ZM7E8eetbXgCn8fcq_eBiHbMi5jth6A6dLk5bfkHmiTA2WUhC3Ud7dRIImxfZRXZCGji73ZumgGysMowtQl97cRfnhzcie-tZ9-P1ilWEYqFElWuDRAR65iew8LHAnMDEaaXw/s400/BankShot-Satellite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445238236539990338" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">But I digress.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD8yFGj3gdZJVbjXoXZ8JURNyMGN4qXDKstYqvYGK50wF1wFuKfleRjdM4n2gxNG1g0cQq-XLHOUpj5rhjAPBxx9DN_OgcyM3g9vgi9E7_Bzwc2WzLLDwophjARIxMnbDT-U7i_ZyvIA/s1600-h/Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-616).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD8yFGj3gdZJVbjXoXZ8JURNyMGN4qXDKstYqvYGK50wF1wFuKfleRjdM4n2gxNG1g0cQq-XLHOUpj5rhjAPBxx9DN_OgcyM3g9vgi9E7_Bzwc2WzLLDwophjARIxMnbDT-U7i_ZyvIA/s400/Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-616).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445214156252177378" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">One fun aspect of Batman one-off stories of this period, is that attempts are made to give some sense of Bruce Wayne’s working life. In this issue we see Bruce “swamped” with paperwork at a bank we presume he owns or perhaps serves on the board of directors.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDD1lI6tvIC1RQ5FbtUOV7th99rWKNmoJj7Nxj-6qVdT2njcmEdwduV0MoHgwWW9XtK0cLDiHfIGTw8IXtkyLEQLS7qFKhy19pK3tbXeSo72aovJ5zC-0WEYzxH-9v6p_XuGPKL8HvIM/s1600-h/BankShot-BankWork01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDD1lI6tvIC1RQ5FbtUOV7th99rWKNmoJj7Nxj-6qVdT2njcmEdwduV0MoHgwWW9XtK0cLDiHfIGTw8IXtkyLEQLS7qFKhy19pK3tbXeSo72aovJ5zC-0WEYzxH-9v6p_XuGPKL8HvIM/s400/BankShot-BankWork01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445239724241010674" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINrezcp1fdGLhbJ7N52M83tDO5diEaDk2-9e8lAkXvEev8niBQqBnCYMkwALmUKFu-CSlQASC3glVxMMYHG7ZHcoVEk4Mtxwhlv3Wokp9t7BRoEat0dLxIP0A27mBq4MsqXRV2e18paw/s1600-h/BankShot-BankWork02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINrezcp1fdGLhbJ7N52M83tDO5diEaDk2-9e8lAkXvEev8niBQqBnCYMkwALmUKFu-CSlQASC3glVxMMYHG7ZHcoVEk4Mtxwhlv3Wokp9t7BRoEat0dLxIP0A27mBq4MsqXRV2e18paw/s400/BankShot-BankWork02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445239964746607058" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Just those two panels are enough to give the sense that Batman’s secret identity has a life of his own and isn’t just pulled in when Batman needs entry to somewhere undercover or a writer needs temporary soap opera elements to drive a story.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">I have found many writers (myself included) find it easier to write relationship stuff rather than writing a credible story around Bruce’s business acumen and responsibilities.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">It’s lucky for the bank that Bruce is working late because as the European team arrives with a mysterious deposit. To their shock, the bank is held up by a local gang. To the gang's shock, they're holding up Batman's bank. And he's pissed.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi863BTNFYukCseIFnMkbbeVQfhxK2XKC60ALdPqJwMV49QK2xhbbnSDmDw95aJjCf9pcqGREsQFlFxW8Ens3lS903_Xr1eWgi-u9pUrMBndlY63kmZVx3S-XYeh6WLXtdjl0PkdmiSTa4/s1600-h/BankShot-BankfightA-02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi863BTNFYukCseIFnMkbbeVQfhxK2XKC60ALdPqJwMV49QK2xhbbnSDmDw95aJjCf9pcqGREsQFlFxW8Ens3lS903_Xr1eWgi-u9pUrMBndlY63kmZVx3S-XYeh6WLXtdjl0PkdmiSTa4/s400/BankShot-BankfightA-02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445239116410776866" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Despite Batman’s interference the gang get away with cash and one of the European team’s safety deposit boxes. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Batman tracks the gang but Underworld Olympian Boris Chomsky, utilizing his KGB training, follows him. Boris bashes our hero’s Bat noggin and escapes with his stolen box. All Batman sees through a haze of wracking pain (caused less by the bum on the head than by trying to move with anatomy so hopelessly squashed and stretched by his artist) is Boris’ shoe soles as he dives out the window.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE2aiUtXo3ASPS8umkmIRLVlRS0sXiwWgCAlC_in_IjoAeQk2xQylBCi9sdE3-1d0k-ERM2CPQ-r8ni1RgqdI2KEdm1CZtqBt7G6Yu_xvWQDfL_yXvgx-Ooh2SOM3bBACuGX3bnrXCPY/s1600-h/BankShot-OutWindow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 431px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE2aiUtXo3ASPS8umkmIRLVlRS0sXiwWgCAlC_in_IjoAeQk2xQylBCi9sdE3-1d0k-ERM2CPQ-r8ni1RgqdI2KEdm1CZtqBt7G6Yu_xvWQDfL_yXvgx-Ooh2SOM3bBACuGX3bnrXCPY/s400/BankShot-OutWindow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445238601667337986" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">When Boris returns the stolen safety deposit box to the bank, a suspicious Bruce Wayne confirms Boris’ villainy when he spots the baddie’s shoes.<span style=""> </span>Batman slips into the vault that night and opens all of Boris’ safety deposit.<span style=""> </span>Bats assembles the contents into the missing cannon, which is “easily reassembled if you know how”. (Perhaps this is another hint at Bruce Wayne’s downtime as a Revolutionary War re-enacter?)</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQVjGzXj83-tm4TiWVoxCEJD7Otsp8i9gpsPY6ecdBcJ6tWBwnFJxJQuAX7M6Oo9WwQ4JoXR8qx2I5BunGFpHr5TAY2Mjfv3CHEiCEYG1U8jBUgW7njffrLmL4NIxIvaULPpWxnkRRh0/s1600-h/BankShot-CannonBuild.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQVjGzXj83-tm4TiWVoxCEJD7Otsp8i9gpsPY6ecdBcJ6tWBwnFJxJQuAX7M6Oo9WwQ4JoXR8qx2I5BunGFpHr5TAY2Mjfv3CHEiCEYG1U8jBUgW7njffrLmL4NIxIvaULPpWxnkRRh0/s400/BankShot-CannonBuild.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445239581590824834" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Batman replaces the cannon parts in their boxes and lies in wait for the Olympians to arrive again.<span style=""> </span>We then discover Batman’s priorities will always lie more his curiosity and a rollicking good yarn than say, Bruce’s need to keep his bank from being blown up. The caped crusader's 'plan' involves waiting for the crooks to sneak into his vault, reassemble the cannon and let them fire an artillery shell through the roof of the bank so he can track it’s trajectory!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-rEobe4l4BIBvzXmYk4oRWEwOstQZ1682_s8bQtn_J6xeUytfCiaNE5VQaWBlLCqRSTNddoKYGsWSddOOPIr8IBkB8iXbrS3PZSlIafNZPFNW9v1jBJMzxhKZSGgbzQYRdRP2c2vAyc/s1600-h/BankShot-CannonFire.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-rEobe4l4BIBvzXmYk4oRWEwOstQZ1682_s8bQtn_J6xeUytfCiaNE5VQaWBlLCqRSTNddoKYGsWSddOOPIr8IBkB8iXbrS3PZSlIafNZPFNW9v1jBJMzxhKZSGgbzQYRdRP2c2vAyc/s400/BankShot-CannonFire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445240659244090034" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_BzBNIQF-LM7of3uBIXmWZo8oKqL15qjdqLaFKex0TazT5cYFpwTkQ43bEso-O_Spev8dAAnrteQr0Vx6HObKDRgut8pUS5UEMGdb3bIA9JzjGpGJqSqxsT74k-UQ1v4Doa0yW4a6_k/s1600-h/BankShot-VaultFight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_BzBNIQF-LM7of3uBIXmWZo8oKqL15qjdqLaFKex0TazT5cYFpwTkQ43bEso-O_Spev8dAAnrteQr0Vx6HObKDRgut8pUS5UEMGdb3bIA9JzjGpGJqSqxsT74k-UQ1v4Doa0yW4a6_k/s400/BankShot-VaultFight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445240882919637554" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">The issue comes to a quick close as Batman makes short work of the remaining team and is once again left to wonder over this senseless, Gotham crime spree with the international flavour.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Wait! My spiritual warning signs portent great danger nearby. But where... <span style="font-style: italic;">WHERE??!!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H8FrIV9REO72fq5mR_QnVBAUlpTmh7r-g6fVZh3FqKV4TZ7ZRRw7niiV-sYQsWaej5hCg14etybQQ5814JKDSqLS1l4Tjk576ZR-lhrJal_zpse4fK4TRuY7-axyyMUr09JIGx1-LKw/s1600-h/ironman196a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H8FrIV9REO72fq5mR_QnVBAUlpTmh7r-g6fVZh3FqKV4TZ7ZRRw7niiV-sYQsWaej5hCg14etybQQ5814JKDSqLS1l4Tjk576ZR-lhrJal_zpse4fK4TRuY7-axyyMUr09JIGx1-LKw/s400/ironman196a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445268049973915618" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Oh no! Tanaraq is rending my mystical mouth guard and throwing my own power back at meeeee!!! Argh! Tanaraq is--</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4zlHeJninUEb4VEF3iNq8EvQbmLNGNApHvlKRr8wAEErQhLl4QaEFKYxD7zdxnTBWPOGp3EKX3oY0v8wasEFtTmnqMKXCVawx06FhBFmAPCjLQN8z0soO2aE0w_gC24P1kddzwF6-Zg/s1600-h/Sasquatch1_6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4zlHeJninUEb4VEF3iNq8EvQbmLNGNApHvlKRr8wAEErQhLl4QaEFKYxD7zdxnTBWPOGp3EKX3oY0v8wasEFtTmnqMKXCVawx06FhBFmAPCjLQN8z0soO2aE0w_gC24P1kddzwF6-Zg/s400/Sasquatch1_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445213801243400610" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;">--</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Free! </span> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Raaaaaarrrrwwwwllll!!!</span></span></span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Flee in terror , puny mortals!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXNLWBHXUntQs7N-UXF6LZRXl8IT7cFohFcKui3HKfrMdR_dqo-kexuuPAMjwfNxFOISO6cEQDSvxRKInkAXR-GLHaOIy0PV2YO_fkvqpLkvBcx4v9EY8FyKfcz-EAqGapAI-5tR3-6o/s1600-h/Underwld-Score01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXNLWBHXUntQs7N-UXF6LZRXl8IT7cFohFcKui3HKfrMdR_dqo-kexuuPAMjwfNxFOISO6cEQDSvxRKInkAXR-GLHaOIy0PV2YO_fkvqpLkvBcx4v9EY8FyKfcz-EAqGapAI-5tR3-6o/s400/Underwld-Score01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445242808143818338" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Your magic gag was no match for my evil bite force, Shaman!<span style=""> </span>Your love for this four–part Olympic tale is proof of your lack of taste as a child.<span style=""> </span>There is so much to despise between these Bat-covers! Let us first talk of the scoring system for these so –called International Crime Olympics!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">In Batman 272 we see each challenge is scored out of a hundred divided up into three phases, with penalties assessed for partial failure. Bah!<span style=""> </span>The only proper penalty for failure is to be ripped apart by my mighty talons! But what can you expect from mere humans?<span style=""> </span>Listen to this human explain the scoring from the first so-called adventure in this Underworld Olympics.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV2lEanqYAl8bT-weS3U13iIeD7EKcY5j4K6K_1Jvi19UUi5XQ06MkvVco-MVrIHt90NwC7F3cNAxUxDuEfnmpDxKmRHSXZemFr0HnOwAfilWOERNcncv3VWeYe2AjjFhfWjcEHCNDPU/s1600-h/Underwld-Score02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV2lEanqYAl8bT-weS3U13iIeD7EKcY5j4K6K_1Jvi19UUi5XQ06MkvVco-MVrIHt90NwC7F3cNAxUxDuEfnmpDxKmRHSXZemFr0HnOwAfilWOERNcncv3VWeYe2AjjFhfWjcEHCNDPU/s400/Underwld-Score02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445242876521693122" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gGAJFIhsu4k3v_s-8paT-Cr53nQM2jCANWKWrEP1Vn3vo9WqBeBhEOTOAb9bUhM71gOePzHKV6EcTHWvNEXYT_OhAq7AJwBKkS42cHDlNVnipmWt-80uNCNaiSi3ES-HQs-T6gqwJi4/s1600-h/UnderOlym-Score03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gGAJFIhsu4k3v_s-8paT-Cr53nQM2jCANWKWrEP1Vn3vo9WqBeBhEOTOAb9bUhM71gOePzHKV6EcTHWvNEXYT_OhAq7AJwBKkS42cHDlNVnipmWt-80uNCNaiSi3ES-HQs-T6gqwJi4/s400/UnderOlym-Score03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445242942387266706" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p>Yes, yes, So far, even Tanaraq follows despite his low percentile scores in monster finishing school. Phase One is worth 45 points but after losing 25 points for pathetic-ness the South American fools only score 20. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Phase Two is worth 30 points and Phase Three is worth the remaining 25 points. At least Tanaraq thinks that's what the ugly, chewy-looking, Chairman/head bookie with pointy stick says.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1vqsPipTvVTOcbwoCUz1FnMQYifS3sSbi-M7OYPZ7q94OF_tfeMA3z9R_xYW1XhqsPAVopjNpNBj6i1Wmud3jh4ZDX5K22_QLf3bP2BGeor9IuZP0QxOYbhAPD6Ib3w24rBHIJIkL0Y/s1600-h/UnderOlym-Score04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1vqsPipTvVTOcbwoCUz1FnMQYifS3sSbi-M7OYPZ7q94OF_tfeMA3z9R_xYW1XhqsPAVopjNpNBj6i1Wmud3jh4ZDX5K22_QLf3bP2BGeor9IuZP0QxOYbhAPD6Ib3w24rBHIJIkL0Y/s400/UnderOlym-Score04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445243017647708050" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpx0uW5hoPpo1sLMglYva2xvVjWyIFZTwVaAK8ThLCfgCgxlKK_UMjgoBH3E7y1cUMIZQLDmn46MJ99scl1eBEGVyuxAe4aauVQrD_1i272RIQSy3-Gp2jYVd2Z5w7NEo0afhNtUzz9g/s1600-h/150px-Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-50358).jpg"><br /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpx0uW5hoPpo1sLMglYva2xvVjWyIFZTwVaAK8ThLCfgCgxlKK_UMjgoBH3E7y1cUMIZQLDmn46MJ99scl1eBEGVyuxAe4aauVQrD_1i272RIQSy3-Gp2jYVd2Z5w7NEo0afhNtUzz9g/s1600-h/150px-Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-50358).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpx0uW5hoPpo1sLMglYva2xvVjWyIFZTwVaAK8ThLCfgCgxlKK_UMjgoBH3E7y1cUMIZQLDmn46MJ99scl1eBEGVyuxAe4aauVQrD_1i272RIQSy3-Gp2jYVd2Z5w7NEo0afhNtUzz9g/s400/150px-Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-50358).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445215724809708882" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Tanaraq is lost but pretty sure the score is out of... um....</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">A total of 100 possible points, Tanaraq!<span style=""> </span>Why don’t you buy yourself a calculator?</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Silence, Shaman!<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Tanaraq is a Great Beast and devourer of worlds! He has no need of basic, human calculus! And the tiny buttons on crappy calculators rip apart under the tapping of my razor sharp nails.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuaM946qObWyedKFVekMrtjKJe-X4cKWmpul9Bzw4ylvqEI4AeCvgjLujdcAe-7YiR785mJjvkA8k9HDAdjXDUWyCJ7hf2a0goheMOslDg9ErvTp2iq-ZJl0FNvf_Ilr3p3jTGXxagpM/s1600-h/353790-105239-tanaraq.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuaM946qObWyedKFVekMrtjKJe-X4cKWmpul9Bzw4ylvqEI4AeCvgjLujdcAe-7YiR785mJjvkA8k9HDAdjXDUWyCJ7hf2a0goheMOslDg9ErvTp2iq-ZJl0FNvf_Ilr3p3jTGXxagpM/s400/353790-105239-tanaraq.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445216216855860354" border="0" /></a></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Yet, without such technology, Tanaraq finds the scoring in Batman 273 even more confusing. First, fleshy, bow-tie wearing human says Round One for the European team's challenge will be worth 20 points.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG3lhT8L5pnt9rX0YymJmPheM0gFWzqdCghi6TkknGEw2Wpg3K8Omv43Nxb3edHRoxnbmwJ-bEAJErSPdPgQykOYxkS3PEhVHEWwiF8-sewidHR3TxOYh0x_SqUY8L2ul-Rn_nN22f18/s1600-h/BankShot-Score01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG3lhT8L5pnt9rX0YymJmPheM0gFWzqdCghi6TkknGEw2Wpg3K8Omv43Nxb3edHRoxnbmwJ-bEAJErSPdPgQykOYxkS3PEhVHEWwiF8-sewidHR3TxOYh0x_SqUY8L2ul-Rn_nN22f18/s400/BankShot-Score01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445245046707353442" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Then smoky, bald-head tells us Round Two is worth twenty points. Then chatty, moron man says Phase Three is worth 10 points, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">which in Tanaraq'a dark, beasty netherworld still equals fifty. Seriously, isTanaraq right, or is Tanaraq right, here? So now the total challenge is not scored out of 100 like it was only last issue? </span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">Okaaaaay then.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">To quote Nelvanna of my cursed, immortal Gods of the North enemies -- <i>What the…?</i></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImJloDLYHqK1GTQCcRvWSMH-brz_omtmJsDMfLJGsypMlloTkkD-qGYsz1YMet_hDNttRtqZc28ZlLSD2i-ZwUp3RaytyKybsulQHwiY6h4EF8382TOUGh5F20ghYOEINFl1x3UHJMAY/s1600-h/BankShot-Score02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImJloDLYHqK1GTQCcRvWSMH-brz_omtmJsDMfLJGsypMlloTkkD-qGYsz1YMet_hDNttRtqZc28ZlLSD2i-ZwUp3RaytyKybsulQHwiY6h4EF8382TOUGh5F20ghYOEINFl1x3UHJMAY/s400/BankShot-Score02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445245139499254226" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">But at the end of the book, after Batman kicks Olympic butt, this juicy sack of blood man adds the European team's points up to 80 (out of fifty) and takes them down to fifty!<span style=""> </span>Which should mean they have a perfect score. Except they don't because, the score isn't out of fifty now. It's out of something else. Pi perhaps? Gaaaarrrrr! Math is hard!!!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">To many numbers, Tanarag must flee this place. And don’t get Tanaraq started on Ernie Chan!<span style=""> </span>Seriously, Tanaraq will raze this town if you even ask. Gaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUWdhTeVAM6ri3nJJVqxAn-JWXfvSRDsgKqfJ46MKjI6UifOsOyQbQSOeJBLWtJA2Wh24mg8eM6Ud04962bnl0zaf862dnDE9EjKabGv-3_tCBMZkQisq59bMlTT66p_mWkGr7IaJsxA/s1600-h/Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-39259).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 94px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUWdhTeVAM6ri3nJJVqxAn-JWXfvSRDsgKqfJ46MKjI6UifOsOyQbQSOeJBLWtJA2Wh24mg8eM6Ud04962bnl0zaf862dnDE9EjKabGv-3_tCBMZkQisq59bMlTT66p_mWkGr7IaJsxA/s400/Michael_Twoyoungmen_(Earth-39259).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445216577090653474" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US">O-M-G. I thought he'd never buzz off.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"> Perhaps I’d better go after Tanaraq. He's disappeared into what’s left of the still-partying Olympic Village here in Whistler, BC a<span style="">nd these late night party people would be fools to party with a Great Beast. More on the Underworld Olympics next time! </span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw08rxTxNr1pg4Vem-1WsjZxEf5XoZaHbq7Rn2lPp7suhgWCbGf7Akx8ZLUdRCUqKeLPauS_Z9Sd8SvjYOqR9f4H8BVOzNNtIR8uGv1h7AvfeDCZxZXMg9CsJKTC2j6DxhxO2L4nrFPOw/s1600-h/Shaman(Twoyoungmen)_Head.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw08rxTxNr1pg4Vem-1WsjZxEf5XoZaHbq7Rn2lPp7suhgWCbGf7Akx8ZLUdRCUqKeLPauS_Z9Sd8SvjYOqR9f4H8BVOzNNtIR8uGv1h7AvfeDCZxZXMg9CsJKTC2j6DxhxO2L4nrFPOw/s400/Shaman(Twoyoungmen)_Head.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445214850449774514" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">So farewell for now. And remember, Shaman says may your spirit guide always lead you on the shortest path to home.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mpiPaYyNDbnCY1YjbOyDtpcrN7JUrhNnTPN0Nhgl2oge6g-EyAXByKHKdKf5x64JiQGP2EEmtXsnp1Mx3flloajMiIcQqmOBfhtCvPpJZwM9HE_fzFLqjwzgFrIPMsmVrla0Qb5b6eo/s1600-h/Tanaraq_(Earth-616).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mpiPaYyNDbnCY1YjbOyDtpcrN7JUrhNnTPN0Nhgl2oge6g-EyAXByKHKdKf5x64JiQGP2EEmtXsnp1Mx3flloajMiIcQqmOBfhtCvPpJZwM9HE_fzFLqjwzgFrIPMsmVrla0Qb5b6eo/s400/Tanaraq_(Earth-616).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445211270816321330" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;">And please do not ask why an ancient Canadian </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;">Northern monster<br />is speaking olde English... or Tanaraq will eat your house!</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></div>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-91840986287150230742010-03-03T13:29:00.000-08:002010-03-04T07:56:31.298-08:00Post Olympic Round-Up - Slam Poet Superhero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYshJg5M_ED5dc-o9qM7Emn_AU4mX460WoWZxBL-s60S-FXvthrrvAZ3rd8WKnhUVOTCZjJO9Lm_Ve9efRJt1WXPNc5ww2LNHAzFQ193G8RyAV_ugJPiIsNzJBibFZxoyfLA_PYGvRSA/s1600-h/hires_4366763455_400e97d9e0_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:cyan;"><img style="width: 404px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYshJg5M_ED5dc-o9qM7Emn_AU4mX460WoWZxBL-s60S-FXvthrrvAZ3rd8WKnhUVOTCZjJO9Lm_Ve9efRJt1WXPNc5ww2LNHAzFQ193G8RyAV_ugJPiIsNzJBibFZxoyfLA_PYGvRSA/s320/hires_4366763455_400e97d9e0_b.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /></div>In keeping with this week’s post-Olympic post theme, here are some more things to help us retain that fleeting Olympic high.<br /><br />Feel free to check out my Rebel Alert <a href="tp://rebelalert.blogspot.com/2010/02/vancouver-2010-olympics-fanboy-geeks.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Fanboy Geek's Eye View</span></a> of the Vancouver 2010 opening ceremonies. I think it’s worth a read for the Logan’s Run mitten stuff alone.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:cyan;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6w_hE3md31RrelfLhTjwpYxGoaXVc1xtM0ssX28DIPU8CmHYXRfJBpMa9vLyK7sW70FvXi2plXP9CGbwh6lPwgo11gqz5zr0UV3luPrdK14z1mbPe7ku6IRrrT3_Uc-sSEWzQ9fBI1ts/s1600-h/logans-run-michael-yorke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:cyan;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6w_hE3md31RrelfLhTjwpYxGoaXVc1xtM0ssX28DIPU8CmHYXRfJBpMa9vLyK7sW70FvXi2plXP9CGbwh6lPwgo11gqz5zr0UV3luPrdK14z1mbPe7ku6IRrrT3_Uc-sSEWzQ9fBI1ts/s200/logans-run-michael-yorke.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQegxgGDLRo-DBa5ujHkoqIG9Sq8xez2cX4uer6RXa9iaqT1KetZPvNFrsYP8BsnyjHFEQw1JsTO2JEyqJ2nK3-nmGN4c8zuSbAz-5cWb3wq2R4DOR8QV2SpY3WmhHzZSwwas4eIN_JE/s1600-h/logan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:cyan;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQegxgGDLRo-DBa5ujHkoqIG9Sq8xez2cX4uer6RXa9iaqT1KetZPvNFrsYP8BsnyjHFEQw1JsTO2JEyqJ2nK3-nmGN4c8zuSbAz-5cWb3wq2R4DOR8QV2SpY3WmhHzZSwwas4eIN_JE/s200/logan.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJKn0wMieYtQ8NAS7tvvll1v5ED_wATU_1h72WdoPakKKk6QJH91vVtGCMFPAnApTiT6GE2B0e9lpG273yocPNjHDxkPD9ypmZH0o_7OROqT9W4x1NYjL_c4QMmUGxAwQbiTadGKPWnw/s1600-h/ae27687d41bd8c269e096663f485.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:cyan;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJKn0wMieYtQ8NAS7tvvll1v5ED_wATU_1h72WdoPakKKk6QJH91vVtGCMFPAnApTiT6GE2B0e9lpG273yocPNjHDxkPD9ypmZH0o_7OROqT9W4x1NYjL_c4QMmUGxAwQbiTadGKPWnw/s200/ae27687d41bd8c269e096663f485.jpeg" border="0" height="133" width="200" /></span></a></div><br />Slam Poet and Yellowknife native Shane Koyczan has seen his profile shoot through the roof after his spirited rendition of “We Are More” at the Vancouver 2010 opening ceremonies Feb. 12. The poem was originally the English language poetry commission for the Ottawa Canada Day celebrations in 2001. Read Shanes <a href="http://www.houseofparlance.com/koyczan/bio.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">bio and media kudos here</span></a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsB9N9Wz6tcS9dhJiwQNtemYrAsMKz6hTEPf5O9zf0qpHy5LsAH0gCqa9qrmTiBwwio-IbvVDMIrDnKwaDgGkYLYBgckw5d1ASee1KFQIz7OBS7gTd6lmLV3oP_OxVjb9AiUkquGgx94/s1600-h/2568352.bin.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsB9N9Wz6tcS9dhJiwQNtemYrAsMKz6hTEPf5O9zf0qpHy5LsAH0gCqa9qrmTiBwwio-IbvVDMIrDnKwaDgGkYLYBgckw5d1ASee1KFQIz7OBS7gTd6lmLV3oP_OxVjb9AiUkquGgx94/s400/2568352.bin.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444801488711400194" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j3YnG7eUxW8uf6920Z8I51Q3YUQ6AV6LrH9fdtiItXK8F14vZ0EOweXXu-J0gyi-3HiAH4AbkOoMGDGbOPz8kMOk1-uJEkbqsUtcegaRZqV9NYFJ8kZNrb3EWpGWJh-otZWcF4iOOrk/s1600-h/stickboycover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 101px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j3YnG7eUxW8uf6920Z8I51Q3YUQ6AV6LrH9fdtiItXK8F14vZ0EOweXXu-J0gyi-3HiAH4AbkOoMGDGbOPz8kMOk1-uJEkbqsUtcegaRZqV9NYFJ8kZNrb3EWpGWJh-otZWcF4iOOrk/s400/stickboycover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444806125905290738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb1HV9Ij-Jbl_Ij8fAudLhnODL71I3JgWmcJwdggZxJ9ZIL004FjcRYVnpwjio63hDZbp3mGESg-hNyarkrNM6VXfcd1DbC4vtA3g6ypbAzP988TapPvCB0RLVcFLefnumsI9A70QWOU/s1600-h/vistinghours.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb1HV9Ij-Jbl_Ij8fAudLhnODL71I3JgWmcJwdggZxJ9ZIL004FjcRYVnpwjio63hDZbp3mGESg-hNyarkrNM6VXfcd1DbC4vtA3g6ypbAzP988TapPvCB0RLVcFLefnumsI9A70QWOU/s400/vistinghours.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444806041409114562" border="0" /></a>In a recent interview with the <a href="http://nnsl.com/northern-news-services/stories/papers/feb24_10sl.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Northern News Servic</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">e</span>, Koyczan lists a graphic novel among his current projects. It’s likely being done through his publisher, <a href="http://www.houseofparlance.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">House of Parlance Media</span></a>.<br /><br />In addition to publishing poetry by Kiyczan (Stickboy, Visiting Hours), Kinnie Star and Mike McGee, House of Parlance has also published <a href="http://www.houseofparlance.com/catalogue.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">three volumes of manga</span></a> based on Canadian pop chanteuse Avril Lavigne’s songs that look pretty good. </div><div><br /></div><div>Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend, and Avril Lavigne’s Make 5 Wishes vol. 1 and 2 are written by comic scribe Gail Simone, lettering by Ed Brisson. The books are illustrated by designer and muralist Nelson Garcia of <a href="http://www.nomadicalternatives.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Nomadic Alternatives</span></a> and Vancouver based princess of awesome,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.camilladerrico.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Camilla d’Errico</span> </a>(Tanpopo, Nightmares & Fairy Tales, The Fallen and <a href="http://www.arcanastudio.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Arcana Studios</span></a>' Burn).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNnbHugPEGcoomX8qC6C7Zdtl2bUNwv8GbcA9Yyp2vxWO93l0FgaghdaRkId6W0976lVpC17DGxJaxWK3QLgjZGnV2gFxBnK4h0kalVWmPSTHc39jtA6IZYJAjVWIVNZ3a_2040O75c8/s1600-h/girlfriendcover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNnbHugPEGcoomX8qC6C7Zdtl2bUNwv8GbcA9Yyp2vxWO93l0FgaghdaRkId6W0976lVpC17DGxJaxWK3QLgjZGnV2gFxBnK4h0kalVWmPSTHc39jtA6IZYJAjVWIVNZ3a_2040O75c8/s400/girlfriendcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444806527560253410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR51GomKPs41QIPdsxkZ1VZYOgqG_2wxkA707kSCi6FsdYfsTNMWhbiyM7tt03VfaXymYDY3Vm_3HgEJ3TUOmzOQGQn7q7XoVgRa9YFpz_WrQfxTjzp3j7_8xyFb3ezU_SHTMpGbOCMF4/s1600-h/make5vol1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR51GomKPs41QIPdsxkZ1VZYOgqG_2wxkA707kSCi6FsdYfsTNMWhbiyM7tt03VfaXymYDY3Vm_3HgEJ3TUOmzOQGQn7q7XoVgRa9YFpz_WrQfxTjzp3j7_8xyFb3ezU_SHTMpGbOCMF4/s400/make5vol1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444806623865164738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6RQabmbIcjW6-AqLuiGvwJLL5-OSZkv1u3fGj-YhAHQhdz6oqWV_N2Cwp1DUtegq5scKnC7Zql6kGtewvX0MROZfSA9fHB1t7kMNT7iXGc2IkoTs-2aBOnVW0PcGIzwjwGUgs1vUcnI/s1600-h/make5vol2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6RQabmbIcjW6-AqLuiGvwJLL5-OSZkv1u3fGj-YhAHQhdz6oqWV_N2Cwp1DUtegq5scKnC7Zql6kGtewvX0MROZfSA9fHB1t7kMNT7iXGc2IkoTs-2aBOnVW0PcGIzwjwGUgs1vUcnI/s400/make5vol2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444806677254695778" border="0" /></a><br />The Comics Journal describes <a href="http://camilla.bigcartel.com/category/comics"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">d’Errico’s styl</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">e</span> as “somewhere between manga standard and Sam Keith’s bittersweet cartoon line work creates a world that looks eerily like Margaret Keane characters trapped in an Igmar Bergman film.”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr0EUWzCL8D84BRBgmwCQMi0mBwymQEg4b5FiQm9_oYD8VSsg4BRKILKoT8WlbC5cxkoC6LfWD5G9sb4U7G8X7F0YecAZckPoOQ5IjF0XAk1yLRJJCBPecDNCBWaPr1A3AQ2Y26sRWYM/s1600-h/3bio-BIO.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr0EUWzCL8D84BRBgmwCQMi0mBwymQEg4b5FiQm9_oYD8VSsg4BRKILKoT8WlbC5cxkoC6LfWD5G9sb4U7G8X7F0YecAZckPoOQ5IjF0XAk1yLRJJCBPecDNCBWaPr1A3AQ2Y26sRWYM/s400/3bio-BIO.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444806739731306018" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:georgia,Times,fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-9404314730081638022010-03-02T02:03:00.000-08:002010-03-05T14:31:20.503-08:00Olympic Memories with the mighty Sasquatch - Revisiting "The Underworld Olympics '76"<span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsafgr0o1ap2P-paCm-sidhMk10QiOHp78Wue_Q4kyp89hjilmFT7JSp_DIBQP99OissGJ0Uo0TF_6mNpMiqczdczn4NEujamH6Ys9m_iJV0rZNsQm97BW1IVU5WEIRRcE6dVujoolHc/s1600-h/Sasquatch1_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsafgr0o1ap2P-paCm-sidhMk10QiOHp78Wue_Q4kyp89hjilmFT7JSp_DIBQP99OissGJ0Uo0TF_6mNpMiqczdczn4NEujamH6Ys9m_iJV0rZNsQm97BW1IVU5WEIRRcE6dVujoolHc/s400/Sasquatch1_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443988409589283554" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>605</o:Words> <o:characters>3449</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>28</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>4235</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7IruDRMgELkzM9nb0qvVK-3Sgi1OEo0neoWwaR5nzJ_ZsjWwZ2-LBMN8c6W57CvkJysWabwphKyrdjCm9nLVhDZ3DyPUYcGVQrHhCkCSMA5BrYBxPnbE3XQfyhTX-4yOS4hEHc7sqBs/s1600-h/Sasquatch1_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7IruDRMgELkzM9nb0qvVK-3Sgi1OEo0neoWwaR5nzJ_ZsjWwZ2-LBMN8c6W57CvkJysWabwphKyrdjCm9nLVhDZ3DyPUYcGVQrHhCkCSMA5BrYBxPnbE3XQfyhTX-4yOS4hEHc7sqBs/s320/Sasquatch1_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443977374150013314" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Hey there Olympic-level comics fans!<span style=""> </span>The world is singing the praises of the true north strong and free and admiring us crazy canucks as much for our ability to compete on snow and ice as for our ability to throw a massive party. So let’s keep the Olympic party going a little longer!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Walter Langkowski here. Some of the science geeks out there know me for my pioneering research in physics and biophysics.<span style=""> </span>Yeah right!... It’s not like they put out highly collectible trading cards series for Nobel Prize front-runners, now is it?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlXqFMrhjSa_nPrSY9KNUwhZDVXNC7PyEIK6wOomxFNM893-TzFWz-FJxgDGEPbvJMGnolhg4yxhm9DdIybbyRR6xyw-ZMEVuSQpT8JIMjApizMP7KSufzgr4ZJVeF3yi9khcsPw5Vgc/s1600-h/Langkowski_wanda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlXqFMrhjSa_nPrSY9KNUwhZDVXNC7PyEIK6wOomxFNM893-TzFWz-FJxgDGEPbvJMGnolhg4yxhm9DdIybbyRR6xyw-ZMEVuSQpT8JIMjApizMP7KSufzgr4ZJVeF3yi9khcsPw5Vgc/s320/Langkowski_wanda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443977547552809986" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">And yet, I do look familiar don’t I? I sometimes get stopped in the streets or make some extra cash appearing at car dealerships or local sports collectible shows thanks to my years as a utility player for the Green Bay Packers.<span style=""> </span>
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">No?<span style=""> </span>Perhaps you were once a student at my McGill University classes or you’ve seen me on various tabloid covers during the very messy divorce from my actress wife, Veronica.<span style=""> </span>Of course, I was trapped in the body of an impossibly leggy, willowy, muscular, platinum blonde, woman-type female at the time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VE0S-mnfyECzB2vFJdv3bznEAaacpZeH_45HXOMdYUpYA0Qq-ZLNxqUKtPlpij_zNZQG7kO6YyHyNzYzfMMI63cGn6PIVdZUNKupZ3RmUh7E2vdchGgaLamDbJL0iY9cyzoUQFJnFHI/s1600-h/WalterL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VE0S-mnfyECzB2vFJdv3bznEAaacpZeH_45HXOMdYUpYA0Qq-ZLNxqUKtPlpij_zNZQG7kO6YyHyNzYzfMMI63cGn6PIVdZUNKupZ3RmUh7E2vdchGgaLamDbJL0iY9cyzoUQFJnFHI/s320/WalterL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443977928484691266" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Still not sure?<span style=""> </span>Well, I’ll give you a hint.<span style=""> </span>Who’s humungus, orange and furry, can stop a plane with his bare hands, went toe to toe with the rampaging Hulk, came back from the dead and gives the fuzziest, bestest hugs in the Marvel Comics universe?<span style=""> </span>Why the ever-lovin’ Sasquatch, that’s who!!!<span style=""> </span>(and points off to anyone who guessed that blue beastie X-man, scientist and ex-footballer, Hank McCoy.)
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeMsx6IEdmZVub20tM8unZnghC-X6mA8VcbKXcNHkB8PY6PdGhk94m8uPGeJI4khz4fLqx7q-ss_83ZRHll-QLizAQiBTyY_QARH-Xi0Sgc0XSdatI-VJEKzVrBInFpiG9QGMSvWlSEw/s1600-h/sasquatch01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeMsx6IEdmZVub20tM8unZnghC-X6mA8VcbKXcNHkB8PY6PdGhk94m8uPGeJI4khz4fLqx7q-ss_83ZRHll-QLizAQiBTyY_QARH-Xi0Sgc0XSdatI-VJEKzVrBInFpiG9QGMSvWlSEw/s320/sasquatch01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443978854304967826" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">No, not that one.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPntqLVEicIT51B8rRGM_SVJ-FMdVI_7IpOlzPC0r-BgBAXh4wsd7H-U1n6SWQGTUL-sdB8fTKcM0kEMbzVPn1O180dL3DkLUPD80sy3i2fag8kBf4xbGFOWpgE75kLDKJxDrExcjGtjQ/s1600-h/six_million.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPntqLVEicIT51B8rRGM_SVJ-FMdVI_7IpOlzPC0r-BgBAXh4wsd7H-U1n6SWQGTUL-sdB8fTKcM0kEMbzVPn1O180dL3DkLUPD80sy3i2fag8kBf4xbGFOWpgE75kLDKJxDrExcjGtjQ/s320/six_million.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443979490330460050" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Not this one either. Work with me here.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1LeRjyi-SJ9XZrSki0kHmgs3FbwGuXfKFyUDWeFlaToBV2XTh_f3YcrBlszI1ECU7NeQG6zLOZBOytWk3GrCnxLiHNwTkjfVKzzqjSUXtfH9PWqGkAzwebJlOnB3h74m4ZlZ8qKxed8/s1600-h/FNF_SasquatchVsRanark2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1LeRjyi-SJ9XZrSki0kHmgs3FbwGuXfKFyUDWeFlaToBV2XTh_f3YcrBlszI1ECU7NeQG6zLOZBOytWk3GrCnxLiHNwTkjfVKzzqjSUXtfH9PWqGkAzwebJlOnB3h74m4ZlZ8qKxed8/s320/FNF_SasquatchVsRanark2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443978261815249874" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ah! Now you're cookin' with back bacon!
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<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRLJc4TAlSpw5pnHWo0GWR3mArKmLmR9xNavgfY77FQfMb3zFtwHg6xtvSY03qQllkZDygKj7s77viCE_R-tcB2SEjSFPzlUx6gI_qxNYT6TzPqsvflSq5McqjlVdsGwsYrcRCSy4ac8/s1600-h/110px-Sasquatch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRLJc4TAlSpw5pnHWo0GWR3mArKmLmR9xNavgfY77FQfMb3zFtwHg6xtvSY03qQllkZDygKj7s77viCE_R-tcB2SEjSFPzlUx6gI_qxNYT6TzPqsvflSq5McqjlVdsGwsYrcRCSy4ac8/s320/110px-Sasquatch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443978469088399010" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">This week of Olympic posts are partially inspired to help Canadians come down slowly from the wonderful Olympic high we’ve been on without having to do it cold turkey (or in our case, cold Canada goose).<span style=""> </span>But it was also inspired by my memories of reading another series of Olympic stories way back in my wayward youth.
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<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">I had hoped to write about these tales during the actual Olympics but I didn’t want to draw only from the web for my recollections. I wanted to read the stories again, dang it! And since the comic shops in town did not have the back issues in question, I was left to rely on mail order and the books simply did not arrive in time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">But they’ve arrived at last true believers -- a set of Olympic-themed stories from Batman Comics that have stayed me with since I first read them way back in the seventies.<span style=""> </span>Like these past few weeks, the Olympics in question took place in Canada, almost bankrupting the beautiful city of Montreal in the process! (What's the big deal? It only took the city thirty years to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/12/19/qc-olympicstadium.html">pay off the 1.5 billion dollar debt</a> from the 1976 Games and the disastrous <a href="http://assets.espn.go.com/mlb/s/2003/0422/1542317.html">Olympic Stadium</a>).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNPoegYWRQ-5NL3G4ujfiESfpRJP0Da_YsDvIssxKh0DT1g-cqWQAAI0PhvJegLD70jrCVtrwKE3YFNTYi9GTdB-ceH2oj_FUSXBbqNTJQ4E_1SmcfBQtqN0vppM2LIBCELWOCCUyY0k/s1600-h/440px-Sasqua.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 335px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNPoegYWRQ-5NL3G4ujfiESfpRJP0Da_YsDvIssxKh0DT1g-cqWQAAI0PhvJegLD70jrCVtrwKE3YFNTYi9GTdB-ceH2oj_FUSXBbqNTJQ4E_1SmcfBQtqN0vppM2LIBCELWOCCUyY0k/s400/440px-Sasqua.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443987522983729730" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Some highlights of the Games (Thank you, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Summer_Olympics">Wikipedia</a>! Wish I had you around when I was at Penn State or <a href="http://marvel.com/universe/Sasquatch_%28Walter_Langkowski%29">studying for my Ph. D</a>. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) include the fact that it was the first time a host country for the modern Games won no gold medals (a fact broadcasters hammered home through out these latest Games), the U.S. cleaned up in the boxing using as bunch of unknown stumblebums like Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Leo Randolph and Howard Davis Jr., Bruce Jenner set a world record for the decathalon and future prime minister of Japan, Taro Aso, competed, as did Britain’s Prince Anne.<span style=""> </span>And the world fell in love with Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, not only the first competitor in the modern Olympic Games to earn a perfect ten in competition, but the only one to do it seven times in one OIympiad!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1eHr9lZQuxT2_6Rp_3qSO2DJ469028Ldi4jIlX4wGNo4Nr-FXjP2rfpPNQi129LdVmeICz-THWGjq95hiq_SGf43ODMPdanqebHsfruY8_nhSGFPdOGMzn2JQmjkLqNYWQYAKIBJnYc/s1600-h/395px-Omega_Flight_1B.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 404px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1eHr9lZQuxT2_6Rp_3qSO2DJ469028Ldi4jIlX4wGNo4Nr-FXjP2rfpPNQi129LdVmeICz-THWGjq95hiq_SGf43ODMPdanqebHsfruY8_nhSGFPdOGMzn2JQmjkLqNYWQYAKIBJnYc/s320/395px-Omega_Flight_1B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443980394240332066" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfTggppSChRavQpAkC1ktqMfnPhLzfy629rWTTZbMmckB2A3hJK7xZAfMq22cCgO_Kw7vYl4ljw_9qZShVsFyZfx6ZxYvkPlbTALTg-RZzDxDXX0fA1S180AhfgyF4W9aTDRsnVtaO4s/s1600-h/Sasquatch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfTggppSChRavQpAkC1ktqMfnPhLzfy629rWTTZbMmckB2A3hJK7xZAfMq22cCgO_Kw7vYl4ljw_9qZShVsFyZfx6ZxYvkPlbTALTg-RZzDxDXX0fA1S180AhfgyF4W9aTDRsnVtaO4s/s320/Sasquatch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443980953219082066" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">That the Montreal Olympics occurred in North America, allowing for more daytime and prime time live network coverage, and the fact that 1976 was also the United States’ bicentennial year, meant the event created a huge buzz in America. So it was only natural that comics picked up on that in its endless search for a good story hook.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">And as a young comic fan I was already diligently prowling the comic book racks of my local variety stores for stories and the Batman and Detective Comics of the time never let me down. (What? A Marvel character can't dig a DC book?) This is a series of four interconnected tales that left me wishing for more… especially since I never actually found the final issue until years later to find out how it ended.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Get ready for The Underworld Olympics 1976!!!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjbh-QjxsMvdy_U3OHjSW6JltR52UcJkzGPGiU_19l0QHJKL-yGDIus4JSUDeFch8ADaNCF0LTxGFYn3hbAjxUKJchmDL7AKDNtD3ypoNgfCoYdEVqIcpBIa8O-IgqV4Wj_T1e3z55wo/s1600-h/394px-Batman_272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 454px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjbh-QjxsMvdy_U3OHjSW6JltR52UcJkzGPGiU_19l0QHJKL-yGDIus4JSUDeFch8ADaNCF0LTxGFYn3hbAjxUKJchmDL7AKDNtD3ypoNgfCoYdEVqIcpBIa8O-IgqV4Wj_T1e3z55wo/s400/394px-Batman_272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443981457751313954" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>881</o:Words> <o:characters>5024</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>41</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>10</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>6169</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">This classic Olympiad of evil kicks off in Batman 272 in a story by David V. Reed.<span style=""> </span>The art is supplied by the team of J.L. Garcia Lopez<span style=""> </span>- who would go on to become the artist behind all DC licensing images for more than a decade - and Ernie Chua – who would go on to change his name back to Chan and rock the comic book world of Conan the Barbarian for more than a decade.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez7yLQyoTqheLO2ggSy5lRFGZCMsBw-9V5N4KdwKXZQwZd2NbqGcsHbsH88hq5DSHg7CvIfuQdKQkEj_-HzEcIKaQ5i2BAoBO-P_hLE0QhM7zF_emIgyccSDUdEm-yu54CStknCbx0Bw/s1600-h/Sasquatch-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez7yLQyoTqheLO2ggSy5lRFGZCMsBw-9V5N4KdwKXZQwZd2NbqGcsHbsH88hq5DSHg7CvIfuQdKQkEj_-HzEcIKaQ5i2BAoBO-P_hLE0QhM7zF_emIgyccSDUdEm-yu54CStknCbx0Bw/s400/Sasquatch-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444450329442502370" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">I was a fan of Batman at the time for a number of reasons. Stories were more or less one-offs so I could generally get a complete adventure without having to track down a<span style=""> </span>follow-up issue.<span style=""> </span>In a world before the direct market that could prove difficult. You never knew if the store you bought one issue would get the same batch of ongoing titles from month to month. That’s why I developed a string of variety stores and supermarkets to visit month in and month out.<span style=""> </span>I had to cast a pretty wide net.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Secondly, DC was back to focusing on Batman being the world’s greatest detective and escape artist, so each issue generally presented some form of impossible mystery that highlighted Batman’s observational skills, esoteric knowledge and cleverness. Generally presented at a breakneck pace and filled with plenty of action. Revisiting the world of the Bronze Age, one is reminded of how much story we were given in a conventional comic compared to today.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">For better of for worse, modern, “decompressed” comics average four or five panels a page. As far back as fifteen years ago, comics probably average 7 or more panels per page. That means a story that may have taken one issue back then is often spread out to two, three, or even four issues now. That leaves plenty of room to accent character, play with pacing and reveal that approximately 85% of modern comic writers have no idea how to work in this elongated format. Bronze Age books wasted no time. They had less than twenty pages to get you in, get you involved, get out a couple of fights and few surprises then wrap it up so they could do it all over again next month.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPcqhE4HwEytQS1bB7QTnUO8BN3dV0NEvwR336Nk3F3FXpEuyR6VR9Qsm17nUm2niMR4z-JYfRrnp7g9jvYs4SJm_4f85QntApi8NSnVGPA_USu8pKt1JKDPz5WgcSydJRhYtNECAaJY/s1600-h/669px-Walt_Langouski_Sasquatch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPcqhE4HwEytQS1bB7QTnUO8BN3dV0NEvwR336Nk3F3FXpEuyR6VR9Qsm17nUm2niMR4z-JYfRrnp7g9jvYs4SJm_4f85QntApi8NSnVGPA_USu8pKt1JKDPz5WgcSydJRhYtNECAaJY/s400/669px-Walt_Langouski_Sasquatch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443987300723835090" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">“The Underworld Olympics ’76” opens in a suitably international environment, Gotham International Airport.<span style=""> </span>Thanks to an anonymous tip, Batman (who was still at the point where he had complete cooperation from all levels of police and security personal) gets all Homeland Security up the ass of several suspicious looking tourists.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1chgcgL8EDP5c7MFoulSYdLvkBYqEoRgtgWP5uhYtIdOsLtX8-trMvRhbRqk2j884Ig8PsUmRHDGM-Xy6-cK-XxLqLYlC9hcESz9Ewj1y2CjkcARFGQOLXc6-izsd_jKVYShLzf4DTw/s1600-h/Underwld-Airport01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1chgcgL8EDP5c7MFoulSYdLvkBYqEoRgtgWP5uhYtIdOsLtX8-trMvRhbRqk2j884Ig8PsUmRHDGM-Xy6-cK-XxLqLYlC9hcESz9Ewj1y2CjkcARFGQOLXc6-izsd_jKVYShLzf4DTw/s400/Underwld-Airport01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444473735280183442" border="0" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">What follows is an insight into Batman's loathing of gaucho gangsters and one of the most unique displays of comic book jui-jitsu I've ever seen. The battle quickly flows through numerous kung fu moves like "Whirling Camera Chin-A-Chunka" and "Come Hither Thigh Trap" to finish off with "Death Palm Camera Smash".</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2hdv4a1jYgqEToBipzaeploe9TOJ6RuFnXWIEsqNIxxipHKWDwQNDdobNrlbCakSLFYkjGE7eOequHK5Jfq3yFttbfnYfM7O5_cTJEp82_UnQ8pX9hLw7hbBMhLMeW2SMs7n6bob2MA/s1600-h/Underwld-Airport02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2hdv4a1jYgqEToBipzaeploe9TOJ6RuFnXWIEsqNIxxipHKWDwQNDdobNrlbCakSLFYkjGE7eOequHK5Jfq3yFttbfnYfM7O5_cTJEp82_UnQ8pX9hLw7hbBMhLMeW2SMs7n6bob2MA/s400/Underwld-Airport02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444480756860661138" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQjd-e0vwAF7t8hLzeOXkkmWCdvImpH1IuSvn6WthISFbPcwchZ7y3UAsBwiOBCF4Xi0cSnR0ZZcePYb1xgrqaSdl-EyaV2w9Rb1uHmGIjQV551LL3eV-ZkHbvO5zX0NB3xbaXu_Zmac/s1600-h/Underwld-Airport03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQjd-e0vwAF7t8hLzeOXkkmWCdvImpH1IuSvn6WthISFbPcwchZ7y3UAsBwiOBCF4Xi0cSnR0ZZcePYb1xgrqaSdl-EyaV2w9Rb1uHmGIjQV551LL3eV-ZkHbvO5zX0NB3xbaXu_Zmac/s400/Underwld-Airport03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444475670397087218" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">The felonious pair turn out to be smuggling uncut emeralds in their suitcases. Batman reveals the hidden gems and the inadequate training of the Gotham Customs officials in a quick series of panels.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFaLnCTEXkgkGyF6iWR3JoomaEzUhpBXPTJZdfQlfQ0yBc8u2bgdz3gh2n6fg1BfdxFj3z3_EFZI1GizdVDRYI9F-xWGa1pBxaSxwuOVLMB7t36qMCscJpttKbuJ0nS__sG28yJZuF08/s1600-h/Underwld-Airport04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFaLnCTEXkgkGyF6iWR3JoomaEzUhpBXPTJZdfQlfQ0yBc8u2bgdz3gh2n6fg1BfdxFj3z3_EFZI1GizdVDRYI9F-xWGa1pBxaSxwuOVLMB7t36qMCscJpttKbuJ0nS__sG28yJZuF08/s400/Underwld-Airport04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444474053293621090" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">The final panel on the page reveals the entire operation is a decoy allowing members of the South American team to slip into the city unnoticed. Soon, in the “carefully guarded confines of a townhouse on Gotham’s east side, the “first international Crime Olympics” are officially kicked off. Rather than stretch the Games out with teams from each country, author Reed divides the players up by “continental blocks” with South American, North American, European and Afro-Asian teams, comprised of multicultural representatives from various countries “chosen from among its own master criminals.”<span style=""> </span>Each team is given a different assignment and tries to amass points by completing an assigned crime. Meanwhile, a whole bunch of unsavory types lay bets in a smoky den of iniquity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmic6RxE2wobBlvCh9gyDIl3qBFuqb_tSQnQ-IK8mHGh7y9pM2q-2xhgdCGXFojI4jeTHzSzCBcUmv4-gSpugasnUsQ3BFiZSipC69gf8OTjJet7HHnfbyRkWjEyxzRZDkDk7ZiqufcR0/s1600-h/Underwld-Unsavory.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmic6RxE2wobBlvCh9gyDIl3qBFuqb_tSQnQ-IK8mHGh7y9pM2q-2xhgdCGXFojI4jeTHzSzCBcUmv4-gSpugasnUsQ3BFiZSipC69gf8OTjJet7HHnfbyRkWjEyxzRZDkDk7ZiqufcR0/s400/Underwld-Unsavory.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444475949109438930" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Lopez and Chan have a lot of fun giving every face and character in the story personality - even the sketchy background figures. It adds a nice sense of realism to the events. I especially like the guy in the green suit in panel above to the left of the frame. That could be a threatening scar on his face or a prominent bead of sweat. Either way, from his effete way of smoking, to his highly manicured nails and overabundance of hair product, we can tell that this is one metrosexual who's not to be trusted.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">The South American team is up first. They are assigned to murder J. P. Vandermeer, chosen at random from a phone book. Apparently it was a very upscale phone book, because Vandermeer turns out to a member of Gotham’s elite, serving on the board of the Gotham Museum and hobnobbing with the likes of Bruce Wayne, millionaire playboy. Vandermeer is lured away with a phone call.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNoZb23lqUyAjBKYGCkQp7Tj9Jyf4APnyM7EWho-69Rw0SPK1oahwq8nHhfqCyuINt6H0sVSGFzi9PzFpj79w09tRsYrFboMEbgb8LJvQClBQaqu5NLSsT9ccCoNfR1NSUZNK10gFJyg/s1600-h/ShazamHostess-Batman272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNoZb23lqUyAjBKYGCkQp7Tj9Jyf4APnyM7EWho-69Rw0SPK1oahwq8nHhfqCyuINt6H0sVSGFzi9PzFpj79w09tRsYrFboMEbgb8LJvQClBQaqu5NLSsT9ccCoNfR1NSUZNK10gFJyg/s400/ShazamHostess-Batman272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444477743240024162" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">A suspicious Bruce notices he has a direct line to the museum and yet the emergency call came over a regular phone. A quick change of costume and the Batman is soon off in hot pursuit in Bruce Wayne’s roadster. He quickly finds Vandermeer’s wrecked and an even more wrecked Vandermeer, deader than a doornail. Deducing that a second vehicle rammed him, Batman catches up to the car and battles the South American team, capturing two of them. In between we take a short break for a one page advertisement featuring Captain Marvel and Hostess Cupcakes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Since nothing is stolen, Batman can’t figure out a motive, nor why one of the murderers’ chosen weapons was an <a href="http://www.swords-and-more.com/shop1/product_info.php/products_id/3917/language/en">espada brousse</a> or Bolivian jungle sword. Of course, he doesn’t realize the phone book is an accomplice. Perhaps he should take that phone book into an interrogation and beat a confession out of it with a… phone book?<span style=""> </span>Er, never mind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Batman gets a second chance when the remaining members of the South American team steal Vandermeer’s body from the morgue. Luckily, the eagle-eyed pathologist has already removed a transistorized tracking device from the body (used y the team to determine it’s whereabouts for the second phases of their assignment). Batman uses the bug’s frequency to track the team as they attempt to bury the stone cold Vandermeer in an equally cold stone monument.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Batman arrives to kick butt and order ice cream (The team has hidden the body in an ice cream cart for discreet transport through a park) in one of the worst I’m-gonna–joke-while-I-hit-you lines ever...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-h0wbCkgVhisqbRWCWGkrWZb5lKNeXVtMvXdZo6IppWELZneOheuNDjmyfPvwfDEzRS5WF-vWLAyFL_szNg5rZ0_C3eNgWLe8cZOPn3S_awurcANLxj20-jxla8noR9e1YAK-lS1fkiQ/s1600-h/Underwld-CherryVanilla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-h0wbCkgVhisqbRWCWGkrWZb5lKNeXVtMvXdZo6IppWELZneOheuNDjmyfPvwfDEzRS5WF-vWLAyFL_szNg5rZ0_C3eNgWLe8cZOPn3S_awurcANLxj20-jxla8noR9e1YAK-lS1fkiQ/s400/Underwld-CherryVanilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444479440332538098" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">You heard the Bat. Here's a double scoop of justice... with sprinkles, you crooks!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">Batman wraps up the case and wraps up the South American team in a vender’s umbrella. Back at Olympic HQ, the absent team is assigned a final score - a mere 20 out of a possible 100.<span style=""> </span>The world's “finest criminals” retire to prepare for tomorrow’s challenge while poor Batman and Commissioner Gorden are left to ponder why Vandermeer’s body wasn’t stolen when the car was wrecked and why all the baddies hail from south of the equator.
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiAdE3liIOWThtqufaKaRRQ43QhWvWrWB3CtuHtO5hZQnkrLRx1Xl5QbaDFzAm_qkrR4ySO8tA3q9s3sIT4euwz9Iu1Mwyvne2Ix7v3P18IT0XosnsWJjMPzcBBD6fvdp-ARHeK6JeA4/s1600-h/Underwld-Confused.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiAdE3liIOWThtqufaKaRRQ43QhWvWrWB3CtuHtO5hZQnkrLRx1Xl5QbaDFzAm_qkrR4ySO8tA3q9s3sIT4euwz9Iu1Mwyvne2Ix7v3P18IT0XosnsWJjMPzcBBD6fvdp-ARHeK6JeA4/s400/Underwld-Confused.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444480051500820274" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">For once, the reader is one step ahead of the Bat, leaving a nice sense of anticipation for what's to come next issue.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">And in the next blog post.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtckWtIX3YeDjMU1Vjh6ntVBxtmqP5QGE1XSwVA_xQxB5UFJ0bi78p4yaPZoK-xbhY57fX1ITePMqNPSiR8gBwMxaETx23B7CFWo-N4m1vDVmQFNPgbmp2g6FQcH3sv87L8N3R8DyXCQ/s1600-h/up-Alpha_Flight_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtckWtIX3YeDjMU1Vjh6ntVBxtmqP5QGE1XSwVA_xQxB5UFJ0bi78p4yaPZoK-xbhY57fX1ITePMqNPSiR8gBwMxaETx23B7CFWo-N4m1vDVmQFNPgbmp2g6FQcH3sv87L8N3R8DyXCQ/s400/up-Alpha_Flight_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444451283860019810" border="0" /></a></span>
<br />Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-3745862357609277802010-03-01T08:16:00.000-08:002010-03-03T10:48:22.373-08:00An Olympic Message from Snowbird - Goddess of the Great, White North<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v_XS5i18HFIxVx9_vq2nJMVjBDxrzQuqMmdN8XTtztQ_yo_-m6ZL-Sn2hOv8Fe7ttNBcPykVinSI_TgHVxz7LTp5lRnbyuPunJqsdDUu25uj4ry0xNRIzZhWYHqFH46iMpIxodljD-A/s1600-h/alpha-snowbird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v_XS5i18HFIxVx9_vq2nJMVjBDxrzQuqMmdN8XTtztQ_yo_-m6ZL-Sn2hOv8Fe7ttNBcPykVinSI_TgHVxz7LTp5lRnbyuPunJqsdDUu25uj4ry0xNRIzZhWYHqFH46iMpIxodljD-A/s320/alpha-snowbird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443701356242324850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Snowbird, by Ramon Perez.</span>
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<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>272</o:Words> <o:characters>1555</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>12</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1909</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkwjDO57ic4CkzYzh5mw2TtwtmlFN3Fxu4SO8H8D1DNwvpi12w6QU4BUJUkmU7TIAR7zuY11AdhyphenhyphenP9fRvdj3ecvkeEf7aSJQUVGIg0XJJfMYVxtdnkv3_VRFreY3GTIwYJF_W1DLRrRs/s1600-h/78161-2123-snowbird_super.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkwjDO57ic4CkzYzh5mw2TtwtmlFN3Fxu4SO8H8D1DNwvpi12w6QU4BUJUkmU7TIAR7zuY11AdhyphenhyphenP9fRvdj3ecvkeEf7aSJQUVGIg0XJJfMYVxtdnkv3_VRFreY3GTIwYJF_W1DLRrRs/s320/78161-2123-snowbird_super.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443701656400821154" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Greetings, mortals.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am Narya, daughter of northern goddess, Nelvanna and the human Richard Easton. You may also know me as Col. Anne Mackenzie, of the Yellowknife RCMP detachment or even the mountie who presented the “Let’s Play Safe with Snow” presentation to your child’s fourth grade class last week.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As a goddess of the north I have found my spirit empowered by the display of passion shown by the inhabitants of my homeland these last two weeks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Such raw emotion and joy has sent me soaring skyward in my arctic owl from to soak up the Olympic spirit, until one of the biathalon competitors from a country that shall remain nameless, took a shot at me hoping to bag a Canadian souvenir. I don't have to tell you that contravened the spirit of this ancient event, the hunting and exporting laws of the land and earned him the enmity of a warrior goddess!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sGLy8qVKeJxXdaCDBycOB9GBwU2GyNcTOOYbTfQQrRN6TY0jfW4QvdGrU_MrkieeqJxM2Xy2etSQXczoIzeN3XUBRtrADG7a0024h8wg8AXX9PmjI8ylIKgFptO-blwOliDEF2T6s7k/s1600-h/250px-Narya_(Earth-616).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sGLy8qVKeJxXdaCDBycOB9GBwU2GyNcTOOYbTfQQrRN6TY0jfW4QvdGrU_MrkieeqJxM2Xy2etSQXczoIzeN3XUBRtrADG7a0024h8wg8AXX9PmjI8ylIKgFptO-blwOliDEF2T6s7k/s320/250px-Narya_(Earth-616).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443702114391981954" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Do not fear, I did not kill him.<span style=""> </span>But he shall require the assistance of a highly skilled surgical to remove those skis from where I shoved them in my polar bear form.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK_Nf6Oxk4ejvP70dgDn2DFV7BJ7XVOg187MVQ0jNB6JHv3ZUc1SjAfXv1WekyxnCYzktH1X6nU4DT2ogn9eqBPuxR0xPccmjxFKxChrc4dh8xDK4MV9bJML51t4HHxLtH5nbrPEVaO4/s1600-h/415px-Narya_(Earth-3470).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK_Nf6Oxk4ejvP70dgDn2DFV7BJ7XVOg187MVQ0jNB6JHv3ZUc1SjAfXv1WekyxnCYzktH1X6nU4DT2ogn9eqBPuxR0xPccmjxFKxChrc4dh8xDK4MV9bJML51t4HHxLtH5nbrPEVaO4/s320/415px-Narya_(Earth-3470).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443702384807933890" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Sadly, my diminutive comrade in Alpha Flight arms, Puck, seems to have gone missing in the jubilation of the gold medal hockey game yesterday.<span style=""> </span>When last I saw Eugene, he was sucking spilled beer out of the official Hudson’s Bay mittens and leading a pack of revelers to find Canuck defensemen Rob Niedermayer and get him to sign their genitals.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">(shiver) You understand now why I did not care to follow, I hope.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Since Puck is still nowhere to found and it is still difficult to get anywhere in Vancouver unless you can morph into any winged creature of the frozen tundra like me, I shall take over today’s salute to the Olympics skating events.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauOZ1b4uSuVSQSowHYbKPj9lMldWgHFYqtu-zED5YJ4_lHXr87JExRanU2SNnUakUczum4Pko9DWad3uT3F5SRGLn-ma-_6W_hMYXqUeGcMoYyrGEeFLEtuk2HUj-9EUgmF4xMme0DPI/s1600-h/snowbird-300x148.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauOZ1b4uSuVSQSowHYbKPj9lMldWgHFYqtu-zED5YJ4_lHXr87JExRanU2SNnUakUczum4Pko9DWad3uT3F5SRGLn-ma-_6W_hMYXqUeGcMoYyrGEeFLEtuk2HUj-9EUgmF4xMme0DPI/s320/snowbird-300x148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443702688585422258" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The skaters are so graceful and lithe, they truly convey a sense of what it feels to fly through the air under your own power. To watch them is to understand one such as me, at least a little bit.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Enjoy!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Unless you're Victor Plushenko, a sense of humour is the most important ingredient for ice skating. That frozen H2O can be a harsh mistress!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDsip58hIjbw537UJInm4Sp1vQnjNTnOz6VTYKIl1OYu73oGX7_3POmQSQriOkLRu4gSO7-u5EZKhPmdbeTWEUGRqeYb0DiOpWhsKA07d36RyWguTleWCP4Ty4uOsd1I8_WHldAjXCVI/s1600-h/348-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDsip58hIjbw537UJInm4Sp1vQnjNTnOz6VTYKIl1OYu73oGX7_3POmQSQriOkLRu4gSO7-u5EZKhPmdbeTWEUGRqeYb0DiOpWhsKA07d36RyWguTleWCP4Ty4uOsd1I8_WHldAjXCVI/s320/348-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703588694142978" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmQ3kSrHdPucW8mtyCI7YNrIA3tSbPl5f9aE603I8Klux509o6SMh3c64NoEAEh3bvIWBKxZi-hioOON4PkZ0DEpSBv2_bHnTYauJ_SdszU7l7Ey8wLFg6XJqg-CUijIn6ZUNjYnzmT8/s1600-h/113-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmQ3kSrHdPucW8mtyCI7YNrIA3tSbPl5f9aE603I8Klux509o6SMh3c64NoEAEh3bvIWBKxZi-hioOON4PkZ0DEpSBv2_bHnTYauJ_SdszU7l7Ey8wLFg6XJqg-CUijIn6ZUNjYnzmT8/s320/113-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703526866885794" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5MlePE0CZ_9sHp82TACdRB0pXB5vnT8GLHUznNoCOtInnBKyMaYX9_AKwbqpMs33WDgRTQykzerUXkLoPyXrTBBySKkYDooYNVcvbr3XPQJ3tVx1OtauRYpDR60Ad2h2V1WF6Kq0ESM/s1600-h/8-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5MlePE0CZ_9sHp82TACdRB0pXB5vnT8GLHUznNoCOtInnBKyMaYX9_AKwbqpMs33WDgRTQykzerUXkLoPyXrTBBySKkYDooYNVcvbr3XPQJ3tVx1OtauRYpDR60Ad2h2V1WF6Kq0ESM/s320/8-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703205553522386" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cHb6eHgclnEbbKB3qyEhiD-Gbbgtj1N6ZxuulbljKJvsDFWt4-cJyVuu0Vn8SSuJsB-e6kWCxWjqu7knOHc3EYJV3F4BQYNUje6Y7gNg9xPWyaXrcQLarXfXgITrM8-o3YUVwqnwUXc/s1600-h/28-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cHb6eHgclnEbbKB3qyEhiD-Gbbgtj1N6ZxuulbljKJvsDFWt4-cJyVuu0Vn8SSuJsB-e6kWCxWjqu7knOHc3EYJV3F4BQYNUje6Y7gNg9xPWyaXrcQLarXfXgITrM8-o3YUVwqnwUXc/s320/28-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703320695950002" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzM-SSA74uAVAt7xI94EMbTBhD9p7GgBDOEooPUXBI241EuO7hy8iPTDLv3LWdO8zazORRyGeDdBhcITymVpmWwaUEaRgxzrI2fPqY_Z2iwkkwXlPpxgsFHhjuRmGwJ23jyr0dkkiJxE/s1600-h/180px-Snowbird_008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzM-SSA74uAVAt7xI94EMbTBhD9p7GgBDOEooPUXBI241EuO7hy8iPTDLv3LWdO8zazORRyGeDdBhcITymVpmWwaUEaRgxzrI2fPqY_Z2iwkkwXlPpxgsFHhjuRmGwJ23jyr0dkkiJxE/s400/180px-Snowbird_008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444481121795717218" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XXn5-rCRub-33nyT2ya2m9i5vTeUw6XTd2RxOzCPK1WzOCq9ElP0hRHNcAX7BYbDCgl3GUXs1aISY87iQOmxr2nP_BVY1j-5z0PLLskDuAtiy-4BZR9UFHTqzkzhfKGE7tuWjoX5KeA/s1600-h/42-1-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XXn5-rCRub-33nyT2ya2m9i5vTeUw6XTd2RxOzCPK1WzOCq9ElP0hRHNcAX7BYbDCgl3GUXs1aISY87iQOmxr2nP_BVY1j-5z0PLLskDuAtiy-4BZR9UFHTqzkzhfKGE7tuWjoX5KeA/s320/42-1-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703390538724402" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEwwuVkKH09BpcRx6Ax9PENl3FAmDzcMuD9VWLrbVfpvbtXAafqJQmTgOCRywbjk6JdW_S7UoYJwuPI4QEBFHhmGW2aYDRFePYjawx5bfRZ-_FA2pBuWFet6aUFfeVPgedj4bVEKjsXg/s1600-h/104-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEwwuVkKH09BpcRx6Ax9PENl3FAmDzcMuD9VWLrbVfpvbtXAafqJQmTgOCRywbjk6JdW_S7UoYJwuPI4QEBFHhmGW2aYDRFePYjawx5bfRZ-_FA2pBuWFet6aUFfeVPgedj4bVEKjsXg/s320/104-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703976590822018" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWocR5uTAk0Ycs-ppDWB7D9C_85av8CotqI_8ituyF8Cf8EiiSz51wD4mVtH9wOiHhLr2MqnbSOeIJC4GqTyL0AyAFXTBJ-mIuCJGvxnNWUZma1tuT2siuRu56K1AWPqpdXqBSTjwenQ0/s1600-h/833-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWocR5uTAk0Ycs-ppDWB7D9C_85av8CotqI_8ituyF8Cf8EiiSz51wD4mVtH9wOiHhLr2MqnbSOeIJC4GqTyL0AyAFXTBJ-mIuCJGvxnNWUZma1tuT2siuRu56K1AWPqpdXqBSTjwenQ0/s320/833-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703841286882386" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_oxqqEvE9EjbGkxwE1MswKdo36jHfK2_P3qREsjkSFHiYv-LY4wJtDXe6lMr_Q_vloq8T58Xc1KyNqhLA88AUahwY7MAO25wMu4mC6wMdE_U0I4t-uyfP_5W_Rhbb4mmtgUZ037oppU/s1600-h/1385-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_oxqqEvE9EjbGkxwE1MswKdo36jHfK2_P3qREsjkSFHiYv-LY4wJtDXe6lMr_Q_vloq8T58Xc1KyNqhLA88AUahwY7MAO25wMu4mC6wMdE_U0I4t-uyfP_5W_Rhbb4mmtgUZ037oppU/s320/1385-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703789092908386" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">One thing you humans forget, is how romantic skating can be. The feeling of gliding along with some one you love is can most alluring. See how Patsy Walker's graceful swan rotation almost instantly attracts a potential life mate to her side. It could also be because her tights had "Come get me!" written on the crotch but we''ll never know for sure.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsdCtq0E_MRyybtI2D_8mHXmy_gefLMm429b0cZ24fszoSUj8xUWhr9TkeP0_TzbPYTPuGyfvQCDCcKbp0Pxmcxq177nDIg5juvYFoT3nT8FC4nACMG7ufRPH8jnRWY2J_1dpfhabHm0/s1600-h/10-1-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsdCtq0E_MRyybtI2D_8mHXmy_gefLMm429b0cZ24fszoSUj8xUWhr9TkeP0_TzbPYTPuGyfvQCDCcKbp0Pxmcxq177nDIg5juvYFoT3nT8FC4nACMG7ufRPH8jnRWY2J_1dpfhabHm0/s320/10-1-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703255254153154" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizNt6m5xJFgbQUERIjnuab4BiAoNl_TrXbd3-Xs70BTiymjbT3DBab2OMHhUymue72Xy06i9M1c1EYH8wZHF6SJXCnfduKlldwEe-mAdUFoN1ZaoOLGWtONz2jcvHlik_8T4R4Fy8j6Y/s1600-h/58-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizNt6m5xJFgbQUERIjnuab4BiAoNl_TrXbd3-Xs70BTiymjbT3DBab2OMHhUymue72Xy06i9M1c1EYH8wZHF6SJXCnfduKlldwEe-mAdUFoN1ZaoOLGWtONz2jcvHlik_8T4R4Fy8j6Y/s320/58-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703461852558690" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIbTwGVT7vUQy7ZNuXIoHZjA4L5nfMQoltSzH1IIwjSmBEiPbfgofBHGS4Vi3PnDGZ24_WKD2MdOY0HZol_IRVdzrtoq17DsatusBXSMCba8TafY9PJnQ2BpZNp-xF39mN6gefMBrUT4/s1600-h/snowbird.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIbTwGVT7vUQy7ZNuXIoHZjA4L5nfMQoltSzH1IIwjSmBEiPbfgofBHGS4Vi3PnDGZ24_WKD2MdOY0HZol_IRVdzrtoq17DsatusBXSMCba8TafY9PJnQ2BpZNp-xF39mN6gefMBrUT4/s320/snowbird.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443708190112446594" border="0" /></a>Guys, you know it works. Let go of the hockey obsession long enough to turn on some figure skating and your sweetie will want to cuddel up with a cup of hot cocoa and you... guaranteed. Take it from a sexy Goddess of the North. I know how to stay warm on those long, Canadian winter nights!</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON0mPPirvGlZNQoAdiWmk5OLfWeU-JftzYWgqsINBQZW0EosITa7D02aOKGVhNd6XCl_ofaP2r3Vse9jzSmq3N2ywdxprd7dbPKyYQMauFZ9fj4mudcRlYtp4hngIR5CXQVJrEQfSV5w/s1600-h/176-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON0mPPirvGlZNQoAdiWmk5OLfWeU-JftzYWgqsINBQZW0EosITa7D02aOKGVhNd6XCl_ofaP2r3Vse9jzSmq3N2ywdxprd7dbPKyYQMauFZ9fj4mudcRlYtp4hngIR5CXQVJrEQfSV5w/s320/176-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703154588622354" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSuYg-Pa8eKAjprdJOArBKzvNmIS9Hr1FCCa40XEx8Bdnynkh7HscyOLlinnhdHOmWHUQy3lnqLvfOVEVUS7SjXBRoS_GS9oNzINas_vLdDKWsUPk0M56KiMdsL1i0qO0wL16sdOnpZ4/s1600-h/45-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSuYg-Pa8eKAjprdJOArBKzvNmIS9Hr1FCCa40XEx8Bdnynkh7HscyOLlinnhdHOmWHUQy3lnqLvfOVEVUS7SjXBRoS_GS9oNzINas_vLdDKWsUPk0M56KiMdsL1i0qO0wL16sdOnpZ4/s320/45-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443703069819645330" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />And so, until next time! Farewell mortals!</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3vLJHXSghSxmLMwzcvLUuL9qv_QzhgJegadPLnPZ_AX7FYg3cx7bl7lE1dFwswDMxX9mPTKqB3aLO9G4bNphyphenhyphenpqwF73c9O2iIKlGUNrJ92jH72fDm-QTIFfRlsPCQe3cZLYJ0kYc62M/s1600-h/astonishing-tales-one-shot-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3vLJHXSghSxmLMwzcvLUuL9qv_QzhgJegadPLnPZ_AX7FYg3cx7bl7lE1dFwswDMxX9mPTKqB3aLO9G4bNphyphenhyphenpqwF73c9O2iIKlGUNrJ92jH72fDm-QTIFfRlsPCQe3cZLYJ0kYc62M/s320/astonishing-tales-one-shot-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443701205504517426" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-32918295168909346422010-02-27T20:24:00.000-08:002010-03-01T08:44:44.704-08:00An Olympic Message from former Olympian - Northstar!<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>80</o:Words> <o:characters>460</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>564</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT3qAjT6B09K4HFVLJhO9uhzYTaOErReJilz40oLTS1QWZJ5Zmo-gwJOjeGRnVQyed3zajP_Ja91sah2kM-I6bfNpY0NV0fbD4lCzx82leDUlsmCVPyCpX_-IYhOksiTZ0cvq8ZZRz7E/s1600-h/northstar18-320x297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT3qAjT6B09K4HFVLJhO9uhzYTaOErReJilz40oLTS1QWZJ5Zmo-gwJOjeGRnVQyed3zajP_Ja91sah2kM-I6bfNpY0NV0fbD4lCzx82leDUlsmCVPyCpX_-IYhOksiTZ0cvq8ZZRz7E/s320/northstar18-320x297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443149773982907906" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">That winning Beaubier smile!</span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6o1GJS9kRLnMVEvCD1I2Pn5RmymR60SvvXbZ21q2eUwejeANMFBA6WNTpilLaf9VYMv-n0y0FxNjzQPZZeOZHsV2fDhuOSmLRD9oDPeRtYK_MvDRmfkG5a7lfczs8vXMemMAFLKI0HM/s1600-h/uxm414_cov.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6o1GJS9kRLnMVEvCD1I2Pn5RmymR60SvvXbZ21q2eUwejeANMFBA6WNTpilLaf9VYMv-n0y0FxNjzQPZZeOZHsV2fDhuOSmLRD9oDPeRtYK_MvDRmfkG5a7lfczs8vXMemMAFLKI0HM/s320/uxm414_cov.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443313816023488930" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Alo!<span style=""> </span>Canadian celebrity, superhero, author, CEO, teacher, circus aerialist, former terrorist and deceased ninja assassin, one time elfin royalty and disgraced Oly*p*c skier, Jean-Paul Beaubier here.<span style=""> But you can call me by my </span></span> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/robertpincombe/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:characters>5</o:Characters> <o:company>Streamline</o:Company> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>6</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-US">trés</span> <!--EndFragment--> <span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> chic, code name -- Northstar! (accent on the 'star', naturalment.)</span></span></p>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As my countrymen compete with the best in the world at Vancouver 2010 Olympics, my heart has swelled with uncharacteristic pride. And so I promise on behalf of Comicanuck at least one more week of comic book Olympic goodness to help you get through those curling and short-track speed skating withdrawal pains.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Mostly I'm doing this because I need somewhere to channel all this </span><span lang="EN-US">Olympic </span><span lang="EN-US">spirit now that my so-called friends' in Alpha Flight couldn't score me a seat to today's Canada-U.S.A. Men's Hockey final. You'd think a certain hardcore hockey fan by the name Puck would be able to pull a few strings. Quel connard.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPZqaau846YoaRrblHuyXvjl6Jc72QFc4KuQGwYuclARqZ_p9rhzw5pjQr2irGArxYcxsqfpGRLGFOAfFfle8EHP7EWlmZva_GCVNdy7XA3rlhG6oKYWvaL12f5BETa3D-SUdsB85Thg/s1600-h/alphaflight2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPZqaau846YoaRrblHuyXvjl6Jc72QFc4KuQGwYuclARqZ_p9rhzw5pjQr2irGArxYcxsqfpGRLGFOAfFfle8EHP7EWlmZva_GCVNdy7XA3rlhG6oKYWvaL12f5BETa3D-SUdsB85Thg/s320/alphaflight2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443150361749640770" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Go Canada... or else!</span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><span lang="EN-US">To start us off, </span>mes amis, for <span lang="EN-US">this final day of official </span><span lang="EN-US">Olympic</span><span lang="EN-US"> festivities, we have a cover gallery of comic book </span><span lang="EN-US">Olympic</span><span lang="EN-US"> moments!</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMHXArD3XbZAU7LjWU2R-OC8N4UIfIzojeDS0yWzx-wX_uQXcOAihfPUOm0e5PT4q_iaTKI_dloxCctDPf0CTLexzMLPFT_x8R9mAI8GK2FeXqWs1GfvdQPf4RV5v_HaH7d29mPMJpnI/s1600-h/745.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMHXArD3XbZAU7LjWU2R-OC8N4UIfIzojeDS0yWzx-wX_uQXcOAihfPUOm0e5PT4q_iaTKI_dloxCctDPf0CTLexzMLPFT_x8R9mAI8GK2FeXqWs1GfvdQPf4RV5v_HaH7d29mPMJpnI/s320/745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152377397543906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL4hckC4OZPM8lsQGrr8s-MRIYdTW26Ee7skBtOSGpGlyRZYZzgpmBt-FBsoBeD7zjlRh-uvOuNhKFWvCIPXUAKz4B3MQELG4_GJ1jZ_TTY-sAhUBygJKBUqVYZN_zaONToNVk8Ql6Hg/s1600-h/5365.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL4hckC4OZPM8lsQGrr8s-MRIYdTW26Ee7skBtOSGpGlyRZYZzgpmBt-FBsoBeD7zjlRh-uvOuNhKFWvCIPXUAKz4B3MQELG4_GJ1jZ_TTY-sAhUBygJKBUqVYZN_zaONToNVk8Ql6Hg/s320/5365.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152448862705250" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT14DIdN8nQaVSTj5OnliDQXWzATPy1fVzpKpPuzX9bONoL3AwKI0L_oAjXxdJ5C7f6EqWTITxYch2lTq5TwImHpGdduzSC-va8hB38Wgks5JOwX6zwh2-Xe1gZ5wXFYp9s18p9fIy5k/s1600-h/Teen+Titans+04-00.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT14DIdN8nQaVSTj5OnliDQXWzATPy1fVzpKpPuzX9bONoL3AwKI0L_oAjXxdJ5C7f6EqWTITxYch2lTq5TwImHpGdduzSC-va8hB38Wgks5JOwX6zwh2-Xe1gZ5wXFYp9s18p9fIy5k/s320/Teen+Titans+04-00.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152564681428418" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDHShuf1vcp3nUOxe5GGj3IYmxADe683vAh6K9-F7B2HDIo7Fuc9e-DDUlnSA_hxVM3FZu5XGo9VU9WBEGvEYgEQuhkvUopZQl_i8qZM5MjfHSP0vAGKPoYCeDGSK3LMbHHKFNhyLKC4/s1600-h/48364_20060712190618_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDHShuf1vcp3nUOxe5GGj3IYmxADe683vAh6K9-F7B2HDIo7Fuc9e-DDUlnSA_hxVM3FZu5XGo9VU9WBEGvEYgEQuhkvUopZQl_i8qZM5MjfHSP0vAGKPoYCeDGSK3LMbHHKFNhyLKC4/s320/48364_20060712190618_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152829531791666" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk7w5nFqn6plu5Xf2j3C0dKxeoeldOGOms5a6xWervL4uo8d7bjeW_XqJgjBEHjWPvRTTrJtJ3rph32gK9KgbYiqpPdevR_1jKn23kuKGMZwPgopOBCmkWqLNEUUROBp3eXT8-SzKp_Q/s1600-h/northstar_large.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 77px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk7w5nFqn6plu5Xf2j3C0dKxeoeldOGOms5a6xWervL4uo8d7bjeW_XqJgjBEHjWPvRTTrJtJ3rph32gK9KgbYiqpPdevR_1jKn23kuKGMZwPgopOBCmkWqLNEUUROBp3eXT8-SzKp_Q/s320/northstar_large.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443303985891609570" border="0" /></a>The <span lang="EN-US">Olympics</span> have long been fodder for comicbook storytelling. It provides a recognizable hook (or macguffin as Hitchcock referred to them) and also a straightforward narrative structure -- Two or more characters compete in a variety of events to determine the eventual winner.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Add to that a kidnapped kid sidekick, a cheating or doped up competitor or what have you and the stakes are suitably raised. You can also return to the idea every few years to coincide with the actual <span lang="EN-US">Olympics and cash in on the buying public's awareness and spirited desire to take part in some way... like purchasing your fine comic perhaps.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGOAB04Bz1tjnrXwCO0J-mHOy05OUm3J6pheM3yOqYhM3Wk5I3i5Kg4faIspb-Qgz8oVvyJdX4Nq3fNyiZCg5VvYkIJNfo8dPNh5EqMaYve5lFKCcVq5FnElxnLag91HT63xGRYc9p_w/s1600-h/ComicBookCovers3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGOAB04Bz1tjnrXwCO0J-mHOy05OUm3J6pheM3yOqYhM3Wk5I3i5Kg4faIspb-Qgz8oVvyJdX4Nq3fNyiZCg5VvYkIJNfo8dPNh5EqMaYve5lFKCcVq5FnElxnLag91HT63xGRYc9p_w/s320/ComicBookCovers3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443168127234947282" border="0" /></a></p> <!--EndFragment--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLqZcgtX1GspC-cKDoHWKR_LE4izGUVkrWV0MO9Gwv-dae87vSv6jsv8h42o80o5mDH4tDSZuJnDXTQP4Cmk8EIEj25dBGOBD1bih8Xs7TPjAZUIVwVy02lUc-CRW4bTwy7Pbe46MiUA/s1600-h/304-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLqZcgtX1GspC-cKDoHWKR_LE4izGUVkrWV0MO9Gwv-dae87vSv6jsv8h42o80o5mDH4tDSZuJnDXTQP4Cmk8EIEj25dBGOBD1bih8Xs7TPjAZUIVwVy02lUc-CRW4bTwy7Pbe46MiUA/s320/304-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152316408675314" border="0" /></a>
<br />The Games can also serve as a compelling and unique backdrop or setting for a tale, even if the events of the story have little to do with the Olympics themselves.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-DRhp9UAnMT5zFAHRalVeFLZIvyNxr-jBDagUJ1FtTMfbbZ4OAklC_OJLCE1xgidWH288aTqoQndsVo7XR2WijCqykD6BvofxU18Vak90wXh6TI2VXZcgoYhvKk9ljmPuE8CShF8TYg/s1600-h/uderzo_asterix_olympic_cvr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-DRhp9UAnMT5zFAHRalVeFLZIvyNxr-jBDagUJ1FtTMfbbZ4OAklC_OJLCE1xgidWH288aTqoQndsVo7XR2WijCqykD6BvofxU18Vak90wXh6TI2VXZcgoYhvKk9ljmPuE8CShF8TYg/s320/uderzo_asterix_olympic_cvr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152997700903442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFX9yqhreVq6CFNo2TaZ5m6DxXHlCnvyLWIRGN7-cmvrq9K8uud3S8ozzYVkbbwlqNVFCcAEk1VGOPFDbgVN0mtrE9EAK2LtLQMl6swpBJaGcm35eIUKNASeF3w2LCGB6JEDrNc0tQV0/s1600-h/109528_20071026175621_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFX9yqhreVq6CFNo2TaZ5m6DxXHlCnvyLWIRGN7-cmvrq9K8uud3S8ozzYVkbbwlqNVFCcAEk1VGOPFDbgVN0mtrE9EAK2LtLQMl6swpBJaGcm35eIUKNASeF3w2LCGB6JEDrNc0tQV0/s320/109528_20071026175621_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443152679265853634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapgczME4ddzPBa_znbbBTZ7sXjUzwu1jq2tjuFIvp3N7ucCq8MTJqBjG8uzuIQLQQx-Wyz05MAUUr1g9fnnTKqOym-ipcyO1ID1Tth_itPfBBFmZ9jnyTmPLKC2OFQpk8ntl0CBxs5x8/s1600-h/105196.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapgczME4ddzPBa_znbbBTZ7sXjUzwu1jq2tjuFIvp3N7ucCq8MTJqBjG8uzuIQLQQx-Wyz05MAUUr1g9fnnTKqOym-ipcyO1ID1Tth_itPfBBFmZ9jnyTmPLKC2OFQpk8ntl0CBxs5x8/s320/105196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443168203525249826" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID5c-MAt_uDNkeuRxOPHhFMZuDjPYPCGgIc-23CPGFGxmX6n-k8_jcvNwHA_zmO3ktPpMtgcJ0maQ09-XmmQSwVnCn1FttWs8yGfG_IfQdcGMhpgPVVPSKngJXNSiPxrxuOkrQw05WDI/s1600-h/208px-Northstar_(X-Men).png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 68px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID5c-MAt_uDNkeuRxOPHhFMZuDjPYPCGgIc-23CPGFGxmX6n-k8_jcvNwHA_zmO3ktPpMtgcJ0maQ09-XmmQSwVnCn1FttWs8yGfG_IfQdcGMhpgPVVPSKngJXNSiPxrxuOkrQw05WDI/s320/208px-Northstar_(X-Men).png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443305827372177154" border="0" /></a>But enough of this. Let's move onto the events that are near and dear to my Quebecois heart -- the downhill events!
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<br />Ahhh... the speed and aerial acrobatic grace of my beloved skiing and snowboarding events.
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<br />How telling is it that I miss it less for the joy of competition than for the fact that no one shoots plasma bolts at you or tries to remove your head from your torso while crying out, "Die, X-men!" when you compete there?
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<br />Such a comforting memory.
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<br />Sigh... I shall pour another chianti while you and these covers conquer that mountain!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExcsUWc4RRizB-D0aiQcKG2MS0oBKwHRXWY5DLGQ5hQrFseZB72u-aSbTM6nIpUyFl8Cqg93bWvE-OVksDI5D-E00HYfbIaYSzMmDKy2Lx71VTxA1QfS9RTU505-U8CnFVIe_YpGpTdA/s1600-h/3355797799_249394132f_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExcsUWc4RRizB-D0aiQcKG2MS0oBKwHRXWY5DLGQ5hQrFseZB72u-aSbTM6nIpUyFl8Cqg93bWvE-OVksDI5D-E00HYfbIaYSzMmDKy2Lx71VTxA1QfS9RTU505-U8CnFVIe_YpGpTdA/s320/3355797799_249394132f_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443307403434835074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo25nK1a7ZYTPbyTQb-PQh-GdHFddFFT5S08LCYEM-IJJq8c5NbI6XA77AzvWUjEyjGIIf4eQyf65NyBhW1-PfJRQBkvkpDNi4SXpfaiacaZNd_0GaSKVQME5mTkR3blTK6EF2nn7dWTI/s1600-h/3356654806_64d6ff5e8b_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo25nK1a7ZYTPbyTQb-PQh-GdHFddFFT5S08LCYEM-IJJq8c5NbI6XA77AzvWUjEyjGIIf4eQyf65NyBhW1-PfJRQBkvkpDNi4SXpfaiacaZNd_0GaSKVQME5mTkR3blTK6EF2nn7dWTI/s320/3356654806_64d6ff5e8b_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443307458180110146" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLKNdB5b__m70_xz_6tdt6vT0_xSYZkekNr18k5KpNgokcpNMm6aZHjzPvvIyOA3X1Vnx1WHjcZm2rH6IJ9vH5huAby8-07LgU0VJguxg_-y4PBV91VyWNtytyMGYfPQUzQIfcrEVPC4/s1600-h/3355561673_d580f3d4a5_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLKNdB5b__m70_xz_6tdt6vT0_xSYZkekNr18k5KpNgokcpNMm6aZHjzPvvIyOA3X1Vnx1WHjcZm2rH6IJ9vH5huAby8-07LgU0VJguxg_-y4PBV91VyWNtytyMGYfPQUzQIfcrEVPC4/s320/3355561673_d580f3d4a5_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443307528416197410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmOlFtPbLNJuO78310eX_-lwcPqf0ad7lPoUCiUB70oB1OmqIaIUWDx4hDfsegrlGkQwYbSNtuC9xWXIrbQthliur61LDWIaYCAMviqC7gioC-QGKmVNhhOsda3FU4CQoXvkZazJtzvk/s1600-h/130-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmOlFtPbLNJuO78310eX_-lwcPqf0ad7lPoUCiUB70oB1OmqIaIUWDx4hDfsegrlGkQwYbSNtuC9xWXIrbQthliur61LDWIaYCAMviqC7gioC-QGKmVNhhOsda3FU4CQoXvkZazJtzvk/s320/130-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443307598793040674" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrD8wuuV__1gH7vSIMavLrgwNsBFCa_og-cISent5jdffi6TvviHu8PJhCjLWgvFYMCVvyaOeQT7l3KL5ZGA5iJnpR_PD1bebQtOLhdaNqAWm20nK50bN_iYWWqFV93F_6XXD0SD6fmk/s1600-h/02_cav19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 111px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrD8wuuV__1gH7vSIMavLrgwNsBFCa_og-cISent5jdffi6TvviHu8PJhCjLWgvFYMCVvyaOeQT7l3KL5ZGA5iJnpR_PD1bebQtOLhdaNqAWm20nK50bN_iYWWqFV93F_6XXD0SD6fmk/s320/02_cav19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443308202656754274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFY3ErdjaHtMGJJ_0fNRZpEDQ3CmjWMCtfPDmxs2uld8UilwM02s1ZV7ORZeDIVcykynBU5HP6-cw188fiK7qqBpm2z1QNqxpQP_6FVFrbSSQTmyi9PDcOffaSrYYxzfDjJkuLiC82sw/s1600-h/Beetle28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 111px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFY3ErdjaHtMGJJ_0fNRZpEDQ3CmjWMCtfPDmxs2uld8UilwM02s1ZV7ORZeDIVcykynBU5HP6-cw188fiK7qqBpm2z1QNqxpQP_6FVFrbSSQTmyi9PDcOffaSrYYxzfDjJkuLiC82sw/s320/Beetle28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443308295894567826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJG-0poeJZq8q3lTwIi2miZ2-f-scoz0PbzsDFxTvqalPhgVHTHO9fbquLcOC4P08_dTNTQi82x7YQWtWpQm0owHmYHDxJo8Aa51Ost75I-q8YLx8v7wfjhRAelnMP4tz2P8Z1d1f9AY0/s1600-h/DD23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 102px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJG-0poeJZq8q3lTwIi2miZ2-f-scoz0PbzsDFxTvqalPhgVHTHO9fbquLcOC4P08_dTNTQi82x7YQWtWpQm0owHmYHDxJo8Aa51Ost75I-q8YLx8v7wfjhRAelnMP4tz2P8Z1d1f9AY0/s320/DD23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443308647153766802" border="0" /></a>A big part of selling a comic is to make sure your character stands out to the buying public and your cover is a key to doing that. So why not put them in an unusual but relatable situation? Afunny gag sevres much the same purpose for a humour book. The cover must amuse and also reveal somethign about the main character or the contents.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV99k5Cot61yaNWEERK_vpmSE9tRXdj0l_AyZsAH3Q1b5KkDw5_AeFSY5GRxMndW4S5ht7Qv1pVGTYaqro5B2iX8ZBib-ID-gxXiOA9KmOjHL7J1HzeC2RLBcoP5_-4Q83RClZV9lvD_k/s1600-h/DonWinslow41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV99k5Cot61yaNWEERK_vpmSE9tRXdj0l_AyZsAH3Q1b5KkDw5_AeFSY5GRxMndW4S5ht7Qv1pVGTYaqro5B2iX8ZBib-ID-gxXiOA9KmOjHL7J1HzeC2RLBcoP5_-4Q83RClZV9lvD_k/s320/DonWinslow41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443309529414606706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TnDdxA13ZJjkcRCPZeIT_SWGxy47bm0Bnbtxc0NlqhfetYOh2rFqzkHPsKhGBFUg_PA1pAZFC6mJoCqDB-VvT52vY__mq65XNLGPqeMw4GDWSTwAq9CvWkomBv23-N01ZwMmMswi-3Q/s1600-h/189-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TnDdxA13ZJjkcRCPZeIT_SWGxy47bm0Bnbtxc0NlqhfetYOh2rFqzkHPsKhGBFUg_PA1pAZFC6mJoCqDB-VvT52vY__mq65XNLGPqeMw4GDWSTwAq9CvWkomBv23-N01ZwMmMswi-3Q/s320/189-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443309033123698578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOOf5cq73O8oSmMDM9eKULPTiURtrmF7LGFM5zrD0kxWyImAZiwx6_JDAkKgt86ZcQTXxrnZtW6rIxNJoOWrGQJKwDJxE8Y77F-VEQUoXOYPt433XPF7KARJuFzzjAhJ2yOHjWpQwpzE/s1600-h/95-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOOf5cq73O8oSmMDM9eKULPTiURtrmF7LGFM5zrD0kxWyImAZiwx6_JDAkKgt86ZcQTXxrnZtW6rIxNJoOWrGQJKwDJxE8Y77F-VEQUoXOYPt433XPF7KARJuFzzjAhJ2yOHjWpQwpzE/s320/95-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443308952573970482" border="0" /></a>Something like a super hero skiiing or, in the case of the Blackhawk shown, prehistoric cavemen on flying skis with futuristic weaponry, can draw the eye away from more the mundane covers surrounding it and raise questions in the viewers minds. The only way to get those questions answered is to buy the book.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OX5P0vYteANIPywaHp86rUmEGti3UE1ENlYn2BHyT3cYNWY4DbsdbIQ-u7Ntw3CoGT1ptc-cLgOY4CzmdeCMuJwfw0G1lyeT7286UhKtRM8tHnjWiFxfiJfPq8X2ZpAza2gk2_j06Mg/s1600-h/straightarrow47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OX5P0vYteANIPywaHp86rUmEGti3UE1ENlYn2BHyT3cYNWY4DbsdbIQ-u7Ntw3CoGT1ptc-cLgOY4CzmdeCMuJwfw0G1lyeT7286UhKtRM8tHnjWiFxfiJfPq8X2ZpAza2gk2_j06Mg/s320/straightarrow47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443312145472783378" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowSgvCi0_jNRlQmIPmDcsr5T-7SD8nL-ffGZsiIwZ_n8f1CdxKaxwjE2z2lU7FePMx0h56Gj8kSFjJLwg_-yH7Te7L_88imi1EeLSQV9yFbsP6nXpcswD2pRagJ_db1rEFyHXxSFqIBo/s1600-h/lovers31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowSgvCi0_jNRlQmIPmDcsr5T-7SD8nL-ffGZsiIwZ_n8f1CdxKaxwjE2z2lU7FePMx0h56Gj8kSFjJLwg_-yH7Te7L_88imi1EeLSQV9yFbsP6nXpcswD2pRagJ_db1rEFyHXxSFqIBo/s320/lovers31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443312092647615282" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2R6pULb4VzPyF8z6iC92FRLDeowDiVrmETGUDVvqAeiW9b2ybHY_QT9hI7uMy_z6tIgVM5Ip53cs-QqHRgw5Bnfm0crK0guddxcp0oqZbLNNQuTVZeEVat0jNLiplYhn01syrbecd58/s1600-h/Doc+Savage+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2R6pULb4VzPyF8z6iC92FRLDeowDiVrmETGUDVvqAeiW9b2ybHY_QT9hI7uMy_z6tIgVM5Ip53cs-QqHRgw5Bnfm0crK0guddxcp0oqZbLNNQuTVZeEVat0jNLiplYhn01syrbecd58/s320/Doc+Savage+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443312036448272514" border="0" /></a>
<br />For some fun write-ups on comic book Olympic tales check out Mark Engbloms Comic Coverage post, <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/comic_coverage/2008/08/an-interplanetary-olympic-moment.html">An (Interplanetary) Olympic Moment</a>, Pat Curley's Silver Age Comics follow-up post, <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://sacomics.blogspot.com/2008/08/olympics.html">The Olympics</a>. You can also check the Grand Comic Book Database to see the whack of stores that grooved to an <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.comics.org/story/name/olympic/sort/alpha/">Olympic beat</a>... Sorry, I have been hanging out with Dazzler a lot lately.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC5spNiTPh054YOhV2x9ncvRF4Smvi3lEeHDu2YMwDOhzJcOrJRYLYHQLdw_Bf_tuEw1inDSRhUTeX05gK3tDfj5NKnTZk7md8xw5NT2NAZiJsXs9NJM59sQJkXEAByOdMwaaRyyIIqY/s1600-h/34-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC5spNiTPh054YOhV2x9ncvRF4Smvi3lEeHDu2YMwDOhzJcOrJRYLYHQLdw_Bf_tuEw1inDSRhUTeX05gK3tDfj5NKnTZk7md8xw5NT2NAZiJsXs9NJM59sQJkXEAByOdMwaaRyyIIqY/s320/34-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443312466173295282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iNzs0mKMPngWkz-HyrR3OcAASiCbOLacMLmEQRXoQ-MVBuFdzwKATLhnxD_i7KE_4HTKE5rRKFd8BVbhefbDfw0aNvmFVzTekqYxdpTfdZqR8_SEef-SGSR6dIN-FGFD7Q1_zDXHyMM/s1600-h/10163831_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iNzs0mKMPngWkz-HyrR3OcAASiCbOLacMLmEQRXoQ-MVBuFdzwKATLhnxD_i7KE_4HTKE5rRKFd8BVbhefbDfw0aNvmFVzTekqYxdpTfdZqR8_SEef-SGSR6dIN-FGFD7Q1_zDXHyMM/s320/10163831_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443312551220845826" border="0" /></a>
<br />And now I must content myself to watch the gold medal Mens' hockey game on my plasma screen instead at rinkside with my selfish Alpha Flight compatriots. Onwards and upwards my friends!
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<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccnYFYdRdVPq1t34reFjUdhsymvl8qW8laah1xDtlivZnhN4cXE4nqjnOHQpkw0SiPUT0lcwKn-alRa-EHJfIWmo2HrpNBA17y-zy8TMx84R9SI0zlK9HDtZJ1iLBuMXp8k3yc2vcTzA/s1600-h/northstarsnowboard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccnYFYdRdVPq1t34reFjUdhsymvl8qW8laah1xDtlivZnhN4cXE4nqjnOHQpkw0SiPUT0lcwKn-alRa-EHJfIWmo2HrpNBA17y-zy8TMx84R9SI0zlK9HDtZJ1iLBuMXp8k3yc2vcTzA/s320/northstarsnowboard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443314563498813042" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-38012366702364206372010-02-26T19:44:00.000-08:002010-02-27T20:24:32.569-08:00Wally Wood - Look Beneath The Surface<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLotAwUWRqmZ1vNgiL9eB0-gN8IDvpxL2qBuPiCzcIRZaRCrzGyAXnLlTEOznHrmu4RNod0uhOobKfA1q579wB4ov2McE3edt541NTFuY5yWX9CzlqQIdsGdt6mISEJLjaY0_ADI1WQqE/s1600-h/thunder_agents_3_a_p01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLotAwUWRqmZ1vNgiL9eB0-gN8IDvpxL2qBuPiCzcIRZaRCrzGyAXnLlTEOznHrmu4RNod0uhOobKfA1q579wB4ov2McE3edt541NTFuY5yWX9CzlqQIdsGdt6mISEJLjaY0_ADI1WQqE/s320/thunder_agents_3_a_p01.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="291" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />It’s hard not to love the snazzy new</span></span><a href="http://comicscomicsmag.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;"><span class="Apple-style-span">ComicsComics</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span"> website run by Tim Holder, Dan Nadel and Jason Miles with the kind of writing we’re seeing from it lately. Dan recently contributed a terrific summary of why Wally Wood was one of the most talented journeymen in comics history -</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://comicscomicsmag.com/2010/02/wally-wood-should-have-beaten-them-all.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Wally Should Have Beaten Them A</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;"><span class="Apple-style-span">l</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;"><span class="Apple-style-span">l </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span">- in which Nadel summarizes Wally’s undeniable talent and the key weaknesses (emotional and creative) that kept him from moving further during his lifetime.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSVf-1jtXQ4JjsI069jvOXpxoMvHn8oDvnVbXPqhrBcMjVGzG5NZ8I7Ckf5eJNNTjfOGm2dT-V9OCyw31lE0hdB9VjEbeNkSyZLMmwWY28t_qt5W1x1NE_7hlOI-KmwXaZLii5v5HBqo/s1600-h/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSVf-1jtXQ4JjsI069jvOXpxoMvHn8oDvnVbXPqhrBcMjVGzG5NZ8I7Ckf5eJNNTjfOGm2dT-V9OCyw31lE0hdB9VjEbeNkSyZLMmwWY28t_qt5W1x1NE_7hlOI-KmwXaZLii5v5HBqo/s200/6.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="160" /></span></a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Nadel grounds his insights firmly with concrete examples rather than relying on his opinion alone, which places the piece on a higher plane than much of the fan-based comics writing available on the web. But his writing is beautiful in of itself. Not only is it concise and direct, but the dude can also turn a beautiful phrase, as when he </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">beautifully sums up the early, detail-obsessed Wally:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;"><i>“</i></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;"><i>…Wood was a maximalist in a business that could not afford the indulgence. Comics were and remain published on a tight schedule and demand quick turnarounds.”</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">One of the great takeaways from the article, quite apart from the cautionary tale Wood’s alcoholic, chain-smoking, overworking life provides us all, is the famous</span></span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;">“</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;">22 Panels That Always Work": or some interesting ways to get some variety into those boring panels where some dumb writer has a bunch of lame characters sitting and talking for page after page.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;">" </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Wood created as a reminder to keep his work simple (at least in comparison to his ‘maximalist’ compulsions). The original art and some additional background are posted at </span><a href="http://joeljohnson.com/archives/2006/08/wally_woods_22.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">JoelJohnson.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">.</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">As Nadel notes,</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;">“It’s an infamous document, as ingenious in its craft as it is telling about the industry it comes from.”</span></i> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eR6bSuhn9ZzqVFxP79Yh12rH_UfvC3OBtATt-g5Nn0_QGPJFmgmowdgnu0gvOR9UM8v3Q-pwwUQy2IRc05UtZqpmuwnuN1A1oDqYAyIvP3p5D1r45851qLxp2vHd3mF3AICk-Dkpx6s/s1600-h/wallywood22panel1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eR6bSuhn9ZzqVFxP79Yh12rH_UfvC3OBtATt-g5Nn0_QGPJFmgmowdgnu0gvOR9UM8v3Q-pwwUQy2IRc05UtZqpmuwnuN1A1oDqYAyIvP3p5D1r45851qLxp2vHd3mF3AICk-Dkpx6s/s320/wallywood22panel1600.jpg" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Like Wood and his work, the panels are deceptively simple, but in fact they provide a sophisticated insight into comics and how they work. The key is not to assume these panels provide a one-stop secret weapon for interesting panel design (because that would make a decidedly unengaging and repetitive comic) but rather to learn from what the panels reveal about the comics form itself and how it can tell a story in ways no other medium can duplicate.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Wood document (apparently notated at Marvel Comics years ago by Larry Hama) gives us examples of separating foreground, midground and background with black, white and grey. It shows how dynamic framing and design can direct the eye and how focusing on a portion of image can add intensity to a simple moment. So study it but look beyond the surface to find out what the pictures are really telling you underneath the surface.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0);font-family:Georgia,Times,serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";color:black;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 64, 0); line-height: 21px;font-family:georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-55453259461699584332010-02-25T20:27:00.000-08:002010-02-26T06:13:21.351-08:00And Lo, A Child Shall Write, Pencil and Ink - Let go of your adult critic and start drawing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I've been checking out the hilarious <a href="http://axecop.com/">Axe Cop</a> by Ethan Nicolle (<a href="http://www.slgcomic.com/Ethan-Nicolle_c_40.html">Chumble Spuzz</a>) and his five-year old brother Malachai. It's fun, hilarious and hit much-deserved, official viral phenomenon status almost the moment Ethan chose to post it online. There's nice interview with the pair over at <a href="http://www.geekchicdaily.com/story/i-am-axe-cop">Geekchicdaily</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgbblGMzSr0kf0GGJoF8m64-zYCUmyN9sRAEGDvb4h_-JMm5x6Iz3GAR0PbiYbuRHktLaMl8LYnNmqnIimjGXB-nivGmFzhpcZ0UfFWOAE3MeEHP7_lRBZN3zR4AzuQDoXYszy5cgt9g/s1600-h/color-banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgbblGMzSr0kf0GGJoF8m64-zYCUmyN9sRAEGDvb4h_-JMm5x6Iz3GAR0PbiYbuRHktLaMl8LYnNmqnIimjGXB-nivGmFzhpcZ0UfFWOAE3MeEHP7_lRBZN3zR4AzuQDoXYszy5cgt9g/s400/color-banner.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It also brings to mind another generational collaboration from here in Canada -- the delightful <a href="http://www.chocolatefacegrace.com/">Chocolate-Face Grace</a> by brilliantly insane Canuck cartoonist and raconteur <a href="http://www.robwaltoon.com/">Rob Walton</a> and his daughter Grace. If you haven't read it check it out. Rob's delight in his daughter and her devious (perhaps frighteningly so) mind is evident every panel.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylh57KSAwQb3pY1gixXWMzsrzj9P1wo2CkZQ6D-pRnnYC6Jwsw5mIVh4n6eXnqhIn-UN78Cn6BPtzMd4PQEx2NxHmMLUjMcWtoPB9CVzkXLUYv8zAj0XDOV1amiDuhUt7e280fLXktFU/s1600-h/CFG-15b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylh57KSAwQb3pY1gixXWMzsrzj9P1wo2CkZQ6D-pRnnYC6Jwsw5mIVh4n6eXnqhIn-UN78Cn6BPtzMd4PQEx2NxHmMLUjMcWtoPB9CVzkXLUYv8zAj0XDOV1amiDuhUt7e280fLXktFU/s400/CFG-15b.png" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMP33jACsim71ATslHum31LMuBnxWaPe_6FlTJChyphenhyphenRLDBl_622YoGEpw4iKJoSyMR78d1kTYOZ7m1oZXTUBgYgY_4rqhPUvn0B__HIZQu35xdfs7ZLiyDoKywPftiE_J8XMdQQ8cJASk/s1600-h/CFG-15c.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMP33jACsim71ATslHum31LMuBnxWaPe_6FlTJChyphenhyphenRLDBl_622YoGEpw4iKJoSyMR78d1kTYOZ7m1oZXTUBgYgY_4rqhPUvn0B__HIZQu35xdfs7ZLiyDoKywPftiE_J8XMdQQ8cJASk/s400/CFG-15c.png" width="282" /></a></div><br />
There's a freeing, "anything is possible" quality to Malachai and Grace's writing that we adults can learn from. Over the last two busy days I have contemplated returning to a ridiculous, silly comic idea I had in my youth. But my desire for perfection stops me before I start when it just needs for me to let go - draw and write without fear.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_wzbJmKwHbZb6-l_5rQFp2rokq_0Ubg5xnuWtiD0W7Gd2yMVC7e4obi81qO92XjjV7pe3x9D2QfgrPkAJy2oFz3Og2nXhinwMf7dnKslBDp4kK_U2qi77jqKxwyeov62QkcKUo5-Lko/s1600-h/arts-graphics-2007_1182725a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_wzbJmKwHbZb6-l_5rQFp2rokq_0Ubg5xnuWtiD0W7Gd2yMVC7e4obi81qO92XjjV7pe3x9D2QfgrPkAJy2oFz3Og2nXhinwMf7dnKslBDp4kK_U2qi77jqKxwyeov62QkcKUo5-Lko/s320/arts-graphics-2007_1182725a.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alexa Kitchen gets her foot in the comic biz door </span></div><br />
The most famous young person cartoonist today is probably <a href="http://www.alexakitchen.com/">Alexa Kitchen</a> - a comic convention staple for years with her Mom since the age of 5 or 6! Comics hold no fear for Alexa. It's her chosen method of communication. Her youth is a perfect hook, speaking to inspiring kids but also encouraging curious adults to check her out. They inevitably find themselves delighted by her work.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_wj2wsjOGIjvKphSc07W0zC7mkF3Od-IdIHz3RSk-mAZQjbq9W76LzCT_HWMcXfg2iu9gK_DjlLIJg3STuwCdWTGPCEYBGnUpo82K0QiVzKBUnYPIkuUJBkj88WDXUH_U-qPCrThyphenhyphen-o/s1600-h/B_AK.comics.easy.B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_wj2wsjOGIjvKphSc07W0zC7mkF3Od-IdIHz3RSk-mAZQjbq9W76LzCT_HWMcXfg2iu9gK_DjlLIJg3STuwCdWTGPCEYBGnUpo82K0QiVzKBUnYPIkuUJBkj88WDXUH_U-qPCrThyphenhyphen-o/s200/B_AK.comics.easy.B.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3tMuhtt-IYLZiG25nX8mHxSuTLTcD5D5azIpZWT1AZydinYzGnHBFS62p03u_L6ySO9GFg1qjTjIf6BOlRVsfKd1ro_6eOQzi8h6V2XlXBrjApv77pteV-qgRfUcNbTyq1LsLyZD1RI/s1600-h/grown-ups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3tMuhtt-IYLZiG25nX8mHxSuTLTcD5D5azIpZWT1AZydinYzGnHBFS62p03u_L6ySO9GFg1qjTjIf6BOlRVsfKd1ro_6eOQzi8h6V2XlXBrjApv77pteV-qgRfUcNbTyq1LsLyZD1RI/s200/grown-ups.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=545">Layne and Peri Toth</a> are the other famous, pre-teen creators vying with Alexa for attention. With the help of Chris Yambar, their creation Faith: Warrior Princess has sold well with its playful, Christian-friendly adventures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsQKI9-2ugNkeferjGbIpdJphz4ys-sw5z6LRCdJSbKEvVhR1OF0OfVJ2fOg0ORd0PbT7UCXJV1ielmjkz5AvEJRY8BeWvaO4-3tmZc758QdjGQNb-rVgWZzmpyBMLpfRxeFYSR0VUU0/s1600-h/13q_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsQKI9-2ugNkeferjGbIpdJphz4ys-sw5z6LRCdJSbKEvVhR1OF0OfVJ2fOg0ORd0PbT7UCXJV1ielmjkz5AvEJRY8BeWvaO4-3tmZc758QdjGQNb-rVgWZzmpyBMLpfRxeFYSR0VUU0/s320/13q_1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On his website, Yambar recently posted that he has<a href="http://www.yambar.com/faith/index.html"> granted all his rights to Faith</a> back to the Toth sisters to do with what they will. There <a href="http://www.sisterscomics.com/">website</a> doens't have much information but does list a number of graphic novel "properties" they are working on. Methinks these girls take a more cutthroat approach to the biz than many grizzled vets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The advice for the day is -- Follow that childish song in your head and create with no fear. So what if it's not perfect or takes a surprising twist. That's part of finding the delight and imagination that used to be a constant part of our lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, -webkit-fantasy; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, -webkit-fantasy; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" /></a></span></span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-26636735755258214512010-02-25T19:01:00.000-08:002010-02-25T19:04:05.595-08:00Mark Millar Calls for Artists - Even the best writers need an inspiring artistI hope writers seeking an artist for their comic ideas took note of my recent post, <a href="http://comicanuck.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-are-artists-worth.html">What are artists worth?</a> and especially the dialogue that inspired it, which was summarized in writer Mike Luoma's blog post at Cosmic Comics, Shut Up and Put Out Your Comic! If you didn't, it's too late. Mike's post is now gone.<br />
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In its place is a notice stating that all Mike requested the removal of all his articles "due to a difference of opinion." I can't really comment on an argument I have no knowledge of. I an only say that I hope it wasn't one of those petty fights passionate fans get in leading them to consider one another dead to them. I'm just disappointed such a good overview of a discussion I took part on the business networking site LinkedIn, is no longer available for reference.<br />
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The original exchange was lengthy but confined to members of the Comic Book Business for Creators and Creations discussion group. If I ever get a whole day or two to devote to it, I'll make an effort to summarize it myself. But that may be a little ways away. Good things are worth waiting for. <br />
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In the mean time, you're not the only writer looking for an artist/collaborator. So is Mark Millar. The hotshot Scottish writer is the mind behind Marvel's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultimates-Omnibus-Mark-Millar/dp/0785137807?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ultimates</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785137807" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Companion-Marvel-Comics/dp/0785125760?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> Civil War</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785125760" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, a run on Wildstorm's The Authority and creator-owned projects like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wanted-Single-Disc-Widescreen-Angelina-Jolie/dp/B001GKJ2E8?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wanted</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001GKJ2E8" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, Kick-Ass<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=comicanuck-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1848564090&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001GKJ2FC" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and his latest, Nemesis.<br />
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Millar posted a call for unknown artists on his Millarworld message board to partner with himfor a new project. Mark is seeking inspiration outside the comic book mainstream to work with someone with a unique style.<br />
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"If you're anime, painterly, non-sequential, cartoony or just a traditional superhero artist please post a sample below. Fame and fortune awaits."<br />
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The best part is seeing the wide variety of artists who responding to the call. Check them out on Mark's forum thread, <a href="http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=91905&st=0">I'M LOOKING FOR AN UNPUBLISHED ARTIST! BIG, SPECIAL NON-MARVEL PROJECT!</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-top-style: none; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff6600;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia,Times,-webkit-fantasy; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-55722033262110757042010-02-10T12:21:00.000-08:002010-02-10T12:30:33.272-08:00The Sorceress’ New Clothes – Zatanna’s new outfit doesn’t “etiuq krow"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEniOM7U8Adm47OgQsDI7z-WAHgVVTKYoOdL2GZ8BckSLgt-VAZxD6nYQUzTS75FfhBpY6NEpkdxtw8bOYb1c9Iaod6D7zhDxdvg24zGZjp5xTdSnr5LcYQAHaAonV7Mdi9DaqXSQxpvs/s1600-h/serinda-swan-as-zatanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEniOM7U8Adm47OgQsDI7z-WAHgVVTKYoOdL2GZ8BckSLgt-VAZxD6nYQUzTS75FfhBpY6NEpkdxtw8bOYb1c9Iaod6D7zhDxdvg24zGZjp5xTdSnr5LcYQAHaAonV7Mdi9DaqXSQxpvs/s400/serinda-swan-as-zatanna.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Serinda Swan as Zatanna on </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.cwtv.com/shows/smallville"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Smallville</span></a>'s<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">8th season episode, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aTWnT-t8UQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Hexed</span></a>.</span></span></span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial;">I’m feeling a little whiny today. So what shall I complain about? How about DC Comic's superheroing sorceress, <a href="http://www.toonopedia.com/zatanna.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Zatanna</span></a>? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Is anyone else finding the new costume for DC’s new series by </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">writer Paul Dini and artist Stephane Roux</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> a bit of a mash-up?</span></span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">I know it's Zatanna we're talking about here but this uniform is missing the mark slightly. Zatanna is far from the first superheroine to have a costume wholly inappropriate for crime fighting or supernatural menace slaying, but her original outfit does at least match up with her stage origins.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErtRO8jjavV6HoIdjqm0jn_xapIdHtYLPJkWI-QaHgNrBD4G1hAWBbk9yKSHdx-2HqPHoQGWEkmWQ4_0xOf2cwpIWtShIEX34omFbMhDoqmtU1e8k6IwJVKYuyKXCcdbw_ExxUFOMvRg/s1600-h/1307962639_a9683d6d10_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErtRO8jjavV6HoIdjqm0jn_xapIdHtYLPJkWI-QaHgNrBD4G1hAWBbk9yKSHdx-2HqPHoQGWEkmWQ4_0xOf2cwpIWtShIEX34omFbMhDoqmtU1e8k6IwJVKYuyKXCcdbw_ExxUFOMvRg/s320/1307962639_a9683d6d10_o.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtHhYUiQPisOy3d4w_2G0WKK78rcd237gMkLrBtht0FL5UPJRJonIC_W9b3XW1umJcwmnIwtZUtMUJlM3xltBRUNLSaEf-bRr3B2XfRdvfA236A9eqBaXpUUtSVCUHQKLoMLj5HXYqFk/s1600-h/1307961875_e593830c93_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtHhYUiQPisOy3d4w_2G0WKK78rcd237gMkLrBtht0FL5UPJRJonIC_W9b3XW1umJcwmnIwtZUtMUJlM3xltBRUNLSaEf-bRr3B2XfRdvfA236A9eqBaXpUUtSVCUHQKLoMLj5HXYqFk/s320/1307961875_e593830c93_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Carmine Infantino's original Zatanna.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Zatanna followed in the footsteps of her famous father, stage magician (and actual wizard) Zatarra. As an old-school (read that as, non-stripping) burlesque magician she wore a somewhat tarted up version of her father’s top hat and tuxedo jacket crossed with the sort of stockings and tights she might have worn as his assistant growing up. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Zatanna’s stage magician look belies her actual supernatural talent. She's a hero who hides in plain site, couching her inherited magical abilities power in stagecraft and misdirection. And as drawn by the brilliant designer of Carmine Infantino, her costume looks like a million bucks. (Though one could be forgiven for assuming she was just there to sell cigarettes, gum or a tray full off shooters.)</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4avJoznveNtGu4e4SkNiKjoUqwFgNnLD6pv9ItDKLTgXmaE27jHmpXGpwD421m6d-Veqz2tUJJMA9EApI34cKHfK23lj2eJzbwG_fm9XM3Vt0p3YUlvYx8UhOoAQWYm2F4ykpXohF2PU/s1600-h/51XFMY9Q5ZL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4avJoznveNtGu4e4SkNiKjoUqwFgNnLD6pv9ItDKLTgXmaE27jHmpXGpwD421m6d-Veqz2tUJJMA9EApI34cKHfK23lj2eJzbwG_fm9XM3Vt0p3YUlvYx8UhOoAQWYm2F4ykpXohF2PU/s200/51XFMY9Q5ZL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Our backward’s talking sorceress’ first appearances in the sixties were in a number of DC titles as she teamed with various DC heroes in search of her father, who had disappeared mysteriously. The early team-ups were featured as a back-up stories in various DC titles (including turns with Hawkman, The Atom, Batman, Green Lantern and even the Elongated Man). Eventually her quest me tit’s end in the pages of the Justice League of America. It was a gentle precursor to today’s multi-title, event crossovers.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">It took all of Zatanna’s wits and power combined with those of the entire Justice League to free her wayward father from the magical dimension he as imprisoned in. DC recently reprinted the entire quest in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/JLA-Zatannas-Search-Gardner-Fox/dp/1401201881?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">JLA: Zatanna’s Search</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1401201881" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>. This edition has a cover by Brian Bolland, who definitely sold Zatanna’s dressy duds with typical Bolland aplomb.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqj2k3JD4d3Rmrz1WZrfIfFm-3n4L_tXsUZGlrn_rcBDRfRjHf20TOlxZSltvjWgXcJGTF8wU2eh9sQMk6A7cN90rjIq675jFCZE5ymHvr5FCRNf8TRF1XWYNiAZRMRbzLYNf-QAP1D0/s1600-h/1984ZatannaPostcardbyGeorgePrez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqj2k3JD4d3Rmrz1WZrfIfFm-3n4L_tXsUZGlrn_rcBDRfRjHf20TOlxZSltvjWgXcJGTF8wU2eh9sQMk6A7cN90rjIq675jFCZE5ymHvr5FCRNf8TRF1XWYNiAZRMRbzLYNf-QAP1D0/s200/1984ZatannaPostcardbyGeorgePrez.jpg" width="133" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">When Zatanna eventually joined the Justice League in the eighties, no less than the master himself, George Perez, designed a new costume for her new, more heroic role in the DC universe. The cape and the wide sleeves kept an element of her “nothing up my sleeves” magic while the skintight purple and white bathing suit and billowing cape lent the ensemble the necessary dose of four-colour superheroics. And I even dig the fab earrings. Zatanna always does things with style.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">After a spin in the original Books of Magic mini-series and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><a href="http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=zatanna"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">guest appearances in a variety of titles</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">,</span></a> Zatanna took centre stage as one of Grant Morrison’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Soldiers-Victory-Vol-1/dp/1401209254?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Seven Soldiers of Victory</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1401209254" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, with fantastic artwork by Ryan Sook. Though Sook took Zatanna’s costume to a slightly more sexual extreme, he still sold it as a stage costume. One got the feeling that it was like Zatanna putting on a character and if a little leg showing helped distract her opponents, all the better. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9K1yqgA2z5xLzDOn8KVmjFPpIJEFhIfSwCVlF2KhC178jAHxglsrket7xlClFLndhF9VOyLw9Nhyphenhyphena-6QXcC_WcaUxbgiNiGea7pwuV6BfhuZrXLRg0_rcR5_hVmFVUG51cyN-vB8flM/s1600-h/244375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9K1yqgA2z5xLzDOn8KVmjFPpIJEFhIfSwCVlF2KhC178jAHxglsrket7xlClFLndhF9VOyLw9Nhyphenhyphena-6QXcC_WcaUxbgiNiGea7pwuV6BfhuZrXLRg0_rcR5_hVmFVUG51cyN-vB8flM/s320/244375.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Let’s be honest. Zatanna isn’t a hero who’s going to get into a bare-knuckle barroom brawl. She fights magic with magic. So with high-kicks out of the picture stiletto heels are just fine, thank you very much.</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">And now, DC has announced a new Zatanna ongoing series by Dini and Roux. I find this an exciting prospect and gobbled the yummy preview art they’ve released at DC Universe the Source -- <a href="http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/02/04/zatanna-strikes-out-on-her-own/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Zatanna Strikes Out on her Own</span></a>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22xmjQdJpRFzstRXG-vCOpy1UTDMOLPvnlt0HMi0Xux1o2ULIhidzsrwQhOXu1vZN1MZAqmeUMF8OmEKCBughpjjVFaxgjZKadNAWnFv4IXaF9rjLNXfbAbo9FYO5sKeM4FBv7F4PmH4/s1600-h/zata-1106001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22xmjQdJpRFzstRXG-vCOpy1UTDMOLPvnlt0HMi0Xux1o2ULIhidzsrwQhOXu1vZN1MZAqmeUMF8OmEKCBughpjjVFaxgjZKadNAWnFv4IXaF9rjLNXfbAbo9FYO5sKeM4FBv7F4PmH4/s320/zata-1106001.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtvgHnnEZRuylLKtNF3Hfk6Y88Gn8FY3jLECZARqwX6_NFbNT9Ffja0dTIX-xGCkEPyd-fBu8xFLtf3zBk5BbKH4_n8oPgAiViOTEdoxFnlEgoopax-tgUxwu-2__e20bLNNXK9pqiP4/s1600-h/zata-1146001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtvgHnnEZRuylLKtNF3Hfk6Y88Gn8FY3jLECZARqwX6_NFbNT9Ffja0dTIX-xGCkEPyd-fBu8xFLtf3zBk5BbKH4_n8oPgAiViOTEdoxFnlEgoopax-tgUxwu-2__e20bLNNXK9pqiP4/s320/zata-1146001.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbOny3QnrbN7l1Lt7fsle2pSKmz_KS6Pgq5FGy8Sso33K13HFfJZAYz5E69tTUFApgHMlK83S2JpYrFdgPSR1lGDe4l38sW0JLLtCOgvPrKnjlL7SQddLiIiC2sICWJmru4566g-OCE8/s1600-h/zata-1156001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbOny3QnrbN7l1Lt7fsle2pSKmz_KS6Pgq5FGy8Sso33K13HFfJZAYz5E69tTUFApgHMlK83S2JpYrFdgPSR1lGDe4l38sW0JLLtCOgvPrKnjlL7SQddLiIiC2sICWJmru4566g-OCE8/s320/zata-1156001.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqKfnroCHT6IRnVl_14ZGWb8BJb2N8krKW9jP9Umyy8ayFWWPQBnbSnF8UJKjL8zu4PknqmDtaA1E7L8gBl6RCk4Z62uEC4nk58J3ObJfkxlp-tKZwNzhweac4frXByOlBWZ2N9aRTUk/s1600-h/zata-1166001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqKfnroCHT6IRnVl_14ZGWb8BJb2N8krKW9jP9Umyy8ayFWWPQBnbSnF8UJKjL8zu4PknqmDtaA1E7L8gBl6RCk4Z62uEC4nk58J3ObJfkxlp-tKZwNzhweac4frXByOlBWZ2N9aRTUk/s320/zata-1166001.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> But there are a few little things about Zatanna’s look that aren’t working for me just yet.</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS1CsLRXNB7ttiAdmEDudFwpKZzW-zWp393AQGHc2c3xH6L3aZNo0PBp81dqW3CzAxKpVNzJdACIg3wwyIMpY46IgAYXvcRRmpEkWrlOmNn6nTddupGgF-36pPwXMS7NEUKKUb2W_olo/s1600-h/zata-1146001+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS1CsLRXNB7ttiAdmEDudFwpKZzW-zWp393AQGHc2c3xH6L3aZNo0PBp81dqW3CzAxKpVNzJdACIg3wwyIMpY46IgAYXvcRRmpEkWrlOmNn6nTddupGgF-36pPwXMS7NEUKKUb2W_olo/s640/zata-1146001+copy.jpg" width="220" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">In trying to make Zatanna’s costume more his own, Roux dresses Zatanna -- the most put-together fashion-wise hero in the DCU -- in a bit of a mish-mash of mismatched items. It’s as if she’d stolen pieces willy-nilly from the window of a vintage shop.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Part of it is a pet peeve of mine. I have with artists who are so used to drawing muscular men that when they clothe someone in a suit they have no idea how to fit it around the human body. Truthfully, it bugs me all the more because I share this fault in my own art. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">I should first say that </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Stephane Roux is hell of an artist. His characters are rendered with verve and loads of personality. His acting is extremely believable and his layouts are quirky but clear. And let’s face it, his Zatanna has exactly the kind of likeable, fun personality a character would need to be a successful stage performer and mystical buckler of swashes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">But Z’s costume is just… a little off. But why?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">I think part of it may be that Roux has dispensed with the tails, effectively turning the tailcoat into a bolero jacket. In short, Z was an entertainer before, now she’s Julie, our cruise director. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">That alone may not have bothered me except Roux has replaced the tails with a cape, I suppose to add an element of superheroic derring-do to the proceedings. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">But this is not just any cape. This cape has tuxedo-like tails at the bottom. Um, if he missed the tails so very much why add them here? </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">It’s exactly the kind of detail an artist hits on to make a costume more “his own”. But in this case, the effect feels a little forced and equally fails as both a superhero element and as a magicians cape for me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Now on to the vest. But is it a vest or a wide belt? In his effort to showcase Zatann’s ample bosom, Roux has drawn a vest that doesn’t fit her body in any way gravity would allow. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRC6iBn2UlRO4txQ2gFijludApd9qK_mMinT6EgqfNFJaxNdFrCYTwo0tshzuXOsr21sLA0ZhcNXnwki1-9e_X5cREEJ6UVMkt47ukOFr4AV0PwV58otmjnrOsMI-YLgsWBb7zYHvxPs/s1600-h/Zatanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRC6iBn2UlRO4txQ2gFijludApd9qK_mMinT6EgqfNFJaxNdFrCYTwo0tshzuXOsr21sLA0ZhcNXnwki1-9e_X5cREEJ6UVMkt47ukOFr4AV0PwV58otmjnrOsMI-YLgsWBb7zYHvxPs/s320/Zatanna.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Again, this isn’t entirely Roux's fault. Other artists have done the same thing and I’ve rarely felt it works. It looks silly to me. It’s such a simple thing to redraw the angle of the vest to go up instead of across. It would feel more realistic and in no way would interfere with the appreciation of Z’s boobs.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Roux has followed tradition kept the fishnets and dancewear covering her bottom and I can’t really blame him for the hooker boots. Again, past artists have tried the same thing. I came across another Brian Bolland version of our resident, backwards talking, "ssertsim fo cigam" that features the thigh-high boots and the same trick with the vest. I must confess Bolland makes it work. So perhaps I’m being too hard on poor Stephane.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">But there is one other, little thing. D</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">oes it bother anyone else that Z's top hat doesn't sit on her head correctly? </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">It floats two inches above her in most panels. Perhaps the rabbits she hides inside keep pushing it up.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPquRw7fDMlhEz1ebkoxQQGrulrYZBPT0C8bt-NAkJelpS0cRgM2zAk3JH4gx7o4zq_gLS-N_isaK_zny0OSPeN4qwWfBDSqnnyRjw7KcsGzQXeXdDYNVw4suP9zZ-wCCkDH9XN18wHU8/s1600-h/zata-1166001+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPquRw7fDMlhEz1ebkoxQQGrulrYZBPT0C8bt-NAkJelpS0cRgM2zAk3JH4gx7o4zq_gLS-N_isaK_zny0OSPeN4qwWfBDSqnnyRjw7KcsGzQXeXdDYNVw4suP9zZ-wCCkDH9XN18wHU8/s400/zata-1166001+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Sigh... On the other hand.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Truthfully, after studying the art to write up this rant, Roux’s version of Zatanna is growing on me every time I look at it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Trading the tails for a cape-with-tails seems silly but overall,Roux's layouts look bombastic and playful. He’s adding a lot of charm to Zatanna's face and is playing around with the new characters, who are all well-defined and fun looking. Check out this line-up of fabulous characters!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIVCT1zHWQetj4k40n-izbGUu401rKuCXUTUFJRA6QcFkLNNfHPO65iI0C7bCwfokLl1E0ko_-hYRDyRjNdTC6-cQC__-KdJkcLZq5bp2ToFGcqjac94fQaaPxD7UNfVOh5IHtEkEXJ0/s1600-h/zata-1156001+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIVCT1zHWQetj4k40n-izbGUu401rKuCXUTUFJRA6QcFkLNNfHPO65iI0C7bCwfokLl1E0ko_-hYRDyRjNdTC6-cQC__-KdJkcLZq5bp2ToFGcqjac94fQaaPxD7UNfVOh5IHtEkEXJ0/s400/zata-1156001+copy.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Now that my curmudgeonly fanboy complaints are all out in the open, the many good elements of Roux’s artwork are shining forward in sharp relief.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">And now I can’t wait to see the book, dang it!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHstFKzcVxNf1pwEtzYIX5TdQC5BDuNuyod1zZFICfsHI-yr_XUPnstyaLhKvDlGghZjpzMvIhMlBZsJu9iAyCE5JCK8nG9po1QJBnwoIMV7IDsYccOt_dFFoKKherKhMfgcSaM9ykqE/s1600-h/zatanna2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHstFKzcVxNf1pwEtzYIX5TdQC5BDuNuyod1zZFICfsHI-yr_XUPnstyaLhKvDlGghZjpzMvIhMlBZsJu9iAyCE5JCK8nG9po1QJBnwoIMV7IDsYccOt_dFFoKKherKhMfgcSaM9ykqE/s320/zatanna2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Darn. Serinda Swann is making me eat </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my words about Zatanna's thigh highs.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksjnvt-rXHX8XbIjNznpXpXZI2mDoX3SrxVYBi-sH9z8-HpESz9-uMnB9MzvvlnAn8uHgdCyouWfTMMWNu1tlkEHEeb03e5C7q8KAMXvYLYawnK5_AlBSbgZagWA_qk4ewe_fIHqZN0Y/s1600-h/1307961027_7bde371711_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksjnvt-rXHX8XbIjNznpXpXZI2mDoX3SrxVYBi-sH9z8-HpESz9-uMnB9MzvvlnAn8uHgdCyouWfTMMWNu1tlkEHEeb03e5C7q8KAMXvYLYawnK5_AlBSbgZagWA_qk4ewe_fIHqZN0Y/s400/1307961027_7bde371711_o.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But the classic look still </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">rocks the house.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, -webkit-fantasy; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">srevaeB pU!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, -webkit-fantasy; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div></span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933535846030725926.post-85087496308041446412010-02-09T08:54:00.000-08:002010-02-09T09:03:57.823-08:00Re-Evaluating Lois Lane<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf0886U-8U9I7Kj6IbTPAUKKCnrF8HJN5-en-IlJsNID7-umeZWNZQJYK-hREFSm7CIlm2eT68mzrI2Q3Dg-VSVpwYytVIGrJeN5SlnZpNz0O_Qln_YJB8Rfng3HvTYao9xck4EHJwz0/s1600-h/300_109010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf0886U-8U9I7Kj6IbTPAUKKCnrF8HJN5-en-IlJsNID7-umeZWNZQJYK-hREFSm7CIlm2eT68mzrI2Q3Dg-VSVpwYytVIGrJeN5SlnZpNz0O_Qln_YJB8Rfng3HvTYao9xck4EHJwz0/s320/300_109010.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For years now, comics have been quite notorious for handling female characters in very limited ways. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They’re most often used as an object of romantic desire or frustration, a fan-boy’s big-boobed, big butted pin-up girl dream, a damsel in distress, sidekick, or a female heroic reflection/copy of the main character created more for marketing and copyright protection than for characterization. Comic women have also been used as torture and murder victims to sufficiently motivate the male protagonist on his mission of righteousness.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But more and more, we’re starting to see female characters that are, in many cases, even richer than their male counterparts. For every ridiculous Marvel Divas series, we can at least look to Batwoman and Manhunter over at DC, Ms. Marvel over at Marvel Comics and pretty much every damn female character Gail Simone and Greg Rucka have ever written.</span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fan lightning rod Gail Simone’s current run on Wonder Woman is galvanizing new discussion and support of Wonder Woman among readers and fans. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what of that other grand dame of the comic world, the original girl reporter,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Showcase-Presents-Superman-Family-Vol/dp/1401207871?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lois Lane</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1401207871" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years, I was working on comic book character entries for a project that hasn’t materialized. I tried to sum up Lois Lane for comic book insiders and out alike thusly:</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LOIS LANE</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Created by</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First Appearance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Action Comics #1, DC Comics, 1938.</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notable Appearances:</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 137 issues of her own DC Comics title from 1958 to 1974.</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alias/Nicknames:</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Snoop, Superman’s Girlfriend, Mrs. Clark Kent.</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Powers:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lois’ main power was a highly developed nose for news, a tendency to get into dangerous situations only Superman could get her out of, and a complete inability to recognize the man she loved whenever he donned bifocals. The modern version was trained as a girl in hand-to-hand combat, firearms and knife fighting by her soldier father and is a notoriously bad speller.</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comments:</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Inspired by the snappy, hard-working, girl reporter archetype prevalent in thoroughly modern movies of the thirties and visually based on the future Mrs. Jerry Siegel, Lois Lane was created to be a perfect foil for Superman. Lois was Siegel and Shuster’s revenge on all the glamorous girls who had ignored them in High School. Despite being smart and independent, Lois couldn’t see that everything she ever wanted in a man was typing away at the desk next to her in the form of nebbish rival reporter, Clark Kent. Over the course of the forties and fifties, Lois’ role was reduced to plotting elaborate schemes to prove Clark Kent and Superman were one and the same, and fantasizing about married life as Mrs. Superman. In the 70’s, new attitudes toward women helped Lois develop as an individual in her own right and she finally married her Man of Steel in 1996. The feisty character has finally matured into a fully developed character devoted to, and independent from, her super husband. </span></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a solid enough overview but there’s so much more to the character that I had to leave out. Lois’ character was created over almost eighty years ago but the initial, essential ingredients of her character have remained relatively consistent. A tough, nonsense reporter with a highly developed sense of justice and intense competitive drive.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, she was wish fulfillment for the male creators and their male readers … every shy, awkward male in existence wanted to believe someone as dynamic and beautiful as Lois would love them if she could see the superman they really were on the inside. I lucked into that very situation with my own wife so it can be done boys!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Seigel and Shuster were also smart enough to make Lois a force all on her own, much like the fast-talking, driven female character they saw on the silver screen of the thirties. I suspect in those years she resonated with her female readership as well.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years as Superman went from anti-authoritarian shit-disturber to defender of the status quo, Lois also became a sort of Lucille Ball of the comics. Trying to uncover Superman's identity and force him to overcome his true weakness -- emotional commitment. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82db1w9czN0Mv6WRnNeA0-E9rYfUlU7W0aF7vmf7Sisq7gzRGS59o-IgaJd-49pSOTdxePbe_gJmHXAN2m-T_xU5YTXlReY21PkGu4p2zVfRTQU7V3a1ASgaM_t2h_BkJXZtOqL8TPkY/s1600-h/300px-Lois_Lane_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82db1w9czN0Mv6WRnNeA0-E9rYfUlU7W0aF7vmf7Sisq7gzRGS59o-IgaJd-49pSOTdxePbe_gJmHXAN2m-T_xU5YTXlReY21PkGu4p2zVfRTQU7V3a1ASgaM_t2h_BkJXZtOqL8TPkY/s320/300px-Lois_Lane_13.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">The stories always placed blame for Lois' embarrassing comeuppances on her inquisitiveness and often, on her "femaleness" itself! But the truth of the matter was, like so many intelligent, independent women before her, Lois Lane's Kryptonian boyfriend was a dick.</span></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NOSwP50vmlSrfqIee0erBd8azlaoYchYhWTmQwqb14vxsFeYRPztB4ifKb_0bTnvgNWlZicx4Xhtv92S2HmnCjet6r4Kq-O7GL6xldotWEptmDozpNf-sHR7XGk0LU1c4Z4S0cIv_34/s1600-h/1296_4_071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NOSwP50vmlSrfqIee0erBd8azlaoYchYhWTmQwqb14vxsFeYRPztB4ifKb_0bTnvgNWlZicx4Xhtv92S2HmnCjet6r4Kq-O7GL6xldotWEptmDozpNf-sHR7XGk0LU1c4Z4S0cIv_34/s320/1296_4_071.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Blackmailing dick.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbxIZH4wwMUyrSq576WCIncBrr6O2jEfMALK4o5HS72EY_E6tNcbBu7H-fcNcmkWrEIb6tCDdBzCLLlnij4Ace2Nmed4x_dyShFeHifkLxjGinMdZqn5JYevMBFvskZ_YISxlSGRD-Ck/s1600-h/116_4_210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbxIZH4wwMUyrSq576WCIncBrr6O2jEfMALK4o5HS72EY_E6tNcbBu7H-fcNcmkWrEIb6tCDdBzCLLlnij4Ace2Nmed4x_dyShFeHifkLxjGinMdZqn5JYevMBFvskZ_YISxlSGRD-Ck/s320/116_4_210.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Cruel prankster dick.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhu_pGzpDAsgyn6Lde4Fij_2-P3VvHfh24qSHAA64mddJJHzSs7HatrPND1dQf4KVubEVyure07fEDMfKUIvXRMXOBDrGPiyyHx0OhwsJZDZOBzDEpBPENEIdHPIXDKztHmAJcgPU2O9g/s1600-h/300px-Lois_Lane_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhu_pGzpDAsgyn6Lde4Fij_2-P3VvHfh24qSHAA64mddJJHzSs7HatrPND1dQf4KVubEVyure07fEDMfKUIvXRMXOBDrGPiyyHx0OhwsJZDZOBzDEpBPENEIdHPIXDKztHmAJcgPU2O9g/s320/300px-Lois_Lane_30.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Married, cheating dick.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6R4iVb6JKsBOFQe3JO4rC_ipLvxeLqw1OCeyPRfHn_KyWFydv2h5gURO4vejMLxzvQgeUad-SYhjt0NqMJceoq_o_4g8r1e7CanB0t0rQddlr8RzH4KpX4lCyhp45g_QbAqjVl2C2sA/s1600-h/300px-Lois_Lane_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6R4iVb6JKsBOFQe3JO4rC_ipLvxeLqw1OCeyPRfHn_KyWFydv2h5gURO4vejMLxzvQgeUad-SYhjt0NqMJceoq_o_4g8r1e7CanB0t0rQddlr8RzH4KpX4lCyhp45g_QbAqjVl2C2sA/s320/300px-Lois_Lane_25.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Or just your everyday, gaslighting, anything </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">to humiliate my loved ones kind of dick. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Why the Popemobile? Couldn't you just put her </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">on a pedestal like the rest of us, Superdick?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">(Images coutesy of </span></i><a href="http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:supermans-wall-safe&catid=28:superdickery&Itemid=54"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>www.superdickery.com</i></span></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">)</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Some of the best discussions on what makes iconic, female characters work has been happening these last few weeks over at Kelly Thompson's new</span> </span></span><a href="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/category/she-has-no-head/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She Has No Head</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">column at</span> </span></span><a href="http://Comicbookresources.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Comicbookresources.com</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">. Her post,</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/25/she-has-no-head-giving-lois-lane-a-second-look-for-the-first-time/comment-page-3/#comment-767358"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Giving Lois a Second Look, For the First Time</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">and the ensuing comments are one of the best discussions regarding the quintessential lady journalist I've ever read.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIPA-bfgoelFVspDrZYv_I2bXXqRclERJnK6TGdJgdORKnbfLPqqNHPHmdF-Dol0RvwbTWD9U62igm9VOSrCkMt_KEq8moYtE-JKxwtbW9yAxBQw5e6W7H9vyFgTs-ekH3nfPTYjaszs/s1600-h/Lois-Lane-Covers-620x462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIPA-bfgoelFVspDrZYv_I2bXXqRclERJnK6TGdJgdORKnbfLPqqNHPHmdF-Dol0RvwbTWD9U62igm9VOSrCkMt_KEq8moYtE-JKxwtbW9yAxBQw5e6W7H9vyFgTs-ekH3nfPTYjaszs/s320/Lois-Lane-Covers-620x462.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thompson starts by admitting she think much of Lois until she read Mindy Newell’s pre-Crisis Lois Lane miniseries </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.comics.org/series/3158/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When It Rains, God Is Crying</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span></i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Newell attempted to portray a strong, skilled reporter who is so affected by the story she’s working on (missing children) that she begins to push away her friends and colleagues. </span></span></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This series portrayed a Lois who had seen a lot but seems to have been caught at a particularly vulnerable point emotionally. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lois’ sense that she’s discovering a horrifying problem problem too late to make a real difference makes her work all the harder to break the story and find some resolution to a problem she ultimately can never solve. With gorgeous Grey Morrow art (and sadly, lackluster coloring), this is a comic tale with intensely personal stakes.</span></span></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V1Wh5BmYUcrdhWImG8oW3t-J5zjf8O8_MxshUP9uTOJgJfk_h9eBSVbWbFZTBGh7vPsXbU-GXiPPG7CD7kJR6mjfxrG9FgfEwX_VUcZWl3W_Dw7jGrsoOjxHU35Tst-0AUsCMXw1BXI/s1600-h/LL-Page-3-620x975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V1Wh5BmYUcrdhWImG8oW3t-J5zjf8O8_MxshUP9uTOJgJfk_h9eBSVbWbFZTBGh7vPsXbU-GXiPPG7CD7kJR6mjfxrG9FgfEwX_VUcZWl3W_Dw7jGrsoOjxHU35Tst-0AUsCMXw1BXI/s320/LL-Page-3-620x975.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The timing of Newell’s mini-series was unfortunate. It came right before John Byrne’s famous reboot of the entire Superman franchise when all Man of Steel decisions had to pass through him. But it still stands as a testament to what a writer can do when they take the essential elements of a character and make a real effort to reflect them realistically. You don't have to like this Lois. But you can definitely admire and recognize her.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the real fun begins, as always, in the comments section below the post. </span></span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This party turned into a lively, passionate discussion of Lois Lane, both pro and con.</span></span></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even more impressive, people also managed to be relatively respectful and articulate even when things took on a personal, somewhat defensive tinge. I love when restraint, insight and a real exchange of ideas rule the day. When things devolve into mudslinging I click away pretty quickly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQVUtaHJhQclu4kPZ25K3kgDDTaSTor4_2OOt8FcuIivwCOhLrUIWD0DjusGuaG61c0RWNUAWnibnuj7Xm-OTBEjUTk6WSMtdwdKEQA0SxjMtIf4hjS8y_sAwpYRs9BH0kZa05dYWqCA/s1600-h/lois_lane-copy-794672.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQVUtaHJhQclu4kPZ25K3kgDDTaSTor4_2OOt8FcuIivwCOhLrUIWD0DjusGuaG61c0RWNUAWnibnuj7Xm-OTBEjUTk6WSMtdwdKEQA0SxjMtIf4hjS8y_sAwpYRs9BH0kZa05dYWqCA/s320/lois_lane-copy-794672.png" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some posters revealed they too have never liked Lois nor believed Superman would find her attractive but a posting from </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blackjak</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> countered that idea.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“…it comes down, yet again, to needing to have a good writer attached to the book that she’s in. A writer who knows how to portray her well and write scenes that actually involve her as a character rather than as a supporting actor with the same amount (or less) “screentime” as Perry White or Jimmy Olsen…”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poster </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rene </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">agreed, insisting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Lois is so iconic that it’s too easy for her to become uninteresting, more of a symbol than a person.”</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> For </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rene,</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Clark Kent, small town boy, can’t help but be attracted to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“cosmopolitan, cynical, passionate, worldy”</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Lois because</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “she challenges him”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. He adds, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Either from Kansas or Krypton, Superman springs from the world of the past; Lois Lane is a woman for today.”</span></span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thompson</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> agreed with </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rene</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and adds her own level to his theory....</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lois is also incredibly human...so she would not only represent the modern, cosmopolitan, progressive life he is seeking when he leaves Smallville, but she is also human and helps him tie himself to his humanity...”</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Micheal P</span></span></span></i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> then lamented, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing with Lois is, there as many different versions of her as there are of Superman… As a result, she can be all over the map, while also remaining frustratingly similar and flawed in a number of versions (again, just like Superman).”</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One interesting conceit of Newell’s Lois was discussed at length. The intriguing and perfectly logical idea that Lois knows Clark is Superman and plays along, even when it costs her personally and causes unneeded frustration. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This makes compete sense to me. Lois is a sharpie and I too find it hard to believe she’s got such huge blinders on regarding Clark and Superman. The idea that she’s laying along adds an intriguing level to the proceedings. And at the time of Newell’s mini-series, Clark and Lois were broken and he was seeing old flame Lana Lang, his co-anchor on the news. The fact that Lois can barely tolerate his nudge and winking approach to his secret ID adds emotional fuel to the fire.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, driven people sometimes see only what they want to see, right? Poster </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Omar KArindu, with the power of SUPER-hypocrisy!</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> reminded everyone that Jerry Siegel did plan on Lois uncovering Superman’s identity early on (in the infamous </span><a href="http://superman.nu/k-metal/splash.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K-Metal From Krypton</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> story that would have first introduced Kryptonite if DC Comics had published it. The idea eventually made its debut on the popular </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Radio-Smithsonian-Historical-Performances/dp/B000009NB9?ie=UTF8&tag=comicanuck-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Superman radio show</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=comicanuck-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000009NB9" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poster Dean (and one of the most passionate Superman boosters involved in the discussion) points to the first season of the Superman television show as an example of how effective that approach can be.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Watch "Night of Terror" from the first season of ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN sometime. It is pretty apparent in that story Lois knows exactly who Clark really is. Apparently, that was a convention from the radio show… “</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMpcVgyVCgd82y5QjngpWNvWULsAkwmXAc-DrtOaaQUJ6Rxwy7tfVXNa9f6P-rJMWI1FrthCsSXL2pcr9bLgjdupDKvybE1gNhgQFo2p2mt7YkxMVGe3WNbaOwBEz5wvEHvny8yqWJzs/s1600-h/lois_lane.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMpcVgyVCgd82y5QjngpWNvWULsAkwmXAc-DrtOaaQUJ6Rxwy7tfVXNa9f6P-rJMWI1FrthCsSXL2pcr9bLgjdupDKvybE1gNhgQFo2p2mt7YkxMVGe3WNbaOwBEz5wvEHvny8yqWJzs/s320/lois_lane.gif" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“…The double identity business became a simple metaphor under Weisinger for Lois' desire for commitment from her boyfriend and Superman's reluctance to give it. Lois saw past the glasses, but Clark lied to her anyway. Her belief was that if only she could catch him, then he would change and marry her. I don't know about you, but I know actual human beings that think an awful lot like that.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Points like this led to numerous deviations from the main topic, like whether Clark’s glasses had become an insulting comic idea or were still a valid part of the Superman mythos. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a sometime cartoonist myself, I suspect originally it was to create a clear visual distinction between Superman and Clark. Superman had tights, a cape and a spit curl. Clark had a suit, tie and glasses. It was a common trope in films, comic strips and stage comedies of the time to have someone mousy (male or female) remove their glasses and revealing a somehow more attractive version of themselves.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many of these simple questions start out with simple answers but when a character is published for over eighty years, even simple questions grow more complicated with each passing year.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other fun tangents included:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-The reasons the Atom can divorce Jean Loring while Superman can’t divorce Lois.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Superman, a super-evolved being from a super-evolved planet, is stuck on Earth with less evolved people and therefore has few appropriate potential life-mates. </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-The idea that in serialized entertainment like Superman comics married couples are only interesting when there is conflict in the marriage. I agree with that statement but Zor-El of Argo suggest that the only conflicts on such soap operas are affairs and that “happily married couples are boring to those of us watching from the outside.” I disagree with that idea along with the next poster ChrisM.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The examples Zor-El cites (televised soap operas) may indeed go dip mainly in that limited well, but the truth is even a successful marriage is dynamic and fluid. As different life issues and challenges arise the couple must adapt anew and sometimes that pulls them a little apart and other times they band together. Chris suggests professional competition and examples awkward relations with in-laws as two possible romantic obstacles.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it would be more accurate to suggest that most writers aren’t interested in portraying that sort of relationship, preferring instead to continually use the soap opera tropes Zor El cites. It’s just too much work to explore real characters when you can ramp up the drama instantly with betrayal. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Superman digs Lois because she’s a better reporter. Poster Dean scored again, explaining:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“However, (as Mark Waid once pointed out in a podcast with Marv Wolfman) none of that really translates to your chosen profession. Typing really fast does not help your prose. Being able to lift a tank does not help you convince a source to go on record.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is just in this one context, there is someone better than you are: Lois Lane. As mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, you reach up for the first time in your life and she rejects you. To me, it is an inversion of the Luthor story. Luthor sees someone above him and feels hate. Superman sees someone above him and feels love.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve gone on enough. Suffice it to say, I was delighted to find myself re-evaluating my thoughts regarding Lois Lane numerous times as I read through this article and the forum. Check it out for yourself at </span><a href="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/25/she-has-no-head-giving-lois-lane-a-second-look-for-the-first-time/comment-page-3/#comment-767358"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giving Lois Lane a Second Look, For The First Time</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll let poster </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ChrisM</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> have the last word on the topic. Though Chris professes to never have especially liked Lois Lane, he nonetheless sums up the entire conversation nicely:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I'm agnostic as to whether it was a good idea to marry her and Clark. But that's all water under the bridge; she exists; they're married; and any reasonably talented creative writer *should* be able to tell interesting stories about her in that context. I've seen it happen, so excuses to the contrary are unconvincing.”</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here, here! Long live Lois Lane!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(And thank you, Kelly)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up, Kelly can't stay away from the icons. A quick peek at Wonder Woman!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, -webkit-fantasy; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Beavers Up!</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, -webkit-fantasy; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s1600-h/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: #cc0000; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752267019314082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQJ140KGFi6F9Il-VeyXKbobG4OqueB2E55WFbCleWs6wuX8iK7sI5b1Se89AJt_hIPoXYcRV_mz28_pqdZ_G-3I5yBr3yPhL76G4bggVAttFFnZVKlq0a04a-WVKPw-jraaATU2LNaU/s400/MAPLE_LEAF.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; height: 28px; width: 30px;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #804000; font-family: georgia, Times, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
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</span>Gorillamydreamzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004614151140587409noreply@blogger.com4