'Best of TBH Politoons'
Cory!! Strode
Best Selling Graphic Novels
This is a quick run-down of the ten best selling graphic novels in comic book stores for the month of July!
1 FABLES VOL 7 ARABIAN NIGHTS & DAYS TP (MR) $14.99 DC 10,732Fables is a simple idea: What if the characters from Fairy Tales really existed and lived in our world? This idea could be very cutesy and cloying, or it could be overwhelmingly dark and goth-y, but Bill Willingham is a good enough writer that he makes it more than I expected. This is the 7th volume of the series, and while it's possible to figure out who's who and what is going on, it doesn't have the same impact as if the reader knows the back story that fills in the gaps. Mildly recommended for new readers.
2 HALO GRAPHIC NOVEL HC (MR) $24.99 MAR 10,528It sold 10K in comic shops, but announced that they had sold out of the first printing, which came in at a little over 100,000 copies. As a fan of the video game, the art is a bit too abstract for me, but the stories fill in back story on the highly complicated Science Fiction story that the video games tell. If you are a person who played Halo, this is a must-buy, but it's not written for people who don't know the world the stories are set in.
3 NEW AVENGERS VOL 2 SENTRY TP $14.99 MAR 7,053The Avengers has been a huge seller for Marvel since it was relaunched a couple of years ago, but they've been much slower than other Marvel books at putting out collections. This story has the Biggest Heroes in the Marvel universe dealing with the return of Sentry, which was a very powerful, but very obscure character from about five years ago. The story doesn't rely on history, but instead is a great introduction to all of the characters, has crisp, well-written dialog and great art. Highly recommended for people who want to read about super-heroes.
4 TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE VOL 7 TP $12.99 WIZ 6,371My favorite book of the month, this series is a lot like "Robot Chicken", using action figures for short (5 - 10 page) humor stories. It's pure silliness, mixing anyone who has ever had an action figure with juvenile jokes. If you like Cartoon Network's "Robot Chicken", this is where they got their inspiration for that series. Highly recommended.
5 TEEN TITANS VOL 5 LIFE & DEATH TP $14.99 DC 5,837Teen Titans is one of those books that I don't understand why it's as popular as it is. It's pretty much a mediocre super-hero team comic, with characters that keep me interested enough to keep reading, but not interested enough to recommend. And no, it's not like that cartoon in any way, so if you have kids who want to read about that, you should look for the "Teen Titans Go" books.
6 SUPERMAN BATMAN VOL 4 VENGEANCE HC $19.99 DC 5,724This book is a complete mess from start to finish. It's a story that has a lot of different versions of Batman and Superman, assumes you've been reading about the two characters for the last 30 years, and on top of that, jumps around in time like Pulp Fiction. I've been reading comics since the 70's and I couldn't make heads or tails out of the middle of the story.
7 SUPERMAN INFINITE CRISIS TP $12.99 DC 5,338As the "Infinite Crisis" story was being printed, Superman's three comics crossed over into it, telling parts of the story that there wasn't enough space in that 7 issue story. This is a great companion to the Infinite Crisis story, but since that hasn't been printed as a trade paperback yet.
8 FRUITS BASKET VOL 14 GN (Of 19) $9.99 TKP 4,463The best selling translated Japanese comic, a story aimed at teen aged girls. Since I'm not a teen aged girl, I don't know how good it is.
9 SUPERMAN RETURNS MOVIE & MORE TALES OF THE MAN OF STEEL $12.99 DC 4,429Most comics adaptations are a waste of time, in my mind. They tell the story of the movie in comics form, and I'd rather just wait for the DVD if I want to see the story again. In this book, they reprint a few other stories that have a tangential connection to the movie, but it still ends up being the story of the movie with some old random Superman comics. There are better Superman trades out there.
10 SHOWCASE PRESENTS ELONGATED MAN VOL 1 TP $16.99 DC 4,350The "Showcase" line is a series of thick (over 500 pages) trade paperbacks reprinting older comics in black and white. DC has been putting them out at a fast pace this year, and while they are doing ones for Batman and Superman, the ones that have been more interesting are the ones like this, focusing on minor characters that I know little about. Elongated Man could have been a Plastic Man ripoff, but instead it used a character with the same powers and put him in a series of Domestic Mystery stories. This isn't a book you'd sit down at read all at once, but more like a story here and there, and they are quick mysteries. Mildly recommended, as long as the reader remembers they were backup stories in old Batman comics in the 60's, so they will be dated.
JD Recommends
'Little Miss Sunshine'
THE BEST FILM SO FAR THIS YEAR
Little Miss Sunshine
RUN, DON'T WALK TO YOUR NEAREST WHATEVER PLEX AND ENJOY ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL FILMS IN YEARS. ABIGAIL BRESLIN IS THIS GENERATION'S SHIRLEY TEMPLE. SHE IS THE SUN THAT THE REST OF THESE FINE ACTORS REVOLVE AROUND.
Family turmoil a joy ride for audience: SO FOR TWO HOURS JUST SIT DOWN AND PRETEND THAT THIS IS THE REAL WORLD. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.
~ JD
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Jim Hightower: Where Bush's Arrogance Has Taken Us (Hightower Lowdown. Posted on AlterNet.org)
An illegal war, a long list of eroded rights, and a country run by and for the benefit of corporate campaign donors -- all courtesy of the imperial presidency.
Lionel Shriver: Why worry about terrorist attacks? (guardian.co.uk)
You are much more likely to die from smoking or be killed in a car crash
Steve Chapman: When will Bush admit the obvious about Iraq? (Chicago Tribune)
President Bush is confident of ultimate success in Iraq, and he is patiently waiting for its achievement. I'm certain that unicorns exist, and I'm willing to hang around till they show up in my yard. We may both be deluded, but my delusion is a good deal less costly than his.
Andrew Tobias: The Electric Car in Your Future (andrewtobias.com)
... Mark Anderson gave me permission to cut and paste this fascinating piece from his Strategic News Service web site. I don't understand all the energy conversion factors (I thought rich women wore mega joules), but the gist is pretty clear and very cool. If only Ford had been thinking this way, they could be hiring 20,000 employees.
Tracie McMillan: Welfare Reform's Silver Lining (huffingtonpost.com)
The dominant narrative of poverty has been transformed from a tale of "handouts" to one of struggling workers.
Michael Moore Film Project Rattles Health Care Giants (adage.com)
The health-care industry is worried sick over "Sicko." Few details have emerged about the 2007 documentary from Michael Moore, the filmmaker who ripped apart Detroit automakers with "Roger and Me" and now has his sights set on the $1.5 trillion pharmaceutical and health-care industry. But it's still enough to mobilize health-care trade groups who are trying to discredit the film.
Extreme dining (guardian.co.uk)
In the wake of Super Size Me, it looked as if the fast-food giants were embracing healthy eating, with salads appearing on every menu. But that's all over. The big chains in the US are now pushing 'indulgent offerings': huge stacks of meat, oozing with grease - and not a vegetable in sight. Oliver Burkeman reports.
'Naomi's is hideous' (guardian.co.uk)
Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and J-Lo are among the many stars who have launched their own fragrances. Now the Beckhams are nuzzling in on the market with his and hers scents. But what does one of the world's top perfumers make of celebrity smells? Laura Barton takes notes as he sniffs out the best - and the worst.
Stephen Colbert's Web Dominance: How "The Colbert Report" Is Fast Becoming The Leader In Web-TV Integration (huffingtonpost.com)
The people behind "The Colbert Report" may be the smartest minds in televison: While everyone else frets about YouTube, web TV, and platform integration Stephen Colbert & Co are already galvanizing the online to action and integrating fan content into the show, to hilarious effect. It is, in a word, freaking brilliant.
Annalee Newitz: Snakes in Vain (AlterNet.org)
'Snakes on a Plane' became an Internet geek phenom for the same reasons that the Hamster Dance did: it was weird, stupid and fun.
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
No new flags.
Goes Racist
'Survivor'
Get ready for a segregated "Survivor." Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.
The announcement was made on CBS' Early Show. Host Jeff Probst says the idea "actually came from the criticism that 'Survivor' was not ethnically diverse enough." He says the twist fits in perfectly with what "Survivor" does, saying the show is "a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment." Probst says contestants had mixed reactions to the racial divisions.
This time the new Survivors are stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific. The castaways include a police officer, a heavy metal guitarist, an attorney and a nail salon manager. The new season of Survivor debuts September 14th.
'Survivor'
Accidental BBC Star Inspiration For Film
Guy Goma
The Guy who became an Internet sensation after being thrust into a live BBC interview has struck a deal with a Hollywood film producer.
Guy Goma, who was mistakenly interviewed as a technology expert on a live broadcast in May, will be the inspiration for a fictional character in a yet-to-be-written film, filmmaker Allison Rosenzweig said this week.
The story of the unemployed computer technician turned unexpected star inspired Rosenzweig to plan a movie featuring the comical mistake.
Guy Goma
Series Picked Up
USA Network
USA Network has picked up the sci-fi series "The 4400" for a fourth season.
The batch of 13 episodes will begin production in Vancouver early next year for a summer 2007 run.
USA's hit comedy drama "Monk" already has a deal in place to return next summer for a sixth season, while a second-season pickup for the rookie dramedy "Psych" is said to be imminent. No decision has been made on the future of "4400's" companion, the veteran sci-fi drama "The Dead Zone."
USA Network
Hospital News
Cindy Sheehan
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan was recovering Wednesday at Providence Health Center in Waco after undergoing a hysterectomy on Tuesday.
Sheehan, 49, of Vacaville, Calif., is expected to remain in the hospital for several days before she rejoins the peace vigil near the president's Central Texas ranch.
The protest continues through Sept. 3, although Mr. Bush left Central Texas earlier this month, while Sheehan was in the same hospital for treatment of exhaustion, dehydration and to undergo gynecological tests.
Cindy Sheehan
School Board Seeks To Remove Books - Again
'Vamos a Cuba'
The Miami-Dade County School District voted Tuesday to press ahead with its effort to remove a children's book on life in Cuba from its school libraries.
The board voted 5-2 to appeal a federal judge's temporary order barring the district from removing the children's book, along with 23 others in the series.
The district wants to remove "Vamos a Cuba" ("A Visit to Cuba") following a parent's complaint that it failed to accurately depict the reality of life under Cuba's communist government.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sued to keep the books on the shelf, arguing that they were generally factual, and that the board should add books to its collection, rather than removing those it disagreed with.
'Vamos a Cuba'
Joins NBC News
Dr. Nancy Snyderman
Dr. Nancy Snyderman, a former ABC News medical correspondent who spent the past four years in the corporate world, is returning to the airwaves as NBC News' chief medical editor, the network told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Snyderman will report for broadcast-news programming as well as MSNBC's cable and Web site outlets, NBC News radio and even NBC Mobile and the iVillage Web site. She begins in September.
From 1987 to 2002, Snyderman was a medical correspondent for ABC News, where she also served as a "Good Morning America" substitute co-host. Last year she stepped back in to help ABC cover the Asian tsunami disaster and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman
Augusta Arena Renamed
James Brown
Musicians performing in the hometown of James Brown may soon be getting a reminder that they're in the stomping grounds of the Godfather of Soul.
The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted Tuesday to rename the venue's 8,500-seat arena the James Brown Arena.
Augusta also has erected a statue and named a street and music festival in his honor. The name change is pending legal research to verify that the board has the authority to rename the facility.
James Brown
Osama's Dream Date
Whitney Houston
Al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden was obsessed with singer Whitney Houston and wanted to marry her, a new book claims.
Kola Boof, a Sudanese poet and novelist who says she was kept against her will as the terror boss's mistress in 1996, writes in her autobiography that he wanted to give the star a mansion and make her one of his wives.
"He told me that Whitney Houston was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen," Boof claims in Diary of a Lost Girl, excerpts of which are published in Harper's magazine.
Bin Laden would speak constantly about "how beautiful she (Houston) is, what a nice smile she has, how truly Islamic she is but is just brainwashed by American culture and by her husband - Bobby Brown, whom Osama talked about having killed, as if it were normal to have women's husbands killed."
Whitney Houston
Captured Conquistadors
Aztecs
Skeletons found at an unearthed site in Mexico show Aztecs captured, ritually sacrificed and partially ate several hundred people traveling with invading Spanish forces in 1520.
Skulls and bones from the Tecuaque archaeological site near Mexico City show about 550 victims had their hearts ripped out by Aztec priests in ritual offerings, and were dismembered or had their bones boiled or scraped clean, experts say.
The findings support accounts of Aztecs capturing and killing a caravan of Spanish conquistadors and local men, women and children traveling with them in revenge for the murder of Cacamatzin, king of the Aztec empire's No. 2 city of Texcoco.
Experts say the discovery proves some Aztecs did resist the conquistadors, led by explorer Hernan Cortes, before the Spaniards attacked the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City.
Aztecs
Moo With Regional Accents
Cows
Cows moo with a regional accent, according to their farmers.
Dairy farmers in Somerset noticed a local twang to the sounds made by their animals, and experts confirmed that different herds made different sounds.
John Wells, Professor of Phonetics at the University of London, said: "This phenomena is well attested in birds. You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country.
The phenomenon was noticed by members of the West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers group, who put it down to the close bond between farmer and cow.
Cows
In Memory
Bruce Gary
Bruce Gary, the rock drummer who worked with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Stephen Stills but is best known as The Knack's original drummer on "My Sharona," has died. He was 54.
Gary died Tuesday at Tarzana Medical Center, said Guy McCain, publicist for The Knack's lead singer Doug Fieger. The cause of death wasn't disclosed, McCain said Wednesday.
Besides Harrison, Dylan and Stills, he recorded with Cream's Jack Bruce, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Bette Midler, Yoko Ono, Harry Nilsson and The Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger, according to the Web site www.brucegary.com .
He also co-produced a series of posthumous releases from Jimi Hendrix, including the "Blues" compilation.
Gary also produced the CD of drum samples "Bruce Gary's Drum Vocabulary." The drum loops are popular in professional and home recording studios where they can be added to any song.
Bruce Gary
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