Spider-Man, Tiny Titans, Wolverine, Lightning and More!!!

Hello all in the Land of Blog!!!!! (I don't know why but Blogger decided to make my whole post in BOLD) It's Darth Bill with a bunch of stuff to cover, so let's go!!!!!

First we have some additional comments on "The Lightning Thief" movie:

From Nannah V: "I took my two grandsons to see this movie. Jeff is almost 11 and Bobby is 6. They loved it! Now they want to read the book! They are also excited about the two movies they saw intros for. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" & "The the Last Airbender". Jeff has read all of the Wimpy kid books and they are very big fans of the Airbender cartoon. Personally I agree, I wish the actors looked younger. I have a hard time believing that they were 13. They looked more like 16."

From Mrs. Quinn: "You guys hit most of my beefs with the movie: that Percy was 15 instead of 13, and that the consequent love interest story was more pronounced (really not in the book); that it just wasn't as funny, with Percy being rather flat in the movie and flat-out-funny in the books; that there were lots of changes from the book. I was really hoping for a closer rendering of the book, because its really a great one. I'm concerned that they may not make future movies, just because the story lines in book 1 were truncated, especially the parts that are important for the future movies! But if the money's there, they probably will... STILL, very worth seeing and a fun action flick. AND if it gets kids to read the book(s) - which we already have - then it's all good."

From Anyomous : "It left out my favorite part with echidna and the chimera.
giant fan of the books."

Okay now for some ultra cool Graphic Novel and Comic Reviews:

Wolverine First Class: Class Action by Peter David, Ronan Cliquet, et. al - This Graphic Novel collects issues 17-21 of the comic series. It is written by one of my all time favorite comic writers Peter David and the art work by Ronan Cliquet, Francis Portela, Dennis Calero and Scott Koblish is just awesome!!!! The first story deals with the present meeting the now as Wolverine confronts a part of his past and must determine if the son of an old enemy is on the side of the angels or devils (of course Kitty Pride is there to help him along the way). The second story deals with one of my all time favorite mutants Madrox - The Multiple Man. It gets into the pretty intense issue of what constitutes a person and their right to exist. The next couple of stories have Kitty and Wolvie taking on the alien invading Skrulls and The Super Skrull with the help of Captain Marvel. The last story has Kitty going through a very intense session in The Danger Room. This was really a fun and interesting read. Two Thumbs Up!!!!!

Tiny Titans: Sidekickin' It, Adventures in Awesomeness and Welcome to The Treehouse by Art Baltazar & Franco - Hey guys I know these Graphic Novels on the surface appear to be intended for younger kids, but this is really a great and funny comic collection for all ages (that includes adults also - I laughed myself silly with these GNs). The GN's collect issues 1-6 (Welcome to The Treehouse), 7-12 (Adventures in Awesomeness) and 13-18 (Sidekickin' It) of the comic book series. See you favorite Teen Titans (Robin, Starfire, Raven, Kid Flash, Beast Boy, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, Cyborg, Speedy and more) as kids getting into really hilarious situations at Sidekick City Elementary School or at their Titan Meetings that more often than not get them in trouble with Principle Deathstroke or Bat-Man's Butler Alfred. I'm serious guys, give these GNs a chance. You will not be sorry you did!!!!!!!!!!!!! Titans, Aw Yeah!!!!!!

Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man, Issue 59 by Paul Tobin and Ben Dewey - I know not to long ago I wrote about this comic, but I just finished issue 59 and I got to tell you this comic is sizzling hot right now. This book is taking everything that is great about the character and pressing the gas petal full throttle. The issue starts off with Peter talking to the mutant Chat, who knows he is Spider-Man, thanks to the not-so-nice Emmy Frost (a mutant mind reader and physic). They are trying to work out their boyfriend/girlfriend problems (only thing is that Chat is still keeping secrets that she needs to tell Peter). They find out quickly they are being spied on and the chase is on. Spider-Man first confronts part of the Torino Mob Family, then talks to Captain Stacy (a policeman who also knows Peter is Spider-Man) and finds out that the Torino Family has hired a professional hit man to take him out (Bullseye no less). That night before he goes to bed he notices he is being spied on again and goes on the offensive. The only problem, he's taking on the X-Men (Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, Banshee and Cyclops). After a huge fight due to a simple misunderstanding, Chat enters the scene and it turns out the X-Men where searching for a mutant they thought was Spider-Man. Turns out the mutant is Chat (ability to talk to animals). Things get stranger from there, so either come by the library to read this comic or buy it at my favorite Comic Shop :Heroes Aren't Hard to Find. Nuff Said!!!!!!

Finally I just wanted to give a shout out about Batman-The Brave and The Bold GN which collects issues 1-6 of the comic series and features Batman teaming up with other heroes (such as Power Girl, Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Shazam and Kid Eternity) against many different villians (Lex Luthor, The Thinker, The Ultra-Humanite, Dr. Cyber, The Queen of Fables and General Immortus). Great Stuff!!!!!!






Until next time, peace all,

Bill

Of Ducks and Spiders and Suspects

Well all it appears the sacred shelf of "Boys Reading" has been assaulted. As a Librarian and a Sith Lord, I must seek out and provide justice to the vile villain who would perform such an act. An act so incredibly evvvviiilll not even a Sith would perpetrate it (unless it was a female Sith, hummm.......). First I, the great Darth Bill, must present my short list of suspects who just so happen to be ImaginOn employees (convenient isn't it) and are very shady characters indeed.


Suspect Number One - The Evil Ellen


She looks innocent, but behind that smile; pure EVIL!!!!!!!!!







She was my number 1 suspect from the start. As I trailed her she was very careful to not show her face. Look:


Why so shy Ellen???????

Surely you are not guilty of anything??????

My next suspect may surprise you all, but evil has many faces. Some that we even come to trust.

Suspect Number Two - The Carlman!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Dunt, don, dunnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!)


When investigating this incident I noticed Carl acting awfully suspicious. When I questioned him as you see in this picture he claimed he was as innocent as an angel. Hummmmmm...is he really?





Soon after this questioning I found on my desk, along with my super cool Spider-Man Comic and the latest Star Wars book I'm reading, this Princess Book!!!!!!! Who would dare!!!!!!! Then I realized this was probably the Carlman, putting this book on my desk to make me a suspect. Don't worry intrigued readers, I will get to the bottom of this mystery!!!!!!!




Well as I continue in my Sherlock Holmes mode, I also have some cool reads to present. So check it out:


Walt Disney Treasures: Uncle Scrooge - A Little Something Special by various - This is an awesome collection of some of the best Uncle Scrooge Stories ever told. The time period of stories that this Graphic Novel (GN) covers goes all the back to 1954 up till 2006. These stories are filled with high adventure, terrific comedy and are just plain fun reading. Uncle Scrooge with his every faithful relatives Donald, Huey, Louie and Dewey cover the globe and their hometown of Duckberg in this GN with a whoping 8 full length stories. My two favorite stories in this collection are " The Seven Cities of Cibola" by Carl Barks and "A Little Something Special" by Don Rosa. In the first story by Carl Barks, Scrooge, who is down in the dumps, is thrilled to be introduced to arrowhead collecting by Donald and the boys (Huey, Dewey, and Louie). Even with all the money he has, he finds collecting arrowheads worth 50 cents each is too good to pass up! While searching though, the ducks end up on the trail of bigger treasure, that of the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. Unfortunately the Beagle Boys happen to find out what the ducks are up to. The second story by Don Rosa finds everyone trying to find a gift for the duck who has everything (that being of course Uncle Scrooge) with the person who finds out what he wants most winning a million dollars. This turns out to be an evil plot to bring down scrooge by some of his nastiest enemies (The Beagle Boys, Magica DeSpell, Flintheart Blomgold and Blackheart Beagle). Scrooge, Donald and the boys are in it deep in this story. Find out what happens; check out this GN!!!!!


Marvel Adventures Sider-Man #48 by Todd Dezago and Jonboy Meyers - I just got finished reading ImaginOn's latest issue of this comic and I have to say it was most excellent. Spidey gets both The Scorpion and Electro on his case in a serious way when he thwarts robberies each attempts separately. They both decide to hunt him down and dish out some serious pain in his direction. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place, check this issue out to see how everyone's favorite web slinger solves this "shocking" and "stinging" situation!!!!!! Good Stuff!!!!!!!!!!!




Until next time all.....Peace,


Bill

Purple Haze All In My Brain/Some Sith Revenge

Hello, all my friends out there in the land of Blog. It is I once again, the most infamous Sith to work in the Charlotte Library System. It has come to my attention that some of the "powers that be" on this "Boys Rule, Boys Read" have been attacking me with no cause or reason to be doing so. So they leave me no alternative than to (drum roll please)...............Strike Back!!!!!!! First I will respond to the so called "Master Jedi Zack." I will take up your challenge and read the the first "Gregor The Overlander" book. Not only that but I will post my not so humble opinion of what I thought of it.

The Jedi Council questioning Zack's Recklessness??????

Now as painful as this is to me, I must address a disturbing trend from The Great and Powerful Carlman. It seems that without any provocation on my part he has questioned my honor. He has sunk so low as to call me a chicken; does this ring any bells:




I also have my suspicions that The Carlman thinks quite a bit of himself. Did you know in his last blog he called himself awesome once, great twice, powerful twice and said his own name "The Carlman" at least six times. What's up with that? Since I have been pushed into this corner to defend myself, I must show an incident I'm sure The Great, Powerful and Awesome Carlman would prefer I not share with the public. Well here it is:


































Well, I'm willing to call a truce to a battle this sweet and innocent Sith never started if you guys are? If not I'll just keep taunting you!!!!!!!



Just The Facts Biographies: Jimi Hendrix by Rebecca Poole - First off I must confess that before I even picked up this biography I considered Jimi Hendrix the most talented person to ever play the electric guitar. I have been a big fan of his since I was 12 (I'm somewhat older than that now). This biography does an excellent job of telling the story of how Jimi Hendrix grew up from a small boy with an exceptional, natural talent to play the guitar to the ultimate axe player second to none! It tells, along with his life story, how he never gave up pursuing his dream of being a recognized rock 'n' roll musician despite how he was ignored and even rejected by almost everyone in the music industry. It also shows what a kind and gentle poet he was at heart. His story is a tragedy in one way, in that he left us way before his time, but it is also a celebration of his great achievements and life. From his highest points to his not so great parts in life, this biography does a wonderful job of letting the reader peak into the life that was Jimi Hendrix's.

Jimi rockin out our National Anthem at Woodstock!!!!!!!


Spider-Man Family: Itsy-Bitsy Battles by various - This graphic novel rocks hard, just like Jimi's playing the guitar. Let's see, besides be chock full of the ultra cool Spider-Man, he is also joined by The Fantastic Four, Kazar, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Ice Man, Marvel Girl, and The Incredible Hulk. The GN has five fantastic stories that puts these heroes up against such villains as The Looter (a total nut job), Stegron (part human/part dinosaur), Arsenal (a machine of destruction created by Tony Stark's dad), and Dr. Octopus among others. There is lots of adventure, good will and comedy to make this GN the bomb. So do yourself a favor and check this one out as soon as possible!!!!!!










Well until next time, peace out all,

Bill

Heroes and Villians - Which are You???

I'm Baaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!

Hi all it is I Darth Bill back from my yearly meeting on Korriban (where the Sith Academy for Higher Learning is located). It was nice to see some of the old crew like Darth Vader, Darth Bane, Darth Maul and many other fellow Sith along with all the promising young students. Well you could imagine my shock upon my return to find out that that on January 22 from 2 - 4 p.m. the library is having a "Heroes Festival." I immediately spoke up and asked: "What about all of us Villains?????" Needless to say after some debate (threats of bopping the head librarian on the head) they saw my side of the story and it was renamed "The Heroes and Villains Festival". I wonder sometime what this place would do without me (sigh). Below are some pictures from the, um (let me assure you in no way, no how were threats or violence implied to anyone), discussions we had with the head librarian.


(Head Librarian with hands up -Can't imagine why? Must be some exercise thing?)

Comic Book Creators – Stan Lee & Jack Kirby

Do you like Comic Books? Do you like Graphic Novels? If you do there are two men you need to know about for whom without their involvement in the creation of Comics, the landscape as we know it today of Comic Books and Graphic Novels would be much less interesting. The Comic Book Creators Series has two biographies that have recently come out that focus on two giants of the industry Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Stan Lee: Writer & Creator by Sue Hamilton - Stan Lee, if you have never heard of him, created such comic characters as Spider-Man (with Steve Ditko), The X-Men ( with Jack Kirby), The Hulk (with Jack Kirby), The Fantastic Four (with Jack Kirby), Iron Man (with Larry Lieber), The Avengers (with Jack Kirby), and many, many more superheroes that you probably read stories about and see at the movies now. Stan Lee created Spider-Man with Steve Ditko way back in 1962. He wrote his first comic in May of 1941 (which happened to be a Captain America Comic). He has been everything from a writer, editor, publisher, movie maker to “Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Comics” in his long career in the comic’s field. He is a living legend that all whom love comics should love and respect. Read this book to find out even more about this man.

Spider-Man’s first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 Aug. 1962 for a mere 15 cents. Today this Comic Book is valued for as much as $32,000. It should be noted that this cover was drawn by Jack Kirby.

Jack Kirby: Creator & Artist by Sue Hamilton - Jack Kirby, also known as Jack “The King” Kirby, was an illustrator of comics who worked with such men as Stan Lee among many others and created such famous comic characters as Captain America (with Joe Simon), The Fantastic Four (with Stan Lee), The Hulk (with Stan Lee), The X-Men (with Stan Lee), The Mighty Thor (with Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby), The Silver Surfer (with Stan Lee), The New Gods and many, many more that you probably read stories about and see at the movies now also. He worked on his first comic around 1938/1939, but his budding career was interrupted as with many Americans, when World War II broke out and he joined the military. Jack Kirby served under the famous General George S. Patton. When World War II was over he returned to illustrating comics. He worked for both giants of the Comic Book Industry Marvel and DC among other companies and is looked upon, even today, as the King of all Comic Book Illustrators. Read this book and be amazed at this man’s amazing and productive life.

Captain America Comics #1, which was the first appearance of Captain America as created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, was first published in 1941 and sold for 10 cents. Today this Comic Book is valued for as much as $80,000.

One last thing I would like to share with you guys is that one of the gentleman, John DaCosta, who performs the Comics Camps we have once a month at ImaginOn has illustrated an Aesop Fables story The Fox and The Crow. Just click on the title to check it out. I think its pretty sweet!!!



Well guys I don't want to overstay my stay, so peace and take it easy,

Bill