By
The Reverend
August 16, 2003 - 13:24
So I attend my fifth straight Wizard World Chicago last weekend, and I was concerned over the fact that I had less than $100 to spend at this ultimate of toy stores because I was on vacation the weekend before and blew a lot of cash then. Essentially, the social funds were tapped until payday. I arrived to a packed house in Rosemont, Illinois, wondering if I was going to end up with anything cool after a few hours of browsing. Let me tell you, I came away from Wizard World with so much more than I'd anticipated, and it cost me no more than the price to get in.
Oddly enough, I passed on an opportunity from the Pulse to cover a panel discussion for two reasons: One, that I was totally winging it on when I was going to attend, and, two, they offered me a chance to report on a CrossGen Comics panel, and to me that was like sending a NASCAR fanatic to an NBA press conference. Totally useless. CrossGen just doesn't move me. My tendency to roam around the DC Comics area of this convention paid off big time, because very early on I perused their exhibit of DC Direct merchandise and got to meet three of the main propagators of DC's action figure line's success. I was under the assumption that DC Direct's "A team" attended the San Diego convention, what with it being the big one, and that their scrubs would cover Chicago. But I was in for a treat when I got to meet Tim Bruckner, the premier comic book character sculptor, as well as James Shoop, pretty much #2 to Mr. Bruckner. Shoop does the best work that Bruckner doesn't get to do. Both were as amiable as folks I'd met a week earlier on my vacation, a trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for a friend's wedding. I love getting to meet the talent behind the work that I follow, because unlike some ravenous fanatics out there who merely want a piece of someone renowned that they meet, I see it as an opportunity to thank them for their hard work. Christ, if John Lennon came back to life? You'd be amazed how many people's first impulse it would be to get an autograph.
But meeting those two gentlemen was unexpectedly trumped by meeting the head cheese of DC Direct, Georg Brewer. If something's wrong with Major League Baseball, like ALL THE TIME, you look to Bud Selig. Well this is what Georg is to DC Direct, though the overall quality of the product puts MLB's to shame. I'm almost sorry I put it in that perspective. I'll hit on that later. Anyway, my meeting Mr. Brewer was initiated by my offhanded comment to another con attendee that Mattel's DC product lagged way behind DCD. He replied "Right on" as I said I don't buy anything but DCD figures, and I asked if he frequented DC's message boards. He flashed his ID badge and the floodgates opened. I told him what got me into this hobby three or four years ago, and what characters I was looking for to round off my collection. Georg surprised me with information on upcoming product that, should it be fully realized, provided me with the scoop of the year. Turns out that by next fall, they will release a wave of Justice League of America figures that features the long-awaited heroes Firestorm, the Atom, Elongated Man, and Adam Strange. Since I've taken up this hobby, these four guys have been requested by action figure enthusiasts everywhere with great zeal -- putting it politely. I told him that this was information that I'd happily share with the hungry public if he stood by it. He said it was cool, and along with that we played a fun little guessing game on another action figure wave that revolves around Batman. This summer, on the convention circuit, DCD unveiled figures based on the current storyline in the Dark Knight's regular series, "Hush," by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. Thanks to these two,
Batman is the #1 series in the industry right now. It wasn't surprising that DCD would capitalize on this success, as well as take the opportunity to capture the "Batman Family" in a modern setting. So after a game of process of elimination with Georg, where I did everything short of pulling out the Batman comics I brought to get autographed at the convention to figure out which characters were getting made. Batman, the Joker, and Poison Ivy were on display (to be released next spring), but there were seven more getting produced. I racked my brain furiously, and Georg was having fun with it, but it was ultimately concluded that they were going to produce the Huntress, the villain Hush, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Robin, Nightwing, and Superman. It's saying something when merchandise that's previewed in early August of this year has me looking forward to spring and autumn of next year. Well played, Mr. Brewer, and thank you for your time.
THIS IS THE IMPROVEMENT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR???
There are a couple of things that don't sit well with me about this California recall election in October. Earlier this year, I seem to remember a fair amount of admittedly liberal, democratic folks in the public spotlight, mainly actors, speaking out against George Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Conservatives everywhere went on the attack saying that the people with no experience in public service should stifle themselves (thank you, Archie Bunker), support the troops, and put up or shut up. Yet these are the same conservatives that are all too happy to support Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign to run the fourth (or fifth) largest economy in the world after all but rescinding Gray Davis' fair and legal election by the people of California. Huh??? The man has yet to present a platform other than a desire to "pump up Sacramento," a phrase originally derived from a parody of his own personality. So as long as their opinions that support their cause, conservatives have no problem with actors displaying a little political dissidence, right? That, and the fact that apparently the good people of California are so unhappy with the way their state's welfare is being handled that the idea of a person with no leadership experience barging into the middle of another's gubernatorial term is welcome. Talk about setting a bad precedent. I'd laugh if it weren't so sad.
MOVE OVER, EGGS! BACON GOT A NEW BEST FRIEND!!!
McDonald's new McGriddles are the cat's ass. That's a compliment, for those unfamiliar with the comedy classic
Cannonball Run. I'm not a fan of the ones with cheese. I mean, who puts cheese on their pancakes? But the sausage-only McGriddle is sa-WEET! It's like hotcakes & sausage in a sandwich! A while back, when they first introduced these, I thought McDonald's made the mistake, not of introducing them, but of not making it worth the consumer's while with a lofty promotion. They should've been giving them away, not literally, but selling them really cheap to get people's attention. Then raise the price reasonably after they took hold. Plus they have those salads now that offset the unhealthy (but oh so delicious) breakfasts. Apparently Mickey D's has been making a steady recovery after quarter after quarter of hemorrhaging money the last few years, but the McGriddle suggestion was something I would've offered if they were listening.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH BASEBALL, PART 832.
Pete Rose is undeniably one of baseball's greatest all-time talents. Unfortunately he's also a world-class cheat who brought shame to the game two decades ago (Yes, it's been that long). Bud Selig keeps flirting with Rose's reinstatement to the majors in a way reminiscent of that friend of yours, you know the one, who keeps going back to the lover who chronically shits in his or her cereal. Why I object to Charlie Hustle returning to baseball is mainly because he has yet to ever show regret over what he did to get booted in the first place. The man has had opportunity countless times to show contrition for his sins, yet he continues instead to remind anyone who listens about how good he'd be for baseball at what he has and will accomplish as an accepted member of the diamond fraternity. If he spent any of the last fourteen years expounding about the sins of gambling and rolling with the wrong crowd, I'd like to consider a second chance for the guy. But it's never happened. As long as Selig's attempts (should they exist) to draw contrition from Rose prove to be as easy as restoring the life of deceased commissioner Bart Giamatti, the man who bravely banished Rose from baseball, I say enjoy your time on the outside, slugger. Baseball is struggling just fine without you.
PIGSKIN PREVIEW
I am SO READY for some football. I'm not making the trip to Champaign, Illinois, this weekend, but I'm getting a preview of my favorite team, the Denver Broncos, in a preseason match-up against the Chicago Bears. Here is my thoroughly biased prediction for the NFL's final four at the end of next January: the Broncos over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC, the Philly Eagles over the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (that last phrase being one I never, EVER thought I'd type) in the NFC, and the Eagles coming up short just one more time as Denver discovers life after future Colorado Governor John Elway. Hey, say what you will, but Elway's had that job waiting for him for years. Apparently experience isn't a sticking point with that position.
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