OracleX

Yes I know this is the site to find out about all things comic-related. But the event is HUGE and they can't be everywhere at once. Going online for comic news is like an endless buffet right now but there some things I'm having a hard time finding such as:

The crowd reaction to Neil Gaiman writing a new Sandman story. I loved reading the online reaction, I want to find out if the news set off an earthquake and whether a few ear drums burst.

Doctor Who. One of my new obsessions and all I can find are pictures of them acting goofy. I want actual story information about the new companion.

A transcript of the Bleeding Cool vs Comic Alliance vs The Beat vs Comic Book Resources. It sounds a interesting discussion about comic news reporting and there is the wishful thinking that a fist fight might break out.

Trolling through Twitter is a very good bet but it would take hours to comb through the number of Tweets. Any suggestions? And I am checking this site regularly.

Yes I know this is the site to find out about all things comic-related. But the event is HUGE and they can't be everywhere at once. Going online for comic news is like an endless buffet right now but there some things I'm having a hard time finding such as:

The crowd reaction to Neil Gaiman writing a new Sandman story. I loved reading the online reaction, I want to find out if the news set off an earthquake and whether a few ear drums burst.

Doctor Who. One of my new obsessions and all I can find are pictures of them acting goofy. I want actual story information about the new companion.

A transcript of the Bleeding Cool vs Comic Alliance vs The Beat vs Comic Book Resources. It sounds a interesting discussion about comic news reporting and there is the wishful thinking that a fist fight might break out.

Trolling through Twitter is a very good bet but it would take hours to comb through the number of Tweets. Any suggestions? And I am checking this site regularly.

I thought this review was fairly accurate.

http://www.themarysue.com/review-the-less-than-amazing-spider-man/

There is nothing bad about this movie. It just wasn't that memorable. The movie may have gotten better reviews if it premiered later in the year when it wouldn't have been competing against The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers for attention.

Are there any Doctor Who fans hanging around here? Stay with me for a minute. I have been watching marathons of the show constantly. It is a British Sci-fi show about a humanoid alien simply called the Doctor and travels through time and space in a blue police box that is famously "bigger on the inside" with "companions" who are usually human from modern times. It has been around for nearly fifty years and one of its keys to success is the fact that the doctor can "regenerate." This means that when actor playing the Doctor decides to quit he is mortally wounded. But he is able to recover in the form of a new body and personality while still remaining the same character. Eleven actors have played the character and if you ask any longtime fans of the show one doctor will always be "their Doctor." This really does fit it with comic movies as one portrayal of a super-hero or villain will always be their deep-down favorite. Christopher Reeve as Superman is the best one I can think of at this hour.

Having seen the movie, here are my thoughts: Toby Maguire will always be my Spider-man. I missed him, I missed his dorky personality. I did read the first Spider-Man story and I'll concede the fact that Garfield's portrayal seems more accurate. He is more aloof and moody to the point where other nerds aren't interested in associating with him. And I like the fact that Gwen Stacy seems to be whip-smart and her innocence seems sweet and completely different compared to Mary-Jane.

So my main belief that Spider-man was rebooted too early has to do with the main story arc. I know at least three writers worked through multiple drafts of the script and it shows. The number of holes in the plot drove me crazy. This is not a complete film review, I just feel like the writers were trying so hard to make it look and feel different from the original trilogy that they forgot some very basic elements such explaining how Curt Connors created a lab in the sewer system as a non-spoiler example.

I have another point to argue with regards to relaunching the trilogy: The competition is too high this summer. This movie will do well in the box office without a doubt, but people will comparing against The Avengers and Batman in terms of quality. There was no way Whedon could have really screwed up a movie with Robert Downey Jr. to deliver one-liners along with having comic book writing experience. And I'm trying very hard to figure out how Nolan could screw up the end of his Batman trilogy. But that isn't as important as he doesn't need to build up hype for the next sequel.

Marvel couldn't have done this, but that is why partly Paramount moved back the release dates of a couple of their big-budget films. The bar has been set extremely high this summer for superhero movies. Viewers often lump movies together so when leave the theater many will be saying "it wasn't as good as The Avengers" even though it is an unfair comparison in many ways in terms of plot and characters featured.

The Amazing Spider-Man might have stood a chance at standing out in the crowd if it was released later in the year.

I am kind of surprised a thread like this hasn't been created yet.

I doubt few people escaped any level of education without being "forced" to read one of his books. They are basically stories about Americana with an sci-fi twist. He is best known for Fahrenheit 451 and the Martian Chronicles. I enjoyed The Martian Chronicles more because as it still resonates with me today and kind of makes me sad and hopeful at the same time. But I also loved the Fahrenheit 451 because it suggests that the greatest stories will live on in our minds and can be reproduced even after all the physical books are destroyed.

The guy has written more than 200 short stories. He lived and breathed writing. I'd love to be able to put all my ideas and thoughts on to some sort of "paper" like that.

Because of him, I took my first steps into becoming a "geek." I learned that fantasy writing is full of wonderful possibilities. Which also led me to being more open the idea reading about these imaginary worlds in the form of comics.

Thanks and R.I.P. Mr. Bradbury.

The result: Avengers Popsicles! Not the ACTUAL Avengers, just frozen sugar in three different colors from grocery store. The colors were so stupid. Kids were asking me which Avenger they got. Red, white, and blue? Captain America. Purple, Green and... Black? Hulk but no idea where the black came from. Red, orange, and black again? I told the kids it was Black Widow because most of them were girls and one frozen food coloring color combination needed to represent the only female superhero. Even the I just Googled the Soviet flag: And saw that color represents Germany. So I'm guessing it was supposed to be Iron Man. While we're on the subject, don't even try explaining where Black Widow actually got her name from to anyone under ten, especially girls.

Because that marketing strategy has been working well for years. I helped with a Avengers-themed story hour at the library and of the ten kids there, only a few could name at least one Avenger. No matter how good the movie was, there are just too many characters to remember. Marvel raking some serious money right now, but it is going to be very hard to keep that momentum going.

There has basically been a Batman and Superman characterization for every generation. These characters were popular in the media before color television was affordable! People remember Christopher Reeve, Jack Nicholson, (infamously) George Clooney, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale for their turns as the famous villains and heroes. They have had some embarrassing huge flops, but it the movies maintained brand recognition. I think the only names that are really sticking out from the Avengers right now are Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo. The roles elevated the actor's notariety and the actors sold the characters. I can't think of another actor with such a memorable connection to the Avenger.

The other problem: Explain in thirty words or less the story Hawk-man, Green Arrow, Red Tornado, Cyborg, Black Canary, Atom, Wonder Woman, The Flash. Read them and look at them from a non-comic fan perspective. It is very hard to sell many of these characters in a ninety-minute movie. Green Lantern being the example of a failure (which I personally blame on the writing, I'd kill have the power of ring to fly!). Superman: Alien raised on a farm by a loving family and has super strength, laser vision, and the power to fly. Batman: After witnessing the brutal murders of his parent as he boy he dedicated to fight crime in a bat suit. They both sound silly but the idea has been marketed extremely well.

As for Wonder Woman: No one has any idea what to do with her right now. People keep re-tooling her character and none of them seem to stick (I am hoping her New 52 incarnation will destroyed as an illusion devised by Circe).

Hollywood likes the "tried and true" format. DC already has a fairly successful franchise and investing millions in another character is a big risk.

That's my two cents.

I appreciate the comments.Some of them are very funny. A few are helpful and I will definitely look for the Bendis-authored Avenger titles to find the foods scenes. But I feel the very strong urge shout: Shwarma isn't a viable option! 1.) I would have to travel across several burbs and into the city and hope my GPS doesn't screw me over to get to a reasonably-priced place. 2.) Given how hard it is find this particular cuisine kids under the age of 13 might not like it and could possibly upset their stomachs. 3.) Again given the age range, I question how many of the kidoes who actually saw the film stayed to see the final scene or even care about what they ate.

Please don't be put off my Shwarma tirade. It is really not that big a deal. I'm not in charge of the event and I am doing other research. I just want to put on a good show to get approval for the young adult comic book I want to start (this subject may appear on the general board if the Google results frustrate me).

I'd still like some more ideas if anyone is up to it.

This is something fun discuss but I do have a mission: I have been asked to assist in my library's Avenger's themed Story Hour by coming up with a treat for kids in grades K-5 to enjoy. So lets get the sarcastic answers out right now:

-Vodka for the former Russian spy.

-Whiskey and every other alcoholic beverage for the the guy in the metal suit.

-Coffee in a cups that can be smashed to the ground by the Norse God.

-Apple pie isn't a terrible idea to go with the Patriotic soldier, but we can't afford by pie for possibly 20 kids.

-Middle-Eastern food is hard to cook or even find where I live as a reference to the last scene.

So have the Avengers been shown in the comics eating normal food? I know in DC there is Zestee Cola that I can add other sodas to and Martian Manhunter has a thing for cookies. I really don't know much about what Jarvis serves up at headquarters.

By the way I am going to have a ball trying to hold the attention of some of these kids. The girls will want to learn more about the female Avengers in the comics. I am going to have to be careful not to screw up what they learned from the movies (I really can't mention how Nick Fury is white in the original comics.)

So for every funny answer about the what the Hulk and Hawkeye and other characters might eat I would appreciate at least one serious answer. I can't get themed cakes and stuff. I need really simple things that I can grab from the grocery store.