Morning Glories 5 Review

What you need to know: It's an explosive confrontation as the Glories attempt to rescue one of their own from the deadly clutches of the Academy. But with their newly formed team already falling apart, they suddenly look like they're in need of rescue themselves


What you'll love

The Cover: This is by far my favorite cover of the series so far, the attention to detail, the acting of the characters all make it stand out. If a cover is supposed to make a reader buy the book Rodin Esquejo more than accomplishes his mission. Anyone walking by could pick up this issue, take a look at the cover and immediately understand what the story is about.

Interior Art: It's not a secret that I'm a big fan of Joe Eisma's art, however I thought he'd taken a small step back last issue. In this issue Eisma is at his best, the characters are so well defined, both in their look and expression. The school itself has become a character in this story as well, which is also to Joe's credit. I feel like I've been in Morning Glories Academy before, one can almost smell the chalk dust.

Coloring: This is the first time I've ever commented on the coloring of a book, but as I review more and more books, I've begun to develop an eye for it. Alex Sollazzo's colors help to make this book what it is, it seem that the perfect color is used in every scene. The color's capture the youth and energy of the school, while at the same time highlight the darkness that lies under the surface. It's superb work.

Opening:I go on and on about opening scenes because they are so crucial. Spencer has an uncanny knack for using dialogue to grab you in an open. Here he uses point of view to add an element of mystery.

Balls to the wall: Last issue my complaint was that it felt like filler. Issue five is the climax of the arc and it feels like it. Spencer pulls out all the stops, paying off plot threads that he'd set up. This issue gives us a bit of everything that a fan of this book can ask for. It's hard to go into to detail without spoiling it, but rest assured that Nick Spencer slams his foot down and the gas and doesn't let up.


What you won't: What's not to love.


Bottom Line: If you've kicked yourself for not jumping on another book earlier, do yourself a favor and jump on this one now. Do not and I repeat DO NOT wait for the trades, it's that good.

Grade: A-

Year End Awards

I read a lot of books,but I don't read em all obviously. So it's quite possible that I missed some stuff. I only had two requirements for my nominations. First it's on my radar, I've either read, or have heard good things about it. Second, I like it. Next week I'll give you my picks, as for now have fun. Happy Holidays!

Thunder Agents 2

What you need to know: The team goes out on it's first mission.


What you'll love

Nick Spencer: I've taken to calling Nick Spencer the Kevin Durant of comics. My reasoning is that much like Durant, Spencer is immensely talented and on the verge of becoming a household name. In my opinion, Spencer is every bit as good as comics' top tier writers, it's just a matter of time before the rest of the world recognizes it.

BKV: It's very silly to compare writers, especially in the context of someone being the "next _____(insert famous writer). However Spencer's work on this book has reminded me of Brian K Vaughan, Spencer's voice in this book speaks to the frailty of the human condition in way that he doesn't in his other works. Another way Spencer reminds me of BKV is in how intelligent, well researched and clever his scripts are.


Art: It's simply beautiful. Seemingly a cast of thousand's worked on this issue, this is usually a bad sign but it worked. Cafu is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists and Cris Cross' work on theLighting's backstory captures the character's emotions brilliantly. It's moving stuff.


Grown up superheroes: I need depth in my comics, Thunder Agents is not a series of senseless action scenes, with men in capes punching each other. It's something much more creative and resonant. It's about life, how short it is and how the choices we make shape who we are.

What you won't

Story development: Realistically, the first two issues have been exposition. I for one enjoy when exposition is done well, it's the foundation of the rest of the story. That being said, these guys still haven't actually finished their mission yet.


Bottom Line: Nick Spencer's meteoric rise continues in this installment. I'm beginning to enjoy this book more than Morning Glories.(Which is saying a LOT)

GRADE: A

Irredeemable 20

What you need to know: The Plutonian is captured by an advanced alien race, things look bleak for our hero indeed. Meanwhile his former teammates(and the world) celebrate the end of the Plutonian's reign of terror.

Plutonian's complexity: I never imagined that Waid would mine so much depth out of the lead character. I should know better by now than to doubt Mark Waid. This is one of the best series around and Waid keeps adding layers of complexity to it.

Cross over Moment: If you read Irredeemable's sister book(Incorruptable) then you're in for a treat. We get a Cameo from Max Damage. It may be small, however it builds another brick in what maybe just be the best created world in comics right now.

Sympathy: Over the last few issues, Waid has done the impossible, he has actually gotten the reader to have sympathy for a homicidal manic. Most of this issue is the Plutonian engaged in a dream sequence of what he wished his world was like. It's sad stuff. As a reader I've actually begun to root for the Plutonian to redeem himself.

Depth: This one is hard to explain without spoiling the issue. Let's just say that the Plutonian makes a subconscious choice that reveals all we need to know about his mindset these days.


What you won't

Weird: While I enjoyed the dream sequence, there were a few parts that were just out there. Granted dreams are weird, but it didn't do much for me.

Story progression: While this issue is deep, it's not very wide. Very little progress is made in terms of story.

Bottom Line: This is the most underrated book on the stands today. I don't understand why it hasn't caught on. Even worse when people make their year end or best of list, Irredeemable is rarely included. It's a shame really.

Grade: A-

Jonah Hex 62 Review

What you need to know: Jonah takes a job delivering a very special package, in classic Hex fashion all hell breaks lose.


What you'll love:

Strong open: I'm a huge fan of the first few pages of a comic, Hex is a great example of a simple open that catches your attention. Many books start with someone being killed but it's all in the approach.

Stronger ending: The last of page does more to show who Jonah is than the previous pages combined. It actually caught me off guard, I thought things were going a totally different way. Good writing.

Jonah: I'm new to Jonah, but every issue Palmiotti and Gray find new ways to pull back the layers of Hex. If you're going to write a anti hero, than he better live by his own code.(which on some level is his redeeming quality) There are few books out there that put this into action better than this writing team.

Art: 22 page of Eduardo Risso goodness. A very good Christmas present indeed.


What you won't

The middle: I thought the middle dragged just a little. Hex also looked more vulnerable than I expected him to. I like bad ass Jonah.(Which came quickly enough, but something about it didn't do much for me.)


Bottom Line: Jonah Hex is a book you should reading, in fact I wish I'd picked it up a lot sooner.

Grade: B+

Ten Questions with Paul Charchian

To say that I play Fantasy Football would be an understatement, I think it's become a part time job. For my money Paul is by far the best fantasy expert around(as much as any one can be) Paul and I talked via email on a variety of subjects, including a fantasy movie league, politics, video games and of course Fantasy Football. Enjoy.

1. Besides being a Fantasy Football Guru, you're are also an avid gamer, and unless you've been living under a rock, then you know that Call of Duty Black OPS just came out. What did you think?

The only people who are hating on Black Ops are those that are drinking Infinity Ward’s Kool-Aid. It’s a great game. The multiplayer is great, and the settings are new and fresh. I’m really enjoying it, along with several million other people.

2. Living in Minnesota, what's your take on the Drama that has been the Vikings this year. What's the feeling locally?

We’re ready for the drama to be over. Minnesota isn’t often the center of the NFL, but since Brett got here, ESPN has been camped out at Winter Park. No more.

3. If the GOP presidential field were a Fantasy Draft who would be your number one pick for 2012?

Tough call. Sarah Palin has been villanized to the point that I don’t think she can win. She’s not the airhead that the left thinks she is, but Americans rightly have gauged that she doesn’t have the chops for the job. The fact that she quit as governor is reprehensible.

Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty is out. Nice guys finish last, and I don’t see him as compelling enough to engender widespread support.

There's a lot of buyer's remorse from conservatives over Mitt Romney, who they failed to back in 2008. He was eminently more electable than McCain.  

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal is a possibility. Conservatives are fed up with being viewed as racists, his ethnicity would be a draw early in the campaign. Marco Rubio will be a 2016 candidate.

I’m not ruling out Ron Paul. His economic policies hold a lot of power with the Tea Party types. But, I don't think a pro-choice Republican can ever make it through the primaries.

If I had to pick one guy, it would be New Jersey’s outspoken governor Chris Christie—a guy who has all of the GOP talking points down cold. He's funny and inflammatory. It just might work.

4. We are now more than halfway through the season, looking back who were the biggest steals on draft day?(by avg draft position)

The ADP buster lineup looks like this:

QB - Kyle Orton, a top-five fantasy QB, ADP 156.
RB - Peyton Hillis is tied for first among RBs in touchdowns, 9th in rushing yards, and 4th in receiving yards. ADP 234 (just after Fred Davis, and just before Jake Delhomme).

RB - Arian Foster leads most leagues in scoring. ADP 58

WR - Brandon Lloyd is in the top five among WRs, and leads the NFL in receiving yards. ADP not available because he wasn't drafted by enough people to factor into ADP results.

WR – Steve Johnson is in the top 10 among fantasy WRs, and is also outside of ADP’s rankings.

TE – Marcedes Lewis. He’s a top-five fantasy TE, with an ADP 289.

K – Dan Carpenter – Even with Miami’s shutout a couple Thursday’s ago, He’s a top three kicker, whose ADP is 238.

5. It's the time of year where trade deadlines are looming, What's your overall philosophy when it comes to trades.

If you're not trading, you're not trying. If you’re not trying, you’re going to lose. Nobody is so good that they can draft a perfect team, and then sit back and never make a move. Plus, trades are just plain fun. Who doesn’t enjoy getting a trade offer. If the offer stinks, it’s fun to ridicule the sender. If it can help you, even better. I leave leagues that don’t have owners with a trading mentality.

6. Obviously Arian Foster has had a break out year and seems to be a force in the future. What other players made their mark and will be fantasy studs for the next few years?

Shonn Greene should get full time use next year. Mike Wallace has taken the torch from Hines Ward. Cassel-to-Bowe is just getting started. Peyton Hillis isn’t a fluke. Hakeem Nicks is fantastic as long as he can stay healthy. Jamaal Charles is a tremendous player, and will thrive when Thomas Jones gets out the way. Tampa’s Josh Freeman and Mike Williams will have a strong career together. The Eagles receivers, Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson will remain great in Andy Reid’s offense, no matter who quarterbacks. Sam Bradford is absolutely legit.

7. One of the hardest things in fantasy it's setting you lineups. What's your strategy for lineups? Do you go by the player, the match ups, recent trends?

If you’ve ever heard Fantasy Football Weekly on KFAN, you know I’m a matchup guy. Look at Andre Johnson, arguably the best receiver in the league. He did zero against Darrelle Revis. Even the best fantasy producers have trap games.

8. What's the biggest mistake that the average person makes with their fantasy team?

Drafting running backs early. Every year, the first three rounds of drafts are littered with running back busts. I’ve been preaching a draft strategy called “Do The Opposite” for years, which encourages owners to avoid the temptation to get runners early, and take the safer positions, namely quarterback and wide receiver.

9. Have you seen The Walking Dead? what did you think?(it's ok if your haven't) What other shows do you enjoy?

In season, my ability to sit and watch TV is pretty limited. I’m really impressed with AMC’s shows though. I find time to watch Mad Men. Walking Dead looks promising because I really like the creator, Frank Darabont, who helmed The Shawshank Redemption—one of my all-time favorite movies.

10. You’re in a fantasy movie league. How does it work, and which movies do you have right now?

It’s played in four-month trimesters. We held our most recent draft on late October for the trimester starting in November. It’s pretty simple. We play with four teams in each division. Each division drafts separately from the other divisions (so the same movies are drafted in each division). Each team drafts 10 movies that will open in the next four months. At the end of the trimester, we simply add up the gross domestic receipts from each team’s top-eight highest-earning movies. Whoever has the most dollars earned is the winner.

My team for Nov-Feb:

Round 1: Megamind

Round 2: The Tourist

Round 3: Gulliver’s Travels

Round 4: The Dilemma

Round 5: Love and Other Drugs

Round 6: The Next Three Days <--tanking as we speak

Round 7: Tyler Perry’s Colored Girls

Round 8: 127 Hours

Round 9: Black Swan

Round 10: Roommate

Check out Paul's Websites
fantasyvictory.com
LeagueSafe.com



LeagueSafe® 's majority owner is Paul Charchian, a 15-year industry veteran. He co-founded Fanball in 1993. In time, Fanball grew into the biggest pure-play fantasy web site in the world.

Young Justice Review

What you need to know: A group of Super Hero Side ki...er... assistants band together to form a junior version of the Justice league.


What you'll love

Guest Appearances: In the first few minutes of the pilot we see virtually every member of the Justice League. Furthermore the characters have actual roles, they aren't just window dressing. It's a tricky balance but I hope we continue to see Justice League members as a part of the show. At the very least these legends should loom large in the minds of the kids.

Action: The biggest critique I have in terms of the animated DCU is that the movies are just one big fight scene. There's not nearly enough story. Young Justice borders on this but never crosses the line. There's a good mix of action and story.

Characterization: I found the cast and more importantly the writer's take on them to be very likable. They represent the kind of angst only youth can bring.

Continuity light: I didn't grow up reading DC comics, I've never even heard of the Young Justice comic book. So it was nice to be able to grasp everything that was going on in the series without having nitpick over comic continuity. Young Justice is a hodge podge between the comic and the Teen Titans series.

Clever plot: I loved the way the plot developed slowly as the hour progressed, the show's script was very strong. The story itself was clever and engaging at the same time. Leaving you wanting more at the end.


What you won't

Continuity Hawks Beware: There are many differences between this version and the comic.(which is why they call it an adaptation by the way) But if you're expecting the comic you'll be disappointed.

Kid Friendly: The very nature of this series, says that it will appeal to kids more so than normal Justice League series. And while they don't make it as kiddy as Teen Titans. I think as this series progresses we will find that kids like it better than the adults. There's aren't enough easter egss, or wink and nods towards the adults.

Where were the women: There's just no excuse for it. They threw in Miss Martian at the end of the pilot, but it really was a throw away scene. Also Wonder Woman's absence is notable. How hard would it be to have a Young Amazonian girl join the team. And WW play the role of the protective mentor. Seems like a no brainer to me.


Bottom Line: I think my kids will love this series. As for me and other adults, it's worth watching, but I don't think it's anything special.(yet)


Grade: B

Captain America #612 Review

What you need to know: Captain America(Bucky) is on trial for crimes he committed while he was the Winter Solider.

What you'll love

Steve Rogers: He may not be Cap anymore but Steve has a huge role in this arc. He's Bucky's champion, arranging for his defense on several levels. The way Steve stands by Bucky is not unexpected given who he is. Still it is welcome. There's still something noble about a good guy doing what he thinks is right.

Social Commentary: It's fitting that this book would reflect where our society is. Before Fox News and MSNBC became what they are today, cable and news networks focused in on big trials. Every quasi celebrity trial was a feeding frenzy. Brubaker captures this dynamic in this issue. If someone named Captain America really were on trial, this is probably what it would look like. More important Brubaker isn't heavy handed or biased with his commentary, he presents it and the audience decides.


Putting the pieces in place: I got the feeling that BruBaker was setting the pieces up on the chessboard in this issue. There are several threads that need to be resolved and the way he pays these off will determine how successful this arc is.

What you won't

Lack of action: It's not a problem for me. But if you like Rock em, Sock em action this is not the issue, or arc for you. Although there is some nice Falcon/Black Widow action.

Resonance: Bucky's dilemma might have been the aspect of the story that stood out least in this issue. BruBaker touches on it, but he doesn't truly explore Bucky's angst.


Bottom line: I like the direction BruBaker is going in with this arc. This is a solid read and worth picking up. It's got a nice Law and Order vibe to it.


Grade: B+

Amazing Spiderman 649

What you need to know: With a new job, new girl and a new life, Peter Parker has truly hit the big time! Too bad an enemy from his past is back to screw all that up.

What you'll love

Hobgoblin: In my eyes Hogoblin is the most overlooked and under appreciated villain in the Spideyverse. The guys just plain fun, which is more than I can say for other villains who's names end in Goblin.

Humor: I can't tell you how many times, I smirked or snickered reading this comic, Dan Slott has such a good grasp on Spidey's snarkiness.

Fun: I've read more issues of Amazing Spider man than any other comic. One of the main reasons I've been drawn to it is that it's just plain fun. A guy my age swinging through the air, without a care in the world, even though in reality his life is falling apart. I think too often writer's confuse Spidey's being an "everyman" with being a loser. Peter Parker is not a loser, he's smart, handsome, and always has a girlfriend, this is not a loser. The key is to show his humanity as he struggles to make a life. His powers are extraordinary but his life outside of the mask is every bit as ordinary as ours.

New Status Quo: I just love the direction the way things are set up in Big Time, consider me anti OMD, however BigTime simply puts an end to all the controversy and tells good Spidey stories.(at least so far) Ending BND was a stroke of genius for two reasons. First Big Time is a natural jumping on point. Two OMD/BND will always be a loaded subject and associated with one most divisive decisions in comics. Big Time says to Spidey fans lets put that aside and just enjoy Spidey again.


What you won't

Length: So far the issues have come in a 30 page format. In both issues I thought there was a lull around page twenty five or so. In both issues Slott quickly recovers, finishing with a bang, but I think I'd rather see a 22 pager with a quality backup story. With a supporting cast as strong as Spidey's a backup could be very strong.

Lab: What the hell is going on in that lab Peter works at? He's been there twice and it's been attacked twice. Can Pete please make it through one work day?

Bottom Line: If you left this book because of OMD/BND, it's time to come home. Spidey's back!

Grade: A-

Batman Dectective Comics 871

What you need to know:In "The Black Mirror" part 1 of 3, a series of brutal murders pushes Batman's detective skills to the limit and forces him to confront one of Gotham City's oldest evils.

What's good

Art: Jock captures Gotham City's noir atmosphere perfectly.

Grounded: I struggle with any Batman story that takes place outside Gotham, for me it strains credulity for a human to go toe to toe with superheroes, and gods. I've felt a similar way but less so about the direction Morrison has taken Batman in this year. The time traveling is fun, but at some point, I'd like to know what the hell was going on. This is a great way to do it. A classic, back to basics, Batman detective story.

Characterization: Snyder has Dick and Commisher Gordon down cold. There's a weight to this book as Dick has assumes the cowl, this time with the blessing of Bruce Wayne. Even more impressive is the dynamic between Gordon and Dick. There's one panel in particular that stands out. The two men stand on a rooftop discussing a case, as Gordon and Batman have done so many times. Gordon, looks up staring in amazement that Dick is still there. (As the first Batman is known for disappearing mid-sentence) It's a small detaill but it subltey spells out the differences between the two Batmen and their relationship with Gordon.

Interwoven: Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Synder's script is the way he masterfully weaves, this story together. Not only are there nice references to other characters in the Bat family rouges gallery, but they actually have relevance to the plot.


What you won't: Honestly there's not much to complain about here. Solid work

Bottom Line: If you're a Batman fan this title must be added to your pull list. Synder and Jock are on the ground floor of a masterful run.

Grade: A

Ten Questions with Susan Shan

1. Wow What a game by Micheal Vick last night. Do you think he is the MVP of the league?

It's too early to call Vick the MVP, but he's the early favorite even with three missed games.

2. Donovan McNabb just signed what we now know is a heavily incentive laden contract with the Red Skins, do you think this is a good decision for either side, and what have you thought of Donovan's stint in D.C so far?

I've always liked Donovan. He was one of my first interviewees, and he has remained classy and personable throughout the years. The contract is good for both sides; Donovan doesn't lose anything by signing it, and the Redskins can release him at the end of the season if they are not satisfied. It's tough to gauge Donovan's stint in D.C. because not only is this his first year, it's the coaching staff's first year. The entire team has to adjust to a new system along with a new quarterback. And, it's not as if Donovan has a premier wideout to pass to. Joey Galloway is almost 40 years old, and he's Donovan's WR2; that's a joke.

3. Who's the best team in football right now?

If the Steelers had beaten the Patriots, that would be the easiest answer in the world. Since the Steelers lost, I'll have to say the Falcons (with uncertainty).

4. Who's the best team in the AFC?

New England Patriots (reluctantly). I still think the Steelers or Ravens are the best team, but records don't lie; the Patriots beat both.

5. How good are the Falcons?

Their offensive weapons (Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez) were expected to be good, but the defense has really stepped up. The defense is ranked eighth in the league in terms of points allowed (19.4 points per game). I've always liked Curtis Lofton, and he once again anchors the defense. Lofton is a tackle machine who probably should've made the Pro Bowl last year.

6. Is Randy Moss done?

I don't think he's done. It was never a question about his talent, which he still has. The other stuff is up to him, and that's what will determine the rest of his time in the NFL.

7. How did you get into sports.? What unique challenges do women(and in your case a minority) face?

I was raised to love sports. My dad took me to bars when I was five years old to watch Texas A&M football games. I was also a tomboy who played sports instead of with dolls. Growing up, I had one Barbie doll that was given to me as a gift by my parents' friend. Instead of playing with the doll, I used to toss it around like a ball.

Sports reporting is a tough field for a female, much less a minority female. I fight to gain respect and credibility every day for my writing abilities and sports knowledge. People find it difficult to believe that I really did choose this field because I love sports and everything sports stand for. I could care less about fame, popularity, or being on television. As long as I can make a decent living doing what I love, that's all that matters.

8. The NFL just came out with it's 100 greatest players of all time. Do you have any major problems with the list? Who's your number one?

Honestly, lists like these are always tough to make. It's like when the NCAA Selection Committee chooses its field of 65 (now 68); some teams are overrated, some underrated, and a few deserving teams are snubbed. As a whole, I have no major quibbles with the list. Peyton Manning will be No. 1 by the time he retires.

9. I'm a Cowboy fan, so I have to slip in a question about my boys. Who do you think Jerry will hire? Is Garrett the answer or will he look in a another direction?

It's tough to argue with how the team responded to Garrett. If he continues to motivate the team like he did in his first week, he will be the Cowboys head coach next year. In addition, everyone knows how much I like Felix Jones. My biggest complaint with the Cowboys has always been that they have no idea how to effectively use the talented and explosive Jones. In Garrett's first game as head coach, he started Jones over Marion Barber. That's definitely a step in the right direction.

10. Fill in the blank Fantasy Football is _________________.

God's gift to football fans.

Susan Shan is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a B.A. in Creative Writing. She had her first major interviews at 16 with Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia. Since then, she has interviewed numerous athletes and written countless articles along with a brief stint as a professional poker player. Check out her website: susanshan.com

Osborn 1 Review

What you need to know: Osborn chronicles the prison time of everyone's favorite Spidey villain, Norman Osborn.

What you'll love

The writing: I've never read any of here stuff before, but Kelly Sue Deconnick is a revelation. In Obsborn she gives each character a very distinctive voice. That's in addition to her dialogue which is very strong as well.

Back story: Clearly Marvel slapped Warren Ellis' name on this book in order to sell more books. I've never been big on Elllis, but I like Norman so I gave it a shot. Honestly I thought they co wrote the book. In reality Ellis weaves a sinisterly creepy tale of one of Osborn's fellow prisoners. It's a brillant story that makes use of every single panel. If every back story were like this, I'd never complain about paying 3.99 for a comic.

Norah: My last experience with Norah was in American Son(which is great, you should check it out) She was interesting in that arc but in this book she nearly steals the show, she's funny, neurotic and fearless.(just how I like my women) I kept thinking to myself. Warren Ellis wrote this character?(I know, I know I was confused.) Sometimes it's nice to actually have a woman writing a female character.

Art: I can't tell you how much I hated Rios's depiction of Peter Parker. I've been reading spidey comics since I was 13 and I've never seen that look on Peter, I don't know if it was an attempt to update Petey or what but it didn't work for me. Maybe I'm a Peter snob, I don't know. However every other panel in the book is great. This is not an easy feet, because there are some challenging things to draw in this issue. I think Rios has the potential to be a break out star.

What you won't

Where's Norman: For a book called Osborn there's not a lot of the titular character. The book still works but I would like to see ole Goblin head a little more.


Bottom Line: I had high hopes for this book and it exceeded them.

Grade: A

Morning Glories 4 Review

What you need to know: The students of Morning Glories hatch a plan to save one of their own.


What you'll love

Art: Joe Eisma does it once again. His art is so consistent at this point that I almost tire of saying it. In this issue I notice how he made every room in Academy look unique. This may sound easy but it's not. Eisma gives Morning Glory Academy the perfect atmosphere. There's a also a subtle effect of Eisma's art. Morning Glories school seems massive.

Deeper Characterization: In this issue Spencer digs deeper into what makes these kids tick. Literally every page is about fleshing these characters out and allowing us to discover who they are.

Nice Twist: The ending of the issue isn't exactly shocking but it catches you off guard though. It's a nice beat they can be taken in several directions and it defintley left me salivating for the next issue.

Reflective: In a past review I mentioned that what separates a good story from a great one is what it has to say about life. The exploration of the human condition, if you will. There's a nice scene where this is on display towards the back of the book.

What you won't

Ensemble cast: It's just the nature of the beast. Spencer's a great juggler, but it's hard to juggle this many characters. I'm interested to see how he does it. It's not really a problem for me personally because my two favorite characters are consistently highlighted. But I can see where some are coming from.

Slowed down: There's a lot of planning in this issue, which is never my favorite. It's very smart planning but people sitting around talking, or plotting as it were, can seem to drag.

In between: I felt like this was a bridge issue to get us towards the end of the arc. Spencer raised the stakes but not in any way that's new. We've seen the children punished before, so that's nothing new.


Bottom Line: Morning Glories has consistently been one of the best books on the shelves since its inception. This is a book you can give to your girlfriend.(or any other non comic reader for that matter)

Grade: B+

Cam Newton:Hypocrisy, Racism or Circumstance

By :Cory Carlton


So a lot has been made of the Cam Newton saga and to be honest I won’t say it’s much to do about nothing but its pretty close. If Auburn indeed did pay Newton 210,000 to come there to be quite honest they got a steal.

Newton will be at Auburn for two years max which equals tuition of at $40,000. Add the let’s shoot high and say $350,000(I’m sure he’s gotten some spending money along the way) and you’re looking at Auburn making a $400,000 investment. Last year without Cam Auburn finished 8-5 and went to the Outback bowl, receiving around 4 million dollars for participating. This year Auburn is slated to go to the BCS national title game in which the payout will be around 17 million dollars. That’s at the very least a 13 million dollar difference. If you ask me that’s the best investment I’ve ever heard of. I wish the stock market had ROI like that.

And for those of you playing the holier than thou card pretending to be shocked about what you are reading, let’s be honest the payroll in the SEC is much higher than the American League Central. If Cam Newton made a mistake it wasn’t taking money because it seems like he did that pretty well, the mistake was asking a school that you know couldn’t afford you for that much money. The reason Mississippi State is snitching is because they have nothing to lose. You think Cam and his daddy Creflo just asked MSU for money but just skipped that step when LSU and Oklahoma came knocking?? Of course they didn’t but Oklahoma and LSU participate in the code so they don’t want to open Pandora’s Box. This isn’t some magic revelation that college players get paid, just like people knew Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were on steroids, or people know that the NFL treats their players like crap and give them no insurance once they retire or that one and done college basketball players attend maybe one class……. All year. NO ONE CARES and when I say cares I mean people don’t have a true sense of what's wrong, at least not the ones actually watching the games. People might get self righteous and try to “protect the best interest of the game” but no one truly cares or wants to fix the issues. And I don’t think they should.

The most self-righteous of them all is the NCAA and SEC. So let me get this straight SEC you can suspend Bruce Pearl proactively but not Cam Newton. I wonder what the reason for that is. Is it integrity? Of course not it’s money. Because when it’s all said and done Auburn might have to give back a title and the wins but the SEC doesn’t have to give back that 17 mil. In basketball there are no bowl games so Tennessee becomes irrelevant. The reason they truly suspended Pearl is similar to the reason USC fired Tim Floyd. When it comes time for the “hammer” to come down you throw the basketball team under the bus because they are less profitable, it’s a business.

So in about six months or so after the bowl games and Auburn has won a title and Newton has won a Heisman and this story has died down, the NCAA will probably rule that Newton was ineligible. Then everyone will come down on Newton and tell the world that he is a bad person because he took money. If someone is making over 20 million dollars of pure profit from your services you are no amateur. How can you truly expect someone from Newton’s economic background to actually turn down the money is my real question. So why does the person become the necessary evil? Why was Reggie Bush vilified? Ultimately the first thing that comes to mind is because he is black. No matter what planet you live on it should be no surprise to you that racism still exist in America. Where are the white cases of Sean Bell or Amadou Diallo? Why do African Americans account for just 28 percent of drug usage in America yet account for 73 percent of drug related arrests. So yes racism exists but it doesn’t really here. '

Did the story come out because of racism? No if Cameron Newton was white this would have still happened. Did the story reach this high of magnitude because Newton is black? No. The only aspect that race may play a part is that if Newton was white he may get the benefit of doubt. But seeing as though he is actually guilty I’m not really sure how that is pertinent to the situation. So is Cam Newton a victim of racism? Somewhat. Is Newton a victim of hypocrisy? Absolutely, but more so Newton is a victim of circumstance. Sh*t hit the fan and someone has to take the fall and since Newton will stop making Auburn money in about three months it will have to be him. It’s not racial it’s just the way it is. And once again No one cares.

Ten Questions with ArchVillian author Barry Lyga

1. Why do you write?

It's always been a compulsion of mine. It's less about the actual act of writing, for me, and more about the idea of telling stories. My most vivid memories of childhood all relate to telling stories in one way or another. And now I get to do it for a big audience...and I get paid for it!

2. What's your writing process? Do you used pen and paper(at any point), outlines, note cards etc..? How many hours a day? Basically any details you like to share about your writing process.

Pen and paper still have a place in my workflow: If I'm away from the computer and inspiration strikes, I may use pen and paper if I don't have easy access to my cell or my iPad. But I also print out everything I write and edit it with a pen; it's the only way I can do it.

My actual writing process is outlined on my blog: http://barrylyga.com/new/wa-my-method.html

3. When you get an idea for a story what's the first thing you do?And where do the ideas come from?

When I get an idea, usually the first thing I do it...ignore it! Seriously. Ideas are cheap and easy. The tough thing is finding GOOD ideas. So when an idea pops into my head, I turn it over a few times, think about it a little bit, and then forget about it. If it's a good one, then it'll keep nagging at me until I finally sit down and pound out some notes on it. If it's a bad one, then I'll forget all about it and never waste another moment on it.

As to where they come from... I don't know. I feel like ideas just float around in the air and sometimes I bump into them.

4. What made you delve into young adult fiction, and how is it
different from writing adult fiction?

Well, I delved into YA because a bunch of friends suggested I try it. So I wrote my first book -- The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl -- to see if I could write for that age group and surprise, surprise! I loved it!

The only real difference -- for me -- is that the main character and most of the supporting characters have to be kids. So the focus has to be on them, not on the adults. Which is fine, because I enjoy writing from the point of view of kids.

> 5. What's your breaking in story? (Comics/novels)

Well, I wrote my novel, but first I had written a lot of other stuff -- short stories and some other novels -- that wasn't all that good. So by writing the stuff that wasn't good, I learned how to improve and how to hone my skills. It took a long time, but I eventually got to the point where I wrote a novel that I knew was good. I went to a writers' conference, where I met my agent and that's when I broke in.

6. The protagonist in your story, Kyle plays a lot of pranks where
did your inspiration for the pranks come from?.

I just tried to think of things that kids would do -- like pantsing someone -- and then gave them a special Kyle-twist...like adding a laser!

7. Kyle definitely makes some morally ambiguous choices in the novel.
As a writer how do you address that and still have your audience have
empathy for him?

The trick is to have those choices be understandable. So that the audience thinks "Well, he did the wrong thing there, but I understand WHY he did it." It's also important that Kyle tries to do the right thing in some cases and it backfires on him. That makes it a little more understandable that he would sometimes make the wrong choice, because doing the right thing didn't really work out for him, so why not try something else?

8. You use several familiar superhero tropes, what's their
inspiration and are any heroes that Kyle and other characters in the
story are based on?

The basic inspiration was as simple as this: What if you got superpowers...but you couldn't tell anyone? And what if you ended up with everyone thinking you were a bad guy? I just started from there and ran with it. Of course, I was inspired by a lot of superhero tropes, but there's something like seventy years of comic book superheroes out there -- it would be tough to narrow down or explain all of the inspirations! I just try to have fun with Kyle and his world.

9. What writers have or still do inspire you?

As a kid, I was really inspired by comic book writers like Alan Moore and Paul Levitz, but also by genre writers like Stephen King and Joe Haldeman. Later, I was inspired by classic literary writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and John Milton. Really, it's just a question of reading stories that made my imagination go wild. I'm inspired by any writer who can take a story I've seen before and do something amazing and unexpected with it.

10. You've taken the traditional superhero story and turned it on
its head. What do you think your story has to say about the Super Hero genre?

Oh, I don't think it has anything to say about the superhero genre, unless it's that I really, REALLY love superheroes. :) I'm not trying to comment on the genre or deconstruct it or anything like that. I'm just using the tools people have used for decades and trying to have some fun and do something unexpected. If I do my job right, hopefully people will be really surprised as the story develops.