More interesting stuff should be happening.

Some quick comic book reviews, because I'm just waiting for work to end. This is just the stuff I've read so far.

Amazing Spider-Man #513 - so there's a whole story here, for those non-comic book people. Back in the seventies, Peter Parker's love life involved two women: Mary Jane and Gwen Stacey. MJ was kind of the bad girl, and Gwen was the good girl. She was, as I read somewhere, the Mother Theresa of Marvel Comics. So, of course, she gets killed by the Green Goblin. So people mourned, and moved on. In the story, Peter marries MJ. All is right with the world. Flash foward to 2004, where J. Michael Straczynski does this story about these two superpowered people trying to kill Peter. They know that he's Spider-Man, and they're out for blood. Peter sees their faces, and they look oddly like Gwen and Norman Osbourne (the Green Goblin). MJ tells him a story of how they are Gwen's kids, and that she had sex with Norman, who subsequintly killed her and acted as Uncle Norman to the kids, training them to go after Peter when they grew up, which happened much faster due to their changed DNA. So people are throwing a shit-fit about this defimation of Gwen's character, how she would never have sex with Norman. But I think it works. Sometimes girls have sex with people they shouldn't. And good storytelling is about change. And this is definatley a change.

Catwoman #36 and Batman #633 - the last two parts of War Games, a massive crossover that's been going on for the last three months. Some major changes: Oracle's clocktower is blown-up, Spoiler dies, Batman's relationship with the police force changes drastically, and Black Mask is instituted as the crime lord of Gotham City. Good crime stuff here.

Daredevil #66 - The first Kingpin, Alexander Bont, is released from jail. He had been taken down by Daredevil and defended by Matt Murdock. Now an old man, and armed with the public knowledge that Matt is Daredevil, he sets out for revenge. The issue goes from present day to the 1950s, to the golden age of comics, when Daredevil wore the yellow costume. The art is amazing. The scenes set way in the past are in black and white, and once we hit the yellow costume stuff it just becomes genius. It pays homage to that old system of comics art while being very Alex Maleev at the same time. Well done. I was very pleased.

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (of 6) - Only Blake will care about this. Hal Jordan's return to the DC universe begins here. As the Spectre seems to be getting more crazy, John Stewart wants to know why. Kyle Rayner appears in a ship emerged from the sun, and Hal reappears to his wife Carol. Also, Oliver Queen kicks lots as ass, and Guy Gardner gets horribly ill. Awesome stuff here, especially the artwork. I think this is going to end up being the story about the other four Green Lanterns besides Hal Jordan: Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Alan Scott, than it is going to be about Hal. I dug it.

Work needs to end.

Arg. For some reason, every comic in the universe decided it wanted to come out today. So I'm gonna have to split my stash into two groups. But, all in all, here's what's coming out this week: Adam Strage #2 (of 8), the first issue of which I very much enjoyed; Amazing Fantasy #5, which is ending at issue six and the restarting under a different name (although I'm not going to pick up the relaunch); Amazing Spider-Man #513, which is creating alot of controversy, but I still like it; The Authority: Revolution #1 (of 12), which is the start of a new Authority series from Ed Brubaker and Dustin Nguyen; Batman #633, which is the last issue of War Games; Birds of Prey #75, which is super-sized; Black Widow #2 (of 6), the first issue of which was very good; A Cal McDonald Mystery: Last Train to Deadsville #4 (of 4), which is so late coming out, I don't even remember the plot; Catwoman #36, which, I think, is Ed Brubaker's next to last issue; Daredevil #66, which kicks off The Golden Age storyarc; Doctor Spectrum #3 (of 6), which, while good, is no substitute for Supreme Power; Elektra: The Hand #3 (of 5); of which I still need to read issue two; The Flash #215, which continues to tie into Identity Crisis; Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (of 6), in which Hal Jordan comes back, and Blake and I are left unknowing how to respond; JLA #107, which starts Kurt Busiek's run on the title; Mystique #20, which starts the Quiet storyarc; Outsiders #17, which has to suck right now because Teen Titans is so good (I have a theory that both books can not be good at the same time; one always has to suck); Planetary #21, which is always like a lost friend coming home; Powerless #5 (of 6), which is so freakin' cool; PvP #10, because Scott Kurtz is a hack; Richard Dragon #6, which is actually really good; Silver Surfer #14, which is last issue (but it wasn't that good anyways); Singularity 7 #4 (of 4), of which I still need to get issue three; Solo #1, a strange new anthology title from DC, this one drawn by Tim Sale; Soulfire #2, because I'm a massive tool; Strange #2 (of 6), which is from J. Michael Straczynski and Samm Barnes; Superman #210, to which I groan with waning anticipation; 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales #1, which should be really cool; Ultimate Elektra #3 (of 5), which isn't as good as it should be; We3 #2 (of 3), which is far better than it should be; The Witching #5, of which I still need to recieve issue four; Wolverine #21, which is the second part of Mark Millar's run on the title; Wonder Woman #209, which is always cool; and X-Men #163, which is Chuck Austen's next to last issue.

Again, I can't possibly get all of that this week. Because I'm a loser. Or, you know, just in college.

The internet has returned.

They took our internet away. But from what I understand, it's only in our building. It's very annoying.

Nothing interesting has been going on, really. I'm trying not to work, and I have a paper due tomorrow that I still need to write.

Misty got me a second job working for Dr. Watson. It's moving lots and things and screwing boards into floors. But it pays, and it's something else to do. It'll give a little extra money for Wizard World and pay off my book loan. And it's only for a few weeks, which is good.

I wish I had something more interesting to report.

Tomorrow.

They killed Robin's dad in Identity Crisis #5. It's kinda sad. Oh, and Firestorm.

I need sleep.

I hate everything right about now. Amanda shares the hate with me.

Perhaps comics will cheer me up. They usually do. This week there is: Adventures of Superman #633, the best Superman book out there right now; Batgirl #57, part of War Games; Conan #9, mead and grog, bitch; Fantastic Four #519, which is always cool as long as Mike Weiringo is writing it; Firestorm #6, which is supposed to tie into Identity Crisis; Gambit #3, which I'm probably going to drop come issue six; Gotham Knights 58, which is also part of War Games; Identity Crisis #5 (of 7), which I'm going to read first; Identity Disc #5 (of 5), which finishes Marvel's lame attempt to cash in a DC's success; Madrox #2 (of 5), a murder mystery from Peter David; Manhunter #3, which is really cool; Ocean #1 (of 6), which is from Warren Ellis, so I'm sure my head will explode after I read it; Robin #131; which is part of War Games as well; Rogue #4, which I was going to drop at issue six, but Tony Bedard (Exiles) and Karl Moline (Fray) are coming on board as the new creative team with issue seven, so I'll have to give it another shot; Spectacular Spider-Man #20, which needs to get good again; Teen Titans #17, which has something to do with the future... I'm not really sure; Ultimate Spider-Man #67, in which hilarity ensues; and Uncanny X-Men #451, which is fine as long as Alan Davis is drawing it.

I'm also going to be getting a bunch of stuff from the past few weeks.

My car has grown on me. It also ate a Geo. And Chris.

My really good week from last week has played itself out. Now it's just Monday, and I have an old car to get me around. I have little money until the end of the week, and I really should talk to one of two people. I really just need to ignore the one. That's the thought process, anyways.

Work needs to be over.

Part two of Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars comes on tonight. I'm excited.

alan's immense sense of confusion or how the hell did i get myself into this?

So I got my car yesterday. It's fucking huge and pale yellow and you have to let it warm up for fifteen mintues before you can put it into gear.

I didn't get a date this weekend. I spent the day with my dad. No biggie, beside that fact that the longer this goes on, the more my mind has time to think on why I did it in the first place. We've really got nothing in common. There's this sense of just plain uninterest I get from this person. And there's this other, far cooler person I've noticed recently. Someone who seems to be noticing me back. But again, I can't read people for shit.

I'll sort it out tomorrow. Now is the time for sleep.

I woke up early this morning for some reason. I usually get to sleep in on Friday, but I got up at around 9:00 this morning. I've been trying to kill time before I have to go to work. Man, if I didn't have work or school, I would just stay home and watch TNT all day. Except Charmed. How the hell is that show still on the air? Why is Angel cancelled but that dumb ass show is still around?

Lost on Wednesday was possibly the best episode of any show I've ever seen. Everything about it was just so dead on, and had the greatest reveal near the end. Locke owns that show. I hope they don't, you know... kill him off. That particular episode was written by David Fury, one of my favorite television writers. If I can geek out for a moment, he worked on Buffy and and wrote a ton of really great episodes for those shows, like Helpless, where Buffy loses her powers; Lies My Parents Told Me, which is one of the best Spike episodes ever; Destiny, where Angel and Spike beat the shit out of each other for thirty minutes; You're Welcome, the one where Cordelia comes back; and a ton of other ones. I'm glad he's working on Lost now.

If all goes according to plan, this weekend will kick all kinds of ass. My dad is supposed to be coming tomorrow to bring me that car, so I'm not walking everywhere and bumming rides off of people. And I have a date tomorrow. With her. It's amazing. If she doesn't go out of town tomorrow, I have a date, anyways. But I called her yesterday and she didn't sound disgusted to talk to me. She actually sounded like she wanted to talk to me. It's stange.

I'm horrible at this. Why can't I just read minds like normal people? As I friend of mine put it, "99% of the time, I'm wrong about this type of this. So I figure whatever my gut reaction is, it's usually the opposite of that." He has a way of putting things into perspective for me. I really do have cool friends.

Wizard World Dallas is in three weeks. I'm psyched about that, as well. Blake broke up with his girlfriend and will now be able to hang out with us. As bad as that sounds, I'm glad they're not together anymore. She kinda creeped me out, even if my cat did come from her. So me and Blake get to be complete dorks for a whole weekend, and teach Chris and Amanda in the ways of the comic book nerd. It's going to be so freakin' cool. And Julie Benz is going to be there. Blake and I shall stalk her for a good part of the convention.

I have to got to work now.

I left a note on her door. It's very high school of me, I know. So after a day of extreme nervousness and high blood pressure, I saw her as she was leaving work. She told me it was very sweet and to come by later. So, I guess things are looking up. Unless to she wants to crush all my hopes and dreams in person. Then things won't be looking up.

No interesting developments. Maybe later today. It's still morning.

I do, however, get to pick up comic books today. Here's the mighty list, some of which are going to wait until I have a little more money: Action Comics #820, continuing Chuck Austen's run on the book (who has been doing some good work for DC lately); Bloodhound #4, a newer series that I'm enjoying quite a bit; Captain America #32, the final issue of this current volume; Enginehead #5 (of 6), a book that immensley enjoy but couldn't tell you why; Ex Machina #5, one of the best books out there... this is Brian Vaughan at his best; Fables #30, which looks like it's about to get back on track; Gotham Central #24, another of the best books out there right now; Green Arrow #43, which is always freakin' awesome; Hawkman #33, which I can't bring myself to drop (he's just so damn cool); Iron Man #89, the final issue of the current volume; Justice League Elite #4 (of 12), so freakin' cool; JSA #66, which is always enjoyable; Legends of the Dark Knight #184, which is part of War Games; Marvel Knights 4 #11, which I enjoy; Marvel Knights Spider-Man #7, which is fun book; Nightwing #98, which is also part of War Games; Powers #5, in which I hope nobody important dies; The Punisher #12, which I might drop after this issue (the next arc has Nick Fury in it, which might deem picking up); Secret War #3 (of 5), which is really late; Ultimate Nightmare #3 (of 5), which is some cool Warren Ellis goodness; Ultimate X-Men #53, which is more awesomeness from Brian K. Vaughan; and X-Men: The End Book One #4 (of 6), which has its high points.

All for now.

I'm usually very good at reading people. Most of the time, anyways. But every once and a while, I get this person who is unreadable to me. It's confusing.

I took a couple of friends's advice and simply asked, in this friendly way. She said it was nothing, just her nervousness about being in large groups of people that seems to make her be a different person. I don't know if I'm as into that person as I usually am, although had it been directed at me I probably wouldn't be bitching about it.

I've considered turning my attentions elsewhere, but I don't think that would be possible. It's again turned into wait and see rather than act and go for it. I'm still a puss when it comes to things like this.

It's more disappointment than anything else. Right now I'm feel like perhaps it can be salvaged, although I'm not sure if I want it anymore. I still need to get the whole story.

If my neighbors don't stop blasting shitty music through my wall I will kill somebody.

Woking internet now is apartment dormroom. Happy is are me immediate time.

Something strange. On Tuesday I left my English class early. My professor sent me an e-mail asking me not to duck out of class early without letting him know before hand. I didn't know he cared.

Actually, it's strange. There's probably thirty other people in that class, and someone always leaves early. I wonder if he e-mails all of them.

I got an 85 on my History paper, which is good enough.

It's only Wednesday. For some reason this week has felt incredibly long. The good is that comics come out. The bad is that I don't get paid until tomorrow. The good is that I can write a check and Dale will hold it for me. So here's what's coming out today: Captain America and the Falcon #8, which is a book that I dig the hell out of, but I'm not sure why; Conan and the Daughters of Midora, which I might get at a later date; Detective Comics #799, the first part of act three of War Games; Exiles #53, which is always good; Jubilee #2, which I've had to defend alot; Majestic #3 (of 4), which is surprisingly good; The Monolith #9, which I've been enjoying; NYX #5, which is so late I don't really care anymore; PvP #9, which is always hilarious; Teen Titans/Legion, which looks interesting; Thor #85, which is the last issue; Tomb of Dracula #1, which ought to be really cool; Ultimate Spider-Man #66, which is always good; Uncanny X-Men #450, which I enjoy; Wolverine #20, Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s first issue that I'm looking foward to; and Y: The Last Man #27, which always kicks lots of ass.

It's a surprisingly light week for comics. For me, anyways. I wish I had more money and I would clean out my box some. Hoepfully my dad will come down this weekend and bring a car and monetary goodness.

I beginning to wonder how the world can function when simple things like hooking up an internet connection in six apartment buildings is to much to ask. Word is November, which is ridiculous. The semester is over by the middle of December. Yeah, I have this cushy job where I can check my e-mail and message boards and take five minutes to post on my blog, but there are about two hundred other people who aren't as fortunate. So, I'm going to demand reimbursment. Somewhere it was figured how much I pay for an internet connection, and I demand my six weeks worth of money back. Hell, it'll be twelve weeks by the time I actually get it.

I'm also wondering how I can, at the same time, enjoy my plethora of comic books, music such as Jurassic 5 and The Roots and Bad Religion and Flogging Molly, and television shows such as Gilmore Girls and The O.C. It's confusing. It's as if a large black man and a fourteen year old girl are trapped in my body, trying to get out. I apparently also have an old Jewish man stuck in there as well, because I also watch The West Wing, Law and Order, and Crossing Jordan. Even more confusing.

I am a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma.