ATTENTION TEENAGERS!!!!!

THIS is the hip new trend that will finally make you cool in the eyes of your peers.


Yes.

My picture, printed on your thumb.

this is my xbox gamer tag

I'm told 320 is the highest score in the entire history of X-Box Thirty-Six Zero

Baby's first Blu-Ray: Three Effing Hundred!

I might have mentioned once or twice I've been enjoying watching movies in Blu Ray (never mind my PS3 that I watch it on sucks and practically melts down after fifteen minute of viewing.) I figure it's time to hedge my bets in the war of HD vs. Blu Ray and pick a side, plus I just really wanted a cool looking movie that would stand up to multiple viewings. When we got our PS3 (which we got for free, I would never actually pay for that piece of crap) we got free Blu Ray copies of Kung Fu Hustle and Talladaga Nights. Talladaga, as a movie, is not just ass, but dirty, unfunny ass, so I sold that in just about a heartbeat. I've hung on to Kung Fu Hustle, though I don't have tremendously strong feelings about it one way or the other.

So anyway, I've been looking for a Blu Ray movie to buy, and though I hadn't seen 300 I had a strong suspicion it would kick ass enough, visually, it would be a worthy addition to the Layman permanent collection, especially my fledging Blu Ray collection. Part of this reason owe to a guy name Chris at my new job, who sits in the cubicle next to me (yes, I sit in a cubible--so what?) All the dude EVER talks about is 300, like not only is it the best movie he's ever seen, but it's the best thing that's ever happened to him. Every frickin' day.

So anyway, I bought 300. And it was pretty good. And, of course, it got the "Blu Ray bump," where every movie seems better in Blu Ray.

But then I wondered, is this just my imagination? Psychological justification for the money I spent on that HDTV? Chris, because he loves 300 so much, has a loaner copy of the movie on DVD he keeps at his desk, to "spread the gospel." Just for the hell of it, I borrowed his DVD, so I could watch a scene on DVD, and then on Blu Ray, and see if I could really see a difference, or if it was just in my head.

Holy mother of god. Blu Ray is officially awesome. Compared to regular DVD I could see every hair or this or that Spartan's head. See every grain of sand on the beach and every stitch in somebody's cloak. With Blu Ray, I can see into eternity.

Anyway, I was a pretty good movie. Made better by the bottle of wine I guzzled as I watched it.

I wonder what Blu Ray movie I will buy next.

Mike Wieringo passes at a shockingly young age

I'm been meaning to blog more about James Nadiger, and how he has become the meanest young man in all of Canada, but yesterday I got sidelined by the news that comic book artist Mike Wieringo died on Sunday of a heart attack at age 44.

I didn't know him much. We talked a couple times when I was an editor, but I never worked with him, and I'm pretty sure we never interacted face to face. I loved his stuff, it was clean, and fun and accessible, the sort of work you look at and it makes you feel good about comics, and you could hand Mike's work to somebody who didn't read comics and they would understand its appeal. I particularly liked Wieringo's stuff on Fantastic Four with Mark Waid, and he did a very charming book for Image called Tellos. And Mike's stuff for DC was atypical, because it did not blow, like most of the rest of DC.

Anyway, my happiness and shock that a$$hole Karl Rove is leaving the White House was rapidly overtaken by deep sadness and shock somebody like Mike Wieringo could --snap!-- just like that be gone. I think everybody just assumed we had decades more of seeing his work, regularly, reliably. But no, it was not to be.

Very sad.

James Nadiger Week will be postponed for a while as a result. But I bet even a tough old bastard like James would approve.

RIP Mike Wieringo.

James Nadiger at the bookstore!

Sweaty man scuttles up to the front desk.

SWEATY MAN: How much is that copy of The Mint in that display case?

JNADIGER: It's $74.95. Says here it's a first UK Edition.

SM: Let me see it.

JN: Since it's a pricey book, I'm going to hold it and show it TO you.

JN (inside his head): Particularly when you look like sketchy fucking weirdo.

SM: What? Fine. Show me inside the dust jacket. Show me that back page. Now let me smell it.

JN: What?

SM: Let me smell the book.

JN: *holds the book up to the guy's face.*

SM: No, no. If I can't handle the book AND smell it, I won't be buying it.

JN: Okay. Well. Better luck next time, then.

SHOCKER!!! Layman admits paternity!!!!

LOS GATOS, California (Reuters) -- Comic writer/blogger John Layman publicly acknowledged on Friday having fathered a child out of wedlock with Spice Girls alternate singer "Churro Spice," who brought a paternity suit against him earlier this week.

A brief statement issued by Layman's publicist said the 49-year-old writer of "Sentinel Squad O*N*E" and the "Dark Xena" comic books "always has and will continue to honor his responsibilities as a father."

"Mr. Layman acknowledges paternity of the child Carter, and has paid child support as well as covering the expenses of the pregnancy."

The statement concluded by saying Layman "views this as a private matter, and as such, will not be making any further comments about it."

Layman had never publicly acknowledged paternity before.

Suit was filed against Layman in Los Gatos Superior Court on Wednesday, seeking to legally establish his paternity and seeking unspecified child support for the 8-month-old boy.

A DNA test in June confirmed that Layman is the father of Carter Zane "Reggie Junior" Layman, who was born in December. The couple dated last year and "Churro," 23, an alternate member of the British pop music phenomenon, listed Layman as the father on the child's birth certificate.

On Sale Today: SCARFACE SCARRED FOR LIFE TPB

One lousy production error on page 2 of issue 2 keeps this from being the perfect book. But it's still pretty damn awesome.

One of my favorite things I've ever done, and a pure pleasure to be a part of. Pick it up.