Stan Lee

Remembering Stan the Man

November 13, 2018 // 2 Comments

So as I’m sure anyone who could possibly be reading this has already heard, Stan Lee passed away yesterday, at the age of 95. He had a good long run by anyone’s standards, and this week is being mourned by millions around the world, many of whom have never read a funnybook in their lives. But on the whole, he leaves behind a complicated legacy. To the world at large, Stan will be remembered as Smilin’ Stan! Stan the Man! Everybody’s funnybook grandpa! And that’s an image he honestly [...]

Funnybooks on Film

May 1, 2017 // 0 Comments

So it’s one of those weeks where real life gets in the way of my fun, and I just don’t have the time or energy for my usual long-winded meanderings. So instead, I thought I’d share someone else’s, in the form of a some funnybook documentaries that have made their way past my eyes recently. Enjoy, and we’ll (hopefully) resume regular service next week. First up, we’ve got a video that’s been making the rounds on social media of late, ever since Sean [...]

Fantastic Four Remix, Part Two: A Matter of Character

December 13, 2016 // 2 Comments

So here we are again. Nobody burned the nerd farm down after last week’s excursion into fan fiction (in fact, I appreciate the kindness a few of you showed it). So we’re back for Round Two. But if you were fortunate enough to have missed that first part, you can go here to read it now. The gist of it, though, is that a discussion I ran across of Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four movie got me thinking rather vigorously about what I would do if given the task of rebooting the [...]

A Whole Buncha Nothin’

March 15, 2016 // 2 Comments

So I’ve got nothing to write about this week. It happens sometimes. I mean, I read some funnybooks last week, but nothing I could fill a column with. The only new book I picked up, for instance, was the third issue of Andrew MacLean’s excellent Head Lopper… …and all I’ve really got to say about it is that it’s more of the same crazily-inventive fantasy adventure nonsense he served up in the first two issues. The plot thickens a bit, certainly, with more [...]

THINGBEARD: Staring into the Abyss

February 9, 2016 // 2 Comments

Beginning an irregular series, in which we look back at one aspect or another of the nerd farm’s favorite super-team, The Fantastic Four! This week: the first five issues, and the incredible importance of that time the Thing became a pirate… The Greatest Moment in Funnybook History occurred in 1962, in the pages of Fantastic Four #5. And it looked a little like this: Clearly, some explanation is in order. Because, yes. That’s the Thing. Dressed like a pirate. Declaring his [...]

Heavy, Man, Heavy: Jim Starlin’s Thanos Saga, Part Two

December 10, 2013 // 12 Comments

Warlock, by Jim Starlin and Friends Last time, we looked at Jim Starlin’s Thanos Saga, or at least the portion of it that ran in Captain Marvel. That story introduced the Mad Titan in love with Death, and… Actually, you know what? Starlin himself gave us a recap heading into the grand finale of that story, so why not just take a gander at that? It’s fully embiggenable, after all, and I know how much you like embiggening things… Heh. The good thing about that particular [...]

Dork Awards: The 25 Greatest Super-Villains of All Time, Part Five

September 26, 2013 // 8 Comments

So here we are at last. The Top Five, and the end of our countdown of the 25 Greatest Super-Bastards of All Time (click here to check out the whole list). I’m not gonna lie, this has been an exhausting blogging experience. It’s completely eaten my life, or at least the portion of it I set aside for entertainment. I haven’t read a book or watched a movie since I started this thing, and I’m crazy behind on new comics, too. But that’s okay, because it’s been [...]

Dork Awards: The 25 Greatest Super-Villains of All Time, Part Three

September 16, 2013 // 3 Comments

Hello, and welcome back to our countdown of the 25 Greatest Funnybook Super-Bastards Ever! What’s that? This is your first visit? You didn’t know we were counting down super-bastards? Well, hell! Why didn’t you say so? Part One of our list can be found here… …and Part Two is located here. Or you can just jump in below to see if all that clicking is worth it. We start today with lucky number 13, and then on into the lofty heights of the Top Ten. So, without further [...]

Dork Awards: The 25 Greatest Super Heroes of All Time (Part Three)

June 27, 2013 // 2 Comments

Continuing our countdown of the 25 Greatest Super Heroes of All Time! Part One can be found here, with Part Two here. Go back to get caught up, or dive in below… We’re down to the top five now, and that seems like something of a watershed moment to me. The tension I’ve felt throughout the list between quality of story, quality of concept, and historical importance really ramped up with these characters, and I struggled with what order to put them in. One of them wasn’t [...]

Dork Awards: The 25 Greatest Super Heroes of All Time (Part Two)

June 22, 2013 // 2 Comments

After a day of wrestling with WordPress, our list of the 25 Greatest Spandex Characters of All Time continues! Please forgive any layout problems or typos. It’s been a difficult posting. Part One can be found here, or you can jump right in below. Just remember: one dork’s opinion, nobody will ever agree with every pick, etc etc… 14. The Flash A character whose enduring appeal, I think, is the thrill of speed, the freedom represented by the amazing power of Runs Fast. [...]