We take a moment away from our continuing coverage of the Infinite Crisis to take a look at the lead in to Marvel Comics' big event, Civil War.







Or as I've come to think of it, "The End of My Reading Marvel Comics"



A few months back in New Avengers, Brian Bendis introduced us to The Illuminati, a group of major players in the Marvel Universe who would meet to discuss matters of great importance and share intelegence on threats on the horizon. That group was comprised of Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange, Professor Xavier, Black Bolt of the Inhumans and the Sub-Mariner. In the story in which they were introduced, they met to discuss the Sentry, a hero with phenominal power that mysteriously, no one could remember. The idea of the Illuminati struck a chord and Bendis promised to get back to it. Which brings us to the Special.



In which we get to see the founding of this council, and that the Black Panther could have been a part of it. We also learn that Iron Man had intended it to be more than just an intelegence sharing mechanism. He had wanted to marshall all heroes under one banner, for the betterment of the planet. T'Challa, the Black Panther, deemed it a bad and dangerous idea, warning no good could come of it. In the end he appears to be right, but that's getting ahead of ourselves.



Next we see the group debating a more recent Hulk event, and what to do with the Hulk in general. The debate becomes heated when ther idea of bannishment is brought up. All but Namor support it. And so the group decides to go ahead, which brings Namor and Iron Man to blows. Namor quits the group warning that the Hulk will be back, and angry, and when that day comes the Sub-Mariner will be on his side. It's the begining of some dark times in the Marvel Universe.



The final act surrounds the future of the Marvel Universe, and how the Illuminati could shape it. Congress is proposing a Superhero Registration Act. And Iron Man wants the group to endorse and support it. He wants to be ahead of the curve, controlling it's effect from the inside. ANd this suggestion is what kills the Illuminati.



And the speech that Iron Man gives to make his point is what kills the Marvel Universe for me.



It's written well enough. It fits Iron Man's reasoning and character. It is also, unfortunately, comprised of most of the early solicitations for the Civil War event. Point by point, Iron Man rattles off the information we've gotten through Marvel's previews and solicits: Young heroes screw up on TV for everyone to see- Check. See the preview pages to Civil War #1. Spider-Man arrested- Check. It's been batted around the internet that Spidey's going to take it on the chin during this one. I even remember reading something about SHIELD taking Peter into custody the other day. Families torn apart by the decisions they are forced to make in choosing sides- Check. The FF are going to get shook up in this, too. It's all over their solicits for April and May.



And then, just in case you hadn't gotten all that, they give us a lettered version of the pages previewed in Wizard, in which the New Warriors, who's current status quo involves a reality show, try taking down a group of villains, resulting in former Captain Marvel villain Nitro blowing up and taking out a grade school.



How marvelously subtle.



So, I'm left with the impression that one of two things happened. One, Bendis wrote his story, Millar read it, and since Bendis name checked the Young Avengers and Runaways, Millar used the New Warriors. Or two, Millar wrote his story, Bendis read it, and name checked the Runaways and YA because Millar used the Warriors. Either way, having Iron Man spout the contents of Marvel's Previews insert does not come off as prescient, it comes off as sloppy writing.



I've been favoring DC over Marvel pretty heavily of late, and this just helped to shift that balance further. DC's One Year Later is coming off beautifully. It's a lot of fun, and very well constructed. Civil War has held little interest for me, now it holds none. I'm getting out of my Marvel titles that are a part of it, which pretty much leaves me Captain America and The Thing. And from the sounds of things, The Thing's going to get cancelled pretty soon. Which is a shame. Oh well, at least I've got the Ultimate line until the Squadron Supreme crossover. I could have a lot of money freed up after that, too. One thing at a time though.



New Avengers: Illuminati Special

4 of 10. It's okay on it's technical merits, but it has left such a sour taste in my mouth, I just can't recommend it.

Related posts:

1. New Avengers: Illuminati #1
2. New Avengers: Illuminati #03
3. Civil War #1

The latest in the series of reviews, Day of Vengence targets the mystical corners of the DCU.







Items of Import for Day of Vengence:

-As a result of the events of Identity Crisis, Jean Loring is commited to Arkham Asylum.

-After the events of Green Lantern: Rebirth the Spectre is now hostless, a very dangerous thing indeed.





Dark forces are at work in the mystic realms. In Arkham Asylum, Jean Loring is being seduced by the Eclipso diamond, a dangerous mystic artifact. Already in a fragile mental state, Loring is ovecome, becoming the new Eclipso. Meanwhile, in Gotham City, another dark hero, the Ragman, is going about his work, absorbing the souls of the damned. He is summoned by an unknown force, which turns out to be the Enchantress, a former member of the Suicide Squad. The Enchantress informs him of the Spectre's rampage. The two of them retreat from the sceen of the Spectre's attack to the Oblivion Bar, a mystical safe haven and tavern. The Spectre's attack is the talk of the bar.



In a moment of frustration, the Enchatress calls for action, trying to rouse the sorcerors and warriors in the room to action. No one is taking, and Ragman recommends that they wait for the big guns, Doctor Fate or The Phantom Stranger, to take care of things. An unexpected voice says that isn't going to happen. That voice belongs to Detective Chimp.



DETECTIVE CHIMP!!!!



Okay, I'm better now... um... Detective Chimp. That's when I knew this was going to be a good time. He explains that plan won't work, then introduces the assembly to the transmogrified Phantom Stranger, now a mouse. Detective Chimp lays down the law and asks who's with him and the Enchantress. In other parts, the wizard Shazam sets Captain Marvel on the Spectre's trail.



Issue Two shows the hostless Spectre on a rampage of biblical wrath, and details his hooking up with the new Eclipso, who seeks to give guidance for his wrath. In the Oblivion Bar, the Enchantress scrys to get the details of these events. Watching her work are the people who will end up forming the rest of the team. In addition to Ragman, the Enchantress and DETECTIVE CHIMP!!! >ahem< are the Blue Devil, a former effects man trapped in a suit of his own design, now half demon thanks to the events of Underworld Unleashed, Nightshade, a former Charlton Comic hero, and Jim Rook, the Nightmaster, who I'm unfamiliar with. I think I may have seen him in the Books of Magic mini-series. Details of the Spectre's war on the major players of the DCU magic scene, and with Eclipso's guidance Doctor Fate, Madam Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger are quickly eliminated. The newly formed team sets out to find the Spectre, but Detective Chimp sets out to get Plan B arranged, just in case. With Nightshade's help he's off, and the team finds the Spectre and Eclipso engaged with Captain Marvel.



Issue Three continues the battle, as told from the perspective of the Blue Devil. Issue Three is also notable because it's the second mini to have a fill-in artist. Unlike the debacle of Val Semeikis in Villains United, here we get a very fine job by Ron Wagner. Wagner is a journeyman, and here he does a really good job of maintaining the vibe created by regular artist Justiniano.



While the Shadowpact does battle with Eclipso, Detective Chimp and Nightshade seek out the assistance of what may be the most powerful mystic on the planet. Back at the battle, the Enchantress comes up with a new plan. She starts to channel the power of mystics around the world into Captain Marvel, to even the odds with the Spectre.



Issue Four continues the battle with the Spectre. Things are going well, until the influx of power warps the Enchantress. She goes berzerk, turning on the Shadowpact. A quick right hook from the Blue Devil takes care of that problem, leaving the some time to explore the mystery of Black Alice.



Issue Five deals with the aftermath of the battle between Captain Marvel and the SPectre. As the Shadowpact recupperates, Black Alice's powers are revealed. She's able to absorb and control the powers of any magic user for a short time, meaning to deal with the Spectre, they can use the power of the Spectre. Emboldened by the news, the Shadowpact prepare for battle. In the meantime, Captain Marvel tries to rally the wizard Shazam with news of their allies success, but is told in the end the fight must fall to thew wizard himself. The Shadowpact draw the Spectre into battle, and Black Alice does her thing. One hitch, without his power the Spectre's an empty shell, there's nothing to effect. Bad news that sets the stage for the final issue.



The Shadowpact can't harm the Spectre, so they turn their attention to his guidance, the madwoman Eclipso. Between Black Alice's borrowed Spectre powers and Nightshade's teleportation ability, Eclipso is quickly taken care of. Alice can't hold the power, however, and soon the Spectre is on his way into final battle with the wizard Shazam. With the aid of a restored Phantom Stranger, the Shadowpact is able to watch the wizard do battle with the maddened Spectre. It is fierce, but in the end there can only be one result. The Spectre murders the wizard Shazam and sunders the Rock of Eternity, freeing the Seven Deadly Sins upon the world. Standing in somber defeat, the Shadowpact vows to continue their fight against the Spectre, a fight that will lead them into the Crisis at hand.



Day of Vengence is a fun series, a perfect reflection of Bill Willingham's sensablities. As anyone who ever read Fables knows, the man has all the tools in his box: horror, comedy, drama and pathos. He's in fine form here, which has me excited for the Shadowpact ongoing coming out of Infinite Crisis. Praise should be heaped upon artist Justiniano, as well. His work is a lot of fun, but hits all the notes called foir in the script as well. They were a fine pair. Willingham will be drawing the Shadowpact ongoing, while Justiniano moves to a new Creeper series.



Day of Vengence

A solid 8 of 10. I'd even go as high as 9, if only for the inspired use of DETECTIVE CHIMP!

Got to love a drunk, talking monkey...

Related posts:

1. Infinite Crisis Mega-Review: Infinite Crisis Secret Files+
2. Infinite Crisis Mega-Review: Countdown To Infinite Crisis
3. Infinite Crisis Mega-Review: The Rann-Thanagar War

Fuckin WHOA! Finally! This is the type of episode that sold me on "Lost" in the first place. Tension, surprise, confusion, and randomness on an unprecedented scale.



//// SPOILER WARNING \\\\



Focus on Locke always sells me, so re-visiting his back story, complete with MILF-ed out Katey Sagal, was a good place to start. Henry Gale was highlighted again in this episode, too, and I am ALL ABOUT HENRY GALE right now. I did not see the last couple minutes, as my TiVo Season Passes were fucked up (since remedied), but I did read this morning about what happened so I know about notGale.



But fuck all the bullshit, I'm into all the new WTF moments that came down in this episode. Blacklight map of the island, detailing where all the hatches are? CHECK!







LATIN TRANSLATIONS
Aegrescit medendo - The disease worsens with the treatment. The remedy is worse than the disease.
Sursum corda - Lift up your hearts (to God).
Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse - I think we're on the same wavelength.
Malum consilium quod mutari non potest - It's a bad plan that can't be changed.
Cogito ergo doleo - I think therefore I am depressed.
Ut sit magna, tamen certe lenta ira deorum est - The wrath of the gods may be great, but it certainly is slow.
Hic sunt dracones - Here be dragons.
Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendum - Thinking nothing done, while anything was yet to do.
Liberate te ex inferis - Save yourself from hell.
Mus uni non fidit antro - A mouse does not rely on just one hole.



Oceanic Airlines flying over Locke? CHECK! CHECK!











NotGale? CHECK!







WTF airdropped rations? CHECK!



(Sorry, couldn't find a screencap of this event.)



Man, this one was so fucking good. As one of the lost forums states, also, Sayid's lady Nadia is the customer whose house Locke inspects. WTF?



Locke's dad ain't dead? WTF? Here is actually the only point of contention I had with the episode. Why the fuck did Locke do him that solid? Especially when it jeopardized his relationship with MILFy Katey Sagal? They have the raddest relationship ever, and he tosses it for dirtbag kidney theif? Fuckin don't get it man, but whatever.



Jack is back! And here's an interesting thing. Was I the only person who noticed that they focused on Jack's tattoos in this episode? Both visually and verbally. Sawyer asked him about them, but mostly, they highlighted both the front and back of his left shoulder, which they'd not done before. They also gave us a peek for the first time ever at the piece he has on his inner left arm, which they've actually gone to great pains to HIDE until now. Not that you haven't seen it before, but it's always just a shadowy thing. This time they gave us a peek for real. Could be nothing, but could be something. Best quote ever ... "When I want the guns, I'll get the guns." Badass Jack returns.



Le sigh. Kate.



Basically, it's all about that map above. Look at some of those translations. "The disease worsens with the treatment. The remedy is worse than the disease." Quarantine? Ethan's medical hatch? FUCK! "Here be dragons." UH-OH! Ecko's smokey friend? "A mouse does not rely on just one hole." Underground connections? GAAHHHH!!! Some of the English shit is important, too, check this ... "P.R.D.: every 6-8 months" I got ten bucks says that means "Parachute Ration Drop." "Known final resting place of Magnus Hanso. Blackrock." YYYAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!



THERE'S SO MUCH THERE. (This is, of course, predicated on the fact that whoever did that overlay actually knew what they were talking about.)



Man, I'm so re-invigorated by this episode. CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK!

Related posts:

1. Lost : Season 2, Episode 14, "One of Them"
2. Lost, Season 2: Episode 22, "?"
3. Lost- Season 2: Episode 7

Came in the daily junk email. The only curiosity of the day.



The Most Advanced Quadruped Robot on Earth





BigDog is the alpha male of the Boston Dynamics family of robots. It is a quadruped robot that walks, runs, and climbs on rough terrain and carries heavy loads. BigDog is powered by a gasoline engine that drives a hydraulic actuation system. BigDog's legs are articulated like an animal’s, and have compliant elements that absorb shock and recycle energy from one step to the next. BigDog is the size of a large dog or small mule, measuring 1 meter long, 0.7 meters tall and 75 kg weight.



BigDog has an on-board computer that controls locomotion, servos the legs and handles a wide variety of sensors. BigDog’s control system manages the dynamics of its behavior to keep it balanced, steer, navigate, and regulate energetics as conditions vary. Sensors for locomotion include joint position, joint force, ground contact, ground load, a laser gyroscope, and a stereo vision system. Other sensors focus on the internal state of BigDog, monitoring the hydraulic pressure, oil temperature, engine temperature, rpm, battery charge and others.



So far, BigDog has trotted at 3.3 mph, climbed a 35 degree slope and carried a 120 lb load.



BigDog is being developed by Boston Dynamics with help from Foster Miller, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Harvard University Concord Field Station.Development is funded by the DARPA Defense Sciences Office.

For BigDog:

http://www.bdi.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

For other robots:

http://www.bdi.com/content/sec.php?section=robotics

Related posts:

1. Beware of BigDog
2. Link : Gizmodo’s robot section
3. MIT Fraternity Accused Of Robot Hazing

One year, I had a robot costume, made from cardboard and flex tubing, with a candy bag in a secret hatch, and poor visibility. Much like Scout, I fell despite my own enthusiastic robotery and gouged own self on a sprinkler head, requiring a tetanus shot... and gettin' no candy.



I am not alone!







http://www.boingboing.net/2006/03/28/ea ... s_spa.html

Related posts:

1. Wrong: Best Nigerian Reverse-Scam Ever, C64 Edition
2. Skullbot Banned from Children
3. Erik Bergstrom’s Grimmer Tales

Just bumbled acrost this and thought.. when will we see the R3 shirts?



http://www.goats.com/store/item/tshirt_piratemonkeyrobot-1.html





Bob

Related posts:

1. Wrongrobot’s Right Shirts Thread
2. Best Robot Shirt of the Week
3. Monkey Pirate Robot Ninja Zombie

Okay, so I watch occasionally a little thing called Channel 101. It is an arthouse project started by Rob Schrab. You might know him from a little book called "Scud the Disposable Assassin" or "Robot Bastard". he is one of my favorite folks creatively. Love his stuff. ANYWAY, this is a show that was on Channel 101 and makes me laugh. Plus the production is amazing (cost and quality wise).



So without further ado, I present to you....





SOCKBABY!



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Related posts:

1. RoboCup 2007 will be in Atlanta, U.S.A.
2. Iron Mannery for Under $5K?
3. Sebastien Larroude

Carl and Phil



I have only watched Episode 6... but it was hysterical.



"Paper or Plastic?"



Just wait for it...[/url]

Related posts:

1. Review: Modern Family S01, Ep22/ 23: Airport/ Hawaii
2. Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law

This guy has been making me laugh for months... armed with a camera, he sets out early every morning, then returns at dusk to shoot Everclear and write snotty witticisms to accompany these brilliant shots. He's a demigod to this robot...



Rahoi, Part One- Happy? Enjoy?



Here are a few highlights, with his commentary, because it's perfect, and could not be robotically improved upon...





Again, quoting a LINK is not the way to sell fake DVDs.





I think Google has become self-aware and is writing Tshirts to pay for bandwidth.





one of the bullet points is "running along."





I've never seen Spidey this out of shape.



See the rest here...

http://www.rahoi.com/2006/02/happy-enjoy.php

Related posts:

1. Wrong: That Happy Meal Makes me Unhappy
2. Gmail Tips, Ninja Style
3. Ramos’ Runaways

I have no data... but I like 'im...

Related posts:

1. Monkey and Robot! Joe and Monkey
2. Who’s Your Monkey?
3. Code Monkey

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