Iron Man is a heck of a solid comic book film. There’s a willing suspension of disbelief that the audience needs to be convinced to agree with in any action/sci-fi/fantasy film from Die Hard to Star Wars, and like the best of them, Iron Man says “and then this happens” and you find yourself just agreeing and going along with it. Of COURSE he builds a glowing electromagnet thing using only spare parts. I believe Tony has robots and a home AI that are intelligent enough to understand Tony, and crack wise on occasion. All of the super heroics just flow because the movie makes you believe that even the craziest things are possible.

If I have any complaint at all, and it is a small complaint, it is that the whole production is a bit too slick. The whole story is put on rails at the beginning and each scene flows predictably to the next. You know the moment Tony shows the rough armor plans what comes next. You know when he’s watching the news what comes next. As soon as the Bad Guy reveals himself and his plans, you know there’s a crazy power armor fight coming soon. But you’re having so much fun, you really don’t care.

A great thing about the story (and the exact opposite of my small complaint) is that the girlfriend character DOES NOT end up in jeopardy, relying on her manly super hero man to come to her rescue… that little deviation from a dumb super hero movie tradition makes the whole world a better place.

Oh! And the last words before the credits roll. Thank you for putting that trope to bed too!

For the Marvel Zombies out there, holy crap, the sheer number of references that were dropped to other bits of the Marvel Universe– it was staggering. I need to see the film again just to ignore what’s happening in the foreground and watch the background.

Oh yeah… almost forgot. Stay till the end of the credits.

(sent from mobile)

A bit of jibber jabber over at Wizard World in preparation for the Wizard World Philly & Chicago cons where I’ll be appearing.

It occurs to me that I could be “workblogging” a bit more, because I know it interests some folks. So I’ll start trying to do this on Monday’s just to let everyone know what’s what.

Here’s what this week has in store for my word processor.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SECRET INVASION #2 - Jackpot and the rest of the Brand New Day gang try to survive the Battle of Manhattan.

MS. MARVEL #32 - The post-Secret Invasion fallout continues. The book has really gone is a freaky new direction these last couple of issues, and I’m pretty excited about it.

PITCH I CAN’T TALK ABOUT - I’m writing a pitch that isn’t worth talking about until it’s a project. It’s non-Marvel work.

There. Wasn’t that thrilling?

Found at Boing Boing. Shared here because it is greatness.

This one has been making the internet rounds of late, and I assume it is real. I saw it again today on Photo Basement

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In case you weren’t paying attention in high school history class… the answer is yes.

MS. MARVEL #26

I do so love stealing the beautiful pre-cropped images from Marvel’s website.

COVER BY: GREG HORN
WRITER: BRIAN REED
PENCILS: ADRIANA MELO
INKS: MARIAH BENES
COLORED BY: CHRIS SOTOMAYOR
LETTERED BY: DAVE SHARPE

THE STORY:
Out–gunned and on the run! With S.H.I.E.L.D. convinced she’s a Skrull impostor, Ms. Marvel must fight for her identity and her life against her very own Lightning Strike Force! But when the Strike Force has a Ms. Marvel of their own, even Carol can’t be sure she’s Carol anymore! SECRET INVASION: The Infiltration continues here from Brian Reed (Captain Marvel) and Adriana Melo (Witchblade).
Rated T+ …$2.99

IN STORES: April 23, 2008

And, if you so desire, you can catch a preview of the issue by making with the clicky.

(And I feel fine.)

Warren Ellis posted this originally. It’s a blog tracking the end of the world. Food shortages, environmental collapse. All the fun things.

Hey now, looks like MS. MARVEL #25 and CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 and #5 all sold out. Super press release cut and paste powers ACTIVATE!

Because you demanded it! Due to overwhelming demand for the sold-out Captain Marvel #4-5 and Ms. Marvel #25, crucial tie-ins to the red-hot Secret Invasion event, Marvel is going back to press with a special one-shot collecting these three acclaimed issues! Captain Marvel/Ms. Marvel: Secret Invasion The Infiltration One-Shot brings you face to face with some of the most shocking moments in Skrull Invasion thus far, written by the acclaimed Brian Reed, featuring the art of fan-favorites Lee Weeks & Adrian Melo, all wrapped up in a gorgeous wraparound cover by Terry Dodson! What is the secret behind Captain Marvel’s return? And is Ms Marvel who-or what-she appears to be?

With Secret Invasion on everyone’s mind, and everywhere from G4 to Entertainment Weekly to The New York Post to The Wall Street Journal, this special one-shot is a perfect look at the secrets that have rocked the Marvel Universe! Don’t miss your chance to catch up on these sold out issues in Captain Marvel/Ms. Marvel: Secret Invasion The Infiltration One-Shot!

CAPTAIN MARVEL/MS MARVEL: SECRET INVASION THE INFILTRATION ONE-SHOT (FEB088173)

Written by BRIAN REED

Penciled by LEE WEEKS & ADRIANA MELO

Cover by TERRY DODSON & LAURA MARTIN

Rated T+…$4.99

FOC-5/1/08, On-Sale-5/21/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

I think that means Captain Marvel sold out of 4 out of 5 issues. With issue 2 being the only holdout.

A good time was had, and yesterday was spent reclaiming the sleep I lost while in New York. Random thoughts before I dive into work.

My first trip into the Marvel offices. My first chance to meet face to face with some of the folks I’ve known for a couple of years now. Jim McCann gives a lot of hugs.

If my Google Maps estimates are correct, I walked about 10 miles on Friday and Saturday, crawling around Midtown, enjoying being in the city.

The show itself was spectacular. Great crowd, excited fans, really nice folks all around. Had some great meetings that might well bear fruit in the future for once (meetings at cons are notoriously “meet and greet” and almost never result in anything).

Steve Wacker has adorable kids and a lovely wife.

People who do the train commute are better people than me. I did three days of the one-hour-one-way train ride, and I was ready to slit my wrists.

But, train rides aside, the NYCC was pretty great.