I'm back and so is Spider-Man

Howdee!

It's been a while since I've written anything and I can't think of a better topic to start with than Spider-Man appearing in Captain America 3: Civil War. I'm almost proud of Disney and Sony getting together to make this happen. Ten or fifteen years ago, I wouldn't have seen a collaboration like this. It's too bad that Disney couldn't do something similar with Fox and get some use out of Wolvie and the X-men. Speaking of missed opportunities though, casting Tom Holland as Spider-Man just seems like such a waste. I'm sure the guy is going to do a fine job, but there was a chance to go with the Miles Morales Spider-Man instead of the same ol' Peter Parker Webhead. As Marvel and Sony are two different entities, the chance to deal with characters from an alternate universe was as ripe as Georgia peach for the picking. I can understand why it didn't happen.  With all the risks that Marvel took beginning with Iron-Man back in 2008 and then with Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, am I wrong to have expected a little more?  When the rumors of a possible Miles Morales appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe started, I nearly went crazy with excitement and anticipation. It wasn't the "oohh we get a Black Spidey now" kind of excitement as some might expect from a BLERD. I'm one of the first guys to agree that I'd rather have quality new characters instead of minority rehashes of established ones. I'll take a good Night Thrasher over a 'Black' Batman. It was more so the "WOW! Here we are going into uncharted waters again with Marvel" They made a talking raccoon playing nice with a walking stick work well...now this? I can't help but be a little disappointed.

Civil War is going to be awesome nonetheless. All I need do is look at The Winter Soldier film. That was arguably the best follow up flick that Marvel has done...I shudder to say that Disney has done as well.

Its a good time to be a comic geek (TV)

As a nerd dad that loves comics... specifically superheroes, I love sitting back after a long day and putting the kids to bed to watch a little of the tele. Now more than ever the  small screen has been bursting with programming to make a nerd guy like myself swoon.

We have the CW aka DC network that had Arrow and The Flash. Both shows are in the same continuity and they've already had the first show to show crossover. I think I heard nerdgasms from the neighborhood during the commercials. Decent characters, stunts, and special effects make both these show a must. I've always loved The Flash's ROGUES gallery...specifically the group "The Rogues" Captain Cold has already been introduced and in the episodes to come in the next week or so, we're going to get Heat Wave as well. Even Firestorm paid the Flash a visit. OH JOY! Arrow has had to deal with Deathstroke, the (Ray Palmer) Atom, Soloman Grundy, Ras al Ghul, and the Suicide Squad. While some of the direction has been OK..for the most part the show is impressive.

Next we have ABC and the Agents of SHIELD. This show has continuity with the Marvel movies. So it was awesome seeing the show deal with the aftermath of Thor 2 and Captain America 2. We haven't had a Avenger cameo on the show, but we did get ol' one eye himself Nick Fury. A few other cameos include Sif, Absorbing Man, Blackout, and Deathlok, The focus of the show is Agent Coulson, a fan favorite from the Marvel movies. Recently Agent Carter debuted. This is a pre-Shield 1940s show that features our favorite femme fatale from the Captain America movie Peggy Carter dealing with bad guys while also dealing with sexism from her coworkers. The show isn't bad on the visuals and Peggy plays off of Jarvis (Howard Stark's butler) pretty well.

NBC has Constantine. The show is based more off the comic Hellblazer than the movie with Keanu Reeves. I've never read the comic, but I like the show. The characters are interesting and the monster of the week model works for it. Still there are a few serial threats and reoccurring characters. There is a lot of talk about cancellation due to ratings. If you haven't seen it, its worth at least one view.

Fox has had a hit with Gotham. A prequelesque version of Batman that focuses on Jim Gordon's life as a Gotham city cop. The show is peppered with cameos of Bat villains the biggest to date being the Penguin. The show is interesting but it has often left me feeling that Gordon's fight against the corrupt Gotham system is all but futile. Still I like Gordon and Bullock enough to stay along for the ride.

AMC still has The Walking Dead going strong for another season. Not a superhero show, but who doesn't love the zombie apocalypse? The characters from the pages of Robert Kirkman's comic have become real to many people. Plus we get the Nerdist Chris Hardwick's snappy commentary on the after-show the Talking Dead.

If this wasn't enough there are a host of shows on the horizon. Netflix will be hosting a few Marvel properties. We have Daredevil coming soon. And following that we have Luke Cage and Iron Fist as well. After these shows, we'll get a show called Defenders that will unite them all. This is a push for some more street level super heroes. I am definitely looking forward to it.

There are a Super-girl, Teen Titans, Powers, and Walking Dead spin off in the works. In addition to a possible  Xmen show.

There are also other show that are sci-fi or fantasy based going strong on several different networks.

Its a good time to be a TV loving comic nerd...

Top 25 list of Twilight Zone episodes

The Twilight Zone has been a part of me almost all of my life. it started in middle school when I would stay up on the weekends and watch an episode while the rest of the house was asleep (the opening eye used to freak me out). After I got older,my sister and I would watch Twilight Zone marathons together. My sister moved away (we still call and text each other during TZ marathons), but thankfully my wife and I watch the Twilight Zone marathons now. So the Twilight Zone has not only been a part of my life, but my family as well.

Part of my love for the show has been seeing some of my favorite actors like Burgess Meredith, Roddy McDowall, and Peter Folk in their past performances. It was kind of cool seeing them after I had admired them in the present.

I noticed these articles posted by twitter folks @WendyLovesJesus @TheNightGallery which listed their favorite episodes:

25 Episodes in Search of a Favorite Twilight Zone

Will My 25 Favourite TZs Please Stand Up?

So I was inspired to write my own top list.

1. To serve man
2. Will the real Martian please stand up?
3. Living Doll
4. Invaders
5. Dead man's Shoes
6. The Obsolete man
7. Eye of the Beholder
8. The Howling man
9. He's alive!
10. The Hunt
11. The Monsters are due on Maple street
12. The Brain Center at Whipple's
13. The Little People
14. The Shelter
15. A most unusual camera
16. The Old Man in the cave
17. Third from the Sun
18. What you need
19. A short drink from a certain fountain
20. The Fear
21. The Mirror
22. A penny for your thoughts
23. A nice place to visit
24. People are alike all over 
25. Hocus-Pocus and Frisby

It was difficult picking only 25...Honorable mentions to episodes: Its a Good Life, Uncle Simon, a game of pool, From Agnes-with love, and I shot an arrow into the air.  

I linked each episode to a Wikipedia page, although I suggest viewing the episodes. It seems that sometimes things are lost in translation as well as sometimes you get your own meaning from each.

The series went on for 5 seasons and over 160 episodes. While I've been watching the show for over three decades, I still haven't seen every episode and probably never will. Who knows, maybe if I let myself get too obsessed with watching I may just find myself watching episodes IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE....

What are your favorite Twilight Zone episodes? 

Alliance Game Distributors Open House 2014

Its that time again. Time for the Alliance Game Distributors Open House... I was there Sunday and Monday and had a fun time. Tried some new games, talked to some of my gamer peers as well as game designers and sales reps. I took as many pics with my phone as I could, but this year my phone constantly needed to be recharged. Also most of the picture I have are from Wizkids. I was a little disappointed that Cryptozoic didn't have a PowerPoint this year.  Here's what I got...enjoy