The Muppets resident guinea pig… singing sensation Beaker is back with his own take on the classic ballad, Dust in the Wind. Complete with a running commentary from the usual suspects.

via Fanboys of the Universe

DC Entertainment’s blog TheSource is all atwitter with big news! Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment named DCE’s new executive management team, including new co-publishers of DC Comics and a Chief Creative Officer, as well as heads of Sales/Marketing/Business Development and Finance/Administration. The new senior executive “dream team” reports directly to Nelson.

Jim Lee (former Editorial Director/Overseer of WildStorm Studios and fan favorite artist) and Dan DiDio (former Senior Vice President and Executive Editor) have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics (replacing outgoing Publisher Paul Levitz).

In this statement from the new Co-Publishers, they said…

Our mission is to reinvent DC Comics to prepare it for the challenges and opportunities in this quickly changing world. With the Co-Publisher structure, it’s going to allow us to be in many places at once, both literally and metaphorically; to better position DC as one of the great creative engines which fuels and defines so much of our world’s Pop Culture while making sure we continue to address and redefine what makes DC’s characters so great.

I’m most familiar with Jim Lee from his work on the X-Men back in the 90s (I was a BIG fan at the time) and his Hush storyline from Batman (which I picked up for his name). He lost me on his All Star Batman and Robin (didn’t like the modernizing of their meeting). I hadn’t realized he was responsible for the Wildstorm Universe, so if he was behind the cataclysmic events there then I’m not sure about doing a big happy dance over this.

As to the choice of DiDio, I’m not really all that pleased. He was at the helm during the current upswing in unnecessarily violent deaths, tortures and maimings designed to drive sales. Killing off or forever changing characters that readers have loved for years.

I’m most excited by the news that superstar writer Geoff Johns, will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. Johns is responsible for many of DC’s biggest wins – including the current event Blackest Night, the successful relaunches of JSA, Green Lantern and Teen Titans (which rocked until he left it) as well as 3 of the best Smallville episodes in its long history.

When describing Johns, Nelson said…

Geoff Johns has an unparalleled creative mind and a huge heart. He brings a level of enthusiasm, passion and optimism to every discussion I have with him that is so motivating. He will be instrumental in establishing the tone and culture of creative risk and business growth that we intend for DC Entertainment. And he will ensure the integrity of how we bring these characters and stories to fans across every entertainment platform.

With Geoff Johns’ proven skill at taking a character or characters with a rich and beloved history and managing to enrich it by interweaving exciting new elements into a complicated mythos without disturbing what has been written in the past, Johns is a wonderful choice for this position. I’m positively thrilled! As long as he keeps writing too. But that shouldn’t be a problem according to this statement from Johns himself…

Under the leadership of Jim and Dan, I’ll continue writing and giving my creative input as I have been in comic books. But expanding onto that, Diane’s asked me to take our comic book world, embrace it (as I do) and use it to lead the creative charge on bringing it all to film, toys, television, video games, animation and beyond. The Justice Society appearing on Smallville was only the beginning.

Additionally, John Rood has been named Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and Patrick Caldon will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration.

via TheSource

All the X-blogs are abuzz with talk of the the big X-Men Event to follow on the heels of Necrosha… Second Coming crosses over into X-Men (Uncanny & Legacy), X-Factor, X-Force and New Mutants. The X-Men have their hands full with the technarch-infected mutant-hating/hunting AI entity known as Bastion back yet again to bedevil them. PLUS it looks now that A Girl Named Hope is over and she and Cable are back from the future, the Phoenix is back too. but is Hope Summers really Jean? If so, what, reincarnated? Hope WAS born in Alaska… could she be Madelyne Pryor’s or some Summers/Grey genetic experiment of Mister Sinister’s – he DID come after her before Rogue killed him (and his seemingly short-lived return as Miss Sinister). And if the girl known as Hope Summers IS the Phoenix, does that mean Bishop was right to want her dead? Is she fated to save or damn mutankind? Only time and these stories will tell.

All will unite. One will rise. One will die. One will lead. One will sacrifice. Your thoughts? Mine after the Marvel teaser images…

All will unite – the disparate x-teams will come together. One will rise – will Hope be the return of Phoenix or Dark Phoenix (was Bishop right)? One will die – I’m guessing Cable. One will lead – not sure if it is Emma or Mags – I think Scott may be too broken by his son Nathan’s death (if I’m right) and need some time. One will sacrifice… hmmm Not sure what the sacrifice will be… Maybe Nathan gives his life to save Hope’s… any other theories?

With this crossover running through all the major X-Titles: Uncanny X-Men, X-Men Legacy, New Mutants, X-Force and even the usually somewhat unplugged X-Factor, it is a MAJOR event. And with longtime x-foe Bastion as the big bad and specials showcasing the X-Men’s resident supergeniuses (X-MEN: SECOND COMING – REVELATIONS: BLIND SCIENCE #1) and a 3-issue miniseries chronicling an ill-timed side-battle in Limbo (X-MEN: SECOND COMING – REVELATIONS: BLIND SCIENCE #1), we may just have to wait awhile to find out if Hope Summer will we absolutely corrupted by her newfound power or not. See Shades of X to Come – May 2010 for more on those specials!

via CBR

Some fascinating hints of whats in store for the x-universe… BEWARE: Thar be spoilers below if you click the images and read the captions (including Pixie’s daddy – and he was one of my listed possible baby batter doners) Lots going on in the XU this spring. We have the return of mutant Hope in the X-Event known as Second Coming running through X-Men (Uncanny & Legacy), X-Factor, X-Force, and New Mutants (more on that in just a sec). Dazzler (new tale with half-sis Lois London as the big bad) and Emma Frost (another origin) specials, cryptic hints on an upcoming X-death, Daken vs Wolverine vs Romulus in Dark Wolverine! and Wolverine #900? wait a sec, I’ll need some help on that math cause that plain seems wrong. Maybe if you add up every issue of every comic that Logan EVER appeared in?

I have to admit that being a HUGE fan of DC’s recent zombies, I was unimpressed by Necrosha (still awaiting the final chapter but, meh) The BL characters in DC were by definition NOT really the characters but former Black Queen and wanna-be-goddess Selene’s unexplained magic/tech and the stories of the Necrosha arc just weren’t that scary or as horrific. Sure I’m happy to have Doug Ramsey back but with this new interpretation of Cypher’s abilities he’s not the same cannon-fodder mutant he once was.

via CBR

The launch of this new roster of the JLA is such a SNAFU. They revealed the end of Cry For Justice ahead of time (Prometheus destroys Star City). We’ve seen Starfire and Donna on the team before they were supposed to have accepted and now they want us to wonder if Dick Grayson will stay in its ranks? REALLY? James Robinson was a god while writing Starman back in the day so why does this smell bad? I’m SO tired of writers “dissasembling” a beloved team title. JLA needed focus, a purpose and better characterization NOT an influx of new blood. I think this title will be lost with this line-up and don’t see it lasting more than a few months unless something really interesting and surprising happens.

James Robinson and artist Mark Bagley present a team reeling from the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE, as a member is tended to after the horrific events of the mini-series. And, will the new Batman join the ranks of the team? Or does he have more pressing issues in Gotham?

Looks like a pissed off Ollie is hooking up with villain-turned hero The Shade and is out for bloody fucking vengeance. The Shade is not a nice man, in fact he’s not really a man anymore at all, so I wouldn’t want to be on his bad side. This must be that dark road that we hear Green Arrow is taking now that Roy has been maimed.

I’m kind of all for the original kid sidekicks finally getting moved up the the big leagues, but it has to be logical and this just seems forced at best and downright unnatural at worst. Is it just me? I’m worried. Also who the hell are the sixth stringers on the cover? I think I recognize Dr. Impossible, BUT WHO ARE THE OTHER 2? And why bother bringing back a LAME RIPOFF character designed just so Ed Benes could show his mom an action figure of his creations?

via TheSource

If you are amused by people pointing out the ridiculousness of religion, then enjoy these choice videos from the BestOfAtheism YouTube channel.

God is SMART! But people… not so much. God speaks to Abraham about his latest great idea… Human Sacrifice!

Cthulhu vs. Christianity – a catchy little ditty paying homage to Lovecraft’s mythos

Praise the Lord! – cynical parody from fictional Christian Rock Group Hill$ong

The Bible is TRUE! And remember Thou shalt not suffer a homosexual adulterous fortune-telling dwarf to live. I think that must have been on that 3rd tablet Moses dropped.

If you enjoy these, then also check out EdwardCurrent’s YouTube channel for what seems to be a Stephen Colbertesque video caricature of a “Christian” managing to mock himself both intentionally and inadvertently while supposedly mocking Atheists. I couldn’t find any INTENTIONALLY funny videos from the other camp. But feel free to share links via comments if you know any.

I thought in honor of President’s Day I would share some images of the men who inspired the holiday…

George Washington as Zeus – this statue was sculpted by Horatio Greenough. In 1832 by the U.S. Congress commissioned a grand sculpture of George Washington based on the statue on the classical Greek statue of Zeus. The controversial statue arrived at the Capitol Rotunda nearly 10 years later. Many found the half-nude Washington statue offensive and it was removed and relocated. It is currently located on the second floor of the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C..

The Abraham Lincoln image is from salon.com’s less-than-stellar review of well-respected sex researcher C.A. Tripp’s posthumously published attempt drag Honest Abe out of the Presidential closet… The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln. Somehow I doubt the painting was in the book.

I hope you all have a wonderful romantic Valentine’s Day! Enjoy this special holiday it only comes by once a year so enjoy the candy while you can.

Here’s a bit of historical proof that not only is Valentine’s Day as gay as the day is long, he’s also got a thing for GILFs. Also apparently Mr March is a stoner into inter-species romance. Who knew?

So have fun and share the love today!

PS… HAPPY VALENTINE‘S DAY 2010 POPAPATHY!!! I Love You!

via AnotherQueerJuBu

Lady Gaga Teeth… a film by Sergio Ceron – Not an official Haus of Gaga creation but there are some rumors that Lady Gaga funded the video or at least she approves of it. S&M beefcake dentist (who could use a better choreographer) kidnaps a shirtless vampire stud to torture him with…

I don’t really know what the point is other than as a cautionary tale… don’t mess with vampires, and if you do, use handcuffs not rope.

via WayOutWest

Until DC started getting uncomfortable with Millar using the names of 2 of their highest profile characters to sell his new concept, he’d bandying about the tagline “What if Batman was the Joker?” to describe his new creator-owned title… Nemesis. Published by Marvel with an ICON imprint.

“Nemesis” is a reversal of the Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark archetype. What if this genius billionaire was just this total shit, and the only thing that stood between him and a city was the cops? It’s Batman versus Commissioner Gordon, in a weird way. Or maybe a super-villain version of “Se7en.” A billionaire anarchist up against ordinary people. The Joker’s the best thing in the Batman movies, so this guy is a bit of an amalgamation of all the stuff we like.

The series will feature art by Steve McNiven. Millar’s recent love affair with Hollywood (or is it their love affair with him?) seems to be going strong. Shortly after the very first teaser images were up online his agent was hearing from Hollywood Producers that said “We’re really big fans of this book that Mark and Steve are doing. We really like it. Are the rights available?”

Lets just hope that this time around Millar can curb his tendancy to unnecessarily work hate epithets into his dialog. That was the only thing that I didn’t like about Kick-Ass. (even Romita Jr.’s art stopped bugging me by the end… but that DOESN’T qualify him to draw the Avengers).

via CBR

Since a number of members of the original “New Teen Titans” (Dick, Kory, Donna, Vic and Wally) have graduated to the JLA many had been wondering what will become of the title that was launched specifically to chronicle their tales. But then DC revealed that there would be a new team of Titans, led by Deathstroke? New members would include Cheshire and the Tattooed Man as well as a few surprises they are still keeping under wraps until Brightest Day #0

Their first mission: to assassinate The Atom! And for this team, failure is not an option so he might want to get his affairs in order. I’ve enjoyed a number of anti-hero centered books over the past few years (Secret Six, Thunderbolts, Dark Avengers), so I’m intrigued by this idea.

If you like the look of the image above, then you are in luck because cover artist Fabrizio Fiorentino is also the interior artist for Titans: Villains For Hire SPECIAL #1 due May 12 and written by Eric Wallace. More news on this title as it is revealed.

The Source has released the cover to the first issue of May’s upcoming Legion of Super-Heroes #1 from Paul Levitz and rising artist Yildiray Cinar – I’m not sure if this is an alternate cover and the one they released pencils for is the main cover or vice versa. Time will tell.

If you read Final Crisis Legion of Three Worlds, then you know about the fate of the last of the GL Corps in the future… Legion of Super-Heroes resident Green Lantern Rond Vidar (son of Universo) was killed by Superboy-Prime and his ring returned to the only remaining Guardian… Daxamite Sodam Yat!

So whose hand is that with a Green Lantern ring AND a Legion flight ring? Is Sodam Yat joining up? Do we get a new future Lantern now that Yat has sent rings out to recruit a new GL Corps? Or will it be a familiar face with a new power. I can’t wait until May to find out!!! Everything I hear about this says this WILL be the Legion from Legion of 3 Worlds and THAT Legion (which was reintroduced in the recent Action Comics Lightning Saga) is the very same from original continuity (before all Crisis/Zero Hour etc reboots – which were established as the Legions of the Multiverse).

Be sure to check out Yildiray Cinar’s sketches of the 3 founding Legionaries if you missed them previously. I like his interpretations of the Gary Frank designed Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy and look forward to seeing the whole gang in action.

via TheSource

As part of their planned reboot of all Avengers titles to celebrate the dawn of THE HEROIC AGE, Marvel has released a number of “Secret Avengers” teaser images showing silhouettes of the members of the 2nd Avengers title slated to fill the void with the end of the New, Mighty, Dark and Initiative books. Secret Avengers hits shelves in May and will feature the creative team of Eisner Award-winning writer Ed Brubaker and current “Dark Avengers” artist Mike Deodato.

With Iron Man, Thor, Bucky Barnes, Hawkeye and Spider Woman already claimed for Bendis and Romita Jr’s Avengers team, the speculation about candidates for the Secret Avengers is still wide open with possibilities like Scarlet Witch (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE), Ms Marvel, Spider Man, The Beast, Wonder Man, Nova, Justice or even a revamped-in-time-for-the-movie War Machine all potentially available for membership. But those are just some obvious choices… what if a Dark Avenger goes light? Perhaps we’ll see some new blood?

Since they are canceling 4 titles… I expect 4 new ones. So what will the OTHER two be? I’m thinking we’ll see another Initiative type series about training fledgling heroes and then maybe something either cosmic or more antihero for the final title. Thoughts?

via CBR

With the final issues of New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers and Avengers: The Initiative looming in the not to distant future. Marvel has begun to let us know what they have in store for the Marvel Universe after The Siege. Brian Michael Bendis will be writing a new title called simply Avengers (wanna bet it will use the old numbering?) with art by John Romita Jr. (AAAARRRRGHHHH!!!!! I HATE HIS WORK! He’s not as bad as some of the hacks out there but definitely on my list of extremely overrated artists). I may opt not to read this title if they don’t bring a REAL artist in on it by issue 6 and I will tell them so.

Really bums me out that this is a flagship title and they put a merely adequate artist like Romita on it. Unimpressive. Yuk. They just need to yank Carlos Pacheco out of the Ultimate universe and give him this book. RIGHT NOW!

via CBR

Well I knew they wouldn’t leave the whole Aquafamily dead with Mera left alone to carry the trident. So although as a longtime DCU fan, I’m pleased to see him in color again, it’s no huge revelation to see a living breathing Aquaman looking at his dead reflection on the cover of Brightest Day #2. But what about Tempest and his family? I haven’t found the cover to #1 anywhere as of yet. Just the previously released covers to #0 and other teasers. DCU’s Blog The Source has promised more Brightest Day news tomorrow so I’ll keep ya posted an any further developments about this series from writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi.

Brightest Day co-author Geoff Johns had this to say about the upcoming bi-weekly 26 issue series event…

Brightest Day’ is about second chances. I think it’s been obvious from day one that there are major plans for the heroes and villains from Aquaman to take center stage in the DC Universe, among many others. ‘Brightest Day’ is not a banner or a vague catch-all direction for the DC Universe, it is a story. Nor is ‘Brightest Day’ a sign that the DC Universe is going to be all about ‘light and brighty’ superheroes. Some second chances work out…some don’t.

- Geoff Johns

So what DOES it mean? How will our heroes drive back the overwhelming tides of Nekron’s forces and who will live again to see the Brightest Day? Atom is already looking for a plan to resurrect Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Will he succeed? at what cost? And who decides who lives or dies?!?!? If everyone comes back the Titans and the JLA will need bigger HQs. It remains to be seen exactly how many series will end up bearing the Brightest Day banner before the year is out… but I’d expect some major ramifications.

via The Source

As usual – his review is right on the money. GayComicGeek consistently has great reviews of comics, books, shows and movies that interest me. So OF COURSE he’s put up his opinion on Smallville: Absolute Justice…

But first, here is an amazing image of him as a superhero drawn by Ezra O’Neary a.k.a. E-Z-ON. Click on the image to see GayComicGeek’s post on it. And here is a link to his video on it and a review to Siege #2.

Kinda pissed me off that YouTube wouldn’t make him a YouTube partner even though he’s been following their guidelines. Sick of corporate judgment.

via GayComicGeek

Recent talk about the upcoming Captain America: First Avenger movie has revealed a few choice tidbits. First reveal is no BIG surprise…likely big bad is The Red Skull. Which isn’t a huge shocker to any longtime Steve Rogers fans. The other reveal which IS a bit more of a significant revelation. The Invaders will play a BIG part in the second act of the film and will include no less than six members. But they have YET to reveal exactly WHICH six members…

Now the Invaders had a number of different members over the years, but I’ve narrowed it down to what I thought were some of the more interesting candidates with big screen potential and fanboy panache… Who would YOU like to see fighting ratzis aside Captain America?

via Collider and Chud

In case you didn’t know, there was an X-Factor before Peter David and Madrox turned it into a Mutant Detective Agency… So Louise Simonson and Dan Panosian are here to remind us with a 5 issue mini-series.

If you were first introduced to the 5 original X-Men by X-Men: First Class, then you most likely weren’t even a gleam in yo daddy’s eye when Jean Grey was discovered in a cocoon at the bottom of Jamaica Bay in 1986 and it was revealed she wasn’t actually the cosmic entity who died as the Phoenix. If so, you missed out on the original X-Factor, which reunited the 5 founding X-Men as a group of professional mutant-busters the public could call if they had a mutant problem. This era added many elements to the x-mythos, including the birth of Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable and the sequence of events that sent him to the future.

Original X-Factor scribe Louise Simonson has teamed with artist Dan Panosian to bring us new adventures of the original dream-team as they return to fight the one threat that’s haunted them since the day they took on the X-Factor name. Join legendary X-scribe Louise Simonson as she reunites with the title and characters she made famous for an epic in the FOREVER tradition!

As with Chris Claremonts’ X-Men: Forever (a recent revisiting of his run on X-Men that might have been more interesting if confined to a mini), X-Factor: Forever picks up where the Simonson’s 5 year run on the title run left off. Evidently this is one of Marvel’s new traditions… Add a Forever to the title and let a former writer go wild.

via CBR

I like Pixie and was one of the few who didn’t mind when they unmanga’d her and stopped drawing her like an 11 year old. I’m glad to see more of her!

Pixie, X-23, Armor, Mercury and Blindfold face a new kind of hell: high school! Things get even worse when Pixie’s mother shows up on Utopia demanding to see her daughter. Discover the truth about Pixie, including the answer to something even SHE doesn’t know: the identity of her father – one of the most dangerous X-Villains ever!

For some reason I thought Blindfold wasn’t just blind, but in fact didn’t have eyes… Am I making that up or was she ever drawn that way?

I am eagerly wondering who Pixie’s father could be… any guesses people? The powers she had BEFORE Magik took part of her soul to make a “soul dagger” were flight (due to insect wings) and “pixie dust” which causes hallucinations. Not getting a clue from the wings, but hallucinations, hmmm, maybe Mesmero?

via CBR

So Nate Grey is in control of Norman Osborn, for now. I have a feeling that this happened BEFORE The Seige so I don’t think X-Man will be taking up permanent residence in the Green Goblin’s noggin. But I also have no idea how they plan to exorcise him. Maybe Mimic will copy his telepathy and use it against him? Butthey would only be a sliver of his power… shouldn’t be enough to take him out. Hmmm, we’ll see.

What has X-Man done to Norman Osborn? Whatever it is, it must be extreme because the Dark X-Men are making a journey into Osborn’s mind to fix it! But once they’re in, can they survive the depths of madness they find in the dark corners of Norman’s mental minefield?

What will Mystique do when confronted with the choice to 1. Expose Nate, 2. Help Nate, 3. Run, 4. Keep quiet and see where the chips fall. I’d put money on #3 if I were a betting man. I REALLY hope that Nate Grey will be left a part of the Marvel universe again once the dust has settled. I always liked the character. He was really the only AoA character that I was happy to see enter 616 continuity.