This month's reader helps to put Loki's horns in context.
I've been reading PK for a few years now and really appreciate the work that you folks do! I'm always excited to read your New Comic Book Wednesday posts and Klarion's review of X-Factor #200 inspired me to work through my ridiculous childhood loyalties and pick up a Marvel book for once!
Name: Brandon B
Age: 31
Where you're from: Texas, originally ... but I've settled in Western Massachusetts
Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): Queer
Relationship Status: Seeing Someone
What's on your pull list: Secret Six, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin, Supergirl, everything Superman, Detective Comics (but only until The Question second feature wraps up), JLA, JSA, Power Girl, everything Green Lantern, Brave & the Bold, anything with Batwoman, anything with the Young Avengers, The New Mutants TBPs, various X-Men TBPs, and anything related to Love and Rockets
Favorite story: It's hard to pick just one, so I'll pick three. The Rucka/Williams run with Batwoman in Detective Comics was incredible. The art blew my mind and Rucka really wowed me with Kate's origin story. I also have a special place in my heart for Gail Simone's totally creepy and twisted Secret Six "Depths" story ... I've had that panel of Artemis saying "I've got some bastards to kill" as my wallpaper ever since. And, finally, say what you will, but the George Perez run on Wonder Woman was my first true comic book love. I thought Perez brilliantly (and subtly) exposed the modern dynamics of sexism through the eyes of a naive but courageous young Diana. And, in Diana, I found a hero I could relate to and grow with.
Superpower you'd most want to have: Tactile telekinesis (including flight)!
More about you: I work as a college educator/administrator and occasionally get to geek-out with students over comics. I'm particularly interested in the ways in which comic books have helped to expanded our national discourse on issues of identity, power, and social justice. After doing a few workshops about this with students, I set up a website to start more discussion on the topic (www.SocialJusticeinSpandex.com). I'm also really into ancient queer history and queer mythology ... did you know that Odin was into ritualistic homo sex and Loki was a nelly gender-swapper? If Marvel went there, I'd add Thor to my pull list in a heartbeat.
If you would like to be featured as one of PK's loyal fans, check out this post to join the love fest.
Name: Mark.F Age:20 Where you're from: England Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): Bisexual Relationship Status: Single What's on your pull list: Amazing Spiderman, Four Eyes, Ultimate Spiderman, The Avengers, Astonishing X-Men, Invincible Iron Man, Buying the Authority, The Sandman and Lucifer trades... oh and Scott Pilgrim Favorite story: The Planetary storyline Superpower you'd most want to have: Telekinesis More about you: I am a university student doing sociology and for my third year project i will be doing LGBT representations in comicbooks. Not all uber geeky though i am a gym nut and do love Tae Kwondo. Saying that i am eyeing up spiderman designs for my fourth tattoo so i am a pretty hopeless case by this point :P. And in terms of Manga it has to be Tri-Gun all the way. That or FLCL.
P.S. Yes that is me and Eddie Izzard in that photo it was awesome!
A little late, as someone's been partying too hard this weekend, but we honor you nonetheless, reader TO!
Name: TO Age: 29 Where you're from: Boston, MA Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): G Relationship Status: Single (always looking, though) What's on your pull list: Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, Avengers, Young Avengers, Runaways Favorite story: Age Of Apocalypse, House Of M, Phoenix - Endsong Superpower you'd most want to have: Invisibility More about you: I'm studying to become a high school English teacher, and I've used comics in past assignments and lesson plans. Carol Danvers and Clint Barton are my heroes because they understand one important thing: powers do not make a superhero. I also love Emma Frost because she's bitchy.
Shame I didn't have any teachers quite as awesome as you. I'd even take the Marvel version of Sense & Sensibility if it meant never again having to hear a professor drone on about Austen's genius.
Name: Cole M. Age: 25 Where You're From: Toledo, OH, USA L, G, B, T, or just friendly: Gay Relationship Status: Single
What's On Your Pull List: I am that most tragic of folks, the boy without a comic shop. If I had one, New Avengers, Secret Avengers, Black Widow, War Machine Superpower You'd Most Want To Have: Flight. I know, I know, I'm boring, but I would die for that kind of absolute freedom. More About Me: My favorite western superhero of all time is a toss up between Captain America and Doctor Strange, and my favorite manga hero is probably... The Guyver. If it isn't already clearly apparent, I'm a bit of a Marvel fanboy. When talking with my comic book reading friends I'm always a step behind because I usually do my reading through GNs, but I also think that gives me the opportunity to resist "ragequitting" on a series because of a bad issue or two. Also, despite its lack of... well... basically everything good comics-wise, I'm a child of the 90's and unabashedly love all that Professor Hulk/Infinity War/Onslaught sillyness that it granted us.
Welcome to the club, Cole! Gotta say, my favorite manga man is Hellsing's Father Anderson; There's just something about technology-enhanced crusaders that makes me gawk in amazement.
If you'd like to be featured in PK Reader, refer to our recruitment post.
PK reader was a monthly feature back in '08 run by contributor OracleChele akin to Gay Gamer of the Week. The thing is, we still want to get to know you and what you read in order to give you the most relevant reviews and newspieces. If you're looking to be honored for a whole month, shoot me an email through rubber_justice@gaygamer.net with the following info
Name: (first and last initial)
Age:
Where you're from:
Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly):
Relationship Status:
What's on your pull list:
Favorite story:
Superpower you'd most want to have:
More about you: (e.g. Your favorite superhero in other media, tell us about your manga affinity, who's winning the World Cup, etc.)
And send in a picture (.jpg, please) of yourself that includes your face. Bonus points if you're dressed as Wiccan. Submissions are always open, but please be aware that by being featured, your information will come to rest in our archives after you've had your fifteen minutes, so avoid sending us anything you'd consider sensitive.
This is it, the iPad's here. Heidi McDonald probably said it best when she wrote "Sh*t just got real." April's iPad explosion, whether you liked it or not, will divide the history of digital comics into eras before or after a dedicated online reader and distributor. The biggest contender for this game-breaking change is the Marvel Comics app, from where users can purchase and read a selection of titles both for free and for purchase. And judging from the Boing Boing's review showing just how smooth the reader interface is, clunky .pdf readers are yesterday's news.
Apps have been updating aplenty to accommodate for the iPad, but IDW threw their proverbial hat in the ring Saturday with a similar distribution service and reader. Titles like Star Trek and Transformers are all available to be rendered in iPad goodness.
This is only the beginning of many changes to the industry; Though Marvel mostly keeps its new releases with direct distributors for now, this could certainly be a chance for smaller distributors to flower. And what of the incentive to purchase e-ink over paper? Mitch Breitweiser has repeatedly pushed for functionality that maximizes the iPad's capabilities.
Now just give me the option to turn the colors on and off, and built in character and creator bios and we'll be set.
This isn't mere "bonus content" for readers to make the switch, if Marvel were to apply a feature that enables switching between inked and non-inked pages, or to turn off lettering (or possibly to see only the lettering), this would literally redefine the comics reading experience. It'll be curious to see if DC follows with its prudent policy towards the digital adaptation. Meanwhile, Marvel's release of 500 issues shows how aptly they've made the transition into the comics age of new heroics.
You guys may recall I was a bit cranky about Northstar and his lack of lovin' about a year and a half ago. In fact, at the time, I issued a challenge to Marvel to get him a kiss by June 2009 or I would declare him not really gay.
I have not forgotten about this.
However, when the X-men moved to San Francisco this year, we were teased with the existence of what looked to be Northstar's boyfriend (and manager), so I delayed judgment until we could see more.
Since then, Northstar hasn't had a lot of major appearances, as there have been about a thousand major crossover events in the Marvel universe in the last six months, and each one tends to disrupt the normal storyline for most books, including the many X-books. So I waited.
Our patience seems to have been rewarded! Artist Tim Fish revealed on his blog that his upcoming story in Nation X #2 (which comes out in Jan.) is a story about Northstar, and will feature Kyle, his boyfriend in an 8-page story. I'm not sure if an actual kiss is in it, but it's implied that there is some lovin' going on. Check out some sketches of Northstar, Kyle, and Aurora below, and we'll keep you up to date when we get closer to Jan.
Those oh-so-crazy goth girls of the video game world are infiltrating California's Meltdown Comics and you're invited! The Suicide Girls will be signing and hanging out at Meltdown Comics on December 11th and the best state with a pacific Ocean coastline's biggest comic shop wants you there!
Why am I posting this, you may ask? Well, for one, Meltdown Comics is a great store I was lucky enough to visit last time I was out in L.A. for work. Also, while the Suicide Girls aren't necessarily comics-centric, they represent a minority within a very, VERY white male dominated genre. Regardless of your feelings towards the SG's themselves, they've carved out a fair sized niche in an industry that doesn't take too well "their kind."
If you want to show your support, hit the jump for the full press release including times, locations and all that jazz.
If you're familiar with anime, you may be familiar with the name Jamie McGonnigal. If not, you may more then likely know some of these titles: Jungle Emperor Leo, Weiss Kreuz, World of Narue, One Piece, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh GX, or even Viva Pinata. Jamie's dubbed them all. An award-winning voice actor, Jamie has done work in anime, video games, and even the occasional American cartoon. He also happens to be gay. I pulled up an e-chair and sat down with Jamie, getting a nice inside look at the industry. Jamie also shared some juicy tidbits about Kizuna, one of the first yaoi (or gay-themed anime for those not in the know) to be dubbed in the states. Read on for the full interview.
Today I will regale you with tales of the dark and mysterious comic shop; strange tales to chill your bones, scare little kids and...
Ah, frak it. This week is a thing I wrote last year after I worked a shift at the comic shop on Halloween as Spider-Girl. I was going to wait until Halloween to do it, then realized I probably would be writing what happens this Halloween then.
Tale #11 ~ The Amazing Spider-Girl
I love Halloween; when else do you get to dress up like something cool and not be (completely) mocked? Last year, I worked out most things, such as getting hospital booties from a co-worker to keep my feet from getting dirty (the costume doesn't have any padding or protection for the feet. It's all the same cloth), working out a hair net (My hair is long and hard to get into the mask alone) and finding a pin to hold the neck together more so I don't look like I have a massively bulky neck. :P
I went to the store out of costume and put it on in the bathroom. I can see why the Spider-people leave the costume on underneath. It takes way too long to put it on. :P After struggling with my hair and the makeshift nylon hair net and zipping the costume up over all of that, I was out in the main part of the store after 5 minutes, mask and all.
I usually wear fairly tight fitting clothing every day, at least in summer. I didn't think the Spider-Girl costume would really feel all that different on me; it didn't in the comfort of my own home. I should have guessed that being in something that is essentially a second skin in a comic store would feel totally different. I felt naked, yet clothed. It's an odd feeling and for the first half hour or so I wasn't really sure what to do with myself.
Today I will regale you with tales of the dark and mysterious comic shop; strange tales to chill your bones, scare little kids and...
Ah, frak it. On with the stories.
Tale #9 ~ The Truthsayer Strikes Back
It's so incredibly irritating how often people in the store (female and male), will ask me questions, get an answer, then later ask Bill or Jake the same question and get the same answer. It's annoying, though sometimes amusing. In this case it was amusing because if the guy had just listened to me, he would have saved $6.
It was near the end of the day, and I was doing inventory. Which of late isn't anything new. Inventory in this context, is defined as a level of retail hell that lasts forever. This man walks in and kind of looks around a bit. He's kind of a jittery personality, like he's had too much coffee or a cola or something. He comes to the desk and asks if the Wizard we have out is the latest. I tell him it is. He asks for an opened copy. Lucky for him, we actually had one.
Today I will regale you with tales of the dark and mysterious comic shop; strange tales to chill your bones, scare little kids and...
Ah, frak it. On with the stories.
Tale #7 ~ Return of the Living Geek Girl
One thing I like about Jake's Saturdays is that he often catches up on work in the back room while I spend most of the day in the main part by myself. This means the customers have to ask me questions rather than going to whichever of the guys happens to be there. And it's really nice to be the one person they go to, even if it is just every other Saturday.
This past Saturday a man was in with his son. The man had been into comics when he was younger and was now looking to get his kids into comics as well. Obviously, quite a bit had changed since he read comics, so I got to fill him in on quite a bit. Including stuff in relation to the Comics Code Authority, The Seduction of the Innocent, and current rating system on some major publishers (or lack thereof. I'm looking at you, DC). While explaining it, another man, about the same age as the first tuned into the conversation and during a pause, commented "Wow...you really know your stuff!" and asked me a question (to which he knew the answer) about the whole Harry Osborne drug addiction story that was asked for by the anti-drug part of the government and rejected by the CCA part. I answered it and he was more surprised.
Review: Avengers: The Children's Crusade #1
I literally clapped my hands together and said OhMyGodYesssss when the friendly staff member at my regular shop held this book out to hand it to me. Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung finally - finally - return to this title with a nine issue limited series. I will spare you paragraphs of pontification and cut to the chase: it's not just good, it's the best thing Marvel has going, period. Read on for the pontification and petty quibbles!...
