Once Upon a Geek

Here are two great ways to spend $13 at Wal-Mart …

or

Each only $13 at Wal-Mart right now.  Go shopping!

I bought a DC Comics Snuggie?!?!  First off, it’s not really a “Snuggie”, it’s a “Comfy Throw”.  What does that mean?  That means it’s a body-length blanket with sleeves made of fleece material; similar in design to a bathrobe that is worn backwards.  Yeah, I know.  That’s the definition of a “Snuggie”.  This is DC Comics’ off-brand version of a Snuggie.

I picked it up at F.Y.E. in Tampa for $10 (originally priced at $20).  The dimensions are 48″ x 71″.  Upon seeing the box (and after finishing rolling her eyes), my wife stated that no woman would be caught dead in that thing, and the only reason a woman is wearing one on the box is because it will help sell the product to geeks.  Y’know what, I think she’s exactly correct!

When I bought it, I never really thought I’d wear it.  However, my Comicatorium (a.k.a. Shag’s Sanctum Sanctorum) is about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house.  So on cold winter nights this thing could actually come in handy!  In fact, I’m wearing it as I type right now.  It’s currently 32 degrees outside and freakin’ cold in the Comicatorium, but I’m all mosty-toasty in my DC Comics Snuggie.

Here is a sample of the pattern featuring: Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Shazam, Justice League of America, and the Super Powers logo.

Finally, proof positive that I have no sense of shame.

I can’t wait!  Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths comes out next Tuesday, February 23, on Blu-Ray and DVD!  This has the potential to be one of the best DC animated movies yet.  Here is the description from the official movie web site:

In a parallel universe, the lone survivor of Earth’s Justice League-Lex Luther-travels through other-world dimensions to join forces with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and J’onn J’onzz in a desperate attempt to save his world and its people.  But the villainous Crime Syndicate controlled by Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman will stop at nothing to maintain their domination.  It will take wits, might and a sacrifice to defeat these unforgiving enemies in this spectacular DC Universe Animated Original Movie with a stellar voice cast headed by Mark Harmon, James Woods, Chris North, Gina Torres, William Baldwin, Bruce Davison and more.  Two Earths, two Leagues and one epic battle collide for a thrilling experience that will leave you breathless!

This story written by Dwayne McDuffie is loosely based upon Justice League of America #29-30 written by Gardner Fox in 1964, as well as the 1999 Grant Morrison JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel.  While Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths isn’t a direct adaptation of either source material, certain elements originated in those stories (i.e. The Crime Syndicate, the good Lex Luthor seeking help from the Justice League, etc).

Here is the trailer for the film:

There is also the Spectre animated short to look forward to:

DC Showcase – The Spectre: The first animated short in the all-new DC Showcase series focuses on a detective story with an ethereal twist, featuring the otherworldly character originally introduced by DC Comics in 1940. The short is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), and the voice cast includes Gary Cole (Entourage) and Alyssa Milano (Charmed).

Finally, Firestorm and the Justice League Detroit folks make cameos in the film.  Next Tuesday can’t get here soon enough!

Welcome to ONCE UPON A GEEK’s part of the Crisis on Earth-Blog: The DC Challenge! ONCE UPON A GEEK is a blog that focuses on a variety of geeky topics, including: comic books, Doctor Who, Star Wars, role-playing, 80’s TV shows, and science fiction in general. If this is your first time here, welcome aboard! If you’re a regular, I think you’ll enjoy this crossover event.

Today and throughout the next few weeks on comic book-themed blogs across the internet, DC Comics characters are being spotlighted in a series of challenges. In my case I’ll be representing Doctor Fate, one of my all-time favorite superheroes. Your DC Challenge, if you choose to accept it, involves visiting each of these various blogs and tackling their particular challenge.

The objective of these challenges is to go from blog to blog until you reach the goal-page featuring a lush scan from an obscure George Pérez pin-up of every major character involved in this crossover event. We all hope you enjoy this online scavenger hunt, and the new comic blogs you’ll be exposed to! Many thanks go out to mastermind Frank Lee Delano (of the blogs: Idol-Head of Diabolu, Justice League Detroit, and …nurgh…) for coordinating this massive effort! Way to go, Frank!

Your ONCE UPON A GEEK challenge is the crossword puzzle below. I couldn’t embed the crossword puzzle itself, so you’ll have to click the image to be taken to the interactive puzzle.  Each question in the puzzle relates to either Doctor Fate, a character participating in this crossover, or other well-known DC characters. Just a heads-up, I removed any spaces or hyphens from the answers. For example “Captain Amazing” would simply be “CaptainAmazing”; or “Locust-Man” would simply be “LocastMan”. Once you’ve finished the challenge, follow Doctor Fate’s mission beneath the puzzle. Have fun!

Hope you enjoyed the crossword puzzle!  Now you’ll have to work your way through Doctor Fate’s mission and a few of the blogs below if you want to reach the goal-page featuring an obscure George Pérez pin-up of every major character in this crossover.  Some of these blogs are participating in the crossover today, others will be in the coming weeks.  Visit them now, visit them later, visit them often!

1986

Inza Nelson sat on an antique couch, working a personalized other-dimensional crossword puzzle, within her invisible tower home in Salem, Massachusetts. Many wives find themselves “widowed” by their husbands’ obsessions with sports, gambling or what have you.  You could say Inza was a sorcery widow, as the unnaturally youthful woman had been since meeting her husband-to-be in the 1940s. It was then that Kent Nelson began his career as the crusading mage Doctor Fate, serving the cause of Order alone, and later as a member of the Justice Society of America. In the years since, Kent has become withdrawn from humanity and increasingly isolated in his studies, leaving poor Inza to her own devices.

Or not. Dr. Fate strode into the room, his features almost entirely obscured by his mantle of power, the gleaming Helm of Nabu. “Take cover,” he demanded, “I’m expecting uninvited guests.” Just then, otherworldly luminescence filled the room, followed by the material forms of three strangers.

The first looked like a derelict, with his unshaven face and long, unkempt black hair, streaked with crimson. He scowled, “I remember you two, even if you were withered old prunes when we met.” This menacing fellow, with a red ankh tattooed over his right eye, drew a golden blade on Dr. Fate. “I took that helmet of yours, and turned it into something useful. I was supposed to be the balance between Order and Chaos, but everything turned rotten, and I’ll end up with my own blade stuck between my ribs.”

The second figure exactly like Dr. Fate, but his tone was less haughty. “We took on your duties, and it will destroy us, body and soul. They warned us. We will stop you from cursing us.”

The third figure was also strikingly similar to Kent, but less poised, and with a costume bearing an ancient Egyptian motif. “I am Hawkman’s son. Why couldn’t I just defend the skies? Why did magic rot away my life, killing me, taking my lover’s mind and my son’s soul? Why couldn’t you do your own job?”

If Dr. Fate found any of this disturbing, he showed no sign of it. “I can sense the touch of Nabu in each of you, but you are not in a time of your own, and you each forget your place. Not a single one of you will carry the weight of my responsibilities for a fraction of my length of servitude. One day, you may each claim my place as Fate, but for now, begone.” With that, Dr. Fate dismissed these future inheritors of his mantle, seemingly with all the effort of an afterthought.

Inza rushed to the being who was both her husband, and something else entirely. She wondered who these Fates were, and what their appearance meant. “They were representatives of a possible future, manipulated into adulterating our present, and they are not alone. All across the Earth, these agents of a grim tomorrow haunt other superhumans. They do not belong, and I will see to their removal.”

With that, Dr. Fate exited his tower, leaving Inza to fret and displaced super-heroes to dread his pursuit.

Follow Dr. Fate’s mission through these blogs…

• The Aquaman Shrine
• The Atom: Tiny Titan
• Hawkman/Hawkwoman at Being Carter Hall
• Metal Men at Comics Make Me Happy
• Flash at Crimson Lightning
• Green Arrow at Dispatches from the Arrow Cave
• Black Lightning and Unknown Soldier at El Jacone’s Comic Book Bunker
• Firestorm Fan
• Black Canary at Girls Gone Geek and Wonder Woman at Girls Gone Geek
• I Am The Phantom Stranger
• Martian Manhunter at The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Elongated Man and Zatanna at Justice League Detroit
• Captain Comet at …nurgh…
• Doctor Fate at Once Upon a Geek
• He-Man and Battle Cat at Pretty, Fizzy Paradise
• Mister Miracle at random picture day
• Adam Strange at Reilly2040’s Blog
• Supergirl Comic Box Commentary
• Sgt. Rock at when is evil cool?
• Batgirl at The Anti-Didio League of America
• Plastic Man at The Continuity Blog
• General support from Toyriffic

If you enjoy blog crossovers, then you may want to check out the previous comic blog crossovers we’ve done. The first major Crisis on Earth-Blog celebrated the gorgeous George Pérez/Alex Ross painting from the Crisis on Infinite Earths 1998 hardcover. The next blog crossover was a celebration of the Super Powers Collection’s 25th Anniversary.

We here at ONCE UPON A GEEK wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas Eve!  To help celebrate, please enjoy these holiday-themed comic book covers.  Last year I posted 25 Santa-themed covers which you can see by clicking here.  You can also find another 23 holiday related covers I posted last year by clicking here. Below you’ll find a few more I’ve come across within the past year.

The ones below are from this year.  You’ll notice they don’t have the typical logos because I pulled the artwork directly from the publisher’s web sites.

DC Holiday Special 2009

Fall of the Hulks Gamma & Hulk #18 variant covers combined.  Click the image below to enlarge.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #12

Super Friends #22

Merry Geekmas!

First, THE HYPE… If you missed it, last week DC Comics announced a bunch of projects for 2010.  Simultaneously, DC had the propaganda machine turned up to 11 as they had other media lined up to cover each project.  Here is a quick recap with links:

• EARTH ONE: A series of original graphic novels featuring Superman and Batman on a new Earth with an all-new continuity.  Superman: Earth One will be written by J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by Shane Davis, while Batman: Earth One will be written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Gary Frank.  These stories will cover their first years and earliest moments in this new continuity.  Ain’t it Cool News spoke to writers Geoff Johns and J. Michael Straczynski about their respective original graphic novels.
• BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE is a six-part mini-series featuring Bruce Wayne time traveling his way back to the present. Writer Grant Morrison spoke with USA TODAY about this upcoming mini-series starting in April.
• WAR OF THE SUPERMEN launches on Free Comic Book Day in May and promises to be the culmination of years of Superman-related stories.  The Techland blog spoke with Superman Group Editor Matt Idelson about this project.
• THE RISE OF ARSENAL and THE FALL OF GREEN ARROW: The aftermath of Justice League: Cry for Justice will leave the Green Arrow family of characters in chaos.  If you are reading the series, you already know some of what’s going on.  In March there will be a one-shot called Justice League: The Rise and Fall that bridges Justice League: Cry for Justice with the current monthly title.  Additionally, there will be a four-issue mini-series entitled Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal.   Finally, starting in Green Arrow #31 will be a storyline entitled, The Fall of Green Arrow.  All three of these projects are being written by J.T. Krul and he spoke with IGN about them.
• LEGACIES, HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, and WHO’S WHO: DC celebrates its rich and legendary history with three projects.  Len Wein will write the Legacies 10-issue mini-series starting in May, with each issue focusing on a different era of DC history.  It starts at the dawn of the Golden Age and runs right up to the moments before Countdown to Infinite Crisis begins.  The other two projects are new editions of The History of the DC Universe and an all-new Who’s Who 15-issue series, profiling some of the best and lesser-known characters populating the DC Universe.  Dan DiDio and Len Wein talked with Comic Book Resources about the Legacies project.
• WONDER WOMAN #600: Because the fans demanded it (and I mean that literally), Wonder Woman will publish her 600th issue in June and continue the numbering from 600.

Now, THE GRIPE… with the official news out of the way it’s time to share some of my opinions.  I apologize in advance for my negativity.  Normally I try to be upbeat and positive here at ONCE UPON A GEEK, but some of these projects get under my skin.  Don’t get me wrong, I still love comics.  I’m just becoming increasingly more selective as time goes on.

• EARTH ONE: I won’t be buying them.  I don’t mind stories being told about iconic characters using the “classic” trappings (i.e. Lois, Daily Planet, Jimmy Olsen, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, etc) as was done with All-Star Superman, but to go out of your way to create a new independent continuity is bothersome to this old school fan.  I understand the hope is to allow new fans to get in on the ground floor.  Perhaps that will work, but I feel its just DC’s attempt to create a new, separate universe similar to Marvel’s Ultimate line.  Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’ve always felt the clock is ticking on the Ultimate universe anyway. It’s just a matter of time until all the series are canceled and it becomes a memory (i.e. Marvel’s New Universe, Marvel’s M2, Marvel’s 2009, etc).  On a positive note, I will say that I find DC’s efforts to publish original graphic novels rather than monthly comics very interesting. This is a HUGE change for DC. Maybe they see the future coming and are trying to make a new model work for them. Good idea to try this now.  Finally, given that Johns and JMS are writing the stories, they will probably be very good. I just refuse to get sucked into a separate continuity; I spend enough money on the current continuity.  It also makes me wonder how the Superman titles in the prime DC universe will hold up without Johns involvement.
• BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE: I won’t be buying this.  Bruce Wayne is time traveling his way back to the present?  Didn’t Captain America just do the same thing?  Seems poor planning for DC to announce this series after Marvel already plowed this road so recently with Cap.  I’m sure the story will be different and interesting, but it’s just too much of a coincidence for fans to ignore.  Also, given how much of a promotional push DC gave Dick Grayson as the new Batman and the reorganized Bat-family, it seems unfair for Bruce to come back so soon.  Poor Dick Grayson, always a Bride’s Maid…
• WAR OF THE SUPERMEN: I won’t be buying this.  It actually sounds interesting, but I dropped the Superman books about a year ago and don’t plan to get sucked back in.
• THE RISE OF ARSENAL and THE FALL OF GREEN ARROW: I’m considering picking these up.  While I’m not thrilled with all the inconsistencies in Justice League: Cry for Justice (don’t get me started on Firestorm in that book), these aftermath books sound good.  Also, J.T. Krul is GREAT!  I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read of his (all Titans related).  I dropped Green Arrow back when Judd Winick was writing it.  I’ve been looking for a good reason to come back to the character.  This just might be it.
• LEGACIES, HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, and WHO’S WHO: I’m DEFINITELY in for a new Who’s Who!  Without Who’s Who all these years, I’ve been devouring the Secret Files comics and the DC Encyclopedia (both editions).  I about flipped when I heard a new Who’s Who was coming!  Hooray!  I’m on the fence about Legacies.  I’ll probably give it three issues to see if it grabs me.  There isn’t enough information about The History of the DC Universe book to make an informed decision yet.
• WONDER WOMAN #600: Good for her and good for her fans!  Way to go Wonder Woman.  You deserve a numbering that’s up there with Action Comics and Detective Comics.

With all that said, I do have to admit I’m impressed with DC Comics PR folks right now. They are doing an impressive job getting the word out on their new books.

So now that I’ve mouthed off… what do you all think of these upcoming projects?

Just thought I would share some of the geeky Christmas ornaments that adorn our tree.

I love the Spider-Man ornament below.  It’s got great detailing and the webs in each hand are cool!

Below is a cute Santa-Spidey!

You can find a nice Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine below, complete with rolling wheels, Christmas tree on top, and Scooby in bas-relief.

Scooby-Doo the reindeer.

Scooby baking Christmas cookies in the shape of himself and Shaggy!

Below is a miniaturized replica of a Scooby-Doo metal lunchbox.  Unfortunately, my three year old daughter has pilfered the thermos that went with it.

Below is an interesting Batman and Robin pairing.  Robin is clearly the Tim Drake Robin, but Batman isn’t wearing blue trunks.  That suggests this is the Batman from shortly after the Troika storyline in 1995.  … Wow, it’s scary I know things like that.

Here is a genuine E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial ornament from 1982.  Somehow I’ve managed to hang on to it all this time.

Here is another E.T. ornament from 1982 I’ve somehow managed not to lose.  This one is handmade.  I believe my mother bought it at a craft show in 1982.

Below is another miniaturized replica metal lunchbox.  This time it’s from the Super Friends, including images of Flash, Batgirl, Green Arrow, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin, Hawkman, and Green Lantern.  The thermos features Catwoman, the Joker, and the Riddler.  Oddly enough I don’t believe Batgirl or Green Arrow ever appeared on the Super Friends show, and yet they made the lunch box.  Weird.

Below the likeness of Barry Allen, The Flash, is captured between the seconds as he races to beat 20 years of continuity and come back from the dead.

Superman from the Animated Series is delivering Christmas toys in this cool ornament below.

Another miniature replica metal lunchbox below.  This time it’s a Superman lunchbox paying homage to the cover of Action Comics #1.

Below is a clever Clark Kent ornament.  Notice the detail of the coat hanger and the jacket.  Nicely done!

Finally, my favorite geek ornament… Super Santa!  Another gift from my mother from my childhood.  I like the crossover between Superman and Santa Claus.

Happy Holidays!

Here is a cute outfit my daughter wore when she was still itty-bity.  I was so proud to show her off in this!  Well… at least until that other little girl at her daycare, Lena Luthor, got a kryptonite baby-rattle. What a spoiled brat that kid was!

Today we’ll be looking at the Monopoly Justice League of America Collector’s Edition from 1999.  This was a great piece produced by USAOPOLY representing the Silver Age Justice League.  The premise of the game is identical to Monopoly, the difference being simply in what things are called.  Instead of the properties being named after places in Atlantic City, they are named after Justice League member’s abilities.  For example, instead of “Boardwalk” and “Park Place”, you have “Strength of Steel” and “Heat Vision”.

Below is the box cover.

Below is a shot of the game board and the insert explaining the characters.  To see all the properties, click the image below to enlarge (big image – 1.4 MB).

Below is the bank, some of the Title Deed cards (called “Power Cards” in this edition), the “Chance” and “Community Chest” cards, a reprint of The Brave and the Bold #28 (the first appearance of the Justice League of America), and the instructions.

Below are the replacement Utilities cards.  Instead of the “Electric Company”, you have “Green Lantern’s Power Battery”.  Instead of “Water Works”, you have “Aquaman’s City of Atlantis”.

Below are the replacement Railroad cards.  In this set you’ve got: Flash’s “The Cosmic Treadmill”, Green Arrow’s “The Arrowplane”, Batman’s “The Batmobile”, and Wonder Woman’s “Invisible Jet Plane”.

Below is a shot of the player tokens and the houses/hotels.  In this edition, green houses are replaced by blue “Powers”, and red hotels are replaced by red “Super Powers”.

Here is another shot of the pewter player tokens.  They include (from L to R): Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, and Green Arrow.

Here is a better shot of the “Powers” and “Super Powers” pieces.  You can see the star on the blue pieces, and you can see the Justice League of America logo on the red pieces.

Here is the JLA currency for the game.  Poor Martian Manhunter, everyone else got a bill except him.  Maybe he’s on the three dollar bill.

The orange “Daily Planet” cards replace “Chance” in this edition.

Below are some of my favorite “Daily Planet” cards.  There are tons more, these are just the ones I chose to feature.

The yellow “Batcomputer” cards replace “Community Chest” in this edition.

Below are some of my favorite “Batcomputer” cards.  There are tons more, these are just the ones I chose to feature.  It’s interesting that Hawkman and the Atom managed to sneak into the game on these cards.

What a cool version of Monopoly!  It definitely puts a fun spin on the game for us comic geeks.

Today we are presenting the latest collection of geek related t-shirts from my closet.  This time around I’ve included some baseball caps and even one pair of new boxers.  For past entries featuring geek apparel, please click here.  These shirts are all fairly recent acquisitions.  Please note nearly all of these were gifts.  My wife has put a strict moratorium on buying myself anymore geek t-shirts as the closet is already bursting at the seams.  Happily my friends are under no such ban. 

This t-shirt and ball cap combination was a gift from Serv.  Notice how the colors on the Superman symbol are reversed.  I find that striking.  In fact, this hat has become my favorite to wear lately.  The shirt came pre-faded.

This Red Lantern t-shirt was another gift from Serv, this time for my birthday.  Can’t you feel it?  The shirt just radiates rage.  Rage!  RAGE!

Neat mega-print Batman shirt from Lore (the irredeemable brother) for my birthday.  I really like the Bronze Age styling of the image.

Hilarious Star Trek t-shirt from Lore (the irredeemable brother).  This gag still makes me laugh!

Neat Superman hat I’ve had for a while.  I picked it up at Wal-Mart of all places.  I really like the bold colors and that the hat is fitted.  Where there would normally be an adjustable strap on the back, it’s just solid fabric with the stitched Superman symbol shown in the insert.

This Ghostbusters shirt is actually billed as a “T-shirt Costume”.  I picked this up at Target last Halloween.  The slime glows in the dark also.  I’ve been slimed!

A birthday gift from my boss.  This shirt is hilarious!  I tried to make the image big enough for you to read all the various powers.  I think my favorites are, “Communicate with Fruit” and “Summon a Lamp… Once”.  LOL!

This Scooby-Doo t-shirt is another birthday gift from Lore (the irredeemable brother).  I really like the coloring on this shirt. The mystery machine is faded and everyone in the foreground is really solidly colored.  Just looks sharp.

A friend gave me this Star Wars ball cap about 15 years ago.  It’s served me well, even in the years before Star Wars was cool again.

I picked up this Unique Geek t-shirt prior to DragonCon to help promote the website.  The insert shows the back of the t-shirt.

Okay, I don’t normally post pictures of underwear, but this is an exception.  I already featured these boxers on FIRESTORM FAN, but thought they were worth mentioning here also.  I just picked these up last week from K-Mart.  While there are tons of DC Comics boxers on the market, these are astonishing because they include both Firestorm and Doctor Fate.  Seriously?!?!?  Firestorm and Doctor Fate?!?!?  Two of my favorite characters that have proven time and again they can’t support their own monthly comic books?!?!?  Two characters that almost no one in the general public would recognize?!?!?  You betcha!  The other characters (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Robin, and even Green Arrow) aren’t surprising to see on apparel as they are fairly well known.  I just never imagined they’d make Firestorm or Doctor Fate boxers.  I’m thankful they have!  I will say it’s a bit awkward where they’ve placed Firestorm.  He’s right on the flap. Kinda creepy.