http://www.comicsvillage/rss/articles.asp Latest Columns from ComicsVillage.com en-us Copyright 2008 ComicsVillage.com All Rights Reserved. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 3:42:51 PM GMT 20 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=526 Time was once when the BBC would content itself to announce the new Doctor (usually with companion in tow) at a press conference - usually ran at the end of a news bulletin, one of those "that's enough death and destruction for today, here's a funny item about a donkey with a hat on to cheer you up" things.This time around though, the powers that beeb felt it necessary to devote an entire programme to the announcement of The Eleventh Doctor (capitalisation mandatory).  Tightly scripted throughout, Saturday's episode of Doctor Who Confidental hinted at his identity throughout, seeding references to his youth, until the final announcement that, here he is, Matt Smith.  Fuck me, is[...] WhoVillage - Craig Johnson Mon, 5 Jan 2009 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=525 Verse 12: And at once the spirit him thrusts out into the wildernessTranslated as "the Spirit impelled him to go out into the wilderness," that’s not specifically what the text says, I don’t think. I think a more forceful case could be made for the fact that "the spirit him" is a less ambiguous _____ reference to both the larger governing nature of the Synoptic Jesus himself and to the overarching governing nature behind him in the context: in this case, the male aspect of YHWH (the only aspect that could specifically be referred to as God’s "son"). And I suspect it is documenting the repercussion of the ambiguities cited in my commentaries on verse 11. That is, the internal conflict engendered by the combination of the "damning with faint praise" of "in you I thought well" combined with the fact of being deemed the younger being, the son,[...] Guest Sermon - Craig Johnson Sun, 4 Jan 2009 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=524 Truly remarkable. Darwyn Cooke has dared to take on a character created and executed by Will Eisner, Master of Sequential Art, stayed entirely faithful to it in every conceivable way... whilst improving on it on almost every level. - Stephen on The Spirit vol 1 by Darwyn Cooke. n e w   b o o k sBreakdowns: Portrait Of The Artist As A Young %@&%*! album-sized h/c (£17-99*, Pantheon) by Art Spiegelman."Forged in a crucible of humiliation and trauma, cartoonists are made, not born..." I imagine that's a bit sweeping, but certainly it applied to Art from his inability to hit a baseball, through a stint in[...] Page 45 Presents... - Craig Johnson Sun, 4 Jan 2009 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=523 It's a new year as well as the start of a new month, so the releasesare just poring out from publishers this week.  Tokyopop makes a decentshowing, breaking even with the same number of titles ending andstarting, one of which is Phantom Dream by the creator of Fruits Basket, one of theirfew big selling titles.  Go! Comics is the same, as the popular HerMajesty's Dog ends as a new series, Crown, begins.  Tokyopop would bebetter off with more ending than beginning, as they continue tostruggle staying afloat in this new year.BANDAI ENTERTAINMENTCode Geass Suzaku Of The Counterattack GN Vol 1, $9.99  **Weekly Pick**DEL REY MANGAKujibiki Unbalance GN Vol 2, $10.95  **Recommended**Me And The Devil Blues GN Vol 2 Unreal Life Of Robert Johnson, $19.95  **Weekly Pick** Manga Village Pick 'n' Mix - Lori Henderson Fri, 2 Jan 2009 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=522 With 2008 coming to a close, our Villagers take a look back in the year in manga.  We look at the best and worst of the year, as well as look ahead to 2009.  What we are looking forward to, as well as what the next 12 months will bring.What was the best title you read this year?John Thomas: New series: Black Jack  Continuing series: MPD PsychoJustin Colussy-Estes: New series: Cat-Eyed Boy   Continuing Series: MushishiCharles Tan: Personally, what really wowed me this year was Real.Alex Hoffman: New series: Me and the Devil BluesKatherine Farmar: One-off: Red-Colored Elegy; continuing series: Junjo RomanticaDan Polley: The best ser[...] Manga Village Views - Lori Henderson Wed, 31 Dec 2008 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=521 I've come to the conclusion that copying a game from the internet isn't worth it. I'm not against it on moral grounds, especially. Piracy of games and music is one of the checks and balances of capitalism - it keeps the price of music, games and everything else competitive. After all, if the price is too high it's easier to justify downloading it from the internet as universally happens with computer applications such as Photoshop, where the pricing is immoral and exorbitant so virtually everyone has an illegal copy (although, I actually have a legit copy of it, through my work).That said, I do think the future is in free or cheap games, with money earned from the online distribution of content.My reasons against piracy are personal. Downloading ruins playing games altogether. It's true, and I've got some reasons for thinking that...One of my friends when he first got the means to do so, downloaded a number of games for his DS[...] GamesVillage - Glenn Carter Sun, 4 Jan 2009 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=520 A little late I know, but with Christmas and all... well, you understand.  And better late than never, right?Looks like no one expects anyone to be heading to the comic shop this week.  Or they're waiting for a debut for the New Year.  Either way, this week's list is paltry at best.  No new series, just maintenance for ongoing, but they are some high profile titles; Warriors, Naruto and Rurouni Kenshin.  So there'll at least be something to spend your Christmas money on.CMXCrayon Shinchan TP Vol 6, $7.99  **Weekly Pick**Key To The Kingdom TP Vol 6, $9.99  **Weekly Pick**HARPER COLLINSWarriors Tigerstar & Sasha GN Vol 2 Escape Into The Forest, $6.99NETCOMICS100 Percent Perfect Girl GN Vol 7 (of 10), $9.99UDON ENTERTAINMENT Manga Village Pick 'n' Mix - Lori Henderson Thu, 25 Dec 2008 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=516 Why an aardvark? Follow Dave Sim from the early 1970s and see rejections from DC, Marvel, Skywald, Warren and Charlton (among others). Filled with comics stories, strips and cartoons -- all complete in each fun-filled issue -- as well as original letters, manuscripts and many rejection form letters from the Off-White House's extensive 1972-to-the-present Cerebus Archive, this promises to yield unique insight into the creation of a comic-book masterpiece. Get in on the ground floor of what could well be Aardvark-Vanaheim's NEXT 300-issue limited series! The first issue and the zombie variant issue will be solicited in February's Diamond Previews. Cerebus Archive Eye Candy - Craig Johnson Thu, 25 Dec 2008 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=511 Last week, after much delay, Sony finally released their virtual world Home, and I got to try it out.Having created our character and decked him out with a lovely weightlifter mustache then picked from the pitifully short selection of clothes (more are available for 60p an item) we start to experience the world.Your first encounter is your virtual apartment. A homogenized, one room studio flat filled with IKEA stylee furniture (more are available for money). Our range of choice for replacement furniture is painfully small, presumably so that Sony can flog extra items to you for actual money (60p an item).Having customized your virtual penthouse suite to make the best of the possibilities offered it's time to explore the world that Sony has prepared for you. Starting [...] GamesVillage - Glenn Carter Sat, 20 Dec 2008 http://www.comicsvillage.com/column.aspx?ArticleID=510 The 2000 AD Prog Slog Where the first 1188 editions of boys’ science-fiction adventure weekly 2000 AD and associated publications are read within a contracted period of time when compared to the rate at which they were originally released. This time, Paul Rainey begins to ebb.Diamonds Are For FoghertyProg 713, posted Tues 25th Nov 2008[...] 2000 AD Prog Slog log - Paul Rainey Sat, 20 Dec 2008