Over on The Private Life of Clark Kent, the blogger shares a "tidbit" from a WB publicist concerning JLA movie casting rumors.  Word on the street has been that an official casting announcement will be made at WWTX.  Those rumors are receiving a lot of scrutiny...

...Red 5 Comics' Midknight artist and creator Tom Hodges as well as Afterburn co-writer Scott Chitwood will be at WWTX... 

...And there's absolutely no need to venture down to the Stockyards while you're at Wizard World this year because WWTX will have its very own mechanical bull!  The Hero Initiative announced yesterday that "...artists Tommy Castillo (Detective Comics), Phil Hester (The Darkness), Angel Medina (Sensational Spider-Man) and Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies) will all have special “Hero Initiative-no bull!” donation jars. All four artists will accept donations for Hero all day Friday and Saturday until 3 PM, and the artist who raises the least will have to ride the bull AND draw a sketch while doing so! You can show your support to keep your favorite artist off the bull by visiting them and dropping a few bucks in their jar."

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. 

I don't know if they'll allow others to ride the bull, but when I mentioned this to the Wife she said: "I don't want you riding the bull."

"Oh, I'm riding that bull."

She provided me with her trademark scowl.

It had no effect on me. 

I was, after all, born to ride. 

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net

Posted by Aron Head at 8:11 AM CST

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I reported last week that Michael Golden was making the trip to next week's Wizard World Texas convention here in Arlington.  Today, I caught a press release revealing that Michael "I drew Micronauts" Golden will be teaching a Wizard School Art session. 

Color.

Me.

There. 

In other news... I have no idea who they are, but Cat Torpedo Comics will be in Artists Alley.  Apparently they produce a book called WONDER TEDDY, which I think must be about a woman's undergarment that imparts wondrous powers to the wearer.  Please let it be about a woman's undergarments!  Because if that's what it's about, I'm in!

Oh, by the way, does anyone know of Black Bastard is gonna be at WWTX? 

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net

Posted by Aron Head at 8:34 PM CST

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So I was deeply engrossed in a web page this evening.  I nodded at what I was reading with approval, smiling.  I may have laughed just a little.

"What's so funny?" Suzanne asked.

"What?" I looked up.  "Nothing."

She turned to check the screen of my laptop, I assume to ensure that I wasn't surfing porn.

"Torture?"  She scowled.  "Why are you reading a website on torture."

"No reason," I answered making notes in my Austin After Dark game master journal.  "No reason at all."

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net 

Posted by Aron Head at 9:25 PM CST

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On the heels of viewing BSG: Razor at the movie theatre more than a week before it airs on the SciFi Channel, I will be seeing the HD, digitally remastered STAR TREK original series two part episode "The Menagerie" on the silver screen the very next night!  Man, sometimes the stars line up juuuust right.

The Hugo Award winning episodes are vintage Trek and thus  vintage Rodenberry as well.  The cerebral elements of the story are very much a hallmark of Rodenberry science fiction. 

I dearly love "The Menagerie."  I remember first seeing it as a kid back in the seventies, haunted by the hideously disfigured, hopelessly crippled Christopher Pike - a man so vibrantly dynamic, yet struck down so utterly.  It's a cautionary tale...

Never screw with Delta Rays.  They will mess you up. 

From StarTrek.com:

On Tuesday, November 13, and Thursday, November 15, the two-part Star Trek Remastered "The Menagerie” will beam onto the big screen in a special engagement with selected theatres. The screening — a first for episodic Star Trek on this scale — will be seen in more than 300 venues across the U.S. and Canada. This two-night-only event will also feature a special introduction by Eugene "Rod” Roddenberry, son of Star Trek Gene Roddenberry, plus an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Remastered series. 

"The Menagerie" will be presented in its digitally remastered, high-definition format and in Cinema Surround Sound. The screening is in part to promote the HD-DVD/DVD release the following week (Nov. 20) by CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

It's gonna be hella-cool.

Check it out at a theatre near you!

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
 

Posted by Aron Head at 12:01 AM CST

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One week from tonight, I will attend a screening of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR more than a week before it debuts on on the SciFi Channel.  I'll have my review for you here on November 13th.

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net

Posted by Aron Head at 12:01 AM CST

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Yesterday was Worldwide D&D Game Day.  Surfing this evening, I've been looking over the blogosphere's thoughts on the various events...

Over at Gleemax, the social networking site under development by WOTC and where I thought I'd find a lot of conversation on the topic, I found exactly one original post on the subject.  Mike Lescault shared his thoughts.  He "...had a great time checking out the World Wide D&D Game day festivities..."  Now, Mike's the the Online Communities Manager for Wizards of the Coast.  So, hardly an unbiased opinion - but a good place to start.

Wisdom gleaned during the WWD&DGD is shared over at Scott Oden's blog.  Learn from his mistake.  Never mix Chili Night and WWD&DGD.  As the blogger says, "No good can come of it."  Scott's crew ran the Game Day scenario (a day early if I'm reading it right).  He details the session where two of his fellow players ran the WOTC pre-gen characters while the remainder rolled up new characters for the module.  He describes an exciting and humorous journey through the adventure which succeeded in the event's mission, turning a new player onto gaming.  Sounds likes they had a great time.

Loebrich.org reports an exciting run, but it is Bidi's World which documents what I had envisioned WWD&DGD would be - folks sitting down with total strangers for an afternoon of RPGing.  Jim, the blogger, observed a few liberties taken with set up yet despite a trend of unfavorable dice rolls, he "had a blast."

Other entries I have read report large crowds and lots of satisfaction with story design.  Seems like everybody had a great time with few complaints.   So you know I've got some, right?

I didn't have time yesterday to sit in on a game, but I did swing by my local Lone Star Comics to check out what they had cooked up (Disclaimer: I don't like Lone Star Comics - and if you ask me nice I'll tell you why - but they were the only shop participating in the event here in Arlington).  Much like Free RPG Day, I'd have never known that WWD&DGD was happening at the store if I hadn't asked.  

Entering the store, I saw no signage indicating the event nor did I find any when I walked the shop.  It was only when I approached the sales counter that I found a small sign stating that November third is Game Day.   

The Central Arlington LSC, which I visited, has a huge game room in the back of the store.  When I passed the doorway to that room, I saw a huddle of guys in the back.  I asked the clerk at the counter, "Is that your Worldwide DnD Game Day event?"

"Oh yeah," He nods proudly, "They've been going at it for a couple of hours."

I've no doubt the guys playing back there were having a grand old time and I wish that I'd had time to join them, but I think this was another missed opportunity on the part of Buddy Saunders and his crack staff at Lone Star Comics and Science Fiction.  From what I gathered on the WOTC website, LSC booked Game Day events for all of its many locations.  I can't speak for the other shops, but the Central Arlington seemed to be keeping it a secret.  Based on my experience with LSC from Free RPG Day when I visited two of their stores finding the same absence of promotion, this seems to be a trend with the chain. 

When you have industry powerhouse WOTC providing such concentrated focus for a segment of your business, why in the world wouldn't you do it up big?

Really, can someone explain that because it just seems ridonkulous if you ask me.

So, how was your Game Day?

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
 

Posted by Aron Head at 9:17 PM CDT

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As I look through my many pictures of our boy Jamie, I find that most of them (approximately 85% - I did the math) have him holding a beer.  Is that because he's hoping to one day land a gig as a product spokesman?

Well, yeah - probably.

Is it because he's very thirsty?  Yes, that, too.

But I think there's a much more important reason.  You see, Mr. Kirmser knows the power of beer.

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
 

Posted by Aron Head at 7:12 PM CDT

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Earlier today, Zach asked: "What the hell is a jackhole anyway?"

From Urban Dictionary:

1. Originated as a name by radio personalities Kevin and Bean (from KROQ-FM in Los Angeles) as a way of calling somebody a nasty name without actually breaking FCC edicts against foul language.
2. A combination of the words "jackass" and "asshole". Often used on the radio, because the FCC lets it through. Assumed to have the same impact as "fucktard" or similar words.
3. (I'm adding a third entry) See Justin Farmer.
   

Does that help?

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net 

Posted by Aron Head at 8:31 PM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 4 November 2007 7:00 PM CDT

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Since today's Worldwide DnD Game Day, I thought I'd respond to Zach's response to my October 30th blog concerning an entry on his blog about his first DnD experience.  In it, he describes being placed as a first level character amongst a crew of mid-levels on a mission to take down a Red Dragon. 

It seemd a rather dickish sort of maneuver on the part of the dungeon master and since Zach and I gamed a lot together in the time period in question, I feared that the jack hole GM was in fact yours truly.  I was exonerated, I thought, when Zach mentioned the ref's use of a DM screen.  I've never used one.

Then Zach responded with this:

"I embellished a little bit. I also couldn't remember details and so made up stuff. Like I don't recall if it was a red dragon or a polkadotted dragon. Red sounded cool when I was writing it... So I claim poetic license but the gaming experience you remember was the impetus for the story I told."

Well, crap.  I am the Jack Hole! 

"You weren't a jackhole GM as I recall."

Exoneration!

"Well... maybe with Sir Justin but that's all water under the bridge. *smirk*"

Man, you crucify a guy's character on a branch of the World Tree and all you get is bad press.  I mean, that was just good story tellin'!

Thanks for commenting, Zach-o!

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
 

Posted by Aron Head at 12:43 PM CDT

Updated: Saturday, 3 November 2007 1:02 PM CDT

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Word on the street - or the interwebs, anyway - is that official casting announcements for the upcoming Justice League movie will be made on Sunday, November 18th, the last day of Wizard World Texas.  Programming for Sunday is pretty light with nothing scheduled for DC.  If an announcement's going to happen, it seems far more likely that it would occur on Saturday's DCU panel.  Of course, schedules change and there could be some big surprise.  You never know.

Josh Howard, the comic artist not the basketball player, will be at WWTX.  He's an amazing artist, specializing in girls, girls, girls!  And Sasquatch.  His style is vibrant and a bit retro.  There is a deceptive simplicity to his work.  I'm a fan!  Can't wait to see him.

Khepri.com has announced the winners of their October Wizard World Texas ticket giveaway.  Congrats to Raj and Chuck!  Khepri.com will be at booth #421.

Did I mention that my press credentials were confirmed this week?  I am already preparing to protect my sources.  Just last night I mentioned to the Wife that I'm both charming and handsome.

"Who told you that?" She asked.

I refused to divulge the source. 

Thirteen days to go! 

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net

Posted by Aron Head at 7:33 AM CDT

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