SuaveStar

Good work, Preston.

Yeah, my mistake. Fixed it now.

The Royal Rumble is this weekend. Not to sound snarky, but is anyone actually looking forward to the rumble match? I'm looking forward to seeing Punk VS The Rock, but that's it.

Why are the Ted-centric episodes of How I Met Your Mother considerably weaker than the episodes focusing on the other characters of the group?

To be fair, whenever they have "Crossovers" on that site they are always up their own asses, no matter the creator. And yeah, he's probably just made the link to get people to watch "Demo-Reel" to see if he left any clues for a return. Nella slowly getting out of that parking space, and his brother Rob where the only funny people in the entire half hour thing.

I didn't know planets could have flatulence issues.

Christian Bale is a great guy.

Just watched the video of the reveal. So, he's admitting demo-reel was a flop, and that he's placating his fan-base now?

The Flash: Emergency Stop: Maybe I'm an idiot, but I had no clue what was going on half the time in this. The first story focuses on a suit that seems to drain the life of the people who wear it, because the former owner may or may not be a spirit still inside, or maybe the suit has grown sentient, it's never properly explained. I still don't truly understand how Wally beat the suit, it seemed like a take on how Spider-Man first beat Venom, just trying to be smarter and more confusing. The second story focuses on Mirror Master, which is fine, it's the Scottish one Morrison himself created, and his dialogue was funny. But the actual stuff that he does to Flash in the issue isn't really explained, one page Flash is in a reverse world, the next he's a giant, it's nice idea, and you'd only get one of these ideas in an issue usually, but it just felt like to much flash without substance. The third features Jay Garrick trying to help an old JSA super-villain that he became friends with. It's a nice simple story, without trying to be to smart, so it's the best thing in this book. The final story is part three of a crossover with Green Arrow and Green Lantern, where the majority of the issue is a court case. This shouldn't have been in here, and felt like the issue was just thrown in to fill some page count. The art in the issues was pretty good, but I read and started to realise why I dislike so much of Morrison's superhero work. He has so many ideas, and then doesn't bother explaining them in the story, and just expects the reader to read every issue that he's read and referencing over the years, and at no point do you have an editor caption box helpfully saying "Grant is using The Flash issue 242 as a reference point here" so, you're just sort of lost in his web of crazy ideas. Trades: 11 Comics: 6

It's not. As for USM, I have read the next two trades (The World According to Peter Parker & Chameleons) and think it heads back to USM proper. I treated Ultimatum like every other crossover event: pointless and relatively unimportant. It seems like, from the trade, that was the idea, as they have an interview at the end, with Bendis talking about his run in USM. Do they ever come back to the Johnny Storm/Spider-Girl or Aunt May/Spider-Girl thing?

Batman 16: This was kind of a filler issue, in a way, I think Snyder went a bit to overboard with his "Batman is the King, and Joker is his Jester!" Theme here. Still, it was nice to see why the other rogues were involved in the story. The back up was a lot better than the main feature, but both were still pretty good. Ultimate Spider-Man: Ultimatum: For a while I've been thinking about reading USM, but after reading Ultimatum, and seeing how mean-spirited parts of the Ultimate Universe are, I keep losing interest, so I picked this up. The annual issue with art by David LaFuente is pretty bad, his heads all look wonky and unrealistic, and change in every panel, also the introduction of Ultimate Mysterio, kind of sucked. The next issue has Johnny Storm show an interest in Spider-Girl, who's a clone of Peter, and is going to ask Peter to introduce them, but then Ultimatum kicks in. Ultimatum fucking sucked. This wasn't as bad as the main series, but is damn near unreadable if you don't read the main series, and if this was truly them killing off USM, then it was a terrible end for the character. Also, the last issue has Aunt May returning home after Ultimatum, to find her house all fine, and not a single car on the street out of place, even though millions died in New York alone, it's a stupid thing to be annoyed about, but at least be consistent with your terrible storyline. After this, I doubt I'll bother reading anything else in the Ultimate Universe. Batman: Widening Gyre: I'm going to start off with what was good about this. Apart from the first issue, the art in the book was actually not bad. The only thing the artist can't do, is draw facial expressions that don't like they come from an over the top porno, my issue with the first issue, and the last is, there are several pages that have two regular sized panels, and the rest of the page in full black or white, leaving dead space. That just felt lazy. What I didn't like about the book is a long list. First the graphic violence, there's a full page splash where we have a dead person with branches bursting through them, it didn't look cool, and wasn't nice to see, as the reveal of who done it, made it make no sense. then there's the shots of blown out brains on the ground, it was just to graphic for a Batman comic, for me. The use of Etrigan in the book just came out of nowhere, he was never properly explained in the book, and how he was taken down, and by whom just sort of felt convenient for the plot. The goat faced hero gaining Batman's trust felt extremely forced, and a bit stupid. So, overall, this just felt like badly written fan-fiction. My main gripe comes from Kevin Smith's afterword, which he spends at least half the time saying "Ah-ha! You never saw that ending coming! And if you say you did, you're a fucking liar" It feels more like he's patting himself on the back, for being so smart, rather than just saying "Thanks for reading the book, one day we'll have volume 2...maybe." I used to like Kevin Smith, before it became clear what a massive tool he is, and that afterword is just more proof that he really is still, just an arrogant tool. Trades: 10 Comics: 6

Rocky: It looks grainy and quite terrible on blu-ray, and comes with no extras, so, it's a definite step down from the DVD. However, the film is self is still one of the best I've ever seen, I always noticed something new every time I see it. This time, I saw that Rocky said to Adrian "I don't want to beat Creed, I just want to go the distance. No one has ever done that." Awesome. Was also great to see Archer back for a fourth series.

There's nothing like getting a library book and finding out half the last page has been ripped out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uBveM-kWQsQ Also, because I don't want to double post, on last weeks iMPACT Taz was revealed as a member of the evil biker gang, Aces and Eights, during the Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan wedding thing.

If you don't want to read my long winded story, then skip to the last paragraph. It's highlighted. And Stavros, it's your go. The film revolves around the ventriloquist, and his murderous antics. He usually leaves a scene with three victims, two are his audience, the third is the puppet he uses for his act. It becomes clear to Batman, Gordon and Al that the victim who plays the dummy is usually killed hours before the other two, and The Ventriloquist performs an act for his "Captivated" audience. Bruce meets Julie, and starts to fall for her, but pushes her away, as he's worried that his dual identity as Batman, will end with her hurt. Dr Arkham, comes to Gotham after his marriage failure, and takes over the asylum, he goes on local talk shows, yet clearly hates his job, and Batman for bringing the crazy "Rogues" into his life. Arkham stars to look into Batman, and realises there may be another book in the making "The caped crusader: My time with Batman" and starts to dig into the history of Batman, how he came to Gotham, what his goals are, and just what makes him tick. Gordon is being forced to retire, as he's just to old for this now, Batman sadly has to agree when he finds Gordon is being targeted by The Ventriloquist. In the scene that follows, we have The Ventriloquist talk about his past, how he was once like Batman, the thrill of the audience, the captivated eyes, but then, they grew tired of his act, just like Gotham will of Batman. He then precedes to slit Commissioner Gordon's throat, however it is not fatal as Batman is able to stop the bleeding long enough for EMT's to arrive. Rather than run away, The Ventriloquist is quite captivated by his actions, before attacking Batman as he helps Gordon, screaming "You're ruining it! You're ruining everything!" It's quite clear at this point, The Ventriloquist is clearly no match for Batman, as he is slapped against to the wall, knocked out with one shot. Dr Arkham is brought in to talk to The Ventriloquist, The Ventriloquist does not have a past, no name, he doesn't even like to be called The Ventriloquist. Dr Arkham asks The Ventriloquist what brought him to Gotham, to which The Ventriloquist replies "I was invited" This leads Arkham to say that Batman brought this monster to Gotham, and thanks to the heroes in MCU and Commissioner Gordon, the city is now safe, but Batman has brought so many so called "Super-villains" to this once great city that he is now asking, acting Commissioner Telmissus to issue a warrant for he arrest of the Super-Villain known as Batman. The Ventriloquist smiles as he hears this. Telmissus issues the order the next day, for the arrest of Batman on site, Gordon may have accepted Batman as a helper, but with hundreds dying because of his actions, they can sit by and let him treat Gotham as his playground any longer. The next part of the film features Bruce and Alfred talking about maybe it being time for Batman to die, become the urban legend he once was. Alfred says that maybe that's for the best, Bruce has spent over ten years fixing the city, maybe it's time to let the law be back in control, and focus on Miss Madison.That night, Bruce has a dinner party, to officially announce to the press his relationship with Julie Madison, and his intentions to marry her, if she'll have him. As this goes on, a visitor comes to The Ventriloquists cell, opening the door, The Ventriloquist looks up and says "You're late" The shadowy figure drops a bloody knife in The Ventriloquist's cell, The Ventriloquist's smiles. Alexander is at the party and thanks Bruce for his support in Gotham's time of need, and informs him that Gotham will be in safe hands with him. Alexander's phone goes off, and he takes it, and says the words "How did he get out? Get everyone down there, protect Gordon, get available man to Gordon now!" Alexander apologises that he has to leave. Alfred earwigs the conversation, and Bruce tells Alfred that he cannot let Gordon die at this man's hands. He says that after tonight he's done as Batman, but not before he says Gordon. Alfred then says he'll take care of Ms Madison, and make sure the guests are gone by the time he returns. Batman goes to Gordon's room, and finds out that it was a wild goose chase, that The Ventriloquist has attacked someone downtown, and his holding another person hostage. Batman goes after The Ventriloquist. Batman finds out that it was a wild goose chase, and decides to go back to the manor. However when he enters, through the batcave, he finds a trail of blood, he follows the trail, to his drawing room, where a beaten Alfred and Dr Arkham are unconcious, as The Ventriloquist performs his act, as he uses Julie Madsen as a living doll. The Ventriloquist talks about how all of life is a stage. Dr Arkham has his asylum, Alfred has the manor, and Batman has, or had Gotham, and Ms Madison, and precedes to slit her throat, Batman starts to run for her, before The Ventriloquist reveals that there's no point, he hit her juggular, she was dead before she hit the ground. Batman starts to beat up The Ventriloquist as sirens go off, The Ventriloquist says his partner "Mr Scarface" called them. Batman asks who this partner is, but the Ventriloquist just laughs and Batman has to run, to hide in his Bruce Wayne guise, and act like he was attacked in the bathroom. Alexander finds Bruce and has to inform him that they have caught The Ventriloquist, and that he will be going to Arkham for a long time, but that Ms Madsen is dead. The funeral of Ms Madsen takes place, and newly appointed CommissionerTelmissus attends. Gordon decides to pack up, and leave Gotham, as there is now truly nothing there for him, his children have grown up, and he is has been given the offer of early retirement, and he's taking up. The Ventriloquist is in his cell and a Mr Scarface appears before him "Did I do good Mr Scarface?" The man who we don't see throws down tablet into the cell, and walks off, The Ventriloquist looks at it, sighs and ingests it. We then here sirens and people screaming, The Ventriloquist has somehow ingested a cyanide pill, and is going into shock. Telmissus is at a press conference, talking about The Ventriloquist and how if it is the responsibility of Gotham to use any chances to keep anyone alive, even The Ventriloquist. A reporter asks if he will rescind the warrant out on Batman. Telmissus remarks that no, Gotham does not need Batman anymore, and it is time for the soldiers who show their faces, to take back Gotham from the wrong. Telmissus enters his office, and sits down to have a drink, and he says "How long have you been there?" revealing Batman in the room "Long enough" Telmissus talks about how he should arrest Batman, but Batman says he should break him in two, for bringing The Ventriloquist to Gotham. Telmissus claims to not know what Batman is talking about. Batman then informs him that he was always suspicious of Telmissus, how he climbed the ladder so fast, how he was able to know so much about Batman, but the thing that annoyed Batman most was his name. Alexander Telmissus and The Gordian Knot. The cutting of a knot, it's all just one giant Riddle. Batman said it took him months, but he has finally dug up enough evidence to link The Ventriloquist, to Edward Nygma, who several years earlier, as the warden at Blackgate was one of the first victims of The Ventriloquist. Telmissus applauds Bruce, feeling like they are on real first name terms now, he knew he would be a worthy challenge, years went by, and Nygma just felt like an outsider, watching all these losers come through Blackgate, he knew they weren't worthy of the great Batman, they weren't patient enough to truly destroy him. Batman says that Nygma's actions have had the opposite effect, he's now made Batman stronger than ever, he nearly had Bruce quit being Batman, but by destroying the woman he loved, he made Bruce realise that the world needs Batman now more than ever. Batman says Nygma made Batman's life easier, now as an urban legend, no one will know if Batman does or doesn't still exist. Nygma on the other hand, has played his game so well, that he is now in charge of Gotham's police force, and will be the target of everyone who wants a piece of the action in Gotham. As Batman leaves Nygma starts to realise what he has done to himself and drops his head into his desk, as we hear a call coming through for the commissioner to help with a "Code green on the bridge, The Joker has escaped custody!" Long story short: Ventriloquist kills people, kills Julie Madsen, turns out he's working for Gordon's second in command, who's this universe's Edward Nygma, and Gordon retires, as Nygma becomes the #1 target for criminals in Gotham.

What do you mean, like a do-over?

Updated what Hannah has said about the order. YKW it's your turn for both last characters, and your story.

Batman: Scarface.

Spider-Man: Gauntlet: Mysterio and Rhino: A book of two halves, literally, one half dedicated to Rhino including an origin story, and the other for Mysterio, also featuring an origin story. The Rhino origin is interesting, but the story featuring him is pretty bland, we're introduced to a new Rhino, and then he just leaves, the end. Mysterio's story was a lot better, in which we saw how great a villain Mysterio could be. The art was alright, but nothing spectacular. Overall, this was just ok, at best. Oh, and Mr Negative is a crap villain. Spider-Man: Died in your arms tonight: Spider-Man 600, was, well, boring. Dr Octopus's plot was alright, and it's great to read the set up for 700 start here, but this felt like an overly long comic, than a special anniversary issue. John Romita Junior's art for 600 was good, but nothing special. The other issues were ok, but this just felt like a sort of fill in trade, where apart from Aunt May's marriage, nothing really happens. JLA: Trial by fire: Art wise, a good book, story wise, pretty mediocre. I don't really care for the Martian Manhunter at the best of times, and felt he was at his best when he was dead in Blackest Night, so a JLA story about him, was never going to be my thing. JSA 50-54: I enjoyed these, I always like reading about the JSA, even though 50 was the end of a big storyline, was still an interesting thing to read. Trades: 8 Comics: 5

Preston's back up. It's been 12 hours since Stavros's last pick. Mr Wilson can go at any time. This is: Round 6: Supporting Character Casting III (all remaining supporting cast members)

The main Batman series has been really good, Detective Comics is getting rave reviews for the side story they are playing out, but everything else, you can probably miss.

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/266625-breaking-top-wwe-diva-quits-after-raw-match

Trying not to have repeat actors from the Nolan trilogy, so I had to think long and hard about a good Alfred. Then I thought, fuck it, Dustin Hoffman. In this version, Alfred is more a father figure, than tactician, and I think Hoffman can really play the older father figure, watching his son go out every night and pretty much kill himself, taking on the crazies of Gotham. Dr Jeremiah Arkham, is both the head of Arkham, and a best selling offer "Being you. Being Me" The best selling self help book of the 21st Century. In this universe, he is a mix of both Hugo Strange, and Dr Arkham. If it wasn't for a long and bitter divorce, that destroyed both his reputation, and bleed him dry. he wouldn't be in Gotham. Kevin Spacey to me, will personify the disgust Jeremiah has for both Batman, and for The Ventriloquist. Julie Madson: Really she's in the film for someone to think that he has feelings for. However, The Ventriloquist, after finding out who Batman really is, decides to go after his loved ones, so one night, after a patrol, Batman comes back to Wayne manor, to find a blood trail from the Bat-Cave to the drawing room of the manor, and at the end a beaten Alfred, The Ventriloquist, and on the Ventriloquist's lap, a dead Julie Madson, who has been murdered and turned into a doll for the Ventriloquist to play with, and taunt Bruce with. Yvonne Strahovski for Julie Madson:

Alexander Telmissus. Is being groomed by the mayor to take over Commissioner Gordon. Alex has worked his way up from CSI, to internal affairs right now, he is heading up Gordon's personal support team Major Crimes Unit. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of major crimes in the United States. Batman and Gordon have come to trust Alex, or Al, as he prefers to be called, and know that when the time is right, he will be the next in line for Gordon's job. And with this new "Ventriloquist" turning Gotham inside out for his own amusement, the turnover in power may come sooner than any of them expect. Jeff Daniels will be playing Alexander "Al" Telmissus.

The irredeemable Ant-Man: The first issue, is pretty bad, it takes place on the SHIELD helicarrier, and everyone looks and acts the same, you aren't even properly introduced to the main character in the first issue. However, from the second issue on, this series is just great fun, everything outside of SHIELD is great, and he really has a life, and even the World War Hulk tie-in issue is fun. My favourite part of the book was when Ant-Man finds out he can talk to ants, so what does he do with this information? He bets on the ants and sets them off to complete races. The art, again apart from the first issue is good, so a fun series. Sleeper: Season 1: Good book, the first issue of this is also a bit to slow for my taste, but after that, I wasn't able to put it down. A fun story, if a little bit dark at times, and it was fun that they actually said this takes place in the same world as The Authority. Trades: 5 Comics: 0