Professor

Listened to the newest Aerosmith album, Music From Another Dimension. I went into this with very, very low expectations. They were not met. I have not been a fan of any album since Nine Lives. But this is several steps below their previous worst album. Steven Tyler has completely lost it, the mixing is an odd mix of muted and flat. At one point Aerosmith was my favorite band, so it is just sad to see how far they have fallen. This album is a complete joke. This album also made me think about TAAB2 some more. I think I appreciate it more now, as Ian Anderson cannot sing like he used to. Yet unlike Steven Tyler, he does not try to. He knows his limitations and goes with it. Tyler is trying to be 1975 Steven Tyler and failing. Badly.

Seems like this match was going to happen, with Orton instead of Ryback. As a main event, that is an extremely weak match.

I finished the newest Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson (not sure which, it is really confusing these days) album, Thick as a Brick 2. I have mixed feelings. If this wasn't labeled TAAB2 (horrible abbr. on the cover itself), I think I would've enjoyed this more. Beyond some familiar riffs from TAAB, I don't get the overall connection to the original. Not the greatest album, but still better than the 79-84 years of Tull.

I just finished RAW for this week. I have lost faith. Teddy Long comes out and takes it upon himself to unmake a tag team match. Why Teddy? You can no long holla at me. Playa.

Uncanny X-Men #437-443 - Still never felt like a team book. I am sooooo glad to be done with Chuck Austen (until I go back and finish X-Men, argh). Art improved greatly tho, so that is good. Comics: 73 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 189 (1115)

Uncanny X-Men #416-436 - Not a fan of this book. This book is a mess. The transitions between storylines are nonexistent. The constant switching of artists is annoying and, in the case of Phillip Tan, down right horrid. I was have the hardest time telling people apart during his tenure. My hopes of this book picking up with a new team did not happen. Juggernaut (the most interesting thing happening in this book) isn't really on this team, nor is Northstar really. Got rid of Stacey-X (thank Jebus), but this never really feels like a team. This feels like whoever happens to be awake goes on this mission. Oh, Alpha Flight are apparently bags of douche, becuase Canada? Comics: 66 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 189 (1115)

So, if I understand what you are saying, some characters act out of character. Like I said, I remember reading these before years ago. All that really stuck was the Juggernaut face turn and the fish boy. I think this shall prove interesting.

Uncanny X-Men #394-415 - Not a fan of this team. I think this book suffers the most from the creation of X-Treme X-Men. Of this team (Bobby, Warren, Logan, Kurt, Chamber, Stacey-X), I am really only interested in Nightcrawler. He is the only character given anything to do really. Chamber is such an odd choice and Stacey-X has been annoying in every single panel she has appeared in. I remember reading the issues after this and liking it, so hopefully this picks up with some new team members. Random art gripe: Issue 400 is horrible to look at. It actively made my eyes hurt. I get what they were going for, with the changing art styles, but it is beyond bad. Marvel Age Hulk - Not as much fun as I wanted. The Hulk was awesome in the Marvel Adventures Avengers series. I guess I was looking for more of that. Also, I read these in the library bound editions, meaning each issue is bound as a hardcover. Gotta say, I would have loved these as a kid. Comics: 45 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 189 (1115)

The Amazing Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic (Book 5) - This felt like filler. Nothing really happens for most of the book. Peter 'dies' and gets his powers back in the first fourth of the book. Then it is just filler. The Looter. Will O' the Wisp. Swarm (who I know Ben has fought before, yet he seems to have forgotten). The Unlimited series is just horrible (and the art is worse) and the Spidey Team-Up issue made zero sense for those of us with no knowledge of that Avengers timeline. The Onslaught tie-ins were the best issues, but seemed to halt all running plot lines. It still comes down to Peter coming back. Ben get little to no 'screen time' in this book. Spider-Man gets plenty. Ben Reilly not so much. It seemed like they were trying to create a supporting cast for Ben with the coffee house crew, but Peter coming back killed it dead. Now you have way too many characters to deal with. Peter, Ben, MJ, the weekly villain, coffee house crew, Daily Bugle people, and mystery villain(s). And putting Peter on the top of the list is no mistake. You see more Peter than you do Ben. Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Box - Alternate Realities are not my bag, so this really was not for me. I enjoyed the art and some of the character interactions, but the story left me cold. And I have no idea what the Ghost Box mini was supposed to be. Those were a complete waste of time. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 188 (1109)

X-Men: Eve of Destruction (Uncanny 391-393, X-Men 111-113) - This is set in a time period in which I know nothing about what is happening with the X-Men. I did enjoy the news report issue as it set up the storyline very well. As for the rest; not so much. The Cyclops/Wolverine relationship is enjoyable, but I could have done without all the newbies. And the 'shocking ending' really wasn't all that shocking and wasn't played up as a big deal. Uncanny X-Men: Birth of Generation Hope - This did nothing for me. I think this is the first Hope books that I have read. I have no idea what her powers are. I have no idea why I should care about these 'lights' that I was introduced to. I know this was the set up for the Gen Hope book, but this could have been done much better. Best part of this book was the Beast/Molly Hayes scene in the Heroic Age special. X-Men: Curse of the Mutants - Solid. The art is really nice, although Blade looks like Lemmy for some reason. My main complaint is the fact the important things happen outside of this trade. Since this is a trade, I kinda expect to get the full story. I do not expect to get "We need to get Dracula's head" - flip page - "I got the head". Girl Genius: Vol. 1-3 - I read these because I thought they would be (based on nothing but the title and the art) aimed at a younger female demographic. They are not. In fact, I have no idea who these are aimed at. The art is endlessly cartoony (and not very good at that). The story is a bit too much for a younger reader. I found the story to be confusing and needlessly convoluted. It took until the end of Vol. 3 for me to see a direction. Too many characters with zero depth and an overall narrative that changes book to book. I still have more volumes, and the ending of Vol. 4 gave me hope that this is getting on the right track. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 186 (1084)

Barring acts of genie, I am out for 2013. I have none of the green things to exchange for other things.

I get off of work and get into my car, which has the radio tuned to sports talk radio. And they first thing that I hear? "You know what, Kelly Kapowski was kinda a whore."

X-Men Evolution - Started off as a sorta prequel to the show for three issues and then just went to stories based in that universe. Kinda disappointed in this. I have really enjoyed the Marvel Adventures line. In comparison, these all ages books simply do not hold up. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 180 (1057)

I found some episodes of Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad online. While this was always third in my list of Power Rangers knock-offs (VR Troopers and Beetleborgs being 1-2), I generally remembered this show being a fun mix of Save By The Bell & Power Rangers. I remember liking this show. Today I question if my younger self was doing massive amounts of crack. This was terrible. I have no idea how someone could have thought this finished product was any good. Also, Tim Curry. Why?

Part of me , most of me, 99.95% of me hates the Marlins for what they stand for. They are not a sports team. They are nothing more than an atm machine for their owner. I get that making monkey is a goal, but when you blatantly do not give a fuck about your product on the field? That is horrible. I feel bad for the players on the roster. I really do. I cannot be fun playing at home in front of those 267 people that having given up hope yet. I didn't buy the 'new attitude' bullshit they tried to sell at the start of the season. All that said. All the shit they pull. All the asshatery and douchebagness that is their owner.... They have still managed to win two World Series in their 19 years of existence.

Watched the Mortal Kombat: Legacy webseries. Gotta say, I was disappointed. Not that they are not well done or anything. More of not exactly what I was expecting, based on the trailer that I saw a while ago. That said, I still wish they could have actually gotten to a second season, if for nothing else than to see the actual tournament.

The Crow - I did not like this. Eric is a nothing character with questionable likeability. The art is fine but has major problems with storytelling. When more than two people are in a scene, I was having issues following the action. Now, I love the movie, even tho I will admit it is flawed. Having said that, I believe that the movie took this source material and made it better. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 178 (1048)

Watching the ECW Unreleased DVD. And something occurred to me during a Taz vs. Sabu match. I really do not enjoy Sabu matches. I cannot think of one that I enjoyed.

Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic (Book 4) - Continuing the trend of getting (slightly) better as we go along. It is almost like I said that last time. Blood Brothers - A six part story that really didn't need to be that long. And the story didn't really end until the unofficial part 7. The mystery villain approach was a mistake to me. We had just come off of the Clone business and mysteries. Some parts of that entire thing (Traveler & Scrier) were never resolved AND you just introduced the mystery of the skeleton. Just too soon for another one. Randomness - Officially bringing Peter back full time just screams panic. I thought having him show up was too soon. Having him constantly there seems like a panic move to a sales dip or something. And Spider-Man Team-Up is nowhere near as fun a Marvel Team-Up. Redemption - This is what the Return of Kaine storyline should have been. More personal, more emotional, just flat out better. Kaine should not be a part of 'The Game' or whatever that was. He really shouldn't be a supervillain. In this he is just a man with an internal conflict working thru some issues. With superpowers. Art is a bit shit tho. Randomness #2 - I think I complained about Reilly not facing the A-level Spidey villains. But really, I don't think the Spider-Man villains were in a good place at the time. Seems like everyone was dead or in their 'edgy 90s' phase. Also, I read an issue of Daredevil. It was a different Daredevil from what I expected. Matt was acting a little too, well, Spider-Many. Odd. I just thought about it. How does Ben know Matt is Daredevil? If I remember correctly, Peter didn't learn that until the Death of Jean Dewolf which was way after the original clone story. And given the fact Ben and Peter haven't talked these things out (as proven by Ben not knowing anybody), it really does not make sense. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 177 (1043)

Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic (Book 3) - Continuing the trend of getting (slightly) better as we go along. The Final Adventure - I understand the thought behind this. Fans might be waiting for Peter to be Spider-Man again. So you take away his powers. Makes sense if you are all in on Ben Reilly. However, when you set up an 'out', it really defeats the purpose. Unlimited #11 & Spider-Man Team-Up #2 - I liked the Ben/Black Cat chemistry. I did not like the Ben/Silver Surfer anything. The Return of Kaine - Too soon. Kaine should not have been brought back so soon. Kaine as a character/villain has possibilities. But if you are trying to establish Ben, he should really be facing off with some classic Spider-Man villains. The skeleton in the smoke stacks was a 100% wrong move. After all the clone clonery, they should have just left it as Ben=Real - Peter=Clone. Introducing the skeleton just casts doubt on that, which in turn, cast doubt on the entire direction of the Spidey Universe. Web of Carnage - Too soon. Bringing back Peter in the proper titles happened way too fast. Mini series like Final Adventure? Fine. But again, having Peter around is just cutting Ben off at the legs and not really allowing him to grow as Spider-Man. Also, Carnage is ass. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 176 (1026)

Wait. Just hold on a second. WHAT?!?

Fast Sofa - I have been waiting to watch this for 11 years since I saw the trailer in a VHS of something I got from the library. It has always stuck in my brain for some reason. And it just so happens that it is on Netflix instant streaming. Two-ish hours later and I have no idea what the fuck that was supposed to be. The trailer made it seem like a 'buddy road trip' movie with Jake Busey and Crispin Glover. Instead, I got a movie in which things happened and nothing was resolved. And Crispin Glover being more Crispin Glovery than usual. Bad Ass - Danny Trejo kicks ass. With a pretty sweet beard. Pretty standard 'Walking Tall' type movie. Completely average.

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man: Forces of Nature/Jumping to Conclusions/Identity Crisis/Animal Instinct - Nothing at all wrong with these. Continuing the nice light Spider-Man stories. Only complaint is that I know how good this series gets when it stops being one and done stories. I wanted more of that, but for what these are, they are fun. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 175 (1011)

First thing to pop into my head was Eric being her teacher. Personally, I want Minkus.

Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic (Book 2) - Better than Book 1, but not by much at all. I just don't get what some of this stuff is collected, beyond this being the 'complete epic'. And it sure is complete. The Return of... - Simple one and done stories to start the main titles again. Nothing horrible, but when 2/3 feature no-name villians, they are all rather forgettable. I read it yesterday, but I forgot what the first issue of this trade was. Nightmare in Scarlet - A non-ending ending to the New Warriors. Resolves the plot from the Scarlet books, but I did nothing to really end the classic, legendary and downright all-time great run that was Scarlet Spider as a New Warrior. SpM & Punisher: Family Plot - This was garbage. Punisher with a ponytail and the head of a crime family. Because why? Venom: Along Came A Spider - This was shit. Actually, this was worse than shit. I have read Chinese take-up menus with more well defined characters. And the art is worse than the writing. Media Blizzard - Simple three part story with a villain I can get behind and some world building for Ben Reilly. First good issues in this series. Comics: 25 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 171 (995)