Retro Comic Book Review: Marvel Comics 1977 Star Wars #1

Dark Horse has published Star Wars comic books since 1991. The company made a lot of waves last week with the release of their new ongoing series written by the critically acclaimed Brian Wood. Star Wars #1 sold out in less than 24 hours, and a second printing has already been ordered.

Marvel Comics was the first company to publish Star Wars comics in 1977. This particular treasure was hiding out at my local comic book store, and it was interesting to read through it for a variety of reasons.

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Calling The Shots of Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping

The first UFC event of 2013 kicks off in Brazil as Michael Bisping vs. Vitor Belfort headlines the biggest main event on FX to date. The immediate future of the middleweight division hangs in the balance as one result determines Anderson Silva’s next opponent while another result puts the division in limbo.

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It’s All About The Luck of The Draw in The Royal Rumble

The unsung hero of the Royal Rumble event is the golden spinning tumbler that holds the numbers drawn randomly to determine the order of entry into the Royal Rumble match. The luck of the draw is so important because the higher the number, the higher a wrestler’s chances are of victory. Back in the day, the actual drawing of the numbers was focused on a lot more because it gave fans a clue as to what spot the wrestlers drew without revealing the actual point of entry.

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Superior Spider-Man #1 Review

Superior Spider-Man #1 | Writer: Dan Slott | Art: Ryan Stegman | Colors: Edgar Delgado | Publisher: Marvel Comics

I should warn you now; this is not the Spider-Man you are used to. Gone is the humble scientist who aspires to live up to his Uncle Ben’s inspiring words. Enter the arrogant mastermind who has a second chance to make a new impression. Recent developments have Otto Octavius now inside Peter Parker’s body. Big changes are always met with mixed feelings, and now we get to see the maiden voyage of this new journey.

It’s fitting that Otto’s first combative strife is against the new Sinister Six. The irony of this encounter not only spoke to his ego but the violent nature of his character. The old Spider-Man was as violent as he needed to be to get the bad guy behind bars. This new version is as violent as he wants to be and pulls it off with a certain je ne sais quoi.

Ryan Stegman produced some strong visuals that did a great job of capturing Slott’s vision. The best way to compare Peter and Otto is that of a magician who can put someone in a box and cut them in half without killing them.

The difference is that Peter would not even consider taking a life, while Otto would relish the fatality.

Something similar to a conscience overtakes Octavius when he is about to go past the point of no return. Is there someone more to this, or is the once sinister doctor finding a new groove? Either way, Dan Slott created a wonderful first issue that shows promise, intrigue, and a unique sense of adventure.

Grade: A-

Should Steroid Users Be In The WWE Hall of Fame?

Column written for gerweck.net

For the second time in four decades, the baseball writers of America failed to elect any of this year’s nominees for the Hall of Fame. Steroid tainted stars such as Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are the main cause of this shut out. This development makes a definitive statement as to what baseball fans expect from its elite. This makes me wonder if wrestlers should be held to a similar standard in order to gain entrance into the WWE Hall of Fame? Some food for thought.

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I’m Cheating On My Comic Book Store

There is no easy way to say this so I’m just going to cut right to the chase.

I’ve been seeing someone else. It’s not you, it’s me. I know, I know; that’s what everyone says but I promise, I’m not just saying that in an attempt to salvage your feelings. It really is me. It all started three months ago when…yes, it is someone you know…it’s…Kindle Fire. I know this is a hard pill to swallow. I remember our deep late night conversations about the soulless application of digital comics as we enjoyed out favorite pinot noir.

Click here to read the rest of my confession at Forces of Geek.com

The Amazing Spider-Man #700: The End Of An Era

One of the most popular comic book series of our generation has come to an end. Unless you have been living under a rock, it was almost impossible to avoid the spoilers since they were released three weeks in advance. If that wasn’t enough, Dan Slott received very descriptive death threats for the tangled web he’s weaved.

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The Blood and Guts Ballad of Lauzon vs. Miller

The pay-per-view portion of UFC 155 got off to a boring start with three fights that were anything but exciting. Then, the evening’s co-main event began, and fans saw the beginning of what would be, as the elders say, one for the ages.

Fights like Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon remind me why I’m an MMA fan. A good fight is fun, but it’s those special encounters that produce the type of story you will be telling your grandchildren about.

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Calling The Shots of Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez 2

Brock Lesnar came close but names like Jack Johnson, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson carried Boxing to a prominence mixed martial arts has yet to reach. Saturday nights encounter could be a step in the right direction towards changing that as the two best heavyweights in the game will lock horns for a second time at UFC 155.

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The WWE Santa Clause

Does the WWE have a clause in their contract with Santa Claus that he has to receive a yuletide beating each year? Around the holidays every year, the Santa Claus character receives a squared circle thrashing, in some way, shape, or form. Sometimes, a suspect Santa gets a fist in the face and other times, the genuine article gets a body slam for his troubles. Trust me, no one is safe, not even someone as pure and jolly as Santa Claus, from the shenanigans of professional wrestling.

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