I too have every issue of Sandman Mystery Theater. Some outstanding storylines. The Vamp is a great one, as is Phantom of the Fair. And the Anaconda. The last few issues did drop off a bit, but was an overlooked gem. I remember going to an unfamiliar shop which had dropped the book because they said they sold only 2 copies per month. Back in the 90's, well written comics seemed to languish, while overhyped crap dominated the marketplace. I'm sure glad it's not like that anymore......

Wait! Checkmate and Manhunter in peril? Avengers Initiative and other Civil War garbage selling well?...never mind.

If you guys aren't subscribed to any of his mailing lists or feeds, and don't go to any of his sites, you're missing out on TONS of great stuff. Funny, sick, informative--sometimes all three at once and then some. Worth checking out.

Or not.

My only assumption at this point is that, just like in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing", Midnighter is the Jigaboo and Apollo is the Wannabe.

Too soon?

I read in a recent interview that Joss and co. are taking into account current Daredevil continuity, so Fisk's continued presence in NYC is explained somehow. And I certainly think the Runaways flirting with the dark side is WAY more interesting than the whole registration thing. As a huge Joss fan, especially of AXM and Buffy, I have to say I wasn't as impressed with this as I thought I'd be. I'm sure it'll pick up, but it didn't grab me right away as I thought it would. I've been following Runaways for a while and Vaughan's absence was somewhat notable.

My other question is - what the hell happened to the Young Avengers? Did Civil War kill their title?

Vounteering to work at a clinic or hospital or delivering meals or whatever is hardly the only way for the guy to redeem himself, y'know. It might be a good way to expose himself to different opinions and see what the people are really like, but think about it: how accepting do you think they'd be? "Hey, I said some ignorant, offensive things about The Gays on line. Can I work at your resale shop?" He'd get a hostile (or at least aggressive) response from everybody and walk away convinced he was right all along. No, a more intelligent, nuanced approach is likely to get better results.

Also, don't underestimate the "writing" thing. Look, for some people out there it wouldn't matter a lick. And maybe it won't for Dixon, either. But what I was getting at was this: when you find yourself in a position where you have to write characters you don't agree with, a good writer has no choice but to humanize them. You have to do the research, become more familiar with their background and traits, and then treat them in a respectful manner, whether you like 'em or not. And that process of getting inside the head of someone different from yourself and seeing that they're still people, just with a different perspective, can make you see real people differently. You go through the same process of treating them with more respect and trying to understand where they're coming from, and you start to change.

Or you write a mincing, fey, stereotypical queen and end up with even more people hating you than you had previously, which could certainly happen here. I'm just saying I'm willing to wait until the product hits the stands to see what Dixon does. Or maybe take a look at his blog when I have the time and see what he says about it there.

Your POV does have many valid points except that NONE of it allows for the EFFECT of the writers actions on the very same people his opinions are about. Furthermore you COMPLETELY overlook just how insulting it is to hear ANYONE say that they want their kids shielded from knowing about a lifestyle YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE. That alone is a COLOSSAL insult to gay people who have endured a hellish struggle JUST TO ACCEPT YOURSELF.

Now you know me, I am quite secure in being gay because after 39 years I've accepted it fully. It wasn't always so though and fucktards like Dixon shooting off their mouths didn't make that any easier. Moreover they very well could impede the efforts of self-acceptance of a person who previously looked up to someone like Dixon.

Like I said, pretty piece of sophistry but that's all it is.

First, that human sexuality is a very difficult and personal matter, and I can understand why parents might want to be the first to address some of its complexities.

Second, when people screw up in word or deed they should be given the opportunity to redeem themselves in a public manner.

Dixon said some insensitive things, and they bothered a lot of us. I think he did a very poor job of expressing his parental concerns, but understand them even if I don't like or agree with them. Why? Because that's the only way to make any progress: to try and understand where he's coming from, just as he needs to understand where you and the many who have shared your experiences are coming from. Once you understand where the other person is coming from it's easier to get them to relate to you as well.

And for my money, a miniseries is a pretty public place for him to use as a proving ground--one that's going to be seen by a lot more people than if he volunteers somewhere, in fact.

Again, I'm not defending anything he said or did--I'm just saying that I'm not going to completely dismiss what he does next before we've even seen what it is. Instead I'll withhold judgement until I see if he's working to change his ways or not. If he doesn't, then he officially goes on the "Go Fuck Yourself" pile along with John Byrne. But if it looks like he's really making the effort, then disrespecting that effort will do more harm than good.

Marvel probably won't bother to change the comics. In fact, I hope they don't because in the unlikely event that the Iron Man flick is a blockbuster, people are going to look at the comics and say, "What the fuck is this shit?" Maybe that'll topple the whole Quesada/Alonso/Millar/Bendis regime. That's what happened with the first X-MEN movie, which is how Quesada got his job. The movie was a giant hit, of course, but the sales of the comics didn't increase. It's really stupid marketing, from comic book guys who want to be movie guys but don't understand either medium. If it was me, I'd want Spidey and Iron Man in the comics as recognizable to the movie audience as possible, which means no fucking them up a year before their movies come out.

"C'mon, Chuck. Him and Apollo in THE AUTHORITY. They've adopted a kid and everything."

"Yer shittin' me? I thought, yay, here I am, a schlubby, past my prime American writer finally taking over one of these edgy comics by those British shitbirds, and yer tellin' me Midnighter is a nancy-boy?"

"He's not a nancy boy, Chuck. He's analogous to Batman and Apollo would be Superman--"

"La, la, la, la, la, Chuck's editor is talking but Chuck can't hear him because no way are any versions of Superman and Batman going to be screwing each other. Not in my lifetime."

Remember, right after 9/11, how all of the Marvel books were about fighting Al Queadaa terrorists and if we bitched about it, we were reminded how CAPTAIN AMERICA comics were started for propoganda in the '40s?

Does anybody recall any of those writers, artists or editors enlisting in the military to actually take part in the war on terror? I think they felt it was their duty to use their God given enormous talents to inspire their readers to join up. I mean, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee and a lot of their peers were all in the military during WW II, but the new breed knew their talent could do more good on the home front. Plus there was less likelihood of getting shot.

Maybe Dixon is like that, too. He could actually, phsyically help people, but would that really matter as much as a comic book?

Things to ponder. Things-to-ponder-indeed.

It kills me when there are all these people saying that Wondy is hard to write or she wouldn't be a good subject for a movie. In the right hands ANY character can work. Hopefully, there will be no more scenes of here trying to work a goddamn cuisinart or manual transimission or any other dumb bullshit like that. I mean aren't there some girls who got into comics just to to see someone who is like them whup some ass?

DI RECT QUOTE: "I don't want to expect to be able to shield my kids from the subject of homosexuality as the media seems intent on bringing into my home and nothing short of cutting the electricity and boarding the windows will stop it. But I DON'T want my kids reading about it in comics."

And now this shithead is writing the Midnighter/Grifter series. Still wonder why we're offended?

This latest Jonah Hex was the first weak issue by my much-adored Palmiotti/Grey.

Add me to the list of people thrilled that Simone will take over Wonder Woman. She'll do for many of us what All-Star has done for Superman, make it all fresh and interesting. Too bad she gave of BoP to do it, but Welcome To Tranquility is excellent.

And Friday the 13th? Love it! Anyone who ever liked this kind of thing, I highly recommend it.

THE MOST IMPORTANT MARVEL COMIC YOU WILL READ ALL YEAR! "ANOTHER ME, ANOTHER U" Ever notice how in some Marvel comics, characters who are SUPPOSED to be dead show up with NO explanation whatsoever? Or in the wrong costume? Or acting in a way they NEVER have before? Well guess what, True Believer, there was a reason. And that reason is going to have She-Hulk and her friends working on some of their STRANGEST cases yet! Don't miss it-- 'cause this is the issue that fixes 90% of Marvel's continuity problems-- from NOW ON!

So while AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE may be neutered Marvel editorial retreat Slott, future issues of SHE-HULK look like being a ton of anarchic fun.

Though I side with Blackthought on this one, a Dr. Strange movie done right would be one badass psychedelic ride (though if they leave out the mindless ones I'd havta crucify 'em).