The internet is great for many things. It allows us to communicate easily with friends and family, access information from around the world quickly, and purchase Japanese Sega Saturn games for a reasonable price. But really, what the internet is best for, is wasting time. And I can prove it. Chances are you are reading this while you are at work, or at school, or while putting off doing work for either. So, to aid in your procrastination, here is a list at some of the best diversions the internet has to offer. And if this article gets posted late, you know who is to blame.

Look - Penny Arcade

I’ve gushed about Penny Arcade quite a few times, so it probably goes without saying that it is my favorite comic strip around. But really, what makes it so great? Well, besides being so damn funny. What I love most about the strip is that you don’t have to know what they are talking about for the comic to be funny. Most of the time. Sure, they make much more sense when paired with the lengthy blog posts on the front page, but they also stand on their own. I’ve personally witnessed my very own girlfriend–who, aside from the occasional game of Mario Kart is not much of gamer–take a PA book of of my shelf, flip through it, and be smiling the entire time. Now that’s universal.

Read - Invincible Super Blog

There are many places you can go to read comic reviews, but nowhere quite like Chris’ Invincible SUper Blog. Each week Chris takes a stack of comics, and gives them each a few paragraphs, in what amounts to some of the most epic blog posts I have ever read. But they’re funny. And that’s what keeps me coming back and reading. Chris has a love for all things "awesome" and it shows in his writing, which is just as awesome as the work he praises. And as an added bonus, he has the uncanny ability to find hilarious, random old comic panels that will make you LOL at their absurdity.

Play - Kongregate

This gaming web portal takes some of the best aspects of Xbox Live–extensive community features and, of course, achievments–and applies them to free Flash games. Kongregate also helps eliminate one of the major problems with similar sites with its user rating system, which makes weeding out the gems from the junk much easier. But, if you plan on ever doing work again, I urge you not to start a game of Desktop Tower Defense 1.5. Seriously.

Listen - I Read Comics

Think of it as an NPR talk radio show about comics. Host Lene Taylor takes an in-depth, intellectual look at the medium we love, and creates a soothing experience with the addition of relaxing instrumental music breaks. It’s a high-brow look at what is sinfully viewed as low art.

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Spirit Dancer is currently having its script developed, and the pages drawn up. we will be posting snippets of the character design pages soon. Watch this space!

Lisa

I’m very excited to welcome Liezl Buenaventura as colourist while Lisa works on Spirit Dancer. Liezl is working on Book of Nemus, Chapter 2 - Water & Stone.

LIEZL BUENAVENTURA is a graduate of both Studio Arts and Visual Communication, and she constantly strives to find the perfect mix of aesthetics and mass appeal. She learns something new everyday, and this delights her. Her portfolio can be accessed at www.liezlbuenaventura.com.

I have to admit that I had high hopes about the sequel to the first Hellboy film. The series was moving into the much more interesting mythological areas of the HB universe, and director Guillermo Del Toro was going to be building upon his incredible creature creation skills from Pan’s Labyrinth. And while it’s far from a bad film, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment as I walked out of the movie theater.

With HB’s origin story now out of the way thanks to the first film, The Golden Army gets to the action quickly. Despite a truce made between humans and fantasy beings a long time ago, Nuada, Prince of the Elves, has decided to take it upon himself to free his kind, who have been relegated to living below ground. But, of course, Hellboy and the rest of the B.P.R.D aren’t too happy about that, and thus the conflict ensues.

Now let’s get this out of the way first: the film looks incredible. There are a plethora of different, unique, and disturbing creatures to behold, ranging from flesh-eating fairies to a massive Forest God and everything in between. The sheer number of creatures is staggering, but even more so is the level of creativity on display. Del Toro has upped his game since Pan’s Labyrinth, creating a universe that is as magical as it is terrifying.

The film also introduces a new character from the Dark Horse comic books, and one of my personal favorites, Johann Krauss. As a containment suit filled with the ectoplasmic spirit of a dead spirit medium, Krauss fits in nicely with the rest of the gang. From the beginning, despite his frequent confrontations with HB, Krauss is a likable and funny character, thanks in no small part to Seth Mcfarlane’s (Family Guy, American Dad) brilliant voice work. Krauss even takes place in what has to be the best unconventional fight sequence since we first witnessed Yoda pick up a lightsaber (spoiler: he kicks Hellboy’s ass!).

The rest of the B.P.R.D meanwhile, are dealing with some relationship issues. HB and Liz Sherman have now moved up to the always fighting stage of their relationship, while Abe Sapien has developed a crush on Nuada’s sister, one that is clearly doomed from the start. These relationships create some of the more flat and out of place sequences in the film, including an embarrassing scene in which HB and Abe get comicaly drunk, only sans the humor.

The scenes aren’t the only thing that keep the film from being great, however. Despite the constant visual spectacle Del Toro has been able to create, the narrative is never able to live up to that same level of excellence. Nuada is a minor threat at best, and nowhere near as interesting of a villain as Rasputin was, eliminating any sense of desperation or peril that may have existed. That’s what is most disappointing about Hellboy II. It is a very good movie, it’s just not the great one I was hoping for.

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I have to admit that I had high hopes about the sequel to the first Hellboy film. The series was moving into the much more interesting mythological areas of the HB universe, and director Guillermo Del Toro was going to be building upon his incredible creature creation skills from Pan’s Labyrinth. And while it’s far from a bad film, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment as I walked out of the movie theater.

With HB’s origin story now out of the way thanks to the first film, The Golden Army gets to the action quickly. Despite a truce made between humans and fantasy beings a long time ago, Nuada, Prince of the Elves, has decided to take it upon himself to free his kind, who have been relegated to living below ground. But, of course, Hellboy and the rest of the B.P.R.D aren’t too happy about that, and thus the conflict ensues.

Now let’s get this out of the way first: the film looks incredible. There are a plethora of different, unique, and disturbing creatures to behold, ranging from flesh-eating fairies to a massive Forest God and everything in between. The sheer number of creatures is staggering, but even more so is the level of creativity on display. Del Toro has upped his game since Pan’s Labyrinth, creating a universe that is as magical as it is terrifying.

The film also introduces a new character from the Dark Horse comic books, and one of my personal favorites, Johann Krauss. As a containment suit filled with the ectoplasmic spirit of a dead spirit medium, Krauss fits in nicely with the rest of the gang. From the beginning, despite his frequent confrontations with HB, Krauss is a likable and funny character, thanks in no small part to Seth Mcfarlane’s (Family Guy, American Dad) brilliant voice work. Krauss even takes place in what has to be the best unconventional fight sequence since we first witnessed Yoda pick up a lightsaber (spoiler: he kicks Hellboy’s ass!).

The rest of the B.P.R.D meanwhile, are dealing with some relationship issues. HB and Liz Sherman have now moved up to the always fighting stage of their relationship, while Abe Sapien has developed a crush on Nuada’s sister, one that is clearly doomed from the start. These relationships create some of the more flat and out of place sequences in the film, including an embarrassing scene in which HB and Abe get comicaly drunk, only sans the humor.

The scenes aren’t the only thing that keep the film from being great, however. Despite the constant visual spectacle Del Toro has been able to create, the narrative is never able to live up to that same level of excellence. Nuada is a minor threat at best, and nowhere near as interesting of a villain as Rasputin was, eliminating any sense of desperation or peril that may have existed. That’s what is most disappointing about Hellboy II. It is a very good movie, it’s just not the great one I was hoping for.

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Adapting a comic book into a film can be a tricky thing. There is a fine line that divides that which will please the hardcore fanboys, and that which will be accepted by a more mainstream audience. And since these films tend to be big-budget, blockbuster affairs, the majority of these films fall into the former category. With The Dark Knight, director Chris Nolan has been able to craft a film that will not only please both sides of the line, but exceed their expectations at every turn.



With 2005’s Batman Begins having handled all of the set-up work, The Dark Knight pits Batman against his most famous nemesis, the incomparable Joker. Much has been made of the late Ledger’s unique take on the character and indeed, his is a performance that is worthy of all the praise it receives.



The reinvented Batman movies have created a darker, more realistic Gotham City, and the Joker is the perfect villain for the crumbling metropolis. Ledger’s take on the classic character is suitably maniacal, painting the deranged clown as a deeply disturbed anarchist. His ultimate goal is neither money nor fame nor revenge. Instead, he is in it simply for the joy of destruction. As Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler Alfred says at one point, "some men just want to watch the world burn." His reinvention of the Joker is so total, that this is the version of the character that will be most resonant with fans for years to come.



Ledger provides a perfect balance to Christian Bale’s dark, brooding Batman, who is dealing with somewhat of an identity crisis. In the wake of a number of copy-cat vigilantes, he begins to question what his role is and whether or not he is actually doing any good. This internal conflict brings about a number of moral dilemmas, and begs the question of what a hero truly is, and if Batman himself fits that role.

The insanity of Ledger’s Joker spreads throughout the city, a fact that is portrayed expertly throughout the film. At several points the tension builds up to an almost unbearable fever pitch, before finally releasing its grip on the viewer. The Dark Knight should also be praised for its ability to weave two classic villains into the narrative seamlessly. Harvey Dent, who eventually becomes the villain known as Two Face, is an organic piece of the puzzle, as opposed to say, The Sandman in Spider-Man 3. His obsession with chance provides yet another reaction to turmoil, contrasting Batman’s strict morals and the Joker’s live-with-no-rules attitude.



Despite a hearty running time of nearly two and a half hours, The Dark Knight remains engaging throughout. The Joker’s intentions are always a question mark, and Ledger’s disturbing performance is nearly impossible to look away from. This helps to mask a somewhat stiff offering from Bale, though the rest of the supporting cast is able to pull its own weight as well (especially Michael Cane, who once again turns in a terrific performance as Alfred). On the surface The Dark Knight is a terrific comic-book action movie, but deep down, it is so much more. The film is littered with complicated moral choices, and constantly challenges the viewers assumptions about what a hero or villain truly is.



The film is, without a doubt, the best comic book film yet.

The Dark Knight Photo
Copyright © Warner Bros. Pictures

Please extend a warm welcome to Whitney Cogar. She has come on board to lend her amazing artistic skills to Orion Xia.

Let me give Whitney the mic - take it away Whitney….

“Well as far back as I can remember everyone said I was going to be an artist when I grew up. It’s just the whole part about being a comic artist that threw everyone off. I grew up with a lot of Sonic comics but the first comic I actually followed for an extended period of time was Sailor Moon. That’s right, I grew up on manga. I had a shoujo manga style until a few years ago actually! Now my big goal is to do superhero comics for a living. Quite a change, huh? I guess I just love the sequential art medium so much that it doesn’t matter what genre or style it’s in. If it’s good I’ll read it!

I’m very honored and proud to be working with the people at Shox Studios, and I hope that I can help the group reach its full potential.”

I’m sure we’ll see some really great stuff from Whitney, as a matter of fact, judge for yourself and check her website.

Comic Con 2008 is now done and over with, all of the writers, artists, and cosplayers having gone home a few days ago. For those of us (myself included) who were unable to make it down to San Diego this year, wading through the headlines and announcements to come out of the event can be an onerous task. So, in an attempt to make all of your lives a little easier, here are my picks for the standout stories from SDCC 2008.



TR2N revealed - Yes, you read that right, Tron is back. A surprise trailer was shown at the end of Disney’s press conference, and I couldn’t be more excited. With all of the remakes and revisits coming out of Hollywood, a sequel to Tron more then two decades after the original was released seems like a no-brainer. I’m excited to see what the cyber world will look like with today’s technology. Added bonus: Jeff Bridges will be reprising his role from the original.



More Dr. Horrible - If you missed Joss Whedon’s epic three-part super-hero musical, well, shame on you. Go download it right now and prepare yourself for some awesome. Ok, now that you’ve watched it, get ready, there is more on the way. That’s right! The adventures of Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer are not done yet, though what’s in store next remains a mystery.



Millar to return to Ultimates - Superstar writer Mark Millar wil be returning to one his most acclaimed projects with a brand-new project in the Ultimates universe. Though new details have been announced, the project sounds big. Says Millar "All I can say is that it’s mega. It’s not an existing title, but it’s going to be the Daddy Book of the Ultimate Universe. You’ll know what I mean when you hear the details, but I only wanted to come and do more Ultimate work if it was something bigger and better than what we’d done before."



Mortal Kombat vs DC - Could Sub-Zero kick Batman’s ass? Totally. But if you don’t believe me, we can throw down in the upcoming game Mortal Kombat vs DC and I’ll show you who’s boss. The upcoming fighter will pit 10 classic DC super heroes and villains against 10 of MK’s most brutal fighters in what sounds like a strange mash-up, but looks surprisingly cool on screen. Now we just need a new Marvel vs Capcom and my life will be complete.



Kevin Smith returns to comics - Director, writer, podcaster and all around great guy Kevin Smith has announced that he will be bringing his unique voice to comics once again. In a three-part Batman mini-series, Smith will collaborate with long-time buddy and artist Walt Flannigan in a series that will pit The Dark Knight against the awesomely named Onomatopoeia. Expect to see the first issue on news stands in November.



Wallace & Grommit episodic game series - Episodic gaming is the new hotness, and the next franchise to get the treatment will be Wallace & Grommit. Telltale Games, best known for the Sam & Max series and the upcoming Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People, will be taking the popular claymation world and converting it into a traditional point-and-click adventure game. The game will be released as a series of episodes, with a new one released each month. It’s perfect for those without all the time in the world to get their game on.



Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Fusion - The sequel to the addicting Marvel Ultimate Alliance was on display at Comic Con, and from the looks of things, Fusion will be bringing more of the same. The dungeon crawling action RPG will feature new characters and special moves, but more importantly, a new setting. This time around the game will be set in the Civil War universe, so the game will have a much greater emphasis on story this time around. Another cool change is the new titular Fusion system, which allows two heroes to combine powers for a super attack. It doesn’t get much better then The Hulk rampaging around in an invincible ball made by The Invisible Woman.

Cosplay Gallery Day 1

Cosplay Gallery Day 2

Cosplay Gallery Day 3

- Also, people dressed up as things. Which is, I guess, pretty cool. My Personal faves are the cardboard Optimus Prime and the real life Sim.

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