Pr3++yG33kyTh1ng

CokeRewards progress - 456/850 - The convenience store across the street has a 2 for $2 special on 20oz bottles. They tend to be sold out of everything but Diet Coke with Lime.

Yesterday I had actual work to do. At work. It was weird.
After that I dragged my family to the comic book store. Gwynyth needed a new issue of 'Spiderman Loves Mary Jane' and I needed the latest issue of '52'.
I also picked up the second issue of 'Civil War' from Marvel.

Spoilers follow:













Ok. First, Flash beats up Peter Parker. Mary Jane doesn't appreciate that, because Peter seems to care about her audition for the school play. She gets the lead.







'52' continues to depress. The series is set in the year the Superheroes stop heroing suddenly.
Buddy Baker, possibly better known as Animal Man (able to mimic the abilities of any animal and, in fact, draw power from the animal kingdom itself - tangent: The Animal Man comic is best known for the way his stories are told. The character frequently breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience. He even speaks specifically to the writer of his comic, whom he sees as a god. Also, the comic is frequently used as a place to encourage vegetarianism and animal rights. He was also one of the first characters to sport a jacket as part of his official costume, answering the question of where a superhero keeps the car keys.) is missing. His wife is seen taking down the "Welcome Home" banner from the front of their suburban home because one of the neighbors has accused her of being in denial. Buddy Baker has been missing for over a month.
Ellen Baker hasn't given up hope, she just plans to be less vocal about it.
The next scene is in an emergency trauma hospital set up specifically for super heroes. Due to a teleporter error (the same error that lost Animal Man) Hawk Girl is 25 feet tall and in a coma and several other characters are either missing vital parts or disturbingly merged with other heroes. Eight legs only works on mutant spider creatures and that is more of a Marvel comics thing.
There is discussion of treatment options.
Finally, we see Animal Man, Starfire and Adam Strange stranded on an alien planet. Animal Man announces that they need to find a way off soon because they are being stalked by a strange creature in the jungle.
I should have read that comic after 'Civil War'. That is pretty disturbing and depressing, but not like 'Civil War'.
'Civil War' features a lot more freedom vs. security arguments from both hero camps. Spider Man gives a heartfelt interview for a newspaper writer where he talks about the danger the legislation creates for his family. He leaves, advising her to attend the Iron Man press conference in the morning.
Too bad she works for The Daily Bugle, where J. Jonah Jameson has ordered that every story about the issue slant pro-registration. The quote, "We aren't expecting a Pulitzer but I know what sells papers," is used and there is discussion about how circulation is falling due to online news outlets. Weird.
Elsewhere, Speedball shows back up. He lands, flaming, in a corn field 500 miles from the site of the explosion that was thought to have killed him. He is unconscious, and doctors believe his weird kinetic powers burned themselves out protecting him. He is arrested when he wakes up and it seems like that is supposed to be a surprise.
The last scene has Iron Man at a press conference. He shows off his older remote controlled suits and says they were used to allow Iron Man to be in two places at once and further conceal his identity. He says anytime his mask was removed before it was always explained away somehow.
He then removes his helmet in front of snapping cameras and madly scribbling reporters and says, "Hello, my name is Tony Stark and I'm an alcoholic." He is. They did a major plotline about it. At one point he drank too much to hero.
Then he says, "I'm also Iron Man."
Originally created as an anti-communist superhero, Iron Man is now the main hero pushing for federalizing and identifying all super beings.
I also read a promotional Battlestar Gallactica comic, but I don't see the point. I guess seeing the TV show might help.
Plans for today include a company 401k meeting and updating my resume on Monster.