I was reading a She-Hulk comic the other day, and it got me thinking about lawyers in comic books. (For those of you not familiar with She-Hulk, she’s not just a super-hero. She’s a super-hero lawyer.) There really aren’t that many lawyer comics when compared against some other entertainment media. Not that I’m looking for any, mind you. I get plenty of lawyer entertainment from the personal injury lawyer adds on late night TV. Oh, and the divorce lawyer ads, and the medical disability lawyer ads, and the medical malpractice lawyer ads, and the… well you get the point.

Movies and television (especially television) are always full of attorneys. We have shows about district attorneys and shows about criminal defense lawyers. Usually these shows are dramas, but they are occasionally comedies. Clearly the consumers of American entertainment like stories about lawyers. If the lawyer-show-watching demographic is so large and attractive to television producers, then why isn’t it more attractive to comic book producers?

I believe that genre diversity in comics is a good thing. It promotes a healthy industry. But maybe the problem is that good lawyer stories can make more money in other media. Lots more money. Let’s face it, given the opportunities, if you have a great idea for a super-hero story, you are going to turn to comics, but if you have a great lawyer story you are going to turn to television. However, comics do allow for more niche story telling, which could allow for more geographic diversity in comics. Instead of everything happening in New York, you could have a story about a lawyer in California. No one has ever told a story about high-powered defense lawyers in California. Oh, wait. Ok, instead of California, how about Florida? Or Texas? Or Illinois? Or Ohio, Michigan, or New Jersey?

Although I doubt I’d add it to my pull list, I’d like to see “The Adventures of Fred Slick: Personal Injury Divorce Medical Disability and Malpractice Lawyer” show up in Previews. Then we can get started on those hospital drama comics that we’re sorely lacking in.

There are apparently some efforts being made by the comic industry to get monthly comics more widely available. Some comics can be bought in a 7-11. But let’s face it, those 7-11 comics are meant to be gateway comics to get new readers hooked (I have doubts about how that can work given current cover prices). Once you’re hooked, you have to go somewhere else to get your books. I used to go to a local comic shop (LCS), but I don’t have one close to where I live now. I miss going to an LCS. I think the thing I miss most is browsing the rack of new comics, picking up things I didn’t have on my pull list.

However, in this modern digital world of ours there is hope. You see, this marvelous information super-highway of ours does more than just bring you this blog. It brings you the option of the online comic shop (OCS). I have been using mycomicshop.com for quite a while now and it has been great. I haven’t tried any of the other services out there, so I can’t really compare and contrast, but I can describe my experiences with this one OCS. mycomicshop.com is a full-featured OCS with an online “megastore” where you can buy back issues and supplies as well as their subscription service. I guess the only real downside to the subscription service is that you have to know what you want to order months in advance since that’s how things are ordered through Previews. I get my books shipped to me monthly, although there are more frequent shipping options available. The hardest part has nothing to do with getting comics mail order. The hard part is trying not to exceed my budget by too much. There are so many more books that I’d like to get each month but I just can’t justify the cost. But that’s a topic for another time.

One of my favorite parts of my comic collection is my “Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery” collection. I have the complete series (all 97 issues including the first two “Thriller” issues). Gold Key published Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery (BKToM) from 1962 to 1980, and each issue was usually made up of a few independent stories, most with a horror tone and a plot twist at the end.

During this time of the year when thoughts turn to ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night, I like to pull random issues of BKToM out of the box and re-read them. I’ve long wanted to find another comic that fills my need for creepy, macabre (and sometimes funny in a twisted sort of way) comic book stories. I’m happy to report that I have found a source for those stories, and on the web no less. If you are like me and enjoy horror comics then you owe it to yourself to checkout Nightmare World (http://www.nightmareworld.com/).

Nightmare World #1

Nightmare World is a series of eight page online web comics written by Dirk Manning and illustrated by several different artists. The comics are free and updated weekly. There are a variety of story types and art styles. These are not stories for kids, but they also don’t rely on gore either (not that there isn’t any gore, these are horror stories after all). As of this posting, there are over 44 complete stories available. That’s a lot of entertainment for free. One word of warning though: try to read the stories when you have some extra time available because once you start reading them it is hard to stop (I speak from experience).

For an extra bit of cool, Nightmare World is going to be published in genuine printed comic book form by Ape Entertainment. So if you like what you see then show your support by ordering a copy. I know I’m going to be putting my money where my mouth is and place my order. It’s good comic book karma.

Can the Adam West Batman dance, the batusi, save the world? Clearly the answer is yes. If you need further convincing, then read on.

First, I would like to point out that the batusi has it’s own entry in Wikipedia. You’ve gotta love the Internet.

The Batusi

But WHY does the batusi have it’s own entry in Wikipedia? Does the image of Adam West convulsing in a body sock and cape really deserve that distinction? The cynics in the audience will say it’s there “just cuz”, and they may be right. But I think there is more to it. Much more. I think the universe is speaking to us.

You see the batusi may, in fact, be the key to world peace. I submit that it is impossible for a person to remain angry while doing the batusi. (Even without the cape.) Imagine if you will, an international law that required any groups that wanted to go to war with each other to batusi first. Picture armies meeting on the field of battle, laying their weapons on the ground, and busting into the batusi. Within five minutes everyone would lose all interest in fighting. Then the leaders would have to get together to work out differences. But each diplomatic session would be required to begin with eight-and-a-half minutes of batusi-ing. We could get things worked out.

The batusi would also help maintain the peace. The batusi would become the global symbol for a shared human culture. The world could celebrate international Batusi Day. (By now “Batusi” has earned the capital “B”.) Batusi Day will be a day where we put aside our differences and celebrate the human capacity for absurdity.

Adam West has shown us the way, and for that we are forever in his debt, but now it is our turn. The revolution begins with us. Whenever you find yourself in a conflict with your spouse, friend, co-worker, or total stranger, invite them to join you for five minutes of the Batusi. The conflict will end there.

People of the world, let us join together and Batusi for a Better Tomorrow.

Where’s Neil? Where indeed. I couldn’t find him over at wheresneil.com, but I did find an empty square to claim as my own. Finding my square probably isn’t as thrilling as finding Neil, but since I couldn’t find him I don’t know for sure and I find comfort in my doubt. Perhaps I’m the real treasure to be found.

Perhaps not.

What am I talking about? Well, comic book and other medium author extraordinaire Neil Gaiman (writer of the critically acclaimed Sandman series as well as 1602, Eternals, and more) has releases a new book called “Fragile Things”. A delightful collection (I assume, seeing as how I haven’t read it yet) of short stories. The “Where’s Neil” site is part of the promotion for the book. Check it out at http://www.wheresneil.com/

Let me know if you find him (or me).

This is it! Not a Re-launch! Not a Dream! (Mostly) Not a Hoax! The senses shattering first post in the ground-breaking new comic book blog presented in full color by The Comic Brain! Thrills, excitement, action and adventure are nowhere to be found! Exclamation marks abound!

Status Quo

The comic book world is in an age of crisis and war. Tipping over the apple cart of the status quo is the order of the day at the Big Two (Marvel and DC for those who didn’t purchase the playbook). The independent publishers (not Marvel or DC) are bold and breaking new ground. The comic book blogosphere is preparing to lead a revolution (probably not). There has never been a better time for in-depth analysis of the ins-and-outs of the comic book industry from a reader’s perspective. If you know of a source for such analysis, let me know. I’d love to read some.

With that, I say “Welcome”. Feel free to look around and kick the tires.

So there it is. My first blog post. I have to admit I’m a little disappointed.