What I saw on my way home from work...

~1 person getting tattooed
~1 crowd waiting for...Jeremy Piven?

Violet-The Book Trailer

This is a little off topic, but i think the illustrations in Violet are amazing. Vanja Vuleta Jovanovic's artwork really makes it stand out. Art, education, and tolerance all wrapped up in one pretty cool picture book. Take a look at the trailer HERE.

Game of Thrones Update: It's Official!!!

The news we've been waiting for has arrived! The Hollywood Reporter has officially announced Sean Bean has been cast as Ned Stark in a Game of Thrones. George R R Martin has updated his blog in confirmation.



Ned is not our only news. The Role of Robert Baratheon has gone to Mark Addy, who I know (and LOVE) from sitcom Still Standing, and various Heath Ledger projects. I'm actually really excited about this choice. I think Addy will definitely do Robert justice.

Also, new-comer and relatively unknown Kit Harington is playing Jon Snow. I can't wait to see what this guy can do.

Jack Gleeson (Batman Begins) has been cast as Joffrey Baratheon and Viserys Targaryen will be played by Harry Lloyd (Robin Hood).

Martin says there is still many important casting decisions still to be made, such as the Lannisters, the children, and Dany.

This is all great news.
http://grrm.livejournal.com/95840.html

Game of Thrones Update: Has Ned Been Cast?

Rumours say Sean Bean, best known as Boromir in Lord of the Rings, staring in the Sharpe tv series, and dying in countless roles, has been cast as Eddard Stark. Winter is Coming cites an anonymous inside source for the information. The Daily Mail also has reported a similar story, but does not clarify their source and manages to get some of their series information incorrect (asoiaf is not a computer game, it will be but it isn't now...).
I would be thrilled with Bean as Ned. His involvement would bring a lot of fans to the project. I've always thought Ned a little thinner, but if that's my only complaint it's barely worth mentioning. Let's hope HBO, GRRM, or Benoiff and Weiss don't keep us in the dark much longer. Is Bean your Ned?

What I saw on my way home from work...

~1 three piece band
~1 tarot card reader
~1 life-like chalk drawing of Michael Jackson (with dedication)
~1 designer from Project Runway Canada

This Week in X-books

Only two books to talk about this week (I spent the rest of my money on lead statues and a Fables trade)

Dark Avengers #7

Writer~Matt Fraction

Pencils~Luke Ross

The Avengers/X-men Utopia cross-over continues in Dark Avengers #7. Osbourn is frustrated by Dark Beast's Omega Machine and the tension in the Avengers is rising. Neither the Dark Avengers nor the Dark X-men want to be put on the side-lines and it ends in a fight between the two groups. Cyclops flies in on a jetpack (?) and threatens Osbourn, who in turn promises the death of Scott summers. Meanwhile, Emma Frost sees mutant prisoners being treated badly (surprise!) and demands to be shown to the cells. Xavier contacts her telepathically, telling her that beast has been tortured, but Dark Beast has used holographic protections to trick Emma into seeing a storage closet inside the cell. Oh, and there's something about Simon Trask mind controlling hospital patients.

Best/Worst Quotes~Do you need medical attention?

~My fingernails just fell out. So you tell me, professor.

Okay,I love this cover. An homage to X-men #4, it shows two of the key players lording their power over the squabbling pawns. I'm not sure what Emma's thought process in all this is but I'm intrigued. I wouldn't say it's the best cross-over I've read, but I don't have as big of a problem with it as many seem to. Cyclops standing with his hands on his hips in a jetpack however...

And what are they doing to Beast?! The guy's life just sucks more in more. I swear Fraction, if you kill him I'm done with Uncanny (Yeah, that's a lie). 3.5 Stars

X-Factor #46

Writer~Peter David

Pencils~Marco Santucci (although is says DeLandro on the cover)

Mind controlled Monet fights Darwin and Siryn. Jamie, Layla, and Ruby talk to crazy old Dr. Doom and tells them about "doomlocks," which apparently make time travel actually affect continuity. He also tells them to duck as sentinels attack, but are sent into the past (conveniently into the fight of Monet and Siryn) By Trevor Fitzroy.

Best/Worst Quotes~F...Fitzroy? *As in totally evil, major villain from the future Trevor Fitzroy?*

This was a "move the plot along" issue, addressing the Monet problem from a few issues back. It seems David has so many plot threads that he can't address them all in every issue. Which is fine unless you were wanting to see what his plans for Rictor and Shatterstar are. As of the first page they're still kissing. I'm still confused about who Cortex is working for or what the whole purpose it but I'm having enough fun with this book not to care. Peter David takes a bunch of D-list characters and gives them stories and motivation. I'm reading a book that has Darwin and Longshot as key players. I never thought that would happen. They must give David a list of characters who haven't had relevant story-lines in the last ten years and say "take your pick." #46 wasn't one of my favourite issues but it's still better than a lot of what's out there. 4 Stars

Game of Thrones Update

For years we've heard rumours of George R R Martin's epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, being being made into a television series. Now HBO has ordered a pilot for the project, and it's expected to start filming in the fall. A few months ago we received the first casting news.

Our favourite dwarf, Tyrion Lannister will be played by non other than Peter Dinklage. Known for his work in The Chronicles of Narnia, Nip/Tuck, and Elf (as well as others), Dinklage seems to be the perfect man for the job. He has the intelligence, comedic timing, and genuine acting ability to portray one of the most loved and interesting characters in Martin's saga.

While Dinklage's involvement is exciting, other than the hiring of director Thomas McCarthy (The Wire, Station Agent), fans have had few updates since. There are whispers and casting rumours but nothing concrete as of yet, so any new update is welcomed.

This weekend the westeros.org boards and Winter is Coming, reported new audition sides have been sent out for the character of Cersei and Daenerys. While it's reported Dany's side includes the funeral Pyre of Drogo as seen in the book, Cersei's scene is brand new and confusing to many fans. According to a member of the Westeros boards, Cersei comes to the injured Bran's room and speaks with Catelyn, telling her of her own lost child, a black haired son of Robert.

What will this mean to the story? Will Game of Thrones (as the show has been named) differ greatly from the beloved books? Is Cersei lying? Is she scheming? What consequences does this new scene have for the idea that "the seed is strong?" Of course, we'll have to wait for the pilot to be filmed, picked up, and aired, but without any new casting announcement us fans will spend the time running through scenarios, hoping each change will add to the story and not stray too far from the words of Martin himself.

This Week in X-books

To satisfy my X-men addiction for the week I picked up three books.

X-men Legacy #226 (Utopia Tie-in)

Writer~Mike Carey

Pencils~Dustin Weaver

Rogue, Gambit, and Danger join the fray in San Francisco against the Humanity Now! Coalition. Fighting ensues. Rogue takes on the new Ms Marvel, Danger is compared to a transformer, and Gambit...well Gambit gets his ass kicked. Then they drive away in a tank. Yep, they steal a tank...

Best/Worst Quote~Mom, I got catched by a transformer! Did you see?

The problem with this issue is that it seemed to take place in the midst of the last issue of Uncanny and really didn't add anything to the story. It wasn't good, it wasn't bad, it was just kind of forgetable. Blame it on the tie-in aspect if you want, but I don't think Rogue, Gambit, and Danger make a compelling team. 2.5 Stars

X-men Forever #3

Writer~Chris Claremont

Pencils~Tom Grummett

Xavier probes Jean's and finds her relationship with Wolverine was more than what it seems. Sabretooth is still blinded and Storm wants to finish what she started. Jean awakes and goes on the offensive, but against who? Oh and we find out where Wolverine's missing claw went.

Best/Worst Quotes~You burned the flesh from his bones, you stole away his future, you brought the life of the man I love to an end. and as he fell you laughed. I don't hear you laughing now!

~What just happened? Jean called Logan "the man I love." Worry about that later...time now to focus.

Chris Claremont is single-handedly trying to reinvent X-men continuity. In X-men Forever Claremont picks up where he left off in the the 1990s, ignoring everything that came after. I can't help but enjoy this book. Sure it's bizarre and indulgent. Gambit's name is still Remy Picard for an unknown reason and apparently Wolverine is Sabretooth's son, but it's good old-fashioned X-men fun. Jean, Cyclops, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Storm, Nightcrawler, Kitty and of course Xavier (before everyone hated him)~It's just a good time. 3.5 Stars


GeNext United #3 of 5

Writer~Chris Claremont

Pencils~Jonboy Meyers

The GeNext team is still in India. We learn a little about Sophie Von Doom. She's connected to Kalima and the shit hits the fan. It looks like the GeNexters have lost until Olivier...does something...I honestly don't know what really happened.

Best/Worst Quotes~ The girl is not what she seems! this is one of Kalima's spells. Forgive me, my friend! It makes me--want to KILL you!

Claremont continues with his continuity nightmare in this second GeNext mini-series. The series follows the kids and grandkids of former X-men and is a loose follow up to Claremont's X-men: The Ends series (which I actually really liked). I admit the fan-fictionish plot is cheesy but like X-men Forever, I'm along for the ride. It's more proof that I will buy anything with Beast in it. Yeah, I want to find out who No-name is or what the hell is going on, but what really keeps me reading is my insane need to know about Beast and Cecelia Reyes. They keep giving vague references about their marriage but I want real info! It's about time Beast got some lovin'!

3 Stars

What I saw on my way home from work...

~3 bagpipers (2 in kilts)
~1 puppet singing improv songs
~1 man ask the streetcar for money