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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
BPRD Hell on Earth v4: Russia TPB
I've long been on record with my love of the Dark Horse Mignola-verse, and that statement continues unchallenged. Mike Mignola and John Arcudi deliver another gut-punch of action and drama as they send Johann Krauss and Kate Corrigan. (Devon, the newest field agent gets some groundwork set for the next mini-series, including an interesting reveal about his past, but that's only about 10 pages or so).
Kate and Johann are summoned to Russia to deal with another horrific situation. Infected citizens are turning into monsters and going berserk. Plus the dead have risen and are building some unnatural throne above an old mine. The Russian BPRD is on the case, but they can benefit from some good ol' BPRD know-how. The head of the Russian's Supernatural Service is Iosif, who we saw as a silent, mopey zombie back in Abe Sapien's Abyssal Plain series. Iosif is a jolly, friendly zombie now, living in a seawater-filled diving suit. He's a huge fan of both Corrigan and Johann, and in fact states that he and Johann are practically brothers due to their strange conditions. This guy is fantastic, and I hope he gets to stick around. We need more good monsters to make up for losing Hellboy, Roger, and the rest!
Johann is always so desperate for any connection; I loved seeing these two grow closer as the series wore on. Plus it is neat seeing the Russian commandos work with Johann and battle their way to the Cthullian monster in the mine. The commandos' design is fantastic, and seeing them packing flamethrowers and acid sprayers made me like them; Mignola and Arcudi give the commandos an amazing amount of personality considering we only see those guys for a few pages!
The design work doesn't stop with the commando designs. Johann gets a new suit (based on one of Iosef's old suits). It looks a lot closer to the nice, combat-capable rig Johann sported in Hellboy 2. Maybe Johann will finally fit in on those field missions now! Abe Sapien spends this one in a coma, but he does seem to be recovering. The problem is, he's a lot more lizard or fish-like than he was before; I just hope we can still get some of that great expression on his new, dangerous features.
Tyler Crook had massive shoes to fill, taking over for the fantastic Guy Davis. But he's done it. The bonus materials show an artist who knows and respects the giants who've gone before, but Crook clearly stamps this material as his own. From the casual power in Iosef's suit to the horrific "taking" of Johann's commando team, this book is gorgeous and disturbing. As I've said before: best comic on the stands.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Captain America #638
I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories, and this one has all the right ingredients. All I need now is a future/alternate version of the Avengers, and all my boxes will be checked. Judging from some of the upcoming covers I've seen, that seems like a pretty safe bet. And I think Black Knight is on the team!
I also love the hunter team that Kashmir is sending after Cap and the Widow. Long-absent villains like Porcupine and the Eel are rubbing shoulders with the always fantastic Ulik the Troll. I've said it before, but Bunn clearly likes the same comics I do.
Francesco Francavilla bounces back after last month's issue. Of course, last month felt a bit like filler, so maybe Francavilla was waiting for more story to sink his teeth into. The red background is still present from last issue, but with a lot more action in the foreground, it's actually more of a mood-setting choice than just a lack of backgrounds. And the action is terrific. The whole walker-hopping sequence is top notch.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Batman Inc. #4
Wingman's secret wasn't obvious to me, but that's mostly because I selectively delete this character out of almost everything he appears in. I didn't like him around in the real DCU that we still see in this title, and I sure don't care about him in the DCnU. So while I appreciate the swerve, I wasn't in love with it. I do like that Morrison is confusing his son Damien so much. That poor kid is going to be messed up forever from all the manipulations his parents put him through.
What can you say about Chris Burnham? Like a few other recent artists, he's got a fantastic blend of famous artistic styles. His art just sings off the page during the combat scenes, with the Hood and Gaucho's sequence stealing the show. Look at the different ways the Batmen move, with Wingman's haughty, arrogant walk. Look at the detail in the panels, the books on the shelves in the background while the characters are duking it out in the foreground. This thing is just gorgeous.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Animal Man: The Hunt TPB
Even better, Lemire never contradicts any of Buddy Baker's past (that I know of), making this yet another example of a DCnU story that could have been told in the old continuity. I appreciate that the only tie-in other than an off-handed Justice League reference, is to Swamp Thing. Swampie never appears in this collection, but a lot of characters spend time talking about him. I know from reading the first six issues of that series that Alec Holland is in no way the savior the Bakers seem to hope he is. Too bad. I look forward to reading that meeting!
The Rot is so disgusting. Honestly, there almost aren't words to explain how repulsive the bads are in this story. The three main hunters chasing the Bakers are gory, maggoty, drippy, and a bunch of other foul adjectives. There are some funny moments, like when the one hunter's head briefly expands like a balloon, but hoo boy, this is revolting. Heck, the hunters are born bursting out of the distended stomachs of hippos in the San Diego zoo, so you know it's going to be nasty.
Plot wise, we don't know much more in issue five than we did in issue one, although we did see some great undead pet heroics. I'm also puzzled why the third hunter went along with Buddy's wife and son, what was he hoping to gain? Even more, why did he leave Buddy's cop friend alive for a bit, then just eat him? Getting his food to go?
Travel Foreman must have had some bones and sinew in his portfolio. If he didn't, he certainly does now. The revulsion I felt while reading this book is directly tied to his detailed artwork, so he deserves all the credit for that. I often read comics while eating lunch, but I didn't even want this on the same table as my food! (How's that for a pull quote, DC?)
Saturday, October 27, 2012
SHIELD: Architects of Forever HC
My problem with reading issue 1 was that Leonid, our point of view character, is a bit of a cipher. There's nothing there. He's an impressionable kid led around in a big world of mad ideas where nothing makes sense. Unfortunately, the lack of sense led to a lack of drama and interest in my case. That's how I was able to pass up the rest of the book. But when you can jump directly into the next issue, it becomes clear that while Leonid is important, he's not the star.
No, this is a series taking the greatest philosophers and inventors of the past and making them into super-heroes. It's a laughable concept until you see how well Hickman does in turning Leonardo Da Vinci into an ancient Iron Man or Isaac Newton into a scheming plotter. Basically, every famous man in history is tied to the Shield, a secret organization out to protect mankind. (Which is a problem, I think there is only one female in this whole book!) Famous people from the real past and the Marvel past (like Apocalypse in ancient Egypt) team up to take on classic Marvel baddies like Galactus and the Celestials. It's a fun concept.
There are still some confusing things going on here. Hickman's tendency to hop around in time makes for a confusing plot. I understand why he's doing it; we are dealing with time travel after all. His pacing is insane, with Leonardo and Isaac's war brewing in the span of a couple pages.
As for the art, Dustin Weaver deserves the accolades he's received for this book. The character design is top notch. Newton's villain-garb is fantastic; complete with a swooping helmet and aged-looking robe. Nostradamus has the look of a madman, but the transition from wise man to maniac on the page is tremendously effective and sad. The thought that went in to the Night Machine design is impressive too; with each detail thought out and planned (the slight bonus material expands on this nicely).
This book makes Hickman's Avengers even more of a sure thing for me.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Hawkeye #3
Some of the other elements are not working for me. I don't like the "chemistry" Hawkeye has with the teenaged Kate Bishop. It's a tad too inappropriate and while I appreciate that Hawk is trying to dial it back, it's still pretty skeevy.
I'm not sure Hawkeye has ever been a big car guy in the past; I always thought he was a motorcycle guy? That's not a big deal, but giving Hawkeye a huge wad of cash to pay out for anything he desires does change the character a bit. I'm still undecided on the Russian mafia too. The tracksuits, the mini-coopers, they are almost a bit too silly to be taken seriously.
I still enjoy David Aja's art, but darn if I didn't wish he was drawing Hawkeye in his real costume. I know this is my problem; Hawkeye is clearly going to be Jeremy Renner-inspired for years to come. This is not my preferred version of the character. But if it's my only choice, I'll just have to deal.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Daredevil #19
I've seen Waid state in some interviews that he likes the relationship between Matt Murdock and Hank Pym. It makes so much sense, the characters have a lot in common, and they do play well off each other. Murdock and Pym have another brief chance to bond this issue, and it really could end up as a neat pairing. Any hope of an in-costume team-up? Supporting your teammates is one thing, but I'm ready for them to banter while on a mission!
One of the most effective portions of this comic is Foggy Nelson's crippling doubt about his best friend. From his drunken confession to Matt's current ladyfriend to his concerned but cruel call to DD, Foggy is making things tough. When Matt Murdock actually decides not to swing across town, but instead to take the bus? What a sad statement for our hero.
Things look bad at the close, but I will never tire of seeing DD banter while knocking out thugs. It's Daredevil's natural state, and Waid handles it perfectly.
Well, Coyote is one weird, creepy dude. Chris Samnee has to sell the scene, and boy, does he ever. Daredevil is in a predicament I don't think I've ever seen in a previous comic. Murdock has always had a good head on his shoulders, but I don't see an easy way out of this. Plus, Coyote's look is so unnatural and non-human… yuck. He almost gives you the creeps just looking at him! Great design!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Marvel Now Point One
Nick Fury and SHIELD: I'm intrigued by Nick Spencer and Luke Ross' take. Ross has always been a solid artist, but this work is really impressive. It almost has a European flair to it; maybe it's the inking, but with this creative team and the solid roster I've heard about, I may actually sample this book! Spencer hasn't impressed me so far, but I think this preview has convinced me to try Secret Avengers #1.
Star-Lord and the Guardians of the Galaxy by Bendis and Steve McNiven has a long way to go. I LOVED DnA's take on the Guardians, so I don't see how I'm going to get over my annoyance at the restart to the series without them. I admit, this book is pretty, and putting Iron Man on the team is interesting. But I'm just not sure I can shell out $3.99 for a book that will make me wonder "what if my fave writers were still doing this?" every month. This is probably a library read for me.
Nova by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness has a similar issue. Again, I adored DnA's take, and Richard Rider has been a favorite of mine for years. So I'm pretty certain I'm not the target audience for this book. Putting in Diamondhead as a nod to Rider's past is a good move, but this Sam Alexander kid is just so young. This is the kind of book that makes me think "wow, I've been reading comics too long and I need to leave this for my kids!" And maybe that's the trick. If this is $2.99 and my daughters want to see more of this kid, I may buy it for them.
Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie have a new take on the YA where they are 18. That still makes me feel old, but man, this art can make me forget a lot of things. I'm not sure if I'll be picking up this series or not, but wow, the book is going to be gorgeous. And using Miss America Chavez is brilliant too. She's got a great look and belongs in the spotlight like this.
Ant-Man and the FF by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred is an easy sale. Allred's art would make me pick this up alone, and with the line-up Fraction has put together, I was never going to pass this up. She-Hulk, Medusa, and Scott Lang? Done. Let's just hope this is sane Fraction. He can go off the rails sometimes!
Forge and Uncanny X-Force by Dennis Hopeless and Gabriel Hernandez Walta is a near miss for me. I like Forge, I like Cable, and I'm intrigued by the high concept. But I'm not a big fan of Walta's art. The tech looks good, but the characters do not look on-model enough for me. I would never in a million years have guessed that was Forge without the dialogue. With Salvador LaRocca on art, I think I'll give issue 1 a chance.
Grade: Varied from Good to Average
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Cyberforce #1
Instead of a present-day actioner, Matt Hawkins is telling the tale of a futuristic world of have and have-nots. The main team is made up of different model cyborgs that are resisting the leadership of the elite. It seems this is some sort of post-apocalyptic scenario, but there are still news reports, cops, and other "normal" bits of the world holding on.
I found the narrative style to be a bit confusing. Having out-of-sequence panels with sequential narration, combined with an alternate future story and new characters? But those characters have familiar names? That's a lot of new information to try and process all at once. I was an English major and I still couldn't tell you exactly what's happening here.
I've always liked Khoi Pham's artwork. He tends to use scratchy lines, and those work well on all the rubble and destruction lying around in this future. The design work is lacking, in my opinion. The modern SHOC troops are in big, prong-y armor that just doesn't seem too effective. The actual core cast look very similar too, I sometimes had a hard time picking out the different team members.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Batman #13
I'm a little puzzled by the murder spree that opens this comic. The Joker has always been threatening, but I never figured he was the multiple neck-snapping type. Scott Snyder writes Joker as an extremely capable physical opponent. I suppose that will make him a bigger challenge for Bats, but seems like a pretty dramatic power upgrade for the character.
Snyder does a nice job establishing the "family" that is in danger for this arc. Nightwing, Red Robin, Damian, and Batgirl are all targets for Mr. J, so it makes sense that they are given some panel time. The focus remains squarely on Batman, since this is his solo title, but the stage is set. There is one more family member in a bit more danger at the close of the issue; we'll see how that works out.
I didn't find the back-up story to be necessary at all. That's been the continuing trend since DC upped the price and added the feature. The main story has been good all along, but those second stories are the definition of page-fillers.
Greg Capullo is clearly having fun with the Clown Prince of Crime. That last page cliff-hanger is awful. I also like that on pages with the power cutting out, Capullo still draws a lot of the action for Gordon. It would be mighty easy to just layer some dialogue over black panels!
This is the big coming-out party for the Joker in the new 52, and this is the second line-wide crossover inspired by Scott Snyder's Batman title. This is clearly the biggest mover and shaker in the DCnU line, and DC is wisely putting the focus on this title. I've got a lot of problems with the DC line as a whole these days, but I can't find much fault with this book.
Posted by Timbotron at 11:05 AM No comments:
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Punisher MAX: Frank TPB
After his climactic battle with Bullseye, the Punisher is broken. He's been arrested and is now in jail recovering from his wounds. But the inmates want their piece, and it doesn't take long for them to start making a move on ol' Frank Castle.
But of course, that's the easy part. Aaron has a much more challenging narrative in the comparison of Frank's new prison life and his return from Viet Nam. Both worlds are prisons, of course, one is just a bit more literal. The moments are captured perfectly. If Hollywood wants to try another Punisher movie, I recommend this story right here.
I believe Aaron is adding to the Punisher mythos with these details about Frank's failed attempt to re-integrate after the war. Its painful watching Castle as a dead man trying to connect with his wife and children. The only emotion he's got is anger when he finally gets to kill some people. The Punisher is a great revenge fantasy, but Aaron shows how deep the character can be.
Steve Dillon outdoes himself with the time-jumping contrast between the eras of Frank Castle's life. It's heavy-handed, but totally effective to see old Frank put in solitary while young Frank walks into his perfect suburban home. Gah, does it make me a sucker that a scene like that just breaks me up.
So sad. Frank never had a chance.
Posted by Timbotron at 8:00 AM No comments:
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Criminal: Last of the Innocents TPB
I'm not sure what my reaction is supposed to be to comics like this. It probably says more about my sheltered life than anything else, but seeing Archie, Jughead, Veronica, and the rest of Riverdale's cast put through this ringer sort of makes me sad! I don't like thinking that Jughead/Freakout was always so hungry just because he had the munchies. (Full disclosure: I've never read an Archie comic; even so, I'm pretty sure that's not in there.)
But this play on the familiar is what makes this story so shocking. On its own, Brubaker would have delivered another solid tale of crime and sin. By tying the roles to fallen icons from youth, everything just seems grimier. If Archie/Riley can fall this far, what in society is worth keeping? Heck, I think the big blonde cop is the only guy who seems to have his head on straight!
This story has only one touchpoint that I recognized, when Lawless shows up as an enforcer for a local mobster. So this is solidly in the world of Criminal.
Sean Phillips really skeeves up Riverdale. Every innocent action now has a dark underbelly, and the characters' eyes give away their more adult motivations. And he does this while maintaining a great homage to Archie comics.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Red She-Hulk #58
The biggest problem is the lack of focus on Red She-Hulk. She's in a lot of panels, but she's basically a force of nature. I understand General Fortean, Captain America, and Machine Man a lot more than I do her. But it's her name on the title and it is her we came to see, so using her as a confusing plot element doesn't seem like the right fit. Listen, I love Cap and X-51, but I came here for the lead, you know? Not Fortean or his three new super-soldiers.
I'm also a tad disappointed in the first villain she faces. I get that Parker needed him to be bad enough to justify the extreme response, but I'd hoped to read this one with my daughter, and I'm not sure I'm up to explaining what this bad guy did. That's probably on me, though. I mean, Red She-Hulk has always been violent, so I probably shouldn't be sharing the book with an 8-year old.
Carlo Pagulayan turns in nice work, as always. I always appreciate his clean lines and his on-model characters. Red She-Hulk looks great, and I dig the look of the sci-fi weaponry employed by Fortean's troops. I do hope we get a bit more spandex over the next few months. I want Red She-Hulk to face down some Marvel classics; I think Pagulayan would do a nice job with the U-Foes or someone like that.
There is definitely potential here, and I'll be back next month. But I wonder if this would read better in trade.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Wolverine & the X-Men #18
Ouch. I just started reading this title with the AvX issues, but I plan on catching up. But I'm guessing from online reaction that the character that dies in this one is a fan-favorite? I mean, I would never trust the guy, knowing what I do about his background, but that's still a rough call to have him go down like that. We may get lulled into a false sense of safety, but we must not forget that Jason Aaron is the man who wrote Scalped and Punisher MAX. This writer enjoys hurting us!
This issue tries to do a lot of things. It transitions from the closing hours of AvX to the conclusion, and it tries to re-focus on the Hellfire Club story that will continue next month. Kitty Pride and most of the teachers get to focus on AvX, while the students are being lined up by the Club. Seeing Idie change so drastically is upsetting, but I'm betting the big death this is a temporary thing. She's got to get re-set to her normal self after this.
Husk has got some weirdness going on, but I'm confused by her in general these days. I suppose I'll never come around that even the Generation X characters have grown up. But they are what? Two "classes" back for the X-Men now? Glob Herman is not going to make any friends with his actions, but I'm glad to see Quentin Quire fitting in so well. That's probably a bit strong, but he might make a good X-Man someday!
Jorge Molina does nice work, almost making his work look like Nick Bradshaw at times. His Stepford Cuckoos in particular stand out as a strong take. And I'll take any Doop I can get, especially if he's going to keep pimping on Warbird. I wonder if she told Quicksilver about her regular buddy Doop?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Secret Avengers #32
Black Widow makes a game of it, but she's just overmatched by the Null-possessed Hawkeye and Octopus Man. (Seriously, has this guy been named yet?????) While the scene on the cover never actually happens and is in fact impossible, it is a great sequence as the two super-spies face off. It's also neat seeing the jets line up on the possessed plane; it's a good reminder that for all the heroes' power, the military can still weigh in on these conflicts.
Meanwhile, Ant-Man and Venom are doing their best. When they have to face the Wrecking Crew and the U-Foes, their chances are not so good. There are a couple more scenes with Vengeance spouting off great dialogue too. Was he this entertaining back in the 90's?
Remender's enormous Masters of Evil line-up has been quite enjoyable, and I'd love to see some incarnation of it continue. Maybe get Baron Zemo around to give them some organization, maybe.
Eventually, Flash Thompson (clearly still a pet character for Remender) gets everything wrapped up thanks to some quick comic-book thinking, and the day is saved. The Avengers recover the different artifacts and the team is freed. Black Widow has the good sense to bring up some long-lasting suspicions about Ant-Man, but Hawkeye is not in the mood. Hawk isn't usually this moody, but he's oddly detached in the closing scenes. Captain Britain warns of another Descendant plot and Black Widow is worried about a spy, but Hawkeye just wants to go to sleep. Listen buddy, maybe it's time to call in some reserves if taking a rest is more important than saving the world!
Matteo Scalera continues his solid work. His lines are still just a bit too scratchy for me. While it works well on folks like Venom or Taskmaster, it doesn't work on everyone. The choreography for the plane battle is well-done; I enjoy the action-movie feel of the entire sequence.
Seriously, what is Octopus Man's name?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
AvX: Consequences #1
Cyclops is in a privately-run jail. The owners are out to prove that they can incarcerate mutants, and Cyke makes a pretty compelling test case. The poor guy spends most of the issue moping and getting knocked around, but I have hope. Really, the only out for Cyke is for him to really become the new Magneto, and I think I'm OK with that.
Magneto, Colossus, and Magik are all on the run, whereabouts unknown. I still don't like Iron Man being part of a strike team to take down Magneto (he's partnered up with Captain Marvel); surely there are other power-house characters to go up against the master of magnetism?
Namor is taking refuge in Atlantis. He could be set up in a more antagonistic role too; he does a morally dubious country at his disposal after all. Hope is hanging with the Avengers. Cap offers her a place on the team, but I'm sure he's talking about his low-level team; you know, the one with Alex Summers leading it. Hope declines, opting instead for a normal life. In Marvel, that means she'd go to class with Richard Rider or take classes from Peter Parker, but I don't' think she'll even get that chance. I imagine she'll be on an X-Men team by lunchtime.
The only other item to note is the current status of the Black Panther/Storm marriage. It seems T'Challa is holding a grudge against all mutants. When Wolvie tries to come aid Wakanda, T'Challa sends them packing. Too bad. I never loved the marriage, but I hate it when couples get broken up.
Tom Raney is a capable artist, but he does better when he gets to draw costumes. There are a lot of civilians in this one, and while they are recognizable, I miss the suits. I do like the design and look of Cyclops' ruby-quartz helmet.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Green Lantern #13
I still find his complicated arrest story a bit too much be believed, but he certainly does seem like a nice guy at least. Giving him a solid family not only grounds the character with a strong supporting cast, it also sets up lots of potential murder victims in future storylines. (This is the new 52 after all!)
I think one of the more interesting segments in this chapter involve the contrasting, yelling directions Baz gets when Sinestro and Hal both try to prep their replacement. For someone not grounded in years of Green Lantern comics, this would all be a bit confusing.
So I'm trying to think back to Johns' other stories. Certainly the Black Lanterns and Third Army both have that "fear of assimilation," "we will become the enemy" type of situation. Would the Alpha Lanterns apply? Is this a modern affectation, or has Johns been using it for awhile? Surely Johns wants to use Eclipso!
Doug Mahnke turns in another solid effort. He almost makes it reasonable that Baz would be sporting that ski-mask on his costume, too. Not sure why you'd wear it if you have a pretty recognizable tattoo, though. I've seen enough cop shows to know that the police can make a pretty easy ID off of something like that.
As for the last page cliffhanger? Why? I was trying to pretend the reboot didn't happen, Johns! How am I going to do that if I have to look at this silly League?
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thunderbolts: The Great Escape TPB
The lineup here is getting expansive, but Parker doesn't short anyone. (Except for poor Shocker, who kind of disappears and doesn't travel through time with his buddies. Was he needed in Spider-Man?) In the present, Cage, Mach V, Songbird, and Ghost are trying to locate their time lost teammates. They get some sweet team-ups and opponents, including Valkyrie, Mr. Fear, and the Enforcers (!). Who would have thought Ghost would be working so effectively with the "man."
In the past, Centurius, Fixer, Mr. Hyde, Moonstone, Troll, Satana, and Boomerang are getting the grand tour. They travel to WWII and meet with the Invaders in a tremendous team-up. Then they bounce even further back in time and get to re-stage Jack-the-Ripper's murders. And now it looks like they will be going up against the Black Knight. (Not Dane Whitman, one of my personal favorites, but I like Sir Percy, too). I'm kind of surprised at my faves in this arc. Troll, Boomerang, and Centurius are stealing the show in my opinion. Satana fits in nicely in the book too; I wouldn't have figured she would work so well.
Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey handle most of the art once again, and these guys have it down to a science. The WWII era costumes for the criminal T-bolts are absolutely tremendous. Moonstone and Satana's are the best. Shalvey gets to draw a lot a lot of classic characters, and he does a tremendous job. I miss those old characters like Atlas, Jolt, and Meteorite. What happens in the next trade???
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Secret Warriors: Night HC
I'm still not happy about the Contessa turning out to be evil, but there's still time for that to be reversed. Madame Hydra looks awesome with that giant octopus on her head, but I sort of liked Viper the way she was. Hickman's take on Strucker is classic and right in line with the character's history, and I really dig Gorgon's use. Mark Millar can sometimes be over the top with his characters, so its fun seeing another writer keeping it consistent.
This collection features a bunch of deaths. The biggest is Phobos, Ares' son and the team's youngest member. It stinks, but Hickman gives us a nice goodbye for the character as he's reunited with his father. And you know those gods never stay dead. JT James/Hellfire also gets it, but as we don't get a body, I don't believe he's gone for a second. He shouldn't be. While he made some terrible choices, his treatment at the hands of Nick Fury sure makes for a good potential villain. The other mass of death consists of Mikel Fury's team. I appreciate that Hickman came up with an origin for all these guys, and then promptly gutted them. Again, I could see one or two possibly surviving (especially the siblings that can clone themselves!)
The collection features artists I'm not too familiar with. Mirko Colak, Alessandro Vitti, and David Marquez all do a decent job with the storytelling, but some of the characters seem off-model. Baron Strucker and Quake are barely recognizable, for instance. Vitti does solid work, but his style is very similar to Jim Calafiore, who can handle action a bit more clearly. I do really like Marquez's facial expressions. His characters all seem unique, which makes their fate even more effective.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Avengers #31
And again, perfectly in character, Red Hulk just punches Wonder Man out of the blue. I giggled at that fight, though. Wondy mops the floor with Rulk. I hope this character restoration continues!
And the opening and closing pages? At first, I couldn't get Hope out of my mind. I was thinking some crazy alternate future situation. But then, about halfway through, I figured it out. And that Avengers ID card confirms it. Bendis is going to fix another mess he made; the Wasp is coming back. Well done sir, I'm impressed!
The art is very solid. Brandon Peterson handles the Wasp chapters in the Innerverse (just make it the Microverse!) Mike Mayhew handles the sections in the regular Marvel U, and he does a great job. Wonder Man looks fantastic, and I absolutely love how he handles the wrestling match between Wonder Man and Rulk. I could see leverage and pressure being applied, a rare thing in comics that prefer super-punches (although this issue had this too!)
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Uncanny Avengers #1
It's interesting that Marvel has refocused Captain America as the stern Dad of the Marvel U. Listen, I'm a huge Cap fan, he's my favorite character, but he sure comes off as a sanctimonious jerk these days. Say what you will about Cyclops, but Cap should at least see where he was coming from. Instead, Cap calmly strolls in and recruits an X-Man to graduate to the big leagues. The mutants don't pick their own poster child; instead, Dad-Cap decides that Havok makes the most sense to lead a new team. That takes a lot of nerve.
Havok is interesting. I'm having a hard time getting a vibe off him. He certainly seems mad at his brother, but that's nothing new. I'm not sure he'd be quite so uncomfortable getting called up to the majors, but there is a certain amount of awkwardness that I like.
One of the stronger scenes is the Rogue vs. Scarlet Witch showdown. I hope Remender continues giving the wronged mutants a voice. Rogue has every right to be a bit miffed after AvX, so I'm firmly in her corner. Scarlet Witch is making excuses, and she takes a bit less responsibility than I would have expected. The new idea that Cyclops didn't have mutants best interests at heart (voiced by multiple characters, including SW) is an interesting one. It should be proven false quickly, though.
Thor doesn't have a lot to do, other than a few lines of dialogue and a wee bit of smashing. Wolverine just delivers a eulogy; pretty darn sedate for the hairy little scrapper.
John Cassady is fantastic, of course. I mean, he makes Avalanche look awesome. Avalanche! I do like that the unlettered preview pages made it seem like Cyke was the one getting lobotomized, but no, poor Avalanche is a pawn of the Red Skull. Is that Masque hanging out with the Skull or someone new? I like the design of the Skull's new flunkies, there is a lot of potential there.
And Skull? You are one sick puppy.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest TPB
John Arcudi and Mike Mignola serve up more of the scariest monsters I can imagine in this trade, but they never short on the characterization either. Each of the stories collected stars Abe Sapien, he's definitely the headliner. But the BPRD has a presence, and the locals fill out each chapter too. I like Sal, the new BPRD field agent that joins Abe on a couple of the missions. I think it's important to have more names associated with those grunts that go out and get slaughtered on the missions with the main agents.
The collection has a nice variety of monsters, too. Ghosts, zombies, and Cthullian demons, every base is covered. I appreciate that the zombie story in particular is a lot more sedate and emotional than the average undead tale.
And Hellboy. Man, he barely shows up, but when he does, it is fantastic. One of my favorite tricks in storytelling is having an established bad-ass talk favorably about someone else. Having Hellboy talk up Abe just as Abe is taking care of business? Brilliant. I still have a hard time remember just how tough Abe can be. He's a pretty suitable replacement for Hellboy.
As always, Dark Horse has a great line-up of artists. Peter Snejberg is most familiar for me, and he gets a fairly sedate tale that's a lot more gross-out than horror. He handles it wonderfully, rupturing zombie bellies and all. James Harren is impressive in his tale as well. The horrific, Legend-style devil in the basement is a stop and stare moment, and the gross little creatures feeding on unconscious Abe really are almost cute while retaining their ickiness. Patric Reynolds does a nice job on his one-shot too; again, while there is action, Reynolds keeps the focus on the emotional toll of these battles with the horrific.
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Labels: BPRD, Hellboy, Mike Mignola, TPB
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
AvX Versus #6
Kieron Gillen and Jim Cheung get the most pages for Scarlet Witch vs. Hope, with an unexpected winner.
The rest of the book is just fun. Bendis has a silly scene with Cap vs. Cyclops. I love the science battle, with the nerds on each team trying to outsmart each other while they battle. Kathryn Immonen and Stuart Immonen seem to be having a good time on their one page. I wish we would have seen Havok vs. Cap for real, especially with this underdog outcome. Ed McGuinness gives a win to his pet character Domino. The silliest has got to be Jeph Loeb and Art Adams delivering Hawkeye's AvX fantasy. Spider-Woman vs. hot X-Women. Ridiculous.
I wish the Jason Aaron and Ramon Perez fight was for real! Iceman vs. Iron Fist ends up being a pretty impressive fight. I'm not sure if Iceman can actually use his powers as he does here, but it's pretty original. I appreciate any effort to get Iceman some respect.
And of course, Dan Slott can't help giving Squirrel Girl and Pixie some great commentary on the first few issues of AvX Versus. Seriously. How the heck did Thing beat Namor UNDERWATER???
This thing is worth it for the art. Just gorgeous.
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Monday, October 8, 2012
Avengers Academy #38
That said, this issue has all the weaknesses of the run too. In the amusing interaction between Wolverine and Giant Man, we see the series' greatest weakness. Gage has the voices of the characters down, and they act appropriately. They make a sort of uneasy peace after Giant Man slammed Wolverine out of a plane in AvX. But I'm certain that Bendis and the other top dogs at Marvel have no idea about this interaction. Gage is once again picking up pieces that happened in "more important" books.
It's too bad, because it is a great idea to have the two super-hero schools compete in a football game. Tom Grummett draws the heck out of it. I love Tigra's electricity-inspired afro. X-23 may have lost the sports bra, but the long sleeves make a lot more sense.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Captain America #637
Then things go south, the Kashmir brigade dumps their product and our heroes in a random dimension. Black Widow and Cap get along famously, of course (weren't they an item back in the Avengers title for awhile?), and they should form a good core for a new team on this alternate Earth. It certainly looks like a War of the Worlds situation, and I have no complaints about that. If I've read a comic, that should mean that some of the awakened alternate heroes will choose to stay in this world and try to improve it at the close of this arc. We'll see if I'm close!
Francesco Francavilla's style is simple to the point of cartoony, and it's a perfect fit for most comics. I can see how he wouldn't be everyone's favorite, but I love the simple lines, bright splashes of color, and heavy ink lines. This issue looks like a bit of a rush, there aren't too many backgrounds, but at least the colorist covered it through a heavy use of red ink.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Invincible #95
Like all good couple fights, Robot and Monster Girl both bear some of the blame for their breakup. Now, I'm impressed they stayed together for centuries before hitting such a rough patch, but it is still sad. I do have hope that maybe they can work things out.
Most of this issue takes place in the Flaxan dimension. I like Robot's sweet Thor-looking costume and beard, while MG gets some great alien-queen costumes too.
Ryan Ottley only gets a few pages at the close of the issue, but I like where the story is headed. Putting the Guardians of the Globe under Robot's command should give the guy a confidence boost AND actually make victory possible.
Friday, October 5, 2012
AvX #12
The united X-Men and Avengers are all over the Earth battling the destruction caused by Phoenix. Cap leads a small team and tries to take on the new Dark Phoenix, Cyclops (as others have said, I predict some new action figures out of this). Jason Aaron gives us Cyclops apologists a nice moment where Scott Summers actually asks the Avengers to kill him; he realizes how he's been dominated by the Phoenix force. That moment is fleeting, but it does give the character an out for future use.
Eventually, it's down to Scarlet Witch and Hope. They were the stars in issue 0, and it's up to them in the last issue. I think the story did meander a bit through this long, long series, but to give credit where it is due, the folks who opened the story also closed it. Hope even gets a moment to confront her destiny. The Phoenix force looks good on her! It can't last, but she does one really nice thing. More Mutants! That's right, House of M is finally undone and mutants are appearing in the Marvel U again. And that's why Cyclops was right, and this was all worth it.
Cap has a quick after-battle conversation with Cyclops, and it is amusing seeing Cap so angry. Cyclops is sad at the cost, but happy at the outcome, and Cap just wants Cyclops to know he lost. Sorry Cap, I don't think the X-Men see it that way. And while some of the X-Men are getting adopted by the Avengers and moved into the big leagues (Rogue, Havok, Cannonball, and Sunspot for sure), I guess the former Phoenix Five are in worse shape. Emma Frost and Namor are wanted for sure; it's unclear if Colossus and Magik are in the same boat. Perhaps this is what the new X-Force series will focus on?
Adam Kubert does a great job on the art. He's got a tall order with this many characters, this many fights, and all this destruction. But the action is always clear. Making Hope look enough like Jean, but still retain her own identity? That's a tall order too, and Kubert delivers.
Oh, and one other note: the new Nova looks pretty cool and he's obviously destined for his own series, but since he mentioned loving dubstep in his first appearance, I don't think I'll ever be won over.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Winter Soldier #11
There is some nice AIM action as the two Avengers unload on the beekeepers. I love the volume of destruction these two guys bring down on this secret base.
On the other side, Leo and Black Widow make a pretty good team themselves. Giving them a techie to make cool equipment makes sense too. I've said Leo needs a more memorable costume. Having a personal inventor certainly makes that more likely.
Butch Guice almost pulls off the new Hawkeye costume. Instead of generic goggles or shades, he draws Hawk's new eyewear as a clear version of his old mask. The corners point up, making this seem a lot closer to that classic look. The inks are a tad heavy, especially on characters' eyes, but this book makes a great transition from spy to superhero.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
X-Men Legacy #274
Fortunately, Christos Gage gets to refocus the title on the bigger X-universe. Rogue and Magneto have a pretty complicated history, but that's really unnecessary here. The focus is on the future, determining if this power couple is going to make a go of it. Personally, I've always much preferred Gambit and Rogue as a couple, Magneto's just too old and creepy. Rogue doesn't say as much here, but you know she's thinking it.
Rogue and Magneto are dealing with a collapsed subway, where Magneto's powers aren't too useful under all that concrete and plastic. Rogue absorbs the specializations of a bunch of bystanders, and the two of them head down without super-strength or mastery of magnetism. It's an interesting backdrop, allowing the couple to discuss their relationship in context with a dying commuter. I always enjoy more fighting than talking, but Gage does a nice job putting a bow on this relationship.
David Baldeon makes some interesting choices with the art. Magneto looks downright evil in a lot of these panels, especially in the moment after Rogue gives him his decision. Baldeon continues to draw kids better than adults, with everyone's faces looking a tad too cartoony for me.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Batman Inc. #0
Interestingly, this is co-plotted by Grant Morrison and regular artist Chris Burnham, with Frazer Irving providing his fantastic art. As is typical in Morrison's current work, this issue hops locations and times to great effect. We already know who joins Batman's big team, but with this flashback we actually see the invites. It's a great glimpse into a lot of characters that don't get a lot of screen time. I always enjoy Knight and Squire, and Man-of-Bats is just great. Making his a loquacious speaker just makes him cooler!
I also appreciate Morrison tying in the original support system utilized by Batman: trusty butler Alfred.
Frazer Irving's moody artwork works in just about everything. He's a great fit for the Bat family. There are a ton of characters in this, and they all look fantastic.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Wolverine & the X-Men #17
Poor Doop. No one appreciates the efforts that little potato puts in to keeping the world safe for mutants. He sells his body, he fights crime, he plays roller derby with She-Hulk and Tigra. The guy's world just never stops. You'll have to forgive him for occasionally catching a few quick Z's!
I have no doubt that Jason Aaron is using the real Doop translator for the little guy's dialogue, but I still don't have time to go back and look it up. (I never did back in the X-Statix days either.) As a kid, I used to love these random issues that made the X-Men feel a little more fun, a little more connected to the Marvel U. At $3.99 it's not quite as funny, but Aaron is upholding an X-tradition long held by the Impossible Man, Mojo, and the X-Babies.
Seeing Mike Allred draw this book just makes me wish he did more mainstream heroes. Cannonball, Gambit, Cyclops, Warbird, they look tremendous! I can't wait to see Allred draw She-Hulk in the upcoming FF title, his take on her is wonderful, too.
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Following the closing of the XXth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law (IACL), the former President of the American Society of Comparative Law sent a message of gratitude on behalf of the ASCL to Distinguished Professor Toshiyuki Kono of the Faculty of Law of Kyushu University.
Thank you to Prof. Kono and his extraordinary team at Kyushu University and the broader Japanese comparative law community.
We attach the letter below.

subset: commoncrawl


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A few days ago I decided to browse Topshop and bought this lovely short-sleeved coat on sale for £25. It's a great update on the traditional trench coat and I especially loved the fresh mint colour. I'd wear it open over this pretty ditsy print dress, which incidentally fits really well, flowing away from the body but without being bulky. Jeans, a long sleeve top underneath and a white hijab form a simple base. I'd add a jade handbag and grey pumps to mix cool aqua shades this spring:
Puff sleeve coat £25, Topshop; blue/green ditsy crochet dress £35, Dorothy Perkins; white hijab £4.95, Hijab Store Online; indigo mooch wide leg jean £40, Topshop; jade green rouched pocket bag £30, Miss Selfridge; long sleeve top £7, Topshop; Boat Race pump £39.99, Clarks.


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First of all, we would like to say a big THANK YOU, to all 216 participants who joined in our "Anything Goes" Challenge last week! The design team really enjoyed looking at all of your fabulous projects. Don't forget you still have time to play along with our "Snow,Blue, and/or Glitter" Challenge this week!
Ok, now on to the good stuff……We had 5 fabulous sponsors to kick off our 2012 blog hop.
And our winners, chosen by random.org are:
The winner of the Digital Delights by Louby Loo $5 voucher is: #23 – Audrey E.
The winner of the Meljen's Designs – 4 images of choice is: #81 – Peggy R.
The winner of the My Craft Spot – Build a Valentine Stamp set is: #158 – Alyce
The winner of The Pink Cat Studio – 5 images of choice is: #181 – darling Ho
The winner of the Whimsy Stamps – 5 images of choice is: #187 – The Crafty Den
And the winning comment for the paper packs is:
Winners have 1 week to claim their prize, please email:
email@example.com, for prize information.
And now for our top 3, chosen by the design team.
#6 – Deanne
#26 – Lovely Linda
#57 – Joe-Anne
Congratulations! Please feel free to grab the blinkie on the sidebar (the code you need is below it) and display it proudly on your blogs! You earned it :)
Great job, and Congratulations again to all our winners!


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Godspeed to everybody! Here is a selected portfolio about Art published/produced in 2017… enjoy the visit!
2017 Christmas Card
The illustration "Child on Dragon" realized before Christmas as a greeting card for my clients. Unpublished, 2017.
The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
Here is The Tea Master and the Detective, my latest illustration for Subterranean Press (link) inspired to a Xuya-Universe-novella by the formidable Aliette de Bodard, coming out as a deluxe Limited Edition on March 2018! (Note: the artwork was created in 2017).
Artwork selected for IBA 6
WOW! Thrilled to find out that my illustration STARLIGHT EXPRESS (cover art for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Sep/Oct 2017) has been selected for Infected by Art's Volume #6! Thanks to the author: Michael Swanwick, publisher: Gordon Van Gelder, editor: Charles Coleman Finlay). I've been winning a placement in this series since Volume #2…this should mean something, shouldn't it? You can find the illustration in the Website Portfolio or in my Artstation Page.
Manzieri Cover Story 2 | Pictures from an Expedition
This illustration inspired to the story "Pictures from an Expedition" by Alexander C. Irvine was originally published as a cover art for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (September 2003). The subsequent year the artwork gained a full page in the annual SPECTRUM (11), the Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. You find here the original b&w sketch that I sent to the publisher Gordon Van Gelder (together with other proposals and a few notes about details inside the pic and alternative versions).
Below there are the finish for the magazine and the final version with the cover design. Now everything happens via web, but at that time I was used to send a CD-ROM including the image. Everything in the shipment was personalized with the CD-ROM displaying a printed round color label glued to the surface. The story described the first expedition to Mars with an anchorwoman accompanying the NASA crew for some reality show in space, going nuts and trying to sabotage the mission.
Link to the Portfolio Page in this website here
In 2004 the Australian magazine DESIGN GRAPHICS dedicated a issue to Yours Truly, with my astronaut on the front cover plus an extended Portfolio and interview inside:
In 2007 the Italian magazine DELOS edited by Silvio Sosio (Delos Books) celebrated its 100th issue and on the occasion I was asked to create a landscape version of the illustration! Here is the result:
Main links in the article:
Delos 100
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
Alexander C. Irvine
Manzieri Cover Story 1 | Paradises Lost
I've been often thinking that I should realize a series of illustrations featuring angels! What do you think? I love this topic linking astronauts to angels and I've seen artists I love producing similar strong images (Jeremy Geddes, just for an example)… This has been one of my most acclaimed covers: PARADISES LOST (2013), originally inspired to a wonderful novella by URSULA K. LE GUIN, included in her story collection THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD. The novella explores the isolation brought on by space travel, as well as themes of religion and utopia and got soon its own standalone edition in several languages. You can read more at the following link in order to better understand my stylistic choices: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradises_Lost. The illustration was included in both the prestigious annuals SPECTRUM, the Best in Fantastic Contemporary Art, and INFECTED BY ART. It won the ASIMOV'S READERS' AWARD (Best Cover Artist) and was selected as BEST DIGITAL ARTWORK IN THE SHOW at the 72nd WorldCon in London (2014).
Everthing started in 2013. Delos Books publisher Silvio Sosio called me with a cover gig for Ursula K. Le Guin, the first Italian edition of Paradises Lost (PARADISI PERDUTI) to be included in the Odissea series. WOW! I accepted immediately and the result is history… the writer published the news in her official website on January 27, 2013 (News Archives 2009-2014). The illustration took about a week of work from the pencil scratch on a restaurant napkin to the finish.
After the initial publication the illustration began to live its autonomous life and was optioned by Penny Publications for ASIMOV'S Science Fiction magazine as a cover art for their June 2014 issue (Art Director Victoria Green). Thanks to this artwork, unrelated to any story in that issue, I won the 2014 Readers' Award as BEST 2014 COVER ARTIST! Still jumping thinking about this achievement… I've been loving the magazine since I was an undergraduate…
Another client falling in love with the illustration was Gardner Dozois, who selected my winged astronaut as a cover art for the prestigious thirty-second annual collection THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION and put me in touch with Macmillan for the transaction.
At that time I was a panelist at the 72nd WorldCon in London and while I was talking with my contact Ben Crystal at the publishing house… the illustration won the Award as Best Digital Artwork in the Show!
In December 2015 my Angel became a cover for "I LIKE 3D", an interactive magazine published by the Italian iMasterArt Academy. The issue, edited by Simona Rossi and the fellow artist Joseph Eon Viglioglia, was dedicated my body of work and included the making-in-progress of the illustration and an extended interview! You can browse the issue in my Youtube Channel!
Main links in the article:
Asimov's SF magazine
Delos Books
Ursula K. Le Guin
iMasterArt Academy
Youtube Channel: I LIKE 3D
"Starlight Express" by Michael Swanwick (F&SF, Sep/Oct 2017)
This was one of the best commissions to date! Fantasy & Science Fiction contacted me saying: "We have a story that seems like it's meant for a Maurizio Manzieri cover!": I accepted immediately of course and here you can see the result for the lovely story "Starlight Express" by Michael Swanwick. The author dedicated an entry of his blog to the artwork: http://floggingbabel.blogspot.it/2017/08/starlight-express-by-maurizio-manzieri.html
2017 Fantasy Basel Guest of Honor!
I'm Guest of Honor for Fantasy Basel 2017, the Swiss Comic Con! You find me in Halle 2.2, Stand #568. Do not miss my panel on April 30, at 12pm, Podium 1, Messe Basel, titled: "Recipes for the Creation of a Fantastic Universe".
Artwork selected for IBA5
Beginning the year with gooood news…! My artwork The Sassari Spaceport has been selected for inclusion in the volume INFECTED BY ART #5 (Hermes Press). So honored! Link: http://www.infectedbyart.com/iba5artist.asp?gid=8512
My Artwork Eligible for 2017 Awards
Hi dear friends,
another year spent with the Art in the Heart! Here we go with my annual parade of eligible illustrations for competitions and 2017 international Awards (finished or published in 2016)! Take a glance to all the covers and posters, then sliding down you'll find the images without the design… Enjoy!
1) Cover Art for
2) Cover Art for
3) Cover Art for ANALOG SCIENCE & FACT #JANUARY 2016 (originally inspired to the story "Five Thrillers" by Robert Reed). Link
4) Cover art for The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction #8 edited by Allan Kaster (INFINIVOX/AudioText, 2016). Illustration Title: "Alien Outpost". Link
5) Official Poster for the Swiss Comic Con FANTASY BASEL 2016. Link
6) "The Sassari Spaceport"
Official Poster for the Italian Convention SARDINIACON 2016. Link
Selected for inclusion in the volume INFECTED BY ART #5
7) Official Poster for the Italian Convention STRANIMONDI 2016. Link
8) Illustration inspired to the literary saga MONDO9 by the writer Dario Tonani (unpublished)
9) Cover Art for FIREBOY by Dean Whitlock. Illustration and Design by Maurizio Manzieri. (Boatman Press, ebook). Link
10) Cover art for ALBATROSS by R.A.MacAvoy (ebook). Illustration and design by Maurizio Manzieri.
Sassari Comics and Games 2016: Guest of Honor!
I'm very honored to announce my presence as a Guest of Honor at Sassari Comics and Games 2016. Here is the illustration realized for the official Poster of the Festival!
2016 Italia Award Finalist
Wow, tight period, dear followers! Glad to announce that I'm a 2016 Italia Award Finalist for the Cover Art "Quel che Resta della Kronos" by Claudio Chillemi (Edizioni della Vigna)! Here the Italian Press Release with all the Finalists: http://www.fantascienza.com/21075/premio-italia-2016-record-di-votanti-ecco-i-finalisti
New Print on Sale: "Alpha and Omega" by Patricia Briggs
If you are followers of this blog, you are the first ones to know! A new coveted print "Alpha and Omega" by Patricia Briggs (published in 2009 by Subterranean Press in Usa and in 2010 by Bragelonne in France) has been made available at my INPRNT SHOP. They are all gallery-quality giclée art prints on 100% cotton rag archival paper, printed with archival inks. Click on the illustration to reach the shop:
INPRNT Shop Opening
Hi, friends! I'm glad to announce – finally – the opening of an international distribution of gallery-quality art prints through INPRNT. Here is the link to my Shop: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/maurizio.manzieri/
My Artwork Eligible for 2016 Awards
here is my annual post with selected eligible illustrations for the 2016 international Awards!
1) Cover Art for
Some cover disegns about the above illustrations:
Analog Science & Fact (Jan/Feb 2016)
Asimov's SF magazine Oct/Nov 2015
Original illustration commissioned by ASF for "The Citadel of Weeping Pearls" by Aliette de Bodard
My Artwork Eligible for 2015 Awards
Here is a selected List of 2014 eligible artwork for 2015 Awards
Category EBOOK/AUDIOBOOK: "The Year's Top Short SF Novels 4″, edited by Allan Kaster (Audiobook/e-book by Infinivox/AudioText, November 2014, USA). Link: Amazon
Category: MAGAZINE: Cover Art for Asimov's SF Magazine (June 2014)
Category: MAGAZINE: Cover Art for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (July/August 2014)
Category: MAGAZINE/ADVERTISING: Magazine of Digital Art "Imagine FX", Italian Edition / Official Poster for the Festival Lucca Comics & Games 2014
COVER ILLUSTRATION: "The Man Who Loved Kites" by Dean Whitlock. (Boatman Press LLC, 2014). Ebook: Amazon
My Angel meets Macmillan
Very honored to grace the next Gardner Dozois' anthology: "The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Second Annual Collection", coming out in July 2015 (Martin's Press, USA)
2014 WorldCon Schedule (Excel, London – 14-18 August)
For my Worldcon scgedule follow the link: http://guide.loncon3.org/#
My Artwork Eligible for 2014 Awards
Here is a selected List of 2013 eligible artwork for 2014 Awards (Chesleys and Hugos). Infinite thanks to John Picacio and John Scalzi for the plug and the kind hospitality inside their dedicated threads.
COVER ILLUSTRATION: PAPERBACK BOOK "Paradises Lost" (Spectrum #20). Links: Spectrum and Delos Books Cover
COVER ILLUSTRATION: MAGAZINE "What the Red Oaks Knew". Link: The Magazine of F&SF
COVER ILLUSTRATION: HARDBACK BOOK "Book of Iron". Links: Subterranean Press Book Cover
COVER ILLUSTRATION: AUDIO BOOK/EBOOK "The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 5″. Link: AudioText
COVER ILLUSTRATION: AUDIO BOOK/EBOOK "The Year's Top Short SF Novels 3″. Link: AudioText
INTERIOR ILLUSTRATION. Link: 'Elara Libri' Publisher
INTERIOR ILLUSTRATION. Link: 'Elara Libri' Publisher
COLOR WORK: UNPUBLISHED. Link: Illustration Detail


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I contemplate my marriage standing next to a toaster.
According to the menu, it is toasted bread with jalapeño flavored butter for today. Strawberries on the side. The crunch reminds me how we used to crack walnuts. Stick it in the space between the closing door and its frame, right above the hinge. If we were lucky, it'd split into exact halves. A perfect divorce.
I write down the names of the cities we visited. The skyline we brought back. After a while, there were only clouds between us, our blurry smiles like white markers on negatives. Your essential oils and hair color, occupying all the space on the sink and the bathtub. Their permanent rings underneath. I lost hair and you gained weight proportional to the number of times we listened to "Forever Young." We kept falling and falling—waiting for the door to close on us.
I decide to take a survey that calculates the happiness index. I can fake it. I can prove I am happy. Until I become a stick willing to break under the slightest pressure. All it takes is one question.
I started small—baby steps, doing what I could. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw myself—above you, beneath you, beside you, the bronze body, with the paunch and receding hairline that filled me, soaked me, aroused me. On our anniversary, I made a dinner reservation, wore the dress you got from Thailand. While sipping your favorite Chardonnay, I remembered how my mother reacted when I told her about you. Her worried look and her careful voice, as if she knew the ferocity of marrying an old scholar.
There are always possibilities. To love someone else. To believe in God. Years happen and then everything is about matching curtains, buying flatware, blaming your luck, and having kids. To become this one person you thought you'd never be.
Days splinter. I hold a knife close to my wrist, the vein ready to burst. Then I think about an old joke that still makes me laugh. Suddenly it seems like I've misunderstood it. It had taken all these years. Even now, I find myself laughing, knowing that I will end up crying. Truth makes you a ghost of yourself, desolate and alive. It makes you question and choose.
I find a walnut, place it on the floor and smash it with a hammer. It explodes into a million pieces pinching the air, each heading into a direction I'll never know.
Tara Isabel Zambrano
Latest posts by Tara Isabel Zambrano (see all)
- Waiting for the door to close on us - April 7, 2017


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Epiretinal membrane is also known as macula pucker or cellophane maculopathy. Recovery after vitrectomy surgery to remove this fine scar tissue covering the macula can take up to 3 months. Surgery is only done if the patient notices distortion of vision , in other words, if straight lines look wavy or out of shape. Some patients may have symptoms for many months before deciding to have surgery. Visual recovery after surgery depends on how long the epiretinal membrane has been there. The longer it has been causing the symptoms, the longer it will take for visual improvement to be seen.
Is special posturing needed after surgery?
Vitrectomy surgery is now done with modern small incisions that do not require sutures. A small air bubble is usually left in the eyeball at the end of surgery to help close up the incision site. This air bubble will dissolve by itself after a few days. If there are no complications that happen during the vitrectomy surgery, like retinal detachment, the patient does not need to sleep with their face facing downwards. Special posturing is only needed after surgery for retinal diseases like macula hole, or , retinal detachment.
What should I do or avoid after vitrectomy surgery for epiretinal membrane?
1. Wear an eye shield at night to prevent accidental rubbing of your operated eye while asleep
2. Use eye drops as instructed by your doctor
3. Avoid heavy lifting or straining for 1 week after surgery
4. Avoid getting water in your eye for 3 days after surgery. No swimming for at least 1 month after surgery!
5. Any type of food is fine after surgery but some traditions may tell you to avoid spicy food and seafood. This is entirely up to you.
More details can be found here: http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Health/2011/11/27/Care-for-eye-surgery.aspx
Vitrectomy surgery for epiretinal membrane is safe and painless. Recovery is very quick and most patients can see an improvement within 2 weeks after surgery. The redness around the eye will take 2 weeks to disappear. You will see a small bubble moving around the eye and it will blur your vision for a few days after surgery. It will then dissolve by itself naturally. You may also see some floaters in the eye and this will also disappear. Sometimes, cataract can develop after vitrectomy surgery and cataract surgery is then needed.
Have a great week!
Consultant Ophthalmologist and Retinal Surgeon
Sunway Medical Centre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia


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Zeno Math
Zeno Math is a Seattle Nonprofit that inspires kids to love math. We designed and developed the site from the ground up with lots of input from the Zeno Math communications team.
The site utilizes Woocommerce and a few custom built functionalities within the theme to make the WordPress CMS really shine.
We are really happy with the design direction that the team at Zeno moved forward with. The design really allows for a great mobile experience. This is definitely a site we will be using as a reference for future jobs.
See more at http://ZenoMath.org


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End Table
Material:Base in marble agglomerate (a mix of marble and inert materials treated to create an extremely smooth surface); Chrome metal bar; steel plate; extraclear tempered glass top, 12mm thick
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H 73 x L 50 x P 50 cm
H 63 x L 50 x P 50 cm
Weight:18 kg
Color:Extra-glossy black base; extraclear transparent glass
Design:Design: Studio 28
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The terms "weekend facelift" and "lunch-time facelift" have been used by the media and marketers to describe a range of procedures that can correct loose and sagging facial skin "in the time it takes to have lunch". The idea of getting facelift-like results with no scars, no anesthesia and no downtime is tempting, but can it be done?
The answer is not really. Non-invasive (non-surgical) procedures, such as Botox® and Injectable Fillers, can improve and enhance your appearance, but at this time they are not as effective as surgical procedures to reverse the signs of an aging face. To learn about how Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Fata performs these surgical and non-surgical procedures, please call Renaissance Plastic Surgery in Indianapolis at 317-575-9152.
Dr. Fata's Take on the 'Weekend Facelift'
Most of the techniques that fall under the umbrella of "weekend facelift" procedures have over-promised and under-delivered. Some topical treatment devices, such as Thermage®, promise to tighten the skin and while there are good results out there, the average outcome has been unpredictable and often so subtle that it is difficult to distinguish between the "before" and "after" pictures. The Thread Lift® promised to lift sagging jowels by inserting barbed, rigid thread-like structures under the skin, but the improvement only lasted a few months because the barbed-wire threads cut through the tissues being lifted. This technique is rarely used anymore.
One procedure that did legitimately qualify as a "weekend facelift" was the Ribbon Lift®, which can be performed under local anesthesia. Through a small incision along the hairline of the temple, a bioabsorbable device (the "ribbon", which dissolved over a few months) was inserted to lift the jowels and skin.
The Ribbon Lift® technique was only appropriate for patients with early and mild sagging of the jowels and minimal changes in the neck. Unfortunately, the Ribbon Lift® only lasted 1-2 years, much less than the more traditional facelift procedures. As with just about everything in life, the less you put into it the less you get out of it.
In Dr. Fata's experience, most women who consult him about a weekend facelift are better served with a mini facelift. In the mini facelift, the incision of the Ribbon Lift® is extended but hidden along the natural creases of the ear. This extension allows Dr. Fata to remove excess skin and more thoroughly tighten the "jowels", giving a better and longer-lasting result. The difference in downtime is only a few days and the difference in longevity is several years. Just think of it as a "weekend lift" but a long weekend, about 4 days on average, before you will be comfortable out in public with some makeup.
Dr. Joseph Fata performs weekend facelift surgery on his patients in Indianapolis and Carmel, Indiana. To assist you as you gather information on the procedure, Dr. Fata has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions based on his extensive experience with patients who have had weekend facelift.
Please feel free to call 317-575-9152 or contact Renaissance Plastic Surgery online to learn more about the weekend facelift/Ribbon Lift®. We serve patients throughout the Midwest as well as Carmel and Indianapolis, Indiana, and will be glad to schedule a confidential consultation for you.


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2015 is dead! Rather it will be dead tonight. Right now it is just kind of lying there in a pool of its own blood huffing and puffing. Reaching for the alcohol bottle and the lighter so it can cauterize the wounds. Fire and destruction surround the fallen year. Over the horizon, just beyond the bend of earth there are some lights, blue, green, white, every color of the spectrum. Over the crackle of fire 2015 swears there are cheers of happiness from that general direction. People must be happy. Maybe this year wasn't so bad afterall. Maybe they are cheering on 2015's death. "You did this to yourself 2015." Is grunted between pain strickenly clenched teeth. "You always try so hard and everything turns to shit. You knew it was going to end this way." With that, 2015 departs from this world, from this timeline. Never to be seen again. In the dark, cold and alone.
This scene is the reason why for the, I don't know, the last six years, maybe, I have been making the same resolution. It is a good one and it is only because I have succeeded at it that I am writing this post. My resolution was, is, and always will be, don't die! Unless one partied with Motley Crue or GnR back in the 80's, that is one resolution that can be failed at only once.
Oh sure, I have put it to the test a few times this year. Like that time my wife and I ran into a black bear in the woods. Most recently how about going straight during the protected left turn phase at a traffic light. There was also about a month period around October 15th when I couldn't go anywhere without hearing about how Back to the Future 2 got it wrong. I would look to the sky and hope that some opulent being would come back and shoot lighting bolts to my ocular cavities to prove to the rest of existence that opulent beings exist and are back to clean house. Nothing like that happened. For now, I will keep atheisting it up, I guess.
For what is worth, 2015, you weren't so bad. In fact the first nine months were pretty damned good. Maybe that is because they took place so long ago I can't remember the bad things. The last three months had some rough patches, but they had some good times too. Either way 2015 is dead! Long live 2016!


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Texas lawmakers are currently rushing an omnibus anti-abortion bill through a special session, after each of its provisions failed to advance separately during the regular legislative session. But not without being met with a fight. Over 700 Texans traveled to Austin on Thursday to testify against the anti-abortion measure before it could come to a vote in the House — and their "people's filibuster" successfully prevented the legislation from advancing.
SB 5 combines several attacks on reproductive access into one measure, and would ultimately force over 90 percent of the abortion clinics in the Lone Star state to close their doors. After the Texas Senate passed SB 5 on Tuesday, a House committee took it up for consideration. Anti-abortion opponents were reportedly discouraged from testifying in favor of the measure before the House vote, in case the legislature runs out of time to approve it before the special session concludes on June 25.
But opponents of SB 5 took the opposite approach, organizing hundreds of women's health advocates to share their testimony in front of the House committee in the hopes of delaying the vote. An estimated 700 people registered to testify. Some protesters waited up to 12 hours to speak against SB 5, and supporters from across Texas ordered pizza, cookies, and drinks to be delivered to them throughout the night on Thursday.
In the early hours of the morning on Friday, after nearly seven hours of testimony, the Republican chairman of the House committee told more than 300 people who were still waiting in line that they would not be allowed to speak.
"The testimony has been impassioned, but it has become repetitive, so I am going to only allow another hour of testimony on this bill," state Rep. Byron Cook (R) told a crowd of protesters shortly after midnight. But the 200 women and men in the hearing room, as well as about 100 more people outside, loudly objected. When a Texas State Trooper escorted one woman away from the podium, the protesters all began chanting, "Let her speak!"
When Cook eventually reconvened the hearing, he allowed three more hours of testimony from about 50 additional women. "Our words are not repetitive," one woman, Lesli Simms, said during her testimony. "Our government's attacks on our choice, on our bodies, is repetitive."
The committee chairman concluded the session early on Friday without voting on the anti-abortion legislation.
Opponents of SB 5 hope that their efforts to stall the bill will give Democrats in the legislature enough time to organize a formal filibuster to block it next week. Although Democrats successfully prevented every single piece of anti-abortion legislation from advancing this year, Texas' special session is operating under different rules that give Republicans a better chance of being able to rush through SB 5 with fewer votes.


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Camel Dive Club, Sharm El Sheikh has long been a firm favourite with UK divers (well who can resist a curry at Camel!). And this month they mark their 25 years anniversary in December with a double celebration!
Not only has Camel provided great red sea diving holidays in Sharm El Sheikh for the past quarter century, regularly ranking as one of the top dive centres in Sharm. This month the fabulous team have also reached a landmark 20 years' membership of PADIs retail association for scuba businesses. The PADI award recognises the company's long-standing commitment to excellence in diver training, making Camel one of the select few Red Sea dive centres to achieve this milestone.
Simon Chance, manager of PADI Retailer and Resort Associations and PADI Diving Society, commented:
"It gave me great pleasure to arrange this award for Camel Dive Club in recognition of their 20 years as a valued PADI member, especially as they are celebrating their 25th year of operation this December. It has been a privilege working with Hesham and all the Camel team, and we look forward to partnering with them further in support of Egyptian diving for many more years to come. Hearty congratulations to everyone at Camel, and here's to the next 20 years and beyond!"


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Enter "Wells Photo Contest"
Fill in the form below. Make sure to include your contact information. Locate your photos on your hard drive and then upload to us!
All submitted photos will become the property of the Wells Chamber of Commerce for their use in any promotional materials.
If you want to enter more than 6 photos reload the page and send more along. Good Luck!
If any problems or questions email


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GREENWOOD, S.C. – Senior Jerome Leborgne (Coordimanche, France) and junior Johan Wadstein (Helsingborg, Sweden) have been named to the All-Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Team, announced at the annual PBC tennis awards banquet Thursday evening.
Leborgne was tabbed All-PBC Second Team in singles after putting together a 10-7 record all coming at the top position.
The senior is currently the No. 24 player in the country and No. 9 player in the southeast region.
Leborgne also garnered All-PBC First Team doubles honors along with teammate Wadstein.
The tandem have combined for a 12-5 overall record and 6-3 mark in PBC play. The duo is ranked No. 9 in the nation and No. 4 in the southeast region.
This marks Leborgne's third-consecutive season on the All-PBC Second Team for singles, but it is he and Wadstein's first nod in doubles.
The No. 5-seed GC men start the 2012 PBC Tournament by taking on No. 4-seed Francis Marion University tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Greenwood, S.C.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


text: Adam Quimn 0 Posted December 11, 2017 I have 1 last step to completing my new PC build. The 3 front rgb case fans' wire connectors plug into a 3 way sort of adapter provided by Cooler Master. Without this "adapter" the fan wires aren't long enough to plug in the motherboard. The end of that connector (adapter) has 4 long pins coming off of it. Nowhere on the motherboard is there a place for this to go. Where does this 4 pin connector plug into?? I want to turn on my new PC build but not without the 3 case fans working. Thank you in advance! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Meet the team
Peter Hodges
email@example.com | +44 (0) 7831446453
Peter began his career in logistics in 1977 as a trainee export clerk working for the forwarding division of Jardine Matheson the then Hong Kong based shipping conglomerate.
He left Jardine in 1985 after he and two colleagues were approached by an investor to form Connaught. As Peter will tell you, he became disillusioned with the poor service and general lack of expertise within the industry. He and his colleagues set about building a team of enthusiastic professionals setting their sights on introducing new services such as outsourced warehousing and inventory management.
His enthusiasm and quest to be involved in new areas is still there to see.
In his spare time Peter enjoys participating in crazy endurance events, and he'll tell you his prowess on the squash court has not diminished with the passage of time!
Direct message
David Irwin
firstname.lastname@example.com | +44 (0) 7768 490019
David's career path mirrors that of Peter in that he too began his career in 1977 with Jardine Matheson before forming Connaught in 1985. In the years that followed David assumed responsibility for the development of Connaught's bespoke IT systems and more recently the Web Based Order Processing system, which is a key tool for many of Connaught's clients. David works closely with the operations teams and clients to deliver solutions that are driven by the needs of clients rather than impose a "one size fits all" mentality.
Away from Connaught David is a keen tennis player as well as a sailing enthusiast with a passion for photography.
Direct message
Paul Simms
Operations Manager
email@example.com | +44 (0) 7880 748574
With Connaught: since 1987
Experience: Paul started out in Logistcs and having worked with Peter and David previously, joined them when they established Connaught.
Why Connaught? "We are a small team but we achieve great things, and still enjoy it to this day"
Outside of work: Its sport all the way for Paul , playing tennis and watching rugby (Harlequins fan) and football (West Ham United fan).
Direct message
David Eldridge
Finance Manager
firstname.lastname@example.com | +44 (0) 7969 424815
With Connaught: since 2007
Experience: Before joining Connaught David was with Securicor Group for 19 years working on the Heathrow contract and also Financial Controller at a transport and logistics company.
Why Connaught ? "There's something different every day, what we ship and how we do it, and we get to know our clients well".
Outside of work: A Manchester United fan, its an active life for David; walking, swimming and going to the gym to keep fit and healthy
Direct message
Phil Buckingham
Warehouse Manager
firstname.lastname@example.com | +44 (0) 7876 504043
With Connaught: since 1990
Experience: Phil has spent his working life in Logistics, having worked with Peter and David previously he was brought in shortly after Connaught was established in 1987.
Why Connaught ? "It's a great team, the work is always varied and we get to travel the world".
Outside of work: For Phil it's cars (currently an Audi TT), bikes (Kawasaki Z800) and an adorable granddaughter – but not necessarily in the that order !
Direct message
Paul Copland
Operations Supervisor
firstname.lastname@example.com | +44 (0) 7887 485160
With Connaught: since 2004
Experience: Mostly developed with Connaught, Paul has worked in different departments gaining a real understanding of the Logistics business.
Why Connaught ? "I enjoy the variety of work at Connaught, working in many different areas, each with interesting challenges and shipments".
Outside of work: Paul is married with a young family and enjoys playing squash, going to the gym and watching sport, especially American Football.
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Ed Abitanta
Manager US Operation
email@example.com | +1 (732) 9915390
With Connaught: since 1999
Experience: Prior to joining Connaught, Ed had a long and very successful tenure with DHL who recruited him after he completed his studies at Lafayette College. While at DHL, Ed developed a ground breaking and innovative Inventory Management and Pick and Pack fulfilment operation as a bespoke solution for a large pharmaceutical client.
Why Connaught? "I really love solving problems and finding elegant outside of the box solutions that make the lives of our clients easier. And every once in a while we are able to pull something out of our hats making what was thought to be impossible possible."
Outside of work: USTA League Tennis, Golf, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding, and the Gym.
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Location and Contact Details
9 Skyport Dr, Harmondsworth
Middx UB7 0LB
United Kingdom
115 Stryker Lane
Building 4, Unit 9
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
62-70 Texaco Rd,
Tsuen Wan, N.T.,
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3657 3304
Like to speak to a team member?
If your enquiry is an urgent operational issue, please CALL us on the appropriate mobile number
If your enquiry is more general, please call, email or request a call back. We will respond within 2 hours*
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Birmingham to go 101 from 2018 – final plan for council wards
Final plans for a re-organisation of the wards that make up Birmingham city council have been published. The local authority will be made up of 101 wards from 2018 in a mix of single and two member wards, reports Kevin Johnson.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has this morning published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements across Birmingham.
It follows a six-week public consultation on draft proposals and draws new boundaries for each council ward in the city.
The Commission's final recommendations propose that Birmingham should be represented by 101 councillors in the future: nineteen fewer than the current arrangement. The recommendations also propose that those councillors should represent 37 single-member wards and 32 two-member wards across the city.
Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said:
We are extremely grateful to people across Birmingham who took the time and effort to send us their views. The Commission considered every piece of evidence it received, over three rounds of consultation, before finalising these recommendations.
Across the city, we have sought to balance the views expressed to us by local people with the criteria we must apply when we are deciding on new electoral arrangements. As such, we believe these recommendations deliver electoral equality for voters as well as reflecting the identities of communities in Birmingham.
The Commission believes that the new electoral arrangements provide an overall number of councillors that can help the authority set and implement its strategy for the city. The pattern of wards will also promote local accountability across the many communities that make up Birmingham.
The Commission was instructed to carry out an electoral review of Birmingham City Council following Lord Kerslake's report on the governance and organisational capabilities of Birmingham City Council. The report recommended that an electoral review should be conducted 'to help the council produce an effective model of representative governance.'
In response to representations made to the Commission during consultation, the Commission has made changes to the proposals published in May.
In Balsall Heath, the Commission was told that its recommendations divided the centre of the community between wards. The final recommendations extend the boundary of the Balsall Heath West eastwards so that the heart of the community is contained within a single ward, according to LGBCE. The Commission has also renamed Sparkbrook ward as Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East ward to reflect the identities of the communities within it.
The Commission received local representations that stated its proposals for a single-member Perry Beeches and Perry Hall wards artificially divided a cohesive community. The Commission has therefore merged the two wards to form a two-member Perry Barr ward.
In Erdington and its surrounding area, the Commission has reconfigured its pattern of wards in response to local evidence around community identities. The Short Heath community will be part of the Perry Common ward rather than Erdington and an area to the north of the A452 Chester Road is included in Erdington ward instead of Pype Hayes ward.
The Commission received representations on its proposals that parts of the Oscott community had been included in the Kingstanding ward and that an area that identified with the Kingstanding community had been included with Oscott ward. The Commission has amended the boundaries of the wards to reflect that evidence. Therefore, the area to the north of the B4149 King's Road – up to Sutton Coldfield – is included in Oscott ward. The area around the southern part of the B4138 Kingstanding Road is included as part of Kingstanding ward.
The boundaries of the Stockland Green ward have also been amended in the west to include the area between Witton Lakes and Witton Cemetery and its eastern boundary has moved westwards so that it runs along the Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield railway line. The Commission was persuaded that the new configuration provided a better reflection of community identities and draws boundaries that are strong and locally recognised.
The Commission has amended ten ward names following local representations. The changes include the addition of the Druids Heath name so that the ward covering that area will be called Druids Heath & Monyhull.
Elsewhere in the city, the Commission has retained proposals that received support from local people in previous phases of consultation:
- The Commission's recommendation to include the whole of Moseley village in Moseley ward is part of the final recommendations.
- The Commission retains its proposals for a North Edgbaston ward alongside an Edgbaston ward to reflect communities that identify with that area as well as including well-known local landmarks.
- Proposals for a pattern of wards in Sutton Coldfield that acknowledges the Whitehouse Common community and creates a Sutton Vesey ward are retained.
- The historic centre of Acocks Green is wholly contained in the ward of that name following representations made to the Commission in previous rounds of consultation.
- Hall Green North and Hall Green South wards are included in the final recommendations. The Commission had originally proposed that parts of the Hall Green community should be included in other wards.
- In Yardley, the Commission has retained the warding pattern and ward names it put forward in May. In its earlier proposals, the Commission's ward names had not reflected the full extent of areas that identified with Yardley. This was corrected in May and remains part of the final recommendations.
Full details of the Commission's final recommendations (including maps) can be viewed here.
The proposed new arrangements must now be implemented by Parliament. A draft order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament in the coming months. The draft Order provides for the new electoral arrangements to come into force at the council elections in 2018.
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The Engine House and Heritage Center is open every Saturday from 10am-12pm. Please contact us to discuss visits/events outside of this time. Lots has been happening over the last few years and there are new exciting developments coming soon so please be sure to keep checking the website.
Engine House and Heritage Center Open Every Saturday 10am-12pm
Contact us to arrange visits outside of this time


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Welcome to Suburban Ford of Waterford
Incredible New Ford Models and Services at Suburban Ford of Waterford
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If you're looking for the latest and greatest, our selection of new Ford models will please nearly any type of driver, no matter your on-road preferences! With popular and highly-demanded vehicles like the F-150, Escape, Explorer, Edge, Fusion, and many others, you'll feel like a kid in a candy store after you step foot on our dealership.
Those with smaller budgets should prepare for excellence as well, as our lineup of used vehicles has a plethora of options sure to get your engine roaring. You'll discover popular models from automakers all across the globe like Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, our own Ford, and so much more. Your only problem will be deciding which one you love the most!
You're Always Welcome at Our Waterford, MI Dealership
After you've picked out that perfect vehicle for all your needs on the road, the friendly experts at our finance center would be delighted to help you secure a loan or Ford lease. They'll sit with you one-on-one and discuss plans until you find the one that fits into your particular budget; you can be sure that they won't be satisfied until you are.
Later on down the line, when you find it's time for some repairs or routine maintenance, the professionally-trained technicians at our service center will offer you the automotive TLC you deserve. Using only the best genuine Ford parts, you'll have the confidence of knowing that your Ford vehicle is still a Ford vehicle through and through.
Our dealership, located in Waterford, MI, proudly serves drivers from all over the Commerce Township, Auburn Hills, West Bloomfield, and Pontiac areas and far beyond. Our dealership is on a major road so, with a location that's easier to get to than many other dealerships, we hope to see you soon and show you what true driving satisfaction means.


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My wife and I are just back from a 3 week trip that took us to the Annapolis in-water sail show in Maryland, a visit to friends and relatives in Georgia, a visit with my cousin in Florida, a look at our new boat on the line as it was being built and a fun weekend at Disney World. We were extending summer a bit...some more sun before ski season starts.
While in Savannah, Ga I had the good fortune to spend an afternoon sketching this beautiful old townhouse. It's located across from a park and it fronts to a tree lined street of Live Oaks that are draped with Spanish Moss. Quite a setting and an enjoyable afternoon in a city that offers beauty around every corner.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
5 comments:
Savannah has such charm. Your drawing shows that so beautifully.ReplyDelete
So sunny and beautiful, Dave! Love the things you chose to include and the ones you left out...really draws me in to the picture.ReplyDelete
The sketch of this house is charming and lovely. Well done!ReplyDelete
Marvelous! This really shows the visual charm and flavor of the city! I love the play of positive and negative.ReplyDelete
I live near Savannah and love your charming capture! I agree about the wonderful use of positive and negative space.ReplyDelete
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