First Taste Is For Free

If you haven't checked out the comics of Brian Wood, you need to do so right now. I haven't gotten any of his DMZ series yet (but I keep meaning to pick up the first trade) but his Demo, Channel Zero and Couscous Express books have been among some of my favorite comics of the last few years. Plus he did the design work for Warren Ellis' incredible mini-series, Global Frequency.

Now, DC/Vertigo Comics are offering you a free taste of Wood's DMZ comic. The first issue is available from their site as a PDF download. Don't ever believe the hype about anything, and don't just believe what people are saying online. Check it out with your own eyes and figure it out for yourself.

First Taste Is For Free

From indie comics icon Brian Wood (Demo, Channel Zero, GLOBAL FREQUENCY) and up-and-coming Italian artist Riccardo Burchielli (John Doe) comes the first volume of DMZ, collecting the first 5 issues of the series about the ultimate embedded war journalist trapped in a most unlikely war zone: the streets of New York City.

In the near future, America's worst nightmare has come true. With military adventurism overseas bogging down the Army and National Guard, the U.S. government mistakenly neglects the very real threat of anti-establishment militias scattered across the 50 states. Like a sleeping giant, Middle America rises up and violently pushes its way to the shining seas, coming to a standstill at the line in the sand — Manhattan or, as the world now knows it, the DMZ.

Matty Roth, a naïve young man and aspiring photojournalist, lands a dream gig following a veteran war journalist into the heart of the DMZ. Things soon go terribly wrong, and Matty finds himself lost and alone in a world he's only seen on television. There, he is faced with a choice: try to find a way off the island, or make his career with an assignment most journalists would kill for. But can he survive in a war zone long enough to report the truth?

EDIT: Picked up the first DMZ trade when I went to the comic store for this week's pick-up. Only $9.99 for the first five issues of the book. I have to say, that's pretty impressive and I wish that more publishers would give you the first taste/trade for cheaper to get people involved in picking up the collections. If I had known it would have been this cheap, I would have picked it up sooner. Brian Wood's writing is as strong as it has been in the other books of his that I have read.

If you are a fan of Brian Wood, this book is for you. If you aren't a fan of Brian Wood...why aren't you? If you like non-super hero books with intelligent writing, you should check out this book. If you want a comic book that is different from what all of the other people are doing, this book is for you. Brian Wood writes in a cyberpunk sort of mode, without it actually being cyberpunk. Which means that there isn't any cyber involved. If you have read any of the DryCo books by Jack Womack then you will know exactly what I am talking about. If you haven't, you should probably head out to the library or your nearest used bookstore right now. Don't worry. I'll wait.

Basically, I am saying that this is a comic that you should check out and check out soon.

[via Warren Ellis]

Japanese Powerpuff Girls

Yes, because the original version wasn't anime enough for people apparently. You really do have to see this one to believe it. It isn't my fault though if you spend the next eight minutes in a stupor because you clicked on the link.

You know that you want to click on the link. You know that you do.

When Memes Attack

Sometimes two memes are so powerful that they cross streams and become something bigger and stronger. Is this a good thing? You be the judge...

Hybrid mutant beast's body found

The world is a strange place. If you can't get a senario out of this, you're just not trying.

Hybrid mutant beast's body found

An animal found dead in the United States may be the mysterious creature that has mauled dogs, frightened residents and been the subject of local legend for half a generation.

The animal was found near power lines along Route 4 near Turner, Maine, on Saturday. It had apparently been struck by a car while chasing a cat.

The carcass was photographed and inspected by several people who live in the area, but nobody is sure exactly what it is.

Gen Con Indy: Day Four Report and Wrap-Up

A wrap up of the finale of GenCon from our friends at RPGBlog.

Gen Con Indy: Day Four Report and Wrap-Up

Sorry about my late posting for the final day of Gen Con. Anyone who's gone knows that the post-Gen Con crash can be brutal, and mine was no exception.

Summer of Bottled Drinks

Because its just too weird not to share. This, my friends, is the true essence of blogging.

Summer of Bottled Drinks

Here’s a trivial summer project to keep me and you occupied. Take a picture of bottled beverages, include where I was drinking, and blog them. I like to drink different kinds of drinks, and bottled drinks are usually 100 yen to 170 yen. There are varieties and they’re cheap enough to try all these different varieties. I’ll make a post with five drinks each.

[Via Warren Ellis]

A closed mind about an open world

Interesting article. Makes me wonder how much of this data could be mapped across to the OGL in the RPG biz.

A closed mind about an open world

Studying intellectual property and the internet has convinced me that we have another cognitive bias. Call it the openness aversion. We are likely to undervalue the importance, viability and productive power of open systems, open networks and non-proprietary production. Test yourself on the following questions. In each case, it is 1991 and I have removed from you all knowledge of the past 15 years.

[Via Boing Boing]

Gen Con Indy: Day Three Report

And via our friends at RPG Blog, here is a report of Day Three at Gen Con.

Gen Con Indy: Day Three Report

By the third day of Gen Con, the fatigue is really starting to show for some folks. But for most, it's a happy sort of fatigue, a daze offset by the combined momentum and energy of tens of thousands of other people still meeting, gaming, exploring, and having fun.

I Have RuneQuest

And despite the bitching of grognards around the internet, I think it is pretty cool. The nifty keen copy of Land of Ninja for RQ3 that I got through a trade came in the mail today too. Coincidence?

Watch out d20, there's a new kid on the block...and its the bastard child of the system that kicked D&D's ass before.

Gen Con Indy: The ENnies and Day Two Report

From the RPG Blog comes a day two report of GenCon, including the winners of the ENnies. Congratulations to everyone who won. Glad to seek AMP getting some deserved acclaim.

Gen Con Indy: The ENnies and Day Two Report

We’ve got plenty of more coverage from today, but let’s go to the big topic first: without further ado (a phrase I have heard many times in the past few hours), I’ll give you your 2006 ENnie winners.