Like many boys, Borderless comic book store owner Peter Newcomb was a reluctant reader as a preteen. Books really didn’t have any draw for him and he saw nothing exciting in pages full of plain text. At the same time, however, he loved looking at the picture in comic books, and he wanted to know the story that went along with them, so he began reading the printed dialogue. Over time, he became a good reader, which led to his becoming an avid reader—and he wants other reluctant readers to be able to do the same thing. This was the driving force behind the opening of his comic book store, and Pete encourages young people to come in and read comic books, even if they don’t buy them.
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Author Archives: Andrew Hales
Editorial | Encouraging Reluctant Readers with Comic Books
Filed under Comics, Editorial, Tracy Gronewold
Saturday Reviews: Secret Avengers #7
Secret Avengers (Marvel)
Writing by Ales Kot, Art by Michael Walsh
I’ve been very hopeful for Secret Avengers and so far in the series I haven’t been disappointed. With issue #7 however, I’ve become extremely worried, and it can all be summed up in one word…Deadpool.
It’s no secret that I’m not a particularly big Deadpool fan. I got into comics right as Deadpool got huge and I was unimpressed with all of the Deadpool titles in print at the time. They tried way too hard to be funny and fell flat every time. The latest issue of Secret Avengers takes everything I couldn’t stand about Deadpool and turns them up to eleven. For several pages, Deadpool argues with the writer off and on while talking about living in a comic book, much to the confusion of the other characters, not to mention myself. Yes, that is correct: Ales Kot is writing Deadpool having an argument with himself (Kot) about how his writing of Hawkeye isn’t as good as Matt Fraction’s. I’m fairly certain most mental health professionals would have something to say about this. When Deadpool isn’t in the picture, the book is still pretty solid. I’m still really having fun with Spider-Woman and Vlad the talking bomb and their bizarre relationship. I’m perfectly fine with goofy stuff in a comic book, but my advice to the writers is to stay in the comic and keep reality out of it. Continue reading
Filed under Comic Reviews, Comics, Saturday Reviews
Saturday Reviews: Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #1
Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland (IDW)
Written by Eric Shanower, Illustrated by Gabriel Rodrigeuz
I have been waiting for Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland since it was announced at SDCC 2013, over a year. When I anxiously wait that long for something, I have the tendency to build it up in my head to the point of being disappointed in the final product. I’m so happy that this was not the case with this book, however, and that it even exceeded my expectations.
Filed under Comic Reviews, Comics, Saturday Reviews
Winning Science August 22, 2014
Until recently, most scientists thought that the difference between species was fairly clear cut and typically involved the inability for cross species mating. Thanks to modern technology however, that distinction has become much less clear. In a comparison of different crow species, it was discovered that only an incredibly small difference in DNA separated two species. While the crows in question were still able to cross-breed, there were very few examples of it actually happening. Scientists are currently working on various theories as to why these two compatible species might not prefer to mate with one another.
This might not be the type of crow they were referring to…
New information like this will make it more difficult to classify different species, though it has significantly improved our understanding of those things that make us different.
Like most people my age, I rarely use cash, instead relying on one of several credit or debit cards in my wallet. While they are convenient, they are still pretty low tech. Cards are really only a piece of molded plastic with a magnetic strip on the back encoded with some information encoded. One company, Coin, is working to take credit cards into the 21st century. The Coin is a digital credit card that can actually replace several different cards. All one has to do is swipe an existing debit or credit card using a reader and phone app and then upload it to the device, which allows you to select any card uploaded to it, and then use Coin like a normal credit card. Although the device is still in beta testing, it shows great promise to at least do what it says it will.
Whether it will become more than a novelty is still up for debate, though.
It is with some sadness that I read that Kari, Grant and Tory will be departing Mythbusters. Over the years I’ve really enjoyed the show and have come to appreciate the entire cast. While their methods were not always perfectly scientific (and they have on occasion had to revisit myths) as a whole, they’ve done a great job of digging up urban myths, breaking them down, and seeing whether there was actually anything to them, or if they were full of hot air. I was always a big fan of the sheer joy and excitement these three put into their jobs, as science doesn’t always provoke these responses from people.
I’m also more than a little jealous of how many things they got to smash and blow up without being arrested.
Filed under Weekly, Winning Science
Therefore I Geek 