The Walking Dead: Season 3 So Far!

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Reviews, Television, Image Comics, Marvel Comics,

Of all the great horror icons - Frankenstein's monster, vampires, mummies and Black Lagoon creatures - my favorites are zombies.

I was a kid when I discovered that comics were forbidden to use the word "zombie" if they wanted the Comics Code Authority's Seal of Approval (so Marvel revived an old Robert E. Howard word "Zuvembie" as a workaround). So it should be no surprise that I’ve loved me some Walking Dead ever since the first comic appeared on the stands. I’m a sucker for horror comics and it hit me at just the right time. Also, Kirkman was telling his horrific story in a very intriguing way - bad stuff was happening, characters you liked were going to die, and it was hard to peg just where it was all going.

(Spoilers after the jump!)

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My New X-Men Team For 2011

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Marvel Comics,

I love words and phrases and funny names. I love it when new ones pop up and I love it when they get shortened, abbreviated and all slanged up as technology alters the way we communicate.

I especially like the words, slang and proper names that show up in comic books.

Back in the 1970s, Marvel Comics' writers contributed lots of great character names, words and phrases to the MU.

Sometimes it was driven by censorship - the Comics Code Authority didn't allow mainstream comics to use the word "zombie," so Marvel invented "zuvembie." Or giving Luke Cage a Code-approved exclamation like "Sweet Christmas!"

Mostly it was driven by tremendously creative writers like Steve Gerber twisting and tweaking the language and coming up with names like F. A. Schist and Dr. Bong, and Steve Englehart creating Roxxon Oil, and Don McGregor, Archie Goodwin, Gerry Conway, and others piling on.

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iPhone Apps That Sound Like Marvel Characters

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Marvel Comics,

Can you imagine if iPhone apps were named after characters from the Marvel Comics Universe? I can...and here they are:

Doctor Bong - A constantly updated map of medical marijuana clinics and how far they are from you right now, man.

Fin Fang Foom - A restaurant locator for sushi bars, steakhouses and White Castles.

Impossible Man - An app for ladies with low self esteem. Automatically uploads photos of wealthy, handsome and available men who just aren’t that into you.

Mr. Fantastic - Lets you enhance photos of your junk before you email them to women you find attractive. Also known as The Favre.

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