Without a Trace

Eeeeee! Martin and Danny! Love love love! Most of the episode was frustrating or unhappy, but for one shining scene at the end, all of that mess was mere background noise to the song of Young Fibbies in Love.

( It was a rough day at the FBI office, because... )

Hey, Kids! **Free** Comics!

Tomorrow is the 2nd Annual Free Comic Book Day, a day on which comic publishers, creators and retailers try to hook new readers through bribery (and capitalize on the big opening weekend of a comic-themed blockbuster: last year- Spider-Man, this year- X-Men 2). Free stuff! Everyone likes free stuff, right?

Not all comic stores will participate, of course, but chances are good that if you walk into one tomorrow, you can come out with a shiny, new, free comic from publishers ranging from DC and Marvel (the "Big Two") to Oni and Slave Labor (best of the small press, IMO) to Crossgen and Dark Horse and Top Shelf and many more. Old standards like Archie will be given away next to critical favorites like Courtney Crumrin and Leave It to Chance. Ultimate X-Men and Batman Adventures will rub spines with the kung fu adventures of Way of the Rat and the warped gamer humor of Best of Dork Storm (and if you see a copy of the Dork Tower Lord of the Rings parody, buy it immediately. Don't let some other geek get it before you!). With so many publishers taking part, there will be a variety of genres and styles to enjoy.

Most of the comics will be new stories, special edition reprints or collections made especially for this event, so if you've never read a comic or haven't read one in years (or you're a comic reader who wants to get all your friends and family addicted too), it's a good time to get a look at comics without having to worry about 50 years of back story and multiple soap opera story lines- these are intended to be accessible, and to give new readers a taste of what lies beyond the spandex books (although those will be available too). Second to Some Studios is even offering a "100% guaranteed how-to manual for getting anyone to read comic books", starring characters from (and featuring panels of) their series Fade From Blue (which I read- it's good, sort of a cop/soap opera/family dramedy thing).

So if you have a few minutes tomorrow, pop into a comic store and get free stuff! Some stores will be having big sales, some will be having appearances by all sorts of comics creators (there's a list of who'll be where on the offical website), some will just have the giveaway issues, but all will be glad to see you. Go, enjoy and get free stuff!

Whither Thou Goest (to the Shoe Store)...

I'm still giddy about that adorable Martin/Danny scene in last night's WaT. Just goes to show how slash-deprived my TV viewing has been since Firefly was torn from my loving embrace. And of course I didn't tape it. I figured, "Clip show, why bother?" Argh! But the fabulous hollytree at TwoP was kind enough to transcribe it for me. Eeeee!

( No real spoilers, just sweet slashiness )

Now if only the writers would give us more Martin/Danny moments like that, and fewer Jack/Sam ones. Or none, none would be good.