Dr. Nikken?!?

I'm not really sure how to take the latest news concerning genetic research and human/animal hybrid embryos. One one hand, the term "human chimera" alone is a little unsettling, while on the other hand ... man, that's kind of awesome.

But if one of these companies decides to rename themselves "Mappo," don't say you weren't warned.


Britain approves human-animal embryo research

LONDON (Reuters) - British regulators decided on Wednesday to permit in principle the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for research into illnesses such as Parkinson's, Motor Neuron Disease and Alzheimer's.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) agreed to allow a specific kind of inter-species hybrid, where human DNA is injected into a hollowed out animal egg cell, a spokeswoman for the regulator said.

The resulting "cytoplastic hybrid" embryo, or "cybrid" would be 99.9 percent human and 0.1 percent animal.


And if it turns out to be Hip Flask, it would be all heart. Let's keep our fingers crossed, big guy!

The Pull List: 8-1-07

It might look like a heavy week for the superhero camp, but if you've got a little extra cash you've been wondering what to do with, you can either send it to me, or you could get yourself a nice little mix of comics. Ah hell, go ahead - get the comics (I'll just take an IOU).

To the list!

Metal Men #1 (of 8): I'm going to say something that'll probably earn scorn from fellow comic nerds, but I was never really that into the Metal Men until they showed up in 52. In that title, the Metal Men (and their creator, Doc Magnus) provided a lot of the wacky fun and Silver Age-style concepts that kept me interested week after week. Hopefully that will carry over in this mini-series, because I love the idea of a group of sentient robots being led by a bipolar inventor in a fight against science-crime. Jeez, it almost sells itself! And the crazy, almost Deco-style art gives me hope that the writing will be in the same spirit. Check it out in this preview.

Thor #2: A lot of people complained that the first issue of Thor was too slow, apparently being too short of "thees," "thines" and flying Mjolnirs to satisfy. For my part, though, I thought the issue did was it was supposed to, namely reintroduce a well-known character who was supposed to be dead. Believe me, that's the kind of thing I want comic creators to take their time with. Besides, it did a nice job of setting the stage for issue #2, which I'm betting will crank up the Thunder God aspects a little more. I'm looking forward to seeing how the return of Thor plays out, and I appreciate the avoidance of oh-so-convenient shortcuts. Too slow? I say thee nay!

The Rest ...

Justice Society of America #8

World War Hulk #3

Conan and The Midnight God #5


Maybe ...

Killing Pickman #1: Tortured cop with plans to kill a literally monstrous child-murderer? Man, I love this small revival of horror comics that seems to be happening.

Alive Vol. 1: An unknown virus is making people commit suicide, becoming a pandemic in less than a week and leaving a handful of Tokyo teens wondering why everyone else died, and why they survived. Japan, you scare me - but in a good way.


Recommended ...

Elephantmen Vol. 1: Wounded Animals (hard cover): Beautiful art, solid sci-fi storytelling.

Gutsville #1 (new printing): Be sure to pick this inventive little title if you missed it the first time; now, where the hell is issue #2 already?

Whiteout: Definitive Edition: A perfect crime-noir tale in a unique setting and with a strong female as the lead character (always nice to see). This is what made me a die-hard Greg Rucka fan, and I honestly think it's a book everyone should read. You can even start with a preview!

The Pull List: 7-25-07

That thing called "work" keeps conspiring to keep me from posting as regularly as I plan, so this time around the pull list is what I actually picked up and is now sitting next to me, as expectant and goofily sweet as a puppy. Stop making those eyes at me, comics!

Awwww ... you know I can't say no to you!

Now, I've been following the main Annihilation: Conquest title, but not the various tie-ins (it's an experiment, I'll let you know how it goes). There is an exception though, and that exception is called Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord #1. Apparently I'm a whore for even half-way decent marketing, because I was hooked when the cover art was released months ago. I mean, look at it - that's bad-ass!

But then I realized Keith Giffen was writing it, and the hooks dug a little deeper. And then I saw the art from Timothy Green II and thought, "Well, that's perfect."

But it got better. It got this:


Here's what else I picked up:

Blue Beetle #17

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #5

Crossing Midnight #9

Grendel: Behold the Devil #0

Immortal Iron Fist #7

Elephantmen #10

The Pull-List: 12-20-06

What's that? What am I planning to bring home from the comic shop this Wednesday? So glad you asked!

52 #33: Yes, I'm a whore. Shut up. At least it's been on time, which is pretty incredible considering it's weekly, and the story has been enough to keep me interested. Though there's been quite enough of Lobo, thanks. I care more about what's going on back on Earth, what with the Supernova and the Batwoman and all, and hey! Look who's on this week's cover!

Conan #35: I'm just going to say it: Timothy Truman's a better writer than he is an artist. His stuff on Grimjack was great, as was his work on the Jonah Hex minis he did with Joe R. Lansdale, but I'm getting a little tired of evil guys with scarves and little pointy teeth. Besides, his writing is perfect for Conan, and he seems to have a natural feel for the big guy and the world he slices his way through. I was thinking of going to trades on this title, but Truman convinced me that I need a monthly fix.

Elephantmen #5: The talking animals thing isn't usually something I lean to, but Elephantmen is five kinds of awesome, two of which can't be perceived without special scientific instruments. What more could you ask for besides great art, strong storytelling and characters you care about? I came late to the whole Elphantmen/Hip Flask party, but now that I'm here it's going to take an empty snack table and a call to the cops to keep me away.

New Avengers #26: Maybe. The whole Civil War rigamarole has turned me off to everything but Captain America, and I don't see things getting any better. I've never been a huge fan of Scarlet Witch, either, and I get a feeling things are just going to get sillier and sillier the longer this goes on. Flashbacks of Spider-Clones and random resurrections keep me awake at night. I was enjoying New Avengers based mostly on the different personalities brought out by the new team ... but yeah, a definite maybe. Which means maybe not.

Pirates of Coney Island #3: A bizarre world, art that borders on ugly with a color scheme that makes you want to pop someone, and not-so-nice people makes me a happy boy. I don't know what the point of Pirates is supposed to be, but I don't care.

Union Jack #4: A neat little mini-series, and one of my recent favorites. B-grade characters I never thought I'd care about bring solid art and a lean and fast-moving story to life, combining spandex and spycraft in a believable mix. But I don't know if I want a regular series of Union Jack - keep it to minis and maybe it won't get screwed up.