It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when Nickelodeon wasn’t just reruns of SpongeBob and Dan Schneider tween-sitcoms. Not that either are bad, I actually like both of the just fine. But when I was a kid, Nickelodeon was in the middle of a children’s television renaissance, redefining the very nature of what a childrens’ show was and could be. Some of the greatest shows ever came from the slime factory in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

I was never much of a gamer, the list below is pretty much every console game I ever played. This is mostly because my console collection went from Atari 2600 when I was a kid, to NES for like my 8th birthday, and then I didn’t get anything else besides a Game Gear until I bought myself a PS2 my Junior year of college, and that was just so I could practice DDR at home before making an ass of myself at the arcade. And when I did get a game it was like one from the clearance rack once a year at christmas. So I missed a lot of good games. But those few I did manage to play had some great music. My list is all things I can hum off the top of my head.

I’m a big fan of all the emotional episodes of Futurama. Most people just think of it as Matt Groening’s other funny little cartoon, but they told some pretty powerful stories.

More news out of ToyFair. Looks like Star Trek is getting some much needed love (compared to its whored out spiritual brother, Star Wars), and Hasbro has announced a new line of Star Trek Toys. We’ll have to wait a bit (the line is tied to the new movie and has an intended release date of early 2013)

Zenescope has announced a new partnership with sculptor Clayburn Moore and CS Moore Studios (whose previous work includes statues of The Walking Dead, Dawn, Fathom, Lady Death, and various other pinup style good girls) to produce a new line of action figures based on Zenescope’s various properties. They will be debuting at the upcoming ToyFair in New York February 12-15. But, if you can’t make it there yourself, I have the scoop for you.

Well, looks like I’m not the only one interested in this whole Extreme Studios universe reboot, and the return of the 90’s to comics in general. While it won’t hit store shelves for another week, Glory #23, the first issue of the reboot (which picks up right where the series left off in 1997) has sold out at the distributor level. But don’t worry, Image has already confirmed that they will be going back for a second print run, which will be coming out with a new cover by Ross Campbell on the same day as issue #24 does, which is on March 14.

You’ll probably notice a definitive pattern. I like big events, and a certain kind in particular. I’ve limited this down to things I’ve personally read or own, so no Dark Phoenix Saga (though the X-Men cartoon of it was awesome) or like Showcase #22 or Detective #27.

Yesterday comic book artist Al Rio commited suicide. He was mostly known for his various pinup style drawings, particularly in the pages of Gen 13, and cover art for various Zenescope properties, including Grimm Fairy Tales. Being as I’m in South Jersey, and Zenescope is based just outside of Philadelphia, I’ve meet him at a few Wizard Worlds, and he was a pretty cool dude.

I am a big fan of his art, and he will be missed. In memorial, I thought I would share some of my favorite covers he has done, including those I own.