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.

I never had a Game Boy when I was a kid (I did have a Game Gear though), so I never really played the games. I’ve played Red/Blue about 50% through on emulator, but never managed to finish, and if you can’t battle against real people it gets pretty pointless. I however played a lot of Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Stadium against my friend’s little brother. I also skipped many a class in college to watch the first season episodes.

From what I’ve been told (i.e. read on Wikipedia and seen on The Wonder Years), the 70’s were a pretty loose time, even in July of 1978, a full year before the infamous Disco Demolition Night. I can only assume that the swinging excesses of a decade of drugs and disco lead to parents who simply were too strung out to notice what their kids were doing, let alone care (Red Forman?). I mean, how else to you explain this?