Cosmo Digital: Comic History and More
- My Comic Collection
- My Comic Pull List
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- Critical Articles
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- Typewriter Restoration
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- LonelyGods.com
- Mathenyism.com
- Mile High Comics
- Newkadia.com
11-12-08: A Little Bit of Everything...
It seems that several months have passed since I last updated this website. I could fabricate an excuse about my job keeping me too busy to work on it, but that would be a lie. I have been updating the site fairly regularly, I have just been too lazy to touch the front page. Anyway, my comic collection now totals 1,376 issues. My pull list has been updated, although the Victor Stats has not. I have to get around updating that, since Anole has been in several issues lately now that he is in Young X-Men.
On the last trip to my local comic book store I attempted to find a copy of the new Joker hardcover graphic novel that just came out. I even went down on the very same day it arrived in order to guarantee myself a copy, but alas. The comic book store employee I found explained that even though he had doubled the store's order, it had still sold out instantly. But all hope was not lost. Thanks to the magic of the Internet I managed to acquire an evil pirated digital copy, and true to predictions it was quite good. If I find a hard copy of it sometime I will definately make sure to purchase it. I may also write up a review of it sometime in the near future. Speaking of Batman-related articles, my most recent article for Speakerphone Magazine is now online and archived on my site. This one is about the current state of the Batman RIP crossover.
In addition to comic books, I have devoted a small bit of my time to reading actual books, mainly during my lunch break at work. My list of books I have read has expanded a bit. I finished up Magic of Recluce, which I was not overly impressed with, and am now reading Magician by Raymond E. Feist. I attempted to read it a couple times in the past, and even own two separate copies of it, but have never managed to get all the way through. Hopefully that will change this time around.
Finally, I have updated my list of puzzles. I managed to find someone on Amazon.com selling the 3D Chateau Chenonceau for only about 50 dollars. That was too good a deal to pass up, because I have seen it going as high as 200 dollars from other online stores. It should arrive in about 10 days.
It seems that several months have passed since I last updated this website. I could fabricate an excuse about my job keeping me too busy to work on it, but that would be a lie. I have been updating the site fairly regularly, I have just been too lazy to touch the front page. Anyway, my comic collection now totals 1,376 issues. My pull list has been updated, although the Victor Stats has not. I have to get around updating that, since Anole has been in several issues lately now that he is in Young X-Men.
On the last trip to my local comic book store I attempted to find a copy of the new Joker hardcover graphic novel that just came out. I even went down on the very same day it arrived in order to guarantee myself a copy, but alas. The comic book store employee I found explained that even though he had doubled the store's order, it had still sold out instantly. But all hope was not lost. Thanks to the magic of the Internet I managed to acquire an evil pirated digital copy, and true to predictions it was quite good. If I find a hard copy of it sometime I will definately make sure to purchase it. I may also write up a review of it sometime in the near future. Speaking of Batman-related articles, my most recent article for Speakerphone Magazine is now online and archived on my site. This one is about the current state of the Batman RIP crossover.
In addition to comic books, I have devoted a small bit of my time to reading actual books, mainly during my lunch break at work. My list of books I have read has expanded a bit. I finished up Magic of Recluce, which I was not overly impressed with, and am now reading Magician by Raymond E. Feist. I attempted to read it a couple times in the past, and even own two separate copies of it, but have never managed to get all the way through. Hopefully that will change this time around.
Finally, I have updated my list of puzzles. I managed to find someone on Amazon.com selling the 3D Chateau Chenonceau for only about 50 dollars. That was too good a deal to pass up, because I have seen it going as high as 200 dollars from other online stores. It should arrive in about 10 days.
8-27-08: Comics and Books
I have recently found new employment at Jefferson County Public Schools, and in order to celebrate my new job I decided to splurge on a boatload of cheap Batman comics from MyComicShop.com, a place I have shopped from a couple times in the past. This most recent purchase of about 40 issues of Detective Comics should fill out my collection considerably. I will update once more after I have received them and entered the comics into my spreasheet.
Speaking of spreadsheets, I did hit up the local comic book store recently, but managed this time to walk away with spending less than thirty dollars. That equates to about eight comics, which sounds like a pitiful number because it is. During the last couple months I have been somewhat disheartened to discover Batman selling out before I could purchase the most recent issue. While this means that I am saving money right now on not having to buy the issues in question, after a few more months I will have a large backlog of five or ten issues I will need to purchase before I can discover what happens in "Batman RIP". Not that I want to know. I am growing increasingly frustrated with Grant Morrison these days. Anyway, this most recent addition pushes my collection to 1,310 issues, and I have updated my pull list accordingly.
In addition to comic books, I have devoted a small bit of my time to more intellectual pursuits, and I actually managed to finish another book, and even write a review of it. This novel is question is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It is the first of a planned trilogy, and is actually quite good. I have written up a comprehensive review of it in the Books section. Now I have to wait for the next volume to come out sometime next Spring.
I have recently found new employment at Jefferson County Public Schools, and in order to celebrate my new job I decided to splurge on a boatload of cheap Batman comics from MyComicShop.com, a place I have shopped from a couple times in the past. This most recent purchase of about 40 issues of Detective Comics should fill out my collection considerably. I will update once more after I have received them and entered the comics into my spreasheet.
Speaking of spreadsheets, I did hit up the local comic book store recently, but managed this time to walk away with spending less than thirty dollars. That equates to about eight comics, which sounds like a pitiful number because it is. During the last couple months I have been somewhat disheartened to discover Batman selling out before I could purchase the most recent issue. While this means that I am saving money right now on not having to buy the issues in question, after a few more months I will have a large backlog of five or ten issues I will need to purchase before I can discover what happens in "Batman RIP". Not that I want to know. I am growing increasingly frustrated with Grant Morrison these days. Anyway, this most recent addition pushes my collection to 1,310 issues, and I have updated my pull list accordingly.
In addition to comic books, I have devoted a small bit of my time to more intellectual pursuits, and I actually managed to finish another book, and even write a review of it. This novel is question is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It is the first of a planned trilogy, and is actually quite good. I have written up a comprehensive review of it in the Books section. Now I have to wait for the next volume to come out sometime next Spring.
7-8-08: Books and Landscapes
After a couple weeks of vacation I have returned, having caught up on my reading. The main product of this is an expanded list of books I have read, pushing my reading total for 2008 to well over 4000 pages. This is more than I have read during a single year since 2003, and I have several other novels I picked up while on vacation. Additionally, I have written a new book review of The Fifth Sorceress by author Robert Newcomb.
Since returning home I have started playing around with the landscape editing program Terragen. Using this I have created several Image Renderings, which I personally think look awesome. I created a page to showcase a few of my designs I thought looked cool; the link is both above and in the menu on the right.
I have not bought comics recently, although I may head out to the comic book store later this week. A while back I did add several issues to my collection, pushing the current total to 1,283 issues, but that was some time ago.
After a couple weeks of vacation I have returned, having caught up on my reading. The main product of this is an expanded list of books I have read, pushing my reading total for 2008 to well over 4000 pages. This is more than I have read during a single year since 2003, and I have several other novels I picked up while on vacation. Additionally, I have written a new book review of The Fifth Sorceress by author Robert Newcomb.
Since returning home I have started playing around with the landscape editing program Terragen. Using this I have created several Image Renderings, which I personally think look awesome. I created a page to showcase a few of my designs I thought looked cool; the link is both above and in the menu on the right.
I have not bought comics recently, although I may head out to the comic book store later this week. A while back I did add several issues to my collection, pushing the current total to 1,283 issues, but that was some time ago.
4-23-08: Book Reviews and Other Such Items
I was quite excited the week of April 16th, for that was the week that X-Men Divided We Stand arrived in stores. I bought it solely for the Victor story, which was alright. Not great, but alright. Although I generally do like Skottie Young's artwork, in this story it seemed a little messy. I have updated the Victor Stats accordingly. It will come as no suprise that this issue upped Victor's totals considerably, with 30 panels and over 600 words. I additionally purchased several other comics, pushing my collection to the even sum of 1250 issues. My Pull List is also updated to reflect this. Only one more issue of Countdown to go! Fuck yeah! I am so sick of buying that series!
I have done more in the last couple weeks than just read comics. I managed to read an actual book as well. This one was The Blood King, a novel by Gail Z. Martin that finished off the storyline she started in The Summoner. I have detailed my thoughts of this series in a Book Review. I am now reading Ghosts in the Snow by Tamara Siler Jones. It is interesting thus far, but I will reserve judgement until I have finished the whole book.
Finally, I have at last documented my various troubles getting my new Wii to connect to the Internet in an Angry Rant. This rant is actually rather unique in that I found a solution that actually worked in a timely fashion, without spending lots of money. Odd.
I was quite excited the week of April 16th, for that was the week that X-Men Divided We Stand arrived in stores. I bought it solely for the Victor story, which was alright. Not great, but alright. Although I generally do like Skottie Young's artwork, in this story it seemed a little messy. I have updated the Victor Stats accordingly. It will come as no suprise that this issue upped Victor's totals considerably, with 30 panels and over 600 words. I additionally purchased several other comics, pushing my collection to the even sum of 1250 issues. My Pull List is also updated to reflect this. Only one more issue of Countdown to go! Fuck yeah! I am so sick of buying that series!
I have done more in the last couple weeks than just read comics. I managed to read an actual book as well. This one was The Blood King, a novel by Gail Z. Martin that finished off the storyline she started in The Summoner. I have detailed my thoughts of this series in a Book Review. I am now reading Ghosts in the Snow by Tamara Siler Jones. It is interesting thus far, but I will reserve judgement until I have finished the whole book.
Finally, I have at last documented my various troubles getting my new Wii to connect to the Internet in an Angry Rant. This rant is actually rather unique in that I found a solution that actually worked in a timely fashion, without spending lots of money. Odd.
4-10-08: Spending Money is Fun
I am proud to say that I am now 400 dollars lighter this week. I finally took the plunge and purchased both a Nintendo Wii and Guitar Hero 3 for the aforementioned Wii.
My new Baby
I had not been planning to do this, but when I visited a local Target store on Monday I noticed three Wii systems in stock. I talked myself out of buying one right there on the spot, but decided to get one the next day. Only problem was that Target had sold out of them all by the next day. I then went on an extremely short epic journey to acquire one, which took me up to the next-closest Target, where one was in stock. Luckily, they also had an ample supply of Guitar Hero games and extra controllers. After the Wii (250 dollars), Guitar Hero 3 (90 dollars) and the extra remote (40 dollars), I spent a total of 410 dollars. Spending money is fun!
I have also had time for activites other than my new games. I have been adding in a big list of books I have read during the last eight or so years. I did this mainly because I really like making big lists of things I have done. Yes, I am that boring. Hopefully this will give me some incentive to put up a few more book reviews. I am currently reading a new fantasy novel by Gail Z. Martin, which is pretty good. I plan to review it once I finish, which should be only a couple of days.
Oh yeah, I also bought Sweeney Todd on DVD. The DVD extras aren't all that special, but the movie is still awesome. Even if they did cut out all the ballads.
I am proud to say that I am now 400 dollars lighter this week. I finally took the plunge and purchased both a Nintendo Wii and Guitar Hero 3 for the aforementioned Wii.
My new Baby
I have also had time for activites other than my new games. I have been adding in a big list of books I have read during the last eight or so years. I did this mainly because I really like making big lists of things I have done. Yes, I am that boring. Hopefully this will give me some incentive to put up a few more book reviews. I am currently reading a new fantasy novel by Gail Z. Martin, which is pretty good. I plan to review it once I finish, which should be only a couple of days.
Oh yeah, I also bought Sweeney Todd on DVD. The DVD extras aren't all that special, but the movie is still awesome. Even if they did cut out all the ballads.
4-8-08: Too Many Comics!
I have been updating this site sporadically over the last couple months, but nothing was big enough to warrant a front page update. That changed last Friday, when I headed down to my comic book store for the first time in about a month and a half. Getting there, I realized just why I needed to go at least once each month. I ended up spending seventy five dollars on twenty three comics, and that was without touching any back issues. Thankfully, Countdown is nearly over. That series has taken far too much of my money, and now that Piper is gone, I don't really know why I am still even reading it. This latest batch of comics has pushed my collection to 1,243 issues. My Pull List is updated accordingly.
I also picked up the first issue of Young X-Men, the series which took over the spot of New X-Men which was cancelled a couple months ago (which was the reason I stopped buying comics for a month). I was rather unimpressed, but I will give it a couple more issues. My main issue is how the character Wolfcub looks. He is completely different from how his first few appearances show him, and consequently I am reading him as if he was an entirely new character. We shall see.
I have also finally added a couple sections to my Typewriter Destruction page. There are even a couple pictures. Hopefully I will add in some more in the near future, to give it a semblance of completion.
I have been updating this site sporadically over the last couple months, but nothing was big enough to warrant a front page update. That changed last Friday, when I headed down to my comic book store for the first time in about a month and a half. Getting there, I realized just why I needed to go at least once each month. I ended up spending seventy five dollars on twenty three comics, and that was without touching any back issues. Thankfully, Countdown is nearly over. That series has taken far too much of my money, and now that Piper is gone, I don't really know why I am still even reading it. This latest batch of comics has pushed my collection to 1,243 issues. My Pull List is updated accordingly.
I also picked up the first issue of Young X-Men, the series which took over the spot of New X-Men which was cancelled a couple months ago (which was the reason I stopped buying comics for a month). I was rather unimpressed, but I will give it a couple more issues. My main issue is how the character Wolfcub looks. He is completely different from how his first few appearances show him, and consequently I am reading him as if he was an entirely new character. We shall see.
I have also finally added a couple sections to my Typewriter Destruction page. There are even a couple pictures. Hopefully I will add in some more in the near future, to give it a semblance of completion.
1-5-08: 2007 in Review
Well, I hit up the comic book store for the first time in 2008. Since I was there for sleeves instead of comics, I only bought seven issues. This increases my comic collection to 1,162 issues. I also took the plunge and bought an issue of Uncanny X-Men, because the New X-Men characters were in it. No Victor, though, which is unfortunate. I quit the series over a year ago, because of the epic space story arc that was starting. I hate epic space story arcs. I also stopped reading Astonishing X-Men when they all went into space, too. I will probably start picking up both series again, since everyone seems to back on Earth (and since Warren Ellis is writing Astonishing. Woo!). Anyway, my Pull List is updated accordingly.
In order to commemorate 2007, I wrote a feature on the statistics of my collection in 2007. It details how many issues I purchased during the year (396!) and how much money I spent on those issue (730 dollars!). It has some nice graphs, because I like making graphs even if Excel makes it a pain in the ass. This is something I will hopefully do each year.
Read Older Site News
Well, I hit up the comic book store for the first time in 2008. Since I was there for sleeves instead of comics, I only bought seven issues. This increases my comic collection to 1,162 issues. I also took the plunge and bought an issue of Uncanny X-Men, because the New X-Men characters were in it. No Victor, though, which is unfortunate. I quit the series over a year ago, because of the epic space story arc that was starting. I hate epic space story arcs. I also stopped reading Astonishing X-Men when they all went into space, too. I will probably start picking up both series again, since everyone seems to back on Earth (and since Warren Ellis is writing Astonishing. Woo!). Anyway, my Pull List is updated accordingly.
In order to commemorate 2007, I wrote a feature on the statistics of my collection in 2007. It details how many issues I purchased during the year (396!) and how much money I spent on those issue (730 dollars!). It has some nice graphs, because I like making graphs even if Excel makes it a pain in the ass. This is something I will hopefully do each year.