After the weekly trip to the comic shop, this week the Roundup checks out the return of Extreme’s Glory, what’s going on with the Thunderbolts and discovers why the New Avengers aren’t all that new anymore.

Glory #23
By Joe Keatinge and Ross Campbell

After being pleasantly surprised by Prophet last month, buying Glory #23 was an easy choice. These are about the most un-Liefeld like comic books ever published, and truly feel like fresh takes on the Extreme Universe of characters. Thankfully, Glory didn’t disappoint.

While Prophet reads like a total reboot of the concept, Glory is more a continuation of the previous series. Keatinge (more…)

If you live in Philadelphia, then you’re familiar with the stretch of highway called I-95.

Sure, it provides a (sometimes) fast way to get around the Philly region and a makes getting to the airport relatively painless, but, to some, it also makes an entire area of Philadelphia inaccessible.

See, I-95 essentially cuts the entire Delaware River water front area off from Center City between Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges. While there have been many (and I do mean many) plans to redo the water front and make it a more inviting area to visit, the sad fact is that because of I-95, only so much can be done.

But what if that could be changed?

That is the idea behind Reimagining Urban Highways, a forum discussion being presented by the Center for Environmental Policy at the Academy of Natural Sciences, in collaboration with local non-profit Next American City. The idea is to take a fresh look at the aging highways that take up so much real estate in cities across the country and figure out the best way to deal with them, including I-95 and the effect is has had on Philadelphia. It will include a panel of some of the best minds currently working on projects just like this and will also be streamed across the web the same night.

The forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 PM on Thursday, February 23 at the Academy of Natural Sciences and is a free event and open to the public. This is the place to go if you want a sneak peek at what an I-95-less Philadelphia might look like in the next decade.

Reimagining Urban Highways
Thursday, February 23rd, 2011

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1009
www.ansp.org

Everyone remembers DesignPhiladelphia, right? They’re the group that tries to show Philadelphians why design is so important and how it plays such a large part in our lives? You do? Good. Glad to hear it.

Well, they are working with the Corzo Center at the University of the Arts to present a series of lectures about design and this city we all call home. Each presents a different take on design by a person noted in the field, including topics ranging from pop culture to how cities should look and feel. I mean, just look at this line-up:

February 21st: Thaddeus Squire, President, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia
March 20th: Dan Marcolina, Mad App Alchemist and author of “iPhone Obsessed”
April 3rd: Cynthia E. Smith, National Design Museum Curator

So if design and what it represents matter to you in any way, shape or form, make a point to check at least one of these out. You will learn a lot and maybe have a better understanding of the City of Brotherly Love in the process.

DesignPhiladelphia Lecture Series
www.designphiladelphia.org/?p=3716

Corzo Center at the University of the Arts
corzocenter.uarts.edu

If you live in Philadelphia and you love sports, then you are probably a Philadelphia Flyers fan. While the Eagles may have the bigger fanbase, Flyers fans are more like a cult; they are devoted to their team to a fault and will follow them through good and bad, thick or thin.

If the above is a good description of you, then you are going to be jealous as hell of this week’s Geek of the Week, Sarah Baicker. In addition to being in charge of all Flyers content on CSNPhilly.com, she gets to go to every game, interview players and handles social media for the team.

I was lucky enough to interview Sarah about the Flyers, Philly sports fans and what any of this has to do with little green dinosaurs.

Have you always been a sports fan?

I’ve definitely been a hockey fan for as long as I can remember. The other sports … well, they were slower to come.

I have this memory of being maybe 11 years old or so, and my dad had promised to take me ice skating – something I was very excited for, as I’d really jumped on the hockey bandwagon by that point – and his friend called him up and offered him two really good free tickets to an Eagles game. He pitched the idea to me, and I immediately rejected it.

We were going ice skating, come hell, high water, or free Birds tickets. These days, though, I’m pretty sure I’d take the tickets … even though the team didn’t live up to expectations this season. (Ugh, that’s a whole other issue!)

You do a lot of Flyers coverage for Comcast Sportsnet. What’s a typical day like?

It probably sounds cliché, but there’s no such thing as a typical day for me. Technically, I’m a digital producer responsible primarily for overseeing the Flyers coverage on CSNPhilly.com, Comcast SportsNet’s home on the Web. But … it would take me three days (or about 300 pages) to list everything I do. (more…)

For this week’s Comic Roundup, I continue my Dark Knight obsession with the new issue of Batman & Robin, check out part one of Myths & Legends new story arc and read the beginning of the end for John Byrne’s Next Men. Enjoy!

Batman & Robin #6
By Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason

It was about midway through month three of DC’s New 52 that I realized one Batman book was not going to be enough. I had quickly become obsessed with Scott Snyder’s Batman and was really enjoying Batgirl, but knew I needed more. One second print of Batman & Robin #1 later and I had my third Bat-family book and so far it has been awesome. (more…)

In Philadelphia, we have the cheesesteak. I have personally seen people argue about where to get the best cheesesteak and how it should be made (wit? onions?) for hours at a time. In Chicago it is deep dish pizza. In the south it’s barbeque. Every area has that one food that is distinctly theirs and theirs alone. And in Sweden it is the semlor.

Originally a pre-Lent dessert, it has since become a treat you can enjoy in Sweden all year long. For those that don’t know, a semlor is a puff pastry filled with almond paste and whipped cream, served alongside strong coffee. Swedes have been know to compete to see who can make the best semlor and take part is surveys to find the best in town.

Now you can find out what all the fuss is about as the American Swedish Historical Museum presents Selmor and a Movie on Saturday, February 18th. For $12 in advance or $15 at the door you can enjoy some fresh made selmor and coffee and watch a movie at the same time. Not a bad deal at all.

The American Swedish Historical Museum is located at 1900 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia and they ask that you RSVP by February 13th. So put down your bagel or cheesesteak and go try something new. You might find that you have a new favorite dessert before the night is over.

The American Swedish Historical Museum
www.americanswedish.org

Don’t talk about “Puck Man’

Geeks and Valentines Day are two things that have never really gone together in most peoples’ eyes, kind of like geeks and anything that has to do with an athletic activity. But the truth is that a lot of us do date.

But what if you are in the extremely rare situation of dating a non-geek? What if the person you are going to spend Valentines Day with doesn’t know the X-Men from Mad Men? What if they couldn’t tell you the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek, neither of which they have seen because they just don’t “get it”?

This was the very situation I found myself in when I began dating the woman who would eventually become my wife. She is about as much of a non-geek as I am a geek, which if you have read my writing on Geekadelphia should tell you something.

I thought that with Valentines Day upon us I would share a few tips if you happen to find yourself dating a non-geek.

Your personal soundtrack t-shirt is a no go.

Tip 1: No ‘Geek Articles of Clothing

Yes, I know you are very proud of your Think Geek t-shirt collection and your G.I. Joe Destro tie and your Nintendo controller belt buckle. But Valentines Day is not the time for it. Leave that stuff in the closet and dress like you have no idea how many Gears of War games have been released. (more…)

This week I review and dissect the first issue if the newest Image series Alpha Girl, the latest addition to the world of Captain America, Winter Soldier and a preview of the beginning of the Star Wars universe in Star Wars – Dawn of the Jedi. All in this week’s Comic Roundup!

Alpha Girl #1
By Jeff Roenning and Robert Love

As the year goes on, I’m starting to realize that if you want a diverse, fun line up of titles month in and month out, Image is the place to be. From The Walking Dead to The Strange Talent of Luther Strode to the resurrection of the Extreme Universe, Image literally has a book for anybody. It continues this month with the launch of Alpha Girl, a different look at the apocalypse. (more…)

It seems that over the last year, one of the key themes in comics has been diversity. Whether it is more female creators in comics or the cancellation of titles featuring non-white, non-male characters, fandom wants a more diverse superhero universe.

Unfortunately, they seem to be shouting into a vacuum as nothing really appears to be changing. Thankfully, there are organizations such as the Asian Arts Initiative to show us where we have been in regard to ethnic characterizations in comics and the possibilities of where we are going.

Starting Feb. 3rd and running through March 23rd, they will be presenting the exhibition Marvels & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986. In it they will be showcasing how Asian-Americans have been portrayed over the last four decades in comics and graphic novels.

Highlighting the good and the bad, Gayle Isa, executive director of the Asian Arts Initiative, says “Marvels & Monsters illustrates how images of Asian-Americans have influenced contemporary culture. It’s exciting for the Asian Arts Initiative to bring this show to Philadelphia, as an opportunity for our community to reflect on the stories we want to tell and consider ways we can affect future perceptions.”

In addition, the show will also showcase work be Asian-American creators working in the medium today. It will include work by Larry Hama, David Henry Hwang, Naomi Hirahara, Genny Lim, Greg Pak and many more. The idea is to demonstrate how the representation of Asian-Americans in comics has changed and evolved over time.

So if this sounds like something that would interest you (and why wouldn’t it), check out the website for more information and get ready to learn why every superhero doesn’t need to look like Superman.

The Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St., Philadelphia
www.asianartsinitiative.org

Buy Marlboro cigarettes online

Mark L. Miller might not be a name you’re familiar with yet, but this March that will all change as he and Zenescope Entertainment bring us the latest Grimm Fairy Tales miniseries, The Jungle Book. Mark was nice enough to answer a few questions about himself, what fans can expect from his take on The Jungle Book and what it’s like to be the new kid on the block at Philly’s own Zenescope Entertainment.

Tell us a bit about yourself. You’re an editor at Ain’t It Cool News, correct?

Yes, I still do edit and occasionally still review on Ain’t It Cool as Ambush Bug and have been providing horror and comic book related content for them for over ten years on my weekly AICN COMICS and AICN HORROR columns. I don’t plan on leaving any time soon either, just possibly shifting my role more to editing than reviewing as the demands on writing increase.

I also practice expressive therapy at a residential home for boys and girls in Northern Chicago and have been doing that for about a decade. And then I teach expressive therapy in the grad program at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well. Over the last few years, I’ve written some comics; LUNA: ORDER OF THE WEREWOLF for Famous Monsters Magazine and VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS and NANNY & HANK for Bluewater (which was just optioned to be made into a film for 2013).

What is it like to join the ranks of Zenescope as their newest writer?

Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco and Raven Gregory have been great to work with. They are extremely supportive of my writing and have encouraged me to do my best (which I hope I’m doing). They have built a really fun company and so far, it’s been nothing but great as far as my collaboration with them on THE JUNGLE BOOK. (more…)

Ever since 2007, Zenescope and writer Raven Gregory have been taking readers down the rabbit hole to visit Wonderland, easily one of the most disturbing titles of their Grimm Fairy Tales Universe. Up until now we have seen this place through the eyes of Alice’s daughter Calie and the other inhabitants of Wonderland, always returning scared out of our minds and a little worse for wear.

But now Zenescope is finally going back to the beginning and showing us how the story began in the new Alice in Wonderland miniseries. Gregory again returns as writer and brings with him Robert Gill on art. Together they finally show us what led Alice down the rabbit hole in the first place, why she stayed and what happened there that scarred her for life like it did.

It is pretty much a given that if Zenescope is going to publish something with Wonderland in the title, Raven Gregory is going to be writing it. In Alice in Wonderland #1, he somehow manages to show us Wonderland through a new set of eyes and make the place seem original and fresh. We already know what will happen to Alice, but you get caught up in the story and want to see what will happen next, even though you just know it won’t be anything good. It’s like watching a really scary movie; you watch through your fingers because you can’t look away. Alice in Wonderland will give you that same feeling.

On the original Wonderland trilogy, Gregory worked with artist Daniel Leister, who through his amazing work defined what Wonderland and its inhabitants should look like and gave the place it’s creepy as hell vibe. For Alice in Wonderland, Robert Gill steps into these massive shoes and somehow knocks it out of the park. If you need proof, just wait until you see Gill’s version of the Cheshire Cat. It is ferocious, intimidating and looks just a little bit like the Disney version everyone knows so well. His Alice is sexy yet strong and he uses some really unique panel layouts that fit a book like Wonderland like a glove.

Alice in Wonderland has been a long time coming. I guess it was inevitable that Zenescope would return to the beginning at some point to tell how the story began; I just didn’t think it would be this good. Join Alice down the rabbit hole and get scared again for the first time.

Zenescope has given us not only a copy of Alice in Wonderland #1 to give away to one lucky Geekadelphia reader, but a copy of the Return to Wonderland trade paperback that started it all as well. Leave a comment and we’ll pick a random winner at the end of next week. Please make sure to leave an e-mail address with your comment and books can only be sent to addresses in the United States and Canada.

The music of the Beatles is something that, no matter whom you are or what you are into, everyone knows and can appreciate. They are one of the few things on this planet that is truly universal.

So imagine stepping into the shoes of one of these icons to play their music and pay tribute to what they accomplished. This is the situation Steve Landes finds himself in every night as he portrays John Lennon in the Broadway smash Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles. The show returns to Philadelphia from Jan. 31st to Feb. 5th at the Academy of Music and, since Steve is a local guy (from Lansdale) he agreed to answer a few questions about being John Lennon, his own music and returning to Philly.

Were you a big Beatles fan growing up?

The biggest! I was born after The Beatles’ time, but my parents and older sisters were fans, and got me into them from pretty much the time I was born! So yeah, I’m kind of a life-long Beatles fan! My first Beatles records were the old 45s, whatever I could find in boxes in the attic. There was other Beatles stuff up there that used to belong to my sisters – posters, magazines, T-shirts. I just pulled it all down from the attic, put it in my room, and it was all mine from then on in!

Is it intimidating to try and become someone as iconic as John Lennon?

I guess it could be, depending on how you look at it. I think the fact that he’s such an icon actually helps – we could never ever be those people, they’re just so huge, so much a part of our world, so well known. No, our main focus is replicating the music as authentically as possible, and then to set the stage, we embody their character in the show. It’s been a lot of fun to study who he was, how he felt at any given time, where he was coming from musically. All of that stuff helps to bring him to life, and as a fan, has been really eye-opening and inspiring, to see him from a whole different angle. (more…)