I have recently come to the conclusion that there are few things funnier than insisting, in the face of whatever evidence it put before you, that Johnny Cash sang "The Gambler."

If you'd like to play along, go buy some T-shirt transfers and put one of these images on an old shirt, run it through the laundry a few times to weather it, and watch the frustration of those around you boil over.

Every day on the way back from picking up the kids at school, I drive past this anti-meth billboard on 7th Street:

Whenever I see it, I think of how the obsessiveness and raw ferocity that overcomes a meth addict which is being portrayed as a bad thing in this ad, could just as easily be marketed as a good thing for another product.

For example:

Or:

Which would you be more likely to read?

or

Four months have passed and Marvel has deemed fit to put out another issue of Mighty Avengers. This story is taking so long to tell, I'm pretty sure Ultron's attack is part of the Acts of Vengeance.

How long does it take for Mighty Avengers to go from script to publication? Let's review some of the dialog for clues as to when it might have been written.

A few of the guys at work were discussing how Thor needs a beard. The Odinson shouldn't be cleanshaven.

Here are a few alternatives to the full beard though (yes, I was on the clock for this... which might explain why when layoffs come I'm first on the block).

If you're reading this at work, you may want to click "back" until your boss isn't around. The new Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane comes out tomorrow. I just saw the cover for the first time...and all I see is...

I wonder if this will get linked on When Fangirls Attack...

For an upcoming ad campaign, I've been looking through old propaganda posters. Which leads to my office being papered in things like this, the much less inspiring original draft of the famous Rosy the Riveter poster:I seriously don't know what I did with my life before Photoshop was invented.

What happens when you combine Chris from 2 Guys Buying Comics ungodly amount of freetime at work with Jake's willingness to neglect his family for Photoshop? It's a glimpse of the road down which Marvel is heading whether they want to admit it or not.

Apologies in advance to the people mentioned below, some of whom put out work I genuinely enjoy. This is nothing but cheap shots. Oh, and be sure to click on the covers to see the bigger versions and get the full effect. Excelsior!


THE SENTRY: CAN WE TALK? #1 (of 24)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
When the Sentry realizes he needs professional help, he enlists Dr. Phil McGraw to help him sort out his true feelings! In a groundbreaking 24-issue trimonthly maxi-series set entirely in McGraw's office, you'll meet a Sentry no one --- including himself --- knew existed! But can Robert Reynolds get his insurance to cover the costs? Don't miss the start of the first 6-issue arc, "The Receptionist"!
32 PGS./Rated T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$2.99



AUNT MAY #1
Written by GARTH ENNIS
Pencils by GORAN PARLOV
Cover by TIM BRADSTREET
The newest addition to Marvel's MAX lineup shows one of comicdom's most beloved characters in a whole new light! Garth Ennis reveals the early days of May Parker, as the wet-behind-the-ears undercover OSS femme fatale ravishes her way across wartime Europe, dealing baccarat by day...and dealing death by night! Think you know Aunt May? As she might say, "Think again, bitchbag!"
32 PGS./Explicit Content ...$2.99


SUPERLATIVE X-MEN: PHYSICAL X-AMINATION #3 (of 5)
Written by CHUCK AUSTEN
Pencils & Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
The trials of the Superlative X-Men continue, as the Presidential Fitness Test keeps making life hard for everybody! Fresh off a disappointing body fat measurement, Longshot enlists the aid of Stacy X in hopes of learning the finer points of doing sit-ups! But will a surprise visit from that one dude who was in a couple of background panels a while back derail the mutants' chances of passing with flying colors? Guest-starring Mojo!
32 PGS./Rated T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$2.99



WOLVERINE/SPIDER-MAN: OVEREXPOSURE #5 (of 8)
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Pencils & Cover by JIM LEE
James Howlett has been many things --- samurai, secret agent, X-Man, software reseller, administrative assistant, driving instructor, plot device. But his job as a one-hour-photo developer proves to be his most challenging yet, when Daily Bugle shutterbug Peter Parker "swings" by for help with a tricky roll of film! Petey's no slouch with a negative, but Logan's the Best At What He Does --- something's gotta give! The most overprinted miniseries of the year
rolls along!
32 PGS./Rated T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$2.99


IRON MAN #6
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Art & Cover by ADI GRANOV
This item will be resolicited at the next solar eclipse.

If there is one thing I miss most about comics from the "good old days" it isn't the sense of wonderment or the outlandishly creative stories that never got bogged down in continuity. No, it's the Hostess ads. If there's one change I'd like to see Dan Didio and Joe Quesada implement at DC and Marvel, it would be rekindling the relationship with Hostess.

Just imagine the possibilities!

(Click for larger image and accept my apologies to Steve Dillon.)

Not as elaborate as last week... not as funny either. I think I learned it's funnier to put old style characters in modern style settings than vice versa.

(Click for the larger immage)By the way, did anyone else notice every sentence on that page ends in an exclamation point? What the hell?!? Everyone is screaming everything they say! That's bizarre!

Based on the overwhelming popularity of the "Jimmy Olsen as a Viking" post, DC has announced plans for a five-issue limited series revisiting and expanding the story of Jimmy's mind-altering viking-corpse-defiling.

To modernize the tale, Garth Ennis has been brought on to write and regular Ennis-collaborator Glenn Fabry will take on the art chores. Ennis promises a darker, grittier version of the story, and these preview images release by DC back him up on that claim!

(Click for larger images)If you didn't read Thor: Vikings, is this still funny?