Wahoo! Good news!

Not only have we just handed in the final manuscript of Project: Valhalla (Hurrah!) I've also discovered today that a short story of mine, Sanctuary, is to appear in issue two of Theatre of Decay., out January 2006 (Hurrah again!)

What a nice way to end a Sunday.

All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

So DC, armed with it's dreadful new logo is attempting to pull off an Ultimates and breathe some fresh life into its iconic characters. Fair enough, hardly revolutionary as Marvel seems to do it every other year but caused my ears to prick up due to the dream team it's put together to do it.
Let's just say this nice and slowly.
Frank Miller & Jim Lee.
And now lets jump up and down in pure glee!
FRANK MILLER & JIM LEE!!!
Wahoo!

Needless to say I loved issue one. Strangely, while it was trying to feel all modern and gritty (which indeed it did) there was also a tinge of nostalga there. Probably due to the fact that this is Robin the BOY wonder. Not the angsy teen or the sulking Batman-in-waiting, just wild eyed and ready for action.

Other highlights - Well there's Vicki Vale's intro picture. Hmmm. Pink underwear, fluffy slippers, a martini glass and a bluetooth headset... Trust me, female journalists don't usually look like that when they're working... Well, not in the office at least. One of those wonderful Jim Lee women that leaves you telling yourself that 'she's only a comic character! She's only a comic character' over and over and over again.

I know a lot of people have been saying ho-hum about issue one on forums but let's not forget this is only the first issue and needs to get the basics established. So not a lot happens plot wise (other than the Grayson's getting whacked of course) but hey, this is just the intro. Others have also been moaning about the soap-opera elements of the plot such as Vicki being excited about going on a date with Bruce Wayne. Again I say lighten up. Not everything has to be fights and explosives. Besides the soap opera nature of the Incredibles has hardly caused any trouble for the Ultimates has it?

No, for me this is definately one to watch. Personally I can't wait for the dynamic duo of Miller and Lee to tackle the Joker. As Miller himself said in an interview on newsarama; "The thing is, the Joker is a sociopath and psychopath, but I would rather play up his evilness rather than his craziness. The Joker that I’ve always tried to portray, and now I get a chance to do it when he’s young – he’s satanic. He’s not laughing all the time."

Bring on the Clown Prince of Crime boys...

Jetix 12 Official Plug

The latest issue of Jetix is out by the way, with the last part of my good friend Mark Wright's Power Ranger comic strip, oddles of Fantastic 4 goodies to win and a classic Spider-Man cartoon on the DVD. If you have kids buy it for them, or if you just like kid's stuff, buy it for yourself...

Tenth Planet

So scientists have discovered a Tenth Planet in the solar system. Designated 2003 UB313, it is 3,000km across, made up of rock and ice and somewhat larger than Pluto. According to the beeb, scientists say it is three times as far away as Pluto, in an orbit at an angle to the orbits of the other plane.

Are these boffins mad? Haven't they seen the classic 1966 William Hartnell of Doctor Who 'The Tenth Planet'. Let's just consider the facts... A previously unknown tenth planet, that is icy and barren on a bizarre orbit? Check! Then we know what's going to happen. Bonkers aliens with ski-masks, tin-foil suits and car-lamps on their bonces are going to invade. Run for the hills...

If they decide to call UB313 Mondas, I'm booking myself on the next coach to Alpha Centuri...





<< Cyril the Cyberbloke's 1st Generation iPod was starting to look a bit dated... >>

I'm back!

Woah, where's the last month gone. I've been rubbish about blogging so I apologise to the two people who read this!

What have I been up to? Well, there was the finishing touches to my new book to write (See left for the totally fab cover) and the Scott clan has now moved to our new house in sunny Hanham. Moving was pretty painless other than the fact that I had to plough through mountains of junk to chuck away/take to the dump/ sell on ebay. How could anyone collect such a load of old rubbish in one tiny flat?

And then there's work. I've been working on two new launches, Zap! a games mag for the under 12's and Muffin the Mule magazine, the first pre-school mag we've worked on at Future. Very exciting. You can read the official press release stuff here...

Hopefully I'll be posting more very soon indeed. In the meantime, say Hi to Zapboy, the new mascot of Zap! Hurrah!

Barry Scott here...

Who is Barry Scott and why is he so proud of Cillit Bang?

Is there also a chance that I am related to him? If so I want to know, after all we might be able to get a discount and the shower needs a clean!

Saying that, does the product really work at all? Read one man's mission to find out!