To misquote Pratchett

We all have that one rule. That one exception to our normal lifestyle. Belkar's seems to be: Unless they threaten the cat...

Sunday Trade: Dr. Thirteen

Doctor 13: Architecture & MOrtality written by Brian Azzarello, art by Cliff Chiang, Letters by Jared K. Fletcher and colors by Patricia Mulvihill

Doctor Terrence Thirteen is the DCU's #1 skeptic and professional de-bunker. No matter how many encounters with Dr. Fate or other super-natural beings he has, nothing shakes his assurance that magic or majik or however anyone wants to spell it isn't real. Not even when the French government asks him to investigate a case of cannibalism in the French Alps. An investigation that will take him and his assistant daughter Traci to places where the very foundations of reality are called into question...

Azzarello is best known for his crime fiction work on books like 100 Bullets. Which is why his skill at crafting one of the quirkier, funnier and wondrous stories to deal with DC's regular universe reboots is such an enjoyable surprise. Plus Cliff Chiang manages to perfectly capture all the weirdness of the story. From sword-fighting ghosts to armies of Nazi Gorillas to a rocky giant made from Mt. Rushmore to winking teen-agers...

Plus look at that line-up on the cover. Who can resist that? Starting at the top with Infectious Lass, rejected from the Legion of Super-Heroes for having a lame power. Then the ghostly, but charming, Black Pirate. Next out titular hero Dr. 13 and Lord Andrew Bennett aka I, Vampire. With the top row finishing with the spirit of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. Working down its Count Julius the leader of the Third Reich's Primate Patrol. And then you've got Genius Jones the boy who knows everything. The lovely Traci13, a girl with a secret. And finally the strangely French speaking cave-boy Anthro...

Monsters Vs. Aliens

Something about the big-jawed human males in this bothered me. Creeped me out a little. But other than that a fun movie. The hero, Susan aka Ginomrica was likable and the action sequences were good. Especially the giant robot fight. Plus Seth Rogen is good at these animated comic relief characters. In this case B.O.B. the blobby thing...