tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80135122789694462072024-02-18T22:38:47.792-05:00STAN'S SOAPBOXStan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-54341183313961768992009-02-03T13:45:00.004-05:002009-02-03T13:51:01.903-05:00WANNA TRADE ME FOR THIS COMIC?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSvhVDJS5EUItmunnZ_ggBY5Fw8ndjYATv7_w18rE7Nq_wfvG-wiubTmwyR_bsFhQSEU43zdOxnohxChMrL_TtKhjdR0iFLE4H9ihCZDlEdn8IFrL3R5hZRkq7C8kL7k1b3wg3RgVxQ/s1600-h/Astonishing_Tales_9.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSvhVDJS5EUItmunnZ_ggBY5Fw8ndjYATv7_w18rE7Nq_wfvG-wiubTmwyR_bsFhQSEU43zdOxnohxChMrL_TtKhjdR0iFLE4H9ihCZDlEdn8IFrL3R5hZRkq7C8kL7k1b3wg3RgVxQ/s320/Astonishing_Tales_9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298644830009334658" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Thanks to Marvel Editor Tom Breevort, not to mention my own legendary generosity, you can now trade me for the pictured comic, complete with a certifiably authentic autograph from Yours Truly! I kid you not, bright-eyed one! Haul your tremblin’ web-browser over to <a href="http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/entry/1394">Titanic Tom’s blog</a> at Marvel.com and see how you can trade comics with Tom, your Uncle Stanley, and a massive multitude other Merry Marvel Madmen and Mavens — all to benefit the Hero Initiative! You can improve your comic book collection and your cosmic karma all in one fell swoop. Who says this isn’t the Marvel Age of Aligning Personal Self Interest with the Greater Good? Get thee hence <a href="http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/entry/1394">for all the details</a>...<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-68665599432767090472009-02-02T11:42:00.004-05:002009-02-02T11:50:08.104-05:00SNICKETY-SNICK! IT'S CAMEO TIME!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wrqrXQHHOON68O0rVnEBEBzHS677z8tBedpjnvQXQVa1oaSeXr5uqaU73GsRe_NuBBZ5MyXW4QrWGo258vrp-GFUqW9i5_udn7nH-9qKPZRHYuJPkonw0e5nnrHLMnuB6F58tyZYtQ/s1600-h/Stan_Wolverine.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wrqrXQHHOON68O0rVnEBEBzHS677z8tBedpjnvQXQVa1oaSeXr5uqaU73GsRe_NuBBZ5MyXW4QrWGo258vrp-GFUqW9i5_udn7nH-9qKPZRHYuJPkonw0e5nnrHLMnuB6F58tyZYtQ/s320/Stan_Wolverine.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298242415465812946" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Hey there, Heroes! If you think it’s easy keeping you Manic Ones informed via this utterly under-the-radar, under-my-lawyer’s-nose blog — you’re right! There’s been a lot going on lately, not the least of which is Yours Truly filming his cataclysmic cameo for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/">X-Men Origins: Wolverine</a></span>! As you probably <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39807">already know</a>, though the majority of the movie was shot in merry ol’ land of Oz, reshoots have been taking place up in Vancouver. And Grandma Lieber’s favorite grandson was there acting it up in what is sure to be my best cameo this side of a Hugh Hefner wannabe. Obviously I can’t give away all the juicy details now... that’ll have to wait until after Fox’s check has cleared my bank account. But stay tuned, True Believers! There's more to come on this...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-60461071051158989432009-01-19T12:47:00.007-05:002009-01-19T13:35:08.491-05:00THE AXEMAN COMETH<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> It’s not everyday that your ol’ Uncle Stanley gets to keep on truckin’ with the likes of George Lucas, Devo, and Seth Green. Well okay... Seth Green would wash my Benz if I let him... but you know what I mean. What do all of the above and Yours Truly have in common, you ask? Why, we were all invited to design custom Gibson guitars for the upcoming <a href="http://www.phoenixguitargala.com/">Phoenix Guitar Gala & Carnaval Fundraiser</a>, that’s what, sunshine! <a href="http://marvelousnews.com/index.php?catid=23&itemid=11885">Click thee here</a> for the whole story.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And just in case you can’t make the transcontinental trek to the <a href="http://dcitti.zoovy.com/">Haus Fortuna</a> in Petaluma, Cali-forn-i-ay (where the guitar designed by mois with a little help from Irving Forbush III) is displayed, here’s a pic to print out and frame for your very own, pilgrims! Why did I use a four-necked guitar you ask? Because that was the only way to get my smilin’ face as life-size and lifelike as possible. I may be accused of many things, but disappointing my adoring public will never be on the list! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNBEx7CBsZXw1-pxvY4ySeKLTEhA_La5huUftLRMo2bfS2QJ0EMv7Bob7qE_pzn7BgxCnztH0lv3geZGsCPXsQ8yPKIZS_1RKGZ90m36WHhoMvQmj6aC0FtgwzSbeK54D3GPkw2tquw/s1600-h/Stan_Lee_guitar.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNBEx7CBsZXw1-pxvY4ySeKLTEhA_La5huUftLRMo2bfS2QJ0EMv7Bob7qE_pzn7BgxCnztH0lv3geZGsCPXsQ8yPKIZS_1RKGZ90m36WHhoMvQmj6aC0FtgwzSbeK54D3GPkw2tquw/s400/Stan_Lee_guitar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293064038756627554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-39464900298197329892009-01-15T10:36:00.006-05:002009-01-15T11:02:43.760-05:00CAN YOU SEE WHAT I'M UP AGAINST?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81hBgljJjzyiG-FkTZetFHQ2ELECTZtI8axrzKR2rV31GfMbjMoXl5ExKpH7pzb5k5QjajxoyRt1aT5khVIH3Tksv1srlL5g1o6tuI3ARQN8q3gPR48yaP-nTEc8DexWTRqaA-7r6xQ/s1600-h/Hero_by_Perry_Moore.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81hBgljJjzyiG-FkTZetFHQ2ELECTZtI8axrzKR2rV31GfMbjMoXl5ExKpH7pzb5k5QjajxoyRt1aT5khVIH3Tksv1srlL5g1o6tuI3ARQN8q3gPR48yaP-nTEc8DexWTRqaA-7r6xQ/s320/Hero_by_Perry_Moore.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291547354698986658" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Under the category of misleading misprints comes this one from Brit newspaper <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Guardian</span>: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/4237161/Stan-Lee-to-create-worlds-first-gay-superhero.html">“Stan Lee ‘to create world’s first gay superhero’.”</a> Waitwhowhatwhere? I swear to Odin this stuff happens to me all the time. What the reporter (and I use the term loosely here) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">was trying </span>to write a story about is my upcoming turn as executive producer on the cable TV adaptation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Moore">Perry Moore’s</a> excellent novel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_(novel)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hero</span></a>. A novel that Mr. Moore wrote, by-the-by, in specific response to Marvel’s portrayal of the death of the real first openly gay superhero, <a href="http://www.marvel.com/universe/Northstar">Northstar</a>. Not that’s there’s anything wrong with that.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know that being misrepresented by the press is just the price you pay when you’re as famous, fabulous, and most of all modest, as Yours Truly is, but wallopin’ web-snappers! Plus, as the more sagacious among you already know, “executive producer” is just Hollywood speak for “sit down and shut up while we attach your name to this project to get studio funding behind it.” Goodness gracious, me. If your Uncle Stanley was in any way connected creatively with this project, I’d probably have Thom Creed team up with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stripperella">Stripperella</a> after a patented Stan Lee opening scene where the two heroes mistook each other for super villains and slugged it out for about 10 minutes. While spouting a shakespearian soliloquy. In a mud wrestling pit. With Bruce Campbell as the referee. Now THAT would be entertainment, folks!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-70558350526950787972009-01-14T14:32:00.007-05:002009-01-14T14:44:35.169-05:00NICK FURY IS SAMUEL L. JACKSON<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3rcVsf0O2ELEug3Y3_3Ewffap8WtQTDAUh5SEXY7ZJoa3toYHiHsjBbMAQI8BxKMtFPgf1pKyd6Fv-VVUO5-Qyd36Er7XcXj8gK_ZVLzJSBBWklTPzXJSijTwPplLwLtqIz0oOuZwg/s1600-h/Nick_Fury_SLJ.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3rcVsf0O2ELEug3Y3_3Ewffap8WtQTDAUh5SEXY7ZJoa3toYHiHsjBbMAQI8BxKMtFPgf1pKyd6Fv-VVUO5-Qyd36Er7XcXj8gK_ZVLzJSBBWklTPzXJSijTwPplLwLtqIz0oOuZwg/s320/Nick_Fury_SLJ.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291235673059089538" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> You can all relax about <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/01/nick-fury-no-mo.html">this story</a> in yesterday’s <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/01/nick-fury-no-mo.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">L.A. Times</span></a>, Frantic Ones. Yours Truly just got off the phone with Samuel “Oh I’m Sorry Did I Break Your Concentration” Jackson and everything’s going to be fine, fine, fine. Not to blow his cover, but you Marvelites deserve to know that Sam will absolutely end up playing S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228705/">Iron Man 2</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848228/">The Avengers</a> movie if Jon “Fan Fave” Favreau and your Uncle Stanley have anything to say about it. Sammy and his agent are just playing a little hardball right now with Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel, that’s all. Would you expect anything less from Sam the Man? Relax. This is just how things are done here in Tinsel-Town. I do the same thing myself whenever it’s time to negotiate the fee for my next cameo role, or as I like to call them, “Joanie’s next Benz.” ‘Nuff Said! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-71149548480785270042009-01-13T10:42:00.009-05:002009-01-13T10:58:30.611-05:00THE KIRBY ALPHABET<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEI6-ZpvMW3xNOSc2yRzR-1NCfBnj9nTyYnGffw7MGPoqi-4Xnm2oVCZXENkuxujwPUYR3bjEgITpBj5Pl95MdMtRMgTvSpQYVPF3F4j3ZWTtqyd5m7Dj4qh9MTUgR3UGLWdyQUGCig/s1600-h/Kirby_alphabet_detail.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEI6-ZpvMW3xNOSc2yRzR-1NCfBnj9nTyYnGffw7MGPoqi-4Xnm2oVCZXENkuxujwPUYR3bjEgITpBj5Pl95MdMtRMgTvSpQYVPF3F4j3ZWTtqyd5m7Dj4qh9MTUgR3UGLWdyQUGCig/s320/Kirby_alphabet_detail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290805363572698354" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> This Merry Marvel Meme has already been all over the Internets and the Google, but you know what they say — better late than clever. Just in case you missed it, we here in Soapboxland proudly present the following for your cultural edification and comical education: Brit cartoonist <a href="http://hotelfred.blogspot.com/">Roger Langridge’s</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Kirby Alphabet</span> (just click on the image below for a Galactus-sized view). Rollickin’ Roger is primarily known for his winsome webcomic, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.moderntales.com/comics/hotelfred.php">The Hotel Fred</a></span>, which you can check out <a href="http://www.moderntales.com/comics/hotelfred.php">right here</a>. Enjoy it, Marvel Mavens!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVErybIHDR2EvGwdyLidHW2RabM5fJQIh3RLzwaEB6u6z4QPxMj6ebVfj6RJkHDHxDTkrvZ5eV_h6mJ5pueazFXEX3KQLi-y1VAMNXtO8EwQX18YSC0AjdYRtYhy6PCZZ290qdPKknTR4/s1600-h/Kirby-Alphabet.gif" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMRL3ZmGp1fApz6uLWI6FvUYXuBYfedcHbccy95gpwDTyMMtcK5z3V43gQZig6QXGmiICW_m9RB7EYYfukWHqRhs-u1vdrpr5OuZ3S-o_e2Zac9cbXBmbTnU7Otn9PAkORT9q5JvE9Q/s400/Kirby_alphabet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290805766579693186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 580px; " /></a>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-25938183596449185662009-01-09T13:38:00.008-05:002009-01-09T13:51:28.760-05:00CITY OF HEROES NOW FOR PC AND MAC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDW6dkKauw8Zz_8QyU4o8zRX4w7Yra2nesKkgkxFQeky8mXPiVWiX6lj7uanqK0OumYS149W2SmQ8ruPyOm5QtAGuKLPfOOPgRZslWJDILfMvgSdlAA6w4goRot11VGl-LrkMo-FaGg/s1600-h/Excelsior-Man.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDW6dkKauw8Zz_8QyU4o8zRX4w7Yra2nesKkgkxFQeky8mXPiVWiX6lj7uanqK0OumYS149W2SmQ8ruPyOm5QtAGuKLPfOOPgRZslWJDILfMvgSdlAA6w4goRot11VGl-LrkMo-FaGg/s320/Excelsior-Man.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289366071486406898" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">ITEM!</span></span> Wowsir! The apple of my computer eye — my adopted great-grandson Irving Forbush III — just brought this game to my octogenarian attention. Though your ol’ Uncle Stanley has never played one of these Marvelously Majestic Online Role-playing Games before, even I have to admit that <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/">NCsoft’s <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">City of Heroes</span></a> is a fantastic game. Read all about it <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/">here</a>. And now apparently it’s available on both PC and Mac! That means that Yours Truly can play it at the POW! offices on my Dell, or on the road using the Macbook Pro that Honest Irv has been jamming down my throat these past few months. So if you’re a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">City of Heroes</span> player and see Excelsior-Man go flying by in his pressed black slacks, prescription shades and windbreaker, be sure and wave! Meantime, here’s an online commercial announcing the new Mac version that’s a razor-sharp parody of Apple’s famous “I’m a PC, and I’m a Mac” commercials. Now why hasn’t anyone else ever thought of that before? <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xjXVhA86Vr4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xjXVhA86Vr4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-51710028420390926772009-01-07T12:49:00.015-05:002009-01-07T13:13:58.620-05:00GALACTUS — CLEAN & SOBER IN L.A.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> As you may recall from previous Soapbox soliloquies <a href="http://fakestanlee.blogspot.com/2008/10/devourer-of-worlds-hits-hard-times.html">here</a> and <a href="http://fakestanlee.blogspot.com/2008/10/galactus-down-and-out-on-planet-earth.html">here</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactus">Big G</a> has fallen on some heinously hard times over the last few years. Well, guess what, Heroes? It looks like the World Devourer is finally getting back up on his feet!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week Joanie and I decided to pull over and and grab a bite at a Southern Californian Steak ‘n Shake and lo-and-behold, who do you think greeted us at the door as the brand new assistant day shift manager? If you guessed ol’ Purple Boots, then move yourself to the head of the class, pilgrim! As he later explained while sitting with us, it seems that Galactus has gotten himself cleaned up and has entered a 12-Step program for planet-eating addicts. The G-Man said it had been over six months since he’d eaten so much as a comet, moon or planetoid, and that the last time he’d had a craving he settled for a Steak ‘n Shake triple-decker with fries and a malted instead! I have to say that he looked really good, though he was still sporting a bit of a Flintstone four o’clock shadow (see pics below).<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After lunch, Joanie wished him well with his recovery, and Galactus waved us a gracious good-bye and said that if he slipped, we’d be the first to know about it. Happy Trails Big Guy!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC4AMW2gHOEIriFwegM4_jp4ARljqOyiA_FLHRlA_pLIfBx2VWwnUhxq6keZ0ZNhX9OPo_4zRmkSJy5HUnOVOxGNGY_iuTHJ2TG7F6xsLkSzUfOG0uWbLd_hGlPs6IPtRyfATNWcUPw/s1600-h/Galactus_S&S1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC4AMW2gHOEIriFwegM4_jp4ARljqOyiA_FLHRlA_pLIfBx2VWwnUhxq6keZ0ZNhX9OPo_4zRmkSJy5HUnOVOxGNGY_iuTHJ2TG7F6xsLkSzUfOG0uWbLd_hGlPs6IPtRyfATNWcUPw/s400/Galactus_S&S1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288610975915545874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w9yk1dsqkVBPf3uUzhVz7QHU26JgHyw4LpcS6C6SlokqUkhnkESgIYhRFW9xNuIE_nkuMGldBUrg7F_s58oGhqubIWNLiru4T_I2dn7cKNem82LBjmyX5r0PYuolPcAFe2c-NoZ5ug/s1600-h/Galactus_S&S2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w9yk1dsqkVBPf3uUzhVz7QHU26JgHyw4LpcS6C6SlokqUkhnkESgIYhRFW9xNuIE_nkuMGldBUrg7F_s58oGhqubIWNLiru4T_I2dn7cKNem82LBjmyX5r0PYuolPcAFe2c-NoZ5ug/s400/Galactus_S&S2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288611201681763826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm3WdH5tPYg9ZgXT7afbV0YEqRvs1ap3MiQ6cMDWa4STsAxCFriPU6GSILW25ZaLswHPBn_UBx_XHjRx-YDv1tXqJFLaeizpDmcxPIDCJ31I_1SOHL0kNBa2rH-Kh4AVF1PGJG5j86A/s1600-h/Galactus_S&S3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm3WdH5tPYg9ZgXT7afbV0YEqRvs1ap3MiQ6cMDWa4STsAxCFriPU6GSILW25ZaLswHPBn_UBx_XHjRx-YDv1tXqJFLaeizpDmcxPIDCJ31I_1SOHL0kNBa2rH-Kh4AVF1PGJG5j86A/s400/Galactus_S&S3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288611425119366850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-30420832123383318632009-01-05T12:31:00.010-05:002009-01-05T17:13:48.938-05:00WELL HERE'S YOUR BASIC TROUBLE RIGHT HERE...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqePuN4aDyRv-KiOuycldiice6XuoH-0zN0h11YdX2tXy_Dhhi-MLxR8LYY0itnkv8XJhmd2zFyDYmhqwN7ylCc8In8OLq6JAWqvTCmtfla1MpwlMAmsxhDFULILwAQLAopQXDtajow/s1600-h/Kirby_pencil.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqePuN4aDyRv-KiOuycldiice6XuoH-0zN0h11YdX2tXy_Dhhi-MLxR8LYY0itnkv8XJhmd2zFyDYmhqwN7ylCc8In8OLq6JAWqvTCmtfla1MpwlMAmsxhDFULILwAQLAopQXDtajow/s400/Kirby_pencil.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287935520685035298" /></a>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-58473678153351693172008-12-31T12:16:00.006-05:002008-12-31T12:31:20.110-05:00THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SNUBS HOWARD THE DUCK<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Every year the Library of Congress and the National Film Registry select several movies to be preserved in their air-tight archives for all eternity. The criteria is that a film be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." This year, several genre films were added, including James Cameron’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terminator"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Terminator</span></a>, James Whales’ classic 1933 version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Man_(film)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Invisible Man</span></a>, and even the Ray Harryhausen tour-de-force <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7th_Voyage_Of_Sinbad"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The 7th Voyage of Sinbad</span></a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unbelievably though, there’s still no love for the very first Marvel Movie ever — <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_the_Duck_(film)">Howard the Duck</a></span>. Although the movie tanked at the box office when first released, it’s gone on to become a cult classic. And you don’t get much more “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” than a movie about the love between a wayfaring water fowl and Lea Thompson! What can you, the very model of a Modern Merry Marvelite, do to address this grave injustice you ask? Your Fearless Leader is here to help! Just go directly to the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/film/vote.html">National Film Registry’s website</a> and nominate the Master of Quack Fu for inclusion in the archives for 2009! What’s that you say? Some of the more culturally deprived among you have never even seen the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Howard the Duck</span> movie? Well say no more, oh lost and lonely pilgrim of the cinematic wastelands! I'm here for you! You can watch <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">the entire movie</span></span> right here at the ol’ Soapbox! Who says this isn’t the Marvel Age of instant gratification?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/SscCObQcOHos3wzcIRaGAA"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/SscCObQcOHos3wzcIRaGAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-22528937198284436152008-12-30T12:05:00.004-05:002008-12-30T12:12:40.497-05:00SLING US A WEB, YOU'RE THE SPIDER-MAN<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> As some Fearless Front Facers may recall, there was a bit of a controversy surrounding the scoring of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Spider-Man 2</span> movie. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Elfman">Daring Danny Elfman</a> turned in his sizzling score and the producers were (for some bizarre reason) dissatisfied with parts of it and brought in Christopher Young and John Debney to re-score select scenes... much to the chagrin of the Elfman. What you may NOT know is that Misters Young and Debney were not the only alternative musical artists solicited to submit work for the new score.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many thanks to faithful MMMS member-in-good-standing <a href="http://www.comicrelated.com/forums/index.php?showforum=238">Wild Bill Gladman</a> over at <a href="http://www.comicrelated.com/">ComicRelated.com</a> for sending this tidbit in to the ol’ Soapbox! Submitted for your approval is <a href="http://www.weirdal.com/">Weird Al Yankovic’s</a> ultimately rejected opening theme for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Spider-Man 2</span>. According to Bill, it’s kinda like what you’d get if Billy Joel was bitten by a radioactive accordion. Enjoy! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iV-L14ReUsE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iV-L14ReUsE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-8532058896539518072008-12-29T12:05:00.002-05:002008-12-29T12:11:12.908-05:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnKrQGCcHkPOMDCm6TKVQksqnlILbVd0iokERp5Pmj6pbFLDw5a1FTxnb6XMGyqa-85Kg_AnpP4ZhE9dZ_1ysYDlTa_rtK6HnXvjhL18_MSr5aEq5294NHk5EVJmiwMXZ-zHjYGV90g/s1600-h/Spidey_cake.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnKrQGCcHkPOMDCm6TKVQksqnlILbVd0iokERp5Pmj6pbFLDw5a1FTxnb6XMGyqa-85Kg_AnpP4ZhE9dZ_1ysYDlTa_rtK6HnXvjhL18_MSr5aEq5294NHk5EVJmiwMXZ-zHjYGV90g/s320/Spidey_cake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285260558776368898" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> I know... I know. It may seem a tad bit immodest of your ol’ Uncle Stan to be wishing himself a happy birthday, but what the hey! One of the great things about getting to be my age is you can pretty much do as you please and no one says boo to you about it! The <a href="http://www.daydeal.com/product.php?productid=16531&cat=1761">Spider-Phone</a> was practically ringing off the wall yesterday with birthday well-wishers. Well technically, it was ringing off my belt clip, but you get the idea. As I said to<a href="http://www.newsfromme.com/"> Madcap Mark Evanier</a>, “When 86 years old you reach, look as good you will not!” Late last night Marvel Editor-in-Chief <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Quesada">Joe Quesada</a> even called to wish me a happy-happy. Man-alive! I guess it’s time to get my number changed again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-36028907881787278712008-12-15T14:03:00.000-05:002008-12-15T14:06:54.791-05:00MARVEL/DC: THE MOVIE!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> As discerning Marvelites already know, we here in Soapboxland regularly feature videos from YouToober <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ItsJustSomeRandomGuy">ItsJustSomeRandomGuy</a>... and today is no exception! This new Marvel/DC “After Hours” series of his has really got it all. It’s got pathos, it’s got plot, it’s got Yours Truly in a dual cameo playing both myself and a Life Model Decoy copy of the Smilin’ One. I gotta get Marvel Studios brand spankin’ new COO <a href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/09/ap5800121.html">Tim Conners</a> to hire this guy! These videos could serve as the animatics of the next great Merry Marvel Movie franchise... which frankly would really cut down on the cost of hiring a bunch of high-salaried, high-maintenance screenwriters. Hoo-hah! In the meantime, enjoy!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1WTp1G3HpZ4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1WTp1G3HpZ4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QXMSDrcABDk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QXMSDrcABDk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-91968247277010061482008-12-08T13:32:00.007-05:002008-12-08T15:53:52.089-05:00MIGHTY MARVEL MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Yup, there’s nothing like surprising your employees first thing Monday morning with a few motivational posters strategically placed about the office space. And nothing bucks up morale like posters featuring your Fearless Leader’s smiling face! These motivational monographs aren’t just for the entertainment lawyers and media agents working with me here at POW! Entertainment, by-the-by. Feel free to print ‘em out and post ‘em around your own workspace. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">WARNING: Uncle Stan’s Marvelous Motivational Posters have been shown to cause dizziness, nausea, and brain tumors in laboratory mice, and may not be safe for children under 12, if pregnant, or if you have a history of middling-to-good taste. Blog visits over four hours are not normal, and you should consult a physician if refreshes persist.</span> Enjoy! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5P1Y7L-XS3TDKRfvAQrWWVbwIML7g3c6hPOQXz_JEbXpd2JKyxIpClsHrrk-KrQiVP9j8m_mo_hSzTqIy2VotR8qoDoDhz16_m8aXINMWcyA-O00ICYJB-FuO9AgVWtRiKRuM3mbJA/s1600-h/Comic_Creator.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5P1Y7L-XS3TDKRfvAQrWWVbwIML7g3c6hPOQXz_JEbXpd2JKyxIpClsHrrk-KrQiVP9j8m_mo_hSzTqIy2VotR8qoDoDhz16_m8aXINMWcyA-O00ICYJB-FuO9AgVWtRiKRuM3mbJA/s400/Comic_Creator.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277489661801524050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_utRjGqOUTrCGTNuOvOjByjVDxFKD86ZCaQh0enpsQd_zBAUY7d9hgW4emEKzm0MBb0o9HXCmYid1Z9DYAy8nc9qGCafMGhHT0yQJcscZfMpS-xG7Seid59fOkY61uN0MW9pMi0vBkQ/s1600-h/Cameo_Appearances.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_utRjGqOUTrCGTNuOvOjByjVDxFKD86ZCaQh0enpsQd_zBAUY7d9hgW4emEKzm0MBb0o9HXCmYid1Z9DYAy8nc9qGCafMGhHT0yQJcscZfMpS-xG7Seid59fOkY61uN0MW9pMi0vBkQ/s400/Cameo_Appearances.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277489782609467378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QGNyFz3F3WnKz7hLNOXqILeQBxFI9vkpxXzzUcr278QRinY3hBcjR7w52VPYY5g54OBdQsgTVUCrYAmt4EMVFOy7bNX_6Dl4L2VEbujB7VMosuAghQiRb8HX-H3FRldvFPCcHoipmw/s1600-h/Fan_Girls.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QGNyFz3F3WnKz7hLNOXqILeQBxFI9vkpxXzzUcr278QRinY3hBcjR7w52VPYY5g54OBdQsgTVUCrYAmt4EMVFOy7bNX_6Dl4L2VEbujB7VMosuAghQiRb8HX-H3FRldvFPCcHoipmw/s400/Fan_Girls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277489892121481922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBCb_Pm2GUM9ySAgxUh5RaDYfBUP0WElBQGgJ7y6cmFyXpat5hEH2Xfr0_kfMEaIZCHvALumYgcvEGbSBGHTyNdXv044jKnwvbSliD21KyCSmyCIabwMQMSeQqYAZz0-6gaaZZ34RrA/s1600-h/Do_What_You_Do_Best.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBCb_Pm2GUM9ySAgxUh5RaDYfBUP0WElBQGgJ7y6cmFyXpat5hEH2Xfr0_kfMEaIZCHvALumYgcvEGbSBGHTyNdXv044jKnwvbSliD21KyCSmyCIabwMQMSeQqYAZz0-6gaaZZ34RrA/s400/Do_What_You_Do_Best.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277525248418092290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-16875277312275460012008-12-05T12:33:00.008-05:002008-12-05T12:49:32.675-05:00CRY COMICS — CRY HAVOC!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIMKY-CAQEo9KIDK8M8C2T-HVmhlP2y8JcHwnx8Y_WKZkCsKefwmdxIKaRJoz0UvofZOESpecfAb_hgmPCPqaXLgjwdT3F49PfqnUyAv8xFcqx3hHn9Ue1xZ4qoD7UcGfpCq9BCFXWw/s1600-h/Doc_Doom_Black_Wed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIMKY-CAQEo9KIDK8M8C2T-HVmhlP2y8JcHwnx8Y_WKZkCsKefwmdxIKaRJoz0UvofZOESpecfAb_hgmPCPqaXLgjwdT3F49PfqnUyAv8xFcqx3hHn9Ue1xZ4qoD7UcGfpCq9BCFXWw/s400/Doc_Doom_Black_Wed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276362543214350210" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> It seems that the comics industry is in peril, and every Wednesday is turning into “Black Wednesday” as the sales figures continue to slowly decline. For a comprehensive compendium of this week’s frantic fallout, go see <a href="http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/12/05/when-will-the-axe-fall-on-comics/">this story</a> over at <a href="http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/12/05/when-will-the-axe-fall-on-comics/">Heidi MacDonald’s The Beat</a> blog. Things look dire indeed. One might be inclined to ask at this point, whither comic books?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don’t you believe it, Fearless Ones! Take it from my octogenarian outlook. The comics industry has struggled before and folks have been predicting its imminent demise starting all the way back in the early 50s (thank you, Dr. Fredric “Rabble Rouser” Wertham). The only difference between then and now are the miles on the odometer, baby.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Are there fundamental problems in creative content and distribution channels that need addressing? Absolutely! Has the game changed almost entirely with the introduction of new technologies and new digital media? You bet’cha! But is it really the end of serialized graphic storytelling as we know it? Not on your life, pilgrim! The comics industry isn’t any different from the auto industry, the banking system or the housing market. The comics have just got to get with the times and figure out how to best take advantage of the new media opportunities and stop trying to fight an Information Age battle with last century’s editorial tanks and planes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You know, it’s times like these that I really miss <a href="http://www.kirbymuseum.org/">Jolly Jack Kirby</a>. He had a prescient practice of prophesying these portents and omens way before the rest of us caught up to the future. For example, Jack foretold the coming of graphic novels and their sale in chain bookstores decades before the practice became commonplace. If he was here with us now, he’d probably just rattle off the entire solution to the industry’s current problems over a turkey and gravy sandwich at lunch! Still, there’s a solution out there. All we have to do as an industry is find it. So keep the home fires burning, True Believers. And until Joe Quesada reveals that Aunt May is secretly a Skrull agent, keep Making Yours Marvel! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-35243824980406903902008-12-04T19:38:00.003-05:002008-12-04T19:50:25.508-05:00MEET GENE COLAN LIVE AND IN-PERSON!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPgj9EO2qXH8oErQUmquGmQgYpiMLf6cREU2PEQt-2uRbY9KijLun7Fqdl_FplKV1VZnuppiYmaVmb_VNYFYQ_vpmA_opuF68m3pjJIpEVHKEsA_msVCp6EP-wlTYg-w9sIbqqEz9Hg/s1600-h/Gene_Colan.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPgj9EO2qXH8oErQUmquGmQgYpiMLf6cREU2PEQt-2uRbY9KijLun7Fqdl_FplKV1VZnuppiYmaVmb_VNYFYQ_vpmA_opuF68m3pjJIpEVHKEsA_msVCp6EP-wlTYg-w9sIbqqEz9Hg/s320/Gene_Colan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276099292605294770" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> That’s right, Frantic Ones! This is your chance to meet one of the artful architects of the Marvel Age of Comics live and in-person! Where-oh-where can one be granted an audience with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Colan">Gentleman Gene Colan</a> you ask? Why, at <a href="http://www.lcomics.com/">Lee’s Comics</a> in Mountain View, Californ-i-ay on Saturday, December 6 from 2:00-4:00 p.m... that’s where! And if you’ve never ever set foot inside this proud winner of the first-ever <a href="http://fakestanlee.blogspot.com/2008/04/excelsior-award-for-comic-shop.html">Excelsior Award for Comic Shop Excellence</a>, then this is your chance to correct the mistake of a lifetime! For details and up-to-the-minute information, just go to <a href="http://www.lcomics.com/">Lee’s Comics website</a> and enjoy web-browsing at the website of a comic shop so hip, slick and cool that only Alex Ross could have designed their logo! I kid you not. So what are you waiting for? Latverian New Year? Gas up the car or buy a plane ticket and get thee to this earnest event! You’ll be glad you did!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-65434217933821486922008-12-03T12:00:00.003-05:002008-12-03T12:09:13.127-05:00FACE IT BLOCKHEAD, YOU JUST HIT THE JACKPOT!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTPw43N02oumzd47IPMOV139UysqUqAb4uOOYMET0D-qZ9E1n3tk2Lzb08yMkaG0BPp301GeYPjAcV_i7ww1ItOsKv8VkCj6st329gIVxWC0wm-ETAArELAwFNyqca3cojJV2RfIiDA/s1600-h/Peanuts_thismanthisblockhead.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTPw43N02oumzd47IPMOV139UysqUqAb4uOOYMET0D-qZ9E1n3tk2Lzb08yMkaG0BPp301GeYPjAcV_i7ww1ItOsKv8VkCj6st329gIVxWC0wm-ETAArELAwFNyqca3cojJV2RfIiDA/s200/Peanuts_thismanthisblockhead.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275610292057250370" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Good grief! Just when you thought it was safe to fly a kite past the kite-eating trees — here comes <a href="http://www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=10151&page=1">Boisterous Brit artist JDH</a> with his manic mash-ups of the Peanuts gang and ol’ Merry Marvel! Believe me when I tell you gang, it’s worth clicking on <a href="http://www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=10151&page=1">this link</a> just to see Snoopy going down in flames atop his doghouse screaming, “Curse you, Baron Zemo!” Submitted herein for your approval is a mere smattering of the Peanuts-covered goodness that awaits you <a href="http://www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=10151&page=1">here.</a> Get you appetite whetted here, then go and check out the funniest toons this side of Doc Doom’s doodle pad! Tell ‘em your Uncle Stanley sent yah!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslnnGdC7n2gduxgPNO36OMhd7duLA_M2vyZb-s1BLTAgT1m2fVoGGHmz-CLIpYsxQfhuBdwSQfl54rFcKFNW3vT-f2zcSDFbkYwS5qjyalpt1qfGWDpSQivInki5FKgWNHzDkqB6RtA/s1600-h/Peanuts_maryjane400.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslnnGdC7n2gduxgPNO36OMhd7duLA_M2vyZb-s1BLTAgT1m2fVoGGHmz-CLIpYsxQfhuBdwSQfl54rFcKFNW3vT-f2zcSDFbkYwS5qjyalpt1qfGWDpSQivInki5FKgWNHzDkqB6RtA/s400/Peanuts_maryjane400.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275610504455980514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nr6K62rxmnbgDI3jmUUI1JPUhBJfK81pcSX9A-5-5PSoGcbwOhhZuxIQu4WHMzBgSt_fRU6OBQO41CufaZylL4wwWOxseygG_1sVpPUFGJHarPmIIHqL8inzDHrFlG4PFRrnFPQNHw/s1600-h/Peanuts_galactus.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nr6K62rxmnbgDI3jmUUI1JPUhBJfK81pcSX9A-5-5PSoGcbwOhhZuxIQu4WHMzBgSt_fRU6OBQO41CufaZylL4wwWOxseygG_1sVpPUFGJHarPmIIHqL8inzDHrFlG4PFRrnFPQNHw/s400/Peanuts_galactus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275610647738526914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7UjGWR6crCp2AnXLyItBy2oZq39qatJ1Y1GNvK1R-QXjRX__5jspCIBNo31y2S-YYZrl7Bxv2eAWqXiBYl9aa45yfwKUSQjd5zlYH-OIttzRfiTfcNxhU4A84J8zgV2ZBwOUZQgziA/s1600-h/Peanuts_lucyhulk.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7UjGWR6crCp2AnXLyItBy2oZq39qatJ1Y1GNvK1R-QXjRX__5jspCIBNo31y2S-YYZrl7Bxv2eAWqXiBYl9aa45yfwKUSQjd5zlYH-OIttzRfiTfcNxhU4A84J8zgV2ZBwOUZQgziA/s400/Peanuts_lucyhulk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275611104751595362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-38494185635449369202008-12-02T13:52:00.005-05:002008-12-02T14:18:32.227-05:00THOR #600 WRITTEN BY YOU-KNOW-WHO!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhCFeTHSVJgXBhBhHBGEdqu9RZXVAE4N1LaEJwVVJuaq6Xgoo9kZwlEftd47OcbTghpmkaZAydJWVpJarljqMdFMxSmZHQMBdivAEqn1_KofjPD9oCnqM30DYvjiy8TntMkD6yCrkVA/s1600-h/Thor_600.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhCFeTHSVJgXBhBhHBGEdqu9RZXVAE4N1LaEJwVVJuaq6Xgoo9kZwlEftd47OcbTghpmkaZAydJWVpJarljqMdFMxSmZHQMBdivAEqn1_KofjPD9oCnqM30DYvjiy8TntMkD6yCrkVA/s320/Thor_600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275267848643118562" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Here it is — the big news you’ve been waiting on. You see, a few months back Marvel approached me about scripting the special anniversary ish of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thor #600</span>. The only problem with that is the monolithic pile of other writing projects I have sitting on my now creaking desk. I had a similar problem back in the late 50s and early 60s trying to single-handedly write 10-12 issues per month for Mighty Marvel. Of course, the eventual solution to this problem resulted in the invention of the famous “Marvel Method,” by which process I would merely type up a short synopsis or have a brief phone confab with the artist, let ‘em rip out around 24 pages of serialized graphic continuity, and then go in and dialogue and caption the pencilled art. And the results, as they say, spoke for themselves! Manic Marvel Magic!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These days between studio first-look projects and other obligations, I don’t even begin to have the time for even that participate process. Well as William Shakespeare once said, “Needs must as the devil drives.” And so, without further ado, your ol’ Uncle Stanley introduces you to his latest, greatest writing method: the “Marvel Marvel Method!” For <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thor #600</span>, Yours Truly had a quick phone conference with regular Thor scripter Michael J. Straczynski, and voila! Mr. Babylon-5 did all the rest of the literary heavy lifting together with award-winning artist Olivier Colpel and David Aja. You can read all about the project <a href="http://comics.ign.com/articles/933/933804p1.html">right here!</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If this works out, I may try to refine the process even further, eventually reducing my own workload to just signing my name to the comic. Grandma Leiber always said, “Do what you do best.” I say thee Yay!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-86072967657283917762008-12-01T17:05:00.004-05:002008-12-01T17:16:11.954-05:00I'M A MARVEL... AND I'M A DC: PARENTAL ADVICE EDITION<div style="text-align: justify;">ITEM! Hey there, heroes! For those still getting over a bad case of PTSD (Post Turkey Stress Disorder), here's another installment of YouToober <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ItsJustSomeRandomGuy">ItsJustSomeRandomGuy's</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I'm a Marvel... and I'm a DC series</span>. Everyone here in Soapboxland, from Yours Truly to bouncing baby Irving Forbush IV, just love this guy's cavortin' comedic clips. In this episode, Spidey and Stupes get some unexpected parental advice from beyond the grave. 'Nuff Said!<br /></div><div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ohZB8ef0nVg&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ohZB8ef0nVg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div><br /></div><div>Excelsior!</div><div>Smiley</div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-35093664462735873472008-11-27T00:06:00.000-05:002008-11-27T00:07:40.562-05:00HAPPY TURKEY DAY!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZOCkNPgXz14&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZOCkNPgXz14&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-58176454286168344412008-11-26T11:32:00.005-05:002008-11-26T11:48:15.159-05:00A BRIEF NON-HISTORY OF THE NO-PRIZE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAcN9XNnCnQg1h2-Kzn5bKrJsbbF-V49LJJFGRc_rJipT1FGUdm45oW_hDcEeHaB8ChUHQR7mwVmlVC2i_VuHU7ZqmAtoVVLcvdcVcUl5zJAqofeJThe_fVRYlPV7zPl6LLT8KuElfw/s1600-h/ASM_3_page8.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAcN9XNnCnQg1h2-Kzn5bKrJsbbF-V49LJJFGRc_rJipT1FGUdm45oW_hDcEeHaB8ChUHQR7mwVmlVC2i_VuHU7ZqmAtoVVLcvdcVcUl5zJAqofeJThe_fVRYlPV7zPl6LLT8KuElfw/s320/ASM_3_page8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273005798281936930" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> As a rigorous reader recently pointed out, even an eagle-eyed editor such as Yours Truly has committed many a typographic misfire to the printed page. I called Bruce Banner “Bob” in so many early ishes of Marvel Comics we eventually just up and officially changed the poor man’s name to Robert Bruce Banner! And of course, there was the time I had Doc Ock call Spider-Man “Super-Man.” (<a href="http://www.samcci.comics.org/spider-man/003.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Amazing Spider-Man</span> #3</a>, July 1963). Say what you will, that hyphen probably saved us a lawsuit!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ever intelligent and insightful, our readers were always quick to point out our editorial mishaps and continuity gaffes. Thus was invented the legendary No-Prize! First announced in<a href="http://www.samcci.comics.org/fantasticfour/026.htm"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Fantastic Four</span> #26</a> (May 1964) and awarded for the first time ever in <a href="http://www.samcci.comics.org/fantasticfour/031.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">FF</span> #31</a> (Oct. 1964), these essentially empty envelopes eventually became so popular that we had to tighten the requirements for receiving one! Just finding one of my memory-impaired mistakes (which let’s face it, is like shooting dish in a barrel) was no longer enough to qualify. One had to demonstrate or perform “Meritorious Service to the Cause of Marveldom!” Many were called, but only the lucky few were served!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmFs4c58RgrckAAwBZZ0hKdCnoDUPzHOjtYhhGOlcr0WphyAlDa2bwKrOPFEkWm_2MlIbdNEefeCRjsqsZN5USx_-_Ci8fbiKqy_TKIbQwLATQQzkVzSMestVB1bhG8nbzuSjj_CWJQ/s1600-h/FF_31_no_prize.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmFs4c58RgrckAAwBZZ0hKdCnoDUPzHOjtYhhGOlcr0WphyAlDa2bwKrOPFEkWm_2MlIbdNEefeCRjsqsZN5USx_-_Ci8fbiKqy_TKIbQwLATQQzkVzSMestVB1bhG8nbzuSjj_CWJQ/s400/FF_31_no_prize.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273006106158234610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 139px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">So there you have it. The proud No-Prize tradition continued off-and-on after your Uncle Stan went out West, and even continues today in digital form via Marvel Editor <a href="http://www.marvel.com/blogs//entry/361">Tom Brevoort</a>. Is it just me, or does Tom’s name sound just like it came straight from a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tales to Astonish</span> monster story? “I Challenged Brevoort, the Editor from Outer Space!” But I digress. If you want to learn more, Honest Irv has embedded one a’ those YouToobs deals below with more info on No-Prizes than you can shake a Groot at! Enjoy!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2wlbUktiJ90&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2wlbUktiJ90&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-44426584968724977772008-11-25T12:38:00.016-05:002008-11-25T16:03:03.597-05:00STAN'S SOAPBOX: THE COLLECTION!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuzG-HviHUMlHe-9D0S4MPALSbGaXSi2s4nv5CjZ5ZC92tQA45Rri2jgvKbOvejUZnebDt2cBWigK4pQoi6SLTbcaz_U4lUK_s5S8iJ6eYvPIP881lvPzCsoHvGjuF66_fay3TWLEMg/s1600-h/Stans_Soapbox_cover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuzG-HviHUMlHe-9D0S4MPALSbGaXSi2s4nv5CjZ5ZC92tQA45Rri2jgvKbOvejUZnebDt2cBWigK4pQoi6SLTbcaz_U4lUK_s5S8iJ6eYvPIP881lvPzCsoHvGjuF66_fay3TWLEMg/s200/Stans_Soapbox_cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272652456795632818" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Just in case you’ve been hiding in a cave in Outer Latveria (you know, a really plush cave with electricity and broadband access), I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that The Hero Initiative’s latest book, <a href="http://www.atomiccomicsstore.com/heroinitiative.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Stan’s Soapbox: The Collection</span></a>, is now at your local comic book shop. A cavortin’ collection of every single Stan’s Soapbox written by Yours Truly from 1967-1980, this book contains over 14 years and 46,000 words of literary excellence that you can read, rhapsodize with, and regurgitate to your friends. And all profits from sales of this book benefit the fine work done on behalf of comic creators by <a href="http://www.heroinitiative.org/">The Hero Initiative</a>. I’ll even let you in on a little secret. The book doesn’t actually reprint every single Stan’s Soapbox written by Yours Truly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtfRTQhEZauxWqpwDlgVaBauZopMpr39B9Qzb3uvyWJcj1Jq___XT5noMWDRY9mj1NUkEFViZ5hWtNgYTWzFi4Zti7pOS5sRiTjhQ1_ttYaeqNH-hOrIvMQ9PFdIWnkXYAjmqjYhitA/s1600-h/Soapbox_classic.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtfRTQhEZauxWqpwDlgVaBauZopMpr39B9Qzb3uvyWJcj1Jq___XT5noMWDRY9mj1NUkEFViZ5hWtNgYTWzFi4Zti7pOS5sRiTjhQ1_ttYaeqNH-hOrIvMQ9PFdIWnkXYAjmqjYhitA/s320/Soapbox_classic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272703279495978306" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">You see, there was one Soapbox that only appeared in bi-monthly mags printed in 1968 that someone must’ve missed — or given it's content — decided to intentionally omit. Either way, in order for you to truly complete your Stan's Soapbox collection, the Smilin’ One presents for your review and probable derision, the long lost Stan’s Soapbox. Enjoy it, gang!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtfRTQhEZauxWqpwDlgVaBauZopMpr39B9Qzb3uvyWJcj1Jq___XT5noMWDRY9mj1NUkEFViZ5hWtNgYTWzFi4Zti7pOS5sRiTjhQ1_ttYaeqNH-hOrIvMQ9PFdIWnkXYAjmqjYhitA/s1600-h/Soapbox_classic.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJ9CmJrKdxeffBN6m0KXoJ5ggyfXDR3K2jyAjbW5_2iHXZ2cRqipF-iImSAQciJOZyoJ2-Fj1RxNiu5gLvlpPn_i5oIksAOiZ8QcDCgd7VpXrPj96X0D10FVlEumAClFyQVg_1sj_Tw/s1600-h/Soapbox_classic.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-37361850180258279472008-11-24T15:04:00.006-05:002008-11-25T22:12:24.096-05:00ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEDALS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8uKgKl8-lNzvodsP35xHDzk3YiS4l5bi0tKqW8y3DyAObiVI1DqSHxSqLXiZRkNj3xdyCSwlg8nFw00yJ_09bUMmdHmNahHlOpM-yweSH_48XKo_hy-zadl19sIT4OHWHx3_M4VkKw/s1600-h/Stan_Bush.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8uKgKl8-lNzvodsP35xHDzk3YiS4l5bi0tKqW8y3DyAObiVI1DqSHxSqLXiZRkNj3xdyCSwlg8nFw00yJ_09bUMmdHmNahHlOpM-yweSH_48XKo_hy-zadl19sIT4OHWHx3_M4VkKw/s320/Stan_Bush.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272317821396085282" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM! </span>Good news, gang! Your ol’ Uncle Stanley is back from his recent trip to our nation’s capital. I know I’ve been a little out-of-pocket lately, and for that I apologize. I’ve just been busy (as Bachman-Turner Overdrive once said) taking care of business. And Yours Truly wasn’t actually so much busy preparing to <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/11/images/20081117-2_p111708cg-0244-622v.html">receive the 2008 National Medal of Arts</a> from President George W. Bush last week, as I was busy trying to get the ceremony postponed just another eight or nine weeks. Even though I set my brainiest bunch of barristers on the task, it just didn’t work out. Not that I mind getting such a prestigious award from the outgoing President. Heck, if anyone can appreciate someone desperately trying to rehabilitate their legacy after some unfortunate management decisions, it’s mois. It’s just that ever since I saw that picture of Barrack Obama posing in front of the Metropolis, Illinois Superman statue, I’ve wanted to see if I couldn’t entice him into a photo-op with Iron Man or the Incredible Hulk. Though now that I think about it, a billionaire munitions industrialist or a rogue military scientist may not be the best fit for a post-inauguration picture taking session. Maybe Aunt May would go over best with Middle America. I'll have to get to work on that, and on posting more peerless pronouncements and pearls of prefabricated wisdom than you can click a refresh button on! The best is yet to come, pilgrims!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-85836329803693303832008-11-06T15:11:00.002-05:002008-11-06T15:18:45.187-05:00THE BRIDE OF ELECTION DAZE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O-at-m82lf351CBuV3lu9Z1LdG7lnEUaQJ_JX2ceyrZZFF17RWEGPfMeRhlB_jA8wuFWxCGzldnWdpH-cKpjZF-kG4tMn0nN7QA1j34BaTvRkJ8Y0a1LBqTgRsQwl5Ca0UrxEOOtZA/s1600-h/Bride_of_Election_Daze.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O-at-m82lf351CBuV3lu9Z1LdG7lnEUaQJ_JX2ceyrZZFF17RWEGPfMeRhlB_jA8wuFWxCGzldnWdpH-cKpjZF-kG4tMn0nN7QA1j34BaTvRkJ8Y0a1LBqTgRsQwl5Ca0UrxEOOtZA/s320/Bride_of_Election_Daze.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265640275843991506" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Now that we’ve made history by electing the first African-American president, it’s time for all us Frantic Ones to get back to work getting this country and the economy back on track again. No shirker of duty, your Uncle Stanley is already hard at work doing his part. That’s right, I’m currently putting together the sequel to my best-selling political humor book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Election-Daze-What-Really-Saying/dp/0970263155/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226002308&sr=8-1">Election Daze</a>. If you somehow some-way missed this one you can still order your copy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Election-Daze-What-Really-Saying/dp/0970263155/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226002308&sr=8-1">right here</a>. Since my two great humor-loves are placing comedic captions on pictures of political figures and <a href="http://www.geocities.com/unifan2001/MMadness.html">Universal movie monsters</a>, I’ve decided to combine the two for the genre-bending sequel:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> The Bride of Election Daze!</span> No wistful word on a publication date from the publisher as yet, but here are a few frankly fabulous fragments I’ve been kicking around getting myself all warmed up. Enjoy ‘em, oh Keepers of the Faith! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0opZMq0dqhcniAkk_jdCS_0xfGbNynavTzr7KNw6JxEZGXHDpox-yGI8W7Tct9Z_gJ9si0bi-EXLpQvQ1P1qmFYYir9eEvqEcIygtENnPnXwrz6clf9m1QLDOiXN8p21ZmLeDlNU_A/s1600-h/McCain_Palin.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0opZMq0dqhcniAkk_jdCS_0xfGbNynavTzr7KNw6JxEZGXHDpox-yGI8W7Tct9Z_gJ9si0bi-EXLpQvQ1P1qmFYYir9eEvqEcIygtENnPnXwrz6clf9m1QLDOiXN8p21ZmLeDlNU_A/s400/McCain_Palin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265640446603774866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcHmSEogKUKcvIZXBSO0xfmTPoen8-XBb3Uat2dSZRpJ7Rzq5010iiuZBvj2xSrEUIeKB4aVPvAUa_RT4Od_zol2AbcH1yJJm8NMTV75OElDD0-vMdKveBF0jFlwMbTzfvEFYdKrkSA/s1600-h/McCain_Obama.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcHmSEogKUKcvIZXBSO0xfmTPoen8-XBb3Uat2dSZRpJ7Rzq5010iiuZBvj2xSrEUIeKB4aVPvAUa_RT4Od_zol2AbcH1yJJm8NMTV75OElDD0-vMdKveBF0jFlwMbTzfvEFYdKrkSA/s400/McCain_Obama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265640812978481090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px; " /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY01dqGXu8V6tE4MpQjDEapmk_2saZ9cH40gdBwm2sHxWcx5VgCO_DSkocX-aNPb_NLyH0CbMxS20vs5Ek9FeIuT9a2DcO09dJRw2DHYqJIseFQcYDxX4nx5YJwOeAirBXPCtEgDV4g/s1600-h/Clintons.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY01dqGXu8V6tE4MpQjDEapmk_2saZ9cH40gdBwm2sHxWcx5VgCO_DSkocX-aNPb_NLyH0CbMxS20vs5Ek9FeIuT9a2DcO09dJRw2DHYqJIseFQcYDxX4nx5YJwOeAirBXPCtEgDV4g/s400/Clintons.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265641018662252114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8013512278969446207.post-17476233201212592832008-11-05T15:16:00.003-05:002008-11-05T15:27:21.525-05:00SPIDER-BABY: ILLEGITIMATE CHILD OF MARVEL CONTINUITY?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTVon2VY4gyNEMkhI0QgluH0ytbM19umVRu_3hyDet_1IvjfrnSYoyYb8hgekaS8jhe54xGBaDFBjHb3yGcb4_rCPSXSnHYD37Zs0r-GTZN9fao2vDDgP8g2yQBGJqt38umaEUj7nuQ/s1600-h/Spider-Baby.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 163px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTVon2VY4gyNEMkhI0QgluH0ytbM19umVRu_3hyDet_1IvjfrnSYoyYb8hgekaS8jhe54xGBaDFBjHb3yGcb4_rCPSXSnHYD37Zs0r-GTZN9fao2vDDgP8g2yQBGJqt38umaEUj7nuQ/s320/Spider-Baby.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265271453447889058" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ITEM!</span> Apparently the younger <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-girl">May Parker</a>, daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson (and future <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-girl">Spider-Girl</a>), is not as dead as Marvel continuity would have us believe. As this recent paparazzi picture reveals, Spidey has at least regained some visitation rights to bouncing baby May. It also looks like Petey's put on a few pounds. Better lay off the wheatcakes for awhile, Parker! What’s left unanswered is the child’s legal status in light of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man:_One_More_Day">Mephisto reworking the Marvel Universe timeline</a> so that Peter and Mary Jane were never married in the first place. Guess it’s a good thing Baby May’s not a boy!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last time your Uncle Stanley was paying attention, Baby May was either killed off or in the custody of Alison Mongraine and the Green Goblin back around <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Amazing Spider-Man</span> #434 or so. However, the aforementioned paparazzi pic was shot recently in the same apartment building that Tom DeFalco lives in, so maybe he ended up with custody, which all things considered, could actually be for the best. Hey! I just came up with a great new idea for a Merry Marvel sitcom: Baby May growing up with only comic book creators <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeFalco">Tom Defalco</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Frenz">Ron Frenz</a> to raise her. We could call it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“My Two Spider-Dads”</span>! Better get a call into my attorneys and copyright this idea quick before Queseda gets wind of it and has it cancelled too! Face Front, True Believers!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Excelsior!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smiley<br /></div>Stan the Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325386526564969318noreply@blogger.com0