Waiting for Wednesday, Volume 4, Issue 1

Welcome to the very first Waiting for Wednesday of 2012! To celebrate this column’s fourth (!!!) year of existence, I have something special.

And, by special, I mean, self-promoting. Disgustingly, unabashedly self-promoting.

I mentioned last week that I started a new job at World Wrestling Entertainment, working for their website. My first day at the gig was Monday and since then I’ve had two articles published on the site--both of them dealing with the CM Punk/Dolph Ziggler feud heading into the Royal Rumble.

If you know what the heck all that means, and if you’re so inclined, you can check the pieces out here and here.

I know, I know.

But I did warn you about the self promotion, so you can't be that mad at me. Also, as long as I'm a self-aware self-promoter, I think it's okay. Hang on...lemme check in with Nathaniel on that, though.

Whoops. Actually, he's busy writing an article for GameCola, so he can't answer me right now.

[Editor's Note: Now that's how you burn your blogging buddy! And don't worry, kids. I don' mean nuthin' by it.]

Okay. Let's get this thing back on (some sort of) track. It's Wednesday, as you know, and like I've done (nearly) every Wednesday for the past (nearly) four years, I'd like to talk comics. Specifically, I'd like to talk comics that I'm looking forward to buying when I head to the LCS today (or at some point this week).

There are a number of books that are lighting up the old Exfanding radar today, but because I have quite a bit going on this morning, I'll only cover one of them. it's okay, though, because that one book is a good one.

Let's talk The Goon. Mostly because I like talking about The Goon, but also because, since the title has gone to a bi-monthly shipping schedule, lots of time has to pass before I can get my Eric Powell fix.

But, happily, today is that...um...bi-week...because issue 37 is sitting in your local comics shop right now.
What can we expect from Powell this time around? Madcap adventure? Gangsters fighting zombies? A pie-eating contest with a skunk ape?

Actually...none of those things. Nope, in today's issue, Powell tackles unions rights. No, really. Check out the description of the issue, below.

When several workers die in a girdle-factory fire due to poor safety conditions and an out-of-control taco cart, the union is in an uproar. But when the fat cats bring in a supernatural union buster, there's only one man for the workers to turn to: The Goon.

"The Goon is the product of a contentedly demented mind."-Comic Book Resources

"A great gurgling gumbo of EC Comics horror, Monty Python wit, and 1930s pulp."-EW.com

As always, I'll be first in line to pick up this latest issue of Powell's brilliant and irreverent series. With the new bi-monthly shipping schedule, there's plenty of time for new readers to catch up between issues, so you should go do that. Now.

Speaking of going...

Before I head out, I'll ask it for the first time in 2012. What are you Waiting for?

A Year of Opportunities

We've already covered our official resolutions for 2012, but I'd like to lay out some fandom-centric...aspirations, if you will. I hesitate to say "resolutions," because the year ahead is more or less a blank slate at the moment--I'm looking to make the most of the opportunities I have while I've got the time available. Here's what I've got in mind:

- Write more about tabletop roleplaying games. I admit the vast majority of my experience is with Dungeons & Dragons, but there are still plenty of stories to be told and advice to be given.

- Finish my quest to watch through every official Star Trek that exists. I've completed The Original and Animated Series, Next Generation, and all the accompanying movies. My wife and I are now at the end of Deep Space Nine's fifth season, and we're two seasons into Voyager. We'll cap things off with Enterprise, after which I'll begin to brace myself for J.J. Abrams' next Star Trek film in 2013.

- Follow up on my User's Guide to Star Trek: The Original and Animated Series monster mega-post with a guide to TNG and DS9, most likely saving VOY and ENT for the following year.

- Trim down the ratio of unfinished games to beaten and completed games on my Backloggery. I collect games faster than I finish them, and I'd like that to change one way or another.
- Find a suitable permanent recording solution. I've been fighting with a problem-laden makeshift solution since early 2009, and the technical issues keep getting more outrageous with every video series.

One of my friends set the ball in motion by getting me a professional-quality microphone to replace the discount headset I've been using--the one that's barely compatible with my sound card and makes a clunking sound any time I shake my head too much while talking (I get very animated while doing my commentary). Now I just need video recording software that'll last longer than 10 minutes at a clip, and video editing software that works as well as Windows Movie Maker for slapping together multiple video clips and overlapping audio clips, but can also output videos of sufficient quality and size for YouTube without getting any other programs involved. I've had a few suggestions, but more are always welcome.

- Respond to blog comments in a more timely fashion. Seriously, this should not be so difficult for me.

- Follow through on review requests. We've had at least two people offer us review copies for this blog, and we have failed to post so much as a bullet point referencing the material in question. To the people who have offered us things to review, I am sincerely sorry.

- Get caught up on some of the key anime series I've missed. There was a discussion recently on my YouTube channel about Fullmetal Alchemist, which I'd heard plenty about but had never found the opportunity to watch; it's tough to keep track of your comments section when you have no idea what's going on. My parents got me a subscription to Netflix for Christmas, and it turns out there's a wealth of anime available, including FMA. You can imagine how my wife and I spent the last three hours of our day after setting up our account this past Sunday. It's like my college's anime club all over again, and I'm excited about what else is available to watch.

- Avoid staying up past midnight to finish blog posts. On a completely unrelated note, this seems like a good place to stop.

A Brief Interlude...Or Is That a Prelude?

Normally at this time of year, Nathaniel and I pat ourselves on the back(s) and tell you how great we are by ranking our best posts of the past 12 months. We won't be doing that today but rest assured, our egos won't allow us not to do exactly that sometime this week.

Complicated double negatives aside, the reason we won't be doing our yearly recap is an interesting one. And, come to think of it, there are actually two reasons. First and foremost, I start a new job today--I know, it's kinda weird that it's on the day after New Year's, right?--and I've been a bit preoccupied with getting things in order for my first week.

And second, my wireless router at home is acting all kinds of strange and I haven't been able to get online without interruption since Friday. My connection is still a bit wonky today, and I'm starting to think it's because of the (several) new devices I've introduced to the network in the last week or so.

It's working fine now, but it's been going in and out and driving me just a tad bit insane so I'm not overly optimistic that I won't get bumped offline before I finish writing this post up.

Even so, I will trudge on and attempt to provide you all with something (moderately) entertaining for this first Monday of 2012.

I haven't talked much about making this most recent transition to a new job, mostly because my last two weeks at my previous gig were filled with finishing up a book or two and tying up as many loose ends as was possible. More than that, though, I wasn't thrilled with the way things ended there, and I guess not enough time has passed to heal those wounds.

I can say that leaving turned out to be an incredibly emotional experience, and there's a long list of people I will miss quite a bit. I made enough friends there to warrant co-worker lunches and dinners for two weeks straight and I plan to stay in contact with as many of those folks as possible.

Sometimes you need to make a decision based on what's best for your professional life, and you cannot allow your personal life to get in the way, no matter how hard that may be. That was certainly the case for me, and while it's been tough to come to grips with my leaving, I am very excited to start something new.

Which is an entirely appropriate statement for New Year's, I'd say.

I'm incredibly fortunate to have this new opportunity in front of me, and I plan to dive into it just as I've done at my previous jobs.

Oh, and speaking of something new, I've got a couple things planned for this year that have me pretty jazzed. One's a book project that you'll be hearing about very shortly-- a children's book, to be exact--as my artist and I ramp up the production schedule heading into the spring.

The plan is to have the book ready and to the printer by May, and available for sale in October.

If you're interested in taking a quick sneak peek at the book's main character, you can check out this page, where my artist--the incredibly talented Abigail Larson--has posted the first teaser image.

Let me know what you think, or better yet, leave a comment on Abigail's DeviantArt page and let her know what you think. Needless to say, I can't wait for this to take shape and I plan to keep you guys updated as things move along.

I've decided that 2012 will be--for better or worse--the year I try a bunch of things I've either been planning for a while or that I've been thinking about planning for a while. (Don't worry. It makes sense to me.)

So here's to a new and exciting year, Exfanders. I know I'm looking forward to it.

Newer Year's Resolutions

In 2009 we gave our New Year's Resolutions. In 2010 we made resolutions for each other. In 2011 we made de-resolutions (just like in TRON). Before we look ahead to 2012, let's step back and see how we completely botched all of our plans for the previous year, shall we?

Here's a summary of what we vowed at the beginning of 2011:

Nathaniel will not...
- Teach Alex anything more about the technical, behind-the-scenes workings of the blog
- Remember to ask Alex to borrow more trade paperbacks of The Goon
- Kill Grizzly Adams

Alex will not...
- Get rid of the widget that causes HTML snow to fall on the blog during the holidays
- Be able to break his addiction to single-issue comics
- Watch the remaining Star Wars movies (specifically, Episodes II-III)

Somewhere, an achievement has been unlocked. We have succeeded on EVERY SINGLE ONE of our de-resolutions. I demand a festive hat for the occasion.

Now then.

This year we'll go back to the basics: regular ol' resolutions written by us, for us. No checklists this time; just broad goals we'd like to work toward. I think we can handle this.


Nathaniel's Goal #1: Don't go anywhere.
Last year was a big year. I did a lot of traveling. I spent a lot of money on travel expenses. I enjoy getting out of the house from time to time and visiting friends and family. For the sake of my wallet, my sanity, my apartment, and my personal projects, I cannot be out of town all weekend, every weekend, for seven months straight, with 2-10 hours of each weekend spent in the car.

Alex's Goal #1: Never enter Nathaniel's new state of residence.
This will ensure that, if Nathaniel ever wants to see his blogging buddy, he must travel. Preferably on short notice. And on a weekend. Also, I will hold all copies of Goon collections hostage until Nathaniel makes said short notice, weekend trip to my neck of the woods.


Nathaniel's Goal #2: Start having guests again.
My second goal has a nice symbiotic relationship with the first goal: If I can be home long enough to clean up the apartment and prepare some geeky activities, I might be able to see people more often by staying at home and having them visit me. I've already got plans for a Harry Potter marathon, a new ongoing Dungeons & Dragons campaign, and tricking Alex into seeing Star Wars: Episodes II-III.

Alex's Goal #2: Refer back to Alex's Goal #1
One step ahead of ya, Flashman. One step ahead.


Nathaniel's Goal #3: Eat less fried dough.
I've been gradually getting softer around the middle over the past two or three years. Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy dietary choices, and apple-throwing monkeys are to blame. I'm not about to propose that I cut out desserts and try to lose weight--all I'm looking for is to be a little more active, and to avoid consuming excessively large portions of anything fattening.

Alex's Goal #3: Eat more fried dough.
That one's pretty self explanatory, actually.


Nathaniel's Goal #4: Record videos more often.
I post videos on two different YouTube channels, one of which has a very active fan community. This past year, I released four videos. Four. That's barely 53 minutes of entertainment. 'Nuff said.

Alex's Goal #4: Kill Grizzly Adams.
This is the one thing--THE ONE THING--that has haunted my nightmares these past 12 months. (And also that apple-throwing monkey.) Now, I know I say (or, more appropriately, vow) every year that I will finally off that bear-keeping, woods walking, beard-wearing early American nogoodnik, but this will be the year. Mark my words.


As I said: I think we can handle this.