Sunday, January 31, 2010

Handbook Hardcover Changes: Women of Marvel 2005

This is the fifth in a series that looks at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcovers, and notes how the entries were changed from the original Handbooks that were compiled for the hardcovers. Some information presented here was previous posted to the Who Watches the Watchers forum at Comixfan while other information is presented here concurrently.

This time it's ladies' night out. Lots of women changed or dropped their code names since this volume and one switched back to being a male.

All: Marital Status, Distinguishing Features removed; Superhuman Powers, Abilities, Paraphernalia merged as Abilities/Accessories. Origin/Significant Issues at back of book removed

AraƱa
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics, History, Abilities/Accessories revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned)

Black Widow
Hardcover Volume: 1
Now Listed As: Yelena Belova
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics, History, Abilities/Accessories revised/expanded. Power Grid Revised
Graphic Changes: 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned)

Sharon Carter
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics a little revised. History considerably revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 2 Main illo removed; new main illo with 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned)

Clea
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded. Power Grid tweaked.
Graphic Changes: 6 new secondary illos (2 captioned).

Crystal
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History mostly revised and expanded. New sentence added at end of Abilities/Accessories.
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo

Dagger
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Known Relatives and Group Affiliation expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely revised and expanded
Graphic Changes: 4 secondary illos added (3 captioned).

Dark Angel
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2 (note that a misprint starts half way into the entry, then both parts appear together once the misprint ends)
Text Changes: Aliases tweaked. History and Abilities/Accessories mostly revised and expanded. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo.

Dazzler
Hardcover Volume: 3
Now Listed As: Dazzler (Blaire)
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics, History, Abilities/Accessories completely revised and expanded. Hair revised. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed, reaplced with new main illo and 3 secondary illos (1 captioned).

Domino
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics, History, Abilities/Accessories completely revised and expanded. Hair revised. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Occupation and Group Affiliation revised. All History paragraphs merged except the last sentence which starts the new lengthy final paragraph. Abilities/Accessories expanded.

Enchantress
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded. Speed on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Original illo no longer cropped; 2 new captioned secondary illos.

Firestar
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded. Note added.
Graphic Changes: 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned).

Gaea
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Aliases, Known Relatives, Group Affiliation expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Hellcat
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics extensively revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely and extensively revised/expanded. Strength on Power Grid revised
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illo and 6 secondary illos (5 captioned).

Hepzibah
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Aliases, Relatives, Group Affiliation revised. History and mostly (not completely) revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories somewhat revised.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos.

Jolt
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Occupation and First Appearance expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 4 new secondary illos (3 captioned).

Jennifer Kale
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilties/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo replaced with new main illo and 3 secondary illos.

Misty Knight
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: ital Statistics revised. History and Abilties/Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo replaced with new main illo and secondary illo.

Lucy in the Sky
Hardcover Volume: 3
Now Listed As: Karolina Dean
Page Count: unchanged from 1
Text Changes: Aliases revised. Education clarified. History and Abilities/Accessories somewhat revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo.


Magik
Hardcover Volume: 10
Now Listed As: Amanda Sefton
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History completely rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories mostly rewritten/expanded. Speed and Durability on power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now captioned secondary illo. New main illo and 5 new secondary illos (3 captioned)

Maker
Hardcover Volume: 1
Now Listed As: Beyonder
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics, History, Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: Old Illo removed; new main illo and 7 captioned secondary illos

Medusa
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History mostly revised/expanded (small amount of old text still present). Abilities/Accessories greatly expanded (old text still present, but greatly added to). Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos.

Meggan
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories replaced with new, expanded text. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed; new main illo and 7 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Millie the Model
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/greatly expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded (s0ome old text still present). Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned), followed by 42 new headshots of supporting characters (22 co-workers and 20 relatives), complete with role in Millie’s life and First Appearances.

Moondragon
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Aliases, Group Affiliation, First Appearance revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed; new main illo and 3 new secondary illos.

Moonstone
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded (small amount of old text still present). Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New captioned main illo and 14 new secondary illos (13 captioned, of which 3 share the same caption).

Mystique
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illo and 5 new secondary illos (4 captioned).

Namorita
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Durability, Energy Projection, Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now secondary. New main illo and 5 new secondary illos (3 captioned).

Nemesis
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten. Eyes and Hair revised.
Graphic Changes: New captioned secondary illo.

Puck
Hardcover Volume: 9
Now Listed As: Puck (Yu)
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Known Relatives and Education revised. History greatly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten. Speed on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo.

Rogue
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Real Name, Aliases, Known Relatives Group Affiliation revised (mostly minor changes). History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illo and 16 new secondary illos (6 captioned).

Roma
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Speed and Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 4 new secondary illos (3 captioned). Main illo credit inadvertently removed.

Satana
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Speed and Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now secondary. New main illlo and 6 new secondary illos (4 captioned).

Scarlet Witch
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 6
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now secondary. New main illlo and 13 new secondary illos (5 captioned).

Sersi
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History mostly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now secondary. New main illlo and 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Shanna the She-Devil
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Strength and Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illlo and 2 new captioned secondary illos.

Silver Sable
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History completely rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illlo and 3 new captioned secondary illos.

Sister Grimm
Hardcover Volume: 7
Now Listed As: Nico Minoru
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Aliases, Known Relatives revised, Education clarified. Old History paragraphs merged, then lengthy new final paragraph. Abilities/Accessories a little review,
Graphic Changes: Top of staff no longer cropped.

Snowbird
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Physical Statistics tweaked. Strength and Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illlo and 4 new secondary illos (2 captioned).

Songbird
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded (the latter now a full page of text). Hair tweaked. Speed and Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illlo and 6 new secondary illos (3 captioned).

Spider-Girl
Hardcover Volume: 11
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History complete rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories almost completely revised/expanded. Speed and Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 5 new secondary illos (4 captioned).

Spider-Woman
Hardcover Volume: 11
Now Listed As: Spider-Woman (Drew)
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Eyes and Hairs stats inadvertently reversed. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illo and 6 new secondary illos (3 captioned).

Thor Girl
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History greatly rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Speed, Durability, and Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Topaz
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History completely rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 7 new secondary illos (4 captioned).

Valkyrie
Hardcover Volume: 12
Now Listed As: Valkyrie (Parrington)
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History greatly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Intelligence and Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo moved to the Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) entry. New main illo and 3 new secondary illos

Vantage
Hardcover Volume: 9
Now Listed As: Dallas Riordan
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded. Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now captioned secondary. New main illo and 2 new captioned secondary illos

Vindicator
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 6 new secondary illos (2 captioned)

Friday, January 29, 2010

Handbook Hardcover Changes: A-Z#2

This is the fourth in a series that looks at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcovers, and notes how the entries were changed from the original Handbooks that were compiled for the hardcovers. Some information presented here was previous posted to the Who Watches the Watchers forum at Comixfan while other information is presented here concurrently.

I got over half way’s cleaning up my notes for issue 1 and then realized they’ll have to wait until v14 comes out because Arsenic will likely be under Yorkes now. So my look at that book will appear, only in 1/3 of a year’s time. :)

Treat “None” as “None significant” below. I ignore typo corrections and minor formatting changes. My writing style in tracking the changes evolved over time so I`m reworked some of my earlier entry additions.

Benny Beckley
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned)

Bedlam
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text/Graphic Changes: None

Berserker
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None.
Graphic Changes: new secondary illo

Beta Ray Bill
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: New final History paragraph
Graphic Changes: new secondary illo added, one old secondary illo now captioned

Black Box
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Group Affiliation and First Appearance revised. Final History paragraph revised/expanded at end
Graphic Changes: Art Credit corrected

Black Dragon
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text/Graphic Changes: None

Black Widow
Hardcover Volume: 1
Now listed As : Black Widow (Voyant)
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Group Affiliation revised. Last sentence of final History paragraph replaced with new paragraph
Graphic Changes: None

Blacquesmith
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text/Graphic Changes: None

Blindspot
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Energy Projection on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: None

Blizzard
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3 pages
Text Changes: Group Affiliation updated. History: old final paragraph split in two, with second part expanded, followed by 3 new paragraphs, then a Note. Abilities/Accessories expanded.
Graphic Changes: One of three old illos captioned. 9 new captioned illos of suits worn by all users.

Blob
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3 pages
Text Changes: Final paragraph of History expanded. Abilities/Accessories greatly expanded.
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one still present with new caption), depowered illo removed, 9 new illos (1 with caption).

Bloodwraith
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: New final paragraph added to History
Graphic Changes: None

Bogatyri
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: 3 new secondary illos added

Bogeyman
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Original illo captioned (still main), 4 new illos (3 captioned)

Alexander Bont
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at ½
Text/Graphic Changes: None

Bounty
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at ½
Text Changes: Abilities/Accessories a bit revised
Graphic Changes: None

Boom-Boom
Hardcover Volume: 10
Now Listed As: Tabitha Smith
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History somewhat revised/expanded, especially at end. Abilities/Accessories revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old main illo now secondary, 2 secondary illos removed, 4 secondary illos added

Bella Donna Boudreaux
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Final History paragraph expanded
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo added

Brood
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Known Members expanded. Final History paragraph removed and two new paragraphs added.
Graphic Changes: Old secondary illo removed, 3 new captioned secondary illos added

Bruiser
Hardcover Volume: 5
Now Listed As: Molly Hayes
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Aliases, Citizenship, Group Affiliation a little revised. Final History paragraph greatly expanded.
Graphic Changes: Original illos removed. New main illo with captioned secondary illo.

B-Sides
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None.
Graphic Changes: Main illo removed, replaced with new one (captioned as per old one)

Bug
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: 3rd History paragraph revised, new final paragraph added
Graphic Changes: Microns illo removed, two new captioned illos added.

John Bushmaster
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: captioned Power Master illo added

Buzz
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: final History paragraph expanded, new sentence added to Abilities/Accessories
Graphic Changes: None

Cagliostro
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Real Name revised, History almost completely revised/expanded, Abilities/Accessories: new sentence added at end.
Graphic Changes: 6 new secondary illos (2 captioned

Caliban
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: New final paragraph at end of History.
Graphic Changes: Main and “wedding” illos removed; new main illo, X-Force illo now captioned, 3 new captioned illos

Callisto
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Occupation and Group Affiliation revised. History and Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one now captioned secondary illo), old secondary illo removed, 2 new captioned secondary illos.
Calypso
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Left hand now visible

Captain UK
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Final History paragraph expanded.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (one captioned)

Captain Ultra
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics a little revised. History completely revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories expanded.
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one still present, but flipped and captioned), old secondary illo removed, 2 new secondary illos.

Captain Universe
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 3
Text Changes: new final History paragraph.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos. Many recipients illos blown up to focus more on face, with Casey and Phalanx added; black bars removed

Caretakers
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: 3 new captioned secondary illos.

Black Tom Cassidy
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: final History paragraph tweaked, then new one added, Abilities/Accessories revised and a little expanded, Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: None

Celestials
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 3
Text Changes: new final History paragraph
Graphic Changes: Arishem illos replaced with captioned Dreaming Celestial illo

Centennial
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: unchanged at ½
Text Changes: Hair and Power Numbers revised
Graphic Changes: new captioned secondary illo

Crazy Eight
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: unchanged at ½
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Secondary illo now captioned

Centurious
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Old secondary illo removed, 2 new ones

Cerebra/Cerebro
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: First Appearance expanded, new sentence added to end of History and Abilities Accessories.
Graphic Changes: No illo now stands out as man one, all illos now captioned, original Cerebro illo decropped, 12 new illos, including the Elliot Brown stats from v1#15.

Cerise
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: New final History paragraph
Graphic Changes: new captioned secondary illo

Challenger
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Occupation, Group Affiliation, and last two History paragraphs revised.
Graphic Changes: Unmasked shot added.

Chamber
Hardcover Volume: 3
Now Listed As: Decibel
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. Final two History sentences replaced with extensive next text, then a new paragraph. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded. Durability and Energy Projection on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: new main illo (old one now captioned secondary illo). Old secondary illos removed; 7 new secondary illos (6 captioned)

Lila Cheney
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Final History paragraph expanded. Speed on Power Grid revised
Graphic Changes: None.

China Force
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: 3rd History paragraph revised, Note added.
Graphic Changes: Black bars removed from headshots

Code: Blue
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: new final paragraph added at end of History.
Graphic Changes: 9 headshots with First Appearances added.

Kaspar Cole
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Known Relatives tweaked, end of final History paragraph revised with new paragraph added
Graphic Changes: None

Collective Man
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: first History paragraph split in 2, final paragraph expanded.
Graphic Changes: Secondary illo captioned, new captioned secondary illo of old suit

Collector
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 3
Text/Graphic Changes: None

Collective Man
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: 2 new captioned secondary illo

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Handbook Hardcover Changes: Daredevil 2004

This is the third in a series that looks at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcovers, and notes how the entries were changed from the original Handbooks that were compiled for the hardcovers. Some information presented here was previous posted to the Who Watches the Watchers forum at Comixfan while other information is presented here concurrently.

All: Known Aliases now called Aliases. Marital Status and Distinguishing Features removed; Powers & Abilities and Paraphernalia merged as Abilities/Accessories. Significant Issues info from back of book removed.

Black Widow
Hardcover Volume: 1
Now Listed As: Black Widow (Romanova)
Page Count: Increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics and Abilities/Accessories expanded, History revised.
Graphic Changes: Both illos removed; new main illo and 5 new secondary illos

Bullseye
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: Increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Vital statistics revised/expanded. History and Abilities/Accessories considerably revised/expanded. Weight revised.
Graphic Changes: 7 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Daredevil
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Increased from 5 to 6
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History: 3rd and 4th paragraphs merged; starting from paragraph reading “Foggy hired…” changes become a lot more extensive, though a lot of old material still present. Last two pages of new History text all new, but all new text shows up throughout. Abilities/Accessories also interweaves a lot of old and new text. Strength decreased, Energy Projection on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old Matt Murdock illo removed, replaced with new one and 9 other new secondary illos (all captioned, though 2 share the caption). The Eliot R. Brown-drawn Daredevil’s Billy Club entry from #15 of original series added.

Milla Donovan
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History completely revised. Abilities/Accessories a little reduced. Speed on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo.

Echo
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: Unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. Final History paragraph revised and expanded.
Graphic Changes: New captioned secondary illo.

Vanessa Fisk
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Last 2 sentences of History removed, but new large final paragraph added. Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: None.

Gladiator
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics a bit revised. History completely revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories revised.
Graphic Changes: Original illo less cropped. 3 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Hand
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 4
Text Changes: Members and Base of Operations added. History considerably revised and expanded (some portions of original text still intact)
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed. New main illo plus two captioned secondary illos and 54 Headshots with First Appearances.

Jessica Jones
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Unchanged at 2
Text Changes: History and Abilities/Accessories revised/expanded (the former greatly).
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed; new main illo and 2 captioned secondary illos.

Kingpin
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History greatly revised/expanded, though a lot of the old text still present as well. 3rd and 4th Abilities/Accessories paragraphs revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 4 new secondary illos

Mister Fear
Split into: Machinesmith, Mister Fear (Cranston), Mister Fear (Fagan), Mister Fear (Drago)
Hardcover Volume: 6 Machinesmith, 7 Mister Fear (Cranston/Fagan), 8 Mister Fear (Drago)
Page Count: originally 2; now 2 Machinesmith, 2 Mister Fear (Cranston), 1 Mister Fear (Fagan), ½ Mister Fear (Drago)
Text Changes: All: Vital Statistics revised; History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten. Machinesmith: Physical Statistics a bit revised, Power Grid completely revised. Mister Fear (Cranston): Intelligence on Power Grid revised. Mister Fear (Fagan): Hair revised. Energy Projection on Power Grid revised. Mister Fear (Drago): Intelligence, Energy Projection, Fighting Skills on Power Numbers (formerly Power Grid) revised
Graphic Changes: Old illo only used for Mister Fear (Drago); Machinesmith; new main illo and four new secondary illos (2 captioned). Mister Fear (Cranston): new main illo and 6 new secondary illos (1 captioned). Mister Fear (Fagan): new main illo and new secondary illo. Mister Fear (Drago): New secondary illo

Foggy Nelson
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History mostly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories a little revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed; new main illo and 2 new secondary illos

Owl
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Occupation, Citizenship, Group Affiliation revised. History mostly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: 5 new secondary illos

Karen Page
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Known Relatives and Education revised. History mostly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories rewritten. Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: old main illo removed, replaced with new one

Purple Man
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Group Affiliation revised. Older History paragraphs a little revised, with paragraphs merged; new final paragraph. Abilities/Accessories slightly revised. Energy Projection on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 3 new secondary illos (1 captioned)

Sammy Silke
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History almost completely rewritten. Abilities/Accessories a little expanded.
Graphic Changes: None

Stick
Hardcover Volume: 11
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Aliases revised; Group Affiliation tweaked. History and Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten. Speed and Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 5 new secondary illos (2 captioned)

Stilt-Man
Hardcover Volume: 11
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History completely rewritten. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised. Hair revised. Intelligence, Durability, Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: main illo now secondary; new main illo plus 3 new secondary illos (1 captioned)

Turk
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Identity, Known Relatives, Group Affiliation revised. History mostly revised/expanded. Abilities/Accessories and Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: two new secondary illos

Typhoid
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History completely rewritten. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised. Energy Projeciton on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: 6 new secondary illos (3 captioned)

Ben Urich
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History completely rewritten. Abilities/Accessories a little revised. Intelligence and Fighting Skills on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: New secondary illo

Handbook Hardcover Changes: Alternate Universes 2005

This is the second in a series that looks at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcovers, and notes how the entries were changed from the original Handbooks that were compiled for the hardcovers. Some information presented here was previous posted to the Who Watches the Watchers forum at Comixfan while other information is presented here concurrently.
Alternate Universes 2005 Entries – List of Changes in the Hardcovers

All individuals: Superhuman Powers, Abilities, and Paraphernalia merged as Abilities/Accessories
All entries: Significant Issues info from back of book removed.

1602 A.D.
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants and Significant Locations expanded. Final History paragraph revised, then 3 new paragraphs added.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed; 48 headshots with First Appearances added.

2020 A.D.
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: New caption added to old illo, 9 new illos plus 9 more headshots, most with First Appearances and other stats

2099 A.D.
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Note added
Graphic Changes: Caption added to illo

2099 A.D. – Marvel Knights
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: ignificant Inhabitants expanded, new final History paragraph added
Graphic Changes: Caption added to illo; 3 new captioned secondary illos

8162 A.D.
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Caption added to illo, three new secondary illos added

Cable/Askani World
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants expanded, History completely revised.
Graphic Changes: Main illo now captioned with captioned secondary illo. 42 new headshots with occupations and first appearances.

Chronomancer`s World
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: New captioned illo of Chronokeep. 35 new headshots with occupations and first appearances.

Counter-Earth (High Evolutionary)
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Four new captioned illos (2 with First Appearances) plus 30 headshots with First Appearances.

Counter-Earth (Franklin Richards)
Hardcover Volume: 2
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants/Locations increased. History completely revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: New captioned illo plus 21 headshots with First Appearances.

Crooked World
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: New sentence added to first History paragraph.
Graphic Changes: 10 new illos numbered to correspond to a newly added key, plus five unnumbered headshots. Main illo also numbered.

Days of Futures Past
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants expanded. History mostly revised and expanded.
Graphic Changes: Secondary illo removed, replaced with 2 new ones (1 captioned).

Earth A
Hardcover Volume: 3
Now Listed As: Earth-A (hyphenated)
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: 3rd and 4th History paragraphs merged. New paragraph added to and of History.
Graphic Changes: Captions added to illos. Main illo cropped.

Earth X
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: increased from 2 to 4
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants expanded.
Graphic Changes: Main and secondary illo replaced with new main illo and 8 secondary illos (1 captioned, the rest, including the main illo numbered to correspond with newly added key).

Eurth
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: 8 new captioned secondary illos. 13 new illos utilizing a number key

Here Comes Tomorrow
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: Unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Original illo now captioned. 5 new secondary illos

Kitty`s Fairy Tale
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants tweaked; Well removed from Significant Locations. History greatly revised/expanded (a lot of old text still present)
Graphic Changes: Old illo now captioned. 11 new captioned secondary illos.

Larval Earth (Spider-Ham)
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Old illo now captioned. 21 new captioned secondary illos.

Last Avengers Story
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: None
Graphic Changes: Old illo now captioned. New captioned secondary illo plus 27 new numbered secondary illos corresponding to a key

Mangaverse
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: final History sentence split from the old paragraph to form the start of an extensive new final paragraph
Graphic Changes: Old illo’s characters now numbered with number key below the illo. 10 new captioned secondary illos.

MC2
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: Increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants expanded. 1st History sentence revised, 2nd last paragraph revised/abridged, new sentence added to final paragraph.
Graphic Changes: Old illo captioned; new captioned secondary illo plus 48 new headshots with First Appearances.

Mutant X-Verse
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: History completely rewritten.
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New main illo which is numbered with accompanying number key; 6 new captioned secondary illos.

New Universe
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: Increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants significantly expanded. Significant Locations expanded less significantly. History greatly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Old illo now numbered with accompanying number key. 48 new headshots with First Appearance and main ability.

Other-Earth
Hardcover Volume: 8
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants and Significant Locations revised/expanded. History somewhat revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: Main illo now captioned. 12 new captioned secondary illos.

Reigning
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: Unchanged at 1
Text Changes: None.
Graphic Changes: Illo now captioned.

Shadowline
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants revised/expanded. History mostly revised/expanded. Note revised/abridged
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. 11 new illos with First Appearances, then 17 headshots with First Appearances

Supreme Power
Hardcover Volume: 11
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 3
Text Changes: Significant Inhabitants and Significant Locations (the former greatly expanded). History completely rewritten/expanded
Graphic Changes: Old illo removed. New captioned main illo and 6 captioned secondary illos; 3 new headshots

The Corps
Hardcover Volume: 2
Now Listed As: Corps
Page Count: increased from 1 to 4
Text Changes: Current/Former Members expanded, History completely revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: 72 illos of members in two grids, with names first appearances listed below the second grid.

Deathlok
Hardcover Volume: 3
Now Listed As: Deathlok (Manning)
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: New final History paragraph added (i.e. before the Note). Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Original illo modified (mainly leg positions). 3 classic Eliot Brown diagrams added (original bionics, skull, gun), plus 3 more illos added (2 captioned).

Fantastic Five (Spider-Man)
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Final History paragraph revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: None

Gatherers
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Former Members have Earth numbers added. First Appearance expanded to cover individual members. New sentence added to end of 3rd History paragraph; 4th paragraph revised and expanded, new paragraph added before final paragraph. Note added.
Graphic Changes: Original illo captioned. 6 new captioned secondary illos.

Guardians of the Galaxy
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: Increased from 3 to 5
Text Changes: Base of Operations expanded. Some History paragraph merging and text tweaking; new paragraph added at end of History. New 3-paragraph note added re: other Guardians.
Graphic Changes: New captioned main illo. Original illo now captioned secondary illo. 13 new captioned secondary illos plus 14 headshots indicating when first Active.

Killraven
Hardcover Volume: 6
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Known Relatives revised. History somewhat revised, with paragraphs merged and new text weaving in and out of old text.
Graphic Changes: New captioned main illo. New main illo (old one now secondary with background added. 2 new captioned secondary illos.

Scarlet Centurion
Hardcover Volume: 10
Now Listed As: Scarlet Centurion (Nathaniel Richards)
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History completely rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos.

Squadron Supreme
Hardcover Volume: 11
Page Count: Increased from 2 to 6
Text Changes: History mostly revised/expanded. Note tweaked
Graphic Changes: Old illo now captioned secondary; new captioned main illo; 18 captioned secondary illos added, including a classic Elliot R. Brown illo; 25 new headshots with issues Active

Thundra
Hardcover Volume: 11
Page Count: Increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History completely rewritten/expanded. Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 1 new secondary illo.

Appendix
Hardcover Volumes: 2-5
Now Listed As: Appendix: Core Continuum Designations
Page Count: increased from 1 to 5 2/3 (v2), 3 (v3), 6 (v4), 3 (v5)
Text Changes: Lots of new Earths listed including ones seen in role-playing game modules, descriptions added to many previously listed Earths.
Graphic Changes: None.

Handbook Hardcover Changes: Fantastic Four 2005

This is the first in a series that looks at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcovers, and notes how the entries were changed from the original Handbooks that were compiled for the hardcovers. Some information presented here was previous posted to the Who Watches the Watchers forum at Comixfan while other information is presented here concurrently.

Fantastic Four 2005 Entries – List of Changes in the Hardcovers

All: Abilities, Superhuman Powers, Paraphernalia merged as Abilities/Accessories; Distinguishing Features and Marital Status removed. Origin and Significant Issues info from back of book removed.

Annihilus
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: History greatly revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one still present), two new secondary illos added

Doctor Doom
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: unchanged at 4
Text Changes: Known Relatives, Group Affiliation, final History paragraph expanded
Graphic Changes: 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned)

Fantastic Four
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: increased from 3 to 5
Text Changes: Team Stats revised and expanded, including large section on Employees. History greatly expanded; initially text more or less untouched, with 2 paragraphs merged; starting on 3rd page, text starts to diverge more from the original text, with some text embedded within existing paragraphs, new paragraphs added even before post-2004 material, existing paragraphs rewritten.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed; new main illo, 5 new secondary illos (3 captioned by Handbook writers with a 4th captioned as originally printed). 30 headshots with issues joined (21 members, 29 employees)

Galactus
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: increased from 4 to 5
Text Changes: Aliases/Occupation expanded. History: revisions to 1st, 3rd, 16th paragraphs; 4 new paragraphs added before final paragraph.
Graphic Changes: Main illos removed, replaced with classic Handbook illo; secondary illo now captioned; 3 new captioned secondary illos followed by 20 headshots of Galactus as viewed by other races.

Human Torch
Hardcover Volume: 5
Now Listed As: Human Torch (Storm)
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics somewhat revised. History considerably revised/expanded, though some old paragraphs intact. Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded. Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed, replaced with new main illo and 10 secondary illos (5 captioned).

Inhumans
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: increased from 3 to 6
Text Changes: “Known Members” split into 8 new categories and greatly expanded. History largely revised; a lot of old text still present, with new and altered text weaving through it with new paragraphs, paragraph breaks etc. (it’s hard to look at black text on blue background –the original format- but the additions are clearly substantial, especially later on).
Graphic Changes: Main and secondary illos captioned; 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned). 96 new headshots with First Appearances added.

Invisible Woman
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics somewhat revised. New sentence added to end of 1st paragraph; the former 3rd-last paragraphs moved to new paragraph; then 2nd-last and last paragraphs removed; depending on if you ould the split off part of former 3rd last paragraph, 8 new paragraphs added. Abilities/Accessories greatly but not completely revised/expanded. Given old format’s black text on blue background, I may be overlooking some changes.
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one removed), 7 new secondary illos (3 captioned).

Mister Fantastic
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History paragraphs somewhat revised/expanded, though most original text still present; some paragraphs merged; final paragraph replaced with 6 new ones. Abilities/Accessories revised/expanded, though a lot of old text still present.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed; new main illo and 8 new secondary illos (4 captioned).

Mole Man
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics a little revised. History and Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 4 new secondary illos (2 captioned)

Alyssa Moy
Hardcover Volume: 7
Now Listed As: Alyssa Moy-Castle
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: History greatly revised/expanded (no longer just one paragraph). Abilities/Accessories almost completely revised/expanded (lots of new text for both History and Abilities/Accessories).
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one now secondary); 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Psycho-Man
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Aliases and Identity revised. History greatly revised/expanded, though a lot of old text still present. Abilities/Accessories a little revised/expanded. Height/Weight revised.
Graphic Changes: Main illo no longer cut off on right; 2 new secondary illos.

Ramades
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History mostly rewritten (small amount of old text still present). Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten. Speed on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo no longer cut off on right and bottom; new captioned secondary illo.

Franklin Richards
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics greatly revised. History greatly revised/expanded. Abilities /Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 2nd illo removed; 7 new secondary illos (6 captioned)

Valeria Richards
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Known Relatives and Education revised. History somewhat revised/expanded, with paragraph mergers and new text weaving in and out of old. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded. Power Grids merged and Strength, Speed, and Durability as Valeria revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo no longer cut off on right and bottom; new captioned secondary illo.

Silver Surfer
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Aliases, identity, Occupation, Group Affiliation revised. Final History paragraph revised, then 6 new paragraphs added. 2nd Abilities/Accessories paragraph somewhat revised.
Graphic Changes: 6 new secondary illos (4 captioned)

Skrulls
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: increased from 3 to 7
Text Changes: Known Members and Base of Operations considerably revised/expanded. Traits added (2 paragraphs), incorporating material from first old History paragraph. History considerably revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 5 new secondary illos (3 captioned); 48 headshots with First Appearances added.

Thing
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: increased from 3 to 5
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. Old History somewhat revised, with new text weaving in and out of old, with 6 new paragraphs added before the 2nd last. Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded. Intelligence on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: old main illo removed and secondary illo cropped; new main illo and 12 new secondary illos (8 captioned).

Uatu the Watcher
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History somewhat revised/expanded, with new text weaving in and out of old, and some paragraph mergers. Nte added to Power Grid.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).

Saturday, January 23, 2010

12 Great Endings to TV Series

To allow people to avoid spoilers to endings they do not want to see in advance, I set the font colour to white when describing endings. Using your mouse, hold the left mouse key down and scroll over the invisible text you want to see.

Note that this is purely on the merit of the endings, not the shows as a whole. The Sopranos, Buffy, Angel, etc. are among shows that I liked as a series but didn't particularly like the final episode(s)

1. Action
Premise: a corrupt Hollywood executive works on a new film
Ending: The film not yet completed, his right hand woman walks out on the project, basically saving her soul.

2. American Gothic
Premise: A town is ruled over by a demonic sheriff.
Ending: The sheriff, who'd been buried alive by someone with the same first name as the CBS executive who messed with the airings of the show, escapes and confronts the guy. He tells him "You buried me before I was gone" and forces him to hang himself. Then he continues in the corruption of his son.

3. Babylon 5
Premise: Adventures on a space station that becomes a symbol for hope.
Ending: Friends from the space station have a reunion years later to reminisce. One of them passes away peacefully and the station is destroyed.

4. Fonz and the Happy Days Gang:
Premise: In this cartoon three characters from the TV series and a dog are sent through time due to a mishap by a time-traveller.
Ending: They wind up in the Bermuda triangle in the proper time period (1957) and opt to sail home rather than risk another time trip.

5. Forever Knight
Premise: A vampire cop in Toronto
Ending: After another cop is killed, the vampire's lover confronts him with a possible way to restore him to human so they can be together. when his possibly kills her, he asks his mentor to stake him so the two lovers can be together. The mentor raises the stake and the sun starts to rise.

6. John Woo`s Once a Thief
Premise: Two ex-thieves and a cop are hired to work for a shadowy organization
Ending: Their arch nemesis`attempt at revenge is fairly successful, as all three of them die in an explosion during an attempt to rescue one of them. Unfortunately this ending is changed for the DVD and VHS release ("Brother Against Brother"). UPDATE: The complete series set restores the original ending.

7. Oz
Premise: Life in an experimental prison facility.
Ending: Acts of revenge and love cause the deaths of more than a few inmates. When evacuation becomes necessary, we hear "This move is only temporary. We'll be back."

8. The Prisoner (original series)
Premise: A secret agent finds himself in a mysterious village after resigning. He tries to escape while people try to figure out why he resigned
Ending: Although he finally escapes with a few others, the final shot is the same shot as the beginning of each episode, suggesting he is either still trapped or about to be a prisoner once more.

9. Quantum Leap
Premise: A scientist finds himself lost in time trying to change people`s lives for the better.
Ending: After a stay in a mysterious bar, he realizes that no matter how badly he wishes to return home, he is still needed and opts to continue time-travelling, knowing that his next missions will be more difficult.

10. The Shield
Premise: A terrible act by a corrupt cop sets off a significant chain reaction
Ending: The cop either betrays or is betrayed by everyone he cares about and, a man of action, finds himself stuck to a desk job.

11. Six Feet Under
Premise: The lives of a family of morticians
Ending: One of them either somehow finds out or imagines how everyone will eventually die.
12. Star Trek: The Next Generation
Premise: The continuing voyages of an exploration spaceship
Ending: The captain has visions of events in his past and future that are interconnected.

Friday, January 22, 2010

10 Interesting Shared Names

I am only counting cases where the differences between the two characters is striking, and where the two people/characters sharing the same name share the same first and last name, as opposed to a code name. In all cases these are apparently coincidences, though I think some have criticized the novelist Lee due to his better known namesake.

1. Steve Austin: real-life professional wrestler (Stone Cold Steve Austin); bionic hero of novel Cyborg/TV series The Six Million Dollar Man
2. Elliot Franklin: alter ego of Marvel villain The Clown (of the Circus of Crime, foes of Hulk, Spider-Man etc) - Caucasian; alter ego of unrelated Marvel villain Thunderball (of The Wrecking Crew; foes of Defenders, Thor etc.) - black
3. Steven Grant: real life comic book writer (Avengers, Hulk, Defenders); alter ego of Marvel hero Moon Knight
4. Richard Hatch: real-life actor (Battlestar Galactica etc); real-life Survivor contestant
5. Stan Lee: comic book writer (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Hulk, X-Men etc); novelist (e.g. The God Project) whose books are sometimes misattributed to the other Lee
6. Ralph Macchio: movie actor (The Karate Kid, etc); Marvel Comics editor (Spider-Man, etc)
7. Steve Martin: real life actor/comedian (The Jerk Shopgirl, etc); reporter in American versions of two Godzilla movies
8. Michael Myers: after nickname spelled out, real life actor/comedian (Mike Myers; Saturday Night Live, Austin Powers, etc); the slasher in the Halloween movies
9. Roger Rabbit: protagonist of various novels and a movie (Who Censored/Framed Roger Rabbit); alter ego of DC's Zoo Crew leader Captain Carrot (who thus nowadays tends to go by his middle name Rodney)
10. Steve Rogers: real-life professional baseball player; alter ego of Marvel hero Captain America

Company-Wide Comic Book Events

In preparation for an upcoming comic book sale I reduced the prices of most comics I'm trying to sell by half if I was selling them for a $1 but they're older than 5 years. Doing so I noticed something scary: the precurser mini-series to Infinite Crisis (e.g. Rann-Thanagar War) at DC and Secret War and House of M at Marvel were from 2005, barely making 5-year period. So for people who've been reading the major superhero comics since at least 2005, there's been few if any months that have gone by without a mass superhero crossover in over half a decade!

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a fun mass-superhero team up every so often, even once or twice a year, but they lose what makes them special if they happen all the time. And it's fun to read a superhero title that's contained in of itself but which isn't aimed at either younger readers or "mature' readers.

Despite all the crossovers the 2000s were still a better decade for comics than the 1990s, but I can't help but think that some of the potential of the early 2000s got lost along the way. let's give Superman, Spider-Man, et al some well-deserved R&R and likewise let readers replenish their wallets a bit. Then once everyone's rejuvenated, we can start talking crossovers again. Deal?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The 40 Best Comics 2000-2009

First off this is not even a remotely fair list for two reasons. For one thing, unlike my interest in movies and shows, with comics my tastes run strongly to towards a particular sub-genre, the superheroes. The other reason involves company-owned ongoing series; separating where one run begins and other ends can be hard because one or more of the artists will sometimes leave before the writer and vice versa, and more rarely in some titles writers will alternate between stories (e.g Gotham Central); also sometimes a later writer will affect the enjoyment of the previous work in either direction. So all ongoing series are treated as a whole, without specific runs separated out. I've also lumped titles together unless a spin-off title has a long life of its own. Finally there must be original material during the period covered, and not just recolouring (sorry, Killing Joke). Titles with new #1's will be taken on a case by case basis

A word about the Twelve: In a perfect world I'd have liked to have included this lovely limited series. However, while the long-delayed final issue of Marvels: Eye of the Camera is expected to ship the final week in January, the final issues The Twelve seems to have fallen off the map entirely. I cannot in good conscious include a story, however good looking and well written, if I have no expectations that it will ever be completed. If the first 8 issues felt at all complete on their own it would be a different matter, but despite being well written they read more like chapters of a longer story.

1. Alias (2001-2004)
2. American Splendor (various more recent titles) (2001-2008)
3. Astro City (various titles/minis/specials) (1995-Present)
4. Avengers: The Initiative (and Annual; 2007-2010)
5. Captain America (2005-2009 series, pre-reverting to original numbering to keep this listing simple -- including Reborn)
6.Captain Britain and MI13 (and Annual; 2008-2009)
7. Catwoman (2002-2008 series)
8. Criminal (various titles) (2006-Present)
9. Deadman (2002 series)
10. Fables (and specials/mini) (2002-Present)
11. 52 (2006-2007)
12. Gotham Central (2003-2006)
13. Howard the Duck (2002)
14. Jack of Fables (2006-Present)
15. JLA/Avengers / Avengers/JLA (2003)
16. Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers (2009)
17. Manhunter (2004-2009)
18. Marvel Apes (and specials; 2008-2009)
19. The Marvel Atlas (2008)
20. Marvels: Eye of the Camera (2009-2010)
21. The Marvels Project (2009-2010)
22. New Avengers (and Annuals/Specials; 2005-2010)
23. 9-11: Artists Respond/9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Artists Tell Stories to Remember (2002)
24. 9-11: Emergency Relief (2002)
25. The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (various titles) (2004-Present)
26. The Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2009-2010)
27. Powers (various titles/specials) (2000-Present)
28. Preacher (and special -only one in 2000) (1995-2000)
29. Punisher/Punisher: Frank Castle (and annuals/specials) (2004-2009 series)
30. Reinventing Comics/Making Comics (2000/2006; Understanding Comics in 1994)
31. She-Hulk (2004-2009 series; two volumes)
32. Strangers in Paradise (various titles/specials) (1993-2007)
33. Superman: Secret Identity (2004)
34. 30 Days of Night (2002; haven't read sequels)
35. Top 10 (1999-2001 series)
36. Ultimate Spider-Man (2000-2009 series and annuals/specials; haven't yet read the 2009-on series)
37. The Walking Dead (2003-Present)
38. X-Factor (2006-2009 series and specials, pre-reverting to original numbering to keep this listing simple)
39. Young Avengers (and special) (2005)
40. Y the Last Man (2002-2008)

Monday, January 4, 2010

The 50 Best Shows 2000-2009

In my mind, despite the reality TV shows this was nevertheless a great age for TV (and to be sure one token reality makes the list).

For this list I'm taking the titles as a whole for the period covered. So no Simpsons because the show was already on the decline as of January 1, 2000. In constrast The Sopranos has had dud periods and Lexx was all over the map but on the whole both deserve a listing.

List as with the movie version likely to be revised over time. Again in alphabetical order.

1. Da Ali G Show (2003-2004) - US version; haven't seen the UK version yet
2. Angel (1999-2004)
3. Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
4. Boomtown (2002-2003)
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
6. Ebert & Roeper (2000-2008)
7. Day Break (2006)
8. Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
9. Dead Zone (2002-2007)
10. Dexter (2006-Present)
11. Doctor Who (2005-Present; continuation of the 1963-1989 series)
12. Dollhouse (2009-2010)
13. Entourage (2004-Present)
14. Farscape (1999-2004)
15. La Femme Nikita (1997-2001)
16. Firefly (2002)
17. The 4400 (2004-2007)
18. Glee (2009-Present)
19. Greg the Bunny (2002) - network version; haven't seen the cable version yet
20. Heroes (2006-Present)
21. Joan of Arcadia (2003-2005)
22. Journeyman (2007)
23. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-2006)
24. Life on Mars (2008-2009) - US version; haven't seen the UK version yet
25. Lost (2004-Present)
26. The L Word (2004-2009)
27. The Mole (2001-2008)
28. Nip/Tuck (2003-Present)
29. NYPD Blue (1993-2005)
30. Oz (1997-2003)
31. Power Play (1998-2000)
32. Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)
33. Queer as Folk (2000-2005) - US version; haven't seen the UK version yet
34. Sex and the City (1998-2004)
35. The Shield (2002-2008)
36. Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
37. Smallville (2001-Present)
38. Son of the Beach (2000-2001)
39. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
40. South Park (1997-Present)
41. Sports Night (1998-2000)
42. Summer Heights High (2007)
43. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009)
44. That's My Bush! (2001)
45. 30 Days (2005-2008)
46. Threshold (2005)
47. Torchwood (2006-Present)
48. 24 (2001-Present)
49. The Unit (2006-2009)
50. Wonderfalls (2004)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

The 80 Best Movies 2000-2009

There is some debate of whether the first decade of the 2000s ended in 2009 or will end in 2010. However, enough critics are doing a best of list that I've decided to list my own top 25 favourite movies of 2000-2009, regardless if whether or not the decade falls neatly into that. Sadly a Worst of list is probably not as feasible because there's been so many that I've stopped watching and don't recall enough about them.

While some choices like Daredevil and Saw III I hope sparks debate, all movies below are films that for one eason or another I love.

In alphabetical order:
1. Absolut Warhola (2001)
2. American Psycho (2000)
3. American Splendor (2003)
4. The Anniversary Party (2001)
5. Anytown USA (2005)
6. Auto Focus (2002)
7. Avatar (2009)
8. Baadasssss! (2003)
9. Bad Santa (2003)
10. Batman Begins (2005)
11. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
12. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
13. Boiler Room (2000)
14. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
15, Boxed (2002)
16. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
17. Century Hotel (2001)
18. Collateral (2004)
19. The Constant Gardener (2005)
20. Coraline (2009)
21. Daredevil (2003)
22. Dead End (2003)
23. Deliver Us from Evil (2006)
24. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005) - not to be confused with Exorcist: The Beginning which uses some of the same footage
25. Downfall (2004)
26. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
27. The Experiment (2001)
28. Ghost World (2001)
29. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
30. Grindhouse (2007)
31. Headhunter (2005)
32. Hot Fuzz (2007)
33. A History of Violence (2005)
34. The House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
35. Incredibles (2004) - though the preceeding short film Boundin' is one of the worst of the decade
36. Ingluorious Basterds (2009)
37. Iron Man (2008)
38. Jesus Camp (2006)
39. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
40. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
41. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
42. Kontroll (2003)
43. The Last Horror Movie (2003)
44. The Lives of Others (2006)
45. The Lookout (2007)
46. Lord of War (2005)
47. Love Object (2003)
48. The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
49. Memento (2000)
50. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
51. Offside (2006)
52. The Others (2001)
53. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
54. The Pianist (2002)
55. Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)
56. Saw III (2006)
57. Secretary (2002)
58. Series 7: The Contenders (2001)
59. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
60. Shopgirl (2005)
61. Sicko (2007)
62. Sidekick (2005)
63. Sideways (2004)
64. The Tailor of Panama
65. This Film is Not Yet Rated (2006)
66. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
67. The TV Set (2006)
68. Unbreakable (2000)
69. Undead (2003)
70. United 93 (2006)
71: Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002)
72. Waiter (2006)
73. Walk All Over Me (2007)
74. Watchmen (2009)
75. Weirdsville (2007)
76. What to Do in Case of Fire (2001)
77. Wilderness Survival for Girls (2004)
78. X2: X-Men United (2003)
79. The Yes Men (2003)
80. Zero Day (2003)